The Maverick & the Manhattanite (Montana Mavericks: Rust Creek Cowboys)

by Banks, Leanne

  “How can I think about eating ice cream when you’re in my bed?” he asked.

  She took another bite then offered the popsicle to him. “Will this help?” she asked.

  He took a bite. “Not really.”

  She handed him the rest of the popsicle. “I’m ready to toss it and do something else,” she said.

  He took the popsicle away and returned. Lowering his mouth to hers, he began to remove her clothes. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you, too,” she whispered and allowed him to sweep her away.

  His sweet lovemaking took her to a different place where it was just Gage and her. She wanted to stay in that amazing place as long as possible, and clung to him as they descended from their sensual high.

  “I can’t get enough of you,” she whispered. “You make me want more and more.”

  “Same for me,” he said, cradling her against him.

  “You feel so good,” she said, wiggling even closer. “Hold me like this forever.”

  He didn’t respond and Lissa understood. She was asking more than he could give. She was asking more than she could give.

  * * *

  The next morning she and Gage awakened. “Can you do me a favor after lunch?” she asked as she pulled him against her.

  “What kind of favor?” he asked.

  “You don’t have to launch a spacecraft,” she said.

  “Well, that’s good. Okay, I’ll try. What time?” he asked.

  “After lunch? Two-ish,” she said.

  “Okay. I can do that unless there’s an emergency.”

  “Good,” she said.

  “What’s up?”

  “You’ll find out at two-ish,” she said with a grin.

  He frowned in response. “I don’t like surprises,” he said.

  “Hopefully you’ll like this one,” she said, mentally crossing her fingers.

  “We’ll see.”

  “Yeah, we will,” she said.

  * * *

  Later that day, Gage received a call from Lissa.

  “Hi,” she said with breathless excitement in her voice. “It’s almost two. Can you meet me at your place?”

  “I guess,” he said, curious about what she had going on. “Let me make sure Will can cover for me. I can’t stay long,” he warned.

  “That’s okay. I just need you for a few minutes,” she said and giggled.

  He heard a voice in the background. “Hey, where are you, anyway?”

  “I’ll see you soon,” she said and hung up.

  Gage shook his head as he rose from his desk. He walked toward Will. “I need to make a quick run back to my place. Can you cover for me? It shouldn’t take long.”

  Will nodded. “No problem,” he said. “Take as long as you need.”

  Vickie looked up from the dispatch desk. “You’re going to your house?”

  “Yeah,” he said, trying to decipher her expression. She had her finger over her mouth as if she was trying to keep a secret.

  “Well, have fun,” she finally said and smiled.

  Gage frowned. “I’ll be back soon,” he said and headed for his car. During the entire drive to his ranch, Gage racked his brain about what was going on. Lissa was acting too strange. Vickie was, too.

  Pulling into his driveway, he started to stop at his trailer. Then he glanced past it to his house. A crowd of people stood in his yard with Lissa standing in front, a big smile stretching from ear to ear.

  Gage got a sinking sensation in his gut. She shouldn’t have done it, he thought. She shouldn’t have gotten the volunteers to spend precious time fixing up his house when other people needed help more than he did.

  He got out of his car and the whole group shouted, “Welcome home!”

  Lissa rushed toward him. “I know you said you didn’t want it done, but you work so hard for everyone. You don’t get very much time off,” she said, talking fast. “We just thought that you should have a decent place to stay during the few hours that you’re not working.” She searched his face. “I hope you’ll like it. I hope you’re happy.”

  “I’m sure I’ll like it,” he said even though he couldn’t quite tamp down his resentment. He thought he’d made it perfectly clear that he didn’t want his house repaired yet. He wouldn’t dare be ungrateful to the volunteers after all the work they’d done.

  He took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Introduce me to these fine people and show me what you did.”

  She smiled and was so excited he would swear she was nearly bouncing. “As all of you know, this is Sheriff Gage Christensen. I hope all of you will introduce yourselves to him. Gage, I’d like you to meet this crew’s leader, Tom Samuels.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Gage said. “Thank you for all you’ve done for Rust Creek Falls and for me.”

  “We’ve had a good time,” Tom said. “Come inside your house and take a look. As you know, your home was in better condition than most because you got rid of the wet stuff. We took care of the floor, hung some drywall and painted the downstairs. We replaced your linoleum with tile in the kitchen. Your new refrigerator and stove were delivered this morning. We decided we should let you select your own furniture,” Tom added with a laugh. “Katie and some of the other ladies took care of your upstairs.”

  “Upstairs?” he said. “I didn’t have any damage upstairs.”

  A middle-aged woman approached Gage. “Hello, I’m Katie. You didn’t have any damage, but we just thought you’d enjoy it more if we dusted and cleaned up a little and washed your linens. It’s a real honor to help turn your house back into a home, Sheriff. Everyone we talk to has nothing but praise for you.”

  A knot of guilt formed in his chest. At the same time, he was overwhelmed by what the volunteers had done for him and everyone else affected by the flood. “I don’t know what to say except thank you,” he said. “Thank you for this. Thank you for everything you’ve done for our community. It’s people like you that make the world a better place. I think we should all give you a hand,” he said and started to clap.

  Lissa immediately joined in and the volunteers started clapping, too. It was a unique, joyous moment.

  After that, the crowd got into a van and headed back to the church. They needed to pack up so they could begin their journey home. Lissa hung around, waving at the crew as they departed. She turned to him and he could see a bit of anxiety in her eyes.

  “You’re happy about this, aren’t you?” she asked. “I know you said you wanted to be last in line for help, but—”

  “You’re right,” he said. “I did want to be last in line. I don’t deserve to get my house fixed when there are families still in need of repairs.”

  Her face fell. “But this really didn’t take very long. The crew worked quickly, and other crews were working on other houses.”

  “Whatever time they spent on my house should have been spent on someone else’s house,” he said and sighed. “Thank you, but you shouldn’t have.” He turned and walked toward his SUV.

  Feeling her staring after him, he turned around. “Come on. I’ll give you a ride to town.”

  He helped her into the car and got into his side and started driving. Gage was in no mood for small talk and he sure as hell hoped Lissa would respect his silence. She did until they were about five minutes from town.

  “I keep trying to figure out why you’re upset about this,” she said. “Because you are upset.”

  “I’m not upset,” he said, but even Gage could hear the edge in his tone.

  “Someone once said to me, it’s better to give than to receive, and it’s easier, too. I thought it was funny at the time, but I think it may be especially true for you.”

  He could feel her looking at him, but he focused on driving. Ga
ge was feeling too much right now. Too much he just couldn’t explain.

  “I won’t apologize for helping this happen. It seemed right to me. But I can say I’m sorry you’re not happy about it. I really wanted to help make your life better,” she said.

  Gage hated the crack he heard in her usually peppy voice. “Lissa,” he said.

  She shook her head. “No. Please don’t say any more,” she said. “Just let me out at the rooming house.”

  They were close to town, but not close enough. Those two minutes of silence seemed like they lasted forever. He barely stopped the car before she hopped out. “Lissa,” he tried again, not sure what he was going to say.

  “‘Bye. Hope the rest of your day goes well,” she said and walked away.

  Gage stared after her, feeling completely empty. How had that happened? How had she burst into his life and made him feel full and alive? And now she’d left him feeling like a jerk.

  Well, maybe he was a jerk. What Lissa didn’t understand, what nobody seemed to understand, was that Gage was still making up for what happened to Hunter McGee while Gage was out of town. Gage had a feeling he would spend the rest of his life making up for that moment when the mayor died.

  * * *

  Gage could tell that Lissa was avoiding him after the second day that she didn’t come into the office. He couldn’t blame her. He felt like he’d squashed a butterfly. She had just wanted to do something nice for him, but he just couldn’t accept it. It was probably for the best, he told himself. She wouldn’t be here forever and he’d already grown far too attached to her. She made his world feel lighter and brighter and he could use that today, he thought, as he checked his watch. This wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last, that he’d drive Thelma McGee to visit her son’s grave.

  Gage picked up Thelma from the mayor’s office. Although every white hair was in place and she was neatly dressed, Thelma seemed a bit more frail today. Trying to keep up her son’s tradition of caring for the citizens of Rust Creek Falls was clearly taking a toll on her. Today she carried plastic blue gerbera daisies.

  “After that last snow, I feel like I have to go to plastic. Real flowers turn into brown sticks so quickly, even more so when it’s cold,” she said, as if she felt the need to explain herself as Gage drove toward the cemetery.

  “I’m sure Hunter’s looking down, glad to see some bright colors on his grave,” he said.

  Thelma smiled. “Hunter always liked bright colors. When he was a boy, he wanted to paint his room red. At first, I refused. I was afraid he would never go to sleep in such a bright room. Then I gave in and allowed him to paint one wall red. He had such energy. It was hard to refuse him.”

  Gage nodded. “That’s part of the reason he was such a good mayor. That and the fact that he had a vision for Rust Creek Falls.”

  He turned into the small cemetery and drove to Hunter’s grave then helped Thelma out of the car.

  “You’re very kind to bring me here, Gage,” she said.

  “I’m glad to be here for you,” he said, offering his arm as they took the few steps to the grave. His gut twisting in remorse and guilt, he removed his hat out of respect.

  Thelma bowed her head in what Gage suspected was a silent prayer. She bent to place the flowers on the grave.

  “Let me do that,” he said and took the flowers. He placed them in front of the small headstone.

  Thelma pressed her lips together and nodded. “We can leave now.”

  Gage escorted her back to the car. “I’m so sorry, Thelma. If there was any way I could go back in time and make sure I was here so that Hunter wouldn’t have—” He broke off and shook his head.

  “Gage, you couldn’t have prevented my son’s death,” she said, looking into his eyes. “You’re not thinking this through. Hunter was always in the thick of things. He was a man of the people. Do you really think he would have just stayed at home during a flash flood while people were in danger? You could have had yourself and the whole cavalry, but that wouldn’t have been enough for him. He wouldn’t be able to sit still if there was a chance he could help or save someone.” Thelma put her hand on his arm. “I hate it and I don’t understand it, but it was just his time. You’re not doing anyone any favors trying to take responsibility for his death. You just need to face the fact that God is more important than you are, and He wanted Hunter with Him in heaven.”

  Gage was surprised at Thelma’s response. She was usually so sweet and mild. He felt as if he was getting a lecture from a teacher. It was the equivalent of a hard mental shake.

  “Now, would you please take me to get some wings?” she asked. “I’m hungry and Hunter would definitely approve. He loved wings.”

  Gage smiled. “It would be my pleasure,” he said and drove back to town.

  After the meal, Gage drove Thelma home and he returned to the office. He was in no mood to go to his own home tonight. Too many thoughts swimming in his brain.

  Walking in the door, he waved to Vickie. She was getting ready to leave for the day. The phone rang and she made a face. “Okay, but this is the last one I’m taking,” she muttered and picked up the phone. “Sheriff’s office.” She paused a long moment. “Oh, no. Not Lissa.”

  Lightning might as well have struck Gage. He immediately turned to look at Vickie. The dispatcher was furiously taking notes. “They’ve taken her to the clinic in the next county. They may have to move her to Livingston if she doesn’t improve,” she repeated. “Unconscious,” she whispered, wincing and shaking her head. “What happened?”

  She lifted her index finger to Gage. “Unsecured beams. They fell on her. Oh, no,” she said. “I’ll relay the message.”

  Gage was already headed out the door. He was pretty sure his heart had stopped when he’d heard Lissa’s name. How had this happened? Maybe it wouldn’t have if he hadn’t been trying to ignore her. He thought the next crew wasn’t coming in until tomorrow.

  His mind racing, he drove to the clinic. He called ahead for an update but the receptionist wouldn’t give him any information because he wasn’t a relative. Swearing under his breath, he walked in the door to the clinic. He wasn’t going to put up with any bull about not being able to see her. She had come to his town and he was responsible for her as long as she was here.

  He approached the receptionist, a sour-looking woman with pointy glasses. “I’m Sheriff Christensen and I’m here to see Lissa Roarke,” he said in a firm voice.

  She looked him over and not in a nice way. “I’ll have to check with the doctor,” she said. “I’ve received several inquiries about her.” She walked away and it was all Gage could do not to follow the woman down the hall.

  She returned and met his gaze. “The doctor said you can see her in a few minutes. They’re still sewing her stitches.”

  His stomach turned. “Stitches?” he echoed.

  “Yes. She’ll have quite a few and be black and blue over much of her face and head. But that’s all I’m going to say. You’ll have to talk to Miss Roarke about her condition. We have policies, you know,” she said.

  “Then she’s conscious?” he asked.

  The receptionist frowned. “Yes, she is. That is all I’m going to say. You can take a seat.”

  Take a seat? Gage had barely been able to sit in his vehicle during the drive over here. He wasn’t going to be able to sit until he saw with his own eyes that Lissa was okay.

  Eleven minutes and thirty-seven seconds later, the receptionist waved to him. “You can come back now,” she said and led him to an examination room near the end of the hall.

  A man and woman dressed in scrubs stood on either side of Lissa, who was flat on her back on a gurney. “We’ll have to transfer you to the hospital in Livingston if you don’t have someone who can stay with you for the next twenty-four hours,” the doctor was saying.
/>   “She can stay with me,” Gage said. “I’ll look after her.”

  All three turned to look at him. “Sheriff Gage Christensen,” he said, extending his hand to the man who’d been talking when he entered the room.

  “Dr. Keller,” the man said, returning the handshake. “This is Nurse Benson. Miss Roarke took quite a blow to the head. She was unconscious and will need to be monitored.”

  Lissa tried to raise up on her elbows. “I’m really much better,” she said.

  The nurse gently pushed her back down. “You need to keep your head lower to reduce the chance of swelling.”

  Lissa sighed. “I’ve got a crew of volunteers arriving tomorrow and I have to brief them and plan—”

  “We’ll find someone else to cover for you tomorrow and the day after that, if necessary,” Gage said to her. It was hard seeing her like this, her face pale except for the bruises already forming, stitches sewn across the gash on her forehead. “If you’re sure she can go home, I’ll take care of her. Just give me the instructions.”

  A few minutes later, Gage carefully loaded Lissa into his SUV and put her seat into the recline position.

  “I’m really better,” she said.

  “I’m glad,” he said. “But the doctor said you have to rest for a minimum of twenty-four hours. And I know you’re going to cooperate, because otherwise you’ll have to go to the hospital.”

  Lissa frowned but didn’t argue. “I just don’t know what to do about that incoming crew of volunteers,” she fretted. “I need to get them pumped up so they can hit the ground running tomorrow.”

  “Well, you aren’t going to be hitting the ground or running for a few days. The doctor said you have to get complete rest, then you can gradually become more active. Gradually,” he repeated.

  “I don’t have time to be gradual,” she said in a cranky voice.

  “You don’t have a choice,” he said. “I wish you hadn’t gone out to that house by yourself. If I’d been with you, that beam wouldn’t have fallen on you.”

  He felt her gaze on him. “What? Oh, for crying out loud, Gage. Do you think you’re responsible for everything? Well, of course you are. Did you hear about that meteorite that went past the earth? You were behind that, weren’t you? And that tsunami in the Pacific. What were you thinking? Why didn’t you stop that? Along with global warming. Sheesh,” she said. “Accidents happen. You see them all the time and you know it’s just part of life.”