Klayne inhaled her soft, alluring scent and fought against falling into the captivating depths of her eyes. Out here, alone, under a velvety canopy of stars, he could sense her loneliness mingling with worry.
“Do you, um… have someone special in the Army?” He wished he hadn’t asked the question when a sad look settled on her face. She must have a beau, or husband, in the military.
“Yeah, I do.” She stared straight ahead. They’d walked half a block before she answered. “My brother, Mac, left Christmas Day for San Diego. He joined the Navy instead of waiting to be drafted.” Her voice caught and she cleared her throat. “I’m praying he’ll stay safe.”
“Does he live here in Pendleton?” Klayne asked, reaching out to steady Delaney when her feet slid on a spot of ice. Even through the thick wool of her dark green coat, he liked the feel of her waist beneath his hand.
Delaney shot him a look of gratitude as she regained her balance and they continued on their way. “No. He moved to Portland many years ago, when he left for college. He met a girl there who was from the area and decided to stay when he talked her into marrying him.” She grinned at him. “Carol is just a sweetheart and I love her dearly. They have one boy, Ryatt. He is a handful.”
Klayne chuckled, picturing a boy with Delaney’s smile and eyes sparking with life. “Ryatt is an unusual name.”
“It is. Carol wanted to name him Wyatt, but Mac claims he misunderstood her and wrote Ryatt on the birth certificate. We all call him Ry. He’ll be nine in February.” Delaney’s face softened. “That boy is just the cat’s pajamas. He and I get along quite famously.”
Klayne could only imagine. “Does your sister-in-law have family in Portland now?”
She shook her head, making her curls bounce in a way that forced Klayne to shove his hands deeper into his coat pockets to keep from fingering them again. The desire to bury his hands into the thick lushness of her hair was almost more than he could bear. Rapidly blinking to clear his thoughts, he focused on their conversation.
“No. Carol’s folks are both gone and she didn’t have any siblings.” Delaney pointed to a café that was still open. “Hungry?”
Klayne nodded and pulled open the door, holding it as she preceded him inside. The place was empty except for one old-timer sitting at the counter, sipping coffee and eating a slice of pumpkin pie.
Delaney settled into a booth at the back and slipped off her coat. Klayne removed his then sat opposite her, grateful to get inside out of the freezing cold and for more time spent in her presence.
After the waitress took their orders and brought them both cups of hot coffee, Klayne held the cup between his hands and watched Delaney. She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear then sipped the hot, fragrant brew.
“Do you have siblings, other than your brother?” Klayne asked, suddenly wanting to know everything about her.
“No. Just Mac. He’s ten years older than me. My mother passed away when I was twelve. Since then, it’s been Mac, me, and Dad. We made a pretty good trio until Mac fell in love.” She sighed and gave him a bittersweet smile. “Don’t get me wrong, we love Carol and Ryatt to pieces, but it sure would have been dandy if they decided to live here instead of Portland.”
“Do you see them often?”
Delaney shook her head. “No. Not as often as I’d like. They were here for Thanksgiving and Dad and I went to Portland for Christmas. Mac had to leave sooner than we expected. Dad decided to stay an extra week while Carol and Ryatt adjust to Mac’s absence. Mac has an apple orchard southwest of Portland and we wanted to make sure the chores won’t be more than Carol can handle. She’ll have to hire someone in the spring to oversee the work through the harvest. Dad and I talked about me going to stay with her, but I’d sure miss being here, at home.”
Klayne took a drink of the hot coffee, glad to replace the taste of the punch with something more aromatic and hearty. “Have you always lived in Pendleton?”
“You betcha.” She leaned back in the booth with a look that made her appear comfortable with herself and with life. “My grandfather came here and bought a half-section of land. He planted wheat, made a good profit, and bought more land. Around the time dad came along, Grandpa started buying Hereford cattle. Now, we have about four thousand acres of wheat and five hundred head of cattle.”
Klayne knew a little about ranching and farming, and the numbers sounded impressive to him. One thing he particularly enjoyed about being in Umatilla County was glancing down from a plane upon the rolling hills of golden wheat waving in the summer breeze. With blue sky stretching for what seemed like forever, it was an incredible sight to see.
“And you help out on the place?” he asked. From the rough condition of her hands, he assumed Delaney did more than her share of work. Her tanned face and toned arms made him think she spent a considerable amount of time outside.
She grinned. “Of course. I’ve been helping on Sage Hills Ranch since I was big enough to talk. Dad said I mastered riding before I did walking, although I never quite believed him.”
Klayne couldn’t help but smile, picturing a young Delaney with her dark hair in braids, little legs poking out to the sides as she rode an old mare.
The conversation ebbed as the waitress approached with their meals. Neither spoke as they tucked into the food. Delaney didn’t pick at her meal, as so many women did, but ate a healthy portion before she sat back and dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
“I needed that. I was busy in the barn with a sick cow all morning and skipped lunch. This afternoon, I got so caught up in bringing the ranch accounts up to date, I forgot all about the party tonight. Amy, that’s my friend, the beautiful blond-haired imp I was with at the party, phoned to ask why I hadn’t shown up at her place.” She smirked again. “Let me tell you, I had to hustle to get ready and danged if I didn’t tug on my boots instead of a pair of dress shoes.”
She held out one leg and lifted the hem of her skirt just enough Klayne got a glimpse of the red and black boots.
“Perhaps you’ll start a new fashion trend.”
She quirked her eyebrow at him and shook her head. “That won’t ever happen, but they sure are more comfortable than the ridiculous shoes most girls wear.”
The waitress cleared away their plates, brought them each a piece of warm apple pie, and refilled their coffee cups before disappearing into the kitchen.
Klayne lost track of time as he listened to Delaney share about her family and friends. He asked just enough questions to keep her talking. Enthralled with her, with the sound of her voice, he could have spent the rest of his life right there with her.
Unfortunately, he had to be back at the base and ready to work the next morning. A peek at the clock on the wall above the order counter confirmed he’d monopolized her time for hours. In fact, the year wound to a close as the minutes neared midnight.
Delaney turned to look at the clock and gasped. “Oh, my stars! Amy will think I’ve been kidnapped or abandoned her, or some such nonsense. I better get back to the party right away.”
She stood and started to yank on her coat, but Klayne took it from her, holding it as she jammed her arms into the sleeves. He repeated the action of lifting her hair from beneath the collar. When he did, his fingers skimmed across the satiny skin of her neck. She shivered in response.
Unclear if that was a good or bad thing, he stepped back, pulled on his coat, and left cash on the table to cover their meals along with a generous tip.
“I’ll pay my share,” Delaney said, pulling bills from the depths of her pocket.
Klayne folded her fingers back around the money and shook his head. “No. It’s my treat. You saved me from suffocating in that stuffy house or dying from boredom.”
Humor shimmered in her eyes. “I’m glad I could be of service.”
He held the door as they stepped outside. The temperature had dropped even lower and they didn’t dawdle as they walked. They were nearing the house where they met when chi
mes from a clock tower rang crisp and clear across the night, signaling the end of one year and the beginning of another.
“Oh, it’s midnight,” Delaney said, stopping and turning to face him. “Happy New Year!”
“Happy New Year to you, Miss Danvers.” Klayne looked at her for a long moment before he abruptly tossed caution to the wind. Without asking permission, without a thought to the consequences, he pulled his hand from his pocket and slid it across her jaw, settling it on the back of her neck. His other hand wrapped around her waist and he pulled her close as his head dipped toward hers. The kiss he intended to impart should have been short and sweet, a friendly skimming of lips.
However, the kiss he gave her started with a slight brush of their cool lips, then something shifted between them. Klayne could no more have pulled away than he could have leaped up and grabbed onto the moon. Delaney’s arms slid around his neck as her lips warmed beneath his.
He kissed her long, deep, and more passionately than he’d ever kissed another.
As the last chime rang out, he came to his senses and lifted his head, every bit as surprised as Delaney was by what he’d done. The moment he released her, her eyes popped open and the look she gave him held yearning mingled with astonishment.
“Wow, Sergeant Campbell! That’s certainly an unforgettable way to usher in a new year.” Her hand went to her throat and he watched as she struggled to slow her rapid breathing. “In fact, that is the most memorable Happy New Year wish I’ve ever received.”
Klayne felt heat burn his cheeks despite the arctic air seeping into them. “I’m sorry, Miss Danvers. I didn’t intend to… that’s to say, I didn’t mean… I didn’t plan...”
She laughed, a sound that arrowed straight into his heart, and wrapped her arm around his. A light tug and they continued to the house where partygoers began to spill outside.
“It’s okay,” she said, leaning close to him. “You don’t have to apologize for something I enjoyed so much. Just be careful you don’t make a habit out of stealing kisses from unsuspecting girls and leaving them thoroughly discombobulated. If you do, I’ll have to report you to the authorities.”
Doing his best to appear repentant, he hid a grin and nodded solemnly. “Yes, ma’am.”
Before he could say anything further, her friend Amy ran up to them. She dragged Delaney into the midst of their friends as they shared new year wishes and said farewells. Delaney cast one last, mesmerized look at him and offered a small wave before she slid behind the wheel of a vermillion red pickup.
Klayne expelled a sigh and strode over to where his group piled into a large sedan. The last thing he’d planned on this evening was falling in love.
Chapter Two
“If you don’t get your head on straight, Sis, you’re gonna end up missing a finger,” Dill Danvers warned his daughter as he guided two large draft horses through the snow.
Delaney’s head snapped up and she scowled at him. “I am not!”
Dill chuckled and waggled his hand, covered by a worn tanned leather glove, toward the twine she’d been slicing from around a bale of hay. “You pert near whacked through your thumb. What’s got you so distracted? You’ve been acting loopy since I got home from Portland.” The man continued to stare at Delaney as she tossed hay off the wagon to the hungry cattle awaiting their breakfast.
“My answer hasn’t changed, Dad. You’ve asked that question half a dozen times in the last two weeks. I’m just worried about Mac. And then there’s Carol and Ryatt. Are you sure they’ll be okay? Do I need to go stay with them?” Delaney knew her sister-in-law had matters well in hand, but she felt a sudden need to run away from Pendleton and her foreign, puzzling emotions.
Then again, going to Portland would only remind her of Mac’s absence. Part of her wanted to throw a temper tantrum Christmas Day as the family stood on the train platform in Portland to bid him goodbye. A ragtag band played off-key Christmas songs while members of the local chapter of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution passed out slices of fruitcake, cookies, and juice.
Carol cried enough tears for all of them, but Delaney wanted to join her. She put on a brave face and hugged her brother so tightly, they both had to catch their breath when she finally released him. After telling him to have a safe journey and to remember to write, she stepped back so Mac could hug his wife and child one last time.
Delaney hated war and the uncertain, fearful times that came with it. She didn’t want to understand Mac’s determination to do his part to defend their country, but she did. If she’d been born a male, she would have been fighting right alongside him. None of that changed the fact, though, that the brother she adored might never come home again.
A shake of her head dislodged the melancholy thoughts and drew her back to the feed wagon with cattle surrounding them.
Dill tipped his head toward her. “You can go stay with Carol and Ry if you want to, but they’ll be fine. Mac left everything in good order and Carol really won’t need help with anything until it’s time to spray the fruit trees in the spring. Mac already lined up someone to take care of the orchard through the summer, so she’s all set.” Dill held the reins lightly in one hand, waggling his finger at her again. “There’s something else bothering you. You can waltz all around it, but you can’t hide the truth from me for long. If you tell me what it is, I’ll quit hounding you.” He grinned and took the reins in both hands.
Delaney’s sigh rolled all the way up from her toes and twirled into a swirl of frost around her face when she expelled it. “Dad, why can’t you just leave things be?”
“Because it’s more fun trying to get a rise out of you, Sis.”
A beleaguered sigh rose up from her chest. “Why must you call me Sis?”
“Because it’s what I’ve called you since the day you were born. Your brother demanded to see his lil’ sis and the name stuck. Get used to it.”
Delaney wrinkled her nose in disgust and forked off more hay.
His eyebrow cocked upward, exactly like Delaney’s so often did when she was humored or perturbed. “And stop changing the subject. I’ll find out what’s going on sooner or later. If you won’t tell me anything, I guess I’ll just have to call Amy and drag the story out of her.”
Delaney pictured her friend spilling what little she knew about the New Year’s Eve party to Dill over a cup of coffee and slice of gingerbread from the bakery Amy’s parents owned. All Amy knew was that Delaney disappeared during the party and she found her outside with a good-looking soldier. When Amy plied her for more details, Delaney said she and Klayne went outside to talk because the house was too warm.
Amy didn’t buy the story, but didn’t press for more information.
Thoughts of Sergeant Klayne Campbell caused Delaney’s cheeks to fill with heat. She recalled every detail of the time they spent together. The moment she’d walked into the party, she felt someone’s eyes on her and turned to see Klayne half-hiding behind the Christmas tree in the corner. Looking both bored and wary, he leaned against the fireplace with one impressive arm propped on the mantel.
Even across the room, Delaney could sense the strength in his long, lean frame. The man had to be all wiry muscle. Cropped brown hair, thick with a tendency to curl on the ends, made her fingers itch to run through it. Blue eyes that pierced her with their intensity captured her attention before her gaze had wandered over his straight nose and square chin. Full lips beckoned and begged to be kissed.
Delaney didn’t know what propelled her across the room to introduce herself, but she felt powerless to stay away from him.
His voice held a deep cadence that made her insides quiver. At first, she thought he was too reserved, too quiet, but then he smiled. It was like watching the sun burst through a stormy sky, brightening everything around it.
Up until that moment, Delaney would never have asked a man she didn’t know to go outside for a walk with her. It was too forward, and potentially dangerous, but she’d asked him. He’d looked
so uncomfortable and eager to escape, she wanted to help him. She also didn’t want to miss the opportunity to get to know him better.
Instinctively, she knew she could trust him. He seemed like a gentleman, and he had been. Although some might argue the sizzling kiss they shared at the stroke of midnight nudged toward rakish, but Delaney didn’t care. It was the single best kiss she’d ever received and she couldn’t stop thinking about how much she’d enjoy another kiss, or dozens, from him.
The fact he attempted to apologize for getting caught up in the moment only made him seem special, different from the boys and men she knew.
Delaney might be bold and a little untamed, but she possessed a strong set of morals and planned to keep them. No one was going to talk her into doing something she didn’t think was right, regardless of how handsome he might be.
At twenty-five, she figured she was past the marrying age, but didn’t care. She’d never met anyone who stirred in her even the slightest interest in settling down with a husband. Then she’d met Klayne.
Something about the man, about his quiet, reserved ways, the wit he’d shared when she finally got him talking, and his gentleness made her want to know more. For the first time in her life, she thought about wedded bliss and babies, and spending her future with him.
Foolishly, she’d run off without giving him any personal information, like her phone number. However, he knew her name and the name of the ranch. All he had to do was ask around town and it wouldn’t take long for someone to tell him how to find her.
Perhaps she’d merely served as a diversion on a night when those who are single feel particularly lonely.
Dill nudged her with his elbow and Delaney scowled at him. “Come on, Sis, spill the beans. Did you meet a fella?”
“Dad…” She drew out each letter until it sounded like an entire sentence. “Just leave it be. Please?”
“Okay, sweetheart. For now. Besides, we need to finish feeding these critters and get back to the barn. I’m about half-froze.”
Home of Her Heart (Hearts of the War Book 2) Page 2