The Rancher's Conditions

by R. S. Chapman

  “See that gal?” Erik nudged Phil. “The one in the jeans and white blouse?”

  Phil popped the last chunk of hot dog into his mouth and squinted down the midway. “Yeah,” he mumbled through his mouthful. “Got one hell of a body. What about her?” He narrowed his gaze as she turned around. “Isn’t she the gal who came to the ranch a couple months ago? The one who threatened you with kidnapping and left in a rather big hurry?”

  Erik nodded sheepishly. “Yeah, that’s the one.” He followed Layne’s movements for a moment, making sure she was going to the ride. Then he turned to Phil. “I’ll meet you at the roller coaster, okay?”

  “What the hell are you going to do?”

  “Gonna share a seat with her.”

  “You’re out of your friggin’ mind!” Phil exclaimed, taking another look at Layne’s backside. “Aren’t you in enough trouble with her already?”

  “Don’t know, but I’m going to find out, I guess.” He nodded to the roller coaster in the distance. “Wait for me over there.”

  “I’ll be there, but don’t expect me to get on that damn thing with you. I’m not stupid.”

  “The stupid part has always been up for discussion, Phil. You know that.” Erik laughed before he gave his foreman a gentle punch on the shoulder and tossed the remnants of his hot dog into a trashcan. He started toward the ride, keeping the milling crowd between himself and Layne. He didn’t really have to worry. Her back was always turned to him. He reached the booth and quickly bought his ride ticket, then slid in a few people back from Layne, waiting for the ride to stop and the present riders to disembark.

  Once the ride emptied, the attendant took Layne’s ticket and opened the gate to the chair and she got in and sat down. She looked outside the fenced-off area that surrounded the huge wheel and waved to Barb, somewhat surprised by her strange expression and mouthing words that she could not hear. At this same time, Erik slipped in beside her, the safety gate was closed and locked, and the chair was on its way to allow the chair beneath them to load.

  Layne tore away from Barb’s strange expression, and cast a double-take at her seatmate. What the hell? Erik Rivers!

  “Where . . .? How . . . did you get here? What are you doing here?” Layne looked at the ground below and leaned over the side, shouting to the attendant. “How do I get off this thing?”

  “Are you sick?” he yelled back.

  “No, but I don’t want to ride with this guy. I need to get off!” she called out in return, pointing to Erik beside her. She had to get off the ride and away from this despicable man.

  The attendant nodded as he shouted back, “Sorry. I can’t reverse it. It’s gotta come around one complete revolution, then you can get off.”

  Damn. She was trapped in the chair for one complete revolution with Erik Rivers. Layne turned to him. He was close, almost rubbing shoulders, and there was no room for escape. “Why are you doing this?” she spit out through clenched teeth.

  Erik turned to her. “I want to talk to you. I want to apologize. I want. . .”

  “Do I look like I’m going to listen?” Layne interrupted harshly. “I’ve heard this song before. I know all the words.” She turned away and started to hum, hoping to drown out anything he had to say.

  Erik wasn’t going to lose this chance, possibly his last ever. He blundered on. “You’re an attorney. Aren’t you taught to hear both sides of an argument? Besides, it’s only fair.”

  Layne turned toward him, eyes blazing. “You actually have the audacity to talk about being fair? And you have another side to an argument that I haven’t heard?”

  “Yes, I do,” Erik replied softly. “Although maybe not the fair part, and I’m incredibly sorry for that.”

  The tone of his voice surprised her. He sounded contrite, almost sad, something she’d never heard from Erik Rivers. “You better tell me before we get to the bottom, because that’s all the time you’ve got. So talk fast, and I mean it.” The wheel had not yet reached the apex of the ride.

  “Look,” he said, talking as fast as he could and still be understood, “I made a mistake. A really rotten, terrible mistake, and I am so sorry. When this first started, I told Mr. Wellington that it was a bad idea, but he really wanted to punish you for the check fiasco. Actually, he was going to fire you, but I asked him not to. That was when he suggested the . . . whatever it was that I was trying to do with you.”

  “Trying to do to me, is what you mean,” she shot back.

  Well, at least she is listening! “Yes, to you,” he corrected himself. “I thought you were such an amazing woman, and I wanted to get to know you. That was my only reason for agreeing to Wellington’s plan, but the entire thing backfired in my face.” The wheel had crossed the apex and was now on its downward rotation. “Please don’t get off. Stay on with me. Please?” Erik asked softly. “Give me the chance to show you I’m an okay guy, not some kind of wicked, sick monster.”

  Layne gave him a steady appraisal, then softened, waving off the attendant’s questioning eyes as their chair approached the lowest level. This was something she’d not expected. The great, self-centered Erik Rivers was begging, actually begging her to stay. She’d agree and stay with him for one more revolution, at least. “What do you want to do?”

  “I just want to get to know you. I’d like you as a friend.”

  “A friend? Now that’s a new one! Why?”

  “Because you’re an intelligent, educated woman, and that’s very attractive to me. That’s why and that’s the truth.”

  What happened to the ‘because you’re so beautiful’ line? “Thank you for the compliment, but there are plenty of intelligent women out there,” she said, nodding to the crowd below.

  The ground was coming up again, and apparently Erik thought he was losing the battle, so he said, “Look, let me take you to dinner one more time. Just once more, and we can talk. Or I can talk,” he added contritely.

  Layne studied him. Maybe she owed him this. She didn’t know. Finally, she said, “If I stupidly agree, I’ll drive my own car.”

  Erik nodded.

  “I’ll order whatever I want.”

  Another nod.

  “I’ll order my own cheap wine.”

  “Yes,” Erik agreed. “I understand any house wine is good. Totally your choice.”

  “You buy. I will not go Dutch.”

  “Yes, I buy. Absolutely.”

  Layne thought for a moment, no longer fearful of looking into his eyes. She continued to study him. Then she remembered. “Word on the street is that you’ve got a girlfriend. What’s she going to think about this? In fact,” she continued, “tell me you’re not with her now? Is she waiting below? Even someone like you wouldn’t do that.”

  Erik was surprised. “A girlfriend?”

  “That’s the word on the street. I heard it from someone, I don’t remember who.”

  “Running the ranch is pretty much a full-time job, but yes, I have dated occasionally. But there’s no one special. Can you give me a name?”

  “I haven’t heard a name, but whether there is or not, it’s none of my business,” Layne replied, not pressing for a reply.

  “Well, in answer to your question, I’m here with my ranch foreman. You may remember him from your last day at the ranch,” Erik reminded her in a soft voice, “when I kidnapped you.” He paused for a moment. “You haven’t said yes or no yet.”

  Again, Layne studied him. “Okay,” she finally agreed, “my office number’s in the book. Call me.”

  “Thank you,” Erik said, and they completed the rest of the ride in silence.

  After the ride unloaded and Erik left Layne’s side to join Phil, Barb quickly joined her. “I almost died when I saw him get into your chair. Talk about a captive audience,” she exclaimed. “Why didn�
�t you get off?”

  “Wasn’t much I could do until we got down to the bottom, and by that time he’d presented a pretty convincing argument. I think he’s really sorry for what happened, and for his part in it. He also said Wellington actually suggested it as punishment for destroying the check. Before firing me,” she added.

  “And you believe him?” Barb asked skeptically. “He’s a really smooth talker, you know, and it’s easy to blame someone else when they aren’t around to defend themselves.”

  “No,” Layne countered, “I think he actually was sad, at least it seemed that way.” She paused for a brief moment. “I’m going to see him again.”

  Barb raised her brows at her in surprise. “Why, for God’s sake? You keep saying you don’t like him! And besides, I thought you said he has a girlfriend. That Joyce whatever-her-name-is.”

  “He says no girlfriend, but who knows? And I’m not sure, but I think he just wants to explain everything and clear the air. Besides,” Layne continued, “it’s just going to be a ‘one and done’ deal.”

  Her words seemed to satisfy Barb as they slowly strolled through the midway. Suddenly Barb grabbed Layne’s arm. “Oh no, oh no!” she said. “I know what you’re doing and where you’re going, and I am not going with you!”

  “I don’t understand,” Layne replied innocently, leading her straight toward the roller coaster.

  Barb pointed ahead to the towering ride. “You don’t fool me,” she said. “If you think I’m going on that thing with you, you’re completely delusional!”

  “Oh come on, it’ll be . . .”

  “No, no, no!” Barb interrupted. “And that’s final.” She stopped. “I’ll wait right here, in case you come back alive. I refuse to move from this spot.”

  “Okay,” Layne shrugged. “But you’re missing out on loads of fun.”

  “The only fun on a roller coaster is to see who can scream the loudest, and I’m just not up to giving you a severe beating, thank you. Your screams would have no chance against mine.” Her feet firmly planted, she watched Layne walk toward the ticket booth.

  Ticket clutched firmly in hand, Layne walked onto the loading platform and looked at the line of empty cars. She had her choice. Then she saw Erik Rivers sitting in one. Now the decision. To join him or not?

  She was standing off to Erik’s side and had not yet been seen. Realizing there was little reason not to join him in the car — after all, she’d just shared a ride and agreed to a date with him. She crossed the loading platform and tapped him on the shoulder. “Is there room for another?”

  Surprised, Erik turned at the voice, and seeing Layne, slid to the far side of the car.

  “Plenty of room,” he replied, patting the place beside him. “This is a surprise.”

  “I’m only sitting here because I want to know if you scream or not,” she said with a straight face, sliding in beside him, “in case I need blackmail material. I’ll bet your ranch hands would laugh themselves silly.”

  Erik glanced around, taking note of Phil’s presence back in the crowd. He was no fan of thrill rides. “Believe me, on this ride, you could very possibly have a load of material, even more than the kidnapping episode,” he replied grimly. “But with you sitting next to me, I’m going to have to be real brave so I don’t embarrass myself, or let you in on my big secret.”

  “Is it the height or the speed that bothers you?” Layne found it hard to believe Erik Rivers could be afraid of anything.

  “Bothers is not the apt descriptive word,” Erik corrected her. “Petrifies is a much better adjective.”

  “The last time I was at your place I saw an airplane parked on the runway. Was that yours? Do you have your own plane?”

  Erik nodded. “Yeah.”

  “So you have speed and you’re up real high. Doesn’t that scare you?”

  “No, because I’m in control of that situation. Here,” he said, patting the coaster grab-bar, “I’m not.”

  Just then the line of cars gave a jerk as they began the long, slow climb to the top of the structure. Layne looked forward to the thrill of the ride. Erik Rivers not so much. She noticed he adjusted his grip on the grab-bar, if white knuckles meant anything.

  So the great Erik Rivers is human after all, Layne realized. He’s scared of heights. Well okay, maybe not scared, but uncomfortable as hell. She stole a glance, expecting to find him petrified with apprehension, but from all appearances, he was totally relaxed. And that was when the line of cars began their downward plunge.

  Screams filled the air, except from Layne and Erik, who were grimly trying to out-do one another by not uttering a sound, as the cars hurtled down the steep incline, then shot straight up the next. They rounded a curve, throwing Layne into Erik’s side. He responded by putting his arm around her shoulder to keep her in place, and that was where it stayed the rest of the ride.

  As the cars slowed in their approach to the loading platform, Erik had not yet removed his arm looped over Layne’s shoulder. She turned to look at him, wondering how long he planned to keep it there. As she’d turned, she’d forgotten exactly how close she was, still leaning firmly against him. Their faces were only inches apart and Layne could see directly into his blue eyes, his captivating blue eyes. Oh my! And those lips. Oh my, again. One more inch and their lips would meet. Just one more inch.

  Layne fought an instantaneous, tremendous inner battle, fighting not to go forward that one little inch and meet his delicious lips. Apparently Erik had the very same thought and lost his battle. He chose the forward option and gently kissed her. Layne, initially shocked, responded hesitantly after a second or two.

  Short as it was, Layne had not been kissed like this in a long, long time, and was reveling in the heady sensation when she suddenly broke away. My God, she realized in horror, what had she done? She’d just blatantly responded to Erik River’s kiss.

  “Oh my God,” she said. “I am so sorry. I am . . . I have no . . .” Her brain was on hold. Nothing was working after the kiss, except maybe her heart, and that was pounding away inside her chest. All she could manage was another, “I’m so sorry!”

  Erik seemed surprised too. “Please, don’t be sorry. If there’s any blame, and I certainly don’t feel there is any, then I’m to blame. I started it. I kissed you,” Erik said gently. “But I’m sorry that I’m not sorry.”

  “I don’t usually do that after each roller coaster ride,” Layne managed, attempting to cover her deep embarrassment, “and I hope you don’t think I do.”

  “I don’t do that either, Layne,” Erik replied. “It just happened, that’s all. Let’s not lose any sleep over it, okay?”

  Layne raised her eyes to his. “Okay,” she agreed, knowing very well that the memory of their kiss would ward off sleep for many nights to come.

  Chapter 6

  Later, driving back to the ranch with the horse trailer in tow, Phil turned to Erik. “What’s with that gal, Erik? The one you were with tonight? Anything special?”

  “Yeah, I think so, I hope so,” Erik confessed. “I got off to a terrible start with her. I really screwed things up. Royally.”

  “Is that when she tore outta there that time?” Phil interrupted with a silly grin. “She looked angrier than a nest’a hornets hit by a rock!”

  “Yes indeed.” Erik nodded. “She was even a bit madder than that.” He thought back on the entire fiasco and his part in it. He shook his head, as if trying to shake away the memory, and still, he couldn’t figure out why he agreed to it. “I’ve made a few mistakes in my life, but I’m sorry to say that one was the Grant Prize Winner.”

  “I thought you said she’d be around for about six weeks. Sure didn’t seem that long to me,” Phil said with a twinkle in his eye. After a few moments of silence, he said, “What’s the situation with your niece?” he finally asked. “
Are you gonna get her?”

  “Yeah. Gonna start working on it one of these days.” Erik sighed. “Just too busy right now, but rest assured, I’ll get her.”

  “She’s gonna be all alone in that house? You better find a woman and start makin’ some babies of your own so she’ll have company. That damn house you built is so big, the kid’ll get lost in it and you’ll not find her for weeks.”

  “Speaking of big houses, Phil, with Emily expecting again, will your house be big enough?” There were two houses on the ranch property, set close to the main house, Erik’s home. “You’re welcome to move into the bigger place, it’s got three bedrooms, you know. You’re gonna need more room when the baby comes. And actually, you can start moving any time you want.” Presently, the house Phil was in had only two bedrooms. Several single cowboys used the larger place until they moved into San Antonio, more suited to their young nightlife.

  “We’d appreciate that when the time comes,” Phil replied. “Thank you. Emily was a bit concerned about being cramped with the baby coming.”

  That brought a soft chuckle from Erik. “My plan, Phil,” he said, “as far as my place is concerned, is to find me a gal and do just that. I want that place filled with my kids, grandkids, and by God, if I live long enough, with my great grandkids.”

  “You got a lady in mind?” Phil pried. “The gal you were with tonight?”

  “Maybe. Sure wouldn’t mind. That’s kinda what I’m workin’ on.”

  “What about that other one? The blonde? She sure comes around a lot, but always looks like she’s gaggin’, gettin’ sick on the smells.”

  “Maybe,” Erik said in a noncommittal tone. “Haven’t really given it any thought.”

  “The gal you were with tonight sure as hell is a beauty.”