by R. C. Ryan
At least she’d grown up in a houseful of men, so she wasn’t completely intimidated by this situation. But her father and brothers had been family. This strange assortment of men seemed completely different from any family she’d ever known. Otis, who spent hours tilling the soil behind the barn and growing the most amazing vegetables. Roscoe, a throwback to the Old West, always smiling, despite the loss of several front teeth, and always courtly in her presence. Zachariah, a lion of a man, with a mane of white hair and a voice that rang with a lifetime of courtroom authority. And Mackenzie, quiet, thoughtful, with the kindest eyes she’d ever seen.
And his sons, Ben, Sam, and Finn. Rough, tough, and, according to rumors that circulated around the little town of Haller Creek, ready to stand together and fight anyone who threatened them.
As Penny undressed, she could hear the low drone of masculine voices drifting from below.
One voice stood out from the others.
Sam Monroe.
Even though their introduction had been prickly, she sensed the affection his family had for him. Even the fact that he seemed to pour a great deal of energy into his pursuit of pool and pretty women, he appeared to hold up his end of responsibilities around this ranch. Mackenzie seemed to trust Sam’s judgment.
Still, there was something reckless and a little dangerous about Sam. He made her extremely uncomfortable.
She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the outline of the darkened hills in the distance.
Despite this huge tract of land, the many buildings, and the vast herds of cattle, she knew, from the bits of conversation she’d overheard, that money was tight. She also knew, from Sam’s softly spoken words, that she had added to their debt. She was certain he hadn’t wanted her to overhear, but now that she had, it wasn’t something she could soon forget.
She’d always been a worker. Now, she decided, she would work even harder to overcome that little twinge of guilt for being the cause of yet another drain on the Monroe finances.
As she turned away and settled into bed, she came to a decision. Mackenzie Monroe would have no reason to regret having opened his doors to her. She would double her workload until this old house sparkled. And when Mac and his family came in from the fields, she would serve them meals that would make them weep with gratitude.
Take that, Sam Monroe.
As that thought intruded, she felt another twinge of guilt. Why was she letting him get to her? He was just another cowboy, in a part of the country littered with them.
All right, she thought grudgingly. Not just another cowboy. A really great-looking one with a killer smile. The change in him, after a shower and shave, had been a shock to her system. Not that she’d let him see it. She didn’t quite know how to handle him. He’d proven to be as quick with his humor as he’d been with anger when he’d thought some little old lady was carrying too heavy a load.
Still, he’d been silly and charming at dinner.
Without even trying, he was sexy, and just a little bit dangerous.
The thought had her gritting her teeth. That’s probably the way he saw himself.
She had no use for cocky, good-looking cowboys with an attitude.
Still, she couldn’t afford to forget for even one minute that he was the son of the generous man who was giving her another chance.
If there was one thing she’d learned early in life, it was that she could do anything she put her mind to.
Right now, she needed to put all her energy into making herself indispensable around here.
As for Sam Monroe, she would have to put him in the same category as her brothers. Maybe that would help her forget how appealing he could be.
Right. Good luck with that.
The thought had her sighing in the darkness.
Chapter Three
Sam woke to the tantalizing aroma of freshly ground coffee. He sat up, struggling to get his bearings.
After three weeks in the hills, sleeping in rough range shacks or, more often, under the stars, using his saddle for a pillow, it took him a moment to realize he was home. Last night he’d fallen asleep as soon as he hit the sack, and had slept for ten solid hours.
By the time he made his way downstairs to the kitchen, the rest of the family was just finishing breakfast. He paused in the doorway, listening to the familiar voices, watching his brother Finn going over a document with Zachariah, while Roscoe and Otis were planning their chores for the day. Penny was topping off Mac’s coffee. A glance at his father’s face showed him looking relaxed and content.
“Oh. You’re up.” Penny turned to the stove. “I’ll have fresh pancakes for you in just a minute.”
“Thanks. No rush.” Sam picked up a mug and crossed the room.
Before he could pour the coffee, Penny picked up the coffeepot and filled his cup.
He breathed in the wonderful fragrance before taking a long drink. Satisfied, he grinned at her. “Now, this is coffee.”
Roscoe nudged Otis. “Are you saying this is better than the stuff made in a blackened coffeepot over a campfire?”
Otis chimed in. “Or better than the odor of stale coffee grounds on the frosty air?”
They gave a grunt of laughter.
Sam held up his mug of steaming brew. “All I know is, this is worth all those long, cold nights up in the hills.” He turned to Penny. “What did you do to make this so fine?”
She flushed with unexpected pleasure. “I found an old coffee grinder up in the cupboard and thought I’d give it a try.”
“Pure magic,” he muttered as he took a seat at the table.
Minutes later, Penny set down a plate of scrambled eggs, thick slices of ham, and half a dozen pancakes laced with maple syrup. Without a word he began to eat, and he didn’t stop until he’d polished off everything.
Watching him, Zachariah deadpanned, “Careful, Samuel. You’re allowed to lick the plate clean, but don’t try eating it. You’ll break a tooth.”
While the others laughed, Sam sat back with a contented sigh. “After weeks of beef jerky in the saddle, I’d wake up dreaming of food like this. Thanks, Miss Money.”
To hide her pleasure she merely gave a nod of her head.
“Yeah, that can make a man yearn for the comforts of home.” Mac shoved away from the table. “I’m heading into town for supplies. Everybody got their lists ready?”
Roscoe handed over a page of scribbles.
Otis did the same.
Mac turned to Penny. “Got your list?”
She shrugged and could feel her cheeks grow hot as Sam looked over at her. Thinking of what she’d overheard about their finances, she said softly, “I don’t want to be a bother. I can make do with whatever’s here.”
Mac gave her an indulgent smile. “It’s no bother. I’m going to town now, and I may not make the drive into Haller Creek until next week. So, if you’re running low on anything, you’d better write it down now.”
She shook her head. “I’ve gone over your supplies. I’m fine.”
“Okay.” He strolled into the mudroom, where he plucked a Stetson from a hook. “See you later.”
The others filed out behind him, with Finn off to his law practice, and Otis and Roscoe heading toward the barn. Zachariah made his way to his room, where floor-to-ceiling shelves housed his legal library.
Sam smiled as the door closed. “Zachariah will spend a very satisfying day looking up legal precedents for Finn to cite in his case.”
Penny topped off his coffee before crossing to the sink. “Your brother told me Zachariah was once a famous lawyer.”
“One of the best. He’s the reason Finn went into law.”
“Really?” She glanced over. “Is he a relative?”
Sam chuckled. “Not by blood. But, in case you haven’t noticed, we’re all family here.”
“I’ve noticed.” She filled the sink with hot, soapy water and began to wash the dishes, setting them on a tray to drain. “But I didn’t want to pry about the relation
ship.”
“You’re living here now. You have a right to know.” Sam finished his coffee and sauntered across the room to pick up a clean towel before starting to dry the dishes.
Penny lifted a hand from the soapy water to still his movements. “You don’t need to do that. It’s my job.”
He enjoyed the little thread of pleasurable heat that shot along his arm at her touch. “Running this place and keeping up with a million and one chores means we all work together.”
As he reached over her head to move the platter to a high shelf, his hand brushed her hair, sending another curl of heat up his spine.
This morning she wore her hair long and loose, and it spilled over her shoulders and down her back in a tangle of mahogany curls. Curls that were as soft and downy as a newborn calf’s coat.
What in hell was wrong with him? It was obvious he’d been in the hills way too long.
“Mac’s wife and son are buried up there on that hillside.” Sam nodded toward the window, where the gently curving meadows climbed higher and higher, each one folding into the next.
She blinked. “His wife?”
“Rachel. And their son, Robbie.”
“They weren’t your mother and brother?”
He shook his head. “My brothers and I were adopted by Mac when we were kids. His wife and son were killed in an accident on the interstate before we ever showed up. According to Roscoe and Otis, it was Rachel who opened her doors to each of them years ago when she learned of their troubles.”
“What kind of troubles?”
At her look of concern, Sam shook his head before picking up another plate. “That’s not my story. Maybe one day Otis and Roscoe will tell you about their lives before coming here. Zachariah, who lived on a neighboring ranch, fell and broke his hip, and Rachel and Mac brought him here to recover. And he was so happy to be here, in the company of good people, he never left. Then my brothers and I arrived on the scene, angry, determined to start a life together, and willing to do whatever it took to do that. So, we decided to break into what we thought was a deserted ranch and steal whatever we could eat or carry.”
“You broke in? To steal?” The rumors she’d heard were all true. These three had been dangerous.
“We were scared and mad and desperate. That can make a kid do some wrongheaded things. But instead of calling the authorities, Mac not only allowed us to stay, but, with the help of Zachariah and Mary Pat, he also adopted us legally. And now we’re all family.”
Penny drained the water and used the towel to dry the counters as Sam stored the last of the clean dishes in a cupboard. And all the while she digested what he’d told her.
“To think Mac adopted three thieves. And opened his door to so many strangers. What an amazing, generous man.”
“Yeah. That’s Dad. He’s a good man. One of the best.”
“Now I know why he hired me, even though money is tight. I bet he sees me as just another stray needing a place to land.”
“What do you mean…?”
She shook her head and turned away to avoid his eyes. “I heard what you said last night. I’m another expense you don’t need, at a time when money is tight.”
“Hey.” He caught her by the shoulders and turned her around to face him. “Ignore what I said. Dad always used to tell me my mouth runs ahead of my brain. I thought I’d outgrown it.” His lips curved into a sexy smile. “I’d really like you to stay and keep on making that fine coffee and those amazing pancakes.”
“You’re just saying that because you’ve been on the trail so long. But now that I know your father can’t afford to pay me…”
He gave a hiss of frustration at having been overheard the previous night. He must have been a lot more trail-weary than he’d realized. “Please try to ignore what I said. We’re not broke.”
“But you said…”
“We’re just like every other rancher in Montana. Always having to decide if we’ll call a vet or save the money to invest in a prize bull to increase our herds, or…”
“Now you’re just trying to make me feel less guilty about being here and taking a paycheck.”
“No guilt. None.” His hands tightened at her shoulders, and he drew her closer before he realized what he’d done.
He turned away, a growl in his voice. “I can imagine how stunned you must have been when the job you were promised was taken away. Life happens. My dad understands that. Now you’re here. And I’m telling you straight. You keep on feeding us like last night’s supper and this morning’s breakfast, we’ll fight anybody who tries to coax you away.”
Though she still wasn’t smiling, two bright spots of color appeared on her cheeks, the only sign that he’d touched a nerve. “I was feeling really guilty for being a burden. I guess…” Seeing him turn to look at her with that fierce expression, she stepped back a pace before stiffening her spine. “I guess I’d better get busy earning my keep.”
As she walked away, Sam stayed where he was.
She was an odd little thing. All stiff and stern, and obviously desperate to hold on to her job.
He hoped she’d stay. For his dad’s sake. For Zachariah, who had taken on the majority of cooking and cleaning, while neglecting his first love—the law. For the others, who deserved to come home to a fine meal and clean clothes after a day of hard ranch chores.
He thought about the coffee and hearty breakfast he’d practically inhaled. If he was honest, he had to admit he selfishly wanted more of that for himself, as well.
But he’d have to learn to keep his mouth shut and think before he blurted out any more smartass remarks. Penny Cash was too smart for her own good.
Those big, sad eyes and that stiff backbone had gotten under his skin.
She reminded him of a bird he’d once rescued up in the hills, half frozen in a raging blizzard. The minute it spotted him, it flopped around, silently pecking his hand with that sharp beak, all to hide the fact that it couldn’t fly.
Was Penny covering a deep well of pain?
He’d know a thing or two about hiding pain.
Sam had learned early in life not to put too much hope in expectations. He was a realist. Most wishes don’t come true. Still, he’d already had his one and only miracle. He was here with a good, honest man and a strange assortment of characters who had become family. He was living free and easy on a ranch he loved, living a life most men only dream of. He already had more than he could have ever hoped for. He wouldn’t ask for more.
He gave an annoyed shake of his head.
Penny was no wounded bird. No storm-tossed, helpless female. She was just another woman, who probably carried a lot of baggage.
So why this flare of heat at the mere touch of her?
Hell, he’d held enough females in his arms to know pure and simple lust when he experienced it.
What he needed, he told himself, was a night at the Hitching Post in Haller Creek. A night with the guys, a couple of cold longnecks, and some satisfying games of nine ball.
And then he’d come home feeling like the old Sam Monroe, who had vowed that no female would ever get to him.
He’d learned early in life not to expect a happily-ever-after. There was no guarantee that tomorrow would be better. There was only today. And a smart man grabbed the day with both hands and enjoyed the hell out of it, expecting nothing more.
Chapter Four
Weeks later, Sam walked into the kitchen, sleeves rolled to his elbows, hair glistening with drops of water. He studied the familiar scene of his family gathered around one end of the room talking business and drinking longnecks, while the most amazing scents of meat roasting, bread baking, and desserts cooling on a sideboard had his mouth watering. But not nearly as much as the way his mouth watered every time he looked at the woman responsible for all this.
They had all noted the subtle changes since Penny had been here. Sunshine poured in through windows that didn’t have a speck of dirt or dust. The rooms of the house were not only clean but
also organized. Parkas hung on hooks in the mudroom in an orderly fashion, with hats above and boots below. A thick mat had been added to trap mud and snow beneath the long wooden bench they all sat on to pry off their boots. In the parlor, a copper tub, once discarded in one of the barns, now sat on the hearth, polished to a high shine and filled with logs and kindling. Upstairs, towels that had once been draped over the tub and shower were now collected daily, washed, and rolled into a big basket. Shaving gear that had once cluttered every inch of bathroom space was now arranged in a caddy placed atop the counter for easy access. Every room smelled of soap and disinfectant.
Though the house was still the domain of half a dozen rugged men, Penny’s touch could be seen everywhere.
Spying his older brother and wife and their now-familiar pet, Archie, Sam’s face creased into a wide smile.
“Hey, Ben. You and Becca just happen to be in the neighborhood?” Sam dropped to his knees to ruffle Archie’s fur and accept a few wet kisses.
Ben gave a laugh and dropped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “I doubt I could get away with that lie. But since both Becca and I got off early today, we thought we’d take advantage of Penny’s excellent cooking.”
Becca nodded.
Finn, who had discarded his ever-present attaché case on a sideboard, arched a brow at Sam. “You planning on hanging around for supper?”
Sam gave a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders, hoping to look disinterested. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“I figured as soon as you finished the ranch chores, you’d be on your way to town to wolf down some of Horton’s chili and fries at the Hitching Post before fleecing the local wranglers out of their paychecks.”
Sam gave a snort of disdain. “Why should I bother with that mud Horton calls chili when I can have whatever Penny’s cooking that smells so good?”
Finn nudged Ben. “So it’s her good cooking that has you sticking around.”
The two shared knowing grins.
Penny lifted a roasting pan from the oven and glanced over to say, “It’s pretty simple tonight. I just roasted a couple of chickens.”
