The Rebel of Copper Creek (20 page)

There was another boomer, and Juliet stiffened, wrapping her arms about herself.

“Hey.” Griff stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her to soothe. “It'll soon blow over.”

“I know. I hate that I'm such a coward.”

“You?” He turned her to face him, rubbing his hands over her shoulders, down her back. “You're the bravest woman I know.” He looked down at her, dressed in her skimpy night clothes, his gaze trailing from her high, firm breasts peeking through the cami, to her bare toes. “And the sexiest.”

“Griff…”

He hadn't planned it. It just happened. One minute he was offering comfort, the next he was seeking it.

He lowered his face. His mouth covered hers in a kiss so hot, so hungry, he saw stars. And wondered whether it was the storm outside, or the storm within.

“I want you to know I didn't mean for this to happen,” he muttered inside her mouth. “Not that I'm complaining…”

“I know.” A sigh rose up from deep inside her. “I've tried so hard, but…” She twined her arms around his neck and offered her lips to him.

That was all the invitation he needed. He took her mouth with a fierce hunger that had them both gasping. And then they were lost as, with soft sighs and whispered words, they wrapped around one another, desperate for more, hungry for all they could have.

With his mouth on hers, he absorbed the shock of the rolling thunder that shook the walls. At first, he thought it was her kiss that had rocked him. Then, as he realized the storm had intensified, he could feel the entire house shudder.

“Griff…”

“Shh.” He took her mouth again.

She returned his kisses with an urgency that had him gripping her hips, pulling her closer.

“Griff…”

Before she could say more, there was the sound of hurried footsteps on the creaking stairs, and two little boys, rubbing their eyes and looking absolutely terrified, threw themselves against the two of them.

“Mama, Efan and me are scared.”

Hearts pounding, chests heaving, Juliet and Griff stepped apart just as her two sons jumped between them.

And though their pulsebeats throbbed in their temples and their lungs were starved for air, they found themselves comforting two trembling little boys as though nothing mattered as much as their well-being. But while they soothed and comforted, they kept glancing over the boys' heads to stare at one another with looks of absolute hunger.

While Juliet led the two little guys toward the table, keeping her arms firmly around them, Griff stepped back to watch and listen. And found himself marveling at the ease with which she slipped from the role of temptress to that of loving, caring mother.

It was, he realized, one more reason why he loved her.

Love.

The very thought of it filled him with the most amazing feeling.

Right now, though he wanted her desperately, he knew he could put aside his needs for those of Juliet and her sons.

And he knew something else, as well.

When the time was right, he would make love with her. It was no longer a matter of if, but when. He would show her, in every way possible, just how deeply he felt.

For now, he could be as patient as she needed him to be. Not an easy trait for a MacKenzie. But he was willing to learn patience, just as he was willing to learn how to be a MacKenzie.

C
asey looked over at Griff, who was dressed in a tattered robe. “Why are you wearing that?”

He managed a quick grin. “My clothes got soaked out in the barn. It seems I chose a bed right under a hole in the roof.”

“Why?”

“I forgot to look up.”

Casey giggled. “Will you sleep on the sofa again?”

“Looks like I don't have a choice.” He shared a knowing look with Juliet, whose cheeks were still bright pink. Maybe, if they were lucky, they could hurry the two boys back up to bed and finish what had been so abruptly interrupted.

The little boy turned to his mother. “Will you come upstairs now and sleep in our bed?”

“You and Ethan have each other. Isn't that enough?”

“Me and Efan are scared of the storm.”

Her heart still racing, Juliet took in several deep drafts of air and ruffled her son's hair. “I'm not sure there's room for me, but I could sit on the edge of the mattress and tell you both some stories.”

Griff interrupted. “You need your sleep. Why don't I sleep on the floor of their room? That way they won't be crowded in bed, and I'm sure it'll offer as much comfort as that old sofa.”

Surprised and touched that he would give up his privacy for the comfort of her sons, Juliet gave it a moment's thought. “If you're serious, there's an old bedroll up in the attic. I'm sure it was used on hunting trips. At least it would soften that hard floor a bit.”

Griff nodded. “Show me where and I'll get it.”

They finished their coffee and turned out the lights before climbing the stairs to the second floor.

Juliet pointed to a trapdoor in the ceiling. “This is a pull-down stairway that leads to the attic. I'll get a flashlight.”

She disappeared inside her room and returned with the light switched on. Griff took it from her and climbed the stairs to the attic above. When he located the bedroll he hefted it over his shoulder and climbed down before turning off the flashlight. Then he folded up the stairs and closed the trapdoor.

In the boys' bedroom he unrolled the thick sleeping blanket on the floor beside the bed, while Juliet located a pillow.

While her sons scrambled into bed, Griff tested the makeshift bed. “Much softer than the hay out in the barn. Drier, too. And none of the lumps of that old sofa downstairs.” He sat up. “You two going to be okay in here if that storm keeps thrashing about outside?”

Two little heads nodded.

Casey said, “As long as you stay here with us all night.”

Griff winked at Juliet, sealing the deal. Though he may have thought about slipping away later and finding her, he had to let that idea go.

“Okay then. Would you like a story while you fall asleep?“

“Oh, boy.” Casey let out a whoop while Ethan grinned from ear to ear.

Griff shot Juliet a lopsided grin. “Say good night to your mom.”

“'Night, Mama,” Casey chirped.

Ethan waved a hand.

“Good night, boys.” She blew all of them kisses, directing one toward Griff, before turning out the light and closing the door.

As she was walking away she heard Griff's deep voice. “Keep in mind that I don't have Myrna's bedtime story book. But I'll do my best. Once upon a time there were two little boys. Their names were…” After a slight pause she heard, “You two get to name them.”

“Casey and Efan,” came the excited response.

“Right. There were two little boys named Casey and Ethan, and one day…”

With a smile, Juliet stepped into her bedroom and closed the door. After climbing into bed she lay wide awake, wondering why she was feeling suddenly left out.

One minute she'd been swept away by Griff's kisses, wanting the same thing he wanted. The next, she'd had to put aside her own feelings and deal with the very real fears of her sons.

What was even more amazing to her was that Griff had been able to put aside his needs, as well, to deal with theirs.

She could hear giggling in the next room, and realized that while her two boys were having the time of their lives, she was alone in her bed, hoping the storm would soon end.

She wished, more than anything, she could go next door and climb into bed with her boys. Not just to be closer to Griff, but because it sounded as though they were having fun.

Despite their fun, however, she realized something else. Her boys weren't the only ones feeling safe and secure.

Just having Griff here with them had changed everything.

What an amazing guardian angel had come into their lives.

While the storm raged outside, rattling the windows, she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Juliet showered and dressed before pausing to peer into her sons' room. The bed was empty. On the floor, tucked up in the bedroll, Ethan and Casey lay on either side of Griff, their breathing soft and easy. Griff lay between them, one arm around each of them.

The sight of it had unexpected tears springing to Juliet's eyes. She turned away and rushed headlong down the stairs to keep from blubbering like a baby.

While coffee brewed she struggled to calm the intense emotion swirling inside.

What had triggered those tears? Was it just the knowledge that Ethan and Casey trusted Griff enough to climb into his bedroll? Or was there more going on here?

She didn't know too many men who would sacrifice their own comfort for someone else, when there was nothing to gain except stiff, aching muscles. Yet here was Griff, giving up his home, his bed, to see to their safety.

Her heart swelled.

Before she could sort through her jumbled thoughts, she could hear the sound of laughter, and footsteps, and running water. A short time later Griff and the two boys, freshly showered and dressed, walked down the stairs.

“Good morning.” Juliet kept her back to them as she cracked eggs and fed bread into the toaster. “There's orange juice and coffee.”

“'Morning.” At Griff's deep voice she glanced over her shoulder to see Casey and Ethan wearing identical smiles. “How did everyone sleep?”

“Good,” Casey answered for all of them. “Me and Efan got scared of the funder and Griff said we could sleep next to him.”

“That had to be a tight squeeze in one small bedroll.”

Griff winked at the two boys. “We made room.”

He casually crossed the room and poured a cup of coffee before leaning against the counter beside Juliet. “How did you sleep?”

“Like a baby.”

“Good. With all you do, you deserve to sleep.”

As he remained beside her, she felt herself blushing. It occurred to her that what she really wanted to do, more than anything, was to turn into his arms and hug him fiercely.

When the toast popped up she was grateful for the distraction. “Here.” She handed him a platter of toast and scrambled eggs.

Minutes later they gathered around the table and dug into their breakfast. While they ate, Casey related every minute of their fun evening with Griff.

“He told us stories about two brave little wranglers named Casey and Efan. They had superpowers. They could brand calves, rope stray cows, ride bulls clear across the pasture, and even fly planes and drive tractors. And all before they were four. Isn't that right, Efan?”

His older brother grinned, showing a mouthful of toast and eggs.

“Those are some stories,” Juliet said with a straight face. “What about the storm? Did you hear it?”

“Not after we got in Griff's bedroll. I guess it blew away while we felled asleep.”

Juliet glanced at Griff, who winked and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his breakfast as much as he was enjoying Casey's narrative. She sat back, sipping coffee and feeling an odd sense of peace and contentment she hadn't felt in years.

Casey sat on the floor of the mudroom and struggled into his sneakers. “Can me and Efan go to the barn now and play with our trucks?”

While Griff began clearing the table he turned to Juliet. “You go along with them. I'll clean up here and join you.”

She was shaking her head. “Griff, you've done enough.”

“Go on.” He stacked the dishes in the sink. “This won't take more than a few minutes.”

She hesitated only a moment before trailing her sons to the barn.

Griff was humming as he washed the dishes. He ought to be feeling stiff and sore after a night on the floor. But in truth, he was feeling happier than he had in days. He was glad now that he'd insisted on staying the night. Just by being here, he had turned a corner in his relationship with Juliet.

Relationship? Did they actually have such a thing?

That had him grinning. He never knew from one day to the next just what their relationship was, but at least for today, it seemed on steadier ground.

He couldn't understand all of her fears, but he knew this much: She'd left behind the only life she'd ever known to start a new life with a man she'd loved. And when that life had been cut short by a tragic accident, she'd been left to pick up the pieces while sorting out what she would do going forward. Not an easy job for anyone. But for a woman with two little boys who were totally dependent on her, it must seem an insurmountable task. Yet here she was, not only coping with a painful loss, but rebuilding her own life and planning for a future for her two sons.

No wonder he couldn't walk away. He was in love with Wonder Woman.

He grinned at the image that conjured in his mind.

Yeah. Wonder Woman. And he was a mere mortal, caught up in her superpowers.

When he heard Juliet's frantic shouts, Griff dropped the dishtowel and raced out the door. His heart contracted at the thought that one of the boys had been hurt.

In the barn he stared around at a scene of complete destruction.

The electronic lift was hanging at an odd angle from the ceiling. The play table was tipped over, the toys strewn about in a sea of mud. Princess's stall was missing a door. The floor around it was spattered with blood. The mare huddled in a corner of the barn, blood streaming from a cut on her leg.

Juliet turned to Griff with a look of shock. “I've never seen so much damage from a storm. And from the look of all this blood, Princess must have cut herself on the door.”

He crossed to the mare and examined the wound to her leg. “Phone Jackie and ask him to call for a vet. This looks deep.”

He walked over to where the two boys were trying to right the table. “I'll do that.”

He took note of the broken legs and left it where it lay. “I'll repair those legs later today. As for the rest of this, we'll clean up the mess, and then it'll be good as new.”

Casey pointed to the far wall, where words had been scrawled in what appeared to be red spray paint. “What does that say, Griff?”

Griff read the words before picking up Casey and catching Ethan's hand, turning abruptly toward the door. Seeing Juliet talking on her cell phone to Jackie, he caught her by the arm and dragged her along with him.

She shot him a look of complete surprise. “What are you doing?”

His tone was curt. “Take Casey and Ethan up to the house. And stay there with them.”

She pocketed her phone. “There's no need. Jackie's on his way. I told him about the storm damage.”

“This isn't from the storm. I'm calling Chief Pettigrew.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed.

As he did, Juliet started back into the barn. Before he could stop her, he heard the deep voice of the police chief and was forced to concentrate on the reason for his call.

“It's Griff Warren, Chief. You'd better get out to the Grayson Ranch right away.”

As he started after Juliet, he saw her stop and gasp, and realized he was too late to keep her from reading the hateful words sprayed on the wall in bright red letters.