Karen Rose Smith - It Happened One Wedding Night

T he country music blaring from the jukebox inside the Hitching Post, a popular watering hole on the outskirts of San Antonio, didnt make conversation easy. But Ryder Redstone wasnt interested in conversation. He hadnt been interested in much of anything since the night of his half brothers wedding reception in September. Usually calf roping and the rodeo circuit kept him keyed up, ready to tackle the next competition.

Tomorrow morning he was leaving for California to compete for a substantial purse and a brand-new truck. But even that thought didnt get his adrenaline flowing. It seemed only thoughts of Daisy Harding did. That one night theyd spent together

Since that night hed had to frequently shrug off the vision of her face as hed discovered she was a virgin, as well as the memories of the pleasure that had over-taken them both. A thirty-year-old virgin! At first hed been astonished, then particularly pleased until hed awakened to find her gone. Since then, hed kicked himself up and down. After all, Daisy was his new sister-in-laws sister.

Youre spending entirely too much time thinking about a woman you might never see again, he silently admonished himself.

Looking for a distraction, he caught sight of a blonde standing at the end of the bar. Hed spotted her here a couple of times before. She was a looker, with her curly hair, blue eyes and tight jeans.

Suddenly the bartender yelled for Ryder and pointed to the phone.

Immediately worried that something was amiss with his parents at Rimrock Ranchhed told them he was stopping herehe scraped back his chair and strode quickly to the phone.

How much are you going to win in San Diego this time? It was his half brother Cade.

He and Cade had their mothers Cheyenne blood in common. Ryders birth father, whod been a good father to Cade, too, was also Cheyenne. The bonds of heritage united the family in a way nothing else could. Im going to win a shiny crew cab along with enough money to see me through the year.

Whew! High stakes. How about doing me a favor afterward?

Cade was the responsible older brother, steady, now married and settled down. The illegitimate son of a deceased Montana landowner, Cade had been called to Whitehorn, Montana, by his newfound grandfather last spring to receive his legacy. Hed decided to stay a month or so to get to know Garrett Kincaid and other members of his family, as well as to forget about a fiance whod left him at the altar. Instead hed met Leanne Harding, married her, and was now building a life there. He wouldnt be asking for a favor if he didnt need one.

Trouble? Ryder asked. The Kincaid ranch where Cade was living had seen its share.

Everythings fine, but Id like you to come up and start some green colts that I bought. Within the next week or so were going to have our hands full with calving. You could help out with that in your spare time.

Ryder laughed. There was no spare time on a ranch, especially not on one the size of the Kincaid spread.

February and March were slow months for rodeoing. He could give Cade some of his time if thats what he needed. Sure I can get them started. But dont you have someone to help out? Ryder remembered a tall, brooding, blond wrangler whod kept his distance from Ryder whenever hed visited Cade.

I dont like the way he handles the horses. He could learn a lot from you.

Im no teacher, Ryder said. You know that.

Yeah, I know. Everything you do, you do by instinct. But just watching you around the horses might help Watts get the hang of how I intend to handle training around here.

Ryder planned to leave tomorrow morning to drive to San Diego. Add on five days for the rodeo, another four or five to get back up to Montana. Ill be there in about two weeks. Is that okay?

Thats great. And good luck in California. Ill be watching for that new truck.

Ryder grinned as he said goodbye, and his gaze rested again on the woman still standing by the bar. Her blue eyes looked into his brown ones as friendly as all get-out. Why sit alone when he could have the company of a pretty woman? And maybe more.

But as he ambled toward her, he saw Daisy Hardings face once more. If his visit to Cade lasted long enough, he might run into her again.

Or he might not.

He told himself it didnt matter.

D aisy was still in shock as she parked in front of one of the detached garages on the Kincaid ranch. Shed quit her job and still couldnt quite believe shed done it!

She laid her hand protectively over her stomach. Shed only started wearing maternity clothes the past few weeks when none of her old clothes would fit. Thats when the rumors around the school and among parents had apparently started.

Yesterday, to her dismay and astonishment, Mr. Gladden, the principal of the private school in Sedgemore who had hired her for her specialized skills in teaching reading, had called her up in front of the board of directors. Theyd had questions for her. Personal questions. Too personal for her liking and none of their business. The members had asked if she was engaged, if she planned to marry. It was obvious where the inquiries were headedto dismissal. Her contract contained an ambiguous morals clause the board could interpret however it wanted. So before they could fire her, shed quit. Upset when shed gotten back to her apartment, shed called her sister, Leanne, to finally confide in her that she was pregnant.

Daisy climbed out of her well-worn but reliable SUV, opened the back door and removed her suitcase. Her recital to Leanne had been met with stunned silence until her sisters usual buoyancy had taken over. Concerned about Daisy and up in arms at a school that would do such a thing, Leanne had invited her to come and stay at the Kincaid ranch for as long as she needed to.