“Well, there’s no need to shout about it. I was just askin’ ya a question,” Charlotte mumbled.
Kelly took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She was aggravated with the whole conversation and hated being on display then dissected. She never was good with her own feelings. It was easier for her just to do what everyone said and not make waves. Now that she was seeing Micah and Daniel, things changed. She was no longer the quiet, eager helper of Treasure Cove. Overnight, she became a woman who had thoughts and feelings of her own, and everyone wanted to know what she thought and wanted.
Unused to the attention, Kelly tried to slink back into her chair, but the women around her refused to allow that. After her outburst, their talking erupted into a gleeful display of fireworks. All of them commenting and suggesting what she should do next. It was humiliating to have the women talk openly about her sex life and how to act. She knew they were only trying to help, but she did not want or need assistance with Micah and Daniel.
She meant every word when she said she wanted to take things slow. She was not ready for marriage and kids, let alone for a relationship like the women were talking about. The whole thing actually scared the living shit out of her.
Looking for a clean getaway, she turned in time just to see her brothers pull into Macie’s Diner. Grabbing her purse, she stood. “Sorry, ladies, but I have to talk to my brothers about the books at the ranch,” she said, leaving the women still talking as if she was not needed.
Fleeing Hazel’s Sweet Treats, Kelly looked both ways before crossing the road and ran to catch up with her brothers. She found them sitting at a booth, in Macie’s Diner talking with one of the Masterson brothers.
Kelly did not know much about the Masterson brothers other than they moved to Treasure Cove over a year ago, purchasing a large parcel of land on the east side of her family’s ranch. When she approached the table, her brothers smiled, but the Masterson brother stood. Kelly smiled and introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Kelly Conner,” she said, extending her hand.
She dared not move when the tall, tanned blond man took her hand and softly kissed her knuckles. Gasping, she held her breath when he smiled up at her and said, “Richard Masterson, ma’am.” His eyes were the color of liquid honey. She had never seen anything like them before. Mesmerizing and sultry, he looked feral, almost as if he were a caged animal about to pounce. Tall and extremely muscular, his massive frame barely fit in the booth, let alone the diner.
“Oh you don’t have to stand on ceremony with Kelly. She’s just one of us,” Steven Conner said, but when Richard Masterson stood erect, he never took his eyes from hers. “Your sister is a lady and should be treated as such. Please, will you sit with us?” he asked huskily.
Kelly’s mouth went dry. There was something about the compelling man that commanded her attention. He reminded her of a lot of Gabriel.
Just when she was about to accept his invitation, the glass window at the booth her brothers were sitting at shattered, blowing glass everywhere. Instantly, she found herself cocooned in strong arms and standing a couple feet away.
Her brothers were cursing loudly as they stood, brushing off glass shards from their clothes. Macie came running out of the kitchen, yelling at Steven and Neil for breaking her new window, and it did not take long for her brothers to start yelling back. However, the whole time, Kelly stood near the corner of the bar, wrapped in Richard Masterson’s arms, never saying a word. She was grateful for his quick action.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Are you all right?”
“I think so.”
“Are you sure? I can take you to the clinic.”
“I’m fine, just a little shaky,” she replied, stepping away, trying to get her bearings straight. It was then she noticed there on the floor, surrounded by clumps of glass, a little brass cartridge. Bending down, she was about to pick it up when Richard stopped her.
“You best leave that where it’s at. I’m sure Sheriff Connelly will be wanting that as evidence,” he advised, then turned and started to talk with Steven and Neil as Macie walked over to her and wrapped her arms around her, hugging her close. “Oh, Kelly, are you okay sweetheart? You didn’t get cut did you?”
Hugging her back, she said, “No, I’m fine, and I’m sorry about your window.”
“I don’t give a fig about that window. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“My brothers didn’t break your window Macie. We were just talking, and it broke. I think some kids were having fun, and they just got carried away.”
“Yeah, and when I get my hands on the little brats, I’m gonna have some fun! That is a brand new window. Do you know how much it’s gonna cost to get it fixed? My insurance company already hates me because of what happened last fall. This is just going to tip the scales. I just know they are going to drop me,” Macie ranted as Kelly stood there listening quietly as she always did and helping where she could. It felt good to blend into the background again. It was safe, comforting, and normal.
When the chaos quieted down, and the sheriff arrived, Kelly gave her statement, and when she thought nobody would notice, she ducked out of the diner, seeking some peace and quiet. Climbing into her little car, she headed home to get ready for her shift at the clinic. She needed normalcy in her life, and the clinic was the perfect place for her to forget about everything that happened today, even what she was going to do about Micah and Daniel.
* * * *
It had been four days.
Four days since she had seen either Micah or Daniel, she thought as she left the Treasure Cove Community Center. It was her weekly meeting with the veterans. Without Micah and Daniel there, things were not the same.
When she told the group that Micah and Daniel would no longer be attending, they all smiled and congratulated her. She was not expecting that, and when she tried to turn the conversation around back to the main reason for the meetings, the men joked and proceeded just to kick back and have fun, talking about past relationships and giving her advice.
She was not quite sure what to do, but she smiled and listened as each man took a turn, standing and giving his advice. Overall, it was a lively meeting. The only problem was, she could not figure out why they had not called. Had she done something wrong?
Unable to go back to her quiet home and wait any longer, she got into her car and decided to drive out to their house and check on them. It was not that she worried about them. It was just, well, she wanted to see them. Over the last few nights, her sleep was restless, and her days consumed with thoughts of them, but when she began jumping at the sounds of phone calls, secretly hoping it was them, well, enough was enough.
The drive out to the old farmhouse was a quiet one. She loved looking at the Rocky Mountains as she drove down the isolated back road. The warmer weather had given way to wildflowers and lush green leaves on the trees. Winter was gone, and spring was approaching at last.
Living in Treasure Cove her whole life, she had grown accustomed to the harsh winters, cold springs, and short summers. Embracing the motto “enjoy it while you can,” she relished every moment of what beauty she could.
She remembered when her fathers would gather a picnic basket and take her out on the range. Just the three of them to enjoy the first warm days of spring. She loved those times and missed them dearly.
Owen and Liam Conner worshiped the ground she walked on, and she adored her fathers. They were everything she ever wanted in a husband, but when they died within a year of each other, shortly after she graduated the ninth grade, Kelly thought her heart would never be the same.
It was hard enough losing one father, but to lose the other within months, well, sometimes she felt as if the pain would never go away. There were still times, when she would smell something or she would see a certain expression on one of her brothers’ faces, the pain would come crashing back, making it hard to breathe. As for her mother, Kelly did not know. She knew her mom adored her husbands, and there was not
a day that went by that she did not mention them, but Anne Conner kept her feelings close, never giving one inclination on how she actually felt.
The town matriarch, her mother oversaw all community functions and presided over multiple marriages. Other than that, she kept herself home. Kelly knew it was not healthy. But how did one tell their mother to move past the pain when she herself had a hard time.
Soon after her fathers’ deaths, she found out that helping others took her mind off how she was truly feeling. Jumping at any opportunity, she volunteered for many after-school clubs and even gave her free time as a big sister. Eventually, it all became normal for her. When a member of the town needed a helping hand, she was the first one called.
She didn’t mind, but sometimes, she was the one who needed help, but never said anything to anyone, not even her own family. Looking back, if it wasn’t for Emma calling out of the blue, nobody from Treasure Cove would have ever known she was in a hospital in Denver, recuperating after her ex-boyfriend had gone postal on her.
Spending time with Micah and Daniel had started to change all that. They were genuinely interested in what she wanted to do and what she thought. So, when she hadn’t heard from them in four days, it was easy for her to feel as if they no longer needed her, but the nagging bug in the pit of her stomach insisted she seek them out.
Pulling into the drive, she crested the hill. The house looked quiet, except for Daniel, who was taking out the trash. She wondered if she had made a mistake in coming when Daniel did not even notice her car. Parking in the drive, Daniel slammed the lid on the can down hard enough for the clanking of metal to echo over the hills.
Something was wrong. Nothing felt right. She knew Daniel had to have heard her car coming down the drive, but when he did not even acknowledge her, a churning of worry pitted her stomach.
Slowly getting out of her car, she waited for Daniel to turn around, but he walked behind the house, never seeing her. Just then, a loud commotion erupted within the house, grabbing her attention. Quietly walking up the stairs, she knocked on the front door and waited.
The noise coming from inside the house was chaotic. Loud curses and the slamming of what sounded like furniture made her jump. Silently standing there, she listened to the commotion within, waiting for someone to answer the door. Knocking once more, she opened the door and meekly said, “Hello?”
What she saw on the inside shocked her.
The house was in utter chaos. Dirty dishes laid on every surface. Clothes were strewn about, something foul smelling was coming from the vicinity of the kitchen, and there in the midst of all this filth sat an adorable little girl with strawberry blonde hair.
Kelly could not see Micah or Daniel anywhere. Where were they? Moving into the room, she looked around but could not find them. She heard shuffling upstairs, and the familiar noise of someone chopping wood out in the backyard.
Turing to look at the little girl, Kelly kneeled down and smiled. “Hello, sweetheart. My name is Kelly. What’s yours?”
“Molly,” the little girl whispered shyly.
“What a pretty name. How old are you, Molly?”
“Five.”
Kelly could see that the girl was unsure of her. She would be, too, if she was alone in a house with a stranger. Nevertheless, Kelly tried everything she could not to frighten the little girl. “Wow, such a big girl. Where is your momma, Molly?”
The little girl lowered her head and began fidgeting with her fingers before she replied, “She went to heaven with daddy.”
Kelly’s heart shattered into a million pieces. Not bothering to ask, she picked up the little girl and held her tightly in her arms. “It’s going to be okay. I promise, sweetheart. Are you thirsty?” she asked, rubbing her back as the little girl clung to her neck.
“Uh-huh.”
“Well, let’s go find you something to drink, okay?”
Kelly smiled when the little girl just nodded. After taking her into the kitchen, she sat Molly on the counter while she looked for a glass. The kitchen looked nothing like it did when she was last here. Gone was the pristine cleanliness and sterile environment. Now, filthy dishes and unwashed pots and pans littered the area. The awful smell that invaded her nose when she walked in was the saucepan on the stove, which was now molding.
Trying to hold back her urge to get sick, she opened the refrigerator and asked, “Water, milk, or orange juice?”
“Milk, please.”
Kelly found a glass, poured it halfway full with milk, and handed it to the little girl. Molly drank it all down, then politely said thank you, giving her the empty glass back. Leaning against the counter next to her, Kelly asked, “So, Molly, what are we going to do about this mess?”
“I don’t know,” Molly said, shrugging her shoulders.
“You like bubbles right?”
The little girls face lit up and she smiled. “Yes.”
“How about we do some dishes?”
“Okay!”
* * * *
For the life of him, Micah could not figure out how to attach the simple canopy on the bed. Frustrated and tired, he threw the fabric against the wall. All morning he had spent his time up in her room, trying to make it livable for her. Molly was only five, but he wanted something nice for her. He still couldn’t come to grips with his sister’s death. Hell, he was still having issues with the death of her husband, his copilot.
He should have been sitting at the table, talking with his sister, not planning her funeral. He should have been playing with his niece, not making up a permanent room for her, and he should have called Kelly days ago, instead of shutting down and refusing to talk to anyone, even Daniel.
Too much was happening too soon, and he knew if he did not get a handle on himself, he was going to break, and it was not going to be pretty. It was bad enough that he had already gone through his stock of Jack Daniels, but he needed something to numb the pain.
Pain.
That was the worst. He could handle death, losing the only job he was suited for, hell, he could even handle a five-year-old girl, but it was the pain that confused him. He did not know how to talk about it, let alone express it. He knew Molly was hurting, and he tried to be there for her, but how could he help her when he did not know how to help himself?
After leaving Kelly sleeping in her bed four nights ago, he and Daniel had made it home just in time to catch the phone call. Thinking it was his sister, he happily answered, and that was when everything he had been holding onto crumbled before him. Hopping on the next flight to Eureka, Montana, he made it to the hospital just as the child services arrived to take Molly. After some paperwork shuffling, and with the doctor’s word that Molly was going to be okay, they boarded a plane and headed home, all of them.
Daniel met him at the airport and arranged for the funeral director to take his sister’s remains until he could plan for her service. His main concern was getting Molly settled. What he did not expect was to have to deal with a small child who barely talked, let alone who could pretty much take care of herself. Molly was a strange child, independent and smart, but when she should be grieving for the loss of her parents, she was quiet and subdued. He expected her to have nightmares, but she slept through the night. He thought she would stop eating, but ate everything he put in front of her. When she should have yelled and screamed, she played quietly and said nothing. If Micah did not know any better, his niece had blocked everything out of her mind, refusing to deal with the death of her parents, which was exactly what he was doing.
Refusing to think about anything, he walked downstairs to find Kelly and Molly talking and cleaning up the kitchen. Leaning against the doorjamb, his honeybee laughed and cleaned as Molly played in the sink full of bubbles. Something as simple as bubbles put a smile on his niece’s face when before all she did was stare blankly.
“When did you get here?” he asked, breaking the moment. He wanted to smile when Kelly jumped at the sound of his voice, but didn’t. Instead, he wa
tched silently as she turned to face him.
“Not long ago. Molly and I thought you might need some help in the kitchen. I hope you don’t mind,” she said, laying the hand towel on the counter.
Walking over and stopped before him. The compassion and confusion written on her face humbled him, but her eyes told a different story. There was something more in those pretty blue depths.
“Micah?” She questioned him.
Grabbing her and hugging her tightly, Micah whispered, “I missed you, honeybee,” just as Daniel walked in the back door. Looking up, he smiled at his best friend.
“Oh thank God,” Daniel sighed, walking over to them. “Move over, Lieutenant, my turn to hug Angel.” Releasing Kelly to Daniel, he walked over to Molly, who was still playing in the bubbles. Kissing the top of her head, he leaned against the counter, and for the first time in days, he felt as if everything was going to be okay.
Micah knew that, with Kelly around, she would make everything better. Her just being there already lifted the somber mood of the house. There was just something about her that brought sunshine and happiness.
With the next hour, not only had Kelly managed to rustle up a home-cooked meal, but she also had cleaned up the living room, helped Daniel in finishing up Molly’s room, and started laundry. Micah knew what took her just over an hour would have taken him close to three days to accomplish. Relieved and more than happy to step aside, she bustled around the house getting things done. She was amazing.
After dinner, she bathed and clothed Molly, and that was where he found them, in the upstairs bathroom. Knocking on the door, he waited until they said it was okay for him to enter, and what he saw brought a smile to his face. Kelly was braiding Molly’s hair as his niece laughed and played in the sink.
Kelly's Heroes [The Men of Treasure Cove 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 7
