Shane's Burden Read online

  She raised her hand to swipe across her face when a shadow passed over her. Squinting, she opened her eyes to find a grinning face staring down at her.

  It hadn’t been a dream. Shane was still here, and as handsome as ever. Probably more handsome, with his unshaven face and disheveled dark hair.

  “Did you sleep well?” he drawled. His eyes wandered over her face. They still held the same intense stare as they had the night before, when he’d found her, and when he’d first kissed her – and, when he’d told her he thought he was in love with her.

  “I think I like my bed at home better.”

  Alley rubbed at the sore spot on her thigh where the sharp rock had jabbed her seconds ago.

  “If we get going soon, we won’t have to spend another night out here. Although, I don’t think I’d mind it at all if we did.”

  He leaned down and held out his hand. Alley took it and allowed him to pull her to her feet. Rather than letting go, Shane reached for her waist with his other hand and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close.

  “How’s the foot?” he murmured close to her ear, right before his lips sought hers.

  Alley’s arms snaked around his neck of their own will. Her limbs went weak and she would have sunk back to the ground if Shane hadn’t been holding her up. His kiss was tender, yet possessive; reserved, while at the same time coaxing a response from her. Alley’s heart exploded with a feeling of elation, hope, a sense of belonging . . . and love.

  The last twenty-four hours had been almost surreal. When she’d returned to Burnt River weeks ago, she’d never thought about staying. She hadn’t thought about her high school years, except for Mr. Weiker and what he’d meant to her. She’d certainly not thought about Shane, that is, until she’d walked into the diner that day and had come face-to-face with him. Her world hadn’t been the same since.

  A part of her was still the insecure, apprehensive girl, too shy to do anything to get noticed. Even so, now that they were both older, Shane had clearly noticed her, and it felt nice. And, she was falling more in love with him with every minute that passed.

  He’d held her in his arms, and they’d talked long into the night about nothing, until she’d finally fallen asleep with her head on his chest. With his arms around her, and his confession that he might be in love with her, he’d stripped away her apprehension and most of her doubts. While her mind had screamed for her to tell him she loved him, too, she hadn’t been able to say the words out loud.

  Some small nagging remnant of doubt remained. Did he really mean it? No one had ever given her this much attention or tender care. Her Gramps, of course, but that was different. Dad had always been more reserved, too, probably because he was afraid of Mom, and Mom’s show of affection to her was only half-hearted praise for top grades in school, or in front of other people.

  “We’ll take it slow heading back,” Shane told her, swiping her messy hair from her face. “Gus is still sore, too. You two make a great pair.”

  “What about you? How are the ant bites?” Alley reached for his hand. The welts had gone down, but the blisters remained. It would probably be a few days before those were fully healed. “I can put some more cortisone cream on these.”

  “I’ll be okay until we get home.” Shane handed her a water bottle and a couple of pain pills. “But you take these. I can take a look at that bandage you let me wrap around your ankle, and make sure it hasn’t shifted in the night.”

  “You’re pretty good at wrapping legs.” Alley smiled.

  “A lifetime of wrapping horse legs, and you tend to get pretty good at it.” Shane winked, then leaned forward and kissed her again. “But I must say, I’ve never wrapped a leg quite as nice as yours before.”

  Alley dropped her gaze to the ground. Her cheeks flushed. She’d observed other couples flirt and tease each other, and it was definitely a new experience. Were she and Shane now a couple?

  “I’ll get Gus tacked up, but I’m afraid we’re all walking.”

  Alley stared at Shane, blinking away her thoughts of self-doubt. “Of course. I wouldn’t think of riding him with his injury.”

  “I tried to text Raine last night after you fell asleep to let her know where we were, but I’m not sure it went through. We’re too far away for service. No doubt she’s got the entire Burnt River police force out looking for us.”

  Twenty minutes later, Shane led Gus down the trail while Alley limped along beside the horse. He glanced at her with concern in his eyes.

  “If it gets too painful, I will put you on his back, but for now, try leaning against him for support.”

  Alley glared at him and shook her head. “I’m not riding a horse that’s got an injured foot.”

  Shane’s brows rose right before he grinned. “My offer of a piggy-back ride still stands, too.”

  “If I slow you down enough, I might take you up on that.” She offered a smile of her own. “But Gus might want to take a turn, too.”

  “He’s out of luck. He’s not as good-looking as you are.”

  Alley’s eyes remained on Shane’s back as they continued down the trail. Her foot ached with each step, but she was not going to say a word. Shane might just be crazy enough to insist that he carry her. They walked in silence for a while, until Shane stopped abruptly. They’d come out of the woods and into a clearing, and he looked up at the sky.

  He glanced over his shoulder. “Do you hear that?”

  Alley strained her ears, tilting her head slightly. “Is that a helicopter?”

  Shane grinned. “It sure is. And I bet they’re looking for us.”

  Not a minute later, a helicopter came into view. Shane waved his arms in the air, and Alley followed his example. The helicopter circled a few times overhead, then found a wide place to land. When a man ducked out, Shane handed Alley the reins to Gus, then ran toward the machine. He and Shane shook hands and talked for a few minutes, then someone else left the helicopter and followed Shane back to Alley.

  “Let’s go. We’re getting a ride.” Shane reached for her hand. “Jim is going to start walking Gus back to the ranch. There are a few wranglers coming to pick them up.”

  The helicopter ride back to Taggart Ranch took only about ten minutes. Del Macklin, Burnt River’s sheriff, sat in the front with the pilot.

  “Raine called me last evening and wouldn’t stop harassing me until I promised to send out a search party for you, and that I needed to lead it myself. She got your text, Shane, but she wanted me to find you last night. I told her there’s no way I was going to send up a chopper at night, and we didn’t know your exact location. Especially since you said you were fine.”

  Shane grinned. He wrapped his arm around Alley and tugged her close to him on the narrow seats. “Thanks, Del. I appreciate you letting me stay out. It was the best night of my life.”

  Del glanced at Alley. A knowing smile spread across his lips. “Glad to oblige.”

  The helicopter landed in one of the pastures close to the house, and once Shane had helped Alley out of the noisy machine, he scooped her up in his arms and ducked out from under the helicopter blades whirring overhead. Surprised, Alley wrapped her arms around his neck for support.

  “Shane, I can walk.”

  “Your limp was getting worse before we got picked up.” His look at her was serious for once. “Don’t argue with me.”

  Raine ran toward them, waving her hands in the air and yelling unintelligibly over the sound of the helicopter behind them.

  “Are you ready for my sister?” Shane whispered in her ear.

  “I already know your sister.”

  “But she doesn’t know that you and I . . . never mind. She’ll have figured it out by now.”

  Raine met them halfway to the house. Her eyes darted between her brother and Alley, and a smug smile formed on her face.

  “I thought there was something going on when Shane started spending more and more time away from the ranch. I had my suspicions.”

 
“You should spend more time on your own social life, Raine, and stop worrying about mine,” Shane grumbled, but winked at his sister. “And open the door so I can get Alley inside.”

  Raine opened the double-wide glass doors at the back of the house. They led into a spacious, high-ceilinged living room, furnished with expensive-looking leather chairs and a couch, and ornately carved wooden furniture that looked to be priceless antiques. A large river-rock fireplace graced one side of the room, with photographs of children lining the split-log mantel.

  Shane placed Alley on one of the recliners, pushing the seat back to elevate her leg.

  “You don’t have to make such a fuss, Shane. I’ll be fine,” Alley whispered. Self-conscious of sitting on such expensive furniture in her dirty clothes, she leaned forward to get up. Shane prevented her from standing by pushing against her shoulders.

  “What happened out there?” Raine glanced at Alley’s leg. The bandage Shane had wrapped around her ankle was clearly visible.

  “I’m far better off than your brother. He should be checked out by a doctor.” Alley smiled smugly at Shane when he frowned and shook his head at her as a signal not to elaborate.

  “It appears that Shane is allergic to fire ants,” Alley continued. There was no way she was going to keep his potentially deadly episode a secret from his sister. “I’m so glad you packed epinephrine in the first aid kit, or he would have been in serious trouble.”

  Raine stared, wide-eyed, at her brother. “You had a reaction that required epi?” The fear and concern was evident on her face and in her voice.

  “Thanks to you,” he looked first at his sister, then at Alley, “and to you, I survived.”

  “I’m allergic to bees. I always carry epi wherever I go. I almost didn’t pack it when you asked me to put together a first aid kit at the last minute. I think you both need to see a doctor and get checked out, to make sure you’re all right.”

  “I’m fine,” Alley said at the same time Shane protested.

  Raine pulled her phone from her back pocket. “I’m calling Dr. Stone. He has a clinic in town, but he does house calls. He’s come by to see mom before, and I can tell you two are both too stubborn to take my advice and drive yourselves to the doctor.”

  While they waited for the doctor to arrive, Shane called Gramps to let him know that everything was well, and asked him to come to Taggart Ranch. Raine had already informed Gramps earlier that they’d been found and were on their way to Shane’s home.

  “What exactly happened, Alley?” Raine asked as she offered Alley a cup of tea.

  “My horse, Harley, spooked at something. I think an insect landed on his face and it bothered him. He kept tossing his head, and then one of my reins broke. I lost my balance and fell, and that silly horse kept running.”

  Shane sat next to her, sipping a cup of coffee. He put his arm around her shoulder. “I think the insects must have been conspiring against us,” he whispered, but loud enough for Raine to hear.

  “Or conspiring for you?” his sister said, laughing. She patted her brother on the arm. “I’m going to fix lunch. You two look like you need it, after you get cleaned up.”

  Dr. Blake Stone arrived soon after and confirmed that neither of them had serious injuries, and gave some instructions to make them more comfortable. Once the doctor had left, Shane went to take a shower.

  Raine invited Alley to use her bathroom to shower as well, and gave her some clean clothes to wear. They fit a little snug in places, but Alley brushed off her old insecurities when Shane pulled her into his arms and murmured in her ear that she looked good in tight clothes.

  Gramps arrived, and he swept Alley into a bear hug.

  “Don’t you ever do that again, young lady,” he chided, swiping a hand under his nose. “Galloping off and scaring an old man half to death.”

  “I promise, Gramps.”

  Raine called everyone to eat, and Shane led Alley into the dining room, steering her to the woman in a wheelchair.

  “I want you to meet my mother, Alley.” He squeezed her hand. Kneeling in front of his mother, he said, “Mom, I want you to meet Allison Cramer. She’s become very special to me.”

  Alley blinked rapidly. The tender tone he used to address his mom brought tears to her eyes. The woman slowly raised her head. Although her eyes seemed unfocused, she raised a trembling hand, and it almost looked as if she tried to smile.

  “I’m so happy to meet you, Mrs. Taggart.”

  Alley knelt beside Shane, and took the woman’s hand in hers. She produced some incoherent sounds.

  “She’s trying to say that she’s glad to meet you, and happy that you’re here,” Shane whispered.

  His mother had the same dark hair as her sons, and traces of a beautiful woman still showed on her face, but the stroke she’d suffered had also taken its toll on her. Alley’s heart swelled with renewed love for the man who knelt beside her, and the tremendous sacrifices he made for his family.

  All too soon, the day was over, and Gramps suggested it was time to head home. He waited in the truck while Shane pulled Alley into his arms on the front porch.

  “I know tomorrow’s my other day off, but I’d like to drop by and see how you’re doing.” He leaned forward and kissed her. Feeling self-conscious for only a second, Alley wrapped her arms around his back.

  “We’ll have to get Red back to the farm, too,” she whispered.

  “Let me worry about that.” Shane pressed a kiss to her forehead. He smiled at her. “I’m glad that horse ran away. I’m not so happy that you fell off your horse, but I’ll never forget our adventure out in the woods.”

  “Neither will I.”

  “I don’t think I can top that as a first date, but I’ll think of something to make up for it, if you’ll agree to go out with me.”

  Alley nodded. “I’d like that.”

  “I meant what I said out there in the mountains, Alley. I love you.”

  Had he read the doubt in her eyes? She shook her head. This was the present, not her childhood, where nothing good ever happened to her. Shane cared for her. He loved her. And she –

  “I love you, too, Shane.”

  He stared at her, the dim porch light reminiscent of the fire that had shone in his eyes the night before. He’d looked disappointed when she hadn’t returned the sentiment the night before, but now, a smile spread across his face. Alley reached out to cup his cheek. “I love you, Shane Taggart” It was easier to say the second time.

  Shane crushed her to him and kissed her again, holding her as if he was afraid to let go. When the old truck’s horn honked, he reluctantly pulled away.

  “Guess I’d better let you go.”

  Alley nodded. “Gramps has a shot gun in that truck.”

  “And I bet he’d use it, too.” He grinned, then walked her to the truck, opening the door for her. “If it’s all right, Henry, I’ll be by tomorrow to call on your granddaughter.”

  Gramps simply nodded, but even the darkness couldn’t conceal the smile he wore. Alley settled into the seat as the truck rolled away from Taggart Ranch. It seemed off, being separated from Shane after spending the night with him in the woods. She mentally shook her head as she stared out the window into the darkness. There was no sense rushing anything. He’d said he loved her, and she’d had the courage to say it back.

  “I’m glad you’re all right, Alley. If anything ever happened to you –” Gramps broke the silence once they got to the house.

  Alley reached her hand out to touch his arm. “Nothing happened, Gramps. I’m fine, and nothing else will happen.”

  “You’ve been working too hard, and I don’t want you getting hurt.”

  “But it’s what I enjoy. Please, stop worrying about me.”

  He nodded and held her hand as she limped up the porch and into the dark house. She was home. This place was a shack compared to Shane’s house.

  Alley kissed her grandpa goodnight, then closed the door to her room. She stepped to the wi
ndow to stare out into the darkness, toward the ranch that was somewhere over the hills, where she’d left her heart. She smiled. Shane Taggart had noticed her. He loved her. It was a surreal feeling, as if she was getting a do-over from all those years ago, and her dreams were finally falling into place.

  Her cellphone buzzed in her back pocket. Alley grabbed it and stared at the display. Her heart pounded with apprehension. Her thumb hovered over the “answer call” button. Drawing in a deep breath, she tapped the button, then held the phone to her head.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  Chapter 15

  “I wish she would just leave me alone. She has a new husband and the life she supposedly always wanted. Why does she insist on interfering in mine?”

  Shane held Alley in his arms. Where Alley’s relationship with her mother was concerned, there wasn’t a lot he could do, other than offer his quiet support. Clearly, Alley’s wounds ran deep. When he’d come to Cramer Farm the morning after their return from a night out in the mountains, Alley had been visibly upset. She hadn’t wanted to talk in front of her grandpa, but she’d told Shane that her mother had called, asking where she was, since no one had heard from her in Boston.

  A week had passed, and Alley was still upset, especially since she’d talked to her mother on the phone twice more.

  “She knows how to get under your skin, that’s for sure.” Shane kissed the top of her head. He chuckled. “She clearly isn’t used to you giving her a piece of your mind. I’m proud of you.”

  “I thought I had made it clear when she called out of the blue the first time that I was going to stay in Burnt River,” Alley huffed.

  “You’re an adult woman. You can do what you want. She can’t make you go back to New York any more than I can tell you to stay here.”

  Alley stiffened in his arms. She raised her head to stare up at him. Her eyes were blood-shot and flooded with tears. Shane offered a grin.

  “I love you, Alley. If you want to pursue your doctorate degree, there’s no one here to stop you, you know that, right? I would never hold you back from anything you want to achieve. If you want to go back to Boston, I’ll wait for you.”