Page 1 of Rough Cowboy
PROLOGUE
WILMA AND FAYE
(The Quilt Queens)
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“PLACE YOUR BETS!” WILMA’Sbooming voice blasts out of a megaphone.
“Show us your money!” Faye holds up two paddles. One saysSilverand the otherSammy. “Which Wilde brother is Elsie Thorpe’s baby-daddy?”
The outdoor party at the Wilde ranch is in full swing, with the warm sun shining down on the gathered crowd. All that’s missing is the mama-to-be. She seems to have forgotten the bun in her oven is the main attraction.
“I got my money on Silver. He’s got those dreamy eyes and that charming smile. I wouldn’t be able to resist him, and I don’t think any woman can.” Shy Nessie hands the Quylt sisters a twenty-dollar bill.
The remnants of Wilma’s almost smile turns upside down. “Nessie, you can’t bet. You’re part of the quilter’s circle, so you know it’s Silver’s.”
Nessie pushes the red-rimmed glasses up her nose. “No. We know that Silver and Elsie are destined to be together, but we don’t know who the biological father is.” She slaps another twenty on the table. “Forty bucks on Silver.”
“Cause they’ve never been wrong.” Faye’s granddaughter, Maz, slides the bills to her Aunt Wilma.
“Forty on Silver!” Faye’s arm shoots in the air, holding Silver’s paddle. The baby rattle attached to Faye’s Kentucky derby hat jingles.
Whiskey Ridge Creek’s local folklore is known for miles around. It’s also as common as it was hundreds of years ago for parents and family members to gather scraps of material from their children and hand them over to the current Quilt Queens: Wilma and Faye. These sentimental scraps include detailed hand-written notes with meanings behind each scrap which assist with the matchmaking process.
Elsie and Silver’s quilt has been in the making for weeks.
“I don’t know, Nessie.” Albion drags his hand down the front of his long grey beard.
Also part of the quilters group, he’s a wizard with the needle and thread. It just so happens that his beard, thin crooked nose, and deep eyes resemble a wizard.
“Sammy’s got this one. He’s got that mysterious but down-to-earth vibe.” Albion drops a couple of bills on the table. “My money is on Sammy.”
“I disagree.” Phylicia pushes her silver coils away from her eyes. It seems the quilting circle is eager to get their bets in first. “Silver has that rugged, bad-boy appeal that women can’t resist.” The fifty-year-old purrs under her breath.
“Phylicia’s right!” Bucky, the owner of Bucky’s bar, shouts from the crowd. “I’ll put fifty bucks on Silver. He’s always been a ladies’ man. I bet he knocked her up, no problem.”
“I disagree.” Biker babe Kiwi waves a big bill in her hand. She owns the bar beside Bucky’s. “Wanna double it, Bucky?”
Kiwi and Bucky have been enemies for years over an argument no one knows the truth about. However, a thousand rumors float around town.
“Two hundred.” Bucky slams the bills on the table, and Kiwi meets the number with her bills.
“Alright, we’ve got some big bets going here.” Maz collects the money as Wilma writes down the names, and Faye lifts the paddle with the corresponding Wilde brother’s name to each bet.
“Who else wants to place a wager?” Albion pulls out another bill. “I’ll put twenty bucks on both of them. I think it could be a tie.”
“That’s not how this works. You gotta pick one or the other. It was difficult enough to get a paternity test with fraternal twins,” Wilma crumbles, but she enjoys every minute.
“She’s right. You gotta pick a side.” Faye shoos Albion’s money away.
“Fine, fine. I’ll stick with Sammy. But if it turns out to be Silver, I blame you two.”
“I have a feeling you’re going to regret this bet,” Faye says like she knows something everyone else doesn’t.
When they finish the lineup of betters, Wilma stands. “Alright, folks, the bets are in. Now we just have to wait and see who the lucky baby-daddy is.”
“And in the meantime, enjoy some drink, food, and the local band in the tent. Let’s make the most of this afternoon!”
