Cowboy Dreaming. Shawna Delacorte
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To all outward appearances Melanie Winslow and Cody Chandler had been engaged in amiable conversation prior to Buck’s arrival. There was nothing in Cody’s voice or his expression that would indicate anything to the contrary. Melanie tried her best to be equally diligent in perpetuating the deception, at least until she had a chance to think things through and get a better handle on what was happening.
There would be ample opportunity later for her to let Cody know exactly what she thought about all of this and determine whether she wanted to continue with the charade. First she would need to know exactly what was wrong with her father and the prognosis for his recovery. But for now, she sipped her coffee and tried to pretend that what she had just said was the truth. This was certainly far removed from what she’d had in mind when she started driving from Los Angeles. Actually, she was not sure exactly what she’d had in mind. It was a series of disjointed ideas that had not yet formed into a solid plan.
Melanie was startled out of her thoughts by the feel of a cold hand covering hers—an icy-cold hand. She looked up into the warmth emanating from her father’s face. She did not know if it was her imagination, but his color seemed much better than when he first entered the kitchen. There seemed to be a bit of sparkle in his eyes. He did not look as drawn and withered as when she had observed him in his sleep.
She tried not to jerk her hand away but did manage to tactfully withdraw it from his reach. She took another sip of her coffee, her mind frantically trying to produce some sort of basis for polite conversation. “I didn’t have an opportunity to see the ranch when I arrived. Even with the full moon it was still too dark. But, from what I could see along the entrance drive, it looks like you’ve made several changes.”
“You can credit Cody with that.” Buck glanced over at his friend and ranch foreman. The genuine affection he felt for the man was obvious. “He’s really been an asset. I’m afraid the place was getting a little run-down. Then Cody came on the scene and things really turned around. Now it’s quite a showplace in addition to being a model of efficiency. We’ve almost doubled our productivity and increased our profit margin substantially. It’s really something to be proud of.”
“Well, that’s nice.” She heard the strain in her voice and wished she had better control of it.
“You’re going to be real surprised by what you see, honey.” He continued, then stopped as if a thought had struck him. “Are you all settled in okay? Did you put your things in your old bedroom? I’ve kept it for you, honey, just the way you left it.” Again he reached across the table and covered her hand with his in a loving gesture. “I knew you’d come back home someday.”
Cody noticed the grimace that crossed her face at the mention of the ranch being her home and the way her body stiffened when Buck covered her hand. He felt his insides tighten. He did not have time for this nonsense—catering to Buck’s wayward daughter. As far as he was concerned, she could get back into her car and head west until she reached the ocean. The only thing that kept him from telling her to do just that was his very real affection for Buck and his concern for the old man’s health. She seemed to be having a positive effect on him.
“No, I haven’t unpacked yet. My things are still in the car.”
Buck twisted around in his chair until he faced Cody. “Would you bring in Mel’s things for me and put them in her room?”
“Sure thing, Buck.” Move the little ingrate into the house, as though I have nothing better to do.
“And, Cody, as soon as we finish breakfast, why don’t you take Mel and show her around the ranch? Reacquaint her with her home,” Buck suggested.
Cody glanced at the wall clock. It would be sunrise very soon now. The ranch hands would have finished breakfast and started on the day’s work. Now that the snow had disappeared from all but the highest elevations of the ranch property, there were fences to mend and outbuildings to be checked. Spring also meant roundup, which created lots of extra work. He really did not have the time to spare, but if that was what it took to keep her from upsetting Buck, then that was what he would do. “Sure thing, boss.”
Melanie could see it in Cody’s face. He was no more happy with the prospect of giving her a guided tour than she was of having him do it. It would, however, allow them the opportunity to talk in private so she could gather some information and they could get a few things settled between them. Beyond that, she had no thoughts about what she would do or any clear-cut plans for the future.
“I’ll start something for breakfast.” It was not the type of thing Mel would normally have volunteered for, but anything was better than sitting at the table trying to think of something pleasant to say. She opened the refrigerator door and stared at the contents. She may have been accomplished at many things, but cooking was not one of them. Since she was out on assignment more often than she was home she usually ate in restaurants. When she was home, opening a carton of yogurt and making coffee for breakfast or popping a frozen entrée into the microwave or having pizza delivered for dinner were about the most difficult cooking tasks she ever attempted.
“You don’t need to bother.” Cody reached past her, placed his hand on the refrigerator door and shoved it closed. “Edna will be here in a few minutes. She’ll take care of making breakfast.”
“Edna?” Cody’s arm had actually brushed against her shoulder when he leaned past her. He smelled of soap and mint mouthwash. The memory of his body covering hers on the living-room floor was still very fresh in her mind.
“Edna Powers is our cook and housekeeper.”
Buck’s voice interrupted her thoughts about Cody.
“She’s worked for me for almost ten years, ever since…” His voice, not strong at best, trailed off as the emotion clouded his face and choked his words. “Ever…ever since I lost your mother and you.”
It’s a real pity you wouldn’t hire some help before my mother worked herself to death. Maybe if you had she’d still be alive today. The words had popped into her head, uninvited and too strident even to Mel’s own ears.
Cody watched her face contort in anger. A glance at the other side of the table told him that Buck had not noticed. He wondered what was going through her mind. Exactly what had happened between Buck and his daughter? He had never really understood why Melanie Winslow left home and left her father at a time when he most needed the closeness of family, especially his only child. Buck had said very little about it and had never uttered a harsh word about his daughter.
“Where’s your stuff? In the trunk of your car?” Cody held out his hand toward Mel. “Give me your car keys.”
She quickly jumped to her feet. “I’ll help you. I have my camera equipment and notebook computer as well as my luggage.” She was not yet ready to be alone with her father. Everything she had anticipated and prepared for had refused to materialize. This man was very far removed from the cold, unfeeling monster of a person she had carried in her memory for all these years—that man she had been prepared to do battle with. But now that she saw him…
She followed Cody out of the house. When they reached the front porch, he came to an abrupt halt and whirled around. Melanie bumped into him before she could stop herself. His rock-hard body made it seem as if she’d run into a stone wall. He grabbed her shoulders to keep her from falling at the same moment that she put her hands against his chest to steady her balance. Even though she wanted to believe it was so, she knew it was more than the accidental collision that had knocked the breath from her. Once again his body was pressed against hers. Once again she felt the stimulating warmth caused by his touch.
“Camera…notebook computer…luggage.” He released his hold on her and took a step back, wanting to put a little distance between them. He had not intended for them to come into physical contact again, at least not like this and certainly not here and now. “Does this mean you plan to stay for a while?”
She also took a step back, putting even more distance between them. “I don’t know. I guess I hadn’t really thought that far