“He’s a good man.”
“I’ve never doubted that.”
“Even when he lost his mom, he didn’t harden his soul. Any man who preserves my mom’s upbringing holds a high account with me. You were supposed to laugh.”
Recollections unfolded before her. On the day of their picnic, Kyle had shared his favorite places with her and Annie. He had sweetly kissed her. When she had the terrible flashback, he held her in his arms giving her comfort. She would hold those fond memories close to her heart.
During their drive to the national park, Kyle had said he worked with a family business just like hers. She’d meant to ask him how he had known. She hadn’t shared that tidbit of information. In the overall scope of things, did it matter? The answer resounded loud and clear. Yes, it did.
“Shelby?”
She twisted to face him. “Sorry, I was woolgathering.”
“After Kyle received his sheepskin, then his masters, he served our country. When he returned, he went right to work beside his brother and opened the no-kill animal shelter in memory of his mom.”
“That explains a lot...I know he’s an honorable man.”
Garrett cleared his throat. “We all agreed.”
“On what?”
“You should take back Ten-Blue-Sun on this trip. Bear Claws directed Kyle to watch over you and he’s accepted the responsibility. No matter what you may face, Kyle will be there…he’ll take care of you.”
Kyle once made the statement Garrett barely talked to anyone except his equestrian friends. She’d beg to differ. What she needed right now was time to think.
“I’m going to get some water, want any?” Shelby removed the headset and carefully, rose.
“No, thanks. Maybe, I shouldn’t have said anything, but I wanted you to know, we’ve all come to the same conclusion. For right now, you’re the chosen one.” Garrett grasped her elbow and steadied her until she cleared the seat.
“When you land can you point this plane toward Texas?”
“Sorry, I’m heading to New York. I can be back in a few days to take you home.”
Shelby patted his shoulder. “That won’t be necessary. Thanks for your offer.”
When she slid into the plush cabin seat, the tan leather creaked. Shelby drank the bottled water and reflected. She-Who-Smiles had beckoned her a week ago. Astral projecting, her spirit guide introduced her to Many-Horses, her uncle’s Hopi grandfather, who’d whittled Ten-Blue-Sun. Then, Many-Horses asked his powerful son, One-Who-Soars-With-Eagles for help. Shelby met Many-Horses and his second wife, Sunlight, a Comanche.
She-Who-Smiles asserted, “Listen with steadfast diligence. Enraged that his daughter fell in love with Many-Horses, the Comanche father cast a curse on Sunlight’s man and their entire lineage. Sunlight had given birth to Ten-Butterflies.”
Then she imparted. “Hear carefully, Brave-One. Ten-Butterflies’ baby was to be ‘the’ next shaman, but the naming ceremony never happened, for they were slaughtered.”
Garrett’s voice echoed through the cabin. “We’re descending to land, buckle up.”
The scenes of death and destruction deluged her memory again, the same dreadful acts One-Who-Soars-With-Eagles had shared. Without a doubt, Shelby knew the possession of Ten-Blue-Sun lay solely with Kyle and his family. Although she couldn’t explain Alessa’s involvement, that was for the rest of them to figure out. She and Tim had merely been pawns in a treacherous game initiated by an irate father.
She’d taken this journey to explore a relationship with Kyle. Kyle’s integrity would bind him to Bear-Claws’ request. How could she tell the difference between Kyle’s love given from his heart or a love dispensed through honor-bound vows, traditions, family, and commitments?
She couldn’t, and there was no way in hell she’d allow Kyle to stay in an obligated relationship. Yes, she cared for Kyle deeply and what she had to do would hurt like hell. Her path was set now that she had knowledge of Bear-Claws’ petition. It was up to her to sever Kyle’s duty.
Funny the men she had chosen in her life, she had to say goodbye and walk away, twice. Anger coursed through her veins. She-Who-Smiles lessons were getting on her nerves.
When they landed, she gazed out the window. The FBO, Jackson Hole Aviation, directed the plane to a stop, the sun shined and Kyle leaned against Jalopy.
She gasped and her tummy somersaulted. Kyle’s wide grin spread across his handsome face. God, from the bottom of her heart, she desired this man. She wanted to caress the outline of his jaw and give him an everlasting kiss. She more than cared, that’s why she was here to explore what their future might hold. Well initially.
Although, why didn’t he tell her who he was? What was this trip about? Perhaps, Kyle’s agenda was different from hers or maybe not. Damn, should she throw caution to the wind, to cast the sails and see where the next port-of-call for their mighty ship would anchor?
No, the First Realm had dictated her course, again. She’d cut the ties that bound Kyle.
Garrett opened the door and the stairs unfolded before her. “JHA will help with your luggage. Good luck, Shelby.”
“Thanks, Garrett, you take care.”
She greeted Kyle, giving her cheek instead of her lips that he aimed for, and his smile disappeared. “I need to return to Texas, something came up that I don’t want Alessa handling alone. If you could take me to the rental car place here, I’d appreciate it. Plus, I need a few moments to talk to you.”
When Kyle didn’t acknowledge her, she hurried. “Never mind, I’ll ask the FBO to take me.”
“What’s going on?” Kyle extended his hand to cup her cheek.
Shelby took two steps backward knowing if he touched her, she’d lose her resolve. She wanted to leave without a long dissertation dissecting and psychoanalyzing her thoughts and discussing lessons from the First Realm.
“Alessa called and I have to get back. If I leave now, I can be there late tomorrow evening for the Monday morning meeting.” She quickly lowered her gaze because she never lied well. There had to be a continuous scroll across her forehead, “Liar, Liar, Liar. Kyle would see the bright banner and right through her fib. But she was doing this for a good reason, wasn’t she? No, two wrongs never made a right.
Out of the corner of her eye, Shelby spotted Garrett descending the steps. He shook his head and mouthed silently, “Sorry.”
Kyle’s brows drew together, and he focused over her shoulder, and then panned back in her direction. “Give me a minute.”
He strode toward Garrett and talked to his best friend, but she couldn’t hear what they were saying. After Kyle shook Garrett’s hand, he paced back to her.
His chest heaved then he released a breath into an audible sigh. “There’s a car rental at the main terminal, I’ll take you.”
Shelby spat. “Thanks, Mr. Pressley International, a family business just like mine, right.” Her words were sharp and laced with hostility. What was wrong with her? She hadn’t meant to speak so harshly, just state the logical reasons with diplomacy, and leave.
Kyle visibly stiffened. He opened her door, and she slid in the passenger seat and waited for the slam. It never came.
A gentleman even in anger, Kyle placed her bag in the back and slipped inside the cab. He grasped the steering wheel, his knuckles whitened. Kyle never bothered to look at her. “Why?”
All her thoughts were jumbled, her mouth was dry from her erratic breathing, and she couldn’t form a word let alone a sentence to save her life. Resigned her feelings had the best of her and definitely tongue-tied, she set her vision straight ahead and didn’t answer.
Kyle drove around the circle and stopped curbside. “We need to talk before you leave. Will you follow me home?”
He’d earned her respect, deserved an answer and she had to correct the lies she had told Kyle earlier. He had to know the real reasons that she needed to leave. She rescued her drowning thoughts and revived her voice. “Yes, I’ll meet you at the exit.”
Except one, she had the ability to release Kyle from Bear-Claws’ demand. Kyle shouldn’t be burdened with a Texas thread in his Wyoming tapestry. She calmed and accepted the fate. She’d finish the job she set out to do, break off their relationship, and head back to her ranch.
She parked beside him and clamored out of the car. Kyle placed his hand on the small of her back guiding her to the house.
A wrap-around porch encircled the massive log cabin with five stone chimneys. The porch had several grouped seating arrangements which suggested familial places to gather, along with rockers and the bench swing tempted her to test the soothing lull of motion.
Inside, the foyer welcomed her with a staircase of ornate balustrades and the massive newel in shape of a horse’s head. The mane of the stallion flowed as if he galloped on the open plain.
Shelby spoke softly and was surprised there wasn’t an echo. “You have a very nice home. It’s beautiful and comfortable. It’s you.”
“Thanks, did the plans myself. Care for a drink?”
“White wine, if you have it.”
“Follow me to the kitchen.” Kyle strode ahead of her.
Houses of this ilk usually had formal foyers, but warm wood gleamed from the sun shining through the large floor-to-ceiling windows inviting her to enter.
To the left, the library ensconced an impressive stone fireplace. Thick beams stretched along the ceiling and books lined the entire height and length of the walls. Ahh, surely a room from heaven.
Following Kyle down the hall, he stepped across the curved threshold into the gourmet kitchen and motioned for Shelby to sit at the bar. He poured her a glass of pinot gris, a scotch neat for himself, then slid onto the barstool beside her.
Kyle sipped his drink then set it on counter. “Are you ready to talk?”
“Sure, but you go first.”
“Do you have any questions?”
“About a zillion.”
His boot heels hooked on the bottom rung of the stool, forearms braced against the granite counter and his hands relaxed around the monogrammed glass. He blinked long, then his gaze eluded hers to focus through the window, on something outside. “I think it’s safe to say, you don’t really want this relationship. If you’re calling it quits, then I am too. I can’t force or fix what you don’t want. Do you agree?”
“Yes, but first, I should apologize for being rude. Second, Garrett told me about you accepting your spirit guide’s directive—” She inhaled fully, then expelled the words in rapid fire. “Kyle, I’m not going let you—”
“That’s not your decision to make.”
She had to reaffirm her stand. “I’m not taking Ten-Blue-Sun and I don’t want you to yield to Bear Claws’ request.”
When he had looked at her, his eyes were an open wound. He grimaced, then adjusted his attention outside again. “Yes. You. Are.”
She waited for Kyle to insist she take the doll. His physical presence sat on the stool, but mentally, he was somewhere else. “Kyle, what’s going on? What are you seeing? Where are you?”
After several minutes of silence, she bowed her head. “I understand.” Moving behind him, she raised her hand and lightly touched his shoulder. When he didn’t respond, she let her arm drop to her side. He’s letting you go, take the offering as a gift. She made her way through the foyer, opened the heavy front door and in a sotto voce sent a prayer. “Good luck and I wish you well.”
When her car eased to the control panel, she waited for the gate to open. Instead, Kyle’s voice echoed over the intercom. “Shelby, come back. I’m ready to talk.”
Would returning change the outcome? At this point, she had her doubts, but she turned around and headed to the house. Something terrible must have happened to Kyle. What problems had he gone through to affect him with deep emotional wounds? As she drove, she replayed the hurt in his eyes, the rejection, then the inability to acknowledge her.
Kyle stood on the edge of the driveway. She parked, took a deep breath and climbed out of the rental. The need to comfort him overwhelmed her. She stretched her arms toward Kyle to embrace him. Her hands circled around his neck and she drew him close and hugged Kyle as though this would be the last time she’d ever get to touch him. She choked back a sob. Their relationship had to end. She was only being fair to Kyle, right? He didn’t respond right away, but soon, his palms found her waist, finally they encircled her.
He swayed a few inches back, his eyes glassy. “Shelby, come with me.”
He threaded his hand with hers leading her around the house. The back had a fire pit with several cushioned lawn chairs with throw pillows on them. The pool and Jacuzzi were beyond the patio and beside those, water cascaded down a stone fountain into a self-contained pond. The sound would’ve been calming, tranquil, but at this moment, the setting was incongruous with the turmoil between them and the acid churning inside her tummy.
The silence continued and her tension increased. Her nerves knotted. A burning sensation crept up her chest taking residence at the back of her throat.
He lit the gas pit, slid onto the chair beside her then whispered. “I guess I should explain.”
Shelby waited for him to talk. His contorted face revealed his thoughts, and he was reliving memories in high def. Several minutes elapsed before Kyle’s low haunting voice revealed his hurt and her heart fluttered hearing his pain.
“Earlier, you said ‘Pressley International’ like it was a disease. When we were in the kitchen, I recalled how my fiancée always threw that in my face as though my family including myself, were heathens of our democratic society. I’m not comparing you to her, but the similarities are there, enough I can’t refute it.”
She had done exactly what he said, although for different reasons. They’d been on the way to Pogonip when he told her he worked for the family business. That’s what pissed her off, not that he was worth more than she’d see in her lifetime. Some people had more money, some had less, and she couldn’t give a crap where someone put the measuring stick for worth. The lines of wealth wavered from year to year, gains or losses in the stock market, all of which can be here today and gone tomorrow. One thing she knew for sure, his fortune would be here for a long time.
She’d listen and the way things were going, her intuition told her the outcome wasn’t going to be good. This wasn’t exactly how she imagined her day. She hoped for an amicable split, but she’d take the lumps due and keep on going. “How?”
Chapter Ten
“I’ll start by stating, I found my fiancée in my bed with a college buddy of mine and…another gal.”
Kyle didn’t trust her? That sliced her soul in two. “I’m sorry you experienced something so heart wrenching.”
He grunted. “Back then, I worked full time, took a full course load finishing my masters and started a home for her…for us. My parents had set up a trust fund. Rain encouraged me to take the dividends and Jude suggested I work part-time, but I turned them down. I wanted the satisfaction of attaining my goals, fast and my way. Between work, classes, and course studies, I was exhausted. When I did find some free time, I shared it with Christine…problem was I usually fell asleep. She didn’t care for the decisions I made, nor understood why I had refused the money. Christine resented the Pressley fortune, but at the same time, never hesitated to tell me I was foolish for not using the wherewithal I had at my disposal.”
Call it intuition, but he had something else on his mind. Eventually, he’d drive his quarry and hit the target. She had the distinct impression, she was the wild game and his bulls-eye was going to be her soul. “What did your fiancée do for a living? Didn’t
she help?”
“She started her own business as an interior designer.”
“Starting a new venture is hard. That still doesn’t explain…did you live together?”
“No. She lived with her grandmother and I lived in our…the house.”
Shelby gently prodded. “And?”
“Christine wanted to decorate. We had remodeled several rooms into offices with a separate entrance. She could give her clients a tour of the downstairs to show off her talents and the upstairs would have been our private quarters.”
“Not a bad idea. But, something happened.”
“I had rearranged my schedule, took several days off. To surprise her, I made myself available to help with some of the designing decisions. Maybe, I was hoping to rekindle the romance that had dwindled from…When I returned to the house, I had caught her unaware all right…found her with two people...in my bed.”
“I’ve never had that happen to me, but I can empathize.”
He snorted. “You know what? Yeah, it hurt, but I bounded back pretty fast from that diabolical situation. I knew she wanted a third, wanted me to be the Dom. My tastes didn’t follow hers. I won’t judge her or the others for the lifestyle they choose.”
****
Kyle shifted in his chair and met Shelby’s hazel eyes. “The outcome was as synonymous as the catastrophic failure of the Hindenburg landing in New Jersey, just as volatile and just as unstoppable. Several months later, she killed herself in front of…I didn’t have time to act. I couldn’t stop her. I never knew she was in that bad a shape.”
He swiped his right hand down his thigh. “Ah, the million dollar question, did she give up because of me…was I the catalyst for choosing death over life...probably both…Not too long after, the bottle became my best friend as I tried in vain to recollect any sign or indication she had gone over the edge. I finally realized there were no answers.”
Kyle connected with Shelby’s gaze. He slipped in. The beautiful colors heightened his senses. Now in her mind, he discerned how torn she was with him. His stomach jolted. She was hurt and confused by—
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