Melissa Cutler - Cowboy Justice

“What changed your mind about today?” Kellan asked under his breath when Vaughn returned to the beer cooler along the wall.

“I was promised cake.” He selected an amber lager from a brewery near Santa Fe and sloughed the ice from the bottle. Kellan handed him an opener. “Would Amy really have turned into a bridezilla if I hadn’t shown up today?”

With a snort, Kellan snagged a beer. “No. Who fed you that line? Wait—don’t tell me. Only Jenna could make that sound believable.”

“That she did.” Vaughn passed him the opener. “Who was the guy in the kitchen?”

Kellan popped his beer open and took a swig. “That’s Ben Torrey. He’s a great guy. I think you’ve met him before. Used to work for me at Slipping Rock. Rachel getting shot and being out of commission was a wake-up call for Amy and Jenna. They got it straight in their heads how much Rachel does around here, so they surprised her by hiring a foreman. I hated to lose him, but his heart wasn’t in cattle ranching. He’s a farmer through and through, just like Rachel. He’s going to help her reestablish the alfalfa crop.”

Vaughn took a hit of beer, annoyed that he still felt a stab of envy every time Rachel’s name was mentioned in conjunction with another man’s. Since when was he the irrationally possessive type? To prove he could overcome his burgeoning caveman mentality, he asked, “He and Rachel getting along good?”

“Real well. He’s a great fit here. He’s moving into the main house this month until we can set him up in his own place on the property.”

Well, goddamn. Now the guy was going to be living with her. He took another hit of beer, scowling. “Who’s the other guy in the kitchen? I didn’t recognize him. Does he work here now too?”

Kellan rubbed a hand on his neck, looking uncomfortable. “That’s Howard Keibler. He works on Douglas’s son’s farm.”

“What’s he doing here?” Vaughn asked.

“Haven’t you heard?” Lisa asked, sidling in to nab her own beer. “Amy’s on a matchmaking warpath. It’s her new mission in life to have everyone romantically attached in time for the wedding.”

Yikes. “Poor Jenna.”

Lisa leaned in toward Vaughn. “Howard’s not here for Jenna. Amy thinks he’d be a great match for Rachel. And I agree.”

Vaughn nearly choked. Why hadn’t Kellan warned him that Amy was setting Rachel up with some dweeb local farmer right under his nose? He swallowed hard and looked to his friend, who was suddenly mesmerized by one of the photographs on the wall. One of Rachel’s, no doubt. The fake-innocent look on his face made Vaughn want to punch him in the nose.

He chugged half his beer down before he was calm enough to speak. Then he schooled his features as best he could. “Rachel okay with that?” he asked Lisa stupidly, hoping no one caught the shrill edge in his voice.

Kellan finally dared to look at him. “Not sure. I didn’t know about it until his truck pulled into the yard a half hour ago. But I bet you twenty bucks Rachel doesn’t even show up today.”

Was that his way of appeasing Vaughn? Nice try. “I’m not going to bet you that.”

“I will,” Jenna said, strong arming her way into the conversation. She stuck her hand out at Kellan. “Twenty bucks says Rachel’s here by the time supper hits the table.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Kellan shook her hand. “You’re on.”

Vaughn had total faith that Jenna would make sure Rachel appeared, even though he had trouble believing they were still working together on the same plan, given that she hadn’t seen fit to give him a heads-up about this Keibler guy. What the hell kind of name was Howard Keibler anyway?

“Get me in on this,” Lisa said. “I’ll double the bet that she not only shows up, but she agrees to a date with Howard before the night’s through. Rachel is way overdue for some fun in her life.”

“What do you think, Vaughn?” Jenna asked. “Do you think Howard and Rachel would make a great match?” She had a goading look in her eyes, and he had half a mind to believe she was daring him into challenging Keibler to a duel over Rachel.

And maybe he would, if Keibler lay a finger on her. His S&W was fully loaded in his shoulder holster. He rolled his shoulder blade and comforted himself with the feel of the heavy steel. “I’m not even going to touch that topic,” he muttered, grabbing a second beer.

Too horrified to think straight, and still contemplating that duel, he plowed through the kitchen door to get a better look at the man all the women in the house seemed to think was a perfect match for the woman he loved.

For possibly the first time in her life, Rachel had no appetite for barbecued ribs, even though the smell drifting over the stable yard was divine. She stood in the stable, giving Growly Bear a final rubdown, grimacing in memory of the trucks and cars parked in their driveway that indicated her house was full to the brim with people. After dropping the grooming supplies in the bucket, she led Growly to his stall, knowing there was nothing she could do to weasel out of attending the party.

Amy, in her hapless quest to fix Rachel up on a date, had burst into her room the night before with new outfits from the Fashion Diva Outpost, Nancy Tobarro’s shop. Two wispy, flowery dresses and a belted red sweater with leggings ensemble she swore looked great with boots. Rachel had tried explaining that she didn’t want any man who wouldn’t accept her as she was, but what a fiasco that turned into because Amy’s response had been, “So, then you do want a man. I knew it!”

Amy’s eureka moment had led to one of their typical shouting matches, which ended with Rachel vowing to stay far away from the house until the barbecue was over and Amy shrieking about Rachel being unreasonable, like Amy hadn’t already won the lifetime achievement award for that particular personality trait.

As she’d expected, the next morning while Rachel was on the trail, Jenna called her to run damage control. Vaughn wasn’t coming to the barbecue, she’d assured her, and then she’d threatened bodily harm if Rachel missed the cake tasting. So Rachel thought, what the heck. It’d be nice to enjoy a hot midday meal.

Besides, she was grateful to Jenna for taking over as Amy’s wedding planner. All Rachel had to do for the various wedding-related activities was show up, so it would behoove her to do so, even if it meant making small talk with Amy’s and Kellan’s friends, and fielding any potential suitors Amy had rounded up.

She freshened up at the wash bin, then gave Growly one last look. “Well, Growly. Wish me luck.”

She popped an antacid and plastered a brittle smile on her face, then walked to the house.

Amy was the only person in the kitchen. She smiled from where she was mixing ingredients in a huge green bowl. “Hi there. You’re right on time to eat. Food’s laid out buffet-style in the dining room, except for my signature pasta salad which I’m bringing out right now.”

She hefted the bowl into her arms. It was overloaded with slimy-looking pasta.

“Yum,” Rachel faked.

She held the dining room door open for Amy and followed her in.

Both tables were full of people, and the second Rachel walked in, all eyes snapped to her. Ducking her head to shield herself from their stares, she fought the urge to run back the way she’d come.

“Woo-hoo,” Lisa Binderman called from somewhere to her right. “Twenty bucks to Jenna, Kellan. Pay up.”

Rachel looked up, searching for Kellan. Her heart stopped beating.

Vaughn.

Dressed in a short-sleeve, button-down red shirt that brought out the darkness of his hair, he sat with his back to the wall in the left corner table, along with Kellan and Jenna. He kept his eyes on the television across the room, watching the baseball game and chowing down on ribs. Like he hadn’t noticed her. Or like Lisa hadn’t just hollered at the top of her lungs.