“Near as I remember, she’s tall with dark hair. Looks sort of like an Indian princess. I think maybe there’s some Cheyenne in her background. She runs a bed-and-breakfast in Huerfano.”
“That little town we just went through, right?”
“Yep.”
“I liked it,” Shelby said. “The way people are fixing up those turn-of-the-century houses is nice.”
“Gwen’s place, Hawthorne House, is one of those. Skiing and tourism saved Huerfano,” Boone said. “Used to be a booming mining town, but the mines played out. The ranches around here couldn’t keep a town going, but tourists can.”
“I’ve never thought of living in a small town before, but if I get custody of Josh—”
“You mean when you get custody of Josh,” Boone said. Any other possibility would be obscene.
“Okay, when I get custody of Josh.” She sighed and leaned her head against the seat. “You have no idea what it means to me, having you on my side, Boone. I haven’t felt as if I had anybody on my side ever since the accident.”
He glanced over at her. In the faint light from the dash she looked beautiful, but pale and vulnerable, too. She needed him, and how he longed to be everything she needed, in every way. But he couldn’t. “Don’t you have a lawyer?”
“Yeah, my parents’ lawyer. He loves to paint the ‘worst case scenario’ as he puts it, which involves Mason winning full custody and me only getting limited visiting rights. He seems to relish reminding me that judges are usually fathers and will quite possibly side with Mason in this case. My parents picked a real crepe hanger for a lawyer. He’s a cold fish, just like they—” She turned to him, her eyes wide. “Forget I said that. My God, they just died. I have no right to—”
“Sure you do,” he said gently. He reached over and took her hand, thinking that any person would do the same. Taking her hand wasn’t a sexual thing. The problem was that once he had her hand in his, he wanted to bring it to his lips. He wanted to pull the truck over to the side of the road and kiss her. Really kiss her.
But he didn’t.
“My parents didn’t know any better.” Shelby held tight to his hand. “Somebody, maybe my grandparents, taught them that money and prestige were everything. They taught Patricia the same thing.”
“But not you.” He rubbed a thumb over the delicate bones in the back of her hand and wondered if a big guy like him could make love to her without doing damage. Of course, he’d never find out.
“I’ve always been the different one in the family,” Shelby said. “I never quite fitted in, never liked getting all dressed up and going to fancy parties, never wanted a career in the limelight. Maybe that was because I wasn’t the pretty one, but—”
“Are you crazy?”
She turned toward him. “You mean because I blew a chance to be part of high society?”
“Not that! You just said you weren’t the pretty one! You’re—” He suddenly realized he’d gotten loud and was about to tell her she was beautiful, gorgeous, sexy. “You’re very pretty,” he said quietly, grateful for the darkened interior of the truck so she wouldn’t see the hunger in his eyes.
“Shebby’s bootiful,” Josh said from the back seat.
“Listen to the kid,” Boone murmured, wishing he could speak as freely as the three-year-old about his feelings for Shelby. “He knows what he’s talking about.”
“You’re both embarrassing me.” She eased her hand out of Boone’s grasp.
The minute Shelby took her hand from his, Boone felt disconnected from an important energy source. He longed to feel that power surge again, and he had to stop himself from reclaiming her hand. Uh-oh. He was starting to need Shelby McFarland.
Shelby turned toward the back seat. “How long have you been awake back there?”
“I dunno. I heared you talking. When are we gonna get there? Me and Bob, we gots to go potty.”
Boone spotted the entrance to the ranch looming up ahead. “How about if we’re almost there? How’s that?”
“We’re there? Really there?”
“See those two poles with another pole across the top?” Boone asked.
“Yep!”
“That’s the main gate. There’s a sign hanging down from the top pole. You might not be able to read it in the dark, but it says Rocking D Ranch, and it has Sebastian’s brand on either side.”
“Brand? What’s that?”
“His special sign. He stamps it on all the cows that he owns, and on a few other things around the ranch, too.” Boone decided not to get into the details of branding cows. Truth be told, Boone had never much liked the process, himself, which was why he was a blacksmith and not a cattleman.
“What’s it look like?” Josh asked.
“It’s a letter D sitting sideways on top of a curved line, like the rocker on a rocking chair. The whole thing looks kind of like a cradle.”
Josh thought about that for a while. “I know my ABCs,” he announced. “Wanna hear?”
“Sure.” Boone welcomed the distraction. Up ahead was Elizabeth, his little baby girl. His stomach clenched.
Josh began to sing the alphabet song, but he only got to the letter M before he interrupted himself. “Lights!” he chortled. “I see a house!”
Shelby let out a long breath. “Oh, Boone, what a lovely place. You didn’t tell me it was made of peeled logs. And a stone chimney with smoke coming out. Could anything be more welcoming?”
“It’s a nice house,” Boone said as he parked behind Travis’s shiny black rig. He was so nervous he thought he might be sick. Thank God he had Shelby and Josh with him. They helped calm him down a little.
“It’s a great house,” Josh said.
Boone unbuckled his seat belt. “Sebastian planted those aspens in the front.” He noticed the aspens were taller than last year. He’d missed this place, but the rush of homecoming he always felt was overshadowed by a bad case of nerves. “You can’t see the mountains too well when it’s this dark, but Sebastian gets a real pretty view from here.”
“I can see them,” Shelby said. “Just barely.”
“Me, too!” Josh exclaimed.
“I can hardly wait for morning,” Shelby added, “so I can see everything better. Josh, this is a little bit like Yellowstone, with the mountains and the trees and everything.”
“Do you gots geezers?” Josh asked.
“No, afraid not.” Boone smiled, despite his nervousness. “But you could ask Sebastian about it. Tell him you’re looking for geezers.” Boone liked to kid Sebastian about his age. He’d just turned thirty-five, which made him the oldest of the bunch, and nobody ever let him forget it, either.
“Where’s the horsies?” Josh asked.
“Down in the barn.” Boone opened his door and drew in a lungful of cool, clean air scented with pine. “We’ll go take a look in a little while, after you go potty and get some chow into you.”
“Can’t we see ’em now? Bob wants to see ’em now.”
“No, Josh,” Shelby said. “It wouldn’t be polite to rush down there. We need to go in and meet Boone’s friends first.”
Boone rounded the truck and helped Shelby down. He wished he could just hold on to her for a little while. He knew holding Shelby would steady him.
She rested her hands on his arms. “Are you okay?”
“Sure.”
“But you’re shaking.”
“Nervous about the baby, I guess.”
She squeezed his arms. “It’ll be fine, Boone. I—”
“Gots to go pot-ty,” Josh sang out from the back seat.
“Let’s get him out,” Boone said. He’d barely lifted the little boy to the ground when a commotion came from the house. He turned as people and dogs erupted out of the front door. They surged across the porch and down the steps toward Boone’s truck.
“They gots doggies, too!” Josh cried in delight.
“Big doggies,” Shelby said as she scooped Josh up in her arms.
“Hey, Bo
one!” Sebastian was in the lead, a huge smile on his face. “Where you been, boy? Can’t believe a little snow would slow you down!”
“I tried to talk my way through it.” Boone clasped Sebastian’s hand as Fleafarm, Sebastian’s mixed breed, and Sadie, Matty’s Great Dane, danced happily around him, panting and barking.
Boone’s glance moved to Matty close on Sebastian’s heels, and Travis and Gwen calling out greetings as they brought up the rear. Nobody was holding a baby. Elizabeth must be taking a nap or something. He was relieved. He’d have a little more time to prepare himself.
“I’d like you all to meet Shelby McFarland,” Boone said. He quite naturally put an arm around her shoulders to guide her forward and it sure felt right, as if he was bringing his sweetheart home to meet his friends. Which of course he wasn’t, and he’d do well to remember that. “And this here’s Josh,” he added.
“Pleased to meet you,” Sebastian said, his smile wide but his gaze assessing.
“Thank you for having us on such short notice and in the midst of all your activities,” Shelby said.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Sebastian said. Then he glanced back over his shoulder. “Matty? There you are.” He scooped her in next to him. “This is my wife, Matty,” he said with obvious pride.
“Welcome to the Rocking D, Josh and Shelby,” Matty said. Her smile was as bright as her husband’s, but she gave Shelby and Josh the once-over, too. Then she glanced at Boone. “Do I get a hug, big guy?”
“You bet.” Boone embraced her warmly. “Congratulations, Matty. Wish I’d been here for the ceremony.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Break it up, break it up.” Travis appeared and clapped Boone on the shoulder. “At least you’re here for mine.” He tipped his Stetson in Shelby’s direction. “Though I can see why you might want to dawdle and keep this beautiful woman to yourself. Pleased to meet you, Shelby. You, too, Josh.” He caught Gwen by the hand and pulled her close. “You remember this lovely lady, right, Boone?”
“Sure do.” Boone touched the brim of his hat. “Good to see you, Gwen. And this here’s Shelby and Josh.”
“I’m glad to meet both of you,” Gwen said. Her expression was friendly, but as openly curious as Matty and Sebastian’s had been. “How was your trip?”
“Good, thanks to Boone,” Shelby said, glancing at him. “He kept Josh entertained the whole way.”
“We counted cars,” Josh said. “And I winned. But now me and Bob gots to go potty.”
“I’ll bet you do.” Matty stepped forward and put her arm around Shelby. “Let’s get you both inside,” she said, guiding them toward the porch. “The guys can bring the stuff in.”
“You’re probably both starving, too.” Gwen fell into step on the other side of Shelby and the dogs pranced at her heels. “And you might even be able to use a glass of wine, Shelby.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Shelby said.
“You gots lemonade?” Josh asked.
“I think we can find some,” Matty said.
Boone watched them hustle Shelby and Josh into the house and felt displaced. He was glad they’d welcomed them into the group and were taking such good care of them, but damn it, he’d gotten used to the job.
“Who’s Bob?” Sebastian glanced around the yard.
“Josh’s imaginary friend,” Boone said, gazing after them. “The way Josh talks, you’d think he really existed. We always have to make sure we include Bob in everything.”
“We?” Travis asked. “Sounds cozy.”
Boone whipped around to face him and knew he was blushing. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that we’ve all been together since last night, and I—”
“Easy, big fella.” Sebastian rested a hand on Boone’s shoulder. “She’s a nice girl. I can see why you’re interested.”
“I’m not interested. I’m only helping her out!”
“That’s not the way it looks from where I’m standing,” Travis said. “I say you’re interested. And so’s she.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Boone said. “I can’t be interested, and you know it.”
“I do? What, you took a vow of celibacy I don’t know about?”
“Yeah,” Sebastian said. “Darlene’s out of the picture, so why can’t you be interested?”
Boone stared at both of them. “Don’t be dense. Because of Jessica. And the baby.”
Sebastian and Travis exchanged a look. Then Sebastian turned to Boone. “You’re not assuming you’re Elizabeth’s father, are you?”
“Of course I’m assuming it. Which means I have an obligation to Jessica.”
Travis laughed and shook his head. “I can’t believe this.”
“It’s not funny!”
Sebastian grinned. “Yeah, it is. Travis and I have dealt with the same damned thing you’re putting yourself through. Both of us almost missed a chance for happiness with the women we love because we convinced ourselves we had an obligation to Jessica.”
Boone squared his shoulders. “In the first place, I’m not even close to being in love with Shelby.” He felt a twinge of guilt. He was lying to his two best friends. “Second of all, you don’t have an obligation to Jessica, because you’re not the baby’s father. But I am, so I do.”
Travis sighed and glanced at Sebastian. “Well, maybe he’s going to have to find out the hard way, like we did. It’d be nice to think a man was willing to take his best friends’ advice, but that’s obviously not the case. I think we’re flapping our gums for nothing, Sebastian.”
“Could be.”
“Look, you two, there is nothing going on between Shelby and me,” Boone said. Another twinge of guilt.
“Oh, there is most definitely something going on,” Sebastian said. “The question is whether you’re going to be smart enough to take advantage of the fact. Come on, let’s get your gear out of the truck, or my chicken dinner is going to be overcooked before we’re ready to eat it.”
9
THE INSIDE of the ranch house was so cozy, Shelby sighed with delight. Matty took their coats and directed them to the bathroom down the hall. Then she and Gwen left to organize drinks for everyone, including wine for Shelby and lemonade for Josh.
On her way through the living room, Shelby took appreciative notice of everything. The furniture was the kind that could withstand dogs and children and big men wearing dusty jeans. A wing chair and an old rocker flanked a wear-polished leather sofa, and a sturdy wooden coffee table sat in front of it.
The house not only looked comfortable, it smelled that way, too—a homey combination of cedar crackling in the fireplace, chicken in the oven and sweet peas in a jug on the coffee table.
So this is what a real home feels like. Shelby contrasted it with her parents’ showplace in San Antonio. After growing up in a formal atmosphere, Shelby had known what she didn’t want. Seeing this rustic, comfortable room, she finally knew what she did want.
A light was on in a bedroom at the end of the hall, and Shelby heard a baby coo, followed by the low murmur of a woman’s voice. Shelby’s stomach rolled. Jessica.
She hustled Josh into the bathroom, flipped on the light and closed the door. Then she leaned against it and fought for breath. Suddenly this perfect house wasn’t so perfect anymore. She felt like crying. For a few precious minutes she’d imagined herself fitting into this world of Boone’s, and she’d loved the feeling. But if Jessica had arrived, that could only mean one thing. She was here to see Boone. And Boone would have no more time for Shelby.
“Shebby?” Josh stared up at her.
She gazed down at the little boy and quickly whipped her priorities into order. This whole trip wasn’t about her, it was about Josh. If Boone stopped paying attention to him because of Jessica and the baby, he’d be devastated. She’d have to be ready to compensate, as she always had.
“You look like you been runnin’,” Josh said.
“It’s the altitude,” she said, taking a deep breath.
“
You gots a bad altitude?”
She couldn’t help smiling. “Altitude,” she said. “That means we’re up in the mountains, which is a higher altitude than down in San Antonio. There’s less oxygen up here, so that sometimes makes it a little harder to catch your breath.”
“What’s ox-gin?”
“Something in the air that helps you breathe. Come on, Josh, we’d better tend to business, here.” She walked over and put up the toilet seat.
“It’s wood, Shebby.”
“Oak. Yes, it is.” She started to help him pull down his sweats and underpants.
“I’ll do it.” He shoved her gently aside. “Boone showed me how to get my wee-wee out. Look. I don’t gots to take my pants off. They gots a hole. See?”
“I see. Good for you.” She swallowed a lump in her throat. How much longer would Boone be available to coach Josh in the art of being a boy? Maybe the end had already come.
BOONE, Sebastian and Travis trooped into the house. Travis had insisted on taking all Josh’s toys and Sebastian had Shelby and Josh’s suitcases, so Boone had been left to carry only his duffel. Since nothing had been said about the baby, Boone finally decided he’d have to ask. “Where’s Elizabeth?”
“Still back with Luann, I guess,” Sebastian said over his shoulder. He glanced at Matty who had just come in the living room with a tray of drinks. “Where do you want us to put everything?”
“Luann?” Boone set his duffel down, not sure where he’d be sleeping yet. “What’d you do, hire a nanny?” He’d veto that quick. He didn’t want his baby taken care of by strangers.
“Luann’s my mother,” Travis said. “Cool toys we have here, Sebastian. We can have ourselves some fun with—”
“Your mother?” Boone interrupted. “You never said anything about a mother. Where’s she been all this time?”
“In Utah.” Travis answer was nonchalant. “I see drinks are being served. Let’s unload this stuff and party. Matty? What goes where?”
Matty set down the tray on the coffee table. “I thought we’d put—”
“Wait a minute,” Boone said. “Do you mean to tell me, Travis, that when you went to Utah every winter, and we thought you were off playing with ski bunnies for six months, you were going to stay with your mother?”
Boone’s Bounty Page 10