Rough Riders Bundle 1(books 1, 2, 3) (40 page)

His oldest brother Cord kept himself on the brink of exhaustion since his wife had divorced him and left their son Ky in his care. Colby, the second of the five McKay boys, gave up his dream of pro rodeo after a life-threatening injury. Last year Colby had settled into married life with Channing, a woman who’d softened his harsher edges. Between buying up every bit of available land around the McKay homestead, and chasing every rodeo queen within one hundred miles, his brother Colt made sure the McKay reputation for wild behavior remained intact. Although he and his older brother Cam were closest in age, since Cam had been stationed overseas, his visits to the ranch were infrequent. Military life had changed him. Cam was silent and serious; his infamous practical jokes non-existent.

How did his family see him? The quiet, laid back one? Young and stubborn? Cord and Colt bantered those words back and forth his entire life. Carter had no idea if anything he’d accomplished put him on equal footing with the brothers he idolized. Which was part of the reason he’d jumped at the chance to work for Gemma. He wouldn’t be underfoot and under scrutiny as he prepared for the art show with the potential to change his future.

Carter was relieved Gemma hired Cash Big Crow. Lately, taking care of the livestock sapped his energy and his creativity suffered. He’d finished half the pieces needed for the art show. The ideas were there, but the drive wasn’t. Now that time wouldn’t be an issue, could he focus on completing projects? Or would meeting his beautifully haunting muse prove an even bigger distraction?

Just thinking about the sweet temptation of Macie…

The knife slipped and he swore. He wiped the blood on his jeans and dumped a splash of beer on the cut. Wasn’t whiskey, but it seemed to do the trick. Disgusted the blob of wood in his hand was still a blob, Carter drained the beer and headed into the barn.

Muse or no muse, he needed to get back to work.

‡

D
og-tired after a
busy day at the diner, Macie crawled out of a cool shower and flopped on her tiny couch. Not two minutes later two raps sounded on the camper door. She shouted, “Come in,” over the din of the air conditioner.

Maybe Carter deigned to stop by. Not that she’d been holding her breath for his appearance last night, but she was a tiny bit disappointed he hadn’t shown.

Typical man. The sweet words were no more than sweet lies, Macie.

Shut up, Mom.

The door opened and her father stepped inside.

She couldn’t hold back a smile. “Hey, Dad.”

“
Hoka hey
, Macie. What’s up? Is this a bad time?”

“No.”

He paused on the threshold, looking…nervous?

“Bet it’s weird knocking on your own door, huh?”

“That it is.”

“Come on in. I appreciate you letting me crash here. It would be uncomfortable staying in Gemma’s house,” she added hastily, “not that she’s not nice or anything.”

“True. Plus, I imagine you’re used to your independence.”

“Also true.” Macie was glad he understood. “You want a beer?”

He grinned. “You drinking my beer?”

She grinned back. “Yep.”

“Glad to see it ain’t goin’ to waste.”

Macie pulled two bottles from the small fridge. A
pop hiss
echoed as she twisted the caps off and handed him a cold one.

Her father slid into the bench seat of the folding table. She scooted in across from him.

“So how was your first day on the job as foreman?”

“All right I guess. Foreman’s a fancy title considering I’m the only one workin’ for her. Gemma’s running less cattle than I assumed. There’s more broken equipment than what I expected. Lucky thing I’m a jack-of-all-trades, eh?” He lifted his bottle in a mock toast.

Macie clinked her beer to his. “Very lucky.”

He sipped. She sipped.

“Speaking of jobs. You found something pretty damn quick.”

“Yeah, I know. I wasn’t planning to work, but when I saw the help wanted sign, it seemed like a sign. And I knew you’d be busy and I didn’t want to sit around taking up space, waiting for you to pay attention to me.”

A lengthy pause hung in the air before he sighed. “That’s how you feel?”

“Sometimes.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“I am a big girl. I’m perfectly capable of seeing to my own needs and taking care of myself.”

“This isn’t goin’ the way you wanted, is it?”

She dropped her gaze to the bottle and her fingers picked at the soggy label. “Dad, nothing ever goes the way it’s supposed to when it comes to us. Something always comes up and changes our plans. No biggie. I’m used to it.”

Silence hummed as loud as the air conditioning.

“I’m sorry.”

More silence.

“I’m always saying that to you, ain’t I?”

Macie shrugged.

After a while he laughed. “Well, this is fun. I sure know how to kill a conversation. This wasn’t what I had in mind when I came here.”

She looked up at him. “Why are you here?”

“Here as in, here in this camper? Or here as in, here on Gemma’s ranch?”

“Both I guess.”

With a drawn out sigh, Cash took off his hat. He tossed it on the seat beside him and scratched his head. “Mostly, I’m here in the camper because I wanted to explain some things.” His gaze caught hers. “Or as your mother used to say to me, to give you an excuse on why I’m disappointing you once again.”

She looked away, but she couldn’t help but listen.

“When I talked to you last week, hell, for the whole last couple of months, you sounded so down. I thought I could be the one to cheer you up for a change. That’s why I invited you to hit the road with me. But the truth is, I didn’t think beyond that, which has always been my downfall. I tend to live in the moment.” He gestured to the inside of the camper. “As evidenced by my lack of foresight for my future. Since I ain’t got much of anything. Hell, I still ain’t got much to offer you, Macie—”

“Dad—”

“Dammit, you have every right to be pissed off. Why you bein’ so nice to me? Here you are, in the wilds of Wyoming, stuck in a crappy camper, forcing yourself to get a job, and probably feeling ignored by the person who brung you here in the first place.” He chugged his beer. “Am I close to right?”

“Partially.” She scraped the gummy reside from the glass bottle. “But I can’t help being nice. It’s the way I was raised.”

The way he went motionless, Macie knew he was thinking he hadn’t had a hand in that either.

“You taking the foreman’s job did surprise me.”

“Surprised me too. Especially since other ranch folks have asked me to go to work for them, but…”

“But they weren’t her.” Macie took a big drink. “You have been talking about her a lot for the last year. So what is it about her? Besides she’s a hot looking, tough acting cowgirl with a big Ford truck?”

He smiled slightly. “
Shee
. I could give you some bullshit answer, but the truth is, I don’t know. Been asking myself the same question. Why, after I’d ’bout given up on her, that I’d drop everything the minute she asked me to.”

“Maybe it’s because she asked. She seems like the type of person who’d prefer to do everything herself. Which I understand.”

“Me too.”

“So, on a basic level if she has to ask, she really is in need of help. Your help alone, apparently.”

“True.” He shot her a silly grin. “Inherited your smarts from your momma, that’s for damn sure.”

The ensuing silence wasn’t uncomfortable for a change.

Macie finished her beer and pointed at his empty bottle. “You want another?”

“Nah. I’m good. So tell me about
your
day flipping cakes and bacon.”

“It’s always weird starting a new job. My first thought was, sleepy little diner in a sleepy little town. How busy can it be? Man, was I in for a rude awakening. Damn place is hoppin’ for breakfast. I kept up.” She smiled. “Barely. Velma was happy, so that’s all that mattered.”

“Didn’t seem overly busy over the noon hour.”

It’d shocked her when he and Gemma strolled in for lunch. It’d shocked her even more that her dad seemed…proud of her. For being a fast cook? Not that there was anything wrong with cooking in a greasy spoon, but for most parents, having their kid working in a diner wouldn’t be a proud parent moment.

“It stayed steady. I think it creates a shorter lunch rush because people know Velma shuts down the grill at two and doesn’t reopen until five. Day after tomorrow I’ll be working the late shift. Waitressing. Ugh. Not my favorite.”

When her dad didn’t comment, and kept his face aimed at the table, Macie leaned forward and said, “What?”

“You waitressing.” Cash burst out laughing. “I would’ve loved to see you dumping cold tea on the guy grabbing you. Least of what he deserved. I’da clocked him.”

Her lips twitched. “Wasn’t funny at the time, but I don’t regret it.”

“Good.” He glanced around the small space. “You’re okay staying here in the traveling tipi?”

“Yep.”

“It’s kinda small. Kinda out of date. Probably not what you’re used to, eh?”

“It’s fine.”

“You sure there isn’t anything else you need?”

Just time with you
. “No, really, Dad, this is great. I like this place a lot better than my last apartment.” There was something oddly comforting about living in a place he’d lived, since they hadn’t ever inhabited the same space. Oddly enough, it felt like home.

His frown lines deepened. He looked away.

“What?”

“I just realized I ain’t been to any of your apartments. Sweet Jesus. Talk about bein’ a bad father—”

“Stop. You had other things occupying your mind.” Macie took a chance, reached for his hand and squeezed.

He squeezed back. “Things change, honey-girl. I want things to change between us. I’ll try my damndest to make it so.”

“Me too.”

“Good. Tomorrow night after I’m done with chores, you wanna go ridin’?”

“Nothing you can say, Dad, will ever get me on a bull.”

He chuckled. “Horseback ridin’, not bull ridin’.”

“Oh. Umm. Sure. I just hope I don’t make a fool of myself in front of Gemma. It’s been awhile since I’ve been on a horse.”

He paused. “I thought maybe it could just be…you and me.”

“Really?”

No, not really
, a little voice reminded her,
something will come up and he’ll have to cancel.

“Really.”

Macie told the voice to shut up. “Cool. I’d like that.”

“It’s a date.” He wiggled his hat on his head and stood. “You need anything at all, just call my cell.”

Why couldn’t she just go up to the house and ask him in person? “What are you and Gemma up to tonight?”

When he glanced away quickly, she understood there were certain things she did not need to know about her father—or how he and his boss spent their idle hours. “Never mind. You don’t have to answer that.”

“Gemma and I are goin’ to check out a couple of buckin’ horses over by Beulah. We’ll be back tonight, but it’ll probably be late tonight.”

“Then drive safe and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, giving her a quick peck on the forehead. “Later.”

The familiar scent of horses and leather and sun-baked cotton surrounded her. Maybe she’d be doomed to disappointment, but Macie was happy her dad was at least trying to reach out to her. And she’d be damned if she’d slap his hand away.

‡

L
ater that night
another rumble of thunder rattled Macie’s teeth. Lightning flashes seared her eyes. Wind gusts made the camper shake like an aluminum can. Rain pelted the steel siding.

The electricity had crapped out hours ago. She had no clue how the backup generator on the camper worked. Her cell phone was completely dead. She couldn’t call her dad—not that she would’ve ventured outside in a raging freakin’ thunderstorm by herself even if she’d had explicit instructions on how to fix the damn generator.

So Macie cowered in the dark, alone, completely freaked out and feeling stupid for being such a scaredy cat. God. She should be over this irrational fear of storms by now. Still, she knew if her dad and Gemma were around, she would’ve hightailed it into Gemma’s house. As far as she knew, they hadn’t made it home. She’d like to think her father would’ve checked on her to make sure she was all right.