Caitlyn’s Prize

by Linda Warren

  “So?” She couldn’t make the connection. After Harland, she knew Judd would be looking for someone. Chance had worked on Southern Cross for a lot of years before taking off for the oil fields. He and Judd had remained good friends.

  “Well, I know there’s a lot of tension between the two families and—”

  She pinched his arm. “Take the job. Etta would love to have you close.” Cait didn’t go into High Five’s shaky future. That wouldn’t be resolved until she talked to Judd, and she had no idea when that would be. But it gave her comfort to know that Chance might also be looking after High Five and its future.

  For the next couple of days, Chance, Cooper and Rufus worked on repairing the house. She and Maddie helped when they could. But Cait’s thoughts remained centered on Judd. Why hadn’t he called? Brenda Sue had said he’d be in touch, yet so far she’d heard nothing. That left her in limbo. That left her angry. That left her testing her patience.

  But she waited.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  SOLOMON WAS GETTING so big that she and Maddie had a hard time controlling him. One butt could knock them for a loop. They were now giving him small amounts of sweet feed, which added to his weight. The calf was always greedy, wanting more.

  “I don’t think we’re ever going to fill him up!” Maddie said as she closed the gate.

  “He’s a growing boy.” Cait laughed as Solomon butted the slats. She banged her fist against the railing. “Stop.” Suddenly, over the calf’s bleating and shuffling, they heard the thunder of hooves. The sisters looked at each other in puzzlement. The guys were working on the house, so it couldn’t be one of them. Before they could take a step to investigate, Whiskey Red galloped into the barn.

  “Oh, my God,” Cait cried, running to the horse and throwing her arms around her neck. “She must have gotten away.” Stroking Red, she added, “I have to take her back.” As she thought about it, she knew this was the perfect opportunity to see Judd. Time to face him and sort out the future. He wasn’t avoiding her any longer.

  She led Red to her stall and turned to Maddie. “Please feed her. I have to see Judd.”

  “Okay,” her sister replied, a bit mystified.

  Cait ran to her truck, shoved it into gear and drove steadily toward the Southern Cross. She stopped on the circular drive. Jumping out, she ran for the front door and tapped the brass knocker. No response. She opened the door and went inside, straight to Judd’s study. He wasn’t there. She went into the hallway and ran into Renee.

  “Oh. I didn’t realize we had company.” The woman smiled at her.

  She didn’t return the smile. “I’m looking for Judd.”

  Renee shrugged. “He’s on the ranch somewhere, seeing to all the damages the hurricane caused.”

  “Was the loss substantial?”

  “Just minor stuff, but Judd seems to need to work twelve hour days.”

  “Oh.” Cait knew the feeling. She’d worked so hard to save High Five and it was all for nothing. Her eyes focused on the Persian rug in the foyer and it reminded her of the day when Judd had told her about the sale of the royalties.

  “Renee, how much did Judd pay for High Five’s royalties?” She’d never asked that question and she suddenly needed to know.

  Renee didn’t even pause before answering. “Over half a million.”

  OhmyGod! Cait had never imagined. All this time she’d thought Judd had finagled her father into selling, but with a gambling debt that large her dad really had had no choice. The Belle family was lucky Judd had bought the royalties. It had saved them from a worse fate.

  “Would you please tell Judd…” Her voice trailed off as he strolled down the hall.

  “I think you can tell him yourself, my dear.” Renee patted her son’s arm and disappeared out the door.

  Judd looked tired, but it didn’t diminish his appeal. “You wanted to see me?” he asked, walking into his study.

  “Yes.” She clenched her hands at his gruff expression. “I wanted to let you know Red is at my place, in case you were looking for her.”

  “I’m not,” he replied, sinking into his chair and shuffling through papers on his desk.

  That shook her. What did he mean? “Well, somehow she got loose and—”

  “She didn’t get loose.” He leaned back in his chair, his eyes holding hers. “I let her go.”

  That made no sense at all. “Why?”

  “She’s your horse, not mine.”

  “You bought her.”

  “Out of spite.” He jammed both hands through his dark hair. “You see, Caitlyn, I find it very hard taking things you love.”

  That almost blew her out of her boots. “Still…” That was all she could say. Warm feelings suffused her whole body and she couldn’t think.

  “Consider it a wedding gift.”

  Her eyes narrowed on his. “Excuse me?”

  He leaned forward, his expression keeping her from jumping for joy. Tapping a document on his desk, he added, “I talked to Frank about the codicil. He said it was my choice whether to invoke it or not, so I’ve thought long and hard about this.” He took a breath. “I’ve decided against taking High Five, for the reason I’ve already told you. But I have a solution for its future. As my wife you will own half of all my holdings, including the gas and oil royalties. Your half will go back into High Five, the other half will go toward the amount I paid for them. High Five will have funds to recoup.”

  She could hardly believe her ears. “Is this a marriage proposal?”

  Without a flicker of emotion, he answered, “Yes.”

  Joy wasn’t the first thing she felt. Anger was. After all their talks, he hadn’t changed. The cold proposal was the same as it had been fourteen years ago—without love. She would not sacrifice her pride, her dignity for anything else.

  She walked closer to his desk. “The answer is no.”

  “What?” He was clearly shocked.

  “Are you hard of hearing?”

  His lips twitched. “No.”

  She stared directly at him. “You know my bottom line. It’s the same as it was the last time you proposed. Without love we have nothing, and until you can open your heart and accept what you’re really feeling, there will be no marriage—not even to save High Five.”

  He looked stunned.

  “You once asked me what I really wanted. I want you. I want your love, not a business deal.” She swung toward the door. “You have until midnight to make your decision.” She walked out as fear edged its way into her heart.

  It was all or nothing. What would Judd do?

  JUDD STARED AFTER HER in complete misery. But what had he really been expecting? That she would be grateful…? He ran both hands over his face. For days all he could think about was their situation, and he’d thought he’d found a solution. It was easy for him—he wouldn’t have to sacrifice his heart and his soul. He’d protected that part of himself for so long, and was still doing it.

  He drew a heavy breath. Open your heart. Cait didn’t realize how hard that was for him. But if he wanted her…I want your love, not a business deal.

  This time, could he give her what she asked for?

  His mother breezed in. “What did Caitlyn want?”

  “My soul.”

  Renee placed her hands on her hips. “Well, wrap it up with a pretty red bow and give it to her.”

  “You have a warped sense of humor.”

  “Son, it’s not humor. It’s desperation.”

  He shook his head. “What are you talking about?”

  “Why do you think I gave that ridiculous ball?” She didn’t give him a chance to respond. “I wanted you and Caitlyn to remember how happy and in love you were at your engagement party. Whether you believe it or not, you were, until she found out the truth.”

  “Mom…”

  “You loved her. That’s why you were so hurt. That’s why you were so set on revenge. Can’t you see that?”

  “Mom…”

  “
You haven’t been happy since she left, so whatever you have to do to bring Caitlyn back into your life, swallow your pride and just do it.”

  Judd wanted to. He really did. But…He eased open the bottom drawer of his desk and glanced at the red shoe. Had he kept it for a reason?

  Did he love her? Had he always loved her?

  For a smart man, he was dangerously close to being a complete fool.

  “Women like to be swept off their feet, don’t they?”

  Renee blinked. “What?”

  “Women like romantic gestures and the Prince Charming thing. They want magic and love, right?”

  “Of course. Every woman wants love—that’s the most important thing.”

  “Did you?” He watched her face.

  She wrapped her arms around her waist. “I used to dream of Jack saying, ‘Renee, you’re one hell of a woman and I love you like crazy.’”

  “But he never did.”

  “No. He equated sex with love.” She pointed a finger at Judd. “Don’t you make that mistake.”

  He already had. He rose to his feet, knowing he had only one choice. “I have to see Caitlyn.”

  AT MIDNIGHT, Cait knew he wasn’t coming. So much for that. Now she was going to lose it all.

  She trudged upstairs to get clothes for tomorrow before going to the bunkhouse. The repairs on the house were coming along nicely. The wall in the parlor was almost complete. Even that didn’t cheer her.

  Grabbing jeans and a shirt, she saw the red dress hanging on her closet door. On impulse she took it down and stared at it for a long time.

  Why wasn’t this enough?

  Judd’s words came back to her. Why couldn’t he see they needed so much more? Slowly, she pulled off her clothes, even her boots, and slipped into the red dress. She wiggled her toes. No shoes, but she knew where one was.

  She ran down the stairs to the parlor and grabbed a bottle of wine. After uncorking it, she took a sip and headed for the barn. She hoped Maddie wouldn’t come looking for her.

  Cait went into the barn and took down the red shoe. Clutching it and the wine in one hand, she used the other to open the gate on Red’s stall. She rubbed her horse’s face and sank down into the hay to say another goodbye. Tomorrow she’d have to return her.

  On that thought, she took a swig of wine and slipped on the red high heel. She lifted her foot. “What do you think, Red?” She gulped a breath. “He didn’t come and it hurts. I’ve loved this man for so long and he keeps breaking my heart. How can he do that? Men are…” She glanced up and saw Judd leaning on the gate.

  “Men are what?” he asked with a devilish grin.

  “Pigs,” she said, her heart beating a little faster at the sight of his handsome face. “And you’re late.”

  “I was leaving when there was a problem with one of the heifers calving. I had to wait for the vet, and it was a long painful birth.”

  Cait was at a loss for words, so she said the first thing that came to her mind. “I’ll return Red tomorrow.”

  “Red is a gift. Please accept her as such.”

  Her eyes held his. “I can’t.”

  “Caitie, High Five would be in the black if it hadn’t been for Harland, my employee. I take full responsibility for his actions. He only did it to get back at me. You’ve turned the ranch around with hard work and skill.” He rubbed his hand along the top of the wooden gate. “Your father should have never come up with this crazy deal.”

  “Sometimes I wonder why he did that.” She propped the wine bottle against the stall wall.

  “I have, too, but we’ll never know. You deserve High Five and I’m not taking it. Isn’t that what you wanted? And Red?”

  She gazed up at him, the dim bulb casting enticing shadows across his angular face. She started to reach for the bottle, but realized she didn’t need the wine. All she needed was that look in his dark eyes.

  “No. I told you what I want.”

  The words hung between them.

  His eyes held hers and a giddiness swept through her from the warmth she saw there. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this thing called love, and the difference between slam-damn-good sex and love.”

  “You have?” She held her breath.

  “Um-hmm. Trust and respect—they’re important to you?”

  “Yes.” The word slid from her throat.

  “When you were on that windmill, you trusted me. You’ve always trusted me and I’ve let you down. That day, I knew if you fell and died, my life would be over. And when your family home burned, I saw the pain in your eyes and I felt it in my gut. I wanted you to trust that I would never hurt you again. That’s the main reason I can’t take High Five. I can’t take anything else you love.”

  Slowly, he opened the gate and stepped in. Red neighed and trotted out to nibble at the fresh bale of hay Cooper had brought in earlier. Judd closed the gate and Cait’s giddiness turned to euphoria.

  He removed his hat and knelt in front of her. His eyes darkened. “I’m not sure if I’ll get this right, but I trust you, Caitie…with my heart.”

  She bit her lip to keep from crying out with joy, but she hadn’t yet heard the words she wanted to hear.

  Reaching behind him, he pulled her red high heel from his back pocket and held it out for her to slip on.

  This was right. This was perfect, and she couldn’t believe Judd was making such a romantic gesture. She tucked her foot into the shoe, but there was something inside and she couldn’t completely get it on. No, no. The shoe had to fit. There had to be magic.

  “I can’t…” She squirmed and lifted the shoe to investigate. Inside she found an engagement ring—her engagement ring. The one Judd had given her fourteen years ago.

  The breath left her lungs. “It’s…I…”

  He took the ring from her with a grin. “Slip on the shoe.”

  She did, gladly, and it fit perfectly. Now she waited for the magic. Judd’s magic.

  He lifted her trembling hand and stared into her eyes. “Caitlyn Belle, I—I…”

  This time he was stammering and she smiled, still waiting.

  He swallowed hard. “I’m no prince, but I…I love you. Will you marry me?”

  The words came out in a rush, but she heard every one.

  She threw herself at him, knocking him backward into the hay. “Yes. Yes. Yes!”

  He cupped her face and touched his lips to hers in a stirring, sweet kiss that was powerful and binding.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered between featherlike kisses. “I’ve always loved you and I’ll never stop loving you.”

  “Caitie.” His mouth covered hers and their tongues and hands renewed a ritual they knew well. She lay half on top of him, feeling and enjoying the hardened contours of his body.

  He suddenly sat up and positioned her on his lap. She wrapped her bare legs around him, picking straw from his hair. “I can’t believe this,” she murmured, and pressed her breasts into his chest, feeling the power of her femininity as he groaned and kissed her neck. Hot, branding kisses trailed to her cleavage.

  “I’ve dreamed of you in this red dress.” He moaned. “I’ve dreamed more of removing it.”

  She leaned slightly away and unzipped the back. “I have nothing on underneath.”

  A guttural sound left his throat, and Cait was beginning to think that Sky was right about feminine wiles. She could never be so uninhibited with anyone but Judd, though. As she slipped the dress down, all her inhibitions floated away.

  Her breasts filled his hands and then his mouth tasted each nipple, and tingles of desire shot from her breasts to her navel and below. Judd pulled the dress over her head and tossed it on the hay.

  She still sat on his lap with her legs wrapped around him, her tousled hair spread across her shoulders. His eyes glowed as he gazed at her nudity. She’d never seen that look before and she recognized exactly what it was. Love. Love shone in his eyes. There it was—the magic she craved. She needed that and had sacrifi
ced so much for this day. It was worth every pain she had gone through. She had definitely won the prize, as Sky so aptly put it. And the prize was Judd’s love.

  She slowly unbuttoned his shirt. “You have too many clothes on.”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” he said into the warmth of her neck. “And I really need to remove these jeans.”

  She giggled. “Yes. I’m sitting on a bulge that needs freedom.”

  “Don’t tease.” A lazy grin spread across his face as he jerked off his shirt and threw it on top of her dress. She scooted down and helped to remove his boots, then unbuttoned his jeans. He watched as she slid down his zipper and his erection thrust into her hand.

  “Oh,” she murmured, and before she knew it he was out of his jeans, pushing her down into the hay. The straw scratched her back, but she hardly noticed as Judd’s lips found hers. The kiss was deep, hot, and her body simmered just from the touch of his naked skin against hers.

  “Caitie,” he moaned into her mouth.

  “Yes…now…please.”

  He slid into her easily, as if they’d never been apart. Once again she wrapped her legs around him, drawing him deeper and deeper until fourteen years disappeared along with the heartache. Each move, each thrust bound them closer, until the world exploded into brilliant sunshine.

  Her nails dug into his back as her body welcomed the much-needed release. Judd cried her name as he trembled against her, and then there was quiet—an unbelievably peaceful quiet.

  Judd couldn’t bear to let her go, and they lay together for a long time, just enjoying the incredible moment. They’d made love before, but not like this. Years ago it had been hot and steamy, but as soon as it was over he’d zipped his jeans and was gone. It was just sex. Now it was so much more.

  Today he wanted to hold on forever—hold on to Caitie. This was love—his heart was about to pound out of his chest with it. He needed Caitlyn. Until this moment he’d never realized how much. This was living. This was loving. Every man needed this.

  He sat up and pulled her into his arms. Leaning against the stall wall, he brushed her dark hair away from her face and she sighed contentedly.

  “Happy?”