Bound by an Angel

by Mackenzie McKade

  One more thing about her that he found intriguing. Although she had been raised in the city, she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Dedicated. She wanted to learn about ranching, and evidently fixing water lines. Maybe wanted wasn’t the right term, she needed to learn, and nothing or no one would stand between her and the success of this place.

  Tess’s determination cut like a two-sided blade. On one hand, Clancy admired her grit. On the other, it was the crux of their problems. He paused, shovel midair. Who the hell was he kidding? This was his doing, his reputation, that stood between them.

  “Tess. Let me do that.”

  Levi’s presence shattered Clancy’s self-abasement. Instead of the sodden cowboy hat, the boy wore a slicker with a hood. Like his sister, he had chosen more appropriate footwear.

  “I can do it—”

  Levi grabbed the shovel handle, but Tess wouldn’t release it. He tugged. “For once, sis, don’t argue with me.”

  “Fine.” She let go. “What can I do?”

  When Levi remained quiet, Clancy emptied his blade and drew his attention to her. “We’ll need to dig to find the break. You can bail the water.” He jammed the shovel into the ground and fetched the rolled kneepad, before handing it to her. “Use this. It’ll keep you from getting muddy.”

  It took another five minutes to finish the berm, and then he and Levi began to uncover the break, digging far enough beneath the pipe to allow them space to maneuver. With each shovel-full of mud extracted, Tess bailed the water. In no time, Clancy replaced Tess on the matt.

  Cleaning the mud off the pipe with a towel, he began to explain the process. “Your main water line is a two-inch copper pipe coming off your well. It reduces down to three-quarters at your house. Cut past the break a couple of inches on each side.” He used a pair of tube cutters and sliced the corroded pipe. Water oozed from each end. “The extension will be slightly shorter to accommodate your sleeves.”

  Damn. This was difficult. He’d never had to explain the steps as he worked. Yet both Levi and Tess were diligent students, watching and listening carefully.

  After Clancy cut a length of copper from the pipe he brought with him, he set it aside before using an emery cloth to smooth the old pipe until it shone like new. Reaching for a small can, he twisted the lid open and extracted the brush on the end. “Use flux to grease the outside of each section of pipe and the inside of each sleeve. Then slip the sleeves onto each end of pipe and connect them.” It took a little time to wiggle the pieces on, but when he succeeded, he reached for his torch, lighting it with the lighter in his toolbox. A blue flame burst from the end. “Now we’ll solder the sleeves.” When he was finished, he got to his feet and addressed Levi. “Turn the water back on so we can check for leaks.”

  As the young man slipped away, Rose and Rachel approached, grins on their pretty faces. That’s when he noticed the rain had stopped. The sun shyly peeked from between the dark clouds.

  “Hey, Clancy,” they each said.

  “Hi, girls.”

  They fidgeted. Rose elbowed Rachel in the side and the girl returned the jab.

  Tess frowned. “What are you two up to?”

  “Rose?” Rachel’s eyes widened.

  Even Clancy could detect the note of false innocence in her voice, but he loved watching the interplay of this family unit. Nothing appeared to get past Tess—well, maybe the small issue with Levi the other night. Still, she amazed him. She was intelligent and intuitive, if not just a little suspicious.

  “Rose? Rachel?” she growled.

  “Really. We just prepared lunch for Clancy. For helping us,” Rose quickly added. “Say you’ll stay.”

  “Please,” Rachel begged.

  “That was very thoughtful.” Tess turned on the ball of her galoshes and raised her wary sight to meet his. “You will join us?”

  Lost in her gaze, he said yes before he realized it. Still fixated on her mesmerizing eyes, he didn’t hear Levi’s return until he spoke.

  “Any leaks?”

  Clancy blinked, dropping his gaze to the ground to find the pipe still dry. “Looks like we did it.”

  Levi released a relieved breath before he glanced at Tess. “What’s wrong?”

  “Wrong?” Now it was her turn to blink. “Uh. Nothing.” Her brows furrowed. “Let’s clean up.” She bent over and picked up a shovel. “The girls have prepared lunch.”

  “Good. I’m hungry,” her brother grumbled. “You’re staying aren’t you, Clancy?”

  “Yes. He’s staying,” Tess answered before he could. “Girls.” She motioned to her sisters to retrieve the towels. “We need to thank him properly for his assistance.”

  A pang tightened Clancy’s chest. He didn’t want to join them out of obligation. He longed to be a part of their family.

  The abrupt thought drew him up short. It struck him hard enough that he stumbled when he attempted to lift his toolbox. Several items fell out, splashing into a puddle. Pausing, he fought to regain his composure. He’d never considered being a part of anyone’s family. The closest he’d ever come was with Wade and Ty’s family, and of course Jessie. Still he had always felt isolated, like he didn’t belong. But here, with Tess, something was different.

  Unease skittered over his skin. He started to skim through the water for his tools. “I should be going—”

  “But you said you’d stay,” Rachel insisted.

  “Yeah,” Rose chimed.

  Tess cocked a questioning brow.

  Dammit. He felt the need to retreat, but the disappointment on Rose’s and Rachel’s faces stopped him. His fingers closed around a wrench and he lifted it from the water, drying it before he placed it back into the chest.

  Levi sidled up beside him, leaning down to get the kneepad. As he rolled and fastened it, he flashed Clancy a weak smile. “When they make up their mind, there’s no getting around them. Believe me, you’re staying for lunch.” Then he grabbed the toolbox and remaining copper piping from Clancy and trotted off to the truck.

  Clancy felt at odds with the situation, so he changed the subject. “You should probably leave the pipe uncovered until tomorrow. Just to ensure another leak doesn’t spring free.”

  “That makes sense.” Tess scanned the area. “We’ll leave the tarp as well. Rachel, show Clancy where he can clean up. Levi and I will finish up here.”

  He didn’t get the opportunity to argue as both girls, arms full of unused towels, corralled him on each side and very successfully guided him away.

  Clancy had forgotten what fifteen-year-old girls were like. If they weren’t chattering, they were giggling. Each of them attempted to outdo the other for his attention, which he found flattering. Now, if only Tess felt the same way about him, he could die a happy man.

  Standing before the front door, Rose pulled to a halt and started toeing off her galoshes, followed by Rachel. He did the same, stepping into the house in his stocking feet. Immediately he felt the warmth, the love in their house that his home lacked. And maybe that was his fault, because the pictures of him and his parents had long since been buried in the attic. He wanted no remembrance of his childhood and the people who hadn’t cared enough to stick around.

  “Bathroom?” he asked.

  “Second door on the left,” Rose answered.

  “Thanks.” He didn’t wait for a response. As a wave of remorse threatened to swamp him, he shook it off and closed the door behind him.

  After taking off his hat, he splashed cold water in his face and washed his hands, toweling them dry. Clancy felt like a new man. That is until he opened the door and ran smack dab into Tess, his arms circling her to steadying her. For a moment they simply stared at each other.

  “I should go,” he whispered.

  She didn’t make any attempt to pull away. Her palms were warm against his chest. “No. Stay.”

  “Are you sure?” Clancy wanted to kiss her so badly he could almost taste her sweet, sweet lips against his. He inched closer, softly skimm
ing his nose along hers.

  She briefly closed her eyes. For a split-second he thought she would close the distance between their mouths, but she didn’t. Instead, she breathed, “No. I’m not sure, but the girls would be crushed if you left.”

  “What about you, Tess? Would you be crushed?”

  Chapter Twelve

  Yes. God. Yes.

  Tess barely held back the cry that echoed through her. She wanted Clancy to stay for lunch, then again, she didn’t. Her emotions were all over the place. It was like playing with fire. Someone was going to get burned and that someone would be her.

  “Tess! Can we use the china?” Rose hollered from another room.

  “Yes,” she hissed. Yet her attention wasn’t on what her sister asked, but the man so close that all she had to do was pucker and their mouths would touch. Sliding her tongue between her parched lips, she wet them. The movement drew Clancy’s hungry gaze, sending her pulse in overdrive. Heat simmered in his eyes. He wanted to kiss her. She knew this because she felt the same.

  The man could kiss. Hell, he could make her body sing like it had never sung before.

  Instead of reaching for what she wanted, she eased out of his arms. “I better clean up.”

  “I think we should talk about this thing between us.”

  This thing? What was this thing? Lust? A fleeting attraction? Something that would end as quickly as it started?

  She shook her head. “You and I both know this thing we feel is fleeting and would never work. Besides, I don’t have time for a man. My focus is on my brother and sisters. Let’s not make it worse.”

  Irony filled his quiet chuckle. “Worse?” He stood silently staring at her as if his mind were running a mile a minute. Then, without another word, he squared his hat upon his head and pivoted, walking away.

  Regret swam through her, but she had no choice. Instead, she took one last, longing look, and entered the bathroom. Staring into the mirror, she asked herself, “What is wrong with me?” Never had there been a man who called to her like Clancy. Maybe she was lonely. Maybe she wanted what she couldn’t have. And maybe she just needed someone to hold her. Her hands were shaking when she placed them beneath the water.

  After cleaning up, she exited the bathroom. Her footsteps felt heavy as she entered the living room, moving onward to the dining room. Her mother’s crystal and china lay upon the table. Napkin’s neatly pleated on each plate just like her mother used to fold them.

  A sigh released.

  She ran a finger along the delicate edge of one of the plates. At that moment she was eight, sitting on her mother’s lap and staring into the china cabinet. Her mother’s soft voice danced in her ears, explaining the difficulties her great-great-grandmother endured bringing the china over from Germany. Unexpected tears gathered behind Tess’s eyelids, making her nose tingle and her face heat.

  “You okay?”

  Turning to see Clancy standing in the doorway, she sucked in a trembling breath. “I miss them.”

  A shadow rippled over his eyes. “Your pain will lessen with time.”

  Concern tugged at her brows. “You too?”

  His expression went blank, but the veins in his neck began to slowly protrude. “My mother left. My father was killed the next day.”

  She gasped in disbelief. “Killed?”

  “A Brahma. He tried to ride the bull drunk.” A hint of bitterness seeped out behind his detachment.

  Tess didn’t know who moved first, but they stood before each other at the foot of the table.

  “How old were you?” she asked.

  “Fourteen.” His jaw seesawed. “An uncle took me in. Raised me.”

  He had been so young.

  “I’m so sorry.” She raised her hand, tenderly stroking his cheek, but he turned away from her.

  “You learn to live with it.”

  Live with it? How could she? How could he? But that was exactly what they were doing—living with it.

  Her sisters’ voices rose as they neared the dining room. When they entered, both glanced at Tess, and then pulled to an abrupt halt.

  “Everything all right?” Rose moved forward and set the bowl of salad she held upon the table.

  “Fine.” Hoping to focus on something other than the heaviness in the room, Tess attempted a smile that faltered when she looked down at the place settings. “The table looks b-beautiful.” Her eyes began to water.

  “Tess. We’re sorry.” Rachel sat a large plate of spaghetti down, before she moved toward Tess. “We didn’t think.” She snaked her arms around her.

  Entering the room, Levi took in the scene. “Dammit.” Without another word, he went straight to her. Nudging Rachel aside, he took Tess into his arms. His chin rested lightly against atop of her head. “They didn’t think, sis.”

  She inhaled a shuddering breath. “I’m being silly.” Her show of weakness made Rachel’s chin quiver. Rose teared up. Even Levi’s grip tightened around her.

  How embarrassing. Pushing out of Levi’s arms, she swiped angrily at her moist eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  “Darlin’, you don’t have to apologize.” Clancy stayed rooted where he stood. “Maybe I should go.”

  “No. Really.” She caught her reflection in the mirror of the china cabinet. Wet eyelashes. Red nose. How wonderful. “Just give me a second.” Excusing herself, she headed back to the bathroom.

  Sitting on the commode, she allowed herself several minutes to gather her composure. Why did her fortitude waver every time she came in contact with the cowboy? She was still pondering the question when a knock rapped upon the door.

  “Sis? You okay?”

  “I’m fine, Levi. I’ll be there in second.”

  When she finally heard him step away, she rose and went to the sink. Applying more cosmetics would make it look as if she was trying too hard. No. It was best if she waltzed back into the dining room, head held high, her confidence intact, not caring what Clancy thought.

  And that’s just what she did.

  Taking a seat, she inhaled, but her now stuffy nose didn’t allow her to appreciate the rich scent of tomato sauce and spices. “It smells good,” she improvised. Yet she wasn’t fooling anyone. Four sets of concerned eyes were pinned on her. No one moved or spoke. “What?” She shook out her napkin and sat it in her lap. “I had a nostalgic moment. It’s over. Let’s eat.”

  That should have been the end of it, but her siblings weren’t buying it. She had been their rock since their parents’ death. They weren’t used to her falling apart and especially in front of guests.

  She attempted to relax the tension in her jaws. “So, Rose and Rachel, did you use Mom’s recipe?”

  The girls shared cautious glances.

  “Y-yes,” Rose said warily.

  “Clancy, if you like spaghetti you’ll enjoy this. Our mother was an excellent cook. The girls are taking after her.” With a slight tremor in her grasp, she retrieved her glass of water, steadying her hand. Before taking a sip, she said, “Levi, pass him the salad.”

  The following silence was unnerving, but she managed to hold it together. She breathed a sigh of relief when silverware clicked against plates and everyone began to eat, but the mood was still somber.

  Levi tore off a piece of French bread. “I saw a new Paint in your east pasture.” He slathered butter on the slice and took a bite.

  Clancy nodded, swallowing before he spoke. “Gypsy is a yearling with champion bloodlines. I picked her up the other day in Austin. When she’s old enough I’ll breed her with a champion stallion out of Wyoming.” He slid his gaze down the table to briefly meet Tess’s.

  She forced a smile she didn’t feel.

  Levi took another bite. “She’s a beauty.”

  Lunch continued on with small talk, rising in tone as Rose and Rachel joined in. Pretty soon it was as if nothing had happened, but it had for Tess. She had showed weakness before her siblings and sufficiently closed the door between any sort of personal relationship with Cl
ancy. All in all, it had been a completely horrible day.

  As the girls began to clean up, she and Levi walked Clancy out. The rain had stopped. The air smelled clean, fresh. A slight breeze ruffled her hair.

  She glanced over to where they had been working on the water line. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for us.”

  “Yeah. Thanks.” Levi jutted his hand out to Clancy and he accepted it, shaking.

  “No need. It was the neighborly thing to do.” He slid his gaze toward Tess. “Good-bye.”

  Her heart fluttered. “Good-bye.”

  Then he turned and walked away.

  While Levi went to inspect the water line, she watched Clancy drive away. Her chest felt heavier and heavier with the distance growing between them.

  “Dammit,” Clancy cursed, clenching the steering wheel tighter. It seemed like every time he got close to Tess, something inside him knotted up and he forgot who he was. Yet for a brief moment when they stood in her hallway, nose to nose, their lips a breath away, he could have sworn she wanted to kiss him. That she’d felt the same magnetic pull he had. Wanted the same thing he did, but it had only been his foolish pride.

  No. Tess Gilmore had her head on straight, her priorities in line, and taking a chance on a worthless cowboy wasn’t on her list of things to do. The sooner he realized that, the sooner he could get some much-needed sleep, but it wouldn’t be today. He turned his truck toward the Petersons.

  Several young colts kicked up their heels as he maneuvered down their driveway. As he approached, he saw Shelby disappear into the barn, Clint Senior behind her. Easing on the brake, Clancy came to a stop and turned the engine off. Within minutes he was out of his vehicle and slipping into the barn.

  Silence met him, as well as the sweet scent of hay and oats.

  Then he heard a low, guttural moan and Shelby’s excited high-pitched wail. “Oh look.”