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“Did you have a fight with Paige?”

  “Ace,” Dinah warned.

  “Just making conversation.”

  “I did.” Wyatt went from gulping to sipping his coffee. “With my dad, too, and my brother.”

  “Ah,” Ace said in a tone that implied he understood.

  Only Wyatt didn’t think there was any way his friend did. Heck, Wyatt hardly understood the complicated Malone dynamics himself.

  “I probably should have waited until today to leave.” He craned his neck and peered out the window. Clear skies and bright morning sun gave the freshly fallen snow an iridescent glow.

  “The roads are still blocked,” Dinah informed him. “They probably won’t be cleared till later today or even tomorrow.”

  “Must have been some fights for you to take on that blizzard,” Ace observed.

  Groaning, Dinah let her face fall into her hands. “Sorry, Wyatt. Apparently there’s no controlling him.”

  “What?” Ace looked around, the epitome of innocence.

  Wyatt ignored them both. He wasn’t in the frame of mind—or heart—to talk about any of his recent arguments. The hurt on Paige’s face had haunted him all night. Would continue to haunt him.

  For someone whose goal had been to mend broken bridges, he couldn’t have screwed up any worse if he tried.

  “It’s a good thing Dinah found you when she did and towed you out of that snow bank.” Ace reached into the box for another donut.

  Wyatt shook his head when Ace tilted the box at him. “Didn’t mean to interfere with your plans for last night.”

  Dinah snatched a cinnamon cruller. “No worries.”

  She and Wyatt had barely made it the mile-and-a-half to Thunder Ranch. It was her suggestion they go there after she’d unstuck his truck, the casualty of a blind corner and an invisible patch of ice. Once at the ranch, inclement weather had forced the two of them to spend the night.

  “Since you’re still in town,” Ace said matter-of-factly, “You might as well go to your parents’ anniversary party. It starts, when? At two?”

  His parents’ plan was to close the saloon for the afternoon and, if the party continued, into the evening. Of course, since most of the regulars and all the Malones’ friends were attending the party, “closing” was a relative term.

  Wyatt scowled. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

  “I usually don’t agree with my brother,” Dinah said, sending Ace another stern look, “but in this case, I think he’s right.”

  Ace smiled with satisfaction.

  Wyatt combed his fingers through his rumpled hair. “I’d only ruin the party. Dad isn’t exactly the forgiving sort. Jay can carry a grudge longer than anyone. And Paige…” How would she react if he showed his face at the party? “I’m pretty sure she’s fed up with me.”

  “Of course she isn’t,” Dinah insisted.

  “Trust me, she is. She didn’t want me here in the first place.”

  “You’re wrong, Wyatt. Paige has been waiting twelve years for you to come home. Who do you think sent you the invitation?”

  “Not her.”

  “I’m telling you, it was Paige.” Dinah wiped her sticky fingers on a napkin. “I saw the invitation poking out of her purse one day when she dropped me off at the station. I didn’t say anything. None of my business.”

  Wyatt shook his head, not quite accepting the only explanation that made any sense. “She was surprised as anyone to see me.”

  “Being surprised has nothing to do with sending you the invitation. She probably assumed you wouldn’t come.”

  Paige sent him the invitation. Had been waiting twelve years for him to come home, at least, according to Dinah.

  Could it be?

  Wyatt frowned, still resisting. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

  Dinah sighed in exasperation. “If you don’t know the answer to that, and I find it hard to believe you’re that dumb, then you ought to ask her.”

  Not a bad idea.

  One thing was certain. If he did go to the party and talk to Paige, he’d best be ready to stay in Roundup and lay it all on the line for her. For them. She wouldn’t settle for anything less.

  She didn’t deserve anything less.

  “Don’t know why this is such a hard decision for you.” Ace plucked the last jelly donut from the box. “You love her, don’t you?”

  Love.

  Wyatt had been running from it for such a long, long time.

  From love and commitment and responsibility. Family, too. Reconciling with his and starting his own.

  He was tired of running. He’d nearly lost his life last year. When he’d received the invitation in the mail, the one he now knew Paige had sent, he couldn’t wait to come home.

  So, why the heck was he running now?

  He grinned at Ace and Dinah. “Mind if I borrow your shower? I’ve got to clean up before the party.”

  Chapter Seven

  The party wasn’t exactly in full swing when Wyatt arrived with Ace and Dinah, but it was well underway. They might have gotten there sooner if not for the impassable roads. The last half mile, they’d driven behind the snow plow at a very irritating snail’s pace.

  Kicking snow and mud from his boots, Wyatt entered the saloon and was immediately reminded of his first day back in town. Had it really been just three days ago? Hard to believe the many changes wrought in such a short span of time.

  He caught sight of Paige talking to some guests. Seth came up behind her, carrying a tray, evidently recruited into helping. Like before, she suddenly turned as if sensing Wyatt’s presence.

  “Come on, Ace.” Dinah grabbed hold of her brother’s arm.

  “Wait a minute. I want to see what hap—”

  She dragged him away before he could finish.

  Wyatt barely registered their leaving, or anyone else in the room for that matter. He crossed the hardwood floor, guests and the wait staff magically parting to let him through. Paige stood frozen, her mouth forming a very appealing O, her eyes wide and shining.

  At least she wasn’t bolting, which was one of the scenarios that had played out in his head on the long drive over.

  “You came back,” she stammered when he reached her.

  “I never left.”

  “You didn’t?” Hope flared in her eyes.

  “I would have. Fate, or should I say the weather, intervened. I’m glad it did. Dinah told me something this morning, something I wish I’d known from the beginning.”

  “What was that?”

  He dipped his head. “Be honest. Did you send me the invitation?”

  She started to shake her head, then stopped and nodded.

  “You should have told me.”

  “Can you blame me for keeping it a secret?” She squared her shoulders, the demeanor a familiar one to Wyatt. She was once again the tough-as-steel teenager, protecting herself from hurt and misery.

  Wyatt had no intentions of hurting her. Given the opportunity, he’d cherish her always.

  “I did it for your mother,” Paige insisted. “She missed you.”

  He cradled her face with his hand. “Was she the only one?”

  Paige held out for only a moment. Then, her invisible guard crumbled. “No,” she whispered.

  He lowered his mouth to claim her kiss.

  “Hey!” Seth protested.

  Wyatt’s mother swooped down on them. “Wyatt! Oh, my goodness. I can’t believe it.”

  With a grin, he released Paige. Later, when they weren’t surrounded, he’d tell—show her—the full extent of his feelings.

  “Happy anniversary, Mom. I forgot my gift.”

  “You being here is the best gift ever,” she said in a wobbly voice as they embraced. She included Paige in the hug. “I’m so happy for you both.”

  He glanced around. Everyone was smiling at him, having apparently jumped to the same conclusion as his mother.

  The only one not wearing a besotted expression was Seth. Understandable th
at he’d be protective of his mother. Wyatt wasn’t sure how, but he’d find the right words to ease Seth’s worry and gain his trust.

  “Does this mean you’re staying?” Wyatt’s mother asked.

  “He’s staying.” Paige linked arms with him. “He’d better be staying.”

  “For good this time.” He met her gaze and held it. “Count on it.”

  The tinkling of a fork being tapped against a glass drew everyone’s attention. Jay climbed onto the small stage where the band was setting up, a microphone in his hands, his wife and daughters standing stiffly and dutifully to the right of the stage.

  “Your brother’s making a toast,” Wyatt’s mother said and hurried off to join his father at the bar.

  Wyatt tried to gauge his father’s reaction to his unexpected appearance but he turned away before Wyatt could see. Disappointment cut deep.

  Paige’s fingers tightened on his arm. “One step at a time.”

  Good advice. And it would be easier with her by his side.

  “Welcome,” Jay began. “I want thank everyone for coming today and helping my parents celebrate thirty-five years of wedded bliss.”

  Wyatt listened as his brother continued, citing the names of those who had made the party possible. He fully expected Jay to launch into several anecdotes about the early days of their parents’ marriage, stories that elicited laughs and sentimental sighs.

  To Wyatt’s amazement, Jay recounted the story of the accident. The real story, not the one they’d fabricated.

  “It’s important, not just to Wyatt,” Jay said, all eyes in the room darting between him and Wyatt, “but to me, too, that the truth finally come out. It’s not fair he take the blame for my mistake, and I want to publicly apologize to him. I didn’t realize until recently how difficult it is to lose one’s family.” Jay looked longingly at his wife and daughters. When he continued, it was with a shaky voice. “I shouldn’t have put you through what I did. You’re a good cowboy and an even better man. Here’s to Mom and Dad and here’s to you. Welcome home, brother.”

  All the guests raised their glasses, cheering and clapping when Jay hopped off the stage.

  He headed straight for Wyatt. “I hope you can forgive me.”

  Wyatt’s reply was to pull Jay into a bear hug. They were quickly engulfed by dozens of their parents’ friends, all of them seconding Jay’s welcome home. Wyatt’s heart, closed for too many years, swelled.

  After countless handshakes and hugs, he searched the room for Paige. He found her near the food tables, talking to Jay and his wife. Kerri Anne stood close to Jay, their daughters hanging onto Jay’s hands in that Daddy-pay-attention-to-me way. All at once, Kerri Anne reached for him, her gesture tender and familiar and achingly sweet.

  Everything was going to be all right, Wyatt thought. Somehow, some way, Jay and his wife were going to make it.

  Paige must have noticed the subtle interaction, too, for she wore the same lovely smile that had completely captivated Wyatt when he first arrived home.

  Was he crazy? What was he doing standing over here and not next to her?

  Before he managed two steps, his father appeared, waylaying Wyatt with a hand on his arm.

  “You have a minute?”

  “Sure, Dad. Happy anniversary, by the way.”

  “Thank you.”

  Wyatt noticed his mother watching them intently, staring over the shoulder of a friend, an anxious look on her face.

  His father cleared his throat and swallowed. “I’m not sure where to start.”

  “Just say what’s on your mind.”

  “I know I said and did some terrible things to you. Since you’ve been back and before you left.”

  “You weren’t alone. I let my temper get the best of me, too.”

  “She’s a good woman.” His father nodded in Paige’s direction. “I hope you treat her right.”

  “I intend to do just that. Fortunately, I have a good example to follow.” Wyatt placed an affectionate hand on his father’s shoulder.

  The band promptly launched into their first number, a rollicking country/western hit.

  His father cleared his throat again. “Guess that’s my cue to ask your mother to dance.”

  A little rocky but enough of a beginning to give Wyatt hope that he and his father would one day have the kind of relationship he’d always wanted.

  His parents took to the dance floor. Other couples quickly joined them, Wyatt and Paige among them.

  “I don’t think we’ve ever danced before,” he said, drowning in her deep green eyes.

  “There’s a lot we haven’t done.” Her mouth curved seductively.

  Oh, boy.

  He stopped then and there. Mindless of the other people bumping into them, he gave her the kiss he’d been wanting to since they were interrupted earlier.

  “Keep that up,” she said breathlessly, “and I won’t ever be letting you go.”

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  She searched his face before laying her head on his chest. “I love you, Wyatt.”

  “I love you, too.” Sweeping her into his arms, he danced her around the floor.

  This homecoming wasn’t anything like he’d imagined. It was much, much better.

  Wyatt hadn’t merely mended broken bridges, he’d built a whole new life for himself, one that Paige and her son completed.

  * * * * *

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Cathy makes her home in Scottsdale, Arizona, near the breathtaking McDowell Mountains, where hawks fly overhead, javelina traipse across her front yard and mountain lions occasionally come calling. She embraced the country life at an early age, acquiring her first horse in eighth grade. Dozens of horses followed through the years, along with mules, an obscenely fat donkey, chickens, ducks, goats and a potbellied pig who had her own swimming pool. Nowadays, two spoiled dogs and two spoiled-er cats round out the McDavid pets. Cathy loves contemporary and historical ranch stories and often incorporates her own experiences into her books.

  When not writing, Cathy and her family and friends spend as much time as they can at her cabin in the small town of Young. Of course, she takes her laptop with her on the chance inspiration strikes.

  Other Books by Cathy McDavid

  His Only Wife

  The Family Plan

  Cowboy Dad

  Waiting for Baby

  Taking on Twins

  The Accidental Sheriff

  Dusty: Wild Cowboy

  The Comeback Cowboy

  Last Chance Cowboy

  Her Cowboy’s Christmas Wish

  Baby’s First Homecoming

  Aidan: Loyal Cowboy

  Ready for more western romance from Harlequin American Romance?

  Don’t miss the rest of the Harts of the Rodeo series!

  Aidan: Loyal Cowboy by Cathy McDavid (July 2012)

  Colton: Rodeo Cowboy by C.J. Carmichael (August 2012)

  Duke: Deputy Cowboy by Roz Denny Fox (September 2012)

  Austin: Second Chance Cowboy by Shelley Galloway (October 2012)

  Beau: Cowboy Protector by Marin Thomas (November 2012)

  Tomas: Cowboy Homecoming by Linda Warren (December 2012)

  ISBN: 978-14268-3590-2

  Wyatt: Return of the Cowboy

  Copyright © 2012 by Cathy McDavid

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