by Ciana Stone
"Yes, thanks Jayce and let me say again what a fantastic job your crew did on Billy's place. I did put my nose in where it didn't belong and recommend that Cody and Hannah use Weathers for the building of the new bar."
"I appreciate that."
"And who's your friend?" Riley tipped his hat to Jo.
"Oh, sorry. This is Jolene Windwalker. She's here to do…." Jayce trailed off and looked at his father.
Jason waved a hand in dismissal. "Ain't no secret now thanks to them durn red head ladies, Jo's here doing an episode for Country Western Real Life."
"On your family?" Annie asked.
"Yeah, ain't that something?"
"I think it's wonderful." Annie looked at Jo. "And I recognize you. I watch your show all the time. I'm Analise – Annie Becke and it's a pleasure to meet you."
It suddenly clicked in Jo's mind. There had been a news report a month ago about Nate Bridges and a romance writer.
"Ana Lise, right?" Jo asked. "The romance novelist?"
The surprise was clear on Annie's face. "Yes. That's my pen name."
"I've always admired people who can write fiction."
"And I've always admired people who can do what you do."
"Thanks, but I have a whole crew who make what I do look good."
"Same here, girl."
"Pull up a chair and join." Jason offered. "We just got here."
"Are you sure?" Annie asked.
"Oh yes, please." Jo scooted her chair over closer to Jayce.
Riley grabbed an empty chair and wedged it in, putting him beside Jason and Annie beside Jo. After the waitress took their drink orders, Jo turned to Riley. "Would it offend you if I indulged in just a minute of fan girl?"
His laugh put her at ease. "Fan girl?"
"Totally. I swear I've watched everything you've ever been in."
"Well thank you, Ms. Windwalker."
"Jo, please, and it really is an honor."
"See, I told you." Annie nudged him, "You still have fans."
Riley shook his head and spoke to Jason. "So, gossip aside, my curiosity is gnawing a hole in me. Your original name was Nash?"
"Yep. Jedidiah Nash."
"Well that's a hell of a name, Jason. I'm not gonna pry into the particulars, but I hear you got some famous family up in the Carolinas."
"World champion rodeo champions." Jo could hear the pride in Jason's voice and found it touching he was already so proud of family he'd not yet come to know. "Jesse Nash and Mik Morgan. Jo interviewed them. I'm thinking of inviting the whole clan down for a visit."
"That's impressive." Riley replied. "Seems Jesse and JD have some common ground."
"JD?" Jo asked.
"You didn't know?" Jayce laughed. "Damn girl, I thought your researchers had turned over every rock the Weathers or Nash family ever stepped on."
"Apparently not." She took no offense at the comment. "So, spill. What do JD and Jesse have in common?"
"JD was a world champion, too."
"He was?"
"Bet your bippy," Jason crowed. "Roping and team roping two years running."
"I had no idea. Why did he stop?"
"One year at Nationals they had a real bad injury. One of the rodeo clowns went down and durn bull just camped out on him. Another one tried to help and got gored real bad. They needed someone out there during the bull riding and JD volunteered. He'd done it some when he was young.
"Anyway, a rider somehow got his leg twisted up in the rope as he fell and the bull was slinging him six ways from Sunday. JD rushed in. Got the cowboy free and earned a busted knee and nearly sixty stitches when that bull hit him."
Jo had no idea, although she did remember the scar on JD's side. She wasn't a novice to the rodeo world and knew the dangers involved. "So it ended his career."
"Well, I reckon it was meant to be. By that time the twins were nearly five and it was time for him to be home with his family."
"Still it's a shame."
"Just life. He taught his boys and I think they stand a good chance of taking the ribbon at the Pursell's annual rodeo this year."
"I didn't know they competed."
"Lord girl, outside of football and girls there's nothing they love better."
Paula returned to the table to take everyone's order. After that, talk turned to all the repairs and renovations around town. Jo got the gist of what had happened but was curious about the events that took place at what was Billy's Bar.
In fact, it gave her an idea. "Would you excuse me for a minute?" She got up, slung the strap of her messenger bag over her shoulder and headed for the ladies’ room.
Once inside she called her boss. It took two minutes to get her idea approved, and she hurried back to the table. Everyone was talking about the last football game and how well Jason's grandsons had performed.
"They have another home game on Friday." Jason pointed out and looked at her. "You should come. Durn near the whole town shows up."
"Yeah, you should." Jayce echoed. "In fact, you're welcome to ride with me."
Jo gave him a smile. "Thanks, Jayce. That'd be nice."
Their food arrived and everyone dug in. Jo listened to the conversation but her mind was on how to approach Riley Morgan with her idea. When everyone finished he pushed back from the table. "This has been nice but I need to get on back."
Annie stood as well. "Jo it's so nice to meet you. I hope I get a chance to see you again."
"Actually that's something I wanted to discuss with you. Jason, Jayce, would you mind if I walked out with Annie for a few minutes?"
"Take your time." Jason agreed.
She waited until they were outside on the sidewalk. "I spoke with my boss and I'd like to do a segment on you. Both of you."
"On us?" Annie looked at Riley.
He didn't look very enthusiastic. "Look, I get it,” Jo said. “You left Hollywood behind and I respect that. But you'd be of interest to our viewers. They'd love to know about Riley Morgan – the rancher who fell in love with the romance writer.
"And it'd be good exposure for you, Annie. You write western romances and our viewership is over a third women."
"What kind of show would it be?" Riley asked.
"Just who you are, what you do. How you met and fell in love and how Annie is adapting to life on a ranch and in a small town."
"And the stuff about her ex-husband?"
"It's already been on the news." Jo pointed out.
"Yeah but it might not be so good for Annie's book sales if that gets too much attention."
"Okay, so how about this? If you'll agree then we'll just set up times to talk. You'll have final say over the entire piece."
Annie looked at Riley again. "You want to do it, honey?" He asked.
"Yes, I think I do."
"Then that's what we'll do. You got a deal Jo. When you want to do this?"
"Right after I finish with the Weathers. I don't want to scare you but I normally spend a couple of weeks, shadowing my subjects, seeing them at home and work – out and about. I think I'll be done with this piece in three to four weeks. Would that work for you?"
"Yep, we can make that work."
"Oh great. Thank you. I'm looking forward to it."
"Me too." Annie reached out and gave her arm a squeeze. "And maybe I can do a little interviewing of my own. Get the feel for what you do."
"Research?"
Annie smiled. "Yeah, I kind of got an idea as we were talking."
"Well, turnabout's fair play so sure."
"Oh great! Are you busy this weekend?"
"I don't know. I take up a lot of time over at the Weathers place during the week so I don’t want to monopolize their weekends. I’ll probably just work on what I've gathered during the week."
"Well, maybe we could get together. Oh! Are you going to the Beer in the Dirt party at Billy's – I mean what used to be Billy's Bar?"
"I don't know. Cody mentioned it but I hadn't really decided."
&nbs
p; "Well, I really hope you will. In fact, how about we meet for dinner and then head over?"
"Okay, sure, what time?"
"Six?" Annie looked at Riley for confirmation and he nodded.
"Works for me. Where do you want to meet?"
"Have you tried the steak house? It's not bad."
"Yes, it's good. Meet you there at six."
"Wonderful. See you then Jo."
Jo smiled as Annie and Riley left then returned inside and took her seat. Jayce looked over at her and smiled. "You make friends fast."
"There are a lot of interesting people in Cotton Creek. Like you, Jayce. Your dad has told me a lot about the family, but I'd like to talk to you individually. How about I start with you?"
"Well, I'd purely love that, but when I leave here I've got to bust hump the rest of the week."
"What about Saturday?"
"Working till five. Sorry. But, hey, wait. I'm headed over to Billy's. Cody and Hannah are doing something outside on the foundation of the old bar. Wanna go to that?"
"Actually I already am. Annie invited me. We can meet up there and I can tell you a little about what I'd like to talk about on tape."
"Or dance." Jason, who had been quiet until then, chimed in. "Jayce is one boot-scootin fool."
"Oh?" Jo raised her eyebrows. "Well, in that case, maybe I'll get lucky and get asked to dance."
"You can count on it."
"I'm looking forward to it. But right now, I know you both have things to do and I've taken up Jason's entire morning."
"Yeah, I need to get back Pop." Jayce stood and reached for his wallet.
"Oh no, please let me." Jo stood as well.
"Can't let you do that."
"Well, it's not my money. The network will reimburse me."
"Okay, when you put it like that."
She smiled, picked up the ticket, and went to the register to pay. As she waited on the cashier, she felt a nudge in her back. She turned to find Netta Bloom behind her.
"So you're dating the baby are you? Well, you don't let any grass grow under your feet do you, girl?"
"I'm not —"
"Oh you don't have to try to hide it from me. You know I'm the vault around these parts. Holding everybody's secrets."
Those words sounded all too familiar and gave Jo more than a bit of discomfort. The last person who said that to her, Nellie Mae, had run straight to Netta and the two of them had broadcast lies all over town about the Weathers. If she didn't set Netta straight, by nightfall everyone in Cotton Creek would think she and Jayce were having some kind of hot affair.
She opened her mouth to chastise Netta and abruptly changed her mind. So what if people thought she had something going on with Jayce? He was hot as a match, fun to be around and it wasn't like either one of them were sneaking around on a spouse.
"You have a nice day, Ms. Netta. I have to scoot. Jayce and Jason are waiting."
She paid and hurried back to the table where the men waited. When Jayce put his hand on the small of her back to escort her out, she cut a look over her shoulder. Sure enough, Netta Bloom was watching.
Jo bit back a smile. Wonder just how involved the gossip would have her and Jayce Weathers by morning?
Chapter Eight
When the people of Cotton Creek said they supported their high school football team they were not exaggerating. The stands were packed. Jolene stopped and looked around as she and Jayce entered. "Wow, is it always this well attended?"
"You know it, sugar."
She shook her head and smiled up at him. He was such a flirt, but god what a sexy one and so much fun just to be around. He took her hand and led the way. Halfway up the center of the home team side, was his entire family. Including JD.
Greetings from his family were enthusiastic and friendly, except for JD, who merely nodded and looked away. She and Jayce took a seat on the row in front of JD, beside Bronson and his kids. Bronson looked around Jayce at her. "So, you a football fan, Jo?"
"Well, I have a general idea of how the game is played but I don't follow it. But tonight will be special because I know the family of the two star players of the team."
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed someone behind them stand. She looked around to see JD making his way to the other end of the stand. She looked at Jason and he shrugged. Jolene watched JD as he took a seat beside a man sitting alone. The man smiled as JD took a seat and they started talking.
"You want something to drink?" Jayce asked.
"No, I'm good thanks."
The game started, and all conversation centered on what was happening on the field. Jolene couldn't resist cutting glances now and then in JD's direction. Clearly he didn't want to have anything to do with her. When was she going to get that through her head?
If she was smart she'd forget about JD. He was way too wrapped up in his own guilt and misery. Pining after him was foolish. Jayce looked over her and smiled and it occurred to her that while she was wasting time obsessing over JD she could be having a good time with Jayce. She should just put JD out of her mind and enjoy her time in Cotton Creek.
By half time she'd convinced herself that was what she was going to do. Let JD wallow in his guilt and unhappiness. She couldn't waste any more of her life agonizing over something that had been nothing more than a fling. It was never going to be a love-story between her and JD. He was going to make damn sure of that.
*****
JD felt guilty on a couple of levels. First, he shouldn't have left his family just because Jo showed up with Jayce. The problem was, there was just no way he could sit there and watch Jayce flirt with her.
He also felt guilty that the man he sat beside, Kyle Stadler, had been going through a rough patch and JD had not known. He and Kyle went way back. They'd grown up together. Kyle's family had a small spread about fifteen miles outside of town on the northern side. His father had been a horse breeder and trainer, a damn good one and had also grown up in Cotton Creek.
Kyle's mother was from Oklahoma, a Native American and probably the only genuine horse whisperer JD had ever known. Both Kyle's parents were gone now, and Kyle ran the ranch alone. He'd earned one hell of a reputation as a breeder and had inherited his mama's talents with horses.
He was also one of the shyest people JD had ever known. One-on-one he could carry on a conversation about most anything, but put him in a crowd and he became part of the scenery in two red-hot seconds. The funny thing about that was even with his shyness he'd always been a woman magnet. Why he'd never married was a mystery, unless he had too much fun with all the women that passed in and out of his life.
Until tonight JD hadn't known that Kyle had broken his leg. He mentally kicked himself for being so wrapped up in his own life that he'd fallen out of touch with a good friend. "So, how're you managing with that leg, buddy?"
"Not easy but I'm getting by. Old Buddy Mingo who worked for me got laid up with the gout, and that young fella, Lou Messer up and left last week. I need to hire on at least one man. Just until this damn cast comes off."
"I can have a couple of our guys come over and help you out - maybe two or three days a week until you're back on your feet."
"No, you got your own place to take care of."
"It's the least I can do for a friend."
"I appreciate that, JD, but I don't want to take advantage. I really need to hire someone."
"Well, I'll keep my eyes and ears open and if I hear of anyone looking for work I'll steer 'em your way. In the meantime, I'm gonna send some of the boys over next week."
"Thanks. So, your boys. Man, they have skills."
"Yeah, they're doing really well."
"That's putting it mildly, brother. I hear they have quite a few scouts interested."
"Yep."
Kyle looked over at him with a serious expression. "So how you gonna handle them leaving home JD?"
JD shrugged. "I guess like everything else, one day at a time. Just want them to be happy."
&
nbsp; "They always have been. You know they stopped by last week and unloaded feed for me."
"They did?"
"Yep. You taught 'em well."
"I tried. So, word has it Mabel Collins daughter was here for a visit a couple of weeks back and was darn near camping out at your place."
Kyle shook his head. "I tell you, what, I don't know how to handle city women."
"She grew up here, Kyle."
"And hit the road the minute she graduated high school. Lives in Dallas now and is a flight attendant."
"And had quite the interest in you – at least according to the gossip."
"She was just bored and looking for a way to fill her time."
"And did you help her with that?"
Kyle gave him a sly smile. "Did my best, but the broken leg you know…"
They both laughed. JD knew Kyle well enough to know that a broken leg wouldn't stop him from enjoying a woman. He was a little like Jayce in that respect. He purely loved women, and could literally charm them right out of their pants with his quiet manner, but when one of them got to thinking along the lines of commitment, Kyle backed away fast.
That thought prompted a darker one. Jayce was with Jo, and if he knew his brother, Jayce would be using every ounce of charm he had to get into Jo's pants.
The good mood that had started to develop suddenly disappeared. No matter what he did or didn't do as long as Jolene was here his life was going to be miserable.
*****
"So, who's that guy JD's sitting with?" Jolene asked as the game ended.
"Where?"
She pointed and Jayce followed the direction of her finger. "Oh, that's Kyle Stadler."
"He's very striking."
"Yep. Half the women in Cotton Creek have the hots for him."
"Oh? So he's not married?"
"Kyle?" Jayce laughed. "No ma'am. That's one man that doesn't have any interest in getting married."
"Why not? Was he left at the altar? Had his heart broken when his high school sweetheart chose college over him?"
Jayce shrugged. "Don't know. He just isn't the marrying kind I guess. He is a bonafide horse whisperer. Ever met one of those?"
"A whole family. Your cousins, the Nash’s."
"Seriously?"
"Very."
"Well I'll be damned. It's pretty amazing to watch Kyle work with an animal."