Saddle Up (25 page)

“Crap! They're here.” Miranda jerked back with a curse. “Do you think they saw us?”

“I think they'd be blind if they didn't. Busted twice?” He chuckled. “We're not very good at covert ops.”

She scowled back at him. “This isn't anything to make light of, Keith. Things are about to get damned awkward.”

When the vehicle came to a stop, Miranda marshaled a smile and sallied forward. Keith followed, hanging back a few steps as Miranda greeted the new arrivals. “Aunt Judith! Uncle Robert! How great to see you.”

The couple who climbed out of the truck greeted her with less enthusiasm. Her aunt was a fairly attractive woman in her forties, with the same red-gold hair as Miranda's, but cropped short to her chin. Her uncle was a trim middle-aged man with a bored air. Miranda's aunt Judith stepped forward with an air kiss to her niece's cheek. “Miranda. What a surprise to find you here.”

“What brought you out to the ranch?” her uncle inquired. “Last we knew you were studying cinematography out in California.”

“I was,” Miranda replied, “but I graduated almost two years ago.”

“No job prospects out in Hollyweird?” he asked with a hint of a smirk.

Keith could almost see Miranda bristle. “I had a job with a well-known production company, but I left it to work on an independent film project.”

“Oh?” His brows arched. “What kind of project would bring you all the way to Montana?”

“It's a documentary about mustangs,” she said. “I filmed the first part of it in Nevada and plan to finish it out here.”

“You'll have to tell us all about it later,” Judith said. “Right now I need to get out of the cold. My thin Arizona blood can't take these temperatures anymore. We'll need help with the bags. Where's Marvin?”

“I sacked Marvin months ago. I thought I told you that,” Jo-Jo said.

“Maybe you did.” Judith gave an impatient wave. “You know I don't keep track of those kinds of things.” For the first time she looked to Keith. “Could you please get our bags?”

“Keith isn't an employee,” Jo-Jo quickly interjected.

“Oh?” Judith arched a brow and gave him a critical once-over.

Jo-Jo turned to him with an apologetic smile. “Keith, this is my daughter, Judith, and—”

“
Dr.
Pearson,” Miranda's uncle interjected before Jo-Jo could complete the introduction.

The guy really was a self-important ass. It seemed that Judith and Robert were a matched pair. Keith tipped his hat and stepped forward, hand extended to make his own introduction. “Good to meet you both. I'm Keith Russo.” Darting a look at Miranda, he added, “Your niece's fiancé.”

Miranda's eyes widened and jaw went slack. He didn't know what devil had suddenly taken charge of his tongue, but it was done now and not to be taken back.

“
Fiancé?
” Judith repeated. “No one said
anything
about an engagement.” She turned to Jo-Jo. “Mama, why didn't you tell me? I would have at least brought a gift.”

Jo-Jo looked baffled. “I didn't know myself.” Her gaze flickered from Keith to Miranda and back again. “When did you two decide this?”

“Only yesterday,” Keith answered smoothly. “We'd planned to keep it a secret until after I picked up the ring.”

“Yes. It had to be sized,” Miranda blurted. She held up her left hand, following his lead. “See, I have really skinny little fingers.”

“This is rather abrupt, isn't it?” Judith remarked, eyeing Miranda up and down. “Or perhaps you have a pressing reason?”

“What do you mean?” Miranda asked.

“With the way this came out of the blue, I thought maybe…” Judith gave a blithe shrug. “It's nothing to be ashamed of… It happens all the time these days.”

“What happens all the time?” Miranda asked.

Keith stifled a chuckle. “I think she's wondering when we expect little Keith to arrive.”

Miranda's face suffused with color. “I'm
not
pregnant, Aunt Judith,” she replied through her teeth.

“How terribly awkward,” Judith remarked.

“I suppose congratulations are in order,” Robert said, offering Keith his hand with a supercilious smile. “When is the big day?”

Miranda flashed Keith a warning look.

“We haven't discussed a date yet,” he answered.

“We'll look forward to hearing the whole story once we get settled.” Judith looked to her husband. “Won't we, Rob?”

“Absolutely,” Robert agreed, wooden faced.

Judith frowned. “Now then, what are we going to do about the luggage? Rob can't lift anything since he threw his back out playing golf.”

“I'll get it,” Keith volunteered.

“
We
will,” Miranda corrected. “Got the remote thingy for the back, Jo-Jo?”

“Sure thing.” One click opened the tailgate. Judith and Robert each grabbed a small bag and then headed for the house, leaving four more for Keith and Miranda to haul.

“Thank you for the help,” Jo-Jo murmured to Keith, “and for putting up with their crap. As for the bomb you just dropped…” She gave Keith a pointed look. “We'll talk later.”

Miranda stood gaping while Keith finished pulling the bags out of the back. She drew in an audible breath and confronted him, hands on hips. “Um…what the
hell
did you just do?”

He grinned. “Just saved our asses. I thought I was pretty smooth about it too.”

Her brows knitted over stormy eyes. “By faking an engagement? How does that help?”

“It sure makes things more pleasant for me,” he said.

Her lips compressed. “How do you figure that?”

“As your fiancé, I now have every right to some PDA. What's wrong?” he asked, noting her scowl. “You don't like being engaged to me?”

“I don't like lies and deceit, even in exchange for PDA.”

“It's only for a few days,” he said. “What else could we do after they caught us lip-locked?”

She exhaled a defeatist sigh. “I suppose you're right. You just shocked me with that. By the look on her face, you shocked Jo-Jo too. For the record, I don't think she pegged you as marriage material.”

“Do you?” he asked, turning suddenly serious.

“I never thought about it,” she said. “But I guess I have a hard time imagining you as a husband or father.”

“Why not?” It wasn't as if he'd ever fantasized about that role either, but it irked him that she hadn't. Isn't that what all women did once they entered a relationship? “In what way am I deficient?” he asked.

“I didn't say you were deficient…exactly. I guess it's just that you've never talked about those things. Maybe I thought you didn't want them.” Her gaze searched his. “Am I wrong?”

“I don't know,” he replied. “I never gave it much thought before.”

But he
was
thinking now. Suddenly it wasn't hard at all to imagine waking up every morning, cocooned with her after a night of lovemaking. He wondered what it would be like to put down roots and build a life with her. The engagement announcement that had sprung thoughtlessly from his mouth a short while ago no longer felt like a joke, and her rejection hurt more than he'd have thought possible. He told himself she was right. They weren't nearly ready for that kind of step, but his pride was bruised to think she'd take him as a lover but didn't consider him worthy of anything more.

“I don't understand you,” she said. “You've insisted all along that you don't want commitments or ties; that you don't like to think about the future; that you prefer to live in the present. You've made it clear I shouldn't expect anything from you beyond staying a few weeks and helping us with the horses. Isn't that what you want?”

“Maybe it was,” he said slowly. “But my wants seem to be changing.”

He'd recognized long ago that he had feelings for her, but hadn't dared to put a name to those feelings. Until now. He was suddenly aware of a terrifying truth—he was falling in love with Miranda. Although he hadn't gone crashing instantly to the ground, he'd begun a free fall their first night together. He hadn't noticed because it had been such a slow and easy descent, every smile, laugh, and kiss pushing him a little further, but in the end, he'd landed at her feet.

* * *

Miranda's heart drummed loudly in her ears for one, two, three beats. “What are you saying? Don't play games with me, Keith.”

“I'm not playing games,” he said. “Maybe your aunt's assumption got me thinking. What if we weren't playacting? What if we wanted this to be real?”

Was he serious? Did he just propose in a vague and oblique way? The thought of it thrilled and terrified her. She had no doubt of her feelings for Keith, but they were still so early in their relationship that an engagement would be like trying to build a house on quicksand.

She licked her lips and slowly answered, “Then I'd have to say we aren't ready.”

He blinked, and then his expression went blank. “You said ‘we' but you really mean
me
, don't you?”

Miranda's throat tightened. “Keith, it's just…I didn't mean—”

“You don't have to explain anything. If you want a great fuck, I'm your man, but I'm not the one you're dreaming about making babies with one day. I'm not the one you think you'll ever be able to count on, the one who will be there for you in the long run. Do I have that straight?”

Keith's anger took her completely aback. Had he really been thinking about marriage? Family? His reaction told her he had. “You're putting words in my mouth,” she said. “I only meant that we aren't ready for the next step.”

Keith grabbed a suitcase with each hand. “Then it's a damned good thing we are
just
playacting.”

* * *

Arriving upstairs, hand poised to knock, Keith halted at the sound of Judith's raised voice.

“I can't believe this situation!” Judith hissed. “We turn our backs for one minute, and that little bitch sneaks in to turn Mama against me. I'm not going to stand for it, Rob. If she doesn't want to sell, fine, but this ranch is rightfully
mine
when Mama passes. And what the hell is the deal with that Keith anyway? Who does he think he is, moving in lock, stock, and barrel?”

“He's a drifter and an opportunist if ever I saw one,” Robert said. “A damned wolf in sheep's clothing! That's what I see.”

“Well, I'm not going to stand by and watch Mama get fleeced. Dear God!” Judith said tearfully. “The two of them are plotting to take over the ranch. We can't let this happen, Robert.”

“You shouldn't have to.”

“But what are we going to do?” she asked.

“We'll start by calling Marvin,” Robert said. “He should be able to fill us in on what's happening here. I certainly don't trust this Keith guy.”

“And then what? How are we going to convince Mama to come to Phoenix?” Judith asked.

“She needs to be made to see that she's bitten off way more than she can chew.”

“But I've already tried that, and she won't listen. I haven't been able to talk any sense into her.”

“If we can't convince her, I have something in mind that should put an end to all this horseshit,” Robert answered. “Just trust me. I'll handle it.”

I'll handle it?
What the hell did
that
mean? Keith waited, but the voices faded away. When it appeared they weren't going to say any more, he rapped on the door. “It's Keith. I've got your luggage.”

“Just a minute,” Judith answered seconds later, swinging the door open and inclining her head as if he were her porter. “Just put it right there on the bed.”

“Sure. No problem.” After dropping off the four large bags, he headed back downstairs.

What were they up to? No good, for certain. And what did this guy Marvin have to do with it? Maybe it was none of his business, but then again, if anything threatened Miranda, he'd damned sure make it his business.

“More potatoes, Keith?” Jo-Jo asked, extending the bowl before he could reply.

“Thank you.” Keith took up the serving spoon and dug in for his third helping. “These are really great, Miz Sutton. The whole meal is.” He'd forgotten how good a real holiday meal could be. He couldn't even remember the last one he'd eaten at home in Wyoming. The only thing missing was fry bread.

“I bought the biggest fresh bird I could find,” Jo-Jo said. “I never buy frozen turkey.”

“We always got ours fresh too, straight from the fields,” Keith said.

“You're a hunter?” Robert asked.

“Yes,” Keith replied. “Almost everyone hunts on the rez. Our family rarely buys meat. We fish and bow hunt for it. My grandfather taught me when I was young. He prefers the old ways.”

“You should see him throw a knife,” Miranda gushed. “He's incredible.”

“Knife throwing?” Judith laughed. “Doesn't seem like a very practical skill.”

Miranda looked up from her plate where she'd been pushing her food around. “It is when you're faced with a Mojave rattler,” she remarked with a shudder.

“When did you encounter one of those?” Robert asked.

“When I was in the Calico Mountains, filming a wild-horse roundup,” Miranda explained. “Keith was working as the head wrangler for the livestock company when I went out there to film. I was gathering firewood when I came across the snake. It was poised to strike when Keith impaled it with his hunting knife.”

“Is that really true?” Robert asked skeptically.

“Yes,” she said. “That's how Keith and I got together. But it wasn't just killing the snake that did it for me. It wasn't even after our encounter with a hungry mountain lion. It was before all that, when he called in a helicopter to save a dying foal.” Miranda's gaze skittered across the table to snag Keith's. “I think I knew even then that I was falling in love. Saving my life only clinched it.”

Although voiced playfully, her confession made his heart slam against his chest. Her gaze held his steadily, and for a suspended heartbeat they were the only two people in the room. Hell, maybe the only two in the world.

“So that's how you met?” Judith asked.

“Not quite,” Miranda said. “We were first introduced when Keith was conducting one of his clinics in California.”

“Clinic?” Robert's brows rose. “Are you a physician, Keith?”

Keith shook his head with a laugh. “Not that kind of clinic. I'm an equine behaviorist…” He looked to Miranda. “Or I was.”

“A
horse shrink
?” Robert released a snort. “Is that even a real job?”

Ignoring the heat creeping up his neck, Keith responded levelly, “Yes. I traveled the country conducting clinics on how to manage problem animals, although in reality, the horses weren't usually the problem. Most behavioral issues are caused by owners who don't understand them.”

Judith chortled. “And they actually
paid
you for this?”

“Quite well. I spent the better part of three years touring in Europe.”

“Oh.” Judith's mouth snapped audibly shut.

“Is that still your primary occupation?” Robert asked.

“No,” Keith replied, slanting a look at Miranda. “I gave it up almost two years ago. Since then, I've been wrangling mustangs.”

“So what brought you out to my mother's ranch?” Judith asked.

“Miranda,” Keith replied.

“I asked him to come and help with the horses,” Miranda said.

“Horses? What horses?” Judith asked.

“The mustangs,” Miranda replied. “Jo-Jo and I are turning the ranch into a mustang sanctuary. The first of two hundred horses are supposed to arrive tomorrow.”

“
Two hundred mustangs?
” Judith dropped her fork with a clatter.

“Yes.” Miranda looked to her grandmother in question. “I thought Jo-Jo told you about it.”

“She told me you were preparing to adopt some horses, which is ridiculous enough,” Judith retorted, “but she said nothing about turning the entire ranch into some kind of petting zoo! What is this about, Mother? Have you lost your mind?”

“It's not a zoo, Judith,” Jo-Jo said. “It's a federally subsidized wild-horse sanctuary.”

“Zoo? Sanctuary? You're just splitting hairs. Messing with wild horses is pure insanity!”

“No, it isn't,” Jo-Jo insisted tersely. “It's a means of keeping my home. The horses will generate enough income for me to do that.”

“But you're selling the ranch and moving to Phoenix,” Judith said.

Jo-Jo shook her head. “No, Judith. I already told you that I've changed my mind about Phoenix. I took the ranch off the market weeks ago. This is my home. It will always be my home. I expect you to bury my bones here, or at least cast my ashes.”

“But I don't understand,” Judith persisted. “We spent months talking and planning your retirement.”

“
You
spent months talking and planning, Judith. You never asked what I wanted. I considered it only as briefly as I did because I didn't want to be alone, but Miranda's arrival has changed all that. Now we're contracted with the BLM to provide a permanent home to several hundred wild horses. Gravy anyone?” Jo-Jo asked, practically shoving the boat across the table.

“No, thank you.” Judith waved it away.

“What about you, Keith?”

“Sure,” he replied, flooding his potatoes while intently watching the exchange. The mustang announcement had exponentially escalated the tension at the table.

Nearly hissing with rage, Judith spun on Miranda. “This is all your doing, isn't it? She's an old woman! She doesn't need this kind of stress! Do you want to put her into an early grave?”

“That's enough, Judith!” Jo-Jo stood, hands braced on the table. “I've done less real work around this place since Miranda's arrival than I've done in the past two years. She's been a godsend to me.”

“If you were struggling here, why did you let Marvin go?” Judith asked.

“I told you why,” Jo-Jo replied. “And I didn't replace him because I couldn't afford to.”

“Well,” Judith huffed. “I guess there's nothing more to say about it.”

“Good,” Jo-Jo replied with a brittle smile. “Does anyone want pie?”

* * *

After doing the dinner dishes, Miranda and Keith escaped to the front-porch swing, where they snuggled up together in a blanket. She drew a breath of air into her lungs and exhaled a wispy cloud of vapor, silently watching it dissipate into the night as she composed her thoughts.

“Dinner tonight went about as horribly as I could possibly have imagined. I'm really sorry about the third degree you got from Robert and Judith and how rude they've both been to you, Keith.”

“It means nothing to me,
Aiwattsi
. They mean nothing to me. I only care about the opinions of people who matter.”

“I know you're right.” She sighed. “But Jo-Jo matters to me, so I hate to have come between them.”

“It's not you. It's your aunt. She is a very unhappy woman.” His arms tightened, pulling her closer. In his arms, all of the unease that had preoccupied her since their tiff the day before melted almost instantly away. “It'll be all right,
Aiwattsi
,” he reassured her. “They're only here for a few days. Then all will go back to normal.”

She wondered what normal was. Nothing about her life was normal anymore. “I hope so,” she said. “The time can't pass quickly enough for me.”

A coyote howled in the distance. Another one echoed the call, vividly reminding her of another cold night she'd spent wrapped in Keith's arms. So much had changed since then. It now seemed like eons ago.

“It's so clear out here,” she murmured, gazing up at the heavens. “So peaceful and beautiful. There's nothing like the Montana sky at night.”

“I'd argue the same about the Wyoming sky,” he said. “I'd love to show it to you one day.”

She turned to face him. “Do you still miss home so much, Keith?”

“Yes.” He stroked her hair. “I miss how it was, but things have changed. It feels less like my home now. They say home is where the heart is… My heart is with you,
Aiwattsi
.”

Hers gave a lurch into her throat. “What about the sequoia and the tumbleweed?” she asked.

“Did you know tumbleweeds are actually dead?” he said. “The only living parts of them are the seeds they carry and spread around. You see what a great metaphor that was for me? Rolling from place to place just spreading my seeds?” He gave a derisive laugh. “But I don't want to be a tumbleweed anymore. You've changed that. How can I convince you that I can be what you need?”

“You don't have to do anything,” she whispered. “I already know I can count on you. I've just been waiting for you to convince yourself.”

He cupped her head and kissed her deeply. “Come to bed with me,
Aiwattsi
, let me show you in truth that I'm convinced, converted, and persuaded…that I'm a man reborn.”