Cowboy Strong (Cowboy Up Book 5)

by Allison Merritt

  “Hey.” Nolan elbowed Austin. “I’m not a know-it-all. Just well informed about the things I like.” He looked her up and down. “I’d like to get to know you better.”

  Her cheeks burned. “Um, thank you. We made tentative plans to have lunch. Maybe you could join us.”

  “Can I persuade you away from boring old Austin? We could cozy up, have a little wine--”

  “All right. She’s not here for you to woo.” Austin cut in front of his brother. “Casey’s waiting.”

  As he spoke, Casey directed her pony toward them. She waved and a pretty smile burst across her face. “Hi, Natalie!”

  “Hey, sugar. Wow, that’s a great pony you’ve got there.” Glad to turn away from Nolan, she approached. “What’s his name?”

  “Tiny. It’s kind of silly, but that was what his name was before Daddy bought him. So we stuck with it. Don’t want him to get confused.”

  “Of course not.”

  Nolan folded his arms and frowned. He had one hip cocked and a sour expression.

  “Your dad said you’d borrowed his rope. Want to get started on technique after you cool Tiny down?”

  “Yeah, that’d be great. I mean, if you’re not too busy. Daddy said you have to start getting ready for your demonstration in a while.” She swung down from Tiny’s saddle. “We don’t want to bug you too much.”

  “We’ve got plenty of time. I’ll unload my horse while you cool Tiny.”

  “All right. C’mon, boy. Time to walk a little bit.” Casey led him back to the grassy patch.

  “You’re good with kids,” Nolan said.

  “I was one myself.” She slid her hands into her back pockets. “I guess I never wanted to grow up much. Horses were my thing when I was a kid and I never got over them.”

  “You look pretty grown up to me.” He winked at her.

  “Really?” Austin shook his head. “Let her get her horse out. Better yet, you do it for her. Try to be a gentleman.”

  “You’re literally no fun,” Nolan muttered. “I’ll get the horse for you, Natalie. Since dull drawers here can’t be bothered.”

  Wow, what a difference in personalities between the brothers. Nolan, his hair a bit darker, his face a bit fuller, wasn’t any kind of eyesore, but he lacked something that Austin had… that dark, broody nature that made some men dangerous to a woman’s heart.

  Ah, well. She wasn’t looking for a commitment. If she could be friends with Austin, that would suit her just fine.

  “Sorry about my brother. He can be...abrasive.” Austin met her gaze. “But he’s one of the best heelers I’ve ever team roped with.”

  “He’s fine. I am a beautiful woman, after all.” She grinned. “Is roping a family tradition?”

  He paused a moment before answering. His gaze roamed over her face, then he looked away. “Yeah. We learned from our granddad, who learned from his dad. Our dad ran a dairy until he died. He was never much for rodeo, but he was supportive, when he could be there.”

  “Wow, that’s a lot of generations of cowboying. How wonderful.” She glanced toward Casey. “Do you wish you had a son to pass the tradition down to?”

  For a moment, his face turned stony. “Casey’s enough. She’s good with horses. I’m proud of her.”

  “I didn’t mean to insult you. You should be proud of her. She seems like a great kid to have around. Life can get lonely on the road. It’s good that you two have each other.” Don’t pry about Casey’s mother. Keep your mouth shut. “Do you have sisters too, or is it all boys in the family?”

  “One sister. She’s married. Lives in Oklahoma City. She didn’t fancy cowboying much. Married an insurance salesman. We don’t see her very often. Sometimes at Christmas if she feels like putting us up.” He shrugged. “I see Nolan more than anyone else. He gets on my nerves, but I think that’s what brothers are for.”

  “It’s just me. My parents live in Big Cabin still. They were a little older when I came along, but I was their princess. I wish I’d had someone to annoy when I was a kid. Or heck, even now.” She stuck her hands in her pockets. “That’s why I have to be so aggressive with my friendships. Who else is going to pay attention to me?”

  His face relaxed. “It’s a pleasure knowing you. I like about anyone who’s good to my girl.”

  “Well, she makes that easy.”

  Nolan led Moose to them. “He’s a pretty horse. Good form.”

  “He ought to be. He cost enough money.” She scratched behind his ear. “Like I said, I was the princess, so I got whatever I wanted.”

  “I can’t wait to see him in action. This should be good.” Nolan stroked a hand down Moose’s neck. “I hear good things about you two in the WPRA.”

  “Aww, that means you googled us?” She grinned at him over Moose’s neck. “You never heard my name before Austin told you about me, did you?”

  Nolan had the grace to flush. “Okay, no. I don’t follow it that closely.” He jerked his thumb at Austin. “He does, a little more, because of Casey. When she gets old enough, he wants her to join.”

  “He should want her to. Good for him. I’ll get my rope and show Casey some things. Then I want lunch.”

  Nolan passed Moose’s lead rope to Austin, then went to set up his roping dummy. The rope Austin had loaned his daughter hung from a hook on the back of his horse trailer.

  She picked it up. A nice header rope, light and soft. Probably the best one for Casey to learn with. “Does she have a glove? She’ll need one.”

  Austin shook his head. “The best I can do is give her one of mine. It’ll be way too big.”

  “I might have something smaller she can have.” She jogged back to her truck. After rummaging in the glovebox, she found a leather glove that would be better than nothing.

  Casey waited by Austin, clutching the rope in her little hands. She smiled hopefully when Natalie handed her the glove.

  “I want to get really good. Like you and Daddy. I want to compete like you guys someday. I promise to practice a lot.”

  “If you practice that much, you could be better than both of us put together.” She just wanted to hug Casey. “Okay, let’s go stand by that dummy. No, not your Uncle Nolan.”

  She laughed at Casey’s shocked expression.

  Austin’s mouth twitched as he tried not to smile while Nolan just shook his head.

  When she was a girl, older than Casey by a few years, she’d been into barrel racing. But she’d watched Eddie Hale rope and begged him to teach her. Barrel racing was still an important part of the WPRA as the sanctioned event, but she was glad they’d included other events as well.

  They worked at it for about thirty minutes before Austin interrupted.

  “If we’re going to grab lunch, we’d better do it now so Natalie has plenty of time to get Moose warmed up.”

  She cut in before Casey could. “Aww, Dad, we were just getting going good.”

  The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. “Well, maybe later Nolan can help her. You’ve got to focus on your demonstration. A full stomach will help.”

  “I could eat a horse--if I didn’t like them so much. Don’t tell Moose I said that.” She winked at Casey. “C’mon, kiddo. Let’s help your dad and uncle put stuff away.”

  Twenty minutes later, they were sitting in a booth at a barbeque joint, Natalie seated beside Casey while the brothers shared a bench seat. Casey excused herself to wash her hands.

  Nolan watched her walk away, then stared at Austin.

  “What?” Austin laid down his menu.

  “You talked to Alaina yet?”

  “No. I saw her pull in last night, but I doubt she noticed us.” He looked pointedly at Natalie, then back at Nolan. “Later, okay?”

  “Tell her to cut you a big, fat check because her daughter needs some new clothes. And probably an eye exam, as many times as she missed that dummy.” Nolan jabbed at the ice cubes in his water glass with the straw. He met Natalie’s gaze. “She’s a louse.”

  “Um
…” Unsure where to go from there, Natalie hid behind her menu.

  “That’s why I don’t want to talk about her,” Austin muttered.

  “It’s her kid. She ought to take care of her.”

  “I’m not disagreeing, but it’s better if I call Alaina’s mother. She doesn’t complain as much when I need something for Casey.”

  “Are you divorced?” Natalie peered over the top of her menu.

  “No. We were never married. She gave up all her rights to Casey when Casey was a few months old. It’s a long story.” Austin looked exhausted from explaining that much.

  “I don’t mean to pry.”

  “You ever meet her?” Nolan’s mouth pinched.

  “No, not yet.”

  “Do yourself a favor and don’t. She’s toxic.”

  “Bad blood, huh?” Natalie tried to smile, but the twin expressions of dislike on the brothers’ faces made her squirm on the hard bench. “We should change the subject before Casey comes back.”

  “You really think Casey needs another eye exam?” Austin’s displeasure turned to worry. “We just bought her new glasses last summer…”

  Nolan’s shoulders rolled in a shrug. “How the hell do I know? I’m not an eye doctor. But she was squinting a lot. Did it look like she was squinting to you, Natalie?”

  “I didn’t really notice, but eye health is nothing to ignore.” From the way Austin’s motorhome looked, money might be an issue when it came to getting Casey new glasses. They didn’t seem flat broke, but like they managed a tight budget.

  “Great. Guess I’ll see about getting her an appointment.” Austin tapped his fingers on his menu.

  “Make sure you call up Mama Moneybags before you do it. If Alaina won’t pay, her mother can.”

  “Don’t want to talk about it,” Austin muttered.

  “Fine.”

  “Good.”

  “Great.”

  “It’s settled.”

  “Sure.”

  Casey came back from the restroom and slid in beside Natalie. “I want chicken strips, please, Daddy.”

  “Sure, Princess. Whatever you want.” Austin smiled at her. “With honey mustard?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Done.”

  The waitress made her way over, and they placed their orders. Nolan played footsy with Natalie until she stomped on the toe of his boot.

  He jumped and pulled his boot back in a hurry. Austin glared at him while Natalie smiled in triumph.

  “You have a girlfriend.” Austin narrowed his blue eyes at his brother.

  “She might be into a three-way.” Nolan grinned.

  “I’m definitely not,” Natalie waved her hands in front of her.

  “What’s a three-way?” Casey blinked at her uncle, brows drawn together.

  “Your uncle is a dummy. Don’t listen to him.” Austin fiddled with the salt shaker. “He’s just teasing.”

  “But what--”

  Natalie jumped in. “So you guys have a couple of rides this week with the team roping. Austin does saddle broncs. Do you do other events, Nolan?”

  “I bulldog a little bit. Not really in it for the points. Austin’s the family all-around cowboy. I can do everything though. Put me on an animal’s back, I’ll stick.” He grinned again, cocky as a rooster in the barnyard.

  “Like a burr.” Austin looked at the ceiling, pretending innocence as Nolan elbowed him.

  Casey looked at Natalie. “Uncle Nolan and Daddy like to tease. I wish I had a brother or a sister.”

  “I’m an only child too. It has its benefits, but I would have liked a sibling. I know just what you mean.”

  Nolan wagged his finger at his niece. “Well, you have to get your dad out of the motorhome and out of the arena long enough for him to date someone, Case. He’s never going to meet a decent woman unless you fix him up.”

  “Maybe you could date Natalie, Daddy.” She gestured at Natalie. “She’s nice.”

  Natalie’s face burned. “Oh, sweetie, that’s a great idea, but, um, with the end of the season coming up, who has time for dating? We’ve got to focus on earning points for the Finals and all.”

  Austin looked hurt. “You wouldn’t date me?”

  Flustered, she opened and closed her mouth before she found her words. “I didn’t say that. I just--”

  “Then you would date me?”

  “Yeah, date him, Natalie,” Casey urged.

  Austin laughed. “I’m teasing. Don’t get all worked up.”

  “Austin hasn’t been on a date in years. He’d probably die of shock if he took a lady out.” Nolan elbowed him again. “His pecker’s probably dried up like an old corncob.”

  Austin buried his face in his hand. “My pecker, my business. Keep a better eye on yours.”

  “Oh, my goodness.” She wasn’t a prude by any means, but this could hardly be appropriate conversation in front of a child. “Can I suggest another subject change?”

  At least Austin seemed to have loosened up a little. He smiled more around his brother. Seemed less worried until Nolan brought up Alaina or her parents. The poor guy must have a world of trouble on his shoulders as he tried to raise his daughter by himself.

  Alaina sounded like a bitch. Natalie tried not to judge people until she met them for herself, but at this rate, she wasn’t even sure she wanted to meet Alaina.

  The trouble with broody guys was that every girl thought maybe they could be the one to change him. A little part of her wanted to know if she could be the one to make him smile. A dangerous thought. She did have the National Finals to worry about. Dating was something she did for fun, not because she was hunting a husband.

  While Austin and Nolan talked about where they stood in the rankings and who they expected to show up for the team roping event, her mind wandered. What if she could get Austin talked into a date? Nothing serious, just a little fun to loosen him up? He looked like he could use it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

  “Hey, Austin?”

  “Yeah?” He smiled a little at her.

  “Want to go out on a date with me after my demo?”

  He leaned back a little. “Why?”

  Nolan rolled his eyes. “Oh, nice. Yes, he wants to go out with you.”

  Austin cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah. That’d be great, Natalie. If you want to.”

  If Nolan kept rolling his eyes, they were going to fall out. “Smooth.”

  She chose to ignore his interjections. “Good. Tonight, at seven?”

  “That’s...sure, that’s fine if Nolan doesn’t mind hanging out with Casey.”

  “Can we have pizza, Uncle Nolan?” Casey batted her eyelashes. “Please?”

  “It’s a date, kiddo.” Nolan winked at her. “Maybe your dad will come back less cranky than usual since a pretty lady is taking him out.”

  Natalie smiled, pleased that Austin agreed. Even if it was just to get Nolan off his back about dating. “A casual date. No need to get fancy. I’m a simple girl.”

  “Okay.” Austin lowered his eyes, suddenly shy. “Sounds good.”

  Despite his quietness, excitement sparked in Natalie’s stomach.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Austin fiddled nervously with his watch as he stood outside the motorhome. Natalie had offered to pick him up in her truck so Nolan could stay behind with Casey. He’d quickly wrangled the keys to Nolan’s truck. Even if he hadn’t dated in over eight years, he couldn’t imagine letting a woman pick him up, no matter how social norms had changed.

  At two minutes to seven, she pulled up and waved.

  He held up the keys to Nolan’s pickup.

  She shrugged, then climbed out. “You have to be in control, huh? Not always a bad thing when it comes to relationships--as long as there’s a healthy dose for both parties.” Natalie, in dark jeans, a crisp western shirt, and her auburn hair in loose waves, strolled the distance between the two vehicles like a beauty queen. Shimmery blue eyeshadow highlighted her eyes.

  “You
look nice.” It popped out before he had time to give his words much thought. “Real pretty.”

  “Aww, that’s sweet. You’re very handsome too. Where are Casey and Nolan?”

  “I told them to beat it until you got here. They’re off visiting with some other folks we know. I didn’t need her hovering like a worried mother hen.”

  “Would she?”

  “I don’t know. It’s never come up before. I don’t date. Not even casually. I mean, yeah, a couple of one-night stands here and there when she was pretty small, but I’ve never brought a woman home to meet her.” God, this was awkward. “I don’t have a lot of time between rodeos and trying to keep up to date with her homeschooling. I’m terrified she won’t meet the educational requirements and the board will force me to put her in a regular school. Not because she’s done anything wrong. Casey’s quick as a whip. It’d be my fault.”

  “Austin.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Take a deep breath. I’m sure you’re doing fine.” She patted his arm. “It’s obvious that she’s bright. You’re so dedicated to her. It’s wonderful.”

  “Someone has to be.” He couldn’t meet her gaze. “Guess you can tell from everything that was said that Alaina isn’t much of a parent. She prefers people not to know that Casey is hers.”

  “It wouldn’t look good for Miss Rodeo USA to be a single mother, would it?” She sounded a little disgusted.

  “No.” Bitterness burned through him. “That’s why she’s still single too. We were just kids when Casey was born, too young to be parents, but I did what I had to do. She dreamed of being popular and representing rodeo her way. So it’s up to me to give Casey what she needs. Alaina’s parents are helpful, when they have a mind to be. At least they’re willing to acknowledge her existence.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what kind of difficulties the situation brings you. How selfish of Alaina. She’s missing out on not knowing Casey. But then, she doesn’t really deserve to, does she?”

  “No. Not even a little bit, except that Casey is curious about her.” He sighed. “Sorry to dish on all the family drama. I’m a great date.”

  “You’re fine.” She tucked her arm through his. “Let’s get something to eat. I’m starved.”