Lindsay McKenna

by High Country Rebel

  He managed a sour grin. “Yes, ma’am,” he said, turning.

  “Come on, I got everyone breakfast. Your turn.”

  Talon felt warmth in his chest toward Gus. He walked to the door and opened it for the slight, spare woman with challenge in her squinted eyes. “You look like you’re on a mission this morning, Miss Gus.”

  Gus cackled, turned and limped down the hall. “Come on, we need to put some meat on those bones of yours.”

  In the warm, cheery kitchen, Gus pointed to the large pine table. “Take a seat, son. What do you feel like eating?”

  “Whatever you’re fixing,” he murmured, pouring himself a cup of coffee and sitting down. Gus was in a bright red sweater and a pair of heavy black wool slacks, her blue apron wrapped around her tiny waist.

  “I’m not picky,” he added, sitting down and noticing the flatware in front of him.

  “Okay, how about three scrambled eggs, some diced ham and sprinkled with cheese?”

  “Sounds good,” Talon murmured, grateful. “Snow’s melted enough that everyone’s out working?” he asked.

  “Yep. That darned blizzard dumped three feet of snow across the area. Taken five days to get it melted enough so we can move cars and trucks on the highway. Hate these late-spring storms,” she muttered, whipping up the eggs with the ham in a bowl near the stove. She lifted her chin, narrowing her eyes on him. “How are you doing?”

  “Better,” Talon admitted. For the past four nights he’d slept solidly. No one was relieved more than him because, normally, he woke up screaming from the nightmares. So far so good. Maybe he’d get well enough and not wake up the household.

  “Cat checked you out earlier,” Gus said, pouring the mixture into the big, black skillet. “Said you have no fever this morning. That’s a good sign.”

  “Tell me about it,” Talon said, sipping the coffee.

  Gus popped in some bread to make toast. “Cat’s goin’ into town today. I told her I wanted you to go see Dr. Jordana McPherson. You need to get checked out by a doctor and she’s Griff’s sister-in-law. A real nice lady. You met her at the Sunday dinner.”

  Talon remembered Sunday dinner. He hadn’t felt like coming out to join everyone, so Jordana had popped in to see him. She and Cat had examined his lungs once again and they’d talked medicalese about his condition. He liked Jordana and she really didn’t seem like a doctor, rather a warm, caring person. He roused himself. “Is there anything I can do for you or the ranch while I’m in town?” Talon asked. He was looking forward to getting out, moving around.

  “Nope. Cat’s gonna drop you off at Jordana’s office. She’s going over to the Horse Emporium. Andy, the owner, has a load of horse feed for us. About a thousand pounds’ worth of feed.”

  “Maybe I could help her?”

  Gus eyed him darkly as she stirred the contents in the skillet. “Young man, you’re still sick.”

  Talon smiled, saying nothing, and sipped his coffee. You didn’t want to pick a fight with Gus.

  “When Cat’s done pickin’ up the feed, she’ll swing by and get you.”

  “It will be nice to get out, get some fresh air,” Talon admitted.

  Gus picked up the skillet and put the eggs into a bowl. The toast popped. “I see that look in your eyes, Talon. You’re restless and you want to get to work, but I’m not going to let you.”

  Talon thanked Gus as she brought the bowl over and set it in front of his plate with a large spoon. She put the toast on his plate for him to butter.

  “And you know this about me how?” he asked as she sat down at his elbow after pouring herself a cup of coffee.

  “Sandy told me. And I saw that in you as you grew up,” Gus said. “Cat’s just afraid you’ll relapse.”

  “I like hard, physical work, Miss Gus.”

  “That’s a given when you work on a ranch as a wrangler. But I do want you to take it easy, listen to what Jordana says.” She tapped his arm smartly with her index finger. “Oh, I know you’re going stir-crazy in here. Once Cat drops you off here, she’s driving back into town. She’s got a forty-eight-hour shift at the fire department starting at three this afternoon.”

  Talon frowned. He’d gotten used to Cat being part and parcel of his life. Now she’d be gone for two days. “When will she be back here?”

  “Two days. You’ll hang in there.” Gus hooked a thumb over her small shoulder. “I had Griff take that huge room down the hall and make two smaller bedrooms out of it. We were still building the bunkhouse at the time. And really, Cat is like family, so we don’t mind if she stays with us.”

  “She’s a good person,” Talon said, enjoying the tangy breakfast.

  Gus gave him a narrowed look. “You like her.”

  Talon swallowed and cut a glance in her direction. “There’s nothing to dislike about her, Miss Gus.”

  “Humph.”

  Talon wasn’t about to go there. It wouldn’t be wise to admit his feelings for Cat. He was about to work for Gus and he wasn’t sure she’d be happy with her wranglers getting together. He was concerned more for Cat’s sake than his own, although Talon figured that she was like family to the people here.

  “Once Jordana gives you an okay that you’re well, I do want you to see your mother. And I’m loaning you our white Ford pickup truck. You need wheels, Talon.”

  His gratitude ran deep. “Has anyone ever accused you of being a fairy godmother?”

  Gus had the good grace to flush.

  “Only to certain people,” she admonished, patting his forearm. “We all get knocked down to our knees from time to time. I’ve been there, too. It’s always nice to get a helping hand.”

  “Really, you’re a guardian angel, Miss Gus.” And she was. During his formative years, Miss Gus had always been kind to him. Talon owed her. Big-time.

  “That’s not generally what people see or think when they hear my name.”

  Chuckling, Talon finished off his food. This morning, he was eating normally. Cat had told him earlier that he’d turned the corner on the fight with the pneumonia. “I always will.”

  “That’s because I baked you cookies, young man.”

  Talon smiled. “And I never forgot your goodness, Miss Gus.”

  She frowned. “Do you want to get a haircut today?” She motioned toward his short ponytail.

  “If I can, yes. I don’t like my hair long.”

  “Of course you don’t,” Gus said. She pulled out some money from her apron pocket and set it next to his plate. “Here’s two weeks’ worth of your money you’ll earn, Talon. You need some decent work clothes, gear, a haircut and some good work boots. Griff takes care of the accounting books and I asked him to take a small portion out of your coming paychecks for this loan to you today. You all right with that?”

  Was he? Absolutely. Talon took the money and shoved it into the pocket of his jeans. “I’m more than fine with that, Miss Gus. Thank you.”

  “Well,” she grumped, finishing off her coffee, “we can’t have you lookin’ like a bum.”

  He couldn’t help but laugh before he heard the sound of the front door opening and closing. Someone was stomping their snow-covered boots on a special rug in the porch area. Within moments, Cat appeared at the entrance. She wore her heavy nylon coat, her hands in a pair of thick sheepskin gloves, the red knit muffler wrapped around her neck and a cap of the same color over her black hair. She had the longest legs he’d ever seen and those jeans did nothing but showcase them. Her face was flushed, her blue eyes dancing with happiness.

  “Hey, are you ready to go?” she called, taking off her work gloves.

  “I am,” Talon replied, rising. He carried his plate and flatware over to the sink where Gus was cleaning up.

  “Talon, Griff is loaning you his other sheepskin coat,” Gus said, pointing to the coat hanging on one of the wooden pegs in the hallway. “If Cat has time, you two might do a little clothes shopping after Jordana gives you a good bill of health.”

  “No pr
oblem,” Cat said, tucking the gloves in her pockets. “They’ve got sales on winter gear over at the Horse Emporium. Andy has good wrangler gear. We can drive over there after you’re done being checked out by Jordana.”

  Talon approached her, eager for closeness. “I’ll need to put Zeke in my room. He’ll be fine there while I’m gone.”

  Nodding, Cat tried not to stare blatantly at Talon. Today, more than any other, he looked healthy. His skin was no longer pasty, his eyes dark with fever. It was amazing how quickly he’d rebounded. But then, he was young and strong, not to mention terribly handsome and easy on her eyes.

  “Take him to the barber,” Gus told her. “Then get him some clothes to wear.”

  “Will do,” Cat told Gus.

  Talon passed Cat, caught her eyes and saw her smile up at him. Damn, but her mouth was beautiful. He could almost taste it beneath his. The better he felt, the more he wanted her. And he was going to miss her presence in the house the next two days.

  As Cat drove the gray Ford pickup, she pointed out where she’d picked up Talon and Zeke. He scanned the area and shook his head. “It was a close call,” he admitted.

  “Too close.” She gave him a quick glance, noticing his pensive expression. Talon had shaved before they left the ranch house. She would swear that he’d gained some weight, too.

  “Gus said you have to work today?”

  “Yeah, my shift starts later this afternoon.”

  Talon looked at all the slushy snow piled up on either side of the wet asphalt highway. The sky was a piercing blue, the sun bright. He’d taken his dark glasses and worn them along with his black baseball cap. Cat’s black hair peeked out from beneath her red knit cap. She had no idea how much she affected him. The sunshine, the first in five days, seemed to invigorate her and she was chattier than usual, laughing more and her eyes shining with happiness. Talon wanted her to see him like that. Wanted her eyes to shine with desire toward him. Was it possible? Talon was going to find out sooner or later.

  “So,” he said, “are you going to miss our daily Scrabble games?” He tried to sound light.

  “I will,” she admitted, giving him a smile. “Is Gus going to let you do a little work around the place if Jordana says you can handle some light duties?”

  “Yes. And I’m going to do light duty whether she says I’m up to it or not. I’m just not telling her.”

  Cat nodded. “I understand. It’s tough being cooped up and sick. You’re an outdoor guy.”

  “You’re pretty perceptive, you know that?”

  Cat kept her focus on her driving. The mountain curves had straightened out and they were in the valley, the road straight and four lanes, leading into Jackson Hole. “Thanks.”

  “You have good insights into people, Cat.” Hell, he was sleeping like a baby, no nightmares, and Talon found that shocking. He never slept through a night. Maybe because some part of him knew Cat was nearby, just a door away, was the reason he was sleeping so well. Talon was starting to feel human and his depression was lifting, as well. Was it all due to her? His gut told him yes.

  “Thanks.” She licked her lower lip, feeling a little shy in Talon’s presence. He was getting well and he no longer needed her care as before. She would miss their intimacy. Now he seemed completely at ease in his world, no questions, no hesitation. He knew his mind and she could see the set in his well-shaped mouth and the gleam in his gray eyes. Even more, she wanted to kiss him, wanted to know how his mouth felt against hers. The man’s sensuality had only grown as he’d recovered.

  Their daily Scrabble games had revealed softer, more thoughtful sides to him, and Cat had found herself starved for those precious hours spent in his company. She’d never felt happier. More fulfilled. Hopeful. And when he smiled that slow smile of his, her whole body responded, powerfully.

  “I appreciate you making these stops for me today,” he said, meaning it.

  “I’m happy to do it,” Cat said.

  Talon watched the sunlight touching the snow-clad evergreens. A lot of the snow was melting and then falling off in clumps, creating sudden snow showers, the sun dazzling and almost rainbowlike through the crystals. “Is what you do dangerous, Cat?”

  “Firefighting?” She opened and closed her hands against the steering wheel, slowing down as they entered Jackson Hole. “It can be. You just have to know what you’re doing.”

  “I noticed you have some red burn marks on the side of your neck.”

  Cat’s heart fell for a moment. Talon missed nothing. “Every firefighter gets that,” she said. “When we’re entering a burning structure, our necks and ears are the most exposed and least protected at times.” She unconsciously touched the nape of her neck. “Guess you could say it’s the mark of a firefighter.”

  “Your skin is too beautiful to be marred like that.”

  “Thanks…” The sincerity in his voice shook Cat. She suddenly felt very feminine beneath his hooded inspection. He wasn’t coming on to her necessarily. He wasn’t a man with pickup lines, unlike other past boyfriends. She sensed Talon was trying to understand her, observe her in a benign kind of way, not to discover a way to control her.

  There was silence and she got the feeling he might be a little shy.

  “Do you want me to help you load those grain bags?” he asked.

  “Naw. Andy has guys who work for him at the Horse Emporium. They’ll stack them in the rear of the pickup. And Griff will carry them into the barn when we get home. No worries.”

  “Okay,” he murmured. “What kinds of things happen when you’re on duty at the fire department?”

  Cat smiled a little, hearing concern in his tone. “Oh, anything from a run with the ambulance to fighting a structure fire. We get more fires in the winter because so many people have woodstoves in their homes. Some folks don’t get their chimneys cleaned out regularly and chimney fires are very common calls.”

  “Isn’t that dangerous? Don’t you have to put a ladder up on an icy roof to get to the chimney stack?”

  “Better believe it,” Cat said. She slowed down as the light turned red. There was a lot of traffic in the town. Given that the roads had been impassable for nearly four days, everyone was out and about getting supplies. “You want to know something funny?” She turned briefly, meeting and drowning in his gray gaze. Her womb clenched, her mouth went dry. The look in Talon’s eyes was predatory. Not in a bad way, but it served to tell her once more, he desired her.

  “Sure.”

  Cat tried to sound normal, although her breasts tightened beneath his heated look. “I used to have a fear of heights. I got over that real quick out here in Jackson Hole. Some roofs were two or three stories high. That’s when I just bit the bullet and climbed and worked through my fear to put out the chimney fire.”

  Grunting, Talon muttered, “That’s a damn dangerous situation. You could fall off the roof and get killed.” He didn’t like the idea of Cat being in that kind of unstable line of work. He was becoming protective of her, as if she were already his woman, someone to take care of, keep out of harm’s way. Yet, when he heard her laugh softly and shake her head, Talon realized she wasn’t going to give in to his idea of safety for her.

  “Been doing it for seven years and so far—knock on wood—I’ve never fallen off a roof.”

  Talon grunted again, his brows drawing downward. “Where did you get this desire to throw yourself into fires?”

  She grinned and looked at him for a moment. “What is this? The pot calling the kettle black? Like your work as a SEAL wasn’t even more dangerous than my work?”

  “You’re too smart for your own good, Cat.”

  She laughed. “Yeah. Right. I’m not some fragile little girl, you know? I’m good at what I do. I love being a firefighter.”

  “You’re a warrior princess.”

  “I like that. Thank you.”

  “I’m going to miss our daily Scrabble tournament.”

  “So am I.” Cat turned down another street that w
ould lead to Jordana’s medical office. “You’re a fast learner, Talon.”

  In his job as a SEAL, he had to be, but he didn’t say that. “I’ve got a good teacher.” Talon saw her cheeks grow pink. Cat was so easily touched by compliments. She wasn’t capable of the usual games women played with men, he was discovering. There was a rock-solid honesty to her. Cat didn’t try to hide how she felt, but at the same time, if she was grumpy, Talon had noticed she didn’t take it out on others. She was refreshing to him in so many ways, not jaded by life. Talon didn’t like women who played games, who manipulated. He’d had too many relationships in his past where he’d had to deal with it.

  Talon had always appreciated honesty but found it harder to come by in women. Maybe he was just drawing the wrong kind of woman to him? Most likely. But he’d always been honest with them. He hadn’t wanted strings attached, no long-term commitment. It was about sex, enjoyment in the moment, and then he’d be leaving, going back into training. It wasn’t a good life for a woman and Talon had known that from the outset. SEALs had a 90 percent divorce rate and he had no wish to travel that road. Best to be honest up front.

  Cat pulled the truck to the curb and pointed to a single-story brick house with a neat yard and white porch. “This is Jordana’s office. It’ll probably take about an hour before I come back, so if you get done, just wait inside for me.”

  Talon nodded and opened the door. He glanced at his watch. It was 9:00 a.m. “Got it. See you later.”

  Cat watched him ease out of the truck. His shoulders were broad beneath Griff’s sheepskin coat. When he turned to shut the door, she met his eyes. A shiver of need coursed through her, hot and sweet. She hadn’t been mistaken about the look in Talon’s eyes: he definitely wanted her.

  As she drove away, Cat gulped unsteadily, feeling a bunch of different emotions. Talon was so personable that all he had to do was give her that disarming smile and she was putty in his hands, whether he knew it or not. And Cat suspected he did know. But he hadn’t made a single move on her. She was grateful, since she was still getting over the debacle with Beau Magee.