Wild Cowboy Ways by Carolyn Brown Page A

door to open it.
    “Welcome to Dry Creek!” one of the dozen ladies standing on his porch said cheerfully. “We brought food so you’d have something to eat until you can get settled in.”
    Sharlene winked from back behind the woman.
    Mary Jo smiled at him from the sidelines.
    “Thank you all so much,” Blake said. “Please come right in and excuse the mess. I’m not nearly unpacked yet. Can I get you ladies a cup of coffee?”
    Sharlene ran her forefinger down his arm and locked it around his pinky. “I’ve been waiting for your call,” she whispered.
    Mary Jo pushed between Sharlene and Blake to hug him. “Welcome to Dry Creek. We’re a friendly bunch and we hope you do better on this ranch than the other folks have.”
    “I’m Dora June. This is Lucy.” The woman with three chins made so many introductions so fast that he’d never remember all their names. “And now for the food! You’ll have to freeze some of it, but I reckon you’ll want to have my fried chicken for dinner since it’s still hot.”
    “Why, Miz Dora June, how did you know fried chicken was my favorite food in the whole wide world? My mouth is already watering,” he said.
    “All cowboys like fried chicken,” she beamed.
    In a few minutes his kitchen table was filled with food, his counter space was covered with desserts, and a couple gallon jugs of sweet tea had been set in his near empty refrigerator.
    “I see my slow cooker in the ’fridge with leftover chili in it,” Mary Jo whispered while the other women talked nonstop about how good it was to have someone living on the ranch. “All you have to do is call me when it’s empty and I’ll come get it, night or day.”
    Sharlene waited until Mary Jo moved to the side and looped her arm in Blake’s. “And you’ve eaten my casserole already. I’ll bring another one right over any ole time of the day…or night.” She gave his right butt cheek a squeeze. “We might build up an appetite and then we could share it. I brought my pot roast today and if you like it better, give me a day’s notice.”
    Blake had fallen into a wild cowboy’s paradise. Hell, he didn’t even have to go bar hopping on the weekend. All he had to do was make a phone call, but…
    Dammit! Why did there always have to be a but ?
    But, the voice in his head said loud and clear , what if these women are looking for more than a one-night stand or a weekend romp in the sheets? What if they want a long- term relationship? Then you’ll be up shit creek without any sign of a paddle because the whole town will turn against you for hurting their feelings.
    Lucy clapped her hands. “Okay, ladies. This man has work to do if he’s going to get this place whipped into shape. Let’s go on now. We will see you in church on Sunday, won’t we, Mr. Dawson?”
    “You are all such sweethearts to take care of me like this and yes, ma’am, I will be in church Sunday. I might be twenty pounds heavier after eating all this good cookin’, but I’ll be there,” he promised.
    Lucy nodded. “You’ve got an open invitation to go home with me and my husband, Herman, for Sunday dinner anytime, honey. You might get lonely and Herman can talk the legs off a kitchen table when it comes to ranchin’ and cows.”
    “Thank you again for everything.” Blake followed the parade back through the living room.
    “You don’t need to come out to the porch, cold as it is,” Ruby said. “Just get on in there and open up that fried chicken and my potato casserole. They go right well together. And I do believe that Nadine sent her famous apple pie.”
    “I can’t thank y’all enough for making me welcome,” Blake said.
    “Honey, I’d like to show you just how welcome you are,” Sharlene said softly just before she followed the rest of the crowd outside.
    Blake was still shaking his head, wondering how in the hell he was ever going to deal with so much temptation on every corner, when Deke pushed into the back