Wrangler's Rescue

by B. J Daniels

  “Not if she was the one who shoved him overboard.”

  “Let’s hope Flint can prove it. She doesn’t seem like a woman who will walk away with nothing.”

  Billie Dee shook her head angrily. “How did he get involved with her?”

  Henry shrugged. “Hopefully he’ll remember.”

  “Well, you can bet that his story will be a whole lot different from hers.”

  “For AJ’s sake, I hope that’s true.”

  Her face fell. “It is breaking my heart. Now the awful Juliette is pregnant? It can’t be his baby. AJ loves him and I thought he was falling for her, as well. I’m usually not wrong about these things.”

  He smiled at her. “I’m sure you aren’t.” He kissed her. “I can’t wait to make you my wife. Soon.”

  She smiled. A wedding might be exactly what this family needed, but she realized that couldn’t happen until Juliette was out of their lives.

  Soon, the family began arriving.

  * * *

  CYRUS WAS WAITING outside the hotel when Flint drove up. Only in Montana could the weather change so drastically. It was March but it felt more like spring. The temperature was expected to reach high fifties. The snow that had been falling for weeks was now melting. Not that the piles that had been plowed up over the winter were going anywhere until June.

  Flint breathed in the day, feeling blessed in so many ways. Montana’s big sky was a robin’s-egg blue without a cloud anywhere. The sun was warm with the promise of spring. It was a good day for Cyrus to get reacquainted with his family, he thought, and hoped it went well.

  Cyrus hopped into the patrol SUV. He didn’t look like a man who’d noticed the beautiful March day. February was now behind them. Spring was coming.

  “Are you all right?” the sheriff asked.

  “I keep running into people who say they know me and know about my ‘ordeal.’”

  So that was it. “It’s a small town and everyone knows you,” Flint said.

  “So I’m finding out.” He didn’t sound happy about that. He buckled up as if just wanting to get this over with. If he didn’t get his memory back, would he leave here? Flint couldn’t stand the thought and yet it seemed more than possible. He could see how hard this was for his brother.

  And now they were headed for brunch with the family. He remembered how disappointed he’d been when Cyrus hadn’t remembered him. But it would be nothing like his little sister, Lillie, would experience when Cyrus looked at her and didn’t have any idea who she was.

  “I can’t imagine how difficult this is for you,” Flint said, “but there’s someone I want you to see before we meet the family at the saloon.” He looked wary. “It’s a local doctor. I’ve told him about what happened...” He rushed on before Cyrus could argue. “It’s important that we know what we’re up against, okay?”

  Cyrus nodded. “Why not? I keep thinking my memory is going to just miraculously return. But since it hasn’t...”

  * * *

  THEY WERE LED right into the doctor’s office. Flint watched as Dr. Brady examined his brother. “Amnesia is a form of memory loss that is usually temporary. Common causes are trauma or a head injury. I understand you hit your head on the railing of the ship.”

  Cyrus nodded. “That’s what I’ve been told.”

  “But it wasn’t enough to knock you out?”

  “Maybe for a few seconds. But not more than that. Otherwise, I would have drowned.”

  The doctor nodded. “A lot of things could cause memory loss. Given what you’ve been through, I’m not surprised. In your case, I think your memory loss might be psychosomatic.”

  “What does that mean?” Cyrus asked.

  “Psychological.”

  “In other words, it’s all in my head?” his brother joked.

  “The trauma of what happened to you has caused you to forget everything. It happens. It’s rare. But if this is the case, then there is a good chance that your memory will come back. Either gradually or possibly all at once under the right stimuli.”

  “And if not?” Flint asked.

  “In cases of retrograde amnesia like your brother’s, the memory loss could also be due to a lack of adequate oxygen to part of your brain when you almost drowned. In which case, your memory might not return.”

  Cyrus sighed. “Great.”

  As they were leaving, Flint said, “I believe it was the trauma and your memory will return. Let’s hold on to that hope. After all, you remembered AJ, right?”

  “Not exactly. With her, it was just a feeling. At first I thought I had reason to fear her.” Cyrus shrugged. “I can’t tell you how badly I want to remember, need to remember.”

  “I know. This has got to be incredibly hard on you,” Flint said as he drove toward the saloon. “People here care about you. Your family loves you. We’re going to be with you through this no matter what happens.”

  Cyrus nodded. “The problem is that you’re all strangers to me and while I appreciate everything you’ve done and are doing...”

  “Just give it time,” the sheriff said quickly. He didn’t mention that Juliette’s lawyer had called first thing this morning demanding a settlement to get her out of their lives. He’d had to tell the lawyer that they couldn’t raise that kind of money. Not without selling the ranch.

  I suggest you do whatever you have to do, the man had said. You’ve met Juliette. She’s serious.

  So time wasn’t necessarily something they had if they hoped to free Cyrus of this woman who’d already proved how far she would go.

  As they drove up to the side of the saloon, AJ came out and hopped in the back. “Have you said anything to the family?” Flint asked her. She shook her head. “Let me go in first, then?”

  “I know how hard this must be for all of you,” his brother said.

  “I don’t want you feeling bad about any of this, okay? It isn’t your fault that you don’t remember.”

  Cyrus said, “Maybe that’s true. But I married the woman trying to take the ranch away from you.”

  Flint laughed. “Hell, she tried to take something even more valuable from us. You. We have you back.”

  “That’s just it,” he said, meeting the sheriff’s eyes. “You don’t.”

  “Not yet,” AJ said. “But I have faith that you will remember. I have enough faith for all of us.”

  He smiled back at her sadly. “I hate hurting these people. I can see that they care...”

  “Don’t worry about us,” Flint said. “We’re a tough resilient bunch. Look at you. Look what you were able to survive. We’re Cahills. It’s what we do.”

  * * *

  CYRUS GOT OUT and climbed into the back of the SUV with AJ. “I tried to call you last night,” he said.

  She nodded. “I turned my phone off. I just needed to—”

  “Be alone. Me too.” He took both her hands in his. “But I was worried about you.”

  AJ nodded. “I was worried about you too.”

  “I’m a Cahill. Tough and resilient apparently.”

  She smiled. “Yes, you are. They’re just happy you’re alive. They’ll give you the time you need.”

  “And if I never remember?”

  “Like I said, then you will fall in love with them all over again.”

  He looked over at her. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

  “You’ll never have to.”

  Her words hung in the air. Both of them looked toward the back door of the saloon. Neither said the obvious. Cyrus wasn’t just married to another woman, but now she was pregnant. He was convinced that the baby couldn’t possibly be his.

  But what if he hadn’t been tricked? What if he’d married this Juliette woman because what she said was true? That one look at her and he’d been caught in her spell?

  At the back door
of the saloon, Flint appeared and waved for them to come on in.

  “I’m here for you,” AJ said as they got out of the SUV and headed inside.

  Cyrus smiled over at her. “You are something, you know that?” He grabbed her before they reached the back door and pulled her into a kiss. “I love you, AJ Somerfield. Don’t lose your faith in me, okay?”

  She shook her head, tears in her eyes as she met his gaze. “Never.”

  * * *

  IT FELT SURREAL introducing Cyrus to his family, Flint thought. Cyrus looked a little shell-shocked. Lillie, of course, broke down, hugging her brother and crying. But Cyrus was great with her.

  He could tell though, that like him, they’d hoped each of them would be the one who made him remember. It did his heart good though to see all the love in the room and he could tell that Cyrus was touched by it. If he wanted to know what his life was like before, he’d gotten a taste of it this morning.

  Billie Dee had greeted Cyrus with a huge hug before all the food was brought out and the spouses arrived. Flint didn’t bother with introductions. It was clear that Cyrus was overwhelmed enough.

  They ate and the mood lightened up. There was laughter and joking and talk about everything from cattle to Billie Dee’s chicken and dumplings—which would be served tomorrow. Cyrus seemed to be taking it all in, especially the stories about him growing up.

  “I can’t even remember ever riding a horse,” he said at one point.

  “It’s like riding a bike,” Hawk said. “Once you’re in the saddle again...”

  Cyrus nodded. “I look forward to that day.” They all knew he wasn’t talking about being on a horse again. He’d looked over at AJ seated next to him.

  Flint saw the way the two of them looked at each other. He wasn’t sure what had happened down on the island, but there was no doubt that they were in love.

  He thought about Juliette, but waited until the breakfast was over and the spouses left before he brought up the subject.

  “I hate that we have to talk about this, but Juliette is pregnant,” the sheriff said after the dishes had been cleaned away and only the immediate family was left.

  Everyone looked at Cyrus who said, “It’s not mine.” He looked to Flint. “How soon can we prove it?”

  “I checked,” Flint said. “We can get a paternity test as early as eight weeks into the pregnancy. It’s a simple blood test. So I would think in a couple of weeks.”

  Cyrus seemed relieved.

  “In the meantime, Juliette’s lawyer is willing to rush through an annulment if some sort of remuneration is offered.”

  “What does that mean?” Lillie asked.

  “She wants us to buy her off,” Hawk snapped. “Like hell.”

  Flint looked to Cyrus.

  “How much does she want?” he asked.

  “She was asking a million and a half.”

  Cyrus looked around the table. “Do I have that kind of money?”

  “That’s what her attorney feels your part of the ranch is worth,” Flint explained.

  “It would mean selling the ranch to raise that much money,” Hawk said.

  Cyrus looked over at AJ. “As badly as I want to be rid of that woman, I can’t ask you to do that. I got myself into this somehow. I have to try to get myself out of it.” He looked at Hawk. “I assume that I have a vehicle?”

  “Your pickup is at the ranch,” his brother said. “Along with your room, if you’re interested.”

  Cyrus nodded and looked around the saloon at his family. “I’m sorry I don’t remember any of you, but I can see that we were a close-knit family. I want that back.” He turned to AJ. “Would you give me a ride out to the ranch?”

  She nodded and looked to Hawk.

  “I’ll meet you both out there,” he said.

  “Cyrus, I’m not sure what you’re planning...” Flint realized that his brother was staring at his badge. “Cyrus? Is something wrong?”

  His brother blinked.

  “You were staring at my badge.”

  Cyrus blinked again and shook his head. “I felt as if I was remembering something.” He shook his head again. “It was probably nothing.” He got to his feet. “Thank you all. I apologize for putting the family through this.”

  They all quickly told him that they didn’t believe it was his fault. But the only person at this point who knew how Cyrus had gotten into this mess was Juliette.

  Flint couldn’t help but wonder what Cyrus was planning. He’d seen the glint in his brother’s eye. The family had enough trouble without him doing something rash.

  * * *

  “WAS IT AWFUL?” AJ said as she drove Cyrus out to the ranch.

  “No. They seem like nice people.”

  She laughed. “They are nice people. Once you get to know them...” She shook her head. “Once you remember...”

  “Let’s not count on that,” he said. “So this is the ranch.”

  “From down there all the way to the mountains and from over there to the edge of town. It’s been in your family for several generations.”

  He nodded but said nothing as they pulled up to the house. It was big and rambling, a large old farmhouse that had a history. AJ had loved the place the first time she saw it. She would love to live in a house exactly like it. She’d lived most of her life in a penthouse overlooking Houston.

  The Cahill home felt warm and worn compared to the clean, cold, modern minimalistic style of her parents’ penthouse. She wondered what it had been like growing up here with all this space to roam.

  “So this is where I was raised?” Cyrus said, taking in the house.

  “You loved it. You spent most of your time on your horse. You love this ranch.” Her voice broke. “It’s your life.”

  He said nothing as he nodded.

  “Cyrus, what are you planning to do?”

  “Get free of Juliette, no matter what I have to do.”

  “But you wouldn’t make your family sell the ranch,” she cried.

  He looked away for a moment before he opened his door. “I hope it won’t come to that.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  JULIETTE WAS SURPRISED to open her cabin door and find Cyrus standing outside. She was even more surprised to realize that he’d come alone.

  “Where is your...nursemaid?”

  He didn’t take the bait. “I thought we should talk.”

  She hesitated, giving Arthur long enough to hide in the second bedroom at the back of the cabin.

  “I guess we do have some things to talk about,” she said and stepped back to let him enter. “How about a drink?” she asked as she closed the door and saw that he’d taken a seat on the couch. “I was just about to tell you to make yourself at home,” she said with a chuckle.

  “Should you, with the baby and all?” he asked.

  “I’m having sparkling water. It helps the nausea. But I have your favorite brand of gin.”

  “You remember what I drink?”

  She smiled. “Of course. Gin and tonic with a twist of lime. You got me hooked on them on the ship.”

  “Now that you mention it, why don’t you tell me what really happened on the ship. It’s just the two of us. How about the truth?”

  Juliette laughed as she poured them both a drink. “Are you wearing a wire?”

  “You watch too many crime dramas. I’m not wearing a wire. But you’re welcome to search me.”

  She had her back to him. She finished making his drink before she turned from the makeshift bar and shot him a leering look. “If you’re suggesting what I think you are, I’m already in enough trouble, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Don’t kid yourself. I’ve never slept with you. Nor will I ever. That’s why I know the baby isn’t mine,” he said as she handed him his drink.

  As she sat down
at the other end of the couch and tucked her legs under her, she tried not to take his words personally. With regret, she saw him put the drink she’d made him aside on a marred end table without taking even a sip.

  “Just because you don’t remember doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. After that romantic moonlit night we had on the ship locked in our cabin? We couldn’t keep our hands off each other.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

  “But you can’t know for sure, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.” She took a sip of her sparkling water. “You really can’t remember anything?” she asked as she ran her finger along the rim of her glass. “Not even the night we met in Denver?” she asked, raising her gaze to meet his.

  She noticed that he still hadn’t touched his drink she’d made him. Had he seen her doctor it?

  “Tell me how you did it,” he said.

  “Did what?”

  “Convinced me to go on a cruise with you, let alone marry you.”

  She chuckled and tilted her head back to touch the sweating glass to her throat. Slowly, she slid it down the opening in her shirt, stopping just short of the rise of her breasts peeking from her blouse. She’d been seducing men since she was twelve. Did he really think he wasn’t susceptible?

  “How do you think I did it?” she asked in a throaty voice that had always worked wonders for her.

  “Not that way,” he said, making her glare at him as she pulled the glass away from her chest and sat up straighter. “I said the truth. You didn’t seduce me.”

  “But your precious nursemaid did?” she snapped, telling herself not to let him get to her.

  “Let’s keep AJ out of this.”

  “Kind of hard to do. You had an affair with her in the islands. Don’t deny it. You’re in love with her.”

  “I don’t deny it.”

  She pretended to pout. “You’re my husband and I’m carrying your child.”

  He got to his feet. “If you keep lying to me, I’m going to leave. I thought if I came alone we could cut the bullshit. Just tell me what really happened and how much it’s going to cost to make you go away.”