Page 1 of Waiting for the Rancher
1
Summit County, Colorado
April 1879
“Can’t believe she’s really gonna marry a scallywag like you.” Maverick Oakley punched his best friend’s arm. “She must be desperate.”
Sterling Noble straightened his black string bow tie. “What can I say? I’m irresistible.”
Maverick stuck a finger into his own bow tie and loosened it. Even then it still felt like it was strangling him, just like it had since the moment he’d put it on.
They stood side by side in front of the bureau mirror in the room Sterling had always shared with his brothers. Maverick was an inch or so shorter than his friend’s six feet three inches, and he had leaner facial features with a square jawline and more prominent chin. His hair was darker—almost black—compared to Sterling’s lighter brown, and he had blue eyes while Sterling’s were brown.
Other than that, they both had rugged, muscular frames that came from years of hard work on their families’ bordering ranches. Their skin was weathered from the sun and wind of Colorado’s high country. Although most of the time they had a layer of scruff on their jaws, today, on Sterling’s wedding day, they were both clean shaven.
Sterling was staring at himself, his eyes wide and filled with trepidation.
Maverick gave his friend a nod. “Violet’s real lucky. You’re a good man, the best. She couldn’t ask for anyone better.”
Beneath his collar and tie, Sterling’s Adam’s apple rose then fell. “Hope I can make her happy the way she deserves.”
“You will.”
A light rap sounded on the door.
Sterling didn’t move, continued to examine himself as if he were counting his flaws and all the ways he didn’t measure up.
“Come in.” Maverick took charge for his friend, guessing he’d be nervous on his wedding day too. Not that he was getting married anytime soon. He hadn’t cared about women, not for months. Not since his pa had died. He actually hadn’t cared a whole heap about anything. Even today, he was having a hard time mustering the appropriate enthusiasm.
The door opened, and Hazel stepped into the room. “You fellows ready?”
Sterling’s kid sister had her hair done up in a fancy style, with what appeared to be little pearls woven throughout. She was wearing a silvery gown that shimmered in the spring sunshine that was pouring through the room’s tall window.
Maverick wasn’t used to seeing her all gussied up. Most days at work, she wore her sturdy corduroy skirts, tall leather boots, a duster coat over a simple blouse, and a hat with her hair tucked up out of sight.
Even though he’d seen her nearly every day since she’d taken the position of broodmare manager last autumn, he rarely got a view of her fair hair, blond like a light-colored sorrel.
With her forehead puckered, her bronze-colored eyes swung between him and Sterling. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothin’.” He answered for Sterling, clamping his friend on his shoulder and squeezing. “We were about to head downstairs.”
Hazel didn’t respond, the sure sign she didn’t believe him. That was the thing about Hazel—she could read emotions in people and animals better than anyone. It’s what made her so good with horses and why his pa had hired her.
Maverick stuck a finger into his collar again, that familiar strangling sensation returning. His pa wouldn’t be at the wedding today because of him and his foolishness. His pa wouldn’t be at any event ever again, big or little, important or not.
An ache swelled in Maverick’s chest, and he drew in a quick breath to try to push it back down.
At his intake, Hazel’s gaze softened. He hadn’t told her what he was feeling, hadn’t shared about the remorse that was turning into self-loathing, but he suspected she knew, almost as though she could visibly see his pain and understood why the day was hard for him.
Giving himself a hard mental shake, he grasped Sterling by the shoulder and began to guide him toward the door. “Let’s go, big fella. Time to get hitched.”
Sterling went along willingly. “Reckon you’re right.”
Hazel moved into the hallway and waved them ahead of her. Sterling took a step, but then paused in front of the door across the hall, where Violet was getting ready with her sister and mother.
She was perfect for Sterling in every way. He’d been crazy about her since the day her family had moved to Breckenridge and he’d first laid eyes on her a year ago.
The trouble was that Violet didn’t adore Sterling to the same extent—at least, from what Maverick could tell. She was a real nice gal and all, but there were times when Maverick wasn’t sure she was ready to settle down.
