Null and Void

by Susan Copperfield

  “It’s his leeching abilities; he reads people so well. He’s met William, you know. The first thing Adam asked me after meeting William was why he was still single. He didn’t understand how someone who was so friendly could still be alone. He’s used to having me and Pat for parents. We’re not the best parents. We’re not even the best queen and king, but we love them. He subconsciously knows this because of his talent. I told him the truth.”

  I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest. “The truth?”

  “William’s single because he’s in love with an unobtainable dream. You’re his dream, and you’ve been his dream for years.”

  I knew all about unobtainable dreams, and I grimaced at the odd mix of pleasure and pain being the subject of someone else’s love. “What do you want from me, Jessica?”

  “I want you to give him a chance. That’s it. Just a chance to prove he can beat the odds and compete with a memory. What’s the worst that can happen? He gets closure knowing he had a real chance to try? Who knows, maybe you won’t actually need therapy after all. Give him through the end of the auction to prove himself to you. And if the man of your dreams shows up, may the best man win. And should he not show up, may William prove he’s equal to a memory. And as I’m cruelly coercing you into giving William a chance, I’ll sell you Bacon and Eggs and Alexander the Great to you for a dollar each. I’d give them to you for free, but apparently, I’m not allowed to.”

  “What happened to their feed bills plus five hundred each?”

  “I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth and pitched that offer.”

  “If it’s paid in monthly installments, I can afford that once Mireya’s withdrawal from Huntington Academy is accepted.”

  “Deal. A fair monthly installment for both horses and your agreement to humor William’s attempts to court you. And yes, he wants to court you properly. He’s going to be a miserable failure at it, and I’m sure I’m going to die laughing watching him try. You might be a stick in the mud, but he hasn’t ever bothered to try with anyone else. You’re both hopeless.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Jessica. That also wasn’t a bet. It was a bargain. It was a deal with the devil.”

  “We could still make a wager. I enjoy a good bet. How about this? We’ll bet on how long you can run before he catches you. If you last more than a month, you win. If he catches you sooner, I win. If I win, you have to name your next daughter after me. If you win, I have to give you a second horse. You’re still getting one for your birthday. I’m thinking I’ll take you to meet him after our joy ride.”

  “Him? You already picked the horse?”

  “I already picked the second horse, too.” Jessica held up four fingers. “This is the number of horses I have picked out for you. But the one I’m going to introduce you today is a rescue. Pat found him listed at a horse meat market and lost his mind because he’s a young, beautiful horse who shouldn’t be slaughtered for being the wrong color.”

  “What? They were going to kill a horse for being the wrong color?”

  “Asshole breeder had him, I think. It happens, and while I usually rein my husband in, he couldn’t resist this damned stallion. So, if you like him, he’s yours. I really hope you like him, because if you don’t, Pat might cry.”

  “I don’t know anything about horses, Jessica.”

  “Joy ride, then I’ll take you to the ranch and you’ll learn.”

  I pointed at my boot. “I can’t ride a horse.”

  “Like hell you can’t ride a horse. I’ll toss a bareback pad on your pony. Your leg ain’t broken. Don’t be a wuss on me now. Up and march, Mackenzie. I’ll read over the questionnaire and decide if your daughter was exposed to inappropriate naughtiness, then we’re going on a joy ride.”

  “I can’t say no, can I?”

  “Well, you could, but I’ve heard about where you keep your emergency bottle of wine, Mackenzie. I don’t feel like crawling under any sinks today.”

  I couldn’t help it, I laughed.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Jessica read over His Royal Majesty of Montana’s email, and she collapsed on the floor, hooting her laughter. With her bodyguards hovering in the hallway, I couldn’t get away with kicking her again, so I sat in my chair, rolled it against her until she moved out of my way, and read the email myself, as I doubted the queen would recover anytime soon.

  I almost felt bad for Geoff and my boss, who hovered outside, too.

  “I’m sure she’ll be fine in a few minutes.” With the desk shielding me, I dared to nudge the queen in the ribs. “Get off the floor, Jessica.”

  “You fainted because of that email. I can’t take any blame for that anymore. I’m going to die,” the queen wailed, beating the floor with a fist. “That’s the best thing I have ever read.”

  “You didn’t even read the email! You looked at the subject and lost it.”

  Jessica hauled herself up enough to grab my mouse and peek at my monitor. “I can’t help it. That’s the best subject line I have ever read. That scamp!”

  “Dare I ask what you ladies are talking about?” my boss asked.

  “That email I showed you.”

  “I’m going back to work. Please try to regain your sanity. It was funny, but it wasn’t that funny.”

  “Spoilsport,” Jessica complained. “And it is that funny! Hey, you three. Go with him and get all his files on Huntington Academy while I deal with this email. From my understanding, there are several boxes of paperwork. Geoff, would you mind getting us some coffee? We’re going to need it.”

  The quartet of RPS agents sighed, and then to my utter astonishment, they obeyed.

  Jessica waited long enough for them to scatter before she picked up her purse, snatched mine from the floor, and strolled to the door. “Come along. We’re leaving.”

  I followed, peeking out my door to discover the coast was clear. “But what about the questionnaire?”

  “You can pull up your email on my phone. Hasn’t Lane given you your replacement yet?”

  “It’s in my purse. I just haven’t figured out how it works yet,” I confessed.

  “Neanderthal. I’ll teach you how to use it while we’re waiting for our cake.”

  Jessica tiptoed towards the entry, and when we reached the reception, she held a finger up to her lips to keep Louisa quiet.

  My boss’s receptionist bowed her head, slapped her forehead, and sighed. “Really, Your Majesty?”

  Louisa’s strained whisper made me giggle.

  “Shopping therapy and cake,” Jessica whispered back. “Cover us.”

  “I expect a pardon if this gets me in trouble.”

  “Done,” the queen promised.

  Instead of waiting for the elevator, Jessica aimed for the nearest stairwell. “We can get the elevator on the next floor.”

  Steps while wearing the boot posed a problem, but I coped, careful to avoid tripping and adding to my woes. “This is insane.”

  “I was going to start giving orders left and right to get them out of my hair. To be fair, I did have an extra agent along today because of the number of boxes for the lawsuit. I think they were hoping I’d leave. However, they were hoping I’d leave with them.”

  “Remind me why we’re doing this again?”

  “I have a babysitter for the day. His name is Pat. You need a break before you have a breakdown. I also need to find a home for this horse before Pat cries. I can’t deal when Pat cries. Pat does not need another rescued stallion. I refuse to let him bond with this damned horse. You have to help me by taking him off my hands. If Pat bonds with that fucking horse, I’m never going to hear the end of the evils of meat markets. He does it for cows, too. I have an entire herd of cattle now, and I’m not allowed to eat any of them until they’re old, happy cows who have eaten a fortune of my fodder.”

  “I didn’t know people ate horses.”

  “We’re practical, Mackenzie. We have to be. In a bad year, the grain crops aren’t eno
ugh, and we can only butcher so many cattle a year before we risk the breeding population. Old horses help sustain the market when pickings are slim across the kingdom. Most Texans love horses, so the market isn’t robust; we’d rather pay a fortune to keep our babies fed, but in a year the cattle isn’t enough, horse consumption goes up. It also gives horse owners a viable option for their older animals who can’t be guaranteed a good quality of life. If the meat’s sound, it’s used instead of the animal just going to waste. Everything from hide to bone is used.”

  “Is it the same way in Montana?”

  “They have a higher percentage of horse consumption than we do, but it’s similar. Montana pays horse breeders for animals over fifteen years old that pass health checks for human consumption. They ban the sale of young horses for butchering. Texas frowns upon it, but it happens. Pat is constantly scanning the sales for younger horses. This time, someone tipped him off there was a promising stud about to hit the auction.”

  “And what will happen to this horse if I don’t take him?”

  “Pat will cry, add another horse to his collection, and stop coming home at night because he doesn’t have enough hours in the day to add another horse. He’s going to make me sleep in a damned stall to be able to spend time with him.”

  “Maybe he’s the one who needs therapy.”

  “You’re not wrong.” Jessica peeked out the door to the next floor, waited for me to join her, and nodded to the elevator. I rolled my eyes at her attempts at stealth, shoved through the door, and hit the down button.

  The door pinged open, revealing an empty elevator. “Coming?”

  “It’s not fun if you don’t pretend we’re spies escaping from the enemy.”

  “I actually like Geoff, you know.”

  “He’s married.”

  “Not like that!” I held the door for her, waiting until she was inside to stab the button for the parking garage. “Try to pretend you’re not a queen or something when other people come in.”

  “How am I supposed to do that?”

  “Hold your phone in front of your face and pretend you’re really interested in what you’re reading.”

  Jessica sighed, but she retrieved her phone and obeyed, taking over the back corner of the elevator. As I was taller, I stood close enough to her anyone curious would have to go around me to get a good look at her. While some of the other employees in the building joined us on other floors, most got off on the ground floor, and we made it to the parking garage without running into any RPS agents.

  “That was rather simple,” I confessed.

  “Where’s your car?”

  “I’ve never been to my spot before. I’ve never had a car, so it’s been sitting empty until Douglass got snookered and bought Baby.”

  “Would this be a bad time to tell you Douglass didn’t actually pay for Baby?”

  “Depends on if you’re the one who bought it.”

  “I’m not.”

  I scowled. “Pat?”

  “Nope. Wasn’t any member of my family. The indecent flirt did it. I told him I was taking the kids to help Mireya buy a company car, and he had to get involved. He liked the idea of you taking a road trip. That’s also when I told him kidnapping wasn’t allowed, as he planned on luring you to Montana and taking you hostage when you drove into his territory. I reminded him there would be a child present, and he replied with he had no objections to adding your daughter to his plans. I told him no, but I let him buy the car.”

  “Laying it on a bit thick,” I replied, shaking my head and weaving through the maze of parked cars to locate my spot.

  I recognized the car; a very similar albeit older version had captured my attention in New York. With wide eyes, I pointed at it, stared at Jessica, and blubbered something unintelligible. “My daughter picked this?”

  I hadn’t told her about the car.

  I hadn’t told anyone about the car at the auction. The car represented everything I had tried to forget. Dylan had caught me drooling over the vehicle, and he’d even teased me about it. He’d gone beyond teasing. He’d offered to take me for a test drive before we parted ways.

  We’d opted to stay in bed instead.

  My throat dried, and I stared at the vehicle. “My daughter picked this?” I repeated.

  How had she known?

  Jessica cringed. “William suggested the dealership. He also suggested several models, and this was one of them. He didn’t feel you needed a family car for a road trip. He wanted you to live a little, I guess. This model has an automatic mode, so even you can drive it without breaking it. Actually, he wanted you to have fun on the trip before he executed his planned kidnapping, and he thought you’d have a lot of fun in a car like this. Mireya picked the color. William wanted silver. Mireya thought silver was boring and demanded a custom shade of green. They had a splendid fight over it. She won.”

  His Royal Majesty of Montana had been arguing with my daughter? “Mireya’s been talking to His Royal Majesty, hasn’t she?”

  Jessica sucked in a breath. “Shit!”

  I turned on the queen and pointed at her. “Explain.”

  “It’s not my fault,” she wailed. “You were in critical condition, and Dr. Glaskow suggested we make a plan in case you didn’t pull through. We weren’t sure you’d survive. I needed a distraction, and I couldn’t keep Mireya busy when I was running all over the place trying to coordinate with Douglass. I asked for a favor, and William talked to her on the phone while Pat and I were making sure your affairs were all in order. He kept her busy by debating politics with her for hours. Once you stabilized, William cooked up the idea to get the car, because she told him about the trip to find her real father.”

  My heart hurt. “She told him I was going to look for her real father?”

  “She’s utterly incapable of hiding it. She wants to meet him, and William asked. I wasn’t going to make her feel like her father is a dark, dirty secret. She was so happy you’d told her about him. She took it to mean you trusted her.”

  Damn it. I couldn’t argue with Jessica even though I wanted to. “I do trust her.”

  “William didn’t want me telling you he’d been talking to Mireya because he didn’t want you to feel pressured because of her.”

  Clever, ruthless, and right. I glared at the car. “He wanted it in silver.”

  “He thought you’d like silver. I don’t know why. I’d never seen him get into such a heated argument with a child before. I had to put them both in time out.”

  Piece by piece, things clicked together, and the more I thought about it, the stronger my belief in the reasons why His Royal Majesty would have so much invested in making sure the car was silver instead of green.

  The truth was a weapon, and it cut me so deep I didn’t want the confirmation I needed.

  “Jessica.”

  “What?” The queen frowned. “You look furious. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would upset you this much.”

  “Do you know something that I should know? Perhaps involving what you were doing when you were making sure my affairs were in order? All of them, Jessica? Because I’m sure you know what my most important affair to have in order is.”

  “I’m about to die a slow and painful death, aren’t I?”

  I thought of the absolute worst things that could’ve happened while I’d been in the hospital, made a list, and went with the one that would upset me the most but ensure my daughter would be safe if I hadn’t survived. “Did you have my daughter DNA tested, Jessica?”

  The woman gulped. “The results are sealed. It was revealed to four people.”

  “Who are those four people?”

  “Me and Pat.”

  “That’s two people.”

  “Mireya.”

  I’d gotten played by my own child, and I wanted to strangle the Texan queen. I contemplated kicking the tire of the Ferrari, but I stomped across the parking lot, screamed, and kicked the tires of Geoff’s SUV instead. My medical boot took the
brunt of my fury, and I didn’t even care if I made the break worse. “You told her father, didn’t you?”

  Jessica followed me and wisely kept out of my kicking distance. “I didn’t have to. He came forward when he found out. He didn’t want you to know, because he didn’t want you to feel threatened. All the DNA test did was confirm his claim. He was the one who had the results sealed, and he stipulated the only one who could request them to be unsealed was you. Mireya was told she couldn’t say a word about it.”

  The bastard was right under my nose, and he’d played me perfectly. Everyone had, even our daughter. I returned to Baby and spat curses at the car. Not only had he played me, he’d done so in my damned dreams. “That fucker’s a goddamned dreamweaver, isn’t he?”

  “Dreamweavers are rare.”

  “Is he, or isn’t he?”

  “Maybe. I don’t know for certain. His bloodline has a ridiculous number of minor talents.”

  I inhaled and held my breath until the urge to beat the car with my purse faded. “They were giving away a car just like this, in silver, at the auction, Jessica.”

  “Oh.” Jessica coughed and refused to look at me. “I see.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “That explains why he may have lost his temper when he lost the argument of color with Mireya. He’s been cranky about that since he paid for the vehicle.”

  “Because I’m denser than a rock and don’t remember what he looks like. Which he knows because I told him. In a fucking dream. I’m going to kill him, Jessica,” I hissed through clenched teeth.

  “We should take the car he bought you on a joy ride, and I’m going to take you to my personal gym, where you’re going to take your temper out on a punching bag before someone, probably you, gets hurt. Once you’re capable of talking without wanting to kill someone, we’re going to drink copious amounts of wine and meet your horse. Not necessarily in that order. Actually, I might introduce you to a bunch of baby horses, because you’re not capable of being angry at babies.”

  “He even told me why he’d done it. In my fucking dreams. That conniving jerk!”