The Last Cowboy Standing

by Barbara Dunlop

  She rammed the gearshift into Park and turned the key.

  The idea that she couldn’t manage Randal was ridiculous. It was insulting. Yes, sure, Travis had seen it coming before she had. But Danielle was the one Randal tried to kiss. She was the one who’d held him off. She’d told him no. She’d set down the ground rules. She was absolutely and completely capable of taking care of herself in D.C.

  She exited the car, slamming the door harder than necessary. Then she stalked her way to the porch.

  She’d slept with Travis twice. Big deal. They’d promised to leave it in Vegas. Well, she’d left it all in Vegas. As far as she was concerned, he was Caleb’s neighbor, Katrina’s brother, nothing more, nothing less.

  She entered the ranch house, closing the door firmly behind her.

  Okay, so maybe she still had the hots for him. Maybe she missed him. Maybe she couldn’t stop dreaming about him. Again, big deal. Nobody got everything they wanted in life.

  “Danielle?” came Katrina’s voice.

  “I’m back,” Danielle called out, struggling to keep the anger out of her voice.

  “What’s wrong?” Katrina appeared in the entry hall. “You sound upset. You look—” Katrina peered at her. “What the heck?”

  Danielle knew she couldn’t brush it off completely. “I had a fight with Travis,” she confessed, bracing herself for the worst.

  “Is that all?” asked Katrina, expression neutralizing. “You fight with him all the time.”

  “Yes,” Danielle agreed. “I do.” A little bit of the tension left her stomach.

  Maybe this was a good thing. Fighting with Travis was certainly more normal than sleeping with him. Although, their fights hadn’t used to upset her this much. Then again, their fights had never been this personal before. Maybe she could look at this as a step back to their old relationship. It was worth a try.

  “Did you get the software up and running?” asked Katrina.

  “Partway,” Danielle answered. “We ran out of time,” she lied.

  “I think Caleb will be glad to have you back.” Katrina moved toward the living room, and Danielle went with her.

  “Is something wrong?”

  Katrina glanced at the stairs. “Judging by the language I’m hearing. Yes.”

  “Uh-oh.” Danielle headed for the staircase.

  “So, you’ll finish tomorrow?” called Katrina.

  “Pantara?” Were they done? Could she go back to Chicago now? That would be great news. She’d love to put Lyndon Valley in her rearview mirror.

  Katrina looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “The accounting software. Will you finish with Travis tomorrow?”

  It was on the tip of Danielle’s tongue to announce that she’d already finished with Travis. But that would only provoke questions.

  “I think he’ll be fine on his own now,” she answered instead.

  “That’s great,” said Katrina.

  A string of swearwords echoed down the stairs.

  Danielle glanced up. “Oh, that doesn’t sound good.”

  “I’ve been afraid to investigate,” Katrina confessed.

  Danielle couldn’t help hoping it was Pantara. Then again, she hoped it was a problem she could solve. She paused, realizing she would have to solve it in only three days.

  She was almost out of time. Very soon, she’d have to tell Caleb her decision.

  She mounted the stairs.

  When she peeped into the office, Caleb had his phone to his ear. He motioned her forward.

  “That’s not good enough, Stan.” Caleb paused. “Tell them no way in hell. Tell them we’ve got an ironclad contract. There is no loophole. And tell them to source the raw materials out of Brazil if they have to and pay the extra freight.”

  Danielle could tell he was talking to Stan Buchannan, the president of their South American division.

  She sat down to wait for him to finish.

  “Yeah,” Caleb said gruffly. “Call me after.” He hung up the phone.

  “Trouble?” she asked, relieved to be back on familiar ground.

  “I need you to go through the Greystoke contract. They want to backorder us on steel.”

  Danielle sat up straight. “They can’t do that.”

  “That’s exactly what I said.” He gave a sheepish grin. “Well, I said a few other things, too.”

  “Won’t that shut down the Columbia plant?” She moved to the computer desk, typing her log-in and password to the Active Equipment server.

  “It sure will,” said Caleb.

  “It’s all in Annex P,” she spoke as she typed. “You’ll be able to sue them into bankruptcy.”

  “I don’t want to sue anyone. I want my production lines to keep running.”

  “You think threats will help?”

  “I think they need to know exactly the consequences if they mess with me.”

  “On it, boss.”

  “That’s what I like to hear.”

  Katrina appeared in the doorway. “Has the storm subsided?”

  “For now,” said Caleb, coming to his feet. “Sorry you had to hear all that.”

  “Danielle, I just talked to Travis.”

  Danielle’s fingers faltered on the computer keys.

  “He says he does need you to come back tomorrow. Something about finishing the vendor master file and looking at the payables system?”

  “He’ll be able to figure it out,” said Danielle, blindly scrolling her way through the contract.

  Katrina hesitated. “I know you were arguing, but maybe you should call him directly. There seems to be some confusion.”

  “Maybe later,” said Danielle. “I need to get through this for Caleb right away.”

  “Sure,” Katrina replied.

  There was a moment of silence, before Danielle heard her walk back down the hall.

  Thankfully, her vision cleared, and she was able to find Annex P.

  “What’s the confusion?” asked Caleb, moving up behind her.

  Danielle swallowed. “I don’t know. He’s stubborn.”

  “No kidding.”

  “It’s all there in the instructions.”

  Caleb paused. “What was the argument about?”

  Danielle was losing her concentration again.

  “Same old, same old,” she offered airily. “But I really need to focus here.”

  “I know what happened between you two in Vegas.”

  Mortification washed through her. She spoke before she could stop herself. “Travis told you?”

  “I guessed. He didn’t deny it. And now, neither are you.”

  She shook her head at her own foolishness. She should have pretended she didn’t know what Caleb was talking about.

  “It was nothing,” she told him now. “It’s nothing. It was nothing, and it’s over.”

  “Okay.” Caleb’s voice was calm and kind.

  In her peripheral vision, she saw him sit down. “So, what was the argument about?”

  Danielle knew it was time to tell him the truth. She turned to face him, screwing up her courage.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “You have absolutely nothing to be sorry about. You’re an adult, and—”

  “Oh, no. Not that.” She felt her face heat. “Travis is angry because I told him I was taking the D.C. job.” Nervousness gripped her stomach. “I’m sorry about that, Caleb. The opportunity is just too good to turn down.”

  He smiled understandingly. “It’s your decision, Danielle.”

  “I hate that I’m leaving you,” she confessed. “I love working with Active Equipment. And this new project with Pantara. It’s going to be huge, Caleb. You know that, don’t you?”

  He nodd
ed. “I know it’s going to be huge. I’d truly love to have you there with me.”

  For a second, Danielle was afraid she might tear up. She could barely speak. “I’m sorry.”

  “And I’m sorry Travis upset you. Your decisions are yours alone. He’s got to respect that.”

  “That’s what I told him.”

  “Good for you.”

  Caleb was such an understanding man, such an incredibly professional business owner, her behavior with Travis in Vegas suddenly seemed worse than ever. She felt like she had to explain.

  “Travis and me,” she began.

  But Caleb shook his head. “Is none of my business.”

  “But I was there working for you. And he’s your brother-in-law. And—”

  “Stop talking, Danielle.”

  She pressed her lips together.

  “My advice?” he asked.

  She was a little afraid to hear it. “Sure.”

  “Go back tomorrow and talk to him.”

  Before Caleb was even finished speaking, she was shaking her head. “You don’t understand.”

  “I understand that you’re upset, and that’s not good. Knowing Travis, he said something stupid. But he’s a hothead, he blows up fast and cools down faster. I’m betting he wants to make it better.”

  She swallowed convulsively, tears threatening once more. “It’s not that simple.”

  It wasn’t just that she was angry with Travis. She was afraid of her own emotions. She didn’t want to leave him. In his kitchen this afternoon, she’d come dangerously close to making a career decision based on a man. She couldn’t do that, wouldn’t do that. The thing between her and Travis was tenuous and fleeting. The Nester and Hedley offer was concrete. It would last. She couldn’t afford to make an illogical decision that would affect the rest of her life.

  Caleb gazed at her for a long moment. “Okay. You’re right. You know what’s best for you. You do whatever you want.”

  She gave a rapid nod. “Thank you.”

  “I am sorry to lose you,” he told her. “But I’m genuinely happy that you have this opportunity.”

  “You’re an incredible man, Caleb Terrell.” She meant it with all her heart.

  Nine

  Caleb marched into Travis’s living room, smacking his hands down on the back of a brown, leather armchair in obvious anger. “What in the hell did you do to her?”

  Travis came to his feet. “Huh?” He did a double take of Caleb’s icy expression. “You mean Danielle?”

  “Yes, I mean Danielle.”

  “I didn’t do a thing to her. She got ticked off and left.”

  “She was practically in tears. Do you have any idea what it takes to make Danielle cry?”

  Guilt clenched Travis’s stomach. Not that he’d done anything wrong. Randal was the bad guy here. Travis was trying to help. “I told her the truth,” he defended.

  “What truth?”

  “The truth about Randal Kleinfeld. Did she tell you she’s taking the D.C. job?”

  Caleb gave a sharp nod.

  Travis felt his nostrils flare. “It’s a mistake. A big mistake. This whole thing has been orchestrated by Randal Kleinfeld, and he’s trying to get back with her. I warned her in Vegas, but she wouldn’t listen. Oh, sure, later, when he showed his true colors, she admitted I was right. But does she remember that now? No. She thinks he’ll back off. She thinks she can handle him. But he’s pond-scum. He’ll hurt her. And she can’t be around him.”

  Caleb’s expression had moderated. “Is that what you told her?”

  “Not in so many words. I reminded her that he had ulterior motives.”

  Caleb moved around the armchair and sat down.

  Travis followed suit on the sofa across from him.

  “Did you try to talk her out of it?” he asked.

  Caleb shook his head. “It’s her choice, her career. I can’t hold her back.”

  “You wouldn’t be holding her back,” Travis pointed out. “You’d be saving her from a big mistake.”

  “It’s a hugely prestigious law firm,” said Caleb.

  “One in which Randal is well and thoroughly entrenched. What do you think will happen if she refuses to date him? He’ll get revenge. He’ll try to undermine and discredit her. And he’s the one with the contacts and relationships in D.C., not her.”

  “And if she does date him?” Caleb asked.

  Travis felt his blood pressure go up a notch. The thought of Danielle in Randal’s arms made him want to put his fist through a wall.

  “That’ll make it even worse,” he told Caleb. “He’ll trap her, and her entire world will be tangled up with that jerk.”

  Caleb was silent for a moment. “It’s still her decision.”

  Travis gazed at his brother-in-law, grappling inside his head. He shouldn’t say what he was about to say, but he had to say it.

  He spoke softly. “You can stop her.”

  Caleb immediately refused. “No, I can’t. And even if I could, I won’t. I’m not going to guilt-trip her into staying with Milburn and Associates.”

  “Not Milburn and Associates.” Travis had a better idea. “Active Equipment.”

  Caleb drew sharply back. “We’re not a law firm.”

  Travis drummed his fingertips on the arm of the sofa, composing his arguments. “But you could use a staff lawyer. I’ve heard enough about the business to guess you could use Danielle full-time. Pantara and South America alone would keep her busy.” He paused. “Make her an offer. Make it a good one. Keep her for yourself.”

  The grandfather clock ticked off seconds in the corner of the room. Travis could feel his heart beating in his chest. His body temperature rose a degree, and sweat began to form on his skin while he waited for Caleb’s answer.

  It was a full minute before Caleb spoke. “What’s going on here, Travis?”

  Travis knew he had to be honest with Caleb. “Randal can’t have her. I can’t let that happen.”

  “You want to keep her in Lyndon Valley.”

  “Yes.”

  “You want to keep her with you?”

  Travis swallowed. He didn’t understand why, and he didn’t know how, but every instinct he possessed told him to keep her close and protect her. “Yes.”

  Caleb’s hand rose to his chin, and his eyes took on a faraway look.

  “What happened to all the fighting?” he finally asked.

  “We still fight,” Travis admitted.

  Caleb seemed to digest that. “See, trouble is, I’m not convinced you’re not Active Equipment’s very own Randal.”

  Travis nearly came out of his seat. “I’m not some pretentious fake. I’m not going to hurt Danielle. I am nothing like him.”

  “Can you swear to me you’re looking out for her best interests?”

  “Yes.”

  “That you’re not going to hurt her?”

  “Yes.”

  “You nearly made her cry already.”

  Travis did come to his feet. “That was over Randal. He’s the only thing we fight about now. I like Danielle. I don’t want her hurt. I don’t want her stuck in D.C. with a scheming shyster who’s out to get her.” He drew a breath. “You know you want to keep her, Caleb. This is a perfect solution. It might not be exactly what she’d planned, but she could have a fantastic career with you. Active Equipment is going to be a global conglomerate. You’re going to need people you trust. She’s been with you since the beginning.”

  Caleb stood. “Seth isn’t the only Jacobs who should have gone into politics.”

  “I’m not spinning you a story,” Travis said with complete conviction.

  “If you are, you’re doing one heck of a good job.”

  Travis clam
ped his jaw to keep himself from overselling the idea. He realized he cared more about Caleb’s decision in this than he’d cared about anything in his life.

  The silence stretched.

  “I can offer,” said Caleb.

  A powerful rush of relief thudded through Travis.

  “But I doubt she’ll say yes.”

  “Convince her,” said Travis with mounting enthusiasm.

  “I’ll lay out the facts, but that’s all I can do.”

  “Offer a high salary, a good title, maybe vice president. Give her a bonus structure. Make sure you include dental. You’ve got dental at Active Equipment, right?”

  “You want to take over on this?”

  “No, no.” Once again, Travis forced himself to stop talking.

  “She’d be a valuable executive, and I have no problem making her a top offer. But I’m not a D.C. law firm, and that may be a deal breaker.”

  Travis forced himself to recognize the truth in Caleb’s words. Danielle might not take the offer. There was nothing to indicate she’d even consider being a corporate lawyer. Truth was, there might not be a single thing he could do to keep her out of D.C.

  * * *

  Danielle’s bag was packed and waiting by the front door. She was in the office, putting the initial Pantara files in order for Caleb and whoever took her place. She needed to get back to Chicago today and give her notice in person before she called Nester and Hedley to accept their offer.

  She’d transferred all of the attachments from her email account to Caleb’s computer. She’d taken copies of her Pantara emails, and she’d filed all of her legal research by country. From what she could see so far, Pantara had some financial challenges, but nothing critical. What they seemed to be looking for from the merger was access to Active Equipment’s customer base. It was becoming well known across international markets that Active Equipment was supplying superior products and top-notch after sales service to its clients in construction, resource extraction and heavy industry.

  Satisfied that everything was well under control, Danielle closed her email box, shut down the file program, and rose from her desk chair. She lifted her bag, slipped it over her shoulder, and took a last look around the room.