The highly anticipated continuation of the Cardwell Ranch Collection, read by more than  2 MILLION!

Jackson Cardwell won’t stop until she is safe. 

In Montana for his brother’s nuptials, Jackson Cardwell isn’t looking to be anybody’s hero. But the Texas single father knows a beautiful lady in distress when he meets her. Someone’s hell-bent on making Allie Taylor think she’s losing her mind. Jackson’s determined to unmask the perp…and guard the widowed wedding planner and her little girl with his life.

Allie has no idea who wants to harm her and take her daughter away. The truth is even more shocking. For Allie’s past has stalked her to Cardwell Ranch. And not even the sexy cowboy who awakens irresistible passion may be able to save her from a killer with a chilling agenda.

*  *  *

  And here, for your reading pleasure, is our free romance excerpt:

In Montana for his brother’s nuptials, Jackson Cardwell isn’t looking to be anybody’s hero. But the Texan single father knows a beautiful lady in distress when he meets her.

 

Jackson raced into the barn not sure what he was going to find. What he found was a blond-haired woman who shared a striking resemblance to the little girl who’d been singing outside by the corrals.

While Nat had been angelic, this woman was as beautiful as any he’d ever seen. Her long, straight, blond hair was the color of sunshine. It rippled down her slim back. Her eyes, a tantalizing emerald-green, were huge with fear in a face that could stop traffic.

She stood against the barn wall, a box of wedding decorations open at her feet. Her eyes widened in even more alarm when she saw him. She threw a hand over her mouth, cutting off the scream.

“Are you all right?” he asked. She didn’t appear to be hurt, just scared. No, not scared, terrified. Had she seen a mouse? Or maybe something larger? In Texas it might have been an armadillo. He wasn’t sure what kind of critters they had this far north, but something had definitely set her off.

“It was nothing,” she said, removing her hand from her mouth. Some of the color slowly returned to her face but he could see that she was still trembling.

“It was something,” he assured her.

She shook her head and ventured a look at the large box of decorations at her feet. The lid had been thrown to the side, some of the decorations spilling onto the floor.

He laughed. “Let me guess. That black cat I just saw hightailing it out of here…I’m betting he came out of that box.”

Her eyes widened further. “You saw it?”

“Raced right past me.” He laughed. “You didn’t think you imagined it, did you?”

“It happened so fast. I couldn’t be sure.”

“Must have given you quite a fright.”

She let out a nervous laugh and tried to smile, exposing deep dimples. He understood now why his son had gone mute. He felt the same way looking at Natalie’s mother. There was an innocence about her, a vulnerability that would make a man feel protective.

Just the thought made him balk. He’d fallen once and wasn’t about to get lured into that trap again. Not that there was any chance of that happening. In a few days he would be on a plane back to Texas with his son.

“You know cats,” he said, just being polite. “They’ll climb into just about anything. They’re attracted by pretty things.” Just like some cowboys. Not him, though.

“Yes,” she said, but didn’t sound convinced as she stepped away from the box. She didn’t look all that steady on her feet. He started to reach out to her, but stopped himself as she found her footing.

He couldn’t help noticing that her eyes were a darker shade of green than her daughter’s. “Just a cat. A black one at that,” he said, wondering why he felt the need to fill the silence. “You aren’t superstitious, are you?”

She shook her head and those emerald eyes brightened. That with the color returning to her cheeks made her even more striking.

This was how he’d fallen for Ford’s mother—a pretty face and what had seemed like a sweet disposition in a woman who’d needed him—and look how that had turned out. No, it took more than a pretty face to turn his head after the beating he’d taken from the last one.

“You must be one of Tag’s brothers,” she said as she wiped her palms on her jeans before extending a hand. Along with jeans, she wore a checked navy shirt, the sleeves rolled up, and cowboy boots. “I’m Allie Taylor, the wedding planner.”

Jackson quickly removed his hat, wondering where he’d left his manners. His mother had raised him better than this. But even as he started to shake her hand, he felt himself hesitate as if he were afraid to touch her.

Ridiculous, he thought as he grasped her small, ice-cold hand in his larger, much warmer one. “Jackson Cardwell. I saw your van outside. But I thought the name on the side—”

“Taylor is my married name.” When his gaze went to her empty ring finger, she quickly added, “I’m a widow.” She pulled back her hand to rub the spot where her wedding band had resided not that long ago. There was a thin, white line indicating that she hadn’t been widowed long. Or she hadn’t taken the band off until recently.

“I believe I met your daughter as my son and I were coming in. Natalie?”

“Yes, my baby girl.” Her dimpled smile told him everything he needed to know about her relationship with her daughter. He knew that smile and suspected he had one much like it when he talked about Ford.

He felt himself relax a little. There was nothing dangerous about this woman. She was a single parent, just like him. Only she’d lost her husband and he wished he could get rid of his ex indefinitely.

“Your daughter took my son to see the horses. I should probably check on him.”

“Don’t worry. Nat has a healthy respect for the horses and knows the rules. Also Warren Fitzpatrick, their hired man, is never far away. He’s Dana’s semi-retired ranch manager. She says he’s a fixture around here and loves the kids. That seems to be his job now, to make sure the kids are safe. Not that there aren’t others on the ranch watching out for them, as well. Sorry, I talk too much when I’m…nervous.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I want this wedding to be perfect.”

He could tell she was still shaken by the black cat episode. “My brother Tag mentioned that Dana and the kids had almost been killed by some crazy woman. It’s good she has someone she trusts keeping an eye on the children, even with everyone else on the ranch watching out for them. Don’t worry,” he said, looking around the barn. “I’m sure the wedding will be perfect.”

The barn was huge and yet this felt almost too intimate standing here talking to her. “I was just about to get Ford and go down to the house. Dana told me she was baking a huge batch of chocolate chip cookies and to help ourselves. I believe she said there would also be homemade lemonade when we got here.”

Allie smiled and he realized she’d thought it was an invitation. “I really need to get these decorations—”

“Sorry. I’m keeping you from your work.” He took a step back. “Those decorations aren’t going to put themselves up.”

She looked as if she wasn’t so sure of that. The cat had definitely put a scare into her, he thought. She didn’t seem sure of anything right now. Allie looked again at the box of decorations, no doubt imagining the cat flying out of it at her.

Glancing at her watch, she said, “Oh, I didn’t realize it was so late. Nat and I are meeting a friend for lunch. We need to get going.”

Jackson was suddenly aware that he’d been holding his hat since shaking Allie’s hand. He quickly put it back on as they walked out of the barn door into the bright sunshine. “My son is quite taken with your daughter,” he said, again feeling an unusual need to fill the silence.

“How old is he?”

“Ford’s five.”

“Same age as Nat.”

As they emerged into the beautiful late-June day, Jackson saw the two children and waved. As they came running, Nat was chattering away and Ford was hanging on her every word.

“They do seem to have hit it off.” Allie sounded surprised and pleased. “Nat’s had a hard time lately. I’m glad to see her making a new friend.”

Jackson could see that Allie Taylor had been having a hard time, as well. He realized she must have loved her husband very much. He knew he should say something, but for the life of him he couldn’t think of what. He couldn’t even imagine a happy marriage. As a vehicle came roaring up the road, they both turned, the moment lost.

“Hey, bro,” Tanner “Tag” Cardwell called from the rolled down window of his pickup as he swung into the ranch yard. “I see you made it,” he said, getting out to come over and shake his brother’s hand before he pulled Jackson into a hug. Tag glanced over at Ford and Natalie and added with a laugh, “Like father like son. If there’s a pretty female around, you two will find them.”

Jackson shook his head. That had been true when he’d met Ford’s mother. But since the divorce and the custody battle, he’d been too busy single-handedly raising his son to even think about women. That’s why red flags had gone up when he’d met Allie. There was something about her that had pulled at him, something more than her obvious beauty.

“Dana’s right behind me with the kids,” Tag said. “Why don’t I show you and Ford to your cabin, then you can meet everyone.” He pointed up in the pines that covered the mountainside. “Let’s grab your bags. It’s just a short walk.”

Jackson turned to say goodbye to Allie, but she and her daughter had already headed for the old van.

 

When Allie and her daughter returned, Jackson was watching her from inside his cousin’s two-story ranch house.

“She lost her husband some months back,” Dana said, joining him at the window.

“I wasn’t—”

“He went up into the mountains during hunting season,” she continued, ignoring his attempt to deny he’d been wondering about Allie. “They found his backpack and his rifle and grizzly tracks.”

“Tag mentioned it.” Tag had pointed out Allie’s small, old cabin by the river on their way back to the ranch. It looked as if it needed work. Hadn’t Tag mentioned that her husband was in construction? “Tag said they never found her husband’s body.”

Dana shook her head. “But Nick’s backpack was shredded and his rifle was half-buried in the dirt with grizzly tracks all around it. When he didn’t show up after a few days and they had no luck finding him…”

“His remains will probably turn up someday,” Hud said as he came in from the kitchen. Dana’s husband, Hud, was the marshal in the canyon—just as his father had been before him. “About thirty years ago now, a hiker found a human skeleton of a man. He still hasn’t been identified so who knows how long he’d been out there in the mountains.”

“That must make it even harder for her,” Jackson said.

“It was one reason I was so glad when she decided to take the job as wedding planner.”

He watched Allie reappear to get a box out of the van. She seemed nervous, even upset. He wondered if something had happened at lunch. Now at least he understood why she had overreacted with the black cat.

Hud kissed his wife, saying he had to get back to work, leaving Dana and Jackson alone.

“Our fathers are setting up their equipment on the bandstand in the barn,” Dana said. “Have you seen Harlan yet?”

“No,” Jackson admitted. “Guess there is no time like the present, huh?”

Jackson hadn’t seen his father in several years, and even then Harlan hadn’t seemed to know how to act around him—or his other sons, for that matter. As they entered the barn, Tag joining them, he saw his father and uncle standing on the makeshift stage, guitars in their hands, and was surprised when he remembered a song his father had once sung to him.

He didn’t know how old he’d been at the time, but he recalled Harlan coming into his bedroom one night in Texas and playing a song on his guitar for him. He remembered being touched by the music and his father’s voice.

On stage, the two brothers began playing their guitars in earnest. His father began singing. It was the voice Jackson remembered and it was like being transported back to his childhood. It rattled him more than he wanted to admit. He’d thought he and his father had no connection. But just hearing Harlan sing made him realize that he’d been lying to himself about not only the lack of connection, but also his need for it.

Harlan suddenly broke off at the sight of his sons. He stared through the dim barn for a moment, then put down his guitar to bound off the stage and come toward Jackson. He seemed young and very handsome, belying his age, Jackson thought. A man in his prime.

“Jackson,” he said, holding out his hand. His father’s hand was large and strong, the skin dry, callused and warm. “Glad you made it. So where are the rest of your brothers?”

“They’re supposed to fly in tomorrow. At least Laramie and Hayes are,” Tag said. “Austin…well, he said he would do his best to make it. He’s tied up on a case, but I’m sure you know how that goes.” At Christmas, Tag had found out what their father did besides drink beer and play guitar—and shared that amazing news with them. Both Harlan and his brother Angus had worked undercover as government agents and still might, even though they were reportedly retired.

“Duty calls sometimes,” Harlan agreed. “I’m glad I’m retired.”

“Until the next time someone gets into trouble and needs help,” Tag said.

Harlan merely smiled in answer.

“Ford is going to sleep like a baby tonight after all this fresh air, sunshine and high altitude,” Jackson said. “He’s not the only one,” he added with a laugh.

“It’s good for him,” Harlan said. “I was talking to him earlier. He’s taken with that little girl.”

“Like father like son,” Tag said under his breath as Allie came in from the back of the barn.

Jackson saw her expression. “I think I’d better go check on my son,” he said as he walked toward Allie. He didn’t have time to think about what he was about to do. He moved to her, taking her arm and leading her back out of the barn. “What’s wrong?”

For a moment she looked as if she were going to deny anything was. But then tears filled her eyes. He walked her around the far side of the barn. He could hear Dana out by the corral instructing the kids in horseback riding lessons. Inside the barn, his father and uncle struck up another tune.

“It’s nothing, really,” she said and brushed at her tears. “I’ve been so forgetful lately. I didn’t remember that the band would be setting up this afternoon.”

He saw that she held a date book in her trembling hand.

“It wasn’t written down in your date book?”

She glanced at her book. “It was but for some reason I marked it out.”

“No big deal, right?”

“It’s just that I don’t remember doing it.”

He could see that she was still upset and wondered if there wasn’t something more going on. He reminded himself that Allie had lost her husband only months ago. Who knew what kind of emotional roller coaster that had left her on.

“You need to cut yourself more slack,” he said. “We all forget things.”

She nodded, but he could see she was still worried. No, not worried, scared. He thought of the black cat and had a feeling it hadn’t been her first scare like that.

“I feel like such a fool,” she said.

Instinctively, he put his arm around her. “Give yourself time. It’s going to be all right.”

She looked so forlorn that taking her in his arms seemed not only the natural thing to do at that moment, but the only thing to do under the circumstances. At first she felt board-stiff in his arms, then after a moment she seemed to melt into him. She buried her face into his chest as if he were an anchor in a fierce storm.

Suddenly, she broke the embrace and stepped back. He followed her gaze to one of the cabins on the mountainside behind him and the man standing there.

“Who is that?” he asked, instantly put off by the scowling man.

“My brother-in-law, Drew. He’s doing some repairs on the ranch. He and Nick owned a construction company together. They built the guest cabins.”

The man’s scowl had turned into a cold stare. Jackson saw Allie’s reaction. “We weren’t doing anything wrong.”

She shook her head as the man headed down the mountainside to his pickup parked in the pines. “He’s just very protective.” Allie looked as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders again.

Jackson watched her brother-in-law slowly drive out of the ranch. Allie wasn’t the only one the man was glaring at.

“I need to get back inside,” she said and turned away.

He wanted to go after her. He also wanted to put his fist into her brother-in-law’s face. Protective my butt, he thought. He wanted to tell Allie to ignore all of it. Wanted… Hell, that was just it. He didn’t know what he wanted at the moment. Even if he did, he couldn’t have it. He warned himself to stay away from Allie Taylor. Far away. He was only here for the wedding. While he felt for the woman, he couldn’t help her.

“There you are,” Tag said as he came up behind them. “Ready to go with me to Bozeman to get the rings?”

Jackson glanced toward the barn door Allie was stepping through. “Ready.”

 

Jackson met Hayes and Laramie at the airport, but while it was good to see them, he was distracted.

They talked about the barbecue restaurant and Harlan and the wedding before McKenzie showed up while they were waiting for their luggage to pick up Hayes. Hayes had been in Texas tying up things with the sale of his business.

Jackson had heard their relationship was serious, but seeing McKenzie and Hayes together, he saw just how serious. Another brother falling in love in Montana, he thought with a shake of his head. Hayes and McKenzie would be joining them later tonight at the ranch for dinner.

He and Laramie ended up making the drive to Cardwell Ranch alone. Laramie talked about the financial benefits of the new barbecue restaurant and Jackson tuned him out. He couldn’t get his mind off Allie Taylor.

Maybe it was because he’d been through so much with his ex, but he felt like a kindred spirit. The woman was going through her own private hell. He wished there was something he could do.

“Are you listening?” Laramie asked.

“Sure.”

“I forget how little interest my brothers have in the actual running of this corporation.”

“Don’t let it hurt your feelings. I just have something else on my mind.”

“A woman.”

“Why would you say that, knowing me?”

Laramie looked over at him. “I was joking. You swore off women after Juliet, right? At least that’s what you… Wait a minute, has something changed?”

“Nothing.” He said it too sharply, making his brother’s eyebrow shoot up.

Laramie fell silent for a moment, but Jackson could feel him watching him out of the corner of his eye.

“Is this your first wedding since…you and Juliet split?” Laramie asked carefully.

Jackson shook his head at his brother’s attempt at diplomacy. “It’s not the wedding. There’s this…person I met who I’m worried about.”

“Ah. Is this person—”

“It’s a woman, all right? But it isn’t like that.”

“Hey,” Laramie said, holding up his hands. “I just walked in. If you don’t want to tell me—”

“She lost her husband some months ago and she has a little girl the same age as Ford and she’s struggling.”

Laramie nodded. “Okay.”

“She’s the wedding planner.”

His brother’s eyebrow shot up again.

“I’ll just be glad when this wedding is over,” Jackson said and thought he meant it. “By the way, when is Mom flying in?” At his brother’s hesitation, he demanded, “What’s going on with Mom?”

*

Allie had unpacked more boxes of decorations by the time she heard a vehicle pull up the next morning. Natalie, who had been coloring quietly while her mother worked, went running when she spotted her aunt Megan. Allie smiled as Megan picked Nat up and swung her around, both of them laughing. It was a wonderful sound. Megan had a way with Natalie. Clearly, she loved kids.

“Sorry I’m so late, but I’m here and ready to go to work.” Megan was dressed in a T-shirt, jeans and athletic shoes. She had taken after their father and had the Irish green eyes with the dark hair and complexion. She was nothing short of adorable, sweet and cute. “Wow, the barn is already looking great,” she exclaimed as she walked around, Natalie holding her hand and beaming up at her.

“I helped Mama with the lights,” Nat said.

“I knew it,” Megan said. “I can see your handiwork.” She grinned down at her niece. “Did I hear you can now ride a horse?”

Natalie quickly told her all about the horses, naming each as she explained how to ride a horse. “You have to hang on to the reins.”

“I would imagine you do,” Megan agreed.

“Maybe you can ride with us,” Nat suggested.

“Maybe I can. But right now I need to help your mom.”

Just then Dana stuck her head in the barn doorway and called to Natalie. Allie introduced Dana to her stepsister, then watched as her daughter scurried off for an afternoon ride with her friends. She gave a thankful smile to Dana as they left.

“Just tell me what to do,” Megan said and Allie did, even more thankful for the help. They went to work on the small details Allie knew Megan would enjoy.

Belinda stopped by to say hello to Megan and give Allie an update on the photos. She’d met with Lily that morning, had made out a list of photo ideas and sounded excited.

Allie was surprised when she overheard Belinda and Megan discussing a recent lunch. While the three of them had spent some time together since Megan had come back into Allie’s life, she hadn’t known that Belinda and Megan had become friends.

She felt jealous. She knew it was silly. They were both single and probably had more in common than with Allie, who felt as if she’d been married forever.

“How are you doing?” Megan asked after Belinda left.

“Fine.”

“No, really.”

Allie studied her stepsister for a moment. They’d become close, but she hadn’t wanted to share what was going on. It was embarrassing and the fewer people who knew she was losing her mind the better, right?

“It’s been rough.” Megan didn’t know that she had been planning to leave Nick. As far as her sister had known, Allie had been happily married. Now Allie regretted that she hadn’t been more honest with Megan.

“But I’m doing okay now,” she said as she handed Megan another gift bag to fill. “It’s good to be working again. I love doing this.” She glanced around the barn feeling a sense of satisfaction.

“Well, I’m glad I’m here now,” Megan said. “This is good for Natalie, too.”

Good for all of us, Allie thought.

*

Jackson looked at his brother aghast. “Mom’s dating?” He should have known that if their mom confided in anyone it would be Laramie. The sensible one, was what she called him, and swore that out of all her sons, Laramie was the only one who she could depend on to be honest with her.

Laramie cleared his throat. “It’s a little more than dating. She’s on her honeymoon.”

“Her what?”

“She wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Well, it sure as hell is that. Who did she marry?”

“His name is Franklin Wellington the Fourth. He’s wealthy, handsome, very nice guy, actually.”

“You’ve met him?”

“He and Mom are flying in just before the wedding on his private jet. It’s bigger than ours.”

“Laramie, I can’t believe you would keep this from the rest of us, let alone that Mom would.”

“She didn’t want to take away from Tag’s wedding but they had already scheduled theirs before Tag announced his.” Laramie shrugged. “Hey, she’s deliriously happy and hoping we will all be happy for her.”

Jackson couldn’t believe this. Rosalee Cardwell hadn’t just started dating after all these years, she’d gotten married?

“I wonder how Dad will take it?” Laramie said. “We all thought Mom had been pining away for him all these years.…”

“Maybe she was.”

“Well, not anymore.”

*

“But you have to go on the horseback ride,” Natalie cried.

As he stepped into the cool shade, Jackson saw Allie look around the barn for help, finding none. Hayes was off somewhere with his girlfriend, McKenzie, Tag was down by the river writing his vows, Lily was picking her parents up at the airport, Laramie had restaurant business and Hud was at the marshal’s office, working. There had still been no word from Austin. Or their mother.

Wanting to spend some time with his son, Jackson had agreed to go on the short horseback ride with Dana and the kids that would include lunch on the mountain.

“Dana promised she would find you a very gentle horse, in other words, a really old one,” Megan joked.

Natalie was doing her “please-Mama-please” face.

“Even my dad is going to ride,” Ford said, making everyone laugh.

Allie looked at the boy. “Your dad is a cowboy.”

Ford shook his head. “He can’t even rope a cow. He tried once at our neighbor’s place and he was really bad at it. So it’s okay if you’re really bad at riding a horse.”

Jackson smiled and ruffled his son’s hair. “You really should come along, Allie.”

“I have too much work to—”

“I will stay here and get things organized for tomorrow,” Megan said. “No more arguments. Go on the ride with your daughter. Go.” She shooed her toward the barn door.

“I guess I’m going on the horseback ride,” Allie said. The kids cheered. She met Jackson’s gaze as they walked toward the corral where Dana and her ranch hand, Walker, were saddling horses. “I’ve never been on a horse,” she whispered confidentially to Jackson.

“Neither had your daughter and look at her now,” he said as he watched Ford and Natalie saddle up. They both had to climb up the fence to get on their horses, but they now sat eagerly waiting in their saddles.

“I’ll help you,” Jackson said as he took Allie’s horse’s reins from Dana. He demonstrated how to get into the saddle then gave her a boost.

“It’s so high up here,” she said as she put her boot toes into the stirrups.

“Enjoy the view,” Jackson said and swung up onto his horse.

They rode up the mountain, the kids chattering away, Dana giving instructions to them as they went.

After a short while, Jackson noticed that Allie seemed to have relaxed a little. She was looking around as if enjoying the ride and when they stopped in a wide meadow, he saw her patting her horse’s neck and talking softly to it.

“I’m afraid to ask what you just said to your horse,” he joked as he moved closer. Her horse had wandered over to some tall grass away from the others.

“Just thanking him for not bucking me off,” she admitted shyly.

“Probably a good idea, but your horse is a she. A mare.”

“Oh, hopefully, she wasn’t insulted.” Allie actually smiled. The afternoon sun lit her face along with the smile.

He felt his heart do a loop-de-loop. He tried to rein it back in as he looked into her eyes. That tantalizing green was deep and dark, inviting, and yet he knew a man could drown in those eyes.

Suddenly, Allie’s horse shied. In the next second it took off as if it had been shot from a cannon. To her credit, she hadn’t let go of her reins, but she grabbed the saddlehorn and let out a cry as the mare raced out of the meadow headed for the road.

Jackson spurred his horse and raced after her. He could hear the startled cries of the others behind him. He’d been riding since he was a boy, so he knew how to handle his horse. But Allie, he could see, was having trouble staying in the saddle with her horse at a full gallop.

He pushed his harder and managed to catch her, riding alongside until he could reach over and grab her reins. The horses lunged along for a moment. Next to him Allie started to fall. He grabbed for her, pulling her from her saddle and into his arms as he released her reins and brought his own horse up short.

Allie slid down his horse to the ground. He dismounted and dropped beside her. “Are you all right?”

“I think so. What happened?”

He didn’t know. One minute her horse was munching on grass, the next it had taken off like a shot.

Jackson could see that she was shaken. She sat down on the ground as if her legs would no longer hold her. He could hear the others riding toward them. When Allie heard her daughter calling to her, she hurriedly got to her feet, clearly wanting to reassure Natalie.

“Wow, that was some ride,” Allie said as her daughter came up.

“Are you all right?” Dana asked, dismounting and joining her.

“I’m fine, really,” she assured her and moved to her daughter still in the saddle to smile up at her.

“What happened?” Dana asked Jackson.

“I don’t know.”

“This is a good spot to have lunch,” Dana announced more cheerfully than Jackson knew she felt.

“I’ll go catch the horse.” He swung back up into the saddle and took off after the mare. “I’ll be right back for lunch. Don’t let Ford eat all the sandwiches.”

*

Allie had no idea why the horse had reacted like that. She hated that she was the one who’d upset everyone.

“Are you sure you didn’t spur your horse?” Natalie asked, still upset.

“She isn’t wearing spurs,” Ford pointed out.

“Maybe a bee stung your horse,” Natalie suggested.

Dana felt bad. “I wanted your first horseback riding experience to be a pleasant one,” she lamented.

“It was. It is,” Allie reassured her although in truth, she wasn’t looking forward to getting back on the horse. But she knew she had to for Natalie’s sake. The kids had been scared enough as it was.

Dana had spread out the lunch on a large blanket with the kids all helping when Jackson rode up, trailing her horse. The mare looked calm now, but Allie wasn’t sure she would ever trust it again.

Jackson met her gaze as he dismounted. Dana was already on her feet, heading for him. Allie left the kids to join them.

“What is it?” Dana asked, keeping her voice down.

Jackson looked to Allie as if he didn’t want to say in front of her.

“Did I do something to the horse to make her do that?” she asked, fearing that she had.

His expression softened as he shook his head. “You didn’t do anything.” He looked at Dana. “Someone shot the mare.” He moved so Dana could see the bloody spot on the horse. “Looks like a small caliber. Probably a .22. Fortunately, the shooter must have been some distance away or it could have been worse. The bullet barely broke the horse’s hide. Just enough to spook the mare.”

We’ve had teenagers on four-wheelers using the old logging roads on the ranch,” Dana said. “I heard shots a few days ago.” Suddenly, all the color drained from Dana’s face. “Allie could have been killed,” she whispered. “Or one of the kids. When we get back, I’ll call Hud.”

*

Jackson insisted on riding right beside Allie on the way back down the mountain. He could tell that Allie had been happy to get off the horse once they reached the corral.

“Thank you for saving me,” she said. “It seems like you keep doing that, doesn’t it?” He must have looked panicked by the thought because she quickly added, “I’m fine now. I will try not to need saving again.” She flashed him a smile and disappeared into the barn.

“Ready?” Tag said soon after Jackson had finished helping unsaddle the horses and put the tack away.

Dana had taken the kids down to the house to play, saying they all needed some downtime. He could tell that she was still upset and anxious to call Hud. “Don’t forget the barbecue and dance tonight,” she reminded him. “Then tomorrow is the bachelor party, right?”

Jackson groaned. He’d forgotten that Tag had been waiting for them all to arrive so they could have the party. The last thing he needed was a party. Allie’s horse taking off like that… It had left him shaken, as well. Dana was convinced it had been teenagers who’d shot the horse. He hoped that was all it had been.

“Glad you’re back,” Tag said. “We’re all going down to the Corral for a beer. Come on. At least four of us are here. We’ll be back in time for dinner.”

Ford was busy with the kids and Dana. “Are you sure he isn’t too much?” Jackson asked his cousin. “I feel like I’ve been dumping him on you since we got here.”

She laughed. “Are you kidding? My children adore having their cousin around. They’ve actually all been getting along better than usual. Go have a drink with your brothers. Enjoy yourself, Jackson. I suspect you get little time without Ford.”

It was true. And yet he missed his son. He told himself again that he would be glad when they got back to Texas. But seeing how much fun Ford was having on the ranch, he doubted his son would feel the same.

*

Allie stared at her date book, heart racing. She’d been feeling off balance since her near-death experience on the horse. When she’d told Megan and Belinda about it on her return to the barn, they’d been aghast.

She’d recounted her tale right up to where Jackson had returned with the mare and the news that it had been shot.

“That’s horrible,” Megan said. “I’m so glad you didn’t get bucked off. Was the mare all right?”

Belinda’s response was, “So Jackson saved you? Wow, how romantic is that?”

Needing to work, Allie had shooed Belinda out of the barn and she and Megan had worked quietly for several hours before she’d glanced at her watch and realized something was wrong.

“The caterer,” Allie said. “Did she happen to call?”

Megan shook her head. “No, why?”

“Her crew should have been here by now. I had no idea it was so late.” Allie could feel the panic growing. “And when I checked my date book…”

“What?” Megan asked.

“I wouldn’t have canceled.” But even as she was saying it, she was dialing the caterer’s number.

A woman answered and Allie quickly asked about the dinner that was to be served at Cardwell Ranch tonight.

“We have you down for the reception in a few days, but… Wait a minute. It looks as if you did book it.”

Allie felt relief wash through her, though it did nothing to relieve the panic. She had a ranch full of people to be fed and no caterer for the barbecue.

“I’m sorry. It says here that you called to cancel it yesterday.”

“That’s not possible. It couldn’t have been me.”

“Is your name Allie Taylor?”

She felt her heart drop. “Yes.”

“It says here that you personally called.”

Allie dropped into one of the chairs. She wanted to argue with the woman, but what good would it do? The damage was done. And anyway, she couldn’t be sure she hadn’t called. She couldn’t be sure of anything.

“Just make sure that the caterers will be here on the Fourth of July for the wedding reception and that no one, and I mean not even me, can cancel it. Can you do that for me?” Her voice broke and she saw Megan looking at her with concern.

As she disconnected, she fought tears. “What am I going to do?”

“What’s wrong?”

Her head snapped up at the sound of Jackson’s voice. “I thought you were having beers with your brothers?”

“A couple beers is all I can handle. So come on, what’s going on?”

She wiped at her eyes, standing to turn her back to him until she could gain control. What the man must think of her.

“The caterer accidentally got canceled. Looks like we might have to try to find a restaurant tonight,” Megan said, reaching for her phone.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Jackson said, turning Allie to look at him. “You have some of the best barbecue experts in the country right here on the ranch. I’ll run down to the market and get some ribs while my brothers get the fire going. It’s going to be fine.”

This last statement Allie could tell was directed at her. She met his gaze, all her gratitude in that one look.

Jackson tipped his hat and gave her a smile. “It’s going to be better than fine. You’ll see.”

*

“I hope you don’t mind,” Allie heard Jackson tell Dana and Lily. “I changed Allie’s plans. I thought it would be fun if the Cardwell boys barbecued.”

Dana was delighted and so was Lily. They insisted she, Natalie, Megan and Belinda stay and Allie soon found herself getting caught up in the revelry.

The Texas Boys Barbecue brothers went to work making dinner. Allie felt awful that they had to cook, but soon saw how much fun they were having.

They joked and played around while their father and Dana’s provided the music. All the ranch hands and neighbors ended up being invited and pretty soon it had turned into a party. She noticed that even Drew, who’d been working at one of the cabins, had been invited to join them.

The barbecue was amazing and a lot more fun than the one Allie had originally planned. Everyone complimented the food and the new restaurant was toasted as a welcome addition to Big Sky.

Allie did her best to stay in the background. The day had left her feeling beaten up from her wild horseback ride to the foul-up with the caterer, along with her other misadventures. She was just happy to sit on the sidelines. Megan and Belinda were having a ball dancing with some of the ranch hands. All the kids were dancing, as well. At one point, she saw Jackson showing Ford how to do the swing with Natalie.

Someone stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the dance floor. She looked up to see Drew.

“I don’t believe you’ve danced all night,” he said.

“I’m really not—”

“What? You won’t dance with your own brother-in-law? I guess you don’t need me anymore now that you have the Cardwells. Or is it just one Cardwell?”

She realized he’d had too much to drink. “Drew, that isn’t—”

“Excuse me,” Jackson said, suddenly appearing beside her. “I believe this dance is mine.” He reached for Allie’s hand.

Drew started to argue, but Jackson didn’t give him a chance before he pulled Allie out onto the dance floor. The song was a slow one. He took her in his arms and pulled her close.

“You really have to quit saving me,” she said only half joking.

“Sorry, but I could see you needed help,” Jackson said. “Your brother-in-law is more than a little protective, Allie.”

She didn’t want to talk about Drew. She closed her eyes for a moment. It felt good in the cowboy’s arms. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d danced, but that felt good, too, moving to the slow country song. “You saved my life earlier and then saved my bacon tonight. Natalie thinks you’re a cowboy superhero. I’m beginning to wonder myself.”

He gave her a grin and a shrug. “It weren’t nothin’, ma’am,” he said, heavy on the Texas drawl. “Actually, I don’t know why my brothers and I hadn’t thought of it before. You did me a favor. I’d missed cooking with them. It was fun.”

“Did I hear there is a bachelor party tomorrow night?”

Jackson groaned. “Hayes is in charge. I hate to think.” He laughed softly. “Then the rehearsal and dinner the next night and finally the wedding.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t wait for it to be over.

Allie had felt the same way—before she’d met Jackson Cardwell.

Drew appeared just then. “Cuttin’ in,” he said, slurring his words as he pried himself between the two of them.

Jackson seemed to hesitate, but Allie didn’t want trouble. She stepped into Drew’s arms and let him dance her away from the Texas cowboy.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Drew demanded as he pulled her closer. “My brother is barely cold in his grave and here you are actin’ like—”

“The wedding planner?” She broke away from him as the song ended. “Sorry, but I’m calling it a night. I have a lot of work to do tomorrow.” With that she went to get Natalie. It was time to go home.

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