One Wild Cowboy and A Cowboy To Marry: One Wild Cowboy / A Cowboy to Marry

His eyes narrowed as he regarded her intently. “Do us both a favor, Emily. Go back to your family. Work out whatever needs to be worked out.” He lifted a gloved hand before she could interrupt. “And leave me—and these horses—out of it.”

* * *

LATE THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON, Dylan answered another summons from Shane McCabe. He met with Emily’s father in the study of the Circle M Ranch house, where they discussed the condition of the mustangs and Dylan’s plan for training them.

It was a cordial, productive meeting and, despite himself, Dylan found himself warming to the elder rancher.

Usually, he did not care for men of such power and wealth, although he never minded doing business with them. Money was money, and they easily paid the fees Dylan commanded.

At the conclusion of their discussion, Shane handed Dylan a check, as previously agreed upon. “This should cover your time and the expenses of caring for the mustangs for the first month. If you need anything else, be sure and let me know.”

“Thank you.”

Before Dylan could get up, Shane said, “If you’ve got a moment, I’d like to speak with you about the Libertyville Boys Ranch. The director—Mike Harrigan—is a friend of mine. He mentioned your devotion to the facility.”

This was headed toward territory Dylan had no wish to discuss. He lifted a hand to cut off the discussion. “It’s no big deal.”

Shane leaned forward earnestly. “On the contrary, it’s a very big deal, Dylan. The boys ranch turns a lot of young lives around. I want to do more than just provide a few horses. So here’s what I was thinking...” Shane elaborated for the next few minutes. Finally, he finished, “And given your expertise in this area, I’d really like your help in making that dream a reality.”

The offer was unexpected. And amazing. Not to mention out of the question. “Thank you, sir. I’ll do what I can to contribute to your efforts.”

“But?” Shane sensed a catch.

“I don’t think I am the right man for the setup you have in mind. I’ll continue training the mustangs and then hand them over to the Libertyville Boys Ranch as promised. But that’s really all I can guarantee, in terms of helping you out.”

Shane had the same look on his face that Emily had on hers whenever Dylan told her no. The one that said a McCabe wasn’t giving up on what they wanted, no matter what obstacles lay in front of them.

Finally, Shane rocked back in his chair.

Dylan expected Emily’s father to say something like the offer was always going to be open. Instead, he steepled his hands in front of him and inquired, “So what’s going on with you and my daughter?”

Dylan swore silently to himself. For the life of him he did not know how to answer that. There was desire, certainly. And he really liked her cooking. But beyond that...

His concern for his only daughter apparent, Shane continued, “I’ve never seen her run after anyone the way she’s been chasing you.” He paused. “Usually, it’s the other way around. Guys are beating down her door.”

Dylan had been around long enough to know that to be true. Not that Emily had been inclined, in the past year or so anyway, to let anyone make much of a move on her. As far as he knew, she hadn’t even had a date—not counting the pretend one with him.

“So...” Shane stood and looked at Dylan, man-to-man. “If I may...a word of advice?”

Dylan took the cue and got to his feet, too. He honored the elder horseman with a look of respect.

“If you don’t think you will ever be serious about Emily...then do whatever you have to do...” Shane said, firmly, “but don’t let my daughter catch you.”

* * *

DYLAN WALKED OUT the front door of the Circle M Ranch house, still contemplating the counsel from Shane McCabe.

As much as he hated having others meddle in his business, Emily’s father was right.

Emily might think she was a free spirit, but she was also vulnerable and traditional to the core.

A wild affair would never make her happy. Nor would deceiving her loved ones.

Not in the long term.

And for some reason he couldn’t figure, Dylan wanted to see the pretty brunette happy.

Which made what came next all the more unpalatable.

Striding toward Dylan, his arms full of Cowtown Diner goodies, was Xavier Shillingsworth. The teen flashed a pretentious smile his way. “Going the wrong way there, aren’t you, fella?”

There was no denying the snide undertone in his words. Or the resentment in Xavier’s gaze. Dylan paused on the wide front steps of the rustic fieldstone and cedar ranch house. He did not bother to smile back. “Excuse me?”

“Hired help comes and goes from the back, right?” Xavier sneered. “So...you should have gone in and out the back entrance.”

Dylan had suffered the taunts of the snotty rich from boyhood on. He knew he should let it go, straighten the brim of his hat, ignore the little twerp and keep moving. Yet something about the guy, and the situation, had him returning equably, “Ranchers go in the front.”

“And here I thought you were just another cowboy,” Xavier said, as Emily and her mother drove up in their respective vehicles.

Looking gorgeous and ready for a night out on the town, Emily was first to emerge.

Xavier shifted the stack of Cowtown Diner memorabilia in his arms and turned to face Emily. “Going to be joining us for dinner this evening?”

“Uh, no,” Emily murmured, appearing not the least bit disappointed about that.

Bypassing the teen completely, Emily walked up to Dylan and looked him straight in the eye. “May I have a word with you?”

Figuring he’d find out sooner than later why the feisty heiress was so piqued, Dylan shrugged. “Sure.” He ambled down the steps alongside Emily, as Greta McCabe emerged from her Mercedes.

“Nice to see you, Dylan,” Greta said pleasantly.

He briefly removed his hat in a gesture of respect. “Nice to see you, Mrs. McCabe.”

“Perhaps you’d like to join us for dinner this evening, Dylan?” Greta continued pleasantly. “Emily? You, too?”

Emily perked up.

Xavier looked totally ticked off.

Which in Dylan’s view, made it all worth it. “Don’t mind if I do,” he told Greta. It wouldn’t be the first time he had dined with the Laramie, Texas elite, but it would definitely be the most satisfying.

Chapter Four (#u0bbc0630-59cf-5b77-875e-ea5ae938998f)

“Mind telling me what’s going on around here?” Emily asked, the moment her mother and Xavier Shillingsworth had disappeared inside the house, and shut the door behind them.

Dylan was getting a little tired of being a bit player in the McCabe family drama. He lounged against the rail edging the porch steps and folded his arms in front of him. “You’re going to have to be more specific if you want me to answer that.”

Emily wrapped her hand around his biceps and led him down the steps, across the yard, into the shade. “Fine. You want to cut to the chase, we’ll cut right to the chase.” She glared at him. “I heard you had a meeting with my father.”