Ring of Fire Book Two of the McKay's (15 page)

"Are you doin' all this for Hank?
"

"I'm doing it for me, and the man I decide is right for me.
"

"You got guts
, girl!" He chuckled.

"Thank you Caleb, coming from you that means a lot." She patted him on the shoulder as she headed for the door again.

She looked at him over her shoulder. "You don't think I'm nuts?"

"No
, ma'am. I think you are quite a lady…." He smiled at her.

"Thanks
." She smiled back. "If you weren't so old, I'd marry you."

"I'm not old, just well-seasoned."
He smiled and grunted and went back to work.

That statement stopped Letty in her tracks. Her dad used to say that. She shook herself and walked back to the house.

Chapter Ten

Hank rewound the rope, hung it on a nail and turned to find Caleb staring at him.

"How's it going?" Hank asked for lack of anything to say.

"Pretty good. How about you?" Caleb asked, as he scratched his chin and eyed Hank.

"'Bout to wind it up for the day
." Hank nodded.

Hank was not in the mood to talk today. It had been a week since he'd been with Letty and he hadn't seen her since. Despite the fact that it was better this way, it certainly didn't improve his disposition. He missed her. And the last time he remembered missing anyone was when his folks died.

This new hollow in his gut seemed to haunt him. Letty was way above his means. It would never work between them. But all those arguments didn't hold water when he remembered that last kiss and how aroused he had been. It wasn't the arousal either; it was the fact that she could move him to want her without doing a thing.

He wondered if he offended her. He wondered if she was mad at him. He wondered why she avoided him.
He wondered why he cared so much.

There were no answers.

He had to admit; at least to himself that Letty McKay had got to him. Wanting something or someone this bad made him angry at himself.

Okay, he'd lost control. Okay he had to admit, he wanted her, but she was totally off limits and he knew it.
Even if it was good between them, it would never be enough to fill up the gaps between them.

Maybe he should rethink his old fashioned morals and consider his feelings in this matter.

She was just like some volcanic ring of fire; every time she was around he fell into that circle of fire. And the fire consumed him.

A man in control didn't like to admit that there was no control where she was concerned.

"Something eating you, Hank? You sorta seem skittish this week," Caleb commented as he cleaned his brushes in the water barrel.

"Just haven't been getting as much rest I guess
," Hank explained, hoping the old man wouldn't ask any more questions.

"How's your grandma?"

"She's doing better since I took her back to the eye doctor." Hank tried to smile.

"I been meaning to stop by and see her." Caleb smiled.

"She'd like that, she don't get too many visitors these days. She doesn't get out much."

"I imagine you got quite a load, taking care of her and your own work here." Caleb seemed to wait for his answer.

"I'm used to it. She's happy with a trip to town every now and then and going to church each Sunday." Hank glanced at Caleb.

"You know," Caleb ran a damp rag over his neck as he took his hat off then reset it. "I don't know of many men your age that would see to an aging relative like that.
Most folks just put them in a home and forget them."

Hank paused for a minute,
and then shot the old man a frown. "She's not a relative, Caleb, she's my family."

Caleb nodded with a smile
. "I guess she is. But a young fella like you ought to be thinking about getting a wife…and a family of his own."

Hank stopped what he was doing and looked at the old man seriously
. "I've thought about it. Guess I just haven't met the right woman yet."

"Would you know it if you had?" Caleb jabbed.

Hank almost laughed. "I'd know it…"

"What about the McKay girls
? They are all pretty as pictures and gonna be rich as the dickens too."

Hank hung his head
. "Mr. McKay set the rules a long time ago on this ranch. One of the first things Wade talked to me about. Rich women and ordinary cowboys don't mix. Leave it alone. That's what he advised, and that is what I do."

"Wade could be wrong, you know.
I mean, it's pretty obvious that Wendy McKay is crazy about him, little good it does her." Caleb nodded. "I heard he had some strict rules. I guess he thought I was too old to be chasin' any of them. But hey, the old man's dead."

Hank shook his
head, and then eyed the old man with a scowl. "He may be dead, but the rules aren't. No self-respecting cowboy would mess with the McKay girls."

"Why not?
What's wrong with them?"

"
Not one thing as far as I can see. But…a man likes to think he can support his lady, in the style she's accustomed to. Those girls are going to be filthy rich, and every man in the state will be after them. Can you imagine a regular cowboy thinking he could tame one of them?"

"So you think money is more important than the way you feel?" Caleb scolded.

"I think." Hank paused. "They are off limits."

Caleb eyed him a moment
. "You think you ain't good enough for them? Is that what you are saying?"

Hank frowned
. "That's not what I said. It has to do with social class, of where you belong in life."

"That's malarky. If you love a girl, you tell her and marry her, no matter what her last name is
," Caleb encouraged. "If she loves you back, that's all that is necessary."

Hank stopped his piddling around and faced Caleb with a real frown.
The old man meant well but he didn't understand. "Every one of the McKay girls are good people. But what they are about to inherit will take care of them for the rest of their lives. It will be a fortune. The old man even laid down a stipulation for them getting it. And they are abiding. They are entitled to the money, the ranch, everything. They are McKay's. Good people. Ordinary cowboys don't belong in their world. We're just the hired help."

"I think you are wrong about that, Hank. If you love a woman, and are good to her, I think that is what all women deserve
and want."

"It's not enough
." Hank shook his head. "Not in their world…."

"So if you
were to fall in love with one of them…you'd back off."

Hank moved away, afraid the old man had already seen and heard too much. "Yeah, I'd back off."

"You don't think love is more precious than money?" Caleb frowned.

"It does
n't matter what I think or feel, I could not support her in the manner she would be used to. And I wouldn't be much of a man if I let her and her old man's money support me." Hank was getting annoyed, his back tensed, he began to sweat and he couldn't imagine why Caleb was concerned one way or another.

"
I know what you are sayin', boy. I do. But, love is the best thing in life."

Hank nodded. "You are probably right, b
ut there are some places you just don't go, Caleb," Hank muttered under his breath as he turned away.

"If one of them McKay girls loved me, I'd never back away from that
," Caleb barely uttered as he passed him to go into a stall.

Hank shrugged, realizing that
he wished the old man would quit talking about it.

He could never afford the luxuries that Letty McKay was used to. He would never make enough money to support her. It was useless to go there and he damn sure wouldn't
make love to her and leave her.

The old man got quiet and Hank thought he wouldn't have to explain anymore
, but Caleb came out of the stall, stood right in front of him and stared at Hank like a rattlesnake.

"And what about Cade Weston, he took what he wanted. He married Julie McKay b
ecause he loved her and always had."

"That's different. Cade makes a darn good living for himself. He could support Julie well enough.
He's a manager here. I'm just a cowboy, there's a big difference."

Caleb's frown subsided, but he still eyed him. "Don't think it don't show
, boy. You got lovesick written all over you."

Then he walked out of the barn.

Lovesick? Hank sighed heavily. Caleb was right, he was lovesick, and what was worse, he was going to stay that way. He usually had an even disposition, but right now it felt as though the world was caving in on him.

***

On Friday, Kellie came over to spend the night with Letty, just like she promised. Letty was excited. She had planned the entire evening. At last there was someone to distract her from Hank. Just what she needed.

"
Are you two going to be alright tonight?" Julie asked.

"We'll be fine. Sandy has a date with Mike, and Wendy is helping Wade with something." Letty laughed.
"And I've got a movie, and popcorn planned with lots of talk about boys and friends and getting along in school."

"
Sounds good." Julie laughed then added, "Wendy doesn't give up, does she?" Julie asked.

"No, and for that I
'm kind of proud of her. Wendy hasn't been a real go getter about much of anything, but Wade, I never saw that in her before, but at least she is true blue and sticks to her guns. She's bound to get Wade to see it soon. Sooner or later Wade Weston is going to be hit by the love bug." Letty was busy with the beginnings of cookie dough. "Because Wendy is no longer a little girl."

Kellie wash
ed her hands and giggled. "What's the love bug?"

"Oh
, we'll get to that later, I promise." Letty laughed.

They were making a huge mess and Julie couldn't stand it
. "Okay, I hope the two of you know what you are doing. And I'm glad I don't have to clean up the mess."

"We are making a mess,
we're making a class A mess." Letty laughed and Kellie smeared cookie dough on her cheek. "But it's pure fun…."

"Kellie," Julie admonished.

"It's all part of the fun Julie, now scat," Letty protested.

In no time the kitchen smelled like a chocolate haven. Kellie was already full from testing
the cookies.

"Guess we'll have to have our hot dogs later
." Letty looked at the miserable face on Kellie.

"Hmm. How about just the popcorn and cold drinks with the movie
?"

"Do you know what movie we are watching?" Letty asked.
"Okay, but if you get hungry during the night, don't look at me."

"I won't
." Kellie's eyes got round and big when she saw the movie Letty had rented. "When a Stranger Calls." Kellie laughed. "It's about this babysitter who keeps getting these creepy calls…"

"Oh
, I know, I can't wait to see it. Wendy claims it's a terror." Letty smiled and took her cookie into the living room, where she sat down and indulged herself.

Kellie followed.

"Aunt Letty, can I have Aiden over tomorrow?" Kellie asked out of the blue.

Letty smiled to herself, knowing Kellie had probably planned that too.

"I don't see why not. Wanting to go for a ride?" Letty asked.

"Can we?"

"Of course you can. But if you don't mind, I'll tag along." Letty chuckled.

"Well, of course, I thought you would." Kellie laughed.
"I mean, if you feel like it and all."

Letty noticed
how Kellie was wearing a dab of lip gloss and dressing a little more tastefully. Julie's little girl was growing up and Letty wasn't sure Julie was ready for it or not.

Kellie was still very young, but if she chaperoned it, everything would be fine. Letty would see to that.

"How old is Aiden?" Letty asked.

"Nearly twelve." Kellie blushed.

"Twelve isn't very old, but I guess there are some things you could do together. And some things an adult will have to be present for too. Hope you don't mind."

"No, I don't mind. I'll be eleven next month
, Aunt Letty."

"I know, and I can't wait to celebrate it with you." Letty took another bite of chocolate chip cookie. "Hmm, these are so good."

"Yeah, but I think I ate too many."

Letty laughed. "I know you did."

"Do you think I'm fat?"

"Fat, now where on earth did that come from?"

"I don't know. There are some girls at my school that all they do is talk about diets and not eating and how to stay slim."