The Cowboy Wins a Bride (The Cowboys of Chance Creek)

by Seton, Cora

  Claire pulled her hand away. "Why? Your sixth sense telling you my marriage is doomed to fail? You're supposed to be able to tell, right? Not that I believe in that mumbo-jumbo crap."

  Rose turned away and got back to work at the other counter. Claire could tell from the set of her shoulders that she'd hurt her feelings, but it was true – she didn't believe in any kind of clairvoyance. Rose had a reputation of getting hunches about whether couples would make it or not. Seeing as how her day job was selling wedding rings, Claire thought it was a good racket.

  Still.

  "Sorry," she said finally. "I didn't mean to be so blunt about it."

  "I don't like it, you know," Rose said. "Everybody assumes it's a game and I get to feel special or something. No one ever thinks what it feels like to me when I sell a ring to a couple and don't get a good feeling about them. I should never have told Rob about it in the first place – I talked about it in confidence once and he's blabbed it all over town. People come right up and ask me now, Claire. It sucks!"

  "So you actually get a hunch?" Claire found herself asking.

  "Only about couples who really belong together. I'm sure there are plenty of people whose marriages will last that I don't get the hunch about because they're still learning to love each other. Maybe there's something in their past that's holding them back, or maybe there's still some obstacle to overcome. I don't know. It's just some people have this feeling when you see them together. They've found their life partner, you know? Their energy is connected."

  Rose was almost pleading with her to understand, and Claire nodded her head. That didn't seem so outlandish. Maybe Rose was good at reading people's intentions. Some couples took their marriage vows so seriously they would simply make their marriage work – come what may. All Rose had to be was a good judge of character.

  "So what about me and Jamie?" The words slipped out before she thought them through. "I mean, he's a total player, so we're bound to fail, right?" She forced a laugh. Hell, they weren't even getting married, so who cared what Rose said?

  "Jamie's a player? Who has he cheated on?" Rose turned all the way around to face her, the orange she was peeling still in her hand.

  "I just mean…all those women he's been with. He's a total flirt."

  "Being a flirt is different than cheating," Rose pointed out.

  "Whatever. Well – what about us?"

  Rose sized her up, then turned away and busied herself cutting up fruit. "What do you mean?"

  "What do you think I mean? Are we one of those couples? Are we going to be together forever?" She couldn’t believe she was even asking the question.

  For a long moment, Rose didn't say anything. Finally she shook her head. Glancing back over her shoulder, she said, "I'm sorry, Claire. I want to say yes, but I can't. When I look at the two of you I see all the energy on Jamie's side. He's there, one hundred percent – just waiting for you. But you're not even close to that. All your energy is…" she trailed off.

  "What?" Claire forced herself to ask.

  "It's…" Rose's cheeks pinked. "Well…it's all swirling back on itself."

  "What the hell does that mean?"

  "Oh, I shouldn't have said anything. I don't know you very well, and I'm no counselor…"

  "Spit it out. You might as well at this point," Claire blazed.

  "Well…I think it means that you're so busy thinking about yourself you have no love to give."

  Claire gripped the edge of the counter with shaking hands. "You know what, Rose? You're right. You shouldn't have said a god-damned thing."

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  What the hell was he going to do about Claire?

  Jamie lathered up for his morning shave. Was he chasing a lost cause, or would she come around in time? He had hoped once she got involved with decorating his house and riding with their guests, she'd realize how much fun they could have together, but so far it had been a bust. He couldn't shirk his duties with his guests, but he needed to step up his game, think of something that would remind Claire that he was a man and she was a woman and they belonged together.

  He thought back to the night they'd made love under the moon. Only a month ago, but it felt like ancient history. God, she'd been a sight, silver and sleek in the unearthly light. Writhing in his arms, calling out his name…

  Best not to dwell on it.

  He made short work of the rest of his morning routine and opened the door to head on over to the Big House for breakfast. No one had exactly planned that everyone would eat together – the guests, Ethan and Autumn, Claire and him – it just worked out that way, and it worked well. They were able to talk about the day's plans in an informal setting and the guests got to hear more about the running of the ranch. Today was the last day they'd stay close to home. Tomorrow he and Claire would take the ladies on an overnight ride and camp out on the range.

  Ought to be cozy.

  Smiling, he stopped in his tracks when he saw the vase on his front porch holding a single red rose. Claire's apology, no doubt. Maybe she felt the time was right for romance, too. His grin widened and he picked it up, finding a note tucked underneath.

  Jamie –

  Been thinking about you. I want to see you tonight. Meet me at the stable at midnight.

  He frowned. Was that Claire's handwriting? It wasn't like he'd ever studied it. He thought back to the notes she'd written on her first set of interior design plans. It was blocky and bold, like hers, but it wasn't a match.

  So who had left him a rose? Who wanted to meet him in the stable?

  Liz?

  Adrienne?

  When he was a younger man, he'd have been there with bells on, no matter who it was. Not anymore. Now Claire was within his sights, he wouldn't come within a mile of the barn tonight.

  But if he left a client waiting for him at midnight all alone in the stables, would they make some kind of a fuss? Maybe bad mouth the ranch on the internet? He needed this business to succeed.

  He tapped his foot until inspiration struck.

  He needed a stand in.

  Rob. About time the man started making up for the trouble he'd caused.

  * * * * *

  "If you keep showing up here, we're going to have to put you on the payroll," Claire said to Rob as they saddled up. This morning's ride was a long climb into the hills north of their property to a site with a vista their guests hadn't seen before. The sloping ground and curving track would provide more of a challenge than their previous rides and the longer time spent in the saddle would be a good preparation for their two day trip starting tomorrow.

  "Well, Jamie says you're not as keen as he thought you'd be for the job, so maybe I'll be your replacement."

  She was still raw from Rose's earlier words and now she felt a stab of wounded pride mixed with regret. Jamie was giving up on her already? She still thought his proposal was a joke – she couldn't believe she'd asked Rose about their chances as a couple – but it hurt her to think that he was already looking for her replacement as a business partner. Couldn't he give her a little time? Once she'd finished his house and secured Carl Whitfield's contract she'd be able to clear her head and make decisions more rationally. With Morgan's arrival, Daniel's attack and packages arriving at her Billings condo on a daily basis, she didn't have time to choose her path for the rest of her life right now. Maybe once she'd showed Daniel she'd always beat him at interior design she'd be ready to try something else.

  Like staying on the ranch and raising horses. Helping with the guests. She needed time to figure it out.

  Jamie ought to know that. He ought to back off and be helpful, not yank this job away from her before she'd even given it a fair shake.

  She paused while tightening a strap around Storm. Not that she was giving it a fair shake; not really. She'd been so wrapped up in her other problems she'd barely thought about the trail rides. If Jamie had given up on her, it served her right – she'd shown so little attention to what she was doing. Maybe Rose was ri
ght – maybe she was too busy thinking about her own problems to worry about anyone else.

  Maybe Jamie would be better off without her. Ethan and Autumn, too.

  She had the strangest feeling, just for a moment – as if the ground tilted and was sliding away – all her happiness sliding away with it. Her knees felt weak and she wondered if anyone would notice if she just sat down and put her head in her hands. She held onto Storm's saddle for balance until the dizziness passed, shaking her head to clear her thoughts.

  Did she even want to be an interior designer? Did she really need to beat Daniel before she moved on?

  What about that trip she was supposed to take? What about seeing the world?

  Another wave of dizziness passed over her. Damn, was she getting sick?

  No, this was stress, plain and simple. Everything was going wrong at once. In the past, she'd put her head down and run for the hills every time things like this happened. She wasn't going to do that now.

  She needed to concentrate. She needed to take things one step at a time. First she would show Daniel he hadn't crushed her when he took her money and ran. That meant finishing Jamie's house, showing it to Carl and landing the Whitfield contract. Next, she needed to sort out Morgan and send her back to Canada. No matter what Ethan said, she wasn't becoming part of her family.

  Last, she needed to make a decision about the rest of her life. When she had time to think it through – away from Jamie and everyone else.

  Jamie.

  She stroked Storm's neck as she considered the man at the center of all the chaos in her life. Why couldn't he be the man she needed him to be? Why couldn't he be faithful?

  Rose said she thought he was ready to be part of a lasting relationship. That he was one hundred percent committed.

  Could his proposal possibly be serious?

  No, that didn't make sense – it was all part of that practical joke – the face goo, the stupid note, and his proposal in front of all his friends. Even if by some crazy chance he had been serious, it didn't matter.

  Jamie didn't have staying power, no matter what Rose said. She had no doubt a wedding with him would be wonderful and the honeymoon spectacular. But the marriage… How long before another woman caught his eye and led him astray? She wouldn't live through that kind of betrayal.

  Let everyone think she didn't care enough about Jamie to marry him. She knew the truth.

  She cared far too much.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  "Who's that?" Autumn said. Jamie turned and held his hand up to shade his eyes from the strong morning sunshine. He was collecting the picnic Autumn and Rose had packed them to take along on today's ride. He'd distribute the food and drinks among everyone's saddlebags and warn them not to get into it until noon.

  Rob had been more than willing to ride along and spend the evening with them, too, when Jamie asked. He promised he'd hang out at his cabin until midnight, then go to intercept Jamie's would-be lover.

  "I'm more than happy to take one for the team," was the way he'd put it when Jamie warned him that the guest who met him there might expect him to put out. Jamie just bet he was, after his long drought.

  An unfamiliar car pulled into the drive and parked near the Big House. A woman in her early thirties got out. There was something familiar about her dark hair and strong jaw, but it wasn't until she turned to face them straight on that Jamie realized who it had to be.

  "Morgan," Autumn said, echoing his thoughts.

  "Yep." He scanned the surroundings, hoping Claire was still in the stable.

  Autumn walked down the front porch's steps. "Can I help you?"

  "I'm looking for Ethan Cruz." Morgan came to meet them. Dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and cowboy boots, she could have been a local, but Jamie detected a slight accent in her voice. Nothing he could put his finger on, exactly, but enough to set her apart as different.

  "I'll go get him." Autumn shot Jamie a look, and went back inside.

  "Why don't you have a seat," Jamie said.

  "I'm not sure I'm staying long enough for that to be practical," she said and smiled. "Hi, I'm Morgan. I don't know if you've heard of me."

  He nodded. "I sure have. Claire gave me an earful last night after she got home."

  "Did she tell you what happened? With that guy, Daniel?"

  Daniel. Jamie frowned. "No. What happened?"

  The anger in his tone must have made her wary. She looked him up and down. "Who are you, again?"

  He stuck his hand out. "I'm Jamie Lassiter. An old friend of the Cruz's and now part-owner of the ranch."

  "And you like Claire."

  Taken aback, he let his hand drop. "She tell you that?"

  Morgan smiled again. "It's plain all over your face, cowboy."

  "So what happened with Daniel?"

  She moved over to one of the rattan chairs that dotted the wide verandah and sat down. "I'd better not say if she didn't tell you herself. But he's a mean sonofabitch. I think she needs to watch out for him."

  Jamie narrowed his eyes, but before he could press her further, the door opened and Autumn came back out onto the porch, followed by Ethan.

  Morgan stood up. "Ethan. I'm Claire. I'm…your sister."

  * * * * *

  "No. Absolutely not," Claire hissed when Ethan cornered her in the stable and told her that Morgan was joining her and Jamie and their guests for the trail ride and picnic today.

  "I already told her she could come. Don't make a scene in front of our guests; we've already kept them waiting too long this morning."

  "Whose fault is that?"

  "Mine. I take full responsibility. But now it's time to get going."

  "Why does she have to come with me? Why can't she go with you?"

  "Because I'm going with you, too. Now shut up and help me saddle Charlie."

  Claire counted to ten before leading Storm out of the stable and leaving her brother behind. Let him saddle his own damn horse, and as far as she was concerned he could entertain their unwelcome half-sister, too. She sure as hell wasn't going to talk to her.

  But when she joined the rest of the group milling around on horseback at the front of the Big House, she realized she didn't need to. Jamie was already deep in conversation with the interloper. As she watched, he threw back his head and roared with laughter at something Morgan said.

  Rob pulled up Monty beside her and leaned over. "Damn, Claire, seeing your sister is uncanny. She's like you, only pretty." He chuckled and moved away into the center of their female guests. Claire fought the urge to hurl something at his retreating back and wheeled around, waiting for Ethan to appear. She couldn't wait until this farce was over.

  Things only got worse from there, however. She found herself stuck at the end of the line while Ethan and Jamie vied for Morgan's attention. Ethan was acting like Morgan was their long lost…well…sister or something, while from the way Jamie couldn't stop talking to her, she figured she didn't have to worry about his unwelcome advances anymore.

  Somehow that left her feeling lonelier than ever.

  Rob flirted with each and every one of the guests, making his way up and down the line with the ease of many years spent in the saddle. He should take on her job when the week was done. He'd be far more successful at it than she was. No one wanted to talk to her.

  Why would they when all she'd done all week was mope? As she rode along, the distance from her troubles was giving her clarity. She had a condo filled with tiles, floor coverings, cabinets and more – far more than she could use for ten log houses. She needed to make some decisions and send the rest back. She needed to get her finances in order.

  She needed to figure out what she wanted to do with her life.

  Her gaze strayed ahead of her to Jamie where he rode easily, chatting and laughing with Morgan, Ethan and Christine, who'd come up behind them. His laughter and good spirits had been a part of her life as she'd grown up on the ranch. His constant presence and his unerring desire to get her attention – an
d keep it – made it all too easy to discount him as anything special.

  But he was special, much as she hated to admit it. Who else could pick out the perfect horse for her when she hadn't ridden in over a decade? Who else worked beside her so easily – never trying to boss her around or second-guess her decisions? Who else put up with her temper and moods?

  Jamie had seen the worst of her. She closed her eyes as her cheeks heated. The best of her, too. He knew her in a way no other man did. Should she give him a chance?

  No – she'd been ready to give him a chance the night she came to tell him she'd been a fool for years. She'd been on fire that night to get everything out in the open, to tell Jamie she'd finally seen him for the man he was. And he'd been getting it on with Hannah O'Dell.

  He was a flirt and cheat. Always would be.

  Right?

  Rose's words crossed Claire's mind, and this time she considered them more seriously. How had Rose put it? Being a flirt was different than being a cheat.

  Was Jamie a cheat?

  He hadn't cheated on her when he was with Hannah. She'd given him the cold shoulder for years at that point. Did she really think he'd stay celibate all that time when she certainly hadn't? She'd never given him the barest encouragement – not the slightest hint that she was interested. What right did she have to be angry when he wasn't sitting home alone, waiting for her?

  That night, staring in his window while he undressed Hannah, she'd felt just as hurt as when she'd caught her mother and Mack together. But Jamie wasn't married. He was a single man who'd found someone else to be with when she refused him over and over again.

  Had Jamie ever cheated? She thought back to the various women he'd dated over the years. All strong, independent types who were just as capable of playing Jamie as of being played by him. Women who wanted a boyfriend to squire them around, but weren't interested in settling down. She couldn’t remember anyone shedding any tears over him.