by Ciana Stone
You and I are a lot alike – standing outside the law, outcasts or outlaws, depending on who is speaking of us. No matter, we know they are simple-minded creatures who don't have the vision to see the beauty of what we do.
When I read you were released on a technicality, I knew you must have orchestrated it and nearly wept for joy at your brilliance. I realized that after all these years of loneliness, there was someone in the world for me.
You.
You might have heard of me. The media calls me Robin Hood. I prefer Robin of the Hood, but whatever. They can call me what they want as long as they keep talking about me. I really hate it when they forget about me. I feel like I need to do something. Something big. Something different.
And that led me to my epiphany. I think what I need is a mentor, someone who can guide me toward bigger and bolder projects. What I need is you. I think we'd make the perfect team, Winfred, and I think we could have fun doing it.
So, what do you say? Want to meet up and talk about a possible partnership? If so, leave me a time and place. Just paint it on your sidewalk – write the time near the door and the place beside that dying rose bush.
I hope to meet you.
Sincerely,
Robin of the Hood
Winfred stared at the words on his monitor for a long time. Was this someone trying to pull something on him? Was it a prank, a trap, or could it just possibly be real? As scared as he was, there was only one way to find out, and he was trembling with excitement over the idea that occurred to him while reading the email.
If this person turned out to be the real Robin Hood, then his star was about to rise higher than ever. He had no doubt at all that he could easily coax a confession from her, and then, when she tried to escape, he would be forced to kill her. Maybe a bit slower than was called for, but a man needed to have his fun.
He would be famous. Again.
With his pulse racing, an erection straining in his pants and damp palms, he put his fingers on the keyboard and started typing.
Heritage Ranch, Texas
Russell jerked awake as the bedsheet was suddenly yanked off him. He would have sat, but a familiar smell invaded his senses a split second before a warm, naked body lay on top of him, legs curling around the sides of his thighs and hands taking hold of his face.
"Naomie," he had time to breathe before her lips stole his voice.
After that he lost to urge to speak, there was only the taste and feel of her, and to his great surprise, the room had already started to lighten by the time they fell exhausted and satisfied onto the damp sheets.
"I missed you," she whispered and rolled over to put her head on his shoulder.
"Not nearly as much as I missed you. I thought you might be getting in right about now. Why did you change your mind and get here in the middle of the night? Are you home to stay?"
"I wanted to surprise you. Did your brother and Mrs. Walker get here yet?"
"Yes, last night. They filled me in on everything, which they could have done by phone."
"No, they needed to be out of D.C. before the story broke."
"Broke?"
"On the news. I imagine it will be hitting at any moment."
"And you're sure there's no way it can be connected to Richard."
"Yes."
"Good." He rolled over onto his side, running his hand gently over her arm and then took her hand and raised it to his lips. "Why didn't you come with Richard?"
"Because the Senator and I have no connection other than you, and as far as the world is concerned, I never left Heritage."
"Is this business finished?"
Naomie shrugged. "I guess that will depend on Petrov. Hey, don't we have that guy coming this weekend to show you more stallions for the breeding program?"
"You remembered."
"Don't sound so surprised. I've been waiting for this. Two of those studs have me drooling, but I need to see them firsthand and go over their medical records before I let myself get too excited."
"Well, you won't have long. Bobby, the dealer, said they'd be rolling in by half-past nine."
"Giving us plenty of time to have shower sex and breakfast."
A year ago that turn of phrase wouldn't have garnered a reaction. Today, it had Russell at attention and ready for round two within moments. "You're a witch, Gypsy."
"Yeah? Is my spell working?"
"You tell me," he guided her hand to his erection, and her smile had him forgetting about the shower and rolling her onto her back.
"I have so missed you," she arched her neck back and moaned as he filled her.
To have lived as many years as he had, Russell had never been with a woman so uninhibited and whose sensuality was such a natural and integral part of her nature. Making love to her was the stuff of dreams and made him feel like a young man again.
By the time they were out of the bed and showered, there were noises downstairs, signaling they were not the only ones in the house awake. "Mom and Clyde are probably starting breakfast," Russell said as he sat to put on his boots. "She stayed here last night since Rich and Sharon were here ."
Naomie stuck her head around the edge of the bathroom door. "Maybe I should sneak out back and then knock on the front door?"
"Like hell," he stood and walked over to her. "Unless you're ashamed for my family to know you spent the night in my bed."
"Mr. Walker, you know that's not the case."
"Mr. Walker?" He raised one eyebrow. "Still angling for that spanking?"
"Maybe. After food. You wore me out. I need fuel."
"I wore you out?" He laughed and hugged her. "Well, get finished and meet me in the kitchen."
"Will do," she grabbed his arm as he turned away. "Wait!"
When she finally released him from the kiss, he smiled. "You trying to start more trouble?"
"Always. Will you fix me a cup of coffee?"
"I will."
"I'll be down soon."
Russell went downstairs and found DeLyn, Rich and Sharon sitting at the table in the kitchen, having coffee.
"Good morning, son," DeLyn greeted him with a smile.
"Good morning, Mama. Where's Clyde?"
"I gave him the morning off."
"I'm sure he appreciates that," Russell looked in the direction of the table. "Morning Sharon."
"Morning," Sharon yawned. "Sorry."
"You feeling okay, bro?" Rich asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Just not like you to be the last one out of bed."
"I'm afraid that's my fault."
Russell saw the surprise on his brother's face and the delight on his mother's. Naomie walked over and leaned down to hug DeLyn. "I've missed you."
"Not nearly as much as I've missed you. You want some breakfast?"
"I'd sell my soul for some of your pancakes."
DeLyn laughed and stood. "How about you help, and we'll call it even?"
"Tell me what to do." Naomie followed DeLyn from the table but paused long enough to stand on tiptoes and give Russell a kiss.
He gave her rear a swat as she walked away, then poured himself a cup of coffee. When he took a seat at the table, Rich and Sharon were staring at him. He looked from one to the other. "You two all right?"
"Just fine," Rich replied and grinned.
"Good. How long're you going to hang around?"
"Couple of days, if we're not in your way."
"Not at all. We have someone bringing in some horses today we might want for the breeding program if you're interested."
"What's so special about them?" Sharon asked.
"Almost too much to list," Naomie answered over her shoulder. "Some are World Champions in a variety of performance events, NCHA, NRHA winners, All-American Futurity Winners, Leading Money Winners. One is a three-time reigning champion. With stallions of such caliber, we can produce horses that will not only perform for Heritage but make an enormous amount of money as well."
"How?" Sharon asked.
"Breeding them and stud fees, primarily semen sales."
"You sell semen?"
"Absolutely. One of the stallions that's a result of the program I developed for my family is in high demand, and they charge two hundred thousand a pop."
"For semen?" Sharon blurted in a bit higher-pitched voice than normal.
Naomie laughed. "Yes, he's made them about fifteen million so far in stud fees alone, plus another twenty-two million in the offspring he's sired."
"I had no idea!"
Russell cut a look over his shoulder at Naomie and gave her a wink then looked at Sharon. "Naomie's going to put Heritage on the map as one of the world's top breeders."
"Well, I'm impressed."
"You should be."
"Who wants eggs?"
Russell turned to see Naomie and DeLyn smiling at him. "Scrambled for me, please."
"Scrambled," Richard added.
"Nothing for me," Sharon replied. "Except more coffee, if you have it."
"We will if you make a pot," DeLyn remarked then added. "I don't guess I have to ask if anyone wants bacon?"
Russell chuckled, gave Naomie a wink and turned his attention back to Rich who was asking about the horses they were going to see. Forty minutes later, Naomie and DeLyn were clearing the table. Naomie's phone rang, and she pulled it from her pocket.
"Hey," she answered cheerfully, happy to see Cici's picture on the caller ID.
"Turn on the news. Watch and call me back."
Naomie pocketed her phone and crossed the room to turn on the television on an armoire between two windows, talking as she acted. "That was Cici. She said to turn on the news."
Within moments everyone's focus was on the television. Naomie walked over and stood behind Russell's chair, placing her hands on his shoulders. The breaking news of the day was about the photos of the President's son with the Dommes, the financial records connecting him with Aleksei Petrov and the Russian President. No matter which news channel you chose, the story dominated the news cycle.
There was one clip that showed Petrov leaving his house with Delaney by his side, with reporters shouting questions at him and Petrov cursing at them. "I'm guessing the two of you will be tied up talking with– whoever," Russell said to Richard and Sharon as he stood. "Naomie and I have an appointment, so Sharon, how about helping Mama clean up? Rosa won't be in today until after lunch. She had to take Enrique to get the stitches out of his arm."
He didn't wait for her to agree, he just walked over and kissed DeLyn on the cheek. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Everything."
"You're very welcome. Now you and Naomie scoot. I might walk down later and see if you've spent our coffers dry yet."
He smiled. "Might be smart." Then he turned to Naomie. "Ready?"
"Born that way. Let's do this."
They left the house and started the walk to the main paddock. "Do you think it wise to replace Rich's face with the President's son in those photos?" he asked.
"I didn't."
"What do you mean you didn't."
"I mean that was the real deal."
"Shit on a shingle."
"I'm betting POTUS had more to say than that."
"And the financial stuff they were talking about?"
"All genuine."
Russell stopped walking. "Are you telling me…?"
"I am. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. We can not only topple Petrov but prove the First Family has broken any number of laws."
"Damn girl. When you set out to undo someone you go all out, don't you?"
"Speaking of undoing someone, you need to get Delaney away from Petrov as soon as possible."
"You have any idea how to accomplish that?"
"Not at the moment, but I'll give it some thought. In the meantime, we have some horses to see. Look, there are Mace and Nash."
Sure enough, both of Russell's sons stood at the paddock fence. Four top-of-the-line horse trailers hooked to big diesel pickups were parked near the gate. Naomie waved and took Russell's hand. "Come on." They picked up the pace, but she didn't release his hand.
"Hey, you guys," Naomie hugged Mace, then Nash before looking at the horses and riders in the paddock. "Oh, my god, Russ, look."
Russell did look, but it was at the man who rode up and stopped on the other side of the fence. "Bobby," Russell stuck out his hand, and the man leaned down to clasp his.
"Good to see you, Russ."
"Same here. I want you to meet Dr. Naomie Taylor. She's in–"
"Naomie Taylor from the Flying T in Kentucky?" Bobby asked.
"Yes, sir," Naomie shook his hand. "Those are some fine animals. You have paperwork on them?"
Bobby looked over his shoulder. "Dennis? Get the paperwork for Dr. Taylor." He then turned his attention back to her. "Last I heard Silverado had already passed the fifteen million in semen sales."
"Yes."
"Everyone thinks he'll end up in the top five of all-time earners."
"I think he will."
"Is that what you're looking to do here?"
"No," she grinned at him. "We're going to do better."
"Woo, girl, I do like the sounds of that."
A young man of about twenty hurried up with a folder, which he handed to Naomie. "It's an honor to meet you, Dr. Taylor."
"Dennis, right?" Naomie asked.
"Yes, ma'am."
"It's an honor to meet you. Thank you for this." She handed the information to Russell. "Mr. Walker, you want to go over this or would you prefer I do it?"
Her gesture didn't go unnoticed, or unappreciated. She'd turned the reins of power over to him without hesitation even though her expertise exceeded the combination of everyone else present.
"You're the boss in this, honey. Do your thing."
She smiled up at him, accepted the folder, and opened it. For five minutes she scanned pages then looked up at Bobby. "Let's start with Son of a Gun."
"One hell of a horse," Bobby said and whistled. When the men mounted on horseback in the paddock looked his way, he motioned and yelled. "Bring Son of a Gun in here."
One-by-one, the horses were put through their paces. When finished, Naomie looked at Russell. "Well?"
"Lot of money in that paddock. Question is, are any of them worth it."
"The mare, without question," she replied.
"Half a million dollars?" Nash asked. "For a mare?"
"She'll carry champions. Look at her bloodline." She held out a stapled stack of papers his way. "I'd bet on it."
He shrugged. "If you say so."
"What about you?" She offered the paperwork to Mace.
"Your word is enough for me."
"Then the mare." She looked at Russell.
"The mare is it. And the stallions?"
"Which one do you like?"
"Hell, I like 'em all."
"What about you?" She asked Nash and Mace.
"I like that Son of a Gun," Mace replied. "He's a beast."
"You sure gonna need to be wearing your big boy pants to climb on his back," Bobby agreed.
"But five million is too high," Naomie said. "Make it three point five, and I'll see if I can talk Mr. Walker into writing you a check."
"You want me to come a million and a half off? Why in the world would I do that?"
"Because if you do, we'll buy him, the mare for half a million, and Midnight Walker for the same price as Gun and you'll walk away seven and a half million dollars richer with a guarantee we'll comp you one stud fee a year from each animal and give you first look at the offspring."
Bobby looked at Russell. "You gonna back that up, Russ?"
"I am."
"Then we got a deal, brother."
They shook hands, and Bobby whistled to get his men's attention. "Gun and Walker are staying, along with the mare. Throw in the tack as a thank you."
Mace and Nash climbed the fence. "Mind if we give those bad boys a ride?"
"As s
oon as I have a check in my hand you boys can ride 'em till the cows come home," Bobby said.
"Do you have a wire transfer account?" Naomie asked.
Bobby dug out a card and handed it to her. "Excuse me," she said and walked away.
"You know, I didn't believe it when I heard you and Taylor had thrown in together," Bobby said to Russell when Naomie walked away. "That gal's like some Einstein when it comes to horse breeding, but some say she's crazy."
"Crazy smart, that's for sure. I'm guessing you've got all the medical records and dietary history in what you gave her?"
"Yeah, it's all there, and if you have any questions, I included the name of our vet as well."
Just then Naomie returned and handed Bobby his card. "Your confirmation number's on the back."
"For what?"
"Your money. You might want to check. Our guys are itching to ride."
Bobby pulled out his phone and placed a call. He recited the confirmation number and a moment later, cut Naomie a look out of the side of his eyes. He then thanked who he was speaking with and ended the call. "Nice doing business with you," he tipped his hat then spoke to Nash and Mace. "They're all yours."
"I call dibs on Gun," Mace was the first to head toward the horses.
"Bring the others in and load 'em up, boys!" Bobby yelled and gave Russell and Naomie one more look. "Be seeing you."
"Thanks, Bobby."
Mike, one of the hands, walked over and took the reins of the mare as Mace and Nash climbed into the saddles of the new stallions. Mike led the mare over to the fence where Russell and Naomie stood. "Mighty fine-looking animals. Where you want me to put this one?"
"Put her in a stall for now until I've had time to go over her protocols and get her set up on a food regimen," Naomie said. "And thanks, Mike. I'll give you a call when I'm ready to talk about her care."
"You'll call me?"
"Yeah. You're ready for the responsibility, aren't you?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good."
As he led the horse off, Russell turned to face her. "You paid for those horses?"
"I said I'd pay half. You can pay me your share."
"Damn Naomie, you just spent seven and a half million dollars like you bought a pack of gum?"
"Not even. I'm not foolish with my money, but I told you I believe in this, enough to meet you fifty-fifty, and I meant it."