Halloween at the Corral Read online

  Table of Contents

  Excerpt

  Kudos for Debra St. John

  Halloween at The Corral

  copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  “How did you know where I live?”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “Not many people know where my house is.”

  A heated blush crept across her chest and up into her face. “I got your address from the billing system at the dry cleaners.” God. Could she sound any more like a stalker? She chanced a peek at him. Was he angry?

  He chuckled. “Very resourceful.” He cocked his head, a thoughtful look on his face. “And also probably very illegal.”

  Her head snapped up.

  “But I could be persuaded to overlook your…transgression, shall we say?” His voice teased. So did the gentle brush of his fingers over hers.

  “What kind of persuasion?” Something akin to anticipation flooded her body, taking the place of the momentary burst of panic. She was tempted to say yes to anything he proposed.

  “Have dinner with me tonight.”

  Damn. The one thing she couldn’t give him. “I can’t.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Is this about my…what did you call it last night…fan club?”

  “No. It’s not that I don’t want to go to dinner with you.” God help her, she did. “I can’t. I have to be at my sister’s tonight to help my niece make goodie bags for her Halloween party next weekend.”

  “Oh. Well, that’s not a problem.” A spark danced in his eyes. “I’ll just come with you.”

  Kudos for Debra St. John

  Ms. St. John’s title, ONE GREAT NIGHT, was the 2015 IDA First Place Winner.

  “Original turns of phrase make [THIS FEELS LIKE HOME] a delightful read. A great concept—a bull rider paired with a safety-conscious woman—who could ask for more built in conflict? I also enjoyed the authentic look at rodeos!”

  ~Ashantay Peters, author of “Dickens of a Death”

  ~*~

  “The story and characters tugged at my heart while reading. I enjoyed [THIS CAN’T BE LOVE] very much…If you like a contemporary, passionate and emotional read, then laugh and cry along with this one. An author who can make the reader feel so many things is one that has staying power in the writing world.”

  ~Long and Short Reviews(5 Books)

  ~*~

  “Ms. Debra St. John has created a magnificent storyline in [THIS TIME FOR ALWAYS], her first published work…Her couple faced so many devastating situations that it was impossible to not get sincerely involved in their ups and downs…The sensual scenes were beautifully written…I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an expressive romance with a happily ever after.”

  ~The Romance Studio (5 Hearts)

  Halloween

  at The Corral

  by

  Debra St. John

  Holidays at The Corral Series

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Halloween at The Corral

  COPYRIGHT © 2016 by Deborah Rittle

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Contact Information: [email protected]

  Cover Art by Diana Carlile

  The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  PO Box 708

  Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

  Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

  Publishing History

  First Yellow Rose Edition, 2016

  Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-0883-8

  Holidays at The Corral Series

  Published in the United States of America

  Dedication

  To John…

  I never have to pretend to be anything but myself

  when I’m with you.

  Chapter One

  Great. An impromptu meeting of the Dan Jenkins Fan Club gathered a few feet away. The combination of floral perfume, hairspray, and cosmetics made Kelly Harper want to gag. As did the simpering, coquettish smiles on the faces of the groupies clustered around this little corner of Texas’s hometown celebrity.

  Kelly dropped the box of painting supplies on the wooden table with a thud. Dan glanced over. A small frown narrowed his eyes beneath the brim of a straw cowboy hat.

  Annoyed at the interruption in the adoration?

  She bent to heft another carton.

  “Let me help you with that.”

  Kelly glanced up into Dan’s blue eyes. “I’ve got it. Thanks.”

  “I insist.” He lifted the box to set it gently on the table. “Anything else I can do to help?”

  A refusal sprang to her lips, but she swallowed it. She knew his type. Hell, she’d almost married one of his type. Luckily, she’d come to her senses, and if nothing else, the whole experience had taught her to steer clear of guys like Dan.

  Still, several crates needed to be hauled from her car. Why look a gift horse—even in the form of a pretty-boy with an ego the size of the entire Lone Star state—in the mouth? Might as well make use of those muscles straining the seams of his striped shirt and put Mr. Popular to work.

  “I have three crates of pumpkins in the back of my car.”

  Dan swept out his hand. “Lead the way.”

  A prickling sensation between her shoulder blades made Kelly glance around. A quartet of matching glares shot daggers at her, giving new meaning to the phrase if looks could kill.

  She faced forward again. In lieu of bulletproof armor, she twitched her thick braid so it lay down her back. “Are you sure your admirers can live without you for fifteen minutes?” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder.

  A furrow appeared between Dan’s brows. “I’m sure they’ll survive.”

  Would she? Those long, polished fingernails looked lethal. Then she shrugged. She wasn’t interested in anything Dan had to offer, except two strong arms. The ladies, and she used the term loosely, could have him.

  They strode through The Corral’s parking lot. She didn’t bother with small talk. Their steps crunched through the gravel in synch. The rich, earthy scent of fallen leaves filled the air. The wind scattered them around her feet. She pulled the edges of her flannel shirt closer together. In the near distance, the woods bordering the lot displayed rich foliage of crimson, ocher, gold, and russet.

  “This is me.” Kelly pointed to the black vintage Bronco.

  Dan whistled. “Nice ride.”

  Her eyes narrowed. Was he being condescending? Nobody messed with her car. Older than her by nearly two decades, she loved it more dearly than any of her old boyfriends. And rightly so, seeing as it was much more reliable.

  To her surprise, he stroked his hand over the hatchback. “Seventy-four?”

  “Yep.”

  “They don’t make them like this anymore. Stick?”

  “Three on the tree.”

  He nodded. “Sweet.”

  Well, damn, if he liked the Beast, maybe he wasn’t all bad. At any rate, no time to ponder that particular revelation. Kelly twisted the key in the lock and popped up the hatch.

  Dan leaned in to reach for one of the cra
tes. Denim jeans splayed nicely over the curve of his butt. No time to ponder that either. Nor should she.

  Kelly tugged the other crate toward her, then braced herself before lifting it. She staggered beneath its weight, then straightened.

  Dan looked over. “You good with that?”

  She nodded, not wasting breath for speech. While her muscles ached already with the strain, he held his crate as if it weighed no more than a newborn.

  The walk across the parking lot back to the table seemed four times as long as the walk to the car. By the time Kelly set the crate down, her arms not only trembled but were on the verge of going numb. She rubbed them to coax feeling into her biceps.

  “Why don’t I grab the other crate while you get set up here?”

  She hesitated.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t take her for a joy ride.” Dan’s expression remained serious, but his eyes twinkled.

  “Fine.” She fished the keys out of her pocket. “Don’t forget to lock it.”

  While Dan went to retrieve the last box, she set up the table. She tilted one crate, so pumpkins half spilled onto the burlap cover. The other she left on the ground. At the opposite end of the table she set out brushes and jars of acrylic paint.

  Around her, soft thuds, clinks, and even splashes mixed with chatter as the other booths were made ready for the annual Halloween festival. The sweet scent of kettle corn drifted on the air.

  “Where do you want this one?” Despite two trips back and forth carrying the loads of pumpkins, Dan’s breath remained steady.

  “Set it on the ground next to that other one. Kind of on an angle. Yep. Just like that. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” He tossed her the keys. “All locked up safe and sound.” He eyed the table. “Looks just about ready for pumpkin painting.”

  Kelly didn’t look up from the garland of tissue paper ghosts she was securing to the front of the table, but she nodded around the safety pin in her mouth.

  “Kelly, do you need help with anyth—Oh, hey, Dan.” Darla sauntered nearer, an exaggerated swing in her hips.

  What was it about Dan that brought out the bimbo in any female within a five-mile radius? Sure, he was good looking. And could sit a bull better than anyone around these parts. But seriously, you could almost see the IQ points subtracting from even the most levelheaded girl as soon as she set her eyes on him. Did he really go for that?

  “Hey, darlin’.” Dan gave Darla a one armed hug. “How you doin’ today?”

  Apparently he did. Which left her out. Not that she was interested.

  “Just fine.” Darla flashed a set of pearly whites any dentist would be proud to take credit for. “Are you working the festival or here to enjoy yourself?” Her voice dropped an octave.

  “I helped Kelly haul some pumpkins, but for the most part, I’m here to enjoy myself.”

  “Well, maybe we could enjoy ourselves together?” The words oozed with suggestiveness.

  “Sounds good to me.” Dan adjusted the brim of his hat. “Is there anything else I can help you with?” His blue eyes turned to Kelly.

  “Nope. I’m good here. Thanks again for your help. You two go ahead and enjoy yourselves.” Hopefully they’d save the real ‘enjoyment’ for later. Or at least until they got out of visual range. She didn’t need to see that.

  “See you later, Kelly.” Darla hooked her arm through Dan’s, and the couple strolled away.

  Kelly grabbed a pair of white gloves with straw sewn around the cuffs. She perched a woven hat on her head. Peering into her small compact mirror, she used brown eyeliner to apply a pattern of freckles over her cheekbones.

  One scarecrow ready to go. And just in time. A crowd of laughing, chattering, costumed children approached the booth.

  Four hours later, Kelly put both hands in the small of her back and arched. A vertebrae in her spine cracked. Ah. Much better. Standing she was used to. Imitating the Hunchback of Notre Dame for an extended period of time, not so much. Bending over the table helping the kiddos paint their pumpkins had taken its toll.

  “I’m done, Miss Kelly.”

  Kelly grabbed the now-colorful pumpkin by the stem. In the back area of the booth, she sprayed it with a coat of clear sealer, then set it on a cloth.

  “Okay, Kenzie. Come back in about twenty minutes and your pumpkin will be dry.”

  “Okay!” The little girl scampered away with her mom.

  “Having fun yet?”

  Kelly shot a smile at Tina while she shellacked another pumpkin. “Always.”

  Tina ducked beneath one of the side flaps of the booth. “So, what’s going on with you and Dan Jenkins?”

  Kelly almost dropped the pumpkin. “What?”

  “I saw you with him earlier. What’s the story?” Tina’s voice was cat-curious eager.

  “No story. He helped me carry some of these crates.”

  “Oh.” Disappointment replaced the curiosity. “Well, that was nice of him.”

  “Yep.”

  “Are you interested in him?”

  “In Dan? Nope.” As if.

  A sly smile curved Tina’s lips. “That was a pretty fast denial.”

  “So?”

  “So, methinks thou dost protest too much.”

  Kelly rolled her eyes at the bad Shakespeare imitation. What was Tina’s deal? “Really, no.”

  Tina frowned. “Why not? Don’t you think he’s good looking?”

  “He’s okay.”

  “Okay?” Mock outrage punctuated the word. “Maybe you need to look again. Obviously you missed something.”

  Kelly put her hands on her hips. “What’s going on? Are you interested in Dan?”

  “No, I—”

  “I always thought you preferred bartenders over bull riders.” Tina and The Corral’s resident mixologist had been flirty friends for years. Everyone wondered when they’d finally hook up.

  “Ha ha.” But Tina blushed and looked away. “We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you and Dan.”

  “I’m not sure why that is.” Kelly set another coated pumpkin on the drop cloth to dry.

  “I just thought you two would be good together.”

  Kelly snorted. “Yeah. Right.” She didn’t know whether to laugh or be insulted. Why would anyone think she’d be interested in a guy whose ten-gallon hat was barely big enough to hold his swelled head?

  “I don’t know. When I saw you two together earlier, it just looked…right.” Tina’s tone was more serious than teasing now.

  What was up with that? “Sorry, T. I’d never go out with a guy like Dan.” She wasn’t stupid enough to get burned twice.

  “Hey, Kelly.”

  Well, speak of the devil and he’d appear. She ignored the knowing look on Tina’s face.

  “Looks like you’ve had a busy day. Those crates won’t be nearly as heavy to haul back to your car.”

  “Nope.”

  “If you need a hand again, let me know. I’d be glad to help you clean up this stuff.” He put his palms on the table and leaned in. The crisp scent of his aftershave grew stronger. His voice lowered. “Then maybe we could grab a burger or something?”

  Kelly gaped. Had Dan Jenkins just asked her out?

  Tina smirked. “Never say never.”

  Chapter Two

  An hour later, Kelly sat across from Dan in one of the leather booths in the steakhouse section of The Corral. It wasn’t really a date. Merely two acquaintances having dinner. No big deal.

  So when he looked at her with those deep, blue eyes, why did her stomach give a very first-date-like flutter?

  “You’re really into the whole Halloween thing, hey? Costume and all.” His gaze swept over her face.

  Which quickly heated with a blush. Damn. She’d forgotten about the freckles. Then she gave a mental shrug. Who cared? Not like she was trying to impress Dan Jenkins. “Sure. What’s not to like? Candy. Costumes. I always loved dressing up as a kid. It’s fun to be able to still do it as an adult.�
��

  “Such an interesting holiday. Everyone pretending to be something they’re not.”

  She couldn’t interpret the cryptic, enigmatic tone of his voice. “Exactly. That’s part of the fun.” She cocked her head. “So no costumes for you I take it. Not into pretending?”

  He gave a wry chuckle. “You don’t need a costume to pretend to be someone else. But no, I can’t remember the last time I dressed up for Halloween.”

  Once again his tone puzzled her. “Maybe you should try it again. Relive your childhood.”

  “There’s a thought. So what did you like to dress up as when you were a kid?”

  She swallowed a bite of juicy sirloin patty. “Anything. You name it, I tried it. Princess. Pirate. Truck driver. Ninja. Nothing morbid though. I like my Halloween cozy, not macabre. The jack-o-lanterns Dad and I carved every year were cute, not evil looking. Mom would always dress up to answer the door for trick-or-treaters while Dad took my sister and me out to gather our own stash of candy.” Good gravy. Why was she telling her life story?

  “Sounds like your family was as into Halloween as you were.”

  Kelly dipped a fry in ketchup and took a bite. She swallowed. “Yep.”

  “That must have been nice.” Dan sounded wistful.

  “Didn’t you ever carve a jack-o-lantern with your dad?”

  His laugh held a bitter edge. “No, a holiday like Halloween was a bit too frivolous for Dad.”

  She frowned. How sad to miss out on such a fun, classic tradition. “You went trick-or-treating, though, right?”

  “Sure. Mom took my brother and me. But we never—”

  “Hey Dan. Hey Kelly.” A cheerleader-peppy voice interrupted.

  Damn. What had they never? “Hey, Tricia.”

  “Hey Trish.” In a heartbeat, Dan’s serious tone changed. Not quite flirty…but something close.

  “I really enjoyed watching you ride. Do you miss it now that rodeo season is over around here?”

  “Thanks. There are some indoor events I’ll enter, and I’ll still get in practice time at Logan’s place.”

  “Be sure to let us know what events you’re entering. Maybe we’ll get a group together and come watch you.”