by M Elle Kelso
His muttered reply told her David did not know the truth about C.J.’s so-called marriage.
“David Taylor, for a mature, supposedly intelligent man, you can act like such an ass sometimes!” Kaycee was sputtering by the time she stopped.
David’s head snapped up, a stunned look on his handsome face.
“What are you talking about? What did I do?” He looked at her, his eyes full of hurt and bewilderment. “What did I do, Kaycee, to deserve that?”
David’s genuine shock defeated Kaycee’s anger.
“Oh, David, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. But you do make me angry sometimes, with your too-good-to-be-true attitude. Don’t you ever do anything wrong? Don’t you ever feel like bending the rules just a little now and then?” Kaycee was obviously annoyed with herself for having hurt David in this way, but seemed unable to stop the words. “Sorry, that was unpardonable, too. I should never have said that about you. You are one of the most honorable men I’ve ever known. Please, forgive me?”
The sight of her eyes filling with tears silenced him faster than any gag. He moved toward her, folding her in a brotherly hug, one meant to comfort. When she finally pushed away from him, she had her tears under control and must have been feeling more than a little foolish; the emotion showed plainly on her face.
“David, can we just start this whole talk over again? I need to tell you some things I don’t think you know, but I really don’t know how to do it gently or so nonchalantly that you won’t notice I did it. If I could figure out how to sneak up on it, I would. But I can’t. Please, sit down over there so I don’t have to crane my neck so far.” She thought she sounded like she was babbling, as she pointed at bales of hay and straw stacked beside a stall near the back of the barn.
David did as she asked, walking slowly toward the other end of the barn, making himself comfortable on the hay he had stored there. He laid back a little, propping himself up with one elbow and stuck a booted foot up on the bale.
“So. Here goes. Please don’t interrupt me until I’m finished.” She took a deep breath.
“First, I need to know something. Were we all wrong when we thought you were interested in C.J.? There seemed to be a spark there, something going on between you, but it never went any further.”
David debated whether he’d walk out of the barn or talk to her. Talk won.
He couldn’t be that rude and he didn’t want to hurt Kaycee.
“You weren’t wrong. I was interested in her. But, Kaycee, I don’t mess around with married women. You know that. And I would never have put her into the position of having to try and get rid of someone pushing amorous intentions toward her.”
David swung his foot off the bale, as Kaycee sat down beside him. The cocky smile on her face must mean something, he thought. But what?
Kaycee rested her hand on his on the bale and made him look at her.
“David, would you be interested in C.J., enough to at least call her, if she wasn’t married?”
“Kaycee, don’t mess with me.” His voice was low, threatening. “You saw me with her; you know the answer to that. What are you on about here?”
“Oh, David, I’m sorry. I...C.J. isn’t married, David. She’s divorced.”
The stunned silence beside her made Kaycee turn her head, just in time to see hope spring alive in his dark, dark eyes. He looked at her, trying to figure out why this was happening to him.
“Are you sure, Kaycee? Really sure? She told me to call her Mrs. McCormack. And she’s got a wedding band, although I always wondered why she wore it on her right hand. And she told me her husband didn’t care if she was late coming home, that he was...” David stopped.
C.J. had told him her husband didn’t care, because he was out of town.
“He doesn’t care, David, because he left her nearly three years ago. Just left for work one day, then never came home. C.J. was frantic. He didn’t call, didn’t let her know what he was doing. The police were looking for him as a missing person. Then, about six weeks later, she got the copy in the mail of a divorce decree, one of those quickies they give in Nevada. Attached to the decree was a photo of him, with her best friend, showing them getting married in one of those cheap wedding chapels in Vegas. No letter, no explanation, no...nothing! When she finally got up enough nerve to ask her friend’s sister about the mess, it turns out her husband had been taking the friend with him on his business trips for over a year. Then, as if all that wasn’t bad enough, C.J. went to the bank one day to arrange for her quarterly payment for the newspaper she’d bought in Douglas only to discover Allan McCormack, her prize of an ex, had cleared out the account, taking nearly every penny she had. He left her just enough to pay one month’s rent and buy a few groceries. And before you ask, he had her Power of Attorney while she was buying the paper, because she was afraid she might not be around to sign something or transfer the funds and she didn’t want to lose out on buying the paper because of that. She trusted him, which was her first big mistake. David, you can’t imagine how hard that hit her. The paper was the only thing she had left; she couldn’t lose it too. So, she went to her father, Ivan Foster...”
David’s head snapped around to look at Kaycee.
“You heard me right. Foster. As in the ranch you bought from her. Her dad was just finishing this place, he had only the arena to finish building. But he stopped working on it and gave C.J. the money she needed to make the payment.”
Kaycee stopped, swallowing hard. David thought she might be going to cry again.
“This is where it gets really sad, David, because just two weeks after he lent her the money, he fell from the loft of this barn, breaking his neck. The police said it was an accident, but C.J. was never sure. She thinks he might have committed suicide. Because when he died, he had nothing left. Except this ranch and his insurance money. The insurance money went to her and was enough to cover the rest of her payments on the newspaper. But she had to give up the ranch, and her own home in order to keep the paper going. Then, when she couldn’t sell either place, things got tight again. That’s why the price was so low. On your place and Jared’s.”
Kaycee watched as David bounced off the bales and started pacing.
“You mean the place Jared bought was her home? And this was her dad’s. And all those horses.” He blinked and swallowed hard. “She lost it all,” he whispered as he came back to Kaycee and sat again
“And there I was acting like God Almighty himself and giving her a bad time because she didn’t answer me as fast as I thought she should. Damn it, Kaycee, why didn’t she say something?” His upset state had him bouncing off the bales again and pacing in front of her.
“I guess after she told you to call her Mrs. McCormack, she didn’t know how to back down, and was too embarrassed to admit what she’d done. She’s not married, David. Hasn’t been for over two years now. And yes, you and Jared got her home and her father’s place. She decided to sell both properties so she could keep her newspaper; before you two got involved. When she sold the horses, the money went to my dad, to cover the cost of boarding them on his ranch for nearly two years, and to pay off what she owed him. He lent her the money to finish the arena, David, so the place would sell faster.” She paused as David came back to sit beside her on the bales once more.
“So, now she lives in a crappy little rented house in Douglas, puts out the paper once a week and is falling to pieces because she can no longer ride, or see her horses. We tried to make her keep one for riding, even if she had to move it closer to Douglas, but she just said if she had to sell out, she wanted to get rid of everything that tied her to these places. She didn’t want the constant reminder of what happened that she’d have if she kept a horse. As she put it, she either wanted all or nothing.”
David let his head fall back, looking up at the floor of the hayloft, from where C.J.’s father had fallen to his death. He wondered how he would have handled all that if he’d been in her shoes. His male intellect wouldn�
�t let him make the comparison; he knew, being a woman, and a strong one at that, her priorities would have been much different than his. She had to do what would help her survive. And opting for the newspaper gave her a purpose in life.
He admired that.
In C.J.’s case, he admired it even more because she’d had so many things stacked against her.
David turned to Kaycee, smiling somewhat sheepishly.
“So. Do you think I stand a chance with her if I ask her out? Maybe just a dinner date or something like that before I ask her to come out here and ride with me? I’d like her to feel she could come here anytime she wanted to.” He looked around the barn and shook his head. “It must have been quite a blow to lose all this.”
“Can I ask a really big favor of you?” He looked hopefully at her, confident he could get her to do what he wanted to do, wondering if she’d think he was crazy.
“Would you please arrange a dinner party and invite C.J.. Annie and Jared, too, of course. Paul. Hooch, too. Hell, include your dad and Suzanah. With that big a crowd, she shouldn’t get scared off. I’ll pay for it, whatever you want to serve, go for it. Just tell me how much you think you’ll need. Make it really casual. In fact, suggest she might want to go riding while she’s out, and tell her jeans are the order of the day. I know she’s got that kind of clothes and she won’t have to worry about what to wear.” He became more excited with each part of his plan. “And tell Annie to bring their kids. All those babies around will help keep everything loose.”
David jumped up from the bales and started pacing again.
“If everyone’s available, how about this coming Friday? I know Hooch is planning to go into Douglas; she can hitch a ride out with him and I’ll drive her home. That way she won’t be too worried about having to be alone with me.”
David sat again, already thinking how he could work it out that he would give her the ride home.
“I’ve got it! I know how to get her home without her worrying about that, too.”
David was off down the center aisle of his barn, headed for the door, when he realized that Kaycee was still sitting on the bales and hadn’t answered him. He turned, returning much slower, his expressive eyebrows cocked at her, as though asking her to speak.
“Well? Do you think that would work? Can you do that for me? Will you help?”
David waited, his heart in his mouth. She just had to say yes.
“All right, David, I’ll do it. But remember, she might say no. I’ll make sure Friday is okay for everyone else, then I’ll invite her. I’ll do it tomorrow, so you’ll know that everything’s all set. Then it’s up to you.”
David let out a happy whoop, grabbed Kaycee and swung her around, just as Blake ambled up to the barn door. Kaycee’s shriek made him smile.
“I’d suggest you put my wife down, David, or I might have to come over there and hurt you.”
His grin belied his words. David knew he didn’t mean a thing he said. And because he knew, he didn’t hesitate. He gave Kaycee a smacking big kiss that left all three of them laughing.
“You just keep your hands to yourself, boss man. This is between me and your wife. She’s agreed to help me do something important and I’m just saying thanks.”
As David stood her back on her own two feet, Kaycee winked at Blake, letting him know that everything was okay. She had done what he and Jared wanted and been successful.
“Well, if that’s all it is, I’ll just leave you to it. Whenever you’re done, I’m sure we’ll be happy to see you back at the house.”
He was whistling when he sauntered out of the barn, leaving David wondering what he was up to.
“Is he mad at me for taking you away from the house for so long? I mean, you’re the one who said you wanted to go for a tour of the barn.”
He looked uncomfortable, as though he was guilty of something, just didn’t know what.
“David, quit worrying. I’m here because Blake and Jared were concerned about you and figured that it might have something to do with C.J. They’re your friends, David, they knew something was upsetting you. This was their way of helping you. I did want a tour of your barn, but it could have waited. But as your friends, we wanted to get you turned around and on the right path fast with C.J.. We think maybe she’s just about as confused by all this as you are. Believe me, it’s nice having someone of your own, someone to do things with, especially if you and that someone have the same interests. And I think you and C.J. have that. With your love of the country, and horses. That’s two points in your favor. Now, it’s up to you. We’ll get her out here; you’ll have to do the rest.”
David took Kaycee’s hands in his, smiling down at her, glad that this woman and his best friend had each other. If he could have even half as much with a woman who loved him, he’d be satisfied.
But if he could have more...
“Let’s get back up to the house. Jared will be out here next, wanting to know if I got you straightened around. They care about you, David. They don’t want to see you hurting.”
As David and Kaycee headed for the door, Jared walked around the corner.
“Too late, he’s here.” David grabbed Jared by the shoulders and turned him around. “You can go back to the house, Jared. She’s had her talk with me, and I think I’m up to speed.”
He paused, looking from Kaycee to Jared.
“Thanks, all of you. I’m glad you care so much.”
With that, he put his arms behind each of them and shoved them toward the house. There was a collective sigh from everyone in the house when the three of them came in smiling. David shrugged and beamed a smile around the room, then prodded everyone into more coffee and dessert. It was a happy lot that called it a night two hours later.
And for the first time in weeks, David fell asleep the minute his head touched the pillow. His dreams that night were of C.J.
His lips twitched into a smile as he slept.
Blake hung up the phone and turned to David. “It’s all arranged. Mike Williams will be out here this afternoon to pick you up. All you need is a medical between now and Friday and they’ll reactivate your license. You’re lucky though; another month and you would have had to do the whole training period and flight training time over. You’re just inside the allowed time for renewal. And, Mike said to tell you that if you want to buy a helicopter from him, he’ll give you a real good deal. A Bell or a Sikorski, take your pick.”
David leaned back in his chair, the enormity of what he was about to undertake somewhat staggering. Last night he’d thought up this plan and here it was, barely mid-morning of the next day, and everything was arranged. He sure hoped he was doing the right thing.
“David, there is one thing. With being out here so far from any towns, there have been occasions when it would have been nice to have a plane or a helicopter available in a hurry. What do you think about having the agency do the buying, with you as resident pilot? Or we can lease it, hire a pilot who can live here; on the understanding, of course, that, as the number one pilot around here, you can book it whenever you want it. We might even get Patrick to come in on this, spread the cost around a bit. What do you think?”
David was silent for a moment, thinking through the offer that Blake had just made. But he wasn’t sure he wanted to go that route just yet. He wanted time to build up his confidence as a pilot again before becoming involved in running the helicopter for other people.
It was one thing to use it to take himself back and forth to Douglas to pick up C.J. It was quite another to be winging people around the countryside. And with winter coming on, he wasn’t sure he wanted that responsibility
“For now, I’m going to buy it myself. New, they run around one million, which I can most definitely afford; but, if we find I’m using it for work a lot, or taking people around on behalf of the agency, then we’ll write an allowance into the books and pay me that way. I’ll check with Jared and make sure that’s the most efficient tax-wise. But until I’ve h
ad time to rebuild my confidence, I don’t want to be responsible for other people. Not yet. Is that alright with you?”
David held his breath, afraid Blake might not want to see it his way. But this time, he’d stand firm.
“David, don’t worry. That was just an idea that popped into my mind while we were talking. You do whatever you want to do, and if you decide later that you’re interested in my idea, then let me know. For now, this is you and you alone.”
“Thanks, Blake. I’ll get back to Mike and let him know which one I decide on. Think I’ll take a spin in both of them; that might help me decide.”
David’s test flight later the same day resulted in him buying a Bell JetRanger®. He had gone up with Mike Williams, planning to be a passenger only on the trip, but Mike had persuaded him to take over about 20 minutes into the flight. A quick landing in a nearby ranch’s empty pasture to change seats and get the feel of the controls and they were up again, this time with David doing the flying. It hadn’t taken him long to get the feel of the cyclic, the collective or the anti-torque pedals, memory flooding back from his earlier experiences as a helicopter pilot.
“There you go, David, the first half hour of the hours you booked. This is the way to go; retrain with someone with you. If you want, you could fly with me all this week. Tomorrow, I’m supposed to leave at six a.m. to fly a rancher to Cheyenne and into Colorado, to a Cattlemen’s Collective meeting. If you do the flying, you get the hours and I’ll get paid for just sitting and supervising. I can pick you up at your ranch if there’s a place I can set down.”
That sounded fine with David and he made the arrangements. There was plenty of room in the pasture north of his house to set a JetRanger® down. There was one spot totally surrounded by trees that would probably make an ideal helipad. He could enlarge it if necessary. Knowing his license would be renewed by the weekend, all he had to do was check with Kaycee and make sure the dinner party was in order. Mike had assured him that once his license was renewed, the helicopter he was buying would be sitting on the tarmac at the Casper airport, ready to be picked up, as soon as he signed the papers.