by Francis Ray
Opening the door, Naomi smiled and stepped aside. “Good morning, Fallon.”
“Good morning,” Fallon cheerfully greeted as she stepped inside. She wore a shirt with SANTA FE in colorful letters on the front, slim black jeans, and flip-flops. “I was hoping you were up and still here.” She ruefully lifted her mug, decorated with a string of peppers, in one hand and a plastic cup in the other. Inside was a spoon. “Coffee, please.”
“Help yourself.” Naomi waved Fallon to the coffee carafe. One cup was all she needed. Like Fallon, she wanted cream and sugar in her coffee. Although she’d tried to dissuade Fallon from bringing her own, she continued to do so.
“Thanks. I was on a deadline and forgot to go to the store yesterday.” Pouring the coffee, then adding the cream and sugar mixture from the plastic cup, Fallon took a sip, closed her eyes, and savored. “Good coffee. I finished the piece this morning and sent it off, thank goodness.”
Knowing Fallon would need a couple of sips to be fully alert, Naomi continued stirring the pancake mix. The quietness in the kitchen didn’t make Naomi nervous. Another thing she liked about Fallon—as with Richard and Catherine, she didn’t need to fill the silence with conversation.
Fallon was easy to talk to and fun to be around. She and Kayla had hit it off immediately. Fallon had probably never met a stranger. It wasn’t just the incredible, long-legged beauty and body to go with it that attracted people; she genuinely cared about people, and it showed. She probably knew everybody in their unit, whereas Naomi only knew the elderly couple on the other side of her.
“Can you stay for breakfast?” Naomi asked, already reaching for the refrigerator door.
“You don’t have to ask twice. Thanks.” Fallon topped off her coffee cup, added more cream-and-sugar mixture.
“We like having you.” Removing the packages of pan turkey sausages and bacon from the refrigerator, Naomi added some to the skillet, then reached for the box of pancake mix.
“I’ll say it again, you’re my lifesaver.” Fallon picked up the spatula from a spoon rest to tend the sausages. “My last neighbor was a man who wanted to hit on me on one side, and a jealous girlfriend living with her boyfriend who refused to pop the question on the other.” She sipped her coffee. “The apartment gods were definitely smiling on me when I moved in next to you.”
“It works both ways,” Naomi said, adding more mix to her bowl. “I know they didn’t mind keeping Kayla, but Mrs. Grayson and Catherine are busy. You take good care of Kayla for me when I have to work late at school. I didn’t like having her stay at school with me. Now she doesn’t have to, and I can volunteer at the Women’s League.”
“She’s a sweetie and an asset to my business. That’s why I pay her,” Fallon responded with a grin, then tested the red potatoes frying in another skillet.
“The fun she has and the places you take her are enough. You don’t have to pay her,” Naomi protested, aware that it wouldn’t do any good. Just like it didn’t do any good to protest the coffee or food Fallon brought over. She said that way it didn’t make her feel like a moocher when she showed up unexpectedly wanting coffee or a hot meal. Fallon always paid for Kayla’s admission when required, purchased her food, plus gave her five dollars for each research outing.
Fallon shook her head, her long naturally curly hair brushing against her high cheekbones and slim shoulders. “My research assistant deserves every dollar. Because of Kayla, I’m able to write about local attractions for children. My travel blog got tons of hits and I sold more articles. One of these days in the far-distant future, I might have a little girl myself … after I snag a rich husband, of course,” she said with a laugh.
Removing the sausages to drain on a paper towel, she didn’t see the frown on Naomi’s face as she poured pancake mix onto the hot griddle. Naomi knew she was kidding. Fallon wasn’t the money-hungry type. Naomi just prayed that when she did find a man, he would love her and not use her as Naomi had been used.
“For now, I’m having too much fun traveling the world and getting paid for living my dream.” Fallon stirred the potatoes again. “Santa Fe, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the nearby Native American pueblos, are a virtual gold mine for me. However, I plan to be in Aspen for the first snow, then in New York for Christmas Eve, before flying to Austin to be with my family for Christmas.”
Naomi’s frown cleared as she placed the pancakes on the platter. Fallon was too smart to let a smooth-talking man use her. Lots of men had tried to pick her up while they were out, and she always effortlessly brushed them off in a way that didn’t offend them.
“We’re ready,” Kayla exclaimed as she rushed into the kitchen with Teddy under her arm.
“Good morning, Kayla. Teddy. He looks even more handsome this morning,” Fallon greeted, bending down to eye level with Teddy to touch his red bow tie, then the red ribbons securing Kayla’s two fat ponytails. “You both do.”
“Hi, Fallon,” Kayla replied with a big grin. “Me and Teddy have to look extra special because we’re going to be on stage with Mrs. Catherine when she reads the book I’m in.”
Naomi walked over to her daughter. She did look cute in the red-and-white sundress and red leather sandals. Teddy had on a red-and-white sweater. “She dressed herself and Teddy all alone.”
“I’m a big girl just like the one in the story Mrs. Catherine is going to read,” Kayla announced proudly. “She didn’t have Teddy when she got lost, but she was brave when the gray wolf came to help her.”
“You’re brave as well,” Fallon told her. “Who held my hand when the train at the fair went through the dark tunnel?”
Kayla’s smile broadened. “Me and Teddy.”
Naomi gazed lovingly down at her daughter, thankful that she was outgoing and ready to try anything. The book signing had been all Kayla had talked about for weeks. Catherine was a past UCLA professor of psychology, renowned child advocate, and New York Times best-selling children’s author. She lectured all over the country on child psychology. “Let’s eat breakfast.”
Kayla took her seat at the small table for four and placed Teddy in the booster seat that Brandon Grayson, Catherine’s brother-in-law, had given her along with a reloadable gift card to his restaurant, the Red Cactus. Kayla loved their hamburgers.
Naomi blessed the food then tucked a large napkin beneath Kayla’s chin while Fallon placed food on her daughter’s plate. “My nephew loves Catherine Stewart-Grayson books as well. He’ll be happy to hear I’m a personal friend of one of the book’s characters.”
Kayla grinned. “My teacher and some of my friends from school are coming today.”
“You and Teddy certainly look impressive.” Fallon picked up her fork. “You deserve to be chauffeured, and I volunteer.”
“That isn’t necessary,” Naomi said. “You must have things to do on a Saturday.”
“Nope.” Fallon forked in pancakes. “That’s why I worked so hard to finish. I plan to go to the signing and get my nephew a copy of The Guardian.”
“You can ride with us,” Naomi offered, watching to ensure Kayla didn’t pour too much syrup on her pancakes.
“Not on your life,” Fallon said, taking a bite of her sausage. “You cook. I drive. House Rule.”
Kayla offered a bite of sausage to Teddy, then took a bite herself. “Dr. Richard was coming, but he had to take care of a sick animal.”
Fallon grinned. “Emmm. The good vet with the Y factor.”
Naomi barely kept from squirming. The Y was for “yummy.” “You know he’d be here if he could.”
“I know. I just wish he was here with us.”
Naomi wished he was there, too. His presence seemed to make everything easier. She wasn’t as tense when he was with them. Not daring to look at Fallon, Naomi reached for her fork.
* * *
Richard loved being a veterinarian. It was the only thing he’d ever wanted to do with his life. Since he was single and not in a serious relationship, there were few times in his life w
hen his profession had interfered with his personal life.
Today was one of those rare times.
He turned into the gate of the Bar S ranch and continued down the dusty road. He’d wanted to be there today for Kayla, but also for Naomi. There would be a lot of people at Catherine’s signing.
The citizens of Santa Fe had embraced her not only because she had married into the beloved Grayson family and she was famous in her own right, but because they could tell she genuinely cared about children. More than once he’d seen a concerned mother approach her while she was eating to ask a question or get an autograph. She always responded with a smile.
One day he hoped Naomi would be that free and easy with a smile. She was doing better, but she still didn’t like crowds. She had good reason for wanting to know who was near her. He hoped his presence helped. Until the unexpected phone call this morning, he’d thought he’d be there for her.
Seeing the ranch house, he continued around back to the barn. Several ranch hands were there. Their facial expressions warned Richard that Ted, the owner of the Bar S, might have reason to be worried. One came to the door of the truck before he stopped completely.
“The boss is inside with Foxtrot, Dr. Youngblood. He raised him from a colt. I’ll show you.”
“Thanks.” Grabbing his bag, Richard followed the short, wiry man into the barn. Sunlight streamed through the hayloft opening, but it was still dim inside. A short distance farther on, he saw Ted and his signature black Stetson.
Opening the stall door, the ranch hand stepped aside. Richard’s gaze went to the horse’s bloody flank first, then to the worried eyes of the owner. “’Morning, Ted.”
“’Morning, Doc,” the older man greeted, his voice thicker than usual. “Thanks for coming.”
“Thanks for the extra light and the blanket.” Placing his bag on the blanket, Richard snapped on a pair of gloves. “I’ll try to be gentle, but this is going to hurt a bit.”
Ted nodded. “Doc’s gonna help, Foxtrot, so don’t act up.”
Richard probed the deep lacerations on the animal’s flank, stopping occasionally as the horse shied away. Ted had been right. The lacerations would have to be sutured. There was no way he’d make it back to Santa Fe in time.
“Damn horse, she’s too old to be so stupid,” Ted growled, but his voice was as shaky as the hand that repeatedly brushed down the trembling horse’s blazed face. “You should have picked up the cat’s scent and run like the other horses.”
Richard snapped off the gloves, then clasped the older man on the shoulder. “I’ll be as quick and as gentle as I can.” He placed the soiled gloves into a bag and reached into his open medical bag. “I’m glad you found her or those lacerations would have become infected. She’s not going to like what we have to do, but she’ll be all right.”
The older man swallowed visibly. “You hear that, you old nag? Doc Youngblood is going to fix you up, and next time you better run.”
Richard sanitized his hands, prepared a hypodermic needle, then put on a fresh pair of gloves. Some wounds were easier to treat and heal than others. He couldn’t help but think of Naomi. He just prayed that one day she could put the past behind her and look at him as more than just a friend. He hoped it was soon. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could hide his feelings for her.
He pushed to his feet. “Let’s get this done.”
Chapter 2
Later that afternoon, Naomi, Fallon and Kayla entered the famous La Fonda hotel in downtown Santa Fe. People with children in tow hurried past them. Kayla’s hand firmly in Naomi’s, they followed the signs and helpful people positioned in the hallways leading to the Conquistador Ballroom.
“This is one of my favorite hotels,” Fallon said, looking at the overhanging balconies, wooden beams, and specialty shops. “I think I could happily live here. They picked a great locale for the signing.”
“It is pretty,” Naomi agreed, marveling that Catherine could return to the hotel where an embarrassing incident could have ended her career, if not for Luke’s quick thinking. At the time, they’d just been dating.
“Looks like a line out the door,” Fallon murmured. “Hope we can find a seat. No wonder they held it in a conference room.”
“Mama, we can get in, can’t we?” Kayla asked, worry on her face.
Naomi squeezed her hand in reassurance. “Catherine said she wanted you on stage. You know you can depend on her.”
Kayla’s arm tightened around the waist of Teddy. “She gave me Teddy.”
“She certainly did,” Naomi said, thinking she’d also given them hope and a chance to start over.
“Now, that is what I call a man,” Fallon whispered in an aside.
Since her friend seldom noticed men, Naomi lifted her head to see who she was talking about and looked straight into the steady black gaze of Luke Grayson. She didn’t drop her head as she had when they first met. He still made her a bit uneasy because of his height—well over six feet—and his brawny build, but she’d learned to trust him as she did few men.
“That’s Luke Grayson, Catherine’s husband,” Naomi whispered.
“Then I’d say she’s a very lucky woman,” Fallon replied quietly. “Any brothers?”
“Three and all married,” Naomi told her.
“I just bet they keep a smile on their wives’ faces.” Fallon laughed wickedly.
Naomi didn’t know what to say. She knew Fallon was talking about sex. Naomi didn’t like sex, dreaded the times her husband had reached for her. She was saved from commenting when Luke started toward them.
“Hi, Mr. Luke,” Kayla greeted when he was at least two feet away. “Mrs. Catherine didn’t forget about me, did she?”
“Ladies.” Tipping his Stetson, Luke squatted in front of Kayla. “How could she forget about you, the prettiest girl in the state and the bravest?”
Kayla grinned. “Me and Teddy wanted to look extra nice.”
“I’d say you pulled it off.” He straightened, tipped his Stetson again. “Hello, Naomi, miss.”
“Hi, Luke,” Naomi greeted, still holding Kayla’s hand. “This is Fallon Marshall, my next-door neighbor. Fallon, Luke Grayson.”
Smiling, Fallon extended her hand. “Hello, Mr. Grayson. Looks like your wife’s signing is going to be a huge success.”
“Looks like.” The handshake was brief and firm. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Marshall.”
Fallon tilted her head to one side. “How do you know it’s not Mrs.?”
Luke smiled easily. “No wedding ring.” He turned to Naomi. “I’m to take you to your seats.”
Naomi threw an anxious look at Fallon. “We’re together.”
“I expected as much. Ms. Marshall can have my seat. It will save someone trying to look over or around me.”
“With those shoulders and your height, you’re right about that,” Fallon murmured, then rolled her eyes. “Sorry. Sometimes my mouth gets ahead of my brain.”
“That’s all right. I know someone else just like you.” He extended his hand toward the way he had come. “There’s another door we can go in.”
Inside the room, Luke beckoned a young usher. “These are Mrs. Grayson’s special guests, Kayla and Teddy. Could you please take them to the stage?”
“My pleasure.” The young woman reached for Kayla’s hand.
“’Bye, Mama.” Kayla started forward, then stopped because her mother still held on. “Mama, you have my hand.”
Naomi glanced around the crowded room. Her hand flexed, but she didn’t release Kayla.
“I’ll be close by and your seat is directly in front of the stage,” Luke said softly.
Pushing the fear of the nightmare aside, Naomi kissed Kayla on top of her head and released her hand. Her daughter happily left without a backward glance.
“This way,” Luke said, following the usher. “Afterward, we’re all going to the Mesa at the Casa de Serenidad for an early dinner. You’re both invited, of course. Kayla is a big part of today. W
e’ve outgrown the family booth at Brandon’s restaurant since we’re all married.”
Fallon stopped and palmed her forehead. “Grayson. You must be Brandon Grayson’s brother.”
“Guilty.”
Fallon laughed. “I’m a travel writer. I spotlighted his restaurant, the Red Cactus, in one of the first articles I wrote about Santa Fe. I didn’t get to meet him the day I was there. The food was fantastic. He deserves the high reputation he’s garnered.”
“If you do meet him, don’t tell him,” a woman said with laughter in her voice. “His head is big enough already.”
Naomi had been paying more attention to the usher guiding Kayla in the crowded room than to her surroundings. She recognized Luke’s sister’s Sierra’s voice even before Naomi turned. With her were two men. Sierra was as beautiful and as well dressed as usual in one of the designer suits she favored, this one mint green and black. Both men with her were as broad-shouldered and tall as Luke. One wore a smile, the other a dangerous mystique.
“My sister, Sierra, her husband, Blade Navarone, and their friend, Rio Sanchez,” Luke introduced. “Fallon Marshall, Naomi’s friend and neighbor. She’s a travel writer and she’s joining us for dinner.”
Greetings were barely exchanged before Fallon gasped, her hands reaching for the camera dangling around her neck. Her hand had barely closed over it before a larger hand covered hers. Her gaze snapped up to the man Luke had introduced as Rio. His gaze was flat, unblinking.
“No pictures, if you don’t mind,” Luke said. “This is a family outing.”
“Of course,” Fallon said, her smile returning as Rio moved back behind Blade in one smooth, graceful motion. “It was instinctive. I’m sorry.”
“No harm done,” Blade said easily.
Naomi had to admire Fallon. If Rio had approached her that way, she would still be shaking or running. Luke might not have smiled much, but at least there were emotions swirling in his intense black eyes. Rio showed no emotions, just emanated power and danger.
