Tyler Read online

  Jess had borrowed cowboy boots from one of the ranch hands who wore about her size. She looked good in them, the supple leather creasing at her ankles. She’d borrowed a hat as well, a straw one against the sun. With her short-sleeved shirt, her flowing dark hair, and her ink, she was sexy as hell. Buster was one lucky horse.

  Tyler went around Buster’s front side—Buster nipped at him—and adjusted her right stirrup, then came back around and did her left.

  “You mentioned that this is your weaker leg, so I’m making this one a little shorter,” he said. “You can hug this leg around him and not strain to reach the stirrup.” Tyler patted her thigh, enjoying that too. “I’m going to be right next to you, and I’ll catch you, but if you think you’re going off, you grab the horn and hold on tight. We’re not in a competition, and we’re not roping, so I don’t give a crap if your hand’s on the horn. Hold the reins in your left hand, like this …” He folded the reins and slid them through her fist and out between her thumb and fingers. “Buster neck reins really well, so you just push him this way, or that way, and you lean your weight in the direction you want him to go.”

  Buster obediently started to step to the right or left as Tyler guided Jess’s hand. She froze when he moved, but gulped again and tried to relax.

  “I’m going to hold the rein at the bit,” Tyler said, “and we’ll walk forward. Squeeze him a little with your lower legs, keeping your heels down. That’s it.”

  Buster’s ears pricked as he felt the faint command to walk, and he moved forward, Tyler right beside him. Buster seemed to understand that he was to be at his gentlest, because he moved quietly and not too fast.

  “You can do it, Mom,” Dominic said from where he and Faith watched at the rail. “I did it.”

  “He’s a quick learner,” Faith said generously. She spoke as though Dominic were much younger, though they had a year, maybe a year and a half between them.

  Tyler led Buster around the ring, Jess’s tension palpable through the reins. He knew that horseback riding was good physical therapy for neuromuscular disorders, and in fact, his mother held classes for challenged kids. Tyler also knew he spoke the truth when he said he’d never let her fall. He wouldn’t. Ever.

  Jess was stiff the first time around the ring but started to relax in the second. Buster felt the change and relaxed himself, moving more easily.

  “It feels weird,” Jess said above him.

  “Just let yourself go with it.” Tyler slowed to walk by her side instead of at Buster’s nose. “Give into the movement. Horses walk using one foot at a time, never on the same side. Right front, left back, left front, right back. Let him move your ass.”

  Jess laughed shakily, but she started concentrating on Buster’s gait, her legs becoming more pliable. Tyler caressed her knee, feeling her muscles calm.

  “Looking good,” Faith said.

  “It’s like being on a motorcycle,” Dominic said. “Only totally different. Right?”

  “Right,” Jess answered. She sounded surprised.

  They went around a few more times, Tyler guiding Buster. He’d wait until Jess had more confidence before she rode without him by her side. Give her time to get used to the saddle, find her equilibrium.

  Not that Tyler was actually leading. Buster went where he wanted, and Tyler held on to the rein for show.

  When Tyler decided the lesson was done, he showed Jess how to swing her right leg over Buster’s rump, rest her pelvis on the saddle a moment, then push off to land on both feet. He helped her, which meant she landed in his arms, her back against his front. Again, not a bad place to be.

  Jess looked up at him with her face flushed, her eyes sparkling. “That was fun. Can we do it again tomorrow?”

  She hadn’t asked that about sex. Tyler laughed at the thought and kissed her on the lips.

  The kiss turned fierce, Tyler parting her dusty lips to kiss her deeply. Buster snorted.

  “Are you two going to get married?” Faith asked in curiosity.

  Jess started. She broke the kiss but didn’t look angry when she glanced over at Faith and Dominic, who were watching in enjoyment. “I don’t know. What do you think, Dominic?”

  Dominic looked at her as though she’d asked a ridiculous question. “I think it’s a great idea. Tyler’s nice, and we wouldn’t have to worry about stupid Elijah.”

  Faith’s brow puckered. “Who’s Elijah?”

  “A really bad guy. Mom only puts up with him because he helps her get drugs.”

  Now Faith’s eyes widened. “Drugs?”

  “He means medication,” Jess said quickly.

  “Which you don’t need to be worrying about,” Tyler said, his arm still around her. “I was looking up stuff this morning. There are organizations that help people who need the meds but can’t afford them. Bet Elijah didn’t tell you that.”

  Her eyes flashed irritation. “He did, and I looked it up too. But I wasn’t qualified … Or at least, that’s what everyone told me.”

  “We’ll get you qualified. Even if we don’t, it won’t be a problem. You’re okay now, Jess.”

  Jess drew a breath. “You’re being way too good to me—”

  Tyler’s growl cut off her words. “I do not want to hear your thanks or you saying how sweet I’m being to you. I can’t help myself—I’m just one hell of a guy. Besides, I love you and want to marry you.”

  Jess went very still, staring up at him with her wide brown eyes, her lips parted. Tyler realized what he’d said, and said out loud, and his throat closed up. But he wasn’t taking it back. Nope. She could deal with it.

  “Yay!” Faith clapped her hands. Buster snorted, showering Tyler with mucus.

  “Gross, you stupid beast,” he snarled.

  Buster raised his head and made a half neighing, half chortling noise. Jess jumped, startled out of her daze. “He really does laugh,” she said.

  “Yeah, he’s hilarious. Come on. Let’s go in so I can take another shower.”

  * * *

  Tyler continued to be amazing throughout the long day and into the evening. Jess was still reeling from his declaration: Besides, I love you and want to marry you. He’d try to say it like it was no big deal, but she’d seen the tightness around his eyes, the near panic deep inside him.

  Her world had stopped, then started again in a flash. Tyler Campbell had actually said he loved her. She wanted to stick around and make sure he said it again.

  Tyler and Jess made dinner—warming up Grace’s stocked meals—and Tyler thought of games to keep the kids occupied.

  Carter called every hour to update them. Nothing yet. Olivia was at the clinic, there to keep Carter calmed down—at least, that was Tyler’s opinion. Carter would never admit that over the speaker phone, especially with his daughter listening, he said.

  They were in the middle of working a jigsaw puzzle on the living room coffee table when Christina and Bailey arrived with their little ones.

  Faith flew at her aunts and her cousins, a look of joy on her face. More distractions for all of them.

  Both babies were about six months old. Dale, named for his grandfather, was Adam and Bailey’s son. He had a shock of dark hair, blue eyes, and a wide smile. The girl was Emma, belonging to Christina and Grant. She too had dark hair, but brown eyes and a look that said she was going to do and be whatever she wanted.

  Faith sat down and held one baby on each knee. Dominic plopped next to her, studying the two children in fascination. He hadn’t had much chance before this to be near babies.

  Christina and Bailey both hugged Jess as though they were old friends. Christina and Bailey were sisters, Christina with a roguish look and short, curly hair, Bailey quieter but with the strength of steel.

  “So,” Christina said to Jess when the hugging was over. “How did you two meet?”

  Jess slanted Tyler a glance, her heart warming, noting that he looked suddenly nervous. “I picked him up outside a bar,” she said. “Literally.”

 
Christina and Bailey, who must have heard the story from Adam and Grant, laughed uproariously. Tyler rolled his eyes and said, “Yeah, yeah,” but he didn’t look as embarrassed as he pretended to be.

  “The Farrell Girls,” as Tyler called them, soon had Jess sitting on a sofa between them. They wanted to know everything about her and her relationship with Tyler, why she’d decided to come to Riverbend, and what she was going to do now. Christina asked most of the questions, but Bailey backed her up, watching Jess with a wise look.

  Bailey and Christina liked Jess’s honest answers, thought it was fantastic that she’d be working on Grace’s restaurant, and laughed loudly about anything involving Tyler. He left them and went to kiss the babies, Jess’s heart speeding as she watched how gentle he was with them. She also enjoyed studying his nice behind as he bent over the kids.

  In the middle of laughter and teasing, Tyler’s phone rang. There was an instant hush, all attention riveting on Tyler as he answered.

  The call was short. Tyler thumbed off the phone, and then threw up his fists and shouted, “There’s a new Sullivan in the house!”

  Faith burst into tears. She hugged her cousins close, sobbing against them while they looked bewildered. Dominic patted her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

  Bailey and Christina squished Jess between them in a group hug, then dove apart when Tyler grabbed Jess and hauled her to her feet. He hugged her tight then danced her around the living room.

  He twirled her, never letting her lose her balance, and then pulled her against him and kissed her hard on the lips. I’ll never let you fall, he’d promised her, and his kiss sealed the bargain.

  Tyler released Jess but pulled her into the circle of his arm and faced the others who were watching them in delight.

  “All right, folks,” he said. “Let’s go say hi to the newest member of this crazy family.”

  * * *

  Tyler hated hospitals, having visited so many for all his injuries, but when he walked into the River County clinic he realized its advantages. The doctors had delivered Grace’s baby, safe and sound, and both mom and child were doing fine, or so Olivia told them when she met them as they came off the elevators, happiness flushing her face.

  They entered Grace’s room to find Carter sitting beside his wife’s bed, a look of profound peace on his face, and a tiny bundle in his arms.

  Grace watched them both fondly, if tiredly, Carter’s eyes focused on his new baby. The bundle had a shock of dark hair, a red face, and eyes squeezed tightly shut.

  Carter raised his head when he heard Tyler lead in the troops—quietly, the nurses had warned them. Carter’s hazel eyes held something Tyler hadn’t seen in them before—complete happiness, the shadows of his past gone forever. Grace had erased most of those shadows, and now the last of them had disappeared.

  Grant and Adam were already there, the brothers moving forward to surround their wives and respective kids. Olivia resumed a chair on Grace’s other side, happy in her place as matriarch.

  Jess pressed her fingers to her lips as she took in the scene. “Oh, he’s beautiful,” she said softly. She glanced at Grace for confirmation. “He, right?”

  Grace nodded. “Zachary Campbell Sullivan,” she said. “Zach for short.”

  “We wanted a Campbell in there somewhere,” Carter rumbled.

  Even his voice had changed, assuming a gentleness Tyler had never heard in him. The hard-eyed, cynical youth who’d been sent to Circle C ranch for rehabilitation had vanished. In his place was a man who was raising a sweet-as-honey daughter, had married the girl of his dreams, and now held his firstborn son. Tyler’s eyes stung.

  Carter held out one hand for Faith. “Come and meet your brother, sweetheart.”

  Faith approached without hesitation, giving Grace a big smile before she rose on tiptoe to peer at the small face against Carter’s big arm.

  “Oh, he’s so cute,” she crooned. “Hi, Zach.” Her voice was as gentle as Carter’s. “I’m your big sister. I’m gonna help take care of you.”

  Now Tyler’s eyes were unashamedly wet. Jess turned to him, tears on her own lashes, and Tyler opened his arms to her. Jess came right to him, and he gathered her close, the happiness in the room embracing them all.

  * * *

  Tyler drove Jess and Dominic back to the ranch, using his own truck once he found where Grant had left it in the parking lot. Faith remained with Carter, Grace, and Olivia, while Adam and Grant took their families back to Circle C to celebrate.

  The only Campbell who hadn’t made it to the clinic was Ross, who was on duty at the sheriff’s department. But his absence bothered Tyler. Ross would have made an excuse to come—Carter was his favorite brother. The two had always been very close.

  Ross not arriving when he heard about Grace having the baby—and in this town, he’d have heard in seconds—meant something was wrong, and Tyler didn’t like that.

  Jess, on the other hand, sighed contentedly as they pulled onto the straight road that led back to Riverbend. “That was wonderful. Thanks for letting me come.”

  “I didn’t let you do anything. It’s family.”

  Jess didn’t appear to hear him. “I’m so happy for them. Grace deserves the best.”

  “Huh. She deserves a medal for changing Carter into a human being. Remind me to show you the battle scars from when we were kids.”

  Jess snuggled into the corner of her seat. “When you first talked about Carter, I was mad at him for being mean to you. Now I understand better.”

  “About what Carter is like? Or are you saying I asked for it?”

  Jess laughed, a free and easy sound. “Both.”

  Dominic leaned forward from the backseat. “You guys were crying in there,” he said. “I saw you.”

  “So were you, hotshot,” Jess countered.

  Dominic looked chagrined. “Okay, maybe a little. But only because everyone else was.” He paused then said hesitantly, “Faith is cute.”

  Jess grinned. “I noticed you noticing her.”

  Tyler glanced back at him. “She is, but keep that to yourself for about—oh, ten years.”

  “Ten years?” Dominic looked aghast. “We’ll be old by then.”

  “Decrepit,” Tyler said. “But you’ll be big enough to stand up to Carter when you tell him you like his daughter.”

  Dominic considered this. “Good point,” he said, and vanished into the backseat again.

  Jess sent Tyler a smile, then they were quiet until they hit the town limits. Tyler slowed and turned his truck along the square. It was about ten, everything dark except the bar across the way.

  “Mind if I stop in at the sheriff’s office?” Tyler asked. “I just want to make sure Ross got the news. He didn’t answer his phone when I called at the clinic.”

  “Is something wrong?” Jess asked. She was attuned to danger, too used to it, and she was picking up on Tyler’s uneasiness.

  “Probably not. He’s likely out on a call, carting drunk drivers to jail. I’ll leave him a message. ’Course, this is Riverbend. The dispatchers have probably already told half the county about Zach by now, with all the details.”

  Tyler spoke jovially, but he couldn’t ease his trepidation. He pulled around the back of the sheriff’s department and parked. They all went inside together, Tyler not wanting Jess and Dominic to wait in the truck alone. Tyler would take no chances until he had the Elijah problem resolved.

  The moment they stepped into the foyer, the sergeant at the front desk called out, “Congratulations, Uncle Tyler!” Yep, everyone knew.

  The sheriff’s department had a long counter just inside the entrance with a small waiting room out front. A half-door in the counter led to the processing area in the back and kept the arrested riffraff away from any elderly ladies looking for lost dogs in the front. Anyone too dangerous—drug sellers or those taking bar fights to the violent extreme—would be locked in the cells downstairs.

  Before Tyler could ask if Ross was around, the
sergeant said, “Glad you stopped by. Ross is going crazy trying to calm down some people looking for your girlfriend.”

  “What?” Jess’s face went sheet white, her eyes dilating with fear. Dominic shrank close to her, hands gripping her blue-jeaned legs.

  “What people?” Tyler demanded. “If it’s a guy named Elijah, arrest him now. He’s dangerous and probably wanted all over Texas.”

  “No, no.” The sergeant looked puzzled. “Nothing like that. It’s … Well, I’ll let him tell you.”

  Ross emerged from behind a heavy door in the back wall as the sergeant spoke, saw Tyler, and made a swift path to the counter. “Tyler. What the hell? Is Jess with you …” He noticed Jess and drew a breath. “Good. I—”

  Before he could continue, the heavy door opened again, and a large woman with black hair and a colorful blouse and jeans charged through. “Jess—there you are! Will you tell this idiota to listen to me?”

  Mrs. Alvarez. Behind her came three more women of the same age, forming a group behind her, all of them looking mad as hell.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jess’s heart pounded as Mrs. Alvarez rushed around desks and out through the door in the counter, catching Jess in a fervent embrace.

  Jess hugged her hard then pulled back. “What happened?”

  Mrs. Alvarez’s words tumbled out over hers. “I’m so sorry, Jessica. Elijah found me—I went to pick up your prescription, and he was there waiting. He must have thought you’d go back for it, but he was happy to grab me instead. He’s flaming mad and is after you.”

  “Are you all right?” Jess asked worriedly. Mrs. Alvarez didn’t have any obvious bruises, but Elijah could hurt a person so it didn’t show.

  “Yes, yes; he didn’t touch me. My friends were with me, and we got away from him. He chased us, but we lost him. No one knows the streets of Dallas like me,” Mrs. Alvarez finished proudly. “I would have called you, but I didn’t want to stop a single second, and I wanted to tell what passes for the police in this town to shut the gates to Elijah. But honey, he’s searching for you. And I have to tell you, your ex-husband is out and back in Dallas. He wasn’t with Elijah, but Elijah yelled after us that Cade was waiting for you at home. I’m so sorry.”