He smiled. “Great now that I’m with you. Are you having a good time?”
“I am,” she said. “Are you?”
“Absolutely. I just got offered an opportunity of a lifetime. Luke Warrington wants to sell his ranch.”
“That’s good?”
“Yes. That’s the property on the other side of us,” Adrian said with a smile. “If we can make a deal, the Lone Wolf Ranch will be over three thousand acres.”
“Would that make you happy?”
“It would, but what makes me happier is dancing with you,” Adrian said.
For the next two hours, Adrian and Faith danced, socialized with guests, and ate. Faith had excused herself to go to the bathroom. Adrian and Steve talked while she was away.
“The Warrington Ranch would be a great coo,” Steve said. “We can afford it. I was talking to Josiah Phillips. He told me that two restaurants in Dallas were looking for meat suppliers. I think I can get the contracts.”
“That’s good,” Adrian said. “The more business, the better.”
A waiter walked up to Adrian. “A pretty woman asked me to give this to you, Mr. Matthews,” he said.
“Thank you,” Adrian said and took the note.
The waiter walked away.
Adrian opened the note. Meet me in the barn. He smiled. Faith had a naughty side. He felt like a teenage boy who was excited about a make-out session with his girlfriend.
“I take it that it’s good news – judging from the smirk on your face,” Steve said and sipped his bourbon.
Adrian chuckled. “Faith is so cute. She wants me to meet her in the barn.”
“Go, man,” Steve said with excitement. “If anyone asks where you are, I’ll cover for ya.” Steve took the drink out of Adrian’s hand.
Adrian grinned. “Thanks. You’re a good brother.”
Steve’s face brightened. “It’s about damn time you realized that.”
Adrian gave Steve a hard pat on his shoulder and headed for the barn.
****
Faith went to the bathroom and freshened up. She walked around the guests, looking for Adrian. She asked a couple of folks if they had seen him. They said no. Faith had hoped to spend more time with him today.
Steve approached her. “What in the hell are you doing out here?” he whispered.
“Um, I’m looking for Adrian,” Faith said.
“You were meeting him in the barn. What happened?” Steve asked with confusion.
Faith was confused, too. “What in the world are you talking about?”
“The note, Faith,” Steve whispered. “You gave a waiter a note telling Adrian to meet you in the barn.”
“No, I didn’t,” Faith said.
****
Adrian entered the barn. The daylight shined between the cracks in the wood. He saw a figure in the shadows. Adrian closed the barn door.
“Hey, Angel,” Adrian said as he took a few steps towards her.
She stepped out of the shadows. Adrian’s heart dropped. An ocean of emotions swept through him; rage, disbelief, disgust, bewilderment, outrage, shock. “Rosita,” he said.
“Hola, Adrian,” Rosita said as she walked to him.
“Stay back,” he said sternly.
She stopped in her tracks. “I had to see you. To make sure you were doing well.”
“How the hell did you get on the ranch without anyone seeing you?” Adrian asked.
She gave him a small smile. “There are hundreds of people here. I stuffed my hair under a cowboy hat, put on some blue jeans, and blended in. I saw you dancing with my cousin’s girlfriend, who I now suspect is really your girlfriend.”
“What do you want, Rosita?” he asked darkly.
“I told you. I wanted to see you. To make sure you were all right.”
“When have you ever cared about my well-being?” he asked darkly.
“I’ve always cared about your well-being,” she said and took a step towards him. “I know now. I know how I hurt you. I know I made the biggest mistake in my life when I betrayed you. Oh, Adrian.”
“Stay away,” he said and took a step back. “You’re poison.”
“No,” she said loudly. “Not anymore. I’ve learned the error of my ways. I’ve paid for them – in spades. I’m stuck in a loveless marriage with a man who doesn’t want me…or his child. I came back to make peace with my family, but Uncle Jose and Aunt Maria have refused my efforts. My husband...he has kidney failure. It’s made him a crude man. So much so, I have to go through extra efforts to stay away from…to protect my child from him.”
Adrian wasn’t sure if she was telling the truth or not. Rosita was an excellent actress. That’s how she was able to hurt him the way she had. “How is this my problem?”
Rosita was stunned by the question, but she recovered quickly. “I…I’m not here to make it your problem. I came here to see you. To make amends.”
“It’s been four years,” Adrian said with astonishment. “I’ve moved on.”
“Yes,” Rosita said, and walked towards him. “Faith is an attractive and sweet woman, but does she have my fire?”
“No, and I’m glad,” Adrian said sharply.
Rosita kept approaching him. She pulled her hat off her head, letting her long dark hair fall down her back and shoulders. She tossed the hat to the side. Her blouse was unbuttoned, showing off her blue lacey bra that hugged her DDs. “Adrian, I know that I hurt you. I know that I caused you and your family trouble, but I’m here now. I’m here to make it right. You’re a good man. I see that now. I see what I destroyed.” She unbuttoned the last two buttons on her blouse, and shrugged it off her shoulders, letting the cloth fall to the ground. “Adrian, I was young and foolish. I’m not foolish anymore. I’ve grown. I’ve changed. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, we can start over. We-”
“No,” he shot at her. “Even if you are telling the truth, it’s too late. I don’t love you anymore.”
The words stung her. Adrian could tell. He just wanted her gone. “Get off of my ranch,” he said darkly.
She blinked, but she kept coming. “You don’t mean that. You had a passion for me. I can make it right again. We can be happy. You’ll love my little Carlos. He’s the sweetest little thing.”
Adrian felt bad for the kid, but he couldn’t get involved. “You made me think he was mine.”
“No, you assumed that he was. I just didn’t correct you until later,” Rosita said.
Adrian scoffed with disgust. “Changed, my ass. You haven’t changed. If anything, you’ve become worse, playing word games with me now. You knew what you were doing back then. If that rich fat cat hadn’t come for you, you would have let me give that boy my name and lied for a lifetime about me being his father!”
Her lips trembled.
“Oh no,” he said as he pointed at her. “That ‘pouty lips, I’m about to cry’ routine doesn’t work on me anymore.”
She leaped like a cat into his arms. “Kiss me, mi amor,” she whined. “Then, you will know that I am true.” Her lips pressed against his as she rubbed her breasts against his chest.
He wanted to vomit in his mouth. If he didn’t know any better, he would have sworn he could taste the venom in her. Adrian placed his hands on her upper arms, pushing her away.
“Holy shit!” Steve shouted.
Adrian turned his head, breaking the kiss. He opened his eyes to see Steve and Faith slack-jawed with shock.
“What the fuck are you doin’?” Steve asked with astonishment.
Faith turned and quickly walked away.
“Faith!” Adrian yelled.
“Leave her alone,” Steve snarled. “Now, answer my question. What are you doing in here with this...this…bitch?”
“She kissed me,” Adrian said defensively
“Si, but he wanted me, too,” Rosita said with malice. “We belong together whether you like it or not.”
“Steve,” Adrian said. “Rosita ambushed me.”
“Really? How did her shirt disappear?” Steve asked with twisted lips.
“Damn it, Steve!” Adrian yelled. “You knew that I thought Faith was in here. I said it to you. Remember?”
Steve’s head cocked up. He looked at Adrian, and then he glared at Rosita. “You are the most treacherous leach of a woman I have ever seen in my life,” he said to Rosita. “Get out before I break your neck.”
“Are you going to let him talk to me like that, Adrian?” she whined defensively.
“You heard him,” Adrian said darkly. “Put your fuckin’ shirt on and get the hell out of here. Unless you want me to tell your Uncle Jose that you’re here. Something tells me he is lying in wait to tear into you.”
“You’ll pay for treating me like this,” Rosita shrieked like a banshee. “Hypocrites. All the people in this town are hypocrites, and you are not better than me! I make one mistake, and I am branded with an A on my chest for the rest of my days!”
“Yeah yeah yeah, get the fuck out!” Steve yelled.
Chapter 27
After seeing Adrian and Rosita together in the barn, Faith went to the stables where the horses were kept. She went in and was surprised to see Ray making out with a blonde.
Ray’s shirt was unbuttoned. “Shit, Faith, uh,” he stuttered.
The blonde’s mouth dropped open.
Is everyone making out on the ranch today? Faith thought with annoyance.
“Easy, Ray, I’m not your mother. I just came down here to get Lily. I’m in the mood for a ride,” she said.
“I’ll saddle her up for ya,” Ray said.
“I know how to saddle a horse now,” Faith said as she walked to the saddles and harnesses.
“I know, but let me do it,” Ray said as he quickly buttoned his shirt. “You look like you’re mad about something, and horses pick up on emotions. You might spook her.”
“Fine, fine,” Faith said and crossed her arms.
As Ray was saddling up Lily, Faith looked at the blonde. “I’m sorry for interrupting. I didn’t know you were in here. I’ll be gone for a while. You two can get back to…what you were doing.”
“It’s fine, honey,” the blonde said. “I’m Mary.”
“Faith,” she said.
“I know we don’t know each other, but are you all right?” Mary asked. “It seems something is really bothering you.”
“I’ll be okay,” Faith said. “Truth is, I have no one but myself to blame.”
Faith should have known it was too good to be true. Nice good-looking men didn’t fall for Faith. She attracted losers, bums, and trifling asses. She should have known that a man like Adrian wouldn’t move on that easy. Deep down, he still loved Rosita. He started settling for her because he thought Rosita was lost to him forever. Faith wanted to get away from everyone for a while so she could think.
“All right, Faith, she’s ready for ya,” Ray said as he led the all-white beauty out the stable doors.
Faith followed.
“Odd riding outfit,” Ray teased with a smile.
The corner of Faith’s mouth weakly kicked up. “Yeah, but it’s not going to hurt. That’s why they invented washing machines.”
“I put a bottle of water and a walkie-talkie in the side satchel. You know where ya going?”
“Yeah,” Faith said as she got on the saddle. “Adrian gave me a mini-tour of the ranch a week or two ago. I have a good sense of direction.”
“All right, but if you get in trouble or lost, use the walkie-talkie. Someone will hear ya,” Ray said.
“Thanks,” Faith said and gave the horse a swift kick. “Yah.”
The horse started off in a gallop.
****
Adrian had been looking for Faith for an hour through the crowd of guests. Steve and Joey were keeping an eye out, too.
Adrian and Steve approached Aunt Bea. “Any sign of her?”
“No,” Aunt Bea said. “I asked a couple of folks, but they hadn’t seen her.”
“She’ll turn up,” Steve said.
Adrian had no doubt that she would, eventually, but he needed to talk to her now. Who knows what she’s thinking right now. “Do you think she left the ranch?”
“I don’t think so,” Aunt Bea said. “She wouldn’t take my car without telling me, no matter how upset she is.” Aunt Bea looked up in the sky. “It’s a good thing I ordered tents this year. It looks like we might get a shower.”
Adrian and Steve glanced up to see dark clouds rolling in from the horizon.
Ray and Mary approached them.
“Hey, why the long faces?” Ray asked merrily. “I know it looks like it’s going to rain, but it won’t ruin the BBQ. We’ll get under the tents.”
“It’s not that. Faith is missing,” Adrian said.
“No, she isn’t,” Ray said. “We saw her an hour ago.”
“Where?” Adrian asked.
“The stables,” Ray said. “She wanted to go for a ride. I saddled Lily up for her, and she took off.”
“How did she seem?” Adrian asked. “I mean….did she say anything?”
“Not much,” Mary said. “She seemed mad about something. I tried askin’ her about it. All she said was that she had no one but herself to blame.
Adrian’s gut churned. “Which way did she ride off to, Ray?”
“She rode towards the east end,” Ray said.
“Thanks,” Adrian said and started walking away.
“What are you going to do?” Steve asked.
“I’m getting Blaze and going after her.”
“Want me to come with you?” Steve asked.
“No. I need to handle this,” Adrian said.
“Don’t worry,” Ray said. “She has the walkie-talkie.”
Adrian nodded and started striding to the stables.
Chapter 28
The sky opened up to a downpour. Faith was too far away to make it back to the ranch before it started. She didn’t really care, though. It would let up or stop altogether soon enough. As long as thunder and lightning didn’t come along to spook her horse, she would be fine. Lily didn’t seem to mind the rain. The wet skirt of Faith’s dress clung to her thighs.
Faith couldn’t get over how stupid and naïve she had been for the past four weeks. She should have known that this thing with Adrian would fall apart. She was thirty-one years old, and she hadn’t had one relationship work out. She and her high school boyfriend broke up three months before graduation. The guys she dated in community college turned out to be a self-serving jerk. The guy she dated when she first got the job at the hotel turned out to be married. When it came to men, it never worked out for her. She had thought she was destined to be alone for the rest of her life, and then Adrian came along. During the past few weeks, she actually started thinking Adrian could be the one. He was a kind man who loved his family and had a strong character, or so she thought. No. Adrian couldn’t help how he felt about Rosita. If he wants her, so be it. She was alone before she came to Texas. She can be again.
She wiped the excess water from her face with her hand. A barn came into view. She had seen it before. It was a spare barn the ranch hands used to store hay and the horses if they were working at this side of the ranch. Faith guided Lily to it. She was a foot away from the overhang outside of the barn. There was a trough and dry hay. Faith dismounted. She was going to walk Lily to the overhang. Then, she was going to go inside the barn and wait out the rest of the shower.
“Faith!” a man shouted in the distance.
Faith turned around abruptly at the sound of her name.
Adrian was riding hard towards her on Blaze. He pulled the reins up when he got closer to her. The stallion’s front hooves rose off the ground an inch as he came to a stop six inches away from her.
Adrian was just as drenched as she was. His shirt clung to his upper body.
“What are you doing out here?” Faith asked.
“Me?” he asked an octave above his normal voice as he dismounted. He grabbed Bla
ze’s harness and started walking toward her. “What are you doing out here?”
“I got caught in the rain,” Faith said. “I was going to wait it out here.”
His eyes traveled over her body.
She felt exposed. Her dress was clinging to her body. Since it was white, she figured it didn’t leave much to the imagination. She wasn’t even wearing a bra.
“Let’s get the horses in the overhang. Then, we’ll go in the barn and talk,” he said.
“No,” she said as she started to guide Lily to the overhang. “There’s no need. I get it. You want to be with her. That’s fine,” she said over her shoulder. She guided Lilly to the entryway. The horse walked in on her own.
“No, I don’t,” Adrian said as he guided Blaze to follow Lily.
“You could have fooled me,” Faith shouted as rain fell on her face. “Do you normally kiss women in their bras when you don’t like them?”
“She came on to me,” Adrian said.
Faith blew out and wiped the water away from her face again. “You don’t have to sugarcoat it. I get it, okay?” She started walking away from him. It was hard to walk in her heels in the wet grass. She took her shoes off and carried them in her hand.
“Look at me,” he said desperately as he came up behind her.
Faith turned around. She lifted her head up to look at him.
Adrian’s eyes were vulnerable and full of worry. “I got a note asking me to meet you in the barn. Well, I thought it was from you. When I got there, it turned out to be Rosita. I told her to leave. I told her to go back to wherever the hell she came from. She kept coming. She took off her blouse and kissed me. I was trying to push her off me when you and Steve came in.”
Faith thought about what he said. It could be true or was she hoping it was true?
“I think you know me pretty well by now. If I wanted her and not you, I would have told you straight up. Not hide it in the barn like some teenage boy. If I wanted Rosita and not you, I wouldn’t be out here in this damn downpour looking for you. I would be with her,” Adrian said seriously.
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