Round Up: Cowboy Code, #3

Lauren Fraser

Round Up

Book 3 Cowboy Code Series

Copyright © 2022 by Lauren Fraser

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Lauren Fraser asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

First edition

ISBN: 9798201084004

This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

Find out more at reedsy.com

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

Excerpt from Too Far

ALSO BY LAUREN FRASER

About the Author

Chapter One

What the hell was going on?

Kasey Davison watched the cab pull to a stop in front of the ranch house. A skinny woman with long, light brown hair slid out of the backseat. She stared up at the house while the driver pulled out her suitcase from the trunk and then drove away, leaving the woman standing alone.

Shit, so much for getting his work done. He pulled off his gloves and tossed them on the side of the wheelbarrow. As he approached the woman, he examined her from head to toe. She was attractive. A little on the skinny side for his liking, but overall, not bad. He took in the heeled boots, expensive looking jeans, and fancy purse and snorted. Definitely out of place on a dusty ranch.

Can I help you? he asked.

The woman looked up at the house again and chewed her full bottom lip. Umm, I’m looking for Katherine McCray.

She’s not here.

Do you know when she’ll be back?

As a matter of fact, I do. She’ll be back in about ten days.

Her shoulders sagged. Ten days? The woman looked defeated as she eyed the bag on the ground beside her. Great, she muttered.

There something I can help you with?

No, thanks. She grabbed the handle of her bag and turned towards the driveway. The wheels of the suitcase caught in on a rock and the bag tipped slightly before she could right it. Her head dropped forward, and she audibly sighed, then turned around. Actually, can I borrow your phone to call the cab back? Mine died yesterday, and I haven’t had a chance to charge it.

Kasey crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the woman. Who was this woman and what kind of person showed up unannounced and had the cab drop them off?

Mind my asking why you’re looking for Kat?

She still goes by Kat? She smiled.

Yep. So how do you know her?

We’re friends.

Considering he’d never seen her before, they couldn’t be that close of friends. She sure as hell hadn’t been at the wedding. Close are ya’?

She chewed her bottom lip again and her eyes welled up. We used to be. I haven’t seen her in a while.

The way she stood there wringing her hands together all slouched into herself reminded him of a scared animal. His stomach knotted as he looked at her. Shit, maybe he could ease up a bit. I’m Kasey and you are?

Oh, umm, I’m Julia. She glanced up at him beneath her lashes and flashed him a tight smile. He’d never seen lashes that long before. Kat always put a bunch of crap on her eyes to make her lashes look that long, but this woman didn’t appear to have a lick of makeup on. His gut clenched as checked out the fresh-faced newcomer. Shit, if she put makeup on, she’d be a knockout.

So, Julia, you and Kat used to be friends?

Yeah, we grew up together. She sighed. We sort of lost touch over the years.

And yet here you are, showing up on her doorstep with a suitcase?

She snorted. If you knew me, it wouldn’t seem so strange.

He widened his stance and stared down at her. Well, I don’t know you, and it strikes me as more than a little odd.

Julia looked down at her shoes. I’m sure it does. So, about that phone, can I borrow yours.

Just as he was reaching into his pocket, Duncan called out for him. Kase?

Yeah, I’m out front, he yelled back.

Duncan rounded the corner. He sauntered towards them with that cocky swagger of his that Kasey liked so much. Even after all this time, he still enjoyed watching him walk. Duncan glanced towards the woman and grinned. Well, hello there.

Julia blushed. Hi, she murmured.

Duncan waggled his eyebrows and winked at him. The man never changed. Put an attractive woman in front of him and he couldn’t seem to help himself from flirting.

This is an ‘old friend’ of Kat’s. Kasey air-quoted the ‘old friend’. He still wasn’t entirely sure what to think about this stranger showing up when Kat was away, claiming to be her friend.

Oh yeah. So how come you weren’t invited to the wedding? Duncan asked.

Kat got married? she asked, her green eyes sparkled with joy.

Sure did. She’s away on her honeymoon right now? Duncan told her.

That explains why she’s gone for ten days then. She gripped the handle of her suitcase again. I guess I’ll just get out of your way, then.

Hang on. Duncan reached out and grabbed her arm. She flinched back.

He held out his hands, palms forward. It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.

I didn’t think you were, she said belligerently.

Kasey met Duncan’s eyes. What was going on here?

Look, if you’re friends with Kat, we aren’t just going to send you off without a place to go, Duncan said.

We’re not? Kasey asked.

No, we’re not. Dunc glared at him.

What are you going to do, then? Julia asked.

Duncan shrugged. We’ll call her.

You’re going to call her on her honeymoon? Julia’s voice rose high in outrage.

Sure, why not?

Because it’s her honeymoon, she argued. Her eyes widened as if they were crazy for even suggesting something like that.

Duncan shrugged. Clearly you don’t know her husband. Justin is a control freak. He needs a daily check-in anyway, so he won’t be too pissed if I call.

Julia warily eyed Duncan, then looked over at Kasey as if she wanted confirmation. He sighed. It’s fine.

Since Kasey still had his phone in his hand, he dialed. Justin answered and growled. This better be good.

Did I get you at a bad time?

It’s my honeymoon. What do you think?

I think you’re the one who wanted to check-in daily, dude.

Yeah, but in case you forgot, I’m supposed to call you. So, what’s up? Why the phone call?

Umm, is Kat available?

Kat?

Mmm hmm.

Why do you want to talk to her?

He sighed. Just put her on.

Fine, Justin grumbled.

While he waited for Kat to come to the phone, he looked at Julia, watching him avidly. She appeared relaxed, and not at all worried about how the conversation was going to go. She didn’t look like she had anything to hide, but her whole behavior was a little on the weird side.

Hello.

Hi darlin’, sorry to interrupt the honeymoon, but a friend of yours just showed up at the ranch.

A friend of mine? Who?

She says her name is Julia.

Julia? Julia Cragan?

I don’t know, Kasey responded. He looked at the woman in question. What’s your last name?

Cragan.

That’s her, he told Kat.

Oh my god, really? Kat squealed. How does she look?

Typical woman. Not any kind of wondering why she showed up unannounced. No. How does she look? I don’t know. I’ve never seen her before, he grouched.

Fine, she huffed. Let me talk to her.

He looked at Julia and held out the phone. She wants to talk to you.

She grabbed it from him and quietly began speaking. She walked a few feet away from them as she talked. Her voice pitched low so he couldn’t make out what she was saying.

So, what do you think? Duncan asked.

Weird.

Dunc smirked. I meant, what do you think of her?

Kasey eyed the other woman, the way her jeans clung to a surprisingly shapely ass. Her light brown hair hung past the middle of her back. She was definitely attractive, in a girl next door kind of way. But the way she had flinched when Duncan touched her was really what drew him in. There was a story there, he was sure. And he intended to find out what it was.

The woman in question walked back and handed the phone to Kasey. Kat wants to talk to you, she said.

Hey, Kat, he said.

Julia is going to stay at the ranch until we get back from our honeymoon, Kat told him.

Okay, is she sleeping in the main house, or do you want her to bunk with us? he asked.

Umm, probably the main house. She sounds off, like something is up with her and I would rather she didn’t feel all invaded and scrutinized in case there’s more to the story than she let on right now. Kat paused. How does she look, not like is she pretty, that I already know, but like, how does she seem? You’re good at reading people, so what’s your take?

Kasey looked over at the woman in question. Julia pulled her sleeves down over her hands and chewed her bottom lip as she watched him. She didn’t have the outward confidence a beautiful woman in designer clothes would normally have. She reminded him of a wounded bird.

Conscious of his audience, Kasey replied. Running, I think, but we’ll get it sorted out. We’ll take care of your friend for you until you get back. Tell Justin we have everything under control, and he can consider this his call for the day, so he’s all yours.

Kat chuckled. I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear that.

If Kasey knew Justin, he could just imagine what he had on the agenda for today, so having uninterrupted time with Kat would definitely be appreciated. Enjoy the rest of your day, he said as he hung up the phone.

He pocketed his phone and made eye contact with Duncan before turning to their guest. So, it looks like you are bunking with us for the next 10 days.

Her eyes boggled, and she took a step away from him. With you? What? No, I can’t bunk with you, she stammered.

Sorry, not with us, but here at the ranch with us. We’ll put you in Kat and Justin’s place until they get back. Then, if you are still here when they get home, we can figure something else out.

Duncan nodded his head. Alright, follow me. He reached for her suitcase.

I can get it, she murmured.

I’m sure you can, but my mama would smack me upside the head if she knew I didn’t carry your suitcase for you, he said with a wink.

Julia lowered her eyes and blushed again.

Kasey noted the slight wince on her face as she took a step onto the porch step. You okay?

Yeah, just tweaked my knee the other day. It’s nothing.

If you’re sure, he said.

She nodded. Don’t worry about me.

Duncan pushed open the front door of the ranch house. Let me give you the nickel tour. He gestured to the right. Living room, then through here is the kitchen.

Wow, Julia sighed as she scanned the large open-concept family-space.

Dee really liked to cook, so when Justin did the renovations, they went a little over the top, Duncan said.

Dee? Julia asked.

"Justin’s sister. She used to live here until a few months ago, when she moved