He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “We should be going home. What do you say, Miss Desi?”
“But I’m not tired.”
He chuckled and shifted her weight so she’d be more comfortable. “Yes, you are. Your eyes are closing right now. Pretty soon, you’ll be snoring.”
“Uh-uh, I don’t snore,” she insisted, but her voice held that drowsy quality of a child fighting sleep.
“Hmmm, we should still head home.” He smoothed her hair away from her forehead and laughed. “You need a bath. I swear there’s about ten pounds of dirt on you, not to mention chocolate frosting.”
The girl shook her head even as she snuggled closer to him. He dropped another kiss on the top of her head.
Ryleigh watched him as he teased Desi Lyn. He did love his niece. Of that, she had no doubt. It was there in his expression and the loving way he held her. She couldn’t remember a time when her father had held her like that. Perhaps, when she was young, but it was too far back in her memory. She had no doubt she’d been loved, but Magnus Steele never showed it the way Teague did. He’d always been too busy, gone much of the time as he built his empire.
“We should be going as well.” Krissa drank the last of her coffee and placed the cup on the tray, then rose from her seat. “Do you need us to do anything before we go?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “There’s nothing but the cups and a few spoons left to wash. Thanks to everyone, my kitchen is clean. The only thing left for me is to get the boys in the bathtub then into bed.”
“All right,” Krissa agreed, then directed her attention to Ryleigh. “We’ll walk you back to the hotel.”
“Thank you.” Ryleigh stood, stretching the kinks from her neck and shoulders.
There were hugs and kisses and thank yous as they all left the Millers’ house.
Ryleigh watched Teague stroll down the street with Desi Lyn in his arms and let out a sigh. Her heart was light, and giddiness filled her. Love and acceptance filled her as well. Yes, she had friendships, girls she’d gone to school with who remained close even after school ended, but this was different. These people had drawn her into their circle, despite knowing why she was here, and she’d never felt so wanted. Or so guilty.
Chapter Seven
“Ryleigh? Are you coming?”
Ryleigh opened the door to her room and spotted Krissa at the bottom of the stairs. A large basket, covered with a colorful quilt, rested at her feet. Oscar stood beside her, holding one of the biggest bowls she’d ever seen. Samuel was waiting by the door, another bowl in his hands. Other guests of the hotel were walking past them, on their way to the picnic, as the dining room was closed. “I’ll meet you there. I just need to finish my hair.”
“All right. We’ll be by the gazebo under one of the trees. Don’t be too long.”
“I won’t.” She closed the door and resumed her seat at the dressing table. After pulling the brush through her hair, she used a purple velvet ribbon to loosely sweep it away from her face before she pinched her cheeks to bring some color to them. Satisfied with her appearance, she stood and moved in front of the looking glass, turning this way and that. She’d purchased a new skirt and jacket from Bethany’s shop in black, white, and lilac plaid with black velvet accents. The bell of her skirt flared, revealing darker purple panels.
She picked up her reticule and the tin of shortbread she’d purchased from Mrs. Trumble at the bakery, smoothed her skirt, and left her room. The street outside the Prentice was filled with people making their way into the town square. Horses as well as all other manner of transportation lined the dusty road. Someone had even brought a bicycle and rested it against a lamppost.
Most of the businesses along the main street were closed, their owners enjoying the picnic. Even the Calico Lady wasn’t open. Hiram Burke, the saloon owner, had set up a booth to sell beer, and a line of men extended around the booth toward the street.
Blankets were spread on the expanse of emerald green grass. Children raced around, their laughter ringing loud and clear. Several tables had been set up near the gazebo in the middle of the square, covered in pristine white tablecloths, for anyone wishing to sell their wares.
For a small donation, one could fill their bellies, if they hadn’t brought their own picnic fare or purchase a trinket to support the town.
Another table held various pies, but these weren’t for sale. They would be auctioned off later, an excellent opportunity for some young man to show his affection for a certain young lady by outbidding everyone else for her pie.
Several people waved to her as she passed the temporary dance floor. She’d met most of the townspeople over the past couple weeks, had even talked to a few, trying to get their point of view on the shoot-out in this quiet little town. They proved to be every bit as forthcoming as Teague’s friends, which meant, after almost three weeks in Paradise Falls, she knew nothing more than she did before. It was frustrating to say the least.
“Ryleigh! Over here!”
She turned at the sound of her name and spotted Nate, Celia, Krissa, and Oscar already comfortable on their blankets. As she approached, she noticed there was another couple with them that she didn’t recognize. They seemed to be the same age as the rest of Teague’s companions and greeted her with warm, inquisitive smiles as Nate performed the introduction. “Ryleigh, this is Shep and Malva Parsons. They take care of Whispering Pines. Shep, Malva, Miss Ryleigh Steele.”
Their names were familiar, and hope sprang within her. She had wanted to head out to the ranch and interview them, but hadn’t found an opportunity or a mode of transportation. She could have rented a carriage or a horse from Jake’s Livery, but neither option would work. She could imagine the destruction she’d cause if she tried to handle a carriage by herself, and the prospect of getting on a horse would have been just as bad. She loved horses and had taken riding lessons, but like so many other things, it hadn’t turned out well. Fortunately, it was only her pride that had been injured.
The man tilted his hat back and started to rise from his position on the blanket.
“No, please, don’t get up.” She bent slightly and extended her hand toward him, then turned to the woman.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Malva grasped her hand in a warm, firm shake. “Shep and I have heard so much about you. Please, sit.”
The comment was said in an off-hand manner, though the tone and expression were both friendly. Who had spoken to them and what was said? Was it Teague? Had he warned them she might try to talk to them? Or was it the sheriff’s other friends who defended and looked out for him?
Ryleigh didn’t have time to ask as she made herself comfortable on the edge of the blanket.
“We’re here!” Elizabeth announced a little breathlessly as she approached the group. She held Ellie in her arms while Josiah put down their picnic basket and spread their blanket next to the others. Their boys were already off and running with the other children. “Thought we’d never make it. Ellie wasn’t being very cooperative. She doesn’t like it when her schedule is disrupted.” She kissed the baby on the head, then laid her on her belly on the blanket before she sat down.
Ellie immediately rose up on her hands and knees and rocked back and forth, then crawled forward in pursuit of the cookies Celia had laid out on a plate.
“She’ll be walking before you know it,” Nate commented as he watched the baby maneuver toward the sweet treats.
Elizabeth laughed. “Oh, don’t remind me! I’m not quite ready for that.”
“I don’t see where you have much choice.” He laughed. “She is determined.”
“That she is. I don’t recall the boys pulling themselves up to stand in the crib when they were her age.”
“Ah, but she has incentive. She watches the boys and wants to do what they do.” He looked up and waved. “Roy, over here!”
Ryleigh took her gaze from the baby and looked up to see the deputy coming toward them, one arm around Bethany’s
waist, the other holding their basket. Bethany’s sons followed behind but were already moving toward a group of boys flying kites in the street in front of the school.
“Where is Teague?” Roy asked as he spread the blanket on the ground, butting it up against the others. “We left the office together, so I expected him to be here by now. It’s not like him to be late for anything.”
Nate laughed. “Except school. He was always late for school.”
“That’s because he didn’t want to go.” Bethany chimed in as she made herself comfortable on the blanket and started unpacking her basket.
The doctor shook his head. “I never understood that. He was so smart, his nose always in a book when he wasn’t working on one of the farms or ranches.”
“Or too busy pulling off another prank.” Krissa grinned. “Do you remember the fish, Elizabeth?”
The woman giggled, the sound sweet and full of remembrances. “How could I forget?” She turned to Ryleigh. “As Nate mentioned, Teague didn’t like school much and was always looking for a way to get out of it. One Sunday afternoon, he snuck into the school and left fish in all our desks. Being that it was June and already uncomfortably hot, by the time our teacher walked into the school the next day, well, you can imagine how horrendous it smelled.”
She laughed again, her hand resting over her heart. “He thought school would have to be canceled, but he’d been outsmarted. Not only did the teacher make him remove the fish, but he had to clean the entire building every day for two months. And classes were held at the church until the smell was gone!”
“He was forever tying my shoelaces together,” Roy admitted with a sheepish grin.
Ryleigh smothered a chuckle as Ellie made her way toward her, crawled into her lap, then reached for the broach pinned to her jacket with one hand, her other hand already occupied by a cookie. She gently pried the child’s hand loose, then blew raspberries into her palm, producing giggles from the little girl.
She looked up and saw Elizabeth smiling at her. She returned the expression, happy and content, and just a little bit surprised by the fact that she liked this. Liked all of it. Being with these friendly people and listening to them share stories of Teague as if they’d known her all her life made her feel welcome into their tight-knit group. What’s more, it made her feel as if she was coming to know the mischievous boy who’d turned into such a fine man. She sat back and listened, amused by the antics of his younger days.
“And then there was the time he stole our clothes.” Bethany chuckled as she removed her jacket, folded it neatly, and laid it over the now empty picnic basket. “Do you remember, Krissa?”
“Of course. You and I snuck off to the swimming hole but neither one of us realized Teague had followed us. He took our clothes—all our clothes—and hid them up a tree. Took us forever to find them.”
A shadow fell over the group. Ryleigh glanced up. Immediately, her heart gave that queer little flutter, and her palms grew damp. Teague stood with the sun behind his back, Desi Lyn’s hand clutched in one of his, a guitar in the other. Shotgun stood just behind him, his eyebrows twitching, tail wagging furiously.
“Talking about me again, I see.” His deep, rich voice sent ripples down her spine and settled over her like a fine mist.
“You caught us!” Nate grinned up at him. “We tease you because we love you, but your heart was always in the right place.” He turned his attention to Ryleigh and continued in the face of Teague’s obvious embarrassment. “He’s like his mother that way. Mam always had an open door and open arms. Actually, all the MacDermotts had good hearts, always ready with a helping hand.”
“Enough. Please,” Teague begged. “You’re going to give Ryleigh the wrong idea about me.”
“Oh, it’s too late for that, Sheriff.” Ryleigh grinned as Shotgun sank to the blanket beside her with a sigh, his body leaning against her leg.
If possible, his face reddened even more. He cleared his throat and bent down when Desi Lyn tugged on his hand. “Yes, you can go play, but stay where I can see you.”
Shep jerked his thumb over his shoulder, toward the street behind them. “KJ is flying his kite over there, but Sarah is over by Mrs. Trumble.”
“Okay.” The little girl turned in the direction of the tables set up by the gazebo, then raced off, her petticoats flashing from beneath the hem of her dress.
“Oh, you brought your guitar!” Krissa exclaimed. “I haven’t heard you play since . . . well, for a long time.”
Teague settled himself on Nate and Celia’s blanket and set the guitar down beside him. His hand brushed Ryleigh’s as he did so, and again, that funny little flutter in her chest made itself known. “The mayor asked if I would play for a little bit.”
Ryleigh tried to control the odd beating of her heart and glanced at him. “I didn’t know you played.”
“There are many things you don’t know about me.”
She leaned closer to him and lowered her voice so only he could hear, “But I’m learning, Teague MacDermott.”
She had the pleasure of seeing him blush once more, and the flutter grew.
Later, much later, as the sun was starting to sink into the horizon and bellies were full, the mayor stepped up into the gazebo and held up his hands. The din of the crowd died down. “Thank you all for coming to the Paradise Falls annual picnic. Your generosity and sense of civic pride know no bounds. We’ve raised enough money today to purchase new books for the school as well as paint both the school and the church and still have some leftover for the hardship fund.”
There was an outburst of applause and conversation. The mayor waved his hands in the air again to quiet the crowd.
“Now, we have a special treat for you tonight. You all know our esteemed sheriff, Teague MacDermott.” Many heads turned in their direction. A few nodded, but all smiled at him. “What you might not know is how well he can play his guitar.” He motioned to Teague. “Come on up here and show these folks I ain’t lying.”
More applause as Teague rose, grabbed his guitar, and made his way through the maze of blankets. He climbed up to the gazebo and took his seat, then began to tune the strings.
Ryleigh watched him, noticing how the setting sun made his face seem like it glowed. Or maybe he was blushing. He did that a lot. One would not expect that from such a confident man, but she found it refreshing and endearing, not to mention amusing. At least she wasn’t the only one who turned as red as the proverbial beet.
Without a word, he took a deep breath, and holding the guitar at an upright angle, began to play. He started slow, an intricate piece that showed his finger-picking skills, the melody reminding her of flamenco music. The song was beautiful and haunting, but it was his finger-work that drew her attention. She couldn’t take her eyes from his long, slim digits and imagined them skimming over her as gently as they played over the frets. Gooseflesh rose on her skin as heat rushed to her belly and spread outward to encompass her entire being.
Teague played several songs, all with a Spanish influence, then changed the tempo and picked out Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” and “Moonlight Sonata,” then Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.” With hardly a pause, he quickly changed the pace again, his fingers plucking out several Irish folk tunes.
By that time, everyone was clapping and singing along. A few couples, including Shep and Malva and Elizabeth and Josiah, got up to dance as his fingers strummed out a fast reel. Ryleigh recognized the tune and started singing, then took the baby’s hands and clapped along, producing a wide, wet grin from the eight-month-old.
He finished by plucking out “Oh Susanna” to generous applause before making his way back to the blanket. He sat beside her again as Elizabeth took the baby from her lap.
“Goodness, Teague, that was wonderful! Where did you learn to play?”
He cleared his throat but didn’t look at her. “I learned a little bit from my father and some from my mother, but most of it, I learned from a man I only knew as Dusty. He was one
of the miners, determined to make it rich with silver, but before he came here, he taught music. I can play the piano, too.”
He smiled at her, and all at once, the rush of heat to her belly increased.
• • •
She was too close. He smelled peaches, and it filled his head, so much so, that he lost track of the conversation floating around him as the bidding started on the pies. His fault for sitting right next to her even though there were other places to sit among the blankets spread out on the grass. But he couldn’t resist the opportunity to be near her. He liked the way she laughed, the sultry sound doing funny things to his insides, and he loved the way she looked at him, her eyes aglow and sparkling.
Would her eyes twinkle like that when they made love? Or would they darken with passion, becoming a deeper violet blue?
He stiffened, his muscles tensing with the questions that seemed to come from nowhere, but he still wanted to know the answer.
He glanced in her direction and watched her without her knowledge as she was intent upon the conversation with his friends. Her brilliant smile lit up the night, not to mention his heart.
I’m in so much trouble.
The thought ripped through his head like a bullet—a bullet from Logan’s gun. Unfortunately, the truth was that he found her difficult to ignore, and their encounters left him feeling whole and hopeful, though what he was hopeful for hadn’t quite made itself clear.
A future?
No, he couldn’t let himself be that optimistic. Not now. Perhaps, not ever.
At least, that’s what he told himself; however, telling oneself something was not the same as believing it, and hope, that fragile emotion, could not be crushed.
He wanted her. On his arm. Across a table. In his bed. Why couldn’t he have that happiness if only for an hour? A day? For the next few weeks until Logan put the promised bullet in his back?
Because he couldn’t do that to her. It wouldn’t be right. Or fair. To either of them.
He let out a long sigh. There were decisions he had to make. Would it be better if he sent Desi Lyn away then left Paradise Falls himself? And then what? Stay on the run for the rest of his life, constantly looking over his shoulder, waiting, wondering when Logan would find him and kill him as he vowed? That wouldn’t be right either, and his stomach clenched.
A Kiss in the Sunlight Page 10