Taming Clay

by Raeann Blake

  He stopped next on Isaac Yates. He had come to work for them just two days after that fateful day in Bozeman. He hadn’t severed all ties with his father, but he had walked away from the life they had led before…carrying with him the copies of financial records that would prove that he had cheated more ranches than just Clay’s with his over-billing. Those records and Isaac’s threat to turn them over to the authorities had at least for now stopped his interference in Clay’s life. And Isaac hadn’t lied. He was an excellent cook. It was nice to see Shack being able to take it a little easier. And Clay was rapidly learning that he really was a nice guy and even enjoyed talking to him.

  Mitch York was there. He had asked Isobell out very quickly. Laine had been almost despondent when she went on that date and then a second one. When he found out there was a third date, he had asked her to take a ride with him. When they came back…well, the third date never happened. Mitch hadn’t seemed to mind and was actually seeing Amy now. Hailey said she still hadn’t heard her say two words but Mitch didn’t seem to mind that she didn’t talk much.

  Jean Ann was there. Clay had learned that she had known all along that Shack was his father. Nobody had told her and she and Shack had never discussed it. It had been more that she noticed the resemblance between them right from the first and with each passing year the resemblance was even more obvious, even though Shack always kept a stubble on his face and a little gravel in his voice to keep the fact that they were almost identical hidden.

  Charlie had grown even closer to the family; so much so that Clay and Hailey had talked several times about trying to get him to move in the house. Her old bedroom was empty now. Oh, they had talked Isobell into moving in there for a while. But she seemed to spend more time in the room above her and they had finally given up the pretense of that and just moved her into Laine’s room.

  Houston, Davey…all of the hands were there. Not one had missed this occasion. The only person missing was Hailey’s brother. She had called him. He had wished her well but declined the invitation to come. Clay knew it had hurt her even though she tried not to let it show. So she had asked Shack to give her away.

  He finally turned to Laine at his side and found the wide smile there as Laine laid a hand on his shoulder.

  “Ready, buddy?”

  “So very ready. I still don’t know why you and Isobell are waiting three more weeks instead of making this a double wedding.”

  “And miss a chance to have another party like this? Are you kidding? We’ll get there. By the way…I don’t think I ever thanked you for suggesting I buy that necklace.”

  Clay smiled and then laughed softly. “Laine, you’ve given me advice and guided me through some really tough times in my life. You’ve been my best friend since the day you first drove in here. It feels good to know that I actually came through for you once. You’re more than my best friend. You’re my brother.”

  Laine swallowed hard then nodded and tightened his hand on Clay’s shoulder. “As you are mine. Thank you, Clay. Thank you for being in my life and letting me be a part of your family. Look, buddy,” Laine said softly as the back door opened and the band they had hired started the music.

  Clay smiled broadly when Timothy and Taylor came through the door first. Timothy had Clay’s ring. Taylor had Hailey’s. They were the cutest things in their little jeans with their belt buckles that sported the ranch brand on them and blue western shirts that matched those worn by all of the other men who were taking part. Kathy came next and Gage moved into place beside her to escort her. She was beautiful in jeans, a belt and buckle that matched all of the others, and a soft yellow western shirt that was open just enough to show the necklace that had belonged to their mother. She had never told anyone except Gage that she had taken some of their mother’s jewelry out of her room before Clayton disposed of everything she had.

  He heard just the slightest grunt from Laine when Isobell stepped into the doorway and Charlie moved to her side. She was dressed the same as Kathy, but the necklace around her neck was the one Laine had given her. It went well with the diamond ring he had placed on her left hand just two weeks ago.

  Clay held his breath when the band moved into the wedding march.

  “Oh,” he whispered when Hailey and Shack appeared in the doorway.

  Her hair was tousled loosely around her face. The diamond earrings that adorned her ears were ones given to her by all of the hands as a gift for her ‘something new’. The sapphire necklace at her throat was one that had belonged to his grandmother, Shack’s mother, for ‘something old’. Her ‘something borrowed’ was a lace handkerchief that Isobell’s mother had made for her when she was little. He knew that was supposed to be tucked neatly into the back pocket of her jeans but there must have been tears already since it was clutched tightly in her hand. Her shirt was the very palest blue he had ever seen, so pale it was almost white. She had insisted that would be her ‘something blue’. The other two women had insisted it wouldn’t and had put their heads together and come up with a plan. And he knew for a fact that in one of the back pockets of her jeans were two items.

  One of them was pink, the other one was blue. Two tiny little socks. One each of the two pairs they had purchased. One of which would be worn home from the hospital some day in the future on the miniature feet that belonged to the wondrous creation that was currently nestled snuggly underneath her heart…the first of Shack’s grandchildren that they had made together. The first of a new generation of Winslow’s.

  About the Author

  Raeann Blake has worked in software development for more than a decade, but uses a long history of experience in occupations from waitress to assembly line worker, from secretary to stay-at-home mom and more to lend credibility to many of her characters. A vivid imagination led her into being a “closet” author for more than five years before she finally decided to heed the advice and encouragement of her family and friends to share her work with others.

  Although a native Texan, Raeann is convinced she was really supposed to have been born in Montana, or that she at least lived there in a previous life. She currently lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her husband and a crazy dog that eats walls and pretty much anything else (the dog, not the husband). Between her full-time job, supporting her husband’s band, and trying to keep the walls intact, she still finds time to write and feed that inner being that keeps whispering new stories in her ear that insist on being told.

  Watch for these upcoming titles from Raeann Blake

  Single Titles

  Red Says I Love You

  Kansas in Montana

  Tucker Blood

  Hiding Yesterday

  The Seven Brothers of Elko (series)

  Jake

  Davis

  Michael

  Tommy

  Casey

  Bo

  Lonnie