by Marin Thomas
As the wagons made the tight turns, pots and pans swayed on the cross bow and the cowboys ducked to avoid getting clobbered. On the far side of the arena, Dexter and Dusty made their way to the calf chutes.
You’re not a quitter, Josie. Her heart demanded she try one more time to get it through Dexter’s thick skull that they were meant to be together. If no amount of pleading changed his mind, then Dexter wasn’t the man she believed he was and she’d be better off without him.
“I’m going to speak with Dexter.” With single-minded determination, Josie moved through the crowd.
DEXTER AND DUSTY STROLLED toward the steer chutes where Ricky and Slim held the reins for Uno and Digger. The ranch hands had made the four-and-a-half-hour drive up to Missoula earlier in the day with the horses while the family had opted for air travel. Dusty had extended an invitation to the Charles family to join them, but Josie had declined the offer—Dexter suspected Hank had refused to board his nemesis’s private plane. Dexter hoped that sharing a grandson would convince the old coots to bury the hatchet and become friends.
“Good luck,” Ricky said when the twins approached. Slim handed Digger’s reins to Dexter, then the two ranch hands retreated to the stands to watch the event.
Dexter checked his rigging. “You ready?”
“I’m always ready.” Dusty tipped his hat and flashed his Hollywood smile at a passing female. Once the lady disappeared, Dusty became all businesslike. “Wait for me to turn the steer before you throw your rope.”
If Dexter threw his rope too soon they’d earn a cross fire penalty, which would take them right out of contention. Granted, Dusty was the more talented athlete of the twins, but, irritable from lack of sleep, Dexter warned, “You make sure you don’t break the barrier.”
Dusty snorted. “Hell, I never break the barrier.”
True enough. “You ever get tired of thinking so highly of yourself?” Dexter bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling. Baiting his brother kept his mind off Josie. He had hoped to run into her and Matt before the team roping event, but no such luck. He wondered if perhaps she and her parents had decided against making the long drive to Missoula.
A handful of rodeo groupies called Dusty’s name. “Afternoon, ladies.” The females giggled, their sashaying hips advertising I’m yours for the taking.
“I don’t get it,” Dexter said.
“Get what?”
“How you can flirt with women after you proposed to Josie.”
“Quit thinking about Josie. Concentrate on our event. We’re not letting Jesse and Elly show us up today.”
Unbelievable. “With everything that’s happened over the past few weeks all you can think about is winning?” Dexter shook his head. “You’re screwed up, man.”
“You’re more messed up than I am.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not the one who has a son.”
“So it’s my fault that Josie never told me?”
Dexter couldn’t blame Dusty for that, but right now he didn’t care about trivial details. “You treated Josie no better than the rodeo bimbos you’ve hooked up with.”
“Exactly what do you find so offensive about the way I treat bimbos?”
“You jump into bed with them the first chance you get.”
“Yeah, like you’d turn down a little mattress dancing if the opportunity came your way?” Dusty’s eyes lit with laughter.
“Can’t we have a serious discussion just once?”
“You want serious? I can do serious.” The mirth drained from Dusty’s eyes, and he leveled a sober stare at Dexter. “How about this for serious—you’re in love with Josie, but you won’t admit it.”
The knot that had formed in Dexter’s gut the moment his brother had returned from Canada twisted tighter, but before Dexter could catch his breath his brother went on the attack.
“You wanted Josie in high school. But you never fought for her.”
“You’re right.” Dexter had been head over heels for Josie, yet he’d stood aside while Dusty worked his magic on Josie. “But I was friends with Josie before you two ever dated. So if you knew I liked her, then why didn’t you keep your distance and let me ask Josie out first?” Shoot, his brother could have had any girl in high school, yet he picked the one Dexter had wanted.
“Because…” Dusty kicked a clump of dirt, then looked Dexter in the eye. “Because I’d heard gossip that Josie liked me. Not you.”
“So you asked her out first to spare me the humiliation of being turned down?”
Dusty shrugged. “I figured once Josie and I dated a couple of times she’d see that I wasn’t the right twin for her and she’d give you a chance.”
“Didn’t work out that way,” Dexter said.
“I never expected Josie and I to hit it off and…well, the rest is history.” He blew out a heavy breath. “I’m sorry, Dex.”
The Codys were a proud family and the word sorry wasn’t spoken lightly. “I forgive you.”
“Good. Now I’m gonna ask the questions. Aren’t you tired of always doing the honorable thing? Tired of putting family first? Following Dad’s commands?” Dusty paused, then added, “Aren’t you tired of never going after what you want?”
“Family comes first.” The words almost choked Dexter.
“Not all the time.” Dusty clasped Dexter’s shoulder. “Love. Real love trumps family. The love you feel for Josie is worth sacrificing your honor for.”
Longing for Josie burned in Dexter’s veins. “You really don’t have any feelings for Josie?” Dexter’s heart braced itself.
“I care about her because she’s the mother of my son. Her happiness is important to me. If you can make her happy, Dex, then that’s what I want for her.”
Don’t you get it? Dusty is doing right by Josie by telling you to go after her. Dusty knows you’re the best man for her.
Dexter feared once he spoke his feelings out loud there would be no turning back. No taking the high road. No putting family first. “You’re right. I’m in love with Josie.”
Dusty grinned. “No shit, loser.”
Dexter punched his brother in the arm. “Knock it off.” He sobered. “I should have fought you for Josie in high school.”
Dusty’s expression sobered. “Yep, you should have.”
“I’m tired of giving up what I want,” Dexter said.
“So… What do you intend to do about it?”
Dexter grabbed Dusty by the shirt collar and threatened, “Josie’s mine. You stay the hell away from her, you hear.”
“Loud and clear.” Dusty grinned, then pointed over Dexter’s shoulder.
Dexter spun and found Josie standing a few yards away. His heart tumbled at the sight of her. He walked to her side and cupped her face. “I love you. And I want you, Josie. I want you for me.”
Her eyes shimmered with tears. “I love you, too, Dex.”
Dexter bent his head and kissed her. Slow and soft, he pledged his love to her, and when they came up for air they were surrounded by family—his and Josie’s. There was never a better time to propose.
Clasping Josie’s hand, Dexter went down on one knee. “I love you, Josie Charles. I want to be your husband, your lover and help you raise Matt.” He placed his cowboy hat over his heart. “Will you marry me?”
Tears dribbled down Josie’s cheeks and darned if she could stop them.
“Mom’s crying, Grandma,” Matt said.
“That’s because she’s very happy, dear,” Phyllis Charles said.
Matt walked to his mother’s side. “If my mom marries you, Mr. D, does that mean I’m gonna have two dads?” Matt glanced at Dusty.
“Yes, it does. Is that okay with you?” Dexter said.
Matt smiled. “Yeah, that’s okay.” He tugged Josie’s sleeve. “You can marry Mr. D, Mom.”
Josie caressed Dexter’s cheek. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Dexter.”
Dexter stood and swung Josie around amid hoots and hollers from the family. After he set her
on her feet, he held out his hand to Matt. Together they approached Dexter’s parents.
“Matt, this is your grandma and grandpa Cody. Mom and Dad, this is Matt.”
Anne Cody’s eyes misted as she swept a hand over Matt’s hair. “You’re as handsome as your fathers.” Matt preened under the attention.
“Since you’re a Cody, young man, you’ll need to be thinking about what rodeo event you want to compete in.” J.W. engaged in a stare-down with Hank. “Your grandpa Charles was a world-class bronc rider. We could use a good bronc rider in the family.”
Josie wanted to cry at the olive branch J.W. had offered her father. Josie’s dad chimed in. “Or, Matt, you might consider riding bulls. Your uncle Jesse’s the best there is.”
Dusty moved next to Dexter and mumbled, “Thank God you came to your senses.”
“Shut up, Dusty. There was no way I was gonna let you get the girl this time.”
Dusty nudged Dexter’s arm.
“What is it?”
“Hansen. He’s been standing over there watching us like a lost calf.” The bull rider hovered behind the chutes, his expression tormented.
Dexter glanced at his father, who stared at Hansen with the same damned expression on his face. What the hell was going on between his father and Mark Hansen? There wasn’t time to find out—the announcer kicked off the team roping event. Josie flung her arms around Dexter’s neck and kissed him good luck.
“Where’s my kiss?” Dusty grinned.
Dexter tugged his brother’s arm. “C’mon, Casanova—time to compete.”
The Codys and the Charleses watched Dexter and Dusty from behind the chutes. As soon as they’d roped the calf, Matt announced, “I wanna do that. Just like my dads.”
J.W. eyed Josie. “You’re gonna need a partner for team roping, Grandson. You’d best tell your mother to get working on a brother or two for you.”
Josie blushed, her heart lighter than it had been in days, months, years. Becoming part of the Cody clan wouldn’t be without conflict—families who loved deeply also fought deeply.
From the beginning Josie had been destined to become a Cody, and she and Matt were finally with the right Cody. Dexter.
Epilogue
“Are you sure you’re not disappointed that we didn’t have a big wedding?” Dexter asked Josie three days after the Missoula Hoedown Rodeo.
Josie snuggled deeper into his lap. After their first full day as Mr. and Mrs. Cody, they sat in a rocking chair on her parents’ porch watching the sun set. “Our wedding was beautiful. Your mom did an incredible job with the decorations.” They’d been married by a justice of the peace in the backyard of Anne and J.W.’s home. The wedding was intimate—only family and close friends had been invited. Following the reception, Josie’s parents had taken off for the airport. Dexter had surprised his in-laws with tickets for an Alaskan cruise. Josie’s father had insisted Dexter and Josie go on the cruise for their honeymoon, but Dexter hinted that he had something special planned for Josie, Matt and him in the near future.
Her father had relented and Josie and Dexter were honeymooning at the Lazy S ranch house. Matt was staying with Anne and J.W. so Josie and Dexter could—in J.W.’s words—“work on a brother or sister for Matt.”
“Matt called when you were in the barn,” Josie said.
“Is he lonely?”
“Hardly. He had to tell me he was getting a new horse but it wouldn’t be born until next spring.”
“If you want, I’ll tell Mom and Dad to ease up on the gifts.” Dexter nuzzled her neck and she shivered.
“I don’t stand a chance of stopping your parents from spoiling Matt rotten, but promise me Matt’s going to grow up and be just like you, Dex—an honorable, caring man.”
“Don’t forget persistent like his mother.”
She sighed when Dexter kissed her.
“I almost let you walk away from me, Josie. If you hadn’t—”
“You would have come after me. We were meant to be together.”
“I hope your dad doesn’t regret gifting us the five hundred acres that borders my family’s ranch.”
“We’re all one family now, Dex. Besides, Dad’s tired. He loves the Lazy S but he’s too worn-out to raise cattle. He’s ready to retire and watch his grandchildren grow up. And he likes the idea that we’ll build our own house close by.”
“He told me that if anything happens to him he wants Matt to have the Lazy S.”
“Dad told me that, too, and I promised him you and I would keep this ranch in the family.” Josie and her father had had a long discussion about the past. She admitted she was disappointed in her father for allowing her to believe that J.W. had swindled him out of valuable land. How different all their lives might have been had Josie not been afraid to tell Dusty he’d gotten her pregnant all those years ago. The past was better left in the past, and Josie was relieved J.W. appeared willing to mend fences with her father. As J.W. had told Josie and Dexter, “No matter how long you live, life goes by fast.” Neither Cody grandparent wanted to waste a minute fighting when they could spend that time with their grandchildren. Josie giggled.
“What’s so funny?” Dexter asked.
“Just remembering the look of relief on Dusty’s face after we both said I do.”
Dexter chuckled. “I think he was worried one of us would back out at the last minute.”
“Dusty’s a good guy. One day he’ll find his perfect match.”
“Time will tell if there’s a lady who can tame my brother’s wild ways.”
“Dex?”
“What?”
“My wedding present to you should arrive by the end of the week.”
“Oh, yeah? A new cowboy hat? Boots?”
“Nope. As a matter of fact you won’t be needing any clothes to use my gift.”
His eyebrows rose, and Josie couldn’t keep a secret for the life of her. She removed a piece of paper from her jean pocket and handed it to him.
He stared, then hooted. After he wiped his eyes he read the advertisement. “Rockin’ M Bucking Machines—Home of Brutus the Bull.” Dexter grinned. “You bought a mechanical bull for me?”
She batted her eyelashes. “For us.”
“Life with you sure won’t be dull, Josie.” His kiss gave her a teasing glimpse of what she could expect once Dexter’s gift arrived. “This means we’ll have to install a lock on the door to the back room in the barn,” he said when they came up for air.
“And hang a Do Not Disturb sign.”
“What will your parents say when they catch us sneaking into the barn late at night?”
“As long as another grandchild results from our late-night bull-riding lessons, they won’t say a thing.” Josie clasped Dexter’s face between her hands. “Now kiss me, and sweep me off my feet.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6060-7
DEXTER: HONORABLE COWBOY
Copyright © 2010 by Brenda Smith-Beagley.
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