“No, she just started doing it on her own and Rosie doesn’t seem to mind.”
Misfit must have sensed they were talking about her because she sat up and looked toward them. A second later she licked her paws and washed her face. Sam watched her stand up, stretch and look over at Sage.
“Oh shit.” Sam said. She knew what was going to happen.
Sure enough, Misfit jumped over to Sage’s back. The horse’s head came up instantly as he snorted and started running and bucking around the pasture trying to get the cat off. Misfit had her head crouched down close to Sage’s mane and looked like a small furry jockey on his back. Rosie calmly looked up to watch the action.
Sam’s mom sailed out of their back door and came running across the yard yelling at the cat.
“Misfit, you damn cat! Get off that horse before he kills you!”
Sage stopped, bent his knees and rolled over. With perfect timing, Misfit jumped free before a thousand pounds of horse flesh squished her.
“Works every time,” Sam said to Cheyenne.
Sam’s mom ran up and grabbed the cat. “You maniac! You may think that’s funny but one of these days you’re going to get crushed to death!”
“Is she okay?” Cheyenne asked.
Misfit looked at them with lazy yellow eyes. Sam could hear her purring in her mom’s arms.
“Oh yeah. She’s fine. We’re not sure why, but she does that from time to time,” Sam explained to Cheyenne. “My theory is she loves living on the edge, so if Sage gets close enough she jumps on. He’s got it figured out now, though. He knows he can get rid of her if he lies down and rolls.”
Sam’s mom smiled as she headed back to the house with the cat firmly in her arms. “Nice seeing you again, Cheyenne. Sorry about all the chaos. Hopefully Misfit’s got that out of her system for awhile and we can get back to normal. Like this house is ever normal. Have a nice evening.”
Cheyenne grinned as he turned his attention back to Sam and walked over and opened the door of his car. “Your carriage awaits, princess.”
Sam did her best imitation of a graceful curtsy before getting in. “This is a fabulous car. I can’t believe it.”
Cheyenne started the Porsche and headed down the driveway. They rode in silence as he maneuvered his Boxter through the foothills towards Boulder.
It was a beautiful evening and Sam watched the sun set over the mountains. She sat back and relaxed, enjoying the magnificent scenery that always left her breathless. She glanced over at Cheyenne. She had to admit that he left her a little breathless too.
They drove through Boulder and turned toward Flagstaff Mountain. Sam knew immediately that the “special place” they were going was the Summit Restaurant at the top of the mountain. Sure enough, Cheyenne turned into their driveway and stopped at the front entry. A valet appeared out of nowhere and opened Sam’s door.
“Okay. I’m impressed, “Sam told Cheyenne. “How did you manage to get reservations at one of the best restaurants in Boulder on such short notice?”
“I have my connections,” was all he would say as they walked into the restaurant. They were seated immediately at a secluded booth facing a panoramic view of the Front Range.
Cheyenne ordered a bottle of Merlot and then they both sat back and watched the sky change from blue/orange to a darker blue as the sun sank behind the mountains. Thousands of lights twinkled across the skyline as night fell on Boulder.
“I don’t think I’ll ever take this view for granted,” Sam told Cheyenne as the waiter came up and served their wine.
Cheyenne leaned back. “I got some of the background results in this afternoon on our staff,” he told Sam. “I thought you’d be interested in what I found out.”
“Yes, I am. What did you find out?” She asked.
“Suzanne, Matthew and the guys from Puerto Rico are just as I suspected - clean as a whistle. Even ol’ Roscoe was okay. He was just a flaky old guy that was restless and moved from job to job. Frank has had a few upsets with the law. Nothing serious, just traffic violations and things like that. He had a domestic violence charge brought against him by his ex-wife about 10-12 years ago, but it was dropped during his divorce proceedings.”
Sam looked at Cheyenne’s face. “What about Mitch? Did you find out anything about him?”
“That’s the interesting thing. They found some inconsistencies in his records and needed more time to sort them out so I really don’t know anything concrete about his background yet. “
“That is interesting. I wonder what the inconsistencies are.”
Cheyenne frowned. “I’m not really sure. I know there’s something about him changing his name some years ago but that was all that was mentioned in my report. I’m supposed to get an update as soon as the agency gets more information.”
The waiter came up and took their order.
“This is just too good to describe,” Sam told Cheyenne. “I’ve only been here one other time in my life and that was the night of our Senior Prom. Charlie Simpson and I had dinner here before the dance.”
“Was he one of the guys who took you up to Coyote Ridge?” Cheyenne asked without cracking a smile.
Sam thought a moment. “He could have been. There were so many it’s hard to remember them all.”
Cheyenne looked at her as he sipped his wine. “That could explain why you were so popular in high school.”
Sam arched her eyebrows. “How else do you think I got to be Prom Queen?”
Cheyenne laughed and grabbed her hand. “How did I miss getting to know you better until now?” He softly kissed her fingertips.
“I think it was because we were always too busy fighting.”
“I never should have pulled your ponytail in first grade.”
“I guess I shouldn’t have punched you in the nose.”
They were interrupted when the waiter came up with their entrées.
After they finished their dinner a red-headed man with a tall chef’s hat came over to their table with a plate held high. When Sam saw Ian O’Reilly she knew immediately who Cheyenne’s connection was at the restaurant. Ian was the dessert chef for the Summit.
“Hi, Ian.”
“Hey, Sam. When Cheyenne called and asked me to get reservations for him tonight I decided to fix a special dessert for you. It’s a chocolate crème brulee with fresh raspberries.” He put the dish on the table with a flourish and pulled two clean spoons out of his apron pocket. “Enjoy!”
“Thanks! It looks wonderful!”
They dived into the dessert and devoured it. After every last crumb was gone, they were finishing off the excellent Merlot when Cheyenne sat back and gave Sam one of his dark looks across the table.
“I have an idea. Why don’t we tell each other one secret about ourselves that the other doesn’t know, just for fun.”
Sam raised an eyebrow. She was feeling a buzz from the wine and in a mischievous mood. “Okay. I think we could do that and I also think we should ask each other one question that has to be answered honestly. You tell your secret first.”
Cheyenne leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers. “Alright. My secret is that I’ve had the hots for you since high school.”
Sam sat back and looked at him in surprise. “No shit! I didn’t know that. I always thought you couldn’t stand the sight of me.”
Cheyenne smiled and kissed her.
“Now, my turn,” Sam looked deep into his eyes and whispered, “All I have on underneath this skirt is a skimpy black thong.”
Cheyenne’s eyes glazed over and he pulled Sam closer. He kissed her once, twice and then lightly ran his tongue over her lips. Under the table, Sam felt his hand slide up her skirt. His eyes widened as he caressed her thighs and then rubbed between her legs. Sam almost passed out.
“I thought you were kidding.”
“Whew! I thought you knew me better than that. I never lie.”
Sam backed away and sipped her wine. “Okay. I get to go first and ask you any question I want a
nd you have to promise to answer honestly,” She told him.
He looked at her as she leaned forward, put her head on her hand and watched his face.
“I heard cowboys go commando. Is that true?”
Sam had never seen his eyes so intense before. They were beyond melted chocolate. They were two pools of deep, dark coffee as he leaned forward and whispered in her ear.
“Why don’t we go back to your place and find out.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
The ride back was much faster than the one going up to the restaurant and Sam decided they were definitely throwing the date rules out the window. The sexual tension in the car was hot. Damn hot. Sam hoped to God that when they got back they could make it past the front door.
When they did reach her house Sam forced herself to remain calm as she got her key out and walked to the front door. She unlocked it and held the door open for Cheyenne.
“Do you want anything to drink?” Sam asked as she flipped the light switch on and turned around to face Cheyenne.
Cheyenne reached out and curled one finger in the front of her blouse and pulled her to him. Then he slammed the door shut.
“No. I think you know what I want.”
Cheyenne slowly unbuttoned Sam’s blouse and sucked in a deep breath. There was a lot of cleavage pushed up in that Wonder bra. Then he carefully reached around her back and unzipped her skirt. It fell to the floor and he stepped back to look her over.
“That is the skimpiest thong I’ve ever seen. The bra’s not too bad either.”
Sam watched his eyes as he put his hands on her shoulders and gently pulled her closer. Then he leaned down and kissed her softly. Desire seared through Sam’s body the instant his lips touched hers. Cheyenne caught her lips with his again, but this kiss was powerful, sensual and filled with hot need. Sam was helpless and could feel the room spinning around her. She shivered with anticipation as pure lust engulfed her. Four years was a long time to wait for the perfect man to hold and kiss her like this.
Sam reached up and unbuttoned Cheyenne’s shirt. The phone rang. Sam ignored it and pulled his shirt off as he maneuvered them toward her couch. His hands roamed up and down her back as he turned her around and pushed her down on the couch. He stretched his body on top of hers and pinned her hands over her head with one hand. With his free hand he used his fingers to skim down Sam’s body, over her breasts, down her stomach and between her legs. Then he captured her lips and hungrily demanded more.
The phone stopped ringing and Sam could hear a voice leaving a message on her machine.
“Hey doc,” said Mitch. “I wanted to let you know I can’t meet tomorrow. I’ll call you later.”
Sam froze. Her eyes were locked with Cheyenne’s as he slowly rose and stood up. The moment had passed, and she could see the anger in his face.
“Before you jump to any conclusions, let me explain,” Sam started. “Mitch called the night he was fired and wanted to talk to me. He said he thought he knew what was going on but he didn’t want to talk about it over the phone. He asked me to meet him but I told him it would have to wait until Sunday.”
Cheyenne was clearly furious. “Samantha, Mitch is one of the top suspects in Marietta’s murder. He was caught putting a threatening note in the Wilson’s mailbox and there are inconsistencies in his background check. It’s not safe for you to meet with him!”
“But when I agreed to meet him it was before Marietta was murdered and before you got your background report.”
“Are you still going to meet with him?”
Sam hesitated. “I don’t know.” She could remember seeing Mitch in her rearview mirror rubbing Brilliante’s neck when she left the ranch that morning in March. She couldn’t believe someone with so much compassion for animals could be a killer.
Cheyenne grabbed Sam by the arms and lifted her up so they were eye to eye. “Listen, Sam. This is not just some jealous rage I’m feeling. Okay, maybe it is, but he could be a killer and I don’t want you meeting with him.”
Sam bowed her back. She’d never backed down from a fight, especially with Cheyenne, and she wasn’t going to start now.
“I don’t believe he’s the killer and I don’t believe you have the right to tell me what I can and can’t do.”
Cheyenne slowly put Sam down and released his grip. He grabbed his shirt and put it on as he walked toward the door. He turned around and faced her. “I guess that’s true. I don’t have that right.” He walked out quietly and closed the door. A few seconds later she could hear the Boxter start up and roar down her driveway.
Sam picked up her clothes as Dundee came out of the bedroom and gave her a sleepy look. She reached down and sadly stroked his head. “Guess I’ll never find out if cowboys go commando now.”
AFTER CHEYENNE left Sam called Isabella. “Is your invitation still open for that sleepover tonight?”
“You bet! How come you’re home so early? It’s only 10:00 o’clock.”
Sam sighed. “Cheyenne and I had an argument and parted ways, probably for good.”
“Get your butt over here sister and tell me everything.”
Sam threw some clothes in a bag, grabbed dog food for Dundee and the two of them climbed into her truck and headed for Denver. .
An hour later she was in Isabella’s bedroom eating Hershey’s chocolate kisses, drinking red wine and spilling her guts to her best friend.
“I don’t know what made me so bull headed all of a sudden,” Sam told Isabella. “I just didn’t like it when he got so bossy. Why are men like that?”
Isabella shrugged. “Some women like bossy men and some don’t. You’re one of those who don’t.”
“Is Max bossy with you?”
Isabella thought for a moment. “Well, he hasn’t been yet, but he probably could be under the right circumstances. You have to remember one thing, Sam. You’re caught up in all this murder stuff now and that’s serious business. Cheyenne was probably trying to protect you.”
Sam popped another Hershey’s in her mouth. “Yeah, maybe I was too hard on him,” She said sadly. “Geez, and I was about to find out if cowboys really go commando when the shit hit the fan.” She sighed again. She was doing a lot of sighing that night. “I guess I have too much pride to go crawling back to him now and I know he won’t apologize to me. I guess we’re at a Mexican standoff.”
Sam looked over at my friend and grinned. “Can I say that in front of you?
“Why not? You’re dad is always teasing me about being a wetback.”
Sam laughed. “How do you stand us? We’re totally a politically incorrect family.”
“Yeah, you’re basura blanca — white trash, sister. If it wasn’t for Mason I wouldn’t be able to tolerate any of you.”
They both giggled and talked until late in the night. When Sam’s head finally hit the pillow she was out like a light. Sometime in the early morning she woke up and thought she heard coyotes howling in the distance. I must be dreaming, she thought sleepily. They don’t have any coyotes in Denver. Then she drifted back to a restless sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The next morning, Isabella and Sam slept in late but they managed to get up in time to get ready for church. Jaime was going to read a special poem he had written for his priest that morning so the whole Ramirez family was going to attend Mass at their old historic Catholic Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“Oh, God! Do I have a headache,” Sam moaned as she rushed to get ready. “I think I overdosed on chocolate last night, is that possible?
“Aye yi yi,” Isabella grabbed her head. “My head is pounding too. I don’t think it was the chocolate we overdosed on. I think it was that bottle of wine we downed with the chocolate that’s causing our problem this morning.”
It took a few aspirin and several cups of coffee before Sam felt better. The walk to church helped clear her head and by the time she sat down with Isabella and her parents in their pew she was back to normal.
A young
Mexican family came down the aisle and the man stopped to shake hands with Jaime.
“Como estas, Pablo?” Jaime asked.
“Muy bien, gracias,” Pablo answered with a smile. “We are fine,” he said proudly.
“I’m teaching English to Pablo and his wife, Delores,” Jaime whispered to Sam as the couple settled in a pew across from them.
Sam smiled. Jaime was always teaching someone English.
At eleven o’clock, the church was filled to the brim with people waiting for Father John to begin the Mass. As the time grew later and Father John did not appear, Sam could hear murmuring growing among the congregation. “Donde esta Padre Juan?” Where was Father John? He was never late. Suddenly, a side door opened and one of the parishioners rushed over to Jaime and whispered something in his ear. Jaime immediately stood and followed the man out of the church. Everyone was overcome with curiosity and followed the two men out the door.
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