In the Arms of a Hero. Beverly Barton
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you do for the next little while,” he said. “For as long as it takes.”
He’d known it wouldn’t be difficult to find the neighboring ranch house. Yet once it came in sight, Max revised his estimate of Nicholas Garvey. The man had a considerable amount of financial clout, it would seem, if the size and design of his home was anything to go by. It stood in the shade of tall trees, as if it had been there for many years, yet the newness showed. Like a jewel in a particularly lovely setting, it drew his eye, and Max, ever a man to appreciate beauty, felt a twinge of envy for the man who lived there. Not that he couldn’t have duplicated the home, given the urge, but such a site, with such perfection of surroundings as Nicholas had chosen, might never again be available.
A woman stepped out onto the back porch as Max rounded the corner of the house, a small female with russet hair and a creamy complexion. She wore a smile of welcome, tinged with curiosity, her brown eyes taking his measure as he rode closer.
“Welcome,” she said quietly. “I’m Lin Garvey. Are you looking for my husband? Nicholas is out riding in the pasture with our daughter.”
“Do you welcome all visitors so graciously?” Max asked, smiling because there was no other choice. She’d taken his defenses and shattered them with her warmth.
Her own smile became touched with mischief. “I know who you are, Mr. McDowell. I’ve almost been expecting you, once Nicholas told me you were visiting with Faith.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t come by to chase me away,” he said.
“Nicholas told me to mind my own business,” she admitted, “even though I threatened to ride over and give you fair warning.”
“And now?” he asked.
She bit her lip, obviously deliberating. “I thought to give you a chance, once I laid eyes on you myself. I’m a good judge of character, Mr. McDowell, and I don’t see any danger in you where Faith is concerned. She needs some happiness in her life, and if you’re the man to bring it to her, I’ll be grateful.”
She stepped closer to the edge of the porch, and her hands slid into the deep pockets of her apron. “However, be warned. If I find that you’ve caused her pain, you need to know that I’m very good with a shotgun.”
“I’d say you and my wife make a good pair, then.” He bowed his head, admiration for the woman causing him to hide his grin, lest she think he mocked her. “I’ll consider myself on guard, ma’am,” he said politely. “And now I’ll see if I can round up your husband for a short visit.”
She gazed past him and her expression assumed a degree of tenderness. “You won’t have to look far, sir. He’s riding this way right now.”
The transfer of a small girl into Lin Garvey’s care took but a moment, and then Nicholas dismounted and indicated that Max should do the same. They walked toward the shade of a cottonwood tree, and Nicholas tugged his gloves off and tucked them into his back pocket.
“You wanted to see me, I assume?” he asked, his gaze darting toward the house as if he were checking out the whereabouts of his wife and child.
“I felt it only right to let you know that I’m going to be staying with Faith for a while. In fact, I came to offer you a fair price to rent the house while I’m in residence.”
“Faith is my tenant. If she chooses to have you live there, I have no say in the matter,” Nicholas said bluntly. “Not that I approve, you understand. But it’s Faith’s choice.”
“Actually, it isn’t,” Max admitted. “I told her I was having my things sent out from town. She’s not real happy about it.”
“But she’s your wife, and you’re taking advantage of that fact.”
“That’s about it,” Max agreed. “I’m not a sneaky man, Garvey. I’m here on a mission, and I won’t allow anyone to stand in my way.”
“Is this a warning?” Glittering blue eyes met his as Nicholas glared a response to Max’s challenge.
“You can call it that if you like. I’m also a peaceable man. I have no intention of fighting with you.” He glanced back at the house and smiled. “Although I’ve already been cautioned by your wife that my days are numbered if I hurt Faith. I understand Mrs. Garvey is handy with a shotgun.”
He thought the blue eyes softened at the mention of Lin’s threat, and then Max watched in amazement as Nicholas smiled.
“You don’t want my wife to be on your trail,” he said. “She’s a formidable opponent. I’d watch myself if I were you.”
“That’s fair enough,” Max said with a nod. “I’ll be on my way. I’ve taken up a sufficient amount of your time.”
“You’ll see me again,” Nicholas told him.
“I expected I would.”
Chapter Three
The rain was heavy, running from the roof in sheets that blurred the image of the barn, yet presented a clear picture in Faith’s mind of how totally drenched she would become should she brave the elements to feed her flock of chickens. The garden needed the rain, though, and she rejoiced in the thought of her thirsty plants soaking up the life-giving moisture.
The chickens were another matter. Though some of them, more brave than the others, would squawk and flutter about the puddles in the chicken yard, many of them would probably refuse to leave the dry interior of the coop.
Debating in silence, she looked through the screened door.
“You’re not planning on going out in that mess, are you?” Max stood behind her, his presence warming her back as she shivered in a gust of wind and the smattering of raindrops that accompanied it across the width of the porch.
“I was thinking about it,” she confessed. “The hens will be hungry.”
“They’ll live another couple of hours,” he said dryly. “And from the looks of that sky, it’ll be at least that long before this lets up.”
She nodded. “I know. I figured that out already.” Stepping back, she shut the inside door, dodging him as he moved from her path. “I might as well fix breakfast, I guess.”
“Where’s the dog?” He went to the window and bent to peer through the glass. “I didn’t hear him last night at all.”
“He doesn’t bark unless someone comes around or varmints show up near the chicken coop. Right now, he’s no doubt warm and dry under the porch. I stuck a wooden box under there, facing away from the wind, and he has an old blanket he sleeps on.”
“All the comforts of home,” Max said, straightening and stretching a bit. Faith wondered if the bed she’d offered him was too short. Certainly it was not akin to the mattress he’d paid a pretty penny for back in Boston.
“How long have you had the pooch?” Max asked. “He doesn’t look very old.”
“He’s not. Nicholas and Lin gave him to me last year when they built their new place and let me move in here. They decided I needed him worse than they did.”
“Probably a good move on their part. It never hurts to have a dog around.”
Faith was silent, thinking of the pet she’d left behind in Boston.
“He’s fine,” Max said, as if he discerned her thoughts. “He missed you terribly after you left. After he’d howled for a couple of nights, I let him sleep on the rug beside my bed to make up for your absence.”
“I wanted to take him with me, but I couldn’t see any way to do it.”
“Maybe he’ll make coming back with me more appealing.”
And wasn’t that a cunning way to coax her into