Home on the Ranch: The Montana Cowboy's Triplets Read online

  It was going to rip her apart when she finished the job and had to leave.

  If she couldn’t do the work tonight, she’d be leaving sooner than she’d expected. And with a cloud hanging over her name in the movie business. Once it got out she’d failed to perform, she would not be hired again.

  She ran a hot bath and stripped out of her clothes while the tub filled. Then she sank in, reveling in the heat. Breathing in and out, she tried to relax and get her mind off work.

  Her thoughts drifted to her brothers. It was too late to talk to them now, but she’d call them in the morning.

  Once the water had cooled, she drained the tub and dried off, then bundled into her fluffy robe. Rubbing a towel through her damp hair, she walked into the bedroom and stopped short.

  Hunter lay on her bed, feet crossed, arms propping his head up.

  “Wha’ are you doin’ in here?”

  “Waiting for you.”

  “Where are the boys?”

  “Wyatt already came and got them.”

  “Seriously, you didn’t have to send them off.”

  “They love campouts with the cousins. I wanted to give you some downtime, peace and quiet.”

  Guilt pricked at her conscience. He’d done this for her. “That’s nice of you, but what must Wyatt and Frankie be thinking?”

  He gave her a lascivious grin, wriggled his eyebrows. “What do you think they’ll think?”

  She couldn’t help it and she laughed, even though she was mortified.

  “Besides, when Wyatt was seeing Frankie, her son learned the joys of cousin campouts and grandparent nights. So they’re used to it.”

  “You have an amazing family. You’re very lucky.”

  “Yeah, I am.” He rubbed his hands together. “I made dinner,” he said, then got off the bed and went to a cart she hadn’t noticed by the door. He wheeled it to the chair by the window and gestured for her to sit.

  She pressed a hand to her stomach, swallowed hard. “I don’t think I can eat.”

  He handed her a glass filled with bubbling liquid.

  “I definitely can’t drink anything with alcohol.”

  “It’s ginger ale. Thought it would settle your stomach.”

  She took the glass and sat on the chair. “Thanks.”

  “So you want to tell me what happened?”

  “They decided to make some changes to the shooting schedule. I don’t know why—and I know better than to ask.”

  “Can’t they get someone else?”

  “I can’t lose my job. I don’t want a black mark on my name in the movie business. Brody will be there, and he’ll watch out for me.”

  “Brody, the stunt coordinator I met earlier?”

  “Yes. We’ve worked together on quite a few films.”

  “Was he the one on the film where the stunt went wrong?” He rubbed a hand through his hair so it stood up.

  She laid a hand on his arm. “No, that was someone else. Brody is good at his job. He’s got my back.”

  “I do, too, you know.”

  She smiled at him. “Thanks for being there for me.” Their conversation in the barn earlier had been nagging at her. She needed to clear the air. “You know I’ve got your back as well, right? That’s why I spoke to the boys earlier about my stunt work.”

  He waved a hand. “I know. And thank you for caring enough about my kids to caution them.”

  She blew out a breath, relieved he wasn’t angry with her. Raising the glass of ginger ale to her mouth, she noticed her hand shaking.

  He took the glass from her and set it down. “After getting to know you, and seeing what you are capable of, you can do this.” He picked her hand up and kissed the back of it. “Come on, let’s get some dinner into you.”

  “I really don’t think I can eat.”

  “Just some of this soup, maybe a sandwich. Something light, okay? You need to eat something so you can focus.”

  She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Wha’ did I do to deserve you?”

  “I don’t know, but you must have been a very good girl. I’m a catch, you know.”

  “Yes, you’ve told me that before.” She laughed. “Okay, let’s eat.” She sat back on the chair, and he pulled another one next to the cart.

  He took the cover off bowls of soup and a plate of sandwiches.

  “The boys are gone for the night. How about if I go with you for moral support? Think your director would let me be on the set?”

  A warm feeling cascaded through her. “I don’t think you could be on set—an insurance thing, I’m sure. Besides, it’ll be a late night.”

  “I’ll drive you up there, and ask where I can go that’s close enough to cheer you on but that won’t interfere with any rules and regulations.”

  “Thank you,” she said, and relaxed enough to eat some soup.

  “Anytime, darlin’, anytime.”

  She could get used to this.

  Used to him.

  Used to the boys.

  Used to being part of a family.

  Chapter 19

  Hunter drove them to the location, and they went looking for the assistant director. They finally tracked him down in the trailer set up with sound and monitors. He said as long as Hunter stayed out of sight and quiet, he could watch from one of the unused monitors in the trailer.

  He walked Mackenzie to the wardrobe trailer. With all the spotlights set up, it could have been the middle of the day. Cables and wires ran everywhere, and people scurried around, intent on their jobs.

  “I better go now,” she said.

  “You’ll do just fine. I know you can do this. You’re a very brave woman, you know?”

  She looked up at him. “You think so?”

  “Absolutely. Come here.” He pulled her into a tight hug, and she squeezed him back. Going on instinct, he moved back enough to give her what he’d intended to be a quick kiss, but turned into a toe-curler for him.

  And by the dazed look on her face, he thought she might have some curled toes, too.

  He went back into the sound trailer and sat on a stool in the back, out of the way. The monitor was already turned on, and he tuned out the murmurs of people at the other end of the trailer.

  Mackenzie walked into view on the monitor, her hand pressed to her stomach as she talked to Brody.

  She’d told him they would do several run-throughs first, without the fire. He watched as she got into position and pulled a big blanket over her head and back. She had to run across the barn as if dodging flames and falling beams, which she’d said would be added later, then kick out the side door. The movie crew had built a fake door, so the real one wouldn’t be damaged.

  After running through it once, including kicking out the fake door, she met with Brody and Tom, the director. Hunter assumed they were giving her notes or feedback. Somewhere in the distance, he heard the trailer door open and close, and footsteps walked up behind him.

  “Hunter? What are you doing here?” Carley asked.

  “Oh, hi.” He briefly looked up at her. “I drove Mackenzie out here.” He looked back at the monitor again, trying to determine Mackenzie’s body language, gauge how she was doing as they started the run-through a second time.

  “You’re in love with her.”

  It took a few seconds for her words to make sense. “What?”

  “Mackenzie. You’re in love with her.”

  “No—I—no. Why do you say that?”

  “I can just tell. You were never that interested in me during our little flirtation.”

  “But—I—”

  She laid a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. I was still in love with Bryant.”

  She glanced at the monitor showing Mackenzie up close. “She’s a good person. I have a feeling she’ll keep you in line,
” she said, and smiled, then walked over to speak with the assistant director. A few minutes later she left the trailer.

  “Huh.” He stared into space. She was the second person to say that he was in love with Mackenzie. Was it true? And if so, was it that obvious? Even to a virtual stranger?

  How did he know what being in love was like? He thought he’d been in love with Yvette, but it hadn’t been enough to sustain them even a year into the marriage.

  He loved his boys, and his family.

  Was it love when you wanted to be with someone all the time? To wake up in the morning next to them, be the last person they see at night?

  Was it love to want to put their needs first, their happiness?

  Movement on the monitor drew his attention, and he watched as Mackenzie ran through the process twice more.

  The fourth time she pulled the blanket over her head, someone lit it on fire.

  Hunter tensed, and he had to force himself to watch objectively, have faith that she knew what she was doing.

  By the time she kicked through the fake wooden door, he was on his feet. She came through the splintered wood, and she was supposed to trip over a piece of wood then fall. But he saw the terrified expression on her face as she shifted the horse blanket just before she fell forward. His heart nearly burst out of his chest, and he panicked that something had gone wrong.

  The director called “Cut” as Hunter hurried out of the trailer. Two crew members were spraying her down with fire extinguishers, and suddenly the flames were out.

  But she lay still. Too still.

  He slid in the foam and fell to his knees next to her as crew members lifted the horse blanket off her back.

  “Mackenzie? Honey?” He rubbed the back of her hand, afraid to touch her if she’d been burned.

  Her head lifted, and tears poured from her eyes.

  “Where are you hurt?” he whispered.

  She squeezed his hand and coughed. She tried to say something, but he couldn’t hear her.

  “What?”

  “I’m fine.” She turned over gingerly and sat up. Her face was covered in black smoke, tears still ran from her eyes, but she was smiling, her teeth showing white against the soot. “I did it!”

  He heaved a sigh of relief, then coughed on the smoke still drifting in the air. He leaned forward and pulled her into his arms.

  She pushed against him. “I’m filthy. Don’t want to get you dirty.”

  “Darlin’, clothes will wash. I just want to hold you. You’re so brave,” he said, and felt like bawling for some reason.

  “Mackenzie, you did great,” Brody said from above them.

  “I did, didn’t I?” she asked, and Hunter helped her stand up.

  “Yup. Tom said to congratulate you, and you’re released for the night.”

  “Thank God,” she muttered, just loud enough for Hunter to hear her.

  “Let’s go home,” he said, and put his arm around her shoulders.

  “Sounds good. I’ll be right back. Need to change.”

  He didn’t want to let her go even long enough to change, but he had to give her space to absorb what she’d done tonight, the fears she’d overcome.

  While he waited for her, he watched crew members scurry around, intent on their jobs. He was used to having guests at the ranch, some of them on work retreats, but having a movie crew was new. And he wasn’t sure he really liked it.

  “I’m ready to go if you are,” Mackenzie said as she walked up to him.

  She’d changed into her own clothes and washed off as much grime as possible.

  He slung his arm around her shoulders and guided her toward his truck. The farther they walked, the clearer the air became.

  He opened the door for her, and she climbed in. She yawned, then slapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”

  “You’re exhausted. I’ll get you home right quick.”

  By the time he’d navigated the quiet roads to his place, she was asleep.

  He parked the truck, then quietly opened his door and got out. He walked to her side of the truck, but stopped. Looking up at the night sky, he noticed the stars seemed to shine even more brilliantly than usual. He loved living out here, where he was surrounded by the land he loved. The people he loved.

  Her door creaked open. “Are we home?” she asked, yawning.

  Her calling his cabin home gave him a warm feeling, and it felt right. “Yeah, we’re home.”

  “What were you looking at?” Mackenzie asked, her voice sleepy.

  He pointed up. “Just thanking the Almighty for keeping you safe tonight. And looking at the stars.”

  “Wow. What a gorgeous view. It’s a lot like home. I really miss it.” Her voice got low, and he heard the note of sadness.

  “Think you’ll go back soon?”

  “Oh. I’d like to. Have to save up enough for a ticket. So maybe between jobs I can.”

  “I’ve never been there. Think the boys would like to go?”

  “Definitely.” She laughed. “I can just see them now, camped out at Loch Ness, spyglasses trained on the water, waiting for Nessie to appear. As determined as they are, they’ll probably be the ones to prove she’s real.”

  He chuckled. “Between Nessie, the castles and the ghosts, they’d have a blast.” He glanced at her. “Come on, let’s get you inside. It’s been a long day.”

  He held her hand while she climbed out of the truck, then put an arm around her waist as they made their way to his front door. He unlocked it and they walked to her room. “Why don’t you take a shower and get ready for bed?”

  “I’m actually hungry now,” she said, her stomach growling.

  “I can whip something up for you. What do you want?”

  Her stomach growled again, and she blushed. “As hungry as I am, I could go for a full Scottish breakfast.”

  “What’s in that?”

  “Eggs, bangers, black pudding, baked beans, mushrooms, broiled tomato—”

  He held a hand up. “Baked beans I’ve had for breakfast before—riding on the trail. But what are bangers and black pudding?”

  “Bangers are sausage. Remember the haggis?”

  He nodded.

  “Black pudding is sort of similar.”

  He wrinkled his nose. “Okay, stop there.” He thought of what he had in the fridge. “How about steak and eggs? A ranch breakfast.”

  “Brilliant. I’ll be out soon.”

  “Take your time.” He watched her go in her room and close the door, then walked to the kitchen.

  He found steak in the freezer and set it to defrost, then pulled eggs out of the fridge. Smelling smoke, he checked the stove to see if he’d left it on. Finally realized it was coming from his own clothes. He strode into his bedroom, opting to shuck his clothes and hurry through a fast shower.

  As the water pounded down on him, he thought back over the evening, and to what Carley had said.

  He waited for a pit to grow or bats to flit around in his stomach. But other than a little ping, he didn’t feel scared. He felt right.

  But how did she feel?

  He knew she liked him—now. They hadn’t gotten off to a great start, but their relationship had grown.

  Should he just wait and see what happened next? “Heck no. I’m going to ask her.”

  * * *

  Mackenzie took her time showering, making sure to wash every bit of smoke and grime down the drain. She was exhausted and elated, bone-deep tired and brimming with excitement. Tonight, she’d done what she’d been terrified of doing since the accident.

  And she knew she owed a great part of her courage to Hunter. He’d stood by her, encouraged her, didn’t push her, just let her decide for herself.

  What a man.

  Walking out of the bathroom, she debated about getting dre
ssed, then glanced at the clock. Just after midnight. Might as well put on her pajamas and be ready for bed. She pulled on her flannels, fluffy robe and slippers, then walked out to the kitchen.

  The scent of meat cooking hit her as she neared the kitchen and she almost swooned, she was so hungry. Hunter stood at the stove, turning a steak over in a pan.

  “It smells delish in here,” she said.

  “Oh, you like? My new aftershave.” He patted his cheeks.

  “Is it called Eau de Steak?” She laughed. “You goofy man.”

  He pouted. “And here I got all cleaned up just for you.” He struck a pose, holding the cooking fork in the air. He wore the navy blue pajama bottoms with dancing polar bears again and a blue thermal shirt.

  She didn’t know what it was about a man in a thermal shirt, but she loved the look. Or maybe it was this man in particular.

  “Yes, I dressed up for dinner, too, as you can see.” She strutted several steps across the kitchen as if she were a model, then pulled the neck of her bathrobe up and posed like it was a mink coat.

  He stared at her, an odd look on his face.

  “Something wrong? Hunter?” She waved a hand at him.

  “Nope. Everything’s fine. Fried eggs okay?” He turned back to the stove and set the fork down.

  “Fried is great. Can I help?”

  He cracked eggs into the skillet. “How are you at toast?”

  “Brilliant. Best toast maker in the Highlands.” She giggled.

  “Did you just giggle?” he asked, turning his head to look at her.

  She put a hand over her mouth. “I think I did. I guess I’m happy,” she said, and did a cartwheel on the way to the counter to make toast.

  “Now who’s being goofy?” he asked, and pointed at her.

  She walked up to him and pulled his head down, then smacked him on the lips. “Yer eggs are burning.”

  The surprised look on his face made her laugh, and she picked up the loaf of bread. She put bread in the four-slot toaster, then opened the fridge door to collect butter. A jar of strawberry jam sat next to the tub of butter, so she grabbed that also.

  As she closed the door, she noticed three new drawings had been added to it. She studied the first one—a castle rose high, with gray scribbles scattered all around.