Chapter 8
With Amandasafely in the shower, Tanner returned to his room and set the photo album back on his bookshelf. The woman was a snoop, but in all the best ways. He found her laughing so hard at the picture of him covered in paint at the age of seven that he thought she might faint. He grinned as he exited his room. That she wanted to know more about him made him feel like he could oversee the whole town and then some.
When he entered the kitchen, he found Brody had set out three plates on the counter. Did he know the woman was Amanda? Suddenly, his triumphant mood slipped a bit. How would he explain his hook-up with Amanda when he didn’t understand it himself?
Brody turned with a large Navajo pottery bowl that their mother always used filled with scrambled eggs and set it on the island. He placed both hands on the counter and looked at him. “Amanda Hayden?”
Surprised, he frowned. “How did you know?”
“Well, her truck was still here when I came home. I figured maybe it didn’t start since I have no idea how the Haydens care for their vehicles. But after I saw her peek her head in here, I knew it was her, but still thought maybe she was just early. So I checked the cameras.”
Hell, he’d forgotten about the damn cameras he had Brody install.
Brody grinned. “Nice carry.”
His face heated, so he turned away and went to the fridge to grab a bottle of water.
“So?” Brody’s voice held expectation.
Twisting the cap off, he threw it in the trash and moved to the side of the island with the plates. “So what?”
“Come on, big brother. You don’t have a date in like three years and a hook-up in what, maybe a year, and then you sleep with a Hayden?”
There was no censure in his brother’s voice, which helped him think somewhat rationally. “I know. It’s weird. But it felt right.” He took a swig of water before reaching for the eggs.
“Uh-huh.” Brody grabbed the bowl away and set a dinner plate over it. “We have company. You have to wait.”
“I don’t have to do anything.” Still, as Brody set the bowl and plate back on the island, he didn’t reach for it.
“You like her? I mean, more than just her, um, looks?”
He tensed, expecting Brody to say something crude. Not sure why his brother held back, but was glad he did. “Yeah.” He paused, not sure how to explain hating an entire family for over two decades and finding himself suddenly having feelings for Amanda. His gut told him it was far more than how attractive she was. He’d actually slept with more attractive women. No, sexy women. No. Just no. “It’s hard to explain. Yes, she’s attractive but from the inside out. I don’t know. All I know is I’m not sorry we did and I want to keep her around…maybe for a long time.” Even as he said the words, a sense of rightness settled over him.
Brody’s eyes widened and he crossed his arms as he leaned against the refrigerator across from him. “You know you’re playing with fire, right?”
“In more ways than you know.”
“Be careful. I don’t see how this can work out, but they say love conquers all.”
“Hey, I didn’t say I was in love.” Though he did wonder. What he felt for Amanda was far different than anything he’d felt for a woman before. Then again, he’d only had three relationships and they hadn’t lasted longer than a few months. A cowboy’s life wasn’t for everyone, or so he’d told himself as they’d parted ways.
Brody pushed away from the refrigerator and set his hands down on the island again, leaning forward. “I’m no expert. I have no experience in this at all, but I know one thing. You better figure it out quick. Either make it a one-nighter or go all-in because with a Hayden, you either have to be on one side or the other. You know that.”
He nodded. What Brody was trying to say was cut off the relationship before it turned into anything so no harm was done, or make Amanda his in all ways, because the only way there was any future was to stand firm against her family. There was reason for their bad blood, but he was able to lay it at her father’s feet and not the whole family’s. Though what her brothers would think about that, he didn’t know.
Pioneer Days were coming up on the weekend. That might be a good time to let Bill Hayden know that Amanda and he were a couple, preferably in a public place so the man couldn’t make a scene. He was a politician after all. He wouldn’t want any bad publicity. But Amanda would have to be on board, and he had no idea what she was thinking. He was getting way ahead of himself.
Brody suddenly straightened. “Good morning, Amanda. Hungry for some bacon and eggs?”
Surprised he hadn’t heard her cowboy boots, he turned on the stool to see she wore her sneakers.
“I’m famished. I think I could eat a whole pig this morning.” Though there were four stools and he sat at the opposite end of the counter from the one she usually used, he was stupidly pleased when she pulled out the one next to him and sat. “Do you take turns cooking breakfast, too?”
He nodded, pleased at how at ease she was joining them. “Brody and I just switch off making all the meals each day. Makes it easy. When Jackson finally comes home, it’ll be easier as he can take a day, too.”
Brody uncovered the eggs and added a large serving spoon to the bowl. “Don’t count on it. The minute Jackson gets home, I’m gone.”
Brody’s reminder that he only stayed until Jackson came home had become irritating, so he ignored it. Instead, he took the plate of bacon from Brody and offered it to Amanda.
“Thanks. I love bacon.” After taking three slices, she pulled the egg bowl closer and gave herself a good helping.
Her appetite fed his ego. He was quite confident her hunger had to do with all the activity last night.
“Oh, I love the spices you put in here, Brody. What are they?”
His brother helped himself, standing on the other side of the island to eat. “Old family secret.”
Amanda leaned closer. “You can tell me later.”
He grinned that she felt confident he would tell her.
“I heard that.”
At Brody’s statement, she laughed. “Guess you Dunns have good hearing.”
“Even Dad.” Tanner gestured toward the archway where he was quite sure his father was just waking. “So be careful how loud you talk if you don’t want him to hear. I don’t think his hearing was affected by the stroke.”
She shook her head as she swallowed. “I don’t think so, either.” Then before he knew what she was about, she’d hopped off her stool and walked around the counter. “Excuse me, Brody.”
Brody moved toward the stove and Amanda opened a cabinet. She pulled out a mug and poured herself some coffee. Then without asking, she took out the sugar bowl. Taking a spoon from the utensil drawer, she added sugar and stirred her coffee before plopping the spoon in the sink.
As she walked around the island, Tanner looked to his brother, who shrugged.
She set down the cup before getting settled on the stool and taking a sip. “Ah, now that’s what I need to really get going.”
He couldn’t help asking, “How do you know where everything is in our kitchen?”
“Really?” She took another sip of coffee and set the cup down. “I have watched you and Brody make your father’s lunch so many times, I could find everything in my sleep.”
Part of him wasn’t sure what he thought about that, but he admitted, if just to himself, that he liked how comfortable she was here. He could almost see her here all the time. The thought tightened his chest, and he quickly scooped up more eggs and bacon.
“So, Tanner.” His brother helped himself to another plate of eggs and bacon. “Are we going to get the hay cut in the east pasture for the horses this week or do you want to wait until after Pioneer Days? There’s no rain expected.”
He’d almost forgotten he’d talked about that. “Let’s wait. I don’t want to take on any big projects before the celebration. We may have to run into the Town Council again or deliver more information before this weekend. They said we’d probably know by then.”
Brody looked pointedly at Amanda.
She waved her hand. “I know all about the dude ranch. No need to worry. My lips are sealed. Crossing my fingers for you, though.” She scraped her plate then pushed it forward. “That was so good. I haven’t had a big breakfast since I went to the Rotary’s Pancake Breakfast fundraiser.”
He stared at her. “That was months ago.”
She shrugged. “I’m too busy to cook and my brothers don’t leave me anything from the breakfast our cook makes, so I just grab something quick. At least I can sleep in compared to you cowboys.” She wiggled her brows, reminding him exactly why she was up so early.
“Speaking of chores, not that you were, but I need to look at that hitch on the horse trailer.” Brody dumped his plate in the sink. “Last time we used it, it didn’t feel right. It’s got to be the hitch or a sway bar. You’ll clean up?”
He nodded as Brody strode into the entryway. “I hear Silas Murray is looking for more haybales for his float. While you’re out there, see if we have any left he can use.”
“Will do.”
As the door closed, he found himself alone with Amanda. He should probably say something.
“I’ll clean up.” She scooted off the stool before he could stop her. “It’s the least I can do after having such a great meal.”
“Do you know how?” He rose, fully intending to show her where things went in the dishwasher. His mother had taught them all. Even though they were on their third machine since then, they still did it her way. She said it got the dishes clean every time.
Amanda stopped in front of the sink and rolled her eyes. “Of course I know how to load a dishwasher. It took me months to figure out the best way. It was my chore when my parents were still married. After the divorce, even though Dad hired a cook, I still had to do it until I balked at the age of fourteen.” She shook her head. “Yes, it took me three years to get angry enough that my brothers didn’t do anything in the house to finally rebel.”
Grabbing his half-empty water bottle from across the counter, he stood back and watched her load. When she finished, she turned and held her hand out to the open machine. “How’d I do?”
He stood frozen in place staring at the dirty dishes. She’d put everything in the right spot. He raised his gaze to hers. “You did it right.”
She grinned, clearly happy with herself then shut the door.
Amazement filled him. No one loaded a dishwasher like his mom. It was silly to think it meant something, but to him it did. “Amanda.”
She stepped up to him and looped her arms around his neck. “Yes, Tanner? Did you want something?” She rose on tiptoe and pulled his head down. “Like this?”
As her lips met his, he wrapped his arms around her as if she were a figment of his imagination and he needed to hold her to make sure she was real. He deepened the kiss, but held back his desire, showing her what she meant to him without words. When he broke away, she stared at him.
“Wow, I felt that right down to my heart.” No smile lifted her lips as her blue gaze locked with his.
“It was meant for your heart.” He sensed more than heard her intake of breath.
“The feeling is mutual.” Her voice was just a whisper, but the words filled his chest like one of the hot air balloons she liked so much.
As he stared into her eyes, feelings of peace and happiness sent a calm through him, the likes of which he hadn’t felt in years. Love. He knew it for what it was, but couldn’t quite say it. Lowering his head once more, he kissed her again, gently, letting her know what he couldn’t say.
This time she broke the kiss, loosening her hold around his neck and trailing her hands over his gray-checked button-down shirt, to rest on his abs. Her gaze had followed her hands. “It’s a good thing this place is called Rocky Road after all.” She titled her head up to look into his eyes as a smile lifted her lips. “Because I have no doubt, we’re in for a rough ride.”
Yes, she was right, but he didn’t even care. He raised his eyebrow. “From what I saw yesterday, you like a rough ride.”
She blushed before giving him a fake punch to his stomach. “Behave yourself, cowboy.”
As he dropped his arms from around her, she stepped back. “I need to grab my laptop from the truck before it heats up.” She looked toward the archway to the den, where talking could be heard coming from his dad’s room. “I think I’ll tell Isaac I was out with friends, which is why I’m not in uniform. My employer would frown on me staying the night.”
He shook his head. “That makes no sense. Isaac is here almost every night.”
“That’s different. He’s a CNA and sleeps in your dad’s room, though I imagine he could probably sleep in the den soon.” She pointed to herself. “I, on the other hand, slept in your bed and that would not be cool. Do you think Brody will say anything?”
He probably would. “I’ll tell him to keep it between us. In fact, I’ll walk out with you and catch him before he rides out.”
She turned and headed for the front door. He grabbed up his hat and opened it for her then watched as she walked toward her truck. She had the nicest ass. Once she unlocked the vehicle, he hurried toward the barn. Brody would tell the world without thinking about it.
As he stepped in, his brother was leading Maximus out of his stall. “Brody, hold up.” He strode forward, glad he’d caught him.
His brother stopped. “Today’s Wednesday, right. It’s Maximus’ turn.”
“Yes. But I need to talk to you.”
Brody stroked their dad’s horse. “Hold on, boy. Big brother has a problem.”
“I don’t have a problem.”
Brody raised his brows. “Um, yes you do, and it’s a big one.” He frowned. “Actually, she’s not that big, but―”
“Don’t go where you’re going. I haven’t decked you in a while.”
“Like you could.” Brody grinned. “I was talking about Lulabelle. Why, who’d you think I was talking about?” His smile turned innocent.
Patience. He needed it in spades and for some reason he found it. “Sure you were. Listen, I need you to keep Amanda’s night here to yourself for a while. We need to talk about how to navigate this new development.”
Brody stopped smiling. “So you really are serious about her?”
“Yes. And I agree with what you said before breakfast.” He paused, not sure how to admit what he was feeling to his little brother. Not that he had to, but he deserved to know. Then he remembered how Brody termed it. “I’m all in.”
Brody’s low whistle caught Maximus’ attention and the horse moved forward. Brody pulled the reins. “Whoa, boy. Not yet. That was for Tanner, not you.” After halting the horse, he turned back. “If that’s how you feel, I’ll keep it close to the vest. But it’s not going to stay a secret for long, so you two better figure out what you’re going to do.”
“As soon as we know, you’ll know.”
“Appreciate it. Now I have to get out to the birthing enclosure. You better saddle up and meet me out there.”
Immediately his brain moved into ranching mode. “Why? We have another tough birth happening?” He opened Fury’s stall to bring him out and saddle him.
Brody mounted up and grinned at him. “You could say that. It’s Lulabelle. As I’d tried to tell you, you have a big problem today because if you don’t get there for the birth of her calf, she’s going to scare away what few hands we have left.”
“Hell.”
Brody laughed before kicking Maximus into a gallop.
Just what he needed. So much for switching lunch duty with Brody, so he could talk to Amanda. The only female he’d be talking to all day was an ornery, lovesick heifer, who thought she owned him.
Amanda threw all her clothes in the wash and strode into her temporary office anxious to finish up her notes on Jeremiah before taking a swim in her dad’s pool. She’d been disappointed she didn’t have a chance to talk to Tanner the rest of the day. If his kiss meant what she thought it meant, then her life was about to get a whole lot more exciting, not to mention complicated.
Her brothers had already come in, washed up and headed to town. That was typical for a Wednesday night. With the house to herself, she opened the laptop and keyed in the password. Jeremiah was making amazing progress, though she was starting to worry about the damage to his legs. She added a note to order some tests. She didn’t want to push him if there was a serious problem. Luckily, he was still making great progress with his speech and both arms.
Finishing her notes, she turned off the computer and closed it. Now for a swim. Crossing the hall to her bedroom, she opened a drawer when her phone rang. Her heart jumped at the thought it could be Tanner, even though he was smart enough not to call her in case her family was about.
She answered the call, which changed her mood considerably. It was an old high school classmate she’d contacted, saying she found the perfect house for her. In no time, she made arrangements to see it on Sunday.
There was a sense of relief knowing she’d be out from under her father’s roof soon. That would make her relationship with Tanner a bit easier. Plus, at twenty-nine, she didn’t exactly enjoy being back home. Cholla Valley was a beautiful spread, but her life had taken her beyond it. Her brothers were happy here as far as she knew, so that made it easier for her to continue life beyond its walls.
Could it be a life with Tanner? Even as the thought rose, her heart filled with warmth. She could actually see herself at Rocky Road. She could take one of the days for making meals to help. She could continue Jeremiah’s therapy as needed, but still keep her career. Tanner would be proud of her and take an interest in it. Of that, she was sure.
After pulling a bikini from her drawer, she closed it. But she had a three-month sabbatical coming up as soon as she finished her work with Jeremiah. The thought of going to Marrakech, Morocco like she’d planned and then flying across the world to climb two volcanos on Maui and the Big Island lost a bit of luster. It would be fun if Tanner would come, but how could he with the ranch to run?
She sat on her bed. Maybe she could help with hiring additional hands. Then she and Tanner could travel a bit. Maybe even a honeymoon. She grinned at the thought of a week on a beach with Tanner all to herself.
The front door closing jolted her out of her daydream. If it was one of her brothers coming back already, it had to be he forgot something.
She rose to see. It could be her father coming home.
“Mandy!”
At her father’s yell, she ran forward. That was not a good sign. Her dad always controlled his emotions, and he sounded seriously upset. She found him in the living room looking out the sliding glass doors to the pool deck. “Dad, what is it?”
He spun around. “Why’d you stay overnight at the Dunn ranch?”
Shocked that he could know where she was, she admonished herself. He had to be guessing. “Why do you ask that?”
He strode toward her. “I thought you were working in Cave Creek all this time, but now I know exactly where you’ve been. You need to stop. Right now.”
“What?” Fear that he had somehow hacked her computer raced up her spine, but she quickly dismissed it. Her father was not particularly savvy with computers. That was her youngest brother. “Why do you think I’ve been working at the Dunn ranch?”
“I don’t think. I know. Rory Lester saw you leaving Black Spur Road. Said he was surprised because it was the fifth time in the last month that he saw my truck out that way.”
Four Peaks was far too small. “I can’t tell you where I work. You know that. Do you know what kind of trouble I could get into? There are laws around my client’s privacy. You of all people should know about laws.”
As if he didn’t even hear her, he pointed at her. “You are to stop working there right now. I know you’re there because it’s the only place out that way.”
Damn, he had her there. She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. “I will not. I have a contract and I will fulfill it.”
His face turned red. “Those are Dunns. They only care about themselves. Whatever service you are providing them is of no importance.”
“I provide therapy, Dad.” Why is it that none of her male relatives gave a shit about her career?
“I don’t care if you provide laundry service. No daughter of mine is working for the Dunns.”
She dropped her arms. He wasn’t the only one in the family who could be stubborn. “Well, I can’t break my contract, so you’ll just have to live with it.”
His eyes fairly bulged. “Live with it! I will buy out your damn contract if I have to.” He stepped even closer, again pointing his finger. “You are not allowed to return to that ranch ever.”
Allowed? She was a divorced woman pushing thirty. Not even her father could tell her what she could do or where she could work. She lifted her chin and stepped closer to him. “I’m not eight years old. I’m a grown woman who can make her own decisions. My decision is to fulfill my contract.”
His arm swept out, knocking the vase of fresh plumeria from the end table next to the couch. “Then you are no longer my daughter.” He spun away and strode out the front door.
She took a deep breath. Her father had never come close to hitting her, but at that moment, she’d thought he would. Did he really mean she was no longer his daughter? She shook her head. He couldn’t. They were close. Closer than her brothers. She was the oldest, his first born, his only daughter.
At the sound of his sedan starting, she moved to the front window to see him hit the gas hard, sending a cloud of dust over the green grass on the front lawn.
A dark foreboding settled in the pit of her stomach. He knew. And if her father knew, it meant he would do something about it. She just didn’t know what. Would he go to her company?
No, he didn’t even know the name of her company, but he could hire someone to figure it out. It wouldn’t be hard. Beneath her anger at his behavior was a deep hurt. Surely his feud with the Dunns wouldn’t take precedent over her, his own daughter.
She walked back to her room, unsure what to do. She should probably start packing because he was obviously not going to be reasonable about her position. Picking up her bathing suit, she moved to put it back in the drawer then started for the laundry room. At least she had a place she could look at on Sunday.
But was the damage done? Would her father get her fired? At least he didn’t know about the plans for a dude ranch at Rocky Road. Even at the thought of Tanner, her stomach clenched. She’d made this mess. She’d insisted on treating Jeremiah all because a sabbatical awaited her. She just hoped she didn’t lose her job before it started.
The next morning, Amanda walked into the kitchen to find it empty, which was odd since the cook was usually there. Glancing at the clock, her confusion deepened. Her brothers should be chowing down right now. Moving to the window, she checked to see which vehicles were parked outside to find the only one there was her sedan. Dread filled her. What had her father done?
Moving to the fridge, she opened it to grab her usual yogurt and halted at the note taped to her breakfast.
Only loyal children are welcome here.It was signed WH, not Dad, not Bill, not even William Hayden. Just WH.
Closing the fridge without her breakfast, she grabbed some graham crackers from the cabinet and strode to her room. Sitting on her bed, she took out a graham cracker and forced herself to chew. If she didn’t get something in her stomach, she’d end up puking, and she didn’t have time for that.
She couldn’t believe her father would tell her to get out. He’d always been there for her, even when she couldn’t feed herself or walk. Yes, he had others do that for her, but he always stayed with her. He loved her. Or so she thought.
Her eyes stung with tears. His hate for the Dunns was more important to him than his love for her? He’d answered that question with one simple note―either be loyal to him or get out. Did he want blind loyalty? If so, he didn’t know her at all.
She rose even as she grabbed another cracker. What really burned her was that the Dunns were good people. She knew at least three of the four. None of them were selfish. Maybe Jeremiah had been in the past, but he wasn’t now, and maybe he’d changed. Obviously, her father hadn’t. And because he hated those good people, he didn’t want her in his family unless she jeopardized her job and did as he wanted?
Anger began to replace the hurt in her heart, and she strode toward the closet, grabbing her suitcase. She threw it on the bed and opened it. Since her father was giving her a choice, she’d make it, and screw him!
It took her no time to pack up her clothes since most of her belongings, furniture, and such, were stored in the garage. Hopefully after Pioneer Days this weekend, she could check out the place her former classmate found for her and have a moving company get her things.
After rolling her suitcase into the hall, she left it there and walked into the guest room, where she found the empty box she’d left in the closet. She gathered her printer, desk knickknacks, supplies, and pictures. One picture was of her when she graduated high school in her wheelchair. She always kept that as a memory of how far she’d come. The other picture was of her dad and her when she graduated from college.
Tears threatened, and she quickly set the picture back down. But then she took it and put it in the box. With her laptop in her satchel, she threw it over her shoulder and grabbed the box before rolling her suitcase to the front door. Setting the box down on the entry table, she pulled out the picture of her college graduation and set it on the kitchen counter. Ripping a piece of paper from the note pad next to the fridge, she grabbed the pen clipped to it and wrote one word on the paper―Bye.
Feeling tears itching the back of her eyes, she dropped the pen and forced herself to go to the door. She’d left Cholla Valley Ranch many times in her life, including to the rehab center, college, and when she got married, but none of those times felt as final as this one. She halted as she reached for the door. Was she overreacting?
The answer came swift. No. It wasn’t about whether she was siding with the Dunns. It was about her father not respecting her work or her integrity.
Grabbing the doorknob, she jerked the door open and strode out with her belongings in tow. At least she could look on the bright side. There was now no impediment to her relationship with Tanner. Though the thought did lighten her mood, she hated the fact that she couldn’t have both.
She clicked her car open and threw her belongings in the back, then got in and started the car. It was going to be a long bumpy ride to Rocky Road Ranch, but at least she still had her job. As she drove away from the place she grew up, the place where she learned to despise the Dunns, her heart started to lift. Maybe she’d been living too long under her father’s judgment and it was time to spread the wings of her mind. As she drew closer to Rocky Road, her mood improved. Already, she couldn’t wait to share everything with Tanner.
Maybe between the two of them, they could figure out how to keep her father from causing problems with her job.