by R. C. Ryan
The little girl covered her mouth with her hand and giggled, while Ingrid stared at him with a look of astonishment.
Luke turned to her. “Any objections to having me here a while longer?”
She showed no expression as she gave a curt nod of her head. “No objection from me. It’s your life.”
“Now I know you fell on your head.” Burke looked at him more closely. “What this about, Luke?”
He clamped a hand on his uncle’s shoulder and another on Burke’s. “Come on. I’ll walk with you to the plane.”
Colin and Burke said their good-byes to the others before turning toward the plane, parked on a strip of asphalt behind the barn.
Along the way, Luke filled them in on what he’d learned. When he was finished, he added, “I’d like to pay these good people back for saving my hide.”
“By putting yourself in the line of fire?” Colin said soberly. “You’re talking about taking on a load of trouble.”
Luke nodded. “I know. But I’d like to even the odds a bit. Two girls and an old man shouldn’t have to stand up to this kind of bullying alone.”
Colin hooked a thumb in the direction of the house. “What about the mother?”
Luke shrugged. “As far as I can see, pretty useless.”
“But she’s got her eye on you, sonny boy.”
Luke grinned. “Not going to happen. Besides, from what I could see, she had designs on you, too.”
“Honky-tonk angels aren’t my type.”
As they laughed, Colin glanced back toward the ranch house. “As soon as we’re airborne, I’m phoning Sheriff Graystoke.”
Luke nodded. “I’m counting on it. Tell him I’d like him to look into this Lonny Wardell. See if anybody’s seen him in the town of Wayside. I hear that’s where he picked up Nadine. Or where she picked him up,” he added. “And see what Eugene can dig up on Bull Hammond. Somebody’s going to a lot of trouble to scare this family off their land.”
“You always did enjoy a good brawl.” Colin gave his nephew a bear hug before climbing into the plane.
Old Burke put a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “You take care, son. But keep in mind, this isn’t a game. Whoever is going to all this trouble is playing for keeps.”
“I agree, Burke.”
“You know how you get fired up when trouble comes. You can be more bullheaded than anyone I know. Keep that temper in check and keep a cool head, son.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
“And pigs’ll fly,” Colin muttered. The three of them laughed, breaking the tension, as the old cowboy climbed into the copilot’s seat.
“One more thing.” Colin beckoned Luke close. “I expect you to check in with us on a regular basis. If we don’t hear from you for several days, we’re flying in to tan your hide. You hear me?”
“Yes, sir. Loud and clear.” Luke paused before adding, “I’ll remind you it’s been years since any of you were able to tan my hide. I’d like to see you try it now.”
“Nothing’s changed,” Colin muttered under his breath. “From the time he was just a pup, he was always trouble. He’s still trouble, only older.”
“I heard that.”
“Figured you would.” Colin exchanged a look with Burke.
Minutes later the little Cessna was moving down the rough patch of earth. Luke watched it until it was airborne.
When he turned, Ingrid and Lily were standing to one side of the barn. As he drew close, Lily reached up and put her hand in his. “I’m glad you’re staying, Luke.”
“Me, too, Li’l Bit.”
He looked over her head at her big sister, who said nothing. From the fire in her eyes, he couldn’t tell if she was glad or mad.
Not that it mattered, he thought. This wasn’t about her, or about the fact that something about this stoic female touched something deep inside him.
He wasn’t in this for hot sex. Or even for a quick fling.
She had saved him. He was just trying to return the favor.
He bit back a grin.
Yeah. That was his story and he was sticking to it.
Chapter Five
Lily bounded up the stairs ahead of Luke. “Come on. Ingrid said I could show you where you’ll sleep.”
He followed more slowly. He’d suggested the bunkhouse, but apparently they’d allowed it to fall into disrepair. Like everything else around the ranch, he thought. Now he would be upstairs, sharing space with three females. As he’d come from a male-dominated family, this was an alien experience to him. But now that he’d made his decision to stay, there was no turning back.
Lily opened a door and stepped inside. “Ingrid said this was Daddy’s office.”
It was a big room, with a desk and chair and shelves crammed with books and ledgers. The old brick fireplace in the downstairs parlor extended through this room as well, soaring to the ceiling. Judging by the soot on the hearth and the pile of dried logs in a basket, it had been well used.
Leaning against one wall was a wooden bed frame and mattress, apparently hauled down from attic storage by Mick.
Luke set to work putting the frame together before lifting the mattress into place.
Ingrid entered, carrying an armload of bed linens. Without a word she shook out a fitted sheet. Before she could start to fit it onto the mattress, Luke took it from her hands and stretched it into place, before reaching for a top sheet. He shook it out and tucked it around the three sides with an ease of efficiency.
She stood back, arms crossed over her chest. “You look like you’ve made up a bed or two.”
He chuckled. “Yancy does our laundry. But he expects us to haul down the bedding and then make up our own beds. He likes to remind us he isn’t our maid.”
“I think I’d like Yancy.”
“I know you would.”
She watched as he smoothed a plaid blanket over the bed and added two pillows.
“Mick’s got supper started. You can come down when you’re ready.”
“Thanks.”
As she turned away, he put a hand on her arm. Ingrid reacted as though burned, stepping back just out of reach.
“Sorry.” Luke lowered his hand to his side. “I was just going to say I don’t want to be any trouble.”
She gave him a long, slow look. “I wouldn’t bet on that. I think you’re nothing but trouble, Luke Malloy.” She turned to her sister. “Come on, Lily. Let’s give Luke some time to settle in.”
The little girl was wriggling like a puppy. It was clear that she was excited at the prospect of having a visitor staying with them. “I won’t be any bother. Can I stay, Luke?”
“Sure, Li’l Bit. Since I don’t have anything to unpack, I’m just going to open these windows and air out the room.” He forced open the first window, sending the curtains billowing inward. As he started toward the second window, he added, “Then we’ll go downstairs and see if we can give Mick a hand.”
Ingrid paused in the doorway. “You’re handy in the kitchen? Do you cook?”
He gave a nonchalant shrug. “Some. Not like Yancy. But then, nobody can cook like Yancy. I can do plain and simple things like burgers and chili.”
Lily sighed. “I love burgers and chili. What else can you cook, Luke?”
“I make a mean grilled cheese sandwich. And one of the wranglers showed me how to grill a whole chicken on a can of beer.” He winked. “Best chicken I ever tasted. Of course,” he added with a grin, “it might have tasted that good because of all the beer I had to drink before that bird was done.”
Lily looked at him with those big eyes. “Are you teasing again?”
“Maybe just a little. But I really do know how to grill a chicken on a beer can. Come on.” He steered her toward the hallway. “Let’s see if Mick needs a hand with supper.”
“That was a great meat loaf, Mick.” Luke sat back and sipped strong, hot coffee.
Lily drained her milk. “Do you know how to make meat loaf, Luke?”
He shook his head. “
I missed that cooking lesson.”
Mick set a platter in the middle of the table. “If anybody wants seconds, help yourself.”
Luke didn’t need any encouragement. He heaped more meat loaf and mashed potatoes on his plate before digging in.
The old man chuckled. “Looks like you’re making up for lost time, son.”
“Yeah. I figure I’d better build up these muscles if I’m going to lend a hand with ranch chores in the morning.”
“Just don’t overdo it. You took one heck of a fall.”
“Like Colin said, as long as I landed on my head, no harm done.”
While the others laughed, Ingrid sat, quietly watching and listening.
She sat at one end of the table, with Lily beside her. Nadine’s chair was empty, and though no one mentioned her, Luke assumed she’d gone to the tiny town of Wayside looking for a little excitement.
“I liked Burke and your uncle Colin.” Mick reached for the coffeepot bubbling on the stove. “Though he looked more like your brother than your uncle.”
“Yeah.” Luke sat back, feeling stronger than he had in days. “He was my dad’s younger brother. He was just twenty when my dad and mom died.”
“They passed away together?”
Luke nodded. “A car accident on a snowy road. I was ten. My brother Matt was twelve, and Reed was nine.”
Mick glanced at Ingrid and Lily, whose eyes were downcast. “It’s always tough when there’s no time to say good-bye.”
“My great-grandfather insists it wasn’t an accident. But then, he’s always had a flair for the dramatic.”
“That so?” Mick held up the pot, and Luke passed over his cup.
When it was filled, Luke took a long, satisfying drink. “The Great One was a director in Hollywood before he came to live with us.”
Ingrid’s head came up. “The Great One?”
“That’s what we’ve always called him. He loves it, since his ego is as big as his reputation was.”
Mick was grinning. “Would I recognize his name?”
“You would if you followed old movies. He’s Nelson LaRou.”
The old cowboy’s eyes widened. “Is that a fact? Nelson LaRou. Huh.” He turned to the girls. “I bet I saw every one of the movies he directed. Back in the fifties, his name was as big on the movie screen as all those movie stars’ names.”
For the first time, Ingrid looked suitably impressed. “And he lives with your family?”
“Yeah.” Luke stretched out his legs under the table. “He and Yancy spend their evenings sharing stories about old Hollywood mysteries. There are a lot of unsolved crimes from those days, and both Yancy and the Great One have theories about who did what. As for my parents, the Great One took a handheld movie camera to the scene of the accident, and he swears that before all the cars and trucks arrived, there were two distinct sets of tire tracks in the snow. By the time the sheriff got there, his deputy, a neighboring rancher, and a couple of wranglers passing by were all on the scene, and the sheriff, considering the amount of snow and ice on the road, declared it an accident. Case closed.”
Ingrid frowned. “What about your great-grandfather’s film?”
“He showed it to the authorities. They studied it, but it’s shaky, because he’d gone to the scene in his pajamas and slippers. And the only light was from the moon and stars, so they said they couldn’t be certain just what they were looking at.” Luke drained his cup. “Water under the bridge. They’re gone. And they left an entire family devastated.”
Seeing the glitter of moisture in Ingrid’s eyes, he added softly, “At first, I figured I’d never get past the pain. But Burke told me something I’ve never forgotten. He told me to hold on to the happy memories, and one day I’d find something to smile about.”
To hide her emotions, Ingrid scraped back her chair and began gathering up the dishes.
When old Mick started to stand, Luke put a hand on his shoulder. “You did the cooking. We’ll clean up.” He crooked a finger at Lily. “Your sister can wash. You and I will dry.”
They carried the dishes to the sink before taking fresh towels from a drawer.
While Mick enjoyed a second cup of coffee, he smiled at the easy banter between Luke and Lily.
“Not there, Luke. The big plates go in this cupboard.” It was obvious that Lily was enjoying her new role of teacher.
“Okay, Li’l Bit. What about the knives and forks?”
The little girl opened a drawer. “In here.”
“Thanks.” Luke scooped up the entire handful of tableware and began drying each one and dropping them one on top of another.
“Not like that, Luke.” Lily pointed to the dividers. “The knives in here. The forks here. The spoons”—she picked up the ones he’d already deposited, and rearranged them until they were neatly stored in their proper slots—“like that.”
“I can see I’m going to need a lot more practice before I get it right.”
“That’s okay.” The little girl patted his hand. “I’ll help you until you learn to do it the way Ingrid likes.”
“Thanks, Li’l Bit.” He winked at Mick, and the old man bit back the laughter that threatened.
“Now where does this go?” Luke said as he dried the big platter.
“Up there.” Lily pointed to the cupboard above her sister’s head.
Luke reached up and easily set the dish inside. As he lowered his hand, it brushed Ingrid’s hair. He was pleased to note it was as soft as it looked.
He felt her stiffen. He grinned as he met her sharp-eyed look.
“Need anything else put away that’s too high for you, Li’l Bit?” If so, he intended to touch that hair again, and this time he’d linger over it.
“No. Everything’s done.” The little girl took the towel from his hand and placed it on a rack beside hers. “We hang these over here so they can dry.”
“Okay. I’ll remember.” He watched as Ingrid drained the sink before drying her hands. “What do you do when the chores are done for the day?” he asked.
While Ingrid pointedly ignored him, Lily jumped right in. “Do you play cards?”
“Sure. What’s your game? Gin rummy? Poker?”
The little girl shrugged. “I don’t know those. Ingrid usually plays Fish with me.”
“Fish.” He thought a minute. “Yeah. I guess my brothers and I played Fish when we were kids.”
“Oh boy.” She raced to the parlor ahead of him in search of a deck of cards.
As he followed, he turned to Mick. “You in?”
“Not me.” Mick got up slowly and turned toward his room off the kitchen. “Tonight’s Perry Mason. I’ve seen every episode a dozen times or more, and I still get a kick out of solving the crime.”
“Come on.” Lily caught Luke’s hand and led him to a game table in the corner of the parlor.
He glanced at Ingrid. “How about you?”
She pointed to a pile of papers on a desk across the room. “I need to sort through the bills and see what I can pay.”
“Isn’t that Nadine’s job?”
“It should be. But if I waited for her to take care of it, the heat and lights would be turned off for lack of payment. So I do what I can to stay ahead of it.”
He settled himself at the game table and accepted the deck of cards. After shuffling, he separated the cards into two piles and riffled them so quickly, Lily clapped her hands. “How’d you do that?”
“What? This?” He did it again, even faster, until the cards in his hands were a blur of color.
“Ingrid. Watch.” Lily was captivated. “Do it again, Luke. Please.”
With a twist of the wrist, Luke not only shuffled and riffled, but he also allowed the cards to spill from one hand to the other, then back again.
Ingrid frowned. “I can see that a certain cowboy spends way too much of his time with card sharks. Better watch your hand, Lily, or that shark will bite it off.”
“Over a game of Fish?” He grinned at
the little girl as he dealt the cards and dropped the rest in the center of the table.
“Give me all your queens.” At Lily’s singsong voice, he handed over a card.
“Now your kings.”
He handed over another.
“Now your jacks.”
He gave her a long look. “Are you able to read my cards?”
“No. Do you have any jacks?”
He handed one over.
“Now your tens.”
“Finally. Got you. Go fish.” Luke watched as she picked up a card. “Now, give me all your aces.”
“Aw, Luke. I have two of them.”
“Good.” He wiggled his brows like a villain. “Now you have none and I have three.”
As Ingrid sorted through the bills and wrote out checks for those that were almost overdue, she listened to the voices across the room. It seemed odd to hear that deep, masculine voice teasing her little sister. The more he teased, the more Lily responded. Laughing in delight when he said something outrageous. Giggling each time she requested a card that he had. He would pretend to grumble as he handed over two or even three cards, all the while challenging her to try to beat him. And when she did, her little voice was high with excitement. They would high-five and then begin yet another game of Fish.
By the way Luke handled the cards, it was obvious that he played often. Probably with his wranglers. Or maybe even in town, at one of the saloons. But, though he must find this childish game tedious, he never showed it. Instead, he continued in the same cheerful way, teasing, laughing, and acting as though he’d never had this much fun in his life.
Lily was clearly enchanted by Luke. And for that, Ingrid was willing to overlook whatever faults he would surely reveal as the days passed. After all, it was for Lily’s sake that she’d allowed him to stay on, knowing her little sister deserved some peace of mind.
Across the room, the two dissolved into peals of laughter. Ingrid paused in her work and smiled. She couldn’t remember the last time Lily had laughed so easily.
She had to admit it. Luke was being really sweet. And as long as she was being honest, she’d admit, too, that Lily wasn’t the only reason she’d permitted Luke to stay on.
