Reed

by R. C. Ryan

  “In what way?” Luke eyed her over the rim of his longneck.

  “He said Sheriff Graystoke had a serious talk with him, and he’s agreed to take sensitivity training.”

  Matt chuckled. “Using Archer’s name in the same sentence as ‘sensitivity’ seems like an oxymoron.”

  Ally joined in the laughter. “I would have said the same thing before today. But he seemed sincere. Well…” Her voice lowered and she chewed her lower lip, deep in thought, before saying, “Except for a crude attempt at a joke.”

  “What was the joke?” Luke was studying her.

  “Oh, something about asking in a polite way for a gunman to give up his weapon and giving him a chance to comply before knocking him senseless.”

  “Now there’s the Archer Stone I know,” Luke said dryly.

  Yancy broke into their conversation by calling, “Dinner’s ready.”

  Great One finished his martini before standing and offering his arm to Ally. As they made their way to the table, he said, “I’m glad you’re able to return to your business. But it sounds as though you’re serious about accepting your uncle’s offer. If so, I’m sorry you’ll be leaving us.”

  “I’m sorry, too.” In an aside she said, “I shipped off that package via overnight delivery. It should arrive tomorrow before five o’clock. I asked Gaylen to phone you to confirm its safe arrival.”

  Nelson gave a satisfied nod. “Thank you, my dear.” He closed a hand over hers. “As a character said in one of my favorite movies, I’ll be on tenterhooks until I hear her verdict.”

  Ally returned from another satisfying day in town, watching the progress of her shop. In the past few days she’d been pleased to see how her building went from scorched and damaged to gleaming under new siding and fresh paint.

  As soon as Thorny was able to confirm a day that she could open for business, she and Gemma had begun making plans for a grand reopening. And because all the folks in town had been watching the progress along with her, they were growing eager to begin shopping again. Dot and Barb had asked her to make up flyers announcing her plans, so they could post them on the door of their diner. Clay Olmsted offered to take one, as did Ivy and Trudy and Gert and Teddy Gleason. Every business in town was eager to do what they could to promote her reopening, including the medical clinic, where Dr. Anita Cross promised to hang a flyer on their bulletin board, while privately admitting that she hoped Colin would deliver it in person.

  Ally’s heart was lighter than it had been for weeks. These good people, who only months ago had been strangers, were now her friends, eager to celebrate with her.

  Seeing several more trucks parked outside the ranch, her smile grew even brighter. She climbed down from the driver’s side and hurried up the back steps.

  Inside, she heard the quiet hum of voices and the higher pitched laughter of Lily and Kyle.

  “Kyle.”

  At her voice the little boy turned and flew into her arms. She scooped him up and kissed his face over and over until he finally managed to say, “Okay, Mama. You have to put me down now so I can tell you all about our safari.”

  “I can’t wait.” She hugged Grace and Frank and Lily before turning to her son. “Tell me everything.”

  “We climbed a big mountain. And we slept in sleeping bags around a fire. And the first night I heard a coyote howl and climbed into Lily’s sleeping bag.”

  Everyone joined in the laughter.

  “I’d have probably done the same,” Ally admitted.

  She accepted a glass of lemonade from Yancy and sat down beside Grace while Kyle and Lily began an excited recitation of their adventure.

  Kyle shoved his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “We saw deer and foxes and—”

  “—even some mountain goats,” Lily added. She turned. “Gram Gracie says we’re lucky, ’cause not too many people get to see them. Didn’t you?”

  “Indeed.” Grace nodded.

  “And we found Gram Gracie’s herd of mustangs,” Kyle said. “A big white stallion. Grandpop Frankie says that’s a daddy horse. And we took—”

  “—hundreds of pictures,” Lily finished.

  The two were nodding in unison.

  “We did. I’ve been searching for that stallion for years. I have a feeling spotting him means good luck.” Grace caught Ally’s hand. “And I’ve promised the children that I’ll show them how to develop their pictures, and we’ll make an album of their grand adventure so they’ll never forget.”

  “I’ll never forget,” Kyle said solemnly. “And, Mama, there was a whole field of wildflowers, and I wanted to pick some for you, but Gram Gracie said they’d die before we got home.”

  “Gram Gracie’s right. I hope you took a picture of them.”

  He nodded.

  “Good. A picture is even better. Now we’ll be able to look at them forever, and those flowers will always be pretty and alive. They’ll never die.”

  When Yancy called them to supper, the two children caught hands and danced along beside Great One.

  The meal was a festive one, sprinkled with much laughter and dozens of stories about the mustangs, the wild animals, the spectacular sunsets, and the excitement of sleeping under the stars.

  Grace glanced across the table at Ally’s bright smile. “Yancy tells us the repairs to your building are coming along.”

  Ally nodded. “They’re moving faster than I’d expected. Thorny gave the word today that I can definitely open next week. Gemma and I are planning a grand reopening Sunday, to catch the flow of ranchers who come into town for church and supplies.”

  “Oh, how grand.” Ingrid clapped her hands. “I can’t wait to see what treasures I’ll find for our house.”

  “Which isn’t even started yet.” Luke turned to the others. “See what happens when a woman finds a new store? She invents reasons to shop.”

  While the men laughed, the women were in obvious agreement with Ingrid’s sentiments.

  Frank nodded toward his sons. “We’ll need to head up to the hills. Reed’s herd is going to be moved by cattle-haulers. The rest of the herds are ready to be driven to winter pastures.”

  Ally sighed. “I had so hoped Kyle and I could see a real roundup.”

  Frank shared a laugh with his sons. “You’re not missing much, Ally girl. Roundup is hot, sweaty work. But it’s necessary to button down the herds before the first snowfall.”

  “In August?”

  He chuckled. “You’re in Montana now. We see snow as early as August or as late as June up in the hills.”

  Ally stepped into the kitchen to find Yancy setting packets of food into a cooler. Burke was standing at the counter, holding a mug of coffee.

  “Morning, Ally,” the two men called.

  “Good morning.” She glanced at Burke. “Will you be seeing Reed?”

  “I will. I figure he’ll be grateful for the company, and for any news I bring him, since I keep getting a ‘no service’ notice on my phone.”

  “I’ve been getting the same message. It’s frustrating. Will you let him know I’ll be returning to my business Saturday, to prepare for a grand reopening on Sunday?”

  “I’ll tell him.”

  “There’s one more thing.” She lowered her voice, in case Kyle happened along. “I haven’t said anything yet, because I know Kyle will be really disappointed. Tell Reed my uncle invited us to stay with him, and since it’s such a long, tedious drive, I’ve agreed to move in with him just until my apartment is ready in another week or so.”

  Burke gave her a steady look. “When do you plan on telling your boy?”

  “Today. I can’t put it off any longer.”

  “He won’t be happy with the news. He and Lily have become real close. You should have seen them in the wilderness. Like twins, joined at the hip.”

  She nodded. “I know. And I really hate separating them. Especially since he and Archer rub each other the wrong way.”

  “You could leave Kyle here. You know Grace and Fr
ank would love having him.”

  “I know. But he’s been gone for days now, and I’ve missed him too much to be separated again so soon.” She took in a breath. “It’s only for a week or two, and then we’ll be back in our own place.”

  Burke set his mug in the sink and picked up the cooler. “Thanks, Yancy. Reed and the wranglers will be grateful.”

  He turned to Ally. “I’ll give Reed your message.”

  “Thank you, Burke. And tell him I send my—” She stopped, aware of what she’d almost said. “Just tell him I send my best.”

  He grinned. “I’ll do that.”

  She and Yancy stood at the back door and watched as the foreman set the cooler in the bed of the pickup along with stacks of supplies. He secured everything with bungee cords before climbing to the driver’s side and taking off in a cloud of dust.

  Yancy filled two cups with coffee and handed one to Ally before touching the rim of his cup to hers.

  When she looked up, he gave her a gentle smile. “I miss Reed, too.”

  She brushed a quick kiss on his cheek. “Thanks, Yancy.” She stepped out the back door and sat on the step, watching as the sun slowly rose over the hills in the distance. The hills where Reed was saying good-bye to a herd in which he’d invested so much.

  And all the while, she missed him with an ache that seemed to grow with every breath she took.

  “I don’t want to go, Mama.”

  Ally had anticipated Kyle’s rejection and was quick to soothe. “I know. I don’t want to, either. But I need to get back to work, and Uncle Archer was kind enough to offer us a room at his house.”

  “He doesn’t like me. Why can’t I stay here with Lily and Gram Gracie and Grandpop Frank?”

  “Because I want you with me.” She drew him close and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “I missed you so much.”

  He looked up. “I missed you, too. But…”

  “And this is only our temporary home. We knew we’d be going back to town when our place was repaired.” When he opened his mouth to offer another objection, she quickly added, “I have an idea. Why don’t we pack up some of our things and take them to Archer’s before we go to work. And tomorrow, if Ingrid and Luke are okay with it, maybe they could bring Lily to town to spend the day at work with us, and you could show her all the new toys that have come in.”

  His eyes widened. “And could she spend the night with us, too?”

  “If Luke and Ingrid don’t mind.”

  “And could we take her to D and B’s for grilled cheese sandwiches? And to I’s for ice cream?”

  “That would be fun.”

  “Oh, boy.” His earlier disappointment was forgotten as he danced off to share his news with his best friend.

  Ally quickly stuffed some of his clothes into a backpack and headed down the stairs. An hour later she and Kyle were driving toward town, while Kyle kept up a steady chatter about all the things he and Lily would do when she came to town to visit.

  “And best of all, Reed promised when he gets back to the ranch he’s going to teach me to ride a horse and be a real cowboy like him.”

  Reed turned his mount in the direction of the range shack when he saw Burke driving up across the meadow.

  By the time Burke reached the cabin, Reed was there. He slid from the saddle and reached for the cooler in the back of Burke’s truck.

  “I’ll handle this.” He chuckled as he hefted it, testing its weight. “How many armies did Yancy think he’d be feeding?”

  “He knows you and the wranglers have been making do with quick meals while you get the entire herd off this mountain. You know Yancy. If he could, he’d feed the world.”

  The two men shared a laugh as Burke held the door and Reed stepped inside.

  “There’s more,” Burke added.

  The two men worked companionably, returning to the truck several more times as they unloaded supplies and stored them on shelves.

  Afterward, they helped themselves to a cold beer as they stood in the shade of a tree.

  “These hills look bare, son. How’re you feeling about letting go of your babies?”

  “I’m feeling a lot of things. Relief. A little sad. They’ve been a big part of my life. But there’s always next year’s herd.” Reed tried to keep his tone neutral. “How is Ally?”

  “She’s fine. She sends her”—the old foreman watched Reed’s eyes—“regards.”

  Reed’s lips curved. “You enjoying yourself, Burke?”

  “Yeah. I notice the two of you are being real careful about what you say. But it’s not the words you speak that matter. It’s how you say them. Take Ally. She nearly slipped and sent her love, but she caught herself at the last minute.”

  “Thanks for telling me that. That sets my mind at ease. I’m sending”—he couldn’t help chuckling—“kind regards her way, too.”

  “I’m sure you are. Oh, and she wanted you to know she’s returning to work this weekend.”

  “So soon?”

  Burke nodded. “Her apartment isn’t ready yet, but Thorny and his crew have been working hard to get her back in business as soon as possible. I’m sure that little bonus you gave him was an incentive.”

  Reed flushed. “How’d you know about that?”

  “I saw you hand him something when the two of you shook hands. Can’t think of anything else you’d be giving him except maybe money.”

  Reed gave a negligent shrug of shoulders. “No big deal. I just thought that might make things move a little faster. I’m glad he was able to make it happen. I just wish she didn’t have that long drive every morning and night from our ranch to town and back.”

  “She won’t be driving. Ally told me she and Kyle will be staying with Archer Stone until her apartment is ready.”

  Reed’s smile faded. “Are you kidding me? She’s had a taste of his temper. How could she put herself in his line of fire again?”

  “She claims he’s changed. The sheriff ordered him to take sensitivity training.”

  Reed stared at him with a look of disbelief. “I know how much family means to Ally. Archer is all she and Kyle have. She’s desperate enough for family to believe anything he tells her. But I find it hard to believe a guy like that can change his behavior overnight.” He gave a sigh of disgust. “Another week or more and we’d have the herds driven down for the season, and I could be there to chauffeur her back and forth so she wouldn’t have to put up with Archer’s hair-trigger temper.” His voice lowered with feeling. “I want to support her decision, but I don’t buy Archer’s story that he’s a changed man. Archer’s a skunk. And even if you pour perfume on a skunk, it doesn’t change his smell.”

  Burke was grinning from ear to ear.

  Reed looked over. “What’s that grin for?”

  “You, son. You’re complaining about Archer’s temper, when your own is about to boil over.”

  “It’s just that I’m worried about Ally.”

  “Sure you are.” He made a sound that could have been a growl or a grunt of laughter. “You’re sounding more and more like a man who, no matter what he says, has fallen head over tin cups for the lady.”

  As darkness settled over the hills, Reed sat alone beside the fire, brooding over Burke’s words.

  Head over tin cups.

  It was the foreman’s favorite expression for someone wildly, totally out of control, whether it was alcohol, temper, or love.

  Reed tipped up his longneck and took a pull. There was no denying he was crazy about Kyle. That little freckled, redheaded kid with the big owl glasses had a way about him that tugged at Reed’s heartstrings.

  So did Kyle’s mother. But that didn’t make it love. There was no law that said just because he was worried about her safety and wished she was here with him right now, he was in love.

  He had a right to worry about her. Look how much she’d been through. A guy who’d shamelessly used her, then refused to step up to his obligation. And then a guy so obsessed with her, he fo
llowed her all the way to Montana. It was true the stalker had been caught, and she was no longer in any danger from him. But sensitivity training aside, Archer Stone was still a loose cannon, and she was willing to place her trust in him. The guy didn’t just get mad like other guys. He came unglued. Unhinged. Crazy mad. Always had. No doubt always would.

  Reed rubbed at his temples. If he were honest, he’d have to admit that the trigger for Archer’s temper wasn’t Ally. She just happened to be in the line of fire. Archer’s real trigger was a Malloy. Any Malloy. The very name set Archer’s teeth on edge. At least for now, Ally should have smooth sailing with her uncle, as long as he didn’t have to see a Malloy. The less Archer saw of Reed, the more he might be willing to forge a bond with Ally and Kyle.

  Reed thought about all the hard work Ally had gone through, getting that old building ready for her business and living quarters, only to have to start all over again after the fire. She deserved a chance to succeed.

  She also deserved to be supported in her efforts. With the roundup of the rest of the herds well under way, if he pushed, he ought to be able to make it to town to surprise Ally on her grand reopening day.

  The thought had his smile returning. His presence would catch her off guard. She wasn’t expecting him. It would be fun to see the look on her face when she saw him standing in her shop. Those eyes going wide, and then that smile lighting all her features. And then later, when the crowd had left, and Kyle was asleep…

  His eyes took on a faraway look as he stared into the fire. He couldn’t wait to taste those lips. To inhale the soft, woman scent of her. To feel those gentle hands moving over him while he took her to bed and made wild, passionate love all through the night.

  Just the thought of her there to greet him made these endless days and nights in the hills so much sweeter.

  But it wasn’t love, he told himself. It was…

  Hell, he couldn’t lie to himself.

  It was love. Plain and simple.