Tied Up, Tied Down (14 page)

“Anything but you, it seems,” she murmured. Without conscious thought, she traced the dark stubble on his jaw; her fingers detoured to outline his full lips. “You have such an intriguing mouth. Even when you’re scowling at me.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I know you think you’re just another one of those McKay men that populate three Wyoming counties, but you are different, Kade. From Kane. From your cousins.

Even your standard issue McKay blue eyes are more compelling…they draw me in.

Every damn time. Anyone who can’t see the differences is a fool.”
Why haven’t I seen it?

Why have I acted like such a fool?

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“Sky—”

Eliza squeaked once. Twice. Louder the third time.

“Oops, there’s our alarm clock.” Saved from further embarrassing admissions about his virtues, she rolled off the couch. Impulsively she leaned over and kissed Kade’s forehead. “Thanks for last night.”

She felt him staring as she cooed to their baby and got a jumpstart on the big day.

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“Skylar! You’re here.”

She bit back a smile at the sight of Kimi McKay nearly skipping toward her. “Don’t you mean Eliza is here?”

“No, smarty. I’m just as happy to see you as I am my beautifully perfect granddaughter.”

Kade didn’t get all his sweet-talkin’ ability from the McKays. Sky had no doubt Kimi could charm the bees from the flowers. “Here she is. All decked out for her first rodeo.”

Kimi laughed with delight. “Where on earth did you find jeans that small? With rhinestones?”

“Aunt India. She goes a little insane buying Eliza clothes. Toys. Books.”

“About that…” Kimi smiled. “I sorta went hog wild too, but that cute girlie stuff is impossible to resist, especially since I’ve never had the chance to buy it before. I keep reminding Kade to load it all up and take it to you. He keeps forgetting.”

Casually, she asked, “Why don’t you bring it over?”

“Really?”

“Sure. Pick a day. If you want, I’ll even put you on babysitting duties while I’m at work and you can have Miz Eliza all to yourself. Of course, you’ll have to hand her over when Kade gets home. He’s a bit territorial when it comes to time with his girl.”

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Kimi made a frowning, blinking expression.

Had she said the wrong thing to Kade’s mother? “I didn’t mean to presume—”

“Presume? Lord, girl, you really don’t know how much I appreciate the invite.”

It was Sky’s turn to act surprised. “You don’t need an invitation, Kimi. You’re welcome any time.”

“Really? I’ve been tickled the couple of times Kade has brought Eliza into Sundance so I could see her. But I haven’t wanted to butt in and be a nuisance. Overstep my bounds. Meddle where I wasn’t wanted.”

“Seems we both have boundary issues,” Sky murmured. “As far as meddling?

You’re Eliza’s grandma. Actually, you’re her only grandma.” A tiny burst of sadness broke inside her, thinking about her own mother never knowing her child and she looked away before she refocused on Kimi’s all-knowing eyes. “Just because Kade and I are…whatever we are, I didn’t intend to keep Eliza away from him or any of her family.”

“Then why didn’t you tell anyone Kade is her father?”

“Because Kade deserved to know first.” She glanced at their alert daughter. “The way the situation played out wasn’t ideal for anyone. But the bottom line is, Kade’s a really great dad. You should be proud of him.”

“You don’t have any idea how much that means to me. All of it.” Kimi wiped a tear and laughed. “Lord. I’m leaking.”

Sky was leaking a little too. Flustered, she handed the squirming baby to her grandma.

“What a little angel. Your mama did good, didn’t she?”

Eliza cooed back her agreement.

Before Sky started leaking again, she said, “So I brought everything but the kitchen sink. Help me figure out what to load up.”

Kimi eyed the pile in the back of the car. “Things sure have changed since my boys were babies. I would’ve loved to have one of them double strollers.” She winked.

“Maybe next time you and Kade will have a set of twins.”

“Next time?”

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“I’m greedy, aren’t I? Cal and I always wanted to have more kids, but it never happened, so feel free to overfill my arms and life with grandbabies.”

Rather than feel put on the spot, Skylar laughed. She and Kimi chatted easily as Sky pushed the empty stroller across the bumpy ground while Kimi walked beside her holding Eliza. Family friends would stop and admire the newest McKay baby, congratulating both mom and grandma, and Kade in absentia. Another pleasant revelation was so many people knew about the Sky Blue store and already considered her part of the community. It made Sky wonder if she was spending too much time at the manufacturing plant and not enough putting a face with her products. If she should take India’s advice and let Annie have more responsibility so she could focus on local marketing.

When they reached the entrance, Kimi said, “I believe these tickets are for seats in the upper stands, but I didn’t know how long you’d want to stay up there. Gets mighty hot and it’ll be a while before Kade competes.”

“What is he competing in?”

“Team ropin’ for sure.”

“Is that dangerous?”

“All rodeo events are dangerous, honey.”

“Is there a chance he’ll get hurt?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly, the fun afternoon took on a more ominous slant. “Then why would he do it?” Sky couldn’t fathom the idea of Kade purposely putting himself at risk. She couldn’t stand it, dammit, it’d hurt her to watch the big, tough cowboy get injured.

“I don’t know. I’m thankful neither he nor Kane were obsessed with being a rodeo star like some of his cousins. Kade dabbled in events. Nothing serious like Chase is doing now and Colby and Dag done.” A stark look flashed in Kimi’s eyes.

Skylar placed her hand on Kimi’s arm. “Sometimes I have zero tact. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.”

“Thanks, sweetie, but it’s unavoidable, especially on a day like today. Dag’s death was hard on all of us. Then Dag’s father, my brother Harland, died not a month later.”

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“Really? I didn’t know. How awful for your family. That’s so sad.”

“It was a mess. Colt was in rehab. No one could get a hold of Cam. Chase was competing in a special PBR event in Mexico and he couldn’t get home. Kade had only been up north for two weeks so Kane had to drive up there to give him the bad news and bring him home for the service. Poor Chassie was a zombie. Everything between Dag’s funeral and Harland’s funeral was kind of a blur.” She shook her head as if to clear it.

“Been a really rough year for the Wests and McKays, which is just another reason we were all so tickled about Eliza.

“So to take the long way around answering your question, I suspect Kade is competing because Dag isn’t here. Lots of Dag’s rodeo friends are showing up today to lend support and engage in a little friendly competition.” All at once an enormous grin lit up Kimi’s face. “Speaking of…Chassie. Over here.”

Skylar turned and watched as the woman sauntered toward them—saunter being the operative word. Her gait screamed one hundred percent cowgirl. So did her clothes, she was no rhinestone belt wearing buckle bunny. She wore battered lace-up boots, skin-tight faded jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt emblazoned with, “Real Cowgirls Do It Best in the Dirt”. Dark brown hair as long and glossy as a horse’s tail was plaited in a single, thick braid that fell past her butt. An angular face—apple cheekbones, pointed chin, broad forehead and a generous mouth that hinted of Native American ancestry.

“I tried calling you, but Uncle Cal said you were already gone. Is he coming?”

“I expect him any time now.”

“Oh wow, is this who I think it is?”

“Yep. This is Eliza Belle. Isn’t she a doll?”

“Absolutely precious.” Chassie bent closer. “We girls are few and far between so we gotta stick together. Man. She does look like Kade. Bet he’s struttin’ around like cock of the walk.”

“That he is.”

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Chassie straightened. Her liquid brown eyes sparkled, and her sweet, wide grin was infectious. “Ah. You’d be the vessel who brought forth the long-awaited McKay girl baby?”

Skylar smiled. “Aptly put.”

“Skylar Ellison, this is my niece Chassie West.”

“It’s Chassie Glanzer now.” She wiped her hand on her jeans before she offered it to Sky. “Nice to meetcha, Skylar. Congrats on the wee one and welcome to the family.”

“Thanks.” Chassie wasn’t much bigger than Kimi and Sky felt positively Amazonian next to the petite, skinny women.

“Chassie just got married in February. She and her husband Trevor took over Harland’s ranch after he passed on. How you doin’ today, honey?”

Chassie’s smile faded. “It’s weird being here without them. I keep expecting to see Dag hanging on the fence behind the chutes, waiting to ride. Or Daddy standing in line for a beer.”

Her look of sadness prompted Sky offer, “I’m so sorry for both your losses.”

“I appreciate you sayin’ so.”

“What all is Trevor competing in today?” Kimi asked.

“Everything. Poor delusional man thinks he can win the all around title. I know he’s doin’ it in Dag’s memory, which is unbelievably sweet, and yet stupid, because he’s going up against hungry pups in their late teens.”

“It’s not like Trevor is old.”

“True. And I ain’t gonna complain about seein’ him in tight chaps, sexy rodeo gear, swingin’ a rope and buckin’ hard.” Her brilliant smile reappeared. “But they’re still gonna kick Kade and Colt’s ass in team roping.”

“Yeah? Wanna bet?”

“I’d hate to take your money, Aunt Kimi, but I will. Twenty says Cash and Trevor win.”

“You’re on.”

Chassie cocked an eyebrow at Skylar. “Not gonna bet on your man?”

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Was Kade her man? A possessive little voice piped up with a firm
yes
, so Sky said,

“Bring it. Twenty on the McKays.”

Kimi whooped, “That’s my girl.”

“You heading to the reunion, Aunt K?”

“Yeah. We’ll see you in there.”

They wound their way through the crowd, stopping on the edge of the bleachers.

Kimi passed Eliza back to her and fussed with the collar of Sky’s shirt. Smoothed a flyway strand from her cheek. Acted very motherly, which just made her like Kimi McKay all the more. “You are pretty as a picture. You ready?”

Skylar blushed. “Ready for what?”

“To meet the West family.”

“But I thought we were meeting the McKay family?”

“That’s later tonight and tomorrow. Lucky you gets a double whammy this weekend.

This is my side of Kade’s family, the West side. You’ll probably recognize some McKay family members, since my sister Carolyn married Carson McKay, Calvin’s brother, making our kids double cousins.” She grinned. “Confused yet?”

“Yes. No wonder Cord said you should all wear name tags.” Skylar squinted at the large cluster of people milling beneath a big tent. “Maybe you should point out which ones are family members.”

“Honey, they’re all family members.”

There had to be at least fifty people in there. “Oh. My. God.”

“Smile. And when Genevieve West starts talking about quilting, run like hell.”

Talk about being in a fish bowl. Skylar wished Kade would’ve been there, helping her navigate the waters. Faces blurred. She’d never remember all their names. And this was only half of Kade’s family.

After an hour passed, a feeling of panic started. A sense she was an interloper, even when everyone was friendly and went out of their way to include her. She and Kade and Eliza must’ve gotten fifteen invitations to dinner. Several women promised to check out www.samhainpublishing.com 115

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her Sky Blue products. It was unusual in that…no one thought it was strange to automatically embrace Skylar and Eliza as part of their family. Their immediate acceptance made her feel humbled. Grateful. Swamped by so many conflicting emotions, Sky feared she’d break down, and wouldn’t that leave a great first impression? Instead, she reverted to her normal behavior, keeping a polite distance as her eyes searched for an escape route.

Then Kimi was by her side again, soothing her, rescuing her. “Looks like you could use some fresh air, sweets.”

“Yes, I could. Thank you.”

Outside, Kimi said, “What happened? Did Janet harangue you about you and Kade livin’ in sin?”

“No. Nothing like that.”

“Then what?”

Before she schooled her tongue to stay still, Sky blurted out, “I’ve never met so many genuinely nice people in my life and it was like they were happy to meet me, not giving me the evil eye wondering who the hell I was crashing their party.”

Kimi chuckled. “Not used to that?”

“No. I’m used to people ignoring or sucking up because they want something from me.”

“I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like growing up, always questioning people’s ulterior motives. Must make it hard to trust not only yourself, but everyone around you.”

“It does.”

“Whatcha see is what you get with us, honey.” Kimi tucked a loose hair behind Skylar’s ear and murmured, “I’ll be damned. You are a little shy, aren’t you?”

“About some things.” She studied Kimi’s kind eyes. “Is it obvious?”

“Only to me.”

Skylar gave her a skeptical look and Kimi cracked.

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“Okay, it’s partially mother’s instinct, and partially Kade making me promise to look out for you because he can’t be with you. He’s worried about leavin’ you alone to deal with our crazy family.”

That man embodied sweet and something undeniably warm moved through Sky.