by Linda Warren
Either that or the leathers needed changing. She’d have to call someone to repair that. If the gears or the pump were broken, fixing them would be a big expense.
A cow butted her, sending Cait staggering. “Be patient, old gal. I’ll see what I can do, and stop pushing me around. I’m your only salvation.” She whistled for the dogs and they responded, yapping and nipping at the cows until they shuffled away from the trough.
Cait searched her saddlebags for cotter and clevis pins. She’d bought some when the device had broken last time. If that was the problem, she could easily fix it.
On the horizon, beyond the High Five fence line, she glimpsed Southern Cross cowboys. Had they sabotaged the windmill? She wouldn’t put it past them. And she wouldn’t put it past Judd.
She found the pins and stuffed them into her jeans pocket. Glancing up, she trembled. She wasn’t afraid of heights. Normal heights, that is. But the tower had to be at least forty feet high, and was old and shaky. She always felt a little jittery when she had to climb it.
The cattle needed water, however, so she tucked away her fears and marched to the tower.
Reaching it, she yanked off her shirt. She would need her arms free and unrestricted. Luckily, she had a white cotton tank top on underneath.
The dogs dutifully worked the cattle, keeping them away as Cait placed a booted foot on the first steel rung of the ladder and started up. The sun torched her skin, but she kept climbing, staying focused and not looking down. She felt as if she were climbing into a hot tunnel of hell.
Reaching the hub, she took care not to get her head or anything else she might need chopped off. Quickly, Cait pulled the brake to stop the blades. The swooshing sound died away.
Don’t look down.
Her breathing was labored, but that was normal under the circumstances. She concentrated on the C-shaped shackle that worked the sucker rod. It was missing both pins. Damn! She’d found the problem. Now to fix it.
Holding on with one hand, she slipped the other in her pocket for the pins. The clevis consisted of a head, shank and hole. The cotter pin went through the hole to hold it in place. She placed the cotter pin between her teeth.
Stretching out her arm, she grabbed the shackle and inserted the clevis, or at least tried. It was stubborn and didn’t budge. Cait shoved with all her might, trying to position it back in place so she could insert the cotter pin.
The wind blew off her hat and fear tightened her throat, but she didn’t lose her concentration. Nor did she look down.
“Come on, you stupid pin. Move.” With all her strength she pushed until it slid into place, all the while trying to keep her balance. It took every muscle she had to hold it there as she slipped the cotter pin through the hole. Then and only then did she take a breath, scraping precious air from the bottom of her lungs.
The wind tugged and she quickly released the brake, waiting as the blades revved up again. Slowly the sucker rod began to move up and down, hopefully pumping water from beneath the ground into the storage tank, and then into the trough. Cait didn’t see if it was happening, because she refused to look down. She’d find out soon enough….
Now she had to climb down. But first she had to loosen her grip and move her feet. One, two, three…She lowered one foot and then the other. All the way to the precious earth, which she wanted to kiss the moment her boots touched it.
But she had other problems. The water was not going into the trough. The cows must have dislocated a pipe, and water was spurting everywhere.
Damn! Damn! Damn!
JUDD WATCHED HER from a hill and had no intention of helping or interfering. But he could see water puddling on the ground, the sun glistening off its surface. The cows bellowed, shifting restlessly, and though the dogs worked to keep them at bay, the big animals smelled water. The dogs would not hold them long.
Without a second thought, Judd jumped Baron over the fence onto the High Five ranch. He gave the horse his lead and they flew over the dried grass. As he neared the windmill, cattle broke free, running and bellowing for the water.
Caitlyn glanced at the stampeding cows and made a dash for her horse, just as Judd swept in, grabbed her around the waist and rode to safety.
“Let me go,” she screeched, her heart pounding against his hand. His fingers touched the underside of her breast, and even riding full tilt, he felt a powerful response.
“Let me go!” She flailed her arms, and he pulled up and released her. Cait fell to the ground on her butt, her eyes firing blue flames at him. “You bastard.”
He sat back in the saddle, staring down at her. “Is that any way to talk to a man who just saved your life?”
She stood and dusted off the back of her jeans. “You’re trespassing, Judd. Get off my property.” She swung her cute butt around and headed back to the cattle jostling around the trough, fighting to get a drink of water.
Placing two fingers in her mouth, she whistled. The dogs trotted over, looking eagerly up at her. “Go. Go. Go.” She clapped her hands. “Get ’em.”
In a frenzy, the dogs went after the cows, herding them away from the trough once more. Caitlyn stepped into the mud without hesitation and bent to a pipe that was gushing water.
Judd slid from the saddle and went to help her. His head told him to ride away; this woman had hurt him more than anyone in his life. But his heart was a traitor, urging him forward.
The pipe ran along the ground and up into the trough. The top part had come undone. Caitlyn grabbed the pipe to force it back in place, but the water pressure made that difficult. Judd placed his hands over hers and pushed.
She stilled for a moment and he expected more fireworks, but her fingers tightened under his and the two of them pushed together. Water squirted him in the face and chest, as it did her, but they focused on their goal. Neither spoke. The stubborn pipe finally moved into the trough and water spilled into its depth.
Caitlyn let out a sigh and wiped water from her cheeks. Her eyes pinned him like a target to a wall. “I didn’t ask for your help, so please leave. You’re not welcome here.” Her words were like darts. If he was a soft man, they might hurt, but they didn’t. They only irritated him.
“I thought your grandmother had at least taught you some manners. And she should have told you not to climb a windmill out here when no one is around.”
“Evidently someone was, and I’m wondering why all of a sudden you’re on High Five. And your cowboys. I saw them a little while ago. I’m beginning to think maybe the cotter pin was taken out.”
He straightened. “Are you accusing me of deliberately breaking the windmill?”
Her eyes zoomed to his. “Maybe.”
“Caitlyn, I don’t have to sabotage you. You’ll fail all on your own. Even Dane knew that.”
“Don’t say one word about my father.” Her chest swelled with anger and her breasts pressed against the tank top. Since it was wet, he saw just about everything, and felt that familiar kick in his groin. That irritated him more.
The cows began to outmaneuver the dogs again, hurrying to the water. One rushed in and bumped Caitlyn, and she landed on her back in the mud, arms and legs flying.
Once Judd saw that she was okay, he wanted to laugh, which he did. Not much, just a chuckle he couldn’t suppress. Mud caked her body, her skin.
Her face froze into a mask of disbelief.
More cows made their way to the trough. He’d help her, but he knew she didn’t want his assistance. “Get up or you’re going to get trampled.”
She rose to her hands and knees, and flipped and flopped like a beetle on its back. Unable to stand the sight a moment longer, he stretched out his hand. She didn’t take it.
“Don’t be a stubborn fool.”
She latched on to it then and yanked. He went flying into the muck beside her. That, he didn’t find funny. Mud soaked his clothes. His boots! He groaned. His favorite boots were ruined.
“Why aren’t you laughing?” she asked, leaning back in th
e mud as if it were whipped cream. And she was the cat who had just had her fill.
He slipped and slid, but managed to get to his feet and to solid ground. Using the trough for leverage, she pulled herself up and waded out as well.
“You need a damn good spanking.” The words were out before he could corral them.
She cocked her head, water dripping from her braid and other parts of her body. “A little mud make you cranky?” Her eyes slid down his body to his crotch. “Or horny?”
Before he knew what he was doing, he’d jerked her into his arms. Their mud-coated bodies welded together, every soft curve of hers pressed into his hardness, and he wanted her more than he ever had.
Her open mouth was a breath away. Her tongue touched her upper lip, and he realized she was the one in control, taking him places he’d sworn he’d never go again.
With more restraint than he knew he had, he pushed her away and strolled to his horse.
“Stay off my property, Judd Calhoun,” she shouted after him.
He swung into the saddle, cursing. Baron pranced around and Judd rode to within a few feet of her.
“It won’t be yours long, Caitlyn. Not for long.”
“Go to hell!” Her words carried on the wind as he galloped away.
AIR GUSHED INTO Cait’s lungs, hot and furious, just the way Judd made her feel. How dare he! As the anger oozed out of her, her heart rate returned to normal. Or as close as it was going to get today.
She glanced down at her mud-covered body and felt Judd’s male imprint there. Her nipples hardened and her lower abdomen ached. Oh, she was so easy. All he had to do was kiss her…But he hadn’t. Her mouth watered for what she’d been deprived of. It felt good, though, to know she had some power over him. Still.
Maybe Sky was right.
Could Cait work this to her advantage? It would be like sleeping with the enemy, and that had to be bad. Though her body was telling her something else…
Mooing cows brought her out of her insanity. They were fighting to get to the trough, butting heads. She clapped her hands again. “Go, go, boys.”
The dogs went back into action, keeping the cattle busy and frustrated while the trough filled up. Finally satisfied they had enough water, she plucked her shirt and hat from the mud. They were ruined, but she couldn’t leave them out here. The cows, being very curious, would try to make a snack out of the items.
With her shirt and hat rolled into a ball, she climbed into the saddle and headed for home.
THE SALE WAS Friday morning and Cait put the encounter with Judd out of her mind. Or at least she tried.
Coop wanted to stay and help, but she needed him in the hay field. Soon trucks pulling trailers nosed up to the fence at the corral. Her father’s poker buddies hadn’t let her down; they were here in full force. Red would bring a good price. But her heart was breaking. That, she wouldn’t let anyone see.
Maddie hugged her. “I’m sorry you have to sell Red.”
“It’s to help us all.” The three sisters stood in the barn and Cait rubbed Red down for the last time. The thoroughbred’s muscles rippled and her coat was shiny. Someone would get a very good horse.
Sky stroked Red’s long neck. “I wish there was another way.”
“There isn’t, so let’s be big girls and pull up our panties and get this done.”
They laughed at one of Gran’s sayings from their childhood. That Cait could join in was a good sign. She’d survive this.
She held Whiskey Red’s face and kissed her nose. “Goodbye, girl.” Swallowing her emotions, she took the bridle and led her into the corral.
Six buyers walked around Red, running their hands along her back, her butt, her neck, her legs.
Red threw up her head and neighed, clearly not liking this inspection. “Easy, girl,” Cait soothed.
“She’s a fine looking animal,” Dale Eddy said, chewing on a cigar.
“Yes, she is,” Cait replied. “Let’s get the bidding started.”
“Twenty thousand.” Dale made the first offer.
Bill Lightfoot eyed the column of Red’s strong neck. “Twenty-five.”
“Thirty.” Dale upped his bid.
“Thirty-five,” Charley Bowers said.
Frank Upton shook his head. “Too rich for my blood.”
“Forty.” Dale bid again, the cigar working overtime. Caitlyn knew he really wanted Red, and the horse would have a good home at Dale’s ranch.
Bob O’Neal had walked around Red several times, but hadn’t yet bid. “Forty-five,” he said suddenly.
This was going better than Cait had expected. She’d been hoping for forty. More would make life a lot easier.
“Seventy-five thousand dollars.”
Cait swung her head in the direction of the voice. No! He couldn’t take Red. Not Judd. She wouldn’t allow it.
“She’s not for sale to you.”
Judd walked farther into the corral. “So you posted the sale in bad faith?”
Maddie and Sky came to stand beside her. Cait thought of Kira, of Maddie’s medical bills and her own pride. She had no choice. A buyer was a buyer. Even if he was the devil.
“You don’t have to do this,” Sky said in a whisper.
But Cait did. She couldn’t renege on a sale, and they needed the money, even if it came from Judd Calhoun.
“No.” Pride went down hard and bitter. “Red is for sale.”
Judd looked at the other men. “Anyone want to top my bid?”
Dale patted Red’s rump. “I was there the day Dane bought this horse. She has great bloodlines and she’s worth every penny.”
“That’s not a bid, Dale,” Judd told him.
The man shook his head. “That’s out of my price range.”
The others walked off and Caitlyn faced Judd. Maddie and Sky stood behind her like her wingmen.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked as calmly as she could.
“I can never pass up good horseflesh.”
“Or sticking it to me.”
He nodded. “That’s always a plus.”
Sky stepped forward. “You’ve gotten hard, Judd.”
“Hello, Sky, Maddie.” He tipped his hat. “I had a very good teacher.”
“Oh, please, no one had to teach you a thing.”
Cait placed a hand on Sky’s arm before her sister went on full alert. “He’s paying a lot of money for Red. Money we need.” Her eyes probed the dark depths of his. “I find that a little strange. You’re giving me money to succeed.”
“But I’m taking something you love.” His gaze never wavered as he delivered a blow that left her speechless. She found there was no response, other than to burst into tears. And she would never do that.
“I’d like a cashier’s check by the end of the day.”
He seemed taken aback. “Don’t you trust me?”
When she didn’t respond, he shrugged. “I’ll have a check and a trailer here later.”
“If you don’t, the sale is off.”
She watched as he walked out of the corral. He went to the end of the barn, where his horse was tethered. No wonder she hadn’t heard him arrive. Sneaky devil!
But his scheme had started.
Would he completely destroy her?
CHAPTER TEN
JUDD WALKED IN the back door and stopped short. People were everywhere. People he didn’t know. Damn party! He made his way down the hall toward his study, sidestepping tables, chairs and startled maids.
His mother hurried from the dining room. “Oh, Judd…”
“Do you really need all this help to get ready for a party?”
Renee glanced at the women arranging flowers in the entry. “Why, of course. We need decorators, caterers, maids and servers. Several guests will be spending the night.”
He shook his head and went into his study. “Keep everyone, and I mean everyone, out of my space.”
As always, his mother paid him no attention and followed him.
�
�Everyone meant you, too, Mom.” He sank into his leather chair.
“Did I see Harland unloading that beautiful red horse of Caitlyn’s?”
“Yes.” Judd picked up his mail.
“Why is it here?”
“I bought her.”
“What?”
He laid down his mail. “Don’t you have a party to plan?”
Renee closed the door and walked to his desk. “Now, let me get this straight. Caitlyn put her horse up for sale and you bought it. I’m guessing at a very high price.”
“You got it.”
“Why, son? Why would you do that? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“It doesn’t have to.”
“This woman you want to bring down. This woman who hurt you. You’re now giving her money.”
“I bought a good horse. That’s it. I’m getting tired of this interrogation.” He rose to his feet and shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Son…”
“It wasn’t about the money, okay? I took something she loved.”
“Oh, well, that’s just dandy,” Renee said, narrowing her green eyes on his face. He hated when she did that. He didn’t want her to see too much. “You’re not this hard.”
He moved toward the window. “You don’t really know me.”
“It all comes back to the bad mother, doesn’t it?”
“Leave it alone, Mom.”
“I can’t when it’s destroying your whole life.”
“Mom…”
“I’ve told you a million times, I had to go in order to survive. I never planned to leave you here. I had you in my arms, but Jack ripped you away. When I tried to stay then, he forced me out. I had no choice. I left, but I fully intended to get custody. I never counted on your father’s vindictiveness.”
Judd clenched his jaw. “I’ve heard this story before.”
“I tried twice to kidnap you. I even made it to the upstairs landing the second time before I was caught.”
“What?” He swung around. “I never knew that. Dad said you never came back.”
“Your father was very good at turning every situation to his advantage.”
Judd removed his hat and placed it carefully on his desk. “I’ll never understand why you married him again.”