Cameron, Paige - Commando Cowboys Captivate Their Lady [Wyoming Warriors 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance)
Wyoming Warriors 5
Commando Cowboys Captivate Their Lady
Caedmon Quinlain believes he and his cousin, Garth Sherwyn, have found their soul mate in Rae Stanton. She might also be the bridge to help their third tribe rejoin her tribes.
Hurt by her first love and confused by Cad's insistence that she is the one for him and his cousin, she runs away to Oregon. Her friend welcomes her. When Rae meets Garth in Oregon, warning bells go off, but her body is putty in his hands. She puts up a brave front, and tries to keep him at arm's length.
Cad and Garth are determined she'll marry them. But Garth is worried that when she finds out he's a shape-shifter, she'll reject him.
Meanwhile her brothers must decide whether the danger they all face is a good enough reason to trust and accept the third tribe. Especially when they want to move their tribe to the ranch in Wyoming.
Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among cousins.
Genre: Multiple Partners, Shape-shifter, Western/Cowboys
Length: 59,112 words
COMMANDO COWBOYS CAPTIVATE THEIR LADY
Wyoming Warriors 5
Paige Cameron
EVERLASTING POLYROMANCE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Everlasting Polyromance
COMMANDO COWBOYS CAPTIVATE THEIR LADY
Copyright © 2012 by Paige Cameron
E-book ISBN: 978-1-61926-861-6
First E-book Publication: July 2012
Cover design by Les Byerley
All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
Dear Readers,
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Regarding E-book Piracy
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This is Paige Cameron’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Cameron’s right to earn a living from her work.
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DEDICATION
To my dear husband, thank you for your unwavering support.
COMMANDO COWBOYS CAPTIVATE THEIR LADY
Wyoming Warriors 5
PAIGE CAMERON
Copyright © 2012
Chapter One
Rae Stanton had been uneasy all morning. She paced her living room waiting for a call. When her psychic powers caused such distress it was always bad news. All morning she’d tried to meditate with no success. Her stomach was queasy, and she hadn’t been able to eat.
She glared at the phone. Ring, damn it.
When her cell, in her pocket, played the familiar ringtone she jumped and grabbed it. Finally the waiting was over.
“Rae.” Mitch’s deep voice sounded in her ear.
“Who is? Who’s hurt?”
“What?”
“I’ve been pacing all morning. I know something is wrong, just not what.”
“No one died, and no one’s sick. You can relax.”
“This feeling is never wrong. Why did you call?”
“Nate’s back.”
Rae’s head snapped back, and her heart went into overdrive. She’d waited years to hear those words.
“Nate is here at the ranch?”
“Yes. He wants to talk with you. I’d like you to come to my office first. He’ll join us after you and I discuss his visit.”
“You’re being mysterious. What’s wrong?”
“Get over here, Rae. I’m not going to talk any further on the phone.” He hung up.
She wanted to be excited. Nate was home. She’d waited, and he’d come back. But something wasn’t right. Until she knew what Mitch had to say she wouldn’t allow herself to get too excited. Still, deep inside her a glimmer of hope flickered.
Should she change? Earlier she’d dressed in jeans, a jade-colored shirt, and had styled her long black hair into a French braid. Later today she and her business partner, Cassie, who was also a friend, had planned to go to the city. They were looking for house furnishings for their new contract.
She glanced at herself in the mirror. There was no need to change. Mitch’s home was within easy walking distance. The walk would give her time to calm herself.
When she entered her brothers Mitch and Daren’s house, no one was in the great room. She turned left and went down the corridor to the office. The door had been left partially open.
Rae peeked in. “I’m here.”
“Come in.” Mitch stood and walked around his desk to hug her.
“Where’s Daren?” Rae asked.
“We thought it best I talk with you alone. Daren, Sara, and Nate are in the study. Sit down.” Mitch pointed to the lounge chairs to the side of his office. After Rae sat, he joined her in the opposite chair.
“This must be serious.”
“It is to you. We’ve all known you’ve been waiting patiently for Nate, even though from what he said he didn’t ask you to.” Mitch’s eyebrow raised.
“Not in so many words. But I knew he cared for me. It isn’t unusual for some of our men to leave for a while. Most of them come back and settle on the ranch. But why is Nate waiting in the study?”
“He has something to tell you. It’s his story. I insisted on talking with you first to give you a chance to prepare your
self. What he is going to tell you won’t make you happy.”
Rae stared at her brother. “Send him in. As I told you on the phone, I was picking up the vibes regarding bad news. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
Mitch nodded and left the room. Rae closed her eyes and tried to center herself. She slowed her breathing, cleared her mind, and let the golden light that warmed and settled her flow through her body. When Nate knocked on the door, she opened her eyes.
Nate stepped inside and shut the door. He hadn’t changed much, although his shoulders were broader, and his arms more muscled. Maturity showed both in his body and face. His golden-brown eyes were darker. His black hair had been cut short, military-style. He didn’t smile when he saw her. She sensed apprehension from his body language and the set of his mouth.
“Welcome home, Nate.” Rae forced herself to smile. She motioned to the chair where Mitch had sat. “Join me.”
He took quick steps to the seat and leaned back, putting his long legs out in front of him. His pose reminded her of her brother, Daren. Neither Daren nor Nate ever sat in a chair properly.
“Mitch said you had something to tell me. Are you back for good or stopping through?”
“Stopping through to see my family.”
“It’s been years.”
“Yes. My parents are getting older. I want to be in touch more often.”
“Why haven’t you come back sooner?” Rae felt the waves of frustration and irritability pouring off of him in her direction. “Why don’t you just say what you want to tell me?”
A half smile crossed his lips. “I forgot how good you are at reading people. I didn’t come home because at first I was busy with my career. I worked with some other guys in a security-for-hire firm. Then five years ago, I got married.”
The words hit her hard. She moved as though hit by a missile. Quickly, she regained her composure. He was looking away from her, thank goodness. He never saw her first reaction.
Nate faced her with an angry expression. “I told you not to wait. It’s not my fault you wasted all these years.”
Breathe deep. Be calm. “I didn’t waste any years. I’ve been an integral part of my brothers’ assignments. I have a new business. Family and friends surround me. My life is full.”
“Good.”
Rae couldn’t resist the question. She tried to bite her lip and not ask, but it came out. “Do you have children?”
“A three-year-old son.” Now he smiled. “My wife and I met at a friend’s house and that was it. We’ve been together ever since.”
Her smile felt frozen in place. “That proves we weren’t meant for each other. But I wasn’t waiting for you. I’m searching for the man who will be the right husband for me. It takes some of us longer than others.”
Nate stood and looked down at her. “What are you, thirty-one? You’d better hurry before your biological clock runs out.”
She rose to face him. “You’ve forgotten our heritage. Because we age slowly, our women are fertile until they are in their late fifties. I have plenty of time. Now if you’ll excuse me I have an appointment with my business partner.” She walked around him and straight out the front door.
Once she was safely home, she shut and locked the entry behind her and sank to the floor. Tears ran down her face, and the pain in her chest erupted into a scream. “Damn him!”
He’d been married all this time and never sent word. His snide, cutting remark about her biological clock had sliced through her chest like a sharp knife. She wiped the tears off her eyelashes and cheeks and got up from the floor.
Because of his discomfort, he’d been arrogant and hostile. He was an ass and she was well rid of the silly dream she’d carried way too long. She’d wipe him out of her mind. But she knew it wouldn’t be easy or work right away. Still, she’d do it. She had to.
* * * *
“Where is she?” Mitch asked Nate.
“I don’t know. She left.”
“Is that the tone you took talking to her?”
“What about it?” Nate took a wide-legged stance in front of Mitch.
Mitch grabbed him by the shirtfront and jerked him forward until they were face-to-face. “Remember, I am your leader. Daren and me both. You will not speak to either of us in that manner, not and stay at the ranch. I’d like to throw your arrogant ass off the place. But it would hurt your parents. Still, as soon as this welcoming party is over and you’ve visited a few days, staying strictly at your folks’ house, then you will take your family and go. Understood?” He shoved Nate back into one of the chairs.
“Yeah. I might have known big brother would come to her rescue. Silly woman. It’s not—”
Mitch pulled him up and punched him in the jaw.
“What the hell was that for?” Nate asked.
“Watch your mouth when talking about my sister. She’s intelligent, kind, hardworking, and loved by many of us. I won’t be the only one after you if you bad-mouth her.”
Nate glared at Mitch, rubbed his jaw, and strode out the door without another word.
“Good riddance,” Mitch said and slammed the door. Daren and their wife, Sara, came hurrying to the office.
Sara flew to his side. “Are you all right? I’ve never heard you slam a door before.”
“Nate pissed me off. He used an arrogant attitude when talking about the whole business. I’m sure it made hearing about his marriage more painful for Rae. Then he had the nerve to start bad-mouthing her to me. I punched him.”
“That’s good,” Daren said. “I don’t have to go find him and do it myself. What about the welcoming party tonight? Everyone is going to expect to see the whole family. You think Rae can handle it?”
“I’ll check with her,” Sara offered. “I have an idea she’ll go to make the others think she’s fine with his return and him being married. She has a lot of pride.”
Mitch smiled at her. “And you’ve given me an idea. I’m going to make a phone call.”
“We know when to leave,” Daren said. He put his arm around Sara. “Come on, darlin’. We’re not wanted here.” He winked at his brother as they strolled out.
Mitch checked his phone list for Caedmon Quinlain’s name. Cad had told him Nate would be returning and to call him if needed. He’d also warned Mitch that he and his cousin intended to marry Rae. Mitch hadn’t said much at the time. Without it being said, it was understood that Rae had to agree.
But if Rae came to the party on Cad’s arm it would put everyone’s mind to rest about Nate and her. Plus, Mitch wanted to see the interaction between Cad and his sister.
Cad had also talked about the three tribes meeting and that the marriage between him, Rae, and his cousin would be the bridge to bringing the tribes back together.
The winds of change were stirring. Mitch felt it in his bones. But whether the changes would be good or not had yet to be determined.
Mitch called Cad’s cell phone number. Cad picked up on the second ring.
“I’ve been expecting your call,” Cad said.
“You have good psychic powers.”
“I do. How is Rae?”
“I’m not sure. She left before I had a chance to speak with her. But she knows. Nate was an ass. He had an arrogant attitude. I imagine she’s upset. Look, the reason I called is they’re having a welcome-home party at Nate’s parents’ home tonight. I don’t know if we can get you here in time, but Rae needs to go to that party and hold her head up high. For her own pride if nothing else.”
“And if I was with her then the others will think she wasn’t missing Nate at all.”
Mitch chuckled. “Something like that. Just remember she has free will about who she marries.”
“I’m in Lovettville. I got here last night.”
“You are prepared. I’ll give you the directions to her house. We’ll let your arrival be a surprise.” Mitch put his phone down.
He’d go tell Sara the plans, but he’d emphasize she should not mention Cad to Rae.
Hopefully tonight wouldn’t be a disaster.
He liked Cad though. He was calm, coolheaded, and just might be able to handle Rae. But he didn’t know anything about the cousin. Daren, the Priestess, and Mitch had to talk about whether they wanted to reunite with the third tribe. There were lots of questions and few answers.
Chapter Two
Rae slipped on her short silver dress. The metallic material rippled when she walked, creating an illusion of waves moving across her body. Her high-heeled silver sandals were by the bed ready to be put on. Mitch had insisted she must attend this welcome-home party and hold her head high. He was right, of course. Looking sexy was her best defense, and smiling. Which was going to be harder.
Leaning closer to the mirror, she practiced her smile. It came across as a grimace. She wished she had a few minutes to go to her meditation room and work on calming the feelings rioting through her body.
Her doorbell rang. She glanced at her watch. It was later than she had thought. She still had to braid her hair. Mitch, Sara, and Daren would have to wait for her.
Rae swung the door open. “Mitch—”
Caedmon Quinlain flashed her a smile and stepped inside. “Hello, Rae.”
She looked behind him, still expecting to see Mitch and the others. Turning, she frowned at Cad. “What the hell are you doing here?”
He put his finger across her lips. “Such language for a lovely lady. You must be very upset from Nate’s news.”
“I am not upset with anyone but you. You can’t come waltzing into my house unexpected.”