Runaway Cowboy Read online

  Dedication

  For Michelle who reminds me every day to push myself beyond my limits and how important it is to laugh. And for Aunt Ba who insisted the next three books be dedicated to her. I love you both!

  Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  An Excerpt from Learning the Ropes

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  About the Author

  Also by T. J. Kline

  An Excerpt from Various States of Undress: Georgia by Laura Simcox

  An Excerpt from Make It Last by Megan Erickson

  An Excerpt from Hero By Night by Sara Jane Stone

  An Excerpt from Mayhem by Jamie Shaw

  An Excerpt from Sinful Rewards 1 by Cynthia Sax

  An Excerpt from Forbidden by Charlotte Stein

  An Excerpt from Her Highland Fling by Jennifer McQuiston

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  Chapter One

  JENNIFER CHANDLER BOLTED upright in the bed of her trailer, waking from her nightmare with a gasp. A fine sheen of sweat covered her body, even in the cool early morning air. She scrubbed her eyes with her hands, brushing her light brown hair back from her face, but she couldn’t seem to shake the vision of her mother from her mind. It had been over twelve years since her parents had been killed in an accident, but foggy nights on the road always seemed to give her nightmares. She hated that she could picture her mother’s face clearly in these dreams, pleading with Jennifer to save them before the semitruck crossed into their lane, but she couldn’t picture her face at any other time, no matter how hard she tried.

  Jen flipped back the covers and dropped her legs over the side of the mattress, wondering if she should just get up now. Sleep would probably elude her for the rest of the night anyway. She’d take a sleepless night over falling back into that nightmare again any time. Her feet padded on the carpet as she made her way to the small kitchenette to start coffee. She glanced at the clock over the stove. It wasn’t even five in the morning, but she might as well head out to feed the animals a little early and save her brothers the work.

  She reached for her youngest brother’s sweatshirt, which hung on the back of the chair, and went to check on him. Derek was sleeping soundly on the sofa bed, his hands curled under the pillow. She brushed his dark hair back from his face, as her heart swelled with love for him. She knew it drove him nuts when she mothered him, but she couldn’t help it. When their parents died, she’d tried to band her siblings together as tightly as possible, and because she was the oldest, she’d taken on a parenting role for both of her younger brothers. Just because Derek was in college now didn’t mean she wouldn’t still watch out for him.

  Jennifer reached for the flashlight and slipped out the door as quietly as possible, cringing when it creaked loudly. She added asking Jake, the rodeo crew foreman, to oil the hinges to her mental to-do list. She shivered as the chill from the low fog crept into the folds of her sweatshirt, and she tugged it around her tighter. She might hate being on the road in this kind of weather, but as a stock contractor, the rodeo season was the way they made their living, rain or shine . . . or fog. She set the flashlight on top of the alfalfa and reached for the clippers to cut the twine. The feeling of dread from her nightmare was clinging to her like a cobweb. Logically, she knew the chance of the same sort of accident happening to them again was one in a million, but even those odds were too great for her. Honestly, the traveling was the only part of the job she didn’t like. She broke off several flakes of hay.

  “I thought I heard someone out here.”

  She spun, knocking the flashlight to the ground and biting back a curse at her jumpiness. “Scott,” she whispered, trying to keep from waking the others still sleeping nearby. “You scared me.”

  “Sorry,” he said, stepping forward to pick up the flashlight from where it still spun, illuminating their feet in turn through the haze. “You all right?”

  “Yeah,” she muttered as she took the flashlight from her brother. “Did I wake you?”

  He cocked his head to the side. “Jen, I’m a grown man. Just because Derek lets you baby him doesn’t mean I will.”

  Lately, her brothers couldn’t seem to be in the same room and get along. Sure, Derek was immature and tended to skip out on the work whenever possible, but Scott had become bitter and angry at the world after breaking off his engagement. Jen gave Scott an understanding smile as she arched her brow. “I’m not trying to mother you. But you have to be on horseback all day. I don’t. Go back to bed.”

  “It’s fine, I’m already up.” Scott reached for two flakes of alfalfa and carried them to the cattle pen. “Another nightmare?”

  She turned to look at him, surprised. “How did you know?”

  “I’ve known for years.” He didn’t elaborate, but she could hear the sympathy in his voice. “Jen, you’ve got to stop living in the past. I miss Mom and Dad, too, but they’re gone.”

  “I’m not living in the past, Scott. I’m trying to plan for the future, and that includes making sure we are all taken care of, no matter what might happen.” She reached for the hay.

  “You’re awfully pessimistic this morning. I thought that was my job around here.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. Still, she glanced around as the fog settled close to the ground, making the cattle look like eerie ghosts, shifting in the haze of the early predawn light. She shivered slightly, but this time, it wasn’t from the cold. “I sure hope this burns off.”

  “It’s California. It’ll probably end up in the eighties.” Scott took the flakes of alfalfa from her hands. “Go start the coffee. I’ll take care of the animals. We both know I can’t cook, and if I try, I’ll just make a mess in your trailer. Then the crew will go hungry and be meaner than those bulls.”

  Jen grinned. “Already done, baby brother, but I’ll go get you some.”

  “Stop calling me that,” he grumbled.

  She took the chance, while his hands were full and he couldn’t retaliate, to pinch his cheek playfully. “Aw, you’ll always be my baby brother.” She laughed as he glared at her and hurried back to her trailer.

  Jen opened the door to see Derek had flopped onto his back, one arm flung across his eyes, snoring loudly. She was just pouring coffee for herself and Scott when she heard a quiet knock on the door. Mike opened it and came inside, stealing Scott’s cup.

  “Morning, Mike.” She leaned over and kissed the old man’s cheek before fetching another mug for Scott.

  All three of the siblings adored Mike. He’d given up his own plans for the future to accept guardianship when their parents were killed. Mike had been more than a partner to their father; he’d been his best friend, rodeo partner, and—after their father’s death—the man helping her brothers navigate the path to manhood.

  “Morning, kiddo. You doing okay?”

  Jen could read the worry in his watery blue eyes. He saw too much and knew her too well. “Rough night,” she admitted.

  “I know this weekend’s gonna be hard for you, but I’m here if you need to talk.”

  Jen frowned, wondering about his cryptic offer, until she remembered the date: March 25, the anniversary of her parents’ death. The heaviness that had hung over her since waking began to seep into her bones.

  “Could you two talk quieter? Some of us are trying to sleep,” Derek groaned from the bed, breaking through the painful memories threatening to bury her.

  “Sorry, Derek, but tha
t’s what you get for crashing in the big, comfy trailer instead of the smaller ones like the rest of us guys.”

  “Gee, thanks for the sympathy, Mike.” He swung his long legs over the side of the bed and ran his hands through his messy hair. “I do you a favor, come home from school this weekend to help out, and this is the thanks I get?”

  “Get up and help out then, ya spoiled brat,” Mike teased. Derek chuckled at the ribbing. “I’m sure your brother could use some help feeding,” Mike added more seriously.

  “Fine.” Derek sighed as he pulled a wrinkled T-shirt over his lanky frame and stuffed his feet into the worn cowboy boots he’d tucked under the bed. “I’m going. Maybe I should’ve just stayed at school this weekend,” he muttered as he walked to the door.

  “Here, take this.” Jen handed him the sweatshirt. “It’s freezing out there.”

  He slid his arms into the warmth as she shivered; the air in the trailer was colder than she’d expected. “Thanks, Jen. I’ll be back for coffee, too.”

  The pair watched him leave. “You think he’s ever going to grow up, Mike?”

  “Give him some room and a reason, kiddo. Derek’s going to turn out just fine. So will Scott.” He turned to face her, and she wondered how he always seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. “That daughter of mine did a real number on that boy, and I’m ashamed to say I’m to blame for the way things turned out.”

  Jen reached over and squeezed his hand. “Liz made her own choices. You did the best you could. Look how good you’ve done with us. Here.” She handed him a cup of steaming coffee. “Take this out to Scott?”

  CLAYTON GRAHAM LOOKED around the rodeo arena. He knew Jennifer was around here somewhere; he just wasn’t sure if he was trying to find her or avoid her. It’d been almost five years since he’d last seen her, sleeping peacefully next to him with her hand tucked under her chin, wearing the engagement ring he’d slipped on her finger only hours before. Then he had walked out the bedroom door and out of her life.

  A tall cowboy on a black and white paint jogged his horse past him, barely glancing his way before he pulled the horse up short. The animal’s hind feet slid in the packed dirt.

  “Clay?” The rider spun the horse and headed back toward him. “Holy crap, it is you!”

  “Scott?” Clay looked up at the man on the horse. “You’ve filled out.”

  Scott dismounted and threw his arm out for a handshake. “Forget that, man, get over here.” Clay wrapped a massive arm around the younger man’s shoulder in a quick one-armed hug. At one time, Scott had been his best friend, his confidante, and almost his brother-in-law.

  “Well, five years added some meat to my scrawny bones.” Scott chuckled. “What have you been up to?”

  He shrugged. “Riding, roping. I’m working as a pickup man for Smith Brothers up in Oregon now.”

  Clay appreciated that Scott didn’t seem to be holding any grudges about the way he had snuck out and run away, but he’d called later to explain as much as he could to Scott and Mike, swearing them to silence. He didn’t think Jen was going to be so gracious about having been abandoned without a word. He shook off his doubts. He’d been right to end it the way he had—a clean break—to let her move on with her life and forget him. Even if he couldn’t forget her.

  “That explains why you’re built like a Mack truck now,” Scott said, slapping at Clay’s arm. “So, what are you doing here?”

  “Hazing for a couple friends who came down from Oregon to ride.” He glanced around. “Is Mike around?”

  “Somewhere, probably up in the announcer’s booth getting ready.” Scott shot him a wary glance. “You haven’t talked to Jen yet, have you?”

  Clay wondered if Scott was warning him off or trying to discern his intentions. “I just got here. Do I need to keep my distance?”

  Scott shrugged a shoulder and hopped back into the saddle. “I would if I were you. Unless you’re planning on explaining why you disappeared.” He shook his head as his horse pranced in place. “Then again, you weren’t always the brightest cowboy on the ranch. Listen, I’ve got to run, but hang around after. We’ll catch up.”

  Scott was gone before Clay could tell him he’d rather get this ride over and get out before Jen found out he was even there.

  What he needed to do was find out where Dustin, Cody, and Chase—the friends he was hazing for—were. He’d taken time off and dragged his butt and his horses down here for them, so the least they could do was show up on time. He pulled his cell phone from his back pocket and punched in Cody’s number, growing more irate with each ring. When Cody’s voice mail picked up, Clay sighed into the phone and didn’t bother leaving a message. Chances were that all three of them were either hungover or with some groupies they met at a truck stop along the way. Leave it to those three to find a way to make a two-hour road trip into a weekend bender. He never should have taken the chance on driving down here and coming face to face with the one woman he’d never forgotten. He knew better than anyone that running was the only way to stay one step ahead of the trouble that seemed to follow his family.

  He shoved his phone back into his pocket and adjusted his hat, looking around at the sea of horse trailers. He might as well get the horses saddled, since it looked like those three would be dragging their asses in right before the bulldogging event. He turned back toward his trailer but stopped short when he saw her. She was riding her red roan, Jiggy, the one he had helped her break and train. Her light brown hair hung in long waves down her back, kissed by the sunlight, and glistening like burnished gold beneath her black cowboy hat. She was lining up sponsor flags at the back gate of the arena, getting ready for the opening ceremonies, and he couldn’t help but think about how many hours they’d spent together doing the exact same thing.

  The ink on his college degree wasn’t even dry when he had begged Mike for a chance to work with him. The business degree was fine, but he wasn’t made for an office job. So he’d started as part of the behind-the-scenes chute crew with Findley Brothers, helping with horn wraps, hauling the gates open and closed, and loading the animals. But none of it stopped him from watching Jen’s every move. She was beautiful, even with her hair wound in a long braid down her back, dirt smudging her cheeks, and a large bruise on her forehead from working with a colt who threw her. Her deep chocolate eyes were gentle, and he got lost in them the first time he saw her. The first time he kissed her, he thought he’d found heaven. Then he went and threw it all away.

  Clay’s eyes traveled the length of her. She’d filled out, developed a woman’s curves, and they suited her. As his gaze lit on her face, their eyes met through the throng of cowboys and horses, and he knew she recognized him. Those gentle eyes turned as hard as stone.

  No way was she going to be as gracious as Scott had been. She was pissed. This was one cowgirl he was going to have to go out of his way to avoid, because he had a feeling she might be looking for him when his event was over. And it wasn’t to rekindle the romance that burned too brightly the first time. She had murder on her mind.

  AFTER ALL THESE years, what would possess Clay Graham to show up at one of their rodeos? It had been nearly five years since she saw him last, right after he asked her to marry him. Only a few hours later, he’d turned tail and run, leaving her with a diamond engagement ring and a shattered heart full of memories. No note, no explanation, no returned phone calls. Vanished like this morning’s fog in the heat. Oh, he called Mike and Scott to apologize to them. Apparently, both of them meant more to him than she did because she’d never heard from him again.

  Her eyes bore into him, wishing looks really could kill. Derek bumped her leg with another sponsor flag from the trailer.

  “Um, hello, Jen? You planning on taking this or do I need to walk it over myself?”

  “Clay’s here.”

  “Your Clay? Where? I haven’t seen him in forever.” He sounded excited instead of enraged. Was a little loyalty from her brothers too much to expect?

>   “Wow, Derek, thanks for the support. That ass abandoned me—all of us—in the middle of the night.” She jerked the flag from her brother’s hands. “By all means, go see him, have fun. Maybe the two of you can swap rodeo stories, hang out, talk about old times.”

  Derek shoved his hands into his pockets, looking contrite. “Aw, come on, Jen. Don’t be mad at me.” He looked up at her, pouting slightly. “I didn’t mean it that way. I’d barely started learning to drive when he left. I was just a kid. Want me to go kick his ass?” he offered, grinning.

  She could never stay mad at Derek, especially when he teased her. He might not pull his weight around the rodeos, or at the ranch for that matter, but he was charming, and he knew exactly how to worm his way into her good graces. “No. I think I can manage to ignore him.” She glanced back to where her ex stood, watching her. “Besides, if anyone gets to kick his sorry ass, it’s me.”

  “Well, just let me know if you need backup.” He winked at his sister. “But, right now, you’d better hurry up and get these flags where they belong, or Scott will have both our heads. I’m already in enough trouble with him.”

  She cocked her head and looked down at him from atop the horse, sighing. “What now? I’m getting tired of playing referee between you two.”

  “I told him I want to change majors.”

  “Again? Derek, you’ve got to stick with something and see it all the way through,” she scolded. “You’re almost finished now. Why would you want to start over?”

  “Because I don’t know what I want to do. But I do know what I don’t want.” He looked around at the bustle of cowboys heading up the stairs toward the chutes, preparing for the first bronc riding event. “This isn’t the life I want. The ranch, sure, but I’m tired of trying to live up to Scott’s expectations, being the guy everyone wants to take the reins. Running the business has never been my thing. I’m thinking about architecture.”

  Jennifer sighed again, feeling like she was constantly nagging at him. But Derek had a tendency to look for the easiest path and ignore the fact that anything worthwhile took hard work, dedication, and a little sacrifice.