Wilde Cowboy (Love is a Cowboy #1)

Chapter One – Ladd

Ladd

River Falls Cattle Ranch, River Falls, Colorado

I sat in my father’s office in silence as he stared out a window, while my mother sat in her usual chair, knitting a blanket for River Falls Haven, a local orphanage she patronized.

My father, Gus Gatlin Wilde, was a third-generation rancher.

It was in his blood. It was in mine. My mother, Nellie Anne Wilde, also had ranching in her blood.

Her father was a fourth-generation cattle rancher.

She was the only daughter in a long line of sons, and grew up being able to do everything her brothers could do, and then some.

She was a formidable woman, and I often wondered who ran our own family ranch. My father or my mother?

According to my grandmother, Lilith Wilde, it was my mother most of the time.

“Are you going to say something?” I asked.

My mother lifted her head, then raised a brow.

I wanted to roll my eyes, but I knew if I did, I could risk one of those knitting needles rapping me on the back of the knuckles. Oh, she’d done it before for sassing, but it never hurt. One of these days, I was bound to anger her enough, though, that she would deliver a good blow to my hand.

My mother was still so beautiful, with light brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and her meadow-green eyes that always gave her away when she otherwise wanted her boys to think she was angry.

Turning slowly, my father leaned against the windowsill and folded his arms over his chest.

His speech was probably coming. The whole, ‘my-father-worked-this-land’ speech, and ‘I’ve worked it, and now my sons will work it’. Then again, my father never put pressure on his sons to follow in his footsteps, but I knew he wanted his oldest son to take over the ranch.

“Before I worked this land, my father worked it. And before him, my grandfather, Lawrence. This ranch has been built on sweat, tears, and a lot of hard work. It’s been passed down for three generations to the oldest son in the Wilde family, and each son has taken up that privilege with honor and pride. ”

I held my breath, waiting for the next round of words.

“I remember sitting in front of my father, telling him I wanted to join the Marines.”

My mouth dropped open in shock.

“He was so angry, I thought for sure he was going to have a heart attack right then and there. His face got so red, I actually looked to my mother for help. She simply smiled as if that wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

Of course, at the time, I had no idea why my father was so adamant I take over the ranch.

When he finally calmed down, he told me how much it meant to him to have me take over the running of the ranch.

I think he mostly needed my help saving the ranch, looking back on it now. ”

“I never knew that,” I said softly. “About you wanting to join the Marines.”

My father smiled. “It was more of a rebellious thing, to be honest with you. I loved the ranch and wanted to run it, but all of my friends were joining the military, and a part of me wanted something different. Or I thought so at the time. Deep down, I think I knew if I didn’t take over the ranch, there would be no ranch.

My father was slowly losing it acre by acre with his gambling addiction. ”

I swallowed. “I didn’t realize that either.”

He shrugged. “The fewer negative things I’m able to tell my sons, the better.

I hated him for that. I could have gone and joined anyway and not worried about the ranch.

I was pretty sure he wouldn’t have disowned me, but I knew that wasn’t truly what I wanted.

Maybe I wanted to get away from my father, I’m not sure.

I swore that day that if I was ever blessed with sons, I would never make them feel like they had to work this ranch.

If ranch work isn’t for you, then I will support you in whatever endeavor you decide on, Ladd. ”

I felt tears prick the back of my eyes. “I’m not walking away from the ranch; I still want to be a part of it.

I’ve learned everything about ranching from you, and no school could have taught me better.

But I’d like to get a business degree to open up a sporting goods store in town.

And I know it will also help with the ranch.

I could start to take over the financial side of it one day, so Mom can pursue other things if she’d like. ”

Smiling, she said, “I would like that very much. I hate math.”

My father and I both laughed.

I went on, thinking I needed to explain more.

“You know how much David loves this ranch and wants to help you run it. The only thing Mike ever does is try to prove how much he wants to be just like you. And if it were up to Jason, he’d live in the barn with the cattle.

When he’s not playing football, that is. ”

My mother chuckled, and my father fought to hide another smile because they both knew what I was saying was the literal gospel.

“Even if I’m not on the ranch every day, I’ll do whatever it takes to help continue its success, while also following my dreams.”

He let out a soft chuckle. “I know you’ll do great at both.”

I knew my father better than anyone. He lived for this ranch. It was the first thing he thought of when he woke up, and the last thing he thought of when his head hit the pillow. My mother had confirmed it multiple times.

“Did you have any dreams besides running the ranch?” I asked. “Other than the Marines?”

“The Marines was a way of getting away from my father, I hate to say. In truth, this ranch has always been my dream. I’m only concerned about one thing, Ladd. A sporting goods store? Here? In River Falls? Do you really think you can make it a success?”

“Do you think I’ll fail?”

My father glanced over to my mother, who simply raised those eyebrows again. She was the only woman I knew who could convey her thoughts through her facial expressions.

“No, I know you won’t fail. But what if it isn’t successful…at least right away? I don’t want to see you struggle, son.”

I shrugged. “Then it wasn’t meant to be, and I’ll return to the ranch full time, if you’ll have me back, that is.”

He huffed. “You know I would never turn any of my kids away.”

Leaning forward, I looked between both of my parents.

“I just want to have something that I love as much as you love this ranch, Dad. Give me two years after I graduate. If I don’t have my store up and running…

a successful store…then I’ll be the first one up every morning and the last one to bed as I work this ranch with the same energy and passion that you have. ”

Dad pushed off the windowsill and walked my way. When he got closer to me, I stood and held my breath.

This is it.

He nodded and held out his hand.

“Two years, Ladd. From this day forward, you’ve got six years. If I know my own blood, I know you’ll make a success out of it, though.”

I smiled and reached for his hand. After a firm shake, I looked between my parents. “I promise you, I won’t let you down, either of you.”

My mother smiled, then stood. She made her way over to us and hugged me. “You’ll make both of us proud just like you always do, I know it.”

When she let me go, my father winked. “Just do me one favor.”

“Anything,” I replied.

“For the love of all things, do not fall in love while you’re at college.”

I laughed. “Trust me, Dad, I have no intention of falling in love during college.”

Three years later – Colorado State University, Fort Collins

Junior Year

“If you stare at her any harder, she’s going to think you’re stalking her,” my brother David laughed. He was a freshman this year and had fit right in with my friends, even though they were all juniors.

“Have you ever seen a woman so beautiful in your life?” I asked.

My brother, along with my best friend, Gary, both turned in the direction I was staring.

“The blonde?” Gary asked.

I resisted the urge to sigh. “Yeah. She’s sitting next to Kim W. I can’t ever remember her last name.”

“That’s Vivianne Pennington,” Gary replied. “She was in one of my classes; I don’t remember which one. Nice girl, but I think she has a boyfriend.”

“Can you introduce me to her?” I asked.

My brother gave me a look. “Are you serious right now? Did you not hear the part about a boyfriend?”

I glanced his way and nodded. “Why wouldn’t I be serious? And he said he thinks. That means the window of opportunity hasn’t closed on me just yet.”

Gary stared at me for a minute. “You haven’t been interested in any girl here for the last three years.”

“Three years? No wonder you’re desperate. Not that she isn’t beautiful, because she is,” David stated.

Gary laughed. “Trust me, your brother isn’t lacking in the women department. Who was the one you hooked up with the other night? You called her some other girl’s name.”

I rolled my eyes. “It was an honest mistake, and yes, I’ve had a few—a few—casual relationships, but there’s something about her that’s…different.”

“Oh hell,” Gary mumbled. “Not the whole ‘she’s different’ thing. Any time a guy says that, forget it, he’s a goner.”

David nodded. “It’s true. I lost my friend Doug after he said those very words. I can’t even tell you the last time I spoke to him.”

Gary pointed at David. “What he said. I’ve known a few who’ve fallen after uttering those fateful words, as well.”

“Would the two of you stop it. I just want to meet her, that’s all. I’m not saying I’m going to fall in love with her.”

At that very moment, she looked over, and our eyes met. Even from where I stood, I could see hers were blue. Then she smiled—and my entire world shifted.

I started to make my way toward her, only to hear Gary rushing to stand up and follow.

“Jesus, Ladd, give me a warning, at least!” Gary hissed as he ran up next to me.

Before he even had a chance to introduce us, I walked up to her and smiled. Reaching out my hand, I said, “I’m Ladd Wilde.”

She smiled even bigger as she reached for my hand and gave it a good firm shake. “Vivianne Pennington.”

“Vivianne, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”

The two women she was with giggled.

Vivianne, however, simply frowned thoughtfully. “It depends. Are you going to wear that cowboy hat?”

I grinned. “Would you want me to?”

“Yes, I would.”

Winking, I replied, “Then I’ll wear it.”

“In that case, I’d love to have dinner with you, Ladd.”

I got her information, and we agreed on a time for me to pick her up. I couldn’t help the smile on my face as I took a few steps backward and said, “I’ll see you at six tonight.”

Her hand lifted in a wave while she bit down on her lower lip. Turning, I headed back to my brother, who stood there with a smirk on his face.

As I grew closer, he asked, “Well? What happened?”

I grinned. “She obviously didn’t have a boyfriend since she accepted my offer of a date tonight, and I just fell in love, little brother.”

David closed his eyes and groaned. “Dad isn’t going to like this one bit.”

“Probably not,” I agreed before walking toward my truck. “I need to go find something to wear tonight.”

Laughing, I heard David ask, “Did I hear that right?”

Gary sighed. “We just lost another one, I’m afraid.”

“How does this look?” I asked David, who was sitting at the end of my bed.

He’d moved in with me, Gary, and our other friend, Jack, last summer.

We were renting a four-bedroom house right off campus, and when our previous roommate graduated and moved out, David asked if he could move in.

It was perfect timing as he was starting his freshman year and didn’t want to have to live in a dorm; the cost to rent the one room was cheaper.

“Did you really ask me that?” my brother questioned, nearly missing the small football he’d been throwing up in the air.

“I did ask you that. I want to make a good impression on Vivianne.”

He frowned. “What is it about this girl that has you all up in knots? I’ve never known you to go out of your way to impress someone.”

I shrugged, then turned back and looked at myself in the mirror.

I was wearing jeans, a white button-down shirt, and a tie.

My white cowboy hat sat on my dresser. I planned on taking Vivianne to my mother’s favorite Italian restaurant.

Anytime my parents came to visit, Mom always wanted to go there to eat.

“Where are you taking her?”

“Marco’s Italian Restaurant.”

A gasp came from my younger brother, and I glanced at him. He wore a surprised expression.

“What’s wrong?”

He slowly shook his head as he said, “You’re taking her to Mom’s place?”

“No, I’m taking her to Marco’s Italian Restaurant.”

“That’s her place. Mom’s! What in the hell kind of spell did this girl put on you?”

I laughed. “I’m pretty sure our mother doesn’t hold rights to any restaurant. Besides, it’s a nice place and I think she’ll like it.”

David shrugged. “If she doesn’t hate Italian food.”

“Who doesn’t like Italian food?”

“Maybe Vivianne doesn’t.”

I waved my hand to dismiss him. “Everyone likes Italian food.”

David stood. “You look good, by the way. Stop messing with your hair, you’re going to be wearing a cowboy hat.”

“Not in the restaurant.”

His shoulders rose and fell on a sigh. “Ladd, just go get the girl before you’re late.”

Thirty minutes later, I found out that Vivianne Pennington, the girl I was pretty sure I had fallen in love with at first sight, did indeed love Italian food…and Marco’s was her favorite restaurant.

And I just fell in love a lot harder.