My Southern Bride (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 4) (2 page)

"So that's that," said Kelli. "I'm calling him."

Lori recognized the stubborn tone in Kelli's voice. Arguing with her would be fruitless. "Fine. But if he says no, don't push him. Promise?"

"I don't need to promise because he'll say yes."

"Promise me, Kelli."

"Okay. Whatever. I promise."

"Tell him that I don't want to inconvenience him. I don't want to be a bother. I don't want to create any trouble for him."

Kelli sighed. "Fine."

* * *

Monty Joe Nelson was bone-deep lonely. Ever since his sister and brother had moved to the Dallas area, he'd been on his own more than he'd been in company. Not that the man standing before him wasn't a good guy.

His ranch foreman, Will Miller, was invaluable to the Nelson Ranch. But he wasn't much good at chasing away Monty Joe's loneliness—especially not since they'd built the new barn and bunkhouse on the far side of the ranch. Twenty miles wasn't far, but the new barn was just distant enough to make casual visiting unlikely.

Monty Joe shouldn't complain.

The changes suggested by Will had been extremely profitable for the Nelson holdings. Just not so great for Monty Joe's mood.

And now the snowstorm in Dallas meant he had to delay his visit to Bobby Gray, Charlie and their respective spouses. Monty Joe's isolation would only get worse.

"So you're satisfied with our arrangements?" Will asked. "The hands and I will handle the majority of the livestock. You'll be able to take care of your personal horses in the old barn?"

"Shouldn't be a problem. I can easily handle four horses and Billy." Billy, an old goat, was in the same position as Monty Joe—left behind.

"I can take him with me, if you like."

"Nah. Billy and I are buds. We'll hang out and chew over old times."

Will shook his head. "After this storm is over, we're going to have to do something about you, boss."

Monty Joe's gaze met Will's, but he didn't say anything. What more was there to discuss? Monty Joe had become more of a paper pusher, rather than the rodeo champion he'd once been, and paper pushing wasn't on his bucket list.

Will was good at his job—too good perhaps. Between the new hands they'd hired and Will's experience with livestock, Monty Joe's role had deteriorated to the point that when he got fed up, he jumped on his horse and traveled about the ranch replacing fencing when it didn't even need it.

But he was now too old for the rodeo and too young to accept the boredom. At least back when his brother Bobby Gray was still at the ranch, he handled a lot of the paperwork, freeing Monty Joe to do more of the actual ranch work. The details, the investments, the organizing and planning weren't things Monty Joe could hand over to someone who wasn't family—not even a great ranch foreman like Will Miller.

Finally Monty Joe said, "I'll feel better once I have a chance to visit family."

"That wasn't what I was thinking," replied Will. "I was thinking along the lines of you needing to start your
own
family."

The idea surprised Monty Joe. After the death of his parents, his attention had been focused on making a go of the ranch and raising his younger brother and sister. Although he'd casually dated some of the women who followed the rodeo circuit, he'd never become seriously involved with any of them. There hadn't been time for a serious relationship.

All that had changed.

The Nelson holdings were more successful than ever, and neither his brother nor sister needed his guidance anymore.

"Guess I should start dating again," said Monty Joe.

"Maybe you should start looking for a wife."

"I'm lonely, not crazy."

"I haven't been lonely for one minute since meeting my wife. It's kinda hard to feel lonely when you've got a young'un dangling from your knee. And then there's the making of 'em." Will wiggled his brows. "Just saying."

"I'm a confirmed bachelor. What woman in her right mind would want me? And what kind of woman wouldn't drive me around the bend? I'm close enough already."

"You need a woman who'll fit into your lifestyle. Someone who knows the difference between a ranch and a farm."

"I'm sure the Sears catalog carries women like that."

"You could start slow. Looking for a woman who was raised in the south would be good for starters. Someone who understands our southern ways, who knows we like everything, from our bread-and-butter pickles to our chicken gizzards, deep fried."

Huh. He needed a southern-fried bride? "Right. I'll put that on my to-do list. Just after the entry about having my head examined."

"We'll look into
that
once this storm passes by."

Monty Joe grew serious again. Will and the hands would work to ensure none of the cattle were lost because of the freezing temperatures. Monty Joe would just have to settle in and wait out the storm. "I'm glad to know you have everything under control."

Just as Will left, Monty Joe's phone rang. Caller ID indicated the call was from Bobby Gray. A chat with his little brother would be just what Monty Joe needed to improve his mood. "Hey, Bro."

"Sorry to disappoint you. It's your sister-in-law, Kelli."

"My favorite Dr. Princess."

"Not you now. I told your brother to quit calling me that, and when I get my hands on you, you'll regret repeating it."

Monty Joe grinned. "Noted, Dr. Kelli Palmer Nelson, veterinarian extraordinaire."

"I know you must be busy getting the livestock protected for the snowstorm, but I need a favor."

"I'm never too busy for a favor for you."

"Well, it's sort of a family favor."

"I'm happy to help out if I can."

"Good. That's what I told Lori."

Lori? Oh heavens. What had he gotten himself into now? She was the only member of the Palmer family he simply couldn't tolerate. Monty Joe bit back a sigh. "What do you need?"

"The DFW airport is snowed in, so Lori's flight got diverted to College Station. And she's stranded. There aren't any available hotel rooms in the area."

Monty Joe's stomach churned. Kelli wasn't going to ask him to—

"Can you go get her and bring her back to the Nelson Ranch?"

—She was.

Every fiber of his being convulsed in response.

"It's only overnight. By morning I'm sure the DFW airport will be open and operational again."

Where moments before he'd dreaded another lonely night, now he'd far prefer his own quiet company to Lori's. Selfish was a word that couldn't adequately describe Kelli's younger sister. The way Lori had almost managed to keep Kelli and his brother apart was indicative of Lori's true nature.

Kelli and Bobby Gray had forgiven her, but Monty Joe hadn't. And couldn't. But how could he tell Kelli he wouldn't help out?

"Doesn't the airline make arrangements for the flight crew?"

"Usually they do, but this is an exceptional situation. The rest of the flight crew is male and there was only one hotel room available. She could stay in the airport..."

Her voice trailed off, and so did any chance of him refusing Kelli's request. "As I said, I'll be happy to help out."

"I told Lori you'd say that."

"She expected me to decline?" She would. If she were in his shoes, she'd probably tell him to go jump in the nearest cattle pond.

"She doesn't want to inconvenience you or put you out. I'm sure she won't be any trouble or bother."

"Great." Just hunky-dory. That's exactly what Lori was going to be—trouble, a bother, a royal pain in the posterior region.

"She said you don't like her, but I told her she was being silly. Thanks so much, Monty Joe."

Chapter 2

Where a short time earlier, the College Station airport had been bustling with stranded travelers, now the terminal had cleared out so much an eerie silence took up the space. Only a few people lingered, like Lori, waiting for transportation or taking up residence on a nearby bench to ride out the storm.

Now she had to make a phone call she dreaded. To her boss at the literacy organization, Carolyn Mayes. They'd known each other since high school, and apparently, without Lori previously being aware of it, she'd been Carolyn's nemesis since the Homecoming Dance their senior year.

The boy Carolyn liked, and thought would ask her to the dance, had asked Lori instead. And she'd accepted.

Fast forward nearly ten years.

When she'd interviewed for the fundraising directorship, Carolyn had been reluctant to hire her. Eventually she'd dismissed her misgivings because everyone knew one thing about the Palmer girls—they were exceptionally good at raising money for good causes.

Lori's first course of action had been to set up a charity golf tournament. One that was to take place in only a few days. Lori had promised to be back in Dallas to finalize all the last-minute details.

And now her flight was cancelled.

Lori hoped Carolyn would understand, since she was experiencing first-hand the same weather keeping Lori from returning to Dallas.

She sighed and pressed the call button.

Voicemail picked up on the first ring.

What a relief.

"Hi, Carolyn. Thanks to the storm, my flight back to Dallas has been cancelled. Most of the tournament arrangements are already in place, and those that aren't can wait until I return tomorrow. I'm sorry I can't get back today. I'll call you when I'm back in town."

Lori clicked the disconnect button and checked the time.

It had been over half an hour since she'd spoken to her sister, and Monty Joe should arrive soon. She sure didn't want him to miss her, so she grabbed the handle of her large suitcase with her left hand and picked up her carry-on with her right, then stepped outside the terminal.

Because of the swirling snowflakes, she'd known it wouldn't be warm outdoors, but she hadn't expected the flash-freeze of the whipping wind.

She didn't have a coat, and the thin synthetic fibers of her flight-attendant jacket did nothing to shield her from the cold. She could only huddle near the wall while she waited.

A big pick-up truck pulled to the curb moments later. The door opened. She saw the hat first, then Monty Joe emerged. He set cold eyes on her. She stood frozen, unsure what was to come.

Despite their mutual dislike of each other, no female in her right mind could help admiring his masculine good looks, from the breadth of his muscled shoulders to the strength of his facial features.

Yes, he was a mighty fine specimen of Texas purebred cowboy.

And this wasn't just any cowboy.

This was Monty Joe, the biggest, baddest and bravest of them all.

"I hope it doesn't
inconvenience
you, but we need to get this show on the road," he finally said, breaking the intensity of their shared gaze.

She fought back a flush of embarrassment over staring at him so long. She sure didn't like the way he'd said the word
inconvenience
—as if it was exactly what he hoped to do. In the best of times he didn't like her, and this snowstorm was anything but that.

She'd acted kindly, by giving the other flight attendants the only hotel room, and her reward? Monty Joe's hostility. Where was the justice in that?

"Toss your suitcase in the back, and we'll head out," he instructed as he jumped back into the truck.

She couldn't snap to it on his orders, because it was one thing to wheel her big suitcase around, but another to get it into the truck. She dragged her luggage toward the truck, then opened the passenger door. "Can you help with my big bag?"

He shot her a look of pure—what? Annoyance? Disinterest? Dislike? But eventually he sighed and lumbered back out of the truck.

Just as he grabbed her big suitcase and hefted it to toss in the flatbed—giving an exaggerated grunt over the weight—an older man approached her and asked, "Can you tell me where the washrooms are?"

He seemed like a sweet old man, and she gave him detailed directions despite the cold making her shiver. Once he was on his way, she tossed her carry-on into the bed of the truck and climbed into the passenger seat next to Monty Joe. "Brrr."