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3
Ian
Ian trudged up the steps to his family home. The place had been home to five generations of Bakers. His family had been the largest so far, but there was plenty of space. In fact, if every one of his brothers got married and chose to live at Cedar Hollow, there would be enough space for all of them. Perhaps not in the same house, but who would want to live with his obnoxiously opinionated brothers anyway?
His arm ached. But like any injury, he’d work through it. He gingerly put pressure on his wound with his palm and winced. At least it didn’t appear to have hit anything important.
Jessica’s light footsteps followed him up the steps, dragging him from his misery. Despite what they’d both been through, she was handling everything incredibly well. She was a lot stronger than he’d realized. Though it didn’t surprise him. He always knew there was something special about her.
His hand rested on the cold door handle. It was already the end of June, but that didn’t mean it would ever get overly hot. It was always cooler in the mountains. They even got fewer daylight hours due to all the trees that surrounded them. Every one of his brothers would still be up and willing to offer their opinion on what had transpired just over an hour ago. Ian should have called first to warn his mother. She was the only person that could keep them in check.
This was probably a bad idea. He really shouldn’t have brought her here. Yes, he’d wanted to keep her safe, but a small part of him had hoped that something might happen between them, given the chance. Oh, how incredibly naive that thought was now.
Ian shook his head and pressed the lever on the handle before pushing the door open. He stepped aside and allowed Jessica to enter. He stared out into the darkness in the direction of the road. No headlights appeared. No sign they’d been followed.
Breathing a sigh of relief, he entered his home and shut the door behind him. The entry was dim. Their front rooms were for entertaining guests. They were filled with nice furniture and antiques from earlier generations. The whole space was a bit too stuffy if you asked him.
Ian took off his cowboy hat and gestured down a hall that glowed at the end. “Everyone is probably in the family room.”
Jessica’s eyes seemed to bounce from one thing to the next. From the sitting room to the high ceilings, and even to the large kitchen they passed as they headed toward the light. “Your place is nicer than the hotel in town. I didn’t even know places like this existed on this side of the pass.”
He lifted a shoulder. “It’s always just been home to me.”
The smell of pot roast lingered in the air, a sign that someone was home. Laughter and voices floated down the hallway. Ian paused right before they crossed the threshold to the living room and turned around. “Like I said, don’t pay any mind to what they might say. Their bark is worse than their bite.”
Jessica smiled. “You forget what I do for a living. I think I can handle a few cowboys.”
They moved into the room. His mother sat in a rocking chair by the fireplace, and his brothers lounged on various chairs surrounding an old, worn coffee table. The first one to notice him was his only older brother. Sean’s gaze bounced from him to Jessica and back. He didn’t draw any extra attention to them, just turned back to the conversation he was having with one of the twins. His dark eyes showed a hint of amusement but otherwise were as serious as ever. “I don’t care what youthinkyou heard, Finn. The Callahans won’t ever be interested in a merger with our ranch. They make far too much money on their own. If we want to find a partner out there, we’re going to have to look somewhere else.”
“I should have known you wouldn’t believe me. But I’m telling you, merging with the Callahans would be a win-win.” Finn folded his arms and shook his head. “Just because you’re the oldest doesn’t mean you know everything about how to run this ranch.”
“Both of you make good points.” Ian’s mother rocked in her chair. “The Callahans have been around as long as we have. They’ve made a good name for themselves. But Mr. Callahan is incredibly stubborn. He never really liked your father, and I don’t see him being willing to change that way of thinking just because it’s a good business plan.” She winked at Finn. “That isn’t to say it can’t happen. He has several beautiful daughters and if even one of you marry—”
“Mom,” Brock groaned. “Enough with the matchmaking. They’re all young and good-looking. There’s no rush for any of them to get married. Just look at what happened to me and Madison.”
Ian’s mother gave Brock a compassionate smile. Her eyes flitted to the doorway, and she gasped. She shot to her feet and hurried across the room. “Ian, what happened?” Her focus dropped to his flannel shirt, and she tugged at the fabric. “You’rebleeding!”
Everyone in the room turned their attention to him, including Jessica. His brothers got up from their places and made their way across the room. Sean’s brows furrowed as his mother stepped aside and allowed him to get a closer look.
“What in the blazes were you up to, Ian? Did somebody try to shoot you?”
His mother gasped. “You were shot?” She turned to Sean. “Call the sheriff,now.”
“No!” All eyes turned to Ian. He held up his hands. “Don’t call the sheriff yet. I want to make sure we have a plan first. I don’t think the guys who shot at me tonight are going to give up easily.”
Every one of his family members gaped at him. Tate laughed and clapped Ian on the shoulder, eliciting a wince from him. “Good one, big brother. Now, tell us what really happened.”
Cal was the most like Ian. He was more observant than anyone else. Even though Finn was Cal’s twin, they shared fewer similarities than Cal did with Ian. He folded his arms. “I don’t think it’s a joke, Tate.” His green eyes flicked to Jessica. “And I think she has something to do with it.”
For the first time since they’d arrived, everyone looked at Jessica. She was still dressed in her waitress uniform. Her hair was mussed, and there was a smudge of dirt on her cheek. They probably both looked a sight. Ian swallowed hard and stepped in front of Jessica. “I was at Sal’s for dinner.”
His mother’s gaze locked onto Jessica again.
“Some unsavory city folk came in, and out of nowhere they shot a man.” His family didn’t have to know the victim was Jessica’s boyfriend. And she didn’t need everyone pitying her. “She witnessed everything and we barely got out of there alive.”
Sean frowned. “What do you mean,unsavory?”
Ian met Sean’s gaze with a steady one of his own. “I think they were drug dealers.”
