Captive of the Cattle Baron (Selkirk Family Ranch Book 1)

by Irene Vartanoff

  “Do you actually earn a living with your life coaching?”

  “I—I…” Tess leapt up from the table and ran out of the room.

  “No dessert for anyone,” came the stern voice from the kitchen.

  Chapter 10

  “I’m sure you two have things to talk about,” Addie said. She rose from her chair and left the dining room.

  She spent a restless evening locked in her room, wanting to avoid everyone. She was ashamed of how she’d baited Tess, who obviously was struggling with a massive drinking problem. Why Tess had settled on Addie as an enemy was a mystery, but Addie knew she should have made allowance for the alcohol.

  The next morning, Paula joined Addie as she was about to take her run. Paula was wearing shorts and running shoes. “You don’t mind?”

  Addie shook her head. She wasn’t much for talking in the morning. She talked all day to her horses.

  She and Paula paced each other to the point just beyond where Baron had stopped her yesterday. Then they paused.

  Paula said, “I don’t like running. I make myself do it because I have a desk job.”

  “I run so I can maintain my patience with the horses.”

  Paula’s mouth quirked. “Too bad you couldn’t maintain it last night with Tess.”

  Addie sighed. “I’m sorry about that. She was incredibly rude, but obviously very unhappy.”

  “Tess is stuck grieving for J.D. It doesn’t help.”

  “Does it bother you?”

  Paula looked at her. “What do you think?”

  Addie nodded. “Can’t Tess get away from Cheyenne?”

  Paula sighed. “Unfortunately, she had ambitions to be a movie star. After Julie’s complete smash-up out in California, no one in the Selkirk family would hear of Tess trying her luck.”

  Addie nodded. “If she’s drinking this much now, the frustrations of L.A. could send her around the bend.”

  They ran back toward the house. “I’ll try to be more patient with Tess,” Addie said, when she’d regained her breath a second time.

  “How long are you staying?”

  “That depends on Baron.”

  Paula gave her an inquiring look, but Addie resisted the impulse to confide. What could the other woman do to persuade Baron to let her leave? Paula was the reason Baron had wanted a “girlfriend” visiting.

  Miss Betty called from the kitchen door, “Breakfast is on.”

  ***

  After Paula went upstairs to get Tess, Addie sat eating alone. As usual, the TV was on, tuned to a sitcom. Miss Betty announced that Baron would be busy this morning with the roundup. “We use the latest technology on this ranch. Got chips on all the cattle.”

  “Computer chips?”

  “That’s right,” Miss Betty said, pride in her tone. “Computer microchip ear tags, they call ’em. To track the cattle and identify ’em, too. No more branding.”

  “The cattle still wander off?”

  “No computer’s gonna change animal nature.”

  “Are Baron and his hands rounding up all the cattle, or just the ones that went AWOL?”

  “The missin’ ones. The cattle wander into all kinds of spots.”

  “That’s sounds interesting,” Addie said wistfully. “I wonder if I could see some of it.”

  “Already arranged. After you do your horse whispering with Whitey, Hoot’s gonna saddle up your mare, and you, Tess, and Paula will join Baron to look for strays. Gets you out in the fresh air.”

  “Sounds great.” Although being around Tess might be a problem. Addie decided to finish breakfast quickly, to avoid an encounter that could sour her morning.

  ***

  Two hours into her session with the stallion, Addie heard Hoot’s call.

  “I saddled you up, Miss Addie.”

  “All right. I’ll just finish up with Whitey.”

  She said her usual goodbyes and rubbed the stallion’s sensitive neck area, then left the corral. As she mounted up, she saw Paula and Tess waiting, already on their horses. Tess had a palomino. Paula’s mare was all brown.

  “What is this, the all-girls cattle club?” Addie asked, smiling.

  Paula grinned. Tess answered, “Out here, we learn how to handle ourselves and be useful.”

  Paula said, “We got a call from Baron to meet him out on the second side.”

  “That’s what we call our south area.” Tess pointed behind the ranch house.

  They clicked their reins at their mounts and headed for a path Addie had not previously noticed. Past the house, it led around a small rise to a completely different vista. A large valley lay below them, with what looked like thousands of cattle grazing.

  “What an amazing sight,” she said.

  “It’s beautiful,” Paula agreed.

  “C’mon. Race you down.” Tess took off at a gallop.

  “I don’t know this land. You go on,” Addie said to Paula.

  Paula peeled out, yelling a war whoop.

  Addie followed much more sedately. The ranch had so many contrasts. Hills and streams and now this beautiful valley. The Selkirk family had enjoyed this wonderful vista for their entire lifetime.

  Something in Addie’s chest expanded at the thought of being so connected to a particular piece of land. She’d hoped to feel that with her property in Jackson Hole, but she hadn’t. If she lived here, she’d ride out every day and look at this perfect valley and know she was in heaven.

  She finally reached the bottom of the path, and caught up with Tess and Paula. Baron rode up on his stallion. He wore a cut-off t-shirt that left his arms bare and emphasized his well-developed muscles.

  “I see you got the message. Follow me.”

  Did he mean from Miss Betty? Addie had not received any messages or been sure the ones she sent got through. She didn’t like being shut off from the technology that connected her to the wider world. Was there any way she could get through to Baron? They’d gotten so close sexually, but that wasn’t proof they’d let down their emotional barriers. On her part, she knew she hadn’t. She dreaded the moment when Baron learned about her past. Should she tell him now? Did they know each other well enough that he would react positively? Or would he instantly reassociate her with his dead girlfriend? Julie was Baron’s past, but the memory of her sad end lingered.

  Anyway, he was busy right now, scarcely looking at her while he snapped out orders to his crews. The three women had their assignment to search for strays along areas where the ranch four-wheelers couldn’t reach.

  As she turned her horse toward their search quadrant, Addie admired how Baron looked. He was the perfect cowboy, tall in the saddle, serious looking, intensely masculine, and focused on his work. He knew how to move as one with his horse to deal with a dodging steer. She’d seen a batch of western movies when her parents were thinking of pushing her for a role in one, so she had an image in her head of what a cowboy should be. Her horse work had thrown her into company with many riders, but few looked as impressive as Baron. If she was honest, no man ever had.

  Baron Selkirk. Was he the man for her? He was stubborn, wrongheaded, sure his way was the only way, and more. He was also a fantastic kisser and promised to be an amazing lover. Every woman wanted to experience sex at the level of sheer ecstasy. Baron was that lover for her, she was certain of it. Or he would be, if Addie let down her guard.

  Yet she couldn’t know if her attraction to him depended on the thrill of being in his power, a semi-reluctant guest on his ranch. If she had a car parked at the house, and a phone in her pocket, would she still yearn to be one with him emotionally as well as physically? Or would she merely anticipate the pleasure of sex with him, knowing she was free to walk away at any moment?

  She had to be free in order to know. As long as she was his captive, even though it was obvious now that she could leave at any time, she could not make a free choice. It irked her that he was so high-handed. How dare he keep her here and try to cut off her contact with the outside world? How
dare he strip all the phones off their mountings so she couldn’t call her supposed drug dealer? They’d moved beyond that false idea about her, yet the phones had not returned.

  He didn’t see her for who she was. He kept seeing Julie and her frailties. Being desired wasn’t good enough for Addie. She had to be seen and accepted as herself, her whole person. That had never happened for her, not once. All the men she’d been with—and there weren’t that many—all of them had been blinded by her television acting past. They imagined she had certain actor personality stripes, and they made those up from stupid gossip about sexy starlets, not by getting to know Addie.

  She wasn’t an actor anymore. She’d had fun as a child actor. She’d be a liar to say it had been all work and no play. Yet when the show ended its run, she didn’t cry. If only people she met as an adult could understand that part of her life was over. They didn’t. They saw their image of what an actor was. She was Adrienne Jelleff, a horse whisperer who had once been a child actor. Nothing more.

  ***

  The roundup continued the rest of the morning. Baron and the ranch hands had long since vanished, but Tess and Paula seemed to know exactly what to do, so Addie followed their lead. They picked their way along rocky terraces to get a few more straying animals. With their part of it done, they returned to the base camp and took charge of the strays sent their way by the other ranch hands.

  A few hours into their labors, they heard a car honk. Miss Betty was behind the wheel of the Jeep.

  “Brought you all some lunch. Heard from Baron they’ve found almost all the cattle.”

  “That’s good to know,” said Addie, wiping sweat off her brow. Tess and Paula circled back to join her, and they secured their horses near a watering trough.

  “Set there under those trees and eat up.” Miss Betty pointed to a picnic table located in the one spot of shade.

  All four women sat at the table. There wasn’t much conversation at first because they were hungry. It was mostly, “Pass the salt,” and, “Are there any chips?”

  Finally, Tess said, “I haven’t felt this useful in months.”

  “It’s a good feeling,” Addie agreed. “Baron didn’t make up our task, did he?”

  “So we could feel important? Nah.” Tess replied.

  “He’d have to assign pushing these strays to his hands if we weren’t here,” Paula said.

  “Roundup always takes all the manpower we can muster,” Tess added. “Baron used to throw himself into it, every day. He’d come back from wherever he was in the world for roundup. Since our parents moved to Cheyenne, he’s been in charge of every detail. The whole shebang.”

  Paula said, “Being the boss has changed him for the worse.”

  “Why do you say that?” Addie asked.

  “It’s sapped all the fun out of him, for one thing,” Tess said.

  “He’s always ordering people around,” Paula replied. “Or teed off because people don’t hop to obey him instantly.”

  “He’s usually sore about somethin’ these days,” Miss Betty confirmed.

  “And bossy, totally bossy,” Tess added. “He thinks he’s the boss of the whole world and everybody in it.”

  “You mean he was different before?” Addie asked, confused.

  Paula said, “He had a laid back personality. That’s why I liked to tease him. Now he’s ready to get angry about everything.”

  Addie said, “Wow. That’s huge.”

  Miss Betty said, “’Taint easy runnin’ this place. His daddy inspired a lot of loyalty. The old timers like me sometimes don’t cotton to takin’ orders from a man they knew as a kid. Not when his daddy is still alive and healthy and might return anytime.”

  Paula asked Addie, “Does knowing this make a difference?”

  “Are you and Baron serious?” Tess asked, at almost the same moment.

  “I’ve only known him for a very short time,” Addie said, sidestepping a direct answer. “Now I’m wondering if I know him at all.”

  “It’s probably too soon, anyway,” Tess said.

  “I disagree,” Paula said. “When it comes to love, you either know or you don’t know.”

  “There are some complicating factors that I won’t get into,” Addie said. “They could affect how our relationship turns out.” She shook her head. “Especially because you all say Baron has changed for the worse.”

  “Haven’t we all?” Tess asked, her expression drooping. “I’ve become a drinker, and I never was before. The pressure is too much sometimes and I feel like I’m going to explode. Booze helps me cope.”

  “I’m sorry about last night,” Addie said.

  “Let’s not go there,” Tess said. “We were talking about my bossy, annoying, domineering brother.”

  “You do realize he thinks Paula comes to the ranch to pursue him?” Addie asked.

  “Oh, that old thing,” Paula said. “I still play up to him every now and again, to tease him.”

  Addie eyed her, trying to tell if Paula meant what she said. “Are you sure?”

  “Now that he’s got you, doubly sure,” Paula smiled. She didn’t look at all upset by the idea that Baron and Addie were an item. About Tess’s feelings, Addie was not so secure.

  “Maybe you’ll end up as my sister-in-law,” Tess said.

  “I hope you might consider that a good thing,” Addie said, “but don’t hold your breath expecting a formal announcement anytime soon.”

  “Are you going to live with him, and then wait around for years before hoping he’ll agree to ‘take it to the next level’?” Paula asked, her disapproval evident on her face. “My friends do that. It’s pitiful.”

  “How am I supposed to know?” Addie replied. “I’ve never lived with a guy. Have either of you?”

  “Not me. My parents and Baron wouldn’t let me live with a man,” Tess said.

  “Nor I. My father would have bought our apartment building out from under us and evicted us rather than let me live with a boyfriend,” Paula added.

  Addie asked, “Do these heavy parents also expect you to still be virgins?”

  Tess and Paula looked at each other and broke into sniggers.

  “Oh, come on. Do they really?” Addie started laughing.

  “What about your folks?” Miss Betty asked Addie.

  Addie suddenly remembered there was an older person listening to their girl talk. “They assumed I was sexually active years before I even became interested in boys. They laid down a few safety rules, and that was it.”

  “I’d love to have parents who weren’t after me all the time and wanting me to account for every minute,” Tess said. “I visit the ranch because Baron ignores me as much as he can, which leaves me free.”

  “Why do you still live with your parents?” Addie asked.

  “Whenever I talk about moving out, my mother gets this real sad look on her face, and I can’t bring myself to.”

  “If Tess took a full-time job, or did her coaching full time, her parents would accept that she’s an adult,” Paula said, with the air of having delivered that piece of advice numerous times.

  “They’re just tryin’ to make sure you’re safe, since they couldn’t keep J.D. from bein’ wounded,” said Miss Betty.

  The reminder of J.D.’s condition made Paula look pained. Tess’s face fell. “Let’s talk about something else. Have you ever been to a honky-tonk?” she asked Addie.

  Baron reappeared, riding down one more group of steers. Once he had expertly pushed them into the holding pen, he dismounted and walked over to them.

  “Miss Betty, have you got a cold drink for a thirsty, hard-working man?”

  “Sure do,” she said, leaning down to open the cooler next to her.

  He picked out a beer, and popped the top. After taking a long swig, he exhaled in contentment. “That cuts the dust. Thanks.”

  “Are there a lot more cattle coming?” Tess asked.

  He shook his head. “According to the list, no.”

  He
turned to Addie. “We’ve rounded up all but a few dozen. We should be done in a couple more hours. I appreciate you all helping out.”

  “We’re having fun,” Paula said.

  “Yeah, but we don’t work for free,” Tess said. “You have to do something for us in return.”

  “Like what?” he asked suspiciously.

  “I don’t know yet. I’ll think of something,” his sister replied.

  “That’s got me trembling in my boots. Enjoy lunch, ladies.” He took off.

  Addie was bemused. He had barely looked at her. Where was the focused attention she’d already come to expect from him? Should she feel piqued? Or should she feel accepted because he treated her as one of the regular ranch women who could be relied upon to help out when the sheer volume of work was too much for all his men?

  Miss Betty must have noticed her staring moon-eyed after Baron. “Child, go after him. He hasn’t mounted up yet.”

  “Not my style,” Addie said, though secretly she was tempted.

  Baron called out, “Addie, would you come here for a second?”

  She looked at the others. They looked back at her expectantly. Miss Betty said, “Well, go on. See what the boss wants.”

  They each had ideas about what the boss wanted, but Addie obediently went over to where Baron was checking his horse’s girth strap. She walked around his horse to the side where he stood getting ready to mount. The horse blocked the view others had of them.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “Just this,” he said. He seized her in his arms and kissed her.

  She melted into him, feeling a sense of homecoming and belonging. When they finally came up for air, he smiled down at her.

  “We should kiss more often,” he said.

  “You should look like a perfect dream cowboy more often,” she said, pushing his hat back on his head and lightly fingering his dark hair.

  He snatched another kiss.

  “Gotta go, beautiful.” He saddled up and turned his horse and rode away at a canter.

  When she returned to the others, the women all razzed her about what she and Baron had been doing for so long behind the horse.