Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
T he sexual energy Kieran brought to the dance left Sara flushed and breathless. If he brought this much passion to a simple dance, then what was she waiting for?
She gulped for air as the song ended. Whatever Rance had in mind, she was ready to hear it. Too bad she hadn’t come to that conclusion earlier, but it had taken this dance to put her over the top.
As their audience whooped and hollered their approval of the fancy footwork, Kieran let her go with obvious reluctance. “Thanks for putting up with that. Probably not your usual style.”
“It was fun.” She almost added and it turned me on , but honesty wasn’t the best policy while three very interested people were in the room waiting to see what happened next.
For sure it wouldn’t be what she longed for. Lucky and Oksana exchanged a look of amusement as she walked back to the bar. Rance lifted a hand to his ear, pinky finger and thumb extended in the call me gesture.
“I’ve talked to Mom,” Lucky announced. “Told her we’re headed back to the living room. Turns out Sky is there. He came up to the house looking for Buck, saw that I was parked by the side entrance to the Roost, and Mom had to tell him what was going on.”
Rance turned off the music and rinsed out the empty popcorn bowls. “That makes three out of ten who know and one more, Clint, who’s damned suspicious.”
“Don’t forget Trent.”
“Trent, the Wenches, maybe even the dads. The word needs to go out pronto, before anybody else shows up.”
Lucky nodded. “I agree. Let’s go.” He and Oksana let the way out through the swinging bar doors.
Rance motioned Sara and Kieran ahead of him and he brought up the rear.
Kieran glanced at her. “Tell me something about Sky.”
“Rance can do a better job than I can.”
“He’s the oldest.” Rance lowered his voice. “And the wisest, but don’t tell him I said so. You can’t get mad at the guy because he’s so blasted reasonable. He and Buck are in charge of the barn and the horses. Sky took on that job when he was a teenager and it’s been his ever since.”
Kieran nodded. “Sounds like a fella I’ll like.”
“I like them all.” Sara looked back at Rance and grinned. “Even you.”
“ Even me? What the hell does that mean?”
“Have you forgotten the wedding reception? You didn’t make the best first impression.”
“Ancient history.”
Kieran glanced over his shoulder as they followed Lucky and Oksana down the hall. “Were you an eejit, mate?”
“I was a lot younger then.”
Sara rolled her eyes. “It was six months ago.”
“What’d he do?”
“Lani and I got mad because he’d ask me to dance, then Lani, then me again, then Lani like he was trying to decide which one to go after.”
“It was a hard choice!”
Kieran laughed. “And they gave you the boot, yeah?”
“More or less. They sat me down and informed me we could never be more than friends because they were both staying in Trenton. End of story.”
“Sounds like they did you a kindness.”
“They did, and as I told Sara a little while ago, I’m ready to return that kindness.”
“Oh?”
“She can tell you about it. Not now, but later.”
Sara lowered her voice. “Tell him what? You weren’t specific.”
“You didn’t ask for details.”
“You have some?”
“Of course. I don’t make vague promises.”
She blew out a breath. If only she’d asked for details. She should have guessed his creative brain would have come up with a plan. But she hadn’t been willing to commit.
When they reached the living room, Sky came straight over, hand extended. “I’m so glad to meet you.” His gaze shifted to Lucky. “Big day, bro.”
“No kidding. Listen, Rance and I think it’s time to tell everybody. Kieran says he’s looking forward to it.”
“That I am.” He added his nod of assent. “The sooner the better.”
“Mom was just talking about that,” Sky said.
“Then we’re on the same page.” Lucky raised his voice. “Mom, do you want to send a group text or?—”
“You do it for the family, Lucky. It’s your news. I’ll handle texting the Wenches.”
“Okay.” He took out his phone and quickly added Trent to his list of siblings. “What should I say?” He turned toward Rance. “What’s the best way to put it?”
“Short and sweet. Dinner at the house tonight. My half-brother from ? —”
“Hang on. Are we having dinner here? Mom, do you want?—”
“Yes. But tell them to bring something.”
Rance pointed to the screen. “Then say Dinner at the house tonight. Bring food. My half-brother from Ireland showed up. ”
Lucky typed quickly and studied the message. “That’s it? Seems abrupt.”
“Trust me, it’s all you need. It’ll set off a stampede. They’ll get the rest of the story when they arrive.”
“Buck and I need to bring in the horses and feed ’em.” Sky offered his hand for a brief shake. “I’ll see you at dinner, Kieran. Welcome to the family.”
“Thanks.”
Sara’s dad stood. “If I won’t be in the way, Sky, I’d like to come down to the barn with you and Buck. Maybe learn the ropes.”
“It’d be great to have you.”
“I’ll head into the kitchen and get organized for the onslaught.” Marybeth made her way down the hall.
“I’ll be there soon,” Desiree called after her as she motioned to Kieran. “First I need to show our honored guest where he’s sleeping.”
“I’ll help you, Marybeth.” Sara’s mom got up from the couch.
“Me, too.” Lani followed.
“Hey, Mom,” Lucky took a step toward the kids’ wing. “Are you putting Kieran in Rance’s and my old room?”
“That was my plan.”
“I’m coming, then. I want to show him some stuff. Oksana, do you?—”
She chuckled and shook her head. “I’ve seen the room. Many times. Heard the stories.”
“I’ll tidy up here.” Andy began gathering the remains of the drinks and snacks.
Sara went over to help, but he smiled and said he had it under control. Which left her with Oksana and Rance. She focused on him. “I take it you don’t want to join Lucky and Kieran in your old bedroom?”
He snuck a peek at Andy, who was still loading the tray. “I’ll let Lucky handle that. But I’m standing here wondering if anybody’s figured out Kieran’s suitcase, duffel or whatever he brought is still in his parked car back in town.”
“I have,” Oksana said, “but I doubt he has. Poor guy has to be shell-shocked by now.”
“You know, he might not have locked it.” Sara pictured the scene in Hannigan’s. “He was exhausted from driving on the opposite side from what he’s used to.”
“Exactly.” Rance looked at Oksana. “You could go ask him, and if it’s open, somebody who’s still in town could swing by and get his stuff. Like Clint, Tyra, Bret, Gil, even Jess if she’s still at the newspaper office.”
“I’ll go check.” She left for the kids’ wing.
Sara gazed at her co-conspirator with a new level of respect. “Rance McLintock. You have the mind of an international spy.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m ready to put my fate in your hands. What’s the plan?”
His eyes gleamed with a mixture of delight and mischief. “First of all, he can’t stay here. I’m going to suggest that he stay in my cabin with me.”
“But why? There’s a sentimental value to him staying in Lucky’s old room.”
“Then both of you are stuck in a dormitory situation with zero chance you’ll get horizontal without embarrassing yourselves and everybody else.”
“But why your cabin? If he doesn’t stay here, the next logical place is Lucky and Oksana’s guest room.”
“They’re newlyweds. You notice Lucky didn’t jump in to nix Mom’s plan of him staying in our old room. He’s thrilled to know Kieran exists, but he’s also madly in love with his wife. He doesn’t need to have his half-brother staying right across the hall.”
“But you do? That makes no logical sense.”
“It does if I want a chance to get to know him, one-on-one, without Lucky there.”
“You do?”
“Think about it. For thirty years it’s been Lucky and me, raised like twins, yin and yang. Now here comes this charming Irishman, who has an actual blood bond with Lucky. I’m suddenly….” He cast his gaze downward. “A fifth wheel.”
“Oh, Rance. I’m so sor?—”
“Not really.” He looked up with an impish smile. “That’s just how I’ll sell it.”
“You made that up?”
“Mostly. I could think of it that way if I wanted to, but I choose not to.”
“Are you sure? Because I can see how this might be tough on you.”
“Lucky and I were tested back in February. We’re solid and this is awesome for him. Did I feel a twinge when I heard the news? Yeah, but I plucked out that barb and reminded myself that I’m Desiree McLintock’s kid. I have her DNA and she’s alive and effing amazing. I got the better end of the deal.”
She took a deep breath. “That’s a terrific attitude. And you’ve also generously dreamed up this elaborate scheme so Kieran and I can?—”
“I’m not that selfless. But we’ll get to that. There’ll be smuggling involved and you’ll have to get Lani to go along with it.”
“That could be a problem. She’s softening, but she still might not be willing to help.”
“We need her, though. See what you can do. Once she’s in, you and I will do a late-night switch so I sleep here and you sleep, or more likely don’t sleep, at the cabin. We’ll reverse it early in the morning.”
“You’ll take my bed in the room with Lani?”
“No. I wish, but no. I’ll sleep in my old room.”
“You wish? You have a crush on?—”
“Yes, and if you tell her, I’ll?—”
“I won’t, but listen, she’ll never leave New Jersey.”
Rance just smiled.
“I’m telling you, she won’t. She loves that boutique publishing company she works for. Sure, she’s delighted to find out your mom is a bestselling author, but it only gives them something in common. It doesn’t change her career goals.”
He shrugged. “That’s a discussion for another day. What do you think of my plan? Should I ask Mom if Kieran can sleep in my guest room for the week he’s here?”
“Do you even have a guest room? I seem to remember you shoved your sofa into your spare room to make room for a pool table.”
“It so happens that’s a sleeper sofa, but it doesn’t matter because nobody’s gonna sleep in the guest room. You and Kieran can have my room, complete with fresh sheets and a supply of condoms.”
That thought made her shiver with anticipation. “How will we make the switch?”
“I’ll drive my truck over here and you’ll drive it back to my cabin.”
“You’d trust me to drive Midnight Thunder?” Uneasiness curled in her stomach.
“You’re up to it.”
She gulped. “Okay.” He had more confidence in that than she did. “How about Sam? Won’t he hear your truck and come to investigate?”
“Mom closes him in the bedroom with her and Andy, especially when she has house guests who might get up in the middle of the night. She doesn’t want Sam bothering them. Oh, and I’ll find a moment before I leave tonight to oil the hinges on the front door.”
She chuckled. “Methinks you’ve snuck out a few times in the past.”
“There’s an art to it.”
“And I can tell you’ve mastered that art. But it’s possible you’ll take Kieran to your cabin and Lani will nix the whole program.”
“In that case, I’ll have a chance to bond with Kieran. It’s not a terrible idea. By the way, I’ll also tell Lucky and Oksana the plan. I don’t want Lucky to think Kieran’s arrival got my undies in a bunch.”
“Good point. Oksana will be fine with the idea, but what about Lucky?”
“Are you kidding? After the big woolies he told so nobody would find out about his relationship with Oksana? He can’t say a word.”
“But with everybody here, you won’t have a chance to?—”
“Yes, I will. Lucky and Oksana will be giving me and Kieran a ride to my cabin.”
“So they will. I forgot they picked you up from the Buffalo. You must have hitched a ride in with Clint.”
“Serendipitously, I did. See how everything is falling into place?”
“I have to admit it’s elegant. But you still haven’t explained your motive. I’m guessing it has something to do with Lani, but I can’t make the connection. What do you get out of this?”
“It’s simple. If you rope Lani in, it means she’s part of a secret, outrageous, yet manageable plan to help you and Kieran enjoy some private time. Sharing in something like that brings people closer. It makes their time together more memorable.”
“Rance, please believe me, she won’t move out here.”
“Your folks are talking about it.”
“Doesn’t matter. She’s got the life she wants in Trenton.”
“So you say. Anyway, never mind about Lani. What about you? Think you’ll ever live in Wagon Train?”
“No. Besides, it won’t help me see Kieran more often. His visits here will likely be few and far between. It’s expensive and I guarantee he won’t let the McLintocks pay. I stand a better chance of seeing him if I stay where I am. Dublin to Newark is a cheaper flight.”
He just gazed at her with that same maddening smile.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m right about this, damn it.”
He sighed. “You need to start thinking outside the box, Miss Sara.”