Shoulda Been A Cowboy (40 page)

That was weird. Didn't he expect to be around
then?

Maybe you won't be once you tell him the truth.

“
Do we have everything?”

“
I guess.” Cam caught her staring at his
pants. “What?”

“
I've never seen you wear those.” His
baggy dark khaki pants appeared to be made out of shiny, lightweight
parachute material, with cargo pockets everywhere and elastic bands
at the knees and ankles. “Are they new?”

He snorted. “Hell no, they're old. I
couldn't face wearing jeans today, sweats are too casual and
every other pair of pants is in the hamper, so this is what was
left.”

“
I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to
do laundry this week. I'm slacking on all sorts of wifely
duties.”

Cam tipped her chin up. “I didn't marry you
so you could wash my clothes, Domini.”

No, you married me because you're selfless,
perfect and a good man.

He pecked her on the mouth. “Let's go before
I find another reason to stay.”

“
Another?”

“
Tyin' you to the bed and keepin' you
there all day is mighty tempting.”

Outside, Anton was already in the truck bed with Gracie.

“
Come on, hop in the front,” Domini said.

“
Aw, do I have to? Everybody rides in the back of
pickups with their dogs.”

“
Everybody except for you.”

Anton turned his puppy dog eyes to Cam.

Cam shrugged. “I don't see the big deal.
It's only ten miles.”

“
In the back of a bouncy pickup on a gravel road!”

“
So he'll be dusty. He won't be the
only one.”

“
Ky rides in the back of Cord's truck all
the time,” Anton added.

“
We all did. We all turned out fine.”

She knew she was outnumbered. And when she really
thought about it, they'd been siding together a lot in the last
week. “All right. But you stay down. No hanging off the side, I
mean it.”

“
I promise.”

Domini couldn't help but turn round every couple
of minutes to check on Anton.

“
Stop worrying. He's happier than a pig in
shit,” Cam drawled. He plucked up her hand from the middle seat
and kissed her knuckles. “Is the honeymoon over? We've
only been married two months and you're not sitting close to me
in the truck anymore.”

She scooted closer. “Better?”

“
Much. I'm always better with you by my
side.”

A sigh of contentment drifted out. She rested her head
on Cam's shoulder. He draped his arm across the back of the
seat and lightly stroked the outside of her arm. Sometimes the
silences between them were more revealing than words.

Vehicles crowded the yard at the Carson McKay ranch.
Kids and dogs ran everywhere. With all the questions they'd be
facing about future kids, she wished she'd talked to Cam before
they'd left home.

Anton beat on the window. “Can I get out now?”

“
Go ahead.”

Suddenly shy, Domini kept a death grip on Cam's
hand as they wended through the chairs and tables.

Carolyn McKay hopped up the instant she saw them.

Because Domini's schedule and Cam's
schedules hadn't meshed, they'd missed out on all the
McKay family dinners in the last two months, so this was Domini's
first official family function as Cam's wife.

“
Cam! Sweetie, it's good to see you.”

“
Hey, Ma.”

She hugged him for a long time. Then she hugged Domini.
“It's good to see you too, Domini. I heard you've
been under the weather.”

“
She's anemic, which makes her tired. She's
taking heavy duty iron.”

“
Oh, you poor thing!” Carolyn said. “What
can I do?”

“
Don't be upset if we leave early. I have to
take her home and get her back in bed.”

“
Spoken like a true McKay man,” Keely said.

Domini blushed.

“
I hope you'll stick around for a little
while,” Carolyn said. “I hardly get to see you. I've
thought about doin' something wild to get myself arrested by
you, just so we'd have time to chat.”

“
Great plan, Ma.”

“
You are welcome to stop by our house anytime,”
Domini offered.

Carolyn gave her a puzzled look, almost as if she didn't
believe Domini's invitation. Not that Domini blamed her. Cam
wasn't known for his hospitality and Carolyn probably assumed
Domini was the same way, especially since she and Cam had little to
do with his parents since they'd gotten married.

A herd of boys, ranging in age from eight to three,
barreled up. Domini was happy to see Anton in the thick of things.

“
Grama, can we please have some cookies? We're
starvin',” Ky pleaded.

“
Of course, I can't have poor starving kids
runnin' around. What would the neighbors think? I left the
cookie jar on the back porch.”

A chorus of “Thanks!” broke out. Boots
thumped, dust kicked up and dogs barked as the group tore off.

“
Cookies? Before lunch?” Cam mock-chided.
“You're getting soft. You never would've let us
have cookies that early.”

“
Grandbabies are different. I can sugar them up
and send them home with their parents.” Carolyn strolled off
when Kimi McKay shouted for her.

“
Come on, let's make the rounds so we can
leave right after lunch,” Cam murmured.

The first people they approached were India and Skylar.
India swayed with a blanketed bundle tucked against her body. A
toddler with auburn ringlets was cocked on Skylar's hip. Colt
stood behind India talking to Kade, who also had a toddler clinging
to him. Cam released her hand and moved between his brother and
cousin.

India smiled. “We didn't know if you guys
would make it. Anton is off running with the boys?”

“
And girl,” Skylar said dryly. “I
don't know why Eliza is so determined to keep up with her boy
cousins.”

“
Because she
is
a girl, that's why. I remember it well.” Keely snuck in
the group and held her hands out. “Shannie, come with Aunt
Keely and we'll go see what the pack is up to.”

Shannie practically jumped into Keely's arms.

Domini wasn't surprised when India and Skylar's
discussion returned to business. “It pisses me off she had to
go looking for work at all.”

“
Carolyn didn't invite Casper and Joan, did
she?”

“
No. I know she invited Jessie. I don't know
about Tell and Dalton. But if Jessie shows up Brandt will probably be
with her. I'm so glad they're helping each other through
this.”

Domini didn't have a clue what they were talking
about. Should she ask? If she didn't would they think she
didn't give a damn about Cam's family?

Skylar must've sensed her curiosity. “Sorry.
I don't know if Cam told you about what happened with Jessie
after Luke's funeral?”

She shook her head.

“
Casper kicked Jessie out of the trailer she'd
shared with Luke and he told her she had no financial claim on any
part of the McKay Ranch and she was on her own.”

“
No.”

“
Afraid so. Jessie had nowhere to live, no job, no
place for her horses or her llamas. Poor girl. Her dad is still
chasing the rodeo circuit. Her mom has remarried and is living on the
Shoshone reservation with her new husband.”

“
If she needs a job I could always use extra help
at Dewey's—”

Skylar squeezed her arm. “You are such a sweetie,
Domini, to offer. I needed to hire someone to replace Nadia, so
Jessie is working for me at Sky Blue. Brandt tracked down a rental
place outside of Moorcroft with a small pasture so she's kept
her animals.”

“
That is so awful. I didn't know.”
Domini wondered why Cam hadn't told her. Wouldn't that be
something you'd tell your spouse?

Like you have any right to judge him on keeping
secrets.

“
Cam keeps to himself and generally stays out of
family—I mean ranch—business. Anyway, Casper's
behavior caused another big rift with the McKay families. Even
Casper's sons are pissed off at him. So in addition to losing
their brother…”

Hudson fussed and Colt was right there. “I'll
take him.”

India handed the baby over, but followed Colt to the
house anyway.

Skylar sighed. “My sister is absolutely smitten
with her son. She's as bad as Chassie was.”

“
Did someone say my name?” Chassie inquired
sweetly behind Skylar.

Domini and Skylar turned.

Chassie shifted her roly-poly baby boy from one hip to
the next. One chubby hand gripped Chassie's long braid.
“Westin, honey, let go of mama's hair.”

He cooed, blinked enormous hazel eyes and blew a big
spit bubble.

“
Blowing me kisses won't charm me, buddy
boy.” She kissed the top of his blond head and attempted to pry
his fingers off her braid.

“
Need some help?” Domini asked.

“
It'd be great if you'd distract him.”

Domini made goofy faces. Poked his round belly until he
giggled while Chassie freed her hair.

“
Thanks.” She smooched Westin's plump
cheek. “You should show Domini how good you are at giving
kisses.”

“
I'll take a kiss,” she said, leaning
in. She caught a whiff of powdery baby smell as Westin's cool
mouth connected with her cheek, leaving a drooly wet mark. She
laughed and looked up to see Cam staring at her.

The soft, wistful look in his eyes caused her to break
eye contact. Caused her stomach to lurch with dread. Caused an
immense amount of guilt.

Skylar said, “I haven't been into Dewey's
in ages. It's a nightmare to take three kids to a restaurant.”

“
Not much has changed.”

Westin wiggled in Chassie's arms. When she shifted
her hold, he arched his back and protested loudly.

“
I am not putting you down, so stop fussing.”
Chassie flicked her hair aside as Westin tried to snatch it again.
“He's already trying to walk. It's driving me
nuts.”

“
You want them to walk and you don't realize
how easy you had it when they weren't walking.” Skylar
smiled. “We weren't anxious for Peyton and Shannie to
start walking at all, after dealing with Eliza, the pink tornado.”

Westin pushed on Chassie's chest and attempted to
either throw himself to the ground, or shinny down her body. When
neither option worked, he wailed with full lung power.

“
Look at what you've done now with that
caterwauling. Daddies are gonna come running.”

Sure enough, Trevor and Edgard were both there
instantly.

“
What's wrong?” Trevor said as Westin
dove into his arms.

Edgard rubbed Westin's back. “He sounds
tired.”

“
He's mad because I won't let him roll
in the dirt.”

“
Shoot, Chass, boys get dirty. He just wants to be
runnin' with his cousins.”

Chassie rolled her eyes at Edgard.

The dinner bell clanked.

“
I should track down Anton and make sure he eats
something besides cookies,” Domini said.

Cam's hands landed on her shoulders. “Let
him be. I'm sure he's havin' a great time. Plus, I
need to make sure
you
eat.”

When Domini and Cam were in the food line, she felt
guilty seeing Macie, Keely and AJ running around behind the serving
tables helping Carolyn.

“
I recognize that guilty look, princess,”
Cam murmured. “Next time, when you're feeling better, I'm
sure Ma would appreciate your help.”

Sometimes it amazed her how well Cam read her.

The kids got in line. Red faced, sweaty, dirty. Carolyn
kicked them out of line and sent them to the pump to wash up. Grama
ruled the clan with a velvet fist.

She turned to follow Anton's blond head in the
crowd of dark-headed boys and found herself looking into Carson
McKay's face. Into blue eyes identical to Cam's. Uncanny,
how all Carson's offspring had his eyes. He gave her a dimpled,
charming smile. “We're glad to have you here, Domini.”

“
Thanks.”

Carson cocked his head at Cam, who towered over his dad
by a good five inches. “Son, I understand you and Domini just
got married, and you're figurin' out how to be parents
and balance your jobs. But your mother and I sure would like to get
to know your new family.”