Chapter 12
Creed Ranch, A Few Days Later …
“Morning.” Javier murmured, playing with the red hair fanning out on his chest and shoulder and kissing the top of Memphis’s head. Did you get what you needed, baby?”
She pushed up onto her elbows and fixed him with an impish look. “Well, sort of …”
“You were disappointed.”
“Not at all. I’ve woken up on top of the sexiest hunk of man in my bed with muscle to spare and my body is aching from more.”
Javier flipped them over and covered Memphis. He pushed her knees apart. “Fortunately for you, my mom raised me to be a gentlemen, and a gentleman aways gives a woman what she needs.”
“I’m in a bad state, sweets. Just take me. Now.”
* * *
With the aid of lanterns, tents were pitched in the meadow on the other side of the ranch’s long winding drive. After he and Memphis cleaned up, she went outside to greet them. She had arranged to have Potsy, the wranglers’ cook, make breakfast for all of them.
“Bring Nana,” she said, acknowledging Daphne as her grandmother. “We’re having breakfast in the meadow.”
Javier slipped on a pair of joggers and checked on Daphne. The door was wide open, the bed made. She was up and at ‘em.
She had done great on the trip, riding in the sidecar attached to Jack’s bike, and enjoyed camping. Javier had gotten her an extra-thick inflatable pad for her comfort. She claimed she had slept like a baby. That said, Memphis insisted Daphne take a bedroom down the hall with a full bath.
The smell of coffee drew Javier to the kitchen, where he grabbed a mug from a cabinet and filled it. He moved to sliding glass doors. What he saw filled him with joy. His mom and the woman he was falling for stood side-by-side, their arms around one another. The two of them were surrounded by family and friends who had made the trip and, from what he could tell, there was a lot of talking and laughter. He slid the door open slightly, enjoying the sounds. I need to grab a shirt and join them. His stomach growled. And eat.
A scream had him spinning.
A skinny blonde gawked at him with a mix of fear and wonder. She found her voice. “Who are you?” She demanded loudly.
“Javier Cabrera.”
“Why are you in our house and not out with the cowboys?”
“Huh?”
Peals of laughter flowed in through the door opening.
“Omigod! Who are those people?” Her pitch climbed. “Why are there tents on our property?”
“Your property? Who are you?”
“I’m Arla Rooney. Engaged to Eben Creed, the owner of this ranch.”
“One of them.” Javier needled her.
“He’ll be the sole owner soon. Mark my words.”
Javier chewed on the inside of his lower lip as he considered what she had disclosed with such confidence. Memphis and Ransom’s worst nightmare. He also had an immediate dislike of Arla Rooney, who was now ogling him like a bitch in heat. Did she realize she had also licked her lips? He would have found it amusing if he wasn’t crazy about Memphis and if the guy standing behind her, who he assumed was Memphis’s brother, didn’t look like a black thundercloud ready to erupt.
“Jav!” Memphis bolted through the door and launched herself at him, locking her arms around his neck and her sleek legs around his waist. She peppered him with kisses. “Come eat, sweets.”
“Memphis.”
“Uh-oh.” She released her limbs and stood, turning, leaning against him, facing her brother and future sister-in-law. “Well, good morning. Eben. Arla.”
“Good morning, Memphis, and welcome back. Who is this?” Eben asked, his eyes raking over Javier’s tats.
“Memphis doesn’t need to speak for me, Eben. You can address me directly.”
“Who are you?”
Arla answered. “Javier Ca … Javier something.”
Javier slid his arm across Memphis’s front and clasped her other shoulder, pulling her to him. “Why do they speak for other people, babe?”
“I’m really not sure.”
“Nice, sis.” Eben glared at Memphis and then at him. “Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Javier Cabrera. Your dad and I grew up together.”
“Never heard of you.”
“Yeah, it’s a story. Not of the breakfast variety.”
“Who are all those people? Why are they camping in my meadow?”
“Our meadow, Eben.” Memphis corrected her brother, earning her a haughty look from Arla.
“A reunion of sorts.” Javier softly brushed his knuckles over Memphis’s shoulder, then held it again. “Family and friends. You’ve never heard of them either. It’s a discussion you, your sister, Daphne, and I should have later.”
“And me.” Arla added.
Daphne joined the group. “I don’t think so. Good morning.”
“Good morning, Mom.”
“I didn’t even get around to asking. Did you sleep well, Nana?”
“I did, Memphis. Thank you.” Daphne kissed her and Javier on their cheeks. Her eyes filled with tears when they settled on Eben. “Why you’re the spitting image of your father,” said, her voice cracking.
Eben frowned at her. “You knew my father?”
“I raised Ransom. He was my son.”
“You’re my grandmother? Memphis called you ‘Nana.’”
“Yes. Why don’t you” —Daphne wrinkled her nose— “and your, uh, Arla, join us all for breakfast?” She rearranged her face and smiled. “There’s plenty. You can get to know your family and learn some of your Torch River roots.”
Arla took Eben’s hand and tugged. “Let’s go. Daddy hates tardiness. Come on.”
Eben appeared stricken by everything he was hearing and pulled free of his fiancé. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Eben!”
“Just go, Arla.”
“What do I tell Daddy?”
“I’m confident you’ll come up with something.”
She marched through the house, slamming the front door hard enough that some of the dishes rattled in the kitchen cabinets.
“I didn’t want to go anyway.” Eben admitted. “Trey Rooney is getting on my every last nerve.”
“Let’s eat. My belly is yowling.” Javier finished his coffee and lifted the mug. “Is there more outside?”
“Of course. Even though I like the view, maybe a shirt, Jav?”
“Okay.”
* * *
To the delight of Memphis, the wedding was off. Eben and Arla had a huge fight and her efforts to pressure him into invalidating the trust backfired.
Yesterday Memphis found her brother leaning against the trunk of the Witness Tree. “Hey, mind if I sit?”
“I’d like it. Kind of nice having all four of us here together.” He swiped at his eyes and sniffed. “I miss him, sis. I was such a dick to Pops because I felt so—” He exhaled a long shaky breath. “I felt so responsible for Mama dying. I wish Pops and I had been able to have a talk like the ones I’ve had with Javier and Nana,” he said, having claimed Daphne as his grandmother. “I blamed myself. Nana said Pops blamed himself. We were both broken but unable to talk about Mama. It helped to know that Pops cared enough about us to ask Nana to come when Mama died.”
“He loved you, Eben. You were his son. How do you feel about the wedding?”
“In truth, I’m relieved. Lighter.”
“No chance you’ll get back with her?”
“No.”
“She could try to trap you.”
“Not going to happen. She was freaking out about her period starting, worried about looking bloated for the photos. Mind you, not worried about maybe not having a romantic wedding night with me. Photos. Sorry, that’s pretty personal.”
“It’s fine. I’m your sister. You should be able to talk to me about anything. I love you. I’ve got your back, brother. Always.”
“I love you, too.” He was quiet for quite a while, then. “Why didn’t I see it earlier?”
“Because it wasn’t part of her agenda.”
Memphis’s phone buzzed, pulling her from her musing. She glanced at the screen. It was the first camera, stationed where their drive started at the road, and it set off a chime in the house. They had a visitor.
No one else in the country was driven around in a full-size luxury sedan other than Trey Rooney. The second camera sent a video of the same vehicle. The black Mercedes-Benz sped toward the house as if it were on an interstate instead of the ranch’s private drive. He would arrive in minutes.
Memphis had a bad feeling. If the car’s speed was any indication, all hell was about to break loose.
Days after from meeting his family and their friends, Eben was changing, for the better. The surly, unhappy man was gone. In his place was a twenty-nine-year-old who was opening up and reexamining his choices, behaviors, beliefs, and himself. Nana shared stories and answered his questions from morning until night. Javier and the others pulled him in and treated him as family, encouraging him to stretch his wings. He smiled more often and asserted himself. And of course, the cherry on top was that he was single and happy about it.
Memphis eased out of the Adirondack chair and into the house to get her gun, just in case, locking the door behind her on the way out and jogging to the meadow to be with family and friends before Rooney was in plain sight. Within a very short time, something she believed was impossible, Memphis had become one of them. With them she felt safe.
The sedan slowed considerably before passing the tents and the motorcycles tucked into the shade of the trees, then drove on to the house where it stopped. Trey Rooney turned in a slow circle after exiting. His neon-white veneers beamed with satisfaction. It was a wonder he didn’t blind himself.
He skipped up the steps of the wide porch and pounded on the door. When it didn’t open, he peeked in the windows. Then he turned and focused on the tents, got back in the car, and was driven to the meadow. The car idled by the fence.
He’s looking for me or Eben. Or both of us. Bring it on, you sonovabitch.
Rooney excited and sauntered cocky-like over to the fence, trying to appear every bit the cowboy in his designer jeans, light gray snap shirt, and belt with a large buckle. His head was hat-free and those ice-blue eyes of his were now covered with mirrored sunglasses.
To intimidate. You’ve got this, girl.
“Who’s the asshole?”
Memphis burst out laughing. Javier’s question was spot on. “That there is my neighbor Trey Rooney, Arla’s daddy.”
“Eben dodged a fucking bullet.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
“I’ll just stay right here. Nice and quiet like, unless he unleashes. After all, Ransom did ask.”
“He did, and please stay. I can handle his temper, but if he threatens.”
“I’ve got you. We’ve got you, baby.” He slid his hand over her ass and patted it.
“Memphis Creed.” Trey made no effort to cover his insincerity. “I heard you were out of town and suddenly, you’re back. Did you open a campsite?”
“Trey,” she said, purposely exuding too much sugar. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Is Eben around?”
“He’s out with the crew. We like working on our ranch.”
“When is he expected back? I need to have a little man-to-man with him.”
“They’re overnighting. Can I give him a message?”
“Let Eben know the wedding is on.”
“The wedding is off. Permanently.”
He gave Javier a stern look and a curt nod. “Who’s this?” He lifted his chin toward the tents. “And all of them.”
“Not that it’s any of your business. Family and friends. We’re prepping for a barbecue, so I need to go. Later Trey.”
“Not so fast, missy. The wedding is on. He and Arla have commitments next week as husband and wife. Your brother is expected at our ranch tomorrow. The ceremony is at five-thirty.”
“Eben is not marrying your daughter. He is also declining any scheduled commitments. He told your daughter that. I’m simply restating my brother’s wishes.” She sensed a crowd growing behind her.
“You heard what my woman said, Rooney. Get the fuck off her and Eben’s property.”
Trey made the mistake of steeping in. He was immediately surrounded. Sweat spots suddenly appeared on his pressed shirt. Mr. Cool was ruffled.
Jack and Dierks went to the sedan, encouraging the driver in his seat to remain calm by flashing their pieces.
“Now see here, Memphis. These delinquents need to stand down. We don’t want their kind around here.”
“Trey.” Javier spoke quietly, but the dangerous chill was unmistakable. “Can I call you Trey?”
Rooney’s Adam’s apple bobbed several times and he nodded.
Javier looked fierce. If Memphis didn’t know him, she would be scared shitless.
“We aren’t delinquents, but we can be, ah, convincing. We’re family and friends of Ransom Creed and his daughter and son. We protect what is ours. We don’t appreciate you intimidating who we consider ours. If you don’t cease and desist, you’ll be tied up in court for the foreseeable future. I keep my promises. Walk away.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You’ll regret it,” Memphis said. “That’s my promise.” She waved her hand in the direction of his car. “Leave. Don’t ever set foot on our land again.”
* * *
Javier popped a squat. “Hey, brother. I needed to come and say some things before leaving. I love you. And I miss you like fucking hell. I was so damned pissed off that night, but I’ve seen that how we punished you for stepping out of line was over the top.” His throat burned and he sniffled. “I’m sorry as fuck.”
He dropped onto his butt and parked his elbows on his knees. “I’m proud as fuck of you and what you accomplished. The ranch’s future is secure. Eben dumped the fiancé. I can already see great changes in him. He’s going to be okay. He’ll be visiting Torch River soon. We’ve promised to immerse him in the Narrows’ culture. Your daughter is something else. Fierce, tenacious, intelligent, and gorgeous. You did good. Adopting her was a beautiful thing, man. You were a smart fuck to send her to us. She’s been a catalyst for healing. Secrets have been revealed. Overdue discussions are being had. Forgiveness is generous.”
He glimpsed the names carved in the tree’s trunk and cleared his throat. “In some ways I’m happy you left, or you wouldn’t have met the love of your life, married, and been a dad. I just wish you’d had more time with Lindy. If she was anything like Memphis … well, fuck, I can’t begin to imagine what not having her in my life would be like. She’s a light, Ransom. Memphis makes me want to feel. To live more wholly. I love her.” He chuckled and wiped at his eyes. “Whoever would have thought that?”
“Me.”
“Come here,” he said, the sightly-embarrassed feeling immediately evaporating as he realized baring his soul was okay.
She mirrored how he was sitting, but at an angle, facing him, their knees touching, her legs under his. Memphis took his hand in both of hers and gave him the most tender smile. “I love you, too.”