Mike wouldn’t be surprised if they told him they were leaving Montana for good. His dad didn’t need to be out in the cold dawn hours feeding the animals, what with his arthritis. Mike had taken over most of the chores, although his dad still managed to ride his old chestnut during the warmer months.
Chip walked out of the barn just as Mike rode up. “Hey, your mom was looking for you.” Chip glanced toward the house. “I think she wanted to catch you outside. I can take Dude.”
“Thanks.” Mike dismounted, wondering why the secrecy. “Whose truck?”
“Some old guy named Lawrence. I don’t know him, but I seen him before...over by Twin Creeks.”
“Ah.” Mike had a bad feeling Lawrence was here to speak with him. “What are you still doing here? I figured you’d be at the Watering Hole by now.”
Snorting, he took the reins. “I ain’t setting foot in that place ever again. Those friggin’ pool sharks from the Circle K hustled me out of fifty bucks and a round of beer.”
“Never again, huh?”
Chip shrugged. “Or until next payday,” he said, chuckling. “Gotta win my money back so I can buy my girl a ring. Hey, I heard you’re pretty good.”
“I don’t know who told you that. I hold my own, but that’s it.”
“If you aren’t doing anything tomorrow night, how about meeting me at the Full Moon? Maybe give me a few pointers? I’m buying.”
Mike laughed. “You just said you were staying away from the game.”
“Not from pool, just those Circle K crooks. And they stick to the Watering Hole.”
Mike hadn’t had a night out in a while. Probably do him some good. Especially with his folks gone. The house was going to be too quiet for the first few days. “Yeah, I just might do that. I’ll even spring for the beer.”
“Sweet.” Chip tugged on the reins. “Come on, boy. I see he let you go swimming again.”
Mike took off his Stetson and ran a hand through his hair as he turned toward the house. Before he could take another step, he heard the kitchen door squeak open. Time to oil the hinges again. The old log-and-stone house, which had been built by his granddad, needed some attention. Thankfully, Mike had the money to make the more urgent repairs over the slower winter months.
“Hey, Mom. Chip said you—”
She motioned for him to keep his voice down as she hurried toward him wearing her usual jeans and flannel shirt but no jacket. He was a good fifteen yards from the house and the windows were all shut tight. No one inside would overhear them. But he wasn’t going to argue, if she’d even give him a second to get a word in.
At sixty-three years young and only five foot two, Rosemary Burnett was trim and energetic, and boy could she move when she put her mind to it. Probably didn’t realize she was still wearing her fuzzy pink house slippers.
After a quick glance over her shoulder, she veered left and gestured for him to follow her to the barn.
They met just inside, out of view. “What’s all the cloak-and-dagger about?”
“Lawrence Peabody is here,” she said, her face flushed.
“Okay.”
“Claims he heard we’re leaving in the morning and stopped to say goodbye. Now, when has that stingy old goat ever given your dad and me a second thought? Huh?”
Mike couldn’t argue there.
“First thing out of his mouth was to ask where you were and what time you’d be back.” She ducked her head to look past him toward the house. “If I were you, I’d climb right back on Dude and take off.”
Mike smiled. The thought had occurred to him. “Maybe it’s not what we think.”
“Of course it is, Michael. Didn’t you hear? He’s expanding his sundry store over in Twin Creeks, and there’s talk he’s buying the old drive-through in Blackfoot Falls and making it into a restaurant. I bet you dollars to doughnuts he wants you to do carpentry work for him.”
“If he asks, I’ll explain I’m too busy.”
She reached up and cradled his left cheek with a motherly hand. “Will you, honey?”
“Winter might be a slow time, but I’ve got a lot of repairs to make around the house and barn.”
“I understand why it’s hard for you to say no to some of these folks. Lord knows what we would’ve done without the money you brought in during those lean years. Most folks could’ve waited to get their repairs done, but they called out of the kindness of their hearts. We both know Lawrence Peabody wasn’t one of them.”
“I haven’t forgotten.” He meant it. Mike felt no obligation to the man who had taken advantage of the Burnetts’ situation.
Like most everyone in the ranching community, Mike and his family had struggled for a while. The recession had hit the whole country hard. But friends and neighbors had really stepped up, hiring him to do anything from minor repairs to remodeling work on kitchens.
Only one person had haggled him down to a ridiculously low price: Lawrence Peabody. So, no, Mike wasn’t about to do any more work for the man.
Ultimately the family and the ranch had survived, and they were doing well now. They’d increased the herd to seven hundred head, which kept him damn busy. In fact, he’d decided to talk to his dad about offering Chip full-time work. They could afford it now and still be able to hire seasonal help.
“Well, I’d better hurry back inside before Lawrence catches on that I warned you.” She started to leave, noticed her house slippers and sighed. “I’ll chase him out in a bit. We still have some packing to do.”
“No need to do anything on my account. I have no problem telling him no. What time are you leaving tomorrow?”
“Before the rooster crows. You know your father.” She took a few steps and stopped. “I’m sorry we’re leaving you here alone for Thanksgiving, Michael. I really—”
“Don’t give it another thought. The cold is getting harder on Dad. I’m glad you’re leaving now.” It seemed like the perfect time to ask if she thought they might do better living in a warmer climate. But the sad smile that lifted the corners of her mouth stopped him.
“You should come to Florida for Christmas. Your sister and the kids miss you. Little Jared is getting so big, you won’t believe it when you see him.”
“Well, I’ve got fences to mend before I can even get to the house repairs—”
“It’s not fair, son.” She blinked, tears bringing a sheen to her eyes. “So much of the burden has rested on your shoulders. But I don’t know what to do about it.”
“Come on, Mom.” He put an arm around her, aware that he’d just gotten his answer. “I wouldn’t want to be anyplace else but right here. I love ranching, you know that.”
“Good thing. I’m just plain too old to have more sons,” she said with that wry sense of humor they shared.
Mike laughed. “Look, about Florida, we’ll see. I just might surprise you.”
“Better yet, I wish you’d find a girl,” she said. “A nice young woman who understands what it means to live on a ranch and work outside come rain or shine.” She squinted at him. “Oh, don’t you give me that look. I know you want that, too.”
He didn’t bother to deny it. Now that things had settled back to normal and he could actually make a decent living, he figured it was time to find the right woman. Didn’t mean he’d hold his breath, though.
Chapter Two
The Full Moon Saloon looked like the place to be. Only seven thirty on a weeknight and it was hopping. Mostly locals, from what Savannah could tell as she and Ron searched for a table.
Nina was already sitting at the bar and being chatted up by a cowboy. She didn’t look too put out by the attention, or by the loud jukebox blaring country music several feet from her. Though if it drowned Ron out, Savannah wouldn’t complain. They’d been in town only one day, and she’d had it with him. Maybe it was time for them to have a big public argument s
o she could call off the engagement. Send him back to Denver without anyone at the motel getting too nosy.
Just thinking of the possibility was enough to cheer her up. In fact, she’d misjudged the scope of the job. They’d never had a small town client before, and it really didn’t require three people. He’d claimed he wanted a shorter assignment. Maybe she could find a way to justify sending him back early.
The place hadn’t grown much. To an isolated teenage girl, Blackfoot Falls had seemed much bigger and more exciting. And maybe it had shone a little brighter years ago. But so many shops on Main Street had closed during the economic crunch. The mayor wanted to give reluctant would-be shop owners a little boost, convince them it was time to take another chance.
“Check it out,” Ron said, nodding at the stage and dance floor. “I wonder if they do the hokey pokey here. I bet they give lessons.”
“Don’t be an ass,” she muttered and then hurried to a table that had just been vacated.
She took the seat that gave her a good view of the bar and then kicked the leg of the other chair so Ron wouldn’t sit too close to her. Of course, he just dragged it closer.
“Sit across from me,” she said, just as the waitress squeezed through behind him. “You’re in the way.”
“We’re supposed to be engaged.”
Savannah glared at him, even though the woman probably hadn’t paid any attention at all. “You need to watch it.”
“Oh, I am.” Grinning, he slid his arm along the back of her chair. “I like that blouse. Did you wear it for me?”
So annoyed with him that she’d forgotten what she was wearing, she glanced down at the silky denim-like shirt. A gap offered a small peek of her pink bra. Sighing, she adjusted it, using the opportunity to dig her elbow into Ron’s ribs.
He just laughed. “Shouldn’t we be holding hands and making out or something?”
“Yeah, why don’t you try it?”
“What’s up with you, anyway?” He leaned back to look at her. “Every single woman in the office would go out with me in a minute. But not you, Miss High-and-Mighty.”
Unbelievable. “Why haven’t you gotten fired yet?” Savannah studied him. “That’s not a rhetorical question. I honestly want to know how you’ve managed to keep your job.”
“The clients love me.”
“Maybe,” she said grudgingly. “But don’t be so sure about the women in the office.”
His frown of disbelief was cut short when his phone signaled a text. Fine with her. She checked her own phone then scooted her chair several inches over and glanced around.
A few cowboys were playing pool in the back and trying to impress a group of women she guessed were from the Sundance dude ranch. She’d learned all about the place while getting a mani-pedi at the Cut and Curl earlier that day. Which was exactly what she’d hoped for. Even though she’d done her research and the mayor had given her a rundown, nothing beat the local beauty shop for getting the real feel of a town.
It had surprised Savannah that the McAllister family, who owned the Sundance, had gone the dude ranch route, since they were in the business of raising cattle. But the new venture had been wildly successful. So another ranch owner had followed their lead, while two smaller operations were thinking of opening B & Bs.
The waitress stopped at the table just as Ron put his phone away. “Sorry, folks. Hope you haven’t waited too long,” the brunette said with a friendly smile. “What can I get you?”
“Do you have champagne?”
“Oh, God, Ron, would you—” Savannah cut herself short when the woman glanced at her.
“Well, excuse me for wanting to toast my bride-to-be.” Ron shrugged, looking to the waitress for sympathy.
“Oh, that’s so sweet,” she said. “I’m sorry, we don’t have champagne. We do carry a couple of decent wines, though.”
“You’re right. That was very sweet.” Savannah forced a smile and touched Ron’s hand. “I’ll take a beer. Whatever you have on tap.”
The woman nodded and looked at Ron.
“Be right back,” Savannah said, withdrawing her hand and making a break for it before he could say anything.
She dug several bills out of her jeans pocket to get some change then leaned on the bar near the jukebox while she waited for the bartender to finish pouring a line of shots. Another hour with Ron and she was going to be ordering some of that tequila herself.
Nina was two bar stools away, still laughing it up with the long-haired cowboy. When she noticed Savannah, she said something to the guy, and he disappeared. Left his mug of beer, though, so he couldn’t have gone too far.
When Nina gave her a questioning look, Savannah realized her mistake. She’d only wanted to get away from Ron and to browse the jukebox selections. Hopefully find something that wasn’t country. But now Nina thought Savannah was trying to get her attention.
The bartender glanced over at her. “Be with you in a minute,” she called out from halfway down the bar.
“Take your time,” Savannah replied. “And I mean that with all my heart.” She smiled at Nina. “My fiancé is driving me nuts. So I’m ditching him for a while.”
“Ah.” Nina dialed down her grin. “Well, if you’re only at the engagement stage, there’s still time.”
“Don’t I wish.”
“My heart goes out to you.”
“Thanks.” Savannah laughed and peered down the row of customers sitting on the stools. Mostly cowboys in their twenties and thirties. Nobody she recognized, but she really didn’t expect to see anyone she would remember. Or who would remember her.
Earlier, at the diner, she’d bumped into an older woman who looked familiar, and that had put Savannah on edge. But it was just nerves, which she suspected had more to do with Ron and how he seemed to be shadowing her every move.
“Are you visiting?” Nina asked, just as the bartender was approaching.
Savannah nodded. “You?”
“Yep. I’m from Nebraska. On my way to Glacier National Park.”
“Traveling alone?” Savannah asked conversationally.
“Yep.”
The bartender smiled at Savannah. “What can I get you?”
“Change for the jukebox, please.”
“You got it.” She opened the register and glanced at the dollar bills Savannah laid on the counter before she started digging out quarters. “Couldn’t help overhearing,” she said. “For what it’s worth, men outnumber women two to one in this county.”
“Wow.” Nina’s eyes lit up. “Good to know.”
“Yeah, lucky you. Hey, my fiancé is pretty good-looking,” Savannah said, as the bartender dropped the coins in her palm. “I’ll trade you.”
Both women grinned.
A waitress called out, “Mallory,” and the blonde bartender gave her a nod. “You guys need anything else, let me know,” she said, slapping the bar before heading off.
“You knew that, didn’t you?” Savannah murmured. “That’s why you stuck me with Ron.”
Nina laughed. “Nope. That switch was all his idea.”
Savannah sighed. Even so, Nina should’ve cleared it with her first. “I’d better get back before he comes over and bothers me.”
She swung around and ran right into a wall of hard, solid male. Her breath left her in a whoosh, and she stumbled back against the bar with a fair amount of force.
A hand shot out to steady her. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Are you okay?”
“Fine.” She brushed the hair away from her warm cheeks. The bar had to be made of solid oak. She’d hit it at an odd angle, and it would probably leave a bruise, but she was more embarrassed than anything else.
“Did I hurt you?” He eased his grip on her arm and lowered his hand.
“It wasn’t your fault, it was mine.” She finally looked up at his face.
Classically handsome. Dark hair, cut short. Dark eyes. Tall...
Oh, God. She knew him.
Mike something. His family had owned a ranch about three miles from where she’d lived in that run-down cabin. They hadn’t actually spoken...he was older, but he’d always waved when he saw her walking to the creek, where she used to hide out, anxious to get away from her parents’ endless arguments until her dad had finally left.
One time, Mike had even offered her a ride in his truck. Savannah had always had a book with her. That day, though, she’d been carrying three heavy hardbacks and enough snacks to last her a week. Just in case she had gotten brave enough to run away. It was the only time she’d seen him up close. She remembered because she’d thought he had kind eyes.
Burnett. That was his last name.
Nina touched her arm. “Are you okay?” she asked, clearly concerned.
“What?” Savannah blinked at her. “Yes, I’m fine.” Her gaze went back to Mike. “How about you?”
His mouth quirked up a little at the corners. “Right as rain.”
“Good. Okay.” She swallowed at the way he was staring at her. Didn’t mean he recognized her. He probably just thought she was some crazy woman. “Again, I’m so sorry,” she said, stepping around him and then hurrying to the table.
“What the hell was that about?” Ron asked.
“Nothing. I wasn’t paying attention and plowed into that guy.”
Ron frowned. “So why were you staring at each other?”
“I—I don’t know. I was in shock.” She touched her side, which barely hurt. “Plus I think I bruised my ribs.”
“Want me to have a look?”
“Gee, how kind of you to offer.” She turned away from his boorish grin. And sneaked another peek at Mike.
He picked up a mug of beer the bartender had just slid over to him and then carried it into the back room. Even if Savannah hadn’t seen him up close, she would’ve recognized his loose, easy stride. It was pretty amazing, the things that had stuck with her. The smell of the first day at the public school. The sound of the creek near the cabin. The way the kids had stared at her that awful day. And the kindness of her neighbor.
Her Cowboy Reunion Page 2