Chapter 28
Being around people didn't make Mariah uneasy. Her day job meant she interacted with people all day long. No problem.
But this particular group of people? They intimidated the hell out of her.
The Taggarts and assorted extras weren't mean to her. Just the opposite. The minute she arrived at the ranch house, the family welcomed her as if she were part of the clan already. Yet she caught an uneasy frown on Vaughn's face; they'd never had the Relationship Talk because of the Morning Shower Sex, but at some point a painful discussion would happen. Biding her time until then was like waiting for a second shoe to drop.
So she had two choices. She could enjoy the illusion of family and fitting in and a normal relationship for as long as it lasted.
Or she could stay detached and not let herself be lured into the welcoming arms of this family.
Either option hurt like hell.
Rather than decide right now, she took the BLT Garrison offered instead.
"How do you like working at the hospital?" he asked, watching her intently.
She stared with significant longing at the sandwich, then answered, "Um, yes. Of course. It's challenging."
"But you like it? Here? At the hospital?"
Okay, fifth degree. "Yes. Some days are crazier than others, true. But at the end of the day, it's worth it. And Copper River is a nice place." She winced as a headache zipped across her forehead. Maybe she was more tired than she realized.
"Garrison. Quit it!" Shelby glared a hole into her brother.
Mariah's headache faded as soon as he stood from the table and excused himself, followed by his pretty girlfriend, Sara. The entire time, Shelby scowled at him. Weird. It was like half the conversation had occurred on a different level. It was almost like the headache had something to do with them. Which made no sense.
"So how many Taggarts do you see as patients?" Kerr asked.
"She can't answer that. HIPAA rules and all," a serene, studious woman whose auburn hair was pulled back in a bun walked into the kitchen and interjected. With a wink, the woman held out a hand. "I'm Ruth. A nurse taking care of Mr. Taggart while he recovers from his stroke." The woman studied Mariah with a bemused expression on her face.
"Nice to meet you." She released the woman's hand. "How long have you been here?"
"A few weeks. It's been pretty eventful around here."
Kerr nodded.
Shelby's and Eric's gazes locked for a second. A twinge flashed through Mariah. Fair enough, those two had gone through hell and back and had earned their unspoken connection. It was obvious by the way he rested his arm around the back of her chair and how he homed in on her as she spoke. The red color that tinted her cheeks at his touch. The tiny glances. Those two were in tune.
What would that be like on a daily basis?
"So, Mariah, you've been in town here for what, a year?" Kerr asked.
"Less than that." She chewed and washed down a bite, all too aware of Vaughn's presence next to her. "Started in August, fresh out of residency."
Shelby blurted, "How long are you staying in Copper River?"
"Shel!" Vaughn said.
"It's a legit question." She raised a negligent shoulder. "For medical care needs, of course." With her eyes crossed, she made a face at him. "There. Happy?"
He dropped his forehead into his palm.
Mariah wiped her mouth with the napkin. "Honestly, I'm not sure how long I'll be in Copper River. Part of being here is to pay off considerable debt from medical school. But I like the area and the people." Okay, maybe one person in particular, but he wouldn't be here when her loan amounts rolled to zero. "So I'm taking things as they come," she hedged.
"Sara came here to pay off school loans for her teaching degree, too. Worked out for her long-term future, it would appear." Kerr laughed when Vaughn growled.
Mariah's neck heated. Every part of this conversation hit too close to home. "So, Vaughn fought a great bout last night."
Silence. Then Eric barked out a laugh. "She catches on quickly to the nosy Taggart clan. Good job changing the subject, Mariah. I like you." He jumped. "Ow, Shel. Why'd you have to pinch me?"
Shelby talked to the ceiling. "Why me, God? Why surround me with these idiots?" She winked at Ruth and Mariah. "Female company excepted."
"So, to take the conversational bait, as it were, it's lucky that Vaughn didn't get his geriatric ass pounded in last night," Kerr sucked on a tooth and lifted a shoulder. "I got the scoop from a friend who was at the fight."
Vaughn's hands curled into fists. "I'm not that old."
"You're too old to be running around and taking a beating like that. With each bout, you're not getting prettier, either." His younger brother rocked his chair back on two legs. "Hell, we could rough you up on a regular basis right here at home, if it will make you stick around."
Silence.
Ruth spoke up. "Any injuries?" A tight smile came and went. "Sorry, Mariah, old habits. You're the doctor."
"Not today. I'm off duty. Go right ahead. Maybe he'll listen to you." She ducked her head at Vaughn's scowl.
Ruth smiled. "I'm just happy you are both all right." With a quiet step, she excused herself from the room.
"Both of you?" Shelby stared at Mariah.
She rubbed her forehead again. The headaches weren't severe, just odd and fleeting. No numbness or burning pain, so not due to trigeminal neuralgia. No aura, so not a migraine. Happened around the Taggarts, which made zero sense. Hopefully the headache wasn't due to too much coffee. The cure would be unbearable.
"Shelby, quit it," Vaughn growled. Almost like she really did have something to do with Mariah's headache. No way.
His sister raised her orange brows. "Then spill. What really happened last night? At the fight."
She said it like she knew the after the fight part already.
Vaughn filled them in on Linc's antics, adding that Wyatt Brand showed up for the opponent's corner.
Shelby leaned forward. "Wyatt? What was that moron doing there?"
"That's a good question." Lines bracketed Vaughn's mouth. "Remember how Wyatt was fixated on you for a while?"
"I sure do," Eric spat.
Vaughn glanced at her. "Well, he's moved on. To Mariah."
Kerr made a fist. "Bastard."
"Agreed." Vaughn pressed his hand to the tabletop. "Either he's trying to make a pass at Mariah or he's doing it to retaliate against us."
"Against your family?" Mariah asked.
"As I mentioned before," Vaughn replied, "the Brands have it in for us. Wouldn't put it past them to get at one of us by using, uh..."
"Someone we care about?" Shelby grinned.
Mariah shifted in her seat, studying the last crumbs of her sandwich.
Vaughn cleared his throat. "Mariah, maybe I could give you the grand tour."
"Smooth move, Ex-Lax," Kerr quipped. "You two go on." He pointed to Shelby and Eric. "And you two invalids stay right there. I'll keep doing housework. No, no. Don't lift a finger on my behalf." He gave a dramatic sigh. "My work is never done."
Vaughn lifted his chin toward the door. "Ready?"
"Sure," Mariah answered. Anything to escape the friendly Taggart interrogation session.
* * *
What in the world possessed her to say, Oh sure, I can ride a horse?
Mariah had been on a horse, what, once in her life? Years ago, she and her brother had gone to a dude ranch with a group of friends, and her Old Paint tried to bite her during the entire miserable experience.
What possessed her? The need to be accepted. To be a part of.
Tiny flakes straggled down onto the several inches of snow already on the open fields as she and Vaughn rode toward the forest. The sky hung gray and thick. Heavy. Like it was waiting to unleash far more than a few flakes.
Earlier, they had checked out the progress of the main barn that was being rebuilt after the fire several weeks ago. She was happy to tour anything as long as it bought her freedom from the whirlwind of questions inside the house.
That familiarity they all shared? The Taggarts had grown up rough and tumble, running all over the ranch, raised by loving parents. Mariah and Kevin's childhood was the complete opposite. No play. No learning. Nothing comfortable.
Quit being morose. That's the past. Concentrate on the present.
How about the future?
Damn it.
She shifted her uncomfortable backside on the hard leather saddle. Could she fit into this family? More to the point, did she have any business considering that question? If this relationship with Vaughn continued, then, yes, she wanted to fit in.
For the first time in her life, she truly pictured herself as part of a full family with people whose lives wove together, who supported each other, loved each other, and even argued with each other.
As they reached the wooded National Forest land that bordered the ranch property, Vaughn pulled his horse to a stop with little more than a flick of his wrist. He shifted in the saddle. Damn him in his tight jeans and Stetson. How great would it be if he tipped that hat back and kissed her, right here in the wild outdoors?
Unable to stop the response, she licked her lips.
He reached over and snagged her reins. "Can I talk with you?"
No. "Sure."
Their thighs brushed against each other, but he appeared to ignore the contact as he peered into the trees. The main ranch compound was a mere dot below them in the low, flat area of the property.
"About what happened last night."
Crap. No preamble? The muscles in her stomach tightened. "The fight or the hotel stay?"
He rubbed his chin and didn't make eye contact. "Hotel."
Her heart stopped, then started again, threatening to pound its way out of her chest. "All right."
"So. I'm wondering if that was a mistake." His mouth compressed into a hard line.
The slice of his quiet words went deep, scoring her soul. All those images of fitting in, of belonging, of having a family burst like little stupid bubbles. "You went to a lot of trouble, bringing me out here, to share that conclusion. Seems like a simple text message would have been a lot less effort." Just like that, she began to pull inward. Like she did in that room when she was a teenager. Like she had done when her ex had told her to be less. Like she had done at the Brand house.
Shutting down.
Could she handle rejection from Vaughn? She was about to find out.
Avoidance of pain was probably not the best reason to pursue a relationship with someone. She could do this.
"I want to explain." His low voice whipped away on the wind.
Damn. This was going to hurt like hell.