Endless Trails Page 7

  Securing his arm tighter around her, Ryland looked at Dean, but spoke to Amy. “You’re not going alone. I’ll come with you and grab Cody. You’re in no condition to carry that boy. Dean, if it’s all right with you, I’ll run up with her and get her settled and then come back to see if you need any more help.”

  “That’s mighty fine of you. It’s even your day off. I appreciate the help.” He looked around at the dispersing ranch hands. He lowered his voice to a threshold only the three of them could hear. “Nate’s gone, isn’t he.” It wasn’t a question and Dean’s significant disappointment made itself known as his normally smiling face was sullen.

  Amy glanced sharply at Ryland. He’d left to chase after Nate and he’d returned without him.

  “Yes, sir. He’s gone. I went after him, but he...” Ryland shrugged, walking alongside Amy.

  Dean sighed, keeping his pace sedate for Amy’s slow going. “Nate’s got some demons chasing him. As soon as he faces them, he’s going to find more happiness than he thought possible. Until then... Yeah, that man had the look of a wanderer. Kind of like you, Ryland.”

  Agreeing with Dean seemed like stating it was raining with a hurricane whipping through her hair. Amy kept her mouth shut, but she had so many questions that she couldn’t ask because she feared what it would push him to do. Leave or stay. He had to choose on his own.

  The three of them went into the main house, and Mary’s face lit up when she saw them together. “I’m glad to see you’re with the right cowboy, Amy. I wondered there for a minute, if I had your type pegged wrong.” She winked as she placed Cody into Ryland’s open arms.

  “Um...” Amy glanced sharply at Ryland and then back at the grandmotherly type woman. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. When was I with the wrong one?”

  Mary shrugged innocently, gathering the diaper bag contents and tucking them securely inside the black confines. “I just saw you with that foreman —”

  “Ex-foreman. He’s no longer welcome at Bess Ranch.” Dean scowled, pouring a glass of water and handing it to Amy. “He’s overstepped his bounds one too many times, now.” He winked once at Amy, nodding his head tightly and crossing his arms as if that was that.

  “Oh, well, that’s good. He wasn’t very nice to have around anyway.” Mary gave the bag to Ryland. She moved to the table and spied Amy’s arm. She rushed to her side. “Oh, my word, girl, let’s get that cleaned up.”

  As Amy allowed Mary to maneuver her to the table to administer to her scrape, she couldn’t help casting a startled peek at Ryland. Had he thought that about Amy? He couldn’t actually think she was interested in Kevin... Could he?

  Ryland ignored the conversation, as if he agreed with Mary.

  Had everyone figured Amy and Ryland were together? It wasn’t something that she was saying no to, but a little bit more interest on his part would be more reassuring.

  Her soreness ebbed, but she didn’t trust she was steady enough to take Cody. She smiled at Mary who cleaned and bandaged her arm. “Thank you for watching him. Did you have fun?”

  Mary reached over and squeezed Cody’s little foot while he was cradled in Ryland’s arms. “I would love to do it again. I’m available a night next week.” She arched her eyebrow and wiggled her fingers coyly.

  She wasn’t very subtle. Amy appreciated that and she hoped Ryland picked up the hint. She didn’t want to lose a chance with him, because she didn’t know how to be forward. At the same time, she didn’t want to fall for him, if he wasn’t going to stick around.

  The problem with Buck was she hadn’t wanted him around and he wouldn’t leave.

  The problem with Ryland was she wanted him around and he might not want to stay.

  Chapter 11

  Ryland

  After settling Amy and Cody into the cabin and making sure she was okay enough to take care of Cody and herself, Ryland ducked outside to call his brother. He had a lot to report and it wasn’t good news.

  He hoped Damon wouldn’t answer the call. Resting his boot on a rung to the ladder leading up to the barn loft, he leaned to the side to stare up at the ceiling. Was he going to be let off the hook? Would he be able to handle the disappointment and did he have a plan in place for when Damon asked for one?

  After the third ring, he was sure that Damon wasn’t going to answer and relief dispelled his nerves. He would just have to leave a voicemail. Then Damon picked up and Ryland squeezed his eyes shut and frowned.

  “Yeah, Ryland, give me good news.” Damon’s frustration was palpable.

  “Nope. I wish I had something good for you. But I don’t. Nate’s gone. He left this morning.” Ryland didn’t hold back, or flower it for Damon. He had to tell Damon so Damon could tell Jareth what was going on. No one wanted excess fluff.

  “Go get him! Why are you calling me? You were going to bring Nate back. Do whatever it takes. We can’t keep on like this for long.” His desperation reverberated in Ryland’s gut, retrieving the guilt he’d stamped down at not chasing after Nate.

  “I don’t know. I’ve...” Ryland closed his eyes and lowered his head. He couldn’t tell Damon what was going on. Damon would laugh at Ryland’s reason to stick around Bess Ranch. Especially since Ryland was the one who had been so high strung about going after Nate and bringing him home. He’d spent so much time convincing the rest of the Trails they needed Nate, it was foolish he’d just backed off.

  “Why? What’s stopping you?” But Damon’s exasperation didn’t encourage Ryland’s confidence.

  “There’s something here I need to do.” That was as far as Ryland would get into it. Damon didn’t need more than that.

  Damon sighed, hardening his tone. “Nothing is as important as this family. Go get him back. Quit messing around. We need your help back here. Some wolves got into the bison and there’s a lot of work to be done on the back fence. If you’re bored there, then come back.”

  “Got it.” Ryland hung up. Of course, he would have to call and talk to Damon when he was having a hard day. Damon wasn’t going to understand what Ryland needed to do.

  How could he understand when Ryland didn’t know exactly what was going on either?

  Ryland made his way back to the cabin. He had to talk to Amy. He had to figure out just what he was sticking around and hoping for.

  Amy rested on the couch, reading a book. Cody slept peacefully in a bassinet to the side of the couch.

  He tapped his finger on the edge of the couch and nodded toward the baby supplies. “Mary set you up really well with all the baby stuff, huh?”

  Amy glanced up from the book and set it down, surprised. “Hi, I didn’t hear you come in.” She looked where he pointed. “Yeah, she’s taken to Cody so she keeps sending me home with stuff. I think she’s hoping it will make me stay.” She coughed embarrassedly and sat up on the couch. “Sit with me. We haven’t had a chance to chat lately.”

  He claimed a spot on the cushion six inches from her. “I need someone to bounce ideas off of, is that okay?” He’d never admit it, but he needed some kind of consolation that she wasn’t interested in Kevin.

  “Of course. I love talking to you.” Amy tucked a bookmark in the page she was reading and set it to the side. “Mary gave me this book. It’s by some guy named Louis. It’s all about the west. I kind of like it. I didn’t think I would, but he has some pretty cute cowboys in it.” She winked and folded her hands in her lap. “So, what’s up? I was hoping to go on a walk with you today but you weren’t here when I got out from Mary’s. She wanted to watch Cody. So...” She took a deep breath. She must be nervous with the constant chatter.

  “Yeah, I went after Nate.” Ryland leaned his head back. The brim of his hat hit the couch and toppled forward, so he pulled it off and set the bucket on his chest. “He just left. I feel like it was because I was here he didn’t want to be around me. Does that make sense?” He hoped it made sense to someone, because it didn’t make sense to him.

  “That’s awful, that he just le
ft. I’m so sorry.” Amy scooted closer to Ryland, tucking her feet up under her and bracing her elbow on the couch by his head.

  He was distinctly aware of her nearness and wanted to tell her he was starting to care for her, but he didn’t know how to start the conversation. He wasn’t a relationship type of guy. With her though... he could learn.

  “What are you going to do? I know you said you have to get him back. Are you leaving here?” She bit her lip and watched him, her fingers laced together around her knee.

  He turned his head so he could see her fully and watch her reactions while he spoke. “I don’t know what to do. Part of me wants to stay here, but a bigger part of me needs to go get him and finish what I started.” He watched her and didn’t look away. “What do you want, Amy?” Please, want me, please, say you want our relationship to go further.

  Somber and wide, Amy’s brown eyes intensely focused on him. “I want to be safe. I want my baby to be safe. Buck is still looking for me and until I’m free from him, there’s nothing else I want.” She looked toward the carpet and rubbed at her cheek.

  Something inside of Ryland screamed that she wasn’t being honest. Screamed that there was so much more than what she was saying. His pride wouldn’t let him push. She didn’t want to claim him, than he wouldn’t push it.

  “Do you need more formula? I can run into town for some stuff. Diapers?” He wanted to be indispensable to her, and he didn’t know how to be what she needed. She tried so hard to do everything herself.

  “No, I’m good. Thank you.” Amy moved to the side of the couch.

  Ryland reach out and stopped her. “I’m not going to push you, Amy. I know you’ve gone through a lot. You’re probably gun shy about men. But I want you to know, that I’m interested in more. With you. I mean between us.” Heat crawled up his neck and face. Why couldn’t he be suave and say just the right thing?

  Instead of fear widening her eyes, interest and delight placed a smile on her lips. “I’m interested, but I don’t what you to be shackled with a mom and her kid. I’ve already slowed you down.” Her excitement faded as her words sank into her own heart.

  Ryland could see that she was conflicted. He nodded to take the pressure off. “Look, let’s talk about our options when I get back. There’s a lot more to cover than just a few minutes will give us.” He sat forward, bringing himself close.

  He brushed his fingers down the sides of her smooth cheeks and studied her face.

  She didn’t move, as if she suspected that any movement would scare him off.

  But nothing was going to scare him off. He framed her face in his hands and pulled her softly to him. When their lips touched, he could see why men would move mountains for women. If she asked, he’d lasso the moon and hand it to her.

  He pulled away, her eyes were half-lidded and her breathing had shallowed. “We’ll talk more... when I get back.” His murmur held a wealth of meaning.

  ~~~

  Since Ryland didn’t need anything at the grocery store, he pulled into the hardware store and got a few items Dean needed.

  Dean had also asked that Ryland stop in See’s Tavern. He claimed a booth in the back of the dark interior. Mid-day and he could barely see inside.

  He didn’t really know what to do. He was grateful Dean had asked him to stop in to make sure Kevin wasn’t causing problems in Godfrey

  Ryland needed some time to think. Did he stay and pursue things with Amy? His heart thrummed harder at the mere thought of her. He couldn’t stop thinking of her which meant his heart would slow down.

  They shared a small cabin. He could hear her breathing at night. When she fed the baby, he could hear them moving around. He didn’t want to miss out on anything with her.

  But Damon had told Ryland to get Nate. Nothing else was is important. Was that true? Was nothing as important as family?

  How could Ryland make Amy an important part of his family, if he didn’t give her the priority that she needed?

  The bartender dropped off the soda Ryland ordered. He’d never been a fan of drinking, especially when he was on the job.

  Ryland downed two pops and considered going back to the ranch as he dug through his wallet for some cash to pay his tab.

  A rowdy Kevin pushed through the front door, light spilling around him.

  Ryland pulled back into the shadows.

  Kevin had obviously had a few drinks before coming to the tavern. His loud, brash voice announced over and over that he was the foreman as he stumbled to the side.

  A group of men Ryland had ignored when he’d come inside, stood closer to the front of the bar. Kevin bumped into one of them. The man pushed back.

  Grumbling, Kevin tottered to the counter and yelled at the bartender. “I’ll tell you what, stay away from uppity blondes and their brats. There’s one out at Bess Ranch. You would think she owned the place rather than just being a new hire. She had the best thing going for her, I’m the foreman.” He threw back a shot and tapped the glass. “Keep ‘em comin’. Yeah, that Amy, she’s going to get hers.” He looked around to make sure people were listening to him.

  A dark, hulking figure pushed from the group of men standing off to the side. His voice was dark and rumbly and carried around the bar when he tapped Kevin’s shoulder. “You said her name’s Amy? She’s got a kid?”

  Kevin looked up at the taller man and nodded his head jerkily. His eyes grew wide with eagerness. “That’s right. I couldn’t get anywhere with her. She’s pretty picky.”

  “Where might I find Bess Ranch?” The man tapped Kevin’s glass. “This one’s on me.”

  “Thank you. Finally, someone who appreciates me.” Kevin smirked smugly at the bartender as he poured the next drink.

  Another man from the group called out, “Buck, we can find it. Let’s find this girl so we can get back to partying.”

  Ryland’s stomach dropped like a rock. Buck. The jerk had found Amy. Ryland had to do more than just tell her he was going to protect her. He would have to step up and actually save her. The realization that he wanted nothing more than to protect her almost bent him over.

  Stepping from the booth, Ryland tried to keep an ear on what Kevin and Buck were saying while keeping out of sight.

  Kevin muttered directions that would take Buck the roundabout way. His slurring words obviously said that he was more than half tipsy. He must’ve drunk more than Ryland had assumed before coming to the bar.

  Kevin and Buck turned toward the group, their backs facing out.

  Taking his chance, Ryland stepped out the back door, rounding the building and getting to his truck. How had the afternoon slipped away so fast?

  The sun would set soon and he had to warn Amy. The more time she had to protect herself, the better. Ryland would need to give the Besses a head’s up. They might even be able to get the ranch hands to work together to protect Amy and her son.

  He opened the door, grabbing the hand rails to climb in.

  A sniveling voice muttered, “I’m not as drunk as you thought, Johnson.”

  When Ryland turned to look, he didn’t get far. A rock smacked him in the side of the head and he blacked out.

  Chapter 12

  Amy

  The autumn sun set a lot earlier than the summer sun – no matter how warm the days were. Even the moon seemed to sense that it wasn’t summer still as it pulled further away in the night sky.

  Amy paced in the living room, waiting for Ryland. He’d promised they would talk and she hoped that would also include kiss some more.

  Cody was in bed and Amy had cleaned the kitchen, straightened the living room, and changed her shirt three times. She might have done her hair a couple times, too.

  The fluttering in her chest wouldn’t stop when she thought about him saying he was interested in her. He was interested. In her.

  She missed him. She hated when he was gone. The rest of the ranch was settled down for the evening, couldn’t be later than seven but the sun was down and it felt much later
. Was it too late for a date or something that would lead to more time together?

  The grumble of a truck engine pulling up stilled her.

  Ryland.

  What would she say? They could talk. That was the plan. She had to tell him she wanted to see him in a different way. She knew that she had pushed friendship on him, but she really wanted to date him. Although how much could someone “date” when they lived together?

  She needed a romantic connection between them. The spark when they touched deserved something deeper. Even though she was attracted to him, she didn’t want to give their possible future a false start with just physical attraction and no foundation.

  Would he think she was on the rebound from Buck? She had to make sure to tell him she hadn’t cared for Buck in a while. Probably around the time when she found out she was pregnant. She’d been cautiously excited. When she’d told him about the baby, he’d slapped her. It was the first time he’d ever hit her. Sadly, it wasn’t the last, but it was the one that had the most impact.

  Did Amy sit on the couch and wait for him? Or did she walk over to him and welcome him? She wiped her damp palms on her pants. How did she do this? She wasn’t good at the girlfriend thing. Anytime she had tried to show affection to Buck, he’d laughed at her. Any time she hadn’t shown it, he’d yelled.

  Amy took a deep breath. She wasn’t with Buck. What did she want to do? She wanted to run into his arms. The thought made her laugh softly. That wasn’t very logical so what was the next best thing? How about greeting him at the door?

  Okay, come on, Amy. Don’t be nervous. She stood by the door and then turned the door handle. Wait, was that too desperate?

  She chuckled. What was wrong with her? Footsteps on the stairs had her rolling her eyes. She called out, as she held open the door, letting the cool air steal the warmth of the house. “I cannot believe this. I’m so nervous to see you. Is that stupid?” Hopefully, Ryland would say no and he was just as nervous as she was.