Rancher Rescue. Barb Han
his chin toward the kitchen. “Sounds like we have company.”
He stood and held out his hand.
By the time Katherine limped into the kitchen with Caleb’s help, the table was filled with men. As soon as they saw her, chatter stopped and they stood. There were half a dozen cowboys surrounding the table.
“Ma’am.” Matt tipped his hat.
She smiled, nodded.
Caleb led her to the sink to wash her hands and blot her face with a cool, wet towel.
“Take my seat,” he said, urging her toward the head of the table.
Matt leaned forward, staring, lips pinched together.
As soon as she thanked the cowboy and sat, conversation resumed.
He handed her a plate of ribs and beans. She smiled up at him to show her gratitude.
He brought her fresh iced tea before making his own fixings and seating himself at the breakfast bar.
She looked down the table at the few guys. These must be the boys he’d referred to earlier.
Yep, he took care of everyone around him, including her.
* * *
WHENDINNERWASover, Caleb excused himself and moved to the back porch. Remnants of Katherine’s unique smell, a mix of spring flowers and vanilla, filled his senses when he was anywhere near her. He had to detach and analyze the situation. He needed a clear head. He could think outside.
Katherine had clearly been through hell. An unexpected death and a kidnapping within a week?
Before he could get too deep into that thought, the screen door creaked open and Matt walked out.
“Tough situation in there,” he said, nodding toward the house.
“You believe her now?”
“Hard to dispute the evidence.” He held his toothpick up to the light. “I didn’t mean to insult her before. I didn’t know what to believe.”
“Can’t say I wouldn’t be suspicious, too, if I hadn’t seen her moments after the fact.”
“I know you’re planning to help, and it’s the right thing to do, but is there something going on between you two?”
He clamped his mouth shut. Shock momentarily robbed his voice.
“No. Of course not. I met her five minutes ago. What makes you think otherwise?”
“You have a history of getting involved with women in crisis.”
“I’d help anyone who needed it.”
“True.”
Matt didn’t have to remind him of what he already knew. He had a knack for attracting women in trouble. Did he feel an attraction to Katherine? Yes. Was she beautiful? Yes. But he knew better than to act on it. The last time he’d rescued a woman, she’d returned the favor by breaking his heart. She’d let him help her, but then deserted him. He needed to keep his defenses up and not get involved with Katherine the way he did with the others. Period.
That being said, he wouldn’t turn away a woman in trouble. Did this have something to do with his twisted-up childhood? He was pretty damn sure Freud would think so.
Tension tightened Matt’s face. “Just be careful. When the last one walked out, she took a piece of you with her. You haven’t been the same since.”
“Not going to happen again.”
Matt arched his brow. “If I’m honest, I’m also bothered by the fact there’s a kid involved.”
Figured. Caleb knew exactly what his friend was talking about. “My ex and her little girl have nothing to do with this.”
“No? You sure about that?”
“I don’t see how Katherine’s nephew being kidnapped has anything to do with my past,” Caleb said. Impatience edged his tone.
“A woman shows up at your door with a kid in crisis and you can’t see anything familiar about it? I’ve known you a long time—”
“You don’t have to remind me.”
“Then you realize I wouldn’t come out of the blue with something. I think your judgment’s clouded.” Matt’s earnest eyes stared into Caleb. His buddy had had a ringside seat to the pain Cissy had caused when she’d walked out, taking Savannah with her. Matt’s intentions were pure gold, if not his reasoning.
“I disagree.” He couldn’t deny or explain his attraction to Katherine. It was more than helping out a random person in need. He could be honest with himself. He probably felt a certain amount of pull toward her because of the child involved. No doubt, the situation tugged at his heart. But he’d only just met her. He’d help her. She’d leave. Whether she was wearing his favorite color on her underwear or not, they’d both move on. He had no intention of finding out if the pale blue lace circled her tiny waist. He was stubborn, not stupid. “Nothing else matters until we find that little guy.”
“Saw the sheriff earlier.” Matt’s hands clenched. “Heard about the boy having a medical condition. What kind of person would snatch a little kid like that?”
Matt didn’t use the word monster, but Caleb knew his buddy well enough to know he thought it.
“That’s what I plan to find out.”
“You know I’ll help in any way I can. Then she can go home, and you can get on with your life.”
Caleb chewed on a toothpick. “How are the men taking everything?”
“Hard. Especially with Jimmy’s situation. He’s still out searching.”
“Meant to ask how his little girl’s doing when I saw him tonight.”
Matt shook his head. “Not good.”
Damn. “Send ’em home. They need to be with their families.”
“I think most of them want to be here to keep searching. Jimmy made up flyers. A few men headed into town to put the word out. Everyone wants to help with the search. They’re working out shifts to sleep.”
“Tell ’em how much I appreciate their efforts. We’ll do everything we can to make sure this boy comes home safe. And we won’t stop looking for him until we do.”
Matt nodded, his solemn expression intensifying when he said, “You be careful with yourself, too.”
“This is not like the others.”
“You don’t know that yet,” Matt said, deadpan.
Caleb bit back his response. Matt’s heart was in the right place. “Tell Gus I can’t meet tomorrow. I know the buyer wants to stop by, but I can’t.”
“This is the third time he’s set up a meeting. You haven’t liked anyone he’s found so far.”
“Can’t dump my mare on the first person that strolls in.”
“Or the second...or third apparently. Every time we breed her, the same thing happens. It’s been three years and not one of her foals has lived.”
“Which is exactly the reason I don’t want to sell her. What will end up happening to her when they realize she can’t produce? Besides, she’s useful around here.”
“How so? The men use four-wheelers so it won’t do any good to assign her to one of them. I have my horse and you have yours.”
“I’ll find more for her to do. Dawn’s getting older. I’ll use both. Not all lost causes are lost causes.”
Matt’s eyebrow rose as he turned toward the barn. “We’ll see.”
* * *
CALEBHADBEENburied