Cowboy Six Pack

by Kari Lynn Dell

  “You’ll be great.”

  Several people had gathered under a volleyball net. They quickly divided into two groups of four. On Rayanne’s side were Luke, Rafe and the kid he’d befriended. The other team consisted of two teens and two young women in their twenties who eyed Luke with appreciation.

  The game got underway and the opposing teams scored quick points because Rayanne wasn’t quick enough to stop the ball.

  “Sorry, guys,” she called.

  “No problem” Rafe shoved wet hair out of his eyes and grinned at her.

  “Hey, no worries.” Luke’s reassurance warmed her heart and she tried her hardest after that.

  The game didn’t go their way, but to her surprise, Rayanne had a good time. The best she’d ever had playing a sport. Usually she felt awkward, slow and uncoordinated. Today she felt appreciated, thanks to Luke’s encouragement.

  After three sets, they headed back to their hot section to relax.

  “That was fun.” Rayanne settled into the water with a sigh.

  “It was,” Luke agreed. “Sometimes, if a bunch of the guys are staying at a motel that has a net, and we have time to kill, we’ll kick up a game.”

  Rayanne trailed her fingertips through the water. “Life on the road sounds like a lot of fun. Planes, parties, games—”

  “Getting bucked off, broken legs.”

  “You love it, though.”

  “Not that part,” he said. “But, yeah, I love the thrill of riding to the buzzer, the roar of the crowd...”

  “Fame?”

  “That, too,” he admitted with a lopsided grin.

  At least he was honest. He’d never lied to her, or led her on. More than she could say for some past boyfriends.

  Shaking off her melancholy, she stepped into deeper water, turned onto her back and floated. She stared at the cloudless sky and let her mind go blank. There was no sense thinking over and over about the same thing. She had today and that was enough for now.

  ~*~

  After a couple hours in the hot springs, the trio decided to see what else Glenwood had to offer.

  They learned there was an amusement park with underground caverns to explore.

  Rafe fairly danced with excitement over the amusement park, while Rayanne would’ve preferred the caverns. But because they were trying to cheer the teen, they went to the rides first.

  After a hair-raising ride on a gondola to the park, the first thing Rafe wanted to experience was the Alpine Coaster—something like a roller coaster, but an individual car that sat one, or two.

  Rayanne wanted to refuse, but Luke encouraged her. “You can ride with me. I’ll keep you safe.”

  “Okay,” she said. “If I die, it’s on your head.”

  “Not on my watch.” He winked at her and her stomach tumbled toward her toes.

  While Rafe happily settled into his own car, Luke climbed in the next one, Rayanne settling between his legs. He wrapped his arms around her middle. “I got you.”

  When he let go to grab hold of the controls, she whimpered and leaned against him. She gasped when the car took off, racing down the narrow track. Her fingers wrapped around his calves like vises—she didn’t know if they would ever pry loose.

  In spite of her fear, her proximity to Luke gave her courage. Not enough to open her eyes, or enjoy herself, though.

  Back at the top, an attendant helped her stand on wobbly legs.

  “Thank you,” she said. “Wow.”

  “Wanna do it again?” Luke grinned.

  She gave him a tremulous smile. “Only if you ride with me .”

  “I’d love to.” His warm gaze made her knees weak.

  “That was a blast,” Rafe said with a wide grin. “I want to go again.”

  “It’s up to Rayanne,” Luke told him.

  She couldn’t douse the joy in Rafe’s eyes. “Okay. Just one more time.”

  He whooped. “Yes!”

  The second time, Rayanne managed to look at the scenery as they rushed down the mountain. She still held onto Luke’s legs with a death grip, but wasn’t as certain of her demise.

  Because Rafe was having such a great time, they went four times, each one a little less frightening.

  But when they headed for the Cliffhanger, a roller coaster, she set her foot down. “I’m not going on that. No way, no how. You two go and have fun. I’ll wait here where I’m safe on my own two feet.”

  No amount of cajoling could get her to change her mind, so the guys rode it without her. They also tried the giant canyon swing and the zip line.

  Rayanne wandered to the snack shop and bought a bag of popcorn and a soda. She settled on an outside bench to enjoy her snack. Happiness filled her. What had started out as such a crummy day had turned into a great time for all of them.

  Luke had turned the whole thing around.

  She wasn’t the only one who thought so. When Luke and Rafe walked toward her, the teen’s face was lit with happiness. Luke said something and Rafe laughed.

  “Hey, that popcorn looks good,” Luke said.

  Wordlessly, Rayanne tipped the bag toward him and he grabbed a handful. Rafe also took some and munched it.

  “I’m starving,” he said.

  “Now that you mention it, I’m hungry, too. How about dinner?” Luke suggested. “I saw an Italian place in town that looked good, or maybe a steak? I saw a bar named after Doc Holliday.”

  Rayanne stood and tossed her mostly empty popcorn bag in a trash container. “Count me in for food, but no bars named after gunfighters.”

  As they left the park, Luke took her hand as naturally as if he’d been doing it for ages. She loved the way his fingers curled around hers. For just a moment, she allowed herself to think what it would be like if this were permanent.

  Banishing the thought before it saddened her, she smiled at Luke. “Thank you for a wonderful day.”

  “My pleasure, darlin’.” He squeezed her hand.

  ~*~

  Outside of the arena, Luke’s idea of a good time had always been beer, buddies and a hot babe. But spending a day doing what ordinary families did on vacation had been a blast. Rayanne and Rafe had gotten so much enjoyment out of an outing that it had opened his eyes to simple pleasures.

  As he drove into Glenwood, he spotted the Hotel Colorado where President Theodore Roosevelt stayed many times. An idea came to mind. “What would you two think of spending the night there?”

  “It’s not that late,” Rayanne murmured.

  “No, but by the time we eat and drive to Black Mountain it’ll be around midnight. I don’t know about you, but all the day’s activities have about done me in.” Luke tapped his injured leg. “It’s aching.”

  “I want to stay,” Rafe said. “Please, Miss Whitfield?”

  She gave in. “If your mother says it’s okay, then yes, we’ll stay.”

  Luke handed him his phone. “Call her. I’ll speak to her if necessary.”

  Rafe talked to his mother, then hung up. “She said okay, but I have to be home by noon.”

  “Okay, buddy. Deal.” Luke took his phone and stuck it in his shirt pocket.

  He turned into the hotel’s parking lot and parked. “I’ll see if they have any rooms.”

  At the front desk, he booked two rooms—a double queen for him and Rafe and a one with a single queen for Rayanne. A moment of regret washed over him. If the impressionable teen weren’t with them Luke would be tempted to share a bed with Rayanne.

  Shaking off the thought, he took the keys and went to get his lady and boy. He stumbled. They weren’t his. They never would be. He waved the key cards. “Got them. How about a shower, then dinner?”

  “Sounds perfect.” Rayanne stepped out of the truck. Rafe hopped out, too.

  Luke took her bag. “The desk clerk told me that the place is haunted.”

  She gave him a horrified look. “Seriously?”

  “Yep.” He nodded. “Many sightings and strange occurrences.” He almost laughed at t
he terror on Rayanne’s face. “It’s not real.”

  “Ghosts are very real,” she said. “And I’m afraid of them.”

  He stopped. “Really?”

  Her face was pale, her freckles standing out in stark contrast to her pale skin. Her gray-green eyes were enormous. “I’ve seen one before.”

  “You have?” Luke would’ve thought she was kidding except for her pale skin and huge eyes.

  “In the cemetery in Black Mountain one night I saw a figure moving among the headstones. I couldn’t make out who it was, but it looked like a man…” She shuddered. “I think it was Wyatt Ellis.”

  Rafe stared at her with a mixture of amusement and fear. He made the sign of the cross. “Stop talking about dead people.”

  “Did they say if this ghost was friendly, or not?” she asked, ignoring Rafe.

  “No, but they also didn’t say anyone had been carted off in the night, so I’m thinking it’s not dangerous.” The corners of Luke’s lips twitched, but he kept his tone serious. “Do we all need to room together?”

  “No. Of course not.” Rayanne glared at him. “But one sign of an apparition in the night, and I’m out of here.”

  “I’ll be right behind you,” Rafe said.

  “I’m sure we’ll all be safe and sound.” Luke was sorry he’d brought up the ghost. Scaring Rayanne and Rafe hadn’t been his intention. He’d been sharing some fun trivia, not trying to freak them out.

  “Let’s put all this talk of scary things aside and go eat,” Rayanne said.

  “Works for me.” Rafe trotted toward the hotel as if he could leave the talk of ghosts behind.

  Luke took Rayanne’s hand. “Hey, darlin’, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  She hesitated, then shook her head. “It’s okay. I just don’t like to talk about ghosts.”

  “Do you want to go to another place?”

  “No.” She smiled tremulously. “But I’m really afraid of them.”

  Determined to change the mood, Luke grinned at her. “Race ya to the truck.”

  Giggling, she turned toward his truck. “You could probably beat me because I’m slow as a tortoise.”

  On the short drive to the restaurant, the three of them talked about their day and the fun they’d had. Rafe loved the scary rides; Rayanne admitted zipping down the mountain had been more fun than she expected. She said she wished they would’ve had time to visit the caverns.

  “Maybe we’ll come again someday.” Luke wished he could. Although this hadn’t begun as a fun-filled trip, it had turned into one he’d enjoyed immensely. He hated to see it end. But he had to get back to rodeo. While he’d been out, two up-and-comers rose in the standings. If he had any hope of making the National Finals this year and hopefully redeem himself, he had to get on the road, and fast.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  After a dinner of rigatoni and tiramisu, Rayanne could hardly keep her eyes open. Ghost talk, or no ghost talk, she was ready for a good night’s sleep. The day’s activities had worn her out.

  Luke walked Rayanne to her door and pressed a quick, light kiss to her lips. He looked into her eyes. “I’m right across the hall if you need me.”

  She needed him all right. But not because she was scared. She nodded. “Okay.”

  Slipping into her room, she turned on all the lights. She washed her face and changed into a T-shirt and pajama pants, turned off the lights and slid into the comfortable bed. Worn out, she should’ve been able to fall into an instant sleep. Instead, she pulled the covers up to her nose and stared at the ceiling.

  Even though she was certain the creaks and groans came from the old building, they made her heart race. Lights from cars made odd shadows on the walls. One of them looked eerily human. Almost like a reincarnation of Doc Holliday. She shuddered.

  Dang Luke and his talk of ghosts, scaring her like this.

  He must think her silly, but she was convinced that she’d seen an apparition in the Black Mountain cemetery, but no one was going to talk her out of her belief. She knew what she’d seen.

  Determined to turn her thoughts away from scary things, she played over the day’s events. She’d had so much fun with Luke and Rafe. A memory to hold onto once Luke was gone.

  She turned onto her side and closed her eyes, drifting off into a deep sleep.

  ~*~

  No ghost visited any of them in the night, and after a quick breakfast, they headed home. All three were subdued, and there wasn’t much chatting among them.

  In Black Mountain, Luke dropped Rayanne off first. He walked her to her front door and gave her a quick kiss. “I’ll call you later.”

  “Okay.” She disappeared inside and he walked back to his truck.

  Rafe slumped in the front seat, picking at a hole in the knee of his jeans. “I wish I could go home with you.”

  Luke chose his words carefully. He couldn’t make a promise he couldn’t keep. “You know I’m leaving soon, son.”

  “Yeah.” Rafe turned his head toward the window. “Everyone does.”

  “You can call, or text me anytime you want,” Luke said. “And I’ll visit when I can.”

  Rafe nodded, but didn’t speak.

  Luke’s mind churned. He wished he could do more, but with his lifestyle he couldn’t see how. Guilt gripped him. Damn it anyway. He had wanted to help the kid, but seemed to make things worse instead.

  He turned into Rafe’s driveway, still trying to come up with a solution, but falling short. They parked and walked to his house in silence. When they entered, it only took one look at Bonita’s face to tell she was livid. She pointed down the hallway. “Go to your room, young man. You’re grounded for life.”

  “Okay, Mama.” He turned away. “See ya, Luke.” With head hanging and feet dragging, he trudged away. In a moment, rock music blasted from his room.

  “Thank you for bringing him home.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I just don’t know what to do with him anymore. I can’t handle his acting out.”

  Luke started to turn toward the door, then spun back around. “I know you shouldn’t award bad behavior, but what would you think about letting Rafe spend the rest of his spring break with me?”

  Her frown deepened. “You’re suggesting my son be rewarded for running away, Mr. Greer?”

  “Not at all. But he’s crying out for some kind of father figure. I can provide that, at least for a while. And, out at the ranch I can give him so many chores he won’t have the energy to scout for trouble.”

  “And what happens when you have to leave?”

  He didn’t have an answer for that. “I can’t predict the future. But I can do something right now.”

  She sighed and plopped onto her sofa. “I don’t know what to do with him after this last stunt. He could have ended up injured, or even dead—”

  Luke sat beside her. “He didn’t.”

  When she looked at him, her eyes were damp. “Damn his dad for doing this to him.”

  “Yeah. He’s a real prize.”

  “Rafe loves him, though,” she said. “We both do.”

  “He should look up to his dad.” Luke ignored the part about her loving him. “Your ex-husband told his son he never wanted to see him again and to home.”

  She shook her head in disbelief. “I have to work, Mr. Greer. I can’t be here around the clock to make sure my son doesn’t get himself hurt, or killed. There’s no one else to ask for help. My brother lives in Montrose.” She contemplated her slipper-clad feet for a few minutes. “Rafe seems to look up to you, and listen to you.”

  He waited.

  Finally, she took a shuddering breath and spoke. “I’m not sure I’m doing the right thing, but I’ll let Rafe spend the rest of his break with you on the condition that he checks in with me every day before I go to work.”

  “Thank you,” Luke said. “You won’t regret this, Mrs. Cantera.”

  “I hope not,” she said.

  They stood. With one last sigh, she walked down the hall.
“Rafe? I want to talk to you.” They spoke for a few minutes, then Rafe bolted into the living room, beaming.

  “Mama says I can go with you, Luke.”

  “I know. Get your stuff.”

  He raced out of the room, returning in a flash with his backpack undone, undershorts hanging out of it. “I’m ready.”

  Luke grinned. “You might want to tuck in your unmentionables.”

  Blushing, Rafe stuffed them in the bag and zipped it. “Ready.”

  “You’re forgetting something, aren’t you?” Luke asked. When he looked confused, Luke pointed at Bonita. “Kiss your mama goodbye and thank her for letting you go.”

  “Bye, Mama.” Rafe dutifully kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”

  “Be good, son. Mind Luke.” She hugged him tight. “I love you.”

  He pulled out of her tight embrace. “I will, Ma. I promise.”

  Without a backward glance, he tore out of the door.

  Luke gave Bonita an apologetic smile. “He’s thirteen and male. We all act stupid at that age.”

  “I know.” She blinked hard. “Take care of him.”

  “I will. You have my word. This week will fly by, just watch.”

  She nodded. “I’ll see you on Sunday.”

  “We’ll be here.” Luke touched his hat brim and let himself out the front door. Rafe was already in the truck, his impatience to be gone apparent from a block away.

  After Luke hopped in his truck and started down the road he said, “You only have one mom, something to remember.”

  Rafe slumped in his seat. “I only had one dad, too.”

  “I don’t know your dad, but my opinion is he’s got some things to work out in himself. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.” Luke hoped he sounded sincere because he had serious doubts about the guy. But he knew Rafe needed some kind of reassurance.

  “I never want to see him again,” Rafe said.

  “Maybe you’ll change your mind down the road.”

  “I won’t.” Rafe jutted out his chin at a sharp angle.