A Cowboy's Heart

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  A Cowboy’s Heart

  The McGavin Brothers

  Vicki Lewis Thompson

  A COWBOY’S HEART

  Copyright © 2017 by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  ISBN: 978-1-946759-16-0

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Ocean Dance Press, PO Box 69901, Oro Valley AZ 85737

  Cover art by Kristin Bryant

  Visit the author’s website: VickiLewisThompson.com

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  But Wait, There’s More!

  Also by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Must be the fiancé. From behind the bar at the Guzzling Grizzly, Bryce McGavin sized up the guy who’d come in with Nicole Williams, a slender redhead with an impish smile. Except she wasn’t smiling tonight.

  Her intended was tall and doughy with a haircut right out of a magazine ad. From the looks of him he spent most of his time in an office dressed like he was now – white long-sleeved shirt, creased pants and polished oxfords. He sure as hell wasn’t a cowboy. Nicole wore jeans, boots and a forest green knit shirt. She fit in with the Eagles Nest crowd just fine.

  She’d come into the bar twice since Bryce had taken over as manager earlier this month. Each time she’d walked in alone, grabbed a table close to the band and focused on the music. He’d been intrigued enough to ask around and he’d found out she was new in town, worked as a stylist at Shear Delight and was engaged to somebody from Idaho Falls.

  Why she was in Montana and her betrothed was in Idaho was a mystery. But it looked like the lucky cuss had made the four-hour drive to Eagles Nest to pay Nicole a visit this weekend. Bryce wished the band was better. The owner hired the entertainment and this was a new group. What they lacked in talent they made up for in volume.

  “The absent fiancé?” Bryce’s twin brother Trevor came up next to him, a bar rag over his shoulder. He and Trev had the same blue eyes and dark hair, but otherwise nobody would peg them as twins.

  “That’s my guess. Do you know why she’s living here and he’s not?”

  “Mom said she inherited Henrietta’s house, but that still doesn’t explain anything. You’d think she’d sell it or he’d move here.”

  “She doesn’t look all that happy to see him.”

  Trev gave him a light punch on the shoulder. “Interested?”

  “No point. She’s engaged.”

  “So why are you staring at her?”

  “Idle curiosity.” Turning away, he measured tequila into the blender.

  “I figured.” Trev had put himself in charge of beer. The guy had a talent for creating a perfect head of foam.

  Bryce poured slushy margaritas into two salt-rimmed glasses, added straws and positioned a slice of lime on each rim. “Thanks for coming in, Trev.” He’d recruited his brother at the last minute when the regular bartender got sick. Luckily Trev hadn’t been on duty at the firehouse. Friday nights could get crazy at the GG.

  “No problem. I’ve always liked working here.”

  “Lou is making noises like he wants to sell the place.” Bryce put the margaritas on a tray and Jenny whisked them away. “We could buy it. He’d cut us a deal, probably handle the financing himself.” Grabbing the Captain Jack, he splashed some into a glass and added Coke.

  “I have no desire to own this bar, but it might be a great thing for you.”

  Bryce set the rum and Coke on a tray. “Maybe.” The idea didn’t excite him but he needed a plan. For the past year, he’d been drifting.

  “Don’t look now, but the woman you’re not interested in is totally pissed with her fiancé.”

  “Not my circus, not my monkeys.” Bryce poured Grey Goose into a cocktail shaker.

  “I agree, but…it’s getting ugly.”

  Bryce turned just as Nicole’s fiancé grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her out of her chair. Abandoning the shaker, he vaulted the bar and crossed the room.

  The band and the dancers paused as the crowd fell silent. All color drained from Nicole’s face as she stared at her intended.

  Bryce’s fingers flexed but he kept his voice calm. “Hey, buddy. Let her go.”

  The guy had the puffy features and bloodshot eyes of a heavy drinker. “Butt out, asshole.”

  “No can do.” Bryce kept his tone light and conversational. “Let her go or I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

  “We’re leaving. Come on, Nicole.” He tugged on her wrist.

  Color blazed in her cheeks. “How dare you?” Drawing back her booted foot, she kicked him in the shin. Hard.

  “Hey!” He released her and staggered back. “There’s no call for that!”

  “Are you kidding?” Her voice vibrated with fury and her blue eyes glittered. “You’re lucky I aimed for your leg.”

  He held up both hands. “Now, baby, let’s not—”

  “Zip it.”

  “Nicole—”

  “It’s over, Ray.” She wrenched off her engagement ring and flung it at him.

  He fumbled the ring but managed to keep possession. “Look, I can see you’re upset, but we can work this out.” He started toward her.

  “Leave her be.” Bryce blocked his path.

  “Back off, shit-kicker.”

  “Sorry. Can’t.”

  “Damn it, she’s my fiancée.”

  “Not anymore.” He held the bastard’s gaze. He could take the guy but he didn’t relish disrupting everyone’s evening more than it already had been. The cleanup wouldn’t be any fun, either. Then from the corner of his eye he saw Trev approaching.

  Ray must have, too, because he started edging toward the door. “Hell, I don’t need this crap. Hey, Nicole, when you come to your senses, you know where to find me.”

  “You mean like under a rock?”

  Bryce smiled. Attagirl.

  She kept her back straight and her head high until Ray was out the door. Then she slumped into her chair. “God, I’m sorry. That was so embarrassing.”

  “Not your fault, ma’am.” He turned to the band and gave them a signal to start playing again. “Can I get you anything?”

  She shook her head. “I just want to go home.” Reaching for her purse on the chair next to her, she stood and faced him. “Thank you. He’s never acted like that before.”

  “Do you need a ride?”

  “I can walk.”

  He didn’t like that scenario. He glanced at Trev, who gave him a quick nod. “I’ll drive you.”

  “That’s not necessary. I can—”

  “I’ll feel better once I know you’re inside your house with the doors locked.”

  “He’s not the type to stick around once he’s been humiliated. He’ll run back to Idaho Falls with his tail between his legs.”
<
br />   “Humor me.”

  She gazed at him and her expression softened. “Thank you. I’d love a ride.”

  Moments later he’d handed her into the cab of his F-150. “What does Ray drive?”

  “A black Escalade. I already checked and it’s not here. I didn’t think it would be.”

  “All righty, then.” He closed her door and rounded the truck. Once he was behind the wheel he turned to her. “Trev seems to think you live in Henrietta’s house.”

  “Yep. Me and Jimi Hendrix.”

  “I assume we’re not talking about a dead rock star.”

  “Nope. Henrietta’s cat. He’s the reason I’m here. I’m her grandniece Nicole, by the way.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Nicole. I’m Bryce.”

  “I know who you are. Everyone knows the McGavin brothers. Besides, I do your mom’s hair.”

  “No kidding?” He started the truck and backed out of his parking space.

  “She loves talking about her boys.”

  “I’m aware of that.” She was so proud of them it was embarrassing, but nice, too. “So what’s this about Henrietta’s cat?”

  “He’s old and cranky, with black fur that sticks out like a fro, so the name fits. Aunt Henrietta was a Jimi Hendrix fan, so there you go. Anyway, a couple of years back I promised that if anything happened to her and Jimi was still alive, I’d come over and take care of him.”

  “And that’s why you’re here?”

  “Crazy, right? But at the time I made that promise, Jimi was sixteen and Aunt Henrietta was in great shape. I never dreamed the cat would outlive her. But he did and here I am. I didn’t expect her to give me the house, but it makes sense. She’s had Jimi since he was a kitten. She’d want him to spend the rest of his life in familiar surroundings.”

  “I guess it’s not a bad deal.”

  “It’s a great deal. More than fair.”

  “Except you got engaged.”

  She blew out a gusty sigh. “We all make mistakes.”

  “Ain’t that the truth.”

  “At first Ray was excited that I’d inherited a house worth a fair amount of money. That was in March, and he expected Jimi would pass soon and I’d sell the place and move back to Idaho Falls.”

  Bryce was becoming very fond of this cat. Way to throw a monkey wrench into that asshole’s selfish plans. “But Jimi refused to die.”

  “Jimi may outlive us all. He’s going strong and Ray got fed up. He told me to put the cat down and sell the house. He said if I refused, it would prove I love Jimi more than him. Which it turns out I do.”

  “After what I saw tonight, I’m surprised he didn’t try to get rid of the cat himself.”

  She laughed. “That would have meant getting near Jimi.”

  “Ray’s allergic?”

  “No, Ray’s a coward.”

  “He’s afraid of a cat?”

  “He’s afraid of this one. Jimi’s only trusted two people in his life, Aunt Henrietta and me. With anyone else, he’s the demon cat from hell. Ray came over one weekend last spring and left within ten minutes. He was terrified. Which is another reason I’m not worried about him bothering me.”

  “Is the cat that scary?”

  “With everyone but me. I hired a plumber to fix a leak in the upstairs bathroom last month. I put Jimi in the laundry room and he howled like a banshee the entire time. I’ve never seen a plumber work that fast. He was convinced the cat would somehow escape and come after him. Jimi’s developed a reputation.”

  “Wow.” He admired her dedication to what was clearly a wacky situation. “I doubt many people would put their life on hold to make sure an aging cat with a major attitude enjoys his golden years, even in exchange for a house.”

  “But if I hadn’t, Jimi would have been doomed. And bonus, I got to see Ray’s true colors before it was too late.”

  “Yeah, there’s that.” He pulled up in front of the yellow Victorian with white gingerbread trim. “No Escalade.”

  “Like I said, he’s barreling down the highway to Idaho Falls by now.”

  “Hope so. Hang on and I’ll help you out.”

  “I’ve got it.” She opened her door. “You should head back. Trevor needs you there.”

  She was right about that. “What if I give you my number in case Ray shows up? I can be here in no time.”

  “I promise he won’t show up. Not with Jimi on patrol ready to claw his eyes out.”

  He liked that image. “All right, you’ve convinced me, but if you don’t mind, I’ll sit here until you’re safely in the house.”

  “Okay.” She climbed down. “Thanks, again, Bryce.”

  “You’re welcome.” He watched her walk inside.

  After she’d closed the door, she flicked the porch light off and on. The interlude was over.

  Turned out he didn’t want it to be. He liked her. She was the first woman since Charity who’d stirred up emotion in his battered heart.

  Unfortunately for him, she’d just broken off her engagement. Nobody knew better than he did how long it took to recover from that kind of shock. Besides, she lived with an attack cat who would likely claw his eyes out. With a sigh of resignation, he drove away.

  Chapter Two

  Even though a relationship with Nicole was out of the question, Bryce had hoped she’d continue patronizing the Guzzling Grizzly on Friday nights to hear whatever band happened to be playing. But several weeks had gone by with no sign of her.

  He’d seen her only once since the night she’d broken her engagement—a brief glimpse in the crowd during the town’s Labor Day parade. Her red hair made her easy to spot and he’d thought for sure he’d run into her during the festivities. No such luck.

  A week after the busy Labor Day Weekend, he and Frank, the cook, were the only employees in the place on a slow Sunday afternoon. The tables were empty except for a couple visiting from Massachusetts. They seemed happy to sit in the back and go through their photos while they drank beer and ate burgers.

  He was almost finished wiping down the liquor bottles lining the glass shelves when Nicole came through the door, a guitar case in her hand.

  She walked up to the bar and set the case on the floor before perching on a stool. “Hi.”

  His heartbeat sped up, most likely because he hadn’t expected her. “Hey.” He tossed down the bar rag. “Nice to see you again.” He should ask about the guitar but he was too busy looking at her and regulating his breathing.

  “I should have called in advance, but I was afraid you’d turn me down, so I just drove over.”

  “Turn you down for what?” Considering her recent engagement and her attack cat, he was way too excited that she was here.

  She looked younger today. Maybe it was the freckles he hadn’t noticed before, or it could be her hair. He was used to seeing it tamed into undulating waves, but today it fell to her shoulders in a mass of ringlets as if she’d washed it and let it air dry.

  She took a deep breath. “I’d like to play at the Guzzling Grizzly.”

  “But we already have a—”

  “I don’t mean on Friday and Saturday nights. You need dance bands for that crowd, but maybe Sunday and Monday night would work.”

  “What kind of music?”

  “I specialize in country, but I can handle the occasional folk song and some classic rock tunes. I performed two nights a week in Idaho Falls at a place called Trail’s End Tavern.” The tremble in her voice was slight, but it was enough to betray her nervousness. “It was a little smaller than this. I can give you the owner’s name and number if you’d like to contact him.”

  “That won’t be necessary.” He admired her courage. He’d never been in her shoes, never had to work up the nerve to ask for a job playing guitar. Lou had recruited him at the tender age of seventeen. “I wish I could give you an answer, but the owner’s been booking our entertainment. Before I can say yes or no, I’ll have to check with him and see if he’s willing to add more nights to the sc
hedule. It might not be in the budget.”

  “You wouldn’t have to pay me. I’ll work for tips.”

  “Um, okay.” Warning bells clanged. Often people willing to perform for free were lousy musicians. He wouldn’t have to consult with Lou if he didn’t have to pay her, but he should find out if she was any good before he turned her loose on his customers. If she sucked, then he’d have the crummy job of rejecting her.

  “I brought my guitar hoping I could audition this afternoon. For all you know, I sound like a pack of coyotes after a rabbit.”

  “I’m sure you don’t.” He knew no such thing. “But since you brought your guitar, might as well play something for me.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” Hopping off the stool, she opened the case and lifted out a black guitar.

  He got a load of that instrument and came around from behind the bar lickity-split. “You play a RainSong?” The expensive graphite guitars fascinated him. They were practically immune to either dampness or extremely dry air. What a crying shame if she was a rank amateur who owned a primo instrument, but it happened.

  “You know the brand?”

  “Sure do. Thought about getting one. But the price for a lefty was more than I could afford.”

  She blinked. “You play?”

  “Not currently.”

  “I guess managing the bar keeps you pretty busy.”

  “It does and I…I just lost interest.”

  Her eyes held a question.

  He shrugged. “People change.”

  “Some do.” She waited as if giving him time to say more. When he didn’t, she hoisted the guitar strap over her shoulder. “Let’s get ‘er done.” She crossed to the stage and perched on one of several stools left there for the band.