Elle James - High Country Hideout

His lips thinned and his hands tightened around her. “I can, and will, carry you to the house.”

She could sense the unspoken words of even if it kills me . The tight set of his jaw and the determined look in his eyes made her still and let the man carry her, despite the lumbering gait and the slight hesitation when he reached the stairs.

One slow step at a time, he climbed the stairs, the lines deepening around his eyes and forehead. He was totally concentrated on getting her into the house.

“What’s wrong with your leg?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

“Look, you’re my employee. If something should happen, I need to know what to expect.”

“Not your concern. It won’t affect my ability to do the work.”

“Everything and everyone on this ranch is my concern.” Damn, the man was stubborn. Almost as stubborn as she was. Reggie leaned down, twisted the knob on the back door and swung it open. “Especially when you insist on carrying me.”

Without responding, Angus strode through the kitchen and into the living room, where he deposited her on the couch. “There, I’m not carrying you anymore.”

Reggie opened her mouth to argue the point, but Tad entered the room, his eyes widening.

“Mamma?” He ran forward and stood in front of her. “You’re hurt.” He stared up at Angus. “Did you hurt my mamma?” His little fists clenched and he appeared to be ready to throw himself at the ranch hand.

“No, Tad. Angus didn’t hurt me. I...fell and hit my head in the barn. Angus was good enough to carry me all the way into the house.” She added the last part through gritted teeth, still unhappy about that particular fact.

The boy’s face brightened and he hugged Angus’s leg. “You are a cowboy.”

Angus’s face reddened. He quickly bent to loosen the boy’s hold and held his hands as he stared down into the child’s upturned face. “As the men in the house, we have to take care of the womenfolk. And right now, we need to wash the wound.”

“I know where the bandages are. Mamma keeps them in her bathroom for when I have an owie.” He ran from the room, his face excited.

Angus glanced down at Reggie. “I’ll be right back, too.”

“I told you, I can take care of myself.” She started to rise.

Angus pressed a hand to her shoulder. “And disappoint your son when he’s all set to take care of his mamma?” He shook his head. “Stay put.”

Reggie didn’t like taking orders from anyone, especially the stranger in her house. But the way he’d handled Tad and taken the opportunity to teach him to care for others made her sit back and accept the help.

“Fine.” She crossed her arms. “For Tad.”

Angus left the room and strode down the hallway to the bathroom. The sound of water running reached her ears, as did Angus’s deep voice and Tad’s childish one. Unable to hear their conversation, it was all she could do to remain on the couch. What was he saying?

Tad led the way into the living room, proudly carrying the box of bandages with cute little dinosaurs printed on them.

Reggie smiled. This was her little man. The spitting image of his father. Her heart swelled and she reached out to take his hand. “Thank you, sweetie.”

“Angus is gonna clean the booboo and I’m gonna put the bandage on.” He glanced up at Angus as if to confirm.

“That’s right.” Angus gave her son a serious nod. “It’s an important job.”

Angus leaned over Reggie and dabbed carefully at the cut on her forehead. Her senses picked up on everything about the man. The breadth of his chest...so close to her face. The bulging muscles of his arms in the blue chambray shirt...the trim width of his hips in the faded blue jeans. He smelled of leather and outdoors, the two scents she found most attractive on a man.

She closed her eyes to block out the cowboy, but she couldn’t stop breathing. Each breath she took only added to her confusion. Why was she reacting to this man so much? She didn’t even know him.

She had known Ted all her life. They’d practically grown up together in the same small town.

Angus had showed up out of nowhere. She knew nothing about him other than he was sensitive about his limp and didn’t want her asking questions. What did he have to hide?

A little hand touched hers. “Does it hurt much, Mamma?”

She opened her eyes and smiled at Tad. “No, sweetie. I just didn’t want to get anything in my eyes.”

“All cleaned up. It’s your turn, Tad. Remember to be careful not to get your fingers all over the white part.” Angus leaned over him. “Here, let me show you.” With his big hands, he helped the boy’s little fingers open the individually wrapped package, peel the paper strips from the sticky adhesive and hold it out.

Together, they placed the bandage over the cut on Reggie’s forehead. When the bandage was in place, she carefully felt the bruised lump.

“Well done.” Angus stuck out his hand to shake Tad’s.

Tad stood tall, his shoulders back, a serious expression on his young face. Then her son turned and hugged her. “Is it all better?”

“Yes, baby.” Reggie returned the hug, her chest swelling with pride and an appreciation for the ranch hand who could have just done it all himself. Instead, he’d chosen to treat the event as a learning opportunity for her son.

Okay, so the man wasn’t just an annoying addition to her ranch. He might come in handy. Tad could use more strong, male role models, since his father wasn’t there to teach him certain things. Such as how to treat a lady.

Having shouldered most of the burden typically considered man’s work, she hadn’t really had the opportunity to teach her young son how to behave toward women. And he’d need those lessons in life as much as he’d need to know how to be strong, work hard and be accountable.

Angus backed away. “If you’re sure you’re okay, I’m going to check things out around the barn.”

She nodded. “Be careful. I don’t want you, uh—” her gaze shot to Tad “—bumping your head like I did.”

He nodded and left the room.

As soon as she heard the sound of the back door closing, Reggie rose from the couch. “Come on, it’s time for your bath and bed.”

“Ah, Mamma. Can’t I stay up?”

“You have school tomorrow and we have another chapter to read in your book about the ranch dog.”

She held out her hand and Tad slipped his into hers. “When can I have a dog? Angus has one.”

“When you’re old enough to take care of one all by yourself.”

“I’m old enough. I took care of you,” he pointed out.

She ruffled his hair. “Yes, you did. I’ll think about it.”

He skipped along beside her. “Can I name the dog Ranger?”

“We haven’t got one yet. Besides, Angus’s dog is named Ranger. Don’t you think you should give a dog his very own name?”

The conversation continued as it usually did, with Tad asking questions and making observations that surprised her at his level of maturity for a five-year old.

Reggie herded Tad through his bath, allowing him to play for a while before bundling him in a warm towel and clean pajamas. After he brushed his teeth, he climbed into his little bed and waited for her to read to him. This was one thing she’d always insisted on, even after Ted’s passing. Some things had to remain consistent to keep Tad on track with growing up normal and well-adjusted.

She settled on the edge of his bed, opened the book to the chapter she’d stopped at the previous night and read.

* * *

ANGUS TOOK RANGER outside with him and spent time circling the barn, searching for some indication of who had been inside and hit Reggie in the head. If he hadn’t been sure before, he was certain now. Someone was targeting Reggie. She needed protection. Perhaps he wasn’t the one to provide it. Why had Hank insisted he was the man for the job?