A Cowboy To Keep: A Contemporary Western Romance Collection

by Hebby Roman

  He placed his hand on hers and squeezed in reassurance. “I’m fine. Doc said I’ll be ready to get back to work in a few days,” he lied, hoping to ease her mind.

  “Nice try. You’re not fooling me, Sawyer. I talked to the doctor myself. It’ll be a few weeks before your working again. I’m just happy you are here with me now.” The lines of worry creasing her forehead softened and she exhaled a loud breath. Raising a shaky hand, she trailed her fingertip over his heart, then leaned in and kissed him. “You have no idea how scared I was. I thought I lost you.”

  “Not half as scared as I was.”

  She pierced him with a questioning stare. He shrugged, not willing to share the terror of thinking he’d never see her again had invoked.

  “Well, you’re home now. Oh. I almost forgot.” She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a little silver object, then shook it, inspiring a tinkling sound. “I got you a bell.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The bell lasted less than a week. Sawyer pushed his luck and had rung it one too many times. Now the instrument was gone. He hadn’t been able to help himself. Being cooped up in the bedroom made him feel trapped.

  At least he wasn’t alone. Poor Scout was on bed rest too, nursing a bruised side. And Addison was driving them both crazy. Though, his wound was healing nicely, she still felt the need to mother him and cater to his every need. The coddling was too much, reminding him of his helpless state. Plus there was something important he wanted to see put in motion.

  Finally, he’d managed to run her out of the house, so he could start his plans. After struggling to get dressed without aid, Sawyer ventured outside and found Jacobs standing at the gate of the calving pen.

  The older man pulled his gaze from a mother and calf and glanced at him briefly, then returned his attention back on the animals. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

  “You sound like Addison.” He scoffed. “I couldn’t hack it anymore. I’m not used to lying around. ‘Sides I got this damn thing on.” He pointed at the sling Addison insisted he wear.

  “Your secrets safe with me.” Jacobs shook his head. “But I’d be wary if I were you. If Addy catches you, there’ll be hell to pay.”

  Sawyer chuckled. “Oh yeah. I know. She’s been like a mother hen all morning. Not that I’m complaining. It’s kind of nice having someone care. Which is why I came to find you. I have a favor to ask. In fact, I have a few.”

  The foreman faced him. “What do you need?”

  A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. With the older man’s help, he might be able to pull this plan together. “For starters, a ride to town.”

  “Now?”

  Sawyer nodded. “Yep. I’d go myself, but it’s hard to drive with a broken wing.”

  The cowboy tore off his hat and scratched his head. “Can you give me more to go on?”

  “I need a partner in crime and you happen to be the perfect candidate. I have a lot to do…the jewelry store, a bakery, and the local realtor to see about buying Ramsey’s property. I figure it’ll be the perfect wedding gift.”

  “A wedding? Addy know anything about this?”

  Sawyer shook his head. “Not yet. I’m going to pop the question, and if she says yes, we will be tying the knot the same day.”

  Jacobs studied him with a thorough gaze. A long moment passed before he responded. “Looks like I’ll be needing a suit then.”

  “Oh, there’s one more thing.” Sawyer’s grin widened. “How do you feel about being my best man?”

  * * *

  “Think she will like it?” Sawyer asked Jacobs. He held the large princess cut diamond ring to the light. Clustered with jewels, it looked far too complicated and he couldn’t picture Addison wearing it, but after looking at about a hundred other rings, he was at a standstill.

  The salesclerk continued to bombard him with questions about the cut and color, and he quickly became overwhelmed. Who knew there’d be so many to choose from?

  To top it all off, the dull ache of his shoulder had intensified to a painful throbbing. He adjusted the sling in hopes of lessening the pain, but the effort only made him even more uncomfortable.

  “Do you know her size?” The persistent clerk asked.

  “Isn’t it one size fits all?” he returned sharply.

  The woman pursed her lips before responding with a curt shake of her head.

  Sawyer grimaced. He hadn’t even considered if it would fit or not. Past the point of frustration, he contemplated bringing Addison in to pick out her own wedding set. Selecting the decorations had been so much easier. Hell, even ordering the cake had been…a piece of cake.

  He slipped the ring over the tip of his pinky to study the band. Then tugged it off and handed it to Jacobs. “I don’t know. What do you think?”

  “You want my honest opinion?” The older man questioned with a sly blue stare. The corners of his mouth twitched as if he were curbing a smile and Sawyer tensed, feeling his irritation start to escalate.

  Jacobs held it for a moment, scrutinizing the jewel with a thorough gaze. “The diamond is too big. Addison wouldn’t like something so large. It’ll only get in the way of ranching.” He returned it to the lady standing behind the counter. “She’d probably prefer something like this,” the man paused. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a delicate silver wedding band adorned with a single solitaire. “Belonged to her mother.”

  In shock, a curse escaped Sawyer’s lips as he accepted the offering from the cowboy. “I’ll be damned. You old son of a gun. You had this the entire time?”

  “Yeah.” Jacobs nodded. The smile he’d contained now spread wide across his weathered face. “I would’ve told you sooner but I liked watching you squirm. Men and jewelry stores don’t mix.”

  “No kidding.” Sawyer scowled. He stared at the diamond he held. “I don’t understand.” More confused than annoyed now, he studied the sparkling gem. A simple cut, the ring was not only elegant, it was perfect. Addison would love it. “Where’d you get this?”

  “Off her vanity. I’m surprised you never saw it before. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen her put the darn thing on. I imagine it reminds her of the love her parents’ shared.” He swallowed hard before continuing. “Anyway, I know it’s always been her dream to wear her mother’s wedding dress and ring when she got hitched. Brought that along too. It’s been hanging up in the closet for years. I figured you might want to have it dry cleaned before your bride wears it.”

  Sawyer shook his head in disbelief. Then slapped the rancher on the back with his good hand. “I’m lucky to have you as my best man. Let’s get the hell out of here. We have a wedding to plan.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Addison woke with a start, then glanced at the alarm clock. Seeing the time, she hurried to the bathroom for a quick shower. She’d overslept again. And there was only one person to blame. Sawyer. He’d kept her up half the night making love. She glanced over at him still sleeping soundly.

  Though she should feel guiltier, she didn’t. Spending the night discovering one another’s bodies had been amazing. Nor did she regret the restful sleep the lovemaking inspired. However, spent and exhausted, they’d fallen into such a deep slumber she’d woken three hours later than normal and now she had to pay the price.

  She took a brisk shower, then raced back to the room as thoughts of throwing on a pair of jeans and t-shirt and tossing back a cup of coffee filled her head. Those plans were swiftly thwarted.

  Though Sawyer had been sleeping when she’d jumped out of bed, he was long gone now. Her mother’s wedding dress lay in his place. A bouquet of roses, in various shades of pinks and reds accompanied the gown.

  A handwritten note caught her attention.

  I’d marry you a thousand times.

  As she stared at the dress, the words she’d said at the hospital filtered in and repeated themselves. Apparently, Sawyer hadn’t been as out of it as she’d thought. In shock, she picked up the card. After
reading it two more times, she returned her gaze to the gown. Slowly, the concept settled in.

  Today, she’d be marrying the love of her life.

  Misty eyed, she sat on the edge of the bed and ran her hand along the freshly pressed silk. It didn’t seem so long ago her mother had let her play dress up and try on the beautiful ivory garment. She’d been but a child, but even then she’d known this would be her wedding gown. If only her parents were here to share the day.

  Deep in thought, she trailed her finger over the intricate line of tiny pearls lacing the bodice. So this was what the man had been up to yesterday. After a moment, she donned the bridal dress and glanced in the mirror.

  The reflection stunned her. Not only did she feel like a bride, she looked the part. She ran a hand over the smooth fabric and took in the simple cut which adhered to her curves, flattering her figure.

  Sawyer wouldn’t know what hit him. A grin pulled at the corners of her mouth and she left the room. As promised, Jacobs was waiting in the hall to escort her. They left the house and walked toward the barn where a small crowd of friends were gathered.

  Addison’s smile stretched wider. Only Sawyer would have known the intimate setting was exactly what she’d want. Lit with strings of lights and draped in white and blue streamers, the barn had never looked more inviting.

  Upon further inspection she could see the crepe paper and ribbons had a pattern, looping from the rafters in large swooping arcs. A long table sheathed with a pearly white cloth centered the space. On the top sat a beautifully decorated cake.

  How on earth had Sawyer managed all of this? He must’ve wrangled the employees into helping or he had slipped out sometime during the night while she was sleeping. She trailed her gaze to the man responsible for it all. “This is amazing. I can’t believe we are getting married.”

  Gussied up in a tailored black suit, Sawyer never looked more handsome. Even with the sling holding his arm in place. He came forward and then knelt on the ground in front of her. With his good hand, he pulled a small jewelry box from his pocket and opened the lid. “You have to say yes first.”

  “Oh my. Is that my mother’s ring?” She gasped, covering her mouth with a hand. “And this dress? How did you know?”

  “I had a little help.” He glanced at Jacobs and then back to her. “I love you Addison. I can’t imagine spending a moment of my life without you. Say you will do me the honor of being my wife.”

  Unable to speak, she nodded.

  Sawyer rose. Leaning in, he grazed her lips with a kiss. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.” He grasped her finger and slipped the ring on.

  “You sure you can handle this?” Addison blinked away the tears stinging her eyes. “I didn’t think you were the settling down kind.”

  “I have a damn good reason to stick around.” He leaned in for another kiss. “Even if you had said no, I wasn’t going anywhere.”

  “Oh?” she taunted. A grin pulled at the corners of her mouth. “Sounds a bit cocky. Is that a threat or a promise?”

  “Not cocky. Determined. I’d never be able to just give up and walk away. Not when it comes to you, Addy. I love you too much. We would’ve been neighbors until you said yes.”

  “Neighbors?” Addison repeated back. “I don’t understand.”

  “I knew you were concerned about who’d be moving in eventually, so I bought Ramsey’s ranch as a wedding present. I figured we could join the properties and get more cattle or whatever you wanted to do. Hell, we could keep it empty for all I care. I just wanted to ease your mind.”

  Addison held his green gaze as emotions consumed her. Knowing he’d bought the property simply to calm her worries floored her. Then again, Sawyer never failed to shock her. The man had stolen her heart the moment she’d met him…to think it all started with the drifter’s kiss.

  Thank you for reading The Drifter’s Kiss by Devon McKay. If you’d like to read more of Devon’s books, you can find them here on Amazon and on her website.

  Her Man

  By Hildie McQueen

  Contemporary Western Romance

  Copyright © 2017 by Hildie McQueen

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission of the author except where permitted by law.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  About Her Man

  Deputy Mark Hunter’s past returns full force when the first murder in twenty years happens on his watch in the usually quiet town of Lovely, Montana. This is definitely not the time to fall in love, especially with the beautiful witness Eliza Brock, who may be involved.

  Chapter One

  It was going to be a scorcher. At nine in the morning, the temperatures were already in the high eighties. About normal for the end of August. Deputy Mark Hunter reluctantly left the air-conditioned interior of his police cruiser to do a routine check on the abandoned, old warehouse at the end of Main Street, downtown Lovely, Tennessee.

  After adjusting his tan Stetson, he kicked a rock across the cracked and potholed blacktop of the parking area and walked the perimeter of the building. Every once in a while he pulled his flashlight and peered through one of the dingy windows into the dark interior.

  Upon reaching the corner of the building, Mark looked through a broken pane and noticed grass and weeds burst through some of the many crevices in the concrete floor, the tenacious plants stretched toward whatever bits of sun streamed in.

  Minutes later he returned to his car, nothing of interest noted, except for the fact that he was sweating like a pig. The warehouse patrol would probably be the highlight of his day. An empty structure, the only intruders, weeds.

  Some days he missed the chaos of being a cop in a bigger city. The bullpen, the smell of stale coffee, vagrants and prostitutes hurling insults and then there was the addition of having a partner to talk to. Everything that was once part of daily life in Nashville was in the past.

  In Lovely, a total of three made up the entire police force for the tiny town. Besides him, a young deputy, Carson Scott and sheriff Clark, shared the office spaces. Every morning, coffee was delivered fresh from the diner across the street and the sheriff's wife came in once a week to clean the office spaces and replace the flowers on a table in the entry way. Flowers for goodness sakes. Who the hell expected to see flowers at a police station?

  Since it was his choice to move to the small town after losing his partner in a shootout with gang members, he couldn't really bitch. Now two years later, he wondered if he should have waited before making the rash decision. After all, he had closure. Killed the bastard who'd shot his partner.

  Besides even if he wanted to complain to anyone, the sheriff and his wife were gone on a five-day cruise and Scott was off duty during the day since he covered the evening shift.

  For the next few days, during the daytime, he was the lone lawman in town, population eighteen hundred.

  He motored around the warehouse and down Main Street to park in front of the police office. His plan for the day was to visit a few of the local establishments and then get breakfast. Yep, he had it hard.

  The strong smell of flowers filled the air when he stepped into his office. At least the furniture remained standard issue by most public safety standards. Metal desks, chairs, and a metal bench bolted to the floor along the wall. Mrs. Clark had thoughtfully placed metal waste cans nearby in case an arrestee decided to puke. Mark shook his head. Most drunk-and-disorderly’s purposefully puked on the floor out of spite.

  He refilled his coffee mug and checked email. The only thing of interest, a sale on bulletproof vests.

  Minutes later Mark walked into Miller Hardware. Mrs. Tallulah Miller, a spunky sixty-something lady with salt and pepper hai
r and a quick wit waved in greeting. "Hey there, Deputy Hunter. How are ya this mornin’?"

  Her store was the one place other than the Lovely diner, where locals always stopped by for a chat. So much so that Mrs. Miller set up a sitting area of sorts next to her checkout counter. Today the chairs were empty. It was still too early in the day for visitors.

  Mark returned the greeting and neared the counter. "Anything of interest today?"

  "Other than that stray dog raiding my trash again, no. Cup of tea?" She rushed to the room behind her counter not waiting for a reply. "I just made a pot," she called over her shoulder.

  Not exactly his favorite drink. At the moment, he would have preferred cold sweet tea.

  As if reading his mind, she reappeared a few seconds later with a tall glass, the ice clinking side to side. "I figured you'd rather have something cold after being out there. It's supposed to be a record-breaker."

  He took a long drink. "Thank you. What are you planning to do with the empty warehouse? The floor is starting to crack pretty bad. Besides, teenagers are always caught in there messing around."

  She took a deep breath and lifted a cup of tea to her lips. Her eyes darted to the doorway in thought. "I am considering just tearing it down. The last person who showed interest in it was Leroy Malone," she said, referring to the owner of the car repair shop. "He was planning to move his business into it, but changed his mind after Janice left him." Mrs. Miller chuckled. "Seems she left with the dog, jewelry, clothes, and all their savings."

  The building was structurally sound and if he had his way, he'd consider buying it and turning it into a teen hang out or a bar with pool tables and dartboards. A business of the sort would be good for Lovely. Most people had to drive to the nearby town of Newton for nighttime entertainment.