A Cowboy Comes Home (6 page)

“My theory,” said Mandy, moving farther into the dimly lit room, “is that once you were gone, he forgot you were such a failure.” An ironic smile took the sting out of her words.

“While Reed was still here to keep screwing up over and over again?”

“Got a better theory?”

“He found my corporation thanks to Google and decided I was worth a damn?” Even as he said the words, Caleb knew it was impossible. He’d spent the better part of his adult life warning himself not to look for his father’s approval. There was nothing down that road but bitter disappointment.

Mandy perched herself on the inset, cushioned window seat. She was silhouetted now by the lights from the yard. “You have to know you are worth a damn.”

“You’re too kind.”

“Reed’s worth a damn, too.”

“No argument from me.”

She tucked her feet up onto the wide, bench seat, and he noticed she was wearing whimsical sky-blue-and-pale-pink, mottled socks. It surprised him. Made her seem softer somehow, more vulnerable.

“I don’t understand why you’re in such a rush to sell,” she said.

“That’s because you live in the Lyndon Valley and not in Chicago.”

“Rash decisions are compulsory in Chicago?”

He moved across the room and took the opposite end of the bench, angling his body toward her and bracing his back against the wall, deciding there was no reason not to give her an explanation. “I’ve had two weeks to think about it.”

“Reed had ten years.”

“In many ways, so did I.”

Mandy shifted her position, smoothing her loose hair back from her face. His gaze hungrily followed her motion.

“Did you ever wish you’d stayed?”

He hesitated at the unsettling question, not sure how to answer. Back then, he’d second-guessed himself for months, even years, over leaving Reed. But it all came down to Wilton. “He killed my mother,” Caleb said softly. “I couldn’t reward him for that.”

“She died of pneumonia.”

“Because it was left untreated. Because she was terrified of telling him she was sick. Because he would have berated and belittled her for her weakness. Terrells are not weak.”

“I never thought you were.”

“I’m not,” he spat, before he realized it wasn’t Mandy he was angry with.

She tossed back her hair. “Reed wasn’t weak. Yet, he stayed.”

“He squared it in his head somehow.”

Reed claimed he wanted to protect his mother’s heritage, since half the ranch had belonged to her family. Which, looking back, was obviously the reason Wilton had married her. The man was incapable of love.

“She was twenty years younger than him,” Caleb remembered. “Did you know that?”

“I knew she was younger. I didn’t know by how much. I remember thinking she was beautiful.” Mandy’s voice became introspective. “I remember wishing I could be that beautiful.”

Caleb couldn’t hold back his opinion. “You are that beautiful.”

Mandy laughed. “No, I’m not.” She held out her hands. “Calluses. I have calluses. Danielle has a perfect French manicure, and I have calluses.” She peered at her small hands. “I think there might even be dirt under my fingernails.”

“Danielle has never had to clean tack.”

“No kidding.”

“I mean, she lives a completely different life than you do.”

Mandy’s face twisted into a grimace. “She goes to parties and I shovel manure?”

“Her world is all about image. Yours is all about practicality.”

“I’m just a sturdy, little workhorse, aren’t I?”

“Are you wallowing in self-pity, Mandy Jacobs?”

She went silent, her glare speaking for her.

Caleb moved inches closer, fighting a grin of amusement. “Are you by any chance jealous of Danielle?”

Mandy tossed back her hair in defiance. “Jealous of a stunningly beautiful, elegant, intelligent, successful lawyer, who’s flying off to Rio—”

“Sao Paulo,” Caleb corrected, enjoying the flash of emotion that appeared deep within Mandy’s green eyes.

“They’re both in Brazil.”

“It’s a big country. One’s a beach resort, the other’s full of skyscrapers, banks and boardrooms.” He fought the urge to reach out and touch her. “But I’d take you to Rio if that’s where you wanted to go.”

She cocked her head sideways. “You’d take me to Rio?”

“I would.” He dared stroke an index finger across the back of her hand. “We’d dress up, and go dancing at a real club and have blender drinks on the beach. You could even get a manicure if you’d like.”

“Are you flirting with me?”

He met her gaze full on. “Absolutely.”

“You have women like Danielle in your life, and yet you’re flirting with me?”

“I am.”

“Why?”

Caleb debated for a moment before answering. But then he reminded himself he was in Colorado. People were forthright around here. And he owed Mandy no less than she was giving him.

“Because you’re real,” he told her. “You’re not some plastic package, constructed to appeal to a man’s anthropological triggers. When you laugh, it’s because you’re happy. When you argue, it’s because you have a point to make. And when your eyes smolder, it’s because you’re attracted to me, not because you’ve spent days and weeks practicing the exact, right look to make a man think you’re interested in him.”

“I’m not interested in you.”

“But you are.” He smoothed a stray lock of her hair and tucked it behind one ear. “That’s what’s so amazing about you. Your body language doesn’t lie.”

“And if my body language slaps you across the face?”

“I hope it’ll be because I’ve done something to deserve it.” Because, then the slap would be worth it.

“You’re impossible.” But her voice had gone bedroom husky. Her pupils were dilated, and her dark pink lips were softened, slightly parted.

“It’s not me you’re fighting,” he told her.

She didn’t answer. Her breathing grew deeper while a pink flush stained her cheeks.

He moved the last couple of inches. Then he dared to bracket her face with his hands. Her skin was smooth, warm and soft against his palms. His pulse jumped, desire igniting a buzz deep in his belly.

He bent his head forward, his lips parting in anticipation of her taste. He hadn’t even kissed her yet, and desire was turning his bloodstream into a tsunami.

She sucked in a quick breath, her jade-green eyes fluttering closed.

Caleb could tell stop signals from go signals, and this was definitely a go. Her head tilted sideways, as she leaned into his palm. He crossed the final inches, her sweet breath puffing against his face in the split second before his lips touched hers.

Desire exploded in his chest. He’d meant it to be a gentle kiss, but raw passion pushed him forward.

He’d known it would be good, guessed she would taste like ambrosia, but nothing had prepared him for the rush of raw lust that made his arms wrap around her and his entire body harden to steel.

He opened his mouth, deepening the kiss. She whimpered in surrender, giving him access, her small tongue parrying with his, while his broad palm stroked its way from her waist to her hip, to the curve at the side of her breast.

He shifted his body, pulling her into his lap, never breaking the kiss as her soft, pert behind settled against him. He raked the satin of her hair out of the way, his fingertips convulsing against her scalp. Her small hands clung to his shoulders, hanging on tight, while her rounded breasts pressed erotically against his chest.

He wanted to rip off her clothes, push her back on the seat, or down on the floor, and ravage her body until neither of them could see straight. He knew he couldn’t do that, knew he was losing control, knew he had to drag them back to reality before their passion got completely out of control.

But then her hot hands slid the length of his chest, and he put sanity on hold. She freed the buttons of his cotton shirt, her palms searing into his bare skin.

His hand closed over her breast, feeling its weight through the fabric of her shirt and the lace of her bra. He kissed her harder, deeper, settling her more firmly on the heat of his need. Her kisses trailed to his chest, over his pecs, across one flat nipple, and he groaned in reaction.

“We can’t,” he whispered harshly, even as he buried his face in her fragrant hair and prayed she’d keep going.

She stilled, her breath cooling a damp spot on his bare skin.

They were both silent for a long moment, while Caleb tried unsuccessfully to bring his emotions under control.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, lips grazing his skin.

“Are you kidding me?” he breathed. He forced himself to draw back, tipping up her chin and gazing into her passion-clouded eyes. “I have never—”

The cell phone in her jeans pocket buzzed, startling them both.

“—ever,” he continued, trying to hold her gaze, reluctant to let the moment go.

The cell phone buzzed again.

“Fortuitous?” she asked, seeming to regain her equilibrium.

“Not the word I would have used.” He sighed.

She shifted off his lap, slipping her hand into her jeans pocket to retrieve the cell phone.

“Abigail,” she announced while she pressed the talk button. “Hey, Abby.”

Caleb couldn’t believe she could sound so normal. He sure wasn’t that capable of turning on a dime like that. Desire was still pulsing its way through his extremities. It was going to be long minutes before he would be able to do anything more than breathe.

“When?” Mandy asked into the phone, her voice going guttural.

Her gaze locked on to Caleb’s, fear shooting through her irises. “I don’t—”

She swayed on her feet, and he instantly leaped to his, holding her steady.

“Where?” she asked hoarsely, bracing herself by grasping his arm. “Yes. Of course.” She nodded reflexively. “Yes.”

She was silent for another moment, her hand squeezing his arm in a vice grip. “Right now,” she told her sister. “I’ll be there. Bye.” Her tone was whispered as she lowered the phone.

“What?” Caleb prompted, his stomach clenching hard. Something had obviously gone terribly wrong.

“My dad,” she managed, blinking back twin pools of gathering tears. “They think it was a stroke.”

“Is he…” Caleb couldn’t finish the sentence.

“The medical airlift is on its way.”

“How bad?”

“Numbness, speech problems, confusion.” She broke away from Caleb’s hold. “I have to get home.”

“I’ll drive you.”

“No, I can—”

“I’ll
drive
you.” There wasn’t a chance in hell he was letting her speed down the dark, dirt ranch road all alone.

Four

A
ll the lights were blazing when Mandy and Caleb drove up to the ranch house. Caleb’s rented SUV had barely come to a halt when she flung open her door, feet barely touching the dirt driveway as she sprinted across the porch. She rushed through the entry hall to the big living room.

There, she saw Seth first, his strong face pinched in concern where he sat on the sofa, holding her mother’s hand. Her sister Abby was furiously hitting keys on the computer, while Travis paced in the middle of the room, obviously ready for action and obviously frustrated because there was nothing he could do to help.

“Mom.” Mandy rushed forward, sliding down beside her mother and wrapping an arm around her slim shoulders. Her mother’s face was pale, eyes red-rimmed and hollow looking.

“The helicopter left about five minutes ago,” said Seth.

“They said there wasn’t room for Mom.” Travis sounded angry.

Mandy heard Caleb enter the house and cross the foyer behind her, but she didn’t turn. She felt guilty for being attracted to him, guilty for kissing him, guilty as sin for getting lost in his embrace while her father fell ill and collapsed.

“I’m trying to find her a ticket out of Lyndon for the morning,” Abigail put in.

“They’re taking him straight to Denver,” said Travis. “There’s a specialist there, a whole team with the latest technology for early stroke intervention.”

“That sounds good,” Mandy said to her mother, rubbing Maureen’s shoulder with her palm.

“Damn it. The connection is bogged down again,” said Abigail.

Caleb stepped fully into the room. “My corporate jet’s on the tarmac in Lyndon.”

Everyone turned to stare at him.

Seth came to his feet. “How many of us can you take?”

“As many as need to go.” He captured Mandy’s gaze for a long second.

“I’ll stay here,” Travis put in, drawing everyone’s attention. He glanced at his siblings. “I’m probably the least help there, but I’m the most help here.”

Seth nodded his agreement with the suggestion.

Responding to Seth’s concurrence, Caleb pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll have the pilots meet us at the airport. Mandy, why don’t you put together an overnight bag for your mother?”

Abby swiveled back to the computer. “I’m booking a hotel for us in Denver.”

“See if there’s an Emerald Chateau near the hospital,” said Caleb as he pressed the buttons on his phone. “We have a corporate account. Call them and use my name.” He put his cell phone to his ear and turned toward the foyer.

Mandy squeezed her mother’s cool hand. “Did you hear that, Mom?”

Maureen gave a small nod of acknowledgment.

“Good.” Mandy struggled to keep her voice even. Breaking down right now wouldn’t help anyone, least of all her mother. “I’m going to pack you a few things. You just sit tight.”

“He couldn’t speak.” Maureen’s voice was paper dry, her hand squeezing Mandy’s. “He tried, but his words were all muddled. Syllables sometimes, then nonsense.”

Mandy swallowed the lump in her throat. “I think that’s really common with a stroke. And it’s sounds like they’ve got a great team in Denver. He’ll get the best care.” Her gaze met her brother Seth’s and he motioned with his head for her to go pack.

She nodded in response, gently releasing her mother’s hand. The sooner they got to Denver, the better.

As she headed for the staircase, she passed Caleb in the foyer, where he was talking on the phone to his pilot. “Two hours, tops,” he said. “Right. We’ll be there.”

She stopped and turned back, reaching out to lay the flat of her hand on his chest, mouthing the words “Thank you.”

He placed his hand over hers and gave one quick squeeze then pointed her toward the staircase.

Mandy had never been on a private plane. The flight to Denver was, thankfully, quick and smooth. The Active Equipment jet had room for eight passengers, and Caleb had arranged for a car to take them directly from the airport to the hospital. There, Mandy’s mother was the only person allowed to see her father, and the nurse would let her into his room for only a few minutes.

The doctors were medicating him and monitoring him closely to watch for additional strokes. They told the family they needed to keep him calm. The initial prognosis was for a slow, potentially limited recovery. There was no way to tell how much of his speech and mobility he would regain. A doctor told them the first few days were critical.

Although Abby had booked regular rooms at the Denver Emerald Chateau, a word from Caleb to the front-desk clerk had Mandy, Abby and her mother in a luxurious, two-bedroom suite. Caleb and Seth had taken an identical suite at the opposite end of the twentieth-floor hallway.

It was nearly three in the morning before Mandy’s mother finally got to bed. Thankfully, she fell asleep almost immediately, and Mandy joined Abby, Seth and Caleb in the suite’s living room.

Abigail was handing Seth her cell phone. “Your brother wants to talk to you.”

“Thanks, tons.” Seth scowled as he accepted the phone.

The only vacant seat was on a small couch next to Caleb, and Mandy sat down. She felt his gaze on her profile, swore she could feel his energy through her pores, but she didn’t turn.

“Must we do this
now?
” Seth was asking into the phone.

Mandy gave her sister a quizzical look.

“Seth was talking about dropping out of the Lyndon mayoralty race,” Abby explained. “Travis disagrees.”

Mandy disagreed, as well, strenuously. Her oldest brother had been planning this political move for over two years. “It’ll be weeks before he even needs to campaign.”

Abigail huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s what I told him. And that’s what Travis’s telling him.”

Mandy shook her head. “Dad won’t want him to drop out.”

Their father had been totally supportive of Seth’s decision to run for mayor. The ranching community was slowly being pushed out of the economic framework of the district as tourism operations and small businesses moved in and began to lobby for their own interests.

“Who’s going to run the place?” Seth demanded into the phone. “You?”

He listened for a moment, then gave a cold laugh. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

Caleb leaned toward Mandy. “This is a terrible time for them to have this conversation. They have absolutely no perspective at all.”

She knew he was right and nodded her agreement. They were all exhausted and their emotions were raw.

Caleb rose to his feet. He moved in front of Seth and motioned for him to hand over the phone. Seth scowled at him, but Caleb persisted. When Seth finally complied, Caleb put the phone to his ear.

“Travis? It’s Caleb. You need to go to bed. So does Seth and so do your sisters.”

There was a pause.

“In the morning. No. You listen. I don’t care who started it. I’m the only one here who’s not operating on grief and fear, and I’m telling you to shut it down.”

Caleb paused again. “Yes. I will.” His gaze slid to Mandy for a brief second. “Of course not.”

Abigail rose from her chair to lean over and give Mandy a quick hug. “I’m beat,” she whispered in Mandy’s ear. “Mind if I use the bathroom first?”

“Go ahead.” Mandy squeezed her sister tight, grateful to have her siblings close to her tonight.

“We’re going to have to call Katrina in the morning.” Abigail referred to their youngest sister who lived in New York City.

“It’s almost morning there now,” said Mandy.

“When we get up is soon enough. I’m sure it’ll be early.”

“Yeah,” Mandy agreed on a sigh. It was going to be a long day tomorrow.

Abigail made her way to the second bedroom and its en suite bathroom.

Caleb put the cell phone on the coffee table.

Seth rose. “I’m ordering a single malt from room service,” he told Caleb. “You want one?”

“Yeah,” said Caleb. “I’m right behind you.”

Mandy came to her feet to give her oldest brother a big hug.

“You okay?” he whispered gruffly in her ear, ruffling her hair.

“I’ll let you know in the morning.” Mandy dreaded having him leave the suite, having her sister fall asleep, leaving her alone with her thoughts and fears. She wasn’t going to sleep. Her family had just turned on a dime. She had no idea what would come next.

Seth shut the door behind him, and Caleb turned to her. “You’re not okay.”

“I’m not okay,” she agreed, her body turning into one big ache.

He stepped closer. “Anything I can do to help?”

“You already have.” She drew a shuddering breath, trying to put the night’s events in some sort of order. “You have a jet?”

“Active Equipment has a jet.”

“But you own Active Equipment.”

“True enough.”

“Thank you for bringing us all here. I know my mom was terrified…” She swallowed, her throat going raw all over again. “I was so afraid he’d die before—”

Caleb drew her into his strong arms, cradling her against his body. “Of course you were. But he didn’t. And you’re here now. And there may very well be good news in the morning.”

Mandy found herself lying her cheek against Caleb’s chest, taking comfort in the steady thud of his heartbeat and the deep, soothing rumble of his voice.

He leaned in and kissed her gently on the temple, bringing all her earlier feelings rushing back. She felt off balance, out of sync, like she was floating in space without a lifeline.

“Caleb,” she stuttered. “What we—”

“Shh. Not now. Nothing matters right now.”

She closed her eyes. “Are you always this nice?”

“I’m hardly ever this nice.” He paused. “You need to sleep now.”

“I know.” She wished she could lie down right there, right then and stay safe in Caleb’s arms for the rest of the night. Deep down inside, she knew she was being foolish. She was emotional and vulnerable, and he seemed strong and safe. It was that simple.

These feelings would probably go away by morning, but right now, they were powerfully strong.

The next morning did bring positive news. Caleb was surprised, along with everyone else, by Hugo’s rapid progress. Hugo recognized all the family members. They were each allowed to visit him, and he was able to say Maureen’s name, along with several other rudimentary words, enough to get his general meaning across. His meaning, Caleb noted, was that Seth should continue to plan his campaign for the mayoralty race, Abigail should stay in Denver with Maureen, while Mandy should go home and run the ranch with Travis.

Caleb had to admire the tough old man. Less than twenty-four hours after the stroke, Hugo was regaining movement in his right arm, and he also had some movement in his right foot and ankle. The doctors were very pleased with his progress and feeling optimistic about his eventual recovery, although they cautioned it would take weeks, possibly months.

Seth decided to stay in Denver for some political meetings, so Caleb and Mandy returned alone on the Active Equipment jet. Once in Lyndon, they exited down the airplane staircase and onto the tarmac outside a small maintenance building at the private area of the apron. It was late afternoon, and thick clouds were gathering as the sun made its descent and the air cooled down.

Caleb switched on his cell phone, and Mandy did the same. Hers immediately rang, and they picked up their pace to get away from the sound of the airplane engines.

She plugged one ear and called “hello” just as Caleb’s phone rang. They made it around the end of the building, blocking the noise.

Caleb answered his phone with one hand, unlocking and swinging open the chain-link gate with the other. There were few cars in the parking area.

“It’s Travis,” came the voice at the other end.

“Just touched down in Lyndon,” Caleb offered. “Did you talk to your mother?”

“Just got off with her,” said Travis. “Dad’s progress is still good. The doctors are amazed.”

“Good to hear.” With his free hand, Caleb hit the unlock button on his key fob and opened the passenger door first. Mandy was focused on her own conversation as she absently accepted his offer and climbed inside.

“About Danielle,” Travis continued.

“Were you able to reach her?” Caleb had tried Danielle’s cell this morning and got her voice mail. Odds were good that she’d headed back to Chicago and was on an airplane. Still, he’d asked Travis to retry the call and check the ranch just in case. He’d rushed off so fast last night, he’d barely had time to explain. Danielle wasn’t the most patient woman in the world.

“I drove up to your place,” Travis confirmed.

“So, she’s on her way back to Chicago?”

“Not exactly.”

“She’s not?” Caleb swung into the driver’s seat and slid the key into the ignition.

“You know that hairpin turn where you come out at Joe Mountain?”

“What?”

“Where the rear wheels always break loose?”

Uh-oh. Caleb didn’t like where this was going. “Is Danielle all right?”