Some Like It Hot (Sweetrock Cowboy Romance Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

tightened. He certainly was a favorite. Known to everyone, and from what she could tell, well liked. Could she really compete with that? “So I’ve heard.”
    Beulah rocked back on her heels, her face scrunched up. “What did you say your last name was?”
    “Dunn. Samantha Dunn.”
    Beulah’s brows tugged together. “You know I recognize that name. Your people are from around here, aren’t they?”
    Sam stared at the old woman. Dunn was a pretty common name, but oddly enough her people were from around here. Or at least her grandmother, the same one that had given her the chili recipe. “Yes. As a matter of fact, my grandmother grew up around these parts.”
    “That’s right. Over in Chester, wasn’t it?” Beulah named a town to the north even smaller than Sweetrock.
    “Yes, it was.” Sam was surprised. The old woman must have a memory like a steel trap. “Did you know her?”
    “Not personally, but you know how it is in these small western towns. Everybody hears about everybody else. So that’s good, then. Hometown girl coming back to her roots.” Beulah winked at Sam. “I like that. It’s a good story. You here to stay?”
    “Oh, no. I won’t be staying. I’m going back to Boston.”
    Beulah’s left brow shot up. “Uh-huh. We’ll see about that. Once you city girls get a taste of this clean country living and Sweetrock cowboys, you never go back to the city. Heck, that’s how I ended up out here myself.”
    Sam couldn’t imagine Beulah as a young city girl staying out here for some cowboy, even though she had to admit the small town of Sweetrock did have some endearing qualities. The clean air was a nice change from the diesel-scented air in Boston and the stretches of land without buildings that had made her feel exposed on her first day here now gave her a sense of freedom. She was even starting to get used to the bugs. And so far, everyone she’d met had made her feel at home. But none of those things—especially not the cowboys—were compelling enough to make her stay.
    “So, let’s have a taste of your chili.” Beulah interrupted Sam’s thoughts.
    “Oh. Right.” Sam ladled a big puddle of chili into the plastic bowl, dunked in a spoon and topped it off with a sprinkle of cheddar and a cornbread biscuit then handed it to Beulah.
    Beulah pushed the biscuit aside and dipped her spoon in. She swished the chili around in her mouth. Her wrinkled lips puckered and her features contorted into a variety of faces while Sam anxiously awaited her verdict.
    Beulah swallowed and patted her lips with the brown paper napkin. “Not too bad, but it’s not spicy enough. We like it hot around here.”
    Sam glanced at the jalapeño peppers she had on the cutting board. She’d put as many in as the recipe called for. Did it need more? Maybe Beulah’s old tastebuds didn’t work properly. “It’s not hot enough?”
    Beulah shook her head. “I don’t think so. Can’t say as it would beat mine.”
    “Yours?”
    “Yep. Three booths down.” She pointed down the aisle to a yellow and white striped tent.
    “Oh, you’re in the contest?” Now Sam remembered Nick saying something about Beulah being one of the few women in the contest, and she’d since noticed all the other contestants were men. Sam felt an instant camaraderie with the old lady.
    “Yep. Been in it every year for the past seventy years.” Her face contorted into a frown. “Ain’t won yet, though. In fact, I usually come in dead last.”
    “Seventy years? How old are you?”
    Beulah leaned in toward Sam and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Ninety-six. But don’t tell anyone. I got them all thinking I’m only ninety.”
    And with that, she strode off, leaving Sam staring after her. Montana sure did have its share of characters. But the people were nice. Friendly. Not standoffish like they were in Boston. Maybe life here wouldn’t be so bad?
    Thoughts of her family squelched any ideas about moving out west. Her parents were