The Cowboy Earns a Bride (Cowboys of Chance Creek Book 8) (23 page)

Ned.

Luke stepped inside to take in the scene. Dozens of pairs of plastic eyes stared back at him out of baby dolls of every shape and size. There were tiny dolls and oversized dolls. Girl dolls with lots of hair. Boy dolls with plastic swirls to indicate hair. Lifelike baby dolls. And stuffed animals, too. Teddy bears, dinosaurs…

Ned must have raided the Salvation Army, Luke realized, remembering the bins of toys he always saw when he dropped things off for sale. Luke understood exactly what Ned meant to say, too; he might not read too well, but he had a wife and soon he’d have a family.

The only babies Luke could look forward to were the plastic ones staring back at him right now.

A slow burn of anger twisted with the pain the joke had blossoming within him. Ned should have known Luke hadn’t meant to tease him about his dyslexia and certainly wouldn’t have compounded the insult by sending the book. He should have known someone else was yanking his chain. Instead, he’d rushed to play a trick he knew Luke would feel like a stab to the heart.

Well, Ned had better watch out. Forget making it right. Luke was determined to get revenge.

“I hope you’ve
reserved the tents, dear. It can be quite hard to get a tent this time of year, you know,” Lila White quavered into the phone. Mia checked the clock on her dresser again. She needed to leave for work in ten minutes. Would Lila stop talking by then?

“It’s on my list to do today, Lila. Don’t worry; I’ll take care of everything. Your reunion will be a stunning success.”

“There are seventy-five people coming.”

“I know.” Lila had told her a half a dozen times in this call alone.

“I might not live to see another reunion. I want it to be special.”

“It will be. I promise. Lila, I have to run, but I’ll check in tomorrow with an update, okay?”

“Okay, dear. Don’t forget the chairs. Lots of chairs. Everyone needs to be able to sit down.”

“Yes. I’ll get plenty of chairs.”

“And be sure to reserve the tent today, dear. You know how hard it is—”

“Lila? I’m sorry—I have to go right now. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Mia ended the call feeling bad for cutting the elderly lady off, but if she didn’t get her hair dried now she’d look a fright. There were never enough hours in the day now that she was working two jobs. She planned to meet Carl again during her break—a very quick half-hour break—this afternoon and she still hadn’t perfected her pitch. She had a feeling
I deal well with cranky people
wasn’t quite what Carl had in mind.

When she reached the restaurant, her cheeks stinging from the fresh April breeze that was sweeping away the last remnants of the winter snow, Fila took one look at her, pressed her lips together and retreated into the kitchen.

“What’s wrong?” Mia looked at her watch. She was only a minute late—not bad considering what she’d accomplished already this morning.

“Luke played a really mean joke on Ned,” Camila said as she, too, headed for the kitchen. “He made fun of Ned’s dyslexia, which really isn’t cool.”

“Luke did?” Mia was surprised. “That’s not like him at all. He gets furious if anyone says anything bad about Ned.”

Camila shrugged. “Fila’s upset. I’d keep my distance if I were you.”

“She blames me because of what she thinks Luke did?”

“You’re his girlfriend. She thinks you should have stopped him.”

“I’m not his girlfriend.” Not really—despite their interludes in bed.

Camila shrugged again and pushed through the swinging doors into the kitchen. Mia took her place behind the counter and pulled on an apron, still wondering why Luke would act that way toward his brother. She reached for a cloth to buff the counter. Unless, he was so upset about them not being together all the time that he was taking it out on everyone else. She slowly moved the cloth back and forth across the already clean surface. She knew he wanted to marry her. Was he so frustrated that he was lashing out?

And was she being stupid to drag things out when she wanted him as badly as he wanted her?

No—she needed to establish her business and her identity as a self-sufficient, trustworthy adult before she entered into a relationship. He needed to prove he would respect her boundaries, too. But maybe she should go talk to Luke and tell him how she felt. She could clarify that she did love him and wanted to be with him, too. She just needed a little time.

And she’d tell him to behave himself while she was at it. Mia grinned. Then they could get it on to seal the deal. She looked forward to that.

She also hoped to send the letter she’d finally written for Inez later today, too. She wanted to look it over one last time, but she thought she’d done a fair job summarizing the events that had taken place six years ago. She’d copied Inez’s style and kept things simple and to the point. That had made it a little easier.

She didn’t know what would happen next. Every time she speculated about it, anxiety gripped her. What if Warner denied the allegations? What if he tried to get back at her?

No sense in getting overwrought, she told herself, but she found it hard not to expect the worst.

The rush started the minute the restaurant opened and continued until well past two, but by two-thirty there was enough of a lull that Mia was able to take her first half-hour break. She stashed her apron under the counter, grabbed her purse and rushed to Linda’s Diner, savoring the fresh wind that lapped her cheeks on the blustery April morning. She’d noticed the last vestiges of snow in the shady spots were melting away. Soon the days would lengthen and the watery sunshine would strengthen into the strong hot heat of May and June.

Wedding weather. Her heart gave a little throb. She couldn’t wait for her chance to show the world she could achieve what she set out to do. By the time she slid into the booth across from Carl, she felt invigorated.

“I ordered your glass of milk.” Carl nodded at the full glass in front of her. “I wasn’t sure what you’d want to eat though.”

Mia was hungry. Her baby was really growing now and there was no doubt about her condition. Her baby bump pressed out against her clothing like a cantaloupe. When Tracey bustled over to take their order, Mia said, “I’ll have a club sandwich and a side of French fries.”

“I’ll have some of that peach pie. And keep that coffee coming.” Carl smiled at Tracey, who nodded absently and kept on going.

“Want to hear my pitch?” Mia said, folding her hands before her on the table. She’d actually come up with one while she was working.

“Sure. Lay it on me.” Carl sat back and waited.

“Mia’s Memorable Events—When You Want Perfection The First Time Around.”

Carl drummed his fingers on the table. “That’s an advertisement, not a pitch. It’s a pretty good advertisement, but not what we’re after.”

“Darn.” She’d thought she’d done a good job.

“Remember—you’re trying to interest an investor, not a customer. Why would someone else want to give you money to grow your company?”

“Because in a year or two, I’m going to be the go-to girl for every event in this town. I’ve already got Ellie from Ellie’s Bridals sending women my way. After these first few events, I bet the rental company will do the same. The restaurant I work for? Fila’s Familia? They’re already so busy they can’t keep up and they’ll be my first recommendation for catering. Chances are that will work both ways.” As long as Fila got over her anger at Luke.

“Now you’re getting somewhere. Sum that up in ten words or less.”

“Invest in my event planning company because I own this town.”

Carl laughed loudly and heads turned. “Okay, that’s too succinct. But you’re on your way. Next week I bet you’ll have it nailed. You’d better eat up.” They both sat back to allow Tracey to deposit their food on the table. “You’ve got to be back to work in fifteen minutes.”

Three booths down
the row, Luke hunched in the corner of his seat with a menu propped up as a shield. Across the table sat Jake, similarly arranged.

“Can you hear what they’re saying?” Luke raised his chin a fraction of an inch and peered over his menu. He could see a quarter of Mia’s face as she chatted animatedly. All he could see of the man was the back of his head. But he knew all about Carl Whitfield—by reputation if not personally.

Carl Whitfield was the man who’d stolen Ethan Cruz’s fiancée. Carl was the man who’d lowballed a family who could no longer afford to keep the ranch that had been in their family nearly a hundred years and bought it for a fraction of what it was worth. Carl was the man who’d hired Luke’s brother, Rob, to build a fantastic walled garden for his bride-to-be and then got dumped by her at the unveiling in front of a dozen people. Carl was also the man who’d sold that ranch for twice what he bought it for to Evan and Bella Mortimer.

Like everyone else in town, Luke had privately sneered at the Californian when he first arrived dolled up like Hollywood’s idea of a cowboy. A hack rider and useless at ranch chores, it was clear he wanted to play at running a spread and he didn’t care who he hurt in the process. When he stole Ethan’s girl, Luke had classified the man as a lowdown snake. When he took the ranch from an old Chance Creek family for a song, his estimation of Carl had sunk even lower, and when Lacey Taylor dumped him in front of everyone, Luke figured the man had gotten exactly what he deserved.

Now he was back—God knew why—and this time he’d set his sights on Mia. Would he steal her away, just like he’d done with Lacey? Carl looked different now—leaner, older. Wiser. Would he make sure this time the girl didn’t get away?

Laughter rang out—first Carl’s hearty laugh and then Mia’s chiming one. Luke scowled. “What are they laughing about?”

“Your bank account?” Jake angled his head to get a better look.

Luke knew Jake meant it as a joke, but his barb hit home more sharply than his brother could know. Luke’s bank account would have been pitiful compared to Carl’s in any circumstances, but right now it was worse than ever. He’d bought all the baby furniture on a credit card already full to the brim. He was maxed out. He wouldn’t ask to have his limit raised, either. It was time to sink or swim on the salary he earned—such as it was. He hoped to God no fresh disaster struck at the Stone place. He wouldn’t be able to help Amanda if it did.

“What’ll you have, boys?” Tracey’s matter-of-fact tones startled him into awareness of his surroundings.

“Coffee, black. A cheese Danish,” Jake said. “Luke will have coffee and pie.”

“Peach or Apple?”

“Apple.”

Tracey looked from Jake to Luke over to where Mia was laughing again. “Are you spying on your ex-fiancée? Because that’s just lame.”

“I’m having coffee with my brother. This is where I always get my coffee.”

“Uh-huh. Be back with that coffee-you-always-get right away.”

Luke worried that Tracey might point him out to Mia, but he was in luck. Mia was standing up and pulling on her coat. Carl Whitfield stood up, too, and said good-bye, but instead of leaving with her, he resumed his seat once she was gone.

“There’s your chance.” Jake nodded toward Carl.

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.”

He got up and crossed over to Carl’s booth, dropping down heavily onto the bench seat across from the man. “Hi, Carl. Long time, no see.”

Carl squinted at him. “You’ve got to be a Matheson with that hair, but I don’t know which one.”

“Luke. Rob’s older brother.”

“Got it. Good to see you again.” Carl held out his hand. When Luke didn’t take it, Carl grimaced and pulled it back. “Maybe not so good, after all.”

“No. Not so good, seeing as you’re hitting on my fiancée.”

“Aaah.” Carl chuckled. “Where to start. First of all, I haven’t hit on Mia. She’s much too young for me—almost too young for you, too, buddy. Second of all, I didn’t see a ring on her finger, which means you’re either not her fiancé, or you’re a lame son-of-a-bitch who can’t afford a wife. Third, that girl is desperate to talk about her business with someone, and since she’s coming to me that tells me that either you’re not her fiancé and she doesn’t want to talk to you about anything, or you are her fiancé but you have no business sense, which is probably the case because you haven’t put a ring on her finger, or you’re a complete fuck-up who doesn’t care about the thing that’s most important to his future wife. So which is it?”

Luke shook off the man’s barrage of words, his anger unabated. “I’m her fiancé,” he repeated. “And I’m telling you to leave her alone.”

Carl leaned forward. “No.”

Jake reached the table just in time to catch Luke’s arm as he took a swing at Carl.

“Whoa! Easy now. Not here!” He half lifted, half dragged Luke up from the table. “Let’s go. You two can reconvene this little meeting outside.”

Luke allowed his brother to manhandle him up the aisle and out of the restaurant. A battle in Linda’s Diner would bring wrath down on his head from every quarter. Outside, Jake let him go, but stood between him and Carl as Carl exited the restaurant, too.

“I’ve got no quarrel with you,” Carl said, holding his hands out. “All I’ve got is advice. That’s what Mia came to me for—advice on how to grow her business. Now I’ve got some advice for you: listen to her. Have you ever started one?”

“One what?” Luke couldn’t see past the vision of Carl and Mia chatting, of Mia turning to the older man for help. Of Mia choosing Carl over him…

“A business.” Carl’s exasperation was plain to hear.

“No.”

“I thought not. Otherwise you’d know how terrifying it is to find yourself solely responsible for every decision. She’s young, Luke. She’s feeling her way. She’s pregnant, working two jobs.…Why aren’t you helping her?”

Luke blinked. Then lunged. Jake stopped him. Pushed him back.

Carl held up his hands again. “I’m going back to my motel room, but I’m not the man you have a problem with. Look in the mirror and you’ll see who you should be angry at.”

“Fuck you!”

Carl walked away, shaking his head. Jake kept his grip on Luke until the man had turned the corner.

“Shit, Luke. It’s like being out with Ned.”