“Yes,” she admitted. “I was. And I still would have, but part of me could never quite believe that you’d let me down. I think I always knew you’d come through in the end.”
“So much faith in me, Aiwattsi?” he asked softly, his mouth forming a hint of a smile.
“Yes,” she said, rolling on top of him. She loved feeling him beneath her almost as much as on top. “Supreme faith. You’re not at all the person I once thought you were. You came even though it wasn’t what you wanted. And the fact that you are still here with me makes everything feel complete.”
“How does your grandmother feel about me being here?” he asked warily.
“She likes you, Keith. A lot. She’s just been worried all along that you might not stick around. She’s afraid you’ll break my heart. You won’t, will you?” she asked softly, her eyes searching his. “You’ll keep it safe, right?”
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close enough that she could hear his heart beating. “I would never intentionally hurt you, Aiwattsi. If I ever did break your heart, it would break mine too.”
* * *
“You’re up early. Where’s Keith?” Jo-Jo asked.
Miranda bit her lip with a guilty look. “Um. He said he wanted to sleep in today.”
“I suppose it was all that fence work that wore him out.” Jo-Jo’s knowing wink said she knew exactly what had tired Keith out and where Miranda had spent most of yesterday and all of last night. “Maybe you and he ought to cool it down just a bit while Judith and Robert are here.”
“We will,” Miranda promised. “When are they arriving?”
“At three. Should we flip a coin?” Jo-Jo asked. “Heads picks up Judith and Robert, tails gets to stay here?”
Miranda set her cup down with a laugh. “I don’t mind picking them up, but that would mean you’d have to ride the property with the BLM agent. I was thinking that Keith and I should do that in case he has any questions about the work we did.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Jo-Jo sighed. “I’m just glad they’re staying only a few days. The thought alone is enough to bring on a migraine.”
“I knew you and Aunt Judith weren’t close, but I didn’t know it was that bad,” Miranda remarked.
“To be honest, I’m mostly worried about how she’s going to treat you and Keith. She made several derogatory remarks when I told her you’d come here to stay, and that was even before I mentioned Keith or the horses. That business about sent her into orbit. I don’t even dare tell her about the changes I made to my will.”
“I’m so sorry, Jo-Jo. I never meant to come between you.”
“You haven’t. She’s always been a hard pill to swallow, but she’s only gotten worse with age. It’s too bad they couldn’t have kids. I think motherhood might have softened her. It does with a lot of women, but Judith could never carry to term, and Robert refused to adopt, so they just gave up. She’s been miserable ever since.”
“I didn’t know about her miscarriages,” Miranda said. “That’s so sad.”
“It is sad, but she’s too mean to feel sorry for. Oh, well,” Jo-Jo groaned. “I guess I’ll be the one driving to Butte to pick them up. At least I already made all the pies. I’ve got an apple, two pumpkins, and a banana cream. That’s still your favorite, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Miranda said, “but you didn’t have to go to all that trouble.”
She smiled. “It was no trouble, and it just happens to be my favorite too.”
“Is there anything I can do to help you get ready?” Miranda asked.
“Not today, but I’ll happily put you back in charge of the vegetable peeler tomorrow.”
“Gladly.” Miranda kissed her cheek. “Please drive carefully, Jo-Jo.”
* * *
Keith spent the afternoon driving the property with the BLM agent, Bill Watson. After riding the fence he’d repaired, they returned to find Miranda waiting.
“So, what’s the verdict?” she asked.
“There’s plenty of fresh water, the fence is high enough, and all the wire appears tight,” Bill said.
“My grandparents ran four hundred head of cattle at one time, so we’re pretty well equipped,” Miranda replied. “We were also careful to check all the posts. Keith did a lot of work on them for us.”
“Well, everything looks good from our end,” Bill said.
The look of worry eased from Miranda’s face. “So we can take the horses?”
“Sure enough. Can you take them this week?” Bill asked. “I know it’s a holiday and all, but we’re in pretty desperate straits.”
Miranda looked to Keith. “What do you think? Are we ready?”
Keith replied, “I think the sooner the better. Let them get the lay of the land while they can still see it. Most of the snow from the prior storm is already melted, but there’s more forecasted.”
“I admit it surprised the heck out of me that you were willing to take them on this close to winter,” Bill said, “but we sure do appreciate it.”
“We don’t usually get a real heavy snow load here in the valley,” Miranda said. “And, fortunately, what we get doesn’t stay long. Can you get a driver to bring them this close to the holiday?” she asked.
“We’ll get a driver, no worries there,” Bill reassured her.
“Would you like to come in and warm up?” she asked. “I already put a pot of coffee on.”
Bill hesitated. “Thanks, but no. Got a lot of paperwork to do before I can get those horses transferred. I’ll call as soon as we have it all lined up.” He offered his hand. “Look forward to working with you.”
“Me too.” Miranda shook his hand heartily. “I’ll be waiting for that call.”
Bill tipped his hat in a parting gesture. As soon as he got in his truck, Miranda turned to Keith. “Thank you so much, Keith. We never could have done it without you.”
He flashed a wolfish grin. “You can thank me properly later.”
She frowned and shifted her weight. “About that…Jo-Jo thinks we should cool things down while my aunt and uncle are here.” She added with an apologetic look, “I won’t be bringing you breakfast in bed for a while.”
“That’s mighty disappointing. It’s become my favorite meal…or, better said, you have.”
She swatted his shoulder. “None of that kind of talk either. You’ll get us both in really hot water. We already have a couple of strikes against us.”
“What do you mean?”
“They don’t like that I’ve come to live here.”
“That so? Then they’re sure to be real happy about me.”
“I don’t think Jo-Jo said too much about you.”
His brows met in a frown. “So I’m to be presented as just a hired hand, as far as they’re concerned?”
“That’s probably what they’ll think you are, especially since she fired Marvin, the guy who used to work here. Do you mind just leaving it at that?” she asked. “It would be a whole lot easier all around. And it’s only for a few days.”
“I don’t like it, but I suppose I could be bribed.” He cupped her head, tilting it back to kiss her. One kiss stretched into two, and then three, until their mouths just merged for long, breathless, thoughtless minutes. Lost to time and place, they were still standing on the front porch locked in that embrace when Jo-Jo’s Expedition pulled into the drive.
“Crap! They’re here.” Miranda jerked back with a curse. “Do you think they saw us?”
“I think they’d be blind if they didn’t. Busted twice?” He chuckled. “We’re not very good at covert ops.”
She scowled back at him. “This isn’t anything to make light of, Keith. Things are about to get damned awkward.”
When the vehicle came to a stop, Miranda marshaled a smile and sallied forward. Keith followed, hanging back a few steps as Miranda greeted the new arrivals. “Aunt Judith! Uncle Robert! How great to see you.”
The couple who climbed out of the truck greeted her with less en
thusiasm. Her aunt was a fairly attractive woman in her forties, with the same red-gold hair as Miranda’s, but cropped short to her chin. Her uncle was a trim middle-aged man with a bored air. Miranda’s aunt Judith stepped forward with an air kiss to her niece’s cheek. “Miranda. What a surprise to find you here.”
“What brought you out to the ranch?” her uncle inquired. “Last we knew you were studying cinematography out in California.”
“I was,” Miranda replied, “but I graduated almost two years ago.”
“No job prospects out in Hollyweird?” he asked with a hint of a smirk.
Keith could almost see Miranda bristle. “I had a job with a well-known production company, but I left it to work on an independent film project.”
“Oh?” His brows arched. “What kind of project would bring you all the way to Montana?”
“It’s a documentary about mustangs,” she said. “I filmed the first part of it in Nevada and plan to finish it out here.”
“You’ll have to tell us all about it later,” Judith said. “Right now I need to get out of the cold. My thin Arizona blood can’t take these temperatures anymore. We’ll need help with the bags. Where’s Marvin?”
“I sacked Marvin months ago. I thought I told you that,” Jo-Jo said.
“Maybe you did.” Judith gave an impatient wave. “You know I don’t keep track of those kinds of things.” For the first time she looked to Keith. “Could you please get our bags?”
“Keith isn’t an employee,” Jo-Jo quickly interjected.
“Oh?” Judith arched a brow and gave him a critical once-over.
Jo-Jo turned to him with an apologetic smile. “Keith, this is my daughter, Judith, and—”
“Dr. Pearson,” Miranda’s uncle interjected before Jo-Jo could complete the introduction.
The guy really was a self-important ass. It seemed that Judith and Robert were a matched pair. Keith tipped his hat and stepped forward, hand extended to make his own introduction. “Good to meet you both. I’m Keith Russo.” Darting a look at Miranda, he added, “Your niece’s fiancé.”
Miranda’s eyes widened and jaw went slack. He didn’t know what devil had suddenly taken charge of his tongue, but it was done now and not to be taken back.
“Fiancé?” Judith repeated. “No one said anything about an engagement.” She turned to Jo-Jo. “Mama, why didn’t you tell me? I would have at least brought a gift.”
Jo-Jo looked baffled. “I didn’t know myself.” Her gaze flickered from Keith to Miranda and back again. “When did you two decide this?”
“Only yesterday,” Keith answered smoothly. “We’d planned to keep it a secret until after I picked up the ring.”
“Yes. It had to be sized,” Miranda blurted. She held up her left hand, following his lead. “See, I have really skinny little fingers.”
“This is rather abrupt, isn’t it?” Judith remarked, eyeing Miranda up and down. “Or perhaps you have a pressing reason?”
“What do you mean?” Miranda asked.
“With the way this came out of the blue, I thought maybe…” Judith gave a blithe shrug. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of… It happens all the time these days.”
“What happens all the time?” Miranda asked.
Keith stifled a chuckle. “I think she’s wondering when we expect little Keith to arrive.”
Miranda’s face suffused with color. “I’m not pregnant, Aunt Judith,” she replied through her teeth.
“How terribly awkward,” Judith remarked.
“I suppose congratulations are in order,” Robert said, offering Keith his hand with a supercilious smile. “When is the big day?”
Miranda flashed Keith a warning look.
“We haven’t discussed a date yet,” he answered.
“We’ll look forward to hearing the whole story once we get settled.” Judith looked to her husband. “Won’t we, Rob?”
“Absolutely,” Robert agreed, wooden faced.
Judith frowned. “Now then, what are we going to do about the luggage? Rob can’t lift anything since he threw his back out playing golf.”
“I’ll get it,” Keith volunteered.
“We will,” Miranda corrected. “Got the remote thingy for the back, Jo-Jo?”
“Sure thing.” One click opened the tailgate. Judith and Robert each grabbed a small bag and then headed for the house, leaving four more for Keith and Miranda to haul.
“Thank you for the help,” Jo-Jo murmured to Keith, “and for putting up with their crap. As for the bomb you just dropped…” She gave Keith a pointed look. “We’ll talk later.”
Miranda stood gaping while Keith finished pulling the bags out of the back. She drew in an audible breath and confronted him, hands on hips. “Um…what the hell did you just do?”
He grinned. “Just saved our asses. I thought I was pretty smooth about it too.”
Her brows knitted over stormy eyes. “By faking an engagement? How does that help?”
“It sure makes things more pleasant for me,” he said.
Her lips compressed. “How do you figure that?”
“As your fiancé, I now have every right to some PDA. What’s wrong?” he asked, noting her scowl. “You don’t like being engaged to me?”
“I don’t like lies and deceit, even in exchange for PDA.”
“It’s only for a few days,” he said. “What else could we do after they caught us lip-locked?”
She exhaled a defeatist sigh. “I suppose you’re right. You just shocked me with that. By the look on her face, you shocked Jo-Jo too. For the record, I don’t think she pegged you as marriage material.”
“Do you?” he asked, turning suddenly serious.
“I never thought about it,” she said. “But I guess I have a hard time imagining you as a husband or father.”
“Why not?” It wasn’t as if he’d ever fantasized about that role either, but it irked him that she hadn’t. Isn’t that what all women did once they entered a relationship? “In what way am I deficient?” he asked.
“I didn’t say you were deficient…exactly. I guess it’s just that you’ve never talked about those things. Maybe I thought you didn’t want them.” Her gaze searched his. “Am I wrong?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “I never gave it much thought before.”
But he was thinking now. Suddenly it wasn’t hard at all to imagine waking up every morning, cocooned with her after a night of lovemaking. He wondered what it would be like to put down roots and build a life with her. The engagement announcement that had sprung thoughtlessly from his mouth a short while ago no longer felt like a joke, and her rejection hurt more than he’d have thought possible. He told himself she was right. They weren’t nearly ready for that kind of step, but his pride was bruised to think she’d take him as a lover but didn’t consider him worthy of anything more.
“I don’t understand you,” she said. “You’ve insisted all along that you don’t want commitments or ties; that you don’t like to think about the future; that you prefer to live in the present. You’ve made it clear I shouldn’t expect anything from you beyond staying a few weeks and helping us with the horses. Isn’t that what you want?”
“Maybe it was,” he said slowly. “But my wants seem to be changing.”
He’d recognized long ago that he had feelings for her, but hadn’t dared to put a name to those feelings. Until now. He was suddenly aware of a terrifying truth—he was falling in love with Miranda. Although he hadn’t gone crashing instantly to the ground, he’d begun a free fall their first night together. He hadn’t noticed because it had been such a slow and easy descent, every smile, laugh, and kiss pushing him a little further, but in the end, he’d landed at her feet.
* * *
Miranda’s heart drummed loudly in her ears for one, two, three beats. “What are you saying? Don’t play games with me, Keith.”
“I’m not playing games,” he said. “Maybe your aunt’s assumption got me thinking. What if we
weren’t playacting? What if we wanted this to be real?”
Was he serious? Did he just propose in a vague and oblique way? The thought of it thrilled and terrified her. She had no doubt of her feelings for Keith, but they were still so early in their relationship that an engagement would be like trying to build a house on quicksand.
She licked her lips and slowly answered, “Then I’d have to say we aren’t ready.”
He blinked, and then his expression went blank. “You said ‘we’ but you really mean me, don’t you?”
Miranda’s throat tightened. “Keith, it’s just…I didn’t mean—”
“You don’t have to explain anything. If you want a great fuck, I’m your man, but I’m not the one you’re dreaming about making babies with one day. I’m not the one you think you’ll ever be able to count on, the one who will be there for you in the long run. Do I have that straight?”
Keith’s anger took her completely aback. Had he really been thinking about marriage? Family? His reaction told her he had. “You’re putting words in my mouth,” she said. “I only meant that we aren’t ready for the next step.”
Keith grabbed a suitcase with each hand. “Then it’s a damned good thing we are just playacting.”
* * *
Arriving upstairs, hand poised to knock, Keith halted at the sound of Judith’s raised voice.
“I can’t believe this situation!” Judith hissed. “We turn our backs for one minute, and that little bitch sneaks in to turn Mama against me. I’m not going to stand for it, Rob. If she doesn’t want to sell, fine, but this ranch is rightfully mine when Mama passes. And what the hell is the deal with that Keith anyway? Who does he think he is, moving in lock, stock, and barrel?”
“He’s a drifter and an opportunist if ever I saw one,” Robert said. “A damned wolf in sheep’s clothing! That’s what I see.”
“Well, I’m not going to stand by and watch Mama get fleeced. Dear God!” Judith said tearfully. “The two of them are plotting to take over the ranch. We can’t let this happen, Robert.”
“You shouldn’t have to.”
“But what are we going to do?” she asked.
“We’ll start by calling Marvin,” Robert said. “He should be able to fill us in on what’s happening here. I certainly don’t trust this Keith guy.”
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