by Lauren Canan
“I want to propose a toast.” Holly spoke up, raising her glass. “Here’s to our husbands. May they all reap what they sow.”
“Hear, hear,” said Tallie. The others raised their glasses.
Ally joined in the toast, but Seth caught her glance as she did. Underneath the smile was sadness. He was sure of it. She hid it well, but in that instant he had seen through her bravado. Was it knowing theirs was only a marriage of convenience, and of short duration at that? He frowned. She’d assured him she didn’t want any long-term commitment when he first approached her about this arrangement, so it must be something else.
When it was time to leave, the group saw them out to the truck. On the way home, Ally was quiet.
“So, what do you think of my family?”
“They’re all great,” she replied. “I really enjoyed tonight, Seth. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
“You were right. They weren’t the awful people I had imagined. I still don’t understand what really went on between my father and yours, but I accept your brothers had nothing to do with it.”
“I honestly can’t see Wade or Cole or Chance doing something like that. I’m sorry if my father caused you unnecessary pain.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her shrug.
“It’s a beautiful night,” he continued.
“Yes, it is. I loved the view from the terrace where we ate dinner. You said all your brothers have homes at the ranch?”
“Yes, they do. Wade and Cole have to make trips into Dallas periodically, but they told me they’re all happier at the ranch.”
“I can understand that. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I mean, if it were a choice between the city and the country.”
“I never minded the city, although I grew up there and didn’t know any better. I must admit, the country is starting to grow on me.” He couldn’t help grinning. “I want a horse.”
“I’ll put the word out that you’re looking. Do you want a specific breed?”
“Whatever you recommend.”
“You might also call Chance. He could probably fix you up with the perfect mount. The Masters Ranch carries some of the best bloodlines in the country. If I’m remembering correctly, they have several different breeds.”
“Why don’t I arrange a day for us to go and see some? Have you ever been inside their barn?”
“No, and I would love to see it.”
He glanced over and saw her smile. “Then consider it done.”
Soon they pulled into the long driveway going to the house. Seth walked around to her side of the truck and helped her out. As her feet touched the ground, he held her just a moment longer than he probably should, but she made no move to walk away. The moonlight glistened on the strands of her hair, turning them to a burnished gold. His hands moved from her shoulders to cup her face, and without giving it a second thought he lowered his lips to hers.
He heard her inhale deeply before she opened her lips to his. His arms came around her and pulled her tight against his body. The taste of her made his hunger increase, and like a starving man, he fed. Her mouth was a deep well of temptation, and he couldn’t get enough. He heard her moan, and his erection throbbed inside his jeans.
“Let’s go inside.” His voice was rough even to his own ears.
Suddenly Ally pushed against his shoulders and stepped away from him. “I... I can’t do this. I’m sorry, Seth.”
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re bored and I’m here. I’ve played that game before, and I won’t do it again.”
She hurried to the front steps. He looked up at the dark sky then rubbed the back of his neck. Maybe she was right. It wouldn’t last. She knew that and so did he. His only excuse was that she was impossibly tempting.
He followed her inside the house and to the kitchen. She was there, taking a glass from the cabinet. A glass of water sounded good.
“Do you mind handing me one?”
“Sure,” she replied, giving him a glass and walking to the faucet.
“Did someone hurt you?” he couldn’t help but ask.
She took a sip of her water and was quiet for a long moment. He didn’t think she was going to answer. But then she said, “His name was Wayne. Wayne Burris. We were together a few months. Long enough for him to make promises. Plenty of time for me to fall for him and believe what he said. The next thing I knew, I found a note on my pillow. He said he hoped I would understand. No problem there. It was never his intention to stay around, but I let my hopes get the best of me. I was a fool. But I’m not about to put myself in that situation again. God, I hate that man. He goes through his life not caring who he hurts, not giving a second thought to the people he interacts with. The world revolves around Wayne.”
“It doesn’t have to be like that.”
“No? Then how would you imagine this will end? Eventually you’ll leave to go back to California and that will be that.”
“I’ll be back, Ally.”
“You can’t say that, Seth. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the future is never set. You want an affair, and I’m saying no.”
“I can’t promise anything more right now. Why don’t we take it one step at a time and see where this goes? I think you’re attracted to me a lot more than you want to admit.”
“You’re crazy.” She turned away and headed for the den. He caught up in four long strides, stopping her forward progress and turning her back to him. His hands cupped her face.
“Don’t judge every man by one man’s bad behavior.”
“I’m not. I—I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
With lips set in determination, she pulled free and continued her flight to the stairs.
* * *
Ally finished off the last of her eggs, took a bite of toast and walked to the sink, rinsing the crumbs down the drain. The morning was overcast, dark clouds on the horizon telling of rain in the distance. She hoped the rain would hold off. While they needed a good downpour, there were too many things to be done that required dry weather.
Seth started a fresh pot of coffee. It smelled like a lifeline, and she eagerly grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured her second cup.
“So, what time do your horses arrive?” he asked.
“All I know is before noon. Mac Dempsey, the manager over at the Triple Bar Ranch, is bringing them himself this morning. He said he would try to be here by noon.”
“Good deal. I’m happy for you.”
She looked over at Seth. “You know what? I think I’ll take my coffee to the barn. I need to get out there early.” She walked to the kitchen door and stepped out onto the covered porch where she’d left her boots. Pulling them on, she slipped outside without a backward glance.
An hour later the van arrived holding Ally’s three mares and her stallion, Monkey.
The ranch hands were there to assist in unloading them from the trailer and into their stalls. Hay was provided and plenty of fresh water.
When they were all settled and happily munching on their hay, Ally turned to Mac.
“I can never thank you enough.”
“Glad to do it. They’re beautiful, quality mares. I’m glad they could come home again. It’s where they belong.”
Ally hugged the older man, tears forming in her eyes at the remembrance of all he had done for her after she lost the ranch. “Thank you so much.”
She stepped back just as Seth entered the barn.
“Mac, this is my husband, Seth. Seth, this is Mac Dempsey.”
The two men shook hands. “You two have a fine place here,” Mac said, putting his hat back on. “I guess I don’t have to tell you, but you’re married to one of the best trainers in the state. I’m glad she’s home, but we’re sure going to miss her.”
“I understand,” Seth replied. He looked at Ally and grinned. “She’s pretty special, all right.”
Together they walked Mac out to his rig and saw him off. Then Ally hurried back inside the barn. Stopping at the first stall, she sprang the latch and stepped inside, pouring the morning grain into the feeding trough. Seth came in and stood in the entrance to the stall.
“This is Lady Mary, a thoroughbred out of Nimbus Cloud Rising,” she said as she ran her hands over the horse’s chest and down her legs. “She has produced some of the finest foals around. I’m going to try to save up and breed her to Standing Tall Vision, a stallion out at the East Fork Ranch.”
“Why not mate her with your own stallion?”
“He’s her son out of Jault Amar. Standing Tall Vision is currently a high-stakes winner in the major races. Don’t know if I can do it by next year, but I intend to try. His stud fee is several thousand dollars, but a colt out of the two of them would be unprecedented.”
She patted the mare’s shoulder and backed out of the stall, closing the latch behind her.
“This is Sassy Lady,” Ally said, dipping up another measure of feed and going into the next stall. “She’s a quarter horse.” The mare was a bay with one white foot and a blaze face. Slowly Ally approached the mare and ran her hands over the legs and back.
“Is she in your breeding program, too?” Seth asked.
“Yeah, but I’d rather wait and make Lady Mary the priority. I can’t afford the breeding fee on them all, and the foal Mary produces will sell for enough to pay the breeding expenses for both of the others and then some.”
She fed the third mare, a chestnut with three white socks, then stepped across the wide hall to where her stallion stood, patiently munching his hay.
“This is my Monkey man, also known as Jupiter’s Rising Star.” She ran her hands over the horse’s glistening black coat after pouring the mixture of grain into his feeder.
“He’s a fine-looking stallion,” Seth commented.
“He’s a thoroughbred. He’s produced four colts, and they all did great on the racetrack. I’ve had quite a few inquiries about him already, but Mac didn’t have the room to set up a separate area for breeding. That and his barn is full, so no way to board any mares.” As she talked the stallion turned to her, searching her jeans pockets for a treat.
“Hey, there, Monkey. I’ve got your carrot right here.”
She pulled two carrots from her back jeans pocket, and he eagerly snapped them up.
“Why do you call him Monkey?”
“When he was a yearling, he was into everything. His antics almost took him out more than once. But the crowning glory was when, at two years old, he became enamored with two mares a couple of runs down. Mr. Monkey here decided he would just jump the fence. And he did. He went sailing over a six-foot-high expanse of pipe fencing. But while his front feet cleared the top rail, unfortunately his hind feet didn’t follow and he hung himself on the top rail. His front feet were swinging about an inch above the ground and his hind legs were straight up in the air. Quite the sight. Mac was over visiting Dad and he came running. He sized up the situation and pushed Monkey’s hind legs up and over the top rail. Monkey landed in a heap, bruised but thankfully otherwise unharmed. Mac called him a crazy monkey, and the name kinda stuck.”
Seth laughed. It was the first time she had heard such a bellow of laughter from him. She grinned.
“He loves carrots but won’t touch apple slices or corn. Most horses love all of them. Monkey spits out a piece of apple as quick as it goes into his mouth.”
She turned to Seth. “Thank you for making this happen, for allowing me the opportunity to bring them all home.”
“Not a problem. Glad to do it. Don’t forget, this ranch was only part of the arrangement. You made funding for the research center possible.”
“Well, I’d better get back to the house. I want to do a full search. See if I can find whatever that thief was looking for.”
“My two security staff should be arriving this afternoon. I need to have a meeting with them,” Seth said. “I would help you, but I have no idea what I’m looking for.”
“That’s okay. Neither do I, really. But I think I’ll know it if I see it.”
They returned to the house together, then Seth got in his truck to drive to the local airport to pick up the men.
Ally went to the kitchen to try her search again. She pulled out each drawer and went through the contents and examined the bottom. When she finished with that room, she headed to the living room then on to the den. Pauline joined her in the search for a while, then went back to cleaning upstairs.
By the time Seth returned from the airport, Ally had nothing to show for her efforts except a list of grocery items she needed to pick up at the store. It was a long list. And if she knew Seth at all, he would insist on going with her. She’d never been around anyone who wanted to protect her like he did. He was a special man. She just had to be sure to protect her heart as well. It was becoming more difficult every day.
* * *
“Guys, this is my wife, Ally,” Seth said when he found her in the den. He stepped aside so his security men could enter the room.
“Nice to meet you,” she replied and shook their hands.
“Frank, I want you to stay around the back and cover the west end of the house tonight. Bryan, you take the front and the east side.”
The men nodded.
“I don’t know what to tell you to look for. I don’t have a clue what the guy was doing inside this house. But if he comes back, I want him caught. There are two spare bedrooms on the left side of the hall upstairs. Make yourselves comfortable. T-shirt and jeans will work here and help you blend in with the ranch hands. You’re welcome to roam around the property and get your bearings. I suggest if you run into any of the ranch hands, you introduce yourselves as friends of mine here visiting for a few days. Word travels fast around here, and I don’t want news of a security team getting back to the culprit. And try to get some sleep. You’re on duty at ten o’clock.”
“Yes, sir,” both said in unison.
“I’ll show you to your rooms,” Ally offered and walked toward the stairs. The housekeeper stood at the top of the stairs.
“Pauline, these are friends of my husband, Frank and Bryan. This is Pauline, our housekeeper.” Ally led them to the upstairs hallway and continued on to the guest rooms. “I think you’ll be comfortable. If you need extra blankets, check the closet. Anything else, Seth and I will be around, or if we aren’t, Pauline should be able to help you.”
“This is great,” said Bryan, stepping inside one of the rooms. “Thanks, Mrs. Masters.”
Seth stepped up behind where the small group stood. “Any questions?”
“Is there any outside security?”
Seth shook his head. “No, not yet. I prefer to wait and see if he tries something else before we go full-scale surveillance. That could draw attention and scare him off. I want this creep caught.”
“We’re on it,” Frank advised.
Seth turned toward Ally. “I’ll drive you to town if you need to go to the store.”
She gave him a tight smile and headed for the stairs.
In the kitchen they faced off in the argument he knew was coming.
“I’m fully capable of driving myself to town,” she said, her hands on her hips.
“I know that. But what I don’t know is who broke into this house last night—or why. He could have been after you.”
“What? That’s ludicrous.”
“Maybe. But I’m not willing to take a chance. You’re welcome to go with one of the security team instead of me, but I’d prefer you not go into town alone.”
“Fine. Let’s go. This time. And Seth?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t do this again.”
Eight
Seth drove the seven miles into town and parked in the lot of MacKenzie’s grocery store. Ally was out of the truck and hurrying toward the front entrance by the time he rounded the vehicle. She grabbed a shopping cart and headed for the vegetable aisle. She picked up some lettuce and potatoes before walking around the corner to the next aisle. When Seth arrived she was talking to a tall man who was reaching out for her. Ally’s body language said she was anything but pleased to see him. Each time he reached out to her, she backed away. Seth stepped up next to her, and she seemed to relax at his presence.
“Seth, meet Wayne Burris,” she said, stepping closer to Seth. “Wayne, my husband, Seth Masters.”
“Masters?” he repeated, showing his surprise. “Well you did real good for yourself, darlin’.” He offered his hand to Seth, who reluctantly shook it. If his memory served, this was the man who’d walked out on Ally, leaving her to face her father’s death and the loss of the ranch alone.
“So, how long have you been married?”
“A few weeks,” Seth answered. He brought his arm up around Ally’s shoulders and kissed her on the cheek.
“Newlyweds. Well, all right.” Wayne scratched his jaw, looking thoughtful. “You guys living out at the Masters Ranch?”
“It’s been nice to meet you, but we’ve got to get going,” Seth told the man, ignoring his question and leading Ally away toward the meat counter.
“Yeah, you too.”
Ally was visibly shaken. It must have been a shock to see her ex again, seemingly out of the blue. Had there ever been love between them? Did she still have feelings for the man?
She finished her shopping without saying a word and headed to the checkout. Seth paid the bill and accompanied her back to the truck. She didn’t wait for the store employee to finish loading the groceries into the back before she opened the door and got in. Seth climbed in after her.
“Are you okay?” he asked before starting the engine.
“Yes, I’m fine. I just never expected to see him again.”