Cattleman's Courtship

“And you came because you’re the maid of honor,” Nicholas said, a faint edge to his voice.

The hairs on the back of her neck rose up at his tone. “I hope that’s not a problem?”

Nicholas shot her a frown. “Not unless it is for you.”

“It’s been three years. Long enough to have moved on,” she said, thankful she sounded so casual and in control.

“And you have,” Nicholas added.

His comment made it sound as if she had caused the breakup.

However, she could be an adult about this. She was only around for a while and then moving on.

“Looks like you’ve been busy with some improvements to the ranch,” she said, striving for an airy tone of interest.

“Dad and I did a bunch of painting last time I was home. I’ll have enough money to do some reno on the house when I come back from my next job.”

Next job. A good reminder to Cara about where his priorities lay.

The growl of a diesel truck broke into the moment and with relief Cara looked around to see Trista clambering out of Lorne’s truck.

“Hey there,” she called, waving as she strode toward them. “Sorry we’re late. Lorne had a flat tire on the way here.”

Lorne, a tall, slender young man, his baseball cap shoved over dark hair, followed Trista, his walk an easygoing lope.

“Hey, bud,” Lorne said, sending a grin Nicholas’s way. “Were you out riding?”

Then before Nicholas could answer, Trista heaved a heavy sigh. “Don’t tell me. You forgot.”

Nicholas’s gaze flicked from Trista to Lorne then back to Cara. “I did. Sorry.”

“Honestly, Nicholas. How many messages do I have to send you?” Trista complained.

“I was out riding fences the past couple of days.”

“I told your dad.”

“I got the message. I just forgot. Sorry.” Nicholas slapped his hat against his ripped pants, releasing an other cloud of dust. “Give me twenty minutes.”

“I’ll put Two Bits away for you,” Lorne said, taking the reins of the horse from his friend as he shot a frown at his friend. “You might want to rethink the wardrobe.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be right back.”

Trista shook her head as she watched Nicholas jog toward the farmhouse. “That guy never changes. This ranch is his everything, that’s for sure.”

Which was something Cara had to keep in mind if she wanted to keep her heart whole.

Ten minutes later, Two Bits was rolling on his back in the pasture with the other horses, looking ungainly and undignified but happy. Cara laughed at the sight.

Then Nicholas joined them, shoving the tails of his plaid shirt into his blue jeans.

“Sorry. Again,” he said, pushing his still-damp hair away from his face. A fan of pale lines radiated from his eyes, which were steel gray against his already tan skin. The eyes of a man used to squinting at the sun, looking out over pastures and hills.

“I know I forgot all about today, but I thought about the wedding and I had a few places in mind for the ceremony,” Nicholas said, dropping a clean hat on his head. “One of them is close by, the other we’d have to drive to.”

“Let’s check the close one first,” Trista said, pulling out a digital camera.

“It’s over here. Past the barn and down the hill a bit.”