Luke's Would-Be Bride. Sandra Steffen

Wyatt said.

      “What’s worse, we have to ask Isabell Pruitt to help,” Clayt grumbled.

      “I could strangle my grandfather,” Wyatt declared.

      “I’d be glad to help,” Clayt sputtered. “But I don’t know how in the hell I’d fit it in.”

      Luke didn’t think there was much he could add to that. After all, Clayt did have his hands full these days. It had only been a few weeks since his ex-wife had breezed into town just long enough to dump their nine-year-old daughter on his doorstep, saying that she’d had it with parenting. Haley might not have seemed like such a handful if Luke and Clayt’s mother hadn’t been called away to Oregon to care for her ailing mother, leaving her men to fend for themselves. The fact that the grass was burning up on the family spread only compounded Clayt’s worries.

      It took Luke a while to notice that nobody was talking. He looked from Clayt to Wyatt with ‘What?’ written all over his face.

      Wyatt was studying Luke through narrowed eyes. “I was just wondering why you’re not complaining louder than anybody about the fact that there are only two new women in town and sixty-two bachelors vying for their attention.”

      “That’s right,” Clayt cut in. “Why aren’t you swearing up one side and down the other?”

      Luke didn’t think there was much use in trying to deny anything. After all, Clayt and Wyatt both knew him like the backs of their own hands. When he was good and ready, he hitched his fingers through his belt loops and rocked back on his heels.

      “I don’t particularly like the idea of competing with at least half the county for a woman’s affections, but it just so happens that I have a little advantage.”

      “What advantage?” Clayt asked.

      “It’s not a big deal, really.”

      “Don’t make me drag it out of you,” Clayt threatened.

      “Don’t make me help him,” Wyatt added.

      Luke almost smiled.

      “Well?” Clayt demanded.

      Lowering his voice as if guarding a secret, Luke finally answered. “It just so happens that I know something the other bachelors don’t.”

      “About the two new women?” Wyatt asked.

      “About Jillian.”

      “I’ll give you to the count of three,” Clayt declared.

      This time Luke didn’t even try to keep the grin off his face. Glancing from Clayt to Wyatt, he said, “I know where she works.”

      “Where?” Two voices rose in unison.

      “In my office. With me.”

      Clayt and Wyatt tipped their hats up at the same time, but Clayt was the first to find his voice. “How in Sam Hill did you manage that?”

      With an unmistakable heat still vibrating through his body, Luke said, “Just my lucky day, I guess.”

      He turned around and, without another word, slowly sauntered out the door. Yes sirree. Today was definitely his lucky day. And from the looks of things, tomorrow was going to be even better.

       Chapter Two

      “Did you ever see so many cowboy hats in one room?” Jillian asked, looking up from the box of pots and pans she was unpacking.

      “Forget the cowboy hats,” Lisa said coyly. “Did you ever see so many cowboys in one room?”

      “This is ranching country, so it only stands to reason that there would be cowboys here.”

      Lisa pushed an empty box out of her way. With her hands on her hips she asked, “But doesn’t it seem more than a little amazing how things are working out? I mean, what were the chances that we’d see that advertisement luring women to Jasper Gulch? Could it be possible that there really are men in the world who are looking for more than a one-night stand?”

      “You heard what they said at the meeting tonight,” Jillian answered. “The Jasper Gents are shy but willing.”

      “I think they might have been stretching the truth a bit with that shy part.” Lifting her hair off her neck, Lisa asked, “Does it feel awfully warm in this kitchen to you?”

      Jillian shook her head and said, “Do you think the fact that you decided to stir up a loaf of cinnamon swirl coffee cake, which you baked in a kitchen that was already sweltering hot, has anything to do with that?”

      Lisa shrugged. “I couldn’t help it. After passing out those flyers to the people at the town meeting tonight, I had an incredible amount of restless energy. And you know I always cook when that happens.”

      Straightening, Jillian strode to the refrigerator. Of course she knew that Lisa cooked when she got excited, just as Lisa knew that she couldn’t boil water. Their knowledge of each other went back through a series of years, through a series of heartaches, of whispered secrets and treasured smiles, to a time when they’d both needed a friend more than they’d needed anything else in the world. In the face of such a friendship, the fact that they were complete opposites only made things more interesting.

      “I’ve never felt like this before.”

      The deep, raspy note in Lisa’s voice drew Jillian around. “What do you mean?”

      “I’ve never felt on the verge of so many possibilities. I mean, just look at this kitchen. Look at this house.”

      Jillian glanced at the old-fashioned stove, the worn floor and painted cupboards. She’d seen a lot of kitchens that were more modern, but she knew what Lisa meant. This rented house marked a new beginning for Lisa, a chance at happiness, maybe even a chance at love.

      Since the only items in the refrigerator were leftover burgers from a fast-food place in Western Minnesota and two half-empty cans of soda, she closed the door and stood leaning against it. A breeze wafted through the nearby screen, fluttering the flyaway wisps of hair around her face.

      “You were lucky to find this house in so short a time.”

      Lisa muffled a yawn with one hand. “We can thank that sweet old Cletus McCully for that. I liked him the moment I met him when he showed us this house two weeks ago. He said he trusts me. Can you believe that? He didn’t even ask for a security deposit. Did I tell you that he said people don’t lock their doors at night in Jasper Gulch? I’ve never lived in a town like this, and I certainly never thought I ever would. But just look at us. We’re here. You’ve already found a job, although I was hoping you’d take a little time off for a change, and I’m going to open a clothing store. Maybe you’re right, Jillian. Maybe dreams really can come true.”

      Jillian followed the course of Lisa’s gaze out the window to the east. “Of course dreams really can come true. Travis and Cori are living proof.”

      “Yeah. What do you suppose everyone’s doing back in Wisconsin?” Lisa asked.

      “They’re probably doing what they always do at eleventhirty on a week night. Sleeping.”

      “I’ll bet Travis and Cori aren’t sleeping.”

      Jillian shook her head at Lisa’s reference to their friends who were planning to be married next month. “You, Lisa Markman, have a dirty mind.”

      “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you for years.” After a slight pause Lisa added, “Do you think they miss us?”

      For at least the thousandth time since she’d met Lisa, Jillian wondered what it would take to make her friend see herself for what she really was. At five foot five, Lisa was a little shorter than