by Unknown
Weariness settled over him. He would be so damned glad to get back to Montana. He couldn’t stand being away from the ranch. At the same time, the thought of leaving his wife behind, crushed him.
He couldn’t force her to love him. He couldn’t force her to want or bear his children.
He couldn’t grant her a divorce, either.
Maybe things would improve in Montana. Or worsen. With Jillian waiting there like a black widow spider, anything could happen.
Could it get any worse, he wondered? Hell, yeah. Things could always worsen. It was Murphy’s Law. There was no predicting Jillian. She was mean through and through. He had to figure out a way to protect Kaycee from the woman’s vindictiveness.
Jace whipped around at the sound of the door opening behind him.
Duel entered the office and paused long enough to sweep the area with an interested eye. His gaze shifted from the broken whiskey bottle lying on the expensive rug, to the amber stream sliding down the yellow-striped wallpaper into a reeking puddle on the floor. He whistled softly. Man, if Jace didn’t return to Montana soon, he wasn’t going to have an office left.
Swear to God, he was never sticking his nose in Jace’s business again. And when he got his hands on Dianna, he was going to wring her neck for ever coming up with this plan to get Jace married off. He didn’t care if Jace did think he had the right to butt into their lives and watch over them, nothing could be worse than this.
He wrinkled his nose at the aromatic scent of whiskey permeating his office. Things must have really gone amuck with Kaycee. He didn’t comment on the open window. He understood why Jace raised it.
Hell, he raised it himself sometimes when it got too claustrophobic in his office. Hopefully it’d clear the smell of booze from his office, too. He wisely closed the door behind him.
“You know, J.D., you’re like a one man demolition team. You’re wrecking my office. First, my time sheets, now this, you’re always in here. I can’t get a damn thing done.”
He paused at the crushed expression he saw on his brother’s face. Oh, boy. This wasn’t going to be good. Well, shit! “I take it the interview didn’t go well?”
Jace threw a hostile glare at him. “I’m not talking to you. She doesn’t want to be married to me. She doesn’t want my babies. And you know what? This mess is your fault.”
“My fault?” Uh-oh. Yeah, this conversation was headed straight down the crapper. For someone who wasn’t talking to him, Jace had dumped a crock full on him. “Why is it my fault?” He had to ask the question, damn it.
And he knew very well he wasn’t going to like the answer.
“You promised her a job as a trainer.” Jace flung his arms out to his sides. “You promised. I had to be the one who said no.” His arms collapsed to his sides. “I’m the bastard who had to break her heart. Me! I’m the one she hates for it. How could you do this to me? You should have seen her face when I told her she couldn’t touch the horses.” Jace paced the room, becoming more agitated by the moment. “You know what?” he yelled, running frantic fingers through his dark hair.
Amazed by Jace’s outburst, Duel shook his head, watching his brother wide-eyed. He didn’t think he’d ever seen him so unraveled.
“I feel like a damn heel. I broke her heart, and it’s entirely your fault!”
“You said that, already. So does that mean you have to wreck my office as payback or something? When are you going back to Montana?”
“Why didn’t you tell me she has a brother who’s paralyzed? You didn’t tell me she needed a job so she could support her brother. Why not?”
“Paralyzed?”
“You never said a solitary word about her needing help.”
“Help?”
“For Christ’s sake, Duel, stop repeating every damned thing I say like a fucking parrot!”
“Are we discussing Kaycee?”
“Taylor, damn it! Her brother. He’s in a wheelchair. She’s been trying to take care of the both of them by herself. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Duel’s lips parted. “I—”
Jace cut him off, slicing a hand downward in a gesture reminiscent of a guillotine descending on a neck. “Even worse, I told you plainly not to set her in my path and you did it anyway. You can’t arrange a person’s life to suit yourself. People have feelings. I have feelings. You see what happens when you interfere? This is what happens. Look at me now! Just look at me! I’m married to a woman who doesn’t want me, love me, or want to have one damn thing to do with me. It’s no wonder I’m mildly upset. It’s your fault!”
Mildly upset?
“Yeah, I think I got the idea, J.D. It’s my fault. But, old son, you need a crash course in the word, ‘mildly.’” In spite of himself, Duel couldn’t keep from parroting, “She has a brother who is paralyzed?”
Jace made a restless, agitated motion with his hand. “You never said a word. Not one word about her having a crippled brother.”
“Where the hell did you get the idea she has a crippled brother?”
Jace snarled, stopped pacing and whipped around to face him. “Well, where do you think? Where else would I find out? You certainly didn’t bother to tell me.”
“As I recall, J.D., you didn’t want to know anything about Kaycee Spencer, not even her name.”
“I’ve changed my mind! And it’s Remington. Kaycee Remington.”
Duel grinned. “Okay. Well, what do you want to know about her? I told you before she’s very good at training—”
“How long has she and Taylor been struggling to make ends meet?” Jace interrupted impatiently. “How long has Smitt been a threat to her? And more important, why is he a threat? What’s he got on her? Before we go any further, I don’t give a rat’s ass how well she trains horses. Got it? Her training horses or not training horses has nothing to do with this. Got it?”
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure I got it.”
“Well?” Jace bellowed impatiently when he made no further comment.
“Well…what?” Duel kept his face a study of innocence.
Jace snorted.
He folded his arms across his chest and rocked back on his heels. “You need to calm down, J.D. You’re going to blow a fuse.”
“Calm down? I am calm. If I wasn’t calm, you’d be lying on the damn floor out cold as a well driller’s ass!”
He tightened his lips, holding back his laughter and watched Jace pace like a caged tiger. Jace was undone all right, thanks to Kaycee. Yes! He’d throw a victory punch in the air if he weren’t certain Jace would knock him out cold.
It was something of a shock watching his taciturn brother come apart. He rubbed his hands together. This was good.
Jace swore softly. “This is bad.”
Duel blinked. Swear to God he and his brother was at the opposite end of the totem pole. How could they be so much alike, yet so different?
“I swear, Duel, you can be the most hellishly frustrating person when you want to be. How long has she been trying to support both of them?”
“I don’t know.” He blinked. I didn’t even know—”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“I mean, I don’t know. Nada. Zilch. I thought she was alone. I had no idea she has a brother. I only met her a few months ago. I was at a horse auction, and I saw her there sobbing out her soul. I sure didn’t know she has a brother who’s paralyzed. All I know is her father committed suicide about a year ago, and she found the body. She was an emotional wreck at the horse sale. When I tried to comfort her, she blurted out the thing about her father to me.”
Jace paled. “What!”
Duel nodded. “She needs us, Jace. That’s what I was trying to tell you last night, but you wouldn’t listen. Christ…I don’t know this brother or anything about him.”
“She needs me, Duel. From this moment on, you’re out of her life, except as a brother-in-law. You’re history.”
“I was never in her life. I felt sorry for her. She s
eemed sweet and somewhat alone with a lot of worries. We’re friends.”
“Now you’re not. She’s your sister-in-law. You’re not friends. You’re not pals!”
“Well, your work’s cut out for you if you plan on taking her, her brother and Smitt Davis all on.”
“Don’t forget Jillian.”
“Exactly. I’m thinking Smitt is the one who gave Kaycee the black eye and bruises.”
“She’s the woman he was pestering in the lounge last night. Remember me telling you? I saw her trying to give him money. Why would she do that?”
“I don’t understand.” Duel shook his head with puzzlement. “Kaycee would never have anything to do with someone like Smitt. He’s bad news.”
“But then again, you don’t know her very well.”
“And you do?”
“I will. Before I leave Reno, tomorrow, I’ll damn well know exactly how she’s involved with him.” Jace drew in a deep breath, and then released it with a long sigh. “Well, she has a job, such as it is. I told her she could muck out the stables.”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, you told your wife she can muck out the stables? You didn’t.”
“Yeah, I did. She doesn’t want to be my wife. She doesn’t want anyone to know we’re married. But on the bright side, Taylor is now the ranch accountant.”
Duel stared at him, disbelief written on his dark face.
“I can’t allow just anyone to train those horses,” Jace said in defense. “She has no references.”
“You’re willing to let someone you don’t know handle our money, but not your damn horses? You don’t make a lick of sense. The whole time you’ve been in Reno, you’ve been in the foulest mood I’ve ever seen. Pu-lease, go home. You’re making me crazy!”
“I’ve a few things to settle first, then I’ll be happy to go home. You know I hate Reno.”
Duel shook his head. “I think we’ve had this conversation a time or two. I like Reno, J.D., and I’m staying. You’re going after Smitt?”
He nodded.
“Not alone, by God, you aren’t. I’m going with you.” Duel held up a hand. “Before you go any further, you should know Kaycee grew up on her grandparent’s ranch, remember ol’ Jed Spencer? Ring any bells?”
“Jed?” Jace nodded and suddenly felt sick to his stomach. “Sure, I remember Jed. He was the best damn trainer around.”
“Jed never trained a horse in his life. Jed was a rodeo man.”
“I’m not sure I’m following you.”
“Sweet Water, as I’m sure you know,” Duel continued, “had a well deserved reputation for supplying the best cutting horses worldwide. Jed got the credit and the reputation, but it was Kaycee who trained them. Is that reference enough?”
Heat seeped beneath his cheeks. “I ought to punch out your lights here and now! Why the hell didn’t you tell me she’s one of those Spencers? Did she lose the ranch to a bank? If so, maybe we can purchase it back.”
Duel shook his head. “Not one of those Spencer’s. She’s the Spencer. She’s the only member of the family who ever trained cutting horses, but she did it under Jed’s name and his reputation as a bronc buster and world supplier of well-trained horses. She wasn’t paid for what she did, at least there’s no record. I think maybe her grandfather was paid, then the money given to Kaycee.”
“So, what you’re saying is, Kaycee did the work and her grandfather took the credit?”
“Yeah. She probably started when she was very young and no one took it seriously. By the time she built a reputation for the Sweet Water, I imagine it was already established her grandfather did the training.” Duel hesitated a moment, then continued. “I haven’t had time to investigate the circumstances behind the loss of her ranch. I’ll make it a priority after you leave. Okay?”
“Let me know what you find out. You should have told me who she is.”
“Yeah,” Duel replied. “I planned to, but things went amuck pretty fast.”
“She’s going to hate me forever. I must have sounded like a prick asking her for references when I’ve bought their cutting horses for the Dancing Star for years. Horses she trained.”
Duel chewed his bottom lip, his lips twitching.
“Don’t laugh!”
“I’m not laughing.”
“Snickering, then, I hear you. And stop humming the Wedding March!”
Duel grinned. “Is that the name of the tune? I had no idea.”
“You just wait, little brother, your time’s coming. Remember this. I’ll give you hell too. You wait and see.”
Duel smothered a laugh. It would benefit Jace greatly to have something on his mind besides worrying about what his siblings were up to all the time. His and Dianna’s plan was working. He didn’t know how, but it was working.Unfortunately, it wasn’t going to be smooth sailing for any of them.The suspense was no doubt going to kill him, but he couldn’t wait to see what developed between his brother and Kaycee.
He rubbed his hands together and laughed softly to himself. This was going to be very interesting. Without a doubt, sparks were going to fly and fly hot in Montana before they burned out.
He snickered. Wasn’t life a bitch?
* * * *
Reno/Stead Airport
Reno, Nevada
Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Jace settled into the pilot’s seat and started the engine of the Lear Jet he’d purchased two years earlier from his cousin Raider. At the time, Raider was down on his luck, but Raider wouldn’t allow him to loan him the money he needed, so he purchased the jet from him.
He shook his head as he thought about his slow talking, lanky cousin with the Australian accent. Raider was one stubborn man and as prideful as the rest of the Remington’s. He scowled darkly. His cousin had been adamant about the sale of the jet. The only way he’d allow him to lend him the money, was for him to purchase the jet from him, with the proviso, he sold the damn jet back to him once Raider was financially sound again.
He really loved this jet and was going to hate selling it back to Raider, but a promise was a promise.
Part of the money he’d borrowed to purchase horses, had also helped to pay for a second jet and a helicopter. Dianna had the other jet in New York. Duel kept the ’copter in Reno.
As the powerful engines roared to life, he scanned the instrument panels to make certain everything was in order. Patience wasn’t one of his virtues. He drummed his fingers along the side of his right thigh while he waited for a weather update. When clearance came for takeoff, he taxied the jet down the runway.
He was damn glad to be getting out of Reno. The only thing he hated about departing was the fact he was leaving Kaycee behind. It just plain scared the hell out of him.
But he couldn’t leave Jillian alone at the ranch for very long. She’d destroy it and all his hard work. He had too many obligations to bankers, cattlemen’s associations, buyers, and not to mention his ranch hands to ignore the possibilities of the damage she could do.
And he needed to figure out a way to get her out of his bed, out of his life, permanently.
Anger stormed through him. By Kaycee refusing to come to the ranch now, he was left vulnerable to Jillian’s schemes. Out maneuvering Jillian was always tricky and he wasn’t always successful. She knew him too well, knew when he was down, when he was ripe for the plucking.
He wasn’t about to comply with Kaycee’s wishes their marriage be kept secret. He wanted Jillian to know he was a married man as soon as possible. He wasn’t sorry he’d married Kaycee. He wasn’t ashamed.
Damn it, she was his wife. And he wanted her, wanted her standing at his side, proud to be his wife. The sooner she came to terms with it, the sooner they’d build a life together. Somehow, he had to make her accept the fact he was now and would always be a part of her life.
He’d hired three bodyguards to monitor her safety twenty-four hours a day. He was certain she was pissed about it too. Too bad. He refused to go away and leave her without protecti
on.
Last night, he and Duel spent hours searching the streets for Smitt. Apparently the bastard had gone underground. They couldn’t find a trace of him or anyone who had seen him or at least, no one who was willing to talk.
When Smitt’s name came to light, the informant clammed up tighter than an oyster hugging a pearl. Smitt had a reputation for seeking revenge. The locals were terrified of the man.
Once Jace received clearance for take-off, and he was in the air, he relaxed. Dipping his callused fingers inside his shirt pocket, he pulled out both sets of combs that belonged to his wife, and he now had in his possession.
The second set of combs was even lovelier than the first. This set looked just as old, but each comb had a design of three butterflies across it. Diamonds outlined the slender bodies of the butterflies, and the bulk of the bodies were filled with dark sapphires.
Diamonds and sapphires.
Where did she get them? Smitt? Although he couldn’t imagine the man giving any woman a gift, he supposed it was possible.
The stones looked damn authentic.
Jace snorted. They couldn’t possibly be.
If they were real, they were worth a small fortune. Kaycee certainly wouldn’t have left them with him if they were valuable. And she’d made no objection either time he removed the combs from her hair.
But then again, she’d been a little worse for wear the first time and acutely upset the second. She might not have realized either time he’d taken the combs and kept them. Or she didn’t realize the value of them, so therefore wasn’t concerned about him keeping them. He eyed the stones. Very likely, they were just good imitations.
Absently, he slid his thumb over the sapphires before slipping both sets of combs back inside his shirt pocket. First chance he got, he’d take them to a jeweler and have them appraised. Then, one way or the other, he was going to find out the role Smitt played in his gentle bride’s life.
The creep was taking a fast trip down the road—he didn’t give a good damn how he took it.