After watching Mary Dalton gather her daughters, Mallory smiled at Travis. “It occurs to me that with six kids, your mom must have been pretty good at herding. Maybe that’s where you and your brothers inherited the skill.”
He laughed. “It’s a good theory. And she’s anxious to take those talents out, dust them off and use them on the next generation of Daltons.”
“I understand your sister had a baby and that’s why she’s not here.”
“I like babies.” Lily looked way up at the tall cowboy. “Do you?”
“Yes, ma’am, I do.”
Mallory could almost hear the wheels turning in her niece’s head and decided a preemptive strike was called for. “Travis, you should know that Lily is a budding matchmaker.”
“Is that so?” He squatted down to her level. “Who are you trying to marry off, young lady?”
“Me.” Mallory felt as if someone was looking at her and glanced at the other group. Caleb was staring, but not at her. The frown was directed at his brother, and when it slid to her, she quickly turned away. “She thinks I need a husband.”
“Is that right?” he asked the little girl.
“Maybe.” The beginnings of hero worship glowed in her black eyes when she looked at Caleb’s brother. “And she likes cowboys.”
“Lily!” Mallory didn’t know whether to laugh or apologize. “That’s not true.”
Travis stood and there was laughter in his eyes. “So, you don’t like cowboys?”
“No. I mean yes—” She sighed. “I’m sure cowboys are lovely people for someone who’s looking for commitment.”
She noticed Caleb was still frowning, but this time his gaze was on her. Someone should tell him to be careful or his face could freeze that way. Or stop listening in on her conversation. He was close enough to hear and didn’t seem to be paying attention to what his father and brother were talking about.
“Are you aware, Mallory,” Travis was saying, “that you’re lumped in with all the other ladies who are affectionately known as the Rust Creek Falls gal rush?”
She cringed. This wasn’t the first time she’d heard that and didn’t like it any better now. “If I could have five minutes alone with whoever came up with that name they’d get a good talking-to.”
“You have to admit that the population of Rust Creek has increased with an influx of females.”
“So are you looking for a gal?” Mallory asked him, letting just a hint of sarcasm slip into her tone.
“No, ma’am, I’m not.”
“And why is that?”
“I’ve got my reasons,” he said mysteriously.
Although curious, Mallory wouldn’t ask, but if any of the town’s female newcomers heard him say that, from Sawmill Street clear up to the falls, there would be a line waiting to interrogate him and change his mind. Although she wouldn’t be one of them.
“Turnabout is fair play,” Travis said. “Are you looking for a husband?”
“No, sir, I’m not.”
“Fair enough,” he said, nodding. “So, why did you move here?”
Before she could answer, Mary and her girls returned and handed out drinks. Mallory took the wineglass and made sure her back was to Caleb. That turned out to be problematic because her skin prickled and she felt his gaze on her, no matter how stupid that sounded. Making something out of nothing was a flaw she was working on and now was an excellent time to practice stopping the habit.
But when she chanced a look, she caught him staring at her, and the intense expression on his face stole her breath. In her humble opinion, this was the very definition of mixed signals.
* * *
All through dinner Caleb had watched Travis put the moves on Mallory and he didn’t like it, not even a little bit. He was disturbed by the feeling, because earlier he’d deliberately joined a conversation that didn’t include her, then found himself wanting to hear everything she said to his brother.
Now dinner conversation was winding down and he knew table-clearing was next. When Mallory laughed at something his brother said, Caleb couldn’t take it anymore.
“Travis, you’re on dish detail.”
“I did it last week,” he protested.
“Nope. That was me. You’re up.”
Travis gave him a back-off look. “I don’t want to neglect our guest.”
Caleb didn’t like the sound of that. Age might have its privileges usually, but this time it was every man for himself.
His mother must have sensed something because she stood up. “Let’s stack these dishes and take them to the kitchen. Travis, Anderson, it’s your turn.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The oldest of the three brothers stood and took his sisters’ plates.
“I’ll entertain our guests.” Caleb looked at his brother and dared him to argue. “I’ll give them a tour of the garden.”
“Do I have to go?” Lily was sitting between his sisters. “I’m going to play a game with Lani and Lindsay.”
“Of course you can do that.” Mallory’s voice was quiet, but her expression showed equal parts unease and confusion.
Caleb was confused, too, and didn’t get his own behavior. All he knew was that he didn’t want his brother alone with her. He stood and walked around the table, then put his hands on her chair to slide it back so she could get up. Just in case Travis was planning a play, Caleb put his hand at the small of her back and ushered her out of the dining room. He guided her to the French door in the kitchen and opened it for her to walk outside.
The sun was low in the sky and would soon disappear behind the mountain. A light breeze carried the fragrances of roses and jasmine.
Mallory looked at the brick-trimmed patio and expanse of grass, bushes and flowers outlining the yard. Her gaze settled on the white gazebo in a far corner. “This is really beautiful.”
“Yeah. The folks really like it out here.”
“I want to do this in my yard. For Lily. There hasn’t been time yet since moving. Getting her settled was the priority and it was winter. Then spring arrived, but there was so much going on at work, people picking up the pieces of their lives after the flood.”
“Now we’re facing down another winter,” he said. “But when you’re ready, I can recommend a good landscape contractor.”
“That would be great.” She looked as if his being nice was unexpected.
He probably deserved that. “No problem.”
She walked across the grass to the gazebo and looked longingly at the wooden bench that lined the interior. “Is it all right if I sit?”
“Sure.”
She did and said, “This is so lovely.”
“Yeah.” But he was looking at her face. Instinct had him wanting to sit beside her but he held back, leaned his shoulder against the solid support beam beside her.
“You didn’t know I was coming to dinner, did you?”
That was direct and he liked her for it. No beating around the bush. “I didn’t know.”
“When