by Starla Kaye
Dalton made a tough decision. “I’m going to cancel the plan, call Cassie tonight. She’s busy anyway and will probably be glad to hear it.”
He didn’t want to change their plans. He’d been looking forward to the day away with his woman, but he didn’t feel like he had a choice. Unfortunately, he had a feeling she really would be happy not to have to squeeze it into her schedule. At least he’d gotten that impression when she hadn’t responded when he’d told her he was looking forward to their day together just before he left her yesterday.
He heard the cattle bawling in confusion, in frustration with their new situation. Dang if he didn’t feel like bawling, too. He was confused about where he and Cassie really stood these days. The sex was good, as always. Still… Frustrated didn’t even come close to how he felt.
“You really think that’s a good idea?” Craig asked, although he sounded relieved.
Pulled back from his musings, Dalton gritted out, “No.” He scowled. It was a damn bad idea. “But my first duty is to this ranch.”
He watched the truck pulling out of the field as Parker closed the gate. “I’ve got a duty to the town as well.” He heard the bitterness in his voice and was pretty sure his brother had heard it, too.
He gave a small flick of the reins and his horse headed off toward the cattle. Most of them had finally found a spot to settle in and graze on the grass. A few wandered toward the pond. Oddly, as he rode toward Parker, he wondered what Cassie was up to today. Was she still working on that bedroom she’d been painting? Yellow. Not what he particularly liked. Or was she working on another leather painting for her showing? She’d told him she needed to get at least another six or so finished.
Was she missing him as much as he missed her?
Maybe he should go see her tonight, tell her in person that they would have to change their plans about Wednesday. He also needed to tell her that he probably wouldn’t be spending much time with her this week. She wasn’t going to like him not staying the nights with her. He didn’t like the idea either, but that’s the way it had to be for now. It worried him.
***
By the time Cassie turned onto her street it was already getting late. The sun was headed down; the sunset breathtaking with its mix of oranges and pinks. She was too tired to enjoy it, though. Her brain hurt from thinking too much today, from trying to stay on top of all the ideas being tossed around, and all of the new plans. She still hadn’t fully absorbed it all.
Besides that, her feet hurt. She was ready to kick off the high heels and ready to change into her cutoffs and T-shirt. She’d been anxious to get home and finish setting her bedroom to rights now that the painting was finished. It had been a long day. At least she hadn’t had time to mope around about missing Dalton.
Dalton. Her stomach knotted and she turned into the driveway, barely noticing that the neighbor’s son had mowed her yard. She still hadn’t figured out how to get out of the day-trip Dalton had planned for Wednesday. With as awkward as things were between them now, she didn’t look forward to this conversation. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. She knew this was special to him and it should have been to her as well.
It was…really. But she had so much else going on now. The day-trip felt like one more burden for her to bear.
As she parked in front of the detached garage, her cell phone rang. Frantic not to miss the call and hoping it was he, she dug around in her purse. She breathlessly answered without looking at the caller ID, “Hello! Dalton?”
“Where have you been all day?” Dalton asked briskly, his velvety voice sounding thick with exhaustion and annoyance.
Added to her own tiredness, her mood soured. “Hello to you, too.”
He sucked in a breath that she heard over the phone line. “Okay, sorry. It’s been a tough day. Sorry,” he said again.
Somewhat soothed, Cassie now sympathized and regretted snapping at him. “Did you have trouble mending the fences?”
It took him a second to answer and he sounded even wearier. “No. We had a rough day dealing with fifty head of cattle being delivered unexpectedly early.”
He yawned. “I needed to tell you I’m going to be extra busy this week. I won’t be staying in town. Between my duties as sheriff and needing to help out here—”
“Got it. You’re busy,” she cut him off. Her heart hurt, foolish as that was. He had a lot going on, she knew that, but so did she. And he hadn’t wanted to be with her this weekend, even if he had part of it.
She could almost see him stiffening, scowling at her abrupt tone. But her ex had put everyone and everything before her, too. He’d only had time for her when he wanted to yell at her…or punch her out of his frustration with life. Yes, sometimes she still had a big chip on her shoulder. It might not be fair, but she didn’t feel up to apologizing.
“I guess that means you’re too busy to go to Kansas City on Wednesday.” Why had she brought up that subject? She was too busy as well.
He muttered something under his breath, something that sounded bitter. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t be all broken up about not going.”
While not a physical blow, she felt it as painfully: his anger, his exasperation. Now she felt bad. “As it happens, I needed to do something else that day, too. I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Something involving one of the upcoming community events, I suppose.” Resentment tightened his tone.
“Look, I’m tired, too. I’m not up to arguing with you.” She climbed out of her car, closed the door harder than she intended. Had he heard the slam?
He growled something, so that would be “yes.” Then he asked, “So where have you been all day? I called your house phone. I must have left three messages.” He heaved a sigh. “You didn’t answer your cell, either.”
Her cell phone had been in her purse, in another room. It had been set on vibrate ever since church, until she got in her car and switched it back to normal. She hadn’t checked for messages before tossing it into her bag.
“I’ve been at the Langley’s home all afternoon. There was a potluck and a couple dozen people were there, wanting to talk about—”
This time he cut her off. “Yeah, I know. About those events.”
She didn’t bother responding. This wasn’t going well. She shouldn’t have even answered her phone. “I should go.”
He ignored her comment. “I suppose they’ve got you even more involved now.” His hostility was obvious.
She counted to ten, twenty, thirty, and then strode toward her house. “People are excited. This is a good thing, although I realize you don’t think so.”
“If I didn’t know all of the other things you have going on as well, it might not bother me so much. Dammit, Cassie, you need to learn to say NO sometimes.”
Okay, ever since she’d started coming out of her shell again after being slammed into it by her ex, she wanted to do everything. Someone who hadn’t been kept from doing things could never really understand what she’d gone through.
“I’m enjoying being able to say Yes,” she admitted defensively, hearing the hurt in her voice.
“God, darlin’, I’m sorry. I just worry about you.” He’d clearly recognized that he’d gone too far.
Some of her irritation faded. She knew he wanted to protect her and keep her from taking on more than she could handle. Sometimes his being so protective could be almost as bad as… No. He could never be as bad, as controlling as her ex.
Cassie sat down on the porch steps, weariness pulling at her. Still, she softened her tone when she said, “I’m stronger than you think, Dalton. I can handle more than you think.” She hesitated. “Same as you. We’re both strong, both capable of dealing with a lot.”
“I’m coming!” he yelled suddenly to someone else, probably one of his brothers. Then he said in a quieter tone, “Promise me you won’t make yourself sick taking on too much.”
“I’ll be fine.” His concern really did touch her.
How muc
h was too much? Excitement about the month of community events had been at a high level this afternoon. Everyone had an idea. Everyone needed her opinion and wanted her involved with every idea. And she, of course, hadn’t been able to refuse anyone or anything. Just as Dalton had implied, she hadn’t been able to say No. He definitely wouldn’t want to hear that.
“Wish I could be there with you tonight. I could really use some of your warmth, your tenderness,” he said, sounding discouraged and tired. “Wish I could be with you every night this week, as usual.”
She wished it, too, but she understood, really she did. “Next week.” She swallowed disappointment. “We’ll be together the next week.”
“Dammit, I’m coming!” he yelled again. After he calmed a second, he said, “I’ll try to stop by your place tomorrow sometime. Maybe we can go to lunch.”
“Sure,” she answered, although she didn’t actually think he would stop by. Besides, she probably wouldn’t be home. She had a lot to do, but she wasn’t going to remind of that. “Go deal with your brothers. Get some rest, too.”
“Hell but I miss you, Cassie.” She heard the truth of it in his fatigued tone.
“Same here, cowboy.” It would be a long night sleeping alone, again.
***
She raced around all over town Monday trying to get a handle on what had been decided Sunday. She’d had to meet separately with the town council members because they hadn’t been able to get together as a group. Getting their approval, she’d then had to meet with several of the people from yesterday about having gotten approval on their idea. She’d had to go to the high school to meet with the cheerleaders who wanted to pull together a last minute float for the parade on Saturday. And the ladies of the Grangeville Society had requested a meeting, too.
Easing her tired body from her car, Cassie realized that she hadn’t had a second to herself all day. Normally this was the time of day when Dalton showed up for supper and to settle in for the night with her. No matter how stressful her day, she always looked forward to seeing him. Tonight, though, she was ready to drop into bed, sleep the sleep of the dead.
She walked like a zombie into her terribly lonely feeling house. It would be that way all week without him here. Plunking her baggy purse on the breakfast table, she blinked back tears. Darn it all, she wanted him here. Now. She ached to feel his big, strong arms around her. She needed to hear his voice, even if he were just arguing with her some more.
Swiping at a tear that slipped down her cheek, she heaved a distressed sigh. When had she become so dependent on Dalton to be happy? Her need for him was almost scary.
He hadn’t managed to see her today, which hadn’t surprised her. Of course, she’d been scrambling like a wild woman, too. Her only chance to see him had been when their vehicles had bypassed each other earlier and they’d shared waves.
Not enough. She needed a Dalton fix. But she was too tired to take a chance on driving out to the ranch.
She dug in her purse for her cell phone and sank onto a chair beside the table. Punching in his number, she waited impatiently as it rang. One time, two, three, four, five, at six it usually went to voicemail.
Frustration curled through her. Why wasn’t he answering?
Just as she was giving up and pulling the phone from her ear, Dalton growled out, “Can’t talk now.” He disconnected before she could even open her mouth.
What the hell!
Chapter Five
Somehow Dalton made it to his bedroom. He’d managed to hang up his hat down in the mudroom and toed off his boots as well. He wasn’t bothering with more than that. In three long strides, he dropped face down on his bed, fully clothed. It was near four in the morning and he should be getting up in another hour to start a new day.
What day was it anyhow? Monday? No, Tuesday, right?
As his mind started shutting down, he vaguely thought about how he usually helped at the ranch an hour or two before he went to his sheriff’s job. He’d even been working that crazy schedule when he stayed in town during the week with Cassie. He was damn tired of working both places. But he wouldn’t be doing that today.
He shifted his head on the pillow enough to breathe better. This had been a hell of a long day. Well, yesterday had been. He’d briefly checked in at the office and then, with things quiet there, he’d helped his brothers with more of the tasks necessary after settling in the new cattle. His body had been sore from the extra physical exertion since Sunday when the cattle had been delivered. He’d been ready to drop when he’d finally sat down with his brothers for a late supper.
And then he’d been called away on a legal matter.
Even fuzzy brained and half asleep, his mind’s eye saw again the half dozen practically skin and bone horses. Everyone in the area generally stayed clear of crotchety old man Jericho Hayes. But he’d actually done a good deed for a change. When he’d stopped by his neighbor’s ranch to complain about a stench near his back field, he’d discovered a sickening case of animal abuse. The ranch and its livestock had been abandoned by the nephew who had recently inherited the place. What the man had left behind….
Dalton tried to forget it all for now, just drift off to sleep.
But something worried at him. Something not related to the disgusting situation he’d just spent the night dealing with. He couldn’t quite get a handle on whatever it was, other than sensing it was important.
And then he was too tired to think any more about anything. He needed sleep and lots of it. Because he knew he’d be spending a great many hours and a lot of effort over the next few days dealing even more with the animal abuse case.
His last semi-conscious thought was that he missed snuggling against Cassie. Except she was unhappy with him.
***
As Cassie got ready the next morning later than normal, she nearly stabbed her eye with the mascara wand. Blinking and bristling, she tossed the wand into the sink. She’d go without mascara today. She wasn’t in the mood for patiently applying it or anything else to do with looking good. Thanks to a restless night. Thanks to Dalton.
“Can’t talk now.” His blunt words and abrupt disconnection still haunted her. Making her even more frustrated, he hadn’t called back to explain. Sunday he’d said he missed her and that he wished he could be with her this week. Last night when she’d finally called him, foolishly just wanting to hear his voice, he’d not had a moment to spare for her. Besides their continued disagreements about her being mayor and her community involvement, this was another sign that things weren’t going well between them.
Well, fine. Just darn fine.
She strode out of the bathroom, slid her feet into her favorite sandals, and hurried downstairs. Grabbing her bag off the table in the foyer, she stormed out to her car. She had errands to run, including getting groceries. She hadn’t been able to make coffee because she was out of it and that was unacceptable. A person couldn’t start off a new day without caffeine, at least she couldn’t.
She’d no sooner stuck her key in the ignition than three cars pulled into her long driveway behind her. She heaved a sigh as irritation curled through her. It wasn’t even ten o’clock! Besides, she recognized Sarah Wiggins’ shiny black Lexus, never a good thing. Cassie had spent more than enough time yesterday with the president of the Grangeville Society. They weren’t “good buddies” or BFFs.
Reluctantly she got back out of her car. Car doors opened and the dozen ladies of the Society climbed out, all of them appearing unhappy and determined.
What now? She’d thought they had settled things about the group’s participation in the upcoming community events. They had even agreed to not get involved with planning the picnic, leaving that to the three older ladies who were determined to coordinate it alone. What could they possibly want to discuss today? Here, at her home.
Sarah led the way toward her, reminding Cassie of a mother duck leading her ducklings. The late fifty-something, always primly dressed banker’s wife looked particularly
upset. Her mouth was pinched tight and her pointy chin thrust out. As she drew closer, she blurted out in her no-nonsense tone, “We need to have a meeting. Now.”
Coffee. Cassie needed caffeine—and strength—to face Sarah and the others. “I was just going to the store. Maybe we could meet—”
“Now. This is important.” Sarah stopped at the back bumper of Cassie’s smart car, stiffened her shoulders. “We have a crisis. Going to the store can wait.”
Cassie bristled, disliking being told what to do. She wasn’t ready to deal with a crisis, especially without at least one cup of coffee. “I need—”
“You need to listen to us.” Sarah was not going to be put off.
The other women surrounded Sarah, looking supportive and equally determined. She nodded toward a reed-thin, brunette. “Alice’s husband went by the warehouse a short while ago. You know, the warehouse where the six floats are being prepared for the parade this Saturday.”
“And…” Cassie prodded when Sarah stopped for a dramatic moment.
Sarah looked peeved at being pushed. “He called to tell her that he found every one of the tires on the floats had been flattened.”
Not good. “That’s a lot of tires,” Cassie said uneasily. Kids? Pulling a prank? She’d heard that some of the teenagers around town were getting bored with school being out. Still, this seemed extreme even for that.
“There’s more,” another woman bluntly added, interrupting Cassie’s thoughts. “Remember all those cases of toilet paper and fake flowers? What the high school cheerleaders were going to use to decorate their float? Gone. All of it. Stolen.”
Cassie felt a headache coming on. Her stomach roiled. “Well…” She honestly didn’t know what to say. This was vandalism to the extreme and needed to be dealt with, especially since the parade was only days away. But what could she do?
Sarah glared at her. “This is a serious situation. We need to discuss what you are going to do about it.”
