Pleasure in Sanctuary [Sanctuary, Montana 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Melody Snow Monroe

  Dropping Cody off back at the house and then saying good-bye to Tanner and Jackson had been horrible. It was more painful than seeing Jackson get stomped by the bull. Okay, maybe that pain might have been worse, but that ache had been temporary. Leaving them, knowing it might be for good, had splintered her heart, and there was nothing she could do. Her time in Sanctuary was up.

  Yes, they’d kissed her, but not with the usual enthusiasm. Cody had been standing there trembling. Even her promise to return the following weekend seemed to do little to lessen the pain on anyone’s part.

  It was late by the time she returned to the boarding house, and she was doubtful she’d get much sleep, but she had to try. She could have packed, but that would have taken more effort than she had at the moment. After undressing, she didn’t bother hanging up her clothes. Instead she left them on the floor. Putting on her pajamas was about all the energy she could muster.

  She slipped into bed, turned off the lamp, and closed her eyes, but scenes of Jackson being kicked, Cody laughing, the cows dying, and her two men naked kept bombarding her senses. Joy and depression assaulted her until she was a restless mess. She punched the pillow to get comfortable, but nothing seemed to work, so she got up. Even though she’d eaten a few hours before, she thought eating again might help calm her.

  It didn’t.

  Now she was full and still depressed. From the way her men had looked at her, they wanted her to stay, but she’d told them she wouldn’t be fulfilled unless she had a job, though right now, it seemed as if being poor might not be that terrible. If only she could convince the bank that was holding her student loans to agree.

  She gave sleep another try, but the result was the same. Instead of forcing the issue, she pushed aside the covers and pulled out her trusty Kindle to get in some reading. Eventually, she must have closed her eyes because she awoke with a start. Noises from downstairs had roused her. She looked at the clock. Oh, my. It was after ten. How had that happened?

  Her checkout time was noon. Hailey quickly showered and then packed. She wanted to grab a bite before her ninety-minute drive home. Her mom would want to fix her a meal, but she hated to inconvenience her.

  After she packed, Hailey lugged her luggage down the flight of stairs.

  Minnie waved. “There you are. I thought you’d be checking out today. There’s a woman who just checked in who would like to speak with you.”

  “Me? Who is she?” Her mind raced. If it had been a man, he might have been a rancher in need of some vet work.

  “She’s in the living room.” Minnie waved at the luggage. “Just leave your bags over here. They’ll be safe.”

  Curious, Hailey walked into the living room. The woman was thin, of medium height with black hair and amazing blue eyes, much like Jackson’s. The auburn-rimmed glasses made her look ultraintelligent.

  Hailey held out her hand. “Hello, I’m Hailey Hunter. How can I help you?”

  “Dr. Jocelyn Richards. You’re checking out, I see.”

  Who was this woman? “Yes.”

  She motioned to the chair next to her. “Do you have a minute? Minnie said you worked at the Baldwin ranch for the last couple of weeks.”

  Now she had her attention. “Yes.” Hailey wasn’t sure why she was being so cautious, but her sleep-deprived brain wasn’t functioning yet. She needed coffee. To add to her problems, her stomach grumbled loudly.

  Jocelyn stuck her hand in her bag and produced a candy bar. “Will this help?”

  Hailey had to laugh. “Thanks.” It was a Hershey’s Bar, and since chocolate had caffeine, it would do in a pinch. “So what do you need to know?”

  “The fiancés of Aubrey Maxwell hired me. She’s friends with Tatum Baldwin and Farah McLean, and wants the bickering to stop.”

  Now her attention was totally engaged. “Seriously?” She stuffed half the candy bar in her mouth and had to refrain from moaning out loud. It hit the spot. “Why?”

  “Without divulging confidentiality, I should take a step back. I’m a forensic genealogist.”

  She searched her mind for the definition but came up blank. “What is that?”

  “I get that all the time. It comes in many varieties. I have my PhD in criminology, but I specialize in researching family backgrounds. Think of it like CSI meets Roots.”

  Her pulse quickened. “There’s been a crime?”

  Her eyes widened. “No. Not at all. I thought that if you spent time with the Baldwins that you were aware of the feud between the two families.”

  “At every turn.”

  “Can you tell me what you know?”

  “I’m trying to understand here. What’s the point?”

  She smiled. “Some members of the warring families want to put an end to the families maligning each other. They think the issue is one of misunderstanding.”

  A misunderstanding didn’t poison the cattle. However, Jackson had no proof the McLeans were involved. Nor could he prove the flank strap that went around Darth Vader had been tampered with. “I was told the issue goes back as far as the Civil War.”

  “That’s what all three ladies thought also, but they believe there’s more to the story than the theft of some gold.”

  “And you dig into family secrets, hoping to find the real cause for the feud.”

  She nodded. “That about sums it up.”

  She liked this Jocelyn Richards. Her sincerity spoke to her. “Okay, fire away.” Right now, anything that would keep her from facing a lonely future worked for her.

  * * * *

  For the last week, Cody had barely eaten anything, and Tanner was beside himself. He’d attributed it to Hailey leaving. He, too, had barely slept and had probably dropped a few pounds himself.

  The sad part was that Hailey had planned to visit yesterday, but he had to cancel. Alice and her mom had been run off the road and shot at by her ex-husband. Both had suffered concussions, and Cody had begged him to drive him over to the hospital so he could be with his friend.

  Hailey wanted to drive up from Pleasure, but Tanner thought Cody would be torn between wanting to see her and being there for Alice. In the end, she agreed waiting one more week would be best for all of them.

  The ache in her voice had torn him up, but the terrible circumstances couldn’t have been helped. Hailey really seemed to understand, which made not being with her all the more difficult.

  “Eat, Cody.”

  He pushed his plate away. “Not hungry.”

  “You need your strength.”

  He shrugged. For the last two weeks, his bond with Cody had grown stronger each day. Jackson had done his best, too. Not only had he taken Cody riding, but Jackson was teaching his son how to shoot a rifle and had even started him on roping a calf.

  But as Hailey’s time at the ranch came to an end, Cody had become more withdrawn. After she left, he’d turned inward.

  “How about you finish your vegetables and I’ll take you to the movies?” It was one thing that always brought a smile to his face.

  He pushed back his chair. “I need to do homework.”

  Shit. What was he supposed to do now? Shove the food down the kid’s throat? Watching Cody plod toward the stairs felt like someone had cut out his heart.

  Cody passed Jackson as he came downstairs. Jackson stopped him. “Hey, buddy. Something wrong?”

  Cody grunted.

  “You know, I’m just about to check on the cows in the north pasture. Want to come along with me?”

  Tanner held his breath. Cody loved doing any kind of ranch work.

  “No. Thanks. I have to work.” He tugged out of Jackson’s grasp and ran upstairs.

  Jackson came into the kitchen and glanced at Cody’s plate. “What’s up with him?”

  “He refuses to eat.”

  “Did Alice do something?”

  Tanner wasn’t sure. “I think it’s about Hailey. He misses her.”

  Jackson pulled up a chair and looked as sad as Cody. “I know I do. Christ. The
last time I saw her, I was barely civil. What was I thinking?”

  “You hugged and kissed her good-bye.”

  He shook his head. “I meant in the barn a couple of days before she left. I was an ass.” He dropped his head in his hands.

  “We need to do something.”

  Jackson looked up. “Like what?”

  They hadn’t really discussed their true feelings. Now was the time. “I’m going to lay it out on the line. I know this sounds crazy, and you’re going to tell me I’m being stupid, but I love Hailey and want her to move in with us.”

  Jackson stared at him as if he couldn’t even respond. Tanner’s heart pounded awaiting his answer.

  “Well, hot damn. About time you came to your senses.”

  “Me? You’re the one who’s been surly.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe, but hell, I’d like nothing better, but you heard her. She needs a job and there aren’t any good ones here.”

  Tanner couldn’t believe his friend. “So she’s turned your life upside down, too?”

  “Upside down, inside out, and just plain made me more ornery than Samson and Darth Vader put together. I didn’t mention anything because you were so caught up with Cody.”

  Tanner felt lighter than he had in days. “Then we need to find her a job.”

  Jackson dragged a hand down his jaw. “How are we going to do that? She’s looked.”

  “Why don’t we talk with the other ranchers around here? See if we can’t cobble a job together. Maybe Phil Donaldson can use her on Mondays, Brad Smithers on Tuesdays, and so forth.”

  Jackson leaned back in his chair, his gaze bouncing all over the place. He tapped the table. “What about Dr. Hunt?”

  Tanner shook his head. “He’s been the town’s vet for close to thirty years.”

  “The guy is older than Methuselah. I bet he’d love an assistant. I heard his arthritis has been acting up.”

  Tanner smiled. “You might be right. First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll speak with him and the other ranchers.”

  For the first time since Hailey’s departure, Jackson smiled.

  * * * *

  On Tuesday evening, more than a week after her job at the Baldwin ranch had ended, Hailey’s phone rang. Her mom was taking the dinner dishes out of the dishwasher, and the clanking of the plates would make hearing next to impossible. She tapped her mom on the shoulder and waved her phone. “I’ve got to take this.”

  The caller ID said TripBar. The name wasn’t familiar, but then again she’d apply to about ten large ranches, and she prayed this was a job offer.

  “Hello?” She walked toward her room.

  “Dr. Hunter?”

  “Yes?” Her pulse raced.

  “This is Harold Avery from Triple Bar Ranch outside of Boise, Idaho.”

  Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. It took some effort even to walk to her bed and sit down. “Yes?”

  “I received your resume about the veterinary position.”

  “That’s great.” Are you going to offer me a job?

  “I have a proposition for you. There is a group of ranchers, about ten strong, who have decided to hire one big animal vet to work for them exclusively. The pay is negotiable, but you won’t be disappointed.”

  Oh, my God. This was a real offer—one that would pay her bills. “When would you need me to start?” She wanted to be able visit her men at least twice more.

  “Now that’s where we have a problem. We’ve looked at several candidates, but they are all in the middle of other contracts.”

  So that was why they were asking a new vet. Everyone else was busy. “I see.”

  “If you can be here in two days, the job is yours.” That would be Thursday, the same day as Jackson’s father’s cancer surgery. She’d planned on surprising him and being there for him. Damn.

  Voices sounded in the background as if Mr. Avery was with other ranchers anxiously awaiting her answer. Was she ready to make the commitment of moving to another state? The word commitment rankled. Neither Tanner nor Jackson had even once suggested they wanted a family with her, just that they wanted her to be with them. She knew they couldn’t offer her a full-time job, but if they’d mentioned the words marriage and children she might have been willing to abandon her career for kids of her own.

  “Dr. Hunter?”

  Oh, shit. “Yes. I’ll be there. No problem.”

  “Great. I’ll email you directions.”

  “I look forward to working with you, Mr. Avery.” She disconnected and did a little victory dance until she realized what this really meant—she wouldn’t see her men or Cody again, or at least not for a long time.

  Her heart broke all over again, and she tossed herself on the bed. The emotional upheaval of the last few days finally caught up with her, and the tears flowed. She buried her head in her pillow and let the frustration bleed out of her. She kept telling herself that taking the job was the right thing to do, that Cody would forget her soon, and that Tanner and Jackson would find someone else to take her place.

  “Hailey?” Her mom knocked on the door. “Are you okay?”

  She swiped the tears from her cheeks. “Yes. I’m getting ready to take a shower. I’ll be out shortly.”

  “Okay, dear.”

  She undressed and turned on the hot water needing to rinse the tears away. Was she being stupid? Was she giving up the best thing in her life because she had to pay back school loans? Could she be happy working part-time for the Baldwins and always wondering what she meant to them? Aargh.

  She stepped under the hot water, hoping it would bring some clarity. Working at several different ranches was a dream come true. Boise was only six hours away. She could drive back once a month and see them. Right?

  That will never be enough and you know it.

  After standing in the shower for twenty minutes, the water cooled. She shut off the valve, dried off, and dressed in her pajamas. Tomorrow she’d have to pack. The big question was would she call the men before she left for Idaho or after she arrived?

  * * * *

  Hailey had spent many hours Tuesday night packing. It was hard to decide what she absolutely needed to bring with her.

  “Sweetheart, you’re only a short drive away. Next time you come home, you can pick up more of your stuff.”

  Her mom always was the logical one, but no one considered a six-hour drive a short hop. She’d booked an extended-stay room for two weeks, figuring in that time she could find a place to rent. Then she’d have to buy furniture. Ugh. Being at school and then living at home had made life much simpler. But she was thirty-four and needed to play adult sometime.

  On Wednesday morning, she hugged her mom and dad good-bye.

  “Call when you get to Boise. We’ll be worried until we know you’re safe.”

  Before she broke down again, she slid into her car and drove away. She’d programmed her destination in her cell phone so she wouldn’t get lost. The best thing was that she was heading south, away from Sanctuary. If she had to pass through that town, she’d break down and see her men one more time. Their kisses would lead to making love, and then she’d never leave.

  Hailey tried to enjoy the pretty scenery, but the beauty escaped her. This was what she wanted, what she’d been programmed to do since she was a little girl, so why did it sadden her so much?

  This morning when she had been finalizing her trip, she’d told her mom all about Tanner, Jackson, and Cody. While Mom didn’t tell her what to do, she’d urged Hailey to think long and hard about giving up something so wonderful as a man’s love—or in this case two men’s love. The notion these two men came with a built-in family made it extra special in her mom’s eyes.

  When Hailey asked if the bank would be willing to forgive her bank loan, even her mom agreed they would not. So here she was on her way to start her new life. Alone.

  It was close to dinnertime when she arrived at the hotel. After she checked in, she called her mom just to tell her she had arrived
safely. She so wanted to call Tanner and Jackson just to hear their voices, but she feared it would only make things worse.

  Right before she went to bed, she got a text message from Tanner. It said, We miss you.

  The urge to crawl back in her car and drive all night to Sanctuary almost won, but she’d come this far, and she couldn’t turn back now. She did answer the text saying she’d be thinking of Mr. Baldwin tomorrow and to let her know how the operation went. Then she turned off her phone, fearing one of them would call and the tears would return.

  She unpacked and then asked the front desk for a recommendation of a place to eat. There was a Waffle House right down the street they said. That worked for her. Because there was still a bit of daylight left and the streets were well lit, she decided to walk. Hopefully, the fresh air would clear her head.

  It didn’t.

  The chocolate chip waffle, however, did elevate her dour mood, but she was about six hours away from being happy. Once she finished her meal, she headed back to the hotel. On her way, she passed a liquor store where she purchased a bottle of wine. Tonight she wanted to take a nice hot bath and have a glass of vino. It was just what the doctor ordered.

  * * * *

  The next morning, after a restless night, Hailey dressed in her usual vet gear not knowing if she’d be touring the barns or just meeting the men she’d be working for. Mr. Avery had called her earlier that morning and told her to meet him at his ranch. The directions were quite straightforward and she said she’d have no problem finding the place.

  As she drove under the metal awning announcing the Triple Bar Ranch, she took in the spread. He said he owned ten thousand acres. Not only was the acreage impressive, the home was equally grand. It was a huge, white, two-story structure with a wraparound porch in front. She had to admit the place looked inviting if not a bit ostentatious. She parked and knocked on the front door.

  A man answered. He was closer to sixty than fifty with thinning gray hair and sharp blue eyes. He appeared fit as if he’d spent his entire life on a horse working his ranch. “I’m Harold Avery. Welcome to Triple Bar. Come in and let me introduce you to a few of the other ranchers.”