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

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Karis gasped, jerking her head toward him. “What did you say?”

  Tanyon slapped himself in the head. “I want the kid to live here until he’s eighteen. I should’ve asked you first. I don’t know what shape he’ll be in though.” He studied the chief as if he had answers.

  Her first thought was fear, but then Karis’s heart softened. To think of him caring what happened to a kid who had so much suffering in the past. It warmed her through and through. “Okay. I’ll be a part of it with you.”

  Tanyon flicked his gaze skyward, grasped her shoulders, then leaned in to kiss her. “Thank you. It’ll only be until he’s eighteen. Then, if he wants, or is able to stay on and work here, he’ll be welcomed. Either way, he’s welcomed here. All right?”

  She nodded. “We’re in this marriage together.”

  “Great. I need to talk to someone at the hospital.” He swept past the chief.

  Chief Ramos grabbed Tanyon’s arm as he attempted to go. “We’ll see what happens when I get there. Talk with the kid’s doctor before you make a life-changing decision, Tanyon. Karis. They can get qualified people to care for him.”

  Tanyon lifted his arms from his sides. “Bullshit and you know it.”

  Chief Ramos held up his hand. “Wait until you hear from me.” He headed for his vehicle but came to an abrupt stop and faced Tanyon. “I’ll tell the social worker what you said. You know there’ll be paperwork to fill out. I’ll call you later. Stay put or I’ll arrest your ass, amigo.”

  Tanyon mocked him. “For what? Saving a kid’s life, amigo?”

  Kevin waggled his finger at him like Max would’ve done. “Keep your husband here, Mrs. Outlaw.” He opened his SUV door for his wife then got in himself.

  She liked the sound of hearing him referred to as her husband, but the realism of what that entailed struck her. Their marriage began with a seventeen-year-old boy and two children. He’d willingly accepted her being their guardian without question. She’d do the same for him. Hopefully, Jody agreed.

  “I’ll be right back.” Tanyon left to talk to the chief at his car. Karis padded back to the dance floor toward the kids, but Tanyon’s attorney came up to her.

  Jenessa folded her hand over Karis’s forearm. “Before you two get away, I want to say congratulations on y’alls wedding.”

  “Thank you, Jenessa. I’ll pass it along to Tanyon.”

  “I’ve known your husband since high school. Girl, I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you…and you look back the same way. The both of ya together could light the world on fire if y’all put your mind to it.” Jenessa winked. “Honey, you’re a lucky woman.”

  Out of embarrassment, Karis glanced away to hide her flushed cheeks from a stranger’s observation. No, wait. It wasn’t embarrassment. Far from it but instead, an overwhelming love boiling up inside of her showed her it had been pride that others saw their love for what it was—true. She held her head high. “I’m proud to be Mrs. Outlaw. I appreciate your kind words, Jenessa. Tanyon has always spoken highly of you.”

  Jenessa hugged her before returning to her husband. Karis smiled internally to know they emitted the glow of love but to light the world on fire? Tonight, she’d be happy to light their bed on fire with intimacy. Their gazes met across the way. She strolled toward him as he made his way through the crowd and back to her. She met him with a smile and placed her arms around his neck. “Ready to light the world on fire, Cowboy?”

  “Sweetheart, I’m ready to light our bedroom on fire.”

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  ∞∞∞

  Late that evening, Tanyon entered his candlelit bedroom at the ranch as quietly as he could. Sparky jumped off the bed, picked up a toy, dropped it in front of him, barking, ready to play. He leaned down to give him a pat then tossed the toy. Sparky brought it back. “Hey, boy. You keeping our girl safe? She let you on the bed, eh?” Glimpsing her lying there, he couldn’t say he minded waking up with his brand-new wife.

  It wasn’t right to have left her alone, but she had insisted he wait up for the chief’s call. He and his brothers had sat outside until he got the call. He hit himself upside the head. Sparky cocked his. What was the matter with him? He’d left his wife alone on their wedding night. What a bad way to start. Bringing a teenager into their life topped that though. She moved in the bed. Tanyon glanced her way, whispering, “Are you awake?”

  Karis sat up in one of his button-up shirts, her hair messy and sexy. “Has the chief called?”

  He dropped to the chair to remove his boots. “Jody’s doing well. They’ll do more testing, but he appears to have his head together. No visible brain problems showed up yet other than him reacting a little slow to things. He remembered everything. Kevin took the family in for further questioning. What a damn shame. To lose his parents and then have his blood treat him like a piece of dirt. No surprise… The chief said the coward, Logan, turned on his parents, but he isn’t out of trouble. He’s the one who did the act. They clammed up and called for their lawyer. Jenessa was at the hospital. My case will probably be dismissed according to my attorney.”

  “How’s Jody’s leg?”

  Tanyon swallowed hard to push the lump from his throat. “He has feeling in his legs, but he’ll have to build up muscle. You won’t believe it, Karis. Jody and I talked on the phone. He thanked me for wanting to be his guardian. Well, he thanked us. I guess Chief Ramos told him, but the social worker had called to give me an update and hear it from me personally.”

  “The chief knew you were serious. Are you sure you don’t want to talk to the doctors concerning further injuries and care?”

  “Honey, I had given it thought before saying anything to Kevin. Talk to the social worker yourself. You’ll see he’s continually improving. I should’ve talked to you before shooting off my mouth. No, Sparky. Get in your own bed.” It hadn’t taken long for his dog to get used to Karis being here. Tanyon got up to unbutton his shirt and slung it to a chair. His t-shirt landed on top of it. The bedpost caught his pants, but he remained in new black silk short-legged boxer briefs. He dropped to the bed and hauled her into his arms.

  “Then I’m sure too. Whoa, let me see what you have on… Holy smokes! I like these.” Karis ran her hand over his rear as he lay on his side. “Look at your firm thighs.”

  He’d never wanted these stupid, nearly see-through trunks, but hey, he knew she’d like their sexiness, and he liked wearing sexy for her. Her warm fingers against his skin wouldn’t allow these to fit long in the front as an erection came to life. Sparky jumped down and moseyed across the room. He laid his palm against her cheek. “I’m sorry this is how we’re spending our wedding night. It wasn’t what I had planned for us.”

  “It’s all right…this time.” She smiled. “You might’ve been needed here. I’m not dressed in honeymoon attire.” Karis patted his back. “You won’t lose the Two-Five now. I heard the whole town had come together to pray for Jody, and his name never left the church’s prayer lists.”

  He had a hard time keeping his eyes open and fluttered his eyelashes, trying to focus on her. He rolled to his back. “It’s true according to my mom. A boulder the size of a barn rolled off my shoulders with the phone call from the chief earlier.”

  She cuddled into the crook of his arm and nodded against his chest. “I’m happy for your family.”

  “Your family too. You’re an Outlaw. Wow.”

  Karis tiptoed her fingers over his chest. “I’m in your bed right now. Mean anything to you?”

  “I’m making love to my wife if I can stay awake.”

  “Your pregnant wife, but if?” Karis laughed jovially. “Do you think anyone suspects?”

  “That I’ll make love to you tonight? Nah.” He chortled.

  “No, the baby.”

  “You can’t tell too much. Enough to maybe question? Unless you get sick in front of everybody in the morning. Good thing I have a bathroom here you can hide in.”

  “Look,” she said, sit
ting up and pulling the big shirt tight across her belly. “I have a pudge.”

  Tanyon snickered. “Now, darlin’, you can blame that on my…uh… On my beef—”

  “Hey! This time it is the fault of your big beefy—”

  “Watch it, Outlaw…”

  “Can’t take it yourself, huh?” She gazed at the length of his body lying beside her before bringing her eyes back to the roguish grin on his face. “If your mama knew how bad you guys really were—”

  “She’d be proud.”

  “You’re on a roll tonight for it being so late.” She lay back down. “Weren’t we planning on making love? Wait, it’s nearly morning, but well, the night is young.” She leaned over the side of the bed to bring up a bottle in an ice bucket. “We never toasted properly after the ceremony.”

  “Woman, you can’t drink champagne, but I think we toasted something.” He pulled his jeans on. “I’ll find the non-alcoholic stuff.”

  “No, this is non-alcoholic. You pour while I run to the bathroom.”

  Off came his jeans again. Watching her pad across the floor in his shirt was as sexy as any honeymoon attire. Tanyon stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes. Tiredness inched over his body. He pulled the sheet over his mid-section and relaxed his limbs. “What’s taking so long?” His room sat at the end of the hallway, but her brother occupied the one next door. Maybe Seth had enough champagne to knock him out.

  “Um, I’m sick.”

  He raised to his elbows and peered toward the bathroom. “Do you need me to hold your hair back?”

  “Uh-uh. Please, stay there. I hope it’ll pass. Give me a few minutes.”

  Helpless, he lay back and closed his eyes to reflect on the day’s events. A lot had happened in twenty-four hours. He’d become a husband to the woman he nearly lost. His ranch was safe. Oh, and he’d soon be responsible for a teen and two little kids.

  He jerked himself awake sometime later. Karis breathed softly beside him. He’d fallen asleep on his wedding night. Bad husband. Sparky curled at the bottom of her feet. He whispered for the dog to move, but all his dog did was peek from one open eye. Tenderly, he ran his finger over Karis’s forearm resting on her midriff. She didn’t budge.

  Tanyon smiled at her beautiful face surrounded by auburn hair spread out on her pillow. He eyed the pulse in her throat, but he wouldn’t kiss it—not yet, not tonight. Nausea had kept her away earlier. He’d let her rest for now. An early rise wouldn’t happen in the morning. At least not the getting out of bed rise, but he wouldn’t promise nothing else rose. Oops, too late. Proud, Tanyon chuckled inwardly.

  Despite his ramblings in thinking the others wouldn’t work the ranch his way, he knew they’d handle it while they had a short honeymoon. He’d find a fancy restaurant for dinner in Sedona tomorrow night then in Phoenix next week.

  Karis’s hip pressed against his hot flesh. He might have to take back letting her sleep. Tanyon ran his hand over the smooth skin of her naked thigh. Without remorse for waking her, he unbuttoned two buttons and kissed her breasts. Karis moaned softly. A smile quirked her lips. “You’re awake?”

  “Uh-uh. Hold me.”

  Tanyon slid his arm behind her neck to bring her against him. He kissed her forehead. “I love you. In two days, we’ll wake to your Sedona sunrise.”

  “Thank you.” Karis slid her hand over his abdomen. He pulled in a breath as she inched her fingers lower. Resistance to taking her waned. He smoothed her hair back and cupped a side of her face. “Are you nauseated?” Good. Her smile had said no.

  Karis eased her foot up and down his leg. “Why? Do you want something? Mmm, you do.”

  He drew in a breath when she ran her warm hand over him. “I need you. I’ve always needed you.”

  She softly kissed along his throat. “You’re warm.”

  His breathing got deeper as she stroked his flesh. “I’m hot. For you. Sorry you had to go to bed alone. Can I make up for it?”

  “I’m not alone now.”

  “Move over.” She moved to her back. Tanyon pushed the shirt up over her thighs for full access, but instead assisted her in getting it over her head and off. “You may think this shirt isn’t sexy. I beg to differ. Ready for this?” She folded her leg to the side and his body went crazy. “Your answer?”

  She stretched, arching her hips. “Touch me. You’ll see.”

  He swept his fingers over her plump wetness and oh, man, but he needed her tonight. “Sexy. I wonder how many freckles my mouth can cover at a time. Freckles are everywhere. Everywhere.” He grinned. “Before I die, I plan on kissing every one of them.”

  “When would you like to begin?”

  “Don’t you know? I already have.” He gazed down her body and smiled as he took in every lovely inch of her. “I know which ones I want to kiss right now. Again.”

  Chuckling, Karis whispered, “You have a couple freckles I bet you don’t even know exist. I found them.” Moaning, she whispered, “Keep touching me like you are.”

  He leaned over and gingerly bit her nipple, purposefully lifting his fingers from her to make her want it as badly as he did. “If that’s how you want to play this, I have the perfect solution—”

  “You kiss mine while I kiss yours? Ooohhhh, won’t it be sensual and fun?”

  He lowered his hand to touch her again, but he couldn’t stop touching her after one little sample. His lovesick heart took over from there. At her ear, her weakness, he softly nipped at the lobe and ran his tongue ever so slowly and persistently over her ear. Everything inside of him screamed for completion, but he couldn’t, not yet. His fingers were still too busy giving her pleasure as she begged with sweet sighs for more. “You’re close,” he whispered, touching her in all the right ways to give her the joy she sought. “Let it carry you away.” Watching her enjoyment as she shuddered in fulfillment caused his eyes to roll back in his head, nearly bringing his end way too soon. They lay side by side entwined, each seeking a calm breath and giving him a chance to get control of himself.

  A couple minutes later, she grinned shamelessly then whispered, “Me and my freckles are more than ready for everything you have, but I fear you’ll have to do most of the work in my leisurely state.”

  “In other words, you’re tired?”

  “Mm hmm and satisfied. Tomorrow will be my turn to…do your hidden freckles good.” She widened her eyes and chuckled.

  Tanyon stretched out atop her, muttering softly, “I don’t mind doing all the work. I need you now.” He nibbled kisses from her ear to her neck, moving toward her breasts and beyond with each hard beat of her heart. Further as her breath’s became deeper. Kissing her abdomen and knowing a child grew there, made him perfectly sure of his decision to make their lives together whole. He needed to ravish her body more than ever before, but first, he yearned to lick, kiss, then thrust his tongue, wiggle it against her freckles as she writhed in desire. Tonight, he was far from finished.

  Then Karis moaned breathlessly, “Give me every inch of you now. Don’t make me wait…”

  Tanyon lifted his head to enjoy the warming afterglow on her face and the crave in her sexy blue eyes. She licked her lips, causing him to moan in desire then lick his own. Her drenched lips waited to be kissed. He took her mouth provocatively, tasting and tonguing her sweet mouth until his breathing sped up. Taking a second away from her, he ripped off his briefs. “Not to worry. They’ll be no more waiting.” Tanyon planted kisses on her belly. “Umm, baby Outlaw, close your eyes. Mama and Daddy plan to play…”

  ∞∞∞

  Later, he woke to her limp body atop him. What a wonderful way to end the night or greet the morn. He kissed the top of her head as her cheek lay against his chest, but he eased her off him. “Sorry, honey.”

  She rolled to her side, pushing her rear end against him.

  The invitation was too good. He spooned her and held her tight. By the light on the horizon, daylight wasn’t far off. “I love you more than anything in this world.”
>
  “Me too. Good night, my husband for life. Or is it morning?”

  “Either.” Getting up to tend to the ranch was the last thing on his mind as he eased his leg over hers to keep her close. He closed his eyes, picturing the joy on her face last night in candlelight. The ranch was up to the others for now. This is how he’d be honored to wake each morning.

  The day he’d taken her to Sedona, while lying on the bed with her, his soul had told him one day he’d give her the world, and she’d be his again, but his stubborn head had ripped him out of her arms that night against his will. I married Karis. What a lucky man I am.

  Karis muttered into the pillow. “Honey?”

  “Huh?”

  “Aside from losing my brother, I’m the luckiest woman in the world to be with you. Do I see light in the sky?”

  He faced the window to look again. “The horizon is red now.”

  “How can we have another home away from this ranch?”

  “Now you want to ask this?” He tiptoed his fingers over her arm. “We won’t be able to spend every weekend in Sedona, but we’ll make sure to get there as often as we can.”

  “Perfect. Thank you. Are you going to work this morning?”

  “Nope. You’re my only work today.” He chuckled. “Let’s go back to sleep. You didn’t drink last night, but I did.”

  Karis rolled over in his arms. She smiled as the blush of sunrise filled the room with a romantic glow. “Can we get up? I’m too excited to go back to sleep. Let’s slip out to Sedona.”

  “Should we name the new place the Two-Seven ranch or Two-Three ranch?”

  “Why’s this one named Two-Five?”

  “You don’t know? Well, here’s a lesson on ranch naming. It used to be called Shadow Ridge. Dad had a brain fart one day after their unexpected fifth kid had been born. Don’t laugh like I did because neither makes any sense. I was in the military when squirt was born. The Two is for Mom and Dad. What do you think the Five is for?”

  Karis propped herself on her elbow. “There are five siblings. If that’s it, it’s so, so cute.” Her eyes welled. “Warning. Baby hormones reacting.”