Chapter 39
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Tally
We kicked our boots off at the door and instantly I felt a sense of ease.
Safe and secure. Not that Wilder had left my side all afternoon.
As I helped set up the camp training paddock, advising where to put some obstacles and low rail fences, Wilder helped the two ranch hands move everything in place.
Yet all the time he had an eye on me. Keeping guard.
“Tally ho.” Bertie came skidding into the foyer in sock feet, stopping inches away from me. She threw her arms around my waist. “I’m so happy you’re here for dinner.”
“Hey, Bertie. I’m happy to be here, too. It smells good.”
“Me and Momma made Uncle Wild’s favorite.” She attempted a wink. “That’s because he’s her favorite.”
I glanced at Wilder. Funny, he was my favorite, too. I thought I was a strong, independent woman. I was a strong, independent woman, but I’d loved having him to lean on, to make me feel safe.
“We’re having taco’s?” I asked.
“Yep.” Bertie nodded sagely. “And I made a special mix for me and Billy and Aunt Cassidy because we don’t like it hot. Do you like it hot, because if you don’t you can share with me, Billy and Aunt Cassidy. There’s plenty.”
“I’m happy with hot,” I told her.
“Great, because I’m hungry.” She then zoomed off yelling to her mom that I liked hot.
I could feel Wilder’s gaze on me, like it was a physical touch. I looked and he was smiling, and it was kind of soppy, like I was a cute little puppy or something.
“What?”
“You know tacos are my favorite meal.”
“Well, yeah.” I shrugged. “You told me once.”
His mouth was on mine in an instant as he pulled me against him, holding on tight to my hips. He tasted like warmth and promises, his hands firm and anchoring me to him. It was most definitely not a kiss to have before a family dinner.
“Excuse me.”
We pulled apart to see Gunner in the kitchen doorway. He was grinning with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Sorry.” Glancing at Wilder I saw him wipe his bottom lip with his thumb as he smirked at his brother.
“No problem but can I grab a word with you.”
My heart skipped a beat, sure that this was the point where he fired me for keeping my friendship with Nate a secret.
“Don’t worry,” he aimed at Wilder whose eyes were narrowed, “I’ll get her back to you safe and sound.”
“You okay?” Wilder put a hand on my shoulder, his voice, his touch reassuring me.
“Sure. You go.”
As he walked past Gunner he pointed a finger at him but didn’t say anything. Gunner just barked out a laugh and walked toward the office.
“Come on, let’s go in here.”
Following him I shoved my shaking hands into my jeans’ pockets, wondering where I could afford to take Dreamy if I did get fired. Maybe Nate’s dad would let me keep him on their smallholding.
“Okay, we should get this out of the way,” Gunner said as he rested his ass against the huge desk. “Nate Jenkins is a huge ass elephant that I don’t want in the room while I’m eating my tacos.”
“I’m so sorry, Gunner. I honestly didn’t plan any of it or come here because Nate asked me to.
I wanted Dreamy to be in the best place, and this is the best place.
You’re the best trainer there is and when I found out Nate was responsible for the development, because it’s not like we talk business all the time, he mostly ribs me about stupid things I did as a kid or questions me about my love life, like my brothers do, so I was shocked and I—”
“Tally,” Gunner cried. “Slow down and take a breath. I’m not mad.
Not that you know him, a little disappointed that you didn’t tell me, but I understand why you didn’t.
You’re right I am the best trainer there is, and these are the best training facilities, so why would you jeopardize that?
I wouldn’t if I were you. Once you’d been here a while you could have said.
I thought we had a good relationship. Trusted each other. ” His shoulders sagged.
“We do and I do, implicitly. I was just scared that you might fire me. I guess I’d kept it a secret for so long I knew it would look bad.
And for the record Nate and my brothers told me I should have said something right away.
As soon as Nate realized where I was working he told me that under no circumstances were we to discuss The Last Creek Ranch in any capacity.
” I picked at some loose skin on my thumb watching Gunner as he pushed off the desk.
“Don’t keep anything from me again, not something important.
” I gave him a nod of promise. “As for Nate, well he’s a good man, he’s proved that with everything he’s done for the camp and the wedding barn.
And, so far, he’s stuck to his word about the changes he’s made to the development.
” He stood in front of me and smiled. “And even if he hadn’t, Tally, that’s not on you.
You’re good at your job, damn good, so I’m not going to fire you over someone else’s misdemeanors, even if he’s like a brother to you. Okay, we good?”
“Absolutely.” It felt liberating that there were no more secrets between us. A heavy load no longer on my shoulders.
“Excellent. And you should know, Bernard Kennedy emailed over Dreamy’s papers about an hour ago.”
My heart leapt. “He did?”
“He did. Congratulations, Tally, you have yourself a million dollar racehorse.”
More relief and that combined with everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, had hot tears crawling down my cheeks. I swiped at them, taking in a thankful breath. “He’s all mine?”
“Yep, Tally, he’s all yours.” Gunner smiled, with the same warmth that made him such a good trainer, patient, kind and without judgment. “Right, now let’s go eat tacos.”
“I can get one of the guys to hang around the yard,” Nash said as we discussed my messages after we’d finished dinner, showing the fierce protectiveness that made him such a good father. “The sheriff did suggest it might be worth keeping a couple of boys around at all times.”
“As long as it’s not Glenn,” Wilder said, pouting like a child.
“What’s wrong with Glenn?” Cassidy asked, yet she was grinning, like she knew exactly what his problem with Glenn was.
“He’s always sniffing around Tally. Always asking her how she is and is she having a good day.”
Nash chuckled. “Jealous little brother?”
“If he is, he doesn't need to be.” I reached for Wilder’s hand and gave it a squeeze, feeling relaxed enough in front of his family to show some PDA. “For one he’s not my type and for two he was mean about Poppy.”
“What?” Gunner leaned closer to the table. “What did he do?”
“Don’t worry, I dealt with it. Told him to apologize to her and keep his opinions to himself.” I knew I’d agreed no more secrets with Wilder, but it wouldn’t help anyone by telling him what Glenn had said about mine and Wilder’s relationship. It would only cause more trouble.
“When was it?” Wilder asked.
“The day you both went to Montrose. Poppy was upset so I dealt with it.” I looked between the three brothers. “That was okay wasn’t it?”
“Absolutely,” Nash replied. “But I will be talking to him about it.”
“Please don’t. Poppy didn’t want me to say anything, but I couldn’t let it roll.”
Nash sighed and then nodded. “Okay, but if you hear of anything else let me know.”
“See, I told you he was a little turd,” Wilder complained before leaning in to kiss my cheek. “He better keep his mouth shut from now on.”
“He will.” At least I hoped he would, Wilder already had him in his sights before this.
“Is Poppy okay now?” Lily asked.
“Yes, she’s fine. I think she was upset about what he said, but she’s just angry now. She doesn’t really speak to him unless she has to.”
“Told you,” Wilder piped up. “Turd.”
“She’s so sweet,” Cassidy said as she refilled my wine glass. “Such a big heart, how could he be mean about her?”
“That’ll be because he’s a boy, Aunt Cassidy.”
Bertie appeared in the doorway of the dining room, a tiara on her head and wearing Spider Man pjs.
“Munchkin,” Nash said, his voice low and warning. “What have we said about listening in on adult conversations?”
“Same as I said about you calling me Munchkin now I’m ten, not to.” She cocked a hip and raised an eyebrow. Checkmate.
“You said I can’t call you Munchkin in front of your friends. You said nothing about not doing it at home. I told you never to listen to grownup conversations.”
She waved him away. “Tomato, cucumber.”
That gained her a loud laugh from us all, which in turn gained us a frown.
“Sweetie it’s tomayto, tomato,” Lily said gently.
“That’s what I said. Anyways, I heard what you said can’t take it back, so the point I’m making is, Glenn is mean because he’s a boy and boys are mean to girls. Uncle Gunner said it’s when they like them.” She turned to Gunner. “Just like you were to Aunt Cassidy, right?”
“I guess so,” he said, still chuckling.
“Just like Daddy was to Momma and…” she pressed a finger against her lips and then shook her head.
“Nope, Uncle Wilder has always had goggly eyes for Tally ho. If you want, though, I can sleep over at your cabin, and I’ll protect you.
Uncle Wilder taught me how to kick in the shins.
He wanted to show me how to do it in the n.u.t.s,” she raised a brow as if spelling out the word made it better, “but he didn’t want me to practice on him. ”
Wow, there was so much in that little monologue to digest. But Wilder always had goggly eyes for me?
“Tally will be okay Bertie girl,” Wilder replied.
“I’ll protect her with my goo-goo eyes.” He then turned to me, his gaze softening as thumb traced gentle circles on my knuckles and his eyes held mine with an intensity that made my heart skip.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you safe, Brownie. Absolutely nothing.”
“Goggly eyes won’t protect her,” Bertie admonished.
“No one tell her it’s goo-goo not goggly,” Nash breathed out, fighting a smile. “She’ll only deny she said it.”
“We’re good, Bertie,” I replied. “But thank you.”
“Okay.” Bertie shrugged. “But my services are there if you need them and I’m a great cuddler, just so you know.” She screwed up her eyes and took a breath. “Tally ho, could you do a braid for me please?”
Lily let out a loud laugh. “What’s wrong with the one I did for you?”
She pointed at her braid that was trying to break free beneath her tiara and turned back to me. “Yours are always so good, I think it’s because you braid the horses mane’s.”
I smiled softly, feeling something tug in my chest. “Do you have a brush?”
Lily stood and opened one of the drawers and pulled out a pink, plastic brush. “Here you go.” She handed it to me with an amused grin. “Good luck.”
Bertie moved in front of me, placed her tiara on the table, and stood still as a statue while all eyes turned to watch me.
After a few quick brushes I then started to work her fingers through her hair, creating a well-practiced tight braid coming from the top of Bertie’s head.
Within seconds it was done, and I kissed the top of her head.
“Finished, sweetie pie.”
Bertie patted it with her hand and turned to Lily. “Maybe Tally ho can give you lessons, Momma. It would be good for you.” She reached up and kissed my cheek. “Thank you. Right, night, everyone and please keep the noise down, I have a big day tomorrow.
With that, she was gone, thundering back up the stairs and slamming her bedroom door.
“I sometimes wonder whether that child was created, not born,” Nash muttered with an amused grin.
“She spent far too long with you three that’s the problem,” Lily replied, shaking her head but smiling widely. “She’s like this weird cross between a ten and twenty-four year old. Thank goodness I came back when I did.”
“Yeah,” Nash said on a low rumble leaning in to kiss her. “Thank fucking goodness.”
“You’re good with her,” Wilder said, close to my ear as Gunner and Wilder started to talk about the new bull that was coming from Montrose.
“She’s easy to be good with,” I replied, leaning into him, desperate for the warmth of his body. The safety he gave me.
“Not just that.”
Watching the brightness in his eyes, the look of awe he showed me, something fell like a heated blanket over me as the chatter and gentle buzz of family continued around us. It was contentment. It was peace.
“You just…fit, Brownie. Here. With us.”
Something pulled in my chest as his words sank in. “With you?” I asked, the question feeling bigger than it probably should have.
He took a moment, flicking his tongue over his full bottom lip. “Yeah, with me, Brownie, always with me.”
Cassidy then announced she was going to get more wine, and as I looked around, listening to the chatter and the gentle buzz of family, with the smell of food and wine and the indefinable scent of family and belonging, I knew I was lucky to be a part of it.
I also knew I wouldn’t let Declan spoil it for me.
I felt Wilder’s gaze on me again and when I turned to him, he was watching me. Not his usual gaze of heat and want. This gaze was different. Softer. Like he was memorizing something he was afraid to lose.