Indignation flashed in her wide green eyes. “Hell, no. Dating one of you was plenty for me.”
“Hey, it wasn’t so bad.”
She glanced up at him and smiled. “Not bad, just not right.”
He nodded and wondered if Sally ever pondered why it hadn’t worked between them. Not until Sally had ended the relationship and they had chosen to remain friends, did Rein realize he’d started dating her in a rebound move after Caroline left him. Though they did have fun together, at the time when it would have been natural for the relationship to progress to the next level, neither felt the spark between them that ought to be there.
He studied the scene, watching Michael Greyfeather’s niece attempt to engage Dalton in a conversation. The poor thing had no idea that given his mood, getting him to speak at all was akin to talking to a mule. His body language. On the other hand, spoke volumes—arms crossed, staring straight ahead-a proverbial, immovable force not to be reckoned with. “In answer to your question. Maybe a two-by-four?”
Sally’s laughter filtered through the music as their dance ended.
“I’m parched.” He nodded toward the refreshment table. “Betty’s got her special homemade lemonade over there. Can I get you some?”
“I’m good, thank you. Think I’ll go talk to Angelique. She might need an ear to vent to after that little display of wills. I bet he doesn’t even remember her. She used to have a wicked crush on him.”
Rein blinked in surprise. He remembered her as a shy girl with long dark hair and knew that back in middle school she’d had to move away with her mother after a scandalous divorce. “I heard Michael telling Wyatt that things haven’t been easy for her. Apparently, that’s why Emily was under their guardianship.”
Sally nodded. “She’s been through a ton of crap, Rein. You wouldn’t believe it. And it started with her mom. But this isn’t the time or place for such talk and besides, I’m not sure that Angelique is ready to make what she’s been through public knowledge, you know?”
Rein understood. He had some things he’d never shared with anyone but his brothers. He glanced again at Dalton. No, he wouldn’t have noticed her in school. She wasn’t his type, and apparently still wasn’t, but that didn’t make him discerning, just a fool, because she’d grown up to be a fine-looking woman.
The unfortunate truth, Rein thought reluctantly was that Dalton hadn’t changed much since high school. He still considered himself a free spirit, loved having a good time, and wasn’t ready yet to be tied down. The woman who broke through the wall he’d slapped up to defend the pain of his past, would have to possess strength to match his will. Sensing Sally’s concern, however, he offered to speak to Dalton. “You want me to say something to him?”
“Nah, but I do like that two-by-four idea.” She pushed up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “We’re a couple of fine examples to talk about relationships, aren’t we?” He saw a flash of melancholy in her smile.
“Sally, I….”
She furrowed her brow and touched her finger to his lips. “Stop. You drove me crazy, you still do, but that’s another story. The real story is that there is this incredible woman standing over by the cake table that hasn’t stopped looking at you since we started dancing. Do you know her?”
Rein followed Sally’s gaze and met Caroline’s happy expression. She gave him a jaunty wave. “That would be, Caroline Richardson.”
“Really? Is she related to Hank?”
“His sister.” Rein waited for Sally’s reaction.
“Oh, that Caroline.”
“Yep.” He tossed Sally a side-look. “And I’d appreciate you not saying anything more. She asked to come with Hank. No one invited her.”
“Interesting though, you have to admit.” She offered an ornery grin.
Rein sighed and leaned forward to press a soft kiss on her forehead. “See you later.” He watched her walk away, grateful for her friendship. He cleared his throat, and prepared to speak to Caroline, deciding he couldn’t avoid her all night. Her smile welcomed him. She opened her arms and drew him close, kissing him European fashion on both cheeks. Despite the fact of standing in a horse-barn, she smelled exotic, still wearing that sweet French perfume she always wore.
“Darling, How are you? I’m so sorry we’re late. There was a problem with a flap or some wing gadget, and it caused a delay. We snuck in just in time to see you lift the bride up behind Wyatt on his horse and ride off into the sunset.” She clasped her hands under her chin. “So, utterly romantic in a small town, sort of way.” She took a step back in approving assessment, stepping forward to brush invisible lint from his shirt. “And you look particularly handsome tonight, Mr. Mackenzie.”
Rein’s cheeks warmed. That damn well didn’t happen often. He’d hoped she’d forgotten how easily she could push his buttons, but it appeared she still had her touch.
“You’re looking well, Caroline.” He hadn’t expected that seeing her again would prove to be so awkward. He hadn’t really been sure what to expect. He eyed the refreshment table with its country-themed motif. “Have you tried this lemonade? Betty, she owns the diner in town and has,” he stepped around her as he spoke, “pretty much catered this whole affair tonight.” He surveyed the number of mixer choices and spotting the Jack Daniels, filled a blue mason jar with equal parts of both. He offered the same to Caroline. Her face puckered and she shook her head.
“Plain for me, thanks. Unless it’s good champagne. You know me and flying.”
“Oh, so you guys have to take off tonight?” Rein kept his eyes on his task, trying not to sound too anxious for her to leave, even though it was true. He caught the sight of Liberty a few feet away, offering to take a tray of dirty dishes from Betty. Despite the fact that he found her choices on some things to be odd, if not downright strange, it appeared she could hold her own and had an impressive work ethic. She didn’t mind stepping in to help, and she seemed to be fitting in well with her new-found family. Regardless of how busy he’d been this week, he’d taken notice of how well she’d adapted and concluded intellectually that it was the influence of his uncle’s vision that had given him such clarity.
“That one certainly isn’t from around here, is she?”
Rein hadn’t realized he’d been staring. He pulled from his reverie and handed Caroline her drink. “That’s Wyatt and Dalton’s half-sister.” He took a healthy swallow from his glass. “Her name’s Liberty.”
“You’re serious?” She gave him an incredulous look. “As in the Liberty Bell?”
Rein shrugged, wishing to avoid any conversation directly related to Liberty.
Caroline’s gaze was demure as she took a sip of her drink. “Strange name to give a child. Cute though. I suppose if you find that horrid Goth look at all attractive.”
A sweet buzz had taken over Rein’s brain. Probably not a good thing. “What’s a Goth look like, exactly?” Her snobbish attitude got to him, or maybe her perfume, then again, maybe it was the memory of how they were in bed. Whatever the reason, he felt edgy, restless and not up for Caroline’s verbal dissection of anyone from his life. She’d done that once before, only he hadn’t been smart enough to see it until they’d broken up.
She issued a condescending chuckle. “You still don’t get out much, do you?”
Apparently, her critical opinion of his rural lifestyle hadn’t changed. She’d never understood his purpose here at the ranch as anything but an inability to leave his “hick” town. “Why don’t you enlighten me, Caroline?” He took another sip to fortify his gentlemanly manners.
Oblivious to his pointed remark, she gingerly took a sip from the jar, looking awkwardly uncomfortable. Rein realized suddenly just how out of place she must feel and yet, had no real sympathy for her. He waited, anticipating the sharp scalpel of her tongue.
“Well, for starters, she’s wearing that heavy make-up, the first sign that she is not a conformist to proper societal protocol.” Caroline assessed Liberty from afar as though she w
as a professional in profiling.
Clearly, the woman had never bothered to do a self-evaluation. Rein gulped down half his jar, each moment becoming increasingly aware that Caroline had no thought to keep her voice down.
“And oh-my-god, that odd blue streak in her hair? Really? And did you notice that tattoo on her shoulder? Come on, she might have at least tried for the sake of her brother’s wedding to use a little cover up. It just shows she has no regard for family.”
He couldn’t remember anyone in the family making any comments about covering up any tattoo. “Tattoo?” He acted as though he hadn’t noticed, even though he must have traced it mentally a hundred times as he sat at the head table during supper and watched Liberty interact with Betty and her husband.
“I’d keep a close eye on her. Those people can get caught up in some strange things. Covens, sacrifices, even violence, so I’ve heard. And now with Aimee and the baby, well….” She took another drink. “I’m guessing that you’ll all sleep a little easier after she’s gone.”
Rein listened, grateful for the whiskey gliding down his parched throat. East coast conservative upbringing aside, Caroline had gotten on his last nerve. “Yeah, well.” He slammed the glass on the table and pinned Caroline with a steady look. “I don’t think there’s much to be concerned about. She’s a good kid.”
Caroline tipped her head and raised one perfect brow. “She doesn’t exactly look like any kid I know. How old do you suppose she is, anyway?”
Why the sudden interest in Liberty tonight? Hell, she was barely out of her teens, but possessed the body of a full-grown woman. “Um, you know, I’m not really sure and frankly, why do you care?” He tipped his head and looked at her. “So what do you say? A dance for old-time’s sake?” He didn’t wait for her response, but grabbed the drink and her hand, dragging her to the dance floor. He wanted…no he needed to talk about something other than Liberty. The fact that she appeared in his mind too often these days made him uncomfortable.
“Well,” she spoke in a flustered, southern-belle voice. “I guess we’ll dance.” From the open doors, he saw the last dredges of the sunset casting long shadows across the mountains.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Caroline’s voice jarred him from his reverie.
He searched her beautiful eyes, asking himself how he never seen past her façade. “I’m just thinking how damn lucky I am to live here.”
The realization that he’d put her ideas about the ranch not being worth much in her place, panned across her face.
“I never said it wasn’t beautiful, Rein.” He heard the note of tension in her voice.
He offered a congenial smile. “No, you didn’t. But it still isn’t beautiful enough for you, is it?”
“Rein, I—”
He shook his head and took a step back. “It’s okay, Caroline. I understand you needed more, but I’m okay with how things turned out. I wouldn’t have wanted you to stay where you weren’t content.” By the look on her face, he guessed that she might not be content anywhere, no matter how beautiful. Not until she could be content in her own skin. The realization created a stark contrast in his mind between her and Liberty. Despite their differences, he should have defended Liberty against her barbed comments. Had it been Dalton she’d spoken ill of, he’d never tolerated it. Liberty was kin to the two men that had treated him as a blood brother from the time he came to live with them after the car accident that claimed his parents, leaving him an orphan. His Uncle Jed had taken him in without hesitation. How could he not at least show the same consideration for this young girl? He had the sudden urgent need to make things right with her.
Her expression appeared puzzled. “Are you implying I’m not content?”
Rein shrugged. “That’s something only you can answer, Caroline.” He carefully motioned to Dalton to relieve him on the dance floor. His brother shook his head. He didn’t like Caroline any more than the rest of his family did. Rein gave him a look that would kill and Dalton relented with a scowl.
“May I cut in?” He shot Rein a dark look before Caroline saw the exchange.
“Hey, Dalton.” He acted surprised. “Caroline, you remember my brother, Dalton?” He stepped away from Caroline and offered his spot to his less than thrilled brother. Dalton stepped around him, leaning close in Rein’s earshot. “You owe me,” he whispered. And then, with a bright smile, held his arms out to Caroline.
“Hey Caroline, welcome back to the backwoods. You had any of Betty’s possum pie?”
Rein hid a smile. He’d owe him…big time. Dalton’s tolerance of Caroline’s attitude was far less than his and for a brief moment, he felt guilty leaving her at his mercy. But it didn’t last long.
“Listen, if you two will excuse me. I need to check on something.” Rein looked at Caroline. “If I don’t get the chance to see you off, have a safe flight, and tell Hank I’ll be in touch.” He patted his brother on the shoulder. Caroline’s mouth was still gaped open when he left.
Stepping out of the barn, he noticed small clusters of guests enjoying the beautiful spring evening, but he saw no sign of Liberty. Was it wise to try to find her, or should he leave well enough alone? What were the odds she’d heard a word that Caroline said? Then again, Caroline’s voice seemed to have turned heads of several folks standing nearby. He looked up and saw Betty walking down the lane from the main house. She carried a fresh pie in each hand. “Need any help?” He looked over her shoulder and wondered if Liberty might be close behind.
“Thanks, honey. I’m getting these to send home with Hank. You know how he likes my cherry pie.”
“Yep, he loves them.” He cast a quick look over her shoulder again. “You haven’t seen Liberty around, have you?”
“Now that’s funny. Wyatt just asked me the same thing.”
Rein turned his focus on her then. “And?”
“Oh, I’d sent her to check on the buffet table to see if we needed more lemonade. She mentioned that you were in a very animated conversation with a lovely woman.”
“Caroline Richardson.”
Betty’s jovial expression sobered. “Oh, I heard she was here. Liberty seemed a trifle upset.”
Shit. She’d heard the scathing comments. He knew it in his gut. Rein released a heavy sigh. “I’m afraid Caroline said some things, and it sounds like Liberty might have overheard her.” And I did little to defend her. “Did you see where she went?”
Betty tipped her head toward the main house. “Last I knew, she was up at the house, helping Wyatt put together some concoction to help Aimee’s queasiness.”
“Thanks, Betty.”
“You’re welcome.” She started on down the lane and stopped. “Rein?”
He rolled his eyes, not figuring she’d let him off that easy. Betty had her opinions and often would share them, like it or not. “That Caroline.”
“Yes, what about her, Betty?”
“Is she still full of herself, like I remember? Not that she ever set foot out here very often. Never really fit in, as I recall.”
“Point taken, Betty.”
“And one more thing.”
“Uh huh.”
“I think you should stop being so hard on Liberty. She’s a good girl deep down under all that stuff she hides behind.”
“Maybe she’s not hiding at all, Betty. Maybe that’s just who she is.” Rein marveled at his comment, defending this woman against the very thoughts he’d been fighting for the past week.
Betty’s smile shimmered like a Cheshire cat in the shadows. “Well now, that’s a switch. I take it you didn’t completely agree with Caroline’s assessment?”
He was treading on shaky ground. Caroline had hurt him, and he’d survived it. But, he hadn’t realized how cruel she could be to others until tonight. While Liberty’s lifestyle choices were not his, Caroline had no right to speak as she had. “She doesn’t always think before she speaks. It appears all her European travels haven’t changed her much. She’s still a snob. I just never
realized how very different she and Hank are in their personalities.”
Betty tipped her head. “Sounds like you care more than just a passing interest in how Liberty feels.”
Rein shook his head, exasperated by the notion that everyone seemed bent on throwing him together with this young woman. “I just want to make sure she knows that Caroline can be insensitive and everyone knows it. Besides, Betty. She’s just a kid.” God knows he’d been trying to convince himself of that fact even as he fantasized what she might be wearing under that form-fitting dress.
“Not in that dress, she isn’t.” Betty laughed as though reading his mind. “Good luck with that.” She continued on, her laughter taunting him as he headed to the main house.
He ran into Wyatt coming out the front door. He had one of the thermos bottles they normally took on cattle drives in his hand
“Hey.” Wyatt stomped across the porch in his polished boots.
“Hey” Rein paused, his hand on the railing.
“Aimee felt queasy. She had Liberty mix up this stuff that she swears is a wonder drink for morning sickness. Seems as though Aimee has these bouts of sickness both day and night. Doc says its normal, but it bothers the hell out of me.”
“It’s been a long week. Doc also told her not to overdo, and if I know Aimee, she didn’t listen. It’ll get better once you guys get away for a few days alone.”
Wyatt tromped down the steps. He slapped Rein on the shoulder. “Thanks. I’m looking forward to this wedding stuff being over and getting on with our life.”
“Yeah, listen, is Liberty still inside?”
Wyatt stopped in his tracks and looked at Rein. “She said she’d be down in a few minutes. Now that I think about it, she seemed a little, I don’t know…upset about something. She didn’t appear to want to discuss it with me.”
“Yeah.” Rein looked at the ground.
“You know something about this?”
Wyatt took a step back toward him and rested his foot on the bottom step.
Rein scratched the back of his neck. “Maybe. I think she might have overheard some of the conversation between me and Caroline.”
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