The Maverick Meets His Match (Hearts of Wyoming Book 2)(66)

“Yes. But it doesn’t mean anything.”

Shelia shifted back with a way-too-satisfied expression on her face. “That kiss I witnessed sure looked like it meant something.”

And it had felt like it meant something. But Mandy knew differently. “To Ty it’s just a way to pass the time.” Just saying those words sent a pinch to her heart. But it was the truth.

“Really? Could have fooled me. If this is how you two are after just a week or two, I’d place a bet on having a still-married daughter and maybe a grandchild in a year from now.”

If her mother only knew how much those words pained her.

“You’re whistling in a hail storm. There’s a canyon-size gap between what Ty and I have been forced into and a real marriage.” And Ty’s focus on selling made it an unbridgeable one. Too bad, because if Ty wasn’t so damn single minded in his pursuit of the almighty dollar, she’d seen some real promise in him after the visit with Trace and little Delanie. She’d gotten a glimpse, however small, of a man who could care about someone else, of a man capable of tenderness and in need of it.

“I’d like grandchildren, is all.”

Mandy leaned back against her chair. Her temple pulsed like a hammer gun popping nails. “And I hope to give you a grandchild someday. After I find the right man.” Whenever that might be, if that ever might be. What were her odds of finding a man who could share her dream for Prescott? And someone who would be good father material?

What if she never found Mr. Right? Or he turned out to be Mr. Wrong? She might have better luck finding a sperm donor than finding the right man. The pounding in her head got stronger.





Chapter 16


Mandy watched as Tucker prepared to mount his bronc. Running a rodeo where her brother competed was a mixed blessing. She was happy to see him, given he got home infrequently during the rodeo season, which seemed to last longer and longer these days. But she could barely watch him ride for fear he would get injured.

This time he was bucked off before the eight-second buzzer for a no score, which meant he’d be heading out for another rodeo.

“Can you check on the next rider,” she said to McClane, who had been helping with the gates. She handed him her roster. “I want to talk with Tucker.”

Tucker had headed to the locker room, and Mandy hurried to catch up. Ty was back by the loading pens with Harold, no doubt assuring that no livestock got out.

“Tuck?” she called through the open doorway. Inside the room several cowboys were either getting ready or packing up, depending on their spot on the roster. She spotted Libby’s husband, Chance Cochran, among the ones getting ready. Libby had found herself a good one, it appeared. Though their path had been a rocky one, they were now happily married and expecting a child. It didn’t get better than that.

“Hey, Chance, good to see you.” Chance was already up in the top twenty, giving him a shot at making the NRF by the end of the year. After he missed out last year due to an injury, she knew how important every rodeo was to him.

“Mandy. I was going to look for you. Libby sends her regards. Says she’s waiting to hear—only she didn’t say about what.” He looked at her quizzically with those steel-gray eyes of his. He was a handsome cowboy, a bit tall for a saddle bronc rider, but lean and muscular.

“Tell her I’ve a lot to say when I get back.” Mandy could really use both Libby’s and Cat’s advice again. “Did you see Tucker?”

Chance nodded toward an interior room. “Think he’s in there. He had some tough luck today.”

That meant he was probably having a beer with some of the other guys who also didn’t make their time.

Chance slipped on his black hat, his smile wide. “Time to saddle up.”

“Good luck.”

Chance nodded as he strode out of the doorway.

She bustled through the few men in the locker room and glanced in the interior room. Sure enough, there was Tuck and four other guys, beers in hand. Upon spotting her, Tuck sauntered over. “Did you see my ride?”

Of course she had. She was right there. “Better luck next time.” It was all she could think to say about it. “I wanted to talk to you about the ranch.”

“I told you I would never want to sell, no matter the money.” He tipped the bottle back and took a sip.

“I know, but this is about the cattle. I think Ty’s brother could use some stock, and I was thinking that, if you were agreeable, we might thin out the Angus cattle a bit and sell him some heifers at a good price. He’s got some issues he’s dealing with…”

Before she could finish, Tucker laid a hand on her shoulder. “You know I’m good with whatever you decide.”

Tucker always seemed to be on the same page with her, and it was a blessing that as siblings they complemented each other rather than competed with each other. “Mom wanted me to remind you to stop by the hospitality tent tonight before you leave.” Her mother never watched Tucker ride. It was too stressful, she said.

“I will. But I thought you should know Mitch Lockhart is here. He wanted me to tell you he wants to talk with you.”

With all that happened, she’d had little time to think about Mitch—or regret what had happened.

“Think he knows about my marriage?”