Head Over Heels (The Bridesmaids Club Book 3) (14 page)

“Okay, turn the tractor on and lift slowly.” Matthew held one edge of the engine they were moving, walking alongside it to make sure nothing came unstuck.

The noise of the tractor rattled Sally’s brain, but it was better than having to dismantle the machinery to move it. Each piece of steel was built strong, tough, and heavy. Everything they didn’t want for a quick clean-up.

Once Matthew disappeared out the doors of the barn, she started shoveling again. There was so much hay, that Todd had decided to move it into another lean-to on the ranch.

“How are you going up there, sis?”

Sean must have gotten tired of sitting on his bottom in an air-conditioned cab. “Just fine. How’s the back-breaking work inside the tractor going?”

“Now, now. There’s no need to be jealous.”

Sally dropped the fork she’d been using and picked up a different tool. It had a long wide blade across its base and a solid, wooden handle. With an almighty shove, she pushed a pile of hay over the edge of the loft.

A yelp of surprise filled the barn, followed by a deep, sexy laugh that could only belong to Todd. Damn.

“Are you trying to bury your brother, or teach him a lesson?” Todd yelled up at her.

Sally knew he couldn’t see her because she’d ducked behind another pile of hay.

“Sally?”

She sighed. “Don’t worry. I’m still here.” Sore muscles and a twitchy nose were the least of her worries. Todd, Sean, and Matthew had been constantly checking to make sure she hadn’t disappeared in a puff of smoke.

“Send another pile of hay over the edge,” Todd yelled. “Now that we’ve got the engine out of the way, we can start getting rid of everything else.”

Sally looked at what was left to move. One more pile wouldn’t clear all of the hay, but it looked a darn sight better than it had when she’d arrived. “Okay. It’ll only take me a couple of minutes.” She peeked over the edge of the loft.

Todd stared back. “I wouldn’t try it.”

With his cowboy hat pushed to the back of his head, and a smile that would make any woman nervous, she had to agree. “It never crossed my mind.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some hay that needs moving.”

Before Todd could say anything more, she scooped up a pile of hay and pushed it over the edge. Almost where Todd had been standing. All she heard was his chuckle as he left the barn.

Within minutes, the sound of a small engine filled the loft. Sally pushed another pile of hay overboard and sighed. She’d need a deep, hot bath tonight. One that involved lots of smelly potions and oils. She took another look around and decided she’d done enough for the day.

As she made her way down the rickety ladder, Matthew walked into the barn.

“Todd said we’re ready to clear out the hay. You okay?”

Sally stretched her back. “I’m fine.”

Her brother snorted. “Working in town has made you soft. You need to get back on the ranch to remember what a hard day’s work feels like.”

“I had twenty-three years of learning what hard work feels like, thank you very much. You can tell Sean that the loft is almost empty.”

Matthew looked at the hay piled around them. “Why would anyone want to get married in a barn?”

“That was my question, too,” Todd said.

Sally picked up an old broom and leaned against it. “You both know why. This barn means something to Carolyn.”

“Jake’s Hardware Store means something to me, too, but you won’t see me getting married there,” Matthew said with a frown.

Sally pointed the handle of the broom at her brother. “Where’s your sense of romance?”

Matthew swatted the broom away. “Buried under this hay. You’d better move or Sean’s going to run you over with the tractor.”

Sally looked over her shoulder at the orange tractor rumbling toward her.

Todd grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her out of the way. Little sparks of awareness shot along her skin and left her heart beating far too fast.

Todd didn’t seem to notice her hormonal dilemma, or if he did, he didn’t say anything. “Max is desperate for a walk. Do you want to join us?”

Sally glanced at the barn. She’d be safer with Sean and Matthew, even with all the dust and dirt they were kicking up.

Todd pointed at the mess in front of them. “There’s not much we can do while Sean’s clearing out the hay. We’ll be back in under an hour.”

Sean drove the tractor into the center of the barn. He lowered the bucket and within seconds had a full scoop of hay to get rid of. Sally coughed through the dust and rubbed her eyes. The thought of fresh air was too much of a temptation. So was Todd, but that was a problem she’d tackle another day.

“Okay,” she yelled over the noise Sean was making. She waved at Matthew to let him know she was leaving, then followed Todd out of the noisy barn. As soon as she was outside, she flicked her shirt, trying to get rid of the hay that had stuck everywhere. “Why is Max waiting to go for a walk? He’s got the whole ranch to run around in.”

“He hasn’t got used to living out here yet. Unless he’s chasing something, he won’t go far from the house without me.”

Max ran across the yard, straight at Sally. His big, goofy grin warmed her heart. “Hey, boy.” He skidded to a stop and nearly toppled over. “What have you been doing?” She kneeled down and wrapped her arms around his body, hugging him tight.

“I guess you’re happy to see each other,” Todd said from above her.

She rubbed Max’s shaggy coat, then stood up and smiled. “I’ve missed him.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” Todd started walking toward the river and Sally and Max followed him.

She would have been happy enough to be out of the barn, but having Max with them was so much better. “Have you been giving Max the vitamins that Chris gave you?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Todd drawled. “I’ve been cleaning his teeth, too.”

“Does he try and give you sloppy kisses?”

“All the time.”

Sally grinned at Max. He lifted his head and his brown doggy eyes crinkled at the corners. It was almost as if he was sharing a secret joke with her. They’d been weekend buddies for the best part of six months before Todd came along. And even though Max was too big for her apartment, she missed his twinkly eyes and sweet, gentle nature.

“You’re too quiet. Should I be worried?” Todd asked.

Sally shook her head. “I was just thinking about Max and when he used to live with me. My apartment’s not the same without him.”

“You can come out here whenever you like.”

Sally wasn’t so sure that was a good idea. “Have you heard from the detective in New York?”

“No, not yet.” Todd walked quietly beside her. “I’m sorry for what’s happened.”

“You didn’t know they’d come after you.”

“I knew when I went to New York the last time that I was running out of options. I deliberately provoked Mitch and now he’s coming here.”

“You don’t know that.”

Todd picked up a stick and threw it into the air for Max. “He doesn’t like leaving things undone. Once the charges against him are official things will get bad, really fast.”

“It’s just as well I’ve got my personal bodyguards then, isn’t it?”

Todd’s face turned to stone. “Don’t underestimate what Mitch and his gang are capable of. They’ve already killed my wife and son.”

“I’m not underestimating them,” she said softly. “I don’t want them anywhere near me.”

Todd didn’t say anything. They kept walking, heading further into the grass and knee-high wildflowers growing everywhere. Before they’d walked another twenty feet, Max took off toward a clump of pine trees.

Todd called him back, but Sally knew it was a waste of time. She’d had to keep Max on a leash in town. He might be a big, gentle giant, but he knew how to put his legs into motion when he wanted to. Without any hesitation he’d launch himself after anything on four legs, ignoring her neighbor’s flower beds, cyclists, and cars.

“He’s probably stopped at the tree house.” Todd changed direction and veered off toward Max.

“Why does he like going there?”

“He’s got a thing for the rope ladder.”

Sally followed Todd. They ducked beneath the branches of the pine trees surrounding them. It was quiet, peaceful, and so much cooler in the shade of the trees. She took a deep breath and felt her shoulders relax. So much had happened today that she hadn’t had a chance to think too deeply about anything. And some things she didn’t want to think about at all.

Mitch Zambezi and his gang of thugs were one of the things she didn’t want to dwell on. As long as she was careful, the better off she’d be. She might have to rethink her head-in-the-sand strategy if he was responsible for the black truck that had been following her. But until she knew for sure, she wouldn’t let him worry her.

She smiled when she saw Max. He had his teeth wrapped around a motley piece of rope dangling from a tree. “That’s how you climb into the tree house?”

“It does the job.”

Sally watched Max play his game of tug-of-war. The ladder didn’t look strong enough to withstand the doggy slobber coating it, let alone the jaw clamped tight around it. She walked closer to Max and looked up into the trees. “If it weren't for Max, I never would have known the tree house was up here.”

“You’re not the only one. I only saw it after I’d been living here for a year. Carolyn’s family must have built it years ago. It’s so old that most of the boards have warped and twisted as the tree’s grown.”

“Is it safe to climb up and have a look?”

“You’d have to fight Max for the rope, first.” Todd’s gaze wandered down her body, from the top of her hay infested head, to the tip of her dirty blue sneakers. “I don’t know if I’d trust the ladder to hold you.”

Sally pulled her shoulders back and sucked her tummy in tight. “Are you telling me I’m too heavy?”

A smile lit Todd’s eyes. “No, I’m telling you the rope is old and could snap. There’s nothing wrong with your weight.”

That was the most uninspiring thing anyone had ever said to her. She’d never been a beanpole, but she wasn’t exactly a butterball, either. She worked out at the gym three mornings a week. She ran in the annual Huffing for Stuffing Thanksgiving Day race and walked more dogs than she could count each weekend.

“You’re tilting your nose in the air again.”

“Maybe I’ve got a reason to.”

Todd frowned. “I don’t know what the problem is.”

“The problem,” Sally said very clearly, “is that I can do anything anyone else can do. You don’t need to be skinny to climb into a tree house.”

Todd looked genuinely confused. “The rope is old. What’s wrong with saying it could snap?”

“Nothing. As long as you’re not equating the weight-bearing capacity of the ladder to the width of my hips.”

Todd looked down at her hips and blushed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Max barked and Sally turned toward him. He’d lost interest in the rope and had a wooden stick between his teeth. He ran to Todd and sat down in front of him. “It looks as though Max is ready for a game of chase the stick.”

The stick in Max’s mouth landed on the ground. He stared at Todd with a mixture of excitement and adoration plastered across his face.

Todd picked up the stick. He threw it as far as it would go beneath the canopy of the trees. Max took off at a million miles an hour, thundering through the undergrowth like a bullet train.

“You can climb the ladder now.” Todd glanced across at her.

Sally looked at the slimy rope. It was tatty and frayed, and possibly every bit as fragile as Todd had said. Even though most of the footholds were still there, she didn’t feel inclined to risk her neck. Not when Todd was watching, anyway.

“I’ve changed my mind,” Sally said quickly. “I’ll try it another day.”

A smile tugged at the corner of Todd’s mouth. “We’d better follow Max, then.”

With one last look at the tree house, Sally started walking across the field. Next time she was here, she’d definitely climb the ladder. She was far too competitive not to at least try, and too proud to let Todd know that he could be right.

CHAPTER SIX

“I’m not happy.”

Todd didn’t say anything to Detective Munroe’s calm observation. He wasn’t happy either, but that wouldn’t change anything. After three years of following Mitch’s progress around New York, nothing much surprised him.

The driver of the truck that had followed Sally was now free to do whatever he wanted. After spending the night in a cell, he’d walked out of the Bozeman Police Department with a cocky smile on his face. His lawyer had defended the driver’s actions, telling the police that his client was innocent of any wrongdoing.

Innocent, my ass, Todd thought. The guy had practically stalked Sally for more than a week. It was just another reason why he’d grown to loathe the power that came with money. Someone like Mitch Zambezi could buy people’s silence, cultivate associations until they had more dirt on you than anyone knew what to do with. Knowledge was power, and in Mitch Zambezi’s world, no one was more powerful than him.