If he decided to get out of the car and walk, there wasn’t anything she could do about it. Short of running him over, he wasn’t about to leave her alone, but he wouldn’t mention that. Instead, he leaned back and settled against the leather seat. “How about we focus on getting you home first and worry about me later?”
“No! I’ll take you to the base then I…” Delaney slammed on the brakes when she almost ran it into the back of another car she couldn’t see through the blinding snow. The sedan slid to the right and she had to work to keep from hitting a parked car.
Visibly shaken, her breath came in short gasps and her wide eyes scanned what little she could see through the windshield.
“Are you sure there isn’t somewhere in town you could stay?” Klayne asked again.
“I need to go home,” Delaney said, gripping the steering wheel with tight fists.
“Then I’m going with you.” She scowled and he gave her a mocking smile. “You can argue all you want, even take me to Pendleton Field, but I’m not staying there until you are safely home. Save some time and fuss, and let me go with you.”
The glare she sent him might have terrified lesser men than Sergeant Klayne Campbell. He ignored her irritation and rubbed his hands together in an attempt to restore warmth.
Finally, she relented. “I’ll allow you to accompany me if you promise you will not attempt to walk home in this blizzard.”
Slowly, he tipped his head toward her. “I promise I won’t walk anywhere while the weather is like this.”
She gave him a curt nod then turned her focus back to driving. Klayne had a general idea of where she lived from the details she’d shared about the ranch, but he wasn’t sure how far out of town she’d have to drive.
“What time do you have to report in the morning?” Delaney asked, breaking the silence that had settled around them.
“I don’t have to be there until nine in the morning.”
Rather than reply, she hunched over the steering wheel, arms stiff and back angled forward. Tempted to reach over and rub her tense shoulders, he had a feeling that might distract them both. The idea of insisting she allow him to drive crossed his mind, but Delaney was familiar with the road. Additionally, he figured she’d balk like a cantankerous mule if he attempted to take over her car. The thought of sparring with her held appeal, but they really did need to keep their attention on getting out of the storm. Klayne began to think he should have demanded she stay in town, whether she liked it or not, as snow blinded them to anything beyond a foot or so in front of the car.
Delaney was a good driver, even if she was nervous and edgy. When the car hit a patch of ice and spun in a half circle, she didn’t panic. She managed to keep the car from sliding into the ditch by slowly turning the wheel. Her face paled to the color of the snow and her breath came in shallow gasps as she guided the car back onto the road.
“You’re doing a great job, Delaney,” he praised, placing a hand on her shoulder. If he had any idea where they were going, he would have taken over the wheel, but remained silent.
Finally, he started telling her a funny story, as a way to divert her worrying about the storm. As she listened to his tale, her shoulders relaxed and her grip on the steering wheel loosened.
Although all he could see was blowing, blustery white flakes, Delaney guided the car off the highway onto a side road. A short while later, she parked in front of a immense farmhouse that looked like something out of the dreams Klayne had when he was younger. He’d always wanted to live in a farmhouse with a big, boisterous, loving family. As an orphaned boy, he used to rip out house plans he found in discarded newspapers and save them, hoping and wishing someone would adopt him and take him to such a home.
“Come inside,” she said, opening her car door and hurrying up the snow-covered walk to the porch.
Klayne followed. He’d thought about asking if he could drive her car to town and have one of the guys help him return it in the morning, but he wasn’t sure he could find his way back to Pendleton in the snow. Since he didn’t want to send himself to an early grave, walking was out of the question. The only other option was obeying Delaney’s orders.
Before she opened the door, she smirked at him. “Told you I could get myself home.”
“You did a fine job, Delaney. I didn’t doubt your abilities, but I just wouldn’t have felt right letting you make the drive on your own.”
She grinned and opened the door. “Let’s get inside. It’s too cold to stay out here any longer.”
Klayne stamped his feet on the mat in front of the door before following her inside. Homey aromas filled the air. The scents of bread and cinnamon, and a hint of lemon from furniture polish, blended with the fragrance of memories, laughter, and tears.
Awed, he remained on the rug just inside the door, afraid to mar the shiny surface of the hardwood around him with his wet boots.
“Don’t just stand there. Let’s go in by the fire,” Delaney said, hurriedly removing her coat and scarf and hanging them on the hook of a hall tree to dry. She waited while Klayne removed his coat and hung it up, then slipped off his boots. He straightened as a big, barrel-chested man bustled down the hallway.
“Sis! It’s about time you got home. I was ready to go out looking for you.” He gave her a hug, and then noticed she had a guest. “And you brought home a friend.” The man held out a work-roughened, scarred hand to Klayne. “Welcome to Sage Hills Ranch. I’m Dillard Danvers, but most everyone calls me Dill. You must be the young man who’s had Delaney in such a tizzy.”
“Dad!” Delaney rolled her eyes and tossed her father a dark scowl. She placed a hand on Klayne’s arm, drawing him away from the door. “I want you to meet Sergeant Klayne Campbell. He insisted I shouldn’t drive home alone in the storm, so now he’s stuck here.”
“That’s alright. It’s nice to meet you, Sergeant Campbell.” Dill held out his hand to Klayne and gave him a friendly smile.
Klayne shook his hand. “I apologize for imposing on you, sir. My intentions were good, even if they left me stranded and at your daughter’s mercy.”
Dill chuckled. “And she can be a real tyrant.” He ignored the daggers shooting from Delaney’s eyes and motioned down the hall. “Come on back to the kitchen. We can whip up some hot chocolate and sit at the table. It’s the warmest room in the house right now.”
“Thank you, sir.” Klayne waited for Delaney to lead the way then followed her father down the hall. “I can bunk down in the barn, sir, if you just point me in the right direction.”
Dill shook his head and motioned to a cozy table for four in front of a bay window. “Go on and sit down while I stir up something hot to drink. I won’t have you staying in the barn when we have plenty of room right here in the house. I do appreciate you keeping an eye on Dee, though. She’s just as likely to fall head first into trouble as she is to stay out of it.”
“Dad!” Delaney ground out between clenched teeth, each syllable bearing the weight of her annoyance.
Dill merely grinned and stirred shaved chocolate into the pan of warming milk.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Klayne asked, standing in the kitchen, soaking in the cozy atmosphere as much as the warmth it offered.
Despite the way they seemed to clash, he sensed a great, abiding love between Delaney and her father. As though the two of them had an unspoken pact to face whatever challenges came their way together.
Klayne felt a pang of jealousy for the parents he never knew, the unconditional love he never experienced. After all these years, it surprised him he still felt such a sense of overwhelming loss when he witnessed a loving family. Although Delaney blustered and Dill goaded her, it was easy to see the affection and admiration the two held for each other.
“Just sit yourself down and I’ll have this ready in a jiffy.” Dill waggled bushy eyebrows at Delaney as she took down thick mugs from a cupboard. “If my daughter ever offers to make you hot chocolate, run the other direction. Our r
anch foreman swears she tried to poison us all the last time she made it.” Dill pulled a disgusted face and wrinkled his nose.
Klayne had to swallow back a laugh when Delaney shot a warning look his way.
“I didn’t poison anybody. The one time I burned the hot chocolate was years and years ago. Why can’t you all forget about it?”
“Because you get so worked up when we mention it, that’s why,” Dill said, winking at Klayne as he stirred the hot milk mixture.
Delaney ignored her father and set cookies on a plate then carried it over to the table. She set out three napkins and spoons then took a seat in the chair beside Klayne.
“Are you warm enough?” she asked, slipping her hand over his as it rested on his thigh. Surprised, he turned his hand over and clasped her cool fingers with his.
The small, private smile she gave him warmed him more than the comfortable kitchen where they sat.
Out of the corner of his eye, he studied her. Her shoulders still appeared stiff and she looked as though she had yet to relax after the nerve-racking drive home. If her father hadn’t been standing on the other side of the kitchen, Klayne would have massaged her shoulders.
A whiff of her perfume tantalized his nose, and he decided that would be a bad idea. An incredibly bad idea.
Distance from the feisty girl was what he needed. And sleep. Exhaustion slowly sapped both his strength and his ability to stay alert.
Thankfully, Dill served the hot chocolate and carried the conversation as they drank it and nibbled on butter cookies.
As soon as they finished their drinks, Dill told Delaney to show Klayne to the guest room at the head of the stairs.
“Thank you, sir,” Klayne said, as they all stood from the table. He held his hand out to the older man. “I appreciate your hospitality.”
“My pleasure, son.” Dill smiled. “Have a good night’s rest. One of us will make sure you make it back to Pendleton Field before you get into trouble in the morning.”
“I hate to put you out, sir. I can just walk. By morning…”
“The snow will be even deeper and probably just as cold,” Dill cut in. “It’ll be my pleasure to take you into town. I’ve been wanting to go see the base, and now I have an excuse.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“You’re welcome. Now go on with Sis and she can show you where to bunk tonight.”
Klayne nodded and followed Delaney up a narrow set of stairs just off the kitchen.
“Dad wants to put you in the guest room next to his room.” She led him down a hall and stopped at a door next to the front stairs. “This is it.” The knob turned in her hand and she pushed open the door. She flicked on an overhead light that illuminated a comfortable room, even if it appeared a bit unused. A colorful quilt covered the bed and a bookcase and chair beneath the window beckoned a guest to sit and read. “Will this do?”
“It will be perfect. I really would be fine in the barn or sleeping on the sofa. I don’t need any special treatment.” Klayne admired the ruffled curtains at the windows and the braided rug on the floor. He liked that so many of the rooms inside the house had the original hardwood floors instead of being covered with carpet. It wasn’t as warm in the winter, but he appreciated the gleam of the wood.
“We have plenty of space, so you might as well take advantage of it.” She hurried across the room and took two quilts from a trunk at the foot of the bed. “With the door being closed, the room’s chilly. You might need these extra quilts to stay warm.”
Klayne had a few other ideas on ways to stay warm, but chased away the thoughts and nodded his head, accepting the quilts she held. “These will be great. Thank you. I really do appreciate you allowing me to stay, Delaney.”
She backed toward the door, as though she was both hesitant and eager to escape. “Dad’s room is right next door.” A smile made the dimple pop out in her cheek. “My room is at the far end of the hall, which is why Dad put as many doors as possible between us. Have a good night, Klayne. Thanks for making sure I got home safely.”
“You didn’t need me along, but it made me feel better to make sure you got here.” He grinned. “I had a nice time with you this evening.”
Her face softened and her eyes brightened. “I had a wonderful time with you, too. Even if the movie was scary, I enjoyed it. Thank you for taking me and for dinner.” She stood in the open doorway, looking uncertain. After a quick glance down the hallway, she stood on tiptoe and pulled his head down, giving him a quick kiss before rushing into the hall.
“Sleep tight, soldier!” she called.
He grinned and started to set down the quilts when she popped her head around the edge of the doorframe. “Bathroom is the third door down on the left. Good night!”
“Good night, Delaney,” he said on a chuckle. Ready for sleep, he was stretched out in bed, breathing in the scents of sunshine and Dreft soap as he relaxed between the smooth, cool sheets.
Beneath a pile of thick quilts, head cradled by a plump feather pillow, Klayne drifted to sleep with visions of Delaney’s smile filling his dreams.
Chapter Five
Klayne awakened all at once, as he usually did, and peered through the darkness enveloping him, trying to survey his surroundings. In the silvery-tinged shadows creeping through the windows from the snow-covered world outside, he could make out a dresser, trunk, bookcase, and chair in the room.
He recalled riding home with Delaney and sat up in bed, rubbing sleep from his eyes. It came as no surprise the country girl drove as well as if not better than he could. He probably shouldn’t have insisted on accompanying her home in the storm, but he had been worried about her being stranded alone on the road at night. And he just wasn’t ready to tell her goodbye.
However, he’d left himself in a bit of a predicament. He had to be back on base, ready to report by nine that morning or be in big trouble. Klayne had never once done anything to mar his service record and he sure didn’t plan to now.
Quietly, he got up and dressed, then carefully made his bed. On silent feet, he made his way down the hall to the bathroom. The cold water he splashed on his face brought him fully awake. He squeezed a little Ipana toothpaste on his finger and brushed his teeth then finger combed his hair before stepping into the hall. As he crept past Delaney’s door to the back stairs, he stared at it, tempted to peek inside. He’d bet every penny he had that she’d look just as beautiful sleeping as she did wide awake.
Before he opened the door to find out, he continued down the back stairs and into the kitchen. He realized he should have come down the stairs by the front door, since that’s where he’d left his coat. He turned to go down the hallway when a light clicked on and he came face-to-face with Delaney.
Disapproval furrowed lines across her brow as she took a step closer to him, hands fisted on her hips. “Going somewhere, soldier?” she asked, clearly upset with his attempt to sneak out of the house.
“I need to get back to town. It stopped snowing, so I figure I can walk to the main road and catch a ride.”
Delaney rolled her eyes, grabbed the sleeve of his shirt, and dragged him into the kitchen. The lights she turned on illuminated the welcoming atmosphere of the room.
She pointed to a chair at the table and opened a cupboard. The robe she wore tightened across her backside as she stretched to reach a tin of Folger’s coffee grounds. With quick, efficient movements, she filled a red enamel pot with water. “Sit down while I make coffee. One of us will drive you into town. You can’t walk in that snow. It’ll be up to your knees in some places and you’ll be frozen before you ever reach the road.” She started the coffee then shot him a cool glare over the shoulder of her bright blue chenille robe. “I would have pegged you as being a lot smarter than a boneheaded dunce, Sergeant Campbell.”
A teasing smile took the sting out of her words. Her smile slid into the smirk he found both adorable and alluring.
Klayne studied the heart pattern on the back of her robe.
Smaller hearts encircled the hem that swayed around her dainty ankles as she heated the oven and whipped batter in a bowl. Knit slippers, the same color as her robe, covered her feet. Her thick hair had been subdued in a braid, which trailed over one shoulder. Stubborn locks escaped the confines and twirled along her neck and around her face, making him wish he could unravel the strands and run his hands through the soft tresses.
“Don’t go to any work on my account,” he said, moving behind her and inhaling the fragrance of her. If he lived to be a hundred, he’d never tire of that scent, something enticing and exotic that was all Delaney Danvers. His hands itched to bracket her waist and pull her back against his chest, but he resisted. “I don’t mean to be a bother, Delaney.”
She turned her head and grinned at him. “You aren’t, Klayne. Don’t give it another thought. Dad informed me it was a good thing you insisted I not drive home alone. According to him, you did good.”
Klayne nodded and moved away from her before he surrendered to the unwitting temptation she presented.
“You can put me to work. I should do something to repay your kindness and hospitality,” he said, glancing into the bowl as she stirred in a heaping spoon of cinnamon.
“I need to make breakfast anyway, so you might as well join us.” Delaney greased a muffin tin and poured batter in the cups then slid the pan into the oven and rinsed her hands. “Dad will be down in a minute. If you promise not to run off, I’ll hurry upstairs and change.”
He gave her a rascally grin. “Don’t feel like you have to just because I’m here. You look quite fetching in your robe with your hair all snarled like a rat’s nest.”
Delaney’s hand shot up to her head and brushed over the tangled waves. “Oh!” She spun around and raced up the stairs. Humored by her rapid retreat from the room, he hoped she didn’t think he really disparaged her appearance. On the contrary, had she lingered much longer in that soft robe that made her eyes even more vibrant, he might have given in to the urge to kiss her.
Home of Her Heart (Hearts of the War Book 2) Page 6
