The Cowboy Takes a Bride by Debra Clopton

to open in five weeks. We’ll have to work really hard initially, but then the rehearsals can just be once or twice a week. Since we’ll only be doing a Friday-night show and two shows on Saturday, we won’t need to run through the whole thing every night.” Sugar was ready to continue by telling them about the different songs, and asking if any of them played musical instruments, when she noticed the frowns rippling around the room. Several of the cowboys began talking to each other, and shaking their heads.
    Head shaking was never a good thing.
    â€œIs something wrong?”
    â€œWell, yes ma’am, there is,” a cowboy drawled, standing up and hooking his thumb in a belt loop. “We didn’t realize you were looking for a long-term commitment. We’re cowboys . We have work to do.”
    Another one stood, joining the mutiny. “We just can’t make a commitment like that. Our hours are long and unpredictable. We can take off for the occasional show, like we’ve done in the past. But every Friday night and two times on Saturday, plus practice—well, that puts most of us out.”
    A whiplash of dread slammed into Sugar. “But think about all the benefits.”
    â€œWhat benefits?”
    What benefits? “The experience and the exposure.” Once she’d said the words out loud and looked around the room, the “benefits” suddenly didn’t sound logical to her ears. The cowboys’ blank looks told her exactly how out of touch she was with what they were looking for in life. It wasn’t a career in the spotlight…. As a matter of fact, gazing at them, she felt foolish. Sugar was used to living in a town where everyone was looking for a way to break out. Clearly, in this room, she was the only one with that goal.
    â€œI was afraid of this,” Lacy said, worry in her eyes.
    â€œWe thought you were going to rehearse a few times, then do a show and be done with it. Like Lacy always does,” yet another cowboy said as he stood up. By now, they were popping up like weeds.
    Not good. Not good at all. Sugar could feel their withdrawal, knew they were about to make a break for the door.
    â€œBut it’ll be fun. Surely you can find the time—”
    â€œI’m real sorry, but I can’t commit to something like this,” Trace the cowboy said, stepping toward the door.
    Other apologies rolled across the room, and within moments, just as she’d feared, the full room began to empty.
    Sugar watched as, one by one and two by two, every man in the room respectfully tipped his hat at her, then headed out the door.
    The icy grip of panic tightened around her throat with each one. She was so distressed, she couldn’t speak and had to fight to keep from throwing herself in front of them. It was one thing to embarrass herself before Ross by letting down her guard, but she couldn’t let an entire room of men see her lose it.
    â€œDon’t get discouraged,” Esther Mae said after the last booted, spur-clinking male disappeared out the door. “There has to be a way around this.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Adela said. “God will show the way if this is what He wants.”
    Sugar didn’t like the sound of that. Lay down your dream —the words came back to her and she struggled to ignore them. It was getting harder and harder to stay positive on this roller coaster.
    â€œI think He is,” Lacy said. “There’s a way around this. You may just have to come up with an alternate plan.”
    â€œSeems like that’s the ongoing theme since I arrived,” Sugar murmured, unable to hide the discouragement she was feeling as she slumped into a chair. “If I can’t get a barn or cowboys, then I’m doomed.”
    â€œNow, now, it’ll work out,” Esther Mae soothed. “I know it will. After all, you’re going to be the main attraction.