The Cowboy’s Magic Touch (Naked Cowboys of Smoky Hill #1)

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

Brody King was standing in his round pen with a young colt when he saw a cloud of dust billowing up from his driveway. As the vehicle drew closer he wasn’t surprised to see his younger brother Clive in his pickup. Suddenly the colt began prancing, then stopped and snorted.

“It’s okay, Tommy boy, it’s just crazy Clive,” he said softly. “Easy, easy. Nothin’ to panic about.”

The colt snorted again, then stood tall with his ears pricked and his eyes wide. As the truck skidded to an abrupt stop, Brody unhooked the lead rope from Tommy’s halter and calmly left the pen.

“What’s got you so fired up?” Brody asked brusquely as his brother climbed out. “This better be important. You damn near gave me a heart attack flyin’ up here like you did, and Tommy didn’t much like it either.”

“Sorry, sorry, I know but I had to warn you.”

“What’s goin’ on?”

“Uh…it’s Annie. She’s here.”

Brody felt his face flame, and at the same time a shiver rippled through his body.

“Brody, are you okay?”

“How do you know?” he managed, finding his voice.

“Someone saw her in town.”

“Ooh, so you don’t know for sure, you heard it second hand,” Brody muttered, letting out a heavy breath. “It was probably just a girl who looks like her.”

“Mrs. Swanson rang mom. I heard her talkin’ about it on the phone. When they finished gossipin’ she told me to come up and warn you.”

“First off, I seriously doubt Annie is here, and second, even if she is it’s none of my business. Not any more.”

“Aren’t you the least bit worried, or curious or—”

“What good would that do me? Listen, Annie is history. She’s a big star now. Lives in a mansion someplace, travels the world, sings her songs to thousands of people, and makes more money than this whole town is worth. Why the heck would she want to come back? And if she did, she’d have an entourage with her and be seen by everyone, not just Edith Swanson.”

“What’s an entourage?”

“Seriously? You don’t know?”

“Uh, no.”

“It’s a group of people who take care of someone famous.”

“Oh…you mean like, hairdressers and stuff.”

“Along with bodyguards.”

“You think Annie has bodyguards?”

“When she’s performing she would, for sure, but I’ve got a colt in that pen and he needs me. Thanks for swingin’ by, but do me a favor, if there’s a next time, make sure the emergency is for real, and remember, don’t be drivin’ up here like that.”

“Sorry. I was pretty freaked out when I heard. I remember how…uh…crazy things were when she left.”

“Ancient history. Now let me get back to work.”

“Okay—oh, I almost forgot. Mom says she’s makin’ a roast.”

“In other words, she wants me over there for dinner.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Tell her I’ll be there.”

“Will do. Bye.”

As Clive returned to his truck and climbed behind the wheel, Brody smiled and waved…but his gut was churning. Returning to the round pen, he moved through the gate and walked up to the jittery colt.

“I think we’re done for now, Tommy. Just hearin’ that girl’s name…damn…I swear it’s knocked the wind outta me.”

As if sensing Brody’s mood, the young horse lowered his head and gave him a nudge.

“Thanks, buddy,” Brody murmured, stroking his neck. “It was three long years ago, so why does it feel like last week? I’m takin’ you back to the paddock and gettin’ myself a beer.”

Snapping the lead rope back on the halter, he opened the gate and marched out. The young horse stuck by his side as they headed to the fenced pasture a short distance away, and Brody knew it wouldn’t be long before he wouldn’t need the equipment. As he walked through the gate and slid the halter off Tommy’s head, the colt didn’t amble away, but stood by Brody and stared at him expectantly.

“Hey, I’m okay. Go be with your buddies.”

The colt didn’t move.

“Okay, okay, I know what you want.”

As Brody began sliding his hand over the horse’s body, he lowered his head and let out a quiet snort. After a few minutes, letting out a sigh himself, Brody left the paddock and headed across a wide yard to his house. Walking in, he didn’t stop, but went straight to the refrigerator, pulled out a beer then slouched into a chair at the kitchen table.

“Hey, Bella,” he said as his cattle dog pushed her way in through the doggie door. “Where have you been?”

Bella barked, then trotted across the room, sat beside him, looked up and whined.

“You too? Okay.”

After taking another swig, he placed his hands on Bella’s head, then slowly moved them down her body. As he continued stroking, Bella leaned against his leg, but when he stopped, she picked up her paw and stared at him.

“More?”

She whimpered. Unable to refuse he started again, but also softly traced his fingertips around her head.

“There, now go to your bed and sleep it off.”

Yawning, Bella padded across to a furry mat against the wall and laid down. Watching her as he took another drink Brody felt a wave of contentment. He had no idea why he’d been blessed with the precious gift. That’s what his mother called it. A gift. He had the ability to calm animals, and sometimes people too, with just his touch.

Closing his eyes he recalled the last time he’d seen Annie. She was leaving and his heart was breaking, but he knew she had to go. Though she’d looked as pretty as ever there was worry and confusion in her eyes. He’d raised his hands and placed them on either side of her face.

“Hey, darlin’, if you feel you need to do this you’ve gotta do it or you’ll always be restless,” he murmured. “I’m not goin’ anywhere, and neither is this little town. You can always come home.”

“Sometimes I hate that I can sing,” she’d stammered as the tears fell from her eyes. “I hate that I have this—this—thing inside me pushing me to leave.”

He’d continued smoothing his fingertips over her cheeks, then down her neck, silently wishing her all the luck in the world and telling her she’d be okay. But when she’d climbed into her father’s car to be driven to the Greyhound bus terminal half-an-hour away, he thought he’d crumble into nothingness and become like the dirt the tires kicked up.

Somehow he’d survived.

When her letters and calls became less frequent, then she stopped responding altogether he wasn’t surprised. But the pain never left, and the empty space in his heart remained.