Cowboy Strong (Cowboy Up Book 5)

by Allison Merritt

  He had to find her and tell her so.

  “Take me to her house, please.” It wasn’t a request.

  “You think that’s a good idea?” Even as he asked, Wade stood and grabbed their trash from the table.

  “I do,” Waylon said quietly. He’d deal with his brother later, when Marin wasn’t within hearing range because the language would be salty.

  “Let’s go,” Wade said.

  In silence, they drove to Taylor’s house. Waylon jumped out before the truck came to a complete stop and slammed the door.

  Without a wave, or looking back, he walked to the door. The place was darker than midnight in the mountains. Not even a glimmer came from inside. But, he knew she was there. He could feel her.

  “Taylor, open up. I know you’re here.” He pounded on the door.

  No response.

  He tried the doorknob. Locked tight.

  She was hiding from him. That could only mean one thing—she cared about him. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t care what his dumbass brother had said. He’d love to go punch Wade in the mouth, but he’d save that pleasure for later. Right now, he wanted to talk to Taylor. Tell her he and Logan were over. He’d already told her, but he wanted to make sure she understood what they’d done wasn’t just a one-night-rodeo for him.

  “Taylor, let me in.” He hit the door with his fist.

  The door opened a fraction. “Go away, Waylon.”

  His heart pounded so hard he figured she could hear it. “I need to talk to you.”

  “About what, Waylon?”

  He could tell she’d been crying. “Logan. You. Me.”

  “Why?” Her voice was muffled behind the door.

  “Because my brother’s a dick.”

  After a moment more of silence, she opened the door. Her face was red and puffy. “We can agree on that at least.”

  His heart twisted at the pain on her pretty face. “May I come in?”

  The door creaked open one inch at a time. After it opened about half a foot, she waved him in. She faced him with arms crossed over her breasts. “Have your say, then hit the road, Jack.”

  “What Wade said, it’s not true.” He sighed and removed his Stetson. “Well, some of it. Logan was my first everything. Girlfriend. Lover.” He paused when she flinched. “I’ll always care about her, but we’re over.”

  “Because she left town. If she came back—”

  “We’d still be over,” he said. “Listen, Taylor. We were complacent. Logan recognized it first, but she was right. We’ll always love each other, but we’re not in love anymore. My family doesn’t want to admit it because if I married Logan, we would merge several hundred thousand acres of land. It would benefit both our families, but I don’t want to marry for convenience. Neither does Logan.”

  Her stance softened a fraction. “Really? That sounds so medieval.”

  “In a way, I guess,” he admitted.

  “I’m your rebound fling then.” Bitterness filled her voice.

  “You’re not.” He took a step toward her, then stopped when she held up a hand.

  “Don’t lie to me, Waylon. I can deal with being a one-night-fling, but I can’t stand being lied to. Just tell me the truth and we’ll part friends.” Her shaky voice belied her brave words.

  He ran a hand over his head. “Look. I didn’t go to my brother’s wedding looking to hook up with a horny bridesmaid I saw you and was instantly intrigued. I wanted to get to know the woman behind the beautiful face. I could blame too much booze, but the truth is sleeping with you wasn’t something I was going to say no to, drunk or sober. I’m glad it happened.” He took another step. “And I won’t deny wanting to do it again.”

  She lifted her chin. “If you came here for another hookup—”

  He moved close, slipped a hand behind her neck and kissed her hard.

  CHAPTER SIX

  For the second day in a row, Taylor woke up alone after she’d spent the night in Waylon’s arms. The scent of dark, hot coffee let her know he was in the house, though. She smiled and stretched.

  She could get used to this.

  She banished the thought immediately because she knew such ideas were dangerous. This was a fling. Mutual. Enjoyable. But no more. With a sigh, she headed for the shower.

  After dressing, Taylor hurried downstairs to find Waylon. He was in the kitchen, drinking coffee, reading the paper. He looked up with a smile that made her pulse leap. “Morning.”

  “Hi. Is that coffee I smell?”

  “Yep. Want breakfast?” He indicated his empty plate. “I already ate. Too hungry to wait.”

  “I usually only have an egg or a piece of toast,” she told him as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

  “That’s not much.”

  “It’s enough.” Were they talking about food here? Because it felt like they weren’t.

  “What do you have planned today?” He rose and refilled his cup.

  “I should begin editing the wedding pictures for Will and Lily. Why?” She added non-dairy creamer to her coffee and stirred.

  “I want to talk to Wade about expanding the ranch down here.” He sounded casual, but Taylor almost dropped her cup.

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “Not at all. I’ve given it a lot of thought in the last couple of days.” He held up the paper. “I’ve been looking this morning, and there are a couple of places that would be a good addition to the ranch.”

  “Why?”

  He eyed her over his cup. “Why add to the ranch?” At her nod, he continued. “Montana was ravaged by wildfires this year. A lot of the ranch burned down. We’re short on winter feed and we’re going to have to cut our herds way down. If we had another ranch down here it would give us a backup plan. Will already lives here and he might be interested in helping out. I’m thinking I could relocate.” His eyes twinkled.

  Taylor could barely breathe. “Are you serious about this?”

  “Couldn’t be more serious if I tried,” he said. “I’m going to go talk to Wade, and see what he says, then I thought we could drive around afternoon and take a look at a few places. You game?”

  “I’d love to.” She forced herself to stay calm. This was a bunch of maybes. Nothing more than chatter. And just because he might move here it didn’t mean anything official was happening. “While you’re talking to Wade, I’ll work on the wedding DVD.”

  He tossed the last of his coffee into the sink. “I’ll be back by noon. I’ll buy you lunch and then we’ll look at ranches. Deal?”

  She nodded, walked across the room and kissed him. “Deal.”

  ~*~

  Waylon found his brother at Marin’s house—actually their grandmother’s place—helping Marin at her fruit stand out front. In addition to the apples they’d harvested, she had late summer vegetables for sale. Waylon picked up an apple and tossed it from hand-to-hand.

  “Can I talk to you for a bit, WAd?”

  He looked at him with a question in his eyes. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. I have an idea I want to talk to you about.”

  “Sounds serious.” Wade smiled at Marin. “You want a drink? I’ll walk my brother up to the house while we chat.”

  “I’m good.” She smiled warmly at him, then Waylon. “How’s Taylor?”

  “Fine.” He glanced at Wade, who had the grace to flinch.

  “You found her?” Marin pressed.

  “She was home,” Waylon said. “She let me in after a bit of coaxing.”

  “And you spent the night the night.” Wade sounded neutral, not judgmental.

  “I did.” Waylon’s voice cooled. “And I plan to spend a whole bunch more if things work out the way I hope they do.”

  “I’m listening.”

  Together, they walked toward the house. Yellow, orange and red leaves from aspen trees scattered across the yard, crunching underfoot as they strolled.

  Inside, Wade poured them both a cup of hot apple cider from a teapot on the stove. Wa
de tasted his, then spoke. “What’s on your mind?”

  Waylon drew a deep breath. “I’m thinking we need a piece of property down here.”

  To his surprise, Wade didn’t instantly shoot him down. “Why?”

  Waylon outlined his idea of having a Colorado ranch, a backup to their place in Montana that had suffered so much loss in the wildfires. Finally, he stopped. “What do you think?”

  Wade nodded. “I think it’s a sound idea, but is this about a girl?”

  Waylon opened his mouth to deny it, then sighed. “Maybe a little.”

  “Running away from one, or to another?” Leave it to Wade to cut to the chase. “You’re talking about a major life change, not to mention a whole lot of dollars here.”

  “I know.” Waylon avoided the question about his love life. “I’ve thought about this a lot. It just makes good business sense. We lost a bunch of grazing land to the fires this year. If we had a backup place down here we wouldn’t have to sell as much breeding stock. We’ve spent decades building our herd. We don’t want to lose it.”

  Wade nodded. “Makes sense, but why not a second place in Wyoming or Idaho instead of down here?”

  “Will’s already settled here,” Waylon said. He played his ace. “And Marin.”

  “She’s going to move to Montana,” Wade said.

  This was news to Waylon. “She is?”

  “After the apples are sold and she gets her things in order.” Wade said it so matter-of-factly that Waylon was speechless.

  “Do the folks know?”

  “Not yet. I’m going to tell them when I go home for roundup.”

  “You getting hitched?” Waylon couldn’t believe his brother had found a woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with in Lonesome Valley.

  “I’ve asked her,” Wade confirmed.

  “And she said yes?”

  “She did.” Wade smiled broadly.

  “Damn, man. And you’re giving me hell about Taylor?”

  “I don’t think lightning strikes twice in the same place. You have a good girl at home. Why this lady and why now?” The know-it-all older brother was back in place.

  “I’m crazy about ‘this girl’ as you call her. Her name is Taylor. Learn it. Like it. Because she’s not going anywhere. Face it, Wade. For the last time, Logan and I are over. We’re not getting back together. Not in this lifetime and not in the next.” Waylon took a breath.

  “Your feelings are that strong?”

  “Are yours?” Waylon countered.

  Wade studied him for a moment. “I guess I don’t understand because you and Logan seemed destined for each other. In love since Kindergarten. I don’t dislike Taylor, but I have to wonder if you’re not using her to forget the girl your heart really belongs to.”

  “Are you using Marin like that? To get over Suzanne.” Waylon tasted the tart cider while he waited for an answer.

  “It’s different. Suzanne left me, broke me. And more than a year ago. Logan—”

  “Also left me, but I’m not broken. I was down, yeah. But this thing with Taylor has shown me Logan was right. We were like an old married couple who were just going through the paces. Hell, Mom and Dad have more fire between them than we did. Face it, brother. A Wainwright-Melbourne merger isn’t happening unless one of our brothers marries her.” Waylon winced at the idea of one of his brothers with Logan. That would be close to incest in his mind.

  “So you want to move to Colorado? The home place means that little to you? You’re ready to give it up for a woman you barely know?” There wasn’t malice in Wade’s voice, only resignation.

  “I’m ready for a change,” Waylon replied evenly. “Logan made me see it, and Taylor’s shown me what might be. I’m ready to see what life’s got to offer. You love the land and can’t see yourself anywhere else. I can. Will can. Maybe the other boys could too, given the chance.”

  Wade looked ill, and Waylon almost regretted his harsh words. But he wasn’t wrong. Wade was tied to Montana like a camp horse hobbled to keep him there. As much as Waylon loved his home, he liked Colorado. They had roots here, too. His mother’s parents had lived here their entire lives.

  Their mom had met their dad in college and left the Centennial state as a young woman for Montana. She’d made a happy life in the big sky country. If she’d been homesick for Colorado, she’d never let on.

  He’d miss Montana, his family and friends, but the lure of a new life beckoned him. And Taylor was a big part of his reasoning. He was falling for the wedding photographer, just as his brother had fallen for the woman he’d met a little more than a week ago.

  Maybe there was some weird love spell going around Lonesome Valley, Colorado. Three of the six Wainwright boys had tumbled under the magic. He couldn’t say about the others. He hadn’t talked to Whit, Wynn or Wheeler since the wedding. As far as he knew they’d planned to leave yesterday morning.

  “I want your blessing, Wade. And the rest of the family’s, too. But my mind is made up. I’m going to buy a place down here. It can be part of the Wainwright ranch, or my own spread, but either way I’m moving to Colorado. I’ll help with roundup and shipping. But, afterward I’ll move my operation down here. Contingent on finding a place I like. I saw a couple in the paper this morning.” Waylon finished his now-cold cider.

  “You have it,” Wade said quietly.

  “What?”

  “My blessing.” Wade smiled sadly. “If you’re sure this is what you want you need to do it.”

  “Thanks, buddy.” Waylon stood and hugged his brother, thumping him hard on the back. Wade might drive him nuts, but he loved him. And the other man would always be there for him. He released Wade. “One more thing?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Apologize to Taylor,” Waylon said. “She’s going to be part of my life, and I’d like you two to get along.”

  Wade sighed. “Okay, but I can’t help but feel disloyal to Logan. She’s family in every way that matters.”

  “And she always will be,” Waylon said. “I’ll dance at her wedding. And so will you.” A thought crossed his mind. “Speaking of weddings, congratulations. Marin’s a great gal. I’m happy you found her.”

  A genuinely happy smile crossed Wade’s face. One of the few joyful looks Waylon had seen on his brother since Suzanne left him broken and alone. “I’m a lucky man to have found her. Gran, or Fate’s hand, was definitely at play.” Their grandmother took responsibility for bringing two of her grandsons and their ladies together.

  “I’m glad you’re happy again,” Waylon said sincerely.

  “Thanks, man. I can’t wait to take Marin home and show her around.” Wade grinned. “And off.”

  “She’s a lovely woman.” He’d always preferred blondes, opposite of his brother’s taste for petite brunettes, but there was no denying Marin’s beauty. She was gorgeous inside and out. Suzanne had looks to spare, but her heart was black as her ebony hair. Wade was well off to be rid of his treacherous ex-wife. “Seeing the backend of Suzanne was the best thing that ever happened to you.”

  “Sure didn’t feel like it at the time,” Wade admitted.

  “I know.” Waylon recalled the bitter man his brother had been. Miserable to be around, angry at the world. “But, that’s all in the past.”

  “I better get back before Marin thinks I forgot about her.” Wade slapped him on the shoulder. “And you have land to look at.”

  They shook hands before walking back to Marin. She looked between them. “Everything Okay?”

  “Great,” Wade said.

  Waylon nodded. “Fine.”

  “Looks like little brother’s moving to Lonesome Valley,” Wade told her.

  Her mouth formed an O. “You are?”

  “I am.” Reality set in. He was going to do it. Buy land and move to Lonesome Valley. There was a lot of work ahead. Finding a place and moving his life to Colorado. But he knew it was what he wanted.

  “Wow.” Marin perched on the edge of her cou
nter. “Because of Taylor?”

  He nodded. “Partly. Mostly because I need a fresh start. I like it here and Taylor’s a big part of it.”

  “That’s a huge decision.” She glanced at Wade with a soft smile. “But we completely understand.”

  “My brother tells me you’re engaged and moving to Montana. Congrats.” He hugged her.

  “Thank you. We haven’t told anyone else yet, so….”

  “Your secret’s safe with me,” he assured her and released her.

  “We’d like your parents to hear it from us firsthand,” she said with an apologetic smile.

  “Understood.” He shot Wade a meaningful look. “I need to tell them about my plans, too.”

  Wade held up his hands, palms out. “Your deal, brother. Far be it for me to be the one to lay all this on them at once. Giving them a heart attack is on your head, not mine.”

  “Thanks.” Waylon shot his brother a sour look. He hoped the rest of his family would understand.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Taylor had dressed in an old concert t-shirt, jeans and a pair of fancy, tooled cowgirl boots by the time Waylon returned. By his smile, she assumed all had gone well with Wade. Still, she asked. “How’d it go?”

  “Great. My brother’s on board. He doesn’t understand my reasoning, and that’s okay, but he supports my plans.” He glanced at her. “You look nice.”

  “Thanks. I’m happy Wade’s agreeable. I was afraid he might not be….” No need to disparage his brother.

  “He wasn’t thrilled initially,” Waylon admitted. “But by the end of the conversation, he gave me his blessing. Not that I need it, but I’d rather not fight with my brothers.”

  Taylor leaned a hip on her counter. “What about your parents? How will they take this?”

  “They’ll be disappointed, too, but it’s my life and they know that.” A slight frown crossed his face.