Her Favorite Cowboy

by Mary Leo

  “Who’s Audrey and why do I like what she says?”

  “She’s a waitress in the restaurant downstairs.” He kissed her neck and slowly ran his lips up to her chin making her knees weak and her mind foggy.

  “That’s nice. What about her?”

  Then he kissed her eyes, lingering on each one.

  “She said I shouldn’t be so negative, that I should focus on the positive. My Gram said the same thing.”

  He kissed her, hard, their tongues pressing together, her lips on fire. She didn’t want to ever leave him, but there were still things that had to be discussed. Important things that she couldn’t overlook.

  “Is this positive enough for you?”

  His room door opened behind him and he gently pulled her inside.

  “Very positive. Still, what about our future? Will we have a future?”

  The door began to close behind them. She stopped it with her foot.

  “All I can say is that my AA meetings teach me to take it one day at a time. It’s all we really have. One day, one moment, one breath at a time. I love you, Doctor Cori Parker, and on this one day, I want to make love to you. Neither one of us knows where it’s going to lead. But for today, for tonight, let’s love each other. When and if tomorrow comes, we’ll deal with whatever happens. But for tonight, lie with me in my bed and I promise to love you with all my heart.”

  Cori knew firsthand about taking it a day at a time. She’d learned how to do that after her husband had died. Each day was a battle, but for Hailey’s sake she’d managed to get through it. She’d done everything for Hailey, at the cost of putting her own needs and desires second. She’d lost control, wanting life to go a certain way so much that she’d almost caused her own accident with Hailey in the car.

  So now she wanted to slow down and let life lead her wherever it may.

  She took a deep breath and a couple steps backward. “There’s something you should know.”

  “Can’t it wait?” he asked moving toward her.

  “No,” she told him. “I have to tell you now.”

  He moved farther inside the room, letting go of her. She could leave if she wanted to, or stay. She knew he’d left it up to her.

  He took a seat on the desk chair, while she stood by the door, still hesitant. She didn’t know how long she would stay once she put it all out there, or if he’d still want her. She had some definite opinions about alcoholics and didn’t know if she could change her mind.

  She perched on the edge of the bed and continued. “My entire life changed in one moment, along with Hailey’s. For a long time, I was afraid to drive at night, afraid that I’d meet the same fate as my husband. What would happen to Hailey then, if I died as well? Who would raise her? After more time passed, that fear turned into a loathing for anyone who had even one drink and got behind the wheel of a car. I became obsessed with forcing everyone around me to stop drinking anything remotely alcoholic. I’m sure everyone hated to be around me when I was behaving like that.

  “Fortunately though, I finally accepted what had happened. That Jeremy was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was an accident, and as long as people drive and drink, there’ll be more accidents just like his, unfortunately. That’s why I ran away from you that first night out on the street, before any of this got started. I couldn’t believe I was falling for someone who abused alcohol.”

  “I’m not that person anymore,” Gage said, his eyes moist. “I would never do anything to hurt you or Hailey. I made a decision today. I wanted a drink more than I’ve ever wanted one in my entire life. I needed that drink and told myself I deserved it. But when push came to shove, I didn’t do it. I couldn’t do it. I knew if I succumbed to the blissful high it most certainly would bring, obliterating all my guilt and self-doubt, I would never be sober again.”

  “Statistics aren’t in your favor that you’ll remain sober, and I couldn’t take it if you started drinking again. I won’t put myself or my daughter through that.”

  Gage gazed down at the floor, and then back at Cori. “All I can say is there are no guarantees in this life. You know that as well as I do. But if you’ll give me a chance, I’ll do my best to never take another drink. I can’t lose you. I won’t lose you.”

  They stared at each other for what seemed like forever. Cori trying to decide if she should trust this man with her heart, if his word was true, and if they could actually make it past that five-year mark. She wanted to discuss it some more, wanted to sit and have an open and honest conversation without sex being involved. She thought about how much good a cup of hot tea might do for them both.

  Then, as if he could hear her thoughts, he said, “Let me get us a couple cups of tea and we can talk this over.”

  And as soon as he said it, she knew absolutely they could make it.

  He stood and went for the door, but she stopped him.

  “The tea can wait,” she said.

  Epilogue

  One year later

  Cori had cleared her patient schedule for the entire afternoon and intended to take full advantage of all the events at M & M Riding School, right outside of Briggs, Idaho, where Hailey and several of the other students would be demonstrating all that they’d learned over the past several months.

  Not only had Hailey mastered proper Western riding form, but Helen Granger and the rest of her highly trained staff had taught Hailey all about horsemanship, including handling skills, control, and grooming and saddling her own horse. Cori’s city-girl daughter was rapidly turning into a genuine cowgirl.

  “All set, Mom,” Hailey said while on horseback. Her daughter’s best friend, Susan, rode up next to Hailey, along with Scout Granger, who had instantly befriended Hailey as soon as they’d met. They had become solid friends during the school year, and Hailey couldn’t wait for Susan’s visit so she and Scout could meet. Apparently they’d all hit it off, because the three girls had been inseparable over the past few weeks. And, much to everyone’s delight, Susan’s parents were seriously considering relocating from New York City to Briggs and buying the local sandwich shop, Deli Llama’s, when the owners retired in the next few months.

  Susan had spent most of the summer on the ranch and attended the riding school along with Hailey. Both girls had taken to riding as easily as riding a bike. They would spend their days helping out on the Circle R wherever they could, then going for long rides after their lessons at the school, with Scout leading the way. Most of the time, they’d be joined by the other Granger kids, Gavin and Joey, who more often than not would end up getting into some sort of a fix.

  Fortunately, the girls seemed to be able to steer them in the right direction, avoiding calamity.

  Still, Cori had to admit, the day Gavin decided to play rodeo clown with the Granger bull...well...she was just happy she’d only heard about how Hailey had saved him. They’d all been grounded for a week after that one, but that didn’t seem to deter the boys’ pranks.

  Although, the more Cori got to know those boys, the more she thought their curiosity was to blame, rather than anything malicious.

  Now as the boys rode up, along with their older brother, Buddy, who was going on thirteen, Cori felt both apprehension and genuine love for those two little rascals.

  The school was less than a mile away if they headed up the back trail, or more than two miles if they chose to take the long way past the bull pen on the Granger land. The boys lived in the main house at M & M Riding School with their parents, Helen and Colt Granger, along with their half sister, Loran. They’d ridden over to escort the girls to the school, looking all cowboyed up in their best clothes and polished boots. Their grandpa, Dodge, was a stickler for proper manners and proper cowboy attire when the occasion warranted. And from the looks of those boys, their Western hats perched low on their foreheads, this graduation warr
anted their finest.

  Most of the time, Cori could depend on Buddy to be the calm during the storm, but with the excitement everyone was feeling today, she could tell Buddy was just as antsy as the rest of the group to get this thing started.

  “You kids take the back trail so I don’t have to worry about any of you. I want your word on that one,” Cori ordered, as she held up a hand to shield the sun from her eyes as she gazed up at Susan and Hailey. Her chocolate-colored cowgirl hat slipped back on her head, so she readjusted it lower on her forehead. The hat had become second nature to her now. She almost never left the house without it. Her hat and her boots had turned into a comfortable uniform she couldn’t do without.

  “You have my word,” Buddy said in that baritone voice of his.

  “Mine, too,” everyone chimed in.

  “Gage and I will be waiting for you, so don’t make us worry.”

  They would be driving over as soon as everyone else was on their way.

  “We won’t, Doctor Remington,” Gavin said, and they each turned their horses and took off for the back trail, with Hailey leading the way looking as if she’d grown up in that saddle. Not only had Hailey taken to living in the Teton Valley, but Cori had settled in and started her own geriatric practice within three months of moving to Briggs.

  Once she’d arrived on the Circle R ranch, she had fallen in love with it, just as her Gram had. There was no way either woman could ever return to their previous lives. Circle R and Briggs were now their home.

  “I see the girls took off,” Gage said as he walked up next to Cori, slipping his hand around her waist and pulling her in for a gentle kiss. His chest, arms and thighs had filled out from the continuous ranch work, and each time they touched he seemed a little stronger, his muscles seemed a little harder, as his resolve to make a life for his family never faltered. His gramps had been right. Gage was a natural cowboy and took to the lifestyle as easy as bees to honey.

  “Yep, we’re all set, and Buddy promised they would ride directly to the school,” Cori told him once they separated.

  “Then we better get going,” Gage said. “We don’t want to be late.”

  Gage and Cori walked up to where Buck was getting ready to mount Dark Night, his paint, who was probably as old as he was in horse years.

  “You ready, Gramps?” Gage asked Buck as he took the reins from his grandfather.

  “All set to go,” Buck told Gage as he prepared himself to mount his favorite black stallion. Gage held the horse steady while Buck approached. He wore a crisp Western-style check shirt, a fringed suede vest, jeans, his well-worn boots and a brand-new dark chocolate–colored cowboy hat. He looked every bit the part of a great rancher and for the past two months had been looking forward to participating in the events today at the school. Not only had Helen Granger taught Hailey how to ride, but she’d found a way to get Buck back up on a horse after his hip had healed, a miracle in its own right.

  “Let me help you,” Cori told Buck, when he stood at the bottom of the three-step stool that allowed him to ride again. Once he was on horseback he could ride without a problem. It had been getting him up there that had proved to be the challenge, but he’d been working extra hard in the past few weeks and seemed to be a lot more limber.

  “Don’t need no help,” Buck confirmed as he took the first two steps without a problem, then hesitated before he took the last one.

  “Gramps,” Gage said. “I know you can do this.”

  “You dang right I can,” Gramps said. Then he moved onto the last stair, grabbed hold of the horn on the saddle and, in one smooth move, he stepped into the stirrup, hoisted a leg up over the stallion and eased himself down on the Western saddle that had been designed especially for him.

  The horse took a few steps, but Gramps quickly had him under control.

  “See you two there,” Gramps said, looking satisfied with himself.

  Cori and Gage watched as Gramps joined a few of his friends who wanted to escort him to the school. Everyone knew what an ordeal Buck had gone through to get back up on a horse, and as he approached they clapped and cheered his success.

  “Who would have thought that man would be riding again?” Grandma May asked, as she rode up behind Cori and Gage. She wore brightly colored Western clothing and a white Western hat. Grandma May would be graduating along with the rest of the class at M & M today. Buck would have never agreed to attend the school if May hadn’t asked for his help to learn how to ride properly. It was a little plan that she and Cori had cooked up to get Buck into that school. Fortunately for everyone, it had worked.

  “I think we all did,” Gage said, smiling up at her.

  “It’s his stubborn streak,” May offered. “Keeps him young.” She gave a little tug to the reins and rode off to join the rest of the group.

  “Do you know how wonderful you are, Gage Remington?” Cori teased as they made their way toward the main ranch house. “You made this day happen. I’ve never seen either of our grandparents so happy.”

  “Thanks, but I’d be nothing if it wasn’t for the incredible woman by my side, Doctor Cori Parker-Remington.” He slipped his arms around her, and at once Cori felt the warmth of his love.

  “And Hailey is in her glory, especially since you’ve been wearing the Sheriff badge she gave you last year.”

  “Every time I pin it on, it reminds me of my girls.”

  “All your girls?” Cori asked as she slipped her right hand over her ever-growing tummy. She was going on twenty-two weeks pregnant and her lower back had started feeling the weight of their baby girl, Jessie.

  “All three of my girls,” Gage said, turning to press his lips on Cori’s. She never took his love for granted and seized the moment to show it with her warm kiss.

  “I love you,” he said, running his hand along her neck and tangling his fingers in her hair.

  “I love you, with all my heart.”

  “With all my heart,” he repeated. Then they resumed walking toward their white pickup truck, and Cori giggled with happiness as he helped her into the passenger seat.

  “You should be riding over with everyone else,” she told him, once he sat behind the wheel and turned over the ignition.

  He shook his head no. “And let you drive there all alone? Never going to happen.”

  “I’m hardly alone,” she said as an overzealous five-month-old Labrador Retriever licked her cheek, then sniffed her neck and gave out a little bark before he moved over to Gage and did the same.

  Gage reached behind the seats and gave Zane some loving, and then he headed off the ranch toward the school.

  “You know what?” she asked, while gazing at his beautiful profile, thinking of how happy he made her.

  “No, what?”

  “Out of all the cowboys I’ve read about in all of Zane Grey’s books, you’re my favorite.”

  “And why’s that?”

  “Because there’s a double feature over at the Spud Drive-In and I can’t think of a better way to spend the night than snuggled up with you and the girls in the back of this truck, munching on popcorn.”

  He laughed low in his throat. “Way ahead of you. Already bought the tickets, darlin’.”

  And with that, she leaned over and planted a kiss on her favorite cowboy’s cheek.

  * * * * *

  If you liked this cowboy tale, pick up

  these romances from

  USA TODAY bestselling author Mary Leo

  FALLING FOR THE COWBOY

  AIMING FOR THE COWBOY

  CHRISTMAS WITH THE RANCHER

  Available now from Harlequin American Romance!

  And don’t miss the Christmas romance

  coming next from Mary Leo,

  Available December 2015!

  Keep reading for
an excerpt from RANSOM CANYON by Jodi Thomas.

  http://www.harlequin.com/harlequinexperience

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  Ransom Canyon

  by Jodi Thomas

  CHAPTER ONE

  Staten

  WHEN HER OLD hall clock chimed eleven times, Staten Kirkland left Quinn O’Grady’s bed. While she slept, he dressed in the shadows, watching her with only the light of the full moon. She’d given him what he needed tonight, and, as always, he felt as if he’d given her nothing.

  Walking out to her porch, he studied the newly washed earth, thinking of how empty his life was except for these few hours he shared with Quinn. He’d never love her or anyone, but he wished he could do something for her. Thanks to hard work and inherited land, he was a rich man. She was making a go of her farm, but barely. He could help her if she’d let him. But he knew she’d never let him.

  As he pulled on his boots, he thought of a dozen things he could do around the place. Like fixing that old tractor out in the mud or modernizing her irrigation system. The tractor had been sitting out by the road for months. If she’d accept his help, it wouldn’t take him an hour to pull the old John Deere out and get the engine running again.

  Only, she wouldn’t accept anything from him. He knew better than to ask.