Chapter Fourteen

James woke in the night when a coyote howled and was soon answered by the haunting calls of his packmates. Reese slept draped across his chest, her dark eyelashes resting against smooth skin and the perfect bow of her lips tempting beyond reason. This thing between them was quickly developing into more than he’d planned. He stiffened as a touch of something like alarm set in.

She shifted in his arms. “You okay?” Her sleepy mumble feathered across his bare chest.

“I’m great.” Am I? “Go back to sleep, sweetheart.” Her hair was soft and cool against his skin, and it soothed him to let it trail between his fingers.

He’d been shocked at her confession about working for the developer but glad she’d told him. He valued honesty, especially after the fiasco of Polly hiding a husband she hadn’t officially divorced. James rubbed his eyes and pushed thoughts of that woman aside. If, and only if, he and Reese kept the line of communication open between them, they could have the kind of relationship they were both looking for. They could develop a special friendship, knowing they could get together once in a while to enjoy the benefits they’d agreed on.

He kissed the top of her head, tamped down the alarm, and reminded himself she’d soon be off traveling the world, and he’d be wishing she was around.

Enjoy the moment, dude.

…

Thanks to Ty for taking over the morning chores, James and Reese slept well past sunrise, then spent the morning making love in the loft, and in the shower. He was extremely grateful he’d prepared for the possibility that they’d be so good together. They couldn’t get enough of each other. His expectations had been met and exceeded within minutes. This compelling woman understood him in a way others hadn’t.

Hunger finally forced them from their cozy nest at the cottage and back to the fully stocked refrigerator of the ranch house. After they were fed, they took a horseback ride.

Over the rise of a hill, he pointed to the old stone house tucked between a branch of Cypress Creek and a pecan grove. “This was the original home of Benjamin and Elspeth MacLachlan when they came from Scotland in 1902. We call it Home Place.”

“I love it. Such history and tradition. Is having something like this in your family the reason you take care of my cottage?”

“Probably. When we bought your grandparents’ farm, I started maintaining it. I did it to preserve…” He cleared his throat and looked away, a flash of embarrassment creeping up his neck. Would she call him crazy for thinking of her all these years?

“Preserve what?”

The horses came to a stop in front of Home Place. “I do it to preserve your family history.” He stroked Tavish’s long neck, settling the stallion’s eagerness to run.

“You aren’t serious about doing it for me, are you?”

“Actually, I am. I’ve never understood what drove me to keep the place up. Maybe I had a sixth sense it would be important to you, and you’d come home.”

…

“Home,” she said, barely above a whisper. Tingles started in her toes and swept up along her body, and a smile spread across her face. “I hope you know how much it means to me.”

“I think I do.”

Reese dismounted and tied Lady J’s reins to an honest-to-God hitching post in front of the tin-roofed limestone house and admired the way James talked to Tavish as he filled the water trough. Her heart swelled at the idea of spending her life with him. Then with a buzz of alarm, her logical brain caught up to scold her for thinking about things that couldn’t become a reality. Get back on track, Reese.

He took her hand, pulling her out of her thoughts and onto the covered porch, built with cedar posts and hand-hewn boards. He slid a key into the old lock, and it clicked open.

“Hey, if this is the very first MacLachlan house, why haven’t we tried the mystery skeleton key here? Too bad we didn’t bring it,” she said.

“Oh, but we did.” He reached into his front pocket and pulled it out, then stepped backward through the door, taunting her with the old key dangling from his finger on a silver keychain.

“Cool. You sure know how to show a girl a good time.”

“I try, but wouldn’t you like to see the house and find a lock to open before I get you naked?”

She swiped the key from his finger, sighed dramatically, and stuck out her bottom lip in a pout. “Well, if I must.”

He growled and covered her mouth with his, nipping and sucking at her lips. “You better be careful, sweet thing. Teasing a man with that beautiful mouth could get you into trouble. I know personally the talents you possess.”

“Trouble?” Batting her eyelashes, she drew the tip of his finger between her lips, flicking it with her tongue.

He lightly slapped her bottom and began leading her through the house. “You’ve done it now. There’s a bed, and that’s where we’re starting our tour.”

The old springs squeaked in protest when he tossed her onto the mattress.

“It’s a feather bed. So comfy.” Rolling onto her belly, Reese stretched out with a contented sigh. It turned into a moan as he slid his hand under the back of her pink T-shirt. She gripped the bars of the iron headboard while he kissed his way up her back, his weight a welcome comfort. The bed shifted and bumped against the wall. The stone right in front of her face had a familiar Celtic knot scratched into it. She gasped and propped up on her elbows for a closer look.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked.

“No. Check this out.”

His face appeared beside hers. “You’re my lucky little treasure hunter. Grandpa asked me to come here and check the window in this room to see if it was leaking after the last rain. I bet he was giving me a hint. Let’s move the bed and get a better look.”

They pulled the bed away from the wall and knelt before the stone in question. He tilted his head and felt around under the large wooden windowsill, then grinned at Reese. “There’s a keyhole.”

With her muscles threatening to break into an embarrassing dance, she pulled the key from her pocket and slipped it into place. With a bit of effort, the lock clicked and the board across the bottom of the window lifted to reveal a secret compartment between the stones.

James pulled out a long, thin wooden box with tongue-and-groove corners and a brass latch. “Any guesses what’s inside?”

“Judging by the size, it looks like something a fancy ink pen might come in,” she said. “Hurry and open it. I can’t wait.”

He pulled her in and chuckled with his lips against her neck, making her wait a bit longer.

Inside they found a small tool with a wooden handle and a diamond-shaped metal head along with the expected note on familiar paper.

“Strokes of nature lead to renewal and regrowth.

Become The Keepers.

Benjamin”

“I think this tool is for sculpting,” he said.

“Any ideas what it leads to?”

“Nothing is jumping out at me, but we have a bunch of sculptures at the ranch house. We’ll figure it out.”

They finished the tour of Home Place, headed outside, and James locked the door.

While he got the horses ready, she pulled out her camera to get more photographs of the historic house. The remains of an overgrown garden flanked one side and bees buzzed around wildflowers. The early evening light cast mysterious shadows across the landscape.

He stood from checking one of Lady J’s horseshoes and jerked his head toward the house.

The look on his face gave her a chill, and she instinctively moved closer to his side. “What is it?”

“I could’ve sworn someone was on the porch. Guess my mind is playing tricks on me.” He glanced at the sky. “Rain’s coming. We better head back and see what we can find to do indoors.”

His tone suggested the indoor activity he had in mind. And she was on the same page.

…

The following morning, Reese was excited to cook breakfast in his fabulous kitchen. She danced around the room, singing along with the catchy chorus of a George Strait song.

“Reese, I want you to meet my cousin, Ana.”

She pulled her head out of the refrigerator, arms overflowing with the makings of a full breakfast. “Nice to meet you. Hope you’re hungry.”

“I am. What can I do to help?” The petite, dark-haired beauty rushed to relieve her load.

Reese let go of several items. “You can get out a skillet for the bacon. I understand your horse hasn’t had her baby yet.”

“Not yet.” Cast iron clanged and muffled her voice.

“Don’t worry,” said James. “I suspect it’ll happen soon. I’m going to check on her now.” He pressed his lips to Reese’s cheek and started to pull away but leaned back in to connect with her lips for a lingering kiss.

Ana stared openmouthed at his back as he walked out the door. “That’s new. I’ve never seen him like this before.”

“Like what?” She poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Ana.

“I’ve never known him to have an actual girlfriend.”

She barely swallowed in time to keep from spraying coffee across the kitchen. “Did he tell you I’m his girlfriend?”

“Well, no. I just assumed. Sorry if I’m being nosy.” Ana chewed her fingernail. “My mom tells me I am.”

“It’s okay. It just surprised me. We only recently reconnected after not seeing each other for years.”

“Did you date in high school?”

“Briefly. But he wasn’t really into dating one person.” Reese rubbed her thumb along a chip in the rim of her mug, jagged like the hurt he’d caused years ago. A lingering ache strummed in her chest. Catching him kissing another girl had left her feeling undesirable and mortified. All right, Reese, it’s time to get past that event. She shook off her moment of melancholy and cracked an egg into a bowl.

“High school can be rough.” His cousin laid strips of bacon into the skillet. “Trust me, it’s still fresh in my mind. I recently graduated. I know my cousin well enough to know he really likes you. I saw how he looked at you.”

“Can you tell me more about how he’s different with me? What is it that surprises you?”

Ana’s fingers tapped, and her eyes squinted. “I knew there was something different about you before I even came in to meet you. I’ve never seen him light up like that when talking about a girl. He had this secret little smile, almost hidden, but there all the same.”

The young girl’s words stunned her. A thrill sizzled, along with a prickle of worry. What was that promise she’d made to herself about focusing on her career?

“Ladies,” James called from the doorway. “One more for breakfast.”

A tall, muscled blond guy followed him into the kitchen.

Wait, I know him. “Finn Eriksson? Is that you?”

“Hi, Reese. It’s been a while.” He didn’t move in for a hug, only nodded, and his eyes darted around, as if looking for an escape and noting all the exits.

“It’s good to see you again. There’s coffee, but food will be a few more minutes.”

After pouring a cup, he sat facing the back door like a silent sentinel.

Ana, starstruck over the guest, flipped bacon without looking and sent a piece onto the floor. Sampson scrambled over, and she barely stopped him before he burned his mouth.

James stood beside her at the stove, not even trying to hide his amusement. “Finn, do you remember my little cousin, Ana?”

Finn’s eyes widened. “Ana? I thought you were still a little girl.”

“I’m eighteen now.” She blushed and turned back to her job, elbowing her annoying cousin in the process.

Reese hid her smile and continued whisking eggs with salt, pepper, and cheese. “Finn, what have you been up to lately?”

“Just got home after my last tour in the Navy. Time to trade in combat boots for cowboy boots.”

“How did you like being on a ship?” Reese asked.

“I was rarely on one. I was deployed with a SEAL team as their medic.”

She waited for him to say more but got nothing.

James pulled out a loaf of bread and put four slices into the large toaster. “Have you had a chance to drive the ambulance yet?”

“Yep. My first run was out to the Cotter ranch last night. One of her barns burned down, but luckily she only had minor burns after getting all the animals out safely.”

“Do they know how the fire started?” James joined him at the table.

“Not yet, but they suspect arson. I also talked to Hal Kempner. He came over when he saw the smoke. Said he’s been getting letters and calls from a land developer.”

“Yeah, several of us have. He won’t sell.”

Finn rubbed a hand along his jaw. “I think he might be changing his mind after some of his cows dropped dead yesterday.”

James cursed, and Reese sloshed egg onto the floor. She’d like to believe the strange occurrences were a coincidence but was becoming more and more concerned the problems on multiple ranches were connected to Mr. Everett.

James glanced one way then the next as if searching for something elusive. “I’ll call Hal after we eat.”

“How many strange incidents is that?” Finn asked.

“On our ranch, a cut fence, a gate off its hinges, and the windmill. Did Ms. Cotter mention anything other than the barn?”

“Yeah. Her waterline was busted, making it harder to fight the fire.”

“And now dead cows.” His fingers flexed and clenched on the table.

Reese’s lovely, relaxed mood from their night of passion was draining away as quickly as water through her fingers. She put a hand on James’s shoulder. “You have time to call before we eat.” She wanted to know what was going on as much as he did.

“Think I’ll do that.” He stood and kissed her forehead before crossing to a wall-mounted phone with a curly cord. His long finger traced down a list of phone numbers pinned on a cork board then he picked up the receiver and dialed.

“Morning, Hal. It’s James MacLachlan. I hear you’ve had some trouble on your ranch.” With one boot crossed over the other, he leaned against the wall. “Sorry to hear that.”

While James listened and talked with a variety of expressions crossing his face, Reese continued cooking and wished she could hear both sides of the conversation.

Ana set the table, and Finn made a fresh pot of coffee with the familiarity of a man who knew his way around this kitchen.

A few minutes later, James hung up the phone. “The vet is running tests to see if he can tell what killed the cattle. Hal’s spring has gone dry, but mine are still flowing. At least they were yesterday.” He turned for the mudroom. “I’m going to ride out and check them.”

“Wait,” Reese said. “Eat first. Then I’ll ride with you.” She wanted them to do this together. Wow, after only two nights of passion, she was thinking of them as some mystery- and crime-fighting duo.

I’m letting the earth-shattering sex cloud my vision of where we are in our relationship. Wait…relationship? This is only hanging out.

Was he giving himself the same warnings? The ones she was obviously not listening to.