The Christmas Cowboy Hero Read online

  She put a hand over her mouth as her stomach rebelled. She really was going to be sick, and at the moment, the idea of vomiting on Clayton East sounded tempting.

  There was no way she could come up with $275, much less $275,000. Worse, Clayton knew it. It was written all over his face.

  Danny rose to his feet and stood at the end of the table. “Abby, you need to get Brice to tell you where the rest of the cattle are.”

  The words barely penetrated her mind. She stared at the metal table, her mind blank. Usually, she was able to think up some way to get her brothers out of whatever mess they’d gotten into—and there had been some real doozies.

  She’d toiled through various jobs until she landed a position at the CPA company where she was currently employed. Despite the fact that she worked sixty hours a week, they wouldn’t put her on salary because that would mean they’d have to give her health insurance.

  Even with those hours and every cent she scraped together, it still didn’t cover their monthly bills. But the one thing she’d promised her brothers was that she would take care of them.

  And she had.

  Up until today.

  She scooped up her purse and stood before facing Danny. “I’d like to see my brother now.”

  It took everything within her to walk out of the room without giving the high and mighty Clayton East a piece of her mind.

  Chapter 2

  Stunning. It was the only word that came to Clayton’s mind when Abby Harper walked into the room at the sheriff’s station.

  He was glad he’d been in the corner so he could take his time looking her over. She was of medium height, but there was nothing ordinary about her. Her big blue eyes seemed to suck his very soul away. Her lips were supple and generous with a pale pink shade of lip gloss that gave them shine. He had a ridiculous urge to wipe away the color—not with his fingers, but with his mouth.

  Her brunette hair was pulled back in a ponytail to fall in a queue of deep brown with the occasional caramel lock in the mix. It had him wondering just how long her hair was. And how the length might feel if he ran his fingers through it.

  The fawn-colored coat she wore hung past her hips. It was frayed at the hem in several places, and there were buttons missing at the cuffs and one at her waist, which kept it hanging open. That allowed him to glimpse the cotton candy pink sweater beneath.

  His need to see more of her was what brought him from his position in the corner of the room to stand opposite her at the table. And when he saw the ample breasts that not even her sweater could hide, his cock went hard. Her long, black pencil skirt and tall boots hid her legs, but the material of the skirt molded to her amazing curves like a second skin.

  He hadn’t reacted like this toward a woman since … well, since high school. Clayton hadn’t cared to listen to the things Danny tried to explain to him about the Harpers. Until she walked in. Then, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. And he wanted to know every detail.

  Abby had a delightful mix of strength and vulnerability that made him instantly want to protect her.

  Not that he would carry through with that thought. He had his hands full at the ranch trying to find the CPA who had stolen their money, as well as the missing cattle.

  Clayton had intended to press charges against Brice. Yet, the longer he stared at Abby, the less that mattered. Especially when she declared that she would pay back everything.

  Her eyes had gone wide, and her already pale complexion had whitened further when he’d told her the final price. She hadn’t cried or begged. Her shoulders had slumped, but she’d lifted her chin, the steel in her spine keeping her focused on her family.

  Clayton had watched her demand to see her brother before walking out of the room. But he didn’t move. He couldn’t. He was too mixed up about the entire meeting.

  “I tried to warn you,” Danny said when he returned a few minutes later. “Abby is a good person who is doing her best with Brice.”

  Clayton dropped his arms and hooked a thumb in his belt loop. “The boy needs a male in his life.”

  “I agree.”

  “Is she dating anyone?” But why did the thought of that anger him so?

  Danny flattened his lips as he shook his head slowly. “I’ve several friends who asked her out. Hell, I was even interested, but ever since their mom left when Abby was just eighteen, she’s put her entire focus on her brothers.”

  “Why didn’t you ask her out?” Clayton didn’t know why his mind stuck on the fact that Danny was interested in her.

  “Because she needs a friend,” Danny replied. “And if I ask her out, she’ll no longer consider me a friend.”

  She’d think of him as someone who wanted in her pants. As pretty as Abby was, Clayton thought for sure she’d have someone steady or even be married. But there hadn’t been a ring on her finger. In fact, the only jewelry she wore was a pair of gold star studs in her ears.

  Clayton didn’t want to admire Abby Harper. And he certainly didn’t want to like her, but he found himself doing both against his better judgment.

  “Are you going to press charges?” Danny asked.

  Clayton walked to the door and looked in the direction Abby had disappeared. There was no sign of her, but it wasn’t difficult to imagine how the reunion with her brother was going. He rubbed his jaw and listened as Danny continued to sing her praises. It was during Danny’s speech about how Abby always carried through with her promises that he had an idea.

  “She won’t have the money to bail Brice out, will she?”

  “No,” Danny said.

  With his decision made, Clayton turned his head to Danny. “I want to talk to Brice.”

  “What do you plan?”

  “I’m going to make him work off his debt at the ranch. If he won’t tell me who the other rustlers are, perhaps I can convince him to take me to the cattle before they’re sold or slaughtered.”

  Danny rocked back on his heels. “That’s a good idea. Besides, everyone around here knows the East brand. No one in their right mind would buy any of your cattle without your family being there, but especially not now that the word has spread about the theft.”

  “That’s what I’m hoping.”

  It was a long shot, but Clayton knew he’d get nothing if Brice were prosecuted. And, for some odd reason, he wanted to help the boy. Or perhaps he wanted to help Abby.

  Danny motioned for him to follow as they left the room and moved through the hallways, turning left and right several times “Brice will agree. He’s thoughtless and rash, but deep down, he’s a good kid. He adores Abby. The three of them are tight, leaning on each other to get through each day.”

  “Then Brice should stay out of trouble.” Clayton winced as he heard his father in his words.

  Danny glanced at him over his shoulder, as if he too were shocked at what he’d said.

  Of all the people Clayton had encountered since his return to Texas three days ago, Danny had been the only one who hadn’t pressed to know about the years he had been away. And Clayton was thankful for that. It had begun to get difficult dodging the questions or changing the subject.

  They came to stand in front of a jail cell. It was the first time Clayton had seen Brice, but the moment he laid eyes on the teenager, he could see the resemblance to Abby in the teen’s blue eyes and dark hair.

  The fear in the boy’s gaze reminded Clayton of himself when he’d had that rowdy period in his life after his brother died. Someone had given him a second chance. Maybe that’s why he was feeling generous with Brice.

  The youth’s mouth went slack as he recognized Clayton. Brice slowly got to his feet while nervous energy had him picking at the hem of his shirt.

  “Mr. East,” Brice said.

  Clayton bowed his head. “Mr. Harper.”

  The boy seemed stunned at the response for a moment, but Clayton decided to treat him like an adult and see how things went.

  “Abby said you’re pressing charges,” Brice continue
d.

  Clayton inhaled deeply and crossed his arms over his chest. Beside him, Danny remained silent and still. “Your sister offered to pay back what the ranch is losing because of the stolen cattle and the bull.”

  “Really?” Brice asked with a grin forming.

  “It’s $275,000.”

  The magnitude of it seemed to hit Brice as he collapsed onto the bench. His gaze dropped to the floor. “Abby can do a lot. She manages to pay our bills and put food on the table while seeing that we always have clothes. But she goes without. The only thing she does for herself is take a night class from the university every now and again if she can scrape together the money. There’s no way she can repay that.”

  While he spoke, something occurred to Clayton. “Why did you steal the cattle?”

  There was a slight hesitation as Brice looked up at him. “The money I was promised would’ve helped Abby so she didn’t have to work or worry so much. I wanted her to buy something for herself just once.”

  After hearing that, Clayton knew he’d made the right decision about Brice. What the kid had done was wrong, but he’d been doing it to help his sister, not just for the thrill of breaking the law.

  “Will you tell me who is behind the theft?”

  Brice’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he shook his head.

  Clayton let that go. For now. “I have a proposition for you, Brice. It’s quite a tidy sum the ranch is out. You’re the only one who got caught, so it all falls on your shoulders.”

  “I know,” Brice said, lifting his chin in much the same manner as Abby had not so long ago.

  Clayton was impressed that the teen hadn’t tried to shake off the responsibility. He was shouldering it like a man, which was proof that Abby had done a good job raising him. “I won’t press charges, and you can walk out of this cell today.”

  “What’s the catch?”

  “You’ll work it off at the ranch. During the week, you’ll arrive straight from school and do your homework. Once that’s done, you’ll work until dinner. Then I’ll drive you home. On the weekends and any time you’re not in school, you’ll arrive at six a.m. and work the entire day, returning home at dinner. If you miss one day for anything other than an illness—that I’ll have to confirm—I’ll have Danny pick you up and bring you right back to this cell.”

  “Deal,” Brice said as he stood and walked to Clayton, sticking his hand through the bars.

  Clayton hesitated. “Don’t you want to talk to Abby first?”

  “It’s my mess. I’m going to fix this myself for once.”

  There was hope for the boy yet. Clayton clasped his hand, and they shook. As soon as they stepped apart, Danny opened the jail cell, and Brice walked out.

  The teen was tall, nearly as tall as Clayton. He had a good head on his shoulders, but he needed guidance. Clayton didn’t exactly want the job. Yet, somehow, he found that it was his—and it felt right.

  As they walked from the station, Clayton motioned to the black Chevrolet truck parked in front of the building. “Get in. I’ll take you home.”

  Once they were on the road, Clayton noticed how Brice tried to look around at the interior of the vehicle without making it obvious.

  “Do you drive?”

  Bryon shook his head. “We only have the one car. Abby taught me, and I have my permit, but I haven’t gotten my license yet. It’s fine. I don’t need to drive.”

  “Sure you do. You could share the car and help her out by getting groceries and the like.”

  “I didn’t think of that,” he murmured.

  Clayton glanced at Brice, who ran his hand through his cropped hair. “You seem like a good kid. Don’t make me regret giving you a second chance.”

  “I won’t,” he said as he turned his head to Clayton. “I may act stupid sometimes, but I’m not a fool. I know what you’re doing for me, Mr. East.”

  “My father is Mr. East. Call me Clayton.”

  “Thank you, Clayton,” Brice said. “I won’t let you down.”

  Clayton nodded as they turned onto a road. “You should have that same dedication to your family.”

  “I know,” Brice murmured and looked out the windshield. “I was angry for so long, and I took it out on Abby. She didn’t complain. Not once. She doesn’t deserve to be stuck with us.”

  “Son, I don’t know your family, but I can guarantee that your sister doesn’t feel stuck with you.”

  That brought a hint of a smile to Brice’s lips. The silence of the rest of the ride was only broken by the teen telling him how to get to the house.

  When Clayton pulled into the driveway, he saw the age of the small residence in its peeling paint and the sway of the roof. But everything was clean, and the small yard mowed.

  “Abby says just because we’re poor doesn’t mean we have to live in filth.”

  “She has a point,” Clayton said as he noticed there was no other car in the drive. “I’d hoped to talk to her.”

  Brice unbuckled his seatbelt and shrugged. “Knowing her, she went back to the office and tried to work a little longer to make up for the hour she missed. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, Mr … Clayton.”

  “Tomorrow,” he replied.

  He watched as Brice walked to the door and was greeted by a younger brother. Once they were inside, Clayton drove off, wondering at the regret he felt for not getting a chance to talk to Abby once more.

  Chapter 3

  “The universe is against me,” Abby said as she pulled the stuttering car onto the side of the road and put it in park.

  She felt tears threaten. They rushed forward, burning her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. If she gave in now, she might very well cry for the next week with all the things trying to crush her.

  Blinking several times, she got a hold of herself and swallowed. Then she popped the hood and climbed out of the car. The wind whipped around her, sending a gust straight up her skirt against her bare legs.

  She shivered and hurried around to the front of the 1990 white Honda Accord. The only reason her mother hadn’t taken it with her when she left was because Abby had removed one of the tires to change it the night before. Otherwise, Abby and her brothers would have been left with no vehicle.

  The car had been a blessing, but lately, it was breaking down more and more. The fact that it had done it after her horrendous encounter with Clayton East at the sheriff’s office and had decided to attempt to strand her on the lonely stretch of road was the last straw.

  “You’re going to run,” she told the car while lifting the hood.

  Her hands were so cold that she could barely grip anything. Gloves were a luxury she literally couldn’t afford, but what she wouldn’t give to have something warm against her hands.

  With her teeth chattering, she leaned over the hood and began checking the usual suspects—converter and ignition switch. Everything seemed in order.

  If it weren’t so cold, she might actually be able to think. Give her a hundred degree heat, and she was fine. But let the temps drop below sixty, and she couldn’t function. Since it was now forty-two degrees out, all she could think about was a warm shower, sweats, and two pairs of socks as she snuggled beneath a mound of blankets.

  But in order to get all of that, she had to fix the stupid car.

  “Think, Abby,” she admonished herself.

  She’d repaired the Accord more times than she could remember. She should be able to do this. After doing a couple of jumping jacks to get her blood flowing while holding her arms against herself—partly for the heat, partly to hold her boobs—she once more leaned over.

  The sound of an approaching vehicle reached her. No doubt it was a sheriff’s deputy since they patrolled the road often. The roar of the engine grew louder as it pulled up behind her and stopped.

  She glanced over her shoulder and saw a black truck. Mentally groaning because no doubt it was some manly man who thought she was a damsel in distress, she went back to looking at the engine

 
“I’m fine, thanks,” she hollered, hoping they’d hear her instead of getting out of the vehicle.

  She checked a couple of other parts. With Christmas only a few weeks away, the very last thing she needed was to spend more money on the Accord.

  Tears welled again as she tried to imagine Christmas morning without Brice. While they couldn’t afford decadent Christmases, they had always been together—through tough periods, and even rougher times.

  The sound of the truck door closing made her roll her eyes. She turned as she said, “Really, I’m fi—”

  The rest of the words lodged in her throat as her gaze landed on none other than Clayton East. He was like a bad penny that kept turning up.

  She began to open her mouth, but he quickly spoke over her. “If you tell me you’re fine one more time, I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and toss you into the bed of my truck.”

  The thought of all those muscles beneath her palms was intriguing. Part of her wanted to call his bluff. Yet she kept silent, because she wasn’t sure she wanted to be anywhere near that hard body of his. Mostly because she knew she’d like it entirely too much. And she didn’t have time for anything like that.

  Once Brice and Caleb had graduated with jobs and—hopefully—going to college, then maybe she’d consider it. But not until then.

  Clayton removed his cowboy hat, showing off a wealth of golden hair that hung long and wavy. He raked a hand through the thick length, shoving a portion of the top over to one side.

  She swallowed hard, all too aware of the way her body warmed just looking at him. Her nipples puckered—and it had nothing to do with the cold. And just like in the sheriff’s office, she found herself drowning in his green eyes.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  She blinked, confused. What was he talking about? Her bewilderment must have shown because he pointed behind her. Abby turned and looked at the car. The fact that it took her a second or two to remember why the hood was up, let her know just what kind of effect Clayton had on her.

  “I don’t know. I thought it might be the ignition switch or converter, but both look good.”