Should’ve Been a Cowboy (Sons of Chance #4)(24)
Author: Vicki Lewis Thompson

Watkins nodded. “I suppose that’s right.” He gazed at Mary Lou. “I remember a time when you used to wear rhinestones, Lou-Lou.”

“Watkins, for heaven’s sake! Don’t start with that Lou-Lou nonsense.” And Mary Lou blushed.

Alex stared at her in shocked surprise. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her blush. Could it be that once upon a time, Mary Lou and Watkins…nah, probably not. He had sex on the brain.

And an event to get into gear. “All right, then. I was thinking the two of you could use the living room as a practice space, if that sounds okay.”

Tyler glanced at Watkins. “I’m fine with that, if Watkins is. By the way, is Watkins your first name or your last name?”

“That’s his last name,” Mary Lou said. “He doesn’t like people using his first name. I happen to know it, because we…well, never mind. I just happen to know it.”

“And I’d appreciate you keeping that information to yourself, Lou-Lou.”

“You keep calling me Lou-Lou, and I’ll make a general announcement of your first name. I’m sure there are a lot of people working here who have no idea what it is.”

“I’m happy to call you Watkins, then.” Tyler exchanged a glance with Alex that said plainly she was thinking the same thing he was. Mary Lou and Watkins had a past.

Alex consulted his watch. “I’ll start setting up the sound system in the tractor barn. I’ll call you when I have it ready for you to test.”

“In case it slipped your mind,” Watkins said, “I don’t carry one of those cell-phone contraptions.”

“I know. I’ll just call the house.”

“Better yet,” Tyler said, “call my cell. That’s simpler.”

He looked over at her. “Okay. What’s your number?” As she gave it to him, he added it to his list of contacts. It was a dangerous thing to do because now he’d have something he’d never allowed himself before—a way to connect with her once she’d left.

“You should give me yours.” She held her phone poised, ready to record the numbers.

As he recited the information, he wondered if she realized the significance of putting these numbers into their respective phones. She could always erase it after she left, of course. So could he. But he knew he wouldn’t erase it and he’d bet money she wouldn’t, either.

She saved the number and glanced up. “All set. Watkins, let’s go into the living room and make some music.”

Watkins picked up his guitar case. “I’m right behind you.”

After they were gone, Alex couldn’t resist turning to Mary Lou. “What was that all about?”

“Nothing.” She looked at least ten years younger than she had a few minutes ago.

“Oh, yes, it was. It was something.”

“Oh, we had a little flirtation years back.”

“Uh-huh.” Alex was fascinated. The longer he lived at the Last Chance, the more layers he uncovered. “And?”

“And he wanted to marry me. I have no intention of marrying anyone. Fun and games are fine, but I don’t intend to sign some legal document. So he got all bent out of shape, and that was the end of that.”

Alex took note of the new sparkle in Mary Lou’s eyes. “I’m not so sure it is the end.”

“It is. He had to just forget about me.” She met his gaze. “The same way you’ll have to forget about Tyler.”

“Hmm.” Guitar chords drifted through the house, followed by Tyler singing the opening lines of “Annie’s Song.”

“I love that tune,” Mary Lou said.

“Yeah, me, too.”

“Watkins used to sing it to me.” Mary Lou cleared her throat. “Well, I have stuff to do.”

“So do I. I think maybe I’ll go out the back way so I don’t disturb them.”

“I think I’ll close the kitchen door so they don’t disturb me.”

Alex nodded. “Good idea.” As he left the house, he heard the pocket door between the kitchen and the main dining room close with a decisive thump. Mary Lou wasn’t about to let that song get to her. And neither was he.

Chapter 14

TYLER HAD THOUGHT maybe Alex would stick around to hear a number or two. If for no other reason, he should want to know whether she and Watkins sounded okay together. So maybe she’d also wanted him to watch her perform when she had musical backup and wasn’t walking down a muddy road in wet, wrinkled clothes. Maybe she’d wanted to show off a little.

But Alex had left the building. She wasn’t even sure if he liked her outfit. He hadn’t made a comment until after Mary Lou had sort of shamed him into it. Then she had an unpleasant thought. Maybe Crystal used to dress in flashy clothes. Tyler wouldn’t doubt it.

So maybe Alex wouldn’t want to know that she was rethinking her entire future. He might not care that Mary Lou’s suggestion of building a permanent stage on the property had given Tyler the germ of an idea that might change everything.

She pushed the idea to the back of her mind while she concentrated on rehearsing with Watkins, who turned out to be a very talented guitar player and a decent backup singer. They discovered several country tunes they both knew, and then Watkins taught her “Song of Wyoming.”

“That should satisfy Jack,” she said after making it through without flubbing any of the lyrics. “He wanted me to sing a Wyoming song.”

“That’s a good one.” Watkins strummed his guitar. “You do a nice job with it, too. Ever recorded anything?”

“Oh, some of us who perform on board made a CD we sell to the passengers, but otherwise, no.”

“I wouldn’t mind trying it sometime, but then, I don’t know who would buy it.”

“If Alex keeps holding these events and you keep playing, you might build a fan base.”

Watkins shrugged. “I was thinking more of you and me recording something, but then, I guess you’ll be leaving.”

“Yeah.” Tyler thought about the brainstorm she’d had earlier. If it became a reality, it could lead to her doing many future gigs with Watkins. “Let me ask you something.”

“Shoot.”

“Other than the Fourth of July celebration, does Shoshone host any other community events?”

“Not especially. Everybody decorates for Christmas, but that’s about it. Why?”

“Because I think there’s a missed opportunity here. It’s a great little town, with the Spirits and Spurs, and the Shoshone Diner, and the Bunk and Grub, and the Last Chance, of course. I could see a country music festival doing well.”

Watkins’s eyebrows lifted. “You think?”

“I do. And maybe another time, an antique-car show. And entertainment would be a part of that, too, of course.”

“I like looking at those old cars all polished up.” Watkins idly picked out a few notes on his guitar. “Hey, what about one of those historical-reenactment groups? And the townspeople could get into it, and dress up like in days of the Old West.”

“Exactly!” Tyler’s excitement grew as she saw Watkins warm to the idea. “And maybe a winter festival with an ice-sculpting contest.”

“And a snowshoe race, and sleigh rides. I think there’s an old sleigh around here someplace. A few other folks might have a sleigh tucked away in a barn.”

“I love the idea of sleigh rides. So romantic.” She shouldn’t be picturing riding in a sleigh with Alex, but she couldn’t help it.

“But I don’t know who would organize all that.” Watkins frowned. “It’s hard enough to get the Fourth of July stuff together. Most folks don’t have the time.”

“But it would be so worth it. It would bring more visitors to the town, which would be good for business, including the Last Chance.”

Watkins nodded. “I can see that. But like I said, nobody has the time to organize it.”

“Well, the merchants would have to get together and hire someone.”

His gaze sharpened. “You wouldn’t have someone in mind, would you?”

“Uh, I’m not sure. I’m just thinking out loud.”

“That’s a lot of thinking for someone who’s planning to vamoose the middle of next week.”

She gazed at him and hoped he was the strong, silent type with an emphasis on the silent part. “I’m thinking of making a change, but I don’t want people to know that yet.”

“By people, do you mean Alex?”

“Well, him, but everybody, really. I just got this idea, and I don’t… I’m just not sure if it’s the right move. I especially wouldn’t want my sister to get wind of it and start hoping I’ll move here.”

“I can keep quiet. But let me say this. If you end up sticking around, then you and me, we need to record something. I know a guy in Jackson who has a little studio. I haven’t felt quite ready to go there, but I like the way we sound together. I’d be ready if you went with me.”

His expression was so hopeful that she almost promised him that she’d stick around, but she controlled the urge. She had to think about this some more. The idea of putting down roots, of creating an actual home, was sounding better the more she considered it. But Alex was a huge part of the equation, and there was no point in pretending that he wasn’t. He was a key element, and she wasn’t sure how he’d react to all this.

Her phone chimed and his number came up. If she kept his number in her phone, she’d assign it a ringtone. Ha. There was no if about it. No matter what happened in the next few days, she would keep his number saved on her phone.

She did her best to project breeziness when she answered. “Hey, there. How’s everything shaping up?”

“I’m ready for you.”

She gulped. Surely he hadn’t said that. Spoken in his seductive radio voice, the words were guaranteed to fire up her libido.

He cleared his throat. “Let me rephrase that.”

“Please do.”

“The equipment is set up. You can come anytime.”

“You might want to rephrase that, too.”

A gusty sigh came over the line. “Damn it, Tyler.”

“Easy there, big boy. Don’t lose your sense of humor. We’ll be there in a few.” She disconnected the phone and smiled brightly at Watkins. “Let’s go.”

“All righty.” He opened his guitar case and settled his instrument inside. “I have to admit that I was a little worried about how this would turn out, but now I’m really looking forward to it.”

“So am I.” Like a fool, she still hoped Alex would catch her act and discover that he…what? Tyler took a deep breath. She might as well admit that she was falling for the guy. Shoot, she’d started falling for him last August, and this trip only confirmed that he had a hold on her. She’d like him to be in the same condition.

“You might want to take one of those umbrellas,” Watkins said as they walked toward the front door.