One Good Cowboy(40)
Author: Catherine Mann

Music echoed from the barn on the other side of the stable yard, and from the sound of things, it was a wedding celebration in full swing. As if he didn’t already feel lower than dirt. Had fate scheduled a wedding for tonight with the specific purpose of torturing him? Seeing the happy bride and groom stabbed at him with all he should have given Johanna. She wanted a family. She deserved to have the family she dreamed of. She had such a loving, nurturing heart. Would she leave here altogether?

She loved the ranch as much as he did.

He hadn’t thought about that before. She’d been tied to the land in one way or another for most of her life. Just because he held the deed to a piece of property didn’t negate all the heart she’d poured into Hidden Gem.

The only thing that kept his feet moving right now was the need to check on his grandmother.

He darted from the stable to the main lodge, boots sending dust puffing with each heavy step. And damn it, he’d left his suitcase at Johanna’s. But he wasn’t willing to push his luck with her tonight. He needed to get his head together first and come up with a plan to ease her heart even if that meant he couldn’t have her back. He wanted her happiness above everything.

Except plans were in short supply as he climbed the steps to the massive log cabin–style lodge that had been his home his whole life. He should have taken a side entrance but his feet were on autopilot. Staff cleared away the wedding decorations on the lanai.

Pushing through the large double doors into the great room, he nodded to all the staff but didn’t pause long enough to give anyone a chance to speak. He vaguely registered there was a frenetic buzz to the place that didn’t seem connected to the wedding celebration since that was all taking place outside. Yet nothing appeared out of the norm. Wealthy socialites curled up on the leather sofas with cocktails. Older couples played poker in a far corner by the massive granite fireplace. He could hear laughter from the hot tub outside. Alex’s business ran smooth as silk.

Only a few more steps and he would be clear of people, period, and into the private wing. He could shut himself in his suite with…nothing. He had nothing left and had no one to blame but himself.

A door opened ahead of him and his gut clenched at the thought of another confrontation with his mother. Instead, his grandmother stepped out on her own two feet, with a cane, but walking. She even wore clothes instead of a robe, a simple dress but complete with a Diamonds in the Rough signature piece around her neck. Amie hovered beside her, as if his willowy featherweight cousin could catch their grandmother.

Stone charged ahead. “Gran, what are you doing out of bed? You should be resting.”

She waved him back. “I’m fine. The doctor released me as long as I use the cane.”

Amie interrupted, “A walker. But she would only agree to the cane since it’s one of our designs.”

Stone felt like his head was about to explode. “Let me walk you back to your room. We’ll talk over tea or something while you rest.”

His grandmother patted his hand. “Stone, the king is here. In the presidential suite.”

“Run that by me again?”

“Stone, we need to get moving,” Amie said. “Enrique Medina decided he would come to us for his dog to save you the trouble. Johanna is doing the meet and greet now because we couldn’t find you and you weren’t answering your damn phone.” She swatted him on the arm. “Now let’s get moving to help her.”

He glanced at Alex. “Do you have Gran?”

His cousin nodded.

“Thanks.” Stone sprinted down the hall. Johanna had freaked out over meeting the Landis-Renshaw family. This was going to be way outside her comfort zone. While he knew she was amazing and would handle the meeting smoothly, he hated that she would feel nervous or uneasy, especially after the emotional hell they’d both been through today.

He passed by familiar framed landscapes mixed with photos, images of famous people who’d stayed at the lodge or worn Hidden Gem pieces. Finally—thank God—finally, he made it to the presidential suite. The door was cracked open enough for him to see Johanna sitting next to an older gentleman in a suit with an ascot. Johanna held Pearl, and Ruby slept at the king’s feet. If Stone hadn’t known the man was deposed royalty, he would have thought she was talking to any prospective pet owner.

Johanna had changed from her jeans into a simple white dress and matching white leather boots, her hair in a side ponytail, trailing a wavy blond cascade over her shoulder. She was pure Texas but with a designer elegance and poise, smiling and nodding at something the king was saying.

Stone realized he wasn’t needed here. Johanna had it totally under control. Not a single nerve showed through. She wasn’t even fidgeting with the diamond horseshoe that dangled on the silver chain around her neck. Something had happened to her this week. She didn’t need him for confidence or help, and God, she was magnificent.

She glanced at the door as if sensing he was there. Her eyes lost their sparkle but she kept her composure. “Come on in, Stone, and hear the good news from our honored guest.”

Stone forced a smile onto his face and stepped into the presidential suite. “Sir, we’re honored that you would come visit us at Hidden Gem.”

The deposed king had a reputation for being a bit of a hermit who lived in an island fortress off the coast of Florida. “I am so sorry to hear Mariah is having health concerns. It is a joy to have one of her dogs and my honor to make things easier for her by coming to her directly.”

“Thank you,” Stone answered, his head spinning from this day, blindsiding him nonstop. “It appears Ruby has found a great new companion.”

Johanna stroked Pearl, still perched in her lap. “He also shared more good news. General and Mrs. Renshaw have decided they want Pearl after all. The three dogs will get to see each other at family reunions. Isn’t that wonderful?”

A roaring started in Stone’s head, growing louder by the second. Thoughts of his fight with Johanna, his grandmother’s illness, his mother’s arrival—his whole world was falling apart and there was nothing he could do about it. His eyes landed on Pearl and he knew. His grandmother needed to have this pup with her. Mariah, who’d given so much of herself to others, needed her favorite dog and needed someone to stand up, to make the decision to put her needs first. He would adopt Pearl so his grandmother could keep her near.

Even if it cost him the position as CEO of Diamonds in the Rough, he loved the little mutt and he wasn’t giving her up.