by Reece Butler
“If she’d gone home as soon as she had the money to cover her fare, nothing would have happened.”
Her mother was blaming Katie for being attacked? “Don’t worry, the sheriff is tracking her attacker down,” he said sarcastically.
“I wonder if Stephanie set it up,” she murmured.
“Who?”
“Walter’s wife. Their daughter Matilda took the job I’d earmarked for my daughter.”
Sam pulled the phone away from his ear. He counted to ten, sure he’d misheard.
“Are you suggesting Katie’s aunt might have set her up?”
“All’s fair in love, work, and business,” she replied airily.
Sam clenched his teeth to stop himself from swearing. This was Katie’s mother. If things worked out she would be his mother-in-law, grandmother to his children. Oh, hell, no! With that attitude he’d make sure she had zero contact with any of them.
“You don’t seem very concerned about what happened to Katie.”
“She survived, and learned something in the process. She can put it behind her and move on.”
“That’s pretty damn callous.”
“Mister Elliott, we all have things from our pasts that were not pleasant. When we learn from them it makes the experience worthwhile no matter how uncomfortable. One survives and prospers, or gives up and fades away.”
“Is that how your company works?”
“Life is all about survival of the fittest.”
“I guess there’s a few hyenas in your management structure.”
“We are predators, at the top of the food chain, Mr. Elliott. Not scavengers.”
“Coulda fooled me,” he muttered. She didn’t catch it, or maybe she ignored it.
“Unfortunately, my husband is a weak man. I’ve had to push him every step of the way. However, I trained our sons well. It’s time for my daughter to take her place with the organization.”
All the “my daughter” crap was getting to him. It was as if Katie existed only to serve the needs of her mother.
“What if Katie doesn’t want to?”
“I will not tolerate losing the time and expense already put into her.”
Sam held the phone out at arm’s length, gritting his teeth so he did not tell the woman exactly what he thought of her. This conversation made sense of a lot of things. It also gave him hope that Katie would want to stay. God, surely a fancy job wasn’t worth putting up with family like this!
“I managed to reschedule her appointment with Walter. I will make airplane reservations and send a car to pick her up tomorrow morning. She must get to that appointment on time and present herself well. Unfortunately she has had issues with Walter, but if she humbles herself enough, he may overlook her transgressions.”
The careful way Katie’s mother phrased her comments raised Sam’s hackles. It sounded like her uncle had done things to Katie, yet it was up to her to apologize for being attacked, bow down before him, and expect the same, or worse in the future.
“Katie’s an intelligent, capable woman. There’s lots of companies who’ll treat her better. It’s her life. Why is it so important to you that she works there?”
“If Katherine does not apologize to Walter, her father and I will be humiliated.”
Sam waited, hopefully making her sweat. Of course, it was all about them. What Katie wanted, or needed, didn’t matter a damn.
“So?” he bluntly replied. “Katie’s been humiliated by you people all her life. Why should she care?” The woman sputtered in his ear. “You do know Katie’s face is sunburned, her hands are calloused, and those red curls of hers blow all over the place in the wind.”
“I have booked her into an exclusive spa for the weekend. They will also provide a suitable wig.”
“Katie doesn’t need repair, or a wig. She’s beautiful just the way she is.”
“You would think that.”
She said it as if she just stepped her foot into something a four-legged critter had left behind. It added fuel to the slow burn that had started with her first words.
“Look, lady. Katie gave her word to finish a job here first. She said that a Winterbourne always keeps her word.”
“Only when it’s important to the company. And whatever she’s doing there is not.”
Sam tapped the receiver against his thigh. It was better than having to repair drywall and replace the phone.
“I can see why Katie never fit in with you lot. She has ethics and cares about more than covering her ass.”
“When may I expect her call?”
He barked a laugh. “You can expect it right now, lady, but that don’t mean it’s gonna happen.” He waited, figuring she was chewing on nails for a bit. Galvanized ones, not her no-doubt perfectly lacquered fingers.
“Mr. Elliott, when will my daughter return to your ranch?”
“Well,” Sam purposely drew out his answer. “Probably when she gets here.”
“I do not find you amusing. I insist she calls me immediately.”
Sam heard the sound of boots stomping outside, too hard for lightweight Katie. If Trey got on the phone he’d blast the woman so hard her false eyelashes would go flying.
“You can insist all you like,” said Sam.
“I will not take no for an answer, Mr. Elliott.”
Sam found himself listening to a dial tone.
“What’s up?” demanded Trey as he shucked his boots.
“Katie’s mother is sending a car tomorrow morning to take Katie to the Missoula airport so she can be returned to the loving embrace of her family. I’m to inform her to call her mother immediately.”
Trey’s eyes narrowed. “Loving embrace? You mean that slithering snake pit?”
“Don’t lump snakes in with her family. Rattlers eat rodents, so serve a purpose.” Sam rubbed his stomach, suddenly sour. “The woman thinks she owns Katie. I don’t think I’ll pass on what her mother said. I don’t want Katie to leave.”
“You ready to ask her to marry you? That will encourage her to stay.” Trey took the phone out of Sam’s hand and set it back on the hook. “Maybe Mommy Dearest just gave you the kick in the arse you needed to get down on one knee.”
“Can’t do it without a ring.”
“That’s easy to solve. In fact, needing her ring so you can propose might get Mom out here.”
His heart jumped. It was his behavior that had kept his mom from returning to the home she’d shared with her husbands and sons. He had a hell of a lot of guilt burning inside him from it.
“You think she might come out?”
“She wants us to be happy, Sam.” Trey’s eyes stared into his soul. “She likes Katie. If marrying was the only way to keep Katie here and maybe get some more grandkids, she’d come out.” Trey nodded. “I’ll call her.”
A huge weight lifted from Sam's shoulders. If Mom was comfortable coming to the Rocking E, and Katie agreed to marry them and stay in Climax, his life was going to be totally different. They’d be a family, complete with dogs.
“Katie’s mom is sending a car, huh?”
Trey’s words pulled Sam back to reality. “Yeah. Tomorrow morning.”
“You know,” said Trey with a devilish grin, “we could tell Tom that we’re expecting an unfriendly invasion. He’s been bored since he and Dorothy got back from England, and they’re fond of Katie. You think he’s still got that chopper with the decommissioned missiles on it?”
“You mean the hollow tubes that look real?” asked Sam. Trey nodded in reply. “You’re thinking Tom could have some fun with that car our future mother-in-law is sending?”
“Yep,” said Trey with gusto.
“The woman did say all’s fair in love, war, and business,” said Sam.
“Perfect. We love Katie, she’ll be part of our Rocking E ranch business, and Tom will give her a taste of war.”
Chapter 30
Katie finished washing the breakfast dishes and peeled off her gloves. The bell for the front gat
e went off again. No wonder she felt twitchy, the dang thing must be broken. She turned to Sam, who sat at the table reading a cattle magazine. He’d been acting strange since she got home from visiting the MacDougals yesterday, as in happy. After supper she’d jokingly asked if he’d won the lottery. He’d put his finger over his lips and said to ask him in twenty-four hours. She’d promised herself she would wait.
Sixteen to go.
The first six were the best. Sam and Trey had bathed, then made slow love to her. So slow that she’d had to beg, shaking with need, before they’d let her come. And God, did she come! She’d thought they put the towels on the bed because she was still damp from her bath. No, they’d made her squirt! Even now her face heated in memory, and, if she was honest with herself, eagerness. She’d woken with one man snuggled against each side of her. It had felt so right she hadn’t wanted to move.
The day had dawned bright and sunny, perfect for drying the fields. Maybe Sam was happy because they’d be able to finish the haying by the weekend. She hadn’t told them about not having a job or a home to go back to. Sam had enough on his plate. After the haying, she’d explain everything. Maybe by then she’d have a plan. She’d stay for Lila’s wedding, of course. But then?
Ding!
“There must be something wrong with the bell at the cattle guard,” she said to Sam. “That’s the sixth”—ding!—”seventh time it’s rung.”
“Nothing’s wrong with the bell,” said Sam without looking up. “I’m expecting company.”
“Are you having a meeting?” She tried to hide her disgruntlement at him not bothering to tell her.
“No, just some family coming over for a bit.”
“Family?” Katie looked around the kitchen. The breakfast dishes were clean but they were still in the rack. “You could’ve told me! I’ve got to clean up.”
“You might want to change,” said Sam.
Katie looked down. Snug black yoga pants and a loose T-shirt proclaiming “Ranchers do it on horseback.” Change her clothes or clean up? Sam stood up.
“I’ll tidy up here, if you want to head upstairs.”
The crunch of gravel came in the open window. A line of pickups pulled into the yard. She dashed upstairs.
Whatever the reason for their visitors, from the excited chatter downstairs it must be a happy one. She shucked her clothes, stuffing them in the bottom of the closet. The fastest way to cover herself would be to put on a dress. It would also make Sam and Trey happy. She’d never worn the white one with red cherries accented by bright green piping. She switched into a champagne-colored bra and panties, put the dress on, and slipped on a pair of black flats. A quick brush of her hair and she was done. She hadn’t yet had a chance to purchase any makeup, so would go without.
It sounded like everyone had gone into the family room. She was halfway down the stairs when she realized an older woman stood in the kitchen, her back to Katie. Sam stood on one side, and Trey on the other. The woman turned, and Katie saw she had her fingers to her mouth. Tears flowed down her cheeks. As soon as Katie recognized her, her own eyes teared up.
“You’ve done a wonderful job, my dear. It looks so welcoming.”
Katie ran down the stairs. She returned Stella’s hug, careful of the woman’s sore arm.
“I had a good reason to,” replied Katie. “I hoped you might come back if it wasn’t such a mess.”
Stella released Katie, grabbing both her son’s arms instead. “If you’re ready, let’s go in the family room with the others.”
Ready? Katie looked from Trey, who beamed, to Sam. She’d never seen that look on Sam’s face before, eager and worried all at the same time. He put his arm around her. Trey took his mom, and she and Sam followed.
Cheers broke out. Katie expected them to be for Stella, as she’d finally returned to the home she’d shared with her family for so long. But Stella turned toward her. Katie looked around. The MacDougals were there, all the Frosts, and both generations of Adams’, as well as Dorothy and a bunch of the bachelor brothers. And they were all looking at her as if they expected her to do something.
“What…?”
“Katie?”
She turned to Sam. He took her left hand, lifted it to his mouth, and kissed her knuckles. Without releasing her hand he sank to one knee in front of her. Everyone looked at them expectantly. Men didn’t do this except for one reason. Sam didn’t want to marry her. She had the application form to prove it. A form he’d not even looked at…
“Trey?” she asked. “What’s going on?”
Grinning like a little boy, he took her other hand. Then he went down on one knee next to Sam.
“Katie,” said Sam. “I’m sorry to do this in public, but I asked Mom to bring something out to us. She needed a ride, so asked Aunt Dorothy, who told Tom, who told Uncle Keith, and, well, it snowballed.”
“Snowballed?”
“Pretend we’re alone,” said Trey. He winked.
“Katie.” Sam squeezed her hand. She focused on him. “When you punched me in the nose you woke me up. It’s taken me a long time to realize it, but I love you. So much that I can’t imagine wanting to live without you.” He took a deep breath. “But I won’t live in fear of losing you.”
“You know I love you, Katie,” added Trey. “But now I’ve said it in public.”
“Will you do us the honor of becoming my wife?” asked Sam. “With Trey, of course, but you’d be mine on paper. And we’d be yours.”
Marry Sam and Trey? She tried to speak but a distant roaring filled her head. She wavered. Sam and Trey shifted their grips from her hands to her elbows, supporting her. The roaring got louder. It wasn’t just in her head.
“Is that a helicopter?” she asked.
“That must be Tom,” said one of the MacDougals. “I left the gate open, so he must be herding that car in.”
“Hurry up and answer, Katie. I want to see what happens!” urged Dorothy.
The male cousins rushed past Katie to the kitchen. The noise got louder with the door open. She heard deep yells and a car horn.
“Will you marry me, Katie?” Sam had to yell over the din.
Nothing like this had ever happened to her. She’d never even imagined something this crazy. She was getting a marriage proposal from two grooms, surrounded by their relatives, as a helicopter swooped overhead.
It was crazy. It was wild. It was just what she wanted. She burst into laughter.
“Yes!”
Sam swooped her into his arms. Dorothy shoved open the door and ran out onto the deck. Katie put her hands over her ears.
“What’s happening?”
“Your mother sent a car to take you home so you can bow down before your Uncle Walter and apologize for the way he’s treated you.”
“What?”
“I want to see this.” Sam carried her outside.
Even if she’d struggled, she could not have escaped his grip. And she did not want to escape. The cousins all held rifles. They were pointed at the ground, but the implication was they could easily be shifted to face the black limo parked in the yard. A compact black helicopter with what looked like missiles hovered, facing it. Katie peered at the cockpit.
“Is that Tom White?”
“Yep,” yelled Trey. “Look at him grinning! He’s wanted an excuse to take that baby up for a long while.” He turned to Katie. “Do you love us, Katie-girl? Enough to put up with us ranchers? We’re not quiet, like your family. We wrestle and fight and carry our wives off to tie them up and spank them, and lots more.”
“Yes, I love both of you! And I love that your family and friends are crazy like this!”
Trey whooped and ran into the yard, waving his arms over his head. He faced the black helicopter and gave a double thumbs-up to Tom. It immediately cut over to an open space by the barn where Dorothy waited. She ducked under the blades and climbed in beside Tom. A moment later the chopper shot into the air. With its nose almost pointing to the ground, it swung away,
heading west faster than Katie had thought possible. The noise and vibration disappeared as quickly as the machine.
“You’re going to stay here on the Rocking E, right?” asked Sam. “You like it here?”
“Yes, if I can get a few things fixed. When we can afford it,” she added. “I don’t have money, or a job.”
“You will if I have my way.” Katie found Keith Adams beside her.
“Do you want to run a small business?”
Katie’s jaw dropped. “Me?”
Keith looked around, exaggerating. “You see any other MBA grads who can manage people while under stress, who stand by their word, and like being spanked?”
Spanked? She glared at Sam.
“I didn’t say a word, and neither did Trey,” said Sam.
“They didn’t have to,” said Keith. “Anyone who agreed to marry these two would have to enjoy something beyond vanilla.” He winked. “So. Will you run our alternate lifestyle furniture company?”
“It’s always been my dream to be in charge of a company. But, why don’t one of you do it?”
Keith waved her question away. “We’re too old for all that pressure. We want to have fun doing the design and testing, and travelling to kink shows to market it. You interested?”
“Yes!”
“Second time Katie’s said that this morning, and still no ring!” complained Stella.
“Mom, my hands are busy holding my fiancé.”
“I’ll do it.” Trey dug in Sam’s shirt pocket and pulled out a blue velvet box.
“This is the ring our father bought with his rodeo winnings,” said Trey. “It’s old, ‘cause he got it at an antique store, but I think you’ll like it.” He flipped the lid open to reveal a square-cut, deep-green emerald.
“Oh, my,” said Katie in awe. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s a classic, and high quality, just like you,” said Stella.
Trey took her left hand and slipped the ring on. It fit perfectly.
“How did you know the size?”
“Remember when you tried on my ring?” Marci MacDougal smiled delightedly. “Stella used it to get this one sized.”