by R. C. Ryan
Intrigued, Barb came out of the kitchen to stand beside her sister. “You mean we’ve got a real detective case going on in our town?”
Reed nodded. “And the sheriff intends to enlist everybody’s help in solving it.”
The twin sisters exchanged excited looks.
“Thanks for the dessert. I really needed my chocolate shake fix.” Reed placed his money on the counter and caught Ally’s hand before heading toward the door.
Once outside he said, “Okay. We’ve put an ad in the newspaper.” At her blank look he explained, “Telling Dot and Barb is like telling the entire town. They couldn’t wait for us to leave so they can start spreading the word. By this time tomorrow, every person in this town, and every rancher for a hundred miles around, will be on the lookout for any stranger who could be your firebomber.”
He adjusted his Stetson and shot her a satisfied grin. “Time to head on home, little missy. Our work here is done.”
Ally stepped into the kitchen to find Yancy lifting something from the oven.
“Good morning, Yancy.”
He looked over. “Morning, Ally. You feel as rested as you look?”
She nodded. “Five nights here and the minute I climb into bed, I’m asleep. It must be something in the air.”
“It could have to do with the chores you’ve been doing since you got here.”
She grinned. “Speaking of which…” She looked toward the back door. “Is everybody in the barn?”
“If you mean Reed, yeah.”
She flushed before heading toward the mudroom. “I’ll just give him a hand with the mucking.” She slipped her feet into tall rubber boots and picked up a pair of worn leather work gloves before striding purposefully toward the barn.
Inside she could hear the teasing, laughing voices of Matt, Luke, and Reed as they forked wet hay and dung into a wagon.
“Hey.” Reed’s head came up the minute he caught sight of Ally in the doorway. “You here to work?”
“Absolutely.” She helped herself to a pitchfork from a hook along the wall.
When she stepped into the stall beside him, he drew her close for a quick kiss. Against her mouth he said, “You don’t belong out here, lady. Why don’t you help Yancy in the kitchen instead?”
“I’d rather be here. He’s not as pretty as you are.” With a laugh she lifted a forkful of hay, tossing it into the wagon.
Reed stood back to watch. “For a city girl, you learn real fast.”
“It’s the least I can do to thank you for our room and board.”
He leaned close, aware that his brothers were listening. “I can think of a much nicer way to thank me.”
“I just bet you can.” She tossed her head and bent to her work.
“And after me and Lily”—Kyle saw his mother open her mouth to correct him and quickly said, “Lily and I helped pick all those vegebles from Yancy’s garden, we came in here and he let us help cook them. Yancy says I’m a really good cook. Oh, and me and Lily…Lily and I were allowed to go to the barn after our cooking lesson so we could see the puppies.” Out of breath after eagerly reciting his entire afternoon’s activities, Kyle turned big eyes on his mother while the rest of the family unwound before supper with drinks and appetizers.
Great One sipped his martini while Grace and the women enjoyed iced tea. Frank and his grandsons were drinking longnecks and were soon joined by Colin, Burke, and Mick, coming in from a long day in the hills.
“Sounds like you had quite a day.” Ally turned to Lily. “Now what’s this about puppies?”
“Luke’s dog, Molly, had six.” Lily piled a wedge of cheese atop a cracker and handed it to Kyle, who was staring at her with a look of pure adoration. “Want to go see them?”
“Maybe after supper would be better,” Grace suggested. “I don’t think Yancy would be too happy to have us trooping out to the barn when his meal is almost ready to be served.”
Lily started across the room. “Can we help serve tonight, Yancy?”
Kyle stuffed the entire cracker into his mouth before rushing after Lily.
Reed leaned close to Ally to whisper, “Looks like someone has a crush.”
Ally smiled. “I was just thinking the same thing. But it’s really sweet. Kyle has never had a sister, or a best friend.”
“Dinner’s ready.”
All through the meal Ally watched and listened as Kyle and Lily recited the latest activities. She couldn’t recall ever seeing her son so happy. In truth, she couldn’t recall ever feeling this relaxed and happy either.
Nessa and Ingrid seemed eager to share not only their clothes and any accessories she needed but their stories of how they’d come to meet and fall in love with Matt and Luke, as well. It helped to know that both women had faced their own dangers and had formed a special bond with this warm and loving family.
Family. These good people were so much more than she’d ever imagined a family could be.
“Kyle and I baked these,” Lily declared as she handed Great One a basket of steaming biscuits.
He dutifully took a bite and gave the two children the benefit of his warm smile. “You’d better watch your back, Yancy. These two will soon want your job.”
As they finished their meal, Kyle and Lily bent close to whisper before Lily asked aloud, “Can we show you the puppies now?”
“I love surprises.” Grace stood and took Frank’s arm, leading the rest of the family from the table and out the back door to the barn.
Luke had built a small enclosure for the big dog and her puppies, so they couldn’t wander.
The brown lab’s tail began wagging the minute the family surrounded her and her pups. And when Lily and Kyle knelt and began picking up the wriggling puppies, Molly licked each one as if giving her blessing.
“This one’s my favorite,” Kyle declared, holding up a tiny ball of fluff.
“Why? He’s the runt of the litter,” Luke said with a laugh.
“What does runt mean?” Kyle snuggled the pup to his chest.
“He’s the smallest. The others will soon walk all over him.”
“Not Toughie,” the little boy declared.
“Toughie?” Luke bit back the laughter. “How’d you come up with that name?”
“’Cause he doesn’t stop until he gets to his mama.” Kyle walked over to his mother. “Want to hold Toughie?”
Ally couldn’t resist cooing at the sweet little bundle of fur. “Oh, aren’t you just the cutest thing.” She pressed her face into the softness and was rewarded with wet doggie kisses.
“Careful.” Reed leaned close to whisper, “Just remember that cuddly little pup will soon be bigger than its mama. And right now you’d need a bed three times bigger than the one Kyle uses if you were to take Toughie home with you.”
She gave him an indignant look. “I have no intention of taking him home with me. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy holding a puppy.”
“That’s what they all say. But those cute and cuddly puppies have a way of sucking you in.”
Around the pen, the others joined in the laughter.
Ally studied Molly and her pups. “I swear that dog is smiling.”
Reed crossed to the dog and knelt to scratch behind her ears. “She’s happy for the company. And probably glad to have some relief from those hungry babies.”
“I don’t know. She’s keeping a very careful watch over every one of them.”
“That’s what mamas do.” Grace handed a pup over to Lily, who placed it beside its mother.
The older woman caught her husband’s arm. “It’s time we got back. I know you men want to discuss this year’s roundup.”
By the time the family entered the great room, a cozy fire burned on the hearth.
While Yancy pushed a cart laden with coffee and mugs and a crystal decanter of Great One’s favorite liquor, the children could be heard talking in hushed tones in the other room.
Minutes later they passed around bowls of strawberry s
hortcake, mounded with fresh berries and whipped cream, amid a chorus of approving voices.
“We picked the berries,” Kyle said proudly.
“And Yancy showed us how to bake shortcake. It’s like a biscuit, but sweeter.” Lily turned to the cook. “Isn’t that right, Yancy?”
“Indeed it is. And the two of you are excellent students.” After passing around coffee, he helped himself to a dessert and settled into his favorite chair by the fire, where Great One was enjoying an after-dinner brandy.
“I’ve been thinking…” Nessa looked around the room.
“Uh-oh.” Matt chuckled. “Whenever my beautiful wife says those three words, I know it will cost me money.”
She gave him a playful punch on the arm. “While the men are planning their roundup, why don’t we girls plan a day in town?”
Ingrid looked over with interest. “What would we do?”
Nessa arched a brow. “I was thinking of a visit to Gert and Teddy Gleason’s spa.”
Grace was already shaking her head. “I’m planning on leaving on a camera safari soon. It would be a waste for me to visit a spa and then traipse up to the wilderness.”
“But that’s the perfect time to visit the spa.” Nessa’s eyes widened. “Don’t you see? Before you begin your Spartan existence, you should fortify yourself with as much pampering as you can get. And then when you come back from that safari, you’ll want additional pampering.”
Reed glanced beyond his sister-in-law to his brother, Matt. “So this is the sort of thinking you have to deal with, bro?”
Matt spread his hands. “What can I say? I’m so blinded by love, I’m beginning to see the logic in the craziest things, and even agree with Nessa’s version of truth.”
Reed looked around at the others in the room and gave a shake of his head. “Poor Matt. Looks like he joined the cult and drank the Kool-Aid.”
While the others roared with laughter, Matt leaned close to his wife and kissed her cheek. “Let my little brother make his lame jokes, sweetheart. Once upon a time, I was just like him. Ignorant and unaware of just how much of life I was missing.”
“You got that right, bro.” Luke took Ingrid’s hand in his and lifted it to his mouth. “One of these days it’ll be our little brother’s turn to get shot by Cupid’s arrow.”
While Reed merely grinned, Ally looked around. Watching Reed’s brothers and their wives interact, her heart did a funny little dip.
Love, it would seem, was alive and well in the Malloy household. It was almost enough to make her a believer.
Almost.
Frank drained his coffee before standing and helping Grace to her feet. Hand in hand, they called out their good night before climbing the stairs.
Nessa blew them a kiss. “If you’d like to stay home, you could spend an entire day surrounded by beautiful ladies.”
“One beautiful lady is all I need.” Frank put an arm around his wife’s waist.
As the others began drifting off to their rooms, Ally looked to where Lily and Kyle were lying in front of the fireplace. Minutes ago they’d been whispering. Now, both children were sound asleep.
She turned to Ingrid. “I guess there won’t be any bedtime stories tonight.”
Ingrid smiled and motioned to Luke, who crossed the room and lifted the little girl in his arms. Ingrid waved to the others as she trailed Luke up the stairs.
Reed walked over and picked up Kyle. The little boy barely stirred as he twined his chubby arms around Reed’s neck. For a moment Ally stood perfectly still, feeling a jolt at the sight of her little boy in the arms of this big, strong cowboy. They looked so right together, so comfortable, she was forced to blink back tears.
With Ally leading the way, Reed carried the sleeping boy up the stairs and into his room. He stood back while Ally removed Kyle’s clothes, which bore the stains of her son’s earlier garden chores and kitchen adventures: grass stains, flour smudges, gravy spills. Tossing them in a hamper, she put on the new pajamas she’d purchased at Anything Goes. Then she pulled up the bedcovers and bent to brush kisses over his forehead and cheek.
When she stepped out of the room and walked to her own door, Reed followed.
At the doorway she turned to say good night.
Before she could say a word, he gathered her close and, without a word, kissed her with a hunger that caught her by surprise.
“Reed…”
“Shh.” He moved his mouth over hers, tasting, feasting. Inside her mouth he whispered, “I’ve been thinking about this for hours.”
“And here I thought you were lost in Yancy’s heavenly dinner.”
“It didn’t even come close to this.” He gathered her against him and ran hot, wet kisses across her forehead, down her temple, across her cheek. “Now this is heaven.” He took the kiss deeper. “I wish you and I could ride up into the hills alone tonight.”
She lifted her head. “The hills where wild animals lurk?”
He chuckled against her throat, sending heat spiraling along her spine. “I’d keep you safe, even if it meant throwing myself in their path.”
She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I believe you would.”
“Know it. I’d never let anything hurt you.” His mouth returned to hers and he took her on a long, slow ride of pleasure.
Know it.
The words played through her mind as she gave herself up to his kisses.
He backed her up until they bumped into the wall of her room. And still he continued raining kisses over her upturned face.
He framed her face with his big hands and stared down into her eyes. “Listen.”
She gave a puzzled look. “I don’t hear anything.”
“Exactly.” His smile was quick and dangerous. “The household’s asleep. There’s just us, here in your room, with that big, empty bed.”
“I can’t…”
He cut off her words with a passionate kiss that had her head spinning. “Never say never, Red.”
“But I…”
He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her until heat rose up, threatening to choke them. And still he continued kissing her, while his big, work-worn hands moved over her, touching her at will. Her body responded, her breasts tingling from his touch, while a feeling like a fist tightened deep inside. She was stunned by a raging hunger that ached to be fed. Taking her silence for acceptance, he reached for the buttons of her shirt, all the while keeping his eyes firmly fixed on hers. As he slid the fabric from her shoulders, he dipped his head to trail kisses down her throat, and lower, to the soft swell of her breast. As his mouth closed around one erect nipple, she suddenly gasped and pushed free of his arms.
He lifted a tangle of hair from her cheek, then kept his hand there, stroking gently. “I know you have issues. I know you’ve been hurt. But you have to know I’m not him. I’d never hurt you, Ally.”
She took in a long, slow breath. “I believe you, Reed. I do trust you. But what about me? How can I trust myself, when I’ve made so many mistakes in the past?”
His hand stopped its movement. “You’re not talking about your stalker now, are you?”
When she didn’t speak, he kept his eyes on hers. “This is about Kyle’s father.”
She looked away, avoiding his eyes.
He gathered her close and pressed his mouth to a tangle of hair at her temple. “If you can’t share it with me, I don’t know how to help you. But know this. We’ve all made mistakes in our past. And we grow, and learn, and make better decisions as we move on.”
“I hope that’s so. But until I can trust myself…” She gently pushed him away.
He moaned. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me, Red?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to.”
“I know.” He gave her one of his heart-melting smiles. “We’ve still got all night.” He nodded toward the bed. “We could just lie down over there and talk things out.”
Despite the turmoil inside her mind, she burst
into laughter. “Nice try.” She stood on tiptoe and brushed a quick kiss over his mouth. “Now go.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying.” He started toward the door, then stopped, dragged her close, and kissed her until they were both breathless. “Just remember. If you change your mind, if you’d like to unburden yourself, or if you need someone to rub your back in the night, I’m right next door.” He turned away. “Night, Red. Sleep tight.”
He strode resolutely out the door without a backward glance.
Chapter Seventeen
Ally awoke to the sound of men’s voices below. It took a moment to remember that she was safe at the Malloy ranch. Safe. Such a lovely, reassuring word. With each day here the feeling of safety grew.
She showered and dressed in her new denims and a pretty mint green tee. When she checked Kyle’s room, it was empty, the bed rumpled from his attempt to straighten the covers. She smiled, thinking how sweet it was that he’d made the effort. He was such a good boy. And he filled her life with quiet joy.
Downstairs, the family had gathered around the conversation area of the kitchen, discussing plans for the day.
When Ally stepped into the big room, they looked up and called out greetings.
“Morning, Ally.” Matt and Nessa were standing off to one side, talking in low tones.
“Good morning.”
“Hey, Ally.” Ingrid turned from Luke to point to the back door. “Don’t worry about Kyle. He just ran off to the barn with Lily. They wanted to check on Molly and her puppies. They’ll be back in time for breakfast.”
“Thanks.”
She turned to find Reed beside her, holding out a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He gave her a probing look. “I hope your night was better than mine.”
“You had a rough night?”
He touched his palm to her cheek. “Couldn’t sleep.”
She experienced the warmth that always accompanied his touch. “Sorry.”
“You should be, since you’re the reason for my lack of sleep.” He gave her a smoldering look. “I wish we could spend the day together.”
