Page 30 of The Roper & the Author

“Lily Lillywhite? How stinking cute is that name?Que chulo. Ah, a Christmas wedding. What’s she like? Is she as adorable as her name?”

He studied the path in front of them, his jaw tight. “She’s incredible, a beautiful and charitable labor and delivery nurse.Her family runs a ranch not far from here where they house refugees and displaced people trying to get back on their feet.”

“Oh my. I love them and my future friend Lily already.”

He didn’t respond to that, and the silence felt a little tight between them. Was she being presumptuous thinking his future sister-in-law could be her good friend someday?

“I tried to talk Abuelita into doing something like that with our massive estate,” she rambled on to fill the silence. “She told me she gives plenty to charitable causes and wants some peace and quiet at home.” Marci shook her head, laughing at the memory, but then sadness traced through her. “I told her as soon as she was dead, I’d open up the estate to anyone who needed a home.” She wished she’d never teased about Abuelita dying.

“I’m sorry, Marci. I’ve been praying she’ll get home safe.”

“Thank you.” She waved her hand in front of her face. “Okay, Clint and Lily. Adorable and in love and he’s the big tough sheriff and she’s this angelic nurse. I want to meet them.”

Walker looked at her. He didn’t smile. “You might. Clint helps out with protection details. Not everybody gets a ride withtheAiden Porter to our ranch. Usually Clint picks them up from Kalispell. Maybe he’ll take you back to the airport when this is done.”

She wanted Abuelita safe, but she didn’t want to go back and she didn’t want Clint to take her to the airport. She wanted Walker to never leave her side.

“I’m happy about Clint and Lily. I won’t forget them. Next? There are a lot of you boys.”

“Six. Mama was a little insane when we were younger. Papa tried to take us with him on the ranch to give her a break. He also made us work extra hard to get some of our energy out.”

“Tough little cowboys following their dad around.” She wanted her own tough little boys who’d look just like their dad.She peered up at Walker and he glanced her way. Her stomach swooped and her heart raced.

“Tough and wild,” he said, clearing his throat and focusing on the thick trees around them. “We put holes in walls and broke everything in our path. Luckily, we had a ranch hand who used to do sheet rock and Papa is pretty great at repainting walls.”

She laughed. “I love the thought of a bunch of rough and tumble boys.” She sighed longingly. “But six is a lot. I think I’ll have three wild boys and one sweet girl.”

“You can special order that?” He gave her a teasing smile, the comfortable space between them restored. “Mama claims she never ‘tried’ for a girl, but she sure adores Lily and Eva.”

“I bet she does. Your mama is the best. Any daughters-in-law are very lucky.” She wanted to join the crew. “Who’s Eva?”

“My brother Miles’s fiancée. Eva Chevron.”

He paused as if waiting for her to put the pieces together. She stared at him and tripped over a root. Walker steadied her with his hand on her elbow.

“Eva Chevron is engaged to … Lieutenant MilesColeville. Oy! I didn’t even … but you look like him … and he’s a cowboy from Montana. Wow. I’m not very up to date on celebrity life, but everybody knows Eva Chevron and her hot new fiancé. Ah, this is crazy. I really, really want to meet them.”

He laughed at that. “You’ll have to come back for Christmas then. It’s going to be a double wedding.”

Her eyes got wide and her stomach hopped. Had he just invited her for Christmas? “A double wedding. I love it. Are they all close friends?”

He let out a surprised laugh. “No, actually. I don’t know if Lily and Eva have met, besides on video chats. Miles is stationed in southern Cal and Eva’s working on a new movie.” He paused, then said, “Miles dated Lily for years. I’m not sure how Eva or Clint feel about that.”

“Ay bendito!The plot thickens.” She rubbed her hands together. “Tell me more. Did Lily break Miles’s heart when she chose the brave sheriff or did Miles dump the benevolent Lily when he met the most beautiful actress of the century?”

Walker ran his fingers through his hair. It was always odd to see him without a hat on. She thought he was handsome either way.

“The second one, actually.” His jaw was tight and his fists were clenched. There was definitely a deeper story there, but she didn’t know if he’d reveal it. Was he upset with Miles and Eva for breaking Lily’s heart? What a protective and incredible man he was, concerned for his brother’s fiancée.

“Easton and I are next,” he continued. She’d requested him to share about the brothers, but now she was sidetracked. She wanted to know more about the fascinating Eva, Miles, Lily, and Clint story. “You know us.”

“I know you’re a famous, thoughtful, impressive, and handsome roper cowboy …” She paused. He gave her a brief smile but didn’t comment. “And Easton is a bull rider and wildland firefighter, but what I don’t know … do either of you have a girlfriend?”

She studied him for his reaction. He brushed at his hair again and shook his head. “No, ma’am.”

“Tremendo,” she said softly.

She thought he’d comment or smile at that, but he simply kept talking about his brothers. “Rhett is two years younger. He builds custom homes down in Kalispell. Houston is the baby. He’ll finish his residency in Omaha this spring and we’re all hopeful he’ll move home and take over Doc’s family practice. That’s it.” He spread his hands and upped his pace. “Mama will be holding breakfast for us. Are you okay eating before we shower?”

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