by Ciana Stone
There it was, the question that had been lurking at the edge of her mind. The one she’d not allowed to be fully asked. Now she couldn’t avoid it. “I think I know what you’re getting at, Naomie and that’s pretty harsh.”
“Is it? Look, nothing's stopping you from moving in with him, becoming engaged or whatever, but – and I hate to say it, but a wife can’t be compelled to testify against her husband, so no matter what the evidence shows if you’re his wife, you’re sidelined.
“And,” she added. “You run the real risk that your family may turn their backs on you.”
Cici wanted to hang onto the anger, but she couldn’t. That part of her that was trained to think in terms of reason wouldn’t allow it. “I do love him, Naomie. And when he’s cleared– and I believe he will be, I do want to marry him.”
“Then tell him. If he loves you, then he’ll be willing to wait.”
“And if he won’t?”
“Then he just might not be the man you think he is.”
“You’re right. Thank you.”
“What are friends for?” Naomie gave her a hug. “I’m going to head back to Heritage and see how I can help, but I’m only a phone call away if you need me.”
“Thank you.”
Cici watched Naomie leave. She sat there for a while longer, thinking about what she wanted to say to Kal. Finally, she rose and went back inside. When she reached Kal’s room, he was alone.
“Did you get everything taken care of you needed to?”
“Yes. Did you think about what I asked?”
She walked over to sit beside him on the bed. “I did. I do want to marry you, Kal, but as silly as it may seem to you, I want the wedding of my dreams. And the honeymoon. And, to be completely honest, I’m afraid if we marry now, we’ll raise suspicion.”
“About what?”
“A wife can’t be compelled to testify against her husband, so if we were to marry before you’re cleared, it might look like we were trying to game the system, so to speak.”
“Shit, I didn’t think of that. I’m sorry. All I could think about was if that bullet had been a few inches lower or whatever, I might have been killed. It’s taken me my entire life to find you, Cici and I don’t want to waste one moment I could be with you.
“But I want you to have the wedding you’ve always dreamed of, and I want to be the man you’ve always dreamed of, so forget what I said. We’ll get married whenever and wherever you want, and it can be the biggest and most lavish affair in the world. As long as we’re together, nothing else matters.”
Cici kissed him, suddenly filled with relief. He’d shown his true nature and her belief in him was restored. He’d never have agreed if he were guilty and his proposal wasn’t about trying to cover guilt, it was about a man who’d come close to death and had realized that life was too short and too precious not to spend it with the one you love.
Cici felt like she’d finally found her path to happiness and she would grab onto that and cherish it as long as she could, because for the first time in her life she had someone who loved her just the way she was, without condition or requirements.
And that, to her, was a dream come true. They’d face whatever was to come, clear his name and start on a new life, together. Their happily-ever-after started now.
An Excerpt
Chapter One
Were it not for the fact that all the men wore dark suits and black Stetsons, the scene might appear to be a gathering for a more festive occasion. The family, every employee and their families, along with what seemed like half of Texas, was gathered under white canopies scattered across the vast lawn of Heritage.
Naomie Taylor stood apart from the crowd, watching children run around the lawn, laughing and chasing one another, oblivious to the grief and loss the Walker family suffered. She envied the children, their exuberance and innocence. To them life was forever.
It dawned on her that many adults lived under that illusion. They went about their lives as if their breaths were not numbered. It wasn’t until they lost someone that they stopped to think and then mourn the things they’d not done, the words they’d not spoken, the kindness they’d not shown.
She hoped she’d never be guilty of that and would always be mindful of the fragility of life and the value of each day and each person who populated her life. Someone touched her shoulder. Naomie turned her head and smiled at Cici Walker. “How’re you doing?”
“Making it.”
“How’s Kal?”
“His arraignment is tomorrow.”
“Do you want me to be there for support?”
“It would mean the world to me.”
“Then text me the time and place and I’ll be there.”
Cici hugged her. “Thank you for being such a good friend. I feel like I’m alone.”
“You’re not. The family will come around, just give them time, okay?”
“I’m trying. Oh,” she paused and smiled at a beautiful young blonde woman who approached them. “This is my cousin. I want you to meet her.”
The young woman walked over and hugged Cici. “Sounds like life has been kind of tough lately, Cuz.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Cici responded. “Amber, this is Dr. Naomie Taylor, friend and the woman responsible for the quarter horse breeding program on Heritage. Naomie, my cousin, Amber Walker.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Naomie smiled at Amber. “I’m a big fan of your father.”
“I hear that a lot.”
“He’s pretty remarkable. But then, that goes for the entire Walker family. I’m guessing you lean more toward the political side of things rather than ranching?”
“Actually, neither. I work for Nat Geo. Climate change is my thing.”
“Interesting. I’d love to hear about some of the places you’ve been and your observations.”
“And I’d like to hear from you about SynthBee and all these apiaries and wildflower fields you’ve talked Uncle Russ into funding.”
“Naomie has a talent for talking Dad into things,” Cici remarked.
“Well, no wonder. So, you and Uncle Russ are…?”
“Good friends.” Naomie answered.
“Interesting.”
“It’s time,” Mace joined them.
They fell in behind the crowd and everyone started the walk to the family cemetery. Naomie lagged, letting Cici and Amber chat as they walked. She preferred to let her thoughts turn to Robert and what he’d meant to her since she met him.
By the time they reached the family plot, she’d already soaked one tissue and had replaced it with a dry one. She stood near the back of the crowd and watched as the family took seats facing the casket.
Naomie wasn’t a religious person but appreciated what the minister had to say. Then he announced that Richard would say a few words.
There was one thing about Richard Walker. The man was eloquent and could deliver a profound message with few words. There weren’t many dry eyes when he sat back down. DeLyn stood and faced the assembly.
“I was lucky enough to share my life with Robert. As his wife, his friend and mother to his children. My life was blessed every day and I’ll miss him more than I can say, but I’ll give thanks every day for the time we had.
“This past year, someone new came into our lives. As you know, we have two fine sons, four wonderful grandsons, three fabulous granddaughters and one great-grandson who was the apple of Robert’s eye. What we never had was a daughter. This year it felt like we did thanks to Naomie Taylor.
“She and Robert would sit watching reruns of Gunsmoke, reciting the lines as they watched the shows so much and knew them so well. He and she seemed to find something in that show the rest of us didn’t. Wisdom and humor and things that were rather profound.
“Robert loved you, Naomie and I know you loved him, and I thank you for being the daughter we never had. I hope you’ll still be, and I know Rob would appreciate if you said a few words.”
Naomie had
not planned on speaking and wasn’t at all prepared, but with the kind things DeLyn had said, she couldn’t refuse so she made her way through the people. DeLyn hugged her and Naomie returned the embrace. “Thank you,” she whispered.
DeLyn smiled and nodded through tears and took her seat. Naomie looked around at everyone. “Like DeLyn said, I only met her and Robert during the last year, when I started working with Mr. Walker– Russell Walker, developing a quarter horse breeding program. Robert was interested and a knowledgeable breeder, so we hit it off.”
She paused and looked at the family. “He became family to me. He and DeLyn and I thank you for sharing them with me. He loved to laugh, could be the most irreverently funny person I’ve ever known, and was always willing to help a friend, give a hug or tell you when you were wrong– or acting like a jackass, as he was fond of saying.
“There are a lot of things I could say about Robert and why I came to love him, but those are things precious and private to me, so I’ll keep them that way. What I can say is that I learned this and it’s something I’ll never forget. One day, we went fishing at a lake near his home in San Antonio. I wasn’t catching a thing, but he was reeling them in and having a blast. I told him I was so glad we’d become friends and he said this to me. “A lot of people will walk in and out of your life, Naomie, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.”
She choked back tears, brushed at her eyes and continued, albeit a bit brokenly. “He left footprints in my heart that will never fade.” After one more breath, she looked not at the casket, but the sky above. “I may no longer be able to see you with my eyes, my friend, but I will feel you in my heart forever.”
Russell stood as she finished and walked over to take her hand and lead her over to stand beside the row of chairs where the immediate family sat. After a final prayer, the casket was lowered into the ground and the family rose, one by one, walked over and tossed a single lily into the grave. Russell handed her a lily and took her hand when he, as the last family member walked to the grave. Together they dropped the lilies into the grave then stood there, hand-in-hand, silent and still.
No one approached or spoke with them. The family and gathered friends, headed back to the house and soon they were alone. Russell spoke at last in a voice that sounded tired. “If he’d lived, he might have witnessed something extraordinary.”
“Like what?”
“There’s a good chance Richard will win the party’s nomination to run for President. He has a lot of support and people trust him. I think he’d be good for the country.”
“That’s incredible, and I know Robert would be so proud, but then he was already proud of both of you. You know that, right?”
“I do. Just like I know he was annoyed with me.”
“Why?”
That’s when he finally looked at her. “He thought I was stupid for not trying to put a ring on your finger.”
“A ring on–” It hit her. “Oh, yes, I know. He advised me to not let you crawl too deep into your hole of loneliness.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“It would’ve served no purpose to speak of it.”
“Are we making a mistake, Naomie?”
“I don’t know, sir.”
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Call me sir or Mr. Walker. Please, no more. My name is Russell. Russ to those closest to me.”
“Fine, then I don’t know, Russ.” She chose that moment to demonstrate she considered them close. “All I know for sure is that we do care deeply for one another – call it friendship or whatever, but I know beyond all doubt that you care, and you have to know the same. Whether there will come a day when you want that caring to be more than what it is now– well I have no control over that.
“So, for now, we have what we have. If and when the time comes that I have nothing more to accomplish here, then it will be time to figure out if there is a chance for me or if it’s time for me to go.”
“You mean you’ll stop being Miss Kitty to my Marshall Dillon and stop waiting for me to stop by for a cold beer and hoping I’ll stay for more?”
“I guess it could happen.”
“I don’t know that I could take that.”
“And I don’t know that I could ever walk away, to be honest. You and I–we’re, hell I don’t know what we are. It’s powerful, I do know that. But I don’t know what will happen because I’m not in this alone. But I do know that now isn’t the time to think or worry about it. Right now, your emotions are raw, and you’re angry and feeling a loss. Give yourself time to grieve, and to heal.”
“And then?”
“Then we face whatever is next.”
“Together?” He raised their clasped hands and kissed her knuckles.
“Together.” She agreed and for a moment thought she heard the echo of a departed loved one in her mind. That’s my girl.
Naomie smiled. Robert might be gone, but something of him would always live on in all the people who loved him.
Including her.
An excerpt from
Ruthless
Shattered series, Book 2
Releasing in March 2019
Chapter One
Samuels came to slowly. He opened his eyes and raised one hand to shield his face, squinting into the glaring sunlight. He came out of the daze much quicker when he noticed he couldn't see out of his left eye. He couldn't even open it. Gingerly, he touched his left eyelid and immediately let out a whine. “Jesus, what happened?”
Humiliation as intense as the pain in his eye swept over him as he remembered the confrontation with Morgan. He could remember everything up until the point she screamed and called him a bastard. That's when everything went black.
I'll be damned. She hit me! Amazement that a woman so small could pack such a wallop competed with acute embarrassment. She must've used a bat. Surely, she didn't drop him with her fist. At least he hoped not. He'd never hear the end of it if anyone found out.
Pushing himself up from the ground, he groaned in pain. He felt like he’d been hit in the head with a shovel. His head throbbed with every movement, and his eye felt like it was about to explode.
Samuels stumbled over to his car, climbed in and turned the rear-view mirror to look at himself. “Christ!” His eye was swollen completely shut. An ugly purple bruise was forming, starting at his eyebrow and running halfway down his face.
“Damn!” He started the engine and headed down the long drive. Just before he reached the open gate at the entrance of the ranch, it occurred to him to check the time. The clock on the car dash read 9:30. Good God, I've been out for over two hours!
When he reached the surveillance van, he wasted no time. He had to check the log and report in. He was already late for his morning report. It took only seconds to pull out his cell phone. Just as the operator came on the line, he hit the end button and looked at himself again in the visor mirror.
How am I going to explain losing her without letting anyone find out about this? The big ear had been trained on the house during the whole incident. He quickly queued the file, clamped the earphones down on his head and listened to the exchange between him and Morgan. It took less than two seconds for him to come to a firm decision. She had hit him with a tire iron.
He hit redial on his phone, and as he waited for the operator to answer, he began to go over his story in his mind.
*****
Cassie stopped at the towering iron gate that guarded the entrance of Victor's estate. Located on the outskirts of the city, it was immense. The house towered up three stories, looking bigger due to the ten–foot ceilings throughout the house. Finished in white stucco, it resembled a Spanish palace. Sitting a half mile from the road, its fifty thousand square feet was situated on one hundred acres of rolling meadows and sculptured gardens.
Victor had spotted the house several years ago, right after Cassie had begun working for him. Right about the time I took that trip to Rome,
she remembered. At the time, the house was occupied. However, Victor liked the estate and whatever Victor wanted Victor got. The owners were reluctant to sell, but Victor soon made them see the folly of saying no. Within a couple of months, the family's fortune took a drastic plunge downward. Facing imminent bankruptcy, they had no choice but to sell to Victor.
Cassie rolled down the window and punched the button at the bottom of a speaker set in a stone pillar.
“Yes?” A male voice came through the speaker.
“It's me.” She replied and waited for the gate to swing open.
“He's by the pool.” The voice directed as the gate parted to admit her. She parked near the large garage and slowly climbed out, feeling soreness in every muscle of her body. A grunt accompanied her motion as she tossed the keys to the young man wearing a white turban who stared at her with eyes round as saucers.
“What the fuck are you looking at Towel-head?” She glared at him then marched toward the rear of the mansion.
Cassie let herself in through a door in the tall brick wall surrounding the patio and pool. She saw Victor lying in a lounge chair on the opposite side of the pool, in the shade of sizeable wisteria-draped arbor. Clad in a white silk shirt that was completely unbuttoned and white swim trunks, he appeared to be sleeping.
Stiffly, she walked around the pool and stopped at the foot of his lounge chair. Victor opened his eyes, took one look at her disheveled appearance, and burst out in a loud chortle.
“New look?” He asked between bellows of laughter.
“Very funny!” She gingerly lowered herself into a chair nearby. “You shitass. You didn't tell me that Alexander bitch was a fucking maniac!”
That sent him into another spasm of hilarity. Victor held his stomach, shaking with laughter. Cassie fumed more with each loud burst. Finally, he wiped his eyes, still grinning widely.