Long Road Home

“So!” Sarah clapped her hands together as she walked into the living room with Wyatt and the ever-present Rodney Dangerfield. “Let’s get this party started!”

Olivia straightened and turned toward Sarah and Wyatt. Whoa. She was more than ready to party, all right, but she wished it could be a private one featuring her and the hunk of burning love who’d just walked in. The wet T-shirt had showcased Wyatt’s glorious muscles beautifully, and she hadn’t thought Sarah could improve on that.

Oh, but she had. The yoked gray Western shirt was a smidgen too tight and tucked into worn jeans that fit like a second skin … ooo, baby. Olivia licked her suddenly dry lips.

A scuffed but serviceable tooled leather belt with a plain silver buckle brought her attention to the fly of his jeans, and she looked away quickly before she could be caught staring. A pair of Western boots that showed some wear completed the outfit. He’d left the room a wilderness guide. He’d returned a cowboy.

SARAH INTRODUCED WYATT to everyone and he did his level best to keep them all straight. Josie, Jack’s wife, would be important to remember. She was the one with the long blond braid. Their baby, Wyatt’s new nephew, was named Archie, after Jack’s grandfather. Archie was asleep in his carrier, so despite Wyatt’s curiosity, he kept his distance, not wanting to wake him.

Morgan, a busty redhead, was obviously the mother of a little redheaded tot named Sarah Bianca, SB for short. Morgan’s dark-haired sister, Tyler, had married Alex Keller, Josie’s brother. Wyatt decided when he had access to paper and pencil he’d write some of this down.

Then he met Dominique, a tall brunette who was the third daughter-in-law, and Emily, a petite blonde who had just married the guy who ran the stud program. That took care of the women in his generation.

He recognized Pam, a blonde in her fifties, from hearing her voice on the phone when he’d registered at the Bunk and Grub. By process of elimination he knew that the gray-haired woman with the jolly smile had to be Mary Lou, the cook. Yes, he would definitely write all this down before he went to sleep tonight.

But he should be okay for the evening while the introductions were fresh in his mind. Maybe this wouldn’t be so awkward after all. He’d thought he’d be uncomfortable wearing somebody else’s clothes but he’d been wrong. These cowboy duds felt great.

Sarah had offered him several shirts and pairs of jeans along with clean underwear. Neither of them had talked about the need for underwear, but he was soaked through.

Once Sarah had handed over the clothes, she’d waited outside the laundry room while he tried them on. He’d chosen the first things he’d put on for expediency’s sake. But the longer he wore them, the more right they seemed.

When he’d asked her who the clothes had belonged to, she’d confided that they’d all been Jack’s. Now that Jack was relaxed, happy and enjoying married life, he’d put on a little weight and couldn’t wear them anymore without straining the seams. She’d made Wyatt promise not to mention the weight gain to Jack, because he swore the clothes had shrunk in the wash.

Apparently Wyatt was about the size that Jack had been a year ago, before he’d married Josie. Knowing they were so alike in build, if not in coloring, had pleased Wyatt. But meeting Jack while wearing his old clothes might be weird. Wyatt planned to drive back to the Bunk and Grub and change into his own stuff before Jack came home.

In the meantime, he liked the way Olivia had looked at him when he’d first come into the room. He hadn’t thought about whether she had a soft spot in her heart for cowboys, and if so, he might decide to brush up on his riding skills and pick up some Western wear of his own. Re-creating that sparkle in her blue eyes would be worth the effort.

Sarah finished the introductions and turned to Olivia. “So who would you like to do first?”

In what looked like a purely unconscious move, Olivia glanced at Wyatt, and he swore he could read her X-rated response. Heat rocketed through him. Wow. He was definitely buying Western clothes before he left town.

She turned bright red before she looked away. “Why don’t I start on Josie’s nails while little Archie is asleep?”

“That’s fine with me, but he sleeps through anything,” Josie said. “But I guess if you do my nails first, they’ll be dry in case he does wake up.”

“I just thought of something.” Sarah looked worried as she glanced at Olivia. “You’ll want warm water for your finger bowl and the foot bath. The hot water heater’s electric, so we have hot water now, but we won’t for the rest of the evening.”

“We can hang a kettle over the fire like people did in the old days,” Mary Lou said.

Sarah brightened. “Sure we can. Problem solved. Let’s get that kettle going now so it’ll be ready when the water from the heater turns cool.”

Talk of manicures and footbaths galvanized Wyatt into action. “I think it’s about time for me to take Rodney and vamoose.”

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Mary Lou smiled at him. “Now that we’re in full swing, I could use some help getting the food laid out.”

“We can help, Mary Lou,” Dominique said. “Morgan has her hands full with SB, but the rest of us can schlep things from the kitchen.”

“Hey, I’m glad to do it,” Wyatt said. “I’m the party crasher around here, so it would make me feel better if I can be useful.”

Dominique put down her wineglass. “Okay, but we can still help.”

“Absolutely,” Tyler said. “I’m actually good at this kind of thing.”

“Ladies, ladies.” Mary Lou held up both hands. “Your offer is much appreciated, but I think you should let this nice young man do the honors. I’ve had my eye on him since he walked in. I said to myself, Oh, good. There’s our muscle.”

Wyatt pretended not to hear the muffled laughter that followed that remark. “Then it’s settled. Everybody relax and I’ll handle it.” Considering how hungry he was and how many delicious smells had invaded the laundry room while he was changing clothes, he was more than willing to facilitate the food situation. He could always disappear after the meal part.

“Great,” Mary Lou said. “Come on back and I’ll show you where the large folding tables are stored. We need a couple set up in the living room so we can create a buffet. That way everyone can munch whenever they feel like it. Since the stove’s electric, I need to move the hot food into chafing dishes and bring them out here.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Wyatt was aware of everyone eyeing him with amusement.

“Oh, and I’d appreciate it if you’d bring that light of yours into the kitchen, too.”

“Sure thing.” Wyatt grabbed the lantern from where he’d left it and followed Mary Lou down the same hall he’d recently traveled with Sarah. The left wall was a bank of windows, which now looked out on rain and streaks of lightning. But each time the lightning flashed, it lit up the other wall, which was covered with framed photos.

“What are all those pictures?” Wyatt asked.

“Family.” Mary Lou kept walking. “No sense in trying to show you now, though. We’d have to use your lantern and we should probably conserve the batteries. But the entire history of the Chance family is there in those pictures.”

“I’d like to study that.” His mother would never allow a wall of pictures to spoil her ultrachic decor.

“I’m sure you would. Come down in the morning and I’ll give you a guided tour.” Mary Lou kept walking, but she glanced over at him. “I wish you well, Wyatt Locke. Your mother caused a lot of pain in this family but that’s not your fault. It took guts for you to come back here, and that tells me you’d fit in a lot better than Diana ever did.” She caught her breath. “Oh, I shouldn’t have said that. It wasn’t respectful. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I know my mother’s not a popular person around the ranch.” He hesitated, torn between truth and disloyalty. “She’s a complicated woman. Being her son hasn’t always been easy.”

“Well said.” Mary Lou reached over and patted his arm. “I personally think you’ll be good for Jack. I only hope he’ll be good for you, too.”

“We’ll see, Mary Lou. We’ll see.”

After that they didn’t have time for philosophical discussions. Wyatt carried the folding banquet tables back down the hall and set them up while Mary Lou used his battery-operated lantern to light her work space in the kitchen. Because the ranch was used to serving hot food outdoors for barbecues, Mary Lou had an assortment of warming pans heated by gel packs instead of electricity.

As Wyatt helped her bring in the food, he laughed at his assumption that it would be finger sandwiches and tea cakes. This was hearty ranch fare—baked beans, ears of corn, coleslaw, fried chicken, mashed potatoes and a giant platter of chocolate frosted brownies for dessert. The only nod to what Wyatt considered girly food was a big bowl of salad and a relish tray of carrot sticks, celery, radishes, pickles and green onions.

Sarah told Wyatt where to find a high chair for little SB, and he brought that in along with an oil cloth he spread under it to catch food fallout. Then he helped Morgan settle the little redheaded girl into her seat, along with her stuffed dinosaur and a bowlful of dry Cheerios. He’d never spent much time around little kids and he was surprised that he instinctively took to it.

Mary Lou announced the food was ready and the women didn’t hold back. Laughing and talking, they loaded their plates and refilled their wineglasses. Wyatt, being gentlemanly and an uninvited guest, waited until they’d all gone through the line. That included Olivia, who’d finished Josie’s manicure.

“I’ll fix your plate for you,” Olivia said to Josie. “You need to be careful of your fingernails.”

“I can do it for Josie,” Wyatt said. “You go ahead and eat, Olivia.”

“Why, thank you.” She gave him such a dazzling smile that he temporarily forgot what he’d volunteered for. He was fascinated by that tiny space between her front teeth. Adorable.

“You’re making points fast,” Josie said to him. “Gallantry counts around here. Are you sure you’re not a cowboy?”

When she spoke, he refocused on his task and picked up a plate. “My brother and I used to pretend to be cowboys when we were kids.” He grabbed a napkin and utensils, too. “Does that count?”

“Absolutely.” She pointed to the steaming baked beans. “Lots of those, please. Light on the potatoes and heavy on the coleslaw.”

Wyatt loaded Josie’s plate as instructed and carried it over to an empty chair next to the baby carrier sitting on the floor. Archie slept on, despite the racket.

After making sure Josie was all set and hadn’t ruined her manicure, Wyatt crouched down next to the baby carrier. “Looks like he took after you more than Jack.”

“I think so.” Josie gazed with fondness at her son. “He has Jack’s nose, though, and of course he’s only four months. His blond hair could get darker, but he definitely didn’t inherit Jack’s coloring.”

Wyatt studied the tiny face, so sweet and soft. Something about the nose reminded him of Rafe’s baby pictures. “He looks … familiar.”

“He should. You’re related to him.” Josie laid down her fork and looked at Wyatt. “I hope you’ll be patient with my husband. He puts his shields up when it comes to you, even though it’s not your fault that your mother … well …”

“Abandoned him.” Wyatt met her gaze. “It’s okay. You can say it. There’s no good excuse for what she did and I promise I won’t try to make any.”

“I’m sure that will help. At one time I thought Jack had accepted his past, but meeting you has stirred it up again. Unfortunately I think he resents the fact that she started another family while continuing to pretend he didn’t exist.”

Guilt pricked him. “I don’t want to create problems.”

“You’re not the one who created the problem. Diana did. Jack knows about you and your brother now, so you can’t put the toothpaste in the tube again. Coming back was the right move, in my opinion.”

“Thanks, Josie. Jack’s a lucky guy to have you.”

“We’re lucky to have each other,” she said softly. Then her glance shifted as she looked over his shoulder. “Too bad you can’t see the expression on Olivia’s face right now. Women get all mushy when they see a guy crouched down next to a baby.”

Warmth crept up the back of his neck and he resisted the urge to turn around. “But I wasn’t doing it for—”

“I know. I can see that you’re the real deal, Wyatt. Olivia can, too. We all can. Even Rodney.”

Upon hearing his name, the dog padded over and pushed his nose against Wyatt’s leg. Wyatt ran a hand over the dog’s silky head. “Yeah, I know, Rod. I promised you we’d hang out and here I am ignoring you.”

Josie chuckled. “Now Olivia’s really got a sappy look on her face. Kids and dogs. I’m telling you, Wyatt, you have a gift. Not that it’s any of my business, but is there a girl back home?”

“No, actually, there’s not. I’ve been pretty busy getting my business up and running.”

“In that case, I suggest you grab a plate of food and go sit by Olivia while she has a moment to herself.”

Wyatt smiled. “Believe I will. Come on, Rod. Apparently you’re an asset to the cause.”

As Wyatt headed to the buffet table, Mary Lou handed him a cold bottle of beer. “Most times the guys prefer this to wine,” she said.

“Thanks, Mary Lou.”

“There’s more where that came from. I brought in a small cooler and put it under the table. Consider it your reward for all your fine work.”

“You’re a gem.” He tucked the beer in the crook of his arm, filled a plate with food, and walked over to where Olivia sat on a leather-covered ottoman.

She glanced up, welcome in her blue eyes. “Hi, there. I’d offer you a seat, but there isn’t one.”

“No worries.” Setting his plate on a nearby end table, he crouched down next to her. Rodney took a spot right by his feet. “I’m used to making do.” He unscrewed the cap on his beer and took a swallow. “That’s quite a spread Mary Lou put on.”

“See, I told you to stay for the food.”

He didn’t say what he was thinking, that he’d eat twigs and leaves if he could be near her while doing it. “You were right.” He noticed that Rodney was staring up at him as if he hadn’t had a decent meal in a week. “The dog thinks so, too.”

“Don’t feed him anything. Sarah has him on a special diet. He’s overweight.”

“How can you tell with a basset hound? They’re all sort of roly-poly.”

“Beats me, but she wants him to be able to fit into his life vest and it’s still a little tight.”

Wyatt blinked. “His what?”

“One reason she wanted to adopt him, besides the fact he’s adorable, was his tracking ability. Sarah’s always wanted a tracking dog on the ranch. Butch and Sundance, the two mixed breeds living down in the barn, aren’t particularly good trackers.”

“So what’s that got to do with a life vest?”

“There are streams and ponds all over the property, and basset hounds can’t swim. Their bones are too dense.”

“They are?” Wyatt looked down at Rodney. “I didn’t know that.”

“Me either, but Sarah researched it. If she wants to turn him loose to do his tracking, he has to wear a life vest so he won’t accidentally fall in the water and drown.”

Wyatt took another swig of his beer and glanced down at Rodney. “I’m getting quite a visual here, Rod. I’m thinking YouTube video star, aren’t you?”

Olivia laughed. “I think you’re on to something. Definitely bring a camcorder next time you come to the ranch.” She picked up her empty plate and stood. “Well, time for me to get back to work. You can have the ottoman.”

Wyatt rose, too. “Actually, I think I’ll take my plate, my beer and the dog into the kitchen. I’ll just be in the way out here.”

“I heard that.” Morgan, little SB on her hip, walked toward him. “Don’t think you can sneak out of here that easy. I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say we’d love for you to hang around.”

“Yes, we definitely would,” said Dominique from her spot on one of the couches.

Wyatt wasn’t sure where this was headed. He glanced over at Olivia, but she was already settled into her chair and preparing for her next customer. “Hey, I’ll just cramp your style,” he said to the room in general. “Rodney and I will be fine in the kitchen, right, Rod?”

The dog gave him a doleful look.

“Our style isn’t that easily cramped,” Morgan said. “And we need somebody to tend the fire and add wood. We’ll all have fresh manicures and can’t do that.” She looked up at him. “Unless you’re planning to get a manicure, too, in which case we—”

“I’m not getting a manicure.”

“See? So you’d be perfect, then. Instead of a designated driver we need a designated fire tender.”

Wyatt had to hand it to these Chance women. They were very good at maneuvering a guy into doing what they wanted. “Then I’d be honored to watch the fire for you.”

“Excellent.” Morgan beamed at him. “Besides, it’s not every day we get the opportunity to talk to a single guy without our husbands around to kibitz.”

He gave her a wary look. “Talk about what?”

“What else?” Morgan’s green eyes twinkled. “Men!”

4

OLIVIA ALMOST FELT SORRY for Wyatt, who looked somewhat like a cornered animal. But he was a big boy, and besides, she was curious to see how this would turn out.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” he said.

“Let me explain.” Morgan shifted SB to her other hip. “Most of us in this room are married, and the ones who aren’t are getting closer by the day.”

“Not true,” Mary Lou said. “I’m never marrying that old fool Watkins, and you can quote me on that.”

“Emmett still has a burr under his saddle about the size of my bank account,” Pam said. “So I don’t see us tying the knot anytime soon, either.”

All attention focused on Sarah, the remaining single lady other than Olivia. Sarah was blushing.

Morgan paused expectantly. “Well? Do you have news at long last?”

She cleared her throat. “I guess it’s okay to say something.”

Dominique laughed. “At this point, I think it’s required to say something, Sarah. We’re all dying of curiosity. Have been for months.”

“Well, Pete and I have talked about it, but we haven’t set an actual—”

Squeals of joy erupted as everyone ran over to hug Sarah. Olivia, who didn’t feel she knew Sarah quite well enough to be part of the hug fest, motioned Wyatt over to the manicure table so she could fill him in on the meaning of the uproar.

He walked over, carrying his beer. “Who’s Pete?”

“Peter Beckett. He’s a local philanthropist. He and Sarah put together a youth program that begins here in two weeks. They’ll be boarding several problem teens and giving them a chance to work at the ranch for the summer.”

Wyatt’s eyes widened. “Hey, that’s cool.”

“It is. Really cool. And everyone’s suspected a romance between the two of them, but Sarah always denied it before.”

“She looks happy. Is this Peter guy good enough for her?”

“Her sons all like him, so I’d say he has the Chance stamp of approval.”

Emotion flickered in Wyatt’s soft gray eyes. “I have a feeling that’s not so easy to get.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll work out between you and Jack.” She gazed up at him. “You already have a lot of support right in this room.”

“I hope so. I’d enjoy being part of life around here.”

“Even when you’re about to be put on the hot seat?”

“Yeah.” He massaged the back of his neck. “I’m not sure what that’s all about.”

“After all my years as a beautician listening to women talk, I can make an educated guess. Husbands are more prone to say what they think their wives want to hear. These gals are hoping you might actually tell them the truth about what guys are thinking.”

“But it’s only one point of view.”

“Yes, but you’ve established yourself as one of the good guys and that makes your point of view worth exploring.” She pushed back her chair. “I’ll get you another beer. That should help.”

Before he could protest, she’d hurried over to the buffet table and snagged another bottle out of the ice-filled cooler Mary Lou had brought in.

“Here.” She handed it to him and then stepped closer. “Listen, before I make a complete fool of myself, I need to ask you something.”

“What’s that?”

“Are you involved with anyone?”

He looked into her eyes and his gaze was straightforward. “Nope, I’m not. Not at all. Are you?”

“Not yet.” Rising up on tiptoe, she gave him another one of her drive-by kisses. She was fast becoming obsessed with his mouth, but she didn’t dare linger. “I have to refresh my soaking solution.” She picked up the crystal bowl she used for that purpose and headed toward a bathroom located just down the hall on the right.

If she’d ever met a more adorable guy than Wyatt, she couldn’t recall who it might have been. If he truly wanted to relocate to Shoshone, Wyoming, she’d do whatever she could to help him make that happen.

ONCE AGAIN, OLIVIA HAD GOTTEN the drop on him. Wyatt vowed that the next time he’d be ready for her when she did that and he’d get in some lip pressure of his own. In the meantime, he stood there holding one full bottle of beer and one nearly empty one while he gazed after her like some love-struck adolescent. He finished off the almost-empty beer and looked for a place to put the bottle.

“I’ll take that.” Morgan appeared at his elbow with her red-haired mini-me propped on her hip. “You need to finish your meal because we really do have some burning questions.”

If Wyatt had hoped Morgan had forgotten her original plan in the flurry of excitement over Sarah’s admission, that hope was now officially dashed. “I’m really not very knowledgeable about—”

“Now don’t be modest, Wyatt. You’re eligible and you’re gorgeous, which puts you in the perfect position to give us some insight into how guys think these days.” She gestured to an empty chair. “That seat’s available. I’ll be right back.”

Wyatt glanced over at Olivia, who’d just started working on Pam Mulholland’s nails. Olivia looked up with an encouraging smile. She’d told him he had support in this room, so maybe he should stick around. Retrieving his plate, he sat in the chair Morgan had indicated and began to eat. He probably needed to keep up his strength.

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