The Rancher and the Event Planner

The Rancher and the Event Planner - By Cheryl Gorman

Chapter One

WELCOME TO SALVATION, TEXAS. The sign sported a smiley face as an exclamation point and a bullet hole over the “I”...which pretty much summed up Salvation in one image.

“Welcome to hell is what they should say,” JC Barrett said to herself. Thank goodness she was only passing through her home town and not staying. Her brother, Cade still lived in Salvation but she knew he’d understand if she didn’t stop by and see him. He loved this town and she hated it. Always had, always would. Besides, Rafe McCord lived here and she had mixed feelings about seeing him again.

She glanced at the dashboard clock. Another hour and a half and she’d be in Dallas to oversee Senator Grant’s fundraising gala for her Shreveport employer, ‘Affairs to Remember’. She cranked the fan on the air conditioner of her compact car and grabbed another chocolate chip cookie from the bag sitting on the passenger seat.

She bit into the cookie savoring the sweet chocolate, and tried to ignore the fact she’d be wearing the cookies tomorrow on her hips and thighs. True, she’d have to put in some extra time on the treadmill to work off the calories, but right now she needed chocolate—bad. Especially before planning a big event. She zipped down Main Street, passed Duncan’s Hardware, Joe’s Market and Phillip’s Pharmacy. The town had always been on a first name basis with itself. Some people might call that cozy and comforting. JC called it suffocating.

With one hand on the wheel, she dug around inside her purse with the other. Damn it. The cell phone continued to ring. Probably her boss with some last minute instructions.

For a moment, she took her eyes off the road while she groped for her phone. A siren’s wail filled the air with an ear-piercing scream, and her head snapped up. A police car with flashing lights ate up the road behind her. “Holy Christmas monkeys.”

Her gaze jerked back to the road as a small dog darted across the pavement in front of her. A spurt of panic fueled with adrenaline zipped through JC’s body. She wrenched the steering wheel to the right and slammed on the brakes, narrowly missing the ball of white fur. The car skidded in a circle for what seemed an eternity. Breath gusted from her lungs in short, ragged gasps. “OhmyGodOhmyGodOhmyGod!”

A white picket fence loomed ahead and on the other side, an older man wearing a fishing hat stood at a mail box. JC’s heart nearly stopped and the breath in her lungs seized. She jammed the heel of her hand on the horn. “No, no, no. Please, God don’t let me hit this poor man.” The man looked up, and his eyes widened. He leaped out of the way right before the front of her car flattened the mail box, barely missing him. Letters flew into the air like hot corn kernels and landed on the top of her car with a soft rat-a-tat-tat.

The car rocked to a halt jerking JC in her seat, but at least she avoided hitting her head on the steering wheel when the seat belt yanked her back painfully. “Ow!”

The engine sputtered once and died. Her purse and its contents lay at her feet, broken cookies decorated the dashboard.

She couldn’t control the shaking in her hands or her heart trying to push its way out of chest as she unbuckled her seat belt and bolted from the car. She ran weak-kneed to the man’s side. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay? Everything happened so fast.”

The old man, who looked like a stiff breeze could blow him away, glared at her with light, gray eyes. “No, I’m not okay. You almost ran me over, young lady. I bet you were on your cell phone. They’re a menace and so are you. And what about my mail box?”

A fresh wave of anxiety twisted her stomach into a knot. “I don’t blame you for being angry. I promise I’ll replace your mailbox.”

“Darn tootin’ you will.”

She touched his arm. “Are you sure you’re all right? Maybe you should get checked out by a doctor.”

“Henry, are you okay?”

JC turned.

A short, skinny cop stood beside her. She didn’t remember him from growing up in Salvation, thank goodness.

“I’m fine,” the old man said pointing toward the pile of twisted metal and shards of wood, “but look what she did to my mailbox.”

The cop turned his gaze to JC. “Ma’am, are you hurt?”

Still shaking from head to foot she gave her body a cursory glance. “I don’t think so.”

“Good, you’re under arrest.”

***

A fly buzzed around JC’s head in the only courtroom of the Salvation courthouse. She swiped at the insect. The mortification of being arrested for the first—and she hoped the last—time in her life had not abated. The officer had told her they give criminals their day in court once a week and this was her lucky day. Ceiling fans stirred the thick air and a clerk attempted to relieve the heat with a hand-held fan advertising the Davis Funeral Parlor and Crematorium. The air conditioner must be broken.

Her attorney, Jack Porter, wearing a dark suit sat beside her in the back of the courtroom typing on his lap top. She remembered him from high school when he was the star quarterback. He’d been a few years ahead of her in school and thank God he hadn’t recognized her.

Sweat beaded on JC’s neck. Tension gripped her shoulder muscles, and an ache thudded at the base of her skull. What about her job? She needed to get to Dallas by this evening because she had her first meeting scheduled with Senator Grant to discuss the fundraising gala. She glanced at her watch for the umpteenth time. Three hours had passed since the accident. Three long, hot, sweaty hours. Would her employer, Affairs to Remember fire her if she didn’t make it there today?

The judge entered the courtroom through a side entrance and took his seat on the bench.

Crap. The judge was Linc McCord—the brother of Rafe McCord, who happened to be her own brother’s best friend as well as the man she’d had a crush on growing up. Could this day get any worse? Linc still had serious blue eyes and chestnut hair clipped short. His black robe was unwrinkled even in the stifling heat.

Court was officially called to order and the judge began hearing cases. Some of the cases before her were so ridiculous, JC hoped Linc would be worn out and lenient by the time he got to hers. But she wasn’t charged with something mundane as shooting the gnomes in an ex-wife’s yard or charged with shoplifting a box of condoms.

Her stomach knotted. She was charged with something much worse.

“Would Ms. Barrett please stand?”

Miserable with embarrassment, she stood with her attorney at her side hoping that Linc didn’t recognize her. “I’m here, Your Honor.”

He scanned the report in his hands. “Ms. Barrett, you have been charged with reckless driving with willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property. How do you plead?”

She glanced at her attorney who nodded. “I plead guilty to speeding, Your Honor, but the rest was an accident. I didn’t start out my day with the intention of disregarding anyone recklessly or otherwise. I will gladly pay for a new mail box or my insurance will, of course.”

The judge’s lips thinned. “Ms. Barrett, the reckless driving and the property damage were a direct result of your speeding.”

“Yes, Your Honor, but as I told the officer, I was startled by the police siren and then a dog darted across the road in front of me. Everything happened so fast. That’s my only excuse and I’m deeply sorry.”

The judge stared at her for a moment longer and JC was afraid he’d recognized her. He straightened in his seat. “Ms. Barrett, under Texas law, this misdemeanor is punishable by a fine which is not to exceed two-hundred dollars or confinement in the county jail for not more than thirty days—or both.”

The knots in her shoulder muscles constricted further. “Your Honor, I’m a law abiding citizen with a good job. I’m an event planner and on my way to Dallas to plan the most noteworthy event of the year for Senator Grant’s campaign. I never drive that fast, it was a mistake. I truly am sorry.”

“Ms. Barrett, the court appreciates your remorse but Mr. Henry Thomas’s life was put in danger and I feel you need to do more than pay a fine.”

“Darn tootin’,” Mr. Thomas said from the front of the court room. He turned and frowned at her.

As an event planner one of her skill sets was staying cool under pressure especially when something went wrong or the client was nervous about an event. But it seemed that no matter what she said the judge was determined to throw the book at her. “Your Honor, please don’t send me to jail. I’m not a reckless person and I have a healthy respect for the law, believe me. I’m really sorry for what happened today. I’ve been under a lot of stress lately—”

The judge raised his hand stopping her. “Ms. Barrett, sentencing you to thirty days in jail for the charge of reckless driving is too harsh considering you have no prior offenses and you seem to be a level-headed young woman.”

Relief made her dizzy. She smiled. “Oh, thank you, Your Honor. I’ll just pay the fine and be on my way. As soon as my car is repaired that is.”

“I’m not finished. In lieu of the thirty days in jail, you are ordered to serve thirty consecutive days of community service helping our mayor, Mr. Rafe McCord rejuvenate this town to win the Best Texas Vacation Contest.”

Her heartbeat quickened and anxiety punched her in the gut. Her career was on the line. She had to think of a plan—fast. “Your Honor, I’m only an hour and a half away from Dallas and my home in Shreveport. I can help the mayor and take care of the event in Dallas if you’d allow me to do both. Otherwise I could lose my job. Please, Your Honor.”

Linc eyed her for a moment, a tiny frown appeared on his brow and he tilted his head to the side. A little smile curved his lips.

Damn. He recognized her.

“Ms. Barrett, the court doesn’t want you to lose your job so I will allow you to spend one day a week in Dallas taking care of the event.” He slammed down his gavel. “You’d better find a place to stay in Salvation because the rest of the sentence still stands. Court is adjourned.”

* * *

Why couldn’t they see the big picture? As mayor of Salvation, Texas, Rafe McCord was expected to develop policies and execute his duties with the best interests of the citizens in mind and improve their living conditions. Noon day traffic moved steadily along the street below. He watched a hawk cruising on the thermals and glimpsed a flash of heat lightning in a large, purple thunderhead in the distance. They’d have rain by this evening.

The day before, Rafe had argued that the economy was in a slump and the best way to attract tourism was to enter the Best Texas Vacation Contest and win it so they could host the East Texas Rodeo.

He turned from the window and raked a hand through his hair. Only the city council didn’t see things his way. He’d tried to convince them until he was hoarse, but they’d firmly planted their heels like a persistent kudzu vine and couldn’t see beyond the tip of their budget minded noses. The litany of their reasons his plan was doomed to failure played through his head.

The town doesn’t have a chance at winning.

The financial risk is too great.

The town is too small to host the East Texas Rodeo.

The town does need to be revitalized but that would mean hiring a professional and the town couldn’t afford one for the long haul.

They’d thrown him a crumb though. If he could find an affordable event planner to help they would consider it. He’d spent the last hour on the phone trying to find an event planner, but they were either booked solid or way out of the town’s price range. Rafe looked at the time. Court should be over in a few minutes. He grabbed his hat from the rack in the corner and headed for the door of his office. He’d snag his brother and take him to lunch and together maybe they could come up with some ideas.

Just before his hand closed around the knob, the door swung open and his brother Linc stood in the doorway with a smug look on his face and a twinkle in his blue eyes. “I found an event planner to help you and she’ll work for free.” Linc stood to the side and gestured toward a woman sitting in his office waiting room.

Rafe could see her blonde hair in a twist at the back of her head emphasizing the slender column of her neck and the necklace she wore had gotten tangled in loose wisps of hair. A memory niggled in the back of his mind like a cockle burr, but he couldn’t yank it free.

When he walked to her side, she turned and looked up at him. Familiar eyes the color of fine whiskey met his and her pretty lips parted. She gathered her purse and stood. “Hi Rafe, it’s been a long time.”

Shock kicked around inside him like a frisky colt on a cold morning. “Jennifer?”

He hadn’t seen her since he was a senior in high school. Sexy curves had replaced her rail thin figure along with toned legs. She must put in some gym time in between planning events. She’d grown her hair out and the suit she was wearing must have cost a bundle. Her skin still looked peaches and cream soft, but she generated strength and self-confidence. Gone was the shy, insecure girl he used to know. He liked her this way.

She gave him a quick hug, barely touching her cheek to his. She smelled like flowers and hot Texas nights. “I go by JC now. I took Mom’s name for my middle initial.”

Her voice had acquired a soft, husky tone. Attraction grabbed a hunk of mane and dug a spur into his solar plexus. Damn, where did that come from? Since Caroline died in a car accident four years ago, he’d corralled himself off from women, not wanting to screw up anyone else’s life, but with one friendly gesture JC had opened the gate a crack. His brother—was going to pay. Big time.

“Isn’t this great? It’s like old home week,” Linc said turning his attention to Jennifer. “Too bad we have to get reacquainted under these circumstances. I hope you can forgive me.”

Jennifer smiled at his brother displaying straight white teeth. Male appreciation dug those spurs in further. The overbite and braces were gone and in their place was a dazzling smile guaranteed to make a cowboy drool. But he’d always thought she was pretty even with the overbite. Now she was gorgeous, sexy and since she was his best friend’s little sister—definitely off limits. “Considering I can still fulfill my duties in Dallas, I suppose I’ll have to forgive you.”

Linc grinned. “Good.”

Rafe looked at his brother. “You and I need to talk.” He turned his gaze to Jennifer who managed to look fresh despite the stifling heat. “Would you excuse me for a minute?”

Rafe walked a few feet away from Jennifer and stared at his brother.

Linc smiled. “What’s the problem?”

When they were kids, a shit-eating grin from Linc meant war. They’d have been exchanging punches and rolling around in the grass by now. “There has been a gross miscarriage of justice, big brother.”

Linc folded his arms over his chest. “Not from where I’m standing.”

“I’ve known her practically my whole life,” he said in a harsh whisper. “She’s Cade’s little sister.”

His brother gave him his stubborn-to-the-bone look, which meant a stampede couldn’t change his mind. “So? What’s the problem? Last night you said you needed help. You said you were in way over your head and didn’t have a clue where to start. Jennifer is an event planner now and exactly the help you need. And you already know each other which should make it easier to work together. And what does Cade have to do with it? You should be thanking me.”

“Thanking you? Listen, Shamrock, I’m serious.” Rafe took some satisfaction in seeing the color rise in His Honor’s cheeks. Rafe had branded his brother with the nickname when he’d dressed up like a four leaf clover for a play in second grade. “I’m up to my ass in work at the ranch. I’ve got Molly to worry about now that Mom has remarried and moved to Colorado and I still haven’t found someone to look after my daughter on a permanent basis. I’m not—I can’t work with her.”

A knowing look lit his brother’s eyes. “You’re attracted to her.”

The image of Caroline’s tear-streaked angry face as she sped away from the ranch in a cloud of dust and gravel flashed into his brain. He’d had no idea it would be the last time he saw her alive. A tangled mix of guilt and regret nudged his heart like someone unexpectedly poking him in the dark. If only she had trusted me. “No way.”

His brother grinned. “Thank God, you’ve been moping around here long enough.” He pointed his finger at Rafe. “And don’t call me Shamrock or I’ll have you out on the highway in an orange vest picking up trash.”