Return of the Cowgirl

by Eve Gaddy

  Glenna couldn’t argue with that. “He is. Yes, he is.”

  Glory said, “I’ll leave you to yourself for a bit, but don’t forget there’s food downstairs. Since we weren’t sure when you’d get here I put out sandwich makings. Your other brothers are coming over in a little while. They all want to see you. And they want to talk to Mitch.”

  “Okay.”

  “The rest of the family will be over tomorrow for dinner. Although you’ll meet Sam today when she gets off work.” At the door, she paused and added, “It’s a lot of people, so don’t feel like you can’t go outside or down to the stables or up to your room, or wherever if it gets to be too much for you.”

  The family. Brothers, wives, kids. Oh, God. Was she ready for this?

  Chapter Sixteen

  After Glenna left, Mitch and Dylan sat down at the wooden kitchen table. The table was big, large enough for twelve or more. The housekeeper, Glory, had laid out an array of cold cuts, breads, condiments, chips, and last but definitely not least in Mitch’s eyes, two pies and a chocolate cake.

  “Might as well eat something. I’m not sure how long Glory and Glenna will be,” Dylan said. They each loaded up a plate and took it to the table.

  Mitch took a few bites and sighed. He’d forgotten what good American cooking tasted like. “This is great. Thanks.”

  “Thank Glory. Oh, and don’t forget to eat some dessert. They’re all homemade. Glory thinks anyone who won’t eat her desserts is sick. I can’t really argue.”

  “Don’t worry,” Mitch told him. “I’ll do my part.”

  After they’d eaten their sandwiches and each had a dessert, they started talking again before Glenna returned.

  “She looks like Glenna, but...” Dylan shrugged. “She doesn’t remember anything, does she?”

  “Very little, as far as I can tell,” Mitch said. “Fragments. Bits and pieces. But that’s it.” He didn’t add that she remembered less about her family than she did about Argentina. The man already felt bad enough. No need to rub it in. Mitch tried to imagine what he’d feel like if his own brother, Austin, couldn’t remember who he was. He couldn’t. It was hard enough to see Dylan going through it. “I can give you a full account of what happened whenever you want.”

  “My brothers should be here before long. Might as well wait so you don’t have to go through it more than once.”

  “Probably best that way. Especially for Glenna.” Once was going to be hard enough.

  “Do you think she’s up to it?” Dylan asked. “She seems kind of fragile.” He got up and paced a few steps. “It’s weird,” he continued. “Glenna’s always been so strong. Strong-willed. Sure of herself.”

  Thinking about how she’d handled herself in some very dicey situations, Mitch laughed. “She still is, most of the time. She’s had to deal with some bad shit and has done better than ninety-nine out of a hundred people would have.” He sobered. “But the amnesia has pretty well blown her world apart. She’ll be okay one minute and then she’ll get real quiet and you can tell she’s trying to remember something. And failing. I don’t think she’s accustomed to failure.”

  Dylan smiled ruefully. “No, failing isn’t part of Glenna’s makeup.”

  “Gee, isn’t that good to know.” Glenna strode into the room with Glory following behind. “I’m here now so you can stop talking about me and talk to me.”

  “Settle down, Freckles,” Dylan said.

  “Freckles?”

  “That’s what we used to call you when you went on a tear.” He sighed. “But you don’t recognize it, do you?”

  “No. I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t need to say you’re sorry about everything. Just tell us when you do remember something.”

  Glory, who had busied herself making a plate, said, “Here you are, Glenna. I gave you a bit of everything. Do you want tea or something else?”

  “Tea sounds good. Thank you.” She took her plate, sat next to Mitch, and started eating. Glory brought her a glass of tea, then left them, saying she had to take care of something.

  “Why are you staring at me, Dylan?” Glenna asked him when she had eaten some of her food. “Do I look that different?”

  “No, but I haven’t seen you in five years. I’m having a hard time believing you’re here.”

  “Do you know why I haven’t been back in so long? Mitch and Glory mentioned a fight with my father. But that doesn’t explain what happened later, after he was gone.”

  “We don’t know for sure. You came for Dad’s funeral but you left right after. You claimed you had to get back to work. Which was probably true. You managed the Villareal ranch and it happened during your busy season.”

  “Why didn’t I come back after that?”

  “I don’t know. You always claimed you were too busy to leave. But we corresponded a lot. Then a few months ago, you suddenly quit answering my letters. And you never would use email. Again, we don’t know why.”

  “Maybe I quit corresponding because I was ashamed,” Glenna said.

  “Ashamed of what?” Dylan asked. “None of us believe you embezzled money from the Villareals.”

  Mitch frowned but kept his mouth shut. Even though he didn’t believe the cattle business debacle was wholly Glenna’s fault, he didn’t know what Dylan and the rest of her family thought about it. And whatever that was, Glenna needed to deal with it.

  “I’m afraid the cattle business failed because of me. Which would mean I’m incompetent and that would give me a great reason not to want to talk to my family.”

  Dylan shook his head decisively. “Glenna, I don’t believe you’re incompetent any more than I believe you embezzled money. First off, you managed the business for several years successfully. There had to be a reason it cratered, since apparently that happened before the disease wiped out the herd. Maybe it failed because the Villareals lost the money through bad investments, or gambling, or something we’re not even thinking about.”

  “I can dig deeper into that if you want,” Mitch said. “Dylan’s right. There could be any number of reasons the business failed that had nothing to do with you.”

  “What if the Villareals led you to believe the failure was your fault, but in reality it was theirs, and you found out?” Dylan asked.

  “I guess it could have happened that way,” she said doubtfully.

  “Damn right it could have.” Dylan looked out the window. “Shit. What have those damn dogs gotten into this time?” He opened the kitchen door, saying over his shoulder, “I’ll be back. Gotta take care of something.”

  They heard him calling, “Mike, Ike, you get back here right now!”

  “I wonder what they’ve done,” Glenna said. She picked up her plate and carried it to the sink.

  “No idea,” Mitch said, following her. “Are you all right?” He leaned back against the sink with his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Do you want the truth or a bullshit answer?”

  “Truth.”

  “I think I’m having a panic attack, and that makes me feel like a shit. Not only because of the panic but because of what it’s doing to Dylan and Glory to know I remember nothing. When the others get here it will be even worse.”

  “First of all, stop spinning your wheels over something you can’t help. It’s not your fault you have amnesia, so stop acting like it is. No one else is blaming you.”

  “That’s not what I’m doing.”

  “Isn’t it?”

  “You’re leaving, aren’t you? After you talk to my brothers.”

  That came out of left field. “I’m going to see my brother, yeah.”

  “Are you staying with him?”

  Mitch shrugged. “He’s got a one-bedroom apartment, so no. I’ll get a hotel room.”

  “Take me with you. Please.”

  Mitch simply stared at her. She knew she sounded crazy to him, but she couldn’t help it. “Just for a little while,” she added desperately. “Until I can get a grip on the situation.�
�

  “Glenna, you know I can’t do that. It will kill your family if you don’t stay here. You’ll be all right.”

  “No, I won’t. If you won’t let me come with you, will you stay here? There’s plenty of room. I think.”

  “What’s going on? You weren’t this upset after the first attempted kidnapping.” He turned her to face him, both hands on her arms. “What’s got you so spooked?”

  Unable to explain, she shook her head.

  “Look at me, Glenna.” She raised her gaze to his eyes.

  He searched her face. “Damn.” He bent his head down and kissed her.

  Glenna wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him back.

  Someone cleared his throat. “Don’t let us interrupt,” one of her brothers said.

  Wyatt. She knew it was him because of his blond hair, and obviously, she knew Dylan, who stood behind him. But she wasn’t sure about the one who walked in last. He had sandy brown hair. Except for hair color, they all resembled each other. “We won’t,” she said, holding on to Mitch even as he dropped his hands.

  Poker face, Glenna thought, glancing at Mitch. She’d seen that expression before and still had no clue what he was thinking.

  Though she’d turned to face the three men, she held on to Mitch’s hand. They had a little tug of war, which she won. “You’re Wyatt,” she said, pointing to the blond. She paused, and looked at the other one.

  “Sean,” he said, his mouth kicking up in a smile. “And you’re Glenna.”

  “That’s what they tell me.” She let go of Mitch’s hand.

  Sean chuckled. “Yeah, you’re Glenna. You always were a smartass. Good to know some things haven’t changed.”

  “What hasn’t changed?” asked Jack, entering the kitchen from the back door.

  “Glenna’s still a smartass,” Dylan said.

  Jack walked over and simply looked at her for a long moment. She gazed back at him, wondering if the flash of recognition she felt was real or simply imagined. Then Jack smiled, pulled her into his arms and hugged her. He released her and said, “I know you don’t remember me but I remember you and there’s no way I’m not hugging my little sister. So deal with it.”

  That broke the ice as much as anything. She had to laugh and then be hugged by all her brothers. It wasn’t nearly as weird as she’d thought it might be.

  “Might as well sit in here. I see apple pie calling my name,” Sean said.

  They all picked a dessert and took it to the table. Glenna was glad for the easy acceptance she felt from her brothers. They didn’t act like there was anything strange about Glenna being back after so long, and with amnesia on top of it. Their attitude made her feel...well, normal. Which at this point was a great feeling.

  “Are you up for telling us what happened, Glenna?”

  “I can only tell you what happened after the bus accident. Mitch will have to tell you the rest, and what we pieced together since.

  “Before we get started, Glory needs to hear this too,” Sean said. “Where is she?”

  “I’ll go get her,” Dylan said and left the room.

  “While we’re waiting for Glory...” Wyatt said, turning to Glenna. “So, you and Mitch.”

  “No,” Glenna said before Mitch could speak. “There is no Mitch and me, although I’d like for there to be.”

  “Jesus, Glenna,” Mitch said.

  “What? It’s not like you don’t know it.” Having effectively silenced him, she turned back to her brothers. “Mitch and I aren’t together. Yet,” she added with a meaningful glance at Mitch.

  “It sure as hell looked like it when we came in.” Wyatt said. “I’m thinking you move awfully fast, Mitch. Especially given that Glenna here has amnesia.”

  Before Glenna could come to Mitch’s defense, Jack spoke up. “What are you talking about?”

  “When we came in Glenna and Mitch were in a lip lock,” Sean told him.

  “Oh, yeah?” Jack gave Mitch a look that didn’t bode well for him. Again, she wanted to defend him.

  “Relax,” Mitch said. “Nothing has happened and nothing is going to happen.”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” Dylan said, entering the kitchen with Glory close behind him.

  “What’s this about?” Glory asked.

  “Lip lock. Jack’s playing oldest brother, Mitch is denying anything is going on and Glenna is bound and determined there is going to be.” Dylan looked at Glenna. “Does that about cover it?”

  “Mostly. Mitch thinks because I have amnesia he has to treat me like I’m made of glass and that I don’t know what I’m doing because I’m still not sure who I am. But I do. Know what I’m doing, that is.”

  Mitch stood, grabbed her hand and none too gently, yanked her up. “Excuse us,” he said. “We’ll be back.”

  He dragged her into the library and shut the door.

  “I haven’t seen this room yet,” Glenna said. “What a cool room.” The room was nothing fancy, but there were bookshelves on every wall and even one below the window, crammed with books of every variety. Paperback, hardback, nonfiction, fiction. Before she could inspect them further, Mitch backed her up against the door and caged her in with his hands on either side of her face. Her heart rate sped up the longer he looked at her.

  “I don’t know whether to kiss you or strangle you.”

  “Kissing is a lot more fun, don’t you think?”

  He cupped her face in his hands and tilted her head back. And then he kissed her. A long, slow, drugging kiss. A sultry duel of tongues and teeth and lips. By the time he pulled away her legs felt like jelly.

  “I guess this means you’re not mad at me?”

  “No. It just means I can’t resist you. And I should. Hell, Glenna, you don’t know anything about your past and damn little about me.”

  “That’s not true. I know a lot about you. You saved me from kidnappers at least twice. You dragged me around with you for days and you never laid a hand on me except to hug me when I asked you to. Even though we were together 24/7 and it was obvious I wouldn’t have stopped you. I know everything I need to know.”

  He leaned his forehead against hers. “Much as I’d like to stay here, I’m sure your brothers are ready to draw and quarter me by now.”

  “I’m a grown woman. They have no say in this.” She put her arms around his neck, pulled his head down to hers and kissed him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ordinarily, Mitch wasn’t the nervous type. But he had to admit that walking into a room with four men and a woman who probably wanted to take him apart wasn’t anything he looked forward to. Glenna took everything into her hands, though.

  “I’m just putting this out there,” she announced when they walked in. “I’m a grown woman. Yes, I have amnesia. Yes, I know what I want. Do not give Mitch or me any shit. Got it?”

  There was a blonde woman standing by Dylan who laughed and stepped forward. “Hi, Glenna. Hi, Mitch,” she said shaking hands. “I’m Sam, Dylan’s fiancée. I can’t guarantee they’ll listen, but you sure made an impression.”

  “Let’s go in the living room,” Dylan said. “It will be more comfortable.”

  “Everyone wanted to meet you, Glenna, but we were afraid the whole crew would be a little overwhelming the first day you were home,” Jack said. “The rest of the family will be here tomorrow night for dinner.”

  “So, Mitch, fill us in,” Wyatt said. “Dylan told us the basic story, but I understand there’s more.”

  Mitch went through the story again, briefly, about how he’d found Glenna and convinced her of her identity. Then he went into more detail. “We believe the kidnapping attempts were undertaken by Villareal hired thugs. Besides the first attempt, when they tried to snatch her off the street, they broke into my hotel room in Valparaiso. I recognized one of them, so I know it was the same people. And once we discovered the counterfeit cash, it seemed logical that’s the reason they came after us.”

  “There could be anoth
er reason too,” Glenna said. “I think Rolando might be after me because of something else.”

  “What’s that?” Sean said.

  She exchanged a glance with Mitch. “It’s up to you,” he said.

  “I think I was involved with Rolando Villareal. He claims we’re married. Mitch’s secretary couldn’t find anything out about a marriage but I was definitely involved with someone before I let the ranch.”

  “How do you know that?” Wyatt asked. “Did you remember something?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “When I woke up at the hospital in Zapala they told me I’d lost my baby.”

  “Damn. I’m sorry,” Wyatt said.

  “I’m so sorry, Glenna,” Sam said. “I can’t imagine how difficult that was.”

  “Like I told Mitch, I’m sure it would be if I could remember it. I had no idea I was pregnant, much less who the father was.”

  “But you think it was Villareal,” Dylan said.

  “It seems logical,” Mitch said. “And if she was pregnant with his child, he’d come after her. Having an heir is still a huge deal in South America.”

  “And you don’t know if he knew of your pregnancy, right?”

  “Right. I was around five months along when I left, but according to the doctors in Zapala I wasn’t showing significantly. So there’s a chance he knew, but it’s also possible he didn’t. I’m not sure if the pregnancy is why I left or there was something else that made me leave. Whenever I try to think about the day I left, to see if I remember anything, I get sick and shaky.”

  “You didn’t tell me that,” Mitch said.

  “It didn’t seem important. I still didn’t remember anything but fragments. The first time or two I tried to remember that day weren’t too bad, but the more I tried to recall anything about the day I left, the worse it got. So I quit trying.”

  “I can see why,” Sam said.

  “I dream about things but I don’t usually remember when I wake up. And what I do remember is all mixed up.”

  “Glenna, have you had time to see a doctor since you left that hospital?” Sam asked.