CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The sister who loves a cowboy, whose brother loves her, while her sister loves….
VICTORIA
Victoria Noble applied makeup to her forehead. She winced a little at the purpling bruise. Damn woman. Daisy Plush is just wrapped too tight! A crazy woman on roller skates with a big, ole hole in her screen door. But hot damn, if I were her, I guess would plow down anyone who messed with my man. That Rand Monroe may be older, but he is one hot slice of Grade A!
Speaking of beef, I need to find the man I came here for. Victoria knew from the start that Jet Kincade would not be marrying her. She only agreed to come here because Valeen’s heart had been set on this. How could Valeen believe that those two men would remarry us? Shrugging, she looked at her riding outfit in the mirror. It all went wrong from the minute they stepped into that dining room. Then they’ve had to defend themselves from some dangerous and messy attacks from Crazy Daisy.
The real truth was that she only agreed to help the southern barracuda woman with her wedding, so she could be here at the Triple K longer. Her quarry was here with her brother, Quinn. They both had been working here for about 3 months and she thought her brother would relent on his decision to leave the Noble Ranch. She’d waited for the two men to return. Daddy and he needed to patch things up and she wanted to make that happen, but she also wanted to track down her cowboy. HER cowboy? She sighed as she sat and tugged her boots on. He didn’t know it yet, but he is.
Jude Payson had been her only thought for six months now. She yearned for this cowhand for many months and just when he seemed interested in her, he left the ranch with her brother and came here. She didn’t make a move for so long, because she’d only seen him with well…skinny women and she wasn’t one of those stick girls for sure. I’ve got curves on top of curves and I’m cushy as one old boyfriend put it. I didn’t take offense, I got all the right equipment and where it matters too. I will make this cowboy see that.
Then after all those months of trying, he finally seemed to notice her. Big surprise there! Not like she wasn’t obvious with the many excuses to see her brother Quinn in order to SEE Jude.
Well, she was staying on here. Valeen was on the fence about it. She thought her life might be in danger from the women already on the ranch. Rolling her eyes, she scoffed. She’s always been the mouthier twin, but I’m the one who’s tough. I’m also a woman on a mission. Her eyes narrowed as she pictured the tall image of Jude. A Smokin’ Cowpoke as her friend Bessie described him. Her sigh came out with his name, “Jude…” Mission Jude Payson as my man. She intended to go riding today and the trail would end when she found him. The crew Jude was on were branding calves in the south quarter, or so she found out from one of the hands.
She made her way downstairs and hoped to find a horse, she would check and see if that cowhand, Bobby, Ben? The one who she’d been getting information from and see if he could get her a horse to ride.
Standing at the front door, Valeen waved at her. “Victoria!”
She sighed as she took the last two steps down. What is she up to now? Her sister was always making trouble, like she did just last night. Poor Brea Plush. When she realized someone was getting hurt because of the marriage scheme thing, Victoria backed out totally. Not that it mattered. Poor Cole has it bad for the Plush girl and it’d been painfully obvious that they belonged together.
Valeen sniggered, as she gave her twin a look over. “So, what are you all got up like a cowgirl for? Got some cows that need herding?”
Victoria glanced down at her riding clothes. “What’s wrong with my outfit?”
“We are supposed to be planning a wedding for Batshit-Crazy-Plush, remember?”
“But, we’re all caught up on that right?”
Valeen shook her head. “Where are you going, Vic?”
Victoria felt nervous and she knew Valeen thought very little of her feelings for Jude. Her sister thought they should get with guys who were prominent in the community, ones with money, land and wealth. Hence…the Kincade men. “Um, I just wanted to get out and ride.”
Valeen narrowed her gaze at her. “Where is he?”
“He?” Victoria squared her shoulders and bluffed her way through.
“Don’t play that with me.”
Victoria intended to ignore this interrogation. Why the hell did it matter to her anyway? She walked to the door and went out without another word to her more than annoying sister. I don’t care what Jude has in the way of money or land. I just want him!
She made her way down to the corrals. She stood around for a few minutes. No one seemed to be around. What can I do? She walked into the horse barn.
“Your horse is ready,” the rather cute ranch hand she spoke to yesterday called to her.
Victoria halted. “How did you—?”
“I figured after all your questions about your brother, you would want to ride out and see him. I have to go anyway and let the boys know they’re supposed to come on back for the festivities tomorrow. So, I’ll ride with you.”
“That is so nice of you!” She gushed and stepped up to the horse.
He made a cradle with his fingers and smiled. “Help ya up?”
With a slow smile, she nodded and stepped onto his offered hand.
He easily hefted her up.
Victoria felt surprised by his strength as she was vaulted up neatly onto the horse and she gazed down at him with awe. He stood taller than she thought he seemed before and he was lean but muscled, like a wiry wild cat or something. “Bobby is it?”
He laughed and shook his head. “Breen.” He walked over and mounted his horse, then set his Stetson on his head. “Breen Payson.” He nudged his horse forward and rode out of the barn.
Victoria sat very still on her steed. “Breen Payson?” She felt so stupid. Breen—that’s why he seemed so familiar! She hardly ever noticed him back at the ranch and Valeen used to tease him about the crush he had on her. I always thought it was mean of her to do. After all, Valeen should’ve been nicer to boys—no, this is a man here that just nearly threw her over the horse with his strength, instead of just onto the saddle. Then he disappeared from the ranch one day, two years ago. Now, I know where he went. Is that why Jude wanted to come here?
Victoria moved her horse out and followed him on the trail. The crew was about two miles out, he’d said before. Maybe, I can get some information out of him about Jude? She shook her head. I really gotta be careful to NOT be like my twin. Using the guy for a way to get to his brother? Have a care, Vic! You would think you needed to plot and plan like this was some kind of competition to win a man. She felt an instant shame.
When she finally caught up with Breen, she felt determined to just be easy going and honest with the conversation.
He turned his head and gave her a smile.
Wow. Nice smile. Funny, he looks nothing like Jude. He had sandy blond hair and green eyes. While his brother had baby blue eyes and dark hair. She didn’t know much about their parents, because they lived all the way over in Lockhart. “So, how is it working at the Triple K?” There! A good honest question.
He kept his eyes on the trail ahead. “It’s been great; Ms. Mable is fair and pays well.”
“So, you’ve been here for the last two years?” Good, another question not having to do with his brother.
He looked uneasy for a second. “Not the entire time.”
Mmm, what is that about? Don’t pry Vic.
“I hear you and your sister are the wedding planners for Ms. Daisy’s wedding,” he neatly changed the subject.
Nodding her head, she kept her hands tight on the reins. “Yes and no…” She chuckled.
He swung his gaze over. “Unh?”
Laughing, Victoria told him the entire story about last night. Well, just the second round with Miss Daisy. He certainly didn’t need to know about Valeen’s marriage scheme! She leaned over a little and pulled up her curls from her forehead.
His chuckling at her tale of a Crazy Daisy as she referred to her halted, as he visibly winced. “Boy, you weren’t kidding! That is a nasty bruise.”
She let her hand drop and stared ahead. “I really can’t blame her though. She burst in and there he was with no shirt on and a glass of bubbly in his hand! I was wearing this yellow nightie…”
He stared hard at her, his eyes looking almost emerald.
The intense heat in his gaze made her shiver and she flushed. The man could probably sear meat with those eyes of his! “Now, don’t be going there!” She laughed. “I had a top and shorts on underneath!” Her body felt a little too heated all the sudden and she shifted in her saddle.
He pulled his hot gaze away, then joined her laughter as he stared straight ahead again, and maneuvered his horse over some rocks. “Well, hell that’s disappointing!”
Her eyes widened at his flirting. Wow, he’s kind of cute. She sat up straighter on her horse. Stupid girl! You’re out here chasing the Jude Payson Dream and you are having thoughts about Breen? Pretty soon, you’ll be earning that Dime Store Hussy name Daisy was dubbing you with.
The branding camp came into sight. Victoria’s heart started to pound at just the thought of seeing Jude again, after 3 months. Her stomach filled with butterflies and she tried to breathe out slow.
They came to a stop at the fence rail. Breen jumped off his horse and went around to help her dismount.
Damn, he is so sweet! Helping her on and off. She’d been riding a horse since she was five and she didn’t need the help, but she sure wasn’t going to be rude about it. It’s not every day a man acts like this. All well mannered and attentive.
Breen was fast on his booted feet as he helped her down and their chests met for a moment. His chest was all hard against her soft pillows of pleasure as Valeen called them. She bit at her lower lip and took in a scent that made her head swim. What the heck? Her body was simmering from the heat coming off of his. She looked into his deep, green eyes. That heated look she saw before glittered there and she sucked in her breath.
He halted too, and gazed at her face for a moment. “Um, Victoria—I wanted to say that—”
“Hey!” a voice called to them.
They both turned their heads to see Jude and Quinn walking up.
As if he felt reluctant to set her down, Breen sighed and allowed her boots to hit the dirt.
At the sight of her cowboy in his leather chaps and a chest hugging, blue double button shirt, she grew rigid with nerves and willed herself to act calm. After all, it’s not like we’re sweethearts or like we’re lovers—
Jude beamed at her while rushing over to pick her up and spin her around. “I’m so happy you made it!” he exclaimed and smothered her mouth with his.
The man of her dreams was kissing her with a fierce passion—a dream come to life! Her body melted to his as her senses left her. Her mind whirled from the heady feeling. Oh, lord his kisses are better than I dreamt about. These lips could melt freakin iron…WHAT? WAIT!
He pulled his searing lips away from hers and stared lovingly at her face. “I know you said you might not be able to break away but…” He grinned. “Damn, I missed you!”
Victoria couldn’t speak and she thought she might just pass out. Staring into the blue eyes of beyond, owned by her dream of a cowboy. The one man she had pined away for all this time, her chest felt heavy with fear. Jude was finally looking at her with the expression she’d yearned to see for so long. With a gut wrenching epiphany, she realized a certain redheaded witch of South Texas had been there before her.
VALEEN! That Jezebel! How could she have done this?