“I told you she loved you. I could tell she was hurting by what she’d written.” Kaitlyn stroked his back in the way he imagined she soothed Sadie when the little girl was crying. The way any mother would, the way his mother should have soothed him.
Riley rubbed his cheek against her head. “I know she did. There are so many questions that need answers, and I need to know why Roscoe made her leave.” He gazed down into Kaitlyn’s eyes. “I have to find her.”
Kaitlyn inhaled a breath, and released it. “Are you sure you want to do that? What if the reason he made her leave was really horrible?”
“It doesn’t matter. As she said in the letter I read, he’d punished her long enough. I’m going to see if I can find a phone number for her at the address on the envelopes.” Riley huffed. “I need to find her. I have to find her.”
Kaitlyn nodded. “Okay, if you’re serious about doing this, I’ll help you in any way I can.”
“Thanks. I’m going back to the ranch now and clean out the barns, and then I’m bulldozing that hellhole of a house down. I’m sure the land will sell itself.” He kissed her quickly. “I’ll call you later.”
****
Riley pulled the trash bag behind him to the truck and tossed it into the bed. He was amazed at how much trash had accumulated in the back room. How had Roscoe ever lived in there? All of a sudden, Riley realized he’d started thinking of the old man only as Roscoe instead of his father. After reading the letter where his mother stated Roscoe didn’t love him, it seemed to come natural. Anymore. She’d said Roscoe didn’t love him anymore. Did that mean at one time, he had?
Riley laughed without humor. He sure couldn’t remember a time when Roscoe treated him any way other than with anger. Then again, it didn’t mean he hadn’t treated him like a real son before forcing Riley’s mother out. Shaking his head in bewilderment, he couldn’t recall anything in his memory that might confirm that and besides, it didn’t matter anymore. Nothing that had to do with Roscoe mattered—not to Riley.
Needing to take a break, he went into the back room and sat on the only piece of furniture in there, an old ladder-back chair. Riley glanced around the room. Taking a deep breath, he blew it out. Damn, it was hot. Sweat was rolling down his back between his shoulder blades, and from under his hat. Removing his hat, he swiped an arm across his forehead. Feeling better, he stood and dragged the chair behind him. It was going to the dump too. He was sure the future owners wouldn’t want any sort of trash lying around. Thinking of the future, Riley stopped and pulled out his cell phone.
“Hey, Gus…yeah, it’s Riley. I want a crew here to start on the house as quickly as possible,” he told his construction supervisor. He listened as Gus Griffith assured him they’d be in Clifton tomorrow. After flipping houses for years, Riley had purchased a construction company. His crew was the best at getting houses built quickly. The sooner they were up, the sooner they could go on the market. His homes sold for less than market value making it possible for people to have their dream home. Even with real estate at an all-time low, his homes sold.
“I’m going to start demolition but you’ll need to bring in the bigger equipment and finish it. The home I have in mind won’t be sitting in the same spot so make sure you bring a crew to start on the new home too. I’ll show you the floor plans when I meet you tomorrow.” Riley listened as Gus told him they would all arrive in the morning and that he’d rent equipment in Butte today, and pick it up first thing after landing. Riley agreed and the men hung up.
Feeling good about his decisions, Riley strode to the backhoe and climbed on. He revved up the engine, drove it toward the house but stopped the machine just before hitting it. Riley drew in a deep breath, pushed the throttle, and drove it into the house taking down the wall. The windows fell down and shattered. Riley reversed the backhoe, and then went full-speed into it again. Each time he knocked down a wall, he felt tremendously better. He was not only tearing down the walls of the house, he was tearing down the bad memories of what had happened inside it.
With a feeling of triumph over the life he’d survived, Riley let out a yell when another wall fell then ran the backhoe through what had once been the living room. When he came back out, he saw Kaitlyn standing alongside her car. She leaned back against the closed door with her arms folded grinning at him, all the while shaking her head.
Riley stopped the backhoe, shut it down, jumped down from it, and strode to her. When he reached her, he cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. He felt her arms wrap around him and she leaned into him making Riley groan into her mouth.
“Hi sweetheart,” he murmured against her lips.
“Hi yourself,” Kaitlyn whispered back. “You looked like you were having entirely too much fun. Feel better?”
Riley chuckled. “Somewhat…you know, boys and their toys.”
“You got that right.”
“Where’s the squirt?” Riley asked, glancing around.
“With Madilyn. I just wanted to see how you were doing. I brought you a hamburger from the diner.” Leaning into her car, she pulled out a white sack.
Riley moaned. “Damn that smells good.” His stomach growled as he opened the bag and pulled out the hamburger then he leaned in and kissed her. “Thank you. I’m starving.”
Kaitlyn laughed patting his stomach. “I figured you’d forget to eat once you got started.”
Riley bit into the burger, closed his eyes, and groaned. “Damn. Connie makes the best burgers.” Wiping his mouth, he glanced at Kaitlyn. “I’ve decided to build a log home.” He pointed to a small rise in the pasture. “Up there, so it will overlook a pond and the Glaciers are behind it.”
Kaitlyn shaded her eyes as she looked toward the pasture. “It will be beautiful there. Does that mean you’re staying?”
Her question made his food catch in his throat as he swallowed. Unable to meet her eyes, he concentrated on his half-eaten burger instead. “No. I’m still selling it.”
“Right.” He heard her sigh. “I better get back to work.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed him. “I’ll see you later.”
Riley wrapped his fingers around her wrist. “Will you? Can I come over later?”
A small smile lifted her mouth. “Of course…see you around six. Bring pizza.”
Watching her drive away, Riley knew she wanted him to stay in Clifton, but it just wasn’t that simple. Tearing down the house was a huge start, but every inch of the land still reminded him of the hell he’d lived through growing up here. His lips flattened as he remembered Roscoe taking his frustrations out on him whenever the mood struck. For seventeen years, Riley had put up with physical and verbal abuse. Why he’d stayed as long as he had was anyone’s guess, but he supposed he’d thought helping Roscoe keep the ranch going would bring the two closer together.
Riley grunted at the thought. Nothing could ever have brought them closer, because Roscoe never wanted to be close to his son. Strangely enough, Riley had no memory of abuse before his mother left so either she must have protected him or it was only after Roscoe threw her off the ranch, it had started. Riley didn’t care when or why. He’d grown to hate the old man. Sighing, he finished his lunch then walked to the backhoe to finish tearing down the house he hated as much as the old man who was his father.
****
Kaitlyn wiped the tears from her cheeks as she drove back to the shop. Why are you crying? You knew he wasn’t going to stay. He’d been honest all along, telling her he was never going to stay in Clifton. Her hopes had risen when he told her he was building a home. Not for them, though. A home he was selling along with the land. She hiccupped. Idiot! You fell in love with a man who never intended to stick around.
As for herself, Kaitlyn couldn’t even think of leaving Clifton. Not that he would even ask her to but if he did, she knew her answer would be no. Clifton was her home, and Sadie’s. Her family and friends were here. Her shop, her business—her life was here. A shop, a
business, and a life she loved. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel. She knew this wasn’t going to end well.
When Kaitlyn arrived back at the shop, her heart ached with the idea of losing Riley, so she hurried inside the shop figuring the busier she stayed, the less it would hurt. With the weather being nice, more people were coming in, and the shop was busy. She gave Madilyn an apologetic smile and began waiting on customers while keeping any eye on Sadie in her playpen. Kaitlyn knew it might be time to put Sadie in a daycare center. She knew she’d make friends there, and Kaitlyn and Madilyn could get more work done without worrying about her. Madilyn told her Cade loved going to daycare so it might be good for Sadie.
Kaitlyn glanced down at her daughter and smiled when Sadie giggled at her. Sadie held her bunny out to her. Kaitlyn leaned down and made smacking noises. Sadie laughed. She plopped down on her butt and kissed the old dilapidated bunny. Kaitlyn really needed to pick up a new one for her.
As the day went on, Kaitlyn dreaded the night ahead. She was beginning to wish she’d told Riley she was busy tonight. Later as she sat behind the desk in her office, she wondered how she was going to face him tonight knowing he would leave her and Sadie one day. She didn’t know if she could take watching him walk away from them. Sadie loved him too. Her little girl was always asking where Riley was and she loved it when he held her, just as her mama did. But her mama was going to have a broken heart. Sure, Sadie would forget him in time, but Kaitlyn would love him forever. If she were being honest with herself, she knew she’d loved him since first laying eyes on him all those years ago. Back then, she dreamed of what it would be like to have him kiss her. Now that she knew that as well as how great he was in bed, and how great he was with Sadie, how was she going to let him walk away? How would she go on without him?
Kaitlyn put her hand over her mouth to stop the sobs but it didn’t stop her tears from falling. She deserved happiness, didn’t she? After what Kevin had put her through, she felt she needed a good man in her life and had begun to hope, and dream, that man might be Riley.
****
Later, while Kaitlyn drove home, Sadie babbled in the back seat. Kaitlyn smiled listening to her. Life was so much simpler for a little girl. It was still hot out when she parked at her apartment complex and stepped from her vehicle. Wanting to get Sadie inside to the air conditioning, she opened the back door and smiled when Sadie reached out to her.
“Hold on, baby. Let Mama get you out,” she told her as she unbuckled her from the car seat restraints. Kaitlyn had gotten good at balancing her purse, diaper bag, and Sadie, all at the same time. So when Sadie wrapped her arms around Kaitlyn’s neck and laid her head on her mama’s shoulder, Kaitlyn felt tears stinging her eyes. She felt so much love for her baby girl.
When she reached their apartment, she unlocked the door then sighed in relief when the air conditioning hit her. She carried Sadie down the hall to her bedroom. The little girl was having trouble keeping her eyes open while Kaitlyn readied her for a nap. After laying her down in her crib on her belly, Sadie immediately settled into her usual sleeping position with her little butt up in the air, and her arms and knees tucked under her. Kaitlyn gazed down at her daughter and gently stroked her back.
Leaving the room, she decided to grab a quick shower while Sadie napped. Entering the bathroom, she turned on the shower, disrobed, and knotted her hair up on the top of her head. The room quickly filled with steam. She stepped in and immediately wanted Riley in there with her. The man was amazing, and he was going to be hard to forget when he left. After her shower, she put on her purple bra and matching panties. While pulling on jeans and a purple T-shirt, she heard Sadie calling for her. Kaitlyn quickly finished dressing and ran to Sadie’s room.
“Hey there, Sadie-bug…that was a very short nap, little lady. Let’s get you changed, and then we’ll wait for Riley.” Sadie’s eyes widened and she did her act of surprise with her little bow mouth forming the perfect O.
“Riley, Mama?”
“Yes, baby. Riley. He’s bringing pizza again.” Kaitlyn laughed when Sadie clapped her chubby little hands together. All finished, Kaitlyn set her down and watched as her daughter ran from the room yelling for Riley. “He’s not here yet, Sadie.”
Kaitlyn laughed as Sadie ran from room to room looking for him. “Is he under the table?”
Sadie grinned and looked under the kitchen table then squealed with laughter as she ran around the living room looking for him. When she got on her hands and knees and tried to peer under the sofa, Kaitlyn laughed so hard, she had tears in her eyes. The doorbell rang and both females glanced at the door. Sadie ran to it, reaching for the doorknob. When she couldn’t reach it, she bounced up and down while waiting for Kaitlyn to open it. When she did, all either of them saw was a huge blue stuffed bunny. Sadie squealed with delight.
“Bunny! Bunny,” she cried with her hands in the air reaching for it, and then giggled when Riley dropped to his knees and handed it to her. Sadie took the bunny from him and started to turn from him.
“Hey, squirt. What about a kiss?” Tugging her to him, he gave her tummy a tickle making her giggle some more then she aimed a pucker at his mouth, but kissed his nose instead. Riley laughed. “Thank you.” He kissed her cheek, straightened to his full height, and turned his whiskey colored eyes on Kaitlyn. “What about you? Do I get a kiss from you?”
Kaitlyn planted her hands on her hips. “I don’t know. What did you bring me?”
“Pizza?” Leaning into the hallway, he retrieved a flat box, and set it on the hall table.
“That’s not fair, that’s for all of us.” Kaitlyn folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes.
Giving her sly grin, Riley went back out to the landing and came back in carrying a rocking chair. “Will this do, sweetheart?”
Kaitlyn ran her hand over the mahogany rocker. It was beautiful. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. “Yes, it will do nicely, but I was willing to settle for you.”
Riley pulled her to him and deepened the kiss. “I brought the letters too. I’ll get them from my truck after we eat.”
“Okay. Keep her occupied while I throw her old bunny away,” Kaitlyn whispered then picked up the pizza box, and headed toward the kitchen scooping up the old bunny on the way.
“Hey Sadie-bug, come here.” Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw him squat down, and reach his arms out to her daughter. Sadie ran to him, and while he kept her occupied, Kaitlyn quickly disposed of the old bunny in the trash bin then she called them to the kitchen.
Riley took a seat at the table, and instead of putting her in her booster seat, he kept Sadie on his lap.
“You’re spoiling her,” Kaitlyn scolded even as she tried not to smile.
He winked at her. “You can sit on my lap later,” he promised her then laughed when Kaitlyn blushed.
“Looking forward to it,” she whispered, and it was her turn to laugh when Riley groaned.
Dinner was a repeat performance of the last time they’d eaten pizza. Sadie would throw pieces on the floor and Riley would pick them up. Kaitlyn retrieved a wet paper towel to wipe off Sadie’s face and hands making her fuss.
“Sadie, stop. I need to wipe your face off,” Kaitlyn scolded but Sadie kept shaking her head. When Riley laughed, Kaitlyn threw him a dirty look. He glanced away, clearing his throat. Kaitlyn bit back a grin. Sadie continued to fuss.
“She didn’t sleep very long earlier. I think she needs another nap,” Kaitlyn said as she picked Sadie up. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be in the living room. Waiting for you, Katie,” Riley said in a low very sexy tone.
Kaitlyn put Sadie to bed, took a deep breath after closing her daughter’s door, exhaled, and walked to the living room. She took a seat on the sofa beside Riley. He had placed the letters on the coffee table in front of him. Riley picked one up.
“Roscoe did read these. They say the same thing over, and over, her
pleading with him to let her see me, or come and get me.” He shook his head. “I’m going to ask Sam if he knows a good private detective. With his connections to the U.S. Marshals, I’m sure he can find someone reliable I can hire. I have to find her and find out the truth about what happened. There wasn’t a phone number listed for her at that address on the letters. She might not even be there anymore.”
Kaitlyn leaned over and kissed him. “I’m sure Sam can help you. He does have connections. You’ll find the truth, Riley.”
Riley pulled her over onto his lap and pressed his lips to hers. “Didn’t you say something about sitting on my lap?”
Kaitlyn snorted. “No. You did.”
“Ah, I remember now,” he murmured against her lips. His tongue ran along the seam of her lips. “Open for me, sweetheart.”
When Kaitlyn did as he commanded opening her mouth to him, his tongue moved in slowly and tangled with hers. Wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning in, she moaned. Her insides flipped in response to a low groan in Riley’s throat before his lips moved across her cheek and down to her neck, where he nibbled before moving up to her ear and taking the lobe between his teeth. Kaitlyn shivered, his caresses arousing her as no one else could or ever will. Her hands pulled at the bottom of his shirt and lifted it off over his head. She moaned, taking in the sight of him. Damn, she loved his chest. He was solid muscle.
“Let’s go to the bedroom,” she whispered in his ear then moved off his lap to sit on the cushion beside him.
Riley raised his head to gaze into her eyes. “Anything you want, sweetheart.”
He rose from the sofa and put his hand out to her and she eagerly placed hers in his. They walked slowly down the hallway engrossed in each other when they heard Sadie suddenly cry out. Kaitlyn gave Riley an apologetic look and quickly went into Sadie’s bedroom. Her little girl was sick.
“Maybe I let her have too much pizza,” Riley murmured from behind Kaitlyn as she began pulling messy pajamas off Sadie.
RILEY Men of Clifton Montana by Susan Fisher-Davis FINAL (1) Page 11