Then again, she seemed pretty independent. Storms probably didn’t bother her at all. After all, taking over the running of a ranch with little or no experience couldn’t be easy and yet she’d tackled it head-on.
The patio doors beckoned. He slipped into a pair of sneakers and ventured out into the courtyard, solar lights guiding his footsteps as he meandered along the paths. Hiding amongst the shrubbery toward the back end of the garden, he discovered a gazebo and stepped inside to sit for a spell.
It was so peaceful and quiet out here, he could hear the wind whisper through the leaves surrounding the gazebo. Faint, but still audible, was the sound of water splashing into the fountain. Frogs, crickets, night birds calling to each other. A peaceful quiet that, until now, had eluded him. There was nothing even remotely this peaceful in the city, not even around his cottage, hemmed in on both sides by other houses. Even the parks were engulfed in traffic noise and fights. Give him the country any day.
Coyotes yipped and howled in the distance, moving in for the kill. Probably stalking a deer was his guess. White-tailed deer were such beautiful and graceful animals. It was a shame really, but nature had to run its course.
Jimmy rose to his feet and continued along the path, which circled back to the house. This might fast become one of his favorite spots, when he wasn’t out riding. He thought of the wild Mustangs he’d seen. Was it possible to catch one? Would he be fast enough? Skilled enough? Maybe this Tippy, the trainer Melissa spoke of, would help him round up a few. Jimmy smiled. He didn’t want to be greedy, but it was such a great opportunity to build his herd for cattle ranching. He’d catch and train as many as he could in preparation for that day.
His steps led him full circle and he stopped when he came upon his employer sitting at the edge of the fountain, trailing her fingers in the water.
“Penny for them.”
She jumped and turned in one fluid motion, her hand rising to her chest. “Jimmy! I didn’t know you were out here.”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you would’ve heard me coming.”
“No. I didn’t. I was, er, thinking.”
“Must be deep thoughts,” he teased.
She sighed heavily. “Yes, very deep.”
Concerned, he moved closer. Close enough to reach out and touch her, but he kept his hands to himself. “Did all that talk of your grandfather bring you down tonight?”
“No, but I do miss him. He had such a presence. You know? The kind of man you knew you could depend on.”
“Well, I’m definitely not your grandfather, but if you need anything, just ask. I’ve been known to be dependable at times.” He smiled, trying to relieve some of the tension in the air. He couldn’t be this close and not want to hold her.
She let loose a shaky laugh. “Thanks, but when my husband walked out I swore never to depend on a man again. I’m doing okay. I’ll manage.”
“All right, but if the need arises, I’m your man.”
Melissa smiled then and stepped aside, away from him. “I’d better go in. Morning comes early on the ranch. Good night.”
“Good night, Melissa.”
She crossed to another set of patio doors. He groaned. Now he knew where her bedroom was. How would he ever find sleep tonight knowing she was just across the courtyard? He gave his head a shake and moved toward his room, silently closing and locking the door behind him, not to keep her out, but to remind himself to stay inside.
He showered and crawled into bed, the flowery scent of the sheets reminding him of Melissa as he snuggled under the covers.
Did I secretly want his company tonight? Wait out there for him to see me? Come to me? The man oozed testosterone…tall, dark, muscled, and as handsome as could be. But it was much more than his physical appearance. He was intelligent, polite, and considerate. Look at the way he’d showed up with that game for Aaron. Jimmy was altogether too perfect for her peace of mind. And what was even worse…she had the strangest feeling that he belonged here on the ranch, as ridiculous as that seemed. She resolved once again to keep their relationship strictly business. Once through that type of hurt was enough to last her a lifetime. But as she dozed off to sleep, her newest employee remained at the forefront of her mind and featured in her dreams.
For the first time since she’d taken over the ranch, Melissa overslept. An active mind and even more active dreams had kept her awake most of the night. She staggered into the kitchen for her morning coffee and found Jimmy and Aaron at the table finishing their breakfast. Her son was raving about his game to Jimmy, who listened attentively and inserted a comment here and there.
“Good morning,” she said, not feeling it, but making the effort to appear normal.
“Hi, Mom!” Aaron got up to put his plate in the dishwasher. “I’m going to play my game.”
“Okay, but don’t stay on it all day. There are other things to do.”
His look told her what he thought of that idea, but he ran down the hall toward the game room. She became aware of Jimmy’s intent gaze as he gave her white shorts and orange tank top a quick once-over.
“Good morning to you too. I take it you’re not working with the horses today?”
Sheila poured her a coffee and passed it to her as Melissa took a seat at the table. “Not today. I know what kind of shape the accounts are in so I thought I’d better stick close in case you need anything. Didn’t want to just throw you in at the deep end and waltz away.”
“Thanks.” He grinned wryly. “I did take a quick look last night—at the program and the overflowing in-tray. I’ll begin by sorting things out chronologically. If it appears anything is missing, I’ll let you know.”
“I know next to nothing about the paperwork end of things. Everything should be there. I just kept adding receipts and stuff to the pile as they came in.”
Jimmy cringed. “Stuff? Are you referring to bank statements, payroll, and such?”
It was her turn to grin. “Yeah, and anything else I didn’t know what to do with.”
He nodded. “Why did you wait so long to hire someone?”
Melissa snorted a laugh. “I’ve posted that same ad since February. No response until yours came through followed by several others. Never rains for what it pours, but I’m glad to have you here.”
“Thanks. All right if I grab another coffee to take to the office?”
“Yeah, sure. Have you still got the keys?”
“Yes, sorry I forgot to give them back to you.” He dug in his pocket and pulled them out.
“That’s okay, but I’ll trade you.” She held out a key ring with several keys on it. “I’ll grab a refill and join you in a minute.”
“No rush. Have your breakfast. Your cook makes a mean omelet. Thanks, Sheila. What time is lunch?”
“Twelve sharp. I’ll ring the office extension when lunch is ready.”
“Good, I tend to get immersed in my work. See you then.” He filled his mug and sauntered from the room.
“Quit staring and close your mouth, girl. A person would think you’d never seen a man before.”
Melissa turned to Sheila, laughing uproariously. “Sheila, that one is all man. Definitely worth a second look, especially with those tight buns encased in denim.”
“And he’s appreciative too.” Sheila preened as she delivered a plate filled with omelet and toast to Melissa. “He likes my cooking.”
“Who wouldn’t? Much better than my burnt offerings.” Melissa took a bite of the chicken omelet. “And your omelets are to die for, so fluffy and full of flavor. Thanks for looking after us so well.”
“That’s what you pay me for. Now, eat up and go see to that young man. I’ve been in your office. How you can find anything in there is beyond me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Melissa figured she might even enjoy working in the office today.
Chapter Five
Immersed in sorting files, his back to the door, Jimmy didn’t hear Melissa until she stood right beside him. He ac
knowledged her presence with a nod and caught her staring at him.
“What? Do I have egg on my face?”
“Um, yeah, right here.” She ran a finger down the side of his cheek, her touch soft and warm, intimate almost. “Got it.”
“Thanks.” He played along with it, knowing there hadn’t been anything there. Like him, she probably just wanted to touch him. Mind on your work, McGovern. “I have a small stack of papers there.” He pointed to the desk. “If you could take a look and jot down what they were for, it’ll make life easier when I input the entries.”
“Sure.” She pulled a chair up to the corner of the desk and grabbed a pen. The first few went okay, but then she seemed stumped. “I have no idea what this was for.” She passed him the page.
“No problem. Brian signed for it. Make another stack for anything you’re not sure of and I’ll consult with him after we go through all this.”
Already, he’d ordered most of it by date, but it was slow going. He had circled payroll dates on a calendar for easy reference. So far, they were all there, but as he’d suspected, no deductions. “I’m afraid your employees aren’t going to like me much when I have to start catching up on deductions. It’s weird that no one questioned you on it in all this time.”
“Why would they?” she asked.
He paused for a moment, then turned to face her. Unbelievable! “I don’t know about you, but any time I’ve received a paycheck, there was a statement of earnings and deductions attached.”
“Oh, well I’ve never worked so how would I know?”
“Never?” he asked, flabbergasted at her admission.
She shrugged. “Never had to. Mom and Dad were into horses too. They owned a racetrack. He signed it over to her one day and walked away—from the racetrack and from us. When Mom died, she left everything to me. It was, er, quite a substantial amount.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. Do you still own the track?” Jimmy frowned. He hadn’t seen any papers to do with a racetrack, but then, it was a separate business. “What is the name of it? Where is it located?”
“Dehavilland Downs in Kentucky. That’s where we take the horses when we’re ready to sell.”
Whooeee. That place was a popular spot.
“Who runs it in your absence? You have a manager or accountant there?”
“Marcus Winthrop, my ex-husband. He does both.”
Jimmy didn’t like the sounds of this setup. “So, you’re still friends with your ex? He sends regular statements?”
“Hardly! He walked out on us. I wouldn’t give him the time of day. The statements are kept on file at the track.”
Jimmy laid his pen carefully on the desk, then ran his hands through his hair, gaining a measure of calm before he spoke. “Melissa, pardon me for asking, but don’t you care about the track?”
“Of course I do. Marcus, for all his faults, assumed the responsibility when he realized that I was not management material.”
“And he’s still in control?”
“Yes. Why?”
Jimmy couldn’t believe it. “Come on now. You can’t be that dense.”
She stiffened in her seat and glared at him. “Apparently, Mister Ranch Accountant, I can be. Care to fill me in?”
Her voice was laced with sarcasm. Her entire demeanor changed as if she was ready to rip a strip off his lowly hide.
Jimmy groaned aloud. “Sorry for my choice of words, but you’ve never inquired as to how the business is doing? What about the profits? Where are they deposited?”
“If you must know, we didn’t need the money so we started an educational trust fund for Aaron with the proceeds. Marcus said the track was losing money lately though. Nobody wanted to gamble on horses any more. He was talking of selling it.”
Man, oh man. This just gets worse and worse. “Did he ever have you sign anything? A bill of sale, IRS statements, anything?”
“Well, yeah. I have to sign the IRS forms. I own the place.” Her voice rose to almost a shriek as she continued. “What are you trying to tell me?”
Jimmy drew in a deep breath and laid his suspicions on the line. “Melissa, Dehavilland Downs is the place to go if you own a fast horse. Guaranteed, it’s making money—lots of it. Google it if you don’t believe me. But insist on receiving those statements, every last one since he took over.”
“Six years! You want me to go back six years?” She stared at him as if he’d grown horns.
He shrugged. “It’s your call, but I think you should. Who has access to Aaron’s trust fund?”
“Marcus was the one to set it up, so I suppose he does.”
How could she be so careless with money? I’ve had to work hard for every damned cent and here she was, probably sitting on a gold mine. Her blasé attitude about it tempted him to just up and leave. Walk out. Let her fix her own messes. He leaned forward in the chair, as he wondered what to do.
“Jimmy, do you really think he’s been cheating us?” Her voice was soft, low, hesitant.
“I don’t know, but if you’re not getting statements, then I would think he was hiding something.”
“I messed up. Didn’t I?” Now she sounded contrite, almost apologetic.
“Afraid so. I truly don’t understand how you allowed this to happen.”
“I loved him. Trusted him. After all, the funds were going into our son’s account. Do you honestly think he would cheat Aaron? His only son?”
Her voice was quieter, almost a whisper. He glimpsed the pain of betrayal in her eyes.
“Like I said, I don’t know him. I have no idea what kind of man he is.”
“He’s a scoundrel, but I never for one moment thought he’d cheat Aaron. What do I do now?”
“For starters, I’d fire his ass and have the books audited. I’d offer to do it, but I’m going to be busy here. Want me to recommend someone? I have contacts in Kentucky.”
“Yes, please. What else?”
“You need to hire a lawyer and cancel his access to everything you own, including Aaron’s trust fund.”
Her face brightened. “I do have a lawyer. He was Gramps’ lawyer and he’ll look out for our best interests. I’ll give him a call.”
She reached for the phone and promptly burst into tears.
Ah, heck! He hated when a woman cried. He hauled her up against him in a comforting hug. “You’ll get through this. There’s no shame in trusting your spouse, but it’s time to do some investigating. You’re stronger and smarter than he is, now prove it.”
She pulled away and looked up at him. He was so tempted to kiss her and get that pressing need off his mind. Could it make matters any worse? She needed comforting and he was there. Ah, hell. He lowered his head, a smidgeon at a time, giving her plenty of chances to pull away. She didn’t. His lips touched hers, softly, briefly, testing the move. When she kissed him back, he couldn’t believe the passion she ignited. Tightening his hold, he brought her closer so she could feel the effect she was having on him—and with just a kiss. That move sealed his fate.
She stepped back, breaking his hold, and dried her tears. When she spoke, her words came out slow and succinct. “Thank you. I needed that, I think.”
“My pleasure,” he said, shifting his position to avoid embarrassment.
“If Marcus has been siphoning funds from Aaron’s educational trust, I’m going to nail his hide to the wall.”
Jimmy smiled, glad to see her spunk returning. “That’s the spirit.”
“No one makes a fool of Melissa Dehavilland and gets away with it! Now, let’s make those calls.”
“I’d start with the lawyer. Tell him of your suspicions and see what he advises.”
“Good plan.” Melissa consulted her little back book, picked up the phone, and dialed. “Mr. Danby, please.” She spoke for a few minutes, leaving her name and number, and then replaced the receiver. “He’s with a client. I’ll have to wait for him to call back.”
Jimmy nodded. “So let’s go through the rest of the
se papers.”
“Okay.”
“That’s it,” Jimmy announced quite a while later. “Unless you have another stack hiding around here somewhere.”
“Nope. Want me to talk to Brian about these other receipts?”
He shook his head. “I’ll need to stretch my legs and check on Sherry, so I can hunt him down then.”
“How about another coffee?” She rose.
He smiled and nodded absently, already immersed in entering data from the stack of papers before him. “I wouldn’t say no.”
She left for the kitchen and he was still sorting papers when she returned.
“Hey, I thought you’d forgotten my coffee.”
“No, just a minor skirmish with Aaron. Sometimes it’s a fight to get him away from those video games. I sent him outside. Besides, I made a fresh pot.” She set his coffee within easy reach and sat down in the chair facing the desk.
He took a sip. “Mmm, good. Melissa, I don’t see the sales slips for those horses you were transporting when we met. Any idea where they are?”
“Ugh! They’re probably still in my briefcase. Just a sec.” She picked up the case from across the room, placing it on a side table. She withdrew two large manila envelopes and passed them to him. “This one contains receipts for the expenses I incurred during the trip, and this one holds the bills of sale for forty-seven horses.”
Jimmy pulled out the bills of sale. Attached to each were certified cashier’s checks for the full amount. Stunned, he looked at his employer. “You didn’t make the deposit? Melissa, you have a small fortune here. Why didn’t you make the deposit in Kentucky?”
“Couldn’t. I forgot the deposit book. We need to go to the bank anyway so I can add you as signing authority on the account.”
“There’s no need for that.”
She leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and smiled. “Yes, there is a need. You will be handling the accounts for the ranch. That means purchases, payroll, and deposits.”
Suited to be a Cowboy Page 6