KIDNAPPED COWBOY (9 page)

“Good,” his brother replied.  “Because I have work to do today.  Not everyone can spend their life playing.”

His hands curled at his side, but Dalton held his temper in check.  “Yeah, well, maybe if you spent a little more time enjoying life people around here wouldn’t refer to you as the town ‘ogre’.”

His brother genuinely appeared surprised by the comment.  “What?”

“You didn’t know?”

“No.”

He was in too deep to back out now.  Dalton shrugged.  “Seems you’re not gonna be given Lonetree’s ‘Citizen of the Year’ award anytime soon.”

“And that’s supposed to break my heart?” his brother muttered with a scowl.

That was his brother’s whole problem.  Somewhere along the line he’d stopped caring about the things that were really important in life.  “You know, Brandon, life isn’t all about money.”

His brother’s already taut brow edged up higher, the way it did whenever he was pissed off and trying to remain in control of the situation.  Dalton had seen that look plenty of times in the past.

“Maybe not,” he replied, his voice tight.  “But the ranch and our family’s business won’t run themselves.  One of us has to be responsible.”

“Responsible – your version?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about your acting ‘responsibly’ when it suits your purpose.”  Dalton glanced back over his shoulder and then added, “That includes not returning people’s phone calls except for when it suits your wallet.”

His brother’s already angry expression darkened.  “Are you referring to your bed partner in there?”  He thumbed in the direction of the cabin.

“You know damn well I am.”  There was no point at that moment in trying to convince Brandon that he and Caitlin hadn’t slept together. 

“Maybe you should stick to what you’re good at, like taking women to bed, and leave the business decisions to me.”

Dalton’s jaw clenched.  He was itching like hell to show his brother what else he was good at, like laying him out on the cold, snow-covered ground.  But he’d left that kind of behavior behind when he retired from the circuit.  Besides, coming to blows with his brother wasn’t going to solve anything, no matter how tempted he was to lay into him.

He took a calming breath and then met his brother’s narrowed gaze head on.  “The least you could have done was to listen to what Caitlin had to say.”

“You might not agree with the way I handle things, but I don’t see you doing anything to give you the right to question me.  It was your choice not to be involved in the business.”

“I did what I had to do.”  He had made the decision years before to leave Lone Tree, because he didn’t want to end up a carbon copy of his father. 

“So did I.”  Brandon cast an impatient glance at his watch.  “I have to go.  I’ve kept my business associates waiting long enough.”  He turned and walked away.

The snow crunched beneath his boots as Brandon departed.  Cold air carrying crystal flakes swirled about his brother’s feet as he walked back to the plow truck where the others awaited him. 

Dalton watched his brother walk away and climb into the ranch’s plow truck.  Then with a roar of the engine, he drove off down the freshly plowed road.

“Damn it!”  Dalton brought a fist down onto the snow covered porch railing, sending a spray of icy snow up into the air. 

A gentle hand settled on his shoulder.  He turned to find Caitlin standing there, her expression one of pure misery.  Misery his brother had caused.

“It’s not your fault,” she said, her words coming out in tiny puffs of steam in the cold morning air.  “You tried to talk to him.”

He caught her by the shoulders and looked down into her beautiful misty green eyes.  “I’m not giving up.  I’ll talk to him again when we’ve both had a chance to cool off.  I promise.”

She smiled.  “I appreciate the offer, Dalton, but I’m not gonna be responsible for more tension between you and your brother.  Family is too important.”

He looked at her in amazement.  “How can you still be so positive?”

“I have no choice.”  There was a slight quiver to her voice as she spoke.  “Those kids need me.  And I’m not about to let them down by being a quitter.  I’ll just have to find some other way to get your brother to listen to what I have to say.”

Things had been strained between him and Brandon for years.  They each had their own idea on how life should be lived.  Brandon’s being a lot like their father’s had always been.  Unfortunately, he and his brother had yet to find a way to meet in the middle on things.

“We’ll talk about it over dinner.  Now let’s get you inside where it’s warm.  Then I’ll see about digging your car out of the snow.”  Placing a hand to her waist, he guided her back into the cabin.

She cast a side-glance his direction.  “It amazes me how two brothers can look so much alike and yet be so different.”

“But you gotta admit that I’m the better looking one,” Dalton said, trying to lighten the mood that had been set by his brother’s unexpected arrival.

“Yes, you are.  I’m just thanking my lucky stars, if I actually have any, that I kidnapped the wrong brother the other night.”

“To be honest, I’m not sure which one of us is actually the lesser of two evils.”  Dalton let his hand fall away and reached for his coat.

“From what I’ve seen, it’s definitely you.”

“I’m not sure everyone in Lone Tree would agree with that.  I’m the son who bailed on his family to ride the circuit instead of sticking around to help run the family business.”

“You can’t live your life for everyone else.”

“Why not?  You do.”

As he had hoped, his last statement brought an end to their conversation.              Caitlin had enough problems in her life without having to worry about his, too.  But he had to admit it was nice having someone take his side for a change.

He zipped his coat and started for the door.  “I’ll have your car dug out in no time.”

She grabbed for her coat.  “I’m coming with you.”

He shook his head.  “There’s no sense in both of us being out in that cold.”

“It’s not that bad,” she argued.  “The sun’s already warming things up out there.  Besides, it’s my fault we were stranded here in the first place.  So I’m helping and that’s that.”

He grinned.  “I’ve known bulls less stubborn than you, Caitlin Myers.  And I also know when arguing would be a lost cause.  So what do you have we can use to dig your car out with?”

*              *              *

Caitlin waited, grinning as she held the broom in place, waiting for Dalton to step out of the car. 

It took a few tries, but he finally managed to get the engine to turn over.  He pushed open the door and stood just as she shoved the broom across the car’s roof, sending an avalanche of snow cascading down the back of his head.

He let out a startled gasp.  “What the hell!”  He shook the clumps of snow from his dark hair as he straightened to full height and turned to look at her over the top of the car.

“Oops.”  She bit back a giggle as she pulled the broom back across the roof.  “Sorry.”

“Yeah, you look real sorry.”

He closed the door and bent down, disappearing for a long moment.  When he straightened, he was grinning at her from over top the car’s roof.

“Dalton?”  She took several nervous steps backwards, her boots sinking into the deep snow.  “I don’t think I like the look on your face.”

“Gee, women usually love this face.”  He wriggled his dark brows playfully.

“Where are your hands?”

The devilish grin widened and he moved around the car in her direction, looking like a cat on the prowl.  “Not where I’d like them to be.”

His words heated her cheeks among other parts of her body.   “Forget it, cowboy.  Get yourself a pair of gloves instead.” 

He withdrew his hand from behind his back to display a glistening white snowball.  “Well, what do you know?  Look what accidentally fell into my hand.”

It wasn’t a small snowball either.  Not if it filled Dalton’s large hand.  She took another step back.  “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Wouldn’t I?”  He stopped and cupped a hand to his chin as if considering it, that naughty little boy twinkle lighting his eyes.

“Dalton,” she warned.

“Now, what is it they say about paybacks?” he asked, ignoring her warning.

“It was an accident,” she protested with a grin as she back-stepped toward the cabin.  “The broom slipped.”

He started after her, his long strides quickly closing the distance between them.  “You sure seem to have a lotta
accidents.
  I think this snowball might just accidentally slip down the back of your shirt.”

With a panicked squeal, she spun around and raced for the cabin.  She was almost to the front porch when she slipped on a patch of ice and slid feet first into the bottom step. 

“Caitlin!” Dalton hollered, his tone panicked as he raced toward her. 

The snow piled up around her foot did nothing to ease the throbbing in her ankle.  She looked up at him with a wavering smile.  “Ouch.”

He dropped down onto his knees beside her, his hands moving over her legs in a frantic sweep.  “Where does it hurt?” 

“My ankle,” she said, sitting upright with a pained groan.             

Muttering a curse, he scooped her up and carried her into the cabin where he lowered her onto the sofa bed.  “Which ankle?”

She pointed, wincing in pain.  She would not cry.  She would not cry. 

His deft fingers removed the snow-encrusted boot from her foot and tossed it aside.  Then he eased her sock down, carefully inspecting her injured ankle. 

“Ooh!”

His head shot up.  “That hurt?”

She shook her head.  “No, your hands are cold.”

He managed a strained laugh.  “Sorry.”  He took a moment to blow on his hands, warming them as best he could before returning to the task at hand.  “Can you move it?”

She tried, tearing up with the effort.  “Yes, but it hurts.”

“It’s already swelling.”  He eased her sock back up and then stood.  “I don’t think it’s broken, but we’ll get it looked at all the same once we get back to town.” 

“I’m sure it’s fine.”  She scooted to the edge of the bed and attempted to stand, but the pressure on her foot only increased the discomfort. 

He swept her up into his arms again.  “Fine, huh?”

“I’ll just go home and rest it.”

He shook his head.  “Sorry, Caitlin, but this time we’re gonna do things my way.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Just as he’d promised, they did things Dalton’s way after leaving Stoney Brook that afternoon.  He drove her straight to Doc McGraw’s office.  Then, much to Caitlin’s embarrassment, he insisted she be seen right away, despite a waiting room filled with scheduled patients.

“Dalton, calm down,” she urged in a hushed whisper as every head in the waiting room turned their direction.  “Better yet, put me down.”

He shook his head in stubborn refusal, something he was very good at doing.  “Not until the doctor takes a look at that ankle.” 

“Dalton Barnes, you are making a scene,” she hissed, pushing against the front of his leather jacket.  “Put me down.”

“No can do.”

“You’re welcome to have a seat until the doctor is free,” the receptionist suggested.  “It should only be another minute or two.”  She motioned toward the waiting area as she studied over the wire rim of the glasses she wore perched at the tip of her nose.  Her expression one of amusement.

“Thank you,” Caitlin replied, her face burning from embarrassment. 

Impatient murmurs behind them told her the other patients were about to be passed up in an effort, no doubt, to get her and Dalton the heck out of there.

She lowered her gaze to his shirt to avoid the angry glances she was certain were being cast their way as they waited.  All she wanted to do was lie down.  Her ankle was throbbing unmercifully.  And her head was about to join it. 

“How much longer?” Dalton asked the receptionist for the umpteenth time since they had walked in the door.  “This
is
an emergency.  Doc McGraw knows that, right?”

Caitlin groaned.  Lord save her from do-gooder cowboys.  One would have thought she was a woman deep in the throes of labor the way he was carrying on.  Maybe he didn’t have to stay in this town and face people, but she did!

Thankfully, Doc McGraw chose that moment to peek his balding head out into the waiting area.  “You can bring her in now,” he said to Dalton, motioning them back.

“‘Bout damn time,” Dalton muttered under his breath as he started for the door.

She gave him a warning thump in the back of his head.  “Behave yourself.  And put me down.  Everyone is staring.”

“Let them.”   

The doctor turned and smiled at them as Dalton carried her into the examining room.  Doc McGraw was somewhere in his mid to late fifties, with salt and pepper hair and bushy brows in dire need of a good plucking.  He was a very giving man, volunteering his services to the retreat whenever called for.  He was also one of her regulars at the diner.

Despite the pulsing ache in her ankle, she managed a smile.  “Hey, Doc.”

Dalton nodded.  “Doc.”

The doctor’s welcoming smile widened as he ran an assessing gaze over the two of them.  “I understand we have an emergency here.”

“No, but you’re gonna have a dead man here if he doesn’t put me down right now!”  She followed her words with well-aimed scowl Dalton’s direction.

Laughing, the doctor stepped up to the examining table, giving it a firm pat.  “Okay, son, it’s been one of those days and I’d really hate to go through the paperwork having a dead man here would require.  So if you could just set the little lady down here for me, I’d be mighty grateful.”

Dalton moved forward and lowered her onto the sterile white sheet that was draped over the padded examining table.

“So what happened here?” the doctor asked.

“She fell and twisted her ankle,” Dalton replied.

“I see.”  He examined her foot and ankle, and then shoved the wire frame of his glasses back up his nose as he straightened.  “Do you hurt anywhere else?”