Bluegrass King (The Americana Series Book 17)

by Janet Dailey

  With a dispirited sigh, Dani leaned the pitchfork against the stall door, picked up the wheelbarrow partially filled with used straw and wheeled it down to the next stall. It was a hot muggy morning with little breeze stirring. The humidity had sapped her energy, but then, she shrugged as she unlatched the door and walked into the empty stall, cleaning stables had always been one of her least liked chores.

  'You'll need the pitchfork,' a voice said from the open door.

  Dani could neither move nor turn around. A hundred times she had heard that voice in her sleep. Like a tuning fork it seemed to vibrate through every nerve end. There was no opportunity to conceal the pain in her eyes as she slowly turned towards Barrett. Fortunately the dimness of the stall hid her tortured look. The sunlight streamed around him, accenting the height and breadth of his silhouette.

  'I should have guessed I would find you here,' Barrett said grimly. 'There wasn't really anywhere else you could run to.'

  'I didn't run,' Dani answered in a tautly defensive voice. 'I flew…in a plane.'

  'Without telling a soul or leaving any kind of a message,' he snapped. 'Simply disappearing into the night. Didn't it occur to you that someone might be concerned?'

  'The only one with any right to worry is Lew.' She had to hide behind her sarcasm. It was the only defense she had. 'I don't know what you're so upset about. I took your advice.'

  'I didn't tell you to return to your father.' The severely controlled tone of his voice told her she was provoking his anger. 'And certainly not without telling someone.'

  'Marshall knew,' she taunted him.

  'He only knew that you were quitting. He had no idea of your destination,' Barrett said grimly.

  'It wasn't his business, nor yours.' Dani deliberately made her voice cold and uncaring, a miracle considering the flooding heat that weakened her knees. 'I'm back with my father now, so you can drop the brotherly routine. Lew is all the family I want. I have no further need of your services.'

  The knot in her chest was getting tighter and tighter. Each beat of her heart increased the pain until she wanted to die rather than face the rest of her life without Barrett.

  'And I'm supposed to accept that?' he challenged.

  'I don't care what you accept,' she cried, giving into the quick rush of pain. She breathed in deeply to regain control. 'Would you please give me the pitchfork and get out of here?' Her voice cracked. 'I have work to do.'

  She could see the hesitation in his expression. She held her breath in fear that he would continue the conversation and she knew how brittle the thread was that held back her love. Then with a savage movement, Barrett tossed the pitchfork to her. She caught it in mid-air, thankful he hadn't made her walk across the stall to get it because she was certain her legs wouldn't have supported her.

  Her eyes were already blurring with tears as she watched the impatient, angry strides that carried him out of the stall door. She leaned weakly against the pitchfork, silent racking sobs tearing at her body while the unbroken sunlight lay in a large rectangular square of gold at her feet.

  This wasn't the time to give way totally to her heartbreak. Not here in the stables where anyone could walk by and question the reason for her tears. Resolutely Dani wiped them away, telling herself the worst was over. She had confronted him and hadn't lost control. One battle had been won, but the first victory was always the hardest.

  Work was the answer. She must totally immerse herself in whatever she was doing, block out all but her subconscious thoughts of Barrett. Those she had no control over. With a vengeance she attacked the straw covering the stable floor, stabbing it with the pitchfork as if hoping to kill her love—a vain hope, but it served to release the frustration and anguish that twisted her insides.

  With a pitchfork full of used straw and manure, Dani walked to the stall door to toss it into the wheelbarrow. There, leaning against the post supporting the wide overhang, stood Barrett, grim determination in his expression as his gaze flicked to her.

  'What are you doing here?' Dani swallowed, searching for the sarcasm that had been her salvation before. 'I thought I told you to leave.'

  In the clearness of the sunlight with none of the shadows from the darkened stall, the power of his attraction struck her like a physical blow. The carved teak brown of his powerful features, the dangerous glint in his eyes, that aura of sureness that he always got what he wanted.

  'We still have more to discuss, Dani,' he stated. 'I was waiting until you'd finished your work.'

  She averted her head from his compelling gaze. 'When I'm finished with this, I have plenty more to do.'

  Her hands and arms were trembling now like her legs, making her attempt to shake the straw from the pitchfork awkward and unsuccessful. She wanted to scream from sheer frustration.

  'Then I'll wait.'

  'We haven't anything more to discuss.' Her voice was very low, forced through the contracted muscles in her throat.

  'Yes, we do,' Barrett answered, unruffled by her effort to be rid of him. 'I want to take you to dinner tonight.'

  'I thought I'd made it clear that it isn't necessary for you to see me any more,' Dani muttered. Her eyes were stinging again with acid tears that she refused to allow to surface as she concentrated her attention on the pitchfork. 'I'm back with Lew and your responsibility for me is over.'

  'What time do you want me to pick you up?'

  'Look here—' she began, turning her determined stance towards him and immediately regretting it as she came under the scrutiny of his disturbing and penetrating gaze. She had to pause to regain control. 'I'm…I'm just a stable girl now. Surely you can find someone more worthy of the attention of the great Mr. Barrett King.'

  'That kind of sarcastic humility isn't going to change my mind,' he said calmly.

  'Something had better change it,' Dani answered desperately, 'because I'm not going anywhere with you.'

  A frown of determination creased his forehead. 'Simply because you're back with your father it doesn't suddenly end our friendship.'

  'We aren't friends!' she retorted.

  His brow lifted with mocking gentleness, a gesture meant to provoke a smile as he tilted his head enquiringly to one side. 'Not even bitter friends?'

  The tender gesture evoked happy memories of more carefree times before she had fallen in love with him. They stabbed at her heart and forced her to turn away from the potent magnetism.

  'Not even bitter friends,' Dani answered in a voice raw with pain.

  Barrett sighed heavily and pushed himself away from the post he had been leaning against. 'Then come to dinner with me as my enemy.'

  'No!' She spun around, dropping the pitchfork in the wheelbarrow and raising her hands in a beseeching plea. 'I want you to go away and leave me alone!'

  'I can't do that. And I won't do that.' Barrett shook his head. 'If we have to go back, to square one and start all over again, then that's what we will do.'

  'Why?' Dani sighed despairingly. 'What good would it do?'

  'Maybe I'll be able to make you trust me again.' The flash of anger in his eyes was turned inward on himself.

  'Please. Please.' She was begging now and she didn't care at all about the loss of pride. 'Won't you leave things as they are—and leave me alone?'

  'I could tell the next morning that I'd frightened you the night I burst into your apartment after seeing you with Marshall,' Barrett continued, taking a step closer to her as if he wanted to will her to understand. 'The only excuse I have is that I lost my temper. You were so naïvely certain that no man could force himself on you that I had to show you it was possible for your own good. I never meant to handle you so roughly.'

  Dani gasped, swallowing back the bubble of hysterical laughter. It was so ironic that Barrett should be apologizing for his actions that night. That night when she had discovered she loved him as only an adult woman can love a man.

  'I don't blame you for hating me after the callous way I treated you,' he went on, stopping inche
s in front of her, 'but I swear I'll never give you cause to be frightened of me again.'

  His broad chest was even with her head. His strong arms were at his side. Dani held herself rigid, fighting the temptation to seek the comfort of his embrace, the heart-stopping sensation of his body against hers. Clenching her hands into tight fists, she closed her eyes against his provocative nearness.

  'Go away,' she pleaded, feeling the tears squeeze through her lashes. 'I don't want to see you any more.'

  'I'm only asking for a chance,' Barrett persisted.

  His hands closed lightly over her shoulders, the gentle touch snapping the thin thread that had held her motionless. A convulsive sob rose in her throat and this time Dani wasn't able to hold it back.

  'No!' Her protest was feeble as her fists came up to hammer at his chest. The memory of that other time when she had tried to batter down the steel wall was completely forgotten. This time she only wanted to hit out at the man she loved so helplessly. The incessant pressure of his hands on her shoulders drew her against his chest, a movement designed to comfort the stream of tears flowing from her eyes.

  Dani was torn by the desire to remain in the warmth of his arms and to break free. While her head refused to relax against the comforting solidness of his chest, her arms slid around his waist to cling to him tightly. The tortuous delight of his embrace shattered her restraint and her head bobbed in defeat.

  'Please leave me alone, Barrett,' she moaned softly, her voice muffled by his shirt. 'Haven't you done enough already? Haven't I gone through enough agony without putting me through more? I couldn't help falling in love with you. I'll get over it in time, but only if you stay—'

  Strong fingers were lifting her chin. She had a fleeting glimpse of his mouth descending before its mobile touch consumed her lips, wholly possessing and hungrily eager. With all her carefully constructed barriers gone, Dani responded. Her mind was reeling under the sensual shock waves of his kiss and she welcomed the crush of his arms, compelling her to yield to the hard contours of his body. Then came a darting moment of lucidity when she realized what she was doing and she tore herself free of his embrace.

  Her eyes were wide and pleading as she gazed into his face, begging him nor to shame her further by acknowledging the power she had placed in his hands. Her concern was so centered on that, Dani missed the exultant glitter in his eyes and the wondrous smile that raised the corners of his mouth.

  'Go away, please,' she whispered fervidly, feeling like a wounded animal wanting to see some dark hole to hide in and lick her wounds.

  'No,' Barrett answered softly, his gaze sweeping possessively over her as he reached out once more to grasp her unresisting shoulders. Dani had not the strength to struggle. 'I'm not going anywhere until you say that again.'

  'Say what?' she breathed desperately, searching her mind for the words he wanted to hear that would set her free.

  'Unless my mind is playing tricks on me, you just told me you loved me, didn't you?' His fingers unconsciously tightened as though to force her to admit it.'

  'Oh, Barrett, I didn't mean to,' she moaned, casting her chin down to hide the anguish the admission caused. 'I know you never encouraged me. It isn't your fault that I made such a fool of myself.'

  'You are a little fool!' he laughed. His hands slipped down to her waist and he raised her in the air lightly and easily, 'Don't you understand?' he smiled when he had once more set her on the ground and was gazing into her amazed face.

  Dani felt she should hold her breath. It was too impossible to be true that Barrett actually meant what he was implying. 'No!' terrified of his answer.

  His auburn head moved once again towards hers while he let his mouth roam over her face, exploring her eyes and cheeks. 'I love you, Dani,' he murmured against her skin.

  The throbbing ache in his voice sent her pulse racing and her hands now lightly resting against his chest could feel the rapid hammer beat of his heart.

  'Please, don't tease me, Barrett,' Dani murmured, her own lips beginning an intimate search of his face while her fingers curled into the thickness of the hair at the back of his neck.

  'The way I feel for you is nothing to joke about,' he growled in mock anger, but she wasn't intimidated at all.

  She nibbled gently at his mouth. 'I thought you only felt responsible for me—like a brother.'

  'Those were Marshall's words, not mine. At first that was probably true,' he admitted, 'although I sometimes wonder if it ever was. That night when I carried you into bed and I kissed you, I knew I was kissing a woman and not an innocent young girl. The only problem was you hadn't realized that. I was afraid that if I showed you how much I cared I would frighten you. God,' he moaned, burying his head in the curve of her neck, 'that's what I thought I'd done.'

  'You didn't,' Dani hurried to assure him, cradling his face in her hands. 'That night you discovered me with Marshall was the very night I realized I loved you. I probably had a long time before that—I always thought you were a handsome man. I never knew exactly why I didn't trust you, maybe it was because I knew you could steal my heart.'

  'I guess turnabout is fair play, because you've stolen mine.' Barrett looked down at her and sighed, a happy sigh, one that her own heart echoed. 'I've wanted so long for you to meet my parents. I wanted to take you that weekend of their anniversary party, but I knew they would guess why I'd brought you. My father never could keep a secret, so I couldn't chance him letting something slip. I'll take you to the farm this weekend after we've had some time alone.'

  'Barrett?' Her gaze was hesitant, an old fear rushing back to haunt her. 'About Melissa? You don't really think I'm like her, do you?'

  'No.' His head moved to the side in a reassuring, negative movement. 'I did wonder if you would become blinded by the glamour Marshall had heaped on you. I wanted to tear you away from it, but I knew you had to have your chance. Lew was right about that.'

  'What do you suppose Lew will say?' Dani asked, her eyes sparkling brightly as she gazed into Barrett's face, no more uncertainty in her mind that all of this was a dream.

  'I don't think he'll be a bit surprised,' Barrett smiled widely, locking his arms about her waist. 'I had a little talk with him before I found you here at the stables. I'm positive he guessed that my interest was far from brotherly. My only hope is that he won't object to losing his only daughter when she'd only just returned to him.'

  'Lew wants me to be happy,' she said, nestling against his chest. 'I don't know which of us will be prouder, Lew to have you for a son-in-law or me to be your wife.'

  'Are you asking me to marry you?' Barrett teased.

  'You always said I was a cheeky brat,' she smiled demurely.

  'Mmm,' he said, teasing her lips with his mouth. 'Well, the answer is yes. I will marry you, and the sooner the better.'

  His arms tightened around her and Dani understood. The ache in her own body couldn't long be ignored either.

  'I love you so much,' she declared in a whispering vow, and brought her lips to his to seal their pledge.

  All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 1977 by Janet Dailey

  Cover design by Open Road Integrated Media

  ISBN 978-1-4976-1868-8

  This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

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