by Lauren Canan
She ignored his teasing. “Hank will know something’s wrong and come after us. You don’t really need to do that.”
Alec dropped more sticks into the circle. “It might be a while. Are there any matches in the Jeep?”
“Not that I’ve ever seen but I’ll look.” She walked to the front of the vehicle. Opening the glove box, she found not one, but two lighters and a small box of matches.
“I don’t know how these got there, but here you go,” she said, tossing him a lighter.
“How about water?”
“We don’t keep water in the Jeep. If we’re headed out to a branding or mending a long stretch of fence—something that will take a day or more—we load a couple of big ice chests and some ten-gallon coolers in the supply trailer and pull it to the site.”
He nodded. “Would you humor me?”
With a shrug, Shea returned to the back of the vehicle. Moving aside Ransom’s saddle and an old tarp, she immediately spotted two jugs of water. Frowning, she looked at Alec.
“And...?”
She pulled out the two gallons of water. “I don’t understand—”
“It’s just a guess, but I think Hank knew we would need matches and water before you ever left the ranch.”
“What? What are you saying?”
“This.” He gestured with his hands. “Our being out here alone...stranded. It was a setup. It was planned.”
“No.” Shea denied his words, but at the same time, her heart increased its rhythm. “Hank...wouldn’t do something like that.”
“Okay.” He squatted next to the small pile of wood, tearing dried grass and shoving it underneath the smaller sticks.
“I’ve known him all my life. He just isn’t the kind of person to...to...”
“Play matchmaker?”
“Exactly.”
“Take a look in the back. I’m betting you’ll find some blankets. While you’re there, you might check and see what we’re having for dinner.”
Shea opened her mouth to argue but closed it again without a word. She set the containers of water on the ground and turned back to the Jeep. Partially hidden farther under the tarp were a sleeping bag, two pillows, a couple of blankets and a small ice chest. A thermos and a few foam cups completed the stash.
“I don’t know of anyone else who would drain the gas tank and load the Jeep with supplies two people would need for a night,” Alec said, walking over to where she stood. “Do you?”
She was dumbfounded that Hank Minton, of all people, would do this. But it could be no one else. “No.” When she got back to the ranch, he was going to get a piece of her mind.
* * *
Shea watched the last of the sun’s glow surrender to the multitude of stars in the night sky. The wood in Alec’s campfire popped and hissed as the flames danced over the dried branches, releasing the tantalizing aroma of hickory and pecan into the still night air.
They ate in companionable silence. The sandwiches in the small ice chest went quickly, along with the slices of apple pie and coffee.
Finally, unable to hold any more, she dropped the remains of her meal into the baggie. Leaning back against a big rock, she stretched out her legs and pulled the blanket around her shoulders. The temperature had begun to drop as the sun disappeared.
“Want another cup of coffee?” Alec sat next to her, his arms resting on his knees as he, too, looked up at the night sky.
“No, thanks.” She leaned her head back against the boulder. “I still can’t believe Hank set us up.”
“He’s from the old school,” Alec replied. “Married people don’t live separately. They don’t argue all the time—”
“They don’t leave their wife the morning after the wedding.”
“And the wife damn sure doesn’t spend her wedding night in the barn.”
“You’re right,” she murmured. “Hank did it.”
“I’ll bet he had help.”
She turned to look at him. “What do you mean? Who?”
“A couple of nights ago, when I tucked him in, Scotty voiced some concern about having to leave here. I hadn’t said anything about him returning to New York, and I didn’t understand what would cause him to worry about it. He must have figured if we didn’t get along—”
“Then he’d have to leave.” Shea finished the thought. “Set up by a four-year-old.”
“He’s smart, capable of a lot more than you’d expect for his age,” Alec replied. “Which is another reason I wanted him here with me.” He chuckled. “He’s run off two nannies so far and his grandmother is on her last nerve, even though she would never admit it.”
“Hank mentioned he’s been asking about a horse.”
“I know,” Alec replied. “He’s talked about little else since he got here.”
“Alec, I’m hesitant to mention this because I still worry over Scotty’s safety, but we have a gelding. Been around here forever,” she ventured. “He’s a small horse, older than I am, and as gentle as they come. He loves people. If you want Scotty to learn to ride, he couldn’t be any safer than on Marty. I think Scotty would like him. He’s a paint and kinda flashy.”
Alec appeared to consider the suggestion. He glanced toward her, grinned and nodded his approval. “I appreciate your offer. I think that would be great.”
For a while they sat back listening to the fire crackle. Somewhere out in the woods a pack of coyotes made its presence known.
“Alec, I...I never asked if there was someone special in your life. I mean, it’s a little late now, but—”
“No.” Alec shook his head. “No one special.”
“But you were married...?” she prompted, hating herself for showing any interest at all, but unable to contain her curiosity.
“Yes. I was married. For just over a year.” Alec hesitated, as if debating whether to say anything else. Finally, he said, “It wouldn’t have lasted that long if she hadn’t gotten pregnant. Scotty was the only good thing to come out of it.”
He was quiet for a few minutes. “It didn’t take her long after we married to realize the role of wife and mother was not for her. I never knew about the other man until after she’d walked out. For whatever reason, she decided to go through with the pregnancy. For nine months, I lived with the possibility that the baby wasn’t mine. Then one day, I came home to find a stranger standing outside my door with a baby in her arms. She handed him to me and said he was my son. My ex didn’t even bring Scotty to me herself. After that I heard she started partying pretty good. A few months later, she was dead of an overdose.”
“Oh, my gosh! Alec. How horrible. I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged as though it was nothing, but Shea sensed it had affected him deeply. It must be a terrible thing to find out the person you love had betrayed you. Alec deserved respect for raising his son alone, giving the baby all the love he needed. Scotty was proof positive Alec was a great dad.
“What about you?” he asked. “Any broken hearts because of this situation?”
The image of David’s face popped into her mind, and she couldn’t help but wonder what course his life had taken. It couldn’t possibly be as bizarre as the direction hers had gone.
“No.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
Shea shrugged. “There was a guy in college. He was the one who called the night we were married. Haven’t seen him in a long time but he’s still a good friend. We talked about getting married but we both knew it wouldn’t work. We wanted different things out of life. Then Dad got sick. I left school to take care of him and run the ranch. There was just never any time for...anything else.”
“What was your major?”
“Veterinary medicine.”
“You’re a vet?”
She shook her head.
“No. I got as far as my master’s. That’s when Dad became ill, so I came home. I’d hoped to have a practice someday. But things don’t always work out like you plan.” She shook herself out of somber thoughts that would serve no purpose and smiled at Alec. “Do you have any other family? I mean, besides Scotty?”
“One brother, Mike. And my mother lives with her sister in St. Petersburg, Florida.”
“Do they know you’re married?”
“No. I wrestled with the idea, but didn’t exactly know how to explain our situation.”
Shea nodded her understanding. “What’s your mom like?”
Alec appeared to think on that for a while. “My mother. How do I describe my mother?” He shook his head. “She’s a character. As hardheaded as you are.” He shot her a grin. “In fact, the two of you together could make a guy absolutely crazy. She’s smart, good-natured, has a terrific sense of humor, but she also has a strength. After my father died, she kept me in school and had the patience of a saint. I have her to thank for where I am today.”
She sounded like someone Shea would love to meet, but sadly that probably would never happen. She now understood where Alec got his dogged determination. It also was obvious he loved his mother very much. Apparently they had a close relationship. Alec was, indeed, like an onion, and with every layer Shea peeled away, the more exceptional he became.
He was not a cold, heartless adversary as she’d initially thought. He was a man who respected family values. And despite the situation over the land, he had a good heart. In fact, she couldn’t imagine herself ever finding a man better suited to her and to this life.
And that realization was very unsettling.
“I’m hesitant to bring this up,” Alec remarked, absently dragging a small stick over the ground. “I keep waiting for a good time to mention it, but...I doubt if such a time exists.”
Shea’s heart missed a beat. There was only one thing he would be so hesitant to mention. The future of the Bar H. “Well, you have my curiosity roused. Go ahead.” She forced a smile but refused to look at Alec.
“There’s a meeting scheduled at the end of the month at a hotel in Dallas. All the investors will be there. Probably some of the local jurisdictions represented, as well. We’re building a resort, Shea. Hotels, casinos, a theme park, some restaurants on the Oklahoma side. A water park, golf course and a couple more restaurants in Texas.” He was quiet for a moment. “I’d like you to go with me to the meeting.”
Shea immediately shook her head and swallowed the huge lump that formed in her throat. “That is not where I want to be.”
“Shea, it’s going to happen. The change is inevitable. You need to come to terms with the possibility that—” Alec stopped midsentence. “Look, maybe there’s a way both of us can get what we want. Compromise might be a possibility. I’m open to trying, but you have to see the plans—with an open mind—then tell me if you think something can be worked out.”
She looked above her to the millions of stars in the black velvet sky and shook her head at the hopelessness of her plight.
“So you think my cattle can skip the fall roundup and spend a few days at your resort?” She took in a deep breath. “We both know there is only one way this will end, Alec. One of us has to leave.”
“So...you refuse to even try to see if there is an alternative.” It was as much a statement as a question.
“I don’t see how there could be.”
“And you won’t unless you attend the meeting. See for yourself.” Alec tossed the small stick into the fire. “If I were in your place, I would want to learn everything I could about the enemy and their intent.”
She shot him a look of surprise.
“Maybe,” she finally agreed. And maybe not.
She heard him sigh. “It’s late. We have a long walk in the morning. I suggest we bed down in the corner of the old house.” He stood and poured out the last drops of his coffee. “I don’t care to wake up in the morning and find one of your country varmints in our bed.”
While they’d been sharing a bed for some time there was something about sliding into a sleeping bag with Alec that screamed disaster. And she needed some time to come to grips with what he’d just told her. A large resort would be worse than a shopping mall. But she didn’t have a clue what her friends and neighbors would think of such a thing.
“Do what you want. I’m sleeping in the Jeep,” she said. “Take the bedroll. I’ll be fine with the blanket.”
His eyebrows rose in quiet speculation, but he said nothing as she retraced her steps to the Jeep. It took some maneuvering, but she finally managed to shift around enough junk to make a reasonably sized sleeping space. She tossed him the bedroll and a pillow and climbed in.
“I heard rumblings of thunder earlier,” Alec said. “There’s no top on the Jeep. Are you sure you want to—”
“Yes, I’m sure,” she quickly assured him. The whole day had been bright and sunny without a cloud in the sky. How gullible did he think she was?
She settled under the warm folds of the blanket and tried to get comfortable in the tiny space. By the time the first rays of the sun broke over the distant hills, she would be halfway back to the house.
And the first thing on her to-do list when she got there was find Hank Minton.
And maybe start looking for another place to live.
Ten
The uncomfortable sensation of cold water running across her face and down her neck woke her from a sound sleep. Brushing the moisture away with her hand, she blinked her eyes and pushed into a sitting position. It was dark. So incredibly dark she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face. And it was raining—gently, but steadily. As she came fully awake, she noted the blanket was drenched, as were her clothes.
Muttering to herself, she climbed out of the Jeep. The wind had picked up, dropping the temperature, and she shivered as she stumbled in the direction of the homestead and what shelter it offered. The dying embers of the campfire provided just enough light to see the last few steps.
As she approached the old log structure, the skies opened up in a downburst. Climbing onto the floorboards, she followed the wall of the building to the back of the structure where a section of the roof remained.
“Over here.” Alec spoke from the darkness.
Cautiously she followed the direction of his voice until her toes found the edge of the sleeping bag. Squatting down, she felt for the edge of the bedroll.
“Here,” Alec said, and suddenly his hand held hers. “Shea, you’re soaked. Get out of those clothes. Don’t argue.”
Teeth chattering, she unbuckled her belt, unzipped the wet denim and struggled to push her jeans down her legs. Finally, Alec grabbed the end of the legs, and with one hard tug, she was free of the soggy pants. She scooted inside the soft fleece lining, still warm from the heat of his body.
“And the shirt,” he said, not bothering to wait for an argument. He efficiently pulled it over her head, tossed it away and lay down next to her. His heavy arms wrapped around her and their legs entwined, as he began rubbing her arm and shoulder, the friction bringing much-needed warmth.
“No ‘I-told-you-so’s?’”
“Not this time.”
The rain surged, pelting the wooden roof above them. The moist air carried the heavy scent of pine, and in the distance a lone coyote called out to its kinsmen. Alec’s hands eventually stilled and merely held her next to the warmth of his body.
Her mind whirled, preventing the return of sleep. Alec was as complex as a jigsaw puzzle whose pieces were upside down. One minute he came off as hard and unrelenting, but the next minute he lay in the shelter of a centuries-old, burned-out building, holding her in his arms, ready to protect her from whatever might be out there. And he seemed completely comfortable in either role.
In fair
ness, she had to question her own sanity. Here she lay in the home of her ancestors, the last surviving heir, held warm and protected in the arms of the enemy, the very man who would destroy it all.
* * *
The low, rumbling thunder gradually became louder, the flashes of lightning brighter. Alec lay in the black shadows, holding Shea as she slept. Lowering his head, he breathed in the sweet scent of her hair.
A long, increasingly loud rumble of thunder was followed by more flashes of light. Shea turned her face into his neck and covered her ears with her hands.
“Shea?”
“The storm.”
“It’s all right, hon.” He tried to soothe her.
“I hate storms. Please try to start the Jeep again.” Her voice was high, frightened, her words partially muffled by his shoulder.
“It doesn’t have any gas, remember?” His arms resumed their circular motion on her back. “We’ll be all right. This old house has weathered more bad weather than you and I will ever see.”
Another loud crack of thunder shook the floor. She raised her head and, through the flashes of light from the storm, he saw the fear in the blue iridescence of her eyes. Her sensuous lips parted slightly and desire charged through his body like a bolt of the lightning from above.
Slowly, she reached out and placed her hand against the side of his face as if making certain he was there. He didn’t move, didn’t breathe, afraid that doing so would break the spell that held them. She leaned forward, moistening his lips with her tongue before kissing him fully. The blood pounded in his head, surged straight to his groin.
He responded without thinking as passion flared. He didn’t know if she actually wanted him or if she was half-asleep and didn’t realize what she was doing. But whatever the reason, she didn’t pull away. And despite his earlier resolve, neither could he.
With a last surge of willpower, he set her away from him.
“Alec?”
“Shea, listen to me.” His voice was rough, even to his own ears. “I can’t do this anymore. It’s no longer a game. All bets are off. If you don’t want me to make love to you, then move away. Now.”