Rope 'n Ride Box Set Books 1-6

by Em Petrova

  But West would be a fabulous father. She’d seen him with the little ones. How they looked up at him with adoration in their eyes.

  And West was a protector. The reasons he’d been in trouble with the law had been a result of him not taking crap from anybody when it came to his family.

  Malou was head over heels for this man who was about to come into the house. She could hear the barking of ranch dogs and Wynonna’s long, sure strides on the front porch. Turning to the door, she waited. Kashley grabbed Malou’s hand and squeezed. Her warm, mismatched eyes brought a wellspring of affection into Malou’s heart.

  She hugged her. “I’ll be fine. Thank you.”

  “I’ll just go find Ridge.”

  A Hopi blessing rolled off Malou’s tongue, surprising herself as well as Kashley.

  “What was that?”

  “A blessing.”

  Kashley’s smile widened as she left the room.

  The sun slanted through the windows facing the back fields of the ranch. Malou couldn’t see West get out of the truck. Was he walking to the house or had he gone to the barn? He couldn’t be in a good mood after spending the night in jail.

  She strained to listen to the sounds of the house. She’d come to know the noise of production, and the patter of little Calhoun feet was very familiar.

  But she didn’t hear West. Not his deep voice that threaded her with longing. Nor the bootsteps that made her heart clutch with need.

  Excruciating seconds later she heard people walking toward the kitchen. In the past few days since she’d discovered her pregnancy, she had gotten into a habit of laying a hand across her abdomen. She did it without thought now.

  Two cameramen and Andrew entered the kitchen first. Malou blinked. “I’ll be out of here in a second.”

  “No, we’re asking you to stay. We’d like permission to film this.”

  “I—” Malou started.

  “By West’s request.”

  Her jaw dropped. He always kept her out of the show. From the start of their odd relationship, he’d protected her from the world of TV viewers and out of the media. How was a huge surprise in itself. But he’d done it. Now he wanted her filmed?

  “Why?”

  “Sign here and initial here,” Andrew said. A pen was thrust into her hand. She stared at the form in front of her face. Did she want this?

  But West hadn’t given her reason not to trust him. And asking her to be filmed now, at a pivotal time in their relationship, had to mean something more.

  She signed her name in looping letters and scribbled her initials.

  “Great, thanks. Welcome to the Rope ‘n Ride show.”

  She barely recovered from that interchange when West walked in. Bigger than ever, his broad shoulders seeming to knock cameramen aside. He strutted in wearing a clean shirt, and she realized he’d taken a moment to change. Her mind backtracked on her decision to grant permission to film. Was this all a publicity act?

  Then West’s gaze fell upon her, and she froze. Dark brows rode over the most intense eyes she’d ever seen. His mouth was set into a firm line—determination or worry?

  She gripped the countertop to steady herself.

  With all the cameras around her, she should be trying to act her way through this moment, but it couldn’t be further from her mind. She only saw West.

  “Hey, L’il Bit.”

  She swallowed around the lump in her throat, but it wasn’t going anywhere. She dipped her head in hello.

  Slowly, he crossed the room to her. “We have unfinished business.”

  “Yes.”

  “But first, let me apologize for what happened yesterday. Me being arrested for a wrong done to my sister—”

  “I know what happened, and I forgive you. I understand why you did it, West.”

  His eyes burned brighter, hotter. He was the sun and she’d burn up under his attention. She wrapped her hands around her belly.

  His features shuddered, and he rested a hand atop hers. A warm, solid, callused hand that brought every emotion to the surface. Tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks. A soft noise broke from him, and he smoothed his knuckles over her cheek, wiping the tears there. “I’m sorry, Lou.”

  “I know. But you’re a good man, West. Everyone sees the things you are on the surface, but I know you in here.” She moved to place both hands over his heart. Looking up into his face, her two worlds gelled into one.

  His throat worked as he pulled a slip of paper from his pocket. With a jolt, she realized it was the baby’s gender written in Rory’s hand.

  “You know,” she whispered.

  “Yes.” He started to fold it, and she feared he’d crumple it in his hand, wad it up and toss it away. Then her life would be flat and endlessly lonely.

  “I wasn’t lying yesterday when I said I want this.” He folded the paper again. And again. “You’re the one thing I look forward to the minute my eyes open. And the last thing I think of when I fall asleep. If this baby was conceived on the first night we were together…”

  A camera zoomed closer, but Malou was locked in on her lover—the love of her life.

  “Then it was a sign that we were meant to be. Our daughter’s smarter than we are, it seems.”

  A watery laugh burst from her.

  He folded the paper more, and she realized he was weaving it like a child folded a bubblegum wrapper. Into a little origami chain.

  He took her hand and fitted the paper around her ring finger. A sob escaped, but she kept her cries at bay in order to hear his words.

  “I love you, Malou. And I love that child you’re carrying. I can’t tell you I won’t mess up or get into fistfights, especially if someone threatens you or my baby girl. But I love you and I promise to provide for you both, to protect you and love you and cherish you.”

  “Oh West.”

  He searched her gaze. “Will you marry me?”

  Epilogue

  “Get those fucking cameras out of this room!” Malou’s furious shriek pierced the air. Followed by the whistle of a bedpan hurling at the closest cameraman.

  He ducked and ran for the door.

  West bit down on his lower lip to hold back a howl of laughter. If his pretty little wife—who was also nine centimeters dilated and soon to deliver their daughter—heard him laugh, he’d be howling in pain.

  “More ice chips?” he asked hopefully.

  She batted his hand, and the cup flew across the room. West and the nurse exchanged an oh shit look.

  He gave a nervous chuckle. “Guess this is a bad time to mention we haven’t tried out that aphrodisiac oil of yours.”

  Malou gave him the middle finger, a Calhoun trademark.

  “Can I offer you something to take the edge off your pain now, Malou?” the nurse asked gently.

  Fierce concentration crossed his wife’s face as she panted through the rest of her contraction. When she dislodged her sharp white teeth from her bottom lip, she snapped, “No. I’ll do this without drugs!”

  “Okay, inhale this then.” He grabbed for the little pot of herbal balm she’d mixed up for this very moment, one that would soon be marketed all across the country. The spiced smell reminded him of the woods and waters. He held it under her nose, and she dragged in a deep breath. Sweat broke across her brow.

  “Get it away from me,” she said and issued an unearthly noise. “I have to push!”

  The nurse snapped to action. She checked her and gave a nod to West. “Fully dilated. I’ll get the doctor and we’ll start pushing.”

  Malou switched around into a squatting position. West blinked at her, and the nurse’s mouth dropped open.

  “You can’t push that way. We need you lying down.”

  “You lie down then—I’m pushing out this baby the way my grandmothers did.” Malou started to bear down, her face reddening. Then turning purple. She trembled, and West almost had heart failure watching.

  “Get the damn doctor in here,” he yelled at the top of his
voice. He went to wrap his arms around his wife. With a strength she shouldn’t have right now, she yanked him into the bed with her. He supported her while she bore down again.

  After a guttural grunt, she heaved in another gulp of air. She took West’s hand and placed it between her legs.

  “Oh my God, something’s bulging. Is that the baby?”

  She nodded, a wild joy in her eyes. For a moment, the world of beeping hospital instruments and fluorescent lights faded away, and he saw the women she was bone-deep.

  “You can do this, baby. You got this.”

  The nurse scuttled to the door in time for the doctor to rush in.

  “We need you to lie back now, Malou,” he said breezily.

  Malou glared at him and gave one enormous shove. West felt her entire body flex and bow. She placed her hands between her legs just as the doctor did.

  Their baby exploded into the world with a hearty wail.

  Malou collapsed into his arms, and he held her as the baby was placed on her chest. Laugh-sobs came from her, and West stared at the sight in total awe. All he saw was his wife and child.

  His troubles over the past year couldn’t be further from his mind. Sure, it had taken some money to get him out of the scrapes, but at the last rodeo, Jay Wallace had even tipped his hat in greeting. Everything had worked out, and now West had found his place, right here with his family.

  “That thing fit inside you?” he asked, stroking a finger over the newborn’s rounded cheek.

  “Your mom said you were ten pounds,” she panted between laughter.

  The baby was taken and cleaned up. Malou was settled with a sheet over her and they allowed the cameras back inside, along with a flood of family. His mom hugged him tightly, and they stood together to look down at his daughter’s face.

  Malou glowed as she looked from person to person. Then she cradled the baby in her hands and held her upward.

  West looked into his wife’s eyes. “We name you Chosovi, a name of your mother’s people.” They’d discussed names at length, and he’d insisted she be called a Hopi name. But in his head, he’d been calling her Cho for short.

  “Chosovi,” Malou echoed.

  “What does it mean?” His mother brushed tears from her cheeks.

  “Bluebird.” West grinned at his wife, and they leaned in together to christen their daughter with a kiss, a binding promise of their love for her. And then they turned to each other and they shared one for themselves.

  THE END

  Lane

  Rope ‘n Ride Book 5

  All Rights Reserved

  Lane

  Copyright Em Petrova 2017

  Ebook Edition

  Electronic book publication February 2017

  All rights reserved. Any violation of this will be prosecuted by the law.

  Lane

  Rope ‘n Ride Series

  Book 5

  By Em Petrova

  Dating an older woman has lots of benefits, and #1 is upsetting all the right people.

  Lane Calhoun is on a winning streak in his steer wrestling event. His family is thriving, and their reality TV show is breaking records. So why can’t he find happiness? Well, it could be that a passing fling splashed his favorite sex positions all over the news. And now that he’s been named the year’s most eligible bachelor, he’s through with dating.

  When Delaney Monroe spies a gorgeous cowboy in chaps, hat and the sexiest grin she’s ever seen, she forgets she’s a forty-two-year-old midwife with a failing small ranch and a son in college to support. No way could she date a younger man. But as soon as she and Lane get within eyeing distance, all bets are off.

  Hiding out in the bed of a hot older woman sure sounds cozy to Lane. He’s tired of cameras, interviews and worse, false people. He just wants a spell of peace—is that wrong? But between his struggles to leave the reality show and Delaney’s problem with him being a few years shy of her, their paradise could end up as a mudhole. He only sees one path to freedom, but getting out of the next year’s TV contract means the end for the Rope ‘n Ride show.

  Chapter One

  “Hey, pretty lady.” The bull rider who Delaney had just watched being whiplashed for eight seconds tipped his hat as he passed. She gave him a slight smile but that was all. Hopefully he didn’t think she was a Buckle Bunny.

  Why would he? She was far too old and even had some silver streaking her blonde hair. She may not have the youth but at least she had a hell of a lot more common sense than most of those young things. They saw a hat and boots and their clothes fell off.

  Everywhere Delaney looked, she saw fringed jackets and Stetsons. The scents of fresh earth and animals wafted through the arena. It’d been a long time since she’d been to a rodeo. In her younger years, she’d take her son, but the minute he could drive himself, he’d stopped wanting his mom hanging around.

  Her niece Kashley stood at the rail next to her, straining for a glimpse of her husband, who’d kicked ass in the bronc riding and was about to be awarded his buckle and a check.

  “Oh, there he is!”

  Delaney followed Kashley’s finger as she pointed to where her husband Ridge hung on the sidelines.

  “I’m sorry I missed the wedding,” Delaney said.

  “Don’t be silly. You were busy midwifing in Mozambique.”

  “Yes, but I could have flown back.” She’d spent six weeks there working in a village to provide healthcare to women. She’d seen things that broke her heart, but she’d also witnessed a strength and spirit among the people that still brought tears to her eyes when she thought about it.

  Kashley settled a hand on her forearm. “Don’t worry, you can watch the video. I think they’ve even got Wynonna’s drunken twerk on film.”

  “She can’t be more than ten, can she?”

  Kashley’s laughter rang like bells. “They’ve all grown up quite a bit since the days when they came to my place.”

  “Wow, I obviously don’t visit enough. It’s a wonder my sister speaks to me.” But with her son, a small ranch with animals to tend to and a thriving career as a midwife, vacations were like snow in Texas.

  “Momma knows you’re busy. She’ll be so happy to hear you got to meet me here today. Just relax and enjoy it, Delaney.”

  “I’m relieved you finally dropped the ‘aunt’ part. Made me feel old.”

  Kashley pulled a comical face, her nose screwed up and her mismatched blue and brown eyes crossed. “Never suited you anyway. We look like sisters.” With that, she snaked an arm around Delaney and squeezed. She hugged her back and together they looked at the cowboys and cowgirls about to accept their awards.

  The crowd screamed. Kashley added her voice to the mix, along with a few of the Calhoun women who stood around them. Even the baby in one’s arms clapped her hands, showing that this family couldn’t be closer.

  The family that rodeos together stays together. And reality shows together.

  She was embarrassed to say she’d buried herself in her own life for so long that she hardly knew what was going on in her niece’s. But after Kashley’s desperate call for help with her infertility, how could she stay away?

  Light exploded on the stage, and Delaney blinked at what looked like alien tractor beams. Ten cowboys stood in the shafts with fog billowing around them.

  Delaney’s gaze locked on the guy on the end. Tall and built like a cowboy ought to be, his chaps hanging perfectly low on his hips and his hat tipped back, revealing the grin on his ruggedly handsome face.

  “Whoa. Who’s that?”

  Kashley looked at where she pointed and gave another musical laugh. “Look closer—or maybe you need new contacts. That’s Ridge’s brother, Lane.”

  She laughed. “Maybe I do.”

  She was also embarrassed to say she didn’t watch TV and hadn’t seen the Rope ‘n Ride show. She’d been a terrible aunt, but now that she had a little more time on her hands with her son off to college for his second year, she would spend som
e time with her niece and sister.

  And if men like Lane were on TV, she’d be tuning in.

  Quickly, she rifled her memory. Was Lane was one of the married brothers? She shouldn’t be ogling him, though it was apparent everyone else was. Screams and shrill whistles deafened her.

  From the side, a camera zoomed in on the Calhoun women’s faces, but they ignored them. After a few years of this, they probably hardly noticed they were being filmed.

  “You’ll see him in the wedding video… well, I don’t want to spoil it. Man, I’m so happy for him, taking first in steer wrestling. He’s having the best year of his career.” Kashley bounced up and down in excitement for her family member.

  Delaney glanced at the line of guys and picked out another Calhoun—Ryder had placed in the top for bull riding. The pretty woman holding the baby stuck her fingers in her mouth and gave a whistle blast that should have deafened the child, but another woman covered the baby’s ears for her.

  They’d obviously done this a time or seventy. No wonder people watched the show—their every move was intriguing.

  As the men on stage were given their big shiny gold buckles, Delaney let her eyes wander to the crowd. Signs with Calhoun flashed, and one said MARRY ME LANE. She breathed a sigh of relief. At least she hadn’t been crushing on someone else’s man.

  And she was free to look her fill.

  She focused on him again. He stood with total confidence, a man who was comfortable in his skin.

  “Lane Calhoun, everyone!”

  Pandemonium broke loose, and the feminine shrieks from his sisters-in-law and the kids made Delaney’s ears ring. She added her own whoop or two, but Lane’s face appeared on the Jumbo-Tron and she had a hard time catching her breath.