Wild About the Wrangler

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “Your mother would be proud.”

  “Hey, she’s already proud. But that reminds me, can your folks make it for the wedding?”

  “I talked to them about it right after I proposed to Georgie. Unfortunately my dad’s health isn’t great right now and my mom doesn’t feel as if she can leave him. It was after I realized they couldn’t be here that I started thinking seriously about having it in the canyon.”

  “Which probably leaves out your stepmother-in-law, too.”

  “Yeah, but Georgie told me she didn’t want to base our wedding on what would suit Evelyn. I think that’s a good call. Evelyn is one of the most self-centered women on the planet.”

  “I’m getting that. I’ve never met her, which is saying something in a town this size. Does she ever come out of that house?”

  “Georgie and Anastasia take her on shopping trips to Amarillo every once in a while. She’s flown over to stay with Charmaine in Dallas once that I know of. But she doesn’t mingle with the residents of Bickford, if that’s what you mean. I’m sure she thinks we’re all beneath her.” Vince’s tone was bitter.

  “You don’t like her.”

  “Not much. She’s been mean to the woman I love.”

  “Then I’m glad you decided to have the wedding on horseback. You and Georgie don’t need her around to spoil the mood.”

  “Exactly.” He nudged Storm Cloud into a trot.

  Mac followed suit. Vince had picked up the pace without thinking, as a seasoned rider would do. Trotting was a natural gait if someone had been riding for years, but not if they’d been riding for days.

  “Got a question for you,” he called out to Vince.

  “What’s that?” He slowed Storm Cloud to a walk again.

  “In a regular wedding, the guys get into position first and then the women follow. Does that mean we’ll ride out ahead of Georgie and the others?”

  “I guess it does. Why?”

  “Maybe you could ask Georgie to keep the pace to a walk.”

  “Sure. She might be planning on that, anyway, but I’ll talk to her about it.”

  “Good. I’ll tell Anastasia in the morning. I think she’ll be relieved.”

  “Or you could tell her tonight at Sadie’s. Then she can be relieved that much sooner.”

  “I thought I’d stay home and rip up the last of the carpet.”

  “You can if you want, but Steve’s got a country band he wants us to hear. He and Myra auditioned them over the weekend and since they’ll be playing for the wedding reception, he wants us to give a listen tonight. See if we think the music’s danceable.”

  “Oh.” He gazed up into a slice of blue sky and spotted a hawk surfing the air currents. “So besides listening we’re supposed to be dancing?”

  “That’s the idea. I’m looking forward to it. Like old times. What do you say?”

  “Um, sure. I can do that.” When Vince, Mac, and Travis had worked at the guest ranch near Bickford, they’d always gone dancing at Sadie’s. Tonight, if he had any sense, he’d stay home and rip up carpet. But if he didn’t go, dollars to doughnuts Travis would end up dancing with Anastasia a lot. They’d have a high old time together, and even though they were just friends, he still didn’t like thinking about it.

  And he would think about it constantly if he stayed home to pull up carpet, so he might as well go and dance with her. He’d never had the pleasure and they’d be expected to dance together at the wedding reception, so he could consider it practice.

  Yeah, right. He was an excellent dancer and if she wasn’t, so what? He could make her look like a better dancer than she was. He didn’t need practice any more than he needed another reason to hold her. But if anyone was going to hold her on that dance floor tonight, it by God would be him.

  “Good. It’ll be fun.” Vince nudged Storm Cloud into a trot again.

  Mac was enjoying himself. Riding out here without worrying about greenhorns was a nice change. He could breathe in the crisp fall air and take time to notice the leaves changing. They didn’t have spectacular fall foliage here, but splashes of orange and gold brightened the canyon.

  When the path smoothed out, Vince urged his horse into a canter and Mac did the same. The rhythm was a bittersweet reminder of this morning—Anastasia’s warmth, the gentle rise and fall of her breasts, the orange-peel scent of whatever shampoo she used.

  Vince slowed again as they neared the meadow where the Ghost liked to hang out with his herd. The soft burble of Sing-Song Creek blended with the chirp of birds flitting through the bushes. The cottonwoods lining the bank of the creek had turned, and their yellow leaves glowed in the sun.

  “I doubt the Ghost will be here in the middle of the day,” Vince said. “But you never know.”

  “No, you don’t. Just think, if you hadn’t come up with that harebrained scheme to rope him last spring, none of this would have happened.”

  “That’s true.” Vince pulled Storm Cloud to a stop at the edge of the meadow and scanned the area. “I don’t think he’s around.”

  “Nope. But you’ll probably see him this weekend on the trail ride. He’s pretty regular in the evening and early morning.”

  “I hope we do. Georgie would like that. Me, too, actually.”

  “Then you can thank him personally for inspiring Anastasia to want to learn to ride. Now you can have the wedding ceremony of your dreams, assuming it doesn’t rain.”

  “It won’t.”

  “Should we haul a canopy out here just in case?”

  “No.” Vince guided Storm Cloud across the meadow toward the narrow trail leading to the box canyon. “The idea is to have the ceremony under the wide-open skies.”

  “I get that, but I guarantee the women who’ve spent hours on their hair and makeup will care a whole hell of a lot if they end up getting rained on.”

  “It won’t rain.” He clucked to Storm Cloud and started across the meadow toward the narrow trail into the box canyon.

  And it probably wouldn’t, Mac thought as he followed on Cinder. Luck seemed to be on Vince’s side these days. Mac gave Cinder his head for the uphill climb on the far side of the meadow. What used to be a game trail obscured by thorny bushes had been widened last spring by Vince and his crew of volunteers.

  As Mac drew closer to the box canyon, the sound of the waterfall became more distinct. Although he’d made this journey most weekends for close to six months, he still felt a thrill when he first saw it plunging straight down the side of the rust-colored canyon wall. The sun created rainbows in the mist surrounding it.

  “I wanted to get out here and look at it now.” Vince leaned on his saddle horn and gazed at the waterfall. “This is when I’d like to start the ceremony, although I know, considering the ride out, the timing might not be exact.”

  “Probably not. But the waterfall looks like this for a good hour every day.”

  “So it turns out our legal eagle Frank is also licensed to perform the ceremony.”

  “Yeah? That’s great!” Or not. He had an unsettling thought. “I hope he’s not planning to ride Jasper out here. I realize Jasper’s his horse, but—”

  “I’ve already talked to him and he’s fine riding another horse so Anastasia can use Jasper.”

  Mac let out a breath. “Excellent.”

  “I’m picturing Frank with his back to the falls, and the rest of us facing them.”

  “How close do you want to get?”

  “I don’t know. Let’s ride over there and decide.”

  Riding side by side, they skirted the campground area, a cleared space with a fire pit in the middle. At the edge of the campground stood a large chuck wagon that provided permanent storage for sleeping bags, tents for those who wanted them, and cookware.

  Anastasia had never seen this, which seemed incomprehensible. Mac was determined to get h
er out here soon. He pictured her expression when she first saw the waterfall. She’d be entranced.

  Imagining her reaction as he rode, he lost track of how close they were until he felt the mist on his skin. Pulling Cinder to a halt, he glanced over at Vince. “This is too close.”

  Vince grinned. “What? I can’t hear you!”

  “Exactly! You won’t be able to hear Frank or Georgie, either, nimrod!”

  Vince laughed. “Just wondered when you’d notice that!” Wheeling his horse around, he headed back the way they’d come. He stopped after about twenty yards and waited for Mac. “You were off in another world. I was beginning to think we’d end up standing under the falls before you came to.”

  “I was waiting for you to stop.”

  “The hell you were. What’s got you so distracted, bro?”

  Mac hedged. “There’s a lot going on. The documentary, the wedding, the baby . . .”

  “And the baby’s auntie? Could she have something to do with your state of mind?”

  “Look, nothing’s going on.”

  “Oh, I think something’s going on. I just can’t figure out what. Georgie said Anastasia came to dinner Sunday night partly to discuss her interaction with you, but then she backed off and said it wouldn’t be necessary.”

  “It’s not necessary. Nothing’s going to happen.”

  “Georgie thinks different. She’s convinced that her sister wants you bad.”

  “We had a talk. We both agreed to keep things platonic.”

  “You’d better hope she doesn’t change her mind. When she’s focused, she is a force to be reckoned with.”

  Mac groaned. “I don’t want to hear that.”

  “Maybe not, but I thought you should know. Are you planning to get her out here next week and test whether she can handle the trail?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I thought she might be ready for that with the extra time you’ll have this weekend. So when you do bring her out here, she’ll love it.”

  Mac nodded. “She will.”

  “Georgie asked me to set a couple of ground rules, though, because this canyon can be very seductive.”

  “I don’t need any damn ground rules. I won’t be doing—”

  “First ground rule: Don’t break her heart.”

  “I can’t break her heart if nothing happens, and it won’t.”

  Vince continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “And the second ground rule is: Carry condoms at all times.”

  CHAPTER 14

  Mac hadn’t come into Sadie’s for lunch or happy hour, but Anastasia had hopes for later, when the band was scheduled to play. She remembered Charmaine telling her that Mac had loved to dance when he’d been a wrangler at the guest ranch. Anastasia had been too young to participate when Saturday night at Sadie’s had been filled with live music and laughter.

  The summer before her last year of art school she’d chosen to work for a gallery in San Antonio instead of coming home. And by the time she’d graduated, the live music had disappeared. But now it was back.

  Tonight was to be a test of the band’s popularity with anyone who loved to dance, because that would be important during the wedding reception scheduled in a week and a half. That meant Vince and Georgie would be there. So would Travis, who asked Anastasia to save him a dance.

  She’d done that, but the man she was saving the rest of her dances for had yet to make an appearance. She’d run home to freshen up and change into a black knit long-sleeved shirt with a scooped neck and a new pair of jeans. She’d left her hair down.

  Georgie had taken one look at her when she’d walked into Sadie’s and then smiled knowingly. She understood the motivation for that trip home without Anastasia saying a single word.

  As the band tuned up, Georgie drew Anastasia into a corner. “You’re loaded for bear, I see.”

  “I’ve been doing some thinking.”

  “I can tell.”

  “I let fear keep me from riding horses, and that was extremely limiting. What else am I missing out on because I’m afraid?”

  Georgie’s reply was hesitant. “I understand what you’re saying. You have a valid point. I just remember what happened your last year in art school.”

  “And whose fault was that?”

  “His.” Georgie’s brown eyes flashed fire. “I could have wrung his scrawny neck for treating you that way.”

  “No, Georgie, it was my fault that I allowed his behavior to derail my art. He didn’t do that to me. I did it to myself.”

  Her sister didn’t look convinced.

  “No, really. He was a creep who didn’t deserve me, but I’m the one who let his rejection keep me from working. I promise you that will never happen again.”

  Georgie studied her for several seconds. “You know, I believe you.”

  “You do?” She was surprised and pleased.

  “I don’t think bravado is making you say that. It’s confidence.”

  “Oh, Georgie.” Her throat tightened. “That means a lot to me. Thanks.”

  “You can handle Mac, but I also think he has issues.”

  “Oh, I’m sure of it.”

  “He’s told you?”

  Anastasia shook her head. “He’s hinted. Something in his past spooked him, but I don’t know what.”

  “Knowing you, you’ll find out.”

  “Yep.” Anastasia gave her a quick hug. “I’m lucky to have you in my corner.”

  “Always.”

  “I just want to warn you that I feel the urge to break some rules. I’m an artist. We’re supposed to be unconventional.”

  “Gonna dye your hair pink and purple?”

  “Not today.”

  “Body piercings?”

  “That doesn’t appeal to me.” She was positioned so that she could see the door to Sadie’s. “But I’ll tell you what does appeal to me.”

  “What?”

  She nodded in the direction of the door. “Him.”

  Georgie turned around as Mac walked in. “He’s an eyeful, all right.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Don’t tell Vince I said that.”

  “Never.” She sighed. “Wow, that cowboy sure cleans up good.” His black Western shirt had a silver design embroidered on the yoke and his black jeans were crisply pleated. She could eat him up with a spoon. “If you’ll excuse me?”

  “Go for it, little sis.”

  She walked across the empty dance floor straight toward him. He’d obviously spotted her, too, because he held her gaze as she approached. “I want the first dance, Mac.”

  “The name’s Macario.”

  She did a double take. “What?”

  His mouth twitched with amusement. “It’s what Mac stands for. My full name is Macario. I’ve decided to start letting people know, and you’re the first.”

  “Macario.” She rolled it over her tongue. “I like it. It’s different.”

  “I thought you might. That’s why I decided to tell you first.”

  That made her pulse leap. “Really? I’m the first to hear your real name?”

  “Well, not quite. Let me qualify that. Vince has known it for years and never said anything. The other day Travis thought to ask the question and when Vince and I wouldn’t tell him, he threatened to turn the mystery into a three-act play. So I told him.”

  “And you assume within a couple of days it’ll be all over town.”

  “Only because he’ll tell one person, maybe Ida, and that’s all it takes. It’s like touching a match to a long fuse. Eventually the flame will reach the dynamite and everything will be blown to hell.”

  She smiled. “That’s pretty much how it works in Bickford. Which means if I drag you out on the dance floor for the first number, which I plan to do, we’ll light another fuse.” In more w
ays than one.

  “You’ll drag me? Really?”

  “Actually I was hoping you’d come willingly. I’ve been hearing about your dancing skills for years, and I want to see what the commotion is all about. But if I end up dragging you out there by your ear, that will feed the gossip mill for weeks.”

  He regarded her with interest. “Do you like to dance?”

  “Love it.”

  “Are you any good?”

  “Dance with me and find out, cowboy.”

  His easy grin made her heart race and her stomach flutter. She knew he could ride like a dream. She was about to discover if he could dance like one, too. Assuming he made love like a dream was completely logical.

  Maybe she’d find out eventually. But not tonight. She wasn’t going to rush into anything. First she had to unearth the skeletons in his closet, and that would take time. Even after she knew why he was so adamant about not getting involved with her, he might stubbornly cling to his position.

  But that was a problem for another day. The band launched into a spirited two-step and Mac whirled her onto the floor. He challenged her with one tricky move after another and she met the challenge, laughing breathlessly as they cleared the floor.

  Although they were surrounded by people clapping to the beat, she saw only Mac, his dark eyes sparkling with fun and admiration. His touch was sure and his footwork perfect. She’d always loved dancing, but she’d never danced like this, as if she’d been sprinkled with fairy dust and couldn’t make a wrong move. Like so many things connected with this man, it was magical.

  The music ended and they stood there laughing and trying to catch their breath as everyone cheered and whistled.

  “You should go pro!” someone called out.

  “They should film you guys for the documentary!” someone else said.

  “Nah.” Mac glanced at Anastasia with a smile. “That would take all the fun out of it.”

  She took a ragged breath. “Right.”

  He continued to gaze at her as he rested a hand lightly on her shoulder. “Can I buy you a beer, Twinkle Toes?”

  “Absolutely.” His hand on her shoulder was warmer than sunshine and made her tingle all over. He’d never touched her for no reason before. He kept his hand there as they walked over to the bar.