“Good. Now here’s your weapon.” He pulled a 9mm Glock from his waistband. “Ever use one of these before?”
She nodded. “I might be a bit rusty though.” She released the clip, checked it, then replaced it. Then she checked to make sure a bullet was loaded, ready to go. “I think I’ve got it.” She grinned. “I’ve been taking lessons for a long time. I’m very familiar with the Glock. I have one of my own…well, I did have one, before all this happened.”
Ryan threw his head back and laughed. “You are quite entertaining. Let’s shoot.”
Kaylie hadn’t had so much fun in a long time. Testing her skill against Ryan was fantastic even though he could outshoot her with both hands tied behind his back, she still had a great time.
When it was time to go, she climbed into the helicopter like she owned it, put on her seatbelt and grinned at him as they took to the air.
The trip back was over too fast and soon they were landing behind the barn. She’d been here all of three days and it already felt like home. Suddenly, she realized she was in danger of becoming too attached to Ryan. He was just her protector and she needed to remember that.
* * *
Kaylie had beenon the ranch for two weeks and all of the cowboys seemed happy with her efforts. As time passed, she’d gotten much less anxious. She was able to get breakfast finished and then clean the house while having something simple like stew or chili simmering on the stove for lunch. Then she’d make cornbread or biscuits and toss together a salad just before serving. And she always had a dessert, since most afternoons she baked between bouts of reading. She was enjoying the heck out of Jana Deleon’s Miss Fortune series.
That afternoon, she decided that even though she was getting more reading done than ever, she needed something more. She’d baked six cherry pies yesterday and had three of them left for tonight.
She hadn’t been in the attic yet so she thought this would be as good a time as any to check it out and maybe start cleaning it up. She’d never been in an attic that didn’t need cleaning.
She pulled down the stairs from the uppermost hallway and walked up them. At the top of the stairs was a string for the lights. She pulled it and when she saw the boxes stacked on shelves and neatly labeled, her eyes widened. She didn’t know what she’d been expecting but it wasn’t total neatness.
She started reading the labels on the boxes and was delighted when she found Christmas decorations. This was her favorite time of year, and she knew Ryan didn’t have time to put them up, so she hauled all the boxes down to the living room and spent the afternoon decorating.
He had a small fake tree that was perfect for the coffee table, and she found lights, garland and tinsel. She decorated the living room and was feeling very pleased with herself. In the last box underneath the silver garland made from tinsel, she found two stockings. Ryan and Janice.
Janice must be his former fiancée. She doubted he’d want that one up so she just hung his.
She stood back, hands on her hips, and grinned at her handiwork. The room was beautiful. It looked like Christmas had finally arrived in the Evers’ house.
“What have you done?” Ryan roared behind her. He stomped around her and began tearing down everything she’d just put up. He knocked over the tree, breaking lights and decorative glass balls.
Kaylie’s heart pounded and her stomach knotted as she stood back her eyes widened as she watched him destroy everything she’d done.
“Get out. Now. Go.” He stood, his back to her and his hands fisted at his sides.
Her eyes watered, and she ran to her room. She sat on the bed, and the tears could no longer stay at bay. They rolled like rivers down her cheeks. She covered her face with her hands and rocked back and forth.
She didn’t know how long she cried—until her tears dried up and she was totally wrung out. At some point, she’d lain on the bed and curled into a ball while she wept.
A knock sounded on her door.
She sniffed and rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands, then rose, went to the door and opened it slowly.
Ryan stood there, his hands in his front jeans pockets. “May I come in?”
“I don’t know if I should let you, but I will.” She opened the door wide and stood back. “I’ll call and be relocated. I can’t stay with someone as volatile as you apparently are.”
He entered, then ran his hand behind his neck. “Kaylie. Please. Don’t leave. I came to apologize. You had no idea that I hate Christmas or why. May I sit?”
She pointed at the chair under the window where she read. It was also on the other side of the bed from her.
He sat and rested his elbows on his knees.
She sat on the bed. “You wanted to talk. So, talk.”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t want to listen, but I don’t want you to leave.” He paused for a moment and then took a deep breath. “Janice and I were engaged for two years and had planned on a Christmas wedding. My folks and siblings were flying in, as was her brother. Her parents live in Twin Bluffs, so they only had to drive. It was to be a small ceremony, with only our families present.
“Janice had spent the day after Thanksgiving decorating the living room, much as you did today.” He looked up and gave her a small smile.