Unmasking the Maverick

by Teresa Southwick

“Why not?” her sisters said together.

  She couldn’t tell them the truth without crying and she really didn’t want to cry. “I’m not feeling great and—”

  “That’s a big fat lie.” Brenna pointed an accusing finger at her.

  “I don’t want to go,” she said stubbornly.

  “According to Jamie,” Fallon said, “you assured Luke that you would handle the fund-raising part of the party. I’ve never known you to break a promise.”

  Darn promises anyway, she thought. She and Brendan had talked a lot about that. She knew what a broken promise felt like and that would be easier to handle than the fact that he didn’t love her enough to stay. That hurt so much more.

  “All the fund-raising stuff was about publicity ahead of time. I got the word out,” she defended herself. “No one will miss me.”

  “What are we? Chopped liver?” Brenna looked at Fallon and shrugged.

  Then they both stared daggers at her. The two of them reminded her of their mother, when she knew something was up and was determined to get the truth. “What?”

  “This has something to do with Brendan Tanner.” Fallon wasn’t asking.

  “Why would you think that? We’re just friends.” At least, he thought so. She was way beyond the friend zone.

  “That’s not what the Rust Creek Falls rumor mill says.” Brenna sounded confident about her information. “And don’t try to blow me off. I do hair. Customers talk. I hear things and gossip is almost never wrong. You’ve been seeing a lot of that ex-military cowboy.”

  “Pretty soon he won’t be an ex,” she said sadly. “He’s reenlisting.”

  “No.” Fallon looked shocked.

  “Yes,” she confirmed.

  “I’m going to hurt him.” Brenna’s redheaded temper was showing. “Travis will help me.”

  “So will Jamie,” Fallon vowed. “I’ll make sure the triplets don’t see their father defending their aunt’s honor.”

  “You guys are sweet but Ronan already offered.”

  “He already knows? Before us?” Her two sisters looked stricken.

  “He noticed I was upset and said he would rather have a fat lip than watch me cry.”

  “What do you know.” Brenna sighed. “That brings a little tear to my eye. Who would have guessed our big brother is so sensitive?”

  “Focus, ladies.” Fallon was used to keeping the triplets in line and fell into the role of maintaining the track of this conversation. “What does his going back into the Marines have to do with you skipping out on the party?”

  “That should be obvious. I don’t want to see him. Especially in such a public setting. Practically everyone from Rust Creek Falls will be there.”

  “And you don’t want to be humiliated again. Who could blame you? Well, I plan to tell Brendan that he’s a weasel jerk and you’re too good for him.” Brenna nodded emphatically.

  “That’s just it. He’s not a jerk. He’s a really good man. This would be so much easier if he wasn’t.”

  Fallon tapped her lip. “So, let me get this straight. Has he already put something in writing about going back in the military?”

  “Not that I know of. I assume he’ll do that when he’s back in shape.”

  “You know, Josselyn Weaver was at Sunshine Farm when Brendan arrived. She saw him work out every morning and told me that man’s muscles have muscles.” Brenna saw the way they were looking at her. “What? I cut her hair. If she’s right, he’s already fit, so what’s he waiting for? Why isn’t he already back in uniform?”

  “Fiona,” her sisters prodded when she didn’t answer.

  “You’d have to ask him that question.” Fiona shrugged. “He told me he’s absolutely going back into the Marine Corps.”

  “And you didn’t try to change his mind?”

  “It was already made up,” she told Fallon. “What could I say?”

  “Let me think. Oh, I know. How about ‘Don’t go.’ Or, ‘I care about you.’ Or, ‘You’ll be sorry if you let me get away.’” Fallon met her gaze. “I can think of more.”

  “I wouldn’t stand in the way of something he really wants to do.”

  “Oh, please. You rolled over. That’s practically showing him the door and shoving him out.” Brenna made an exasperated sound.

  “How do you know?” she protested. “You weren’t there.”

  “I know you. Ever since that jackass toad did you wrong you give up without a fight. Wave the white flag before a shot is fired. It’s as if you’re expecting to get hurt so you just turn the other cheek and take it.”

  “Brenna’s right.” Fallon moved close, put an arm around her. “If you keep pushing men away, that bastard who hurt you continues to win.”

  Fiona knew her sisters were right and loathed the idea of that jerk continuing to take from her. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Fight for him,” her sisters said.

  “With what?” Brendan was the warrior, not her. “I don’t know how. I’m not pretty like you, Fallon, or sassy like you, Brenna.”

  “You’re uniquely you,” Fallon said gently. “And you’re beautiful. One of the most lovely things about you is that you’re completely unaware of how pretty and sexy you really are.”

  “I’d give a whole lot to have curves like you,” Brenna chimed in. “Believe me, when you walk down the street, men get whiplash turning to look.”

  “You’re my sisters. You have to say that,” she objected.

  “Because we’re your sisters, we really don’t,” Brenna told her. “And maybe he’s afraid.”

  “Oh, please,” Fiona scoffed. “He’s a marine.”

  “And he can handle himself in a military situation,” Fallon agreed. “What Brenna means is that he might have personal issues that are holding him back.”

  “Right. We just called you on your crap,” Brenna said. “Running from commitment. Could be he’s doing the same thing. If one of you doesn’t bend—” She sighed. “It would just be sad to waste a good thing.”

  “You don’t have to fight. Start with the truth,” Fallon suggested. “Tell him you love him. At least you’ll have tried.”

  “I agree,” Brenna said. “Explain how you feel. It will either work out or it won’t. At least then you won’t have regrets.” She rested her elbows on her knees. “And we know how much you love Halloween. Don’t let him spoil it for you.”

  Fiona’s eyes filled with tears but this time they weren’t about Brendan. “Have I ever told you guys how much I love you?”

  “Sister hug.” Brenna stood and walked around the table, pulling the other two into her arms.

  Fiona soaked up the sibling support and decided her sisters were right. If she said nothing she was going to hurt. If she told him how she felt and he thanked her politely, then walked away, she was still going to hurt. But she wouldn’t have to wonder what might have been.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The hardest part of putting together his Lone Ranger costume—because he was a cowboy, too—was the black mask. After talking to Luke, Brendan felt as if the mask he’d put on for so many years had been stripped away. But for the party he managed to find a black handkerchief and cut eye holes. Now he tied it and put on his Stetson, then buckled the toy gun belt he’d been lucky enough to find at Everything Old. It hadn’t taken long to modify it to fit him. Tinkering was what he did, who he was, and he knew that now. If only his father was alive to see him embracing all the things he’d learned from his old man.

  At the designated time, he made his way to the area in front of the big yellow barn. Earlier he’d helped Luke string white lights, put up spiderwebs and pile pumpkins. They’d also set up chairs and tables, several of which were filled with food and baked goods donated for the fund-raiser. Outdoor heaters were strategically arranged and an open area set aside for dancing later.<
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  Already a big crowd was there and he did surveillance, looking for Fiona’s bright red hair. He didn’t see her and frustration knotted inside him. It was possible he’d lost the best thing that ever happened to him and had no one but himself to blame.

  “Hey, Brendan.”

  He turned toward the male voice and smiled when he immediately recognized the man limping toward him. “It’s good to see you, Forrest.”

  “I’m surprised you knew who I was, what with the eye patch.” He was dressed up as a pirate. “What gave me away? The limp?”

  Brendan laughed at the former soldier’s self-deprecating humor. There wasn’t a trace of bitterness in his tone or expression and he knew there had been once.

  “I hate to be the one to tell you this, but the eye patch doesn’t hide all that much of your face.”

  “Back at you, buddy. When you ride off into the sunset, no one will be asking ‘Who was that masked man?’”

  “Oh, please, Forrest, everyone knows the Lone Ranger.” The woman with him, dressed as Princess Leia, looked up teasingly.

  Forrest smiled at the pretty, brown-eyed brunette. “Brendan Tanner, I’d like you to meet my beautiful wife, Angie.”

  She held out her hand. “It’s really nice to meet you.”

  “Same here.”

  They chatted about the fund-raiser, this community’s generosity and Thunder Canyon, where the couple was from. Brendan thought about all the people he’d met since arriving here. Every one of them had acted as if they’d known him forever. Treated him like one of their own. It reminded him of the Marine Corps without the deployments. And he’d decided to walk away. Someone should stamp Idiot on his forehead. And damn, he still didn’t see Fiona.

  With an effort Brendan pulled his thoughts back to what Angie Traub had said. “It’s really a good thing that Luke is doing here. For people in general, but veterans, too.”

  “Returning service members have a lot of needs.” Forrest was serious now. “And not just those recovering from wounds or PTSD. Integrating into civilian life has its own challenges. Navigating government benefits programs can be confusing. We need support groups and volunteers to run interference for them.”

  Brendan remembered what Luke had said about him being able to do more good in civilian life. Maybe he was right.

  Speaking of Luke, he walked over to them and gave Angie a kiss on the cheek then shook hands with Forrest. “Thanks for coming.”

  “We wouldn’t miss this,” the other man said.

  Luke nodded with satisfaction as he stood in front of the wide-open yellow barn doors and gazed at all the people gathered in front of them. Most in costume. Some not. “There are more folks here than I’d even hoped.”

  “Obviously Fiona did a great job of getting the word out,” Forrest observed. “I haven’t seen her yet. Have you?”

  “No.” Brendan had been constantly scouting the crowd. “Maybe she couldn’t make it.”

  “I don’t think so.” Luke shook his head. “You can count on Fiona.”

  Even if some jerk broke her heart, Brendan thought. “So you’re sure she’ll be here?”

  “Yes.” Not a shred of doubt in Luke’s voice. “But it’s time for me to make some welcoming remarks to everyone.”

  He tried to get the crowd’s attention without success. When the talking didn’t stop, he let loose with a shrill whistle that could probably be heard all the way to Prosperity, Texas.

  When there was quiet Luke said, “My wife and I would like to thank you all for coming tonight. Where are you, Eva?”

  “Over here,” she called. Everyone looked at Raggedy Ann behind the dessert table, collecting money for the donated baked goods.

  “I won’t bore you for long, but I want to say just a few words.” After applause, whistles and catcalls receded, Luke continued, “When we discovered that we owned this place it felt like a fresh start for me and my family.

  “Right now there are seven cabins. The idea is to give people who are looking for something, a different perspective on their life, a fresh start or whatever... This is a place to figure things out.”

  Brendan was watching the people listening attentively to every word. They were nodding enthusiastically and flashing thumbs-up.

  “It’s working out so well, I want to take things to the next level. Expand. That takes money, so tonight I’m announcing that this is the first annual fund-raiser for the Lauren and Rob Stockton Memorial Foundation—”

  Applause interrupted him but emotion had already stopped his speech. Brendan could see Luke fighting for control. A brother had a brother’s back. Brendan wasn’t a talker, but he jumped in now. Because a friend needed backup.

  “I reached out to Luke during a rough time in my life. I left a career in the Marine Corps that I loved because my father was diagnosed with cancer and I wanted to help him fight it. We lost that battle and another one started for me. I had to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, figure out where I fit. Without hesitation, Luke offered me one of the cabins. He became more than a friend and Rust Creek Falls turned out to be so much more than somewhere to stay for a while—”

  Just then the crowd shifted a little and he saw Fiona. The Three Little Pigs surrounded her and he knew they had to be the triplets. They were cute, but he only had eyes for her. She was wearing black and had on a pointy witch hat. Her face was painted green and he wasn’t even sure how he knew it was her. But he did.

  His heart started hammering as fear and hope twisted together inside him. First he had to get through his talk. “Now Luke wants to build more cabins, help more people and set aside a couple specifically for veterans. I think some of them can lend a hand to the project while they’re here dealing with their personal challenges. Honest labor for a good cause could make them feel useful, a part of something.” Brendan knew that firsthand and looked at Luke, who nodded his approval. He could take over now. “So it’s time for him to twist your arm for money.”

  Luke laughed and put a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, Brendan. And you’re right. This is the part where I ask for money. There’s a bake sale going on and a donation jar.” He shaded his eyes from the lights hitting him and scanned the crowd. “I see some of the Jones family out there. Just so we’re clear, I expect you billionaire boys to dig deep.”

  Brendan heard a bit of good-natured grumbling from somewhere at the back of the crowd but all he could think about was Fiona. He needed to get to her. But when people moved back and forth again, she’d disappeared. Damn it.

  “With your help, we can make this project a reality,” Luke said. “Now, Eva and I want everyone to have fun.”

  Brendan started to walk away but Luke put a hand on his arm. “Hey, thanks for stepping in. I didn’t expect to choke up like that.”

  “I owe you more than I can ever repay. It was the least I could do.”

  “So, can I read into what you said? Are you planning to stick around Rust Creek Falls, after all?”

  “That’s what I’d like to know.” The female voice came from behind him.

  Brendan would recognize it anywhere—soft and sexy and full of sass. He turned and stared at her green face. “Fiona.”

  “Hey, Fee,” Luke said. “I’d give you a hug but I don’t want any of that green stuff on me. Good job with the publicity.”

  “Happy to do it.” She let out a long breath, then squared her shoulders. “I need to talk to Brendan. Would you mind terribly giving us some—”

  “Space?” Luke filled in as he turned to walk away. “There’s nothing else I would rather do.”

  * * *

  Fiona could hardly breathe. So, this was happening. She looked at Brendan, trying to read the expression on his face. It wasn’t like the mask over his eyes actually hid anything but she had no idea what he was thinking.

  “Fiona, I—”

&n
bsp; Someone bumped into her, propelling her against him. Brendan’s arms came around her and felt more wonderful than she remembered. She wanted to stay there forever but that wasn’t what he wanted. So, this time when she was left behind, she was determined to have no regrets about getting stuff off her chest.

  “Follow me,” she said, stepping away from him. “We have to talk.”

  She’d been publicly humiliated once; it wouldn’t happen again. She wanted privacy for what she had to say. That way when she broke down, no one else had to know.

  Except suddenly her family was there—Ronan and Keegan, her parents. Fallon and Jamie. Brenna and Travis. The adults were kind of looking fiercely at him. But he ignored that and hunkered down, focusing on the triplets.

  “You guys look awesome.”

  Jared pointed to himself. “Me piggy.”

  “I can see that.” Brendan playfully grabbed the boy up into his arms and Jared squealed with delight. “Watch out for the big bad wolf. He’ll huff and puff and—”

  “Blow your house down,” little Kate finished. She threw her arms around his jeans-clad leg.

  “Me, too. Want up.” Henry held out his arms to get in on the action.

  Fiona wasn’t quite sure how, but he had all three toddlers in his arms. He was growling playfully while the kids giggled and shrieked.

  Finally Jared had enough. “I hungry. Want a cupcake, Mommy.”

  “Let’s get some real food first,” Fallon said. When the kids were grounded again she took two little hands in hers and let her husband get Jared. Then she gave Brendan a hard stare. “You’re a complete moron.”

  “No name-calling, sweetheart,” her mother said. “Use positive words in front of the children. Let’s go find the food.”

  “I can’t think of one that is more perfect than—” Fallon glanced at her kids, then spelled, “M-o-r-o-n.”

  “And you’re not wrong,” Paddy agreed. The look he gave Brendan could scorch paint and it seemed as if there would be more to say, but he followed after his wife and daughter.

  Brenna gave him a long, hostile stare. “If you know what’s good for you—”