Cowboy Strong - Carolyn Brown Page 0,127

and leave. He was good to teach us and help us learn, and Ezra was a sumbitch for going back on his word about leavin’ the ranch to Rusty.”

“Then why are you arguing with yourself about selling it to him?” Shiloh asked.

“Hell, if I know.” Bonnie shrugged. “I’m so damned confused I don’t know whether to wind my butt or scratch my watch as my mama used to say.” She went on to tell them about the two dreams.

“The dogs just gave you something to argue about when you’re really angry with yourselves because you can’t figure out what it is you want to do and why. And, honey, I believe in dreams. Mama used to tell me that God has visited folks in dreams since the beginning of time, and when He speaks, we should listen,” Abby Joy said.

Cooper came into the kitchen, walked up behind Abby Joy, and slipped his arms around her. “It sure smells good in here. Is it about time to call in the hungry guys?”

Abby Joy turned around and kissed him on the cheek. “Bonnie will have the corn bread on the table in about five seconds, so go on and tell them it’s ready.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Cooper bent and brushed a kiss across his wife’s lips. “And thanks to all three of you ladies for all you’ve done.”

Bonnie had barely set the platter of corn bread on the table when the men started filing inside the house. Rusty was the last one in the line, and he stood back against the wall. Waylon removed his cowboy hat and bowed his head. The rest of the cowboys did the same.

When he’d said “Amen” at the end of the very short grace, Shiloh kissed him on the cheek.

In that moment, Bonnie began to doubt whether she really wanted to sell the ranch and travel or if she wanted what her sisters both had, roots and someone to love them.

“We don’t have room for everyone to sit down in the house, but we’ve set up a couple of long tables out in the backyard,” Shiloh said. “The silverware and napkins are already out there.”

“Man, this looks good,” Cooper said.

“Smells good too. I haven’t had anything but sandwiches for two days.” Rusty stepped forward, picked up a plate, and began to load it.

Bonnie shot a mean look across the table at him, but his eyes were on the food and the evil glare was wasted. Fixing her own plate, she wondered if he’d missed coming to the ranch house to eat with her as much as she’d missed having him there.

How on earth Rusty got behind her was a mystery, but suddenly, he was there, and he whispered softly in her ear, “We need to talk, don’t you think?”

His warm breath on the soft part of her neck sent shivers down her spine. “You’re not taking those dogs away from their home,” she said. “They were raised on the ranch, and they’d be miserable anywhere else. I’ll stay right there and never leave before you take them away. I won’t even sell it until they’ve all passed away, and then I’m going to bury them right on top of Ezra. That way he’ll have all three of his wives in the same grave with him.”

“Let’s talk about all of this tomorrow.” Rusty set his plate down on the first table they came to.

“Where and when?” she asked.

“Neutral place,” he answered. “In the barn at six o’clock.”

“I’ll be there.” With a curt nod, she walked on past him and sat down at the second table with Abby Joy, Cooper, and a handful of hired hands.

“What was that all about?” Abby Joy whispered.

“Just setting up a meeting so we can talk,” Bonnie answered.

“You’ve got a job right here anytime you want to move,” Abby Joy said. “Just promise me you won’t get a wild hair and leave the canyon. Sisters should stick together, and besides, this baby”—she laid her hand on her bulging stomach—“needs his aunts. I don’t know a blessed thing about babies, so I’ll need all the help I can get too.”

Bonnie made up her mind right then and there to stick around until the dogs had all died, and so that she could be an aunt to Abby Joy’s baby. Bonnie missed having family in her life, so she couldn’t very well deny her little niece the same. “I promise.”

She glanced over at the other table, where Shiloh and Waylon were sitting with the rest of the

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