Cowboy Tough

By Michelle Beattie

There’s no such thing as a coincidence...

Ryker Granger can’t believe his luck when he meets a beautiful woman stranded on the side of the road outside of Last Stand, Texas. Normally this rancher and part-time mechanic would be too reserved to jump into a relationship, especially since his family is still reeling from questions surrounding their father’s heart attack. But his life’s a tangled mess and Shannon is a welcome distraction.

Shannon Smith set out to meet Ryker Granger. Her staged car breakdown was only the beginning of her plan. Meeting Ryker is her chance to right the wrongs his father inflicted on her family. Her plan skews wildly off course—she only meant to score a date, not fall in love. And Ryker’s a straight arrow; he’ll never forgive such blatant deception. But how can she walk away from the man who has claimed her heart?

As Ryker solves the mystery around his father and learns why Shannon came to Last Stand, he faces his toughest choice yet. Forgive a lie or lose the woman he loves forever?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tule Publishing
• Release date: Sep 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781952560514

Book preview

Prologue

Nearly seven weeks ago…

Baby giggles were the best. Shannon blew another raspberry on her niece’s tummy just to hear the sound again. The high-pitched squeal wrapped around her heart like a long hug and, for a moment, everything was right. Everything was perfect. Shannon lifted her head. An angelic, round face with a toothless smile grinned up at her. Love the likes of which she’d never felt until she’d held Jenna for the first time spread from her toes upward. Grabbing her niece’s legs, Shannon bent down and kissed the little toes. There was just something about baby feet she loved, and no diaper change, bath, or playtime was complete until she’d kissed them.

Shannon finished redressing the baby. Since the tiny apartment didn’t have room for a changing table, Shannon simply left her niece on the floor of the living room while she went to dispose of the dirty diaper and wash her hands. As she dried them, she caught a glimpse of the clock. Nap time. Shannon opened the fridge and pulled out the bottle her sister had prepared. She warmed it in the warmer just long enough to take the chill off.

At nine months old her niece could belly crawl across the carpet and sit up on her own. But, luckily for her aunt, she still liked to be cuddled as she took her bottle. Shannon swept her up and settled into the corner of the couch with Jenna cradled in her arms.

The baby no sooner had the bottle in her mouth than she rubbed at her eye with a plump little fist. Shannon trailed her fingers over Jenna’s feather light blond hair, down a chubby cheek. Her niece’s eyes closed, the picture of innocence and sweetness.

How could anyone not love her? How could anyone not want to know such an angel? Yet that was what her paternal grandfather was doing. Worse, not only did he refuse to meet her, he’d paid her sister, Avery, a hefty sum to ensure she never told his son, Jenna’s father, that he even had a daughter.

Rage burned in Shannon’s gut on Jenna’s behalf. The little girl was innocent. Just because her parents had agreed their few days together were just that, the fact still remained that Hudson Granger had a daughter and he deserved to know about her.

Joe Granger disagreed. Passionately. Unfortunately, so did her sister. Shannon frowned as she watched Jenna suckle. Avery was too independent. Too stubborn. She resolutely stayed behind the agreement she’d made with Hudson that week eighteen months ago on South Padre Island. They’d agreed their tryst was just that. No strings. Even after she’d discovered she was pregnant, she’d refused to seek him out. She was adamant she could raise her daughter on her own and no amount of nagging or cajoling on Shannon’s part ever made a dent in Avery’s resolve.

Not until a few months ago when the child had needed surgery to get rid of a defunct kidney and the infections that kept coming with it. Only then, and only because her medical insurance wasn’t enough to pay for the expensive surgery, had Avery finally agreed to go to Hudson for help. Despite no contact information having been shared, it hadn’t been difficult to find the Granger family in Last Stand. Thank God Hudson had at least told Avery his last name and where he was from.

His father had answered the phone and he’d listened to Avery’s tale and agreed to tell Hudson. Shannon had been thrilled. Not only because Jenna would get the surgery she’d need, but finally Hudson would learn he was a dad. Once he did, Shannon had every faith he’d at least want to see her. And Jenna would have a daddy to take her camping, teach her to fish. Who’d give her rides upon his shoulders. A daddy who’d go to her dance recitals when she was older.

Only it hadn’t gone that way at all. It hadn’t been Hudson who’d been there to meet Avery. It was his father, Joe. And he’d come armed with bribe money. Money he’d only give if Avery agreed to stay out of their lives. With Hudson serving overseas, his son didn’t need the distraction. And her sister, who’d only gone for money for the surgery in the first place, had eagerly agreed.

Oh, Shannon had been livid. Not only with Joe but with Avery. She’d had the chance! Had the chance to fight for what her daughter deserved. Shannon understood accepting the deal, because it was necessary to Jenna’s health, and Avery needed the money. But Shannon had never understood standing behind it. Joe had no business paying her off, using her daughter’s health as leverage, and it still didn’t change the fact Hudson deserved to know.

For a few weeks after the successful surgery, they’d both been too concerned with Jenna’s recovery to focus on the Grangers. But Shannon hadn’t let it go. Especially after Jenna had healed and the doctor pronounced her healthy. She’d resumed her push on Avery to go to Hudson. Jenna was crawling. Soon she’d be talking. Hudson was missing out and so was Jenna, on the chance to have her dad in her life. But Avery was so damn stubborn. More than once she’d told Shannon to back off. Told Shannon if she wanted a relationship with her niece, she’d better leave it alone.

She couldn’t. Not with the memories of her own childhood. Things might not have turned out great with their dad, but he’d been there until they were mostly grown, and they’d had a lot of good years. Just because Avery chose to forget them, to pretend they never happened, didn’t mean Shannon did. And she wanted that for Jenna. Her niece at least deserved to have the opportunity. So Shannon had gone ahead and contacted the Grangers. If Avery wouldn’t go, she would.

Avery had been horrified and seething mad when Shannon told her. But, surprisingly, she’d agreed to meet Joe, who’d once again answered the phone, instead of letting Shannon go.

And now you’ll have what you deserve, baby girl, Shannon crooned softly as her niece’s suckling started to slow and she drifted toward sleep. Because, at that moment, Avery should already be on her way back from the Granger’s family ranch in nearby Last Stand.

We’re going to give you the best life we can. I promise. At least as long as Shannon had a say in the matter.

The baby’s mouth went slack. Shannon eased the bottle away, set it aside. Coming to her feet she carried her niece to the room she shared with Avery and gently set her in her crib. The air conditioner chugged in the window so Shannon draped a light blanket over the baby. Then she stood there, staring until she heard the key in the lock. Shannon crept out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

I can’t wait to hear all about it, she said from the kitchen a moment before she heard the thunk signaling Avery had dropped her bag by the door. Since Shannon had to drive home and Avery didn’t drink, Shannon pulled two sodas from the fridge. They’d celebrate over ginger ale. Feeling especially joyful and in good spirits, Shannon poured the bubbling liquid into wineglasses.

I’m just getting us something to celebrate, Shannon said when her sister came around the corner. With a wide grin, she lifted one of the glasses off the counter. Turning, she held it out to Avery. Her excitement drained out of her when she saw her sister’s angry face.

What happened? The righteous indignation caught in her chest and burned like a flaming trail of fire from there. If Joe had said something to hurt Avery, so help him . . .

He had a heart attack.

He what???

He had a heart attack. We were talking and he turned ashen and clutched his chest. Luckily I got him in the car before he went into full cardiac arrest. Her gaze narrowed. It never would have happened if you hadn’t set up that damn meeting.

Feeling a little sick, Shannon set down the glass then tugged her sister toward the living room. They settled on the couch, facing each other. Shannon wore shorts but Avery was wearing a long summer sundress. The soft cotton brushed Shannon’s knees.

Shannon’s head was reeling. Is he . . . did he . . .?

I was able to perform CPR in the car. He was alive when I left him at the hospital.

Shannon sagged against the cushions. Thank God.

She might not like the man, might not like how he didn’t give a rat’s ass he had a granddaughter, but she didn’t wish him harm. He was, after all, her niece’s grandfather, and Shannon hadn’t given up hope of Jenna one day having a loving extended family.

I shouldn’t have gone. I should have canceled right away like I wanted to when you told me you’d arranged this second meeting. Her sister sat up taller, too, and her jaw set in a hard line. I told you I never wanted anything from the Grangers. Jenna is mine, and I don’t need Hudson or his money or—

Jenna deserves a family.

She has one. Me, you, and Mom. That’s enough.

But it wasn’t. Not nearly so. Especially with their mom now sick. Jenna deserved more than just a mother and one aunt. She needs a father and uncles who care about her. She narrowed her gaze as Avery’s chin jutted out. You did tell Joe that, didn’t you?

No. That wasn’t why I went.

What? We agreed—

No, I said I’d see him, nothing else. I was tired of your badgering me, so I agreed to go. But the only thing I’d planned on telling him was that he’d never hear from me again. She shook her head as she blew out a troubled breath. But he wouldn’t let me speak. The moment I got out of my car, he started shouting. I’d barely gotten two words out when he had the attack.

Shannon wasn’t heartless. She took no joy in the fact Joe was in the hospital. But if he’d just been reasonable . . .

What did you tell his sons when you saw them at the hospital, then?

"I didn’t see them. Once he was in triage, I snuck out. I told you, Shannon, I don’t want anything from that family and leaving was the smartest thing. This way nobody knows my name or why I was with Joe, and I can continue to raise my child. Her eyes snapped. And it’s going to stay that way."

And what? Jenna goes through life without a father?

It’s not like ours was so fabulous. He walked out on us, remember?

Yeah, I haven’t forgotten that part. Shannon’s words were as clipped as her sister’s. "But neither have I forgotten the years before he left. The years he was there. She looked pointedly at Avery. We had a dad growing up. He was in our lives and it was good for a long time. Until the booze took over. Don’t you want that for your daughter?"

Hurt shone in her sister’s eyes. She can’t be hurt by what she’s never had.

Shannon bowed her head. It was the same argument they’d had since learning Avery was pregnant. She’d hoped in time, especially after their mom had been diagnosed with ALS, that her sister would realize she needed Hudson. Avery managed pretty well on her salary as an RN, but child support would certainly help, especially now that they had to pay for their mom to be in an extended-care facility. And surely, she could use some emotional help as well. Heck, there were times Shannon felt overwhelmed by it all, and she wasn’t also trying to raise an infant on her own.

Yes, she can. You don’t think she’ll ask, one day, where her daddy is? Or why she doesn’t have a father like everyone else?

Angry, Avery leapt from the couch. Better than telling her, her daddy doesn’t love her enough to change. Or doesn’t love her more than he does alcohol. She sucked in a breath. I can’t keep having this same argument with you. It’s done. Forget the Grangers. I plan to. She looked at the clock. When did Jenna go down for her nap?

Knowing she needed to back off, at least for now, Shannon sighed. Just as you were coming in.

I’m going to join her. You can let yourself out.

Shannon remained on the couch long after the bedroom door closed. She stared at the wall and the framed photos Avery had hung in the shape of a flower with Jenna’s baby picture in the center. Around it were photos of Jenna with their mom, with Avery, with Shannon. None of their dad. Granted, their dad didn’t even know about her . . . hard to when he’d walked out of their lives ten years ago, never to be seen again. But in Avery’s mind, that was the day he ceased to exist.

It had taken longer for Shannon to accept he was gone. At fifteen, under the guise of meeting friends, Shannon had walked the streets looking for him. Not a smart idea as some of the areas in San Antonio weren’t the safest, but she’d needed to try. Needed to find him and beg him to come back. He was her daddy and she needed him. More, she didn’t want to live without him.

But as time went by, as each search turned fruitless, she’d slowly started looking less. Every other day. Then once a week. Once a month, until she’d finally given up. She never understood how Avery had cut him out of her life so easily when Shannon had still missed him.

She can’t miss what she’d never known.

Shannon didn’t believe that for a second. Jenna didn’t have to know her daddy to miss having one. She’d see the other dads at school concerts, field trips, graduation. She would absolutely miss having hers there. Sure, there was no guarantee Hudson would be there, but didn’t they owe it to Jenna to at least try?

Avery was as willing to give up on him as she had been with their dad.

But Shannon had never been one to give up easily.

Chapter One

Squinting through the sheet of rain that her wipers struggled to swish away, Shannon eased her car to the side of the muddy gravel road. It had been overcast and dry in San Antonio, but she’d hit rain as she’d neared the Hill Country, and it was clear by the amount of greasy mud sucking at her tires that it had been raining for a while. She shifted her car into park, leaned back against the cloth seat, and took a deep breath.

Here we go, she muttered.

She barely heard her own voice over the drumming of the rain on the roof. In fact, the downpour helped drown out her conscience, which, not for the first time, was telling her this wasn’t the best idea. Shannon closed her eyes. It wasn’t entirely wrong.

What she was about to do was sneaky and underhanded. Not to mention dishonest. She wasn’t proud of herself. It wasn’t as though she was sitting there excited to get started. After her talk with Avery all those weeks ago, she’d tried to let it go. She’d tried to honor her sister’s wishes that they just leave the Grangers alone. But every time she saw Jenna, or walked the River Walk, seeing families together, dads holding their kids’ hands the way she remembered her dad doing, families eating together on outside patios, her resolve to see Jenna have those same experiences thrust to the surface. Her niece deserved to be loved like that. To have that kind of childhood.

There were no guarantees. Shannon knew that as well as anyone, but another reason she was parked in a rainstorm was a dream she’d had a few weeks ago. One where both she and Avery died in a car accident. With their dad gone, and their mom ill, what would happen to Jenna if something unforeseen happened to the little girl’s mother or aunt? They had relatives, but not close ones. Nobody they saw more than at funerals or reunions, or the odd wedding. Nobody close enough Shannon would feel comfortable leaving her niece with.

Avery was only thinking about her deal with Hudson. About how much their own dad had hurt them. And her damn determination to raise Jenna on her own, to not have to count on anyone else. Shannon was considering every possibility, every worst-case scenario. And her gut. All of which were telling her Hudson and his family were the answer.

Her sister, as if knowing the path of Shannon’s thoughts, chose that moment to call. Shannon cringed. This wasn’t going to go well. Bracing for it, she answered the call. Hey.

Don’t ‘hey’ me, Avery snarled in her ear. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on instead? I stopped by the Boot Scootin’ Saloon on my way to the daycare to pick up Jenna, and they said you were on a leave of absence. So I went to your place to ask what’d happened and your landlords told me you’d moved. Her long, beleaguered sigh filled Shannon’s ear. "Tell me you didn’t do it. Tell me you didn’t do what I explicitly told you not to do."

Shannon scrunched up her nose. Well, technically, I haven’t done anything yet.

Shannon! I told you to stay out of this!

I can’t. I tried. I swear I did, and she had for over seven weeks, but I can’t let this go. Not without trying everything we can.

I took the money, Shannon. I made the choice. You need to get back here and forget whatever it is you have planned.

You didn’t ‘take’ the money. You needed it for Jenna. It wasn’t about extortion or blackmail and that’s how Joe made you feel!

I got what I needed and Jenna is okay. That’s all that matters.

No, that’s not all that matters. Family matters.

She has a family. She has you, me, and Mom.

And what happens to Jenna if something happens to us the way it has Mom? Which was a real fear to Shannon, even though ALS wasn’t necessarily hereditary. In fact, given no one else in their family had it, chances were slim they’d get it. But even if they didn’t, accidents could happen. Life was uncertain. She hated the idea of Jenna being left vulnerable. As far as Shannon was concerned, the more safety nets they had to protect the little girl, the better.

Joe’s made it clear he wants nothing to do with us or Jenna, Avery stated.

For all we know that’s only Joe talking. That’s why I—

Why you what? What is it you hope to gain by going to Last Stand?

Information. I feel like we’re playing poker and we’re missing most of the cards. First I want to find out if the rest of his sons are even aware of Jenna’s existence. I also want to learn when Hudson is due back because if the others don’t know, we need to wait to tell Hudson face-to-face. After Joe’s machinations I don’t think we should deal with anyone but Hudson himself.

There is no ‘we,’ Shannon. I told you when I hooked up with Hudson those few days that we both agreed it was no strings, no commitments. It was meant to be a casual, one-time thing.

That was before you got pregnant. Look, if he knows and doesn’t want to be part of her life, he still owes you child support. And if he doesn’t know? Then I think he has the right to. He can make his own decisions from there. Same as his brothers. They have a right to know they have a niece.

I thought you said you didn’t want to deal with anyone but Hudson?

I don’t, not about Jenna. But I’ve rented an apartment here for a month. It’ll give me a chance to get to know them, see what kind of people they are in the meantime. See if they’re the kind of men we even want in Jenna’s life.

You know you can’t have it both ways, right? Once we tell Hudson, whether he and the rest of his family are jerks or not, you can’t forbid them from seeing her.

Shannon had considered that. And she was playing the odds. You said Hudson was nice. And he’s in the military, so that shows strength of character. And Joe gave you the money, so he can’t be all bad. He hadn’t even demanded a paternity test; he’d just written the check.

Silence followed a long sigh. She pictured her sister pacing the apartment.

We don’t even know if Hudson is in the country. Joe said he was away on active duty.

That’s why I want to do this. Besides getting to know the family, there are a lot of unanswered questions. Do they know about you at all? When is Hudson back? And you know you’ve been wondering how Joe’s doing. I can find that out too.

They’d been watching the obituary section and had yet to see Joe Granger’s name appear, so they assumed he hadn’t died. But they didn’t know anything about his recovery.

Avery hadn’t learned much about Hudson in the short time they’d been together. They’d met on South Padre Island and apparently hadn’t spent much time talking. He had told her he was in the military and was taking a needed vacation before his next deployment. Other than that he’d mentioned his family owned a ranch in Last Stand and he had a handful of brothers. Luckily that was enough of a starting point for Shannon. From there, thanks to an internet search, she’d learned about the Diamond G ranch. Although the ranch website focused more on their horses and cattle than the men who ran it, further searches of Grangers in Last Stand had yielded more information.

Granger Automotive and Ryker’s name had come up. The business also had a website, which proved helpful as it included a little map that showed it was based out of the Diamond G. Google had also told her there was a Gage Granger who worked as an EMT for the town and that Cam Granger, champion rodeo tie-down roper, was also from there. Given the town’s population was under ten thousand, she assumed they were all Hudson’s brothers.

Now I know why you canceled Tuesday.

Shannon always spent Tuesdays with Jenna. Not only did it give her one-on-one time with her niece, it was also Avery’s scheduled day off, which allowed her sister to catch up on appointments and errands without dragging a baby around.

I’ll come next week, I promise.

This is a dumb idea. What about your job?

Like you said, I’m on a leave of absence. It’ll be there when I get back. In the meantime I’ll find something here.

Where will you live?

I found a cheap furnished apartment, don’t worry. I’ll still be able to help with Mom. And I’ll visit every Tuesday and FaceTime Mom, too. Rain continued to sluice off the windshield as she waited for Avery’s reply.

So how are you planning on finding out what you want to know?

One of his brothers, Ryker, owns a garage. I’m about to have car trouble and call for a tow truck.

Another worried exhale carried through the phone. I hate this. And not just you going behind my back. We don’t know anything about these people or the town.

You saw this place. It’s one of those everyone-knows-everyone kind of towns. It’ll be fine. Besides, this wasn’t her first visit to the town. Unbeknownst to Avery, Shannon had attended the Last Stand rodeo a week or so back on the Fourth of July.

When this all comes out, Avery stated, I will make it clear it was all your idea.

That’s fine, Shannon agreed. As long as Jenna got what she deserved, Shannon would handle the fallout.

After promising to keep in touch, Shannon ended the call. She dropped the phone into the cup holder, shut off the engine, and pulled the lever releasing the latch on the hood of the car. Then, despite the cascade of water, she grabbed the screwdriver from the glove box, pushed open the door, and stepped outside. She was instantly wet and, by the time she propped the hood open and stood looking down at the engine, lukewarm rain water was pouring down the back of her neck.

Leaning forward, Shannon used the screwdriver to pry up the cable on the negative battery post. She’d had her car stall often enough that her friend’s brother, who was a mechanic, had showed her how to do basic work like her own oil and tire changes to save money. He’d also explained how sometimes a battery connection got loose and all she had to do was tap it back in place. From there she’d assumed the same could be applied in reverse. Though most people didn’t want their cars not to start, in this case it was imperative Shannon’s didn’t. And this way wouldn’t cost money she didn’t have since she wasn’t breaking anything.

Shannon darted back into her car, closed the door, and tried the ignition. She nodded when the engine didn’t so much as wheeze, then hid the screwdriver back inside the glove box. After running her fingers through her dripping hair, she wiped her palms on her jeans and again lifted the phone from the console. This time she opened her contacts and scrolled through to the Gs. She found Ryker’s pre-programmed number just as lightning lit up the gray afternoon. It was immediately followed by a boom of thunder that shook her little car.

Shannon stared down at her phone. She was superstitious enough to think that might have been an omen. For a moment she hesitated, reconsidered. But then she thought of her niece, and that little girl’s future, and what Joe Granger had tried to steal from her. Then she pictured Jenna asking Avery why she didn’t have a daddy. With a determined set to her jaw, Shannon pressed the call button.

* *

Women. There were damn women everywhere. And if he wasn’t coming face-to-face with one in