The Cowboy Takes A Wife

She envied his fond thoughts of childhood. When she looked back, what overwhelmed her were feelings of inadequacy and trying to find ways to make herself feel better and less alone.

Devon resisted the urge to ask about Amy, what had happened. She didn’t even know his second wife’s name. Maybe Cole was right to steer clear of marriage after that track record, but something about that thought didn’t sit well with her. She didn’t have any real basis other than he seemed to be a nice guy and loved his mom, but Devon thought Cole Davis might make someone a good husband. But the right someone.

Like you?

No, not me.

She’d learned long ago not to expect things that would never come to fruition. Doing so only led to sadness and burning frustration.

“What about you?” he asked. “Are you anti-marriage or just anti-marrying someone your mother picks?”

“The latter. Honestly, I sometimes feel like she’s set up a dating profile for me somewhere and carefully screens all the candidates before attempting to parade me in front of them like a prize cow.”

Cole snort-laughed.

“You laugh, but I’m not exaggerating. At least your mom is sweet about her attempts.”

“Sounds like we could each use someone watching our backs.”

“I like how you think.”

“So you encourage my mom to chill on trying to find me wife number three, and I’ll play fake date when you need to get your mom off your case.”

Devon resisted gulping at the idea of a pretend date with Cole. Would she be able to hide the fact that she really found him attractive? That she wouldn’t mind if the date were real?

“You are so getting the worst end of this deal,” she said.

Chapter Three

After Devon left, Cole stayed in the barn to continue working on the horse sculpture. He’d been so busy on the ranch the past few days that he hadn’t found time to come out here. With Devon’s enthusiastic reaction, he found himself energized and picked up an old metal sign and began bending it to cover a part of the horse’s flank.

His thoughts drifted back to Devon. Though she attempted to joke about it, his gut told him that her mother’s treatment of her was no laughing matter. Angela Newberry was the type of woman who was used to getting what she wanted and didn’t react well when she didn’t. He’d had experience with that type and couldn’t say he liked it a whole hell of a lot.

He tried to pull up memories of Devon from high school. She’d been smart, shy, maybe heavier, but he couldn’t remember all the details. It struck him that despite their school’s small size, she’d still managed to be one of the kids you tended to overlook. Despite who her parents were, she hadn’t ruled the school as you’d expect someone in her position to do. He wondered if even then her mother was always harping on her.

She was thinner now, very pretty in a natural way. He found he liked that a lot better than the endless parade of overly made-up fakes who’d put themselves in his path. Not that Devon was doing that. In fact, he and his mother were the ones who’d dragged her out here. He was surprised by how nice it felt to be able to talk with a woman without feeling as though she expected something from him, like a ring on her finger. That Devon seemed to understand how he missed rodeo and appreciated his work made him extra glad he’d gone on instinct helping her with her mom earlier.

“You sound happy.”

He looked up at his mom striding down the middle of the barn. “Huh?”

“You were whistling.”

He was?

He placed his palm against the side of the metal horse. “Because I’m close to finishing this guy.”

“You sure it has nothing to do with our visitor?”

“Devon?”

She lifted a brow. “You see any other visitors out here tonight?”

“Saw a couple of deer up the hill a few minutes ago.”

She huffed out a sigh.

“Don’t sound so put out. We were helping your friend out of a bad situation, nothing more.”

“But she’s a lovely, sweet girl.”

“I’m sure she is, but I’ve told you I’m done.”

“You’re only thirty-three. That’s awfully young to be giving up, isn’t it?”

“Not from my perspective. You keep getting burned, you stop touching the stove.”

“Cole—”

He held up a hand to stop her. “Mom, just because you found happiness in marriage doesn’t mean everyone will. And I’m happy,” he said, because he knew that was her chief worry despite her comments about wanting grandchildren. “I’m back home ranching. I’ve found something else I like to do. I get to eat my mom’s home cooking every day. What’s not to like?”

He’d swear he saw his mom deflate a bit, like a balloon slowly losing air. He felt bad about it, but he had to stand firm or she wouldn’t quit her futile quest to find his one true love.

“Just keep an open mind, okay?”

He didn’t respond, knowing it would be a lie if he agreed.

“How about you answer a question for me?” he said. “What’s really up with you and Angela Newberry?”

“I don’t like snobs.”

“I know. But there’s more to it.”

“You’re Sherlock Holmes all of a sudden?”

“Maybe.”

His mom chuckled at that.

He let it go because he knew continuing to question his mom would be about as productive as digging a well with a measuring cup.

When his mom finally went back to the house after watching him work for a few minutes, her efforts to fix him up marched around inside his head again. Yes, Devon was nice. And she was pretty. But he’d proved he and marriage just weren’t cut out for each other. And dating someone in Blue Falls if you didn’t hope it led to a lifetime commitment just didn’t seem wise. If it ended badly—and his track record indicated it would—he couldn’t avoid seeing another Blue Falls resident the rest of his life.

So pursuing Devon? A big no-no. No matter how nice she was. Or how pretty.

* * *

DESPITE HOW TIRED she’d been when she arrived home the night before, Devon didn’t sleep particularly well. She kept thinking about her mother’s complete lack of respect for her as a person one minute and the warm, masculine feel of Cole’s arm around her shoulders the next. No matter how many times she told herself that they could only be friends, and that she should count herself lucky with that much, she couldn’t help the zing that just thinking about him caused.

Thankfully, Mandy was opening the store this morning, which gave Devon time to finish packaging a fresh supply of soap and stop by the Mehlerhaus Bakery for a cheese Danish and the biggest cup of coffee they had.

“Someone appears to need a lot of caffeine this morning,” Josephina Mehler said as she handed over the coffee.

“It’s one of those mornings where I feel like I need to swim through an ocean of coffee to get going.”

Josephina laughed. “I know that feeling.”

Work at a bakery started early. Josephina and her sister-in-law, Keri Teague, who owned the bakery, were probably the first people into downtown each morning.

She waved a goodbye and headed for the door, pausing when Talia Monroe stepped inside with her stepdaughter, Mia.

“Good morning,” Devon said. “How are you all?”

Talia smiled and placed her hand lovingly on Mia’s head. “Great, actually. We’re here for celebratory sweets. Miss Mia just had her latest checkup and got another clean bill of health.”

“Cancer-free!” Mia said with great exuberance as she threw her arms out wide.

“That’s awesome.” Devon leaned down to meet Mia’s gaze. “That is a great reason for a treat.”

An idea popped into her head, something she could do during her anniversary celebration.

“Mia, I have an idea for something to do at my store, and I was wondering if you’d give me your opinion.”

“Sure.” Mia crossed her arms, and her expression changed from gleeful, cancer-free kid to serious consideration, like she was a mini adult.

“Do you think kids like you would be interested in learning how to knit? We could do fun things that you could give as Christmas gifts.” She was making it up on the fly, but the more she said, the more she liked the idea.

“Sounds cool.” She looked up at Talia. “Could I do that?”

“I don’t see why not.” Talia met Devon’s gaze as Devon stood to her full height again. “Great idea.”

After insisting on buying Mia’s and Talia’s pastries, Devon headed to the shop feeling really good. Nothing like a jolt of coffee and learning that a sweet little girl was healthy after her struggle with the big, dreaded C word to put pep in your step. She was darn near skipping by the time she stepped into the shop.

“Good morning, Mandy,” she said in greeting to her best friend since the second grade.

Devon barely had time to detect the tense look of warning on Mandy’s face before she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Devon knew before turning that it was her mother. It was something about how the air changed near her, as if it crackled before a lightning strike.

“We need to talk about your rude behavior,” her mom said without any preamble.

“Good morning to you, too, Mom.” Devon rounded the front counter and stuffed her purse underneath it in the safe alongside Mandy’s.

“Don’t be smart with me.”

“If you’re here about your sneak attack on me yesterday, you can save your breath.”

“Attack? That’s what you call my having your best interests in mind when I introduce you to a handsome, successful young man?” Angela shifted her attention to Mandy. “Dear, don’t you have somewhere else you can be?”

“I work here, remember?”

Devon bit her lip, trying not to laugh. In the past, her mother had first scared Mandy, then hurt her feelings. The fact that Mandy hadn’t had much money growing up, had been the daughter of a single mother who had to work three jobs to make ends meet, had made her an inappropriate friend for Devon, according to her mother.

“Your father and I have an image to uphold. It’s what your father’s customers expect,” she’d said when Devon was only nine. “Some people just don’t fit into our world.”

Our world. Even at that young age, Devon had known her mother was a snob. And despite the fact that her mother scared her, too, Devon had refused to stop being friends with Mandy. In fact, they’d become inseparable. When Devon had reached high school, her mother had blamed Mandy for Devon’s lack of popularity. The woman hadn’t been able to see that she was the reason.She’d driven her only daughter into a self-protective shell built from books, crafts, baggy clothes and lots of comfort food.

Her mother looked exasperated as she shifted her piercing gaze back to Devon. “You embarrassed me yesterday. I had to try to explain away your rudeness.”

“I wasn’t rude. I was perfectly cordial to Steven because I figured he got dragged into the situation with no clue about the backstory.” Devon braced her palms against the top of the counter. “I’ve told you over and over to stop trying to fix me up with these men you deem appropriate. I’m not interested.”

“Which just proves that you don’t know what’s best for you. I mean, seriously, Cole Davis? Please tell me you’re not dating him.”

Devon detected a barely contained sound of shock from Mandy. She’d have to explain everything when her mom finally vacated the premises.

“There’s nothing wrong with Cole.”

“He has nothing to offer you.”

“At least he isn’t trying to make me something I’m not.”

Her mother opened her mouth to speak again, but she instantly transformed her expression to one of perfectly crafted cordiality when the mayor came through the front door.

But before her mother could say anything, Devon beat her to it. “Good morning, Karen.”

Mayor Karen Tompkins smiled. “Good morning.”

Devon noticed the way her mother’s expression shifted back to one that promised another scolding, but Devon chose to ignore her, at least for the moment.

“What can I help you with?”

Karen pointed toward the large candles. “I need something that will make my office smell like anything other than the plumbing work they’re finally doing.”

After Devon helped Karen select a large lemon-scented candle and accepted her payment, the mayor hurried off to make an early meeting with several other mayors from throughout the Hill Country.

“You do realize it’s appropriate to address Mayor Tompkins by her title?” Angela said the moment the front door closed behind Karen.

It was the last straw. Devon rounded on her mother. “And you do realize that I’m not a child who has to live under your overbearing thumb anymore, right?”

Devon suspected she should feel ashamed of talking to her mother in such a way, but she didn’t. In fact, seeing the anger burning in her mother’s eyes gave her a sense of empowerment that didn’t often make an appearance when she was around her mom.

“Mark my words. You will regret talking to me this way when you want my help. You’ll realize that you’ve made a lot of mistakes and that I’ve been right all along.”

“I doubt that.”

“Remember you said that when your choices lead to failure and heartbreak.”

Devon started to make a retort, feeling like she was on a roll, but her mother lifted her hand to stop her.

“If nothing else, at least find someone who isn’t so...” Her mom made a face, as if she thought Cole might smell like horse manure.

“What, Mom? Beneath me?” Well, that brought up an interesting image in her head, one she simply could not indulge while facing her mother. “Cole is a good man, and you’re just going to have to get used to seeing us together.”

Her mother shook her head and strode out of the shop without another word. Devon wasn’t fooled into thinking her mother had suddenly given up, though. She also wasn’t fooled that her mom’s displeasure with Devon’s choices had much to do with Devon at all. No, her mother was more worried about how those choices reflected on her and the precious family name. Sometimes Devon wondered if her mom thought she was royalty and shouldn’t mix with the commoners.

Devon sank onto a tall stool behind the counter, already exhausted and the day had barely started. A few ticks of the clock on the wall behind her went by before she noticed that Mandy was staring at her with her mouth slightly parted.

“You’re dating Cole Davis? How exactly did that happen? And why didn’t you tell me?” The pitch of Mandy’s voice went up with each question.

Devon shook her head. “I’m not really dating Cole.”

“But...you just told your mother that you were. How long do you think it’s going to take before that gets around?”

“After her objections, do you really think she’d start spouting it to everyone on Main Street?”

“No, but I can see her cornering Cole and telling him to stay away from you because you’re destined to be the wife of a future governor or something.”

The sinking feeling in Devon’s stomach was almost audible.

“And how in the world did she get this idea in the first place?” Mandy asked.

Trying to quell the feeling that she’d just taken a nosedive into quicksand, Devon recounted what had happened the previous evening at the meeting and then out at the Davis ranch.

“Dang,” Mandy said when she was finished, sounding disappointed.

“What’s that mean?”

“I was hoping maybe you were actually sneaking around with Cole. That dude is hotter than a grill on the Fourth of July.”

Devon couldn’t disagree, but she shook her head at the idea of them dating. “And us actually being a couple is about as likely as igloos being built next to that grill.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Mandy—”

“Don’t Mandy me. You’re smart, successful, fun, beautiful.”

“I appreciate the best-friend pep talk, but it doesn’t help me out of this mess I’ve obviously made.”

I’ll play fake date when you need to get your mom off your case.

Cole’s words echoed in her head. Had he really meant it, or was he just joking around? Would he maybe agree to fake it for just long enough for her mom to get wrapped up in some project that would give Devon some peace for a while? Could she fake it without letting him know that she really did find him incredibly attractive?

But her mother’s insistence that she knew what was best for Devon ate at her, driving her toward doing something she’d normally never do. As a rule, she despised lying, but nothing she said or did ever seemed to make a dent in her mother’s determination to run Devon’s life for her.

“What’s that expression?” Mandy asked. “It feels like I’m watching a plan come together.”

“I need to make a phone call.” Before she could chicken out, Devon grabbed her cell from her purse and hurried to the storeroom, ignoring Mandy’s parade of questions.

Once she stepped behind the curtain that hid the storage room from the rest of the store, her hands shook so much that she nearly dropped her phone. What she was considering was a totally crazy idea, right? She was sure to say or do something to give herself away. How could she possibly hide the fact that, yes, Cole Davis was indeed as hot as a grill on the Fourth of July? If that grill was on the face of the sun.

But was faking it a little while any worse than allowing her mother to know that she’d lied to her about Cole? She leaned back against the wall and brought her palm to her forehead. Why couldn’t she have been like most kids who grew up with overbearing parents and moved far, far away once she was old enough? Why did she have to love Blue Falls and its people? Want to make her life here? Could fake-dating Cole for a while finally get her mother to stop meddling in her life?

Only one way to find out. She took a deep breath and started to dial Cole’s number, only to realize she didn’t have it. She could have taken that as a sign that her plan was a really bad idea. Instead, she remembered the list of trail participants she’d gotten the night before and how Gina had showed them how all the contact information for the artists and craftsmen was on a dedicated page of the Tourist Bureau’s website. One quick search later, and she was looking at Cole’s number.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she called Cole and almost hoped he wouldn’t answer. Instead, he picked up on the second ring.

“Hello?” Cole said a second time, with that decrease in friendliness that said he thought perhaps it was a telemarketer on her end of the call.

“Oh, hey. It’s Devon Newberry.”

“Hey. What can I do for you?”

“Um, well, you remember how you said you’d...that you might be willing to go out on a fake date to help me out with my mom? Yeah, how serious were you about that?”

The hesitation on the other end of the call made Devon’s stomach churn. Oh God, she’d made a horrible mistake, just as her mother had predicted.

No, she couldn’t let her mom be right.

“I might be convinced to hang out if there was some pizza involved.”

Devon couldn’t help the relieved laugh that escaped her. “Buddy, I will buy you whatever kind and however many pizzas you want.”

Chapter Four

Cole stood in front of his closet, wondering what he’d gotten himself into. This wasn’t a real date, so no need to dress like it was. But to help Devon out with her mom, he needed to expend at least a little thought on what to wear so he didn’t look like he’d arrived straight from working in the barn all day.

“Wear the blue one.”

He looked toward his bedroom door to see his mom pointing toward his open closet.

“Don’t get any ideas,” he said. “We’re just doing this so Angela will lay off Devon for a while.”

“Hate to tell you, but I doubt Angela will stop trying to foist some fancy suit-wearing guy on Devon, even if you two convince her that you’re really a couple. And if you’re convincing enough, who’s to say it might not become real?”

Again, why had he agreed to this? He needed Devon to fulfill her end of the bargain as well by telling his mom their “dating” was totally fake, that he truly had no interest in getting serious with anyone ever again. In hindsight, he realized he hadn’t thought his offer through before opening his mouth. His deal with Devon would have worked better in a sizable city where they didn’t know everyone in town and gossip hadn’t been perfected to an art form.

He wore a green shirt, instead. One a couple of years old but still presentable. As best he could guess, it walked the line between not feeding the hopes his mom had of marrying him off again while also not embarrassing Devon.

And he was giving a damn shirt way too much thought.

After he finished dressing, he headed for the front door. His mom was sitting in the living room working on her latest quilt. When she looked up, she just shook her head. She didn’t need to say what she was thinking—that he was being deliberately stubborn.

Reining in a grin, he walked over and dropped a kiss atop her head.

“Be back in a while,” he said.

“Take your time.”

He had too many things to do to spend too much time on this fake date. He suspected Devon did as well and probably resented having to spend the time and tell the lie her mother had forced her into. Despite his mom’s tendency to try to fix him up, he realized he’d gotten darn lucky in the mom lottery. If he’d had a mother like Angela, he doubted he would have ever come back home. It made him wonder why Devon had stuck around Blue Falls. She could have started her business and had her farm in a million different places, and yet she’d stayed.

If he thought about it, maybe his leaving a family with whom he got along well made about as much sense.

When he reached Gia’s Pizza in town, he spotted Devon sitting in a booth toward the back working on a tablet computer as she sipped on what looked like a glass of water. Should he have picked her up? Meeting here seemed more like friends getting together, which of course was more accurate even though he wasn’t sure they were technically friends yet.

But if tonight was supposed to help convince her mother that they were dating, he should have picked her up, opened the door for her. Too late now. He’d just be sure to pay the check.

She looked up as he approached and smiled a little, almost as if she was uncomfortable. Before he had a chance to say anything, she spoke.

“Sorry about this,” she said as she slid the tablet to the side.

“About what?”

“Pulling you into this mess.”

He waved off her concern. “Don’t worry about it. Doesn’t take a lot of arm-twisting to get me to come eat some pizza.”

She sat back against her side of the booth. “Figured you were more of a classic meat-and-potatoes kind of guy.”

“Wouldn’t argue with that either, but you get used to eating what’s fast on the road. Burgers, fries, pizza.”

“Heart attack waiting to happen.”

“I think my mom agrees with you. I’ve noticed a lot of vegetables on my plate since I moved home.”

“So you’re King of the Green Bean now?”

“Among other things. Let’s just say this will be a treat.”

Devon lowered her gaze just as their teenage waitress slid menus in front of them.

“What kind of pizza do you like?” he asked Devon.

“Pretty much anything. I’d say no to anchovies, but no need since I’m almost certain an anchovy has never crossed the city limits of Blue Falls.”

“I’d say that’s a safe bet.”

When she insisted that she truly didn’t care what kind of pizza they got, he went for a classic pepperoni.

When the waitress left, he leaned his forearms on the table. “So what did your mom do that prompted the quick call?”

“Showed up at my shop to chastise me for being rude to her and Steven.”

“Pot, meet kettle.”

“Exactly,” she said as if relieved she’d finally found someone who understood where she was coming from.

“Has she always been on your case like this?”