The Cowboy Takes a Bride (2 page)

F
ocus, Sugar Rae! Focus
—easier said than done, Sugar thought. Ross made her feel like she did just before she walked into an audition: a clash of nerves and adrenaline. It was a very unsettling reaction. Totally unexpected and unwanted.

Trying to pull herself back together, Sugar trailed Haley around the apartment, checking out the bedroom and the small bath. They followed Ross back to the car. To her surprise, other people were waiting to meet her and help unload the car. She was glad for the welcome and for the distraction.

There were the gals from the hair salon across the street, Lacy and Sheri. Sugar knew they were two of the women who'd helped put the tiny town on the map. Ashby and Rose from the dress store were there, too. Sugar felt like she'd already met them since Molly had written about each one in her column. The four ladies from the candy store also took a minute from work to say hi and give her a housewarming gift.

“Wow,” she said, gazing at the basketful of mouthwatering chocolates. “To think it wasn't too long ago this town had almost no women. Now look at it.” Main Street had filled with women, and they all came together to make a newcomer feel welcome. Sugar was touched by their kindness—and she couldn't wait to dig into her basket! She felt a little guilty that she wasn't completely happy about being there.

Haley sighed. “There was a time when I thought there was no hope for this place. Boy, was I wrong,” she said, smiling. “I know you're here to help me out and to boost your acting career, but I think the town will grow on you, too.”

Sugar gave her a playful but serious look of warning. “Maybe, but Haley, I
am
leaving.”

They all started filing up the stairs, each carrying something from the car. Sheri gave Sugar a wide, sassy grin as her fancy red boots clicked on the steps. “Have you met the posse yet?”

“The posse?”

Lacy called up from behind her, “That's what Sheri calls Norma Sue, Esther Mae and Adela. The ladies who came up with this great plan to save their town. You'll love them.”

Sugar glanced over her shoulder at Lacy. She was talking about the matchmakers! The ladies were the stars of Molly's column. Her curiosity piqued by why Sheri called them the posse. Distracted, she barely noticed when the large box of kitchen supplies slipped a little from her grip as she reached the top of the stairs. Ross was coming out the door, taking one look at her load and reaching for it.

“I'll take that,” he said. “You should leave the heavy stuff for me. Remember, I told you I was up for the challenge.” He took hold of the box, but Sugar didn't release her grasp. She looked up at him with teasing skepticism, trying to cover her attraction. “I don't know, you look a little shifty, like maybe you might skip out early on me.”

He hoisted the box into his arms as if it was a tiny matchbox. “Not a chance, sweetheart.”

She grunted and reached behind him to hold the door for him. It wasn't enough that the man had a slow, easy drawl that sent her insides into a riot. He had to be chivalrous, too. And he had a nice sense of humor…. She caught Lacy and Haley looking up at her, and checked her thoughts when she saw the smiles they were sporting. When she followed Ross inside, Sheri was smiling the same smile.

“Gorgeous,”
Sugar mouthed silently, behind his back, then headed down the stairs again to get another box. Of course, thinking he was good-looking was where it stopped for her. Jittery nerves and an overactive imagination be hanged, she hadn't come here to date. Her goal was going to take every spare minute and ounce of focus she had, if she was going to accomplish it.

Sugar wasn't really worried about Haley and her new friends getting ideas. They'd learn soon enough that she was very single-minded when it came to making it as an actress. It was the dream she'd had since childhood. The dream that had helped her make it through difficult days as a little girl too sick to play outside with her friends. Too sick to
have
friends…It was a dream she knew was supposed to come true, and she would not give it up.

Emptying the station wagon took no time at all with everyone helping. They'd all gone back downstairs and were standing around talking, but once Ross saw that there were no more boxes or suitcases to carry, he tipped his hat and started to leave.

He'd only taken a step before turning back. “I'm in the book. If you need anything else, just give me a holler. And if you just happen to come up with any other challenges you want to issue, I'm only a phone call away.” His words held a cockiness and teasing. His eyes, however, were completely sincere.

Sugar watched him head down the street and disappear inside the feed store. Only then did she fully relax. His departure was a relief. Despite her determination not to let herself be interested in him, she'd kept getting distracted every time those green eyes of his met hers. The man had a way of gazing at her that made her feel she was the only person around. It was a little unnerving. She wondered if every woman he looked at felt that way. That might come in handy when she talked him into trying out for her show. Those piercing eyes would be able to connect with an audience, one-on-one.

“It is really great to have you here,” Lacy said, dragging Sugar's head out of the clouds. “It's just totally exciting! When Haley announced you were an actress and wanted to start a theater in town, I got goose bumps. I really did. We do plays periodically and I'm seeing good things in here—” she tapped her temple “—with you at center of our productions. I can't wait to get together and toss ideas around.”

Not knowing how much Haley had explained or even how much Haley understood about her plans, Sugar just said, “That'd be great.”

Just then, a car pulled into a slot across the street in front of the salon. “That's my three-o'clock cut,” Lacy said. “But we'll talk soon. I do love people with big ideas, especially ones that are going to help Mule Hollow grow. Catch you later.” She spun and jogged off to greet her customer.

Sheri started to follow her, but paused. “Hey, are you looking for a husband?”

“Not at the moment. Why?” Sugar wasn't sure what to make of Sheri.

“If that's so, then when you meet the posse, you might want to hide those sparks flying between you and Ross. That is, unless you're prepared for a little help in the romance department.” She widened her eyes in an exaggerated look of warning.

“Hey, the guy is drop-dead gorgeous, and I'm not blind. But aside from the fact that I'm totally focused on my career, I'm
not
here to stay. Surely once the matchmakers know that, then sparks or no sparks, they'll not get any ideas.”

Sheri sent her a wry glance. “None of that will matter, believe me. Ross Denton isn't just a pretty face. Oh, no. He's a true-blue, all-around great guy. He's ready to settle down and believe me, if they see the way he's gawking at you—well, I've got two words for you. Look. Out.” She turned, then strode down the stairs.

Sheri implied this could be trouble. Sugar watched her until she disappeared into the salon. Naaa. Good luck to any matchmakers who thought they could hook her up without her consent. If they saw her as a target, they were going to find they might as well be shooting blanks when it came to Cupid's arrow.

Not that she wasn't going to be looking…eventually. Down the road, around the bend a few times, over the hill and through the dale, whatever in the world that meant. But it wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

 

An hour later, Sugar entered Sam's Diner escorted by Haley and the infamous matchmaking posse. They were a bunch of really delightful ladies—sort of Miss Bea meets Lucy and the Golden Girls. She was enjoying her chat with them as she walked into the place when suddenly she looked around and the reality of her situation set in with blunt clarity. She was a city girl. She loved being a city girl, and took the things that entailed for granted. She was talking about
coffee
. Not just any coffee, but sweet, creamy mocha and cinnamon, caramel. She
loved
her Starbucks, and if she'd had any ideas about her favorite latte while in Mule Hollow—well, that misconception melted the instant she walked into Sam's. She screeched to a halt, and the heavy wooden door almost hit her in the backside as it swung shut behind her. She was so shook up, she hardly noticed. Old wood tables, plank floors and weathered wood walls greeted her. No sir, she wasn't getting a caramel-mocha latte with a sprinkle of cinnamon here, that was for certain. A craving for her favorite drink grabbed hold of her and she bit back a groan, realizing she'd be lucky if Sam offered skim milk with her coffee. For certain she'd have to kiss whipped cream goodbye. By the looks of this place he might even cook his coffee out back over a campfire!

Oh dear, it really felt as if she'd stepped back in time, and for a girl who loved the modern-day conveniences associated with the city, “back in time” didn't sound so good.

“What do you think?” Haley asked, eyeing her curiously.

“Wow. It's…it's very rustic.”

Haley nodded. “It is wonderful, isn't it? As long as I can remember, it has always been the same. Sam bought it from the previous owner and didn't change anything, except to put in the jukebox.”

Esther Mae Wilcox shot a scowl at the jukebox as fiery as her red hair. “
Much
to our sorrow,” she harrumphed.

Norma Sue Jenkins, a robust woman with curly gray hair and a smile that took up her entire face, grinned at her friend. “You know you'd miss it if it died completely.”

Esther Mae glared at her. “I'd dance on its grave. If we're going to have to listen to it, the least Sam could do is shake things up a bit. Or you, since you're the one who always works on the thing. Change some songs. Give me some of those new cutie patooties to listen to. Like that sweet little Oakie, oh, what's his name…You know, he sings about the beach and he married that darling little movie star Renée Zil-something-or-other.”

Sugar chuckled. “Renée Zellweger and Kenny Chesney.”

Esther Mae's eyes lit up. “Yeah, that's who I'm talking about.” She shook her head. “I exercise to his sweet voice in the mornings on my mini trampoline.”

Sugar got a visual, which wasn't hard, since Esther Mae had on a cantaloupe-colored jogging suit with big red strawberries splashed everywhere.

When she and Norma Sue continued their animated discussion about the jukebox, Sugar realized this was an ongoing debate. They were a hoot. Life wasn't going to be boring with them around.

Adela, seemingly oblivious to her friends' argument, slipped into a nearby booth and patted the seat beside her. Sugar kept her eyes and ears on the floor show as she sat down.

Their movements brought Esther Mae up short, and she shook her red head. “Sorry, we tend to lock horns about that jukebox, but don't pay us any mind.” She slid into the seat across from Sugar, and Norma Sue did the same. “We're more interested in hearing all about you. Everything.”

Adela smiled. Sugar knew from the papers that she was Sam's wife, and the one who'd originally come up with this unusual way to save her dying town. She was a doll, with electric-blue eyes made brighter by the pixie-cut, snow-white hair that perfectly framed her face. She was elegant and serene, and a complete contrast to her friends. Not that she was shy; Sugar didn't get that impression at all. Just composed, and unruffled.

She patted Sugar's arm with a delicate hand. “Don't look so worried, dear, we're not going to give you the third degree,” she said, a gentle smile creasing her face. “Are we, girls?”

Norma Sue and Esther Mae didn't look to be in total agreement on that, but they nodded.

Haley had pulled up a chair at the end of the booth, but didn't seem interested in adding to the conversation. She was clearly content just watching them. Her eyes twinkled and Sugar studied her with interest. The real-estate office where they'd worked before had been very stressful. With so many properties to be handled, and with so much money at stake, that was to be expected. Sugar knew it had been one of the factors that sent Haley running back to Mule Hollow. She'd told Sugar the people there were good, genuine folks who cared about each other like they were family. Then there were those newspaper articles by Molly. They, too, painted the town in a positive light.

Sugar hadn't really believed them. Haley and Molly lived here and loved it, so Sugar had figured their information was probably a little biased. It had to be.

Still, as she let her gaze roam around the table and thought about the other women who'd welcomed her, she suddenly wasn't so sure whether there was a bias or not.

Could Mule Hollow really be as nice as it seemed?

She was still pondering that when Sam came out of the back. A spry man with a brisk, bowlegged gait, he looked as if he might have been a jockey in his younger days. He held out his hand right away. “How do.”

Sugar slipped hers into his and almost flinched. What a strong grip! “How. Do.
You.
Do,” she managed to reply.