Her Secret Cowboy

by Marin Thomas

  “What’s the matter?” His mouth turned down when he saw the tears in her eyes.

  “I did what you said. I told Will the truth about why I kept Ryan a secret from him.”

  “Did he forgive you?”

  “Of course he did.”

  “Did you tell him that you love him?”

  “Yes.”

  “And...”

  “He said we’ll take it one day at a time.”

  “Why would he say that?”

  “Because he knows you don’t approve of him.”

  “Since when does a man like William Cash care what others thinks of him?”

  “Since he knows how important your approval is to me and he’s too good of a man to make me choose between the two of you.” Marsha had to leave the room before she broke down. God help her, this was turning out to be the most emotional summer of her life and all bets were off as to whether or not she’d survive it.

  * * *

  WILL STEPPED OUTSIDE the bunkhouse late Saturday afternoon and stared at the sky. A wall of dark clouds worked its way toward the farm. Conway was tinkering with the tractor in the barn, so he hurried to the farmhouse to find out if Isi had seen a weather forecast on TV.

  She opened the back door before he made it to the steps. “The weather alert went off, Will.”

  “Are the boys inside with you?”

  Isi stared over Will’s shoulder and he turned. Conway strode toward him, a grim expression on his face. “This one looks bad,” he said.

  Will climbed the porch steps with his brother. “Have you heard from Porter today?”

  “Mack asked Porter to fill in this weekend for a sick employee at the dude ranch,” Conway said. “I think the storm will miss them, but Stagecoach is in its path.”

  “I’ll text Shannon and make sure she knows, in case Johnny’s out with the cattle,” Will said. First, he’d text Ryan. He had no idea if his son was running errands with his mother or sitting in his grandparents’ home reading a book on his e-reader, unaware of the approaching storm. He hoped the church or the pastor’s home had a storm shelter.

  While waiting to hear from Ryan, Will texted Shannon and Dixie and they confirmed that they were aware of the storm and taking shelter. Ryan finally texted Will that he and his mother and grandparents were hiding in a hall closet in the house. Will wished he was with Ryan and Marsha, but the storm was moving fast and he had no time to drive to the church.

  Conway and Isi came outside with the twins and Bandit, who had been put on a leash. “Here.” Conway handed Will a sack of supplies and a jug of water. “We’re waiting this one out in Grandma’s cellar.” Conway picked up both boys and hustled toward the barn, Isi followed with Bandit, who zigzagged in front of her, spooked by the storm. As the group cut across the yard, a big gust of wind almost knocked Isi down and Will wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her.

  Conway set the boys down inside the barn and opened a door in the dirt floor.

  “Do I have to go down there?” Miguel asked. “It’s dark.”

  The twins hovered close to Isi and Will didn’t blame them for being scared. “I’ll go first and light the lantern.” Will descended the steps, found the battery-operated lantern and flipped it on. After making sure there were no rodents in residence he said, “Coast is clear.” Will guided the boys into the shelter. “You two sit on the bench.” Isi came down next then Bandit and Conway, who shut the door behind him.

  A loud crack of thunder startled the twins and they jumped off the bench and cowered against Conway’s legs. Bandit whined like a big baby.

  Will thought of Ryan and Marsha. The need to keep them safe was so strong it startled him. He’d only met his son a short while ago yet learning he was Ryan’s father had been all he’d needed for his parental instincts to kick in and feel protective of the teen. Will considered his own father and how easily the man had brushed him off. Will’s developing relationship with Ryan proved he was nothing like his old man.

  A loud crash exploded above their heads and the boys yelped.

  “There go my tools,” Conway said.

  “I don’t like storms,” Javi said.

  Conway hugged the twins. “It’ll be over in a few minutes, guys.”

  “I hope the house is still standing,” Isi said.

  Another loud thud sounded and Will pictured half the barn gone when they emerged from the shelter. After ten minutes, the whistling wind stopped. Conway waited another minute then climbed the steps and opened the door. “The storm passed.” He stepped from the cellar then helped Isi out. The boys went next then Will turned off the lantern and came up with the dog, shutting the door behind him.

  The inside of the barn was a disaster. More than half the wood slats on the south side of the structure were missing. The yard was littered with tools.

  “Watch Bandit,” Conway said. “We don’t want him to step on any broken glass or twisted metal.”

  The group picked their way across the debris. “The house looks in good shape.” Will noted a few roof shingles lay on the ground.

  The yard was a mess, but the pecan groves appeared to have weathered the storm well and Will didn’t see any uprooted trees. Bandit’s doghouse, on the other hand, had flown across the yard and was jammed beneath the front bumper of Conway’s black Dodge.

  Will glanced over his shoulder at the bunkhouse. Debris had slammed into the sides, denting the metal, but it remained in one piece, as did the satellite dish.

  “Your truck door’s dented, Will,” Conway said.

  Not only dented, but whatever hit the panel had scratched the paint off. “Insurance will cover that.”

  “I’ll put the coffee on,” Isi said. “We’re going to lose daylight soon.” The boys trailed their mother into the house, Bandit on their heels.

  While Conway examined the barn wall, Will texted Ryan for an update and was relieved when his son confirmed that they were fine. The next text had Will cursing.

  “What’s the matter?” Conway asked.

  “Ryan said the storm left a big hole in the church roof and the parking lot is filled with tree branches.” He glanced at his phone again. “He said the new classroom wing is fine, only a couple of broken windows.”

  “That’s a relief.”

  “The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new wing is tomorrow.” Will stared at his brother.

  Conway groaned. “You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking, are you?”

  Will nodded.

  “If I help you clean up the church, does that mean we call it even?”

  After Will had faked an interest in Isi to make Conway jealous, which resulted in Conway gathering the courage to ask Isi to marry him, Will had demanded he be able to call in a future favor for his match-making help. “Deal.”

  “We’d better contact every cowboy we know,” Will said. “It’s going to take more than me and you to get the church cleaned up before the morning service.”

  * * *

  “DAD?” MARSHA STEPPED into her father’s office at the crack of dawn Sunday morning. The lines across his forehead appeared deeper and his skin paler—he probably hadn’t slept a wink last night, worrying about repairs that needed to be done to the church. “What’s all that racket outside?”

  He moved away from the window. “See for yourself.”

  She sucked in a quiet breath. The church parking lot was filled with cowboys and Will stood in the middle of the group giving out orders. She spotted Ben Wallace and his brother in the mix, as well as Will’s brothers Johnny, Conway, Porter, Mack and their brother-in-law, Gavin.

  After the group broke apart, chain saws began buzzing and within minutes a path had been cut across the road. As the men cleared the parking lot of debris, Will and Ben placed a ladder against the side of th
e church and Will climbed onto the roof.

  Heart in her throat, Marsha watched Will examine the gaping hole, praying he wouldn’t lose his balance and fall through it. Porter carried a roll of tar paper up the ladder, then reached behind him and took the package of roof shingles from Conway and handed those off to Will. Will stood and Marsha felt her face grow warm as her gaze travelled over him. Did he have any idea how sexy he looked in his cowboy hat, faded jeans and a tool belt slung low on his hips?

  “Mom?” Ryan stumbled into the room along with her mother.

  “The cavalry has arrived,” she said.

  Ryan squeezed between her and his grandfather. “Is that Dad on the church roof?” he asked.

  Marsha’s heart melted at the note of affection she heard in Ryan’s voice. No matter what happened between her and Will, her son would always have a father. Speaking of fathers...the pastor was studying her. Their gazes clashed, then a moment later he gave a firm nod and disappeared.

  Marsha rubbed Ryan’s back. “C’mon, sleepyhead, let’s go outside and see what we can do to help.”

  “I’ll put on the coffee and start making pancakes,” her mother said as she passed by the office door.

  Marsha raced down the hall to her bedroom and slipped on a pair of jeans and an old T-shirt before putting on her athletic shoes. Ryan met her at the door, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. Halfway across the parking lot Marsha heard her father raise his voice.

  “William Cash!”

  The chain saws stopped rumbling and the men stared at Marsha’s father.

  Will looked over his shoulder. “Yes, sir.”

  “I was wrong about you,” her father said.

  “Is that so?”

  “Do you love my daughter?”

  Will’s gaze shifted to Marsha. “Yes, sir, I do.”

  “And you’ll take your duty as Ryan’s father seriously?”

  “I will.”

  Her father faced the crowd of workers. “Get busy and clean this place up. We’ve got a wedding to prepare for today!”

  “Mom.” Ryan tugged her arm. “Are you and Dad getting married?”

  “Yes, they are,” her father answered for Marsha. He glanced between her and Ryan. “Daughter, you won’t find a better man than William Cash to stand by your side and share your life with. And Ryan, you won’t find a better father to support your goals and to be there to give you advice than the man working on my church roof.”

  “I know, Grandpa,” Ryan said. “My dad’s a lot smarter than you think.”

  Marsha heard a chuckle behind her.

  Johnny Cash grinned. “And Ryan’s got plenty of uncles who’ll be happy to lend advice or a helping hand as he grows up.”

  Her father pointed his finger. “I’m counting on you, Johnny, to keep Ryan’s uncles in line...or else.”

  Johnny nodded. “You think you can squeeze in a double baptism before the wedding?”

  Her father’s face lit up with joy. “Make sure those babies are here by noon.”

  Marsha’s eyes welled with tears—Johnny had extended an olive branch to her father.

  “I’m going inside to tell Grandma you’re marrying Dad.” Ryan took off.

  “Pastor Bugler, I need you to take a look at...”

  After Marsha’s father walked away with Ben, she went over to the ladder leaning against the church and stared up at Will. The man had no right to look that sexy standing on the roof of a church. “Will...if you feel like you’ve been pressured into—”

  He descended the ladder, then took her hands in his. “I don’t know what changed your father’s opinion of me, but I don’t hold grudges. He’s given us his blessing and I want to spend the rest of my days with you and Ryan.” Will lowered his face to hers. “I love you, Marsha. I’m ready to make a commitment to you and Ryan today in your father’s church.”

  Marsha leaned into Will and kissed him, ignoring the hoots and hollers of his brothers and friends. When the kiss ended, she said, “We have a lot to figure out. Where we’ll live...our jobs and—”

  “It’s not complicated, honey.” He kissed her long and hard. “Wherever you are...there I am.”

  * * *

  FIVE HOURS LATER the parking lot had been cleared of debris and the church was packed with parishioners and the cowboys who’d helped clean up after the storm. Marsha, Will and Ryan sat at the front of the church along with the rest of the Cash brothers—except Buck. Marsha’s heart ached that her returning home to Stagecoach had caused a rift between Will and Buck. She vowed that after the hoopla from the wedding died down, she’d talk to Will and see if he could persuade Buck to return to the farm.

  A squawk next to Marsha brought a smile to her face. Johnny and Shannon had arrived a half hour ago with little Addy, and Dixie and Gavin had shown up with their son, Nathan, shortly after. It had been ages since her father had performed a baptism and she suspected that and not her wedding would be the highlight of his day.

  Heads bowed, and her father gave the opening prayer then invited Marsha’s mother up to the pulpit where she introduced Johnny and his wife then Dixie and her husband. The two couples and their babies joined Marsha’s parents in front of the congregation.

  As her father anointed each baby’s head, Marsha noticed the sparkle that had been missing from his eyes was back. Maybe now he’d change his mind and talk to his doctor about fighting his cancer—today showed that he had a lot to live for.

  Once the baptisms were completed and the proud parents sat in the pews again, her father said, “I now have the honor of marrying my daughter to a man I couldn’t be prouder to call my son.”

  “You ready?” Will whispered.

  She spoke from the heart. “I’ve been ready since prom night.”

  The ceremony was short but poignant. They stood before her father and God—Marsha in her yellow sundress and Will in jeans and a white dress shirt.

  When her father pronounced them husband and wife, Marsha expected a demure kiss from her new husband. Instead, he bent her over his knee and planted a lusty smooch on her mouth. The cowboys whistled and applauded.

  After Will let her come up for air, he winked at her father. “You didn’t think I’d given up all my wild ways, did you?”

  Her father’s chuckle echoed through the church as Marsha and Will strolled down the aisle. When they passed Ryan, she reached for his hand and together the three of them left the church as the family they were always meant to be.

  * * * * *

  Find out who steals Buck’s heart in the next

  CASH BROTHERS novel by Marin Thomas!

  Available in May 2014 wherever

  Harlequin American Romance books are sold.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from BLAME IT ON THE RODEO by Amanda Renee.

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  Chapter One

  “Let’s see if we can catch us a foal.”

  Sliding her arm into the sterile shoulder-length glove, Lexi Lawson slipped the neck strap over her head and faced Little Miss Confetti.

  “Easy, girl.” Billy Stevens led the white-and-black American Paint mare into the narrow wooden
-and-metal crush and closed the front gate. The secured enclosure protected Lexi from the horse and the horse from itself during the procedure. Standing to the side, Billy whispered soothing words while gently rubbing Confetti’s muzzle.

  “Welcome to your first embryo transfer lesson—so come on back here for a ringside seat.” Amused by Billy’s stunned expression, she continued, “Equine care starts at conception, and there’s more to horses than leg wraps and Coggins reports.” Lexi was pleased at how proficient her protégé had become at aiding her with the standard Equine Infectious Anemia tests and the subsequent paperwork.

  A year and a half ago Lexi wouldn’t have considered Billy Stevens for an assistant. After escaping his abusive family, Billy ended up on the wrong side of the law when he and a few so-called friends stole some high-priced guitars from Ackerman’s Music in town. A month in county lockup left him scared straight and completely alone once he was released. Never ones to turn away a person in need, the Langtry family offered him a place to live on the Bridle Dance Ranch in exchange for honest, hard work.

  Cole, the oldest of the four Langtry brothers, took a shine to Billy when he noticed his interest in horses ran deeper than a paycheck. Without confidence in himself, Billy didn’t believe he had a future in the veterinary field until Cole pointed him in Lexi’s direction and offered to help finance some college courses this past semester. A natural, Billy instinctively sensed when a horse was even the slightest bit off.

  “We’ll be successful today,” Ashleigh assured them.

  Billy bashfully squeezed past Ashleigh and the crush. Lexi suspected he had a case of puppy love for her vet tech, but he’d soon come to realize no matter how endearing he might be, Ashleigh wasn’t about to leave her husband for someone seven years her junior.

  “Cole,” Lexi said over her shoulder. “Have one of the grooms on standby to bring in Moonglow.”

  Before Cole answered, Shane Langtry cleared his throat in the doorway of the breeding area and casually leaned against the jamb.