Cowgirls Don't Cry(9)

“Are you kiddin’? Bring a woman to a wedding and they immediately start hearin’ wedding bells.

And I ain’t close to ready to settle down.”


“The wild McKay boys are still goin’ strong?”


“You know it.” He danced them toward the stage. “Although, lately, Tell seems to be takin’ a page from Brandt’s book, actin’ like a freakin’ monk.”


Jessie’s pulse jumped. Dalton never talked about Brandt around her. “Oh really? A few months back someone mentioned Brandt seeing a woman from Hulett.”


“Lydia? She’s old news. They’ve been on-again, off-again for the last ten months.”


Her immediate burst of jealousy was ridiculous.

“Something is goin’ on with him. He’s been a real dickhead the last month. I thought maybe he was pissy because he wasn’t getting laid, but I ain’t sure that’s what’s been bugging him. I wondered if he’d said something to you, ’cause he sure as hell ain’t talkin’ to me or Tell.”


“I’m sorry, but Brandt hasn’t been around much the last year.”


A blush stole across Dalton’s cheeks.

“What?”


“Nothin’. I just ain’t surprised.”


And then Jessie knew. Brandt must’ve told his brothers that she’d turned him down. No wonder Dalton never talked about Brandt around her. In fact, with their Three Musketeers mentality, she was surprised Dalton and Tell stayed in contact with her at all and they hadn’t taken Brandt’s side.

Tell approached, elbowing Dalton aside. “My turn. Your girlfriend is lookin’ for you anyway.”


“What girlfriend?”


He whispered something to Dalton that had him blushing beet red.

“Fuck off. I’d punch you in the mouth for even sayin’ that, but Dad would love to see us mixin’ it up, so I’m bein’ the bigger man and walkin’ away.” Dalton made it two steps before he tossed, “Asshole,” over his shoulder.


“Such a loving family,” Jessie muttered as Tell took her hands.

“Miss us, doncha?”


She smiled. “Not touching that one.”


He laughed. “So what’s new?”


“You’d know if you ever bothered to call me.” At his guilty look, she whapped him on the shoulder.

“Tell. I’m kidding. Since my life is incredibly boring, why don’t you tell me what you’ve been up to?”


“I’ve been hittin’ as many local rodeos as possible, tryin’ to complete my PRCA judges course.”


Tell had been talking about doing that since the first time they’d met. “You actually followed through with it?”


“Yep. I got tired of waiting for the right time to get certified and they accepted me as a candidate because of my past rodeo experience. I’ve been studying DVDs and scoring the rides. Then they match how I scored them to the real scores to see how I did.”


“It hasn’t interfered with your ranch work?”


Tell scowled. “To hear Dad talk, I’ve all but abandoned the ranch. Hell. I’m gone one day, two at the most in a month. Brandt and Dalton ain’t complaining. And since Brandt’s pretty much in charge, he’s the one I’m the most concerned with. The season’s almost over. Dad’s just pissy because I’m headin’ to the NFR in December for a week’s worth of hands-on classes.”