by Sandy James
A shrew, no doubt. The woman obviously had Drew and Gideon dancing to her tune. Why, they were even spending a large amount of money to build her a home of her own, something unheard of. What woman in Montana would chose to isolate herself so deliberately?
“What have I gotten myself into, Rusty?”
Drew turned to look back at him? “Are you speaking to me?” he called, loud enough to be heard over the clatter of the wagon.
Drake shook his head, which made Drew frown and face the road again.
They rounded one last bend, and the farm came into view. The house was grand, far nicer than any he’d seen in Montana. That only made him think Kayla wasn’t entirely in her right mind. Who wouldn’t be happy living in such an extravagant home? Hell, even the barn was elaborate. Sleeping there wouldn’t be a hardship, judging from the small chimney that rose from the loft area. Beat the hell out of the boarding house.
“Welcome.” Drew climbed down from the wagon and swept his hand at the barn. “Gideon spent most of yesterday enclosing a nice space for you in the loft. He also added a pot belly stove to help keep you warm, but please remember to use caution with it since you will be living in a barn.” He pointed at the double doors near the peak of the roof. “Should the snows rise too high, you can exit there and make your way to the house.” His finger shifted to a small door on the second floor of the house.”
“Added those after a really nasty blizzard,” Gideon said as he hefted Drake’s bag from the wagon’s bed. “Snow was too deep to get to the animals. Had to crawl out a window.”
Then the weight of the situation settled on him. “You get snowed in often enough to need those doors?”
Gideon’s chuckle was the first Drake had heard from the man who seemed to keep tight control over his emotions. “If you’re hopin’ that was a one-time blizzard, ’fraid you’re in for a disappointment. Used it three times last winter.”
His stomach plummeted to his boots. Not only would he be out here alone with an unpleasant woman, he’d likely spend quite a bit of the winter unable to escape for his normal nights at the Four Aces. Or at Madame Marie’s. Surely the woman had forgiven him by now. He’d have coin in his pocket, and women like Marie could always smell profit.
Just as Drew and Gideon led Drake to the front porch, the door to the house opened and Kayla Backer stepped outside as she finished buttoning her coat.
Having never seen her up close, his first thought was that she was much prettier than he’d expected. Her hair was bound in one, thick braid that was the color of wheat. It was long enough to brush against the middle of her back. When she fixed her big, brown eyes on him, every thought drifted right out of his head.
“Welcome, Mr. Myers.” Her voice was husky. Sensual. It hit him like a jolt to the groin. “I hope we can help make your stay here pleasant.”
“He’s not a guest,” Gideon grumbled, clearly not happy to see Kayla being so accommodating.
“Not exactly a guest,” Kayla replied with a smile as sweet as honey. “I dare say he shall be on our farm for quite some time as he builds my house. I simply hope his time here is enjoyable.”
The woman wasn’t at all what Drake had expected. With only a few nice words, his prediction of her being a shrew were tossed aside. Instead of a problematic female, he found a woman beautiful enough to make his head spin, who also seemed to have a kind, gentle nature.
So what exactly was so wrong with her that no man had married her?
She offered her hand.
Drake quickly tugged off his glove and gave her hand a shake. “Thank you kindly, Miss...er...Baker.”
“Backer,” she corrected. “You may call me Kayla. Since we’ll be sharing meals together, you need not be so formal.” Her gaze went to Drew. “Were you able to arrange for the lumber?”
Drew nodded. “Deliveries will come regularly, so long as the weather holds.”
“And Ty and Caleb have agreed to help?”
“From time to time.”
“Wonderful. Then perhaps Mr. Myers would like to see the spot where my home shall be built?” she asked, pulling a blue knit cap from her pocket before tugging it on her head.
“Please call me Drake.”
That charming smile of hers was going to be the death of him. “As you wish.” Kayla skirted around him and beckoned the men to follow with a flip of her hand. “The day holds enough warmth, I believe we can walk.”
“Is it far?” Drake asked, hurrying so he could walk by her side.
She shook her head while the other men nodded. She showed them a frown. “Although they believe it’s a bit too distant from their home and that I am foolish for wanting a bit of privacy. They merely worry for my safety.”
“As they should. A woman shouldn’t live out here all alone.”
Both Drew and Gideon nodded again, which only made Kayla sigh. “I can assure you that I am quite capable of taking care of myself.”
Figuring that starting an argument wasn’t a good way to begin his new job, Drake kept the rest of his thoughts to himself.
She was wrong, of course. The woman had undoubtedly never learned of the evils in the world or of the horrible things that could happen to a lady living alone, especially in the wilderness. While the town was close—only a couple hours’ ride away—and Gideon and Drew would be within walking distance of her home, she wouldn’t be immune to men who would want to rob her. Or worse.
But the topic was pushed aside. For now. Drake would have to work up the courage to explain things to her before he put the first board in place. Maybe that way she’d be smart enough to change her mind about exactly where she wanted her house.
* * *
Kayla still harbored worries about the man who now walked beside her.
Once Gideon and Drew left for Missoula, she’d be all alone with a person none of them knew well. What she’d heard, while it could only be called gossip, didn’t paint a pretty picture of Drake Myers. He’d been called a drunkard and a debaucher. She could tolerate neither type of man.
She was quite proud of herself that she’d successfully hidden her distaste when he’d arrived. Slapping a smile on her face, she used her best manners to try and make Drake feel welcome. Had there been any other options, Kayla would’ve been happy to send the man away. But her desire to be in her own home was stronger than her disgust at a man who clearly wasted his time on alcohol and loose women.
Her mood improved vastly when they reached the spot for her new house. The view of the mountains from the top of the hill was breathtaking, and she would never tire of seeing the snowcapped peaks. Drew had promised her a large window, an extravagance she wouldn’t protest. The rest of her house would be frugal, just enough for her with nothing ornate. A simple home, but she considered it a sin not to be able to see the beauty of those mountains.
While Drew and Gideon helped Drake pace off some of the dimensions of the foundation, Kayla found herself studying the man who would spend quite a bit of time alone with her. She’d learned much—none of it good—of his character, but she’d only seen him in passing. Now, especially while he was otherwise occupied, she could take his measure.
He was an attractive man, something she hadn’t truly noticed before. His brown hair was longer than she preferred, but it was clean. Perhaps he’d welcome her taking a pair of scissors to it. Until she got to know him better, though, she would feel far too forward offering her services.
His clothes were worn and in need of mending. Since she was handy with a needle, she could inquire whether he’d like her help with that instead. It was a much less personal task than a haircut, and asking him might be a nice way to break the ice.
As Kayla watched him, Drake suddenly turned and locked his gaze on her, almost as if he’d known she was gawking. Her face heated, but she didn’t flinch. She’d learned a long time ago that holding a firm stare instead of glancing away made her seem stronger.
Even if I’m not all that strong.
That voice i
n her head was immediately dismissed as nothing more than the ghost of Chantal Carrington and her constant criticism. From the moment her former fiancé Gregory had introduced Kayla to his mother, the woman found nothing but fault in anything Kayla did. She was too thin. Too opinionated. Too beneath a man like Gregory Carrington.
Gregory might have wanted Kayla to be his bride, but it became perfectly clear that Chantal would never have allowed that to happen. If only he’d known about his mother’s plots and plans, things could have turned out differently. If only he’d heeded Kayla’s warnings. If only...
No. No more. It was high time those memories were buried deep enough they would cease to haunt her and cause her such pain. Gregory was her past.
This home was her future.
“Miss Backer, um, Kayla?”
Drake’s voice brought her back from her unpleasant reveries. “Yes?”
“You truly only want one bedroom?”
She nodded.
“But what if you decide to marry? To have babies?”
“I shall never marry.” Despite her efforts to conceal it, anger tinted her tone and she had to force herself to relax.
His confusion was plain on his face. “Why on earth not?”
“That, sir, is none of your concern.”
He cocked his head, considering her for long enough that she grew uncomfortable. “Anyone ever tell you you’re an odd duck?”
Dare he bait her? “Probably the exact number of people that have called you the same.”
Drew burst out in laughter, and even the normally glum Gideon grinned.
“I should have warned you, Drake,” Drew said. “Our Kayla has a tongue as sharp as any properly stropped razor.”
“I noticed that,” Drake said. At least his mouth had bowed into a smile, and the twinkle in his chocolate eyes made her wonder at his motives.
“Can you build my home or not?” Kayla snapped. An apology at her rude question immediately tickled her tongue, but she bit it back. Drew was correct. She did have a sharp tongue—often sharper than most men could handle. But she refused to swallow her words anymore, even if that meant Drake wouldn’t agree to help them.
“I can,” he drawled. “Now I just gotta figure out if I really want to.”
“What’s this?” Drew’s brows knit. “I believed we had reached an agreement. Did we not come to terms yesterday?”
“We did,” Drake admitted.
“Then have you changed your mind?”
Swiping his hat from his head, Drake kept his hard stare directed at her.
Kayla knew her face had to be a bright red, but she continued to hold his gaze. “Have you changed your mind because you’ve made my acquaintance and found me lacking?”
He let out a sigh. “We’re likely to be spending a good amount of time together, and I have to admit, I’d like it if you weren’t so...so...”
Having been on the receiving end of so much censure in her lifetime, Kayla tossed him a few possible words. “So tart? So rude? So insolent?”
“So damned pretty.”
His words took the wind right out of her sails. That, and the way his dark eyes seemed to draw her in made something inside her stomach flutter.
A bad sign.
“What I meant to say is that we’ll be out here. Alone. And what with you being such a comely woman...” Then he shrugged.
Gideon stepped up to Drake, his hands clenched into fists. “Are you sayin’ you’d take advantage of her while we’re away?”
“No, sir. I’d never take an unwilling woman.”
“Then what are you saying?” Drew asked as he set a restraining hand on Gideon’s arm.
“I’m saying that two people—a man and a woman—all alone out here…” Drake shrugged. “Nature’s bound to take its course.”
Kayla let out a little snort. “I assure you that nature will do nothing more for us than heap snow upon our shoulders.”
He appeared as angry as a cat with ruffled fur. “Other women seem to like me just fine.”
Her anger soared at his obvious belief that he was irresistible—that she was the kind of woman who would wish to be associated with him. “I assure you, Mister Myers, that I am nothing like the ladies you pay to like you ‘just fine.’ We shall have a working relationship and nothing more.”
“You don’t have to get your petticoats in a twist. You might be a right nice-looking woman, but it’s clear we’re far too different.” He offered his hand to Drew. “I’ll build your house.”
“My house,” Kayla couldn’t help but point out.
Drake acted as though she hadn’t spoken. “And I promise to keep my distance from Miss Baker.”
“Backer,” she said through gritted teeth, fairly sure he’d mispronounced her name on purpose.
After the men shook hands, Gideon led Drake back to the barn to show him the loft that would be his home. Drew remained behind, throwing an arm across Kayla’s shoulders.
“I know he’s not what you expected...”
God love Drew. He always knew how to defuse her anger. “He’s exactly what I expected. He’s just not what I wanted.”
His lips brushed her cheek. “Gideon and I will only be away as long as absolutely necessary. I’m sure once I speak to my mother, I can convince her to come stay with us.”
Thankfully, Gideon was nowhere near to hear that boast or there would’ve been yet another quarrel. “You can be quite persuasive when you wish to be.”
“We’ll leave in three days, once we’re sure Drake has settled in and has everything he needs. But I promise to return as quickly as humanly possible.”
Kayla leaned her head against him. “I shall miss you.”
“And I you. Don’t be afraid to turn to Drake should you need anything in our absence.”
“I have Ty and Caleb should I need assistance,” she reassured. “I can promise you that I shall never need Drake Myers for anything other than to build my house and stay out of my way.”
Chapter Four
“We shall return before you even have time to notice our absence.” Drew kissed the top of Kayla’s head and held her a little tighter.
She tried to restrain her tears, sniffing hard as she rested her forehead against his chest. The last thing Drew and Gideon needed before they left was a weak, weeping woman hanging all over them. She’d been alone before. She could be alone again and not fall apart.
That was a lie, and she well knew it. Her childhood and her long journey to flee New York might have forced her to be alone, but she hadn’t enjoyed being by herself. Until she came to live with Drew and Gideon, she hadn’t grasped exactly how lonely her life had become. The months she’d been in their company had created a bond, one she hadn’t realized the strength of until she was now faced with losing them, even if only temporarily.
“Look there.” Drew eased away from her. “Cassie and Sara have arrived to keep you company.”
A wagon approached, leaving long lines on the muddy road in its wake. Kayla had known Ty and Caleb were coming to help Drake with the house, but she hadn’t known their wives would come along.
“There, all is better,” Drew said with a smile. “‘For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.’”
One of the things she loved most was how Drew challenged her mind. His library of books remained at her disposal, and one of his favorite games was to quote the Bible—sometimes Shakespeare as well—and expect her to cite the source. He and Cassie often played the same game. His keen intellect kept Kayla on her toes, and she’d yet to best him while he constantly left her baffled. Kayla had to think a moment for the origin of his words, not wanting to send him away with the hubris of victory. “Um... Ecclesiastes?”
He tweaked her nose. “Correct. Chapter four, verse ten. See? You have already cheered to our friends’ arrival. I’m quite sure they will keep you from being too lonely while we’re away, and do not forget that Drake will be here to come to your aid—day or night.” His eyes sparkled wit
h mischief.
“You may not matchmake, you rascal,” she said with a playful swat at his chest. “Especially not with a man of such ill repute. I have no intention of allowing him anything more than friendship—if even that.”
Drew merely winked, the grin never leaving his face.
Kayla let out a censorious scoff. “You could not ever believe that I would consider that man for anything but a hired hand. His... habits leave much to be desired.”
Even as she claimed disinterest, she found her gaze wandering to where Drake was sorting through a large delivery of lumber that had arrived only the day before. How Gideon was able to obtain it so swiftly, she would never understand. But she was beyond grateful. Although the weather might quickly turn against them, the men could use the warmth that remained to get a good start on the house.
Cassie and Sara both leaned over the side of the wagon and waved as Ty drove the team closer. Kayla returned the gestures, even finding a smile for her friends.
“I don’t see the children,” she commented to Drew.
“No doubt they are at the Twin Springs visiting Grace.”
Kayla nodded, a little pleased to have some of Cassie and Sara’s precious time without their children underfoot. Grace Morgan lived on the Twin Springs ranch with her husband Adam, Ty Bishop’s adopted father. Kayla had quickly learned that Grace considered herself to be a surrogate mother to Cassie and Sara, and in turn, that made her grandmother to Cassie’s daughter, Diana, and Sara’s son, Isaac. While Kayla sometimes enjoyed the noise and frivolity of their children, she wished everyone to keep their focus on getting a frame and roof on her house before the snows flew.
As Ty secured the wagon, Caleb climbed down from the seat and lifted Sara out of the wagon bed. She gave him a quick kiss and then waited as he helped Cassie to her feet. Then he and Ty tended to the horses.