Strong-Willed Cowboy (The Buckskin Brotherhood Book 5)

by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Stephanie Bond

“I remembered it because I’d like to go, too. And I’m paying for the damned license. Letting you do it would hurt my manly pride. If that makes me unevolved, so be it.”

  She took a shaky breath. “Thank you, Rafe.”

  “It’s not a lot of money. Besides, I’m still playing catchup after what you spent on the bachelor auction.”

  “It was for a good cause.”

  “So is this.” He eased up on the gas as they neared the edge of town. “I have a vague idea where the courthouse is, but we don’t have time to wander around. Would you pull out your phone and get me some directions?”

  “Be glad to.” She activated her phone’s map feature and Rafe followed the voice cues, which took them straight to the courthouse.

  He found a parking space, pulled in and switched off the engine. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I’ll get you out.” He grabbed his paperwork from behind his seat and hurried around to the passenger side. Despite their tight timeline, she waited for him. She treasured his cowboy manners as much as he enjoyed demonstrating them.

  He opened the door and held out his hand. “What are you smiling about?”

  “You.” She picked up her documents and put her hand in his. “You’re more evolved than you think.”

  “How do you figure?”

  “You asked for directions.”

  “That impressed you?”

  “Sure did. A lot of guys would have gone with their vague idea and ended up lost.”

  “Then prepare to be impressed some more. It’s a huge building and time’s short.” He squeezed her hand and released it. “Let’s move out.”

  He wasn’t kidding about moving out. She’d always been a fast walker, but she had trouble keeping up with his long strides. “Uh, Rafe, could you—”

  “Sorry.” He paused. “Guess I’m eager to get this over with.”

  “That makes two of us. Keep going. I just needed to catch my breath.” As she fell into step beside him, she glanced up at the imposing façade. The handsome stone structure was the color of the baking powder biscuits she made nearly every morning for the guests. “Nice building.”

  “They meant for it to last, that’s for sure.”

  “I like the style.” She went through the door Rafe held for her. “And look at that staircase.” Wide and graceful with polished wooden bannisters, it swept up to the main floor. If she had to take out a marriage license again, at least her surroundings had a touch of elegance.

  “Up we go.” True to his word, Rafe asked directions when they reached the reception desk and they easily found the office of the county clerk. A young couple was just finishing up as they arrived. Holding hands, the couple kept glancing at each other and smiling. Made her chest hurt.

  When it was Kate and Rafe’s turn, she learned that his middle name was Stephen, his mother’s name was Lenora and his father was unknown. No wonder he’d soaked up the caring attention of Charley Fox.

  The process was efficient and weirdly sterile considering what the license represented. Rafe paid the fee and handed the packet over to her before they walked out.

  Desperate to change the focus, she glanced at her phone. “We almost have time to swing by the dinosaur museum.”

  “It’s better if you go in. They have a dinosaur bone you can touch. We need to bring the license back to register it. Maybe we can go then.”

  “I’d like that.” He was right to reject the idea. A drive-by wouldn’t compare to the rich experience he’d had before. She’d just been looking for something to lift the somber mood that had settled over them.

  She made sure she didn’t drop the packet as Rafe handed her into the truck. Carefully extracting the license, she laid it on her lap, snapped a picture with her phone and emailed it to Aunt Lilith with a brief note—wedding at four tomorrow, will send pictures and video. Done.

  Rafe swung into the driver’s seat and closed the door.

  “I just sent Aunt Lilith a picture of the license and told her the wedding was tomorrow. She might even mail a check to Ginny next week.” Dragging in a breath, she let it out. “No backing out, now.”

  “I’d say the backing out time ended when we asked for the application form.” He started the truck and eased out of the parking space. “How are you feeling?”

  She took another deep breath. “Okay. You?”

  “Okay.” He flashed her a smile. “It’s just a piece of paper, right?”

  “Right.” His smile looked forced. “Your middle name is Stephen, huh?”

  “Yes, ma’am. My mom had two obsessions, Stephen King and first baseman Rafael Palmeiro. So I became Rafael Stephen.”

  “You said she had two obsessions, past tense. Does that mean she’s no longer….”

  “I honestly don’t know. Maybe.”

  “Whoa.” Well done, Kate. Great topic.

  “Probably sounds harsh, but I had to disconnect for my own sanity. I spent less and less time at home as I got older. I’d moved out by the time I left town for good. Couldn’t take the string of guys. It’s not a pretty story.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

  “It’s fine. The way I look at it, she gave me life. For a while there, I didn’t know what to do with that gift, but now I do. I’ve found where I belong.”

  “I’d say so. The Buckskin gang would be lost without you.” Just like that, he’d deftly steered them back to calmer waters. The guy had some life skills.

  “No kidding. Who else can get stuff out of the cabinet over the fridge? Or clean the ceiling fans in Henri’s place?”

  Or agree to marry me? “That’s what I’m talking about. You’re indispensable.”

  “Damn straight.” Discussing his adopted family clearly soothed him. “What about you, Katherine Adelaide? Are you named after anyone?”

  “My mom just liked the name Katherine. She still calls me that instead of Kate. Adelaide was my grandmother’s name. My dad’s mom, or mum as she used to say. I loved listening to her accent.”

  “British?”

  “Uh-huh. She was born in London and fell in love with my grandpa, who was an Air Force pilot. She came to this country after they were married. She willed me the teacups and teapot I use all the time.”

  “Does Millie know that?”

  “She does. We talked about it when I unpacked them.”

  “That’s what we get for spending so little time alone together. You don’t find out as much about people when you’re always in a group.”

  “Evidently not.”

  “Like for instance, I don’t know if you like root beer floats.”

  “Who doesn’t?”

  “Leo can’t stand ’em.”

  “How about you?”

  “I could go for one right now. On the dinosaur museum trip, we picked up treats from a little place with a drive-through window. They made the best root beer floats I’ve ever tasted. But that was years ago. I didn’t think to look for it on the way to Choteau. Too busy talking, I guess.”

  “A root beer float sounds great. I’ll help you look. What was it called?”

  “Teton Tasty Treats. It was painted robin’s-egg blue with an orange roof.”

  “That should be easy to find.”

  “It’s probably not there or I would have noticed it on the way over.”

  “Which side of the road?”

  “This side. We stopped on the return trip.”

  “Is that when you found out Leo hates root beer floats?”

  “Yep. Several of us ordered one but he got something else. I don’t remember what, but I sure remember him carrying on about the evils of combining vanilla ice cream and root beer.”

  “That’s funny. Does he still think that?”

  “Probably. I can’t remember the last time we fixed them at the bunkhouse. It’s not something we ordinarily—”

  “Rafe.” She pointed to a speck of orange in the distance. “Could that be the place?”

  “
Might be. Keep your eye on it.”

  The orange spot grew bigger and turned out to be a peaked roof topping a small blue building. “I think that’s it!” She so wanted it to be the same place. No wonder the root beer float had been the best one he’d ever tasted. He’d been on his first-ever family road trip.

  “I see cars, so they’re open.” He sounded cautiously optimistic as he put on his turn signal.

  “See? We could be in luck.”

  “The drive-through part looks the same.” He pulled into line behind three trucks and an SUV. “Might be new owners, though.”

  “I’m going to believe it’s the same owners and they still make terrific root beer floats.”

  He flashed her a smile. “Thanks for indulging me. We should still make it back by four-thirty.”

  “Even if it’s five, that’s okay. I’m glad you thought of this.”

  “I am, too. But in case they don’t make those floats anymore, we should order something while we’re here. What would you like as an alternative?”

  “I’m not going to choose an alternative. They’ll have floats.”

  He laughed. “Alrighty, then.” The line moved and he pulled forward. “Can’t see the order board yet.” Rolling down the window, he leaned out and peered around the SUV. “Ha! Root beer floats are listed!”

  “Told you.”

  “That you did.” The SUV moved up. Easing the truck next to the two-way speaker, he put in their order. Then he glanced at her. “There’s a shady spot around on the other side. Are you okay with parking there for a little while?”

  “Absolutely. Is that what you did the last time?”

  “That was Charley’s idea. He wanted a chance to relax and enjoy our drinks. I think he was also worried about us spilling in his brand-new truck.”

  “You all fit in one?”

  “No, we took Henri’s, too. Everybody piled out of both trucks and gathered around a picnic table they had over there. Could be gone or somebody might be using it.”

  “It’ll be there and vacant.”

  He grinned. “Okay.” He pulled up to the window, paid for the drinks and handed the tall cups to her before driving slowly around the building. “I’ll be damned. The picnic table is available.”

  “Told you.”

  “I don’t remember this being a thing before.”

  “What?”

  “You confidently stating the outcome you want. And being right, on top of it.”

  “I used to do that all the time before Enrique came along.”

  “Ah.”

  “I’m not sure why I did it just now. But it felt right.”

  “For the record, I like it.”

  “So do I.”

  Rafe parked in the shade of a stand of velvet green pine trees and aspens that had turned golden. Shutting off the engine, he came around to help her with the drinks.

  When she stepped down, a cool breeze made her shiver. “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to get my jacket.”

  “I’m fine. I’ll hold your drink.” He waited while she pulled her jacket out of the back seat and put it on. Retrieving her float, she walked with him over to a cement picnic table and benches anchored to a cement slab. The setup bore the mark of time, but somebody had cleaned the area recently.

  He gestured toward the table. “Pick your spot.”

  “I want to sit so I can see the trees. The green and gold are spectacular.” She settled down on the cool surface of the bench nearest to her.

  “I want to sit so I can see you.” He moved around to the other side. “Then I can tell if you really like this float or think it’s just average.”

  “I’m going to really like it.”

  “I hope so, but there’s a chance I oversold it.”

  “Nah, it’ll be great.” That cowboy sure could improve a view. He’d grabbed his hat when he’d climbed out of the truck and she’d dare anyone to find a man who looked better in a Stetson. His plaid Western shirt, a combination of brown, tan and burnt orange, highlighted the deep brown of his eyes.

  He lifted his cup in her direction. “Here’s to getting your sister to Johns Hopkins.”

  “I’ll drink to that.” She touched her cup to his before taking a sip. Creamy vanilla ice cream met the fizzy tang of root beer to create a party on her tongue. She swallowed. “Wow, this is very good. The ice cream must be homemade. Maybe the root beer, too.”

  “That’s what Henri thought.” He took a mouthful and his eyes lit up. After swallowing, he broke into a big grin. “Just like I remember. Maybe even better.”

  She savored the moment, ridiculously pleased that he’d been able to enjoy a root beer float like the one he’d shared with Charley, Henri and his brothers. “And here I thought this afternoon would be nothing but torture for you.”

  “Oh, it was back there in the courthouse. Filling out that document and knowing it meant virtually nothing was hell. But sitting here drinking root beer floats with you is heaven. It all balances out.”

  He had such a tender heart. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Don’t worry about me, Kate. I’ve got this.”

  “Good to know.” If only she believed him.

  Chapter Nine

  Chuck wagon stew, prepared by Jake and served on Friday night, had been a tradition at the bunkhouse for years. Now that most of the Brotherhood had moved out to live with their sweethearts, chuck wagon stew night had become even more important for keeping in touch.

  Rafe had never sought the limelight when the Brotherhood gathered, but tonight he couldn’t avoid it. Everybody wanted to talk about the wedding except Leo and Garrett, who knew all the details already and had made a quick trip into town for some reason or other.

  Jake and CJ were busy in the kitchen making stew and baking hot rolls when Rafe and Nick came in from barn duty. Jake paused the cooking action so he and CJ could get the info on the trip to the courthouse.

  Nick had already heard the story down at the barn, so he left to carry wood out to the fire pit. When Rafe got to the root beer float part of the story, CJ went bananas.

  “Teton Tasty Treats is still in business?” He looked as if he’d won the lottery. “I’m taking Isabel up there as soon as we get an afternoon free.”

  “We’re going where?” Isabel came in the back door with Millie. They’d been setting up places at the picnic table out by the fire pit.

  “You have never had a root beer float like the one they make at this place.” CJ turned to Jake. “Am I right?”

  “They were good, but we were young and impressionable. Maybe they’re not as epic as we remember.”

  “Yeah, they are,” Rafe said. “Even better. Ask Kate when she gets here.”

  Millie glanced at him. “She’s coming, right?”

  “She is.”

  “Good. If this situation brings her back to the gang, that’ll be a huge bonus.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “We’ll all work on it,” Jake said. “And we’ll schedule a group trip to Teton Tasty Treats soon, too. They might close for the winter so we’d better make it quick.”

  “That name sounds familiar,” Millie said. “Is that the place you guys went right before I was hired? On the trip to the dinosaur museum?”

  “That’s it,” Jake said. “We should do that, too. Recreate the entire trip, take everybody.”

  Rafe nudged back his hat. “It’s a great idea, but the Buckskin operation’s not the same as it was when we could leave Dusty in charge for a few hours. Now we have double the guest cabins and the raptor sanctuary to think about.”

  Jake was not to be deterred. “We’ll figure it out, somehow. I’ll talk to Henri.”

  “But enough about root beer floats and dinosaurs,” Millie said. “I want to know how the rest of it went. Rafe, are you okay? Is Kate okay?”

  “We got through it.” Rafe gave a quick recap.

  At the end of it, Millie nodded. “It sounds relatively painless. And you stopped off f
or root beer floats afterward. Good call.”

  “That took the sting out. Listen, I should go out and help Nick with the wood. I can’t remember if we need to split some or not.”

  “Hang on, bro.” Jake motioned to the front door as Matt and Lucy came in. “They’ll want an update.”

  While Jake and CJ went back to cooking and Millie and Isabel went outside to check on Nick, Rafe told his story for the third time. It was beginning to sound canned, but that couldn’t be helped. He’d just wrapped it up when Eva walked through the front door of the bunkhouse.

  She headed straight for the kitchen. “Hey, guys, hey, Rafe.” She tucked her peacock-blue hair behind her ears and smiled at him. “How’d it go today?”

  “We got ’er done.” It had become his stock phrase. “And this morning Henri picked up the rental clothes Nick and I need.”

  “Good. He was stressing about that. I told him Henri has it under control.”

  “Henri has everything under control,” Lucy said. “I knew she was good at rallying the troops but I didn’t understand the full scope of her powers until now.”

  Matt smiled. “She’s impressive in full sail. You don’t want to get in her way.”

  “That’s for sure.” Eva tucked her hands in the pockets of her jacket. “If there’s anything she hasn’t thought of, it’s probably not important. She asked Josette and me if we’d be willing to come early tomorrow to do hair and nails for Henri, Millie and Kate. Naturally we agreed.”

  Rafe blinked. “Why do they need their hair and nails done?”

  “It’s a wedding.”

  “I guess I can see the hair styling for Millie. Hers is long enough that you can do that thing where you pile it up on her head. But Kate and Henri have short hair and I’ve never seen polish on Kate’s nails.”

  “You will tomorrow. I didn’t fancy up Kate’s hair too much for Matt and Lucy’s wedding, but this time she’s the bride and I have some fun ideas, especially after Henri texted me a picture of Kate trying on her dress.”

  “You have a picture on your phone?” Lucy’s eyes gleamed. “I’d love to see it.”

  “You and Matt can, but Rafe can’t.” She pulled it out of her small purse and walked over to show Lucy the picture.