“So how about it?
Will you be my hero?”

Ross’s resolve almost crumbled as he found himself wanting to be her hero in more ways than one. But their plans were incompatible. He shook his head, clearing it. “I’m sorry.”

She didn’t flinch, budge or blink. “You know, I’m not going to leave you alone. You’ll have no peace until you give in and do the show.”

He didn’t doubt her for one minute. She’d already shown she didn’t give up easily. “I really hate to tell you this, but it won’t do any good.” He wasn’t going to tell her how close she was getting. But almost as though she could see it in his eyes, she smiled and stepped out of his way.

“We’ll see about that, cowboy. I haven’t given up on Hollywood and I’m not giving up on you. You can count on that.”

DEBRA CLOPTON

was a 2004 Golden Heart finalist in the inspirational category, a 2006 Inspirational Readers Choice Award winner, a 2007 Golden Quill award winner and a finalist for the 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award. She praises the Lord each time someone votes for one of her books, and takes it as an affirmation that she is exactly where God wants her to be.

Debra is a hopeless romantic and loves to create stories with lively heroines and the strong heroes who fall in love with them. But most importantly she loves showing her characters living their faith, seeking God’s will in their lives one day at a time. Her goal is to give her readers an entertaining story that will make them smile, hopefully laugh and always feel God’s goodness as they read her books. She has found the perfect home for her stories writing for Love Inspired and still has to pinch herself just to see if she really is awake and living her dream.

When she isn’t writing she enjoys taking road trips, reading and spending time with her two sons, Chase and Kris. She loves hearing from readers and can be reached through her Web site www.debraclopton.com, or P.O. Box 1125, Madisonville, TX 77864.

The Cowboy Takes a Bride
Debra Clopton

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain

of what we do not see.

—Hebrews 11:1

To my sister Cindy Drabek and my brother Ricky

Patrick. I love you and am blessed to have you both

in my life. God bless you and your families!

Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Epilogue

Questions for Discussion

Acknowledgments

I’d especially like to acknowledge the contributions of the following people:

Senior editor Krista Stroever, because her advice never fails to help take my books to the next level.

A special thank-you to editorial assistant Elizabeth Mazer. Her line edits were wonderful and this book is so much better because of them!

Thanks to executive editor Joan Golan for what she does for Steeple Hill, overall. What a blessing she is to so many and especially to me.

And a big thank-you to editor Louise Rozett for her work on this project. Louise and Elizabeth both made me feel like I was in great hands while my editor was out of the office.

Chapter One

Ross Denton yanked his gloves off and glared at the tractor. Between beavers trying to turn good grazing pasture into a lake, and a new tractor that was out to win the lemon of the year award, his usually cheerful mood had taken a swift dive south. Striding to his truck, he headed toward town, determined to accomplish something productive with his day.

Once he hit the blacktop, the two short miles into Mule Hollow flew by, and within minutes he’d parked at the end of Main Street and was stalking toward Pete’s Feed and Seed. If Pete could order in what Ross needed for his tractor, and get it overnighted, then maybe tomorrow would be a better day.

Instantly his attention was snagged down the sidewalk by a blonde in a black ruffled shirt, zebra-print pants and a pair of strappy sandals with heels as tall as fence posts! She was wrestling with a suitcase stuck in an ancient station wagon—not exactly a customary sight in a small Texas town such as Mule Hollow.

With his hand on the feed-store door, Ross paused and watched the woman fighting with the case. The ugly vehicle looked like the one his mother had driven when he was about ten. Faded green, with signature wood panels running along the sides, it had seen better days. But he wasn’t looking at the car as much as the woman. She had her back to him, and as he watched she stuck one ridiculously high heel against the fender, clasped the handle of the suitcase and pulled.

“Whoa,” Ross yelled, charging toward her when the bag popped free and she stumbled back. Too far away to save her from landing on the plank sidewalk, he cringed when she hit the rough wood with a thud. Ouch. That had to hurt.

The fact that the suitcase had landed on top of her, then rolled off, couldn’t have felt good, either. She seemed to be crying when he got there. Hunched over, shoulders shaking, she sobbed into her hands.

He crouched beside her. “Ma’am, where does it hurt?” He placed his palm on her shoulder, not knowing how to console her, but knowing he had to try.

She took a shuddering breath and looked up at him with bright eyes the color of green olives and gold swirled together. He’d never seen hazel eyes with quite that intensity—or so full of laughter!

She was laughing. The sound finally registered as she gazed at him, grinning widely. She had the cutest dimples.

“Too funny.” She waved her hand in front of her face and bit her lips, but giggles came out anyway.

“You’re not hurt?” he asked, embarrassed that he was grinning with her. She could be hurting despite her laughter. People reacted strangely to pain sometimes.

She nodded. “I’m fine.” Her features relaxed a bit as she took a slow breath. Her dimples didn’t completely disappear, leaving her with a mischievous look. He wondered if that was a true reflection of what lay beneath that lively persona.

“Sugar, what in the world happened?”

Ross looked up to find Haley Wells, Mule Hollow’s only real-estate agent, standing in the doorway of her office. “She took a tumble and now she can’t seem to stop chuckling,” he said.

“That’s Sugar. When she gets tickled, she can’t stop laughing sometimes,” Haley declared. A phone inside the office started ringing. “Busy day! Help her, Ross, I’ve got to get that call. Boy, am I glad you’re here to help me, Sugar!”

“Sure thing,” Ross replied. He’d already planned to help her up. He was more than aware that he liked what he saw when he looked at her. Though he wasn’t fond of the zebra-striped pants and the skyscraper heels, he did like those dimples. The woman’s face was open and inviting, with a girl-next-door appeal that hooked him. And there was something extraordinary in the way her eyes captured the light.

“Thanks, cowboy.” She took his offered hand with a firm grasp and smiled as she rose to her feet.

“Ross Denton, glad to be of service.” Still holding her hand, Ross felt a kick of pure attraction that sent his pulse humming.

“Sugar Rae Lenox. I used to be Haley’s assistant in L.A.” She tugged her hand free and waved toward the building. “I’m here to help run her office for a short while.”

He noted the “short while” with disappointment. “Nice to meet you, Sugar Rae. You must get asked this all the time, but are you named after Sugar Ray Leonard?”

She nodded. “It’s a long story, though, and I have to get moved in here, so I won’t bore you with it right now. Thanks for picking me up off the ground.” She turned back to the vehicle and grabbed hold of another suitcase. The way she’d packed the back end of her station wagon rivaled the dam-building techniques of his pesky beavers.

“Here, let me get that for you.” He reached out for the handle.

“No need, I can get this one. I packed it.”

“Looks like you used a bulldozer.”

“How did you guess?”

He eyed the conglomeration of suitcases, boxes and housewares stuffed inside the car. “Just lucky. But really, I’ll help you unload that. Here.” He carefully tugged the suitcase out and then a few boxes, setting them on the sidewalk between them.

Sugar shrugged. “Suit yourself, cowboy. I’m certainly not going to turn down two strong arms. But I’m going to warn you one last time. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll turn and run far, far away. Unpacking my stuff is going to be a challenge you might regret getting involved with.”

“Sugar,” he drawled, grinning into her playful eyes. “I do believe I’m up for the challenge.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Oh yeah, cowboy? We’ll just have to see about that, won’t we?”

She was teasing, but he wasn’t. Looking at her, he knew he meant it.

Only minutes ago he’d thought this was going to be a dismal day.

Wrong. The day’s potential had just skyrocketed, and gauging by the twinkle in her eyes, the days to come in Mule Hollow promised to be anything but dull.

The lyrics of “I Need a Hero” were playing inside Sugar’s head as she and the ever-so-dashing Ross the cowboy grinned at each other.

Who was this gorgeous guy? Okay, back it up, sister! She was not here to flirt, date or otherwise entangle her personal life in this tiny town. She wasn’t here because she actually wanted to be…oh no, this city gal wanted to be back in L.A. starring in the fantastic romantic comedy in which she’d almost scored the leading role. The one that, like all the others, she’d just barely missed out on. She didn’t have time for real-life romance—she was here because her dreams were going down the tubes and she was desperate to make something happen. Age mattered in Hollywood, and if she wanted to be America’s next sweetheart then she had to give her acting career a shot in the arm before she was considered over the hill! Mule Hollow was that shot. She was here to get a play going, a summer stock that would get some buzz happening. Then she’d be back to L.A., where she could finally snag some much-needed attention from those directors who kept passing her over.

So there, she told herself firmly. She wasn’t here to gawk at gorgeous cowboys with striking green eyes and sexy voices. But still…The thing was she did need a hero for the show she was going to produce, and if this walking, talking, long tall Texan wanted the job, he had it. On the spot.

“I’m back,” Haley said, bursting through the open doorway and interrupting Sugar’s runaway thoughts. “Grab a bag, everyone, and let’s get the apartment unlocked before the phone rings again,” she added in a rush. “Lately there are more and more people calling and wanting to look at property out here. You just wouldn’t believe how Molly’s articles have attracted people to this area.”

“That’s great to hear,” Sugar said. Molly was a journalist who lived in Mule Hollow and wrote a syndicated column about life there—the town that had advertised for women to come and marry all their lonesome cowboys. The column was unbelievably popular, and Sugar was counting on that popularity to help her make her dreams come true. This was going to work. It had to. And looking at the handsome cowboy beside her helped keep her thinking positive.

Haley grabbed one of the cases “Ross the hoss” had set on the sidewalk while Sugar had been drooling over him, and headed toward the side of the building.

Sugar grabbed the box at her feet as Ross slipped the strap of her travel bag over his arm, then picked up her two larger suitcases. His cowboy hat dipped as he motioned for her to go ahead of him. Nerves jangling, she led the way around the corner to where Haley was already climbing the stairs up the side of the building.

“I came in earlier and turned on the air for you,” Haley said as she pushed open the door at the top of the stairs.

Sugar followed her. The blast of coolness was a welcome feeling from the end-of-June heat. Inside, she stopped short. “Oh. How cute!”

“No lie.” Ross peeked in over her shoulder, effectively distracting Sugar with his closeness. The man smelled good.

“I bet it never looked this nice before,” he stated, his breath whispering across her cheek.

Sugar inhaled slowly, turning her head toward him. Their faces were not even three inches apart. “It’s lovely,” she said, clearly not talking about the apartment. His beautiful green eyes darkened with interest. Instantly, her mouth went dry.

“I couldn’t agree more,” he said, lowering his voice to a raspy rumble. “Do you mind?”

“Mind?” she asked. “Mind what?”

“Moving over so I can come in?”

Almost choking with embarrassment, she fled across the room, giving him all the space he needed.

What had she been thinking?

The air conditioner was blasting full speed, but there was no air in the room. Zero, nada, zip-o! In fact, the room seemed to shrink like plastic wrap in a microwave as Sugar felt the scorching heat of embarrassment fire up her cheeks. Really, Sugar, where did your head go?

“I hope you like it,” Haley said. Her back had been turned and she’d missed Sugar’s schoolgirl reaction to Ross. Now she set the case she was carrying down beside the bedroom door and faced Sugar. “Is something wrong?”

“No, not at all. I was just admiring the place.” She shot Ross a glare when he smiled knowingly.

Unaware of the tension slicing through the room, Haley rushed on. “I really enjoyed painting it and finding the furniture. I did it with you in mind, because I knew that once it was done, I was going to call you and offer you the job.”

Distracted though she was, Sugar was touched. “I love it.” She ran her finger over the soft white fabric of the couch.

“Of course, when you add your things, it will come to life. I just tried to find appealing furniture in neutral colors you could work with.”

“I couldn’t like anything more. Thank you.” Sugar hugged Haley, feeling self-conscious knowing that Ross was watching.

“I’ll go get some more of your stuff. You two ladies take your time.” He tipped his hat and stepped around them, his arm brushing hers as he did.

Sugar knew she was going to love the apartment. But despite her best intentions, it wasn’t the place she was thinking about—oh no. It was this cowboy!

Chapter Two

Focus, Sugar Rae! Focus—easier said than done, Sugar thought. Ross made her feel like she did just before she walked into an audition: a clash of nerves and adrenaline. It was a very unsettling reaction. Totally unexpected and unwanted.

Trying to pull herself back together, Sugar trailed Haley around the apartment, checking out the bedroom and the small bath. They followed Ross back to the car. To her surprise, other people were waiting to meet her and help unload the car. She was glad for the welcome and for the distraction.

There were the gals from the hair salon across the street, Lacy and Sheri. Sugar knew they were two of the women who’d helped put the tiny town on the map. Ashby and Rose from the dress store were there, too. Sugar felt like she’d already met them since Molly had written about each one in her column. The four ladies from the candy store also took a minute from work to say hi and give her a housewarming gift.

“Wow,” she said, gazing at the basketful of mouthwatering chocolates. “To think it wasn’t too long ago this town had almost no women. Now look at it.” Main Street had filled with women, and they all came together to make a newcomer feel welcome. Sugar was touched by their kindness—and she couldn’t wait to dig into her basket! She felt a little guilty that she wasn’t completely happy about being there.

Haley sighed. “There was a time when I thought there was no hope for this place. Boy, was I wrong,” she said, smiling. “I know you’re here to help me out and to boost your acting career, but I think the town will grow on you, too.”

Sugar gave her a playful but serious look of warning. “Maybe, but Haley, I am leaving.”

They all started filing up the stairs, each carrying something from the car. Sheri gave Sugar a wide, sassy grin as her fancy red boots clicked on the steps. “Have you met the posse yet?”

“The posse?”

Lacy called up from behind her, “That’s what Sheri calls Norma Sue, Esther Mae and Adela. The ladies who came up with this great plan to save their town. You’ll love them.”

Sugar glanced over her shoulder at Lacy. She was talking about the matchmakers! The ladies were the stars of Molly’s column. Her curiosity piqued by why Sheri called them the posse. Distracted, she barely noticed when the large box of kitchen supplies slipped a little from her grip as she reached the top of the stairs. Ross was coming out the door, taking one look at her load and reaching for it.

“I’ll take that,” he said. “You should leave the heavy stuff for me. Remember, I told you I was up for the challenge.” He took hold of the box, but Sugar didn’t release her grasp. She looked up at him with teasing skepticism, trying to cover her attraction. “I don’t know, you look a little shifty, like maybe you might skip out early on me.”

He hoisted the box into his arms as if it was a tiny matchbox. “Not a chance, sweetheart.”

She grunted and reached behind him to hold the door for him. It wasn’t enough that the man had a slow, easy drawl that sent her insides into a riot. He had to be chivalrous, too. And he had a nice sense of humor…. She caught Lacy and Haley looking up at her, and checked her thoughts when she saw the smiles they were sporting. When she followed Ross inside, Sheri was smiling the same smile.

“Gorgeous,” Sugar mouthed silently, behind his back, then headed down the stairs again to get another box. Of course, thinking he was good-looking was where it stopped for her. Jittery nerves and an overactive imagination be hanged, she hadn’t come here to date. Her goal was going to take every spare minute and ounce of focus she had, if she was going to accomplish it.

Sugar wasn’t really worried about Haley and her new friends getting ideas. They’d learn soon enough that she was very single-minded when it came to making it as an actress. It was the dream she’d had since childhood. The dream that had helped her make it through difficult days as a little girl too sick to play outside with her friends. Too sick to have friends…It was a dream she knew was supposed to come true, and she would not give it up.

Emptying the station wagon took no time at all with everyone helping. They’d all gone back downstairs and were standing around talking, but once Ross saw that there were no more boxes or suitcases to carry, he tipped his hat and started to leave.

He’d only taken a step before turning back. “I’m in the book. If you need anything else, just give me a holler. And if you just happen to come up with any other challenges you want to issue, I’m only a phone call away.” His words held a cockiness and teasing. His eyes, however, were completely sincere.

Sugar watched him head down the street and disappear inside the feed store. Only then did she fully relax. His departure was a relief. Despite her determination not to let herself be interested in him, she’d kept getting distracted every time those green eyes of his met hers. The man had a way of gazing at her that made her feel she was the only person around. It was a little unnerving. She wondered if every woman he looked at felt that way. That might come in handy when she talked him into trying out for her show. Those piercing eyes would be able to connect with an audience, one-on-one.

“It is really great to have you here,” Lacy said, dragging Sugar’s head out of the clouds. “It’s just totally exciting! When Haley announced you were an actress and wanted to start a theater in town, I got goose bumps. I really did. We do plays periodically and I’m seeing good things in here—” she tapped her temple “—with you at center of our productions. I can’t wait to get together and toss ideas around.”

Not knowing how much Haley had explained or even how much Haley understood about her plans, Sugar just said, “That’d be great.”

Just then, a car pulled into a slot across the street in front of the salon. “That’s my three-o’clock cut,” Lacy said. “But we’ll talk soon. I do love people with big ideas, especially ones that are going to help Mule Hollow grow. Catch you later.” She spun and jogged off to greet her customer.

Sheri started to follow her, but paused. “Hey, are you looking for a husband?”

“Not at the moment. Why?” Sugar wasn’t sure what to make of Sheri.

“If that’s so, then when you meet the posse, you might want to hide those sparks flying between you and Ross. That is, unless you’re prepared for a little help in the romance department.” She widened her eyes in an exaggerated look of warning.

“Hey, the guy is drop-dead gorgeous, and I’m not blind. But aside from the fact that I’m totally focused on my career, I’m not here to stay. Surely once the matchmakers know that, then sparks or no sparks, they’ll not get any ideas.”

Sheri sent her a wry glance. “None of that will matter, believe me. Ross Denton isn’t just a pretty face. Oh, no. He’s a true-blue, all-around great guy. He’s ready to settle down and believe me, if they see the way he’s gawking at you—well, I’ve got two words for you. Look. Out.” She turned, then strode down the stairs.

Sheri implied this could be trouble. Sugar watched her until she disappeared into the salon. Naaa. Good luck to any matchmakers who thought they could hook her up without her consent. If they saw her as a target, they were going to find they might as well be shooting blanks when it came to Cupid’s arrow.

Not that she wasn’t going to be looking…eventually. Down the road, around the bend a few times, over the hill and through the dale, whatever in the world that meant. But it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

An hour later, Sugar entered Sam’s Diner escorted by Haley and the infamous matchmaking posse. They were a bunch of really delightful ladies—sort of Miss Bea meets Lucy and the Golden Girls. She was enjoying her chat with them as she walked into the place when suddenly she looked around and the reality of her situation set in with blunt clarity. She was a city girl. She loved being a city girl, and took the things that entailed for granted. She was talking about coffee. Not just any coffee, but sweet, creamy mocha and cinnamon, caramel. She loved her Starbucks, and if she’d had any ideas about her favorite latte while in Mule Hollow—well, that misconception melted the instant she walked into Sam’s. She screeched to a halt, and the heavy wooden door almost hit her in the backside as it swung shut behind her. She was so shook up, she hardly noticed. Old wood tables, plank floors and weathered wood walls greeted her. No sir, she wasn’t getting a caramel-mocha latte with a sprinkle of cinnamon here, that was for certain. A craving for her favorite drink grabbed hold of her and she bit back a groan, realizing she’d be lucky if Sam offered skim milk with her coffee. For certain she’d have to kiss whipped cream goodbye. By the looks of this place he might even cook his coffee out back over a campfire!

Oh dear, it really felt as if she’d stepped back in time, and for a girl who loved the modern-day conveniences associated with the city, “back in time” didn’t sound so good.

“What do you think?” Haley asked, eyeing her curiously.

“Wow. It’s…it’s very rustic.”

Haley nodded. “It is wonderful, isn’t it? As long as I can remember, it has always been the same. Sam bought it from the previous owner and didn’t change anything, except to put in the jukebox.”

Esther Mae Wilcox shot a scowl at the jukebox as fiery as her red hair. “Much to our sorrow,” she harrumphed.

Norma Sue Jenkins, a robust woman with curly gray hair and a smile that took up her entire face, grinned at her friend. “You know you’d miss it if it died completely.”

Esther Mae glared at her. “I’d dance on its grave. If we’re going to have to listen to it, the least Sam could do is shake things up a bit. Or you, since you’re the one who always works on the thing. Change some songs. Give me some of those new cutie patooties to listen to. Like that sweet little Oakie, oh, what’s his name…You know, he sings about the beach and he married that darling little movie star Renée Zil-something-or-other.”

Sugar chuckled. “Renée Zellweger and Kenny Chesney.”

Esther Mae’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, that’s who I’m talking about.” She shook her head. “I exercise to his sweet voice in the mornings on my mini trampoline.”

Sugar got a visual, which wasn’t hard, since Esther Mae had on a cantaloupe-colored jogging suit with big red strawberries splashed everywhere.

When she and Norma Sue continued their animated discussion about the jukebox, Sugar realized this was an ongoing debate. They were a hoot. Life wasn’t going to be boring with them around.

Adela, seemingly oblivious to her friends’ argument, slipped into a nearby booth and patted the seat beside her. Sugar kept her eyes and ears on the floor show as she sat down.

Their movements brought Esther Mae up short, and she shook her red head. “Sorry, we tend to lock horns about that jukebox, but don’t pay us any mind.” She slid into the seat across from Sugar, and Norma Sue did the same. “We’re more interested in hearing all about you. Everything.”

Adela smiled. Sugar knew from the papers that she was Sam’s wife, and the one who’d originally come up with this unusual way to save her dying town. She was a doll, with electric-blue eyes made brighter by the pixie-cut, snow-white hair that perfectly framed her face. She was elegant and serene, and a complete contrast to her friends. Not that she was shy; Sugar didn’t get that impression at all. Just composed, and unruffled.

She patted Sugar’s arm with a delicate hand. “Don’t look so worried, dear, we’re not going to give you the third degree,” she said, a gentle smile creasing her face. “Are we, girls?”

Norma Sue and Esther Mae didn’t look to be in total agreement on that, but they nodded.

Haley had pulled up a chair at the end of the booth, but didn’t seem interested in adding to the conversation. She was clearly content just watching them. Her eyes twinkled and Sugar studied her with interest. The real-estate office where they’d worked before had been very stressful. With so many properties to be handled, and with so much money at stake, that was to be expected. Sugar knew it had been one of the factors that sent Haley running back to Mule Hollow. She’d told Sugar the people there were good, genuine folks who cared about each other like they were family. Then there were those newspaper articles by Molly. They, too, painted the town in a positive light.

Sugar hadn’t really believed them. Haley and Molly lived here and loved it, so Sugar had figured their information was probably a little biased. It had to be.

Still, as she let her gaze roam around the table and thought about the other women who’d welcomed her, she suddenly wasn’t so sure whether there was a bias or not.

Could Mule Hollow really be as nice as it seemed?

She was still pondering that when Sam came out of the back. A spry man with a brisk, bowlegged gait, he looked as if he might have been a jockey in his younger days. He held out his hand right away. “How do.”

Sugar slipped hers into his and almost flinched. What a strong grip! “How. Do. You. Do,” she managed to reply.

Grinning, he released her hand and rammed his fists on his apron-covered hips. “What can I bring ya?”

How about an ice pack? she wanted to say, but ordered a glass of ice water with lemon instead. Everyone else ordered tea and coffee.

“So, give us the scoop. Haley here already told us you’re an aspiring actress,” Norma Sue said.

“Technically, she already is an actress,” Haley clarified.

“In anything we would know?” Esther Mae leaned forward on one elbow. “I just love the movies.”

Sugar hesitated, thinking of all the films she’d almost had a recognizable part in. Or the ones she’d had a decent part in, only to have her scenes end up on the cutting-room floor. God had put this dream in her heart, but it hadn’t been easily attainable. “Well, I’ve actually done more commercials than movies you might recognize. I did a Folgers commercial and—”

Esther Mae slapped the table and her eyes went wide. “You did an insurance commercial—the one where the gal fell out of the hot-air balloon! That was you, wasn’t it?”

Here it went. “Yes, ma’am, it was me.”

The redhead slapped the table again. “I knew it. That was a funny commercial. Why, the way you sort of flipped and dived out of that basket…” She was overcome with chuckles, and began to wave her hand in front of her face as she tried to get ahold of herself. “I still nearly split a gut, thinking about the way you looked. Your face was stretched back by the wind, sort of flapping—”

“That was you?” Norma Sue shrieked.

Sugar nodded. She hated that insurance commercial. Hated knowing that was all anyone knew her from. That after all of her hard work, it was her most memorable moment. At least in the coffee commercial she’d done some real acting, and not just physical comedy. It was depressing. But that was going to change. It was. And besides, actors got their start in commercials—even stupid commercials—every day.

“I’ve seen that ad. You were funny,” Adela said, as Sam returned with a tray of drinks.

“So tell us about your plans,” Norma Sue urged. “Haley said you want to start an actual acting troupe. A theater of some sort.”

“Yes.” Sugar sat up, energy surging through her just from thinking about it. “I want to do a summer stock–type production. I think it would be great to have both acting and singing in it. Have you ever been to Branson, Missouri? I’m thinking more along the lines of a play, but those shows inspire me to think some singing cowboys would be great. Haley told me about the wonderful community center you have, and I thought it would be the perfect place to start a show. I want something that runs week after week. One that could draw attention to the town and to me. I need some great reviews that Hollywood will pay attention to. You know, so I can get that breakout part I so desperately need in order to succeed.”

Norma Sue looked thoughtful.

“You came to the right spot. We have some very talented cowboys in our town!” Esther Mae exclaimed. “Bob Jacobs, Molly’s husband, sounds like Tim McGraw. He’s just fabulous. And there’s more, too.”

Norma Sue and Adela shot a look at each other. “Is something bothering you?” Sugar asked.

“We have some folks here who don’t want anything to do with getting on stage,” Norma stated. “We leave them alone.”

Okay, Sugar thought, wondering about the odd statement. Suddenly, Haley set her tea down, drawing all eyes to her. “I just realized we might have a problem. This show would run every weekend, right?”

Sugar nodded. “To get a buzz going that could draw some major attention, I need to do at least three shows a weekend. If I could get it together by the first week of August and carry it on through October or maybe November, that would be a good run.”

Norma Sue frowned. “This is a problem.”

“Oh, dear,” Esther Mae said. “It certainly is.”

Okay, they’d successfully put a fireball in the pit of her stomach. Sugar looked at Haley, then back at the ladies, waiting for someone to tell her what this problem was.

“You see, dear—” Adela looked at her kindly “—our community center is used for much more than just plays. We have wedding receptions there and various other town activities. For instance, Pete’s Feed and Seed hosted a one-day seminar there last Saturday for all the ranchers. One of the big feed companies was introducing a new grain or something. So if we have your show going on there every weekend, it would displace all the activities we might otherwise schedule.”

Talk about a kink in a good plan. “I hadn’t thought about that.” Sugar’s mind whirled as she contemplated this obstacle. “I should have, though. I just got so carried away with the idea,” she groaned.

“Now, now, don’t give up.” Esther Mae turned serious. “There has to be a way.”

Think, Sugar. Think. “A barn!” she exclaimed, instantly pushing the gloom back into the shadows. “They called summer stock ‘strawhat’ because most of them were performed in adapted barns. So all I need is a barn. And then some cowboys.”

The table erupted with rapid-fire exclamations of relief and agreement. Discussion ensued about what attributes this barn should have. Everyone agreed it needed to be big and close to town. And most important, it couldn’t be one that the owner was using.

“Plus the rent would have to be dirt cheap,” Sugar added. She had to be frugal. “At least until we see how it takes off.” She was going for broke, praying that God was going to work this out for her. She was stepping out in faith, trusting that this was where she was supposed to be. “Better yet maybe I could talk the owner into some kind of partnership.”

Norma Sue frowned. “There aren’t that many barns close to town. The only one I can think of not being used is Ross Denton’s. And that’s not good.”

Esther Mae’s smile faded. “It sure isn’t.”

“Why not? If he’s not using it, then what’s the problem?” Despite their frowns, Sugar felt providence kicking in again. It had to be, because Ross was the only cowboy she’d met so far and just look how he was working into her plan. That couldn’t be a coincidence. It was amazing, actually. But even Haley appeared hesitant. “What?”

“Ross doesn’t want anything to do with entertainment,” Esther Mae said.

“And we let him be.”

More than a little confused, Sugar glanced at Norma Sue. “I don’t understand. He seemed more than pleasant today when I met him.” She thought about the cowboy’s flirting. “Besides, he told me that if there was anything he could do for me, to just call.”

The ladies didn’t seem convinced.

“Haley, what’s up?” Sugar asked.

“I really don’t know everything. He didn’t live here when I was a child. I’d actually forgotten all about his ties to Branson.”

“Ties to Branson!” Sugar exclaimed. “This is just getting better and better.” Why, if he had ties to Branson, he might be able to help her with more than just letting her use his barn.

“But he came here because he was burned out from being in the spotlight,” Adela said, immediately getting Sugar’s attention. “His family on his mother’s side still has a successful show there. Ross was part of that. But you see, he gave it all up six years ago and came here to the ranch his father’s family left him.”

Norma Sue nodded. “He came here wanting nothing to do with singing or performing. All that boy wants to do is ranch, and find a good woman to build a quiet life with here in Mule Hollow. We’ve respected his wishes all these years.”

“That’s right,” Esther Mae interjected. “We feel kind of protective of him.”

Despite what they were saying, Sugar’s adrenaline had started pumping. Two weeks ago, she’d received a rejection for a role in a movie that her agent had thought she was a shoo-in for. It had been the worst day of her life. All the optimism that kept her going had gone up in smoke. The horrible self-defeating voice in the back of her head that she’d been trying to ignore had started up again telling her to lay her dreams down. Lay them down? How could she? And then Haley had called and asked her to take a break and come out to Mule Hollow. At that very moment Sugar had been drowning her sorrows in a bucket of ice cream and watching Paul Newman’s story on the Biography Channel. He’d got noticed by Hollywood while he was in a summer-stock production. Inspiration had hit, and Sugar realized that the tiny Texas town might be just the place God was leading her to go. That it wasn’t God’s voice in her head telling her to forget her dreams. And now here she was, with even more proof that providence had led her here. She smiled from her heart. “Ladies, don’t worry about anything. Just tell me where this perfect barn is and I’ll take care of the rest.”

First thing tomorrow, she’d go out there and see the place. Then she’d give Ross Denton a call. Yes, indeed, things were looking good.

Chapter Three

The sun hadn’t come up yet when Ross walked toward Sam’s Diner the morning after meeting Sugar Rae Lenox. He glanced at the second-story apartment a couple of doors down and wondered if the sliver of light he could see through the curtain meant she was awake. He liked her. Pure and simple. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had caught his interest so completely, and he wasn’t planning to waste any time before getting to know her better.

Of course, it was too early to go knocking on her door, so he headed on into Sam’s for breakfast. Unsurprisingly, he wasn’t the first customer. Applegate Thornton and Stanley Orr were, as usual, Sam’s first clients of the morning. The two old men were already deep into their morning checkers match. Haley was Applegate’s granddaughter, and Ross didn’t think there had ever been a prouder grandpop. He wondered if App knew Sugar.

“Mornin’, fellas,” he said, heading toward the counter.

“What’s good about it?” Applegate grunted, staring at the board.

“Don’t pay no mind to him,” Stanley told Ross. “He jest has a burr in his saddle this mornin’. ’Cause he’s plain loco.” The last few words were said louder, obviously as a footnote to some conversation they’d been having before Ross walked in.

Both men usually spoke louder than needed, since they both wore hearing aids. There was an ongoing debate among the local cowboys whether either of them really needed a hearing aid, or whether they were using them as an excuse to talk loud whenever they wanted, and listen in on everyone else’s conversations by pretending they couldn’t hear. That lack of hearing sure seemed convenient at times.

Applegate frowned, his thin face drooping into its perpetual cascade of wrinkles. “I’m tellin’ ya it works. I saw this woman on one of them late shows last night, and she was tellin’ all kinds of stuff about body language. It made good sense.”

“It’s all crazy,” Stanley grunted. “You can’t tell me you know just from watchin’ a man pull up his socks that he’s smitten with a gal.”

“This here highfalutin’ woman said it was true. That and some other stuff.” Applegate looked up as Ross sat down at the counter. “Ross, like I done told Stanley and Sam, this body-language expert said that if a man is talkin’ to a woman and he reaches down to pull up his socks—well, that right thar is a sure ’nuff sign that he’s smitten.”

“Ross,” Stanley said, pausing to spit a sunflower husk into the spittoon. “You ever reach fer yor socks when you was talkin’ to a female? I never did.”

Ross wasn’t too sure he wanted to be in the middle of this conversation. “Well, no sir, not that I can remember.”

Stanley nodded. “See thar? Hogwash. That’s what that is.”

Applegate scowled and turned red. “You had to see it. That woman made it all sound perfectly legitimate.”

Ross couldn’t imagine he’d ever feel the need to pull up his socks while talking to a woman, not even yesterday, when he’d been talking to Sugar Rae Lenox. And if ever there was someone who had him “sure ’nuff smitten,” she more than fit the bill.

Sam came out of the back, snagged a cup and set it down in front of Ross. “Mornin’ to ya, Ross.”

“Mornin’, Sam.”

“Those beavers still chawin’ down your trees and damming up your creek?”

Ross shook his head in disgust. “They can cut down trees faster than a logging crew. I’m heading back out there in a few minutes and I’m afraid to see what else they’ve done. Not only that, I had tractor trouble again yesterday and I didn’t get my hay cut.”

“That ain’t no good.”

“No sir, it sure isn’t.”

The door swung open and Clint Matlock walked in, followed by a handful of other wranglers. Sam snagged five mugs, one on each finger, slapping the first down on the counter as the rancher took a seat beside Ross.

“How’s it going, Clint?” Sam asked, filling the cup.

He yawned. “Late night. Thanks for this, Sam. I already drank half a pot at home. But nothing has a kick like your coffee.”

“That’s my special blend. I stick my ornery finger in the water before I brew it.” Sam arched a bushy brow and grinned, then headed around the counter toward the booth of cowboys.

Clint chuckled and took a slow swallow and looked sideways at Ross. “Hear you helped our newest resident move in yesterday. Thought I’d warn you that Lacy came home very inspired by the way you were looking at Haley’s new office manager.”

“I didn’t make any pretense of hiding my interest.”

“That so?”

Ross took a drink of his coffee. “Mmm-hmm. I’ve got to go check on those worrisome beavers that are trying to turn my pasture into a lake, then I’m coming back to town to stake my claim on that one.”

His friend gave him a speculative look. “That sounds promising. You need any help?”

Ross grinned. “I think I can handle asking a girl out on a date all by myself. But thanks for the support, buddy.”

Clint shook his head. “I meant do you need any help with the beavers? I’ll let you do your own romancing. Whether Lacy and the other women of Mule Hollow let you alone is a whole other ball game.”

Ross wasn’t worried. “I don’t plan to give them enough time to get an organized matchmaking plan in order. I’m sure once they see I’m already matching myself up, they’ll sit back and let me alone. They’ve never tried to fix me up before.”

Clint cupped his coffee and breathed in the aroma, looking at Ross over the brim. “They only leave couples alone when they don’t really see anything special between them. If, however, they see lasting possibilities they will watch carefully and tweak as necessary.”

“Did you just say ‘tweak’?”

Clint grimaced. “’Fraid so. Obviously, up to this point, my friend, you haven’t had ‘tweak potential.’ But Lacy saw something yesterday, and all that may be about to change.”

“Hey,” Stanley called, looking up from his checkers. “Maybe she saw him reach fer his socks! App here thinks that’d be the way to knowin’ who’s smitten and who ain’t.”

Applegate scowled. “I’m tellin’ ya that woman last night on Leno made sense. She had more degrees tagged onto the end of her name than Liz Taylor’s got ex-husbands, so she should know.”

Stanley jumped two of his checkers and grinned impishly, making Ross wonder if he was picking on App to distract him from the game.

“Don’t ask,” Ross said, shaking his head when Clint looked at him. “App watched something on TV about body language, and he figures he’s got it all figured out.”

“So did you reach for your socks?” Clint asked with a chuckle.

“Might as well have, from what we heard,” App said.

“You two need to take your act on the road,” Ross teased.

“You think yor family would take us on?” Stanley asked.

“Are you kidding? They’d snap you two up in a minute. Y’all could give ole Homer Lee a run for his money.”

Applegate grunted. “I’m bored stiff sittin’ here lookin’ at Stanley every day, but you couldn’t pay me enough ta git up on a performin’ stage.”

Ross took a drink of his coffee, remembering all the years he’d spent on stage. “I couldn’t agree more. I just thought I’d offer. A good comedic act can always find an audience.”

Stanley spat a sunflower husk into the spittoon. “I’d pay good money fer App ta stay off the stage.”

That got a laugh from everyone.

Sam topped off Ross’s and Clint’s coffee. “Do you ever miss it, Ross?”

“Nope.” He took a drink, feeling the burn. “Twenty years in the spotlight was more than enough for me. But I could still put in a good word for you two if you want me to,” he said, laying money on the counter and standing. It was time to go to work.

“We might be bored,” Applegate said, “but wild horses couldn’t get us ta leave Mule Hollow.”

Ross grabbed his hat and snugged it down on his head. “You’ve got that right. This is the place to be.”

And it was. He was happy with his life.

He’d started performing on stage at age four, singing with his grandpop. It hadn’t taken long for him to be listed on the marquee as a box-office draw. Even for a little kid, seeing his name up on that sign had been a thrill. He’d been twenty-four when he’d realized he couldn’t do it anymore.

Didn’t want to do it anymore.

His grandpop had been dead for a couple of years, and living his life around two shows a day, six days a week, had started to give Ross ulcers. Living someone else’s dream would do that to a body.

After stepping out on the sidewalk, he strode toward his truck and climbed in. This was his dream. Overseeing the land, the legacy he’d inherited from his dad’s family. Running cattle, building up his ranch, even with broken tractors and irritating beavers included. God had blessed him with great family on both sides of the tree. He’d had a choice of two separate ways of life, but this was the one he wanted to cultivate. This was the one he wanted to raise his kids in.

Backing the truck out, he glanced up toward the apartment where Sugar Rae Lenox now resided. He was living his dream, but he was ready for the good Lord to send him a soul mate. Truth was, he’d had his name up in lights, but the only place he wanted to see it these days was on a wedding certificate.

He just had to find the right woman to sign on with him.

Sugar couldn’t wait to see the barn.

She knew she should ask beforehand, but she couldn’t help herself. The ladies had said it was on the outskirts of town, and she had to view it. Had to know if this would be a place where she might be able to set up her show.

The very idea of putting on a strawhat production of some sort in a real barn excited her more than even the thought of having it in the community center. An honest-to-goodness barn theater added an entirely new element to the project, making her excitement level jump to unforeseen heights.

“Thank you, Lord,” she gasped when she saw the big old barn come into view. The thing was huge. And ancient. And lovely. Simply lovely. For a gal who’d been doubting herself, her dream, her faith, this felt like a sign that God was still on her side. So far everything about coming to Mule Hollow was proving to her that the voice of doubt she’d begun to hear was unfounded. God wasn’t the one whispering in her ear, telling her to abandon her dreams.

Smiling, she studied the building. The rambling place drew her as she yanked the car to the side of the road and switched off the ignition. Feeling as giddy as a child, she scrambled out and hurried across the cattle guard. She was so engrossed in getting a closer look that the fact she was trespassing didn’t cross her mind as she walked down the rutted dirt road. Okay, so it did flit through her head for a second, but she didn’t give it any serious consideration. Ross didn’t look to be the kind of guy who would mind, and besides, she was on a mission.

It was a looming two-story structure with a pitched metal roof. The boards were weathered, the red paint faded to a charming patina that gave it character, like wrinkles on a face. The double doors at the front were at least twelve feet high, if not fifteen. They were also slightly ajar. Sugar hadn’t come this far to stop now. Couldn’t even if she’d felt like it. She slipped inside. And stopped.

As a kid with a weak heart, relegated to a life of sitting on a couch, or in bed between hospital visits and surgeries, she’d become a dreamer out of necessity. She’d lived because of her dreams, because of her optimistic outlook. God had given her life, but he’d sustained her with her dreams. Standing inside the door of Ross Denton’s old barn, she knew this was where those dreams were at long last going to flourish.

If there was such a thing as love at first sight, Sugar had found it. There was a huge space inside. Stalls off to one side stood below a loft that ran across the first third of the building, leaving the rest of the barn open all the way to the rafters. Morning sunlight filtered through windows, letting in a soft glow and making Sugar feel as if she was actually walking into her dream.

Heart pounding, she moved to the center of the barn floor, turning an old five-gallon bucket upside down to sit on. Totally in awe, she placed her elbow on her knee and her chin on her fist as her mind flew free, filling with ideas. This was it. This was the place. No longer was this just a dream.

Oh no, this was a full-fledged done deal. She could picture it all. People laughing, kids clapping.

Reviewers raving…Oh yeah, this was perfect. And Ross Denton was the key to it all. He was the guy that was going to help her make her dream come true.

The last thing Ross expected to see as he drove out from the back pasture was Sugar Rae disappearing inside his barn. For a minute he thought he’d imagined her, but the sight of her unmistakable vehicle by the road proved that his imagination wasn’t playing tricks on him.

Shutting off his truck, he crossed the pasture, more than a little curious to find out what Mule Hollow’s newest resident was up to. Maybe her car had broken down? But why would she be driving around out here at nine o’clock, when her apartment was right above her office, and she’d come to Mule Hollow to work?

At the doors, he peeked inside. She was sitting on a bucket in the center of the barn, obviously lost in thought.

Today, she was dressed in a gauzy yellow dress that draped over her like a tent, with a pink shirt underneath that matched her pink canvas shoes. The outfit was a far cry from the heels and zebra pants of the day before, but still just as interesting. She wasn’t boring, that was for sure.

Wondering what she was thinking, he stepped inside. “Please tell me you missed me already and you came out here looking for me,” he teased.

She shot to her feet with a shriek. “Where did you come from?”

Not the reaction he’d hoped for. “Whoa there, take it easy. I didn’t mean to startle you. I was coming out of the pasture through the woods and saw you entering the barn.”

She blew out a gusty breath. “You wouldn’t have surprised me if I hadn’t been so lost in my thoughts. I love your barn. Do you have any idea how wonderful it is? I mean, can you imagine all the history that happened in here? The square dances and maybe church socials…”

“I like it. There is a lot of history to this place,” he agreed. She was a bundle of surprises. “I didn’t take you as a history buff, though.”

“Actually, I’m not. I just felt this overwhelming connection when I walked in. It makes what I have to propose to you all the more important.”

He smiled at her dramatics and was all ears. “Propose away. You have my full attention.”

Her eyes widened more, if that were possible. “You see, I haven’t come to Mule Hollow just to help Haley. What I really want to do is start up a summer theater. I’m an actress, and I’m looking to find a way to stand out. I need some good reviews to help me land some better parts. And…” she twirled around, arms out “…this is where I think I can do it. Right here in your barn, Ross Denton. And to make it even more perfect, I hear you have some experience in that department. I just couldn’t believe my good fortune when the ladies told me your family has a show out in Branson.”

He groaned inwardly as his heart sank. An actress. Of all the rotten luck. “I don’t entertain anymore.” He sang to his cows sometimes but he wasn’t going to tell her that.

She frowned at him, but didn’t let it stop her. Her forehead crinkled. “Okay, but I need a theater. And, well, I have a limited budget, so I was hoping, since your barn would absolutely be the perfect place, that I could talk you into letting me work out a deal with you. I want to do something on Friday nights and maybe twice on Saturday, and the ladies said that would take too much time from the community center for me to run the show there. It would knock out too many other things, since I would practically be taking over the place. I completely understand. And it’s just fine, since I love your barn. This is the place I’m supposed to be. I can feel it. Have you ever just…” she paused, with the most hopeful expression on her face “…you know, just known when something was right?”

She blinked her big eyes expectantly, and his heart sank lower still. Feeling his frown all the way to his toes, he scooped his hat off his head and tried to gather his thoughts. This was not good.

When he didn’t say anything, she plunged back in. “I was already thinking of trying something similar to the way they run shows in Branson, so just imagine my excitement when I learned you had experience. But don’t worry, I’m thinking smaller.” As she rattled on, her voice filled with renewed excitement.

His heart hit rock bottom. “I’m sorry, Sugar, but the answer is no,” he said, and before he did something stupid and said yes, he spun on his heel and stalked out of the building.

Chapter Four

“Wait!” Sugar called after Ross, but he just kept on walking. She couldn’t believe this. What had happened to the nice Mr. Flirtatious from yesterday? She hurried out of the barn.

“Stop,” she demanded as she chased after him. “I don’t understand your attitude.”

“Look, Sugar,” he said, stopping so quickly she almost ran into him. “I never participate in any of the shows they put on here in Mule Hollow because I don’t do that anymore. And I don’t want it happening on my property. I’m sorry, but the answer is no. And it won’t change.”

Sugar waved a hand toward the barn. “But it’s just sitting there. It doesn’t even look like you use it.”

“That doesn’t matter. You’ll have to find another barn. The answer is no.”

Watching him walk away, Sugar was almost at a loss for words. Almost. “C’mon, Ross. Give me a break here. I don’t know what your problem is, but I’m sure we can work it out. I’m starting auditions pretty soon. I need a place. Work with me here.”

He spun, as quick as a gunslinger. She immediately got a visual of him on stage.

His brows creased and she felt a bit of hope, so she smiled encouragingly at him.

“When exactly are you planning on working for Haley?”

“From ten till five, Monday through Friday. The rest of the time is mine to do with what I want. And what I want is to set up an old-fashioned strawhat production.”

“Well, good luck finding another place. Really. I mean that. You want a ride to your car?”

“What?” The man couldn’t be serious. “No! I don’t want a ride. I want your barn.”

His jaw tensed as their locked gazes held. The air crackled with challenge. And attraction—though Sugar doused that quickly enough. The man could help her if he wanted, and instead he was being a pigheaded oaf! What a disappointment he was. She glared at him.

“Look, don’t be stubborn. Hop in and I’ll drive you. I wouldn’t feel right leaving you standing there. I don’t want you getting hurt out here on my property.”

Now he was back to being Mr. Chivalrous! Sugar took a deep breath and prayed for patience. “I wouldn’t want to put you out, cowboy,” she snapped, and walked away from him down the rutted path, her dress mushrooming with each stomp of her feet. At the sound of his truck starting, she walked faster, regaining her composure as she went. If he thought she’d given up, he was mistaken. She just had to figure out the right way to make a comeback…and she would. After all, she was Sugar Rae Lenox. The comeback kid.

He drove up behind her in the big truck, but made no attempt to go around her, and she made no move to get out of his path. He followed her until she walked across the cattle guard, and then paused behind her once she reached her station wagon. Gritting her teeth, she smiled sweetly at him, waved, then climbed behind the wheel and slammed the door.

She noted with satisfaction that Ross wasn’t smiling as he drove off.

Good. Maybe his conscience was starting to work on him.

Before she drove back to town, she glanced back at her barn. God was surely smiling on her to have provided such a perfect place for her strawhat production. On that note, she would keep thinking positively. Ross would come around.

He just didn’t realize it yet.

“Why didn’t you fellas tell me she was an actress?” Ross asked the next morning. He was in a foul mood as he sat at the counter at Sam’s, nursing a cup of coffee. The disappointment in Sugar’s eyes the day before hadn’t set well with him. Turning her down—well, really, telling her flat-out no—had been his automatic reaction. A gut reaction. And though it was the only answer he wanted to give, he wished he’d said it a better way.

But no was still no, any way you said it.

Especially when it came to him and entertainment. Still, the look on her face had driven him from his bed this morning and to Sam’s so early that he’d beaten the old-timers.

“We thought you knew,” Applegate said. “Ain’t you heard my Haley Bell talk about her friend the actress?”

“No, App, I haven’t. I don’t have my finger on the pulse of the community like you do,” he snapped.

“I didn’t think ta tell you,” Stanley said as he sat down. He plopped a handful of sunflower seeds in his mouth and started placing his red checkers on the board, ignoring Ross’s glare. “Does it bother ya that she’s an actress?”

Sam came out of the back and set a plate of pancakes in front of Ross before he had a chance to answer. He liked to eat sweets when he was stressed.

“So does it?” Sam asked.

Ross looked from him back to the checkers players, glad they were the only ones in the diner. “Yes. It does. Frankly, I liked this girl.”

“So, what’s her bein’ an actress got to do with that?” Applegate asked.

“I’m not looking to date a woman just to be dating her. I’m looking for a wife. She’s an actress. She’s got one thing on her mind and that’s getting her name up in lights.”

“So yer holdin’ that aginst her? It ain’t like she ain’t got a good reason,” Applegate grunted.

“That’s right,” Stanley huffed. “Tell him, App.”

Ross’s curiosity got the better of him and he set his coffee down. “I’m all ears, App.”

“Me, too,” Sam said.

“Haley Bell told me that Sugar was a real sick little girl. She was one of them thar preemie preemies or something like that. You know, one of them really tiny premature babies. I thank she weighed about two pounds or somethin’. Can you just imagine that? Anyway, she was a fighter, but it took blame near her whole childhood fer her ta get healthy. She had somethin’ wrong with her heart, among other thangs. Had a ton of surgeries and spent a lot of time in front of the television. Said them act’rs helped keep her going.” He looked at Ross from beneath caterpillar brows. “No wonder she’s got her heart set on bein’ one.”

The room was silent. Ross sat for a moment and took it all in. Then pushed the untouched pancakes away and stood up to go. He needed to think. “Thanks for telling me that, Applegate. It doesn’t change my mind…about anything. Trying to date her or letting her have my barn. But at least I understand her a little better.”

As he laid his money on the counter, he could tell by their scowls that they didn’t like his answer, but he couldn’t help it. Really, it would be better for Sugar if he didn’t give in. The woman couldn’t understand what she was trying to accomplish.

Putting on a show was a huge undertaking. His grandfather Dupree, or Grandpop, as Ross had called him, started his show “The Singing Duprees” with little more than a guitar, a need to entertain and a steely commitment to give it his all.

Because of that, Grandpop’s dream came true, and he’d lived to see his grandchildren follow him up on the stage he’d built. It had thrilled his soul. Ross could still remember the look of pride in his eyes whenever they sang a song together in front of a packed house.

As a kid all Ross had known was how proud he was to be singing beside his grandfather. As an adult, he’d grown weary of the behind-the-scenes struggles and the exhaustive amount of determination and commitment it took to keep the show going.

Sugar Rae might be looking at a shorter show schedule, but he didn’t think she knew what would be required of her to get that curtain up each performance. It was a strenuous, locked-down lifestyle. And it was one he never wanted to experience again.

Ranching was hard work, too. It required long days—sometimes seven days a week. But it was a quiet life, and that suited him.

Clearly, it wouldn’t suit Sugar.

He’d talked with her only twice, so realistically, it shouldn’t bother him so much that she’d be leaving.

But it did bother him. And she was leaving; no doubt about it. She had stars in her eyes and leaving on her mind.

The story Applegate had just told him made him even more certain that the passion he’d heard in her voice was real. He’d come across it many times before during his years on the stage. Plenty of actors with Hollywood on their radar came through Branson looking for experience. It didn’t take them long to leave.

He gave Sugar six months, and then she’d be out of here. He’d do well to keep that in mind, because any time he invested in her would just be wasted time. End of story.

Haley glanced over the top of her computer at Sugar. “Those ads you loaded onto the Web site look great. It is so fantastic to have you helping me. I’m a real klutz when it comes to Web pages and that technical stuff.”

“You could learn it. It’s just procedure. Once you learn the ropes, you’re in.”

Haley gave an exaggerated grimace. “Easy for you to say. You know how to do it.”

Sugar rolled her eyes and tried to concentrate on work. “If I can do it, you can, and I’m going to teach you while I’m here.”

Haley laid her pen down. “I know you don’t want me to say this, but I really hope you’ll stay on. It would be good for you and for us. You have so much to offer the community.”

“You know that won’t happen,” Sugar said frankly. She needed to nip that idea in the bud pronto. And truth was, if Ross didn’t come around, there was no reason for her to stick around. She’d made Haley a promise to come help her get things going with the office, but if she couldn’t find a way to help her career, then she was staying in this small town for the absolute shortest time possible.

Haley sighed. “You can’t fault a girl for hoping.”

Sugar couldn’t hold back anymore. “So tell me, what’s the story on this Ross guy? He wouldn’t even listen to what I had to say this morning. He seemed different from the guy I met yesterday—talk about a rude dude. And I know about rude.”

That made Haley laugh, just as Sugar knew it would. Sugar had been notorious for assisting other assistants in the office when it came to people behaving badly. “He didn’t know you were an actress. I’m honestly confused by all of this, too. I really don’t know him all that well, and had completely forgotten about his ties to Branson. No one ever talks about it anymore. I think his family comes to visit him some, but they have a really tight schedule and can’t get away that often.”

“Still, what’s it going to hurt the guy to at least consider it? Mule-headed, that’s what he is. And selfish.”

“Will knows him better than I do. Maybe I need to invite you and him for dinner. We can soften him up. What do you think? It’s worth a try.”

Sugar pulled open her top drawer, plucked a green gumdrop from the bag stored there and bit it in half. She chewed on one half and squished the other between her fingers as she thought over her strange encounter with Ross. “He’s going to soften up. I’m going to hound him until he does. Too much is at stake here. I have to have his building.”

“Are you going to destroy his resistance like you just destroyed that poor piece of candy?” Haley asked, a smile in her voice.

Sugar zoned in on the small blob of green goop. “Ack! Disgusting! What was I thinking?” She shook her hand over the trash can, but it wouldn’t come off. Grabbing a tissue, she wiped it away. “There. Okay, back to the point. The man will come around.”

“How do you know?”

“Because if I have to talk him into it, I will. I’m angry at him right now, but he really does seem like a nice guy. A little moody, but I’m sure that when he sees the show will be good for Mule Hollow, he’ll give in. I’m going to calm down and pray about it.”

“I’ll pray, too. I just can’t help thinking God has a plan here.” Haley studied her. “This could be very interesting,” she said at last. “Ross might not be as wimpy as you think.”

“Don’t you laugh, the man will surrender. I promise you,” Sugar warned, aware of the smile she was trying to control.

Haley held her hand up in surrender. “I believe you. Remember, I’ve seen you in action. So when are you going to start auditions?”

“I’m going to print up a flyer for Sam’s and the feed store, and get things going on Saturday. And since you’ve taken over booking the community center, I was hoping I could use it for rehearsal. Thanks to my sweet grandmother I have money stashed away that will finance this venture, if I’m frugal.”

“You can use the community center for the auditions and for rehearsal. We’ll work something out. I’ll also do a sponsorship to help with the cost. After all, this is going to be a great attraction—I really do believe in you, Sugar.”

Sugar suddenly felt like crying. “Thank you,” she said softly. “That means more to me than you know.”

Haley smiled as if it was no big deal, but it was to Sugar. As she was growing up, her parents had seemed to believe in her dream to be an actress, but when it came time for her to head out to L.A., they’d changed their tune. Only then did she find out that they’d supported her dream as a means to help her make it through her illness. They’d thought she’d grow out of it.

She told herself that it didn’t matter, but it did. Having someone believe in you was important.

But proving wrong those who didn’t believe in you could also be great motivation.

It was almost closing time on Saturday afternoon when Ross parked in front of the feed store. He needed to grab some more wire from Pete’s, but found himself heading toward the real-estate office instead, despite his determination to stay away. No matter how many times he went over it in his head, he still felt like he owed Sugar some sort of explanation for his abrupt behavior on Wednesday morning.

He wasn’t at all sure what kind of welcome to expect as he opened the door and stepped inside.

“Hey, cowboy!”

Her greeting both startled him and made him wary at the same time. “Hey yourself,” he said, moving cautiously into the room.

“You’re just the man I was hoping would walk through those doors today.”

“I am?” He was immediately suspicious.

“Oh yeah. How’s my building doing? You know I’m holding auditions tonight?” Her eyes were sparkling. “I’ve been monitoring the visitors I’ve run into over the last couple of days, and I’m feeling more optimistic by the carload. There’s been a real eclectic mix of folks. College girls looking for cowboys, weekend browsers shopping at Ashby’s dress store, and even older couples just hanging out. I’ve been polling everyone about why they came to town. Most of them say it’s a pleasant day trip. These kinds of people will make a perfect audience when I put my show on in your lovely barn.” She was beaming at him when she finally finished.

He wasn’t sure whether to be irritated that she hadn’t given up on his barn, or amused. “About that—I thought I’d come in here and try to explain myself a little better. There was no excuse for me to turn you down so callously.” It was true, he’d concluded. He could have turned her down without being so abrupt.

She waved off his apology. “I’m sure you had your reasons. As I’m also sure that, now you’ve had time to think it over, you’ve come to your senses and decided to go into partnership with me on my show.” Grinning, she rested her chin on her palm and studied him.

He laughed at her blatant tactics. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that.”

“Nope. I only want you to give me the use of your barn.” She batted her eyes at him. “Just say yes. It’s easy.”

He was in danger here.

“I promise you,” she continued, “people will come out to see my production. We’ll do a few skits and some singing, and oh yeah, did I tell you I need a hero? You’d make a great hero.”

Man, she really didn’t take no for an answer! He liked that about her and found himself wanting to say yes. But that wouldn’t be fair to either of them. Still, she was persuasive. What red-blooded American man wouldn’t want a woman to think he’d make a great hero? Too bad they were on two different life paths, he reminded himself.

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