Temptation Ridge (Virgin River #6)(71)

“Romance,” she finally supplied. “Really, I can’t believe you’re having such a hard time with this. I’m seeing someone, Walt, just like you are. It’s not as if he’s married or a priest or anything.” She lifted one eyebrow at him. “Everyone in this family has someone, even eighteen-year-old Tom. You’d better get used to the idea I’m no different than anyone else.”

“You’re a little different,” he said with a smile. “Better, probably.”

“Phooey. I just want to be normal. Are you going to behave yourself?”

“What are you getting at?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“I just want to be sure you’re all right,” he said. “You’re a grown woman. If you’ve made up your mind, I’ll just hope all this works out for the best.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Are you going to be home tonight?” he asked.

“I sincerely hope not,” she said. “I’ll let you know.”

Luke was up on the ladder, scraping old chipped paint off the eaves of number three when the general’s Tahoe pulled up to his house. He had been expecting this, but he wasn’t sure how it would happen, or when. Luke climbed slowly down the ladder. He tucked in his shirt and mopped his face with a rag.

“Luke,” the general said. He did not extend his usual hand.

“Sir.”

“My niece hasn’t been home until morning the last few days.”

“You aren’t armed, are you, sir?”

“I knew where she was, of course. She was considerate enough to tell the family so we wouldn’t worry. But I thought you and I should have a little talk.”

“Go ahead, sir,” Luke said. He hoped it didn’t show that his stomach was twisting. Not because he was afraid of the general—he knew Walt wouldn’t really shoot him—but because he was afraid of the general somehow convincing Shelby she was making a big mistake. He’d barely gotten into this with her; he was a long way from being ready to give her up.

Walt’s cheeks darkened with a ruddy stain as he said, “She’s been with you every night and she hasn’t been riding. I don’t know what to think—that she’s not sitting a horse.”

Luke looked down and found his own cheeks warming. “Sir, I can honestly say, I haven’t ever been this uncomfortable in my life…”

“She says her back’s bothering her…”

“Then maybe her back’s bothering her…”

“I want something understood. Shelby might seem shy and sometimes not real sure of herself, but she’s very stubborn. She does as she pleases. She always has. She might go at it quietly, but once she’s decided, that’s it. I tried like hell to talk her out of putting her life on hold to care for her mother. Midge could have gone into a nursing home, at least at the end. But I didn’t make any headway because Shelby’s mind was made up.” He took a breath and shook his head. “I wasn’t sure getting involved with you was the best idea, even though I don’t dislike you.”

“I didn’t want her involved with me either, sir. But as you say, she’s stubborn.”

“Well, that gets us straight to the point—I can’t accuse you of coercing my niece or taking advantage of her. I was more than a little aware that she had you in her crosshairs, and I could see she was hell-bent.”

“Seems you’re right, sir.”

“It appears the die is cast. She’s made herself clear—she plans to spend a good deal of time under your roof. When she’s here, Riordan, you’d better be a gentleman.”

“Absolutely, General.”

“I’d be curious to know what kind of plans you have where my niece is concerned,” Walt said.

“Due respect, sir, it would be wrong for me to discuss any plans with you before talking to Shelby. And at the risk of being indelicate, Shelby and I have barely—”

“That’ll do,” he said, holding up a hand. “I know how that sentence was going to end. Leave it at that.”

Luke took a breath. “What I meant to say is—we’re just getting to know each other.” Luke stepped forward. “Sir, I’ve probably been around more than a father or uncle would prefer, but I’d like you to know that Shelby is treated with absolute respect when she’s with me. I consider it my responsibility to see she’s protected, that she’s safe with me. I treat her with great care.”

“You damn sure better. I love that girl. She’s very special.”

“Yes, sir. Very special.”

“I’m not an idiot about relationships, son. I have two kids who have been through a few—my daughter has already buried a husband at her young age…”

That grave, Luke thought. He would have to remember to ask Shelby about it. Luke had assumed Paul was Vanessa’s first husband.

“I understand things don’t always go smoothly,” Walt was saying. “Sometimes these things don’t work out, I’m not naive about that. This thing with you and my niece, it’ll either be a lasting thing or not—that’s yet to be seen. But if you do anything terrible to her…” He sucked in his breath. “You know what I’m talking about?”