Page 1 of The Cowboy's Magic Touch

CHAPTER ONE

Brody King was standing in his round pen with a young colt when he saw a cloud of dust billowing up from his driveway. As the vehicle drew closer he wasn’t surprised to see his younger brother Clive in his pickup. Suddenly the colt began prancing, then stopped and snorted.

“It’s okay, Tommy boy, it’s just crazy Clive,” he said softly. “Easy, easy. Nothin’ to panic about.”

The colt snorted again, then stood tall with his ears pricked and his eyes wide. As the truck skidded to an abrupt stop, Brody unhooked the lead rope from Tommy’s halter and calmly left the pen.

“What’s got you so fired up?” Brody asked brusquely as his brother climbed out. “This better be important. You damn near gave me a heart attack flyin’ up here like you did, and Tommy didn’t much like it either.”

“Sorry, sorry, I know but I had to warn you.”

“What’s goin’ on?”

“Uh…it’s Annie. She’s here.”

Brody felt his face flame, and at the same time a shiver rippled through his body.

“Brody, are you okay?”

“How do you know?” he managed, finding his voice.

“Someone saw her in town.”

“Ooh, so you don’t know for sure, you heard it second hand,” Brody muttered, letting out a heavy breath. “It was probably just a girl who looks like her.”

“Mrs. Swanson rang mom. I heard her talkin’ about it on the phone. When they finished gossipin’ she told me to come up and warn you.”

“First off, I seriously doubt Annie is here, and second, even if she is it’s none of my business. Not any more.”

“Aren’t you the least bit worried, or curious or—”

“What good would that do me? Listen, Annie is history. She’s a big star now. Lives in a mansion someplace, travels the world, sings her songs to thousands of people, and makes more money than this whole town is worth. Why the heck would she want to come back? And if she did, she’d have an entourage with her and be seen by everyone, not just Edith Swanson.”

“What’s an entourage?”

“Seriously? You don’t know?”

“Uh, no.”

“It’s a group of people who take care of someone famous.”

“Oh…you mean like, hairdressers and stuff.”

“Along with bodyguards.”

“You think Annie has bodyguards?”

“When she’s performing she would, for sure, but I’ve got a colt in that pen and he needs me. Thanks for swingin’ by, but do me a favor, if there’s a next time, make sure the emergency is for real, and remember, don’t be drivin’ up here like that.”

“Sorry. I was pretty freaked out when I heard. I remember how…uh…crazy things were when she left.”

“Ancient history. Now let me get back to work.”

“Okay—oh, I almost forgot. Mom says she’s makin’ a roast.”

“In other words, she wants me over there for dinner.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

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