Cowboy Secrets Read online

  “Yes. And I’ve flown to LA. She’s a nice kid who seemed to get lost in the shuffle.”

  Sierra nodded, the assessing look back in her eyes. “Frankly, I’m surprised she wants me to come at all. She’s been angry with me for years.”

  “I wouldn’t take it personally. She’s just kind of confused. And I, for one, am very glad you’re here,” he added. “I can tell she’s scared of something, but she insists she wants to talk to both of us. I was hoping you two had made some inroads with each other.”

  “I wanted her to come stay in New York with me after our mom died,” Sierra said, “but Doug was her legal guardian and he insisted she stay with him in LA. There wasn’t much I could do about it. I think Tess thought I didn’t want her. And I don’t know... I was about eighteen at the time and she was what, six or seven? I’d seen little of her since before she started kindergarten. I tried to stay in touch but after her dad hooked up with that woman—” She paused and cast him a quick look. “Sorry, I forgot for a second that Mona is your mother.”

  “I’m under no illusions when it comes to my mother,” he assured her. “She left about five minutes after I was born and never looked back. Don’t worry about offending me.”

  “Well, in that case, let’s just say Mona got caught up in what was left of Doug’s Hollywood glamour. She didn’t want Tess around, or me, either, for that matter. Unfortunately, Doug is about as perceptive as a cantaloupe. Tess was problematic and he dealt with it by ignoring her. Those two people are hopeless as parents, but I’m still surprised that they didn’t do more to find her when she walked out in October.”

  “Mom said that Tess stormed off in that car Doug bought her. She was eighteen, legally an adult. I think it was easier for both Mom and Doug to throw up their hands. And you have to remember this was right after Mona caught good old Doug fooling around at his restaurant and kicked him out. When Tess left the next day I think Mona said good riddance to both of them.” He shook his head. “People, right? Give me a horse any day.”

  She studied him for a second and he glanced at her. “Something wrong?”

  “No, nothing. I’ve just never met...well, someone like you before.”

  “Someone like me,” he mused. “What does that mean?”

  “You’re a cowboy.”

  He flashed her a smile. “What gave it away? The hat, the boots, the saddle in the back? Or maybe it’s the subtle whiff of cow lingering in the air?”

  “All of the above,” she said, but her voice revealed she knew he was teasing her. “Of course, in my line of work it pays to be observant.”

  “And I bet you don’t miss much.”

  “I’m not sure if I do or not. Exactly how far into the middle of nowhere is your ranch located?” she added as they left the Boise city limits.

  “About two hours north of here.” He was aware of her disappointment upon hearing that. “Listen, there’s not all that much to see between here and there,” he added. “Why don’t you close your eyes for a while so you’ll be fresh when we get there?”

  “I couldn’t do that,” she said.

  “Why not?”

  She shrugged lovely shoulders. The gesture seemed out of character for her, like a tiny little beachhead of uncertainty. “It would seem, I don’t know, too familiar, I guess.”

  “Don’t worry. If you snore I won’t tell a soul.”

  “I do not snore,” she said.

  He smiled at her. “Go ahead. Close your eyes. I’ll turn on the radio so I can’t hear any little snorts or grunts—”

  “I don’t snort or grunt, either,” she said, but this time she laughed. “Okay, I’ll try to get a little sleep. My eyes feel like sandpaper. Wake me up before we’re actually there, okay? I’d like to orient myself.”

  “Sure thing.” He fiddled with the FM station until he found easy listening music that shouldn’t keep her awake, but realized almost instantly it would take a brass marching band to accomplish that. One second she was sitting kind of stiffly in her seat, tilted cautiously toward the window, and the next her head had rolled forward until her chin touched her collarbone. She didn’t look all that comfortable, but he resisted the urge to shift her. Something told him she was not the kind of woman to touch, even innocently, while she slept.

  * * *

  SIERRA OPENED DOOR after door along a darkened hallway. Each held the very same man, a guy of about fifty with a shiny bald head. “Have you seen Tess?” she asked each in turn and they all responded negatively in Greek. There was only one door left and she put her hand on the knob. At that moment the earth shook and she tumbled out of her dream and into an SUV.

  Pike Hastings looked at her. “Sorry. I tried to rouse you when we hit Falls Bluff, but you were out like a light. I figured nobody could sleep through the cattle guard. It can be a little rough if you’re not used to it, though.”

  She turned to look behind her, but there wasn’t much to see. In fact, there wasn’t a whole lot to see no matter which way she looked. Just mountains, fences, trees, a long line of power poles straight ahead and an endless stretch of rolling pastures. For a woman used to towering skyscrapers and hordes of people, it was disconcerting to see so much...nothing.

  “Is this it?” she said. “Is this your ranch?”

  “You sound disappointed.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “It all looks very...peaceful.”

  “It can be,” he agreed.

  She studied him again. He’d taken off the cowboy hat when he got behind the wheel, so she could see his profile clearly and there was nothing about it anyone could fault. The occasional flash of his dark blue eyes as he addressed her was pretty darn galvanizing as well, as was the clarity of his expression. He did not look like the kind of guy who lied or cheated or bamboozled, and she should know—she’d met her fair share of all of the above.

  Of course, that could just mean he was really good at dissembling, but she kind of doubted it. Wearing jeans and a leather jacket, he looked decidedly casual and yet also as though he could fit in almost anywhere. This was a trait she valued as a detective. It was fine to stand out when you needed or wanted to, but you also had to be something of a chameleon to get the job done.

  The drive down the more-or-less straight road seemed to stretch on forever. Here and there crossroads led toward the mountains and she caught glimpses of buildings, perhaps houses. “Is this all Hastings land?”

  “It is.”

  “Do you live in one of those buildings they have in old Westerns?”

  “What kind of building do you mean?” he asked with a sidelong glance.

  “You know, a bunkhouse.”

  “No, I live in a barn,” he said.

  “In a barn!” She sounded incredulous and he smiled.

  “Yeah, a barn.”

  “With animals and everything?”

  “Yeah,” he said, with another quick glance. “This your first ranch?”

  “You can tell?”

  “I just guessed.” He drove up a hill and suddenly the view changed as a small valley spread below them. Bisected by a shimmering gray river, the acreage on the peninsula that the U-shaped bend in the river created looked stark and icy and terribly remote. A big, old, wood house sat in a protected alcove. Surrounded with covered decks, the house appeared well cared for. What looked like work buildings sat off at a distance. Pale winter light glinted off the frosty shore of the river.

  “My father’s place,” Pike said.

  “Is this where Tess is?”

  “That’s right. She’s afraid to be alone.”

  Sierra gestured at the half-dozen vehicles gathered in the back. “All family,” Pike said. “And I’ll be damned, Frankie must be here. That’s his truck. Haven’t heard from him in a couple of weeks, which in and of itself isn’t unusu
al. Of course, him being here probably means he’s brought some kind of trouble.”

  “Frankie is one of your brothers?”

  “The youngest. Gerard is the oldest, then Chance and me and Frankie.”

  “It’s hard to watch someone you love struggle with life, isn’t it?”

  Pike didn’t answer right away and then finally he allowed himself a sigh. “I guess that’s one way to put it. Of course, he wouldn’t think of himself like that. He’s just a little more...creative...than your usual cowboy. And lord knows he doesn’t back down for anyone.” He shook his head and added, “I shouldn’t be talking about him.”

  She looked past his long lashes and the intensity of his gaze, peering deep into him. “I didn’t mean to prod,” she said after a moment. “Tess is my only relative and I rarely see her. Apparently I’m rusty when it comes to concepts like family loyalty.”

  “I don’t know. You dropped everything and flew here with very little warning,” he said. “Sounds to me like you know exactly what loyalty is about.”

  “This might be my last chance to make it all up to Tess,” she said quietly with a quick sweep of her eyes. “Ever since she disappeared, I’ve been thinking I should have tried harder.”

  “Well, you’re here now,” Pike said. “And that’s what counts.”

  As they pulled in beside the other vehicles, the back door opened. Another tall man, who looked enough like Pike to identify him as one of the brothers, waved from the opening and strode across the yard to meet them, joined by three dogs. One looked like the Lab her father had had for years, and the other two looked like border collies. Sierra didn’t consider herself to be much of an animal person, though she could enjoy the simple adoration that shone in a dog’s eyes. And you had to admire their perpetual good moods.

  One of the dogs jumped on her as she got out of the vehicle, planting muddy paws eight inches above her waist, and she winced as her dry cleaner’s disapproving face popped into her head.

  “Get down,” Pike admonished. He produced a clean cloth from one of his pockets and held it in front of her, staring at the mud, obviously flummoxed by how to help her without invading her privacy as the smear was right across her breast area. She took the cloth from him and wiped off as much as she could.

  “Sorry,” he said.

  “No problem.” It had been stupid to wear suede. She’d just figured there’d be more concrete and less dirt.

  “Silly dog,” the approaching man said as he rubbed the mutt’s ears with his left hand and offered Tess his right. “You must be Sierra. I’m Gerard. We’re real glad to have you here. I know Pike has been worried about your sister.”

  “I think everyone has,” Sierra said. “Where is she?”

  “Upstairs, finally getting some sleep,” he said.

  Pike hit the side of the blue truck. “When did Frankie arrive?”

  “Dad said he sailed in about forty-five minutes ago. He’s been waiting for you to get back. He wants to talk to everyone at once.”

  “Just like my sister wants a family confab,” Sierra said. “Must be something in the air around here.”

  “Is everything okay with Frankie?” Pike asked as he opened the tail of the SUV and took out Sierra’s suitcase.

  “I’m not sure,” Gerard said. “Let’s go find out.”

  Chapter Two

  They entered the house as the family almost always did, through the mudroom into the huge kitchen that, as usual, smelled of wonderful food. Roast chicken today, Pike thought, the aroma as welcoming as a holiday hug. From there, they walked into the dining room, and then on to the entryway, where the front door was framed by glass panels. Double doors opened from the entry into the den or office, called different things by different family members but well accepted as the spot where most family discussions took place.

  Today a fire burned in the rock fireplace in an effort to stave off the cold air pressing against the windows. For Pike, the chatter of those gathered was like any other sound on this ranch—from the running water of the river to the wind in the tree boughs, the thunder of horse hooves against the summer earth or the faraway braying of cattle. They were the sounds of his past and future, his home.

  What did Sierra think of all this? Probably found it confusing as hell. He could picture her in a SoHo loft or a Park Avenue condo, but he couldn’t quite fit her into this ranch. He knew there were few things more confusing than meeting a roomful of people who knew each other very well and of whom you knew practically nothing. He also got the feeling that Sierra wasn’t the shy type and would cope just fine.

  But Sierra pulled on his arm. “Whatever Frankie wants to tell you has nothing to do with me,” she said. “I want to see Tess.”

  “I’ll take you to her room,” Pike said.

  “But your brother is waiting.”

  “He’ll make it a while longer. Let’s go see if Tess is awake.” He took her muddy jacket and laid it across a chair while quietly perusing the trim white blouse with an almost men’s-wear starkness that gave way to some kind of sheer material around the hem. The shirt fit Sierra like a glove and revealed she was much curvier than he’d first thought.

  He motioned for her to go ahead of him up the broad staircase leading from the foyer. “The room at the end,” he said, directing her to the bedroom in which he’d spent his childhood. They found the door ajar, but the room was dark because the shades had been pulled. It was also warm and steamy. The hum of a humidifier in the corner explained that. The congested sound of Tess’s breathing drew Sierra to cross to her sister’s bed and stand looking over her slumbering body.

  Pike watched her for a minute or two until he felt a hand on his arm. He turned to find Gerard’s soon-to-be wife, Kinsey, standing beside him. She jerked her head toward the hallway and he held up a finger. A second later, he touched Sierra’s shoulder. She looked beyond him to Kinsey and followed them out into the hall.

  After a hasty introduction, Kinsey brought them up to speed on Tess. “I imagine you’re disappointed to fly all the way here and find your sister asleep. Dad insisted we call the doctor this morning. Of course, the doctor said you can’t really treat a head cold except with steam and acetaminophen and stuff like that. By the time I got back upstairs to start the humidifier for Tess, she’d fallen asleep and didn’t even open her eyes as I set things up. She really needs this rest. I could hear her pacing in the guest room half the night.”

  “I’m not disappointed,” Sierra insisted. “What guest room are we talking about?”

  “The one at our house,” Kinsey said. “Pike and Tess came for dinner last night and Tess wanted to lie down. When she dozed off, I told Pike I’d look after her and he should go home. Unfortunately, she didn’t stay asleep long.”

  “I see,” Sierra said. “And you live close by?”

  “About a half mile up the river.”

  “Come downstairs with us and hear what Frankie has to say,” Pike suggested.

  “No, I’d rather stay here in case Tess wakes up. I have some emails to write, anyway.”

  “I’ll get your suitcase,” Pike said.

  “Thanks.”

  “She has a very interesting face,” Kinsey said as they walked down the hall. “Good bones, great eyes.”

  He knew her comment referenced the fact that Kinsey had spent most of her life painting portraits. Since moving to the ranch, she’d developed an interest in still life and scenery as well, and the house she shared with Gerard was filled with her work. She was a small woman with light brown hair and an easy, engaging smile. Come June, she’d marry Gerard.

  “She’s gorgeous,” he agreed. “She doesn’t look anything like Tess, though, which I expected but still came as a surprise.”

  “She doesn’t act like Tess, either,” Kinsey said.

  “Well, she�
��s twelve years older and they haven’t lived together for even longer than that. Besides, remember, Tess’s latest female role model was my mother.”

  Kinsey rolled her eyes. She hadn’t met Mona, but Gerard had obviously filled her in. All four brothers had different mothers. In fact, Grace, his dad’s wife of less than a year, was actually number seven, or lucky number seven as the patriarch of the family fondly called her.

  “Do you know what Frankie wants?” Pike asked as they started down the stairs.

  “No, but I get the feeling your father does.”

  She continued into the den while Pike dodged out to the kitchen where they’d left Sierra’s suitcase. He lifted it easily and ran up the stairs.

  He found Sierra sitting on an upholstered chair in the darkened room, one long leg folded up under her, head resting on her fist. Their hands touched as he gave her the suitcase and she smiled up at him as she murmured her thanks.

  He left without uttering a word, but he didn’t want to. Instead, he kind of wanted to stand in the doorway and keep watch. He’d spent his entire life around men until the last year or so. He’d always considered himself a man’s man, happiest out on cattle drives, sleeping under the stars.

  However, even though Tess had brought tension into his life, he also found her company refreshing. And now Sierra was here and he’d known her all of three hours, but there was something about her, too. Something competent and self-assured, qualities he responded to in anyone and that were downright sexy in a beautiful woman. He knew his link to her was flimsy at best and she’d be gone in a day or two, but he could already feel that he would miss her. For a few moments, while walking down the stairs, Pike wondered if anybody kept her warm at night.

  Frankie sat on the fireplace hearth, but as soon as Pike finally entered the room, he sprang to his feet. It was obvious he was excited and Pike took a deep breath, hoping it was for some positive reason and not because he was about to go to jail for something.

  Like all the Pike men, Frankie was tall, but his build was a little more wiry than the others and his hair was lighter, especially in the summer. Now, in the midst of winter, it had darkened to Pike’s color, but he wore it longer. He also tended to dress a little more GQ than anyone else, and today wore dark gray slacks and a light gray shirt that mirrored his eyes.