That was pretty much what Harlan Patrick had expected. “And Slade?” he inquired.
“What about him?” she asked with a telltale touch of color in her cheeks.
“Does he remain a mystery?”
“Pretty much.” She slanted a curious look at him. “What do you know about him?”
“Probably not much more than you.”
“He works for you. Didn’t he come with a resumé?”
“Of course, but believe me, it was very succinct and focused almost exclusively on what he knows about horses. In the end those were the only qualifications we cared about.”
“How’d he get the limp?”
“A rodeo accident, I suppose. As long as he can do the job, I saw no point in probing into how it happened. Besides he’s made it clear he doesn’t want to talk about it.”
She grinned at that. “He doesn’t want to talk about anything.”
“You didn’t let a little thing like that put you off, did you?”
“Of course not. I considered it my duty to try to get one entire sentence out of him, something beyond yup and nope, that is.”
“And did you?”
“Eventually.”
“What did he say?”
“‘I’m going to the bunkhouse now,’” she reported, then sighed. “Not exactly what I’d hoped for.”
Harlan Patrick chuckled. “He didn’t invite you along, did he?”
“Oh, no. He all but shoved me toward the main house.” Her eyes sparkled with indignation. “I could have been insulted.”
“But you weren’t?”
She shrugged. “It takes a lot more than that to rattle my chains. It just made me more curious.”
“Too bad you don’t have longer to try to figure out what makes him tick,” Harlan Patrick suggested slyly.
She gave him an amused, knowing look. “Oh, something tells me I’ll be back here before too long. And when I am, Slade Sutton doesn’t stand a chance. I haven’t run across a challenge like that man in a very long time.”
Bingo, Harlan Patrick thought triumphantly. He glanced over toward Laurie and found her gaze on him. She looked away at once, but not before he caught the bleak expression in her eyes.
What on earth was she thinking? he wondered, then realized he’d caught her looking at him just that way on the tour bus when he and Val had been huddled together making the plans for this trip. Was it possible that she was jealous of the friendship he and her assistant were forming? Surely not.
Then again, if she was, if she didn’t grasp even now how totally and thoroughly committed he was to her, maybe he could make the insecurity work to his advantage, too.
He settled back and pondered how to go about it. Maybe he should make a point of inviting Val back to White Pines for a visit in Laurie’s hearing. Val wouldn’t mistake the invitation for anything other than another chance to try to unravel the mystery of Slade Sutton, but Laurie? Who knew what she might make of it? Maybe it would shake her if she thought there was a chance she was going to lose him to a woman who had no hesitations at all about making the same choice that Laurie herself refused to make.
Was the plan devious? Of course. Would anybody get hurt? No one he could think of. Was it risky? Wasn’t just about everything?
But on the chance it could work, it was a gamble he was more than willing to take. He intended to get Laurie to realize that they were meant to be together, no matter what it took, no matter how many obstacles had to be overcome. He just prayed his imagination was up to the task.
* * *
Tired of the pointed questions being asked about her plans for the future, Laurie broke free from her conversation with Sharon Lynn and went in search of Harlan Patrick, praying she wouldn’t find him off somewhere with Val. She had no idea what sort of bond those two had formed, but she wasn’t crazy about it. They’d already hatched up one kidnapping scheme. Who knew what they would come up with next.
She found Harlan Patrick outside—alone, thankfully—and joined him.
“I’d like to get back into town,” she said stiffly. “I want to spend a little more time with my mother before we leave tomorrow.”
He slanted a skeptical look at her. “Is that it? Or are you just anxious to get away from my family? Are they getting to you, Laurie? Are you beginning to feel guilty about keeping Amy Lynn from them and from me?”
“I’ve always felt guilty about that,” she retorted candidly. “But I did what I thought was best at the time and, frankly, I’m sick to death of apologizing for it. What’s done is done, Harlan Patrick. I can’t change it, and I won’t let you use it to blackmail me into giving you your way.”
“Is that what I’m doing?”
“Of course it is. You tried threats and that didn’t work. You tried charm, and that didn’t work either. You’ve even tried sex. Now you’re letting your whole family gang up on me. I’m sick to death of it.” Tears threatened, but she refused to shed them, blinking rapidly to keep her eyes dry.
He looked about ready to explode. “Do you honestly think that’s why I made love to you?” He threw up his hands. “Forget it. Let’s say that I did. Have you even once considered that I am trying all those things because this is too important for me not to use every weapon I can think of to get your attention?”
“It’s not a war, dammit.”
His gaze, as serious as she’d ever seen it, met hers evenly. “It is to me. I’m fighting to hold on to my family.”
She swallowed hard at that, but she didn’t relent. She couldn’t. “We’re not your family, Harlan Patrick.”
“Like it or not, darlin’, Amy Lynn is my daughter. Around here that’s about as close a family tie as you can have. I’ll do whatever I have to, Laurie. My first choice would be to marry you, but you don’t seem to want anything to do with that. Since that’s the case, I have to consider my other options.”
She regarded him worriedly. “What options?”
“I haven’t settled on any yet. When I do, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Is that a threat of some kind?”
“You can take it any way you like.”
She studied his intractable expression and sighed. “Have we really come to this?”
“Apparently,” he said with evident regret. “Just remember one thing, Laurie. It was your choice, not mine.”
She started to argue, but there seemed to be little point to going another round with him. He had his opinion about where the fault lay. She had hers. In the end it probably didn’t even matter. All that really counted was that they were at an impasse. Again.
“Will you drive us back to town now? Or should I ask Justin? He and Patsy don’t live all that far from my mom. I’m sure he’d love to have twenty uninterrupted minutes to get his two cents in. He’s been scowling at me ever since he got here. Seeing that gun strapped to his waist and that badge of his gives me the jitters.”
Harlan Patrick actually grinned at that. “It pretty much had the same effect on me at first, but I’m getting used to it. I’m starting to enjoy tormenting him. As for giving you a lift, I’m sure he’d be delighted to, but there’s no need. When the time comes, I’ll take you.”
He started to reach out, almost tangled his fingers in her hair, in fact, but then to her relief he drew back.
“We’ll go right after dinner.”
She balked at the delay. “I said I wanted to go now.”
“We don’t always get what we want in life, do we? You’ve certainly made up your mind to see that I don’t.”
“And this is payback?”
“Oh, no, darlin’. When payback comes, you’ll recognize it right off. This is about my grandfather and the fact that he’s already got the grill fired up and he’s planning a big ol’ barbecue to welcome you back into the fold. I don’t want him to be disappointed.”<
br />
If it was a ruse, it was a clever one. He knew she would never do anything to openly defy his grandfather’s wishes. Harlan Adams had been too kind to her over the years.
“Fine,” she said tightly. “After dinner, then.”
“And just to show you that I am a reasonable man, I will have someone pick up your mom and bring her out here to join us. How about that?”
Relieved at the prospect of having an ally at last, she nodded. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
“I’ll go and make the arrangements, then.”
She watched him go, hating that there was such tension and bitterness between them. Conversations were either stiff and awkward or they rapidly disintegrated into fights. Once they had shared everything, talked for hours, laughed together over the silliest things.
It had almost been easier before they’d made love. Now, knowing that the chemistry hadn’t died, it was more difficult than ever to accept that love just wasn’t enough.
“You still love him, don’t you?” Val asked, joining her on the porch. “I can see it in your eyes.”
“No, of course not,” Laurie denied. “It was over a long time ago.”
“Right. That explains why you came back here wearing his shirt and without a single button on your blouse. I saw it all knotted up and stuffed in your bag. That story about falling in the creek didn’t quite ring true since your pants weren’t the least little bit damp. I like the little midriff effect you tried so it wouldn’t look quite so much like Harlan Patrick’s shirt. Some people might never guess what happened. Of course, none of those people are inside.”
Laurie groaned. “They know?”
“They’re not blind. If the blouse hadn’t been a dead giveaway, the color in your cheeks would have been.” She studied Laurie intently. “Are you crazy? The man worships you. Why are you making things so difficult for him? Is there something I’m missing?”
“How many times do I have to explain that this isn’t about Harlan Patrick? For that matter, why do I have to explain anything to you? You work for me.”
The color drained out of Val’s face. “I thought I was also your friend,” she said quietly. “My mistake.”
She started to leave, but before she could go, Laurie caught her arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. You know you’re more than an employee. I don’t know what I’d have done without you the last couple of years. You’re the best friend a woman could ever have.”
“May I make a suggestion, then?”
“Of course.”
“You might want to get a lawyer.”
Shocked, Laurie stared at her. She could feel the blood draining out of her face. “Why do you say that?”
“My impression of this family is that they fight fair, but they fight to win. Unless you and Harlan Patrick reach some sort of compromise about your daughter, I’d guess that he’ll have you in court so fast, it’ll make your head swim.”
“Has he said that?” Laurie demanded. “Is that what the two of you have been huddling about? Has he been making threats?”
“No, our conversations have been about Slade mostly.”
“Then why would you say something like that? How did he get you on his side?”
“I’m not on his side,” Val said patiently. “But Laurie, wake up. Face facts. You’re keeping his daughter away from him. He’s suggested you let her stay here while you finish your tour. You said no. He’s asked you to marry him. You’ve said no.”
“How do you know all that?”
“I listen. In this crowd it doesn’t take long for word to get around.” She regarded Laurie intently. “How long do you think it’s going to be before he tires of taking no for an answer and sets his own agenda?”
The truth was he had already hinted at it more than once. She’d even asked him about veiled threats earlier, but he’d denied he was making any. “What should I do?”
“Work it out. Be reasonable. Now, personally, if it were me and I had a guy like him that crazy about me, I’d be at the courthouse taking out a wedding license, but that’s me.”
“He knows why I can’t marry him,” Laurie said defensively.
“No, he knows why you won’t marry him,” Val corrected. “If you wanted to make it work, you could.”
When Laurie started to protest, Val held up her hand. “Never mind. It’s between the two of you. I’m butting out.”
“That’ll be a first.”
“Well, it may not last, so be grateful for now.” She grinned. “As for me, I think I’ll take a little stroll down by the bunkhouse.”
Laurie regarded her with amusement. “Slade wouldn’t be down there, by any chance?”
“Could be.”
“Since when do you go chasing after a man?”
“Believe me,” Val said ruefully, “this one will not come chasing after me. I’m compromising. You might want to watch. It’s easier than you think.”
“Very amusing.”
“I meant it to be instructive.”
Val had walked about ten yards when Laurie realized that she was no longer wearing the sneakers she’d borrowed and put on earlier. She’d changed back to a more typical pair of slinky, totally inappropriate high heels. Laurie was pretty sure she knew why.
“Hey, Val, be careful. You’re wobbling,” she taunted.
“I am not wobbling. I’ve been walking in heels my entire life,” Val called back.
“Not on a ranch. What happened to your sneakers?”
Val grinned. “They don’t do nearly as much for my legs.”
“I hope he’s worth breaking your neck for.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Laurie watched her go, struggling between amusement and wistfulness. There had been a time when she had been just as giddy, just as eager to impress Harlan Patrick. For a little while earlier, she had recaptured that feeling by being in his arms again. All of those old yearnings had rushed through her, reminding her that once there had been a period of innocent belief that they could conquer anything.
As she walked back toward the house, she saw her mother emerging from a car along with Justin’s wife, Patsy, and her son, Billy. Billy went racing off on sturdy little legs to join the other children crowding around their great-grandfather on the patio. Laurie went to meet her mother.
“Hey, Mom, I’m glad you came.”
As Laurie linked arms with her mother, she smiled at Patsy, who appeared to be about fifteen months pregnant. “Thanks for bringing my mom out.” Gesturing toward Patsy’s huge belly, she asked, “When are you due?”
“Any day now, thank God. I’m not sure I’ll be able to haul myself up out of a chair if I get any bigger. Justin’s threatened to keep the town tow truck handy in case I get too big for him to manage.”
“You should have seen me at nine months,” Laurie said. “I felt like a blimp. I knew no baby on earth could weigh that much, which meant I was going to have a devil of a time losing the excess weight. Staying in seclusion meant I had way too much time on my hands to eat.”
Laurie’s mother interrupted. “I’m going to leave you two girls to talk about babies. I want to say hello to Harlan and Janet and thank them for including me.”
She left before Laurie could protest. She glanced at Patsy, who was studying her enviously. She expected some sort of remark about her choice to stay in seclusion to keep her pregnancy a secret from Harlan Patrick.
Instead, Patsy said, “Obviously you didn’t have any trouble with getting the weight off again. You’re gorgeous. Practically skinny, in fact. How’d you do it?”
“I brought in a personal trainer and set up a gym. The man had no mercy.”
Patsy sighed. “Well, I’m afraid a trainer’s out of the question on our budget. I guess I’ll have to get back in shape the old-fashioned way, by ch
asing after the kids and starving myself to death.”
Laurie decided then and there that she would send her trainer on an extended trip to Los Piños as her baby present to Patsy. The man could work miracles in a month. Faster if he hated being stuck in what he was likely to consider the middle of nowhere.
“Don’t worry about a thing,” she told Patsy, making a mental note to have Val call the trainer in the morning and make the arrangements. “You’ll do just fine. You did after Billy was born, didn’t you?”
“I never got this huge with Billy. Will wasn’t around the way Justin has been. Justin hovers. If I don’t have a glass of milk in my hand and snacks in front of me, he’s certain the baby will be undernourished. The man is driving me crazy.”
“Better you than me,” Laurie murmured.
Patsy grinned. “I heard that. Has he been giving you a rough time?”
“No more than anyone else around here. I can’t blame them, though. They just care about Harlan Patrick.”
“And about you and Amy Lynn,” Patsy insisted. “That’s the way this family is. They take everyone in if they know that a family member cares about them. They did with me.”
“But I’m not playing by the rules. I’m leaving again.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Patsy insisted. “You’re the mother of a great-grandbaby.” She gave Laurie’s hand a squeeze. “Around here that’s all that counts.”
“There you are,” Justin said, walking toward them with a plate of appetizers in his hand. Pretty much ignoring Laurie, he shoved the plate under his wife’s nose. “Try a little of this. It’s your favorite cheese.”
Patsy gave Laurie a weary grin. “See what I mean.” She ignored the plate and started away from him. “Justin, I’m not hungry. I’m saving room for steak.”
“One little bite,” he encouraged, trailing after her.
Laurie’s gaze followed them wistfully. She would have given anything to have had Harlan Patrick doting on her during her pregnancy.
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