Ryelee's Cowboy (16 page)

Clint shrugged his
shoulder. “You always have a scent of vanilla about you, so we
cleaned the
baby
out and then fed her some watered down vanilla,” he explained,
giving her a sheepish grin.

Ryelee’s heart turned over. “I hadn’t
noticed that you knew my scent.”

“Believe me, woman, I know your scent.
I love your scent.”

Ryelee smiled at him, but he had
stopped smiling, as if he remembered he was mad at her. He wasn’t
even looking at her anymore.

Ryelee sat down and ate her dinner. It
was comfort food, and she felt much better afterward. Clint
insisted that she go sit down while he cleaned up. Her husband was
a confusing man.

* * * *

A knock at the door interrupted
Ryelee’s rest. She sat up quickly wondering who it was. She could
hear male voices. Before she had a chance to get up, Bubba—Sheriff
Bodin—was in her family room sporting a big frown.

He stared her up and down, leering at
her as though he was undressing her with his eyes. It made Ryelee
want to throw up “Good evening, Sheriff,” Ryelee said politely. She
wanted to tell him off but bit her tongue.

Seemingly oblivious, Sheriff Bodin
nodded his head in greeting. “Ryelee your father has been caught
with Dawson’s stolen cattle. He said that it was your doin’, your
idea. I’ve come to realize that his accusations have a ring of
truth to them. You need to answer for your crimes. You’ll be taking
a little ride with me. We have much to discuss. We surely
do.”

Ryelee couldn’t hide the shock on her
face. She leaned back and stared at the Sheriff with her mouth
open. She had always known her father hadn’t any use for her, until
lately, but she hadn’t known the extent of his hatred for her.
Surprisingly his betrayal hurt. She was beyond hurt. Her chest
ached.

She looked to Clint for comfort and
support, but his expression was hard and unyielding. Hadn’t he
heard the weird tone in Bubba’s voice or seen the way he looked at
her?

Rheenie was scared. She ran to Ryelee
and crawled onto her lap, crying softly. She clung to Ryelee as
though she sensed the sheriff wanted to take away her
mama.

Ryelee stood up and gave Rheenie to
Clint, too devastated even to look at him. “I need to change
clothes. I’ll be right back.”

Chapter Nine

Clint took Rheenie upstairs. He didn't
want her to hear any more of the accusations against Ryelee. She
cried inconsolably when she saw Ryelee leaving with Sheriff Bodin.
She ran to a front window and watched as Ryelee got into the back
of the police car.

Clint picked up Rheenie and sat on the
bed with her on his lap. He rocked her back and forth for a long
time. Finally, she quieted. Clint realized that his face was wet
from tears of his own.

He had a strong urge to run after
Ryelee and try to fix the mess she had made. He also had a strong
urge to protect his daughter. He wasn’t sure what to do until he
saw Annie standing in the doorway.

“I’ll take Rheenie to my house,” she
said, softly. “Go after your wife.”

“She’s accused of rustling your
cattle.”

“Of course she didn't do it,” Annie
replied with conviction. “She’s probably scared out of her mind,
and who knows what Bubba is doing. He hasn’t impressed
me.”

Clint rubbed the back of his neck.
Both his neck and shoulders were full of tension. Even his jaw
hurt. Annie was right. He needed to go after Ryelee.

“Thanks,” he said as he handed Rheenie
to her and kissed her cheek. “I owe you.”

“Of course you do, cowboy,” Annie said
as she turned and walked from the room carrying Rheenie.

* * * *

Ryelee wanted to scream. Bubba had
accused her of masterminding the Christmas Eve rustling and he
wasn’t taking no for an answer. He had left her in the small stark
interrogation room to think things over. Well, all she was thinking
was that Bubba was an ass, a great big ass.

The looks he kept giving her left her
shaken. The way he ogled her was eerie almost to the point of
perverse. The whole ride to the station, he smiled at her in the
rearview mirror. It wasn’t a friendly smile—more like a triumphant
smile, and she couldn’t for the life of her think of what she could
have done to Bubba to make him act so.

She was trying so hard to be brave and
calm for the sake of the baby. She needed to use the restroom,
urgently, but no one answered when she banged on the
door.

She didn't have any doubt she was on
her own. The expression on Clint’s face as he whisked Rheenie away
would be forever burned into her memory. She had lost him. Tears
started to form as she realized just how much she had lost. Ryelee
tipped her head back to prevent the tears from falling, but it
didn't work.

“Please open the door!” She banged on
the cold metal door. “Have some compassion! I’m pregnant, and I
need to use the restroom!”

It seemed to take forever, but she
finally heard the door opening. She jumped up ready to race to the
restroom, and she ended up in Clint’s arms. She looked up at him
expecting to see condemnation, but instead she saw
sympathy.

“I need to use the bathroom,” she
said, tearfully.

* * * *

Clint took her hand and led her out of
the interrogation room, intending to lead her to the
restroom.

“Hey, put the prisoner back!” Bubba
commanded as he approached them.

“No can do,” Clint responded,
continuing down the hall. He pushed Ryelee ahead of him and told
her to hurry, watching until she made it to the women’s room. He
turned and glared at Sheriff Bodin. “She’s pregnant, for God’s
sake. What’s wrong with you?”

Sheriff Bodin sneered at Clint. “It
ain’t yours.”

“In every way that counts, that is my
baby, and Ryelee is my wife,” he said coldly, squaring his
shoulders.

Bubba eyed him. “When she is done, you
get her pretty little ass back into that room.”

Clint glared at him. “We were getting
married at the time of the theft.”

“Great alibi, don’tcha think? A little
too convenient, if you know what I’m talking about.”

Clint wanted to groan. He was talking
to an idiot. “Where’s the Chief?”

Bubba smiled at Clint. “He’s out of
town until tomorrow.”

“A little too convenient, if you know
what I’m talking about,” Clint responded, heatedly.

“Let’s just get this over with,”
Ryelee said, her voice sounding resigned.

Clint turned and looked at Ryelee. He
could tell that she’d been crying. He wanted nothing more than to
smash Bubba in the face. Instead, he walked to Ryelee’s side and
put his arm around her. He gave her a smile of encouragement. “I
guess we should get this over with. We have one very upset daughter
at home.”

Clint opened his jacket and drew out
Sunshine. “Rheenie wanted you to have this,” he said, his voice
choking up.

Ryelee took the doll from him and
hugged it to her. “Interrogation room?” she asked Bubba.

“You didn't think you were going home,
did ya?” he asked as he pointed to the small room.

* * * *

Ryelee sighed and entered the room.
How she hated this room and all it stood for. She hated her father,
Bubba, and—most of all—herself. It was her own fault she was
there.

“What do you want to know that I
haven’t already told you?” she asked wearily.

“I think we need to go over the whole
thing from the beginning.”

“I’m going to make a phone call. I’ll
be right back.” Clint left the room.

“I already told you, my father
threatened me and tried to take my engagement ring. I stupidly told
him that I planned to get married on Christmas Eve, and I guess he
did the rest. I don’t even know if he’s guilty or not.”

Clint walked back into the room.
“Don’t say another word, Ryelee. Police Chief Bodin is on his way.”
He eyed Bubba with disgust.

“You have no right to interfere!”
Bubba protested as he stood up. “I should arrest you for
obstruction of justice.”

“Go ahead. I’m sure your Uncle Billy
will be pleased.”

Ryelee hugged the doll tightly. Her
hero had arrived. She loved him so much. Deep in her heart, she
knew that things weren’t going to be any better at home between
them, but she could work on that.

Clint sat down on a metal chair next
to Ryelee. He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to
him. She rested her weary head on his shoulder. The strong scent of
vanilla filled the air.

“Rheenie didn't want you to be in the
slammer alone.”

“She said the slammer?”

“She did.”

Before too long, Chief Bodin arrived.
A mountain of a man with heavily graying hair, he had a friendly
face, and he knew Ryelee well. He had spent many years making sure
she was all right. He also spent many years dragging her drunken
father home. His wife Rose always made extra bread and stews to put
on the Snyders’ doorstep.

“Hey, Clint, Ryelee,” he greeted them,
tipping his Stetson. “What’s this I hear about this little bit of a
girl running a rustling ring?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with
humor.

“Uncle Billy, she’s no girl,” Bubba
objected.

Chief Bodin gave his nephew a hard
look. “It’s Chief Bodin at work, boy! How many times do I need to
tell you?”

Bubba’s face suddenly looked sullen.
“Chief, this here girl is the brains behind the theft operation on
Christmas Eve.”

Chief Bodin raised his eyebrows. “Is
that so?”

“Her pappy says so.”

Chief Bodin laughed. “If I had a
nickel for every lie that man has told me…Well, you get the
picture.

“I hear that congratulations are in
order for the two of you,” he said as he smiled at Ryelee and
Clint. He walked over, took Ryelee’s hand, and helped her up. He
gave her a big hug and kissed her on the cheek. “Looks like things
are going well for you, sweetheart. When’s the little one
due?”

Ryelee blushed. She was pleased to see
Billy. He had been her only champion during her childhood. “In
about four months.”

“Good for you, honey.” He turned and
shook Clint’s hand. “Now you two get out of here and go see that
pistol of a daughter you have,” he said good-naturedly.

Clint barely said goodbye as he swept
Ryelee out the door to the truck. He helped her into the passenger
side and slammed the door. When he got in the driver’s side, he
just sat there, staring at the steering wheel.

Ryelee’s heart ached for him. She knew
she caused his pain and disappointment. She was so sorry, but she
didn't know what to say to him. She took a fortifying breath and
turned to look at his handsome profile. “Thank you for coming after
me.”

Clint didn't turn to look at her.
“You’re my wife,” he said, simply.

He acted as though that explained
everything. Ryelee needed more from him. She needed his arms around
her. She wanted his lips kissing her. She yearned to be in his bed
making love with him. She wished that the doctor would give her the
green light to have sex. She would be on Clint so fast. She jolted
back to reality as Clint started the truck and drove them home in
silence.

Ryelee bit her lip the whole ride
home, causing it to bleed. She was looking in her pockets for a
tissue when Clint handed her his bandana. Ryelee turned to him, but
he refused to look at her.

They drove on the dirt road that led
to Dawson’s Haven. Clint stopped the truck before reaching the
houses. “I have to get Rheenie. I think it would be good for you to
explain yourself to Burke and Annie. They deserve the truth, and
they deserve the right to kick us off the property,” he said
seriously.

Ryelee could feel his anger, and all
she could do was nod. She felt anxious as Clint drove on to the
Dawson’s home. She was surprised when he helped her down from the
truck. Always the polite gentleman, even when he didn’t mean it,
she thought.

It felt like the walk of shame. Ryelee
didn't know what to say. With her stomach tied in knots, she clung
to Rheenie’s doll as she walked up the steps. She noticed that
Clint wasn’t next to her, staying many steps behind her. For
everyone’s sake, she would have to fudge the truth. She hated
herself for it, but she despised her father more.

The front door flew open, and Rheenie
came flying out in her pjs and launched herself at Ryelee. Ryelee
leaned down and hugged her for all she was worth. “Thank you for
loaning me Sunshine. She was a great help to me,” she whispered in
Rheenie’s ears.

Clint strode up the steps and grabbed
Rheenie around the waist. “It’s too cold out here,” he said,
carrying her inside.

Ryelee noticed that Clint still wasn’t
looking at her. She really needed his support right now, but she
knew she was on her own. She stroked her stomach as she felt the
baby turn. With her head held high, she walked into the
house.