Catching the Cowboy: A Small-Town Clean Romance (Summer Creek Book 1) Read online

  Home.

  Uncertain when it happened, she’d come to think of Summer Creek Ranch as home and the people there as family. Honestly, if they asked her to leave, she wasn’t sure what she’d do. It wasn’t just Summer Creek and the Walk Through 1910 project that made her want to stay in the area. It was Hud and Cricket, and Nell, and Jossy, and the people she’d come to think of as her friends. She’d even gotten Maudie at the Early Bird Café to warm up to her enough to make salad with chicken instead of steak without yelling at her. According to the mayor, that was big progress.

  Amused as she drove home, Emery was almost there when she remembered she needed to go to Burns to pick up the tent for the potluck tomorrow. Pulling over to the side of the road, she called Nell and let her know she wouldn’t be home for dinner, turned around, and headed into the closest thing they had to a city to pick up the tent.

  On the way home, as she ate a deli sandwich and slurped a strawberry milkshake, all she could think about was Hud and the way he’d looked at her when she’d smacked into his bare chest the other day. The sensations that spiraled through her as she stood with her arms braced against the hard surface of his chest was enough to nearly render her speechless.

  Maybe he’d been chilly, and his muscles were twitching, but she was almost sure he’d waggled his chest muscles at her on purpose.

  If she cared to admit it, she’d definitely like the opportunity to see them again.

  Hud was the most handsome man she’d ever encountered, but that rugged beauty wasn’t just on the surface. He truly was a good man with a sweet smile and gorgeous, soulful eyes that couldn’t hide his kind heart no matter how hard he tried. He was a man of faith who walked with honesty and honor.

  Emery knew his wife had wounded him deeply, damaged his heart and trust to the point he’d vowed to remain alone, or so Jossy had informed her. If Emery stayed in Summer Creek, would she ever be able to get past the walls he’d erected to safeguard his heart?

  The question she kept asking herself was if she was willing to try. Unable to reach a decision on her own, she sent up a prayer as she continued driving home.

  When Emery returned to the ranch, the house was quiet and dark except for a nightlight in the kitchen and another on the stairs. She stopped in the kitchen long enough to reach into the cookie jar and snag two cookies, which she ate over the sink, then washed them down with a glass of cold water. In the past, she’d paid up to fifteen dollars for a bottle of artesian water, but none of them came close to tasting as delicious as the water from Summer Creek Ranch’s well.

  Quietly making her way upstairs, Emery readied for bed, wrote a few notes in the journal she’d kept from the first day she arrived at the ranch, then fell into an exhausted sleep.

  The next morning, she was up and on her way to town before Hud had even rousted out of bed. She wondered if he would notice she’d snatched the last two cookies from the cookie jar for her breakfast, since he usually ate a few with his coffee on his way out to start the morning chores.

  She grinned, thinking of him swishing his hand around inside the jar and coming up empty.

  When she got to town, Emery stowed a change of clothes in the historical society office, then jogged across the street to check on the fountain. Daylight had yet to break, making it dark enough the lights Liam installed illuminated the fountain and reflected on the water.

  “It’s beautiful,” Emery whispered, then glanced down to make sure Ethel hadn’t devoured the plants. She could see the flowers hadn’t been disturbed and breathed a sigh of relief.

  She took a key from her pocket and opened the door to the former library, breathing in the scent of furniture polish mingled with old books. Even though the books had all been moved to the upper floor of City Hall, the library still held that wonderful, unique aroma.

  Emery flicked on the lights Liam had managed to get working and looked around to make sure everything was in order. She set a bouquet of flowers she’d picked up in Burns on the counter and then placed a large sign by the card catalog. After the fiasco of trying to make the sign for the road, she’d had a print shop in Burns make signs for each of the old buildings that described when they were constructed, who owned them at the time, and the name of the business. Each sign had copies of photographs of the buildings from the early 1900s, as well as any other details Emery had been able to find.

  She went from the library to the bank and set up a sign, placed flowers in the teller’s window, and moved on to the milliner’s shop.

  Inspired last night, she’d stopped by an antique store in Burns and found an outfit from the early 1900s, complete with hat and shoes, so she’d purchased it for a display at the store. She lugged another mannequin up from the basement of one of the buildings in which they hadn’t yet been able to do any repairs or cleaning, screamed when she encountered a mouse, then raced back to the milliner’s shop, dragging the mannequin behind her.

  “That’ll teach me to go down there in the dark by myself,” she muttered as she dressed the mannequin. Once she had the hat arranged just so and the shoes peeking out from the bottom of the skirt, she set a bouquet of flowers on a carved sideboard Hud had hauled into town for her from their storage shed.

  He and Nell had been so good about letting her take whatever she wanted to use as props. Hud loaded it all in a horse trailer, after he spent an hour scrubbing it out, then unloaded the furniture, moving some pieces three and four times as she decided where they’d look best. He never complained or fussed, like her father and uncle would have done if their wives had been directing them to move a couch for the third time. His willingness to help her was one more reason she loved Hud.

  With a sigh, she knew now was not the time to let her thoughts trip over what might be with the gorgeous cowboy. Just for today, she needed to focus on making this community event a huge success. The more people in town who supported the Walk Through 1910 project, the easier it would be to pursue the next part of her plan to bring tourists and revenue to Summer Creek.

  Eventually, Emery hoped the big Victorian homes in town would join in the tour. From what she’d seen and observed, only one of them had a family living in it, and they were talking about moving due to the outrageous power bill required to keep the place warm in the winter.

  The lumber baron’s mansion, in Emery’s opinion, would make a fantastic place to stage living history events. Or someone enterprising could turn it into a beautiful bed and breakfast. Summer Creek ran right through the backyard, and there was the cutest little footbridge across it. The property would also make a fabulous wedding venue. If the gardens could be restored, along with the rotting gazebo, it would be a photographer’s dream for taking wedding photos.

  A photographer!

  Emery hadn’t even thought about hiring one to document the events today. Perhaps she could talk someone local into taking a few photographs. She knew one of the Nelson children seemed interested in photography because she’d seen him walking around town with a camera, snapping photos.

  She typed a note to herself on her phone, shoved it in her pocket, and walked back across the street to the lawn at City Hall where she’d dragged the large tent.

  Sunrise began to lighten the sky as she read the directions for setting up the tent and decided it might be best to wait until she had an extra pair of hands to help. She went into City Hall to her office and finished folding the flyers she’d printed that outlined the Walk Through 1910 project.

  It was barely past seven when the mayor poked his head inside her office and grinned. “Need some help with the tent?”

  “I sure do, and thank you, Mitch.”

  An hour later, the tent was standing, and Emery breathed a sigh of relief. The rattle of a horse trailer drew her gaze to the street as the gym teacher and the principal arrived and began unloading tables and chairs borrowed from the school.

  One moment Emery and Mitch had been the only ones there. The next, there were a dozen people laughing and joking as they help
ed get things ready. A woman Emery hadn’t yet met approached her, handed her a folded banner, then left.

  When Emery held one end out to the mayor, they unfurled it and read, “Welcome to Walk Through 1910 Tours.”

  Emery knew she had Hud to thank for the sign because he was the only one who’d seen the logo she’d been designing. Yet, there it was on the banner, plain as day and making her nearly overwrought with emotion.

  “Do you think we can hang this over the mercantile building, since it’s in the center?” Emery asked Mitch.

  “I don’t see why not. I’ll find a ladder and some hooks.”

  Emery reverently folded the banner and walked across the street. Once Sam Shelby, the local fix-it man, helped Mitch hang it, they all stepped back and studied it.

  “That sure looks nice.” Maudie Smith spoke from behind them, causing the group to gape at her in surprise. “Thought you could use a little snack. Left doughnuts and coffee on the table over there. I can’t dawdle, though, so I’ll see you later.”

  “Thanks, Maudie!” Emery called after her. The woman didn’t turn around or acknowledge her in any way, but Emery noted the older woman’s shoulders straightened a few inches, as though she was pleased.

  “I’m all for Maudie’s doughnuts,” Sam said, rushing over to join those sampling the refreshments.

  Busy seeing to last minute details for the next hour, Emery finally glanced at her watch and knew she’d have to hurry to change her clothes.

  Nerves about the event going well knotted her stomach as she slipped on a dress she’d purchased last spring at Bergdorf Goodman and a pair of Stuart Weitzman wedge sandals. Hastily adding a few curls to her hair, she left it hanging down. She applied a little makeup and a spray of her favorite perfume, then hurried back outside. She was almost down the front steps of City Hall when a man wearing an expensive suit and a questioning glance hurried her direction.

  “Nathaniel Knight! I can’t believe you’re here,” Emery said, throwing her arms around him and giving him a big hug. “I’m so, so happy to see you.”

  Emery stood on tiptoe and gave him a kiss on his cheek, then took his hand in hers, leading him around to introduce him to everyone.

  While she’d changed, people had begun arriving, excited to see the old buildings and equally eager to enjoy a community party. According to the mayor, they hadn’t had one for years.

  Emery left Nathaniel speaking to Mitch while she helped arrange food on the tables. Nell brought a slow cooker filled with a decadent casserole that Emery had struggled to stop eating the first time she’d tasted it. Nell called it hash brown crack and she could see it would be a popular choice on the menu. The woman had baked cream cheese cookie bars, brownies, and three pies. She also brought a huge pan of brisket Hud had cooked on a smoker. Jossy contributed sausage rolls, a pasta salad, and a blueberry lemon cake that looked divine.

  While her mouth watered at the sight of all the wonderful food, Emery’s heart felt light and about to burst from the joy of having so many people attend the event.

  She looked around the crowd and her gaze landed on Hud. He smiled at her and raised an eyebrow in an expression she knew so well. Suddenly, everything in her world seemed so right, especially when Cricket ran over to her and wrapped her arms around her waist with sweet, genuine affection.

  Emery returned Cricket’s hug, heart bursting with love.

  Summer Creek was where she was meant to be and where she always wanted to stay.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  An engine roared to life outside as Hud sat on his bed with his jeans half-way up his legs. He yanked them on and hurried into his bathroom, stepped into the tub, and peered out the small round window above it. Headlights backed away from the carport then headed down the drive. He wondered why Emery was up so early and leaving at an hour when she was usually still asleep.

  Yesterday, when he’d been helping Jossy repair an irrigation pivot on her place, she’d mentioned the possibility of Emery leaving, but he’d thought his sister was merely teasing him. What if Emery planned to head back to Portland after the event today?

  In his haste to race upstairs to check her room to see if she’d packed up her belongings, he tripped on the edge of the tub and only kept from falling on his face by grabbing onto the edge of the sink. He ran down the hall, turned into the mudroom, and almost fell again when the throw rug at the bottom of the stairs tangled around his bare feet. He grabbed onto the stair rails to right himself and barely avoided smashing Luna as he charged upstairs. The kitten yowled and scurried out of his way. He took the steps two at a time, hoping the noise didn’t awaken Cricket. Twice, he bounced off the hallway wall as he rushed to Emery’s room. When he reached the doorway, he flicked on the light and looked around.

  The bed was neatly made, but evidence of Emery was everywhere in the room from her clothes hanging in the closet to the stack of local history books on the table by the bed. There was even a drawing from Cricket framed and sitting on the dresser.

  Hud inhaled a deep breath, drawing in the soft floral fragrance of Emery, of her essence. He’d never smelled anything like it. If he lived to be a hundred, he wondered if it would be embedded in his system even then.

  Another look around the room confirmed Emery hadn’t packed up her belongings. A relieved breath whooshed out of him. Unless Emery planned to return to Portland empty-handed, she most likely was not leaving him, at least not today.

  “What in heaven’s name are you doing?” His grandmother stepped behind him, peering in Emery’s room.

  “I heard Emery leave and just wanted to make sure she wasn’t leaving-for-good leaving.” Hud knew he sounded like an idiot, but he couldn’t help it. Not when the thought of Emery never returning to the ranch made his chest ache with a throbbing pain. He rubbed a spot over his heart and faced his grandmother. “She can’t leave, Grammy. She just can’t leave.”

  Nell smiled at him and patted his shoulder, her cool hand feeling like ice against his bare skin. “When she called last night, she said she needed to get an early start on things today. Most likely, she’s too excited to rest and went into town to begin setting up.”

  “Before five in the morning?” Hud shook his head. “Why does this matter so much to her?”

  His grandmother stared at him as though an alien had invaded his body and replaced her grandson. “If you don’t know, then I honestly can’t help you, Hudson.” She walked down the front stairs and headed to the kitchen.

  Hud followed close behind her. “All right, Grammy. I think it matters to her because she’s fallen in love with Summer Creek and her passion is wrapped up in those old buildings and the history of this town, in bringing them back to life. While I’m tossing out guesses, I’d say she also wants this project and the party today to be successful to prove to everyone she’s not the same girl with her butt in the air on the back of a police horse.”

  Nell patted his cheek. “I knew you weren’t as dumb as you seemed a few minutes ago.”

  “You always know just the right thing to say. Thanks, Grammy.” Hud’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Seriously, am I close? Do you think that’s why Emery is still here even though she’s free to go back to her former life?”

  Nell started the coffee maker, then leaned against the counter, arms crossed in front of her as she studied Hud. “I think, honey, you got most of that right. But you left out one very important detail.”

  “What’s that?”

  His grandmother sighed and shook her head. “Gracious, Hud, did you hit your head or something? Surely you can’t be that dense.”

  He scowled at her. “I did not hit my head, and I’d appreciate it if you scaled back on the disparaging commentary. It’s starting to hurt, Grammy.”

  She pointed to a barstool, and he took a seat, then she slid the cookie jar toward him. He stuck his hand in, only to come up empty. They both peered into the jar.

  “It appears Emery is having cookies for breakfast.” Nell walked over t
o the pantry and took out a plastic container, sliding it toward Hud. He snatched out two peanut butter cookies and bit into one.

  She eyed him again before she finally spoke. “Look, Hud, I know you didn’t want her here when she first arrived. She reminded you too much of Bethany, but she’s nothing like her. Not now. Emery is far different than either of us expected or anticipated. Beneath that beautiful face is an equally beautiful person, one who is thoughtful and hardworking, funny, and smart. Unless I’ve completely lost my touch, I’m going to say she’s completely captivated you.”

  Hud sighed and nodded in agreement. “The other night I heard her tell Cricket she loved her, loved all of us. You don’t think she’s just saying that to make my little girl happy?”

  “No, honey. It’s plain as day to everyone but you that she’s in love with you and has been for a while. Not only that, but she loves Cricket, adores her, and has been slowly stepping into the role of mother to her.”

  “But how do you feel about all of it, Grammy? I mean, you and Jossy have been the only mother figures Cricket has ever known. Would you even want another woman living here, in your house?”

  Nell stepped around the counter and hugged Hud around his shoulders. “This house is as much yours as mine, Hudson, so you can do whatever you like here. That being said, I love Emery. I’d be proud to have her as a granddaughter and a mother to Cricket.” She kissed his cheek and stepped back. “But if you don’t get with the program and tell her how you feel, those derelict old piles of brick in town aren’t going to be enough to make her stay.”

  Hud grinned and popped another cookie in his mouth. “Then how about you and Jossy help me make it perfectly clear to Emery that I never want her to leave.”

  “Now you’re talking.” Nell poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Hud. “What do you have in mind?”