Baby-Daddy Cowboy (The Buckskin Brotherhood Book 3)

by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Stephanie Bond

  “Kind of. I was too happy to sleep much. I kept waking up so I could look at you lying beside me.”

  A heart-melting confession. “That’s very sweet.” She cleared the tightness from her throat. “Will you be okay out on the trail?”

  “Sure. I’ll have Nick tie my wrists to the horn so I don’t fall off.”

  “CJ!”

  He laughed. “I’ll be fine. Cowboys don’t need a lot of sleep. Listen, gotta go. I’ll come fetch you after work. Love you.” He disconnected before she could respond.

  But a response had been halfway to her lips. Love you, too. How easy to say it now that the dam had been breached. Not so easy to face the consequences, though.

  She was still staring at her phone when it lit up with a message from Lucy.

  Not sketching this morning. Want to go for short ride and then have breakfast at my cabin?

  Yes. I can be ready in ten minutes. I’ll bring my decaf coffee beans.

  Perfect! Be there in ten.

  Isabel dressed quickly in jeans, a T-shirt and her new boots. Giving her hair a quick blow-dry, she straightened up the cabin. She tucked the votives in an empty dresser drawer, put the champagne in the kitchen and dumped the water out of the bucket.

  Last of all she scooped up all the rose petals she could find and dumped them in the trash. She’d never look at rose petals the same way again.

  The rumble of a truck’s engine announced Lucy’s arrival. Isabel grabbed her hat and her bag of coffee beans before walking out on the porch. The deep blue paint job glittered in the light from the rising sun.

  “Your truck’s looking good, Luce.” She put on her hat as she descended the porch steps.

  “Better than I do, I’ll bet.” Lucy got out wearing shades in addition to a hat. “The Babes sure can party.”

  “How late did you guys stay up?”

  “I crashed at two, but Henri said the rest of them didn’t pack it in until past three. I’m clearly the weak link.”

  “Are they sleeping it off at Henri’s?”

  “Oh, no. They brewed some of your coffee, which they adore, by the way, and they were out of there early, ready to tackle their daily routine.”

  “That’s impressive.”

  “I don’t know how they do it. I have zero energy for sketching this morning. A nice gentle ride is all I’m up for. Thanks for keeping me company.”

  “Glad to. I wondered if I’d have another chance to ride before I leave.”

  “Can’t believe it’s Friday already. The week went fast.” She gestured toward the truck. “Climb in.”

  Isabel grinned as she swung up into the passenger seat and closed the door. “I can see why you like driving this rig. The world looks different from here.”

  “Doesn’t it?” Lucy put the truck in gear, backed out and headed down the road CJ had taken earlier. “When I first moved here and needed something to drive, I thought Matt has a truck. I’ll get a cute little car. Then I saw Celeste on the lot, took her for a test drive, and decided Matt and I would be a two-truck family.”

  “It suits you. You’ve always been a take-charge woman and this is a take-charge vehicle.”

  “And she’s beautiful, inside and out.”

  Isabel laughed. “Yes, she is.”

  “I have an ulterior motive for inviting you to go riding this morning.”

  “Good, because I have an ulterior motive for accepting the invitation.”

  “Because you need to talk about last night?”

  “Desperately.”

  “Thank God. I didn’t want to pry, but—”

  “He didn’t propose.”

  “He didn’t? Ha! I bet right on that one.”

  “You mean literally bet?”

  “Literally. I had five bucks that said he wouldn’t propose. CJ would want to do it right with a ring and there’s no way he could come up with a ring that fast.”

  “Who was betting?”

  “Everybody—the Babes, Millie, Kate, the Brotherhood.”

  Isabel laughed. “I should have seen that coming, but I’m still the new girl in town. I haven’t fully absorbed the culture.”

  “If he didn’t propose, what was the deal with the candles, flowers and champagne?”

  “He wanted the setting to be special when he said he loved me.”

  “Awww! All that for a declaration of love?”

  “Yeah.” Her throat tightened up again. “He’s only said it to his mom and Henri. Announcing it to me was a big deal.”

  “And what did you say?”

  “I admitted that I’m in love with him, too. He pretty much knew it, anyway. Jake told him I was.”

  “Any of us could have told him that, but having you confirm it must have made him happy.”

  “It did, until I said people who love each other make careful decisions about the future because they want the best for their loved one.”

  “Meaning you think his plan sucks for him.”

  “Yes, but I didn’t put that fine a point on it.”

  “Did you guys argue?”

  “No. We…danced. And made love.”

  “Huh.” Lucy parked in front of the barn, shut off the motor and gave Isabel a long look. “Sounds like you might be reconsidering your position.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.” She unlatched her seatbelt and turned. “Last night he couldn’t sleep because he was so happy that I love him back. He told me he kept looking at me lying there asleep beside him.”

  “Wow, he is in love.”

  “Yeah, and when he left this morning, I went to the window so I could watch him walk away. As he headed down the road, he punched his fists in the air like Rocky.”

  “That’s cute. And so are you, hurrying over to the window for one last glimpse.”

  “I’m a dork.”

  “A dork in love.”

  “It’s true. CJ is just…so great. The thing is, he’s happy now, but—”

  “FYI, your happy guy is headed this way.”

  “He is?” She glanced out the passenger window and her breath caught. CJ sauntered toward the truck, his hat nudged back and his gaze trained on her. Then he smiled, filling her with warmth and sunshine. “I’m crazy about him, Luce.”

  “Looks like he’s in the same condition. He might relocate whether you agree or not.”

  “Oh, he wouldn’t do that.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Before she could respond, CJ opened her door. “Hi, there.” He offered his hand.

  “Hi, yourself.” His firm grip as he helped her down sent hot signals to her lady parts. “Thanks.”

  “My pleasure. Listen, I’ll pick you up at four-thirty, if that’s okay.”

  “Sure. Whenever you’re ready. Are you going to play your guitar tonight? Lucy said you usually do.”

  “Would you like that?”

  “I’d love it.”

  “Then I will.”

  “Hey, CJ,” Lucy rounded the truck. “Thanks for fetching our horses.”

  “You’re welcome. I hear last night was a blowout.”

  “You could say that. Did Izzy tell you she aced the apple bobbing at the shower?”

  “She did.”

  “I knew she would. We used to play it at Halloween parties and she’d always win.”

  “I credit my good teeth.”

  He laughed. “You do have very nice teeth.”

  “I should. My father’s a dentist.”

  He gazed at her. “Interesting. Didn’t know that.”

  “There’s a lot we don’t know about each other.”

  “Yes, ma’am and that’ll be the fun of it. Discovering new things every day.”

  Every day. But they only had two left. He couldn’t be talking about this visit, so he had to be projecting into a shared future… in Seattle.

  She’d better figure out what the heck she wanted to happen before he took the decision right out of her hands.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Inviting
Izzy to hang out at the bunkhouse had been a spur-of-the-moment idea, and so far, it was going well. Millie usually came over with Jake on Friday nights and found something to do while CJ helped Jake with food prep. The kitchen only accommodated two cooks.

  Millie had taken a notion to pick wildflowers tonight and use Mason jars to display them on the long picnic table out by the fire pit. No sooner had she announced her intentions than Izzy volunteered to help and off they went, joking around as if they’d been friends for years.

  He and Jake had made chuck wagon stew so many times they worked on autopilot. While Jake handled cubing and browning the meat, CJ sliced and diced the veggies.

  Jake presided over two skillets since they were making a double batch. “Hard to believe you got that phone call from Isabel last Friday while we were doing this exact same thing.”

  “No kidding.” CJ washed the veggies and pulled his favorite knife out of the wooden block on the counter.

  “Haven’t had a chance to ask how last night went.”

  “Damn, that’s right. I’ve talked to so many people today I forgot you weren’t one of them. That’s what you get for taking the day off to work on your cabin.”

  “Need to finish the porch so Millie can hang paper lanterns on it. She’s fixated on having pretty lights on that porch.”

  “It’ll look good.”

  “It will, but she wants bright colors and the whole idea was making the cabin nearly invisible to the naked eye. That’ll nullify the program.”

  “Do you have another fight brewing about that?”

  “No, we do not. I’m giving in on the lanterns. She’s wanted some ever since Henri put them up in her yard. Millie loves embellishments. And I love Millie, so there you go.”

  “You’re an inspiration to us all, bro.”

  Jake chuckled. “Glad to be of service.” He tossed meat in each skillet and the cubes began to sizzle. “What came out of last night, anyway? Must be good. You’re generally cheerful, but tonight you’re optimism on steroids.”

  “I told her I love her and she said she loves me back.”

  “Just like that? No conditions on her part?”

  “Oh, she has conditions. She started right in on her favorite theme—that loving someone means you make sure the situation is right for each of you.”

  “She’s still against you relocating.”

  “She was then, but I swear I’m making progress. She didn’t bring it up again. Instead we…well, you know.”

  “Uh-huh. Is that particular activity dazzling enough to change her mind about Seattle?”

  “I’m doing my best. The rose petals helped.”

  “Yeah? Maybe I need to reconsider my stance regarding roses and petals.”

  “All I can say is that last night was great. But time will tell.”

  “You have precious little of it left, my friend.”

  “I’m aware. But I’ve leaped the biggest hurdle. She loves me and is willing to say so. I can’t imagine living without her, now. If she gets to the point where she can’t imagine living without me, game over.”

  “I hope tonight doesn’t put a hitch in your giddy-up, cowboy. Chuck wagon stew night’s all about the family ties Isabel’s opposed to cutting. Henri’s even decided to come.”

  “She has? Matt said the Babes were up to all hours.”

  “They were, but Henri’s taken a nap since then. I assume she wants to observe you and Isabel at close range. A lot is at stake.”

  “That’s true, but all along she’s been preparing us to thrive anywhere. If I make this Seattle move work, she and Charley get most of the credit.”

  “Guess so.”

  “You don’t think she’ll be happy about that?”

  Jake paused to glare at him. “Happy for you? Hell, yes. But happy that you’re gone? No! Nobody wants to see you leave, bro.” He cleared his throat. “Especially me.”

  CJ chopped some more veggies without saying anything. Moving ten hours away would cause his brothers pain and he’d failed to acknowledge that. Instead he’d focused on his own issues.

  He took a shaky breath. “I wish there was a way for me to be with Izzy without putting everyone through this. But as I see it, this is the only viable option.”

  “Then you have to do it.” Jake’s voice was gruff. “We might not like the way the situation turns out, but we’re behind you a hundred and fifty percent. And we—”

  The kitchen door opened. “The wildflowers on the table make the place look like a trendy restaurant.” Millie walked in followed by Izzy. “Whoa! You two must be solving the world’s problems.”

  Jake flashed her a smile. “Somebody had to, and who better than me and CJ?”

  “That’s a scary thought. Hey, which one of you wants to donate your hat so I can teach Isabel the card flipping game?”

  “You can use mine.” CJ sliced a carrot and added it to the bowl of veggies. “It’s hanging over my bunk.” He paused to give Izzy a smile and treat himself to a glimpse of her. A purple tank top and snug jeans showcased the curves he’d be loving tonight.

  She smiled back. “I got a demonstration of card flipping last night but there wasn’t time to teach me.”

  “We’ll be in the bunkroom if you need us,” Millie said. “We’ll just sit on your bunk, CJ, if that’s okay.”

  “Sure.”

  After they left the kitchen, Jake lowered his voice. “She seems to like it here. Maybe that means you two will be able to visit often.” He smiled. “Or you three, eventually.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “We would, too.”

  “By the way, have you ever heard of a game where you try to find safety pins in a bowl of rice?”

  “Nope. Why?”

  “They played it at the shower last night, and for some reason they want the Brotherhood to keep the bag of rice with the pins in it. Izzy gave it to me when I picked her up just now.”

  “Keep it where?” Jake scooped the meat into the stewpot and added the veggies.

  “I don’t know. I just tucked it into the drawer under my bunk for now.” He rinsed off the cutting board and dried his hands. He was done until it was time to make the Texas toast. “Evidently they think we have a hidey-hole where we stash Brotherhood-related stuff.”

  “Why would they think that?” Jake added tomato sauce to the pot and pulled his favorite spices out of a drawer.

  “I guess because they put Babes-related stuff in that big old safe of Henri’s.”

  “They do?”

  “That’s what Izzy said.”

  “News to me.” Jake turned the heat on low and covered the pot. “Hey, Millie! What’s this about the Babes keeping memorabilia in Henri’s safe?”

  She came to the doorway. “I thought I told you about that.”

  He checked the pot and turned toward her. “Not that I remember.”

  “They use her antique safe for keeping what they jointly own, like the autographed Tim McGraw hat.”

  “The Tim McGraw hat.” CJ smiled. “They were so excited about that concert.”

  “Yeah, the hat’s special,” Jake said, “but hanging onto a plastic bag full of rice makes no sense. Eventually it’ll get weevils in it.”

  Izzy came in holding his hat and a deck of cards. “I think they just want to keep it pristine until the grudge match next week.”

  CJ looked at Jake. “A grudge match sounds like what they’d do, but why can’t one of them hang onto the bag? No reason for us to be involved.”

  “The way of the Babes is mysterious.” Jake shrugged. “They want us to keep it, so we’ll keep it.”

  Izzy glanced at CJ. “Where is it?”

  “Right now it’s in the drawer under my bunk.”

  “I guess that’s okay,” Millie said. “But I thought the Brotherhood would have a special place in the bunkhouse for all your Brotherhood stuff.”

  Jake looked puzzled. “Like what?”

  “Souvenirs, photo albums, sentimental things you
can’t replace.”

  “We don’t have souvenirs and photo albums.”

  “What about things related to your oath?”

  “It’s all up here.” Jake tapped his head. “Now I’m curious about this rice game, though.”

  “I’ll fetch it.” CJ slipped past Izzy and breathed in her scent in the process. Got slightly high doing that. Being in love was awesome.

  When he returned, Izzy stood at the end of the kitchen table with her back to him while she flipped cards toward his hat sitting in the middle. She got one in and Millie gave her a thumbs-up.

  “Good job, Iz.”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “Thanks. I have a long way to go before I’m in Millie’s league.”

  “Don’t we all.” Jake stood watching, arms folded. He glanced toward CJ. “So that’s what all the hoopla is about.”

  “Yep.” He handed it over.

  Jake tilted it back and forth. “I see little glints of metal. How many pins are in there?”

  “Twenty,” Millie said.

  “What’s the object of the game?”

  Izzy paused and turned. “You pour everything into a mixing bowl and without looking, you feel around in the rice until you find a pin.”

  Jake’s eyebrows lifted. “That’s it?”

  “That’s it.” Izzy went back to flipping cards.

  “Sounds like a piece of cake. I wouldn’t mind trying that. How about you, CJ?”

  “Suits me. We could play tonight after dinner.”

  “Yes, we certainly could.” He gave a nod of approval. “Something different.”

  “We’d have to ask, first,” Millie said. “The bag is the official property of the Babes.”

  “Then we’ll check with Henri when she gets here.” Jake set the bag on the kitchen counter.

  “Good idea. I think the guys will enjoy it, don’t you, Isabel?”

  “Definitely. Great game. Everyone should try it.”

  She and Millie were up to something, which tickled CJ to no end. Jake’s comment today at lunch had been right on. Izzy was one of them, now.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Isabel’s cheeks hurt from laughing. The men of the Brotherhood were in rare form tonight, teasing each other unmercifully all through dinner.