LOVING ELLIE

by Brookes, Lindsey

  Enjoy the following excerpt from Capturing the Cowboy’s Heart …

  CHAPTER ONE

  What else could go wrong?

  Cade Tyler stared out the kitchen window at the billowy black clouds rolling in on what was supposed to be a clear, sunny day in Deep Creek, Colorado.

  The wind kicked up outside and thunder rumbled overhead, rattling the dusty windowpanes. The unexpected storm only served as a reminder that life was just as unpredictable as the bulls he used to ride.

  “I should be out working on that fence,” he grumbled as he returned to the table to finish spreading mayo over the slices of bread Burk, his best friend and ranch foreman, had tossed onto his plate.

  “Sure and get yourself struck by lightning in the process,” Burk replied as he stabbed at another slice of tomato and dropped it onto the towering stack of lunch meat piled up on the plate in front of him.

  It wasn’t even raining yet, but Burk was right. By the time he’d ride out to the northern pasture where the fence was down, chances were the storm would have already let loose.

  He shook his head in amazement as the thickness of the sandwich on Burk’s plate grew. The man had a bottomless pit for a stomach. Always had. “A little on the hungry side today?” he teased with a grin.

  “Starved.” His friend dug into the near empty bread bag and grabbed one of the two remaining heels. Placing it atop the mountain of meat and cheese, he brought the towering mass to his mouth with a satisfied groan.

  It was a wonder Burk’s jaw didn’t come unhinged when he bit into the thing. Amazingly enough it hadn’t, and his friend was already going in for another bite. Cade supposed there was a time when he used to eat like that, too, digging into his meals like a starving man after a hard day’s work. But eating no longer held the same pleasure for him. Truth was, nothing he did held pleasure for him anymore.

  His gaze shifted to the kitchen window, remembering how much Karen used to love looking out over the green pastures and rolling hills that made up the Flying T. He’d never forget how excited his wife had been the day she replaced his plain old ‘manly’ curtains with the frilly lemon yellow ones that hung there now. While it was hard to look at them every day without thinking about what he’d lost, he didn’t have the heart to take them down.

  His forced his thoughts away from the past and turned back to Burk. “I hope to hell that storm blows over, so I can get that fence repaired today.”

  “Will you stop worrying about that damn fence,” Burk grumbled. “It’ll get done.” He took another bite of his sandwich. “You need to eat.”

  “What are you?” Cade snapped in irritation. “My mother?” If he wasn’t hungry, he wasn’t hungry! He hated it when Burk nagged at him.

  Burk returned his sandwich to his plate and reached for his drink, shaking his head in frustration. “Fine. Don’t eat. You wanna end up looking like you just left a refugee camp, that’s your problem.”

  Cade arched a brow. “A refugee camp?”

  “You know damn well you can’t put in the hours you do around this ranch and not eat.”

  “I eat.”

  “Not enough. Look, I know you’ve been through hell and back, but life’s not going anywhere. Like it or not, we’re stuck living it.”

  That was another thing he hated. Anything that stirred up his emotions the way Burk was doing right now. But, pain in the ass or not, he wouldn’t trade his best friend for the world. He just wished he’d stop speaking his mind so often. Then again, if he didn’t it wouldn’t be Burk.

  The two had met during a rodeo in Cheyenne seven years before. Cade was twenty-five and making a name for himself on the rodeo circuit. That particular day he drew the meanest bull in the lot and ended up getting his hand hung up on the rope. It wasn’t pretty. Hurt like hell would be putting it mildly. He found himself looking death in the eye in the form of an eighteen hundred pound bull.

  Burk, a professional rodeo clown by trade, was working that day. He not only helped free his hand from the taut, biting rope, he’d also kept the angry bull distracted while Cade was carried out of the arena, busted hip and all. Unfortunately, Burk himself got tripped up long enough to be at the receiving end of one of the bull’s hop-skips, breaking his shoulder. Both men retired from the circuit after that night and had delved into the business venture of raising and leasing bulls for the rodeo circuit.

  Burk began tapping the toe of his boot on the linoleum floor while he stuffed his face with the three-inch thick turkey, ham and cheese sandwich. The impatient tapping continued.

  Cade muttered a curse. “You’re like a dog with a bone!” Snatching up his own sandwich, he bit into it. “There,” he muttered between chews, “I’m eating. Happy now?”

  “Nope.”

  Best friend or not, Burk Lowry could really irritate the hell out of him sometimes. “You got something else that needs saying?”

  “Now that you mention it, I do.” Burk crossed his arms and leaned forward, propping his elbows on the edge of the table. “When are you gonna start living again?”

  Cade reached for his coffee. “Don’t start.” He wasn’t in the mood.

  “Hell, Cade, it’s been almost two years since the accident. She’s not coming back.”

  He slammed his cup down on the table, sending coffee sloshing out over the side. His jaw tightened. “Don’t you think I know that?” he asked through clenched teeth.

  “Sometimes I wonder.”

  A knocked sounded at the door, bringing their conversation to a halt. Domino, Burk’s huge, scruffy, black and white mutt barked and jumped up from his place under the kitchen table.

  “Company,” Cade muttered as the dog skittered across the faded linoleum and down the hall toward the front door.

  “I’ll get it.” His friend crammed the last of his sandwich into his mouth as he pushed away from the table and got to his feet.

  “Probably another bill collector,” Cade grumbled as he too started to rise.

  “I can see to the door,” his friend said, pointing to the barely eaten sandwich on Cade’s plate. “You just keep working on that sandwich.”

  Cade watched Burk go until he’d disappeared from view. Then he sat back in his chair, shoving his plate away as he waited to see who wanted his money now.

  *

  Despite the eight-hour drive from Denver to tiny town of Deep Creek, Lacy Dalton was ready to get started on her interview with ex-rodeo star Cade Tyler. Admittedly, she’d been a little surprised when she’d pulled up to his ranch house and saw the condition of it and several of the outer buildings. They were all in dire need of a fresh coat of paint. Several of the windowpanes in the barn were cracked and needed to be replaced. Even the flower garden along the front porch of the main house needed work. The weeds had long since overtaken it.

  If she hadn’t seen the Flying T sign hanging over the entrance to the ranch, she would have sworn she’d driven up to the wrong house. Cade Tyler had made good money riding the circuit. So why then was his ranch in such disrepair?

  Lightning flashed in the distance. A few seconds later thunder rumbled across the sky. At least, she’d gotten there before the rain. She hurried to knock as the wind picked up around her.

  A large, hairy, snarling dog appeared suddenly, bouncing off the screen door. Heart racing, Lacy jumped back, thankful the old door latch held firm. The dog stood looking at her through the screen like she was a huge platter of London broil.

  She glanced back at her car, contemplating just how long it would take her in high heels to get from the front porch of Cade Tyler’s house to the dust-laden convertible if ‘Killer’ the watchdog managed to get out.

  Just then, the screen door creaked open behind her. She jumped with a shriek of terror and spun around, prepared to be taken down by what had looked to be about sixty pounds of angry mutt.

  But the attack never came.

  In fact, the snarling dog now sat quietly beside a tall, lanky man with a lopsided grin. The man eyed her
up and down and then gave a low whistle. “Well, well, it ain’t every day we get a pretty visitor out here.”

  It took Lacy a moment to collect herself after coming that close to becoming a five-foot-three-inch dog biscuit. “Um, yes…hello. I’m looking for Mr. Tyler.”

  At the sound of her voice, the dog jumped up and started barking again. But for the first time since it had charged the door, she noticed its tail was wagging. A good thing she supposed. Dogs didn’t normally kill if their tails were wagging. At least, she didn’t think so. But then she had never owned a dog before.

  “Shit,” the man muttered and then said firmly to the dog, “No more.” The dog ceased its barking, settling down once again next to the man’s booted feet. He glanced back over his shoulder and then back to her with a frown. “You’re that reporter lady, right?”

  She pushed her windblown hair from her face and nodded. It had only taken one look to know this man wasn’t the subject of her story. She’d done some research on Cade Tyler before starting the long drive across Colorado. The ex-rodeo star had coal black hair and blue eyes. The man standing in front of her had dusty blonde hair and brown eyes. He was also tall and lanky where the pictures of Cade Tyler had shown him to be lean, but more muscularly built.

  “Yes, I am.” She held out her hand with a smile. “Lacy Dalton, Bustin’ Loose Magazine.”

  “This ain’t a good time.”

  Her smile faded as her hand fell away. “What?”

  He let out a low sigh. “Cade’s not in a real good mood today.”

  “Not in a good mood?” she repeated, unable to keep the irritation from her voice. This was the time Cade Tyler had agreed to over the phone when she’d finally convinced him to let her do the interview. She needed this story. If she landed it, Mac Cooper, head editor at Bustin’ Loose Magazine, promised her a job writing the monthly column – Rodeo Romance.

  While she didn’t know much about the rodeo, she’d had experience writing Kiss & Tell articles for other magazines. The only difference was that Rodeo Romance would only focus on rodeo cowboys and the women they shared their beds with. Not exactly her dream job, but it would mean a steady paycheck. Something she needed to help pay for her grandmother’s medical care.

  “Afraid not,” the cowboy replied matter-of-factly.

  “I can overlook his mood,” she said in irritation as she lifted her foot to shake a piece of gravel free of her favorite sling back sandal. “He promised me an interview and I’m not leaving until I get it.”

  “Well,” the man drawled, “let me see if I can make you understand the necessity of delaying this interview. Part of the pasture fence is down. I had to practically drag Cade back here just to get lunch. On top of that, his busted hip is giving him hell because it’s getting ready to rain. He had to let one of the hired hands go a few weeks back, leaving us shorthanded and the other one didn’t do jack squat today. So, you see, it’d be best if you just go away and come back some other time.” He stepped back inside, the hound following suit, and began closing the screen door behind him.

  Lacy hurried to plant her foot in the way, keeping the door from closing completely. “I need to go away? Do you realize I drove eight hours nonstop from Denver to get here on time to do this interview?”

  The dog beside him growled, no doubt sensing her anger towards the ranch hand. “No,” the man commanded and then turned his attention back to her. “Look, I’m real sorry things didn’t work out as planned. Real sorry. But your interview won’t be happening today.”

  “For your information, Mr…?”

  “Lowry. Burk Lowry.”

  “Well, Mr. Lowry,” she seethed, “I have no intention of going anywhere until I’ve spoken to Mr. Tyler directly.” Crossing her arms, Lacy stood firm.

  A dark form suddenly appeared in the doorway behind the thoroughly irritating man. “It’s all right, Burk. I’ll handle this.”

  The man in the doorway turned. “But-”

  “There’s work to be done before it rains,” the man in the shadows replied. “Go on. I’ll be right behind you.”

  “I’ll just grab my hat,” Burk Lowry said with a nod before heading back inside, the dog trailing after him.

  The other man stepped into the doorway and Lacy found herself staring up at the broad shoulders and muscular arms of rodeo legend Cade Tyler. Her gaze moved slowly upward, taking in the granite-like expression on his handsome face.

  “What can I do for you?” he asked as his dark blue eyes assessed her.

  “I..uh…”

  He gave an exasperated sigh. “Look, lady, if you’re a bill collector you can just get in line for your money. I don’t have it right now.”

  She was too caught up in the man’s limb-melting looks to really grab onto his words. The pictures she’d seen of him on the internet hadn’t done him justice at all. Cade Tyler was tall for a rodeo rider. Just over six foot. Her gaze ran up those long, jean-clad legs to the narrow waist that only served to emphasize his broad shoulders and finely hewn arms. His eyes were a much deeper blue than she expected. And where he’d been clean-shaven in all the pictures she’d seen of him, a five o’clock shadow now covered that strong jaw, giving him a ruggedly handsome appearance.

  Lacy sighed. If one looked Cade Tyler up in the dictionary, they’d find him listed as the walking, talking definition of HUNK.

  “Pardon me?”

  Lacy stiffened, drawn from her musings by his deep, husky voice. Please don’t let me have said that out loud. It would not only be incredibly embarrassing, but utterly unprofessional of her to have her assignment think she was ogling him. Even if she had been.

  She straightened, forcing herself back into professional mode, and announced, “Lacy Dalton, Bustin’ Loose Magazine.”

  A dark brow lifted. “You’re from that rag?”

  She stiffened at the remark. He’d been perfectly willing to give her magazine an interview when they’d spoken on the phone. Now Bustin’ Loose was a rag? It was his mood she reminded herself, recalling Burk Lowry’s words. She had to remain unaffected by his words and convince him to follow through with their agreement. The money she would make would help pay for her grandmother’s care at the Alzheimer’s care home back in Denver. And getting her own column with the magazine would help ensure that her grandmother was properly cared for.

  “I’m here as per our agreement,” she explained with a forced smile.

  “Our agreement?”

  “The one we discussed over the phone,” she prompted only to receive a blank look from the man hovering over her. “Where you agreed to let me do a story on your life. About how Cade Tyler, one of rodeo’s best, is living after leaving the circuit.”

  His expression darkened. “I did what?”

  “You-”

  He cut her off. “I heard what you said, but that’s a flat out lie. I never agreed to anything.”

  He had the nerve to call her a liar? She’d just spoken to him two days before to confirm everything. “Look, Mr. Tyler, I’m not sure why you’ve changed your mind about letting me do the story, but I don’t appreciate your playing games with me. The least you could have done was call to let me know and saved me the eight hour drive.”

  “Lady, you’ve got the wrong man. I’ve never spoken to you, nor would I ever agree dish out my personal life for the whole world to see. So you can just go find yourself another has-been.”

  “Are you always this personable?”

  “Are you always this annoying?” he countered angrily.

  It took every ounce of restraint she had not to give the irritating cowboy a piece of her mind. But getting into a verbal sparring match with him wouldn’t accomplish anything. She couldn’t force him into letting her do the interview. But she also couldn’t give up. Her grandmother was the only family she had left and Lacy wanted to make her remaining days as comfortable as possible.

  She fought back tears of frustration. Think, Lacey, think. You need this assignment.

  “Y
ou’re obviously not a man of your word,” she said, determined to hit him where it hurt. A man’s pride was everything.

  “Did they just let you out of the funny farm or are you hard of hearing,” he asked with a deepening frown.

  “Excuse me?”

  “For the last time, you and I have never spoken on the phone. Now, if you’ll excuse me I’ve got work to do.” He grabbed his hat from just inside the door, slapped it onto his head and started past her, the screen door banging shut behind him.

  Lacy spun around, watching him go. “Do you know what I think?” she called after him.

  “No, and I don’t care to,” he replied over his shoulder.

  Don’t say it, an inner voice warned. “I think you landed on your head one too many times during your rodeo days. That’s what I think!”

  Cade Tyler stopped dead in his tracks and then turned to face her. Fury lit his eyes as he moved toward her in long, angry strides.

  Lacy took a step back only to find herself up against the screen door.

  “It’s not her fault,” a voice said behind her, making her jump.

  “What do you mean?” Cade asked, his steps halting.

  Lacy moved aside, grateful Burk Lowry had chosen that moment to return. It took a moment longer for his words to sink in. But the moment they did she repeated Cade’s question. “What do you mean?”

  The screen door swung open as he stepped out onto the porch, guilt written all over his face. “I did it. I was the one who talked to Ms. Dalton on the phone.”

  She gasped. “That was you? You said you were him,” she added, pointing at Cade.

  The lanky cowboy shrugged. “A little white lie.”

  “Little hell,” Cade growled as he moved up onto the porch to join them.

  “Look, Cade,” his ranch hand said, “the business needs the publicity this story would bring us. We haven’t been able to afford the advertising we used to and Bustin’ Loose has a huge circulation. This interview could turn things around for the Flying T.”