Heath sat in the big open window of the hayloft, looking out at the grand vista before him. Though he’d seen it a thousand times before, it never ceased to make him feel a part of the whole that was the ranch, affectionately known as the Big House. There was something about looking out over the vastness of land as far as the eye could see that settled his soul, gave him peace he never felt anywhere else. Probably why he’d found himself gravitating back home more and more lately.
Life in the city held its own unique excitement, but it paled in comparison to the verdant pastures of the Boudreau homestead. He found himself hunting for excuses to come back to Texas, even though he loved his job in D.C. Yet something was missing, and he hadn’t been able to work out why his instincts were rattled. A feeling of anticipation, like static electricity before a thunderstorm, coursed through him, and he felt a charge in the air.
He turned when he heard somebody climb the ladder to the loft, and wasn’t surprised when his father’s head appeared. His daddy had cornered him in the kitchen earlier, and mentioned they needed to talk. But with several of his brothers and their womenfolk around, there hadn’t been a chance. Until now.
“Son. Thought I’d find you here.”
Heath smiled. “It’s my favorite place. You can see forever, and everything seems fresh and new from up here. Besides, it’s quiet.”
Douglas sat beside him, his legs dangling through the opening, and nodded. “A man can do a lot of thinking out here. Nobody to bother you except the horses, and they don’t tend to talk much.”
Heath chuckled at his father’s words. “True. It’s nice to see Lucas looking so happy. I always thought he and Jill would end up together.”
“They hit a bit of a rough patch, but looks like things are gonna work out for them. I suspect we’ll be having another engagement party soon.” Douglas picked up a piece of straw and drew it between his fingers. “Lucas told me you gave him some news about his sister.”
Heath leaned against the side of the opening, angling slightly to face his father. “It was the weirdest thing, Dad. If I didn’t know better, I’d think somebody upstairs had a hand in getting me that info. I mean, what are the chances some wet-behind-the-ears newbie is assigned to me for training, and he happens to start talking about Lucas’ sister?”
“It’s the best lead we’ve gotten in a while, since the one I had turned out to be a bust.”
“Not really,” Heath protested. “You got us Renee’s most recent alias, which matches with what the kid told me. I’m surprised Lucas didn’t hightail it to Portland the second I gave him the info.”
Douglas shook his head. “He couldn’t. Everything exploded at the same time. He had his hands full with the gambling story, the investigation into Benevides, and keeping Jill safe. It was touch and go for a minute there, but it all turned out right in the end. The gambling clubs got raided and shut down. Benevides’ obsession with Jill and his attempted murder of Lucas will keep him locked up hopefully for the rest of his life.”
“Is Lucas planning on heading after Renee now things have settled down?”
Douglas shook his head. “Shiloh flew to Portland to check out the information. If it turns out to be Renee, Lucas will be out there on the next flight. In the meantime, he wants to stick close. Jill won’t admit it, but this whole thing shook her.”
“Does that mean my baby brother is moving back to Shiloh Springs?” Heath managed to instill a touch of humor in his words, and felt a pang of envy at the thought of moving back to the place he still considered home. Man, he missed it here.
“He’s got a few loose ends to tie up, but yes, he’s coming home. Your momma is over the moon. If she had her way, all of her chicks would be coming home to roost, preferably under the same roof.” He raised both hands when Heath started to speak. “Don’t look at me, she’s your mother.”
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes, and Heath allowed the tranquility of the ranch to seep into his soul. He’d be the first to admit he wasn’t cut out to be a rancher, but he still worked the land whenever he was home for more than a day or two. There was something soothing about climbing on horseback and riding through the fields, looking for strays. Getting up hours before the sun peeked over the horizon to feed and water the cattle wasn’t such a hardship when it was only for a couple days.
“Want to tell me what’s weighing so heavy on you, son?”
Even to his own ears, his chuckle sounded hollow. “Wish I could point to one thing and say, ‘Here’s my problem, Dad.’ It’s like I’ve got an itch I can’t scratch. I’m restless. It’s not work—everything’s fine there. Maybe I’m homesick.”
Douglas’ large hand landed on his shoulder, squeezing gently. “Maybe you’re not homesick. You’re heartsick.”
Heath started at his words. “What do you mean?”
“I saw the way you reacted to Camilla when she visited Beth. Don’t bother denying it. The chemistry between you two nearly set the foreman’s house on fire. Have you seen her? Talked to her?”
Why wasn’t he surprised his dad noticed his attraction to the beautiful blonde? The moment he laid eyes on her, he’d felt like he’d been hit in the chest with a sledgehammer. She was the opposite of everything he looked for in a woman, and yet he couldn’t seem to stay away from her. Went out of his way to tease and torment her, and she rose to the bait so easily.
“I haven’t seen her since I went back to D.C., though I’ve thought about her. A lot. It wouldn’t work anyway. Long distance relationships are nothing but a pain in the keister, and rarely succeed. Besides, I’m not looking for a relationship.”
Douglas studied him closely, giving him the same intense stare he’d used his entire life, and Heath knew his dad had more to say, but weighed his words carefully. While he cherished his father’s knowledge and wisdom, talking about women and relationships wasn’t something they shared often. Because, face it, what grown man is comfortable talking to his dad about sex?
“Distance doesn’t matter if it’s the right woman.” His father stood and held out his hand, and helped Heath stand. “You might not think you’re ready, but your heart may have other plans.”
Slapping Heath on the back, Douglas climbed down the ladder and Heath followed, contemplating his father’s words. Maybe his dad was right, and he was fighting a losing battle, because he thought about Camilla Stewart every day. Even when he slept, she invaded his dreams, teasing him, taunting him, and making him ache.
Stopping in the middle of the barn, he made a decision. When he got back to D.C., he’d get in touch with Camilla. See if maybe there was a chance to fan the spark between them and let the flames burn.
The minute he stepped through the kitchen door, Heath knew something was wrong. Beth was on the phone, her eyes filled with tears, and Brody had his arms wrapped around her. The kitchen was silent, all attention focused on Beth until she disconnected the call.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” Ms. Patti reached out a hand to Beth.
Beth drew in a deep breath, her eyes searching the kitchen until they met his.
“Camilla’s in the hospital. She’s been shot.”