The Rebel Cowboy's Baby
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Sasha Summers
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CHAPTER ONE
“DON’T LOOK. IT will only encourage him.” Brooke kept her eyes on the road in front of her. She could all but feel the eyes of the passengers in the truck next to them staring at her—waiting. He can just keep on waiting. She hadn’t had enough coffee to deal with Audy Briscoe yet. He required at least three cups. She’d only had time to have one.
Brooke glanced at her watch. Her little sister, Tess, was almost ten minutes late now. At the rate the late drop-off line was moving, she’d miss her first period altogether. “I can’t wait until you get your driver’s license.” Then she wouldn’t be stuck in the drop-off lane of Garrison High School, needing coffee, while doggedly ignoring the man in the truck next to her.
“Like you’re going to let me drive.” Tess laughed. “Why drive when I can walk, though, right?” Tess did a spot-on impersonation of Brooke.
“I might have said that a time or two, huh?” Brook glanced at her little sister, smiling.
“Um, maybe, yeah.” Tess paused. “Still, I am sorry about this morning. I know you have your early appointment this morning and you need more coffee.”
Her little sister knew her so well. Brooke reached over and took her hand. “It’s not a big deal, kiddo.” She winked. In the grand scheme of things, going without coffee to get Tess to school was a mere inconvenience. A little one at that. Definitely not something worthy of starting the day off tense or crotchety. She took a deep beath, teasing, “It’s not like I haven’t slept through my alarm once or twice—or ten times.”
“I guess. But I know you have other things to do—” Tess broke off. “Oh, nooo... Beau waved, Brooke. He waved. How can I ignore that? I mean, I can’t, can I?”
“No.” Beau was Audy’s younger brother. Poor kid had to be mortified by his older brother’s behavior. At least, I hope he is. “That would be rude.” Brooke was pretty sure having Hank Williams’s “Your Cheatin’ Heart” blasting from your pickup truck was rude, however. And that’s just what Audy was doing. The base was so loud, her seats were vibrating. Audy didn’t seem to grasp the current reality of their location: the drop-off line at the high school versus a rodeo or honky-tonk. Then again, he’d always been really good at living in his own little world.
“Oh...oh, wait, and Audy. Now Audy is waving, too. Brooke? Even his giant dog is looking at us.” The panic in Tess’s voice was endearing.
And wrong.
It wasn’t a secret that she and Audy didn’t get along. Everyone knew that Brooke could not stand Audy Briscoe. But that was because she and Audy had a long history, one her little sister had nothing to do with. Tess shouldn’t get caught up in the middle. “It’s okay, Tess. You can wave. Be neighborly.” Brooke smiled at her.
Tess waved. “That dog is huge. They must be really crammed in there. I wonder why Beau is riding with his big brother? He normally drives his own truck.” She chattered on. “It’s so pretty, Brooke. His truck, I mean. He got it this year after he got that scholarship to University of Texas. Pretty cool, right? He’s only a junior. He leaves next summer for Austin. I bet that’ll be a big change from Garrison.”
It would be a change. Not everyone who left Garrison stayed gone. I know that all too well. But she was exactly where she needed to be, doing what she needed to be doing. And right now, that was waiting. They were next in line—the front door of the school was in sight. All Brooke had to do was sign the tardy clipboard that Vice Principal Gutierrez was holding. She took her foot off the brake and edged forward—but Audy’s large black truck cut in front of her and slammed on the brakes.
Brooke stomped on the brake, threw her right arm out to protect Tess and winced as her 1952 Chevrolet Bel Air slid. Her car, Betsy, was old, solid metal—a tank, basically. Not the sort of vehicle that could stop on a dime. But Betsy managed not to crash into Audy’s truck. Barely. “That man... That man.” Her hands tightened on the steering wheel as a whole string of less-than-flattering descriptors flashed through her brain.
But Tess was visibly rattled. “He didn’t even use his blinker.”
Vice Principal Gutierrez walked around the driver’s side of Audy’s truck, scowling, holding the clipboard toward the driver’s window.
“Do you think he’s in trouble?” Tess asked. “Mr. Gutierrez can be really scary when he gets mad. He looked mad. I bet he’s giving Audy a talking-to. He should, anyway.”
“Sadly, I think Vice Principal Gutierrez lost his ability to discipline Audy once he graduated.” Not that Audy had listened or cared even when he was in school. If anything, his behavior had earned him more bragging rights. He’d loved getting in trouble—Audy Briscoe had loved getting attention. He still did.
“Well, Mr. Gutierrez should talk to him anyway. That was so not cool.” Tess crossed her arms over her chest. “Like, seriously. We could have hit his truck and, according to my driver’s ed teacher, it would have been our fault since we’d rear-ended him.”
Brooke smiled. Even in the midst of her outrage, her little sister was all practicality. “It’s okay, Tess, but you’re right he is not cool.” She hurried to add, “Audy, I mean. Beau seems pretty cool.” She had absolutely no reason to pick on Beau Briscoe. By all accounts, the youngest Briscoe was a sweet kid. Good grades. Polite. Helpful around the community. And Tess had a little crush on the boy.
“Beau’s not at all a jerk,” Tess confirmed, gushing. “He’s...he’s...nice.”
Brooke gave Tess a quick look. Her sister was red cheeked, leaning to peer out her window—watching as Beau climbed down and out of Audy’s truck. Okay, maybe not so little.
“Don’t let this ruin your day,” Brooke said, relieved when Audy’s big black truck finally drove off. She pulled up, put the car in Park and turned. “Morning, Mr. Gutierrez. It’s my fault. I slept through my alarm.” Brooke shrugged.
“No problem.” Mr. Gutierrez smiled. “It happens. Take this to your first-period teacher, Tess. Go straight to class now, so you don’t miss anything.”
Brooke handed the pass to her little sister. “See you after.”
Tess nodded and slid from the car, slamming the door. “Bye.” She hurried down the walkway and inside the high school.
“I spoke to Mr. Briscoe about that little stunt.” Mr. Gutierrez shook his head. “I keep thinking that boy will grow up.”
“Oh, I gave up on that years ago.” She smiled, signing the clipboard then handing it back. “But I appreciate the effort.”
He grinned. “Have a good day, Miss Young.”
“You, too.” She waved, waited for him to step back onto the curb and drove around the curved driveway to the stop sign—where Audy Briscoe had pulled over and was leaning against the side of his truck, arms crossed, cowboy hat tipped forward, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. His massive dog leaned out the window, tongue lolling out and ears perked up.
What now?
She had a stop sign, she didn’t exactly have a choice in the matter. But she seriously considered ignoring the sign and pulling through the intersection just to avoid the now-advancing cowboy with the all-too-cocky grin on his undeniably handsome face.
Handsome might be an understatement. Audy Briscoe had Paul Newman good looks. Crystal-blue eyes, dark brown hair, dimples in both cheeks, a dimple in his chin and the I-work-out physique that drew all sorts of admiration.
“Morning, Brooke,” Audy said, tipping his hat and stepping forward. He bent, resting his hands on the window frame of her car. “Mr. Gutierrez got me thinkin’ I might owe you an apology.”
“Oh?” She barely glanced his way. “Well...go on.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“That’s what you’re apologizing for?” Her knuckles were white from the death grip she had on the steering wheel. “You didn’t upset me.”
He shrugged. “I didn’t think so. Your sister waved us on, so—”
“Tess?” Brooke’s gaze darted up at him. “My little sister was waving good morning, nothing more. Being neighborly, is all.”
“I was trying to catch your eye.” He ran a hand along his stubbled jaw.
“I hadn’t noticed.” She stared out the front windshield. “I’m sure you need to get wherever it is you’re in such a hurry to get to, so I’ll say good morning.” She waved. “That was a good-morning wave.”
Audy chuckled. “Duly noted.” He stepped back, tipping his hat again. “You have a good day, now, Brooke.”
She didn’t spare him another look. She rolled forward, turned left onto School Street and headed down to Old Towne Books & Coffee. The only thing that was going to get her morning back on track was some coffee—and a lot of it. She had just enough time before her early-morning trim and color arrived at the salon. Brooke parked Betsy, exchanged morning pleasantries with the town librarian out for her morning run and headed inside the bookshelf-lined coffee shop.
“Morning, Brooke.” Hazel Dertz smiled warmly from her place behind the counter. “What can I get you? We have some new dark roast that’s heaven and Ryan made good fresh cinnamon almond scones, too.”
“Good?” Ryan asked, hugging his wife from behind. “I thought you said they were delicious.”
“I did.” Hazel tilted her cheek up for her husband’s kiss. “Let me start again. Ryan made some delicious cinnamon almond scones. You should definitely get one.”
“Much better.” Ryan kissed her cheek and let her go.
“Sold.” Brooke suppressed a grin. Hazel and Ryan were newlyweds and it showed. One of them was always making an excuse to give the other a hug, touch or quick kiss. Even without having adequate caffeine in her system to function, it was impossible to deny just how adorable they were. “Coffee. Hmm... Which has more caffeine? The dark roast or a regular with an espresso shot? I need the one with the most. Maybe two.”
“Uh-oh.” Hazel’s nose wrinkled. “Rough morning?”
“You could say that.” Brooke smiled. “More unpleasant than anything.”
“Want to talk about it?” Hazel asked, putting a scone into a white paper bag.
“Yeah, Brooke,” the deep voice at her back made her jump. “Want to talk about it?”
She knew that voice. She knew the voice and heard the not-so-subtle hint of amusement coloring his words. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were following me.” She turned. “Audy.”
“Guilty.” Audy chuckled. “And I needed some coffee.”
Brooke suspected he’d come for coffee and overheard just enough to think he was the topic of conversation. She stood, arms crossed over her chest, and waited. What are you up to?
“I realized I hadn’t apologized.” He hooked his thumbs in the belt loops of his painted-on dark blue jeans.
She blinked. He’d followed her to apologize? You are definitely up to something.
“But now I’m curious, too. You had a rough morning?” He paused, those clear blue eyes sweeping her face. “I know it can’t be me, since you said I didn’t upset you and all.”
Brooke wasn’t going to play this game. Not now, not ever. “No, I don’t want to talk about it. Go ahead and apologize now so I won’t worry about you popping up later.”
Audy took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for—”
“That’s all,” Brooke interrupted. “That’s enough.” Over the years, Audy had apologized to her many times. He had unapologetic apologies down to a science. He’d say I’m sorry but... If there was a but attached to it, it wasn’t a real apology. “You’re sorry. That’s all I need.”
Audy was laughing.
“Brooke,” Hazel said. “Coffee, double shot of espresso and a scone.”
Brooke turned back to the counter to find Hazel and Ryan watching the exchange. Hazel was wide-eyed, Ryan looked like he was trying not to laugh. “Thank you,” she said, sliding money across the counter. “Have a great day,” she said, injecting as much sunshine into her voice as possible. She grabbed her coffee and her scone and hurried outside, to Betsy and escape. She had her coffee, her space and a full schedule of appointments over at her salon. Knowing Miss Ruth, her first appointment, there’d be no lull in the woman’s chatter for Brooke to fill. She could drink her coffee, listen to all the ins and outs and gossip of her small town, and forget all about this morning. Good plan. The day was looking up already.
AUDY BRISCOE HAD to admit Brooke Young was a fine-looking woman. He didn’t want to, of course. She was as prickly as a prickly pear cactus. Never, in all the years they’d known one another, had she given him the time of day. If anything, he was a nuisance to her. A feeling she didn’t bother trying to hide. Maybe that’s why he enjoyed getting under her skin. If he couldn’t charm her senseless, he’d get her riled up. As long as she knew that he knew she wasn’t as immune to him as she liked to pretend.
The only time he and Brooke called a truce was when Kent and Dara were around.
Kent was his best friend. Dara was Brooke’s. Somehow, someway, the two of them had fallen in love, gotten married and started a family. Through all of that, he and Brooke had remained civil to one another in their presence. Once Kent and Dara had moved to Houston, they didn’t see them as often—meaning Brooke didn’t have to bother with civility when their paths did cross.
Why she treated him like he’d done something to personally offend her, he didn’t know. “There’s just no pleasing some people,” he said, scratching his part Great Dane, part Great Pyrenees, Harvey, behind the ear. “And she is one of those people.”
Harvey made a somewhat agreeable canine sound before turning to rest his chin on the open passenger windowsill.
“Glad you agree.” Audy patted the dog on the back, stepping on the accelerator as they cruised down the long country road leading to Briscoe Ranch.
His phone rang, but he ignored it. It was probably his big brother, Forrest, wondering why he was taking so long. Or his other brother Webb texting him to complain about Forrest. His sister, Mabel, was off working in Wyoming—so she wouldn’t be calling. Or it was Uncle Felix, finally remembering whatever it was he needed from the store that he couldn’t quite remember when Audy had left to take Beau to school this morning.
Right now, it was Harvey and him, the wide-open road, peace and quiet.
Brooke wasn’t the only one who’d had a rough morning. First Forrest, then Beau, then Mr. Gutierrez, and then, finally, Brooke Young. Every single one of them seemed to feel he needed a talking-to about something he was doing wrong. The poor example he set, his music, his driving, his waving...
But he always listened to his music that loud, he liked it that way. He didn’t have a single ticket on his driving record—he’d taken defensive driving more times than he could count to make sure each of them was erased. The waving?
It’s possible Brooke’s sister didn’t understand I was wanting to slide in front of them...
But there was no need for Beau to have slammed the truck door so hard he all but knocked it off its hinges. That boy was too much like Forrest. Too uptight. Too worried about what everyone else thought. Too caught up in schedules and action plans and goals and all the little things that sucked away all the spontaneity and excitement in life.
“At seventeen, I was too busy making memories to sweat the small stuff.” He sighed, draping his right arm along the back of the truck’s bench seat.
Harvey glanced back over his shoulder at Audy, his long plume of a tail thumping against the seat.
“I know.” Audy nodded. “My little brother needs to learn how to live a little. Live in the moment. Maybe I can give him some pointers on that?” He patted Harvey’s back again. “Forrest would love that.” He chuckled.
Harvey yawned.
Audy’s phone started ringing again, but he turned off the ringer, blasted his music and turned onto the gravel drive that led to the main house. He slowed, not wanting the rocks to ding and chip the paint on his truck. His truck was his baby. A fully restored 1986 Chevrolet K-20 Silverado Fleetside, with all the bells and whistles. Forrest said it was the only thing in the whole world Audy took pride in. Audy was pretty sure his big brother had meant that as an insult. Instead, Audy agreed.
Poor Forrest. Audy couldn’t remember a time when his big brother wasn’t acting like some uptight eighty-year-old. What did he have against having some fun? Living a little? Then again, Uncle Felix wasn’t much of a disciplinarian. It wasn’t his fault, though. He’d been a confirmed bachelor, no cares in the world, until he’d moved out here to raise the lot of them. Audy shuddered at the thought.
Poor Forrest? More like poor Uncle Felix. He’d gone from single and carefree to guardian of six kids. Six. He shuddered again.
You only get one life, so make the most of it.
Audy wasn’t sure where he’d seen the quote, but it’d spoken to him. He’d taken a good, long look at the world around him and decided he was going to do just that: make the most of every day. Audy’s risk-taking, thrill-seeking to-do list was never-ending. There was always some new thing—something that pushed the boundaries of safety and acceptability and got his adrenaline pumping. He was always ready for a challenge. Always.
The only thing he wasn’t ready for? Winding up in a situation that would saddle him with the sort of burdens and responsibility his family was always on him about. He’d grow up and do something with himself... But not yet. He had more living to do first.
With that in mind, he turned onto the barn road instead of heading back to the main house. If he got his horse, Dusty, saddled and gone before Forrest got here, he wouldn’t have to listen to another one of his big brother’s lectures. It might not start out that way—but it always turned into one. Forrest didn’t seem to know how to speak to Audy without coming across like an arrogant know-it-all.
He was parking the truck when his phone started ringing again.
“Persistent, aren’t they?” Audy said to Harvey.
Harvey yawned.
Audy pulled the phone from his pocket. Not his uncle or his brother. Not a number he recognized. Maybe something rodeo related? Maybe RJ had found out something about the snot-nose youngster pretending to be a bull rider, Sterling Dunn. No one tried to make a fool of Audy Briscoe, especially not some upstart wanting to build a name for himself. He’d been waiting for a chance to ride against the punk and, when it came, he was going—no matter how mad it’d make Forrest. Forrest didn’t get the whole bull-riding thing, which made sense since Forrest didn’t get much about Audy.
“Yello?” he answered.
“I’m looking for Mr. Audy Briscoe?” The man’s voice was brusque. “This is Giles Vincent. I’m an attorney.”
An attorney? This couldn’t be good. “What would you be looking for Audy Briscoe for?” He rested his elbow on the bed of his truck. “Is he in trouble for something?” He racked his brain for any possible mishaps.
“No. Nothing like that.” Mr. Lawyer-man paused. “Am I speaking with Audy Briscoe?”
“As long as you’re not looking for me to buy anything, sell anything, or anything along the likes, then, yes, you are speaking to Audy Briscoe.” He winked at Harvey.
Harvey rested his head on his paws, not looking the least bit amused.
“To confirm, this is Audy Briscoe? This has to do with a legal matter pertaining to Joy Adams, daughter of Dara and Kent Adams.” Lawyer-man waited. “Her co-guardianship.”
He frowned. “I signed that paper saying I’d do it, didn’t I?” Audy frowned. Hadn’t he? That was right after their daughter was born. He’d told Kent they were making a mistake, but he and Dara had laughed off all his protests and handed him a pen. “But, hold on, now. This is about paperwork, right?” The silence that followed was so loaded, Audy felt a prickle of unease race down his spine. “Why are you calling me, Mr....”
“Mr. Vincent.” The man drew in a deep breath. “I work here in Houston. I was one of Kent’s colleagues. Good man. Good friend.”
Audy nodded. The best. Kent might be doing the white-picket-fence thing, but he didn’t hold it against his best friend. Kent had the best sense of humor—always quick with a comeback or a joke. He’d managed something no one else had: Kent—and Dara—made the whole grown-up thing look decent enough. “He is,” he said.
“There is no easy way to say this, Mr. Briscoe, so I’ll get right to it. Kent and Dara Adams were in a fatal automobile accident this morning—after dropping Joy at day care.”
Audy could scarcely breathe. The world came to a screeching halt, and he wasn’t sure where the roaring in his ears was coming from—only that it was getting louder. “What?” He’d heard wrong. Or...or... Audy was gripping the side of his truck then, a surge of fury rising up in him. “Is this some sort of joke? Kent is a practical joker but this isn’t funny—”
“No, it is not funny.” Mr. Vincent sighed.
“Then tell Kent to knock it off and I’ll call him later—”
“Mr. Briscoe.” The man cut in, cool and calm and far too serious. “I realize this is somewhat of a shock. I, too, am struggling to process this sudden loss. All I can do is carry out their wishes...now that they’re gone.”
Gone. Audy focused on a tiny scratch in the paint of the truck bed. The scratch was fine. Hair-fine. So fine it was almost invisible. Kent. Dara... The man kept talking about Houston, the thunderstorm that morning and Kent swerving to avoid a fallen tree limb—he’d hydroplaned into oncoming traffic and hit head-on. The more the man talked, the bigger the scratch seemed to grow.
Why is he still talking? Audy didn’t want to picture what the man was saying. He didn’t want to think about Kent behind the wheel of the eyesore of a family SUV he’d bought when he’d found out Dara was expecting. Audy had teased him mercilessly—still teased him when he had the chance. It was what they did. Joked. Teased. Pushed buttons. He didn’t want to picture the two of them scared or panicked or...
“When do you think you can be here?” the man asked.
“There?” Audy cleared his throat and tore his gaze from the scratch. All around him, life was going on. He could hear the horses in the barn, the low rumble of conversation from the men getting ready for the day, and the distant lowing of their Red Angus cattle out to graze. The morning Texas sun, higher now, was already beating down on him—promising triple-digit heat by noon. Audy ran a hand over his face, trying to make sense of...everything. What is happening? How could this happen? Kent and Dara were good people, good parents. Things like this didn’t happen to people like them. It wasn’t right. Nothing about this was right. “Where?”
“Here. To Houston. To pick up Joy.” The way Mr. Vincent delivered the statement, it was almost like he hadn’t just uttered the most alien and horrible, life-changing words ever.
Ever.
“Um...” He was supposed to pick up Joy? His throat seemed to shrink, pulling in on itself until it was a chore to breathe let alone get words out.
“I realize this is sudden, but Joy will be placed into child protective services until you arrive. We both know Kent and Dara’s top priority was Joy. So, the sooner we get her settled, the better. Don’t you agree?” The man stopped talking.
Something clicked in Audy’s brain. Of all the words Lawyer-man had said, one stood out. It was the sort of information that eased up just a little on the tightness of his throat and the panic hammering away inside his chest. “Co-guardian.” He sighed. Yes. He wasn’t the only one who had signed the papers that day. He wasn’t the only one who’d looked at Kent and Dara like they’d lost their minds... Thankfully.
“I called you first,” Lawyer-man continued. “I will call Miss Young once we hang up. Unless, of course, you’d rather?”
He shook his head. Chances were, she wouldn’t even take his call. “No, sir.” Besides, there was no way he was going to break Brooke Young’s heart. Brooke and Dara had been best friends since...well, forever. She’d been horrified that he’d been picked as Joy’s godfather and co-guardian—something that had tickled him pink at the time. Now? He’d never, in his whole life, been so relieved. He wasn’t alone in this, she’d signed those papers, too.
“Fine. Perhaps the two of you could arrange to make the trip together?”
“Yeah.” Audy didn’t want to take a long car ride with Brooke but it made the most sense to ride together. Truth be told, he wasn’t equipped to handle this. Not the accident or the passing of his friends or being a guardian to any living thing. But Brooke? She was. If he were smart, he’d stay out of the way and let Brooke handle this. “I’ll head over to her place now—should give you just enough time to call her and...let her know.”
Mr. Giles Vincent gave Audy the address of where to meet him and hung up.
“Well, Harvey.” Audy stared up at the blue sky overhead. “Looks like it’s going to be one humdinger of a day.” It could be worse—he could be alone in this. He wasn’t. Like it or not, he and Brooke were in this together. He was pretty sure that was a good thing. Wasn’t it?
