Cowboys, Babies and Shotgun Vows Read online

  “May I help you?”

  Ryder looked up from the handwritten menu into the dark brown eyes that had haunted him for four long months. His gaze swept over the woman standing before him, taking in every dimension of her body. He remembered everything, about her—her sweet taste, the way she moaned when his tongue stroked her breasts, the way she felt when she wrapped her legs around him.

  Slowly his gaze came back to her face. A vision of them writhing naked together on the motel bed swam through his mind, and his mouth tensed just the slightest fraction.

  His memory had served him well—he hadn’t imagined, nor forgotten, how pretty she was. Her hair was still long, but instead of flowing free. it rested in a thick braid down her back. Her skin was still as smooth as silk, which made him remember how soft it had felt beneath his hands. His body tightened and he swallowed hard.

  “The meat loaf special,” he said, holding her gaze. “And coffee—black, no sugar.” Ryder watched her turn and walk away. Her hips, encased in wash-worn denim, swayed slightly as she moved. Provocative. He remembered touching her hips, her thighs, remembered the way she’d begged him to sink into her that very last time. Ryder shifted, making room in his jeans by spreading his knees apart.

  Hell.

  He watched her as she worked behind the counter. She’d acted as if she didn’t remember him. But she remembered. He knew she remembered.

  Ashley filled a glass with ice and water after giving Bess the order for the special. Her hands trembled as she gathered the tableware. She took a deep breath and told herself to calm down.

  Ryder had shown no sign of remembering her. She didn’t know whether to be pleased or insulted. She hadn’t really expected him to, but it hurt to think she’d been so forgettable to him.

  It hadn’t been that way for her. She’d thought about Ryder a lot since that night. Their hours together had been incredible, at least they had been for her. Granted, it had been a crazy, dangerous thing to do. She wasn’t the type to fall into bed with a stranger. But from the moment Ryder had walked up to her, Ashley had acted irresponsibly.

  At first she’d blamed her actions on drinking beer while under the influence of medicine. She’d told herself that Martin’s betrayal had driven her to sleep with Ryder. However, running away from her fiancé had only brought her to the bar. After a lot of soul searching, she’d finally admitted to herself she’d known exactly what she was doing that night.

  A reminder of her carelessness was sitting right across the room. Muscular at the shoulders, lean at the waist, he was as handsome and virile as she remembered. She brushed a few strands of her hair from her forehead and walked back to his table. He looked up when she approached and snared her with his baby blue gaze.

  “Your dinner will be right up.” She put a glass of water and the tableware in front of him. Her eyes scanned his face, then swept over his body. He sat back and stretched one hard-muscled arm along the back of the booth. She looked at his big hands and thought about how gentle they’d been when he’d touched her, the thought making her feel weak and a little unsteady.

  “Thank you, darlin’.”

  Ryder hadn’t taken his eyes off her. Ashley went hot all over from his intense gaze. Her tongue slipped out and wet her lips. “Can I get you anything else?”

  Ryder’s mouth curled slightly in one corner, a teasing amount of his teeth showing beneath his mustache. “Well, darlin’, it’s right sweet of you to offer. I might take you up on something more later.”

  Ashley felt a blush rising from deep within her. She hurried back behind the counter to the sinkful of dishes. Bess, busy cooking an order, looked up when Ashley approached.

  “He giving you a hard time? If so, I’ll call Slade.”

  Ashley frowned and shook her head. “I’m all right.” Slade Carter was the local sheriff. She’d met him when she first came to town, and he’d been kind to her, telling her about the job at Bess’s and introducing her to Miss Tilley, from whom she’d rented a room. He’d asked her out a couple of times, but Ashley had refused. Right now only Bess knew about the baby she was carrying. “There’s no need to call Slade.”

  Concerned, Bess frowned. “You sure? He’d come in a hurry, you know. He stops in every morning just to get a look at you.”

  “Bess, stop talking like that. You know there’s no future in it. Slade and everyone else in town will soon know that I’m pregnant.” She’d already confided some of her problems to Bess. It had felt good to talk with someone who wouldn’t judge her, someone who would just listen and offer advice if asked. Ashley stuck her hands in sudsy water and started washing glasses.

  “He’s a good man and it may not matter to him. You could do worse.”

  Ashley rolled her eyes. “Bess.”

  “All right, all right. I won’t say nothin’ more.” She started putting food on a clean plate. “Tell me about him,” Bess said.

  Ashley looked over at Ryder and her heart stopped. She hadn’t thought she’d ever see the baby’s father again. What was she going to do? Before she could give it further thought, Ashley heard the bell ring above the door and dried her hands. “Not now. I’ve got customers to wait on.” She headed for the booth where a young couple had seated themselves.

  For the next few minutes Ashley stayed busy waiting on customers. She’d glanced Ryder’s way a couple of times and caught him watching her. He hadn’t acknowledged he knew her. She couldn’t believe how much it bothered her.

  After serving his dinner, she’d given him his check, thinking he’d leave. Instead he’d stayed and ordered dessert. Near the end of the dinner rush, she went over to clear his table and he caught her wrist before she could move away.

  “Sit down for a minute, Ashley.”

  Ashley’s gaze flew to his eyes and she saw recognition in them. And something else, something deep and smoldering. Her stomach did a somersault.

  “I’m busy.”

  “Sit,” Ryder commanded and tightened his grip.

  Ashley glanced around the room. The only two customers left were sitting at the counter where Bess could wait on them. Hesitantly Ashley set the dishes back on the table and slid onto the seat opposite him.

  “We need to have a little chat,” Ryder said, releasing his hold on her.

  Ashley slowly moved her head from side to side. “I don’t think we have anything to talk about.”

  Ryder propped his booted foot on the seat next to her, effectively pinning her in. He gave her a questioning look. “Let’s start with your name. Or do you really expect me to believe it’s Smith?” He wanted to know if she’d tell him the truth.

  Ashley dropped her gaze. “We’re strangers. What difference does it make?”

  “We’re hardly strangers.” Ryder leaned forward and touched her chin. He lifted her face until she met his eyes and couldn’t look away. “We were strangers when I walked up to you in that bar. Now? Darlin’, I know every inch of you. I know what it’s like to kiss your mouth. I know what it feels like to be inside you.”

  Ashley flushed and jerked her head back. “Don’t talk to me like that.”

  Ryder put his hand over hers and stroked her smooth skin. “Why not? You liked it when—”

  “Stop it!” she cried. She snatched her hand away and glanced around nervously.

  Ryder sat forward and laid his cards on the table. “I want to know why you took off without a backward glance. I thought we’d shared something special that night.” At the time he’d looked forward to spending a few more nights with her.

  Surprised by his words, Ashley replied straight-faced, “We had sex. Don’t try to make me believe it meant something more to you.”

  “Are you telling me it meant nothing to you?” Ryder countered, his voice hard as granite.

  Ashley scrambled to her feet. “Think about it. We didn’t even know each other. What else could it have been?” she asked, trying to keep her voice down.

  Ryder got to his feet and towered over her. Anger swelled insi
de him, blocking out all reasonable thought. “Look,” he said hotly, “I’m not some easy lay!”

  The whole diner fell quiet. Ryder looked around the room and realized they had quite an audience. He felt himself turning red and cursed under his breath, not believing he’d said something so stupid.

  She was making him crazy.

  “Shh!” Ashley cried, glancing frantically at the two men and Bess, who were openly staring in their direction.

  Ryder grabbed his hat and stuffed it on his head. “What time do you get off?”

  “I don’t want to see you.”

  “Well, that’s just tough, lady. I figure you owe me some answers and I aim to get them. Now, what time do you get off?” he demanded again.

  “Seven!” Ashley hissed, her eyes torches of fire as she glared at him.

  Pulling out his wallet, Ryder tossed some bills on the table. “I’ll be here at seven.” He turned and stomped out of the diner.

  The silence in the room seemed to swallow Ashley up. She concentrated on collecting the dishes and tried to put Ryder McCall out of her mind.

  He refused to go, thoughts of him staying with her for the remainder of her work day.

  Ashley carried the dishes to the sink and began cleaning up the diner, ignoring the stares from the men at the counter. What was she going to do about Ryder? He didn’t act as if he was going to settle for some glib reasons for what happened between them. Ashley had left that morning because she was too embarrassed to tell him the truth, that she’d foolishly turned to a stranger when she’d caught her fiancé in bed with another woman.

  What she had shared with Ryder had been honest and pure, and, as silly as it sounded, she’d fallen just a tiny bit in love with him. She’d realized how very naive she was about that. It was natural for a woman to have feelings for the man who initiated her in sex, especially if the man was as handsome and charming as he was. However, now, of course, she realized that it had been more hormones than anything else. She couldn’t love someone she didn’t even know.

  The first moment she’d laid eyes on him Ashley had feared he would be trouble to her heart. He’d rescued her, then, after realizing she was sick, he’d taken her back to her room to care and watch over her.

  Ashley couldn’t remember ever having felt so special. Her mother had died when she was very young and her father had remarried shortly after. The ensuing years were difficult for her. She could never seem to please her stepmother. She was never pretty enough, graceful enough, smart enough.

  By the time Ashley was in her late teens, her stepmother had become totally domineering. When Ashley had asked for permission to date a boy from school, Iris Bennett had been furious. She claimed he was far beneath her standing. Cushed and desperate, Ashley had appealed to her father for help.

  Jacob Bennett didn’t have time to deal with her foolishness. She’d had advantages that most girls only dreamed of. He as much as told her to stop feeling sorry for herself and to obey her stepmother. She was a Bennett, he’d sternly reminded her. She was to act like one.

  In defiance, Ashley had refused to date any of the young men her stepmother suggested. Iris had a low tolerance for disobedience. Ashley had been locked in her room for two days without meals. Shown just how cruel Iris could be, Ashley eventually decided it was healthier and safer to give in to her demands.

  Later, Ashley met Martin Edward Collins, Jr., at a party given for her father’s birthday. Martin was well-bred and very sought after. Ashley opened up her heart once again, and Martin seemed to really care for her. When he rushed through courting her and asked her to marry him, Ashley had accepted his proposal. Though not wildly in love, she truly cared for him. Admittedly, she also saw the marriage as a means of getting out from under Iris’s iron rule.

  On the night before her wedding, Ashley had overheard Martin and her father talking. Bennett Enterprises was actively seeking a merger with Collins, Incorporated. As one, the two oil companies would have a monopoly on supplying half of the resources used by their region of the United States. A marriage between Ashley and Martin would keep it in the family. Ashley realized she’d been sold to Martin, just like a piece of property.

  Though deeply hurt by her fiancé’s motives and her father’s greed, she’d convinced herself to go through with the marriage. There were fates much worse than being married to a handsome, successful businessman: namely, continuing to live under her stepmother’s tyranny.

  The next morning she’d gone to Martin’s room to tell him she’d overheard the conversation. She’d walked in and found him in bed with one of the maids. Something inside Ashley died at that moment.

  She’d hurled Martin’s engagement ring at him and gone back to her room to grab the cases she’d packed for her honeymoon. She’d taken off and hadn’t stopped until she’d pulled into the parking lot of the cheap roadside motel several hours later.

  “Ready to lock up?” Bess asked, interrupting Ashley’s thoughts.

  “Oh. Yes, of course.” Ashley took off her apron and hung it on a nail by the back door. She rubbed her palms against her denim-clad thighs.

  “You gonna be all right?” Bess was watching her closely. “He’s out there, you know. Been sitting in his truck for the past fifteen minutes. You seein’ him?”

  “I need to find out what he wants,” Ashley answered. “You’ve been really kind to me, Bess. I appreciate everything you’ve done, letting me have this job until your daughter gets out of school.” She smiled sadly. “I don’t want to leave you without help, but it may become necessary.”

  “Jolene only has a couple of weeks of school left. Have you thought of what you’re going to do for a job then?”

  “I’ve been asking around. Slade said the sheriff’s office in Kinney may have an opening for a receptionist. He’s going to check on it for me,” Ashley said.

  “You can’t keep running,” Bess chided gently. “Sooner or later the past catches up with you.”

  Ashley looked out the diner window and whispered, “I’m afraid it just did.”

  Four

  Ryder slid out of his truck and slammed the door behind him. A fine layer of dust covered his boots as he stepped up onto the sidewalk and watched Ashley come out of the diner. She met his eyes briefly, then her gaze skirted to the woman with her.

  “This is Bess Cooper. Bess, Ryder McCall.”

  Ryder touched the brim of his hat. “Ma’am.”

  Bess gave him a polite smile before she turned to Ashley. “You gonna be all right?” she asked, deep concern in her voice.

  Ashley touched Bess’s shoulder to ease any misgivings she had about leaving her with Ryder. “Yes, of course.” She had no idea what Ryder wanted of her or what possessed him to stick around, but she was certain she wasn’t in any physical danger.

  “I’ll see she gets home safely,” Ryder assured Bess, and gave her one of his most endearing grins.

  “You’d better,” she warned gruffly, giving him a meaningful look. “The sheriff is a good friend of ours.”

  There was a wealth of warning in Bess’s tone and Ashley smiled at her friend’s protectiveness. It made her long to have grown up with a mother as sweet and as kind as Bess.

  “Good night, Bess. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  The woman was slow to turn and walk away from them. Ryder motioned toward his truck. “Hop in. I’ll give you a lift.”

  Ashley looked at the truck, then back at Ryder, and nausea attacked her stomach. She didn’t think she could handle being with him in the confines of the cab. Her emotions had been in turmoil since he’d walked into the diner, and her pregnancy was beginning to take its toll on her. She shook her head and gestured down the nearly deserted street. “It’s a nice evening and only a short walk.”

  “Lead the way.” Nodding his head, Ryder took her arm. He frowned when Ashley made it a point to pull away from him. She started toward the north of town and he matched his usual long stride to her smaller steps. He’d heard the admonitio
n in Bess’s tone when she mentioned the sheriff and wondered why she’d felt the need to protect Ashley from him. Had Ashley given Bess some reason to fear he might be a threat to her?

  He didn’t want to believe she had. Then again, she’d said and done everything she could to try and make him leave. Maybe Ashley was afraid of him.

  Ryder mulled that over for a few minutes, then the thought struck him that maybe Bess was trying to tell him something else. Was there something between the sheriff and Ashley, something personal, even intimate? It nagged at Ryder as they walked in silence.

  “What did you tell her about me?” he finally asked, unable to contain himself.

  “Who? Bess?” she asked, then added, “Nothing.” Ashley tucked her hands into the front pockets of her jeans, still making it a point not to look at him.

  He cocked an eyebrow, finding her answer impossible to believe. “Then why did I get that warning about the sheriff?”

  They crossed the narrow street and stepped onto the sidewalk. “Bess is like a mother hen,” Ashley told him. “I’m sure she didn’t mean anything personal. I’ve made some good friends here. People in small towns tend to look out for each other.” Ashley looked toward the sun. Low on the horizon, it filled the western sky with an amazing orange glow.

  Ryder stopped walking, took hold of her arm and brought her around to face him. “Exactly how good a friend is the sheriff?”

  Ashley stared up at him. “Why do you want to know?”

  Ryder’s mouth tightened, slightly twisting his mustache. “Just answer the question.”

  “He helped me find a job and a place to live when I first came to town,” she explained, turning her head away from him. She brushed a wisp of hair behind her ear.

  Ryder followed the motion with his eyes. He remembered how soft her touch had been on his skin the night they’d made love, and his body tightened with that same consuming need.

  “That’s all?”