Home on the Ranch: Colorado Cowboy SEAL

by Laura Marie Altom

  “She didn’t say anything bad—just that you had trouble seeing at night. Which made me feel awful about you having to drive all this way the night we met.”

  “It’s whatever. I deal.”

  “Obviously. But...”

  “I’m helping Kyle, but not happy about it. Wanna tag along? At least there’s good food and music.”

  “Will, um...Kyle be there? In the booth? With you?”

  “No. And don’t you think it’s about time you come clean about why you’re skittish around the guy?”

  “Long story. Very boring.”

  “Uh-huh...” He returned to mopping.

  She finished the stew.

  The rest of the afternoon was a blur of dragging the mattress outside for airing and keeping the washer and dryer humming.

  When the back bedroom was declared officially finished, Robin couldn’t remember the last time she’d been more physically exhausted—but in a great way. In the light of the setting sun, the antique furniture and wood floors glowed. The gauzy curtains danced in the light breeze whispering through open screened windows.

  “We did good,” Laredo said. “You’re a hard worker.”

  “So are you. Thank you. I hate that you went to all this trouble when we’re not staying that long.” She held Lark on her hip and gave her a light jiggle.

  “It needed a good cleaning. The whole house does. Out here on my own, guess I’ve always felt my time is better spent tending my animals and garden. Speaking of which... Want to help make sure everyone’s tucked in for the night?”

  “I’d love to.” She looked to Lark. “Sound fun?”

  The baby gurgled.

  As they exited the front door, the whole house smelled of the slow-simmering stew. Robin’s stomach growled.

  Her host took his cowboy hat from a wall peg, slapping it on his head for their walk before tugging the door shut behind them.

  Outside, the vast open sky was awash in pale orange, red and lavender. Lengthening shadows banished the day’s heat, making the temperature cool and pleasant. The earlier breeze had stilled. The earth having exhaled in relief at the closing of the day.

  “I see why you like it here,” she said, holding Lark while he filled the chickens’ water container. “It’s enchanted.”

  The clucking hens mesmerized her wide-eyed daughter, who lunged toward the creatures, pinching her fingers in the universal infant sign for “Gimme!”

  “It’s okay...” He cast a slow and easy grin over his shoulder. “Wouldn’t go quite so far as to call it enchanted. I’d reserve that title for the Alps. Maldives. Bali.”

  “You’ve been to all of those places?”

  “Yeah—but usually with a bunch of other SEALs. I mean, the scenery is everything you’d imagine from travel brochures, but without a special someone to experience it with, the trips weren’t what they could have been.”

  “Did you and your ex travel?”

  “Sure. We did Maui for our honeymoon. An Alaskan cruise. I guess at the word enchanted, my mind goes to Disney-type perfection and this run-down old place ain’t it.”

  “But it could be...” She spun in a circle, holding out her daughter while making silly sounds. “All you need is some paint. A few flower boxes and maybe make walking paths lined with rocks. If you really wanted to go crazy, the house and chicken coop would look darling with shutters. Maybe plant a few more indigenous trees.”

  “Uh-huh.” He removed his cowboy hat to wipe sweat from his brow. “Woman, you’re exhausting me just thinking about all that work. Lark,” he said to her baby girl, “you wanna visit the goats?”

  “Pffftgggloo!”

  Laughing, he said, “I’ll take that as a yes. Mind if I hold her?” He brushed his hands on the thighs of his jeans. “My paws aren’t too dirty.”

  “Your paws look fine.” She handed over Lark who promptly grabbed for Laredo’s hat to gum the brim.

  “Hey...” He tried reclaiming it, but each time he tugged it free she cried. “You win, angel. Guess it’s yours now.”

  The sight of great big Laredo holding her itty-bitty daughter made fireflies take flight in Robin’s stomach. This was how she’d always imagined having a family would be.

  Instead, her old life had been a nightmare.

  If she didn’t stay clear of Kyle, he would make her present even worse.

  Chapter 6

  To calm her runaway pulse, Robin forced a deep breath, slowly exhaling.

  “You okay?” Laredo asked in front of the goat pen’s gate.

  “Sure. Just tired.” She flashed a smile.

  He nodded, petting the goat that came running up.

  Lark giggled when the rest of the herd surrounded them, bleating for their share of attention.

  “Mind getting them a few scoops of grain?” Laredo asked. “We’re getting attacked over here.”

  “I’m on it.” She was happy for the distraction.

  The sight of him with her daughter made her wistful for the kind of happy ending her actions ensured she’d never have. Her only hope for a normal life was to get to her grandparents and pray they’d be able and willing to hide her from the law.

  Northern Arkansas was still fairly desolate with a lot of places to get permanently lost. Her grandfather’s hunting cabin being one of them.

  She opened the grain bin and was treated to the sweet smell of feed and sound of hungry nannies who now rushed the wood trough Laredo had built inside their pen.

  “That should do it,” he said after she’d added the third scoop. “Mind watering, too? I’m selfishly enjoying hanging out with your little one. Can’t remember the last time I’ve held a munchkin.”

  Swoon.

  After placing the lid securely on the feed bin, Robin filled the water trough with the nearby hose. Finished, she leaned against the wood fence, drinking in the view.

  Dazzling sunset—check.

  Adorable farm animals—check.

  Gorgeous, hardworking, kind man admitting he enjoyed spending time with her baby—check, check.

  Whoever was lucky enough to catch Laredo would be a happy woman for life.

  “Seen enough?” he asked her daughter.

  She kicked and grinned.

  “Okay, we’ll visit a smidge longer, but then we need to let the mamas rest. They’re going to be having babies, and that’s how we get milk.”

  “How does that whole process work?” Mary asked.

  “I’m no expert, but according to Ned, once these ladies have their kids, I set up a schedule where I can either milk once or twice a day. I’m thinking once sounds saner, so I separate the kids from the nannies for twelve hours, then milk the nannies, then let the babies do the afternoon milking.”

  “Sounds reasonable. Are you just wanting the goat milk, or are you going to make cheese?”

  “I’d love cheese. But I’m going to need more lessons.” Since Lark rested her cheek against his shoulder, he inched toward the gate. “My eventual goal is to be entirely self-sufficient. Wind and solar power. Plenty of livestock. Great garden. The works.”

  “Sounds tough—but amazing. I admire your drive.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that—a lot. My ex thought the whole setup was more than a few cukes shy of a bushel.”

  “We might have had a family business in the hotel, but I basically grew up in the country. We only had chickens and a garden, but we knew homesteaders who were self-reliant. My grandparents viewed it as an art. It’s quite a balance—like running your own country.”

  “Now you’ve got me worried I can’t handle it.”

  “You’ll do fine—assuming you don’t catch some mystery disease from your dirty house.”

  “Hey! That’s not nice.” His laugh told her he knew she’d been joking. Sort of.

  “What’s not nice i
s the layer of gunk I scrubbed from your kitchen sink.”

  “Sorry about that, Mom.”

  She couldn’t resist sticking out her tongue.

  He made a grab for it, but since she wasn’t carrying a baby, Robin easily darted from his reach.

  Both were laughing and short of breath by the time they’d reached the porch.

  In the way only babies seemed to do, Lark had fallen asleep.

  “How did that happen?” he asked, staring in wonder while cupping the crown of her head.

  “No clue. Can you imagine how much drug companies could charge for a product that brought on an instant nap?”

  He made a face. “Pretty sure they already have them, but we wouldn’t be as cute after taking them or wake without a headache.”

  “True.”

  “Hungry?” she asked inside.

  “Very. Is your stew done?”

  “Should be. If you wouldn’t mind settling Lark into her playpen, I’ll check on dinner.”

  “Deal.”

  They both soon finished their tasks and minutes later sat at the kitchen table before steaming bowls of stew. Outside, the day’s sun was just a memory painted by vibrant orange and violet streaks across the vast open sky.

  The copper-domed light hanging from the kitchen ceiling bathed them in its warm golden glow, creating a cozy atmosphere that warmed her far more than the hearty meal. Cocooned in this remote corner of the world, she and her new friend might as well be on another planet. Considering her situation, a good thing.

  “About tomorrow,” he said from in front of the stove where he helped himself to a second serving. “I was thinking... My shift at the recruitment booth ends at two. If you want to tag along, once I’m done, we could check out the festival. Neither of us are big on crowds, but I do love a funnel cake.”

  A wistful smile tugged the corners of her lips. “Me, too...”

  “But?”

  “I didn’t say anything else.”

  “But you were going to...”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but then closed it and nodded.

  “You want to know if we’ll see Kyle?”

  Another nod.

  “I can’t promise we won’t, but as busy as he’ll be coordinating his extra help, I’m pretty sure catching you will be the last thing on his mind.”

  She clasped her hands so tightly on her lap that her nails dug into her palms.

  “Want more stew?” He set his bowl on the table, then nodded toward the cast iron pot.

  “No, thank you.”

  “Ever going to tell me why you think Kyle wants to arrest you?”

  “No.” But my silence is for your own protection.

  * * *

  Though it still bugged Laredo that Mary wouldn’t tell him her supposed big dark secret, the next morning he didn’t have time to dwell on it.

  To clear his head, he took his promised ride with Charger, watching the sun rise in a bragging palette of purples and oranges that never failed to stir him.

  After a quick check on the chickens and goats—he topped off their water and feed, brought in the eggs, then showered—it was time to find the clothes with “military spirit” that Kyle had requested. He said Laredo should try appealing to eighteen-year-olds intent on giving their lives meaning and adventure.

  What did that even mean?

  When he’d been eighteen, his only quest had been for beer and babes—not the most admirable of goals.

  He chose khaki cargo shorts and a blue T-shirt with NAVY printed on the chest in yellow block letters.

  Creaking of the back bedroom door alerted him that he wasn’t alone.

  He turned, only to gulp at the sight of Mary dressed in a gauzy nightgown, backlit by golden sun. This was the first he’d noticed her painfully thin frame. Might have been shadows, but were there fading bruises on her upper arms?

  “Good morning,” she said with her hand to her chest as if he’d given her a scare. “Thought I was the only one up.”

  “I got an early start. Morning chores are done.”

  “Good.” She nodded.

  “It’s a long drive into town. We should probably get going.”

  “About that...” She inched toward the bathroom. “It’s probably best if Lark and I stay here. We’d only be in the way.”

  “Are you sure? You might actually surprise yourself by having fun.” He added a hopeful smile.

  Was she afraid of a run-in with Kyle?

  He almost told her he’d protect her from the sheriff. But was he ready to harbor a fugitive having known her a couple days? No. Carrie taught him women were capable of savage cruelty. Mary might look fragile, but she didn’t even try keeping it a secret that she was in hiding. Because of that, he needed to keep her close. Not because he’d looked forward to spending the day with her. Or because she made the thought of reentering his old life infinitely more bearable. Or because he felt almost whole with her by his side. But because she might be dangerous. He needed to ensure she wouldn’t bolt. “I want you to come.”

  “You’re sweet. But I figure I’ll be better off here. I’ll do more deep-cleaning.”

  “The house has been dirty this long. I figure it can wait a while longer.”

  “I’m sure it can, but—”

  The baby whimpered.

  “She still in her crib?” Laredo asked. He’d carried it in last night.

  “Yes.”

  He headed that direction. “You go ahead and use the facilities. I’ll take care of your cranky cowgirl.”

  As if planning a protest, Mary opened her mouth, but then closed it before ducking into the bathroom and closing the door behind her.

  Progress? Did this mean she trusted him enough to care for her baby? Or was she desperate enough to escape him that she’d abandon thousands of years of maternal instinct?

  Regardless, he scooped the fussy baby from her crib. “Good morning, gorgeous.”

  Even teary-eyed and huffing, Lark was a brown-eyed beauty like her mom. When Carrie told him she was pregnant, when he wasn’t spending time with her, he hung out with his SEAL brothers who had babies and kids. He’d learned to change diapers and feed and bust up squabbles over toys and naptime. Most of all he’d learned just how much he looked forward to becoming a father.

  “Where’s your dad?” he asked the pint-size angel while setting her on the dresser-turned-changing table. “Wish you could tell me.”

  After blowing an epic raspberry, she grinned.

  “Look at you—showing off your skills. Back in my Navy days, I would have liked to give my CO that same gesture...”

  He made quick work of changing her diaper, then snapping her back into her onesie.

  Her grin morphed back to tears.

  “Aw...” He lifted her into his arms where she nestled her cheek against his shoulder. “Bet you’re hungry, huh?”

  The bathroom door creaked open.

  “There’s Mommy...” He turned to face Mary. “I got her diaper changed, but you’ll need to take over from here.”

  “Thanks.” She took her daughter from him.

  During the exchange, he tried not noticing how good she smelled. Soapy with a floral hint of some feminine lotion. She’d fastened her hair into a high messy bun that somehow managed to look classy and casual.

  “She likes you,” she said. Her smile was faint, almost wistful.

  “I like her.” He really did. “Know what would be fun?”

  “What?” she asked with a suspicious raising of her eyebrows.

  “Feeding her carnival food.”

  “She’s breastfeeding.”

  “Granted, but hear me out. You know how good funnel cake tastes to us, right?”

  “Yes...”

  “I’m talking about putting a dusting of powder
ed sugar on her tongue. Can you imagine the size of her grin?”

  Mary tried hiding her smile against the baby’s downy curls, but failed.

  “Admit it. You think it’s a good idea, too. Don’t you?”

  “Yes, but only because I’ve secretly been wanting her to try ice cream with fudge sauce—just a little, but enough to tell if she likes it.”

  “See? This is what I’m talking about. Tag along and keep me company. As an added bonus, we can corrupt your innocent baby.”

  “You’re as incorrigible as a fourth-grader.”

  “Is that a bad thing? I thought it’s good to be in touch with your inner child.”

  She laughed—a real, honest-to-goodness belly laugh that filled him with pride. “Okay,” she said. “Lark and I will go, but under one condition.”

  “Name it.”

  “We add corn dogs and Frito chili pie to our list—for us. Not the baby.”

  “Deal.” He held out his hand for her to shake. When their palms touched, the jolt of awareness was as unexpected as it was pleasant. What was it about her that made him want to know more—everything—about her? Her favorite foods and songs and books.

  She dropped her gaze.

  Damn. Had she changed her mind about going?

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Just that once my car is fixed, I’ll be on my way and that’ll be that. You’ll forget you even met me.”

  A sharp pang in his gut told him forgetting her might not be so easy.

  What if I don’t want to forget?

  Honestly? If he were taking a deep-down gut check, he wanted her to go to the festival because he couldn’t stand being without her and the baby—even for a few hours. He’d been alone for so long that now that he wasn’t, the thought of going back scared him. But he couldn’t say any of that.

  It was hard enough admitting to himself.

  This weakness terrified him.

  Nighttime terrified him.

  Most of all, no longer being the hard-ass, always-in-control SEAL he’d once been terrified him.

  * * *

  Two hours later, Robin found herself seated at a long table placed beneath the welcome shade of an even longer tent, sipping lemonade with Sarah Ziegler, who ran the motel she’d stayed at, and her friend Sally, who was Jimmy the tire guy’s fiancée. As foreign as it felt to have left Lark with Laredo, it felt good to have a moment to herself. As much as she loved her baby girl, she’d missed lunching with friends—not that she’d had many after marrying Chuck.