The Cowboy Comes Home Read online

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  The Wild Rose Press

  www.thewildrosepress.com

  Copyright ©2008 by Rhonda Penders

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  NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.

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  CONTENTS

  The Cowboy Comes Home

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  About the author...

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  Dancing with him was different than before, though. His body had changed, harder, more muscular. He was completely unfamiliar to her, and yet, she still tingled everywhere he touched. There was a time when she knew every inch of every bit of the skin on his bones. Now he was a stranger. How could this be? How could a relationship that had been so strong and solid since they were children turn into this?

  She focused on a spot on his dark shirt instead, pulling herself out of her disturbing thoughts. “You're in Abilene, then? How's that working out?"

  "Good,” he said shortly.

  His scent drifted to her nostrils. He still wore the cologne she'd always bought him. The smell wrapped around her like an old quilt on a cold night. A strange sensation flowed through her, as if she was a plant that hadn't been watered in way too long and slowly came back to life with a good dousing. She struggled against the urge to drop her head to his chest and snuggle in.

  "You've cut your hair.” His large hand covered the middle of her back and slid up as if remembering where the thick blond mane used to hang.

  She didn't miss the disapproval in his voice. He'd loved her long hair, loved winding his fingers in it when they made love. He used to drape it over her bare back and make her promise that she'd never cut it. Her body flushed with the memory. She lifted her chin. He'd once promised her forever, too. So much for promises.

  Kudos for To Tame a Cowgirl, the first book in the Double B series!

  "If you have never read Roni Adams, be prepared to be knee deep in steam. Buck and Sara are dynamite together. The second son of the family, Buck is an extremely strong personality in this book. He goes about things with an easy confidence and albeit the fact that he quakes in his boots when it comes to his feelings for Sara, he is absolutely the kind of guy any woman would want to roll over and meet in the morning."

  ~5 shamrocks review from Kwips and Kritiques

  "Wow! This is a real sizzler. I had to keep stopping to cool down. The story is nicely paced, not too slow but not so fast that I couldn't savor the scenes and character development. I like Sara and could empathize/ identify with her but I have to admit I really fell in love with Buck. Mmmmmm-what a great hero. I had no doubts about his ability to be a good match for Sara, sexy and strong, yet tender. I want one too!"

  ~Stays on the Shelf” rating from WRDF Review

  The Cowboy Comes Home

  By Roni Adams

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  The Cowboy Comes Home

  COPYRIGHT ©

  2009 by Rhonda Penders

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Contact Information: [email protected]

  Cover Art by Angela Anderson

  The Wild Rose Press

  PO Box 708

  Adams Basin, NY 14410-0706

  Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

  Publishing History

  First Yellow Rose Edition, 2009

  Print ISBN: 1-60154-566-5

  Published in the United States of America

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to the men in my life:

  Scott, my husband, for putting up with me for close to 25 years and our amazing sons, Ian, Brennan and CJ for loving me no matter what. You are my world.

  It is also for my father, a man who never met an animal he couldn't charm. I love you, Daddy.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter One

  He was back. Beth Sampson knew without looking. She couldn't explain how she knew, even to herself, but she knew he was there. It wasn't like the hairs on her neck stood up or anything weird like that; it was more a feeling deep inside her ... that all that had been wrong was suddenly right again. The air seemed, somehow, to be infused with energy like that feeling you get when you step outside on the first, crisp morning of fall after a long, stifling, hot summer. Invigorating.

  That was the word. Invigorating. Gag.

  The Christmas music from the band, which a moment ago made her smile, now mocked her mood. She forced herself to continue dancing as if nothing had happened. Unfortunately, when her partner, Cole Pritchard, spun her around, she came face to face with reality.

  Tyler Weston had come home for Christmas.

  She knew he was coming, of course. She'd been warned, cautioned, advised by everyone in the family, the town, and everywhere else she went. The local gossip was abuzz with the excitement that the fourth Weston boy would be back on the ranch this holiday season. She half expected the front of town square to be draped with a WELCOME HOME TYLER sign. It wouldn't have surprised her, that's for sure. Everyone acted as if he was returning from war or overseas. Neither. But, apparently, she was the only one who wasn't willing to forgive and forget.

  He stood just inside the door to the LoneStar Bar and Grill. A brown leather jacket and a scruffy looking beard were a new look, but it would take more than that for her not to know it was him.

  She watched from behind Cole's shoulder as Tyler glanced around. In a minute, he'd see his three older brothers seated at their usual table with her sisters and then he'd join them. Nothing had changed in the almost two years since he'd been gone.

  Well, some things had. Cole pulled her closer and his lips pressed against her forehead. She closed her eyes. Cole was one of the good guys. Attentive and polite, he was just as handsome as any of the Weston brothers ... yet he didn't stir her. All Beth got when the redheaded rancher kissed her was a nice warm feeling—the same feeling she got when she hugged her horse. If only she could feel a tiny bit of the burning, raging desire Tyler had always stirred in her gut, then maybe the pain would go away for good.

  The song continued and Cole pulled her even closer. She sighed and wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, forcing back the errant thoughts. This was nice. Nice was safe and predictable and she wouldn't get hurt ever again.

  The song ended and Cole slid his fingers down to link with hers and squeezed. “How about another drink?"

  She nodded. “I'll go with you."

  "I'm going to make a stop first,” he nodded in the direction of t
he men's room. “I'll meet you back at the table."

  The table. The same table where Tyler would be. Joint owners of the Double B Cattle Ranch, the Westons and the Sampsons were joined at the hip, blended in such a way it was hard sometimes to figure out who was a Weston and who was a Sampson. Already, across the floor, she saw them all laughing and hugging Tyler, welcoming the prodigal son, or in this case, brother, back home to the family fold.

  She wanted to throw up.

  Her stomach churned and her heart began to speed up as she made her way from the dance floor. A low hanging strand of red garland whacked her in the face and she brushed it back with an impatient swing of her hand. Christmas. Probably the only reason he'd come home. It was enough to make her hate the season.

  Holding court at one end of the table was her older—and very pregnant—sister, Sara, and her husband, Buck, Tyler's brother. Next to them were the empty chairs she and Cole had left when they went to dance, and beside those chairs were spots for her sister Susan and Tyler's brother Teddy. She glanced to where those two performed on stage with the band.

  Lifting her chin, she reluctantly let her gaze return to the family ensemble. Cord, oldest Weston and acknowledged head of the families at the Double B, grinned from ear to ear, his large hand clasped on Tyler's shoulder as if to keep him right where he was. Though it might not show fully on his face, she figured Cord was beyond happy to have his youngest brother home, even if it was only for a few weeks. Tyler had caused immense amounts of pain to his family when he left. And broken her heart straight down the middle.

  She shook off those unwanted memories and continued her slow forward momentum to the table.

  Tyler had removed his jacket. The brown turtleneck he wore, something new she'd never in her life seen him in wear, was tucked neatly into dark jeans. His rear end filled out the denim in a way she didn't recognize. He'd gained weight. He'd always been tall and lean, bordering on too thin. Now, his waist line looked solid and his arms strained the material of his shirt. Not too much by any means. Solid, firm, well-defined came to mind.

  Beth sank her teeth into her bottom lip. He looked good. Way too good. Just her luck, he chose that moment to turn and catch her stare.

  The brown eyes that used to make her melt faster than snow in Texas bore into hers. As if she'd fallen off her horse and landed on her back, all the air rushed from her lungs; she reached out to grab the back of the chair for support, her mouth dry, as if filled with cotton balls.

  "T—Tyler,” she began and then swallowed. “Welcome Home.” Her hands clenched the back of the chair tighter, willing him not to hug her or, worse, kiss her cheek like she was an old friend.

  They weren't old friends. Friends didn't do what he did to her.

  He half smiled, sort of a lifting of one side of his lips. She was mesmerized by the new moustache, and had a sudden curiosity of how it felt. Soft or prickly? Other than a few scruffy ranch-hands who shaved only once a week, she didn't think she'd ever been around a man with a moustache and beard before. None of the Weston brothers had one; Cole was clean shaven, and so was her business partner, Grant Clark.

  Tyler shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans, the movement pulling her gaze thankfully away from his face.

  "Hi, Beth.” Thankfully, he didn't move towards her.

  The table was silent. No one at the table said a word.

  Fortunately, Cole's return with their drinks broke the tension. He handed her a glass of wine, and then slipped his arm around her waist, hand cupping her hip. Beth tried not to show her surprise. Cole had never touched her in such a possessive way, and she couldn't help but notice Tyler didn't miss the point. His gaze flicked to the other man's hand, to her eyes and then back to Cole's again. Beth held her breath, but Tyler's response was cool, disinterested. His face didn't even turn red. Two years ago, another man would never have even asked her to dance for fear of dealing with Tyler Weston's notorious wrath.

  Instead, Tyler simply held out his hand. “Pritchard."

  Cole was forced to release her to shake hands. Beth grimaced. Had that been his plan? She dismissed her thought as quick as it came. He'd made it more than clear when he left without saying goodbye that she didn't matter to him.

  Cole pulled out the chair for her. Grateful, she sank to it before her knees gave out. Next to her, Sara rested her hands on her enormous belly and eyed Tyler with a glint that made Beth nervous. Here we go, she thought.

  "So Ty, long time no see. What's the news?” Sara asked a little too casually.

  Tyler accepted the beer Cord offered and pulled out a chair at the end of the table. “Looks like you and my brother have bigger news than I could have. Congratulations. Do we know if it's a boy or girl?"

  Buck slid his arm around his wife's shoulders. “Nope. We want to be surprised."

  Beth watched as the giant cowboy kissed her sister tenderly and Sara rested her head back on her husband's shoulder. The two of them gave a new definition to the word love. Turning back, she caught Tyler's gaze on her. Warmth flooded her face. She lifted her glass and drained half the wine.

  "Hey, little girl, better slow down. What if you have to go out on a call tonight?” Cord cautioned.

  Beth set her drink down even as she shook her head. “Grant's on call the rest of the weekend. Monday, he's heading home for two weeks."

  "Who's Grant?” Tyler set his empty beer bottle down.

  Beth glared. As if he didn't know. Her friendship with the other man had been something he'd never understood. “Grant Clark, remember? I did my residency with him at Cornell. He came back here to practice with me when I took over from Doc.” She tried not to sound defensive, to keep the bitter edge out of her voice, and aimed for casual and detached like him. But the way Tyler rose one eyebrow, his classic action of annoyance, it was obvious he got the point. One for me, she thought, lifting her wine glass again.

  Cole's hand slid to her leg and squeezed. It wasn't a romantic gesture; rather, a show of support. In the months since Tyler left, she and Cole had developed a relationship. No, not a relationship, but more than a friendship. Somewhere between the two. Without saying a word, Cole was trying to make this awkward encounter with Tyler was as painless for her as possible. Tonight she had no issue with him acting as if they were a couple. Let Tyler think she'd moved on with someone far better suited for her. He'd be gone again after the holidays, and then, maybe even she and Cole could reexamine their situation.

  Tyler lifted his beer. “How's your Dad, Pritchard?"

  "Doc's traveling a lot. He's heading to Mexico right after Christmas. Says turning the practice over to Beth was the smartest thing he ever did.” He slid his arm around the back of her chair and pressed his lips to her temple. “She's terrific."

  Around the table she caught the on edge, half-hidden stares, watching her, worried if Tyler's coming home was going to send her over the edge, again. She leaned into Cole. They didn't need to waste their concern. She'd grown up and was far from the same silly girl she'd been two years ago.

  "Hey, I thought I saw you come in the door, baby brother!"

  At Teddy's loud greeting, Tyler stood up as his third brother and lead singer of the Scoundrels, hugged him. Her other sister, Susan, was close behind and enfolded Tyler in a big embrace next.

  "You look good, Ty.” She yanked on his beard. “What's with this?"

  Tyler winced and rubbed his chin. “Something different. Thought I'd try it out."

  "Looks like you're trying to hide from the law or something.” Susan took a seat next to him, her sister's sparkling blue eyes shining and red mouth curved into a warm smile.

  Cord lifted his mug of beer. “Here's to Tyler."

  Beth rolled her eyes. Unbelievable. Slowly, she picked up her near empty glass as the rest of the table lifted their drinks. In her opinion, they shouldn't be toasting him, they should be beating the living stuffing out of him.

  "Welcome home, Ty,” Cord offered with a wide grin, his eyes shining with
prideful emotion.

  "Here, here."

  The chorus of toasts, greetings and warm wishes were enough to make her want to scream. Did no one care that he'd ran away almost two years ago? He'd broken her heart, left his family high and dry and, for most of the first year was completely missing, no contact or anything. Did no one think that was a big deal anymore? They'd all been hurt and heartbroken; she'd gone through hell and back again, did everyone forget? Oh no, but it's all okay because he managed to make it home this year. What about last year? One phone call was all he'd managed. How's that for a loving brother.

  God, she couldn't wait for New Year's when he'd be gone again.

  Beth forced herself to relax, only half-listening while Tyler talked to Teddy and Susan.

  "You guys sounded great tonight. I didn't realize you still sang together.” He leaned over and scooped a chip full of salsa and took a large bite.

  Beth watched bits of tomato land in his moustache. She watched in a disturbing fascination as his tongue flicked out to lick them off.

  "I was in the holiday spirit,” Susan answered as she rose. “And decided to class up his act a bit. Anyone want anything from the bar?"

  Beth desperately wanted another wine, but didn't dare. Her head was already woozy from drinking the other one too fast. The last thing she needed was to get tipsy and end up telling Tyler what she really thought of him. Wouldn't that make for a happy family Christmas?

  She didn't want to but couldn't help listening as he explained about a new breeding program he was developing with Chase Boyd. Her eyebrow raised. Absently, she picked up her wine glass and then remembered it was empty. She set it back down. He'd been with Chase Boyd all this time? Is that where he'd been? Only six hours away. No one had told her his exact whereabouts, only that he'd been in touch. Not that she'd ever asked or even wanted to know by then. So much for his big talk of traveling the world, she mused to herself. Hah. He'd only made it to Abilene, what a world traveler!