Marooned with the Maverick

by Christine Rimmer

  “I am not wasting my time. And I really get annoyed with you when you put yourself down.”

  “It’s only the truth.”

  “No, it isn’t.” She tried to look stern. “Will you stop it? Please?”

  He smoothed her hair and answered grudgingly, “Yes, ma’am.”

  She gave him a slow smile. “Actually, I’m a lot like your mother.”

  He widened his eyes in a comical way and faked a gasp of shock. “Don’t say that. Anything but that.”

  “Oh, but I am like Ellie. I’m pushy. And determined. And very sure of what’s good for the people I love....”

  Love. She’d said the word so casually.

  But then, as soon as it was out, she didn’t feel casual at all.

  Love. Once the word had escaped her lips, it seemed to hang by a thread inside her mind, slowly swinging. Tempting her to grab it and run with it.

  Love.

  The big word, the one that mattered. The word that changed everything.

  She dared for the first time to admit to herself what was happening to her, how her life had become something new and fresh and beautiful. The world had a glow to it now.

  Because of him.

  I love you, Collin Traub.

  Buoyant light seemed to fill her. All at once, she was weightless, defying gravity through pure joy.

  I love you, Collin Traub.

  She opened her mouth to say it—and then she shut it without making a sound.

  Saying it out loud would be dangerous. Risky.

  He was frowning down at her. “Hey.”

  She kissed his chin again. “Umm?”

  “You okay?” Cautious. A little worried. “You seemed a thousand miles away just now.”

  “I’m right here.” She took his arm, wrapped it snugly around her and settled herself more comfortably against his warm, broad chest. “And I’m fine. Better than fine.”

  He chuckled then. “You certainly are—and never admit you’re like my mother, unless you’re purposely trying to creep me out.”

  She laughed and promised, “Never again,” as her heart cried, I love you, Collin. I love you, I do. The simple phrases seemed to tickle the back of her throat, working themselves closer to being said.

  But she didn’t say them.

  Not yet. It had only been nine days since the flood, and only five since that first night she’d spent in his arms.

  Yes, to her, what they had together now wasn’t all that surprising. It felt like a simple progression, a natural unfolding of something that had been there all along. She’d known him all her life, wanted him for so long, been waiting, even when she thought that she hated him, for a chance with him.

  She was more than ready to talk about that. About their lives, about their future.

  About love.

  But she was no fool. She knew that he wasn’t ready.

  So, then, she could wait.

  She had a feeling it wouldn’t be long.

  The time wasn’t right yet.

  But it would be.

  Soon....

  Chapter Thirteen

  Collin had an ever-growing backlog of work he needed to get going on down in his shop. The next morning, as they were finishing breakfast, he told Willa he would have to spend the whole day at it.

  She pushed her empty plate away and rose slowly from her chair.

  He stared at her, feeling suddenly wary. “I’m not sure I trust that look in your eye.”

  She gave him one of those sweet, innocent schoolteacher smiles of hers as she came around to his side of the table. He gazed up at her, narrow eyed. He knew she was up to something. She sat on his lap.

  He growled her name in warning.

  She only brushed his hair back from his forehead with her soft, cool fingers and then kissed his cheek. “Come to church with me.”

  “Willa...”

  “Please. It’ll only take a couple of hours, total, including the drive up and down the mountain. After church, I promise I’ll leave you alone to work in peace for the rest of the day.”

  The problem with her sitting on him was that the feel of her only made him want to touch her. To kiss her. And then to kiss her some more.

  He caught her earlobe between his teeth and worried it lightly, because he couldn’t quite stop himself. She trembled and let out one of those reluctant little moans that always drove him crazy.

  “Shame on you, Willa Christensen,” he scolded. “Talking about church while you’re sitting on my lap. You know very well what happens when you sit on my lap....”

  She wiggled her bottom against him and then he was the one trying not to moan. “Church,” she whispered way too damn seductively. “It’ll be over before you know it and then you can come right back up here and work all day and half the night if you want to....”

  “Wiggle like that again and I won’t be getting any work done. We won’t be going to church, either. We won’t be going anywhere but back down the hall to bed.”

  “Church. You take your truck and I’ll take the Forester. That way, as soon as the service is over, you can head right back up the mountain.” She kissed him. And then she slid to the floor and stood above him.

  He grabbed her hand. “Get back down here....”

  She bent close and kissed him again. “I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”

  * * *

  They went to church.

  It was kind of nice, really, Collin thought. His family was there, his mom all smiles at the sight of him and Willa together. Pastor Alderson gave a sermon about finding joy in simple things.

  Collin could relate to that, especially lately. Just being around Willa all the time, that was a pretty damn joyful thing for him.

  Yeah, it was partly the sex, which was amazing...and which he probably shouldn’t be thinking about in church.

  But the thing was, the sex wasn’t everything.

  It wasn’t even the most important thing.

  Willa herself. She was the important thing. The way she would laugh, kind of husky and happy both at once. The way she cuddled up close to him, her ear against his chest like she only wanted to listen to the sound of his heart beating. The way she listened so close when he talked, but then had no problem speaking up if she didn’t like something he’d said.

  The way she could be so kind and gentle—and then turn right around and be tough as nails when something mattered to her. The way she could pull on a pair of work gloves and keep up with him clearing storm debris all the way up the mountain. The way she wasn’t ashamed to be with him in front of everyone. Even if she was a schoolteacher with a certain reputation she really ought to be looking out for.

  He’d thought he was happy before Willa.

  But the past few days, he’d started thinking that before Willa, he hadn’t even known what happiness was.

  He was living in a dream, and he knew it. This thing with her, well, it couldn’t last. He was who he was and he’d always seen himself in an honest light. He’d grown up wild and he hadn’t been to college. He could change some, but not completely.

  Not enough to be with a woman like Willa in a forever kind of way.

  The pastor told them all to rise. They sang an old hymn that Collin had known since childhood.

  Out of the corner of his eye, in the pew across the center aisle, he caught sight of Nathan Crawford, standing so tall and proud, singing good and loud. Nathan saw him looking and shot back a narrow-eyed glare. Nathan would probably be ticked off that Gage had asked him to the meeting about flood relief tomorrow.

  Well, too bad. Collin was going. He had a few ideas for raising money and getting folks together to rebuild what they’d lost. And he wanted to help in any way he could.

  There
were other Crawfords in church that day. He got a few scowls from more than one of them. They’d always looked down on him. Not only was he a Traub, he was the no-good, skirt-chasing, troublemaking Traub.

  Since he and Willa started in together, he’d worried that the Crawfords might come after her for being with him, might smear her good name. So far, that hadn’t happened. But it still nagged at him. In a little town like Rust Creek Falls, people had certain standards. They didn’t like to think of their schoolteachers living in sin. Especially not with the local bad boy.

  Willa nudged him with her elbow. He sent her a glance. She sang even louder, brown eyes full of teasing laughter.

  He forgot his worries and let himself enjoy just being with her. It couldn’t last forever, but as long as it did, he intended to enjoy himself.

  * * *

  After church, Willa longed to ask Collin to take her to the doughnut shop for a Sunday snack. The shop had reopened the day before and it was a Sunday tradition in town. Folks went to church and then to the Wings to Go or Daisy’s Donuts over on North Broomtail Road.

  But he did need to work and she’d already made her deal with him. So she kept her word and sent him back up the mountain.

  When he got in his pickup, Buster whined to go with him. Collin shot her a questioning look.

  “Go ahead,” she said indulgently. “Take him.” So Collin got out and let the dog in—ever since the day Buster fell from the pickup bed on the way up the mountain, they’d been letting him ride in front. “I’ll be back by five or six,” she promised. Thelma was expecting her to help sort donated clothing for flooded-out families.

  Collin kissed her, a warm brush of his lips against her cheek—and then he climbed back up behind the wheel and headed for Sawmill Street.

  Willa’s mother called her from the ranch at a little past two. “We’re home,” she announced, then, “Where are you? We’ve missed you.”

  “I’m at Thelma McGee’s, helping out.”

  “Honey, we would love to see you. Can you come on over?”

  “I’ll check with Thelma...”

  The older woman made a shooing gesture. “Go on, now. Go see your mother. Give her my best.”

  * * *

  When Willa arrived, her dad was out in the northeast pasture somewhere, repairing a fence.

  Her mom had the coffee ready and a box of bakery sweet rolls she’d picked up in Kalispell. After hugs and greetings, they sat at the table together, each with a steaming mug and a treat from the bakery box.

  Willa knew her mother. She could tell by the way her mom sipped her coffee thoughtfully and then said nothing for a moment, her head tipped to the side, that she was working up to broaching an uncomfortable subject.

  “Ellie Traub came by,” Lavinia said at last.

  Willa got the message then. Ellie must have mentioned her and Collin. Willa picked up her fork and ate a bite of cheese Danish. “I’m sure she’s happy to have you home safe and sound.”

  Lavinia took a big sip of coffee and set the mug down a little too firmly. “Ellie’s happy because she’s always liked you so much. She’s always hoped that you might end up with one of her boys.”

  “I like Ellie, too, Mom. But then, you know that.”

  Her mom gave up on subtlety. She leaned across the table. “Oh, honey. Collin?”

  Willa drew in a slow, calming breath and reminded herself that she’d gotten through to Gage about Collin and she could get through to her mom, too. “I care for Collin. I care for him a lot. Since the flood, I’ve gotten to know him—really know him. He’s strong and good and brave. And he doesn’t give himself enough credit, but I’m working on getting him to see that he’s a much better man than he’s willing to admit. And I’ve been staying with him, up at his house, since last Monday night.”

  Her mother winced and sipped more coffee. “Staying.”

  “Yes.”

  “But is that wise?”

  “I’m proud to be with him, Mom. He’s a wonderful man. He’s done a lot to help people, to keep people’s spirits up, since the flood. Ask around town. Please. Ask Gage. He’ll tell you.”

  Her mother frowned. “Gage hasn’t said a word to me about you and Collin Traub.”

  “I’m sure Gage was waiting for me to talk to you first. I appreciate his staying out of it.”

  “But you never even seemed to like Collin. And what about Dane Everhart?”

  “I always liked Collin. A lot more than I ever wanted to admit.”

  “But—”

  “And as for Dane, it was never going to work with him and me.” Lord, she was tired of explaining about Dane. It was her own fault, though, and she had to remember that. She should have had the courage to say no when she meant no. “Dane’s a great guy. He’s just not the guy for me.”

  “But Collin is?”

  Willa sat back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. “I love you, Mom. A lot. I will always be there if you need me. But I’m twenty-five years old and perfectly capable of managing my own life. I can’t say what the future will bring, but I am with Collin now and I am proud to be with him.”

  Her mother tipped her head to the side again. Willa braced herself for another onslaught. But her mom surprised her and slowly smiled. “I always did kind of wonder about you and Collin. I had a feeling there might be a spark or two between you...”

  A burst of relieved laughter escaped Willa. Her mom was going to be all right with Collin, after all. She teased, “No way.”

  Lavinia nodded, looking smug. “Yes.” And then she scolded, “But you really must clear things up with Dane as soon as possible.”

  “You’re right. And I plan to. I’ll be going to see him as soon as he gets back from Australia.”

  Her mom got up, brought the coffeepot over and refilled their mugs. “Collin has done well with the saddle-making business. He made your dad’s CT Saddle, did you know?”

  “I didn’t know. Until Collin told me.”

  “And I hear that he’s turned that old cabin of Casper’s into something quite beautiful.”

  “Yes, he has. You and Daddy will have to come up for dinner. Maybe next weekend.”

  “We would enjoy that, honey. Very much.”

  * * *

  Willa got back to Collin’s at five. The main floor was deserted.

  She called down the stairs. “I’m here!”

  Buster came bounding up. As she scratched his ears in greeting, Collin called from below, “Half an hour?”

  “Take your time!”

  She fed Buster. There was leftover meat loaf and several servings of browned potatoes in the fridge. She put them in the oven to reheat and cut up a salad. Then she set the table.

  By then, fifteen minutes had passed. The oven was on a timer, so she felt safe grabbing a quick shower.

  She was rinsing off when the shower door opened and Collin stepped in.

  “S’cuse me,” he said with that slow smile that seemed to fire all her circuits at once. “Just need to freshen up a little....”

  She laughed as he grabbed her close. “Don’t get my hair wet!”

  Of course, he took that as a challenge, turning her beneath the spray so the water poured down directly over her head. “Oops.”

  “Collin!” she sputtered, trying to wiggle free.

  But she didn’t try too hard.

  And then he kissed her again. She realized it didn’t matter that her hair was soaking wet.

  All that mattered was that his mouth was pressed to hers and his arms were nice and tight around her.

  * * *

  The meat loaf was a little dry when they finally sat down to eat.

  “Delicious,” he said, and poured on the ketchup.

  She asked him how the work wa
s going. He said he’d made progress, but there was still a lot to catch up on. Tomorrow he had that morning meeting in the town hall, but after that, he would come right back up the mountain and work for the rest of the day.

  “I’ve been thinking I’m going to need to hire someone to work with me,” he said. “Not right now. But it’s coming. I know a couple talented saddle makers in Kalispell. I’m going to contact them, see if they have any interest in joining forces with CT Saddles. They could work in their own shops, but put in some of their time on projects I bring them.”

  “Growing the business. Excellent. And you can’t do everything yourself—especially when you also want to help out with the rebuilding effort.”

  “There should be more hours in a day.”

  “No argument there.” She ate a bite of potato. “Thelma told me today that she thinks you should run for mayor. She thinks you’re the one to carry on, to build on what Hunter started.”

  He sent her a look from under his thick eyelashes. “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what?” She widened her eyes at him.

  “Don’t start in about me running for mayor. It’s not going to happen.”

  She cut off a bite of meat loaf neatly. “I think it is.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  She set down her fork and put up a hand. “All right. Subject closed.” She pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. “For now.”

  He made a low, grumbling sound, but let it go at that.

  She ate the bite of meat loaf. And then she said, “My parents got back today. I went out to the ranch and had a nice visit with my mom.”

  He studied her for a moment, his grumpy expression softening. “Sometimes I don’t believe you’re actually here, in my place, heating up the meat loaf, naked in my shower, harassing me over dinner....”

  Tenderness filled her. “I like it, being here with you. I like it a lot.” For a moment or two, they simply gazed at each other. They were both smiling by then. She remembered what she’d been about to tell him. “Your mother got to my mom before I did.”

  He forked up more meat loaf. “That doesn’t sound good.”