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

  The only other people in the café at the moment were a pair of octogenarians who forgot their hearing aids more often than they wore them. Knox wasn’t concerned about their conversation becoming fodder for the local gossip mill. “What’s happening out there? Everything okay with Hud? Did something happen to Cricket?”

  “Yes. No.” The principal raked a hand through his thinning gray hair. “I’m not sure.”

  Knox frowned. “Well, which is it?”

  Jim went back to drumming his fingers on the table. “Cricket came to school this morning talking about a woman named Emery showing up at their ranch. She mentioned jail and prison and a judge bringing her. We’re a little concerned about the child’s safety, but it doesn’t seem like something Hud, or even Nell would do — inviting a prisoner into their home. I was hoping you’d go out and investigate matters.”

  “And I suppose you’d like to ride along.” Knox drank the rest of his tea, left a five-dollar bill on the table, and slid out of the booth. “Let’s go see what trouble is brewing at Summer Creek Ranch.”

  Knox grabbed his newspaper, settled his hat back on his head, and led the way out to his patrol car. He had half a notion to tell the principal to climb in the back but allowed the man to ride up front with him.

  “Are you going to turn on the siren and lights?” Jim asked when Knox pulled onto Main Street and headed northwest out of town.

  “I don’t really think that’s necessary. Besides, with Hud’s cows in the midst of calving season, I sure wouldn’t want to upset any of them. Heard he’s had a nice crop of spring babies so far this year.”

  “Heard the same about the Lazy J. Jack at the feed store said Jossy got a new bull last year and he’s proving to be worth the investment,” Jim said glancing out the window. “Everyone seems glad spring is arriving early this year.”

  “Makes calving season a whole lot easier,” Knox commented. Growing up in the country, he knew all about wading through half-frozen muck in the middle of the night to pull a calf. It wasn’t something he missed doing in his current job. Not at all. He rented a cozy little house on the edge of town that was just the right size for him. When he wasn’t working or helping out friends, he spent his free time rebuilding an old pickup truck that had belonged to his grandfather.

  He turned off the paved road onto the Summer Creek Ranch road. Calves raced across the pasture, tails high in the air.

  “There’s nothing like watching them run, is there?” Knox pointed to the baby bovines.

  Absently, the principal nodded, as though he hadn’t heard Knox’s question.

  Knox parked the car in front of the house and glanced around. Everything looked normal, nothing unusual. He caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar face peeking out the front window, though. Maybe there was something to Cricket’s story.

  “You hang back and let me do the talking,” Knox said to Jim as they got out of the car. Before they could start up the front walk, Hud headed toward them from the direction of the barn on his four-wheeler. He stopped a few feet away from the patrol car and hopped off.

  “Hey, Deputy Strickland. What brings you out here?” Hud asked, with a welcoming smile as he gave Knox’s hand a hearty shake. He turned to the principal and his face lost color. “Is everything okay? Cricket? Nothing happened to her, did it?”

  Knox placed a calming hand on Hud’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “She’s fine, Hud. Perfectly fine. In fact, she’ll be getting off the school bus pretty soon, won’t she?”

  “About twenty minutes. If there’s nothing wrong with my little girl, what brings you out here, Jim, along with Knox?”

  “Well, it, um … Cricket told her teacher about a special guest you have, one that came from prison. As principal of the school, I have an obligation to ensure the safety of my students.”

  Hud released an exasperated breath, removed his hat, and glared in the direction of the house. “It’s all Grammy’s idea. She and Grandpa were friends with Judge Henry Brighton years and years ago. You might not remember him, but he used to come out here hunting every year. Anyway, his niece, Emery, got herself in a bit of trouble. Henry sentenced her to community service and hauled her out here to do it in Summer Creek. Grammy offered to let her stay with us.”

  “So she hasn’t been to prison? Isn’t a hardened criminal?” Knox asked, reaching into his car and pulling out an electronic tablet. “What’s her name?”

  “I don’t think she’s ever been arrested before, and as for her being a hardened criminal, the worst she’s done so far today is scorch a pan of water and set a dish towel on fire. Her name is Emery Magnolia Brighton, from Portland.”

  Knox gaped at Hud then shook his head in disbelief at such an outrageous name.

  “Don’t look at me. I didn’t name her,” Hud said with a grin. “Our Wi-Fi hasn’t been working, but according to her uncle, there are videos spreading like wildfire online that show exactly what she did to get arrested.”

  “Well, let’s see what we can find,” Knox said, typing in her name, glad for the signal booster that allowed him to connect online most anywhere.

  It took only a few seconds and one tap of the screen to bring up a video of Emery trying to mount a horse. The three men watched as her friends gave her a boost. The sound of ripping fabric could be heard, along with girlish giggles. Then there was Emery, backside exposed to the world in a pair of lacy underpants, while she dangled headfirst over the saddle. The video panned back and showed a police officer arriving and questioning her. All routine stuff. Then he helped Emery off the horse. She nearly fell at his feet, attempted to bribe him, then began shouting about who she was and the importance of her family.

  “How much did this girl have to drink?” Knox asked, replaying the video.

  “According to her uncle and father, and the server at the restaurant, one mimosa at brunch. Apparently, she can’t hold her liquor. Not at all.”

  “And you don’t think she’ll be a bad influence on Cricket?” Jim asked, pointing to the tablet Knox held.

  “It’s too early to say what she’ll be beyond a royal pain in the neck, but she isn’t dangerous. For reasons that defy my understanding, Grammy is adamant about her staying here.”

  “Hmm,” Knox said, watching the video a third time with Hud leaning over his shoulder. When Emery sailed over the horse and her skirt ripped, they both started to chuckle. “No wonder she needs to hide somewhere people won’t recognize her. Looks like she’s trending in social media. This video has more than a million views already.”

  “Don’t tell her that, or she’ll walk all the way into town just to see for herself. Her father confiscated her phone, and from what I can see, she has no other form of technology with her,” Hud said as he tugged off his gloves. “Come on in the house and meet her.”

  Chapter Eight

  “Hey, little bro. What’s going on over there? Did I see Knox driving away from your place a bit ago?”

  Hud tipped his hat back on his head and leaned against the corral fence as he answered a call from his sister. At least she’d caught him when he had cell service. “You did, Jossy, but everything is fine.”

  “Does Knox’s visit have anything to do with your house guest?” Jossy’s voice held a hint of amusement, one Hud didn’t appreciate.

  “As a matter of fact, my daughter took it upon herself to brag at school about having a prisoner staying with us. Principal Schock was concerned that Emery might have escaped from the state pen. He came out with Knox to see what was going on and question my parenting skills.”

  “I can just picture Cricket at show-and-tell, informing everyone you have a hardened criminal hanging out at the ranch.” Jossy’s laughter grated on his nerves.

  “If you think it’s so funny, I’ll send that walking catastrophe over to your place. So far today she nearly burned down the kitchen—twice. If she keeps breaking the drinking glasses at her current speed of destruction, we’ll have to dig out Cricket’s old sippy cups to have something
to drink out of.”

  “I know it’s not funny, Hud, but … ” Jossy erupted in another fit of laughter.

  “If you don’t stop imitating a hyena, I’m hanging up and getting back to work.”

  “I’m sorry, Hud. Really. I know the timing is horrible for you to have to deal with someone who isn’t a help, but from what Grammy said, this girl really needs a safe place to stay. Grammy is under the impression that her uncle and father think you’ll be a good influence on Emery while she finds herself.”

  “Finds herself? From what I’ve observed, she needs a complete personality overhaul. She’s shallow and self-absorbed, and clueless when it comes to anything beyond makeup and clothes. And she’s blonde on top of everything else. Not even out of a bottle, but really and truly blonde.”

  Jossy stopped laughing and sucked in a gulp of air Hud could hear through the phone. “Like Bethany. Oh, Huddy, I’m sorry. Having her there probably stirred up a whole bushel of bad memories.”

  “Something like that,” Hud grumbled, then cleared his throat. “Cricket already adores her. I’m worried about the impact she’ll have on my little girl, Joss. What if she teaches her—

  I don’t know,” he paused and sighed, “things like makeup and boys and stuff.”

  Jossy chuckled. “I hate to break it to you, but Cricket is going to learn about makeup and boys and stuff whether you like it or not. Besides, I saw the video of Emery online. That poor girl has to be mortified about what happened.”

  “She hasn’t mentioned it, although I’m not entirely certain she’s seen it. Her father took away all her electronics including her phone. I sure hope she doesn’t pull a stunt like that here in Summer Creek. It would be the biggest scandal in town since Maudie caught Earl kissing that waitress in the storage room at the café.” Hud sighed. “Why don’t you come over for dinner and meet Emery? You can tell me if you think I should be worried about letting her spend time with Cricket. Grammy’s making baked chicken and pasta salad. I saw a banana cream pie, too.”

  “As tempting as that sounds, I’m up to my eyeballs in calving at the moment. However, if Grammy will make chocolate chip muffins, I’ll come for breakfast.”

  “I’ll ask her, Jossy. And thanks.” Hud glanced into the birthing pen at a cow in need of his assistance. “I’ve got to run. Do you need help over there? I could come over later.”

  “I’m doing okay, Hud, but thanks. See you in the morning.”

  Hud disconnected the call and dropped the phone in his pocket, then got back to the business of ranching.

  The next morning, he kept an eye out for Jossy. He heard her pickup rumbling up the driveway as he climbed off the four-wheeler after seeing to his early morning chores. She pulled in and stopped at the back of the carport where Grammy parked the car she used for trips to town and the old battered pickup she drove around the ranch.

  “Mornin’, Hud,” Jossy said, sliding out of her pickup and reaching to give him a hug.

  Before she could touch him, he took a step back and pointed to the insulated coveralls he wore. “You don’t want this smeared all over you.”

  Jossy nodded in agreement. “I’ll likely have something similar all over me before the day is over, but it might be best to meet your new friend smelling like something other than the barn.”

  He glowered at his sister as he held open the door into the mudroom. “She’s not my friend.”

  Hud shrugged out of his filthy coveralls and left them draped over the back-porch railing before stepping inside.

  Jossy had already toed off her boots and was washing her hands at the deep sink in the mudroom. “How many new calves did you get yesterday?”

  “Four yesterday, and two made an appearance early this morning.” He yawned as he used the bootjack by the door to remove his boots, then took Jossy’s place at the sink as she dried her hands. His sister looked as tired as he felt. Mindful she was all alone over on the Lazy J Ranch, he doubted she got any more rest than he did. “How about you? Did you get the bull you were hoping for from ol’ Gert?”

  Jossy grinned at the mention of her pet cow. “I sure did and he’s a beaut. You’ll have to come over later and see him.”

  “You picked out a name for him yet?” Hud asked with a teasing smile. His cattle had numbers for identification. Jossy tagged hers with numbers, then gave every single one of them a name.

  “Maybe,” she said, tossing another sassy grin his way before she hurried into the kitchen.

  Hud wondered where his sister found her limitless stamina. She’d always been able to run circles around him and would probably continue to do so when he was ninety and she ninety-two.

  A deep breath assured him nothing had been set on fire yet this morning. No scorched odors threatened to destroy his olfactory system. The welcome aroma of coffee and the link sausages he liked so well made him eager to sit down for breakfast, even if Emery would be there.

  Dinner last night went well enough, he supposed. Cricket carried most of the conversation, pelting Emery with questions about everything from her favorite song to her age.

  Hud had been surprised to learn Emery would be twenty-five in June. She seemed much younger than that. Or maybe it was his perception of Emery as immature and irresponsible that colored his view of her.

  From Cricket’s interrogation, he now knew Emery’s favorite color was coral, and she liked to listen to Ed Sheeran’s music, enjoyed reading, disliked beans, and had never eaten barbecue.

  Once they finished with spring calving, maybe he’d make smoked brisket. It seemed a shame for someone to never have tasted barbecue. That would be like never eating ice cream or savoring a piece of smooth chocolate.

  Mulling over the idea of inviting Jossy and their friends for dinner one evening, he walked into the kitchen. Cricket hopped off a barstool at the counter and raced over to him, wrapping her arms around his legs.

  “Hi, Daddy!” She beamed at him, showing off a recent gap in her smile. She’d lost her first baby tooth last week. Grammy had saved it in a little jar and tucked it in with the other mementos of Cricket’s childhood Hud wanted to keep. It seemed like just yesterday she was learning to crawl. He hated how fast she was growing up. In the time it took him to blink, she’d be driving a car, then off to college.

  Pain clawed at his chest at the thought of his daughter someday leaving him and making her own way in the world. He picked her up and held her close.

  “Daddy! You’re smuffering me,” Cricket said on a giggle, squirming to be set down.

  He kissed her cheek, then set her in her chair at the table. Nell placed a glass of milk in front of Cricket and a mug in front of his plate. Steam curled upward, carrying the delicious aroma of rich, black coffee.

  “Everything is ready,” Nell said, taking a seat across from Hud.

  “Sit by me,” Cricket said, snagging Emery’s hand and pulling on it.

  Jossy feigned a pout. “I’ve been displaced as the favored seatmate.”

  Emery glanced from Jossy to Hud. “I don’t want to steal anyone’s seat.”

  “You’re fine,” Jossy said, giving Emery a welcoming smile, then settling into the chair on the other side of Hud. “This looks and smells fantastic, Grammy. Thank you for making my muffins.”

  “Of course, sweetie. It’s a treat to have you join us,” Nell said, lifting Jossy’s and Cricket’s hand in hers. “Let’s hold hands while I offer a word of thanks for this food and beautiful day.”

  Hud would rather pet a rabid porcupine than hold Emery’s hand in his, but to appease his grandmother, he reached out and clasped it. Unprepared for the wild jolt of electricity that zipped from the point of contact up his arm, he would have dropped her hand and left the room if it wouldn’t have created a flurry of questions from his grandmother and Jossy.

  Instead, he forced himself to sit still and listen to his grandmother say grace. As soon as he uttered “amen,” he released Emery’s hand, although his skin continued to tingle. He picked up the mug
of coffee in front of him and took a long, bracing drink. He did his best to ignore the way it burned all the way down his throat as he picked up the platter of sausages. When he held it for Emery before passing it on to Jossy, he caught the woman eyeing him, as though she was equally disturbed by the unsettling, unexpected feeling that continued to linger in the air.

  This … whatever this energy was that pulsated between them, was not something he wanted to explore or even acknowledge. He’d vowed years ago he would never be stupid enough to let another woman into his heart and life, and he intended to stick with that decision.

  Jossy gave him a hard, studying glance, then began asking Emery questions about Portland. Hud tuned out the conversation and shoveled food in his mouth, antsy to get away from Emery and her disconcerting presence.

  He’d just taken a big bite of his third muffin when the telephone rang. If they didn’t have a landline, there were times they would have had no other means of communication with the outside world.

  “I’ll get it!” Cricket jumped off her chair and raced over to where the telephone hung on the wall by the pantry. “Summer Creek Ranch,” she said into the receiver, taught well by Nell on how to properly answer the telephone.

  She was quiet for a moment, then laughed. “She’s here, Uncle James. Aunt Jossy came and we’re eating muffins. Just a minute.” Cricket set the phone on the counter and hurried back to the table. “It’s your daddy, Emery. He’s silly.”

  The look on Emery’s face said she thought her father was any number of things, silly not being the foremost choice.

  “Thank you, Cricket.” Emery rose from the table and walked over to the telephone. She stepped around the corner into the mudroom to speak to her father in hushed tones.

  Hud glanced at the clock on the wall, then at Cricket. “Finish your milk, baby girl. You need to brush your teeth and get your backpack. The bus will be here soon.”

  Cricket glugged the rest of her milk, popped a final bite of muffin in her mouth, and skipped down the hall to her room.