Cameron, Paige - Commando Cowboys Rescue Their Bride [Wyoming Warriors 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) (10 page)

Right now he wished he’d never quit smoking. If he had a cigarette on the plane, he’d take a deep puff to calm the riot inside him. Instead, he breathed deeply, squared his shoulders, and returned to the main section of the jet.

What the hell. She was just a woman. He’d always been able to handle any woman he wanted to. Why did he fear he might have met his match?

Chapter Six

Morgan had tried to sleep, and at least pretended during most of the flight. She was relieved when the pilot announced they were preparing to land. The tension between her and Justin had given her a headache, and if she was honest, a heartache. She was confused. She thought she loved Ethan, but there were still feelings inside her for Justin. Now, she had committed herself to staying on the ranch for an indefinite time, with him as her protector. The only positive note in the whole thing was she’d be seeing Sara.

Justin sat in the chair across from her and fastened his seat belt. “I’ll take you to the cabin where you’ll stay. When you’re ready, let me know, and someone will drive you to the main ranch house. I expect you’ll want to see Sara.”

“Thanks. I’d like that.” She swallowed around the lump in her throat and stared into his crystal green eyes. “Ethan wants us to get along, so if you’re willing to try, so am I.”

“Fine with me. We won’t have to see each other much. I’m busy during the day and sometimes at night with my work.”

“I thought you lazed around when you weren’t on an assignment.”

“We all have jobs on the ranch. I’m one of the vets.”

“Vet? Like in veterinarian?”

He grinned. “Yes, and I understand you don’t like animals.”

“I haven’t been around many.” She frowned at him. “Dogs frighten me.”

“Why?”

She turned her head and watched as they landed on the runway in the middle of nowhere. Empty land stretched for miles, with mountains in the distance.

“I think I see Sara’s red truck.” She looked back at Justin. “She’s come to get me.”

Justin shrugged. “Good. I can get to work sooner, but first we have to pick up your phone with the two-way radio. I want to know where you are at all times.”

“Surely no one would hurt me here.”

“Not usually, but your old boss was one of us and he’s betrayed our trust. We’re on high alert until we find out how much information he’s passed to others.”

“This is very mysterious. What do you mean he was one of you? Who are you all?”

“You’re asking questions I won’t and can’t answer.”

The pilot opened the door and Justin waited for her to go down the steps. Even though it was June, the air was cool. Morgan shivered, and a denim jacket was swung across her shoulders.

“Move on down the steps,” Justin whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. “Sara is waiting.”

She pulled the jacket tight around her and hurried down the stairs and into Sara’s arms.

“Welcome, Morgan. It’s going to be so much fun having you here.” Sara motioned for her to walk to the truck.

When Morgan started to get in, the flash of her diamond ring made her recall Ethan’s words. She turned back and hurried across the tarmac toward Justin.

“Here’s the ring with pictures. Ethan said I should get it back and wear it at all times.” She took off his jacket and handed it to him. “And thanks for this. I won’t need it in Sara’s truck.”

“I’ll have the pictures removed and bring it to you with your phone.” His hand brushed Morgan’s as he took the coat.

Morgan tried to ignore the flash of electricity that went straight from her fingers up her arm. She rushed back to Sara’s truck and swung herself up and into the front seat. “How do you drive this thing?” she asked, and forced herself not to look back at Justin.

“I love it. I had to work on Mitch for six months. He wanted to buy me one of those little trucks to run around in, but I said this or nothing. I can be as stubborn as him when I’m determined.” Sara smiled at her. “How are you doing?”

“Let’s see. I’m confused, perplexed, bewildered, and baffled. Are there any more adjectives I can use?”

Sara laughed. “You sound like me the first time I came here. It will get better.”

“But I don’t understand what kind of ranch this is. Or what type of jobs they do where they’re looking for bad guys. Justin said Bill’s involved and has betrayed his trust. Whatever all of that means.” She rubbed her forehead. “I have a headache.”

“Just think how I felt, and I didn’t have any of my friends here to help.”

“Did you get answers to those questions?”

“Gradually. For a while you just have to trust the people involved. I was falling in love, which made the situation even more confusing.” Sara drove the truck around a curve and made a turn. The main homestead appeared in the distance. “Are you in love, Morgan?”

Morgan looked out the window at the wide, open pastures. Wildflowers bloomed in a profusion of colors, red, yellow, purple, and white. The silence lengthened between them.

“I’m pretty sure I love Ethan, and yet the feelings I had for Justin haven’t completely gone. The man is rude, obviously dislikes me, and he’s a veterinarian! What is wrong with me?”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. “Ethan wants Justin and me to be friends. Hah. It’d take a miracle.”

Sara drove past the main ranch house and along a narrow side road. About a mile down, Morgan saw several log cabins.

“Usually one of these is kept empty for guests. I thought about having you stay at the ranch house, but here you’ll have more quiet and privacy.” Sara parked in front of the last cabin. She turned in her seat to face Morgan.

“Try to live one day at a time. Keep an open mind. I worried I might miss a bigger town, more activity. Believe me, this is like a small town and there’s always something to do. Rest and get settled in. I’ll have Phillip, he’s my right-hand man, pick you up and bring you to the house for dinner.”

“Where’s Mitch?”

“He’s somewhere around. He has a hundred different problems to take care of, and I’m never sure exactly where he is on the ranch.” She pointed to her phone. “But with this we’re always in contact. I’m sure Justin will bring your phone and suitcases to you shortly.” Sara handed her a key. “Go get comfortable. I have to get back to Caitlin.”

“How is she?”

“Almost six months old, beautiful, spoiled, and we love her dearly.”

“You’re happy. It makes you glow.”

“Yes. I just hope you and Ellen can find such happiness.”

She waved, after Morgan got out, and then turned and sped back the way she’d come.

Morgan walked along the concrete walk to the front door. A colorful mixture of flowers bloomed along the edge. Their sweet scent wafted through the air. She slipped the key in the lock and opened the door to her new home, at least for now. The odor of pine tickled her nose. The cabin was small, a living room, kitchen right off of it, and a medium-size bedroom and bath to the left. Out back, behind the kitchen, was a porch facing pastures and mountains. She stepped out and took a deep breath of the clear air. In the distance, she heard a cow mooing, male voices calling out, the snort of a horse, and a dog barking.

What a misfit I am. They might as well have dropped me onto another planet.
Inside her a strange mixture of fear and excitement churned.

“What do you think?” a deep male voice asked from behind her. Morgan jumped in surprise. “You left the front door open. I brought your suitcases, phone, and ring.” He handed her the cell phone and opened it to give her instructions on how to make calls and check in. “This is how we keep in touch.”

She followed his directions and nodded. His fresh air scent and his particular male fragrance surrounded her. Today, his green eyes were more the color of new leaves on a tree in spring. A shiny curl had fallen across his forehead, and she had to fight not to brush it back. He glanced up from the phone and caught her staring at him. Their eyes locked for a moment. The air sizzled with their sudden awareness of each other.

Justin stepped back and cleared his throat. “Did you hear anything I said?” His voice was gruff.

She flipped the phone open and called him. His cell rang.

“Good, I’m out of here. Your bags are in the bedroom. Keep your ring on.” Taking long strides, he walked across the living room and out the door. Morgan stood in the doorway and watched until his truck was out of sight and the dust had settled.

She must be losing her mind. She thought she might be love with Ethan and Justin. Hopefully, she’d only have to stay here a short time. After closing the door, she went into the bedroom to unpack. The bed was made with a cheerful red-and-white bedspread that matched the curtains and made the room inviting. Her bath had a sink, long counter, toilet area, and a fairly large shower and tub. All the comforts of home.

Home. She hadn’t really had one her whole life. With her mother’s and father’s careers taking them all over the country and overseas, they were never settled. Oh, they had a mansion in Hollywood and a vacation home in Spain. But, she’d always felt like an extra piece of luggage, not needed but dragged along to sites where her mother posed for magazines, and other places where her father directed movies.

She walked into the kitchen to get a drink of water and stood at the back window staring at the wide-open prairie. Her thoughts went back to her parents. She rarely allowed herself to think of them. When she did, sadness and anger settled in her chest. She’d made her break after college graduation.

Her parents had wanted her to come work for them.
Be at their beck and call was what they meant.
They’d been furious when she took the job as Bill’s secretary. Part of the reason she accepted the job was to be able to thumb her nose at them. Later, she’d stayed on because she enjoyed doing something, and her best friends were nearby.

Her phone beeped. “Morgan here.”

“Just checking.” She heard his chuckle as he clicked off.

Damn the man. How could she ignore him if he kept annoying her?

She hung her clothes in the closet and changed into jeans and a flannel shirt. She’d bought several shirts since her last visit to see Sara, but she didn’t have boots. She’d noticed Sara wore a pair. Her sneakers would have to do. After running a comb through her short, curly black hair, Morgan went to step outside.

There was a cane leaning against the wall by the door. She’d take it along in case any animals were roaming about. She ought to wait for Sara to show her around. But Sara was busy.
I can’t stay inside the whole time I’m here and depend on others.

Taking a deep breath, she walked in the direction Justin had taken. She’d do a little exploring on her own. She saw a barn in the distance. Having the cane swinging in her hand gave her a sense of security. As she walked along, two cowboys on horseback waved, and a woman hanging clothes on a line smiled at her. She was almost to the barn and felt quite proud of herself, when the large, brown dog ran around the wooden building straight at her.

Morgan gave a scream and jumped back, waving the walking stick in front of her. The dog stopped but faced her and growled, showing sharp teeth. She froze in fear. Her mind screamed run, but she was afraid he’d attack. The animal inched forward. When he lunged, she let out a high-pitched scream that carried across the yard.

* * * *

His heart in his throat, Justin ran out of the barn in time to see his Labrador, Rusty, jump onto Morgan. He noted her pale face as she fell backwards into a mud puddle left from the heavy rain they’d gotten yesterday.

“Back, Rusty,” he hollered at his dog. Rusty immediately moved back, but looked around at his master and whined. Justin brushed the fur on his head as he knelt beside the sputtering Morgan.