Beneath a Beating Heart Read online

  “When I left my grandparents’ house,” he continued, “I came out here to meet my grandmother’s brother. He told me that my father had given me to the army to take back to my grandparents when I was little in order to save the lives of many in their tribe.”

  Her breath lodged in her throat at the idea of him as a baby being taken away from his father and put into the hands of virtual strangers. She’d been there herself, and knew how frightening it was. “Did they welcome you when you arrived?”

  He nodded. “Yes. My father had died shortly after the army took me away, and most of his people had been confined to reservations, but they knew who I was, and were happy to see me. I didn’t stay with them long before I came here to Cody and started training horses with Hiah. He lives north of Cody on his own land. He never went to the reservation because he’d married a white woman.”

  She wished she could meet that uncle but understood the impossibility of that. She did, however, take note of the hint of Native American heritage in Rance. The fine sculpture of his cheek bones, the darkness of his eyes, how his glorious tan might not be all from the sun. That had her wondering if he’d have the often-teased farmer’s tan when he took off his shirt.

  Of course she’d wonder that. Her mind kept bugging her about all sorts of things pertaining to his body. Which was utterly ridiculous.

  Liz was trying to get her wandering mind back in order when a noise startled her.

  “What is it?” Rance asked. “You jumped.”

  “Someone’s here.”

  The both stood and moved to the door, with the mirror between them. The let down and utter disgust that washed over her as Lou strut around his sportscar was like none other. She should be glad it wasn’t Nate, but in truth, she didn’t want to see either cousin.

  “Who is it?” Rance asked.

  “Lou. He said he’d come get me before dark.” She took a step back so Lou couldn’t see them through the screen door. “Let go of the mirror. We don’t want him to see you.”

  Rance’s grin was a bit evil as he disappeared. Feeling him still standing next to her, she whispered, “Don’t do anything foolish.”

  A hum vibrated her ear, and she almost told him to grab the mirror, would have if the door hadn’t open right then.

  “Hello.”

  “It’s not dark yet,” she said.

  “It’s after six.” Lou stepped inside. “I tried calling, but cell phones don’t always work that well out here.”

  She had no idea if her phone worked out here or not, she’d left it in her car and hadn’t thought about it all day, other than when explaining it to Rance. She was surprised it was so late. Had no idea they’d been sitting at the table talking for so many hours.

  Lou let the screen door shut slowly behind him and gestured toward her left hand. “What’s that?”

  Her heart skipped a beat before she realized he was referring to the mirror. She held it up. “Just a mirror.”

  She didn’t want to, but considering what could happen if she didn’t, she relinquished her hold when Lou grasped the mirror.

  He gave it a couple twists and turns. “I sure hope you found more than this.”

  She balled her hand in to a fist to keep from snatching the mirror back. However, the hum that vibrated her ear made her smile inwardly.

  Lou glanced around cautiously and swallowed visibly. “You hear something?”

  “No.” She pinched her lips tighter to keep a smile at bay.

  Somewhat sheepishly, he handed her the mirror. “I know you said you’d call when you were ready, but I really was worried about you being out here all day by yourself, and tried calling.”

  She considered saying she wasn’t ready to leave yet, but it would soon be dark, and she wasn’t certain she should stay alone with Rance after dark. Leaving would be best, give her a more clear perspective. She already cared far more about him than she should. “I didn’t hear my phone. I left it in the car.” Not about to put much credence behind his concern, she held up the mirror. “I’ll go put this away upstairs. I was documenting things.” Waving at the table, and her empty wrappers and water bottle still sitting there from when they’d eaten, which seemed like just a short time ago, she added, “Then I’ll gather my stuff and meet you outside.”

  When Lou glanced around again, she got a feeling he was considering following her up stairs. She tensed, but upon closer inspection, pinched her lips together again in order to hide another outward smile. He was nervous. Like the place gave him the willies. It was a luxury, knowing what she did and he didn’t, and too good to not use. “It might just have been the wind, but there was a lot of creaking in the house today.”

  His attempt to look unaffected was classic, and comical. “I do have plans this evening, so if you could hurry up.”

  “Sure, go ahead and wait outside.” She gestured toward the door while holding back a giggle. “It’ll get stuffy in here when I start closing the windows.”

  His hurried exit was almost comical, but she waited until he’d crossed the porch before she left the room. Rance appeared at her side when she was half way up the stairs. She’d known he was there, and hadn’t needed to whisper for him to take the mirror.

  “Did he go outside?”

  “Yes. You can’t see him?”

  “No. Couldn’t hear him either,” he answered. “Just you. What did he say when he took the mirror?”

  “You saw that, but not him?”

  “I saw the mirror disappear and then reappear. What did he say?”

  “That he hopes I found more antiques than just the mirror.” Walking next to him was so natural, the mirror hung at her side as they climbed the steps and talked. “I heard a hum, like you said something when he took it.”

  “I did. I asked where the mirror had gone and told you to get it back.”

  That sounds exactly like something he’d say. It was amazing how well she already knew him.

  “What did he say when you told him about the creaking?”

  No longer needing to hide her joy. She giggled. “He told me to hurry up.”

  “Scared of ghosts, is he?”

  She laughed again, especially at the hint of pride in his tone. “It appears so.”

  “But you’re not.”

  “Of course not, No one’s afraid of Casper.”

  “Casper? Wyoming?”

  She laughed, and then again at his frown. She really shouldn’t be having this much fun but couldn’t help it. Simply couldn’t help it. “No. Casper was a ghost. A friendly ghost and a children’s cartoon character.”

  “Oh. So you think I’m a cartoon character?”

  His grin was about the sexiest one she’d ever seen. For a flash of a second—or longer—she found herself extremely jealous of Beth. As ridiculous as that was.

  “No.” She drew in a deep breath to contain the mixture of emotions that she couldn’t explain, and really didn’t want to, or need to. Fact is, she was happy. Something she hadn’t been for some time. “But you are a character.”

  They’d reached the top floor and were walking along the hallway, toward the bedroom. “So you have to leave.”

  It was a statement not a question, and the sadness of his tone made her stomach tighten. The happiness inside her started to fade. “Yes.” She stopped shy of saying she had to, it was Lou’s house. It wasn’t. Not to Rance. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “I’m going to miss you.”

  Heat flushed her face. He’d made blood rush to other areas of her body more than once today. She couldn’t react to that, nor could she tell him she’d miss him too. Her goal was for him to live his life in his time, not for…She shook her head to erase thoughts of things that could never be as they walked into bedroom. This caring for others was intense, leastwise when it came to caring about him. “I’ll be back in the morning.” She stopped near the dresser. “As early as possible.”

  “I’ll be here all day.”

  Her mind and body were on two
very different wave lengths. A crazy, wonderful, swirl was overtaking her body. Drawing a deep breath, she held the air in her lungs, hoping it would slow her internal reactions. It wasn’t working. Not with the way he was looking at her—with a look that said he wanted to kiss her. She wanted that too. Even though she knew it was impossible. Crazy. He wasn’t real, but a phantom from another era.

  Her mind knew all that.

  Her body was a different story. It had never wanted something so badly. Had never ached so profoundly. Sexually.

  She closed her eyes, trying to get her body in sync with her mind. With reality. Which proved impossible when a second later the most amazing thing happened.

  Rance kissed her. As unfeasible as it was, heat covered her mouth along with a mystic pressure, like she’d experienced with her fingers this morning, in the kitchen when they’d held their hands up together.

  The pressure on her mouth grew, became more intense. So did the swirl of sensations inside her. They became so strong, so specifically concentrated, her toes curled inside her shoes.

  She was losing it. Totally losing it.

  Yet at the same time, she refused to open her eyes in order to prove it wasn’t happening. Couldn’t. It was too magnificent. And she couldn’t, wouldn’t, deny herself just how amazing the impossible connection felt. If this is how he kissed, he had to be a fantastic lover.

  She was kissing a ghost. And thinking about having sex with him.

  Sex with a ghost.

  Shut the back door and lock her in. She was nuts.

  Between her swirling libido and her thoughts, she grew dizzy.

  A dizzy, sex -craving, nut.

  Dizzy.

  She couldn’t become dizzy.

  She couldn’t do this.

  She tore open her eyes, only to close them again. He was close, but not close enough to kiss. That was more startling than if they’d been nose to nose. She’d been fantasying him kissing her?

  No, he’d kissed her.

  She’d swear it.

  The way she was struggling to catch her breath proved it.

  Didn’t it?

  His smile was mischievous, and all-knowing.

  She stumbled. “I-I gotta go.”

  “Wait.”

  She was still holding the mirror. They both were. The mirror wasn’t as heavy when they were both holding it. Another fantasy no doubt. He was a ghost. His touch couldn’t lighten whatever she held. Yet, it seemed as if that was so. He looked so real, too. As valid and true as the mirror in her hand.

  Real enough to kiss. Real enough to love.

  She tried to get her disorganized thoughts back in line. She had to have at least a thread of rationality left somewhere. There was. “Lou’s waiting.”

  Rance was still looking at her, but his expression had turned soft, as if he completely understood all the absurd thoughts dancing around in her head.

  “Today was fun. Nice.” He shook his head as if he wasn’t able to say what he really wanted to. “I-I just want you to know how much I enjoyed your company. I guess I’ve been a little lonely, lately.”

  Her heart took a tumble. “I’ll be back. I promise.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  “Promise?”

  He nodded and disappeared.

  A wave of panic assaulted her but disappeared as fast as Rance had. He was still near. She could feel him. That allowed her to take a deep, calming breath, and another. She wasn’t nuts. Was just having an encounter with a ghost. A nice ghost who was fun to talk to, extremely handsome, and made her feel whole. Complete. Wonderful.

  She laid the mirror on the dresser and then crossed the room to close the window. As she turned, the mirror floated in the air near the door.

  “You can’t—” Flustered, she crossed the room and touched the mirror. “Put the mirror back. Lou might see it floating around.”

  “I will, but first, come with me.”

  “Where? Lou’s waiting.”

  “It’ll only take a moment.”

  Lou could wait. Rance was far more important. “All right.”

  He led her down the hallway, into the room with the small bookcase. “That box on the top shelf, can you see it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Take that with you. Don’t open now. Just take it with you.”

  A shiver rippled over her skin. Not of fear, but anticipation. “Why?”

  “Just take it with you, and bring it back tomorrow.”

  It was small, no larger than a hardcover book, and looked like an old cigar box. She picked it up and turned toward the door. The mirror and Rance were gone. The desire to open the box was strong, but she told herself to wait.

  And was glad because a moment later, his presence was as strong as when she could see him. He walked down the steps beside her and stood near as she gathered her trash off the table. She put the wrappers, her notebook, and the box in the bag with her extra water bottles, snacks, and the camera and pricing book, and then walked to the door. There, she whispered, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  There was no hum, but still she smiled, convinced he’d heard. A wave of contentment, of knowledge that held no doubts, washed over her. He’d be here tomorrow, and so would she.

  She stepped over the threshold and pulled the inside door shut, locking it before closing the screen door.

  “Ready?” Lou asked.

  “I guess,” she said, while silently admitting she may never be ready to leave Rance’s house.

  Lou grinned. “You really like this place, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “I do, too.” He shrugged. “It gives me the willies at times, but it also has, well, for lack of a better word, charm. It’s charming how Rance loved his wife so much he waited his entire life for her to return. Left money in his will for this place to stay just as it is until Beth returned.”

  His smile, the sincerity in his voice struck her in an invisible and vulnerable way.

  As a shiver rippled her spine, the idea he could be Rance’s great-grandson gave birth in her brain. Her mind was still ping-ponging that information, until one ball landed in a hole. “When was your grandfather born?”

  “My grandfather?” He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “You must have some idea,” she insisted.

  “Why?” He glanced toward the house and back at her. “Wondering if the rumors are true? That Rance was my granddaddy’s father?”

  She shrugged, yet that possibility was gathering momentum. If he and Rance had to be related, she’d much prefer a fourth cousin twice removed or some other distant relative, but even that could mean Rance had children. With someone other than her.

  Hopeless. That’s what she was. Not only wanting to have sex with a ghost, she wanted to have his children.

  Lou leaned closer. “Want to know what I think about that?”

  She shivered, but then realized Lou couldn’t know what she was thinking. She’d give anything to be able to say no she didn’t want to know what he thought about Rance being his great grandfather, but she did want to know. Every last detail. “Yes.”

  “Then have dinner with me tonight.”

  “I thought you had plans.”

  “I do, but that doesn’t mean they can’t include you.”

  Her stomach flipped. Lou had the same brown eyes and dark hair as Rance. He wasn’t as handsome. Well, to some, Lou might be considered very handsome, just not her. Back in school, when all the other girls where ogling over one guy or another, she’d never understood why. She’d always found something that wasn’t right about them. About every man she’d ever met. Up until Rance.

  She closed her eyes for a moment, once again searching for a coherent thought.

  “You have to be hungry. You’ve been out here all day.”

  Opening her eyes, she glanced toward the house. Why was that? Why did Rance seem to have every quality she’d deemed as must haves at one time in her life? Why was he able to make her feel things, to recog
nized things, that no one else ever had?

  “I’ll let you in on all the family secrets,” Lou coaxed.

  Her gaze had gone to the second floor, and she wondered if Rance could see them. Most likely not, unless something had changed, yet she had the distinct feeling he was there, watching her. The curtains were parted, and she distinctively recalled pulling them together when she’d closed the window.

  “Personally, I think my mother came up with that story, about Rance being Robert’s real father.”

  She snapped her head around. “You do?”

  “Yep,” Lou said.

  “Why would she have done that?”

  “To cover up the fact half the town wondered if I belonged to Leonard.” Lou lifted a brow. “While Daddy had been out prowling for wife number four, Mommy hadn’t been sitting at home twiddling her thumbs. She knew she was on her way out and figured if she could finagle a way for me to inherit Rance’s place, she wouldn’t end up empty-handed like wife number one and two had.”

  Her gaze had gone to the house again. Rance would never condone jumping from wife to wife as Leonard evidently had. He loved Beth too much for that. Or maybe, that’s why it happened. Maybe because he’d loved Beth so much and never saw her again, he became a woman hater and instilled that trait in his grandson.

  “What about Robert?” She turned to Lou. “Was he married several times?”

  He shrugged. “Have dinner with me and I’ll tell you.”

  A lump formed in her stomach. Having dinner with him seemed wrong. He was the enemy. She sighed at her own thoughts. Lou was no more the enemy than anyone else, and having dinner with him wasn’t going to hurt anyone. Not her. Not Rance. In fact, it might help. She needed to know more. Furthermore, of the two, her gut instinct said she preferred Lou over Nate ten-fold.

  “All right.”

  Lou grinned and spun around. “I’ll pick you up at your motel.”

  “No.” She pulled open the driver’s door of her car. “Just tell me where. I’ll meet you.”

  Already climbing in his car, Lou laughed. “I’ll pick you up in an hour, Liz.”