Dare To Love A Cowboy (Canton County Cowboys 2)

by Charlene Bright

  “Step away from her, Ian.”

  Paige took a breath as Ian’s hand came away from her mouth, and he turned slightly to see Everett in the doorway, keeping the gun trained on Paige’s temple.

  “Oh good. Now we can get this party started,” he sneered. He cocked the gun. “Give me the will, Everett.”

  Everett held his hands out before him. “I’ll take you to it. Just step away from Paige, Ian.”

  Paige attempted to step away from Ian, but he pushed the gun further into the side of her head. “I think she might need to stay right by me to keep things in check. Don’t you, honey bee?”

  Tears appeared at the edges of her eyes, but her face was emotionless, her body still.

  Everett took another step forward and spoke calmly. “Okay, okay, Ian. Let’s just keep this about you and me, though, okay?” He stepped over Aunt Jana’s legs and winced, trying not to look down at her.

  When Ian suddenly swung the gun toward Everett and shouted, “Don’t come any closer,” Paige dropped to the ground. Confused, Ian looked to where Paige was standing, and Everett pounced, grabbing for the gun. Ian stumbled but pushed at Everett with his free hand, jerking the gun back with his other. The two fell together then in a clumsy, crazy, dangerous dance. Paige saw them hit the floor, only their feet visible to her as they struggled.

  Then the gun sounded, and Paige held her breath, watching both men’s feet become still. She sat there, her hand to her mouth for several seconds before crawling slowly to where she could see. Another pool of blood crept toward Aunt Jana’s, and Paige felt like she was going to vomit. It seemed to take an eternity, but she peeked around the bed and saw Everett lying on top of Ian, not moving. Suddenly, he rolled off him and sat up, reaching for her, the gun in one hand.

  Ian’s breath was shallow, and his hands held tight over a wound in his stomach. He gasped and his eyes fluttered. He turned his head to look at Paige and started to speak, but only a gurgle came out. He shuddered and his chest rose no more. His empty eyes continued to stare at Paige until she moved out of their sight and crawled over to Everett, her hands exploring for wounds.

  He shook his head. “Not my blood. I’m good.”

  Then she rushed to Aunt Jana and felt for a pulse. It was faint, but it was there. She grabbed her phone where it had fallen under the bed and called 9-1-1. Everett kept the gun trained on Ian while Paige grabbed one of the sheets Jana had stripped from the bed and nestled it around Jana’s head, afraid to move her. She looked at Everett and gestured to Ian. “He’s dead, Everett. You can put the gun down. We need to make sure the paramedics can find us.”

  Everett shook his head. “Not taking any chances with him until a doctor tells me he’s dead.”

  Paige nodded, looked down at Aunt Jana again, patted her arm tenderly, and then went downstairs to wait for the ambulance.

  ***

  Only after the police and paramedics had left, did Paige allow herself to collapse into Everett’s arms. The gun was gone now after Everett was reassured that Ian was indeed dead. They had sent an unconscious Jana to the hospital, letting them know they would follow soon and had made their statements to the police.

  Everett had related how he had found them, having been intercepted by Mia, who, fed up with Ian, had come to the ranch to tell them all that she knew. Before they could leave, he said he wanted to find Ellie first and make sure she knew what was happening and keep an eye on the place. Everett pulled out his phone and looked up Ellie’s contact.

  But before he could connect the call, Paige threw her arms around his neck, kissing his face all over. “I thought I had lost you.” Tears fell from her face onto his.

  “You’ll have to try harder than that, city slicker,” he chuckled and pulled her into a tight embrace.

  She laughed and held on tighter. He pushed her back a little and his mouth found hers. She sighed contentedly. Against their kiss, he whispered, “I love you.”

  She pulled back and said, “I love you too, but I was expecting a boring summer riding horses and baling hay. Nobody said this story would end with a gunshot and a kiss.”

  He pulled her back into his arms. “This is a story about cowboys. Guns and kisses are always a part of that story.”

  Epilogue

  It was not what I had expected. This day. I thought I would be nervous, terrified even, but when Paige appeared around the side of the bar, her arm linked with her dad’s, I felt the greatest sense of peace. When she was in full view, her ivory dress flowing onto the ground, intricate designs of beads and lace flowers adorning her, I lost my breath for a moment, taking in her beauty.

  I had wanted to get married right away, but winter was just around the corner, and Paige said it was important to her that this day be in the early part of summer, when the sun ruled the sky but had not taken completely over so that the heat was tolerable. Who was I to argue? Especially now when the late afternoon summer sun was casting such a glow around her. Her father leaned forward and kissed her cheek, and I couldn’t wait for this day to be over, to be alone with her.

  My best man, Connor, noticed my face turning pink and nudged me. “It’ll be over soon and then you can have her all to yourself.” I heard Ethan, Jimmy, and Matt snicker, standing next to him.

  Ellie shushed us and I looked over to where she was standing, waiting for the bride to take her place next to her. She winked at me. Aunt Jana cleared her throat from the front row, clearly trying to make us behave like proper representatives of Rock Creek Ranch. Of course, she had made this the social event of the year. I looked back down the aisle to watch my girlfriend—wife, almost—walk toward me, and I didn’t mind Jana’s attempt to make this another event to show off the ranch. I was laser focused on the woman I loved. If you asked me later what music was playing at that moment, I couldn’t tell you. I could only see her, could only hear my heart beat.

  It was hard to believe it had been less than a year since she had walked into that same barn and taken my breath away. So much had happened since then.

  I glanced back at Aunt Jana and smiled. She had really outdone herself with this wedding. I hoped this was everything Paige had ever dreamed of. It was more than I could ever have imagined. Aunt Jana had been through a lot this past year, perhaps more than any of us. She was still a pain in the ass, but I had nothing but respect for how she had risen to the occasion. She had barely been conscious a day when she summoned Colt, the county sheriff, to give her statement about what had happened, about Rick’s role. She had cooperated so completely and so courageously, it was hard to believe this was the same woman who had seen me with such contempt for so long.

  Everyone had turned to watch my beautiful bride walk down the aisle. Who could blame them? She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. I noted that her former Chicago editor Hugh was just behind Jana. I would make sure to thank him for sending her to me. Bill Craig, the Dallas Star editor and Paige’s new boss (and biggest fan, thanks to that hell of a story she wrote about her summer on Rock Creek Ranch), sat next to him.

  My eyes returned to Paige as she joined me in front of an altar of sunflowers that Ellie and Aunt Jana had put together. I breathed in her scent as I took her hand. Her father kissed her again and went to sit next to Aunt Jana.

  Paige handed her bouquet to Ellie beside her and hitched up her dress a little, revealing cowboy boots. I raised my eyebrows and she winked, saying quietly, “I don’t reckon you’d see a city slicker wearing these on her wedding day.”

  I laughed softly as the preacher called everyone to attention. I squeezed her hand and turned to the preacher, ready to say whatever he wanted me to say so I could take my wife and ride off into the sunset, so grateful she had dared to love this cowboy.

  ******* The End *******

  I do hope you enjoyed Gavin and Lucy’s story. If so, I’d like to ask you to take three. Take three minutes to do three things:

  Please leave a review. Oftentimes, purchasing decisions are based on other rea
der’s reviews.

  Please follow me on my blog and Facebook. This way you’ll be the first to know when a new book comes out.

  Please give book two a try: the story of Everett and Paige. I’m including the prologue and a bit of chapter one to get you started.

  ~Enjoy and thanks again, Charlene

  Captivated by a Cowboy excerpt

  CHARLENE BRIGHT

  Trey dug the arrowhead out of the peat and wiped away the dirt with his calloused fingers. Yep, he had found another one, just like the ones he used to find with his brother Chase when they were kids. He couldn’t count how many times they had run up through these woods, sometimes hunting squirrels or doves, other times just running. Trey felt a bit nostalgic today; it was the anniversary of his father’s passing. It felt only right to get out into the woods and do something that the old man loved, searching for arrowheads. He and Chase had spent many happy mornings out with Pop looking for the rare treasures. Some mornings they found nothing; others, like today, they found two or three.

  It was just Trey today in the woods, enjoying the smell of pine and fir and the wet dew that permeated the dense forest. He shoved the treasures into his front Levi’s pocket, pulled back his hat, and enjoyed the feel of the sun on his face. He was alive—he and Chase both—and Pop was gone. Well, it was what it was. He pulled his hat back on his head and made his way back to the Arctic Cat. He had to be at the ranch in an hour, just enough time to ride out of the woods.

  He swore a little under his breath, angry at Chase for not showing up this morning. This was something the boys promised they would do, but of course, Chase had not shown. Trey’s little brother had a chip on his shoulder about as big as a boulder. Pop had only been gone a year but Chase had blown through his half of the ranch, spending his inheritance on beer, easy women, and God knows what else. Now he wanted Trey to share what he had. Trey shook his head in disbelief, remembering that conversation. Trey wasn’t the kind of guy you’d cross but Chase didn’t seem to be aware of that. His brother always felt as if someone owed him something. At times, it was difficult for Trey to believe that the two of them were even brothers.

  Only a little over thirty, Trey had dark brown hair, a square jaw, and dark brown eyes. He knew he was attractive to women—hell, they’d been hitting on him since high school—but he never felt pressured to get involved with a girl just because it was the expected thing to do. He had a strong, muscular build from lifting saddles, tossing hay, and riding horses, but he didn’t let it go to his head. Being in good shape was just a benefit of hard work.

  He didn’t think much about love; it seemed like a distraction to him, not worthy of his valuable time or effort. He hadn’t known anyone that had a happy marriage except his parents—both of whom were dead now—and his Uncle Robert and Aunt Nancy, the owners of the Easy R where Trey was now employed. That was also because of Chase. He had cost them their dad’s ranch, The Easy R, by refusing to wait for his inheritance. The family ranch had been sold and the money divided between the two boys. Trey wanted to keep the ranch but he had never been one to beg. What was the sense of that and why would he? Did he want a partner that didn’t want to work hard? Nope.

  In the end, he’d quietly stepped aside and let Chase have his way. Not because Trey was weak but because in his mind, Chase had proven an unworthy partner. Brother or no brother. He simply wasn’t the guy Trey wanted to work with.

  No, instead, Trey had tucked his portion of the money in a bank and forgotten about it. One day, he’d have the ranch back, or one like it, and he would start again—without Chase. For now, Uncle Robert needed him. Easy R Ranch was a working ranch, and he loved getting sweaty every day. Today was going to be one of those sweaty days. Three new horses were scheduled to arrive and they’d need breaking. That old truck of Uncle Robert’s needed a new transmission and there were cows to herd from the Easy R to Mill’s Creek, only a hundred-mile run. That wasn’t today, thankfully. They were waiting on some new hands to come in before they went on that trip. Moving a large herd of cattle from point A to point B was always harder than it sounded.

  He pushed the stiff gas pedal on the Arctic Cat and drove out of the forest and back onto the Easy R. It was 6:30 now, just in time for Aunt Nancy’s big breakfast. That woman could cook. Trey parked the Cat, grabbed the keys, and jogged inside the dining hall remembering to remove his hat before he sat at the table. Aunt Nancy had a fine kitchen in the ranch house but she preferred cooking in the large bunkhouse they had turned into the dining hall on work days. She said it was simpler, but Trey knew that, like any woman, Aunt Nancy didn’t like the idea of a dozen cowboys stomping through her home. Easy to understand, he thought. He put his hat on the rack and grabbed a spot near Uncle Robert.

  “Did you find any?” Robert whispered to him as he slathered butter on a cathead biscuit.

  “One or two of them.” He grinned, showing perfect white teeth. He dug them out of his pocket and slapped them on the table.

  “Hey, get those dirty things off the table. Come in here and grab the coffee pot, Trey. Since you’re last, you get to serve everyone.” Aunt Nancy picked on him playfully. Normally he would wave her away or pretend he didn’t hear her, but today he listened. He poured coffee into mugs and listened to the guys make comments like, “That’s a might pretty waitress you got us this morning, Miss Nancy.”

  Trey took it goodheartedly, on account of the special day. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down to eat his meal in peace. Seeing that they wouldn’t get a rise out of him, the other hands left him alone.

  As the meal of bacon, fried eggs, grits, and hash browns came to an end, Uncle Robert pulled out his clipboard. He took one last sip of his coffee and said, “Okay, we’ve got quite a bit to do today and I’m going to need everyone to step up. I don’t know if you’ve heard or not, but the Easy R is doin’ somethin’ special this summer. We’re working with a local family shelter, offering those families the opportunity to come down and see how a real working ranch operates. You all know the trouble my daughter had a few years back. This shelter saved her life. Nancy and I have always wanted to do something good for these people so now here is our chance.”

  There was some murmuring but not too much. Everyone liked Annette, the daughter of Robert and Nancy, so if it helped the shelter, why not? Trey didn’t pay much attention to what was being said. He was thinking about that transmission. The rusty pipe needed some help coming loose from the housing and if he weren’t careful, he’d end up breaking the damn thing. That would be a pain in the...

  “Trey, have you been listening? Quit playing with your arrowheads. You ain’t a kid anymore. Listen, I need you to help this Carissa Wood. She doesn’t know how to ride a horse much less take care of one but she’s going to need to know that. She’s the gal who’ll be heading this thing up. Once she gets trained, she can take the families by herself.”

  “Take them where?” Trey asked, confused.

  “Take them through Canton Canyon. That’s the weekend excursion we’ve promised them.”

  “Wait! What? I’m not teaching some social worker how to ride a horse. That’s not what I do. I got a transmission that needs replacing on the old Ford, the back fences need repairing, calves keep slipping out, and we’ve got new horses coming in.”

  “Yep, you got all that to do and you get to teach Miss Wood how to ride a horse, and care for one.” The other men were gathering their empty plates, raking off any scraps into the dog’s dish. There were plenty of dogs on the ranch, and they were always hungry. A couple of the cowboys grinned at Trey, but none offered to take his place.

  When it was the two of them, Trey tried to reason with him. “Uncle Robert, this isn’t what I do. Why can’t Billy or Coleman do it?”

  “Because they’re both crazy and they think they’re some kind of Romeos. I don’t need them embarrassing me or the lady. I know you will be a professional and you will keep your hands off the merchandise, right nephew?”

  Tr
ey sighed. No arguing with Uncle Robert when he makes up his mind. “Fine but I hope it don’t take up a lot of time. I do have a lot to do.”

  “Well, you’ve got today. She won’t be here until tomorrow sometime. That should give you plenty of time to check off that list.”

  Trey laughed at the idea. “I’m good but I’m not that good. That transmission is going to be a b—”

  “Watch that language, son. Ladies are present.” Aunt Nancy and her helper, a young woman named Melody, came to clear the rest of the dishes and start the dishwasher. The younger lady smiled and batted her eyelashes at Trey but he pretended he didn’t see her. Aunt Nancy met him at the door and handed him his hat.

  “In case he didn’t say it, thank you, Trey. This means a lot to your old aunt.”

  “You ain’t old, Aunt Nancy. You just married an old man.”

  “I heard that,” Uncle Robert shouted from the table, filling up his coffee cup one more time.

  “I figured you did.” Trey laughed and walked out the door. He sure didn’t want to babysit some weekend warrior wannabe but what choice did he have? His aunt’s and uncle’s hearts were in it. He couldn’t let them down.

  He took a deep sigh and eased his hat onto his head, one hand at the front, one at the back. Yeah, this was going to be an interesting week.

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  About the Author

  Charlene Bright is the author of several contemporary western romance novels. She’s a lifelong resident of the American South and currently residents in southern Oklahoma on a family-owned cattle ranch. She greets each morning with a hot cup of coffee and an optimistic smile. Traveling to America’s national parks is her favorite pastime. You can find out more about Charlene and her books at Charlene Bright and don’t forget to connect with her on Facebook.