Chapter Twenty
As the plane started its descent toward the airport at Livingston, Ty watched Shayna looking out the window. She turned to smile at him.
“It’s so beautiful! And the mountains!”
“I’ll take you for a drive, show you around. I think you’ll love it.”
“I know I will.”
He hated the look of sadness in her eyes.
Cash must have noticed it, too. “And when Alma and Davin come to visit, we’ll show them around, too. Alma always used to threaten that she’d come up here to see us one day, but it never worked out.”
“Yeah. It won’t be too long before I see them again.”
Ty squeezed her hand. “It won’t. And you know Booker’s excited to come visit. We’ll get him riding.”
“I feel so bad that he doesn’t know how to ride. It should have dawned on me – when would he ever have had the chance to learn? He’s so good with the horses, I just …”
“It’s not as though you would have had the time to teach him, is it? We’ll get him up here – he’ll have the time of his life.”
“Yeah.” She looked so sad that he was starting to wonder if bringing her here was the best idea.
Cash caught his eye and nodded encouragingly. Ty appreciated everything he’d done for them, but Cash wasn’t his favorite person right now. When he’d tried to book himself a room at the resort, there hadn’t been any available. It wasn’t a big deal because there were two apartments above the garage at Davin and Alexis’s place, so they’d offered him the other one.
The problem was that they’d discovered just how thin the walls were when Cash made a couple of phone calls after they got back there on Friday night. Ty and Shayna had been able to hear every word he said. And that had set Shayna – and Ty if he was honest – on edge.
He’d been looking forward to finally being able to make love to her, but neither of them had felt comfortable with it. If they’d been able to hear every word Cash said on the phone – and Ty had paid attention after that and been able to make out when Cash went to bed – and the way the bed creaked when he got in it – there was no doubt that Cash would be able to hear what they were doing, too. Neither of them wanted to feel like they had to be quiet their first time together. So, here he was, bringing his girl home with him – and he still hadn’t had sex with her. Not that he was worried. He just knew that they’d be good together.
It’d probably worked out better for Shayna anyway. It’d been an emotional weekend for her. She’d informed them all at breakfast on Saturday that, although she didn’t want to leave her family, she knew it was for the best if she came back to Montana with him and Cash.
Ty felt bad for Booker. He was a good kid – Ty had some time with him while they mucked out stalls at the barn. He was pretty broken up about Shayna leaving, but he did his best to hide it and be supportive. Ty was a little worried that he seemed determined to do whatever he could to find the asshole who’d driven Shay away.
They’d gone over to Violets, and Shayna had worked her shift there on Saturday lunchtime. In the afternoon, she’d hung out with Booker and worked on her assignment, while Ty, Cash, and Davin had gone to check out the address they had for Carey Duncan. He wasn’t living there – the place was boarded up. They’d gone inside to investigate and there was no sign that anyone other than mice and spiders had been there in years.
Davin had called the realtor, Austin, who’d met them at the house. He told them that it had gone into probate after the parents died and that nothing had moved on it since. He also told them that no one going by the name of Carey Duncan had rented any of his properties. That didn’t mean that he didn’t have an informal rental agreement somewhere – or that he wasn’t using another name.
Basically, all they had was a dead end, and it made Ty even more grateful that Shayna had decided by herself that she wanted to come home with him.
He watched her again as she stared out the window. She was feeling it, he knew that. She was going to miss her people, her work – her life. He silently vowed to her that he was going to do everything he could to make sure she didn’t regret it. He frowned – he was also going to do everything he could to make sure that by the time Davin and Alexis had found this Carey Duncan asshole and made sure that he’d no longer be a threat to Shayna, she wouldn’t want to leave him and go home to the lake. Or worst-case scenario, if she wanted to go home so badly, that she’d take him with her.
Cash reached across the aisle and tugged his sleeve.
He raised his eyebrows in response. Cash handed him a small paper bag. He looked inside with a puzzled frown but smiled when he saw a keychain. From the look of the bag, Cash must have picked it up in the gift store at the lake.
He grinned at his brother and nodded his thanks. He loved that Cash had thought to get Shayna a little something to remind her of home – and that he’d come up with the same thing that Ty himself had – a keychain that she’d see all the time. He stuffed the bag into his pocket – he’d give it to her later, when they were alone. Although he had a feeling that it would be a while before he got her to himself. Cash had warned him that everyone was going to be waiting at the ranch to welcome her when they got there. They’d delayed their usual Sunday lunch so that they could all get together this evening when Shayna arrived.
When the wheels touched down, she finally turned away from the window. It was obvious that she was nervous.
“It’s going to be okay, Shay. Promise.”
“I know.”
“Get your phone out, honey.”
Ty turned to look at Cash. “What for?”
Cash chuckled. “Nothing to do with you.”
Shayna took her phone out and gave him a puzzled look. “What do you need?”
“I need to make sure that you have my number. Travis and I are going to leave first thing in the morning, and things will probably get crazy when we get to the ranch – crazy in a good way,” he reassured her quickly. “Everyone’s excited to meet you and make you feel at home. I want you to take my number now – and I want you to make me a promise.”
“What kind of promise?”
“I need you to promise me that you’ll call me if you need anything. If …”
Ty scowled at him. “I’ll be right there. I …”
“I know, and hopefully Shay will never want or need to call me. But we all know that things can get rocky in a relationship sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, I have high hopes for you two – strikes me that you’re made for each other. But every couple, no matter how good they are together, has a fight or two. Shay doesn’t know anyone here yet. The girls will rally around, no question about it, but …”
Ty looked back at Shayna, and she was smiling at Cash. “Thank you.”
“Sure thing, honey. You don’t know me yet, either, but Alma – Alexis does, and I’m hoping that counts for something.”
“It does, although I have to tell you, even if it weren’t for that, I … you’re someone I feel I could turn to.” She smiled. “You’re like the best big brother a girl could hope for.”
Ty chuckled. “And a guy.”
Cash laughed. “Yeah, I’m just an all-around superhero. But seriously, honey. Take my number, and if this guy pisses you off, you call me. You guys have a fight, you call me. If you just need someone to talk to who isn’t him, you call me. You need anything , you call me. Okay?”
Ty watched her tap Cash’s number into her phone. “Thank you. I probably won’t, even if we fight …” She looked at Ty. “And we’re bound to at some point – I told you I’m no starry idealist.”
He gave her a rueful smile. “I want to say that we won’t but …”
“If you don’t, you’ll be the first couple in the history of couples. Even the couples who you think are the strongest fight sometimes. It’s healthy … or it can be. But when you’re in the moment it can feel like shit, and I need you to know that you’re not on your own, honey. Okay?”
“Thanks, Cash. That means the world to me.”
He smirked at Ty. “I’ll knock him back into shape for you.” His smile faded. “But even if you think you’re the one in the wrong, Shay. It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to judge you. All I’m saying is that I want to be in your corner when you need someone.”
Shayna laughed. “You’re going to be like my girlfriend and listen to me bitch and whine till I realize that I screwed up?”
“Yep. Whatever you need – I’m there for it.”
Ty didn’t exactly love that they were talking about him and Shay fighting right when he was about to introduce her to his family and bring her into his life, but he loved Cash for doing it. He wouldn’t have thought about it, but it’d be good for her to feel like she had someone on her side.
They all looked up when the plane came to a stop and a few moments later Bear, the pilot, came out from the cockpit and grinned at them.
“Welcome to Montana,” he told Shayna.
“Thank you.” Shayna sucked in a big breath. “I’m excited to be here – I’m also as nervous as I’ve ever been in my life.” She chuckled. “But still excited.”
Cash winked at Ty and nodded. Ty knew what he meant – she really was perfect for him. She might be scared, but she wasn’t going to let that hold her back.
~ ~ ~
Shayna felt as though she was driving through the set of a movie. Paradise Valley was stunningly beautiful.
When the plane landed, one of Cash’s friends, Travis, had been there waiting for them in a black Suburban. He was another sexy, silver-fox cowboy – and he really was silver – where Cash had still mostly dark hair threaded with silver, Travis had a full gray beard. She guessed that he had gray hair, too, but given that he was wearing a cowboy hat, she couldn’t know for sure. He was also another big personality. He was just as outgoing as Cash, and he was a real joker, too – she loved him already.
She and Ty were sitting in the back seat of the SUV and Cash and Travis were chatting in the front. Ty wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
“You doing okay?” he asked quietly.
“I am. It’s a lot to process. Part of me wonders if I’m going to wake up soon and discover that I dreamed all of this. Did I really just leave my life and my family and come to Montana with a cowboy who I barely know?”
He chuckled. “You did – are you crazy, girl?”
She laughed. “Apparently.”
“Good, because I’m crazy about you, and I want to say that I promise you won’t regret it, but all I can promise is that I’ll do all I can to make sure that you don’t.”
She pressed closer to his side. “I know you will – but it’s not all on you, Ty. I’m going to do whatever I can to fit in and to make this work – to make life here work for me and to make us work. I’m going to see what I can do for work and …”
He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. “It’s going to be all right, sweetheart. You don’t need to be such a busy bee here – not, if you don’t want to. And if you do, you’ll find all the work you can handle. You know everyone’s going to be waiting to meet you when we get to the ranch. Wade has a bunch of ideas of what you can do at the lodge if you want.”
Travis’s deep laugh interrupted Ty, and Shayna couldn’t help laughing at the sound of it.
Ty rolled his eyes at her before asking, “What’s so funny, Trav?”
“Just that you’re only talking about whatever work Wade might have for Shayna.”
She gave him a puzzled look, and Cash turned in his seat so that he could see her. “You enjoy working with horses, don’t you?”
“I do, I’ve worked at the barn for a while mucking out stalls in the mornings. I used to lead trail rides when I could but … I’m obviously no cowgirl, but I’m a fast learner and …”
Cash held his hand up. “There’s nothing to worry about, honey. No one’s going to ask you to do anything you’re not used to. Trav here is just trying to wind Ty up.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Remember I told you about Tanner?” Ty asked.
“He’s the one who’s in charge of the horses?”
Travis laughed. “He’s the stud in the family. I reckon Ty’s worried that Tanner might steal you away from him. He seems to cast this magic spell over women and …”
“Nope,” Shayna said firmly as she took hold of Ty’s hand. “Not interested. Don’t care. He can be as good-looking as he likes. He’s not Ty.”
Cash winked at her. “Good answer, honey.”
Travis caught her gaze in the rearview mirror. “Sorry, darlin’. I was only messing with him.”
She smiled. “No worries! I’m not upset. I just know my own mind, and Ty’s the one for me. End of story.”
Ty chuckled beside her. “I appreciate it, sweetheart, but if you don’t mind, I’m going to check to make sure you still feel the same way after you meet him.”
Cash laughed. “He really is that good-looking.”
Shayna was about to protest again, but instead she went with, “Well, in that case, maybe I should withhold judgment until I see him. I wouldn’t want to go making any hasty decisions here.”
Ty’s eyes widened in surprise, while Cash and Travis burst out laughing.
“I like her, Ty. She’s awesome,” said Travis.
Cash turned in his seat to grin at her. “You’re going to do just fine, honey. You’ll fit right in.”
When Travis pulled off the road and turned under a big wooden archway with the name MacFarland Ranch inscribed on it, Shayna sat up a little straighter and peered out the window. The long driveway led up to a huge ranch house. Ty called it the big house, but she hadn’t expected it to be that big.
“Looks like the whole crew’s here,” said Travis when he pulled around the back of the house.
He wasn’t joking – there was a long line of pickup trucks parked back there. Shayna swallowed at the sight of a couple of motorcycles, too.
Ty jerked his chin toward them. “That’ll be Frankie and Spider; they like to get out and ride together when they can.”
“Oh, right.”
He tightened his arm around her. “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart.”
“It is,” Cash agreed. “They’re going to love you – and hopefully you’ll love them, too.”
Half an hour later, Shayna was relieved to find that she did love them. They were all such awesome people. And they seemed to like her. She didn’t get the impression that they were just being nice to her for Ty’s sake – quite the opposite, she felt more like they’d tell it to her straight if they thought she wasn’t right for him.
So far, she’d been introduced to everyone – she could remember all the names, she was good at names, she just wasn’t sure she had it right about who each name belonged to.
Ford was the one who hung mostly by himself, she knew that much. She liked him, even though Ty had told her before that he was the broody kind. She was looking forward to getting to know him – she guessed that he was probably more misunderstood than broody.
Ty’s twin Kolby was easy; he looked the most like Ty, although they were far from identical. And Kolby’s wife was Calypso freaking Rayne. Although, again, as Ty had told her, she was a real sweetheart. She seemed so down to earth, and Shay was already looking forward to getting to know her better.
Then there was Janey and Rocket, they were awesome. Rocket looked more like a tattooed biker than a cowboy, but he was sweet and gentle around Janey. Janey was quieter but warm and welcoming.
Laney and Frankie were the cowgirls. Shayna felt a little intimidated by them, but that wasn’t due to anything they’d done or said – she needed to get over it. Their men were Luke and Spider – if she had it right.
Wade was the fairest of the brothers, and he was so easy-going that she was already looking forward to working for him. His fiancée, Sierra, was a dainty little blonde who didn’t seem to quite fit in with the others, at least not in looks. Their kids were adorable! While Wade and Sierra were fair, Mateo and Maya were much darker, but there was no mistaking that they were a family. That thought made Shayna take her phone out and send a quick message to the group text with her own little family. She’d been messaging them whenever she could since she left.
Ty cocked an eyebrow when he saw her phone. “Everything okay?”
She smiled. “Just keeping them updated that I’m doing great.”
He smiled and ran his fingers down her cheek. “Are you – doing great? Are you comfortable with all these guys? I can whisk you away if it gets too much.”
She smiled back at him. “I’m looking forward to the whisking part, but I’m good. I’m enjoying getting to know them. Is this everyone now?”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Have you spotted him?”
“Who?”
“Tanner. He got back from the barn while you were talking to Callie and Janey. He went upstairs to shower and now he’s …” He turned his head and let out a short laugh. “Right there.”
Shayna followed his gaze and … wow! They hadn’t been joking when they described Tanner as good-looking; he could be a freaking movie star.
He spotted them and raised his hand. He waggled his fingers in a cute little wave that she’d bet made women come running to him.
Ty gave her a rueful smile. “You see what I mean? I told you from the beginning, if you fall for him instead of me, I’ll understand it. I won’t get it over, but I’ll understand it.”
She pushed at his arm, and then leaned in to give him a quick kiss. “Now you’re the one who’s talking crazy! I mean, yeah, he’s a good-looking guy, but he’s not a patch on you.”
He laughed. “Nice try, Shay!”
She slapped his arm harder this time. “Err, you don’t get to decide what I think, mister. It’s like you said. It’s all in the eye of the beholder. And not only does this beholder think that you’re the sexiest man she’s ever seen, she also happens to be in love with you. So, your brother can look however he looks, and do all his cute little waves and whatever else he does to charm the ladies, and it won’t make the least bit of difference to me. All I’ll say is that none of the women he picks up had better hurt him – or Ford; they’re the only two who are still single right?”
“Yep.”
“And since they’re your brothers, I’ll be looking out for them.”
She loved the look in his eyes when he said, “Aww, Shay.” But that was as far as he got before Tanner joined them.
He winked at her before turning to Ty. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
Ty nodded happily. “Yep, for the first time in my life, I can honestly say that I am happy to introduce you to my girl. Shay, meet Tanner. Tanner, this is Shay.”
She couldn’t help laughing when Tanner wrapped her in a hug and Ty scowled at him.
Tanner looked more serious as he let her go. “I’m glad you’re here, Shay. You swept my little brother off his feet. I’m sorry for what was going on at home for you, but I’m glad it means that you came here instead of Ty going there.” He ruffled Ty’s hair. “I’d miss this guy if he left. And with you here, we can all keep an eye out for you – keep you safe.”
“Thanks.”
He grinned at her as he slipped his arm through hers. “Now, come with me and we can talk about what we’re going to do together.”
She laughed when Ty slapped the back of his head. “Hands off my girl, Tanner.”
He let her go with a laugh. “Jeez, squirt. I was only trying get your girl fixed up with a job!”
Cash appeared at her side. “Is he giving you any trouble?”
She laughed. “No. It’s all good.”
“Good.”
She was surprised that he looked more serious when he raised an eyebrow at Ty, and that he relaxed when Ty gave him an almost imperceptible shake of his head.
Cash leaned in to give her a hug. “Wade wants a word with you both, and I might not see you again before Trav and I leave in the morning. Don’t forget, honey. You call me if you want me – promise?”
Tanner laughed. “You’d all beat the crap out of me if I said that!”
Shayna had to laugh, but Cash scowled at him. “Yeah, we would – because we want to make sure that’s Shay’s comfortable here.”
Tanner gave her a rueful smile. “Sorry. I’m only joking around. I don’t want to make you …”
“It’s okay. I get it. I’m not worried.”
Travis appeared beside Cash. “Wade wants a word with you guys. I’ll say my goodbyes for now.” He hugged Shayna and kept hold of her shoulders when he let her go. “You’re going to be all right, darlin’. Cash gave me your number; I’ll text you so that you have mine. You can call me any time you want anything, all right? Ty’s got your back, and the rest of these guys, but I want to be one more option for you.”
“Aww, thanks, Travis. When will you guys be here again?”
Cash chuckled. “We’ll be back before you know it. Now go on, Wade’s waiting to talk to you so that he and Sierra can get the kids home.” He grasped Ty’s shoulder. “You done good, Ty. Don’t fuck it up.”
“I don’t intend to.” He came to Shayna, and she slipped her arm around his waist.
Cash grinned. “I’ll see ya later.”
As Ty led her away to where Wade was waiting for them, she said, “I love that he says it, too.”
“Says what?”
“See ya later.”
“Yeah, we’re not big on goodbyes. You never know when later might turn out to be, but it still beats goodbye.”