The Bodyguard's Return by Carla Cassidy Page B

it was more than that. She sensed something dark in the depths of his green eyes, a torment that piqued her reporter interest.
    As the West ranch came into sight she thought of the family that lived inside the house. Joshua had told her that he’d returned to Cotter Creek because he’d missed his family.
    Whenever she’d spent time at the house with Meredith, she’d felt surrounded by the love the house contained, something she’d never felt in her own home.
    She’d long ago come to terms with the fact that her parents had been incapable of loving her the way children needed to be loved. But that didn’t mean that sometimes in the dark silent moments of the night or in a reflective pause during the day it didn’t hurt.
    She found it hard to imagine what the West house must have been like when there had been six small children inside. Now there was just Joshua and Meredith living at home.
    Tanner and his princess bride, Anna, had built a home on the West property. Zack had moved into the Sampson home with Kate. Clay and Libby had rented a house in town until their home could bebuilt, also on the West property, and Dalton also rented a place in town.
    She had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before the house would be filled with grandchildren. Already there was Gracie, Libby’s little girl, and Meredith had told Savannah the other day that she suspected Anna might be pregnant.
    Savannah didn’t think much about marriage or having children. Certainly she would love to have both those things someday in her future, but knew better than to pine for something that might never be.
    “Find a job you love, Savannah Marie,” her mother had often told her. “Because your job is probably all you’re going to have to fill your life.”
    Shoving away her mother’s voice, she parked in front of the sprawling ranch house and before she got out of the car she flipped the rearview mirror into position so she could see her reflection.
    She finger-combed her curls and checked her lipstick, then, realizing she was primping just in case Joshua was home, she frowned with irritation and snapped the mirror back into place.
    No amount of finger-combing could transform her red curls into lush blond waves. No amount of primping could erase the freckles that danced across her nose or make the shape of her nose more elegant, her cheekbones more pronounced.
    “You’re plain, Savannah Marie, and you might just as well accept the idea.” Her mother’s voice echoed in her ears.
    She grabbed her pen and notepad and got out of the car to the raucous barks of Judd and Jessie. She took a moment to pet Charlie’s dogs, then went up to the porch and knocked on the door.
    Red West greeted her, a broad smile lighting his features. He was a tall man, still fit despite his age although Meredith had told her he suffered from arthritis. He had all but retired from the family business, leaving it in his eldest son Tanner’s hands.
    “Hi, Savannah. I’m afraid you’ve missed Meredith. She already left to go shopping for a dress to wear to Clay’s wedding.”
    “Actually, I’m not here to see Meredith. I’d like to talk to Smokey.”
    Red’s eyebrows danced upward in surprise as he gestured her inside the door. “You know where to find him.”
    “Thanks.” She walked through the large living room and into the kitchen, where Smokey sat at the kitchen table reading the morning paper.
    “Too late for breakfast and too early for lunch so I can’t imagine what you’re doing here,” he said.
    She sat at the table next to him and smiled brightly, hoping she could wheedle him into the interview. “How are you doing this morning, Smokey?”
    “Same as I did yesterday morning, same as I probably will be doing tomorrow morning.” Smokey turned the page on the newspaper.
    “I see you’re enjoying this morning’s issue of the Cotter Creek Chronicle .”
    “Who says I’m enjoying it?” His grizzled eyebrows drew together in a frown.
    If she