A Cowboy’s Destiny: The McGavin Brothers Read online

  “And send it to me,” Rory said. “I want a copy.”

  Tansy set the drinks on Jenny’s tray. “Any chance I can get a copy?”

  “Aye, but I don’t have your—”

  “I have it,” Rory said. “Give me your phone and I’ll send it to me and to her.”

  Tansy smiled. That had worked out nicely. Didn’t hurt to exchange digits, even if he was only here for a few days.

  Orders came in thick and fast after that and she didn’t have another chance to talk to either of the brothers. Judging from their animated conversation, they’d enjoyed a quick response from their folks after sending the video. Some teasing must have been going on, because both men did a lot of laughing as they drank their ale.

  “Hey, guys,” she called down to them when they’d almost finished. “Want another?”

  “Better not,” Rory said. “Aunt Kendra texted to ask if we’d be showin’ up soon so we—”

  “There he is!” Michael came out of the office wearing the men’s version of the black logo t-shirt Tansy had on. In the tight shirt he looked more like a bouncer than the GG’s co-owner. He crossed to the bar and shook hands with Aleck. “Welcome to the GG. Jenny told me you were here, but I was on a very frustrating call with our internet provider.”

  Tansy glanced at her boss. “It’s finally fixed, I hope. Jenny and I have been flying on one wing.”

  “I think we’re good. Jenny just reported that the order tablets are working again. Let me know if you still have issues upstairs.”

  “Thanks. I’ll check when my shift’s over.”

  “You have WiFi tablets for the servers?” Aleck seemed impressed.

  “We do,” Michael said. “Old West ambiance paired with the latest technology.”

  “And I’m grateful,” Tansy said. “It makes the restaurant and bar more efficient and I have WiFi in my apartment. Didn’t realize how much I relied on that until it went down last night.”

  “It should be okay, now.”

  Aleck glanced at Michael’s shirt. “That Guzzlin’ Grizzly logo is amazin’.”

  “It’s my wife Roxanne’s creation. We’re slapping it on everything. Folks love it.”

  “It’s brilliant. Do you sell the shirts?”

  “Yep. In the GG Country Store.”

  “I’ll buy one on the way out.”

  “Too late,” Rory said. “Yours is at the ranch waitin’ for you.”

  “Hey, you already bought me—”

  “The shirt’s from the GG,” Michael said. “We give ’em out to all visiting Scots.”

  “Better be careful with that kind of offer. My whole family’s liable to descend on you one of these days.”

  “I hope they do. We have plenty of shirts. We stock other colors, but your brother seemed to think you needed a black one.”

  “To go with your black hat,” Rory said.

  Tansy smiled. “That’ll make two green-eyed guys in black hats and black logo shirts walking around town. Do you suppose people will get you mixed up?”

  Michael shook his head. “Not once they hear Aleck’s brogue. Surprised the heck out of me that you’d agree to wear them, though.”

  “Same here,” Tansy said.

  Aleck glanced her way. “Guess I’m responsible for you losin’ a bet. Sorry.”

  “Rory told you?”

  “I didn’t say anything until afterward,” Rory said. “I had enough trouble convincin’ him. He didn’t need to know folks were bettin’ ten bucks on it.”

  “Your prediction was logical.” Aleck rested his forearms on the bar. “It’s just that other factors came into play.”

  “I figured that out.” She could listen to him all day long. The way he pronounced just as joost tickled her. “No worries. I only bet what I can afford to lose.”

  His warm gaze met hers. “Me, too.”

  Mm, nice. How many days would he be here? The computer screen behind the bar lit up with drink orders relayed from Jenny’s tablet and she was forced to break eye contact. “Excuse me. Gotta get back to work. It was great meeting you, Aleck.”

  “It was my pleasure, lass.” His words were lovely, but the gleam in his eyes had been even better. He stood.

  “We’ll be off, then.” Rory got up, too. “We may be back tonight, although—”

  “I hope you can make it,” Michael said. “Bryce and Nicole’s new show is terrific. I watched them rehearse yesterday and they blew me away.”

  Aleck might come back tonight? Tansy pretended she wasn’t eavesdropping as she continued mixing drinks.

  “I’d like to plan on it.” Aleck sounded enthusiastic. “Rory sent me an album and I’m determined to catch their show at least once while I’m here.” He turned to his brother. “Could we do that after dinner tonight?”

  “We could, but you just took a long trip. I thought you might want to have an early—”

  “Nay. I can sleep when I get back to Scotland. I’ll only be here a few days. I’d like to see that performance tonight in case other things come up that would keep me from going later in the week.”

  “Alrighty. Damaris will probably want to, then, and the rest of the family might drive in for it if you’re goin’.”

  “That would be great. Oh, and Tansy, can I ask you somethin’?”

  “What’s that?” She’d snapped to attention a bit too fast. Cool it, girl.

  “Did I hear you say that you live upstairs?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Would you be willin’ to join us tonight?”

  “Of course. I was tentatively planning to come down for the show. Now I’ll be sure to.” Yeah, eagerness was sticking out all over her. Couldn’t be helped.

  “I’ll text you when we’re headin’ into town.”

  “Okay.” She answered his smile with one of her own. “I’ll see you then.”

  “Lookin’ forward to it. Nice meetin’ you, Michael.” He followed Rory out the door.

  Michael pushed away from the bar and glanced at her. “Guess we’re both ten bucks poorer.”

  “I don’t care. I’m positive he did it for Rory’s sake, because he could tell Rory was set on it. That’s sweet.”

  “Yeah, it’s obvious they’re close. The rest of the family must be special, too, judging from the way Rory talks about them. Makes it even more amazing that he decided to live so far away from his entire family.”

  “I don’t think he had a choice once he met Damaris. He might have said he didn’t move here because of her. He might even believe it. But she was the real reason he left Scotland.”

  “You’re probably right. In any case, he’s obviously happy with that decision. But I’ll bet he misses his family, especially Aleck.”

  “Well, sure.”

  “Do you think the hat and boots campaign could be the first step in trying to lure Aleck into moving here?”

  “If it is, he’s doomed to fail. His brother’s a lawyer with an established practice in Scotland. That’s a skill that doesn’t translate to a different country.”

  “Do you know that for a fact?”

  “I come from a family of Harvard lawyers. Trust me, it’s tough enough to transfer from one state to another. Heading to a different country means essentially starting over.”

  “Well, yeah, you’d have to build a new client list, but—”

  “It’s way more than that. You have to earn a degree from an accredited school in the US before you can even take the bar exam.”

  “No kidding?”

  “That’s how it works.”

  “Huh. Too bad. Well, it’s back to work for me.”

  “Same here. Thanks for persevering with the WiFi.”

  “You bet.” He headed to his office.

  Grabbing a bar rag, she walked over to where Aleck and Rory had been sitting. The edge of a bill protruded from under Aleck’s empty mug. She picked up the mug and smiled. Seemed she wasn’t ten bucks poorer, after all.

  CHAPTER THREE

  “
That pale ale is outstandin’.” Aleck tugged the brim of his new hat a wee bit lower to shade his eyes as he fell into step beside Rory. “I’m glad we’re comin’ back tonight so I can have another pint.”

  Rory chuckled. “Is that the only reason you’re glad we’re comin’ back?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think I’m surprised.”

  “Why?”

  “She’s got pink hair.”

  “Just a few streaks. It’s mostly blonde.”

  “There’s some purple in there, too.”

  “So what?”

  “I’ve never known you to fancy a lass who dyes her hair unnatural colors.”

  “I’ve got nothin’ against it. Ladies in my profession don’t have rainbow-colored hair. That’s the pool I’ve been drawin’ from.” Her hair had made him smile. Then he’d gazed into those big brown eyes. He’d never had such a visceral reaction to any lass.

  “You only have four days.” Rory dug his keys out of his jeans pocket as they approached the truck. “Less than that, really.”

  “Aye. Not much time, is it?”

  Rory paused next to the tailgate and gazed at him. “There’s a solution. Go back to your original plan and stay through the weekend.”

  “That wouldn’t go over well with Campbell. He told everyone to be at that meetin’ or else.”

  “He’d fire you over missin’ a meetin’?”

  “Wouldn’t put it past him, especially if we end up losin’ this client. He’ll want a scapegoat.”

  “That’s well radge.”

  “Aye, but I’m not riskin’ my livelihood.”

  “You’ve got yourself a wee window, then.” Rory headed toward the driver’s side.

  “Yep, I do.” He walked to the other side and climbed into the passenger seat. “I plan to make the most of it.”

  “The hat will help.”

  He gave his brother a long look.

  “Well, it will.” As he put the truck in reverse and started to back out, his phone chimed. “That’s Damaris.” Putting on the brakes, he changed gears and pulled the truck back into the space. Then he tapped the screen and answered the call on speaker mode. “Hey, there. Aleck and I are leavin’ the GG now. We should be—”

  “Mandy’s in labor.”

  “For real this time?”

  “Oh, it’s real, all right. We were all sitting on the porch when her water broke.”

  “So now what—”

  “Zane decided not to drive her home. That road’s too bumpy. Instead he carried her back to Kendra’s bedroom and called the midwife, who should be arriving any minute. Kendra and April, who know more about this than any of us, say she’ll probably have that kid within the next hour or so.”

  “Jesus, Joseph and Mary.”

  “I thought I should warn you. It’s crazy around here. Not quite the relaxed welcome we’d planned for Aleck.”

  Aleck leaned closer to the phone. “Don’t worry about me, lass. I’ll be fine.” It was the right response, even though he’d never attended a birthing, not even as a bystander in a hospital waiting room. A home delivery sounded more intense. If he had a choice, he’d—

  “Hey, Aleck! Good to hear your voice. Can’t wait to meet you.”

  “I’m eager to meet you, too. Thanks for lettin’ us know about the bairn.”

  “We’re on our way.” Rory checked his rearview mirror and backed out of the parking space. “Anythin’ you need from town, lass?”

  “I don’t think so. The supplies are all at Zane and Mandy’s house. Jo and Brendan have gone over to get them. The midwife’s on her way.”

  “We’ll be there as soon as we can.” Rory headed for the parking lot exit.

  “See you then. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.” He disconnected the call and glanced at Aleck before pulling into traffic. “Excitin’, huh?”

  “Sure is. Did you tell me this might happen? Because if you did, I can’t—”

  “Didn’t bother tellin’ you.” He pulled out on the two-lane road heading out of town. “She isn’t due until Fourth of July, and Aunt Kendra said first bairns are usually late. I didn’t want you to get your hopes up because I figured you’d probably miss seein’ it.”

  He sucked in a breath. “Are we expected to watch?”

  “Would you like to?”

  “Good God, no. I’m still traumatized from the film they showed us in school.”

  Rory chuckled. “Dinna fash yourself, then. Wouldn’t be room for you in there, anyway. I count five who’ll have ringside seats—Zane, Jo, Kendra, April and the midwife.”

  “Jo is Mandy’s mother?”

  “Aye.”

  “Who’s Brendan?”

  “Brendan Sawyer, Jo’s new husband and Quinn’s brother. Their wedding was a couple weeks ago, so Damaris might not have updated the spreadsheet I sent to you. Have you had a chance to study it?”

  “On the plane. Guess I could use this time to look at it again.” He pulled out his phone and began scrolling through the McGavin/Sawyer cheat sheet with a bonus section on anyone remotely connected to either of the families. After several minutes, he glanced over at Rory. “It’ll be like keeping the characters straight in War and Peace.”

  “At least you got her spreadsheet in advance. Don’t know what I would’ve done if she hadn’t shared it with me on my first day.”

  “I’m grateful to have it.” He put away his phone. “And I’ll do my best, but I hope they’re a forgivin’ bunch.”

  “They are.”

  “I’ll do better once I’m face-to-face with ’em. For now it’s just a long list of folks.”

  “You’ll only have the McGavin bunch to deal with at first, plus Quinn, Brendan and Jo.”

  “That’ll be plenty, although I feel like I already know Bryce and Nicole from listenin’ to their music and seeing their picture on the album cover.”

  “Speakin’ of pictures, didn’t I send you some from Ryker and April’s weddin’? That should help.”

  “Aye. Ryker and April will be easy to spot. You said April will go into the room with Mandy, though. Why’s that?”

  “She’s a massage therapist and massage can help a woman through labor, or so I’m told. Mandy was countin’ on her bein’ there. In a way, this comes at a good time. All the important people are already gathered.”

  “Did they plan to have a home birth, or is it just workin’ out that way?”

  “That’s what they wanted. They’re prepared for it at their house, which is why Jo and Brendan had to drive over there and fetch everythin’.”

  “Sounds like everyone knows what they’re doin’, then. That makes me feel better.”

  “Faith and Cody do, for sure. Faith had Noel at home right before Christmas. She and Cody live in an A-frame a short hike from the main house and Noel was born there. Come to think of it, Mandy might want Faith in with her, too, since she just went through this. It’ll be a full room.”

  “Then if I spot a guy holdin’ a six-month-old bairn, that’ll be Cody with Noel.”

  “Likely, unless somebody else has her. She’s popular with this bunch. Gets passed around a lot.” He put on his signal and made a right onto a dirt road marked by a wooden sign for Wild Creek Ranch.

  “And she’s okay with bein’ passed around?”

  “She loves it. That wee lass is pure tidy.”

  Aleck laughed. “Never thought I’d hear you ravin’ about a bairn. Next thing I know, you’ll want one of your own.”

  “Damaris and I have already talked about it.”

  “After only knowin’ her for two months?”

  “Two and a half. That’s enough. Besides, it’s just talk for now. We’re pickin’ names and such.”

  Aleck scrambled for purchase on this unfamiliar territory. “I thought this was a wee cabin you’re rentin’. Barely enough room to turn around.”

  “A bairn won’t take up much room.”

  “But they grow.”


  “We’ll have a bigger place by then. We’ve checked with Aunt Kendra about buyin’ a small plot of ranch land. She’s excited about that.”

  “Does this procreatin’ plan include a weddin’?”

  “Aye.”

  “Good, because Ma will want that. Da, too, for that matter.”

  “We’re waitin’ until Damaris publishes her research paper. Then we’ll tie the knot and start multiplyin’. Another year or two and you’ll be an uncle, for sure.”

  “That’s soberin’.”

  “That’s life, big brother. I’m in the full flood of it now that I’m with Damaris. At Wild Creek Ranch, you feel the current movin’ around you. Makes you eager to dive in and be part of it.”

  “I can see that. You’re a whirlin’ dervish.”

  “My energy is focused, though. I know what I want and how to get it.”

  “Not many can say that.”

  “You always could.” He shifted to a lower gear. “Get ready for your first glimpse of the ranch. It’s right around this bend. And it’s just like you’d expect a ranch to look.”

  “Not sure I have an image in my head of the perfect ranch.”

  “You will in a few seconds.” Rory navigated the turn and the ranch buildings came into view. “There it is.” He made the announcement with pride and affection. “Wild Creek Ranch.”

  Aleck drew in a breath. “It’s somethin’, all right. I can see why it appeals to you.” But he was completely out of his element. His experience with rural life was confined to his grandparents’ sheep farm, which was a wee operation compared to this extensive layout.

  Maybe it was the rugged, snow-tipped mountains that gave the ranch more heft, like an imposing frame surrounding a painting. A thick pine forest circled the clearing where the buildings stood.

  To his right were two large barns, one old and majestic, the other more modern. Both looked freshly painted. A sturdy paddock, what they probably called a corral over here, was currently empty, but a sizeable herd of horses grazed in a green pasture so vast that he couldn’t see where the boundary fence ended.

  Then there was the impressive main house. Several pickup trucks in various colors were parked in an area to the right of it, and what looked like an outdoor eating area with picnic tables took up a fair amount of space on the left. Could seat more than a hundred people at those tables, easy.