The Cowboy SEAL's Triplets Page 9

  Robert laughed softly. “We’ll start there. We have to have law and order in Bridesmaids Creek.”

  For some reason, that made both of them smile. Daisy didn’t know if there’d ever been anyone in the lonely jail cells. But it was Dennis’s place, and it stood as a solid center of BC. “Okay. We’ll have to help with the Haunted H, and the center of town.”

  He nodded. “I think I’ll sell a few buildings I’ve got in other countries.”

  She looked at her father. “Why?”

  “I don’t need the biggest kingdom. What I need is right here in BC.” He reached out, took her hand in his. “I’ve got you, and Ty and my grandchildren. That’s really all the kingdom I want these days.”

  She smiled. “So you’re planning to really step up for Bridesmaids Creek?”

  “If there’s something we can do to help, it wouldn’t do any good to leave cash sitting around in our bank accounts.”

  “No, it wouldn’t.” Daisy grinned. “And I’m sitting on a little plan of my own concerning BC. I’m taking over the dating service, and I’m going to take lessons from our resident matchmaker.”

  Robert whistled. “That’ll be an education of a different stripe.”

  “Exactly.” She nodded. “And I have my first victims in my sights.”

  Chapter Nine

  Daisy looked at the text when it came in two hours later. Done what we can do here, for now.

  She hesitated, then replied, Are you coming back here?

  Her breath was trapped in her lungs as she waited. It was the first time she’d ever invited John to her home, and surely he’d get that he was being invited to spend the night.

  If that’s what you want.

  I want, she wrote back.

  I’m on the front porch.

  She shot out of bed and hurried down the stairs, pulling open the front door. John was, in fact, standing right there, grinning.

  “Thanks for coming back.”

  “My family’s here. My lady, and my three sons. Where else would I go?”

  “No place.” She smiled and pulled him inside and up the stairs to her room.

  “What about your father? Barclay? The pillars of Bridesmaids Creek?” John asked.

  She kissed him. “My father is a few thousand feet away, and would be worried if you weren’t here. Nobody in town needed to come back here for shelter?”

  “No. The damage is extensive, but most everybody was at home when the worst hit.”

  She was delighted when he kissed her, too, drawing her to him. “I was glad you were safe in this fortress,” John said. “But I missed you.”

  “I missed you, too.” He kissed her fingertips, making Daisy shiver.

  “Is it really horrible?”

  “We’ll be rebuilding for a while.”

  They sank onto the bed, and he put a hand on her stomach. “But I don’t want you worrying. I don’t want you starting a committee to fund-raise or do anything like that. Resting is all I want you to do.”

  “Too late,” she said. “You knew better than that.”

  “Yeah, I just wanted to see how much I could get away with.”

  “Not much.” She kissed him again. “Thanks for coming back. I was afraid you wouldn’t.”

  He raised a brow. “It’s going to be hard for you to get rid of me now that you’re having my children.”

  “Is that the only reason?”

  John kissed her gently, lingering over her lips. “Yes.”

  Daisy laughed. “That’s mean.”

  “It’s important to keep you guessing.”

  “I suppose that’s fair.”

  He kissed her belly. “I knew you’d figure out that I was the best catch around eventually. I just waited for you to come to your senses.”

  She was so glad he was back—and safe—that she didn’t want to pepper him with questions. “Do you want to shower? I’ll go get you some coffee and food. You have to be starving.”

  “That sounds great.” He suddenly sounded tired as he tossed his belt onto a nearby chair. “Are you sure Robert’s going to be okay with me being here?”

  “Haven’t you noticed a distinct thawing in his manner lately?” Daisy glanced at him as she hung in the doorway.

  “Yeah, what’s that all about?”

  She smiled. “We’ll discuss that later. You shower. But yes, Dad will be glad you’re here. And glad for anyone else that needs a place to stay.”

  Daisy went downstairs, dialed the Hanging H. Suz answered. “Suz, it’s Daisy.”

  “Hi,” Suz said, and she sounded sad.

  “Listen, Suz, I should come by to tell you this, but John isn’t keen on me being out at the moment.”

  “And he’s right! You don’t go anywhere! There’s downed trees everywhere and all kinds of debris scattered around.”

  “I know.” Daisy swallowed. “Suz, I’m sorry, more sorry than I can say, about the Haunted H. I wish I’d never suggested you move it there.”

  “Daisy, you didn’t plan the path of the tornado. You couldn’t have known. We’ll rebuild bigger and better than ever and be ready for another Bridesmaids Creek swim or Best Man’s Fork race.”

  But when would that be? “We should do that soon.”

  “We need a new influx of bachelors for that to happen,” Suz reminded her. “We have no shortage of bride-worthy material.”

  “It’ll be a long time before BC gets cleaned up enough to handle large crowds.”

  “Well,” Suz said on a deep sigh, “we’ve rebuilt before. Sometimes it feels like it’s a snakebit project, but then I see all the happy kids coming with their families, and I realize the Haunted H was a dream my parents had that needs to stay alive.”

  “I agree. Good night, Suz,” Daisy said.

  “You listen to John,” Suz said. “Those babies of yours need all the rest they can get, because when they come out, you’re going to be busy! You’re having one more than I did, and trust me, life is crazy these days!”

  Daisy hung up, gathered some hot coffee, tea, a small bit of whiskey in case John wanted it, and warmed up some pot roast and veggies from dinner. Barclay came in, took a glance at her tray and added a cloth napkin, some fresh cookies and utensils.

  “Thank you, Barclay.”

  “I’ll carry it. Up you go, Miss Daisy.”

  “I can—”

  “In another few months you can,” he said, very respectfully, and that was that. Daisy followed him up the stairs and to her room, amazed that John was already out of the shower, with a towel slung on his waist, barking orders on his cell phone.

  “There’s hot cocoa in the pot for you, Miss Daisy,” Barclay said, and filtered out.

  John hung up and looked at the assortment of food. “Thanks. I’m starved.”

  She nodded. “I know. I figured you would be—” she began, realizing his eyes were locked on her. Heat shot through her, and she managed a slight smile. “You have to eat first,” she said softly. “Barclay will get his feelings hurt.”

  John went to the tray, fixed himself a whiskey, watching her as she made a space at a small table near her window for him to sit.

  “I like this side of you.”

  “Domestic?”

  “Caring.”

  “I suppose I haven’t given you that much opportunity to see that I do have a soft side.” She sat in the flowered, skirted chair across from him. “I just talked to Suz.”

  “I know. Cisco called me, playing the part of the concerned husband.” He dug into the pot roast and vegetables with obvious pleasure.

  “Concerned about what?”

  “Oh, I think they don’t want anyone to know that the Hanging H sustained a little bit of a wind shear at the ranch.”
>
  “What?” Daisy’s heart skipped a beat. “Is there a lot of damage?”

  “A little bit of damage to their roof, apparently. They don’t want to make a fuss about it, though, because they’re afraid people will rush over there to help them. There’s a lot of folks in town who need help, and they want all resources going to the people who really need it.”

  “What are they going to do?”

  “Right now, they’ve got some guys on the roof covering it with a tarp. This is great food.”

  “Thanks,” she murmured. “What about Suz and the babies?”

  “Well, remember Suz and Cisco live in a house they built on the property. I think Cisco’s more worried about Mackenzie and her crowd of four, and since she’s pregnant again—”

  “She needs to come here,” Daisy said quickly. “With the babies. They can’t be there with all that banging going on. The children will never be able to rest.”

  “Are you sure you have enough space?”

  She looked at him. “There’s a spare bedroom or two,” she said, not wanting to share that there were ten rooms that could be used for bedrooms alone.

  “Robert wouldn’t mind? Barclay won’t give notice if four little girls start running around his perfectly kept domain?”

  She slowly shook her head. “Barclay would love to have more people here to take care of. Years ago, Dad hired him away from several families who shared his services. Barclay is used to busy, and around here, it’s just Dad, and sometimes me.”

  He dragged her onto the bed with him. She wanted desperately to pull off his towel, hang on to him, make love to him. But sadness hung over both of them, and she could tell he was tired, and that he was holding back everything he’d done at the creek. No doubt he’d hauled, towed and helped the sheriff digest the loss of his jail, too. It was a devastating blow to everyone. She sensed his mood, felt the tension and tiredness in his muscles.

  So the towel stayed, but she remained in his arms, held tightly, securely. And there was no place she would rather be.

  * * *

  SOMETHING WOKE DAISY, and she lay in bed for a few seconds, disoriented, wondering if she’d merely heard a branch tapping on a windowpane. Then she realized what had awakened her was that John wasn’t in bed with her. The place beside her was cool, as if he’d been gone awhile.

  She hopped out of bed, dressed and went looking for him.

  “Barclay, did John say where he was going?” She went into the kitchen, took the hot tea the butler offered her but didn’t sit. She wouldn’t be here long.

  “I believe Mr. Mathison mentioned he was needed in town, Miss Daisy.”

  Barclay usually didn’t hold back details from her, and she sensed he was now. “Why are you up at this hour, Barclay?”

  He fixed a tray of fresh vegetables with a side of yummy-looking hummus. “Mr. Mathison asked me to prepare you a nutritious meal, organic, when you awakened.”

  “Yes, but I’m not usually up at three in the morning, and neither are you.” She looked narrowly at him. “So, why are you pretending that you’re awake to give me carrots and dip?”

  Barclay shook his head. “It’s not my place to note the comings and goings of our guests, Miss Daisy.”

  This was a new side of Barclay. “Okay. Thank you. Could you put this nutritious snack in a bag for me? I’m going into town.” And when she found John, she was going to explain to him that he didn’t need to oversee her diet.

  What she needed was for him to make love to her.

  He hadn’t been lukewarm about doing so in Montana.

  “Mr. Mathison said he would prefer if you didn’t go out, Miss Daisy. He says the roads are dangerous because of fallen tree limbs.”

  “I’m going out.”

  “Have the security detail drive you.”

  She shook her head. “I’ll be fine. I promise to stay away from tree limbs.” Rain was falling gently outside, but there’d been no notification of more storms on the radio. The power had been restored, at least to their house. She wondered about people farther out in the county than her house.

  “Miss Daisy, I fear your father and Mr. Mathison will be very angry with me—”

  She grabbed a flashlight. “I’ll tell them I sneaked out. Go to bed, Barclay. You deserve the rest.”

  He followed her to the door. “I haven’t rested since you were a little girl, Miss Daisy. Many a night I’ve stayed up waiting on you.”

  She smiled at him. “I know,” she said softly. “I’ll be back soon.” Wherever John had gone, she wanted to be with him. She was part of BC, and she wanted to be there for whomever it was that needed help. He wouldn’t have left if someone hadn’t called for backup. Getting into her truck, she dialed his phone.

  No answer. Which was weird, because he always picked up immediately when she called.

  She could drive toward town and see if he’d gone to the main area of damage. Maybe cell service still wasn’t available there. Light rain began falling again, splattering on the windshield. Daisy made sure her lights were on low and started into town.

  To her surprise, she saw John’s truck turning onto the main road leading to the creek. Possibly downed trees had damaged something, and he and the sheriff had decided the situation required immediate attention.

  “Plus I have the snacks Barclay packed, and the lady with the snacks is always welcome,” she said under her breath, following close behind his truck.

  He parked and got out in an area with which she wasn’t entirely familiar. She parked beside him, not surprised annoyance was clear on his face when he came to her window. She rolled it down.

  “Daisy, go home.”

  She shook her head. “I want to be part of whatever is going on.”

  “No.” He looked completely put out with her. “Daisy, there is no reason for you to be here, and it’s not safe. It’s raining, for heaven’s sake, and you’re pregnant. With triplets.”

  She’d just so wanted to be with him! “I’ll sit in the truck. I promise. I’d feel better if I was here in case—” She glanced around, deciding not to say in case something happens to you. “Where’s the sheriff?”

  “Why would Dennis be here? It’s the early hours of the morning.”

  She looked at him, surprised. “Then why are you here?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  She drew back, annoyed now herself. “You want me to marry you, but you can’t tell me what you’re doing?”

  “It’s not that simple.” His hair was getting damp, and his shirt was starting to stick to his broad chest and big shoulders, yet he still looked incredibly hot to her. Daisy wondered why it had taken her so darn long to realize just how sexy this man was.

  She wished he’d get in the truck and kiss her senseless, maybe even make love to her the way he had in Montana. But something was wrong.

  “It is that simple. You got out of my bed and skulked off to the creek without telling me.”

  He sighed. “I’m sorry. But please go home, babe.”

  “I’d really like to stay. Especially if the sheriff isn’t here to help you with whatever you’re going to do.” She frowned. “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m just making sure everything’s safe.”

  She shivered. “Come back home and get in bed with me.”

  He smiled. “I’ll take you up on that offer. You go warm the bed, and I’ll be right there.”

  “I don’t mind waiting.”

  A tree branch cracked loudly overhead, a sharp sound that made her jump.

  “Nothing’s safe here.” John gave her the sternest look she’d ever seen him wear. “Go home.”

  She stared at this dark and dangerous man who was suddenly giving her orders. Daisy didn’t recall anyone in her life ever giving her an ord
er, and certainly not in that tone. She looked at him, worried.

  “I’ll be home soon.”

  “Fine.”

  “Thank you,” he said, his tone softening. “I just want you and the babies to be safe.” He made sure her seat belt was secure. “You know I’m crazy about you.”

  Did she? Of course she did. “I’ve been spoiled all my life.”

  He laughed. “I know. It’s something I love about you.”

  “You do?”

  “Of course I do. Would I want to marry such a princess if I didn’t think I could handle it?”

  She frowned. “I’m not a princess.”

  He laughed again, kissed her through the open window. “Okay.”

  She turned on the engine. “I don’t remember you being so domineering in Montana.”

  “I wasn’t. I didn’t have to be. You weren’t wandering around in an area where a tornado has recently hit.”

  “I’ll warm up some cocoa for you.”

  “I’ll be there soon.”

  She pulled away, not liking this at all. Didn’t like leaving him here without the sheriff, didn’t feel good about him roaming around where tree branches had been weakened by the storm. Rain came down harder even now.

  She drove home slowly, carefully minding the roads. Going inside, she put her wrap away and went into the kitchen. Barclay sat there with her father, and a tray of gingerbread.

  “It wasn’t Barclay’s fault,” Daisy said with a sigh, and her father nodded.

  “I know. Believe me, I know you quite well.”

  Barclay cut her a slice of gingerbread, warmed it, smoothed a small bit of creamy butter on the top. Daisy breathed in the scent thankfully.

  “I’ve been craving gingerbread, Barclay. Thank you.”

  “You always liked it when you were a little girl.” He poured them all some hot tea.

  “So where was your fiancé headed?” her father asked.

  “My fiancé?” Daisy thought about that as she took a bite of gingerbread. “I don’t think we ever established that.”

  Robert waved a hand. “He established it when he came over here and gave me what-for about marrying you.”