Two Cowboys Next Door Read online

  “My dad told me.”

  Nash thoughtfully scratches his chin. “Where we headed next?”

  “You’re just gonna change the topic like that?”

  He scowls. “What am I supposed to do? Cheyenne’s parents need her. It’s not my problem.”

  “You sound like an ass.”

  “I’m being realistic.”

  I look away and throw back more beer. I’m tense and there’s no point in taking it out on Nash.

  “Sidney,” I tell him. “We’re headed to Sidney.”

  “That’s where that Julianna girl lives, right?”

  “Right.”

  He shakes his head. “Perfect tits.”

  “Yeah,” I emotionlessly agree.

  Nash’s lips twist and he takes another long sip of beer. I’ve got a feeling he’s not as excited to get with Julianna again as he acts. Last time we saw her face she was in a strip mall parking lot winding up to throw an empty Jack Daniels bottle at Nash’s truck.

  To say we’d left her in a shitty mood would be an understatement.

  But we’ve left plenty of girls in even bitchier states. It’s not our fault some of them seem to forget Nash and I are men of the road. We aren’t loyal to any one girl and we don’t aim to pretend to be.

  Besides, no matter how angry we leave them, they always welcome us back the second we come rolling into town.

  “Fuck her,” Nash suddenly tosses out.

  I eye him. “Who?”

  “Julianna. All of them. All these women.”

  I wait for more. It’s sure to come, whether or not I push it.

  Nash sighs and takes off his hat to rake his fingers through his hair. “There’s only one girl in this state worth screwing.”

  I know who he’s talking about. “Or any other state.”

  His eyes catch mine. “It doesn’t make sense. Cheyenne’s not even experienced but she’s the best damn lay of my life.”

  I bow my head in agreement. “That’s part of what makes her good.”

  Nash’s eyes roll back in his head. “The best. She probably doesn’t know how good she is.”

  “And it makes her better.”

  I run my thumb across a callous on my pointer finger and think about last night. Cheyenne totally surrendered to us in Nash’s truck. She gave herself over in a way no woman ever has. It was sexier than anything I’ve ever experienced.

  Nash jams his hat back on and stands up. “I gotta get back to the ranch.”

  “What for?”

  “Daniels is out tonight. I’m gonna help with the feeding.”

  “You’re a ranch hand now?”

  He turns away from me. “Got a problem with that?”

  I don’t answer. There’s no point. Let Nash indulge in his fantasy of being a cattle farmer. Maybe it’ll help him get out some pent-up energy and attitude. We’ll be back on the road soon enough anyway.

  “See you back there,” he says over his shoulder.

  He leaves the saloon, leaving me alone with the other early drinkers. I catch the bartender’s eye and signal for another beer. One sip and I lose all desire to drink it. Instead I just stare at the bottle’s label.

  It’s strange being back home. Even without my dad here. It’s too… comfortable.

  I don’t like it. The sooner the rodeo finishes up here and moves on, the better.

  “Hey cowboy,” a woman’s voice says.

  My head jerks up. A lithe female form slides into the booth across from me. I start to smile at the pale woman with jet black hair but then freeze.

  The girl sitting across from me isn’t a stranger. And she’s not someone I know from years ago in the Town of Cody.

  “Emily.”

  Her lips purse. “Oh, you remember my name?”

  Her name would be the easiest thing about her to forget. Emily’s antics put Julianna from Sidney to shame. Nash and I hooked up with her several months ago in South Dakota. She got our phone numbers, probably from someone else on the rodeo. She began calling us incessantly, leaving about a voice mail per day. Some were filled with shouts, others with tears.

  Eventually I texted her back. Just once. And just to let her know we weren’t interested or available. She still didn’t let up. She called Nash so much he changed his number and blocked her.

  “What are you doing here in town?” I ask.

  She flips some hair over her shoulder. “Do you really need to ask me that?”

  I glance at the front door but Nash is long gone. Looks like I won’t be getting any backup. “You visiting someone here?” I ask, a creepy itch in my gut telling me the answer is no.

  She guffaws. “You could say that. I’m here to see you and Nash.”

  Nausea fills me. “You came all this way just to see us?”

  She puts on what looks like a sweet smile but really isn’t. I’ve only spent a few evenings with this woman, but just one hour would be enough to know she’s as conniving as they come.

  “Hold on,” I say. “Are you the one who’s been calling Nash all the time?”

  “You don’t seem happy,” she complains.

  I clear my throat. “Look Emily. I get the sense you’re looking for something Nash and I don’t have to offer.”

  Her eyes flash like lightning. “Then why did you spend those three days with me? You loved what we had, Clay. I know you didn’t want to let it go.”

  I lick my dry lips and give it another go. “That time was nice, really. But Nash and I travel around a lot. We’re not looking for a girlfriend.”

  “Right. You mean you’re just looking to fuck a new girl in each town?”

  I grit my teeth together. What Nash and I do is no one’s damn business and I don’t like the way her voice is rising. This is my hometown. I don’t need some jaded bitch coming in here and starting problems.

  The bartender looks over at us in interest, probably wondering whether or not she needs to intervene. The saloon’s grown quieter, a good sign others are listening in on mine and Emily’s conversation.

  “Who is it now?” Emily asks. She grips the table and leans forward. “Who are you fucking now? Don’t tell me she’s better than me, because there’s no chance that’s true.”

  I stare at her, completely speechless. The woman is crazy. Back in South Dakota I knew she was kind of off the rails, but this is a whole new level. I pull my wallet out and drop some bills on the table.

  “I need to get going,” I slowly say.

  “You don’t have your next rodeo till tomorrow.”

  “What, are you stalking me or something?”

  She bats her eyelashes. “The rodeo schedule is public knowledge. It’s on the website and the fliers are all over town.”

  “Well good for you.”

  I turn heel and start to stalk away. Two steps and she’s in front of me, planting herself just inches away.

  “You think you can just walk away?” she snarls.

  I take a long breath and exhale sharply through my nose. “What is it you want, exactly?”

  Her eyes glisten and her lower lips trembles. “I want you and Nash to admit what our time together meant.”

  I have to swallow a curse. She has no shame. Everyone in the place is watching us out of the corners of their eyes and she’s bringing on the waterworks. “Don’t cry,” I say in a low voice.

  “Why not? You don’t want everyone here to know about how you used me?”

  I sigh. “Look Emily, Nash and I told you it wasn’t gonna be anything serious. We told you we were moving on in a few days. Did you think that was gonna change?”

  Her arms fold. I’ve hit the nail on the head.

  “I’m gonna make you pay for this, Clay Murphy.”

  “What exactly does that mean?”

  An evil smile sneaks across her lips. “You’ll find out.”

  “You’re crazy.” I push past her and leave the saloon as fast as I can.

  12

  Nash

  The setting sun warms
my upper back. I roll my neck to push out the kinks and sit up higher in the saddle. The horse picks up its trot and skirts the edge of the creek bank. It knows the way home well. I let my grip on the reins go slack.

  The McGee house appears at the far edge of the field. I stare at its windows. I’m working on not thinking about Cheyenne, but it’s the challenge of a lifetime. The woman has a way about her. First, she’s shy and innocent, then she’s sultry and ferocious.

  She keeps me on my toes. I hate it.

  She needs someone to fuck the attitude out of her.

  I get the horse settled in his stall and leave the barn. Dirt kicks up from the driveway and I halt in the yard to see who’s coming.

  Clay’s dad’s truck rolls around the bend and stops in the grass. Clay jumps out, a scowl on his face.

  “What’s wrong with you?”

  He stalks past me. “I just saw a friend of ours.”

  I follow him into the house. He pulls the refrigerator open and grabs a beer then leans against the counter to look at me. “Remember Emily?”

  My chest constricts. “You’re fucking joking. How could I forget her? She told me she and I were soul mates and we’d had other lives together.”

  He takes a heavy swig of his beer. “Get this. She’s here in town. She came into the saloon right after you left.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.”

  “Fuck.” I drop into a chair.

  “She followed us here, Nash. She still thinks we’re going to change our minds and fall in love with her.”

  “Uh-uh. Not happening.”

  “You don’t have to tell me.”

  I scratch my temple. “We could always screw her and see if that makes her go away.”

  His lip curls. “This isn’t a time for jokes.”

  “It’s always a time for jokes.”

  “If we talk to Emily again she’ll think it means we want her around. I think she’s the one who’s been calling your phone.”

  “There are no messages.”

  “Insane people don’t live according to reason.”

  “I told you I didn’t owe anyone money.” I grin at him, but his face remains in a scowl.

  Clay crosses his arms and tucks his chin towards his chest. “There’s more. She said she’s going to make us pay.”

  “What the fuck does that mean?”

  He gives a shrug.

  I wave my hand. “Forget about it. You just said insane people don’t have any reason.”

  “Exactly. Emily might be capable of something really crazy.”

  I think about it while I get up to retrieve my own beer. “Let’s just keep our eyes open.”

  “Already done.”

  13

  Cheyenne

  I nuzzle my face against the horse’s soft neck. The gritty, earthy scent of the animal wafts around me.

  “Good girl, Daisy,” I tell her, pulling back.

  I rub her nose and wonder if I’ll ever be able to look at her without thinking about Nash and Clay.

  It’s not likely. They’ve been on my mind all day and night. What happened in Nash’s truck blew every fantasy I’ve ever had out of the water.

  It also made me realize how deep into all of this I am.

  I only set out to lose my virginity. Clay seemed like the perfect prospect, not only because I had the hots for him but also because I knew he wouldn’t turn me down.

  I didn’t expect to start feeling something for him. Or for Nash.

  And the longer this all goes on for the higher our chances are of getting found out.

  I’m my parents’ only kid. They don’t think I’m perfect, but there are certain expectations in our family. One of those involves keeping the family name clean.

  It’s a task Clay Murphy hasn’t exactly fulfilled.

  Clay.

  A tight knot forms in my stomach. I’ll never find anyone else like him. I was stupid to think I could have sex with him and not get attached. The way he touches me, the way he makes me feel safe and protected…

  The only other man who has ever done the same is Nash.

  I’m shit out of luck.

  “Goodnight girl,” I tell Daisy. I leave her stall and close it for the night. The rest of the horses are snug in their spots. The occasional snort fills the barn, each one comforting me. At least I have my home. At least I have my parents.

  And maybe I’ll see Clay and Nash next time they come into town. Whenever that is.

  How many towns will they visit between now and then? How many women will they sleep with?

  I know I’m not the first one they’ve shared. I just kind of wish I could be something special to them.

  I turn the lights off in the barn and shut the doors tight. I picked the wrong men to get involved with. In between Clay’s reputation and his and Nash’s lifestyle, it’s impossible to believe I’ll ever get anything more from them than the occasional romp.

  Darkness covers the yard. I tilt my head up to look at the sky. Stars sparkle like gems, the familiar constellations stretching across the horizon. It’s the perfect night to sleep outside. All you would need is a thin blanket.

  The protective arms of two cowboys wouldn’t hurt either.

  A branch cracks nearby. I turn and peer at the trees in between the house and barn. “Hello?”

  I step a bit closer towards the area the noise came from. There’s nothing there, but I can’t shake a feeling of not being alone. My heart starts to beat louder. I slowly walk toward the house, inspecting the yard all around me as I go.

  The unmistakable sound of footsteps hit the dirt behind me. I whirl around. A dark figure rushes at me from around the side of the barn.

  A choked cry leaves my throat but it’s barely more than a gurgle. It’s just like in the nightmares where you open your mouth to scream but no noise comes out.

  “Don’t make a sound,” a female voice snarls.

  The woman steps closer to me. Just the outline of her face shows in the moonlight, but I don’t think she’s anyone I’ve met. She juts her hand out to show me something. A click fills the yard.

  “I have a gun. Make a sound and you’re done.”

  “What do you want?” I ask in a small voice.

  She steps closer and moonlight washes over her face. I nearly collapse. It’s the girl who gave me a ride home the other night. Her mascara is smeared around her eyes and her hair hangs in strings around her jaw.

  Her upper lip curves into a snarl. She’s the opposite of the cheery stranger who helped me out.

  “It-it’s you,” I choke out. “What are you doing?”

  “Take an educated guess.”

  I search her eyes, looking for a shred of humanity. I need something to connect with. I need a piece of the kind person I met the other night.

  “Turn around and walk for the driveway.”

  Adrenaline pulses through my veins. Fighting’s not an option, and neither is flight.

  But I can’t let this stranger take me somewhere. If she’s willing to shoot me right here in the yard she’s willing to do worse things to me.

  “I have money,” I evenly tell her. “I can get you some money if you need it.”

  “I don’t need your money! Get your ass going.”

  I don’t move. “Tell me what you need.”

  Her eyes fill with tears. “Revenge.”

  “I didn’t do anything to you. I’m sorry if you think I did. Look, the ranch hands will be out here any minute. They’re armed. If they see you with a gun they’ll go ahead and shoot and ask questions later.” I try to make my words strong, but my voice shakes.

  “Yeah, right,” the woman sneers. “I know the ranch hands all left hours ago. You really must be stupid if you think I’m going to fall for that. I’ve been watching you for days, Cheyenne.”

  My heart falls into my stomach. She’s been watching me and I haven’t noticed. I’ve been too preoccupied with Clay and Nash drama. And now I might die for it.

  My
fingers curl into fists and I desperately search for another plan. She’s not going to want to shoot the gun out here. The bang will wake up my parents, and Mom won’t hesitate to call the Sheriff’s office. She called them once a few years ago when some local kids drove onto our land during one of their drunken get-togethers. The police were here in a matter of minutes.

  But a shot is the only chance I’ve got.

  “What do you want with me?” I ask again. Maybe if I keep talking she’ll get pissed off and decide to take a chance by shooting at the ground to scare me.

  If she doesn’t shoot my leg instead.

  Or intentionally kill me. I can’t imagine the thoughts in this girl’s mind. We only met once and yet she believes I’ve done her wrong.

  “To make them sorry,” she spats, the words soaked in venom.

  “I think you have the wrong person. I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

  “I have a feeling you do. You may be a whore but hopefully you can figure this out.”

  It hits me. It all makes sense.

  “You’re… are you talking about Nash and Clay?” I raise my voice with the question. Maybe if we’re loud enough my parents will wake up. “Do you know them?”

  “Shut up,” she hisses, taking a step towards me. She brings the gun up to my face level.

  The woman ferociously shakes her head. “You think you can just take them from me. You think you know them. You think you deserve them, but you’re nothing but a filthy slut. You don’t deserve shit.”

  I push the rising panic down. The woman is crazy, which means there’s no telling just what she might do. “You’re right,” I agree. “I don’t deserve them. They’re too good for me.”

  “Oh, like I’m going to fall for that.” She points the gun over my shoulder. “Get walking. The car’s right over there.”

  A shadow moves over her shoulder. It gets closer, revealing itself as a person. A person wearing a cowboy hat. My heart leaps. One of the ranch hands is still here.

  I turn and slowly walk in the direction of the driveway. Maybe if I comply the woman’s guard will go down long enough for the ranch hand to overpower her.

  The plan works. There’s a sound of impact and a yell. I jump to the side, worried about the gun going off.