Kissed by a Cowboy

by Debra Clopton

  “Ready, set, go!” Boom! The blank went off and everyone started toward the first barrel they had to go around. Jarrod was very competitive with his brothers and the other men in the race. Why, the man literally gripped her by the waist and lifted her off the ground and plowed forward.

  She heard Maggie and Abby laughing and glanced over to see they were pretty much being carried too. Their legs moved together but their feet were not touching the ground.

  Suddenly they were going down. Jarrod grabbed her and flipped so that he landed on his back and cushioned her fall. The next thing she knew they were tangled on the ground together.

  “That was terrible.” She laughed, realizing he’d taken the hit. He was hugging her close as they laughed together when a little up ahead of them Bo and Abby bit the dust too. Then Tru and Maggie followed when Maggie tried to help run and instead tripped Tru and took him down.

  “Well, it seems that no Monahan is the winner today.”

  Jarrod grinned. “Says who?” he murmured and nuzzled her neck, dropping a kiss just below her ear.

  Her hand on his chest balled into a fist, clutching the fabric of his shirt as her gaze flew to his. They were so very close, and she was suddenly overwhelmed by how much emotion he could evoke in her. And the mischievous grin that he gave her was both sexy and fun at the same time. It sent songbirds fluttering through her. She gasped and couldn’t look away. “You-you made us fall on purpose.”

  “Maybe. Okay, I cannot tell a lie.”

  Her heart pounded and the songbirds dipped and soared.

  Cassidy pressed a hand to his chest and pushed him away. Then she untied the string around their legs and scrambled to her feet. “Cassidy, what are you doing?”

  He stood up and walked beside her as she started toward the booths.

  “Hey, Cassidy, where are you going?” Abby called, causing her to stop. She turned back toward the others.

  “I am going to pack up my truck.”

  Abby and Maggie untied themselves from Tru and Bo, and they all stood up. He was glad he had some backup after apparently pushing too hard.

  But he was thirty-four years old, and a month ago he’d been feeling like he was twice his age and was as lonesome as a hound dog. And according to his brothers, about as humorless as it got. And then Cassidy had shown up and spun everything inside of him into a twister that wasn’t letting up, and suddenly he was laughing like a kid and feeling more alive than he’d felt in years.

  Despite everything she was saying, he knew Cassidy was enjoying it too—when she let herself.

  “We’ll come help,” Maggie said. “We need the guys to help carry tables.”

  Jarrod ended up being flanked by Bo and Tru as they trailed the girls through the crowd.

  “I just saw you sneak a kiss,” Bo said, elbowing him. “Way to go, big brother. I like your moves.”

  Jarrod scowled at Bo, suddenly concerned about who else had seen what he’d done.

  “She looked a little upset, though,” Tru said, joining in.

  Jarrod tugged on the collar of his shirt. “I might have gotten a little ahead of myself. But I honestly can’t help it.”

  His brothers grinned.

  “My advice is to pace yourself,” Tru offered.

  “Yeah, this isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon,” Bo said.

  Jarrod figured that was true, but he was ready to move forward now.

  He caught Clara Lyn out of the corner of his eye and she and several ladies in town were all smiles. He did a double take, and it didn’t make him feel any better when her smile broadened.

  A sinking feeling hit him. Rumors were going to fly if Clara Lyn saw him nuzzle Cassidy’s neck.

  So be it. All he could do was go with his gut.

  Cassidy could not believe she’d come back for the dance.

  It was all Maggie’s and Abby’s fault. They had nagged her and goaded her unmercifully, saying she couldn’t hide out there on her farm collecting animals just because she was afraid a man might talk her into changing her mind about staying single.

  “I am not afraid,” she’d assured them and tried to believe it herself as she’d headed home to feed her animals. She’d been feeding her lambs and seriously thinking about getting a goat and a pig when it dawned on her that her friends might be onto something. She was collecting animals, and she was a little afraid of Jarrod, if the truth be told. But even still, she had a plan for her life and she needed to prove to him and everyone that she meant business. And there was no better time to do that than at the Fourth of July evening dance and fireworks display.

  Besides, coming back for the dance and mingling with everyone was a good thing. She could live alone, but she did need interaction. So here she was.

  Darkness had set in by the time she got back to town. Lights shone on the Bull Barn parking lot, where the evening festivities would take place. Big Shorty had a crew come in and in a day they’d built a deck on the side of the diner. They’d finished it off with colored lights strung overhead, giving the deck a festive look.

  As she got out of her truck, she could hear the band warming up. Her stomach felt bottomless as she walked toward the gathering crowd. Cowboys milled all about, and she caught several eyes turning her way as she hunted for someone to hang out with. Coming to the party alone was one thing, but hanging out on the fringes among friendly looking but unknown people wasn’t exactly appealing.

  “Cassidy.” She felt a sense of relief as she looked around for Abby, whose voice she recognized.

  The whole family was standing near the edge of the deck, and she stumbled on a rock as her mouth went dry. Jarrod stood beside his brothers looking oh so wonderful. There was that Monahan signature look all three of the brothers had, stamped hard by their grandfather’s DNA. But Jarrod . . . he just drew her. Always had.

  He’d changed into black denim jeans and a pale-blue western shirt. The shirt had a light shimmer to the material that brought out the deep blue of his eyes. Even in the shady illumination of the colored lights she knew this, though she couldn’t actually see them from here.

  She fought down the feelings surging through her. “Hi, everyone.” She didn’t look at Jarrod, but she was very aware that he was looking at her. She knew because she had goose bumps running along her neck where he’d planted that kiss earlier.

  “You made it.” Maggie gave her a hug among everyone else’s greetings. “The band is going to be fantastic. You’ll have such a great time. I just feel it.”

  She swallowed and her eyes slanted toward Jarrod of their own accord.

  He winked at her. “You ready to do a little boot-scootin’?”

  “No, I’m just here to enjoy the company.”

  “No way,” Abby said. “You are going to get out there and have some fun like the rest of us.” She glanced around. “Where’s Pops?”

  “Over there with some of his old cowboy buddies.” Tru pointed to a group of older men sitting in lawn chairs. “They’re telling old stories and waiting for the hour and a half to pass before we go shoot off the fireworks.”

  “We always bring him out to these gatherings,” Jarrod said. “We just keep a close watch on him, and so do his friends.”

  Everyone talked and laughed about the day, and different people dropped by to chat. Cassidy was glad she’d come, even though she was wary of Jarrod.

  The band started up at that moment, and with limited dance time people poured out onto the deck. Maggie and Tru joined the first group, and she heard someone call Tru’s name and yell for him to show them his moves. She glanced at Jarrod, who was now standing next to her.

  “He’s a really good dancer and he always gets ribbed about it.”

  Bo laughed. “It’s only because everyone’s jealous.”

  “Hey, you’re a good dancer too.” Abby took Bo’s hand and they joined the two-stepping group.

  “May I have this dance, Cass?” Jarrod reached out to take her hand.

  “No.”

&nbs
p; “You want to dance with me,” he drawled. That slow smile edged across his face as he dragged her willpower right out of her and grabbed her hand. And then before she could say another word, he pulled her into his arms and spun her over to the deck.

  Her breath evaporated as he easily lifted her up the step and set her on the deck, then held her close and moved them smoothly into the crowd. He had some moves himself.

  “You are not playing fair, Jarrod.” It was a weak protest.

  “Cass, just forget all that other stuff right now and let yourself have a good time. Let go of all the fear and relax. Okay?”

  Fear. There was that.

  “Fine, but you behave.”

  He grinned and spun her in rhythm to the music.

  How exactly was she supposed to relax when all she could think about was being in his arms?

  When the song ended she started to move away, but the band went right into another song. Jarrod spun her again and led her into a waltz.

  “Are you having fun yet?” he asked, close to her ear.

  His breath was warm and sent a tingle down her spine. She nodded. “I am.”

  Nothing had changed. She was not threatened—she wasn’t. She reassured herself as her hand tightened on his shoulder. The song ended, and when his hand tightened on her waist, a little ache in her heart snuck past all her bravado. Being held in his arms felt wonderful.

  “Let’s go grab something to drink. That lemonade is calling my name again,” Jarrod said as the third song ended. He’d done everything he could to keep her out there as long as possible. She was beginning to relax, though she was still skittish. He was hopeful that he’d eventually win her over.

  “Sounds wonderful. I’m parched after all that. You are a dancing machine.”

  He placed his hand on her lower back and gently led her through the group.

  “Hey, ladies.” Cassidy greeted Clara Lyn, Pebble, and Reba, who were standing with a group of women between the dance floor and the refreshments.

  “You two looked good out there,” Reba said with undisguised innuendo.

  “Boy, is that an understatement,” Clara Lyn added, waving her hand in front of her face. “Y’all were burnin’ up that dance floor.”

  “I really enjoyed watching y’all,” Pebble said, smiling. Then a sigh slipped from her. “So romantic.”

  He felt Cassidy stiffen. “Thank you, ladies,” he said quickly. “Now it’s time for something to drink.” He moved Cassidy the four steps to the drinks table, grabbed a cup, and dug some ice from the ice bucket Big Shorty had been replenishing all evening. At the moment the owner had given up his post and he and his wife were moving onto the dance floor. Jarrod was in the middle of getting ice into the second cup when Cassidy gasped and started patting his shoulder.

  “Look. Look, he’s going to ask her to dance.”

  “What?” Jarrod straightened and Cassidy stepped closer, her hand gripping his arm.

  He looked around to see what she was so excited about. “Who? Oh.” This time he gasped seeing Rand approaching Pebble, hat in hand.

  Cassidy’s fingers dug deeper into his arm. She planted herself closer to him and whispered, “Do you know he’s been writing letters to Maggie’s column asking for advice on how to get Pebble back into his life?”

  That information shocked Jarrod. “No kidding?”

  “Isn’t it romantic? He’s so in love with her that he’s even willing to reach out for advice. I want them to get together so badly. I know it’s complicated but—”

  “Evening, ladies,” Rand said, lifting his tweed hat slightly, then placing it back on his head. “Pebble, I was wondering if you would do me the honor of this dance.”

  Cassidy clutched Jarrod’s arm, staring up at him. “Oh, Jarrod, the song is ‘Remember When.’ ”

  Alan Jackson was crooning his way into the hearts of every woman out there while the live band took a short break. “It’s a great song,” he said, touching her cheek.

  Her eyebrows met. “For them.” She stepped away from him.

  Jarrod reacted. Snagging her with his arm, he held her close, glad he’d set down their cups of ice the moment she’d first grabbed him. “Hold on. Listen.”

  Pebble had gone completely still and so had everyone around who was watching. What would Pebble do?

  She nodded at last. “I would love to.” She spoke so softly they almost missed it. And then she placed her hand in Rand’s.

  Rand looked like he could jump tall buildings in a single leap as he led the love of his life onto the deck.

  Jarrod smiled. “He’s really made a commitment to change. He’s always been a great guy. He just let disappointment over Pebble not admitting that she loves him and agreeing to let their relationship move forward grab hold of him. I think relying on the bottle to drown out the emotions he was feeling snuck up on him and then cost him.”

  “I think Aunt Roxie would be so happy to see this.”

  “I do too,” Clara Lyn said, turning to them. She had a hand to her heart. “I’m about to bust with happiness for the progress and my legs are about to buckle with fear.”

  “There is fear everywhere,” Jarrod said. “A person just has to decide to live with it if they want a full life.”

  Cassidy looked at him, then quickly went back to watching Pebble and Rand. Jarrod poured the lemonade and handed her a cup, then they moved a few steps out of the way of others who might want something to drink.

  “Well,” Reba drawled, “I believe in Rand. And I believe he’s got this whupped because he wants Pebble and that bottle was getting in between him and the love of his life. When a man loves a woman like that, he’s not going to let anything stop him.”

  Jarrod looked down at Cassidy—and agreed wholeheartedly.

  “They really went all out,” Cassidy said when the fireworks were over. They’d been amazing. She’d watched them with some of the women, including Maggie and Abby. The fire department had been in charge of the show, and she had been relieved Jarrod was occupied. She could finally relax.

  It had been an unusual evening. But even now Jarrod was safely out in the pasture cleaning up the fireworks area, so there was no temptation to kiss him. None. No creating fireworks of their own. This had been a spectacular display for a small town, and she had no desire to produce any other display for the town gossip mill.

  Thankfully and wonderfully, Pebble and Rand had taken the matchmaking minds of everyone off her and Jarrod. The older couple danced several songs together, and then Rand led Pebble back to the group, bowed slightly, and went back to join his friends.

  When the fireworks started Rand came and sat down beside Pebble. They hadn’t said much. They just sat there in companionable silence most of the time, looking up at the sky together, commenting occasionally on a particularly spectacular burst of light. Cassidy found herself watching them more than the fireworks. Just before the show ended Rand gave Pebble’s hand a gentle squeeze, then left to take a few more photos for the paper.

  “They are so sweet together,” Maggie whispered to Cassidy as Clara Lyn and Reba nearly tackled their friend in excitement.

  “So,” she heard Clara Lyn say, “how do you feel? What do you think? Aren’t you going to say anything?”

  “No. Not right now. I have to think.”

  “He’s being so charming,” Reba gushed. “And you know he’s the most debonair male in all of Wishing Springs. And he loves you desperately.”

  “He’s a dear, dear man. I think I’ll go home now,” Pebble said to her buddies, then smiled and waved good night to Cassidy, Maggie, and Abby.

  “Maggie,” Cassidy said, “I think it’s sweet that he writes those notes to your column. And you’re giving him great advice.”

  Maggie chuckled. “I’ve been hearing the rumors that it’s him, but I really have no idea. I see so many similar questions and scenarios in what people send me.”

  “Really.” Abby leaned around Cassidy to hear better.

  “Ye
s, y’all would be surprised how similar people’s problems are. It’s like life repeats itself all the time. I get several letters with similar situations and pick the one I think will resonate the most with those who need my advice. Then I answer that letter in the column. So do you know how many Torn in Texas folks there could be out there?”

  “Wow, I’m shocked,” Cassidy said as the last fireworks display went up. “And wow, wow! That right there is amazing.”

  “Yes, it is. Nothing shabby about those cowboy firemen,” Maggie said. “But you know, I cannot fib. Though that is usually the case, in this situation Torn’s is the only letter I received like it. His letter stood out and touched me. My first response to him was really long and drawn-out, then I had to reel in my advice and shorten it. After that response I got a lot of similar letters. It was as if he set off a firestorm of men wondering if they should hold on after having messed up.”

  “Your job is really complicated, isn’t it?” Abby said.

  Maggie sighed. “Life is complicated. I really have to pray hard that I don’t say something wrong that messes up someone’s life. That’s why sometimes I make my answer simple rather than long-winded.”

  “I think you do great. Your column helped me when I was going through my troubled marriage. And you’re right, I just felt like someone else understood. It gave me some hope that I could get through my situation.”

  “I’m glad. I’m always so encouraged when someone tells me that. And now I’m so nervous thinking about becoming a mom. I’m going to be asking Abby here for advice all the time.”

  “Hey, you’re going to be great. Don’t you think so, Cassidy?”

  “Oh yeah.” Cassidy reached out and squeezed each of her new friends’ hands. “I am so glad I moved back to Wishing Springs and met y’all. This has been a wonderful night. I’m glad y’all talked me into coming. Now, though, I’m heading out.” She stood up.

  “We’re glad you’re here too,” Abby said.

  Maggie chuckled. “Yes, we are. And don’t think for a moment that we don’t know you’re sneaking off before you have to see our handsome, hunky brother-in-law again.”