Page 10 of Rancher's Rescue
“It would be awesome, Kane.” Kit replied quietly, but her eyes had lost their sparkle.
“I’m not replacing your dad. Nobody can ever do that. From what I know, he was a wonderful man. But I love your mom and I love you two crazy kids.” Kit smiled and rested her head on my shoulder and nodded.
“Yeah, marry my mom.” Kit looked up at me and the sparkle returned to her eyes.
“All right. Let’s go pick out a ring, but you have to swear not to say a word to your mom.” Leaving the jewelry store with a ring that was now burning a hole in my pocket. The kids were full of anticipation, and I hoped we could make it home without them letting the secret slip.
“You three look like you’ve been busy.” Her voice sang from behind us. Turning, the kids looked from me to her and nodded. “I thought I said to leave them at the store I would pay for them.”
“Oh well, we figured this would save time, and I don’t mind doing it. In fact, I enjoyed spoiling them.” It wasn’t a lie. These experiences had been taken from me six years ago and beingable to have them with Maggie’s kids was like a balm to my heart.
Maggie looked at me and shook her head. “I will pay you back for all that.”
“We can deal with it when we get home.” I tried to bush her off, and the kids giggled.
“So, what do we have left on the list? Kit, we should take you somewhere to get clothes.” She had her own bags, and they looked heavier than the clothes.
“Nope, I got what I needed.”
“Give me those and take these.” I said, swapping bags with Maggie. “Kit got clothes at the western store. We can deal with that later, too.” I winked and Maggie looked from me to Kit and back to me.
“I can’t fight the two of you.” She shrugged and smiled. “Think we can make it to the truck and get rid of all this stuff and come back to look around?” She turned to look out the doors and it appeared the rain had let up.
“Let’s do it. We still have an entire day ahead of us.” If you’d walked by the four of us, you wouldn’t know we weren’t a family. But soon enough, we would be.
CHAPTER NINE
MAGGIE
Kit and Marshall had slept all the way home, so when it was time for bed they weren’t anywhere close to tired. “Fine, go upstairs and read.” I threw my hands up in the air.
“Kids, come on, let's give your mom a minute, I will come help you find a book to read.” Kane kissed me on the side of the head and he ran up the stairs after the kids. It was so nice to have someone take the responsibility, even just for a few moments.
"They are occupied," Kane said when he came back down. Sighing, I turned to him.
“Thank you.” I smiled, and he reached for my hand and pulled me to the porch. He’d sat down on the large porch swing and pulled me down with him. Grabbing my book, I shifted and let my legs rest on his lap as I settled on the cushion. This was what I’d missed the most. Silent companionship, warmth beside me, someone to just sit with. Kane grabbed the newspaper and flicked it open. He let his arms rest on my legs and there wasn’t anything that would make me move from here before I had to.
Crunch of gravel made my stomach drop. There was only one person who would dare show up here at this time of night. Kanelooked up from the paper he was reading and frowned. In the weeks he had been here, nobody had visited. It was kind of nice. We’d been hiding out here in our own little world, as a family.
“Do you want me to deal with it, Maggie?” Kane shifted under my legs.
“No, it’s fine. I will deal with him.” As soon as I said him, Kane’s face turned to stone. I didn’t move. This was my home, and I wasn’t hiding the relationship I’d started with Kane. I watched Palmer get out of his truck and saunter to the porch. The way he cried himself made me feel like he owned the place.
“Maggie, it’s a fine evening, isn’t it?” He leaned against the post and crossed his arms. “Things look good around here. I heard you got help.” He looked at Kane and frowned. I didn’t need to wonder who he’d heard that from. His mother no doubt called him as soon as she turned her back.
Standing, I moved to where he was. “Yes, I found help. What can I do for you, Palmer?” Crossing my arms, I leaned against the wall of the house and movement behind me caught my eye. Kane was standing now. I felt protected for the first time since Jeremiah died.
“Mother said you looked cozy with this drifter when she saw you.” Palmer walked toward me and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I am a little concerned about what that’s telling the kids. It seems like you’re replacing Jeremiah pretty fast.”
“I don’t think it’s any of your mother’s concern who I’m looking cozy with, or yours for that matter.” Taking a step toward him, I was hoping I could end this conversation quickly. “Also, I recall not that long ago, you telling me I needed to move on. Maybe I just took your advice.” His advice was for him, not another man.
“Maggie, is he just an itch you’re scratching? Like once you’ve gotten a few nights of pleasure, you’re going to look for a lastingrelationship?” He reached out and placed his sweaty hand on my arm, wrapping his fingers around it tightly.
“Please Palmer, let me go. Don’t do this.” My voice was quiet and pleading. His reputation preceded him and I knew he wasn’t above threats to get what he wanted.
Kane moved quickly behind me. “Get your goddamn fucking hands off her.” He crossed his arms and looked even more imposing. His broad shoulders, biceps that rippled with muscles.
“What was wrong with me? I could have made you scream.” Yanking on my arm, he pulled me tightly to him. Kane grabbed the hand that was around my arm and pried his fingers off of me and stepped between us.
