Bad News Cowboy

Hell, he’d taken to it as if it was his job. And when he’d transitioned from causing trouble in town to bull riding, it had just been a more legitimate method.

And another way for him to try to get his old man to take some notice. To make his mother look at him for more than thirty seconds.

It hadn’t worked. His success hadn’t changed that, either.

But he had Eli and Connor.

Together they’d knit a strange and dysfunctional group that continued on to this day. He liked to think they were all a little more functional now. Well, the rest of them more than him, he supposed.

Though he had some stability now with his ranch. He might not be married and procreating like his friends, but he wasn’t a total lost cause.

And he knew that in and of itself was a big surprise to most people in Copper Ridge. Oh, sure, they were all polite enough, but he knew for a fact no one wanted him dating their daughter or their sister.

Though now they were happy to have him spending money at their establishments.

He killed his truck’s engine and got out, grabbing hold of the big metal thermos he always carried with him during the workday and two tin mugs.

This was a peacemaking mission, which meant he had come prepared. He shoved his truck keys into his jeans pocket and crossed the gravel lot, heading toward the newly built barn, Connor’s pride and joy, with the exception of his wife and unborn child.

Just then Connor walked out of the alley doors and Jack called out to get his attention. “Morning,” he said.

“You brought me coffee,” Connor said, flashing him the kind of smile that up until a few months ago had been absent from his friend’s face.

“Sorry. You’re out of luck. The coffee isn’t for you.”

“I’m hurt,” Connor said, putting his hand on his chest. “You’re bringing coffee to another man, Monaghan?”

“Nope. It’s for Katie.”

Connor’s brows shot up. “Uh-oh. What did you do?”

“Nothing. But I do need to convince her to help me out planning this charity rodeo day. I can use some contacts with the pro association. I’ve been in touch with a few people since I stopped competing. But she’s in a better position with the locals.”

“You could probably seduce help out of Lydia. Or just ask.”

Jack thought of the pretty dark-haired president of the chamber of commerce. Yeah, Lydia would be into it, no seduction required. The charity event, not sleeping with him. He let his brain linger on that thought for a moment, if only because it had been a while since he’d seduced anyone or been seduced in return.

“Sure,” he responded.

“You don’t sound enthused.”

“I’m not unenthused.”

“Yes, you are.”

Jack shrugged. “Not interested, I guess.”

“Are you sick? Because she’s female, so she’s your type.”

Jack couldn’t argue with that. “I don’t need to seduce her into helping. It’s a good idea. You make it sound like women only want to listen to me because of my body,” he said, arching a brow. “I’m more than just a pretty face.”

“I want to say something right now...but I have a feeling I could dig myself into a hole I’ll never get out of.”

“You probably shouldn’t say it,” Jack said. “However, if you were thinking that I’m also a very sexy ass, you would be correct.”

“You better wash your mouth out with soap before you bring that coffee to Kate. Or she’ll probably end up throwing it in your face.”

“She’s not my biggest fan.”

Connor offered him a skeptical smile. “Actually, I think she’s a pretty big fan of yours.” Jack puzzled over the words for a second before Connor continued. “You’re like another brother to her. Which is why she gives you hell.”

Jack let out a hard breath. “Lucky me. Do you have any idea where the little she-demon is?”

“She took Roo out for a ride. But she should be back in soon.”

“Which way does she normally go?”

“She rides out through the main pasture toward the base of Copper,” Connor said, talking about the mountain that the town was named after. “And she comes back around behind the horse barn.”

“Thanks. I’ll head that way.”

Jack turned away from his friend and started walking down a dirt path that would lead him toward the horse barn and hopefully bring him into line with Kate.

The cloud cover hadn’t burned off yet, gray mist hanging low over the pine trees, pressing the sky down to the earth. The air was damp, thick with salt from the sea, and he had a feeling it would rain later. Or if they were lucky, the moisture would burn away, leaving clear blue skies.

But he doubted it.

He cut through a little thicket of pines and came out the other side on another little road. This was the one that led all the way back to Kate’s cabin, but if he crossed that and cut through a little field, he would make it to the barn in half the time. So he did, wet grass whipping against his jeans, dewdrops bleeding through the thick denim.

He could only say thanks for good boots that would at least keep his feet dry.

He hopped the wire fence that partitioned the next section of the property off from the one he’d just left and stood there in the knee-high weeds, staring off into the distance. Then he saw her, riding through the flat expanse of field, strands of dark hair flying from beneath her hat, her arms working in rhythm with the horse’s stride. As she drew closer, he could see the wide smile on her face. It was the kind of smile he rarely saw from her. The smile of a woman purely in her element. A woman at home on the back of the horse.

He felt the corners of his own mouth lift in response, because that kind of joy was infectious.

He stood and watched her as she drew closer, hoofbeats growing louder as she did.

He could pinpoint the exact moment she saw him, because she straightened, pulling back on Roo’s reins and slowing her gait. He started to walk toward her, and she dismounted, her smile faded now.

“I have coffee, so you can stop frowning at me,” he said, holding up the thermos and the mugs.

She squinted, her expression filled with suspicion. “Why do you have coffee?”

“Because I want to talk to you about something. And I figured it was best to try and bait you.”

Kate screwed up her face, wrinkling her nose and squinting her eyes. “I am not a badger. You can’t bait me.”

“Sure I can, Katie. I bet I tempt you something awful,” he said, holding out the thermos and unscrewing the lid.