Matt (13 page)

B
y the time Vanessa descended the stairs for dinner, she could hear muted voices in the kitchen. She walked in to find everybody gathered around the fireplace, enjoying drinks and appetizers. Even Colin, Luke, and Reed, as well as Burke, were there, fresh from their duties with the herds. It was obvious from the look of them that they'd barely had time to shower and change. Their faces were heavily bearded, their hair in need of a trim.

Yancy held a tray of drinks for her inspection.

“Thank you.” She accepted a glass of wine and turned to the others.

Reed, heavily bearded, shaggy hair tied back in a ponytail, his well-worn denims faded and torn, had the look of an Old West gunslinger as he turned to her. “I hear you're about to go on one of Gram Gracie's famous wilderness treks.”

Vanessa's smile widened. “I can't wait.”

“It shows. You look like a kid at Christmas.”

“Is it that obvious?”

Nelson, enjoying his martini, eyed her over the rim of his glass. “I can't imagine a fashionable, big-city lawyer like you climbing over mountains and slopping through muddy fields just to get close to a bunch of smelly creatures.”

“Where's your romance, Dad?” Grace touched a hand to his arm. “If you were directing Vanessa in a film, you'd have soft music playing in the background while she danced through a field of wildflowers.”

Something about her words had Matt lifting his head to stare at Vanessa through narrowed eyes.

Nelson nodded. “I would indeed. Beautiful women in fields of wildflowers sell movies. But I was never fooled by what I was doing. Movies are pretend. You're taking her into the harshness of the real world, Gracie Anne.” He turned to Frank. “Of course, there was a time when I couldn't imagine a daughter of mine living on a ranch, let alone climbing all over Hell's Half Acre chasing wild animals.”

“And now, you're living on a ranch yourself, Great One.” Luke tipped up his longneck and drank, while the others shared smiles.

“True enough.” Nelson set aside his empty glass. “It took some getting used to. But I have to say, Yancy's fine food and excellent martini skills have made the transition smooth enough.” He looked around at his daughter and son-in-law, his grandson Colin, and then at his three great-grandsons, all of them rugged and handsome enough to have been leading men in his films. He gave one of those lazy, satisfied smiles. “Not that being with all of you hasn't been enough reward. But there's something to be said for fine food and liquor.”

“Spoken like a true Hollywood icon,” Luke drawled.

Burke accepted a longneck and, as was his custom, stood just outside the circle of family, like a guardian angel watching and listening in silence.

When Yancy announced that dinner was ready, they moved across the room, settling comfortably at the big harvest table.

Luke held a huge platter while his great-grandfather helped himself to a chicken breast. The others at the table easily passed around a Caesar salad, tiny new garden peas, and a basket of sourdough rolls fresh from the oven.

Nelson took a first bite and turned to the cook with a look of absolute delight. “Chicken cordon bleu?”

Yancy grinned. “You've been talking about it for weeks now. I figured it was time I took the hint.”

“But this is—” the old man took a second bite and closed his eyes for a moment “—exactly the way they served it at the Brasseri.”

Yancy couldn't hide his pleasure. “Glad to hear I nailed it.”

“More than. Oh, this takes me back…”

Around the table the family shared knowing looks. They had no doubt they were about to be entertained by the Great One's memories of a bygone Hollywood.

“Anthony would pick me up in the limousine at exactly six o'clock. We would drive to the Brasseri, and Marcel, my favorite waiter, would set a martini in front of me the moment I was seated in a booth.”

“Always a booth, and never a table,” Luke explained to Vanessa.

“Exactly right. Tables were for the tourists who came in to stare at celebrities. Or for the gossip columnists,” he added with a trace of contempt, “who spent a fortune tipping the waiters for any hint of scandal they could reveal in their rags.”

“Even Marcel?” Frank nudged Gracie, knowing that would raise his father-in-law's hackles.

“Marcel was above such things. Totally incorruptible. He knew more secrets than anyone in Hollywood, but took them all to his grave. That's why, while the others came and went, he remained as head waiter at the Brasseri for over twenty years.”

Vanessa turned to Grace. “Did you ever go along with your father?”

Grace shook her head. “Rarely. Over Dad's objections, Mother insisted that I attend a private girls' school in Connecticut, as she had.”

“Which meant that I was forced to fly across the country regularly, just to spend time with my wife and daughter.” Nelson chuckled. “It was the price I paid to love the most beautiful woman in Connecticut. That is until Grace Anne chose to attend college at UCLA over the elite Eastern university that had been her mother's alma mater. Madeline was horrified, of course, because it meant that she would have to return to the glitter of Hollywood if she wanted to see her own daughter.”

“And then,” Frank interjected, “just when Nelson thought he'd won the upper hand in their marital tug-of-war, my Gracie Girl made a fateful trip to Montana to photograph some scenery for her final year in filmmaking at UCLA, and ended up leaving both Connecticut and California behind.”

Vanessa, caught up in the story, looked over with surprise. “You never went home?”

Grace linked her fingers with Frank's. “I never even went back to graduate. Nothing was going to make me leave this handsome cowboy for even a week.”

Colin leaned back in his chair and regarded his parents. “And I've been thankful ever since.”

Luke slapped his uncle on the back. “Not as thankful as all the pretty ladies in Glacier Ridge. Who would they drool over if you weren't around to make their hearts flutter?”

Colin gave a dry laugh. “In case you haven't noticed, you and your brothers have replaced me as hunk of the day.”

“You might want to look around the next time you're in town.” Reed exchanged a grin with his brothers. “Word is, every rancher in Glacier Ridge keeps his wife and daughters locked indoors until Colin Malloy leaves town.”

“Trust me.” Colin huffed a breath. “They're all safe. I'm not even looking.”

“But they are. And drooling,” Luke added as the others laughed.

“Speaking of drooling…” Grace turned to Yancy. “I think we'll take our dessert in the great room. And as soon as possible. I've been thinking about that torte for hours.”

“Yes, ma'am.” Yancy began setting plates and cups on a trolley, along with a carafe of coffee and a bottle of fine whiskey.

As they made their way to the great room, Frank huddled with Burke, who reported on the herds, the wranglers, and the weather in the hills, before being apprised of Gracie's latest plans to journey there.

“So, Nessa.” Reed waited until his great-grandfather was comfortably settled into a big, overstuffed chair by the fire before sitting nearby and stretching out his long legs to the warmth. “Have you decided what you'll take along on your first visit to the wilderness?”

“I thought some jeans, a hoodie, maybe a parka, and boots.”

“Well, that takes care of tomorrow morning.” Reed grinned at his brothers across the room. “What about the days after?”

She shot a puzzled look at Grace. “Didn't you say we'd be traveling light?”

“I did. Just ignore the teasing. But Reed's right. You may want to add a few things. You'll need a couple of tees or a tank. Shorts. Sunblock. And I'd advise you to bring along some sturdy work gloves.”

“And if you don't have room for the work gloves, at least make room for the shorts.” Reed's smile went up a notch.

Yancy moved among them, serving his torte with dollops of chocolate chip ice cream, along with cups of coffee.

Nelson looked up after his first taste. “Is that hazelnut I detect, Yancy?”

“You've got a refined palate, Great One. It is hazelnut.”

The old man brought his fingers to his lips in an exaggerated display of delight. “You've outdone yourself again, my man. I do believe this torte is better than any I ever tasted at the Brasseri.”

Yancy made a formal bow. “The highest compliment ever.”

“And well deserved.”

Around the room the others were too busy enjoying their dessert to bother with words.

Yancy set a trolley along one wall, in case anyone wanted seconds. Then he settled into his favorite, well-worn chair by the fire and sipped his coffee.

Seeing him, Vanessa looked surprised. “You're not having any of this fabulous torte, Yancy?”

He gave her a pleased smile. “I'm glad you think it's fabulous. My real dessert is watching everyone enjoying the things I made. Truth is, I never had a sweet tooth. Now, if this were chili, I'd have seconds and thirds.”

“Then I'll just have yours, too.” Luke ambled across the room and cut another huge slice before mounding it with ice cream.

“Careful,” Colin called. “All those pretty young things in town like their cowboys lean.”

“You sure about that?” Luke winked at his brother Reed. “Now that our old uncle is past looking at women…”

“Who're you calling old?” Colin sipped his coffee.

Reed couldn't resist jumping in. “Luke's right. You said you're not even looking at women anymore. I'd say that makes you old.”

“I'm only ten years older than Matt.” Colin turned to his nephew. “Why aren't you defending me?”

Matt grinned. “You're on your own, old man.”

Colin nodded toward his father. “You going to let these upstarts talk to your son this way?”

Frank dropped an arm around Gracie's shoulders. “Son, I've learned that there's only one thing that ever stops a man from looking at beautiful women. That's when he's snagged the most beautiful woman of all. And since I've already got her, and I'm too content after such a fine meal to do more than listen, I'll just let the four of you carry on.” He turned to Vanessa. “See what we have to put up with? They're constantly ragging on one another, and we'd probably send them all packing and tell them to find their own ranches if they weren't so helpful around this big ol' ranch.”

“Helpful?” Reed shot a knowing look at his brothers. “Grandpop, if you sent the four of us packing, you'd have to hire an entire army of wranglers to replace all these muscles and brains.”

“You forgot to mention egos.” The older man's eyes danced with laughter as he turned to Burke. “And I mean giant egos.”

That had Burke roaring with laughter.

Reed crossed the room and held out a bottle of whiskey. “I think your brain just short-circuited, Grandpop. How about a splash to give it a jump-start?”

Still laughing, Frank held out his cup.

Reed turned to the others. “Any takers?”

Nelson lifted his cup. “I wouldn't mind a bit.”

“I'll have some, too, son,” Burke's eyes were crinkled in glee.

The rest declined, and Reed replaced the bottle on the trolley.

Vanessa had a sudden thought. “My cell phone didn't work up in the hills.” She turned to Grace.

Frank answered for Gracie. “That's true, darlin'. They're pretty unreliable. Way up there, you're pretty much on your own.”

“So, if there's…trouble…” She flushed. “Not that I'm expecting any but…”

Frank gave her a reassuring smile. “My Gracie Girl knows how to get the word out if she has any trouble.”

Beside him, his wife nodded. “I have my rifle, Nessa. If I fire it, they'll hear it clear across the hills and come running from all directions.”

“Have you ever had to fire it?”

The older woman gave her a gentle smile. “A time or two. Just to see if my men were paying attention.”

They all laughed as Burke explained. “When Miss Gracie calls, this entire ranch drops everything to get to her.”

Frank kissed his wife's cheek. “That's because she's the heart and soul of this place.”

“And don't you ever forget that.” She tried to sound stern, but everyone in the room could hear the warmth in her voice.

A short time later, as the fire burned low, Grace was the first to get to her feet. “Time I turned in. You might want to think about it, too, Nessa. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

As she and Frank made their way upstairs, the others began drifting off to their rooms, calling good night as they did.

When Vanessa set aside her cup and got to her feet, Matt stood. “I'll see you to your room.”

“That's not necessary. If you'd like to stay and chat with Burke…”

The old cowboy shook his head. “I'm heading to the bunkhouse. We'll be leaving for the herd before dawn.” He crossed to her and took her hand in a courtly gesture. “You'll have a grand time with Miss Grace. I hope you soak it all up.”

“Thank you, Burke. I can't wait. Good night.”

As she climbed the stairs, Matt followed. When they came to her room, he reached around her and opened the door. Once she was inside, he surprised her by stepping in behind her before leaning against the closed door.

She turned. “Is there something you want to say?”

“Something I need to do.” His voice was low. Quiet.

His eyes were so clearly focused on her, she felt the magnetic pull of them. “If you're here to warn me…”

Without a word he dragged her against him. Her hands automatically lifted to his chest, as though to brace herself, but there was no time.