A Cowboy's Heart

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  She went back into the kitchen and opened a cupboard. “Your brothers wanted to get this out of the way early.”

  “You mean Ryker wanted to get it out of the way early. Here, let me fill it. I’m sure you were in the middle of something.”

  She let him take over the job. “I was planning the menu for the rehearsal dinner. I’m having it here.”

  “Are you sure you want to go to all that trouble? I can get you a discount if you want to use the Guzzling Grizzly.” He poured coffee into the travel mug and screwed on the lid.

  “Yeah?” She gazed at him.

  “You could have music and a dance floor, too.”

  “That’s tempting, but we wouldn’t have the place to ourselves.”

  “Let me talk to Lou. Now that he can count on extra revenue from Sunday and Monday nights, he might be willing to let us reserve it.”

  “I heard that Nicole was a hit.”

  “She was. I—” Ryker’s voice calling his name cut off further discussion. “He’s in drill sergeant mode. If I don’t get out there he’ll order me to drop and give him fifty.”

  She laughed. “No, he won’t.”

  “I wouldn’t bet on it and I’m not in the mood for pushups. Call me this afternoon.”

  “I will.”

  “Bye, Mom.” He dropped a quick kiss on her cheek before heading out the door and down to the van where everyone stood waiting for him.

  Cody gestured to the nine-passenger vehicle that was their mother’s pride and joy. “Who’s driving?”

  Ryker pulled the keys out of his pocket. “I am.”

  “Told you.” Zane gave Cody a look. “It was never up for debate.”

  “Yeah, but you and I are the ones who drive it all time, so why should Ryker get to—”

  “Because I’m the best man, bozo,” Ryker said. “Now get in, and if I hear any squabbling about who sits where, I’m leaving you by the side of the road.”

  Laughing, Bryce climbed into the back of the van. “Just like old times.”

  His mom’s strong coffee improved his mood considerably. If he thought this sort of circumstance would repeat itself, he’d invest in a travel mug. But he couldn’t imagine morning shopping trips to Bozeman would become a regular thing.

  Zane rode shotgun with Ryker. Bryce and Trev took the middle seat and Cody lounged in the back. Bryce got a charge out of it. They were sitting in their birth order.

  Zane turned around in his seat. “Has everyone heard about Nicole’s performance last night?”

  Cody spoke up. “I think the whole town’s heard about it. If the place was full last night, it’ll be packed tonight.”

  “That’s my point,” Zane said. “I’m hoping we can all go because Ryker and Bryce think she’d be great for a solo during the ceremony. I’d appreciate having everyone’s opinion.”

  “I’ve checked with April.” Ryker pulled onto the main road. “We can make it.”

  “I’m on call at the station, but I’ll plan to go,” Trev said.

  “Faith and I will be there.” Cody chuckled. “But she made me promise she wouldn’t have to dance.”

  “Nobody has to dance unless they want to,” Zane said. “This is about listening and evaluating whether she’d fit into the ceremony.”

  “She would.” Bryce’s protective streak surfaced. She wouldn’t know she was being auditioned and in his opinion she didn’t need to be.

  “I agree,” Ryker said. “And Bryce is our musical expert, so if he thinks she’d do a good job, she’s probably fine. But I want to make sure. We need everyone there by five, before she starts playing.”

  Cody piped up. “What about Aunt Jo and Mom? The wedding mothers should have a say-so.”

  “Mandy pointed that out to me last night,” Zane said. “So they’ve both agreed to be there.”

  “And that’s not all,” Cody said. “The Whine and Cheese Club is putting in a bunch of time on table favors and place cards for the reception. The least we can do is ask them to come over to the GG and give an opinion about Nicole.”

  “I’ll put Mom on it,” Zane said. “But if we’re planning on a large group, we need to get there early.”

  “Yes, please.” Bryce envisioned the evening ahead and wondered if he’d need three servers. But he was happy for Nicole. Nothing like an SRO crowd to give a performer an ego boost.

  More discussion followed concerning logistics and where the first arrivals should sit to claim a good spot.

  As the debate continued, Trev glanced over at Bryce. “Can you and Mike handle this mob or do you want backup?”

  “If you can make it, I’d rather have you behind the bar than sitting in the crowd sucking up beer.”

  Trev grinned. “I couldn’t suck up beer, anyway. I’m on call. I’ll help with the bartending unless we have a fire. Then I have to go.”

  “That’s fine.”

  About that time, Cody started telling bad wedding jokes. The more he was booed, the more jokes he told.

  “Thank God.” Zane sighed as Ryker pulled the van into the parking lot next to the bridal shop. “What’d you do, look those up online?“

  “I did and there’s tons of them. Have you heard the one about the groom who hired a stand-in for the ceremony?”

  “No.” Ryker turned off the engine. “And I advise you not to tell it unless you want me to lock you in the van.”

  “Not possible.”

  “Guess again.” Ryker held up the key fob. “Childproof locks. Let’s go, troops.”

  Once they were out of the van, Cody barreled ahead like he used to when they were kids, with Ryker and Zane following as if they still had to make sure he didn’t get into trouble. Bryce was in no hurry to go in and Trevor dropped back, too.

  Trev lowered his voice. “Your fingertips look a little raw.”

  Bryce was startled, but he shouldn’t have been. They were twins, after all, and they noticed things about each other that nobody else would. “I got out the guitar last night.”

  “And?”

  “And nothing.” He kept his voice down. “Big surprise, I’m lousy.”

  Trev angled his head toward Zane. “Are you thinking you might—”

  “No. I’d never be ready in time. I’m just fooling around.”

  “Okay.” Trev didn’t ask anything more. He didn’t have to. Over the years they’d developed a form of communication that didn’t require a lot of words.

  The bridal shop looked the same as Bryce remembered. He’d prepared himself to walk through the doors, but he wasn’t quite as prepared as he’d hoped.

  It didn’t help that the salesclerk was the same woman who’d helped them the last time. Trev had returned everything the day after the wedding that wasn’t. He must not have said anything about the disastrous outcome, because the clerk was all smiles.

  She focused on Bryce. “How’s married life?”

  As he fumbled around trying to figure out what to say, Ryker clapped him on the shoulder and spoke in an undertone. “I’ve got this.” He smiled at the clerk. “We all want to concentrate on Zane today. Bryce had his moment and now it’s Zane’s turn.”

  “Of course, of course!” She fluttered in place like a bird who wasn’t sure which way to fly. “Which one of you is Zane?”

  “I am.” Zane stepped forward. “We’ve decided to go with white Western shirts and some kind of vest, no jacket. What can you show us?”

  “Lots of things.” She moved toward the racks lining the walls of the shop. “Excellent choice for this time of year. Vests are so manly. You all have impressive…chests. You’ll look amazing.”

  Bryce exhaled in relief. He should have known his brothers would come through for him in this situation. He couldn’t blame the clerk for her innocent remark. He hadn’t checked the statistics, but he doubted runaway brides were all that common.

  Thanks to Ryker running interference, the subject was off the table. Ryker was good at this maneuver. High school football on Friday nights years
ago had been a perfect demonstration of his ability in this area. The state championship had depended on it.

  Because they’d be wearing black jeans and only needed shirts and vests, they were out of the shop in short order and back on the road to Eagles Nest.

  “One more thing checked off.” Zane seemed very happy about that.

  Bryce had experienced a similar weight of responsibility as he’d approached the big day. But he hadn’t minded because he’d imagined that the time after the wedding would be a calm stream after shooting the rapids. He met Ryker’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “Thanks for stepping in back there.”

  “Anytime.” Ryker gave him a slow smile.

  Bryce smiled back. Getting up at dawn might have been worth it, after all.

  Chapter Five

  It was a whole new ballgame. Nicole had to search for a space in the Guzzling Grizzly parking lot on Monday night. The hum of voices and the clink of glasses reached her before she pushed open the door and once she did, she paused to take a breath. If there was an empty seat anywhere, she couldn’t spot it.

  Jenny moved efficiently among the crowded tables on one side of the room and another server, a petite blond, worked the other side. A large group had pushed two tables together. Looked like the McGavin clan. Kendra was in the middle of the action along with Jo Fielding and the other members of the Whine and Cheese Club—Deidre, Christine and Judy.

  They all looked…different. Nobody wore a Shear Delight smock or had tinfoil in her hair. Adding guys to the mix changed the dynamic, too. Thanks to working in the salon for five months, Nicole could identify everyone.

  Both Christine and Judy had brought their husbands and Deidre was sitting with her sweetheart Jim. Ryker had shown up with April, and Zane sat next to Mandy. The other cutie pie had to be Cody with his girlfriend Faith.

  How flattering that they’d all turned out to hear her play. Repeating her routine from last night, she carried her guitar case and canvas bag to the bar, but it was crowded, too. Trevor was working with Bryce and a third guy had joined them.

  Bryce glanced up when she approached. He gave her a quick smile. “Hang on. I’ll be right there.”

  She was a few minutes early so waiting was no problem. She enjoyed watching his efficient handling of the job. He and Trevor worked well in tandem but the third bartender, while he was great to look at, wasn’t that smooth.

  Bryce walked out from behind the bar with keys in hand. “Come on back to the office with me. There’s not enough room out here for you to get organized.”

  “That’s the truth! I’ve never seen it like this.”

  “The word got out. In case you’re still wondering if you have talent, you might want to take a glance at the crowd you pulled in.”

  She hurried to keep up with his long strides. “I’m a novelty.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’m a…” Oh, boy. Ray talking again. “I’m a hit.”

  “That’s what I thought you said.” He unlocked the office door and reached over to turn on the light before ushering her inside.

  “Your whole family came. That’s amazing.”

  “Ryker talked you up. And when Ryker talks, people listen.”

  “I believe you.” She put her guitar case on his desk and unlatched it. “I was there when he took charge on Labor Day.”

  “I saw you in the crowd. I was hoping you’d stop by the bar after the ceremony.”

  She lifted out her guitar. “It was too soon after the drama with Ray. My embarrassment hadn’t worn off.” Turning, she handed him the guitar. “Would you please hold this?”

  “Sure. Then you’re over the embarrassment?”

  “Pretty much.” She pulled her wallet and keys out of her canvas bag and stowed them in the case. “Playing here last night was a huge help. I’m glad you agreed.”

  “Lou is very glad. He’s at a table in the back. You definitely got his attention.”

  “That’s nice.” She took out a water bottle, something she’d forgotten the first night, her plush turtle and the tip jar before folding the empty bag and laying it in the guitar case. “But now I have butterflies.”

  “Sorry. Didn’t mean to make you nervous.”

  “No worries.” She closed the case. “I should get over it once I start performing.”

  She couldn’t say whether her butterflies had to do with the large crowd waiting to hear her sing or the cowboy standing less than five feet away, his citrus aftershave teasing her. He’d worn a blue plaid shirt that brought out the color of his eyes and his black dress hat had a fancy hatband decorated with turquoise. She was a sucker for a man with style.

  “Do you need anything before you go out there?”

  His question brought her back to the job at hand. “I think I’m all set. I remembered water this time.”

  He handed back her guitar. “You take this and I’ll carry the rest of your stuff.”

  “Thanks. Are you going to introduce me again?”

  “I thought I would although it’s probably unnecessary tonight since most everyone came to hear you.” He waited until she walked out before locking the door.

  “It’s still a nice touch.’

  “Yes.” He smiled at her. “It is.”

  Oh, how she loved that smile. Seeing it on a regular basis was better than a jar stuffed with tips. She waited beside the stage while he set her turtle, tip jar and water bottle on a nearby stool.

  Then he stepped up to the mic. “I recognize a lot of folks from last night. For those of you who weren’t here when Nicole Williams made her first appearance at the GG, you’re in for a treat. Let’s give her a warm welcome.”

  The enthusiastic response made her blush. Climbing up on the stool, she took a steadying breath. “I’ve only lived here since March, but I’ve already fallen in love with Eagles Nest and everyone who lives here. It’s an honor to have this opportunity to entertain you.”

  More applause and whistles greeted that announcement.

  She waited until the noise died down before launching into Alabama’s Born Country. Faces lit with pleasure, feet tapped and heads bobbed in rhythm. She had them! This huge crowd, twice as big as any she’d played to before, had given her their full attention. When she encouraged them to sing along, they joined in with gusto.

  For the next hour, she rode a heady wave of approval and encouragement. If she’d known weeks ago that she’d get this kind of reception, she’d have asked for the chance earlier. But Ray had planted doubts. In the warmth of the crowd’s response, those doubts shriveled and died.

  Then she broke a string. The crowd was belting out the chorus to Chattahoochee. No stopping now. Sweat ran down her spine as she improvised her way through the song.

  She had no spare strings with her. The knot in her stomach tightened. Other guitarists had warned her to carry them. But she’d never broken a string during a performance. She’d dismissed the warning.

  When she finished, everyone whistled and clapped. She thanked them and announced a break. Then she headed in the direction of the bar while she prayed that Bryce would be able to help.

  He smiled as she approached. “Hey, you left your water bottle on the stool.” Then his expression changed. “What’s wrong?”

  “Broke a string. Don’t have a spare. Do you have any?”

  “Let’s hope so.” He came out from behind the bar. “Follow me.” He led her down a short hallway and unhooked a velvet rope blocking the foot of a steep stairway. He took the stairs two at a time and had the door unlocked before she got there. “Come on in. I’ll see what I’ve got. I honestly can’t remember.”

  She stepped into an efficiency apartment furnished with the usual bed, dresser, easy chair and small kitchen table with two chairs. The only other piece of furniture was a desk stacked with open boxes of electronic equipment. A guitar case leaned in the corner next to the desk.

  “If I have strings, they’re probably in here.” Bryce took a mic out of one of the boxes and lai
d it on the desk. “I packed this stuff in a hurry, but I vaguely remember having spares. Hope I’m right.”

  “If you don’t, I’ll figure out how to play without it. I refuse to abandon the last set because I didn’t come prepared.”

  “Too bad I can’t offer you my guitar. I suppose worst case scenario I can borrow a string from it, although I’d rather give you a new one. Ah, here we go!” He pulled out a package.

  She sighed in relief. “Thank heavens.”

  “Might as well switch it out while we’re here. In fact, I can change it if you want. I used to break strings all the time and I got really fast at replacing them.”

  “That would be great.” She handed him the guitar. “I’m not fast at all. I’ve only broken a couple and never while I was performing.”

  “Then have a seat in that big ol’ easy chair. I’ll have you up and running in a jiffy.”

  She sank onto the cushions of the oversized chair and it enveloped her like a hug. She could use a hug after this screw-up. When she scooted all the way back, her feet dangled. She relaxed against the soft upholstery. Nice.

  “You were rocking out tonight. Whenever I glanced over, you had that pick going a mile a minute.” He deftly threaded the string onto the tuning peg.

  Something about this situation was giving her a buzz. “I got excited because everyone’s so enthusiastic.”

  “Understandable.”

  Maybe it was the intimacy of his small apartment. Or his nimble fingers touching her guitar, which was so much a part of her. “Cozy place.”

  “Thanks. It works for me.”

  And it was working on her. Enveloped by his chair, she focused on the supple movement of his fingers. Would he caress a woman with the care he was lavishing on her guitar? Her skin grew warm.

  “That should do it.” He bent the excess string back and forth until it snapped off neatly. “Tune that baby and you’re good to go.” He picked up the guitar and stood.

  “Thank you.” Taking a calming breath, she tried to push herself out of the chair. It was easier said than done.

  “Here.” He offered his hand. “That chair can swallow you if you’re not careful.”

  “So I see.” She grasped his hand and he pulled her to her feet. The strength of his firm grip left her tingling all over. “It’s a great chair.”