Carrying the Rancher's Heir / Secret Son, Convenient Wife: Carrying the Rancher's Heir / Secret Son, Convenient Wife

Three

Callie bounded out of Tagg’s vehicle, keeping her spirits up. Tagg’s cutting words a few minutes ago had hurt, but she couldn’t let them discourage her. She’d known Tagg was a loner when she’d approached him that night. She’d known about his past heartache. She couldn’t expect him to claim undying love for her at this point, not when he’d been wallowing in grief for years.

They’d had a great night of sex in Reno. But she also believed that it wasn’t just sizzle between the sheets. Tagg had been sweet and thoughtful during that time and they’d talked and shared intimacies that she’d always remember, in between their bouts of lovemaking.

She hadn’t planned on conceiving his child that night. But she’d never say that her baby was a mistake. She wanted this child, now more than ever. She knew she was on shaky ground at the moment. The quake that was Taggart Worth could topple a less determined woman. But Callie had nothing to lose and everything to gain so she wouldn’t allow Tagg’s sharp tongue to stop her.

Once they arrived at the stables, just a stone’s throw from the Worths’ main house, Callie got out of the car and crossed to the corral to take a look at half a dozen horses.

“Not those,” Tagg said. “They’re too high-strung.”

Callie could tell that already, just by their stance, the way they held their heads and the way they seemed too aware of their surroundings. Like they were ready to bolt any second. Callie nodded. “They’re spirited.”

“Our best cutting horses,” Tagg said, nodding in the direction of another corral behind the stable. “Over here.”

Callie followed Tagg as he marched over to another fenced-off arena. He opened the gate and entered. At least six horses were scattered about. He waited for Callie to walk through the gate and then closed it behind her. Upon entering, a few of the horses lifted their heads, giving them a casual perusal before going back to grazing. The others didn’t seem to notice them, or if they did, they didn’t seem to care.

“I think we’ve found our candidates,” Callie said, approaching a light chestnut mare whose coat gleamed under the afternoon sun. The horse looked healthy and didn’t seem to spook easily. Callie knew enough to move slowly, especially when advancing on an animal that didn’t know you. “Hey, girl,” she said. “What’s your name?”

Tagg strode to her side. “This here is Sunflower. She’s done her part on the ranch.”

Callie studied the horse. She had kind eyes. “She’s what, ten or eleven?”

Tagg nodded. “She’s eleven.”

Callie stroked along her nose, all the while looking into Sunflower’s eyes. “She might be a good choice. She’s not too tall, either, and she’s a good age. I’d like to spend some time with her. Maybe take her for a ride. See how she does out in the open.”

“Good idea.” Tagg nodded. He walked toward a black gelding with four white socks and a long white stripe along his nose. “This here is Tux.”

She grinned and acknowledged, “Because of his black-and-white coloring.”

Tagg stroked the horse’s mane. “Yeah. He was so fine in his day. He’s about twelve now. I used to ride him when I came home from the rodeo. He’s got a lot of life left in him.”

Callie walked over to Tux, admiring him. “Do you trust him?”

Tagg looked the horse over and nodded. “About as much as I trust any one thing. Which sometimes isn’t all that much. I want to take him out and see how he does.”

Callie wondered about Tagg’s comment. Was he only speaking about horses? Or did he have other issues with trust. “Today?”

Tagg glanced at her. “No, not today. Since Clay’s put me in charge, I’d better get back to Penny’s Song before too long. We’ll have to do it another day.”

“Okay.” Callie glanced at the rest of the horses in the corral and found some to be far too old and lazy, some to be a little bit too jumpy. Tagg agreed, doing a calculated assessment, much the way Callie had.

“Let’s take a quick look in the stable,” Tagg suggested. “Might as well see them all while we’re here.”

Callie followed behind Tagg and wished she’d been a little quicker in her stride. Because the view from here was too darn good. His dark hair, jutting out from under his hat and curling at his nape, made her wish she had free reign to run her fingers through those thick strands. Wide shoulders tapered down to a waist that accented slim hips and a perfect male butt. Taggart Worth fit into his jeans like nobody’s business.

With an unsteady breath, Callie sighed as she moved from bright sunlight to near darkness inside the stable. It took a while for her eyes to adjust. Once they did, she spotted Tagg inside a stall beside an old mare. She looked gaunt and weary. “This here is Sadie. She was … mine.”

Tagg looked at the mare with admiration and devotion. Something soft and warm tugged at Callie’s heart. She’d never seen Tagg’s emotions so raw, so real. His eyes gleamed with pure love. He spoke softly to the mare, stroking her, and Callie kept her distance for the time being, allowing the two of them to reconnect.

After a moment, Tagg added, “She’d probably be good around children. She’d welcome the attention and I think the kids would love her.”

The way you do, Callie wanted to say.

“She’s not too long for this world.” The horse nuzzled his neck playfully, looking more alive.

“She heard that. She’s gonna prove you wrong.”

He glanced at the mare. “Maybe. We’ll try her out and see how she holds up.”

Callie stepped closer to Tagg, removing the distance between them. “The horse I had growing up is gone. I wish I still had her.”

“Oh, yeah?”

Callie spoke softly. “I was only eight when she was born. I watched her birth. I’d seen other mares foal, but this time it was special for me. I knew the little filly entering into the world that day would be mine. My daddy promised and I had to swear to take care of her myself. I was eager to do it. When she struggled up on those skinny little legs to take her first steps in the barn, I cried. It was love at first sight.” Callie smiled and glanced at Tagg.

He’d moved closer to her, too. She saw another gleam in his eyes. This time aimed at her. Sadie moved back a step but the slight rustling of straw didn’t interrupt, didn’t suspend the intense look on Tagg’s face. It didn’t stop his approach. “Tell me more.”

“Her name was Jasmine. Named after the fairy-tale princess. I had visions of flying off on a magic carpet with her.”

Tagg smiled. “Or she’d fly you around on her back.”

“A little girl’s daydreams can’t be messed with.” She relished the smile Tagg offered her. He was so darn handsome … still her fantasy man.

The light was dim in the stable and cool enough when she’d first walked inside, but now the stable heated up and familiar musky scents of earth and straw closed in on her. She stood toe-to-toe with Tagg. “I don’t suppose you had daydreams.”

Tagg seared her with a hot glance and arched his brow. “I’m having one now.”

She looked at his mouth with longing. She wanted him. She always had. “So am I, Tagg,” she said, breathless.

Tagg reached one hand out and pulled her close. She flowed easily toward him. His mouth came down on hers in a rush of heat. Instantly, she wrapped her arms around his neck and put everything she had into returning the kiss. Weeks of yearning, desire and uncertainty all rolled up into one ignited when his mouth met hers. A deep rugged groan escaped Tagg’s throat and fueled those flames as their bodies brushed. The magnetic pull was something neither could fight. It was just there, driving them closer.

Tagg deepened the kiss, opening his mouth and wetting her lips with his tongue. She parted for him immediately, inviting his tongue inside her mouth. Holding her breath, she prepared for the onslaught, the intense mating that swept fiery heat through her body.

Tagg pulled at her hips, jutting them up against his. His erection pulsed between their clothes, solid and strong.

“Oh,” she moaned, barely able to breathe. She gave herself up to him, to the power of his kiss. She went weak-kneed and Tagg’s strong grip was all that held her upright. He put his arms around her waist and then in one quick move, removed the rubber band from her hair. The strands were released, and he shoved his fingers through, spreading her hair out.

She thought to do the same to him, remembering her wish of just minutes ago. She grabbed his hat and tossed it aside, garnering a deep-rooted chuckle from him. Then, as he continued to kiss her, she ran her fingers into his long dark locks, playing with his hair just as she’d fantasized.

Callie pulled back just enough to catch her breath. “Easy?”

Tagg’s lips curled up. “Anything but.”

He continued to kiss her.

She pulled back slightly one more time. “Convenient?”

Another chuckle. “You’ve got to be kidding.” He swept his tongue one last time inside the hollows of her mouth before breaking the kiss and flashing her a sincere look. “But beautiful is a fact.”

Callie smiled and breathed out, “Thank you.”

Tagg reached for her again, but voices from ranch hands approaching outside stopped him. Instantly, he stepped away and grabbed his hat from the ground. With a look of regret, he darted a glance her way and plopped his Stetson onto his head. The ranch foreman appeared in the sunlit line of vision from the wide stable door and Tagg cleared his throat. “Let’s get out of here,” he said, keeping his voice down.

She saw him reach for her hand and then think better of it.

With their arms to their sides, they walked out of the stable together and got into the Jeep. Tagg waved to the men who’d returned to the stable area without stopping to talk.

They drove back to Penny’s Song in silence. She was grateful for the quiet ride. At least Tagg wasn’t telling her how that kiss shouldn’t have happened. At least he wasn’t denying that something drew them together like a force of nature.

Callie could only hope that she was making headway with Tagg.

She’d caught him in a weak moment, is all, Tagg thought as he pulled up to Penny’s Song. One minute it had all been about Clay’s request to find horses. Then he’d seen Sadie and gotten sentimental. There was nothing worse than having a woman see you when you’re vulnerable. And then Callie’s soft looks of understanding and commiseration did him in.

The kiss just happened. And he wasn’t going to apologize for it. He wasn’t going to deny it was good. Hell, it had been great. But Callie was a dangerous woman to be around and the one thing he swore he wouldn’t do was to get involved with her. He wouldn’t forget who she was, or who he was. He’d already had his one chance at love and had blown it.

He climbed out of the vehicle and walked around to the other side, but Callie had already opened the door herself. She got out and they looked at each other. Tagg spoke first before she said something he didn’t want to hear. “I’d better check on the workmen. See if they need anything. Are you sticking around here?”

“For a little while. I have some things I want to finish up.”

“Okay, then. I’ll let you get to your work. See ya.” He tipped his hat.

He’d only gotten a few feet away before Callie called him back. “Tagg?”

He turned around, bracing himself for what she had in mind. He didn’t like to analyze things the way most women did. He’d kissed her. It was great. Period. He doubted it would ever happen again. “Yeah?”

“I think we did a good job picking out the horses today.”

“Yeah. We did.”

“I’d still like to ride Sunflower. I’ll ask Clay if I can do that tomorrow.”

Tagg scrubbed his jaw. “Don’t think I can make it to morrow.”

She frowned and shook her head. “I’m not asking you on a date, for heaven’s sake. I can ride the mare without you and make a determination on my own.”

He held his expression blank to keep from blinking his surprise. Callie had put him in his place. “Okay, the sooner we accomplish that, the better.”

“That’s what it’s all about.” Tousled, well kissed and rosy cheeked, she faced him from a few feet away. He’d put that look on her pretty face. Sensations whirled. Unsettling possessive instincts took hold in his gut. He stood there for several minutes, well after she’d turned on her heels and walked away.

Jed Barlow rode up on his horse and dismounted just a few feet away. “Hey, Tagg. I’m glad I found you here. Clay thought you might be available for the game tonight. Diamondbacks are playing. Then after the game, we’ll be happy to take your money at the poker table. We need to fill a seat. Brett Williamson’s daughter is getting married, so he’s out of commission for the week.”

Baseball and poker were just what he needed to take his mind off Callie for the night. He wasn’t a regular, but when the boys needed a substitute, Tagg didn’t mind filling in. “Sure. Why not?”

“All right then. We’ll see you at seven.” Jed led his horse toward the stable, but turned after taking just a few steps. “Hey, was that Callie Sullivan I saw you jawing with just a minute ago?”

“Yeah, that was Callie.”

“Never thought I’d see her around here.”

Jed had gone to the same high school as the Worths. His father owned a small ranch ten miles north of their property. After years of struggling, unable to compete with the bigger ranches in the area, Kent Barlow quit the cattle business. The Worths had always liked the Barlows and Clay hired Jed straightaway. He knew ranching like the back of his hand. He’d been a trusted employee going on five years now. “That makes two of us,” Tagg answered.

“She sure is pretty.”

Tagg nodded. He didn’t need a reminder.

“I remember a time when I liked her, back in school. She was book smart and I was flunking out of English. I must’ve been sixteen or so. She offered to help with my homework one day and I showed up at Big Hawk Ranch.” Jed stopped talking to shake his head and grin. “I think I had a death wish or something. I didn’t get one foot on the porch when her daddy comes up behind me holding a big ole shotgun, telling me Callie wasn’t seeing any visitors that night. He told me if I knew what was good for me, I’d turn around and keep on going.”

“Had you shaking in your boots, did he?”

“Had me pissing in my boots was more like it. That man was mean.”

“He never scared me.”

“You ever try to date his daughter?”

Tagg shook his head. What had happened between him and Callie couldn’t be called dating. “No. She was younger. I barely knew Callie in school.”

“Good thing, too. The Hawk’s got no use for the Barlows, or the Worths, either, I hear. Callie once told me she wasn’t allowed to speak to any of you. Looks like that’s changed.”

“She’s volunteering here, going to work with the kids at Penny’s Song. I don’t think her father has much say in what she does anymore.” Tagg didn’t know why he felt the need to explain that to him.

“She married?” Jed searched the area, presumably to catch another glimpse of Callie.

He shook his head. “No.”

“Okay, then.” Jed got a big smile on his face. “Maybe I’ll just reacquaint myself.”

Tagg watched him enter the stable, tempering his irritation and talking himself out of being angry at Jed. He had no reason to be annoyed. What Jed did in his spare time wasn’t any of his business. What Callie did in her spare time wasn’t, either.

But later that night, Tagg got immense enjoyment out of cleaning Jed’s clock at the poker table. The victory gave him such great satisfaction that he wouldn’t allow himself to believe it was motivated by anything more than his strong competitive drive.

“Hi, Daddy.” Callie kissed her father on the forehead before taking a seat adjacent to him at the dining room table for dinner. Her father insisted on taking his meals in the formal room rather than breaking bread in the kitchen. He said he paid a cook and housekeeper good wages to keep the house and he damn well was going to enjoy it. Before her mother died, they used to eat breakfast and lunch in the kitchen. So Callie had a feeling it was less about formality and more about not dealing with the memories that drove her father.

“Callie, honey. Where’ve you been lately? Seems I got a ghost instead of a daughter. I only hear you rattling around. You’re up and out early every day.”

It had only been three days since she’d begun working at Penny’s Song. “I’m home every night for dinner,” she reminded him. “And you promised me you’d give me some space.”

“Space,” he muttered, reaching for a glass of iced tea. “You and your psychology mumbo jumbo. I’ve been letting you do what you want, haven’t I?”

“Dad, I’m nearly twenty-seven years old. I’d hope so by now.”

“You’re still mad about that Troy fella.” He forked a bite of his salad, swallowed and made a sour face.

Callie smiled inwardly. She’d been harping on her father for months to eat better. He hadn’t known what a green leaf was until Callie came home and insisted he lose weight. He wouldn’t agree until she played the orphan card. He didn’t want to die and leave Callie without a father, did he? He knew he hadn’t been eating right and even though he griped about the food she’d introduced, he had finally relented. And Callie even believed he’d enjoyed it somewhat, but more because she cared enough about him to want to keep him healthy.

“You have no right interfering in my private life. You know how I feel about that. And another thing, if you don’t want me changing my room, I won’t. But I will be moving into another one. One I can decorate myself. I’m not twelve anymore, Daddy.”

“You got that right. You never sassed me like this when you were younger.”

“I’m not sassing you now. I’m just telling you how I feel.”

“If decorating your room will keep you at home more, fine. Change the room any way you want.”

Callie knew her father ached inside with loneliness. He’d al ways been overbearing, but her mother knew how to temper him. With her gone, Hawkins had become even more demanding. She reached for his hand and covered it with hers, squeezing gently. “I won’t change my room. I’ll do up another one.”

He glanced at her with those big brown eyes that she’d inherited and nodded. “Whatever makes my little girl happy.”

Oh, if only that were true.

“So, where have you been off to every morning?”

“I’ve been volunteering my time for a worthy charity.”

Hawkins stared down at his bland broiled chicken, unable to work up any enthusiasm for the fare. He’d been eating fried chicken and mashed potatoes topped with sour cream and gravy until Callie had come home. She had to stifle a chuckle seeing him look like a little boy who didn’t want to eat his vegetables. He set his fork down and glared at her. “That charity have a name?”

“Penny’s Song.” The entire community knew about Clayton Worth’s pet project. He’d started it on his own, but when the news got out, he’d received a good deal of support and a long volunteer list from the town.

Her father frowned and narrowed his eyes at her. “You mean to tell me you’ve been going over to the Worths every day?”

She wasn’t nearly as intimidated by him as he wanted her to be. She reminded herself that she was living here to make sure he didn’t dig himself into an early grave. She could move out anytime she wanted. She didn’t have to put up with his ruthless, conniving ways. But he was her father and she loved living on Big Hawk Ranch.