Kiss Me (Fool's Gold 17)

Chase rode up. “All ready?”

“Just about. Grab the kids’ horses. I’ll be back in the morning. Stay sharp.”

Chase grinned. “Cookie and I will hunker down in his wagon. Don’t sweat it. We’ll play cards.”

“Not for money,” Zane told him.

“Are you kidding? I don’t want to get more in debt.”

Cookie poked his head out from the wagon cover. “He’ll be fine. I’ll take good care of the boy. There’s plenty of grazing for the steers, and God knows, they don’t seem to notice the rain. Just get on back here tomorrow so we can head home.”

“Will do,” Zane promised and turned back to the group. “Let’s go.”

Phoebe waved goodbye to Manny, then urged Rocky forward.

Zane kept them at a walk until they’d left the herd behind, then he kicked his mount into a trot. Phoebe winced as her backside slapped against the hard saddle.

“S-sorry, buddy,” she told Rocky. “I know this can’t be pleasant for you.”

She clung on as best she could while her insides were being pummeled into the consistency of a smoothie. When they’d cleared the trees, Zane urged his horse faster still.

She felt Rocky speed up, and suddenly his gait smoothed out. There was a back and forth rocking, but it was easy to stay in place. Plus, it felt like they were going really fast.

“Are we galloping?” she yelled to Maya.

Her friend grinned. “Not even close. This is a nice slow canter.”

“I like this.”

“Yeah. It cuts down on bruising.”

They rode on through the rain, but knowing they were going to be out of it soon made Phoebe not mind about the damp cold. Whenever she started to shiver, she thought about the previous night, when she’d lost herself in Zane’s arms. It wasn’t just that he’d made her feel so good, it was that she’d felt so safe with him. Like she could say or be anything.

When the sensual memories got to be too much, she wondered if he was worried about facing Reilly again after all these years. Would the old man welcome him with open arms or torment him about the past? Phoebe found herself hoping Reilly would be kind.

At last they crested a rise, and she saw a well-tended ranch stretching out before them. She took in the tidy pastures, the secure fencing and the charm of the sprawling ranch house. A few minutes later they were sliding off their horses while Zane walked to the freshly painted red front door. It opened before he got there, and an old man stepped out.

He was thin and bent, with thick gray hair and dark eyes that seemed able to see through solid objects. He and Zane stared at each other for a long time before the old man spoke.

“Well, lookee here. Didn’t expect to see you dripping on my front porch, Zane. What can I do you for?”

The words were pleasant, as was the man’s smile. Phoebe relaxed a little even as she saw the tension in Zane’s shoulders and heard the stiffness in his voice as he spoke.

“I need your help,” he said, then explained what had gone wrong.

“Greenhorns on a cattle drive,” Reilly said with a shake of his head. “I never thought I’d live to see the day.” He looked past Zane and gestured everyone inside. “No sense in freezing off your privates. Get in here. I’ll tell Matilda we’ve got company. She’ll be pleased. She gets tired of cooking for an old man with not much appetite.”

They all trooped inside, introducing themselves as they passed their host. When it was Phoebe’s turn, Reilly gave her a warm smile.

“Welcome to my home,” he said.

“Thank you. You’re very kind to offer us shelter.”

He shrugged off her words. “Don’t worry about that, little girl. I appreciate the company.”

When Maya shook his hand, he frowned. “I’ve seen you before.”

“I used to be Zane’s stepsister.”

Reilly grinned. “And your mama was that showgirl, right? Whoee, did she have some legs on her.”

“Yeah, they were terrific,” Maya muttered.

“Haven’t seen you in town in a while,” Eddie said to Reilly.

“Got no use for them festivals,” he said. “Tourists make too much traffic.”

Phoebe suppressed a smile. If he thought Fool’s Gold traffic was bad, what would he think of LA rush hour?

When they’d all been introduced, Reilly let them into a massive great room. There was a big fireplace at one end, with several large crackling logs. Phoebe joined the group as they headed directly for the smoky warmth. C.J. crouched down with Lucy and Tommy, rubbing their backs and hands to chase away the chill.

Reilly counted heads. “Hmm, a few of you are going to have to double up. I have a big place, but not that many bedrooms.”

“We appreciate any hospitality you can offer us,” Zane said stiffly.

Instinctively, Phoebe moved next to him. She wanted to take his hand, but wasn’t sure if he would appreciate that. Instead she settled on standing close and offering silent moral support.

“I’m glad for the company, son. Now, who is married to whom? I want to get the bedroom situation right.”

As Reilly figured out the sleeping arrangements, Phoebe gazed at the soaring ceilings and large windows. Even on such a gray and stormy day, light filtered into the house. There were exposed beams, old hardwood floors that were beautiful enough to belong in a museum and dozens of stunning antiques. From the center of the great room, she could see into a dining room and a library that were just as impressive. A place like this would be at least fifteen million in Beverly Hills. She figured it would have to be well into seven figures even outside a small town in the mountains of Northern California.