Romance: Loving The Alpha Cowboy: BBW Cowboy Romance (BBW Romance And Alpha Males, Western Contemporary Romance, Cowboy Romance) (2 page)

Chapter 2

In all her life, she’d never had a man genuinely kiss the back of her hand.

“Please keep showing me your farm?” she asked.

“Ranch.”

“Right, ranch.”

“Right this way.”

The fact was not lost on her that he didn’t let go of her hand as he led her toward the barn.

She’d only ever heard of farm animals. It was weird to meet these animals that were so familiar to her, yet she’d never seen one with her own eyes, never touched one, never smelled one. Cows were huge!

Tucker moved like an expert, calming the animals to the newcomer, and warming them up to her.

It took a bit of courage to reach out and actually touch one of his prize cows on its side. I’m touching beef, she thought. Beef looked at her, its massive head swinging around as if on a lazy hinge.

“Hi,” she said, but those eyes just blinked at her, calm as anything.

He continued showing her around, freeing the animals from the barn to go grazing out in the pastures. The horses, cows, and goats were as happy as anything to roam about.

“You just let them go? Aren’t you afraid they’ll run off or something?”

“Naw,” he said, “got the place fenced off. ‘Sides, they know where they get fed.”

As he went about milking his cows by hand, feeding his chickens, and tending to the other early morning chores, he told her about him.

This was his family’s ranch for eight generations now. It used to be much bigger, but they’d downsized it when it was his father’s.

There used to be ranch hands, and every barn had been full, but the market had shifted and running the ranch fulltime had become more work than the payoff. So, instead of running it as a business, Tucker’s father decided to close it down and simply make the ranch their way of life.

The few bills he had, Tucker paid for with his winnings.

When she asked what winnings, he took her inside the house.

Down the hall, in their own little room were shelves and display cases full of trophies. Each of them had a little image of a cowboy atop a rearing horse, lasso high overhead in mid-twirl.

“Bit of a riding and roping aficionado,” he said when she gawked at all of the trophies and ribbons.

“Aficionado?” she asked.

“Hey, if you’re good at somethin’…” he said and she nodded.

“Absolutely.”

Colleen was so impressed, she felt the need to give the display all due attention. Starting with the left side of the room, she carefully examined the small plaque of each trophy and read each ribbon. Some were low ranking, but she noticed that each of those were from years ago.

Gosh, he must’ve been just a boy when he won those. That inspired her to check the dates on them, and just as she suspected, with each year he placed higher and higher. Every ribbon or trophy from the last three years were in the top three, most of them displaying a big fat “#1” on it.

“And you really make money doing this?” she asked, looking up.

Tucker was gone.

“Hey,” she called, going to the door, but still didn’t see him.

It wasn’t until she heard sounds from the kitchen that she found him there making food.

“You left,” she said and came to lean against the counter.

Tucker gave a small laugh. “It always makes me a little squeamish when people look at my trophies.”

“Why?”

“I put ‘em in there for me. It’s a record of my journey, a reminder of all I’d done to get here, ya know? I’m not the braggin’ type.”

“So, it’s like when someone is looking in there, it’s like they’re reading your diary.”

Tucker pointed a butter knife at her.

“Exactly.”

That had to have been the sweetest thing she’d ever heard.

For a time she just sat watching him as he whipped up the eggs and sliced vegetables.

She wanted to ask what they were having for breakfast, but it was kind of hot to watch a man cook. All Roland ever did was ridiculing her at every meal, saying she was so fat because she ate so much.

“What’s the matter?” Tucker asked, pulling Collen back to the present.

“What? Oh, nothing.”

“You looked real unhappy there. Don’t like omelets? I can make you somethin’ else.”

“No, no,” she said quickly, “I love omelets.”

“What is it then? That face wasn’t nothing. I told you about my trophy room. You kinda owe me.”

Colleen smiled at the way he tried to keep a straight face. “I owe you now, do I?”

“Well I wasn’t going to say anything, but since you brought it up…”

The pan sizzled as the butter heated up and he poured in the omelet mix. The scent of what was to come filled the kitchen and she breathed it in.

“Long story short, my ex gave me a hard time about food.”

“Pig,” Tucker said, his face twisted in disgust as he watched the food cook.

“He wasn’t the nicest guy, no.”

“He the reason you’re running?”

Colleen looked at the cowboy’s face and the set of his mouth. This was a man not to be trifled with, and that fact soothed Colleen’s anxiety in a way she didn’t think possible. Emotion caught in her throat, and all she could do was nod.

Tucker beat a broken rhythm against the counter with the butter knife and nodded.

“How about you stay with me, then?”

“I—“ Colleen’s head shook on its own. “What?”

“I got a few spare bedrooms in the back. Clothes, food. I got everything you need. ‘Sides, I could use the help. Got a competition comin’ up, and could use the extra time to practice. This boyfriend a yours comes ‘round, I’ll show him what happens when you show up unwelcome on my land.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” she said quickly. “Not anymore. Not after last night.”

“Well then,” he said, folding the omelet, “you got no reason to say no.”

Colleen licked her lip for a moment, impressed with how smooth he was. It was true, though. She had no reason to say no.

No doubt, Roland would be camped outside her place right now waiting for her to come home. He’d rail and yell, and God knew what else.

All of the city and its bull turned her stomach. Things were so calm here. In all her life, she’d never felt more at peace.

Why couldn’t she stay here with Tucker?

“You know,” she said thoughtfully, “I can’t think of a reason myself.”

“So you’ll stay?” he asked with a wide grin.

“I’ll stay.”

“Hot dog,” he cried out and slid the omelet from the pan onto a plate. “And breakfast is served.”

Chapter 3

The days fell into a smooth groove after that. He showed her around the ranch and gave her duties so she’d feel useful.

It kept her busy, and after she sat by the fence and watched him practice on his horse for the competition. Colleen had no idea what happened at these things, so she didn’t know what to expect.

Watching Tucker practice, though, was a thing of beauty. The man and his horse moved like they were of a single mind.

The power of his arm impressed her more than anything as he threw the lasso around targets, and later as he chased his own goats about the yard. It was like a cannon!

Click. BANG!

And whatever he was chasing was suddenly on the ground and tied. She wasn’t going to lie, she wouldn’t mind being tied up by him. The thought of her hands behind her back as he pulled her hair…

The days passed, and he never made a move. A perfect gentleman. Always and above all else, he made her feel beautiful, special.

The way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her. After that conversation about rudeness when she had first arrived, she was always mindful of her manners.

It wasn’t one-sided, though, which is what she loved most. Tucker always asked with a “please” and received with a “thank you.”

In all things, he was respectful and polite.

Over time as she grew more comfortable, she told him more about Roland. She told him about the way he’d yell at her for being fat, saying she ate like a starved cow and the way she chewed made him sick. It’d made her embarrassed to eat in front of anyone.

The night she’d run, he’d just finished insulting her in front of their so-called friends – none of which said anything to stick up for her – and then he wanted to mess around in the car.

When she said no, feeling too disgusted and hurt to even think about it, he became violent. All she remembered after that was running.

Even as she tried to recall that night, all she could think of was running. The exhaustion in her body, the fear. She didn’t even remember finding his house and falling asleep on the porch.

Tucker sympathized and they drank wine together. Still, even with her pouring her heart out to him, she expected him to take advantage of her vulnerability, but he never did.

A sweet kiss on the cheek, compliments about how beautiful she was and how happy he was that she did find his home, but nothing more.

In time, he shared his history. The poor man. He’d been born in this house, grew up on the ranch helping his father with everything.

When he was a teenager, his parents died in a car accident. The court had deemed him mature enough to become head of the household, and he was left here to look after himself.

Depression had taken ahold of him, and he’d gained weight. In little time at all, he’d become too heavy to compete which only depressed him more. The ranch began falling apart.

He couldn’t recall what exactly had done it, maybe the disrepair of the barn, maybe the dead vegetable garden, but he’d finally had enough. This was his family’s ranch, and he was disrespecting their memory by letting it fall to pieces. That’s when he pulled himself up by his bootstraps and got to work.

He fixed the barn, rebuilt the porch around the house, and gave everything a fresh coat of paint. The vegetable garden, as sizable as it was, had to be ripped up, tilled, and replanted.

As he took control of his life, his weight soon came back down and he was able to compete again. It was hard at first, which is why he kept all of the low ranking ribbons.

Soon, though, the long fight began to pay off. The ranch blossomed, his body worked and moved how it used to, and he began to win again.

That was the real meaning behind the trophy room, and when he steps in there, it reminds him why he works so hard.

That night, listening to his story, Colleen realized she’d fallen in love with this man. His strength and quiet nobility moved her in a way no one ever could.

For the rest of her life all she wanted was to be here, with him.

Chapter 4

After that, she took to her chores with a vengeance, and then some. It became a game to finish the tasks he’d given her and then get to some of his before he could.

They’d laugh when the porch would already be swept, or the animals fed before he’d had a chance to go out there. She cheered him on as he practiced for the upcoming competition, and in time, she realized the finer points of what he needed to do.

When he asked how he looked, she could give small tips about how he’d leaned too far, or could cut off some time on his roping.

With every passing day, her worry faded that Roland would just magically show up one day. Each day he never came, she became more secure in her life.

In weeks, she never even thought of Roland anymore. The ranch and Tucker became her whole life.

The day of the competition finally came. Tucker and Colleen got his horse into the trailer and off they drove.

She’d never been so excited! All of his hard work was about to pay off.

As they pulled up to the show grounds, she asked “Are you nervous?”

Tucker chuckled. “Every time.”

“Still?”

“Yep. Never gets easier, but that’s kind of the fun. Never gets old.”

There were so many people. It took a couple hours to settle in and get everything taken care of.

Tucker insisted she sit in the stands as he was used to taking care of the prep by himself, and needed to concentrate.

With her there, he wouldn’t be able to focus. Colleen found that oddly flattering and gave him a kiss on the cheek for good luck.

As she found a seat, she looked around at all of the denim shirts and cowboy hats. There she was in her boots wearing the same thing. It was crazy how much she felt like she finally fit in with something.

Everyone was so excited to watch, and she soaked in their happiness. The competition started with bang. In an instant she was whooping and cheering along with everyone else.

After watching Tucker practice so much, she could point out to herself what the others did right, and what they did wrong. It was like getting a special inside look at the sport. They were all so good! She thought Tucker had been gifted, but after watching the others perform before him, she started feeling even more nervous.

Then, she saw him on his horse at the gate. He was up next. Colleen clenched her hands together, her whole body tensing up.

The gun fired, the gate flew open, and he was out in a flash. It was like lightning! She’d never seen him so focused.

As he and his horse moved and spun, she caught glimpses of his face. The set of his jaw, the hard lines of his shoulder, the keenness in his eyes. The man was a knife blade.

When he finished after roping the calf, hands up, stepping back from it, Colleen realized she’d been holding her breath the whole time.

They did event after event, and each time, Tucker pulled first by the barest sliver. She had no idea the competition would be so fierce.

When it ended, they announced Tucker as the champion.

Colleen jumped to her feet, screaming and cheering for him, knowing what each win meant to him. He grinned and waved at the crowd, his eyes hunting the stands.

When they found her, arms waving, his face nearly split in two he grinned so big. He held up the trophy for her to see, and she made a show of nodding and clapping above her head.

Eager to get his horse home and loose, they picked up a quick dinner on the way. She brought the food in while he got the horse settled for the night.

While he was busy, she opened a bottle of wine for them and poured a couple of glasses. They ate and talked excitedly about all the other competitors and how they’d performed.

After they’d eaten and the conversation had calmed a bit, Tucker looked at her and gave her the sweetest smile anyone had ever blessed her with.

“I’m glad you were there today. It really… it’s nice to be able to share the win with someone.”

“You’ve been alone a long time,” she said, studying his features as he looked at her.

He nodded. “I have.”

“But you’re not alone anymore.”

Tucker’s brows pressed together and he looked down at his wine glass.

“Are you going to leave?”

“What?”

“Well, I mean the competition is over, and I, well I thought…”

“Did you think I was only going to stay until the competition was over?”

He shrugged, but didn’t look up.

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No,” he said, his head shooting up. “I mean, that is, if you want to stay, you can.”

“Tucker,” she said, standing and coming to stand next to him. “I want to stay. I’m not going anywhere.”

He set down his glass and stood, taking her hands in his. “I’ve fallen for you somethin’ terrible, Miss. Every day you’re near, I just wake up with the biggest smile on my face.”

Colleen sighed, the pressure of keeping her feelings to herself coming out in a rush of air.

“I’ve fallen for you too. You’re so strong, and handsome. You’re an amazing person, Tucker, and I’m thankful for every day I get to spend with you.”