The Cowboy and the Cop

by Christine Wenger

  However, his brothers had come through with a lot of money. They rode hot on the summer circuit.

  And it was cool to watch his father coming alive again. Big Dan truly enjoyed helping the historical association that gave tours of the ranch and grounds and lectured about the history of the Beaumont Ranch. His father added to the lectures by telling colorful stories about the prior ranch residents.

  Smokin’ Sammy had his smokers going and the smell wafted through the air. It’d bring buyers to the barbecue as if they were in a trance.

  Everything should be ready just as soon as the rental truck came with the picnic tables and extra tables and chairs.

  When the truck just arrived, Luke sprang into action. He helped the guys to position the picnic tables and set up the other tables, chairs and umbrellas.

  Everything was in place except for one person: Amber. Luke wanted Amber at his side. After all, he couldn’t have done half of this without her taking care of publicity and photos and lots of little details.

  Yes. What would make this barbecue perfect for him would be Amber at his side.

  * * *

  THE NEXT DAY spectators poured into the fields and pastures of the Beaumont Ranch, and Amber was one of them. Beaumont High seniors parked the cars and asked for a donation of five dollars for the ambulance fund.

  She noticed a line at Smokin’ Sammy’s; the Boy and Girl Scouts’ hot dog and burger booth was just as crowded. So was the pizza booth that the Elks Lodge operated.

  The bull riders were signing autographs in the arena. They were all dressed in their vests, which were loaded with sponsor patches, jeans, chaps, long-sleeved shirts, hats, boots and the biggest belt buckles known to exist.

  The arena announcers were going to be the Beaumont brothers. They would take turns when they weren’t riding.

  Amber had planned her entrance into the arena when Jesse was about to announce Luke’s ride on White Whale.

  “Jesse, sorry I’m late, but I can take over now,” Amber said. Jesse looked confused but relieved that he could concentrate on his own riding.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, in chute number four, wearing number one on his vest, is Luke Beaumont, last year’s Professional Bull Riders world champion. Luke is on White Whale, who happens to be last year’s Bull of the Year. This is going to be quite a match-up.”

  The chute gate opened and White Whale came charging out. He immediately went right and spun like a top while jumping at the same time. Luke hung on, matching White Whale jump for jump. The crowd went wild and were on their feet cheering for Luke.

  Amber held her breath as she always did when he rode. This time she held it for eight seconds. The buzzer rang and Luke jumped off, but he got hung up with his hand in the rigging.

  The three volunteer bull fighters pulled at his rope, but White Whale kept bucking. Luke was in danger of being stomped. Amber heard screams in the arena but hers was the loudest, as Luke tried to stay on his feet and not go underneath the bull.

  Finally, Luke’s hand came out of his rigging.

  Amber let out her breath as Luke ran to the fence and climbed it so White Whale wouldn’t hunt him down and roll him like a log.

  Then Amber realized that she should be talking about Luke’s ride...after all, she was the arena announcer.

  “Ladies and gentleman, the scores are coming in for Luke’s ride. That was a 92-point ride! What do you think about Luke Beaumont riding the Bull of the Year? Let’s hear it!”

  The stands exploded with hoots and yeehaws. Someone brought a confetti cannon and tiny pieces of colored paper rained down on Luke.

  * * *

  LUKE WALKED TOWARD Amber with a big grin. He took the microphone from her hand, gave it to some tech guy and lifted her over the fence onto the arena dirt because he wanted the whole of Beaumont to know that she was his.

  He gave her a big hug and kiss as the crowd went wild.

  “Thanks for coming back, Amber.”

  But Luke didn’t realize until three seconds later that he’d forgotten one of the important rules of bull riding: make sure the bull you just rode was out of the arena and fenced in the back before you let your guard down.

  White Whale was on the loose.

  Luke was so happy to see Amber, he forgot about the rule; he didn’t think.

  He’d just put the woman he loved in danger. Was he insane?

  The crowd screamed as he pushed Amber to the fence surrounding the arena. “Climb, Amber!”

  The bull came charging toward Luke. He executed a duck and a dodge that led the bull away from Amber until the arena bull fighters could get the animal in the back and the fence locked shut behind him.

  Luke jogged toward the announcer’s booth. “Amber, I’m so damned sorry.”

  “Luke, no problem. I’m fine. Actually, it was exhilarating. Like the rush I get when I capture a criminal. I can see why you like riding.”

  “Come with me.” He took her hand and they walked out of the arena.

  “Amber, it’s great to see you!” He hugged her close to his body. “But what are you doing here?”

  “It’s a long story, Luke. No. I take that back. It’s a short story. I was a big fish in a small pond here. Over there, I was a guppy. And they were very formal and acted like they were on active military duty. Which is okay, but it wasn’t for me. It just wasn’t what I thought. But most of all, I missed you.”

  * * *

  KISS ME, LUKE!

  He teased her lips with his tongue. She opened for him and kissed him with all the love in her heart.

  “Amber, after the rodeo is over, let’s talk. We’ll go in the ranch house, but if my father is leading tours, we’ll talk in the barn. Meet you there.”

  “Got it.”

  It was good to hear that Big Dan Beaumont was out of rehab and back at the ranch. Amber went back to announcing. The bull riding was exciting and the riders were top-notch. She felt confident talking about each rider, since she had a day sheet that one of the Beaumonts must have compiled. Another sheet had pertinent stats that she used extensively. She was on a roll.

  The spectators were excited and cheering for all the riders, standing on their feet when it seemed like a bull rider was injured. EMTs were standing by along with the decrepit ambulance and Donny Cushman’s hearse. At least Donny had had enough sense to park the hearse out of sight.

  After the bull riding was over, Amber was glad to turn the microphone over to her replacement, Dwight Frenza. Dwight was the arena announcer for rodeos and bull ridings far and wide.

  Now it was time for the amateurs to show their stuff. The bronc riding was next, with fifteen entrants. They all rocked their broncs and all made eight seconds.

  The steer wrestling had sixteen entrants. They were big, tough-looking guys who could jump off their horses and wrestle a steer to the ground. The winner got the job done in 4.82 seconds.

  The rodeo ended and Dwight announced that the riders would be in the arena signing autographs and that Smokin’ Sammy’s House of Hickory would be serving until dark.

  The event was a total success and Amber couldn’t have been happier. It pulled the town together, just like it had in the past, when everyone used to look forward to the annual Beaumont Ranch Rodeo. She couldn’t wait until all the receipts were in to see how close they were to buying an ambulance.

  Amber walked up the path to the ranch house, anticipating how it would look after all the work was done.

  But she stopped walking and stared at her family’s modified stock truck. It had a huge sign on the front proclaiming Chapman’s Craft Distilled Liquors. Now, her father’s moonshine had flavors like mango-banana and pumpkin-coconut.

  Cautiously, she approached the truck. There were jars stacked from floor to ceiling.

  “Uh... Dad, this is
quite the operation. So this is the reason for all the jars in your living room! I don’t suppose you are legal, are you?”

  “You betcha, Amber. Totally legal. I have a license from the state. Remember when you were directing traffic? I was picking up my license. We are a legal operation, and our fruity moonshine—I mean, distilled liquor—is selling like hotcakes!”

  “Yeehaw! I was so worried that you were going back to moonshining, but in a way you have! But you’re legal this time. Good for you, Dad!”

  “Thanks, Amber.” They hugged for a while, and then her father cleared his throat and whispered in her ear.

  “And we have a lot of requests for pomegranate. I just have to figure out what a pomegranate is.” He laughed then moved her away to look into her eyes. “Amber, are you here to stay?”

  “Yes. Yes, I am.” She gave her father a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’m moving into my old apartment over the Happy Tea Pot.”

  “I’m glad you’re back. We missed you. And your mother is here, too. Your three brothers and I cleaned all the junk out, painted the house and your mother picked out new furniture. Then she moved in. So, my whole family is here in Beaumont. Life is good.”

  “Yes, Dad. Life is good, but I have a feeling that it’s going to be much better.”

  * * *

  THERE WAS A line waiting to get into the ranch house for a Big Dan tour, so Amber went to the barn. What a difference from the decaying, moldering structure to the bright, sweet-smelling building that it was now.

  The temporary shed that Luke had built was now enclosed. It contained tack and was stocked with hay, oats, grain and vitamins and other supplies.

  “You did a wonderful job on the bull riding, Amber,” Luke said, slipping his arm around her waist. “I never knew you could announce like that.”

  “In case I need a new career, I know what to do. But the barn is incredible. What a difference!”

  “I owe it all to you, you know.” He bent his head and kissed her. “Thanks so much everything,” he whispered in her ear then nibbled on her neck.

  “It looks like we made enough money for a new ambulance and a fire truck, but the jury is still out. We might be able to squeeze another ambulance in.”

  Luke took her hands in his and kissed her palms. “What a terrific event. I’m running out of ways to describe it.”

  “Awesome. Awesome covers everything.”

  “Amber, are you going to go back to your old job?”

  “I talked to Fitz. Yes. I’m going back to my old job. Then I’m going to take a leave of absence and do some traveling. Know anyone who travels...say, on the Professional Bull Riders circuit?”

  He pulled her toward him and kissed the tip of her nose. “It just so happens that I know a bull rider who’d love a traveling partner.”

  “Just a traveling partner?” she asked.

  “Hell, no. She’ll be a good friend, someone who I can talk to, and someone who loves Beaumont, Oklahoma, as much as I do.”

  “What about Luke Beaumont?” Amber asked. “I know someone who has had a crush on Luke Beaumont since grammar school. And she loves him.”

  “And I love her.” He kissed her hard, passionate, and Amber hoped he’d never let her go.

  Epilogue

  Las Vegas, Nevada

  Three months later

  “You did it, Luke!” Amber whispered in Luke’s ear as they stood in front of the chutes in the huge arena for the big award presentation. “Good for you.”

  “Since we’ve been traveling together, you’ve brought me good luck.”

  “Good to know.”

  “How many?” he whispered in her ear.

  “How many what?” she asked, puzzled.

  “Children. Remember when we talked about children, and you said that you’d like six. How about three girls and three boys?”

  She laughed. “Yes! But I was thinking of six and six.”

  “That works for me, but we’d better get busy.”

  “I’ll do my part,” she whispered back. She smiled. “That’s what I’ve always been sad about. I thought I’d never have any kids.”

  The department had an excellent maternity leave plan, and she could always change her shift or work part-time. They’d work out the details later.

  He grinned. “I’ll do my part, too.”

  The TV announcer, Mia Jackson, arrived at Luke’s side. “Luke Beaumont. Two back-to-back wins! What an accomplishment! Will we see you next season, Luke?”

  “No, you won’t, Mia. I’m going to retire. I have plans on expanding the Beaumont Ranch, and Amber and I plan on becoming contractors and hope to supply a lot of rough stock for the PBR. I’m also going to run a rodeo school on the grounds.”

  “Sounds great, Luke, but we’ll miss watching you ride. And now for the gold buckle presentation.”

  The CEO of the PBR handed Luke his gold buckle. “Congratulations, Luke.”

  Just then, Luke went down on one knee in front of everyone at the arena. “Amber, I love you. Will you marry me?”

  Excitement bubbled up inside of her. This was like some beautiful dream. She could see her whole happy future ahead of her and a house full of laughter and happiness with Luke.

  “I thought you’d never ask! Of course I’ll marry you!” She pulled him off the ground and gave him a big kiss.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, the lady said yes!” Mia said.

  The applause was deafening.

  “Amber, I don’t have a ring right now, but will this gold buckle do?”

  “Of course!” She kissed him and whispered in his ear, “Luke, you’ve always been my gold buckle cowboy!”

  * * * * *

  If you loved this story, don’t miss

  Christine Wenger’s other books:

  THE RANCHER’S SURPRISE SON

  LASSOED INTO MARRIAGE

  HOW TO LASSO A COWBOY

  THE COWBOY CODE

  THE TYCOON’S PERFECT MATCH

  IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR

  THE COWBOY AND THE CEO

  NOT YOUR AVERAGE COWBOY

  THE COWBOY WAY

  All available now from Harlequin Special Edition!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from HER TEXAS RODEO COWBOY by Trish Milburn.

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PBPA201602010001

  Her Texas Rodeo Cowboy

  by Trish Milburn

  Chapter One

  Jason Till applied the brakes on his truck at the crosswalk, allowing a group of older women holding bakery bags to cross the street. His stomach grumbled at the thought of fresh baked goods. He could almost taste the sugar. He’d not eaten since the fast-food breakfast sandwich early that morning in some small town off I-35. If he had a dollar for every time he’d grabbed a quick meal in such a place, he’d be stinking rich.

  One of the women crossing the street smiled and gave him a big, friendly wave. He chuckled a little and waved back. Then he took his foot off the brake and slowly rolled on down Main Street, glancing briefly at the Welcome, Cowboys and Cowgirls sign that hung above the street, advertising the rodeo that would start in just a few hours.

  He’d been to more small towns across the country than he could count, some of which had definitely seen better days. But Blue Falls, Texas, seemed to have a booming downtown judging by the number of people he noticed going in and out of the various businesses and walking along the sidewalks. He spotted everything from clothing shops to a bookstore to an old-fashioned hardware store that reminded him of the one he’d gone to as a little kid with his grandfather the few times he’d visited his mom’s parents in Alabama. And the bakery sat at the corner of a cross street, tempting him to make a pit stop.

  His stomach rumbled, more insistent this time, but he drove on past in favor of getting to the fairgrounds and signing in for the competition. He’d grab something there. He had no doubt there would be at least one concession stand where he could pick up a burger or some barbecue. If he did well this weekend, he’d treat himself to the biggest cinnamon roll the Mehlerhaus Bakery had. He’d bet good money they had one damn near the size of a hubcap. This was Texas, after all.

  As he pulled into the fairgrounds, he was surprised to see how many people were there already. Next to the area filled with pickups, RVs and horse trailers was a field covered with lines of open tents. Not the kind that people camped in but rather ones used for festival booths. Looked as if the people of Blue Falls were going all out for rodeo weekend.