The Barn-Dance (7 page)

She leaned back, her neck straight. “I don’t want to get
fired
, Leo. Or have you forgotten? We get caught, you’re still his kid. I’m the one he’ll kick off the ranch, and I need this job.” She crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. “Just go inside.”

Leo scanned the hayloft, his face light and shadows from underneath. “I thought we could stay up here.” His voice was warm, and he reached for her hand. “I want to sleep with you.”

Something twisted inside her. Sometimes, he could say the right words. For a moment, Mindy considered lying in the hay, side by side, holding him to her. But her common sense got the better of her. She knew how it would end. She’d wake up alone the next morning, crying. And would want to leave for parts unknown.

Only there wouldn’t be an offer from Portland this time to save her from her broken heart.

“Just go inside, Leo. There will be plenty of time for that later.” She pushed on his shoulder again, but he caught her hand. Her heart leapt.

He pulled her down to him and captured her mouth. For a moment, she sunk against him and melted into his kiss. “You amaze me,” he whispered against her mouth. “Don’t forget, I’m picking you up for the dance tomorrow.”

Mindy quirked her eyebrows. Warmth spread through her at the thought of being on his arm, even just for one night. “I thought you said forget about it.”

He kissed her again, holding her tightly to him. “Now I’m remembering.”

“What will you tell your Dad?”

His brow furrowed. There it was again, the moment where he would reject her.
He’ll never choose me
.

“Can we talk about this tomorrow?” His kiss was deeper, this time, more insistent. “Please, Min. Just let me stay for a bit.”

She shook her head. “Go inside before we get caught.” She forced a smile and put her finger over those lips. “There’s plenty of time.”

It was the last time she’d ever lie to him.

Chapter Seven

Leo came in early the next night from the Stackland place and went right up to his room to jump in the shower. He’d been planning this night all day long on horseback, surrounded by a bunch of other cowboys, trying not to think too much about last night.

The best way not to think about last night was to think about tonight instead.

Mindy had promised him the Barn Dance. He’d helped her with the cooking, taught her his tricks, and secured a promise in return, and he was going to make sure she couldn’t walk away from him again.

Last night had been so strange. It was like she checked out again once he got inside her. She’d been so eager and then she just shut him out. But after tonight, she wasn’t going to be able to shut him out ever again, because he was going to tell her how he felt. How he’d been feeling for six years.

How empty all his other relationships had been. How much he hated his dad’s ranch. How he’d wanted to follow her the first time, and he probably would have gone after her if his mom’s stroke hadn’t come shortly after Mindy left.

Leo had thought for the first little while she was here that he could ignore her, that he was over her. But last night proved to him just how much he’d wanted her all along. Something exploded in his heart last night, and it wasn’t about the sex.

Or at least, it wasn’t only the sex. There had been a moment when everything felt so perfect, and he knew this was it. This was the girl he wanted to marry.

Leo showered, and whistled while he did. He dried off and dressed, then made the trek down to his mom’s room. He found the chest quickly. His dad told him about it after Mom died. Where all her jewelry were kept, where Dad had put all her rings. He was after one in particular. The engagement ring his mom had always worn on her right hand. One big ruby.

His mom loved the color red, and insisted on a ruby ring when Cal proposed. But ruby was Mindy’s birthstone. It had been just before her birthday six years ago when she left, and every time July 7
^th
went by, Leo thought of that ruby ring. It was already passed this year, but next time it came around, this ring would be on her hand.

Mark my words
. He wouldn’t be deterred this time.

Six years ago in a passionate moment, she said she loved him and he hadn’t said it back. He was nineteen, and not very wise to the world. Truth be told, he thought she was messing with him, and until he saw her again last week, he always wondered if he’d been right.

But she hadn’t been, and he’d seen it in her eyes that first time he saw her on his property again. Leo had been a boy then, and he’d been in love with her, he just didn’t know how to say it. This time would be different. He was a man, now, and he wasn’t about to hold his tongue this time.

Leo tucked the ring into his pocket and went down into the kitchen to get Mindy. It was just about time to leave for the Barn Dance.

Instead of Mindy, Leo found his dad at the sink, running water into a kettle. “Dad. When did you get back?”

“Just now. We finished moving the last of the herd. Joel and Kyle are gonna stay out tonight.” His dad flipped on one of the burners and put the kettle down with a louder thud than Leo expected. “I hope you’re happy.”

Leo stepped back, startled. “Happy about what?”

“I know you weren’t too keen on Mindy taking this job in the first place, son, but your distaste for her has been a little over-the-top.”

Leo almost laughed. His father might be going crazy. Maybe he should call the doctor. “My distaste for her?”

Dad leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “You ignored her, then you tried to be as far away from her as you could. You practically snapped at her last night when she spilled water on you.”

“That’s not what that was about.”

“Well, whatever it was about, she’s gone.”

Leo stopped breathing. A tight shock of anger split his head open. “Gone?”

Dad pointed at the kitchen island where a piece of paper lay unfolded next to an envelope that had been ripped open. “She quit.”

Leo grabbed the counter, steadying himself. “What?” He moved to the island and picked up the letter, but couldn’t bring himself to read it.

“I know I said ‘no fraternizing’, but I thought you’d be a little bit nicer to her.”

“I was trying…” Leo stopped. He didn’t even know where to start with his father. “When did she leave?”

“She was just driving out of the yard when I pulled in.” Dad picked up the gently whistling kettle and poured himself a cup of hot water. “If I’d have known she was leaving for good, I would have stopped her and gotten the house key back.” He stirred in a spoonful of instant coffee and sighed. “I think she took it with her, cuz I don’t see it. But we’ll have to advertise for that job right away.”

Leo was still frozen, unable to read the letter, unable to think or process information. His dad kept talking. Some bullshit about Min not being right for the job.
Fuck that, Dad
. She was perfect for the job. She belonged here. With him.

Where in the hell would she go?

“And that’s that.” Dad slurped his coffee.

“What’s that?”

“We’re not having a girl her age do this job again. The boys couldn’t concentrate with her around.”

Leo laughed. He remembered Mindy’s pink shirt where her nipples peaked through the thin fabric, and them running their hands under the water together. No one could concentrate when she was anywhere in a twenty-mile radius. At least, Leo couldn’t.

“So she’s gone.” His dad sipped the rest of his coffee and filled the cup with water again.

“She’s gone,” Leo repeated. He shook his head. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. This time, he was going after her. He’d keep driving until he found her, or until it killed him.

She’d been working in Portland until she got fired. She didn’t have anywhere else to go, with all her family gone and no house left. Of course, she’d have to head back to Portland. And the quickest way back to Portland was to head down to Glendive and get on the Interstate. That would be the way she’d go. He was sure of it.

“I’m going after her.” Leo headed for the door.

“What the hell, Leo?” His dad walked after him, his voice irritated. “We can find another cook, or you can do the cooking.”

“I don’t give a shit about the food, Dad.” Leo stopped at the door. “I’m in love with Mindy.”

Cal Fortiss chortled as Leo pulled the door open. “You’ve got a funny way of showing it, son.”

When his dad was right, he was really right. And Leo had a lot to make up for. But first, he needed to find the one that kept getting away.

***

Mindy dried more tears on the way out of town than she cared to count. All day, she’d jerked when the door opened, wondering if she’d have to face Leo. More than anything, she wanted to work Friday and then take off. They’d make it through the weekend no problem, and maybe she could even talk Cal into giving her a reference when she got back to Portland and started looking for work.

But only if she did her job the best she could.

She’d cleaned the kitchen like a mad person, baked enough of Leo’s buns to last them through Halloween, and froze them. They’d even turned out okay.

In fact, she kept a bag of them with her. And every time she started to cry, she’d pull one of those buns out of the bag and sink her teeth into it. The rich, buttery flavor reminded her of Leo, and pain shot right through her with each memory.

But it was a good pain. A pain she needed to remember. Plus, those buns were so damn good.

She’d been on the road for about half an hour when she passed through her first town. Mindy considered pulling off and throwing the buns in the garbage, or picking up some more comfort food, but more than she wanted comfort, she wanted to get away from Leo.

He wouldn’t be able to hurt her if she was gone.

Cowboys couldn’t hurt you if you hurt them first. They’d cower and self-protect, and eventually leave you alone. She’d learned that much in her years in the city. A city more full of Montana boys than most small towns back home.

And she had a thing for cowboys.

Mindy palmed her face again, catching the tears. Much as she hated to admit it, she was going to miss Leo Fortiss. It almost would have been worth it to open up and let him hurt her. Almost.

Some idiot behind her was flashing his lights and honking. And speeding! Holy cow. The guy was gonna pass her. Maybe it was some off-duty cop trying to get to an emergency. Or a fireman.

Mindy kept her speed and continued driving. The idiot could pass her and get to wherever he was in such a hurry to get.

But instead of blowing past her, he got right up on her tail. Mindy’s heart raced. Was there something wrong? Was she getting arrested? Should she pull over?

The guy was so close to her tail, she couldn’t do anything, so she slowed, hoping he’d get frustrated and just go around her. He didn’t. His honking intensified. In the shadow of his lights, she could see him gesturing to her.

Maybe her purse was on top of the car or something.

Mindy slowed to a stop and pulled over. It was still pretty light out, and this was a high traffic road. There weren’t any cars behind them now, and the two lanes stretched across the horizon, empty in both directions. But someone would come along. If this was some kinda scam, she could handle herself.

When the car stopped, she threw it into park, but left it running. She exploded out the door. “What the fuck, buddy?”

She came face-to-face with Leo Fortiss.

Leo’s chest rose at the sight of her. Her face was pink and a little wet. She’d been crying. But she was pissed! He hadn’t known what else to do, once he spotted her car. He wanted to call her, but he didn’t have her number. Leo was just glad he found her.

He almost took her in his arms right here, even with her red face, screaming at him. He’d never been so glad to see another human being in his whole life.

“Jesus, Min. You took off.”

That quieted her. She leaned against the car and crossed her arms. “It was just a matter of time before your dad fired me. I figured I’d get a head start.”

“You mean you figured you’d get a head start on me.” He knit his brows. “Like last time.”

Her face softened. “I just needed to leave.”

“I felt this last night, Min. I felt you check out.”

Mindy straightened, her light hair bouncing against the back of her neck. He wanted to thread his fingers through it and pull her mouth to his. But she wasn’t giving off the vibe that he was okay to touch her again. Mixed signals much?

“Some scars never heal, Leo.”

“What the hell?”

She looked at the ground. “I wasn’t gonna be the one putting myself out there with you anymore. You were just in it for the sex, so I gave you what you wanted.”

A sharp pain lanced through him. That’s what she thought of him? “Mindy.” Leo shook his head. He wanted to argue with her, but a quick pass over her face told him that she wasn’t really angry. She was hurting.