A Haunted Twist of Fate (5 page)

Colt stopped at the light and then made a right turn
out of town.  Before long, they were traveling down a gravel road.  He hadn’t
answered her question.  She was beginning to think he wasn’t planning on
replying when he finally said, “I was married once. She passed away.”

Shay’s heart lurched. “Oh, Colt. I’m sorry for your
loss.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.  It was a long time
ago, too.”

She wondered why he hadn’t remarried, but thought
she’d already pried enough. She hoped she’d get to know more about him as the
night went on. He was an interesting man. With her face close to the glass
window, she peered out at the magnificent Black Hills, for which the area got
its name, and totally switched the topic.

“The hills take my breath away, Colt. It feels like
we’re in another land, or time. I never believed they were really so black
until I saw them for myself. This area is so unique and mysterious. You’re
lucky to have grown up here.”

“Yes, I guess I am. I’ve been around a bit, and this
is as good a place as any to live.”

Turning off the gravel road, he drove under a wooden
entrance with a sign that read
Double M Ranch. 
She sat up straighter
and gazed at the pastures on both sides of the road and the buildings ahead.

Colt parked at a hitching rail in a gravel parking
lot that was full of cars and shut off the motor. “We’re here. I hope you’re
hungry. You ever try buffalo meat before?”

“No!” Her mouth gaped. “That’s what they serve here?”

“That, along with pulled pork sandwiches, seasoned
potatoes, cowboy beans, biscuits, applesauce, fresh lemonade and homemade ice
cream. Do you think you have room for all that?”

Shay patted her stomach. “I know so. I’m not one of
those little birds. Remember? Besides, I skipped lunch today.”

“Now I see how you stay so thin. But you shouldn’t
skip lunch.” He slid off the seat and slammed his door.  Then he came around
and opened hers and took her hand to assist her out.

“Thanks.” She noticed his gaze landed squarely on
her legs as she smoothed down her skirt.  “This is a neat place.” She glanced around
and liked the looks of the ranch.

Guests strolled along wooden sidewalks of what was
built to resemble an Old West town. Feeling like she’d stepped back into
another time period, her gaze shifted from building to building. She noted a
gift shop, a bank, a candy store, a blacksmiths shop, a schoolhouse, a small
chapel, and several other authentic looking western storefronts lined up side
by side. There was even a stage stop with a stagecoach parked in front of it. Nearby
in a corral, miniature goats, miniature horses, and miniature donkeys were
being petted and manhandled by enthusiastic children. There was also a
playground of slides, swings and bridges that dozens of kids climbed upon.

“Nice, isn’t it?” Colt guided her toward a huge red
barn where, she assumed, supper and the music show took place.

“This is not at all what I expected,” she admitted,
as they stepped inside and she gazed about.

“What did you expect?”

“I have no idea. But this looks really fun.”

The barn was huge and packed with people laughing
and chattering as silverware clattered. The delicious smells wafting through
the air caused Shay’s stomach to grumble. Tables covered in red and white checked
tablecloths were lined up family style below a big stage, with long benches as
seats. Stuffed heads of game and deer antlers decorated the walls, and hay
bales were scattered around.

They approached a podium, where the hostess, an
older, attractive woman wearing a cowboy hat, boots, and fringed leather vest
and skirt greeted them with a huge smile.

“Hello, sweetheart,” she said, grabbing Colt around
the shoulders and leaving a big red lipstick stain on his smooth cheek.

Shay threw him a wide-eyed look. Sheepishly, he made
the introductions as he pulled a hankie from his back pocket and swiped his
cheek. “Shay, I’d like you to meet my mama, Hannah Morgan. Mama, this is Shay
Brennan. She’s the lady who just bought the Buckhorn Saloon.”

“Pleased to meet you, honey,” Hannah said, smashing
Shay to her expansive bosom.

“Your mother?” Shay’s mouth opened and closed like a
goldfish’s as Hannah set her back. Then she remembered the sign they’d driven
under. “The Double M,” she mused, pointing an accusatory finger at Colt. “Would
that happen to stand for Morgan and Morgan?”

“It would,” Hannah said with pride. “I’m one Morgan
and Colt’s daddy is the other. I’m the brains of the operation and Chet’s the
brawn.”

Shay rolled her eyes playfully at Colt. “You
ambushed me. This is your family’s business you told me about.”

He nodded and a pink blush crept into his cheeks,
which she found appealing.

“Aren’t you a pretty thing?” Hannah said, sliding
her gaze up and down. “She sure is a pretty thing, Colt.”

“Yes, Mama. I completely agree.” 

Feeling like a doll on display, Shay took some
steadying breaths as Colt’s intense gaze held her in an iron grip.

“Come this way,” Hannah said, grabbing Shay’s hand
and leading them to one of the tables in front, closest to the stage. “I’m
giving you two the best seats in the house. That’s one of the benefits of being
related to the owners.”  Her cheerful laughter rang out.

Colt placed his fingers at the small of Shay’s back
and whispered in her ear, “I bet you’ve never met a man’s folks on the first
date before.”

A tingle raced from the spot where he touched her
out to every nerve ending in her body. “This is our second date,” she reminded
him before thinking. “Breakfast was the first, you said.”

“That’s right.” He grinned. “In that case, it was
about time you met my mama.”

Eight

After supper, the Double M Cowboy Band took to the
stage and performed a rousing hour of current country songs, authentic cowboy
music, and comedy. Shay recognized a couple of the old-time tunes as ones made
famous by Roy Rogers.

One corner of the barn was designated as the dance floor. 
Many couples, as well as children, took to the floor as the band played both
fast tunes and ballads.

When one slow song started up, Hannah magically
appeared and nudged Shay and Colt onto the dance floor and then stood by,
watching them with a smile plastered on her face.

“I think Mama likes you,” Colt said, squeezing Shay
tight.

“I like her, too.”

Dancing in his arms sent a river of shivers
cascading down her spine. He held her in the traditional way, with one hand at
the small of her back and his other arm stretched out, clasping her hand in
his. He was a good dancer. They didn’t speak anymore while the music played;
just swayed in rhythm, bodies pressed together. She hadn’t expected to feel
such a rush of emotion or any kind of sexual stirring when she agreed to come
with him tonight, or when they took to the floor. However, as Colt squeezed her
tighter, she became aware of what a powerful aphrodisiac music was. She hated for
the song to end. When it did, he walked her back to their seats. 

“Thank you for the dance, ma’am. I enjoyed it very
much.” Even the way he called her ‘ma’am’ in that smooth drawl involuntarily
sent her senses reeling. Northern men had nothing over a western gentleman.

As if the entire evening hadn’t already taken her by
surprise, Shay received yet another shock when the M.C. of the show called Colt
up to the stage minutes later.  When she tossed him a questioning look, he
simply grinned and strode up the steps onto the stage and picked up an acoustic
guitar that was propped against a speaker.  He straddled a wooden stool and
adjusted a microphone stand.

The M.C., a handsome man with silver hair looking to
be in his sixties, clapped Colt on the back and spoke to the crowd.  “Performing
our finale tonight for you folks is my eldest son, Colt Morgan, singing that
pretty little song by King George, ‘Blue Clear Sky,’
accompanied by the
Cowboys. Come on now. Let’s hear it for Colt and the boys!”

As applause thundered in her ears, Shay shook her
head in amazement. Colt played guitar and was a singer? The evening couldn’t
have gotten any more perfect.
And
he was singing a George Strait song? The
coincidences were beginning to pile up like pancakes.

The room hushed when the band began. Colt stared
directly into her eyes, and her heart melted as the lyrics took on a beautiful
meaning with him singing them to her. His voice was as smooth as silk, and his
gaze was powerful and passionate. It seemed they were the only two people in
the room. Not once did his eyes waver from hers during the entire song. Shay’s
heart pounded so hard, she thought for sure he’d be able see it beating through
her shirt, even from up on stage.

When the performance ended, she joined the other
guests in a standing ovation, and he took off his cowboy hat and waved it in
the air as thanks.

“Thank you for joining us tonight,” Colt’s father
hollered into the mike, as the band played its swan song. “We sure enjoyed
having you at the Double M Ranch. Come back and see us again real soon. Good
night!”

The crowd around her began to disperse, but Shay
barely noticed. Her eyes were only for Colt, who shook hands with his dad and then
strolled off the stage and sidled next to her. Flashing a boyishly shy smile,
he waited for her to speak first.

“That was a bombshell I didn’t expect,” she said,
still fluttering with emotion. “That song was wonderful. Do you sing with the
band often?”

“Not as often as I used to. I felt inspired
tonight.”

His deep gaze was evidence that she’d been his
inspiration. After only two short days, she knew it would be easy to fall for this
man. But she wouldn’t let it happen. This had been a fun night, but that’s all
it could be. She’d been burned twice before. There was no way she was going to
touch a hot stove again.

“Are you going to introduce us to your friend,
Colt?” a man said, breaking in. He had the same build and sandy hair color as
Colt.  Shay recognized him as the band’s drummer. Colt’s father also sneaked up
to appear at his side.

“Shay, this is my kid brother, Brady, and”—he looked
over his shoulder—“my dad, Chet. Dad. Brady. I’d like you to meet Shay
Brennan.”

Both men greeted her with grins as mischievous as
Colt’s and pumped her hand with vigor, one after the other.

“That was a terrific show,” she told them, “and the
food was out of this world. I had no idea this was your family business when I
accepted Colt’s invitation to dinner, or supper, as you call it out here.”

Chet laughed. “He didn’t tell you this was our
ranch?”

“No.” She nudged Colt’s shoulder. “I didn’t know he
could sing or play the guitar either.”

“Colt’s one of those guys that don’t say much,”
Brady offered, with a wink. “It takes him a while to warm up to people.”

“Is that so?” She met Colt’s steady gaze. “He’s done
a pretty good job getting to know me so far.”

Brady’s eyebrow arched. “Then you must be easy to
get along with. How long have you two known each other?”

“Two days,” Shay answered.

The expressions on both men’s faces showed their
obvious astonishment. Brady elbowed Colt in the ribs.  “Fast work, brother.”

“What are we discussing over here?” Hannah swooped
in to interrupt the joshing and gave Colt and Brady each a kiss on the cheek. “Nice
singing, Colt. Good drumming, Brady.”

“What about me, Hannah banana?” Chet gave her his
whiskered cheek.  She pecked it like a chicken pecked the ground.

“Good show, sweetie, as usual. And please don’t call
me Hannah banana in front of Colt’s friend.” She gave his arm a spirited smack.
“She’ll think we’re hillbillies.”

That was the last thing Shay thought. She was
enamored by the genuine love and devotion that radiated between Colt and his
family. It made her long for her own loving parents and the camaraderie of a
family she no longer had.

“I think it’s a sweet nickname,” she said.

“See? She thinks it’s sweet,” Chet teased.

They all laughed. “You two want to come over to the
house for some coffee?” Hannah asked.

Colt answered without asking Shay, but she didn’t
mind. As much as she would have enjoyed getting to know his family, there was
no point in pretending this was something it wasn’t, or that it was bound for
something more. Tonight had simply been a casual date.

“Thanks for the invite, Mama,” Colt replied, placing
his hand at Shay’s waist. “But I think we’ll pass this time.”

Hannah gave him a knowing nod and a wink. Shay felt
the urge to tell her not to get her hopes up, so she wouldn’t be let down when
she discovered they weren’t dating. But that was up to Colt.

“Okay, you kids run on then. It was a real pleasure
to meet you, Shay. I hope to see you again soon.” She took her hands and
squeezed them warmly.