Big Daddy Bull Riders (Big Cedar Daddies #4)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Mina Palmer was going to make it to Big Cedar if it was the last thing she did.

More accurately, if it was the last thing her car did.

It seemed like the 1987 Honda Accord was barely moving as it chugged—or tried to chug—up the sharp hill.

“Come on. You can do it,” she told it, as if she could force the ancient vehicle to go just a few more miles using sheer willpower and a peptalk.

A few more miles were all she needed, too. She’d hit the beautiful, rolling green mountains of Southeastern Oklahoma about forty-five minutes earlier. Now, Big Cedar was just on the other side of this hill.

The car sputtered and lurched. For a second, she thought it might actually start sliding backward.

“It’s okay,” she said soothingly, patting the dash like she was trying to calm a faltering horse. “You can do this.”

Maybe it worked, because the car roared and then continued its slow trek up the incline.

“Woohoo! You’re doing it!” Mina cheered.

Relief settled over her when she crested the hill and looked down at the small town spread over the valley below. There wasn’t much to it, as it was still a growing community. But she’d worked hard to get there. As a Little, it was her dream to live and work in the special community. She was going to have a blast and finally be her authentic self each and every day. And who knew? Maybe she’d even meet her Daddy there.

Whatever happened, Big Cedar was her home now. And there was no place she’d rather be.

At this point, she didn’t care if the car gave out, since it could just coast down into the mechanic’s shop she spied on the right. That wasn’t ideal, because she didn’t have a ton of cash. Car repairs weren’t something she wanted to tackle right away. But the car would have to be fixed at some point. It had gotten her from Dallas to Big Cedar, too, so she couldn’t really complain if it decided to stall now.

Normally, that drive would have only been about three-and-a-half hours. With the condition of the Accord, though, it had taken Mina two additional hours.

That didn’t matter now. She’d made it. Home sweet home.

Well, almost.

It appeared as if she had a little problem. Now, it wasn’t that the car wouldn’t go . It was that it wouldn’t stop .

Mina tried pumping the brakes as she began to gather speed, zooming down the hill. They didn’t respond, though.

“Oh no! What do I do?” she hollered.

Thankfully, the brakes caught, and she breathed a sigh of relief. That sealed the deal, however. She had to get the car into the shop.

The car died just as she came to a gurgling, clanging stop in front of the open garage door. A middle-aged man with broad shoulders and a body thick with muscles born of hard work emerged from the bay.

“Howdy, ma’am. Everything okay?” he asked, squinting in the stark sunlight, though the expression on his face indicated he knew the answer. The sound of the car dying had been pretty loud. Mina doubted he could have missed it.

Sliding out of the driver’s seat, she replied, “I think my car needs some work, sir.”

The mechanic smiled and nodded as his eyes fell to the steam that was now rising from the hood. “I reckon so.” He walked around it, looking the vehicle over. “Sorry she gave out on you. Where you headed?”

“Right here, sir. My name is Mina Palmer. I’m moving to Big Cedar to?—”

“Run the newspaper!” a female voice exclaimed.

Mina looked toward the garage to see a middle-aged lady running from it. She wore a big smile along with a short, pink babydoll dress and matching panties that were visible just below the hemline. Her hair was fashioned into pigtails. She was as cute as could be.

“That’s right,” Mina said with a grin. “How did you know?”

It was the mechanic who chuckled. “It’s all the Littles have been talking about. They’re excited.” He extended his hand. “My name is Clyde. That’s my wife and Little, Belinda.”

Mina accepted his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

When she tried to do the same with Belinda, she saw that it was no use. The Little hadn’t hung around. Instead, she took off down the street, yelling, “She’s here, guys! She’s here!”

“Now, honey, don’t overwhelm Miss Palmer!” Clyde yelled.

But that was of no use, either. The woman kept calling out until others started to come outside of the various buildings and make their way into the street.

Mina smiled.

It looked as if the Big Cedar Welcoming Committee was coming out in full force. A moment later, they swarmed the shop and surrounded Mina.

“We’re so glad you’re here!” one told her.

“Wait until you see your office,” another chimed in. “It’s the coolest!”

“My name is Grace,” yet another Little said. “I already know you’re Mina. We’ve been waiting on you!”

“Girls, girls,” Clyde called, holding up his hands as he stepped closer. “Don’t overwhelm our newest resident. She just got into town a minute ago.”

“He’s right,” a new voice said.

Mina looked to see a handsome, strapping man in boots, jeans, a black t-shirt, and a Stetson stroll onto the scene, his demeanor easygoing while still commanding respect. The star he wore pinned on his chest gleamed in the high sun until he ducked into the garage.

“But Daddy!” one of the women cried. “We’re just excited.”

The lawman chuckled. “I’m glad, honey. But as Clyde said, Mina just got here. She’s had a long drive. We should let her get settled in.”

“Thank you, sir, but I don’t mind,” Mina spoke up. “I’m excited to be here.”

The lawman nodded. “We’re happy you’re here, too. I’m Quinn Hardin, the sheriff of Big Cedar. I guess you met Clyde.”

“Yes, sir,” she said. “He’s very nice. Everyone here seems to be.”

The women all giggled.

“Seems her car is going to need a little work,” Clyde said, casting his eyes to the still-rising steam. “But that won’t be a big deal.”

Mina wasn’t so sure about that. The smell of burnt oil hung heavy in the air. She wasn’t an expert like Clyde was, so she’d leave all that to him.

As if on cue, the car popped and a fizzling sound could be heard.

“Ah, we’ll get ‘er,” Clyde said reassuringly as he waved it off.

The sheriff’s Little tugged on his arm. “Introduce us, Daddy!”

He chuckled and said, “Well, I guess we can?—”

But before he could finish, a commotion interrupted the proceedings. Mina looked out of the garage and gasped. Her reporter instincts taking over, she hurried outside to see if she was really seeing what she thought she was.

Sure enough, a horse was running down Main Street. Behind it was a pickup truck, coming up on the animal fast.

And they were both headed straight toward her.