And Then You Dare (Crested Butte Cowboys Series Book 5) (10 page)

Tristan had been thinking about it. She wasn’t ready to share
it yet. First she needed to present the idea to her father. She didn’t know
whether he would sign off on producing a whole new line of clothing. Telling
Liv, or anyone else, the name she’d come up with seemed premature, and she
didn’t want to jinx it.

***

Bullet drove to the park in town, and let Grey loose on the
playground. He sat on the grass, close enough that he could catch him if he
climbed too high, or got into some other kind of trouble.

Grey was just like him. His gram would say there was never a
minute in Bullet’s childhood when he didn’t have a scraped knee or elbow.

“You must take after your father,” she’d tell him. “Your mama
could go play in a mud puddle and come out of it clean as when she walked
outdoors.”

Bullet could see that. His mother didn’t necessarily stand out
in their group of friends, not visibly anyway. She looked and dressed the part
of a rocker’s wife. There was just something about her, her aura maybe, that
set her apart. Gram said she named his mom after Guinevere in the movie,
Camelot.
“Doesn’t she look just like Vanessa Redgrave?”

Bullet had never seen the movie, and he didn’t know who
Vanessa Redgrave was. But when Gram showed Lyric and him the picture of the
king and queen in the movie, he had to admit his mom looked a lot like the
lady.

He wasn’t sure about taking
after his father. Caleb met Guinevere when he was touring with his first band.
They were the opening act for a band that wasn’t much more suc
cessful
than his was. His dad would say he’d never doubt his wife’s love, because she’d
loved him when he was a starving, struggling musician. Unlike some of his
bandmates’ girlfriends, she loved him before he made it big, she loved him
still, and would even if it all ended tomorrow.

Bullet wasn’t sure if he would ever love a woman the way his
father loved his mom. He doubted his dad ever cheated on her either. He cheated
on Callie. While she was pregnant. If he and Lyric weren’t twins, Bullet might
think he was adopted. He didn’t seem to take after anyone in his family.

When Bullet told Gram he was going to marry Callie, she told
him she wouldn’t try to talk him out of it, just like she didn’t try to talk
him into marrying Pearl’s mama. “If you’re enough of an adult to make a child,
you’re enough of an adult to make a decision.” She hugged him that day, and
whispered, “Slow down Bullet. Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up.”

He remembered feeling old that day, old enough to be
considered a grown up. Looking back on it, he wasn’t. He was pretending to be
mature and responsible. He wasn’t then, and he wasn’t much more so now.

His gram’s friends would say that Lyric got the responsibility
gene when the two were in the womb together. They’d say Bullet didn’t have a
lick of the sense his sister had. Gram wouldn’t say much in response, but she
would look at Bullet and wink. “We know better, don’t we?” she’d say later,
when her friends were gone.

Gram may know, but he sure didn’t. Bullet thought Gram’s
friends were right. Lyric was the responsible one. She never got in trouble,
had good grades, and was already a successful businesswoman. What did he have?
He’d had a lot of fun. And a couple kids to show for it.

He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket when he felt it
vibrate. He looked at the screen and saw Bill Patterson was calling.

“Hey Bill. Uh, I’m at the park with Grey. Everything okay?”

“Just checkin’ on you. It isn’t like you to leave a horse out
in the corral when you’re done workin’ it.”

Shit. He’d completely forgotten about the filly. Another
example of his lack of responsibility. Tristan probably told Bill, or one of
the other partners that he’d left without thinking about the animal he was
responsible for.

“I’ll round up Grey and get right back.”

“I took care of the horse Bullet, but I think we need to
talk.”

“Yes, sir.” Great. Now he was going to lose his job too. “I’ll
be right there.”

***

1966

Clancy never told him what happened with his mama. All he’d
say was everything had been taken care of, and his mother and sister were fine.
Clancy went on two more trips during the last year, and wouldn’t tell Bill
where he was going. When Bill asked, all Clancy would say was that he had
private business to take care of. And that wasn’t like Clancy.

Tomorrow most of the ranch hands were driving to Gunnison for
Cattlemen’s Days. This was the first year Bill was able to join them. He’d been
so anxious about going he hadn’t slept too well the last few nights. He wasn’t
as nervous about competing as he was about seeing Dottie again.

At the ranch cook’s urging, Bill had written Sadie’s niece a
letter. He’d fretted a whole week about whether she’d answer. When he and
Clancy made their weekly trip to the McCoy post office, there was a letter from
Dottie waiting for him. For it to get to him that quickly, she had to have
written it the same day she received his letter.

They exchanged letters weekly. Bill didn’t know what to expect
when he wrote that he’d be coming to Gunnison. He worried she might have a
steady beau, so he came right out and asked her. She wrote back she did, and
his name was Bill Flynn.

He’d done well that week on bulls and broncs. Tie-down roping
too. Dottie was his girl, and he intended to do her proud.

What the hell was he going to do now? If Bill fired him from
the Black Forest operation, he doubted if any of the Flying R partners would
offer to let him work at one of the other ranches.

He needed to pull his head out of his ass, again, and pay
attention to what was in front of him. His kids. His job. And forget about women
for a while. A long while. Especially one woman. Tristan. The more he tried to
impress her, the more he did the opposite. Why did it matter what she thought
of him?

Last night, as he held her in his arms when they danced, he
imagined himself holding her all the time. She felt so good. Unlike Callie, who
was more than a foot shorter than he was, Tristan was tall. Her head rested
easily on his shoulder, and her body fit against his, as though it was made to.

When he closed his eyes, he could remember how she felt, her
scent, his body’s reaction to her. It had been a while since he’d been with a
woman, but it was more than that. It was her. There were plenty of other pretty
women at the bar last night. None of them did it for him. He’d danced with a couple.
They didn’t fit. Not like Tristan.

Maybe if he could seduce her, sleep with her, get a taste of
her, he could get her out of his head. He was sure that was her allure, that he
couldn’t have her. When had he ever given up on the challenge of a woman he
wanted? Never.

Bullet only hoped he was right, that once he had her, she’d be
out of his head and he’d be able to pay attention to his responsibilities. He
needed to get laid. It was that simple.

But in the back of his mind lingered the feeling he was wrong,
that getting Tristan McCullough out of his head wasn’t going to be simple at
all.

***

“I can’t believe you’re leaving already,” pouted Liv.

“You’re the one who told me to hurry up and produce this line.
In order for me to do so I have to get back and talk to my father.”

“I know, I just like having you here.”

Tristan understood. Her friendship with Liv meant more to her
every day. She was easy to talk to. And fun. She loved her daddy and granddad,
but she missed being around another woman. Biologically Liv was old enough to
be her mother, but their friendship wasn’t based on that. She had more in
common with Liv than she did with Lyric, or Liv’s daughter, Renie, who were
both her age.

“Damn stubborn,” they overheard Bill say to Dottie.

“Yes, he is. Now go right back out the door you came in and
apologize.”

“Apologize? Over my dead body.”

“I can arrange that,” Dottie laughed.

They heard the front door open and close, and Dottie came into
the kitchen.

“What’s going on?” Liv asked her.

“Bill and Bullet had an argument. Somehow Bullet got it into
his head that Bill was going to fire him. I can’t figure that out myself. Bill
told him he wouldn’t accept his resignation. Bullet said something about not
resigning, Bill was firing him. Anyway, the two of them are arguing on the same
side, and neither one of them can set their stubbornness aside long enough to
realize it.”

Tristan felt as though there was a rock in her stomach. If
Bill fired Bullet would she ever see him again? Would he go back to Oklahoma?
“Why would Bill fire him?”

“He wouldn’t. That’s the point.” Dottie turned and looked at
Tristan. “Uh oh. You’ve got it bad for the cowboy. My oh my.”

“What? No. I don’t. That isn’t it. Bullet has a child to
raise, that’s all. I’m just worried—”

Tristan stopped trying to explain when she realized Liv and
Dottie were grinning at her.

“Stop it,” she barked at them. “It isn’t like that.”

Dottie patted Liv’s hand. “We’ve seen that look before,
haven’t we Livvie?”

“We sure have.”

“Stop it. I’m telling you it isn’t like that.”

“What isn’t like what?” Lyric shouted from the other room.
Tristan hadn’t realized she was within earshot.

“Tristan and Bullet.”

“Oh yeah, I know it. She’s in love with him.”

“Lyric!” gasped Tristan. “I am not. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“And what’s better, my brother is in love with her too.”

“That’s absurd—”

“Oh stop it. Anyone with eyes can see it. Besides, twins know
these things. Can’t argue with a twin.”

Tristan looked to Liv to defend her, but saw immediately that
it was pointless. Liv, Dottie, and Lyric were grinning at her in a way that
told her she shouldn’t bother protesting.

***

“I’m not firin’ you Bullet. Although I should considerin’ you
can’t keep your damn mouth shut long enough to listen to me.”

Grey danced around Bill’s legs singing at the top of his
lungs, “Damn, damn, damn.”

Bullet saw an opportunity by the look on Bill’s face. “Now see
what you did. You’re teachin’ my kid to curse.”

“Well, shit. I’m sorry—”

Grey didn’t miss a beat, although it was harder for him to pronounce.
“Sit, sit, sit,” he sang instead.

“Oh for Christ’s sake,” Bill began again, quickly realizing
his third error.

Bullet was laughing too hard to speak, but held up his hand.

“What’s so da—, I mean, funny?”

“Nothin’,” Bullet’s hand was still in the air, but he was bent
over holding his stomach, still laughing.

Bill folded his arms in front of him, and waited for Bullet to
stop while Grey continued to dance around him, “Sit, sit, damn. Sit, sit,
damn,” he sang.

Bullet sat down on the porch, tears ran down his cheeks from
laughing so hard. “You shoulda seen the look on your face.” He pointed at Bill
and started laughing again.

Bill sat down next to him, and laughed too.

“Like he ain’t heard
those
words before,”
Bullet wiped the tears from his cheeks. “Damn, it’s been a long, long time
since I laughed that hard.”

“Me too,” admitted Bill. “Now where did you get the idea I was
gonna fire you?”

“I left the filly out for starters.”

“You think that’s firin’ grounds?” Bill shook his head.
“You’re mighty hard on yourself son.”

Bullet hung his head and let out a deep breath. “I’m feelin’
like a screw-up lately. Wouldn’t blame you is all I was sayin’.”

“Put that foolish notion outa your head. We have work to do,
startin’ with loadin’ broncs into trailers. If I was gonna fire you, which I’m
not, I’d sure as hell wait until after that job was done.”

“When we headin’ back?” Bullet no longer felt like laughing.
Heading back to Black Forest meant he wouldn’t have any more time with Tristan.
He needed her in his bed, and out of his head. He may have run out of time.

“Not until tomorrow mornin’.”

Good. That meant he still had tonight.

“Livvie’s got another shindig planned for tonight. Just
partners and crew this time. No new riders.”

Even better. He’d basically have Tristan all to himself.

***

“You can’t leave until tomorrow. Stay one more night, at
least.”

“I don’t know, I really should get back.”

“If you stay until Tuesday, Ben can fly you back.”

Tristan couldn’t stay until Tuesday, and she couldn’t ask Ben
to fly her across the country again so soon.

“I appreciate it, but—”

“Go home tomorrow instead.”

“Liv, you’re being silly.”

“There’s a party tonight just for the partners. Billy and Jace
are gonna be mad if you miss it.”

Tristan folded her arms in front of her. “Really?” she
smirked. “They’re going to be
mad
at me?”

“As soon as the words came out of my mouth I knew you wouldn’t
buy it. How about this? I’m
begging
you to stay.”

“Liv—”

“
Wait.
I’ve got one better. If you stay I’ll invest
in your new clothing line.”

That got Tristan’s attention. The idea had been in the back of
her mind, and was one of the reasons she hadn’t broached the subject with her
daddy yet. She’d been contemplating producing the line on her own. Making it
separate from Lost Cowboy. T

“Aha! That got you thinking, didn’t it?” Liv reached around
and patted herself on the back. “I knew I could get you to stay.”

“Are you serious, or do you just want me to stay?”

The expression on Liv’s face changed. She was no longer
joking. “I’m very serious. And I’m not the only one interested.”

“Who else?”

“Lyric, Dottie, Bree, Renie. I’m sure Paige, Bree and Blythe’s
mother, would be interested too. She’s the real businesswoman of the bunch.”

“You’re kidding?”

“I’m not. What do you think?”

“Why?”

“Are you kidding? There are a thousand reasons.”

“Name a couple.”

“You already know the first reason. We love your designs.
Apart from that, it’s
girly.
We’re
surrounded by cowboys and rough stock. Not that we don’t love our cowboys. But
investing in your line would give us a feminine outlet.”

Tristan listened intently. Liv was serious. This wasn’t a ploy
to get her to stay longer, and Liv wasn’t being polite. She believed enough to
want to invest. And so did the others.

“Okay. I’ll stay.”

Liv let out a whoop and danced around the kitchen. “Call the
lawyers Dottie! We’re startin’ a clothing line.”

“Let’s finish making dinner first. Then we’ll call the
lawyers,” Dottie answered.

“Spoilsport,” Liv teased.

“Can I help?” Tristan asked Dottie, who put her flour-covered
hand on Tristan’s shoulder.

“Do you like to cook? I’d love to have more help.” Dottie
glared at Liv when she said it, but it quickly turned into a smile.

“I’m a great cook,” answered Liv.

“You’re a great baker.”

“You’re right. Ben is a better cook than I am.”

“You got that right darlin’.” Ben walked into the kitchen, put
his arms around Liv’s waist, and kissed her cheek. “But I love you anyway.”

Liv turned around and gave Ben a kiss that made Tristan blush.
When she looked over at Dottie, the woman was smiling at her. Tristan’s eyes
filled with tears.

“What’s wrong sweet girl?” Dottie pulled her over.

“You remind me so much of my mother,” Tristan whispered. When
Dottie hugged her tight, Tristan couldn’t stop her tears. “I miss her so much.”

“How long has it been sweetheart?”

“She died when I was fifteen.”

***

Bullet turned around and went back downstairs, hoping no one
saw him. Tristan lost her mama when she was a teenager? He remembered shutting
her down the last time they were both in Crested Butte.

“You don’t understand anything about my life, or my son’s
life,” he’d said to her that night. She was trying to tell him she understood,
because she did. Grey was too young to feel the pain of losing his mama, but
there would come a day when he’d feel the same way Tristan was. He may not
remember Callie, but he’d feel the loss of not havin’ a mama.

His phone vibrated. Billy was calling him.

“Where the hell you at?”

“In the basement. Where are you?”

“I’ve been lookin’ for you all day.”

“You must not have been lookin’ very hard. I was talkin’ to
your daddy just a bit ago.”

“Get your ass to the barn.” Billy ended the call.

Shit. What was up Billy’s ass? Just when he decided he wasn’t
gonna get fired, now maybe he was.

He walked in the barn door.
Billy and Jace were talking to Renie. Bullet didn’t know whether he should wait
until they finished.

“Get your ass over here,”
Billy motioned at him.

“Billy!” Renie scolded her
husband. “Don’t talk to Bullet like that.”

Bullet swore Billy looked
embarrassed. “Like what? Jesus Renie, this ain’t no pansy-assed business we’re
runnin’ here.”

She reached up and kissed
his cheek, “Play nice with the other cowboys sweetheart.” She smiled at Bullet
on her way out of the barn.

“What’ up?”

“Nothin’. Christ almighty.
What’s everybody’s problem? I wanna talk to you about loadin’ horses in the
mornin’.” Instead of looking at Bullet, Billy looked at Jace. “What?”

“Nothin’,” laughed Jace.
“You aren’t acting any different than you usually do.”

“You’re damn right,” Billy
huffed and sat on a bale of hay. “If you can’t take it, you can go back inside
with the women.” This time Billy was looking at Bullet.

“What the hell did I do?”

“He’s just mad because
Renie wants him to talk to you,” Jace explained.

“About what?”

“Your wife dyin’.”

“Why?”

“Exactly,” Billy groaned.
“I told her it wasn’t any of our business.”

“I gotta get off this ride
before I lose my lunch.”

Billy looked at Jace. “Now
what’s he talkin’ about?”

Jace shrugged his shoulders.

“Never mind,” said Bullet.
“I’ll tell her you talked to me. That it? Can I go now?”

“No, you can’t go. And you
can’t lie to my wife. Now sit your ass down.”

“How about me, can I go?”
asked Jace.

“No, you can’t go either.
If Renie wants to know if I really talked to Bullet, you can vouch for me.”

“Just get this over with,
would ya?” Bullet was running out of patience. Either they were gonna fire him,
or they weren’t. They needed to make up their minds.

“You know Willow isn’t Renie’s
biological daughter, right?”

Huh? No, he didn’t. “What
happened to her mama?”

“Car accident.”

“Damn.” Bullet put his head
in his hand. “I’m sorry Billy.”

“Yeah, it was sad, but
don’t be sayin’ sorry to me. Truth is, I didn’t know she had a baby until after
she died.”