The Rose Ring Read online

  Micah’s head pounded, and the walls of the small room closed in on him. If Noah’s lawyer friend found a way out, Noah would insist on selling the ranch. Micah couldn’t let that happen. “I need some air.” With his copy of the will in hand, he charged out of the office. His boots pounded against the hardwood floors, but he barely felt the ground beneath him. He grabbed his jacket and pushed through the double doors and down the three steps to the sidewalk.

  “Hey, hold up.” Noah hurried to catch up to him. “Like it or not, we need to talk about this. And as far as I’m concerned the sooner the better.”

  Micah ground his teeth. “Get lost, Noah.”

  “You’re not the only one this affects, you know. There’s a lot of money involved here, and I intend to collect what’s due me.”

  “Due you?” Heat blistered Micah’s face. “And just what, besides being born to the same parents as me, entitles you to anything? No, don’t answer. I’m going for a walk, and I don’t want you following me.”

  Noah called after him. “You can’t ignore me forever. I’m staying at the motel right outside of town. Room one twenty-eight.”

  A storm raged in Micah’s head. He didn’t stop walking until he reached the cemetery a mile outside of town. He stood beneath a large cottonwood, staring at the granite headstone. Even without its leaves the massive tree was majestic. His grandmother’s body had been in the ground for twelve years, and his mother and father’s for nearly eighteen — all under the shade of the same tree. He blew out a long, loud breath and stared at his grandfather’s name etched on the granite stone. “Why, old man?”

  Micah stared at the ground, half expecting to hear his grandfather’s harsh voice reprimand him for his tone. “What gives you the right to…” He glanced at his parents’ graves. “You never stopped blaming me, did you, Sam?”

  For more than fifteen minutes, Micah stood fixed to the same spot. He sought words of wisdom that would make all of this go away. None came.

  When he headed back toward the main road, he stopped beside another grave. There were no trees nearby, and he knew there wouldn’t be a large headstone like the one that dominated his grandparent’s grave. A single pink rose rested atop yesterday’s snowfall. Sky must have gotten here early, he thought. And just that quickly, a desperate and crazy idea hit him.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Sky hurried from booth to kitchen and back again. She balanced oversized trays filled with plates of bacon and eggs, pancakes and sausage, and the occasional fruit cup in one direction, and dirty dishes in the other. The aroma of coffee permeated the air, while the chatter of a dozen different conversations drifted in and out of earshot. Regulars sat at their usual booths and ordered their usual breakfasts, while newcomers stood by the front door, unsure whether they should seat themselves or wait for a hostess.

  The breakfast crowd continued to grow, but that was okay with Sky. More customers meant more tips. When things finally wound down, she poured herself a cup of tea and sat with her pregnant coworker, Julie. Her break was short-lived, however. The jingling of the bell over the door let her know that yet another customer had arrived.

  She touched Julie’s hand. “I’ll take care of it. Finish your tea. In fact, why don’t you go into the back room and put your feet up for a while?”

  Julie struggled to push herself out of the booth. “Are you sure? I feel pretty bad that I haven’t been much help around here lately.”

  “What are you talking about? You handled nearly as many tables as I did this morning. Go on.” Sky steered her coworker toward the small break area next to the kitchen. “It won’t be busy again for a couple more hours.”

  “Morning.” Sky greeted the gentleman who had seated himself at the booth in the back corner. “Can I get you some coffee?”

  The man looked up from a stack of papers. “Please.”

  His crooked smile and square jaw stopped her cold. His hair and eyes were lighter than Micah’s, and he had a few years on him, but he had to be Noah. She’d never met the infamous rebel, and Micah rarely mentioned him, but the resemblance was too uncanny to be anything else.

  “Is everything all right, miss?”

  With a quick shake of her head, Sky cleared her thoughts. “Sorry. You remind me of someone. I’ll be right back with your coffee.” She nodded to the far end of the booth. “Menus are in the rack.”

  Once behind the worn counter, Sky peered into the kitchen. “Carl,” she whispered, “that is Noah Cooper, isn’t it?”

  Carl poked his head through the opening. “Well, I’ll be! The prodigal returns. Too bad he didn’t do it before his grandfather died. My guess is he’s back to see what the old man left him.”

  Sky kept her voice low. “Micah told me he had an appointment with a lawyer this morning but didn’t say anything about his brother being there. I wonder why?”

  “Ask him?”

  “Yeah, like he’s going to tell a complete stranger the story of his life.”

  “You don’t need the whole story, just the reason he’s in town.” He grinned and waved her on.

  “Go back to work, Carl.” Chuckling, Sky filled a mug and took it to Noah’s table. “Have you decided what you’d like?” She set the mug in front of him. “Carl makes a mean Western omelet.”

  “As tempting as that sounds, I think I’ll just settle for toast and coffee.”

  “White or wheat?”

  “White.”

  Sky stuck her pencil behind her ear and smiled. “I’ll be back in a flash.”

  The bell rang again as she handed Carl the order. She pivoted around to find Micah heading her way. He sat on the center stool at the counter and blew out a long breath. “Everything okay?” she asked.

  “Not even close.” Micah rubbed a hand over his face. “This morning’s meeting didn’t exactly go as planned, my long-lost brother’s unexpected appearance being just the beginning.”

  She glanced over Micah’s shoulder. Noah placed a finger over his mouth in a “hush” fashion then squeezed close to the window and buried his nose in the papers he’d brought with him.

  Sky didn’t like the position she found herself in. Micah was her friend, Noah a stranger. Yet the tone in Micah’s voice and the actions on Noah’s part led her to believe things could get ugly. It was probably best to keep her mouth shut.

  “Want some coffee?”

  “No. I just stopped in to tell you that I have to head back to the ranch.”

  Her shoulders slumped. “Oh.”

  “But if it’s okay, I’d like to take you to dinner tonight. I need to run something by you. Are you free?”

  Sky laid her hands on the counter to steady herself. Had he just asked her out? Then she remembered she’d agreed to work a double. She nearly moaned out loud. “Actually I’m not. With Julie being pregnant and Liz out with a bad back, I’m filling in a lot these days.”

  “What about tomorrow?”

  The hint of desperation in his voice had her questioning his motives. I need to run something by you, didn’t exactly translate into let’s have a romantic night on the town. But it was a start. “I’m afraid I’m working twelve to nine.”

  “Man, I really need to talk to you about something.” He drummed his fingers on the counter. “How about a late breakfast tomorrow? I’ve got a few things to take care of in the morning, but I can be at your place by ten. Will that work for you?”

  Not nearly as well, she thought. Nobody gets kissed after a breakfast date, especially when it’s a first date. Of course, if it isn’t a date, kissing won’t even be a factor. Get a grip, Sky. She straightened a stack of menus. “Sure, tomorrow will be fine. But only if you promise to take me someplace other than here.”

  Carl’s voice boomed from the kitchen. “What’s the matter? Don’t you like my cooking?”

  Sky’s face heated. Carl was the only one who knew about her feelings for Micah. She peered at her boss through the pass-through. “I love your cooking. But I figure this’ll give me a good ch
ance to check out the competition.”

  “Yeah, well, just don’t come back with any fancy recipes for me to try out, ‘cause I’m not changing a thing.”

  Micah chuckled. “Don’t worry, Carl. I’ll take her somewhere crummy.” He winked, making her insides quiver. “I’ll call you before I leave home.” He swiveled the stool around and stepped off, freezing in mid-stride.

  Sky held her breath. Did he see his brother? Should she try to explain? Did she need to explain? Since she’d never met Noah before today, how would she be expected to know who he was?

  He turned slowly. “You know, I think I’d like that coffee after all. Could I get a cup to go?”

  She let out a relieved breath. “Sure.” Filling the paper cup and popping a lid on it, she handed it to him. “See you tomorrow.”

  When the bell over the door signaled Micah’s departure, Sky reached for the toast, but realized it had gone cold. She asked Carl for a fresh order. When he handed her the plate a few minutes later, she carried it and a pot of coffee to Noah’s booth. He had scooted back toward the center of the bench.

  “Sorry for the wait. Can I freshen your coffee?”

  Noah held out his mug. “Please.” She could feel his eyes on her while she poured. “I see you know my brother.”

  “We went to school together. Been friends ever since.”

  “I don’t imagine he’s had many nice things to say about me.”

  The trace of bitterness in his voice made her wonder why he’d left all those years ago. “Actually, he hasn’t said much about you over the years, nice or not.”

  When Noah smiled, his entire face joined in, making him even better looking. He wasn’t as ruggedly handsome as his brother, and his eyes were a golden brown in comparison to Micah’s dark chocolate ones, but she felt sure Hansel and Gretel could find their way out of the forest just by following the trail of broken hearts he’d left behind.

  He stuck his hand in her direction. “I guess I should formally introduce myself. Noah Cooper.”

  Sky took his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. “I sort of figured that out.”

  When she attempted to pull her hand free, he held on. “Not until I get your name. It looks like I might be sticking around for a while, so any friend of Micah’s…”

  She quirked her mouth.

  “What? I’m just trying to be friendly.”

  “A friendly man would have released my hand by now.”

  He let go, flashing a dashing smile. “Sorry, I didn’t mean any offense.”

  “None taken. And the name is Sky. Sky Baxter.”

  “Interesting name. Short for Skylar?”

  “Nope, long for Sky. No E at the end.”

  “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Sky, no-e-at-the-end, Baxter.” He motioned to the bench across from him. “Won’t you join me?”

  “Sorry, but I’m working.”

  Noah moved to the edge of the booth and looked up and down the aisle then to the stools by the counter. “Doesn’t seem to be anyone here but me. The least you could do for making me wait so long for my toast is to sit for a minute.”

  The devilish grin combined with an angelic twinkle in his eyes made for a nearly irresistible combination. Oh yeah, a real lady killer. “Well, if you hadn’t cowered in the corner, I would have brought your toast out long ago.”

  He clutched his chest. “Ouch! You don’t cut a guy any slack, do you?” Then he laughed. “Thanks for not ratting me out. Come on.” He gestured to the bench across from him. “Please.”

  “Okay, but just for a minute.” She slid into the booth.

  He glanced at her hands. “Why isn’t a pretty thing like you married?”

  Sky tilted her head and chuckled. “Somehow I expected a better pickup line than that.”

  He crossed his arms on the table and leaned toward her. “I saw the look on your face while you were talking to Micah. If I thought I had any chance, I’d have come up with something more original.”

  Heat prickled her cheeks, but she refused to acknowledge it. “Oh, yeah? Give me an example.”

  He had a nice, easy laugh. “Sorry, but I never reuse a line. If I were to use one on you, it would surely be a waste.”

  This time she did laugh out loud. “So what made you decide to stick around?”

  “Not what, who.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’m sure Micah will fill you in on all the details. He’d probably be ticked off if I said anything. Truth is, he’d probably be ticked off if he knew we were talking at all.”

  How sad, Sky thought. What she wouldn’t give to have a brother or sister, and here these two had hardly spoken in years. She wanted to ask more questions, but the bell over the door called her back to work. She slid across the bench and stood. “It was nice meeting you, Noah. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around.”

  He nodded. “Count on it.”

  Sky headed toward the table where a family of four had seated themselves. How she wished she didn’t have to work tonight. She’d have to wait until the morning to talk to Micah about his brother.

  ****

  When Sky’s phone rang at nine-twenty the following morning, she picked up on the second ring. “Are you on your way?”

  “Well, good morning to you too,” came the cheerful reply.

  “Sorry. Good morning, Micah. Have you left the ranch yet?”

  “I’m calling from the truck. I’m about to turn onto the main road, so I should reach your place in about thirty minutes.”

  “Okay, see you then. Just honk and I’ll come out.”

  She set the phone in its cradle and reprimanded herself for not having thought to cook for him. A nice quiet breakfast for two instead of a crowded restaurant held a lot of appeal. Surely it wouldn’t take much effort to whip up an omelet. A quick inventory of her pantry and fridge produced a near-empty carton of orange juice, one egg, some moldy cheese, two cans of tuna, and six boxes of macaroni and cheese. She sighed. “I need to plan better next time.” A chuckle bubbled from her throat. She was certainly reading a whole lot into one breakfast.

  Her doorbell rang thirty-five minutes later. Sky opened it to find her handsome date standing there. “You were supposed to honk.”

  He tipped his felt hat. “Sorry, ma’am, but I was brung up better’n that.”

  “Yes, I can tell.” Grabbing her coat and pulling the door closed, they dashed toward the truck. After ten minutes — more than enough time to get any place in town — Sky asked about their destination.

  “I’m taking you to Barnaby’s.”

  “The new place in Three Peaks? To what do I owe the special treatment?”

  Micah didn’t answer right away. He kept his eyes on the road before turning to her. “I have something huge to ask you, and I figured I’d better soften you up with a good meal first.”

  “That sounds ominous.” She laughed nervously as any remaining thoughts of a romantic first date flew by as quickly as the trees that lined the road.

  They stepped into the restaurant fifteen minutes later. Micah ordered a traditional breakfast of fried eggs, skillet fried potatoes, bacon, toast, and coffee. Sky wanted the Belgian waffles, but at nine dollars a plate, she couldn’t bring herself to order them. She settled for scrambled eggs and wheat toast. When the food arrived she forked a small amount of the eggs, but only managed to get it halfway to her mouth. “You sure know how to ruin a good breakfast. I can’t stand the suspense. You’re going to have to ask me whatever it is now.”

  Micah swallowed and set his fork down. “I knew I should have kept my mouth shut.” He took a sip of coffee. “Okay, but I want you to know that I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t care for, respect, and trust you. I’m in a tight spot, but I don’t want you to feel you have to say yes. I’ll figure it out one way or the other.”

  “Oh, for Pete’s sake, Micah, just ask.”

  He blew out a breath. “Okay. Will you marry me?”

  Sky felt sure her heart had stopped beating.
If she’d been able to move she would have reached for her wrist or neck to check for a pulse. But as things stood, she couldn’t budge. It took several long seconds for her to realize her lungs were working, which meant her heart must be as well. “Did you just ask me to marry you?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “That wasn’t exactly the way it was supposed to come out, but yeah, I did.”

  “Why?”

  He pushed his plate to the side. “Because if I don’t get married in the next three months, I’ll lose the ranch.”

  The heartbeat she couldn’t feel moments ago now reverberated throughout her entire body. For years, she’d dreamed of this moment, but a proposal on the first date — which obviously wasn’t a date at all — told her they weren’t only on different pages but in two completely different books. “Sorry,” she said, her voice clipped, “but if you expect any kind of an answer, you’re going to have to fill in all the blanks.”

  “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have thrown it at you that way. Let me see if I can explain. When I came to see you yesterday, I’d just come from the lawyer’s office. Not only did Noah show up unexpectedly, but Sam’s will read like some far-fetched piece of fiction.”

  She took her napkin from her lap and laid it on the table. The thought of telling him she’d met Noah didn’t seem important at the moment. “Keep going.”

  Micah told her everything that had happened the previous morning. “I know it sounds selfish, but the ranch is the only thing left connecting me to my parents. It’s my home. Annie’s home.”

  The fact that Micah had always been good to his aunt, and that he was thinking about her now did nothing to soften the abruptness of his proposal.

  He circled the top if his coffee cup with his finger. “It’s not like I don’t have some time, but the truth is, I don’t trust my brother. He’s already checking with a probate lawyer to see if he can break the will. But if that doesn’t work, I wouldn’t put it past him to marry the first available person just to beat me out of it.”

  She crossed her arms in front of her. “Unlike you, you mean?”

  “Well, yeah, I suppose it looks that way.”