RILEY Men of Clifton Montana by Susan Fisher-Davis FINAL (1)

by Susan Fisher-Davis

  ****

  Riley sat in the truck staring at the house where he'd grown up—a large colonial, two-story home with black shutters. The dark windows seemed to taunt him. Glancing around the yard, he swore in disgust. The barn needed paint and the corral fences were in desperate need of repair. Weeds grew tall in the front yard. Riley put his window down, hooked his arm on the door, and gazed around. The place was a mess.

  Blowing out a breath of disgust, he knew it would take a good bit of money to fix it. Not that he couldn't afford it, he just wasn’t sure he wanted to bother with it. The land alone was worth a good bit though. Riley swore again as he opened the door, and stepped out of the truck, then slammed it shut letting his anger grab hold again. Walking toward the dilapidated porch, he tripped over a rock. It seemed to be the last straw. Picking it up, he chucked it at the house and heard it shatter a window. Placing his hands on his hips, he hung his head. Son of a bitch! Sighing with frustration, he strode up the steps and tried to open the door. Who would have locked the door?

  Looking under the mat, Riley found the key—of course. How cliché…leave it to the old man to be so obvious. He put the key in the lock and pushed the door open, but he couldn’t step across the threshold. All the bad memories came rushing at him like a strong cold wind blowing across the plains. Taking a deep breath for reinforcement, he stepped into the house reaching for a light switch but when he flipped it, nothing happened. The electricity was off. Riley tightened his jaw as he gazed around the house. A stale, aged and musty smell assaulted his nose. His father only died two weeks ago. Had he really lived in this mess all these years?

  The living room furniture sat covered in dust. Cobwebs hung in the corners of the windows and walls. Sunlight poured through the windows on each side of the fireplace and dust particles floated heavy through the beams. Riley strode to the fireplace and crouched down. He looked up the flue and swore again, when he saw it was open. There could be bats nesting up there. He closed the flue then walked to the kitchen, leaned against the doorjamb, and folded his arms across his chest as he shook his head. It was bad. The appliances would need replacing and the black and white tile floor had pieces missing. The countertops needed refinishing or replaced. Damn, the only decent thing about the kitchen was the cherry cabinets. Riley supposed he could remove them and sell them if he decided to level the house.

  Taking a deep breath, he took his hat off, and ran his fingers through his thick hair. He should just burn the damn place down. It was just too bad it wouldn’t take the bad memories with it, if he did. He strolled out the backdoor and headed for the barn. Once inside, he checked the stalls. The barn was in much better shape than the house. Glancing toward the back, he refused to go into the back office yet. Bales of hay sat stacked against the back wall. Riley inhaled the sweet scent as his gaze swept the barn. There had been good memories here when he was out here alone but when the old man was with him, he could do no right. The son of a bitch would go off over anything. One day, Riley had accidently dropped a bale of hay he was stacking and it burst apart. It was one of the worst beatings of his life. He’d been thirteen.

  “You bastard,” Riley shouted. The anger poured over him and he punched the wall with his fist. “Fuck,” he swore as he looked at his bloody knuckles, and then shook his hand trying to ease the pain.

  Not wanting to be here another minute, Riley headed for his truck but stopped when he saw a sheriff's marked SUV coming up the drive. Riley halted and waited, watching as Sam stepped out.

  “You miss me, Sam?” Sneering, his anger was still riding high so now he inadvertently directed it at his old friend.

  Cocking his head, Sam raised an eyebrow. “Someone reported a truck here. I was just checking to make sure it was you.” Shrugging, he glanced around. “With the place being empty, it's become a hangout for kids.”

  All of sudden feeling like a complete ass, Riley glanced at his boots. Sam was a good person, an old friend, and the closest thing to a brother he’d ever had. “Sorry, Sam…I understand you're just doing your job.”

  Sam leaned against the fender of his vehicle, folded his arms, and stared at Riley. “Are you going to be staying here while you fix it up?”

  Riley flattened his lips. “I thought about it but after being here, I'm not sure I can.”

  Sam didn't say anything. He probably didn’t know what to say. Riley strode over to him and leaned against the fender beside him. They both stared at the house.

  “I hated that son of a bitch,” Riley said quietly.

  He heard Sam sigh. “I know. He was a real bastard. No one went to his funeral.”

  A humorous laugh erupted from Riley. “Why would they? He was an asshole to everyone he ever met.” He glanced around. “I have to wonder if he was ever a good person.”

  Sam shook his head. “I had to come out here last winter to check on him. Betty Lou Harper, my dispatcher, told me his electric had been shut-off, and it was damn cold.” He glanced away and then back to Riley. “He was sleeping in the barn.”

  Riley raised his eyebrows. “In the barn? Why?”

  “He said it was warmer than the house.” Sam shrugged. “He said he'd been living in the barn for years. There's a wood burning stove in the back room and that's where he stayed.”

  “There’s a fireplace in the house,” Riley exclaimed.

  Sam nodded. “I know, but I don't think he wanted to be in the house alone.”

  Kicking a rock on the ground, Riley scoffed. “It never bothered him before. He wanted so much to be alone that he ran his wife and son off.” Neither spoke for a few minutes. Riley glanced at him. “What’s with all the people in town?”

  Chuckling, Sam smiled at him. “Most of them are from the Clifton Bed and Breakfast.”

  “What bed and breakfast?” Riley raised his eyebrows in surprise.

  “Becca Stone owns it. You remember Hattie Daniels?” Riley nodded. “She passed away a while back and left her ranch to Becca, her granddaughter. Becca turned it into a bed and breakfast. She added fifteen cabins to the property too. It's a goldmine. The townspeople love it since it brings people into town and the local stores.”

  “I’m sorry to hear about Hattie. No one mentioned anything about any of this at Ryder’s wedding.”

  Shrugging his broad shoulders, Sam grinned. “I guess it never came up.”

  “True.” Riley agreed, nodding in that non-committed way when it doesn’t require more reaction.

  “Of course, you didn’t stick around after the wedding. I remember you tore out of here like a bat out of hell.”

  “The sooner I got out of here, the better. Same with now.”

  “I know how you feel about being here in Clifton, but it wasn’t the town that made you run off when you were twenty-three.”

  Taking in a deep breath, Riley exhaled fully. “I know. I just didn’t think I’d ever come back here. The only reason I came back for Ryder’s wedding, was because I actually happened to be home in Texas at the time, so I knew about it. I was out of town on business when the news came for Jake and Wyatt’s weddings…so I missed theirs. It was good to see everyone though.” He saw Sam grin. “What?”

  “Kaylee’s pregnant.”

  “That’s great…really great. I need to get out there to see her and Trick.”

  “I think Trick is over the moon. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so happy. Except maybe the day they got married.”

  Nodding, Riley grinned. “He is crazy about her. Always has been.”

  Sam nodded in agreement. “Yeah. They’re very much in love. I’m happy for them.”

  “Trick fell hard for her.” Riley smiled. “I will definitely get out to see them before I leave.”

  “You should.”

  “What about you? Are you still seeing Lydia?”

  “No. Not any longer.” Sam’s response was brusque.

  Surprised, Riley tilted his head in question. “Why not?”

 
; “It wasn’t going anywhere.”

  “Not for you maybe, but anyone could see she’s in love with you.”

  Sam shrugged. “I didn’t to want to hurt her, but I can’t make myself fall in love with someone. She’s a great person, but I don’t love her. She went back to Louisiana. It’s better that way.”

  “Yeah, it was probably for the best. Maybe one day, you’ll find the right woman.” Riley grinned.

  Slapping him on the shoulder, Riley noted the man still had some strength. “Glad to see you back.”

  Realizing how quick Sam had changed the subject, Riley grinned with understanding. He was in no hurry to settle down either…if ever.

  “I’m not sticking around, Sam. There's nothing to keep me here.”

  Sam pushed off the fender turning away from him, headed around to the driver’s side door of his unit, stopped then glanced over the hood at Riley as he opened it. “There’s nothing to keep you away anymore either.”

  Giving him a salute, Sam got into his vehicle and backed out the way he came. He honked as he drove off.

  Chapter Two

  Riley watched his friend drive away. Sam was wrong. There were the bad memories that would always keep him away. Sam was right about one thing though, Clifton wasn't to blame. Once he got older, he’d realized it was a nice little town but this ranch was nothing but a place filled with hateful memories. The old man would surely haunt the place. Riley laughed at the thought. On second thought, he probably wouldn’t. Hell, he couldn’t even live in the house. No, the old man was rotting in hell where he belonged.

  Turning away from his truck, he walked back into the barn. Going to the back room, he pushed the door open and halted in the doorway. An old cot with a sleeping bag on it sat against one wall. The wood burning stove sat on the opposite wall. A small desk hugged the space next to the doorway. Riley's eyes scanned the room, landing on the empty whiskey bottles lying all over the floor. Rubbing his hand over his jaw, he saw it didn't look like things had changed since the old man had kicked him off the ranch.

  Spinning on his heel, he practically ran out of the barn. Climbing into his truck, he tore out of the driveway, his tires spitting dust into the air. He had no idea where he was going but he had to get away from here. His truck left the ranch behind in the rearview mirror and ate up the miles distancing him from the memories. When he pulled into the cemetery, he stopped the truck so fast it slid sideways, dust blowing up from the gravel road around it.

  Riley threw the door open, not sure why he was here. Dust settled on his boots and the gravel crunched under them as he walked up the gravel road. Weaving through the headstones, he looked for the marker. His breath caught in his chest when he found it. Roscoe Leroy Madison.

  Squatting down beside it, he stared at it, his chest tightening and anger spilling from his pores. “I hope you're burning in hell…Dad.”

  He stood, turning to leave but something made him stop, and glance back. Gulping air into his lungs, he tried to stop the burning in his chest. Swallowing hard, he thought about how much he hated the old man so there was no way he was feeling pain over losing a man who had taken his frustration with life out on his son. Riley wanted to roar at the tears filling his eyes, because the man didn’t deserve them. Blinking them away, he stalked to his truck. Once inside the cab, he slammed the door and sped off down the gravel road. It was a good thing Sam wasn't around this time because he'd haul him in for reckless driving for sure.

  Riley pulled onto the blacktop road hard and quick, causing the truck to fishtail. Taking a deep breath, he let up on the gas. His fist hit the dash several times, as he tried to clear his head. As he drove down the road, he lowered the windows. Although the heat from the day swirled around the interior of the truck, Riley needed it to take his mind off the bitter thoughts filling his brain.

  As he drove over a crest, he spotted a vehicle on the opposite side of the road with the hood up, steam pouring out in a cloud above the small SUV. At first, he drove past it but then turned around, driving back to pull up behind it. Before getting out, he put the windows up then turned the air conditioning on, and then walked toward the steaming vehicle.

  Stepping around the vehicle, Riley stopped short when he saw the woman he'd had a shouting match with in town, staring at the engine. She glanced over at him then closed her eyes as she turned her head back toward the engine. He hid a smile when he heard her sigh.

  “Do you have any idea what could be wrong here?” She didn’t look at him as she asked him with hope in her voice.

  Riley leaned over and peered into the engine compartment. “It looks like you blew a hose.”

  “Is that bad or good?”

  Thinking she wasn’t going to be happy either way, Riley ran his hand over his mouth. “Both. It's good because it's not expensive. It's bad because you're going to need to have it towed back to town.”

  “I can't go back to town. I have orders to deliver,” she exclaimed throwing her hands in the air in obvious frustration.

  “Orders?” Riley frowned, wondering what kind of orders and hoping it wasn’t something perishable like food because it wasn’t going to make it.

  “I own the local florist shop and greenhouse. I have three more deliveries to make.”

  Nodding, Riley glanced around and then back to her. “You need to call a tow truck then. You can't drive it like this.”

  “Why not?” She placed her hands on her slim hips and glared at him.

  Riley glared back. “Because it's overheating and if you keep going, it will lock up the engine.”

  ****

  Kaitlyn growled and swallowed a curse. This could not be happening. She narrowed her eyes at the tall, attractive, sexy man standing in front of her. Stop thinking of him like that! Her heart skipped a beat just as it used to when she’d been close to him. Feeling defeated, she headed back to the driver's door, retrieved her cell phone from her purse, and called for a tow truck. As she explained where she was, her eyes traveled over him, and she wanted to groan when he leaned against the fender, folded his arms across his broad chest, and crossed his booted feet at the ankles. His jeans could’ve been made just for him. The way they hugged his thighs, and his crotch, made her mouth suddenly go as dry as the Mojave Desert. Shifting her gaze away from the area below his belt, she zeroed in on his face. The man was just too sexy and he needed a damn shave. His eyebrow lifted as she stared at him.

  Finished with her call, she hung up and tossed her phone back into her purse. Folding her arms, she gazed down the road. Seeing the heat rising off it, Kaitlyn blew out a breath, ruffling her bangs. Damn, it was hot. So hot, her shirt was sticking to her. She glanced over her shoulder at one of the causes for her overheated body. His shirt was sticking to him too. God! Just what she needed, seeing how it outlined his muscles. His pecs looked as if carved from stone. Glancing away, she told herself to ignore him but the vision of his rippled stomach muscles had burned into her eyelids.

  “I’m Riley Madison, by the way.”

  Sighing, she glanced back to him. “I know who you are.”

  Straightening up at her response, he cocked an eyebrow at her. “You do? How?”

  “I’m Kaitlyn Garrett, well, Parker now.”

  “Katie?” Riley stared at her. “You’re Sam’s sister, Katie?”

  Chuckling, she nodded. “I was fourteen the last time you saw me, three years before you left.” Then she shrugged. “I grew up.”

  He mumbled something that sounded like no shit but she ignored it. Riley had never known she had a crush on him and she prayed he never would.

  “Where’s the squirt?”

  Kaitlyn smiled as she always did when someone asked about her daughter. “Back at the shop, thank goodness, with Madilyn.”

  “Brody’s Madilyn?”

  “Yes.”

  Nodding, Riley motioned toward his truck. “Do you want to sit in my truck until the tow truck gets here? It's awfully hot to sta
nd out here.”

  Hesitating for less than a second, Kaitlyn practically ran to his truck. The sweat was trickling down between her breasts and shoulder blades. Pulling open the passenger door, she climbed in and sighed as the air conditioning hit her. Pulling out the collar of her T-shirt, she blew a cooling breath down between her breasts. Thank heavens he’d left his truck running. She watched as he closed the hood on her vehicle and took the keys from it. He sauntered to the truck with a typical cowboy swagger. Kaitlyn groaned. Riley Madison may have left Clifton but Clifton hadn’t left him. He was still every inch a Montana cowboy.

  Oh, Kaitlyn knew all about him and his success. After he left ten years ago, he’d purchased an old house in Texas that was falling down, and fixed it up. He’d sold it for three times what he paid for it. It set a pattern for him and he’d made millions doing it. The last item she could find out about him was that he had quit doing it two years ago. How pathetic was she? She’d never forgotten him and had surfed the Internet at night looking for any tidbit she could find while her husband, Kevin lay in another woman’s bed. Stupid! Kevin had never been there for her, so she was always dreaming of this tall, dark-haired man.

  After her brother, Sam left for college, Kaitlyn only caught glimpses of Riley in town. The last time she saw him was at her parents’ ranch when Sam came home for Thanksgiving, and had invited Riley. She was fourteen, Riley was twenty, and he was the hottest thing she’d ever seen. Her hormones had gone crazy and she’d squirmed in her seat so much that her mother had told her to sit still. Riley had turned those whiskey colored eyes on her. He hadn’t smiled but just stared at her until she tore her eyes from his, and had asked to be excused. It was the best and worst Thanksgiving of her life.

  Now, she stared straight ahead when he opened the door and slid into the seat next to her. Kaitlyn had to bite her lip to keep from groaning. He smelled so good—his aftershave mixed with sweat. She started to squirm in her seat.

  ****

  Gripping the steering wheel in his hands, Riley tried to remember that the gorgeous woman sitting beside him was his best friend’s little sister. Damn, he remembered her as a tall, skinny girl with kind of frizzy dark brown hair and braces. She had in no way looked anything like the beauty beside him. Clearing his throat, he glanced over to her.