A Maverick's Heart

“I pay you for a room, with breakfast thrown in.” He opened a cupboard and luck was with him. Cups were stacked in neat rows. He took one down and spotted a line of canisters. One read Tea. Pulling out a bag, he set it in the cup and poured the water.

“Rory, to bed,” Lila said. “I’m feeling much improved. Once I drink a cup of tea, I’ll be right as rain.”

“You and Memaw always say that. How right is rain if it made our car go in a ditch?”

“It’s an expression,” Lila told him. “I don’t know where it comes from. Ghost can sleep in your room tonight. Brush your teeth and crawl into bed. I’ll pop by and turn out your light shortly, honey.”

“Okay. Mr. Seth, will you stay and make sure she’s okay? She cut her hand on the meat slicer at the café and wouldn’t see a doctor. She got poisoned blood and Memaw yelled at her.”

“Blood poisoning,” Lila corrected, indicating a spot on the table where Seth could set her steaming cup. “It was during rodeo week. We were swamped at the café. I didn’t see the red streaks up my arm at first. But I healed, Rory.”

“Yeah. Okay. Come on, Ghost.”

Lila beckoned him with her free arm and although he cast an uncomfortable glance at Seth, the boy stepped into his mom’s arm for a hug. “G’nite.” He grabbed the dog’s collar, aimed a wave at Seth and the two loped out of the kitchen.

“You really don’t need to babysit me,” Lila told Seth, holding the ice bag to her head with one hand. With her free hand she removed a cell phone from the small purse still draped across her body.

“Let me call Zeke for you,” Seth said. “He has a winch on the front of his pickup. I’m sure he’ll be discreet.” He dug out his phone.

“Zeke’s on his honeymoon,” Lila reminded him. “Sort of...” she added as she took a sip of tea.

Grinning, Seth hit a speed-dial number and put the phone on speaker. “Hey, bro... Lila put her Jeep in the ditch right as you turn into her place.”

“Is she okay?”

“I think so. I said you’d bring your truck over bright and early tomorrow morning. The guys and I can help you winch it out before we head to the airport. She didn’t want me to ask you since you’re supposed to be on your honeymoon.”

The man at the other end of the call snorted. “If you come over and learn ranching, dude, we’d leave you in charge so Myra and I could get away for a week.”

“I’d need a crash course in cows, buddy. Hey, what’s Myra saying? I hear her talking in the background.”

“She wants to know if Lila or Rory got hurt.”

“Rory’s fine. Lila—” Seth started to mention her lump, but she grabbed his arm and shook her head. “I, uh, went running with their dog,” Seth said instead. “He got away from me. Lila had to brake hard to keep from colliding with us and her car slid into the ditch. That’s all.”

Lila juggled the melting ice bag and took another drink of tea.

Seth finished making arrangements with his twin then clicked off. “You heard? Zeke said he’ll pop by at first light, before morning chores.”

“Thanks. I appreciate you handling that for me.”

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s something to me. I’ve been the one to deal with everything...well, it’ll soon be five years.”

Seth waited for her to elaborate. He knew that she ran this place alone, but he hadn’t heard why. He assumed she was divorced, but the moment passed before he could ask.

“Like I told Rory, I’m okay. You can go on to bed. I’ll finish my tea then check on him and call it a night, too. Tomorrow’s breakfast is my mom’s special coffee cake, plus scrambled eggs with crumbled bacon. It’ll be ready by seven.”

Taking the hint that she wanted him to get lost, Seth moved the ice bag first to check her head one more time. The swelling had receded. “Yep, you’re almost back to normal.” He feathered his fingers through her hair and let them trail down her cheek.

Pulling back warily, she exclaimed, “I told you so!”

He watched her sitting there stoically a moment longer and was intrigued enough to want to learn more about his lovely landlady. By staying on, he’d have time to dig a little deeper. Since college he’d never stuck in one place for long. Much about this small Montana town left him longing to sink roots.

Stepping back, Seth offered a last smile then headed for the door. He called over his shoulder, “I’ll set my alarm and roust Ben and Gavin to go along to help Zeke. You set up one of your great breakfasts and leave rescuing the Cherokee to us.”

She started to object and he retreated fast.

But maybe it was time she had someone around to give her a hand. Maybe he’d be that someone.

From the first time his twin had called to tell him about the ranch he’d been given by the folks of a kid he’d saved in Afghanistan, Seth envied his brother the joy he’d found here in Snowy Owl Crossing. Maybe it was time he cut back on his footloose lifestyle.

Chapter Two

Early the next morning Seth hustled his new friends up and out of the B and B before breakfast, explaining that they were going to rescue their landlady’s vehicle from a ditch.

“Did I miss how it is you know about Miz Lila’s car?” Gavin Denton asked around a wide yawn as they set off down the lane.

“I didn’t say. Guilt, probably, because I’m more or less to blame.”

“So that explains why you’re all fired up on us helping at the crack of dawn,” Ben Archer remarked, dropping back to walk with Hunter Wright, the third man in their party. They’d all served as Zeke Maxwell’s groomsmen. Seth had expressly told Hunter he didn’t need to come along this morning, since he hadn’t fully mastered walking well on his temporary prosthetic leg. But as with everything else they’d done throughout the week, Hunter adamantly refused special treatment.

“Okay, give us the real story.” Gavin prodded Seth. “Now I’m curious.”

“I told you I was going for a run after dinner.” Seth relayed how he’d taken the Jenkinses’ family dog along. “We were returning home when the dog saw their car. He tore loose from me. Lila or her son must have seen him. She swerved and that sent her into the ditch.”

“I guess she wasn’t hurt,” Ben ventured. “At least as we trouped downstairs I smelled something good cooking. Hey...what about her kid?”

“He’s fine. She smacked her head on the driver’s side window and suffered a fair-size goose egg. Stubborn lady agreed to an ice pack, but wouldn’t let me take her to the emergency room.” Seth scowled as he admitted that last bit.

“Why didn’t you wake us? Maybe collectively we could’ve convinced her to see a doc. It sounds as if you think she should have,” Gavin said.

Ben laughed. “Gav, how many women do you know who can be moved once their mind is made up?”

Gavin shrugged. “I can’t recall ever trying to move one.”

Their party reached the vehicle, ending the discussion of women.

“Hot damn, she’s stuck, all right,” Ben announced then issued a whistle as he walked to the back of the mired Cherokee.

“It actually looks worse this morning.” Seth crouched to inspect the SUV’s cantilevered rear. “Last night I figured only the back left tire went into the culvert, but now I see both did.”

Hunter Wright paced over and leaned heavily on his cane. “You can see skid marks where she probably braked hard after entering this low spot where there’s still standing water. The fact both tires went into the muck will make extracting it with your brother’s winch easier.”

“You think so?” Seth rose to stand beside Hunter.

“I’d trust Hunt’s opinion,” Ben said. “But maybe nobody told you he’s an engineer.”

“Was,” Hunter stressed. “Before I went into the military.”

Seth took another look at the injured man. “Zeke only said you were all in the same unit in Iraq then got split up but kept in contact. I’d think engineering would be a field you could return to now that you’ve left the service.”

The man leaning on the cane gazed into the distance. “My dad and brother own a firm in New Jersey. I’m not sure I could fit back in. I only worked there a year before opting out to join the military. And my orthopedic surgeon at Walter Reed says I need at least one, maybe two, more surgeries on the leg.” He tapped his hip above the missing limb. “I envy you getting to stay here longer, Seth. It’s pretty much God’s country. Do you think you’ll do like Zeke and settle down here?”

Surprised by the question, Seth shrugged. “Part of me hankers to stay put. But I’ve got to travel the globe for work. It’s all I’ve ever done since leaving college. I don’t know how I’d support myself if I wasn’t searching for gems.”

Gavin, who’d circled the whole vehicle, arrived back at the group in the middle of Seth’s lament. “What about going after sapphires in some of Montana’s abandoned mines? Sapphires are pricey gems, right?”

Seth gaped at him. “Real sapphires?”

“I assume so,” Gavin said. “When Zeke phoned to ask if I could get leave to be in his wedding, I didn’t know a blessed thing about Montana. So I did some internet research. Sounds like there’s sapphires as well as gold and copper mines. Some of them are near here, but I don’t know if they’re operating. If Zeke can’t tell you, you could ask some of the old-timers we met at his wedding reception.”

“Speaking of the newlywed,” Ben interrupted, “here he comes. Let’s rib him about not wanting to leave his bed—so he makes us stand around waiting for him to show up.”

“Skip the teasing,” Hunter warned. “His wife is with him.”

Indeed, Myra jumped out of the pickup as soon as Zeke stopped. “Where’s Lila?” she asked, glancing around. “This looks bad. Was she hurt? I thought you told Zeke she was okay,” she challenged Seth. “It’s not like her to not be out here supervising.”

“There’s no need for her to come out,” Seth shot back. “I told her the guys and I would help Zeke rescue her vehicle.”

“Zeke,” she called, “I’m going to run up to the house to check on Lila. She sometimes tends to be too stoic for her own good.”

Her husband nodded. “This shouldn’t take long. Don’t get too wrapped up talking to Lila about what all you missed at last night’s Artsy Ladies meeting.” Grinning, Zeke winked at Myra even as he unhooked the cable on the winch.

“I’ll be quick,” she promised and jogged off.

“She had to miss a meeting to feed all of us last night?” Seth asked his brother.

“She didn’t have to. She wanted to see you all again and thank you guys for showing up on such short notice to be in our wedding. Well, not you, Seth. You already had tickets to visit. But the others.” He handed Seth the hook on the end of the cable and smiled at his groomsmen. “Damn, but I’m going to miss you guys all over again. Remember, any time you can take leave, ours is a revolving door. You, too, Hunter, once the docs get you squared away.”

Gavin let out a big guffaw. “Don’t you mean the door here at the Owl’s Nest revolves? It was clever how you prebooked us here.”

Zeke didn’t bother to look sheepish. “Hey, buddy,” he said instead, “wait until you get married and see how many big dudes you want snoring all night on the other side of your bedroom wall.”

“I was kidding.” Gavin gave Zeke a friendly fist bump. “Shall we quit jawing and get this SUV unstuck? Or am I the only one tempted by the cinnamon smell of whatever goodies Miz Lila fixed today?” He sniffed the air. “My mouth’s watering from here.”

The others agreed and, outside of Hunter Wright, who moved out of the way but still offered insight on the best way to hook the cable to the mired auto’s front axle, their teamwork made the retrieval short and easy.

Seth helped Zeke rewind the cable onto the winch then scanned the others. “I’m going to drive the Jeep to the house. Who wants a ride?”

“Do you have the key?” Ben asked.

“It’s still in the ignition.”

Zeke, who’d been about to climb into his pickup, stopped. “You left it in the ignition all night?”

Seth frowned. “It wasn’t like anyone could climb in and drive it away. Don’t forget it was rainy and dark, and I had a boy and dog to shepherd as well as carrying Lila, who was woozy after banging her head on the side window.”

“What? She hit her head?” Zeke exclaimed. “Myra is gonna be pissed at you. You led us to believe she was A-OK.”

“Yeah, well she let me know that wasn’t something she wanted to get around and worry her mother. She had a small knot, but the skin wasn’t broken.”

“Boy, Myra’s probably going to say it could’ve been a concussion.”

Seth shrugged. All at once Ben and Gavin, standing near the front of the Cherokee, ducked and flung their arms over their heads. One of them shouted, “Hey, cripes! Incoming! What the hell is that?”

The air stirred as a large bird dived talons first into the culvert and rose again with a screeching rodent. A second, slightly smaller, all-white bird circled above the dumbstruck quintet of men, crying, pyee-pyee, pyee-pyee right before the pair flew off.

“Wow.” Zeke was first to break the silence. “Those were snowy owls, guys. The male made off with a good-size rat.”

By then the others had sufficiently recovered from their initial shock to squint and follow the birds’ flight.

Hunter shifted his stance. “What a sight. I’m glad we had this experience. From the way Myra’s friend Tawana talked about how the owls return here every year to nest... I figured they’d already all gone north.”

“Are they dangerous?” Gavin asked. “I think that second one grazed my head.”

Zeke watched Gavin scrub a hand through his crew cut. “They don’t attack humans, dude. They do rid our ranchlands of pests like mice, rats and voles. Myra and I had a tug-of-war with a huge male once who tried to make off with her minipig, Orion.”

Ben muffled an expletive. “Not in your kitchen, right? Then again, who keeps a pig in their kitchen?”

Zeke socked his pal’s arm. “Hey, a pet is a pet is a pet. And the day it happened, we had Orion in a pen outside near where we were cutting alfalfa. I told you last night...the little guy grows on you.”

Wisely his friends held their tongues, although not all schooled their doubtful expressions.

“Orion is cute,” Seth said, opening the Cherokee’s door. “Hey, if we want any of that great-smelling breakfast before we leave for the airport, we’d better hop to it.”

Ben and Gavin climbed into the backseat, leaving the front passenger seat for Hunter.

“I’m positive keeping a pig in any part of the house, especially the kitchen, wouldn’t grow on me,” Gavin asserted once they were inside the SUV and out of Zeke’s hearing.

After starting the engine, Seth glanced behind him. “Is a pig any worse than goldfish or parrots or snakes?”

“Okay, I see your point. To each his own,” Gavin muttered.

Hunter turned to address his one-time regiment buddies. “If any of us fell in love with a pig owner like Zeke did, we’d change our minds. Love short-circuits brain cells.”

They all laughed as Seth parked near the entrance to the B and B.

The others piled out of the Cherokee. Without waiting for Zeke, all but Seth climbed the steps and went inside. He noticed Lila’s son at the side of the building, tossing a baseball in the air. Even though the boy wore an old mitt on his left hand, he missed catching three times out of three. Ghost chased after the dropped ball and carried it back to the kid.

“Hiya, Rory,” Seth called, pausing to lean on the handrail. “You need to teach Ghost to throw the ball back to you.” He grinned. “Are you on a team or just goofing around?”

Rory took the ball from Ghost and wiped dog slobber on his pants, his shoulders sagging as he squinted at Seth. “I wanna join the team my best friend is on. Mom first said it was too ’spensive. But last night she said she’ll try to figure out how I can play. Were you in Little League when you were my age?”

“What’s your age? Eight?”

“I’m nine,” Rory said, puffing up his chest. “Since last month.”

“Hmm. At nine I played on a junior boy’s city league. In junior high, high school and college my brother and I were on school teams. Do you watch the pros? We grew up going to see the Boston Red Sox.”

“That’d be cool. I like to watch games.”

Zeke drove up, parked beside Lila’s Cherokee and vaulted from his pickup. “Hi, Rory,” he hollered. “Hey, did your mom finally sign you up for Little League?” he asked, bounding over to stand beside his twin.

“Not yet. And I’m not very good. Even if Mom finds money so I can join Kemper’s team, I probably won’t get to play in a real game.”

Zeke clapped Seth on the back. “You should get this guy to give you tips while he’s staying here. He racked up awards and trophies playing baseball. In college he had scouts after him. We all thought he’d end up in the majors. He was definitely good enough.”

Before his brother or Rory could comment, the front door opened and Myra stepped out onto the porch. “There you guys are. Zeke, Lila invited us to join the men for breakfast here. It’ll save us driving into town to the café and give you a last few minutes with your friends.”

“That’d be great if it’s no trouble for Lila.” Zeke hurried up the steps. He kissed Myra soundly even as she leaned over the porch rail to address Rory.

“Your mom says to bring Ghost and come get ready for school. It’s supposed to be sunny, so she’ll load your bike and you can ride to the café after school.”

“Isn’t there a cattlemen’s meeting at the café today?” Zeke asked. “Is it lunch or supper?”

“The meeting starts at three. Probably more like supper by the time everyone orders and eats. Why?”

“I thought if it was a late lunch I’d eat more breakfast,” Zeke said.

His brother swept by him and Myra. “You’d better get inside fast, dude. If your buds get a jump on us there’ll only be crumbs left. Those three eat like there’s no tomorrow.”

Myra waited for Rory, but Zeke followed Seth and said softly, “Where they’ve been, no tomorrow is often the case.”

Seth looked guilty. “Sorry, Zeke, that was a thoughtless comment.”

“It’s okay. I think about the guys we lost from my unit whenever war memories rise up to smack me in the face. My arm injury’s nothing compared to guys like Hunter who lost limbs. Or others who lost everything.” Zeke’s expression sobered even more.

“I didn’t mean to remind you of the bad stuff.” Seth gripped Zeke’s good shoulder and squeezed. “All of that’s behind you now. You own a slice of what Hunter calls God’s country. Hey, you’ve never mentioned—uh, do you suffer flashbacks or anything?” Seth lowered his voice as he asked because Myra, Rory and Ghost bustled into the foyer, where the two men still lingered.

The boy and his dog clattered on down the hallway. Myra said, “I thought you two were anxious to get to the dining room.”

Smiling, Zeke looped both arms around her. “We were just jaw-boning until you got here. And, Seth, the answer to your last question is no. Myra witnessed one episode that might be classed a flashback. Luckily it came and went fast.” He tightened his arms and brushed a kiss over his wife’s lips. “Hunter’s right in his assessment of Snowy Owl Crossing,” he said. “Long winter and all, it’s paradise.”

Not disagreeing, Seth led the way to the dining room, where the other three men were scarfing down scrambled eggs, cinnamon coffee cake, juice and coffee. “Save us some,” Seth entreated. “Has anyone seen Lila? I need to give her the car keys.” He dangled them in the air.

Just as he spoke she backed into the dining room through the kitchen’s swinging doors, her arms laden with a large bowl of fluffy scrambled eggs topped with crumbled bacon and a steaming pan wafting with heat and the scent of cinnamon. “Did I hear someone ask for me?”

“Me,” Seth said to Lila, rushing to take the bowl from her and placing it in the center of the table. “I have the Jeep’s keys.”

Lila accepted them with a grateful smile. “Thanks. Now sit down everyone. Dig in while it’s hot.”

Zeke and Myra rounded the table. He pulled out a chair for her before taking his own seat. His friends ribbed him about turning into such a gentleman.

Lila motioned Seth toward an empty chair and handed Myra the fresh coffee cake.

Zeke, who waited to take a slice until Myra served herself, glanced up at Lila. “The Jeep’s fine. How’s your head? Seth said you banged it on the window.”

“What?” Myra stopped dipping out eggs. “Last night you said she was fine.” Her eyes accused Seth before skipping on to Lila.

“No, I didn’t.” Seth helped himself to coffee cake and passed the pan to Ben, who held out his hand. “I believe I said Rory was fine and then explained how Lila came to land in the ditch.”

“Are you all right?” Myra demanded after shooting her brother-in-law a dirty look.

Lila waved a hand. “This morning the spot is only slightly tender to touch. I wish Seth had kept quiet. I didn’t want anyone to know I hit my head hard enough to rattle my teeth. I don’t want my mom to hear. The last thing she said when Tawana and I left the café was to drive carefully.”

“I’m sorry, it slipped out,” Seth explained and patted the empty chair next to his. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

“No. Rory and I ate earlier. In fact...” Pausing, she checked her watch. “I need to run out and feed the horses then load his bike. If I don’t hurry I’ll be late getting him to school. His teacher is a stickler for punctuality. But, you guys...” she said, glancing at Zeke’s three friends. “It’s been great having you as guests. Safe travels, and do come back when you can stay longer.”

Seth shoveled in a bite of egg, took a swig of juice and picked up a second wedge of coffee cake Myra had cut for him. Getting out of his chair, he said to the groomsmen, “You can put your bags in my rental, guys. I’ll help Lila.” He pulled his keys from his jeans pocket and tossed them to Ben Archer.

“No,” Lila protested. “You’re a guest.”

“One who plans to take a trail ride soon. So far, I haven’t had time to ride. As you feed the horses you can give me a rundown on the one least likely to dump me.” Seth polished off his coffee cake before he reached the arch. He hesitated briefly until Lila offered a guilty shrug to the others and hurried after him.

“Seriously?” she hissed at Seth as she plucked a jean jacket from the coat tree by the door. “What will everyone think?”

He held the door for her then jogged after her down the porch steps. “What’ll they think about what?”

“Mostly Myra and Zeke. I don’t want them to get the idea we, uh...well, as a business owner it’s not decorous to play favorites among my guests.”

Laughing, Seth fell into step beside her. “‘Decorous’? What kind of a three-dollar word is that? Are you saying you’ve never gone to the barn with any other guest?”

Obviously flustered by his question, Lila buried her hands in her jacket pockets and kept her gaze on her boots. “Not one who’s male, single and near my age,” she mumbled. “Or who is related to my best friend who knows my mom and all of our other friends,” she added. “It could be misconstrued.”

“There you go spouting big words again,” Seth teased, moving ahead of her to slide open the big barn door. “What could be misconstrued?”

“Oh, don’t play dumb.” Lila took a swipe at his arm, glaring as he deftly avoided her swing. “You’re breathing and single, and I’m a youngish widow. In this town if anyone were to mention those two things in the same sentence, rumors would fly. Before you could say Jack Robinson, townsfolk would whisper that we’re having a torrid affair.”

Seth grinned wolfishly and stopped beside the first stall. “Sounds like something worth exploring. I’ve never had a torrid affair before. Have you?”

“Stop it. You don’t know the people in this town like I do. Last night a couple of the Artsy Ladies poked me about you for no reason other than you’re staying here and you were my escort at Myra and Zeke’s wedding. They thought they were being funny, but I’m a mother of a boy at an impressionable age, for pity’s sake.” She flung open a bin of grain and filled a scoop.