The Cowboy's Accidental Baby

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“Instead of numbers on the room doors, we’ll use placards with the movie title. Number 6 will be called the Stagecoach Room.”

Amelia nodded. “And the others will be the San Antonio with Errol Flynn, High Noon with Gary Cooper, Once Upon a Time in the West with Henry Fonda, McCabe and Mrs. Miller with Warren Beatty and Unforgiven with Clint Eastwood.”

Lydia tapped the laptop screen and another design folder opened. “There’s a business that creates custom wallpapers. I’ll pick a famous scene with the main actor from each movie and put that wallpaper behind the beds.”

“I love it.”

“I’ll head over to the motel to take measurements and put the finishing touches on these designs.” Lydia packed up her laptop.

“I’m going to Boerne with Margaret for her granddaughter’s baby shower.” Amelia placed an extra house key on the table. “We’re staying overnight at the William Hotel, then having breakfast with Margaret’s granddaughter in the morning before we do a little shopping.”

“Sounds nice.” Lydia dropped the key into her purse. “Who’s driving?”

Her aunt arched an eyebrow. “Are you worried I can’t navigate the roads anymore?”

“I didn’t mean to offend you, Aunt Amelia.”

“You didn’t, dear. Margaret’s driving, and before you ask, she’s fifty-six.”

“Don’t forget your cell phone in case I need to get in touch with you about the motel.” Lydia kissed her aunt’s cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.” She paused at the back door. “If you find any John Wayne souvenirs, buy them for the Stagecoach Room.” It was eight thirty when Lydia left her aunt’s home and the only business open at that hour in Stampede was the café. Hopefully Gunner was awake and already at work.

When she pulled into the motel, she caught a glimpse of the empty Dumpster at the back of the property. Gunner had followed through on his promise to have the trash hauled away. Maybe he was the kind of guy who just needed to be told what to do. Lydia got out of the car, but her steps slowed as she approached the office, where a note had been taped to the door. Got a ride in Rocky Point. Her handyman had ditched her. Lydia dug around inside her purse, searching for the motel office key her aunt had given her when she’d first arrived in town. When her fingers came up empty, she remembered she’d placed the key on the counter inside the office when she’d toured the motel this past Sunday.

Frustrated, she called Gunner’s cell. No answer. Next she tested the knob on each room door, thinking he might have left one of them open. They were all locked.

Lydia was aware that Gunner and his grandfather weren’t keen on the motel makeover, but they weren’t calling the shots—her aunt was. She hopped into the Civic and turned on her GPS app, then spoke into the phone.

“Directions to Rocky Point, Texas.”

Twenty-eight minutes later, Lydia reached the outskirts of the town. She followed the signs to the fairgrounds, which were hardly impressive. The area looked as if a field of scrub brush had been plowed under and a fence thrown up around a dirt circle. A pair of aluminum bleachers sat outside the makeshift arena. There was no concession stand—just his and her porta-potties located next to the livestock pens.

She parked between a Ford and a Dodge pickup, then grabbed her purse and headed for the entrance, where a bowlegged cowboy wearing a money belt stood guard. “Ten dollars, missy.”

“You’re charging to watch the rodeo?”

“How else are the boys gonna get paid?” He rubbed a gray-whiskered cheek. “You ain’t from around here, are ya?”

“No, sir.” She handed him two five-dollar bills. “Where are the cowboys?”

He nodded to the single bucking chute, where a group of men had gathered. As if the geezer read her mind, he said, “Spectators ain’t allowed over there.”

“How long does the rodeo last?”

“Couple of hours. Give or take.”

Sitting on bleachers in the hot sun for two hours watching grown men tussle with crazed livestock hadn’t been on Lydia’s to-do list today. At least the makeup she wore had sunscreen in it. “Do you have a program?”

He shook his head. “Bob’s on the mike today. He’ll tell ya a bit about the boys before they ride.”

Lydia climbed the bleachers and sat behind a pair of buckle bunnies. The women flashed their bold painted lips at her and she returned their smiles. The brunette’s gaze caught on Lydia’s navy linen slacks, reminding her that she looked out of place among all the denim and cowboy boots.

A cowboy walked in front of the stands and the dark-haired woman waved her arms wildly, her hat falling onto Lydia’s lap.

“Sorry,” the cowgirl said, snatching it back. The white Stetson matched the woman’s white shirt covered with pink rhinestones. The platinum blonde next to her wore a black shirt covered in silver rhinestones and Lydia suspected the cowgirls owned a BeDazzler machine.

Small-town girls in Wisconsin joined their local 4-H and dressed for wrangling milking cows and sheep, not rodeo cowboys.

“Wanna bet he’ll be last, Maisy?” The brunette spoke to her friend.

“Has Gunner asked you out yet?” Maisy asked.

Lydia’s ears perked when she heard the motel manager’s name.

“No, but he will.”

“That cowboy will never let a woman rein him in, Chantilly.”

Chantilly?

“Gunner says he’s a confirmed bachelor, but I’ll change his mind.”

Oh, brother. The women made Gunner sound like some kind of cowboy god. Then again, Lydia conceded the man was better looking than any of the guys who’d pinged her profile on the dating site.

“Ladies and gents, welcome to the fifteenth annual Rocky Point Rodeo.” Announcer Bob cleared his throat, then continued in a monotone voice better suited for a PBS broadcast. “Up first is the saddle-bronc competition.” The handful of spectators in the stands applauded.

Lydia turned her attention to the bucking chute, searching for Gunner among the milling cowboys. The men were dressed the same—jeans, dark shirts and hats pulled low over their faces. She couldn’t tell them apart.

“There he is.” Maisy pointed to a lone cowboy. “Gunner’s putting on his spurs.”

Lydia’s gaze latched onto him.

“We’ve got five cowboys ready to tame broncs today, so let’s get on with the show.” The applause died down. “First out of the chute on Storm Chaser is John Pennington. This cowboy hails from New Mexico and he’s new to the circuit. Let’s see if he can make it to the buzzer.”

Lydia had been to a rodeo as a kid but hadn’t paid attention to the events. She’d been more interested in the clowns who jumped in and out of the barrels. There were no clowns at this rodeo, only cowboys who stood inside the arena near the chute ready to help if needed.

The gate opened and Storm Chaser bolted into the dirt circle. Cowboy John lasted one buck before sliding off the back end of the horse and landing on the ground.

“Looks like Pennington is gonna need a little more practice before he makes it to eight.”

Three more rides followed—resulting in the same outcome. The fans grew restless and the applause disappeared until Gunner stepped up to the chute.

“Our final contestant late this morning lives down the road in Stampede. Gunner Hardell doesn’t have any wins on his résumé. Let’s see if he shows Spin Demon a thing or two. This bronc is from the Shady Acres Ranch outside of Midland.”

Lydia leaned forward, her gaze glued to the chute as Spin Demon sprang into action. Gunner gripped the rope with his left hand, keeping his right arm high in the air next to his head. After the third buck his hat flew off and his dark hair whipped around his head.

Spin Demon did everything in his power to toss his rider and Lydia marveled at Gunner’s pure athleticism as he hung on. Go, Gunner, go. When the buzzer sounded, she stuck two fingers into her mouth and let loose a shrill whistle.

Chantilly and Maisy spun on their bench, but Lydia ignored their stares and watched Gunner’s dismount—more of a fall than a leap to the ground. The bronc trotted out of the circle and Gunner swiped his hat off the dirt, then waved it at the stands. His smile froze when he spotted Lydia.

“Looks like Gunner Hardell finally made it to eight. How about another round of applause for the cowboy.”

Instead of returning to the chute area, Gunner walked across the dirt and stopped in front of the bleachers. “Lydia!” he shouted and then flung his hat. She snatched it as it sailed between Chantilly and Maisy’s heads.

“Nice catch.” He winked, then walked back to the chutes, where the other cowboys congratulated him with backslapping and fist pumping.

“Who are you?” Chantilly asked.

“Lydia Canter.” She beamed, proud of herself for catching Gunner’s hat—not that she cared about impressing the women.

“We’ve never seen you at a rodeo before,” Maisy said.

“I’m visiting from Wisconsin.”

“Wisconsin?” Chantilly grimaced. “How do you know Gunner?”

“He works for me.”

“Doing what?” Maisy asked.

“Anything I ask him to.” She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing when their mouths dropped open. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to have a chat with my employee.”

Lydia pulled up short when a tall, brawny man stepped into her path.

“Ma’am, you ain’t allowed behind the chutes.”

“She’s with me, Rawlins.” Gunner strolled toward Lydia, wearing his usual grin. It was impossible to stay mad at a man who smiled all the time.

“Congratulations.” She handed him the Stetson.

He plopped it on his head. “Thanks.” He removed his spurs, then stuffed them into the duffel bag along with his rope and bronc saddle. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”