How to Marry a Cowboy
Auteur
Cathy McDavid
Lezers
18,2K
Hoofdstukken
16
CHAPTER ONE
WITH EACH STILTED step the big palomino took, anguish squeezed Kenna Hewitt’s heart. She hated seeing her best friend, her constant companion and performance partner, in pain, but it couldn’t be helped. She had to get Zenith to his stall at the Rim Country rodeo arena before the bull riding started.
“I know, boy. You’re having a bad day. Me, too.”
The horse came to an abrupt halt and squared off with Kenna. She tugged on the lead rope but to no avail. At a thousand pounds of pure stubbornness, there was nothing she could do to budge him.
“Come on. It’s not far.”
That was a lie. The twin rows of outdoor stalls were behind the livestock pens, a football field’s length away.
“Snapple’s in his stall already waiting for you.”
Kenna had taken her other horse first, leaving Zenith in the trailer. Five hours on the road had aggravated the horse’s acute arthritis despite several breaks. If she’d had any other choice, she wouldn’t have subjected him to the ordeal. But her mother was getting married again—her third wedding in the last ten years. And, like every other time, Kenna had returned home to Payson in order to be her mom’s maid of honor.
She doubted this marriage would last any longer than numbers two and three, or the countless previous relationships that had come and gone since Kenna’s dad passed at an early age. This relationship might be the shortest of them all. The groom—Kenna couldn’t bring herself to call him her stepdad—was nineteen years younger than her mother. A mere ten months older than Kenna.
Worse, Kenna was the one who’d introduced them. Worse even than that, he’d asked her out first before her mother. She’d declined, never guessing he’d dazzle her mom with his boyish charm and that they’d start dating. Then to get engaged and marry? No way! And yet, it was happening four weeks from yesterday at Wishing Well Springs.
Kenna kept hoping she’d awaken from this terrible nightmare and have a good, albeit shaky, laugh. Or maybe her mom would finally accept the improbability of meeting another man as wonderful as Kenna’s late dad and stop trying to replace him with poor substitutes.
Shoving aside a tangle of emotions that ran the gamut from frustration to consternation to grief, she drew in a breath and tried again to coax Zenith.
“There’s a bucket of grain waiting for you at the stall.”
Now that wasn’t a lie.
“Come on, boy. We’re blocking traffic.”
He raised his head and whinnied at a passing horse and rider. Across the way, vehicles entered the public parking area in a steady stream. Doors opened and slammed shut and fans converged on the main entrance in their haste to purchase the best seats for the afternoon’s event—Bring the Fury Professional Bull Riding. From the holding pens behind the arena, bulls grunted and bellowed and battled their pen mates for the best territory.
It was the same at every arena, regardless of the town or city. Rim Country, however, remained Kenna’s favorite. This was where she’d learned to ride and competed in horse shows and where she’d discovered her passion for trick riding. Hoof Feats, her performance team and brainchild, had been formed on these very grounds.
“Need any help?”
At the sound of a familiar voice, Kenna whirled to see Channing Pearce approaching. She’d been expecting to run into him sooner or later; he was the arena owners’ son and the reason she was boarding her horses at Rim Country. Being prepared didn’t prevent a tiny spark of awareness from igniting at the sight of his confident stride and twinkling baby blues.
Understandable, she supposed. He’d been her first kiss, and a girl didn’t forget those things.
We’re just friends, she reminded herself before sending him a warm smile, dialed down from the dazzling one her mouth had initially tried to form.
“I won’t say no. Zenith is being his usual contrary self.”
“I could push. Put my shoulder into it,” Channing teased and flashed the same dimpled grin that in the past always had her mooning over him rather than listening to their freshman social studies teacher.
Look away, look away.
“How ’bout I pull and you walk behind him,” Kenna suggested and tightened her hold on Zenith’s lead rope.
They took up their positions. At her signal, she tugged while Channing waved his arms and clucked. Eventually, the horse forfeited the power struggle and stumbled forward.
Five minutes later, Kenna thankfully led Zenith into his stall and removed his halter. He went right over to his neighbor—her other horse, Snapple—and sniffed the Appaloosa’s nose. She poured the promised bucket of grain into Zenith’s feed trough, relieved that he’d be able to rest at last. He immediately abandoned his buddy and shoved past her, burying his nose in the fragrant mixture. The metal feed trough clanged against the stall bars as he made quick work of his snack.
“I’m surprised to see you,” Kenna said to Channing, exiting the stall and sliding shut the latch. “I figured you’d be at the arena. Isn’t the bull riding about to start?”
“Everything’s under control. Dad and Grumpy Joe are manning the announcer’s booth. My sister’s in the box office. The crew’s overseeing the bucking stock until I get there.”
Kenna didn’t inquire about her mom’s fiancé, Beau. He worked for Channing as a wrangler most days and as a bullfighter during rodeo events. Instead, she’d wait and get the lowdown from her mom. They were meeting shortly at the concession stand.
Channing rested his forearms on the stall railing and studied Zenith with the critical eye of someone who knew horses well. “What’s his treatment and prognosis?”
Kenna hung the halter she’d been holding on the hook outside the stall. “He’s on a regiment of meds and light exercise. Some days are better than others. But he’ll never perform again.”
“A shame he was afflicted so young.”
“He’s twenty, which is no spring chicken.” A surge of fresh pain caused her voice to crack. “Still, I thought we’d have two or three more good years together.”
Prematurely retiring Zenith had done more than wreak havoc with Hoof Feat’s upcoming performance schedule; it had created a giant rift deep in Kenna’s soul that nothing would mend.
“You’ve been together a long time,” Channing said.
“Nearly ten years. I bought him right before I left home on my first tour.” She still remembered the day. She’d been fresh-faced, naive, barely old enough to vote and mad as heck at her mom, who’d gotten married a week earlier to Kenna’s first stepdad. “I trust Zenith with my life, which is more than I can say about most people. Replacing him won’t be easy.”
“You check out those pictures I sent yet?”
He’d texted Kenna while she was on the road this morning. His buddy had a horse for sale that he claimed was once used for trick riding.
“I did. He’s a looker,” Kenna conceded. “Guess I’ll find out this week if he has any potential.”
“You contacted the owner, then?”
“I talked to his wife and told her we’d set up a time for me to come out once I have a better idea of my schedule.” There was an abundance of wedding-related activities planned for the weeks leading up to her mom’s wedding, all requiring Kenna to muddle through with a smile on her face. “Any chance you’d go with me? I could use a second set of eyes.”
“You bet. Afternoons are better for me.”
“Mom has some stuff planned for us tomorrow—dress fittings, wedding shopping...” She tried to hide her done-this-twice-before lack of excitement. “What about the next day? Or Wednesday?”
“Tuesday works. Consider it a date.”
A date. She tried not to react. Surely the two small words were a figure of speech and meant nothing.
In another life, had circumstance been different, their high school crush might have developed into something more. But it hadn’t and their brief history was exactly that: history.
At least until recently it was. She and Channing had spent more time together than usual during her last few visits home. Kenna’s mom had insisted Kenna accompany her to several events at the arena to watch Beau, and Channing happened to be there. Then there was that one time they’d all four gone to dinner. Being with him, sitting next to him at the table, had reminded her of what a great guy he was and how much she’d once liked him. Okay, still liked him.
“How are sign-ups coming along?” he asked.
“Good. I’m at my class size limit for the twelve-and-under age group. And I’m pleased to say I have one boy registered. The thirteen-and-older group is about half-full. But there’s still plenty of time.”
In exchange for Zenith and Snapple’s temporary accommodations, Kenna had agreed to give trick-riding lessons two weekends during her month long stay. The arrangement was a mutually beneficial one. Her horses would be well cared for and the arena received a cut of her fees.
The potential for publicity wouldn’t hurt either of them. When Kenna left the morning after her mom’s wedding—and she would leave then, make no mistake; Kenna refused to hang around and witness the inevitable train wreck—she’d hopefully have added one or two new names to Hoof Feat’s client roster.
The next second her phone pinged, and she checked the screen. “Mom just pulled into the parking lot.”
Kenna gave her horses a lingering last look, every cell in her body screaming at her to stay. During these few moments with them and Channing, she’d been able to pretend everything was fine and her mom wasn’t courting yet another disaster.
Channing walked along beside her, briefly extending her reprieve. “You never said, why can’t you use Snapple? He’s young and healthy and seems docile enough.”
“He’s what I call a ninety-five-percenter,” Kenna said. “Great ninety-five percent of the time. It’s the remaining five percent you have to worry about. Every once in a while, for no apparent reason, he gets spooked and takes off running. I can’t have that in a performance horse. My safety, and the safety of my teammates and my students, depends on it.”
“What are you going to do with him?”
“I haven’t decided.”
The arena entrance came into sight. Channing took her through a side gate marked Employees Only. Inside, they navigated a narrow aisle that emptied into an open area swarming with activity. Warm April sunshine beat down on the noisy and restless crowd milling about or filling the stadium seats. The smell of livestock mingled with popcorn and people to create the unique rodeo scent Kenna would know anywhere.
“I may know a buyer for Snapple, if you’re interested,” Channing said.
“What kind of buyer?”
Kenna wouldn’t sell the young gelding to just anyone. He needed a strong and experienced owner. He also needed someone patient with a gentle but firm hand who’d help him overcome his fears.
“The gal I’m thinking of is a competitive trail rider. You’d like her. If you want, I can put the two of you in touch.”
“Let me think on that, if you don’t mind.”
“I’ll text you her name and website. You can check her out.”
Channing clearly understood Kenna’s reservations without her having to go into detail. It was nice. Not for the first time, she wondered why no woman had snatched him up.
“Thanks for everything.” She put a hand on his arm.
“Anytime.”
It was, Kenna realized, their first physical contact in fourteen years—they hadn’t touched even once since that high school dance and their kiss. He’d filled out, the muscles beneath his shirtsleeve more pronounced than she remembered. He’d grown taller, too. She had to raise her chin several notches to meet his gaze.
“There you are, kitten!”
Inwardly, she cringed at the childhood nickname. Outwardly, she manufactured a smile and pivoted. “Hi, Mom.”
The smile faltered. Gracie Hewitt-Jacobson-Cordova-soon-to-be-Sutter—Kenna had to constantly remind herself of the many names or she’d lose track—wasn’t alone. She came toward them, balancing Beau’s eight-month-old daughter, Skye, on her hip. Yes, Kenna was about to become stepsister to a baby, one young enough to be her own child.
“We’ve been looking for you.” Kenna’s mom raised the baby’s hand and shook it in something resembling a wave. “Say hi to your big sister. And Uncle Channing, too.”
Uncle Channing?
“He was about to head to the livestock pens,” Kenna said when her mom reached them. No way would she force him to stay.
He shrugged. “I’m in no hurry.”
“Wonderful!” Kenna’s mom beamed. “Me, my maid of honor and Beau’s groomsman all together and watching my handsome fiancé.”
Kenna blinked at her mom in disbelief. “Groomsman?”
“Channing. Can you believe it?”
She turned around to face him, attempting to mask her surprise. “You’re in the wedding?”
“I thought you knew.”
“No...” Her voice trailed off. “I didn’t.”
The news bothered her, even though it shouldn’t. Maybe because she’d begun thinking of the time they’d spend together as a refuge from the constant chaos of her mom’s wedding.
Well, obviously that wasn’t going to happen. Just like her, he was smack-dab in the middle of things—for better or worse.
CHANNING STOOD BACK as Kenna’s mom wrapped her in a fierce maternal embrace, narrowly avoiding being knocked over. The woman could be a force.
“I’ve missed you so much, kitten,” Gracie cried. “I can’t believe you’re home for an entire month.”
Frankly, Channing couldn’t believe it, either. Kenna usually blew in and out of town like a bank robber on the run. If not for her horse being sidelined, this trip would be no different.
“I’ve missed you, too, Mom.”
Channing swore he heard a trace of emotion in her voice. Interesting. Perhaps Kenna wasn’t as cool and indifferent as she wanted people to think.
At a sharp squawk of alarm, Gracie extracted herself from the hug and peered down at baby Skye. “Oops! Sorry, cutie-pie. Are you okay? Didn’t mean to trap you.”
“Hey, you.” Kenna aimed a bemused smile at her soon-to-be stepsister and reached out a hand. “Those are mine.”
Skye had somehow managed to snatch Kenna’s sunglasses during the hug and promptly stuck them in her mouth. Kenna gently pried them from the baby’s tight grasp and, without missing a beat, wiped the drool off with the hem of her shirt.
“She’s such a little dickens,” Gracie said. “Just like you at that age.”
Kenna rolled her eyes.
“What?” Gracie asked, dragging the word out.
Kenna slipped on her now-dry sunglasses. “No childhood stories. We had a deal.”
“Well, you were a dickens. And utterly adorable. How can I not gush about you as a baby?”
It seemed to Channing that Gracie was trying a little too hard with Kenna. He knew from Beau how desperate she was for her daughter to accept him and Skye into the folds of their small family. According to Beau, that first conversation between Kenna and Gracie had gone something like this:
Gracie: “Kitten, I’m dating someone new.”
Kenna: “No offense, Mom, you’re always dating someone new.”
Gracie: “It’s Beau. The man you introduced me to at the rodeo arena.”
Kenna: “Beau! He’s, like, twenty years younger than you!”
Gracie: “Nineteen. And he’s asked me to marry him.”
Kenna: “Mom, are you crazy! It’s only been what? Five months? Six?”
Gracie: “Yes, but we love each other. Oh, and you should know he has an eight-month-old daughter he just found out about.”
Kenna: “A daughter!”
Gracie: “The mother practically abandoned her. What was he to do?”
Kenna: “I don’t know, Mom. Postpone your wedding? Not marry you at all? Let’s be honest, you have a terrible track record.”
Gracie: “This time is different.”
Kenna: “Are you ready to be a mother again at your age?”
Gracie: “My age! You make me sound ancient. I’m only forty-eight.”
Kenna: “A baby is demanding. Plus, you work. Can you manage everything?”
Gracie: “You worry too much. Everything’s going to be fine. Oh, and of course I want you to be my maid of honor.”
Kenna: “If I say no, will you call off the wedding?”
Gracie: “You’re so funny. See you soon. The wedding’s April twenty-fifth.”
While Channing hoped Kenna would give Beau a chance, he didn’t blame her for how she felt. Gracie did have a long history of making poor relationship decisions after her first husband died, decisions resulting in two failed marriages. That had to be hard for Kenna to watch over and over. He’d immediately agreed to her suggestion of exchanging trick-riding classes for boarding her horses, not because it benefitted them both but because she could probably use a friend in the coming weeks.
There were times he wanted to be more than that to her and considered testing the waters. Then he’d shake off the impulse. Kenna’s performance schedule kept her constantly traveling, and he had no interest in a long-distance relationship.
More than that, now wasn’t the time; his parents were retiring soon, and the arena was having its worst ever year financially. He needed to stay focused, not be distracted worrying about what his girlfriend was up to during their lonely nights apart or taking weekends off to see her when he needed to be home attending to business.
“We’d better hustle,” Gracie chirped. “The bull riding’s about to start.”
Kenna sent Channing an apologetic look. “Seriously. There’s no need to tag along.”
He grinned. “I’m your pass to the VIP section.”
Gracie gave a whoop and lowered Skye into the stroller. “Did you hear that, cutie-pie? We get front row seats to watch Daddy.”
“Thank you,” Kenna added softly. She walked alongside her mom, who pushed the stroller.
Channing noticed Kenna dragging her feet, either from weariness—she had driven a long way from Kingman—or lack of enthusiasm. Both, possibly.
“We’re going to have so much fun.” Gracie paused from pushing the stroller long enough to sling an arm around Kenna’s shoulders and give a squeeze. “Don’t forget about the dress fitting tomorrow at Bellisima—that’s the bridal shop at Wishing Well Springs. We can tour the wedding barn when we’re done if you want. It’s gorgeous. And the miniature Western town is simply charming. We’re having our pictures taken there after the wedding.”
“Sure, Mom. Whatever you want.”
Channing had heard more enthusiasm from the crews dispatched to clean the livestock pens after a rodeo. In Kenna’s defense, her dad had been one of the good ones, and she’d loved him with her whole heart.
He’d known Mr. Hewitt as well as a teenager could know the father of a girl who was always at his family’s rodeo arena. The man had been easygoing, friendly, attentive to his wife and daughter, supportive of Kenna and well liked. When he got mad, he had good reason. He also wasn’t so egotistical that he couldn’t admit when he was wrong.
At fourteen, Channing hadn’t appreciated those qualities in an individual like he did now. Gaining business experience, taking over more and more management responsibilities as his parents’ retirement neared, had taught him a lot about people.
He wished he’d done more for Kenna when she lost her dad. They’d been in the beginnings of a high school romance. But she’d pulled away afterward, consumed by grief, and he, in his naivete, had failed to be there for her. As a result, they’d never gotten back to the place they once were.
At the entrance to the VIP section, Channing signaled the ticket monitor to admit them. The young woman nodded and swung open the gate.
“This way, ladies.” He motioned to a small section of seats reserved for the family’s use.
Gracie went first but then stopped. “I should probably sit on the end, what with the baby and stroller. You two go ahead.” She moved to the side.
“After you.” Channing waited for Kenna to precede him.
She had just passed him when Gracie said, “Channing, why don’t you go in first? That way, Kenna and I can sit together.”
The remark earned him another apologetic look from Kenna. “You mind?”
“Not in the least.”
She backed up against the first seat in order for him to pass. There wasn’t much room, and their knees bumped. At the last second, she raised her gaze to his. He wished he could see behind her sunglasses. What he did get was a close-up of her lovely Mona Lisa mouth, a glimpse of the gold charm dangling from a chain around her neck and a slight whiff of something flowery. Shampoo, maybe? Or lotion?
His senses went on high alert, and he became acutely aware of everything about her. Even in cowboy boots, the top of her head barely reached his chin. If she were to remove her ball cap, the black hair she’d shoved through the hole in the back would topple in thick waves to the middle of her back. The tank top she wore showed off tanned and toned arms with a hint of muscle from years of gymnastics and horse riding.
Kenna may not be girlie girl on the outside, but the peach lip gloss, gold charm and flowery scent told a different story.
A loud blare from a nearby speaker roused Channing from his Kenna-induced daze. Clearing his throat, he shuffled to his seat.
She followed, dropping down beside him. She brought that incredible scent with her. Channing decided it must be roses.
“These are great seats,” she said. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” And it was.
He had to remind himself she’d be leaving in a month and not lose himself to the old attraction that resurfaced whenever they were together. For him, anyway. He wasn’t entirely sure she reciprocated. Once in a while, he thought she did. She let her glance linger only to look away the next second.
Gracie unfastened the multitude of buckles securing Skye in the stroller and lifted the baby onto her lap. Snaking her hand into a large bag behind the stroller, she extracted a bottle filled with juice.
“Here you are, cutie-pie.”
Skye grabbed the bottle with both hands and stuffed it in her mouth.
“You’re good with her,” Kenna said, watching her mom fuss over Skye.
“I’ve had plenty of practice with little girls, thanks to you. Here, want to hold her?”
Kenna stiffened. “No. That’s okay.”
Gracie ignored her protest and deposited the baby in Kenna’s lap.
She held on—she didn’t have a choice. Skye stared at Kenna over the bottle, her expression dubious.
“Has Beau heard from her mother lately?” Kenna asked, readjusting the baby to a less precarious position.
Gracie lifted a slim shoulder. “Not since last week. She insists she wants Beau to be Skye’s primary caregiver.”
“Have they signed an agreement yet? What about child support? Visitation?”
“They’ll get around to that. Next time she’s in town.”
“Not before the wedding? You’re going to be Skye’s stepmom and her co-primary caregiver.”
“There you go again.” Gracie straightened and patted Kenna’s leg. “Worrying over nothing.”
While not exactly nothing, Channing took Gracie’s remark to mean her choices were none of Kenna’s business.
“Beau is a wonderful dad,” She continued. “And I love babies.” She turned toward the chutes and cheered with the rest of the crowd. “They’re getting ready to start.”
Clanging, banging and shouting accompanied the bulls being herded down the narrow passage and into the chutes. Long-legged cowboys with numbers pinned to their backs straddled fences or talked in small clusters. Others, the first to compete, checked safety equipment, evaluated the bulls and readied themselves to ride.
Kenna pulled Skye closer and hunkered down into her seat. Channing noticed her chewing on her lip and assumed the conversation with her mom was far from over.
He remembered the day almost four months ago when Beau called and asked for the day off. A barrel racer named Lora Leigh whom he’d briefly dated had appeared unannounced at his double-wide trailer. She had a baby in tow, and claimed Beau was the father. A week later, after the positive DNA test results were returned, she’d left without Skye. According to Beau, Lora Leigh had insisted she was on the road competing professionally and unable to provide their daughter with the stability and attention she needed. Beau had a job and a place to live.
He also had Gracie, though they’d only been dating a few months when Beau learned he was a dad. Honestly, Channing had figured Beau and Gracie were done for. Few women in her position would have stuck around. But she had, and that was the main reason Channing gave the two of them a fighting chance.
Grumpy Joe’s booming voice carried across the arena. The arena’s longtime announcer welcomed the crowd to Bring the Fury Bull Riding and explained the arena rules. “We’re here to have fun, folks, so let’s give these brave young men a round of applause.”
Gracie suddenly leaped to her feet. “There’s Beau!” She sat back down at Kenna’s urging and reached for Skye’s hand. Shaking it high over the baby’s head, she said, “Wave to Daddy,” in that high-pitched voice Channing often heard women use when talking to babies.
Beau entered the arena along with the other bullfighter. Both men wore colorful tie-dyed shirts and neon purple suspenders with ragged cut-off denim shorts. They’d stuck turkey feathers in the bands of their cowboy hats and painted their faces with clown makeup. Cheers rose from the stands—audiences loved the comical bullfighters’ antics, which were used to minimize tense situations and keep riders safe by distracting the bull. It took courage and skill to avoid injury or worse. Channing had a lot of respect for them.
Beau didn’t disappoint his fans and executed a wobbly bent-legged cartwheel on his way to the center of the arena. His cohort rolled a bright blue barrel with the bottom removed. They were joined by the cowboys, men on horseback tasked with herding the bulls out of the arena once the ride was over and, if needed, hauling the riders off the bull once their eight seconds were up.
Channing had seen hundreds, if not thousands, of rodeos in his career, so he let his attention shift to Kenna. At her curious glance, he nodded toward the baby.
“You’re not so bad with her yourself.”
“Kids are okay, I guess,” she admitted.
“Just not when they’re your stepsister?”
“I feel sorry for her. We’re both in circumstances beyond our control.”
He didn’t worry about Gracie hearing them. Her attention was riveted on Beau, who, at that moment, was diving into the barrel in an effort to evade a charging bull.
“There are a bunch of reasons this...” Kenna paused and then whispered, “This marriage is doomed like the others.”
“I agree they have some challenges.”
“Challenges? They have mountains to climb of the Everest variety.”
“Every couple does.”
“They aren’t every couple.” Kenna absently removed the now empty bottle of juice from Skye’s fingers.
Channing found himself fascinated by her and the baby. He wouldn’t have pegged her as the maternal type. Yet, she obviously had the instincts, whether or not she wanted to admit it.
“They’re in love,” he said, leaning in to be heard over the cheering crowd. “Isn’t that what really counts?”
Kenna withdrew as if he’d spewed fire at her and even went so far as to shield the baby.
“Are you saying you support this marriage?”
“Beau’s my employee and my friend. Naturally, I support him.”
She shook her head, her lovely mouth flattened into a thin line.
Channing said nothing. He knew when to continue pressing his point and when to shut up. This was clearly the latter.
