Gone Country: Rough Riders, Book 14

by Lorelei James

  “What was her suggestion?”

  “That I have a family housewarming party.” He knocked back a slug of coffee. “Here.”

  Rielle’s hands tightened around her mug. “When?”

  “I think we should get it out of the way tomorrow night.”

  “Tomorrow night?” Sierra repeated.

  “Yeah, why? Is there something else going on?”

  She paused. Opened her mouth. Closed it. Then shook her head.

  “And get this—Vi believes I ought to invite all the McKays.”

  “All the McKays?” Rielle repeated. “At one time?”

  Sierra snickered.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “The look on Rielle’s face as she’s thinking about Ky, Anton and Hayden playing football in the living room.”

  Gavin scowled at her. So much for his daughter backing his play.

  “This is your house. If you want to have a party, have a party. But I will remove all my breakables out of the great room and any other areas the wild McKay clan might vandalize.”

  Vandalize? That was a harsh assessment.

  “Will this be a potluck?” Sierra asked.

  “Hell if I know.” He looked hopefully at Rielle.

  She threw up her hands. “No way. I don’t want any part of this party.”

  “I’ll help you, Dad. I’m sure Vi will pitch in and bring food since it was her idea. We’ll just have munchies and drinks. Paper plates, plastic cups, easy stuff. Pick me up after school today and we’ll hit Wal-Mart in Spearfish.”

  Why was Sierra being so helpful?

  Stop looking for motives. You should be overjoyed she’s pitching in and wants to be around her family.

  “Sounds like a plan.” He glanced at the clock. “Better get your stuff. It’s about time to leave.”

  As soon as Sierra was out of the kitchen, he leaned closer to Rielle. “I’ll help you move anything you want out of the great room. And I’ll try to keep everyone in the kitchen and dining room.”

  “That’s…thoughtful. Thank you. But if it’s all the same, I won’t stick around tomorrow night.”

  Gavin laid his hand on the side of her face. “I’d like it if you’d stay. Not to keep the appetizers supplied, or pour drinks, or even to run herd on unruly McKay munchkins.”

  “Then why?”

  “Honestly? Because I’m related to the McKays, but you know them way better than I do. I’ll probably need you to prompt me on some names.” Such a lie. Why don’t you tell her the truth?

  “So I’d be a crutch.”

  His gaze fell to her mouth. The woman had the most enticing lips. He adjusted his hand and his thumb followed the swell of her lower lip. “Fuck. I want to take you to bed in the worst way.”

  Rielle shivered delicately.

  The sound of heavy equipment rattling up the drive broke the moment.

  Gavin retreated. Or tried to. Rielle wrapped her fingers around his wrist, holding his hand in place.

  “I asked you a question. If I stay for the party tomorrow night, will I just be a crutch for you?”

  “No. You’d be a lifeline.”

  Rielle offered him a shy smile and pressed a soft kiss to the base of his thumb before she released his hand. “Then I’ll stay.”

  Sierra yelled, “Dad! Come on. I’m gonna be late.”

  Gavin kissed Rielle hard. “Later.”

  What the fuck had he been thinking, having a fucking party?

  There were approximately ten billion people in his house and the majority of them were less than two feet tall. And yelling. Or crying. Or doing both.

  In the kitchen, Vi sidled up with another veggie plate. “Scoot a cheek, son, so I can put these down.”

  “Sorry. Have you seen my co-host?”

  “Rielle?”

  I wish. “No, Sierra.”

  “Last time I saw her, she was looking for Keely.” Vi tugged him down and whispered, “Maybe you’d better track her down. Who knows what kind of wild ideas Keely is putting in her head. That girl was hell on bootheels from the time she was two years old.”

  “Thanks for the tip. Can you keep an eye on this for a few minutes?”

  “It’d be my pleasure.” She smiled at Ben and Ainsley. “Look at all this food! Isn’t it great Gavin and Sierra did this all themselves?”

  Ben caught his eye and mouthed, “Run.”

  Just inside the dining room, something smacked into Gavin’s leg. And held on. The dark-haired boy looked up and him and grinned.

  Jesus. All these kids looked the same. He couldn’t remember this kid’s name. “Ah, hey there, little guy. Thanks for the hug, but you gotta let go now.”

  The kid didn’t budge. He grinned wider and held tighter.

  Gavin figured if he started walking the rugrat would slide off.

  No such luck. This kid had an iron grip. Like a bull rider. Had to be one of Colby’s sons.

  Maybe he could bribe him. “I’ll give you candy if you let me go.”

  He shook his head, wiping his wet mouth on Gavin’s jeans.

  “Beau,” a male voice said sharply. “Let him go.”

  The kid dropped his arms, looked up at Gavin and said, “Now gimme candy.”

  “What? No way.”

  Cord scooped the boy up, cocking him on his hip. “Sorry. He’s a little ornery tonight.”

  Ya think?

  Cord’s focus dropped to the wet spot on Gavin’s knee. “Did he bite you?”

  Bite him? What the hell? “No.”

  “Good. This one’s a biter, much to his mama’s dismay.”

  Gavin had no idea what to say to that.

  “Anyway, AJ wanted me to relay her thanks for the invite and she’s sorry she couldn’t make it tonight.”

  “Is everything all right?”

  “It will be when she has the baby. I wanted to tell you to swing by for a beer sometime. Our door is always open and if you need anything, just holler.”

  “Thanks, Cord. I appreciate it.”

  He skirted two girls chasing each other and a third twirling in place like a ballerina. He saw Dalton, leaning against the wall, a baby cradled in his arms while Brandt and Jessie were eating.

  Dalton smiled. “Great party, cuz.”

  “Thanks. Glad you could make it. Where are Tell and Georgia?”

  Jessie answered, “Cheerleading tryouts for winter sports are at the school tonight. And of course Tell had to go and help, since he and Georgia are joined at the hip.”

  “Tonight?” Vi said from behind him.

  He turned around. Why was she following him everywhere? Then he saw her wiping down the opposite end of the table.

  Don’t be an ass. She’s just being helpful.

  “I thought Sierra wanted to try out for cheerleading,” Vi said.

  That surprised Gavin. Sierra hadn’t even mentioned it.

  “It’s too bad,” Jessie said. “Georgia would’ve loved to have her on the squad.”

  Why hadn’t his daughter said something? Did she think he’d say no? Just another reason he needed to track her down. Before he made it to the hallway, he was stopped five times. Once by Colby, who said pretty much the same thing Cord had. Ditto for Kane and Kade. Colt managed to repeat the offer before the girl child in his arms screamed like a banshee and he hot-footed it outside.

  His gaze swept the great room where the McKay wives were clustered with still more kids. Libby winked at him and he smiled back. He’d gotten to know her a little better in the last few months and she was such a sweetheart.

  Carson and Carolyn each had their hands full with a dark-haired grandchild, but Carson invited him over to skeet shoot, which was unexpected. Calvin called out to Carson and he wandered away.

  Gavin must’ve looked overwhelmed because Carolyn reached over and rubbed his arm.

  “You didn’t know what you were in for with this bunch, did you?”

  “Not really. The McKays are…a fertile lot.”

  She laugh
ed. “And a loud lot. Just think, Cam and Domini aren’t here with their six kids. Neither are Carter and Macie and their four kids.”

  “You have ten more grandkids?”

  Carolyn kissed the sleepy, dark-haired girl’s head. “Yes, we are very blessed. And we all feel the same way about you, Gavin. Blessed to have you as part of the family.”

  “Thanks. Have you seen Keely? I heard she was with Sierra.”

  “No.” She scanned the room. “Hmm. I don’t see Jack either. Those two probably snuck off somewhere. They’re trying to have a baby and I swear Keely wants bragging rights that she got knocked up in the bathroom or something.”

  That was pretty…intimate stuff to share.

  Carolyn chuckled. “My wild-child daughter loves to shock her father, her brothers and her cousins with that type of information, so I thought I’d forewarn you.”

  “Good to know. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to find my daughter.”

  He walked past the guest bath and saw two boys filling squirt guns. He shook his head. “Take ’em outside.”

  “Told ya, Gib.”

  Gib. Colby’s oldest. Since the boy in the mirror looked nearly identical, they had to be brothers. When another, smaller boy leaped out from behind the shower curtain with a loud, “Rawr!” Gavin jumped.

  The boys broke into bouts of gut-holding laughter.

  Then Gavin heard Sierra’s laugh and he spied her at the end of the hallway chatting with Keely. He did a double take. Seeing them standing so close together the family resemblance was a little spooky. Same height, same dark hair, same build. Same sort of scheming smile.

  Lord help him. So far boys hadn’t started sniffing around his daughter, which made him wonder what the hell was wrong with boys these days because she was a beautiful girl; yet, he was damn happy she wasn’t boy crazy like so many girls her age.

  “Hey, sweetheart, did you forget you were my co-pilot for tonight’s festivities?”

  “It looked like everyone had gone through the food line.”

  “Vi is in the kitchen restocking everything. Go help her.”

  Sierra sighed. “Fine. See ya, Keely.”

  As soon as Sierra was out of sight, Keely said, “Shit. That was close.” She opened the door to the spare bedroom and her husband Jack leaned against the wall just inside the doorway.

  Jack’s hair was a mess, his shirt was unbuttoned, his belt was buckled but his fly was undone. And he didn’t seem a bit concerned that Gavin saw his state of undress.

  “Sorry.” She gave Gavin a sheepish look. “We, um, borrowed your room for a few minutes. Sierra was coming out of that room the same time I came out of this one. So I thought it’d be best if Jack stayed hidden.”

  So they had snuck off for a quickie. In the midst of all this chaos? In a house filled with family members?

  Yeah, Gavin planned to keep Sierra far, far away from Keely.

  Keely was already focused on Jack, smoothing the wrinkles from his shirt. “GQ, we have to straighten you up before you go out there. You look like you’ve been rolling around in bed.”

  “Or more accurately, on the floor.” Jack made a low noise and wrapped his hand around the back of Keely’s neck, pulling her closer. “Since I’m half-dressed…it’s your wifely duty to get back in here and make sure I don’t miss any buttons.”

  “But we already—”

  “That one was for you. This one? For me.” She squeaked when he tugged her into the room.

  The last thing Gavin heard: “Lock the damn door, cowgirl.”

  At least someone was getting laid in this place.

  He shot a look at Rielle’s closed door. He knocked. No answer. He started back down the hallway. When he reached the entryway, Quinn walked in through the front door.

  “Hey. I wondered what happened to you.”

  “Just enjoying the fresh air. You look like you could use some.” Quinn smiled. “Dad—Charlie—is outside. I was getting him a beer.”

  “I’ll take it to him.”

  Quinn reached into the cooler and pulled out a Miller Lite. “Have at. Better see if Libby needs my help with the kids anyway.”

  Gavin grabbed another beer and stepped onto the porch. He took a second to breathe in the cool night air and take in the blessed quiet. He saw Charlie sitting on the steps and walked over, dropping beside him. “Miller Lite, right?”

  “Gavin.” Charlie didn’t hide his surprise. “Wasn’t expecting you.” He quickly added, “But I’m glad you have time for a beer.”

  “I needed a break. I left the kitchen in Vi’s capable hands.”

  Charlie twisted the top on his beer bottle. “She’s in her element. Thanks for asking her to help. It means more than you know.”

  “Help? Hell, it was her idea.”

  He chuckled. “I ain’t surprised to hear that. So how’re the West boys comin’ with the garage? I couldn’t see much of it in the dark tonight.”

  “They do great work, but they had to stop for several weeks and finish another project. It’s almost done. You should swing by during the day and check it out. They don’t mind having people around.”

  “I’ll do that. I guess my question is do you mind havin’ me around?”

  Gavin released a slow breath. “I’ll admit even after being here a while I don’t know how this living close to family thing works. What are the parameters? Do you just drop by Quinn and Libby’s? And Ben and Ainsley’s?”

  “We used to. Not so much anymore. We call first.” He took another pull off his beer. “Vi…God love the woman, but she overstepped her bounds with Quinn and Libby from the moment they got married. Things went south for them for a while and they ended up mending fences. Quinn warned his mom to butt out. Then she made a pledge to all the boys she wouldn’t try to control them, or guilt them, or nag them. And she’s even stuck with that promise—for the most part.”

  “I remember the first time I showed up here and Vi said that situation with Quinn and Libby was a wakeup call for her?”

  He nodded. “Vi had one of those moments where every damn thing you’ve done wrong just smacks you square in the face. That’s when she finally told me about you.”

  Gavin didn’t have the balls to ask if Charlie felt what Vi had done—giving him up for adoption—was wrong. Because one thing he’d noticed about Charlie? The man had fierce loyalty. If he disagreed with his wife, he never said so in public. He held Vi in the highest regard. Whereas Gavin’s father, Dan, was the complete opposite. While a shrewd businessman, he made a lousy husband, and Gavin’s mother had turned a blind eye to her husband’s many affairs.

  “I ain’t gonna pretend I wasn’t mad. I was mad as hell. And don’t take this the wrong way, but my anger was directed at her—not that she’d given a baby up for adoption, but that it’d taken her so damn long to tell me about it.”

  “Would it have made a difference if she’d told you ten years earlier? Twenty years earlier?”

  “I can’t answer that. Sweet baby Jesus her father was a mean bastard, so I never doubted for a second that shaming her into an unwed mother’s home was solely his doing.” Charlie tipped his bottle up and drank. “I argued with her for even wanting to name our second son Bennett because I didn’t want anything to do with that SOB.” He sighed. “Sorry. I’ve started doin’ that old man rambling thing. I’m sure this had a point, but I’ll be damned if I remember what it was.”

  “I asked about your family policy on drop-ins.”

  “Ah. Policy. Well, remember that I ranched with Quinn and Ben, so we were at each other’s places every day. Chase hasn’t lived around here for any length of time since he started ridin’ bulls. This thing with you…is a new situation for us. We don’t wanna crowd you, but you oughta know that we both consider it nothin’ short of a miracle that you’re even here, livin’ a few miles up the road from us. It’s more than we ever had hoped for.”

  “I fear the reality won’t match up to the hype.”

  “You mean living
in Wyoming? Or living around family?”

  Both. Neither. “I don’t know what I mean. I appear to be rambling too.” He changed the subject. “The driving lessons with Sierra are going well?”

  Charlie smiled. “I’ll admit it’s a lot different teaching a girl to drive. I don’t recall that I ever taught the boys much. They just seemed to know it. She’s eager to learn, that’s for damn sure.”

  “She listens to you?”

  “Mostly. The girl does ask a lot of questions. And she likes to talk.”

  “Bet that’s a different experience.”

  Charlie looked at him. “’Cause Quinn is quiet?”

  “Ben is too, for the most part, unless it’s one on one.”

  “Guess we all feel there’s no reason to waste air sayin’ something that don’t need to be said.”

  The door slammed and half a dozen kids raced out.

  Adam climbed onto Charlie’s lap. “Bet your daddy doesn’t know you’re out here.” Charlie looked at Gavin. “This boy wears his shoes out he’s constantly on the go, aren’t you, buddy?”

  “Gampa, I hungry.”

  “Grama’s probably got some cookies with your name on ’em, though I suspect your mama would rather have you eatin’ carrots.”

  “Cookies!”

  The door slammed again and Quinn clomped down the steps. “Adam, what’d I tell you about running off?”

  The boy started to cry and wouldn’t let go of Charlie.

  Gavin took that as his cue to leave. He was completely off balance anyway, in unfamiliar territory on so many levels. He needed something familiar to hold onto. And Rielle was the first thing that came to mind.

  Where the devil was she? He hadn’t seen her for at least an hour. No one waylaid him when he checked her room. No sign of her. He scoped out the ladies sitting and chatting in the great room. She wasn’t here either.

  Ainsley was in conversation with Libby so Rielle hadn’t snuck off with her partner in crime for a drink. She wasn’t helping Vi and Sierra in the kitchen, although it must’ve driven her crazy leaving it to chaos.

  Chaos. As someone used to solitude, she’d want to go someplace quiet.