Taming the Texas Cowboy (Forever Texan Book 1) Read online

  “He’s the man you’re living with?” There was nothing suspect in his tone, yet Maddie felt the need to clarify her cowboy contract.

  “Yes. It’s a business arrangement until my office can be rebuilt. I’m renting out a room at the ranch and practicing out of his old barn.”

  Nick nodded. “You always were enterprising, Maddie. Good for you.”

  Nick had been Maddie’s biggest fan while in school. He’d always admired her dedication to her work and her special talent with animals. They’d gotten along great at the university and she was glad to see that their camaraderie hadn’t faded. “Thanks, Nick.”

  “Are you ready to show me Hope Wells?”

  “I’m absolutely ready.”

  Nick took her hand in his as they left the hotel room.

  *

  Trey held a pair of aces in his left hand, the best you can draw in Texas Hold ’Em. He glanced at his opponents, Kit, Jack, Monty and two of his ranch hands, keeping his poker face. None of his opponents looked too happy.

  “I’m all in,” he said, pushing his chip stack into the center of the kitchen table. Taking special care with his bandaged hand, he congratulated himself for obeying Maddie’s orders. He hadn’t done a lick of work today.

  The men grumbled and only one player decided to call the bet. Jack tallied up Trey’s stack and pushed an equal amount of chips into the pot. All in all, the pot size equaled less than ten dollars—playing with nickel and dime chips didn’t allow for too much loss. A good thing too, since Trey’s funds were meant for essentials such as hay and feed and household expenses. But he didn’t want the family tradition to die. The Walker clan had been playing poker since Will Walker’s days.

  Trey turned over his two cards at the same time Jack flipped his over. Jack held a pair of sevens and so far, Trey’s aces had him beat.

  The dealer flopped three of the five community cards onto the table and they didn’t help either player’s hand. With Trey going all in, Jack couldn’t raise the bet, so the fourth community card was dealt and again, no help.

  “Come on,” Trey said, ready to taste victory when the river card was flipped. Trey had a solid chance of winning. It was all about percentages and they were greatly in his favor. Hell, he’d waited a long time for a hand like this.

  But before Monty drew the last card, Maddie’s voice stole into the room. “Hi guys. Just wanted to say good night and have fun.”

  Maddie stood at the kitchen doorway and all eyes fell on her.

  “C’mon in here, girl, and let us see you proper-like,” Uncle Monty encouraged.

  “I don’t want to interrupt.”

  “Ah hell, it’s just our usual monthly poker game. You’re not interrupting.”

  Trey took his eyes off his cards to glance at Maddie as she stepped into the room and his breath hitched in his throat. Damn.

  She looked beautiful and dressed to destroy in a tight, cleavage-spilling dress that matched the jade green hue of her eyes. The skimpy dress left nothing to the imagination in the leg department either. He tried to recall if he’d ever seen her in anything but jeans, but he figured he would’ve surely remembered those gorgeous legs. His gaze drifted down to her dainty feet encased in three-inch strappy black heels. Hell, a man could fantasize for days about those shoes alone.

  The whole Maddie package made his mouth go dry.

  “Wow, you look great,” Jack said, his eyes nearly bulging out of his head.

  “You can interrupt any time,” Kit said with a wink.

  The others added compliments as well, one man letting loose a long, low wolf whistle.

  “Got a hot date?” Uncle Monty asked, a bit too gleefully for Trey’s way of thinking.

  “No, just dinner with an old friend,” Maddie replied, her face flushed with color.

  Why was in hell was she blushing? Was it the idea of her date with that Nick Spencer guy that colored her pretty cheeks?

  “Nick and I go way back,” she said. “We went to college together. He was passing through town and stopped to say hello.”

  “Hell, no one just passes through Hope Wells,” Uncle Monty advised. “That man did some zigzagging to get to you.”

  Maddie chuckled.

  Trey frowned. This morning, he’d driven past her burned-down office on his way to the grocery and had seen the two of them, hand in hand, peering at what was left of Maddie’s veterinary office. She’d had her head on his shoulder, and it certainly didn’t appear that they were just friends. Hell, the image of the two of them like that had put him in a sour mood all day.

  “Trey, don’t you think Maddie looks pretty tonight?” Uncle Monty prodded.

  Trey ground his teeth. He knew what Uncle Monty was up to, but he’d call his bluff; this was, after all, poker night. Trey pulled out his chair and stood up. He walked over to Maddie and stared deep into her eyes. “I hope your date appreciates how beautiful you are, inside and out,” he said, taking her hand. “C’mon, I’ll walk you out.”

  “Okay,” Maddie agreed. “Goodnight everyone.”

  “Have a great time,” Uncle Monty said.

  The others also bid her farewell, and Trey guided her toward the front door with her hand clasped in his. It felt so natural, so right, as if this should be their date, as if she’d dressed up special just for him, as if they had a wonderful evening to look forward to. And if things were different, Trey would take her hand and steal her away so no other man could hold her, no other man could touch her.

  But Trey had to let her go. He released her hand. “Enjoy your evening out, Maddie. Have fun tonight.”

  “Thank you. I always enjoy being with Nick.”

  That comment slashed through his gut. Trey nodded and Maddie took a step toward her truck, but then she spun back around and stared into his eyes. “Trey, do you really mean it?”

  Trey stood ramrod still. He couldn’t believe Maddie had called him on this. Her expression held something akin to hope. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Emotions washed over him, fast and furiously, and he could only hear what his heart told him. Did he mean it? Did he want her to enjoy her evening with another man? Hell, no. But he couldn’t admit that to Maddie, and right now he couldn’t lie to her either. They stared at each other for a long, drawn-out moment, his poker face hopefully back in place.

  Uncle Monty called out, “Trey, boy, you playing poker or courting the lady?”

  Trey lifted one side of his mouth. “I’d better get back to the game.”

  “Go,” she said, “they’re waiting. And Trey,” she added, just as he was about to head back to the game, “I’m glad you took care with your hand today.”

  She turned her back and walked away.

  Trey watched her climb into her truck and pull away as an ache gnawed through his stomach. He walked back into the kitchen and stood over his poker hand. “Let’s see that last card,” he said to the dealer.

  The dealer turned over a seven of hearts.

  Jack hit three of a kind, his three sevens beating out Trey’s two aces.

  Trey slumped into his seat. “Boy, I didn’t see that coming.”

  “Sorry, Trey,” Jack said, hauling in all of his chips. “Looks like you’re through.”

  “That’s poker for you,” Uncle Monty said bluntly. “It’s a lot like life. You don’t see it coming, until it’s too late.”

  *

  After the game ended, Trey grabbed empty beer bottles from the table and tossed them in the trash. Only Jack and Uncle Monty remained at the house.

  “Too bad you came out the loser tonight, cousin,” Jack stated, putting poker chips back in their holder.

  Trey shrugged. He didn’t give a damn about his poker loss tonight. It baffled him why that was, until an image of Maddie standing in the moonlight, looking like everything he’d ever wanted in a woman, popped into his head.

  “I’ll get you next month,” he said to Jack.

  His cousin’s mouth twisted. “I wasn’t talking about the game, T
rey.”

  Uncle Monty stood next to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. “You didn’t see that hand coming cause you weren’t looking, boy. The same holds true in life. You think you’re holding a winning hand and then someone comes along with one better. Before you know it, the game’s lost. That’s what Jack’s talking about.”

  Trey blew out a breath. “You’re talking about Maddie.”

  Monty looked him straight in the eyes. “You took a risk tonight. You went all-in on a hand you believed would win. Sometimes you’ve got to do that right here.” He pressed a finger into Trey’s chest, just above his heart. “Go all in, boy. Don’t lose that girl.”

  “Lose her?”

  “Yeah. You’ve got to ask yourself, what would be worse, winning that girl or losing her forever?”

  “You’re forgetting that I took a risk on that last hand and came out the loser anyway.”

  “Ah, but at least you gave it your best shot.” Monty’s smile reached eyes. “Remember, if you don’t play, you can’t possibly win. Get in the game, Trey. Play the percentages. Judging by the way that little lady looks at you, I’d say you’re the odds-on favorite. She’s worth the gamble.”

  But Maddie would be the one taking the bigger risk, because sure as the sun sets, Trey would break her heart. And that was a chance he wasn’t willing to take.

  *

  Later that night Maddie pulled through the gates of 2 Hope Ranch, her mind spinning from her dinner with Nick. He’d really thrown her off balance with his proposition, giving her a whole lot to think about. It had been all she could think about tonight, and as she traveled the road toward 2 Hope and Trey, she tossed around all of her options. She wondered about her future here in Hope Wells comparing it to the marvelous opportunity awaiting her with Nick.

  A fleeting sense of belonging struck her as she parked the truck by Trey’s ranch house. She’d come to think of this place as home. She’d settled in quite nicely here, enjoying the peace of ranch life. She was surrounded by green pastures and solid earth. The scents rising to her nostrils spoke of healthy animals and straw and, yes, even cow dung.

  And Trey. He was here.

  She liked the thought of coming home to him.

  He’d looked at her differently tonight, as though he’d really seen the woman that she was. She didn’t mistake the hunger in his eyes or the way his gaze raked over her body with appreciation and desire.

  Maddie’s heart started racing the moment he’d taken her hand to walk her outside. She’d thought he’d stop her from going out with Nick and when he didn’t, her hope of having a solid relationship with him shattered.

  Was she fooling herself thinking that 2 Hope was really her home? Trey Walker wasn’t the man waiting for her. This was a temporary business arrangement, a handshake contract that served both her and Trey well. There was no use holding on to sentimental thoughts.

  Maddie climbed down from the truck and glanced at Storm’s corral. He spotted her and trotted right up to the fence.

  Progress.

  Maddie smiled and called softly to the horse, “I’ll be right back.”

  She tiptoed into the darkened house through the back door and proceeded to her bedroom. All was quiet, Trey having probably turned in hours ago. Still, Maddie made little noise as she undressed, taking off her dress and slipping out of her heels silently. She couldn’t pass up this chance to work with Storm. He’d been on her mind quite a bit lately. Maddie enjoyed the private time she spent with the stallion. She found getting to know the intricacies of the animal’s spirit as rewarding as the act of healing.

  Once dressed in her regular work clothes—jeans and a denim shirt—she headed outside, mindful not to wake Trey. There was a part of her that wanted to surprise him with Storm’s progress, but she also worried that Trey wouldn’t approve of these late-night tests of will.

  One look at Storm and Maddie knew the horse was nearly ready. Without qualms, she opened the corral gate and entered Storm’s territory. They had a staring bout for a few seconds before Storm allowed her approach. “Hey there,” she cooed softly. “It’s just me.”

  Maddie stroked the horse’s mane, then moved her hand to his snout. Fearlessly she came around to face him and looked up into his eyes as she continued to stroke him. “You’re beginning to trust me, Storm. That’s a good thing, boy.” She reached inside her jeans and handed the stallion half a dozen sugar cubes. “Or are you charming me just for these treats?”

  The stallion gobbled them down without hesitation. “One hundred percent male,” Maddie said on a soft chuckle. “But let’s see if you really trust me.”

  And Maddie headed to the barn for a lead rope.

  *

  Trey closed the door to his Chevy Silverado and entered the house. His first thoughts were of Maddie. He missed seeing her. He’d been at Paul and Brittany’s every night since poker night, working long hours on the baby’s room. Thanks to Maddie’s ministrations, his hand had healed up real nicely even with all the hammering he’d been doing lately. Now, the nursery was officially finished, and a great sense of accomplishment washed over him.

  Trey grabbed a beer from the refrigerator, twisted off the cap and brought the bottle to his lips. Gazing out the window to a night black as pitch, he slugged down half the contents in one thirsty gulp.

  As a thank you to everyone who’d pitched in on the baby’s new nursery, Brittany insisted on throwing a small party. She’d included Maddie and had given Trey direct instructions to present her with the hand-written invitation. Trey knew better than to argue with a pregnant lady, especially one determined to make a new friend.

  He finished the rest of his beer and strode to Maddie’s bedroom reaching into his breast pocket for the invitation. The door was open and he called to her. “Maddie? You in there?”

  She didn’t answer. He peeked inside the darkened room and called her name again. He was met with silence. She had to be somewhere on the grounds. He’d seen her truck parked by the house when he’d pulled up. Fleeting thoughts of her with that Nick guy, immediately vanished. Her friend had left town a few days ago.

  Trey walked outside and headed toward the barn. Every night, Maddie checked in on her animals before bed. All was still and quiet as he approached the barn doors. Then a howling in the distance disturbed the peace. The hairs on the back of his neck rose. Instincts Trey relied on for most of his life told him something was wrong. His boots ate dry earth, his eyes focused and sharp as he scoured the grounds for signs of trouble. Then his gaze hit upon something disturbing.

  Storm’s corral was empty.

  “Damn it.” A cold snap of fear emerged. His hands fisted tight as images flashed in his head of Maddie’s fascination with the stallion. There wasn’t a day that went by where he hadn’t caught her communicating with the horse. She’d detour her way around the ranch just to make eye contact with him. And lately, he noticed the stash of sugar cubes in the pantry diminishing. Maddie hadn’t fooled him. She took her coffee black, but she sure as hell had found another use for those sugar cubes.

  Out of the darkness a black blur raced right past him. It was Storm. He snorted and dashed around the exterior perimeter of the corral. Five feet away from him, Storm halted. The stallion’s black eyes bore into him as air pushed rapidly from his nostrils, a frenzied noise against the silence. He raised his front legs, balancing precariously and reared back in a desperate attempt to release the gear imposed upon him.

  Trey took a hard swallow. His pulse beat like crazy.

  Storm wore a saddle.

  And his rider was missing.

  Chapter Seven

  Trey held Maddie in his arms, shielding her with his body from the dust swirling around in gusts. He’d been lucky to find her so quickly. His instincts hadn’t failed him, and he was grateful his hunch had been right. He’d driven his truck like a demon through the dust storm, fearing the worst and praying for a miracle.

  On the drive up here, Uncle Monty’s words kept repeating
in his head. “Don’t lose that girl, boy.”

  Trey had never known such fear. The thought of losing Maddie had eaten away at him, corroding his insides. He didn’t know if he’d find her in time. He didn’t know the extent of her injuries. When he’d seen a saddled Storm with no rider, he’d immediately realized the dangers Maddie could have encountered. An unmerciful dust storm had moved through the territory. The stallion must have startled, throwing Maddie. Fortunately she’d landed on soft grass.

  He gazed down at her slightly bruised face. She smiled and relief poured through him like a rushing river. He smiled back and another realization struck him hard, right between the eyes.

  He had fallen for her.

  If he’d doubted that at all an hour ago, he knew it for certain now. He’d never known he could feel so intensely, never known he could fall so hard.

  “Maddie.” He stroked her face, gently, careful not to touch the bruise on her cheek. She had a small gash across her forehead also but it had already stopped bleeding.

  She looked up at him as if surprised. “Trey, you found me.”

  The wind continued to howl. Trey’s shirt billowed, making flapping noises against his chest. “I’ve got to get you inside the truck,” he said. “Can I lift you?”

  “I’m s-sore,” she said, “but I don’t think anything’s broken.”

  Trey relied on her good judgment as a doctor, relieved that she believed she hadn’t broken a limb or cracked a rib. He hunkered down, using his body to block the wind and carefully lifted her. “Hang onto me.”

  Her arms wrapped around his neck and she clung on. “You okay?”

  She nodded.

  “I’ll have you in the truck in no time,” he assured her. Taking careful steps he strode to the passenger side of his truck, setting her gently onto the seat and then ran around to his side and climbed in. Quickly, he closed the door as wind blasts struck the truck, shaking it. “Don’t worry. This old truck has weathered more than a fair share of these storms. Mother Nature hasn’t beaten her yet.”

  Maddie was tousled and roughed up a bit but apparently not injured and Trey’s relief had him almost shaking along with the truck.