“Yes.” She tried to ignore the heat and appealing scent of his strong frame as he released her. “Thank you.”
The truck door creaked open, and Earl stepped out, his bulky figure outlined in the moonlight. The house cast a shadow over his profile as he approached and the undamaged side of his face became more prominent.
“I expect it’s time to tuck that baby in for the night,” Earl said, arriving at Tammy’s side and rubbing a hand over Brody’s back. “As young as he is, though, he’ll be raring to go again as soon as the sun comes up.”
Tammy laughed and kissed Brody’s forehead. He slipped deeper into sleep, his thumb slipping from his open mouth and falling to her chest. “He keeps us on our toes, that’s for sure.”
“Noticed on the way in that you got your fair share of downed trees.” Earl glanced at Alex, then nodded toward the house. “How’s your roof?”
Alex sighed. “Needs work. The stable was hit the worst, though.”
Tammy’s stomach sank, and she scanned the dimly lit land, wishing Razz would somehow miraculously appear.
“I’m available if you need help,” Earl said. “How ’bout I swing by in the morning and help you get the tree off your truck? Then we could tackle that roof of yours. My joints have been acting up all day, and that’s usually the first sign of rain coming.” He smiled. “I could be here at daybreak and, together, I think we could have your truck and roof in good shape by dark.”
“Thanks,” Alex said, nodding. “I’d appreciate that.”
Earl returned to the truck, hopped inside and revved the engine. “I’ll be back in the morning with the chain saw. Y’all get that baby a good night’s rest, okay?”
“We will,” Tammy shouted over the engine.
Brody shifted against her, rubbed his face against her throat, then nuzzled his cheek onto her breast. His small fingers dug deeper into her T-shirt, squeezing rhythmically until a snore escaped and he drifted off again.
Her heart turned over in her chest. She kissed his forehead and cradled him closer. The weight of him in her arms filled some of the emptiness inside her, and she stood still under the full moon and bright stars, absorbing the peace.
“Both of you need a good night’s rest.”
Tammy started at the gruff sound of Alex’s voice. He reached out slowly and covered her hand with his on Brody’s back. Her skin danced beneath the warm weight of his broad thumb as it swept gently across her wrist.
“Follow me?” he asked softly.
The tender light in his eyes and gentle smile made every inch of her eager to follow. She pulled in a deep breath and nodded.
He led the way into the house, guiding her carefully up the front porch steps with a flashlight he pulled from his pocket, then drew to a halt in the kitchen.
“Wait here a minute, okay?”
She did, watching as he disappeared around the corner and listening in the dark kitchen as he rustled around in another room. Light pooled onto the kitchen floor again as he reappeared, motioning with the flashlight toward the hall.
“First door on the left,” he said, his fingers rubbing over something in his palm.
She proceeded down the hall, then stopped in front of the door. Her hand lifted toward the doorknob but froze in midair. “I thought you never used this room.”
The familiar heat of him drew close to her back, and his soft breath tickled her neck. He eased a brawny arm around her and slid a key into the lock. “I don’t,” he whispered. “But I’ll make an exception for Brody.”
The lock clicked, and he shoved the door open. He swept the flashlight over the interior of the room, highlighting baby blue walls, a wooden chest, a rocking chair, a changing table and...a crib. Every item was pristine and arranged in a welcoming semicircle.
She swung her head to the side, stilling as her lips brushed the rough stubble of his jaw. Heart pounding, she fought the desire to nuzzle her cheek against his skin and asked, “Why do you have—”
“Nothing was damaged in here,” he said, voice husky. “The crib sheets are in the chest, and once you get Brody settled, you can have my room to yourself for the night.”
“But, Alex—”
“Not tonight, okay?” He lowered his head, his mouth moving against her temple and his broad palm settling on her hip. “Let’s just get some rest. We all need it.”
Of its own accord, her body sank back against his. She fit perfectly, his wide chest and muscular thighs cradling her as though she belonged there. A peaceful tenderness welled inside her, quieting that inner voice of caution and strengthening so much it filled her eyes, blurring her vision.
Alex pressed the flashlight into her palm at Brody’s back, his fingers trembling. “Good night.”
He left, and moments later, a cabinet thudded, then glass clinked. She imagined him standing at the kitchen sink, taking shots as he had the first night she’d arrived, and wondered why a man who kept such a careful distance from children would’ve invested so much in the future of having one.
Her throat tightened as another thought hit her. Had he lost a child? Was that why he was no longer married?
Tammy clung tighter to Brody, wanting, more than anything, to wrap her arms around Alex and hold him just as close.
Chapter Five
“There are a few things in life a woman just needs.”
Tammy stopped sweeping the front porch, propped her hand on her hip and leveled what she hoped was a stern expression on Brody. But it was difficult to keep her frown in place when he looked up at her from the top step and grinned. His tiny feet inched their way down to the next step despite her ten thousand requests to stay put. The same requests he’d ignored throughout the morning as she’d cleaned the house while Alex and Earl worked on the roof.
Clearly, the comfortable slumber in the crib last night had replenished his energy.
“Say, for instance,” Tammy continued, “I’d kill for a hot shower right now.” She dragged her fingers through her dingy hair, the tangled, straw-like strands making her cringe. “And a huge bottle of conditioner.”
Three days without power or running water didn’t make for the best beauty regimen. She dipped her head, eyed her rumpled T-shirt, then frowned. Of course, the fact that the tornado had flung her overnight bags from her truck, leaving them pinned beneath the overturned trailer in the mud, hadn’t helped matters, either. She’d spent over an hour sifting through soaked shirts and underwear for a decent outfit after the wrecker hauled away her truck.
Brody smiled wider, gripped the edge of the bricks with both hands and shimmied down to the next step.
“A cheeseburger would be great, too.” Her mouth twitched as he stretched the toes of his sneakers toward the next one. “One piled with bacon and a big side of onion rings. You know, the whole shebang. Unfortunately, there’s no chance of that.”
Brody slipped to the lowest step and glanced up at her, his shoes only inches from the grass.
“But what I need most of all,” Tammy said, propping the broom against the porch rail, “is for a certain little boy to listen to me when I tell him no.”
Brody turned his head, pointed at the front lawn and squealed as a golden ball of fur darted across the grass.
“I know you want to play with Scout.”
Good grief, did she know. When Earl arrived at first light, Scout had shown up shortly after, having followed Earl’s truck to the ranch, and had remained underfoot ever since. Apparently, Brody’s love for the puppy was reciprocated.
“But,” Tammy added, “I can’t finish sweeping this porch and chase after you and Scout at the same time, now can I?”
Brody grinned mischievously and scooted to the edge of the step.
“Don’t do it.” Tammy took a slow step forward, smiling as he stood. “Don’t. You. Do it..
.”
Brody cackled and took off, his jeans and diaper swishing with every step.
Tammy darted down the steps and chased him around Alex’s truck, which Earl and Alex had freed from the fallen tree. Scout joined Brody in the chase, and Tammy continued to play along, stumbling over the dog and laughing.
“That’s it, Brody,” Earl called out from the roof. “Give her a run for her money.”
Tammy caught Brody, hugged him to her middle and looked up. Alex and Earl stood on the roof, shading their eyes from the sun and chuckling down at them. Alex’s T-shirt, soaked with sweat, clung to his muscular frame and sent a wave of wanting over her.
“Don’t encourage him, Earl,” Tammy said, forcing her attention from Alex to the other man. “I’ve already had to—”
A strong buzzing started in Tammy’s back pocket. She froze in place, then scrambled to pull her cell phone free of her sweaty jeans. The red battery at the top of the display indicated the charge was almost depleted, but was it finally receiving calls? The lit screen displaying “Jen” in the center proved it was. Hallelujah!
“It’s working,” Tammy shouted. She kissed Brody’s cheek, then jumped up and down, waving the phone in the air. “We have cell service! That means the power may be back on soon.”
Alex and Earl exchanged an amused glance, then made their way to the ladder and started climbing down. Tammy swiped the screen and squealed hello into the receiver.
“Oh, thank heavens. I’ve been worried sick about you.” Jen’s voice held equal amounts of frustration and concern. “Every time I’ve called, your phone has been off, and you haven’t answered any of my text messages.”
“I couldn’t,” Tammy said, a relieved laugh bursting past her lips. “Cell service has been out and the landlines were down. There was no power because of the tornado—”
Jen gasped. “Are you all right? The sheriff sent word that you were okay, but I needed to hear your voice.”
“I’m fine. But my truck took a beating.”
“The storms have been all over the news the past couple of days. Colt said he didn’t think you normally took that route, but after the sheriff called, he went out of his mind worrying about you.”
Tammy winced. Colt Mead, Jen’s fiancé and Tammy’s cousin, had answered Tammy’s call for help years ago when her father’s beatings had become too severe to endure. Colt had picked her up the same day, and they’d eventually ended up on the rodeo circuit, where Colt began bull riding. After they met Jen, the three of them had toured the circuit together for years until Colt’s father was killed in a tragic accident. Colt left the circuit to take care of his younger sister and asked Jen to help him temporarily. But temporary turned into permanent after Colt and Jen fell in love, then decided to retire and settle down at Raintree Ranch to raise Colt’s sister.
“Please tell Colt I’m fine,” Tammy said, grabbing unsuccessfully at Brody’s waistband as he toddled away. “I’m stuck here for the moment, since my truck isn’t drivable, but I made it through okay.”
“Where are you? We’ll come get you.” There were scuffling sounds on the other end of the line. “Just tell me the address and we’ll leave right away.”
“No, please wait. My battery is about to die and I don’t have long, so please listen for a sec, okay?” Tammy gripped the phone tighter and hustled across the lawn, chasing Brody. “How are plans for the wedding coming? Is everything working out?”
“Everything’s going well,” Jen said. “I’ve got more than enough help and my mom is in wedding planner heaven.” Her laugh was brief. “It’s just that Colt and I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. But would you mind if I stayed and helped someone out for a couple of weeks, then came to Raintree a bit later? I promise I’ll be there in time for the rehearsal dinner. There’s no way I’d miss it.” She caught up with Brody, wrapped an arm around his waist and halted him before he reached a pile of debris by the driveway. “It’s just that someone helped me out and I kind of owe him a favor.”
Brody whined and strained in her hold, wiggling against her chest and jostling the phone.
“What was that?” Jen asked.
“The favor.” Tammy released Brody, allowing him to run across a safer part of the grass, then followed him to the other side of the lawn. “The storm was bad, Jen. It did a lot of damage. Razz is missing, and it left a little boy orphaned. It would’ve done me in, too, if it hadn’t been for Alex.”
“Alex?”
“That’s who I’m staying with while my truck is fixed. And until I find Razz. I can’t leave until I know what happened to her.” She cleared her throat to erase the shakiness from her voice. “Besides, Alex saved my life, and the least I can do is help him out.”
Tammy watched as Brody plopped onto the grass with Scout and quickly filled Jen in on what had happened, cringing each time the low-battery signal dinged across the line.
“So it’s just the three of you staying out there?” Jen asked. “Are you sure this Alex is trustworthy? I mean, you just met him.”
“I know. But he’s different.”
Tammy dragged her teeth over her bottom lip and sneaked a glance at Alex. He walked up the front steps, flipped the porch light switch on, then eyed the fixture. When it didn’t illuminate, he looked in her direction and shook his head, smiling sadly.
Tammy turned away, face heating, and lowered her voice. “I’m different with him. And after what we went through...” She pulled in a deep breath, searching for the right words. “I don’t know how to explain it, but I think I’m safe with him.”
“Sounds like he’s made quite an impression.”
“He has.” Tammy smiled, her belly fluttering as she recalled his gentle kiss and touches. “He’s a good man, and I owe him.” She pressed the phone tighter to her ear, waiting for Jen to speak. When she didn’t, Tammy asked, “What is it? You’re never this quiet.”
“I’m just thinking.”
“About what?” Tammy pressed. “You can always be honest with me.”
Jen remained silent for a moment, then said, “I know how difficult it is to be on the road alone, and I’m sorry Colt and I left like we did. We’re still family, and there’s always a place for you at Raintree if you get tired of the circuit.” She sighed. “This is really none of my business, but I love you like a sister and you’ve been through so much. Please don’t take this the wrong way, Tammy, but could how you met Alex have affected the way you see him?”
Her stomach tensed. She focused on the jagged line of trees on the other side of the grounds. “No. He is different. He’s a good man.”
“I’m not saying he isn’t,” Jen said hastily. “And I’m glad he helped you. But that doesn’t obligate you to him in any way. Of course, I’ll support you in whatever you choose to do. I just worry about you staying in the middle of nowhere with a stranger. And I worry about you getting too attached too fast and getting hurt. Could you please just think about it? For me? Just ask yourself if you think about this man the way you do because Colt and I are no longer with you. And, well, without Razz...” She hesitated. “Is it because you feel alone?”
Tammy closed her eyes, cheeks burning and throat thickening. “I—” Her voice broke. She opened her eyes and tried again. “I don’t...”
Two thick figures moved between the broken trees across the field.
Tammy squinted against the sharp rays of the sun, stilling as identifiable shapes emerged from between the stripped branches. Two muzzles appeared, then broad necks, long legs and tails.
“I’m sorry, I’ve got to go,” Tammy whispered, cutting the call and shoving the phone in her pocket.
She watched silently as the two horses cleared the tree line and ambled into the center of the field. They stopped and stood motionless, side by side. The distance and glare of the sun made it impos
sible to decipher the color of their hides.
“Razz?” Tammy lifted a shaky hand to her mouth and whistled around her fingers.
The horses didn’t respond. She took a jerky step forward.
“Easy.” Alex’s broad palm touched the small of her back, his voice soft. “We don’t know which horses they are or what state they’re in. Let me check them first.”
“I’m going with you,” she said.
Alex frowned. “Tammy—”
“Let her go,” Earl said. “She knows what she’s up against. If one of the horses is hers, she has the right to do what needs to be done if necessary.”
Tammy flinched, her stomach churning. She didn’t know what she’d do if she found Razz mortally wounded. But she couldn’t stand the thought of never knowing what happened to her.
Earl walked to Brody’s side and petted Scout. “Y’all go ahead. Brody and I will wait here.”
Brody smiled up at Earl, babbling and pointing at Scout’s rapidly wagging tail. Tammy’s eyes lingered on Brody, and she drew strength from the boy’s bright expression before meeting Alex’s solemn gaze.
“Ready?” he asked.
Tammy nodded, and they walked slowly across the field. As they approached, Tammy scrutinized the horses’ mud-slicked hides for Razz’s black-and-white pattern. The thick sludge coating the majority of their bodies made it difficult, but she managed to discern a broad black-and-white marking on one horse’s chest.
“Razz?”
Eyes swollen, both horses remained motionless with their ears meekly back and tails still. Though she didn’t respond, the horse on the left was definitely Razz.
Tammy stepped forward. “Hey, girl.”
Razz flinched and stepped back. The horse on the right followed suit, pressing close to Razz’s side. The sun dipped lower at their backs, and the wet streaks of tears on the mare’s cheeks glistened. Bright patches of blood mixed with the mud on both horses’ hides, denoting gashes and punctures on their shoulders, hips and legs.
Tammy held her breath, stifling a sob, and clenched her fists at her sides. She didn’t know what was worse—the days spent not knowing where Razz was at all, or finding Razz so badly wounded that she’d be forced to put her down.
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