How could he prove to Tess that he did respect her? Sure, he worried that she was all alone in Hollywood and prey to bad people, but she wasn’t a weakling. Although she did kind of crumple when JD put her down. Now he’d put his own foot in it by antagonizing Tess so much she wouldn’t share what she’d been talking to Davis about.
Davis. Was he a rival for Tess’s affections? He’d known her since she was a girl, but now she was a grown woman. Davis was not their generation, but his age didn’t make him impossible as a potential lover for a beautiful young woman like Tess. She’d been a looker when they’d first met, but Hollywood had put a shine on her, a gloss she hadn’t bothered with previously. Her body had always been hotter than hot, and her personality, from the moment he’d met her in her father’s hospital room in Cheyenne, was bold and daring. Tess was a force of nature. Except with JD. He cowed her even though she fought back.
Davis had never shown him any disrespect, but Rolf had been aware he’d had to earn it from the older man. The system worked. JD made the big plans, and Rolf carried them out. Davis followed orders with no issues. Chain of command.
Tess had never gone for that. She was a hellion. Maybe he’d better get on with his next tasks and then talk to JD about dialing it back with Tess. Without Paula there to restrain him, JD was being an ass. Join the crowd. Rolf had just been an ass himself.
Chapter 7
Tess stomped the four-wheeler’s accelerator, screeching away from the compound to show her disgust. How dare Rolf behave like he owned her? Why did he automatically assume she couldn’t handle herself in her own home? Maybe she sometimes was out of her depth in Hollywood. Who wouldn’t be? Even Caz Cassidy, Addie’s old friend from their childhood on TV together, admitted he had his moments of insecurity despite being a big TV star all over again as an adult and now in the movies. So why shouldn’t Tess have a few twinges now and then of feeling insecure, or even worried or bored?
Rolf wanted to wrap her up in a neat bundle and tuck her away somewhere safe. Safe was for sissies. She wanted to live.
Tess topped a rise and spotted the brand new house Baron had built for Addie. It was completely different from the ranch house, a sleek look influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright for sure, but also by the smooth adobes of Santa Fe. The thick painted concrete insulated the house, and the long lines of the no-frills design gave it a spacious and airy appeal.
Here they could be together alone, away from the rest of the family and from any direct ranch responsibilities. Baron was a geologist. He’d bought acreage next to the Selkirk ranch land and was exploring the rocks and finding dinosaur bones. These days, he was happy as a pig in mud.
Who wouldn’t be happy married to Addie Jelleff? Tess espied her sister-in-law in the ring, patiently putting a nervous-looking roan horse through her training regimen. Addie trained using firm kindness. She worked wonders with horses. Tall, slender, and blonde, she didn’t look as if she had a will of steel, but Tess and everyone else had reason to know that was exactly what Addie had. Baron could never break her, although he had tried. Instead, he’d had to change himself to earn her respect. He was still liable to fly off the handle if a ranch responsibility fell in his unwilling lap, though. He’d hated running the vast Selkirk system after his father dumped it on him.
But all that was in the past. Addie had finally consented to marry Baron, and they’d done it up in a big way three months ago.
Although Tess had told Rolf she wasn’t interested in opening a small business like Addie’s, she had to admit that Addie’s success rate with horses was one hundred percent. She trained the animals in a kindly manner, and they learned to trust her and do her bidding. Tess kept back from the corral fence so her presence wouldn’t interfere.
In a few minutes, Addie told the horse goodbye and left the corral. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. Baron invited me to lunch with you. I hope that’s okay.” At Addie’s nod, Tess continued. “Do you want to go barrel racing? There’s a place near here they do it every Saturday. Anyone can take a turn.”
“No, thanks. I never was into the faster-is-better thing.” Addie indicated that they should walk to the house. “I thought you quit when you were a teenager?”
“I did. I won the contest for my age group and Mom convinced me I should let others have a chance—that’s what she said, anyway.” Tess sniffed. “All it meant was that Becky Lang got to win something at least once. It didn’t prove anything. I was always faster than her.”
“Did you stop barrel racing because you were being nice or because you had no competition to push you to get even faster?” Addie asked, with a smile on her face.
“I could have gone on to the older groups, but what was the point? Anyway, I was heading for college. That got blasted by JD’s mess. My parents pressured me to take a hiatus—that’s what they called it.”
Addie looked as if she wanted to say something, but she didn’t. Tess said, “Yeah. They totally ruined my college thing, just had me sitting around in Cheyenne getting verbal abuse from JD. That’s why I was always drinking when you first met me.”
Addie tactfully didn’t mention how hostile Tess had been to her when they’d first met. “Why didn’t you go back to college?”
“What was the point? I wanted Hollywood. I probably should have found a school that had a big drama department so I could get acting lessons. Except it didn’t matter. Caz got me the tryout, thanks to you, and I got the part. Boom.”
Addie nodded. “That’s how the business can work. One person goes to California and tries for years to break in, gets an MFA in drama or whatever, and another person knows somebody and looks right for the part and is in, just like that.”
“I don’t deserve my success.” Tess said, as they entered the house. “But I have worked hard to be a good actress.”
“Actor. Actress is outdated terminology. Sexist.”
“Really?”
“Like comedienne. A woman comedian is what they say now.” Addie made a gesture indicating she was through with that topic. “So what happened?”
“You mean why am I visiting right now? I’m between jobs and I got antsy just waiting and doing nothing.” She held up a hand. “No lectures, okay? I did everything I could to keep busy. I went hang gliding, parasailing, stand up paddle boarding, bungee jumping, skate boarding, mountain biking,” she ticked them off on her fingers. “Parkour, of course.”
Addie looked amazed. “How did you have time for all that?”
“You know how it is. During the shooting season for the TV series, the work days are so long you have to automate every part of your life that you can. When there’s no work, there’s nothing to do. The cleaning crew still takes care of the condo, the laundry service does my clothes, and there’s a food delivery service, too.”
Addie nodded. “That’s true.”
They went into the kitchen, where Addie began to throw together a salad. Just in time, Tess remembered not to snatch a cherry tomato from the big bowl. Miss B wouldn’t mind—although she’d slap Tess’s hand—but Addie might. There still were moments Tess felt insecure around cool, collected Addie.
At Addie’s silent direction, Tess set the handsome marble kitchen island with thick red pottery plates Addie had pulled out of an upper cabinet.
“So, anyway, I also tried tennis, golf, racket ball, handball, beach volleyball, rock climbing, and zip lining. I tried out firearms lessons but decided I could have taught the class, so I dropped out.” She said the last with a wry grin.
Addie got an unhappy look on her face. “I’m all too aware of Wyoming’s liberal rules about carrying firearms.”
“We probably disagree about them,” Tess acknowledged, carefully not bringing up Addie’s unfortunate past experience with a gunman. “Out here it makes sense. I could shoot in every direction and hit nothing except an occasional rabbit. Plenty of space to practice.”
Addie waved a hand, indicating she would prefer Tess talk about something else.
> Tess said, “At least one good thing came from that firearms class. I met a cute SWAT team guy.”
Addie looked interested. “Are you seeing each other?”
“We were for a while.” She shrugged. “It didn’t last. We didn’t have much to say to each other, and I’m not into booty calls from men I hardly care about.”
Addie sighed. “That’s a good attitude to have, but it can be lonely.”
Tess’s reply was heartfelt. “Don’t I know it. Somehow, I missed learning how to make new friends. I’ve been in California for three years and I hardly know anybody.”
Addie looked at her in concern.
“I’m whining again, aren’t I?” Tess sat at the counter and played with her silverware, which was chunky and enamel-handled to match the red color of the dishes. “I really love acting, but I love the ranch, and I can’t see any way to have both.”
“You could fly here every weekend.”
“That wouldn’t work. During the season the work days are so long. I’d end up traveling on Saturday and then coming back on Sunday. They’d make us work seven days a week if they could afford the union overtime.”
Addie nodded. “Luckily, I was saved that because of child labor laws.” She pulled a bowl of chicken salad from the refrigerator. “Maybe if you flew your own plane home to the ranch, you could get more of a break.”
Tess grimaced. “Even though I took flying lessons and have my license now, my contract specifically forbids me doing that. I only get to do the daredevil stuff between seasons.” Her mouth had to be drooping. It was a drag to be contractually forbidden to live the active life she preferred.
“Oh, that’s right. Typical Hollywood contract. You’re not allowed to do anything risky.”
“I can canoe or row a boat during the season, but no water skiing, jet skiing, parachuting, or the like.”
“Poor thing,” Addie gently mocked.
Tess grinned. “I’m whining again, aren’t I? It’s not all that bad. They couldn’t stop me working out at the gym, or taking a fierce self-defense course—that one I did for Paula. She told me I needed it. I got into trouble a few times in Cheyenne.”
At Addie’s sudden frown, Tess added, “It hasn’t happened again. I’m much more careful living alone in Hollywood.”
She continued listing her activities. “Anyway, I also did yoga, pilates, and exercise classes. Tai Chi didn’t help. I never got calmer.”
“It sounds as if you didn’t stick with any of those energetic activities.”
“The only thing I stick with is drinking. I like surfing the best. I took Rolf surfing. You should have seen him getting wiped out,” Tess said, smiling at the memory. “He looked indignant.”
She stared out the window. “I could go rock climbing with Baron.” She checked the doors to the kitchen before continuing, “Speaking of my oldest brother, why don’t you and Baron have any kids yet? Paula’s been married to JD for three years now and already had two miscarriages. They’ve been trying hard.”
Addie looked surprised at Tess’s question. “We only got married three months ago. I could wait a few more years. I’m not even sure Baron wants children. Your father is such a dynastic thinker that as the oldest son Baron feels pressured to continue the Selkirk line. So of course he’s resisting.”
“That’s being immature, like a teenager who does the opposite of what a parent wants.”
Addie just looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
“Okay,” Tess said, making a shamed face. “Maybe I’m like that. People tell me I can’t do things, so I rush to prove them wrong.”
For some reason, Tess really wanted to know, so she asked another nosy question. “You aren’t still keeping Baron in probationary mode, are you? I mean, you did finally marry him.”
“It’s got nothing to do with that. Baron’s instincts are protective. He’s basically a big teddy bear.”
“Who has a permanent sore paw,” Tess rejoined. “He’s better lately, but he’s not the laid back guy he used to be.”
Addie sighed. “I wouldn’t know. This is the man I met. People change. Or more likely, they adapt to changes, just the way horses do. Baron’s adaptation to the unfair burden of running this vast enterprise was toxic. It still isn’t completely out of his system.”
“You talk like a shrink.”
Addie raised her palm, accepting Tess’s criticism. “I had to think long and hard about whether I could completely forgive Baron for what he did to me when I first was on the ranch. It wasn’t enough to understand what demons drove him. I had to decide whether I could take the risk that he’d never be domineering again. Friends told me to walk away.”
Tess put her hand on Addie’s arm. Addie so seldom revealed any doubt. “But you took Baron back. You lived with him.”
“Only because he didn’t ask me to commit to him right off. Before we got engaged, when we just lived together, I was always on the alert to see that he was following through with his anger management therapy. I also read everything I could get my hands on about abusive behavior. What set it off. What stopped it.”
“And?”
“He shows all the signs of having given up abusiveness as a tactic to control people, but his defenses are up and likely to remain up. He’s had to fight to protect the life he wanted. To be a geologist instead of a rancher. And remember, JD didn’t commit to stay here forever, so Baron still has the worry that it will all fall on his shoulders again.”
Tess took a step back and leaned against the counter. “I thought everything was settled three years ago, when JD took over.”
“You’ll have to talk to Paula about that. I think there will be changes here again, and soon.”
Something to think about. For now, Tess wanted to lighten the mood. “So I’ll know that he’s finally okay when he doesn’t cut up rough if I do something like piloting the helicopter over his cliff to buzz him?”
Addie laughed and picked up a bowl. “Don’t do that. Baron cursed over a recent storm that slightly rearranged his piles.”
Baron finally appeared, looking dusty and frustrated. “My camera drone found a hidden cave way up high. But I can’t get a clear shot of what’s inside.”
Tess eyed him. “You’re too big to go up the cliff, am I right?”
Baron was a big man, not the cliché body type of a nerd with advanced university degrees and a passionate interest in rocks. Too solid all over to be comfortable cliff climbing.
He nodded. “I usually have a guy who comes and does whatever climbing is needed, but he’s not available this week. I’ll have to wait.” Baron brought a jug of lemonade from the refrigerator and poured some for Addie and Tess before filling a glass for himself.
“I could check it out for you,” Tess offered. “I’ve rock climbed lots of times.”
“No way. Too risky.” He put the pitcher on the counter. Once Addie sat on a stool, he sat, too.
Tess asked, “Does your guy keep his equipment here? I could use his and do it today. Help you out.”
“No, it’s too dangerous for an amateur.” He waved away her offer with one hand and started building a massive sandwich. His hands still bore the scars of the fire from nearly four years ago, but they were fading.
Tess took a bite of her chicken salad. “I’ve taken lots of lessons. I know how to rock climb.”
“I’m not risking your safety over this.”
She looked pleadingly at Addie. “I’ve done trad climbing, not just sport climbing.”
Baron looked at Addie, too. Seemed like he always checked with her first these days, about everything. Maybe Addie was right to trust him now.
“Be careful,” was all she said.
“Okay, then,” he agreed.
After lunch, Tess followed Baron over to his site. First, she did a bit of freehand rock climbing. “Just to get a sense of how these rocks feel,” she said, returning to earth and dusting off her hands.
Baron looked impressed. “You were like a cat u
p there. You’re very sure-footed.”
“The low female center of gravity helps.” She smirked. “Also, turns out I’m good at this.”
He rubbed his neck. “Why didn’t I know that?”
“Nobody ever let me climb anything around here as a kid, remember?”
He nodded. “You had to learn to cook and clean and sew.”
She made a face. “All of which I do quite badly.”
He grinned at her. “Or not at all.”
“Got that right,” she smiled back. “Anyway, in rock climbing school I learned I have better than average balance.”
“I’m sold.” They walked toward the lean-to he had set up as a makeshift sorting site. Baron led her to a storage locker. He opened it and sorted through the climbing equipment.
“Can you use these?” he asked.
She nodded. The tools were familiar.
He said, “The camera on the drone only showed a cave opening. I need to know if the cave is a former human abode or not. Whether it is will affect my immediate and future plans. Look for pictographs or petroglyphs, any signs of human habitation.”
As Tess loaded a backpack with supplies, she asked, “You okay with me knocking a few holes in this rock if need be?”
He actually hesitated.
“I’ll try to only use the wedges and cams as chocks,” she said, patting his arm. “Wouldn’t want to damage your precious rock.”
She peered up at the cliff section he’d pointed out. “I’ll check it out.”
“There’s a lot at stake. If the cave is a recent archeological site, I’ll have to shut down my work and call the state to come investigate.”
“What do you call recent?”
“The last hundred thousand years.”
Cowgirl Rescue (Selkirk Family Ranch Book 3) Page 8