Dropping the Hammer

by Joanna Wayne

  “I’ll get Jaci,” Pierce said, “though she’ll complain that I’m messing up her fun.”

  “Why not just let her go home with us and spend the night?” Dani asked. “That way Grace and baby can sleep in tomorrow.”

  “I like it,” Grace said. “And Jaci will love it. Do you have something she can sleep in?”

  “It will be a little large, but she can wear one of Constance’s T-shirts.”

  “Are we still on for the Sunday morning family trail ride?” Sydney asked.

  “Sure, as long as you and Tucker are up for it,” Pierce said. “Weather is supposed to be perfect in the morning, midfifties and clear. Nice day to take the Canyon Trail. Besides, I have everything ready for a cowboy breakfast when we reach the top.”

  “And I have a little special addition from Dani’s Delights,” Dani said.

  “If it’s your cinnamon rolls, count me in,” Sydney chimed in. “Those are worth losing a little sleep over. For that matter, anything from your bakery is worth getting up early for.”

  “We’ll drop Jaci off at your house in the morning, Grace, so she can change into her riding clothes,” Dani said. “Pierce can take over from there.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Pierce said. “Why don’t you join us, Luke? I know you’re probably busy checking out the ranch, but we head out just after sunrise and are usually back here before ten. That will leave the rest of the day for whatever you’ve got planned.”

  Luke considered the offer. He’d love the opportunity to go riding with Rachel. But on the off chance that he’d had said or done something to upset her and put her in her edgy mood, he wasn’t sure he should accept.

  “I think the operative word here is family,” Luke said. “I’ve horned in on your dinner tonight. I don’t want to wear out my welcome my second day back in Winding Creek.”

  “It’s a trail ride. The more the merrier,” Riley said.

  “Everyone might not feel that way,” Luke cautioned. He turned to Rachel and waited for her to meet his questioning gaze.

  She did but hesitated before nodding. “Of course you should come. Sunrise over the canyon shouldn’t be missed.”

  Not the most resounding invitation he’d ever received, but he’d take it. He was looking for a way in, not out.

  “I’ll be here,” he said. “Shall I trailer over my own mount? Arrowhead Hills seems to be well stocked with quarter horses.”

  “No need to go to the trouble unless you want to. We’ve got you covered,” Riley said, “with horse and saddle. You can ride Torture III. You get Tucker’s belt buckle if you stay on till breakfast.”

  Luke joined in the laughter.

  Grace and Pierce went to tell their daughter good-night before heading to Pierce’s truck for the very short ride to their cabin.

  “I think I’ll call it a night, as well,” Rachel said. “It’s been a long day. I’ll see you all in the morning.”

  “Do you need to borrow some boots for the ride?” Luke teased.

  “No, these will be fine.” Rachel uncrossed her legs, showing off a gorgeous calf, then added a smile that knocked him for a wallop yet again. Her power over him appeared to be headed toward the danger zone despite the total lack of effort on her part.

  “If you’re going to be spending a lot of time on a ranch, you need some cowgirl boots.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind—if I ever make a ranch my home.”

  Luke stood. “I’m out of here, too. But I gotta say, dinner was awesome.”

  “I thought it was good myself,” Pierce said. “Even if we don’t measure up to Esther’s cooking.”

  “No one does,” Sydney said.

  “But Esther can’t shoot like you, my sexy FBI bride,” Tucker said as he stooped to give his wife a peck on the lips.

  Rachel stepped closer to Luke. “I still have your jacket. I’ll get it for you and meet you at the door.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Luke reached the door just as Pierce was driving away. He stepped over to the porch railing, leaning his backside against it while he waited for Rachel. He wondered if this moment they’d have alone was by design or just happenstance.

  Rachel joined him a minute later. She’d slipped out of her heels and into a pair of fluffy blue slippers. She held out his jacket and he crossed the porch to take it.

  “Congratulations, Luke Dawkins. You not only survived but you hung right in there with the boisterous Lawrence brothers when they were in rare form. I’m impressed.”

  “Me, too. Never thought I’d say this, but it feels good to be back in Winding Creek—at least for tonight.” That was mostly due to Rachel and would still likely change when dear old Dad was released from rehab and back on the ranch.

  Luke refused to let that bother him while standing this close to Rachel. Moonlight streaked her luxuriant curls. Only a touch of lipstick remained on her full, tantalizing lips.

  “You were awfully quiet tonight,” he said. “The effect of the chaos you mentioned earlier?”

  “Yes, but I’m working on shedding it from my life.”

  “It might help to talk about it with someone who’s not family.”

  A stupid comment. Unlike his, her family was great. Why would she need a virtual stranger to confide in?

  She pushed loose locks of hair behind her right ear and looked upward as if counting the stars that seemed close enough to touch.

  “How much do you know about me?” she asked.

  “Is this a trick question?”

  “Not completely.”

  He reached across and took her small hand in his, half expecting her to pull away. When she didn’t, a crazy protective urge swept through him. Only what or whom did she need protection from?

  “I know you’re gorgeous and you smell like lilacs.” He trailed his fingers up her arm until they tangled into the delectable curls that fell past her shoulders. “What else should I know about you, Rachel?”

  “Nothing that you won’t find out for yourself soon enough.”

  Her words sounded like a pronouncement of lurking doom. A sense of hopeless dread chilled him as she backed against the front door and rested one hand on the knob. “I should go in now. We’ll be up at dawn tomorrow.”

  “Then I guess this is good-night.”

  He tried to walk away. He honestly tried, but she looked so tempting. So irresistible.

  He slid a thumb beneath her chin and nudged until she met his gaze. When she didn’t turn away, his lips touched hers, brushing them like a feather, little more than a suggestion of a kiss. Even that was enough to send him reeling.

  Rachel slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Not shy or reluctant, but a bold, hungry kiss that set him on fire. He swayed against her, drunk on the thrill of lips on his, their tongues tangling, their breaths mingling.

  Seconds later, she pulled away and placed an open hand against his chest, gently pushing him away. He was crazy with wanting her and was certain she could feel the pounding of his heart.

  “See you tomorrow,” she whispered as she opened the door and slipped back inside the house.

  Tomorrow couldn’t come too soon.

  * * *

  DAWN WAS LIGHTENING the sky before Rachel gave up on the tossing and turning and any chance of sound sleep. Her life was spinning out of control at a dizzying pace.

  Two days ago, she’d had a career. She’d known what she would be doing from day to day. Admittedly, she’d still been struggling to move past the torture Roy Sales had put her through, but she was making progress.

  Two days ago, she wasn’t making headlines, another major detriment to defending Hayden. The terrors she was trying so hard to escape would be front and center.

  People would stare. People would ask questions. Gossip magazines would feed on her trauma again.

/>   Two days ago she hadn’t met Luke Dawkins. Her stomach hadn’t fluttered at his incidental touch. There had been no heated zings of attraction when a rugged, hard-bodied stranger spoke her name or met her gaze.

  A kiss hadn’t rocked her with desire and left her aching for more. She put her fingertips to her lips, and a craving for his mouth on hers burned inside her.

  This was absolutely crazy.

  She kicked off the covers, crawled out of bed, padded to the window and opened the blinds. The crescent moon floated behind a gray cloud. The universe held steady, day following night, season following season, the earth remaining on its axis century after century.

  She didn’t expect that kind of order in her life, but neither could she continue to let the demonic Roy Sales pull the strings and control her reactions.

  She had to fight to get what she wanted—once she decided what that was. She’d spend the next two or maybe three days here in Winding Creek trying to figure it all out. Then she’d drive back to Houston and face Eric Fitch Sr. straight on.

  There were no decisions to make about Luke Dawkins. Once he learned of her past, he’d see her through different eyes. And he’d definitely learn about her past, since she was making news again. He’d pity her, and then he’d move on.

  Who could blame him? Her emotional baggage was killing her.

  * * *

  RACHEL, SYDNEY AND DANI were sipping coffee from disposable cups and watching Jaci and Constance raced around the corral while the guys saddled the morning’s mounts.

  The first sun rays were chasing away the moon from what was now a cloudless sky. The air was brisk. The breeze was gentle. Exactly the kind of morning she’d have ordered for a trail ride.

  Except that Luke had not shown.

  This was just the eye-opener she needed to realize last night’s kiss didn’t mean anything. Nor should it. God knew she had more on her plate than she could handle. Luke had overwhelming problems of his own.

  Nonetheless, she couldn’t stop herself from turning every few seconds to look over her shoulder for his truck approaching the horse barn.

  Pierce sauntered over and joined in the children’s game of chase. He caught Jaci, swooping her into his arms and then balancing her atop his shoulders.

  “Time to climb into the saddle,” he said. “Dreamer’s getting impatient.”

  Riley stepped out of the horse barn, leading another horse that was saddled and tossing its head as if eager to be ridden. “Beauty’s ready, too, Constance. I think she’s more excited about getting some exercise than you are.”

  “Jaci and Constance are amazing kids,” Sydney said. “Precocious and outgoing and both so sweet. I may have to start thinking about starting a family myself one of these days.”

  That got Rachel’s full attention. “That’s the first time I’ve heard you say that.”

  “Don’t go buying any diapers. I’m not ready yet,” Sydney said. “I’m still having too much fun fighting crime, but one day.”

  “I would have said the same thing until Constance fell into my life,” Dani said. “Now I can’t imagine life without her.”

  “They sit in the saddle like experienced horsewomen,” Rachel said.

  “Pierce and Riley both take up a lot of time with them, teaching them the basics about horses, including how to treat the animals. I swear I think Constance would much rather spend her time with horses than her school friends.”

  Tucker led a chestnut and a sorrel mare out of the barn, also saddled, bridled and ready to go. “Time to ride, ladies. This is Moonbeam, Rachel,” he said, giving the chestnut a nose rub.

  “She’s beautiful.”

  “She’s gentle and responds well even to a slight tug on the reins. She’ll give you a great ride.”

  “Just listen to my gorgeous bull-riding hubby,” Sydney said. “The way he talks about the Double K horses, you’d think he spent his time with horses instead of mean bulls.”

  “I told you I’m a man of many talents,” Tucker teased.

  “And so modest.”

  “Shouldn’t we wait for Luke?” Dani asked.

  “I had a call from him a few minutes ago,” Pierce said as he fit the riding helmet on his young daughter. “He was out riding the fence line at dawn and came across a break in the fence from a fallen mulberry branch. He’s fixing it before the cows head for greener pastures that might not belong to him.”

  “He’ll be sorry he missed the cinnamon rolls,” Riley said.

  “And riding with all these beautiful women,” Tucker added.

  “He must agree with you,” Pierce said. “He’s still going to try to make it, but he said if he wasn’t here when we got ready to start out, we should leave without him.”

  Rachel felt a tinge of relief. At least he wasn’t avoiding her intentionally after she’d kissed him so ravenously last night—unless the break in the fence was just an excuse. Either way, she wouldn’t have to face his questioning, pitying eyes if he’d already heard about the kidnapping.

  She walked over to get acquainted with Moonbeam. Her experience with horses was not as extensive as the rest of the riding party’s, but she had ridden some in college. Half her friends’ families either owned a ranch or knew someone who did. That was Texas.

  She heard the hum of the truck’s engine just as they started their procession. Her mood improved dramatically.

  “You guys go ahead,” Riley called from the rear of the line. “Luke and I will catch up with you.”

  Rachel was just getting comfortable in the saddle when Luke slowed his horse and fell in beside her.

  She glanced his way, and her heart skipped a couple of beats. There should have been a law against any man being that heart-stoppingly sexy.

  He tipped his gray Stetson. A few locks of his hair fell over his forehead. The jagged angles and planes of his face were made more rugged by the dark whiskers on his chin. His denim jacket was open, revealing a black T-shirt that emphasized his hard body.

  She took a deep breath and waited for her pulse to return to normal. “Glad you could join us,” she said.

  “Pleasure is all mine.”

  “Did you get your fence fixed?”

  “Patched. It needs more extensive work like everything else around Arrowhead Hills except the horse barn. Dad’s quarter horses live like kings. The other outbuildings are practically caving in. But enough about my troubles.”

  He pointed to the left. “Check out that view.”

  She did. They’d been climbing steadily since they left the horse barn. Grassy hillsides stretched out behind them, the rambling ranch house no longer visible.

  “It’s magnificent,” she said.

  At that moment, a tall, antlered buck and two does stepped out from the tree line a few yards ahead of them. She pulled the reins, slowing Moonbeam to a full stop. The deer remained still, staring back at her until a fluffy-tailed rabbit scurried past them.

  The buck turned and raced back into the woods with the does at his heels.

  “I forgot about all the wildlife in this part of Texas and how peaceful it is on the open range,” Luke said. “No traffic jams. Clean air. The smell of the earth.”

  “The rural lifestyle does have a lot to offer,” she agreed. “I should get to the Double K a lot more often than I do, but there never seems to be enough time.”

  “Which is exactly why you should spend more time here,” Luke said. “That and the fact that Esther has a way of making everyone feel so welcome.”

  “She definitely does that.”

  Pierce dropped back to join them. “Having a problem?”

  “Nope,” Luke said. “Just stopped a moment to soak in the atmosphere.”

  “The scenery keeps getting better until we reach the canyon view,” Pierce said. “Then it’s phenomenal. We’ll stop for breakfast there. Est
her is bringing the food and supplies in the truck.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be famished by then,” Luke said. “And full as a tick when we head back.”

  They started along the trail again. Luke and Pierce immediately got into a conversation about cattle feed, hay and barn repairs.

  Rachel left them behind and caught up with Sydney.

  “I noticed you and Luke were riding together for a while,” Rachel’s sister commented.

  “Only for a few minutes.”

  “So, what do you think of him other than the fact that he’d blow the top off any hunk-o-meter?”

  “I hadn’t noticed that.”

  “Really? When did you lose your eyesight?”

  “Just kidding,” Rachel confessed. “He’s sexy. I’ll give him that. And interesting.”

  “Then his attention isn’t making you nervous.”

  “No, though strange men usually do. I suspect it has something to do with being here with all of you.”

  “I think that it’s a good sign you’re moving on.”

  “I hope you’re right. It’s been four months.”

  But moving on to what? It was peaceful here, but the real world was waiting to ambush her at the next turn.

  * * *

  ESTHER WAS WAITING for them at a flat, grassy spot with a nice view of Creek Canyon while still far enough away from the edge that Constance and Jaci weren’t in danger of tumbling down the rocky decline. Neither of them ever slowed down.

  In the Big Bend area of Texas, Creek Canyon would be considered more gulch than canyon, but it was impressive for the Hill Country.

  Luke was familiar with the canyon from before, only he’d seen it from the other side on land that belonged to one of his baseball teammates. It was a favorite spot for going snake hunting, an activity they’d somehow thought fun back in the day.

  Rachel didn’t wait for his assistance but dismounted on her own and walked the horse over to a scrubby cluster of Texas walnut trees. She handed the reins to Pierce, who was already securing his and Jaci’s mounts to a low branch.

  There was no water for the horses, but they’d stopped at two streams on the way up, where the horses had drunk their fill.