The Rodeo Star's Return (Sapphire Springs Book 1)

by Angie Campbell

  “Now that would be a hoot, if Zane had to come and arrest them for indecent behavior,” Tonya added, nearly busting a gut when she noticed how red Lucy’s face was.

  “Please, will one of you help me get this dress off?” she huffed, struggling to hide her embarrassment. “It was obviously designed for a woman shaped more like a plank of wood. Not a curvy science nerd.”

  “Are you sure? You might want to reconsider. It does have a certain appeal,” Tonya said, placing her hands on either side of her, level with her escaping chest.

  “I want out of this dress,” she snapped. “Now!” she shouted nearly loud enough to raise the roof off the building.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Tonya said, snapping to attention with a salute. “I think you missed your calling.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” she glared before turning her back to the girl.

  “You could have been a drill sergeant,” Tonya quipped, finally drawing a laugh from Lucy as she unzipped the dress. She missed the look between the two sisters, and Jenny mouthing, ‘She laughed, Thank God’.

  The trio was silent long enough for her to step out of the dress with the other two holding it for her. Once that was done she continued their conversation while Tonya and Jenny worked together to get the dress back on a hanger.

  “Yeah, I’ve heard the drill sergeant comment from some of the people I work with a few times. I probably would have made a good one.”

  “It’s all those years you spent snapping at Tyler,” Jenny added, taking the next dress down. “You’ve been doing it so long, it just comes naturally.”

  “It was hardly my fault he was always teasing me,” she huffed, her frown dropping back into place.

  “Ya know,” Jenny grinned, “there’s going to come a day, very soon, when you realize, all those compliments, weren’t teasing.”

  “You will never convince me he even meant half of it,” she said, stepping into the dress and pulling it up over her chest so Tonya could zip it up the back.

  “Lucy, the boys tongue practically drags the ground when you’re around,” Jenny huffed, shaking her head at the dress. While better than the last one, she still looked like her boobs were going to stage a breakout at any second. “I think we need to steer away from strapless all together.”

  “That kind of limits her choices,” Tonya said, turning to the door of the changing room.

  Jenny nodded. “I know. This time of the year, everything is either strapless, or off the shoulder.”

  “Can we find something without a so much skirt? This one is so poufy, I can’t walk.” Lucy added, picking the skirt up in both hands so she could move over to look in the mirror.

  “Probably, and the off the shoulder might work. Even a small amount of sleeve would help hold things in,” Tonya added a bit to cheerfully for Lucy’s ears on the way out the door.

  Lucy glared at the back of her head. “Is she always that cheerful, or does she just enjoy annoying me?”

  Jenny took the time to help her out of the dress she had on before finally answering her. “Remember what you asked earlier about Zane and I being enough?”

  “Yeah?” Lucy asked, giving her the stink eye.

  Jenny just smirked, knowing she wouldn’t have to answer. Lucy just sighed, “She’s figured out it annoys me.”

  “She sure has,” Tonya answered, walking back in with a new dress to try, and a huge grin. “Here you go. I think this might be the answer to your dress problems.”

  “Let’s hope so,” Lucy said, snatching the dress away with a growl. “I don’t think I can take much more of your sunshine and roses.”

  “Oh, come on now,” Tonya laughed. “Smile a little. You’re getting married in three days.”

  “And to your dream man, no less,” Jenny added.

  “Maybe so, but don’t you dare tell him so,” she huffed, stepping into the new dress while the other two held it for her. “I don’t need to give him something else to laugh at me about.”

  Tonya snorted. “He wouldn’t laugh. He’d get down on his knees and thank God. That man is so enamored with you, he can’t see straight.”

  “See?” Jenny questioned her. “Even my little sister gets it. The only one still blundering around in the dark, is you.”

  Lucy gave Tonya a skeptical look before asking, “Does she even know what enamored means? What is she, ten?”

  Tonya huffed, “I’m twelve.”

  Jenny snorted. “You’re eleven. You won’t be twelve until July.”

  “Fine. I’m almost twelve.”

  “But to answer your other question, she has a vocabulary more impressive than most adults. She reads all the time,” Jenny said, stepping back around Lucy after zipping the dress. “Mom usually has to pull her out of a book to get her to do her chores. “Well, this is a simpler dress, but you’re not falling out of it.”

  “The lady up front said it would be easier to alter if there was a need,” Tonya supplied. “And I honestly like this one better. I think she was getting lost in all that lace, and the Cinderella skirt was a bit much for her.” The dress was a cream color with a fitted bodice with small, beaded sleeves that came down off the shoulders. The skirt fell to the floor, but wouldn’t require a bridal gown slip under it. It was a simpler style than the others had been, and suited Lucy’s size and taste much better.

  “You know, she really doesn’t sound like she’s almost twelve when she opens her mouth,” Lucy grinned. “She sounds about twenty.”

  “She sounds a lot like you did at twelve. It’s all that reading,” Jenny agreed. “And why are you so crabby? I thought you were finally ready to take a chance with Tyler. Do you not want to marry him?”

  “Yes, I want to marry him,” she sighed. “That’s not what’s wrong?”

  “Then what is it?” Jenny asked, watching Tonya walk back out of the changing room to give them some privacy.

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” she nearly whispered. “I think I want this dress. It seems to fit really well, even. They shouldn’t have to do a lot to it.”

  *******

  “Rocky road,” Brock said with a nod of his head. The only thing missing was the light bulb over his head.

  “Rocky road?” Zane raised an eyebrow, suppressing a chuckle. “Why rocky road?”

  Brock just shrugged and frowned. “It seems like most romantic relationships are generally rocky.”

  Zane laughed and shook his head. “How would you know? When was the last time you were in a romantic relationship? It was high school, wasn’t it?”

  Brock threw the throw pillow he had been flipping over in his hands at him with a huff. “Oh, I’ve dated since high school. And I’m in a romantic relationship,” he sighed, slumping back in the couch. “She just doesn’t seem to realize it. And trust me, it’s rocky.” The room rang with masculine laughter, with one notable exception. Tyler wasn’t laughing.

  “I’m telling you, you guys comparing the women in our lives to ice cream flavors is going to get us in trouble,” he whispered, glancing at the door like he was afraid it was going to be thrown open at any second.

  “Well, at least mine wasn’t as bad as what Zane said. I’m still trying to figure out who he’s talking about, and what he means.” Brock shook his head. “I hope he’s not referring to her figure. If he doesn’t like a curvy woman, he needs to find himself a skinny one.”

  “I don’t like skinny women,” Zane answered. “You know that.”

  “You’ve dated a few.”

  “Out of boredom. I had to have something to do.”

  “Then what are you referring to?” Brock asked, throwing his hands up in defeat and confusion.

  “I can answer that one,” Tyler answered with a soft chuckle. “She’s acting nuts, and it’s making him bananas.” Zane just chuckled.

  “He’s right?” Brock asked, pointing at Tyler.

  “Yeah. He knows more than it is probably safe for me, for him to know.”

  “That all being
said, this ice cream comparison thing is going to get us all in trouble,” Tyler warned again.

  “You’re safe,” Phillip grinned. “You haven’t even come close to comparing Lucy to ice cream.”

  “And I’m not going to,” he hissed back. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t get hung with the lot of you, if you get caught.”

  “Oh, it’s almost for certain they’ll get caught,” Mark smirked. “It’s that sixth sense women have.”

  “Sixth sense about what?” Brock asked, looking puzzled.

  “For such a smart man, you are such an idiot sometimes,” Zane chuckled. “You single handedly run the town’s newspaper, but you don’t seem to understand women at all.”

  “Ha, ha,” Brock groaned. “And just so you know, I don’t run the paper by myself. I have Mary Ellen, remember?”

  “You did date in high school, didn’t you?” Zane asked, continuing to pester him

  “I’ve dated since high school. I’ve already answered that,” Brock huffed. “Sixth sense about what?” he asked again.

  “About everything,” the rest said in unison.

  “That’s crazy.”

  “No, it’s not,” Tyler shook his head. “They always know when a man is up to something.”

  “No, I don’t believe it,” Brock said with a shake of his head.

  “Really, we should take it easy on the poor guy,” Mark said, slapping him on the back. “I know what it’s like to work so closely to ‘the one’, then go your separate ways at the end of the day. Besides, I think he and Mary Ellen argue more than Jenny and I. She keeps him tied in knots.”

  “I’m just saying, I’m getting married Saturday,” Tyler continued. “Please, do not cause me problems before I’ve even made it to the altar.”

  “Tyler, you’re almost there,” Zane replied with an unusually serious expression. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

  “Yeah, Man, don’t stress,” Brock added, slapping him on the back. “Everything’s going to be fine, and the women don’t suspect a thing.”

  “Brock, don’t talk like that,” Tyler grimaced. “You’ll bring them out of the woodwork.”

  “Bring who out of the woodwork?” Lucy asked from the doorway.

  Tyler turned around and smiled. “Hello, Beautiful.”

  “Don’t you beautiful me, Tyler Wentworth,” she snapped, placing her hands on her hips. “What are you up to?”

  “I’m not up to anything,” Tyler denied, reaching for her hand.

  “Oh, no you don’t,” she said, stepping back out of his reach to shake a finger at him. “What were you all just talking about?”

  “Great,” Tyler grouched, dropping his hands to his sides. “I warned you all not to do it, and now I’m the one in trouble.”

  Lucy crossed her arms over her chest with a thoughtful frown. “Warned them about what?”

  “Nothing,” Brock jumped in before Tyler could answer when he noticed Mary Ellen standing in the doorway with her arms crossed just like Lucy’s. They looked like bookends.

  “Somehow I doubt it was nothing.” Mary Ellen eyed him grimly, then shook her head. “Lucy, whatever it was, I’m sure Brock is far more at fault than Tyler.”

  Brock swallowed and tried to smile. “Really, we were just talking about ice cream.” He crammed his hands in his pockets, and bounced on his heels. “It was a completely innocent conversation.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure,” Mary Ellen frowned. “Ice cream, huh?”

  “Just ice cream,” he grinned.

  “Whatever,” she said, turning to leave. “Dinner is ready. I believe we’re having ice cream for dessert.”

  “Man, you are in so much trouble,” Zane snickered from behind.

  “No,” Brock grinned. “Everything will be fine. You’ll see.”

  Chapter 11 – Saturday, May 18 – Wedding Day

  Lucy grabbed a handful of her skirt and started pacing the length of Carl and Jamie’s bedroom where she had been sent, along with Jenny, Mary Ellen and Jessie, to get dressed for the wedding. The room, though large by most standards for a bedroom, was only about fifteen feet long. She wasn’t burning her nervous energy off fast enough, and she was already getting hot despite the air conditioner being turned on to cool the room. When they had first gotten in here, she had thought if felt like an ice box. Now, she was wishing it was just a little cooler.

  Halfway back across the room, Jenny stepped in front of her, bringing her pacing to a dead stop. She gently pried her fingers open, letting her skirt drop back to the floor. “You’re going to mess your dress up doing that. Now, come on, tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”

  “Oh, Jenny,” she whimpered, holding her hand to her chest. Her heart was racing so fast, she felt like it was going to explode from her body. “Am I making the right choice?”

  “You know you are,” Jenny answered, taking her hands in her own. “Take a deep breath, and let it out slowly. Everything’s going to be fine.”

  “How can you be so sure of that?” She yanked up the skirt of her dress once again, and marched over to plop down on the bed. Wrinkles in the fine fabric of her dress were the farthest thing from her mind right then. “This is all crazy. What was I thinking?”

  “That the rewards are well worth the risk,” Mary Ellen said, sitting down beside her, to wrap an arm around her shoulders.

  Lucy sucked in a deep breath, and concentrated on not fainting. She started fanning herself with her hand, and stared at the terrified girl in the mirror across from her. “I’ve lost my mind.”

  “No, you haven’t,” Jenny soothed. “You’re about to marry the man of your dreams. There’s nothing crazy about that.”

  She turned her big-eyed stare on Jenny, chewing her bottom lip. “I don’t see you doing the same.” She hoped Jenny didn’t think she was being snotty. She was so nervous, she didn’t think she could give Tyler an attitude right then.

  Jenny grimaced, giving a shake of her head. “I have other issues. So, let’s deal with one problem at a time, okay?”

  “Sure, whatever you say,” she huffed.

  “Everything’s going to work out wonderfully,” Jenny grinned. “You’ll see.”

  “I’m going to trust you,” Lucy smirked up at her. “But you’re next.”

  Mary Ellen laughed. “What do you want to bet, you just became Mark’s new best friend?”

  Jenny grimaced again. “Please, let’s just get Lucy married before we start worrying about my love life.”

  Jessie came in then, softly shutting the door behind her. “I just talked to Zane. Tyler is a bundle of nerves. He wants us to get this show on the road. He’s afraid Tyler’s either going to faint, or vomit if something doesn’t happen soon. He’ll probably end up to doing both, with how nervous he probably is.”

  Lucy took a deep, calming breath. “Okay, let’s finish getting ready.”

  “That’s my girl,” Jessie said, with a wide grin.

  Lucy felt herself panic, and she started to shake. “What if it doesn’t work? What if I can’t make him love me?”

  Jenny sighed, sitting down beside her. “Sweetheart, I know this is hard for you to understand, but he already does love you.”

  “Maybe.” Lucy took another deep breath and stood back up. “But I’m still scared.”

  “Of course, you are,” Jenny said, giving her a hug.

  “That’s normal,” Jessie smirked. “I believe it’s called cold feet.”

  “You know it’s more than that,” she huffed.

  “Everything’s going to be just fine,” Jenny said, turning her back toward the chair in front of the mirror. “Now, let’s touch up your hair and make-up.”

  *******

  Tyler made another turn and paced back across the game room, where he’d been shut up for the last half hour. He was already dressed in his wedding clothes, but Jamie and his mother had informed him he couldn’t come out until time for the wedding to start. Mark had tried to get him to play a game of ping pon
g, but he’d been too distracted.

  He turned again and stopped to glare at the door where Zane had just walked back in. “Is she here yet?”

  Zane just chuckled and shook his head. “Tyler, calm down. I just talked to Jessie. She’s here. She’s been here since last night,” he answered, turning him back from the door before he managed to burn a hole through it. “From what she told me, Lucy’s in as bad a shape as you.”

  “I doubt that,” he said, rubbing his stomach. “I feel like my insides are turning inside out.”

  “If you’re going to vomit, please, use the bathroom,” Brock grumbled, plopping down on the couch.

  Tyler gave him a hard look. “What is wrong with you? Of course, I’ll use the bathroom if I need to vomit.”

  “Oh, you know what I mean,” Brock grumbled again, waving his hand over his head.

  “I’m not going to puke. Not yet, anyway,” he mumbled, rubbing his stomach again.

  “What’s wrong with you, Brock?” Zane asked, sticking his hands in his pockets and leaning against the end of the couch.

  “Mary Ellen won’t talk to me. She hasn’t since Wednesday night. A meat locker in the middle of an Alaskan snowstorm in the dead of winter would have been warmer than the office at the paper,” he grumbled. “I can barely get her to communicate with me about the paper. Any kind of personal communication is a complete no go.”

  “Still haven’t told her about the ice cream conversation, have you?” Mark smirked.

  “Are you kidding?” He jumped up and started pacing back and forth in front of the ping pong table with his hands crammed in his pockets. If they weren’t careful, he and Tyler’s paths were so close to the same, they were going to get their legs tangled together. “That’d just make things worse.”

  “Sure,” Mark shrugged, “For a little while. Then she’ll get over it and forgive you.”

  “Yeah, she’s used to your screw ups,” Zane added. “What she’s not used to, is you not telling her things.”

  “You two could be right,” he huffed. “Or she might just get even angrier at me and decide to quit. If that happens, I won’t be able to see her all the time. I’ll go crazy,” her groaned. “And you have no idea how that would affect the paper. That woman runs everything, not me.”