Imprisoned In A Cowboy's Heart (Two-Five Ranch Outlaws Book 1)

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  Tanyon pulled a chair out across from his desk then took a seat in his office chair. “This is Sparky. We lost Rowdy around the time I lost you.”

  Karis gasped then faced the door. “I’m sorry for the loss. I’m sorry for everything.” She jerked the door open and stormed out.

  Damn woman should’ve stayed home. He hurried out and caught her at the stairway and grasped her arm. “Come back into the office. You need to do this paperwork.”

  “I’m not sure I’m staying, Boss.”

  “So, you’re only using up a room and eating our food for free?” How stupid could he be? “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

  “Yes, you did. No, I’m not taking advantage of you while I’m—”

  “You’re what?” Not like she did during her last stay when she surely took advantage of him like a part-time wanna-be lover? It might be a while before the grudge fell from his shoulders. He headed back, repeating over his shoulder, “Come back into my office.” Tanyon faced her, taking in the rusty and cream-colored western-cut plaid shirt cut to fit her curves, leaving only a hint of cleavage, but he knew what lay beneath. The colors were enhanced by her auburn hair. He’d never missed her curves since the moment she’d gotten out of her car when he’d come home for a weekend and laid eyes on her for the second time, without a clue who she was. “Can you come back into the office a minute?” He left, leaving the decision up to her.

  She followed and closed the door. Sparky whined outside so she let him in. “I see this one is attached to you too.”

  “Have a seat.”

  Karis sat and folded her hands in her lap.

  He shoved unbrushed hair from his face. “I don’t want to act like your boss. We’re way beyond that. You know your job here. I don’t have to tell you what to do. Don’t play games with me. Are you staying or not?”

  It took a moment for her to answer. “I came here to work my ass off, so yes, I’m staying until you find someone, but I can’t take your animosity. I’ll keep out of your way.”

  Yeah, like that will work. He slid paperwork across the desk. “There are some changes in there. You might want to read it before signing.”

  “Will do.” She glanced at Sparky and smiled.

  Tanyon took in and released a breath. He’d fallen in love with her smile, and she knew it, but she still—

  “I hope one day you can understand what I went through, and why I had to do what I did concerning you…us. Trust me when I say you wouldn’t have liked what I had turned into. A hollow core of a person. I saved you the trouble of having—”

  “You made the decision for me.” Tears welled in her eyes. His heart twisted to see her grieving. Had she grieved for what she gave up here at the Two-Five? “Instead of allowing me to lend you a shoulder, you made the decision for me. I could’ve been there for you.” Tanyon stood. He went around the desk and laid his hand on her shoulder then left the office.

  He had to get out of there before he drew her into his arms. Her subtle perfume carried too many memories with the fragrance. Every bit of his body remembered them all. Yes, dammit, he wanted her, but could he trust her with his heart again? At the stairway, he took a step up. Waited. His cold heart would be the death of him. He entered his office as she exited. They stared at each other standing close in the doorway, but he couldn’t speak.

  With their gazes still connected, Karis muttered, “I’ll be here until you get someone.”

  Tanyon couldn’t deny the lingering attraction. As she faced forward to go, he held her arm. “I know your older brother Seth went back to his military base. Your niece and nephew are out of school. Why don’t you invite them and your mother up here? I have plenty of room. They can stay as my guests in one of the bunkhouses. Horses are a good cure for anybody in a down mood. Will you consider it?”

  “Do you have a room for me in one of the smaller bunkhouses?”

  “No.”

  She nodded on the way to the stairway. At the bottom, she hesitated before going up and peered over her shoulder at him yet said nothing. In a flash, she rushed upstairs, taking another piece of his heart with her.

  Tanyon sighed. Had he expected her to continue here now? His reason for the invitation? It hadn’t been his intention to coerce her into staying by inviting them. Had it?

  Chapter Three

  Karis dropped to her butt then lay back on the bed, her feet still on the floor. She liked his suggestion, but what would it mean for her when she’d come here to forget? How could she forget if Mia and Austin were here? But Karis smiled. She wanted nothing more than to see them and her mom happy if only for a short time. She sent a text to Tanyon: Thank you for inviting my family. I’ll ask them and let you know.

  She waited. Would he reply this time? She squeezed her phone as tight as her closed eyes. A notification chimed.

  He replied: You’re welcome.

  Karis brushed her hair then left the room, tapping on Annette’s then Geri’s door before going outside. Where were they? She checked her watch then hiked out to the horse barn. There they were sitting on bales of straw.

  Annette called to her, “Hey, Karis, come on in.”

  “What are you doing out here? Aren’t they having a campfire tonight?”

  “Chillin’. There’s a no burn warning. Weren’t sure you were still here. We didn’t see your car. It’s been quiet in your room. I came to get you for dinner today.”

  “I moved my car over by the hay barn out of the way where Max told me to park.” As Karis entered, strands of hay fell from the loft. She glanced up at the sound of giggling. Before she could say anything, Max stormed in the door with a vengeance.

  “Anybody in here seen Brielle? Bri? You in here?”

  Karis wasn’t going to tell him to look up, but she didn’t need to, for that silly girl couldn’t keep silent. Max climbed the ladder to the loft. Yelling commenced, and Brielle came down the ladder crying. The cowboy sure to be up there was lucky he hadn’t been thrown over the railing.

  “Come on, ladies. Let’s go see what’s going on.” Karis took their arms to walk out between them, not wanting to be witness to a father’s temper. Last year, Brielle hadn’t discovered boys yet, or that’s what Karis had been led to believe. On the other hand, her body had changed drastically this year. “I don’t want to be in the middle of a father’s scorn.”

  Others gathered at the circle without a fire tonight. A guitar strummed. She glanced to Tanyon’s office. The light remained on. Tomorrow, her work here began. In the morning she’d call her mother. Max came out of the barn and a while later, Logan, one of the local teens and ranch hand rushed out and away. Though he appeared to be young, he was legally a man and way too old for Brielle. Karis smiled at Brielle but didn’t say anything. She’d spent a little time hiding in the hayloft herself. Had Tanyon allowed himself to remember any of the good times they’d shared? The fun times? The hot times?

  By the time she got in the house the light was off in his office. His door had been closed. Sparky followed her to the kitchen on her way to get a bottle of water. “I bet you want a treat, boy. Let’s see what I can find.”

  Levi entered the kitchen after her. “Hey, Karis, you’re still here.”

  She must’ve been quite a spectacle this morning. She hugged Levi. “Look at you all grown and so manly. Hey, congratulations on your graduation. Are you having a party?” Karis removed herself from his arms.

  “Oh, yeah, a big one. It’ll be out by the lake if plans ever come together. Come on down.” He went to the refrigerator and brought out leftovers from dinner. “Hungry?”

  “No thanks. Max and I had dinner out. I’m going to bed.”

  Before she got far, Dusty met her at the doorway on her way out. “Night, Dusty.”

  Dusty’s grin matched Tanyon’s. “Oh, he talked you into staying, huh?”

  “It was my decision to hang around until he finds a replacement.”

  Dusty got a plate out of the cupboard and held it out for
Levi to fill it up. “I don’t think you should go, Karis.” Dusty continued. “Hang around. We’ll have fun again this year. You love it here.”

  She sighed. “I’ll know more in the morning.”

  “Hey, glad to have you here in the big house. This is where you belong.” Dusty grinned as Tanyon strode in.

  That was the last thing she’d want Tanyon to hear. “Good night, guys. Tanyon.” She rushed out. Levi’s features had changed since last year. He had a more grown-up and mature look with a thin layer of scruff on his face and a mustache. He might not have quit growing yet. He already towered over Tanyon’s at six-foot. Dusty came in at around five foot ten and close to Cade’s height. They all took after their father with the dark hair, but Tanyon had his mother’s gray eyes that looked blue in some lighting, not full blue like the other three guys. Ronni resembled her mom with the lighter wavy hair but had a lot of the same features as Tanyon, including her eyes. Those two oldest siblings were the closest out of all of them.

  Upstairs, she changed into her gown. Again, the floor in the hallway creaked. Tanyon’s door closed. Karis turned off the light and crawled into the welcoming bed. She may never sleep until she returned home. At least tonight she didn’t smell like a campfire.

  After an hour of tossing and turning, she got out of bed, pulled a sweatshirt over her shoulders, exited the balcony door, and sat on one of the two chairs out there. The night sounds of cows, bulls, bells, and coyotes didn’t sound like a good mix.

  Coyote cries and yelps came closer. A shot rang out. One of the ranch hands must’ve been on watch. She laid her head back and absorbed night sounds. The faint smell of pine blew this way while air cooled her skin.

  Oh, Tanyon. What would become of them? Admittedly, she hadn’t stopped loving him. A soft cough echoed below. She rose to peek. The lighted tip of a cigarette glowed as if a drag had been taken from it. He’d smoked again after many years of being away from cigarettes?

  Karis slipped into denim shorts, pulled her gown over her head, and donned a sweatshirt and boots. She slipped out but didn’t miss the squeak. Sparky wagged his tail at the back door. She attached his leash and took him out with her. They moseyed up to the fence. Sparky headed for Tanyon. He stomped out his cigarette, buried it with sand, then leaned down to pat his dog. “Hey, boy.” He raised his eyes to Karis. “Did he wake you?”

  “No. I saw you from the balcony. When I came down, he waited at the door. Smoking again, huh?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “I’m surprised I haven’t started again.”

  “Want one?”

  She gave a quiet laugh. Tanyon knew she didn’t like the smell of cigarette smoke since she’d quit. Maybe she related it to her father suffering with emphysema and COPD after a lifetime of smoking, which encouraged her to give them up. “You aren’t helping.”

  Tanyon glanced at her and smiled—a genuine smile. “Sorry.” He glimpsed the fields around them as he talked. “Listen, Karis. I’m not replacing you because you aren’t going anywhere. I’ve been thinking… You came here to get away. Maybe heal. Don’t rush off. Take the time you need. You don’t have to do the cattle drives this year. There’s a couple around here to fill in. Dusty said they want the full-time job bad.”

  “I can’t think of a better distraction than keeping cattle in line for miles at a time.”

  “You don’t need a distraction. That’s why you haven’t dealt with your grief.” He paused, leaned sideways against the rail, and made eye contact with her. “Am I right?”

  She explored his handsome face. He got better looking with each passing year. The urge overtook her to run her palm over his bristly chin. She restrained. “Hey, I’m the psychologist here, but yeah, I fear you’re right.”

  “I’m sorry your brother died.”

  Thinking of Tanyon comforting her at Rory’s funeral brought tears to her eyes, and she couldn’t hold in a sniffle. “Thank you.” She searched for Sparky at the end of the long leash. “Come on, Sparky.” She knelt to pat him and raised her eyes to Tanyon who watched her every move. Making her nervous now, she stood. “I’ll take him in with me.”

  Tanyon grasped her hand holding the leash. The heat from his skin was enough to encourage her not to pull away, and like a wizard’s spell, the magic of his powerful hand, zipped through her with a zap of emotion. “I’ll keep him out with me.”

  Coyotes howled again.

  “A shot rang out. Is someone on duty tonight?”

  “Yep. I’m breaking in a young girl who’s probably getting the job. She’ll have to do what the guys do.”

  “You put her in a pasture with a rifle to scare off coyotes?”

  “Yes, ma’am but with blanks.”

  “What if it’s a bear?” Karis chuckled. “I’m lucky you never stuck me out there when you took over this place.”

  Tanyon’s lip shifted to the side. “Fox is out there with real ammo, but she doesn’t know it.”

  She better hotfoot it inside before she did end up out there. “Good night.” He grasped her hand. Karis could’ve pulled away but she stopped in her spot. Their gazes connected in the semi-dark upper part of the yard. Her body warmed at his elusive smile.

  “Night. See you in the morning.”

  Karis nodded then headed toward the back door, releasing her breath as she left, yet drew in another to release slowly. She never expected tenderness from him after what had happened, but she hoped it was the beginning of a beginning.

  ∞∞∞

  At breakfast in the meeting room off the hay barn, Karis spotted Tanyon at the buffet fixing a plate, but he exited toward his barn office. He’d avoided her for the past four days. The thought of him not wanting to be in the same place as her, broke her heart all over again. She sighed. Sun had not yet broken above the horizon. The others would be out at daybreak.

  Tanyon had slid another note under her door to take the newbies on an early trail ride this morning but not afternoon and evening. Why had he still insisted she miss the cattle drives after what she’d told him the other night? Wait. He’d wanted her to face her grief. Dammit, her brother had died, and she wanted to feel bad.

  Max prepared most of the food for mid-morning trail ride lunches, but as a rule, he rarely went out himself. His assistant cook, Sage, went out early with the truck pulling the lunch trailer painted with large letters—Chuck Truck. However, Max came out dressed for the morning trail ride.

  After she fixed her plate, she took a seat beside Annette, who wore chaps, indicating she’d be on the cattle drive. They chatted while eating breakfast among the noisy yet friendly banter. She set her plate and cup in the proper place and searched Tanyon out in the horse barn. As suspected, he’d been in his office. “Can I talk to you a minute?” She glared daggers, daring him to walk out.

  His gaze traveled over her, but his eyes went back to the computer. His shoulders rose and relaxed. “I see you got my note. I’m shorthanded on wranglers and horse handlers. That’s why I’m assigning you there.”

  “It feels like a demotion. I’d prefer to go along with all of you.”

  “It isn’t a demotion, but not today. I’m saving your skills for moving the other herd to the summer pasture. We’ll need an extra knowledgeable ass in the saddle.”

  “Is it because of what I said the other night?”

  He stood. “Didn’t you hear me? I need you later on the bigger ride. Enjoy the trail this morning. You haven’t been here for a while. Take in the scenery. Relax. Not too much though,” he said with a smirk. “Gotta keep those riders in line so they don’t get lost in the forest.”

  “Yes, sir. Do you know why Max is going on the early ride? He doesn’t usually accompany us.”

  “I didn’t know he was. What the hell’s he up to?” He tossed his hat to the desk and swept his hand through his hair. “I hope he didn’t lose help. Somebody has to stick around here to feed these city-slickers renting cabins before they go sightseeing.”

  She could get use
d to him with long hair. “If I remember right from last summer, some of the city-slickers renting cabins are here for the roping show at the fairground. You don’t have to feed them you know. Williams has many places to eat.”

  “We promise them breakfast with the cabin in the brochures. It’s extra pay for Max. Brielle helps him as a little income for her.”

  “Maybe it’s time to make a change. They might like going on daily trail rides. I wouldn’t mind his company.”

  “I’m sure you wouldn’t,” he muttered under his breath.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” Tanyon folded his arms and took a wide stance. “By the way? What the hell were you guys doing the other day? Is he the one who talked you into staying?”

  “I chose to stay until you could replace me. We cruised Historical Route 66, shopped a little along the way, went to Flagstaff, then back to Williams for dinner. I don’t see why I have to explain my goings-on to you.”

  “Hmm. Well, did you hear from Ava, uh, your mom yet?”

  She backed out of his office. “I expect to hear from her later. I better get ready.”

  “Yeah, me too.” He removed chaps from a chair in his office and buckled them up around his hips. He turned his back to grab his ropes. “Well, gotta saddle up.”

  That man’s body had been designed to wear chaps, but maybe not for her sexual yearnings for him wearing them. “Have a safe ride.”

  “You too.”

  Karis left without getting far before Tanyon came from behind calling her name, “Hey. Don’t schedule yourself for the afternoon or sunset trail ride tonight.”

  She huffed. This time she’d put her foot down, literally. “It was in your note. You’re pulling me from those rides now too?”

  Tanyon hooked thumbs over the chaps and glanced off to the side. His sigh resounded across the space between them. “Come with me to check out a horse later? I could use your assistance.”

  “Where do you plan on going?”