“Yes, I do know.” After growing up without a family of his own, he’d love to find a long lost relative. But that wasn’t possible. His parents had dropped him off at the courthouse steps in Lincoln, Nebraska, and never returned. No note, no name, birth date, nothing.
“I must admit, I’m curious. I was tempted to invite him here.”
Her words interrupted his musings, for which he was thankful. He didn’t go there often any more. What was the point? “Best to call the lawyer first. Once you accept him into your home, he may be difficult to get rid of.”
“Good point.” She picked up the phone and made the call as Sheila arrived in the doorway.
“The phone was busy,” she said, scowling at Melissa. “Lunch is ready when you are. Salad, fresh-baked rolls, and roast beef, whenever you can tear yourself away.”
Melissa nodded at the cook, her attention centered elsewhere.
“Thanks, Sheila. We’ll be along shortly,” he replied. The cook disappeared toward the front of the house, probably to round up Aaron. He glanced at his watch and smiled. Twelve o’clock, right on the nose. The woman was a real stickler for prompt mealtimes.
He shot one last glance at Melissa and left through the patio doors to enter his room and wash up. She sure had a lot on her plate. He wondered if this John was telling the truth, or just hankering for some easy money. He also wondered if the police had arrested her ex yet. No news is good news, they say, but in this case, no news meant they couldn’t move forward with the audit investigation.
Jimmy called a college buddy and found him free to assume responsibility for the audit. He was tops in his field. All it would take was another phone call and he’d be on his way to the track. Jimmy grinned, thinking of his friend and how he loved to sink his teeth into a fraud investigation. And he’d leave no rock—or number—unturned until satisfied that he’d found the truth. Dear old Marcus was in for a rude awakening if he’d been pilfering funds.
Chapter Six
Melissa was in a quandary. Danby had advised her to ignore John Coates until presented with DNA proving his relationship, or until the man’s lawyer got in touch with her. In the meantime, he’d have an investigator check out the truth of his claim. Jimmy had been right—inviting the man into her home was comparable to accepting him as family.
Also, her lawyer had just received word that Marcus had been arrested, but his lawyer was shouting to the heavens about him being wrongfully accused—he said Melissa was spouting sour grapes and wanted revenge because he’d walked out on her to live his own life. She told Danby about the call she’d received from her ex when they’d taken him in for questioning.
“Apparently, they didn’t like his answers because he’s now been formally charged with fraud.”
They’d had a good chuckle over it, but now she worried. If his lawyer got him out of jail, would he show up here? Cause trouble for her? He wouldn’t dare! Would he?
Her stomach growled a protest, so she rose to go to the kitchen, careful to lock both doors that accessed the office. She’d find a picture of her ex and have a chat with Brian later. Marcus had never set foot on the ranch in all the years they’d been married. If he showed up now, he would be escorted off the property faster than he arrived. The thought brought an impish grin, knowing she’d covered all the bases.
Now it was time for food. Aaron and Jimmy had both beat her to the table. She smiled and took her usual seat, facing the window. She loved being able to look outside and know that this was her home, that she didn’t have to leave, ever. Even once Aaron was grown with a family of his own, she could just move to a different wing and leave them their privacy.
Her thoughts strayed to the man across the table who currently occupied the suite in question. She wouldn’t mind sharing it with him at all. She giggled aloud and he looked straight at her, as if he knew what she was thinking.
“Share the joke?” Jimmy asked, a mischievous smile crinkling the corners of his eyes.
“I don’t think so.” She ate, putting a stop to the conversation.
“Find out anything?”
“Yes, but we’ll discuss it in the office after lunch. Contrary to most people, I prefer to eat and keep business in its place.”
“Fair enough. I’ll jot that down for future reference.” He pretended to write on his hand as he spoke aloud. “The lady doesn’t do business dinners.”
Aaron and Melissa laughed at his antics and then settled in to eat.
Afterward, Aaron went off to play until she was free to watch the rest of movie with him and she and Jimmy brought their coffees into the office.
Melissa sat in the extra chair while he perched on the edge of the desk. She filled him in on her conversation with the lawyer as they sipped coffee.
“I’m glad he’s checking into John’s claim, but you have more pressing matters. I’ll call the auditor so he can get started. Anything else?”
Melissa snorted a laugh. “I don’t think I could handle anything else.”
Jimmy grinned. “You’re stronger than you think. Once you have a direction, you proceed full force. An admirable trait.”
“Thanks, but I should have figured this out on my own. The truth is, I was too busy moving, setting up here, learning ranching, and trying to be both parents to my son. I was mourning the loss of my grandfather and trying desperately hard not to think about Marcus. That doesn’t excuse my lapse in judgment where he’s concerned, but hopefully I can get it all straightened out.”
“You will.”
“Thanks.” She drained her coffee and pushed to her feet. “I want to get back to Aaron and finish watching that movie. Need anything else before I go?”
“Not a thing. Enjoy the rest of your movie while I pound away on the keyboard entering data.”
“I’m not a slave driver. You don’t need to catch everything up in one day.”
Still grinning, he spoke, “That’s good to know. I’ve been at it for nearly two weeks now and have barely made a dent in it.”
“I’ll leave you to it then.” As she rose, she stooped to pick a paper up off the floor, then straightened to place it on the desk.
Jimmy moved behind the desk and sat down, clicking the mouse to bring up the screen. He was already immersed in his work when she left the room.
Jimmy leaned back in the chair and adjusted the fit of his jeans after the door closed. If he hadn’t sat down when he did, he might have embarrassed himself. Those shorts had ridden high on her thigh when she crossed her legs, but when she’d bent over to retrieve that slip of paper, he’d gotten an eyeful of cleavage—well-endowed cleavage—peeking out over her top. Certain the temperature in the room had risen a full twenty degrees, he reached to undo his tie, belatedly realizing he wasn’t wearing one. The constriction remained. He needed air.
Stepping outside, he rolled up the sleeves of his western shirt. The fountain beckoned. He sat at the edge and dipped his fingers in the water, concentrating on the trickling sound it made as it poured from the spout of a watering can affixed to the statuary above. A measure of cool overcame him and with it, a sense of calm control.
Why did he react like this to Melissa? He’d worked with many women over the years, beautiful, intelligent, and downright sexy women. So why this pressing need to hold his employer? To kiss her? How did she manage to turn him on so easy? All he knew was that he had to get control of his libido, and fast, or he would be out of a job quicker than he’d obtained it. Unless the lady was willing?
No, he wouldn’t go there. Better to control himself than step over that line. A sexual harassment charge would ruin his reputation and the legal ramifications could deplete his hard-earned savings. He’d waited too long for his dream to become reality. No way was he going to screw up now.
He had enough money put aside that, with the proceeds from the sale of his accounting firm, he could make a purchase as soon as he found the right property. His heart lifted at seeing his life’s goal coming to fruition and he went back i
nside, ready to tackle the ranch accounting. He was making great progress when suddenly the door flew open and Melissa stormed in.
“Why didn’t you tell me your horse was in heat? You owe me some serious stud fees, mister.”
“What? I mentioned to both of you that first day that she’d be in heat soon. And Brian knows. We’ve kept her away from the stallions.”
“Not far enough away apparently. Aaron came running just now to tell me that Midnight Rain was humping your horse.”
“Did Sherry get loose?” he asked, trying to remain calm. His boss sure was pretty in an angry snit. Hell, what business do I have noticing her looks when my horse is in trouble?
“No, Midnight jumped the fence and got her in the home paddock.”
“Then it’s the fault of your horse, not mine. Sherry’s a purebred Arabian. It’s you who owes me if she ends up impregnated. I’m not paying stud fees for a half-breed foal.”
Melissa turned at least three shades of red and began pacing the room.
“Fine! If she is pregnant, I’ll keep the foal,” she said as she faced him once more.
“Oh, no you won’t. If Sherry gives birth, the foal stays with her.” On this point, he was adamant.
“We’ll just see about that! I’m calling my lawyer.”
“Go right ahead.” Jimmy backed up his files, pushed to his feet, and moved away from the desk, motioning with his hand for her to have a seat. “It’s all yours.”
She sat and dialed the number, but had to leave a message, which didn’t seem to make her any happier. Melissa hung up the phone and sat there, staring into space.
Not wanting to get into another argument, he left. “I’m going to check on Sherry. Don’t forget to lock up.” He walked away without a backward glance.
His dream had always included raising purebred Arabians. Did this mean that Sherry’s bloodline would be tainted? He’d have to check on that before deciding what to do. He still had the number for the breeder he bought her from, and he could always call his old vet. But right now, he needed to check on his horse. Sherry had never been “serviced” before and he wanted to make sure she was all right.
He wasn’t a vindictive person, but Sherry was the only family he had. If she was damaged in any way, someone was going to pay.
Half an hour later, Jimmy paced the sitting area in his suite. Sherry had seemed fine, unchanged, undamaged, and glad to see him. Not so Melissa. Of course, that feeling was mutual. Had his first instincts about her been right? Were money and profits her main goal? It cost plenty to keep a spread like this running and she’d been impressed with Sherry on first sight. Had she arranged this in order to bilk him of stud fees and introduce a purebred line into her stock?
He didn’t want to think so, but he couldn’t understand how that stallion had jumped a fence nearly eight feet high. No, someone had to arrange that little get-together. And if not Melissa, then who? He couldn’t imagine any of her wranglers taking it upon themselves to do so, and Brian had appeared suitably shocked to hear about it, immediately removing Midnight Rain from Sherry’s corral.
Jimmy had gone one step further and secured Sherry in her stall. That’s when he heard Starshine thrashing about and fetched Brian.
Melissa waited and waited for the lawyer to call her back. When he finally did, the news wasn’t good. Mr. Danby would have to research the rights in this case, as he wasn’t entirely certain what the correct protocol was in an instance such as this one. It could take a few days.
She wanted to ask his opinion concerning Jimmy, but she’d already messed up so much with Marcus, she didn’t want Mr. Danby to think her a total ditz. Had Jimmy accepted the position here somehow planning this exact scenario? It was no secret that he wanted to purchase his own ranch and had started building quite a herd with the Mustangs. Maybe he was using her to take it one more step forward by providing quality horses for sale.
Was he really planning to run cattle? By living and working on her ranch, he’d gain plenty of experience with raising and selling horses, if that was his aim.
Boy, she sure could pick ’em. Did she have some kind of sign on her forehead that read clueless? Marcus had been a cheat and a thief. And now, here was Jimmy. Was he concerned about her finances because he’d planned to sue her all along?
Somehow, that just didn’t sit right with her. She preferred to think of him as the caring man he’d first appeared to be. She slumped forward, her head resting on her arms. Was there any sense in getting all bent out of shape because two horses got together for a little fun?
Yes, darn it! That stallion was a thoroughbred racing horse, the top of his line. His stud fees ranked in the hundred thousands. Jimmy couldn’t have planned it better. She had to give him credit. The man knew horses.
She’d better have a chat with Brian and make sure nothing like this happened again. Although, if it worked in her favor, those two horses would make beautiful babies. What a mess! Melissa locked up the office and went in search of her foreman. Maybe he had some badly needed answers for her current dilemma.
She walked straight to the foaling barn, knowing that Brian would be keeping a close eye on the mares ready to give birth. When she entered, he and Jimmy were down on their knees helping Starshine birth her first babe. Jimmy held her head and talked to her in that low, sexy voice that had Melissa’s nerve ends tingling. She shook it off as best she could and approached the men.
“Can I help?”
“You sure can, Missy. Mama’s in trouble. We need to turn the babe around and our hands are too big. If we don’t help her, we could lose both of them. Get in here.”
She opened the stall door and quietly stepped inside. “What do I do?”
“Come down here beside me. Now, reach in with one hand. What do you feel?”
“A hoof.”
“It should be the head. Understand?”
“Yes, but how do I do this?” She was scared spitless she would hurt the mare or her foal.
“Reach your other hand in and using both, try to find the head.”
Brian must have sensed her unease for he said, “Slow and easy now. You’re helping, not hurting.”
She nodded, reached in with both hands, and with slow, cautious moves, felt around until she could feel the head. “Okay, got it!”
“Now, ever so gently, turn the babe until its head is pointed toward us.”
Sweat ran down her forehead in rivulets, stinging her eyes as she worked to turn the babe. “His foot won’t move out of the way.”
“Just give it a soft shove. It’ll move.”
“Okay.” She let go of the head with one hand and concentrated on moving the horse’s leg out of the way. “It worked.”
“All right. You’re doing great, Missy. Now guide that head down.”
Melissa held her breath and closed her eyes, her mind focused on the job at hand. “It’s there.” She pulled her hands free. “What now?”
In answer, the tired Mama gave a big heave and out came the head, swiftly followed by the rest of its body.
“It’s a colt! A beautiful baby colt,” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. “We did it. We saved them.”
“No, girlie. You saved them. By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late for the vet to get here. I was going to call you when you showed up. Good job.”
Brian assisted her to her feet. “We’ll go now and let Starshine bond with her baby. Did you need me for something?”
“Yes, but it can wait,” she said, conscious of Jimmy being within earshot. “I’ll go clean up and come back in a little while.”
“I’d better go clean up too,” said Jimmy as he ambled past them on his way to the door.
“Thanks for your help, Jimmy,” Brian called after him.
“Any time. See you later.”
Jimmy hadn’t glanced her way at all, just walked on by without even acknowledging her presence. So be it. He might be angry because of what had happened, but so was she.
/> “Actually, Brian, I came to talk to you about Jimmy’s horse.”
“Yeah, he told me about Midnight Rain, but I don’t see how he could’ve jumped the fence. That’s a high one.”
“Has anyone ridden him today?”
“Just Aaron. Maybe he let him loose in the wrong corral.”
“Now that’s something I didn’t need to hear. Given the circumstances, if Sherry is pregnant, who owns the foal?”
“Well now, that’s a tricky one. Sherry’s boarding here with your permission, so if one of your stallions got to her, I’d say it’s Jimmy’s babe.”
“Darn! What about stud fees? Can we collect on those?”
Brian scratched his head. “I don’t see how. Jimmy told me she was in heat and I’ve kept her in the home paddock, away from the stallions, for that reason. Hard to collect on nature taking its course, especially if it had a little help.”
Melissa heaved a heavy sigh. “Right. I’ll go talk to Aaron.” She cast one final look at the new colt nestled in next to his mother, and left the barn to find her son.
For the horse’s sake, Jimmy was glad when Melissa arrived, although those white shorts of hers would never be the same. He had to give her credit. She’d jumped right in and helped out, uncaring of the time passing or anything else as the three of them worked to save the mare and her colt.
He’d been slightly miffed when she’d ignored him, but heck, avoiding her had been his exact aim when he went out to check on Sherry, so he didn’t know why it bothered him so much. He had half a mind to move his belongings to the bunkhouse, only why should he give up his comfort?
Frustrated at the current state of affairs, he ran his fingers through his hair. They’d had a good working relationship going, were well on the way to being friends, so why this? It’s a good thing his rooms were comfortable. When not working or out riding, he’d be spending a lot more of his time here.
Suited to be a Cowboy Page 8