Dalton: Contemporary Western Romance (New Horizon Ranch: Mule Hollow Book 5)

by Debra Clopton

  He bolted out of the truck the moment she made a move and hurried around to grab her elbow before she’d set a foot to the ground. Gently he held her by the arm as she eased to a standing position. Movement was still a bit uncomfortable but as she stood there looking up at him the memory of her being in his arms came rushing back.

  What was wrong with her?

  The last place she wanted to be was in a man’s arms. Hadn’t she learned anything from her last two experiences?

  Yes! That she was no good at picking men.

  And that was a lesson she didn’t plan to ever forget. “Are you okay?” he asked, and she thought he looked as stunned as she felt.

  She nodded quickly. “Fine. Could you help me get the baby out of the car?”

  “Sure. Should I just leave her in the carrier?”

  “Yes. If you don’t mind carrying her in it. I’m not quiet able to carry that yet.”

  “I’ve got it.” He opened the door to the back seat and after a moment emerged carrying the sleeping infant in her baby carrier. “She’s snuggled down nice and happy in this thing.”

  Rae Anne laughed. “She’s so cute.”

  With a baby and carrier in one hand he placed his other hand at her elbow as she walked to the house. The tall grass was a little creepy and would need to be mowed immediately. She hoped there was a lawn mower stored somewhere. She squinted up at the beautiful blue sky with the white gently drifting clouds–such a different day than yesterday. The sweet scent of honeysuckle was heavy on the breeze and she glanced around to see the large overgrown bush on the edge of the house.

  “Do you have a key?” Dalton’s question broke into her thoughts.

  “No. But Mr. Overton said it would be behind a door plaque.”

  There was a wooden plaque that hung beside the door with an O on it. She reached her hand behind it and found a key hanging from a tiny nail. Relief swamped her. Mr. Overton hadn’t been wrong about the key. Though he’d had a fuzzy memory when it came to the condition of the place the key being there was a plus.

  Dalton took the key from her and opened the door. Pushing it wide the stale scent of pent up air welcomed them–it was not sweet and fresh like outside had been.

  She peered into the dim room. It was furnished but everything was covered in a layer of dust.“Let me go first,” Dalton said but she’d already stepped forward–straight into a cobweb.

  She fought it off, panic grabbing her as she frantically swiped at it.

  “Here let me.” He took over pulling the creepy web from her borrowed blouse and gently swiped the clinging web from her hair. He was looking down at her with concern. “Nothing to worry about. I’m sure we’ll find several of those as we move forward. I’ll go first.”

  Her breath had escaped her as she looked up at him. All she could do was nod. She had to get a grip. Really. “Thank you. I’m more than a little embarrassed that I’m feeling so helpless. It’s really aggravating.”

  “May I remind you what you’ve been through in the last twenty-four hours? You’re tired but certainly not helpless.”

  It was actually the last forty-eight hours that had been hard but he wouldn’t know that her fast departure and spur of the moment decision to come here had also taken its toll. “Well, I’m feeling that way. But I’m going with your excuse for me because that means there’s hope that tomorrow I could wake up and be Supermom.”

  His mouth hitched into a smile that caused her toes to tingle.

  “I’d say you already are. You survived a flood, in labor and then gave birth all in one night. Yup, Supermom is in the house.”

  She chuckled. “Okay, so if you put it that way it does sound pretty impressive.”

  “A yeah, that’d be an affirmative.” He led the way across the living room and around the corner into what was the kitchen.

  “Oh,” she said, “It’s not as bad as I feared.”

  “Yeah.” He set the baby carrier on the counter and looked around. “I’m truly shocked that it’s not any worse than it is.”

  The cabinets needed painting and cleaning but the countertop was granite and the floor was hardwood. “It has great bones to work with.”

  Car doors slammed and a moment later chatter filled the air as Maddie, Sadie, Amber and Mia clomped up the steps and entered the living room. Rae Anne’s heart swelled with gratitude as she saw the bags and realized they were full of an array of cleaning supplies. Mia brought up the rear and was carrying several brooms and mops. It was obvious these women had come to work.

  “Hey, don’t start crying. This is just what neighbors do. And believe me more are on the way. I called Norma Sue and she’s making a few calls to her posse. They’ll be here directly and she’ll be bringing Joey. Y’all can go to the ranch house while we take care of this.”

  Not cry. How could she not cry at this kindness? Tears swelled in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. “I don’t know what to say? I’ve made such a mess of this for my babies and I’m so ashamed. Thank you all.”

  Dalton slipped his arm around her shoulders and the comfort of him there completely undid her. She sniffed and then just started crying. The next thing she knew he’d pulled her into his arms so that she could bury her face against his chest.

  “There, there,” he soothed. “You’ll be alright.”

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m not usually this emotional but this is a big deal.”

  “It’s your hormones,” Sadie said coming up to pat her on the back. “You’re doing a good job helping out, Dalton,” she added and Rae Anne did not miss the hint of amazement in her tone. Rae Anne wondered about that…what about Dalton being so helpful called for such shock?

  “I’m just glad I found her last night.”

  “We are too.” The women all said behind her. Rae Anne was grateful too and realized she felt safe once more in the circle of Dalton’s arms.

  And it was a really nice feeling.

  However, she knew all too well that feeling safe was an illusion that she couldn’t afford. The minute she let her guard down, she could be letting down her little family.

  She had no time for tears, hormones or not, her children needed her to be strong and to get off the pity party. She dried her eyes and stepped out of his arms.

  “Thanks,” she managed and then turned to the four women who were gathered around. “Y’all are amazing.”

  “Just call us the cleaning crew.” Maddie grinned. “We’ll get the place cleaned up and our men will get the outside looking spiffy and make sure the plumbing is working right since it's sat empty for so long.”

  Amber studied her. “You are going to the ranch to rest.”

  “But…”

  “Nope, no buts allowed. You’re going now.”

  Rae Anne couldn’t put up much of an argument. Exhaustion and soreness had taken its toll.

  Within minutes she was in the truck with Dalton and her baby and they were driving across the street and up the drive toward a huge, gorgeous sandstone home with a large porch and gigantic windows. Yes, she could see instantly that Maddie hadn’t exaggerated. There was definitely room for her and her children here for the night if they needed somewhere to stay.

  Dalton used the cordless drill to drive a screw through one of the crooked shutters and into the wood of the house to secure it once again. It had been two hours since he’d settled Rae Anne and her children at the ranch. Things were shaping up. This was the last shutter to hang and Cliff, Maddie’s husband, was helping him and that had made things go much faster than if he’d been hanging them by himself. The two of them had tackled the shutters while Ty and Rafe were inside checking out the plumbing and Chase was helping the women move heavy stuff around inside as they cleaned the old house from floor to ceiling.

  “I have to say this place is in decent shape it seems.” Cliff finished the last shutter. “I had my doubts when you called and told me what was going on.”

  “Me too. It appears to be more cosmetic fixes
than structural and that’s fantastic. I have a feeling Rae Anne needs a little good luck in her life.”

  “Sounds like it.” His expression shifted to dismay. “I can’t imagine Maddie being in a flood and in labor. It makes me sick to think about it.”

  “Yeah. Don’t I know it...when I opened that car door and realized what was happening it’s the most scared that I’ve ever been in my life.”

  “I hate to say it but I’m glad it was you and not me.”

  Dalton was glad it was him too.

  The women’s laughter from inside drifted outside through the open doors. Norma Sue and her friends Esther Mae Wilcox and Adela Ledbetter Green had arrived right after he and Rae Anne had reached the big house. Adela had stayed over there to keep Rae Anne company and help with Joey and the baby while her two buddies had come to help clean. He had a feeling it had been a carefully decided upon plan as Adela was about the sweetest most adored female in these parts. If Rae Anne had anything she needed to get off her chest or needed to confide that she needed help in any way other than some house cleaning then he figured Miss Adela would be the one she’d confide it to.

  He had a gut feeling that Rae Anne was hiding something and might just need a friend she could talk to.

  Chapter Six

  Rae Anne had fallen asleep in a plush bed in a downstairs bedroom fit for a queen. It was gigantic with wide windows that offered a view of the back pastures and the cattle that dotted the landscape. Dalton had explained to her that this had been the master suite and after CC Calvert left the ranch to him and his other four partners that they’d all moved out of the bunk houses into the house and Maddie had taken this room and the guys had all moved into rooms upstairs. The room was vacant now and she was welcome to use it for as long as she needed to.

  As he’d been telling her that a large truck pulled up and Norma Sue had hopped out along with a redhead whose name was Esther Mae and a soft spoken petite woman with kind eyes and white hair that framed her face and showed off her amazing blue eyes. Adela.

  Adela had taken care of her while everyone else left to go work at her house. If she hadn’t been so exhausted she might have protested but she was long past that. Joey had seemed to have taken up with Adela and gratefully Rae Anne had handed over Grace for a little while so she could get some rest.

  Now, she woke feeling a little like road kill. Having already been through childbirth with Joey she knew the reward of her sweet babies far outweighed a little pain. Still, she would be glad when she didn’t hurt anymore and she had no plans for more children. She loved them desperately, despite their no-good daddies. She was grateful to have them, but she had no plans to ever let a man get close to her again. She’d sealed her heart up and that barrier was there for good.

  So why, she wanted to know, had her mind gone straight to thoughts of the handsome cowboy rescuer as she sat up in bed?

  Because it was logical since she owed him so very much for rescuing her and her babies. She’d never stop thinking about the man. And now he and his friends were over there cleaning up her house so she and her babies would have a place to live.

  She pushed the thoughts away and eased out of bed and headed to the bathroom. When she was finished she washed her hands and splashed cool water on her face in hopes of bringing a little color to her cheeks. She found a brush and used it to smooth some of the tangles out of her hair. For now that was the best she could do.

  She opened the door and walked down the short hallway pausing at the entrance to the great room. It was empty so she continued on to the kitchen where she smelled a wonderful scent of soup cooking.

  Adela greeted her with a smile.

  “Oh don’t you look rested. Come and sit down. The baby is sleeping right here.” There was an oblong clothes basket sitting on the table and it had a blanket folded in the bottom for a cushion and there was Grace sleeping soundly. “Sometimes you just have to make do with what you’ve got.”

  “This is perfect. Where’s Joey?”

  “Dalton came over to check on you and Joey wanted to go with him so, I hope you don’t mind, but he went over to “help” get his mommy and baby sister’s house ready. And Dalton will take good care of him as will everyone there.”

  Rae Anne smiled inside and out. “He’s a sweetie. I’m sure he’s fine.” She would evaluate the situation later but today there was nothing to do but let him spend time with Dalton and the others.”

  She sat down. “Everyone is so wonderful to help.”

  Adela had crossed to the stove and was filling a bowl from the large pot on the stove. She set the steaming vegetable soup in front of her. “God put you right where you are supposed to be and placed the right person in your path to help you. I hope you like vegetable soup. I felt like it would nourish you and also be a good comfort food.”

  Rae Anne inhaled the savory scent. “The scent alone makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.”

  The older woman chuckled. “Good. Now how about some sweet tea?”

  “It sounds heavenly.” She was lifting her second spoonful of soup when Adela brought two glasses over and placed one on the table for her and the other in front of Rae Anne.

  “How do you feel?” Adela asked after she’d sat down in the chair across from her.

  “Much better. I should be moving around a lot better tomorrow.” She took a drink of the tea and then another. The zap of sweetness would give her a little more energy for the moment until the soup kicked in. She hadn’t really eaten much since the ordeal in the car and she knew that now, with a baby and an active three-year-old she was going to have to eat to be able to keep up with her little family.

  “So, where are you moving here from? If you don’t mind my asking?”

  “I’m here from the Pearland area.” And then because Adela looked like she was too polite to ask more when Rae Anne knew she had to be very curious, as were all of the people working on her rental right now, as to why a pregnant woman as far along as she was would decide moving at this late date was a good idea. It was a terrible idea but all she had at the moment. “I waited a little late to make the move and Grace is a couple of weeks early, according to my due date. That’s why I got myself into the terrible mess.”

  Sweet blue eyes twinkled as Adela patted her arm. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”

  Grace stirred and Adela rose to gently lift the baby from the makeshift crib. “I believe a sweet angel is hungry.”

  Rae Anne held her arms out and took her daughter. After thanking Adela again for the food she moved back into the bedroom to feed her. Thanks to some rest and the hot soup she was beginning to feel stronger and that was a very good thing.

  “Watch me!”

  Dalton looked up from where he was nailing a new board onto the front porch railing. He’d learned quickly that Joey needed eyes on him at all times. The three-year-old thought he was a mountain climber or something. And to prove it he was now on the outer edge of the porch hanging onto the railing while maneuvering his feet in between the porch spindles. It wasn’t dangerous really since the porch was only about a foot off the ground but the kid thought he was Superman. In his little three-year-old mind he probably thought he was scaling Mount Everest and wasn’t the least bit aware of danger. If Dalton wasn’t careful the kid might be on the roof before the day was done.

  Leaving his hammer on the steps Dalton strode to where the boy was hanging on and grinning up at him. His bright eyes dug deep into Dalton. “Come on down from there,” he said and reached for Joey.

  “No!” the kid declared and grabbed hold tightly. “I climbing.”

  Dalton couldn’t help laughing.

  “Looks like you’ve got your hands full,” Cliff called from the end of the house where he was working.

  Dalton shot him a don’t-I-know-it look then focused on the boy again. “How about you come help me hammer a nail instead of climbing.”

  Instantly, he had Joey’s attention. “I can hammer.”

  Dalton chuckled.
“I bet you can.”

  “Dalton,” Norma Sue called from inside the house. “Can you come in here for a minute?”

  “Sure,” he looked down at the little guy in his arms. “Let’s go see what the ladies are doing first and then we’ll hammer.”

  “Makin’ a house fer my mama and baby sister. They told me.”

  He laughed. At three it was obvious that Joey knew everything. His mom was in for it when he got older. Dalton had been keeping up with what the ladies were doing off and on all afternoon but he hadn’t been inside in the last hour. Cliff followed them in and Ty and Rafe were standing in the kitchen as they entered. They’d been working on the back porch.

  Esther Mae Wilcox stood beside the kitchen counter with a big smile on her face. Her red hair had cobwebs in it but she didn’t seem to care. The house was a hub of action as females came in from various areas to join him and Joey in the kitchen.

  “We’ve got the place cleaned up pretty good,” Esther Mae said. “I even jumped around in a few spots to make sure the floor wasn’t going to fall in.”

  Norma Sue harrumphed. “Felt like an earthquake when all that jumping was going on.”

  “Very funny,” Esther Mae scowled. “Anyway, it seems solid. But we thought you could run over there and see if Rae Anne feels like coming over to tour the house.”

  Norma Sue’s brows knit above concerned eyes that darted to Joey and then met Dalton’s. “We’re not real sure she should be over here all by herself in this, um, catastrophe.” She said the last word quietly as if Joey understood the word in the first place.

  Joey looked up at him. “Dalt, what ca-tras-toti mean?”

  He rubbed the kid’s dark hair. “It’s nothing. Let’s go get your mom. Want to?”

  The boy squealed at that. “Yes!”

  Amber laughed from across the room where she was perched on the arm of an old couch-that he sure hoped they weren’t planning to leave in the room. “You’ve got your orders, cowboy.”