Dakota Sunrise

by Leah Brooke

  Sam sighed and got to his feet. “She needs more firewood.”

  “Hmm.” Carson finished his beer and sighed. “Did you see the way Len was looking at her?”

  “Sure did. He won’t have her.”

  “Agreed.” Reluctantly turning back to the house in the hope of getting some sleep, he glanced back at Sam.

  Sam turned from staring at her house, meeting Carson’s gaze. “She’s not gonna be in any hurry to have another man in her life. It’s gonna take a lot of patience and understanding. She needs to trust the man she’s with.”

  With the anger in his stomach burning hot at the thought of it, Carson scraped a hand through his hair. “She shouldn’t be in any hurry. She’s got Casey to look out for.”

  Sam inclined his head. “She needs stability. We need to stay close and let her know she’s safe.”

  Carson dropped into another chair, leaning back with a sigh. “I want her like hell, but I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around her. I have to make it clear to her that I want her while making it clear that I don’t want her seeing anyone else. I have to give her the space she needs to come to terms with her new life while staying close enough to her to protect her and not giving her the chance to start to think I’m not serious.”

  Sam rose, staring at the house where Deanna and Casey slept. “It’s a bitch. That last part is gonna be our biggest hurdle.”

  Carson sighed, the knots in his stomach tightening. “She thinks that we’re playing a game with her. She doesn’t believe that we’re looking for something permanent.”

  Turning, Sam leaned back against the railing. “Are we?”

  Stiffening, Carson sat forward. “I am. I thought you were, too.”

  “Oh, I am. Just wanted to see if you’d changed your mind.”

  Carson got to his feet. “Not a chance. I want her. I know damned well that it’s not going to be easy, and something tells me that it’s going to be more complicated than either one of us anticipates. It’s too damned soon to be planning the future, but damn it, I know what the hell I want.”

  “On that we agree, as well, but you and I have a lot of work to do. We have to project a united front. It’s the only way to keep her safe and convince her that we’re serious. She needs the security of a united front, and she needs to know that you and I aren’t going to be fighting over her. She needs peace—not tension.”

  “And in the meantime, we need to watch out for Jimmy.” Crossing his arms over his chest, Carson clenched his jaw. “Part of me hopes that asshole shows up. I’d love to give him a taste of his own medicine.”

  Sam inclined his head. “You and me both.”

  Carson scraped a hand through his hair. “I’m gonna try to get some sleep. I want to get over to see them in the morning before heading out.”

  He went to bed again, but it was a long time before he slept.

  * * * *

  Sam woke the next morning and glanced at the clock, grimacing to see that he’d managed to sleep only a little more than an hour.

  In the darkness, he could easily imagine Deanna lying warm and soft against him, feeling safe in the security he could give her.

  In the security his love would give her.

  He knew it was too soon to believe he loved her, but it was there.

  He couldn’t have denied it if he wanted to.

  He’d worked hard to achieve his dream of owning his own ranch, but he had a feeling that his greatest challenge lay ahead.

  His plan to bring her back to the ranch and watch over her had become something far more, each minute he’d spent with her strengthening his resolve to have her for his own.

  Their own.

  He and Carson had shared women in their youth but had never spoken about sharing a woman on a permanent basis—until they’d met Deanna.

  Shoving the covers aside, he got up and headed for the shower, hoping that once Deanna had the sense of security she needed to feel safe, they could settle into a normalcy and get on with their lives.

  Minutes later, he went out to the kitchen to find Carson already there. “I didn’t hear you get up.”

  Sipping coffee, Carson turned from where he stood at the window. “I’ve only been up a few minutes. You look like you haven’t slept any more than I have.”

  Sam sighed and poured himself a cup of coffee. “I don’t like how quiet she got yesterday. Once we go over there, take some firewood and start a fire for her and Casey, I hope to sit down and have a cup of coffee with her and get her to tell us what’s bothering her.”

  Carson used his cup to gesture toward the outside. “Snow stopped.”

  Sam smiled and took a sip of his coffee, hoping the caffeine kicked in. “Yeah. Abe’ll be out plowing.” He took another sip, shaking his head. “Sometimes I wonder if his ass isn’t glued to that thing.”

  Abe Ford, one of the men who’d been on the rodeo circuit with them, had been gored by a bull over a decade earlier and had been unable to ride a horse ever since.

  Instead of firing him, Don had kept him on the payroll through Abe’s recovery and beyond.

  Grateful, Abe had vowed to make himself useful and had taken over the snow plowing. Although both Sam and Carson had assured him that they had no intention of firing him, the other man took pride in keeping the miles of roads on the ranch plowed and cleared of ice and snow.

  Carson smiled faintly again, clearly distracted. “Abe appears to have found his calling. He knows every road on this ranch like the back—”

  The phone rang, cutting off the rest of whatever he’d been about to say, and Sam took another sip of coffee while crossing to answer it. “Taylor.”

  “Boss—fire in the bunkhouse! Already called the fire department, but we’re putting it out.”

  “On our way. Everybody out?”

  “Think so. We’re checking.”

  Sam hung up and slammed his cup on the table. “Fire in the bunkhouse.”

  Less than thirty seconds later, he and Carson were out the door and flying down the driveway.

  * * * *

  Driving back toward the ranch house, Carson rubbed his eyes, which were gritty from smoke and lack of sleep.

  It had been hours since they’d left, having to deal with the aftermath of the fire, dealing with the fire department, and finding what had started the fire.

  He was tired, hungry, needed a shower, and was impatient to go see Deanna.

  He passed the snowplow and drove up the driveway to both their house and Deanna’s and around to the back, slamming on the brakes when Mary came running out the back door. “What the fuck?”

  He’s barely parked before Sam opened the door and stepped out.

  Gripping their housekeeper’s forearms, Sam rushed to her. “Mary! What’s wrong?”

  When Sam closed the truck door, Carson hurriedly threw the truck in park, turned off the engine, and rushed out.

  Wringing her hands, Mary shook her head, her eyes welling with tears. “The baby’s sick.”

  Carson’s stomach tightened. “Casey?” Panicked, he spun toward Deanna’s house.

  “She’s not there.”

  Turning back, Carson shared a look with Sam. “Where are they?”

  Sam led Mary back toward the house. “It’s freezing out here. Let’s get you inside. Tell us what happened.”

  Carson bit back his impatience as they hustled Mary back inside the house. Once inside, though, he couldn’t wait any longer. “What happened?”

  Mary jumped. “My cookies!”

  Thankfully, she talked as she retrieved a tray of cookies from the oven. “Don’s niece, Deanna, called this morning, looking for either one of you. She said that you left the number to call here if she needed anything.”

  Sam inclined his head. “We did.”

  He pulled out his cell, even as Carson did the same. “We also gave her our cell phone numbers, but she didn’t call. So what did she say? What’s wrong with Casey?”

  “She had a fever.” Mary set t
he tray on the stove and turned, clearly shaken. “I told her that you’d gone out because of the fire and asked if I could help her with something.”

  Shaking her head, she wrung her hands again, clearly upset. “I shouldn’t have told her about the fire. If I didn’t tell her that, she would have called you. Casey woke up with a fever and was crying because her ear hurt. Poor baby. I tried to tell Deanna that I would be happy to call you, but she asked me not to. She said that you were busy, and she couldn’t wait. I saw Len Miller pull up a little while after that, and they all left in a hurry.”

  Carson went to the phone and hurriedly dialed Dr. Scott’s number, worried even more when he hung up minutes later.

  Sam stopped pacing and gripped his arm. “Well?”

  “Casey has an ear infection. She needs antibiotics. They left the office about twenty minutes ago.” Scraping a hand through his hair, he gestured toward the cookies. “Are those ready? I want to get over there and be there when they get back.”

  Sam had already grabbed his hat. “I’m gonna go start a fire. If Casey’s got a fever, she’s gonna feel cold.”

  Mary hurriedly slid the cookies, one by one, to a plate. “I’ll make more and start a pot of chicken soup. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”

  Chapter Ten

  After lighting a fire with the logs he’d previously stacked, Sam hung his hat and coat on the rack and moved to the window, frustrated and angry.

  Unused to feeling helpless, he couldn’t shake the sense of failure at not being there when he was needed.

  Anger at himself, helplessness, and worry swirled into something dark inside him.

  Standing with his hands on his hips, he stared out the front window, watching the main road that led to the ranch, willing Len’s car to appear.

  His stomach tightened at the thought of Deanna going to someone other than him or Carson, his sense of protectiveness toward her refusing to accept it.

  He took a deep breath when the back door opened, letting it out slowly in an effort to calm down as Carson’s footsteps came closer, not even slowing when he placed the plate of cookies on the table.

  Turning his head as Carson came through the doorway from the kitchen, Sam gestured toward the fire. “That’s the last of the firewood. We’re going to have to bring more over.”

  “She should be living at the main house with us.” Carson paused only long enough to hang his own hat and coat on the coat rack before moving to stand beside Sam at the window. “What the hell’s taking them so long?”

  Sam scraped a hand through his hair, turning away from the window with a curse. “We told her that we’d be there for her. We told her to call if she needs anything and that she can depend on us, and the first fucking time she needs us, we’re not there for her. Why the fuck didn’t she call our cell phones?”

  Carson turned from the window with a sigh. “She probably didn’t want to bother us when we were busy.” He turned back to the window. “She’s sure as hell not used to having someone to count on. Part of me is pissed off because she went to Len for help, and the other part is grateful that she got the help she needed.”

  Sam moved back to the window. “Hell, they don’t even have Casey’s car seat.”

  Stiffening at the sight of Len’s car turning onto the road to the ranch, Sam started for the door. “They’re here.”

  He strode outside and toward the car, rounding it even as Len parked and turned off the engine.

  Through the windshield, he watched Deanna rock Casey, the sight of Deanna’s cast and bruised cheek a sharp reminder of just how much she’d gone through.

  Alone.

  Len opened his door and got out, reaching into the back seat to gather bags from the drug store, the sound of Casey’s pitiful cries coming from the car making Sam’s stomach churn.

  Sam yanked Deanna’s door open and reached inside, meeting her worried gaze as he slid his hands beneath Casey’s small form. “Next time, call our cells. Give her to me.”

  The flash of anger in her eyes made him feel even more like a heel. Shaking his head, he straightened. “I’m sorry. I’m madder at myself than I am at you.”

  Straightening, he gathered Casey against him and crooned to her, holding out a hand to Deanna. “It’s okay, Lil’ bit. I’ve got you.”

  Deanna slapped his hand away. “You don’t have a reason to be mad at me at all.”

  Carson wrapped an arm around her and helped her over the icy spots on the driveway. “We’re mad at ourselves for not being there and irritated that you didn’t call our cell phones. What did the doctor say?”

  “She has an ear infection and a cold. You’re going to get a huge bill from the drug store. I needed a lot more than I thought.”

  Sam went through the front door with Casey, moving toward the sofa. “It doesn’t matter. Did you get everything you need?”

  Deanna followed Sam to remove Casey’s coat and boots, surprised when he started doing it himself. “I think so. Len helped me because I had Casey in my arms.”

  Carson helped her out of her coat, glancing at Len with a smile. “Casey wouldn’t let you hold her?”

  Deanna’s face burned. “She’s grouchy and doesn’t feel good. Len was a huge help.”

  Sam set Casey’s boots and hat aside with her mittens and coat and settled her over his chest with the doll they’d bought her. “I’m sure he was. Thank you, Len. We appreciate your help.”

  Deanna frowned at his dismissive tone and the way he made it sound as if Len had done a favor for them instead of her.

  She glanced at Len to see that, instead of being offended, he appeared amused.

  “You’re welcome.” Len handed the small bag containing Casey’s prescription and the acetaminophen. “Why don’t you give her the medicine while I go wash her new sippy cup?”

  Carson stepped forward. “Give it to me. I’ll wash it.” He began to rifle through the bags. “Do you want me to fill it with milk?”

  Sam scowled and looked up. “You can’t give her milk if she has a fever. It’ll make her sick. Give her water.”

  Deanna looked up from measuring the antibiotic with a dropper. “I bought more—”

  Len held up one of the bags. “We bought juice.” He started toward the kitchen. “Deanna said there’s some apple juice in the refrigerator.”

  Carson followed Len with the sippy cup. “Yes. We bought it at the grocery store. It’s Casey’s favorite.”

  “I know that. We got more. She needs to stay hydrated, and with that fever, she’s always thirsty.”

  Shaking her head, Deanna shut out their conversation and concentrated on giving the medicine to her daughter. Once she finished, she glanced up at Sam, unsurprised to find him watching her. “Was anyone hurt in the fire?”

  “No.” Once Casey took her medicine, he settled her against his chest again. “New guy smoking where he shouldn’t have been and got careless.”

  Lifting his gaze, he held hers. “What else can we do to make her feel better?”

  Deanna ran a hand over Casey’s hair. “If you can hold her a minute while I clean the new thermometer, set up the vaporizer, and put the other things I bought away, I’d appreciate it.”

  “Of course.”

  “After that, I’m going to draw a bath for her. She’ll feel better once she has a bath and is wearing fresh pajamas.”

  Casey sat up, her cheeks flushed with fever. “I want the pink ones with the kitty cats.”

  “Okay, sweetie. Mommy will get them. Will you stay here with Mr. Sam for a little bit so I can get everything ready?”

  “Otay.” She tugged at her ear. “My ear hurts.”

  “I know, honey. The medicine will help.” Deanna sighed and rose. “I always feel so helpless when she’s sick.”

  Sam inclined his head, his lips thinning. “I know. I’ve experienced the same feeling ever since we got back and found out what happened.”

  “I hope the bath brings her fever down.”

  Sam closed h
is arms protectively around Casey, his eyes wide. “You’re not giving her a cold bath, are you?”

  Amused at his protectiveness, Deanna smiled. “Of course not. Just lukewarm. If I give her a really warm bath, it’ll make her hotter.”

  “Once you give Casey her bath and get her settled, Carson and I are going to go get more firewood and put some salt down out front where there are some slick spots. I don’t want you falling out there.”

  “I don’t think we’re going anywhere for a while.”

  “Good. If you need anything, Carson or I will go get it. Once we’re done, we’re gonna go take showers and wash the smell of smoke off of us. By that time, Mary’s chicken soup will be ready.”

  “Your housekeeper is making soup?”

  “Yes. She started it as soon as she heard that Casey was sick. We’ll bring it back with us. I’ll send Carson up first. I don’t want to leave you alone.”

  “We’ll be fine.” She looked up with a smile when Carson came back with Casey’s cup of apple juice. “Once she has her bath, I want to get her down for a nap. You have a ranch to run. I’ll call if I need you.”

  Len came back into the room and opened another bag. “I’ll set this vaporizer up for you before I go.”

  Carson handed the cup of juice to Sam. “I’ve got it. I’m sure you’ve got work to do.”

  Deanna went to Len, placing a hand on his forearm. “Len, thank you so much. I can’t tell you what today meant to me.”

  “No problem.” Len sent a look of amusement in Carson’s direction. “I’ll call later to check on Casey.”

  “Well take care of her.” Carson slid an arm around Deanna. “Thanks again. Let us know if you hear anything about her case.”

  “Of course. Good-bye.”

  Deanna stood at the window to wave to Len, turning to see Sam helping Casey with her juice and Carson reading the directions on the vaporizer. “You were both rude to him.”

  “Not rude. Territorial.” Carson continued to read. “We’ll take care of you and Casey.”

  “You have no right to be territorial.”

  Sam accepted the cup from Casey. “Too bad. We are. Carson, we need more juice.”