Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
She would stay out late.
He’d listened for her return all evening, even going so far as to put Cooper to bed earlier than usual. Not that his son was one for staying up late. He rose early like the rest of them and played most of the day when he wasn’t doing his chores.
“You waiting up for Hannah?” Will asked, coming down the stairs in a pair of faded boxers.
“Yeah,” he replied with a heavy sigh, rearranging himself in his favorite chair in the den. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m still dressed, and I even shaved tonight.”
Should he keep on waiting? He’d barely had any shut-eye creating her healing space last night, and tomorrow he had a million chores to handle along with helping Will with the lumber situation.
Will padded in his bare feet closer to his chair. “Want some advice?”
“Don’t round up every wounded animal or person in the county for her to heal? Tell me what you have in mind.”
“She stayed in town because she tapped into her happiness being back home. More of that will help her remember all the reasons to stay.” Will sat on the edge of the couch. “I’ll bet she’s at The Lucky Horseshoe with the Prentices.”
“She hangs the moon in those boys’ eyes, and God knows she and Jolene are tight. You should have seen their protective postures when I arrived at their house today to ask them to help build the center. If they had to choose between me or her, there’s no question.”
“Can you blame them?” Will picked up one of Cooper’s trucks off the coffee table. “She practically helped raise them with Jolene until she left. Now, I have something on my mind I need to discuss.”
A muscle leaped in his cheek. He knew what was coming. “If you’re going to try to talk me out of buying the lumber, forget it.”
Will dipped his chin, a picture of pure struggle. “I’m having trouble accepting the help. Even though we’re brothers.”
“Family always helps, Will.” His eyes lowered to Will’s scar. “You know that.”
“I do, and I’m grateful, but I want to assure you that I’ll pay the money back to the ranch as soon as I can. But the money situation has given me another idea. I know Hannah is still in her trial period, but maybe I should give her a stake in the whole center. What do you think?”
Ben stroked his chin. “Will, the center is yours. But I think she’d like that. Since you’re more familiar with her long-term plans, is there anything else she’s hoping for professionally?”
Will’s brow knit before he nodded. “Well, she and Neil do a lot of online education. I feel like she wants to teach.”
He felt a pleased smile crest across his mouth. “She loved playing teacher growing up. Don’t you remember how she’d make you and me sit down while she wrote on that old chalkboard her mom won at the school fundraiser?”
Will grinned. “She threw chalk at you a time or two for not paying attention if I recall.”
“She was always throwing something at me, especially back then. I’d tug on her braids, and she’d nail me with anything she could throw. Damn, how I loved those times.”
He’d steal a kiss when they played tag. Simpler days. Making him think of how he’d told Logan things were more complicated now.
“How about we build her a school, then?” Ben suggested. “Only, I’ll cover those costs.”
Sure, he would be using some of his horse fund money, but he didn’t mind.
Yes, he loved his breeding program, and he’d been slowly building that aspect of the Triple M’s income stream, but if this was something Hannah felt was important, then it would be a wise investment for the ranch as well.
Maybe a separate income stream, but if not, he knew the Triple M was doing well regardless.
Will leaned back, tapping the sides of the chair, dimples flashing. “I’ll offer her a stake in the morning and see what she says. You tell her about the school. While we’re on the subject of building, Ben, do you think we’re going to get reimbursed for the lumber?”
God, the whole affair drained the life out of him.
If Taft wanted to play dirty, he needed to anticipate what was next.
That kind of cat and mouse game wasn’t his style.
Ben liked everything straight up and straightforward.
“Honestly? I don’t think so. Our lawyer is doing what he can.
So is Logan. Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out. ”
“I know we will.” He stood and walked over, a soft smile on his face. “You’re a good brother, Ben.”
He could feel a tight ball lodge in his throat. This was the Will after the accident. The one who showed his heart more, who talked about having a second chance at life.
His brother’s example could probably show him the way on some matters. “Back at you. Now, go off to meditate or whatever it is you do at night. We’ll place that new lumber order in the morning with the new company we found.”
“Thanks, Ben. Good luck with Hannah.”
“I’ll take it,” he replied with sheer bravado. “I need all I can get.”
He finally went to his office and grabbed some work, but before long, he was nodding off in the chair. Telling himself that he’d feel better with a catnap, something he’d learned to appreciate when Cooper was a baby, he closed his eyes.
He awoke with a crick in his neck when his files slid onto the floor.
Looking at his watch, he swore quietly. Midnight.
Surely she was back. Where in the hell could she be out in Sanctuary Springs this late?
He supposed she could have gone back to the Prentices’.
Jolene closed The Lucky Horseshoe at eleven.
Rising, he stretched his back and headed to the front porch.
Sure enough, her vehicle—his truck—was back. He noted the house was dark. Should he just go to bed? Seeing if she was still awake at this hour was crazy, wasn’t it? He didn’t care.
The tree crickets were singing as he headed up to the house, along with the lone call of a coyote. Ghost trotted over to him, doing his usual nocturnal rounds. He took a moment to pet him, removing a thistle from his thick coat.
He’d have to tell Hannah to lock her doors if she wasn’t already.
Logan’s warning about Amber wanting to hurt her worried him, but he had to trust they had enough safety checks on the ranch.
Being a neighbor, though, she knew how to ride onto their land.
His stomach clenched. Cooper, he could protect.
Hannah being at Will’s complicated matters.
Maybe he should cowboy up and talk to Neil. He could probably handle a she-cat like Amber if needed, but it still grated, asking for the man’s help.
He picked up a handful of pebbles after sending Ghost off.
Looking up at the house, he realized he didn’t know which bedroom Hannah had picked.
Will’s primary suite made sense. He threw the pebbles and planted his feet, waiting.
No response. He was picking more pebbles, acting like a hen pecking the ground for feed, when he heard a window rise.
“She’s in the other bedroom around back,” a deep male voice called out in the night.
He jumped a mile. Hell and tarnation. He’d been caught acting like a lovesick boy with the man who was probably in love with his woman. “Thanks,” he called back, feeling an unfamiliar heat rise on his neck.
Heading around the house, he faced the windows. There were two bedrooms. Which one had she picked?
“She’s in the one on the right.”
He swung around, startled. Neil stood with his arms crossed at the corner he’d just come around.
Wearing that kilt-thing or not, he wasn’t someone you wanted to meet in a dark alley—or a dark backyard.
Ben realized that worked to his advantage.
Hannah had a bodyguard of sorts. He crossed to where the man stood.
If he’d come outside, there was a reason.
“Glad to see you’re keeping an eye out since we’ve had trouble. Something on your mind?”
“I only thought you should know that if you hurt her again, you’ll deal with me.”
Then he plum turned around and left Ben gaping at his departing form.
Deal with him, huh? He had half a mind to stride after the man and give him a piece of his mind.
He was staying on his ranch—for free—living in the same house with Hannah while he was down the road.
That Scot should be lucky he was the least bit civil.
He raked his hand through his hair before he remembered he held pebbles. Stalking back to the right window, he tossed the pebbles up toward the frame.
Moments later, the window lifted, and she stuck her head out the window. “Just like old times, Ben?”
Her hair was streaming down like it had then, and even in the dark, he thought he could see the makings of a cute little nightie—the kind she used to wear that drove him wild. “I waited up for you. I wanted to say good night.”
“I thought you were asleep already,” she called back in a loud whisper. “Jolene tried to make me a sucker bet about this. When I got home, I thought she’d been wrong.”
Was that disappointment in her voice? He suddenly wanted to climb the drainpipe and discover if he could see it in her face. “Nodded off working. Come out for a spell. Tell me about the rest of your day.”
Her pause had his solar plexus tightening. “Ben, it’s late.”
Indecision colored her voice, giving him hope. “Hannah, please come down. Even if it’s only for a few minutes.”
She knew he didn’t often say please. The silence made him jittery. God, what could he entice her with? He’d seen cinnamon teal ducklings in Moonbeam Pond when he’d ridden past the other day. She was a sucker for them. But it was dark, and they’d be tucked away.
“Fine, but only for a moment.”
He heard the window shut and took a moment to look around Will’s place. He rushed over to the massive hydrangea near the air conditioner and plucked a couple of early white blooming heads.
When he heard the back door open, he stuck his hand behind his back.
“Ben McAllister, you’d better not plan on jumping out of the dark and scaring me like you used to.”
He stomped his feet on the grass as he walked toward her. She stood in front of the back door. Unfortunately, she wasn’t wearing her nightie anymore but a plaid shirt and jeans. A guy could hope…
“I seem to remember you liked these.” Extending the flowers, he drew himself up. “Care to sit on the porch swing with me?”
He wished he could ask the real question he wanted.
Care to give me a second chance?