Winning Over the Cowboy Read online

  “No. I didn’t know anyone else existed until Chase ended the kiss.” She covered her face with her hands.

  “Maybe there’s more than friendship between y’all.”

  “There can’t be. He’s my business partner.” Landry’s gaze dropped to the desk, then pinged back to meet Resa’s. “We can’t be anything more than friends. How could a pretend kiss melt my brain?”

  “Well, he is one fine cowboy.” Resa stifled a chuckle. “So did y’all talk about it?”

  “He thinks I was pretending, too, despite the fact that I snuggled up to him like dust on a miniblind.”

  Resa dissolved into giggles.

  “It’s not funny.” Landry shot her the evil eye. “Do not laugh.”

  “Sorry.” Resa’s mouth twitched. She swallowed hard, leaned back in her chair again, scrutinized Landry. “Did it freak him out like it did you?”

  “I don’t know, I was too busy being blown away.” She buried her face in her hands again. “In six weeks, we have to decide what to do with the dude ranch.”

  She stood, paced in front of Resa’s desk. “If we entertain the idea of a relationship and it doesn’t work out, how uncomfortable would that be? The awkward meter is already off the charts as it is.”

  “And besides—” her steps faltered “—I don’t trust myself. Obviously I wouldn’t know love if it kicked me in the teeth.”

  “You can’t let one loser keep you from taking a chance on love again.”

  “Look who’s talking, Miss I Don’t Date. If you think Chase is so fine, why don’t you go for him?” Something sank in her stomach. Why had she said that? She didn’t want anybody going for Chase. Especially not her friend.

  “Because I’m not interested in dating. Him or anyone.” Resa’s gaze dropped to the desk. “But we’re not talking about me. You and Chase have a close bond—through Eden. I think y’all could be a great couple.”

  “Well, I don’t.”

  “There’s a thin line between friendship and love.” Resa’s tone softened, her unseeing gaze shifting to something obviously in the past.

  “That sounded like experience talking.” Landry reclaimed her seat. “Have you ever had a friend?”

  “Once.” Resa focused on her again. “A long time ago. I thought—” She shook her head. “But he turned out not to be the man I thought he was.”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “Maybe someday.” A sad smile settled on Resa’s lips. “But in the meantime—I don’t think you should rule out more than friendship with Chase. He’s just what he seems. Solid, dependable and sweet.”

  “It can’t happen. For a whole host of reasons.” Landry leaned back in her chair. “I need you to support me on this. Help me keep things in perspective.”

  “Well.” Resa picked up her purse. “Instead of worrying about treating diseased trees tomorrow or talking about Chase, let’s drown our worries in cheeseburgers.” “And ice cream sundaes.”

  Focus on food. Focus on the dude ranch. Anything—other than Chase.

  * * *

  A massive backhoe contraption pulled a circular saw blade two and a half times as tall as a normal man. The teeth cut deep into the earth. The loud whirring made Chase’s throat vibrate.

  Dust swirled up from the ground. The air took on a cloudy haze, and he was glad Landry had insisted they wear surgical masks. As usual, she looked way too cute in hers.

  He reached a hand out toward her. She hesitated, then clasped it as they stood side by side. A current moved up his arm. Shouldn’t have touched her. But he needed her comfort, support, strength.

  Please let this work, Lord.

  The foreman pointed under a healthy tree. “See that grass wallowed down?”

  “Yes.” Was that a sign of oak wilt? Not another diseased tree. Please.

  “You’ve got wild boar activity.”

  “Aren’t they dangerous?” Landry shuddered, scanned the woods around them, as if they were being hunted.

  “Don’t worry, ma’am. The equipment will keep them away for today. But I wouldn’t come out here alone or on foot just as a precaution.” The foreman strolled back to his crew.

  She dug her phone out of her pocket, tugged her hand from his, swiped the screen. She must have it on vibrate. Her eyes lit up.

  A text? From Kyle? Frantic typing, then more swiping.

  “Yes.” She pumped her fist in the air, threw her arms around Chase.

  Just where he didn’t need her. In his arms.

  He clasped her into a quick hug, then let go. As if she had no effect on him. As if his heart wasn’t about to bust out of his chest.

  “Devree has a wedding a week from Friday, but the couple’s church basement flooded. Isn’t that awesome?” She grimaced. “I mean, it’s terrible. But they can’t have the reception there, so Devree told them about us.”

  He frowned. “Just for the reception?”

  “Maybe the wedding, too. I checked reservations on my phone. The date is open.” She did a little bounce. “Devree said their style is rustic, so they should love the dude ranch.”

  “If I agree, that is.” He blew out a breath. “Sounds like maybe we wouldn’t have to flower the place up too much if they decided to have it here.”

  “You’re such a guy.” She rolled her eyes.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” He refocused on the tree-saving equipment. “A local couple?”

  “With local guests. We need to let them have it here. Their entire future is at stake. And if we don’t, we’ll be the dude ranch that ruined their lives. Word will get around.”

  “I’ll think on it.” He ignored her dramatics.

  Getting ready for a wedding. Decorating. And keeping his distance from Landry. Could he really do this?

  His gaze landed on the squashed grass at the base of the healthy tree. And an idea took shape. They might end up doing this wedding, but he had something to bring to the table, too.

  Chapter Eleven

  The morning spent researching gave Chase a stiff neck. But he had enough facts to back up the idea he’d had yesterday. He closed his browser. Then he grabbed his keys, locked his cabin, headed for the ranch house.

  He opened the kitchen door. With her back toward him, Landry stirred something in a large mixing bowl, humming. Her favorite hymn—“The Old Rugged Cross.” Her hair covered by her typical white shower cap.

  Don’t look at her. Just share the idea. Maybe since she was busy, she wouldn’t even turn around.

  “I have an idea.”

  She whirled around. The bowl slipped from her hands and bounced on the hardwood, spewing thick batter. It hit the corner of the cabinet door and shattered among globs of goo. Next to her bare feet.

  “Don’t move.” He held his hands up.

  “I’m fine—just get me some shoes.”

  “Why aren’t you wearing any?” He tiptoed close.

  “I bake better barefoot. And if you hadn’t snuck up on me, that cake would be in the oven instead of on the floor.”

  “All I did was come in the kitchen. I can’t help if my nearness shakes you up.” If only that were the case. He scooped her up.

  “What are you doing?” She pushed against his chest.

  “Rescuing a damsel in distress. I have to save those pretty little feet.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Put me down or you’ll be in distress.”

  “Stop struggling or you’ll make me drop you.”

  “Put me down.”

  “Shh. What will our guests think? I’m not putting you down with those bare feet until I get you out of the kitchen.”

  Her mouth clamped shut, and she stopped struggling. Her hands slid up his shoulders, fingers linked behind his neck. Lips close.

/>   Stop looking. His heart couldn’t afford another kiss. He shouldered the door open.

  “Hello.” She socked him in the shoulder. “Put me down.”

  Though his arms ached at the thought of letting her go, he complied.

  She started for her private quarters.

  “Hey, wait. Where are you going?”

  “To get shoes. I have a mess in the kitchen and a cake to start over.”

  “I need to tell you my idea first.”

  “What?”

  “A compromise. I’ll agree to weddings here at the ranch if you’ll agree to wild boar hunts. Hunters come from all over to hunt wild boar, and we’d be doing Texas a service since they’re a menace.”

  “They tear up the land and they’re dangerous.” She crossed to the great room, settled in her favorite chair.

  He followed. “Exactly.”

  “Wild boars only.” She jabbed a finger at him. “Not deer.”

  “Boars only.” He raised his right hand as if making a solemn vow.

  “How will we keep trigger-happy hunters from going after the deer?”

  “We’ll set up hefty fines.”

  “But we can’t have weddings with gunshots going off in the background.”

  “Guess you never heard of a shotgun wedding?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “I’m serious.”

  “We’ll schedule them around each other. The front part of the property and ranch house for weddings and guests. The back eighty for hunts. Maybe eventually, we could build cabins for the hunters.”

  “This could work.” Her eyes lit up. “You’re brilliant.” She jumped up and hugged him.

  And for two seconds, it was a celebratory friend hug. But then it hit him.

  No more two-stepping around it. Chase had to figure out a way to wrangle Landry’s heart right out of Kyle’s grip. The kiss had sealed it for him. He was in love with her. No denying it.

  “I’d better get some shoes on and tackle the kitchen.” She stood, went to her quarters.

  “I’ll meet you there.” He had to up his game with her. No matter the toll her nearness took on his heart.

  First on the agenda—they’d never gotten around to the second fishing trip she’d requested. Tomorrow. He’d figure out a way to make it happen.

  * * *

  “A-a-a-achoo.” Landry covered her face with her hands.

  “Bless you.” Chase set down his tackle box. “You getting sick? Kind of sound stuffy.”

  “I think it’s allergies.” Why exactly had she suggested this fishing expedition? Because she hoped they could backtrack—back to easy camaraderie. But she was much too aware of Chase.

  “Might be a summer cold. Maybe you should go back inside.”

  “I’m fine.” She plopped down on the dock, kicked her shoes off and plunged her feet in the river. The water was cool and inviting in the heat.

  “Keep your feet out of the water, you crazy woman.” Chase settled beside her. The dock sank a bit with his weight.

  “What fun is fishing if you can’t dip your toes in the river?” She kicked her bare feet in the water. Mostly to distract herself from him. Had she honestly thought going fishing would reverse how she felt about him?

  “If you’re sick, it’ll make you sicker.”

  “That’s an old wives’ tale.” She sneezed again.

  “Just in case.” He laid a towel across his knees, then grabbed her legs and hauled her feet out of the water and across his lap.

  “Hey.” But his proximity upset her pulse more than him manhandling her.

  He wrapped the towel around her feet, patted them dry. “We don’t need you catching pneumonia.”

  “True.” Warmth spread through her. He cared. “Especially if we’re about to get deluged with wild boar hunters. Any bites?”

  “We have to get the news out first. I pick up the brochures and flyers we ordered next week, and I’ll hang them up around town. You added both services on the website last night, so maybe we’ll get nibbles soon. What about weddings?”

  “The engaged couple can’t align their schedules to come see our facilities until Monday. With so little time, they’ll probably use us whether they like what they see or not. And our ad will be in the weekend edition of the newspaper.” Their fishing poles lay forgotten on the dock.

  This wasn’t anything like their last fishing trip. Back before they’d kissed. When they’d actually cast their lines. But Landry didn’t want to risk losing this closeness with him.

  “Once we get the brochures and flyers,” she said, “I’ll give some to Resa and distribute them around town.” The water lapped against the riverbank, and the call of birds echoed in the trees. But the peaceful surroundings couldn’t calm the Chase-induced buzzing in her veins. “Maybe we should have an open house to advertise our new options.”

  “Great idea. We’ll figure out a date and advertise. Ideally we’ll get some takers soon.”

  Him approving her ideas warmed her heart. “One problem I came up with—will we have enough rooms for a corporate hunt?”

  “I’ve done some research. Looks like most places accommodate eight hunters at a time.”

  “If we booked every room, we could sleep twenty-two men.”

  “You really don’t want more than eight hunters at one time. So I think we’ll be fine.”

  “Oh.” She tried to push through the brain fog his nearness caused.

  Over the last three weeks, they’d painstakingly built a tentative friendship. But now things could never go back to the way they were between them. Not for her, anyway. Landry had blown any hope of that when she’d allowed herself to fall for him.

  “But I don’t think we can handle large weddings.” Chase plunked a white river rock in the water.

  “Unless all of the wedding party lived locally.” She should probably move her feet. But she didn’t, enjoying his nearness. “We need to build some more cabins. Like yours.”

  “I don’t think we need to take out a loan at this point.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Once we get some cash flow coming in, we can decide which service gets the most bookings, then decide whether to build cabins for weddings or the hunting ones we talked about. Eventually, ideally, we can do both.”

  “We’ll start with local weddings or small out-of-town nuptials. Since a lot of the guests at a wedding will be married couples, we could easily sleep thirty-two.” She blew out a breath. “But most couples plan weddings months in advance. So even if we get one booked, it’ll be a while before it actually takes place. We need to decide on a deposit amount for saving our facilities for the designated date.”

  “We’ll figure it out as we go.” He patted her knee. “Will the weddings make you sad?”

  “Maybe,” she mumbled, closed her eyes, drawing in the comfort and strength of him. “But having Ally’s wedding behind me helps. And Eden loved weddings. She’d love us hosting them here.”

  “You’re right. She would.” He gazed off across the lake. “If we’re gonna fish, we need to get to it.”

  But she hated to move, to break the spell. “I guess I didn’t really want to fish. I just needed to unwind a bit. I’ve been so keyed up over going home.”

  “Happy Trails” started up, and Chase leaned back to dig his cell out of his pocket.

  “Hey, Mom. Sure. I’ll be right there.” He shoved her feet out of his lap, stood and pocketed his phone. “The McDougal family decided they’re up for a trail ride.” He picked up his rod. “You staying?”

  “I’ll be back in a bit. I have to cover the kitchen tonight so your folks can go to evening Bible study. But you can take my rod.”

  Spell broken. And a wave of loneliness hit her. As he walked away, she missed him. How could that be
? When he was within shouting distance.

  * * *

  He was almost back to the main house, but his morning walk hadn’t cleared Chase’s head at all. Spending time with Landry was getting harder every day. Their non-fishing jaunt yesterday hadn’t helped.

  Hoofbeats echoed like thunder behind him. Coming closer. Chase turned around.

  Landry emerged out of the wooded trail—still coming fast, like she might run him under.

  “Whoa, slow down.” The horse slowed as she reined her in and stopped. Hooves danced with nervous energy. Finally the palomino settled, and Landry patted her shoulder.

  “What was your hurry?”

  “I didn’t see you at first.” Her cheeks reddened. She stroked Pearl’s muzzle. “A morning ride seemed like a good idea. But I heard something. I never used to get creeped out in the woods. But now I know we have wild boars.”

  He ran his hand down Pearl’s jaw, but Landry moved at the same time, and their fingers brushed.

  All teasing went out of him. “Wild boars don’t attack horses. And attacks on humans are rare. Usually during the mating season, which is November through January.”

  “Been studying up, huh?” Her eyebrow raised.

  His ringtone started up. “Happy trails to you,” Roy Rogers and Dale Evans crooned.

  “We really need to get you a new ringtone.” Landry grinned as she reined Pearl in the direction of the barn.

  “I’m telling you, our guests like it.” He dug his cell from his pocket, read the screen.

  Paxton Miller, his brother-in-law. Were they still brothers-in-law with Eden gone? His hand shook.

  “See you later.” At least his feet still worked as he headed for the ranch house alone.

  Paxton was a great guy. He’d loved Eden completely. They’d have had a long and happy marriage if she hadn’t died. But thinking of Paxton always took Chase right back to the memory of his sister’s last day. Her last minutes. Underwater. Struggling for air.

  Stomach roiling, Chase made it to the house, stepped inside, crossed to the office. He settled in the rawhide chair, bent double, covered his face with his hands. Took several deep breaths as bile scalded the back of his throat. She was in Heaven now. No struggling or pain. He had to think of her that way. Beautiful Eden, happy and free.