Marin Thomas - True Blue Cowboy

“Jake mentioned it when he took us skeet shooting the other day,” Al said.

Fortunately for Jake, he had the weekend off or Mack would make the wrangler pay. “It’s true. My five brothers and I all got saddled with famous monikers.”

“His eldest brother is Johnny Cash,” Dave said.

The executives laughed then Roger spoke. “Is Cash your real surname?”

“Cash was my mother’s maiden name. She never married any of our fathers.”

“Fathers?” Paul, the quietest in the group joined the conversation.

“Each of my brothers has a different father, so my mother put her surname on our birth certificates.”

“What are the names of your infamous brothers?” Roger asked.

“Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Buck Owens, Conway Twitty and Porter Wagoner.”

Al shook his head. “I bet it was tough to live down those handles when you were young.”

“You’d bet right.” Mack grinned. “Johnny stood up for us until we were old enough to fight our own battles.”

“Are you the only singer in the family?” Ted asked.

“Yep. Johnny’s the foreman of his father-in-law’s ranch. Will works construction, and Conway manages the family pecan farm. Buck moved to Lizard Gulch, a small town near Kingman, and he runs an auto body shop with his wife. Porter is still finding himself.”

“With a voice like that,” Roger said “you must have more women after you than you know what to do with.”

Beth stood. “I’ll help José clean up.” She vanished behind the wagon.

Roger lowered his voice. “I get a kick out of the way that gal blushes.”

“Didn’t see a ring on her finger,” Al whispered.

The hairs on the back of Mack’s neck stood on end. Roger and his four executives all wore wedding bands. They’d better not get the idea that Beth was available for a fling during their stay—she wasn’t that kind of girl.

She was that kind of girl with you.

Dave cleared his throat. “Beth’s the daughter of my old college buddy.”

“What does she do for a living?” Al asked.

For a married man, Al showed too much interest in Beth.

“Beth works for an investment firm.” Dave removed the coffeepot from the fire and refilled everyone’s cup. “She’s enjoying a short break from corporate America.”

“You mind if I ask her to review my stock portfolio?” Al nodded toward the chuck wagon. “I’d like her opinion on a couple of investments.”

Portfolio, my ass. Mack fisted his hand then rubbed his knuckles against his thigh to keep from throwing a punch at the man. Later tonight he’d warn Beth to keep her guard up with Al and the others.

“My guests are free to do what they want here,” Dave said.

Right then Beth returned to the campfire. “Everything’s packed and ready to go.”

“Beth.” Al got to his feet. The middle-aged man was in decent shape but Mack doubted he’d ever fought over a woman before. “I hear you have investment experience. Would you mind meeting with me to discuss my stocks?”

“Beth is busy tomorrow.” Mack stood.

Al glanced between Beth and Mack, uncertain what to say.

Beth avoided making eye contact with Mack. “I’d be happy to meet with you before supper.”

Dave clapped his hands. “Let’s head back.”

The men set their empty coffee cups in the dishpan on the wagon’s sideboard then walked to their horses. When Beth did the same, Mack made a move to go after her but Dave snagged his arm.

“What was all that?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Dave narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on between you and Beth?”

“Nothing. Why?”

“You got defensive when Al asked to meet with her.”

Mack nodded to the shadows beyond the campfire. Once they were out of earshot of the group, he said, “You and I both know Al wasn’t referring to his stocks when he asked Beth to look over his portfolio.”

“If I thought Al was a threat, I’d have stepped in. I’m not going to let anyone take advantage of Beth.”

“I don’t trust Al not to cross the line with her.”

“Beth’s a smart woman. She can handle Al.” Dave walked off and joined the guests by the horses.

Mack watched the city slickers swarm Beth. His brilliant idea to have her join them for supper so he could get to know her better had sure backfired in his face.

* * *

BETH SAT ON the cabin’s tiny porch facing Black Jack Canyon and sipped her tea. She marveled at the crazy turn her life had taken in the past year. The emotional highs and lows had exhausted her.

She couldn’t remember the last long vacation she’d taken from work or when she’d slept in until seven o’clock in the morning. Her stay at the guest ranch had been a nice change from sitting at her desk staring at a computer screen all day. She hadn’t realized how much anger and resentment had built up inside her after she’d discovered Brad had cheated. The daily hikes she’d taken at the ranch had helped expel the poisonous feelings from her body.

“Mind if I join you?”

She jumped inside her skin, almost sloshing tea onto her jeans. “I wish you’d stop stalking me.”

“Stalking? I knocked on the front door before I came back here.”

She motioned to the chair next to her. “Have a seat.”

Mack accepted the invite and propped one boot against the porch rail. They sat in silence. The scent of his aftershave drifted past Beth’s nose and she gave up fighting the memory of their night at the motel. Not a day had gone by that she hadn’t relived those few hours in his arms. Mack’s presence at the ranch forced her to confront her feelings for him when she’d rather leave them be.

“Are you going to tell me what’s on your mind?”

“How long were you married?” he asked.

“Five years.”

“Where did you meet your ex?”

She’d known Mack would eventually ask these questions. “A friend invited me to her company picnic. I ended up on Brad’s softball team.” Krista had been an intern at the TV station, and since she didn’t have a boyfriend she’d brought Beth to the annual spring gathering.

Mack chuckled, the intimate noise reminding her of the sound he’d made when he’d nuzzled the skin behind her ear and learned she was ticklish. “What’s so funny?”

“I’m imagining you hitting a home run and your ex’s mouth dropping open.”

“Amazing,” she said.

“What?”

“I did hit a home run, but the reason Brad’s mouth hung open was because I plowed him over at home plate.” She smiled. “He wouldn’t get out of my way.”

“You’ve got an athlete’s body. He should have known better.”

She’d rather Mack tell her she had a siren’s body.

He told you that night that you were sexy.

Mack cleared his throat. “I stopped by to warn you about Al.”

“Why?”

“Needing investment advice isn’t his only motivation for wanting to get together with you.”

“I’m sure you’re wrong. He’s married.”

“I don’t trust the guy.”

“I appreciate the warning, but I can handle Al.” She expected Mack to continue badgering her, but he changed the subject.

“Are you originally from Yuma?” he asked.

“No. I was born and raised in San Diego.”

“How’d you end up in Arizona?”

“After earning a Master’s in finance I received a job offer from Biker and Donavan Investments. They had an opening in their Yuma branch. The starting salary was very competitive and with student loans hovering over my head, I took the position.” For the most part she hadn’t regretted it. She’d lived frugally and had paid off her school debt in record time. Then she’d met Brad, and after they’d married he was promoted to five-o’clock sports anchor and before she realized it, Yuma had become home.