My Southern Bride (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 4) (16 page)

"Well, more like rescue myself. I can't make heads nor tails of your spreadsheet. So I decided the easiest approach was to come extricate you myself." She waved at the helicopter. "I couldn't wait for the snow to melt and the roads to clear. This way I can have you back in Dallas in only a few hours."

"Wow." Lori was stupefied. "Just wow."

Carolyn laughed. She was such a pretty woman, with her shiny auburn hair and a gorgeous smile.

"I guess you weren't expecting me."

"How did you find me?"

Another laugh. "The Nelson Ranch is well known."

"Do you and your pilot want to come back to the house? I need to pack up." Lori bit back an inward sigh. "And say goodbye to my host."

"Are you kidding? I'd love to meet Mr. Monty Joe Nelson. I don't know many women who wouldn't be thrilled to be in the same room with such a famous cowboy."

"Great." Monty Joe would probably enjoy meeting a fan girl, too, especially after being stuck with only Lori for company. She couldn't blame him, although she wanted to.

"Giles, can you please bring the breakfast items?" asked Carolyn. She glanced at Lori. "I took the liberty of bringing food and coffee since I heard there was no power at the ranch."

"You're right. We lost power yesterday. I was worried about what I'd feed Monty Joe for breakfast."

Carolyn's brow arched. "You're feeding him?"

"He's injured—a sprained ankle—so I've been taking care of him and the animals."

"How sweet," Carolyn said, but her tone implied sarcasm rather than sincerity.

Lori searched her face, yet her expression was polite and friendly. Maybe Lori had misinterpreted. "Watch your footing. The ice hasn't fully melted yet, so it can be treacherous."

"I came prepared." Carolyn slightly lifted her pant legs to reveal a pair of well-worn low-heeled boots.

"That's right. I forgot you grew up on a working ranch."

"Ranching is in my blood," she said, following Lori toward the house.

Giles, the helicopter pilot, walked a few paces behind them.

As they neared the house, Lori saw Monty Joe still held his position at the window. She offered him a friendly wave, then observed what she hoped was merely a rifle being lowered out of view.

He'd been completely serious about the gun.

When she threw open the back door, Newton was there to greet them. He offered a cautious "Meh, meh."

Lori ushered Carolyn and Giles into the house, then closed the door. Monty Joe had already limped into the kitchen to greet them.

"Hello," he said, his tone neutral, as though he hadn't made up his mind about them.

"Hell-o," replied Carolyn, extending her hand for a shake. "I'm Carolyn Mayes, and I work with Lori at the Texas Literacy Association. This is Giles Perry, our wonderful pilot."

Monty Joe shook each of their hands in turn.

Lori noticed that he'd combed his hair. The fink had probably brushed his teeth, too.

She held up her hand to cover her face and exhaled into her palm. Her breath wasn't too awful.

"I've brought coffee and breakfast," announced Carolyn. She motioned for Giles to set the bags down on the kitchen counter near the stove.

As soon as he'd done so, Carolyn marched to the back door, opened it, pointed at Newton, and said, "Out."

Newton was no match for Carolyn's authoritarian tone. Lori could never stand up to it, either. The goat meekly did as Carolyn demanded. Lori was tempted to follow him out.

Monty Joe scowled, and Lori thought he might explode.

She spoke up before Monty Joe could. No telling what he'd say. "Newton's a house pet, Carolyn. He knows how to behave."

"I don't allow animals in the kitchen." Carolyn's lips narrowed, brooking no argument.

Unable to stop herself, Lori blurted, "But I thought you have a cocker spaniel."

"I do. He's been trained to stay out of the kitchen, and he goes into his crate during meals."

Lori wasn't sure how to respond. She didn't have a pet now, but her family's pets had always been allowed free rein of the household.

Carolyn turned to Monty Joe. "You don't mind, do you."

The way she said it, it was more a statement than a question.

Monty Joe continued to scowl. "Whatever works for you."

"Let me get my bearings, and then I'll get this meal on the road." Carolyn turned the corner into the den.

Lori followed behind her and noted that Monty Joe had added firewood and stoked the fire back to life. The house was warm and toasty despite the lack of central heat.

"Oh, this room is far too crowded," cried Carolyn. "It simply won't do."

"It won't?" Monty Joe asked from behind.

"Not with your injury." She smiled. "Lori and Giles, if you'll come help me, please, we can get things moved around so Monty Joe has room to maneuver."

Without waiting even a second, she headed directly to Monty Joe's comfy chair and pushed it up against the wall. "See? It's better already."

Carolyn continued to direct Lori and Giles in the proper placement of the furniture to maximize the space for Monty Joe and his cane.

"There," Carolyn said, pushing the sofa a final inch. "Now let's get you some coffee, Monty Joe."

"Sounds good." He took a seat on the sofa, now as compliant as Newton had been, apparently having recognized Carolyn as an immovable force, not to be argued with.

She spun into the kitchen like a whirling dervish and returned with two mugs of steaming brew. She handed a mug to Monty Joe. "Here you go."

Lori turned to go get a cup, but stopped when she heard Monty Joe say in a strangled voice, "I thought you said it was coffee. What is this?"

"It's my personal concoction," Carolyn purred, taking a sip from her mug. "Brazilian cappuccino with a soupcon of French vanilla, laced with
dulce de leche
. I simply love caramel, don't you?"

"I like it on a banana split," he said.

"How do you prefer your coffee?"

"Black."

"I'm sure my personal concoction will grow on you. It grows on everyone who's ever tried it."

Lori grinned and entered the kitchen. While the brew was a lot stronger than she normally liked, a lot of sweetener and a little water made it tolerable. She poured a cup for Monty Joe. Black and slightly diluted with tap water. She returned to the den with the mug, holding it out to Monty Joe. "Want to switch?"

He shot her a grateful smile as he made the trade and tried it. "Much better."

Lori took a sip of Carolyn's Personal Concoction. It wasn't awful. Just strong and cloying. Her gaze met Carolyn's. "Yum."

"Lori, would you mind dishing up our breakfast, since you know where all of the utensils are?" Carolyn took a seat directly beside Monty Joe on the sofa, and gazed at him soulfully. "Is your ankle painful?"

Since Lori wanted her breakfast as much as anyone, she met Carolyn's demand without argument. She entered the kitchen, tossed her mug of Carolyn's Personal Concoction down the sink, and made a cup of her own. Two sips and she began to relax. Since the moment she'd heard the helicopter, events had happened so quickly she hadn't had time to think. And she really needed some time to think things through.

Would Monty Joe and the animals be okay without her here to help out? He seemed to be getting around pretty well with his cane, but how would he do outdoors with ice, snow and uneven ground?

She opened the bags of food and looked through the containers. Eggs Benedict. Croissants. Some kind of fancy potatoes. Diced fruit cups. These were not Monty Joe's usual fare, but hopefully he was hungry enough he wouldn't object.

Maybe while they ate, she and Monty Joe could talk things over.

She overloaded four plates and carried two back into the den, where she offered them, along with silverware and napkins, to Carolyn and Monty Joe.

"Thanks." Monty Joe directed a grim look at the food.

She shot him a grin, but didn't want to interrupt Carolyn, who continued talking, waving one arm in the air to punctuate her words. "You roped that steer in no time. And you know what? I decided, right then and there, I had to meet you. I knew it would come about someday. After all these years, I can't tell you how fortunate I feel that this opportunity finally arose."

Giles followed Lori back into the kitchen and took his plate from her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

When they returned to the den with their plates, Giles beat her to the comfy chair pressed firmly against the exterior wall. That left the remaining seat, beside Carolyn, on the sofa.

Lori sank into place while Carolyn continued chatting. She pointed her fork at Lori. "The literacy association, and I, simply can't do without her help. She's such a great organizer, we're lost without her."

Monty Joe leaned forward and his and Lori's gazes met. "So you're leaving?"

"Looks that way." Lori tried to sound chipper, and ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"While we need you back in Dallas, Lori, I'm not needed." Carolyn faced Monty Joe, and her tone grew honeyed and as cloying as her Personal Concoction. "If you need someone to look after you, I'm volunteering."

Lori couldn't see his face, but several seconds of silence ensued, when suddenly the back door flew open.

Everyone turned their heads to see who had arrived.

A man with a weathered face and sandy complexion approached the den. His age was impossible to read. With too many days outside in the sun, he could be anywhere from forty-five to seventy-five. A crease of concern etched his brow, but as soon as his eyes lit on Monty Joe, an expression of relief and a wide smile transformed his face. "You're okay!"

"Doing just fine, Will." Monty Joe started to stand, but seemed to think better of it, and instead he reached out an arm toward Will. "I'd like ya'll to meet my ranch foreman, Willie Fred Miller. Will runs this ranch and my life as if they're as easy as roping a sleeping calf."

"How do." Will came closer and Monty Joe introduced each of them.

"Did you drive here?" Monty Joe asked.

"Nah. Roads aren't clear yet. Rode over on ol' Sheila without any problem."

Lori placed her plate on the coffee table. "If you'll grab one of the kitchen chairs, Will, I'll dish you up some breakfast."

"No need for that. The hands and I already had plenty. I'm glad to see the lack of electricity hasn't kept you unfed." He dragged a chair from the kitchen table into the den and placed it to Monty Joe's right at the end of the sofa. "I was all set on being the cavalry that arrived, but it looks like Ms. Mayes beat me to it."

She leaned back her head and laughed. It was one of those truly feminine laughs, tinkling and flirtatious. Nothing like one of Lori's guffaws, and she was envious of Carolyn for a moment, then pushed it away.

A few more bites of her breakfast and she was done. Monty Joe didn't need her now that Will had arrived, so there was no point in delaying any longer. "I'll go get ready and pack my bag."

Chapter 26

So much for asking Lori to stay, thought Monty Joe, as he watched her retreat up the stairs. Maybe it was for the best.

Maybe whatever it was that had been developing between them would dissipate as quickly as it had arisen.

Maybe it was some sort of cabin fever.

He sure wished, though, they'd had a few minutes alone to talk. If his ankle had been better, he would have followed her up the stairs. Although he hadn't walked on it that much, he suspected it had begun to swell again and wondered if he should put his foot up.

It would be difficult because of how close Carolyn sat beside him. It would probably be rude to ask a guest in his home to move. If Giles weren't occupying Monty Joe's comfy chair, he'd move over to it, yank it from the wall and recline it. Without that option, he could only remain where he was. Most likely it wouldn't be for much longer.

Lori wasn't one of those women who dillydallied when getting dressed. He admired that about her. He admired a lot about her, especially how she managed to help and make good suggestions, without becoming the least bit bossy. Her personality meshed with his.