by Kate Pearce
* * *
There were a couple of handholds on the side of the hollow metal bin, so Rachel used them to get lower. A flash of light from above indicated that Cauy had somehow directed his cell flashlight down her way, which was super helpful. A pair of frightened brown eyes stared back at her from the dankness at the bottom followed by a pathetic whine.
Rachel held her breath as she edged farther down and Cauy’s strong hands closed around her ankles. She felt like an acrobat on a trapeze as she let go with her hands and grabbed for the creature, gathering it against her chest with one hand.
“I’ve got it. Pull me up!”
Cauy obliged, and she used her free hand against the wall to help steady her ascent. He grabbed her around the waist and turned her right-side up before carefully depositing her on the ground beside him.
“It’s a dog,” Rachel said.
“I can see that.” Cauy gently touched the animal’s head. “You should probably get it to a vet.”
“Good idea.” Rachel hesitated. “Is there any way you could come with me? I don’t want to let this little guy go, and I can’t drive with one hand.”
Cauy sighed. “And the curse of the Morgans strikes again. . . .”
She frowned up at him. “What?”
“Nothing. It just seems like wherever I go in this town I trip over a Morgan.”
He didn’t sound mad, just resigned.
“If you’re too busy . . .”
“It’s all good. Come on.” He was already walking toward his truck. “You’ll have to tell me where to go.”
Chapter Seven
“It’s just in here.” Rachel pointed to the open gate off the county road, and Cauy took the turn. “Keep going up the driveway to the top where the barns are.”
“Got it.”
Rachel peered anxiously down at the dog, who had barely made a sound since she’d rescued it from the feed bin. It had no collar or tag, so she had no way of knowing whether it had wandered off, fallen in, or been dumped there. Either way, the animal wasn’t that old.
“This is the McDonalds’ place,” Cauy said.
“Yes.” Rachel released her seat belt and opened the door. “Jenna’s almost family. She’ll see us without an appointment.”
“Okay.” Cauy got out as well, his gaze scanning the old wooden ranch house. “Do you want me to stay?”
Rachel had already started for the door but looked back at him. “You’re going?”
He studied her for a long moment. “I guess not.”
She went into the vet’s office and straight up to the counter. “Hey, Meg, is Jenna around?”
“Yes, she’s out back having her lunch. I’ll get her for you.” Meg paused as she noticed the dog. “Is that yours?”
“No, I found it.”
“Go through to exam room two. I’ll have Jenna meet you there.” Meg held the door into the inner office open. “We’re officially at lunch so she shouldn’t be long.”
Rachel went into the exam room and continued to clutch the dog to her chest. Cauy came in after her and closed the door.
“Do you want to sit down?” he asked her.
“No, I’m too worried.” She continued her pacing.
A moment later, Jenna came through the door, her reddish-brown hair tied back in a ponytail and a smile on her face.
“Hey, Rach, what’s up?”
Rachel held out the dog. “We found it at the bottom of one of the feed bins down at Em’s store. Cauy helped me fish him out.”
Jenna motioned for Rachel to set the dog down on the metal table and went to wash her hands.
“Well, it’s actually a girl and judging from the size of her paws she’s going to be a very big girl one day.” Jenna gently ran her hands over the dog’s flanks. “She’s too thin, and probably dehydrated.” She looked up at Rachel. “And that’s just what I can tell from my preliminary exam. There might be other issues to consider.”
She took the dog’s temperature and frowned.
Rachel bit her lip. “Do you think she’ll be okay?”
“I can’t say that yet, but we’ll keep her here, give her some fluids, and see if we can get her to take some nourishment. Then we’ll take it from there, okay?” Jenna looked from Rachel to Cauy. “She’s quite young, and she’s suffered a traumatic experience.”
“Is that why she’s so quiet?” Rachel asked.
“Yes.” Jenna patted Rachel’s shoulder. “We’ll do everything we can for her, okay?” She wrapped the dog in a soft towel and held her close to her chest.
“I know you will.” Rachel found a smile somewhere. “Thanks, Jenna.” She turned to Cauy. “Jenna’s engaged to my brother Blue.”
Cauy hesitated before tipping his hat to Jenna. “Nice to meet you, Dr. McDonald.”
“Nice to meet you, too, Cauy.” Jenna smiled. “It was kind of you to help Rachel.”
He shrugged. “Well, as you might know yourself the Morgans can be quite persuasive.”
“Bossy you mean?” Jenna asked. “Yeah, I know all about that. Are you passing through, or are you working at one of the ranches?”
Cauy grimaced. “Uh, I’m up at the Lymond Ranch.”
“You’re a Lymond?” Jenna couldn’t quite conceal her start of surprise.
“Yeah. I’m Mark’s son.” Cauy paused. “I understand that you didn’t get along with my father, but I suspect the blame for that lies with him.”
Rachel stepped between them. “Cauy’s nothing like his father, Jenna.”
“I can already tell that,” Jenna said, recovering her composure. “He’s not shouting at me and saying I’m incompetent because women can’t be vets.”
Cauy winced. “I apologize.”
“As I said, it’s okay.” Jenna opened the door. “Now, let me get this little gal settled, and I’ll meet you out front, okay?”
Rachel followed Cauy out into the empty waiting room. Meg had disappeared so they were all alone.
“I’m sorry, Cauy,” Rachel said softly.
“What for?” He took a seat and stared up at her.
“Making you bring me here. I forgot it might be awkward between you and Jenna.”
He looked down at his scuffed boots. “Just don’t tell BB, or he’ll come after me again.”
Rachel sat as well. “Again?”
“He warned me off.”
“He’s such an idiot sometimes,” Rachel snorted. “Like Jenna can’t take care of herself.”
Jenna came into the waiting room wiping her hands on a paper towel. “Meg’s getting her all set up. I can’t detect a chip with my scanner so I’m betting she was either too young to be chipped or else her mother was a stray.”
“Or someone dumped her down there,” Rachel said.
“That’s also a possibility,” Jenna acknowledged. “But regardless of how she got there, we’ll do our best to get her healthy.”
Rachel smiled. “I’m sorry, I just hate it when animals are abandoned or left to fend for themselves.”
“Me too.” Jenna threw her paper towel in the trash. “I’ll call you later today with a progress report, okay? Thanks for bringing her in. You did the right thing.”
Rachel nodded and turned to the door, glad to escape. She went to stand by Cauy’s truck. A few moments later he came out of the office and made his way over to her.
“You okay, Rachel?”
“Sorry, I get emotional about animals.” She raised her gaze to the leaden sky. “My mom never let me have a pet. I was always finding strays and bringing them home, and she never let me keep them because we moved around so much.” She tried for a smile. “I know she was right, but I always hated it.”
Cauy reached out and drew her into his arms, one hand on the back of her head smoothing her hair. She fit perfectly against him and allowed herself to lean into his hard body for a much-needed hug.
“It’s okay,” he murmured against her hair. “It’s okay to care.”
She breathed in his scent and j
ust let him hold her.
“Did your mom move around because of her work?”
“Yes, and in the beginning I suppose she was desperate not to be found by Billy or the authorities and brought home.” Rachel looked up at him. “I didn’t know why she was doing it at the time. I just hated constantly being uprooted.”
“I can imagine.”
“When she met Paul, things got a lot better, and we had a real stable home life,” Rachel said.
“Paul’s your stepdad, right?”
“Yes. He’s a professor at Humboldt University. My mom met him when she was studying for her degree there.”
“We all thought she was dead,” Cauy said softly.
“And that Billy had murdered her. I know the story.” Rachel eased out of his arms. “Although how anyone could imagine Billy hurting a fly I don’t know.”
Cauy shrugged, his gaze fixed on her face. “I suppose the cops will always go for the most obvious suspect.”
“I guess.” She looked past his shoulder. “Can we get in the truck? It’s really cold out here.”
He opened the passenger side for her and went around to get in himself. Warmth blasted out of the heaters as he turned the engine on.
“You don’t like talking about your family much,” Cauy said.
“Huh.” Rachel shot him a look. “You don’t like talking at all.”
“I talk when I have something to say.”
“Meaning I just chatter away like an airhead?”
“I didn’t say that, and quit getting mad at me over something I didn’t do.”
Rachel opened her mouth to argue and then subsided in her seat. He had a point. She had no idea why she was pouring out her life story to him either.
“Hey.” He tapped her cheek. “I didn’t tell you to shut up either. I like hearing you talk.”
Rachel just blinked at him. “I don’t believe you.”
“I’m still here, aren’t I?”
“Yes.” She considered him for a long moment, her gaze lingering on his faint smile. “I suppose you are.”
* * *
Cauy resisted the urge to close the gap between Rachel and himself. She looked as if she’d be happy to go along with his idea, but you could never tell with a Morgan, and he didn’t want to get his face slapped. There was just this vibe between them that sang so loudly he was amazed no one else could feel it.
Rachel cupped his chin and kissed him smack on the mouth. “Thank you so much for helping me out, I really appreciate it.”
At first Cauy thought he’d spoken his thoughts out loud before he realized it was Rachel talking.
“Okay.” He took his time leaning in, memorizing every freckle and line on her face, the way she was licking her lips . . . He wanted to growl and hold, and take, but none of those things were appropriate, and she deserved to be treated with respect.
The moment his lips touched hers he forgot rational thought and just experienced the unique, addictive taste of Rachel Morgan. He slid his hand around her neck, holding her close and took her mouth. She responded with a moan that drove him crazy, tightened his jeans, and made him want to strip her naked and ravish her properly....
“Hey!”
A banging on the window made him wrench his mouth away from Rachel’s and turn to see another far less friendly pair of furious blue eyes glaring at him through the glass.
“Get out of the truck!” BB Morgan knocked on the glass again.
“Hell, no,” Cauy muttered. BB was a retired Marine. He’d beat the shit out of him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake.” Rachel flung open her door and stormed around to confront BB. “Go away!”
Jeez . . . now he’d have to get out, or he’d look like a loser.
“What are you doing kissing Cauy Lymond?” BB demanded. “Don’t you have any sense?”
“I was thanking him!” Rachel stood her ground. “He helped me save a dog!”
“Then you shake his hand, you don’t slobber all over him,” BB said.
“What I choose to do has nothing to do with you, Blue Morgan,” Rachel said.
“Yes, it does! You’re my little sister!” BB turned to glare at Cauy, who had gotten out of the truck. “And this guy isn’t for you.”
“Says who?” Rachel had her hands on her hips, which in Cauy’s memory of womankind meant that BB was about to get it. “I can kiss whoever I damn well like!”
“There’s no need to curse,” BB objected.
“Says the Marine who can’t even keep his mouth zipped around his own daughter!”
“Um, guys?” Cauy stepped in between the two Morgans. “Maybe you want to take this somewhere else?”
Now they were both glaring at him, which was somehow better, but also precarious. He directed his attention at Rachel. “Do you want me to drop you back in town to pick up your truck?”
After one last scathing glance at her brother, Rachel nodded. “That would be very kind of you, Cauy.”
“Okay, then, let’s—”
BB interrupted Cauy. “Or you can stay here, Rachel, and I’ll take you myself after I’ve seen Jenna.”
“No, thanks.” Rachel walked around to the passenger side of Cauy’s truck, her nose in the air. “I’d rather go with Cauy.”
“Rachel . . .” BB looked past his sister as the door to the vet’s opened with a bang. “Oh crap. Hey, Jenna.”
His fiancée didn’t look very pleased to see him, which Cauy enjoyed immensely.
“What exactly are you doing, Blue?” Jenna asked.
“Cauy Lymond was kissing Rachel.”
“Against her will?”
BB frowned. “Not that I could tell.”
Rachel was blushing now, and Cauy fought an actual smile.
“Then why are you out here causing a ruckus?” Jenna demanded.
“Because—” BB stopped talking and held up his hands. “Okay, I’ll shut up right now. Will that work for you?”
“Yes.” She grabbed BB’s hand. “Now, come on in, and leave these two consenting adults alone, okay?”
Cauy tipped his hat to the veterinarian in silent appreciation. She obviously had her Marine well under control, and he for one appreciated it. Rachel got in the truck. He backed out of the space and turned into the drive.
“I’m sorry about that,” Rachel said in a very small voice.
Cauy shrugged. “I’d have been the same if I’d caught my sister kissing a Morgan.”
“Sometimes they are just . . .” Rachel shook her head. “I didn’t grow up here, and I don’t know how to deal with them when they get all big brothery on me.”
“Seems like you did a pretty good job back there.”
“By getting mad?” She sighed. “I don’t like losing my temper. BB’s the worst of them, but he doesn’t deserve that.”
“Yeah, he does. Didn’t you see the way Jenna laid into him? You did exactly the right thing. BB Morgan respects people who stand up to him. He always did even as a kid.”
“They’ll all want to talk about it at dinner tonight,” Rachel groaned. “They love talking things through.”
“Then come have dinner with me.” Cauy couldn’t believe he’d just said that. “I mean—”
“That’s very sweet of you, but if I don’t turn up for dinner, you know what will happen. They’ll send out a search party with torches and pitchforks and your ranch will be the first point of call.”
Cauy chuckled.
“Are you actually laughing at me?” Rachel asked slowly.
“Nope.” Cauy slowed down as they entered the town and headed along Morgan Street past the post office and Yvonne’s. “I wouldn’t dare.”
He parked up beside Rachel’s truck and got out with her. “Let me know what happens with the dog.”
“I will.” Rachel scuffed her boots and avoided his gaze. “Well, I will if you give me your cell phone number. You do have one, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” He handed her his phone a
nd she put her number in. He immediately texted her back. “Now we’re all set.”
“Thank you,”
“You’re welcome.” He hesitated. It was strange seeing Rachel at a loss for words. “If you really get fed up with all those Morgans you are welcome to come over. Ruth gave me enough food for a month so you won’t starve.”
“That’s very kind of you, considering my brother threatened to punch your lights out.”
“It’s all good,” Cauy reassured her.
For some reason, neither of them seemed able to end the conversation. The thought that he liked being around her, and that she brought light into his world, was both terrifying and appealing. He didn’t need people. His wife had complained about that even when he’d been trying his hardest to fit in and give her what she wanted. And what could he offer now? A broken body, a whole mountain of baggage, and an outlook on life that made his mother despair.
“Bye, Rachel.” He had to end it now. “Have a good evening.” He nodded and got back into his truck, leaving her standing there alone before she too moved off.
He drove away. Better not to yearn for what he could never have—not that he wanted her. It was just that seeing her, even when she was mad at him, had become the highlight of his day. And kissing her? He took a slow breath reliving how that felt, and wanting so much more....
Which was why he needed to keep driving. She was a Morgan, and he’d be the first man to admit she deserved better than a broken old crock like him. She loved to talk—he hated it—she was full of hope, and joy, and he . . . well, he wasn’t. With that firmly in mind he drove back to the ranch, his thoughts on what to have for dinner and what sports channel to binge on after he’d eaten.
Chapter Eight
Chase opened his laptop and looked expectantly at Rachel. “So I’ve been doing some research into our mine problem.”
As she’d been anticipating BB telling everyone about her kissing Cauy after dinner, Rachel had never been so happy before in her life to be lured into a technical discussion. BB had been unusually quiet and had gone off with Maria to check on her homework straight after they’d helped clear the table. Rachel suspected that Jenna had told him to keep his thoughts to himself. She hadn’t even mentioned finding the dog because she’d believed BB would make a big deal out of it.
