The Cowboy Way [Carnal Cowboys 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  She hadn’t given a lot of thought to getting married, to having a special man—make that two special men—in her life until she’d met them. And even less thought about having babies.

  But all that had changed. When she looked at the farmhouse, she saw a home. Not just a ranch house. When she looked at Mitch and Wy, she saw her future.

  “I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving.” Wy checked from her to Mitch. “I don’t want to get the argument started again, but I’m willing to cook if you two will help clean up. How’s that?”

  “I have a better idea.” She almost laughed at Mitch’s suspicious frown. “How about we all cook and clean up.”

  “Good idea.” Wy wrapped his arm around her, leading her toward the house. “You can start by washing the vegetables.”

  They were almost to the porch by the time she realized Mitch wasn’t following them.

  Chapter Six

  “Mitch?” She pivoted toward him. He stood near the swing, feet apart, his arms at his side. Although he appeared relaxed, he still had an air about him that spoke of a readiness to spring into action. His gaze slid slowly around the yard.

  Fear tingled along her spine. “Mitch, what is it?” She scanned the area around them, but didn’t see anything. Was it the wild dogs again?

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Wy tugged her closer to the porch. “Just to be safe, get inside.”

  “It’s probably those dogs again. You’re worrying about nothing.” At least she hoped so.

  “Don’t argue. Go.” He gave her a little shove, forcing her toward the porch. “Please, Chey, do as we say.”

  She took another quick look around even as she was going up the steps. Once inside the house, she paused at the screen door and did another quick scan.

  “Chey, close the door.”

  She did as Mitch ordered, hearing the alarm in his tone. But she didn’t lock the door. They’d probably want her to, but she wasn’t about to leave them locked outside. Peeking out the side of the blinds didn’t help. They stood side by side, not speaking, still staring around them.

  Mitch finally spoke to Wy, then started for the barn. Wy glanced around once again before heading for the house. She already had the door opened by the time he made it onto the porch.

  “I told you to lock the damn door.”

  “Actually, no, you didn’t. You said to get inside and I did.”

  He eased her back then shut the door behind him. “You should have done it anyway.”

  “Then why didn’t you?” Her glare could’ve melted steel. She was anxious as much as irritated. “Where’d Mitch go?”

  “He’s checking out the barn and the land behind it.” Wy pulled the blinds open just enough to see out of them. “Here he comes now.”

  “Which means he didn’t find anything. That’s a good thing, right?”

  “Not necessarily.” Wy closed the blinds and opened the door as she’d done for him.

  Mitch paced inside. “I didn’t find a damn thing.”

  What had they wanted to find? George with a rifle pointed at them? “I don’t get it. You’re acting like you’re disappointed. Why? Nothing bad happened.”

  “I’m not disappointed. Not really.” Wy stalked into the kitchen, followed by Mitch, then her. “Maybe if someone had been there, we could’ve gotten him and this whole thing would be over.”

  “Over?” As in having her leave? As in they didn’t really want her there?

  “Yeah. We can’t stand the idea of some nut out there aiming to hurt you.” Mitch opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of beer. He handed it off to Wy, then grabbed two more, offering her one.

  She shook her head. Needing to hear the answers, yet at the same time half dreading what they might say, she blurted it out. “Do you want me to leave, Mitch? Is that it? Now that we’ve had sex, do you want me to leave?”

  Mitch set his bottle on the counter. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about my staying or leaving. If the danger’s over, then there’s no reason for me to stay.” She tried to maintain her pride, but it was so damn hard not to feel used. “Don’t worry about having sex. I wanted to do it as much as you did.”

  Wy took a long drag. She watched his Adam’s apple bounce up and down with his swallow. Was he drinking to stall, giving him time to think?

  “Damn, baby, is that what you think? Now that we’ve fucked, we can’t wait for you to get the hell out? That’s where you’re going with this?”

  “That’s messed up, doc.”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened. Maybe not to me, but it does happen.” She was getting lost in her fear. If they rejected her, would she be able to stand it? And yet, if they did, she’d do her best to leave with her head held high. Whatever fate awaited her in San Antonio was better than staying where she wasn’t wanted. She couldn’t let them protect her any longer. Not if they really didn’t care.

  Mitch chuckled, then picked up his bottle and chugged a good part of his beer. “You know what, doc? For such a brainiac, you can be fucking dumb.”

  He was adding insult to rejection? “Fuck you, Mitch Wilson.” She wouldn’t stand there a moment longer and be humiliated. “Watch what you say or I’ll pick up a frying pan and knock you every which from Sunday.”

  Mitch’s shit-eating grin threw her. “Would you even know a frying pan if you saw it?”

  “Oh, I know one, all right. Let me prove it to you.” She grabbed the biggest, heaviest pan from the rack hanging over the island. Holding it up, she started toward him.

  Slamming the bottle on the counter, he snatched the pan out of her hand and let it drop to the counter. He took her in his arms. Vaguely, she was surprised when the bottle hadn’t shattered. The anger steeled his expression, for the first time making her fear him. His fingers dug into her flesh.

  “Take it easy, cuz.” Wy’s tone was low and filled with warning.

  “We don’t want you to leave.”

  She’d heard him all right, and yet, she needed to hear him again. “What’d you say?”

  Wy pried his cousin’s hands off her. She couldn’t stop staring at Mitch until Wy took hold of her chin, forcing her to look at him.

  “He said we don’t want you to leave.”

  “But it’s safe. No one is after me. It’s safe to go back home.”

  Wy’s emerald eyes seemed to darken. “You are home. If you want.”

  Her breathing quickened along with her pulse. “I’m…home?”

  “If that’s what you want,” added Mitch.

  “I really must be dumb. I’m not sure what you’re saying.”

  Mitch groaned and leaned against the counter. Wy, on the other hand, chuckled. “Listen to me. We want you to stay. Not only because we’re not sure it’s safe for you to leave, but because we…”

  Say it. Please just say it.

  “…like having you around.”

  Liked having her around? It was less than she’d hoped he’d say, but it was enough. For now. She couldn’t expect them to feel the same way she did. Especially as fast. She longed to tell them how she felt. Longed to talk about a possible future together. Yet it was too soon. For her and maybe for them.

  “Will you stay, doc?” The anger was gone from Mitch. In its place was a vulnerability she’d never seen before. Mitch’s heartfelt question, along with Wy’s expectant, hopeful look, was all she needed.

  “Yes. I’ll stay.” For now.

  She wasn’t sure if it was tension or attraction that heated the room. No one had said they were in love. No one had made any promises farther than a few days ahead. If her heart didn’t slow down, she’d pass out. She didn’t know what to say next.

  “I’ll stay,” she repeated. “If you promise to do most of the cooking.”

  * * * *

  “Chey, damn it all, you’re not going.”

  Wy backed away from Mitch and Chey. When they g
ot to going, things got tense. He figured Chey was as bullheaded as his cousin.

  “You can’t tell me what to do, Mitch. Not on this.” Her smile softened her face. “In sex, yes. But not this.”

  She was trying to play Mitch. Wy tucked his head to hide his smirk.

  “I said no and it’s no.”

  When her ploy didn’t work, she turned his way. “Wy, tell him. You think it’s all right, don’t you?”

  She was putting him in a no-win situation. If he agreed with her, Mitch would get angry at him. If he agreed with his cousin, then she’d give him hell. “Hey, I can see both sides in this argument, but I’m no dummy. I’m staying out of it.”

  “Pussy,” she snarled, then went back to challenging Mitch. “I get that it’s out in public and you don’t like that, but so what? I’ve been here for days and nothing’s happened. No dire warnings, no sign of George, nothing. And Al had nothing new to report in San Antonio, either. So either I go back to my life or I go to the rodeo with you.”

  The small local rodeo wasn’t anything special. They hadn’t even signed up for any of the events. But when Chey had overheard them talking about it, she’d jumped on the idea of going like a bird on a june bug.

  “I don’t want to risk it.” Mitch crossed his arms and planted his feet apart, ready to keep on fighting. “And for the record, don’t give me ultimatums. They won’t work.”

  “Hell’s bells, Mitch. People in the Witness Protection Program get out more than I do. And it’s not like I need your permission, you know. I’ll go if I want to go.”

  “Then you’ll walk. I’m not lending you my pickup.”

  Again, she turned to Wy for help. He lifted his hands, palms out. “Like I said. I’m staying out of this. Think of me as Switzerland.”

  “Way to wuss out, Wy.” She whirled back to Mitch. “Are you really going to make me walk? If so, then I’ll call a friend and have him take me back to San Antonio.”

  A friend? A male friend? Wy frowned at Mitch. What kind of friend was she talking about? He’d take a stand if it meant keeping her away from some other guy.

  “She’s got you backed into a corner, Mitch. Besides, we’ll be with her and no one except Al knows where she is. The few folks who know who she is around here won’t go blabbing about her, especially not back in San Antonio.”

  He’d catch it later from Mitch, but for now, he couldn’t imagine having another man drive up to their home and take her away.

  The past few days had been filled with laughter and getting to know each other. After having sex on the swing and with her thinking they may have only been using her, they’d backed off on having any more sex. Why scare her off? Instead, they’d win her over with their charm before making another play for her.

  He and Mitch had agreed to take it easy, but doing so had taken its toll on them. Every time she passed by, her sensual aroma wafting on the air, he’d had to summon all his powers of control to keep from throwing her over his shoulder and hauling her sweet ass to bed.

  “Yeah, Mitch. See? It’s two against one.” She placed a hand on Wy’s shoulder. “Finally.”

  Mitch’s glare should have incinerated him to ashes. Knowing his cousin would get over being angry soon enough, he shrugged and let him scowl.

  “I guess we’re going to the rodeo.”

  “Great.” She hugged first Mitch and then him. “I’m going to sign up for the barrel-racing event. If I can borrow a horse.”

  “Now wait a second. You never said jack squat about barrel racing.”

  Wy took a sip of his beer. Chey had a way of springing things on them. He found it cute as hell, but Mitch had a harder time with it.

  “Didn’t I?”

  “Chey, don’t push him too far.” But, as he’d assumed, she didn’t take his warning.

  “Do you know how to barrel race? Have you ever entered a rodeo?”

  “Shoot, Mitch.” She got on her tiptoes and planted a kiss to his cheek. “Haven’t you learned by now? I can do anything I have a mind to do.” Spinning around, she danced out of the kitchen, blowing them each a kiss.

  “Wy, damn it. Why the hell did you agree with her?”

  He backed away again, putting more distance between himself and his irritated cousin. “What can I say, Mitch? I can’t say no to her.” He dodged the wet rag Mitch threw his way and darted out the back door.

  * * * *

  Chey was more nervous than she’d been her first day in the ER. A lot of years had passed since she’d entered an event. She’d been too busy with school then work to get back to Woodward and ride. But after getting back in the saddle with the men, she’d been thrilled to find out everything had come back to her as naturally as riding a bike. More, actually, since she hadn’t ridden a bike since she was a kid. Hopefully, the same would be true for competing in the event.

  “You’re going to help me out, right, Molly?” The pretty dappled mare Mitch had suggested was as excited as she was. Her skin rippled as her nerves worked their way through her, and her tail swished back and forth. Mitch had promised her that the mare was the best choice for barrel racing. If not, she’d find out soon enough.

  She didn’t expect to win. An unpracticed rider on an unfamiliar horse didn’t make for good odds. But winning wasn’t the point. All she wanted was to get into the event and have some fun. As long as she didn’t break her neck or hurt Molly, she’d call it a win.

  “Are your sure you want to do this?”

  Wy tugged on the cinch, once again making sure everything was good to go, as though she hadn’t already checked it out. But she wouldn’t complain. He was only trying to take care of her. After so many years of taking care of herself, it was nice to have someone look after her.

  “I’m sure.” More than merely sure, she was excited.

  “Okay, so I’ve got your entry paid.”

  Mitch strolled toward them, looking like the perfect cowboy of every woman’s dream. She hadn’t missed how they turned the heads of other women. The girls’ gaze slid hungrily over the men then jumped to her. Their looks heated with a jealousy Chey enjoyed.

  “You didn’t have to do that. I have my own money.” Having a man pay for her was unusual, yet nice, too.

  Mitch shot her a look a moment before she realized how wrong she was. “Oh, right. No using my credit cards or accessing my bank account. I understand why I can’t, but do you really think George is able to track me? He’s a grieving widower, not a criminal mastermind.”

  “Maybe not, but you can’t be too careful.” Wy stepped back. “Okay, let’s get down to business. Get your head into the competition. Are you ready to go?”

  “Yup.” She couldn’t suppress her excitement.

  “Then you’d better get to it.”

  Without thinking, she reached up and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thanks for all your help.”

  “Hey, don’t I get one?” complained Mitch.

  “Sure thing.” She got on her toes again to peck him on the cheek.

  Or at least, she tried to. Just as she was about to kiss him, he grabbed her and planted his lips against hers. His kiss didn’t last long, but the intensity of it left her on shaky legs once he turned her loose.

  “Go get ’em, cowgirl.”

  She couldn’t speak. Not if she wanted to breathe. Instead, she nodded and pulled the hat they’d found for her lower on her head. Taking her horse’s reins, she started walking toward the staging area. A firm pat on her butt left her grinning—especially when she saw the other women scowl—but she didn’t turn around to chastise Wy. How could she when she’d enjoyed it so much?

  “Are you ready, miss?”

  The men’s kisses were forgotten as she followed the directions the cowhand gave her. She mounted Molly then urged her toward the designated spot in the arena. Being a small local event, the organizers hadn’t bothered setting up a chute for the contestants. Instead a white line had been painted across the dirt of the arena.

  Her attention went fro
m the first barrel, to the second, to the third. Running the circuit through her head, she envisioned going around each barrel in a cloverleaf pattern then on to the next. Staying as close to the barrel without knocking one over was the key to shaving seconds off her time. Knocking a barrel over would add five seconds and probably cause her to lose. The fastest time would win the event.

  She settled into the saddle, every muscle ready to leap into the action with the blare of the buzzer. “Okay, girl, show me what you’ve got.” If Molly was a good as Mitch said, she could almost let her horse do all the work.

  The buzzer blew, startling her. She cursed at letting such a stupid thing throw her. Molly, however, didn’t wait for her command. She was off and running.

  Being a little large for her, her hat was gone before they’d reached the first barrel. Her hair streamed out behind her as the pretty mare’s mane whipped over her arms. She leaned into the first barrel and felt the metal graze her arm. She laughed as they picked up speed again and were off to the second one. All thoughts were gone and instinct took over as horse and woman made the turn around the barrel. Molly bumped the barrel and it wobbled, but she didn’t waste time to see if it fell over. Instead, she heeled the horse to go faster. Molly thundered toward the last barrel.

  “Go, girl. That’s it. Take it home.”

  As soon as they’d gotten around the third barrel, she leaned farther over the horse’s neck and gave her a couple of easy kicks. Molly didn’t really need the encouragement. She picked up the pace, her powerful muscles working hard as they raced toward the finish line.

  By the time Chey brought Molly to a stop and reined her around to see if the second barrel had gotten knocked over, she was certain she’d done well. She let out a small whoop of joy to see the barrel still standing upright.

  “Good girl, Molly. I think we did all right.”

  “I’d say you did. Fourteen seconds, especially by a girl who hasn’t done the event in a while, is great.”