And Then You Dare (Crested Butte Cowboys Series Book 5)

by Heather A Buchman

  To her relief, Lyric didn’t stop. She grabbed her purse in one fluid motion, spun back around, and walked in Tristan’s direction. “Let’s go,” she said as she passed her.

  ***

  “What did you do?”

  Jeez, not Billy Patterson again. Why the hell was this guy always in his business? If he wasn’t his boss, he’d tell him to leave him the fuck alone. “Not now Billy. Please.”

  “Suit yourself.”

  Thankfully, Billy walked away. Bullet didn’t want to answer, not that he had one to give him. One minute they were talking, and the next she was gone. The last thing he said triggered her departure. How could a guy telling a girl she owned his heart be a bad thing? At least Lyric was the one taking her home. He hoped that was where they were going. He’d wait a while and try to call his sister, to be sure.

  ***

  “I get it. He scares the crap out of you.”

  Tristan hoped Lyric wasn’t expecting an answer, because she had no intention of coming up with one.

  “He’s intense,” she continued. “Especially when he loves somebody.”

  “Lyric, stop. He doesn’t love me. He doesn’t even know me. And I don’t know him.” Tristan was too irritated to be polite. If Lyric continued, she’d tell her to shut up. Instead, she was the one who kept talking.

  “Look at his history. He isn’t twenty-seven years old and he’s probably fallen in love twenty-seven times. He gets women pregnant, and then decides he doesn’t want anything to do with them.”

  “That isn’t fair.”

  “Sure it is. He’s a serial father. Are those his only two, or are there more he hasn’t told me about?”

  “Now you’re bein’ a bitch.”

  “Really? Am I? If I don’t fall into bed with your brother at his will, have his baby so he can move on to his next conquest, that makes me a bitch?”

  “No. What you’re sayin’ makes you a bitch. So does the way you treat him.”

  “If I knew you were going to lecture me, and call me names, I would’ve called a cab. Can you just take me back to Renie’s, please? In silence?”

  “You took a ride with the wrong girl if you think I’m gonna be quiet. I’m beginning to think you don’t deserve him. However, no matter what you say, I know he’s in love with you, and I’m gonna defend my brother.”

  “So much for sisters sticking together.”

  “This is sisters stickin’ together, sister. ’Cause one day soon, you’ll be my sister-in-law, and we’ll be talkin’ like this every time you and Bullet have a fight.”

  Tristan looked out the window and rolled her eyes. This was pointless. Lyric was as bad as Bullet. The two of them had a warped sense of love, and relationships. Just because you had sex with someone a handful of times, didn’t mean love became part of the equation.

  Lyric pulled into Billy and Renie’s driveway, and stopped the car. “Mark my words,” she said as Tristan got out of the car.

  “Thanks for the ride,” Tristan answered as she closed the door behind her.

  Tristan was dozing off when she heard a rap on the bedroom door.

  “Come in,” she said before she thought better of it. She hoped it wasn’t Lyric at her door. Or worse, Bullet. When Liv stepped over the threshold, Tristan breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m sorry I ran out without telling anyone where I was going.” She was also glad the back door had been unlocked. She would’ve been sitting on the back stoop if it hadn’t been, since Lyric was gone before she tried to turn the doorknob.

  “We were worried when no one could find you. And then Bullet told us you left with Lyric. What happened?”

  Tristan really didn’t feel like getting into it, but since she’d been so rude, she probably owed Liv an explanation. She certainly owed Bullet’s parents an apology.

  “Bullet. That’s what happened.”

  “What did he do this time?”

  This time? Tristan didn’t like the sound of that. “Is that how it is?”

  “How what is?”

  “Is that what everyone thinks? That I’m always getting mad at Bullet?”

  Liv’s shoulder shrug answered Tristan’s question.

  “Oh God. No offense, but I need to go home, and not come back for a long, long time.”

  “Ouch.”

  Tristan grimaced. “I didn’t mean that. I’m just embarrassed. I can’t believe I’m the source of all this drama. It must seem so ridiculous. I mean, I’m that girl.”

  Liv laughed. “That girl? I can’t wait to hear what ‘that girl’ means.”

  “You know, the single girl who comes into the group and gets involved with the player guy, and then everyone gets a kick out of the drama she tries to conjure up. Meanwhile, everyone but her knows it doesn’t mean anything to him. And they think the girl is a loser for chasing the guy in the first place.”

  “Whoa! There is so much wrong with what you just said, I don’t know where to begin.” Liv scratched her head. “It’s all wrong. There isn’t a shred of truth to any part of what you said.”

  “Come on Liv. It’s classic rodeo stereotype.”

  “This is ridiculous.”

  “See? I just said it was.”

  “No, the thing between you and Bullet isn’t ridiculous. Your summation of it is.”

  Liv sat down on the bed. “Honey, there’s one thing you are doing. You’re conjuring up a lot of unnecessary drama.”

  Tristan covered her face with her hands.

  “The difficult part is that you’re so mature otherwise. Most of the time it’s hard to remember you’re only twenty-seven. Except when it comes to Bullet. Then it’s easy to remember.”

  “Liv!”

  “Do you want to know what I think?”

  “There’s more?”

  “No. What I think about you and Bullet?”

  “You’re going to tell me whether I want you to or not, right?”

  “Pretty much. The two of you like each other very much. If Bullet met you earlier in his life, I doubt he would’ve made the mistakes he has.”

  When Tristan’s head shot up, Liv raised her hand. “Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t think either of those two beautiful children are a mistake. And no matter what else you think of him, Bullet is a very good father. He loves Grey and Pearl so much.”

  “I know he does,” Tristan murmured.

  “You think he’s playing with you. I thought the same thing when I first met Ben. I was convinced I was one of a long line of one-night-stands. It took him months to prove me wrong. Don’t waste the same amount of time I did.”

  “Liv—”

  “I’m not finished. It’s possible that you more than ‘like’ each other. In Bullet’s case, he’s ready to admit his true feelings. You’re not there yet. You asked me earlier if everyone thinks you’re always getting mad at him. Yes, everyone does. We also know that as soon as the two of you see each other again, you make up.”

  “Are you finished?”

  “Nope. Here’s what else I think. Bullet isn’t anything like the cowboy who broke your heart. He isn’t lying to you Tristan. He genuinely has feelings for you.”

  “And?”

  “And…quit over-thinking it so much. Quit trying to put it in a box. It’s as though you give in to your feelings, and then sit back and wait for him to do something that proves you shouldn’t care about him. Stop it.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Tristan hated hearing the sarcasm in her own voice. Especially given Liv was only trying to be a friend.

  “Love and happiness aren’t easy to come by. Don’t be so quick to spurn it.”

  ***

  “Sorry bro.”

  “Thanks for getting her home okay.”

  “Not a problem. Wish I coulda’ talked some sense into her.”

  “Don’t. And don’t take offense at what I’m about to say.”

  “Okay.”

  “Let us figure it out.”

&
nbsp; “That’s about the most mature thing I’ve ever heard you say.”

  Bullet agreed. He was feeling mature. He wasn’t sure why, but somewhere deep inside him, he believed things would work out with Tristan. And he wasn’t in a hurry. He knew he wanted to be with her, and no one else. Once he acknowledged his feelings, the sense of urgency left him. It might not be tomorrow, but someday he and Tristan would be together. He could be patient. He’d still pursue her. He’d let her know he wanted her, and no one else, but he wouldn’t push so hard.

  It wasn’t as though he wouldn’t see her. It wouldn’t be as often as he’d like, but he would be busy chasing his other dream. One day, both would come true. He no longer cared a rip about the Lost Cowboy sponsorship. Wanting it was about winning her over, but there was a bigger prize. If he won her over, she would be his. That’s what he really wanted.

  ***

  Liv was in the kitchen talking with Renie when Tristan came upstairs. Their conversation appeared serious enough that she considered going back downstairs.

  “Good morning,” Liv waved her over. “Come join us.”

  “I don’t want to intrude.”

  “You’re not. I think I might be in labor.”

  Tristan’s eyes popped open at the casual way Renie stated her condition.

  “Her water hasn’t broken yet, but she’s experiencing some cramping.”

  “When are you due?” Tristan didn’t know much about pregnancy, but that seemed like a logical question to ask.

  “I’m a little early. So it could be Braxton Hicks.”

  Tristan’s eyes popped open again. “What is that?”

  “False labor basically. Sporadic uterine contractions.” Renie rubbed her hands over her belly. “Until my water breaks, I’m not setting foot in a hospital.”

  “We’ll see—”

  When Liv stood, Renie did too, and put her hand on her mother’s arm. “Don’t even think about calling Billy.”

  “But honey, he’s in Montana. He needs to get home.”

  “He and Jace volunteered to drive the load of broncs down so Bullet could get home earlier. They’re on their way. It isn’t as though he’s going to leave Jace on his own with the trailer and catch a flight.”

  Tristan was afraid to ask the question she knew she had to ask. “Why did Bullet need to get home early?”

  Liv hesitated, and Renie looked at her mother before answering. Liv shrugged.

  “Because you were here.”

  Tristan was at a loss for words. She had to talk to Bullet and set him straight. She was not a reason for him to come home early. Billy’s pregnant wife was. Once again she found herself feeling so embarrassed she wondered how she’d ever face these women again. If they weren’t her new business partners, she would’ve considered asking her daddy to handle the Flying R partnership so she could slip away quietly after apologizing for all the trouble she was causing.

  “Before you get worked up about this, you need to know it wasn’t his idea.”

  Tristan looked at Renie, doubting what she was telling her.

  “Billy and Jace cooked it up. Billy called me, and Jace called Bree, before they made the offer to Bullet. At first he resisted, but Billy and Jace can be persistent, so they were able to talk him into it.”

  “But why?”

  Liv walked over and put her hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “Honey, it’s plain as day to everyone but you.”

  “I don’t want this,” she scowled. “Bullet and I aren’t worth all this drama.”

  Renie’s eyes opened as wide as Tristan’s had. “Uh oh, someone has a ginormous inferiority complex. I think she’s worse than me.”

  “No Irene,” said Liv, using her daughter’s full name. “No one is worse than you.”

  They were smiling, which only irritated Tristan more. She didn’t have an inferiority complex. That wasn’t it. She didn’t want everyone getting spun up about something that was nothing.

  Tristan had to make it clear to Bullet that she wasn’t interested in a relationship with him. The extent of her attraction to him had been physical. There wasn’t anything more she wanted from him.

  ***

  “Sure. Uh, okay. Yeah, I’ll pick you up.” Pause. “Okay then. I’ll see you shortly.”

  “Who was that?” Lyric asked Bullet when he ended his phone call.

  “Tristan.”

  “Oh lord. I wish the two of you would make up your damn minds.”

  “Please don’t wish for that.”

  Lyric looked into her brother’s eyes. “Why not?” she whispered.

  “She’s walkin’ over, and I think she plans to keep walkin’ straight out of my life.”

  “I’m sure you’re wrong.”

  “No, Lyric. I’m not wrong. You know I’m not.”

  When Lyric didn’t answer him, Bullet knew she was feeling the same thing he was. He wanted to jump in his truck and get the hell out of there before she arrived. If he avoided her, he wouldn’t have to hear the words he was dreading.

  Both he and Lyric shot up when they heard a rap on the back door. “That was quick,” said Lyric.

  Bullet opened the door. “Hey Slade. Sorry, but I’ve got some other things to take care of this morning. You can head to the barn and see if anyone else needs help.”

  “I already did. And Bill told me to take the day off. Said we’d be damn busy the next few weeks so I should enjoy today.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “I’m not here for you Bullet, I’m here to see your sister.”

  Lyric pushed Bullet out of the way, and invited Slade inside. “Why didn’t you call?”

  Slade waved his cell phone. “Didn’t get your number last night.”

  “Well let’s fix that right now.”

  Bullet walked outside and closed the door behind him. He didn’t want to hear his sister’s conversation with his soon-to-be traveling partner. And he didn’t want to witness what was likely the start of a new relationship, not when the one he wanted so badly was about to end.

  He looked up the road, and could see Tristan getting closer. Five minutes and she’d be standing in front of him. He needed to think hard if he was going to come up with a way to change her mind by then.

  ***

  Tristan could see Bullet standing near the house. She also saw him walk in the opposite direction, toward the barn. He knew she was on her way, was he really going to make her come and look for him? He had to have seen her. How many people took a walk out here in the middle of nowhere?

  ***

  1972

  Bill was premature in asking Clancy to be his best man, but four years later, it was finally happening. Tomorrow afternoon he and Dottie would be man and wife.

  Dottie insisted they wait to marry until after they both graduated from college. As it turned out, they didn’t have much choice.

  She started at Western State, even though Bill was going to school in Colorado Springs. Two years later, Dottie was awarded a scholarship, and was able to transfer to Colorado College, the prestigious liberal arts institution. It wasn’t far from where Bill attended the Engineering School at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

  Unfortunately, Bill transferred to Colorado State College in Fort Collins right before Dottie found out about her scholarship to Colorado College.

  He’d been approached by the school that was Clancy’s alma mater. They offered him a spot in the College of Agricultural Sciences, and his own scholarship, as a rider for the CSU College Rodeo Team. They competed from March to May, which didn’t take much time away from his academics.

  When he gave up rodeo after he graduated from high school, he turned to the only other thing he knew and loved—ranching. Now he’d be able to do both.

  As part of his degree, Bill studied Agricultural Economics, Animal Sciences, and Soil and Crop Sciences. With all he was learning, he and Clancy could modernize the operation in Black Forest and work the land to it’s maximum potential while at the sa
me time preserving it’s natural resources.

  Right before he and Dottie graduated, Clancy finished construction on the three-story ranch house he designed for Jane and him to live in. Bill’s younger sister had married her high school sweetheart the previous summer, and the two made their home in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he’d gotten a job in management with what was known as the “Daddy of ’em All” in the rodeo world, Cheyenne Frontier Days.

  Clancy and Jane gave Bill and Dottie the original ranch house that had belonged to Russ Snyder as a combined wedding and college graduation gift.

  The house didn’t look much like it had when Bill first saw it all those years ago. Clancy had added a front porch that spanned the entire front of the house, along with bricking over the original wood siding. “Gets damn cold out here on the prairie,” he’d said when he talked to Bill’s mama about it.

  Over the course of the last four years, Clancy had either remodeled or repainted every room of the house. Bill lived in the house and helped with the work the first two years he was at UCCS. That was when the major renovations were done. It didn’t have to be spoken between them, Bill understood as well as Clancy did, that they were eradicating all signs of the former owner.

  Apart from what little Bill remembered of the time before his daddy got ill, he’d never seen his mama as happy as she was with Clancy. He remembered what Clancy told him years before, about women trying to tame him. He didn’t seem much different now than he was then, just happier. And he didn’t seem to miss the attention he got at the dude ranch from all the ladies. The only lady he seemed to care about was Bill’s mama.

  The day of Bill and Dottie’s wedding was what was known as a “Bluebird Colorado Day”. The sun shone brightly, the sky was blue as a bluebird, and the only clouds they saw were soft, white, billowy ones that gently drifted across the sky.

  Bill and Clancy had constructed a gazebo near the new house, both of which had an unobstructed view of Pikes Peak, the fourteen-thousand-foot mountain that defined the Colorado Springs area.

  The backdrop of the majestic mountain, the wildflowers in the meadows of the ten-square mile ranch, and the babbling stream that ran through it, set the perfect tone for the wedding.