by R. C. Ryan
“A really nice guy. I don’t know why, but I’d been expecting to have to answer a hundred questions before getting started on rebuilding.”
“Don’t worry,” Quinn said with a laugh. “I’m sure you’ll be sick of all the questions before it’s over.”
As they started along the highway he said, “Now, about that… detour we were talking about earlier.”
She made a great show of checking her watch before saying, “Darn. It’s too close to dinnertime. If we don’t speed things up, we’ll risk Phoebe’s wrath.”
“I’m willing to make the supreme sacrifice.”
She laughed. “You may be willing, but I’m a houseguest. I don’t dare break any rules or I could find myself out in the cold.”
They were still laughing easily together an hour later as they drove under the arch that proclaimed to all who entered that they’d arrived at the Conway ranch.
After parking the truck in the vehicle barn, Quinn retrieved Cheyenne’s suitcase and they walked side by side toward the back door and up the steps.
Phoebe and Ela were busy at the stove while the family had gathered around the fireplace at the other end of the kitchen, sipping beer and talking about ranch chores.
“Here you are.” Phoebe shot them both a smile when they stepped into the kitchen. When she spotted the suitcase, her smile grew. “I guess that means you’re not ready to leave us yet. I was afraid that once you got home you’d change your mind and decide to tough it out. I hope this means that you’re planning on a much longer stay.”
“I’ll probably be here so long you’ll be sick of me.”
Phoebe laughed. “Weren’t you listening? Ela and I are thrilled to have another female in this house.” She glanced pointedly at the oversize suitcase. “That looks really heavy.”
Cheyenne returned her smile. “I tried to stuff as many things as I could manage in a single trip.”
She turned to Quinn. “I’ll take that upstairs.”
He shook his head and set it aside in a corner of the room. “I’ll haul it up for you later.”
Cole turned from the fireplace. “Have your men started cleaning up from the fire, Cheyenne?”
“They have. And it’s a mess.”
“Fires are never tidy,” Big Jim remarked.
Quinn picked up a tray of drinks and held it toward Cheyenne.
She snagged an iced tea. “The inspector was there. Lyle Worthy. Very nice and very thorough. On the way back we stopped in Paintbrush and I met with the builder you recommended.”
“Rusty? A good man. He’ll give you a fair price, and ride herd on his crew to see that the job’s done right, and on time.”
Quinn helped himself to a longneck. “Rusty’s crew did a great job on our last barn.”
Big Jim nodded. “He brought the job in ahead of schedule, and under budget. It doesn’t get any better’n that.”
Cheyenne relaxed. “That gives me some peace of mind.” She hesitated slightly before addressing Quinn’s grandfather. “I mentioned to Quinn that there are some changes I’d like to make, as long as I’m forced to remodel anyway. And he suggested that I talk to you.”
“About what?”
At Phoebe’s signal they began settling themselves around the table.
“For one thing, I really like the way the floor slopes in the mudroom, toward that built-in drain.”
“And don’t forget the drains in the shelves,” Quinn added.
“Yes.” She nodded. “Those are really clever.”
“Thanks.” The older man looked pleased. “Feel free to use whatever ideas you want.”
“Thanks, Big Jim. But I feel as though I’m stealing from you.”
He looked around the table at his family. “Now I’m beginning to feel like a genius inventor. Maybe I should have patented all my clever ideas.”
“Oh no.” Cole groaned. “After all this flattery, just don’t let your head get so big it won’t fit through the barn door.”
That had the others laughing as they passed platters of roast beef smothered in mushrooms, a bowl of tiny red-skin potatoes, and rolls fresh from the oven.
While the others enjoyed the easy banter, Quinn sat back, aware of something else.
In such a short time Cheyenne had become so comfortable with his family she was able to not only laugh and joke with them but also call his grandfather by name. Big Jim had rolled off her tongue as easily as if she’d been calling him that for a lifetime.
As Quinn watched, he saw the softness that came into Big Jim’s eyes whenever he looked at Cheyenne.
The comfortable feeling, apparently, was mutual.
For some strange reason that Quinn didn’t want to probe too deeply yet, he found that oddly satisfying. It suddenly seemed important that his family like Cheyenne and accept her as one of their own.
Over dinner Cole glanced at the water dripping down the windowpanes. The sunlight reflecting through it created little rainbows across the tile floor.
“If the temperature keeps climbing, the last of the snow could be gone in a week.”
“Wishful thinking,” Big Jim remarked. “I think the only way we’ll ever see the ground again is if we have a huge rainstorm.”
“Careful what you wish for,” Josh teased. “Too much rain before the ice melts and we’ll have flooding everywhere.”
“Wouldn’t be springtime without floods,” Jake muttered. “And as I recall, big bro, we’re always stuck with the ditchdigging, while the old-timers sit high and dry on their machines.”
Big Jim bristled. “Who’re you calling an old-timer?”
“I think he meant you,” Cole said with a wink at Cheyenne. “He certainly didn’t mean me. My hair is barely gray.”
Big Jim touched a hand to his own white hair. “I may have snow on this roof, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still heat in this furnace.”
That had everybody laughing.
“Good one, Big Jim.” Phoebe handed him a platter.
He turned to his youngest grandson. “I’m going to need you up in the hills for a few days, Doctor.”
“Sure thing. Calving?”
He nodded. “Brand and his wranglers were able to keep up with it until now. The birthing’s in full season, and they could use an extra pair of hands. I’d like to leave as early as possible.”
“I can be ready at dawn.”
“Good.” The old man’s eyes widened as Phoebe began cutting slices from a pie mounded with whipped cream. “Is that banana cream?”
She laughed. “Your favorite. I had some ripe bananas, and knew just how I could use them.”
When she handed Cole a skinny slice, he started to frown. Seeing the others watching him, he forced a smile. “I guess a taste is better than nothing.”
“And I have a bowl of sliced bananas to go along with it, instead of ice cream,” Phoebe explained.
He waited until the others were busy eating their dessert before dipping his fork in his son’s whipped cream.
At a sidelong look from Josh he shrugged. “Just reminding myself what it is I’m doing without for the rest of my life.”
“Stop being a martyr, Pa.” Jake’s cheerful voice caused him to wince. “Just think of all the good you’re doing for your heart.”
“I will.” He stared pointedly at the forkful of confection Jake popped into his mouth. “And I’ll remind you of what you’re doing to yours.”
“Your heart has thirty years over mine.”
Cole sat back and smiled. “I’m a patient man. I’ll wait until you catch up with me. Then, when you’re forced to watch your children eating ice cream, I’ll remind you how tasty those carrot sticks are, and how good they are for your tired old heart.”
That had everyone howling.
“On that note,” Phoebe said with her quiet manner, “why don’t we retire to the great room for coffee and other ‘healthy’ beverages.”
They were still laughing as they pushed away from the table and walked t
o the other room.
Two hours later Jake stifled a yawn. “If I’m going to be up at dawn to help with the calving, I need to grab some sleep.”
“I’d better do the same.” Big Jim set aside his empty coffee mug and got to his feet.
The others followed suit.
Cheyenne started to get to her feet.
Seeing her cup half-full, Quinn put a hand on hers. “There’s no rush. We can stay and finish our coffee.”
“All right.” While the others called their good nights, she and Quinn lingered by the fire, watching the flames burn low as they sipped their drinks and talked in low tones.
When the household became silent Cheyenne set aside her empty cup. “I’d better get my suitcase.”
“I’ll get it.” Quinn turned away.
She waited until Quinn returned with her luggage. The two of them climbed the stairs and followed along the hallway to her room.
Once there she opened the door and stood aside to allow Quinn to carry her luggage inside.
He paused in the middle of the room. “Where would you like this?”
“How about here?” She indicated a low bench beside the closet.
He set it aside and turned, nearly bumping into her.
When she took a step back his hand automatically shot out, catching her by the elbow.
“Sorry.”
“No harm done.” She smiled up into his face.
He was smiling when she saw the way his gaze fastened on her mouth. His smile faded, replaced by that fierce look she’d come to recognize.
“Alone at last.”
“Quinn…”
“Shhh.” He touched a finger to her lips. Just a touch, but she felt the heat curl along her spine, sending tiny ripples of pleasure all through her system.
Without a word he lowered his face to hers and kissed her long and slow and deep. On a sigh she wrapped her arms around his waist and gave herself up to the pure pleasure.
His big hands moved along her back, igniting tiny fires wherever they touched. At once the blood in her veins began to heat and flow like molten lava. She could actually feel herself sinking into all that heat, until she wondered that she didn’t just burn to ash.
Quinn lifted his head and framed her face with his hands while he sucked in a breath. “I’ve been wanting to do that for hours.”
She managed a dry laugh. “And here I thought you were having such a good time talking with your family.”
“I don’t remember a single thing we talked about. Every time I looked at you all I could think about was getting you alone.” He ran his hands up and down her arms, his eyes narrowed on her with a look of concentration. “Do you know how good you feel here in my arms?”
“You feel pretty good to me, too.”
He glanced over her head. “That bed looks big enough for two.”
“Or two dozen.”
“I have only two in mind.” He dipped his head and claimed her mouth again.
This time the kiss wasn’t slow and easy. It was hot and hungry, and full of dark promise as his arms gathered her so close she could feel his erratic heartbeat inside her own chest.
Fully engaged, she wrapped her arms around his neck and poured herself into the kiss.
She knew this was all happening too soon. She’d always been a careful, cautious person who examined things from every angle before making a decision. But there was something about Quinn that kept putting her off her stride.
It wasn’t just his charming smile, though he certainly knew how to use it to his advantage. And it wasn’t just his dedication to his work, which matched her own and added a layer of attraction.
As the kiss spun on and on she sighed and tried to concentrate on being sensible. But how was that possible when he was holding her like she was some sort of fragile doll and feasting on her like a starving man?
Her poor heart had taken so many somersaults, she was dizzy with need. All thought flew from her mind except one. She wanted what he was offering. And didn’t have the will to resist.
For the space of a heartbeat they lifted their heads, as though to clear their thoughts.
In that instant they caught a brilliant flash of strange red light outside the window.
“What was that?” Cheyenne strained for another glimpse, but the night sky was dark. “The moon? A shooting star?”
“More like a flashlight.” Quinn stared out the window. “Or…” He swore savagely. “God in heaven. A torch.”
And it had just been tossed in the direction of the barn.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Fire!”
Quinn raced across the room and tore open her door before cupping his hands to his mouth. “Fire! The main barn!”
Up and down the hallway doors began opening and the family, groggy from having just fallen asleep, became suddenly alert and wide-eyed as they raced toward the mudroom, stepping into boots, snatching up parkas. Cheyenne joined them, her boots untied, jacket unbuttoned, as she ran into the cold night.
At first there was no sign of fire, and Cheyenne found herself hoping that it had all been a mistake. Maybe all this talk of her fire, and the confrontation with Deke in town earlier today, had their imaginations working overtime.
As they rounded the barn, they could see a thin red line gleaming in the darkness.
Amid shouts, the Conway family leaped into action. While Jake and Big Jim began leading the horses from their stalls and outside to a nearby corral, Josh and Quinn began uncoiling a hose and attaching it to a water pump, leaving Cole and Cheyenne to haul the other end of the hose outside.
Once Quinn and Josh managed to crank the pump handle, the force of the spray was tremendous, nearly knocking Cole off his feet, which had been firmly planted in a wide stance.
“Over here,” he shouted, and Cheyenne hurried to stand behind him and feed him the length of hose while he aimed the spray on the flame that had appeared to have begun on the roof and was slowly working its way down the back wall of the barn.
Quinn and Josh hurried over to replace Cole and Cheyenne, using their combined strength to move the spray slowly and carefully over the roof and entire back wall of the barn until it had been thoroughly saturated.
When they were satisfied that the fire had been completely extinguished, they moved inside the barn to check for hot spots.
“With the last of the winter hay, this place is a tinderbox,” Quinn muttered as he and the others climbed a ladder to the hayloft.
Armed with flashlights and fire extinguishers, they went over every inch of the interior, spraying foam along the wall, wherever they found it warm or smoking, until they were satisfied that there was no chance of the fire springing up again.
When they descended the ladder, Jake stood holding the charred remains of what appeared to be a pitchfork.
The others gathered around.
“This has all the makings of a torch.” He pointed to the grooves burned into the wood. “Looks like there was something here, maybe plastic strips that would have melted in the fire, used to hold some rags in place. If the fire hadn’t been extinguished so quickly, this would have been consumed by it, and no one would have been the wiser.”
“We’ll save this for Everett Fletcher,” Big Jim muttered. “Whoever tossed this had given it some careful thought. By torching the back of the barn, the fire should have been full-blown before it would even be spotted by anyone in the house. If things had gone according to his plan, the fire would have been too consuming to be stopped and we would have lost the entire barn and our stock before we even knew there was a fire.”
He turned to Quinn. “It’s a good thing you were still awake.”
Quinn’s face was grim. “Whoever did this wasn’t counting on anyone being left awake.”
Jake turned to his grandfather. “What about the horses? Should I bring them back to their stalls?”
He shook his head. “I’d rather they stay in the holding pen. It’s only for a night, and I’ll feel
safer with them out there.” He paused meaningfully. “Just in case.”
Jake nodded.
Cheyenne stared around at the serenity of the night. A half-moon glowed bright orange in the midnight sky. Snowflakes drifted down, frosting their hair and parkas. A snowy owl hooted in a nearby tree, and overhead a hawk glided soundlessly. Except for the acrid odor of smoke that hung on the air, there was no sign of the tragedy that had almost occurred this night.
Cole’s tone was weary. “Let’s get inside out of the cold.”
They followed his lead, removing boots and gloves and parkas in the mudroom and washing the grime of the fire from their hands, arms, and faces before stepping into the kitchen.
Phoebe and Ela turned from the stove. The wonderful fragrance of freshly brewed coffee filled the room with warmth and cheer.
The table had been set for a meal. Plates heaped with cinnamon toast had been placed on either end of the table, along with a platter of scrambled eggs and thick slices of ham.
It was obvious that the two women had hurried from their beds at the first sign of trouble and had set to work immediately in the kitchen.
The family took their places around the table.
As she circled around, filling mugs with steaming coffee, Phoebe laid a hand on Cole’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”
Instead of a reply, he merely patted her hand and lifted his cup to drink.
Quinn glanced toward Cheyenne, who stood alone in the doorway, looking close to tears. From the look in her eyes it was obvious that the enormity of what had just happened was descending upon her like a dark cloud of doom.
“Hey, Cheyenne, what’s wrong?” He started to scrape back from the table when her words stopped him in his tracks.
“I’m so sorry. I never intended this to happen.”
“What…?” He glanced around the table, where their food lay forgotten as his family stared at her in silence.
“You’re such good people. You don’t deserve this. And it’s all my fault.”
“You’re not making any sense, girl.” Big Jim started toward her, but she held out an arm.
“Don’t you see? It’s just like before. I can understand him wanting to hurt me, but I had no right to bring this to your doorstep.”