Man on a Mission

“We have to go,” he said to nobody in particular, just feeling the need to escape Molly’s cloying presence.

“I’ll call you, Mark,” Molly said. To Mark’s ears it sounded more threat than promise. “You owe me a dinner date.”

Mark loaded the last bag into the trunk and slammed the lid. As Molly wiggled her fingers goodbye, Mark, April and Brian got into the car.

For a long moment nobody spoke. April pulled out of the parking space and headed the car back toward the ranch.

Brian broke the silence. “She had the biggest ones I’ve ever seen.”

“Brian!” April exclaimed in protest, although Mark thought he saw a glimmer of laughter in her big green eyes.

“She bought them,” Mark replied. “She went to Tucson on vacation and came back three weeks later with big ones.”

“Wow,” Brian exclaimed as if the notion of women buying breasts was difficult to wrap his mind around. To tell the truth, it had always been difficult for Mark to understand.

“She should have bought a T-shirt or an ashtray instead,” Mark observed.

A giggle escaped April, the sound wonderfully feminine and appealing. “When I was little and we went on vacation, I collected bells.”

“I don’t have any collections ’cause I’ve never been anywhere,” Brian put in mournfully.

“You’re young. You’ve got plenty of time for collections,” Mark replied. He noticed April looking at him curiously and realized he’d been talking far too much.

As they approached the ranch, Mark drew into himself, his thoughts turning to Marietta and what information she might have had that had gotten her killed. Something was amiss at the Delaney Dude Ranch, but Mark had yet to discover exactly what it was. Every day that passed without answers only managed to feed his frustration.

The investigation into Marietta’s death and Mark’s injuries had been desultory at best by Sheriff Broder, who’d decided it was a crime of jealous rage perpetrated by a ranch hand who had subsequently disappeared.

Mark hadn’t told the sheriff what Marietta had shared with him. Her warning that it was possible the sheriff might be involved kept him mute where the specifics were concerned.

In two weeks the ranch would be jumping with guests, making his search for Marietta’s killer more complicated. And still he had nothing to go on concerning what activity Marietta had been talking about. He was beginning to wonder if his act was all for nothing.

“So, Mark, what are we going to do when we get back to the ranch?” Brian’s voice broke through Mark’s thoughts, and again Mark felt the boy’s hunger. “Maybe you could teach me to lasso?”

“Can’t,” Mark replied. “I have stuff to do this afternoon. You’re on your own for the rest of the day.”

He tried not to allow the boy’s disappointment to touch him. He had his own problems to deal with. He absolutely, positively refused to get caught up in April and Brian Cartwright.

“Brian, you can’t be bothering Mark all the time,” April told her son gently. “I’m sure he has more important things to do than teach you to throw a rope.”

“Maybe tomorrow,” Mark said, hating the fact that despite his intentions, something in the boy’s eyes got to him.

“Great,” Brian agreed eagerly.

When they arrived at the cottage, April opened the trunk and handed Mark his packages. “Thanks, Mark, for the town tour and all your help.”

He nodded and pulled the hat from his bag. “Brian.” He tossed the boy the black hat.

Brian caught it with both hands, his eyes widening as he realized what he held. “Wow!” he exclaimed. “A hat just like yours.” In three long strides, he reached Mark and wrapped his arms awkwardly around Mark’s waist.

“Thanks, Mark.” Brian stepped away from him, his cheeks pinkened as if his display of affection had embarrassed him.

Mark turned to walk away, trying to ignore the sun-burst of warmth in the pit of his stomach.

“Mark.”

He paused and turned back to April. “Yeah?”

“Thank you.” He was rewarded by a smile from her that warmed him down to his toes and twisted something deep in his gut.

He suddenly realized he had to be careful. For some reason this woman and her son had the potential of touching him where he’d sworn he would never be touched again.

Chapter 4

As April made her way from her cottage to the main house for her noon appointment with Matthew Delaney, her heart still retained the warmth evoked by Mark’s generosity.

It had been a very long time since any man had shown April any act of kindness or benevolence. Mark’s gift of the hat to Brian, his gift of easy smiles and camaraderie to April, made her almost believe there were good men out there.

She’d almost forgotten that there were men who could be trusted, men who would never dream of taking advantage of a woman, men who didn’t know how to be dishonest or deceitful.

She thought of the red-haired woman they’d met in town. Molly something. She was extremely pretty but had a predatory hardness in her eyes when she’d gazed at Mark. The woman had implied a relationship with him, but had mentioned trouble.

What trouble? Perhaps she’d been talking about the death of Adam Delaney?

April had been oddly disappointed to realize Mark might have a relationship with the woman. The look in Molly’s eyes had made a protective streak surge up inside April where Mark was concerned.

She wasn’t sure where that feeling came from or, in truth, if it was really protectiveness or an odd pang of jealousy.

She certainly wasn’t looking for a relationship with any man and she had no idea of the extent of Mark’s mental disability. But whatever the disability, it certainly didn’t steal away from his attractiveness as a vital, sexy man.

She couldn’t help the way the warmth of his smile shot electric currents through her, how the strength in the rippling muscles and width of his shoulders made her want to melt into his embrace.

Dismissing thoughts of Mark, she stepped up on the porch of the main house and knocked on the door. Matthew answered, his stern features forbidding as he ushered her into an office off the entryway.

He stepped behind a large, wooden desk and gestured her to the chair in front of him. She eased down, wondering how two brothers could look so much alike yet be so different. Mark was warmth and laughter, but Matthew Delaney appeared cold and stern.

“Since we last spoke I found the letter from you to my father, and a copy of his letter to you detailing the terms of your employment,” Matthew said as he sat behind the desk. “I assume those terms are still agreeable?”

“Yes.”

“As I said last night, I can’t make any long-term promises to you concerning employment.” His eyes darkened. “I have no idea what the future holds for the Delaney Dude Ranch. However, should we have to breach the contract, you will receive the severance pay detailed in my father’s letter.”

April nodded and sighed inwardly with relief. “I’ll work for you as long as you need me.” She’d take whatever she could get in an attempt to get back on her feet financially.

He nodded and pulled a large manila folder from a drawer. “Here is the file of the former social director. She kept quite extensive notes and had many plans in the works. We open to a full crowd in two weeks. I’ll expect a detailed, workable plan from you in a week.” He handed her the thick file.

“The most important thing for you to remember is that it’s your job to see that every person who comes here is accommodated with fun things to do. You’ll need to set up activities for children, young couples and older people.”

April nodded, undaunted by the task ahead of her. She’d done much the same kind of work at the hotel where she’d worked previously. He returned her nod, and she realized it was a dismissal. She stood and started for the door.