One Night with You

by Francis Ray

  Duncan crashed the phone back on the hook. Sierra should mind her own darn business. Raven wasn’t afraid of talking to anyone. But what steamed Duncan was Sierra thinking of introducing Raven to other men.

  If another man touched her—The kitchen back door opened and Rooster entered the kitchen. Duncan whirled toward the sound.

  “Morning. What’s the matter?” Frowning, Rooster quickly crossed the room. “Boss?”

  “Nothing.” Duncan pushed away from the cabinet. Raven wasn’t the type of woman to go from one man to the other so soon. But what about six weeks, six months, from now? “Just thinking.”

  “I bet it was about Raven. I miss her, too.” His gaze went unerringly to the slow cooker on the counter near Duncan. “It don’t seem right that she’s not here, laughing, looking after things.”

  Duncan’s hands clenched and unclenched. He hadn’t been able to sleep last night, hadn’t tried. The ache, the loneliness, was too deep. Raven had been gone a day and it felt like years.

  Rooster picked up the coffeepot. “I’ll start breakfast. Raven wanted me to take care of you and that’s exactly what I plan to keep doing.”

  “I’m going to the barn.” Duncan was out the back door in seconds, knowing as he did that there was no place on the Double D that he could run that Raven’s memory wouldn’t haunt him.

  Duncan tried, he really did, but he didn’t make it past noon before he dialed Faith’s cell phone number. Stopping the ATV, he waited for her to pick up.

  “Duncan, are you all right?”

  “Yes,” he quickly assured her. Aware of how busy they all were, none of the McBride siblings called the others until the evening. He couldn’t wait that long. “I just wanted to thank you for the call yesterday.”

  “Did you call Raven?”

  “No.” He wasn’t that strong.

  “You should,” Faith told him. “I like her.”

  He loved her. “This morning Sierra called on behalf of Blade and her mother to thank me for letting Raven authenticate the caves.”

  “Sierra has been busy today.”

  Duncan had an uneasy feeling. “What do you mean?”

  “She called me as well. She wanted me to keep Saturday night open,” Faith told him. “She’s thinking about having a party at her home for Raven.”

  Duncan’s hand tightened on the phone. “You said they had words. Maybe Raven won’t go.”

  “She’ll go. Blade sponsored her,” Faith reminded her brother. “It would be rude and ungrateful for her to refuse. Raven has too much class for that.”

  “It’s short notice for a party,” he said, stepping off the ATV.

  “Not when Blade Navarone is the host. Only close friends and family have been to their heavily guarded castle estate. Rio has made sure you can’t get within ten miles of the place. People are curious,” Faith responded.

  “Sierra—,” he began then clamped his mouth shut.

  “Is savvy enough to be aware of the incredible draw of the combination of Blade and their magnificent home. They’ll come if they have to walk,” Faith said. “It should be fun. Brandon and I are going to dance the night away.”

  Duncan recalled his last dance with Raven at her going-away party. Saturday night another man would hold her, feel her softness, her warmth. The muscles of his stomach clenched. “Bye, Faith. We’ll talk later.”

  “Bye, Duncan. Take care.”

  Duncan hung up the phone, his gaze on the cows gathered around the salt lick. He had the ranch, he was living his dream, but it was no longer enough.

  He was afraid that without Raven it never would be again.

  “This is extraordinary,” Dr. Hale said, his silver-rimmed glasses perched on his nose as he studied the panels from the cave laid out on the polished surface of the oak conference room table. “Truly extraordinary.”

  “I still get chills when I think of the first time I saw the cave drawings.” Raven’s finger traced over the computer-generated duplicates of the colored paintings. “They’re in remarkable condition.”

  “Did you excavate the floor?” he asked, picking up a magnifying glass.

  “No. I didn’t have time,” she said, recalling that she had planned to before she began the affair with Duncan.

  “No matter. It can be done later.”

  “What?”

  He straightened. “You realize that this is the first finding of this magnitude anywhere in North America. This will bring even more distinction and honor to St. John’s.”

  “I had planned to publish a paper.”

  “A paper?” he laughed. “I see a dedicated Web site, published books—this will rewrite prehistoric history. Scientists will be clamoring to be among the ones to do a thorough study of the cave.”

  “The owner is a private person, Dr. Hale. That’s why he only wanted one person to authenticate the cave.”

  Professor Hale’s white eyebrows drew together. “Surely he realizes the magnitude of what the pictographs in the cave mean.”

  “He does. That’s the reason for his wanting the find authenticated.”

  “I’ll talk to him.” Professor Hale pulled out his cell phone. “Give me his phone number and I’ll call.”

  Once word got out, Duncan’s ranch would be overrun with scientists and the media. “Dr. Hale, the owner wanted the authentication done quietly.”

  The president replaced his cell phone. “While I admire you, and you’ve obviously done a fair job, surely you know that specialists in several fields are needed. You can’t do this justice.”

  “With respect, sir, I will pit my expertise against anyone,” she said. “If I hadn’t thought I could do the job, I wouldn’t have accepted it.”

  “Perhaps I can speak with the person who contacted you.” He took out his phone again. “Give me that person’s name and number.”

  “I’d rather not say.”

  His head went back. His fingers closed tightly around the cell phone. “Are you refusing my request?”

  Raven could see her tenure slipping away. “Respectfully, sir. Yes.”

  “We here at St. John’s work as a team,” he said slowly and distinctly. “If you don’t feel you can be a team member, perhaps you would be happier someplace else.”

  There was nothing left to say. She began rolling up the panels.

  “Did you use any of the college’s equipment or funds to do your research?” he asked, his hand on the panel with the red drawings.

  “No, sir, I did not.” She slid the panel from beneath his hand. “I had a private benefactor.”

  “A benefactor of the college?” he pressed.

  Her hand paused.

  “I want the name,” he demanded. “If you used your connection to the college to obtain funding, the college deserves the right to these.”

  She finished rolling the three panels and placed them back in their tubes. “Good day, Dr. Hale.”

  “You’ll be hearing from me,” he warned.

  Raven kept walking. She’d not only lost her position; she’d just lost her chance at tenure as well.

  All the way home, Raven tried to think if any of Ruth’s or her associates might connect them. Since Duncan had wanted the studies done quietly, once Ruth had contacted her she hadn’t shared the information with anyone.

  But what if she hadn’t been Ruth’s first choice? Her job might be in jeopardy as well.

  Raven could only think of one person who could find all the answers. Leaving the Jeep in the drive, she rushed inside and picked up the phone and dialed a private phone number known to few people.

  “Navarone.”

  “An unexpected problem has emerged that might cause difficulties for Ruth. We need to talk in private.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Home.”

  “A car will be there in ten minutes to bring you to me.”

  Raven had heard about the impregnable castle Blade and Sierra called home outside of Santa Fe, but she’d never seen it or been inside. Sh
e barely glanced at the elegant interior as Rio led her down a wide hallway, then opened the door.

  Raven stepped inside to see all five of Ruth’s children. None of them looked happy. Aware that she needed to explain quickly to do damage control, Raven told them what had happened.

  “Son of a—,” Pierce bit off. “Davis, the past president, never would have done this.”

  “I’m resigned to losing my job, but Ruth shouldn’t have to go down with me.”

  “Mama isn’t losing her job,” Sierra said. “Let him try.”

  “You need to find out if she asked anyone else to authenticate the caves,” Raven said. “There are some people in academia who don’t mind stepping over people to get higher on the ladder.”

  “We’re glad you’re not one of them,” Blade said.

  “Never,” Raven said. “Ruth went out of her way to make me feel welcome. I respect and love her.”

  “She feels the same way about you,” Luke said. “She’ll be spitting mad once she finds out about this.”

  “You’re going to tell her?” Raven asked, amazed.

  “You can’t keep a secret from Mama,” Brandon said.

  “And in this case, it wouldn’t be fair,” Pierce added.

  Raven bit her lower lip. “Maybe you should rethink this. Your mother isn’t one to fake it. He’ll know something is up and he might become suspicious.”

  “You let me take care of Hale,” Blade said, his eyes cold as he looked at Rio, then Luke.

  Raven nodded. She wished she would be around to see it. “Please tell Ruth good-bye for me.”

  “You’re leaving?” Luke asked.

  “For a few days. I don’t have any meetings that I’m require to attend until Monday,” she said, her face resigned. “With me gone it will divert Hale’s attention away from Ruth.”

  Sierra walked to her. “You could have told him what he wanted and kept your dream.”

  “The price was too high.” And her dream had changed. Raven looked at Blade. “I’d hoped to publish a paper; that’s impossible now. I’m sorry.”

  “Your find is important. I’m glad I could help.”

  “Thank you. I’m going home to pack,” Raven said. “I’d like to leave this evening.”

  “Rio will take you back.” Blade went to her. “If you need anything, you have my phone number.”

  “That goes for all of us,” Luke said.

  “Thank you,” Raven said, touched. She had friends here, but once again she’d have to leave. If Hale learned Ruth was the one who had referred Raven to Duncan, it might jeopardize her job. Ruth loved teaching. Raven would do whatever was necessary to protect her. She turned and walked from the room.

  “Let’s go tell Mama,” Luke said, moving toward the door. “Hale made a huge mistake. Mama will have him for breakfast.”

  “He won’t know what hit him,” Brandon said. “Wish I could.”

  “When Mama gets through with him he’ll probably wish you had,” Pierce said.

  “If there is anything left once I’m finished with him,” Blade said.

  “Mama gets first dibs,” Morgan told him. “She fights her own battles.”

  Blade’s gaze moved to Sierra as she rounded his desk. “Like mother, like daughter.”

  “It’s the only way we know.” Sierra picked up the phone and dialed. “I need to make a phone call and then we can go tell Mama.”

  “Duncan,” Blade said.

  “Yes,” Sierra replied. “Time just got shorter.”

  Duncan answered on the fourth ring. “McBride.”

  “A brave woman like Raven deserves a man to match her courage; I’m betting you’re that man.”

  “Sierra, this is none of your concern.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. Raven needs you.”

  “What happened? Is she all right?” he asked sharply, the words almost tripping over one another.

  “That will depend on you.”

  “Answer me: is she all right?”

  “Depends on your definition of ‘all right.’ ”

  “You’re pushing me, Sierra.”

  “Someone needs to. Raven is willing to give up her dream for you. Are you willing to let go of the past for her?” Sierra parried. “Make up your mind now or I’m hanging up this phone and I won’t be calling again. If that happens, you’ll regret it until your dying day.”

  “Is she all right? Just tell me that much.”

  “Are you all right without her?”

  There was a long pause, then, “I’m listening.”

  Raven placed her suitcase and overnight case by the front door. She looked around the front room she’d enjoyed decorating. She’d thought she’d moved for the final time. She’d been wrong, but it couldn’t be helped.

  Picking up the largest suitcase, she opened the front door. She usually liked driving, but she wasn’t looking forward to it this time. Returning, she picked up her overnight case and went to place it in the backseat with the suitcase. Her suitcase was gone.

  She glanced around and gasped. Duncan. Her body trembled. “What are you doing here?”

  “Why didn’t you call and tell me about Hale threatening you?”

  “I know Blade didn’t call you, so it must have been Sierra.”

  He moved to within inches of her. “Why?” he repeated.

  “I didn’t want you to become involved,” she said, drinking in the sight of him. How she missed him, loved him.

  His hands closed around her arms. “Do you think I’d want you to lose your dream because of me?”

  You are my dream. “Do you think I’d trade my dream for yours?”

  “Baby.” He pulled her fiercely to him. “I could tear him apart for hurting you.”

  “Let Blade take care of him.”

  “That’s what Sierra said.”

  She lifted her head. “Since I get to hold you again, I guess I’ll forgive her for interfering.”

  He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Same thought crossed my mind. Let’s go inside.” Picking up the luggage, he urged her inside the house, then placed the suitcases in the bedroom. Raven followed.

  “When did she call?”

  “Apparently just after you left her house.” Removing his hat, he ran his hand over his head. “She said some other things, too.”

  “Such as?” she asked; she’d never seen Duncan nervous.

  “She said you had more courage than I had.” He gently pulled her into his arms. “I started to tell her to keep her opinion to herself; then I looked beyond my anger. I thought about what you were willing to give up for me, for Mrs. Grayson, how you never backed away from a challenge no matter what. A woman that courageous would stick when the going got rough.”

  “It’s about time you figured that out,” she said, her voice tremulous.

  “So I accepted Sierra’s offer of a jet to pick me up on the ranch. It can take us back in the morning, or you can stay and show Hale he can’t boss Raven La Blanc around.”

  She didn’t understand. “You want me to stay?”

  “I want you to leave of your own accord. I don’t want you to look back on this when we’re old and gray and wish you had stayed and called his hand.”

  Her heart thumped. “Old and gray.”

  “I love you, Raven. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes! Yes! You’re my dream, my life.”

  He kissed her. “Now, do we take the jet back in the morning or do I stay and watch you show Hale he threatened the wrong woman?”

  “You’re staying?”

  “For a few days. Ramon and Rooster can take care of things,” he said. “Without you the ranch didn’t bring me the satisfaction it once did. When I first saw you, I thought you were trouble. I was wrong. You’re my salvation.”

  “Duncan.” Her voice trembled.

  “Your choice.”

  “Hale might figure out the caves are on your ranch if he sees us together or hears about you being here,” she said, worried.


  “He’s welcome to try and prove it, but I have a feeling Hale is going to be too busy watching his back,” Duncan said with satisfaction. “Sierra said they were going to tell Mrs. Grayson what Hale did. According to Sierra, once her mother gets through with him there won’t be much left for them or Blade.”

  “She’s right. I’d forgotten Mrs. Grayson is not to be crossed. Even the college board of regents have a healthy fear of her, and it’s not because of her famous in-laws.” Raven grinned. “I guess I’ll forgive Sierra, since it brought us together. Now we have to call your mother. She was worried about you.”

  Duncan pulled his cell phone from his belt and pulled Raven to him, staring down into her happy face. The phone was answered on the second ring.

  “Hello.”

  Duncan’s hold tightened at the sound of his mother’s teary voice. “Hi, Mama. Looks like there’s going to be another McBride wedding. Raven just said yes.”

  “Duncan. Oh, Duncan.”

  He shifted restlessly and looked to Raven for help. “Don’t cry, Mama.”

  Raven took the phone from him. “Mrs. McBride, you asked me if I was going to break the curse and save Duncan. I didn’t answer then. It seems we’re going to save each other.”

  “I’m so happy for you both,” Mrs. McBride said, her voice unsteady.

  “Thank you.” Raven gave the phone back to Duncan.

  “Good night, Mama,” Duncan said. “How about we meet for lunch tomorrow?”

  “I’d like that. Good night, Duncan. You’ve made a wise choice for a wife,” Mrs. McBride said.

  “I think so. I’ll call Dad in the morning. Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  He replaced his phone and kissed Raven on the lips. “Is it all right if we call your family in the morning?”

  “Yes.” She stared up at him and began unbuttoning his shirt. “You’re right. I’d regret walking away, but I’d regret more being apart from you. So as soon as a replacement for my teaching position can be found, I’m coming home to you.”

  “And I’ll be waiting.” He drew her knit shirt over her head. “In the meantime, let’s go to bed.”