Best of Cowboys Bundle

by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Barbara White Daille, Judy Christenberry, Christine Wenger, Shirley Rogers, Crystal Green, Nina Bruhns, Candance Schuler, Carole Mortimer

  Her boss couldn’t believe it when she told him she was handing in her two weeks’ notice. He ranted and raved and then begged her to stay. In the end, he wished her well, wrote her a reference so flattering it sounded as if she had written it herself, and gave her an extra two weeks’ severance pay “because she deserved it.” Her mother and father couldn’t believe it when she told them she was moving to Wardman’s Hollow, permanently. They both tried to talk her out of it. Her father told her she was being too impetuous—something she had never been before. Her mother told her to wait a few weeks, to let Chay make the first move, to think of what she was doing, what she was giving up. But Dana couldn’t wait. Deep in her heart, she knew it was the right thing to do.

  She spent the next two weeks sorting through her belongings, putting them into two piles—things she was taking, things she was leaving behind. She called the utility companies and told them she was moving, canceled the newspaper, and did the hundred and one other things that had to be taken care of.

  Her last morning at home, she packed up everything she was taking with her, hauled the rest of it to the Goodwill, told her parents she would see them at Christmas, then jumped in her car and headed back to Wardman’s Hollow.

  It was late Sunday night when she reached the house nestled in the hills. For a moment, she sat in the car, looking up at the house. Home, she thought, this was home now.

  Bags in hand, she paused on the top step of the front porch to look at the sky. The night was breathtakingly clear. The Milky Way stretched overhead like a pathway through the heavens. Millions of stars winked at her. A bright yellow moon hung low in the sky.

  Going inside, her first thought was to call Chay and tell him she was back, but then she decided to wait. This wasn’t something that should be said in a telephone call. She wanted to see his face when she told him she loved him, wanted to see his eyes.

  Unable to sit still, she went through the house, removing the dustcovers from the furniture. Going into the bedroom, she put her clothes away, then stowed her suitcases in the back of the closet. Whatever happened, she wouldn’t be needing them again right away.

  Later, she wandered through the house, deciding where to put her unicorn collection, the painting she had bought from an art gallery last year. It was her favorite piece, and now she knew why. It depicted a warrior astride a big black horse, a warrior who looked remarkably like Chay. She hung the picture over the fireplace, found herself looking at it over and over again as she moved through the house.

  It was only later, lying in bed, that doubts assailed her.

  What if she was wrong?

  What if he didn’t love her the way she loved him?

  Monday morning Chay sat in the kitchen, a mug of coffee cupped in his hands as he watched Anna Mae teach Ashley how to make a pumpkin pie. Ashley should have been at school, but she’d caught the sniffles over the weekend and he’d decided to let her stay home one more day. It touched a chord deep within him to hear his sister laugh at something Anna Mae said. He had let Ashley stay home from school the week following the funeral and then, hoping to cheer her up, he had invited the Three Musketeers over for the weekend. It had done Ashley a world of good to spend time with her friends and her mother.

  Ashley had asked her mother to stay on at the ranch, but Jillian had refused. Her life was in Salt Lake with her husband, she’d said, but Ashley was more than welcome to come and stay with her. Chay had been a little surprised when Ashley decided to stay on at the ranch. But then, maybe it wasn’t such a surprise. Ashley had never cared for Jillian’s husband.

  Chay blew out a sigh. It wasn’t easy, running the ranch, taking care of the books, making sure the cowhands were doing their jobs, keeping an eye on his sister…He grinned inwardly. His sister. Word of his relationship to Ashley and Big John had spread through Wardman’s Hollow like wildfire. Jillian and his mother had ordered Big John’s headstone and now it was carved in white marble for all the world to see:

  John Matthew Wardman, beloved father of Ashley Marie and Chayton Lone Elk.

  The people in town and at the ranch looked at him differently now. He wasn’t just one of Big John’s hired hands. He was half owner of one of the biggest cattle ranches in this part of the country. Yes, people looked at him differently, and he wasn’t sure he liked it. He was still the same, yet even as the thought crossed his mind, he knew he wasn’t. He had responsibilities now. Sometimes he felt as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, felt as if everyone was watching him, waiting for him to fail. He had been a cowhand all his life. Now, suddenly, he was responsible for the success or failure of a ranch that had prospered for generations.

  He stared into the mug cradled in his hands as if he could see the ranch’s future in the coffee cooling inside.

  Muttering an oath, he set the cup on the table. He wasn’t really worried about the ranch. He wasn’t worried about Ashley. And he didn’t give a hoot in hell about what the cowhands or the people in town thought of him. The only thing he was worried about was Dana and whether they had a future together. Well, he had waited long enough to find out. Next week he was driving down to Ashton Falls to see Dana. He was going to tell her how he felt, ask her to give them a chance. If he had to, he’d go down on his knees and beg, though he hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

  He shook his head. He hadn’t been this infatuated with a woman since he fell head over heels for his sixth-grade teacher and even that didn’t compare to this. He had never known a woman like Dana, couldn’t forget the awareness that sizzled between them whenever they touched. Though he had only known her a few short weeks, she had carved a place for herself in his life and in his heart that he knew no other woman would ever be able to fill. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, couldn’t stop wanting her. It was more than mere desire, more than just physical hunger. He knew what that felt like, and what he felt for Dana was as far from lust as the sun from the moon.

  He swore under his breath. He couldn’t explain his attraction for her any more than he could ignore it. He only knew he felt incomplete without her.

  Pushing away from the table, he grabbed his hat off the rack and left the house.

  Ten minutes later, he was riding toward her house in the hills, drawn by a sudden need to walk the land where she had walked.

  Dana glanced at the clock, willing the hands to move. She had been up for hours, unable to sleep, unable to think of anything but seeing Chay again. She glanced at the clock for what must have been the tenth time in as many minutes. Eleven-fifteen. She had been about to leave the house when she realized that Chay would be at work by now, probably out on the range somewhere, branding cattle or whatever cowboys did during the day. Why hadn’t she thought of that sooner? She frowned. Maybe he didn’t do cowboy work now that he owned half the ranch.

  Whatever he was doing, she wouldn’t be able to see him until tonight.

  She stamped her foot in frustration. How was she supposed to wait until then? What if she lost her nerve?

  Feeling as though the walls were closing in on her, she pulled on a heavy jacket and a pair of gloves and went out onto the front porch. She paced back and forth for several minutes, then dropped into the porch rocker. She couldn’t just sit here all day. Maybe she would drive into town and pick up some groceries or take in a movie. Or buy a new dress. Yes, a new dress to wear for Chay, something that would knock his boots off!

  She was about to go into the house when Chay emerged from the trees.

  She stopped, frozen in place at the sight of him. He sat tall and straight in the saddle, his black hat pulled low over his eyes, his broad shoulders filling out the heavy sheepskin jacket he wore. Her heart quickened as she drank in the sight of him. He was here, she thought, and then wondered what he was doing there. Had someone told him she had returned? But that was impossible. No one knew she was here except her parents and they certainly wouldn’t have called to tell him.

  Excitement fluttered in her stomach as h
e reined his horse to a halt in front of the porch. He pushed his hat back on his head, then sat there, looking up at her. It was hard to think, hard to breathe, with his dark gaze fixed on her face, and then he dismounted in a single fluid movement.

  He was here. Every fiber of her being, every cell in her body, yearned for him. She hardly knew the man, and yet, in some ways, she felt as if she had known him all her life. She had been attracted to him from the first, drawn to him in ways she had never been drawn to any other man she had ever met.

  He ground-reined his horse, swung out of the saddle, vaulted the porch rail, lifted her from the rocker and kissed her.

  Her eyelids fluttered down, her senses reeling with his nearness, the heat of his kiss, the shelter of his arms around her. How had she ever thought she could live without him? He was as necessary as the very air that she breathed.

  She whimpered in protest when he took his mouth from hers.

  “Be quiet,” he admonished, and then he was kissing her again, stealing the strength from her legs so that she leaned against him, her arms tight around his waist, her body seeking to be closer to his, though she was certain that was impossible.

  She gazed up at him when he broke the kiss.

  His gaze trapped hers, his eyes dark and intense upon her face. He was holding her so tight, she could almost feel the beat of his heart. “We belong together, Dana. I know it. I can feel it.”

  She started to say she agreed, but Chay put his hand over her mouth, stilling her words. Was he perhaps afraid that she might disagree?

  “Search your heart,” he went on. “You know it’s true.”

  Joy filled her heart, soared through her soul. She removed his hand from her mouth. “Of course I know it’s true,” she said, laughing. “Why do you think I came back?”

  “I don’t know. Why did you come back?”

  “To tell you that I love you.”

  He blinked at her. “You do?”

  She nodded.

  “You’re sure? We hardly know each other.”

  She frowned at him. “Wait a minute. Didn’t you just say we belonged together?”

  “Yeah, but I thought you’d argue with me. I was prepared to drag you back to the Bar W and lock you in my bedroom until you agreed that I was right.” He laughed sheepishly. “Guess I wasn’t prepared for you to give in so quickly.”

  “I wasn’t, either, but the minute I got back to Ashton Falls, I knew leaving here had been a mistake. I started to write you a letter, but I threw it away. Then I thought I’d call, but…” She shrugged. “I wanted to see your face when I told you. And if it turned out that you felt the same way, I wanted to see your face when you told me you loved me. Do you love me, Chay?”

  “With all my heart.”

  “Say it.”

  “I love you, Dana. I’ll love you as long as I live. I can’t promise that I’ll never hurt you or that I won’t let you down once in a while, but I’ll never betray you and I’ll never leave you. I swear it on all I hold dear.”

  “I believe you.”

  “Then you’ll marry me?”

  “Yes, any day you say, anywhere you say.”

  He let out a war whoop that would have sent shivers down a settler’s spine. It sent shivers down her spine, too, shivers of delight. And then he swept her into his arms again, his mouth claiming hers, branding her as his for all time.

  Chapter Seventeen

  B etween planning the wedding and spending as much time as she could with Chay, the next few weeks passed quickly. Dana’s parents were less than thrilled to learn that their daughter was going to marry a man she had known such a short time. Even the fact that he owned half of the biggest cattle ranch in Montana couldn’t mollify her father. Her mother tried, in a nice way, to convince Dana to wait a year, six months at the least, “just to make sure, dear.”

  Dana agreed that she had only known Chay a short time but as someone had once said, hearts weren’t concerned with clocks or calendars. Besides, she knew couples who had dated for two years or more who ended up divorced. A long courtship didn’t ensure a lasting marriage. And she knew in her heart of hearts that she was doing the right thing. For the first time in her life, she had no doubts, no second thoughts, and though she listened politely and patiently to her parents’ well-meant advice, she was too much in love to be swayed by their disapproval. They had agreed to be there, and that was all that mattered.

  Chay wanted to be married before Christmas so that they could spend it together as man and wife, and Dana had agreed. They set the date for the week before Christmas. Her mother, still hoping to change Dana’s mind, had taken the opportunity to suggest that they might want to wait until spring, reminding Dana that Chay had just buried his father and some might consider it unseemly, maybe even disrespectful, for Chay to marry so soon, but Chay had brushed her mother’s concerns aside. He didn’t want to wait, and neither did Dana, but they both agreed that a small wedding, with just family and a few close friends, would be appropriate, considering the circumstances.

  One Saturday afternoon, Dana picked Ashley up at the ranch and they went shopping for Dana’s wedding dress. Ashley had been rather subdued on the ride to town, but once Dana started trying on dresses, Ashley got into the spirit of it. She started bringing in the most outrageous dresses for Dana to try on and before long, they were both laughing hysterically.

  A short time later, the saleslady brought in a dress with a square neck and a fitted bodice. It had a slim skirt that was longer in the back than in the front. They both knew it was the right one when Dana tried it on.

  “Wait until Chay sees it,” Ashley said. “You’ll knock his socks off.”

  Dana smiled. “That’s what I had in mind.”

  “You love him, don’t you?”

  “Well, I hope so. I’m marrying the man.”

  “Do you think Chay’s right about Nick?”

  “Yes, I do. Why don’t you give Brandon a chance?”

  Ashley shrugged. “We’ve known each other for years. Do you think it’s possible to know someone too well?”

  “No. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll fall in love a thousand times before you meet Mr. Right.”

  Ashley rolled her eyes. “That’s what Chay says, too.”

  “Well, if two people tell you you’re sick, lie down.”

  “What?”

  “Never mind. Help me out of this dress and I’ll buy you lunch.”

  A short time later they were seated in a small café sipping iced tea. It was a cozy place. Red-and-white checked cloths covered the tables. Matching curtains hung at the windows. There were framed pictures of country singers on the wall, along with old-fashioned signs and posters.

  “I still can’t believe that no one ever told me Chay was my brother,” Ashley remarked.

  “It must have been hard for you, finding out the way you did.”

  “Yeah. I’m glad, though. I’ve been pretending that he was my brother ever since I was a little girl.”

  Dana smiled. “He told me how you were always following him around. I always wished I’d had a big brother. It’s lonesome, being an only child. I didn’t mind so much when I was little. It was kind of fun, getting all the attention and all the presents. My folks always made a big fuss over me, but now I really wish I had some brothers and sisters.”

  “I’m glad you’re marrying Chay. You don’t think he’ll send me away to school after you get married, do you?”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “I don’t know.” Ashley bit down on her lower lip. “With you here, he might not want me around anymore.”

  “Don’t be silly! He loves you very much.”

  “You won’t mind having me there, will you?”

  “Of course not! Didn’t I just tell you I wished I had a sister?”

  Ashley looked relieved. “Are you nervous about getting married?”

  “A little.”

  “Is Chay…never mind.”

  “Is Chay what?” Dan
a asked, then gasped. “Ashley!”

  “Well, is he?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You’ve never slept with him?”

  Dana shook her head, unable to believe she was having this conversation with a sixteen-year-old girl. A girl who probably knew more about the matter than she did. It was embarrassing.

  “What about that other guy? The one you were engaged to before?”

  “No, never. And aren’t I glad now?”

  “Are you still—” Ashley leaned forward and lowered her voice “—a virgin?”

  Dana nodded, wondering why she suddenly felt as if she was confessing to something unnatural.

  Ashley shook her head. “I don’t believe it.”

  “Does that mean…you and Nick haven’t…have you?” Dana asked, dreading the answer.

  “No. He wanted to, but…well, I just wasn’t ready.”

  Dana breathed a sigh of relief.

  “I guess that’s why I like Brandon so much,” Ashley said. “He doesn’t pressure me. Of course, he wants to do it, too, so he’s not that much different than Nick.”

  “They all want to,” Dana said with a grin. “But smart girls, especially teenage girls, wait. It’s a precious gift, you know, and shouldn’t be given away. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back, so you need to be sure, Ashley, really sure.”

  Dana blew out a sigh, then reached for her drink. She was glad beyond measure that she hadn’t given in to Rick. What a huge mistake that would have been!

  “I guess you’re right,” Ashley said. “I never really thought of it that way. It seems like most of the girls in my class have gone all the way at least once. Most of them weren’t that impressed, and I know a lot of them were sorry, afterward.”

  “It doesn’t mean anything if there’s no love between the man and the woman,” Dana said. “My mom told me that when I was about your age. It’s something I never forgot.”