The Cowboy's Bride

by Cathy Gillen Thacker

  She met his gaze equably and gave him an innocent smile. “The attic,” she said simply, her look just daring him to complain.

  Cody had thought that getting her out of his mind and his heart the last time she had left him was impossible. Now, thanks to what she had done in transforming his house into a home, it was going to be even worse. Even if he were to put everything back exactly as it had been, he would never forget what she had done this afternoon.

  He scowled at her, letting her know with a single glance this was not a change he welcomed in his life. “You were up there, too?”

  “Looks like.”

  “Where’d you get the flowers, then?”

  Callie smiled happily. “One of the hands stopped by and volunteered to pick them for me. Don’t worry.” She put up a staying hand before he could interrupt. “I didn’t violate Uncle Max’s stipulation about us staying under the same roof.”

  Cody’s scowl deepened. He didn’t want anyone picking wildflowers for Callie but him. “If you threw away any of my magazines...” he threatened, working hard to hang on to his foul mood.

  Callie breezed past. “I merely organized them. And from the looks of things around here, it was about time somebody did.”

  Cody folded his arms in front of him and struggled to stay ticked off at her. “I knew exactly where everything was.”

  Callie made a disbelieving face. “You did, did you?” she drawled.

  “You’re darn right I did,” Cody shot right back, daring her to try to tell him otherwise.

  “Somehow I thought you’d say that,” Callie murmured, looking completely nonplussed. She dug into the pocket of her jeans and pulled out a scrap of paper. “Okay, where was the October issue of Newsweek before I moved it? Can’t tell me, huh. Let’s move on to the next item. Where was the novel Patriot Games? Can’t tell me that, either.”

  Cody snorted in exasperation. “You’re missing the point.”

  “Which is?”

  He stalked nearer, wishing her lips didn’t look so soft and kissable in the fading, late afternoon light. Wishing he didn’t want to kiss her again so much. How could he feel this way about a woman he didn’t even trust? A woman who might be trying to destroy not only his past and his future but the barely happy, lonely-as-a-prairie-dog existence he had now!

  Cody swiftly realized that unless he wanted to be made a fool of a hundred times over, he had better get more barriers between them, fast. And toward that end, Cody knew just where to start. “How am I going to find anything?” he demanded as he looked down into her upturned face.

  “Gee, let’s see.” Not the least bit dissuaded from her mission by his foul mood, Callie tapped her index finger against her chin. “Books in the tall bookcase, this month’s magazines over there in a basket, personal mail, stamps, stationery and envelopes in the cubbyholes in the desk. I see what you mean. It is a lot for a dumb ol’ cowpoke like you to recall. Perhaps we should write you a list?”

  Frustrated that his attempt to quell her delight in her accomplishments had failed, Cody scowled. Afraid that if he stayed as close to her as he was, he really would take her in his arms again, he stepped back a pace, and then another. “You’re not staying,” he warned.

  Callie shrugged nonchalantly. “I never said I was,” she allowed just as bluntly. And he could tell from the look in her eyes she meant what she said.

  Another silence fell. Despite his fierce efforts to the contrary, Cody could feel himself softening toward her again. “Then why did you do all this?” he demanded, struggling to understand.

  Callie’s eyes gentled in the way he had always loved. “To prove a point,” she retorted passionately, closing the distance between them once again. “You said I didn’t have it in me to be a good wife or make anyone a home. Well, I did it all on my own and without spending a lick of your money or anyone else’s. And I defy you to tell me, Cody McKendrick, that this room isn’t the kind of warm, cozy environment any man in his right mind would be proud to call home.”

  “It looks good,” Cody said grudgingly after a moment. Worse, this was what he had imagined marriage to Callie would be like... that she’d bring sunshine and warmth to his life... the kind he hadn’t felt in a long time. And that in turn made him feel his whole world could come crashing down again if he let himself get too comfortable in his refurbished surroundings with Callie.

  It scared him, this feeling of being vulnerable to hurt again. “Thank you,” he said stiffly, finally remembering his manners. “But I like it better the way I had it,” he continued stubbornly, seeing no reason to lie to her about that, else she might try her way with the rest of his house, too.” I want you to put everything back the way it was before you leave. Since you wrote everything down, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

  As Callie’s ebullient mood faded, and hurt and anger flashed in her eyes, Cody had never felt worse about disappointing anyone in his life.

  “I most certainly will not put it back,” she said.

  Cody exhaled wearily and tried to reason with her. “Callie —”

  “If you want it put back, you’re going to have to do it yourself.” She stormed past him and headed for the stairs.

  Chapter Nine

  Callie stormed in from the mudroom, stood in a square of dying sunlight that brought out the prettiest glints in her sunflower gold hair and glared at Cody. “Just so you know,” she said dramatically, propping both fists on her slender hips, “I am not laughing at your latest uncouth behavior, cowboy.”

  Cody paused in the act of unpacking the groceries that had just been delivered via a store in town. “Well, I’m not guffawing, either,” Cody retorted tongue-in-cheek as he paid the apple-cheeked teenage delivery boy and sent him on his way. Of course, he thought, mildly amused, he hadn’t a clue what she was talking about, either.

  Hands on her hips, Callie watched as he shut the door, locking them in together once again. “All right. What have you done with them?” she demanded irately. Clearly, he thought, her patience with him was just about gone.

  Cody set a head of lettuce and a package of broccoli on the table, then tilted his head to the side. “What have I done with what?” he asked as their glances collided like firecrackers on the Fourth of July.

  “My clothes!” Callie stormed in something akin to a fishwife’s screech. “They were in the dryer, along with yours. Now there are only yours there,” she elaborated when he continued to regard her with an irritatingly innocent look.

  Cody shrugged, telling himself he could have cared less what she wore—or in some cases, didn’t — and continued to unpack the groceries, pulling out a luscious porterhouse steak, a bag of potatoes and a loaf of fresh bread. “Don’t look at me.” Though who else might have taken them was certainly something to chew on....

  “Who else should I look at?” Callie demanded hotly as she edged closer to Cody, who was putting the milk, butter and mushrooms in the refrigerator. “We’re the only two people here and those clothes couldn’t have just walked off by themselves.”

  True. “Did you check your closet upstairs?” Cody calmly folded the paper sack and put it in the recycling bin. “Maybe you took your clothes up there and forgot.”

  “I think I’d remember that if I had done it,” Callie snapped back.

  Cody begged to differ. “Maybe not. You have been behaving pretty curiously,” he drawled. Which was exactly what had him so worried. If Callie wasn’t up to something herself, someone clearly was. The real question was, was she involved up to her pretty little neck, as circumstances and evidence thus far indicated.

  “Fine. You want me to show you my closet upstairs and prove that my clothes aren’t there? I’ll show you!” Callie raged. And she headed off to do just that.

  CALLIE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW why she was doing this as she dashed up the stairs and Cody followed, fast on her heels. But if he wanted to play this farce to the bitter end, then so would she. But one way or another she was finding something else to change into! Th
e scent of his cologne on the shirt she wore was driving her wild, making her recall with disturbing clarity all she would have preferred to forget about their noontime activities.

  Once in her room, she threw open a bureau drawer. “You see,” she demonstrated hotly. “My clothes are not—” She stopped in shock and stared at the array of lacy, very transparent, very sexy lingerie. Aware she had not put the sexy garments there, she slammed the drawer shut and glared at him, wondering what kind of hellion’s game he was playing with her now.

  He lifted his brow in silent query. “What’s wrong now?”

  Ha! As if he didn’t know. Callie tossed her head and stormed over to the closet. She flung open the door. Previously, the closet had been completely empty, as she hadn’t had anything clean to hang up. Now it was filled to the brim with western wear in just her size. The clothes were beautiful, but after the way he had just treated her, resenting all she had done to make his home a little cozier and a lot more welcoming, she was not happy to see them hanging there. “I suppose you’re going to deny having a part in this, too?” she said softly. Was he trying to make her think she was crazy? Pay her off and assuage the conscience she was sure he still had in there somewhere for the lovemaking? Or did he just hope to buy her cooperation for future escapades, since he seemed to be laboring under the considerable misconception that it was money, not love and self-respect, that drove her.

  “You’re darn right I’m denying it,” Cody growled back, apparently, Callie thought, having his own reasons for being upset. His jaw set, he swung away from her and stalked furiously toward the door.

  Exasperated, for now she felt she was really in the dark, Callie fell in line behind him again. She was getting very tired of this game of chase. “Now where are you going?” she demanded. She didn’t like the fact he was now behaving as shocked, upset and disgruntled by this latest turn of events as she felt.

  Cody rapidly tackled the stairs, two at a time. “Downstairs, to call Cisco.”

  Callie sprinted after him. Did Cody know something she didn’t? And why was he suddenly so angry? “Why Cisco?” she asked.

  “I don’t care if he is Uncle Max’s attorney.” Cody spoke through clenched teeth. “He has meddled in my life, in my uncle’s stead, for the last time.”

  CALLIE RETURNED to her room, shut the bedroom door and went back to the closet. Since the clothes weren’t from Cody, and she knew they weren’t from Buck and Pa—it wasn’t their style to ever give her anything — she supposed it was okay to put them on. After all, they were beautiful garments and they were obviously meant for her. The question was, What should she wear? Her glance traveled over the dizzying array of quality garments, finally settling on a soft, doe-colored split skirt, ecru silk blouse and red, gold, beige and bone tapestry vest. It would go perfectly with her red cowgirl boots.

  As she took it out of the closet, a note fell out of the pocket. It was on Uncle Max’s personal stationery and had obviously been written at the time he concocted his plans to see both his nephews and niece wed.

  Dear Callie,

  You always were a spunky gal and, whether Cody knows it or not, just what an uncivilized cowpoke like him needs. Use the cowgirl duds like the lethal weapon they are, and go for the brass ring. Remember—I’m a-rootin’ for you. I always was.

  Max.

  Recalling how kind Max had always been to her, Callie’s eyes welled with tears. Oh, Max, she thought, if only it was as simple as me wanting Cody, I’d go after him in a Montana minute.

  But Cody didn’t want her or anyone else. He’d made that clear by the cruel and ungrateful way he had reacted to her efforts to brighten up at least a small part of his ranch house.

  And yet, Callie thought, recalling the way he had leapt to protect her from Zeus, there was a part of him that was still gentle and kind. A part of him that didn’t hesitate to aid her in bandaging her wounds. A part that made love to her with incredible passion and tenderness, even when he didn’t want to desire her.

  Cody had so much to give, if only he would allow himself to do so. Max had been counting on her to civilize Cody, to bring that part of him back to life. It was why Max had brought her back to Montana, why Max had left her the bull’s-eye property. If she was entirely honest with herself, Callie knew there was a part of her that yearned for Cody’s complete recovery, too. She didn’t want to go through life feeling responsible for his downturn. She wanted to bring him back to the way he was when they’d first met: happy-go-lucky, if a bit on the shy side when it came to revealing himself, and chivalrous to the core. She wanted him to have the full, happy life he had always wanted for himself. And initially those plans of his had centered around the two of them and the ranch they would build, the marriage they would have, the kids they would bring into this world.

  Deep down, Callie felt Cody still had all those dreams, just as she did. Getting him to admit any of that wouldn’t be easy, but then, when had anything worthwhile ever come easily, Callie wondered with a smile as she began to undress.

  CALLIE HAD ON her fighting clothes as she swept down the stairs some thirty minutes later. A movement on the front porch caught her eye. Pa? Oh, no, she thought. Please—

  Callie glanced toward the rear of the house. Cody was in the kitchen. She could hear him moving around. Cooking.

  Hoping she could get rid of her father before Cody noticed they had company, Callie eased open the front door and slipped out onto the porch. “I was just getting ready to ring the bell,” Pa said.

  Callie stood her ground as fiercely as a marine sentry. “You have to go.”

  “Now, Callie, is that any way to treat your kin?”

  “I mean it, Pa.” Callie looked him straight in the eye, distressed at the lack of morality she saw, the lack of concern for anyone but himself and his own comfort. “Cody will have you arrested if he catches you here.”

  “For what?” Pa gave her a sly look.

  Callie clenched her hands as she thought of the destruction Pa and Buck had already wrought and would not hesitate to do again. “Trespassing. Arson.”

  Pa mocked her smugly. “So you noticed our little blaze?”

  Callie trembled with anger and fear. “That was a rotten thing to do,” she asserted in a low voice.

  “It got your attention.” Pa reached behind him and pulled a small black handgun from his pants. “We wanted you to know we mean business. We want a lot more dowry from Cody than a puny hundred-grand bull.”

  Her insides turning to mush, Callie stared at the gun in his hand. Since when had her pa started carrying a weapon on him? “I don’t have any money.” Bravado lent a defiant edge to her voice. “I’m not going to get any, either.”

  Pa grabbed her roughly by the arm and squeezed until she winced. “Don’t snow me, gal.” He put the muzzle of the gun against her chin and cocked the trigger. “That groom of yours is loaded.”

  “Maybe in terms of cattle and land,” Callie countered, beginning to perspire, “but not ready cash.”

  Pa released her as suddenly as he had grabbed her. “I’ll take a big hunk of land.” He looked around him with appreciation and without warning became very genial. “Say the whole ranch. Then I can sell it off piece by piece. I can get me plenty of cash that way.”

  “Why are you doing this?” Callie asked miserably. She hid her fingers in the folds of her skirt so he would not see her trembling.

  Pa merely smiled at Callie as if they were discussing the weather and continued to thoughtfully stroke the barrel of his gun. “Because Cody McKendrick owes us for the lowdown trick he pulled on us in Mexico.” He lifted his gaze and glared at Callie meaningfully, letting her know in a second just how far he’d go to extract revenge. He straightened the brim of his hat with a dapper touch. “What goes around comes around, I always say.”

  Callie’s blood boiled. Before she knew it, she was speaking her mind. “What happened in Mexico is not his fault. After all, you started it,” she accused, then realized too late she ha
d just revealed to Pa how much she cared about Cody. Big mistake, she thought miserably. Now that he knew, he would use it against her. And once again, Cody would be hurt just by his mere association with her.

  There was a long, deadly silence. “And your brother Buck and I are gonna finish it.” Pa smiled complacently, having found her vulnerable spot in Cody. “With or without that man of yours.” Eyes gleaming greedily, sure now he was going to get what he wanted, he pocketed his gun casually. “Remember what I told you, gal. You find a way to get us a big cash settlement as dowry, or else.”

  His threat delivered, Pa slipped off the porch and moved away from the house.

  “Callie?” Cody’s voice sounded behind her.

  Her heart jumping in her chest, Callie whirled around. Smoothing her hair, she fixed a bright smile on her face and headed for the door. Cody could not know what had just gone on. She had to have time to think. She had to have time to devise a plan. She was going to fight for Cody like she had never fought for him before. She was going to protect him like he had once protected her. She owed that to Max and more.

  He looked at what she knew must be the unusual paleness of her face. His tone gentled. “What are you doing out here?”

  Callie shrugged self-consciously and did her best to act nonchalant. “I wanted to take a look at the sunset.” She smiled at him blithely. “There’s nothing like the sun going down in a blue Montana sky.”

  His eyes drifted over her soft, doe-colored split skirt, silk blouse and tapestry vest before moving back to her face. He stared at her as if he had never seen her dressed up before. As his eyes roved over the just brushed softness of her hair and the hint of color on her lips, something in him gentled. “That’s the way I feel, too.”

  “About the clothes in my closet, the clothes I’m wearing now...” Callie struggled not to get lost in the ocean blue of his eyes. “They’re from Max.”