Rocky Mountain Brides: Raising the Rancher's Family

“Hey, don’t I have a say in this?” Holt asked. “I can’t keep traipsing around the countryside looking for a kid who doesn’t want to be found.”

Leah tensed. “Then I’ll go by myself.”

“Not without my permission.”

She caught his determined gaze, but she wasn’t intimidated. “I’m sure the sheriff could get some volunteers together within an hour and search until nightfall.”

Holt glared. “I don’t like being threatened.”

“Not any more than I like to think about a child being left out there alone.” She got up from the table, went to the mudroom and slammed the door behind her.

“Well, you’ve done it now,” Zach said as he looked at Holt. “Maybe where you come from people don’t care about other people, but around here we take care of our own. If you won’t go with Leah, then I will.”

Holt tensed, knowing it wasn’t true that everyone in Destiny took care of, their own. His father hadn’t. Something tightened in his chest. Even Holt wasn’t so callous as to let a kid roam around the wilderness.

“Will you stop grumbling? I didn’t say I wouldn’t go.” Ignoring the gleam in the old man’s eyes, he stood and went to the mudroom. He opened the door just in time to see Leah pull her jeans over those long smooth legs.

Damn. His body suddenly stirred to life.

She jerked around and fisted the shirt edges together. “Do you mind?”

Holt leaned against the doorjamb as if the intimacy of watching her didn’t bother him at all. Like hell. He forced a smile. “Not at all.”

Leah turned her back on him and fastened the jeans. “I’m going back to town now. I’ll get your shirt back to you.”

“Keep it as long as you want. It looks a lot better on you anyway.”

She ignored him and pulled on her boots, then grabbed her blouse and bra off the dryer. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

He nodded. “I’ll have the horses saddled about eight.”

She froze. “But I thought—”

“I only said I couldn’t keep doing this all day…every day. I do have to help Zach with chores, and we’re trying to organize the roundup.”

“I know.” Her expression softened as she came closer. “Holt, I appreciate your time and help, especially after the mishap in the mine.”

She looked young…and innocent as she flashed those big brown eyes at him. He felt the reaction deep in his gut. She drew more than protective instincts from him. “That’s why you shouldn’t go into those mines alone.”

Leah nibbled on her lower lip. “So…I guess I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” she said.

Holt nodded, not trusting himself with saying anything more.

“Goodbye,” she said, then darted out the door and down the steps. The rain had slowed to a soft drizzle, but she seemed to hardly notice it. Leah raised her face skyward and drew a deep breath before she got into her car.

From the window he watched her drive off. Had he ever been that carefree? He knew the answer to that. He’d been driven all his life. His mother, Elizabeth Pershing, had expected certain things from her only child. He had to uphold the blue-blood old Boston Pershing family’s name. And being the son of a Colorado rancher had already been a black mark against him. As hard as he tried, Holt never felt good enough to be a Pershing. He’d once overheard his grandparents say that Elizabeth had made a mistake marrying, and having a child with John Rawlins. Holt never doubted that he was the “mistake.”

The one difference between himself and his mother was he’d finally stopped trying to please the family. When he’d heard of John Rawlins’s death—and even with his Grandmother Pershing’s threats to disinherit him—Holt had quit his job and moved to Colorado to take over the ranch.

He walked away from his career and from the woman he supposedly loved. Melanie was everything a man could want. But when she wanted to settle down and start a family, he couldn’t take that step.

He wasn’t sure if he was capable of love.

“Leah, did you hear what I said?” Morgan asked.

“What?” Leah glanced at her sister, embarrassed that she’d been caught daydreaming.

“I asked if you think the church hall is big enough for Mom and Dad’s anniversary party.”

“Well, you should know better than I do. How many people will the place hold? Are we inviting the entire town?”

The always organized and composed Morgan looked anything but that today. “I’m not sure,” she said. “It’s just that we’ve got the town’s Founder’s Day celebration at the same time.”

Morgan was the only one of the Keenan sisters who had stayed in Destiny. Leah had taken off to photograph the world. Paige, with her law degree, took a job with the D.A. in Denver. Morgan’s dream had always been to teach school. But while she’d been student teaching in an inner-city school, she’d suddenly come home. To stay. She’d said that she’d changed her mind about her career, then soon after opened a gift shop in the Keenan Inn. Since then Morgan hadn’t traveled any farther away from Destiny than Durango. She’d been the one here for the family, especially her sisters.

Leah decided it was about time she and Paige helped out.

“When did you say Paige was coming home?” Leah asked.

“Not sure. The last time I talked to her she was working on a big criminal case. She’s hoping she’ll make it by the end of the month.”

Leah frowned. “That only leaves us two weeks before the party.”

“I’ll take whatever I can get.” Morgan smiled. “I’m just glad you could get so much time off. Three years is too long to be away.”

Guilt made Leah blush. “You always knew I was an eager kid with big dreams. I had to grab an opportunity when it was handed to me.”

“Are you sorry?” Morgan asked.

“Of course there are times,” Leah began, “that I missed the family.” So many nights she’d cried herself to sleep after she photographed all the pain and suffering. It was what hadn’t gone into print that truly haunted her. She sighed. “But Our World magazine gave me an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” For the last three years, she’d led Morgan to think her life was so glamorous, but the faces of the children she had to walk away from would bother her always.

Leah forced aside the memories and smiled. “I wish I’d had better accommodations. Most of the places I went didn’t even have running water, or toilets.” Or any respect for life.

“Well, we for sure can give you better living quarters. I just hope you don’t get bored.”

On the contrary, Leah welcomed the peace and quiet of her hometown. Her thoughts turned to Destiny’s new resident, Holt Rawlins. He hadn’t exactly made her feel peaceful. “I think I can stay busy enough.”

“If you’re talking about the runaway boy, maybe I should give Reed a call. As sheriff he could get together a lot of volunteers.”

“I’m just afraid that we’ll drive him deeper into the woods. Maybe it’s better if Holt and I go out tomorrow alone.”

“You’ve been in town for only a few days and you’ve seen more of our new resident than we have in the past four months.” Morgan’s eyes widened. “What’s he like?”

Leah shrugged. “I see a strong physical resemblance, but he’s nothing like John. Has he made friends with anyone in town?”

“Outside of the few times I’ve seen him at the grocery store or the trading post, he’s pretty much kept to himself. He’s cordial and polite. Maybe you should invite him to a town meeting and introduce him around.”

Leah wasn’t sure Holt wanted to make friends. “Doesn’t it seem strange that John never mentioned a son?” Leah asked. “Why he never had a relationship with Holt?”

Morgan shrugged. “Could be the divorce was a bitter one, and it’s difficult to keep a long-distance father/son relationship going.”

Leah drew a breath. “It’s still hard for me to imagine John Rawlins ignoring his own child.”

“It happens,” Morgan told her. “Look at us. Our birth mother never came back to get us.”

It was no secret that twenty-seven years ago three girls—two toddlers and an infant—were left at the inn for the childless Keenans to raise. There had never been much discussion about the girls’ biological parents. Why would a mother just leave her daughters?

Morgan looked at her sister. “Sometimes parents can’t keep their promises.”

The next morning, although the sun was shining, the weather was still chilly. It was a perfect day for a ride. Leah brought her camera this time and tucked it away in her saddlebag. She wasn’t going to waste this incredible scenery.

Riding Daisy, Leah followed behind Holt on the trail. They’d already checked out two abandoned mines. Only this time, Holt had her stay outside while he looked around. As much as she wanted to protest, she knew better than to push him anymore. So she busied herself taking pictures.

As they headed back they approached the waterfall. Holt reined his horse and turned toward her. He pushed his hat back exposing his handsome face. “How about we take a break?”

“Sure why not.”

Leah climbed down and retrieved her camera. She started toward the rushing water, feeling the temperature cool. The fresh mountain air was refreshing and a fine mist caressed her face as she climbed over the rocky base to find the best angle to shoot a picture. Poised with her camera, Leah was in her own world when she shifted and began to slip. She gasped. Suddenly a pair of strong arms circled her waist and kept her from falling in the water.

Leah regained her footing, then looked up into Holt’s green eyes. Her heart raced. “Sorry, I lost my balance.”

He gave her a hint of a smile. “Seems that’s been happening to you a lot lately.”

“I’ll try to be more careful.” She regained her footing, and climbed onto a big boulder to look around. “That’s where I first saw him.” She pointed. “At the edge of the pool.”

Holt took in the incredible sight of his own piece of Shangri-la. Crystal-clear water sheeted over the granite that protruded from the mountainside. Several large boulders circled the small pond below, its bottom covered by colorful rocks. He heard a clicking sound and glanced back at Leah. She was taking his picture.

“Surely you can find a better subject than me.”

“Maybe, but right now you’re all I’ve got.” He caught her sly smile. “Just don’t turn grumpy on me.”

He surprised himself and smiled. “You’re pretty sassy for…a kid.”

She moved and took another picture. “You need your eyes checked. I’m not a kid.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my eyesight.” He flashed back to yesterday with her in his shirt. Her long legs. “You might be full grown, but in years, you’re still a kid.”

“And you’re so old.”

She lowered her camera and he caught a flash of sadness in her eyes. His chest tightened and he wanted to go to her, but decided it wasn’t wise to pursue it.

“What do you say we have some lunch? Maria made sandwiches.”

He made his way to his horse and returned with a saddlebag and blanket. He found a big flat boulder and spread out the blanket. Leah sat down on the far edge…keeping her distance. Was she really so afraid of him? Maybe she was wise to be afraid.

“Is there anywhere else we should look?” he asked, handing her a wrapped sandwich.

Leah was getting discouraged. Where had the boy gone? She prayed he was safe. “I can’t think of where he’d go.”

“He must be a pretty bright kid to outsmart adults,” Holt said.

She looked him in the eye. “Or he doesn’t trust them.” She took a bite of her sandwich. “Maybe they’ve let him down. But surely his parents would put out a missing persons report.”

“Not all parents are like yours,” he said, looking at her. “Some don’t have time for their kids.”

Leah saw the pain on his face, the sudden distant look in his eyes that suggested his childhood wasn’t ideal. Before she could speak, he moved toward her.

“Don’t turn around but your little friend is hiding just behind the falls.”

Leah gasped as Holt’s arms encircled her shoulders. “I’m going to try to get a better look, so go along.”

She nodded. “Okay, but don’t frighten him off.”

Holt smiled. “Then you better help.” His head lowered as his arms went around her back and drew her closer. She tried not to react, but he radiated heat, and there was the feel of his muscular chest. When he nuzzled her neck she had to fight her response.

“The little thief is moving closer to the edge of the water.”

Holt shifted so his mouth was close to her ear. She could feel his warm breath, the brush of his lips as he spoke. Agonizingly sensitive to even such a slight touch of his mouth, the delicate outer curve of her ear seemed to tingle and burn.

“You were right, he’s only about eight or nine, dirty blond hair.”

“That’s him,” she whispered. “How are we going to convince him we’re here to help?”

His lips moved to her cheek, then her jawline. She shivered as an ache started in her chest and began to shift lower. She didn’t need this complication. A man like Holt wasn’t good for her. “Is this a good idea?”

He raised his head just inches and stared down at her. “I’m not sure…you tell me.” Just then his mouth closed over hers.

Leah was totally lost in the kiss as Holt drew her closer against his body. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she forgot everything but the feel of Holt’s mouth against hers. Then slowly he lifted his head, breaking the intimate contact. He sucked in a shaky breath as his eyes drifted open and locked with hers, revealing the heat in the emerald depths.

Suddenly he blinked and turned his attention over her shoulder. “Damn. He’s gone.”

Before Leah could clear her head, Holt took off after the kid. She scrambled to her feet and hurried along the edge of the pond behind Holt. There was no sign of the boy.

“We lost him.”

“I thought you were watching him,” she said accusingly, hating that she let this man affect her.

He combed his fingers through his hair. “I was until you decided to be a participant in the kiss.”

“Me? You’re blaming me for distracting you? It was your idea.”

He came up to her, displaying the heat in his eyes. “Yes, and it was a really bad idea.”

Holt was silent all the way back to the ranch. Fine. Leah wasn’t taking the blame for losing sight of the boy. And she was still blaming herself for losing herself in the kiss, no matter how incredible. But just because there were sparks didn’t mean they should do anything about it.

Outside the barn, they dismounted. “Okay, now I have to call the sheriff,” she told him.

“Go ahead, but I’m telling you that kid doesn’t want to be found,” Holt argued.

“Then we’re going to have to persuade him we want to help him.” She tugged on the reins and led her horse into the barn. Once in the stall, she began to unfasten the cinch straps, then she lifted the saddle off and put it away in the tack room. They’d had three days, and hadn’t been able to find one young boy. It was time she called the sheriff.

After putting everything away, she returned to the stall. That was when she saw Zach and Holt at the other end of the aisle and went to tell them of her plans.

Holt took her by the arm. “We need to go up to the house and talk.” He started to walk, pulling her along with him.

Leah resisted. “What do we need to talk about?”

His eyes narrowed. “Things.”

This time Zach joined in. “Yeah, things.”

Leah allowed the two men to lead her outside and up to the house. Once in the kitchen, she swung around.

“You’re not going to talk me out of calling the sheriff. We can’t find the boy on our own, and it’s going to be pretty cold tonight.”

“He’s living in the barn,” Holt said calmly.

“You’re kidding.” She could believe their good luck. “Really?”

Zach nodded. “I had to go up to the loft earlier. I found a blanket, some clothes and a stash of food.”

“That kid has been stealing things right from the house,” Holt said accusingly.

“He’s trying to survive the only way he can,” she pleaded, wondering if this man actually had a heart.

“Well, he can’t do it in my barn.”

Leah shook with anger. “Of course not. That would be too much trouble for you. That child needs help and you’re only worried that he’s taken a few of your precious things. I bet you didn’t even miss them.”

Holt glared. “You know I’m getting tired of being the bad guy. I just meant that a barn is no place for a kid to live. Go ahead, call the sheriff and tell him to come out here.” He walked out, letting the back door slam shut.

She looked at Zach. “What’s he going to do?”

“Nothing as bad as what you’re thinking. He’s probably going to find the boy.”

“Great,” she grumbled and had started after him when the phone rang.

Zach answered it and called her back. “It’s your sister.”

Leah took the receiver. “Hello, Morgan.”

“Leah, the sheriff is on his way out. There’s a report of a missing boy from Durango. The boy that fits your description is Corey Haynes. He ran away from his foster home.”

“He’s been hiding in Holt’s barn, in the loft. I’ve got to go.”

Leah hung up and ran for the door. “His name is Corey,” she called to Zach.

Running down the steps, she saw Holt with Corey in tow. His hand was around the boy’s skinny arm, pulling him toward the house. His clothes were filthy, shirt and jeans were torn, and his white tennis shoes nearly black. The child cursed as he resisted their forward progress.

Leah ran to meet them. “Corey, it’s okay. You’re safe now,” she told him.

He continued to fight Holt. “Just let me go and I’ll leave.”

Holt finally managed to get the kid into the kitchen. Pulling out a chair, he parked him there, but he jumped up. Holt pushed him back down, feeling the tender spots on his shins, knowing he’d probably have bruises tomorrow.

“Sit down, or I’ll tie you down.”

Fear filled the kid’s blue eyes, but also defiance. Then surprising Holt, he sat down. Holt grabbed another chair, swung it around and straddled it in front of the boy. “Okay, kid, I need a name and where you came from.”

“I’m not going to tell you shi—nothin’.” Head bent, he stared at the kitchen floor.

“Is it Corey?” Leah asked. “Corey Haynes?”

The boy looked at her and blinked those innocent blue eyes at her. “I don’t know any Corey.”

Leah squatted down beside the boy. “Corey, you don’t have to be afraid. We’re here to help you.”

“Yeah, I heard that before,” he muttered. “Just let me go.”

“No way,” Holt said. “You can’t live in caves.”

“Why not? It was a lot better than where I was.” Tears flooded his eyes and he swiped them away.

Leah gave Holt a pleading look. He could see she’d already lost her heart to this kid. “Were you mistreated?” She touched the boy’s arm and he didn’t pull away.

“What difference does it make? Nobody cares.”

“I care, Corey,” she insisted. “I want to help you.”

He looked up and his dirty face was streaked with tears. “Why?”

“Because you deserve better than you’re getting.” She moved in closer and pulled the child into an embrace. Her nurturing touch seemed as natural as her next breath. “No child should have to live in a cave, or a barn. You should feel safe and secure. And clean.” She wrinkled her nose. “You don’t exactly smell too great.”

She rose and looked again at Holt. “He needs a shower. Is it okay?”

How could he deny her? “Sure…why not.”

“How about I take him?” Zach said.

“Will you go with Zach, Corey?”

The boy hesitated. “Will you be here when I get back?”

Smiling, she brushed his shaggy hair off his forehead. “Yes. Just scrub from head to toe.”

“I’ll make sure he does,” Zach said as he led the boy down the hall and into the bath.

Leah turned toward Holt. “Oh, I never thought to ask, do you have anything Corey can wear?”

“Zach will come up with something.”

The last thing Holt wanted to do was get involved with this kid’s problems. But from the moment he’d found Leah on his property, she’d managed to draw him into her search. He’d followed her around, looking in every cave and mine shaft for a kid who didn’t want to be found. He’d gotten far more involved with her than was good for him, especially after the kiss. Not one of his best ideas.

“You think just because he gets cleaned up that’s going to make things better?” he told her.

“It’s a start,” she said, folding her arms over her chest stubbornly. “And I’m not going to abandon him.”

“Looks like you might not have a choice,” he said. “The kid’s a runaway. And once the sheriff gets here he’ll have to go back to his foster home.”

“The kid’s name is Corey Haynes. And he’ll never go back to an abusive home. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

“You don’t know anything about his situation. And you won’t have anything to say about whether or not he goes back.”

She stood there and stared at him. “What in your life has made you so bitter?”

He didn’t need her snooping into his private life. “Not everyone has had a life as secure and charmed as the Keenan girls.”

Leah started to speak when there was a knock at the back door. Holt went to answer it.

“Hello, I’m Sheriff Reed Larkin,” the man standing outside said.

Holt shook his hand. “Holt Rawlins.”

“I knew your father,” the sheriff said. “Sorry for your loss.”

Holt responded with a nod, and motioned for the man to come inside to the kitchen where Leah was waiting.

“Hi, Reed.”

“Hello, Leah. Looks like you’ve been busy since you got home.”

Leah caught the good-looking sheriff’s grin. Tall and muscular, Reed had nearly black hair and dark brown eyes and he’d always been crazy about her sister Paige.

“You know me, Reed, I get bored easily.”

“You still should have called me to let me know about the boy.” He pulled out his notepad along with a grainy picture. “This is the runaway, Corey Haynes, age eight.”

“That’s him,” Leah agreed. “But we can’t send him back to his foster home. The boy has been gone nearly a week. Why didn’t the foster parents report him missing until today?”

Reed nodded. “They’re being investigated, so the boy has a reprieve…for now. But he’ll have to go to a shelter for a few nights.”

“No,” Leah said, her gaze darted back and forth between the two men. “I promised Corey that I wouldn’t let you take him back.”

“Leah, there isn’t much else I can do,” Reed said. “His mother is deceased and his father’s in jail on a robbery charge. There’s no one. And foster homes are overcrowded.”

“He’ll just run away again,” Leah said.

The sheriff was about to argue when his radio went off. “Excuse me, I need to take this.” Reed stepped onto the porch.

Holt watched as Leah paced nervously. He knew from the beginning how involved she’d gotten in the boy. He told himself that he’d done his duty by finding the kid. That there was a nice foster home that would care for him. But seeing the frightened look on the boy’s face, he knew that wasn’t true.

They both turned to the sheriff when he came back in the door. “Sorry, that was Social Services…they were letting me know that there are no foster homes available. So that means I have to take him to Durango to a group home.”

“No, you can’t,” Leah cried. “Maybe my parents will let Corey stay—”

“He can stay here …” Holt interrupted her. “We’ll give it a try anyway.”

Leah’s gaze darted to Holt. “Here?”

“No offence, Mr. Rawlins,” the sheriff began, “but I don’t know you. And if I were to recommend you for temporary foster care say for the next few days, I’d need more—”

“I know him,” Leah jumped in. “We’ve spent the last three days together searching for Corey. And…Zach’s here, too. He’ll be around.”

Holt watched as Reed contemplated the suggestion. “And Leah will be staying here, too,” he added.

“You sure about this?” Reed Larkin asked.

Leah tried to hide her surprise at Holt’s suggestion. She would do anything to keep the boy safe…even live under the same roof with this man. “It’s time Corey started believing in someone,” she said. “Besides, until we find a suitable home for the child, this is the best solution.”