by R. C. Ryan
Reed pretended to think before saying solemnly, “Just think of all the manure we’d waste, putting it down the drain. I vote that we get more willing workers.”
“And where do we get these workers?”
Reed looked pointedly at Colin. “I do believe it’s your duty to find a wife and begin producing your share of workers, Uncle.”
Colin nearly choked on his coffee while the others laughed.
Luke joined in the fun. “I think you should skip the hills this weekend and spend your time at the Pig Sty. I’ve heard any number of women say they’d like to have Colin Malloy’s baby.”
Colin said with a straight face, “I just may take you up on this and go wife hunting at the Pig Sty. I’m sure that would make my family proud.”
The teasing continued until the fire had burned to embers.
With a yawn, Grace set aside her empty cup. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I need my sleep. And tonight, it’s in a real bed. I love trailing my mustangs in the wilderness, but after a while, I start missing my bed.”
“And the husband who keeps your feet warm,” Frank added.
One by one the others got to their feet and called good night before taking to the stairs.
Grace paused. “Vanessa, if there’s anything at all that you want or need, please let us know. I hope you’ll be comfortable while you’re here.”
“Thank you, Mrs.…”
“Gracie,” the older woman prompted.
“Thank you, Gracie. I really appreciate all that you’re doing for me.”
Vanessa stood and thanked Yancy again for the lovely dinner before calling good night to the others.
Matt put a hand under her elbow as they walked up the stairs. At her door he paused, and she saw the same look in his eyes that she’d seen in the cabin, just before he’d so shockingly kissed her.
She couldn’t control the sudden pounding of her heart.
“Good night…” His hand was on her shoulder. Just the lightest touch, but she could feel it clear to her toes.
His head was lowering, and she knew with absolute certainty that he was going to kiss her.
She stood perfectly still, waiting. Wanting. Yearning.
Matt’s phone rang.
With a muttered oath he retrieved his cell phone from his pocket and looked at the ID before saying, “Sorry. Bad timing. But I have to take this.”
“Of course.” Stung by the way the mood had been shattered, her tone was sharper than she’d intended. “I wouldn’t want to intrude on your personal life.”
Vanessa turned away and opened her bedroom door.
Just then she heard Matt say, “Yes, Sheriff.”
She paused and saw the frown that furrowed his brow.
Putting a hand on his arm she whispered, “If that’s about me, I’d like to hear.”
He touched the Speaker button, and together they both heard the sheriff say, “Our state boys are trying to get a verification from the Chicago PD on that vehicle you saw tailing you today.”
Vanessa’s head came up sharply and she stared pointedly at Matt.
“Captain McBride suggested that it was probably sent by the Chicago PD to keep an eye on your family until they’ve had a chance to check you out.”
Matt’s tone was low with anger. “First of all, if this is a sample of Chicago’s finest, they get a failing grade. If I could spot their car following my truck, they’re amateurs. And second, the Chicago PD has had hours to get back to you on this, Eugene. I don’t like this one bit.”
The sheriff’s tone was rough. “I’m with you on this, Matt. I’m really sorry. You did everything right, but they’re letting it slide on their end.”
“Or they think we’re a bunch of hicks and they don’t need to be invisible.”
“That could be.” A hint of weariness crept into the sheriff’s voice. “As soon as we get a response from Chicago, I’ll pass it along to you. In the meantime, stay alert to anything.”
“Yeah. ’Night.”
As Matt slid his cell phone into his pocket, he heard a hiss of anger from the woman beside him.
Looking into Vanessa’s eyes, which were dark with fury, he braced himself for the storm he could see coming.
Chapter Eleven
So that was the reason for the sudden romantic side trip this afternoon?”
“Romantic side trip?” Matt was thrown off stride.
“When you showed me that amazing creek named after your ancestor. At the time, I couldn’t decide if you wanted to get me alone, or if you were trying to impress me. And now I realize you just wanted to play hide-and-seek with the car behind us. And you never bothered to mention it to me?”
“I didn’t want you to be alarmed until I knew whether or not it was a threat.”
“So you just decided to pat me on the head. ‘Don’t you worry your itty-bitty mind, little lady. I’m here to protect you.’”
“It wasn’t like that—”
“It was like that. This is my life. My safety we’re talking about. I don’t want to be kept in the dark while my big, fierce protector takes charge.”
“Look, I was wrong. I made a mistake in judgment—”
“You bet you did.” She jammed a finger in his chest. “I won’t be treated like some helpless female who’s going to fall apart at the first hint of danger. We’re talking about someone who’s made serious threats against me. I have the right to know everything that’s going on, if I’m going to make the choices that help me stay alive.”
“You’re right—”
“And furthermore, if you ever dare to keep such a thing from me again—”
He caught her finger and deliberately lowered it from his chest. “I get it.”
“I hope you mean that.”
The slight tremble in her voice sounded a warning. Realizing that she was close to tears, Matt went from angry to frustrated and then to sudden alarm that she would cry in front of him. “Look. I told you I get it.”
“You’d better, because…” She blinked, then blinked again, furiously. “I can take care of mys—”
Matt froze. No. Not tears. He’d rather face an angry drunk in the saloon, or a blizzard up in the hills, without any shelter or gear, than face a single tear from a woman’s eyes. Especially this woman, who was fighting so desperately to be strong.
But it was too late. Moisture slid from beneath her tightly closed lids and rolled down her cheeks.
She lifted a fist to her face and angrily swiped at them, but they just fell harder, faster.
She started to turn away. “I’m so furious right now…”
Oh hell. Though the last thing he wanted to do was touch her, he had no choice. “Wait. Listen.” He turned her into his arms and could feel the front of his shirt growing damp. “It’s all right to cry…”
She tried to push away. “I am not crying—”
“Of course not. I get it.” He pressed his lips to the hair at her temple. “But sometimes it’s okay to just let it all out.”
“I’m just so angry. You had no right—”
“I didn’t. And you have every right to be mad.”
He waited until the waterworks stopped before reaching into his pocket and handing her his handkerchief.
She wouldn’t look at him as she blew her nose and wiped the last of the tears from her cheeks. When she finally stepped back he closed his hands over her upper arms, holding her when she tried to turn away. “Nessa, I’m really sorry. I overstepped my bounds. Blame it on my genes. All the Malloys inherited them. We’re really vain enough or stupid enough to believe we have the power and the muscle and the will to rule the world. I guess we’re legends in our own minds.”
She was silent for so long, he worried that he’d only made things worse by trying to make a joke.
She lifted her head. Though her eyes were still red and puffy, there was a glint of something in them. Amusement? Understanding?
“Okay. I guess I overreacted. And that’s some
thing in my genes.”
He tried for a smile. “Am I forgiven?”
She took in a deep breath. “As long as you promise you’ll never do it again.”
“Cross my heart.”
She started to turn away, then turned back, a hint of a smile touching her lips. “Sorry about the tears. I really hate crying.”
“I get it. I’m not too fond of seeing them.”
She stepped into her room. “Good night, Matt.”
“Good night, Nessa.”
He waited until she closed her door before moving on to his own room. Once there he crossed to the wall of windows to stare at the darkened hills in the distance.
Damned independent female.
And wasn’t she damned gorgeous, even when she was mad?
Especially when she was mad.
If ever he’d wanted to kiss her, it was then. But with that temper, she’d have cut out his heart and fed it to the wolves.
He was grinning as he undressed. Not a bad way to die.
Vanessa showered and dressed in her new denims and a lemon-yellow T-shirt. Tucking her pant legs into leather boots, she grabbed up her denim jacket and headed down the stairs.
In the kitchen, Frank and Gracie were sipping coffee in front of the fireplace, while Yancy was busy at the stove.
She glanced around. “Are we the first ones up?”
Yancy shook his head. “The last. Luke, Reed, and Colin left at dawn to head to the South Ridge.”
“The Great One?” Just saying that name had her smiling.
“Heading to town with Burke. His annual physical at the clinic. He’ll be there most of the day.”
“And Matt?” It galled her to have to ask, but she felt connected somehow to him, and found herself hoping he hadn’t gone along with the others.
“In the barn. Tackling morning chores. He’ll be in soon.”
She turned away. “Maybe I’ll give him a hand.”
Yancy indicated a tray of mugs and glasses, along with a carafe and a tall pitcher on the counter. “Suit yourself. But you might want to help yourself to coffee and juice first.”
“Thank you.” She poured herself a glass of orange juice and tasted before looking over at him. “Did you make this fresh?”
He shrugged. “Is there any other way?”
“I buy mine by the half gallon at the store.”
He gave a mock shudder.
Gracie beckoned her over. “How did you sleep, Nessa?”
“Very well, thanks.” A lie. She’d tossed and turned for hours after that little scene with Matt. It still irritated her that he’d kept secret the fact that he’d thought they were being followed. And then, after wrestling with the lingering anger, she’d had to deal with the sinking feeling that DePietro’s people could already know where she was staying. Not a good night. But she would never admit it to these good people.
“I want to thank you again for making me feel so welcome. It can’t be easy to have a stranger in your house.”
Frank linked his fingers with Gracie’s and shot her a blazing smile. “We love having you, Nessa. Don’t we, Gracie Girl?”
“Indeed. I told Frankie last night that it’s rather nice for me to have another woman around. I’ve been living with all these men for so long now, it’s really pleasant to hear a woman’s voice in the mix.”
They looked over as the back door opened and Matt trudged into the mudroom, kicking off his boots, tossing his gloves on a shelf, and hanging his hat on a hook on the wall.
They could hear the water flowing before he finally stepped into the kitchen. He greeted his grandparents, while his gaze remained steady on Vanessa.
“’Morning.” He stayed where he was.
“Good morning. I’m sorry I’m too late to lend a hand with the mucking.”
He smiled then, as he realized this was her way of saying that all was forgiven. “You were going to help?”
“That was the plan. But then I got sidetracked with Frank and Gracie.”
“There’ll be other mornings.” He turned toward the stairs. “I’ll be down in half an hour.”
“Make it fifteen minutes,” Yancy called. “Breakfast is almost ready.”
Vanessa watched until Matt disappeared up the stairs. When she turned, both Frank and Gracie were staring at her.
She busied herself at the counter, pouring a cup of coffee. Then she turned to them. “Would you like more?”
Frank held out his cup and she crossed to him, topping off his cup and then Gracie’s. And still the two were looking at her so steadily, she was grateful to turn away and replace the carafe on the counter. She was even more grateful that the two of them began carrying on a conversation, allowing her to relax.
Matt was as good as his word, strolling into the kitchen just as Yancy was setting a stack of pancakes in the center of the table.
He took a seat beside Vanessa and held a platter of ham and eggs toward her while she filled her plate. “I heard the caravan leaving around five. They’ll be up on Eagle’s Ridge by now.”
Frank nodded. “A good day for it, too. I was afraid we might get another storm, but it blew over around midnight, and that sunshine is just what we need.”
He held the plate of pancakes while Gracie helped herself.
She ladled warm maple syrup with walnuts and blueberries over the stack. After her first bite she smiled at the cook. “Yancy, you always know just what I’m craving after a trip to the hills.”
“You’re just like your daddy. The Great One loves his cookies. You love your walnut-and-blueberry pancakes.”
Frank closed a hand over hers. “If you’d like the moon to go with it, just say the word, Gracie Girl.”
Her smile bloomed. “And you’d fetch it, wouldn’t you?”
“You know I would.”
Vanessa felt a trickle of warmth around her heart. These two sweet people were so in love it felt like an invasion of privacy to be allowed to watch and listen.
When they’d finished breakfast, Frank held Gracie’s chair. “Ready to head into town, Gracie Girl?”
“I am.” Hand-in-hand they turned to Matt and Vanessa. “We’re off to Glacier Ridge,” Gracie announced.
Matt set down his cup. “Any reason in particular?”
“Just a date with my girl.” Frank winked at his wife before turning to Yancy. “We’ll probably be home by supper time, but if we’re late, don’t wait for us.”
They left, still holding hands.
Matt glanced at Vanessa. “Ready to take the horses for a run?”
“Maybe not a run. But I wouldn’t mind a nice, slow canter across the field.”
“Let’s do it.” He stood. “Great breakfast, Yancy. If anyone asks, we’ll be up in the pasture.”
“You’ve got a good day for it.” Yancy was already clearing the table as Matt and Vanessa made their way toward the corral.
Matt left Vanessa standing in the sunlight, watching the horses play in a fenced pasture. Minutes later he led two saddled horses from the barn.
“This is Ginger.” He held the reins while Vanessa pulled herself into the saddle of a palomino mare with a flaxen mane and tail.
She accepted the reins while he mounted old Beau. Then she leaned over her horse’s head to run a hand along her silken mane. “Ginger is beautiful.”
Matt nodded. “She’s one of Gracie’s favorites. You’ll need to keep control. She likes to have her head.”
“A female with an attitude.” Vanessa laughed. “No wonder I already like her.”
As they started across the back field, Matt pointed toward a windswept parcel of land surrounded by a wrought-iron fence. “That’s our family plot.”
Nessa’s eyes widened. “Your own private cemetery?”
He laughed at her tone. “Yeah. It’s not so unusual. This is where they lived. This is where they should be allowed to spend eternity.”
They dismounted, and Matt opened a pretty gate before leading her inside the enclosure.
The grave markers were simple stones bearing the names of family members, their birth and death dates clearly etched.
Matt paused beside a double marker. “These are my parents.”
Reading their names, and the same date of death, sent a tiny shiver along her spine. “They were so young.”
Matt nodded. “The Great One will never be persuaded it was an accident. He’s convinced there was a second set of tracks in the snow when he first went to record the scene on film. It’s the director in him,” Matt explained as she arched her brow. “But with so many other vehicles arriving so quickly, it couldn’t be proven. And we were all so stunned, we couldn’t focus on anything except the fact that they were gone.”
She touched his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.” He took a moment to run his hand along the top of the stone before turning away.
Still feeling the warmth of her touch, he helped her into the saddle before pulling himself up on Beau. As they started out, Matt trailed behind for a moment, watching the way Vanessa handled her horse, until he was satisfied that they were a good fit.
What a pretty picture they made. Two blondes out for a morning ride. Nessa’s hair streamed out behind her, and Ginger’s mane and tail drifted on the breeze.
There were a million chores he ought to be seeing to. But he was happily ignoring all of them to show Vanessa Kettering around the ranch.
A female with an attitude. No wonder I already like her.
Her words played through his mind.
It occurred to him that he was enjoying the time spent with this woman way more than he’d expected to.
He would sort out the why of it another time. For now, he intended to simply enjoy the day, and the pleasant company.
He urged old Beau into a trot until they caught up with Ginger. Slowing his horse, they moved along at an easy gait until they reached the top of the hill.
They paused to look out over the undulating hills and valleys spread out around and below.
“Oh, Matt.” Vanessa sighed. “This is like something in a movie. It’s so vast and so breathtaking. How can your family ever possibly see to all of it?”
