A Bride for the Bronc Rider (Brush Creek Brides Book 3) Read online

  A Bride for the Bronc Rider

  Brush Creek Brides Romance Book 3

  Liz Isaacson

  AEJ Creative Works

  Contents

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  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

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  Sneak Peek! A Family for the Farmer Chapter One

  A Family for the Farmer Chapter Two

  Brush Creek Brides Romance: a spinoff series from the Gold Valley Romance series

  Meet the books of Three Rivers Ranch Romance series by Liz Isaacson!

  Books in the Gold Valley Romance series, a spinoff from the Three Rivers Ranch series

  About Liz

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  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

  Matthew 6: 25-33

  Chapter One

  Ted Caldwell whistled as he put the horse he’d worked with all morning in his stall. “You’ll get it tomorrow, Yellowstone.” The horse had a long way to go, but Ted just gave the animal a grin and turned toward the tack room. Yellowstone was a natural bucker, and he’d be a fantastic bronco for the rodeo if Ted could get him trained up right.

  He hung up the saddle, his stomach growling for something to eat. He hadn’t heard from Landon or any of the other cowboys, but Megan usually had something laid out for lunch at the homestead, especially in the summertime.

  His cowboy boots made clomping noises on the packed dirt as he made his way past the exercise circle and the huge, covered horse arena. He was one of six cowboys that lived full-time at Brush Creek Horse Ranch, working and training horses for the rodeo circuit. Each of the cowboys had a different specialty, and Ted’s was getting the broncos set to win championships. It could take him a couple of years to get a single horse ready, and he never worked with more than three at a time.

  Right now he only had two, which gave him a bit more time to help with regular ranch duties like working in the fields and making sure the pastures stayed fenced. His spirit warmed when he thought about the weekend before him. Tomorrow afternoon, he’d take his two broncs out to the pastures by the red rock buttes, where they’d stay for a couple of days. He’d been working the horses hard lately, and everyone—himself included—needed a break.

  “Landon?” he called as he entered the homestead through the sliding glass door off the pool. “Megan?” The owners of the ranch, Landon and Megan had just had their third child. Megan had only been home from the hospital for about a week, and their four-year-old twins could usually be heard from anywhere on the ranch.

  But Ted couldn’t hear anything right now. Neither Megan nor Landon seemed to be around, but all the sandwich stuff spread across the kitchen counter meant lunch was on at the homestead. Other cowboys had obviously been through the line, as the meat and cheese was out of the bags and the lids on the mayo and mustard had been popped.

  Ted picked up his whistling again as he bustled around the kitchen, slathering mayo on white bread and then layering turkey, roast beef, and provolone on top of that. Instead of taking just a handful of chips from one of the bags, he snagged the whole, crinkly container and headed toward the front door.

  The backyard baked in the Utah sun, so Megan had put a table and enough chairs for all the cowboys to eat lunch on the front patio, where the shade kept everyone cool. As Ted exited the house, with its blessed air conditioning, he remembered how little the shade actually did in mid-July.

  He sighed and took a seat at the table beside Blake, the newest member of the cowboy team at Brush Creek. “How’s everyone?” He tucked a napkin into the front of his shirt and exhaled happily.

  Blake chuckled. “You and that ridiculous napkin.” He swiped at it, but Ted dodged him and dug into his sandwich.

  “This napkin keeps my clothes pristine.” He used it to wipe his beard and mustache. “And my beautiful beard lookin’ great.”

  “For who?” Blake challenged. “Us? All the women out here are already married.” He glanced across the lane to the row of cowboy cabins, two of which now housed families and not just men. Ted hadn’t given much thought to expanding the residents in his cabin; he hadn’t dated in the five years since he’d arrived at the ranch, since he’d left the rodeo circuit after breaking six ribs and a leg. He didn’t walk with a limp, and he had enough money in the bank that he didn’t have to work at all. He counted his lucky stars everyday that he’d landed at Brush Creek and could still feel the calming influence of the horses.

  Walker mentioned there were lots of available women down in town, and lunch concluded. Ted stayed at the table, having only been there for a few minutes. He stretched out and put both his hands behind his head. The blue sky with those puffy white clouds made him smile.

  Something crashed in the house, and Ted got to his feet, curiosity burning through him. He wanted another sandwich anyway, so he re-entered the house, expecting to see Megan carrying her newborn and trying to keep the twins away from whatever she’d broken.

  He didn’t see her, but another brunette, whose hair color obviously came from a bottle, along with the numerous lighter brown and blonde streaks that fell across her shoulders.

  This woman crouched low to the ground, picking up pieces of a glass bowl that had broken. She muttered under her breath and didn’t seem to notice Ted as he approached—a real feat considering the size of his cowboy boots and the echoing tile floor.

  “Do you need some help?” he said in his gentlest voice, the one he used on the wild horses when they first arrived at the ranch.

  She jumped away from him, straightening and covering her heart with her palm. “You don’t have to yell.”

  Ted blinked at her and looked around the house, as if someone would appear and confirm that he hadn’t yelled. “I’
ll get the broom.”

  “Never mind.” She looked annoyed, but surely she couldn’t have a problem with him. “I’ll just use a wet paper towel.” Her eyes didn’t land directly on his as she moved to the sink and ran the water over a half dozen paper towels. She wrung them out and then swiped the makeshift pad across the floor where the break had happened. “It gets all the tiniest pieces.” She threw the paper towels in the trash and finally faced him.

  Her frown deepened and she wrinkled her nose as if he smelled like horse manure. Maybe he did. “Who are you?”

  “Ted Caldwell. I work with the broncos.” He grinned at her, pleased when she allowed her lips to curl up slightly. “Who are you?” He allowed his eyes to travel down the length of her body, drinking in her tight jeans and billowy blouse. It was the color of shamrocks and covered with flowers.

  She folded her arms. “April.” Her voice indicated that he’d just used the only question she’d allow. “Excuse me.” She started toward the steps that led to the basement, but her hip bumped into the sideboard and a vase teetered, tipped, toppled to the ground.

  April froze as more glass, this time with real wildflowers and water, spilled across the floor. She turned back to Ted with a smile with the wattage of the sun. “Could you get the broom now?”

  Ted thought he’d do whatever this woman asked, and he stepped over to the pantry like an obedient dog. He shook his head as he realized what track his thoughts had gone down. Confusion riddled through him. Ted Caldwell didn’t date. Hadn’t dated. Wasn’t interested.

  But as he turned back to April, broom in hand, he wondered if maybe it was time to get interested. “What’s your last name, April?” he asked as he wielded the broom with precision to get all the bigger pieces of glass.

  “Nox.”

  “Where are you from?” He threw the broken glass in the trashcan and reached for the roll of paper towels.

  April leaned against the back of the couch that bordered the living room and folded her arms again. As Ted wrung out the paper towels, he noticed a distinct bump beneath her arms. His fingers stuttered and he flat-out stared.

  “Wyoming,” she said, her voice as sour as chokecherries. “And yes, I’m pregnant.”

  Chapter Two

  April couldn’t help the disdain, the disgust, the danger in her voice. The cowboy was staring at her. Blinking every few seconds, but staring, like a pregnant woman in Brush Creek was an anomaly.

  She saw him search for a wedding ring, but he wouldn’t find one. At least not today, as she kept her left hand buried beneath her right arm. But he’d find out soon enough. Everyone would, which was why she’d left Jackson Hole for this hole-in-the-wall town. Angry tears pressed against her eyes, but she wouldn’t release them, not in front of Ted.

  “Oh, well, congratulations.” A giant of a man, Ted tore his eyes from hers, bent, and cleaned up the shards the way she had the first time. “There we go.” Every word he spoke seemed too loud, but that could’ve just been a side-effect of April’s foul mood and constant headache since she’d found out she was pregnant.

  If she were looking to date in Brush Creek, Ted probably would have landed near the top of her list. Tall, broad, dark-haired. And that delicious full beard…. April turned away from him to keep her spiraling emotions in check.

  The fact was, she wasn’t looking to date. Not now, and not for a while. And certainly not anyone in Brush Creek. She’d only be here for five months—just long enough to have the baby, give it up for adoption, and move to a big city where no one knew her. Where she didn’t have to explain anything to anyone.

  “Congratulations aren’t in order,” she said, facing the stairs again. She needed to get out of there before she said something she couldn’t take back. She’d said too much already.

  “Oh, well, I’m sorry then.”

  “Nothing to be sorry about,” she said over her shoulder, her eyes catching on Ted’s for just a moment. Long enough to make her pause and add, “Thanks for your help.”

  He nodded, one hand going to the top of his cowboy hat. “Anything for a pretty lady.”

  She flashed a tight smile and escaped back to the basement. She’d come upstairs looking for something to eat, but the sight of that slimy mayo had made her stomach revolt. She’d become clumsier and clumsier in the past four months, and dropping a glass and then knocking a vase off a table were almost commonplace events these days.

  Let me know when you get home and I’ll come help with the kids. She sent the text to Megan and settled down on the queen bed she’d been given. She had a nice bedroom, equipped with a flat-screen TV, excellent WiFi, and a private bathroom, a living area, and a kitchenette. She could exist down here without anyone ever knowing, but that wasn’t part of the deal.

  Oh, no. April was to help Megan with the baby and the twins. Not only that, but she was to become a cowgirl herself, working with horses and moving pipes and whatever else she needed to do to earn her keep on this ranch.

  She curled around her stomach and closed her eyes, the need to cry pressing hotly against the back of her throat. Not a single tear fell, because she’d already cried herself dry. First when she found out she was pregnant, then when the father of the baby told her he wasn’t interested in marrying her, then when she had to tell her parents about it all.

  Her mother’s words still rang in her ears. You’re thirty years old, April. You should know better.

  And her father’s: I’m so disappointed in you, April.

  She’d left Jackson Hole to get away from their disappointment, and maybe to run away. In her most honest moments, she admitted that she’d left Jackson just to get away from everyone and everything she’d ever known.

  No one would find her here, she knew that. The friends she’d left behind knew she disliked cowboys almost as much as used car salesmen.

  Her phone woke her sometime later. The sun still cascaded through the window, so she hadn’t lost too much time. She sat up and found a text from Megan. Home in twenty minutes. Would love some help making dinner.

  Sure. April scooted to the edge of the bed and ran her hands over her face, noting the absence of her eyelash extensions. Her makeup. Everything she used to do to make herself presentable to the public.

  Lord, she prayed. Help me fix the mistakes I’ve made.

  She’d lost her way several years ago, made some bad choices, some more obvious than others. She rested her hands on her belly, small as it was, and imagined herself raising the child she was carrying. She couldn’t quite do it. Couldn’t see herself looking into the child’s green eyes—Liam’s eyes—and not feeling something negative. Cheated. Betrayed. Abandoned.

  She went upstairs, glad when Megan returned with her family. The homestead was too big to be comfortable. Megan brought noise and excitement with her, and April stepped right in to help with the twins.

  “Where did you guys go?” she asked, kneeling down to their height.

  Rachel held her hand out. “The park. Look at the rocks I found!”

  Ruby muscled her way into the conversation. “And look at the leaves I found!”

  April smiled and told the girls that they must be very good treasure hunters and they ran into the backyard. Megan settled into the chair in the living room to nurse, and Landon banged around the kitchen as he unpacked the groceries and put them away.

  “Leave the turkey steaks out,” Megan said. “And the brown rice.”

  April joined Landon in the kitchen and hunted through the lower cabinets until she found the pressure cooker. She put the rice on and gave Landon a smile.

  “How was your day, April?”

  “Just fine, sir,” she said.

  He chuckled. “I told you yesterday, April. You don’t need to call me sir.”

  She couldn’t help it. Though Landon was only a few years older than her, he felt miles more mature.

  “Settling in okay?” he asked.

  “Yes. Everything’s great.”

  “Megan kept your groc
eries separate. I think we got everything you asked for.” He nodded toward the dining room table, where several brown paper bags waited.

  “Thanks. How much do I owe you?”

  “Nope,” Megan said from the living room. “Part of the deal is you get room and board. You’ll help around the house, with the kids, and on the ranch.”

  April nodded once. That was the deal. She lifted her chin. “When do you think I’ll start around the ranch?” She knew the difference between a horse and a cow, barely. She’d never worked on a farm or a ranch, never even owned a dog.

  “I’ll assign you to one of my cowboys,” Landon said. “He’ll help you get started, give you tasks, that kind of stuff.”

  Tasks ran through her mind. She had no idea what tasks might need to be done on a horse ranch.

  “In fact, I’ve invited him to dinner,” Landon continued. “Want me to help with these groceries?”

  “Sure.” April collected two bags and took them downstairs, Landon following her with the rest. She unbagged them and put them away before returning to the kitchen upstairs. She heated a pan and began making dinner. Landon disappeared out the back door, and Megan seemed to be napping in the recliner with the baby.

  When Landon returned, he had the girls with him.

  And Ted Caldwell.

  “April,” he said. “This is Ted. You’ll be working with him.”

  Part of her heart skyrocketed and the other part sank, creating a discombobulating sensation in her chest. She only breathed because it was an involuntary reaction.