Cowboy Trouble (The McCord Brothers 1.5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

accommodating and changed detergents, but Shari just kept on getting a rash. Personally, I think it’s because she knew he wasn’t right for her.” Wilhelmina smiled. “I think the only woman right for him is the one standing beside him now.”
    Judging from Wilhelmina’s widening smile, she thought that would please them. It didn’t.
    “Uh, Bernie is expecting us,” Natalie threw out there.
    Wilhelmina nodded. Glanced around as if expecting someone else in the room to respond to that. But there was no one else. “Bernie’s over at the courthouse. There’s a problem, and he said I was to tell you two things.”
    Rico went with another mental Hell and waited for Wilhelmina to continue.
    “You know Spring Hill has one of the lowest divorce rates in the state?” Wilhelmina asked. She didn’t wait for an answer, but yes, Rico knew. It was one of the brags the mayor threw out every year at the town’s annual picnic.
    Rico huffed. “Is there a reason you’re mentioning that?” Because he hoped like the devil that Bernie and Wilhelmina weren’t going to try to talk Natalie and him out of this.
    “Ruby Fay Barker’s been working as the district clerk for the county for going on twenty years now, and she’s from right here in Spring Hill,” the woman continued. “Well, she has a problem with divorce since she wants to keep up the town’s reputation.” Her mouth tightened. “Personally, she’s a busybody who puts her nose in all kinds of places.” She paused. “And this time she put her nose in your place.”
    Rico definitely didn’t want Ruby Fay’s nose in any place of his, and he thought he knew where this was going. “Is Ruby Fay responsible for a judge not signing some paperwork Natalie and I filed?”
    Wilhelmina nodded. “Yours and apparently several others. That’s why Bernie’s over there now. There’ll be an investigation. Ruby Lee might go to jail.”
    Rico wasn’t sure who groaned louder, Natalie or him. Because this didn’t sound like the speedy start to a divorce.
    “Can Rico and I at least get the papers Bernie drew up for us?” Natalie asked. “Then we can sign them and file them with whoever’s replacing Ruby Lee.”
    Wilhelmina was shaking her head before Natalie even finished. “No paperwork’ll be going through until the cops figure out just how deep this goes. Bernie said he’ll give you a call as soon as he knows something. But I gotta warn you. They’re bringing in the Texas Rangers to investigate. Maybe even the state attorney general. This is going to be even bigger news than when you two eloped.”
    It wasn’t just the delay that had Rico groaning. It was the fact that there was no way Natalie was going to get her wish about keeping this a secret.
    “You should go ahead and call your father,” Rico suggested. “Before he hears it from anyone else.”
    Natalie nodded, looked as if she’d rather walk barefoot with her already-sore feet through Lego blocks but she took out her phone.
    “Are you about to call Dermott?” Wilhelmina asked. “Because if so, there’s no need. That’s the second thing I’m supposed to tell you. Your daddy’s waiting for you in Bernie’s office.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    N ATALIE THOUGHT SHE might be able to hear a whistle. The one from the freight train that was about to smash into her.
    Good grief. This was exactly what she had been trying to avoid.
    She debated what to do. Running was out of the question. Not only because it would be cowardly but also because she wouldn’t get ten feet in the shoes she’d chosen for this occasion. Her toes were numb now and in possible need of amputation. Plus, running in the body-shaping panties would create so much friction that she might light her thighs on fire. There was only one thing to do.
    Suck it up and seize the bull by the horns.
    However, that didn’t mean Rico had to deal with the bull or his horns.
    “I’ll take care of this,” she told him. “You can go ahead back to the