“May I offer either of you two ladies a drink?” Gunther asked.
Felicia perked up. “I’d love some scotch.”
“Lee Ann?”
“No, thank you. I’m not much of a drinker.”
Gunther nodded and poured Felicia her drink, handed it to her and sat down.
“You’re not having a drink either, Gunther?” Felicia asked. “You usually do.”
“Enjoy yours. I’ll probably have wine with dinner.”
“I was wondering, do you have your own wine cellar?” Felicia leaned forward waiting for the answer.
Lee Ann tried to keep from smiling but it didn’t work.
“No, I don’t. I wouldn’t do it justice if I had one. I can’t afford the luxury of expensive wine. We have a few wineries close by, and I buy from them. I like to keep as local as I can. Support the local economy and all.”
“So, Lee Ann how long have you known Gunther?” Felicia wore an I don’t really care but I’m being polite smile on her face.
“We’ve been together forever. He was my first kiss. I’ve been away on business for a bit but I’m home now.” Lee Ann sat back and crossed her ankles. She was enjoying the look of shock on Gunther’s face and the one of annoyance on Felicia’s.
“Dinner is ready!” Agnes called.
Lee Ann and Gunther stood but Felicia put her hand out waiting to be helped up. So, Felicia was a helpless one. Good! Gunther didn’t like helpless females.
Agnes led them into the kitchen and gestured for them to sit at the ancient, scarred wooden table. Lee Ann made sure not to sit in the chair that had uneven legs. The confused look on Felicia’s face as her chair wobbled back and forth was priceless.
“Hope you don’t mind eating in the kitchen but this is what we usually do. I figured since you’ve been here a couple times already, Felicia, we could forego formality. The stew is on the stove and I cut the cornbread for you. I have a quilting party to attend. I’d appreciate it if y’all pitched in and cleaned the kitchen.” Agnes grabbed her purse and walked out the door but not before Lee Ann saw the humor in her eyes.
“You really eat in the kitchen?” Felicia’s disdain was palpable.
Gunther nodded. “If you want some stew, help yourself. I’ll open a bottle of wine.”
Felicia got up and filled her bowl with stew and took a small plate and put cornbread on it.
Lee Ann followed behind grabbing two of everything. One for her and one for Gunther. She was rewarded with a smile when Gunther returned with an open bottle of red wine. He grabbed some paper cups and poured some wine into one.
“Here ya go, Felicia. Lee Ann, would you like some?”
“I’m fine. I’m just going to have some water.”
Gunther raised his right brow as he stared at her. Maybe he thought she was pregnant or something, but that wasn’t the reason she didn’t drink anymore.
She filled her paper cup with water, sat at the table, and picked up the plastic spoon.
“Dig in.” Lee Ann suppressed a laugh at the wide-eyed look she got from Felicia. Gunther shot her a surprised but pleased look.
Felicia gripped her plastic spoon and picked through the stew, eyeing it warily. She gulped down some wine and took a bite of the meat. It looked as though she relaxed a bit.
“How’s the wine?” Lee Ann asked her. A wine cellar, indeed. The way she gulped it down, she had no appreciation for fine wine.
“It’s very good for local wine. A fine bouquet, I’d have to say. Don’t you agree, Gunther?”
Gunther glanced at Lee Ann as though looking for a clue as to what they were talking about.
“Local wines are surprisingly good,” Lee Ann volunteered.
“Oh, yes.” Gunther nodded. “I have a few best friends who own wineries. They’ve won many awards.”
“I’d love to go with you,” Felicia said, her eyes shining.
Gunther furrowed his brow. “To where?”
Felicia sighed loudly. “To the winery of course. You work too hard. I bet you’re thinking about work right now instead of enjoying a nice dinner with us.”
He took a sip of his wine and nodded. “I do have a few things on my mind. Mostly Lee Ann’s father. He’s been a close friend for years. I’m glad you’re back, Lee Ann. Your father actually smiled at me when I checked on him a little bit ago.”
“It’s funny how fast life can change. One day everything is fine and then the next…Thanks for letting me stay in the foreman’s house. I really appreciate it though it rightfully belongs to Woody now.” Lee Ann had been raised to be a strong self-reliant woman. Lately all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. She kept everything bottled up and there were days she felt as though she’d just explode at any second.
“This is your home, Lee Ann.” His voice was soft and full of concern. She wasn’t used to that from him.
“Maybe I should just move into that old shack of my uncle’s and we could all be neighbors,” Felicia broke in, her voice somewhat brittle.
“Mooney was your uncle? What a sweet man. He once caught me stealing eggs from his henhouse.” Lee Ann paused and smiled. “He took me into his house and made me help fix breakfast. We had scrambled eggs and bacon.”
Gunther laughed loudly. “Remember the time I dared you to ride one of the hogs?”
She gave him a look of mock outrage. “Yes I do and I remember the bruises I ended up with and the lecture we both got from my daddy.” She wagged her finger at him. “You tried to lead me astray. I don’t know how many times I was told I wasn’t allowed to hang out with you ever again.”
Felicia cleared her throat. “I didn’t know you too are close in age. You still look like a teenager, Lee Ann.”
Gunther gazed at Lee Ann and smiled. “She does, doesn’t she? I’m five years older, but she could always keep up with me. She could also run faster, climb trees higher, and beat me in any horse race. I did beat her at fishing though.” His smile widened into a grin. “She doesn’t like worms.”
Warmth flooded Lee Ann, and she bet her face was red. “A lot of people don’t like worms.” She gazed into his blue eyes and smiled. “We sure did have fun.”
A giant frown creased Felicia’s forehead. “I’m surprised you ever left, Lee Ann. Your childhood sounds like one of those stories that ends in marriage.” Felicia then tilted her head and smiled a bit too sweetly.
She knew. Felicia knew why Lee Ann had left and was playing stupid.
Lee Ann shrugged. “I got a job offer in San Antonio from All in One Magazine. I started out getting coffee for everyone but after a year or so I moved up to writer.”
Gunther stared at her. “I didn’t know they published you.”
“Yes. Well the first one was a poll. It was the bikini verses the tankini. I was surprised that most women prefer a little more coverage than a bikini provides.”
“Isn’t that cute, Gunther?” Felicia’s voice cut in. “A poll, imagine that.”
Gunther shot Felicia a look of annoyance before he grinned at Lee Ann. “That’s real good, honey. I know you worked hard.” He pushed back from the table. “I expect you want to visit with your dad. I have a ton of paperwork. Felicia would you mind cleaning up before you leave?”
It took everything within her not to laugh at the expression on Felicia’s face. Felicia looked like a mad hen.
“Thanks, Felicia.” Lee Ann left the kitchen in a hurry. As she walked down the hall to her dad’s room, she smiled at the great memories she’d just shared with Gunther. Her nostalgic happiness faded along with her smile as she remembered when she’d left. And why.
Gunther sat at his desk in his office. It was a big room with oversized furniture and books everywhere. His great grandfather had built the house. There had been many improvements over the years but it was the same desk he’d used that Gunther now sat behind. He’d never realized how big their shoulders must have been to bear the responsibility of it all.
Gunther gazed across the room to the
big aging map that hung over the fireplace. Through the years, many parcels had been added to the ranch and they were all added to the map. There had been many hard times but they persevered.
The door opened, and Felicia walked in without knocking. That was a pet peeve of Gunther’s. Common courtesy dictated that a person should knock first.
“All done?” he asked.
She nodded and then took a seat in one of the plush chairs in front of his desk. “You’re welcome. I have to admit I don’t usually do my own cleaning.” Her face wrinkled in distaste. “I have people for that.”
“I have Agnes. This is a working ranch, and everyone is expected to pitch in and pull their own weight.”
“I see. What is Lee Ann’s job while she’s here, or is she paying her way with certain favors?”
And there was pet peeve number two: judging a person’s character. “I’m not naïve, but you certainly don’t mean to imply…”
Irritation flashed in her eyes, and she shook her head. “Don’t bother denying it. I saw how you two looked at each other. You’re intimately involved. Is it a temporary arrangement?”
Gunther saw movement at the doorway, and he inwardly groaned when he realized Lee Ann was standing there.
She strode into his office and faced Felicia. “I am not, nor have I ever repaid any debts or favors by sleeping with anyone. I don’t understand women like you. If I have something or do a better job, you instantly jump to the conclusion that I’m hopping into bed with some man. I work to make my way, and I work hard. While everyone else assumes there are shortcuts in life, I know there aren’t. I also know that you can only rely on yourself. If you don’t you’ll wake up someday betrayed, wondering what to do next.” She stormed from the room.
Felicia stared at the door, one brow lifted in feigned shock. “I guess I made her mad.”
“You did, Felicia. Good night. I’m sure you can show yourself out.” Gunther looked down at the paperwork in front of him then brought his gaze back up to meet Felicia’s. “Oh, and I don’t want the property anymore. The price is becoming too high.”
Her jaw dropped and she stared at him. Then she stood and gave him a glare before she left.
He wasn’t sure how to deal with her stubbornness. Hopefully if he didn’t act as though he wanted the property she’d want to sell.
Chapter Two
Gunther leaned against his front porch railing drinking his third cup of morning coffee. He hadn’t slept well since Lee Ann had returned three days ago. Ever since dinner with Felicia, she’d made excuses not to eat dinner with him. She’d been to the house plenty…when he wasn’t there.
Sweat already beaded on his forehead. It was going to be a hot one. That was the only thing he didn’t appreciate about Texas, the heat.
He’d stuck around the house a bit later than usual, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lee Ann but she hadn’t come out of the foreman’s house yet.
Her speech in his office played and replayed in his head. He understood a bit of it, but something much larger had happened to her. He didn’t have a clue to what, but he felt in his gut it was bad. And he needed to know what it was; he felt that in his gut also. He should call the magazine and see what he could find out. Better yet, he had a detective friend in San Antonio, Andy Morellis.
Before he had a chance to go inside he spotted Woody walking his way. “Morning!”
“Morning, boss.” Woody walked up the three steps to the porch and took off his Stetson. “We have a problem. Well not exactly a problem, but—”
Gunther shook his head. “You are too long-winded, Woody. Spit it out.”
“Lee Ann is chopping wood. I told her it wasn’t something she needed to do, but she paid me no heed. She swings that ax like pro, but she looks like she’s in pain with each swing.”
Gunther put his cup down on the porch table. “I’ll deal with it. Thanks, Woody.” He grabbed his hat and headed over to the side of the barn.
There she was, and Woody was right, she was in pain. He waited until she finished chopping the piece she had up on the block before he walked over to her. He gently took the axe from her and cursed when he saw that she wasn’t wearing gloves. Taking a deep breath, he took her hands in his and looked at her palms. She’d broken the skin in multiple places, and they were both bloody.
“Let’s go to your house and get you cleaned up.” He waited, but she didn’t protest. She just followed him.
He led her into the kitchen and had her sit down. Her face was drawn and she had a look of defeat. He found a cloth and wet it. Sitting next to her, he took one of her hands and gently wiped away the blood. Then he did the same to the other. She didn’t say a word the whole time but she occasionally stiffened and caught her breath.
He took another cloth and wiped the sweat off her brow. The unshed tears in her eyes hurt his heart. She moved her body slightly and winced. Gingerly, she put a hand on her torso.
Slowly he knelt in front of her and lifted up her T-shirt. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He gently touched her black and blue skin. “How the heck were you able to lift that ax? Are you crazy?”
A lone tear rolled down her face. “I think I may very well be crazy.”
“Have you seen a doctor?” He stood and slowly lifted her into his arms. He carried her to her bed and laid her on it. “I’m going to call the doctor.”
“No!”
“This isn’t up for discussion. Lee Ann, you must be in horrible pain.” A frown pinched his brow. “Who did this? I think we need to call the police.”
She grabbed his arm. “No, no police. Please, Gunther just leave it alone. It won’t end well.”
He sat on the bed next to her. “Are there more bruises?”
She nodded and he had to bite his tongue not to swear.
“Maybe you could send Shelly over when she’s not busy with Daddy. I don’t want to be any trouble.”
“No more chopping wood?”
She shook her head. “No more chopping wood. I haven’t been sleeping, and I thought if I tired out my body...”
He sighed. “Will you at least tell me what happened?”
She turned her face away from him. “Not now. I just can’t. I thought I could just brave it out and no one would ever know, but I should have known you would figure it out.”
“All right, honey. I’ll send Shelly over. You rest for a bit.” He reached out, intending to stroke the side of her face, but she practically jumped out of her skin.
Rage filled him, threatened to pour out, and he got up. He’d been mad as hell when he had seen the bruises, but now it was much worse than that. Someone had beat the tar out of her. And cringing at his touch… Had she been raped? He left her house and took two steps before he had to stop and take a breath. She seemed so uncharacteristically defeated. Why wasn’t she spitting mad? Damn, it probably hadn’t been the first time. It took everything he had not to find something to punch. He didn’t want to scare her and punching an inanimate object, he’d be bound to have bloody knuckles.
Lee Ann numbly sat up in her bed. She’d been washed, plastered in ointment, bandaged, and questioned by both Shelly and Agnes. She said as little as possible. They asked if she’d been raped and she honestly answered no. Shelly made a call to a doctor, and he called in a prescription for pain. Shelly must have some connections. It was hard to get painkillers.
Gunther was waiting in the family room, and she dreaded seeing him. She feared the questions she wouldn’t answer. There had been too many threats against her father and Gunther; she couldn’t take the chance.
The door opened, and she tried to harden her heart. She didn’t want to shed any tears. The concern on Gunther’s face when he crossed the threshold was almost her undoing, but she bit the side of her cheek. For some reason it usually kept her tears at bay.
He carried a chair into the room and put it next to her bed, scanning her from head to toe before he sat down. “Are you okay?”
“I will be. Thank you for sending Sh
elly and Agnes over. They’ve been a big help.”
“I don’t suppose you’ll tell me what happened?”
She shook her head. “No, and please don’t ask. Just know that I will heal and be back to my old self in no time. I probably should have laid up somewhere before coming home.”
“No, it’s best to be with friends. If you need anything—”
“I’m fine, really. I do need to see my dad today. I’ll rest a bit before I walk over.”
Gunther shook his head. “No.”
“No?”
“I’ll carry you over in a bit. You shouldn’t be walking unless you have to.” His tone brooked no argument. “I’ve had bruised ribs and they hurt like a son of… They hurt.”
“I wasn’t raped. I know you think I was, but I wasn’t.” The doubt in his eyes was too much and biting her cheek wasn’t going to work. Tears poured down her face. “Please believe me.”
He touched her hand. “I do, Lee Ann. I do. I wish I could hold you, but I think I’d end up hurting you.”
She took the tissues he handed her and mopped up her tears. “You’re probably right. But I do thank you for the thought. It seems like a very long time went by with no one caring what happened to me.”
He appeared dumbfounded. “It wasn’t true you know. We all care about you here.”
“I was too embarrassed to come home at first. I left here with grand ideas of making it big, but I felt defenseless against the conniving ways of others. I never learned how to insult a person while smiling. I never learned how to go behind a person’s back and tell lies. I never learned how to blackmail others. I was ill equipped.”
A wry smile gently curved his lips. “I’d ask you what all that meant but I’ll let you be. Rest up and I’ll be back in a few hours to take you to see your father.” He stood and leaned over, giving her a kiss on the forehead.
All the kindness she’d received here on the ranch was like a tonic for her heart. She’d been fighting a losing battle for over a year now, and finally she didn’t have to fight anymore. Would she ever feel completely safe again? She sighed. Only time would tell.
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