“So, tell me, how does it feel to snag Rust Creek Falls’s most eligible cowboy?”
“I wish I could tell you.” She measured her words, choosing them carefully, trying to keep it light. Because, like everything else, her response would be chronicled. “But I haven’t snagged anyone.”
“You and Caleb aren’t an item?”
Mallory didn’t like that she felt responsible for Kristie’s disappointment. People shouldn’t have expectations. That realization made her answer very important. Quite possibly she could nip this rumor in the bud, before it circulated through the general population of Rust Creek Falls.
“I’m sorry to disillusion you, but Caleb and I aren’t an item. We’re friends. I like him a lot, but not in a romantic way.” That last part, added for effect, felt so wrong and untrue that she could almost feel her nose growing. But she wouldn’t take it back and undo what she was trying to accomplish.
“Too bad.” Kristie’s mouth turned down in a pretty pout. “You two make a really cute couple.”
“That’s flattering, but...” She glanced at her watch. “Wow, it’s getting late. I have to get to work.”
“Have a great day.”
“Thanks.”
It would be a good day if this gossip about her and Caleb and a wedding stopped right here. He’d made his feelings known and they included being single and unattached. If he heard this, there was no telling what kind of pressure he would feel. Surely no amount of talk could make him care about her the way she would like him to.
And then there was Lily to consider. If she heard this, it would get her hopes up for a wedding that wasn’t going to happen. That child didn’t need another disappointment in her life. Or another abandonment. If Caleb suddenly disappeared, there could be a serious setback in Lily’s emotional recovery from the loss of her parents.
Mallory would do everything in her power to keep that from happening.
* * *
Caleb hated mucking out stalls. It was a dirty job but someone had to do it. His brother Anderson felt they shouldn’t ask the hired hands to do anything a Dalton wouldn’t do, and it was Caleb’s turn, so here he was.
The thing about shoveling dirty hay into a wheelbarrow was that it gave you time to think. And right now he was thinking about Mallory. Hell, he thought about her even when he didn’t have time to. She continuously distracted him. Her easy smile, pretty auburn hair and lips that tempted a man to kiss her until she melted against him.
It was Thursday and he hadn’t seen her since Saturday when they’d volunteered at the school. Today Anderson had gone into town for supplies. If Caleb had been handed the chore, he’d have taken advantage of the opportunity to stop in at his dad’s office to say hello to Mallory. Washing desks in his sister’s sixth-grade classroom was about as tedious as mucking out stalls, but Mallory had been there with him. Close enough that he could reach out and touch her. That day he wasn’t forced to imagine the sweet, floral scent of her skin when he brushed up against her.
Then he’d said something about the conspiracy to throw them together. Pressure to be a couple when the two of them knew they were just friends. After that her brown eyes weren’t as bright and her smile wasn’t as quick and easy. She’d withdrawn a little. Unlike shoveling the muck out of dirty stalls and laying down fresh hay, women were damned complicated.
Behind him he heard the slow, steady sound of a horse’s hooves and looked over his shoulder. Anderson was leading his horse, Cinnamon, into the barn and walked him to the stall Caleb had just cleaned, beside where he was now working.
“Hey,” he said. “Done for the day?”
“Yeah. Unless one of those pregnant cows decides to give birth during the night. Or Daisy foals. She’s overdue.”
Cowboys rode fences twenty-four hours a day to check on the land and animals. He and Anderson had a rotating schedule to share the inconvenience of getting a call in the middle of the night because there was an emergency that required attention.
His brother removed the horse’s saddle and draped it over the fence separating the stalls. He unhooked the bridle and slid the bit out of Cinnamon’s mouth, then took it to the tack room to hang it up. When they’d first learned to ride a horse, their father had taught them the importance of caring for their animals and equipment. It was something Caleb intended to pass on if he ever had kids, an idea which lately had crossed his mind more seriously than ever before.
Anderson returned with a brush that had coarse bristles and started the process of brushing down his horse.
“Everything go okay today?” Caleb asked him.
“Yup. Can’t complain.”
“Winter will be here before you know it.” Caleb dumped a shovelful of stuff into the wheelbarrow.
“Yeah. We’ll be ready.”
“Are you going to the church dance tomorrow night?”
Anderson was about an inch taller than Caleb’s own six feet and had the Dalton brown hair and blue eyes that could send a clear message when he was annoyed. He stopped the mesmerizing downward motion of the brush and gave Caleb a look that was both annoyed and clearly indicated he would rather poke a sharp stick in his eye.
“No” was all he said.
“Your loss.”
“I take it you’re going.” His brother resumed dragging the brush over the horse’s side and back.
“Yup.”
“Of course. Don Juan Dalton wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to romance the ladies.”
His brother never failed to give him a hard time about dating a lot of women. The thing was, playing the field had lost its appeal since he’d met a certain paralegal who worked in his father’s office.
“What do you think of Mallory Franklin?”
“Don’t know much about her. Do you?” There was a skepticism in his look when Anderson lifted his gaze from what he was doing. And the slight emphasis in the words when he’d voiced the question came across as a warning.
“I know she took in her orphaned niece and is raising her. Doing a darn fine job of it, too. Dad likes her or he wouldn’t have invited her to dinner. Twice.”
“Looks like you’ve already made up your mind about her. It doesn’t matter what I think.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
Although, next to his father, his brother was the man he trusted most, the man whose opinion mattered a lot. And based on past experience, when Anderson made up his mind about something, nine times out of ten he was right. But Caleb wasn’t going to tell him so.
Anderson brushed Cinnamon’s flank, then walked around his rump to do the horse’s other side, putting his back to Caleb. “Mallory seems to be sticking longer than your usual flavor of the week.”
If anyone but Anderson had said that, Caleb might have taken it as criticism, but his brother knew him pretty well. And flavor of the week pretty well described his pattern, up until now. But he knew pretty well, too, that Anderson had a more cynical attitude toward the opposite sex. No one in the family knew why he didn’t trust women, but his behavior clearly said that was the case.
“I enjoy her company,” Caleb finally answered.
“Are you sweet on her?”
“She’s different.” He shrugged. “I’m not ready to ease on down the road yet.”
Anderson turned and met his gaze, a warning expression turning his eyes a darker blue. “Then you should know what I heard in town.”
That sounded ominous and grated on his nerves. Caleb stopped shoveling and rested the tip of the tool on the ground. “I know exactly what you heard. The people in this town aren’t subtle. And, for the record, I don’t need to be warned. Just because you don’t trust women, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t.”
“What makes you think I don’t?”
“Hey, this is me. I go out with a lot of different
women, but you hardly go out at all. It’s not like you have warts on your nose and a hump on your back.”
Anderson glanced over and grinned. “Are you giving me a compliment?”
“No.” Caleb leaned the shovel against the fence and grabbed the pitchfork to snatch up clumps of clean hay and spread it over the bare floor. “Just saying that if you showed a little encouragement, there isn’t a female in Rust Creek Falls who wouldn’t go out with you.”
“I don’t think Etta Martinson would be so inclined.”
“That was a general statement,” Caleb clarified. “And Etta is eighty-nine years old. Seriously, Mom and Dad are getting worried about you.”
“They worry about all of us.”
“That comes with the job description. But they’re really concerned about you.”
“Why?” he asked sharply.
“Because you’re the oldest and getting to the age when people start asking questions.”
“Like what?” Anderson’s voice had a defensive note in it.
“Like why aren’t you married or at least in a long-term relationship.”
“It’s none of their business.” His brother turned and revealed a scowl on his face.
“People, especially here, have a way of deciding what is and isn’t their business.”
Anderson absently rubbed the horse’s back. “You’re right about that. And they’re pretty interested in what’s going on between you and Mallory.”
“I know. But out of curiosity, what have you heard?” Caleb looked at his brother.
“When I went in to Crawford’s General Store yesterday, Vera Peterson said Mallory had told someone who passed it on to someone else who told her that the two of you are definitely not serious.”
Emphasis on definitely not.
Caleb experienced a quick jab of anger along with something else he’d never felt before. His heart jammed up against his ribs and every beat was painful. A fact he thought best to keep to himself.
“It’s nice to know that the Rust Creek Falls grapevine is as efficient as ever.”
“Hey, little brother, no need to bite my head off.”
So much for hiding his feelings. “That was sarcasm.”
“Yeah, and I’m Little Bo Peep. Now, that’s sarcasm,” Anderson said. “Don’t kill the messenger. I’m just passing along what I heard. Watching your back as always. And I’m still waiting for you to say that Mallory isn’t wrong about the two of you not being serious.”
That was because Caleb didn’t know what they were. He wanted to lash out at Anderson and say Don’t do me any favors, but common sense got in the way. That wasn’t a bad thing. If the situation was reversed and everyone in town was talking about his brother, Caleb would pass on what he’d heard.
All he could manage now was “I appreciate your concern.”
Mostly that was true.
“Anytime, bro.” Anderson finished brushing the horse and turned so that they were eye to eye. “I’m throwing a steak on the grill. Want to stay for dinner?”
“No, thanks.”
“Got a date?” One of Anderson’s eyebrows lifted questioningly.
“No.” But he didn’t add more.
“Okay.” He headed out of the stall. “See you tomorrow.”
“Right. ’Night.”
Caleb was glad to be alone. His brother knew him too well and he wasn’t sure he could continue to hide the fact that what Mallory said had bothered him. She’d put it out for public consumption that she had no special feelings for him. A good deal of mad was getting up a head of steam inside him, but it was mixed up with something new.
Hurt.
That was bad. For the first time ever, a woman had touched his heart and it confused him. As good a reason as any to explain why he was annoyed that she was repeating to people—who would surely repeat it themselves—what he’d been preaching from day one about not getting serious.
It was time he and Mallory had a talk.
Chapter Thirteen
On Friday night Mallory walked into the Community Center alone. Caleb had called to invite her to the dance but she’d turned him down. It was one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do, but they weren’t serious or exclusive and she needed to start behaving that way. He seemed to take it in stride; in fact she’d been a little disappointed that he hadn’t tried a little harder to convince her to change her mind. She would have caved, so it was probably for the best that he hadn’t.
However, standing in the doorway as she listened to music provided by a Kalispell DJ who’d been hired by the Women’s Auxiliary, she fervently wished he was there beside her. The lights were just the right amount of dim and there was a good turnout. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know anyone. Across the room Jordyn Leigh Cates’s blond hair stood out like a beacon and Cecelia Clifton was with her. Probably more of the women from the Newcomers Club were in attendance. Jessica Evanson, the receptionist from work, was there.
Couples were dancing in the center of the room. Ben and Mary Dalton. Collin and Willa Traub were wrapped up in each other. Nate Crawford had his arms around Callie Kennedy and they only had eyes for each other. It made her want to sigh.
Mallory had more friends in this room than she’d ever had in New York, so there was no reason on earth to feel like a stranger who needed a reassuring presence beside her. She simply wanted to be with Caleb, so much that the feeling confirmed her survival instinct in telling him no was right on. She could so easily fall for him even though he’d been completely honest and up-front with her about just wanting to have fun. Her own manicurist had said that he moved from woman to woman, which left out any possibility of commitment, let alone marriage.
She smoothed the front of her black-and-white cotton summer dress and tugged at the hem of the short-sleeved yellow sweater over it. Black sandals with a princess heel completed the outfit she’d obsessed over. It shouldn’t be too dressy or too casual. Because even though she’d declined Caleb’s invitation, she couldn’t help wanting to look her best.
After scanning the room without spotting him, she wasn’t sure whether to be disappointed or relieved. But she couldn’t stand in the doorway all night and so headed to the folding chairs lining the wall on the other side of the room where she’d seen her friends.
“Hi,” she said to Jordyn and Cecelia. “I know I saw the other newcomers.”
“They’re dancing.” Cecelia nodded toward the crowded floor.
Mallory noted that her friend was wearing makeup, which was an occurrence worth mentioning. “You look beautiful.”
“I feel weird.” Looking awkward and uncomfortable, Cecelia slid her hands into the pockets of her black slacks. A simple black-and-white print silk shirt was tucked into the waistband, accentuating her trim waist and shapely legs. This was a lot different from her usual uniform of jeans and a T-shirt. “Jordyn did my makeup and made me wear this stuff. And my feet hurt.”
“If you didn’t want to, then why did you come?” Mallory asked. “Other than to meet people, of course.”
“I talked her into it.” Jordyn looked unapologetic. “But not just so we could huddle together like motherless monkeys if no one asks us to dance. I’m not completely selfish.”
“She said I owed her,” Cecelia grumbled.
“For what?” Mallory wondered what could possibly coerce her into this transformation.
“Well, there was this blind date I set up for her with one of the guys from the construction crew.”
“That doesn’t seem like a blackmail-worthy offense,” Mallory said.
“Trust me, it was. Disaster,” Jordyn said. “Nice-looking guy, but he had the personality of a doorknob.”
“Not at work,” Cecelia defended. “Just with you.”
“So you’re saying I bring ou
t the worst in men?” Jordyn’s voice was teasing.
“No, I’m saying there was no chemistry.” Cecelia shrugged. “But nothing ventured... You have to kiss a lot of frogs before finding your prince.”
Mallory’s experience with Caleb couldn’t have been more different from her friend’s. Buckets full of chemistry bubbled over between them from the moment they’d met. And, at least for her, it showed no sign of drying up anytime soon. And kissing? In her estimation, he’d never been a frog. When his lips touched hers, he’d been Prince Charming in a Stetson.
“So, where’s Lily tonight?” Cecelia asked.
“She’s at a friend’s house. Sleepover.”
“Speaking of sleepovers,” Jordyn said suggestively, “where’s Caleb Dalton?”
“I don’t know.” Mallory wondered when her friend had become a mind reader. “Why?”
“Seriously? You can say that with a straight face?” Jordyn’s eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“Of course.”
“What’s going on?” Cecelia demanded.
“Nothing. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. We’re just friends.”
“You spent the night with him in Kalispell.” Cecelia folded her arms over her chest.
“We’ve already been through this. It wasn’t planned,” Mallory protested. “And you were with Lily, so you should know better than anyone that we were stuck.”
“I’m glad I didn’t get stuck with my blind date,” Jordyn muttered.
“I heard that.” Cecelia grinned. “That’s what I get for trying to help.”
“And don’t think I don’t appreciate it. But maybe that’s a lesson for all of us that a relationship can’t be forced. It has to happen organically.”
“I think you’re talking about fate.” Mallory had had a lot of experience with that lately.
“Don’t look now,” Cecelia whispered, “but Caleb Dalton just walked in the door and he’s headed this way.”
Mallory’s heart started to dance and her pulse was tapping out the beat. She forced herself to be still and not turn. There was an awful certainty in the pit of her stomach that if she looked at him, everything she was trying so hard not to feel would be there on her face for all the world to see.
From Maverick to Daddy Page 16
