Harlequin Romance Bundle: Crowns and Cowboys

by Judy Christenberry

  Within ten minutes, the snow started falling. September was early for a snowstorm, but it happened. Jason put on his slicker, and he advised all the cowboys to do the same. The bright yellow would make them all more visible in the falling snow. Driving the wild cattle was more difficult than a normal herd, but they kept them under control.

  But Jason’s mind was settled on Rosie in the back of the SUV. When he saw Cookie driving by an hour later, he wanted to stop the truck to see how Rosie was doing, but he didn’t. Time was of the essence and they needed to push the herd as far as they could today.

  Dusk was falling, along with the snow, when the first cowboys saw a bright flame.

  “Hey, there’s camp!” one of them shouted back. Everyone picked up their speed, pushing the herd that much faster. Already four or five inches of snow covered the ground, and a sharp wind blew. They were all looking forward to the heat of the fire.

  Jason wanted nothing more than to rush to the campsite to check on Rosie. But he knew a leader didn’t put all the work on his men. Instead he asked Nick to ride ahead and bring back news of her condition to everyone. Jason knew he wasn’t the only one concerned with her health.

  Watching Nick ride ahead when he wanted to be the one was tough on Jason. He kept his gaze fixed on the distant campsite, hoping to see Nick riding back. Finally he saw a rider coming back toward them. He held his position on the herd, until Nick had passed on news to the early riders and got back to him.

  “Rosie is keeping soup down now. Tonight she may eat a little bit. She was sitting by the fire. Can you believe it? She was feeling guilty because she rode in the SUV.”

  “That figures. But she seemed okay?”

  “Yeah, I guess. She was helping Cookie cut up some potatoes.”

  Relief assailed him. “Okay, go with the guys leading the horses. Help them set up the rope corral. By then maybe Cookie will have supper ready. Have them go ahead and eat. You, too. You’ve done extra duty today. Send the other two back out to the herd. We’ll start settling them down. By then maybe the two guys can handle them for a little while.”

  “Sounds like a plan, boss. After I eat I’ll be ready to come back out if I need to. Some of these guys are a little older and may be stiff with the cold and all.”

  “I appreciate it, Nick, but hopefully we can do without you on the herd until later tonight, at least.”

  The young cowboy tipped his hat. “I’ll go take care of the horses and get those two guys fed first.”

  “Thanks.” Jason started circling the herd, telling his men to settle the cows down for the night. With six of them, the task went fairly quickly. Then Jason released everyone except Ken. “We’ll go into eat when the guys who led the horses come out to relieve us. Is that okay, Ken?”

  “Sure, boss. This was easier than riding the hills looking for more cows.”

  “Yeah, Ken, thanks. We won’t be out here too long.”

  “That’s all right. That means we’ll appreciate the food more since we have to wait longer.”

  “Okay. I’ll go this way and you go the other.”

  They had circled the herd almost five times before the other riders came out to relieve them.

  Together they rode into camp. They first tended to their horses. Then Ken headed for the fire while Jason looked for Rosie. He found Cookie and asked about her.

  “She’s lying down in the SUV. She did eat some supper. Just not much.”

  When Jason turned around to head for the SUV, Cookie asked, “Aren’t you going to eat first?”

  “No, I want to see Rosie. If you need to clean up, just make me a plate and I’ll wash last.”

  He hurried over to the SUV and opened the front door. Rosie was lying in the back with her eyes closed. He called her softly.

  Her eyes fluttered several times before she looked up. “Hi, Jason.”

  “How are you doing?”

  “Fine. I’m sorry I couldn’t ride out today.”

  He couldn’t help but smile at her. “Sweetheart, you deserve as much time as you need to recover. I think you had a worse case than the rest of us.”

  “No. I’m sure I didn’t.”

  How like Rosie to downplay her condition and her earlier contributions. Didn’t the woman know she was a born leader?

  After all she’d done, she’d deserved a rest, though he was sure she’d balk when he said, “Tomorrow you’ll ride to the ranch with Cookie and then Sara Beth will take care of you.”

  She held true to form and raised her voice in protest. “I’m not riding in the SUV tomorrow. I’m helping drive the herd to the ranch.”

  “No, you won’t be well enough, Rosie,” Jason hurriedly said.

  “You are not the boss of me, Jason. It’s my herd of cattle and I’ll be driving it in. If you want to ride in the SUV, feel free. But I won’t!”

  He could already see how much the argument was taking out of her. He figured she’d sleep too late and have to ride in the SUV tomorrow. Especially if the horses were taken ahead of the herd.

  He reached an arm over the seat and patted her shoulder. “Okay, Rosie, don’t get upset. I was just trying to protect you. After all, I promised Wes.”

  “Good. Then you’ll forget about me riding in the SUV.”

  He smiled at her persistence. “Whatever you say, honey. Just lie down and get some more rest.”

  That was one suggestion she readily took.

  “Did you talk to Rosie?” Cookie asked him as he exited the truck.

  “Yeah. And talking to me exhausted her.”

  “Just talking?” Cookie asked in surprise.

  “Well, we had an argument, I guess.”

  “You shouldn’t ‘a done that,” Cookie said. “She don’t have a lot of energy just yet.”

  “I know that!” Jason was practically yelling. “But the damned woman tried to tell me she would be on horseback in the morning!”

  “No wonder you had an argument,” Cookie said. “She won’t be up to that. She should ride with me. I’ll have her back at the house shortly after noon.”

  Jason frowned. “She’s so hardheaded, I won’t be surprised if she pulls some stunt and manages to get on horseback.”

  “But what can we do?”

  “I’ll try to think of something.” He walked with Cookie back to the center of camp, where the older man gave him a heaping plate of meat loaf and vegetables. Jason ate too fast, he knew, but he was starving and cold. As he got hot food inside him and warmed up by the big campfire Cookie had built, he relaxed and ate the rest of his meal more slowly.

  “What are you gonna do to keep Rosie from riding tomorrow?” Nick asked.

  “I’m hoping she’ll sleep late in the morning and we can take the extra horses ahead of the cattle.”

  “Uh, Jason, I don’t want to be assigned the horses in the morning,” Nick hurriedly said.

  Not making the connection, Jason gave him a puzzled look. “Why not, Nick?”

  “Um, I don’t want Rosie mad at me.”

  “Oh. Okay, I’ll find someone else to do the dirty deed.”

  They all ate silently. When Jason, the last to finish, washed his plate, Nick said, “I didn’t really mean that, Jason. But you know she will be mad if she intends to ride out in the morning.”

  “She really does, but even arguing about it exhausted her.” Jason sighed. “I don’t know what I’ll do if she wakes up early.”

  “We’ll help you, boss, won’t we, guys?”

  There was a general consensus that the men could talk Rosie out of mounting her horse in the morning, but Jason had a feeling they were wrong.

  Jason was up at first light, as was Cookie. He helped get the fire ready and did Rosie’s job of cracking and beating the eggs for breakfast. When he brought the bowl to Cookie, he whispered, “Did Rosie wake up when you got out of the SUV?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Good. I’m not going to go check and see. I’m hoping she’ll sleep until after we get the h
erd started.”

  “Yeah. Uh, you want to wake up the others so they can eat their breakfasts?” Cookie asked.

  Jason moved around the campfire, shaking shoulders to awaken the cowboys. He’d just finished making the circle when the SUV door opened and Rosemary got out, with her coat and hat on.

  “Rosie! I thought you’d sleep a little later,” Jason said.

  “Why? We always start early.” She moved to the campfire, holding out her hands to its warmth. “It’s still snowing.”

  “Yeah, we picked up another three or four inches overnight. That’s why you should ride with Cookie. He might need help if he gets stuck.” That idea had just occurred to him. He hoped it worked.

  “I assumed the two men who rode the herd all night would ride with Cookie.”

  “How did you know—” But there was no fooling Rosie. No use even trying. He admitted, “Yeah, they are.”

  “Then there’s no need for me to ride with him.”

  “No, but—” Jason broke off, unable to think of anything else spur of the moment.

  “Hey, Rosie, I figured you’d be riding with Cookie. That’s why I didn’t tell you Maggie came up limping yesterday,” Nick offered.

  Jason sent him a grateful look.

  “Then I’ll ride Sandy.”

  The two men stared at each other.

  “Are you sure you feel strong enough to stay upright in the saddle all day?” Cookie asked.

  “I will after I have a good breakfast,” she answered him.

  “Okay, we’ll see. But there’s no shame riding in the SUV with me.”

  “With the night guys riding with you, Cookie, and two guys leading the spare horses, that will only leave six of us to bring the herd in. I think I’ll be needed.”

  “But we could manage if you don’t feel up to it,” Jason hurriedly said.

  “I can manage.”

  “First you got to keep down a good breakfast, Rosie,” Cookie reminded her.

  All the men looked at each other, guiltily hoping she couldn’t do that.

  CHAPTER NINE

  ROSEMARY couldn’t imagine a stranger breakfast. As she struggled to eat, every cowboy was staring at her, waiting for her to be sick. She took small bites and swallowed slowly. If a person could control their stomach, Rosemary intended to be the one who did it.

  When she’d eaten about half of what Cookie had given her, she dumped the rest in the slop bucket and excused herself. She knew all of them would give her some privacy. When she reached the trees that would hide her activity, she gave up the rigid control of her stomach and shakily lost some of her breakfast. But no one would know. She was determined about that.

  When she reached camp again, Jason met her. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “It really would be best if you stayed with Cookie in the SUV.”

  “No, Jason. I told you last night I was riding with the herd today. And I’m not going to argue with you.” She moved around him and headed for the horses. Nick surprised her by leading Maggie to her.

  “I thought you said she was limping?”

  “Uh, I think she recovered overnight.”

  Rosemary gave him a derisive look before she thanked him for saddling her horse. She looked around camp, wondering if she could get in the saddle as gracefully as she usually did. She knew everyone would be watching her. If she asked Nick for help, Jason would insist she ride in the SUV.

  Suddenly she felt hands around her waist. She looked up to find Jason standing beside her.

  “Need a little help?”

  “If I do, will you insist I ride in the truck?”

  “No, Rosie, I’ve accepted your decision.”

  She sighed softly. “Then yes, please, I could use some help.”

  “Here we go,” he said as he lifted her. All Rosemary had to do was throw her leg over Maggie and settle down in the saddle.

  “Thank you,” she said, hating the breathlessness in her voice. She didn’t want Jason to think his touch mattered to her. “I appreciate the help.”

  Jason put his hand on her leg, to ensure she didn’t ride off. “You’ll be riding drag with me.”

  “You don’t have to stay beside me, Jason.”

  His tone brooked no argument. “We’ll ride together, Rosie, or you’ll ride in the truck. Your choice.”

  She stared him down for the final time, then huffed, “Fine!”

  “Don’t forget to get your sandwich from Cookie.”

  “I have been on roundups before, Jason.”

  “Wait!” Jason suddenly said, startling her.

  “What?”

  “You don’t have your slicker on. Where is it?”

  She reached behind her to her saddlebags and drew out the yellow plastic cover to keep her dry. “I forgot to put it on. I’ll do that now.”

  He kept Maggie in place as Rosemary shrugged her slicker over her coat. The plastic kept out the cold wind, and Rosemary was grateful to Jason for reminding her. “Thank you again. Now may I go?”

  “Get your sandwich,” he reminded her.

  “Do you think I’m simple-minded, Jason? We’ve already had this conversation.” She pulled Maggie from his hold and headed toward the SUV.

  “Cookie, do you have the sandwiches ready?”

  “Sure do, Rosie. Are you sure—”

  “Don’t start, Cookie. I’m fine, thanks to your good care. I’ll see you back at the ranch. You certainly did a good job.”

  “Thanks, Rosie. Be careful.”

  “Always,” Rosie said with a smile, though she was shaking inside. She turned her horse toward the herd and drew a deep breath.

  When she reached the herd, she relieved one of the cowboys who would ride to the ranch in the truck. He wanted to pull a double shift, but Rosie assured him he’d done his job. Now she would do hers.

  She saw Nick relieve the other man. Immediately following Nick were several other cowboys. It was time to start moving the herd. She hoped they moved them quickly, before she fell out of her saddle.

  Jason hurried to saddle his horse. The anxiety he felt at being apart from Rosie was growing. Soon he’d be following her around with his tongue hanging out. He wasn’t even sure she’d notice.

  He picked up his sandwich from Cookie and said goodbye. He visually checked the camp for any details he might’ve missed. Then he rode toward the herd. He noted Nick was on point on this side to keep the herd headed in the right direction. Ken was on the other side. They were good riders.

  The herd was shaped roughly in a triangle. Rosie was already at the base of the triangle, pushing the herd forward. Jason joined her.

  “You could’ve waited for me,” he teased.

  “No time. We’ve got to get moving,” she assured him, not even offering him a smile.

  He shrugged his shoulders and joined her efforts. He hoped she didn’t notice how closely he stuck to her while still trying to do his job. When several steers with a mind of their own broke from the herd, he rode after them in hot pursuit.

  As he headed back to the herd, the steers in front of him, he turned his gaze toward the back of the herd to search for Rosie. When he didn’t see her, he panicked, spurring on his horse, which forced the steers to run faster. Then he caught sight of her on the far side of the herd. He eased his pace, drawing deep breaths to calm down.

  Man, he needed to take things slower.

  “You okay?” he called to Rosie as soon as he got close to her.

  She just waved at him and turned away. He frowned. Was she too tired to speak? Or too sick? He considered riding closer, but he had a job to do, as did she, and he had no choice but to postpone his concern.

  About three o’clock, one of the cowboys on point yelled that they’d reached the pasture where they were to leave the herd. Two riders came out to meet them. They turned out to be Rafe and Jesse. Everyone greeted them joyfully, both in relief for the roundup to be over and to let them know they were glad to see them.


  Nick and Ken remained at the gate that led into the pasture to keep any cows from trying to resist their entry, but as the herd entered the pasture and found hay waiting for them, they moved quickly. As they did, Rafe and Jesse came to Jason.

  “Boss, Nick said to relieve you and Rosie. You can take her to the house. Sara Beth is worrying herself to a frazzle. Rosie is her only chick, you know.”

  “Okay, thanks, guys,” Jason agreed. He turned and rode toward Rosie.

  “I’m fine!” she called out.

  Did she think that would stop him? Jason shook his head, but he didn’t turn back. “Come on, Rosie. Rafe and Jesse are relieving us. Sara Beth wants to see you at once.”

  “But we need to put out hay and—”

  “Jesse and Rafe have already done that. That’s why the herd is moving so quickly. Let’s go.” He reached down to take her bridle to lead her horse.

  “Stop that! I can guide my horse!”

  He saw the stubbornness on her face, but he also saw the exhaustion. “Come on, Rosie. I was just trying to help.”

  “I know, but I can make it.”

  He removed his hand and sat back in his saddle. “Sorry. I’m as anxious as Sara Beth about your health.”

  She drew a deep breath. “That’s not your job.”

  He wanted to tell her it was his job for life, if she’d only agree. But now was not the time. He needed to take time to be sure about what he wanted. After all, he’d already messed up once.

  When they reached the barn, he convinced her to ride right up to the back door of the ranch house. As they came to a halt, Sara Beth bolted through the door before they’d even dismounted. Jason swung from the saddle and went to help Rosie from the saddle.

  “I can make it,” she said.

  “No need. I’m here. You’ve proven yourself over and over again, Rosie. It’s time to let Sara Beth take care of you.” As he spoke, he pulled Rosie from the saddle and into his arms.

  “Oh my, thank you, Jason,” Sara Beth said. “Bring her right this way.”