Chapter 15

15

Tanner tried to put some distance between himself and Maisy, but it didn't work. Not with her sitting squarely on his lap.

Maisy definitely wasn't in her right mind. If she were, she wouldn't be trying to entice him—not after everything that had happened.

As much as he loved it when she bossed him around, and as much as he loved kissing her, he couldn't do it—wouldn't do it—when she wasn't thinking straight or fully cognizant.

Her lips dropped to his throat, and the pressure was hot and hard and demanding.

A hungry growl rose in his chest, but he rapidly swallowed it. Even as he did so, fresh desire swelled inside him. One little kiss wouldn't hurt, would it?

No. He shook his head. Absolutely not.

"Don't you want to kiss me?" Her voice held a note of indignance.

He didn't want to hurt her feelings by rejecting her outright. He'd already done that once, and he didn't want to do it again. Yet he had to refrain. He just needed to do so carefully. "Of course I want to kiss you, darlin'." He infused his tone with flirtation. "But I'm saving that kiss for a special occasion."

"A special occasion?" She released her grasp around his neck and curled against him so that her head was resting against his chest and her mouth out of reach and out of sight.

He exhaled a tense breath. "I'll make sure it's really special."

"I'd like that."

The truth was, there wouldn't be a special occasion for kissing her. Not anytime soon and not ever. All he planned to do was make sure she was healed from her gunshot wound and help her get settled someplace secure and safe. Then he would return to his life. In fact, maybe it was time to move on from his cabin on the lake. Now that she would no longer be living in the mountains nearby, what reason did he have for staying in his place?

A strange thought pushed to the front of his mind. He hadn't been staying in the area just for her, had he?

No, of course not. He hadn't moved on yet because his cabin had been within half a day's ride to visit Ryder. But now that Ryder was no longer at his ranch and hadn't yet made plans to return, Tanner didn't have to take his brother into consideration.

In fact, at their parting in New York City, Tanner had finally released Ryder from the responsibility of caring for him. His big brother had shouldered the burden long enough, and Tanner had wanted to set him free to pursue his own life with his new wife and baby.

Not that he didn't want to see Ryder again. He did. And he hoped they could stay connected. But now that Ryder had a new life and purpose, Tanner didn't have anything tying him down anymore. And maybe that meant that he needed to move to a new location.

He'd heard the trapping was plentiful farther west in Colorado, where there were fewer settlers. But maybe it was too late in the autumn to consider moving. He might not have time to get settled somewhere and build a solid cabin to withstand the winter—especially if he stuck around to take care of Maisy.

He glanced down at her. She was so delicate and beautiful that just looking at her made his chest ache.

So what if he had stayed in the area because of her? There was nothing wrong with that, was there? He was being a good friend to look after her, especially now, in the absence of anyone else in her life.

He veered his horse toward the ranch gate—smooth log beams that were connected like a large door post and surrounded the wide metal gate. The top log above the gate contained the words High Country Ranch in black metal letters.

Split-rail fencing ran the length of either side of the gate, bordering the wide pastures that made up the Blue River Valley. High C Ranch had some of the best and most fertile fields in the area, making it ideal for grazing horses and cattle. Pa Oakley had recognized that over fourteen years ago when he'd brought his family west from Kentucky to Colorado to start a horse farm.

It had been on the Oakleys' journey to Colorado in a covered wagon that he and Ryder had first met the family. At the time, Tanner had been nine and Ryder eleven. They'd run away from their last orphanage in New York City because Ryder had been growing too old to stay in the system.

Before that last orphanage, whenever they'd faced the risk of being split apart, Ryder had found a way to make sure they stayed together. He'd always figured it out—even the times when they'd been taken into the country to live with farm families that needed extra help.

But when Ryder had been ordered to go to an industrial school, Tanner had been too young to go with him. The orphanage workers had insisted that they had no choice but to live separate lives, that it would work out just fine, and that they would still get to see each other once in a while. Once in a while hadn't been enough for Ryder.

Ryder had packed their bags that same night, and they'd sneaked out and never looked back. They'd spent weeks stowing away on steamers and trains until they'd reached Independence, Missouri. Finally, they'd hidden in a supply wagon heading west.

At the time, Tanner hadn't understood what Ryder was doing or where he was taking them. Maybe Ryder hadn't realized what he was doing either. But now, looking back, the journey made sense. Ryder had wanted to go west in a covered wagon because that's the last place they'd been with their parents. And maybe subconsciously, Ryder had hoped he'd find their parents or perhaps find the part of their lives that had been lost.

But Ryder hadn't been able to remember anything about their past or their family, and the trip hadn't brought any of the memories back, not even the smallest hint.

They'd been discovered in the supply wagon, and thankfully the Oakleys had taken them in and invited them to travel with them to the high country of Colorado and help start the new ranch.

Tanner didn't know what other options they'd had—probably none. So they'd joined the Oakley family and had never left. When the Oakleys had suggested adoption, Ryder had agreed immediately. Tanner hadn't been so sure that he wanted a new family, because he longed for his old one, but he'd gone along with it because that's what he'd always done—follow wherever Ryder led him.

Tanner could admit that living with the Oakleys had been one of the biggest blessings that ever could have come their way. Pa Oakley had been a kind but firm man and had helped shape both him and Ryder into hard-working, responsible men. Ma Oakley had been equally kind and also nurturing and had poured love into them just as easily as she had her own four children. All the siblings had been accepting, opening their hearts to two lonely kids who'd been in desperate need of stability and friendships and family.

Over recent months, since Pa and Ma had died, their family hadn't quite been the same. And Tanner missed them both, with their wisdom, peace, and love.

But even now, with Maisy injured and in need of a place to live, Tanner had no doubt Maverick and his wife Hazel would help him. And Clementine would too. They would welcome Maisy without any reservations, and they would let her stay as long as she needed because they were kind like that. And because they loved him and would do anything to make him happy.

Tanner urged his gelding down the long dirt road that wound about a quarter of a mile before reaching the main house and barns, which were situated along the foothills of Tenmile Range. He couldn't see the buildings from the road—not past the pine trees that provided a buffer against the wind and weather. But the steady curl of smoke rising from the house came into view and greeted him as it did every time he came home.

Within minutes, he was reining in near the house, which was a sprawling log structure that was, surprisingly, just as sturdy now as when it was first built. With large logs and solid chinking, the home, with its large windows, was picturesque against the mountain backdrop.

Maverick stepped out of one of the two main barns—the mare barn—across the ranch yard. With dark hair and blue eyes, he'd always been a favorite among the local women. In addition to being good-looking, he was a charmer and a big flirt, which was partly how Tanner had learned to flirt—because he'd watched Maverick do it so well.

Now, with his usual swagger and wide smile, Maverick headed across the ranch yard toward him. "Look what the cat dragged in."

"Howdy to you too." Tanner usually liked bantering with Maverick, but not today. He wasn't in the mood for anything but getting Maisy settled into bed and making sure she was all right.

"Looks like you got yourself a woman." Maverick's voice held all kinds of questions.

Tanner wasn't sure how to explain his relationship with Maisy to everyone when he couldn't even explain it to himself.

Before he could think of something, the cabin door opened and Clementine stepped out onto the raised porch, wiping her hands on her apron. Her wavy blond-red hair was looped up into a messy bun with loose strands framing her face.

Of all the Oakley siblings, he'd always predicted that Clementine would get married first. She was the most outgoing and vivacious of all of them, and she was one of the most beautiful women in the high country.

But here she was, recently having turned twenty, still single and still living on the ranch. And as far as Tanner knew, she didn't have a steady beau, although she could have any fellow she wanted if she snapped her fingers at one.

Tanner wasn't sure what was holding Clementine back from getting into a relationship. Even though she was busy with her candy-making endeavors and hoped to open her own shop someday, that wasn't enough to keep her from finding love.

Clementine claimed that she'd fallen for Franz when he'd arrived earlier in the year and that she'd never recovered from him choosing her twin sister Clarabelle over her. But Tanner suspected Clementine's hesitancies went deeper than a love triangle gone awry.

Whatever the case, Clementine was always helpful and sweet and cheerful whenever he was home. Now, as she came forward with a smile, she stopped short at the sight of Maisy on his lap, her mouth open, her greeting forgotten.

It was bad enough having to explain Maisy's presence to Maverick, who was a little dense when it came to the ways of love. But Clementine? She was savvy and would scrutinize him and Maisy and figure out something was going on between them.

The lack of motion of the horse seemed to alert Maisy to a change, and she stirred against him. Without opening her eyes, she glided her hand up his chest again to his neck. "Have you kissed me yet?" Her words were somewhat slurred, but still clear enough, at least to him.

From the way Maverick's footsteps stopped short a dozen paces away and Clementine's eyes widened, he guessed Maisy's question hadn't been lost on them either.

"Now, darlin'," he said quickly, hoping the two wouldn't hear his response, "remember what I told you? We're waiting for a special occasion."

"What if I don't want to?" Her lashes lifted, and her gaze drifted up to his mouth.

At any other time, he would have interpreted her look as an invitation. And it would have sent him spiraling with desire that would have been difficult to resist. But with Maverick and Clementine both watching him with undisguised interest, his muscles tensed, especially in the back of his neck.

"I think I'd like another kiss right now." Maisy's voice wasn't quiet or private. No doubt the entire ranch could hear her request. At the very least, Maverick and Clementine had heard. "Please, Tanner. I love your kisses." Her lashes fell to her cheeks, and she let her hand drop from his neck as she leaned her head against his chest.

He wanted to knead the back of his neck and work out the ever-tightening kink. But his arms were full of Maisy, and even though he was embarrassed by the situation, he wouldn't ever do anything that would cause her harm.

"So..." Maverick's grin was widening. "Should we go away for a minute so you can get to it?"

Tanner tossed Maverick a glare before glancing down at Maisy to gauge her reaction to Maverick's comment. Her eyes remained closed, and she leaned against him heavily, as if she'd gone back to sleep.

Clementine had moved to the edge of the porch railing, and she was taking in Maisy's position on his lap, no doubt noticing the protective way he was holding her, as if she were a priceless treasure.

She was a priceless treasure, worth more to him than anything else. That was the truth, and there was no sense in denying it. But that didn't mean he had any right to the treasure—not when he couldn't promise to value her the way she deserved.

"Well, Tanner Oakley," Clementine said, her smile now growing too. "Looks like you've finally found the love of your life."

The love of his life. Was that the description he'd been fumbling to find?

As his arms tightened around her, he realized with a clarity that had eluded him so far that, yes, Maisy was the love of his life. He loved her more than he loved anyone else—even Ryder. In fact, he loved her so much that he was willing to sacrifice everything—even his own happiness in being with her—so that he could send her away and she could have the kind of life she'd dreamed of.

That was the simple truth.

An ache began to pulse in his chest.

"Tanner's in love." Maverick's tone held a note of both teasing and awe.

Tanner wasn't ready to admit it to Maverick and Clementine, but he didn't deny their statements either. "Maisy's been shot. Dr. Howell did surgery last night to remove the bullet, and he's fixed her up as best as he could. And now I need a place where she can recuperate."

"Shot?" Clementine's brows furrowed with sudden concern, and she started down the steps toward him. "How?"

As Maverick and Clementine helped him lift Maisy out of the saddle and carry her into the house, he explained the conflict that had escalated with her neighbor over her wolf. He warned Maverick that Smoke had followed Maisy down from the mountains and was probably nearby, although he hadn't seen the wolf yet today.

They placed Maisy in the bed in Tanner's old room—the room he'd once shared with Ryder and that he now stayed in whenever he visited the ranch. One of his recent journals was tucked under the bed where he'd left it, but otherwise the room was sparsely furnished, since neither he nor Ryder had ever owned much.

Thankfully, Maisy didn't awaken again during the carrying inside. Even if he could admit to himself that he loved her, he didn't want any more questions from his family. And they were sure to ask him more—and tease him more—if Maisy mentioned kissing him again.

Clementine lifted Maisy's head and slipped a pillow underneath. Then she smoothed Maisy's hair back. As she did so, she straightened, her expression radiating alarm. "Maisy's burning up."

Maverick had left to retrieve their bags from the gelding. Tanner, in the process of unfolding another blanket to drape across Maisy, halted and scanned her face. Her cheeks were rosy, and her forehead was now damp, with strands of hair sticking to her skin.

He placed a hand across her forehead, and sure enough, her skin was hot to the touch. He didn't have to ask Clementine what it meant. He already knew. Maisy wasn't getting better.

She was worse.