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

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  They all approved of Tanyon waiting in the room, so Chief Ramos turned on the recorder. Nick replied to the chief’s interrogation, explaining in depth what he’d seen that day, including the roles Rudy, Logan, and his buddy played in the prank, if that’s what you wanted to call it. A set-up is what it was. Of course, Rudy’s words to Dusty were hearsay, and he’d have to be questioned, but Nick had been an eyewitness.

  Tanyon should’ve wailed on Logan out there, but the idiot was only nineteen years old. Then he pictured seventeen-year-old Jody withering away in a hospital bed. What would become of the kid now? If he recovered even the slightest where he wouldn’t need to be hospitalized, he’d be in foster care until eighteen. Then what? The poor kid.

  The chief nudged him.

  “Yeah?”

  “I have all we need. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I’ll do some more investigating, but this new information helps immensely. You know, I never trusted Jody’s family. No matter what it was, they always looked shady, like they were up to no good.” Chief Ramos cleared his throat. “None of you repeat what goes on here.”

  “If I let Logan keep working for me, I can keep an eye on him.”

  “Keep your enemies close is what my daddy used ta say,” Jenessa piped in, grinning.

  The dimples beside her mouth appeared when she smiled. It wasn’t often she let anyone see the unprofessional side of her, let alone grin at something she had said. He explained how Logan had seen them at the traffic light, and how he never wanted Logan to know Nick was in town.

  “Let me question him. Who knows, one of my officers might have to throw him in jail later for being drunk and disorderly in my town, not to mention underage drinking. I know he wouldn’t get it from the saloon, meaning it’d have to be on his person.”

  “That’d be great.” Then Tanyon asked Jenessa, “Did you get everything you needed?” She’d been a good friend in high school. Her husband had been the high school quarterback. Jenessa a cheerleader. They should’ve been the prom king and queen in their senior year.

  “For now. I’ll be out to the ranch tomorrow to go over what happens on our court date. Be there.” She grinned. “By the way, anything going on this weekend? Bring your sweet gal over for a get together with the family? Daddy will have the smoker going. He’s makin’ his special barbecue.”

  “Ah, no, this weekend is out. Karis isn’t here right now, anyway, but thanks.”

  “Okay then.” She shook the chief’s hand then Tanyon’s and Nick’s.

  Tanyon chuckled inwardly as Jenessa put her serious attorney face back on. “Call first. I’ll be busy making up for what I missed today.”

  She balanced one heel on her stiletto. “Listen, you’ll be there if you know what’s good for y’all, Mr. Outlaw.”

  “I will.” Tanyon laid his hand on Nick’s shoulder. “Let’s get outta here.” They followed his attorney out the door.

  Halfway through the ride back to Tanyon’s folk’s, Nick finally spoke, “It wasn’t good that Logan saw me. Thanks for moving my family.”

  “No problem. I hope you don’t mind me asking but what happened to your parents?” He’d do what he could to distract him from worrying over his family and what Logan might do next.

  Nick hesitated. “My dad was a career military guy. He died in a firefight in Iraq.”

  “Man, I’m sorry. Your brother and sister must get compensation?”

  “Yeah, they do. I’m their official guardian now, so I take care of all the financials for them. It’s tough raising teens. My piddly income helps my aunt too. I want them to go to college one day.” Nick placed his elbow against the armrest on the door and leaned against the window. “Five years later, my mom passed away. Brain cancer. She set it all up for me to be their guardian while still in her right mind, but my aunt is our godmother. She takes care of them so I can work. I left the military myself to help with my mom.”

  Tanyon swallowed a lump in his throat. He had a new respect for the guy. “I’m sorry, dude. I wish I’d known when you worked for me. You do now, so it’s all good. Even for the short time you worked at the ranch, I knew you had a future doing what you do. It’s a gift. I’ll be happy to have you on board again.”

  “Thanks. I don’t know how I’ll repay you.”

  “Showing up in court is payment enough.” Tanyon squeezed Nick’s shoulder. “Sound good?”

  Nick nodded then sat silent the rest of the way.

  At their house, they went inside to update his folks and let them know Logan knew Nick was in town again. His mom took Nick in to show him where he’d sleep then offered him and Tanyon dinner. His dad had eaten earlier. Ronni had left. “Thanks for the sandwiches to tide us over.”

  She set plates on the table. “Did Karis get home safely? I hope she doesn’t dump you again.”

  “Don’t be two-faced, Mom. She didn’t dump me.”

  Jesse stood. “Don’t be rude to your mother.”

  “It’s all right, Jess. Tanyon’s right, but I worry about his heart—all the kids’ hearts.”

  Tanyon threw back a shot of whiskey. “Yeah. I guess her mom’s a mess. They’re trying to get her brother back home on leave. Depending on time, she’ll bring the kids up here to let her mom recuperate properly.”

  His mom dished out a big serving of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, sliced garlic bread, and set a bowl of salad in front of them. “You all eat up.” She took a seat at the table with a cup of tea. “It was easy to tell Karis still grieved for her brother.”

  Tanyon lifted his eyes to her. “Yep, I know. This is delicious as usual.”

  “Thanks, son.”

  “Yeah, Mrs. Outlaw. It’s good. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome, young man. Enjoy. Please call me Ruth.”

  Two bites in and Tanyon’s phone rang. “Hey there. Hold one second, Karis. Excuse me a minute, Mom.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Karis waited for him to come back on the line. What was he doing? A door closed then what sounded like the chaise on his mom’s porch squeaked. “Are you at your mom and dad’s?”

  “Yeah. We sat down to eat Mom’s meatloaf.”

  “I’m sorry. Call me back when you’re finished.”

  “I’m sitting on her chaise on the porch. The plate is on my lap. I’m eating now—don’t mind the chewing.” He chuckled.

  “I wish I was on your lap.”

  “Mmm, baby, so do I, and naked. How’s everything?”

  She loved how he casually snuck in a sexual overtone to catch her off guard to visualize the, ahem, act, which she did straightaway. “My brother’s coming home for good.”

  “What’d you say?”

  What was up with his dismal tone? “His next term in the military is coming up. He isn’t re-enlisting.”

  The line went quiet.

  She tapped the phone. “Tanyon? You there?”

  “Is he sure? Because he needs to be sure before ending a military career.”

  “Why? You did.”

  “He’s not me. Would you rather I had stayed in?”

  Now she paused. “No, of course not, but this is the only way for my family. My mom needs him more than she needs me. She always has.” Karis stood to pace. “Wake up to reality. Things are bad here. My brother made this decision on his own. He’s done.”

  “I hope it isn’t grief thinking for him.”

  “It is.” Karis sighed. She’d asked Seth the same questions. All she’d wanted was for him to get a pass or a leave to spend time while their mom got through this. She never asked him to leave the Army.

  “What is your plan?”

  “I’ll be here for the kids as long as I have to. Yes, when Mom improves, I plan on taking the kids to the ranch for a weekend until my brother gets home. I’m hoping Seth and my mom can help each other. It’ll be at least a month before he can come home, but I need to get the kids away from this gloom one way or another.”

  “It’s good news, but I hope you aren’t there
for a month or more. We’ll be right back where we were. Um…”

  His hesitation concerned her. Karis dropped to the chair at the kitchen table. “No, we won’t. Things are different between us now. What are you thinking?”

  “Nothing. We’ll make it right when you get back here. Bring them for a weekend if you can. I don’t want you to be gone so long.”

  Karis blocked a yawn with the back of her hand. “I’ll try. By the way, I had to use your credit card. I’m sorry, I didn’t want to, but mine was at the limit… I’m a payment behind. My fault. The money is there, but I… I have no damn excuse other than I let it slip by me.”

  “I get notified when the card is used out of the area. I’m happy you had it, and I’m glad you kept road service. I apologize for the flat. Did everything go all right with getting the tow and new tire?”

  “Uh-huh. Thank you, Tanyon.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Another yawn caused her to pause. “I’m in my pajamas and ready for bed.”

  “Are they sexy?” he asked intimately. “Send me a picture.”

  She gave a quiet laugh. “No, the opposite. Austin and Mia are tucked in my bed. They don’t want to sleep alone. We’ll fall asleep watching cartoons.”

  “You’ll make a caring mom one day. It makes me smile.”

  Karis held her breath for a moment until her lungs expanded. She released it slowly, debating on… No, there was no debate. But was it time? There wasn’t a right time. She’d waited too long as it was.

  “Hey, baby, you better go rest. I know the stress is wearing you down. Call me tomorrow. Sorry I came down hard on Seth leaving the military.”

  “Babe?”

  “Huh? Good thing you can’t smell my garlic bread breath.”

  It had sounded like he’d had a mouthful of food. Maybe she better let him swallow first. She paused, giving him a moment. “Motherhood might come sooner than later.” She slapped her hand over her mouth. Big idiot! Oh, to see the look on his face. The clink of his fork dropping to the plate chimed through the phone speaker. It was too late to take it back now.

  “Excuse me? What? Wait. Huh?”

  “I’m late. I wasn’t going to tell you until I knew, but with the way life is going right now—”

  “Whoa, slow down.”

  She struggled to swallow and took a drink of water to wet her parched throat. “I want you to know the possibility is real.”

  “Damn, girl.”

  What was that supposed to mean?

  There was a long pause before he spoke. “Have you been late before?”

  Oh, no. He hadn’t wanted to hear her say those words even after his pregnancy digs. He won’t like these, either. “Not since I was fifteen and first—”

  “Too much information, honey.” He chuckled. “I’m eating.”

  Karis remained quiet. So had he. Big mouth. She should’ve waited until she knew for sure, but for them to work, there couldn’t be secrets. The over the counter test she’d purchased would only take a few minutes.

  Now his footsteps sounded on their wood porch. “How soon will you know? Can’t you take one of those do-it-yourself tests?”

  She nodded at the phone. “I will. I plan to tomorrow.”

  “Yeah? Is it too soon?”

  “Not according to what I’ve learned online. I’ve never taken one before. What if I am?” She held her breath again, unsure of what he’d say or what she wanted to hear.

  “Then we’ll take one day at a time. We may be having a baby. I’m not upset if you’re worried that I am. Are you?”

  “No, no, not at all. I thought I would be this soon after…Rory’s death. I hope it isn’t bad timing with so much going on for both of us.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll make it the right time. If you are.”

  “If we are. I didn’t do this alone. I have the heated memories to remind me. Well, I moaned and screamed in your bedroom damn loud,” she whispered.

  “Mmm, we’ll have many more…pregnant or not. Get back home, honey.”

  Her heart softened. Those words were all she’d ever wanted when she’d arrived this season at the Two-Five Ranch, and now, he’d said them. “You know I can’t until everything is squared away with my mom. The kids are calling for me. I’ll let you know what I find out.”

  “Tell me as soon as you know. Better yet, let me do it with you?”

  It’d be at least a month away if she waited until they were together. “No, hon, I can’t wait.”

  “I want to know when you know by using our phones.”

  “What? I’m not…” She chuckled, which caught her off guard. “Not while I’m taking the test but the minute I pull up my pants.”

  “Yeah, baby you know how to turn me on.” Tanyon laughed. “Perfect. Don’t look at the results without me.”

  “Please don’t tell anyone.”

  “You know better. We’ll announce it together when the time comes.”

  “You shouldn’t get your hopes up, or down, because maybe it’s stress making me late, although it didn’t make me late when I went through the worst. I don’t think.”

  “I’ll wait until we know before I get my hopes up…for a future with you. You don’t have to be pregnant to have a life with me.”

  Karis closed her eyes and squeezed the phone. She smiled. Could it finally be their time?

  “Karis?”

  “Uh-huh. I’m here. Talk to you tomorrow. I don’t know if I’ve ever loved you more.”

  “You make me smile. Thanks. Take care of yourself. We’ll know tomorrow…okay—I’ll stop. Love you.”

  “Love you back. Good night.” The call dropped. Now, Tanyon had overnight to rethink this. She hung on to the phone until the kids ran out of the bedroom and pulled on her arms.

  “Come on, Aunt Karis. Come on,” Mia begged.

  She wrapped an arm around each of their shoulders and strolled into the bedroom. “Let’s go, my loves. Hop back in bed so I can turn off the overhead light.”

  “Who were you talking to so long?” Austin asked.

  “You’re nosy, Austin,” Mia complained.

  She hugged them. “It’s all right. Tanyon.”

  Austin grinned. “Yeah, is he still your boyfriend? Are we ever going back up there again like Grandma said?”

  “We are. Now scoot. Get in bed.” Karis waited for them to get situated. They quit squirming and left her a tiny spot between them. She switched off the light and crawled up from the bottom of the bed. Yes, he’s still my boyfriend. “Here I come! Move over so I don’t squash you.” How would she sleep tonight knowing what tomorrow might bring? After hearing his restrained excitement, now she wanted a positive result. I think.

  “Why are you smiling, Aunt Karis?” Mia asked.

  She changed the channel to cartoons then squeezed them. “Because I’m happy you’re here with me. Snuggle in. I love you two so, so much. We’ll go to Tanyon’s ranch soon.”

  ∞∞∞

  In the early morning, she left the kids in bed and tiptoed into the bathroom, opened the drawer, and took out the test to read the directions. She paced the length of the good-size bathroom then sat on the side of the tub to check the time on her phone. Tanyon would be up and getting ready to check the bulls or find some job on the ranch only he could repair, according to him.

  Karis unwrapped the covering and dropped her pajama bottoms to do the first step. She laid the test on the vanity top when finished, washed her hands, and called his phone.

  “Good morning, early bird.” His voice sounded upbeat, a good sign. Had he slept? She hadn’t.

  “Do you have a minute? You should take a few minutes if you can.”

  “All right. Sure. Hold on.”

  She waited while he told his brothers and the crew that he’d catch up with them.

  “We’re heading out to check on the cattle. What’s up?”

  “Let’s talk face to face as you suggested last night. I already pulled my pants up.” She chuckl
ed. His face appeared on the screen. He had dark circles beneath his eyes, but it took nothing away from his ruggedly sexy appearance.

  “You went out to buy the test already?”

  “No, I had the test last night but morning was the best time to take it. I half expected you to insist last night. You know I’m weak around you.”

  “You’re the strongest woman I know besides my mom and sister. What’s the results?”

  “Thanks for the compliment. I have another minute to wait.” She pointed the phone toward the waiting test as her heart beat hard.

  “Wow.” He held his phone up for her to view the landscape and Sullivan grazing. “Look what a beautiful morning it is here. Wish you were looking at it in person.”

  She picked up the test and snuck outside to the patio and took a seat. She held up the phone for him to view the desert landscape around her apartment. “Time’s up! I’m shaking, Tanyon. I’m scared but super excited.”

  He gave a quiet chuckle. “Come on, honey. What is it?”

  She gulped as she picked up the test and held it between her body and the phone. The next few seconds could change their lives forever.

  “Stop teasing.”

  She situated the phone so they could see the results at the same time then moved the phone closer. “Omigod,” she repeated and closed her hand over her mouth.

  Tanyon laughed heartily. “Holy hell. Wow, you’re having my baby, woman. I knew this would happen one day.”

  He did? Tears fell as she gazed at him. Had she ever seen him so happy? He wore a tremendously sexy smile. “Who knew I was so fertile. I’m pregnant.” She whispered when she wanted to yell, “I’m having a baby. Your baby. I hope it’s a boy.”

  “So do I, but it doesn’t matter. I love you so much right now. When you come back give me a hard kick in the ass for putting you through what I—”

  “Uh-uh. The past. I wasn’t an angel in our situation. I’m to blame.”

  He walked over to pat his horse. “What if we never blame each other or ourselves again? Man, I love your morning smile.”

  She smiled bigger for him.