He needs a miracle...

A favorite to win at this year’s rodeo championship, Montana cowboy Toly Clayton should be flying high. Instead, he’s been handed the worst kind of Christmas gift—a diagnosis that could spell an early end to his rodeo career. Hiding his secret proves harder than Toly thinks...especially from stunningly sexy barrel racer Nikki Dobson.

The twin sister of Toly’s emotionally unpredictable roping partner, Nikki is completely and totally off-limits. Yet attraction still simmers, and the line between “friends” and “more than friends” is fading fast. With secrets piling up around him, Toly’s career, friendships and even his heart are on the line. But sometimes it takes a champion cowboy to wrangle one heck of a Christmas miracle.

She had been secretly waiting for this moment for a long time...

Nikki had never been this close to Toly’s rock-hard physique. They were both tall, and they fit together as if they were made for each other.

Toly smelled wonderful. Nikki loved the feel of his hard jaw against her cheek. It sent darts of awareness through her body. The temptation to turn her head and kiss his compelling mouth was killing her. Toly didn’t let her go and she could have stayed in his arms all night.

“If you hadn’t been involved with someone else, we could have relaxed like this before an event long before now,” he whispered into her hair.

Her heart jumped to think he might have been thinking about her on a more intimate level over the last few months, too. Still, he’d never let her know. They were all friends and she knew Toly kept his cards close to the chest.

But with the way she was feeling right now, he had to know she didn’t want to be anywhere else...

Roping Her Christmas Cowboy

Rebecca Winters

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Rebecca Winterswhose family of four children has now swelled to include five beautiful grandchildren, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the land of the Rocky Mountains. Living near canyons and high alpine meadows full of wildflowers, she never runs out of places to explore. They, plus her favorite vacation spots in Europe, often end up as backgrounds for her romance novels, because writing is her passion, along with her family and church.

Rebecca loves to hear from readers. If you wish to email her, please visit her website, www.cleanromances.com.

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To the continual existence of the rodeo, a tradition of the American West that’s part of our DNA. May it grow and flourish through the centuries to thrill young and old alike, as we watch exceptionally gifted men and women working with their magnificent horses in a symphony of unparalleled harmony.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“Come in my office and sit down, Mr. Clayton.”

“Thanks, Dr. Moore.” Toly Clayton had driven the half hour to Missoula from the Clayton Cattle Ranch outside Stevensville, Montana, for an appointment with a neurosurgeon. He’d just undergone an electromyograph to get to the bottom of the numbness that had attacked his lower right forearm and hand.

“The needle I inserted in your arm muscle recorded electrical activity when it was at rest and when it was contracted. The procedure helped me determine that you have a nerve, not a muscle disorder. How long did you say you’ve been team roping?”

“I’ve done that and tie-down roping since my early teens.”

“That would explain the numbness that has come on. The constant strain over the years from roping has caused the nerves to be partially compressed or stretched. You say it has happened twice in practice?”

“Yes. Once in October, and again a few days ago. It was frightening to experience that loss of feeling. It only lasted a few minutes, but it was enough to prevent me from throwing the rope with any accuracy.”

“Did you feel sharp pains or discomfort in your forearm just before the onset?”

“No. That’s what worries me. Both times when it happened, I had no warning.”

“You told me in the examining room that you’ve had no sign of this affecting your feet or legs.”

“None. Does that mean I can expect that to happen too? What’s wrong with me?”

“You have a very mild form of peripheral Charcot-Marie-Tooth, a slow growing motor sensory neuropathy. It’s inherited through a gene carried down in the family. Do you know if you’ve ever had it in yours?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“Some people don’t even know they have it.”

“If it should happen while I’m throwing the rope during a performance at the National Finals Rodeo in December, everything’s over for that round and, of course, my partner suffers. We don’t get second chances.”

“I understand, but if such an incident occurs, you’ll still have strength in your upper arm.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be enough. Is there a medicine to stop this from happening?”

“Not that has been invented yet.”

“You mean there’s no cure for it?”

“No, but medical science is always working on a cure. I’ve been doing some research and can tell you they’re making strides with a new surgical technique.”

Adrenaline filled Toly’s system. “You mean there is one?”

“It’s been in the experimental stage for quite a while. The results aren’t a hundred percent yet.”

“What kind of results are you talking about?”

“In a few cases, surgery has slowed down the process. In a few others, it has stopped it.”

“What’s entailed?”

“The surgery would replace the damaged nerves in your forearm and hand with a new protein that would stimulate nerve cell growth. If successful, it could revolutionize the problem for those afflicted.”

“So there is some hope.”

“Of course. I’m still doing research on it. The procedure is being done in Paris, France, by a team of neuro and vascular surgeons.”

Paris... “If it were possible for me, how long would I have to stay there?”

“Two to three weeks depending on complications.”

“When the rodeo is over, I’d like to be a candidate.”

“I’m afraid it couldn’t be that soon.”

“But you will call me when you know anything, and make the arrangements for me?”

“I’ll get back to you after I’ve looked into it more. Just remember it’s possible that you’ll never have more than the occasional manifestation in your right arm. Call me if you have any more questions, and good luck!”

“Thank you, Dr. Moore. Once the rodeo is over I’ll be a full-time rancher and need to get better. You have no comprehension of what it would mean to me to fix this problem.”

“If not cured, at least slowed down. We’ll talk again soon.”

Toly left the doctor’s office determined that surgery would help him. Right now he could only hope that he and his partner, Mills, survived the punishing ten days ahead of them.

Anything could go wrong during a rodeo, but the thought of his hand not working for a few minutes had him the most worried. The condition had only manifested itself twice so far. He had to hope against hope it wouldn’t come on during their performance.

To Toly’s relief, Mills hadn’t realized what had happened in practice and he didn’t want him to know. Toly didn’t plan to tell anyone, not even his family. All he had to do was get through Finals and pray another incident during an actual round didn’t cause them to bomb.

Too bad this hadn’t happened six months ago. Perhaps he could have gone in for the experimental surgery and be recovered long before Finals. But there was no chance of that now. After the rodeo he would tell everyone he was going off on a month’s vacation to do some sightseeing for a change.

If the operation wasn’t successful, no one would be the wiser. Life would go on the same. He’d wait until the doctor found another team of surgeons to help him beat the disease.

* * *

“IN CASE YOU’RE a listener just tuning in, this is Jeb Riker from KFBR Sports Radio in Great Falls, Montana. It’s Friday, December 2, here in Great Falls, Montana. We’ve been broadcasting our Christmas show from the Ford dealership here in town since two o’clock this afternoon.

“What a turnout we have had to meet the three rodeo champions from our fair state headed to Las Vegas for this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo championship!

“All you dudes out there, come on in and meet the beautiful Nikki Dobson. She was last year’s Miss Rodeo Montana, and this year’s second-place finalist for the coveted national barrel racing championship. I don’t see a ring on her finger yet, guys.

“Guess what? She isn’t the only eligible celebrity who hails from the Sweet Clover Ranch here in Great Falls. We’ve got her twin brother Mills Dobson in house. He and his partner, Toly Clayton, from the Clayton Cattle Ranch in Stevensville, Montana, are the reigning team roping champions on the circuit headed for Las Vegas. Ladies? Get ready for this announcement. Both are still single!

“Guys and gals? Don’t miss this opportunity to meet these celebrities up close and personal. The next time you see them, they’ll be in Las Vegas where they’re scheduled to win national championships and be entered into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.”

Wouldn’t it be a miracle if that happened. Knowing what he knew now that he’d been to see the doctor, a miracle was what it would take.

Toly looked around the showroom with its lighted Christmas trees, noticing that Nikki had been swarmed by every male in sight. She stood an exquisite five foot nine in her cowboy boots. With her long curly black hair and crystalline gray eyes, she was a sight! Ever since he’d asked Mills to be his team roping partner to compete on this year’s circuit and had met her face-to-face, she’d blown away all the other women he’d ever known.

In his teens he’d had lots of girlfriends, but his dream had always been the rodeo, ruling out any serious involvement with them. Over the years he’d met literally hundreds of women on the circuit. This last year there’d been a dozen or so who’d caught his eye and he’d done some line dancing with them before moving on to the next rodeo on the circuit.

But always in the back of his mind, the vision of Nikki Dobson got in the way. However, there were several reasons why he’d never acted on his attraction to her. For one, he knew from Mills that she’d been in a relationship that hadn’t worked out and was still dealing with her pain.

For another, she was Mills’s sister. Though they’d never talked about it, from the time Toly and Mills had hooked up to be team ropers together, he’d sensed that Mills wouldn’t like it if Toly showed a personal interest in Nikki. Much as he wanted to, Toly knew he needed to be careful not to let anything affect his friendship with Mills while they were in a competition to win.

Mills and Nikki had lost their parents in a car accident three years ago. Toly had never met them, but he admired the twins who’d overcome their grief and had gotten on with their dreams to be rodeo champions.

Until he retired from the rodeo at the end of this month, Toly would continue to keep it friendly with Nikki. Knowing Mills’s feelings, he’d decided not to explore a closer relationship with her...provided she was even interested. He thought she might be. But that was something he had yet to find out while they were all in Las Vegas.

For the next half hour, he kept signing pictures as more fans continued to pour into the dealership. The ladies offered their phone numbers. Toly just kept smiling while they took pictures of the three of them with their phones. Soon they’d be able to call it a night. He wanted to get to bed early. Starting in the morning, they had a thousand-mile drive ahead of them with the horses.

But he never lost track of Nikki who was still being mobbed by guys snapping pictures of her. He imagined she’d had to ward them off since her teens.

“Let’s get out of here,” Mills suddenly muttered.

Toly jerked his head around. He’d been concentrating so hard on Nikki, he hadn’t realized his friend had walked over to him. Since a month ago when the girl Mills had been dating had broken up with him, he’d grown dark and morose. You couldn’t even talk to him.

“We’ll have to say goodbye to Jeb Riker first and thank the manager of the dealership.”

“Yep.”

The two of them walked over to talk to the radio announcer broadcasting from the back of a new truck. Toly thanked Riker for the great promotion and send-off. They were joined by the manager whom they thanked and chatted with for a few minutes.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see that Nikki was still involved with her fans. Since she’d come in a separate vehicle from him and Mills, there was no reason to wait for her.

They pulled on their sheepskin jackets and ate another hot dog before working their way through the throng of supporters to the entrance. Once outside, they walked through the brittle snow left by several storms and climbed into Mills’s Dodge Power Wagon truck.

The temperature registered twenty degrees and would probably drop to fourteen overnight. Las Vegas sounded pretty good right now with a temperature hovering near sixty degrees.

Mills gunned the motor and they took off, passing Nikki’s Silverado truck parked half a block down the street. The silence lengthened on their way to Dobson’s small Sweet Clover Ranch on the outskirts of town.

“Want to talk about it yet?”

“Nope.”

Toly pushed his cowboy hat back on his head. “If you change your mind, I’m your man.”

“Thanks, but I won’t.”

Until a month ago Mills had been dating Denise Robbins, a girl from Great Falls, for about four months. When she’d unexpectedly called things off, she’d knocked the heart right out of him. Until their breakup he’d never seen Mills so happy. Her action couldn’t have been worse for him. At their last two rodeos, his timing had been a little off. Toly had tried to get him to talk about it with no success.

Somehow Toly had hoped Denise would show up at the Ford dealership this evening to make up with him. Toly could have sworn half the town had turned out. She was a former barrel racer and couldn’t have helped but hear about it being advertised. With Finals only a few days away, for her to pick this particular time to part ways couldn’t have been more cruel.

En route to the Dobson ranch house, Toly received an email notification on his phone from their agent, Lyle. When he checked it, he saw that Lyle had forwarded him an email from Amanda Fleming. She must have gotten his email address off the website that his agent ran for them.

Toly figured she must have sent it from her office at the hotel in Omaha, Nebraska, where they’d met three weeks ago. He and Mills had stayed there while his rig was getting serviced. She had invited Toly to have a meal with her in the hotel after their event and he thought why not. The next day he and Mills left for their next rodeo.

Her email explained that she would be in the stands during the competition in Las Vegas. She hoped they’d be able to spend at least one of the evenings together.

He frowned. She hadn’t been on his mind since he’d left Omaha and knew what that meant. Only one woman had the power to remain in his thoughts and not go away no matter what else was going on. That woman was back at the Ford dealership.

Toly was sorry he’d eaten dinner with her. In a few days he would send her an email via Lyle. At that time he would tell her that every night was uncertain because of the gold buckle ceremony and parties after each rodeo. Perhaps there might be a night he was free, but he wouldn’t know until he’d ridden in his event. He would have to see. Hopefully she would read between the lines. Toly had no desire to be rude to her, but knew their relationship couldn’t go anyplace.

After Mills drove them up to the ranch house entrance, they both went inside and grabbed a snack in the kitchen while they made final plans for the next day.

Toly kept listening for Nikki to come in, but it wasn’t meant to be. Furthering his disappointment, Mills informed him that their crew, Andy and Santos, would be driving her horses in their rig. His sister would fly down on the sixth, negating any hope Toly would be able to talk to her at rest spots along their route to Nevada.

Earlier in the day, Toly had made the 190-mile drive from Stevensville to Great Falls in his rig with the horses and he was tired. After staying at the Dobsons’ tonight, they would load all four of their horses in the morning and take off on I-15 for their three-day trip all the way to Las Vegas.

The crew would be staying at a hotel near the Thomas & Mack Center and meet up with them on the sixth at the equestrian RV park. It was the place he reserved every year so he could sleep in his rig rather than at a hotel.

This year Mills would be living in the Dobson rig parked next to Toly’s rig. Nikki would be staying at a hotel, but during the day she’d drive out to the RV park to exercise her horses. Toly felt a heightened sense of excitement, knowing that she’d be around for those ten days. He would have a legitimate reason to talk to her, coming and going.

After texting his mom that he’d be heading out in the morning with Mills, he said good-night and clicked off. He wouldn’t be seeing his family again until everyone flew down for the final night of competition on the seventeenth to celebrate en masse.

Turning to Mills he said, “I’m going to go on up and hit the hay.”

“Before you do, come in the den with me for a minute.”

Wondering what this was about, he followed him through the cedar-plank-and-brick ranch house to the room where all the Dobson family pictures, awards and trophies were on display.

“Sit down for a minute.”

“Sure.”

Toly perched on the end of the couch and waited for his friend to speak. Though Mills had darker gray eyes than his twin, their black hair and basic features were so alike it was positively uncanny. They took after their mother he could see in the photographs, but got their height from their father. Every time Toly looked at him, he saw Nikki.

“I’ve been an ass for the last month. Sorry.”

“Forget it, Mills.”

“I wish I could.” He started pacing, then stopped. “I thought I knew Denise. Geez—how wrong could I have been! I could have taken it if she just plain didn’t like me anymore, but her timing after we’d made plans to celebrate when it was all over... I had big plans,” he murmured.

Toly had an idea what they were and was heartsick for his friend. “I know, dude. It surprised the heck out of me. I thought you two were tight.”

“Join the club. It makes me wonder something. I keep asking myself, did she shut me down right before Finals because she didn’t qualify and that’s why she dropped out?”

“Whoa. I don’t believe that, and neither should you.”

“I have a reason for saying what I did. As you know, I met her through Nikki. They’d been contestants at the same time for the Miss Rodeo Montana Pageant the year before and became friends. Five months ago she invited Denise to the ranch while I happened to be home that weekend.”

“I remember.”

“The chemistry between us was amazing. Though you and I were on the circuit part of the time, she and I talked on the phone for hours when we couldn’t be together. I thought she was the one.”

“Don’t I know it.”

Mills planted himself in a chair. “What you don’t know is how devastated she was when she didn’t place in that pageant. For the first two weeks into our relationship, it seemed like all she wanted to do was talk about her disappointment. Then the subject changed when she told me she’d decided to drop out of barrel racing. I’m afraid I didn’t immediately connect the dots.”

“So what are you saying?”

He took a deep breath. “I’m not sure, but I’m wondering if it’s because she’s been comparing herself to Nikki and doesn’t want to be around her anymore, which means shutting me out. I guess I never told you Nikki made a clean sweep of all the categories in the pageant, including personality, appearance and horsemanship, and she won the Queen Speech award. The folks would have been so proud.”

That didn’t surprise Toly, who shook his head. Deep inside he had to admit Nikki would be an almost impossible act to follow.

“Look, Mills—even if your supposition contains a kernel of truth and she has some envy issues, I can’t comprehend that she would deny herself the happiness you two have found since meeting each other. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Maybe it does because deep down Denise is more into herself than I’d realized. I found out from my friend José that he went to the same high school with Denise. She was big into barrel racing back then and ran for Miss Teen Rodeo three years in a row.”

“How did she do?”

He looked at him. “She never placed in the top three.”

“Neither did the majority of the other contestants.”

His friend let out a sound of frustration. “But I don’t think she ever got over it.”

Toly got to his feet. “If that’s really true, and you believe she’s too obsessed with past failures to see a bright future with you, then she did you a favor by breaking up with you. Let me give you a piece of advice my big brother once gave me. He fell in love with his high school girlfriend and planned to marry her after college.

“But she met an actor from Hollywood while she was in Europe who swept her off her feet. After she came home, she ended it with Wymon. He thought she’d wanted a ranching life with him. It shocked him to realize he could never have given her what she really wanted. But before he finally got over her, he nursed a broken heart for a long time and grew bitter.

“I’m telling you this because when I first got into tie-down roping on the circuit—before my brother Roce and I started team roping—Wymon sat me down because he was worried about me. He knew how much I liked the ladies and feared I might get dazzled too soon by a woman who could never love me. My brother feared that if I wasn’t careful, I’d be like he had been and wallow in pain instead of getting on with life.”

Mills stared at him. “What did he say to you?”

“To quote him, ‘The last thing you ever want to do is get hung up on one of those rodeo beauty queens. They’re in love with their own image and probably have been all their lives. The dude who’s hooked and can’t see through it is doomed to be an afterthought, if that.’

“Later on, I realized he’d said that while he was in a bad place, but after hearing what you’ve just told me, maybe there was some truth to his words.” Toly didn’t know what else to say. His friend needed to try to get over Denise or he was going to be miserable for a long time.

Mills stood up. “In the beginning I would never have thought of her like that. But the more I think about it, there has been a pattern of high expectations and bitter disappointments she can’t get over. Your brother might have had a point when he gave you that advice.”

“Mills? What’s important is that you move on for your own happiness.”

“You’re right. Thanks for the talk. I’m sure as hell not going to let her ruin what you and I have worked so hard for. I promise I won’t let you down.”

Toly patted his shoulder. “You couldn’t do that. See you in the morning. Try to get a good sleep.”

It was great advice to give Mills, but Toly knew he wouldn’t be falling off anytime soon. He went back to the kitchen, hoping Nikki would come home so they could talk. No doubt some guy was detaining her.

Starting tomorrow morning, Toly wouldn’t be seeing her for the next three days. He wished they were all driving down to Vegas together, but Mills had never suggested it. From the moment the two of them had starting riding the circuit together, Toly had sensed Nikki was off-limits to him. Naturally he was friendly with her when they were all together here on the ranch, but he kept things professional. That’s why they’d all gotten along so well.

But Toly wanted more than that. The only thing saving him was the knowledge that the three of them would be together in Las Vegas for ten whole days and nights. He had plans despite what Mills wanted.

After waiting another twenty minutes while he watched the news on the small TV in the kitchen, he decided Nikki might not be home for hours. Not if that dude at the dealership was holding her up.

She could sleep in tomorrow while he and Mills had to take off early. So much for a talk with her before he went to bed. That would have to wait. Hell.

Chapter Two

At three o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, the airport shuttle pulled up to the magnificent new Cyclades Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Four huge, white rounded windmills with their pointed brown roofs and blades—the famous trademark advertising the Greek islands—formed the facade around the entrance. A sign on the marquee said, Welcome Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Finalists.

December 6 was finally here. Nikki climbed out of the limo following her two-hour flight from Great Falls, Montana, and was instantly met with whistles and a barrage of photographers taking pictures. She ought to be higher than a kite to be here at last, on the verge of possibly winning the national championship. But her spirits couldn’t have been darker. Not after the conversation she’d accidentally overheard between her brother and Toly Clayton the other night at the ranch house.

She hadn’t been able to put it out of her mind and would have given anything in the world for her loving parents to still be alive so she could talk to them about what Toly had said. She was afraid he’d been referring to her when he’d made certain remarks. But there was no such miracle for her and somehow she had to find the strength to get through this experience on her own.

Being a finalist required she had to be prepared to look the part. That meant wearing specific brands like her white Stetson, Justin cowboy boots, and Wrangler jeans and Western shirt. It also meant putting on a smile when it was the last thing she felt like doing.

A doorman reached for her two suitcases and accompanied her inside the lobby decorated with Christmas trees and thousands of twinkling white lights crisscrossing the ceiling. She’d almost forgotten the holiday season was upon them. He put her luggage next to her and went back out in front.

One of the clerks at the counter approached her. “Welcome to the Cyclades Hotel.”

“It’s good to be here. My name is Nikki Dobson.”

The clerk’s smile broadened as she signed her into the computer. “You’re one of this year’s barrel racing finalists. Congratulations!”

“Thank you.”

“We have the Delos Island suite ready for you and a rental car. When you’re ready to pick it up, their office is down the north hall next to the double doors leading to the indoor pool and gym.

“If you’ll follow the bellhop, he’ll show you to your room off the east patio. You’ll find literature on the coffee table to answer any questions you might have. Here’s your card key.”

Nikki thanked her again. The bellhop picked up her suitcases and she followed him past a coffee shop and the crowded casino to a set of glass doors at the other end of the lobby. They led outside where a charming, miniature Greek village greeted her vision.

The whitewashed cubed houses built next to each other, with some being double storied, had been designed in the Cycladic style around several swimming pools lined in Greek tiles.

What a stunning change from the high-rises of many other hotels! She liked the architecture and was glad she didn’t have to deal with crowded elevators and happy people. After the blizzard she’d left behind in Montana, she had to admit the high-fifties temperature here in the desert felt balmy by comparison.

As soon as she was shown to her two-bedroom suite with its blue-and-white decor, she paid the man for helping her with her bags. If Mills got tired of sleeping in the rig, he could spend a night here in the other bedroom. But in his depressed state, she had no idea what her brother would want right now.

Once she’d closed the door, she sat down on a chair by the coffee table in the small sitting room to text Mills that she’d arrived at the hotel. She knew he was expecting to hear from her.

Next she phoned Santos and Andy, the crew all three of them were sharing. They’d driven her rig and quarter horses here from the Dobson ranch. She knew from an earlier text that they’d arrived at ten that morning and had pulled into the RV equestrian park in Las Vegas. It had several big arenas, nine barns and all the amenities to work with the horses like steer dummies and practice barrels. It saved having to go over to the Thomas and Mack Center all the time where the National Finals Rodeo was being held starting the day after tomorrow.

“How’s it going, Santos?

“Despite a flat tire and a long wait while a herd of migrating elk crossed the highway, we’re fine.”

“Do I want to know how bad it really was?”

“Nope. You’ve got enough on your mind.”

What would she do without their crew. They were her greatest support. “Is Bombshell settling in?”

“She’s good. So is Sassy. But Duchess is missing you.”

“I’m not surprised. Now that I’ve checked in to the Cyclades Hotel, I’ll pick up my rental car and drive over so I can exercise her.”

“That’ll perk her up.”

“If all goes well, I won’t be riding her during the competition. But I need to keep her happy and in shape, just in case of a problem.” Though Duchess was fast, she required more cosseting than the other two.

“You can always expect something will go wrong, Nikki.”

“Don’t I know it.”

She’d learned that when her parents had been killed, and again when she realized she couldn’t marry Ted, not to mention the pain inflicted when she’d overheard a certain conversation the other night.

As for her rodeo experiences, she’d been riding horses on her own from the time she was seven. Her childhood dreams were all to do with riding in the rodeo one day. At fourteen she’d competed in the teen rodeos. At eighteen she’d started college and had begun competing on the state and national circuit.

For the last six years Nikki had gone through everything that could go right or wrong personally and professionally during her exhausting schedule. It still wasn’t over and anything could happen until this competition came to an end after ten grueling nights. Then she’d retire in order to promote the rodeo in a brand-new way with her brother who was also a rodeo champion along with his famous team roping partner.

When the pro rodeo championship finals were over, Mills planned to retire as well and go into business with her. The two of them had talked about it a lot. Neither of them had been lucky when it came to romantic relationships that were destined to last. His recent breakup with one of her best friends, Denise Robbins, had torn him apart. She was glad that when Finals were over, they had each other to rely on for the future.

“Any sign of Mills yet?”

“Yeah. He and Toly pulled in at noon and parked their rig next to yours.”

She guessed he hadn’t had time yet to answer her text. Technically it was Toly Clayton’s rig. They’d lived out of it while doing the circuit this last year. He was the youngest son on the renowned Clayton Cattle Ranch located at the base of the Sapphire Mountains outside Stevensville.

“I’m glad they got there safely.”

“Their horses are stalled right by yours. It’s a good thing you guys made reservations last January. The place is full up.”

“We knew it would be.”

“I’ve already spread several bags of soft shavings in all three stalls. Andy filled the buckets with water and is measuring their intake. When the vet comes around tomorrow, he’ll want to check them.”

“There’s nothing you haven’t thought of. Thanks, Santos. I couldn’t do any of this without you guys.” She got to her feet. “I’ll freshen up here, then be over.”

“In that case, I’ll saddle Duchess and put a soft bit on her.”

“Terrific. See you soon.”

Nikki hung up, realizing she’d be running into the drop-dead gorgeous Toly Clayton before long. Knowing how he felt about her, it was the last thing she wanted, but being around him was inevitable.

After a year of seeing him coming and going, both on the circuit and at the ranch, she’d thought they were all good friends. But just the thought of him now cut her to the quick.

The other night, on the way to her bedroom after coming home from the Ford dealership, she’d passed by the den, surprised anyone was still up. Toly’s words had drifted through the crack in the door.

The last thing you ever want to do is get hung up on one of those rodeo beauty queen types. They’re in love with their own image and probably have been all their lives. The dude who’s hooked and can’t see through it is doomed to be an afterthought, if that.

Stung by words she would never forget, Nikki had run down the hallway to her bedroom so they wouldn’t know she’d been in hearing distance. She’d lost sleep that night wondering what that conversation had all been about. But she’d had enough time since Friday to believe that what Toly had said was probably his general opinion of rodeo queens.

In this business he’d met and dated any number of them over the years. After apparently finding all of them wanting since he was still single, it might explain why he’d never tried to get to know Nikki better.

She’d known pain when she and Ted Bayliss realized their relationship couldn’t go anywhere. He was a big advertising executive from Laguna Beach, California, who’d asked her to marry him. But he wanted her to move there where they would lead a different lifestyle with his friends that had nothing to do with horses. As he’d said, she could always go back to her ranch on vacations and ride her horses with Mills.

When she told him about the elaborate plans she and Mills had talked about once they’d both retired from the rodeo, Ted recognized that marriage wouldn’t have worked for them no matter how attracted they’d been to each other. He had a business rooted in Southern California he couldn’t leave. It would mean Nikki would have to uproot herself, something she couldn’t do. At that point they stopped seeing each other.

For a time it was hard to accept that there could be no future for them, but she’d finally gotten over it. That’s why it surprised her how much she was still hurting over Toly’s comments to her brother. It didn’t make sense. She’d never been on a date with him or spent hours of time alone in his company, let alone had a relationship with him like she’d had with Ted.

She would love to get into a discussion with Mills about how he felt over his friend’s blanket repudiation of women like Nikki who’d been steeped in the rodeo world all their lives.

But in order to bring up the subject with her brother, she would have to admit that she’d overheard the two men talking. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. After a few seconds she’d fled the scene, but her good intentions didn’t matter because Mills would have seen it as an intrusion on his privacy.

After mulling it all over, Nikki wasn’t sorry it had happened. What she’d learned had removed the blinders. Toly might be Montana’s favorite rodeo champion and a bona fide heartthrob, but his insensitive remarks had ensured she would never be one of his worshippers. She didn’t care how many gold buckles he’d garnered, or the fame he’d won before he’d ever asked her brother to team rope with him.

Too bad Toly had been her brother’s idol for years. The fact that he’d chosen Mills to be his team roping partner for the current year had been a dream come true for him. Though Nikki had every desire to see them win the national finals championship, she would avoid Toly as much as possible.

Nikki wished the side-by-side reservations for their rigs hadn’t been made eleven months ago. She couldn’t do anything about that. But fortunately she’d be staying at the hotel and not in her rig where she usually slept. The rest of the time she’d be putting her horses through the paces at the park, keeping her distance.

In ten days’ time Toly Clayton would be long gone and she’d never have to see the Sapphire Cowboy again. According to Mills, that was the nickname Toly had been given by a journalist at the Billings Gazette years ago when he’d performed as Montana’s champion tie-down roper. She’d seen pictures on the billboards driving in from the airport that featured the Sapphire Cowboy on several of them.

Somehow, some way, she had to put him out of her mind. The fact that she was having such difficulty had to mean that on some subconscious level she’d thought a lot more about him than she would have admitted.

Clearly the negative indictment of rodeo queens had been the last thing she would ever have expected to hear on the eve of her hoping to win the national barrel racing championship. That’s what you got for listening to something you shouldn’t have. It’s your own fault, Nikki. Learn from it.

On that note Nikki finished the diet soda she’d grabbed from the minifridge and changed into well-worn jeans and a white, long-sleeved cotton pullover. Once she’d stashed her riding gloves in her tote bag along with a bag of peanuts for herself, she put on her white cowboy hat and left the room to get her rental car.

After she’d picked up the Honda Civic held for her, she left the hotel and headed to the RV equestrian park on Flamingo Road. Las Vegas was packed year-round, but during the pro rodeo finals, the traffic was beastly and it could be a nightmare if you hadn’t made reservations for everything months ahead of time.

She found the park and wound her way through to their black-and-gold rig parked near one of the barns. The long white Clayton rig lined up on one side of it had always been Toly’s hotel. When she’d first met him, she’d heard him say he was allergic to hotels.

Nikki pulled behind the Dobson rig and got out. So far she didn’t see anyone around. Good! She walked around the side and unlocked the door to the trailer section. Before she visited her horses, she needed to load up on some treats for them. They’d been separated three days and needed her love and attention in order to perform at their peak.

A few minutes later with her pockets stuffed with goodies, she walked the short distance to the barn where her horses had been stalled. She greeted Bombshell and Sassy with treats. Tomorrow her three horses would be moved to the stalls at the Thomas and Mack Center for some practice runs.

“There’s my Duchess,” she crooned to her red roan quarter horse and received a volley of nickers and nudges that made her chuckle. “I missed you too.” She fed her some apple-flavored Pony Pops and untied the lead rope to back her out of her stall.

“That’s the kind of welcome that makes me jealous,” sounded a deep male voice behind her.

Nikki knew who it was. No surprise here when his horses were stalled in the same barn. After taking a deep breath she mounted Duchess, then reached in her jeans pocket for another Pony Pop and turned toward him.

Toly Clayton stood there at six foot three in his boots wearing his signature black cowboy hat that covered a head of dark blond hair. His light green eyes almost blinded her with their intensity.

Damn and blast if her heart didn’t rap out a double beat without her permission despite her pain. “I have an idea that will fix all your problems. Why don’t you give Snapper one of these on me?”

She tossed the treat to him. To his credit he caught it neatly. They didn’t call Toly the greatest header of all the team ropers on this year’s circuit for nothing. He was the one who roped the head of the steer. Mills had won the same distinction for being the greatest heeler. His job was to rope the hindquarters. They were both experts. “See you later, Toly.”

Nikki rode away, unable to believe he could act like nothing was wrong after what he’d told Mills about her in private. How could he have looked at her just now like she was someone special?

Where did he get the gall to let her think he wanted to be with her and talk to her when deep down he’d mocked her in a particularly cruel way that had cut deep? Now that they were here, she’d be giving him wide berth!

* * *

TOLY HAD SEEN her enter the barn while he was tending to Snapper and wanted to say hello to her, hoping to talk to her for a minute alone. But after tossing him the treat he put in his pocket, she didn’t give him a chance to invite her to eat dinner with him and Mills later in his rig.

Though he knew how anxious she was to exercise her horses after being separated from them for three days, he sensed that something else had prompted her to ride off without a normal exchange of conversation. That wasn’t like her usual friendly self. Probably nerves had caught up to her this close to the first night of competition coming up the day after tomorrow.

He couldn’t help but admire her expertise as she rode Duchess out of the barn. Nikki used a barrel racing saddle with a taller horn and rounded skirt for more stability and control. She had a natural seat that made her look like she’d been born in the saddle. It caused her to stand out when she rode. The fact that she was incredibly beautiful only amplified that picture.

Toly had copped one of her signed posters at the dealership and had folded it inside his jacket so neither Nikki nor Mills could see what he’d done. The photographer had caught her rounding the third barrel at lightning speed during a circuit performance. He planned to put it up in the tack room of the barn at home where he kept some of his favorite mementos.

As soon as she disappeared, he went back to Snapper’s stall. After breaking the treat in half, he gave part to him and the other half to Chaz in the next stall. He’d already put both quarter horses through their paces. The two had speed and instincts that made them invaluable.

Once he’d made sure they were watered and had enough hay in their nets, he left the barn. The crew would check on them later. It was four thirty and the sun had just gone down over the horizon. It would be dark before long. Tomorrow the vet would meet him and Mills at the barn to give their horses a thorough exam.

He looked in the direction of the arena. Nikki would be over there putting her horse through a series of backup and turning drills. He would love to watch her, but didn’t obey the impulse. She would be back soon.

Toly headed for his rig, but noticed Mills hadn’t returned yet. They’d arranged for a rental car and he’d gone to do errands and pick up some steaks to cook. That gave Toly time to let himself inside for a shower and shave before dinner.

A half hour later he got to work on a salad and baked potatoes. He’d learned a long time ago that cooking helped him to relax. As he was whipping up biscuits, Mills came in with the steaks for their dinner and put them on the counter.

“Thanks.”

“Sure.” He removed his parka. “I saw Nikki’s rental car in back. I didn’t know she’d texted me until a minute ago. Did she say she’d come to dinner?”

Nope, but Mills didn’t need to know what had happened. Toly was still trying to figure out the reason for her unusual behavior. He took the wrapping off the meat to throw them on the kitchen grill.

“I only saw her in passing and didn’t get the chance to ask her to dinner. She was in too big a hurry to exercise Duchess. Why don’t you call her and tell her it’s ready if she wants to join us.”

Mills pulled out his cell phone. “That horse has emotional problems. I’m afraid Nikki has taken them on.”

“She’s a true horse lover.”

“Dad used to say the same thing. Sometimes she takes it too far.”

“Why do you say that?” Toly put the pan of biscuits in the oven.

“Because she treats them like they’re her children.”

Toly had noticed that for a long time. It was one of her traits he most admired. “Maybe that’s why she’s going to win the national championship this time round. There’s nothing wrong with those horses knowing they’re loved. She’s ranked second in winnings and is depending on them to bring her to number one.”

“What I’d give to see that happen! No one deserves it more than she does.”

Toly couldn’t agree more. Both brother and sister deserved that honor. He’d spent a lot of time on their ranch training with Mills, hoping to see as much of Nikki as possible. When she was there, she worked harder to perfect her circles and figure eights than anyone he’d ever seen. The self-discipline she imposed on herself was the reason she was a champion.

Whatever disappointment she’d suffered in love, she hadn’t let it affect her standings or work ethic. Toly would like to know a lot more about her personal feelings, but Mills hadn’t shared that information with him. Being Nikki’s twin, the two of them were careful to protect the other’s privacy.

Though it was commendable, Toly was finding it more and more aggravating because his desire to get closer to her had met with a setback earlier in the barn. Something had gone on that hadn’t felt right to him and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Mills disappeared to talk to her. Toly was forced to live in suspense until his friend came back to the kitchen. “She’ll be right over.” He started to set the table.

Surprised at the relief he felt to hear that news, Toly turned the steaks and checked on the biscuits that were almost done.

“Later on she has to attend a WPRA party at the MGM Grand,” Mills added, “so she won’t be able to stay long.”

Toly ground his teeth in frustration because after she left, it meant he wouldn’t see her again until tomorrow. Throughout the next ten days she’d be staying at the Cyclades Hotel every night. Damn.

* * *

THE WRANGLER PARTY for the finalists Nikki had to attend at the MGM Grand would be one of the big highlights during her stay in Las Vegas. For one particular reason tonight that had everything to do with the man in the rig next door, it would be her pleasure to dress the part of rodeo queen to the hilt. She’d brought an overnight bag with her in the car that contained her outfit.

After exercising her horses, she showered in the rig and put on her new Wrangler cream scoop-neck dress with the elaborate crochet back. It fell to the knees. She paired it with ankle-high Italian leather boots in a sand color.

After Mills told her that he and Toly had invited her to come for dinner, she went overboard on her makeup. A rodeo queen’s whole purpose in life was meant to knock a man’s eyes out, right? She’d do her best to live up to Toly Clayton’s preconceived notions, maybe even surpass them. That would be a novel idea. Nikki brushed her hair, leaving it long and flowing. After fastening her new lacy gold chandelier earrings, she put on her dressy cream felt cowboy hat. She’d bought a new handbag to go with her dress and put her wallet and keys inside. One more look in the mirror. The result made her smile. She was ready to do her worst.

She left her rig and walked around to Toly’s. They knew she was coming so she let herself in without knocking. Something smelled good. Since her brother wasn’t known for his cooking, she had to assume Toly was the chef. Unless they’d bought takeout.

Nikki found them in the kitchen putting food on the table. “Good evening, gentlemen.” She put her bag down on the end of the counter. They both turned their heads toward her.

A tangible silence filled the trailer’s interior.

“Well, don’t all speak at the same time,” she teased. “Wasn’t I supposed to come for dinner?”

Mills’s eyebrows lifted. His face wore the most comical expression she’d ever seen. “Good grief, Nikki.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he said quietly. “You look...nice.” He had a hard time getting that word out, making her want to laugh.

“Thanks. Where do you want me to sit?”

“Right here.” Toly galvanized into action and pulled out a chair for her. She felt his eyes taking inventory of her face and figure as she sat down. Maybe she had accomplished her objective and dazzled him just enough to make him choke a little on his own words.

Mmm. Steak and potatoes. Biscuits too? “Isn’t this exciting? All three of us here in Las Vegas at last?” Nikki glanced at Toly. “By the way, did my Pony Pop do the trick?” she asked after they’d started to eat.

He passed her the tossed salad. “I had to split it two ways, but they both seemed happy enough.”

“Next time give them their own packets and see what happens. I’ve got a ton of them in my rig. You’re welcome to help yourself to as many as you want to sweeten things up.”

“I’ll remember that. Thanks.”

Mills eyed both of them. “What are you two talking about?”

“Duchess was overjoyed to see your sister earlier. She gave me a Pony Pop and told me to feed it to Snapper. Maybe he’d be more excited to see me.”

Nikki could tell her brother was bewildered, but she was quite enjoying herself and continued to eat. “This dinner is delicious.”

“Thanks,” Toly said. The man didn’t sound happy and she couldn’t have been more thrilled. “Would you like a homemade biscuit?”

So he had done all the cooking. “Much as I’m tempted, I don’t dare. You cowboys don’t know how hard we cowgirls and rodeo queens have to work to watch our figures. After trying for so long year after year to stand out in order to be noticed, I’m afraid I’ll always be worrying about how I look. It’s kind of what we live for, you know? But this steak and salad were perfect for me and have hit the spot.”

Mills had stopped eating. He looked sick.

She smiled at Toly. “My congratulations to the cook who’s a team roper too. Imagine me thinking you only knew how to make coffee when we were at the ranch.”

Delighted to have delivered that last salvo, she pushed away from the table and got to her feet. “Now I’m afraid I have to go. Sorry I won’t be able to help you clean up, but I’m sure you understand I can’t be late for the photographers. This party is important because they’re setting up a special photo shoot that could open doors for me. You have no idea how eager I am to explore all my new possibilities. Good night, guys. Thanks again for inviting me.”

With her cheeks hot from being so worked up, Nikki reached for her purse and left the trailer. She hurried behind her rig and got in the rental car. On her way to the MGM, Nikki relived the last half hour in her mind and was shocked by the way she’d acted. It was like another person had emerged and taken over.

Obviously Toly’s conversation with her brother had gotten under her skin and tonight her anger had spilled over. She was incensed for all the women she’d competed with who loved the rodeo and wanted to enjoy every part and aspect of it.

The men who lived and died for the rodeo were no different. They just didn’t line up on stage and get chosen as the best or the worst by a committee. Toly Clayton had been strutting his stuff around the country for a long time. His huge fan base fed his ego and was his judge. Who was he to put labels on the women who loved the rodeo and found fulfillment in their own way?

But on the drive to the MGM Grand, her thoughts always came back to the Toly she’d gotten to know over the last year. That Toly had been so fun to talk to. Between rodeos, they’d come back to the ranch and sat around the table in the kitchen to eat after working out.

He was a fascinating conversationalist. They’d exchanged stories about what had gone on while they’d traveled the circuit. He knew everyone’s scores and who to watch. So did she. She’d loved the times when the three of them could be together and share their lives. Nikki had grown to look forward to every meeting with him.

But no longer...

She blinked away the tears threatening and pressed on the gas, anxious to get tonight over with.

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