by Hebby Roman
“That’s so romantic,” Audrey replied.
His mother laughed and reached for her tea. “He didn’t respond quite so easily. He did tell me later that he liked me right off, but he was slower to warm to the idea that our hearts were meant to be together.” She bobbed her teabag up and down.
“He was a rancher through and through,” she continued. “I wasn’t. I was a city girl. It was an adjustment when we got married, that was for certain. Then Braden came along.” She brought the mug to her lips and sipped. “And I never looked back once.”
“You also have two daughters?” Audrey asked.
“Yes. I’m afraid their desire to leave here was much stronger than Braden’s. He’s a Delaney, just like Cam, and his father before him. Their connection to this place runs deep, much deeper than for the women. I’ve always wondered about that. It’s rather spooky that way.” She sat back in her chair and smiled. “Braden has yet to find that woman who’s willing to give it all up and live here with him.”
“You make it sound like a death sentence,” he replied.
“To the wrong woman, it is.” His mother raised an eyebrow. “Remember that girl you dated a few years ago? What was her name?”
Braden froze. He didn’t want to talk about old girlfriends in front of Audrey. But he also didn’t want to hurt his mom’s feelings by telling her to keep quiet.
“Whitney.”
“Oh, that was it.” His mom’s eyes widened then rolled upward. “I suppose she was nice enough, but I knew the moment I met her that she wasn’t the one.”
Braden chewed on the side of his cheek, uncertain how far to go down this path. Whitney had been fun at first, but almost right away he’d known it wasn’t going to work. Maybe he should have conveyed that to his mom immediately, but relationships could be messy and hindsight gave perfect vision that he certainly hadn’t had at the time.
And extracting himself from Whitney had taken longer than he’d expected. It hadn’t helped that she’d befriended his sister Jenny, making the no-contact portion of the end of the relationship difficult to maintain.
“Do you have a boyfriend, Audrey?”
Braden almost smiled at his mother’s fast switch of conversation. This was the Piper Delaney of old, and how he’d missed her.
“No,” Audrey said.
Braden suppressed a second smile, both at Audrey’s answer and because he wasn’t sure he wanted his mother around as he tried to get to know Audrey. He didn’t put much stock in sudden feelings and all that, but his mother’s words echoed in his head. Within ten minutes of talking to him, I knew he was the one.
Recalling Audrey’s tumble off the hill and right into his path, of his stunned reaction to her smudged face and rounded breasts labeled appropriately as boobies, he’d simply chalked it up to male appreciation of an attractive woman. He didn’t see many of those most days on the ranch—attractive women or boobies. He usually had to go to town for that, and he hadn’t been much up for it in the past year with his dad’s illness and death.
But spending time with Audrey had made him only like her more, and now, as she sat chatting with his mom in the cozy confines of the Delaney Ranch living room, he couldn’t ignore the rightness of it.
He might be a stubborn Delaney male, but apparently he also had a little bit of his mom’s starry-eyed faith in the destiny of the universe.
He was practical enough to know that no matter how drawn he was to Audrey, that no matter how well they might fit together—and at that thought his mind went to her soft skin and round contours—he had no plans to leave a life of ranching, and he hadn’t met a woman yet who’d give up everything to stay here with him.
Scratch that—Whitney had offered to move in and give it a go, but Braden had decided at that point that he didn’t want her to. In all honesty, he’d never been that attached to any woman to warrant a permanent occupation at the ranch. Maybe it was his way of not getting hurt. Maybe it was his way of not ending up with a woman like Whitney who would have driven him nuts in the long run.
While he was lonely at times and more so since his dad had died, he was loath to compromise his life.
Perhaps it was best if he steered clear of Audrey.
But every cell in his body rebelled at that thought.
His mother lifted the lid of the wooden box, and her forehead pinched into a furrow. “What on earth? I don’t remember this.” She removed what looked like a plaster mask.
Awe spread across Audrey’s face as she stood and stepped close to his mom to inspect it. “That looks like a death mask.”
“What’s a death mask?” Braden asked.
His mom handed the life-size relic to Audrey, and she quickly knelt and set the mask on the carpet with extra care. Hovering over it, she said, “It’s an image of a person’s face following death. Some masks are famous, such as King Tut’s in Egypt. They’re usually made as a remembrance of a deceased person and were often used in funerals.” Audrey surveyed the artifact from every angle. “It seems quite old. Do you know whose it is?”
His mother inspected the box. “No…. Wait.” She tipped the container to the side. “There’s an inscription here. Thaddeus Marsh.”
Audrey sat back on her heels. “That’s an interesting coincidence. I never thought death masks were big in the Old West. Where’s Thaddeus buried?”
Braden’s mother paused. “I don’t know. We do have a family cemetery. We were all just there for Cam.”
Braden reached an arm out to his mom when she paused and took a shaky breath.
“I don’t know if there’s a plot for Thaddeus,” she continued, smiling her thanks at Braden. “I’m afraid I’ve never paid that much attention. We should go there tomorrow morning so Blue can visit with Cam. Why don’t you come, Audrey, and we can have a look for Thaddeus.”
“I’d be happy to,” Audrey said.
Braden searched for Blue. He was dead asleep in the corner of the room, on a dog bed they’d kept for him behind a chair. His mother had never moved it. Blue had reclaimed it as if he’d never been gone.
His mom stood. “Around seven, then. I’m going to turn in, but you two stay and look through this stuff as long as you like.”
Braden wanted to tell her about the offer on Whisper Rock from Wes Schmidt, but weariness lined her face. He held his tongue. With Blue home, maybe she’d finally have a good night’s rest.
As his mother left the room, Blue’s sixth sense awoke him and he bounded after her with hardly a glance at him and Audrey.
“I guess we know where his loyalties lie.” Audrey carefully placed the plaster mask back into its resting spot on a pile of faded silk sheaths, and then secured the lid.
Braden met her eyes. He figured he didn’t have much time with her, so decided to go all in. “I’ll cut to the chase. As my mother has pointed out, I’m a rancher. I’ll always be a rancher. It’s not a life most women would choose. My room’s on the other side of the house, and you’re welcome to join me. I have no idea how this can be anything more than casual, so I’m gonna let you decide. I really like you, but I understand if it’s more than you want to take on right now.” He paused to take a breath. “I want you, Audrey. And I have protection, since that was a concern of yours.” He’d hit up his range foreman, Lasco, since Braden hadn’t possessed any condoms.
Audrey’s face stilled in astonishment.
He’d said too much. His shoulders sagged in disappointment. He’d probably just driven her away, but better to be honest up front.
Her face slowly lost its stony expression, and she shuffled across the floor on her knees to where he sat on the sofa and positioned herself between his legs. “I’ve never had a guy be so forthright with me.”
She kissed him, her lips gentle and inviting. He explored her mouth while his hands came to her backside and pressed her close. Desire flared and the kisses quickly turned into desperate, hungry things.
“I think I’d like to come to your room,” she said against his mouth.
He pulled back, his breathing heavy, and stood. He grabbed her hand and led her out of the living room. At the end of a hallway, he pushed open his bedroom door. As soon as they were inside, he shut the door and went to work showing Audrey how he felt about her.
She met him with a yearning that matched his, and as much as he wanted to prolong the foreplay, he was swiftly losing the battle. He shed his shirt and she followed with hers, and before long he had her in his bed, completely bared to him.
Hot and ready, she met his rhythm as if she’d known his playlist all along. As they spiraled down from the frenzied encounter, he held her close, her hair smelling of citrus and her skin soft and dewy. The cloud that had been hanging over him the past two months lifted, and he felt at peace. His body’s physical needs had been slaked, but somehow Audrey had done something more extraordinary—with her, his soul had found a rare moment of harmony.
Chapter Ten
Audrey awoke in the guest room where Piper had put her, a wooden statue of a black bear greeting her on the nightstand. She snuggled deeper into her covers.
This ranch life could grow on her.
Being with Braden could grow on her.
Memories of the previous night in his arms played through her mind, igniting an ache in her body, and with little prompting she craved him all over again.
She had stayed with him for several hours, but she’d returned to her room out of respect to Piper. Braden had been quite thorough in his exploration of her. She’d never had a connection with a man this fast, and she shook off the notion that she’d managed to get in over her head one more time.
She rose from bed wearing a t-shirt and underwear, then dashed to the bathroom. She splashed cold water onto her face, which helped clear her head.
She certainly hadn’t come out here searching for a guy. Had she?
It was just weird luck that she’d practically rolled into the arms of a quiet and handsome modern-day cowboy. How in the world would they fit their lives together?
She had no idea.
Braden had told her last night that this couldn’t be anything more than casual. She supposed he was right. But that hadn’t kept her from his bed.
She pulled her hair into a sloppy bun and yanked on a pair of trail pants. Pulling off her shirt, she dug into her backpack for a clean one. She had only two choices left and picked the least offensive one.
When she entered the kitchen, Braden stood at the countertop making pancakes on a griddle, looking as yummy as whipped cream in his flannel shirt and jeans, his hair wet from a shower.
“Good morning.” He grinned at her and before she could blink, he quickly kissed her.
“You’re one of those cheery morning people, aren’t you?” she said.
His gaze dropped to her chest, and he read the words in white on the dark blue shirt. “Archaeologists will date any old thing. Are you trying to tell me something?”
“Yes. I’m almost out of clean shirts.” She flipped open a few cupboards until she found the mugs, then helped herself to coffee from the pot brewing on Braden’s left. She stood close enough to bump against him and inhale his aftershave. Could she drag him away for a quickie?
Instead, she eyed the fluffy golden pancakes. “Those smell wonderful. No wonder your mom likes you living with her.”
Piper entered, dressed in a plaid shirt and jeans. “He doesn’t cook like this for me. It’s all for you, Audrey.”
Audrey’s face warmed and she stepped back, not wanting to drool all over Braden in front of his mom. Soon they were all seated at a round table in the kitchen, a bouquet of lavender and powder-blue wildflowers at the center.
Braden stacked three large pancakes on his plate and drenched them in syrup. “I have something to tell you, Mom.”
Audrey paused, a forkful of food halfway to her mouth. Was he about to spill the beans about them? Not that she was ashamed, but Audrey knew she and Braden had moved much too fast, an acceleration she doubted a mother would approve.
“I’m planning to sell Whisper Rock,” he said.
Stunned, Audrey set the uneaten pancake back on her plate. This was nearly as bad as telling his mom he’d had wild sex with Audrey most of the night.
“Why on earth would you do that?” Piper pinned her son with a disapproving glower.
“First, it’s an odd extension of the property line,” Braden said. “It doesn’t really make any sense why it belongs to Delaney land, except for family lore stating that it’s meant to stay.” He hesitated, then continued, “And second, there’s a balloon payment on the east property coming due in a few months, and we don’t have the money.”
Piper sighed. “I had no idea.”
“Neither did I. The bank contacted me a few weeks ago. I’ve run the numbers countless times, but we can’t swing it unless we sell something. And I’ve got an offer on the land.”
“From whom?” Piper asked.
“Wes Schmidt.”
Piper muttered under her breath, and Audrey was sure part of it was an obscenity.
“I take it you don’t like this man?” Audrey cautiously posed the question, unsure if she should participate in this very-private conversation. But Braden had included her, so he must think she should know as well.
“I don’t.” Piper pressed her lips into a thin line.
“It’s just business, Mom. It’s a good offer.”
“Then why did you take Audrey to Whisper Rock?” Piper practically threw the question in Braden’s face. “And now we’ve found Blue.” The dog whapped his tail on the wooden floor from his position at his mother’s feet. Emotion filled her voice as she said, “You can’t possibly tell me that there isn’t something more to all of this.”
Braden took a swallow of coffee. “That’s why I’m telling you both. Maybe I shouldn’t sell. Maybe, somehow, I can get the bank to renegotiate a new loan until we can find an alternative solution.”
“Let’s give Audrey a chance to investigate.” Piper turned a hopeful gaze to Audrey. “Will you do it?”
Audrey really wasn’t sure what Piper thought she’d find, but there had to be some reason Thaddeus Marsh had visited her in her dreams.
Braden gave her a thoughtful look. “And can you be fairly quick about it? Schmidt wants an answer in three days.”
Audrey looked from Braden to Piper. “Yes. I’ll try.”
* * *
Braden wanted to take Audrey back to Whisper Rock as soon as possible, but first he needed to accompany his mother and Blue to the cemetery.
They climbed into his Ford truck, Audrey in the middle, and he drove them the quarter mile down a dirt road to the white-fenced enclosure. Blue was in the back, astonishing Braden by jumping into the bed of the truck without any help. Whatever had happened out at Whisper Rock, Blue was much the better for it.
He stopped the vehicle and Blue immediately began barking. Braden slid out of the cab and quickly lowered the tailgate before the dog took it upon himself to leap over the side. It would be a shame if he hurt himself after all this.
As soon as Blue hit dirt, he began sniffing the ground, his tail wagging, and he soon made a circuitous route to the cemetery entrance.
Braden looked at his mother. With a somber expression on her blanched face, he knew this was hard for her. He swung his gaze to Audrey and sympathy reflected in her eyes. He put an arm around his mother and walked with her to the Delaney burial ground. They stopped when they came to a gray granite headstone: CAMERON DELANEY.
Blue loped directly to stand beside them, and then inspected the ground and the headstone, finally lying atop the grave.
Braden removed his cowboy hat and remained standing while his mother knelt beside Blue, scratching the dog behind the ears.
“Look who we found, Cam,” she said. “I knew you’d want to see him right away.”
Braden swallowed past a lump in his throat. Damn, I miss you, Old Man.
They stayed like this for a long time. When Braden turned to leave, he not
iced Audrey by the cemetery entrance, waiting quietly. She gave him a smile as he approached.
He donned his hat, unable to find any words, and thankfully, Audrey seemed to understand. His mom finally joined them at the truck.
“I forgot to look for Thaddeus Marsh’s grave,” she said.
“It’s all right,” Audrey responded. “While you both were paying your respects, I searched all the gravestones. He isn’t buried here. I also found something odd—Marcus Delaney and his wife, Elise, aren’t buried here either. Was the cemetery started after them?”
Braden’s mom shook her head. “No. Their children are here. I have a family tree back at the house I can show you.”
“Where do you think they’re buried?” Audrey asked.
“I don’t know,” his mom said.
“Would you mind if I took the death mask back to Whisper Rock with me?”
“I suppose not,” his mother said. “Do you think it belongs there?”
Audrey hesitated. “I can’t say why, but yes, I do.”
“Then take it.” His mom reached out and gave Audrey’s arm a squeeze. “You and Braden ought to leave soon.”
Audrey took his mom’s hand into hers. “Piper, I’d really like you and Blue to come with us.”
“Why?”
Audrey gazed around as the wind blew softly through the yellow grass that coated the land. “I think that it might be good for you to be there.”
His mom was silent for a moment, then said, “Okay. Let’s go.”
Chapter Eleven
Audrey dusted dirt from the edge of the cave wall using a handbroom. Hunched over, she inspected the area for any artifacts. It had been two days since she’d come here with Braden, Piper, and Blue.
Audrey sat back on her heels, rubbing the ache in her lower back. If Blue had his way, he’d be in here with her, but she’d had to keep the dog out since he had a habit of messing up an area she was trying to clear. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but something compelled her to keep searching.
Braden had his foreman, Billy Lasco, bring supplies—food, tents, sleeping bags, and more importantly, two big spotlights to illuminate the cave.