It was a small thing, but Alice’s assurance made Olivia feel a lot better. If he didn’t drug her, then she needed to see her physician and investigate the memory loss. Doing that was better than thinking your fiancé was a pervert or nefarious. Maybe everything was okay.
Olivia left her room and took the elevator to the spa. She was amazed when she stepped out into a lovely underground paradise. Soft spa music was playing, and a waterfall was splashing into a pond surrounded with trees and foliage. Olivia sighed, and immediately she began to relax. This was what she needed.
A receptionist greeted her with lemon water and handed her a robe. “Welcome, the dressing rooms are beyond the pond to the right. When you have changed, take a seat by the pond, and we can look over possible treatments for today.”
“This all looks heavenly; I may spend the entire day here.” Olivia entered through a large barn door into the dressing room lounge. She changed into the plush white robe she had been given and sat down on the bench for a minute to think. A lot had gone on in the last twenty-four hours. She still felt a little woozy, so something had happened.
She wasn’t sure what she wanted. Things were changing with Chad. The future wasn’t looking as bright as she thought previously. Her mind flowed back to the last time she thought she knew exactly what she wanted. It was four years ago, and she was with Jacob and Michael at her home along the Mississippi River. She had just gotten off an overseas call from her parents. The call had not been pleasant as she accused them of going behind her back to sell Ranger and her other horses. When she told them that they were so involved with their international business enterprises that they’d forgotten they had a daughter, they accused her of not being supportive. They even told her it was her own fault; she chose not to travel with them.
The truth was she had been lonely, very lonely, and the boys, Jacob and Michael, were a gift in her life. As they told her about the loss of their parents, she commiserated with their situation because she understood the loneliness of no family. So they became a family to each other, and eventually with Jacob, the relationship grew to a desire to start their own family one day. The bond they made was strong.
“I will never leave my children for business,” Olivia had sworn one day.
Jacob added, “My family will be safe and healthy. I will not take risks that could leave them orphans.”
Olivia got excited. “I will teach my children values and skills, and we’ll have fun together.”
Michael added, “They won’t have to go to school.”
Both Jacob and Olivia turned to look at Michael and laughed. “No school!”
She remembered the day she talked the cook into teaching her how to make Hatch apple pie, a true southern dish. All morning, she worked carefully under the guidance of the cook.
She not only learned how to make the pie, but she learned how to make pie crust, which was a skill she would use all of her life. She kept going back into the kitchen to see if the pie was done. Finally, they took it out of the oven, and then she had to wait for it to cool.
When it was ready, Olivia told the cook she was taking it to friends, and she hurried out of the house and headed toward her doll cabin. The smell was wonderful as she walked down through the woods, ducking under branches and stepping over protruding roots. As she got closer, her heart jumped; fear coursed through her. She knew something was wrong.
When she opened the cabin door, they were gone. She found the note.
Dear Libby,
We have to make a run for it. Men are coming up the path from the river as I write this. Someone must have reported us. I hope we can find each other again one day.
Libby spent the day sitting on the bed in her little cabin wondering how she was going to live without them now. What she wanted was a family with Jacob and Michael. All three of them felt it was meant to be. She loved Jacob, and Michael was the little brother she never had.
As the weeks went by, she waited and hoped they would return. Often, she spent hours in the cabin, cleaning it up and putting more food in storage just in case. But they never did return. As she prepared to leave for school, she left notes for the boys with her phone numbers just in case. But she never heard from them again.
Her parents came home for a month before she headed to the university. They agreed to allow her to keep Ranger but insisted on selling most of the other horses. She joined the university riding club and boarded Ranger at their riding stables. She rode daily.
Libby sighed. Here she was with Michael and Jacob. The ranch seemed much more exciting with them working here. She had to admit they only got better looking as they grew up. Now they had that rough, manly look that women loved. She laughed, thinking how much money they could make modeling for western romance covers.
Libby began her spa treatments with her feet. It was wonderful. While she enjoyed the foot reflexology that went along with her pedicure, she could feel the stress leaving her body. “Ah, this is great. Thank you.”
The clinician smiled. “You shouldn’t miss the massage that Jen gives. She’s a magician with stress management.”
“Do we have that booked for the day?” Libby looked up.
“Yes, but let me change your appointment to Jen. Although Hilda does give a good massage, Jen is particularly good for stress.” Olivia leaned back and relaxed. Chad couldn’t possibly have drugged me. She kept reiterating that sentiment in her mind, but somewhere, she felt a tiny, nagging fear…what if?
That’s ridiculous. How could I not know what type of man he was all this time? No, he didn’t do it. I’m sure of it.
Chapter 5
It was late; the crickets and the cicadas were making a racket. The moon was up, and it was so bright Jacob could see his shadow. The large tree fort that one of the previous owners had built for their children had branches that hung over the lake. To climb up, you had climb to the V-shaped branches underneath the fort and squeeze your way through a trapdoor. Once up, there was a railing with benches all around the perimeter of the fort. When the river flooded, the only way you could get there was by canoe. Jacob and Michael were walking around the lake toward the fort.
“Listen, Michael, we just have to watch to make sure she doesn’t go outside with him.”
“Well, what if she’s in danger in the ranch house?” Michael pulled his eyebrows together and wrinkled his forehead, not convinced.
“You can’t climb up on the balcony and watch out for her.” Jacob shook his head. “Listen, Carson told Henry what happened, so I think they’re on alert over there too.” Jacob climbed up into the tree fort. “Let’s just watch from here for now.”
They both lay down in the tree fort where they could see anyone walking around the lake or leaving the ranch house.
“The light is still on in her room. Mary said she spent the day at the spa.” Michael rose up on his hands and knees to look through his binoculars toward the ranch house. “I think she should be okay tonight. I don’t think he’ll try something again so soon, but we only have a few days to prove to her that he’s dangerous.”
Jacob sighed and blew out his breath. “Carson said she didn’t believe Chad would drug her. I don’t know how we can convince her.”
They settled in to watch the lake below.
After a while, Jacob reached over and touched Michael’s arm, pointing down. “Look!”
A large alligator was walking from the river toward the lake. He was taking his time, but Jacob knew they could really run if they wanted to. He stopped and looked up to the tree fort. They both looked down.
“I think he knows we’re up here.” Michael shuddered. “I hate those things. We need to tell Henry.”
“Wait, maybe we should give it a couple days.” Jacob looked intently at Michael.
“Why in the world would we do that? That gator is just trouble waiting to happen.” Michael stood so he could watch the gator closely as he slowly lumbered up the dam to the far side of the lake from the river. He slid down the slop
e of the dam and into the lake without making a sound.
“Chad might want to go fishing,” Jacob said.
“That’s a tempting idea, but you know we can’t do it, as obnoxious as he is.”
Jacob stood up and gave Michael a hand up. “Wishful thinking then, I guess. I’ll tell Henry in the morning. He’ll call the county.” They climbed down the ladder from the center of the fort floor and walked in silence to the bunkhouse as they watched Libby’s room lights go out.
The next morning, they were both up early. Michael called Henry and Mary and told them about the gator while Jacob was working the horses. He was alone in the corral, settling the horses as they ran around the edge of the fencing.
“So you don’t want to be ridden today, hey, Sally?”
Sally was the most difficult riding horse they had, but Jacob liked her best. She had spirit, and if she let you ride her, it was a compliment. Carson kept her on because she was beautiful and had great lines. He figured he could breed her.
He ran to the side and stopped in front of Sally, blocking her path. She stopped abruptly and knocked his hat off with her muzzle.
“Wow, careful now, Sally.” Jacob bent down to pick up his hat and turned around to stand up just two feet from Libby. “Good morning, I didn’t hear you come over.”
Jacob’s heart was pounding so hard he was sure she could see it.
“I enjoy watching you work the horses, you’re very good.” Libby’s face was flushed. Her hair was hanging down around her face. The sun hit it just right so that she had a halo around her face.
Jacob was flustered and not prepared to see her yet this morning. He wanted to have something solid to convince her that Chad was a danger without sounding like an old jealous boyfriend.
“Horrible things happened after you left—my parents died. We were on bad terms. It’s been awful trying to adjust to that.”
“Libby, I’m so sorry.” Jacob wanted to take her in his arms to comfort her. He walked over to the fence to be close. They stood in silence close together. Jacob felt like he was being drawn in toward her. Her eyes searched his face. He yearned to hold her and heal the hurt he saw in her eyes.
Just then, Chad walked up behind Libby and put his arms around her from the back. “Good morning, how was your spa day? I hope you’re feeling better now.”
Libby moved away from Chad and faced Jacob. “Chad, you should watch Jacob work these horses. You could learn something.”
Jacob turned and untied the rope from Sally. “Are you planning to ride this morning, Chad?”
“What an amazing coincidence to find old friends on this ranch.” Chad looked down at Jacob with unveiled disgust. Chad moved closer to Libby and put his arm on Olivia’s shoulder again. “As you know, Olivia and I are getting married; the sooner, the better.”
Jacob put a saddle on Sally. “If you don’t want to go riding, Chad, perhaps you’d like to go fishing?”
Michael gave him a look. “Yeah, Chad, the fishing is great.”
Libby walked over to the stables to find the horse she wanted to ride. Chad turned to Jacob. “I don’t know what your plans are, bud, but I can get you fired if you make any moves on my girl.” He put his finger on Jacob’s chest.
Jacob grabbed his hand and twisted until Chad winced. “I’ll do whatever I have to in order to protect Libby, Chad boy.” Jacob gave him a menacing smile.
Libby walked back out with Carson and the palomino. She stopped and looked at Chad and Jacob. “Is everything okay out here?”
Carson stepped in between Jacob and Chad and asked Chad, “Are you planning to ride this morning?”
“I’m really not fond of these animals.” He looked at Libby’s horse with unveiled disapproval. “Olivia wants to have a horse ranch.” He scoffed. “Of course, we’ll do whatever she wants, but I’m hoping this ranch vacation will get that out of her system.” Chad broke out into uncomfortable laughter as no one else laughed with him.
Libby stepped in and turned to Carson. “Do you suppose Jacob and Michael could ride with me this morning? We have been friends for years, and we’ve just discovered one another here at the ranch.”
Carson looked over at Jacob. Jacob was still flustered, but his eyes pled with Carson to let them go.
Carson turned to Libby. “Well, as long as no one else is going, that would be fine.”
Chad stepped closer to the corral. “Well, I could go now, I may want to ride.”
“Oh, Chad, don’t be ridiculous, you hate riding. I’ll be fine with my friends and meet you back here for lunch.” She mounted her horse and started riding toward the back pasture.
Michael and Jacob ran into the stables and immediately came out riding bareback. As soon as they cleared the stable doors, they galloped past Chad, leaving a cloud of dust as they went by. Jacob smiled, satisfied that Chad was eating their dust.
Jacob galloped his horse down the road and into the woods. He nearly ran into Libby, who had stopped her horse just out of sight to wait for them. “Wow, girl. I could have run into you.”
They moved their horses farther down the road just as Michael came galloping into the woods. “This is great, just the three of us.”
The three of them looked at each other. Jacob watched Libby’s face soften. He wanted to take her in his arms and just hug her. As much as he felt he loved her, she was also one of the best friends of his life.
Libby reached out to pat Michael’s shoulder. “It’s not easy to get you two alone, I need some answers now, guys.”
Jacob wasn’t sure how to approach Libby with what they knew of Chad. Would she believe it? “Okay,” Jacob said, “let’s walk back along the river road in the shade. There are some great places to stop and sit if we want to. We don’t have a cabin by the river, Libby, but we have a place that’s almost as good.”
Michael leaned over. “Yeah, we come back here a lot and just remember the fun we had in your dollhouse.”
“It wasn’t a dollhouse, Michael, but in a way, my dolls were my make-believe family. Then you two came along, and I had a real family. Or so I thought.” Libby looked down.
“Look, Libby, I’m sorry we had to leave.” Jacob wiped the sweat off his forehead and then replaced his hat.
“I can understand that, but once you ended up here, you could have tried to find me. I thought we were at least friends.” Libby frowned, and Jacob couldn’t help himself; he reached over and pushed her hair to the side of her face. Libby reached up and took his hand, her eyes piercing into his soul.
Michael rode over to the side of the trail, stopped, and got off his horse. “Let’s walk, we’ll show you our little island.” He helped Libby get down. “Look, Libby, we’ve been watching out for you the whole time you’ve been here.”
“What do you mean? Did you see the men who beat up Chad?”
Michael looked away and sighed loudly.
Libby tilted her head and paused. “Wait a minute, were you the men who beat him up?”
“I’m the man who beat him. I did it gladly.” Michael put both hands out palms up. “Libby, you have to hear the whole story.”
Jacob was once again so happy to have been blessed with a talkative brother. Michael was covering all the hard facts of this situation, something Jacob felt too tongue-tied to be able to do.
Libby turned to Jacob and held his arm. “Did you carry me, Jacob? I have this vague recollection of seeing you and knowing I would be fine.” Libby’s eyes softened as she looked up into Jacob’s worried face.
“Yes, I did, but let Michael tell the whole story. I seem to be tongue-tied in your company.” Jacob shook his head to the side.
“Okay, Michael, let’s hear it.”
They walked over to a large log lying alongside the road and sat down, letting their horses graze nearby. Jacob was sure Libby would dump that guy once she heard what he did to her.
Michael began. “You were walking around the lake kind of funny, like you had been drinking. Chad was leading you, and
when he laid out a blanket in the woods, we were suspicious.”
Jacob chimed in. “First of all, only an idiot would plan to lie on a blanket on the ground in a ranch infested with fire ants.”
“You were telling him you didn’t want to lie on the blanket, and he kept pushing you toward it. Finally, when he sat down beside you and tried to undress you, Jacob shoved him off and I beat him up. Jacob picked you up; you did not know what was happening. You were totally out of it. We took you to Carson’s, and you know the rest.”
Jacob leaned over so he could look right at Libby’s face. “Chad used date-rape drugs on you.”
“Well, there wasn’t any evidence of that, guys. I could have a brain problem, which I plan to check out. What you saw was a fiancé getting a little frisky with his intended.” Libby raised her eyebrows, making a point. She smiled condescendingly.
“Libby, you were obviously on something. We saw you trying to walk, and you were stumbling and not in control. This guy is bad, Libby. You need to be careful.” Michael touched her arm.
“You need to get rid of him.” Jacob stood up and walked back and forth. Why can’t she see the truth right in front of her. She heard the doctor’s opinion. She couldn’t possibly think she would stay with this guy. Jacob didn’t know how to convince her.
“Look, Chad was there for me after my parents died. He stuck by me when I had no other friends whom I could find.” She stopped and looked at Jacob and Michael.
Michael stood as well. “Look, I know it sounds like something out of a movie, but be careful and don’t trust him completely.” Michael smiled at Libby. “Maybe postpone the wedding for a while.”
“Well, to tell you the truth, he is starting to bug me for other reasons, and I do plan to postpone any weddings for now, but I don’t believe he could be that horrible.” Libby took Michael’s hand. “Seriously, guys, he’s a nice person. But I’m not going to tell him who beat him up. I’m sure you thought you were protecting me, but he might press charges, and I would never want to get you into trouble.”
Lost Billionaire Heir: Billionaire Cowboy Sweet Romance (Texas Ranch Romance Book 8) Page 5