Skylar's Outlaw

“Leo Garvey, the P.I., located the apartment Skylar Belle was renting in Tennessee.”

“Was she there?”

“No. She got wind he was asking questions and disappeared again.”

“We pay him a lot of money. Surely he can do a better job than this. It’s amateurish, and I’m tired of all this waiting.” She swept back her blond bob in irritation.

Jonathan poured a shot of bourbon and raised the glass toward her. “He managed to get in the apartment before it was cleaned.”

“And?”

“He found a child’s hairbrush with red hair on it behind a sofa cushion.” He took a swallow of the bourbon. “He’s sending it to a lab for DNA testing. Now he has to get a sample of Todd’s DNA, and then we’ll know if the child is a Spencer.”

“Pour me a gin and tonic. It’s time to celebrate. After all this time, that Belle bitch is going to get what’s coming to her.”

WHEN COOPER RODE INTO THE barn, it was late. Darkness had settled in and the dim lightbulbs hanging from the rafters did little to chase it away.

The dogs trotted behind him, breathing heavily. Ru had quit for the day long ago. After checking the herd, Coop had sat in the grass near Crooked Creek. This time of the year, the grass was green and thriving. The cows were knee-deep in it. The hayfields were also flourishing. After the fire, he’d worried about that, but now High Five was back on track.

It was good to know that Albert Harland, the man who had set the fires to the land and house, and had attempted to kill Cait, was now serving twenty years for the crimes. That didn’t erase the damages, though. Coop had to keep working so the ranch could overcome its losses.

For what?

To work with that woman?

Dismounting, he undid the saddle cinch, and with one hand swung the saddle over a sawhorse. The dogs lay down to rest. After leading the paint into the corral, Coop removed the bridle and slapped the horse’s rump. The animal cantered toward the feed trough.

As Coop reentered the barn, Ru came in from the other door with a covered plate in his hand.

“You just getting in, boy? I left you two hours ago.”

“Yep. I had some things I had to check.”

“Like what?” Ru held the plate high as the dogs jumped to reach it.

“Just stuff.”

“Miss Dorie’s a might upset you’re not eating at the house.”

Coop hooked the bridle on a nail. “So I heard.”

“C’mon, boy. Give Sky a chance.”

He took the plate. “I don’t give women like her chances.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Nothing. Thanks for the food.” He strolled away before Ru could grill him. The dogs followed, yapping all the way to the bunkhouse. Coop put the food on the counter, knowing he had to feed the dogs first. After being out most of the day, they were hungry.

He flipped on the front porch light and filled their bowls with a special mix of dog food he bought in Giddings. They gobbled it up, their short tails wagging. Australian blue-heelers, Boots, Bo and Booger were about the best friends he had besides Ru. They trusted him. They didn’t judge him.

Removing his hat, he walked into the house and placed it on a hook. Stretching his tired muscles, he felt the aches and pains of cowboying. At thirty-five he should have his own ranch, but that bastard had taken everything from him. Now he had a record, and it followed him everywhere he went like his shadow. It was a part of him.

Being angry didn’t help a thing. Coop knew that better than anyone. But when he was reminded of his past in surround sound and Technicolor, it was hard to remember.

Why did she have to come home?

With a sigh he headed to the kitchen sink, washed his hands, grabbed a fork out of a drawer and carried the plate to the table. He kept his mind blank. After years of practice, he had perfected that trait.

Tender roast, potatoes, green beans and homemade rolls—the mouthwatering aroma made his taste buds come alive. He was hungry. As he dug in, he knew he couldn’t keep making extra work for Etta. He had to bite the bullet and eat at the house as he’d done before.

As much as he wanted her to, Skylar Belle wasn’t going away. Chewing a mouthful of roast, he wondered what the odds were of them ever meeting again. When she’d come home for Dane’s funeral, he couldn’t believe his eyes. However, there was no mistaking the striking redhead with the sultry blue eyes. She’d treated him just as she had the last time he’d seen her—as if he didn’t exist. She’d had no clue who he was, or if she did, she hid it well. Luckily, she hadn’t stayed long and he didn’t have to deal with her.

Finishing the food, he pushed back his chair, which scraped across the old wood floor. He carried the empty plate to the sink and washed it. Etta didn’t believe in paper plates. He was drying the dish when the redhead’s words came back to him.

High Five comes first and we have to put our differences aside. I’d appreciate your cooperation.

Like hell…

He’d promised Cait he would do everything he could to keep High Five running smoothly, though Skylar Belle made that promise difficult. But he owed Cait, and he wouldn’t go back on his word.

No matter how much personal angst it cost him.

KIRA HAD TOYS STREWN all over the parlor floor. Sky sat cross-legged, watching her child dress and undress her Barbie doll, her favorite activity. Kira loved clothes. Maybe she’d even have a career in fashion…if she had a career. There was always that fear in Sky that Kira wouldn’t have much of a life, just a lot of pain and endless days of dealing with it.

The doctor had said there were three types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular, pauciarticular and systemic. After much testing, and because Kira only had redness and swelling in her knees and occasionally her elbow, the doctor concluded she fell into the pauciarticular category. That was good news. With less than four joints involved, Kira could outgrow the disease or go into remission as she aged. But there was also a possibility the disease could become progressively worse. No matter what, Sky would be with her all the way.

“Time for bed, precious.”

Kira shook her head. “I don’t want to.”

This was the hard part. Discipline. Sky held up the fingers on one hand. “Five more minutes.”

Kira nodded and kept tugging a dress onto the doll.

“Cooper didn’t come to supper,” Gran said from the sofa. “Did you talk to him?”

Sky helped her daughter slip high heels on the doll, and realized she was biting her lip. “Yes, and I told him he was welcome.”

“And…”

She looked at her grandmother. “And what?”

“What did he say?”

“Nothing, Gran. Absolutely nothing. That’s his modus operandi when it comes to me.”

“And Skylar Belle can’t change that?”