Imprisoned In A Cowboy's Heart (Two-Five Ranch Outlaws Book 1)

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  “I’d rather not say more until I do some digging.” Tanyon let go of her hand and stepped in closer. “Did he say something personal or out of line before I came in the barn?”

  She crossed her arms and peered at the toes of her boots. “Why?”

  “You were upset when you left the stall.”

  “He did, but it’s over now. He’s a bitch.”

  “I’m letting him go—”

  She placed her hands on her hips. “No, you can’t because of me. Uh-uh, it’ll not go over well with the other employees to think you’re favoring me.”

  “It’s nice of you to think I would, but there are other reasons.” Tanyon took a deep breath. “Did he sexually harass you?”

  “You know what he said to you. Can we let this go? I’m leaving now.” She strode away, but Tanyon rushed to walk to the house with her.

  “What the hell is taking Levi so long?” He sighed and slapped his thighs. “Dammit, I do favor you. See you at six. Don’t forget to take the horse out to get her used to being around here.” Scoffing, he strode toward the storage barn.

  Karis stopped before reaching the steps. She couldn’t tell him Logan’s comment. How he wanted to roll around in the hay with a real woman and even a stable hand could bring her to the best orgasm she’d ever had. Tanyon didn’t need to hear Logan’s vulgarity. On the other hand, how safe was it to have him around the young girls here, especially Brielle who seemed ready to lose her virginity, and they had been in the loft together. Karis took in and released a breath. She proceeded toward the barn Tanyon had gone in.

  He smiled when he spotted her. “Do you need me?”

  Yeah, but she wouldn’t tell him how much. Yet. She took a slow stroll up to him as he prepared to bottle feed the calves. “Can I help? I’ve never done this before.”

  “Yeah, grab a bottle. You didn’t come out here to ask to feed them.”

  She took a bottle of prepared milk and followed him out the back door to where the calves waited. She told him what Logan had said and explained her reasoning for telling him. “I’m an adult. I can handle his sleazy words, but he might say something nasty to the younger girls. He’s already had Brielle in the loft alone. Max caught them.”

  “Thanks for telling me. It’s more than enough reason to let him go.” He smiled and headed over to pick out the first calf. “Don’t get stepped on when they nudge their way in. They get rough. They’ll headbutt you good.”

  Karis chuckled as they came running. She squeezed in the middle of four calves all wanting the same nipple. Oh oh! “What else has Logan done, Tanyon? Why do you have calves?”

  He shifted his mouth to the side a little like when he didn’t want to answer or had a wicked thought. “Maybe he had something to do with Jody’s accident. Keep it to yourself.”

  “You know I will. Your reasoning for talking to the Chief of Police?”

  “Right. I’ll call to invite him for a family dinner on Sunday instead of going to town today. I’d like you to come if you don’t have anything else to do this weekend. Max will be cooking, but I’ll ask him to join us.”

  “You had to get a Max dig in, huh?”

  Tanyon lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “One calf, this one, ended up an orphan. I have three others as a test to see if I want more. They cost a lot of money to feed, vaccinate, and are a lot of work. Look at the hungry critters.”

  “They’re adorable. Nadia will be wanting them as a pet.”

  “No way. Where the hell is Levi? I need him. I hope he isn’t calling Emily. She never went with us this morning. He fired her, and then I did.”

  Karis held the bottle tight and chuckled both at his comment and the wild, hungry calves. “Because Emily had a thing for you?”

  He lifted a brow. “How’d you know?”

  “A woman knows these things. She had stars in her eyes and a little extra wiggle in her walk around you.” She should know starry-eyes because she had them in hers. Tanyon grinned as if he’d known. She smiled softly. “These little babies are hungry!”

  “I have to mix more milk replacer for the other ones. I’ll be quick. You okay out here?”

  “Um, I think so.”

  “Will you join us for dinner Sunday?”

  “And dinner tonight? Why, Tanyon, a woman might think your heart is softening a little.” She grasped another bottle and gave the nipple to the next begging calf, but the original one wouldn’t stop going after her. She giggled.

  He stood grinning. “Is the woman you?”

  She nodded. Oh, yes, it was her.

  Levi came out and interrupted their intense eye contact and breaking up a moment she enjoyed.

  He raised his eyes to his brother. “Hey, Levi, Karis is taking that new mare out on the trail in a little while. Why don’t you accompany her? I’m not going to town.”

  Levi stuck his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “Why don’t you accompany her then?”

  Tanyon scoffed. “I have things to do.”

  “I don’t mind. When you wanna go, Karis?” Levi asked.

  Ronni entered the area, overhearing them, and came out before Karis could reply. “I’ll go, Levi. It’s been a while since I’ve been on the trail. I miss it. Karis and I can catch up. Go look at those college replies. You have to go to college—”

  “I’m not going to college! Get off my fucking back.”

  Tanyon stepped in. “Hey, kid, don’t talk to your sister like that. You’re going to college.”

  “Screw you. I’m not. Since I’ve been old enough to walk, Dad and all you guys have taught me how to run the ranch and tend to cattle.” He frowned at Ronni. “Why don’t you show me how to do the books instead of riding my ass. Then I’ll know more than I do, and I can lend a hand. I’m not going to college, Ronni. Get over it.”

  “Brat! You tell Mom and Dad you plan to ruin your life.” Ronni flicked her gaze to Karis. “All right with you if I come along on the trail?”

  Whew, Levi sounded adamant. “Sure. I’d be happy to ride the trail with you again, Ronni.”

  “No.” Tanyon’s firm no meant business. “I want Levi on the trail with her.” He gazed over his shoulder at Fox who had come in. “Hey, can you make up four bottles of milk replacer?” He took the bottle from Karis. “I got this now. Thanks.”

  Fox nodded. “Sure, Boss.”

  Ronni folded her arms and frowned at her brother. “What’s the difference? I’ll go along too.”

  Tanyon frowned. “I want to talk to you when I’m done here. Okay?”

  “If you say so. I have to change into my boots.” Ronni huffed and trod back toward the house.

  “Don’t be a bitch, Veronica,” Tanyon called. “It’s important.”

  Karis couldn’t believe Tanyon had been snippy with his sister. She’d never seen a time they hadn’t gotten along. She snickered when Ronni jerked around and flipped up her middle finger to Tanyon, the wrath in her gray eyes blazing.

  He replied with a chuckle.

  It had all been in fun. If it had been Levi, Tanyon probably would’ve put him in the dirt, especially now, after mouthing off. She loved this family and so wanted it to work with him again.

  “Ronni?” Tanyon called. “Will you come back here a minute?”

  She squinted over her shoulder. “If I do, I might kick your damn ass.” She spun in the sand to come back—her feminine fists balled.

  “This should be good.” Levi chortled rubbing his hands together. “She can probably do it, old man.”

  Outside of the feeding area now, Karis remained quiet but chuckled inwardly. Ronni’s dark hair, big eyes, and cute little shape drew attention from many. She hadn’t inherited the height her brothers had. Her kind and compassionate yet truthful ways, told a person right off where they stood, like their mom would. Many women envied her for having it all, but she hadn’t had it all. Intelligent, beautiful, and loyal, Ronni never deserved the cheating, money-hungry husband who’d taken advantage of her faithful heart.


  Like everyone else, she’d never suspected him of running around with many different women. Not until he’d come out of the bedroom with a woman one late evening while Dusty watched TV with a date. Dusty’s knuckles needed a lot of ice when he’d come home. His date and her mother both knew he’d been married to Dusty’s sister. That night, it was all Karis and Levi could do to keep Tanyon and Cade from hunting him down with loaded shotguns. She wouldn’t be surprised if they still wanted to hurt Ronni’s ex.

  Ronni came toward him throwing punches like a boxer in training. Tanyon laughed. “I know you carry a pistol when you go out, Sis, but if I’m right…don’t underestimate Logan’s capabilities. I need you to stay away from him too.”

  Ronni relaxed her fists. “Thanks for the heads up, but I’ve handled many boys like him. What do you think is going on?”

  At that moment, Logan and Rudy, the double-trouble duo, rounded the barn on horses. Logan glanced their way, waited, then nodded. Tanyon ignored him. “I’ll tell you later. Please, listen to me for once?” He glanced at Karis. “Both of you.”

  Karis responded with a nod. “I’ll saddle Joanie. You better have a talk with Max, as well, Tanyon, because of Brielle.” As she left them, Tanyon asked Levi to go into the barn with her until he finished with the calves.

  “I’ll be happy to kick his sorry ass if he tries anything,” Levi muttered on the way.

  In the barn, she walked past Logan and into the tack room for Joanie’s saddle and bridle. Levi brought his horse, Thunder Bay, a white paint gelding into the cross ties and brushed him. Logan and Rudy did the same with the horses they had ridden, but finished way too soon to have done a thorough job. No surprise.

  “How do you like feeding those babies?” Levi asked Karis.

  She smiled as she used the round brush on Joanie. “I don’t know what it is… Feeding them with a bottle is remarkable, like I’m their mom!”

  “Maybe one day you will be. I wouldn’t mind having another little niece or nephew around here.”

  Karis gasped. “Shame on you, Levi. What a big assumption.” If she hadn’t left a year ago, maybe she’d be pregnant with Tanyon’s child by now. She shook her head to clear it from thinking of such things that had been out of their control.

  Ronni entered the barn to get her thoroughbred from the stall. Logan strode over to her, offering to brush him down and tack the horse for her.

  Ronni smiled at Logan, and Karis reckoned her smile had been fake. A keep their enemy closer type thing.

  “Sure, you can help me.” Ronni replied, winking at Karis across the way.

  Karis eyed them, hoping for Ronni’s sake it was a fake smile. If something went on with those two, no one would be able to keep the shotgun out of the Outlaw men’s hands, if he had anything to do with the lawsuit, but she couldn’t picture Ronni as a cougar.

  Tanyon came in behind Ronni, frowning when he saw she and Logan brushing the horse together. Karis and Levi exchanged glances as they lifted saddles onto their horse’s backs, but neither said anything. She listened to what Tanyon had to say though.

  “Hey, Logan, I heard you were in the loft with that little girl, Brielle. She’s fifteen years old. Unless you want to go to jail or get shot in the head by her dad, you better wipe that smug grin off your face and listen up. Stay away from her and the others.”

  “You got it all wrong—”

  “No, I don’t. I know everything that goes on around here. Everything,” he said narrowing his eyes. He strode over to Joanie to put her bridle on. “You almost ready, Karis? Fox is feeding the calves.”

  She couldn’t picture hard-nosed Fox feeding any baby. “Uh-huh, but I need to get a bottle of water.”

  Tanyon had taken Joanie out of her stall while Karis was gone and had waited outside the barn. The three of them mounted the horses and left the barn at a slow pace. Karis shifted in the saddle to look back at Tanyon standing in the doorway. He pointed to his watch. She’d be having dinner with him in a few hours. The thought made her tremble inside to think the ranch boss might find it in his heart to forgive her.

  ∞∞∞

  The closer it got to dinner time, the more stressed he became. He wanted to skip dinner out. A lot of work still waited on the ranch. Regardless, he had planned to drive up toward the Grand Canyon but had decided against it. His heart wasn’t into having a date tonight. Dinner at one of the bar restaurants in Williams sounded doable and was a short drive away. A pretzel burger or ribs and a beer flight sounded good. Then again, with his sour mood tonight, he didn’t want the busyness of Williams or the Grand Canyon.

  He couldn’t shake the heavy heart concerning Karis. Now, he’d given her the wrong idea by asking her out. Like Sedona hadn’t given her the wrong idea? He sighed, still conflicted over what to do. He’d hoped the more time they’d spent with each other, the better it would get, but he had this wall to scale first. Being together hadn’t set him free from decisions. In fact, after holding her close during the drunk-dance, he didn’t want to call it quits yet.

  Before driving home, he pulled off the road at the gate to the open field where he’d taken her… Where he should’ve taken her fully. Maybe she would’ve gotten pregnant that night. She’d still be here taking advantage of the shoulder he could’ve offered when she damn well needed one. Instead, the night had led to a magnificent quickie, if you wanted to call what they’d done that night, a quickie.

  He glanced out at the openness. How dark it got on a moonless night. Now, the memory made him crazy with anger. Not the memory, no, the memory made him hard, but the events that happened afterward had left him cold and heartbroken. She’d left him. He clenched the steering wheel tighter.

  She’d left him, and his heart had grown cold.

  Then the answer popped into his head. If anything could bring him back, it’d be sitting beside her in the bed of his truck with the silent musings of that night in both of their minds when he’d loved her so much. Tanyon nearly called her to tell her to dress casually, but she sure wasn’t dressed casual then. He made a turn to go toward the grocery store deli in Wills Bend.

  ∞∞∞

  He paced downstairs while waiting for her to come down. Maybe he needed to knock on her door instead. He’d been out of practice in the dating department. A couple coerced dates he’d had, tarnished his reputation with being labeled the “worst date on earth.” He took two stairs up, stopped at the top, straightened his shirt, breathed casually, then strode to her door. He held his hand up to knock, but the door opened and there she stood. As a rule, she never wore overpowering cologne, but tonight the more substantial fragrance smacked him in the nose. He sure did like it.

  He did a double take, observing her white wrap short skirt and a pleated looking top with short sleeves. Had she intended to turn him off with a higher neckline? The top said sexy on her.

  She wore a smile. “Hope I’m not dressed too casual. I could’ve asked where we were going, but I wanted to be surprised.”

  “No, you’re perfect.”

  Dusty came out of his room down the hall dressed to go out himself and stopped at the top of the stairs, whistling. “Wow, you look nice, Karis.” He flashed the Outlaw grin and ran down without another word.

  She smiled, whistling back at him.

  “Ready?” His tone came out demanding. This was the start of something bad. He sensed it in his bones.

  She closed and locked her door then gave him a subtle smile. They walked side by side down the stairs, her heels clicking at the bottom before going out the door. They bumped into Max who entered before they got to it.

  “Wow, Karis.” He glanced at Tanyon.

  She smiled—the pretty one that lit up her eyes. “Hi, Max. See you later.”

  Max held her arm, glancing at her and Tanyon again. “Are you two, um, together?”

  “We’re eating out is all.” Tanyon eased his hand to her back and moved them outside and off the porch. He walked around the front of his truck. She was in before
he noticed he’d forgotten to open the door for her. Out of practice, all right.

  “Do I smell food?” she asked.

  “I reckon.”

  “Why?”

  “I had a different idea. If you don’t like it, we can do something else.”

  Karis gripped his bicep. “Tell me, and I’ll let you know.”

  Tanyon shrugged to loosen her hand and slid his to his thigh. “I told you I didn’t want to be around anyone tonight. It’s us, the field, and my truck if it’s all right with you.”

  “A picnic? It’s fine with me. You look nice. I like when you wear a button-down.”

  “Are you wearing a new perfume?”

  She inhaled. “It is and different from what I normally wear.”

  “Did my brother’s whistling bother you? He forgets you’re an employee and there are rules against things like that, including you whistling back.”

  “Stop. Dusty is a friend to me, and if he wants to wolf whistle…let him. I don’t mind. I’d rather it be him than one of the other guys I don’t know. Get off his back. In case you haven’t noticed, your brothers, Ronni, and Max don’t treat me like they despise me.”

  “Is that supposed to mean I do?” Shit, here they go again and they were less than a mile down the road. He checked out the horizon where the moon rose. So much for them taking in the dark sky later tonight.

  “I’m not getting into a verbal scuffle with you, rancher.”

  What the hell was the matter with him? Here he sat with beautiful Karis who he’d missed. She was right. Some wore their heart on their sleeve. Him? He wore a damn attitude on his. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to come off as if I do.”

  “Hard to disguise it, huh?”

  No comment. He had better get back to remembering that night in the bed of his truck instead of the day she stopped answering his pleading phone calls. Was he even hungry now?

  “Do you want to call this off? It’s plain to see you don’t want to be here tonight.”