Reilly (The McKeegans #2)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

R eilly McKeegan tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles white against the dark interior of his car. Gravel crunched beneath the tires as the narrow dirt road twisted and climbed, trees casting eerie shadows under the moonlight. A sharp turn loomed ahead, and he slowed, his gut twisting with unease. Something wasn’t right.

As the old secluded McKeegan ranch house came into view, Reilly’s heart skipped a beat. The house was bathed in light, golden beams spilling from the windows onto the overgrown yard. The barn, too, glowed from within, as if hosting some strange midnight gathering. But no one was supposed to be here. No one had been here in years.

He killed the headlights and coasted to a stop. Silence enveloped him. Watching from the shadows, he scanned the property. Minutes passed, each second dragging, until something caught his eye. A figure darted from the barn, a flashlight bouncing wildly.

A woman. Alone.

Reilly’s jaw tightened. He reached for the glove box, cursing himself for not carrying his gun. The house was his, and he had no idea who this stranger was or why she was here.

Slipping out of the car, he approached the barn, his boots crunching softly against the dirt. Inside, a chorus of rustling animals greeted him—horses, some large bird, and... was that a llama? He ducked under the low beam of the doorway, and the intruder spun around, gasping.

“Who the hell are you, and what are you doing in my barn?” His voice came out sharper than intended.

The woman’s eyes widened, her hand flying to her chest. “Reilly?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Is that you?”

Recognition slammed into him. “Lynne Walsh?” His gaze swept over her, taking in the hay clinging to her jacket, the smudge of dirt on her cheek, and the defiant tilt of her chin. “What are you doing here? And what’s with all the—” his eyes landed on two baby opossums curled up in a crate, “—wildlife?”

Lynne’s mouth opened and closed. “I... I’m feeding them,” she said finally, as if that explained anything.

“Feeding them?” Reilly folded his arms, his temper simmering. “In my barn? You’ve got some nerve, Doc. Care to explain?”

She lifted her chin. “I didn’t know you were coming back. No one’s been here in years.”

“Does Stewart know you’re here?” he asked, folding his arms in front of him.

“Well, not exactly.”

“It’s a yes or no question.”

“I beg your pardon, counselor, no.” She smirked.

“Well, I’m back now,” he growled. “Finish up and pack your things. You’re leaving tonight.”

Her eyes flashed, and for a moment, he remembered the fiery woman who had once stolen his heart. “I’m not going anywhere until I’ve taken care of these animals,” she snapped. “I’ll leave in the morning. You can spare me that much, Counselor.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but her words stopped him cold. The last place Lynne Walsh would willingly come to was the McKeegan ranch. Something was wrong.

“Lynne.” His tone softened, though his frustration remained. “What happened? Why are you here?”

Her shoulders sagged, and the fight seemed to drain out of her. “It’s a long story,” she muttered.

Raising an eyebrow, he folded his arms and leaned against the door frame, waiting.

She shook her head. “Grandpa died, and he had a loan for the ranch. That means?—”

“I know what it means. When your grandpa died, the house and land went to the bank. I would have thought being a veterinarian you’d have more than enough money to buy it back.”

“You’d think so.” She sounded bitter. “Grandpa had cancer and no insurance. I quickly signed him up for Medicare, but by then, the medical bills had already mounted. Plus, your brother refuses to allow me to come here on vet calls and word got around that he doesn’t trust me. I only get calls for cats and dogs and not many of those to make a living.”

Reilly sucked in a breath, needing to say something. Anything. But no words formed on his tongue.

She narrowed her eyes into a glare. “Don’t you dare feel sorry for me! I have an opportunity to work for a vet in Billings.”

He winced. Stewart hadn’t allowed Lynne on the property out of principle.

“You did break my heart. But I’m sorry about your practice. Stewart didn’t want you here because he was being loyal to me.” He paused, tilting his head and studying her, noting the dark circles under her eyes. “He didn't explicitly say he mistrusted you, did he?

“No, but he waited on the phone for a half hour for West to take the call, even though I was standing right there. He made a big deal about refusing to talk to me. Small towns, you know?” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

He hesitated, torn between sending her on her way and letting her stay. But the weariness in her eyes and the subtle tremor in her hands made the decision for him.

“Where is your pickup?” He frowned as he glanced around.

“I’ve been using the motorcycle.” She released a deep sigh. “I’ll just grab a few things before I go. It was nice to see you, and I promise to have all these animals out of here in a few days.”

She put on a good act, but he didn’t believe one word of it. The last place she’d have willingly come to was the ranch.

“Fine,” he said gruffly. “You can stay the night. But we’re talking in the morning.”

Relief flickered across her face, and Reilly’s chest tightened. He had a feeling letting Lynne Walsh back into his life was about to complicate everything.

It was getting late, and the nighttime motorcycle ride down the mountain would be challenging. It had never occurred to her that Reilly would ever be at the house.

“I’ll stay out of your way. I’ll make a few calls in the morning, and then you should have the house to yourself,” she said, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt.

“I’m sorry about your grandpa,” Reilly said softly. “It must have been a hard time for you. Wasn't he the last of the Walsh family?”

“Besides me, yes. He only had one son, my father. He never got over losing my dad and my mother too, of course. He was kind to me, but you know all that. It was a bit shocking to find the house sold out from under me. I tried to get a loan to buy it back, but the land is worth more than I could ever afford.” She lifted one shoulder, let it drop. “I’m a survivor, always have been. I have a few more animals I need to check over and feed. I’ll meet you inside.”

His eyes settled on her for a moment, then with a nod, he turned and walked out of the barn.

Relieved, she closed her eyes and leaned against a horse stall. It had been three years since she’d talked to Reilly. Every holiday she both hoped for and feared that she’d catch a glimpse of him in town, but it never happened.

If there was a way to get over the man she loved, she’d tried it. Dating others didn’t work. Then she had tried online dating, and that had been disastrous. She had prayed, talked to the pastor, and one of the women in town had even given her an anti-love potion. It had gradually gotten easier to go for longer periods without thinking about Reilly. Removing him entirely from her heart, however, had proven impossible.

Upon entering the stall, she checked Spike’s leg. His knee joint had been horribly inflamed, but the swelling was already coming down.

“Good boy, I bet you feel a bit better today, don’t you?” A simple headbutt was all she needed as confirmation. She stood and left the stall, closing it behind her.

Now, what? She couldn't delay entering the house any longer. Would she be timid or courageous?

She squared her shoulders. Courageous. Approaching the house cautiously, she hesitated and then entered. It was surprisingly warm in the house. A fire blazed in the fireplace. She hadn’t used it. She didn’t want to run out of wood in case it got unseasonably cold. Reilly lounged in an overstuffed chair near the hearth.

“You look comfortable,” she said.

“I like this old furniture. It sure is more comfortable than anything I have in my apartment,” he answered, smoothing a hand over the chair’s arm.

If only she weren’t so aware of his stare. She turned her back toward him. “Would you like coffee?”

“I’ll have tea. I know you like that better. At least you used to,” he added.

“Still do. Tea it is.”

After putting the kettle on to boil, she stood at the stove waiting. She couldn’t think of anything to say to Reilly. It used to be so easy. They’d never had the need to say anything when they were together. But now, awkward silence filled the air.

She brewed some tea in a small teapot, poured it into cups and brought it to the table. A smile touched his lips as he accepted the offered cup.

Sitting in the chair opposite the one he sat in, she wished she wasn’t so socially backward.

“How long have you been here?” he asked, his voice breaking the silence.

“Too long. Several days.” She sighed. “I know I need to find another place, but I work in the clinic during the day and spend my nights here. I haven’t had much time to look. I’m no longer a partner in the practice, so my salary has been cut by more than half.”

He stiffened and sat forward. “What do you mean, you’re not a partner? Didn’t you have a contract?”

“Yes, however, my services weren't sought by any of the ranchers. My contributions are lacking. If I hadn’t taken all these animals in, I would have left town. I have nothing left here except them.”

“Like a wildlife preserve.”

“I’d need a license to do that. They are my pets. My journey began when I adopted a rejected, injured horse.”” She laughed. “It’s getting late. I’m in the bigger bedroom, but I can move tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry about it. You can stay until the animals are situated.”

Standing, she stretched then stepped into the kitchen and deposited her empty cup in the sink. “Good night.”