Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range by Danica Favorite (summer beach reads txt) 📕

to keep his distance and reassess the situation when she returned. Moments passed, filled with the sounds of conversation around him, clinking silverware, the aromas of food, and then she turned from the counter.

Her head was tilted down. Shoulders slumped. He frowned. Thoughts ricocheted through him, knotting his gut. He tapped his knuckles against the table.

The indecision twisting through him was unexpected. He didn’t like the feeling, but stopping it was another matter.

She’d actually had the audacity to quit.

That wasn’t like her. Did she mean her words? The look on her face... He’d never seen it there before. He’d wanted her to be independent, to be okay so he could leave this place for good, but now that she’d flung her independence in his face, well, what could a man make of that?

He rapped the table again, thinking. Plans were going well. Exactly how he’d thought he wanted months ago when he’d set things in motion. Even with the unforeseen shooting. It hadn’t changed his plans, but it had affected him personally. Somehow getting shot and being stuck at the ranch with Josie and Mary had changed him, but he wasn’t sure how, and even if he figured it out, he was pretty certain he wouldn’t like what he found.

His own father had been trapped at home raising two sons alone after his mother died. And his brother, Gracie’s dad, was held beneath the sway of his wife. He’d even cut off contact with Lou for almost twenty years because his wife disapproved of Lou’s career choices.

No, he’d seen what a man leashed by hearth and home became. When he was young, he hadn’t worried too much on it, but losing Sarah and Abby had reinforced his instincts and for twelve years he’d been just fine, footloose and fancy-free.

Until now.

Mary’s independence threatened his own. That much he was sure about. After so long looking out for her, did he really want her gone from his life? No. But being hog-tied to one place gave him the urge to draw his gun and target practice.

At least he might get to do that soon. This morning a junior agent had shared some fascinating intelligence. He and another agent had linked Lou’s shooter to an international ring that was smuggling alcohol from Canada by way of Oregon ports. Given international waters were involved, the smuggling became a federal crime and he’d been given free rein to bring his shooter in. If he could just find a name...

Mary neared, cutting off his thoughts. A flush stained her cheekbones. He put his hands on his hips and battled the urge to apologize. And for what? Trying to protect her? It was an illogical, insensible reaction.

Scowling, he sat in his chair. She followed suit, sitting across from him and fiddling with her silverware again. Busy fingers meant nervousness. He eyed her, but she wouldn’t meet his gaze.

“Your food, sir.” The waiter set their plates down.

“Thank you.” He ate, but the food was tasteless. Mary picked at her potatoes. “You might as well tell me what that call was about. I’m going to find out eventually.”

“I know. And that is what upsets me.” She lifted her eyes.

“So let the cat out of the bag.” He shrugged, though he felt anything but nonchalant. After all this time, it was as though she didn’t trust him. The thought rubbed him wrong.

“I’ve been offered a deal of sorts. Employment in exchange for something.” Her eyes dropped.

Lou’s throat clenched and for the second time that day, a red haze crept into his vision. Fingers curling into fists, he took deep, even breaths. When he thought he could speak without yelling, or worse, scaring her, he said, “What’s the exchange?”

She shook her head. “It’s between us. Regardless, I’m in need of employment, and though I’d like to open my own shop someday, I think this will work better for now. It is a good thing for me to quit now rather than later. My future is secure, and you need not worry about me or my mother.”

He scoffed, if only to let out the tension tightening every muscle in his body. “I’m not worried about her.”

Mary frowned. “Despite how you feel, my mother will be in my life. I suppose it’s also good you plan to leave.”

Fighting words. He should be alarmed, but they eased his tension a little. Whatever plan she’d agreed to couldn’t be permanent or she wouldn’t be talking about keeping her ma in her life.

“A good thing, huh?” He flashed a little teeth and leaned forward.

“Don’t try to charm me, Lou Riley. Your distaste for my mother is upsetting.” She pushed her dish to the side. “I wish you would try to see her side of things. Forgive her, even.”

“Sorry, but I have a hard time forgiving anyone who hurt you the way she did. That’s just the fact of the matter.”

“I see.”

“I don’t think you do.”

She glanced to the right, where a clock perched against the wall. “It is time for me to leave.”

Panic knotted the base of his neck. He had to fix things, and quick. “Look, I’m sorry for bossing you around earlier. What say you stay and give me the lowdown on the situation? Maybe I can help with this trade you’re doing?” He kept his smile in place.

She shook her head. “I’m the only one who can fulfill the terms of the agreement.”

“That so?” he drawled. His chest burned with the effort of staying calm.

“I’ll be back to the house in a year or so. We shall meet again, I’m sure. Are you okay? You look...red.”

He felt it. Drawing a heavy breath, he said, “This agreement isn’t illicit, is it? Tell me it’s not, Mary. Tell me you haven’t sold yourself to protect that little girl.”

She gasped. Then her face darkened as she shot up from her seat. “How could you think such a thing?” Her mouth worked.

He stood, too, but she was already reaching for her luggage. She rushed past him, leaving