Tina Leonard - The Cowboy Soldier's Sons

Shaman blinked. “To whom?”

“To some gold digger. Mom is up in arms.”

“What does that have to do with me?” He tossed the dish towel he’d used onto the counter. “Xav’s life is his own.”

“Mom wants you to talk sense into him.”

Shaman shook his head. “Not me. I leave all the gold digger talks in your capable hands.” If Xav’s sweetie wasn’t appropriate in some way, he figured Kendall would have her wrapped up in so much legal tape she’d barely be able to move.

“Mom thinks it would be better coming from you. Older, wiser brother.”

“No, what might have helped is if Xav had ever been able to get out from under your and Mom’s hands. And purse strings. Seeing the world doesn’t hurt a man.” Although sometimes it had hurt him, Shaman amended silently. Sometimes it had hurt a lot. But he was tougher for it, too.

Kendall gave him a look that was distinctly displeased. “Shaman, Xav looks up to you—”

A knocking at the door stopped her words, for which Shaman was glad. The last thing he was going to do was get involved in a family issue. He opened the door, his whole day brightening at the sight of Tempest on his porch. “Hi, Cupertino.”

“Hi.”

He didn’t open the door wider, but noted that she had her picnic basket, so dinner was about to be served. And maybe dessert as well. This was good. Lately, he had a sense of unease that everything in their relationship was about to change. She’d seemed a bit distant somehow, and he’d been bracing himself.

It felt great just to look at her, and know she’d come back one more time.

“Your niece came by to see me,” Tempest said.

“Oh?” Shaman didn’t open the door any farther, trying to keep Tempest and his sister apart as long as possible, reluctant for his two worlds to collide.

“Yeah. She thinks I should have a baby,” Tempest said, clearly teasing. From behind him, Shaman heard, “Oh, great, just great,” from Kendall.

“Do you have company?” Tempest tried to look around him. “I saw the car, but I thought it was—”

“It’s mine.” Kendall glanced around Shaman’s shoulder, then gave him a little shove to get him out of her way. She was nothing if not determined. “Is there a baby in that basket? Or are you just looking for a husband?”

“Kendall,” Shaman said, “back off, sister, dear. Come in, Tempest. Join the dysfunctional family.”

Kendall sniffed, checking her out as Tempest entered. Both women were blonde and gorgeous, but there was no doubt that Tempest was taller and more statuesque. Still, neither of them would look bad on a magazine cover.

“Girls, girls, there’s no need to fight. Kendall wants me to go home, and you want to have a baby. Can’t we work things out?”

Tempest put her basket on the counter and began pulling things from it. “Doesn’t sound like it. However, I just happened to bring enough for three.” She looked at Kendall, who was still bristling. “You can join us. That is, if you eat.”

“I eat.” She came over to check out Tempest’s menu. “Is that Brie?”

“It is. And this is a light, crisp white wine, if you drink that. Also, this is sliced avocado on wheat, if you eat avocado. Some caviar, if you know what that is.”

“I do,” Kendall snapped. She took a plate from Tempest and helped herself to the repast. “I guess if you’re stalking a man for a baby, at least you bring decent bait.”

Shaman laughed. “Kendall, you haven’t changed a bit.”

“Oh?” Tempest looked up from making a plate for him. “She doesn’t get out of her cage often?”

He couldn’t help laughing harder. The outraged look on Kendall’s face was too perfect. “Be sweet to my overprotective sister, Tempest. She means well.” He kissed Kendall’s cheek, then Tempest’s. “Now you girls make up, because I say so. And I appear to be the rooster in the henhouse today.”

“Whatever,” Kendall said. “She just has unusual opening lines.”

“You have a big mouth,” Tempest said pleasantly. “I could probably recommend a voice coach for you.”

Shaman happily ate the grub Tempest had brought him. “So, we’re going to have to work some things out. One, I’m not going home, Kendall, no matter what’s happening at the old haunt. And two, I’m not interested in having a baby, Cupertino.” He gazed at both of them, deciding he was a lucky guy to have two ladies that cared about him, sort of. “So what else did our niece have on her mind?”

Tempest shook her head. “Cat is happy as can be.”

“Come on,” Kendall said, munching on the avocado-laden toast. “Don’t hold back just because of me.”

“She said Gage had come over to pound the stuffing out of you,” Tempest admitted to Shaman. “I thought I better check on you and make sure you weren’t incapacitated.”

Both siblings laughed.

“Gage wishes he could pound the stuffing out of you?” Kendall looked at her brother. “What’s got him out of sorts, anyway?”

“I don’t know. This job, I guess.” Shaman didn’t care right now. “Are you staying, Kendall?”

She glanced at Tempest. “No.”

“Don’t go because of me,” Tempest said.

Kendall gave her a sour look. “I’m off to Rancho Diablo to check on my other brother, the one who isn’t in hiding out here in the middle of nowhere, and my darling niece.”

Shaman grinned. “You know, Kendall, if you ever got out of those power suits and let your hair down—”

“I’d find myself propositioning men for babies? I don’t think so.” His sister slid off the stool. “I’m only staying at Rancho Diablo for the night. I have to get back to Hell’s Colony. Mom’s not feeling well, and—”

“You didn’t say anything about that,” Shaman said.

“I shouldn’t have to,” Kendall retorted. “She’s old. She wants her son at home. No big shock, right?”

He recognized guilt as one of Kendall’s weapons, and pulled her to him so that he could rub her hair and muss it up, the way he had when they were children. And later, when they were teens. She shrieked predictably, making him grin. “That felt great,” Shaman said.

Kendall grabbed her purse. “I’m glad it was good for you. If Gage does come to pound your stuffings, I hope he succeeds. Goodbye, Tempest. Was that your name?” Kendall frowned. “It fits.”

Tempest smiled at her and reached out to shake hands. “Tempest Thornbury. It’s nice to meet you, Kendall.”

“Tempest...Thornbury?” She frowned again. “Not the Tempest Thornbury from New York, who used to sing and act on—”

“One and the same,” Shaman said cheerfully, loving the shocked expression on his sister’s face.

Kendall glanced at the picnic basket, then back at her. “No wonder you don’t want to come home, Shaman.”

He laughed. “And you thought I just spent all my time on the roof.”

“I think you’re crazy. But at least if she wants to have a baby, she won’t be after your money, too. I guess.” Kendall shook her head. “Be nice to my big brother, or I’ll send mean critics after you. Love you, Shaman. Please come home soon and give Xav a man-to-man chat. This well-planted daisy is on the level of Gage’s first wife, if you know what I mean. Bad all the way around.”

Kendall left, a smooth slide of silk and high heels moving out the door. Shaman followed, walking her to the car, then making sure she was safely belted inside. “I love you,” he told her. “I’ll come home at some point. I just don’t know when. And no family chats with Xav. It’s his life.”

“Make it soon.” She drove away, and Shaman went back inside.

Tempest was pouring two glasses of wine.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he told her, ignoring the wine and pulling her close.