Cowboy Dreaming. Shawna Delacorte
in mind when you showed up here. You claim you didn’t know about Buck’s health, so that must not be the reason.” He furrowed his brow as he folded his arms across his chest. “Just what is it you want? Why are you here?”
The gray predawn sky was giving way to streaks of red and gold. The chilly early-morning air cut through her lightweight jacket, causing a shiver to crawl across her skin. Perhaps staying in the kitchen with her father would have been preferable after all. She pulled together more composure than she actually felt. “I don’t owe you any explanations. Now, are you going to help me with my things or do I need to do it myself?” Well, that said it all. Whether it had been her original intention or not, she had just committed to staying at least until the next day.
“Okay, you win this round. But we’re not through with this yet.” He fixed her with a hard stare. “I won’t allow you to upset Buck. Until I know what your game is, I’ll be watching your every move. All you have to do is look over your shoulder and you’ll find me.”
He unfolded his arms and turned toward her car. He was not through with Melanie Winslow, not by a long shot. To create a scene right now would only upset Buck, and that was the last thing Cody wanted to do. He had noticed the way Buck’s color had improved, the way his physical condition seemed to perk up around his daughter.
Neither of them spoke as they unloaded the car and carried her belongings into the house. She preceded him down the hallway toward her old bedroom. She reached out for the doorknob, then hesitated as the sinking feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. What in the name of all that was rational and logical was she doing? When had she lost control of what was happening? How had things suddenly become so twisted around that her overbearing father once again had control of her decisions?
Cody noted the hesitation in her actions, then the frantic look on her face when she turned toward him. He cocked his head and raised an eyebrow in a questioning manner. “What’s the matter? Did you leave something in the car?”
“Uh, no, I have everything.” She gathered her courage, opened the bedroom door, flipped on the light switch and stepped three paces inside the room before stopping.
Her gaze traveled around the bedroom, quickly taking in the entire scene, then returning to do a more thorough appraisal. It was just as she had left it. Obviously it had been cleaned on a regular basis, but the same bedspread lay on the bed and the same curtains covered the windows. Her early efforts at photography were still framed and hanging on the walls. Her bookcase still held her schoolbooks. The picture of her mother still rested on the nightstand. A wrenching tightness knotted in the pit of her stomach. All the old memories, all the old feelings—
“Are you going to stand there forever?”
Cody’s interruption startled her. She spun around to face him. “I…it’s been a long time…”
He saw it on her face and in her eyes. It was certainly not what he had expected. It was not the hard, defiant edge of a tough woman that she had tried to project since her arrival. Once again he saw the same little girl who had stood just inside the door of the parlor, looking so confused and in need of comfort.
“Would you rather stay in another room?” He didn’t know exactly where the question had come from. It just sort of popped out of his mouth. He certainly hadn’t been aware of any conscious desire to make things easier for her—not this woman who had caused his good friend so much despair and hurt.
Mel only half heard his question. She walked across the room to the nightstand, set her notebook computer and camera bag on the bed, then picked up the photograph of her mother. She had left the house so quickly that she had packed only one suitcase with the basic necessities and nothing else. When she realized that she had not packed the photograph of her mother she had almost gone back to get it…almost. She’d had to make do with the picture she carried in her memory and in her heart.
Cody carried her three suitcases into the room and placed them next to the closet. He certainly recognized the picture she was holding. It was the same photograph Buck had next to his bed, along with Melanie’s high-school graduation picture. He had not seen it so much then, not from the comparison of two photographs, but now he realized just how much Melanie looked like her mother. He wanted to say something to her, but didn’t know what to say.
Cody left the bedroom, left Melanie alone with her thoughts and memories, and returned to the kitchen. Edna had arrived and was busy fixing breakfast while Buck sat at the table. Cody poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down across from Buck.
Edna was a pleasant woman, about sixty years old. She always had a warm smile and a cheery word. Buck had hired her within two weeks of the double tragedy of losing both his wife and daughter. She had been a real blessing to the daily activities of the ranch. Nothing seemed to bother her. She took all emergencies in stride right along with her regular duties. It was through Edna, a little over a year later, that Cody had come to work for Buck.
Buck removed the pack of cigarettes from his pocket, but before he could light one Cody took it away from him. “You know what the doctor said about these.”
“You don’t really think these things could do me any more harm than has already been done, do you?” Buck picked up the cigarette, stared at it for a moment, heaved a sigh of resignation, then put it back in the pack.
“Breakfast is ready.” Edna set a plate in front of Buck and another one in front of Cody. “Now, you eat while it’s good and hot.”
Buck stared at the amount of food on his plate. “What are you trying to do to me, Edna? Look at all of this—eggs, bacon, hash browns, biscuits and gravy—there’s enough here to feed an army. I’ll never be able to eat all of this.”
“You just try your best. I mean to put some meat back on those bones of yours. Lord knows you don’t eat enough to keep a fly going.”
Buck drank his orange juice, crunched on a strip of bacon and ate a bite of scrambled eggs before turning his attention back to Cody. “Well, you haven’t said anything. What do you think?”
Cody took a swallow of his coffee before answering. He knew what Buck was talking about and didn’t really want to get involved in the conversation. “Think about what?”
“You know…about Melanie.” Buck’s face clearly displayed the fatherly pride he felt. “Isn’t she about the prettiest little thing you’ve ever laid eyes on?”
“Sure, Buck. She’s very attractive.” Cody quickly took a bite of toast, then added a forkful of eggs in order to discourage any further conversation. He had tried his best to sound neutral, to express neither enthusiasm nor displeasure. He went over the words in his mind, the edge of sarcasm attaching itself in spite of his good intentions. Sure, Buck. She’s very attractive.
He washed the food down with another large swallow of black coffee, not at all happy with the conflicting thoughts and feelings that suddenly flooded his consciousness. Absolutely, Buck. Very attractive, Buck. Even with tangled hair, rumpled clothes, no sleep and a surly enough attitude to keep most people at bay she still would have no trouble at all in capturing any man’s attention…at least, she sure captured mine.
“I’ve moved my things into my…into the bedroom.”
Cody looked up at the sound of Melanie’s voice. She had removed her jacket, run a brush through her hair and added a touch of color to her lips. His gaze traced the curve of her hip and the swell of her breast beneath the soft sweater she wore, a swell he had almost come to know intimately. Ah, yes…she’s very attractive, Buck. That, she is. His brow inadvertently furrowed into a frown. Very attractive, indeed…dammit. He took another sip of his coffee, hoping it would somehow wash away his totally unacceptable thoughts.
“Come on, Mel, honey. Sit down and have some breakfast.” Buck turned his attention toward Edna, his face beaming with delight. “Edna, I’d like you to meet my daughter. This is Melanie.” He gazed lovingly at his daughter as he continued to talk. “She’s finally come back home.”
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