Jacob

by Kris Michaels

  What the hell was that about? Good enough for me? Seriously? How the hell did this morning go from almost getting laid in front of the fireplace to Doc getting as pissy as a teenage girl? Jacob knocked on the bedroom door. “Tori, heading out to saddle up. You have ten minutes.” At her muffled reply, he stepped into the bitter cold.

  *

  Tori closed the door and walked to the bed. Her sister lay on top of the sleeping bag. Her skin tinted pink from fever. Tori sat down on the bed and handed her sister the coffee.

  “Did I hear Adam and Jacob?” Tori nodded his response.

  Keelee coughed a deep rattling blast that sounded painful. Her muttered “damn” echoed Tori’s own thoughts.

  “Feeling pretty bad?”

  Keelee nodded. “Yeah. Like shit. Thanks for asking.”

  Jacob knocked on the door giving them ten minutes before they needed to head out.

  “Kee, you know we can do this without you. Why don’t you just stay in the cabin where it’s warm and we’ll bring the cows in?”

  Tori felt her sister’s shoulders stiffen. “I’m fine Tori. Just a cold.”

  “Alright. Then come eat something before we mount up.” Opening the door, she turned back. “You don’t have to act so tough, you know. It is alright to be sick.”

  Keelee set down the cup and got off the bed. Pulling on thermal shirt over her t-shirt, she threw a sideways glare and stomped out of the room. “FYI. I don’t act.”

  *

  Tori’s body ached. The icy air cut through her layered clothing and made her feel as if she wore nothing against the arctic blast. Yet they all worked the hills and valleys of the pastures to the north and moved the cattle down. The breaks cut back into the hills, and dense thickets of trees, made slow work of gathering the herd. Keelee and Victoria were experienced cattlewomen and the cow-savvy horses they rode made sure nothing slipped past them. Tori suspected that all of them worked non-stop because each, for their own reasons and with experiences from their own past, knew no other way. By dark, all the cattle had been cleared and pushed down to the holding pasture adjacent to the line shack.

  Keelee was supposed to called her dad on her cell and let him know they would meet him at Hell’s Canyon at noon the next day. But she coughed whenever she tried to speak so Tori dialed the cell and waited.

  “Hey, Daddy.”

  “Hey yourself. Why isn’t your sister making this call?”

  “She’s sick, being an ass, and won’t go in to rest. But we got the herd gathered and we’ll meet you tomorrow.

  Keelee rode over and coughed wickedly.

  “She sounds sick, baby girl. She got what Danny has? Do I need to ride over there?”

  “She probably does have pneumonia, but I don’t think you need to ride over Dad. We got a doctor on staff if she gets worse.”

  Tori heard her father’s deep breath. “You tell that stubborn girl if she feels bad to ride on home or hold up at the shack till she’s feeling better.”

  Tori relayed the command and Keelee tried to laugh but ended up coughing again. Finally, she cleared her throat. “Tell him I’m fine.”

  Before Tori could relate the message, Frank finished the call. “Yeah, she sounds fine. See you tomorrow.”

  Once all the cattle were settled into the holding pasture, Jacob and Doc tended to the horses while Tori and Keelee cooked dinner. Tori pointed to the couch, “Kee, just sit down. You don’t feel good, and I can do this.”

  “I’m fine. Quit treating me like a baby.” Keelee stubbornly stood in the kitchen and put together a ranch favorite of bacon, onion, garlic, and potatoes. She buried the cast iron pot in the hottest part of the fire next to the pot roast and vegetables that Tori already had working.

  “I’m not trying to baby you, Kee. I’m attempting to make sure you don’t drop dead. Come on, just come over and sit on the couch with me.”

  To her relief, Keelee dropped into the sofa and leaned against the arm supporting her head as if it weighed a ton.

  “So…you and Doc huh?” Tori’s question got a quick glance.

  The blush that lifted from her neck to her cheeks had nothing to do with the fever the woman fought. Finally, Keelee spoke in a soft, wistful voice, “No, not really. I mean, I think he’s so… Well, I’m actually attracted to him, but he’s leaving when you do. No reason to get my spurs tangled with his.”

  Tori gave a little whistle. “Damn, you do like him don’t you?”

  Keelee groaned before she moved her feet onto the couch and sighed. The sigh, of course, caused a fit of coughing. “Damn it! I hate being sick.” Her stuffy nose made her sound slightly pathetic.

  “Well, at least you’re admitting your sick now.” Tori went to the kitchen and retrieved a beer for herself and water for Keelee.

  “Here. Drink this.”

  Keelee thanked her and took a sip as Tori popped the top of her beer. She played with the label on the water bottle. “What’s wrong with me Tori?” The depth of the emotion in her sister’s words caught Tori’s attention.

  “Besides the cold you mean?”

  Keelee snuffed and nodded.

  “Not a damn thing. You live on a ranch that you never leave. How do you think you’ll meet anyone? There’s always Clint.” Tori held back the small sigh of resignation that came with the realization her sister didn’t have many options.

  Keelee groaned again and lay back against the arm of the couch, but not before shooting Tori a disgusted glance “He’s fixated on a wanting a wife and family. He has some crazy idea I’m interested. Honestly, he kinda creeps me out sometimes.” She shivered and that set off another spate of coughing. “Anyway, I think he has his eyes on the ranch. I’m a means to an end. Besides, he is not my type. He’s always telling me what to do. Like I’d listen to him? The only reason I went out with him to begin with was because I’m so damn lonely.”

  Tori rubbed the stocking feet that sat her lap trying to give some semblance of comfort. “I’m sorry, honey. I don’t know why you don’t at least try with Doc. He is handsome and a great guy.”

  “Yeah, and way out of my league, and let’s not forget he’s leaving. Doesn’t make for a good relationship.”

  Tori kept rubbing her sister’s feet. She didn’t know what to say. Keelee was pretty, kind, and worked so damn hard. She wished there was a magic wand to wave giving Keelee an incredible man. But like her dad always said, if wishes were fishes we’d all be fed.

  The sound of boots against the wooden porch prevented any further conversation. And the door opened on a cold gust of air to admit Doc and Jacob. They grabbed several pieces of cooked bacon from the table and a beer from the fridge. Jacob dropped in front of where Tori sat. With the bacon strip dangling from his mouth, he handed her his beer as he pulled off his boots. He reached around and pulled Tori off the couch and onto his lap.

  Tori couldn’t help the happiness that bubbled out in a giggle. The joy she felt just seeing him multiplied by a million when he wrapped his strong arms around her. “Better now?”

  Jacob growled in agreement as he pulled her close and wrapped his arm around her while opening his beer with his other hand.

  Doc sat down next to Keelee and took her bottle of water.

  “Hey! Not like I was drinking that or anything.” Her reprimand forced another coughing fit.

  Tori turned herself around in Jacob’s lap so she could watch the couple on the couch. Doc sat his beer down and grabbed Keelee’s waist twisting her so they both could use the arm rest she was seated next to for a back rest.

  “Well sure! Why don’t you just go ahead and join me, Dr. Cassidy?”

  Tori snuggled up against Jacob’s cold body, plastering herself against his chest.

  “Thank you. I think I will.” Doc’s reply got a rumble of laughter from Jacob. His chuckle was not the only one she heard. Tori peaked over Jacob’s shoulder and giggled at Keelee’s little laugh.

  Doc took a sip of beer and put half a piece of bacon into his mou
th. “How many head of cattle do you run on this ranch? We must have brought down a million head of livestock today.”

  Tori pointed to Keelee, who answered. “After we sell off the yearlings in July and August we run a couple thousand head through the winter. We bring them down closer to the home because the pastures have good grass come winter and if necessary, we can provide hay and feed. We run a robust mixed breed of Hereford and Angus, so they usually do well through the winter.”

  Another coughing fit wracked Keelee’s body. Doc stood up suddenly and went into his room. He returned and handed two tablets to her and motioned to her untouched water bottle. “Take these. You’ll be able to sleep and breathe more comfortably.”

  Keelee shook her head. “I don’t take medicine.”

  Jacob’s chest reverberated under Tori when he added an “Amen.”

  She laughed up at Doc, “Stubborn, aren’t they?”

  Doc frowned. “Him, I understand. You, young lady, are running a fever and need to rest.”

  Keelee got off the couch and headed to the kitchen. “I can rest when I’m dead. Right now dinner needs attention.”

  Tori jumped up following her sister as Doc sat down on the couch.

  Jacob hit Doc’s leg and stage whispered, “Damn dude, you struck out. No snuggling and she won’t take any of your happy pills. Don’t worry. I still love you, man.”

  Doc snorted. “Good to know, Skipper.”

  Chapter Ten

  Soaked with perspiration, Tori’s body fell on Jacob. Amazed and completely satisfied, Jacob stroked her dampened hair and threw the sleeping bag over both of them to prevent her from catching a chill. “Have I told you today how much I love you?”

  “Yep, three times in the last hour or so.”

  His laughter shook her body as she draped him. “God, you make me happy.”

  She lifted her head and met his eyes. “Jacob, I think we make each other happy. I feel like I’m a complete person when I’m with you.”

  Jacob searched her face before he spoke the words his mind and heart struggled to come to terms with. “Fuck, Tori, how am I going to leave you to go on missions?”

  “Silly man, you are going to do what you have to do. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself while I wait for you. You have a calling that I won’t interfere with. If you ever decide to stop going on missions, it will be because you choose not to go, not because of me. I won’t allow it, and you would resent me sooner or later if I did.”

  He rolled onto his side taking her with him. Her long, lean body felt perfect tucked next to him. “You realize when I’m not with you there could be a full-time security detail?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, I got that when you were getting your ass chewed by your boss.”

  He closed his eyes and grimaced. Opening one eye, he peeked at her. Yeah, he felt slightly less than happy she’d heard that conversation. “You heard, huh?”

  Tori scrunched her nose. “Only the parts he yelled, but he yelled quite a bit.”

  Jacob pulled her over and kissed her. “What exactly did you do at the Agency or the Bureau or wherever you used to work?”

  “I worked for the Agency, specifically as an International Intelligence Level One Analyst. I’m good at what I do. I was also a trained field operative. Why?”

  He shrugged. “I’m assuming you want to continue working?”

  He saw her light up inside, and her eyes flashed when she spoke. “Yes, I’d love to work again.” She sighed and shook her head. Just as fast as the light came on he watched her happiness drain. “But I won’t go back to the agency. I can’t work for them again.”

  Jacob played with her hair as he broached the subject she had avoided. “Honey, I’m going to need to know why you left. When I get back to the ranch, I’ll make the call to build your position working directly for me.”

  Tori sat up by his hip looking at him. “You want the abridged version or the whole nine yards?”

  He smiled. “I’m a whole nine yards kind of guy.”

  “I was played. I was unknowingly fed false information and then handed to the Afghani’s on a silver platter.

  Tori shrugged and examined her fingernails. “In hindsight I should’ve seen it, but I didn’t. Too far into the forest to notice the trees if you will.” She pulled the sleeping bag over her shoulders and shivered. “Okay, the whole nine yards. I lived my job for four years. I didn’t date much and didn’t really have any desire to do so. I can get lost in the research, data, and the dynamics of breaking through impenetrable firewalls, making existing software into information gathering protocols. You know…mainly finding intelligence in ways no one would suspect. About three years ago a nice-looking agent made me the target of his affections. I had no interest, but he was persistent. I finally agreed to go out for dinner. As I said, he was nice and we had a pleasant night. Nothing fantastic, mind you. No fireworks, honestly there weren’t even any sparks, but I realized then that I was lonely so I agreed to go out with him again. This agent was promoted to branch chief a couple months later. We continued our friendship because there was nothing physical between us.”

  Tori’s hands began to shake as she looked up to the ceiling. “I now know he fed me information from other sections. Bits of intelligence here, pieces of operations there, it was all done over time and seemingly innocent. The information alone was not classified, but coupled with the information he knew I knew, it could be considered critical to national security. One day I was called to his office and told I was going on a mission. It was routine low-level drop and I didn’t suspect anything because, in order to maintain my field operative status, I had to go out once a quarter. My cover story was solid, and I was completely unprepared when I was drugged and abducted from the hotel.”

  Tori stopped talking and drew circles on his chest. He watched silently as she tried to gain some control her emotions. But still her voice broke as she whispered, “It was leaked I was agency. I never broke my cover. I never divulged any information.” Jacob waited patiently watching as she silently tried to once again compose herself.

  “I speak four languages and three Afghani dialects. I could understand them when they talked in front of me. I knew they were confused. Their intel made me for Agency, but I didn’t break, so they were looking for a ransom payment, anything to negate their losses in the eyes of the ISIS. The elders still had control of the area, but they were worried ISIS militants would demand tribute. To them I was nothing more than a commodity. They were very close to finding out I had no value. That is when you entered the picture.” Jacob nodded and waited.

  “When we landed in Germany, I was immediately shot full of drugs and put on another plane to D.C. After waking up in a hospital, I was debriefed. No, that isn’t right. I was—interrogated—with prejudice. Dr. Amiri was in charge of the interrogations. From what I can figure out, the bottom line was that I was supposed to break. It was expected I would release the information I had been fed. It was all false, but would’ve been credible if the interrogations had broken me. They knew. The people who sent me knew if I was broken I would be killed, and they counted on that. They counted on me breaking and being killed. My mission was considered a failure because I didn’t break, and I lived.” Tears streamed over her cheeks. The last words melted together with silent sobs that racked her relentlessly.

  Jacob pulled her down to him and held her as she quietly fell apart.

  The rage ignited in him went beyond anything he had ever felt before. “Tori, what is the name of the Branch Chief who set you up?” Please God, let him get his hands on that son of a bitch. Five minutes. Just five minutes.

  She shook her head. “No Jacob, if I tell you, you’ll act on it and we both know that would not end well…for anyone.”

  “You know I can find out.”

  She looked up at him. Her red-rimmed tear-filled eyes silently begging. “I know if I ask you not to you won’t, and I’m asking you, Jacob, let it go.”

  He groaned as
he pulled her as close to him as he could. How could he let this go? “Honey, I don’t know if I can do that.”

  She kissed his chest, her sobs stilled, but tiny hiccups for air assaulted her body in the aftermath. “Please, for me?”

  He rolled on top of her and kissed her throat. Didn’t she see he had to make this right? The bastards were playing God. “Honey...” Tori looked at him and shook her head still trying to control her emotions.

  Jacob dropped his head to her shoulder and nodded. The obvious solution assailed him. “Alright.”

  Tori stroked his back and sniffed before she wiped the tears from her cheeks with her free hand. “You gave in too easy. I must have overlooked an angle.”

  Jacob shook his head. “No. I promised you I would let it go.”

  Tori sighed and closed her eyes. He knew she was completely exhausted both mentally and physically. As she drifted off Jacob’s mind raced. The promise was easy to make. Jared and Jason ran domestic operations. He would brief them on the situation and get the information he needed. He held her in his arms. Her steady breathing and soft warmth wrapped around him. His training deeply ingrained he scanned the room one last time before closing his eyes. Allowing sleep to overtake him, he drifted off.

  *

  Something pulled Jacob from a deep sleep. He felt her move seconds before her small cry turned into terrified panting. Jacob lifted onto his elbow and pulled her closer. Tori immediately fought his attempt to gather her to him. Her body thrashed spasmodically. Pinning her beneath him Jacob lowered his mouth beside her ear. “Shhh, baby. It’s alright. I have you. Nobody is going to hurt you. Tori…wake up, baby.” Her struggles stilled under him. His murmured words must have registered on some level and she woke with a start searching for something familiar. He saw fear before she recognized him and collapsed into tears again. The mental anguish she lived with tore at him as he held her. Her sobs finally abated and he wiped her face with the pads of his fingers. “I got you baby. I promise no one is going to hurt you again.” His lips brushed her sweetly and tenderly.