“If you’re not happy, it has nothing to do with Laurel Creek, the ranch or the people here. You need to ask yourself what’s really going on.”
Tobias let out a long breath. “Luke, I don’t have to figure it out. It has everything to do with this damned place. Sometimes Laurel Creek is too small. Everybody knows your business.”
The dogs returned, dropped the balls and, once again, stared up at them with expectancy. Tobias threw the balls this time.
“Sell the ranch and leave. See how happy that makes you. I’m letting you know now, I am not going to take it on. Make sure you give family the option to buy first. Oh, and fuck you.” Luke walked off toward the stables.
What the hell was happening? How did he become the bad guy all of a sudden?
“Hello?”
One of his cousins walked out from the kitchen. It was Taylor. In a khaki sheriff’s uniform, Taylor was in his element. Having gone through some formidable crap, it was strange how his cousin remained so steady, easygoing and, for the most part, normal.
“Came to see my dog.”
Both labs ran up to Taylor and began jumping up and down. The man had a way with dogs, actually with most animals. Since he’d planned on marrying Allison, Taylor had moved into her apartment above the flower shop. Taylor and Tobias had decided it was best that the dogs remain together there at the ranch. Another thing he’d have to deal with if he decided to move to Billings was what to do with the dogs.
“How’s home life?” Tobias asked. “I know you guys aren’t actually married yet, but do you have any plans on where you two are going to live permanently?”
“Nah,” Taylor replied while petting the dogs. “I kinda like staying in Allison’s apartment. We’re in the middle of town, so I can get to work in a hurry. It’s relaxing.”
Of course, his cousin could possibly be persuaded to move out to the ranch. The only deterrent would be all the work with the livestock. And then there was the thirty-minute drive into town.
“Yeah, sounds convenient. Wonder what it’s like to not have to dedicate every living moment to animals.”
Taylor studied him. “Burning out, Cousin?”
“A bit maybe.”
Whenever Taylor had something on his mind, he walked in a circle, or sometimes paced from one end of a room to the other. He must have had a lot on his mind that morning because he was making some sort of zigzag pattern on the deck. Much to the dogs’ delight and to Tobias’ annoyance.
“Spit it out.”
“She’s not the right woman for you, Tobias. You need to think this through…”
“Enough!” Tobias got to his feet and made a slashing motion with his hands. “Leave me be. I need a day away from everyone and everything. I’m a fucking grown ass man. I can make up my own mind about who I marry. Damn it!” It was childish, but he stomped his foot.
When Taylor went to open his mouth, Tobias put both hands up. “Whatever you have to say can wait. I don’t need it today.”
He stormed from the deck and headed to the stables.
His horse was saddled and ready in record time. Tobias mounted and allowed the animal the freedom to gallop wherever and as fast as it wanted.
A few moments later, he spotted Luke. The man had a way with horses, rode as if he were part of the animal. Luke, he was born to be in the saddle.
The sun was not quite straight up, but it made for a bright, sunny day. Tobias wasn’t surprised when Luke rode to a group of wayward cows and began working with his ranch hands to herd the animals to a different pasture.
“Go!” He urged his own mount toward the others, not surprised when, moments later, the roar of Taylor’s four-wheeler sounded and his cousin appeared on the horizon.
They worked for three hours straight and it was the best time Tobias had experienced in a long time. He, his brother and cousin had all been too busy doing their own things. He’d forgotten how well they worked together.
It could be that instead of being burned out, he missed the way things used to be. Instead of living with Taylor and Luke, he was alone. Instead of working with two men he trusted and loved, he had men who worked for him.
Sure it was a natural progression but, damn, it wasn’t what he wanted. Family was important and it had taken so long to get Luke back in Montana. And now that he was home, he’d barely been there a few months before falling for Leah and moving to her ranch next door.
Taylor came up alongside. “I’m gonna go on ahead. I better get back to town.” He grinned up at Tobias. “This was great.” He saluted and took off, the four-wheeler at full speed.
“That idiot is going to roll that thing if he keeps that up.” Tobias hadn’t noticed his brother until Luke was beside him.
Tobias nodded. “Yeah, but he’s pretty good handling the four-wheeler. Loves riding it.” It seemed to be true, although it was hard to know if Taylor would have preferred a horse.
Taylor had been shot multiple times while working as a detective, in the city, and his body couldn’t withstand horseback riding.
“I needed this,” Luke admitted. “Great way to get rid of stress.” He eyed Tobias. “Keeps me from wanting to punch your face in.”
“Bring it,” Tobias challenged. “You may be more muscular, but I’m quicker.”
They were identical twins, but Luke had bulked up while he was gone. Tobias worked out, but was not as stringent with his schedule as Luke was.
“You’ll work things out, Brother.” In typical Luke fashion, his words hit home.
Would he?
“What the doctor say?” Luke asked, once again proving how small Laurel Creek was.
“That I need to change my eating habits and that I worked my chest muscles to hard.” Tobias replied. “Guess I’m not going to die yet.”
They continued in silence until arriving at the stables. Once the horses were brushed down and loosed into the corral, they walked toward the house.
Luke went to his truck and looked at his phone. “I’m going to pick up a few things for dinner. Leah wants you to come over.”
“Yeah. Okay.” Leah seemed to be the only one who accepted Mimi, so he welcomed the time over at Luke and Leah’s house.
From inside the coffee shop Mindy’s heart skipped a beat whenever Eric came into view through the front windows. He walked across the street heading to the shop. So much had gone wrong in the last year that to have a bright spot was something she relished. It was hard to keep negative thoughts at bay and accept that, for once, something wonderful was happening.
The bell over the door jingled and she looked up with a bright smile, only to allow it to dim when noting it wasn’t Eric, but an older couple who lived outside of town. “Hello Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. Haven’t seen you in a while.”
The woman neared the counter. “I have a doctor’s appointment and convinced Gordon to come early so I could come here and then stop over at the flower shop.”
“What a good idea. It’s always fun to walk around this street. Did you see the new gift shop that just opened?”
Something about Mr. Barnes’ expression made Mindy stop talking and take a closer look at Mrs. Barnes. She was especially pale.
“Are you feeling all right?”
The woman’s warm smile was endearing. “As well as can be expected. Today, I find out how many rounds of chemo I have to go through. Gordon is worried, but I’m not. I have faith it will all work out just fine.”
“Of course it will,” Mindy said with a firm nod. “Coffee and muffins are on me. Let’s start off the day with a gift.”
The couple placed their orders and sat by the window. Moments later, they were laughing about something and Mindy couldn’t help but smile. Teresa and Gordon Barnes had been together as long as she could remember. Mrs. Barnes had taught elementary school and he’d been everyone’s dentist. They were the best example of a wonderful marriage.
She let out a sigh.
“Good morning.” Eric’s deep voice cut through her like a ho
t knife into butter and her knees weakened. She glanced up at him.
Tall, broad-shouldered and in uniform, he was definitely eye candy. His hazel gaze moved over her, but he didn’t meet hers.
“I didn’t realize you’d arrived. How are things in town this morning? Is Laurel Creek safe and protected?” She was babbling.
There was a slight lift to the corners of his mouth. He nodded and reached for the refilled travel mug that her helper handed to him. “Yep, all is safe and well.” He didn’t seem particularly happy to see her, nor did he act his usual flirty way.
Mindy touched his sleeve. “Is everything all right with you?”
“Couldn’t be better.” Eric met her gaze for a beat, then turned and walked out. That was also not like him. He usually found excuses to linger. Something was definitely wrong.
They’d been on three dates so far. Hadn’t slept together yet, but the last date things had gotten especially steamy. Could it be that he was upset that she’d put a stop to things? She blew out a breath. Actually, it had been him who’d pulled away. He’d gotten a radio call or something. So their lack of intimacy wasn’t it. Whatever it was, she’d have to find out.
Allison strolled in with a vase of flowers in hand. There was an “Enchanted Garden” card sticking out the top. “Hey, there. Got something for you.” She grinned at Mindy. “It’s from me. Advertisement.”
Of course. She’d held her breath for a moment thinking they were from Eric. “I was hoping you’d realize your true feelings for me. No need to make excuses.”
Allison giggled. “You see right through me.” She looked around. “Where should I put them for the most visibility?”
“What about the table there?” Mindy motioned a table just inside the door. It was decorated and staged to look like a meal. It had a cup and plate on which there was a folded napkin across it. There was a small chalkboard with the special coffee flavor of the day. Allison rearranged everything, adding the small vase, and automatically it looked especially beautiful.
“You have such a touch with things,” Mindy told her. “I have something to ask.” She tugged her friend just outside the front door.
Mindy looked up and down the street to ensure that she would not be overheard. If one was going to be neurotic, it was best not to have witnesses. “Has Taylor said anything about Eric? He’s acting strange.”
Allison’s eyes widened. “Strange like what? I thought you said your last date was fantastic.”
“He barely said a word to me just a bit ago when he came in for coffee. Then he left. He never just leaves. He normally lingers for a bit and kisses me.”
Allison frowned. “No idea what that’s about. But I promise to interrogate my man and report back.”
Biting her bottom lip, Mindy couldn’t help but worry. “Find out what you can, please, but don’t make a big deal about it. It may just be me being paranoid.”
“You’re the sanest person I know. If you sense something wrong, that’s because something is up with him.” Allison pushed a stray strand away from her face. “Then again, they are in the type of job that brings all kinds of stress.”
Allison walked across the street back to her flower shop with the usual flair of a self-assured woman. Mindy lowered to a wooden bench she kept just outside her shop. It was a nice day, the sun shining brightly and the breeze was just enough.
Why did she feel so off? She had to not put so much stock in a man’s attitude. It could be that perhaps Eric was just having a bad day.
Chapter Four
“Can we get two glasses of Chardonnay, please?” Mimi’s squeaky voice made Tori grimace. Why was the woman there again? Surely she had better things to do. Like perhaps convince Tobias to leave Montana.
Tori forced a smile at Mimi and her friend, a woman who’d used the wrong tone of self-tanner and was a very deep shade of orange. “Right away. Our special today is eggplant parmesan.”
The women didn’t reply, so she turned and walked away. Spotting Jessie, she motioned her over. “Can you take two glasses of Chardonnay to table five for me? I think I just threw up in my mouth.”
Jessie laughed. “Either that woman loves Italian food, or she likes to torment you.” The young woman tapped her temple. “If you give me her table, she’ll know it’s working.”
“Ugh, you’re right.” Tori went to the small bar and placed two wine glasses atop the counter. She noticed both Mimi and the orange woman watching her. She forced a smile and whispered to Jessie, “I think you’re right. She’s here to annoy me.”
When she returned to the table, Mimi threw a ten dollar bill on the table. “We won’t be eating. If it takes this long just to get a glass of wine while you gossip, there’s no telling how long a meal will be.” She rolled her eyes and looked to her orange friend. “Come on, Ashley, let’s go to the sandwich shop.” Mimi slid out of the booth then grabbed her glass and took a long swig of her wine. “Oooh, a bit too tart.”
Ashley didn’t seem as convinced about leaving by the way she eyed the bread basket and then the wine. But she meekly followed behind Mimi.
Jessie came up and peered at the table. “Wow a whole ten dollars. Isn’t the wine six dollars a glass?”
“Yep, but I came out ahead, she left.” Tori huffed, picking up the glasses. “That woman is antagonizing me for a reason. Not sure what she’s got to worry about since Tobias and I hate each other.”
At ten that night, she locked the front doors to the restaurant and hitched a tote onto her shoulder. She still had a couple hours of accounting work to do. So there’d be no wine and television for her that night.
“Tori?” A man approached. Thanks to bright headlights, she couldn’t make out his features, but being they shined directly at her, she was clear to him. Whoever he was.
“It’s George Weston,” he said, acknowledging she couldn’t see much more than his outline.
“Oh, hey,” she called back. “I heard you were going to be in town. Saw your mom at the grocery store last weekend.”
She and George had dated for a few months right after college. He’d accepted a job in Helena and, being that their relationship was too young, she’d not been inclined to go with him.
“Yeah, I’m back for a bit. My parents are retiring and I’m here to help them clean out some stuff and help them with their accounts.”
When he neared, she noted he’d not changed much. With sandy brown hair, blue eyes and an athletic build, George remained handsome. The only tell he was in his forties were the laugh lines at the edges of his eyes.
He pulled her into an embrace. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you. First night out since I got here. So I went over to the pool hall with Eric and Ernest.”
“You and those two used to be like peas in a pod,” Tori replied, genuinely happy to see George.
He tugged at her hair, a gesture he’d done while they dated. The action seemed a bit too personal to Tori, but she decided perhaps it was just something he did. “When can I spend time and catch up with you, pretty lady?”
“I happen to know this local Italian eatery that has the best spaghetti in town. How about lunch tomorrow? My treat.”
He chuckled. “Can’t take a day off spur of the moment, huh?”
“Not this week. It’s Laurel Creek Founder’s Week.” She pointed to a banner that had been stretched across the main road. “Yours truly is in charge of raffle ticket sales. And you’re spending money on some tickets, Mr. Weston. There are some amazing prizes going to be given away.”
She smiled up at him, enjoying the sparkle in his eyes. “So lunch and tickets is all I can offer this week.”
“I’ll walk you home. Still live at the cottage over there?” He motioned with his right hand and with his left, took her elbow. Although the action wasn’t intimate per se, it made her distinctly aware of how long it had been since she’d dated.
They walked to the door of her cottage, which was just down the block and across the street. He looked at th
e front door and then to her. “This place suits you perfectly. It’s small and very cute.”
“Thanks?” She smiled coyly. “See you around then?”
“Yeah,” he replied and, once again, hugged her. Tori cleared her throat at the sudden urge to cry. What the hell was wrong with her hormones that a simple hug from a man made her want to cry?
She went inside and leaned on the closed door. If she wasn’t careful, she and George would making out. Being he was only there for a short time, she didn’t want to enter into anything that would only make her feel even lonelier when he left.
The cell phone rang and she dug into her purse. It was Allison.
“Did I just see a man walk you home?”
Tori laughed. “What is wrong with you? You are about to get married, why aren’t you having sex or something? Seriously, I didn’t peg you for a Peeping Tom.” She walked to the side window and peered out to see the Allison’s silhouette at her upstairs window. Allison waved.
“I was looking out to see if Taylor’s truck was parked yet. He’s gone to a call and, as usual, I’m worried someone’s going to shoot him.”
Tori couldn’t imagine. “Stop fretting. It’s probably the nerds over at the pool hall. They always get into an argument at closing time.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Allison paused. “So who was that?”
“Remember George Weston?”
“The hot track runner you dated after college?”
“That’s the one. He’s in town for a bit to help his parents with some projects.”
Allison whistled. “And is one of his projects Tori?”
It was hard not to laugh at the truth in Allison’s statement. “He may think so, but it’s a no. I am not about to jump into a temporary fling. I want to date someone who is stable, plans to stick around and make it permanent.”
“You’ve turned down every guy that has asked you out lately.”
Tori nodded. “Yeah, but that’s because I wasn’t ready. I’m ready now. I may actually go back through the guys that remain available and see if anyone is still interested.”
Ruined: Tobias Page 3