Sammy’s Story
A Culpepper Cowboys Book
Kirsten Osbourne
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
About the Author
Also by Kirsten Osbourne
One
Samantha Ross locked the door of her clinic to head into Culpepper, Wyoming. She had heard there was a new bookstore in town, and she was willing to forgo her daily burger at Bob’s Burger Barn to go there and see what she could see. She wasn’t expecting anything along the lines of a Barnes and Noble, of course, because it was in a small town, but hopefully, it would at least have a nice little romance section. She couldn’t express how excited she was at the idea of holding real books she’d never read in her hands again and not just her Kindle.
She was halfway there when she realized she had to have lunch anyway. Thankfully the burger barn and the new bookstore were side by side.
She parked in the burger barn parking lot, and then rushed inside. Bob was there, looking grumpy as usual, and she hurried to him. “Can I get my usual but to go?”
Bob nodded, writing down her order. “Sure. Megan’s supposed to see you this week, right?”
Sammy nodded. “Yeah. I can’t believe you two are expecting again already.” She grinned at him. Sammy was the local midwife in Culpepper, and her older sister, Tabby, was the OB/GYN. They often helped each other out.
“I can’t either. Of course, I wasn’t expecting little Bethany, so what do I know about anything?” Bob couldn’t help but grin when he mentioned his little girl, transforming his usually grumpy face.
Sammy grinned. “It’ll be nice that they’re so close together. They’ll be friends!”
“I sure hope so.” Bob shook his head. “Having to be the best friend of an eighteen-month-old girl is hard. I spend more time burping baby dolls than I do making burgers!”
“Sounds about right!” She glanced at the time on her phone. “I’ll be back in about thirty for the burger. I have a real ache in me to check out the bookstore next door. I’m so excited that Culpepper finally has a bookstore!”
“Enjoy yourself. Your food will be ready.”
Sammy handed him a ten, knowing the food would cost around seven. “Keep the change.” With those words, she hurried out the door. She had to see what books were there.
The sign above the bookstore read, “Barry’s Books.” She grinned, taking a deep breath before pushing open the door. She knew in a moment she would be assailed with the scent of books—real books—and she couldn’t wait.
She pushed the door open and stood just inside for a moment, filling her senses with the look, feel, and smell of a bookstore. “Whoever Barry is, I already love him,” she mumbled softly enough for her ears only.
From right beside her, she heard, “You do, do you?” The voice was deep and masculine and scared her half out of her mind.
Sammy jumped, her hand going to her chest. “Where’d you come from? You scared me!”
“I was working on a display right there,” he said, pointing to a spot right behind her, right next to the front door of the shop. “I’m Barry Hamilton, by the way. Since you love me now, you should know that I’m the one you love.”
“So nice to meet you, Barry. I’m Sammy Ross.” She tried to hide her embarrassment at him hearing her, but she knew that her blush hid nothing.
“Nice to meet you, Sammy Ross. What kind of book can I interest you in?” he asked. “I have new and used in just about every genre imaginable.” He rubbed his hands together, obviously excited to help a customer.
Sammy’s face lit up at the prospect of all the books she could look through. “Romance. I want all the romance you’ve got.”
Barry grinned. “Well, Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. I’ll pick you up at seven, and I’ll show you real romance.”
She laughed softly. “I think you know I meant romance books, but I’m going to take you up on that date now, and you’re going to run for the hills.” He was incredibly handsome, and she was ready to spend some time with him.
“Have you looked in a mirror in the past ten years? No man is going to run for the hills at the idea of dating you.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “Sammy Ross. Address and phone number please.”
She immediately recited her address and phone number, wondering what was going on with this man. “Now, books!”
He laughed. “You came here for books and not for me?”
“I didn’t know you, but I’m intimately acquainted with books.”
“Intimately, huh? I wouldn’t mind being intimately acquainted with you!”
She blushed again, shaking her head. “I’ll just wander around then, shall I?”
“I couldn’t make you do that. Let me show you to the romance section, small though it is. I’m sorry to say, I’m not much of a connoisseur of romance novels, so I never know what to get.”
“You need a female partner to help you with these things.”
“Are you looking for a job?” he asked, winking at her.
“No, I’m a little too busy for that. I’m the local midwife.”
His head tilted to one side. “Midwifery? Really?”
“Yes. Really. My sister is an OB/GYN. We share a clinic and work together a lot. If I get a complicated case, they see her.”
“Interesting.” He led her to the romance section and waved at it. “Here’s my ridiculously small romance section. If you’d just give me a list of your favorite authors while we’re out tomorrow night, I’ll make sure I carry them.”
Sammy grinned at him. “You don’t really have to take me out tomorrow night. I’m sure you have better things to do for Valentine’s Day.” The man was . . . well, sexy didn’t begin to cut it. His muscles seemed to have muscles. Her fingers ached to touch him.
“I don’t. I just moved to Culpepper three weeks ago. I don’t know anyone, so you’re it. You’re not going to back out and leave me all alone for my first holiday in town, are you?”
She laughed. “No, I won’t. And I want to talk to you all day, but I need a book first, so go away, and I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
Barry looked at her for a moment before laughing aloud. “You’re something else, Sammy Ross.”
She winked at him and turned away, her entire mind on romances now. How much of her lunch hour had she spent flirting? Way too much, she was afraid!
She dug through the books, and twenty minutes later, she was at the cash register with ten different books. She gave him her debit card to ring them up. “Thank you so much. I’m so glad we finally have a bookstore in town, but I have to say, your romance section is more than a little pathetic. I’ll help you with that.”
“It can’t be too bad if you found ten books.”
“I’m a voracious reader. What can I say?” She took the bag of books and waved at him. “See you tomorrow night.”
Barry stood watching the front door of the shop, smiling. Sammy Ross was something a lot more special than she or anyone in this town could possibly realize. He was going to keep her. Whether she knew it and liked it or not.
Sammy was still thinking about Barry when she got back to the clinic for her next appointment. One of her favorite writers, Jolene Gold, was expecting her second child, and she had decided to go the midwife route this time. Sammy put her taco burger and fried cheese curds in the microwave to keep them warm while she examined Jolene—whose real name was May.
At the end of Jolene’s appointment, Sammy smiled. “You’re doing great. Jus
t keep doing everything you’ve been doing. Are you taking your prenatal vitamins every day?”
“Except when they make me throw up.”
Sammy frowned. “Are you still throwing up a lot? You’re in the middle of your second trimester.”
“I did the same thing when I was pregnant with Bobbette. I do the all-day sickness for nine months thing. I think this is going to have to be our last child, because I can’t keep doing this.”
“And here I was going to ask you when your next book would be out . . .”
Jolene laughed. “Well, since I have a full-time nanny, I would say the middle of next week.”
“You’re a superhero, writing through your morning sickness this way.” Sammy smiled. “I can talk to Tabby about getting you something for the nausea.”
“I never took anything last time. I’m not sure I want any drugs in my system while I’m pregnant.” Jolene shrugged. “What would you do if you were pregnant?”
“Well, as a midwife, I don’t like any drugs at all during pregnancy. I probably wouldn’t take anything if you have the ability to power through. I know how many books you write, though, and I don’t want you to get stressed about falling behind.”
Jolene sighed. “I think I can power through. I will be announcing the pregnancy on my social media soon, and then everyone will just tell me to do what I can. My fans are amazing.”
“All right. I’ll see you in a month, then. You let me know if you change your mind, and Tabby will see you.”
“I don’t think I’m going to, but thanks.” Jolene reached into her purse and pulled out a book. “I thought you might like this.”
Sammy’s eyes grew wide. “Sammy’s Story? It’s about me?”
Jolene nodded. “Sure is. I dedicated it to you as well.”
Sammy threw her arms around her patient and favorite author. “You’re the best! Have I told you yet how much I love you?”
“I’ll see you next month.” Jolene left with a grin on her face, and Sammy flipped to the dedication. “For Samantha Ross: Thank you for always taking such good care of me. You’re the best midwife a romance writer could ask for.”
Sammy sniffed as she walked back to the microwave for her lunch. She had fifteen minutes until her next patient arrived. She opened the book and started reading, doing her best not to get any of her taco burger on it.
Just before it was time for her to close for the day, her sister popped her head in from her clinic. “How’d everything go? Need me for anything?”
Sammy shook her head. “Not really. I mean, I might need you to take a look at May Bodefeld,” she said, carefully remembering the woman’s real name. “She’s got all-day sickness and is halfway through her second trimester. Other than that, everything is pretty routine.”
“She probably needs some meds, if she’ll take them.” Tabby came all the way into the clinic, and Sammy smiled at her sister’s huge belly. She was due soon, and Sammy would have the privilege of delivering the baby.
“She told me she doesn’t want to take anything and she’s going to try to power through. I know she’s working all the time and not giving herself a rest at all, though, so I think she might eventually need you.” Sammy patted her examining table, and Tabby laboriously climbed up. “How are you feeling?”
Tabby shrugged. “I’m not feeling anything unusual. Just ready for the baby to come, and I am doing all the normal nesting stuff.”
“Are you looking forward to your shower on Saturday?” Sammy asked, her hands going to her sister’s stomach.
“Absolutely! I’m so excited. I’m glad we decided on just a female shower. Arch and his buddies are going to go off and do something manly. Don’t ask me what, because it sounded tiresome to me.”
Sammy grinned. “I think they’re going to Austin’s bar for a dart tournament. Kolby asked Austin to do it, and you know how tight those two are. So they’re setting up prizes and an entry fee and everything. They can have their fun, while we have ours.”
“Sounds good to me. Who made the cake?”
“Who do you think?”
“Grace Wells. Is she doing one of her famous belly cakes?”
“Yup. She was sure that would fit you nicely.” Sammy didn’t mention that the belly would have a stethoscope on it, because she wanted Tabby to be at least a little surprised.
“How is her little boy doing? Are she and Marcus still happy?”
“Oh, yeah! I watched baby Joe the other night. He’s so much fun!”
“You need to get married and have babies of your own, Sam. I worry about you always being alone.” Tabby was wearing her big sister face, but Sammy just shook her head.
“Are you going to arrange for me to marry? Like I did for you?” Sammy referred to the wedding she’d tricked her sister into.
“No, I wouldn’t be so presumptuous. But you haven’t dated in forever!” Tabby frowned at Sammy. “You’ve never really dated, have you?”
“I have a date tomorrow night,” Sammy said softly. “Barry, the guy who owns the new bookstore next to Bob’s Burger Barn.”
“Really? Is he taking you dancing?”
“I sure hope so!” Sammy grinned. “I don’t know what we’re doing, but he’s picking me up at seven. Are you done worrying about me?”
Tabby frowned. “I think I might have to have Arch check him out.”
“Arch is not my keeper, and neither are you. Get a grip and let me live my life!” Sammy knew her words were harsh, but Tabby had been on her to find a boyfriend and marry since she’d gotten married a little over two years ago. She needed to back off and let Sammy live her own life.
“Fine. I’m not going to say anything else about it.”
Tabby didn’t look offended, but she looked like she was scheming. God help me. “I mean it, Tab. I don’t want anyone interfering. I like him, but that doesn’t mean we’re meant to be together. It just means he owns a bookstore, and I want at his goods.”
“As long as you mean the goods in his store and not the goods in his pants . . .”
Sammy rolled her eyes. “Go away.”
“Hey, I’m your favorite sister!” Tabby protested.
“Right now, you’re my least favorite sister!”
“Only sister!”
Sammy shook her head. “I have new books to read. Go home and play with Arch, and I’ll read my books.”
“I’m going! I’m going!” Tabby carefully got down off the table and hugged Sammy. “Love you.”
“Love you back.” Sammy watched her sister go with a smile, and then she went into the little home attached to the back of the clinic she shared with her sister. She opened the crock pot and served herself some of the chili she’d put in there before work that morning and sat down at the table, book in hand. She was going to read and read and read, and nothing made her happier.
Sammy was sitting in her regular booth at Bob’s Burger Barn the next day at lunch, a book in hand. She was waiting on her taco burger as she read and not paying attention to anything around her.
“Is this seat taken?” asked a masculine voice, and she looked up.
“Hey, Barry. Have a seat.” She was surprised to see him there, but she wasn’t sure why. He did work at the next building over, after all.
“Do you eat lunch here every day?” he asked.
“I do. I love the taco burger. I remember when he was working on it, and as soon as it came onto the menu, I got it. I’ve had it just about every day since, because it’s amazing.”
“I haven’t tried it yet. Maybe I’ll get that today.”
“I always get the taco burger and a side of fried cheese curds. Then I feel sick as I go back to work, but it’s so amazing, I just can’t seem to stop.” Sammy knew she shouldn’t divulge secrets about her terrible eating habits with a man she wanted to date, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
He looked at the book in her hand. “Did you get that from me yesterday?”
She nodded excitedly. “Yup. One o
f my favorite authors, and I hadn’t read this one yet. I only buy hers in paperback because I want to be able to keep them.”
“That makes sense.” He tilted his head to one side. “What is it you like about that author so much?”
“I love the marriage of convenience stories.”
Barry shook his head. “You’ve lost me. What’s marriage of convenience?”
“It’s when two people marry for reasons other than love. Like if they marry because his wife died and left him with triplets. Or if he needs to be married for an inheritance, so he marries her, and they eventually fall in love. Those are my favorites.”
“Really? I’m not sure I understand the appeal of that, but I’m not a woman, so that may be why.”
“What did you do before opening a bookstore? And how did you end up in Culpepper?”
“I’ve been through the area for rodeos many times. I used to ride broncs. When I was thrown and broke my leg in a way that will never totally heal, I decided it was time to stop riding, and I figured I’d open a bookstore. The other guys on the rodeo circuit used to make fun of me for reading so much, but I’ve always loved books.” He shrugged. “I miss the rodeo at times, but I like the idea of building a business of my own and not destroying my body in the process.”
“Have you ever thought about writing, or do you just read?”
He seemed embarrassed for a moment, and Bob came by then to slide Sammy’s food in front of her. “There you go.” He looked at Barry. “What are you hungry for?”
Barry looked at Sammy’s taco burger. “I think I want to try the taco burger and a side of fried cheese curds.”
“You’re corrupting the man,” Bob said to Sammy before wandering off.
“Well? Have you thought about writing?” she asked again.
He nodded. “I’m actually working on writing a book between customers and shelving books and other store duties. It’s a sci-fi story set in 2346, and I’m really excited about it.”
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