“Of course. He thinks you’re so smart, and he envisions great things for you once you settle on your chosen career.”
Emily grimaced. A smart dilettante wasn’t particularly admirable. “Finding a career has taken far too long, I’m afraid. You’d think by twenty-seven I’d have more direction in my life, but instead I’m working at something that pays the bills but doesn’t really interest me all that much.”
“My, my.” Pam exchanged an amused glance with Sarah. “Twenty-seven already and you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up. Sweetie, I was past fifty before I figured that out.”
“As for me,” Sarah said, “I married Jonathan and that made the decision for me. I was a rancher’s wife. But I chose the man, not the vocation. I didn’t realize until after the wedding that I’d made a career choice at the same time. Turns out I love it, but I didn’t know I would. Jonathan’s first wife wasn’t so lucky. She hated ranching and left.”
“She did?” Emily had never heard that story. “Like my mother?”
“Not exactly like your mother.” Sarah took a sip of her wine. “Diana left her son Jack behind. He was only four.”
Emily gasped. “She left him? How could she do that?”
“I don’t know, but Jack had some major problems dealing with his mother’s abandonment. Thank God for Josie. She’s helped him come to terms with it. I think having a baby is the best thing that could happen to them, because Jack can give that kid the security he didn’t have.”
Emily shook her head in amazement. “And all this time I thought he was your son.”
“Well, he is. Just not biologically.”
Emily wondered what other important facts she’d missed over the years because she’d visited the ranch under protest and had kept a protective shell around her the entire time she’d been here. “I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Jack. At least I’ve known all along that both my parents love me.”
“And that’s a gift,” Pam said. “I can vouch for the fact Emmett loves you dearly. You should see his face light up when he talks about you.”
Emily discovered that she couldn’t dredge up a single ounce of resentment toward this woman. Pam obviously loved Emily’s dad, and that had to be a good thing. If he couldn’t have his daughter around all the time, he should have someone like Pam to brighten his days.
His objection to marrying a wealthy woman seemed silly and old-fashioned. Emily hadn’t planned to champion Pam’s cause, but now she was inclined to do exactly that. Life could be rough sometimes, and it made no sense to reject love when it was offered.
The front door opened and her dad came in.
“Speak of the devil.” Pam set down her wine glass and stood. “Hey, stranger! Did you get lost in the feed store?” She started toward him.
“I did not. But Ronald’s jacked up the price on that watering trough you wanted, Sarah.”
“I hope you got it, anyway.”
“I did, but it took forever. I looked for one with a small dent in it, but then I had to haggle with him for thirty minutes before he knocked a few dollars off.”
Pam chuckled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a good bargain hunter, Em.”
“Thanks.” He smiled down at her. “I try.”
Emily had thought she might be uncomfortable seeing a woman being affectionate with her dad. But from the way he was looking at Pam, he obviously returned her love, whether he was ready to admit it or not. Emily was happy for him.
Sarah stood. “Now that you’re here, we can have dinner. Let’s go tell Mary Lou to start serving.”
Picking up her wineglass, Emily stood, too. “So who will be here for dinner?” She vaguely remembered the evening meal as a boisterous affair with all the Chance boys in attendance. But so much had changed since her last visit.
“Just us,” Sarah said. “Now that the boys are all married with homes of their own, we’ve designated Friday as family dinner night. The other nights, sometimes it’s just me and Mary Lou.” Carrying her wine glass, she headed for the hallway that led to both dining rooms — the large one used at lunchtime and the intimate one for gatherings of family and close friends.
Pam fell into step beside Sarah, leaving Emily to walk with her dad. Emily was impressed with that small gesture, which showed more than words that Pam wasn’t the possessive type.
“And we’ve also had Alex the past few months,” Pam said. “He’s been a regular up until recently.”
“You’re right. Can’t forget Alex.” Sarah glanced over her shoulder at Emily. “I don’t think you’ve met Alex, but he’s Josie’s brother and our marketing director. He flew to Casablanca last week to meet his girlfriend, Tyler.”
“Casablanca! How exotic.”
“Tyler works on a cruise ship,” Sarah said.
“But maybe not for much longer,” Pam said as they all continued down the hall. “Have you heard anything from him?”
“Not yet, although he might have called Josie. In any case, I predict we’ll be planning another wedding soon. I should probably hang out my wedding planner shingle, at the rate we’re going.”
Pam laughed. “You know you wouldn’t want to do it for strangers.”
“No, I wouldn’t. But for family and extended family, it’s fun. I love having young people around.”
“So is Clay coming to dinner?” The minute Emily asked the question, she wished she could take it back. Clay had told her himself that he was just a ranch hand. He might fall into Sarah’s category of young people, but so would many of the hands, and they all ate in the bunkhouse.
Sarah paused and turned back toward Emily. “I hadn’t planned on it, but I could call down to the bunkhouse and see if he’d like to come up. I hadn’t thought about the fact you might appreciate having someone your own age at the table.”
Pam had also turned to face Emily. “Good point. Poor Emily will probably be bored stiff listening to the old folks all evening.”
“No, no, that’s not true!” Emily hoped she wasn’t blushing and was afraid she was. “I’m perfectly happy with present company. I forgot that Clay would naturally eat down there and not up here. Obviously I’m not used to ranch routine. Forget I brought it up.”
Sarah gave her a long look. “You’re sure? Because he’s welcome at the table and it would only take a phone call. We have a direct line to the bunkhouse.”
“I’m absolutely sure.” Emily linked her arm through her father’s. “I’m here to hang out with my dad. It’s been a long time since we’ve had dinner together.”
“Too long,” Emmett said.
Emily decided to start her campaign right now. “Even better, I’ll have a chance to hang out with Pam, too. And just so you know, Dad, I think she’s terrific.”
Pam smiled at her. “What a nice thing to say. The feeling’s mutual.”
“Then let’s get this mutual admiration society into the dining room.” Sarah started down the hall again. “I’m starving.”
“Me, too.” Pam fell into step beside her.
Emily’s dad didn’t move immediately, and because she had linked her arm through his, she either had to wait until he did or urge him to get going. She waited, but she had a feeling she knew why he’d hung back.
Sure enough, he fixed her with a father-knows-best look. “I hope you’re not getting interested in Clay.”
“Of course not, Dad.” Good thing noses didn’t really grow when a person told a fib.
“He’s really attached to this ranch, and we both know you’re not into ranch life.”
She was beginning to question the truth of that and whether she really disliked ranches or she’d been conditioned to dislike them by her mother. But she nodded, because now wasn’t the time to discuss it. He might think she was only saying it to justify her interest in Clay.
“Exactly. I’m a California girl.”
“And a beautiful one, at that. You looked cute in your jeans and boots, but this is the real you, Emily.�
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“I suppose.” She’d have to find a way to wash out those jeans so she could wear them again tomorrow.
“I don’t have to tell you why I feel so strongly on the subject.”
“No, you don’t. I get it.”
“It’ not just my own history, but Clay’s. He may pretend to be tough emotionally, but his first eighteen years were rootless. That had to take its toll.”
“I’m sure it did. Don’t worry, Dad. I understand.”
“Good. Now let’s go eat.”
Her heart was pounding by the time they set off down the hall again. She hadn’t come here to cause problems, but she was causing them, all the same. She’d slipped up just now by asking about Clay. He seemed to think they could carry on right under everyone’s nose without getting caught, but so far she wasn’t demonstrating any talent for subterfuge.
There were a bunch of reasons why she had no business even trying to conduct an affair with Clay. She needed to tell him that staying away from each other was the best option. But that didn’t mean she had to like it.
Chapter Nine
Clay waited until the bunkhouse was dark and the hands were all snoring before he slipped outside. Hard work and fresh air guaranteed that the guys always slept like the dead. Usually Clay did, too. But tonight there would be no sleep for him until he’d seen Emily.
She’d told him she’d think about whether to risk having an affair while she was here. And he thought she’d also said that even if they did, they’d have to wait until after her dad’s birthday. Clay didn’t like that idea.
If they could avoid getting caught, then it didn’t matter whether they waited until after Emmett’s birthday or not. And they for sure wouldn’t get caught tonight. Clay had been sitting around outside talking with the guys before everyone turned in. Emmett had walked past on the way to his cabin and given them a wave.
So Emmett was in for the night, and the ranch house, near as Clay could tell from here, was also dark. He knew exactly which room Emily was in. Somebody, maybe even Emmett, had mentioned that Sarah was giving Emily Nick’s old room while she was here.
Clay knew the inside of the house like the back of his hand. Whether the Chances had taken pity on him or whether Nick and Gabe had plain liked him, he’d felt more like a friend to those guys than an employee, and he’d had the run of the place. He knew exactly where Nick’s window was on the second story of the west wing.
All the windows had screens on them this time of year, so tossing a pebble at the window wouldn’t have the same effect as it would have with glass. Still, he figured enough pebbles tossed would eventually get her attention. Then it would be time to see if she’d go for the next stage, which would take her cooperation and removal of the screen.
Every bedroom on the second floor was equipped with a rope ladder in case of fire. The ladders had been Sarah’s idea, according to Nick, and the boys had all embraced the concept with enthusiasm. They’d never used them to escape a fire, but those ladders had seen plenty of use until the Chance brothers were of legal drinking age.
After that, the boys had used the ladders once in awhile for old times’ sake, just to keep their comings and goings secret from their folks. Clay was willing to bet a rope ladder was still stored in Nick’s closet.
He was planning on it, in fact. All Emily had to do was let down the ladder the way Rapunzel let down her hair in the fairy tale, and…
Well, and nothing, if she’d decided against having sex with him. But he hoped to hell she wanted to, and in case she did, he’d tucked a couple of condoms in his pocket. The scheme was virtually foolproof, because nobody else was staying on the second floor in either wing at the moment.
So he was on his way, showered, shaved, and dressed in clean clothes. He’d considered whether to wear his hat. Obviously he didn’t need one at night, but he sensed the cowboy mystique intrigued her.
So he’d worn the hat, and he’d keep it on long enough for her to see him standing below her window looking… cowboy-like. Actually, he’d need to keep it on when he climbed the ladder, because he didn’t relish leaving his precious hat on the ground where anything could happen to it. The hat would be in the way later, but it might serve a seductive purpose in the beginning.
He had a half-moon to see by, and his eyes had adjusted to the light enough that he could find his way around to the back of the ranch house without a lot of trouble. He tripped a couple of times on protruding rocks, but only because nerves were making him clumsy. Thank God the Last Chance hadn’t installed motion detectors.
Jonathan Chance had hated the things, which he claimed lit up every time a raccoon sauntered by and probably would malfunction if an actual intruder came around. Jonathan had counted on the unpaved road into the ranch to discourage would-be burglars. That and always having at least one dog on the place, although dogs had to be locked in the barn at night because of wolves and coyotes.
Clay heard a pack of coyotes yipping off in the distance as he rounded the end of the house and walked toward Emily’s window. No light showed there, either. He wondered if she was asleep.
Belatedly he remembered she’d been up late the night before after driving almost seventeen hours to get here. She deserved a good night’s sleep tonight after that. He stood in the shadows debating whether to wake her up.
He couldn’t assume she was sleeping, though. If today’s sexual adventures had left her as hot and bothered as they’d left him, she’d be lying up there drifting on a cloud of ultimate frustration. She might decide to do something about that, even though she was alone.
Clay had considered that option to solve his own problem and had discarded it. He couldn’t see going that route unless he struck out completely with Emily. But she might not be thinking that he was standing down here ready to climb a rope ladder to get to her. She might be pleasuring herself right this very minute.
That was enough motivation for him to pick up a small pebble and toss it at her window. It didn’t make much noise, so he picked up a slightly larger stone and threw that. When the second stone only rustled lightly against the screen, he went for the next size up. Once again, nerves made him clumsy and he missed the window.
The rock, for that’s what it truly was rather than a pebble, hit the side of the house, hard. The loud crack sounded like a well-placed blow from a hammer. Instantly a light flashed on in her room. She appeared at the window and gazed into the darkness.
The light would make it harder for her to see him in the shadows, while it gave him a perfect view of her, at least from the waist up. In his fantasies about this moment, she’d been wearing a black lace negligee. In reality, she had on a white tank top. With her long blonde hair down around her shoulders and her golden tan, she looked very much like a California surfer girl.
But she wasn’t in California now, and he didn’t really care what she had on. If all went according to plan, she wouldn’t be wearing it much longer. As it was, he could tell she slept without a bra, and that was a good start.
She shrugged and started to turn away from the window. He’d been thinking so intently about the next step that he was neglecting the critical part, getting her to let him in.
The window was open, so she ought to be able to hear him. “Emily,” he said in a stage whisper. “Down here.”
She whirled back and crouched to peer through the open bottom half of the double-hung window. “Clay?”
He stepped closer so he could talk more normally. As he gazed upward, he had to smile. Her nose was making a dent in the screen as she pressed forward, trying to see him. “Turn off the light and you can see me better.”
She moved away from the window and the light went out. When she came back, she was just a shadowy figure behind the screen. “It is you.”
“Yeah.” He thought it was a good sign that she didn’t ask him why he was there. “Listen, there should be a rope ladder in Nick’s closet.”
“A ladder? What in heaven’s name… oh.”
&n
bsp; “We need to talk.” It was the opening line he’d decided on, but he had much more than talking in mind.
She laughed softly. “That’s the biggest con in the world and you know it. You don’t want to talk.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Not much, though.”
“All right, how’s this? I can’t sleep knowing you’re so close by, so I decided to come over here and check on you. Were you asleep?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“None of your beeswax.”
Now it was his turn to laugh. “I have my answer.”
“Look, if you were picturing me lying in bed pining for you, then—”
“Actually I was picturing you lying in bed giving yourself a climax and wishing I could be there to do it for you.”
Her breath hissed out. “Stop that.”
“Will you go look for the ladder?”
“Then what? There’s a screen on here.”
“You can take that out and pull it inside for now.”
“You seem to know all about this process.”
“I used to watch Nick do it all the time. Will you go get it?”
“I thought we decided to wait until after my dad’s birthday.”
“That seems like a waste of a perfectly good night. FYI, your dad is fast asleep in his little cabin. Everyone else on the ranch is also fast asleep. Nobody will ever know that I’ve been up there.”
“Unless they heard you heave that boulder against the side of the house.”
“I accidentally missed the window.”
“Good thing. You probably would have broken it. That would have been difficult to explain, don’t you think?”
He blew out a breath. “Please get the ladder.”
“If I do, it doesn’t mean anything.”
Oh, yes, it does. “All right. I understand.”
The light flicked on again and he heard her rummaging around in Nick’s closet. After the light went out, she came back to the window. “I found the ladder.”
His heart rate picked up considerably. He checked to make sure the condoms were still safely tucked in his pocket. “Just take out the screen. Once you do that, the ladder will hook right over the windowsill.”
Cowboy Up Page 9