Made sense. Ryker was a local hero but Aleck was a special visitor from Scotland, Rory’s big brother. How could anyone choose a side?
Well, except for Rory. He watched the competition with fierce intensity, but didn’t say anything. Probably didn’t want to risk breaking Aleck’s concentration.
Gradually a crowd gathered around the table, but those folks didn’t make any comments, either. Even the country music on the sound system had been turned off. Everyone in the GG seemed to be holding a collective breath as each man struggled to overcome the other.
Aleck’s chest and arm muscles bulged, straining against the black cotton of his t-shirt. Tansy’s line-of-sight gave her a ringside view of his rigid jaw, bared teeth and the unholy fire burning in his eyes.
This was not the smiling Scot she’d served a mug of beer this afternoon or the sensitive piper who’d serenaded his kinfolk with a lullaby for a newborn. This man was a Highland warrior. And Ryker had met his match.
“Good evening.” Bryce’s mellow voice came through the large speakers on the stage.
Tansy glanced in that direction, then at the time on her phone. The show should have started five minutes ago.
Bryce stood next to the mic, his stance casual, his smile relaxed. “What do you say we call it a draw?”
Aleck and Ryker remained frozen in place for another couple of seconds before relaxing their grip in unison and smiling at each other. As they stood and shook hands, the onlookers cheered.
Ryker pulled a bandana out of his back pocket and mopped his brow. Rory dug out his and handed it to Aleck, who likely didn’t have a single bandana to his name. Yet.
“Now if y’all will take a seat,” Bryce said, “I’ll go fetch my lady and we’ll make a proper entrance.”
“Sorry if we held up the show, Bryce!” Aleck called out.
“Not a problem, cuz! That was mighty fine entertainment. You and Ryker can open for us anytime.”
Beer mug in hand, Tansy returned to her seat in time to catch Aleck and Ryker discussing a rematch.
“Guys, guys.” She shook her head. “Please don’t stage a rematch. Be content with a draw, okay?”
“But we didn’t settle anything,” Ryker said.
“Why do you have to? This outcome is way better. You’re both winners.”
“Good luck selling them on that one,” April called over to her.
“I’m gonna try, but not now. It’s show time.” She turned her chair to face the stage and Aleck did the same.
He leaned close. “Didn’t think we’d take that long. Dinna mean to delay the show.”
“I’m guessing you forgot everything but the match.” She took a sip of her beer and set it behind her on the table.
“Aye. That I did.”
“For the record, I’m impressed.”
“Are you, now?” He combed his damp hair back from his forehead.
“Very impressed.”
He grinned. “That’s worth a wee bit of sweatin’.”
“Oh?” Had he done it partly for her? The intro to Kenny Chesney’s American Kids stopped her from asking the question.
Nicole and Bryce came out rocking that song, one of Tansy’s favorites. Red and blue sequins that decorated their white Western shirts flashed in the lights and Nicole’s curly red hair was barely contained by her white Stetson.
She took both hands off her guitar and started rhythmically clapping. “Come on, folks, sing it with me!”
Tansy threw herself into the number, clapping along with the crowd and singing at the top of her lungs. Beside her, Aleck rested his right hand on his thigh, indicating the match had taken its toll. But he tapped out the rhythm with his left hand.
By the second chorus he was belting out the words in his distinctive Scottish brogue. Her heart warmed. Despite having no reason to celebrate an American holiday, he was clearly going all in.
The number ended and the crowd roared their approval. She glanced over at Aleck and he was cheering louder than everyone.
As the racket faded and Nicole took the lead with Faith Hill’s American Heart, Aleck turned to her. “Thank you for makin’ this happen.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Sure you did.” He reached for her hand and squeezed it. Then he laced his fingers through hers.
Nicole’s voice flowed over her, enhancing the energy of their linked hands. She never wanted the song to end. When it did, he slipped his hand from hers so she could applaud and he could do his best by slapping his thigh.
She leaned toward him. “I notice you’re not using your right hand.”
“It’ll be fine in a while.”
“Did you challenge Ryker partly to impress me?”
He chuckled. “First off, Rory wanted me to and I was also gettin’ sick of everyone mollycoddlin’ me. But mostly I wanted to impress you.”
“I hope you realize I already think you’re special.”
His eyes sparkled with amusement. “Meanin’ that was overkill?”
“Not at all. I just—” She discontinued the discussion since Nicole had handed her guitar to Bryce and stepped up to the mic holding a handful of Mandy’s business cards. “We’ll talk later.”
“Countin’ on it.”
Her breath caught. Unless she was mistaken, he was looking forward to being alone with her. The glittering prospect of quality time with Aleck at the end of the evening kept her from giving her full attention to Nicole.
She rededicated herself to the task because she was a huge fan of Mandy’s custom clothing. She owned several of her creations.
“I know you’re all admiring our shirts and wishing you could have one just like it,” Nicole said. “And you can! Check out Mandy McGavin’s artistry.” She executed a slow turn so everyone could see a rippling American flag portrayed in sequins on the back. “Can I have an oooo?” The audience responded. “Now give me an ahhhh.”
Tansy’s ahhhh was enthusiastic. “I love sequins,” she said as Nicole came down from the stage and began handing out business cards.
“Is that so?”
“Crazy for them. A logo shirt decorated with sequins would be awesome. Mandy’s willing to make it, but if I wear a shirt with bling, customers will want one. The guys aren’t sure Mandy can keep up with the orders.”
“Especially with a bairn to take care of.”
“Exactly. I’ve suggested hiring someone to help, maybe even a couple of people. She agrees in principle, but ironically she’s too busy to take time for the hiring process and quality control is super important to her.”
“Sounds like she needs a trusty business manager to handle that kind of thing.”
“She does if she wants to grow, but she doesn’t have time to look for that person, either. It needs to be someone she knows, ideally from here.”
“How about you?”
She stared at him. “I already have a job.”
“Aye, but…” He paused and shook his head. “Never mind.”
“What?”
“Ignore me. I have older brother syndrome. Do you have any older brothers?”
“Three.”
“Then you know what I’m talkin’ about.”
“But you’re not my brother.”
“Saints be praised. Otherwise I’d be headin’ straight to hell for my inappropriate thoughts.”
She smiled. “That would make two of us.” The strum of guitars signaled that the short commercial break was over. She faced forward again, but her peripheral vision was excellent, one of the many reasons she was a good bartender. Aleck kept glancing her way. Clearly he enjoyed the view.
She was fine with that. When he took her hand during the next slow tune, she laced her fingers snugly with his. Each time a number ended they had to let go so they could clap and cheer. Eventually, as if by mutual agreement, they held hands during every song that wasn’t a clap-along.
Toward the end of the show, Nicole and Bryce introduced an original patriotic composition tit
led Say Yes. Tansy agreed with the song’s message—say yes to the country’s ideals and act on them. But when Aleck held her hand and stroked it with his thumb, she was ready to say yes in a whole other context.
The grand finale featured Bryce and Nicole performing America the Beautiful while a video of breathtaking scenes scrolled across the wall behind them. Nicole invited everyone to sing along and Tansy did. Aleck didn’t and she respected that. The song wasn’t the national anthem, but it was in anthem territory. He stood when everyone else did, though.
After the show, Bryce and Nicole came over to thank everyone for coming.
“Thank Tansy,” Faith said. “She got the ball rolling.”
“Well, Aleck said this show was at the top of his list, so naturally I—”
“Yeah?” Bryce turned to him. “I’m honored.”
“Hey, you two are great. I’ve been hooked ever since Rory sent me your latest album. I’ve played it for a few people and you have a fan club developing over there. If you ever want to tour in Scotland, I’d be happy to set one up.”
“We’d love to.” Nicole exchanged a glance with Bryce. “We’d relay that message to our business manager except we still haven’t hired one.”
Tansy smiled at Aleck. “As you can see, it’s a common problem in these parts.”
“I’m gettin’ that.”
“Anyway, we’re going home.” Nicole gestured toward the ceiling. “From the sound of it, we’re getting quite a bit of rain. We need to check on the cat. He gets nervous when it rains hard.”
Tansy had been so absorbed by the show and Aleck that she’d missed the steady pounding on the roof of the GG. “I guess it is coming down pretty good out there.”
“Luckily we parked by the back entrance so we won’t have to go far.” Bryce turned toward the stage. “The band should be set up soon if you want to stay and wait it out.”
“I’m for that,” Cody said. “No need to rush home since the folks offered to keep Noel overnight.”
“Yeah, I’d like to hang out here a while.” April looked over at Ryker, who nodded in agreement.
“We’ll stay, too,” Olivia said. “I haven’t danced with Trevor in ages.”
“Same with me and Damaris.” Rory glanced at Aleck. “But you probably want to head home, big brother.”
“Aye. I’m startin’ to fade.”
“Let’s vamoose.” Tansy grabbed her small purse from her seat. “I’m sure a Scotsman can handle a few drops of rain.”
“That’s for sure.”
But when they opened the GG’s front door, sheets of rain poured off the roof as if they were standing behind a waterfall.
Aleck drew her back inside. “You know what? That’s more than a few drops of rain. You don’t have to go out in it since you live upstairs. I’ll just call a cab.”
“That’s an excellent idea except for one teensy problem.”
“What’s that?”
“There’s no cab service in Eagles Nest.”
“Oh.”
“I’d invite you up to my apartment to rest your weary head, but that’s a bold step.”
“Aye.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Temptin’ as that is, I wouldn’t be comfortable with it.”
“It’s just water.” She pulled out her keys. “I’ll beep open the locks from here and we’ll make a run for it.”
“Will the rain ruin this hat Rory bought me?”
“Not if we set it brim-side up to dry once we’re in the house.”
His eyes lit up. “You’re coming in?”
“Unless you don’t want me to.”
“Oh, I want you to, lass.”
Adrenaline shot through her system. “But you’re tired.”
“Not that tired.”
“Then let’s go.”
CHAPTER NINE
By the time Aleck wrenched open the passenger door of Tansy’s wee truck, he was soaked to the skin. “I’m drippin’ all over your seat, lass.”
“It’ll dry. Don’t worry about it.” She started the engine and turned on the wipers. “At least the rain was warm.”
“It did feel like takin’ a shower with my clothes on. I have water in my boots, too. My toes are squishin’ inside there.”
“We’ll pour the water out and see if Kendra has some old newspapers to stuff in them.” She backed out of the parking space and drove slowly toward the parking lot exit. “I think I saw a basket of papers near the fireplace.”
“Aye, there was.” He watched the wipers struggle to handle the water. “Can you see out your windscreen?”
“Windscreen? Oh, you mean windshield. The visibility’s not great, but I’ll take it easy down this road. Nobody else is out here, thankfully.”
“Except Bryce and Nicole.”
“They’re not on this road. They’re headed back into town. Nicole inherited a beautiful Victorian house from her great aunt and they live there.”
“With a cat?”
Tansy laughed. “He’s more like a force of nature. Nicole inherited him along with the house. I expect by now that cat is lounging in front of the cozy fire they built for him.”
“A blazin’ fire would be braw after gettin’ rained on.”
“Braw means good?”
“Aye, but I wasn’t suggestin’ it for us. Not without askin’.”
“And asking means disturbing Zane and Mandy.”
“Canna be doin’ that.” The rain came down in torrents, blotting out the landscape, enclosing them in a watery cocoon. “First night with a new bairn. Wonder what that’s like for them.”
“I can’t imagine.”
“Rory’s already talkin’ about havin’ a family. He said in another year or two, I’ll be an uncle. Canna fathom that.”
“I’m an aunt.”
“Truly?”
“Truly. Seven times over. All my brothers are married with kids.”
“Do you see them often?”
“I’ve gone back twice since moving here. It’s…weird.”
“How?”
“They all act like my decision to live in Eagles Nest is a phase I’ll outgrow. They don’t say that to my face, but Cameron, who’s seven, told me straight out—Daddy says you just have to get this out of your system.”
“Let me guess. Cameron’s da is your eldest brother.”
“Bingo. Thinks he knows what’s best for everyone.”
“Must be annoyin’.” And he’d delivered the same claptrap to Rory more times than he could count. At least he hadn’t made the mistake of treating his brother’s Montana plan as a phase. That would have seriously strained their relationship.
“It’s very annoying. I’m nothing like my brothers. My birth certificate says I’m Mom and Dad’s biological child or I’d swear I was adopted.”
Good thing he’d reined in his advice-giving impulse earlier tonight. He’d been on the brink of saying that tending bar at the GG wasn’t a growth position, whereas offering her services as a business manager had a future. She had two potential clients within easy reach.
If he’d finished that arrogant speech instead of thinking better of it, he’d have come off sounding just like her patronizing brother. He had even less reason to state an opinion. What she did with her life was none of his damn business.
Ah, but he was curious about what she’d rebelled against. “What do they expect you to do once you get this out of your system?”
“Go back to school, get my law degree, join the family practice.”
“Ah. Solicitors, are they?” Now he was really glad he’d kept his mouth shut. Between his older brother status and his profession, he could be tarred with the pompous ass brush in no time.
“Yep. Dad started the firm and he’s semi-retired now that the boys are on board.”
“Given all that, I’m surprised you’ve had anythin’ to do with me.”
She smiled. “I wouldn’t have if you’d come into the GG without the hat and boots.”
“I almost
did.”
“What changed your mind?”
“You haven’t figured that out?”
“I have a theory, but I could be wrong.”
“I wanted to make Rory happy.”
“I knew it. You abandoned logic because you love your brother.”
“Aye. It finally registered that outfittin’ me in a hat and boots meant the world to him.”
“I’m sure it did. Hang on. I’m coming up on the ranch road. It’ll be muddy. We might do some sliding.”
“I’m prepared.” Although she made the turn at a snail’s pace, her wee truck fishtailed anyway and he grabbed the armrest to steady himself.
“Sorry about that.” She got the bonnet pointed in the right direction and continued down the road. “Slippery out there.”
“Now I’m thinkin’ about you drivin’ back down this road alone. What if you end up in a ditch?”
“I’ll call George’s Garage. They have a tow truck.”
“Would they come get you in the middle of the night in the rain?”
“Probably.”
“That’s not the ringing affirmative I was lookin’ for.”
“I won’t get stuck. Even if I do, I have a bunch of people I could call. Rory and Damaris will pass this way to get home and so will Cody and Faith. It’s not like I’d be stranded for hours.”
“I don’t want you stranded for five minutes, let alone hours.”
“Look, it’s not going to happen so there’s no reason to keep talking about it. I’d rather hear more about the hat and boots. He told me he was planning to pay for them. Did you let him?”
“I had to after he proudly announced he was making decent money and could afford it.” He’d switch topics for now, but the discussion wasn’t over. “That’s another reason I want to make sure the rain didn’t do any damage. I plan to have these items a very long time.”
“You two really are close. It’s a shame you live so far apart, now.”
“I miss him like the devil. When I take home the hat and boots, I’ll be takin’ home a reminder of my brother. Makes me wonder why I argued so hard against buyin’ ’em. Pure stubbornness, I guess.”
“And maybe habit? After all, arguing your side, or your client’s side, is how you make your living.”
A Cowboy’s Destiny: The McGavin Brothers Page 6