SUSAN WESTWOOD
TAMED BY THE
WHITE COWBOY
© Copyright Susan Westwood All Rights Reserved 2014
ABOUT THIS BOOK
Two Strangers from two totally different walks of life are brought together in a story that shows that love can have a funny way of surprising you...
Gemma has one more day left to spend with her cowboy lover Brandon Steele before she continues on her journey. However, as their feelings grow and grow she begins asking herself how she can ever leave him and leave her heart behind at the same time?
Little does she know that she might no longer have a choice as Brandon's ex-girlfriend Jessica turns up with big news that shocks them all.
Is Gemma about to realize that she might not be the number one woman in Brandon's life?
TABLE OF CHAPTERS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
CHAPTER ONE
Gemma woke when Brandon left the bed that morning. They spend a delicious night together, and she didn’t want reality to intrude on their fantasy. Last night they were the only two people on Earth. She didn’t have an appointment in Hollywood. He didn’t have animals to feed or a broken heart that he’d walled off from others.
"Already?"
"The animals need to be fed." He kissed her forehead. "Go back to sleep."
She could and she did, but woke up when her foot began to hurt. Time for more pain medication. Then she remembered that Jessica was most likely still here. She couldn't walk naked anywhere.
When she turned her head, she discovered Brandon had left her a bottle of ibuprofen and a glass of water. That man was good.
She could get used to this, but then she shook her head. No.
She was going through with her plan to be a star. Having someone on her side, or a place she could escape to wouldn't be bad. But he would want her to stay and be a wife. Be in his bed and wake up with him every day. She couldn’t do that and fulfill her dream.
She didn't think she could do that without getting swallowed up by Brandon's life. He deserved someone here all the time. Maybe his ex was here to stay, and she would be the balm that would help him heal from Gemma leaving.
Carefully, Gemma put on her pajama bottoms and top, then snagged her crutches. She walked to the bathroom to take a shower, but took a bath instead because then she could drape her leg over the side and not have to stand.
She found Jessica in the kitchen with a coffee cup in front of her. She was staring out the window. From that vantage point, Gemma realized she was watching Brandon.
Maybe the woman still did love Brandon.
"Good morning," Gemma said. She poured herself some coffee, then picked over what Brandon had left for them to eat. That man could cook. Even when he just made bacon, it tasted as if it came from the gods.
"So what's your story?" Jessica said.
She didn't look like she'd had a good night's sleep. Had she heard them? Gemma was going to assume not. "What do you mean?"
"What brings you to Iowa?"
"I'm on my way to California."
"Ah, following that dream. That dream sucks."
Charming. "I'd rather find that out for myself."
***
Brandon whistled through his chores in the morning. He was happy and sated, even though he knew he'd have to face his ex at some point. He knew Gemma could hold her own.
While he was feeding his goats, Jessica appeared in the barn door. Guess his quiet morning was over.
She crossed her arms and leaned on the wall. "You ready to hear my story?"
He didn’t stop for her. "Not interested in your story. I'm interested in seeing the taillights of your car."
"When did you get so cold?"
He stopped, his gaze taking her in. "When did you see me as a pushover?"
She snorted. "Maybe if you'd been a pushover, I'd have stayed."
"Maybe if you'd shared your dream with me, I might have supported it," he said.
She laughed. "You were a little too focused on you at the time."
"I was recovering from a major injury. I'm sorry I wasn't as attentive to your needs as I should have been. My career was over."
"The career that you'd already been planning to leave. I don't buy the life crisis angle. You were ready to be done."
He clenched his fists. "Maybe I was, but that doesn't mean I was completely sure what my new path was."
She plopped down on a hay bale. "Still."
"Still. You could have told me. Or did you not want to admit that you enjoyed the limelight when I was in it?"
She looked down at her feet. He'd struck a nerve. "I didn't think you'd want me to pursue my dream."
Right now, he wanted to shake her. Did she not know how he had felt about her? How much he had loved and practically worshiped her? "Jessica. I loved you. If you had explained your dream to me, I would have figured out how to make it work."
"Really?"
He stood in front of her and pushed his hat back on his head. "Really. I may have needed time to adjust, but I would have. To keep you? To keep our marriage intact, yes."
She cocked her head as she looked up at him. "What about now?"
"What about it?"
***
Gemma didn't want to eavesdrop, but she wanted to know the answer. If Brandon still had feelings for his wife, then she could go to Hollywood and not look back. She could move on with her life knowing he didn't love her and that was okay. Well, she’d figure out how to be okay with it.
A hand on her shoulder startled her. Clint stood behind her.
"If you listen in, you might find out something you don't know. Come help me milk the goats."
She frowned, but followed him. She wanted to know if Brandon still loved his wife. Needed to know before she left. "Slow down," she said to Clint, who was striding ahead of her. "I want to ask you something."
He stopped and turned to her. "I probably don't know the answer."
"You might."
"Talk and walk," he said. "We have chores to get done." He looked her over. "Well, I have chores to do."
She followed him to the goat barn. The animals were raising a ruckus, and she had to smile. It was as if they knew they were going to get milked and fed. Clint pulled up a bale of straw for her and another for her foot. Then he set about milking the goats.
"Why only three goats?" she said.
"Is that the question you wanted to ask?"
"No. I was working up to that."
He glanced over the animal as if he didn't believe her. "Three because anymore and he'd probably need to automate."
"Why not automate then?"
"Because that's expensive. He needs to have a few more years of profit before he can either reinvest more money or get a loan. That’s probably more than I should have told you."
She glanced back at the door, still wanting to hear the conversation between Brandon and Jessica. The outcome shouldn't matter.
But it did. If Jessica was staying around, Gemma wanted to know.
"How long were Brandon and Jessica married?"
"Two years, I think. But they were together a year before that."
"Does he still love her?"
Clint laughed. "First off, that isn't my business, and frankly it isn't yours since you're heading out tomorrow. Why are you interested?"
She looked out the door again. "I don't know."
Clint moved to the next goat, with a pail i
n his hands. "If you don't mind taking advice from someone who has been around for a while, life is short. Grab what you want when you can."
"I feel as if I've already been doing that," she said.
"No, you've been dipping your toe into something you have a passing interest in."
"I'm going to Holly wood."
"Yes, you are, but are you the pig or the chicken?"
"What do you mean?"
She had a feeling she was going to get some farm wisdom. Probably as good as any wisdom anyone could hand out.
"Both the chicken and the pig contribute to breakfast. The chicken just lays an egg, while the pig gives his life."
She mulled that over. She was the pig when it came to her career. "I'm the pig."
"Are you? Are you really?"
***
Brandon stretched his arms over his head. This conversation with Jessica was tiring him. "Why does it matter now? Nothing about my life has changed. It's the same boring life you escaped from."
Jessica bit the inside of her cheek. "I know that. Maybe I've reassessed what I want in life."
"Just come out with it. Why are you back?"
She looked away for a moment, her forehead a study in wrinkles. He wouldn't point that out. At least she hadn't done the Botox thing.
"My accountant stole all of my money."
"So get it back."
She didn’t make eye contact with him; he didn’t believe her whole story. There was more to this than she was saying.
"It isn't that easy. I have no money. None. I can't afford a lawyer."
"So you give a lawyer a percentage of the money recovered."
His work in the barn done, he stood with his hands on his hips. He had more work to do, and he didn't really want to stand here rehashing old times with a woman he had never expected to see again.
"It isn't that simple."
"There's more?"
"I'm pregnant."
"Well, Jessica, when you screw up, you do it well. You're Jessica Steele. You've been on the charts. There isn't anyone who can help you?"
"Well, no one I can trust. You're the only person I've ever trusted."
He shifted his hat lower on his head. This conversation was getting nowhere. "I don't mean to laugh, but I really want to."
"Why?"
"Because I wouldn't trust you if you paid me."
She frowned. "And do you trust Gemma?"
"That's a whole other story. She's leaving tomorrow. I don't have to trust her. It's been the arrangement all along."
"You get to dip your wick, and she gets what?"
"A place to stay and warm meals while she's waiting for her car to be fixed."
"Convenient."
His turn not to look her in the eye. He wasn’t completely comfortable having anyone else examine his deal with Gemma. He didn’t want to examine it either. "Yes, it was for both of us."
"And do you support her?"
"What do you mean?"
"Her dreams?"
"Of course. She at least has told me them. I'll support anyone's dreams."
***
Gemma escaped from Clint when he finished the goats. She had to call the garage to confirm her car was going to be finished today.
She dialed while leaning against the fence post, watching Beans trot around the pasture. What freedom he had.
The mechanic picked up after a while. "Hello."
"This is Gemma Watson. I'm checking to see if my Mustang will be ready to pick up today."
"Yeah, I got the part and it'll be done by three."
He told her the final cost and she grimaced. "I'll be there at three."
She disconnected, then went to find Brandon. He and Jessica were still talking in the barn. She looked around for Clint. Not finding him, she listened at the door.
"Of course I support anyone in their dreams. Gemma will go off and be successful. I'll have warm memories of her," Brandon said.
So he was willing to let her go. Part of her heart hurt. This made her squirm and she put down her bad foot. With a squeal, she lost her balance and fell into the barn.
She looked up from the hay to see Brandon staring at her. Jessica was glaring at her.
If the Earth could have opened up and sucked her into it, she could not have been happier. Instead, Brandon helped her to her feet.
They both knew she'd been listening. Now she felt ashamed that she had. Clint had been right. She heard something she didn't want to hear. Brandon would let her go easily. As if she'd never been a part of his life or bed.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, sorry to interrupt," she said.
"We were done."
She couldn't look him in the eye, so she just left him there. Jessica caught up with her as she entered the house.
"How much did you hear?"
"Enough."
"You still leaving?"
"Yes, not that is any of your business."
"It is, if I have to pick up the pieces."
Gemma snorted as she sat on the couch. "I hardly think that will be necessary."
Brandon was willing to let her pursue her dream, which was good, but he didn't feel enough to want her to stay. When had she fallen in love with him?
"Then maybe you didn't hear the same conversation I did."
Gemma held up her hand. “This is between Brandon and me. No need for you to be involved."
"Then I'll give you some career advice."
"Really? Aren't you broke?"
Jessica flinched. "Then use me as a bad example. I gave up what I didn't think I wanted, and now I realize it was the best I could have."
Gemma shook her head. "We're different. I don't want the same things as you do."
Jessica shrugged. "Suit yourself."
***
Brandon watched Jessica and Gemma entered the house, and figured that he didn’t want to be part of that conversation. He leaned against the fence post, watching Beans.
Clint appeared beside him. "I do not envy you."
Brandon laughed. "One is leaving and hopefully the other one is, too."
His friend glanced at him. "Oh? Which is which?"
"Gemma's leaving tomorrow."
"And you're going to let her go?"
His heart hurt at the idea, but he wouldn't hold her back. She had a dream and he remembered how that felt. "Yes, I'm going to let her go."
"Mm."
"What?"
Clint shook his head. "None of my business."
"Since when has that stopped you from giving me unsolicited advice?"
"I'm not one to give advice on affairs of the heart," Clint said.
He took off his cowboy hat, then settled it back on his head.
"You've been married how long?"
"Forty-three years."
"Then I think you qualify. I have two unsuccessful years under my belt."
Clint eyed him for a moment, then went back to watching the horse. "You probably won’t like what I have to say."
"Probably not, but go ahead. Dazzle me."
Clint laughed. "My dazzling days are over."
"Then give it to me straight."
"You shouldn't believe either of them."
"Really? I can understand not trusting Jessica, but Gemma has never lied to me."
"She'd never lied intentionally. I'm not sure she even knows she lied."
"What did she lie about?"
"You'll have to find that out for yourself."
CHAPTER TWO
Jessica sat in the rocking chair when she came back with a glass of water. "Stardom isn't all it's cracked up to be."
"I'd rather find that out for myself," Gemma said. "We've had this conversation before."
Gemma didn't want to be flippant. Who knew how this woman could help her in the future. She was a bigwig in the industry, though Gemma had heard rumors of how difficult she could be.
"You want my advice?"
"Uh, not really, but I have a feeling you're going to tell
me anyway."
Jessica laughed. "Find someone you can trust to be with you on your journey."
Gemma thought of Brandon. She could trust him. "Physically on my journey, or just emotionally?"
"Emotionally. You can't always bring that person with you, but knowing they are in your court will help you through the dark days."
"Are you having dark days?"
Jessica flashed her a sardonic grin. "I am. Never thought I'd see them."
"And you came back to see if Brandon was that person to trust?"
"I came back because I knew he wouldn't turn me away."
"But he wants you to go."
She waved a hand, a frown forming on her face. "Yeah, guess I misjudged the situation."
"Do you have somewhere to go?"
Jessica nodded. "I do. Helen at the bar and I are friends from way back. She'll take me in for a few days."
"So what's next for you?"
"Not sure. Your plans?"
"I pick up my car today, and then tomorrow morning, I set off down the road again."
"And leave Brandon behind."
Gemma was not going to share how she felt with Brandon’s ex-wife. She was questioning her plans to leave. She liked what she had with Brandon. She even liked Iowa. "He knew my plans from the beginning."
"That doesn't mean he didn't lose his heart."
Gemma waved away the idea. He didn't feel anything for her. Too bad she felt things for him. Things she didn't want to feel.
"You love him," Jessica said as if she'd been reading Gemma's thoughts.
"Don't be silly." She stood. "I'm going to work on his cookbook. Excuse me."
***
Brandon had nothing else to do, and he was cold and getting hungry. Clint had gone back to his own house to check on his wife. Brandon had no reason to stay outside, and the wind had picked up. He hoped the storm due tomorrow would wait until evening.
He entered his house to find Jessica on his rocking chair. He didn't want her in his space. He didn't want to think about her and if she was really pregnant.
He wasn't noble enough to marry her and raise another man's child. She grimaced.
"What?"
"I'm just a little crampy."
"Okay."
Tamed By The White Cowboy (BWWM Romance) Page 1