Skylar's Outlaw

A smile touched her lips. “Not with Southern manners.”

Gran laughed, a real laugh that warmed Sky’s soul. It felt good to be home with people who loved her.

“On that thought, I think it’s time for all of us to go to bed.” Gran rose to her feet.

Without a word Kira began to pick up her dolls and clothes. Sky found that remarkable. One word from Gran and Kira obeyed, much as she, Cait and Maddie did. Sky helped her tuck everything into a small suitcase reserved for her Barbies and then the trio headed for the stairs.

“Can I play with Georgie tomorrow?” Kira asked.

“We’ll see what Aunt Maddie has to say.”

Kira beamed at her. “She say yes, yes, yes.”

Sky glanced at Gran. “She knows Aunt Maddie.”

“Yes, she does.”

They hugged on the landing. “’Night, Gran.”

“’Night, my babies.”

After getting Kira into bed and taking her own shower, Sky stood looking out the window toward the bunkhouse. She could see the back of the structure and a light burning in a window on the left. That must be his bedroom.

She’d never dreamed he’d been beaten as a child. How horrific. She felt bad about how she’d treated him and how she’d thought of him like a narrow-minded simpleton.

But he had that effect on her and she couldn’t explain why. It felt as if she needed to protect herself. From what? That she couldn’t answer. But they definitely had a negative reaction to each other.

She crawled in beside her daughter, careful not to wake her. Dealing with Cooper, Sky had forgotten about the Spencers. But that worry was always there at the back of her mind. She prayed they’d give up their quest to find their grandchild.

Tomorrow was a new day. A day to start over. A day to forget the shadow hanging over her.

And another day to tackle Mr. Ignore Me.

Oh, he had a rude awakening coming if he thought she gave up so easily.

CHAPTER THREE

IN THE MORNING SKY carried Kira downstairs for breakfast. She placed her in a booster seat and Etta brought steaming oatmeal to the table. Fixing Kira a bowl, Sky prayed she’d eat it. Her child had very little appetite, and it was a struggle to keep her strong and healthy.

Kira played with the spoon and then glanced at her with those gorgeous blue eyes. “Can I play with Georgie today, Mommy?”

“If you eat your oatmeal and drink your milk.” That was such a lame bribe, but she’d take whatever worked.

“Do Georgie eat oatmeal?”

Sky kissed her baby’s cheek. “Every day. That’s why he’s so strong.”

“I wanna be strong like Georgie.” Kira shoved oatmeal into her mouth and swallowed.

Great!

“The devil’s gonna get you,” Etta whispered as Sky poured a cup of coffee.

“Don’t tell anyone, but he already has.”

The old lady grinned and Sky gave her a hug. Etta always reminded her of Granny on the old Beverly Hillbillies sitcom, except Etta had short permed hair.

Gran entered the kitchen already dressed for the day. Sky was still in her cotton pj’s, so she kissed her and said, “Please watch Kira while I get dressed.”

Gran took a seat by her great-granddaughter and Sky dashed upstairs.

In a second she had on her jeans and was stuffing the tail of a pearl-snap shirt into the waistband. She guided her braided-leather belt through the loops and buckled it. Sitting down, she slipped on her boots. Oh, yeah. Cowgirl up. She was ready to face Cooper Yates.

Then she turned and saw herself in the mirror. Crap! Her hair looked like a huge dust mop. She hated her naturally curly hair—another trait she’d inherited from her mother.

Grabbing a flat iron, her favorite tool in the whole world, she sat at the dressing table and went to work. Within minutes she had it in a manageable style, clipped back at her nape.

She took a second glance at the sprinkling of freckles across her nose. How many times had she cursed them over the years? Too many to count. Makeup would cover them, but she wasn’t taking that route today. She left her fair skin clean and natural. Now she was ready.

Pausing at the door, she reached for her cell phone to call Cait.

Brenda Sue, Judd’s secretary, answered. Sky groaned. The woman gave annoying a new meaning. “May I speak to Caitlyn, please?” She held her breath.

“Is this Sky?”

“Yes.” She choked back a groan.

“I thought so. You sisters sound very alike on the phone, if you know what I mean. I might be psychic that way, too. I’m very good with voices, and some people have said—”

“Is Caitlyn there?”

“What? Oh. I’m in the office, and when they don’t answer, it rings here, so I guess Judd and Cait are doing, well, you know what. Isn’t it great about the baby? Judd is over the moon and Renee is not even bitchy anymore. She’s finally getting a grandchild. I told Cait I’d give her some pointers, but you know Cait. She didn’t take that very well. She was quite offensive, actually, and—”

“Goodbye, Brenda Sue. I’ll try her cell.” Sky clicked off before the woman could get in one more word, then had to take a long breath to de-stress. Finally she punched in her sister’s cell number.

Cait answered almost immediately.

“I’m really surprised you haven’t killed Brenda Sue by now.”

Cait laughed. “Had a scintillating conversation with her?”

“More like mind-numbing.”

Cait laughed again, and then said, “I hope you’ve come to your senses.”

“Yes, and I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I can handle the ranch and Cooper.”

“That’s good news.”