AlmostHome (11 page)

“The hell you say,” Wyatt shouted at her back.

She heard his feet hit the ground but kept going to the
kitchen, opening the cupboard to grab the coffee canister. She slammed it to
the counter and yanked the grounds basket from the coffeemaker, emptying it
into the trashcan with a vicious smack.

Wyatt followed and she glared at him over her shoulder
despite the fact that he looked sexy as hell with his unbuttoned jeans. His
chest was bare, his hair sex mussed. Her whole body clenched. Jesus, even
pissed she wanted him again.

“What the hell are you doing?” he growled.

Haley snorted. “What the hell does it look like? I’m making
coffee.” She added grounds to the filter and filled the reservoir, setting the
machine to brew.

“This conversation ain’t over, Haley.” He stalked toward her
and she held her ground.

“Says you.” She was being mulish and she knew it but she
would not marry a man who didn’t love her, no matter the circumstances.

“You’re damn right, says me.” He jerked his fingers through
his hair in frustration. “God damn it, Haley.”

She tilted her head defiantly. “God’s last name ain’t damn
it.”

“What the hell’s…” Wyatt’s eyes narrowed. “God don’t have a
pony in this race, woman. The point is no way are you raisin’ a child of mine
without me.”

“And you ain’t the boss of me. Best you remember that.” She
turned her back on him and pulled two coffee mugs from the cabinet, damn near
dropping them when Wyatt spun her around. His big hands grasped her waist. He
lifted her as if she weighed no more than a feather and set her down on the
cool granite top of the island. He took the mugs from her and set them aside.

“I ain’t trying to be the boss of you, sweet pea. But you
gifted me with your first time tonight and I take that seriously.” His big,
calloused hands parted her thighs and he stepped between them, pulling her to
the edge. “I figure that makes you my woman.”

His woman? “It don’t mean nothing, Brody.” But it does. It
means everything.

His angry expression softened as he leaned in and brushed
his lips against her ear. “Liar.”

His fingers brushed against the sensitive skin of her inner
thigh. “No.” Her protest was belied by the soft, needy sound of that one word.

“It’s a sin to tell a lie, darlin’. I think you’d like it if
I was to take you right here on this cold granite top. And I think if I did,
you’d come like Ol’ Faithful. Ain’t that right?”

It was in her mind to deny his words but his wicked thumb
brushed over her and she gasped.

He chuckled and eased her onto her back, spreading her legs
wide. “I reckon you’re too sore to take me again so soon but I’m of a mind to
prove you a liar.” He leaned down, gave her a gentle nip, then ran his tongue
right where she wanted it most, lapping gently. She arched her back. “Feels
good, don’t it?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “You know it does. Make me come,
Wyatt.”

“Oh, I’m gonna make you come, sweet pea, but you got to make
me a promise. No morning after nothing and we’re gonna talk like sensible
grownups about what happens if you are pregnant. Deal?”

“Damn you…deal.” Haley gasped as he set about his task until
she was half out of her mind with the need. “Wyatt.” She couldn’t help herself,
she wrapped her legs around his shoulders, her hips moving as if they had a
mind of their own. “Oooh, I…oh my god.”

No sooner had she spoken the words, than her back bowed and
she shattered.

“That’s my girl.” He placed a damp kiss on her inner thigh
and straightened. “Now, let’s talk.”

Chapter Eight

Wyatt buttoned his jeans. A man didn’t want to have this
kind of conversation with his dick hanging out.

Haley slid off the countertop and nearly melted onto the
floor. “Can we pour us a cup of coffee and have this discussion someplace where
I don’t have to lock my knees to keep standing?”

He stifled a smile. “Go on and sit down. I’ll bring it to
you.”

Wyatt watched as she sank onto the couch. He could
practically see the gears spinning in that independent little head of hers as
she tried to figure out exactly what he was going to say to her. He suspected
he was in love with her, and she with him, but was she ready to hear the words,
to return them?

Moments later he joined her on the couch, handing her a mug.
He blew across the rim of his own and took a swallow. Damn but the woman made a
good cup of coffee. She set her cup on the table and leaned back, crossing her
arms over her chest.

“Well?” She cocked one eyebrow, a gesture he’d come to know
as her cynic’s expression. He had to concede she had due cause.

He sat down beside her and put his cup on a coaster. “I
think I’m in love with you, Haley, and I don’t want you to be with anybody else
but me. I think maybe you’re gonna be the mother of my children.”

The look on her face was almost comical. She was big-eyed
and slack-jawed, gaping at him like she’d just discovered a new and exotic
species right there in the Texas hill country. Finally, she blinked and took a
deep breath.

“Well.” She sat frozen for a dozen heartbeats, then said, “I
don’t know what to do with that.” Wyatt’s heart felt as though it had dropped
to his stomach. She saw his pained expression and offered up a smile. “I didn’t
say I don’t feel the same. I do. I just don’t…you gotta give me a break here,
Wyatt. I don’t know how to do this. I never seen it done right. I ain’t so sure
I’m your best bet for the future mother of your children. I damn sure wouldn’t
put money on me.”

Wyatt stretched out on the couch, taking her with him,
wrapping his arms around her to cuddle her close.

“Sweet pea, you got a way about you that sets folks at ease.
You think I haven’t seen that? That I’ve missed the way you are with Maria and
Dooley’s youngsters? How much they love you already? The way you treat your
animals…even that foul-mouthed bird.” He shifted once more until he had her
stretched out on top of him, groin to groin. “There’s no hurry, darlin’. We can
take all the time we need. Unless there’s a baby. Agreed?”

She rested her chin on his breastbone and nodded. “Agreed.”

“Good.” He yawned widely and gave her a light squeeze. “What
say we take a little nap? And when we wake up, I’ll show you a few bedroom
tricks I’ve learned over the years.”

She sighed and pressed her cheek to her chest, closing her
eyes. “Mmm…sounds like a plan.”

Wyatt didn’t know how long they’d been sleeping when Haley’s
phone rang. He gave her a gentle shake.

“Phone, honey.”

Haley shook her head and mumbled something incoherent but
Dooley’s voice on the answering machine woke her.

“Molly’s in labor. Didn’t want to wake you but it’s been
close to half an hour since her water broke and she ain’t progressing. I called
the doc. Reckon I’ll try your cell.”

Haley leapt from the couch like a circus performer shot from
a cannon, barely missing the family jewels in her haste.

“I’m here.” Her voice high-pitched with panic she shouted,
“I’ll be right there.” She dropped the phone and raced to the bedroom.

Wyatt took the stairs two at a time. Haley was pulling on
her clothes with trembling hands. She looked up at him, shaking her head. He
reached for his socks and boots, making his voice as soothing as possible.
“It’ll be all right, darlin’. Doc Bell’s the best vet around.” She gave him a
terse nod as she jammed her feet in her boots, then took a deep breath and
exhaled slowly before standing up. “Go. I’m right behind you.”

By the time Wyatt got to the barn, Haley and Dooley had
gotten Molly to her feet, both of them talking to the mare in reassuring tones.
Haley stroked the mare, ran her hand down her back and over her flanks, then
lifted her tail.

“Shit. Elbow lock. How long before the doc gets here?”

Dooley scratched Molly’s ears. “Ten minutes tops. We got
gloves if you wanna get started.”

The horse shifted restlessly. “Only if I have to. I don’t
wanna take a chance on the hooves rupturing anything. I’ve done it before but
it ain’t no fun and my arm felt like someone shot me full of Novocain. Flopped
around like a fish out of water.”

Wyatt raised an eyebrow. “Well that’s dedication. I usually
let my vet do the exploring, especially since we went organic and don’t have to
pull calves anymore.”

She barely spared him a glance. “Got nothing to do with
dedication. Mare and foal would have died if I didn’t. But it feels like your
arm’s in a vise when the uterus contracts.” Her head turned in the direction of
the barn entry. “Doc’s here.”

Wyatt met Ben halfway up the aisle, explaining the situation
as Haley had explained it. He clenched his jaw as Haley rushed to the vet,
pulling him into the stall with a relieved smile on her face, as if the man was
some returning war hero or something. On top of being the best damn vet around,
Ben was a good-looking cuss, or so the women hereabouts claimed. Tall and well
built, the man had a shock of wheat-colored hair and green eyes he’d heard
females exclaim over. Every single woman in three counties had her eye on Ben
Bell. And Ben had his eye on Haley.

“Hey Ben. Thanks for getting here so fast.” She practically
shoved him in the direction of the mare’s hind end.

The vet gave her an aw-shucks grin and Wyatt was tempted to
break a couple of his perfect white teeth. Make his smile a little less
appealing for the womenfolk. The man had designs on his woman and, despite the
agreement he and Haley had reached earlier, he didn’t like it. Not one little
bit. He clenched his jaw and kept his mouth shut.

“Wyatt says we got a case of elbow lock?”

“Nothing but head presenting. Got her up on her feet quick
as we could but it don’t look like the position’s changed much.”

The vet nodded and opened a large box and drew on a
shoulder-length glove.

“Better glove up just in case.” He stepped behind the mare.
“All right, Molly girl, let’s see what’s going on here.”

Wyatt watched as the vet eased his hand inside the mare, a
part of him thinking he’d give anything to see Ben’s arm flopping around like a
fish out of water. The mare, however, was not amused and nickered nervously.

“Easy now,” Ben murmured. “Okay, there’s the head and neck.
There’s the forelimbs.” He glanced at Haley, using his chin to gesture at the
medical box. “Grab me two obstetrical straps, will you?” Haley found the straps
and unwrapped the sterile packaging, handing them to the vet one at a time.

Jesus, that had to hurt like holy hell. Wyatt had done his
share of calf pulling when he was younger and he’d never forget the sounds of
the cows bawling as they forcibly tugged the calves from their bodies. Ben used
the straps, gently pulling the legs into position, and the mare blew out a sigh
of relief. Lying down in the straw, her belly heaved several times and the
newborn foal slid from her body.

Elated, Haley threw herself into Ben’s arms. The vet
returned her hug, smearing her t-shirt with bloody gunk as he smiled over her
shoulder at Wyatt.

Haley practically crowed. “Geronimo’s first colt, and he’s a
beaut. Gentlemen, meet Geronimo’s Texas Tornado.”

Wyatt’s jealousy was short-lived, because Haley threw
herself in his arms and kissed him with a healthy dose of tongue. Reluctantly,
he let her break the kiss but she surprised him by turning in his arms to lean
back against him, bloody gunk and all.

“Ain’t that something?”

Wyatt slid his arms around her waist, meeting Ben’s gaze.
“Yes ma’am, it surely is.” To his relief, the vet gave him a discreet nod,
acknowledging that Haley had clearly made her choice.

Within the hour, Molly delivered the placenta and the little
foal was on his feet.

Haley sighed happily. “Anybody for coffee and pie before we
call it a night?”

As it happened, everyone was for coffee and pie.

* * * * *

Haley was the first to wake and she did so with a start.
Ezzie Dooley was staring at her with tears in her eyes.

“Ma sent me. Something’s wrong with Snoop.”

Haley sat up, glad she’d worn her oversized t-shirt to bed.
Beside her, Wyatt came awake, tucking the sheet securely around him. “What’s
wrong?”

Ezzie gave him a puzzled look. “Did you and Wyatt have a
sleepover?”

Heat rushed to Haley’s face and she could have choked Wyatt
when he uttered a strangled laugh.

“Yes, we did.”

Ezzie nodded. “Can I come next time?”

There was another snort of laughter behind her and Haley
reached back, giving Wyatt a vicious pinch. He yelped but still laughed.

“We’ll see, sweetheart. What’s wrong with Snoop?”

Ezzie shrugged. “He must be awful sick because Ma wouldn’t
let me see. Pa’s with him. She just said to fetch you.”

Alarm skittered up Haley’s spine. “Okay, sweetie. You wait
in the living room for me and I’ll be right out.”

“Okay. Can I have a cookie?”

Haley nodded. “Sure. Help yourself. We’ll be out in a
minute.” As soon as the child left, Haley closed the bedroom door and began
rummaging for clean clothes. She didn’t miss Wyatt’s grimace as he pulled on
yesterday’s garments. “Much time as you spend here, I reckon you should leave
some extra clothes, maybe a toothbrush and razor. That beard of yours will ruin
mine.”

Wyatt grinned. “Better watch out, I might move in.”

Haley snorted. “You practically live here now. Hope that
foreman of yours don’t send out a search party.” She sat on the bed and stuffed
her feet into her barn boots. “All right. Let’s go see what’s wrong with
Snoop.” She shooed Ezzie in the direction of home and went in search of Dooley.

The closer she got to the Dooley house, the deeper the
dread, and Haley was running full tilt when she rounded the corner. In those
first seconds, her mind couldn’t connect the bloody lump of fur with her
beloved dog. “No, no, no.” She moaned as she dropped to her knees beside her
battered pet. A sob escaped her as she gathered him close. Someone had clubbed
the animal to death with a tree limb. Wyatt picked up the weapon and tossed it
under a tree, out of sight.

“Oh, Snoopy.” The dog lay stiff and still in the grass, bits
of gray matter beside him. “It’s okay, buddy, you, Snoopy. It’s gonna be okay.”
She rocked the dog as she would a sick child, softly singing her mamma’s
favorite lullaby. He’d been her only friend for so long.

At long last, she looked up at Wyatt and Dooley. “Who would
do something like this? Snoop never hurt a fly. He was just a big, goofy dog
that loved everybody.”

Wyatt placed a gentle hand on Haley’s shoulder. “Come on,
sweet pea, let me and Dooley take care of him. You go on back to the house.”

Haley shrugged away from his touch. “He’s my dog,” she said
fiercely. “I’ll take care of him.” She struggled to get up but couldn’t make
her legs work. Sinking back down to the ground, she rocked her dog some more,
sobbing. “Oh god, Wyatt. Why? Why would somebody kill my dog?”

Dooley squatted down in front of her. “Haley, honey, you
need to let me take him now. You don’t want the kids to see what happened. Let
Wyatt take you back to the house and get you cleaned up so you don’t scare the
young’ns. I’ll bury Snoop for you and then we’ll set down and see can we figure
out what happened.”

Haley wiped her dripping nose on her shirtsleeve and nodded.
She stood up and Wyatt whipped his t-shirt over his head.

“Take that bloody shirt off, honey, and put this on.” He
helped Haley with her buttons and eased the shirt off her. Her bra was stained
with sticky blood but at least his shirt wasn’t soaked through like hers was.
He wiped blood from her face and tossed her ruined work shirt to Dooley.

Haley looked at her foreman, who had also removed his own
shirt and was gently wrapping her savaged pet with both garments.

“Go on now, girl, let Wyatt take care of you. I’ll be up to
the house soon as I put Snoop in the ground.”

Haley nodded, still crying softly as Wyatt led her away from
the gruesome sight.

Her sweet, loving, one-eared dog was gone and Haley felt as
if a vital piece of her was missing. Snoop had been her constant companion for
the past five years. Finding him had been a fluke, an accident of fate that
brought her into the orbit of an Arizona ranch woman who rescued Irish
Wolfhounds. He was ugly enough to sour milk, but he drew her in with his sweet
disposition. Seemed as though he’d recognized a kindred spirit when he saw one
because Snoop had taken to her immediately, without the shyness and fear he
displayed around strangers. So she’d taken him with her, scars, bald spots,
torn ear and all, and they’d loved one another unconditionally. It was
unthinkable that he was gone and yet he was.

She preceded Wyatt up the stairs, shucked off her clothes,
and stepped beneath a hot shower. She sensed her father’s hand in all this,
though she didn’t know just how. Her stomach roiled at the thought. Conner
would have told him about her taking the stock, leaving him to fend for
himself. But was her brother capable of such viciousness? Until tonight, she
would have said no. But after seeing Snoop, she wasn’t sure anymore.

* * * * *

“Somebody went to considerable trouble to send Haley a
message,” Wyatt said when Dooley met him on the front porch. “Has to be what
this is about.”

Dooley scratched his morning stubble. “The brother?”

Wyatt looked over his shoulder to see if Haley had followed
him out. “Only one I can think of would be Conner but he didn’t strike me as
having the stomach to do something like that. He’s no-account and lazy to boot
but…” He jerked his fingers through his hair. “Maybe if his Pa told him to.”