Page 91 of Ride Me Cowboy

He’s not pressuring her, but just explaining how the industry works, and what she could do if she wants to pursue this further. So far, I’ve heard him talk to her about just keeping it low key, launching her own social media channel, with her own music whenever she wants to share.

She says she wants to stay on the Coyote Creek Ranch account, which I can tell is just about helping us, rather than thinking of her own future. But I’m not about to go into all that with Nash here.

Then, he’s explained how it would work if she wants to sign with a label, or if she just wants to start going to perform at some festivals, get support on the ground.

I’m half listening, half wondering where the hell Beth’s got to, when I hear Caleb talking to someone at the front door.

“Beth McMahon? Do you mean Beth Tasker?”

“Tasker?” The woman’s voice answers, getting closer now, so I gather Caleb’s invited her into the kitchen. “That’s her maiden name. Why would she use that?”

Oh, shit.

Someone from Beth’s old life is here, and all I can think of is my girl. Needing to get to her, to warn her, to protect her from this. To keep our bubble wrapped around her for just as long as I can. I know it’s just that—a bubble. Temporary, due to pop when she leaves this place, and in a way, I’m glad. Because I can’t let Beth mean more to me than she already does. If it weren’t for the time limits on this, I’d have broken things off weeks ago, because it’s too real, too much. Even then, though, I know I have to keep her safe through this. Elsie’s being here is Beth’s worst nightmare; I have to protect her.

“Maiden name? Are we talking about the same Beth?” Caleb asks, shooting me a quizzical glance as they step into the room.

The woman is slim and reminds me a lot of Beth on that first day. It’s not ‘til this moment that I fully recognize how much Beth has changed. Back then, I felt like she belonged in some high-end fashion magazine, all prim, and completely untouchable. Over the last couple of months, she’s morphed into something so much more familiar. It’s not just her clothes and hair, but everything about her.

“Beth, my sister-in-law,” the woman snaps impatiently, tapping a manicured hand against her phone and opening it up to show a picture to Caleb. I don’t intend to go look and yet, somehow, my legs carry me across the room and I’m staring back at a picture of Beth on her wedding day. The guy beside her looks nice enough. Blonde, blue eyes, holding her tight, smiling like he’s won the greatest prize in the world.

Oh, Beth.

“This is Coyote Creek Ranch, right?” she asks, jabbing the phone back in her pocket.

“That’s Beth, alright,” Caleb says, meeting my eyes with another quirk of his lips.

From the kitchen table, Mackenzie is also looking at me. “Beth’s married?”

I close my eyes briefly against what I know’s coming next.

“Wasmarried,” Elsie’s voice trembles a little. “My brother died a while back.” She clears her throat. “Five months ago.”

“I’m real sorry to hear it,” Caleb murmurs.

“She didn’t tell you?”

Caleb looks lost.

“I guess she didn’t feel like she could,” Elsie says, a little witheringly. “Where is she?”

“Well, I can’t say I know.” Caleb says with a small shrug. “Her office, maybe?”

“Which way?” Elsie asks.

My heart pounds. I can’t let Beth be ambushed like this. I can’t let her get caught out, unawares. She’s not prepared to see this woman. Hell, I know she doesn’t want it. She came here to run away; why won’t they just let her do that? She’ll go back to New York when she’s good and ready; New York has no business comin’ here.

“I reckon she said something about heading to the rose garden,” I lie, surprised my voice comes out somewhat smooth.

“I’ll show you,” Caleb offers, clearly a glutton for punishment.

“Thank you,” Elsie sniffs.

The second they leave, I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Beth’s number, but it goes to voicemail. I swear under my breath.

“I’ll help,” Mackenzie offers, though I can tell she’s confused, because she—like the rest of these guys—had no idea Beth was recently widowed. But she clearly sees some of the concern in my expression, and wants to help however she can.

I watch Mack’s retreating back for a moment before I start to run, faster than I’ve run in a long time, toward the one place I hope Beth has known to go.

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