Montana Hearts Read online

  “We can be your friends, too,” Nora said, smiling. “Would you like us to show you to your cabin?”

  Delaney shook her head. “No, we have to unload his horse and get him to his stall.”

  The twins pouted and Nadine pulled out her cell phone. “Let us at least get our picture with him. Can we, Jace, please?”

  Without waiting for an answer, the girl pushed the icon for the camera feature, held her phone up, and snapped a photo of him with her and her sister.

  “Someday, we’ll all be famous,” Nora announced, “and we’ll all star in—­”

  “Commercials on TV,” Nadine cut in.

  “Or maybe even Hollywood movies,” Nora added.

  And then, laughing, they gave each other a high-­five hand slap and chorused, “Score another one for the Walford twins!”

  Jace wondered if he should turn around, get in his truck, and leave, but the twins left first. And the rest of what he assumed was the Collins family had come out of the large main building on his left to greet him.

  Delaney introduced her grandma first, Ruth Collins, whose late husband had built the ranch decades before. Then he met Ruth’s son, Jed Collins, who looked a lot like her, and Jed’s wife, Loretta, who was an older replica of Delaney. Then there was her sister, Bree, and brother, Luke.

  All were a little overfriendly and overeager to shake his hand and welcome him. All except the two men in grubby chaps, flannel shirts, and cowboy hats who stepped out behind them and stood off to the side. They were similar enough in appearance with their brown hair and brown eyes and other physical features that he assumed they must be brothers. But not related to the Collinses. Maybe they were close friends of the family, or a ­couple of the ranch hands.

  Bree gestured toward each of them and called, “Ryan, Zach, don’t you want to come meet, Jace Aldridge?”

  Neither of the two men moved, or smiled, and a muscle twitched along the side of the older brother’s jaw revealing some kind of tension. Then after an awkward moment of silence, the one Bree indicated was Ryan informed her, “We know who he is.”

  Jace narrowed his eyes. How did they know him? Had they met somewhere or did they simply mean they were familiar with his name and weren’t fans? He decided to find out. Walking toward them, he stretched out his hand, but dropped it to his side when it became evident they didn’t intend to shake.

  Both Bree and Delaney had followed him, and when they, too, noticed his cold reception, both women looked at each other in surprise. Then Bree went to Ryan’s side and introduced him. “Jace, this is my fiancé, Ryan Tanner.”

  “Tanner?” Jace studied the two men further. “I have an aunt who lives somewhere around this area who married a Tanner.”

  The younger of the pair, the one he assumed was Zach, said, “Yeah, our mother.”

  Jace did a double take and gasped. “We’re cousins?”

  Delaney shot her sister an incredulous look. “Bree, did you know about this?”

  Bree shook her head and stared at her fiancé. “Ryan?”

  The muscle along Ryan’s jaw twitched again. “His father was my uncle, my mother’s brother.”

  “My father died when we were young,” Jace said, seeing a family resemblance between them all now in the shape of their jaw. “I don’t remember him.”

  Ryan scowled. “My mother remembers him and she remembers your mother, too—­and what she took from us.”

  Jace stared at him, not having a clue what he was talking about. “What did she take?”

  Ryan didn’t answer but Zach raised his chin and said, “Why don’t you ask her?”

  He would. As soon as her health improved. But for now his mother had enough stress without him adding more to it by peppering her with questions about the past.

  Zach moved closer to Delaney. “Are you busy tonight?”

  She hesitated, cast Jace a quick look, then said in a sweet, soft voice, “Yes, Zach, I am, but maybe we could get together another time.”

  Whoa! Were they dating?

  Zach tipped his hat toward her as he and Ryan made a move to head off toward the open-­sided arena. “I’ll take that as a promise.”

  A promise, my foot! The guy sounded like a fool flirting with her in front of everyone like that. Jace couldn’t be sure but judging from the way Delaney looked at the young man, she wasn’t as taken with him as he was with her. Then again, maybe Delaney wasn’t taken with anyone.

  Delaney didn’t say anything else, but walked past Jace’s truck and unlatched the back of the horse trailer, apparently determined to get Rio out and into a stall before he could change his mind and take the horse back to Bozeman.

  And take his much needed endorsement away with him.

  Chapter Four

  WHEW! SHE’D MANAGED to get Rio unloaded and settled into a stall just in time. From the uncertain look on Jace’s face after his encounter with the Tanners, she hadn’t been sure he’d stay. But he appeared satisfied with the condition of the stable for Rio. And really, with Rio unable to travel, where else could they go? Certainly not to the Tanners’ Triple T ranch, so that gave her the advantage.

  Rio poked his head out over the half door and rubbed noses with the mare in the stall next to him within the first few minutes. “Look,” she said, smiling, “Rio’s made a new friend.”

  Jace nodded. “Just like me?”

  She’d invited Jace to the ranch to get an endorsement but the only reason he’d come was for her. She’d seen it on his face the moment Zach asked if she was busy. Jace waited for her reply, his eyes questioning, and she knew she had to say something.

  “We have twenty-­six stalls, an open-­sided covered arena, and miles of trails, a ­couple that lead straight into the state forest. One of them goes up to an old abandoned silver mine where my grandfather used to work,” Delaney said, inserting as much enthusiasm into her voice as she could while trying to divert his attention. “What else would you like to know about the ranch?”

  Jace grinned and she had the unnerving feeling he knew exactly what she was trying to do. “Are you single?”

  “Are you?” she countered, dodging his question again.

  “As a matter of fact, I am,” he said.

  “I suppose traveling the circuit doesn’t allow you much time to date?” she asked. “Or at least not anyone you could date steadily?”

  “No, it doesn’t,” he said, and tried leaning his arms on the half door of Rio’s stall beside her, but Rio stuck his nose between them and nudged them apart. “What about you?”

  Delaney glanced at her watch and gasped. “Oh, my! It’s almost time for dinner and there’s a few more chores I have to do, but if you go on up to the main house I’m sure you’ll love the buffet. We’ve hired a fantastic new cook and I hear barbequed ribs are on the menu tonight.”

  “I could help you with your chores,” he offered.

  “Oh, no!” she said, perhaps a little too quick. But someone who enjoyed hunting couldn’t possibly help with the chores she had in mind. Smiling, she reassured him, “As a guest you aren’t required to do any work.”

  “Isn’t this a working dude ranch?” he teased.

  “Don’t you want to just relax?” she countered.

  Jace grinned. “I just want to be with you.”

  “Tomorrow,” she said, her cheeks heating profusely, “you can help me feed the horses.”

  “Promise?” he asked.

  The look he gave her stole her breath. Why did he have to be so good looking? Nodding, she swallowed hard. “I promise.”

  Delaney walked out to the toolshed on wobbly legs. If Jace Aldridge could make her weak in the knees his very first day here, how would she survive two whole weeks? Scolding herself for being so vulnerable, she recalled the vulnerability on his face when he learned the Tanners were his cousins.

  The revel
ation seemed to have thrown him for a loop. First his face had shown excitement over the discovery of a new relation, then shock at what they said about his mother, then a profound disappointment when they’d walked away. And after her experience with Steve, she sure knew what it was like to be excited about something, shocked by an unexpected turn of events, then deeply disappointed.

  Unable to help herself, her heart had gone out to Jace once again, just like it had at the rodeo when he saw Rio was hurt, just like it did whenever she saw anyone hurt. The fact this heartbroken hero was handsome was just too much for her to handle. She needed to get a grip. Tomorrow, she’d be more prepared. She’d steel her emotions and not let him affect her so much. And the easiest way to do that was to remember that he was a hunter.

  Delaney checked on the young doe she’d found the day before limping around with an aluminum arrow sticking out of the edge of its right hindquarter. Had to be from a poacher because the wound was fresh and bow season didn’t start until the next day. She’d removed the arrow and cleaned the red, triangular wound the tip had left. All the deer needed now was time to heal.

  She filled a bucket with fresh water and placed it in the outdoor pen beside the toolshed. Then left some corn, apples, and berries in a bowl on the ground in case the doe got hungry. The deer could probably jump the four-­foot-­high wood fence enclosure if it wanted to, but so far over the last two days, she hadn’t. Delaney figured her hindquarter was still too sore.

  Glancing nervously at the property line, she thought of the other doe, the one she’d lost several years ago when Gavin McKinley trespassed into their territory. She’d love to move her makeshift rehab unit closer to the house, but she also had to keep the animals away from her father, who had the absurd notion they’d pose a threat to their guests.

  Delaney checked on a few of the other animals and returned to the house, her mind on the fact Jace wanted to be her “friend.” She found Meghan, awake from her nap, and looking like she needed a friend, too. She sat on the floor of the living room drawing pictures with her crayons with her face scrunched and her lower lip sticking out.

  Kneeling down, Delaney brushed her hand over the top of her child’s head, bent to look at her face, and asked, “Meghan, what’s wrong?”

  She held up one of the colorful pages full of stick figures with different colored hair and pointed to the first set. “Ryan is Cody’s daddy.”

  “Yes, he is.” Cody was Ryan’s son from a previous marriage, and when Ryan and Bree married, he’d be Meghan’s cousin. Already the two had become so close even though Cody was seven and Meghan not quite three.

  Meghan pointed to another set of figures. “Here’s you, Bree, and Onkle Uke.”

  “You mean ‘Uncle Luke’?” Delaney asked, correcting her.

  Meghan nodded and pointed to another larger figure. “Grandpa is your daddy.”

  Delaney had a sinking feeling she knew where this conversation was going. With all of the new ­people coming into their lives this summer, Meghan had become confused about how everyone was related.

  “Where’s my daddy?” her daughter asked.

  Delaney gazed down into her daughter’s big blue eyes and the hurt Steve had caused them threatened to swallow her up all over again. What could she tell her? That she didn’t have one? That he didn’t want to be one? That they were alone? She knew the question would come up again sooner or later, but holding out for later, she pointed to another of Meghan’s drawings, one with two blue-­eyed, long-­haired, blond figures holding hands.

  “You’ve got a mommy who loves you very, very much.”

  Meghan drew her little brows together and a V formed between them. “But—­”

  “How about we sneak into the kitchen and snag one of Grandma’s fresh baked oatmeal cowboy cookies with chocolate chips, raisins, and M&M’s?” Delaney asked, hoping to redirect her thoughts.

  “Yum!” Meghan smiled, the crayon pictures forgotten.

  For now.

  JACE OPENED THE door to the refrigerator in his cabin, glanced at the complimentary bottle of sparkling apple cider and box of six homemade chocolate covered sea salt caramels, and decided that was enough for his dinner. No need for him to go to the main dining hall and face any of the Collinses or Tanners again. He wasn’t too hungry anyway, not after finding out he had a ­couple cousins he didn’t know about, one with his eye on Delaney.

  Taking his treats along with him to the couch in front of the fireplace, he admired the spacious interior of the log cabin with its rustic decor and plush, four-­star hotel bed. The Collinses had said they’d given him their best guest rental and he believed them. If he were to buy a house of his own, he’d want it to look just like this one someday. Only bigger. With a garage.

  He’d never had his own garage. He’d had barns and sheds, and even a storage unit for a few months while he was on the road, but he’d never had a place where he could kick back and fiddle with the chest of tools from his father that his mother had kept for him. His inheritance. The only keepsake he had to remember him after his mother had sold the ranch.

  Of course, he didn’t remember his father any more than he’d remembered the Tanners. He wasn’t even sure if he’d ever met the Tanners. If he had, it could only have been when he was very young.

  Taking his phone from his pocket, he tapped his sister’s number, but for some reason the call wouldn’t go through. Frowning, he stepped outside onto the small covered porch, and when that didn’t work, he walked out into the open field and held it up toward the sky.

  “I’m afraid your cabin is in a dead zone,” Bree said, coming toward him. “You have the best cabin but the worst cell phone reception.”

  He lowered his arm and scowled. “Figures.”

  “I wanted to welcome you again to Collins Country Cabins,” she said hesitantly, “and apologize for my fiancé’s behavior, and his brother’s.”

  “What can you tell me about them?” Jace asked. “How long have you known each other?”

  Bree shrugged. “I’ve known the Tanners all my life. They only live twenty minutes up the road and we all went to school together. Dean, Ryan, Josh, and Zach help their father run the Triple T cattle ranch, and on weekends Ryan helps us out with the mini-­roundups.”

  “Wait,” Jace said, holding up his hand. “There’s four of them? Four Tanner brothers?”

  “Yup.” Bree smiled. “Their mother can tell you they’re a handful. Always have been. And of course now there’s also Ryan’s son, Cody. The youngest Tanner of the bunch.”

  Jace stared at her, trying to take in the fact he had this whole other side of his family he’d never heard about. Never thought to ask about. Never knew existed. He shook his head and wondered if Natalie knew or even suspected. And why hadn’t their mother told them?

  He managed to give Bree a small smile and asked, “And you’re sure you want to be a Tanner, too?”

  Bree laughed and her whole face lit up with excitement. “More than anything. Ryan and I are set to marry next spring. Maybe you’ll come to the wedding?”

  “Doubtful. Considering the way my cousins blew me off.”

  “Oh, they didn’t mean anything by that,” Bree assured him. “Ryan and Zach both intend to apologize. And it’s my fault, really. I hadn’t told them you were coming and your sudden appearance just took them by surprise. Once you all get to know each other, everything will be fine.”

  Jace wasn’t too sure about that.

  “Ryan said my mother took something,” Jace pried. “Did he tell you what?”

  Bree bit her lip. Then nodded. “He said your mother stole his mother’s inheritance.”

  DELANEY THOUGHT SHE’D be able to manage her new public relations job, take care of her daughter, give the guests at the ranch riding lessons, and still have time to feed and nurse the sick animals in her care back to health on both her own property and
the wildlife rescue clinic.

  She was wrong. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t do everything, and after a long restless sleep, she woke up this morning and knew she’d have to tell the clinic she had to cut back her volunteer hours.

  Montana Wildlife Rescue occupied a small space at the end of the second block of shops in Fox Creek. They worked with the local veterinarian and housed a series of small injured animals until better homes could be found for them. Not only did they have the usual dogs and cats, but they also specialized in helping wildlife such as birds, possums, raccoons, and the occasional abandoned cub. Delaney usually came in three times a week to help, but now she wouldn’t even be able to do that.

  “It’s only for two weeks,” she told Carol Levine, head of the facility.

  Carol’s two full-­time employees, Mary Ann and Ben, commiserated, as they, too, always found it hard to juggle job, family, and their other responsibilities. But much like Delany’s own father, Carol was a little harder to please.

  “We’re already short-­handed,” Carol said, and waved her hand toward all the pens. “How are we going to keep this place clean enough to pass the county health inspection?”

  Mary Ann cringed. “And the cat you’ve been bottle feeding has gotten weaker. She’s going to need extra care over the next few days.”

  Delaney winced. What if the cat didn’t make it because she wasn’t here? Her stomach began to churn. “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to find someone else.”

  Ben groaned. “Looks like I’ll be working weekends.”

  “At least do me one little favor?” Carol pressed. “One that won’t take up too much of your time?”

  Delaney had learned a long time ago not to say yes to a favor until she’d heard what it entailed. “What do you need?”

  “Come to the rally we have planned on the twenty-­fifth?”

  “Of course,” Delaney said with a nod. The rally was more than three weeks away and she and her family would be rid of Jace by then—­and hopefully have his endorsement. There was no reason why she wouldn’t be able to make it.