“I scared the crap out of myself.” She hugged him back just as hard. “But I knew you’d come. So I finally remembered if you’re lost you’re supposed to stay in one place, so I did.” She heard Rodney yelping and whining, but she needed to keep holding onto Wyatt for just a little longer.
“Are you okay?” He pulled back to look at her. “Oh, I brought water.” He lifted the strap over his head and unscrewed the cap.
“That’s fabulous. I’m dying of thirst.” She started to gulp it down.
“Go easy. Don’t want you getting sick.”
“Thanks.” She made herself sip it.
“Sorry to interrupt, but this dog is going nuts trying to say hello.”
That’s when she finally realized Wyatt and Rodney weren’t her only saviors. Jack Chance stood there holding a very taut leash. Rodney was ready to choke himself trying to reach her. And the dog was wearing… her hand went to her mouth to stifle a laugh. She shouldn’t laugh at the dog who had so valiantly come to her rescue.
“Oh, Rodney.” Handing the canteen to Wyatt, she went over to the dog and dropped to her knees so she could give him a proper hug. He slobbered all over her face, and she didn’t care. “You are the most handsome dog in the world, Rodney. When we get back I’m booking you an appointment for the works — shampoo, cut, blow-dry, nails, massage, you name it.”
Rodney wiggled happily in her arms, whining as if to say he’d love that very much.
“It’s his first official rescue,” Jack said. “Guess I should give him the doggie treats I brought along.”
“Definitely.” Olivia stood and brushed off her jeans as relief gave way to contrition. “Listen, you guys, I’m sorry to cause you all this trouble. Going off on my own like that was pretty dumb.”
“Ah, it’s just a rookie mistake.” Wyatt sounded amazingly cheerful under the circumstances. “All’s well that ends well.”
“Yeah, it gave us a chance to test out the dog.” Jack pulled two biscuits out of his pocket and tossed one to Rodney.
Rodney missed it, which both men seemed to find hilarious.
“Great tracker,” Wyatt said. “But I wouldn’t place any bets on him in a Frisbee tournament.”
“You never know. With a little training…” Jack tossed the second biscuit in the air and Rodney missed that one, too.
Wyatt grinned at him. “The day you put Rodney in a Frisbee tournament is the day I dance Swan Lake in a tutu.”
“You’re on, twinkle toes. I already have it on good authority that you can shake your booty, so start practicing.”
“Same to you, dog whisperer.”
Olivia couldn’t believe her ears. Somehow, someway, Jack and Wyatt had abandoned their hostility toward each other. Just like that. She didn’t get it, but she wasn’t going to question it, either.
“Well, this has been fun,” Jack said, “but some of us have work to do, so I’ll be taking this Frisbee-champ-in-training back to my truck and heading for the ranch. Olivia, you can come with me or help our future ballerina pack up his gear. Up to you.”
Olivia looked at Wyatt. “You left everything at the campsite?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Oh.”
“You thought I’d take the time to break camp when I knew you were somewhere out here by yourself?”
She saw the depth of concern in his eyes and knew she hadn’t given him nearly enough credit. “I really screwed up, Wyatt. I’m so sorry.”
His expression softened. “It’s okay. I understand why you wanted to head out. Listen, you’re probably exhausted. Don’t worry about the camping gear. I’ll bring it back down.”
“No, I’m going to help you.”
“Really, you don’t have to—”
“I’m going to help you, damn it! It’s the least I can do for someone I scared the crap out of, don’t you think?”
Jack laughed. “She wants to help you, man. Take it from a guy who wasn’t always smart about these things. Stop arguing with the lady and go with the flow.”
Wyatt looked as if he wanted to say something else, but then he scrubbed a hand over his face. “All right. I’ll take that advice.”
“Good. See you two back at the ranch, then. Oh, and I’ll take care of calling Mom to let her know Olivia’s safe and sound.”
“Thanks, Jack.” Wyatt held out his hand.
“You’re welcome… bro.” Jack clasped his hand and the two men exchanged a long look.
Olivia had thought this day might never come, and yet it all seemed so easy, now. Funny how quickly things could change sometimes.
Jack and Rodney took off, and Olivia stood gazing at Wyatt. “That’s amazing,” she said.
“Yeah.” Wyatt gave her a wry smile. “All it took was a couple of smart women to straighten out a couple of dumb guys.” He stepped closer but didn’t touch her. “Thanks for talking turkey to me last night. It took some time for it to filter through my thick skull, but of course you were right, about everything.”
“I don’t care who’s right and who’s wrong. I’m just happy that you and your brother are going to be friends.”
“Me, too.” He hesitated. “What about us? Are we going to be friends?”
“I think there’s a very good chance we are.”
He looked down at the ground for a couple of seconds and cleared his throat. When his gaze met hers, it was completely unguarded and filled with passion and longing. “That’s not good enough,” he said.
“No?” Her heart began to pound.
“No.” He reached for her, drawing her into his arms. “I want to be your friend, but I want much more than that. I want to be your lover.”
She looked into his eyes. “The job’s yours. You’re very good at—”
“But I want more than that.”
“You want to clean my house? Wyatt, I don’t know what to say. I’ve always dreamed of—”
“Smartass.” He pulled her in close. “I want to be the guy.”
“The guy?”
“Yeah. The one you count on. I want to be the one you come to when something terrible happens and you’re overwhelmed with grief. I want to be the one you race to when something great happens and you’re filled with joy. I want to be there for you, Olivia.”
Happiness hummed through her as she wrapped her arms around him and hung on, loving the solid warmth of his body. “Sounds like you’re getting serious.”
“Yeah.” He smiled. “I am. Think you could be getting serious, too?”
She nodded.
“That’s good news.”
“But about cleaning my house. I really could use someone to—”
“I’ll clean your damned house.” His mouth hovered over hers. “I’ll do whatever it takes if you’ll let me love you.”
“I think that can be arranged, if the agreement goes both ways.”
“Meaning?” His mouth brushed hers.
“If I let you love me, you let me love you.”
“Lady, you have a deal.” His mouth found hers, and she could swear the woodland creatures began to sing, just like in a Disney movie.
Epilogue
“So there you have it.” Sarah picked up her mug of coffee and took a sip. “Wyatt has to lead a few wilderness expeditions, but in his spare time, he’ll be taking the necessary steps to transfer his business to Shoshone.”
Sitting across from her at the kitchen table, Mary Lou nodded. “I think that’s great. And his mother still doesn’t know about little Archie?”
“Wyatt’s not planning to volunteer the information, but I feel guilty every time I think about it. I’m wondering if maybe I should contact her and—”
“Don’t buy trouble, Sarah. She hasn’t exactly inquired about whether her son married and had a child, now, has she?”
“No, she hasn’t.” Sarah cradled her coffee mug. “That’s a valid point. And she may end up here even without me contacting her. I fully expect Wyatt and Olivia to get married before the summer’s out. The
y’re so in love. I can’t imagine Wyatt marrying Olivia without his family here, can you?”
“No, I can’t. But do you think Jack sees all that coming down the pike?”
Sarah nodded. “I think he knew from the first time Wyatt showed up that it was only a matter of time before he had to confront his mother.”
“His biological mother. You’re his real mother.”
“I appreciate you saying that, Mary Lou, but… he’ll never be totally free of her, so maybe it’s better if he faces her and gets it over with. If Wyatt and Olivia get married soon, as I predict, it will force the issue. That could be intense, but a good thing in the end.”
“Guess so.” Mary Lou pushed back her chair. “More coffee?”
“No, I should get busy. Pete’s coming over in an hour to go over last-minute details for when the teenagers arrive.”
“About that.”
Something in Mary Lou’s voice alerted Sarah. “Are you having second thoughts? I hope not, because they’ll show up in a week and a half.”
“I know.” Mary Lou fiddled with her coffee mug. “The thing is, Watkins finally wore me down.”
“Wore you down?” Then Sarah’s eyes widened. “You’re getting married?”
Mary Lou actually blushed. “Stupid, isn’t it?”
“No! It’s wonderful! We don’t have much time to plan, with the kids coming, but don’t worry about that. We’ll figure something out. Mary Lou, I’m so excited for you!” She hurried over to give her friend a fierce hug.
“No planning needed,” Mary Lou said. “We’re going on a cruise, and we’ll have the captain marry us onboard the ship. It seemed like an easy solution and wouldn’t cause anybody any trouble.”
Sarah looked at her old friend in shock. “A cruise? So how long have you been planning this?”
“Not long. You know Tyler still has connections, and she arranged it all.” Mary Lou’s brow furrowed. “You’re not upset, are you?”
“Of course not! It’s just a surprise, that’s all. A good surprise, but still. And I feel horrible asking this, because your happiness is more important, but what are we going to do about the meals while you’re gone?”
“Oh, that’s covered. I’ve asked my niece from Nebraska to come and fill in. Her name’s Aurelia Smith, and she’s a whiz in the kitchen. She’ll be great.”
“I’m sure she will be.” Sarah took a deep breath and walked back to her chair. “Maybe I’ll have a little more coffee after all.” This was shaping up to be a morning that required extra caffeine.
As she was taking her first sip, her son Gabe burst into the kitchen. “Houdini’s broken out of his stall for the last time. I say we sell that worthless piece of horseflesh.”
“Good morning, Gabe.” Sarah smiled at her youngest son. “Won’t you have some coffee?”
Gabe blew out a breath which ruffled his mustache, a bit of facial hair he loved and his wife Morgan was less fond of. “Sure. Sorry, Mom. I’ve just had it with that horse.” He poured himself coffee and came to join them at the table. “I know he’s valuable and could be a good stud for us, but he’s such a pain in the rear.”
“Pete was talking about a trainer who seems to have a way with horses like Houdini. His name’s Matthew Tredway. Ever hear of him?”
“Well, yeah, who hasn’t? But he’s hard to get. And expensive.”
“Pete seems to think he could get him. And Pete’s willing to pay the up-front costs because he’s convinced Houdini will earn it back later. I just need to clear it with you and your brothers before I give Pete the okay.”
“Hey, tell Pete to go for it, Mom. I don’t see a downside. I can’t imagine Jack or Nick will, either. That horse is getting on everyone’s last nerve.”
“All right, then.” Sarah took another bracing sip of her coffee. People were always coming and going on the Last Chance, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She smiled. It kept her young.
Matthew Tredway’s out of the frying pan and into the fire when he’s tempted by Aurelia Smith’s kitchen creations at the Last Chance Ranch in THE WAY TO A COWBOY’S HEART, book eight in the Sons of Chance series!
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Also by Vicki Lewis Thompson
The Buckskin Brotherhood
Sweet-Talking Cowboy
Big-Hearted Cowboy
Baby-Daddy Cowboy
True-Blue Cowboy
Strong-Willed Cowboy
Secret-Santa Cowboy
Stand-Up Cowboy
Single-Dad Cowboy
Marriage-Minded Cowboy
* * *
The McGavin Brothers
A Cowboy’s Strength
A Cowboy’s Honor
A Cowboy’s Return
A Cowboy’s Heart
A Cowboy’s Courage
A Cowboy’s Christmas
A Cowboy’s Kiss
A Cowboy’s Luck
A Cowboy’s Charm
A Cowboy’s Challenge
A Cowboy’s Baby
A Cowboy’s Holiday
A Cowboy’s Choice
A Cowboy’s Worth
A Cowboy’s Destiny
A Cowboy’s Secret
A Cowboy’s Homecoming
* * *
Sons of Chance
What a Cowboy Wants
A Cowboy’s Temptation
Claimed by the Cowboy
Should’ve Been a Cowboy
Cowboy Up
Cowboys Like Us
Count on a Cowboy
* * *
Wild About You
Werewolf in Manhattan
Werewolf in the North Woods
Werewolf in Seattle
Werewolf in Denver
Werewolf in Alaska
Werewolf in Las Vegas
* * *
The Nerd Series
Nerd in Shining Armor
The Nerd Who Loved Me
Nerd Gone Wild
Gone with the Nerd
Talk Nerdy to Me
Nerds Like It Hot
My Nerdy Valentine
About the Author
New York Times bestselling author Vicki Lewis Thompson’s love affair with cowboys started with the Lone Ranger, continued through Maverick, and took a turn south of the border with Zorro. She views cowboys as the Western version of knights in shining armor, rugged men who value honor, honesty and hard work. Fortunately for her, she lives in the Arizona desert, where broad-shouldered, lean-hipped cowboys abound. Blessed with such an abundance of inspiration, she only hopes that she can do them justice.
Connect with Vicki online!
VickiLewisThompson.com
[email protected]
Count on a Cowboy Page 17