The Shy Cowgirl: Bear Creek Rodeo

By Kirsten Osbourne

Stephanie Kelly, one of the rising music stars in the country music scene, finds herself spending more and more time alone as her sisters get married. She finally decides she can't stand the loneliness any longer, and she calls a matchmaker who is known for introducing people at the altar. The problem is that when she reaches her wedding destination of Las Vegas, she meets the first man she has ever been interested in and who she can talk to, despite her overwhelming shyness.
James Nixon needs to marry quickly to get his father to move away and stop criticizing everything he does. He knows that as soon as he marries, his father will retire, and the family ranch will finally be his. With one more rodeo event to do, he arranges to marry a stranger while he's in Las Vegas. Overwhelmed with guilt after meeting the beautiful Stephanie, he talks to her brothers-in-law, who tell him to go through with the wedding.
Will the two of them be able to work through their emotions to a happy marriage? Or will his father's negativity ruin things for them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Unlimited Dreams
• Release date: Nov 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393661146

Book preview

Chapter One

STEPHANIE KELLY—MEMBER and official song writer of the up and coming singing group the Kelly Sisters—was lonely. Very lonely. Both of her sisters had gotten married in the time since they’d sung at the Bear Creek Rodeo, and she felt like she was the last single person on the planet.

She’d moved into a smaller apartment because she didn’t need three bedrooms just for herself.

Now she sat at the computer in her living room, having finished her work for the day, and stared at a phone number on a website. She’d planned to call Matchrimony a dozen times, but she’d lost her courage every single time.

She sucked in a deep breath and dialed, scared out of her wits. Who called a matchmaker who would introduce people at the altar? How desperate was she?

This is Dr. Lachele. The voice came on the line, and it was soft and melodious.

Stephanie panicked, not sure what she should say. So, she ended the call. What else could she do?

Her phone immediately rang back. This is Dr. Lachele from Matchrimony. Don’t hang up on me again.

Stephanie swallowed hard and found her voice. I won’t.

Are you looking for someone to marry? You want to talk about being introduced at the altar? Dr. Lachele asked.

I do . . . but the idea petrifies me as well as inspires me. What if I’m a terrible wife? What if you introduce me to a serial killer?

Dr. Lachele laughed. I’ve done this many times. I promise, I will do a full psychological screening on anyone who I might match you with. There will be no serial killer.

Are you sure? Stephanie couldn’t imagine trusting someone as much as she’d have to trust this woman.

Very. Tell me your name and a little about yourself.

I can still back out even if I do that, right?

You’re a skittish one, aren’t you? Yes, you can back out even if you give me your name.

I’m Stephanie Kelly. I am a singer and songwriter. My sisters and I are the singers of the country and western group the Kelly Sisters. With that little bit of information, she knew that this Dr. Lachele person would be able to look her up and see her dancing. All she had to do was look on YouTube.

Well, I’m glad it’s you and your sisters and not some random strangers who just call yourselves sisters. Dr. Lachele cackled softly at her own joke.

I live in the Houston area, and I need to stay in this area so my sisters and I can continue to perform together. For Stephanie, that was non-negotiable.

I see. Well, I can probably make that happen. Do you need to marry in Houston? Dr. Lachele asked.

I guess I could marry somewhere else if I needed to.

All right. When can I come to you and do a psych profile on you? I have to make sure you’re not a serial killer as well.

Um . . . we have a show this weekend, but we don’t next weekend.

I’ll come next weekend, then. Give me your address.

Stephanie gave her address. And if I change my mind, I can call you and tell you not to come?

You couldn’t even talk to me when you called the first time. I don’t expect to hear from you.

With that, the line went dead, and Stephanie sighed. Dr. Lachele was right. She was too shy to even talk to another woman. How was she ever going to be able to talk to a stranger she was married to? What was she thinking?

She walked to the couch and sat down with a notebook, planning to write a song about never finding the right man and when someone did seem right, she couldn’t talk to him. She was sure it would be a hit. Many women must feel the same way she did.

JAMES NIXON FOLLOWED his father as they rounded up the cattle after the summer feeding frenzy. It was late September, and he’d only been home for a month, but already he felt trapped. He’d never had any desire to be a rancher, but his father had made a deal with him that he could ride rodeo for ten years, but at the end of those ten years, he would be home. He’d gotten a concession for nationals in Las Vegas in a few months, but other than that, he was sticking to his word.

What he really wanted—if he had to be a rancher—was to have a wife to snuggle up with at night. He was done playing the field. There had been too many years of that as a bull rider. No, he was ready to move on, but he wanted a woman to move on with. Wondering about the girls he’d gone to school with and dated back then had only ended up with him learning they were all married. All of them.

He shook his head. He’d been in a small class, but that was ridiculous. He promised himself that if his father ever let him quit working for the day, he’d check out dating sites and apps on the computer. There had to be an easier way to just smile at a woman and say, Let’s get married, with none of the dating nonsense.

He’d figure it out.

SIX HOURS LATER, JAMES finally had some time, and he collapsed into the computer chair in the office he was sharing with his father. He knew his dad planned to move with his mom to a place in town as soon as James was married and capable of running the ranch on his own. His father would be there for questions, but he felt like he’d put in the years he needed to put in to move on and retire. It was definitely James’s turn.

He did a search for dating sites, and the first thing he spotted was an ad