will teach him something,” Keely said, but she didn’t sound convinced.
“Don’t look for miracles,” Boone advised. “With lawbreakers, they rarely happen.”
“Like you know,” Hayes drawled from under the hat. He crossed his long legs.
There was the sound of another car arriving. A car door slammed. Voices murmured. Another sound of footsteps, but these were soft and quick and almost undetectable.
Kilraven poised in the doorway, staring. “Well, if that isn’t just like county law enforcement,” he muttered. “Walk out in the middle of an interrogation and leave the hard work to the local law!”
“Shut up, Kilraven,” Hayes said pleasantly. “I haven’t slept since night before last.”
“Like I have!” Kilraven shot back. He scowled. He shrugged. “Hell, maybe you’re right. A little rest might perk us all up. Hi, Keely,” he greeted as he sank down onto the foot of the bed and sprawled across it at Hayes’s booted feet. “Say, this is a really soft bed,” he mused, closing his own eyes.
There were other footsteps. “Isn’t anybody coming down for breakfast…?”
Winnie stood in the doorway, absolutely dumbstruck. There were four people in the bed. Two of them were in uniform.
“I’m not bringing trays up here,” she announced. “Anybody who wants breakfast has to come downstairs and get it.” She grinned. “There’s enough for company, too.”
“Are we company?” Hayes asked drowsily.
“Apparently,” Kilraven replied.
“I suppose we all have to get up.” Hayes sighed.
“It is my bed,” Boone pointed out. “And Keely and I were here first.”
Hayes sat up. He frowned. “What are you doing in bed with Keely?”
He produced the revolver from his pocket.
“Gun!” Kilraven exclaimed.
Boone just shook his head and laughed.
* * *
THE GUESTS STAYED for breakfast and then went on their way. Kilraven was giving Winnie an odd look. She was subdued with him now. It was as if all the joy and bubbly fun had gone out of her forever. She knew there was no chance that he’d ever care for her in any permanent way, and she wasn’t the sort for temporary liaisons. It broke her heart.
Kilraven tried to catch her eye as he and Hayes headed out the front door, but she wouldn’t look at him. She said goodbye in a perfectly natural, pleasant tone and went back to the table. Kilraven was frowning when he left.
“Don’t you have a meeting with some visiting cattlemen today?” Winnie asked Boone.
“Yes, for a couple of hours. They want to see our artificial insemination labs.”
“I have to get to work,” Winnie said reluctantly. She glanced at Keely. “Clark’s already gone up to Dallas for a meeting with some investors, and Mrs. Johnston’s gone shopping.”
“Bailey will protect me,” she told them, reaching down to pet the old dog.
“You won’t need protecting now,” Boone said gently. “Your father and Jock are safely behind bars at the detention center in San Antonio. They don’t lose prisoners.”
“So we hear,” Winnie had to agree. “Make sure you keep the doors locked,” she cautioned Keely.
“Of course I will,” she said, smiling. “Don’t worry. I survived a rattlesnake bite.”
“You’re tough all right,” Winnie had to admit. “I’ll be back as soon as I get off work. Take care.”
“You, too,” Keely said gently.
Winnie bent to kiss her and Boone before she left for her job. She managed to hide her heartbreak from them. She didn’t want to spoil their joy in each other.
* * *
THE HOUSE WAS very quiet, with only the two of them in it, both still in their pajamas. Boone looked at Keely with an expression she’d never seen on his face before. He got up slowly, pulled out her chair, swung her up into his arms and started for the staircase.
“Time for dessert,” he whispered, bending to her mouth.
“It was breakfast. You don’t have dessert with breakfast.”
“Yes, we do.”
He kissed her hungrily. After a few seconds, Keely forgot her protests, wrapped her good arm around his neck and kissed him back with enthusiasm. He laughed softly at her innocent eagerness, and proceeded to teach her the proper technique. By the time they got back to his room, she was ready for promotion to the next level.
He put her down long enough to close and lock the door. His high cheekbones were faintly flushed with the force of his desire. “It’s been years,” he bit off, his dark eyes blazing down into hers. “I want you.”
She was breathless, frightened, exhilarated, all at once. But those old scruples were grinding away at her.
“I know,” he said softly. “You want to wait for a ceremony. That’s weeks away.”