Randall Pride
Judy Christenberry

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Judy Christenberry has been writing romances for fifteen years because she loves happy endings as much as her readers. A former French teacher, Judy now devotes herself to writing full-time. She hopes readers have as much fun reading her stories as she does writing them. She spends her spare time reading, watching her favorite sports teams and keeping track of her two daughters. Judy’s a native Texan, but now lives in Arizona.

Contents

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 One

Toby Randall drew a deep breath as the huge house came into view. Home. Like the man without a country, Toby felt as if he’d finally been pardoned.

He hadn’t told his parents he was coming. Or even more importantly, that he wanted to stay…if he could.

When he’d received that last e-mail from his mother Sunday afternoon, she’d passed on the Randall family news, as usual. It had only taken one sentence to change the direction of his life.

A shout brought him out of his thoughts.

“Toby!”

He recognized his baby brother Josh’s voice from telephone calls home. But the gangly figure jumping up and down must’ve grown a foot since he’d last seen him.

Toby waved through the open window. After waving back, Josh turned and sprinted for the house.

By the time Toby had parked, his mother, B.J., met him at the back of his rig, throwing her arms around his neck. “Toby! You didn’t tell us you were coming,” B.J. protested. Since his mother had cut back her hours as a vet when she was pregnant with Josh eighteen years ago, he’d figured she’d be home. It would give him time to visit with her and Aunt Mildred before his dad got home.

“Hi, Mom. Thought I’d surprise you.”

“I’m so glad you did. How long can you stay? Where’s your next rodeo?” She was patting his cheeks, tears in her eyes.

He knew his travels upset her and Mildred. He knew she’d be happy for him to stay here. But she wasn’t the reason he’d stayed away. He hadn’t been ready to explain himself. He hoped he wouldn’t have to now.

“I’m taking a little break,” he muttered, hugging her even closer. “Where’s Aunt Mildred?”

“She and Red are taking their afternoon siesta.”

When he, his mom and Aunt Mildred had moved to the Randall ranch twenty-three years ago, Mildred had taken on the role of housekeeper—or assistant housekeeper to Red, the cowboy who took care of the four Randall bachelors. Toby couldn’t imagine those two being anywhere else, especially since they’d married. They’d also played the role of grandparents to all the Randalls…and him.

B.J. linked her arm with his and began tugging him toward the house.

“Mom, I’ve got to unload my horses.”

“Oh. Of course. I’ll help you. Any injuries?”

‘Cocoa got kicked by a mangy steer, but I think he’s healing all right.”

The two of them unloaded the geldings, and B.J. was feeling Cocoa’s leg when the back door slammed open and Mildred and Red, followed by Josh, spilled out of the house. “Hey, what’s Josh doing at home?” Toby suddenly asked. “Hasn’t school started yet?”

“No. He’s in college now, you know, or will be. He’d be out with your dad, but he’s getting over the flu. I’m making him take it easy one more day.”

By the time B.J. finished explaining, Red and Mildred swept him into a group hug and plied him with questions as his mother had.

“I called Dad!” Josh announced. “He’s on his way.”

“You shouldn’t have interrupted his work,” Toby protested.

“Ha!” B.J. snapped, with a grin. “If Josh hadn’t called him, I would. You know he complains when he doesn’t get as much time with you as we do.”

Toby gave silent thanks for the father who’d raised him—Jake Randall. He never made Toby feel like a second-class Randall. The two of them—Jake, thirty-five, and Toby, four—had become friends at once. The first thing Jake had done after marrying his mom had been to adopt Toby.

He cleared his throat, afraid someone would notice the tears in his eyes. Damn, it was good to be home.

AFTER PUTTING his horses in a corral where they could move around after having been in the trailer since five that morning, Toby followed the others into the big kitchen where he’d spent much of his life. Mildred immediately poured him a cup of freshly made coffee and added a plate of her cookies. He’d loved those cookies as a child, and he still did.

With a casual shrug of his shoulders, Toby asked, “Where is everyone?”

“Aren’t we enough?” Red asked, a teasing glint in his eyes.

“Sure,” Toby said heartily, hoping no one noticed his consternation, and took a big gulp of coffee.

“Your sister is already back in Laramie at school. It’s her senior year,” his mother said, taking pity on him. “You remember Caroline has decided to get a medical degree? She and Victoria and Jessica went down early to redecorate their apartment. And Lizzie is out. The twins and Jim are with the guys getting some work done. Jim and Josh are going down to Laramie this weekend. Drew and Casey are in class.” She looked at Red. “Did I forget anyone?”

“Nope,” Red said, frowning. “I think that covers all the cousins. Nary a baby among them.”

“You mean Casey counts as an adult now?” Toby teased.

“Well, we’re making him use training wheels,” Red said with a big grin.

Mildred added, “Your aunts are all at work.”

“Janie’s out with the guys?” His uncle Pete’s wife, Janie, had been raised on a ranch and pitched in when they needed an extra hand. “You must be shorthanded right now,” Toby said, holding his breath for the answer.

“Actually, we are,” B.J said. “But Janie’s not here. I told you her father died, didn’t I? She—and Pete—are spending a lot of time over there, when they can be spared.”

Toby let out the breath he’d been holding. He’d been afraid they wouldn’t need his help. “Is good help as hard to find as it usually is?”

Red stared at him. “Good help is always hard to find. Too many boys want the glamour of the rodeo.”

Mildred elbowed him.

When Toby had chosen the rodeo life, his parents had let him go without complaint. But he’d known it wasn’t what they wanted for him.

He hadn’t had a choice.

Before he could say anything, they heard boots racing toward the house.

Toby jumped to his feet and ran out to the porch, his gaze eagerly searching for Jake.

“Dad!” he cried and the two men met in a rough embrace.

“’Bout time you got home, son!” Jake scolded.

“I know, Dad.”

Jake wrapped an arm around Toby’s shoulders and started into the house.

“Hey! Don’t we get a hug?” Pete called.

Toby turned and greeted his three uncles, Pete, Brett and Chad, and then his cousins, before they all entered the house. His cousins left to shower before dinner, telling him they’d catch him later. They couldn’t ask their questions about the rodeo scene, buckle bunnies and all, in front of the women.

Toby always downplayed the glamorous part of rodeoing. He didn’t want his cousins out on the circuit.

The men of the family sat down with coffee and cookies.

“How long can you stay?” Jake asked.

“He said he’s taking a break,” B.J. answered for him, a big smile on her face.

Toby cleared his throat as his father continued to stare at him. “Actually, I was wondering…Red said you were thinking about hiring some more help. I wondered if I’d do?”

Stark silence fell around the room. Toby had done well in rodeo. He’d won Cowboy of the Year at Nationals twice. His winnings had provided much more than a nest egg. He could buy his own ranch now. In addition, he’d done a number of ads for jean companies, boot- and hat-makers, and would still be in demand for a number of years, even if he retired today.

He’d realized his request would surprise them, but he’d hoped they would welcome him.

He filled the awkward silence. “If you don’t think I’d be of any use—”

Before he could finish Jake shoved back his chair and pulled Toby into another hug. “Damn it, what do you mean be of any use? Of course we want you, son.”

Since his uncles were just as enthusiastic, the questions Toby had melted away.

He’d finally come home.

BEFORE DINNER, Toby stood on the back porch with his cousins and little brother. The next generation of Randall males were questioning Toby about the lifestyle he was abandoning.

“Man, I can’t believe you’re giving up all that money. And the ladies,” Russ, one of the twins, said. “’Course, you’ll be a legend for a while, but—”

“It’s pretty tiring being a legend,” Toby said. “I missed being at home with you guys. And Mom and Dad.”

“You’re crazy,” Rich, the other twin, exclaimed. “We work like dogs.”

“It’s good, honest work,” Toby said, smiling. He understood the attraction of making a name for yourself. But he’d been there, done that.

“But what about—” Josh, his brother, began, but he stopped when he heard a car coming from the road. “Damn, that’s got to be Lizzie and that city dude she’s going to marry.” The disgust in his voice was clear to everyone.

Toby froze, his attention on the car topping the hill now. But he took note of the others’ attitudes.

“Yeah,” Jim, Elizabeth’s younger brother added, “I can’t believe my own sister would choose a jerk like him.”

Toby looked at the twins, the oldest in the group, but there was no anticipation on their faces.

What kind of man had Elizabeth chosen?

The car pulled to a halt and the passenger door opened. Elizabeth Randall stepped out of the car. His cousin in everything but blood.

Toby stopped breathing as the slim, auburn-haired young woman appeared. Elizabeth had always been beautiful. As a child, her delicate features and glowing skin had drawn attention. But grown up, with a woman’s body, hair halfway down her back, she was stunning.

He drew in a deep breath.

Elizabeth eyed her brothers and cousins as she waited for her escort, until she caught sight of Toby. With a shriek of joy, she ran straight for him. His arms automatically reached to catch her, and he found himself holding her tightly as she rained kisses on his face.

Heaven and hell.

ELIZABETH was almost as surprised by the rush of emotion she felt at seeing Toby back home as anyone else. She’d scarcely seen him since before she left for college. Somehow, her trips home had not coincided with his rare visits. But she’d worshipped him as a little girl. Five years older, Toby had seemed all-knowing. And he’d been her protector. Hers and Caroline’s. Even her brothers and cousins knew better than to pick on either of them, or Toby would find a way to punish them.

That’s what it was. She’d missed Toby not being in her life.

“Excuse me, Elizabeth, but who’s this man you’re hugging?”

The stiff voice belonged to her fiancé. Reluctantly, Elizabeth turned to smile at him. “Sorry, Cleve, but this is my oldest cousin, Toby. I haven’t seen him in years.’

“Good thing,” Cleve muttered even as he extended his hand.

Elizabeth cringed inside. It seemed important to her that Toby approve of her fiancé. No one else in the family did. She’d apologized to Cleve. His superior air, as if his sophistication made everyone jealous, annoyed her. And made her question her choice. But they’d only been engaged twenty-four hours when he’d first met the family. She figured they’d all get along once they got to know each other.

“Kids—” Jake began, opening the back door. Then he started again. “Oh, Mr. O’Banyon, I didn’t realize you’d arrived. Elizabeth, you should’ve brought Mr. O’Banyon through the front door.”

Toby looked at her fiancé and realized the man had no idea he’d been insulted. Family, even friends and neighbors, never used the front door.

Instead, Cleve swelled with importance. Then he said, “It’s all right, Mr. Randall. I’m sure Elizabeth will remember the next time.” Then he added, with disapproval, “She appeared to be excited about this gentleman’s arrival.”

As if Cleve wouldn’t know, Jake wrapped his arm around Toby with a warm smile, and said, “My oldest son.”

Cleve stared at the two of them.

“He doesn’t look like the rest of you.”

Toby said nothing. Their coloring was close, but his eyes were more golden than the warm brown of the rest of the Randalls. Being known as a Randall was the proudest thing in his life. He had worked harder than anyone, been the most accomplished of the Randalls because he’d had the gift of becoming a Randall. He hadn’t ever wanted to disappoint Jake. But he knew he really wasn’t a Randall.

His family, however, immediately responded to Cleve’s comment. They all assured Cleve, in various ways, that Toby was a Randall through and through. It was Elizabeth who ended the protest. She stepped back to Toby’s side and wrapped her arm around his waist.

“Toby is part of my family, a very important part.”

There was a finality in her voice that told everyone within hearing, even Cleve, how Toby fit in the family. For her efforts, she received a beaming smile from Jake and corroborating nods and grunts from the others.

She didn’t receive any appreciation from Toby. He pulled away and moved to the back door. “We don’t want to keep the ladies waiting.” She supposed it was his excuse for his abrupt movement, but it struck Elizabeth in her heart.

Everyone funneled into the kitchen after him. Elizabeth watched him move to his mother’s side, wondering if he’d changed so much in the years he’d been gone. She suddenly remembered the last summer before he’d left for college. She’d caught him kissing a girl at the Fourth of July party. She’d been devastated to see him with his arms around another woman. Her mother had pointed out that he was a young man. She was five years younger, too young to even think about those kinds of activities.

She supposed he’d kissed a lot of women since then.

“Hi, Mom. What’s for dinner?” Toby asked.

B.J. kissed him on the cheek. “We changed the menu just for you. Red is making his chicken-fried steak.”

As Toby smiled at his mother, someone muttered, “How bourgeois.”

Everyone turned to stare at Cleve, and Elizabeth’s cheeks flushed.

Red pokered up. “Boy, if you don’t like—”

Jake quietly stopped him. “Red, mind sliding a rib eye under the grill? That might be more to Cleve’s taste.”

Red muttered something under his breath and turned his back on the guest.

Toby tried to search for a distraction. “Hey, you haven’t set the table. We’ll do it for you.”

Mildred shot him a nervous look. “We’ve already set the table…in the dining room.”

Toby realized the reason for Mildred’s concern. They never ate in the dining room except at Christmas. They were a boisterous, loving family. Dinner was their opportunity to catch up on everyone’s day. Though taught good manners, they all participated in the many conversations flowing around the table.

Toby suspected dinner tonight would be silent and over quickly.

Elizabeth almost pulled Cleve aside then and there and told him their engagement was going to be brief. Like, ending tonight. He might have fit into her life in Laramie, but it was clear Cleve would never be comfortable with her family or vice versa. Her automatic choice came down on her family’s side.

Had she ever really loved him? It made her sound fickle. Maybe if she gave it a few more days.

“Elizabeth,” her mother, Megan, said. “Why don’t you take Cleve into the living room? We’ll have everything ready in a few moments.”

Elizabeth looked disturbed, and Megan added, “Boys, go with Elizabeth and Cleve. It will give you the chance to get to know him better.”

Toby knew he was included in that general direction, but he didn’t want to comply. The last thing he wanted to do was get to know Cleve better. He hoped his cousin’s engagement would be short, and that they’d move back to Laramie at once.

It was his only hope.

AFTER DINNER, B.J. called her daughter, Caroline, to tell her Toby was moving home. Caroline demanded to speak to her oldest brother.

“Finally!” she greeted him. “I was beginning to think my own brother hated me! I haven’t seen you since Christmas. Even then you avoided me.”

“Did not, squirt,” he returned with a grin. “I was trying not to bully you like you used to accuse me of doing.”

“I don’t believe you. What’s wrong? Did you start losing? Are the women turning you down? Did you get too old?”

“Watch it, brat,” he warned his little sister. “When are you coming home?”

“Next Friday. I’m not going to miss a chance to see the famous Toby Randall! My friends will all be so jealous.”

“There you go again, showing no respect. No man’s going to want a sassy woman.”

Her voice changed, turning smooth and silky. “Oh, you’d be surprised, big brother.”

“I’m having a talk with you as soon as you get here, little girl,” he warned.

“Practice on Elizabeth. Get rid of that jerk she says she’s going to marry!”

Toby’s breath caught in his throat, and he coughed. “Elizabeth’s not my sister, honey,” he finally said softly. “It’s not my business if she wants to marry him.”

She didn’t respond, and Toby tried again. “She’s—”

Then Caroline found her voice. “What’s wrong with you, Toby? When Harry Stiller picked on her in the fifth grade, you fixed him. Why can’t you take care of stupid Cleve?”

Toby wanted to hang up. It was a question he didn’t have an answer for. “We’re all grown up, Caroline. We’re allowed to handle our own problems, make our own choices.”

“Well, your choices stink!” she snapped. Then she hung up the phone.

He said goodbye to the buzzing in his ear, so his parents wouldn’t know Caroline was mad at him.

He stood up, unable to remain in the house; he needed some space to breathe…away from Cleve O’Banyon. He edged toward the door.

“Oh, Toby,” B.J. said, “I wanted to talk to Caro. Did she say when she’s coming home?”

“Yeah, Friday,” he said, hoping she showed up in spite of her anger.

He got out of the room, drawing a relieved breath, until a hand clapped him on the shoulder.

Jake had followed him out of the living room. “Going to check on your horses?”

Toby nodded. That was as good a reason as any he could come up with.

When they reached the barn, Jake didn’t look at horseflesh. He turned toward Toby and asked the one question Toby didn’t want to answer. “Son, what’s wrong?”

Chapter Two

Before Toby could come up with an answer—an answer that wasn’t a downright lie, Jake asked another question.

“Have you changed your mind?”

“No, Dad. I’m happy about coming home.”

“You won’t miss the excitement? I want you to know that if you do, we’ll understand.” Jake’s smile was a little wistful, but as always, he was standing back, letting Toby make his own decisions.

Toby smiled. “I appreciate it, Dad, but the excitement of the rodeo pales next to being at home. I’m glad you and the uncles want me here.”

“If it’s not that, then what’s bothering you?”

Damn, Toby thought he’d distracted Jake. “I’m a little surprised by Elizabeth’s choice. But living in Laramie, I guess things are different.”

“Not that much,” Jake said with a sigh. “But you can join the Cleve O’Banyon Hate Club here on the ranch.”

Toby looked at Jake out of the corner of his eye. “Are you a member?”

“Hell, yes. But the president is Chad.”

Toby wasn’t surprised. Chad, as the youngest of the Randall brothers, had always seemed the most impatient. And Elizabeth was his favorite and only daughter.

“Well, as long as she’s happy. I guess Cleve fits in well in Laramie.”

Jake turned to stare at him. “But they’re not going to live in Laramie.”

Toby felt a tremor run through him. “What? Where are they going to live?”

“Here,” Jake said succinctly.

“But—but what would they do here?” Toby asked, frantically hoping he’d misunderstood.

“Elizabeth has already begun her job as kindergarten teacher in Rawhide. Classes started two weeks ago. I thought you knew.”

Double damn! Toby had thought he’d have some distance from Elizabeth as soon as she married. “But what is Cleve going to do? Let her support him?”

Jake sighed. “No. He’s an accountant. He’s going to join Bill Johnson’s accounting firm. It appears business is growing for Bill. He needs help.”

Toby pictured Bill Johnson in his mind. His appearance was that of a “good old boy.” He wore jeans to work every day and had never had his hair styled in his life. But his mind was brilliant.

“Has he met Cleve?” Toby asked Jake grinned. “I know what you’re thinking. They don’t match, do they? He met him this afternoon. I was dying to ask how it went at dinner, but your mama threatened me.”

Toby snorted. His mother didn’t throw any fear into her husband. But Jake listened to her good sense. “Good thinking,” he agreed.

But while he found the information amusing, it didn’t diminish his problem. Of course, they’d live in town and he probably wouldn’t see either of them much since he’d be on the ranch. His breath caught in his throat. “They’re not—not going to live out here, are they?”

“Hell, no, boy. Prissy-pants wouldn’t think of it!” Jake replied, imitating the horror he thought Cleve would show.

Toby laughed. “Where am I going to sleep?” he asked, abruptly changing the subject. He had a lot to think about.

Jake pointed in the direction of a building they’d added a few years ago. They called it the Bachelor Pad since all the male cousins lived there.

“We’ve got room for you in the main house, of course, now that the boys, all except Casey, are out there, but I figured you’d want to be a little independent.”

Toby nodded. “Why isn’t Casey out there?”

“Aw, you know Janie. She considers Casey to be her miracle baby. She’s not quite ready to turn him loose.”

Pete and Janie had had the first of the babies, the twins, but she’d had a hard time. She’d hoped for a little girl the next time, but she never got pregnant. Then, when she’d given up on having another baby, she found herself pregnant just after the twins turned ten. Pete tried to save Casey from her coddling, but Janie was stubborn.

“Hey, Pete might be able to move the boy out there if you’re going to live in the Pad. I’ll suggest it to him. He’s afraid the boy will be timid,” Jake added with a laugh. “I don’t really think he’s got anything to worry about. The twins give Casey a hard time for the same reason.”

Toby grinned. Life was normal at the Randalls.

“Wow,” Toby suddenly exclaimed. “That will leave you with no kids in the house. Won’t that seem strange?”

“Yep. When I started the matchmaking, I never envisioned it would be so successful.” Toby and Jake shared a smile. Jake and his three brothers had lived for a number of years without any women. Jake had married Chloe, who divorced him and tried to take the ranch away from them. “Fear of Chloe” kept them from commitment until Jake realized they’d never have heirs to inherit the ranch unless something changed. So he hatched some matchmaking plots that really worked. “It seems sort of sad, though. I’ll miss having little ones underfoot. ’Course, Elizabeth will live with us until the wedding.”

“Uh, have they set a date?”

“Nope. I asked Chad about it and he said he wasn’t in any hurry. He’s hoping Elizabeth will come to her senses.”

Toby frowned. “The moms aren’t doing any manipulating, are they?”

Jake grinned again. “Naw. Not much.”

“What do you mean not much?” Toby didn’t want Elizabeth to be unhappy, but she’d made her choice. If she was going to marry the guy, they might as well get it over with and marry…and move.

“I guess you don’t remember when Brett got engaged, do you?”

“To Anna?”

“Nope. Anna was here to help Janie deliver the twins, but Brett was in Cheyenne. When he got home and met Anna, he was already engaged to a senator’s daughter. A real, uh…female Cleve.”

“How awful. What did the moms do?”

“Nothing evil. They invited his fiancée to come to the ranch for a visit. And then let nature take its course. Within a couple of days, Brett realized Anna was the lady for him, thank God.”

“They think if Cleve visits the ranch, Elizabeth will see that he doesn’t fit in?”

“How could she help it? So, with you and Elizabeth coming home at the same time, we’re feeling real lucky.”

Toby offered up a smile, but it didn’t match his father’s grin. Real lucky. Oh, yeah. He didn’t think that was what he’d call it.

ELIZABETH had to be up early the next morning for class, so she said goodbye to Cleve on the back porch at night.

“I wish you’d go for a drive with me, Elizabeth. It’s not that late,” Cleve pleaded.

“I can’t, Cleve. I like to get to school early. Some of my babies are dropped off at seven-thirty because of the bus schedule. I don’t like to leave them unsupervised.”

“I don’t know why you took the job. You’ll just quit once we’re married. You won’t even finish the semester.”

Elizabeth frowned. “What are you saying? I have no intention of quitting just because we get married.”

“Of course you’ll quit. I’ll expect you to be my wife.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” This topic hadn’t come up in the two weeks they’d been engaged.

“You’ll keep house, do volunteer work, have intimate dinners, things to promote my career.” He smiled with satisfaction, obviously envisioning their future differently than her.

“Intimate dinners aren’t exactly in style in Rawhide,” she pointed out.

“Well, we won’t be in Rawhide all that long. You can practice for when we move to Denver.” Assuming she was in agreement, he put his arms around her and pulled her close.

Elizabeth shoved against his suit jacket. “Why would we move to Denver?”

“Because I don’t intend to stay in a small pond forever. I’m made for bigger and better things.” He leaned over to nuzzle her neck, and she jumped back, making it impossible to touch her.

“What’s wrong?” he demanded, irritation in his voice. “I’m waiting, just like you asked, but surely I can touch you.”

She couldn’t argue that. He’d wanted her to sleep with him after their third date. She’d refused. He said he’d be patient. But his patience disappeared. Then he’d asked her to marry him and assumed he’d pushed the Go button.

Their engagement had almost ended in half an hour. When he finally understood that she intended to marry as a virgin, he’d reluctantly accepted her decision. But he pushed the limits every time.

Elizabeth held herself stiffly. “Cleve, you’re making some assumptions that aren’t true. I don’t want to move to Denver. I want to stay here.”

“Don’t be silly, Elizabeth. I can’t live on what I’ll be making with this hick Bill Johnson.”

“You don’t like Bill?”

“Who cares if I like him? Don’t tell me he’s another Randall cousin. You’ve got enough of them already. And no more kissing the newest one.”

Elizabeth knew he was referring to the kisses she’d given Toby when she’d first seen him. She didn’t think that would happen again. Toby was too distant. Too—too changed. But she wasn’t ready to accept limitations on her behavior.

“Cleve, I think you’d better go. I’ve got some thinking to do.”

“Okay. I’m going back to Laramie early tomorrow morning, but I’ll call you.” He managed to snatch a brief kiss, seemingly unaware that he’d upset her.

When he’d left, Elizabeth remained on the porch, enjoying the privacy. What had she done? In Laramie, Cleve had seemed sophisticated, well-mannered. He was handsome, smart, active on campus. When he’d proposed, she’d explained that she intended to go back to her home to teach school. He’d agreed.

But apparently his agreement was only temporary. He’d already made plans to move and assumed she’d accompany him.

With a sigh, she turned back to go inside. She’d end the engagement. He wasn’t leaving her any choice.

A sound behind her had her spinning around. In the shadows, she recognized Toby.

“Where have you been?” she asked.

He stepped up on the porch, but he didn’t show any enthusiasm about joining her.

“Out at the barn.”

“Your horses all right?”

“Yeah, fine.”

She couldn’t think of anything else to say. They used to talk nonstop when they were younger. But as she’d noted earlier, Toby had changed. “What made you decide to drop out of rodeo and come home?”

“It wasn’t because I was losing,” he said, “like Caroline said.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Caro was teasing. She brags about you all the time. She has tons of friends because they’re hoping she’ll introduce them to you.”

His cheeks darkened, just barely visible. It was a charming part of Toby. He was unimpressed with his achievements.

She watched him shrug his shoulders instead of answer her original question. “Aren’t you going to tell me?”

“Why should I? We don’t share secrets anymore. You certainly haven’t said why you’re marrying that idiot! I thought you were supposed to get smarter in college, not take leave of your senses.”

The abrupt attack stunned Elizabeth. “How dare you call me dumb! I have a right to my own choices! You don’t even know Cleve.” Why was she defending the man when she had no intention of marrying him? But it was only fair to tell him first, not Toby. Especially not Toby when he was insulting her intelligence.

“I know him more than I ever want to. He’s an accountant and he thinks he’s superior to us?” Toby’s scorn was evident.

“Uncle Brett is an accountant. It’s a perfectly good job.”

“Uncle Brett is a rancher. He does accounting for the family. That’s different.”

“So Bill Johnson is—”

“I’m not arguing this,” he muttered, walking past her to reach the back door.

“What’s the matter? Afraid you’ll lose?”

Her taunting had the desired effect. He pulled to a halt and turned around to stare at her. “You’ve certainly changed, Elizabeth. I don’t remember you being so difficult.”

“I’m surprised you remember me at all, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I used to— I guess you’ve been more interested in…other things than your family.”

He stared at her, his breathing rough. Then, much to her disappointment, he muttered, “I guess I have.”

Before she could say anything else, he disappeared into the house.

A single tear escaped her eye to flow silently down her cheek. She remembered a picture in a cowboy magazine of Toby surrounded by beautiful women putting their hands all over him. She’d hated that picture, told herself it didn’t represent Toby’s real life. He probably didn’t know any of those women. They were just models.

Now she wasn’t so sure.

Maybe he was biding his time before he brought one of them home as his wife. Or maybe he intended to cut a wide swath through Rawhide and the surrounding ranches with all the single women. She immediately started making a mental list of women he would discover.

As she went back in the house to go to bed, she didn’t give her engagement to Cleve a thought. What Toby was going to do was much more important.

THOUGH ALL the male cousins had moved to the Pad, they always ate their meals with the family. Toby figured he wouldn’t have to worry about seeing Elizabeth at breakfast. After all, schools didn’t start until eight in the morning. He’d have been in the saddle for at least an hour by then.

He came into the kitchen the next morning at six-thirty, the normal time, and discovered Elizabeth helping Mildred to set the table.

Mildred sang out, “Morning! So good to see you here, Toby!”

“Hey, now,” Russ called, “no giving Toby more food than us.”

Mildred grinned. “Might be a good idea. I think you’re puttin’ on weight, Russ.”

Though he was tall and lean, Russ pretended to be wounded by Mildred’s teasing. With laughter, the guys sat down. Their fathers would come a few minutes later. Red called it the second wave.

It was the younger Randalls’ job to have the horses saddled when their fathers finished eating. Jake called it the privilege of rank.

“What are you doing up?” Toby asked Elizabeth abruptly.

“I leave for school at seven,” she replied, not looking at him.

“Do Drew and Casey ride with you?” He noticed the two boys weren’t there for breakfast.

“No, they like to wait until seven-thirty before they go. Drew takes a truck.” She didn’t know why it mattered. Drew was a senior, certainly old enough to drive.

Red nudged Toby toward the table. “I’m serving your eggs, boy. Sit down and eat.”

Toby did so, but his mind seemed to be on Elizabeth since he continued talking to her. “In winter it’s going to be dark at seven. I don’t think you should drive alone when it’s dark.”

Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at Toby.

Jim, her brother, spoke up before Elizabeth did. She was too stunned by Toby’s words.

“It’s only ten or twelve miles, Toby. Elizabeth is a good driver.”

“But—” Toby began, but Elizabeth found her voice.

“It doesn’t matter what you think, Toby. If my father doesn’t have a problem with my behavior, I think you can stop worrying.”

“What does Cleve think about it?” he asked.

Since last night he’d called Cleve dumb, she didn’t understand why Toby would care about his attitude. And she wasn’t about to tell him that Cleve didn’t want her to teach at all. Maybe both men were more macho than she’d thought.

“Didn’t your mother work in the winter? I believe she’s gone out in the dark to work on dangerous animals. And Anna goes out to deliver babies at all hours of the day and night.”

“Yeah, but Uncle Brett goes with her after dark,” Rich pointed out.

Elizabeth glared at her helpful cousin.

Red interrupted. “Eat your breakfasts. I hear boots on the stairway.”

“And mind your own business,” Elizabeth muttered under her breath to Toby. She wasn’t about to let him tell her what to do when he wouldn’t even speak to her nicely.

The rest of the meal was a fast scramble as the guys gobbled down their breakfasts and carried their plates to the sink just as the older generation entered the room.

Elizabeth was glad Toby left the kitchen as the others took their places, only exchanging a few words with his father. He wouldn’t discuss her going to school alone with his father, she was sure.

When Toby left the house, Jake sighed with a big grin on his face. “Man, it’s good to have him back home.” He looked at B.J. “Isn’t it, sweetheart?”

“Of course.”

“What did he say last night when you talked to him?” Pete asked.

“How’d you know I talked to him?” Jake demanded.

Pete shrugged his shoulders. “’Cause I know you. The boy’s the biggest success in rodeo in years. I think he was on track for another Cowboy of the Year. Do you think he’s running away from a broken heart?”

Elizabeth kept her head down, but she listened intently.

“Didn’t mention a woman. I think something’s wrong,” he admitted, patting B.J.’s hand as she let a slight gasp escape. “He seems okay with his decision, but I told him we’d understand if he changes his mind. We wouldn’t be any worse off if he leaves again.”

They all nodded, as if in agreement, but Elizabeth had to hold back. She wanted to protest, to tell Jake he couldn’t let Toby leave again. But it wasn’t her business. And why did she think he shouldn’t go away again? She didn’t want to answer that question.

Red brought her out of her thoughts. “I fixed you lunch, Elizabeth. Don’t forget it.”

“I won’t, Red, but I’m going to gain weight if you don’t put less in it.”

“You need some meat on your bones, little girl. Some of those students are bigger than you.”

Elizabeth choked on her orange juice. “Red, I teach kindergarten!”

“But they still have big kids at the school. Those seniors can be difficult.”

Red’s words ended just as Drew, a senior, entered.

Red immediately dished up food for him.

“Maybe you shouldn’t feed Drew so much, Red. After all, he’s one of those dreaded seniors,” Elizabeth said, grinning.

“Hey, what did I do?” Drew asked, watching Red fill his plate.

“Nothing, dear,” Megan reassured him. “Red was concerned that some of you are bigger than Elizabeth.”

Drew snorted in disgust. “You bet we are. We’d all be shrimps if we weren’t.”

Everyone smiled, but Jake added, “Say, Pete, I wondered if you wanted to let Casey move out with the guys now that Toby’s back. He’d keep an eye on him.”

Janie protested at once, but Pete threw him a grateful look. “That’s a good idea.”

Elizabeth thought they were mistaken about Toby watching out for Casey. The old Toby would have, but the new one didn’t seem to care that much…in her opinion. But she didn’t say anything because she knew how badly Casey wanted to be counted as a grown-up.

She’d decided for several reasons she’d better be on her way when the phone rang.

Everyone stared at it. There weren’t many calls in the morning except for emergencies. B.J. grabbed it. She and Anna frequently received those kinds of calls.

With a puzzled look, she said, “Yes, just a minute.” Then she turned to Elizabeth. “It’s for you.”

Elizabeth frowned too as she took the phone.

“Elizabeth, this is Bill Johnson. Is your fiancé there?”

“No, he’s leaving this morning for Laramie. Did you try the motel?”

“Yep. I guess he’s gone.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Well, maybe. Can I speak to you after class today?”

“Of course. I’ll come by as soon as I’ve finished.”

“Good. I’ll—I’ll see you then.”

Chapter Three

Elizabeth wondered what Bill Johnson had to say to her, but she didn’t have a lot of time to think about it. Her morning class consisted of seventeen five-year-olds. If she took her gaze off them even for a minute, they got into trouble. But she loved their energy.

When she did think of something else, her mind seemed naturally to flow to Toby, wondering about his first day working on the ranch. And why he’d come back. Not many people turned down fame and fortune.

She also wondered why he’d changed so much. She missed the Toby of her childhood, her teenage years…until she’d reached the age of sixteen. When she’d cried the last time he’d come home from college, her mother had explained that Toby probably had a girlfriend at school and his mind was on her.

“Miss Randall? Isn’t it time to go?” Davey, one of her brightest pupils, asked, staring at the big clock on the wall.

“Oh, yes, it is. Okay, let’s line up.” Times had changed. The kindergarteners were never released until someone came for them. A number of them rode a small bus to a childcare center nearby. The rest of them were claimed by their parents. Once Elizabeth had delivered each child to a guardian, she had an hour to eat lunch and prepare for the afternoon group. It was smaller because the morning was the preferred time. Most of the children scheduled for the afternoon were the oldest and soon to turn six.

Elizabeth headed for the teachers’ lounge and the refrigerator where she’d left her lunch. Then she settled at the round table. The lounge was filled with cast-off furniture, but it was actually a pleasant room. Just as she sat down, one of the first-grade teachers, also a native of the area, joined her.

“I heard Toby’s back home! Is he going to stay a while?” Abby Gaylord asked, her eyes sparkling.

“News travels fast around here. He just came back last night.”

“I know, but he’s famous. And rich. And the last I heard he was still single.”

“That’s the last I’ve heard, too,” Elizabeth admitted reluctantly. “But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a lady. He’s not acting like himself.”

“Ooh! I bet he has a broken heart! I’ll be glad to console him.” Abby’s gaze was intent on Elizabeth.

“Did you want me to tell him that?”

“No! Don’t be silly. He wouldn’t look at me. Not with you hanging around,” Abby said with a wry smile.

Elizabeth concentrated on her sandwich. “He’s my cousin.”

“Honey, there’s no blood kinship. Everyone knows that.”

Elizabeth’s heartbeat sped up. She’d never admitted to anyone in the family that she’d finally figured that out when she was sixteen. Toby was considered a Randall in every way. For almost a year Elizabeth had held that information close to her heart. Then Toby’s behavior had told her it didn’t matter.

“Do you think he’ll come to the big Halloween party?”

Elizabeth stared at the other woman. “That’s two months away.”

“I know, but we could get him to sign autographs for a dollar and make a lot of money for the teachers’ fund.”

“I can ask him. I’m not sure he’ll be here by then, but I’ll check with him.”

“Thanks, Elizabeth. Or he could have a kissing booth for five dollars a kiss. Then we’d really make a killing.”

Elizabeth ended that idea. “No. Toby wouldn’t like that.” She wouldn’t like it, whether he did or not.

“Okay. Just a thought. But ask him about doing autographs. That would be great. Oh, I’ve got a better idea. We could have a raffle and the winner gets a date with Toby. Yeah, he could do that and the autographs. It wouldn’t kill him to spend one evening with a local lady, Elizabeth. Please ask him.”

Elizabeth didn’t like that idea either. But it was more reasonable than him kissing a hundred women. With a sigh she promised she would.

“Is he still as good-looking as ever?”

Elizabeth was fast developing a headache. “Yes.”

“Come on. Aren’t you going to give me some details?” Abby asked, practically salivating as she waited.

“No. Abby, you’ve known him all your life. He looks the same.”

Abby sighed and lapsed into silence, staring into space.

Elizabeth knew what her friend was seeing in her mind. A tall man, muscular, but rangy, with a singular grace, light brown, almost golden eyes, dark hair, strong features…and a beautiful smile that varied between cocky and sympathetic. The desire to be the center of his universe, to have that smile all to herself, had long been her secret wish.

“How’s your class today?” Elizabeth asked, desperate to change the subject.

For the remaining minutes before Abby’s next class, they discussed work. But when Abby left, the next arrivals wanted to talk about Toby, too. One of the teachers had taught him years ago and always thought of him as that same little boy. At least that was a better image than Toby in a kissing booth.

When she was ready to go home, she checked her calendar for the next day and saw the note she’d written about Bill Johnson. Otherwise, she would’ve gone straight home, her mind focused on Toby.

She drove the short distance to Bill Johnson’s office on the main street of Rawhide. He never used a receptionist or secretary, so she knocked on the open door of his office and he looked up from his desk.

“Oh, Elizabeth, thanks for coming by,” he said, rising to shake her hand. “Sit down, please.”

Elizabeth did so and waited for him to speak.

“Uh, Mr. O’Banyon came in yesterday afternoon, you know. We’d corresponded, of course, and he has excellent skills.” He paused and stared at her.

“And?”

“Elizabeth, I’ve been friends with your family for a long time. I’d do anything I could to help them, but—” He broke off again.

Elizabeth smiled. She realized his dilemma. “You don’t think you can work with Cleve?”

Relief filled his face. “Not just me. My customers—they wouldn’t come back. He, uh, sneers at the way people dress here. He actually made fun of Mr. Holliwell when he came in while O’Banyon was here.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Bill. But deciding not to hire him won’t affect your friendship with my family. Have you spoken with Cleve?”

Bill nodded. “Yeah. He didn’t take it well.”

“I’m not surprised. He thinks he would be an asset to any company.”

Bill looked at her sharply, and she knew she hadn’t hidden her disgust well.

“Uh, well, I appreciate your understanding.”

“Do you still need help?”

He stared at her warily. “Yeah, but—”

“I was going to suggest you talk to my cousin, Russ.”

“Russ is looking for a job as an accountant?” Bill asked, surprise in his voice.

“Not exactly. But he majored in accounting, and I think he’d like to work in town part-time.”

“I had no idea. That’s a great idea! I’ll call him this evening.”

“Mmm, could you wait until next week?”

“Why?”

“I need to talk to my family after I’ve talked to Cleve, and I won’t be able to manage all that until the weekend.” She really felt she should tell Cleve first that she’d changed her mind.

“Okay, as long as you don’t think anyone else would snap him up. He’ll be perfect.”

“How do you know? He might not know enough accounting,” she pointed out.

“Randalls breed true, Elizabeth. There hasn’t been a bad one yet.” His grin was wide and warm.

Elizabeth smiled back. But she realized she might’ve broken that chain if she’d married Cleve and had his children. Why hadn’t she realized that earlier? She stood. “Thanks for your cooperation, Bill. We’ll have everything settled very soon.”

“I appreciate that, Elizabeth.”

DARK WAS STARTING to come earlier, and Toby was glad. His first day back in the saddle took a lot of stamina. He was strong and skilled, but he was tired.

“Good job today, Toby,” his Uncle Pete said, pulling up beside him. “I figure we got a lot more done today with your roping skills.”

“You’re no slouch yourself, Uncle Pete.” His uncle was the only one of the Randalls before Toby who had rodeo experience.

“I wanted to tell you I appreciate you not encouraging the boys to head out for the rodeo, too. Rich has mentioned going several times, but Russ always reminds him about what you said.”

Toby grinned. “I didn’t want them making that their life. It’s too hard, and it can lead them down the wrong path.”

“True. So why did you stay so long?”

Toby stiffened. He hadn’t been prepared for that question. “I wanted to earn enough to pay for my own place.”

“Oh. Have you talked to your dad about land around here? I’m sure he’d be glad to help you.”

“I’m in no hurry.” He’d already decided if Elizabeth and Cleve settled down in Rawhide, he wouldn’t be doing the same. He told himself she’d be married then, but it didn’t seem to affect his hormones.

“Your dad—”

Toby interrupted. “I’d appreciate your not mentioning this to Dad just yet. I want to enjoy being home with the family for a while.”

“Sure thing, boy. Jake loves having you home.”

“I love being here,” Toby returned as they reached the barn, and he caught sight of Elizabeth’s car. She was home. He started trying to stifle the desire that rose up in him. Damn, he only had to know she was there, without even seeing her, to start yearning for her.

After taking care of his horse, he headed for the Pad with Russ and Rich, telling his father he was going to clean up.

“Okay. Red will ring when dinner is ready,” Jake assured him.

With a wave, he walked with the cousins.

“Hey, we didn’t have a chance to ask last night,” Rich began. “You haven’t told us about any of the women.”

“What women?” Toby asked, his mind on Elizabeth.

“The women that chase all the rodeo guys,” Russ explained.

Toby shrugged his shoulders. “There’s not much to tell.”

“Come on, Toby!” Rich protested. “Don’t tell me you’ve lived like a monk all these years.”

Toby knew his cousins would be shocked if he told them how seldom he’d indulged in feminine company…and how dissatisfying those few encounters had been. “Guys, those women are like the ones who hang out in a bar hoping to pick up a man for the night.”

Russ frowned, considering his words. Rich grinned. “Some of them aren’t so bad.”

“Yeah, but do you want one of them as mother to your children?”

Rich frowned then. “Of course not! But one night doesn’t make a marriage.”

“Depends on whether or not you’re lucky, friend,” Toby pointed out. “If you play with fire, you can get burned.”

“You sound like Dad,” Rich protested.

“Uncle Pete is a pretty smart man. Besides, there are some great ladies around here.”

“I haven’t seen you courting anyone,” Rich said. “I think you’re just saving all those models for yourself.”

“Models aren’t interested in settling down.”

“That’s the good part,” Rich explained. “Neither am I.”

Toby chuckled and shook his head. He’d try to knock some sense into Rich’s head later.

“Toby?”

The feminine voice brought him to an immediate stop. He’d recognize Elizabeth’s tones anywhere. Turning slowly, he said, “Yes, Elizabeth?”

“Could I talk to you a minute?”

“How about after I clean up?”

“It won’t take long.”

She had an anxious look on her face, and he couldn’t reject her. So much for being strong. “Yeah, sure. I’ll be in in a minute, guys.”

There was a bench on the porch of the Pad. Without any urging on his part, Elizabeth sat down. She was still wearing the blue-jean jumper and pale blue blouse she’d worn to school that morning. Her blue eyes looked huge.

He put a booted foot on the bench but didn’t sit down. He didn’t trust himself to get that close. “What is it?”

“Uh, I’m supposed to— You’re really staying?”

Toby drew a deep breath, taking in her sweet scent. His hands tingled with the desire to touch her, to press her against him and tell her he’d stay forever if she wanted him to.

But ever since he’d realized, the summer she turned sixteen, that his feelings for Elizabeth weren’t cousinly, he’d fought them. Elizabeth was his cousin, even if not by blood. His father would be horrified if he admitted the truth. And the one thing in life he wanted to accomplish was to make Jake proud. Not shame him.

“Why do you want to know?”

She gave him a funny stare. “But you said—”

“Okay, I’m staying, at least for a while. What do you want?”

“Abby—you remember Abby Gaylord, don’t you?”

“Yeah.” He was getting impatient. It was draining to resist Elizabeth and he was already tired. Who cared about Abby Gaylord?

“She wanted me to ask you— We have the Halloween festival for the area, remember, at school?”

“Yeah!” he snapped, wondering where this was going.

Elizabeth stood and crossed her arms over her chest. “You don’t have to growl at me. I’m asking you because Abby asked me to.”

“What? What are you asking me?” he persisted, trying to sound like a reasonable man when she was driving him crazy.

“She wondered if you’d sign autographs for a dollar and give the money to the teachers’ fund.”

The teachers’ fund? That hadn’t been what Toby expected. “What’s the teachers’ fund?”

“We try to make money each year and give a scholarship to a deserving student. And the rest is used to buy cards, or goodbye gifts, or flowers for funerals, things like that.”

“Are you a member?”

“Of course I am. Will you do it?”

“I don’t usually charge for autographs.”

“But it’s for a good cause.”

With a sigh, he said, “Yeah, okay.” As he took his foot down and turned to go in the Pad, she stopped him again.

“Wait!”

“What? I agreed.”

“I know but—but Abby had another idea.”

He thought she seemed even more reluctant about the second idea than she had the first. Warily, he asked what the second idea was.

“She wants to hold a raffle.”

Toby frowned. “What does that have to do with me?”

“Um…you’re the prize.” She stared at him, wariness in her eyes.

He exploded. “What? I’m not a prize. What are you talking about?”

The door opened and Rich and Russ, fresh from their showers, stepped out on the porch. “Wow, Elizabeth, you must be in big trouble if it takes you this long to convince Toby to get you out of hot water,” Russ said with a grin.

“I’m not in trouble!”

“You sure? You’re still engaged to that, uh, to Cleve, aren’t you?” Rich pointed out.

“That has nothing to do with what we’re talking about.”

“Okay,” Rich continued. “But I was going to offer to help if that was what you wanted.”

“Go away!” Elizabeth shouted at them.

“Why don’t you ask one of them to do the raffle,” Toby suggested. “I don’t want to hog all the fun.”

“What raffle?” Russ asked.

“It’s for the Halloween festival,” Elizabeth explained.

But Toby knew she was in a difficult position. She didn’t want to hurt her cousins’ feelings by telling them they weren’t important enough for the raffle. She shifted her gaze to Toby, as if asking him to get her out of the bind, but he just smiled and waited.

A sudden glint in her eye alarmed him, however. She no longer was looking helpless. “You’re right, Toby. You should all get the same treatment. We’ll have a bachelor auction, and you can all participate.”

“Wait a minute. What do you mean a bachelor auction?” Russ questioned. “I’m not ready to get married.”

“Don’t be silly,” Elizabeth said with a smile directed at Toby. “You’ll each provide a picnic dinner and whoever pays for your picnic will share it with you. It’s the reversal of what women used to do to raise money.”

“You won’t have anyone volunteer for that,” Toby assured her.

“But you’re only committed for a picnic dinner and we’ll raise a lot of money. You’ll do it, guys, won’t you?” Elizabeth asked sweetly, smiling at them. “It’s for a good cause.”

“Aw, I guess,” Russ agreed, “since it’s for a good cause. If Red will agree to fix the dinners for us.”

“I’m sure he will,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “You will, too, won’t you, Rich?”

The second twin nodded, a rueful smile on his lips.

“And Toby? Unless, of course, you feel you’re too important to participate.”

He was ready to wring her neck. She’d trapped him into agreeing with her plan or look like a jerk to his cousins.

“Well, Toby?” she prodded.

“Yeah, sure. Now can I go get cleaned up before dinner is ready?”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll tell Abby you’re volunteering.” She smiled before turning and hurrying to the main house.

“You know, this kind of sounds like fun,” Russ said, grinning. “It saves us the trouble of finding a date, but it guarantees we won’t end the evening alone.”

“Maybe,” Rich agreed. “It depends on who bids for my picnic basket.”

“Hey, if they think Red made the food, they’ll all bid for it.”

“You idiot!” Rich said with a hoot of laughter. “Women don’t care about the food. They just want to jump your bones.”

“Even better,” Russ said. “Right, Toby?”

Toby still had his gaze fixed on the back door of the house where Elizabeth had disappeared.

“Uh, yeah. Right.” He’d even be okay with the idea if Elizabeth were one of the ladies bidding. He’d pray for luck. But she wouldn’t be. She was engaged. Maybe she’d even be married by then.

“I’m going in to shower. Save me some food.”

Chapter Four

Elizabeth had put in a call for Cleve, leaving a message on his answering machine. Unfortunately, his return call came in the middle of dinner.

Elizabeth took the phone from Anna, who had answered, with her entire family looking on.

“Uh, Cleve, we’re in the middle of dinner. Will you be home later?”

“No, I won’t, Elizabeth. Why are you calling?”

“I spoke with Bill Johnson today,” she whispered, turning her back on the family.

“Don’t tell me you’re worried about us making enough money. I’ll take care of you, babe. Or we can get a loan from your dad.”

“Cleve, we have to talk. When can you come up?” She had no doubt about her decision now. The man thought they could live off her parents? Had he asked her to marry him because of her father’s money? Disgust filled her.

“I’ll be up on the weekend. I can’t get away before then.”

“Fine,” she snapped and hung up the phone. She knew it was rude, but she couldn’t talk to him any longer without dropping her bombshell by phone. And that would really be rude.

When she turned back to face the family, they were all staring at her.

Then Megan politely asked, “How is Cleve?”

“Fine,” she said calmly just before the phone rang again. She leaped to her feet and answered. “Hello.”

“Why did you hang up on me? I won’t tolerate that kind of behavior, Elizabeth.”

She sighed. Just what she wanted, more conversation with Cleve. “I can’t talk now, Cleve. I’ll see you Friday.”

“Okay, fine, but I don’t see any point to my coming if you’re going to be rude.”

“Goodbye,” she said firmly, then hung up the phone again.

This time when she turned around, everyone averted their eyes, but Elizabeth knew they were all dying to know what was going on. “Cleve forgot something he needed to tell me.”

“Didn’t sound like a friendly goodbye,” Chad, her father, commented.

She knew her father didn’t like Cleve. Instead of things getting better as they got to know each other, they only seemed to get worse.

“Chad,” Megan reprimanded with a frown, “I don’t think that’s any of your business. I’m sure Elizabeth would tell us if there’s a problem.”

Elizabeth smiled politely and said nothing, keeping her gaze averted.

Before the silence grew too strained, Toby said, “Elizabeth has big plans for the Halloween party this year.”

That topic got the family’s attention, for which Elizabeth was grateful. The twins spoke up at once.

“Yeah, we’re going to be auctioned off,” Russ said.

“Oh, really?” Mildred exclaimed. “Remember when we auctioned off lunches for the church roof fund? Is it the same kind of deal?”

“Uh, yes. The men will bring a picnic dinner and the single ladies can bid on them. To raise money for the teachers’ fund. And Toby, Russ and Rich have agreed to participate.” Elizabeth flashed a grateful smile at the three.

“Hey! What about us?” Josh demanded. “Jim and I should get to sign up for it, too. After all, we’re college men.”

“But you’ll be away at college, Josh,” Elizabeth pointed out.

“We could come home for the weekend.”

Elizabeth looked at her mother, Megan, for guidance.

“It would help raise more money,” she pointed out.

“But you probably should limit it to twenty-one or older,” Chad suggested, “for legality’s sake.”

Elizabeth didn’t know what to say. “I’d better consult with Abby Gaylord before I make any decisions. She’s in charge of our projects.”

“Abby? I should’ve known she was involved in this,” Russ said in disgruntled tones.

“Why do you say that?” Janie, his mother, asked. “Abby is a very nice young lady.”

“Yeah. Too nice,” Rich contributed. “She was always getting us in trouble at school.”

“I didn’t hear about you getting in trouble at school,” Janie pointed out, staring at her sons with speculation in her eyes. “Do you want to explain?”

“Uh, no, Mom. Rich was just kidding. Right, Rich?” Russ added. Then he looked at Red. “Dinner is really great, Red. Did you put something different in the meat loaf tonight?”

Several of the adults, including Toby, smiled. Elizabeth, too, realized Russ was trying to redirect the conversation.

“Is Cleve going to participate in the auction?” Chad asked. He stared at Elizabeth.

“Um, I doubt it. He doesn’t know anyone around here except for the family,” Elizabeth said, again avoiding her father’s gaze.

“It would give him a chance to make new friends,” Jake offered.

His wife protested. “Elizabeth and Cleve might be married by then. Honey,” she added, looking at Elizabeth, “have you and Cleve looked for a place to live?”

“No, not really. I don’t think we’ll be married before Halloween, so there’s plenty of time.”

Elizabeth changed the subject, telling about people asking about Toby coming home, centering the attention on him instead of her.

When dinner was over, Toby volunteered to be in charge of cleanup. Red and Mildred were seldom allowed to do the cleaning. After all, Red was seventy-four and Mildred seventy-one. It was enough for them to do all the cooking.

In spite of the younger guys’ complaints, everyone else began to leave the room. Then B.J. noticed her husband and his brothers were remaining at the table.

“Aren’t you coming, Jake?” she asked.

“Aw, honey, we want to watch the boys, see if they take care of everything. It does our old bodies good to see them working more.”

The ladies all left the room, chuckling.

Once the door had closed, Toby looked at his stepfather. “You don’t trust us to clean up?”

“Hell, boy, I’d trust you with anything. But Chad has something he wants to ask you and, well, I’m supporting him.”

“Us, too,” Brett added. Pete nodded.

Toby frowned, worried about what they were going to ask. He was already trapped into the bachelor auction. He didn’t need any more traps.

Chad cleared his throat. “Boy, you remember how you took care of Caro and Lizzie when you were younger? How those two little girls followed you around, willing to do anything you told them to do?”

Toby nodded, but he was getting a sinking feeling in his stomach. “Yeah, but that was a long time ago.”

“I know it was, but—but I’m desperate.”

“What is it, Dad?” Jim asked. “Drew and I could help.”

“I appreciate the offer, Jim, but I don’t think you and Drew could convince Elizabeth.”

“Uh-oh,” Jim muttered. “You’re right.”

Toby looked at Jim sharply, but he didn’t ask what they were talking about. He was pretty sure he knew.

“Toby,” Chad said, “I want you to talk to Elizabeth about marrying this Cleve. She needs to take some time to think about what she’s doing. The man is a stiff. He doesn’t fit in around here and never will. I think he’s marrying her because he thinks we’ll give him money.”

“Well, he could be right,” Brett said, grinning. “You’d give him money to get lost.”

“Yeah, if I thought it would work. But Toby could talk her out of it. Couldn’t you, Toby?”

“I don’t think—that is, Elizabeth is a woman now. As hardheaded as any of them, Uncle Chad. I don’t think she’d listen to me.”

“But would you just try?”

While Toby was trying to figure out how he could turn down Chad’s plea, Pete said, “Makes me glad I only had boys, even if they are ornery.”

“I think maybe we’re not giving Cleve a chance,” Toby said carefully. “After all, he’s the first one to want to marry into the family. Maybe we’re all over-reacting.”

Jake shook his head. “It’s not that, son. We’d love to have more babies in the family. But his babies? Ugh! I think you should help Chad out here.”

“Dad—” Toby began, but he couldn’t resist his stepfather’s request. With a sigh he replied, “Okay, fine, I’ll try to talk to Elizabeth, but I don’t think it will do any good.”

As if afraid Toby might change his mind suddenly, the older generation fled the kitchen, leaving Toby with his cousins.

“Sucker,” Toby’s brother said. “You know you can’t talk a woman out of love. Into love, maybe, but not out of love.”

“What could I do? You saw their faces. I couldn’t say no.”

“Well, I think—” Russ began when the kitchen door opened.

Elizabeth walked into the kitchen, her eyes fastened on Toby. “Dad said you wanted to talk to me, Toby. What about?”

Damn it, they hadn’t even left the timing up to him. “Uh, yeah, but I need to finish the cleaning up.” At least he could stall until he’d gathered his thoughts.

“Don’t worry about that, Tobe,” Rich sang out, a grin on his face. “We’ll take care of it. Don’t keep Elizabeth waiting.”

Toby turned away from Elizabeth, so she couldn’t see his expression. “Thanks, Rich, I’ll be sure to pay you back.” His expressions conveyed his meaning to his cousin.

Rich stepped closer to his brother. “No need,” he said.

“Oh, yeah, Rich. You know I don’t like to owe anyone.” Toby gave him a fierce smile that wiped the smile off his cousin’s face.

“Elizabeth, why don’t we walk to the barn. I need to see if Cocoa is doing okay after all our hard work today.”

She crossed the kitchen to the back door and Toby followed, frantically trying to think how to approach such a delicate subject.

The night air was cooling these days, ready for the move into fall. Toby took a deep breath. “You warm enough?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m fine. What’s going on? It seemed to me that the others know what the discussion is about. What do we need to talk about? Are you trying to get out of the bachelor auction?”

“No, of course not. I gave my word.”

“Well, then, what?”

Toby stopped by the corral and propped one of his feet on the lowest rail, hanging his arms over the top one and called to Cocoa. “Do you remember when you named him?”

Distracted, Elizabeth reached out to pet the horse when he came near. “Of course. I was thrilled. Is he still your favorite?”

“Yeah. He’s the best ever.” Toby stroked the horse also, until his fingers accidently touched Elizabeth’s. He jerked his hands back. But he figured he’d distracted her from their topic of conversation.

“So what did Dad ask you to talk about? Cleve?”

So much for distraction. It didn’t seem to be his specialty. “How did you know?”

“Because Dad has let me know how disappointed he is about my choice,” Elizabeth stated calmly.

“And that doesn’t bother you?”

“Of course it does! But I also don’t think he’s given Cleve a fair shake. And that’s not like Daddy.”

“Maybe Uncle Chad knows more about Cleve than you do. Can’t you trust your father’s instincts?”

“Do you trust your father’s instincts?” she asked, turning the tables on him.

“Of course I do!”

“Then why did you hit the rodeo trail? You knew he didn’t want you to, didn’t you? We certainly all realized it. He and B.J. were depressed for months after you left.”

“That’s not fair, Elizabeth. Dad and Mom may not’ve wanted me to go, but there was nothing dangerous about it.”

Elizabeth laughed, but the sound didn’t have any joy in it. “You think rodeoing isn’t dangerous? I beg to differ. What about that man who died early this year because he landed on his head and had a concussion? Do you think his family would say there was nothing dangerous about rodeoing?”

“He was a beginner. Didn’t know what he was doing.”

“You were a beginner, too.”

Toby sighed. He’d known this would be a disaster. “I was experienced. We’d done a lot of rodeoing ever since I was a kid. And we’re not here to discuss the rodeo as a career choice. We’re here to discuss your choice for a husband. Wasn’t there anyone better?”

“Oh, I see, your theory is I just reached out and blindly selected the first man in sight, and it happened to be an intelligent, handsome man. Poor me.”

“Your description is inaccurate. I’d say you grabbed a man who is arrogant, insensitive and stupid.”

“Cleve made straight As and Bs,” she protested hotly!

“I made straight As, period.” He glared at her.

“Well, everyone can’t be perfect like Toby Randall!”

Toby turned his back to her. The temptation to grab her and kiss any thoughts of Cleve out of her head was too tempting. “I told your dad this wouldn’t work.”

“What wouldn’t work?”

“He thought since you used to follow me around, you’d listen to my opinion on your choice.”

“I followed you around when I was a child. And if I remember correctly, I stopped following you around because you made it plain you wanted me to go away so you could neck with your girlfriend!”

Toby couldn’t hold back a rueful chuckle. “Well, you and Caro did kind of hamper my love life for a while.”

Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and sniffed the night air in disgust. “I can assure you I won’t do so again. But I have the right to ask the same promise from you.”

“Honey, we’re all only thinking of you. If there’s one change in you I’ve definitely noticed, it’s your stubbornness. But life with Cleve may take all your independence away. Because he’s definitely that kind of man.”

“And you’re not?” she asked. “What do you call what you’re doing now?”

“I’m asking you to think about what you’re doing. To think about what you’ll do when the man wants to move away. And you know he will. He’s not going to be happy here. He won’t be able to work with Bill Johnson. Then what are you going to do?”

She huffed and turned to head for the house. He grabbed her arm without thinking, then quickly released it. Touching her wasn’t safe.

“Elizabeth?”

She spun around to stare at him. “Did it ever occur to you that I might figure out my own problems? That I’m not that little girl anymore? If I were, how would I have managed since you disappeared from my life? I’ve only seen you about half a day at Christmas each year since I was sixteen.”

“I know I haven’t been—I had my reasons for not hanging around the ranch. I couldn’t make the money I’ve made if I rodeoed only half the time. I had to dedicate myself to rodeo to do well.”

“Right. And the perfect Toby Randall couldn’t do anything only halfway. But don’t expect me to hang around waiting to follow in your footsteps again. I make my own decisions now, and you can tell my father the same thing. I don’t need a man telling me what to do.”

Again she headed for the house, and this time he didn’t try to stop her. It had been a disaster, just as he’d foreseen.

ELIZABETH STOMPED back to the house, pausing only once on the way to her bedroom. She stuck her head into the den where the parents were watching a movie. “Mom?” she called softly.

Her mother came to the door. “Yes?”

“I need to talk to you. Can you come by my room before you go to bed?”

Megan studied her face. “I’ll come now,” she said, stepping into the hallway and closing the door behind her.

“I don’t want you to miss your movie,” Elizabeth protested.

Megan took her hand and headed for the stairs.

Once they were in Elizabeth’s bedroom, with the door closed, Megan asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Dad asked Toby to talk to me about Cleve.”

“He didn’t!” She stared at her daughter. “I guess he did. But darling, you know it’s because he loves you.”

“I know, Mom, but it’s a little embarrassing.”

“Better to be embarrassed than to ruin your life,” Megan said quietly.

“Oh, Mom, not you, too?”

Megan grinned. “Yeah, me, too. I haven’t said anything because I think you’ll figure it out soon, unless…well, unless you’ve gotten too involved with him? You’re not pregnant, are you?”

“Mom!” Elizabeth protested. “Absolutely not!”

“Thank goodness.”

“Look, I just need some time. Will you please trust me to do the right thing?”

“You mean you’re going to—”

“I’m going to do the right thing for me. I’m asking you to trust me.”

“Of course I trust you, darling. Did Toby’s talk help you decide—”

“No! Mr. Arrogance himself called the kettle black, but I couldn’t tell much difference between the two of them.”

“Oh. Then how did you—”

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