The Cowboy Next Door--Includes a bonus novella Page 23

  “Oh, Sam.” She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her lips to his throat to whisper, “I’m so thankful you found me. Ben and Finn said you refused to give up, even when the others wanted to. They’re calling you Super Sam.”

  He grinned. “Yeah. That’s me. Except right now I’m Not-So-Super-Sam.”

  “You’re perfect to me. Do you need anything?”

  “Baby, I have all I need right here.” He buried his face in her hair and breathed her in.

  They fell asleep in each other’s arms, feeling the weight of the world slip away.

  “Well.” Dr. Dan Clark took his time examining both his patients before looking up. “It’s plain you can’t keep a good man, or woman, down. You’re both doing fine. I’ll sign your discharge papers and you’ll be free to go as soon as you call your family for a ride.”

  Sam chuckled. “Check the waiting room, Doc. I got a text that they’re already here.”

  The doctor grinned. “I should have known. The Monroe family is always a step ahead.”

  Sam and Penny sat close together in the backseat, hand in hand, watching as the ranch came into view.

  “I don’t think home ever looked this good to me.” Sam squeezed Penny’s hand. “How about you?”

  She nodded, afraid to trust her voice she was so overcome with emotions. Home. When had this ranch, which had begun as a temporary source of income until she could find her dream job, become home to her?

  Was it when she’d discovered just how much joy her simple homemaking added to one family’s life? Or was it when she’d realized just how much she loved one particular member of that family? Whatever the reason, she felt such a feeling of joy at returning to this place, she couldn’t think of any way to express herself.

  Seeing tears welling up in her eyes, Sam drew a protective arm around her.

  Finn glanced over his shoulder. “I hope the two of you are hungry. When we left, Mary Pat had taken over the kitchen and was cooking up a storm.”

  “Mary Pat’s back?” Sam started grinning. “Now Dad can really get into the celebration mood.”

  “We all can.” As the truck came to a halt alongside the back of the house, Zachariah stepped out and held the door for Penny and Sam. He bent to press a kiss to Penny’s cheek and clapped a hand on Sam’s arm. “Welcome home, you two. This is a day to remember.”

  Before he’d finished speaking, the back door opened and the family spilled out and down the steps to hug Penny and Sam and led them inside.

  Penny breathed in the wonderful fragrance of bread baking and meat roasting, and felt the prick of tears behind her lids as Mary Pat turned from the stove to hug them both.

  “I hear I missed a great deal of drama,” Mary Pat said with a smile.

  “I wish we could say the same.” Sam winked at the others before adding, “You should have seen Penny. She wasn’t about to go gently. She fought like a wounded bear.”

  Mary Pat touched a hand to his arm. “And you’re looking very proud of her.”

  “You bet.” He caught Penny’s hand, linking his fingers with hers. “Whenever I look at her I think of the words I am woman, hear me roar.”

  That had everyone smiling.

  “Well, woman who roars…” Mary Pat kissed Penny’s cheek before adding, “And all you gentlemen, we’ll eat as soon as Ben and Becca get here.”

  “That will give us time for a cold longneck.” Finn reached into the refrigerator and began handing around beers.

  Sam shook his head. “None for me. I’m already zoning out on all the pain medicine.”

  Mary Pat turned to Penny. “Are you up for some white wine?”

  Penny held up a hand. “Like Sam, I’m on some pain meds.”

  “I’ll drink one for you.” Mary Pat filled a tulip glass with white wine and lifted it in a toast. “Here’s to all women who roar.”

  That brought another round of laughter just as Ben and his wife walked into the kitchen, trailed by a tail-wagging, very happy Archie.

  Mac’s smile became radiant as he looked around the room.

  When Ben and Becca each had a drink in their hands, the family began a round of toasts to their resident heroes.

  And then, as they took their places around the table, Mary Pat began passing a celebration feast of pot roast, cooked to perfection, along with twice-baked potatoes, green beans with slivered almonds, a garden salad, and crusty rolls still warm from the oven. As they began filling their plates, Otis glanced toward the kitchen counter, where a chocolate layer cake stood on a pretty footed plate.

  “A word of caution,” he muttered. “You may want to forget about seconds if you intend to enjoy Mary Pat’s dessert.”

  The others looked over and nodded in agreement.

  Mac patted his middle. “I could have thirds, and I’d still find room for that.”

  Mary Pat merely closed a hand over his before offering a blessing.

  “We give thanks for this food and this family gathered together in safety and love.”

  Sam winked at Penny as they bent to their celebration feast.

  A log burned in the fireplace, filling the parlor with the wonderful fragrance of woodsmoke. The family gathered around, sipping hot chocolate or coffee, and talking in low tones about how they were feeling about all that had transpired.

  Becca turned to Penny. “Ben couldn’t stop talking about you and Sam, and how in tune you are to each other. He said Sam refused to go to the clinic, despite having been shot, until he found you, and you’d already worked your hands bloody digging yourself out of that terrifying tomb.”

  Penny shivered and Sam’s arm was there at once, encircling her waist and drawing her close against him.

  His reaction wasn’t lost on the others.

  “It did feel like a tomb. And I know that’s what that monster intended. I’m just grateful that he didn’t shoot me first before burying me, or no one would have ever found me.”

  Mary Pat gave a firm shake of her head. “Enough talk about what might have been. Let’s savor the fact that the two of you are here where you belong, safe and sound with the ones who love you.”

  Penny and Sam exchanged a look, and it was clear that Mary Pat’s words had affected them deeply.

  Ben emptied his mug of hot chocolate and got to his feet. “I need to get back to work. If you don’t mind driving into town tomorrow, I’d like all of you to stop by my office and sign some documents. While you’re there, I’ve been advised that the authorities have been working around the clock and will bring you up to date on all the final details of this case.”

  Ben and Becca attached Archie to his leash and dispensed hugs and kisses before leaving.

  When they were gone, Roscoe and Otis made their way to the bunkhouse. Zachariah closed himself in his room. When Penny offered to help clean up the kitchen, Mary Pat shooed her off to bed.

  “You may have been released from the hospital, but you still need some time to rest and heal. Now go. Mac will help me clean up down here.”

  Sam and Finn followed Penny up the stairs, leaving Mac and Mary Pat alone in the kitchen.

  She poured another mug of coffee and handed it to Mac before sitting down at the kitchen table.

  “Now.” She took a sip of coffee and patted the chair beside hers. “Why don’t you tell me how you’re feeling?”

  A slow smile touched his lips. “You know me so well, don’t you?” He settled himself beside her and stretched out his long legs. “I feel as though, finally, at long last, I can breathe again.”

  They sat, hands touching, enjoying a rare moment of peace as silence slowly settled over the house.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  The morning clouds had disappeared, replaced by a brilliant sun. The countryside was ablaze with fiery autumn color that added to the festive feeling.

  Mac promised the family a special lunch at Dolly’s Diner as soon as they finished their business in town.

  They drove two trucks to Haller Creek for their mo
rning visit to Ben’s office. Finn drove one truck with Zachariah in the passenger seat and Sam and Penny in the back. Mac drove a second truck with Mary Pat beside him and Otis and Roscoe in the backseat.

  Sam and Penny wore matching smiles as they sat quietly, letting Finn and Zachariah carry on a conversation.

  While the two up front got into a heated discussion of trial tactics, Sam leaned close to whisper to Penny, “Last night was special.”

  Penny blushed. “It was special for me, too. I just hope nobody saw you leaving my room this morning.”

  He touched a hand to her cheek. “I don’t care if the whole world sees me. I intend to be with you again tonight. And every night, until you get tired of me.”

  “Tired of you?” She smiled up into his face. “Sam, that’s never going to happen. Never.”

  As they neared the town of Haller Creek, they both fell silent. But their secret smiles remained.

  They stepped into the sheriff’s office and were met by Ben and Captain Donnelly of the State Police, as well as Inspector of International Operations McMasters of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

  After signing documents, they were brought up to date on what had transpired since the arrest of Emory Pittman, and the charges against him.

  Inspector McMasters was smiling broadly. “Miss Cash, the evidence provided by your brother Curtis, as well as your own firsthand account of what Pittman did to you, will be enough to see an international criminal put away for a very long time.”

  “I’m glad.” She took in a breath. “And his accomplice?”

  The inspector nodded. “A small-time criminal with a list of petty crimes. But the fact that he crossed the border made this an international crime, and he is due for some hard time. He was arrested at a nearby motel, and the money confiscated as evidence. He has agreed to testify against Pittman, in return for a reduced sentence.”

  As they were shaking hands with the family, Curtis stepped into Ben’s office.

  He kept his head down, face averted. “You wanted to see me, Sheriff?”

  Ben nodded. “I’ve been informed that, because of your agreement to testify against Emory Pittman, all illegal gambling charges against you will be dropped. I hope you understand that you’ve been given a second chance. Now it’s time to get your life in order.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Curtis shook hands solemnly with Ben, and then with the rest of his family.

  He turned to his sister. “Penny, I hope you know how sorry I am about everything.”

  Seeing that his apology was sincere, she nodded. “I know, Curtis. And as I told you, I’m just grateful that you understand and are willing to own your mistake.”

  “I do. I know now I was headed down a wrong road, hoping for easy money. I love you, Penny. And I promise I’ll make you proud.”

  “I love you, too, Curtis.” She hugged him fiercely. “Have you thought about what you want to do in the future?”

  He nodded. “I’ve already talked to an Army officer about enlisting. They accepted me, thanks to Sheriff Monroe’s offer to vouch for my character.”

  Penny looked over at Ben and her smile grew. “That’s generous of you, Ben.”

  “The Army always needs good men. I think Curtis is ready for the next chapter in his life.”

  Curtis nodded. “More than ready. I leave this afternoon.”

  “So soon?” Penny wrapped her arms around her little brother and choked back tears. “We barely had a chance to reconnect. But I understand. You have the right to get on with your life. I’m so proud of you, Curtis.”

  He shrugged, clearly embarrassed at being the center of attention. “I’m hoping, if I’m lucky, that sometime in the future I’ll get stationed with Danny or Cooper. At any rate, I’ll get to see the world. And”—he turned to Sam—“I’ll think about you and the way you love your ranch whenever I’m marching with a heavy pack, knowing I don’t have to muck out smelly stalls anymore.”

  “You sound just like I did the first time Mac forced me and my brothers to muck stalls. We had to hold our noses to get through it.”

  That brought a round of laughter from the entire family.

  Penny hugged the sound to her heart. If she had to say good-bye to her little brother so soon, at least he was leaving on a happy, hopeful note.

  When they finally stepped out of Ben’s office to make their way to Dolly’s Diner, Penny was wrapped in a hazy glow of happiness.

  She turned to Sam. “I can hardly believe it. Yesterday, I was at my lowest point ever. I really thought I might never see another day. And here I am, alive and being given the wonderful news that my little brother is turning his life around. And all because of you and your family. I don’t believe my life could be any sweeter.”

  He dropped an arm around her shoulder and drew her close. “Nobody deserves a sweet life more than you, Money.”

  Mac led the way to the diner. “Come on. I phoned ahead to reserve a table. It’s time we celebrated all the good things in our lives.”

  Roscoe was rubbing his hands together, just thinking about Dolly’s meat loaf and garlic potatoes.

  Once there, Dolly showed them to a large round table. While Loretta, their waitress, poured water and coffee for those who wanted it, Dolly told them her specials before leaving to tend to other duties.

  Otis was beaming when Loretta brought him not only the meat loaf he’d ordered but also a bowl of collard greens. “Now how in the world did you manage to find collard greens this time of year, Miss Loretta?”

  She chuckled. “The minute Dolly heard the Monroe family was coming for lunch, she sent me out to find some at the store. It took some searching, but here’s the proof.”

  The old man dug into his treat, his smile growing with every bite.

  Mary Pat was enjoying Dolly’s pot roast and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy. She glanced over at Penny, who had ordered the same thing. “Well? How does this compare with yours?”

  Penny smiled. “It’s fine.”

  Mary Pat covered her grin with her hand and said in an aside, “You’re not a very good liar. But at least we can enjoy the fact that somebody else did the cooking and the cleanup. I guess that adds to the good taste.”

  The two women shared an easy laugh.

  Finn nudged Sam and kept his tone low enough that nobody else could hear. “You’re looking way too happy for a guy who took two bullets.”

  “I’d take a hundred more just to see Penny looking so relaxed and happy.”

  Finn gave him a long, steady look. “I’ve been watching the two of you. Are you thinking of making this joined-at-the-hip thing permanent?”

  Sam merely smiled. “I don’t want to share what I’m thinking with you or the others until I’ve had a chance to share it with Penny first.”

  Finn’s eyes went wide. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  Sam punched his shoulder. “I think my days of performing at the Hitching Post have come to an end.”

  Finn moved a little away. “First Ben and now you. I hope what you two have isn’t contagious.”

  The two were sharing a laugh when Chet Butler, head of the school board, stepped into their line of vision.

  He paused to drop a hand on Mac’s shoulder. “What a surprise finding all of you here. I thought I’d have to make that long drive to your place later today.”

  Mac got to his feet to share a handshake. “Why would you drive to my ranch, Chet?”

  “To offer Miss Cash a new contract.” He looked across the table at Penny. “The town is talking about what happened to you. We’re all relieved that it was quickly resolved. I’m sure my news will be frosting on the cake, so to speak.” He was clearly pleased to be the bearer of good news. “One of the teachers in our district has requested an early retirement. Her husband has been diagnosed with an illness that will require long-term care. Since you’re first on our board’s list of replacements, we’re prepared to offer you a contract to begin teaching immediately.”

 
; Penny’s eyes were wide, her smile radiant. “There’s nothing I’d like better than to teach here in Haller Creek.”

  Chet Butler gave a quick shake of his head. “Sorry. I should have made this clear sooner. Theresa was teaching in the town of Dryden. It’s about a hundred and fifty miles from here, but still in our district. I can assure you it’s a nice little town, and you’ll have the support of some fine parents and students.”

  Penny swallowed. “I see. Thank you, Mr. Butler.” She could feel everyone watching her. She shot a quick glance at Sam, then away. “I …don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting this. I’m a little overwhelmed.”

  “Of course.” He gave her an easy smile. “Why don’t you drive into town tomorrow and stop by the office to sign the contract?”

  “I…” She nodded. Swallowed. “Thank you.”

  He shook hands all around before walking from the diner.

  When Loretta returned to take their dessert order, she was shocked that nobody seemed hungry enough to order.

  While Mac lingered at the front counter to pay the bill, the others moved slowly out the door and down the street to their trucks.

  On the drive home, the sun drifted behind a wall of thick, ominous clouds.

  It mirrored the mood of the people who spent the entire ride in silence.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  As their trucks pulled up beside the back porch, Mac helped Mary Pat from the passenger side. “I shouldn’t be more than an hour or two. I want to check on the herd.”

  As he started toward the barn, Sam caught up with him. “You go ahead inside with the others, Dad. I’ll check on the herd.”

  “But your injuries…”

  “Are healing nicely. I can still sit a horse. Besides, you’ll be doing me a favor. I need some alone time.”

  Mac nodded in understanding. “I know this offer of a job for Penny came out of the blue. I also know the way you two feel about each other.” When Sam opened his mouth, Mac lifted a hand to silence him.