Cowboy's Cupid

by Niki Mitchell

  Stop focusing on Zander. She had a human to worry about. “I will fix this, I promise.”

  “You’d better. Remember to shoot the red arrow we gave you,” Andre growled. “Would any council member’s care to add anything?”

  “Don’t disappoint us.” The captain fiddled with his shirt’s collar.

  Cami was propelled back to Earth and landed on the floor of her apartment with a thump. Falling must be her penance for kissing a human.

  Chapter Eight

  Valentine’s Day

  Tonight was the damn barn dance at his parents’ place. If only the holiday could be stamped out, cancelled, eliminated forever.

  Rhett made a cup of coffee and sat at a chair on the front porch to watch the day break.

  Cami ambled up the steps. “Hi.” She flipped her long braid with a bright pink ribbon on the end over her shoulder. The ribbon matched her pink beanie, jacket and boots. She had a serious obsession with pink. Not that he had any objection to pink, especially on her. Pink brought out the rosiness in her cheeks and made her eyes bluer. Pink wasn’t the problem. It was the idea the color represented.

  “Mornin’,” he said, wishing he weren’t so tired.

  “I’ll have breakfast ready within the hour.” She bolted inside the kitchen.

  Last night, betting against her team had been fun. And then he kissed her. Dammit, he wanted to kiss her again.

  Mucking out stalls would set his mind right. He went to step into his rubber boots under the eaves. They weren’t there which aggravated him. He always kept his boots in that exact spot. Borrowing Michael’s, he headed for the stables.

  “Hey, Starlight.” He held out an apple over the railing. The horse neighed, and Rhett rubbed his hand along the animal’s nose. He shoveled manure into the wheelbarrow and dumped it into an outdoor spreader. Next, he swept the stall, grabbed a pitchfork, and covered the area lightly with hay.

  “Sorry boy. Won’t have time for a ride.” The dang party. “Tomorrow, I promise.”

  The horse’s ears flicked as he pushed his head against Rhett’s shoulder. Horses he understood.

  At the outdoor sink, he washed up with frigid water and went inside the dining room. Michael sat at the table scrolling on his phone. Rhett caught an image of his brother’s ex. He wanted to say, “Move on. You guys are divorced,” but kept those thoughts to himself. After all, he still struggled with lingering issues of his own. “Gonna be a long night.”

  “I reckon.” Michael put down his cell.

  Cami came in and handed them plates with fried eggs, a square tart in the middle and three slices of bacon on the bottom. “Anything else I can get you guys?” When she glanced at Rhett, her cheeks flushed.

  “O.J.”

  She bolted into the kitchen and quickly came back, setting his drink on the table, more fidgety than a dog full of fleas.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Just anxious about the party.” She rocked on her feet and gave him a wary look.

  “You’re not the only one.” The words were out without thinking.

  “Rhett doesn’t care for Valentine’s Day.” His brother chuckled.

  She glanced at her pink blouse. “I suppose you don’t care for pink?”

  “Not particularly.”

  Michael kicked his shin under the table.

  “I mean on you it’s nice.”

  She flashed him a smile. One that didn’t reach her eyes.

  “Ready to get dropped off at my folks?” Michael said.

  Rhett opened his mouth to offer to take her himself. Crap, he still had a few chores to finish.

  “I’ll need to clean up in here first.”

  “An hour give you enough time?”

  “Plenty.” She sauntered towards the kitchen.

  Rhett watched her hips swaying in her tight-fitting jeans. A hot and sexy bit of trouble.

  ~ ~ ~

  Cami treaded slowly through the open door of the new Double H Barn. The building rivaled Aphrodite’s ballroom in size and height. Pink hearts blinked from the rafters. Red and white lights spiraled around posts like candy canes.

  Six women draped red tablecloths over round tables. Rhett’s dad and his sister’s husband stacked bales of hay at the sides of the building.

  “Glad you’re early.” Rhett’s mother, Lilly, rushed up to Cami. “Heather’s ready for you in the kitchen.”

  “Okay.”

  Out the door, Cami veered to the right. The twins waited on the porch bench. Dressed in matching red polka-dot dresses, white dough coated one of the girl’s pigtails. The other had batter splattered across her dress’ bodice. Obviously, banned from the kitchen.

  “Hi Cam-eee,” one twin said.

  “Cam-eee,” the other one echoed.

  At dinner last night, Cami had been too nervous to pay the twins much attention. Now, she didn’t mind the distraction. She got down to eye level. “Tell me your names again.”

  “I’m Zia.” She smiled with a round face and root beer-colored eyes.

  “I’m Zoe.” Cinnamon eyes flashed. A bright blue aura surrounded the girl. Her psychic abilities were developing. Cami had better be cautious around this one.

  “Do people always get you mixed up?”

  “Always, even Mommy,” they spoke in unison.

  “You’re a fairy.” Zoe stood and hugged Cami, mashing batter into her apron. “Teach me to fly.”

  “I wish I could. It would be fun to soar above the guests at the party.” Cami put her arms out like wings, and so did the girls. “It’s Valentine’s Day so why don’t you think of me as a Cupid.”

  Heather walked outside. “Are my girls bothering you?”

  “Not at all. I find them delightful.”

  “And a mess. Look at you two.” Heather said to Cami, “Already put several cakes in the oven. Help yourself to a cup of coffee, and I’ll meet you in the kitchen after I clean up these two.”

  “Bubbles, mommy, lots of bubbles,” both twins chimed.

  Cami cringed remembering the dishwasher bubbles. Heather held the twins’ hands and disappeared inside, while Cami strolled into the living room. Photo’s lined the wall. A sweet baking aroma filled the air. Here to bake not lollygag, she stepped into a kitchen, five times as large as the kitchen at Michael and Rhett’s place, with three oversized ovens and four dishwashers. A mixer bowl with beaters sat on the counter. Running her hand over the machine, she must’ve touched a button. The thing groaned, and the beaters spun. Flour floated in the air. Not another disaster. Spotting the stop button, she pressed it, and the thing quit whirling.

  Heather walked in. “Couldn’t resist playing, huh?”

  “Guilty. Hope I didn’t ruin anything.”

  “Not likely.” Heather’s tone seemed non-judgmental. “My mom took the girls to decorate the barn. As much as I love them, they can be quite a handful.”

  “You love every minute with them.”

  Heather laughed. “You have a smudge of white on your nose.”

  Cami rubbed the bridge. “Did I get it?”

  “Yep.” Heather unwrapped four sticks of butter and dropped them into the bowl, measured sugar, added it and turned on the machine. The beaters spun and mixed the batter. “Love, love, love how easy this is.” She added the other ingredients.

  In minutes, Cami and Heather spooned cookie dough onto metal sheets.

  “You like working for my brothers?”

  “I do.”

  “Then you’re one brave lady. I saw their pigsty of a house before you came.” The timer beeped. They used potholders to remove five red velvet sheet cakes and set them on the counter to cool.

  An older woman walked in holding two grocery bags. “Hello.”

  “Maddie, this is Cami. She works for my brothers.” Heather’s eyes sparkled with affection as she took the bags out of her hand and set them on the counter.

  “Seems like yesterday when those boys traipsed into the kitchen with their muddy boots. Imagine you’ll ea
rn every penny working for them.”

  Heather giggled as she unloaded bags of powdered sugar. Cami took it upon herself to start on the other bag filled with containers of sprinkles, candy hearts, and bottles of red food coloring. The Valentine theme made her homesick.

  “Don’t get me started on you, missy.” Maddie’s stern tone contrasted to her beaming grin.

  “Maddie’s been here since I was a baby— knows all our secrets.” Heather hugged her.

  “And don’t you forget it.” Maddie laughed as she grabbed covered trays from a counter. “I’ll fill phyllo crusts. You girls decorate the cookies on the sideboard.”

  Heather threw sugar, butter, and red dye in the mixer. It whirled, creating pink frosting in seconds. Cami should talk her employers into one of these machines that worked almost as easily as magic.

  A redhead and brunette strolled in, each carrying platters of food.

  “Cami, this is Violet, my husband’s sister.” Heather motioned to the redhead. “She brought along her friend, Lori.”

  “You’re the new housekeeper?” Violet’s brows rose in interest. Was she considering Cami competition? If only she could tell her the truth.

  “Think Rhett and Michael will make it tonight?” A blush spread across Lori’s cheeks.

  “Sure will. Mom didn’t give either of them a choice.” Heather scrunched up her nose. “It seems she’s determined that tonight each of them will find a girlfriend.

  “I’ll volunteer. Rhett’s hot.” Lori fanned her face, and her love-light brightened.

  Lori liked Rhett. Cami nonchalantly checked out the woman’s features. Her nose might be a bit bird-like, but she had stunning green eyes. Lori was tall with wavy mahogany hair that touched her shoulders. Rhett’s tall. They’d make a good match.

  Maddie snapped her fingers. “The cookies won’t decorate themselves.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Heather said, and the women got busy. Since Cami needed information about potential soulmates for Rhett, now seemed like a good time to probe. “Have you ladies always lived in Cedar Springs?”

  “My brother and I were young when we moved to Stone Meadows Ranch,” Violet said.

  Cami had passed the ranch on her way into town with Rhett.

  “Violet was my roommate in college, so I came home with her a few times. Her parents hired me to train horses last summer, and I decided to stay.” Lori thought Rhett was hot. She liked horses. Another plus.

  Heather frosted cookies. Cami outlined a smaller heart in red. Violet filled the inside with sprinkles. Lori arranged the cookies on a heart-shaped crystal platter.

  The day went by quickly. Around three, the women finished in the kitchen.

  “You wanna join us here while we get ready for the party?” Heather asked Cami.

  “What I have on is fine. I’m working tonight and will be wearing an apron.”

  Violet crinkled her eyes together. “Everyone helps out.”

  “She’s right.” Lori nodded. “Everyone dances, too.”

  Cami had no plans to dance. Her only goal was getting Rhett and Lori together.

  “Love the jeans, especially the rhinestone heart on your back pocket. Lose the blouse.” Violet’s eyed eyes gleamed determination.

  “Something that screams sexy. Let’s check the closet in my old room.” Heather didn’t ask, she commanded.

  “But—” This seemed like a waste of energy.

  “Quit arguing, or I’ll tell your boss.” Heather linked arms with Cami.

  “Which one, Michael or Rhett?” Violet giggled. She and Lori headed to their cars for their outfits.

  Cami spotted family photos lining the walls, but Heather’s brisk walk left no time to really look, and she ushered her into a bedroom. “Have a seat.” She motioned to a twin bed, opened the closet and flipped through hangers. “Mom kept some of my clothes from high school.” In seconds, she’d snatched a cashmere sweater, a silky red top, and a green blouse.

  “Try these on while I get my outfit I left in the hall closet.” Heather shut the door.

  Cami’s instinct was to fly as far as she could go. If only she had the use of her wings. She tapped her front pocket for her pouch with the magic vial and her miniaturized bow and arrow and breathed relief.

  She didn’t want to try these blouses on. Reluctantly, she took off her top, slipped the sweater over her head and stared into the mirrored closet doors. A bit loose. She swam in the red top. The sea green blouse had lacey sleeves and a low-cut V-neck. The tight bodice gathered to enhance her small waist. A vampish style. About to switch back to the sweater, she heard two knocks.

  “You decent?” Heather called.

  “Yes.”

  “Love the blouse. The color’s perfect.” Heather unzipped her garment bag.

  “Wow.” Violet plunked on the empty twin bed and gave her a thumbs-up.

  “I like the sweater better.” Cami lied, determined to persuade the others.

  Lori adjusted her knee-length skirt. “Let’s see.”

  Cami modeled the sweater. “This is perfect.”

  The women shook their heads.

  “It’s three to one.” Heather gave her don’t-argue-with-me look.

  Cami changed back into the blouse. As the others dressed, she decided to get some insight into how couples met around here. “Besides dances, what else do you have for entertainment?”

  “Riding. There are tons of trails,” Lori said. “In town, you can catch a movie, bowl, eat, go bar hopping.”

  Violet plugged in a curling iron. “Love line dancing at the Boot Scoot or getting a drink at the cowboy’s hang out—Last Call Saloon.”

  The dreadful bar. It took effort to stifle a groan

  “Met my husband there.” Heather gave a wistful look, buttoned her white blouse embellished with colorful beadwork, and tucked it into her jeans waistband.

  “Violet you should fix Cami’s hair.” Heather turned to Cami. “She’s good with curls.”

  “I guess.” She’d rather they left her alone.

  “Sit here.” Violet motioned to a chair by a mirrored vanity. Cami stared at her reflection as Violet undid her braid and wound Cami’s locks around the barrel, heated her hair to form a perfect curl, and continued until every strand spiraled. “Close your eyes.”

  Cami breathed in a bitter, nasty hairspray and coughed.

  “Sorry. Forgot to say hold your breath.”

  Heather unscrewed a water bottle and handed it to Cami. The water barely washed away the awful taste.

  “Did you bring makeup?” Lori asked.

  “No.” Cami only used magical enhancements at competitions.

  “No worries. I brought my case.” Lori picked up a black box. “In college, I earned extra money doing makeup for bridesmaids. Would you like me to do yours?”

  “Why not.” She hoped to look ‘Easy, Breezy, Beautiful’ like the Covergirl cosmetic commercials claimed.

  Lori gobbed cream onto Cami’s cheeks, spreading it out with her fingertips. Brushed black stuff on her eyelashes. Painted aqua on her eyelids. Added a ruby gloss to her lips. “You were pretty before, now you’re smokin’.”

  Cami stared in the mirror. Her hair perfectly coiffed with curls cascading down past her shoulders to her waist. Her eyes appeared bluer, her lashes longer, her lips too red, her cheeks pink. She shook her head. Her curls barely bounced.

  “We’re gonna have a blast tonight.” Violet stood, bouncing on her toes.

  Blast. Hardly, Cami had a much bigger mission to accomplish.

  Chapter Nine

  Cami carried platters of cookies into the barn, dodging the two children who darted in front of her. She concentrated on her destination, the long dessert table at the far left. Country music blared. Fast and lively. Different from the classical waltzes played at the balls she attended. Different from rock and roll that she and Belle adored.

  She put down the tray of sweet confections and tried to settle her runaway pulse. A fish out of water would be more
comfortable than she was in this mortal setting. If only she could be invisible here. She could float above the crowd and zero in on Rhett and Lori. Why’d she have to be in human form?

  The answer was simple. She’d hit the wrong man. The standard Cupid tactics were invalid. Her penance, she must get into the mortal’s psyche and figure out who would be a proper soulmate.

  A hand snagged a cookie from the closest platter. She turned and looked up.

  “Hey, Cami.” Rhett eyed her low-cut blouse. “Nice top.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Gotta help my dad. Save me a dance.” He strode across the room and stepped up the ladder to a hayloft stage. His jeans fit his firm buttocks. Her face became warm. What was she doing? She switched her focus and glanced toward the front of the barn. Three little girls twirled on the wooden dance floor. Streamers hung from the rafters. A song twanged about swinging doors. Hay and sweets and crockpot chili filled the air. The setting—homey and comfortable.

  Lori set a tray with four pies on the table and eyed the loft. “Rhett’s one handsome tall drink of water. Makes me mighty thirsty.” Her eyes fixed on Rhett with hunger. Those two would make a good match. This dance was a perfect place for their courtship. If things went well, Cami would shoot her arrow and resolve her issue with Rhett tonight.

  Along the barn’s perimeter, heart-shaped lights twinkled. Friends and neighbors clustered to chat. Cami people watched. Statuesque, medium, short people. Skinny, muscular, rotund people. Blonde, turquoise, maroon, brunette, or red-haired people. Women embraced. Men shook hands.

  “What’s over there?” Cami pointed to a line forming across the way.

  “The beer line,” Lori said. “Wanna cup?”

  “No thanks. Beer ... well ... it doesn’t agree with me.” After last night’s disaster, beer became Cami’s enemy. “Snag me a bottled water if you see any.”

  “You’ve got it.” Lori wandered across the room and stood in line.

  Michael moseyed next to Cami and handed her a steaming cup. “Here.”

  She smelled apple cider and took a sip. It had a kick that burned as it went down her throat. “What’s in this stuff?”