by Judy Duarte
“I’ll stop by the cabin and pick it up.”
As Hugh urged the gelding back in the direction they’d been heading, Jenna said, “I didn’t know you were a cook.”
“It was the one chore at home that I really enjoyed, although I never dared let my dad and brothers know that. Otherwise, they’d have kept me housebound and chained to the stove. But at night, after everyone had turned in, I used to study my mom’s cookbooks. And I’d even search for other recipes online. I have to admit, I fixed a few lousy meals in the early days. But eventually, I got the hang of it.”
“Maybe,” Jenna said, “if Barbara retires and we do open a B and B, you could be the cook. That is, if you like that idea.”
Oh, she liked it all right. She liked everything about staying in Buckshot Hills—close enough to Mike to be a contender for his heart. And while she used to fear getting stuck with kitchen duty before, back when she had to compete with her brothers on a daily basis, that didn’t matter anymore. She’d left her girlhood behind, even it if it meant boots and jeans and gymkhana ribbons rather than dolls and such.
“I’d enjoy working in the kitchen,” Tammy said.
Neither girl spoke for a beat, and Tammy suspected they were both thinking about the inheritance they were getting.
So she threw her thoughts ought there. “I wonder what Tex would think about us turning the Flying B into a B and B.”
Jenna chuckled. “You mean, if we called it the Flying B and B?”
“I like the sound of that,” Tammy said.
“Me, too. But I’m not sure what Tex would think.”
“I’ve had a chance to spend a little time with him,” Tammy said. “And something tells me he’d appreciate our efforts to make our own mark on the ranch.”
“You’re probably right.”
“As a side note,” Tammy added, “when it comes to a B and B, I’m game if you and Donna are. Do you know how she feels about it?”
“We really haven’t talked much about it yet. I think it’s all so new.”
That struck Tammy as a bit odd. After all, if she had a sister, especially one like Jenna, she’d be running ideas by her all the time.
Goodness. Look at her now. She’d just met her cousins, yet when it came time to confide in someone, she’d gone to Jenna.
“Are you and your sister close?” she asked, assuming—or maybe hoping—they were.
“No, not really.”
That was too bad. And kind of sad, actually.
Jenna turned her attention back to the horse. “What do you think, Daphne? Does a ride sound good to you?”
Tammy hadn’t been riding since she arrived at the Flying B, which was unusual. But she supposed that was to be expected. After all, her thoughts had been so darned focused on Mike. And on romantic dinners for two and goodbye kisses that could knock a gal to her knees.
“You know,” Tammy said, “I’d better go check on those pork chops and pack it up for Hugh. I’ll talk to you later.”
As Jenna opened the corral gate, Tammy headed for the path that led to the dream cabin. She’d barely reached the knoll when she ran into her brother Aidan.
“Hey, Tam.” His steps slowed. “What are you up to? Checking out your soon-to-be inheritance?”
“No, I’m going to the dream cabin.”
He cocked his head, and she realized he hadn’t been privy to the facts or the rumors she’d heard. So she shared what she’d learned so far about the reason for the family feud, as well as the mysterious Savannah.
“So Tex locked up the cabin for nearly thirty-five years. And he gave me permission to open it up and air it out.”
She didn’t mention anything about romantic table settings or meals to win a man’s heart.
“I think I know who Savannah was,” Aidan said.
Tammy was all ears. “You do? Who was she?”
“You remember when I broke up with Emily Barfield a few years back?”
She nodded. Emily had been Aidan’s very first girlfriend. And they’d split up when he learned she’d been seeing his best friend behind his back.
“I really loved her,” Aidan said. “And I took the breakup hard. One day, Dad came in and found me in the den, drowning my sorrows with his best bourbon. I thought he was going to hit the roof. But when I told him about Emily and Todd, he poured himself a drink, too. After a while, he told me that he knew what I was going through. He said he’d fallen hard for a girl while in college. I don’t remember her name, since I got bombed that night, but I think it could have been Savannah.”
“So what happened?” Tammy asked.
“Like I said, I’m fuzzy on some of the details he shared with me that night. But right before finals, Dad had hitched a ride with a guy from his dorm to attend a party. On the way there, they were involved in a serious car accident. Dad was hurt pretty badly, including several fractures in his leg.”
Her father had never told her any of that—not even when she’d asked him point-blank about Savannah just days ago.
“The girl—Savannah, I guess—offered to drive him back to the ranch, stay with him and nurse him back to health. And Dad was thrilled. He’d been crazy about her, and he was looking forward to introducing her to his dad and his brother.
“Sam came home from college, too. And while Dad was laid up, Sam started showing Savannah around the ranch. I’m not sure how it happened, but Dad learned his brother and Savannah were sleeping together. He was heartbroken and furious.”
Wow. Her father had mentioned that Sam had done something unforgivable. And Tammy had connected the dots, thinking that Savannah must have been involved. So this all made sense.
“Did Savannah run off with Sam?” she asked.
“Dad said that Tex flipped out and ran her off the ranch. And to that day...” Aidan chuffed. “Hell, probably until this very day, he’s never forgiven his brother or his dad.”
“Even after he married our mother?” Tammy asked. She might not have known any of the details from his years spent on the Flying B, but he’d told her all about going to work on Grandpa Murdoch’s ranch, where he met her mom, fell in love and got married.
“Dad said Mom was a real sweetheart, and he admitted to marrying her on the rebound. But they had a lot in common—and they were happy.”
“You’d think that he would have eventually forgiven his father and even his brother,” Tammy said.
“Men shouldn’t sleep with the woman a brother—or a best friend—loves.”
He was right about that.
“If Nathan had gone after Emily, I might have done the same thing Dad did. It was bad enough having my friend do it.”
Tammy remained silent for a moment, taking it all in, when Aidan placed a hand on her shoulder. “By the way, sis...I meant to tell you that you look great.”
She brightened at the compliment. “Oh, yeah? Thanks.”
“I wondered if you’d ever turn in those cowgirl clothes for something more womanly.” He eyed her carefully. “So what’s the deal? Why do I suspect that a man may have triggered the change?”
“Because one did. His name is Dr. Michael Sanchez.”
“The guy who went in to see Tex after we came out of the meeting?”
“Yep. What do you think?”
Aidan gave her shoulder a squeeze. “I think he’d better treat my little sister right, or he’ll have to answer to me.”
Her heart warmed at Aidan’s protective streak. “Thanks, but I can take care of myself.”
Aidan chuckled. “Yeah, you probably can.”
He was talking about putting Mike in his place if he got out of hand or treated her disrespectfully. But the only place Tammy wanted Mike to be was right back in her arms, with his lips locked on hers.
* * *
&nb
sp; Last night, Tammy had gone to bed thinking about Mike—as if there was anything else to keep her thoughts busy these days. And much to her delight, she’d dreamed that she and Mike had made love in Savannah’s cabin.
Music had played softly in the background.
The moonlight had shone through the slats in the blinds, lighting the bedroom in an iridescent and magical glow. A scented candle burned near the bed.
She and Mike had kissed until her knees weakened, then he carried her to the feather bed, where he loved her with his hands, with his mouth until...
Well, until she woke up alone, hugging her pillow.
Too bad she hadn’t been sleeping on the feather bed when she’d had that amazing dream, because she would have believed there was a good chance it might actually come true.
She’d love to know that she and Mike were fated to be together—and in the loveliest way possible.
Or had her dream only been a result of wishful thinking?
As much as she’d like to believe that their relationship was destined to blossom, she realized she’d probably have to do her part, too.
And that meant cooking him another dinner in Savannah’s cabin. She could light candles, put on some music—maybe even open the slats slightly on the shades to allow the moonlight to spill into the bedroom....
Boy howdy. Just thinking about it had her heart and hopes soaring. So she took a shower, dressed in some work clothes, then headed for the cabin, where she set the stage for an instant replay of the night she’d dreamed about.
For the meal, she decided on grilled chicken, rice pilaf and a garden salad. When she finished the food prep, she washed her hands, then reached for a paper towel. When she was done, she opened the cupboard under the sink to toss the crumpled towel into the trash, only to miss. So she stooped to pick it up.
As she reached for it, she noticed a slip of yellowed paper she hadn’t seen before.
An old grocery receipt?
If so, it was too yellowed to be one from any of her shopping trips. Had it been Savannah’s?
Out of curiosity, she picked it up and scanned the items on the list: milk, bread, lunch meat, pasta, a... Tammy blinked, thinking she’d misread the last item. But she hadn’t.
If the receipt, dated August 29, 1980, had truly been Savannah’s, she’d purchased more than food that day. She’d also bought a home pregnancy test kit.
Had the woman who’d slept—okay, allegedly slept—with two brothers, gotten pregnant by one of them?
Had either of the Byrd brothers known?
Had an unexpected pregnancy really blown the family sky-high?
Stunned by the possibility, Tammy stood in the small kitchen for what felt like hours. Then she took the receipt and went in search of Jenna.
Since she hadn’t been in the house, and Tammy hadn’t seen her in the yard, the only place left to look was in the barn.
And sure enough, that’s where she found her.
“You spend more time outdoors than you do inside,” Tammy said.
Jenna glanced up. “It’s more peaceful out here. Not that anything is going on inside, but the silence is intense.”
“I think things are going to get worse before they get better.”
Jenna furrowed her brow. “Why do you say that?”
Tammy handed her the grocery receipt. “I just found this under the sink in the cabin. I think someone—Savannah—tossed it in the trash, only it fell behind an old scrub brush.”
Jenna took the yellowed paper and looked it over. As she undoubtedly reached the last item, she looked up, her lips parted. “You think Savannah was pregnant?”
Tammy shrugged. “There’s no way of knowing what results she found, but it sure seems likely that she considered the possibility.”
“If so, who was the father?”
Tammy shrugged. It could have been either one.
The furrow in Jenna’s brow deepened, and it was easy to see she was troubled by the turn of events.
“From what I’ve gathered so far,” Tammy added, “my dad met Savannah at college, fell in love with her and brought her home to meet his family.”
“So it was my dad who slept with his brother’s girlfriend?” Jenna asked.
That’s the conclusion Tammy had come to days ago, but she hadn’t wanted to voice it.
“All we have to go on are rumors,” Tammy said. “But assuming both men fell for the same woman, that’s probably how it all went down.”
Jenna grew silent. After a couple of beats, she said, “We could have another cousin or a sibling out there.”
“Yes, but the test could have been negative.”
Either way, the family had been torn apart.
“Do you mind if I keep this for a while?” Jenna asked. “I’d like to show it to Donna.”
“No. Go right ahead.”
“What a mess,” she mumbled. Then she tucked the receipt into her pocket and headed for the house.
Tammy followed her as far as the barn door, then she veered to the right and headed for the cabin. While intrigued by the possibility of having another cousin or sibling out there, she was more focused on the romantic evening she had planned for her and Mike.
She’d never lost a prize that she’d set her heart on.
And by hook or by crook, she would woo and win the handsome new doctor.
* * *
When Mike left the Flying B, both his heart and his thoughts were heavy. Tex Byrd wasn’t going to last much longer, and Mike hoped that the dying man’s last wish would come true, that he’d see his family pull together and mend their fences.
Yet Mike thought of Tammy, too. Of her pretty smile, those expressive blue eyes and a petite yet amazing shape that darn near begged to be unveiled and caressed.
If that family meeting hadn’t taken place this afternoon, he would have been tempted to stay and have dinner with her again. And maybe, if invited, he might have stayed for breakfast, too.
Did he dare get involved with one of the local women—not that Tammy was from Buckshot Hills. But she was definitely here now, albeit temporarily. And so was he.
His cell phone rang, and he answered using the Bluetooth in the cab of his truck. “Dr. Sanchez.”
“Miguel?”
A smile stretched across his face. “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
“Nothing much. I was just thinking about you. We haven’t talked in a while. How are you?”
“I’m doing all right. Practicing medicine in a small town is a whole lot different than in the city. It’s kind of like stepping back in time—as far as treating patients goes. But it’s not so bad.”
And it really wasn’t. His patients all tended to confide in him, as if he was not only their doctor, but also their friend and neighbor. Like Helen Winslow, who’d sent him home with an apple pie last week. And Marcos Morales, who’d insisted he attend a family barbecue next Sunday.
Mike hadn’t told anyone about his plans to leave Buckshot Hills as soon as Stan Reynolds returned to work. So maybe that’s why they’d all been so accepting. They didn’t realize he was still an outsider.
“Katrina came by to see me the other day,” his mother said.
“Oh, yeah?” That struck him as odd. Katrina had always been polite to his mother, but she’d never been very friendly.
“I asked her if she’d heard from you, and she said yes. She also mentioned that she might surprise you one day and fly to Texas.”
Mike had thought that he’d talked her out of a visit to Buckshot Hills, which would have only made things worse. She wouldn’t appreciate the townspeople, who were a far cry from some of the snooty socialites she ran around with. And more down-to-earth, more honest. More real.
“What else did Katrina have to say?” he aske
d.
“Just that she missed you terribly. And that she couldn’t wait for you to come back home. She also asked if I needed anything. And then she left her phone number and told me to call if I did.”
Again, he found that strange—although not if Katrina was actually feeling remorseful about her lack of support when it came to Mike honoring his commitment.
“I might be a thousand miles away, Mom, but if you ever need anything, all you have to do is say the word, and I’ll take care of it.”
“I’m fine, mijo. Mr. Ballard is in Europe, so the house is empty and quiet, which makes my job easy.”
He was glad to hear it. She’d always worked hard. And Mr. Ballard, whose house was enormous, entertained a lot.
After the man had agreed to pay for Mike’s medical school, his mother had really gone above and beyond, as if trying to pay him back on her own. And he worried about her now. She had a few health issues, like diabetes and high blood pressure, that concerned him.
“When I get home,” Mike said, “you can start planning your retirement.”
“I’ve been planning it already—not that I’ve set any dates yet. I’m just hopeful that my knees will last. The doctor has been talking about replacement surgery, but I’d rather not take the time off to have it done.”
“You may not have that option.”
“I know. But I’m tougher than you think.”
That wasn’t true. Mike knew just how strong she was. But she wasn’t getting any younger. And she deserved to have a lot more free time to enjoy herself. She’d given up so much over the years.
“Take it easy,” he told her. “And don’t put off that knee surgery, Mom. I don’t like seeing you suffer.”
She chuckled. “It’s not so bad yet. I’ll be okay.”
He hoped so. She wasn’t one to complain, whether it was from exhaustion, pain or a lack of finances.
“Some things are to be expected as we age,” she added.
“Don’t start on me about being old, Mom. You’ve got a lot of good years in front of you. Start thinking about the kind of cruise you’d like to take. I’m sending you on one, just as soon as I get on with the Riverview Medical Group.”
