Reluctant Cowboy: Friendly Valley Romance, #4

By Braylee B. Parkinson

Blake Peterson is going home after years of service in the United States Army. Everything--including all of his family and friends--have changed. He never wanted to be a cowboy and returning to this tiny western town doesn't make him happy, but when his sister called and told him the family could use his help, Blake bought a one-way ticket home. Newly single after a divorce, he hopes his new job as the executive chef at a local restaurant will be a bright spot in his homecoming. 

 

Maribel is a single mom with two jobs and she doesn't have time for ridiculous things like fancy food created by an executive chef. When a familiar face shows up and changes the entire menu, she recalls how annoying--and cute -- her ex-best friend, Blake, had been in high school. Mr. Goody Two Shoes had tried to keep her on the straight and narrow back then. When Maribel pursued her wild streak, the two--who had been friends since kindergarten--went their separate ways.

 

Will Maribel and Blake pick up where they left off? Or has too much time passed for them to make amends? Will they rekindle their friendship, find love, or go their separate ways? Find out in this heartwarming western romance!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Braylee Parkinson
• Release date: May 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215044216

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Is this what I’m supposed to do with my life? Blake wondered as he prepared for the trip to the airport . His bags were packed; the hour had arrived for him to leave for Basic Training. He was standing near the front door of the old farmhouse where three generations of his family had lived, wondering if he’d ever see the place again. His girlfriend, Shana, clung tearfully to his chest, her body shaking with sobs. Blake’s mother leaned against a post at the end of the porch, dabbing her eyes. He had never seen his mom cry before. Watching her swipe at the side of her face as her shoulders heave up and down made him want to rescind his enlistment. Can I change my mind? Is it too late to do that?

Blake wasn’t sure if that was possible. Most of the information the recruiter gave him had gone over his head like a rising tide, slowly engulfing him until he was in too deep. He’d always dreamed of serving his country, but now that the time had come for him to leave, Blake wasn’t sure if he was doing the right thing. Now he was saying goodbye to his parents, siblings, and girlfriend. The hope was that enlisting would provide an escape from ranch life—not from them.

His father stood near the driveway; his hands stuffed deep in his pockets. A black Stetson blocked Blake’s view of his father’s face. He knew his dad was disappointed; tradition dictated that the oldest son should take over the family ranch, but Blake despised ranching. Now the tradition might not be passed down to the next generation. Perhaps one of the twins, Blake’s younger brothers, would take up ranching instead. As if on cue, Luke, one of Blake’s younger siblings, appeared in the doorway. He avoided looking at his baby brother. Joining the Army meant he’d miss seeing his brothers and sister grow up. Luke and Lane were only four, and Elsa was three. Alexis, his sixteen-year-old sister, was the only sibling who would have a lot of memories of him. How often would he see the Sibs—a term he and Alexis used for their younger brothers and sister.

You’re not going to work on the ranch? Luke whispered one day after church.

Though only four years old, it was clear that Luke already knew working on a ranch was part of being a Friendly-ite. Blake had left the question unanswered. He knew how painful his departure was for his parents. What if the rest of their children did the same thing?

I’m going to serve our country, Blake told him, hoping his response would appease his brother. Friendly was a ranching town. Most people in town loved ranching and those who didn’t, left town. If you wanted to stay, you needed to learn the ropes and carry on the tradition. Every time a young person left Friendly, it made it easier for other teens to pick up stakes after high school and never look back.

I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes, Shana whispered as she buried her face deeper into his chest. Blake tightened his hold on her, but a small part of him wondered if this was too much too soon. They had started dating only a few months before, would she really miss him that much?

I’ll come see you when you’re finished with Basic Training, Shana promised.

Blake nodded, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He’d fallen out with his best friend, Maribel Sykes, several weeks ago. Leaving town without saying goodbye to her seemed impossible, but she’d made it clear. Maribel didn’t want to see him anymore. Earlier that day, he had driven through town and spotted her. She’d been standing near Ben’s Grocery, holding her infant son. Their eyes met briefly before Blake saw something flash across her face. Was it anger? Sadness? He couldn’t be sure.

Blake, did you hear me?

He pushed away the memory of Maribel and focused on the present. Blake was grateful to have Shana sending him off and pledging to wait for his return, but he was nervous that Maribel might never speak to him again. The worst part was that he had no idea why she was angry with him.

Blake? Hello? Shana said, putting her hands on her hips.

Yes. I heard you.

I love you. You know that?

Blake nodded, not knowing what to say.

Don’t you love me too? Shana asked.

He swallowed hard and said, We better get going.

Maribel rocked back and forth in the oversized wooden rocking chair.

You’re going to be rocking the baby all the time. Might as well have a chair to help you, her grandmother, Ruby, told her when she was six months pregnant. Now baby Lucian was in her arms, sleeping soundly. Maribel wasn’t sure what the future held, but her heart was full of love for her son. At sixteen, she was nervous, but ready to tackle life as a single mother. The only regret she had was pushing Blake away. She closed her eyes as she thought back to the day she’d ended her friendship with him.

‘Don’t pity me. I don’t want to hear about how much of a failure you think I am,’ Maribel remembered screaming at Blake. She’d been eight and a half months pregnant. Her belly had been so full she was sure she would topple over. That night, Blake had warned her that the spaghetti sauce would give her indigestion. He’d had her best interests in mind, but Maribel saw it as an opportunity to act out her plan. She didn’t want to hold Blake back from achieving his dreams. If she didn’t push him away, he’d stay and try to take care of her and the baby. That’s not his responsibility, she’d thought.

‘I’m sixteen years old and expecting a baby. You don’t need to be bossing me around.’

‘Maribel, you’re my best friend.’

Blake had crossed his arms over his chest, and Maribel thought he was looking down on her with disdain. But now, as she sat quietly at her grandparents’ house, she questioned if she had fabricated the feeling of superiority radiating off Blake.

‘You’re still a kid yourself, so I don’t need help from you. Go away.’

‘I’m older than you. My mom said you’d be emotional because you’re pregnant.’

‘Leave now!’

‘Mar–’

‘No. Get out of here and stay away.’

‘Why?’

‘Just do it. Don’t call me either.’

Mar, are you sure you don’t want to– her grandfather peeked into the room, interrupting the memory.

No, Grandpa. I’m fine, Maribel said.

He’s not coming back for a long time.

It’s his choice. I’m okay with it, Maribel said, speaking quietly and avoiding looking back at her grandfather.

Mar, he might end up in the Middle East. What if he doesn’t make it back?

Grandpa, I…saw Blake at the store this afternoon while Grandma was shopping; I stayed out front for some fresh air.

That’s good. It’s important to mend fences. Especially when someone is leaving and you don’t know when you’ll see them again, her grandfather said. Do you need a break?

Thanks Grandpa, but I’m okay, Maribel said. She was so thankful her grandparents were helping her out.

She hated to lie to her grandfather, but she didn’t want to tell him she was letting Blake leave without saying goodbye to him.

1

Blake darted through the airport, dragging an oversized suitcase behind him. Weather had delayed his flight’s take off time by forty-five minutes. When the plane eventually descended and landed, the passengers were stuck on board for another half hour because of congestion on the runway. Now he might be late for a meeting with the owner of the restaurant he would open in a few weeks. After years of being stifled and stuck in low-level cook positions, he finally had a shot at a head chef position at what he hoped would be a high-end restaurant. What do all these delays mean? Should I be worried? Blake thought to himself. A storm postponed my flight, then we couldn’t leave the plane, and now I’m about to be late for the most important meeting of my life. Are these signs?

Blake burst through the doors of the terminal and scanned the few cars that were creeping in front of the building. Alexis told him she’d be there to pick him up.

Don’t be late, Alexis, Blake told his sister. I have to meet with Denise Morrison. I want to make a good impression.

I’m never late, Alexis responded. Blake remembered removing the phone from his ear and squinting his eyebrows and thinking, Seriously? His sister was a lot of things and he admired her passion and drive, but she was rarely on time. Blake needed a ride from the airport and Alexis was his only option because he had kept his return home a secret from everyone else. His parents were busy raising three teenagers, coupled with a long-term drought and its effect on the ranch. He didn’t want them to waste time and effort readying his room.

Blake sighed and shook his head as he did a second scan of the cars. Alexis stuck her hand out of