Home on the Ranch: Colorado Cowboy SEAL

by Laura Marie Altom

  “We make an epic team,” Laredo said to Robin late Sunday morning while standing back to survey the finished foundation. The rectangular form had been easy enough to make, but mixing ten bags of concrete, then smoothing it out, had been a bear in the day’s growing heat. “Know what I think we should do before it dries?”

  “Take a break?” Robin grinned. She’d worked every bit as hard as he had, and her tousled hair showed it—not that he was complaining. Flushed from the heat, her complexion glowed.

  Lark cooed in her carrier that her mama had parked in the cottonwood’s shade.

  The goats complained in the temporary pen Laredo made from a spare roll of chicken wire.

  “Since the concrete has to cure for a while, we’re at a forced stopping point.”

  “Whew.” Feigning exhaustion, she wiped her brow.

  “Was it really that bad?”

  “Yes!” She laughed. “But I’m proud of what we accomplished.”

  “Me, too. But I want to do one more thing before we head inside.”

  “Name it.”

  “Let’s make Lark’s handprint in the drying cement. That way, when you two find time for a visit, she can see how much she’s grown.” Sounded reasonable, but he also wanted the reminder for himself. He wanted tangible proof that the infant and her mom hadn’t been a mirage.

  “Sounds fun. Let’s do it.”

  Laredo made the short trek to pluck the baby from her carrier, then returned her to what would soon be the goat estate’s grand entrance. Kneeling, he asked Robin, “You want to do the honors?”

  “Go ahead.” Her smile made the project even more special. But also bittersweet. This time tomorrow, they would both be gone. Chest suddenly tight, he ignored the pain of them leaving to embrace the here and now. The scent of baby shampoo in Lark’s hair. The feel of her slight weight cradled in his arms. The air of wonder stemming from one look at Robin’s smile. In this moment, all was right in his world, and if this was all he would ever have, then so be it.

  On his knees, he held Lark’s tiny hand to the freshly smoothed concrete.

  Robin kneeled beside him, leaning close, pressing her shoulder to his. The connection revved his pulse.

  It made the sunlight brighter. The air fresher.

  “This was a great idea.”

  “Want to write her name beneath the print?”

  Grinning, she nodded.

  He leaned back for a twig, handing it to her.

  “Thanks.” She lingered over the letters, making sure they looked just right. Finished, she sat back on her heels. Her smile reached her eyes. “Perfect.”

  Just like you...

  He turned to her and she to him. His next breath hung—trapped in his chest like the sparks her proximity created. He wanted to kiss her. Needed to kiss her. Leaning closer, heart pounding, he’d almost touched his lips to hers when the sound of tires crunching on the gravel drive pulled him away. “Damn.”

  She cleared her throat before lowering her gaze.

  “What the hell?” Still holding the baby, Laredo rose. “What’s he doing here?”

  When Kyle stopped his official police SUV in front of the house, dread fisted low in Laredo’s belly. Was this a friendly visit or could it be something more?

  Chapter 10

  “Give me Lark.” Robin thrust out her arms. “I need to run. Hide.”

  “No, you don’t. You’ve done nothing wrong. Kyle’s my friend. He’s probably here on a social call. Maybe he’s got another recruitment event he wants me to work.”

  “I—I can’t risk it.” Just like that, everything changed. One moment she’d been close to kissing her dream man, the next, she’d slipped right back into her nightmare. “Give me my baby. Maybe he hasn’t seen me yet.”

  “You’re being irrational. Come on.” He took her hand, but she jerked it free.

  “You’re playing fast and loose with my life.”

  “Hey!” Kyle waved before starting toward them.

  “Great,” she mumbled under her breath. Heart pounding hard enough that the sheriff would be able to see it through her T-shirt, Robin forced her breathing to slow. She’d done nothing wrong. Her days of being afraid were gone.

  “What brings you all the way out here?” Laredo asked his friend.

  “I’d like to say I’m here for the fresh goat cheese, but I met up with Ned and Augusta at the festival last night and they said your crew isn’t ready.”

  “True. But I’ll save some for you once I’m milking and Augusta gives me her recipe.”

  “Good to know.” The sheriff shared a broad smile before jiggling Lark’s bare foot. “How are you, little lady? Learning how to be a good farmhand?”

  “She sure is.” Laredo showed him Lark’s dirty fingers. “We were just headed to the spigot to get her cleaned up. We put her handprint on the goat barn’s floor.”

  “Nice.” Kyle removed his brown felt hat, using his forearm to wipe sweat from his forehead. “Looks like it’s gonna be another scorcher.”

  They all gravitated to the side of the barn where Laredo kept the hose.

  “Don’t I know it. We’ve been out here since seven this morning.” He adjusted Lark’s sun hat to keep her eyes shaded.

  “If you got your foundation poured, sounds like it’s time for a break. A good thing since I brought lunch.”

  “That was awfully nice.” Laredo knelt to turn on the hose, then make quick work of washing Lark’s hand. “What’s the occasion?”

  “Partially because Lulu had a surplus of hot dogs and pie she made for the festival, but I’ve also got a piece of business to run by you.”

  Had Chuck’s father found her? Was he coming for her baby?

  Robin’s stomach churned to the point she feared throwing up. Why didn’t Kyle get to the point? If she grabbed Lark, could she outrun both men fast enough to get Laredo’s truck keys from the house, then bolt? No. At this point, even if she made it to the truck, there was no way they wouldn’t catch up.

  Why had she stayed?

  Why hadn’t she listened to the voice in her head urging her to escape by any means necessary when she’d first come to town?

  “Oh, yeah?” Laredo turned off the spigot, stood, then dried Lark’s tiny hand with his shirttail. “What’s up?”

  “Let’s eat first. I’ve got the dogs and fixings in a cooler in my rig.”

  Robin noted the way Kyle didn’t make eye contact. How he spoke to Laredo and even Lark, but not her. Still, he seemed friendly enough. Was she being paranoid, and he really was here to sweet-talk his friend into working another festival’s recruitment booth?

  “What do you think, Mary? Should I put the dogs on the grill or just boil them?”

  “Excuse me?” She’d been so deep in thought that she hadn’t realized Laredo had been speaking to her. Probably because he’d used her assumed name.

  “I vote grill,” Kyle said on the heels of a laugh. “Laredo, give Mary her baby so you can help unload the truck.”

  “Yessir.” After passing Lark to Robin with a good-natured wink, Laredo saluted his friend.

  “Smart-ass.” Kyle flipped him the bird. He glanced over his shoulder at Robin. “Pardon my French. Forgot we were in the presence of ladies.”

  “It’s okay.” Her pulse slowed. Laredo had been right. This was merely a social visit. Besides, as soon as her car was fixed, she’d be gone, safe at her grandparents’ remote Ozark mountain home.

  While the men unloaded a red cooler, followed by four sacks filled with buns, pies, chips and other baked goods, Robin sat on the porch swing, praying she looked calmer than she felt.

  With the food unloaded into the kitchen, while the guys lit charcoal on a portable grill, Robin entered the house, tucking Lark into her playpen, then busying herself by putting perishables in the fridge. She assemble
d the rest along the back of the counter. Was this Lulu’s way of showing Laredo her affection?

  A pang tore through her at the notion of him being with another woman. But she’d sensed Lulu was a nice person. Attractive and bubbly—she’d be good for Laredo.

  Not as good as me.

  Ludicrous. Had she learned nothing from her hasty marriage? It took years to know a man well enough to determine if a woman cared to spend a lifetime with him. Not that Laredo was even suggesting such a thing. But if he had, she’d refuse.

  “Doing okay?” Laredo breezed in from outside, zeroing in on the freezer.

  “Sure.”

  “I need vodka. I’d forgotten what a pain it is lighting charcoal without lighter fluid.”

  “You’re pouring vodka on the charcoal?”

  “Worth a shot. Oh—hey, would you mind getting out a few hot dogs and setting them on a plate? I’ll holler as soon we’re ready for them.”

  “Okay...”

  His mood seemed oddly jubilant. As if he hadn’t a care in the world. Meanwhile, Kyle’s visit felt like one of that morning’s bags of concrete hung between her shoulders. What didn’t he understand about the gravity of this situation?

  Relax, her conscience urged. You’ve done nothing wrong.

  Chuck is dead and his dad is hundreds of miles away.

  Her brain understood that fact, but the acid roiling in her stomach had seemed to forget.

  From the bedroom, Lark fitfully cried.

  Poor thing. It was past time for lunch.

  “Coming,” Robin said.

  Moments later, Lark latched onto Robin’s breast and hungrily nursed.

  Robin closed her eyes and deeply exhaled. Relax.

  If Kyle had driven all the way out here for her, surely, he would have said something by now. The fact that he’d addressed her as Mary should have also been reassuring. He didn’t have a clue as to her real identity. As soon as she left, he never would.

  Thank goodness Laredo hadn’t slipped by addressing her by her real name.

  “Mommy needs to stop being a worrywart.” she whispered to her baby girl.

  Aside from the occasional grunt, Lark kept right on nursing.

  Robin switched her to her other breast. Usually, she enjoyed this special time with her daughter, but with Kyle outside, she felt vulnerable. As if she couldn’t run even if she’d wanted. Lucky for her, thanks to Laredo’s detective work with the custody research, she no longer needed to. How long would it take for her still-racing heart to get the memo?

  “Mary?” Laredo was no doubt ready for the hot dogs.

  “Back here,” she called from her rocker, wishing she’d closed the door. “I’ll be done in a minute.”

  “Oh—hey.”

  She glanced up to find him stealing all the air from the already stuffy room. He still wore his cowboy hat. His pose, leaning forward with his arms braced against the door frame, showcased his biceps and forearms and barrel chest. The man was a human tank. To have him hold her, protect her...

  She drew her modesty blanket over her exposed breast.

  He looked down, then up. “I, ah, was going to let you know we finally got the charcoal ready for the hot dogs, but you finish up in here and I’ll handle lunch.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” His crooked grin proved the human equivalent of a glass of wine. How could his wife have done such a good man wrong? Had she realized what a prize she had in him?

  You once thought the same of Chuck. Look where that misplaced trust landed you.

  Duly noted. But every fiber of her being told her this was different. Laredo was different. Such a good, kind man.

  Lark took her sweet time finishing, but then promptly fell asleep.

  Robin set her napping girl in the playpen, checking to make sure the room’s windows were all open to allow for a cross breeze. She fastened her nursing bra, pulled down her shirt, smoothed her hair in the dresser mirror, then, before exiting, turned on the overhead fan.

  As she entered the living room, Laredo eased open the porch’s screen door.

  Kyle trailed after him, holding the plate of grilled dogs.

  “Hope you’re hungry,” Laredo said. “We’ve got enough food to host our own festival.”

  “Sounds good.” She forced a smile.

  “Kyle,” Laredo asked from in front of the fridge. “What do you take on your dog?”

  “The works. Mayo, ketchup, relish, mustard.”

  “Basically, heartburn on a bun?”

  Kyle laughed while Laredo grabbed the requested condiments.

  “Mary?” Still parked in front of the open fridge, Laredo looked to her. “What do you like on your hot dog?”

  “I—I’ll take mine dry.” Like my mouth. Thank goodness Laredo had remembered to use her assumed name. She clasped her fingers to keep her hands from trembling.

  “Lulu also sent her famous baked potato salad and coleslaw. I think there’s macaroni salad and three-bean, too.”

  Laredo smiled and shook his head. “I’ll have to make another trip. Mary, go ahead and sit down. Since you just served a meal to your peanut, how about letting me serve you.”

  “Th-that’s nice.” She stumbled backward into the nearest kitchen table chair. “Thank you.”

  “How can I help?” Kyle asked. “I can’t have you showing me up in the manners department.”

  “Too late.”

  Robin appreciated the playful banter. It served as another much-needed reminder that her imagination was getting the better of her. Kyle truly was here for a pleasant visit. And that business he’d wanted to discuss? He’d no doubt taken care of it while the guys had been outside grilling. As soon as lunch was finished, he’d have a slice of pie, then be on his way.

  Come morning, Robin would also say her goodbyes.

  As much as the thought of leaving Laredo saddened her, this was the way it had to be. His offer to let her and Lark stay on had been beyond generous, but she owed it to herself to put space between herself and what happened with Chuck. Even if she had been emotionally unburdened, Laredo deserved better than her. She was damaged goods. Jumpy. Easily distracted. He deserved a ballsy, brassy, fun-loving spitfire like Lulu. They’d be perfect together.

  So perfect that nausea swelled at the mere thought.

  Laredo delivered the condiments and salads to the table, along with silverware and napkins. He handed Kyle a longneck beer and set another beside his plate. In front of Robin, he set the bottled water he knew she preferred.

  While she made obligatory picks at her food, both men dug in, eating as if it had been a few days since their last meal.

  “So, Mary,” Kyle said between his second and third hot dogs. “Are you still planning on leaving tomorrow?”

  “Yes. That is, assuming Jimmy finishes my car.”

  “He’s a fine mechanic. We’re lucky to have him. As soon as your tires are delivered, I’m sure he’ll have you up and running.”

  “Good. I’m excited to see my family.”

  “Where exactly are they?”

  He’s just making small talk, she told her hammering heart. “Um, Arkansas.”

  “That’s going to be an awfully long drive.”

  “Yes. But I’m up for it.”

  “All by your lonesome? Where’s Lark’s father?”

  She clenched her napkin tight enough to turn her knuckles white. Tell the truth. You’ve done nothing wrong. “He’s, um, no longer with us.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. His name was Chuck, right?”

  “Yes—I mean, no. I—”

  “It’s okay,” Kyle said. “I know who you are.”

  “E-excuse me?” She tried drinking water, but her hands shook too bad to unscrew the lid.

  “Kyle, what the hell?” Laredo sla
pped his napkin to the table. “I thought we were sharing a friendly meal? What do you think you’re doing? Coming into my home, acting as if you’re a guest when all along you’ve been waiting to—”

  “Mary, I eased into this, because I wasn’t even sure you were the woman I suspected. Sorry, but I needed time to assess the situation. Now that we’re all on the same page, there is another matter we need to clear up.”

  “I have nothing to say.”

  “If that’s how you want to play it.” Kyle pressed his napkin to his lips. “Trouble is, because of all the added mess caused by the festival, I was stuck at the station until late filing paperwork. While clearing my desk, I came across a puzzling APB. It featured the face of a supposed kidnapper. The woman looked a lot like you, Mary. Only her name was Robin. Instead of dark hair, she was blonde. The bulletin gave a description of the woman’s vehicle and can you hazard a guess as to what she drives?”

  He took a folded sheet of paper from his chest pocket, flattened it, then set it on the table. Robin’s face stared up at him.

  “This is harassment.” Laredo smacked his palm on the table. “Either come out and say what you’re obviously here to say or get the hell off my land.”

  “No need to get bent out of shape,” Kyle said. “But I am going to need Robin to come down to the station. Your husband’s parents were understandably shocked and saddened by their son’s passing. When they discovered their granddaughter was missing, they didn’t take the news well. They’re suing you for full custody and must have friends in high places since an emergency hearing granted them temporary full rights.”

  “How can that be? Lark’s my child.”

  “That may well be, but as grandparents—especially in California—they also have rights. When you failed to show for the hearing, a warrant was issued for your arrest.”

  “What?” She felt hot-dizzy-sick.

  “I’m afraid I’m going to have to take you in. As for Lark, a child welfare agent will transport her to your in-law’s where she’ll stay until you get this sorted out.”

  “No, no, no...” A low anguished sob bubbled from inside her. “I’m still breastfeeding. Lark and I can’t be apart.”