Somewhere Montana (10 page)

“Oh,” she said, staring at his face. “You gots a boo-boo, too. Were you in the accident with Miss Susan?”

* * * *

Sage saw the raw pain in his eyes as he shuddered.

“She was right. We can all have accidents and be okay.”

“Excuse me. I have business to attend to.” Mac’s voice had a raspy quality as he set the child on the floor and quickly left the room. Sage followed him to the office. He was standing in front of the window, shoulders slumped, his reflection showing the desolation on his face. She couldn’t imagine what caused his abrupt change. She stood in the doorway staring at him.

“Callum?” worry apparent in that one word.

“Go away, Sage,” he ordered sharply. “This doesn’t concern you.” He refused to look at her.

She wanted to help him through whatever it was that brought him to that level. Like he had helped her. To hold him, comfort him. She took a step forward, her hand out to him.

“No!”

Sage backed out of the room at his angry response and, with apprehension, went to the kitchen. She busied herself with the tray of coffee and sweets for the men in the living room. What was that dark place that sucked him in? The last place he had been was Afghanistan. What savagery had happened there?

I ought to get him to talk about it. I had a couple courses in psychology. But would I be more of a hindrance than a help? He must have talked with counselors when he returned to the states. PTSD is a cruel companion to be riding on anybody’s shoulder. I just wish I could help him. I love him. And it hurts to see him tormented that way.

As she turned to get the plate of brownies, Mac walked into the kitchen. He laid a hand on her shoulder and leaned in to kiss her forehead. She could still see pain lurking in the depths of those murky brown eyes.

“I’m sorry, Sage,” he whispered. “I’m not ready yet to share that burden with anyone. I don’t know if I ever will be.”

“When you are ready,” she said, cupping his face in her hands, “I’ll be here to listen. Sometimes it’s not so much sharing a burden as unlocking a cage and letting the beast that’s trapped you go back where it came from.”

She drew him down to her to deliver a kiss that turned up the heat in her body to settle in a sizzle in her nether regions. Opening to him before he could ask, she deepened the kiss. Her arms wrapped around him, pulling him to her so every curve fit against him like they were made specifically for each other.

“Grab the brownies,” she ordered, slowly drawing away. “Bedtime snack, and then everyone hits the sack. This has been an eventful day.”

Sage placed the tray on the low table in front of the couch and passed the coffee around to the men. She set two small glasses of milk, with napkins and a brownie beside each one, at the end of the table and pulled two pillows off the couch to place on the floor. Then she bowed to the children. They returned the ceremonious bow and took their places on the pillows.

“Get up!” Graham ordered. “My children do not eat off the floor.”

“Oh, Daddy,” said GG calmly, “we’re not eating off the floor. This is a Japanese teahouse. Miss Susan read about it to us today.”

“They’re a little young to be reading
Teahouse of The August Moon,
don’t you think?” he asked in a disparaging tone.

“She Googled it for us,” JJ jumped in before Sage could respond. “She was reading us a story about a little girl who took a trip to Japan. It told about a teahouse and we wanted to know more about it. So she got it on the computer. There were a lot of pretty pictures and it told us about their tea ceremony. We wanted to try it and she said we could.”

She saw Mac smile into his cup, watching a big name lawyer backpedaling, brought down not by another lawyer but his own six-year-old son. That had to smart. Then she realized the only other being in the room he could go after was her. Mac flicked her a heads up warning look and she understood.

Sage noticed the only other one to pick up on the undercurrent was Jim. He sat up straighter and sent a silent signal to Mac that he was there if needed. Mac sent him back a look over the rim of his cup that said watch and wait. She needed to be in top form.

“Susan,” said Graham, turning his attention strictly to her, his tone as sweet as honey, a benevolent expression on his face. “Have you ever worked with the Costigan Foundation on Brevit Circle? That may be where we met.”

“I’ve helped them a time or two. But it’s on Benton Street. The one on Brevit Circle is Cashfield Industries. They help the handicapped and mentally challenged to find employment.”

“Yes, how could I have mixed them up?” he conceded. “Do you know the Nortons?”

“Rick and Gloria?” The slight dip of his head in acquiescence had her inwardly smiling. She knew what he was up to. “Been to parties at their estate on the Sound.” She began collecting the cups and loading the tray. That brought her in close proximity to him.

“Lovely parties on the beach, too. I believe I remember you have a rose tattoo right there,” he said with a smirk, laying his hand on her hip at the top of her buttocks. She sidled out from under his touch, giving him an angry glare. Mac stepped between them, his demeanor definitely saying hands off.

“No. That would be Sylvia Gray. We’ve often been mistaken for each other,” said Sage smoothly, trying, but not succeeding, to keep the anger out of her voice.

“Not anymore,” he countered, incensed by her rebuff, staring pointedly at her scar.

“Think it’s time we all hit the hay,” said Jim, standing and stretching. “I, for one, won’t have trouble sleeping tonight.” He looked at the other three men near him and they got the message. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.

“Can I expect you in a few minutes to put the children to bed?” Graham looked at Sage.

“No you cannot,” declared Mac through clenched teeth. “She takes care of them only during the day when you’re not here. They are your children, your responsibility.”

The other men started collecting their coats. Dave passed the children’s jackets to Graham. He had to back down.

Soon Mac and Sage were alone in the room. He circled an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. She could feel him shaking in anger. She tucked her face into his neck where he could lay his cheek along hers. Her closeness seemed to soothe him. He started to calm down. After a few deep breaths, she felt him unclench his jaw.

“Are you all right?” he murmured.

“Yes,” she sighed, nestling into his embrace.

“You’re not to be alone with him. I’d just as soon give him his money back and send him packing tonight.”

“No,” she said, lifting her head to look intently at him. “He seems to have a personal agenda that’s developed since he arrived. He’s hiding something. Keep him with the group. Make his survival a little more tenuous than the others. Two Feathers has his number. I think Jim and Dave are becoming suspicious of him.”

“We’ll keep a close eye on him. There will be someone with him at all times. I saw Two Feathers and Little Mouse silently communicating as only they can do. I swear Two Feathers was trying to figure what he could slip him to incapacitate him at night.”

“We can’t do that. He has the children. We can’t endanger them. You two can work on him. I can work on making the children into better citizens than he intends. Or at least stir their interest. That ought to give him something else to chew on.”

“Don’t do anything that will stir him up while he’s here. Wait until he gets them home before they start pushing his buttons.”

With a groan, he dipped his head to take her lips in a passionate kiss. She opened to him, allowing him to deepen it. Fire raced through her body. He tucked her in closer so she could feel his hardened response. It was like reliving that night eight years ago. Suddenly he broke away and turned his back.

“Go to bed, Sage!” he ordered. Then he strode from the room and upon reaching the office, slammed the door.

She stood there, swaying, her mouth open, staring at the closed door. It felt like she was sixteen all over again. She wanted to run to her mountain, the cave behind the falls, to see if Sascha was there, the cougar who was her friend and protector. But this time she couldn’t leave. The children needed her. With leaden feet she trudged up the stairs, tears streaming down over her pale cheeks.

Mac sat, a reflective mood encompassing him, as he whittled the stick that would be part of the rabbit snare he was teaching the men to make. Two Feathers studied him, looking troubled, for a time before ambling over to sit beside him on the log.

“You whittle that anymore and all you’ll have left is a giant toothpick,” offered Two Feathers. They were sitting far enough from the others their conversation would be private. “What’s troubling you, Son? Sage? You two have a falling out? She’s quiet, not around you unless absolutely necessary, and Little Mouse says she’s not eating well either.”

“History has a way of repeating itself,” replied Mac, pitching his voice low and glancing at the men sitting around the fire working on their own sticks. “I was an idiot—again. It was a repeat of that night eight years ago and I reacted the same way. Sage deserves to be treated better than a one
-
night stand. She warrants my being able to control myself. In my unit I was known to keep my cool under fire.”

“This is a completely different situation.”

“Last time I figured it was only infatuation. Once we were no longer around each other, it would die a natural death. It didn’t. Every time I look at her or am in the same room with her, I want her. To make her mine. Sorry, Grandfather, that’s probably TMI. When I should have my mind on business, I can’t think of anything but her.”

“I know what it’s like to love someone to that extent. You are going to have to figure a way to fix it. She’s still here because of the children and her promise to watch over them. When they’re gone, she will be, also.”

“I can’t keep her safe if she’s not here. Diego is still out there somewhere. The info I’ve got on him would make your skin crawl.”

“Then you’d better head back to the house now. While you can have some private time with her. I can finish making and setting the rabbit snares. Then we’ll be coming in too. I’ll drag it out as long as I can.”

Mac gave Two Feathers a searching look then walked over to the campfire and hunkered down by the men. They offered him their sticks and he approved what they had done.

“Something’s come up back at the ranch I need to take care of,” he announced. “Nothing concerning the children,” he added, looking at Swindon. “They’re fine. So, I’m going to leave you in Two Feather’s capable care. All we had left today was the making and setting the snares. Hopefully, you’ll manage to catch a rabbit or two. Because that’s your supper tomorrow when we do the overnighter.”

“Holy crap!” exclaimed Buck, pointing up the mountain to a large cougar perched on a boulder watching them.

“Sit still,” Mac ordered. “He won’t bother you if you don’t bother him. He’s been around this ranch many years and has never harmed a human or any livestock. You may have to share a rabbit with him, but he won’t take them all. Go back about your business and don’t pay any attention to him. He’ll disappear when he’s ready.” Mac strapped on his snowshoes and backpack and, after checking with Two Feathers, started down the mountain.

An hour later Mac walked in the door and watched Sage helping the youngsters with their boots and snow pants. Her startled look and quick shudder made him wince.

“Everybody’s fine. No emergency,” he said, addressing his remarks to Little Mouse. “Two Feathers is finishing up the day and will have them back here before too long. Something I needed to take care of here.”

Little Mouse glanced from Sage’s down-bent head to Mac’s worried scrutiny of the lady.

“Susan, may I see you in the office?” asked Mac, adding a please when he saw her posture stiffen.

“I need to get the children’s cocoa and cookies,” she stated, her voice trembling slightly.

“I can do that,” spoke up Little Mouse. “Go ahead. We planned to make cookies after. So take your time.”

“Will you be all right, Miss Susan?” asked JJ, stepping between Sage and Mac.

“Of course she will. Why do you ask?” said Mac.

“When Mommy and Daddy had an argument, it always ended with Daddy hitting Mommy.” His bottom lip quivered even though he continued to stare angrily at Mac.

“First of all, we will not be arguing,” stated Mac, squatting down in front of the boy, bringing them eye to eye. “Secondly, I would never hit Sa—Miss Susan. A gentleman never hit’s a lady—ever! Remember that. Now enjoy your cocoa and cookies.”

He straightened to his full height and looked across the kitchen to Little Mouse. “Hold off on the cookie making.”

Sage slowly followed him to the office where he held the door open for her. When she sidled past him to stand by the window, he silently closed the door and turned to her.

“What’s wrong, Sage?” he asked quietly, staring at the top of her down-bent head. “Won’t you even look at me?” He took a step toward her and she backed away from him, her arms crossed over her chest and her head coming up to regard him warily. She reminded him of a skittish colt. It bothered him to know he put that look in her eyes.

“What could be wrong?” she asked stiffly.

“I would say it goes back to that kiss the other night,” he said. He could see the truth in her expression.

“That kiss,” she answered coolly. “That kiss I was also into until you pushed me away and slammed from the room like the hounds of Hell were after you and angrier than a bull that stepped in a hornet’s nest? That kiss?” She turned away toward the window. “You keep telling me I have to stay. Those actions clearly told me to go. If you want me gone, I can walk out that door right now. My bags are already packed.”

The reflection in the window in front of Sage showed Mac’s pale face, wide eyes, mouth agape, his hands shaking as he reached toward her. It took a few seconds for him to regain his composure. Then he stepped in behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders and pulled her back against him.

“No, Sage,” he said, his voice husky, “I don’t want you to leave. I wasn’t angry with you. I was angry with me. For everything moving too fast. For losing control. I was ready to make love to you right there on the living room floor. Luckily I came to my senses. You don’t deserve to be treated that way. It would have been no better than the way Diego wanted to treat you. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to let you down easier. I vowed I would never hurt you, Sage, but I did. How many ways do I need to prove how sorry I am?”

Turning to him, Sage met his eyes straight on. The concern and discomfort in the bourbon gaze also contained passion. He wanted to repeat that kiss. Would he be willing to take it to the next step? No. He would be sure to maintain control this time. Mac put his hands around her waist to steady her.

“I am such a full-blown nitwit. Stupid to the nth degree. I should never have doubted you.”

“But with the track record your life has dealt you, it seemed to be the only answer. You sure you’re okay?”

He allowed the fleeting look of vulnerability. She could only nod her response. When he looked into her eyes, she held nothing back.

He swooped in to kiss her, pulling her in close, but at the last second kept it light. He planted quick kisses to her nose, forehead and cheek, coming back for a more sustained joining of their lips. He refrained from deepening it, although he would have liked to explore all options.

“We’d better get back to the kitchen,” said Mac, his breathing slightly ragged. “Assure JJ nothing bad has happened to you. I wouldn’t be surprised to find him standing outside the door ready to rush in if he thought you needed him. Your little knight in shining armor.”

“I’ve always been able to attract the under six and over sixty crowd,” she quipped, smiling up at him.

“You’ll need to add at least one of the in-betweens,” he came back. He opened the door and walked down the hall with his arm around her shoulders.

When they entered the kitchen, JJ swiveled around with a narrow-eyed, tight-lipped expression. His glance went to Mac, to the arm over Sage’s shoulders, back to Mac. Mac stared back at him until it finally sunk in. The boy was jealous! Oh, great! If it were a man, he’d know what to do. What do you say to an impressionable six-year-old? He eased his arm away from Sage and caught Little Mouse’s smile. She held up two mugs.

“That hot cocoa looks and smells good. Mind if I join you?” said Mac.

“It’s your house,” replied JJ sullenly.

“JJ!” scolded GG, standing in her chair, hands fisted on her hips. “That a no-no. Manners.” The two children glared at each other.

“Now she’s a miniature Emily Post?” Mac whispered to Sage, hiding a smile behind his hand.

“Okay, you two,” said Sage. “Do I need to put you in opposite corners for a time out? Or maybe you need a nap instead of doing what we planned?”

The children dutifully subsided and Mac took the chair next to GG as Little Mouse brought over the cocoa for him and Sage.

“So, what’s planned for this afternoon?” asked Mac.

“We’re helping Gramma Mouse make cookies. Oatmeal raisin. Oatmeal’s for breakfast,” GG informed him.

“Yep. Good hot oatmeal is a great way to start the day. Sticks to your ribs,” said Mac, tickling GG and making her giggle. “But it’s even better in a cookie. Add some plump, juicy raisins and it’s mm, mm good.”

“Do you like it in a cookie?” asked GG.

“Sure do. But how about we put off making cookies until after supper? I figured since I was able to get back early and the weather is holding, you might like to ride that horse.” GG looked at him, astonished, then launched herself at him with a shriek and wrapped her arms around his neck. Mac winced, setting her back in her chair. Looking at Sage he said, “Say something. I think I’ve suddenly gone deaf in that ear.”

Her throaty laugh had a fist clenching in his belly. He couldn’t remember ever hearing her laugh. It sent a bolt of heat through him. The warmth in her gaze, accompanied by her smile, had him taking a quick swallow of the hot chocolate. His eyes watered as the too hot liquid burned a path across his tongue and down his throat.

“You ’posed to blow on it, Mr. Mac,” said GG. “Like this.” She proceeded to demonstrate, making major waves across the top of the liquid in her cup.

Mac looked at a grinning Sage as she dipped her finger into her cup and lifted a couple miniature marshmallows into her mouth where she commenced to suck the stickiness from her finger. He barely suppressed a groan as he felt a twitch in his jeans. He figured they’d better head for the barn soon. A dose of frigid air was sorely needed. Leaving his cup on the table, he beat a hasty retreat through the kitchen door, after informing them he would saddle the horse and meet them in the arena.

Sage stood in the center of the arena firmly holding the children’s hands when he turned with the saddle horse. GG bounced on her toes while JJ was more placid as Mac led the filly into the closed-off area.

“This is Belle,” said Mac. “We use her to start new riders. GG, come on over.”

GG dashed forward, under the horse’s belly, to stand expectantly beside him. Sage gasped and Mac made a quick grab for the child’s arm, pulling her away from the horse. Looking at GG with resignation, he knew this outing would be lectures first.

“GG, first of all, you don’t run around or at a horse. Sometimes that will frighten them. Secondly, you never run under the belly. If your head rubbed against her, she might think you were an animal attacking her and she would flick her hind foot up to chase it away. You could be kicked and be hurt. Lucky for us, Belle is used to anything and will stand still.”

He stood with a hand on GG’s shoulder, keeping his look intent but not threatening. She stared back at him with an okay-got-it-what’s-next gleam in her eye. Mac had to stifle the smile that wanted to break loose. If he had a daughter, he would want her to have the same intrepid nature. Now, that was a thought that hadn’t surfaced for several years. He glanced at Sage. Not the time for that thought to take center stage. Stuff it back into its cubbyhole until a later date.

“GG, let’s start out by doing things correctly. I want you to go back to Miss Susan and walk to me, around the front of the horse.”

She nodded to him and darted under the horse’s belly toward Sage, then turned and walked slowly around the front. Mac rolled his eyes in hopelessness and picked her up, setting her in the saddle. He placed her hands on the strap hooked to the front of the saddle, simulating the holding of reins. No way would he risk damaging the horse’s mouth.

“Sit up straight. No slouching. We need to draw a straight line from your ear to your shoulder and from your hip to your heel,” he explained, positioning her as he spoke. “Toes to the sky, heels to the ground. Ready? Now to make her go, lightly tap with your heels and say walk, Belle.”

GG followed his instructions, and as the horse began to move she squealed in excitement. Mac stopped the horse and explained to her quietly that was not acceptable. Loud noises could scare an animal. She had to speak quietly, in a normal speaking voice. She nodded agreement and they proceeded to walk the perimeter of the arena, Mac beside her, ready to steady her if necessary.

After fifteen minutes, he stopped in front of Sage and JJ. “Time to dismount, GG,” he said, reaching for her. “It’s JJ’s turn.”

“No. Don’ wanna! I ride!” Tears threatening, GG held tightly to the saddle horn.

“GG, we agreed you could both ride, but you have to take turns. There’s only one horse here and JJ needs the helmet you’re wearing.”