by Debra Kayn
Roy Lee proceeded to get in the patroller without any doubt Ryan would do what he requested. Not many people would think about denying a lawman, and he had a feeling Ryan, being the upstanding citizen he portrayed, wouldn’t balk. The last thing Roy Lee wanted to do was have the confrontation in front of his parents’ house and upset them.
Five short minutes later, Roy Lee pulled up beside Ryan’s sports car and approached the man in the parking lot. Roy Lee sized him up. A little leaner and about three inches shorter, Ryan could hold his own weight if he knew how to defend himself. It was hard to gauge a person when they appeared more comfortable in a suit and tie rather than clothes meant for country living.
Roy Lee stood in front of him, unclipped the badge on his shirt and slipped it into his back pocket. He tipped the front of his hat back. “Seeing as we’re now just two men talking, I have some questions for you. You might have everyone fooled around Pike, but you ain’t pulling a thing over on me.”
Ryan’s gaze shifted to the left of him, but he remained silent.
“Seems I have a problem with people who are less than honest, so I’m going to ask you this only once, why were you at my parents’ house tonight? And don’t give me any bullshit about them inviting you over. Why did you show up?” Roy Lee stared him down.
“I don’t know why they asked me, Sheriff. I guess it’s because I’m new in town and they were being neighborly. As for why I went…I didn’t think it would hurt anything. I can’t say I have any friends here, and a night of conversation and good food sounded nice.” Ryan rubbed the back of his neck.
“Cut the crap, Martin. You’re more nervous than a kitten caught in the bull’s stall.” Roy Lee stepped in front of Ryan. “I don’t like you. If I had my way, you’d be looking for another job and hanging that bigass hat of yours in some other town. Stay away from my parents, and leave Margot alone.”
Ryan’s mouth tightened and he stepped closer, bumping Roy Lee’s chest. He reached up and flicked Roy Lee’s hat off his head. “Or what?”
Roy Lee watched his hat fall to the gravel in slow motion, not believing anyone would have the nerve to touch another man’s hat. Stepping back, he brought up his fist and let it fly.
Ryan went down with one punch, but scrambled back up and dove at Roy Lee, sending him sprawling. Roy Lee grunted. Sharp rocks carved their way across his back.
With Ryan’s head locked in the crook of his arm, he rolled, flinching as Ryan’s fists made contact with his kidneys. He twisted and slammed Ryan against the ground.
Lumbering to his knees, he bunched the front of Ryan’s shirt in his fist and brought his arm back. Before he got off another punch, Ryan’s left hook sent his head snapping back. He struggled to open his eye. Pain radiated deep in his head, leaving a pulsating sensation along his cheekbone.
“You son of a bitch.” Roy Lee swung an upper cut at Ryan’s jaw sending Ryan rolling.
Both men stumbled to their feet, their arms raised, and their breath coming in gasps. Roy Lee motioned him forward. “Come on, Cityboy. You fight like a girl.”
Ryan bounced on his feet prepared to keep fighting. Roy Lee stepped forward.
“Roy Lee, stop!” Margot cried out.
He ignored her and kept advancing on Ryan. Clenching his teeth together, he glared at Cityboy, daring him to throw the next punch.
Ryan swung wildly, clipping his shoulder. Roy Lee punched him hard in the upper stomach, knocking the wind out of him and sending Ryan to his knees, sucking air like a winded bronc the first time he’s rode.
“Roy Lee!” Margot stepped between him and Ryan. “Stop. Leave him alone. Can’t you see you’re hurting him?”
Roy Lee wiped his forearm across his mouth. The side of his face throbbed, his eye half swollen already. Hurt Ryan? Hell, what about him? He wasn’t the only one handing out blows.
Margot stepped over to Ryan and laid her hand on his back. “Are you okay?”
He coughed and nodded at the same time. Margot lifted her chin and glared at Roy Lee. “What’s going on? Why are you fighting?”
“Ask Cityboy…” The heels of his boots skittered across the gravel as he pulled himself over to the patrol car. He grabbed his hat and slapped it on his head.
Margot hurried over to Roy Lee. “Stop calling him names. I can’t believe you. Are you so uncivilized you can’t see when someone is trying to be nice to you?”
“Me?” Roy Lee laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “Maybe you’ve forgotten, sweets. But the guy is half in love with you, and now he has the balls to get himself invited to my parents like it’s one happy gathering.”
“It’s not what you think.” Margot lowered her voice. “He has his reasons.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t fire him?”
“No.”
“Well…” Roy Lee rolled his shirt sleeve. “I’ll leave you two alone then. I’m sure you have work to do, or animals to see to, confidences to swap. Good night, Margot.”
She sighed and grabbed his arm. “Don’t do this.”
He held her gaze for what couldn’t have been more than two seconds although it seemed an eternity. Then he broke away and headed toward his car. “Call me when you’re ready to tell me what the hell is going on.”
“Roy Lee!” She hurried after him. “Wait.”
“Not right now, I’ve got a date with a bottle of Jack until I don’t feel like beating the shit out of your partner.” He pulled down his hat and walked away without looking back.
Chapter Twelve
“You ready to talk yet?” Val removed the ice pack from Roy Lee’s face, grimaced and tsked.
“Not much to talk ’bout. I only wanted to swing by here, grab a bottle of whiskey to take home with me and calm down a little.” He cocked his head and peered out from behind the frozen bag. “I didn’t expect you to go all momma hen on me.”
Val leaned closer. “I’ll let you in on a little secret, Roy Lee. I’m almost eight months pregnant. I’m in full momma hen mode. You never know, I might need the practice. If I have a boy, and he’s anything like his father and you, I’ll be doctoring plenty of black eyes in my near future.”
She smoothed his hair back and gave him a sympathetic sigh. He groaned. She knew.
“You’ve already talked to Margot.” His chest hurt worse than his eye over knowing Margot already called Val.
“She gave me a heads up to be on the lookout for you. I think she was afraid you got hurt, and she wanted me to check you out.”
“Figures.”
“What’s that mean?” Val frowned.
“Nothin’.”
“What is going through your head? You’ve never been the jealous type before.” Val scooted around the bar and struggled to get her hip up on the barstool with her pregnant belly.
He held out his hand and waited until she gave up trying on her own and let him help her up on the seat. “I’m not jealous. You’ve seen Ryan. What do you think ’bout him?”
Val raised her brows and curled her lip. “I almost pee my pants every time he walks in here for lunch, and it has nothing to do with me going to the bathroom every half hour. My God, have you seen his getup? He could put all the water from the horse trough out back in his hat and still have room to put it on his head.”
Roy Lee dropped the ice bag on the counter, leaned over and pecked Val on the cheek. “Thanks for taking care of me, momma Val. I’m going home.”
“Do you want a bottle to take with you?”
“Nah, I changed my mind. I’ll be fine.” He tried to grin, but the swelling along his cheek and over his eye had him wondering if the smile even showed.
Known rowdy boys, Swanson and Tucker, passed him at the door. He tipped his hat and ignored their stares of curiosity. Rumors would fly tomorrow about how the sheriff appeared to have tangled with the barbwire and lost. It would be anyone’s guess who’d be at the other end of the story by noon. Small town rumors were a sport in Pike.
He slid into the fron
t seat of the cruiser, thankful he never took the shot of whiskey Val offered him, or he’d have had a long walk home. If he could only rewind the clock and go back to yesterday, he’d handle how he informed Margot about Ryan in a different way.
He picked up speed once out of the city limits, rolled his window all the way down and stuck his elbow out the window. Worry over Margot left him edgy and unsure. They’d survived a rough year full of sorrow and uncertainty. Somehow, they’d both come away stronger and closer. Their love was deeper than anything he’d ever experienced.
He wasn’t jealous, despite Margot and Val’s opinion of him. Maybe his job made him leery of new people, but something else was going on. Ryan Martin had ulterior motives, and it would only take putting the pieces together to figure out what the guy planned.
Margot squeezed the water out of the towel and passed it to Ryan. “Clean your mouth up, and then hold the wet cloth to your lip.”
“I made a mess of things.” Ryan flinched as he pressed against the cut.
“Yep.” Margot soaped up her hands and rinsed them off. “What made you think you could beat Roy Lee up? He’s the sheriff! Not to be mean, but you can’t go around throwing punches at the men of Pike. They all grew up wrestling and fighting in the fields. I bet you’ve never had anyone hit you back, have you?”
He shook his head. “Not really. I wasn’t thinking. He threatened me to stay away from my…his family, and it made me mad. I’m not the one who’s done wrong. I didn’t leave a woman to raise a kid by herself.”
Margot kept from showing too much sympathy. She’d save her thoughts when everything came out into the light. Neither Ryan nor Roy Lee and his family could go on like this. She hoped Ryan would come to that conclusion himself, without her help. She didn’t like being in the middle when she knew everyone was going to get hurt before things got better.
“Go ahead and take your time here. Get your feet back under you. You’re not only reeling from being in a fight, I think you’re emotionally beat up. If you want to sleep downstairs on the cot, go ahead. I’m going to go upstairs. I need to call Roy Lee.” Margot handed him a freeze bag. “Wrap the towel around this and hold it on your mouth.”
“Don’t tell him. Please, Margot.” Ryan removed the rag and licked his lip.
“I’ll try not to, but I won’t lie to him if he asks. Roy Lee and I have promised not to keep secrets from each other. I should tell him, but because of the circumstances, I’m going back on my word to give you time. Roy Lee isn’t going to be happy to wait too long. I’ll need you to come clean, or I’ll have no choice but to tell him myself. I’m sorry. His family is as close to me as my own family, and I love them with all my heart. I don’t want to see anyone suffer.”
She left the room and went upstairs. Her apartment was a wreck. She picked up a dirty shirt, her sweatpants, and kicked her running shoes against the wall. Lately, she treated this place like a hotel room rather than her main residence.
An odd sense of not belonging among all her furnishings hit her hard. She plopped down on the couch. She belonged with Roy Lee, not here where the most important person in her life was missing.
He wanted to marry her and had given her more than adequate time to get used to the idea. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the cushion. She’d always had to strategize every move she made with her life. Whether it was planning her grocery list to cover the weekly meals or how to afford the new ultrasound machine she wanted to buy. The moment Roy Lee told her he hoped for them to get married, she’d begun over-analyzing the timing.
For as long as she could remember, she’d controlled every monumental happening in her life, and when she lost control, it about broke her heart. Roy Lee was waiting patiently for her to come around to marrying him. Deep in her heart, she was ready, but the timing was never right.
She ran her hands over her face. Just when life seemed to get simpler, more trouble came jumping at her to mess everything up.
Margot snatched the cordless phone off the coffee table. If she kept thinking that something would pop up and destroy the love she shared with Roy Lee, then she was borrowing trouble. She had the power to right all the mystery behind Ryan.
Stuart always told her to love with her whole heart and don’t look too far ahead. She brushed the tears escaping her lashes. No one has a clue how much I miss you, Daddy.
Her one regret in her life was not acting fast enough with her dad. She should have celebrated falling in love with Roy Lee and shared it with her family when Stuart was alive. Her dad would have been proud to call Roy Lee son.
She sniffed and laughed at the same time. She was doing it again, talking through her problems trying to make sense of what to do. She knew what she wanted. There was no doubt about any of it.
She wanted to marry Roy Lee.
Together, they’d handle the new information she learned and deal with it the same way Roy Lee had helped her through Daddy’s death. She’d support him and make sure he knew she loved him.
She punched in Roy Lee’s phone number and waited. After three rings, she glanced at the clock. Chores at the ranch should be done by now.
Waiting four more rings, she pushed the end-call button and redialed his cell number. “Come on, Roy Lee. Pick up.”
The call went to voice mail.
“It’s me. Call me when you get the message. It’s important. I-I want…I need to talk with you.” She paused. “I love you.”
She laid the phone beside her on the couch and debated whether to go over to his house or wait until tomorrow. The sensible thing would be to wait. He’d have time to cool off, and she’d think of a way to smooth things over. She stifled a yawn. Tomorrow, she’d put her life in order again.
Chapter Thirteen
The dew clung precariously to the tall grass and the early morning chill invigorated Margot. It was a brand new day, and it was starting out beautifully. She rushed across the field toward Roy Lee, who was leading Stormy back to the barn. It seemed like ages since she’d spent any alone time with Roy Lee instead of two days.
She waved. “He’s looking great!”
The gelding put weight on his recovering leg and flung his head in pure enjoyment of being out of the barn and back in the field. She petted Stormy’s neck and gazed up at Roy Lee, smiling.
Something in his gaze made her turn away. In a single painful look, they shared an emotion so honest she trembled. The seconds ticked and still the tension grew thicker between them until Margot stepped back.
“Roy—”
“Margot.” He motioned up at the house. “The door’s open. I’ll be in after I wipe down the horses and get them settled.”
With each step, her heart beat faster. He’d obviously not gotten over his anger. No matter what she’d promised Ryan about keeping his secret until he’d worked up enough nerve to talk with Roy Lee himself, she had to tell Roy Lee the truth.
After preparing a fresh pot of coffee and straightening the kitchen, she paced the room. She flinched at the slamming of the door. It’ll be okay. It’ll be okay. It’ll be…
Roy Lee walked through the back door in his stocking feet. Margot carried a steaming cup over to the table and scooted the chair out for him.
“Here you go. I made us each a cup.” She leaned over and kissed his lips gently, trying not to be shocked over the discoloration and slight swelling under his eye. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” He held still as she tenderly prodded his cheekbone with the pad of her finger.
She pulled back, but he grabbed her wrist bringing her hand to his mouth. He kissed the inside of her palm. Margot couldn’t think past the impact of Roy Lee’s sensitive kiss.
“I missed you.” He stood up and pulled her into his embrace.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her head back. “It wasn’t the same without you. I don’t ever want to spend another night wondering if you doubt my love.”
“I don’t.” He drove his tongue in her mouth, sw
eeping sweet, unyielding pressure against her lips. “I worry about other things, but right now. I can’t think of a damn thing, other than I want to hold you.”
Margot moaned, the sound escaping from her soul in complete pleasure. The heat within her body burned hot. Her body was highly tuned to everything about Roy Lee. His beard tickled her cheeks, his thigh pressed between her legs, and the rugged smell of a man who enjoyed the outdoors gathered together and overwhelmed her.
“Roy—” She turned her head away from his attention. She dug her fingers into his shoulders to keep from stumbling.
He pressed her pelvis against his body. “Sweet?”
“I want you.”
She kissed him, holding nothing of herself back. He murmured low into her mouth. She knew exactly what he said. He was hard, hot and wanting her in the same way she wanted him.
In a flurry, she stripped off her clothes, and then helped him off with the rest of his, leaving a trail to the bedroom. She had no time to worry about the need to come clean with him. The sensations whirled through her body, numbing everything but what Roy Lee could do to make her forget.
Margot lay on the bed and he followed. The size and strength of him, his wide shoulders, so perfectly formed, they begged for her hands. She lifted her hand and grazed his skin.
He nibbled his way down her throat and lower to the plumpness of her breasts. He hovered above her. Moisture coated her intimate parts at the sight of his tongue licking his lips. She arched off the bed needing his mouth on her.
Delving her fingers into his hair, she bit down on her lip, luxuriating in the breathtaking delight of being back in Roy Lee’s arms. When his hand moved down her abdomen and then skimmed across her moist heat, she mewled.
“Please.” She stroked his back, pulling him closer.
A swarm of tingles bloomed in her core. She wanted more. She wanted him deep inside of her, stroking her depths, connecting with her in a way only they shared.
He braced himself on his arms. The dark penetrating need smoldered in his eyes. His body glistened with pent up desire, so beautiful she couldn’t glance away. “Margot?”