Ryelee's Cowboy (23 page)

* * * *

Clint couldn’t help but be aware of
Ryelee’s every movement. He wanted to hate her—it would be a hell
of a lot easier. Pining wasn’t his style. She constantly turned
away from him, and he was on the brink. He couldn’t be around her
without dreaming of unveiling her enlarged breasts.

He scowled as his body reacted. He’d
better get away from her before he embarrassed himself. He had to
keep such thoughts at bay. He didn’t know if he could ever trust
her. Ryelee had played him for a fool, and everyone knew it. He
couldn’t go to town without some yahoo mentioning his wife, the
cattle rustler.

He knew his pride had been hurt, but
he couldn’t seem to get around it. One minute he would look at her
and feel warm, then he would remember what she’d done, and he hurt
all over again. It was sad, but he spent more time out of the house
than he did in it. He couldn’t take her pleading looks anymore.
Thank God, he had more than enough to keep him busy.

* * * *

Ryelee saw him scowl and stomp off,
mystified as to why. What crime had she committed now? She felt as
though a piece of her soul went stomping off with him, leaving her
bereft. Enough was enough. She was done paying for her sins. She
smiled. She smiled so hard it hurt.

The next table held a big mound of
presents, and Ryelee’s jaw fell open at the sight. The people on
the ranch were so generous. They all treated Rheenie and Ryelee as
family.

“Can I open them, Mama?” an excited
Rheenie asked.

Ryelee didn’t know the proper
etiquette since she’d never been to a birthday party before. She
looked up at Annie, who smiled and nodded. “Just be sure to thank
everyone for each present. Okay?”

“Okay!”

Rheenie received so many things, from
whittled wooden animals to a hand knitted afghan. She received a
great many games and books, but when she opened Ryelee’s gift she
smiled the brightest. It was a Princess costume that Ryelee had
made.

“Oh look at this!” She held it to her
as a prized possession. “Can I put it on?”

Annie must have noticed how tired
Ryelee was. “Let’s get your mama settled in a comfy chair where she
can put her feet up. Then you and I will go and put your Princess
dress on.”

Ryelee smiled at Annie gratefully. Her
ankles were so swollen, she could hardly stand anymore. Burke took
her hand and led her to a chair on the porch with an
ottoman.

“Thanks,” Ryelee said.

“Not a problem,” he said, but she
could see pity in his eyes. Did everyone know her husband spent his
nights with Dottie? She glanced around at the crowd, and many
looked away from her. They were all feeling sorry for her. She felt
mortified and enraged.

She sat there staring at her hands. It
was easier than seeing the pity in everyone’s eyes. She needed to
get a grip on her emotions. Rheenie would be coming out soon
expecting her to smile. Someone came toward her, and she was
surprised when Jimmy McKeegan lifted her feet so he could sit on
the ottoman with them on his lap. He took off her shoes and began
to massage her feet and ankles. She knew she should make him stop,
but it felt so good.

He didn't talk to her as he massaged
her feet. He gave her a cocky grin and continued to rub
them.

“My ankles are so swollen,” Ryelee
apologized, embarrassed that people were watching them
now.

“Well, if that hard-headed mule of a
husband of yours would do right by you, then I wouldn’t have to
pamper you. Would I?”

Ryelee felt so uncomfortable. She
didn't want to talk about her marriage problems. She couldn’t bear
for everyone to know Clint wasn’t spending his nights with her.
Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore, and she tried to pull her
legs away from him. Her eyes blurred with tears, she didn't see
Clint approaching them with fire in his eyes.

“Don’t touch my wife,” Clint said, his
voice deceivingly calm.

“I wouldn’t if she was being taken
care of.”

“What the hell is that supposed to
mean? Get your hands off her.”

Jimmy gently got up from the ottoman
and placed Ryelee’s feet back on it. “Have you seen the pain in her
eyes? Have you asked her once today how she was feeling? Have you
seen her ankles? For God’s sake, man, she shouldn’t be on her
feet!”

Ryelee’s face flamed. She didn't want
this attention. She wiped her eyes and grabbed Clint’s hand. He
tried to shake it free, but she held on. “Rheenie’s
coming.”

Clint took a deep breath and gave
Jimmy a dirty look. “Well, well, will you look at that. A truer
princess there never was,” he said, giving his daughter a
smile.

Rheenie curtsied for one and all,
loving the admiration. “Thank you my people,” she said. “My mama
made this dress for me because she loves me more than anything else
in the whole wide, wide whole world. Except my daddy.” She stood
there on the porch glowing as the guests applauded.

“You look lovely,” Ryelee told her
through tears.

“Happy tears?”

Ryelee nodded. “Very happy and proud
tears.”

Rheenie hugged Ryelee. “Do I look like
the bestest princess, Daddy?”

Clint laughed as he picked her up.
“The best ever.”

“Mama looks tired, Daddy. She didn't
get her nap today. Sunshine didn't nap either.” She showed Clint
the dress Sunshine wore, a miniature of her Princess
dress.

Clint looked at Ryelee “It’s
beautiful, Ryelee. You did a great job.”

Ryelee wouldn’t look at him. She just
nodded.

“Daddy, why don’t you put Mama and
Sunshine down for a nap?” Rheenie suggested. “It’s my birthday, so
I don’t need one today.”

“You know what? I think that’s a fine
idea,” Clint said, playfully tugging on her long black
hair.

Rheenie smiled. “Now don’t forget to
read one story, sing two songs, and most important is the kiss,”
Rheenie told him seriously.

“I think I can remember all
that.”

Jimmy stepped up and helped Ryelee up
from the chair, giving Clint an evil look all the while. “Do you
want me to come with you?”

“Yeah, that would be a great idea! You
can tuck my wife in,” Clint ground, out angrily.

Unsteady on her feet, Ryelee reached
for Clint’s arm for support. Just as she grabbed him, he reached
for Jimmy. Her hand slipped, and she fell against the front of the
house. It all seemed to be in slow motion—the shocked look on
Clint’s face, Rheenie screaming in the background, Burke reaching
for her, and pain throbbing in her shoulder.

Ryelee cried out as the pain grew more
intense. Clint reached for her but she cringed away. Burke swung
her up into his arms before Jimmy had the chance.

“Rheenie?”

Burke walked purposely to Ryelee’s
house glancing briefly over his shoulder. “Annie has her. She’s
fine.”

Burke carried her inside her house and
up the stairs. He went right into the master bedroom and gently
placed Ryelee on the bed.

Ryelee looked around the room. She
knew she wasn’t welcome in this room, but she couldn’t tell
Burke.

“Let’s see how badly you’re hurt.” He
pulled her yellow cotton cardigan off and whistled through his
teeth when he looked at the bruise on her arm. “I’m going to have
to take your shirt off,” he told her, his eyes full of
worry.

Ryelee nodded.

“I think that’s my job,” Clint said
sharply.

“Look, Clint, I don’t know what’s
going on between the two of you, but Ryelee is hurt, and I’m seeing
to her.”

Clint winced when he looked at the
bruise. He turned to Burke. “Thanks, Burke. I think I can take it
from here.”

Burke studied Clint’s face then nodded
and left the room.

“You don’t have to pretend that you
care about me,” Ryelee said, turning her head away. She didn't want
to see his cold face. She pulled the comforter up around her. “I’ll
be fine. You can go.”

Suddenly she couldn’t hold back any
longer. Sitting back up on the bed, she looked him in the eye. “I
don’t need you, never did, never will. You’ve treated me like dirt
for a long time now so don’t suddenly pretend you’re concerned over
a little bruise! Burke left so you can go back to being you usual
hateful self.”

He walked over to the bed and sat down
on it. “Take off your top,” he said in a soft voice.

His voice made her shiver. She yearned
for things to be right between them. She wanted to be in his arms.
She wanted him to make love to her, but she knew he was getting his
needs met by Dottie. The thought of the two of them made her
stomach lurch. She tried to relax and think of other things. The
pain in her shoulder won. It was all she could think about
now.

“I guess I do need your help,” she
finally said..

Clint helped her out of her top, and
she cringed in pain. His eyes widened as he examined the purple and
black bruises on her shoulder and arm. “I’m so sorry, Ryelee. I
never meant to hurt you.” He cradled her face in his hands and
gazed into her eyes. Slowly he leaned over and kissed
her.

The kiss surprised her, but she opened
her mouth for him. He had great tongue action, and she wasn’t about
to deny herself the simple pleasure. She knew he was just sorry for
hurting her shoulder, but it felt nice just the same.

Ryelee winced, causing Clint to pull
back. “God, Ryelee, I’m sorry. Let me look at your shoulder. Can
you move it?”

Ryelee slowly rolled her shoulder. It
hurt. She didn't know how to act. She sat alone in his bed feeling
awkward “I think I’ll just take that nap,” she said, not looking at
him.

“Ryelee, look at me. What Dottie said
wasn’t true.”

Ryelee’s head quickly turned in
Clint’s direction. “You didn't seem to deny it at the time. If it’s
not true, why let me believe that my husband was being unfaithful?
Why make me suffer more that I already am? I’m surrounded by people
on this ranch, yet I feel alone—very alone.”

Clint made a move to take Ryelee into
his arms but she pushed him away. “I know that we’re going through
a rough patch…”

Ryelee’s eyes widened in surprise. “A
rough patch? You call the hell I feel whenever you’re around a
rough patch? I don’t even know who you are any more. I don’t know
where the man I fell in love with went. He hasn’t been here for
weeks!”

“I’ll have Mrs. Harvy put some
medicine on your arm and shoulder. I am sorry.” He walked out of
the bedroom, his shoulders slumped.

* * * *

“Tsk, tsk.” Mrs. Harvey muttered as
she applied medicine to Ryelee’s arm. “How’s the baby
doing?”

“The baby seems to be fine. It was my
arm and shoulder that smashed into the house.”

Mrs. Harvy studied her for a moment.
“You know that I don’t put my nose in where it doesn’t belong, but
you need to make things right with that husband of
yours.”

Ryelee started to open her mouth in
protest, but Mrs. Harvy put her hand up to stop her. “I know what
the rumors are around Weltworth, but believe me, I don’t believe
them. Not of Clint.”

She helped Ryelee into a more
comfortable sitting position and assisted with her nightgown. “I
don’t care what any ol’ busybody says about that boy. He’s as good
as they come.”

Mrs. Harvy kept her eyes on Ryelee.
“He’s been a stubborn jackass lately, but that’s not the real
Clint. I don’t know what to say to get through to either of you.
You think on it though. You think about what a loving father he is
and how kind, gentle, and loyal he can be.”

Mrs. Harvy waved her hand when Ryelee
was about to speak. “I don’t want to hear it. Frankly, I don’t want
to know. I know one thing for sure—something isn’t right between
the two of you. My opinion is that you should make every effort to
get back what you once had with him. I don’t care what you say. A
little affection, maybe rubbing up against him in an innocent way
can go a long way. I guess what I’m saying is that you have to
outright seduce your man.”

Red faced from her speech, Mrs. Harvy
gave Ryelee one more long look as she tucked the quilt around her.
“Like I said, I don’t like to get into no one’s business, but I
love both you and Clint. Do what you have to so he’s not out
prowling at night.”

Ryelee watched Mrs. Harvy march out of
the room. Why is it always the wife’s fault when a man strays? She
did have some good points though. Clint could be loving, kind, and
fun. Her emotions were all turned around. Dottie was a liar—that
much was true. Maybe Clint didn't deny staying with her at night
because there was nothing to deny. Why did everything have to be so
hard? No matter what, Ryelee knew she was a strong, capable woman.
She could rely on herself. She wanted the dream. She wanted a
loving husband and children. If Dottie thought she could take it
all away, she had another thing coming.

The quilt bunched up under her hands
as she tried to reason things out. She loved Clint, and she wasn’t
going to let him go. She didn't know how to do it, but maybe taking
Mrs. Harvy’s advice would be good. How hard could it be to seduce
her husband?