“Kyla? Would now be a good time to maybe move a little faster?”
Kyla shifted into reverse. “I’m easing back. Don’t want to scare her. Just giving momma here a little space.”
“Momma looks like she’d like all the space, please. And can I just say that bear cubs look a lot cuter on zoo cams?”
Kyla steered the truck backward, but the bear kept coming toward them, not looking like she was in any particular hurry, but also not looking like she was about to take a turn east or west anytime soon. “Roll up your window, Hayls.”
“Kyla!” Hayley was embarrassed to hear her voice squeak.
Nice. She’d locked the door but left the window open?
“You promised me a bear-free vacation!”
“No such thing out here, sweets.” Kyla backed up some more, and Hayley saw her eyes scanning both sides of the road. “Okay, hold on.”
Hayley grabbed for the bar above her head, but didn’t have time to get hold of it before the truck lurched forward, bounced off the pavement, and chewed up a thousand feet of dusty dirt. Just as they were about to cruise headlong into a stand of firs, Kyla swung back onto the pavement, sending Hayley crashing into her door.
Hayley twisted her body around to look behind them, and grabbed her throat as she saw the momma bear rear up to her full height. “Omigod. Do you see that?”
“Yes. And I’m very glad I’m seeing it from this far away.”
Hayley watched the trio of bears until they were small specks, then finally turned around. “Just another little jaunt to the airport?”
Kyla shrugged. “Sometimes it’s bears, sometimes it’s a moose. You just never know.”
“You are not the same girl we brought out here last year.”
She laughed. “If I were her, I’d have been lunch long before now.”
“Is it safe to roll my window back down? I think I just scare-sweated through my shirt.”
“It’s fine. We probably won’t see another one.”
“Because there’s a three-a-day limit?” Hayley looked out the back window again.
“No. Because they have huge territories.” She tipped her head. “Unless papa bear is in the area, too.”
Hayley frowned. “I think I just decided I didn’t miss you as much anymore.” She blinked hard. “Umm, Kyla?” A beat-up old truck was careening toward them, its driver waving something madly out the window.
Kyla looked into her rearview mirror, then shook her head fondly. “I revise my earlier statement. Sometimes it’s a bear, sometimes it’s a moose, sometimes it’s Roscoe.” She slowed the truck and looked for a spot to pull over.
“What is he waving?”
“Looks like paper.” She laughed. “Today’s version of a blue light, maybe.”
“Tell me he doesn’t seriously pull people over with a piece of blue construction paper.”
Kyla shrugged, smiling. “Maybe.”
She pulled to a stop, and Roscoe pulled up right behind them.
“He’s not, like, armed, is he?” Hayley turned her head. Roscoe had put in forty-plus years on Montana’s state police force, but Alzheimer’s had forced him to retire long before he would have chosen to leave. “How is he these days?”
“Actually, he’s doing pretty well. He has his good days and bad days, like everyone else with this hideous disease, but he seems good lately. His short-term memory is getting worse, but his stories of the old days are still crystal clear.”
“But he still likes to play cops and robbers, apparently.”
Kyla looked sidelong across the truck cab at her. “It’s where he’s happiest. Can you imagine going from doing that job for forty-three years to sitting in a recliner waiting for your brain to shut down completely?”
“Poor guy.”
Hayley glanced in the rearview mirror. It looked like Roscoe was calling something in on his radio.
“Don’t let him hear you say that.”
“So what do we do? Should we get out and say hi?”
“Nope.” Kyla smiled. “Keep your hands in full view and let him be a trooper today, okay?”
“Seriously?”
“Trust me.”
Roscoe finally creaked open the door of his ancient truck and strolled up to Kyla’s window, right hand on his belt. Hayley whispered, “You’re sure he’s not armed?”
Kyla shook her head, then looked out at Roscoe. “Good afternoon, Officer.”
Roscoe raised one eyebrow, then put both hands on the windowsill. “Who you calling Officer, young lady?”
“Well, you pulled me over. I figured you were in police mode today.”
Roscoe laughed. “I’m not that far gone, Kyla. Not yet, anyway. I didn’t pull you over. I flagged you down.”
“Oh. Well, that’s different.”
“Just wanted to be the first one to see the Boston gals.” Roscoe leaned into the truck and stuck his right hand toward Hayley. “Welcome back to paradise, Hayley. Where’s your cohort?”
Hayley felt a smile of relief take over her face. “Well, thank you, Roscoe. It’s good to see you again. Jess is stuck back in Boston for a couple more days, but she’ll be here.”
“Didja see the bears back there? Looks like you got a welcoming committee this time around.”
Kyla laughed. “I had one the first time around, too. It was you.”
“Yup.” Roscoe winked. “You smelled like city. Highly suspicious. Had to check you out. Turns out you’re okay folk, though.”
“I’m very relieved.”
Roscoe leaned in again. “So Hayley, you gonna keep me in line at the wedding?” He pointed his thumb at Kyla. “This one asked me to walk her down the aisle. I gotta wear a suit and everything.”
Kyla laughed. “You know you love it, Roscoe. And who better to walk me down than the man who brought me and Decker together in the first place?”
“This is all true. All very true.” Roscoe thumped the windowsill with both hands, looking left and right. “All right. I imagine you two have all that…woman-y stuff to do for the wedding. I’ll let you get going.”
Hayley leaned around Kyla. “Watch out for the bears, okay? Momma Bear looked bigger than your truck.”
“Yup. She’s a big one. Don’t worry, though. I imagine I won’t ever forget the part about don’t mess with bears, whatever else I forget.” He stepped to the middle of the road and put his hands up as if to stop the traffic coming in both directions. Hayley and Kyla laughed. They hadn’t seen another car in twenty minutes.
Roscoe motioned them back onto the road. “You two get out of here. Whisper Creek’s a-waitin’ for ya.”
A minute later, they crested a hill with the best view west of the Mississippi, and Hayley sighed in pleasure. The rolling vistas never ended out here. It was nothing like the crowded, noisy streets of Boston, that’s for sure.
“Ahh, vacation.” Hayley slid her shoe off and stuck her bare foot out the window.
“You think this is good. Wait ’til I introduce you to the man of your dreams.”
“I don’t really need man-of-my-dreams-level assistance here. Man-of-the-week would be just fine.”
“I don’t really deal in the of-the-week variety. Sorry.” Kyla smiled innocently. “I’m all about the staying kind.”
Hayley rolled her eyes, but didn’t let Kyla see her do so. “Okay, fine. Tell me about the vet. Does he do big animals or regular-sized ones?”
“Mostly horses.”
“Lucky. His clients could eat mine for lunch.”
“So you still have nothing but mini-beasts?”
“Not by choice.”
“Wait ’til you meet Moose. You’ll wish you could take him home.”
Hayley’d heard about Kyla’s fated trip to the Humane Society last week, but hadn’t yet seen any pictures. Apparently she’d gone in to drop off a donation—and come out with a dog who weighed more than her.
“Is he ugly?”
“So ugly that he’s cute, yes.”
&
nbsp; “Does anything about him match anything else?”
“Not a thing. He’s got one white paw and three black ones. A funny brown circle around his right eye. A tuft of hair that sticks up randomly from his head.”
“Sweet. Does he slobber?”
“All the time.”
Hayley put her hands to her chest. “I’ll adopt him.”
“Ha. You’ll have to get by Decker. Those two are already joined at the hip. Plus, he’d take up half your apartment. And eat Brutus.”
“Brutus could use a big brother to look up to. He’s got serious little-dog syndrome.”
Kyla laughed again. “I still can’t believe you adopted a cockapoopa—wait—what is he again?”
“He’s a great Dane in disguise.”
“Of course.”
“So back to the vet. Deets, please. Height? Weight? Eye color?”
Kyla winked at her. “He might just be the sweetest guy I know, next to Decker.”
“So he’s hideous looking. Thanks, Kyla. You’re a true friend.”
“He’s not hideous at all. He’s actually quite…attractive.”
“If you can get beyond the crooked nose and snaggletooth and beer belly?”
“Exactly. And I mentioned he’s eighty-seven, right? Because that’s the kind of friend I am?”
“Fine. Call me out on being shallow.”
“You’re not shallow. You’re just not thinking long-term potential here.”
“I’m on cowboy-vacation. I’m not supposed to be thinking about long-term potential. Have you seen your own website? It practically screams ‘fling!’ ”
“You’re no more a fling type than you are a nun, missy.”
“Don’t be so sure. I’m working up to it.”
“What’s your record now?”
“Longest relationship or shortest?”
“I’m not sure you’ll ever beat the forty-five minute one from 2008, so let’s go with longest.”
“Thirteen weeks.”
Kyla was quiet for a moment as they cruised into downtown Carefree. Then, “Doesn’t it ever get old?”
Hayley sighed. Of course it got old. But it sure was better than the alternative. Definitely better than tying yourself to a guy you thought would be there for eternity, only to have him take off the moment you actually started to believe that this one was the forever variety. Been there, done that, had the T-shirt.
She pasted on her best smile before she answered, not wanting blissed-out Kyla to think the world was filled with anything but sunshine and weddings and freakin’ dirndls—at least for this week.
“I’m happy, Kyla. We date, we have fun, we say good-bye before it gets to a point where anyone gets hurt. It works for me.”
“I’m sure it has its benefits.” Kyla shrugged. “And I’m admittedly going all bride-ish on you right now because I want everyone to be as happy as I am.”
“I can be happy without being married. Happier, I’m pretty sure. So don’t try to marry me off, all right? I don’t want my dates vetted for forever-potential. Just-this-week potential is just fine.”
“Mmm hmm.” Kyla had a smug look on her face. “I’ll ask you at the end of this vacation whether you still feel that way.”
“After I meet this vet?”
“Yup.”
“Then I’m destined to disappoint you.”
“Don’t be so sure, sweets.” Kyla fluttered her fingers. “Whisper Creek magic, right?”
Chapter 4
“So no boarding school?” Cole snagged two bottled waters out of the mini-fridge in the tack room and tossed one to Daniel. “Not going to send Bryn and Gracie off to the nuns?”
Daniel blew out a frustrated breath as he leaned against a sawhorse and uncapped the bottle. “I can’t believe Evelyn’s down there in Denver—quote—pulling strings to get the girls into this…Southwick Academy. Insanity. There’s no way I’d agree to it, and she knows it.”
“So why is she bothering?”
“Because she’s like—I don’t know—a rabid squirrel, pissed off that someone stole its acorns.” Daniel blew out a breath. “Grief doesn’t make sense, Cole. That much I do know. She lost her only child, and in her mind, I practically kidnapped her grandchildren. She’s got no job, not many friends, and a husband who spends more time at the golf course than at home. She’s got the time, the resources, and nothing else to think about but getting the girls back into her little world. She needs a focus, and guess what? Bryn and Gracie fill the bill.”
“So…what are you gonna do?”
Daniel shook his head slowly. “Just what we’ve been doing. I’ll live in bear country and take two innocent children traipsing through filthy barns all the time.”
“I resent that.” Cole smiled. “This is a very clean barn.” He glanced out the stable door as Decker’s truck came down the driveway followed by a fishtail of dust. “Looks like Kyla’s back from the airport. Brace yourself.”
“Why?”
“Because she brings with her one of the Boston bridesmaids.”
“Then that might be my cue to leave. Where they walk, disaster apparently follows.”
“Just stay for a second. You won’t be sorry.” Cole raised his eyebrows and tipped his head toward the doorway.
Daniel watched as Kyla got out of the driver’s seat, all bounce and smile and about-to-be-a-bride energy. Then his eyes scanned to the other side of the truck, and he felt them go wide as a leggy redhead hauled herself out of the seat and stretched her arms so high that he got a peek of her creamy, taut stomach.
Cole laughed as he motioned for Daniel to close his hanging jaw. “That would be Hayley.”
“Huh.”
“I know.”
Good God.
Where Katie had been all soft curves, tanned skin, and wispy blond hair, Hayley had curly red hair halfway down her back, ivory skin, and legs that went for miles. In a sleeveless shirt and just-short-enough shorts, she could have auditioned for The Bachelor, dude ranch edition.
Cole elbowed him. “Wait ’til she smiles.” And then Kyla said something and Hayley’s mouth erupted in a huge grin. “And there it is.”
“She’s sort of old Hollywood mixed with—”
“Porn star?”
“I wouldn’t know.” Daniel clamped his mouth shut.
“Right.” Cole raised his eyebrows and snapped his fingers in front of Daniel’s face. “But don’t be fooled by a pretty package. That girl defines the redhead stereotype. She’s nothing but trouble wrapped up in”—he swirled his arms vaguely at her body—“that.”
“Don’t worry. I’m hardly in the market for anything like”—he mirrored Cole’s hand motions—“that.”
Or anything else, for that matter.
“Want to meet her?”
Hell, yeah.
Wait. What?!
Daniel cleared his throat. “Whenever. She’ll be here for two weeks, right?” He looked back toward the stalls. “I need to check on Sky Dancer one more time before I leave.”
“Come on, idiot. She doesn’t bite.” Cole headed out the barn door and up the driveway toward the truck, leaving Daniel no choice but to follow him. “Kyla, I thought we discussed this! We can’t afford to have Hayley and Jess back here!”
Kyla spun toward him, laughing. “But they promised to be good!”
Daniel watched as he reached Hayley and roped her into a bear hug, spinning her around as she shrieked. Cole pointed at Kyla playfully. “I gotta call the airline. They were supposed to divert her flight.”
Hayley laughed as he set her down. “Sorry, Cole. My pilot-bribe trumped yours. You’ve got me for two whole weeks!”
Cole let her go, motioning toward Daniel. “I don’t think you met Daniel when you were here last year. Daniel, this is Hayley.”
Daniel stuck out his hand, and Hayley slid hers into it and shook firmly. As her eyes met his, he could see that they were a green-blue color that rivaled the distant foothills. They were wide, bright, and
mischievous—and he could easily picture her causing as much trouble as Cole had suggested.
She slid her hand free, a little more slowly than he might have expected. “It’s good to meet you, Daniel. And if Cole has told you any stories about me, I assure you they’re not true.”
“He hasn’t said a thing.”
“Liar.” She laughed, then turned back toward Cole and pointed at the barn to her right. “The new stable looks great! It’s bigger!”
“Well, we had to level the old one after the fire, so since Kyla here had all sorts of new plans for bringing in more guests, we decided to go big on the rebuild.”
Kyla turned to Daniel. “So how’s Sky Dancer?”
“Just a little overextended. She earned herself a free vacation this week, I think.”
“Thanks for coming out to take a look at her. I know you’ve got a lot going on.”
“Horses don’t know Sunday from any other day, right? Happy to help.” He looked at his watch, then swore silently. Crap. He needed to get the girls to a birthday party on the other side of town. “I’ve gotta get going, but give me a call if she gets worse. Otherwise, I’ll see you at the rehearsal, right?”
“Friday at five.” Kyla nodded.
Cole winked from behind Hayley’s shoulder. “Unless you want to come hang out at the bonfire some evening.”
Daniel nodded, trying to suppress a smile. “Thanks.” He touched the brim of his hat as he ducked his head toward Hayley. “Nice to meet you, Hayley. Please don’t burn down the ranch this year.”
—
“Oh, holy hotness.” Hayley flopped across her bed, looking up at the planked ceiling. The cabin was just as adorable as last year, with a big, stone fireplace and two couches in the living room; a tiny, efficient kitchenette; and three bedrooms furnished with queen beds, down comforters, and colorful patchwork quilts. The bathroom alone was as big as half of her Boston apartment, and she was going to have to make a trip into town for a bottle of bubble bath so she could properly enjoy the claw-foot tub.
The afternoon sun danced through the lacy curtains and wide windows, sending fingers of light bouncing against the walls and ceiling. Her blood pressure was continuing its slow slide toward total relaxation, and she hadn’t even been at Whisper Creek for two hours yet.
A Cowboy's Christmas Promise Page 3
