Part 38 (1/2)

The hard line of Steven's shoulders seemed to soften slightly. ”Okay,” he said. And he glanced toward the window again.

Who was he looking for?

Melissa didn't get the opportunity to ask until the meal was over and the dishes had been put away and everybody was ready to head into town, including Tom.

And by then, she'd forgotten she'd had a question in the first place.

STEVEN WAITED in Melissa's living room while she disappeared to exchange Kim's clothes for an outfit of her own. She returned looking five kinds of wonderful in black jeans that fit her only slightly more loosely than a second skin, and a blouse just like the peach one she'd had on the day before, except that it was turquoise. And not soaked in blood. in Melissa's living room while she disappeared to exchange Kim's clothes for an outfit of her own. She returned looking five kinds of wonderful in black jeans that fit her only slightly more loosely than a second skin, and a blouse just like the peach one she'd had on the day before, except that it was turquoise. And not soaked in blood.

To complete the look, she'd pulled on a pair of superfancy boots, also turquoise, and decorated with s.h.i.+ning silver conchos and a few rhinestones for good measure.

”Wow,” Steven said. She wouldn't be mucking out any stalls in those boots, that was for sure.

”The last time I wore these,” Melissa replied, ”I was Queen of Stone Creek Rodeo Days.”

Steven cleared his throat. ”They've held up well,” he said, sliding his gaze upward from the boots, past all the hidden places where he'd touched and kissed her in bed that morning, until he reached her face. ”And so have you.”

She laughed. ”Nice save,” she said.

Steven s.h.i.+fted. ”We can do this, can't we?” he asked.

Melissa crossed to him, slipped her arms around his waist, stood on tiptoe to kiss the cleft in his chin. ”Do what?” she countered softly, her eyes twinkly and warm.

For a moment, he felt as though he might tumble right into those eyes, and fall end over end, forever.

”Make it work,” Steven said. ”You. Me. Us.”

”We can make it work,” Melissa confirmed gently, splaying her hands over his shoulder blades now. ”All we have to do is keep trying, Steven. If we give things time, and we don't give up, we'll be fine.”

He smiled, bent his head to nibble at her lips. ”Spoken like someone who comes from st.u.r.dy pioneer stock,” he teased.

”Just like you do,” she breathed, against his mouth.

”We could be a little late for the rodeo,” he suggested.

”What rodeo?” Melissa asked.

At that, Steven scooped her up in his arms and carried her to bed.

MELISSA COULDN'T STOP SMILING, which was crazy, since she'd nearly been killed the night before, in the Stop & Shop. Steven's lovemaking, in his bed and later in hers, had left her feeling as though every step she took was part of a dance.

Was it a risk, letting herself love a man so completely?

Of course it was. But, just as Steven said, she was descended from pioneers, people like Sam and Maddie O'Ballivan, and generations as strong as they were. They hadn't been afraid to open their hearts to that special person, and Melissa wasn't, either.

Nor were Brad and Meg. Or Olivia and Tanner. Or Ashley and Jack.

All of whom, as it happened, were sitting in the same part of the bleachers as Davis and Kim and Matt when Steven and Melissa arrived, holding hands. Matt, in fact, was playing chase with Mac, in the aisle between rows of seats, waiting out the lull between events.

Olivia, Ashley and Meg were immediately on their booted feet, rus.h.i.+ng Melissa, each of them hugging her in turn, all of them crying and saying over and over again how glad they were that she was safe.

The men, Melissa noticed, despite the onslaught of sisterly love, just shook their heads.

When the emcee announced the bareback bronc-riding event, they all returned to their seats. Brody was competing in this round.

Or was he? Melissa blinked at the man coming up the aisle, his hat in one hand, a grin spreading across his handsome face. He looked exactly like Brody.

But he wasn't.

Melissa felt Steven stiffen beside her.

The stands were packed, and a roar went up as the emcee announced the first rider. ”We have an out-of-towner with us today, folks,” the familiar voice boomed out, over the loudspeakers. ”Let's hear a real Stone Creek welcome for #32, Brody Creed, out of Lonesome Bend, Colorado!”

The roar intensified.

Melissa missed the whole eight seconds of Brody's ride, because she couldn't tear her eyes away from the man in the aisle.

Not a vestige of his grin remained, and his hands were clenched into fists at his sides.

”Uh-oh,” Davis said, low. Then, by some tacit agreement, he and Steven both got to their feet.

”Who is is that?” Melissa asked Matt, who had stationed himself in her lap. that?” Melissa asked Matt, who had stationed himself in her lap.

”That's Conner,” Matt said. ”Him and Brody are twins, just like you and your sister. Only they're the kind that look alike.”

Conner, his face hard with anger, looked at Davis and Steven and turned to head back down the aisle.

Melissa looked to Kim, and saw that the other woman was worried.

Davis and Steven followed Conner, and soon, all three of them were out of sight.

”What's going on?” Melissa asked Steven's stepmother.

”World War III, probably,” Kim answered, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes, despite her serious expression. On some level, she was pleased pleased by this development. by this development.

”Are we just going to sit here?” Melissa asked, fretful.

”Yes,” Kim replied firmly. ”For Matt's sake, if no one else's.”

”Where did Dad and Grandpa go?” Matt asked.

”They're getting hot dogs,” Kim said, without missing a beat.

Melissa looked at her in surprise.