by Mindy Neff
Now that Linc thought about it, the garden was pretty much the only thing about this place that was recognizable from what it had been before. That and the abandoned shed-row stable over by the gravel turnoff. Although that road was the shortest route to the highway, Linc never used it.
He reached back inside the Mustang, switched the ignition key to Auxiliary. Hoping Tracy Lynn wouldn’t notice, he turned down the heater.
A feminine shriek pierced the air. He rose up so fast, he cracked his head on the roof.
Arms flailing, Tracy Lynn darted off the porch as Sunny doubled over laughing.
“It’s only a little spiderweb, Tracy Lynn,” Sunny called.
Linc’s heartbeat settled and he grinned, watching as she ran straight for the car.
“I hate spiders! Ew!” She slapped at her hair and her arms, then glared at Linc. “And stop laughing at me, you goon. It wouldn’t hurt you to sweep your porch once in a while.”
Instead of jumping in the car as he’d expected, she raced around to his side, nearly knocking him over.
“Is anything in my hair?”
“Babe—“
“Just look! Hurry.” She shivered and danced in place. “If you laugh, I’ll make you walk home.”
“I’m shaking already.”
With the car door open, there was enough light for him to see that no insects were hitching a free ride. But he combed his fingers through her hair, anyway, lightly massaged her scalp, brushed at the backside of her sweater, was about to do the front…
His body responded accordingly, and if there’d been a bench seat in that Mustang instead of buckets and a center console, he probably would have laid her down and conducted an entirely different kind of inspection. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her, holding her flush against his aching body.
She grabbed for his shoulders. “Linc! What are you doing?”
“Squashing spiders.”
“Squa—?” She looked down at him, then giggled.
The uncharacteristic sound made him smile. “I didn’t think it would be a good idea to pat down the front of your sweater with Sunny still standing at the door.”
“Probably not. Why don’t you holler at her and tell her to go inside?”
“Babe. I’m not putting my hands anywhere near the front of your sweater.”
She giggled again, charming him. “That’s not what I meant!”
“Good, because that’s surely not acceptable behavior between pals.” He smiled and just looked at her for the pure pleasure of it.
“I bet you didn’t realize what you were getting into when you agreed to come with me today,” she said. “I hope I didn’t keep you away from any pressing work.”
“If I hadn’t been able to spare the time, I wouldn’t have gone.” Liar. “Besides, I’ve hired several more employees this past week. And if you’ll turn my neck loose, maybe we’ll get this pizza delivered before Hardy Pederson goes to bed—in which case, I’ll have an opportunity to hire one more.”
Instead of letting go, her arms tightened, her elated smile making his knees go weak.
“You’d give Hardy a job without ever meeting him?”
“I imagine I’ll meet him when we get there, babe.”
She tugged on his hair. “You know what I mean.”
“If he’s looking for work, I can use the help. I figure if Pederson’s someone you care enough to worry about, then he comes with a fine recommendation.”
“You are a fabulous man.” She leaned in and kissed him, catching him off guard. It was a quick kiss, one of excitement and gratitude, and before his brain could signal his mouth to participate, she’d pulled back, her smile beaming.
He knew damned well he was playing with fire, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. “Do that again,” he said. “A little slower.”
Her lips parted and she gazed at him as though he’d just offered her a free trip to Paris. Without hesitation, she brought her mouth to his again.
His mind went blank and his body came alive as her tongue swept his lips, teasing, driving him mad. She kissed him like a woman utterly sure of her femininity and her effect on a man. He felt the hot edge of her hunger as she moaned deep in her throat, poured herself into a kiss that left him numb and shaking.
He plunged his fingers into her hair, angled her head, took everything she offered and gave back in kind. When at last she pulled away, she looked as stunned as he felt.
“Well.” She cleared her throat. “I believe that went a little further than just pals.”
He lowered her to the ground. He was an idiot to torture himself—and Tracy Lynn—this way. They’d agreed to stay together through the holidays, yet it could end as soon as tomorrow.
“I suppose we should make tracks,” he said, his voice huskier than usual. “Weren’t you planning to stop by the hospital tonight and see your dad?”
“Darn it! I told you I get caught up and forget stuff. Where’s my cell phone?” She climbed into the car and crawled across the front seat, giving him a perfect view of her derriere in body-hugging black slacks. He groaned and looked skyward, tracking a jetliner.
“Room 314, please.”
Linc looked down, caught the sparkle of the diamonds on her wedding band, twisted the horseshoe ring on his own finger. She’d settled sideways in the driver’s bucket seat, her legs dangling close to where he stood by the open passenger-side door.
“Hey, Daddy. It’s me. You doing okay?…Really? What did the doctor say?…Uh-huh…Uhhuh…Are you sure?…Yes, I know you’ll need help when you get home. I’ll…”
Linc braced himself. He wished he wasn’t hearing this conversation. But the same way a witness at a gnarly crash couldn’t look away, he couldn’t stop himself from listening.
“Ellie?…But I thought—Oh…Well, I—Yes…Daddy, I was planning to—Okay, I’ll be there to pick you up in the morning. Night…Love you, too.”
She disconnected and looked up at him. “Well, that’s pretty weird.”
He raised his brows, inviting her to elaborate.
“Ellie’s taking a leave of absence from the hospital. I guess Daddy talked her into coming to work for him—to take care of him until he’s on his feet. He said he didn’t want to intrude on our marriage since it’s so new.”
“He hasn’t mentioned this before now?” Linc couldn’t believe his heart was still beating. He’d been half expecting her to announce she was moving back in with her father.
“Not a word. And I tell you, I’ve been a wreck worrying about the whole thing. He’s a terrible patient and he’s been hounding the doctors to let him go home. I think it’s too soon—he still gets dizzy when he sits up. I’d be scared to death if I had to be responsible for his health at this point.”
“Didn’t you say you took care of your mom?”
“That was different. Daddy needs someone who can keep him alive until his body’s strong enough to take over. I knew Mama was dying. Taking care of her was mostly making sure she was as comfortable as possible, just being there for her…until the end.” She pulled her lips between her teeth, her eyes filling.
Linc knelt next to the car, not knowing what to say. He pinched the crease of her pants, rubbed the fabric between his fingers, waited.
“Sorry.” She gave a watery laugh. “It’s been ten years, but it still sneaks up on me.”
“No need to apologize. My mom’s been gone almost fifteen years, and I miss her every day.”
Tracy Lynn reached out and cupped his cheek. “Oh, Linc. I wish things had been different. That I could’ve been there for you then.”
There was a time when he would have considered her words merely an empty platitude, read them as pity. But after watching her this past week, getting to know her, learning her deeper layers, seeing her genuine caring today at the seniors’ center, he knew she spoke from her heart.
TRACY LYNN LOOKED OUT the window and saw Sunny’s Suburban pulling up to the back entrance of the house. She gri
nned when she noticed the Christmas wreath attached to the SUV’s grill. Lord, she could hardly believe it was already December.
These past two weeks since her father had been released from the hospital, she and Linc had resumed their just-friends status, despite the kiss out by Jack’s house and the obviously still-hot chemistry between them. The time since had been a whirlwind of shopping, decisions and deliveries.
Furnishing and accessorizing a house this large was a big job. Even she had cringed at the size of the bills coming in.
Linc never batted an eyelash, though. As she’d hoped, it was the simple things he was most impressed with: the display case she’d filled with his carvings; and the framed photo of the first mare he’d bought, the horse that had started him on the road to success.
She opened the back door just as Sunny was about to knock. “Hey, girl. What are you doing over in this neck of the woods?”
“Linc phoned and asked me to come over and check out a couple of horses he’s bringing in. He said one of them is in pretty bad shape.”
“Oh, no. Now I’m glad I didn’t go with him. He asked me last week, but Ellie called and said she had personal business to tend to today, so I had to take Daddy to a doctor’s appointment.”
“It probably worked out better for Jack to go with him, anyway, since they ended up needing both horse trailers.” Sunny rubbed a leaf on the peace lily that rested on the granite breakfast bar, her eyes roaming over every corner of the room.
“Tracy Lynn, this place is gorgeous! I can hardly believe this is the same house I was in—what has it been? Three weeks ago?”
“Mmm-hmm.” She twisted the wedding ring on her finger.
Out of habit—and pride—Tracy Lynn glanced around the room where beautiful Aubusson and Persian rugs dressed up the hardwood floors, pulling together groupings of sofas and chairs that invited guests to cozy up and chat. The predominantly neutral colors, along with the mix of both antique and traditional furniture, gave the house a restful, welcoming air, with subtle reds and pale gold accents lending a hint of spice.
“I knew you’d do a fabulous job,” Sunny said. “Especially after seeing what you did with Jack’s house before I came along.”
“All I can say is thank goodness I got to it before you did. You’d have probably tacked up a picture of a cow on the wall and called it good.”
Sunny laughed. “I may not have any fashion and decorating sense, but I’ve yet to meet an animal I can’t diagnose and tend to. Hopefully, this mare Linc’s bringing home won’t ruin my stellar reputation.”
“Is the horse that bad?”
“I talked to Jack after Linc phoned. He said Miss Helen—that’s the horse—is pretty much just skin and bones.”
“Oh, then it’s a doubly good thing I wasn’t there. I’d have torn up creation if I saw someone trying to pawn off an animal they hadn’t taken care of. Can you imagine what Linc would have done if I’d started a brawl?”
“According to Jack, your husband did just that.”
“He got in a fight?”
“Yep. I guess when he saw some sleazebag whipping a buckskin mare, his civilized manners took a hike and he laid the guy out in one punch.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No. Then he shoved a hundred-dollar bill in the man’s mouth and took the horse.”
“Only a hundred dollars for a horse? Isn’t that awfully cheap? I mean, what if the guy claims he was forced into selling at that price?”
“Oh, I doubt it. Men like that are cowards. Besides, Jack thinks Linc paid more than a horse in Miss Helen’s condition is worth. The mare’s been badly neglected, and they’re not even sure she’ll live.”
“Oh, my God.”
Sunny put a hand on Tracy Lynn’s arm. “It’s sad, but if that’s the case, Miss Helen is in the very best place she can be. Between Linc and me, we can make sure she goes with dignity and without pain.”
“Add my name to yours and Linc’s,” Tracy Lynn said. She rushed over to the window. “I hear Linc’s truck.” Two pickups hauling horse trailers pulled up next to the stable.
“I better get my gear and head out there,” Sunny said.
Tracy Lynn decided she’d tag along.
She didn’t know enough about horses to be of any help, but she could certainly lend moral support.
And she was darn good at raising awareness for causes. Linc might have used his brawn to make a point. She would use her brain and her many contacts if it turned out the horse was in as bad a shape as Sunny indicated.
Deliberately harming an animal was a punishable offense. If Linc hadn’t already taken care of the matter, she’d make sure Miss Helen’s vile ex-owner was in jail by sundown.
Chapter Eleven
Linc checked his side mirrors as he backed the horse trailer close to the barn.
He flexed his hand on the steering wheel. His knuckles hurt like a son of a gun. Satisfaction and disgust warred within him over plowing his fist into the scumbag horse owner’s face.
That tiny town in the Hill Country seemed an unlikely place to find a good horse sale, but it had one of the best reputations for quality stock. Which was why Linc had been surprised by the condition of the buckskin. Horses like that usually ended up at Saturday-night everything-goes sales.
The bastard who’d owned Miss Helen had been lucky in two respects: first, he’d stayed down after the first punch; second, Jack had been there, stepping in as the voice of reason, reminding Linc that there was an animal in need. Otherwise, the red haze blinding Linc’s vision might not have lifted until the miserable excuse for a human being was nothing more than a bloody smear in the dirt.
And that scared the hell out of him.
He’d been protecting an animal, yes, but it was the rage inside him that still bothered him, the loss of control.
He drew in a calming breath. It had taken more than an hour to coax the mare into the trailer. If he tried to unload her now with anger radiating off him, he’d never succeed without one of them getting hurt.
As he got out of the truck and made his way back to the trailer, he saw Tracy Lynn standing about twenty feet away. She wore a bright yellow sweater, jeans and boots—nothing out of the ordinary—yet she made the casual ranch attire appear fancy. Like a champion Thoroughbred, Tracy Lynn’s breeding clearly showed.
She was so obviously born to regal settings, he couldn’t imagine her ever getting used to the dusty, earthy environment of a working ranch.
He dragged his attention away from Tracy Lynn as Sunny walked up to him. Jack joined them a moment later.
“Hey, sugar bear,” Jack said, bending down to give his wife a kiss. Both Linc and Jack towered over the five-foot-three veterinarian—and both had the self-preservation not to comment on her lack of height. Riled up, or around animals, the woman could appear six feet tall.
“Hey there, yourself.” Sunny turned to Linc. “I hear y’all brought home a little bit more than that prize-winning stallion you went after.”
“Yeah.” Linc made an effort not to grind his back teeth. “Two sway-back geldings no one wanted to bid on—both Appaloosas—and the buckskin mare Jack called you about.” He passed Sunny the veterinarian reports he’d received on each of the horses. “I want to unload the mare first so you can have a look at her.”
Feeling somewhat out of the loop, Tracy Lynn stood back while Linc, Jack and Sunny discussed the horses. She couldn’t bring herself to move closer. She’d seen nervous horses being unloaded from trailers before, and the process didn’t always go smoothly. The image of getting sandwiched between the barn wall and a high-strung horse’s hindquarters still made her insides tremble.
Several of Linc’s employees came out to lend a hand, including Hardy Pederson, who waved at her. Everyone stood clear, though, as Linc backed the first horse out of the trailer.
“Oh, my gosh,” she whispered. Miss Helen was the color of the fringed buckskin jacket Tracy Lynn had bought on a whim and only worn once. Her
head hung low, as if she didn’t have the strength to hold it up. Judging by the ribs sticking out of her sides, it was a wonder the mare had the energy to even stay on her feet. The poor thing had been starved half to death.
Apparently Miss Helen decided that exiting her transport was as much exertion as she was willing to expend, because once she stopped, no amount of coaxing on Linc’s part would get her to budge. Obviously mindful of her condition, he didn’t attempt to use force. Sunny stepped in to assist, but she wasn’t having any luck, either.
Just watching their efforts caused Tracy Lynn’s stomach muscles to tense. She was practically leaning forward in anticipation, mentally taking the forward step for the horse. “Come on, girl.”
As though the mare heard her barely audible words, it swung its head in her direction. Droopy ears, looking more like they belonged on a tired donkey, twitched, then drooped again.
Linc looked over at Tracy Lynn, and so did Sunny. Jack had already gone around to the other side of the trailer.
Why was she suddenly the center of attention? They were staring at her as though she’d been lip-syncing with a pretend microphone in front of a mirror. Or else…She quickly checked behind her to make sure nothing critterlike was sneaking up on her. Other than two dragonflies riding piggyback, the coast was clear.
When she turned back around, Linc and Sunny were still watching her. Linc motioned for her to come join them.
Her palms began to sweat, but she didn’t hesitate.
Miss Helen tracked her movements until Tracy Lynn stopped next to Linc. “What’s wrong with her?” she asked.
“It’s hard to tell. It seems as though her spirit’s broken. She used to be a runner, and from what I could find out about her, she’s been stabled for a long time.”
“Looks to me like she’s been kept in solitary confinement and denied food. Why in the world would someone treat an animal this way?”
“Who knows? Why do some parents mistreat their kids?” His gray-blue eyes turned flinty, but neither his touch on the horse nor his tone betrayed the inner emotion. “Listen, babe. I know you’re not wholly comfortable around horses, but for some reason, this one seems to be responding to you.”