Blowing the Cowboy's Mind (Rowdy Ranch Book 10)

Chapter 1

“Okay, Armstrong, the crowd’s thinning out, so I’ll be shoving off. You’re in charge.”

Trent added a fourth mug of cider to the tray sitting on the Fluffy Buffalo’s antique bar and Cecily whisked it away. “Think I can handle it, McLintock?” He looked across the bar at Rance, who had his shearling jacket hooked over his shoulder.

“Sadly, I do.” Rance chuckled. “I might’ve made a mistake asking Clint to hire you. You’re making me look bad.”

“I could always quit.” Although he’d enjoyed being a part-timer at the Buffalo the past couple of months. Tending bar while being serenaded by a crackerjack country band was a nice break from staring at a computer screen all day.

“Nah, you can’t quit.” Rance nudged back his Stetson. “I’m still hoping this gig will inspire you to get back in the game.”

No, and hell no.But he wouldn’t say that to Rance, whose heart was in the right place. Grabbing a bar rag, he wiped a few drops of cider from the polished surface. Then he glanced up. “Guess I need more time.”

“Or maybe you need to take that leap of faith. When you fall off the horse?—”

“Correction. I was bucked off.”

“I get that, but?—”

“Hey, Trent, the birthday celebration ladies want another round of red, white and blues,” Cecily called out as she hurried toward the bar. She slid her empty tray in Trent’s direction. “Ella’s is virgin, don’t forget.”

“No, ma’am, I won’t.”

“I have to keep reminding myself since she’s not showing yet.”

“Same here.” Ella and Marsh’s baby announcement in February had brought great joy to Rowdy Ranch in general and Desiree McLintock in particular.

Pulling out three tall glasses, he started concocting the layered drinks as the band launched into the Garth Brooks classic Friends in Low Places.

Midway through the process he gave Rance a quick look. “I thought you were heading out.”

“I was.” He stared at his phone. “And I will. By the way, Brit’s drinks are free.”

“They are?”

“It’s our birthday policy. Hers is technically tomorrow, but coming into the Buffalo the night before is now a tradition for her, Faye and Ella. That’s when they collect their freebies.”

“I’ll fix the tab. Thanks for the heads-up.”

“Hard to believe Brit’s turning thirty-one. I still think of her as Casey Cougar, revving up the crowd at the games.”

“The mascot?”

“All four years. When I came in as a freshman, she was the most popular person in school. Folks still say she was the best Casey Cougar WTHS ever had.”

“That’s impressive.” He took a quick peek at the slim, dark-haired woman with Ella and her sister Faye. Since he lived out at Rowdy Ranch, he was well acquainted with those two, who’d each married a McLintock. He’d never met Brit, though.

She had great hair, lustrous and wavy, long enough to brush her shoulders during her animated conversation with her buddies. She was petite, so no wonder she was flushed after a couple of the potent red, white and blues. Clearly a fun-loving lady, though. “I always thought being a school mascot would be a tough job.”

“I’m sure it is, but she made it look easy.”

“Sounds like somebody’s got a crush.”

“Nope. She’s too high-energy for me.”

“Let me guess. She turned you down.”

Rance sighed. “She did, but it was for the best. I recently had an epiphany.”

“Was that an out-patient procedure or did you have to stay overnight?”

“Very funny.”

“I thought so.” He got a kick out of Rance’s rich vocabulary. The guy loved throwing out words that most people never used.

“I need somebody who’ll calm me down, not ramp me up. A woman who’ll keep me from going off the rails. In other words, the female equivalent of my brother Lucky.”

“Interesting insight.” He stuck a cherry on top of Ella’s virgin drink to differentiate it from the other two. “These are good to go, Cecily.”

Rance whistled softly and tapped his phone. “Damn, Armstrong. Eight minutes, twelve seconds for three layered drinks, including one virgin. While carrying on a conversation. That’s intimidating.”

“You timed me?”

“I was curious. Would’ve taken me closer to ten. You have skills, my friend.”

“Thanks.”

“You know, Brit’s all wrong for me, but she might be just the ticket for?—”

“Stop right there. I know you mean well, but I?—”

“You’ve got the yips.”

That made him smile. “I suppose I do. Also, I see no point in dating when I’ll never get married again.”

“You say that now, but?—”

“I’m telling you, I’m done with that institution. It’s not for me.”

“All right, but what about sex?”

“That’s a problem. But I’m not into meaningless hookups, either.”

Rance grinned. “Which puts you between a rock and a hard?—”

“Never mind.”

“Sorry. I shouldn’t tease you about it. She must have done a number on you.”

“Yeah.” He met Rance’s sympathetic gaze. “She did.”

“I’d rather chew her out in person, but New Jersey’s a bit of a hike. Hey, I could call her, though. Like right now. Given the time difference, I’d wake her up. That would be fun.”

“The eleven-year-old in me loves that idea.”

“Okay, let’s prank her.” Rance lifted his phone, his expression eager. “What’s her?—”

“I’m not giving it to you. Harassing her in the middle of the night is juvenile.”

“What if I don’t harass her? What if I thank her for giving you a better life? I’ll tell her you’ve got rock-hard abs, a fire-breathing horse and a badass truck. Then I’ll mention that the ladies are flocking?—”

“You’re not calling her.”

“Aw, come on. Let me plant the bitter seeds of regret in her heart.”

He snorted. “Fertilized with a bunch of BS?”

“It’s all true. Well, except the part about the ladies, who actually would come flocking if you’d stop putting up No Trespassing signs. I’ve seen women giving you the eye. Brit was doing it a little while ago, but you were oblivious.”

“Was she?” His pulse rate picked up. Seems he couldn’t stop his natural reaction to attention from a pretty woman.

“Definitely. Pay attention and you’ll see I’m right.”

“Odds are she’s looking for something permanent.”

“Possibly. As far as I know, she’s never even been engaged, but now that all her friends are coupling up…peer pressure and all that.” Rance pushed away from the bar. “Alrighty, I’m outta here. Clint’s scheduled us to work together on Tuesday night. You good with that?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Excellent.” He touched the brim of his hat and started down the hall toward the back door. “We make a good team,” he hollered over his shoulder.

“We do,” Trent called back. They got along well, probably because he was quiet and thoughtful, a lot like Rance’s brother Lucky.

He’d played that role with Cheryl, too, until she’d decided to play with someone else. Taking a deep breath, he derailed that train of thought by focusing on his present environment, which had a lot going for it.

The couples on the floor knew their way around a two-step, and the talented lead guitarist in the band had given them just the tune they needed to show it off.

The remaining customers looked happy to be here and he couldn’t blame them. The Buffalo had more character and charm than any bar he’d ever walked into.

As he scanned the room, he skipped quickly past Brit, but brief eye contact told him Rance was right. She was watching him. Or maybe it was her position at the table creating that impression.

He glanced at her again. Yeah, she was definitely looking at him. When he met her gaze, a smile lit up her face.

It triggered one of his own. Couldn’t help himself. He quickly looked away. She was likely guilty of flirting while tipsy. If he kept his focus elsewhere for the rest of the evening, he’d nip that in the bud.