CHAOTIC THOUGHTS kept Shelby from sleeping very well that night. She had the definite feeling that Matty was matchmaking. Still, she tried not to dwell on the possibility that she and Boone would be able to spend more time alone together if Sebastian and Matty went to Denver and left them to watch the two kids. Sebastian might not even agree to the trip.
But he did. The next morning he and Travis were both at the breakfast table nursing a hangover when Matty informed them of Jessica’s call. After Sebastian muttered a soft curse and massaged his temples, Matty proposed the quick trip to Denver. Then she suggested leaving Shelby and Boone in charge of the two children and the ranch while they were gone.
Sebastian looked at his wife and they seemed to exchange a signal of some sort. “Maybe that’s a good idea,” he said.
Elizabeth, who was in a playpen in the corner of the kitchen, picked that moment to start fussing. Sebastian winced and closed his eyes. Josh had appointed himself in charge of the baby’s happiness, and he clambered out of his chair to go check on her. In the process he knocked over his milk.
He stared at the milk, crestfallen. “Whoopsy-daisy,” he said.
Shelby grabbed a sponge and started mopping. “That’s okay, Josh.”
“It was a accident!”
“Sure it was,” Matty said, coming over to the table and smiling at Josh. “Go ahead and see about Elizabeth, honey. She likes it when you talk to her.”
As Josh trotted over and began singing the ABC song to Elizabeth, Sebastian ran a hand over his face and sighed. “Yeah, Denver might be a very good idea.”
“Denver?” Boone asked as he came in the back door. For the second night in a row, he’d bedded down in the barn.
Travis had spent the night, or what was left of it after the men had come home, on the living-room sofa. Bleary-eyed, he glanced over at Boone. “It seems they’re appointing you and Shelby to baby-sit while they go to Denver and find out what’s up with the private detective, who isn’t finding diddly-squat.”
“Oh.”
Shelby concentrated on mopping up the milk and didn’t look at him. As usual, his presence made her feel as if someone had touched her with a live electrical wire. She wondered if he was thinking the same thing that she was. In order to make sure she and the kids were safe, he’d have to sleep in the house instead of the barn. Matty had figured that out, of course.
“I guess that would be okay,” Boone said.
His soft, gentle voice skipped along her nerves and her knees grew weak. They would be alone in this house together for at least one night and maybe two. Well, alone except for the children. Children who slept at night. If Boone was in love with Jessica, then Shelby should probably stay away from him, even if he did end up sleeping right down the hall. Of course, he might not stay away from her….
“That security system Jim installed for the house is top-of-the-line,” Sebastian said. “So you don’t have to worry about—” He glanced significantly over at Josh. “You know what,” he added.
“Tell me about that precious security system,” Travis said. “I was afraid you and me were gonna end up sleeping on the porch last night when you were too ploughed to remember the code.”
Sebastian eyed Travis across the table. “Oh, yeah? I distinctly heard you suggesting that we sleep out in the yard. You wanted to sleep under the stars like men, you said, to symbolize your last night of freedom. You were fried to your tonsils, hotshot.”
“Was not.”
“Were too.”
Boone poured himself some coffee and sat down at the table. “Let me put it this way. The guys at the Buckskin will never forget the Daniels and Evans version of the theme song from Bonanza.”
Sebastian frowned at Travis. “We didn’t sing that last night, did we?”
“Nah,” Travis said. “Ol’ Boone’s just making that up to harass us.”
Boone chuckled. “You did more than sing it. There was a considerable amount of bumping and grinding going on.”
Sebastian gave him a deadpan stare. “I refuse to believe that.”
“Okay.” Boone shrugged and took a drink of his coffee. “Just don’t be surprised if guys come up to you at the reception and ask how things are going out at the Ponderosa.”
Matty laughed and pushed back her chair. “And I thought I was the boot-scootin’ champion around here. Boone, would you like some breakfast? I can’t seem to interest these two in my cooking, but you look like a man who could put away some bacon and eggs.”
Travis groaned. “Just don’t pass them under my nose.”
“I’d love some breakfast,” Boone said. “And if these cowboys can’t take the heat, they can get out of the kitchen. What’s the plan for today?”
Matty took a carton of eggs out of the refrigerator. “Shelby and I need to run into town for some reception goodies and take them over to Hawthorne House,” she said. “If you three guys can handle it, I’d like you to watch the kids until we get back, which will be later this afternoon.”
“Perfect,” Boone said. “Then I can take Josh riding.”
Josh leaped up from where he’d been crouching next to the playpen and ran over to Boone’s chair. “Bob, too?”
Boone ruffled the little boy’s hair. “Yeah, Bob, too.”
The look he gave Josh made Shelby’s heart turn over. Matty and Gwen were right. She was falling in love with Boone Connor.
AROUND THREE that afternoon, Shelby followed Matty through the front door of the ranch house. They were greeted with the sound of male voices raised in heated debate. Shelby figured out the noise was coming from Elizabeth’s room after she heard a few baby chortles mixed in with the argument in progress.
“You didn’t tell him to wipe from front to back, hotshot!” Sebastian said.
“That’s because I was so busy keeping you from knocking over the baby oil!” Travis said. “You keep elbowing your way in there, because of course nobody does this as good as you, and now—”
“Will you two cowpokes back the heck off?” Boone sounded more impatient than Shelby had ever heard him. “No wonder I can’t get the hang of this! It’s as crowded as a bucking chute in here. And where’s the blasted diaper?”
“I gots it!” Josh piped up. “Whoops. The tape comed off. It was a accident!”
Matty turned to Shelby and grinned. “It figures. Chaos.”
“Oh, man.” Sebastian’s complaint floated down the hall. “This is the bad kind of diaper. Who bought these losers, as if I didn’t know?”
“I did,” Travis said, “and you can quit your bellyaching, because they’re more absorbent. The kind you buy leak like a sieve. See? Right here it says—”
“My kind does not leak, and this kind has bad tape!”
“So you’re starting me out with substandard equipment?” Boone asked. “What kind of outfit are you saddle tramps running, anyway?”
Shelby put her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle.
“Come on.” Matty beckoned to her and crept toward the hall. “This should be worth the price of admission.”
Shelby followed Matty as the diaper argument continued. When she peered in the room, she had to press her lips together to keep from laughing out loud. Their backs to the door, all three cowboys jostled for position around the changing table, completely blocking any view of the baby. Josh bounced around behind them, jumping up every few seconds as he tried to see what was going on.
“No, don’t do it that way,” Sebastian said. “Here. Let me—”
“Get your mitts off her.” Boone batted Sebastian’s hand away.
“She likes it if you make faces at her while you’re changing her,” Travis said. “Don’t you, Lizzy?”
“Don’t be distracting her, Travis!” Boone said. “I’ve just about got this thingamajig—”
“She likes my singing better,” Sebastian said.
“Don’t you wish!” Travis said. “Watch this. Stick out your tongue, Lizzy. Like this. Thata-girl.”
�
��She also likes her monkey Bruce.” Sebastian waggled the sock monkey over the changing table. “Here’s Brucey, Elizabeth!”
“Will you move over?” Boone sounded as if he was at the end of his rope. “There! Got the diaper on, no thanks to you morons. Now what are we putting on her?”
“I don’t gots diapers anymore!” Josh proclaimed, hopping up and down. “I’m a big boy. Can I throw the diaper away? Can I? I wanna slam-dunk it.”
Sebastian reached up to a shelf above the changing table where baby clothes were folded in neat stacks. “Put this on her.” He shoved a red-and-white-ruffled outfit at Boone.
“No, not that.” Travis took down something else. “This yellow terry job. We gotta feed her, don’t forget, before the women get home. Matty won’t like it if we get that ruffled thing all gucked up.”
“I wanna slam-dunk the diaper,” Josh repeated, leaping up and down.
“Speaking of the women,” Sebastian said, “I sure do like Shelby, Boone.”
Shelby’s smile faded and she tensed.
“Me, too,” Travis said.
“Me, too!” Josh announced.
“I like her, too,” Boone said quietly, “but—”
“But nothing, man,” Travis said. “Don’t be an idiot.”
Shelby’s face grew hot, but when Matty quietly put a hand on her arm and tried to draw her back down the hall, she resisted. She wanted to know what Boone had to say about her when she wasn’t around, although of course they’d all be careful, with Josh right there.
“Travis is right for once,” Sebastian said. “And for some reason she seems to like you, too, even considering you’re as stubborn as they come. Are you going to be dumb enough to louse this up?”
Shelby held her breath as her heart hammered in anticipation of Boone’s answer.
“Yeah, I probably am,” Boone said.
Shelby’s heart dropped to her toes. This time, when Matty tugged on her arm, she retreated with her, battling tears all the way.
When they were halfway back down the hall, Matty gave her a quick hug. “Hang in there,” she murmured. “He’ll come around.”
Shelby didn’t trust herself to speak, so she nodded.
“Come on, let’s break up that party,” Matty said softly. Then she raised her voice. “Hey, guys, we’re home!” She started back down the hall, and unless Shelby wanted to look like a coward, she had no choice but to follow.
Sebastian spun around toward the doorway, the ruffled outfit still in one hand. “Matty!” He glanced guiltily at Shelby. “When did you two get back?”
“Just now,” Matty said.
“Shebby!” Josh ran toward Shelby and threw his arms around her legs. “We rided the horsies!” He gazed up at her, his face alight with happiness. “Me and Bob and Boone! We went round and round and round and—”
“Sounds great.” Forcing a smile, she leaned down to give him a hug.
“Time’s getting short,” Matty said to Sebastian. “Maybe you guys should go get cleaned up and into your duds while Shelby and I feed the kids.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sebastian said. “Come on, bridegroom. You, too, Boone.”
Boone hoisted Elizabeth into his arms and turned to Matty, but instead of holding the baby out so Matty could take her, he kept her close against his chest.
Heartsick, Shelby took in the sight of Boone holding that sweet little girl. He glanced over at Shelby and his eyes shone with a gentle light as he stroked Elizabeth’s downy hair with one big hand. His whole manner had changed from tentative to possessive. Shelby realized that while she’d been in town with Matty, Boone had staked his claim to his daughter. And it looked as if he had no room left in his heart for Shelby.
He turned toward Matty. “If it’s all the same to you,” he said, “I’d like to feed her.”
13
CANDLELIGHT WEDDINGS sure made a church look cozy, Boone thought as he stood next to Sebastian at the altar. While the minister, Pete McDowell, talked about the holy state of matrimony, Boone congratulated himself on making it to Colorado in time. He wouldn’t have wanted to miss seeing Travis and Gwen hitched, and besides, he balanced out the wedding party.
Gwen had decided to challenge tradition and had asked Luann to stand up with her, along with Matty. That way Luann could hold Elizabeth, which had seemed the best way to get the baby into the ceremony. Elizabeth was becoming quite a handful, and she might have tried to climb out of the buggy they’d used for Matty and Sebastian’s wedding. If Boone hadn’t been around, Luann would have had to walk back down the aisle by herself.
He still had trouble believing that Travis was really tying the knot. Apparently the women in the congregation had trouble believing it, too. Boone saw many a young lady sniffling into her handkerchief, and Boone didn’t think they were crying for joy.
Boone’s gaze moved over the crowd and came to rest again on the face that held the most interest for him tonight. Shelby sat on the end of a pew, near enough to a flickering candle that the light sparkled on the tears she bravely blinked away. He hadn’t considered how tough this celebration would be on her. She was still grieving for her family, and the warm, happy scene probably reminded her of how alone she was except for the little boy snuggled next to her, his hair slicked back and his eyes wide. Boone’s chest grew tight and his arms ached with the urge to comfort her.
Matty had loaned Shelby a pale blue dress, and when she’d come out into the ranch-house living room wearing it, Boone had been so dazzled he hadn’t been able to think of anything to say. Josh had told her she looked “like a princess.” She’d glanced uncertainly at Boone, as if wanting his opinion. “You look nice” had been the best he could do. Lame, totally lame.
But maybe it was good that he hadn’t paid her much of a compliment. He had no business getting her hopes up about him. He’d made a huge mistake with that incident in the barn and now this baby-sitting assignment was going to be a real test of his ability to stay away from her.
All he wanted to do was help and protect her, but instead he seemed to be making her miserable. Correction—he was making them both miserable, because after those moments in the barn, all he could think about was holding her like that again.
As Pete McDowell moved into the vows portion of the ceremony, Boone glanced over at Gwen. He didn’t know much about women’s clothes, but he could tell she’d gone for the old-fashioned look, with lots of ivory lace and little pearls everywhere. It was an impressive outfit, but the rapture on her face completely outshone the dress and veil.
Boone’s heart twisted as he realized it was the kind of expression he longed to see on Shelby’s face. Lord help him, he wanted to be standing at this altar with Shelby. And because of Elizabeth, he had no right.
FOR JOSH’S SAKE, Shelby kept a tight grip on her emotions during the ceremony. When the tears came, she whisked them quickly away. Concentrating on Boone helped keep her strong. His tux was too small, which only emphasized what a giant of a man he was. He appeared gorgeously serious and forbidding standing up there. Unshakable. Ah, but he wasn’t. She’d seen him come undone.
No one observing Boone looking so dignified in his elegant tie and tails would ever guess what he’d been doing with her twenty-four hours ago. Her body warmed to the memory of how he’d kissed her…everywhere. In spite of what he’d said to his friends this afternoon, he hadn’t been so cavalier when he held her in his arms. In fact, she’d caused this rock of a man to go a little crazy. She’d hold onto that knowledge.
Boone might never belong to her, but she got under his skin, and that was nice to know. He’d been thinking about her, she could tell. His gaze had touched hers more than once. Knowing him, he was probably wrestling with the question of how he’d get through baby-sitting without giving in to temptation.
She was sure he didn’t want to succumb, because his moral code was a few notches above that of most men. Shelby didn’t want him to go against that code if he would think less of himself as a result, but oh, h
ow she longed for a night of loving Boone.
Judging from the experience in the barn, she could probably override his control and seduce him. But she’d seen how he beat himself up over the possibility that he’d inappropriately made love to Jessica. No matter how satisfying loving Boone might be, Shelby didn’t want to add another burden to his conscience. Boone was the sort to carry that burden to his grave. So it was settled. They wouldn’t make love while Matty and Sebastian were gone.
Boone glanced in her direction again, and his green eyes glowed with an intensity that threatened to melt all her good intentions.
“Shebby,” Josh whispered. “Gwen and Travis are kissing in front of all the peoples!”
“That’s because they’re married now, sweetheart,” Shelby murmured, still holding Boone’s gaze. Was it only sexual desire she saw there, or something more lasting?
Then the minister presented the newly married couple, and the congregation burst into applause. Boone looked away, and Shelby decided wishful thinking was making her imagine things. Boone might want her, but he wasn’t happy about it.
FATE HAD SMILED on him, Mason decided as he slipped quietly out of the yard adjacent to Hawthorne House where the wedding reception was in full swing. Thanks to his excellent reconnaissance skills, he’d found out exactly what he needed to know by listening in on a few conversations.
He left the music and laughter and twinkling lights behind as he started the trek back to his campsite outside of town. Let the wedding guests enjoy themselves. The fun and games would be over soon enough.
Beginning tomorrow night, Shelby and the kid would be alone at the ranch except for one big, dumb cowboy and a little baby. With the element of surprise, Mason figured he could get his kid back. Maybe in the process he’d even put a nice little scare into Shelby, so she’d understand who she was messing with.
This whole operation was right on track. With Huerfano being a tourist town, he’d been able to locate a campground where he could keep a low profile. Although the wedding had seemed like a nuisance at first, he’d quickly realized he could use the time during the ceremony to check out the security system at the ranch.
Boone’s Bounty Page 15
