The Horseman's Heritage

by Jacki Bentley

  "Admit you care for me, Ash, my love.” His eyes flashed, mischievous and charming.

  "How can you be so darned sure Mandy didn't come from a living, breathing lover instead of a test tube?” she demanded. There, she'd said it. Didn't make her feel good, though.

  His gaze jerked from the last scrap of toast to her. His gray eyes challenged her.

  She went silent. Ashley was angry with herself for saying too much. And she was even angrier with the arrogant male in front of her. Mostly because he'd made her act like such a nut wacko. How dare he come in here, confuse her with kisses and no sex at all and then try to blackmail her into going along with his plans? And what he called Mandy's job offer.

  He thought everything was settled between them, did he? Harrumph, little did he know, things were just getting tricky. She forced her breathing to slow, to relax. She clinched and unclenched her fingers.

  Reese couldn't realize she kept sinking deeper into a quicksand slurry of her own making, her lie by omission. Not exactly, scientifically speaking, a lie, really, it was only a failure to speak up at that fatal evening four years ago. Or to notify him of his parenthood in person, instead of letters, to insist he hear her out.

  Or, better, to just blurt out the whole truth at any time over the past three days. Any time at all. She was a nut and a coward.

  Reese rose from the counter stool to his feet now and headed for her. She took a step back.

  "Hell. I didn't mean to discuss this this morning, babe. Not yet. We still need more time to get reacquainted.” He caught her chin in his hand, then pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head, then the bridge of her nose, then he stalled above her lips.... “We have loads of time ahead of us. Just think about my proposal. That's all I want for now, honey. Wherever your child came from, I can't imagine it would change a thing between us."

  "You don't think?"

  She clasped his cheeks with her hands and pulled him the rest of the way for a kiss. It was a beauty, going on and on. He knees became watery.

  "Wow,” he said. “That was amazing.” But he set her back and stepped away from her. Maddening man.

  "What do you plan to do today?” he asked, changing the subject on purpose, she'd bet.

  She stared.

  He grinned at her. “A wise man knows when to stand and fight and when to make a strategic withdrawal from the field of battle,” he explained the shift.

  He sat back down on the stool, sticking a jean clad leg on one of the rungs.

  "You're good at these strategic shifts of gears, aren't you? A good business strategy, is it?"

  He shrugged. “I know when to cut my losses, baby. What are your plans for today?"

  "I plan to work at home,” she said grudgingly, not used to answering to anyone for her time. “As I have for the last few weeks. I can't get as much done as I need, but I have no choice. I'm behind schedule. I have some of my things here on my computer."

  Reese knew she was humoring him with this change of subject. “Well, today you have another choice.” Reese winced at the unfortunate word. The last thing he wanted was to remind her of the other choice he'd just given her. For now, he'd pushed her too hard and he needed a strategic retreat. “I'll watch Mandy so you can get some work done,” he continued, smiling at her, as charming a smile as he could manage.

  "But...."

  "She and I are buds, pards. We'll get along just fine."

  She seemed unsure.

  He dusted the toast crumbs off his hands and folded his arms.

  She tucked a bit of her hair behind her ear.

  He was mesmerized by her. How had he breathed without her?

  "Oh. Thank you. I'm involved in a very important research project right now."

  He studied her for a long moment and then nodded. “Just do what you need to do then. I'll watch Mandy as long as you want. Get to know her a little. I can pull files from the ranch's computer and put them in your machine."

  "You can get your own at the local computer store. I don't want to share."

  He laughed. She looked so damned cute, all annoyed and protective of her space. “Fair enough. I'll get my own laptop."

  He went after her and kissed her.

  She allowed it, sinking into him as he'd hoped. God.

  She pulled away. “Have to go to work."

  * * * *

  Later that day, Mandy sat cross-legged on the floor watching afternoon cartoons.

  Reese swiveled the black desk chair so he could see the television, too. He'd forgotten how much he'd liked cartoons, hadn't seen any in years. Not even with Gabe. He laughed at the hapless family guy as he crashed his car over a cliff. He wasn't getting anything done today. So much for getting caught up.

  This was his third day as childcare provider for Mandy and he'd discovered it might be one of the toughest jobs he'd ever taken on. He was as lost as the funny looking yellow guy in the cartoon. Mandy sat on the floor, leaning against his legs.

  "My mom isn't sure she approves of cartoons. I think they're so instresting. Don't you?"

  "Sure do.” He grinned at the mangled word. “Sure do.” The word interesting proved a little tough even for Little Miss Future Scientist. Given her remarkable command of the language, the med student must have been pretty smart. He closed his eyes, ashamed of the thought as soon as it formed.

  Childish giggles punctuated the antics on the screen.

  He could love Ashley's little monster girl as much as he loved her mom, no matter where she came from. So far, Ashley had, with unwavering skill, managed to dodge the marriage issue. He'd still been going to his hotel room at night.

  Maybe he should have told her he loved her instead of demanding an answer to his ultimatum first. Hmm. He recognized he still had a ways to go on his new and improved self.

  Maybe he should open his soul instead of asking for blind trust from her. But that took a great deal of guts. More nerve than he had. He pinched the bridge of his nose to hold off a headache.

  When the cartoon ended and Mandy found a preschool educational show with a big bird, he picked up the phone. He needed to ask Josie about the other day when he'd felt Gabe with him in the car.

  Josie answered.

  "Triple C."

  "Josie did the Peacewatchers talk to ghosts?"

  "Hello to you, too.

  "Josie. I'm serious."

  "With you, there's too much being serious. No, our Peacewatcher People did not speak with the spirits. Not that I know of."

  "They didn't?"

  "No."

  "They never received voice messages in the broad light of day?"

  She gasped. “Reese, you have had such a message?"

  "Yes."

  After a long silence, she said, “They could communicate with the other world. With time traveling Peacewatchers residing there. With a Worldwalker."

  "Hellfire."

  "The book mentions this, but the occurrence is rare. Communication between worlds is difficult to achieve. Only attempted in the height of a great emergency that has wide impact on humanity."

  When he found himself at a loss for more words, Josie continued, “At important times, they can send short messages. The book says if you stand in the right spot by the old bookcase, at the time you're hearing the voice, you can see the image of the speaker in the wood. Like on the TV. You really should read the Peacewatcher book. It is long past time you did. Think of it as a manual for your gift. Some say we are the remnants of the ancient enlightened Cathars of France. Or the Druids. Or both the same. All the same blood. Tell me more of this message?"

  "Gabe. God help me, I heard Gabe's voice. The voice of a grown man."

  She gasped again. “Oh my. Oh my.” She fell speechless for a moment. “Oh, that's such wonderful news. He's alive somewhere. Our beautiful boy is alive in another dimension. I bet you he does wonderful, wonderful work there we can only imagine."

  "I have no idea. He didn't say."

  "I knew he was special, that one�
�destined to be a leader. His eyes saw so far beyond us. I hoped for this when they found no little body in the wreckage."

  "I see.” Reese felt tears form in his eyes. Amazing that Josie took this madness as fact so fast. No doubts for Josie.

  "Pay attention to him now,” she said. “If you hear from a Worldwalker from the future, it will always be important news. Something that may save the entire world."

  The hair on the back of his neck rose at her words. She couldn't be serious. But he'd started this conversation, he owed her the respect of listening to her answers. Insane as they might sound.

  "Have you had these messages, Josie?"

  "No. Never. Your gift ... your connection to our Gabe is stronger than mine."

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Fourteen

  Ashley made good progress at work. She'd checked with the technicians who were working on her prototype. They mentioned the expected number of minor setbacks, supplies that hadn't arrived or didn't work as they should, but they had nothing serious to report. No evidence of sabotage at their end.

  She'd made some carefully guarded inquiries, fishing for anything suspicious. The labs were more carefully protected by electrical alarms and security measures than the office wing. She hadn't really expected anything amiss there.

  She felt an urgency to get on with the project.

  Her thoughts turned to Reese and Mandy. The two were developing an amazing rapport. She wanted Reese to know Mandy was his child, but she sensed some part of him wasn't ready to accept the reality of being a father yet. Some feminine knowledge she could not quite explain, but the sense of it was strong.

  Just that simple and that complicated. He'd taken on all the duties of a father this week and then some. Why should he fear having a child of his own? Just as her first impression four years ago, she felt he'd make an ideal father.

  She would never forget her return home the first day of his service as substitute nanny. A harried Reese had met her at the door, pitifully glad to see her. She smiled at the memory. She'd prepared the evening meal, since she'd been the one with some reserve energy.

  Mandy basked in his attention, albeit not being as immaculately groomed or perfectly clean as their former nanny had managed.

  A knock at her office door interrupted her thoughts.

  She almost groaned aloud when she saw who it was. Michael Street. His pale blond hair immaculate, his light brown eyes watchful, he came in at her summons to enter.

  Six months ago, just after he started work at Braxton, Mike began asking her to go out with him. She'd long since run out of tactful excuses and didn't care much about politeness at this stage. The obtuse man could not take a hint at all.

  "Mike, what brings you here today?” she asked briskly, not offering her colleague a seat. She felt very little collegiality for this man.

  Her sister, Emily said he sounded sleazy. He embodied the term. He oozed slime.

  "Yeah. Just got back in town.” He smiled a creepy smile. “Missed seeing your pretty face so much I came here first thing."

  She resisted making a comment. She'd learned the less she said the sooner he left.

  "How's the infrared project going? Any info I can use in fund raising yet? Any juicy sound bites for the press?"

  "It's going well, almost finished, but nothing new to talk about yet."

  Street was with the contracts department. He was a moneyman, not a researcher. But something in his expression signaled a little too much interest. His pale eyes glittered in a way she hadn't noticed before. Nervousness, maybe. As if something worried him. Now what would sleazy Mike have to worry about? An interesting question. Was it her imagination or was he sending covert glances at her desktop? She resisted the urge to cover her work with her hands.

  Mike went on to other subjects, the weather, traffic, and the local college football team before he finally left. She thought his visit stranger than usual, but then she was attuned to the odd these days.

  On Tuesday, she'd noticed another piece of paperwork missing. Nothing critical, brainstorming notes she'd jotted down and hadn't had time to store in her computer yet, aggravating. A few calculations and a sketch of her portable infrared device was gone. Only a rough sketch, but enough to stir interest in the wrong hands.

  When she had spoken to Security about her suspicions, she found old Mr. Clark, the head of security, had been replaced by a younger guard.

  The new man didn't have the shrewdness or keen intelligence of Mr. Clark. He'd figuratively patted her on the head and said something glib about betting his last dollar her kid had eaten the missing papers. He'd laughed a laugh that grated her nerves. And he'd gone on to say in disapproving tones that he'd learned she brought her child in on the weekends. Then the mindless drone, high on his new position of power, talked of checking the rules to see if children were allowed in the building. A security risk, he'd called Mandy.

  Sanity risk, maybe, but security risk, not.

  She had to talk to Reese about all this. In doing so, she felt disloyal to Braxton Institute but she could trust Reese. This was urgent. He might have ideas, suggestions. She was at the end of her thoughts on the situation. This need to go over it with him reminded her of how strong the temptation to show up on Reese's doorstep with Mandy had been at times over the last four years.

  She loved her work, but the idea of escape to Texas had been her talisman against the pressures of her job and this suspicion of underhanded espionage was the worst thing she'd experienced at work.

  Although the possible espionage was not his problem, she wanted to hear Reese's opinion. Her instincts prodded her to let him in on the problem.

  She knew this was far more complicated than a child playing with things she shouldn't touch.

  * * * *

  That night, Reese thought Ashley seemed preoccupied. Or worse, worried. They sat on the inviting sofa in the family room. He should get on to his hotel room before he grabbed her and made leisurely love to her. He still feared making love to her too soon—as he damn sure had four years ago—could catalyze her into kicking him out of her life for good.

  Just now, she'd only given him a distracted smile when he'd recounted to her in a colorful installment the entertainment provided by Mandy.

  He touched her cheek, wanting to do so much more, wanting to kiss her. His self-imposed celibacy vow had him tied in knots. “What is it, hon? Tell me what's bothering you."

  "Hmmm?” She sighed, worry etched her eyes. “Oh, likely nothing. Really."

  "Come on, Ash, that Mandy story was too damn funny for a weak grin like you gave me.” He felt strangely offended that she wasn't laughing as hard as he had when the incident had happened.

  "I'm sure it was."

  "Maybe not seeing the look on Mandy's face takes away some of the story's effectiveness, but it was still funny."

  "Yes,” Ashley agreed, managing another weak smile. “It's just something at work. I can't shake it from my mind."

  He sought her eyes. “Tell me what's up, baby."

  "It's my problem.” She waved a hand. “Perhaps it's not a problem at all."

  "Spit it out, woman. What harm would it do to tell me? A burden shared is a burden lightened and all that. Tell me,” he prodded. Maybe his tone was too autocratic. Reese forced himself to back off to encourage rather than demand. “Come on, Ash, maybe I can help. I realize there are proprietary secrets to your work you can't share. I don't like seeing you distracted and worried this way."

  She raised her chin. “Your words are all male arrogance and demand."

  He grinned. “I guess they are. Sorry. I was going for encouragement. Guess I missed the mark."

  She grinned. “Yes."

  "I need to know what put that look of fear on your face.” He infused his words with as much humility as he knew how. As he waited, he didn't know why he felt a sudden cold drip of dread up and down his spine, but he did. The hunted look in her eyes flashed to relief the minute he'd invited h
er to share the burden with him. He knew it had. She felt disloyal to the think tank for telling secrets, that's all that held her back.

  Ashley closed her eyes for a moment. “It's probably nothing,” she whispered. “Nothing. But, you're right, I am worried ... and a little frightened,” she admitted.

  "So you said. I trust you to know or you would not be worried. Go on."

  "I believe someone is trying to steal my work."

  Reese sucked in a breath. “The hell you say."

  She told him of the incidents she'd begun to notice when she first started working weekends with Mandy along, since the nanny left. He knew she struggled to keep the fear from her voice. But it was there. Just the thought that someone had gained unauthorized access to her office disturbed him, too.

  "Important papers disappeared by Saturday morning and then reappeared on Monday morning right where they should be,” she said. “This week, for the first time, papers were taken during the week, as well.

  "They may have learned I've worked on the weekends. God, Mandy and I could have been there at the same time they came looking for something. I think they know I'm almost finished with this project and they're getting desperate for details.” She paused.

  "Go on."

  "Today I went down to the security offices. A new security chief, an insolent and disrespectful man, laughed in my face. Said I was imagining things. Said maybe Mandy was to blame. Do you think I'm imagining things?"

  "Hell, no I don't. Of course I don't. I know you too well to think that. You're far from the over-anxious, worrying type of woman. And what a flipping idiot the man is to blame Mandy. She's very well behaved."

  She smiled. “Thanks."

  "I think someone is keeping an eye on your work, just as you suspect. That IRT stuff is used a lot of different ways."

  He sensed there was more. “Ash?"

  "My new worry is that they now know I'm suspicious."

  "Right. And Security is not doing its job."

  She nodded.

  "Tell me about it. What are you working on?"

  "I shouldn't. It belongs to Braxton. It's protected by their strict code of proprietary secrecy."