by Debra Kayn
“Spill it.”
Roy Lee leaned back in his chair and put his feet on the edge of the desk. “I think he’s after Margot.”
Sam laughed. “Get used to it buddy, every man in the state is after one or all of the McDougal women. We’ve got ’em though, and you have nothing to worry ’bout. Margot loves you.”
“The other night I walked into the clinic and Cityboy was—” he held up his finger and thumb an inch apart, “—this close to kissing her. I have no doubt Margot would have had his balls kicked clear up into his stomach if I never showed up, but it was the evidence I found.”
“What evidence?”
“It was the night we called you all to Valenciennes’ Place, and I was called out to ol’ Johnson’s for him holding up traffic the way he likes to do when he’s bored. When I arrived at the scene, it took me ten minutes of pounding on his door for him to wake up from his nap. He seemed confused ’bout why I was there, but was quick to move everything out of the road. If Johnson didn’t have a habit of doing stupid things all the time like tying up traffic for kicks, I’d think Cityboy had his dirty hand in calling me away to get me out of his way.”
“That’s not enough to blame it on—”
“Hang on, I ain’t done yet.” He folded his arms across his chest. “At the same time, Margot was called away on an emergency of some kind. That happens all the time too, but when I called later to the clinic, the call went to voicemail. The answering service didn’t pick up.”
“Hm…”
“I finally headed over there, and that’s when I found Cityboy makin’ the moves on Margot and the main telephone system shut off.” He pinned Sam with his gaze. “Margot is stricter than a school teacher ’bout her emergency service.”
“What’d Margot say?”
“She said she or Ryan must have shut it off by accident.” He swallowed. “I don’t know, man. I think Cityboy is setting her up. He’s putting Margot into position to get herself hurt. She’s proud of herself for hiring someone this soon after takin’ over the clinic.”
“Well, Margot wouldn’t cheat on you. If the guy tried anything, she’d kick his ass from here to Helena.” Sam pulled out his cell phone, gazed down at the display and chuckled. “Chantilly said everyone is meeting at Valenciennes’ Place. I’m supposed to tell you.”
“Okay.” Roy Lee glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’m off anyway. I can use a beer or three.”
Sam stood up. “Don’t worry ’bout the guy.”
“Hard not to. Margot’s been through a lot this year. I’ll bust anyone’s head who tried to cause her any more heartache.”
Sam waited for Roy Lee to step around the desk, and then punched him in the shoulder. “I’ve never known you to be the jealous type. It’s kinda cute.”
“Screw you.”
Sam snorted and threw his arm around Roy Lee. “Come on, I’ll buy you a drink.”
“Big of you, considering your wife owns the bar.” Roy Lee grinned and quickly sobered. “This guy bothers me for some reason, Sam. He’s…cultured.”
“So is manure.” Sam shoved Roy Lee ahead of him. “Trust me. Margot can handle almost any man, but especially a flashy one like Ryan. You’re overprotective, that’s all. If it makes you feel better, I’ll keep my ears and eyes open.”
Roy Lee ran his forearm across his mouth. “I’m a little worried. I train horses and walk around town all day chatting with the citizens of Pike. The most exciting thing I do is deal with ol’ man Johnson and break up fights. Is it unfair of me to think Margot would settle for the town’s sheriff when there’s a guy who can hold a conversation about scientific facts with her? What if in the end, we’re too different and I can’t fulfill all her needs?”
“You’re worryin’ over nothing.” Sam held the door open. “Margot loves you. That’s all that matters.”
Chapter Seven
A soft cool breeze caressed Margot’s bare arms, and she closed her eyes, letting the motion of the horse ride lull her into the past. When the only thing that mattered was eating the cookies she’d filched from Momma’s cookie jar. She smiled remembering how Shannon McDougal had used a switch to chase her across the yard after catching Margot with the stolen treat. Her momma had laughed until she couldn’t run, and ended up pouring Margot a glass of milk to go with more cookies.
Roy Lee’s hands slid down over her waist, her wrists, and gently took the reins from her control. Her tension and restlessness eased with each fwump of the horse’s step. She inhaled the sweet air of the flowering wildflowers, the tall grass and the early morning sun as it heated up the horse.
After a while the horse slowed down, and she opened her eyes. Delight filled her, and she laughed. Roy Lee had taken her to the single-room shack on the Hanson side of the property line.
The building was as plain and rundown as she remembered. Weathered and worn by the Montana wind, the shelter was more likely to topple than protect anyone from the extreme winter weather. She leaned over and stroked the horse’s neck. The mare softly snorted.
“I bet I kiss a lot better than I did when I was thirteen, huh?” Roy Lee slid off the back of the horse and held out his arms.
Margot swung her leg over the horn of the saddle and went into Roy Lee’s arms. “I can’t believe you remember. Who was it that dared you to kiss me, anyway?”
“Sam.” His head jerked back. “Tell you the truth, I don’t remember much ’bout how we kissed, but I can’t forget how you ignored me for two weeks afterward.”
She nodded. “You were my friend. I thought of you as a brother.”
He laid his hand on his chest. “Oh, you wound me.”
“Yeah, right. I didn’t even see you as boyfriend material, because it was much more fun to pal around with you. If I remember right, you moved right over to Sharon Tumler that same day. Bisette told me how Sharon let you touch her boobs.” She glanced at the shack, and then back at Roy Lee. “I had to get out of here before you asked me to do the same.”
He chuckled. A slow growing grin came over his face. “Ah, Sharon with the C’s.”
Margot backhanded his arm. “That’ll be enough of walking down memory lane for you, mister. I don’t need to hear about your wild ways.”
He chuckled and helped her down off the horse. “I save all my wildness for you.”
Despite the two-inch heels on her well worn boots, Margot barely came to Roy Lee’s shoulders. She was feisty in a small package. Emotions battered inside his chest. Meeting her again after she came home from school was like meeting a new woman. She’d flirted and gazed at him differently, and it’d made the blood inside his body surge.
She’d tangled up all his thoughts over their friendship, and had him plotting how to rope her into his life. Margot Lace, with her long blond curls and her tough-girl attitude, had him on his knees, wanting to promise her forever.
“Gettin’ warm out here.” He pulled on the front of his shirt. “I bet you’d be a lot cooler if you undid a few of those little pearl buttons on the front of your blouse.”
She raised her brows. “I’m not hot, at all.”
He stepped away and leaned against the tree. “It sure is quiet here. Not a soul in sight.”
“Just the two-hundred or so cows you can see over on McDougal Ranch.” She laughed.
Roy Lee reached down, pulled a piece of the tall grass, snapped off the end, and stuck the blade in the corner of his mouth. “Just you…and me. Who knows what we could do together.”
“Why Roy Lee, are you trying to get me to take off my shirt?” She gazed to the left, and then the right. “Out here in the open?”
“It’s okay, sweets. I won’t tell anyone.” He nodded and gazed down at her breasts.
“Roy Lee?” she whispered.
“Yeah.”
“I am sorta hot.” She gathered her hair and placed it down her back in a tangled mess the way he liked it best.
He stepped toward her, swept his thumb over the bare skin at the base of
her neck and managed to undo one of her buttons at the same time. He couldn’t help himself. “What’re you gonna do ’bout that?”
“I think I’ll take my shirt off.” She raised her hand and slowly released the rest of the buttons on her shirt.
He removed the material on her shoulders, and she lowered her arms and let her top fall to the ground. He zeroed in on the pale flesh spilling over the top of her lacy white bra and growled. “Sharon Tumler’s got nothing on you, sweetheart.”
He nuzzled her neck, drawing on the sensitive skin he knew would have her crying his name in no time.
“R-Roy…”
He dipped his tongue into the hollow of her collarbone, licking the sweetness off her skin.
“Oh God.”
Roy Lee slid his hand up her bare back, through her hair, and cupped the back of her head. He trailed his other hand down her side, over her hip, and lifted her leg off the ground, pulling her tight against him. He wanted to feel every inch of her body. She rocked against his raging hardness.
“We’ve got two options here, sweets.” He gazed down at her breasts, squished against the front of his chest, and moved to run his fingers over the lace. He strummed his thumb back and forth over her nipple, making it pucker for his attention.
Margot’s hands settled on his stomach. Her fingers gliding over the muscles as she leaned in. “What…what are they?”
She gazed at the front of his jeans, and damned if he nearly burst. He swallowed.
“One…” He cupped her face and tilted it up to his, studying her carefully, wanting to make sure she knew she had about ten seconds before he made the decision for her. “I can lay you down in the grass and show you how a real cowboy takes the woman he loves, or…or you get on the horse, ride like hell back to the house and wait for me in the bedroom where I’ll have you on your back nice and proper.”
“But—” She frowned. “I don’t wanna wait.”
“That’s my girl.” He captured her mouth and lowered her to the ground.
He continued his way down her body, only now he was able to nuzzle his way between her breasts. Rubbing his cheek against the slope of her breast, he grazed her nipple with his lips.
Margot arched up, writhing beneath him. He lifted his head and shifted his body between her legs until he was on his knees above her. “You make me crazy,” he murmured.
“Oh God.” Her hand flew to her forehead. She scrunched up her nose in obvious displeasure.
He froze hovering over her. “Sweetheart? What’s wrong?”
She clamped her lips together and screamed. He rolled off her, and helped her sit up. Afraid he’d laid her on a sharp stick, or worse, an ant nest, he tried to haul her up, but she shook her head.
“Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.” She shoved her hand in the front pocket of her jeans and held the phone up. “I’m sorry. It’s the clinic. I can’t ignore it. I’m on call.”
He sat back on the grass. “Go ahead.”
Pushing the button, she climbed to her feet. “Dr. McDougal here.”
Roy Lee let his chin fall to his chest, closed his eyes and tried to ignore the part of him still hard, pulsing and wanting to go back between Margot’s thighs. Sometimes being in love with a vet sucked.
He scoffed and shook his head at life’s unfairness. It wasn’t as if loving a sheriff was a walk in the park for her either, but he’d sure like to finish what he started.
The two-year-old cream-colored cocker spaniel lay limp in Margot’s arms, sporting a four-inch bright pink cast on her front left leg. Margot carried Trixie to an empty kennel and laid her down easily on the cushioned mat. Stroking the dog’s side, she murmured, “There you go, sweet thing, you’ll feel better in the morning.”
Margot made sure to latch the cage door, and then headed out to the waiting room where the upset owners waited. She found Chris and Steve Lammox huddled together in front of the counter.
“All done.” She smiled. “Trixie will be fine. It was a clean break. She’ll have to wear a cast for ten, maybe twelve days. At that time, I’ll remove the bandage, take an X-ray, and see if she’s healing okay, which I’m sure she will be…she’s young. After she has the cast off, try to keep her quiet. No jumping off beds or running too fast. Dogs are pretty smart, and as long as we don’t hyper them up, they’ll take things slow.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” Chris threw her arms around Margot and squeezed. Hard.
“Don’t be alarmed if she chews off the cast. Most dogs do. You’ll wanna make sure you keep an eye on her, and if the material starts shredding and looks like it’ll come off, bring Trixie back in and I’ll recast it.”
“You are the greatest, Dr. McDougal.” Chris gave her one more hug. “Thank you.”
She laughed. “You’re very welcome.”
Steve stuck out his hand. “Thank you and we’ll keep a better eye on her, I promise. I don’t know how she managed to get her foot stuck in the baby-gate, but we’ll figure out a way to fix it.”
“It’s amazing what kind of trouble puppies can get into.” She patted his hand.
He shook his head. “Between making the house safe for the baby, and keeping an eye on the dog, it feels like we’re raising twins.”
Chris pointed her finger at her husband. “You were the one who said every child needs a dog.”
He ducked his head and grinned. “Well, they do. I had one as a kid.”
Margot locked the front door behind them, checked her watch, groaned and walked into the front office. Making sure the switchboard was on, she dimmed the lights, grabbed her bag and headed downstairs. If she hurried, she’d still have enough time to spend time with Roy Lee before he hit the hay.
Passing the extra room Ryan used for an office, she glanced inside, stopped and frowned. “Ryan?”
Bent over his desk with his hands in his head, he appeared smaller, sad, lost. She stepped inside the room. “Are you okay?”
Ryan rubbed his face with both hands, heaved a sigh and gave her a sad attempt at a smile. “Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
His mouth drooped and he gave a half laugh verging on hysteria. “No. I have no idea if I’m okay or facing the biggest obstacle of my life.”
She sat down across from him. “Is it about your job? Pike? Tell me what’s wrong, maybe I can help you.”
“It’s not a specific thing.” He placed his elbows on the top of the desk and propped his head up. “I—” Ryan stood up in a rush. His chair rolled back and banged against the filing cabinet. “One minute, I have all—” he threw his hands in the hair and rolled his eyes, “—my geese in a row, and the next my thoughts resemble…old McDonald’s farm.”
“Ducks.”
He groaned. “See! I can’t even get the hang of all these hick-town sayings.”
“If it makes you feel any better, the older citizens around town still confuse me on occasion when they compare things to half-pennies, and wringer washers.”
Ryan stepped over to the window and turned his back to her. “Have you ever wanted something so much, you believed if you didn’t get it, you’d be miserable for the rest of your life?” he said softly.
She gazed down at the floor. Yes. Yes, I feel the same way about Roy Lee.
Margot joined Ryan at the window and placed her hand on his back. “Maybe you haven’t thrown your whole heart into what you want. You’re fighting with yourself. You’ll never receive what you want if your worst enemy is yourself. It’s like growing frustrated over breaking a horse. You can spend day after day trying to gain control over something wild and strong, but until you think, feel, and understand what the horse is going through, and take his feelings into account, you’ll just have another semi wild horse you’ll never be able to fully trust.”
He turned his head and seemed to think about what she’d said. She dropped her hand. Whatever was troubling him must be personal.
“I’ll leave you alone. If you need to talk, you know how to reach me.” She stepped back, but he
reached out and crushed her to his chest.
“Ryan!” She stiffened.
He stroked the back of her hair, not letting go of her. “Thank you, Margot. I don’t know what I’d do without you here. Your friendship means so much to me.”
He held her a little too long. She squeaked. There was that invasion of her personal space again.
“No problem. We’re friends.” She pushed away from him, keeping her hands on his arms in case he had any more ideas about hugging her again. “I’m gonna go. Make sure you lock up.”
She hurried out the office door, down the stairs, and exited the building. She leaned against the door. What in the world happened in there?
Ryan’s outburst came unexpectedly. Yet she knew he was more in touch with his feelings than most men were, and he did talk a lot. She sighed. If only people would give him a chance to fit in. Even Roy Lee didn’t give him a fair shot at becoming a citizen of Pike.
Hopping in her truck, she started the engine and pulled out onto the road. Anxious to spend time with Roy Lee, she tried to forget about Ryan.
It didn’t make sense how one minute Ryan was her partner, her friend, and the next…well, she wasn’t sure what was going on or what was going through Ryan’s head. She bit down on her lip. Maybe that’s how city folks acted. Or Roy Lee was right…
Chapter Eight
“Are you sure we should be doin’ this?” Bisette peered around the corner of Valenciennes’ Place before shaking her head at her sisters.
“Who’s gonna stop us?” Chantilly laughed. “Margot’s practically glued to Roy Lee now, and he wouldn’t dare throw us in jail.”
“Besides, if he did, Val would come and bail us out. She’s family.” Margot swiped her forehead. “Damn it’s hot out here.”
“It won’t be hot much longer.” Florentine hefted farther up on her hip the water hose she’d snatched off the back of the only fire engine in Pike. “Once the guys come to their senses and get past the wall of water, you all better be ready to run faster than the best quarter horse on McDougal ranch, or the men folk will hold us down and soak us too.”
