Somewhere Montana (7 page)

Mac drove down to park in the lot adjacent to the emporium, since no vehicles were allowed to park on Old Main Street, which was still maintained unpaved.

“You feel up to walking around old Somewhere? You didn’t bring the cane,” he said.

“We’re not going that far. I haven’t used the cane for several days, ever since we took the brace off for good.”

“If you’re sure. You should be able to get most everything you need right here in Murphy’s. I can pick up all the stuff on Little Mouse’s list. This is the only place that carries the fifty pound sacks of flour and sugar. After we finish here, I’ll have to run out to the supermarket at the mall for the canned goods and such for the cabins. Then we can swing back here and have lunch at Margie’s.”

He assisted her out of the truck and took her arm as they climbed the two steps onto the board sidewalk. Opening the door, he ushered her inside and she inhaled the smells of old wood, spices, and leather. He steered her to the clothing area and, after ascertaining she would be all right, left her to get Little Mouse’s order.

Business was wrapped up fairly quickly at Murphy’s. Sage stood on the walk in front while Mac went to get the truck. She watched him effortlessly load their purchases in the back and latch the cap. Then he opened the passenger door and assisted her into the vehicle.

“You okay? Feet warmer in those boots?” he asked, sliding the key into the ignition. At her nod, he eased out into the street for the short trip to the mall.

When they left Harding’s Super Mart with two loaded grocery carts, Sage tried to hide the slight limp by leaning on her cart. From the frown line between his brows and the thin-lipped expression, she could tell her pain did not bode well for his frame of mind. She would deny any problem if he mentioned it. That way she could evade his suggestion that he should have made her stay in the truck, not let her accompany him wandering around a warehouse size store. Protecting her seemed to be his major concern. She didn’t want to worry him.

Upon reaching the truck, he made her get inside and started the vehicle on the pretext it would be too cold for her to stand around while he loaded the boxes into the back. As he climbed into the driver’s seat, she suggested driving past the front of the mall so she could see what new stores had been added.

“Well, the Old Sew and Sew Fabric Store, the Knit or Knot Yarn Shop, and the hair salon are still in the same place,” she noted.

“The women in this area would probably go to war if they tried to close those three establishments,” he stated.

“There’s Mr. Harrigan’s bookstore. Is he still running it? I remember him as being quite elderly.”

“He’s still alive and goes in every day, even at the age of eighty-two. His grandson more or less manages the store now. Next door they’ve added a gym, which also advertises tanning booths. They combined the dry cleaner and the laundromat. Sears is still down at the end, if there’s anything you couldn’t get at Murphy’s.”

“No. I’m good. I have more than I need. Remind me the next time I go shopping not to take you with me.”

“I only wanted to be sure you had everything necessary for the season here. It’s a far cry from San Francisco.”

“Thanks, Mr. Obvious. But since I’m not taking part in the winter survival school, I don’t need half of all we got.”

“Yes, you do, if you plan on spending any time outdoors. And I can’t picture you happily cooped up inside for the next two months.”

She threw him a quelling look, yet didn’t add an appropriate comeback. Had she given up her plan for leaving? Did she feel safe with them? He drove into the parking lot behind Madame Charlotte’s. After he assisted her out of the truck, his hand rested lightly at the small of her back as they walked through the short alley between the bank and the picket fence of the B&B. She wondered at the warm feeling that spread through her at his touch. Was it real, or a figment of her imagination?

“Nothing really changes in old Somewhere, does it?” Sage asked, her eyes scanning the opposite side of the street. The sheriff’s office, the seamstress shop, the doctor’s office, the hotel with the second floor porch that shaded the front entrance, the saloon with its swinging doors, down to Murphy’s Emporium, all seeming to be calmly awaiting the next milestone of its existence.

“Not on the outside. Modern renovations had to be done on the insides in order to meet the codes to stay in business. Let’s eat. I’m hungry,” he said, opening the door to the Hole-in-the-Wall and ushering Sage inside.

The mouth
-
watering aromas made her stomach growl. Mac tossed her a knowing grin as he led her to a table along the wall, away from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen door. He held her chair as he seated her so her left side was facing the wall. She sent him a thank you smile when she realized what he had done. No awkward questions to answer if she met people she knew.

The décor was as she remembered. White linen tablecloths and napkins suggesting old western opulence, yet toned down by the blue gingham curtains at the windows and the upholstered seats of the high—backed wooden chairs. A waitress brought over the menus and their glasses of water.

“Hi, Margie. How are things?” Mac acknowledged the proprietress with a smile.

“Hey, Mac. Business is good for this time of year,” she answered, casting a look at her. “Sage? Is that you, girl? Ain’t seen you in a dog’s age. You here for Mac’s survival school next week?”

“Hi, Margie. No, not doing the school this year. Just dropped in for a visit,” she stated, turning to look at the middle age woman who had always been kind to her. Sage saw the shocked look, quickly masked. Bless the woman for not making any comment or asking questions.

“You need a minute to look at the menu?” asked Margie, firing a questioning look at Mac, who hedged a
don’t ask
glance back at her.

“I don’t. I’d like a double hamburger, an order of fries, and coffee,” said Mac. “What would you like, Sage?”

“I’d like just a regular hamburger with fried onions and a side dish of your delicious slaw,” said Sage. “And a coffee, also.” She wasn’t sure how much she would be able to eat. Her stomach was still jittery. She remembered the odd looks she received from the people she met shopping, but Margie was the only one she had spoken to.

“Yes, you always ordered the slaw no matter what you were eating.” Margie gave her a genuine smile and a pat on the shoulder as she left to take their order to the kitchen.

“That wasn’t so bad now, was it?” Mac smiled at her, reaching across to lay his hand on hers.

“Guess not,” she agreed with a shrug, not looking at him and withdrawing her hand to clasp her other one in her lap. “But we haven’t met any small children yet.”

“Sage, please stop,” he pleaded. “Don’t do this to yourself. It will fade in time. At least you will be able to hide yours with make
-
up.”

Her head snapped up and she gazed at him
.
“Yours isn’t bad. I don’t even notice it any
more when I look at you.”

“Nor do I dwell on yours. I see the inner beauty that’s always been in here,” he said, tapping his chest.

Margie arrived with their orders and they silently dug into their meal. Mac openly watched her, as if ready to encourage her to eat. It was unnecessary because, with the first bite of the burger, Sage closed her eyes and let the flavors drift across her tongue. It was juicy and the onions were sweet, a subtle melt-in-your-mouth quality. The slaw had an extra bite to it from the dash of freshly ground horseradish added to the mixture. She didn’t realize how hungry she had been until she had devoured every last bite. Looking up, she caught Mac staring at her with a sexy half smile that turned up the corners of his lips.

“What?” she asked, the blush she could feel creeping up her cheeks.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody enjoy their food like you do.”

“Easy to do here. I’ve never found a hamburger like that in San Francisco.”

“Margie gets her meat locally. Range raised beef. Leaner. Not crowded into feed lots and fed grains to fatten them up faster, plus all the other stuff in those grains. Ready to go?”

While Mac paid for their lunch, Sage continued on outside. She was zipping her jacket when he came rushing out the door.

“Why’d you run off like that?” he asked gruffly.

“Getting crowded in there.” She hunched her shoulders. He tucked her hand in his and held it all the way back to the truck.

Arriving at the ranch, Mac parked by the front door and Sage hopped out. He opened the back of the truck and she started collecting the bags for Little Mouse while he slung the bag of flour over one shoulder. She dropped the bags on the counter and headed back out for another load. Jumping up to sit on the tailgate
,
so she could retrieve the articles that had slid to the front, she was stopped by Mac’s hands at her waist.

“What are you doing?” he asked curtly.

“Getting the stuff that slid forward,” she answered, a challenge in her tone.

“No need. It’s only the cartons for the cabins, and I can get them when I’m ready to unload there. Let’s take your stuff inside.” He lifted her down to stand in front of him. His strong hands cupped her waist and pulled her into him.

His head slowly descended, his lips taking hers. This was what she wanted, what she had been waiting for. It was as she remembered, yet gentler. Her breath caught in her chest and her heartbeat drummed so loudly she was sure he could hear it, desire melting her. Her arms crept up around his neck as he deepened the kiss, his arms wrapping around her to pull her closer. She wanted to hold on tightly and never let him go, yet the fear of him rejecting her again made her stiffen in his arms.

As he ended the kiss slowly, he eased back. She waited to open her eyes, hoping he could not read there what he would be able to see.

“I’ve wanted to do that ever since we brought you down off the mountain,” he stated, his voice husky. There was warmth in her eyes, but a hint of disbelief resided there also. She wanted to erase her doubts, delete the memory of that night eight years ago. Now did not seem the time to put action to those thoughts.

He grabbed her bags and steered her toward the house. Inside, he dropped the bags at the foot of the stairs, unzipped her parka, and slid it off her arms. He helped her off with her boots and led her into the parlor. Seating her on the couch, he lifted her legs onto it, placed pillows behind her, and covered her with the afghan that had been draped over the back. Then he walked over to the fireplace to throw on a couple logs and stir the fire.

As he hooked the screen in place, he turned to her with a stern look and said “Stay!”
pointing his finger at her.

“Rowf!” she barked back at him. His stern expression didn’t change, but there was a twinkle of laughter in his eyes as he approached her.

“Please,” he added, cupping her cheek. “You’ve done enough for today. Rest while you can. Tomorrow I pick up the men for winter survival camp. It’s going to be a busy week.” He brushed a kiss across her lips and strode out.

Sage watched him leave, her heart in her eyes. What would he say if she voiced her love? She couldn’t take that chance. He was solicitous of her welfare, and that kiss seemed to be more than friendship. Then she thought of Marcos, the reason she landed there, and she began to shake. She needed to call Vanessa and find out what was happening at home.

Sage was busy at the computer when Mac walked into the office. He strolled behind her, placed his hands on her shoulders, and bent down to kiss her neck. She shivered. He smiled. Backing away from her was not an option he considered. Not anymore. Not after the kiss they shared yesterday. Nor after the visions he visited last night, knowing she was only a few steps away in the next room.

Those mental images popped up to haunt him. Him worshiping her body with his hands and mouth, him deep inside her, his body hardened rapidly and a groan worked its way up and out through his clenched teeth. No way could he act on those thoughts. Not yet. He had to move slowly. He had planted a seed with that kiss, he hoped. Let her nurture it.

“In about an hour, I have to pick up the men at the airport,” he said, standing behind her. No way could he move until he got himself under control.
Business. Talk business. Get your big brain in gear.

“Everything seems to be in order here,” she said, turning to look at him over her shoulder. “I thought I’d check the cabins while you’re gone. Make sure we haven’t missed anything.”

“Let’s go over the spreadsheets you’re going to be setting up. The breeding schedule I will need to cross-reference the mares and stallions with their foundation bloodlines. Can’t be using certain stallions with the wrong mares. Also we need one for income and expenses for each of the businesses. That will give me some idea of profit or loss if we consider expanding. Will they be difficult to do?”

She shook her head.

He pulled up a chair and sat beside her. Watching her long fingers tapping out instructions on the keyboard, he wondered how they would feel wrapped around him. His soft groan drew a glance from Sage. He had to rearrange his thoughts. Get his mind back on business.

He picked up the survival camp folder and started to go over the schedule line by line. Without warning, the scent of roses drifted across to him. He could picture Sage in the shower, her face turned up to the spray as she rinsed the shampoo from her hair, the bubbles sliding down her back to caress the firm globes of her buttocks.
Not now! Wrong business, Idiot. Get back on track or you won’t be able to walk out of here.
He laid the folder in his lap to cover the twitching below his belt line. Then he turned to Sage, an idea taking precedence that did not include the two of them naked.

“One request. As much as I like hearing you call me Callum, to everyone else I’m known as Mac. Could you switch to Mac when anyone else is around?”

“I think so. And while strangers are here, I’m going to be Susan Brown from Seattle. You have that lawyer from San Francisco in this bunch.”

“Never thought of that. I’ll clue in Two Feathers and Little Mouse. They’re going to be super vigilant anyway. Although, these men were all booked before you arrived.”

He didn’t tell her about the email he received from Stew. Time for that after this week is
over. He had printed it out and deleted it. No chance of her discovering it if she had to open his emails for any reason. Usually she didn’t touch them. But he wasn’t taking any chances. It had included a picture of Diego, a copy of which he had in his pocket to drop off to Dante on his way to the airport.

“Nothing has happened. I’m beginning to feel safe here. I don’t want to leave. But the first inkling of any danger, I’m out of here. I can’t have anything happen to you or your family.”

His heart soared at her declaration of staying, and then hit bottom at what she would do if any danger. He would have to convince her that was not an option, but now was not the time. He had business to attend to.

“No chance of that today. I’ve got to head out. Wouldn’t look right if I were late to pick them up.” He tipped up her chin on the ends of his fingers and brushed a kiss across her lips. “I’ll be back shortly. Be careful going down to the cabins.” He saw desire in her eyes and a flicker of something else he wished he had the time to dwell on. It was with a lighter step that he left the room.

* * * *

Sage sat back and stared after him. What was that all about? When she first arrived, he kept his distance, like he was afraid to touch her. Now he not only wanted to touch her, but kiss her, too.

She looked back on that night when she was sixteen and relived her embarrassment. She had thrown herself at him, begged for him to love her. His kisses had sent her soaring. As he deepened the kiss, his hands caressed her body, pulled her closer so she felt his hard erection. She had wiggled against him, wanting to take it to the next step. Suddenly he had pushed her away and stomped from the room. The hate in his eyes had stopped her cold.

He had taught her to love, but also how love could hurt. She visited the time she had spent under the elms by the creek where she had run to. He was her first love, would always be first in her heart. But never again would she seek him out. When she flew out after camp was over, he had not come around to say goodbye. Two Feathers and Little Mouse had hugged her and given her a silver necklace with a cougar on it. Mac’s parents had hugged her, and questions had lingered in his mother’s eyes.

Later, whenever she visited the ranch, she made sure he wouldn’t be there. It was the only way she had of being close to him, knowing he was safe, even in that God forsaken area where he was fighting.

Now he said he was home on leave. For how long? Would she be able to watch him walk out of her life again? Could she swallow her pride and tell him how she truly felt? No. She wouldn’t be able to endure his rejection. Again. Enough of these questions. What she needed now was to stay busy so she wouldn’t think about her past and so she could get stronger. Just in case she needed to leave.

A few minutes later, Sage was in the kitchen helping Little Mouse prepare lunch when the front door opened and they could hear multiple men’s voices. Mac entered the kitchen, followed by four men.

“Something sure smells good,” stated a short, husky man with glasses. “If that’s a sample of the meals we’ll have, I’m really going to enjoy this camp.”

“If I’d known the scenery was going to be this beautiful,” said the tall, brawny male with the looks of a Hollywood star, ogling her, “I’d have signed on sooner.”

“Gentlemen, meet Little Mouse,” Mac said. “She does most of the cooking. But don’t get used to it. You’ll be making the majority of your meals. The other lady is Sa—Susan Brown, a friend of
mine
.”

At that point, Two Feathers entered the back door. The men gaped at the tall, muscular Native American with the no-nonsense expression. “And this is Two Feathers. He’ll be helping me keep you too busy trying to survive to think of anything else.”

“I thought there were five coming,” said Sage.

“Oh, Swindon will be along shortly. He wanted his own car. And boy, does he have a surprise for you!” said Hollywood, looking at Mac with a gleeful grin.

Sage looked at Mac and shrugged. It couldn’t be too bad. The men were all smiling. “Mac, why don’t you take them into the living room? I’ll bring in the coffee. They can sit and relax until the last guy gets here.”

They were all standing around watching Mac stoking the fireplace when she entered the room a few minutes later. Sage set the tray on the coffee table as one of the men approached her.

“Hi. I’m David Saunders. A ranger at Yellowstone,” he offered, holding his hand out to her. She put her hand in his and he shook it gently, not holding it overly long. “We have some winter training, since we inevitably have a few snow rescues. They sent me here to find out about this training. It came highly recommended. If it’s what we need, next winter, budget permitting, we’ll want Mac to come to Yellowstone to train all of us.”

“That’s a mighty tall order,” said Sage, glancing at Mac.

“Well, if we do hire him, one stipulation will be that he has to bring you with him.”

Dave gave her a gotcha grin and turned the same look on Mac. He didn’t seem the least bit daunted by the scar on her face.

“I’m Alan Carr,” said the chubby fellow wearing glasses. He didn’t offer to shake hands as he glanced warily at Mac. “My friends and I like to hike in the mountains. I’d like to be prepared if we should get caught in snow. I’ve never done anything like this.”

“Mac and Two Feathers will be sure you’re safe while you learn,” she assured him.

“And I’m Buck Carson,” said Hollywood, stepping close and clasping her hand. “Actually, my family named me Kit. But since that got me into a lot of fights at school, they started calling me Buck and it stuck. So that’s what I answer to the quickest.”

He didn’t seem inclined to release her hand even as she tried to discreetly disengage it.

“Being from Florida, you’re probably wondering why I need winter survival skills. My buddies and I like to do extreme sports and we have a couple winter trips planned for next year. I tried to talk them into coming, too, but they didn’t think it was necessary.”

“Well, if you spend as much time honing your survival skills as you do playing the ladies’ man,” said Mac, moving forward, “you just might be able to rescue their foolish hides. You don’t underestimate Mother Nature and what she can throw at you.”

“I guess, Ms. Susan, that leaves just me,” said the fourth man, stepping into the breach and removing Sage’s hand from Buck’s. “I’m James Riddle. I’ll answer to Jim or Rooster. I’m a long haul trucker and my CB handle is the Bionic Rooster.”

“Hey, you ever been down in the Keys?” jumped in Buck. “Some of the ladies have mentioned someone called the Bionic Rooster with the six million dollar pec—”

Jim clapped his hand over Buck’s mouth. “Watch your mouth, son,” he warned quietly. “There’s a lady present. You can’t be much of a bartender. You do more yapping than listening.”

Sage studied this soft-spoken man. He had to stand at least six foot two with muscular arms and chest, narrow waist and hips, and long, muscular legs. He emitted muted strength.  He gave the impression he was a man you didn’t want to mess with, but if he chose to be your friend, you couldn’t ask for a better one.

A car pulling up front had them all turning toward the large window. Out stepped a man dressed as though going to a board meeting. He walked around the car, opened the rear door, and assisted out two small children. Taking each one by the hand, he strode for the front door.

“Surprise!” announced Buck, slapping Mac on the back. That seemed to snap him out of his momentary stupor.

“What in Holy Ned,” snarled Mac, yanking open the front door. At the look of fright on the children’s faces, he stepped back and waved them inside. “I don’t take children this young for any camps. You never said anything about bringing them with you.”

“Sorry about that,” the man offered. “My au pair up and quit on me when she found out we were going into snow country. Even the added benefits,” he said with a lascivious smirk, “weren’t enough to entice her. There must be someone around I can hire to watch them while I’m here. Since their mother died, I take them with me whenever I have to be out of town for any substantial amount of time.”

Sage watched the little girl remove her hat and coat and drop them on the floor behind her. The bigger child, a boy, seemed reticent to follow suit.

“What happen to you?” asked the girl, staring at Sage.

“A…an accident,” whispered Sage, throwing a
help me
look at Mac.

The answer didn’t seem to phase the little girl, but the boy cringed and looked like he wanted to run. The man grabbed his son’s hand. Before he could catch his daughter’s, she marched up to Sage and raised her arms. Sage picked the child up. The little girl placed her two little hands on Sage’s face and turned it so the scar was prominently exposed to everyone’s view.

“You gots a big boo-boo,” stated the girl. Before anyone could discern what she was about to do, she leaned forward and placed a smacking kiss on Sage’s cheek. “There. I kiss it all better,” she announced, grinning at Sage. Sage looked at Mac, speechless.

“There goes your theory out the window,” he murmured, smiling at her as he took the child from her arms.

“I GG. I four,” she told Mac, “and that JJ, he’s six,” she continued, pointing her finger at her brother.

“Very pleased to meet you, GG,” said Mac, setting the child down. “Welcome, JJ,” he added, holding his hand out to the boy who cringed away from him.

“JJ does that with everyone,” said his father. “His mother died in an accident six months ago. The child psychologist said he connects the word with death and each time he hears it he thinks someone else will be taken away from him. She said eventually he’ll overcome it when he realizes there are different degrees of them and not everyone dies. In the meantime, we try to keep the word out of our vocabulary.”

“How’d it happen?” asked Buck, ever the nosy bartender.

“She was texting on her cell phone, doing fifty-five miles per hour, and didn’t see the stopped trailer truck, evidently, until it was too late. They said she died on impact. I just thank God she didn’t have the kids with her.”

Sage watched his face while he relayed the incident. He didn’t seem upset she was gone. Maybe all was not well in paradise. The children seemed more important to him. Then there was the remark he made about the au pair. She frowned at Mac and he shrugged it away.