During their lunches, Kendra had talked about Wild Creek Ranch with such affection that Quinn had formed a mental picture of the place. He wasn’t far off. The rambling, one-story log house with its long front porch and row of rocking chairs beckoned him to come and sit a spell.

Clearly the barns and corrals had been lovingly maintained over the years just like he’d done with his ranch. The area might have been given a facelift for the sake of the wedding, but he’d wager nothing ever looked dingy or rundown. The family had invested too much love to allow such a thing.

A young woman sat on the top rail of the round pen as a rider circled inside on a strawberry roan. A cowboy called a greeting to her before disappearing into the older, hip-roofed barn.

“It’s a great place, Kendra. Not that I have to tell you that.”

“It’s nice to hear, all the same.” She drove slowly toward the newer of the two barns. “The empty stall is in this one. Your timing is perfect. One of our boarders left for Wyoming last week and I decided to wait until after the wedding to put an ad in the paper.”

“I’d be happy to pay for the use of the stall.”

She flashed him a smile. “You wouldn’t be trying to insult me, now, would you, Quinn?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Then don’t worry about paying for anything. You brought baked goods. That’ll do nicely.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She switched off the engine and turned to look at him. “My curiosity is killing me. What prompted you to grow a mustache?”

“Ingrid’s suggestion.”

“Ingrid, huh?”

“Yep. Never had one so I decided to find out if I liked it or not.”

“I see.” Then she murmured something that sounded like little devil.

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing.” She looked past his shoulder. “Here comes Cody. You’ve met him, right?”

“I met all your sons at the Guzzling Grizzly event.”

“All in a bunch, as I recall.”

“Right. Which means I might not get them straight. Well, except for Bryce. I’ve seen him since then.”

She reached for her door handle. “You’ll probably have them all straight after this visit.”

“I suspect I will.” He’d begin with Cody. Swinging down from the truck, he strode toward Kendra’s youngest.

Cody McGavin had movie star good looks in addition to the brilliant blue eyes all five sons had inherited from their mother. Quinn held out his hand and offered congratulations on the upcoming wedding.

Cody’s grip was firm. Very firm. “Thank you, Mr. Sawyer. Welcome to Wild Creek Ranch.”

“I’m honored to be here. And I’d be obliged if you’d call me Quinn.”

Cody smiled, but his gaze was more assessing than friendly. “Yes, sir. Need some help with your bike?”

“I should be able to get it into the stall okay, but do you have any large pieces of cardboard I could put down before I roll it in there? I don’t want to mess up the floor.”

“I don’t know if we do or not.” He turned as Kendra rounded the truck. “Mom, do you have any big pieces of cardboard he can use to protect the floor of the stall?”

“Matter of fact, I do. I saved the carton my new mattress was delivered in. I’ll go get it. Why don’t you take Quinn up to the cabin so he can see where he’ll be staying?”

“I can do that.”

“Let me grab my stuff off my bike.” Quinn walked to the back of the trailer and unlatched the doors. “Sweet rig you have here, Cody.”

“Thanks. I bought it right before Faith and I took our big trip last summer.”

“Your mom told me about that.” Quinn unbuckled the bag strapped to his bike. “Sounded like a great adventure.” He stepped out of the trailer and slung the bag over his shoulder.

“It was. That’s a cool bike.”

“I like it. You ride?”

“Not really. A buddy had one back in high school. I rode that a few times. It was fun but I wasn’t willing to spend the money on one.”

“Understood.”

He gestured toward the hill. “Cabin’s this way.”

“Lead on.” The dirt path could have been wide enough for two people if they were chummy, but Quinn chose to follow Cody up to the cabin. It had been well-maintained, too, but the weathered logs had been there a long time. “How old is this place?”

“As old as the ranch, so that makes it well over a hundred. First structure that went up when the land was homesteaded.” Cody climbed the steps to the front porch. “My grandparents added indoor plumbing so my parents could have their own place when they got married.”

“Your ancestors homesteaded this place?”

“No. My grandparents bought it from the family that did, though. By then the ranch house and barn had been built. Mom grew up here.” He opened the door and walked in.

“Wow. I didn’t realize that.” Quinn followed him and surveyed the cozy one-room cabin.

The furnishings were simple—a double bed with a rustic headboard, a leather easy chair, a braided rug in front of the stone fireplace. The room also contained a small refrigerator, a compact stove and a kitchen sink with a cupboard mounted above it. The added-on bathroom was through a door near the kitchen sink.

Quinn put his bag on the easy chair and took off his jacket. “This is great. Like I stepped back in time.” He laid his jacket over his bag.

“I know.” Cody’s expression had softened, as if he liked hearing that Quinn appreciated the cabin.

“And your mom and dad lived here?”

“Yep. Until my grandparents died and the ranch passed to my folks.” He gestured toward the folded bedding lying on the mattress. “I brought some sheets and blankets up from the house and left the windows open so it wouldn’t smell musty.”

“Thank you.”

“There’s a woodpile out back if you decide to make a fire at night.”

“Would that be okay?”

“Don’t see why not. Nights are still chilly. You could use the space heaters but the fireplace is a nicer option.”

“I agree. What a great setup for a guest house.”

Cody looked startled. “A guest house?”

“Well, yeah. Now that nobody’s living in it, having guests stay here makes perfect sense.”

“I guess so. I just never thought about it that way. We don’t have guests, at least not the way you’re talking about. Other than when my parents lived here, it’s only been my brothers using the cabin. It was Zane’s place for a while, and then Ryker spent a few weeks in it after he got out of the Air Force.”

“I see.” He decided to hit the problem head-on. “Does it bother you that I’m going to stay here for a few nights? Am I treading on sacred ground?”

“I’d rather have you here than in the house.”

Quinn laughed. “Now there’s an honest answer.”

He flushed. “A rude one, too. Sorry. Don’t tell Mom I said that, okay?”

“Don’t tell Mom you said what?” Kendra walked through the open door.

Quinn looked at Kendra. “That he’d love to take a spin on my Harley.” He sent Cody an apologetic glance. “Sorry. But I wouldn’t put you on that machine without letting your mother know what we’re up to.”

“I appreciate that, Quinn.” She faced Cody. “It’s not that I’m against the idea, and goodness knows you’re old enough to decide for yourself. But I don’t think anyone should take a motorcycle out on the road until they’ve had a safety course.”

“That’s sound advice,” Quinn said. “All three of my boys took that course before they rode my bike.”

Cody shrugged. “It was just an idea. Faith would likely agree with both of you and I wouldn’t do it without telling her.”

“And that’s why I sleep better at night,” Kendra said. “You might not always listen to me, but you’ll listen to her and for that I’m extremely thankful.” She shoved her hands in the pockets of her jeans. “Are you two ready to move that motorcycle into the barn? The cardboard’s in place so I decided to come fetch you.”

Quinn adjusted the fit of his hat. “Let’s do it.”

Kendra headed out but Cody hung back and turned to Quinn. “Thanks.”

“You bet.”

“Gentlemen?” Kendra called out as she stood on the path grinning, hands on her hips. “Are we doing this or lollygagging?”

“We’re on our way.” Quinn couldn’t predict what the future would hold for him and Kendra, but unless he could get along with her sons, there was no future, period. He’d just made points with Cody. It was a beginning.

Kendra wasn’t convinced they’d been talking about motorcycles when she’d arrived on the scene. But if Quinn had subtly rearranged the conversation and Cody had let him do it, then she wouldn’t ask any more questions. After living with five strong male personalities for years, she’d learned not to press for specifics unless it was a life and death matter.

She’d sent them up to the cabin together as an icebreaker and evidently it had worked. They exhibited some impressive teamwork as they freed the bike from the ropes and rolled it into the barn, talking the whole time.

Kendra stayed out of the way so she didn’t catch exactly what they were saying but words like vintage and rare were thrown around a bit. She smiled as Cody closed and latched the stall door. “Afraid it’ll get out?”

“I don’t want anyone to think they can walk in there and mess with it. It’s a vintage Harley. They don’t make them like that anymore.”

Kendra glanced at Quinn. “I think you have a convert.”

“Looks like it.”

“I’ll admit I’m fascinated,” Cody said. “Faith will be, too. She loves old-fashioned stuff. But now that I know what that motorcycle is worth, I wouldn’t dare get on it.”

“That makes me very happy, son.” Kendra gazed at him. “I don’t care what the bike is worth but you’re priceless.”

He laughed. “I could take that two ways.”

“Take it as a compliment. And now that the Harley’s tucked in for the night, it’s time to rustle up some hay flakes for our equine friends.”

“I’ll help,” Quinn said.

“That’s not necessary. You’ve been on the road all day and you must be tired. Zane should be here shortly and Faith will show up once she finishes with her riding student.”

“I’m not the least bit tired and I want to help.” He hesitated. “Unless you don’t want me to.”

“Hey, I never turn down free labor. We always start in the old barn because that’s where we keep our favorite horses.”

“Can’t wait to meet them.”

“And I can’t wait to introduce you to them.” She’d likely said the same thing to Ian the day she’d invited him to Wild Creek Ranch for the first time. Whenever she looked at Quinn, she was forty-six going on seventeen. She was enjoying the hell out of it, too.