Testing the cowboys reso.., p.1
Testing the Cowboy's Resolve, page 1
part #1 of Rowdy Ranch Series
Testing the Cowboy’s Resolve
Rowdy Ranch
Vicki Lewis Thompson
TESTING THE COWBOY’S RESOLVE
Copyright © 2022 by Vicki Lewis Thompson
ISBN: 978-1-63803-946-4
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Ocean Dance Press, PO Box 69901, Oro Valley AZ 85737
Visit the author’s website: VickiLewisThompson.com
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Also by Vicki Lewis Thompson
About the Author
Chapter One
Swearing under his breath, Marsh McLintock paced in front of Wagon Train’s historic church, its coat of fresh white paint gleaming in the afternoon sun, the steeple lifting toward a cloudless blue Montana sky. Perfect weather for Ella Bradley’s big day.
And the groom was late.
Marsh was ready to throttle him. Warner’s flight had landed in Missoula two hours ago. According to Marsh’s phone app, traffic on the 93 was moving just fine. Zero accidents. If Warner had missed the plane or had a snafu getting a rental car, wouldn’t he have texted Ella?
But she’d heard nothing, so she’d asked him to come outside and watch for the guy. Marsh was only too glad to do it. He’d use his twenty seconds of privacy with the inconsiderate jerk to blast him for leaving a whole bunch of folks, including his bride, twiddling their thumbs.
His heart ached for her. She’d been so excited about this wedding. The short engagement had fit her schedule perfectly since she’d be back to teaching in September.
Planning the event on short notice hadn’t been easy, but she’d relished every minute. He should know. He’d helped her with most of it. Warner had claimed he was too busy building up his insurance agency.
With her folks on a long-awaited dream trip through Europe and her sister Faye committed to a Shakespeare summer festival in Seattle, Marsh had been the logical backup. He and Ella had been buddies since kindergarten.
He’d been secretly relieved when Warner had waltzed down to Florida for a month of sales training. Working with Ella was easier when her fiancé wasn’t around.
They’d had everything running like clockwork until Warner announced he couldn’t leave Florida until this morning. Nobody would be available to pick him up at the airport, so he’d have to hire a rental, but he’d said that was fine. Supposedly he needed the time in Miami to finalize a big insurance deal.
Ella had defended his choice, so Marsh had kept his mouth shut But this… being late and not bothering to communicate… there was no excuse.
“Marsh.” Faye hurried out of a side door in her teal maid-of-honor dress. She’d inherited her mom’s brunette hair while Ella was a blonde like her dad.
“Did he text?”
“Not yet, and—”
“Damn it, Faye. He’d better be unconscious in a ditch somewhere. Otherwise, he’s the most inconsiderate—”
“Inconsiderate doesn’t even begin to cover it.” She handed over her phone. “Take a look at this.”
He glanced at the image. Then he studied it more closely. A dark-haired woman in a bikini was plastered against a blond guy in swim trunks kissing him for all she was worth. While taking a selfie. “Please tell me that’s not—”
“Sure is. There are more where you can ID him, but this is the most blatant clinch. She posted them on her page an hour ago.”
His stomach cramped. “Who is she?”
“Her name’s Dinah. Lives in Miami and works for the same insurance company as Warner. I’ve been following her online ever since he made some reference to her on his page about three weeks ago. He wouldn’t dare post something like this, but she did. Fortunately she didn’t tag him, so only her contacts will see it.”
“You haven’t shown Ella?”
“I wanted you to be with me when I do.”
“Maybe they were just fooling around. Maybe—”
“And maybe she’s the reason he delayed coming back until today.”
“We don’t know that.”
She met his gaze. “I think we do. Tell me the truth. Didn’t you peg him as a weasel from the get-go?”
“Yes, ma’am, but I hoped I was—”
“Me, too, but we weren’t wrong.”
“There’s still a chance this could be explained.”
“But he won’t have to if we don’t show her the picture. We need to do it now or never.”
“Then now it is.” He sucked in a breath and handed back her phone. “If it’s a misunderstanding, he can explain when he gets here.”
“Wanna bet it’s not a misunderstanding?”
“I want it to be.” He followed her to the side door of the church. “She loves him. She believes in him. She—”
“She’s gullible. We both know that. And he’s a smooth talker. Great salesman. That’s why he’s attracted the attention of the big brass. Ella would make the perfect corporate wife, so he—”
“She won’t thank us, Faye.”
“I know. I can take it.”
His body tightened, as if bracing for a blow. “Me, too. But I hate this for her.” He caught her arm before they reached the door. “Wait. Who’s in there with her?”
“Just Mom and Brit, unless someone else popped in after I left.”
“Did you tell either of them you were watching this woman’s posts?”
“I didn’t tell anyone. What if I was wrong? But when I saw this one I came straight out here to get you. She’ll take the news better if you’re there.”
“We should probably ask her to step out of the room instead of showing it to her in front of your mom and Brit.”
“Okay.”
“Let me see the picture again. If we stir things up and it turns out to be a joke or no big deal, I’ll feel like a—”
“Let me show you the rest. The relationship is pretty clear.” She tapped on her phone. “Oh, hell, she’s put up another one — the two of them cuddling on a beach towel. And she tagged him.” She scrolled backward. “She edited the other ones and tagged him there, too. Maybe she forgot before.”
He looked over her shoulder and his gut clenched. “In other words, she wants his contacts to see these.”
“Specifically, Ella.”
“We’d better get in there.” He reached for the door.
“Looks like revenge. Like he led her along and at the last minute announced he was getting married.”
“That would be cold.” He followed Faye inside.
“But it would explain—” She was cut off by Ella’s cry of dismay. “She just saw it.”
Damn.
The hall door flew open and Ella charged out, holding up the skirt of her wedding dress, her blue eyes wide with shock. “Marsh! Oh, my God, is he here yet? This can’t be happening! He wouldn’t— I can’t believe—”
“Maybe it’s a bad joke.” Marsh closed the distance between them and took her by the shoulders. The white lace under his palms disoriented him. She never wore lacey stuff.
“More like a mean joke.” She was breathing hard. “She altered those pictures. I’m sure she did.”
“Easy enough these days.” Her mom, nearly as tall as her daughters, hurried out of the room, fire in her eyes. “What an awful thing to do.”
Brit stepped out from behind Ella’s mom. She barely came up to Liz Bradley’s shoulder, even with her dark hair in a bridesmaid’s updo. “I’m guessing she came on to him and he turned her down, so this is how she—”
“Oh, here he is.” Liz gestured toward the open side door. “Thank goodness you’ve arrived, Warner. I’m afraid you’re the victim of a social media attack.”
Marsh let go of Ella and turned as Warner stepped inside.
“Social media’s so jacked up. You can’t believe anything you see on there.” Ella’s fiancé didn’t look so good. He’d been attacked, all right, but social media wouldn’t have left a big puffy bruise on his cheek. “Hey, everybody!” His attempt to pull off a hearty smile didn’t go well. His wince of pain was obvious. “Sorry I’m late.”
Marsh figured he’d stopped along the way to buy makeup, but it couldn’t disguise the damage. His bloodshot eyes looked like the result of a long, boozy night, followed by a hard slap by an enraged woman.
“Warner, honey, you’re hurt.” Ella went to him. “What happened, swee
“Um, yeah, exactly. Don’t know what this world is coming to. Just give me a minute to change into my duds and we’ll do this thing. Your dress is lovely, Ella.”
Marsh exchanged a glance with Faye. She looked ready to strangle Warner with her bare hands. He mouthed I’ve got this. He’d offer to help Warner change. And get the truth out of the bastard by whatever means necessary. There would be no wedding today if he had anything to say about it.
“I hope the ceremony won’t be too much stress after what you’ve been through.” Ella gently stroked his cheek, the undamaged one.
“It’s nothing compared to the stress of postponing it, my love. You’re my heart, my soul.”
Marsh wanted to barf.
“Okay, then.” Ella smiled. “It’s not like we could easily take a raincheck. Thank you for soldiering on…” She paused and her fingers trailed to his open collar. Drawing it aside, she gasped. Then she slowly lifted her gaze to his. “You have a hickey.” She said it calmly, almost conversationally.
“I do? That can’t be right. You know, when I was taking a shower this morning, the shampoo bottle fell and caught me on the neck. I’ll bet that’s what—”
“Shut up, Warner.” Her voice quivered with fury. “I’m not stupid. You didn’t get hit by a shampoo bottle.”
“Okay, so a cocktail waitress got a little too friendly.”
“Is her name Dinah, by chance?”
“Who’s Dinah?”
Faye shoved her phone in front of his face. “Allow me to introduce you.”
His eyes widened. “Um…”
“That showed up on my phone, too.” Ella’s blue eyes glittered. “I thought it was a prank.”
“Which it is, my love. Just a stupid prank. That’s all it—”
“And the hickey? Is that part of the prank, too?”
“Like I said—”
“There was no brawl on the plane, was there?”
“Not exactly.”
“Just how dumb do you think I am?”
His expression turned sheepish. “Oh, c’mon, Ella. You know how guys are. One last fling before we tie the knot. Means nothing. It’s traditional to—”
“Did your friend Dinah know she was part of this grand old male tradition? Judging from that ginormous bruise, I think not.”
“Oh, she knew, all right.” He switched from jovial to accusatory. “Hell, I was only there for a month. If she made assumptions, that’s on her. I had temporary written all over me.”
“And guess what’s written all over you now, Warner? Here’s a hint. It’s a body part that starts with A and ends with E.”
“You’re upset, sweetheart. I can see that. Let’s just get through the ceremony and then we’ll have a heart-to-heart. We’ll work it out. Every couple has their ups and—”
“Are you freaking kidding me? I would rather marry our famous wooden buffalo than you, Warner Stapleton the Third!”
“Ella, please. We can—”
“The wedding won’t be happening, but the reception will, and you’re not invited!”
“Aw, Ella, baby. Don’t be this way.”
“Suck it, Warner.” She turned to her mom and paused to clear her throat. “I’m willing to announce the change in plans to our guests, but it might be less dramatic if you and Dad handled that. Meanwhile the four of us will head over to the Buffalo.”
“We can do that, honey.” Liz gave her a quick hug. “You kids go on and get situated. We’ll be along.”
“My truck’s right out front.” Marsh pulled his keys from his pocket. Since he’d been scheduled to drive the happy couple to the reception, he’d detailed it and parked it close.
“Just let me grab our purses.” Brit dashed back into the room.
Warner looked befuddled. “What am I supposed to do?”
Marsh had a suggestion. Instead he took the high road. “You might want to notify your parents, your brother, and your best friend, who all spent their time and money to fly out here.”
“Right.” He hesitated. “Can they come to the reception?”
“Ask Ella. She’s in charge.”
Ella glanced at Warner as if he were a nasty mess on the floor. “I wouldn’t mind, except I can’t imagine they’d have much fun. We’ll be trash-talking about you all night.”
“You’d better text your relatives instead of going into the chapel, Warner.” Liz sent him a glare hot enough to melt steel. “I doubt you want to be around when Ella’s dad finds out about this. Gerald’s normally a mild-mannered guy. But when someone hurts a member of his family, he—”
“Good point.” He ducked out the door, leaving it open.
Faye rushed over to peer out. “Guess he’s not a total dummy. He’s running.”
“Oh, he’s a total dummy,” Marsh said. “He cheated on Ella. You can’t get any dumber than that.”
“Thanks.” She gave him a tiny smile. “Ready to party?”
“You know it, Ellabella.”
“Then let’s go make some noise.”
That was his Ella, putting on a good show even if her heart was shattered. He’d help her get plastered tonight, and he’d stick around to pick up the pieces tomorrow. That’s what friends were for.
Chapter Two
Adrenaline left Ella shaky and clumsy. Her voluminous skirt nearly tripped her up as she attempted the climb into Marsh’s truck. But his firm grip on her arm guided her safely into the passenger seat.
Normally she got herself in and out of his truck, but not today. She glanced down. “Thanks. I’m a little wobbly.”
His kind eyes were filled with understanding. “You’re allowed.” He gave her arm a squeeze. “You reduced him to ashes. Well done.”
“Epic kiss-off speech,” Brit climbed into the backseat of the four-door truck.
“Just wish Marsh had decked him, though.” Faye got in the other side.
“I would’ve loved to.” He helped Ella tuck her skirt inside the truck. “But then we’d be stuck with his sorry ass. I wanted him gone, not unconscious on the floor.”
Faye sighed. “You’re right. That would have been awkward.”
“And besides,” Ella said, “he’s not worth getting your shirt dirty.”
He gave her a grim smile. “Definitely not.”
It was one of their private jokes. As kids they’d devoured reruns of Maverick, starring the suave gambler who was famous for defeating the bad guy without mussing his clothes.
Closing the door, Marsh rounded the hood and swung into the driver’s seat. “Fluffy Buffalo, here we come.”
He sounded cheerful, but his tight jaw and rigid body told a different story. Punching Warner to avenge her honor would have released that tension.
But he was a McLintock. All nine of those brothers had impressive muscles, but using them to settle a dispute was always a last resort.
As Marsh backed the truck out of the parking space, she wrangled her skirt so it wouldn’t spill over the console and interfere with his driving. “We should call the Buffalo and let them know the situation.”
“I’ll do it,” Faye said.
“You can if you want.” Marsh pulled onto the road. “But I’ll bet Clint’s been in touch with Tyra ever since it was obvious the wedding would be delayed.” He met Faye’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “Once your folks make their announcement, he’ll likely get on the phone.”
“You’re right. I had mentally filed him under wedding guest and sort of forgot he’s the manager there. But even if he’s alerted Tyra, he won’t know Ella’s preferences.”
“He doesn’t need to.” She swiveled in her seat so she could look at her sister. “Marsh and I arranged everything weeks ago.”
“Yeah, but you might want to change a few things, like the congratulations banner. Do you still want—”
“Yes.” She ignored the sick feeling in her stomach. The adrenaline shakes were fading and reality was setting in. “It still works. Congratulations to me for dodging a bullet.”
