by Ciana Stone
She’d not left her brother’s side until the doctor basically ran her off. Cooper was stable and being released in the morning. Liz had barely spoken since the fire, she hadn’t eaten and she sure wasn’t sleeping.
He’d held her last night and felt the tension that radiated through her. Kyle wished she’d open up and talk but he understood. Sometimes a person had to process things for themselves before they could let others in.
“How’re they getting along?” He asked when she walked over to the fence.
“They’re getting accustomed to one another. I think they’ll be okay.”
“And how ‘bout you, sugar girl? You gonna be okay?”
“In time.”
“Cooper’s fine, Liz. He’s getting out tomorrow. And the story we told satisfied the police.”
“Yeah, satisfied them. Netterman got away and is probably halfway back to South Dakota. And my father knows they failed. More importantly he knows, Kyle. Knows that Coop’s here and we were at Wes’s. He’s gonna come again and next time he’ll be armed for bear. Trust me.”
“Maybe so.” He reached through the fence to take her hands. “But until he does, we focus on the here and now. Wes called and said he and Cooper have all the details worked out. Cooper could draft all the papers but he wants to bring in someone he knew from law school.”
“Who?”
“Uh, hold on … Matthews. Lilian Matthews?”
“Lilly?” Liz’s eyebrows rose.
“You know her?”
“Yeah. She and Coop were a thing for a little while. Smart. Really smart and gorgeous. But after graduation they went different ways. She wanted to serve – Coop wanted to be the next Quinlan king and she didn’t give a shit about power.”
“Then wonder why he called her?”
“Because she wants to help and doesn’t give a shit about power.”
“So you approve?”
“Yep.”
Kyle released her hand, walked over to the gate and entered the paddock. Liz didn’t move from where she stood. He went to her and wrapped his arms around her, feeling the tension in her body. “Talk to me, sugar.”
She held onto him for a long time before she pulled back enough to look up at him. He saw the guarded look on her face. “I thought the time for secrets was over, Liz?”
“It is…but…” She looked down. “You’ll think I’ve lost it.”
“Well try me.”
Liz raised her gaze to his. “When Joe had me in his arms, I … I thought I saw something. Something impossible.”
“What?”
“Wings. There was this brilliant flare of light and I swear I thought I saw wings. Big white angel wings that were wrapped around me.”
Kyle searched her eyes and after a moment her hands worked up between them to clutch at his shirt. “You think I’m nuts, don’t you?”
In truth, he was relieved. He, Wes, and Cooper had talked about that night and none of them wanted to believe what they’d seen. “No. I don’t. Something did happen. A light. It blinded all of us. And when it vanished, Joe was gone.”
“But that’s impossible right?”
“It should be. But I was talking with Cody. You probably don’t know this but when Annie first came here, there was some trouble. It came to a head the night of the tornado. When the twister hit, she and her son were in the bar. Her son was saved. By Joe. And … and Annie said Joe is an angel.”
“An angel?”
Kyle nodded. “Jo was saved by him, too. She was kidnapped and almost beaten to death. Joe saved her. And she thinks he’s an angel as well.”
“Can that be true?”
“I don’t know honey. I imagine there are a lot of things we don’t understand or realize. All I know is that he did save you. That man couldn’t have missed shooting you at that distance. If Joe hadn’t intervened, you might have been killed.”
“But why Kyle? Why save me when there are so many others more deserving?”
“You seem pretty deserving to me, honey. And personally, I owe this Joe a big thanks.”
She reached for his hands. “Thank you for telling me. I guess Joe gave me a second chance.”
“I guess so. Anything else you want to talk about?”
“Not right now.” Liz gave his hands a squeeze. “But soon.”
“I’m here, honey.”
“I know. Thank you.”
Kyle nodded. “Oh, Coop did say he’d asked everyone to meet here tomorrow evening. Miss Matthews should be getting in around three tomorrow.”
“She’s coming now?”
“Yeah, he’s not wasting any time.”
“I guess not.”
“And one more thing. While you were staying at the hospital with Coop, Wes and I talked to some people, as did Wes’s mother. There are already nearly fifty people on board.”
Liz nodded. “You’re not letting any grass grow under your feet. None of you.”
“You don’t seem too happy.”
She didn’t answer. She just gave his hands another squeeze and returned to the horses. Kyle watched her for a few minutes and then turned away. He still had a ranch to run, oil deal or not, stock didn’t feed itself. And Liz would tell him what else was on her mind when she was ready.
*****
It was half-past six in the evening when he stopped and headed toward the house. Just as he reached the porch Wes’s car pulled up. He, his mother, a woman Kyle had never seen before and Cooper climbed out. Kyle watched as Wes and his mother went to the rear of the car. They lifted out two large boxes and all four of them headed for the house.
“I hope you don’t mind.” Mary said as she neared the porch. “We offered to drive Cooper and didn’t want to impose so I fixed dinner for everyone.”
“That was mighty kind, Mrs. Pursell, but you didn’t have to go to all that trouble.”
“Actually I did. We’re also expecting Cody Sweet who is representing her family, my niece Pressley and Bronson Weathers. They’ll be here within the hour. And this is Lilian Matthews, Kyle, the attorney Cooper told us about. Lilian, this is Kyle Stadler.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Kyle nodded to the pretty woman.
“The pleasure is mine.”
“Well, come on in.”
He showed everyone in. Cooper and Lilian settled in the den. Mary took charge in the kitchen, putting everything in the oven that needed to stay warm and arranging paper plates, napkins and disposable silverware on the table. She put Wes to work getting a cooler from the car filled with beer and soft drinks. She’d made two enormous pitchers of iced tea that she put into the refrigerator with the cold food.
“Anything I can help with?”
“No, not a thing, Kyle. Thank you so much for allowing us all to meet here. You just do whatever you need to do.”
“In that case, I guess I’ll get cleaned up.”
“Then on with you.” Mary shooed him away.
Kyle shrugged, returned the smile Wes shot his way and headed off to the shower, wondering if he should have rounded Liz up. When he opened the bathroom door he was met with a surprise. Liz, naked, starting the water in the shower.
“Just in time.” She announced.
“For?”
“We’ll think of something.”
“Honey, the house is full of folks with more on the way.”
“Then we’ll just have to be very quiet.”
He thought to argue until she wrapped her arms around his neck and claimed a kiss. That pretty much washed away every other thought but putting his hands on her. Between kisses, she helped him undress and then pulled him into the shower, under the warm spray.
Showering with Liz was a unique and erotic experience. How they managed to get clean with all the pleasure she was delivering was a miracle, but in under ten minutes he was rinsing the last of the soap from his body.
She waited for him, backed up against the shower wall, watching with a sexy smile on her face. He pulled her to him, exultin
g in the feel of her wet body pressed against his. “You make showering a real experience, sugar.”
“One that’s nowhere near done.” With that she wound her arms around his neck and with the skill of a gymnast, lifted her legs to circle his body.
His hands went immediately to her firm rear to hold her aloft. As she worked one hand between them to guide him, he backed her up against the wall. One curve of his pelvis and he started that slow, hot slide inside her.
Liz’s mouth opened and he covered it with his. After that he lost track of time. It wasn’t until the water spray turned cold that he came back to his senses. Not enough to stop. She was having no part of that. By the time they were done, the water was ice cold and his knees felt a bit on the weak side.
“God almighty, girl.” He smiled down at her as she turned off the water and twisted her hair into a long rope to squeeze the water from it.
“I could say the same.”
Kyle felt a serious moment descend on him and he almost backed away from it. But he’d hidden from his emotions long enough. He didn’t want to back away. Not this time. “This isn’t like the other times – I mean you’re not like the— “
“I know.” She put two fingers to his lips. “I know the different between fucking and making love, Kyle.”
“Then you know.”
“I do and hope you— “
“I do.”
She nodded and gave him a soft lingering kiss then pulled back. “I guess it’s time to face the music, eh?”
“Yep.”
“Then let’s get to it.”
They dressed and headed for the kitchen. Kyle could hear voices. Inside, Mary was stirring something in a pot on the stove. Wes was carving an enormous roast and they were talking.
“Something sure smells good.” Liz said as they entered.
“Let’s hope it tastes as good as it smells.” Mary said with a smile.
“What can I do?”
“Relieve me.” Wes held up the oversized fork and carving knife.
“Gimme that.” She took the implements. “Why don’t you and Kyle grab a beer and head into the den. I’ll help Mrs. Pursell finish up.”
“You sure?” Kyle asked.
“Yep. Scoot.”
They got beer from the refrigerator and headed out of the room. Liz started working on the roast and for a few minute she and Mary were silent. As Mary took a pan of biscuits from the oven and started arranging them on a plate, Liz spoke up.
“Mrs. Pursell, can I ask you something?”
“Sure, honey.”
“Why are you part of this? I mean, I understand that you want Wes to do what’s right, but it puts you between your son and your husband and that’s got to be really hard. What if your husband finds out?”
Mary dusted off her hands and took a seat at the table. “It’s very simple. If Wes is successful in this, Herbert will be furious but it won’t be him getting bested by your father and that’s what this is really all about.”
“But why?” Liz took a seat across from her. “I don’t understand why they hate each other so much.”
“Because of Bonny.”
“My mother?”
“Yes.” Mary sighed. “Herbert and I were dating at the time. Bonny came here with her father, he was looking at investment property. Herbert and your father met her at the same time and they both fell for her.
“It was clear that she was smitten with Lucas. Still, Herbert couldn’t give up. Finally, she told him. She was in love with Lucas. Lucas won and Herbert hated him for it.”
“And you still married him?”
“Yes.”
“But … but why? He made you second when you deserved to be first.”
Mary smiled at her. “But I never put him second. I loved him and I know he has always loved me, in his own way. And I had great hopes that we could have a nice life, raise a family and be happy.
“For the most part we were. Then he decided to get into racing. Probably because your father did. Our paths crossed and Lucas rubbed it in Herbert’s face that he was more successful. That started a rage building that hasn’t abated.
“This thing with the oil – it’s the clincher. If Herbert can beat Lucas, he wins and that means more than anything. But it’s not a win that’s healthy. Better for him to lose to Wes and your father to lose to Cooper. That way this silly feud can end. No one has to go to jail and we make sure that people are not cheated.”
Liz reached across the table to take Mary’s hand. “Wes is lucky to have you as a mother.”
“Thank you, honey, but you have a wonderful mother, too.”
“Yes, I do. Still, he’s lucky and I’m glad I got to meet you. You’ve helped me more than you realize.”
“I have? Well, I’m glad.” Mary gently withdrew her hand. “And now, let me get this dinner finished. I imagine everyone else will be arriving—“ She stopped with a smile at the knock on the door. “How about getting that?”
Liz smiled. “Okay, thanks Mrs. Pursell.”
She walked through the dining room just as Kyle was opening the front door. Cody walked in with a stunning red-haired woman.
“Hey, Kyle.” Cody said as she entered and then spotted Liz. “Liz, hey.”
“Hi, Cody.”
“You haven’t met Pressley have you?”
“No.”
“Well, Liz, this is Pressley Pursell, Wes’s cousin. Pressley, Liz Redgate.”
“I’ve been wanting to meet you.” Pressley said and smiled. “Girl, you’re the talk around the ranch.”
“I don’t know whether to be flattered or afraid.”
Pressley laughed. “Let’s just say your skills have gained attention.”
“Oh, well thanks. Oh, let me introduce both of you to my brother.”
“Sure.” Cody gestured for Liz to go first and they walked into the den.
All the men stood. What struck Liz was Cooper’s reaction. His eyes zeroed in on Cody and stuck. Well, well. She cut a look at Cody and damn if the same thing wasn’t happening. Whoa. Wonder what Wes will think if he notices.
When she looked at Wes that thought dissolved. While he was standing, his eyes were on Lilian Matthews. Now this was an interesting turn.
“Cody Sweet and Pressley Pursell.” She gestured toward the women and then at Cooper. “My brother, Cooper Quinlan.”
“A pleasure.” Cooper stepped forward, taking Pressley’s hand first with a smile. When he then clasped Cody’s hand she noticed he held it a bit longer. Just as she noticed the way his eyes darkened just a bit. If she was a betting person she’d lay down good money that if Cooper hung around, he was going to be doing his level best to charm Cody.
“Oh I’m so sorry. Cody, Pressley, this is Lillian Matthews, our new corporate attorney. Lillian?”
“Lily.”
“Sorry. Lily, Cody and Pressley. And now that everyone has been introduced, I’m gonna scoot back and help Mrs. Pursell get dinner on the table.”
Another knock at the door had her stepping out of the way for Kyle. A tall, very handsome man entered. “Evening Kyle.”
“Hey, Bronson. I don’t know if you’ve met Liz Redgate?”
“No, but JD says you were a stunt rider in Hollywood and a trick rider?”
“Used to be. Not anymore. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Same here.”
“Wes is in the den.” Kyle gestured. “Get him to introduce you to everyone. Liz and I were just headed in to help Mrs. Pursell get dinner on the table.”
“Mary Pursell is here?”
“Yep.”
“Well this really is getting interesting. Okay then.”
Liz and Kyle went into the kitchen and within ten minutes everything was ready. Mrs. Pursell called everyone in to fill their plates and take a seat. Liz leaned back against the counter, watching. Already Wes and Coop acted like they’d known one another forever. Coop and Kyle seemed to be hitting it off, and Cody, outgoing as she was, seemed a littl
e quieter than normal, her eyes going to Cooper every few seconds.
Bronson Weathers definitely had an eye on Pressley and more than once Liz noticed Pressley giving him the eye. It was quite interesting and she couldn’t help but wonder if she was watching future relationships in the seeding phase.
Kyle walked over and leaned on the counter beside her. “Penny for your thoughts.”
“It’s strange. Here we are, a bunch of strangers thrown together by what has to be one of the oddest happenstances ever and look at everyone. It’s like watching a family.”
“Family is important to you, isn’t it?”
“It is.” She looked up at him. “I didn’t know how much until I came here.”
“Well, your brother’s here now and if everything goes well, he’s liable to be for a good while. He was talking to Wes about looking for some property, maybe a house in town.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I’m glad.”
“But?”
“But what?”
“I know there’s a but in there. I can hear it in what you’re not saying.”
“You’re way too perceptive for my own good, Kyle Stadler.”
“And you’re evading the question. What is it?”
“Can we step outside?”
“Sure.”
They walked out back and stood on the porch. Liz gathered her thoughts, wanting to say it right. Kyle turned her to face him. “Just say it, Liz. Whatever it is.”
“Okay. You’re right. Family is important to me. When Cooper was shot it made me realize that the grudge I’d held against him was wrong.”
“What exactly was it?”
“He’s the one who convinced our father to sell Landing.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Well, he was the one who suggested that our father might be able to control me if he held the jockey position over my head. Only our father didn’t just hold it over my head. He snatched it from me. Cooper thought it hurt me too much having Landing there.”
“When it really hurt you more to have him sold.”
“Yeah, but I over-reacted. I – I just saw it as another way my father was trying to control my life and punish me when I didn’t fall in line.”
“And now?”
“Now? Well, I’d do it all again. Not because it was right or mature, but …but because it led me here. To you. I’m falling in love with you, Kyle and I don’t say that lightly. I know what it means to like someone, to have a case of the hots for a guy and I know what love feels like. I just haven’t ever known anything quite as – as pervasive and encompassing as this. It’s like you’re here—“ She touched the center of her chest and then her forehead. “And here. You’re inside me and I don’t ever want you not to be. God, I’m not doing this very well.”