The Horseman's Son

by Delores Fossen

  “You’re kidding.”

  “I wish I were. I wish you’d get out of that house ASAP. I don’t think it’s safe for you there, Collena.”

  “I can’t leave. I want to be here with Adam.”

  “I know. I know,” Katelyn repeated. “Just be careful, okay?”

  Collena assured her that she would, ended the call and put her phone on the table.

  Mercy, what was going on here?

  In addition to the tangled web between Dylan’s sister and the surly deputy, there was that whole issue of psychiatric care for Ruth and Millie. Did Dylan know about this? He would almost have to with both women living under his roof. Unless they’d intentionally kept it from him.

  Those issues were a lot to add to the ones she’d brought to the ranch. An escaped convict and her ex’s father who seemed determined to get his hand on his grandson. Her plan was turning out to contain a myriad of complications.

  And perhaps danger.

  Jonah Burke definitely wasn’t a man she wanted to tangle with on top of everything else.

  She heard the sound behind her and automatically reached for her gun. Collena tried to force herself to calm down. After all, Millie had walked in earlier without knocking. Maybe the woman had returned.

  But this didn’t feel right.

  Collena felt a too-familiar shiver go down her spine. A cop’s shiver. A warning that she was in the presence of danger.

  The doorknob turned again. Not gently. An almost frantic gesture.

  “Who is it?” Collena called out.

  No one answered.

  With her heart in her throat, her blood pumping and with her gun gripped in her hand, Collena threw open the door.

  No one was there. And the corridor was empty. Well, empty except for the yellowy newspaper that was lying on the floor near her feet.

  While keeping watch around her, she stooped and picked up the Greer Herald. It wasn’t the weekly edition. It wasn’t even recent.

  The date indicated it was five years old.

  During the background check she’d done on Dylan, Collena had yet to see anything from the Greer Herald. The small newspaper wasn’t electronically stored, nor had there been any online copies. Since both the newspaper office and the town library had closed early for the Thanksgiving holiday, she hadn’t been able to read any back issues.

  Confused as to why someone would leave something like that outside the guest-room door, Collena glanced at the front page. The lead story was the sheriff’s investigation into Abigail Greer’s death.

  Dylan’s sister.

  According to the article, there had been no witnesses to the suspicious car fire that’d killed Abigail. Collena kept reading, scanning through the lengthy article that detailed the specifics of what remained of the vehicle.

  And then she realized someone had highlighted a line near the end of the newspaper report.

  “Dylan Greer has been brought in for questioning and is considered a suspect in his sister’s and fiancée’s deaths.”

  Chapter Seven

  This was not the quiet, relaxing Thanksgiving dinner that Dylan had planned.

  The table was filled with all the traditional foods that he’d requested Ina make—roasted turkey with all the trimmings, mashed potatoes, gravy and three vegetable dishes.

  Everything looked perfect. It probably tasted good, too, but he doubted anyone at the table, other than Deputy Burke, knew that firsthand. Ruth, Millie, Ina, Hank, the handyman, and even Dylan himself were picking at their food and trying to avoid direct eye contact with anyone else.

  Collena wasn’t even making an attempt to eat, and Dylan didn’t think it was his imagination that she seemed leery of him.

  The sole bright spot was Adam.

  He sat in his high chair eating peas and tiny bits of turkey. Each bite seemed to amuse him, because he babbled and grinned at Dylan. Despite the trouble of the day, Dylan had no choice but to smile back at the little boy. Those smiles were welcome reminders that he was well worth fighting for.

  Dylan spotted Collena smiling, too, and Adam seemed pleased that he had someone else’s attention. He offered Collena a pea that was pinched between his tiny thumb and forefinger, and Collena got up to take the offer.

  Adam giggled when Collena ate the pea from his fingers.

  “You two sure look an awful lot alike,” Jonah commented. He shoveled another forkful of mashed potatoes into his mouth.

  For such a simple comment, it certainly caused a reaction. Everyone stopped, as if waiting to see how Dylan would respond to that. Then, seconds later, Ruth tossed her silverware onto her plate. It made a loud clanging sound.

  “Adam’s tired,” Ruth announced, standing. “It’s time for me to get him ready for bed.”

  Collena looked at Dylan. “Can’t he stay up just a little longer?” There was a definite motherly plea in her voice. Just as there was a back-me-up plea in Ruth’s eyes.

  And that’s when Dylan knew he had to put a stop to this.

  First, he motioned for Ruth and Collena to sit down, and because he was positive he would need it, he finished off his glass of wine.

  “Collena is Adam’s birth mother,” he started, making brief eye contact with everyone at the table. “Someone stole Adam from her, and Collena’s spent all these months looking for him.” He had to pause a moment. “The adoption was probably illegal.”

  No one seemed shocked by that revelation, which meant it’d likely been the topic of house gossip all afternoon.

  “You didn’t know it was illegal,” Millie declared. “The judge will understand that. You won’t lose Adam.”

  Dylan wasn’t so certain of that.

  “What about Curtis Reese?” Jonah asked. “What’s he got to do with any of this?”

  “He’s Adam’s grandfather,” Collena answered before Dylan could.

  Dylan added to the explanation. “And he plans to fight both Collena and me for custody of Adam.”

  Now, that caused a reaction. Jonah stopped eating and stared openmouthed at Dylan. Millie flattened her hand over her chest and frantically shook her head. Ruth went ash pale and slowly sank back onto her seat.

  “He can’t take Adam,” Millie said practically in a whisper.

  Dylan nodded. “Collena and I have a plan to stop that from happening.” That also got everyone’s attention. Dylan figured he was going to get more than their attention with what he had to say next. “Collena and I have decided to join forces to fight Reese. And the best way for us to do that is get married and have me legally adopt Adam.”

  “Married?” Millie and Ruth said in unison.

  Hank and Ina apparently decided it was a good time to go check on dessert. He didn’t blame them. Dylan waited until they were out of the room before he continued.

  “Together Collena and I can make a stronger case for custody,” he added.

  Millie stood. “But marriage?”

  Dylan nodded again. “I’ve gone through all the options, and this is the best one for fighting Reese off.”

  “So, this would strictly be a marriage of convenience?” Jonah asked while still chewing his food. Despite what had to be a shocking conversation, it’d only deterred Jonah from eating for a few seconds.

  “Yes.” And Dylan hoped they all understood that. After what’d happened to the other women he’d loved, he wanted to make it crystal clear that he didn’t care for Collena.

  That was the only way he could save her from the fate of the other women. Even then, it was still a risk. This might open old wounds that he never wanted open. Now, if he could only figure out whose wounds it was that had made his life a living hell.

  “There has to be another way,” Ruth declared. “You can’t marry her, Dylan. She could take Adam and run.”

  “She can try to do that even if we’re not married,” Dylan pointed out. “Collena is Adam’s mother. I have no legal or moral right to try to cut her out of Adam’s life.”

  Ruth stared at him, and ther
e were tears in her eyes. “Adam’s tired,” she repeated. “It’s time for me to get him ready for bed.”

  Collena got up again, as well. “I want to go with him so I can say good-night.”

  Ruth took off the high-chair tray, picked up Adam and turned around to face Collena. “Give the baby some time. You can’t force motherhood on him.”

  With that, Ruth took Adam out of the room.

  Dylan considered going after her, to remind Ruth that while she was a member of the family, she couldn’t shut out Collena, but he decided they could all use a little breathing space. Besides, with their late start on the Thanksgiving dinner, it really was Adam’s bedtime.

  “I’ll have to excuse myself from the table, too,” Millie said. “I’m not feeling well.”

  Jonah smiled at Collena. “You sure know how to clear a table.”

  That brought Dylan to his feet. He was about to give Jonah a piece of his mind, but Collena stopped him. “Don’t,” she whispered. “It’s not worth it.” She stood and placed her napkin beside her plate. “If you don’t mind, I need to get some rest. It’s been a long day.”

  Dylan shot Jonah a nasty glare and headed after her. Collena was in the corridor, and she was already practically running in the direction of her guest room.

  “Wait,” he called out to her.

  She didn’t exactly wait, but she did slow down so he could catch up with her. “I really am tired,” she told him.

  “I don’t doubt that.” Dylan caught her arm and turned her around to face him.

  He’d had some good ideas in his life, but that wasn’t one of them. When he whirled her around, she practically landed against him. So close they were nearly touching. He saw the stark fatigue in her eyes. The worry lines on her forehead. The too-pale skin.

  But he also took in her scent. Not warm, exactly. But inviting. He was attracted to her in the most basic way that a man could be attracted to a woman.

  Collena was beautiful. And she had both a toughness and a fragileness about her. The kind of woman who could take care of herself but was still vulnerable beneath. He was a sucker for a strong woman, but his attraction went up a significant notch when there was vulnerability involved.

  “Well?” Collena prompted. She took a step back. It didn’t help. She was still close enough that her scent was playing havoc with his senses.

  “I apologize for Ruth’s comment,” Dylan said, forcing himself to speak.

  “No need. I didn’t think for one minute that fitting into your life would be easy. And the truth is, I’ll try to stay out of their way—and yours—as much as possible.”

  He studied her, specifically her defensive posture. She’d folded her arms over her chest and was leaning away from him. Definitely defensive.

  “Okay, what’s this all about?” he asked. He motioned toward her folded arms.

  To her credit, she didn’t say, What do you mean? Nor did she deny that something was wrong. “Earlier today someone left a newspaper outside my door.”

  Though that didn’t seem serious, Dylan wasn’t ready to shrug just yet. A lot of crazy things had happened. “What newspaper?”

  Collena opened the door to her room and, without turning on the light, went inside. Several moments later, she returned with the article in question. One glance at it, and Dylan didn’t have to ask any more questions about what it was. He knew. It was the story that had implicated him in the deaths of his sister and fiancée.

  “I didn’t kill them,” Dylan said simply.

  Collena looked him straight in the eyes. “I believe you.”

  He was so surprised by her adamant vote of confidence that it took him a moment to respond. “Then why did that article upset you?”

  “Because first of all, I don’t know who left it for me. Or why. Maybe the person was trying to make me run in the other direction. But I won’t run,” she insisted.

  No, he didn’t think she would. But Dylan did want to know the answer to her questions. Who had left it? Obviously someone on his staff. Or maybe Jonah. He was in the house, too. And as for why, maybe this was a little gas-lighting, an attempt to make Collena feel unwelcome.

  And unsafe.

  Oh, yes. He’d question everyone in the house, and he’d get to the bottom of this.

  “I also think Curtis Reese might try to use this article against us,” Collena added.

  Of course. Dylan should have thought of that. Even though there’d been no evidence against him and even though he was never a solid suspect, there had been questions and gossip about his innocence. Those questions had been raised in that particular story in the Greer Herald.

  “I can’t make that article go away,” Dylan explained. He took the newspaper from her and tucked it under his arm. “But I can have my lawyer negate it by pointing out that I was never charged with a crime.”

  “Still…” She groaned softly and leaned against the wall. “Curtis already has so much ammunition. That’s why I proposed.”

  “I know. And it’s a good idea.”

  She blinked.

  He blinked, too. “Did I just say that?”

  The smile that curved her mouth was born of pure irony and frustration. “It might take a decade or two before your staff believes it’s a good idea.”

  “They’ll get used to it, because they won’t have a choice. I’m not losing Adam, and if this marriage can stop that from happening, then we need to say ‘I do’ as soon as possible.”

  “How soon is that?” she asked.

  Dylan couldn’t believe he was about to say this, either. “I plan to call the county clerk tonight at his home. He’s an old friend. I want him to expedite the licensing process, and if all goes well, I think I can have everything arranged for this weekend.”

  She blinked again. “That soon?”

  He heard the doubts in her voice and knew they’d be in his voice, as well. “Curtis Reese will probably be filing his custody petition as early as tomorrow morning.”

  Collena drew in a hard breath. “You’re right. We should do this as soon as the county clerk has the license.” She paused. “You’ll tell Ruth and the others about the hasty wedding plans?”

  “Yes.” Though he knew that wouldn’t be a pleasant conversation. Nor would the other chat he’d have to have with Adam’s nanny. “I’m not going to let Ruth cut you out of Adam’s life.”

  Collena shook her head. “I wouldn’t let that happen anyway.” She touched her index finger to her mouth. “I am concerned though about Ruth being under the care of a therapist.”

  Ah, so she’d learned that. “She is. Millie, too. My sister’s death sent them both into emotional tailspins. Don’t worry though, it doesn’t affect how they interact with Adam. They both love him, and they wouldn’t do anything to hurt him. I’d stake my life on that.”

  “I can see they love him,” Collena admitted. “But I can also see that Ruth is going to make it very difficult for me. She won’t succeed. I’ve worked too hard to find Adam to allow anyone to stop me from being his mother.”

  Even though she probably hadn’t meant that as a challenge or an order, it made Dylan feel a little defensive. He had to remind himself—again—that he couldn’t have an adversarial relationship with Collena. But that did bring him to another question.

  Just what kind of relationship would this really be?

  They’d both already established that it was to be a marriage of convenience, but he certainly couldn’t deny the attraction he felt for her.

  Was it one-sided?

  Dylan studied her. They were still close, and they seemed to get a whole lot closer when her eyes came to his. He saw it then. The heat. He felt it, too. And knew this wasn’t a good thing.

  Dylan chose his words carefully. “There’s this connection between us,” he admitted.

  She nodded. “Conflict at first sight.”

  “It’s not all conflict, and that’s the problem.”

  Her stare intensified before she mumbled something under he
r breath and looked away. “We feel this way because we’re comrades of sorts. We’ve made a pact not to lose custody of Adam.”

  “That’s part of it, I’m sure. But the other part is that we’re physically attracted to each other,” he added. “Don’t deny it.”

  “I wasn’t planning to. Yes, it exists. That doesn’t mean we have to act on it. In fact, acting on it could cause problems for us in other areas.”

  “You’re right,” Dylan admitted. “There’s that unresolved issue of my past relationships. Besides, sex would complicate things.”

  No more leaning against the wall. She practically snapped to attention. “Who said anything about sex?”

  He lifted his eyebrow.

  Just like that, her body relaxed, and Collena shrugged. “Attraction leads to sex—point taken. It can’t happen though.”

  “I’m sure you’re right, but if this attraction gets any stronger, we might have trouble remembering why it’d be a bad idea.”

  “It’d be bad because it would get in the way of what we both want, being the best possible parents to Adam.”

  He nodded. “That’s a good argument.”

  But it didn’t stop a curl of heat from making its way through his body. It was just basic lust, he repeated to himself, intensified because of the camaraderie and because it’d been too long since he’d been with a woman.

  Way too long.

  His body just wouldn’t let him forget that.

  Nor would it let him forget that judging from the look in Collena’s eyes, she was engaged in the same battle he was.

  “My, isn’t this cozy?” Dylan heard someone ask.

  He looked over his shoulder and saw Jonah making his way toward them. The deputy had obviously noticed the proximity of Collena and him, because Jonah was grinning as if he’d just caught them raiding the cookie jar.

  “Did I interrupt anything?” Jonah asked.

  “Nothing that we care to share with you,” Dylan fired back.

  That caused Jonah’s nostrils to flare. The man stopped just several inches away from them. “You just don’t learn, do you, Dylan?”