by Ciana Stone
Copyright 2019, Ciana Stone
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, businesses, places, events, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2019 Ciana Stone
Cover by Syneca Featherstone
All rights reserved.
The Fire You Hold
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
The Fire You Hold © 2019 Ciana Stone
Cover art by Syneca
Electronic book publication June 3, 2019
Print book publication May 30, 2019
This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Original Syn
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.
Dedication:
For my honeyman – always and forever.
Special thanks
To a dear friend, Terri Eaches, who spots my mistakes
and makes me laugh like crazy with her hilarious remarks. You
are such a great friend and I love you dearly and can't thank you enough.
Previously in
A Death in Texas
Well, not everything is peachy for the Walker family. Despite being the owners of the largest single-family ranch in the country, having political and financial clout, they have their share of problems.
And tragedy.
Russell Walker is trying his best to stick to his guns in the vow he made to never get emotionally involved again. Having Naomie Taylor around makes that a challenge because as much as he doesn't want to admit it, he's crazy about the woman.
She feels the same, but promised not to push for more than he could give and right now that means she'll be his friend to the end, have his back and will develop for Heritage the most successful quarter-horse breeding program the world has ever seen.
They both mean to stick to the "friends only" vow, but neither one of them is having a easy time of it, so they both stay as busy as possible.
Which, for Naomie, includes putting in her two-cents about damn near everything. Like having land going unused when it could be put to good use. Heritage is, among other things, an energy producer, employing wind and solar fields to generate power.
Thanks to Naomie's suggestions, they are also now seeding those fields with flowers to attract pollinators, since one of Heritage's projects is apiaries and artificial bees.
And thanks to Naomie again, they are now developing their own natural treatments for pest control and to treat animals since they are a registered grower of organic crops and beef.
Such a project required hiring an expert in the field, and how lucky that Naomie has a friend Bailey Strong who happens to be an expert.
How lucky for Mace Walker, one of Russell's oldest sons, that Bailey Strong and he have an instant attraction. Not that Mace is the kind to jump right in and speed things along. Handsome as sin, he's still a shy guy who takes things slow. And sometimes slow can be very sexy. As Bailey is discovering.
While Mace is enjoying the flirtation stage of a new relationship, Russell's youngest child, Cici, is enjoying a new fling of her own. But there's little about it that's shy, hesitant or slow paced here. Cici is more the "guns blazing", "burn down the barn" kind of gal.
Kalvin Burton is nearly twenty years older than Cici, a self-made billionaire who has made a name for himself building resort cities for the rich and famous. Now he wants more. In his career, and his relationships. Kal wants to build a green city, one built entirely with recycled materials and run on clean energy. His dream is to have a city that isn't just green, but organic and one that uses no fossil fuels and produces no nonrecyclable waste.
That appeals to him in a way he can't explain to many people because most people he knows could care less about the environment. Cici understands because her family is in the business of organics.
Cici appeals to Kal on many levels, and he wasn't intent on rushing into sex. In fact, he held back because Cici has a reputation of being a ball-buster and a man-eater. She chews men up and spits them out, in and out of the courtroom.
She's the attorney for all the Heritage holdings and has made a name for herself as someone you don't want to cross. A legal assassin. She's been called that a lot and yes, she's earned it, but there are times she wishes her family would value her for more than her ability to legally shred their opponents.
It's not going to be easy for Cici to convince her father that having a relationship with a man Kalvin's age is smart. If he admits the age difference doesn't matter, then he'd have no armor to hide behind in his determination not to fall victim to his passion for Naomie.
If that were not enough, someone has started causing problems for Heritage. They find pesticides in a water supply, someone poisons cattle and there is arson that destroys property and kills horses. All evidence points to Kalvin Burton and just when Cici almost has her father convinced that Kal isn't the bad guy, her grandfather, Robert is shot and killed.
And guess who is lying shot on the ground nearby with a gun beside him? Yep, you guessed it. Kalvin Burton. Well, out of the pot and into the fire he goes, eh?
Wow, who said being rich was easy?
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 gathering. Along with the family, in attendance was every employee and their families, and what seemed like half of Texas, congregated 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 had suffered. She envied the children their exuberance and innocence. To them, life was forever.
It dawned on her it wasn't just the children who lived under that illusion. Most adults she knew went about their lives as if their breaths were not numbered. It wasn't until they lost someone they stopped to think and then mourn the things they'd not done, the words they'd not spoken, or the kindnesses 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 world. Just then someone touched her shoulder. Naomie turned her head and smiled at Cici Walker.
"How're you doing? " She took Cici's hand and gave it a squeeze. Cici's smile didn't quite reach her eyes, eyes marred with dark circles not even the artful makeup could hide. Naomie's heart broke for Cici and how difficult life was for her right now. Her grandfather was dead, and the man she loved was charged with his murder.
Cici was steadfast in her belief of Kal's innocence, and Naomie shared that belief. However, that did nothing to make up for the rift between Cici and her family.<
br />
"Making it, " Cici finally answered.
"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. Your 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. "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, a dear 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."
"I imagine so, 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 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 Russell 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."
Just then Cici's brother, Mace joined them. "It's time."
They fell in behind the crowd, and everyone started the walk to the family cemetery. Naomie lagged, letting Mace, Cici and Amber chat as they walked. She preferred to let her thoughts turn to Robert and what he'd meant to her. By the time they reached the family plot, she'd already soaked one tissue and 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 said. Then he announced Richard would say a few words. There was one thing about Richard Walker, he knew how to speak to people and make his words count. The man was eloquent and could deliver a profound message with surprisingly few words. There weren't many dry eyes when he took his seat. DeLyn stood and faced the assembly.
"I was lucky enough to share my life with Robert, as his wife, his friend and step-mother to his children. His love blessed me, 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, two 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 became family to us almost immediately and made us feel so important and loved. So loved. I can close my eyes and see her and Robert, sitting on the couch and watching reruns of Gunsmoke. They could recite the lines, they watched the shows so many times 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."
DeLyn's gaze searched the crowd and located Naomie. "Rob 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 it if you said a few words."
Naomie hadn't planned on speaking and wasn't at all prepared, but with the kind things DeLyn 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, 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 in what I was doing and was a knowledgeable breeder, so we hit it right 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, was 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 love him, but those are things precious and private, so I'll keep them that way. What I can say here, to all of you is that I learned something from him I'll carry with me always.
"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. "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'll feel you in my heart forever."
Russell stood as she finished and walked over to take her hand and lead her to stand beside the row of chairs where the immediate family sat. After a final prayer, they lowered the casket 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 flowers 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 well 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 to demonstrate she considered them close. "All I know for sure is that we care deeply for one another–call it friendship or whatever, but I know beyond all doubt you care, and you have to know the same. Whether there'll 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's something here for me or if it's time for me to go."
"You mean you'll stop being Miss Kitty to my Marshall Dillion? 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 if I could take that."
"And I don't know 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. What I do know is now i
sn'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.
Chapter Two
Naomie softly closed the bedroom door behind her and squeaked a little sound of surprise when she turned to find Russell leaning against the wall across from the bedroom. She'd spent the last couple of hours sitting with DeLyn, trying to give what comfort she could.
"She's asleep," Naomie said softly and took his arm to lead him away from the door. "And I convinced her to take something."
"Drugs?"
"Of course not. Something Bailey and I came up with. Herbs and minerals with a CBD oil base."
"You and your hemp."
"You'd be wise to pay attention to my love of hemp."
"How's that?"
"Do you really want me to launch into that right now?" They walked downstairs, and when he reached the foot of the staircase, he stopped and turned to face her. Even standing a step higher, she still wasn't eye-to-eye with him, but she was close enough to see the smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"I'm guessing it's something that might take a minute?" he asked.
She smiled at him. "At least. And you have family waiting for you. Trust me, I'll bend your ear about it soon if you're actually interested."
"I am."
"Then next time you stop by for a beer we'll talk."
"Are you headed home now?"
"I am."
"Want me to walk you to the cottage?"
"No, Cici is staying with me tonight so I'll see if she's ready to leave."