Harlequin American Romance May 2014 Bundle: One Night in Texas\The Cowboy's Destiny\A Baby for the Doctor\The Bull Rider's Family (34 page)

The solid black bull—not a spec of white anywhere on his body—pawed the dirt inside the chute. Maybe the bull was a sign that Buck had to face his demons. He was only using the excuse of Destiny not being truthful with him about the baby as a shield against his real fear. How could he convince Destiny to believe that they were meant to be together if he didn’t believe in himself?

“Folks, one of our judges had an emergency. It’ll be a minute or two before our next bull ride. Hold tight. We’ll get this show on the road soon.” After the announcer spoke, music blared over the sound system.

Swell.
More time for the voices in his head to interfere with his concentration.

Buck edged closer to the chute. The bull swung his massive head sideways and stared Buck down with lifeless eyes. He thought of Destiny’s blue eyes—eyes full of life, sparkle, humor and compassion.

A jarring pain stabbed him in the chest. He’d been labeled the family peacemaker by his siblings because he didn’t like confrontation. Hell, when he’d been teased and bullied on the playground he’d tried turning the other cheek or walking away. If the bullies wouldn’t let him flee, then he stood his ground and fought back. Was the instinct to run a genetic trait he’d inherited from his father and mother? Shoot, when his mother had been alive, she’d never confronted the men who’d gotten her pregnant and demanded they make an honest woman out of her. Or demand they play a role in their sons’ lives. She just left them and moved on.

Buck had used the excuse of Destiny not telling him about her pregnancy to split. Even though he’d confessed his love for her, he’d been afraid to stay and fight for a place in her life, and it had nothing to do with Destiny not confessing her love for him. Buck knew in his gut that she loved him—he’d seen it in every look and touch she’d given him during his time in Lizard Gulch. Buck even suspected she had his best interests at heart when she sent him away.

It would be easy to believe Destiny didn’t want to burden him with raising Daryl’s baby, but Buck feared the real reason she’d kicked him out of her life was because she sensed he wouldn’t always be there for her. And since she didn’t love Daryl, it wouldn’t be a big deal if he packed up and left her.

The music died down and the announcer spoke, “Well, folks, it looks like we’ve got our judge back and we’re ready for the next contestant!” The crowd applauded. “It’s time for Buck Cash from Stagecoach, Arizona, to cowboy up!” Boots stomped on the metal bleachers creating an earsplitting din. “Cash is ridin’ Destiny’s Curse, a bull known for its tight spins.”

Buck closed his eyes and envisioned the ride in his head. It took three tries before his brain replaced Destiny’s pretty face with the bull’s big head. He felt the cameras zero in on him, but refused to look at his image on the JumboTron. As he focused, the noise in the arena dissipated until the only sound he heard was the bull’s snorting.

“I can’t figure out if good ol’ Buck is dreaming about his bull ride or that lady gal standing behind him.” The announcer’s voice disrupted Buck’s concentration. The crowd hooted and hollered.

Buck opened his eyes and glanced at the giant screen at the opposite end of the arena. He blinked twice, unable to believe what he was looking at. Slowly he turned and came face-to-face with Destiny.

“Never seen a cowgirl in that kind of getup before,” the announcer said.

Buck’s gaze soaked in the sight of her—black leather pants, a tight vest that showed a hint of cleavage, high-heeled boots and fringed leather gloves up to her elbows. Was it any wonder his competitors in the cowboy ready area stood gawking?

This is your chance. Don’t blow it.

Buck forced his legs to move and he closed the distance between them. Destiny’s eyes shone with tears, and he couldn’t help himself from touching her—didn’t care who watched him. He tucked a strand of flaming hair behind her ear. “We’re not through—you and me.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

“Wait right here, while I take care of this bull, then we’ll talk.”

“Be careful, Buck. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Darlin’, a bull doesn’t stand a chance against a man who’s in love.” He kissed her, careful to angle his head so his cowboy hat blocked the cameras. The fans in the arena roared their approval.

He ended the kiss, then with a burst of energy, climbed the rails and eased onto the back of the bull. “You and me are gonna get along just fine,” he whispered, wrapping the rope around his gloved hand.

The gate opened, and Destiny’s Curse bolted for freedom. The announcer hadn’t been fooling when he’d claimed the bull was a spinner. Buck ground his teeth together and leaned back as he rode out the first spin. His hat flew off, but he held on and the bull rotated into a second spin.

Go all the way for Destiny. Show her you’re not a quitter.

The bull came out of the spin, kicking his back legs at the same time he twisted his spine. Even an experienced world champion bull rider would have had trouble handling this monster, but Buck was riding on a cloud of euphoria and found the strength to hang on.

He hadn’t taken a breath since the bull left the chute, and his lungs burned with the need for oxygen. He lost track of the seconds in his head and when the buzzer clanged, no one was more excited than him that he’d made it to eight. He waited for an opening, but the bull’s spinning was relentless and Buck decided he’d have to take a leap of faith. He launched himself into the air and hit the ground hard, the impact releasing what little air remained in his lungs. Instinct kicked in and he rolled away from the bull, allowing the bullfighters to step in and distract Destiny’s Curse. When he crawled to his knees he saw that the bull had lost interest in him and had trotted toward to the bull pen. Buck swept his hat off the ground and waved it at the crowd.

“Looks like Buck Owens Cash got the best of Destiny’s Curse,” the announcer said. “Let’s see what the judges award him.”

Buck didn’t care about his score. The only thing that mattered was the woman waiting for him in the cowboy ready area. Buck scaled the arena rail and when his boots hit the ground on the other side, Destiny launched herself into his arms.

“Buck Owens Cash earned an eighty-three for his performance on Destiny’s Curse,” the announcer said. “That’s good enough for third place.” The announcer chuckled. “But it looks like he’s won first place with the girl!”

Music blared throughout the arena, and the fans cheered.

Buck hugged Destiny tighter, afraid to let her go.

“Oh, my God, Buck, please tell me you’re never going to ride another bull again.” She leaned back and clasped his face in her hands. “I died a hundred deaths, waiting for you to fly off and get trampled.”

“Have a little faith in me, honey.” Buck stared into her shimmering blue eyes. “I’m not letting you marry Daryl. I’m going to be your baby’s father...if you’ll let me. I love you, Destiny, and I know you love me. Give me a chance to prove to you that you can count on me to always be there for you.”

“I should have told you about the baby before we—”

He pressed a finger against her lips. “We all make mistakes,” he said. “I let you kick me out, knowing that you wouldn’t follow through and take Daryl up on his offer.”

“How did you know I wasn’t going to marry him?”

“Because you love me.”

“I do love you, Buck. But you deserve someone better.”

“You’re the perfect woman for me.”

“I’ll try my best to be everything you ever wanted and more.”

“The same goes for me, Destiny. I’m going to prove to you that I can be a good father to the baby.”

“Just don’t leave me, Buck.”

“Neither one of us is ever going anywhere without the other. From now on we’re stuck like glue.” He brushed a knuckle across her cheek. “No more secrets, okay?”

“I promise.”

He sealed their fate with a kiss, his ego soaring from the shouts of encouragement of the cowboys cheering them. “What do you say we find someplace more private to make plans for the future?”

“How about Lizard Gulch? Do you think you could be happy living there and working in the garage with me?”

Buck’s throat tightened. He knew how important having a real
home
was to Destiny. “Honey, you are my home—I can be happy anywhere as long as I’m with you.” He reached for his gear bag and then grabbed her hand. “Now let’s go load your bike into the back of my pickup and head home.” When they stepped outside into the parking lot, Buck said, “I’ve always wanted to run my own garage, but I think I’ve got the better end of the deal helping you run yours.”

“Our garage, Buck. We’re doing everything together.” Destiny went up on tiptoe and kissed him. When she broke off the kiss, she said, “Melba’s going to be thrilled to have you back.”

“She just wants my help riding herd over all the crazies in town.”

They stopped next to her Harley, and Destiny wrapped her arms around Buck’s waist and laid her head on his chest. “I love you, Buck.”

He grinned.

“I’m not joking,” she said. “You’re the happy ever after I thought I’d never have.”

He hugged her close. “Who would have known that the afternoon you rescued me from the side of the road you were my Destiny.”

“I just want to be sure.” Tears filled her eyes. “Will you marry me, Buck Owens Cash?”

He nodded. “‘I’ll Take a Chance On Loving You.’”

She laughed as she wiped the tears dribbling down her cheeks. “Quoting Buck Owens’s music now?”

“You know that song?”

“As soon as I realized you were named for the country-and-western legend, I looked up his songs.”

“Oh, yeah?” Buck kissed her—he couldn’t help it. She was his now, and he couldn’t get enough of her. After a wolf whistle alerted him that he might be getting carried away with Destiny in the parking lot, he ended their kiss then borrowed a ramp from a friend’s horse trailer and secured the Harley in his truck bed.

Their whirlwind romance was only beginning, but Buck was sure of one thing—he’d never look at life quite the same way as he had before.

And that’s what real love was all about—seeing life in a new light—the light that leads down the road to happy ever after.

Epilogue

“Are you sure about the veil, Destiny?”

“Stop worrying, Violet.” Destiny secured the lace to her head. “Buck is my Prince Charming. He’ll break the spell on your veil.” She hugged the older woman.

“Good, because I have my eye on Bernie’s cousin.”

Willard Humphrey was ten years younger than Violet and had shown up in town last week with only a suitcase and a dog named Kitty. Destiny had looked out her bedroom window one morning and had spotted the dog resting beneath the tree in the cemetery, Bernie’s cats snuggling against its side. Apparently the animals of Lizard Gulch were as peculiar as its residents.

“I’d better make a move on Willard before Melba sinks her claws into the man.” Violet stood back and perused Destiny’s outfit. “You look beautiful.”

Destiny hadn’t done anything different to herself, but Buck’s love made her feel as if she was the most beautiful woman on earth—at least for today.

Melba poked her head inside the minister’s office. “Are you ready?”

“I am.” Destiny smoothed her hands down her white leather pants, which she’d barely managed to zip. After she and Buck set the church date, she’d offered to buy a wedding dress, but Buck had insisted she wear the same outfit she’d had on the day they’d first met. Destiny was hard put to deny Buck anything. Next week she’d go to her second appointment at the women’s clinic in Kingman, and Buck had asked to tag along with her. Already he acted as if the baby was his son or daughter. Destiny didn’t know what she’d done to deserve Buck coming into her life, but she and her child were truly blessed to have his love.

“The chapel’s full and it’s hot out there,” Melba said. “Unless you want folks passing out from heatstroke, you’d better get a move on.”

The three women left the office through a side door and walked to the front of the chapel, where Bernie waited to escort her down the aisle.

“You look real nice, Mayor Saunders.” Bernie wore his top hat and tux jacket over freshly washed jeans. The scent of coconut hair tonic clashed with the perfumed soap Destiny had used to bathe in earlier in the morning. Dixie had given Destiny a bridal basket of homemade soaps and lotions from her store along with a note from all the Cash women, welcoming her to the family.

Family.

The chapel was packed with Buck’s family and most of Lizard Gulch had shown up, too. No one disputed that the residents got the better end of the deal they’d worked out with Custer and Wyndell Resorts—everyone was happy.

Melba waved at Mack, who stood with his guitar next to the pastor at the front of the chapel. A moment later, “Here Comes the Bride” echoed through the small room.

Destiny slid her arm through Bernie’s and her gaze found Buck—he looked so handsome in his suit and polished cowboy boots. Marsha’s father had insisted on performing the ceremony, and Pastor Bugler smiled at Destiny as she made the trip down the aisle to the altar.

“Buck Owens Cash,” Bernie said, placing her hand in Buck’s. “You take good care of our Destiny. She’s very special to us.” Bernie tapped his finger against his sheriff’s badge. “You treat her right or you’ll answer to me.”

“You have my word that I’ll keep Destiny safe and happy.” Buck stared into her eyes. “Forever.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today in God’s presence to marry Destiny Saunders and Buck Owens Cash.” The pastor glanced up at the ceiling and said, “One less Cash brother running loose for fathers to worry about.”

“How many brothers are left?” Melba called out from the front pew. “I’ve got a younger cousin in Alabama that needs a husband.”

“My granddaughter just graduated from beauty school in Tucson and—”

“Do they like older women?” A male voice in the back of the chapel traveled across the pews. “I got a sister in Cincinnati who’s never been married.”

Destiny and Buck locked gazes. “Are you sure, Buck? When you marry me, you’re marrying the whole town.”

“I’m sure, honey.” Buck grinned. “Life in Lizard Gulch will never be boring, that’s for sure.”

She snuggled against his side and listened to the wedding guests bicker over whose niece, neighbor or daughter should be matched up with Porter and Mack. Pastor Bugler attempted to silence the group, but few paid attention to him.

“Vegas is only two hours away,” Buck whispered in her ear.

“I’ve got a full tank of gas in my Harley,” she said.

“We could have Elvis marry us.”

The temptation to grab Buck’s hand, jump on her bike and ride to Sin City was powerful, but no one would forgive them if they went on the lam and returned to town married a few days later. “We’ll celebrate our first anniversary in Vegas,” she said.

“Promise?”

Forgetting the wedding guests, Destiny wrapped her arms around Buck’s neck. “Buck, I take you for my lawfully wedded husband.”

“Destiny, I take you for my lawfully wedded wife.”

“Hey, everyone, shut up! Buck and Destiny are marrying themselves!”

“Can they do that?”

“No, stupid, but they’re tired of waiting for us to be quiet.”

“Well, then, quit talking!”

“Dearly beloved,” Pastor Bugler spoke above the voices. “We are gathered here today...”

* * * * *

There are only two Cash brothers still single!
Be sure to look for the next book in
THE CASH BROTHERS
series by Marin Thomas. Available in August 2014
wherever Harlequin books are sold.

Keep reading for an excerpt from A BABY FOR THE DOCTOR by Jacqueline Diamond.