One Hundred Choices (An Aspen Cove Novel Book 12)

by Kelly Collins

  They saddled their horses in silence. Wyatt threw the man two bottles of cold water before they headed downrange.

  “You live at Lloyd’s too?” Jimmy asked.

  “Nope, I’m housed elsewhere because of his daughters. You?”

  “I’m staying in the house for now. I don’t see his daughters throwing me much attention. I’m older than their pops.”

  “Old don’t mean you’re dead. Word of caution; that shotgun on the porch is loaded.”

  Jimmy laughed. “Son, I’m sixty-five. I might not be dead, but the body don’t work like it used to, and when it functions, it’s usually in the most inopportune places. I’d say I’m safe. What about you? You got a filly?”

  “I’m not sure.” They moved along the fence, looking for breaks. “I thought I did, but then I pissed her off when I started a fight.”

  “Went all caveman, huh?” He held up a hand that showed a crooked finger. “Busted that one on some guy’s jaw when he looked at my date with lust in his eyes.”

  “What did she do?”

  “She took me home and had her way with me, but women are different these days. They say they like strong men, men who take charge. But go all Fifty Shades on her, and you’ll wake up tied down, doused in kerosene, and her standing there with a match. Women want guitar playing, laundry washing, housecleaning men. Hell, nowadays it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between men and women. What the hell is hair product for men? When did we start using anything but a bar of soap for skincare? We didn’t care if our food was poached, broiled, or baked as long as it was plentiful and hot. Now I’m supposed to recite poetry, chop wood and kill a bear with my hands. No, thank you. I’ll stick to my horse.”

  Wyatt laughed. “Killing bears is Cade Mosier’s job. The rest I can’t answer for. You’re right, women are difficult, but find the right one, and she’s worth the trouble.” He thought of Three, whose birth name was synonymous with triple trouble. If he had to dance in the front yard with a boombox on his shoulder, shave his legs and wear a kilt, or get down on his knees and beg, he would.

  They finished early, and Lloyd told Wyatt to go home. It wasn’t often they got a day off, so beating Three back to the bunkhouse was a treat. He stopped by the corner store and picked up stuff for dinner and a package of peanut butter cups, which was her favorite. He also got a bouquet.

  He wouldn’t normally enter anyone’s room without permission, but with Tom around, flaunting anything romantic was like poking a wasp’s nest. Putting flowers and candy on the table was an invitation to fight. Hell, cooking for her and not Tom was the same, but it wasn’t an in the face taunting since he’d set the tone from day one.

  It didn’t sit right that she had to spend her days with a guy she loathed. Each day he returned home, he found her looking like she wanted to gag and hogtie him. That was when she came out of her room.

  He opened the door and breathed in her space. She always smelled like a sunny day if that was a scent. That and flowers or floral shampoo. She didn’t leave her stuff in the shower because Tom helped himself to everything. The man had no boundaries.

  He set the flowers and candy on her pillow. When he turned, he saw two framed photos. One was of her and her brothers and father. Another was older. Trinity was a child sitting on the hip of a woman who was her doppelganger. How awful for her to feel like she wasn’t enough for her mother to stay. She had a list of people who let her down, and he refused to be one more.

  He closed the door and walked into the bathroom to shower off the range dust. Knowing she would do the same, he wrote on the steamy mirror, Please go out with me.

  He was in the kitchen when they returned. The chicken was in the oven, and the red potatoes were boiling. “I’m making dinner,” he said.

  “Smells good,” Three commented and went into her room.

  He smiled because he knew she was looking at the candy and flowers right then.

  The next thing he heard was the bathroom door slam and Trinity call Tom a pig. She walked into the kitchen, holding her towel and carrying her shampoo.

  “Don’t tell me he beat you to the shower?”

  “Okay, I won’t tell you, but he did.”

  “Dammit. There was something in there for your eyes only.”

  “Something else?” She plopped down into a chair at the table. “Thanks for the flowers and candy, but you shouldn’t.”

  He opened the refrigerator and took out two beers. When he twisted the cap off one, he handed it to her. “I should apologize in advance.”

  “What now?”

  He twisted his lips. “You always shower first. I wrote something on the mirror that would show up when it got steamy, and now he will get it.”

  She took a long draw of her beer and shrugged. “Unless you’re asking him for sexual favors, you should be all right.”

  He hoped Tom missed the message. The man was oblivious to most things, so the chance was good he wouldn’t notice.

  When the door opened, Tom traipsed down the hall wearing a towel. He looked at Wyatt and then at Three. “If the message is from you, then the answer is yes, but I pick the place, and it’s my mattress.” He turned back to him. “If it’s from you … sorry, man, but you’re not my type. I’ve got a date with several pairs of D cups.”

  “Buttercups?”

  “Yep, you want to come?”

  Wyatt continued to cut the ends off the green beans he was preparing. “No thanks, man. Not my style.”

  Tom swiped a beer from the refrigerator and walked back to his room.

  “What did you write on the mirror?” She rose and hurried to the bathroom. When she came back with her hands fisted on her hips, he knew she wasn’t happy. “Why would you do that? You know who he is and what he’s about. I’m not allowed to date anyone who works on my brother’s ranch. If I do, I’ll have to leave.” She closed her eyes and tightened her features. “I don’t have anywhere to go.”

  He moved to her and set his hands on her shoulders. “I don’t work for your brother, and I’d never jeopardize your family situation.”

  Breath rushed from her lungs. “You’re like me. You don’t intend to cause trouble, but you do. What is it that you want from me? What do I have to do to get you to stop?”

  He pressed his forehead to hers. “Go out with me. Let me show you the kind of man I can be. I’m begging you, please.”

  One step back, and she looked into his eyes. Was she searching for something? Could she see how much he needed a yes?

  “Are you asking me out on a real date? Is that why you bought the flowers and candy?”

  He moved closer. “Yes. I’ve missed you. I really want to do right by you. Kind of feel like it’s my job to make up for all the idiots in the world.”

  “I’ve dealt with a lot of idiots.” Her fingers walked up the buttons of his shirt. When she got to the top, she slid her palms over to rest on his shoulders.

  “I was one of them. Give me another chance. We’re not breaking any rules. There won’t be any more trouble.”

  “If I say yes, when will this date be?”

  “How about Saturday? You dress pretty, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

  She stepped back and turned to walk away.

  “Is that a yes?” he called from the kitchen.

  She nodded. “It’s a yes.”

  He’d never been so happy in his life. “Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes.”

  By the time she returned, Tom was gone, and they had the place to themselves. He pulled out all the stops to woo her. He lit a candle Abby had brought over in case of a power outage, which might be a possibility given the storm raging outside.

  “Is this normal for this time of year?” she asked.

  “The deluge of rain? Yes, it’s afternoon storms from here on out to fall. The worst ones bring hail the size of baseballs, but that usually happens in the foothills. Although I’ve seen some as big as golf balls here.”

  “What happens when that
hits and you’re on the range?”

  “You run for cover. Your brother has a storm shelter. I’d suggest you run for it. Let the horses loose. They’ll find safety in the trees. If you can’t make it home or to the shelter, find someplace to hide until the storm passes.”

  When they finished their dinner, he insisted on cleaning up while she curled into the chair in the corner with a book. It was a relief to see she didn’t hide in her room. He wondered if her nightly absence was because of Tom’s presence or her anger at him.

  They sat in separate chairs. She read while he watched the storm, and when night fell, he rose. “I’m heading to bed. I’ve got a long day tomorrow.”

  “Why is it any longer than the rest?” She set her book on the table and stood.

  “Because tomorrow is Friday and the day before our date. It will be the longest day in history.”

  She graced him with a smile. One that had his heart galloping.

  “You’ll survive.”

  He walked her to her bedroom door. “Can I kiss you good night?”

  She shook her head. He glimpsed the mischief lighting her eyes. “Not before our first date. Who do you think I am? Trixie from Buttercups?”

  He laughed. “I know you’re not because if you were, my wallet would be empty. I’d pay anything to see you dance for me.”

  She cupped his cheek. “I won’t dance for you, but I’ll dance with you.”

  “It’s a date,” he said.

  “Let’s get through our first date before we plan our second.” The door swung open, and she stepped inside.

  “What if our first date never ends?” he asked.

  “Everything ends.” She closed the door.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Dress pretty, he said. She didn’t own pretty or do pretty. Pretty was a flower or a rainbow. She was a cowgirl, and her nice jeans and boots were her dress-up clothes. Nice jeans meant the ones with the smallest holes.

  Part of her felt giddy with excitement, part of her filled with dread. She hadn’t done much dating in her life. There was Alec Baldwin in high school. Not the movie star but the boy whose father owned the feed store. He used to volunteer for the deliveries to McKinley Ranch. That was fourteen years ago. Since then, most of her encounters had been with cowboys on the circuit. After the rodeo, they’d all meet in the local bar and celebrate or commiserate. She’d helped one or two of the nicer guys feel slightly better for their loss.

  The people of Aspen Cove had set her up but not for a date. She had plenty of pairs of jeans and a mountain of cotton shirts, but there wasn’t a dress in the mix. This wouldn’t do.

  She grabbed her hairbrush, her mascara, and her lip gloss and walked over to Abby’s. Hopefully, she’d have something Trinity could borrow. They were about the same build; only Trinity was taller.

  The field of grass swayed on the breeze as she moved toward the cabin. The hard rain the day before cleansed the landscape, and the flowers appeared more vibrant. The dirt was a darker brown, and the sky a blue only described in books or seen in touched-up pictures.

  Her boots thumped across the porch. She stopped at the door and raised her hand to knock, but Abby swung it open.

  “It’s about time you came for a visit.”

  “I’ve been busy.”

  “To what do I owe the honor? You miss my tea or maybe the honey?”

  She hung her head. She felt bad because she hadn’t come to visit Abby, and she’d been on the ranch for weeks. Maybe it was because of her brother.

  “Out of sight, out of mind? You know … Cade isn’t a big fan of mine.”

  Abby stepped to the side and waved her in. “Not true. Cade loves you. He’s told me several times.”

  “Love and trust are two different beasts.”

  “Tea?”

  Trinity looked at her phone. She had an hour before her date, which gave her plenty of time for tea.

  “Tea sounds great.”

  “I heard you’re not working at the Brewhouse any longer.”

  “News travels fast.” She sighed. “I was a terrible server, but that’s not why I left.” She looked over her shoulder, halfway expecting to see Cade.

  “He’s not here. He went to Lloyd’s with Tom to pick up more cattle.”

  She nodded. “Right.”

  Abby boiled water in an electric kettle. Within minutes, it was hot. She pulled out pretty teacups and saucers and set a honeypot on the old kitchen table. It was the type that would have made an old-time settler’s wife proud with its delicate spindle backs and turned legs. She was surprised the chairs hadn’t crumbled under her brother’s weight.

  She fixed her tea and made it twice as sweet as usual, knowing she had to address a bitter subject.

  “There were some men getting handsy with me. Wyatt was there and came to my defense.” She could see it that way now, but in the moment all she saw was a man being a problem.

  “That’s what Cannon told your brother.”

  Trinity knew it wouldn’t take long for word to get back to him. “I’m sure he thinks I started it.”

  Abby shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. The only thing Cade wants is to get his ranch established. A fight at the local bar doesn’t influence that, but one here might.”

  Trinity stared into the amber-colored liquid. “I stay in my room all night so there are no problems. I was never the problem. What is it with guys who think they have a right to touch? I’m not a puppy, or a kitten, or a stuffed animal on a shelf to be rubbed and fondled.”

  “Men are imbeciles.” Abby raised her cup like a beer for a toast. “Here’s to strong women and the stupid men we love.”

  She’d come over with a single purpose. She needed a dress. Asking for one would open up a conversation about her date. She didn’t want to go there, but she also wanted to pretty up.

  “I was hoping you’d have a dress I could borrow.” She gnawed on her upper lip. “I have a date.”

  “With Wyatt?”

  She narrowed her eyes, forcing a notch between her brows. “How did you know?”

  “I’m not blind. I’ve seen you two walking at night. Sometimes you hold hands. Sometimes you giggle and sneak a kiss like a kid. The sound moves through the valley like a megaphone.”

  “Does my brother know?”

  She shrugged. “Not sure. Why would it matter?”

  “Because he was serious when he told me not to date anyone who worked for him.”

  “You’re safe then. Wyatt doesn’t work for him.”

  “It’s the only reason I said yes.” She looked down at her jeans and boots. “The biggest problem is I arrived with one outfit. The people in town were kind enough to give me clothes, but I have nothing to wear on a date.”

  “I’ve got some dresses. They come to my knees, so they should cover your bottom.”

  “That’s a priority if I don’t want to start another fight.”

  Abby stood and held out her hand. “Some girls have all the luck. No man has ever fought over me.”

  Trinity rolled her eyes. “It’s way overrated. No one’s killed a bear for me.”

  “That was pretty awesome.” Abby giggled all the way to her room.

  Like the rest of the cabin, it was built with stacked logs. The warm honey-colored wood had a hand-waxed shine. She wondered if Abby used beeswax to get that glow. Even the bed was made from logs. A patchwork quilt softened the hardness of its sturdy frame.

  “I’ve got yellow, pink, or lavender. What’s your preference?”

  “I love purple, so let’s try that.” She expected a Little House on the Prairie dress with flounces and lace. Instead, she got a sleeveless sundress with a bold yellow and white floral pattern on a soft purple background.

  Abby gave it to her and pointed to the bathroom. “Come out so I can see it.”

  Trinity changed into the dress and put her boots back on. No matter what she wore, it would be paired with boots since they were all she had.

  The skirt of the d
ress fell to within a few inches of her knees. It was pretty and felt good against her skin. When she walked out to show Abby, she blushed. She’d never had a girlfriend to give her advice about anything.

  “What do you think?”

  “I think you have the greatest legs in Colorado. Geez, girl, isn’t there anything wrong with you?”

  She nodded her head enthusiastically, then leaned over to show off the scar on her shoulder. “Horse bite. Needed twenty stitches.”

  “You say that like you’re proud.”

  “I am. I didn’t cry once when Mr. McKinley sewed me up. There was no way I’d ever let a man see me cry.”

  Abby shook her head. “It’s okay to be vulnerable. It’s okay to cry.”

  “Oh, I am vulnerable, and I do cry, but I do it alone.”

  Abby rushed over and hugged her. “You don’t have to be alone, Trinity. You’re family.”

  “True, but cowboy families are different. They live by the cowboy’s creed.

  Live each day with courage.

  Take Pride in your work.

  Always finish what you start.

  Do what needs to be done.

  Be tough, but fair.

  Keep your promises.

  Stay loyal.

  Talk less and say more.

  Know where to draw the line.”

  “You memorized that?”

  “It’s a religion of sorts.” She smiled. “It’s also why I knew I could come to Cade. He may not like me, but he loves me, and he’s loyal.”

  Abby took a necklace from her drawer. “Wear this too. It’s perfect for the dress.”

  At the end of a silver chain hung a purple flower.

  “Are you sure? What if I lose it?”

  “It was five bucks at the dry goods store.”

  “What happened to that place? I went there looking for underwear, but it was closed.”

  Abby looked aghast. “Don’t tell me you don’t have underwear.”

  Trinity lifted the skirt to show pink cotton hipsters. “I bought these before I lost my job. I earned a few bucks helping Lloyd with a horse too.”

  She covered her mouth. “Oh. My. God. We promised to feed you if you took care of the horses. I’m so sorry.” She looked at her like she’d break.