Fortunately, his new Mercedes was unscratched. Drunks often had a way of defacing a car just for the hell of it. Usually, he and Jackson drove into town together in Jackson’s beat-up work truck. Tonight, Jackson was at his folks’ and couldn’t get out of the obligation. Wouldn’t he be shocked when he found out they had a new roommate. If Jackson balked, Tanner would have to find another place for them to live.
He clicked open the trunk and placed the suitcase in there. Cody did the same.
“Nice car.”
“You like to drive?”
“I’m only thirteen.”
Tanner shrugged. “I remember my daddy letting me take out his truck when I was ten.”
“Really?” While it was dark behind the building, Cody’s posture straightened. “You think you’d let me try?”
“We’ll see.”
Growing up in Sanctuary, it was easy to drive and not see anyone on the road for miles. Christ. He didn’t even know if his son was a city boy or a cowboy. “Where did you and your momma live?” It hurt him to even have to ask. He should have known the answer.
“Denver.”
Right where he’d met Megan. Some other time he’d ask about her, when the pain wasn’t so fresh. As they walked on Second Street toward Sanctuary Avenue, raucous laughter met them in the form of two men who rounded the corner. Crap. It was Sam McLean, a cousin to the neighboring McLeans, and his friend Dave Andrews. He had no beef with any of the McLeans, but the Baldwins had a running hate on for them. Jackson claimed the McLeans had diverted the water supply a few years back and his family lost over a hundred head of cattle.
Not wanting to get in a fight in front of his son, he wrapped a possessive arm around Cody’s shoulder. The boy must have sensed the tension between the men and didn’t balk this time at being drawn near.
Then the two men stopped, and Dave leaned forward. “Well, well. Lookie who Tanner’s with. Crenshaw, I had no idea you were sweet on young boys.”
The tension of the day, coupled with a recent life-altering event, made him snap. He jerked back his arm and let it fly, his fist connecting with Dave’s face.
“What the fuck?” McLean shouted.
Both men descended and the brawl began. “Cody, run.” That was all he managed to say before the first fist slammed into his face.
Dave punched him in the gut, but Tanner had stepped back in time not to feel the full impact. He charged at Dave, and the two tumbled to the ground. McLean’s friend slammed him on his back and punched Tanner in the face. His nose cracked. Damn it. Cody’s face loomed over him. He was about to tell his son to stand back, when Cody kicked Dave in the midsection with a ferocity that made Tanner proud.
What happened after that was a blur. McLean pulled Cody away. Each of his son’s shouts and curses sliced Tanner deep. With renewed vigor, he swung up his leg and flipped his assailant on his back.
If Tanner didn’t back off now, Cody might get hurt. He jumped up and held up his hands. “Let’s deal with this later, shall we, gentlemen?”
His attacker stood and dusted himself off then glanced at McLean. “Let’s leave these two lovebirds alone.”
“Watch your mouth. This here is my son.”
No one moved a muscle. Oh, shit.
Chapter Two
McLean’s scowl disappeared and he let out a laugh. “Holy fuck.” He turned to his friend. “You hear that? I bet the women around here will want to learn you’re no longer available.” He nodded to Dave. “Let’s go celebrate.” The two of them headed off, acting as if nothing had happened.
Fuck you. Having a kid wasn’t going to slow down his search for the perfect woman. Or would it?
His anger went from a slow rumble to a near boil. He wasn’t sure if he was more pissed at himself for having his son watch him lose his cool or that McLean and his buddy seemed to think him being a dad would stop him from ever dating again. It didn’t really matter. What was important was that Cody was safe.
He stepped over to the brick wall Cody was leaning against. “You okay, son?” In the darkness, he couldn’t see any bruises or other visible injuries.
Cody brushed off his leg like McLean had. “Yeah.” He rubbed his arm. “I could have helped you more if that dude hadn’t pulled me away.” He looked up at him. “Your nose is bleeding.”
Tanner had been so upset over his action that he hadn’t noticed. He pulled a bandana from his back pocket to wipe his nose when the envelope Cody’s aunt had given him fell out. He stooped to pick it up. He wanted to read it, but now wasn’t the time.
He dabbed away the blood. He’d promised his son food and that’s what he’d get. “You ready to chow down?”
Cody nodded. They only had to walk around the block. Tanner’s ribs were a little tender, but he would have known if he’d broken anything. Stupid, stupid. What had he been thinking losing control like that with his son present?
Brianna, the hostess, greeted them. “Hi, Tanner.” Her grin was wide and inviting. She turned to Cody and cocked a brow. “And who’s this handsome young boy?”
Cody’s shoulders straightened. If he remembered correctly, thirteen-year-olds didn’t think of themselves as boys. “The young man is my son.” Tanner moved imperceptively closer and glanced down at her, daring her to challenge his statement.
Her lips faltered. “How nice. Table for two?”
“Yes.”
He wanted to tell her about the new addition to the family but decided the more he tried to explain, the more questions he couldn’t answer. He wanted to show Cody that even if he had no idea what he was doing that he was proud to be his dad.
Brianna seated them in a booth in the corner. “Christian will be right over to take your order.”
“Thanks.” He appreciated the privacy and that he didn’t have to be the object of a woman’s flirtation all night. He didn’t want his son to get the wrong impression.
Christian rushed over. Most of the staff moved quickly when either a Baldwin or a McLean came in, and while he technically wasn’t a Baldwin, his affiliation to the Baldwin family was known. While they were only half as rich as the McLeans, the Baldwins were still rich by most standards, and they all were big tippers.
Christian handed them menus. “Can I start you off with a drink?”
Tanner’s mouth watered for a scotch, but he didn’t want to drink in front of Cody. “Water is fine.”
“Me, too,” Cody said.
His slight hesitation told him he wanted something more but feared it would cost too much. “You can have a Coke if you want. Or anything else.” He hoped the kid wouldn’t try to act like an adult and order a beer.
The small intake of breath told him he’d scored. “A Coke then.”
Christian smiled and said he’d give them a minute to look over the menu.
“We’ll stop at McDonald’s afterward for a shake, okay?”
Cody finally gave him a half smile. “Cool.”
I got a cool. I like that.
Tanner had been to the Steer House hundreds of times and probably knew the menu better than the waiters, but tonight he reread every entree. What was he supposed to say to the kid? “How long was your mom sick?” He didn’t think Cody was ready to talk about her death.
Oh, crap. Should he set him up with a grief counselor? He probably could use the help.
Tanner cleared his throat. “See anything you like?”
Cody set down the menu. “I’m not hungry.”
The Steer House was the most expensive restaurant in town. He bet the twenty-five- to thirty-five-dollar entree prices made him cower. “No telling when we’ll eat again.” He set down his menu. “Cody. Listen. I’m a banker.”
The kid’s eyes lit up.
“I’m thirty-seven years old and saved my money over the years. I come here often and can afford to buy you a meal.” That didn’t come out well. “I mean, I want to buy you something to eat. Okay?”
The kid chewed on his bottom lip. Once more Tanner’s heart
nearly cracked. He nodded and picked up the menu.
The tension was thicker than any steak he’d eaten here. “So you like science, huh?” Christ. Tanner was never at a loss for words.
Once more Cody nodded.
“I like science, too, but I really like math. Do you like math?”
The kid shrugged.
Moving on. “You leave a trail of girlfriends behind in Denver?”
His son glanced up, but he thought he caught a look closer to fear than anything. “No.”
Tanner finally gave up. He made eye contact with Christian to come take their order.
“You two decide?”
Tanner ordered a prime rib. “Cody, what do you want?”
“Can I have a hamburger?”
Christian nodded and asked him a series of questions about toppings and whether he wanted fries or coleslaw. At least Tanner had guessed right about that choice.
He leaned back and nursed his water, wondering what the hell he had gotten himself into. The Steer House was packed, and as such, the meal took forever, or so it seemed. No amount of prodding would get Cody to open up. Finally, they finished and Tanner waved his credit card.
Maybe if the kid saw the room he’d be staying in, he’d cheer up. It was too late to show him the barn and the horses, but tomorrow, he’d take him around.
There were no fights getting back to the car. Tanner took a diversion once he pulled out onto the main road. As promised, they stopped at a drive-through for the shake Cody had wanted. With drinks in hand he headed home.
“It’s dark out here.” Cody slumped in his seat.
“Yeah. It’s not like Denver, is it?”
“No.”
“I know it can be kind of scary, but it’s a real safe town.” Cody wouldn’t believe that after the fight he’d witnessed. “I mean, I don’t normally go out and get in a fight.”
Cody tugged on his seat belt. “I’m not scared.”
Crap. Tanner kept messing up. “Never said you were. I just know sometimes these dark roads make my imagination go wild.”
He said nothing more as he headed down State Road 47 toward the ranch. The turnoff to his home was about a mile before Jackson Baldwin’s parents’ house. He’d be happy once he got Cody settled and could talk with Jackson, though he didn’t look forward to the conversation. He and Jackson had been friends forever, but the guy had his view on a lot of things. They both wanted kids, but he didn’t think getting a ready-made thirteen-year-old was what he had in mind.
Outdoor lights lit the two-story, four-thousand-square-foot home that sat on one end of the eight-thousand-acre estate, owned by Jackson’s dad. From their home, they couldn’t see any other houses, which might be creepy to a city kid.
“You live here?”
At last, he heard an enthusiastic tone. “Yes. You like it?”
As if Cody was afraid to get his hopes up, he slumped further into the seat. “It’s okay.”
Cody’s favorite word seemed to be okay.
He pressed the button on the three-car garage and waited until the door crawled open. He pulled in. “You must be tired.”
Cody unsnapped his seat belt and jumped out as if he couldn’t wait to get away from him. And here, Tanner thought the chocolate shake at McDonald’s would have won over the kid’s heart. Guess not.
He popped the trunk, and Tanner pulled out one suitcase and let Cody take the other one. They went in through the kitchen.
“Hey, Jackson?” He got no response. “Guess he’s not home yet. You can meet him tomorrow.”
He motioned to go on upstairs. Both he and Jackson had bedrooms downstairs and used two of the three bedrooms upstairs as offices. Cody would stay in the guest room situated between their offices. Jackson’s mom had lent her hand in decorating it. It wouldn’t be Cody’s style, but together they could change it.
Tanner flipped on the switch. “Here ya go. You even have your own bathroom.” If he had to guess, his old accommodations weren’t this nice. “The television remote is in the drawer below the TV.”
Cody’s back was to him, but he bet the kid’s eyes had gone wide.
“Thanks.”
“It’s late. I’ll let you settle in. See you in the morning.” Tanner waited for Cody to turn around. He wanted to draw him into a hug and tell him everything would be fine, but he didn’t think Cody was ready for the physical contact. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”
Cody turned back around. His eyes were rimmed red. “Thanks.”
Tanner hustled out of the room. He sucked at being a parent. He needed a drink, a shower, and then a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow would be soon enough to break the news to Jackson. He prayed a little boy’s heart didn’t get broken in the process.
* * * *
Dr. Hailey Hunter capped off the bull semen she’d collected from the Wilson’s prize bull and stored the valuable vial in a container filled with liquid nitrogen. The stain had shown the semen was viable. Tomorrow, she’d help Aiden inseminate Bessie May, who hopefully would produce another prize-winning bull.
“Thanks, Aiden, for giving me a hand.” It took two to perform the semen extraction. She’d gotten an internship with Dr. Stanton when she’d finished her residency. Staying long-term in Pleasure, Montana, wasn’t really an option, as the town really only needed one vet. It didn’t matter that Aiden said he was so busy that he could use an extra hand.
Her mentor laughed. “Anytime.” He stripped off his gloves. “Tammy is expecting me for lunch. You good here to clean up?”
“Yup. Give her my best.”
“Will do.”
As soon as Aiden left, her cell rang. She didn’t recognize the number. “Dr. Hunter.”
“Ma’am, name’s Jackson Baldwin. I live over in Sanctuary.”
While the two towns were only ninety minutes apart, she’d never been there. “How can I help you?”
“I heard you were the best bull breeder in the state.”
Far from it, but she didn’t think it wise to mention that fact. Perhaps it was because she was cheaper than most that caused him to give her a call. “Thank you for the vote of confidence. How can I help?”
“Charley Higgins, the man who normally handles our breeding, had a streak of bad luck. He’s in the hospital for a bit.” He told her about the services he needed. “I’d like you to stay through the rodeo in two weeks so you can be on hand for any sick animals.”
That would be one hell of a commute. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out if it would be worth her while.
“Ma’am, if you’re worried about the travel, I’ve already secured a room at the boarding house. I’ll pick up the tab.”
That impressed her. He was a man with foresight. She mentally checked what needed to be done here. With the bull semen collected, Aiden could implant the sperm himself. She had no other obligations to tie her here, so she decided to ask a few more questions, discussing the hows and wheres of her job.
“That works for me.” His phone number was now on her cell. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow morning when I arrive.”
“Looking forward to it, ma’am.”
“Could you do me a favor?”
“Just ask.”
“Could you call me Hailey or Dr. Hunter? Ma’am always reminds me of my grandmother.”
He laughed, and the rich sound shot straight to her belly.
“Will do, Hailey.” He elongated her name as if he wanted to savor each syllable on his tongue. Her imagination ran wild as to what Jackson Baldwin looked like. With her luck, he’d be short, bald, and older than her dad.
She was five foot nine inches, and most of the men around here were barely taller than she was. Jackson’s voice sounded gravelly, not like he smoked, but rather like someone with an excess of testosterone. He probably was waiting for her to respond. “Bye.”
“Tomorrow then.”
She smiled and disconnected. A two-week gig would be nice. Add in a free place to stay, and the month was loo
king up. She bet her parents would be happy to have one less mouth to feed, too. Ever since she’d finished her residency, she’d been living at home with the promise that as soon as she found a permanent job, she’d be gone. She, more than her folks, wanted out from under them, in part because she hadn’t had a date in months and her vibrator was losing its recharging power.
If she wanted some time to break the news to her family and have time to pack, she better finish up here quickly. Every time she cleaned the large dildo-like device, she shivered at its size. Her sympathy went out to the poor bull for having that big thing in his ass.
Once she put away the equipment, Hailey drove back to her parents’ house.
As soon as she stepped inside, her mom walked out of the kitchen, her apron snugly in place.
She wanted to chat, but she smelled. “I need to shower.”
“Better get going then. Your sister and the kids will be here shortly.”
Crap. How could she have forgotten? Hailey had been so excited about getting a real job, one that Aiden hadn’t arranged for her, that she’d pushed aside the fact that Dalia was coming for her annual week visit with her two kids.
“I can’t wait to see her, but I really need to wash up.”
Her mom’s lips pursed. “You sure do.”
That elicited a smile. “I’ll be fast.” Hailey rushed down the hall, peeling off her clothes as she went. Dad would be doing his chores on the farm along with her two brothers and probably wouldn’t be back before dinner.
As soon as she made it to her room, she turned on the shower and finished undressing. She’d spend the night visiting with family, then pack. Breaking the news about her two-week stint to her parents and her sister was going to be really hard. Maybe she could find some time to drive home for a few hours one day. Ugh. The timing sucked.
By the time she finished, voices and squeals reached her. She dressed quickly and rushed out of the room. Dalia and the kids, each of whom had grown at least a couple inches, sat at the dining room table.
As soon as she spotted Hailey, Dalia jumped up and gave her a hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
Pleasure in Sanctuary [Sanctuary, Montana 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 2
