“I’ve never loved another woman beside you. I couldn’t,” he said fiercely as he pulled her toward him, his mouth enveloping her in a tender, emotion-filled kiss. She melted into his arms, feeling more at peace than she’d felt in a very long time. Finally, she was home.
Chapter Eleven
“Good morning, sleepy head. Rise and shine!” As if through a haze Caleb heard Sierra’s voice drifting through his consciousness. Even though he was still half asleep, her honeyed voice whispering in his ear served as the sweetest alarm clock in creation.
Caleb pried one eye open and then the other, prodded by her sweet voice and the tender memories of the time they’d spent together yesterday. He’d told her he loved her, and the words had been spoken with supreme confidence. Although she hadn’t returned those sentiments, Caleb knew she felt the same way. She just wasn’t ready to utter those three little words. If he was being honest with himself, he felt quite eager to hear them tumbling from her lips.
“Well, hello there,” he said, greeting her with a huge smile. He stretched, letting out a huge yawn in the process.
She held up the house key he’d given her last night and jingled her set of keys in front of him. “Are you regretting giving me a key to your house?” she asked with a grin.
“Of course not,” he said. “I didn’t quite expect you to pop over at such an ungodly hour on my morning off. I don’t have to head over to the ranch until later this afternoon.”
She pulled a large coffee from behind her back. “I come bearing gifts,” she said.
Caleb quickly reached for the coffee and said, “Bless you. Just what I needed to start my morning off.”
“At your service,” she said with a mock salute.
“Did you have sweet dreams last night?” he asked in a low tone, his voice still groggy with sleep.
“I actually dreamed about Morning Star,” she confessed. “It wasn’t anything grisly. It was more sweet than anything. She was grazing in a pasture full of wild flowers.” Her lips curved upwards in a sweet smile.
“I’m glad it was a peaceful dream.”
“Me too,” she said with a nod. “I’m still trying to process everything.”
“About yesterday,” Caleb mumbled, his eyes downcast as he nervously twisted the sheets in his hands. All of a sudden he felt tongue-tied and nervous, unsure of what to say or how to say it.
“I just want you to know,” he continued, “That it meant a lot to me that you turned to me after finding out about Morning Star. Being with you took me all the way back to the sweet time we spent together in the past.”
Sierra smiled at Caleb's tender words. “I know, Caleb. It felt like...coming home.”
Caleb breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that for once in their relationship they seemed to be on the same wavelength. Coming home. She’d found the perfect words to describe his feelings. He really wanted to tell her he loved her again, but he resisted the urge. He didn’t want to run the risk of making her uncomfortable again. It hadn’t escaped his notice that she hadn’t repeated the words of love he’d uttered yesterday. And although it hurt to know that she couldn’t say those words, his gut instinct told him that she felt it too. That same old force that had drawn them together in the first place still existed. That magical push and pull that made it impossible for them to stay apart wasn’t one-sided. She loved him.
“Caleb, it’s almost 8:30!” she squealed as she glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to go!”
“So you’re just going to dash after coming over here and waking me up?” Caleb asked as he took a sip of his piping hot coffee. He placed the cup down on his night table and reached for Sierra’s hand, drawing her close. He leaned in for a kiss, hoping to extend her stay for a little bit.
After a few moments, she gently pushed him away. “I have an important meeting in town with Sam Jarvis. If you don’t stop kissing me, I’m going to be late,” she said between giggles. “If I had my choice I’d stay here and hang out with you all day and drink coffee and watch sappy movies on television.”
He swept her up in his arms, determined to make her stay with him.
She let out a groan and pushed him away, clearly intent on making her way over to Sam Jarvis’ office for their meeting. “Being around you is exhilarating.”
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Right back ‘atcha,” he said in a low drawl. “I’ll be counting the hours till you come back.”
Joy. Triumph. Giddiness. He felt the same way about her. Most of all, Caleb felt an overwhelming sense of how much he loved this woman. And how right it felt that they were finally back together.
Although the events of the past twenty-four hours had convinced him that Sierra loved him, he couldn’t allow himself to revel in triumph. He wasn’t sure why, but he couldn’t seem to relax or let his guard down. For some perplexing reason, he couldn’t escape the niggling feeling that his perfect happiness wouldn’t last.
***
Sierra drove to Sam Jarvis’ office in high spirits, her thoughts revolving around Caleb and the romantic way they had found their way back to one another. She couldn’t seem to stop smiling.
Never in a million years had she truly thought they could bridge the huge gap between them. She’d never felt happier in her life. She felt complete. Satisfied. Whole. She and Caleb had connected just like in the old days when they’d been two kids in love. The had talked, with no screaming or yelling, no bad feelings or animosity. He had held her in his arms as she’d cried about Morning Star. And they’d listened, really listened to each other’s hopes and fears, their dreams and their sorrows.
He loved her! she thought triumphantly. And she loved him. And she’d decided that as soon as she saw him she would tell him so. By the end of the day she would sound like a broken record. It would be an unforgettable moment, she mused, one that they’d be able to tell their grandchildren about. She knew it was presumptuous to start thinking about marriage and babies, but she couldn’t help herself. They’d waited so long for this happiness. They’d loved each other for so long. And now, finally, they’d be able to build a life together, one devoid of deceptions and lies.
Every time she hit a red light she found herself sitting in her car fantasizing about her future with Caleb, a future that was suddenly bright and filled with endless possibilities. A honking horn in the car behind her drew her out of her reverie, forcing her to focus on the matter at hand. She then sailed through the green light, turning into the parking lot next to Sam Jarvis & Associates where she parked her truck nearby the entrance.
She walked into the office from the reception area of Jarvis & Associates, led by Sam’s young and perky secretary, Mable Anne, who was Marissa’s first cousin and a member of Sierra’s high school class.
For ten minutes she and Mable Anne chatted about high school days and caught up on the local gossip. Mabel Anne had her in stitches doing imitations of the jocks on the football team as well as the principal and the class president. Finally, she excused herself and headed towards Sam’s office with Mabel Anne graciously leading the way. Sierra was eager to talk to him about the vandalism on the Diamond Lil and see if he knew anything she hadn’t been told.
“Thanks for making time for me today, Sam,” she said graciously as she entered his plush office and threw her purse onto one of the chairs that faced his ornate desk. Briefly, she looked around the office, noting Sam’s expensive taste in furniture and paintings. As a child she’d tagged along with her grandmother on a few occasions when she’d conducted business with Sam in this very office.
Sam’s mahogany colored face lit up with a twinkle as Sierra walked into his office, his warm smile taking years off of his wizened features. With surprising speed for a man of his advanced years, Sam got up from his leather chair and walked toward her, his arms outstretched in greeting. Sam enveloped her in a huge bear hug, one that reminded her of countless childhood instances when he would visit the Homestead and sit her atop his knee and tell storie
s about her grandmother. Like Minnie and Yancy, Sam reminded her of her grandmother, and it was difficult not to get choked up in his presence.
“Shoot, honey,” Sam drawled in a voice coated with pure sugar, “I always have time for a beauty like yourself.” He then let out a low whistle and shook his head in disbelief. “My, my, my...you and Jacey sure do get purtier all the time. It just doesn’t seem fair to all the other girls in Texas.”
Sierra laughed and shook her head in mock disbelief. “I bet you say that to all the girls, Sam. You’re just as bad as Bryce. Even when I’m wearing a ratty shirt and covered with dirt and grime he’s giving me all kinds of compliments.” Sierra smiled knowingly. “You taught him well, Sam.”
Sam winked at her and lit up one his expensive cigars. “Well, you know Bryce was always sweet on you. Now that you’re back in Texas he’s probably gearing up to court you.”
“Bryce is like a cousin to me,” she explained gently, flabbergasted at the notion that her childhood friend thought of her in those intimate terms. Perhaps Sam had misinterpreted Bryce’s feelings and was simply butting his nose in where it didn’t belong. “We were practically raised together, for goodness sakes. It’s a little strange to think of him romantically at this late stage in the game.”
A strange look flitted over Sam’s face upon hearing her words and his demeanor shifted so that he was suddenly all business. She prayed her words hadn’t sounded like an insult.
“Let’s get right to the point. You wanted to talk to me about the incidents at the Diamond Lil.”
Her mood turned somber. “Yes, Sam. I’ve been wanting to talk to you since Hollis first told me about the trouble at the ranch. It seems Hollis alerted the police to the situation months ago, but the incidents have been so sporadic that the authorities would have to do twenty-four hour surveillance in order to catch the people responsible.” She bit her lip nervously as she thought about all the trouble at the ranch and the major responsibility she was assuming by running the Diamond Lil. “What really worries me is that the incidents seem to be escalating.”
“You sound scared, sugar,” Sam said gently. “I heard about Morning Star from Bryce. I’m awfully sorry. I know she meant the world to you.”
“Yes, she did mean the world to me. And it kills me that someone snuffed her out like she was nothing,” she said fiercely. “It kills me that there are such savages on the loose who care nothing about livestock.”
“Nothing but heathens!” Sam muttered through a puff of cigar smoke. “People like that don’t respect nothing on this earth. Not livestock. Not ranchers. Not the authorities.” He shook his head grimly. “It’s a tough situation.”
“What I really need is your input. Can you tell me anything that Hollis may have overlooked? I understand that you’ve been watching over things since my grandmother took sick.”
Sam nodded in acknowledgement. “Yeah, I’ve been keeping an eye on the ranch. Now that Bryce is working out there he fills me in on things when I can’t make it out to the ranch. There've been some strange goings-on out there. It started out small, almost so small that we didn’t take it as anyone tampering with things. With Lilliana being sick and all, I guess our attention was focused elsewhere. Nobody could’ve predicted the sick turn this thing has taken.”
“Tell me about it. You can’t imagine how shocked I was when Hollis told me about everything that’s gone down ovwe the last few months.” Sierra shook her head in disbelief. “I’m glad my grandmother’s not here to see this.”
“Lord, rest her soul,” Sam said fervently. “Sierra, I heard from Yancy that you plan to stay on and run the Diamond Lil. Is it true?”
“I wasn’t sure at first, Sam,” she acknowledged, “but in the last few days I’ve come to realize that the Diamond Lil is the place for me. It’s in my blood...in my heart. It’s where I should be. I know that now.”
“Sierra, honey, I know you probably feel that the Lil is your grandmother’s legacy, but do you really think you can run it by yourself?” Although Sam posed the question delicately, a hint of condescension could be detected in his voice. Judging by the look on his face, he appeared extremely taken aback by the fact that she’d decided to stay in Briarwood.
For a moment Sierra couldn’t bring herself to speak. Of all people she hadn’t expected Sam to try and dissuade her from her course of action. Sam Jarvis had been with her grandmother since the beginning and he’d stuck by her side through all the hardships, disappointments and the triumphs. It wasn’t in his nature to second guess other people’s decisions.
Finally, she said, “I won’t be running it by myself. There’s Hollis and all of the ranch hands...and Bryce.” She shook her head in bewilderment, baffled by Sam’s negative attitude. Without pulling any punches she asked, “What’s going on, Sam? Why do you have that look of doom on your face?”
Sam sucked on his cigar as if he was drawing strength from it, strength that he felt he might need in his conversation. He exhaled a mouthful of smoke and said, “I’m going to give it to you straight. There’s been a lot of talk going around about you taking over the running of the ranch. Most people don’t like the idea for one reason or another.”
“People? What people?” asked Sierra blankly, unsure of where Sam was heading with his comments.
Sam shrugged, his face as straight as a poker as he said, “You know all those folks in the cattlemens’ association. Some of those simple-minded fools are foaming at the mouth about you running the Diamond Lil.”
“But why? I know the Diamond Lil like the back of my hand. I grew up here. I saw firsthand the way the ranch was run and I know everything about the place. There’s nobody who could do it better. You of all people should know that.”
Sam looked uncomfortable as he said, “They see you as an outsider. You’ve been away for a long time...well, you know how it is around these parts. People are small-minded and ignorant at times. They think of you as a city girl rather than a rancher.”
Sierra sputtered. “That’s ridiculous! I’m a hometown girl. They’re nothing but small-minded, ignorant fools if they believe that! City girl, nothing! I honestly don’t care about their ridiculous judgements!”
Sam held up his hands as if to ward off her anger. “Sugar, don’t attack the messenger. I don’t happen to subscribe to their philosophy, but I’d be lying if I was to say that I wasn’t concerned about the situation. You’ve just lost your grandmother, you’re thousands of miles from home, you’re being attacked from all sides and this craziness is escalating. I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing. There’s no shame in saying you can’t handle things. No shame at all.”
Sam’s words had the effect of waving a red flag in front of a raging bull. Without uttering a word, Sierra sat there seething. Who did Sam think he was kidding? Although he claimed not to subscribe to the philosophy of the cattlemen’s association members, he wasn’t exactly singing her praises either. It sounded like he was giving her permission to pack up her belongings and head back to New York, she thought grumpily.
Sierra sucked in a deep breath of air and warned herself not to lose her cool. She’d come here today for information, precious information that might help her uncover the culprit behind the incidents at the ranch. “Sam, I didn’t come here today to discuss my running of the ranch. As far as I’m concerned it’s a done deal. Grammy passed her legacy down to me because she believed in me and she trusted I could handle things. The reason I wanted to see you today is because I wanted to know anything and everything you can tell me about the incidents at the ranch. And more importantly, I want to know if you have any suspects in mind.”
Sam walked back toward his desk and perched on the corner, his long legs dangling down the front of the desk, almost touching the floor. He ground out the cigar in a chrome ashtray, his movements jerky and abrupt. “What I know isn’t fact, it’s only one old man’s opinion.”
“I respect your opinion, Sam. That’s why I’m here. Please, tell me what
you know.”
He let out an agonized sigh. “Well, here goes. There’s an operation out of Briarwood called the CM Group. For months we’ve suspected they’re the culprits behind the vandalism on the ranch, although we don’t have anything concrete as of yet. They’ve been competing with the Diamond Lil for business as of late, and I must say the situation has became mighty competitive. A while back some rumors were circulating about some diseased cows that we sold to a big group in Phoenix. A pack of lies is what it was. We traced the rumors back to this CM Group. For a while I’ve been suspecting that this group is responsible for all the acts of vandalism on the ranch.”
“Have you called the sheriff in on this?” Sierr asked expectantly, her thoughts whirling with the implications of Sam’s words. She’d never heard of this CM Group, but she trusted Sam’s gut instincts on the matter. If he said this operation was a threat to the Diamond Lil, she believed him. And if Sam felt that this operation was responsible for the heinous acts on the ranch, then she would leave no stone unturned in her quest to bring them to justice.
“Not yet,” he said regretfully. “Problem is, we don’t have any proof to speak of in nailing down the culprit. They’ve gone about this in a real clever way, Sierra. A case against them would be purely circumstantial. And that won’t fly in court, I reckon.”
“What’s their motive, Sam. Money? Power?” she asked with a frown, a look of confusion marring her brow. “What’s driving them?”
Sam scratched his grizzled cheek and pondered her question, his flinty eyes narrowing as he answered, “I haven’t figured that one out yet. Maybe money, influence. Or maybe for revenge. Your grandmother made quite a few enemies in the business along the way.” He shrugged his shoulders and said matter of factly, “When a woman’s as strong and opinionated as your grandmother it’s bound to happen.”
“Who runs this CM Group?” she asked abruptly, her thoughts turning toward the individuals Sam suspected of the acts of vandalism.
Through The Fire (Guardians, Inc. Book 2) Page 17