The Legacy of Copper Creek (19 page)

“Not that we got much sleep,” she said with a laugh. “But I see why you enjoy hearing the rain up here. It's really soothing. Everything about your life is soothing.” She stretched and reached for her shirt. “I'd better get moving.”

“Why? There's nobody here except you and me and Myrna. And she's used to getting her chores started before breakfast.”

Cara gave a shake of her head. “I can't remember the last time I had nothing at all to do. I'm not sure I'll know what to do with all this time on my hands. I feel like I need to get up and get busy.”

Whit set aside his coffee and bagel and reached for the buttons of her shirt. “Oh, I'm sure we'll think of something to do.”

She was laughing. “I don't believe you. Didn't you get enough of this last night?”

“Goldilocks.” He drew her close and covered her mouth with his. “I don't think I'll ever have enough of you.”

B
y late morning, the entire MacKenzie family had returned to the house.

Mad was the first to arrive, with Griff and Juliet and their boys, who'd flown in with Mad at the controls. Though Griff was prepared in case his grandfather needed help, the old man brought the little Cessna in for a perfect landing.

Willow and Brady were in the barn, unsaddling their mounts and turning them into the corral before joining the others.

Willow seemed surprised to see them. “You're just coming home now?”

“Spent the night with Griff and Juliet.” The old man kissed his daughter-in-law's cheek as she bent down to his scooter to greet him. “That was some storm,” Mad muttered. “It was probably worse up in the hills.”

Brady nodded. “It was a doozy.”

Juliet studied Willow and Brady. “Since your hair's not wet, I'm guessing you two found some shelter before it hit.”

“Just barely.” Willow strode along beside Brady, averting her gaze. Their morning routine had been awkward, since neither of them knew quite how to broach the subject of the previous night.

She turned to Mad. “That range shack up on the middle ridge will have to be rebuilt. We managed to stay in the lean-to with the horses, but the rest of the building has been destroyed by the weather. If the wind had grown any stronger, I doubt even the last wall would have survived.”

“I'm not surprised. That was one of my original shelters, built when Bear was a lad.” With the two little boys on his lap along for the ride, Mad maneuvered his scooter along the wooden ramp that had been built for him. “I'm sure you'll take a crew and get on it in a few weeks, Griff—that is, if you can spare them, Brady?”

The foreman nodded. “As soon as calving season is over, I'll pull a few wranglers from the herd. With an experienced builder like Griff to guide them, they'll have it as good as new in no time.”

Griff was all smiles. “I'm always happy to be working with my hands. Maybe you ought to check out the rest of the cabins once the weather clears, Brady. No sense wasting spring and summer without making necessary repairs.”

“I'm with you on that, Griff.” The foreman held the back door for the others.

They trooped into the house, pausing to remove wide-brimmed hats and mud-caked boots before washing at the sink.

Inside, Ash and Brenna were already drinking coffee and chatting with Whit and Cara and Myrna. The minute Casey and Ethan caught sight of Sammy, the chase was on and they raced into the great room looking for the pup's favorite ball to toss.

“There's lemonade,” Cara called to their retreating backs, but the two little boys were beyond caring, as long as they had the puppy in their sights.

Willow and Brady hurried off to their separate suites for a quick shower.

By the time a very late breakfast was served, the entire family had gathered around the table. While they filled their plates with omelets and country potatoes, along with thick slabs of ham, the talk centered on the storm and the havoc it had wreaked before blowing over.

After hearing about the range shack, Griff reported on the line of trees he'd spotted from the air. “A mile or more just flattened like matchsticks.”

Willow glanced at Cara. “I hope you weren't too frightened by it. The storms always seem so much worse out here, far from civilization.”

Cara was busy passing around a basket of rolls she'd just retrieved from the oven. “I guess I was just so mesmerized by the sound of all that lovely rain on the tin roof…”

She stopped and felt the heat burning her cheeks as she realized what she'd just blurted.

The conversation came to a grinding halt as everyone turned to stare at Whit.

“Busted.” He lifted his hands in a sign of surrender. “I figured the storm was the perfect opportunity for Cara to hear what rain sounds like under the roof of the barn.”

“That was really thoughtful of you, bro.”

At Ash's sarcastic comment, he was forced to duck when Whit tossed a hot roll at his head. Catching it one-handed, Ash tossed it back. It whizzed past Whit's shoulder and landed on the floor behind him.

Willow shot both her sons the famous hairy eyeball that every mother has mastered from the time her children are toddlers. “What a fine example you're setting for little Casey and Ethan.”

“Can you teach me to throw Sammy a roll, too?” Casey asked in all innocence.

Everyone turned to see the puppy devouring the roll that had fallen to the floor.

“That'll be enough of that.” Mad glowered at the two men as though they were children.

Then, turning to Cara with a deceptively innocent smile, he said, “Go on now, lass. You were saying that Whit took you up to the hayloft to hear the rain. How did you like it?”

Her face was flaming. “I loved it. It's something I could listen to forever.” Then she busied herself at the stove while knowing looks were exchanged around the table.

The sound of an arriving text on Brady's cell phone broke the silence.

The foreman read the words before typing in his response.

He returned his phone to his shirt pocket and glanced around at the others. “Carter needs help with the calving. I'm heading up to the highlands. Anybody care to join me?” He turned to Willow. “Sorry I can't be here to lend a hand with your business meeting with Lance McMillan.”

Willow plucked up her own phone and spoke in low tones. “Lance, this is Willow MacKenzie. I'm sorry to mess with your schedule, but I'm needed in the hills today. Call tomorrow and we'll schedule another meeting.”

She was smiling. “I'd rather spend an afternoon with the herd any time than be stuck in my office with Lance going over more of those tedious documents. And since he didn't pick up his phone, I was able to avoid talking to him and left a voice mail instead.”

“Okay, then.” Brady turned back to Whit. “With that storm, we never made it to the west meadow. Want to join us?”

“Yeah. Sure.” Whit glanced at the rigid line of Cara's back, hoping he could find a way to ease her embarrassment before he left.

Brady turned to Ash and Griff. “I could use your help, too. I'd guess, from Carter's text, those calves are being born in record numbers.”

“I'm in,” Ash said.

Whit nodded. “Count me in.”

Mad turned to Juliet. “I'll fly you and the wee lads home.”

“Thanks, Mad. But I promised the boys a little time at Brenna's studio.”

“That's okay.” Brenna winked at the two little boys. “Casey and Ethan can hang with me, and you can go home and do your thing. Then we'll meet back here for supper. Does that work?”

Juliet nodded. “Perfect. But I'd like to stay long enough to give Cara a hand with this cleanup.”

Cara turned, relieved at the change of topic but unwilling to be the center of attention. “That's not necessary.”

“It is.” Brenna picked up Sammy to keep him from eating any more of the scraps being dropped by the two little boys. “Since you cooked this marvelous brunch, the least Juliet and I can do is pitch in to help with the dishes.”

Myrna smiled at them. “That will free me to do some of my chores.” She flushed. “The house was so quiet this morning, I overslept. Now I need to catch up.”

Cara shot a quick glance at Whit and felt the heat creeping up her neck again.

He winked, and she turned away, afraid everyone could read her guilty feelings.

Within half an hour, Willow, Brady, Whit, Ash, and Griff were gathering their gear in preparation to head out.

Mad and the two little boys rode off toward the great room in Mad's scooter, with Sammy trailing behind.

During all the commotion, Whit managed to pause beside Cara, who was setting dirty dishes in the sink.

He tugged a lock of her hair. “Don't make too much of all that.”

“Really? What should I do? Just make a joke of it, like you do? Is that what I am, Whit? A joke to you and your brothers?”

His tone was rough with impatience. “You can't believe that.”

“And why not? I could feel what everyone around the table was thinking. You told me you and Ash used to sneak girls up to the hayloft. Why should I be any different than the others?”

“You are different, Cara. You're special. You're—”

“Come on, bro.” Ash stood in the doorway, bulging saddlebags tossed over his shoulder. “Let's get a move on.”

“I'll be right there.” Whit struggled to keep the frustration from his voice as he turned back to Cara. “When I come back, we'll talk. I promise. Okay?”

She hissed out a breath. “Sure.”

“I want to kiss you.”

She turned to peer at all the activity around them, her face bright pink. “Don't you dare. I feel silly enough already.”

He pressed two fingers to his mouth, then touched them to hers. “Okay. This will have to do until I get back. Then I'll give you a proper kiss. And we'll talk.”

She stood perfectly still, absorbing the tiny thrill of his touch along her spine. Then, with her hands still filled with dirty dishes, she turned to watch him stride from the room.

Minutes later came the sound of a convoy of trucks, some hauling loaded horse trailers, and deep, masculine voices calling out orders.

Brenna carried a stack of dishes to the counter while Juliet wiped down the table. Cara opened the dishwasher and began filling it with dirty dishes.

“So, Cara.” Brenna reached for plastic wrap before storing the remaining ham in the refrigerator. “What do you think about Whit?”

And there it was.

Cara swallowed. “He's been really nice to me. Considering the circumstances of our first meeting, he would have been justified in calling the police chief and filing a complaint about me.”

“That's not the MacKenzies' style.” Juliet crossed the room to join the discussion. “Since joining their family, I've been really impressed with their goodness and decency.”

“I wasn't just talking about the circumstances that brought them together.” Brenna cleared another plate and handed it to Cara to stash in the dishwasher. “Don't you think Whit is adorable?”

“A…dorable?” Her face went all red again.

Brenna laughed. “He's been my buddy for years. After Ash left town, Whit and his family took me under their wings. So Whit feels a little like my brother. And if you don't mind me saying this, I'm seeing something new in him since you arrived.”

Cara couldn't quite meet her eyes.

“He's…softer. Sweeter lately.” Brenna turned to Juliet. “Have you noticed it?”

Juliet nodded. “Remember how he used to tease all of us about being too lovey-dovey? He'd complain loudly that all the sugar made him gag. And now…I've been tempted to tease him about the change in his attitude, but I figured he'd just become defensive. I don't think he even realizes yet what's hit him.”

“Hit him?” Now Cara was intrigued.

Juliet glanced at Brenna before saying, “I guess it's contagious.”

“What is?” Cara closed the dishwasher door and began drying her hands on a dish towel.

“Love.”

Juliet's single word was met with a stunned silence, before Cara began shaking her head in denial. “Whit?”

“Whit and you.” Brenna's smile was gentle. “Honey, very often the last ones to know about it are the ones most affected.”

“Or maybe you should say ‘infected,'” Juliet added with a laugh. “I think the first stages of love sometimes feel more like the flu than the soft, fuzzy feelings the poets write about. At least that's the way it was for Griff and me.”

As the other two burst into gales of laughter, Cara watched them, letting their words sink in.

She had very strong feelings for Whit. Yeah, probably lovey-dovey feelings. But love? And even if it was love on her part, was it possible that he felt the same way about her?

She'd seen the way the females in Copper Creek looked at him. From Nonie Claxton and the women of all ages who hung out at Wylie's to the women on the street who practically swooned when he smiled at them, it was obvious that Whit MacKenzie could have his pick of willing women.

“I don't know.”

She was shaking her head when Brenna laid a hand on her arm. “I've known Whit the longest. And I'm telling you, the man's drowning in love. So, if you don't feel the same way about him, you'd better guard your heart. Because Whit MacKenzie is a man who always gets what he wants.”

“And from the look on his face at lunch, that man wants you. You may not have noticed, but I certainly did. Every move you made, his eyes were following you. And devouring you,” Juliet added emphatically.

Before Cara could respond, Myrna walked in.

A ping on Cara's phone announced an incoming e-mail.

When Cara spotted the address of the sender, she felt her face go all hot again and wished she were alone in her room.

“Something important?” Brenna asked.

“It's from a New York literary agency.”

At their collective gasp, she felt obligated to explain. “I realized that what you'd all said to me was something I really needed to hear. So I e-mailed half a dozen agencies that I found online, asking if they would be willing to read my illustrated manuscript.” She winced. “So far, this will make my third rejection.”

“You don't know that until you read it,” Myrna said as sternly as she could muster. “So go ahead, honey, and read what this one says.”

With her heart racing, Cara scrolled through the e-mail. Reading quickly, she looked up. “Well, it isn't an outright rejection. He says he's willing to read my manuscript, and if he likes it, he will accept me as a client while he tries to find an interested publisher.”

“You see?” Brenna hurried over to give her a hug. “You've taken that critical first step. And it didn't hurt a bit.”