Feeling slightly better, she undressed and fell into bed. When Murphy shut himself in his bedroom, she finally relaxed enough to fall asleep.
* * * *
“Ever been on a cattle drive?” Justine asked Sara a few days later. The rebuilding of the barn had started and Sara was surprised to see the people who came over to help. Neighbors and town folk brought their tools and lent a hand. The women spent the day cooking and preparing an evening meal they laid out on tables in the yard and shared with those helping. Sara had never seen so much food. Wives and children filled the back yard along with a feast of pies, salads, breads, an assortment of meats and drinks. When the day ended, the men came up to eat in what turned out to be a huge gathering.
Everyone Sara met welcomed her openly and treated her like a long lost friend. Her ankle wasn’t sprained, just bruised, and she no longer limped. It hurt if she was on it too long, but otherwise she was good as new.
Murphy avoided her. They saw each other in the morning over Oreos and at dinnertime. He’d returned to being quiet and withdrawn and she wasn’t the only one who noticed. Alice kept sending him thoughtful stares, but didn’t push. They all knew what was bothering him and knew they couldn’t change his mind. He had gone into protect mode and nothing would stop him.
Sara waved to Abby from where she sat in the shade beside MaryAnn. The kids had finished eating long ago and were playing tag with Grover. She couldn’t help but smile. She loved kids. They were so innocent and happy. They didn’t let life get them down and bounced back like a rubber ball from just about anything. If only adults could be more like them, life would be so much easier.
The yard was full of people she’d gotten to know over the past couple days. Talking, laughing, and visiting as they ate the delicious food prepared by the wives of the men working with Murphy. Comfortable, Sara searched for Murphy, wanting to share this with him.
She found him standing near the dessert table helping himself to a second slice of apple pie, talking to the sheriff. He looked good. Dusty after a long day’s work, and in his element. His tan had darkened and she swore his biceps had grown larger. Or maybe she just missed him.
“Hello? Earth to Sara.”
Startled out of her thoughts, Sara turned her attention to Justine. “Sorry. What did you say?”
Justine followed her gaze and sent her a knowing smile. “I asked if you have ever been on a cattle drive?”
“No, never.”
“Then you can’t miss the one coming up in a couple weeks. You’re riding like a pro already. I think you’d enjoy the open sky at night. Campfires and sleeping under the stars. It’s great. I think Jon is leading the next one. He always did like them.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m not that comfortable with horses yet.”
“Sure you are. Abby can stay with us. We’d love to have her.”
Sara couldn’t imagine going off without Abby. They had been separated three days when she was locked up. She never wanted to go through that again.
“I don’t know. I think I’d be in the way.”
“No, you wouldn’t. Think about it. Abby will be safe with us.”
Sara didn’t want Justine to think she didn’t trust her and Paul. She did. Just the thought of being away from Abby bothered her.
“Oh, I know she will. I trust you and Paul and I’m sure Abby would have a good time at your house. It’s just…we’ve never really been separated.”
“I understand. It’s hard for a mother to let her kids spread their wings.”
Sara pushed food around her plate. Justine was right. She wanted to keep Abby beneath her wings forever and protect her from everything that could hurt her. But that was unrealistic. She would eventually have to let go. She just didn’t want to do it now.
“Give it some thought, okay? Hey, we’re celebrating the completion of the new barn tomorrow. Mom’s throwing a party. There’s going to be a barn dance after dark. We could go into town and buy you a new dress.”
Barn dance? She had never been to one before. It sounded fun. She didn’t have a dress and going into town sounded like just the thing she needed as a distraction from Murphy. She had yet to see the quaint historical town, other than through Murphy’s truck window.
“I don’t think your brother is going to let me go into town.”
Justine grinned. “I’ll handle Jon. Tomorrow, after breakfast, we’re gone. We can take Abby along and buy her one too.”
Remembering she was broke, her spirits fell. She had a little money, but she couldn’t spend it on frivolous things. They may need it later.
“Um, I don’t think I should,” she said.
Justine winked at her. “Don’t worry, we’ll put it on Jon’s bill. He doesn’t spend his money on anything. It’s time he put it to good use.”
Sara shook her head. “Oh, no, I couldn’t. He’s done so much already.”
“Trust me. He would want to do this. Oh, Paul is waving to me. I better go see what he wants. Shopping, you, me, tomorrow. It’ll be fun.”
Sara watched her walk over to where Paul waited for her. He slipped an arm around her waist and whispered in her ear. Justine smiled and kissed him. Sara felt a twinge of envy. What would it be like to have a loving husband? The love Paul felt for his wife was obvious to anyone looking. It shone in his eyes and in the way he smiled at her. That’s what she thought she’d be getting when she married Kent. Boy, had she been wrong.
Leaning her head against the tree, Sara let her gaze drift over the crowd covering Alice’s lush lawn. These were good people. Friendly and caring and close. This would be a good place to lay roots and raise Abby. If she could ever find a way to free herself from the Benchleys, maybe she would consider a town like this.
Leaving was going to be hard, she thought, as her gaze landed on Murphy again. He leaned against a tree with his arms crossed over his chest, talking to James. Head bowed slightly, he nodded at something James said.
Sara relaxed and watched him. She liked the way he carried himself with authority and confidence. And the way his jeans hugged his long, muscular legs and rode low on his lean hips. She liked the way his shirt stretched across his chest. He was a handsome man. Strong and virile. Any woman would consider herself lucky to be the one he called his.
MaryAnn approached and handed him a portable phone. She smiled at her husband and dragged him away by the hand so Murphy could have privacy for his call. Sara watched him as he spoke, his expression revealing nothing. He suddenly lifted his eyes and looked directly at her. He kept on talking as he held her gaze, and she felt a jolt of awareness rip through her. He looked at her so intently her entire body felt the impact from across the lawn.
She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. It scared her how much she wanted him. With just a look she ached for him. These feelings were strong and getting stronger by the day. Not a naive, youthful kind of lust like with Kent. It was pure adult, passionate desire and she wanted nothing more than to take him by the hand and lead him down to the barn where she could have her way with him. Where he could have his way with her.
Her gaze dropped to his lips, watching him speak. Her mouth went dry. Mercy, she was overreacting. Lusting after Murphy in the middle of the yard with plenty of witnesses. She had to put a stop to it before someone saw her.
Pushing to her feet, she broke the connection and walked over to the trash container to throw her plate away. The sun began to set and people were starting to pack up and head home. She helped with the clean-up, aware of Murphy as he strode toward the house, phone still to his ear.
“He’s talking to an old military friend,” MaryAnn said, coming up beside her. “Gabe MacKenzie. He grew up here with Jon. His family owns the ranch bordering us to the west. Gabe was a Ranger too. He served with Jon in the Army. I think Gabe retired five years ago, his mother was telling me. She was here earlier, she brought the coleslaw.”
Sara had tasted the coleslaw, but she didn’t remember seeing the woman who had
brought it.
“The coleslaw was delicious. I’ll have to get the recipe from Mrs. MacKenzie when I see her. Will she be at the dance tomorrow?”
MaryAnn gathered up some empty plates and grinned. “You can get the recipe from Mr. MacKenzie. He’s the cook in the family. Jane simply carried it over.”
Sara chuckled. “Then I’ll ask Mr. MacKenzie.”
“He loves to discuss cooking, so prepare yourself when you do. He’ll talk your ear off.”
Sara chucked empty cups into the trashcan. “I’ll remember that.”
“I hear you and Justine are going into town to buy a new dress tomorrow. Care if I tag along? Mom said she’d keep an eye on the kids while we were gone.”
Sara smiled. “I wouldn’t mind at all. I think it’ll be fun.”
“It will. Have you ever been to a barn dance before?”
“No.”
“Well you’re in for a treat.” MaryAnn leaned in closer. “James may not look it, but he’s a great dancer. I’ll have him twirl you around the dance floor a couple times.”
Sara blushed. “I’m afraid the only kind of dancing I’ve done is ballroom and I was never very good at it.”
“You haven’t ever tried the two-step?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Well, hold on to your hat. You’re going to get your first lesson tomorrow night. James is a great teacher.”
“I look forward to it.”
“You know, Jon used to be a pretty good dancer too. I’ve seen him tear up the dance floor many times in the past.”
Sara’s hand paused midair. She couldn’t imagine Murphy dancing. He was so reserved. She couldn’t see him twirling anyone around the dance floor…letting loose.
“Shocking, isn’t it?” MaryAnn said with a chuckle.
“Very.”
“Maybe tomorrow you can ask him to take you for a round or two. He hasn’t danced in a long time. It would be good for him.”
Sara started working again. “Maybe,” she murmured. She liked the thought of dancing with Murphy, but doubted she would get the opportunity. He was on a mission and it didn’t include dancing.
Chapter 15
Sara stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom. The floral dress she’d bought today had a long skirt and scooped neckline that dipped a little too low for her taste, but Justine and MaryAnn insisted looked perfect on her. It fit her nicely and made her feel like a woman again. She liked that it came to her calves and hugged her waist. The tiny pearl buttons running the length of it made her feel feminine.
Shopping had been fun, but she’d been so nervous about being seen, she had spent the entire time looking over her shoulder. She hadn’t seen Stephen, but he was close. She also didn’t like going behind Murphy’s back and leaving when he’d told her not to stray from the house. When he found out, he was going to be livid.
Abby came bouncing through the door in her new sundress. She twirled and smiled as Sara signed how beautiful she looked. Too excited to stay put, Abby asked if she could go down to the barn early with the other kids. Sara agreed, knowing she would be safe. As Abby bounded out of her room with Grover on her heels, Sara took a moment to smile and admire the changes in her daughter. She no longer lived in fear. She was happy, smiling, playing and venturing outside of Sara’s grasp. She didn’t want Abby to live in fear, but she didn’t want to let go of her, either.
With a sigh, Sara turned back to the mirror and touched her hair, swept up in a twist, with a tendril hanging loose on either side. She had applied a little mascara and gloss to her lips for color. It was subtle and pretty and hadn’t taken hours she’d spent perfecting herself for Kent. Not that it had done any good. He’d still strayed. In order to be presentable, as Chelsea had put it, a woman needed to spend hours on hair and “painting her face.” She had never been that woman, no matter how much makeup she wore.
She could hear cars in the driveway. They had been coming in steadily all day. Now that the sun had set and the work was done, it was time to celebrate. Everyone had worked so hard on the barns, they deserved a night to kick up their heels and have some fun. The soft murmur of voices drifted through her window along with the occasional beat of a drum as the band set up. She hadn’t seen Murphy all day, and felt a tiny twist of excitement at the prospect of seeing him in this kind of atmosphere. He probably wouldn’t have any fun. He would stand off to the side like a sentry and pat down everyone who came in the door.
It was high time Murphy let loose. Her too. It had been a long time since she’d done something fun. Tonight was a night for good memories. Family and friends. Even after she was gone, she would remember the people she’d met here.
With a nod, she left her room, slipped out the back door and walked across the yard toward the barn. A soft breeze ruffled her skirt around her legs and carried the sound of voices and music. It sounded like the party was in full swing already. Cars and trucks lined the driveway all the way to the barn. Her sandals sunk into the grass. As she neared the barn, she weaved her way through men and women who said hello even though she was sure she had never met some of them. She smiled and returned the greeting, searching for Abby and Murphy’s family.
Through the open barn doors, music drifted out and wrapped around her. She stepped inside and let out a gasp of delight. Alice had gone to a lot of trouble. Along one side of the barn were endless tables of food and drink, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. A delicious array of food had been laid out and people were eating at their leisure. She had no doubt it would last the night, there was so much.
On the far end, set up on a flatbed trailer, a four-man band played upbeat, lively music. There were people everywhere. Some dancing, some eating, some drinking, all smiling and having a good time.
Sara found the kids playing in the hay bales that had been stacked in the corner and waved to Abby. She spotted Alice near the food table and made her way over to her.
When Alice saw her, she broke into a wide smile and opened her arms for a hug. Sara went willingly, hugging her tight.
“This is wonderful,” she said. “You sure know how to throw a party.”
“Not without the help of friends and family,” Alice said, keeping an arm around Sara’s waist. “You look lovely tonight. I like the dress. It’s very flattering.”
Sara blushed. “Thanks. Can I do anything to help?”
Alice clucked her tongue. “No, you go have fun. The girls are around here somewhere. Drink, eat, dance, have a good time.”
“Let me know if you need anything.”
Alice nodded and gave her a tiny push toward the dance floor. She made her way toward the kids, stopping to say hello to people she had met over the past few days, all the while looking for Murphy but not seeing him. Enjoying herself already, she surrounded herself by friends she’d always wanted but never had.
Abby leapt into her arms when she approached, signing furiously. Uncle James and Uncle Paul were going to swing her around the dance floor after the food settled in her stomach. Neither man seemed to mind that Abby called them “uncle,” so Sara didn’t correct her. She spent a few minutes with the kids, laughing and watching the couples dance by as the band began the first set. It was loud and the atmosphere was alive with excitement. Sara fell right into it and was soon having the time of her life.
Justine and MaryAnn dragged her and Abby out on the dance floor for a line dance that Sara stumbled through. She laughed along with everyone else when she missed a step. Tonight both of them could forget the past and enjoy themselves. And they did.
* * * *
Murphy didn’t like this one bit.
A party was the perfect opportunity to get to Abby and Sara. He couldn’t change his mother’s plans. She was determined to have her traditional barn dance, and he couldn’t stand in the way. So instead he staked out the perimeter and had James and Paul doing covert security checks. They were keeping an eye on the women while Murphy did recon outside on all the guests and their vehicles.
He had showered quickly after everyone left for the dance and now stood in the darkness outside the barn. No one noticed him leaning against the corral as they walked in and out of the barn, some coming outside for a smoke, others for a breath of fresh air. A couple youngsters snuck around the far side of the barn. He knew exactly where they were going and why. Once upon a time he had pulled his share of girls out to the hay wagon to steal a kiss or two. He would take a stroll over that way in a few minutes to make sure things weren’t getting out of hand.
Judging by the vehicles lining the driveway, the entire town was here. Alice Murphy’s barn dances were a big deal and had been drawing quite a crowd for years. He remembered punching out a few boys who got a little fresh with his sisters in this barn. It seemed like a long time ago. Back when his dad was alive…
“Hey, stranger, you going to stand out here all night or join the most popular party in the state?”
Murphy recognized the deep drawl and turned around to see a dark figure approaching silently. It had been a long time since he’d seen Gabriel MacKenzie, but not so long he wouldn’t recognize the easy swagger.
“I should ask you the same thing,” he said as Gabe came to a stop beside him. “Thanks for coming.”
Gabe leaned a shoulder against the corral. “You caught me at a good time. I was home for a little R and R. Everything kosher so far?”
Murphy knew his old friend and Army buddy had retired a few years ago and been recruited by a covert anti-terrorist organization that kept him away from home. He didn’t know much about the unit he worked for. Gabe was exceptionally closed-mouthed about it, and Murphy respected his need for secrecy. Covert meant exactly what it implied. But he couldn’t deny his curiosity about the group.
Gabe didn’t get home often and Murphy owed him for spending his time helping him instead of with his family. He had informed Gabe yesterday about the things going on with Sara and liked the idea of having a fellow Ranger backing him up. He trusted James and Paul, but Gabe was trained to deal with guys like Stephen Benchley. They had served together in the Army, and Murphy liked having him at his back.
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