Military Romance Collection: Contemporary Soldier Alpha Male Romance (22 page)

Did that bother him? Matthew wondered. He knew he couldn’t spend the rest of his life taking care of animals. The skills he had were valuable: he just had to figure out how he could rebuild a career for himself. That would mean leaving this part of Texas. He might even have to move further – out on the coasts, he’d heard, people weren’t quite as uptight about whether or not you’d served time before. He knew Jenn wouldn’t go with him – her heart belonged on her ranch – and the bond between them wasn’t strong enough to sustain a long distance relationship.

He sighed. Maybe coming to the ranch had been a mistake. Matthew had made the decision to come out here based in large part on Big Jesus’ advice. The big gang banger had been right about what the bureaucratic powers that ran the prison needed to hear in order to expedite Matthew’s release from jail, but the big man had hardly been altruistic in his counsel. He’d used Matthew’s information in order to track down Charlie and attempt to exact revenge – another reason, Matthew realized with a sinking stomach, that his brother probably wanted him to leave.

“Well,” he told the wan moonlight. “Either way, I’m not headed out tonight.” Matthew stepped off the porch and walked toward the pickup truck. He was pretty certain they’d left the level tucked behind the seats in the cab. It was exactly what they needed to give Ada the straight stripes she wanted for her new nursery walls. Once he grabbed that, they could get Charlie’s lines fixed and start painting.

Matthew rounded around the back of the pickup, headed for the passenger door. That motion brought him face to face with the largest coyote he’d ever seen. He’d practically stepped on it: the coyote jumped back half a step, as did he, leaving the two of them staring at each other with wary regard.

Coyotes have traits in common with dogs and wolves, but they’re also different than both.  Matthew could see, gleaming in the coyote’s eyes, a wolf’s predatory attitude. This was a creature that regarded him as food first, and a threat second, if at all. It had its mouth open just enough to reveal a row of sharp teeth, far more savage than any Matthew had ever seen in a dog’s mouth.

“Oh, boy,” he said, softly. “What are you doing here?”

In response, the coyote growled. The sound came from low in its throat, a hostile rumbling that turned Matthew’s legs to jelly. He could see the fur on the coyote’s shoulders starting to stand up, bristling around its neck in an attempt to appear larger.

There were times in Matthew’s life when he was convinced he was about to die. The moment when Amy discovered he’d squandered a quarter million dollars of her life’s savings had been terrifying; she’d screamed and threatened to kill him. Being locked up had had more than its share of peril. Then rushing at Big Jesus and hearing the gun go off, feeling the bullet plow into his shoulder – Matthew thought he’d looked death in the face before.

All of those occasions paled in comparison to standing face to face with the coyote. He could smell the beast. It was rank; it stank of flinty rotten meat. Matthew narrowed his eyes. The black flecks hanging from the coyote’s muzzle and neck fur must have come from the mare and foal that had been lost.

That thought enraged him. “Get out of here!” he shouted, bringing up his arms abruptly. The coyote shrank back on its haunches, but didn’t turn away.  Matthew shouted again. “Go on! I said get out of here!”

The coyote growled and squared up, planting all four of its paws in the gravel driveway. Matthew glanced in the back of the truck, hoping to see a shovel or something he could use to swing at the beast.  There was nothing. When he looked back at the coyote, he saw it had been joined by two of its packmates. Both of the new coyotes were slightly smaller than the one nearest him, but they all looked hungry and mean.

“Fuck!” Matthew said. For a brief moment, he thought about turning on his heel and running for the house. As scared as he was, he might be able to cover the distance in Olympic time. But he wasn’t sure that would be fast enough to outrun the pack of predators.

The coyote stepped nearer, emboldened by the presence of his companions. He growled again, wrinkling the skin on his muzzle to reveal more of his teeth.

“You’re trying to scare me?” Matthew shouted. He remembered a lesson he’d learned in the jail yard, witnessing countless fights between inmates. The loudest, boldest men had had to throw the fewest punches; others had backed away from men who were seemingly unafraid of bloody conflict. Matthew started moving toward the coyotes, waving his arms wildly and shouting. “Go on! Get the fuck out of here, you mangy mutts!”

As he got closer, Matthew was thinking about how he’d kick the coyote without getting bitten. He’d gone two steps when a small, furry beast rushed by his side. It was Daisy, who launched herself at the nearest coyote. She grabbed hold of it, biting into its shoulder just by its neck. The other two coyotes started to rush forward to join into the fray, but quickly dispersed when the booming crack of a rifle filled the air.

Matthew looked over his shoulder to see Freddie with the gun at his shoulder. He was taking aim on the coyote’s hindquarters. Matthew froze, uncertain what he should do next, when the shot rang out.

The coyote’s hip blossomed into a crimson spray of blood. It yelped and spun away, sending Daisy skidering into the gravel.

“Come here, Daisy!” Freddie shouted, hitting his hip. The little mutt obeyed, clearing away as Freddie took a second shot at the coyote. This one finished things; the predator went over on its side in a slump.

“You all right, man?” Freddie asked Matthew.

“I guess so,” Matthew said. All of the lights in the ranch house were on; he could see Charlie and Ada standing on the porch, looking worried. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Freddie nodded. “Until we get these bastards dealt with, we need to be armed. All the time” He cocked his head and looked at Matthew quizzically. “Have you ever fired a gun?”

Matthew shook his head. “Nope. I’ve been shot, but I’ve never shot.” He shrugged. “And the very last thing I need is my parole officer rolling up here and seeing me with a gun in my hands. I’ll be back in jail before you can say violation.”

“That is a problem,” Freddie agreed. “But the coyotes are here, and your PO is not.” He grinned. “Ranch life has a law all its own.” He walked over to the coyote’s corpse and nudged it with his boot. “And its own justice system.”

3

Ada was up before dawn. Charlie woke to find his bed empty and his house full of the smell of delicious food. He grinned, slipped into his jeans, and padded barefoot from his bedroom to the kitchen. There, he found his beautiful wife gently poking at something in a frying pan with a spatula.

“Hey, good looking,” he said, slipping his arms around her and kissing the side of her neck. “What’cha doing?”

“Making sure you all have a good breakfast,” Ada replied. “You have a busy day in front of you.” Being woken from a dead sleep to discover her brother in law had nearly been killed by coyotes in the front yard had rattled Ada; it had been very hard for her to go back to bed after that.  There had been coyotes in Tennessee, where she was from, but they were mostly wary creatures who’d stayed on the city’s edges, stealing meals from garbage dumpsters and the occasional careless cat. These actively predatory beasts were a new idea for her, and she didn’t like it a bit. “You’ve got to wipe those coyotes out before they decide to come up in the house.”

“Don’t worry,” Charlie said. “They’re not that dangerous.”

Ada raised an eyebrow.

“Anyway, we’re going to get them,” he replied. “Freddie’s dealt with this kind of thing before. So has Sean. They’ve got a plan. We’ve just got to make it happen.”

“I hope so,” Ada said. She ran one hand over her belly. “I keep thinking about Lady Lou, and how scared she must have been.”

Charlie was glad that Ada hadn’t seen any of the photos Freddie had taken of the mare. They only would have added to his wife’s fear and anxiety. “You need to put that out of your mind, honey. It was terrible, but we’re going to make sure it doesn’t happen any more.”

She shook her head. “It is what it is,” Ada replied. “I’m a ranch wife. You can’t tell me that this is a one and done deal.” The bacon popped in the pan, sending up a little shower of hot grease. She stirred it with her spatula, turning the thick slices over quickly. “We’ll get rid of these coyotes, but other coyotes will come along. Or bears.Or hyenas. Or some  other terrible thing.”

“I can promise you there will be no hyenas,” Charlie replied. He poured himself a mug of coffee, strong and black. “And after today, the coyotes that are around are going to know that this ranch isn’t the easy pickings they thought it was.”

“What about bears?” Ada asked. “Are there bears in Texas?”

Charlie shrugged. “I sure hope not.”  He reached over and patted Ada’s belly gently. “Aside from Teddy Bears. We’re going to have plenty of them.”

Ada smiled. “You’re cute.”

Charlie stepped closer.  He’d always thought that Ada was the sexiest woman he’d ever seen, but since she’d gotten pregnant, his attraction to her had grown tenfold. “Am I cute enough to go back to bed?” He kissed her gently, letting their tongues touch for only a brief second before pulling away.

“It depends,” Ada said, leaning in for another kiss. “Do you want your breakfast to taste great, or do you want burned bacon and biscuits?”

Charlie took his wife in his arms. “Burn those biscuits, baby,” he growled. He turned her away from the stove, so she wound up half seated on the kitchen table. His next kiss was made of need; Ada could taste the desire and want on his lips. Her legs were spread apart to accommodate her swelling belly. Charlie stepped between them. His bare stomach pressed against her. She let one arm snake up around his neck, using the other to keep her balance.

“Well, good morning, cowboy,” she said with a smile. Charlie’s desire was obvious; she could feel his need pushing out the front of his jeans. “It looks like we’re going to have some crispy bacon…”

“Something smells delicious!” Matthew announced. He came into the kitchen, evidently in search of a cup of coffee. He blushed scarlet on finding his brother and Ada tangled in their intimate morning embrace, and turned on his heel. “Uh, I’ll go see if the paper boy’s come by yet…” he said, as he retreated down the hall.

Charlie laughed and stepped away from his wife. “I guess he saved our bacon,” he said to Ada, giving her a quick kiss.

She got to her feet as gracefully as she was able and returned to the stove. “Just in the nick of time, too,” she said, sliding the meaty strips out of the pan and onto a platter.

They could hear the front door opening. “You’d better go after him and tell him it’s okay,” Ada said. “He’s probably so embarrassed.”

“Embarrassed?” Charlie laughed again and gave Ada a quick squeeze. “You mean he’s jealous. Look at you, all sexy and yum…”

“Go,” she said, waving him off with a laugh. “There will be plenty of time for that after you’ve taken care of these coyotes.”

“Promises, promises,” Charlie said. He poured his brother a cup of coffee and took it out onto the front porch.  “Here you go, man.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Matthew said. His blush was gone, but every bit of his body language indicated that he was embarrassed. “Didn’t mean to ruin the moment.”

Charlie laughed. “Dude, we’re married. We’ll have plenty of moments.”

Matthew took a long sip from his coffee mug. “Still, moments are better without an audience.”

“Can’t argue with that.” The smell of Ada’s cooking filled the air, wafting through the home and spilling out in the Texas morning. “But when that gets up in your nose, of course you’re going to come looking.” He laughed when the bunkhouse doors opened up. “It’s already got Freddie up and moving.”

“I’m surprised it’s not Sean,” Matthew said. The ranch hand was famous for his enthusiastic appetite, especially where bacon was concerned.

“Freddie’s hell bent we’re going to get those coyotes,” Charlie said. “I’m surprised he’s waited this long to go after them.”

“I think that’s because of us,” Matthew said.

Charlie gave him a look. “What do you mean?”

“Well, he’s going to need help,” Matthew said. “And I’ve never shot a gun in my life. You?”

“A couple of times now,” Charlie said. He shook his head. “But I wouldn’t say I’m any kind of a shot.”

“So we’re pretty much going out there to watch his back,” Matthew said. “After last night, I can understand not wanting to take on those beasts all by your lonesome.”

“How are you doing?” Charlie asked, looking at his brother out of the corner of his eye.

“Fine,” Matthew said. After the coyote incident, he’d retrieved the level, but his brother had been too busy soothing Ada’s rattled nerves to work on painting the nursery. Matthew had spent a sleepless night at his window, watching the darkness for any sign the coyotes had returned.

“Really?”

“I could live without having that experience again,” Matthew admitted. He shook his head. “But I don’t know if I can live here and not have that happen again.”

“Coyotes are part of life in ranch country.” Charlie agreed. “Freddie tells me they’ve been getting worse every year.”

“It’s the drought,” Freddie said, joining them on the porch. Sean was right behind him, appreciatively sniffing the air. “Less water means less prey animals. It makes our herd that much more attractive as a target.”

Sean nodded. “I know you all don’t remember this, but when we were kids?” He shrugged. “It was never this bad around here.”

“We had coyotes,” Freddie added, “but they were far and few between.”

“Now they’re everywhere,” Sean said. “And they’re breeding with dogs. That means they’ve lost – or they’re losing – whatever fear they had of people.”

“That one last night didn’t have much fear in him,” Matthew said. “He wasn’t the least bit scared of me.”

“They’re still wild critters,” Sean said. “If you get them off guard, where they don’t know what’s going to happen? They’ll run.”

“Daisy had absolutely no fear,” Matthew said, reaching down to scratch at the mutt’s ears. “She just went right for him.”

“Instinct,” Freddie said, sagely. “It’s deep in a dog’s bones to keep coyotes and other predators away from their home.”

“So if a dog’s instinct is to chase off the coyotes, how’s all this interbreeding happening?” Charlie asked.

“This is her home,” Sean said. “So she’ll fight to protect it. But if she was just out and about, and met herself a fine looking coyote?” He laughed. “Daisy would have herself a good time, make no mistake.”

“Those bad boys are hard to resist,” Ada said, stepping through the door onto the porch. “So you can’t blame Miss Daisy for any situation she gets herself into.” She laughed and gave Daisy a loving scritch behind the ears. “Do you want some bacon, Daisy Maisy? You want a treat?”

Daisy’s ears perked up at the word treat, but not quite as much as Sean’s. “Did you say bacon?” he asked. “Let’s eat!”

Ada had filled the table with platters full of food. There were pancakes and bacon, sausages and scrambled eggs, biscuits and a waiting pitcher full of steaming hot sausage gravy. She’d cut some watermelon and peaches up as well, and put that colorful bowl of fruit out next to a tray of buttered toast.

“Are you expecting an army, honey?” Charlie said with a grin. He planted a kiss on her cheek. “This looks great!”

“Be real,” she said. “Four hungry men and I’m pregnant? We’ll be lucky if there’s anything left!” Ada looked at Daisy and Grace. “Don’t worry, you two. I’ve got some treats for you in the kitchen.” The dogs followed her, their toe nails clacking on the ranch floor as they went.

Sean started piling up his plate. “I don’t know what you’re waiting for,” he said to Matthew. “We don’t have time to waste. Let’s get fueled up, and then we’ll go get those hairy bastards.”

“About that,” Freddie said. “We need to be strategic.” He carefully poured the sausage gravy over his biscuits. “I can’t have one of you all shooting me because you don’t know one end of the gun from the other.”

Matthew nodded, but Charlie looked irritated.

“No offense, boss man,” Freddie quickly added. “I know you got some idea what you’re doing. That’s why I’m thinking I’m going to bring Matthew around the back of that ridge with me, and have you and Sean come up from the south side. If the coyotes are there, we’ll pick off the ones we can, and flush the rest down toward you all to finish off.”

Sean nodded. “That sounds good to me.”

“How would this plan be different,” Charlie mused, spearing a forkful of pancake into his mouth, “if Matt and I weren’t here at all?”

Freddie laughed. “Then I wouldn’t be messing with no coyotes in the first place, since I wouldn’t have a job on this ranch.”

Charlie’s mood lightened visibly. “It sounds like a good plan. Just make sure you let at least one of them get away. I want my chance to avenge Lady Lou.”

Freddie nodded. “Don’t worry, boss. If I read those tracks right, we’re dealing with at least half a dozen coyotes. Maybe more.  I’m hoping that Matthew and I can handle two or three of them.” He tipped his head toward Sean and Charlie. “That leaves the rest for you guys.”

“Wait, what?” Ada said. “You’re sending four hungry, pissed off coyotes right at my husband?”

“It’ll be fine,” Charlie said. “We’ll be ready for them.”

Ada shook her head. “I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not,” Charlie said. He looked pointedly at her belly. “You’re not even supposed to be riding right now.”

“I’ll take the four-wheeler,” Ada replied.

Charlie looked skeptical.

“Charlie, I worked for the IRS. Do you really think a little pack of coyotes is going to scare me?”

“They scared me plenty,” Matthew said. “I’m not going to lie and say they didn’t.” He looked at Charlie, trying to read his brother’s expression and failing. “I know this isn’t my place at all, but if I know you’re out there, I’m going to be worried about the coyotes coming after you.”

Sean nodded. “I’d feel better with you safely in the house,” he said. Ada glared at him. “Ma’am. It’s true. If something happens to you, who’s going to cook my bacon?”

Everyone laughed, lightening the mood.

“I promise it’s going to be okay,” Charlie said. “I’ll be as careful as I can be, and we’ll get rid of these coyotes. Then you won’t have to worry at all.”

“I don’t know about that…” Ada began, pausing when a ringing sound filled the air. She looked at her husband. “That’s your phone.”

Charlie stood up from the table and got his phone.  The conversation around the table grew hushed as he talked; everyone concentrated on filling their stomach with Ada’s delicious food. A long moment passed, and then Charlie said, “Great! We’ll see you then!”

He came back to the table and smiled at Ada. “So now we’ve got another reason why you can’t be riding around on a four-wheeler, hunting coyotes…”

“And what’s that?” she replied, popping a piece of watermelon into her mouth.

“You’re going to like this,” Charlie teased.

“Tell me!”

“David’s going to be here today!” Charlie said. “That was him on the phone. He’s back stateside now, and is good to go. He should be here around lunchtime, maybe a little after.” He leaned over and gave his wife a kiss. “And he said he’s bringing a little surprise with him.”