“Mac, I can’t—”
“We’re only visiting.”
At the end of the quarter-mile lane he brought the car to a stop. As he got out, Nikki did the same, and they were greeted by a smiling, forty-something woman dressed in jeans, a denim shirt and boots.
“Mrs. Dayton?” he asked.
“Belle Dayton,” she said, extending her hand, which he took. “You’re just in time.”
He introduced her to Nikki, and they followed the woman around a large barn to a corral where several teens were gathered in two groups. Two horses stood patiently nearby.
“Looks like a strategy session,” Mac said.
“It is. They’re working in teams,” Mrs. Dayton explained.
“What’s the objective?” Nikki asked.
Mrs. Dayton pointed to the corral. “Each team has three minutes to get their horse to jump over the board that’s across the two buckets.”
“Seems simple enough,” Mac said, glancing at Nikki.
A slow smile turned up the corners of her mouth. “Not at all simple.” She turned to Mrs. Dayton. “Are there any rules?”
“Only a few. They can’t touch the horse or bribe it in any way. They can’t use anything outside the corral—no ropes, no halters. And once the one-minute strategy session is over, which I see it is, team members can’t talk to one another.”
“How long have they been at it?” Nikki asked, her attention on the activity in the corral.
“Both teams have had two tries. This will be their last.”
Mac noticed that the members of one of the teams were smiling. When they broke up, one boy nodded to another, and the two of them moved in front of the horse. The rest joined in, and in a short time had moved the horse into a holding pen and closed it.
“They’ve got it,” Mrs. Dayton said, excitement in her hushed voice.
The three of them watched as two of the boys picked up the board, while another picked up the buckets and placed them just outside the pen. The board was placed across them. Everyone in the group looked at each other, then one of the girls opened the pen. In unison, they began whistling. The horse, now attentive to what was going on, moved forward and jumped over the board.
Cheers went up from the winning group as the other team looked on, but frowns quickly turned to visible admiration, and the teens all shook hands. “We did it!” one of the boys called to Mrs. Dayton.
“I knew someone would,” she said, flashing them all a victory sign with her fingers. She turned to Nikki. “Would you like to talk with the kids?”
Joy danced in Nikki’s eyes as she nodded. “I’d love to.”
Mac stayed at the fence, while Nikki followed Mrs. Dayton into the corral. Ten minutes later, as the group of teens started to leave, Nikki stood and talked with Mrs. Dayton privately. Mac wished he could hear the conversation. When he’d called to talk to Mrs. Dayton on Jules’s recommendation, he’d asked if she would explain the EAP certification process to Nikki. She’d said she’d be more than happy to.
Mrs. Dayton and Nikki left the corral and joined Mac. When asked if they’d like something cold to drink, both Nikki and Mac accepted. Another half hour spent with Mrs. Dayton was filled with information. By the time they left, Mac felt certain Nikki was more than interested in learning more.
“So what did you think?” Mac asked as they drove home.
“It’s fascinating,” she answered. “I’ve always known how beneficial the interaction is between humans and animals, and what we saw today is proof of that.”
She was in a good mood, giving him the perfect opportunity to plant the seeds. “Are you ready to start working on that certification?” She was quiet for too long, and he finally took his eyes off the road to look at her. “Nikki?”
She shook her head, refusing to look his way. “I can’t,” she said, her voice barely audible over the wind. “There are two strikes against me. The first is that I don’t have the money needed for the seminars.”
“That can be remedied. I’m sure Jules—”
“No.”
“Okay,” he said, refusing to argue with her. “What’s the second reason?”
“I’d have to leave the Bent Tree.” She turned to him, her smile sad and a bit wistful. “That’s something I don’t want to do.”
“But…”
She shook her head again and turned to stare at the road ahead. “I appreciate the time and trouble you went to for the visit, but it isn’t possible for me. And if you don’t mind,” she said, turning to look at him again, “I’d rather not talk about it.”
All Mac could do was hope she would think it through a little more, but he didn’t say anything. He wasn’t going to argue. At the moment her mind—not to mention her heart—was made up.
THE MONTHLY SUNDAY BARBECUE for the boys was over, and after making sure all eight of them were in bed, Mac and Nikki headed back to the O’Briens’ backyard.
“I hope Bridey has another dessert for us,” Mac said, rubbing his palms together in anticipation.
“I can’t decide which I like best,” Nikki replied. “Bridey’s Irish Jig or Kate’s strawberry pie.”
Mac peered at her in the evening light. “When did you have Kate’s pie?”
“Last week after the boys’ exhibition,” she answered, rounding the corner of the house. “Kate McPherson invited me, and I went there with Jules.”
“Yeah?”
She looked up at him and smiled. “Yeah.”
“Lucky you.”
“Good, you’re back,” Tanner said when they reached the patio. “Jules wants to discuss ways to raise money for the Bent Tree. She’s checking on Wyoming, but will be right back. Have a seat.”
Mac noticed that Nikki hesitated before settling on a chair across from Tanner. He was also aware that Tanner seemed to treat her a bit differently lately. And then he remembered what had happened during Nikki’s riding exhibition and the little Jules had told him. He just couldn’t believe Tanner would hold Nikki’s heritage against her.
As if Tanner knew what Mac was thinking, he leaned forward in his chair. “I’m sorry I missed the end of your performance, Nikki. You’re a fine rider.”
“Thank you,” she answered.
“Where did you learn pole bending?”
“A friend of my grandmother’s taught me.”
“Cherokee?”
Nikki nodded and answered, “Yes,” but didn’t elaborate.
“The Cherokee have a knack with horses,” Tanner said, leaning back again. “At least, that’s what I’ve been told.”
“And he has a gold belt buckle to prove it,” Jules said, joining them. “I’m glad you both could come back. The boys seemed a bit restless tonight.”
“Nikki worked them hard this afternoon,” Mac said, glancing at Nikki sitting beside him. “I think they were more tired than usual. It seems to bring out the devil in them.”
“It definitely does with Wyoming,” Jules replied.
But Mac was more interested in what her husband had mentioned. “Tanner said you’re interested in raising money for the ranch. How can we help?”
“Cheryl Bickham mentioned that the state is seriously considering sending more boys. It’s not official, but…”
“So where does the need for more money come in, specifically?”
“With more boys, we’ll need more help,” Jules answered. “I’ve interviewed several women I’d like to hire to help Nikki with the boys. I can only choose one, but that would free up both you and Nikki to concentrate more on the horses and the boys’ riding. That would mean more horses, too, which don’t come free.” She glanced at her husband, but continued. “And an on-site counselor would be helpful. The boys are doing much better, now that Nikki is here. But it all means that the more boys we have, the more full-time help we’ll need.”
Mac gave the problem some thought. Having grown up in the marketing business, he knew that people tended to be generous, especially when it came to children. “D
onations, if large enough, could help.”
“But how do we get people to donate?” she asked. “There are good people in Desperation who would love to help, but the amount we need is far beyond their means.”
“Advertising,” he said. “Marketing.” And then he saw the sly but hopeful look on her face. “You knew that, you deceptive woman. That’s why you let me stay here and gave me a job.”
“Heavens, no,” Jules cried. “You know me better than that. I only thought of it the other day when I saw—” She jumped up from her chair. “There’s something I want to show you. I’ll be right back.”
Mac looked at Tanner, who shrugged. “I don’t know what it is. She didn’t mention anything to me, but it has her excited.”
Less than a minute later Jules returned with a newspaper in her hands. “I meant to show this to you, Tanner, but completely forgot.” Instead of handing the paper to him, she gave it to Mac. “Take a look and tell me what you think.”
He took it and leaned closer to the nearest light. There was an article written about the riding exhibition the boys had given. Lightly skimming the article, he noticed praise for the Bent Tree, its owners and Nikki. There was even a mention of him, although no name was given, but he didn’t mind.
“What do you think?” she asked when he looked up from the paper.
“Was there a reporter here?” he asked.
“Apparently so. I have a hunch that may have been Hettie’s doing. That’s the Oklahoma City paper.”
“This is the kind of thing that could become very advantageous for the ranch,” he said, handing the paper back to her. “Build on it. If someone would be willing to form a foundation for donations and work to bring in people who could help, it might just get you the money you need.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” He glanced at Nikki, who sat silent beside him, taking it all in.
“I’ll pay you well,” Jules said, the sly look in her eyes returning.
Mac considered it. “I know you would, but…”
“Oh, Mac, please,” she begged. “I know you’re good at it. You know marketing from the bottom up.”
“That’s true,” he answered, chuckling as he thought about the years he’d spent learning the business. “But if I do this, I’ll need some help.”
“Hettie,” Jules answered quickly. “I’m sure she’d love to be involved, and she has the contacts that could help.” She took a deep breath. “And so do my parents.”
“And mine,” Mac added.
A smile brightened Jules’s face. “Would you be willing to talk to Hettie about it, Mac?”
Surprised at how excited he felt at the prospect, he smiled. “I’ll be happy to. Just tell me how to get in touch with her, and I’ll do it first thing in the morning.”
“I’ll leave it in your hands, then.”
They talked more about who else might be willing to get things rolling, and several names were brought up. But it wasn’t long before they all decided to call it a night. Mac and Nikki thanked their employers for the evening. Hundreds of things ran through Mac’s mind as they walked back to the main building, and adrenaline pumped through him. That’s the way it always was when he faced a new opportunity. This felt right. His dad was one of the best in the marketing world, and Mac suddenly realized how lucky he’d been to be a part of it.
But he didn’t want to go back to Boston—he wanted to stay here. He’d grown to love the ranch. And Nikki. He loved her patience, her kindness and her generosity. Trying not to had been a wasted effort—he knew that now. But there was one question in his mind. How did she feel about him?
Inside the building, he hesitated at his door when he noticed she hadn’t gone to hers. His body hummed with having her near.
“Mac?”
Soft brown eyes gazed into his. He reached for her hand and gently pulled her closer. Hearing her soft sigh, he took her in his arms, tasting first one corner of her soft mouth, then the other. She melted into him, her arms slipping around his neck. He traced her lips with the tip of his tongue, and she opened them in response. He deepened the kiss, and his mind erupted in fireworks, while need burned through him. He held her even closer, molding her softness to his hard body.
It wasn’t until Nikki slowly pulled away that he realized they were still standing in the hallway. “Good night, Mac,” she whispered, stepping back and moving to her door.
He watched her slip inside her apartment. The question of how she felt about him had been answered.
NIKKI COVERED yet another yawn with her hand as Jules walked up to her in the barn. It was early evening, but she hadn’t been able to sleep until the wee hours of the morning, excited that the Bent Tree would be growing.
“How did the trail ride go this morning with the boys?” Jules asked.
“Good,” Nikki answered. “They really enjoyed the freedom to just ride. And they were starved when we got back, in spite of the big breakfast they’d had.”
Laughing, Jules nodded. “That’s boys. Always hungry. Jacob and Andrew seem to be adjusting well.”
Nikki agreed. “Andrew is still a little shy with the others, but I suspect that won’t last long. And although Jacob appears to be the serious type, he has a wicked sense of humor.”
Jules nodded. “Never judge a book by its cover.” She leaned back against the short wall of the stall Nikki was cleaning. “Do you realize it’s been a month since you started working here?”
“A month?” To Nikki, it seemed like only a week or two, if that. But now that Jules had mentioned it, she realized much had happened in that month.
“As of this week, it’s been a month,” Jules said. “I meant to meet with you every week, but time flew by and there seemed to be no need to do it. I’m sure you know how pleased I am with your work.”
“I couldn’t ask for a better job,” Nikki replied. “I love it here at the Bent Tree.”
“Me, too,” Jules said, laughing. But her laughter quieted as she studied Nikki. “Mac mentioned that he’d taken you to visit one of the EAP facilities.”
“It was very interesting,” Nikki admitted slowly.
“If Mac succeeds with the foundation to help with funding, I’d like to cover the cost to get you certified.”
Nikki understood why Jules was willing to pay, but it didn’t fix the other problem. “I’d have to leave the boys to do it, at least for a while,” she explained. “And I just don’t want to.”
Pushing away from the wall, Jules straightened. “Mac told me about your concerns, and I understand how you feel about the boys. But you could help them and others even more if you’d attend the seminars. We can find some close by, so you wouldn’t be gone for long periods.”
Nodding, Nikki took a deep breath. “I’ll certainly consider your offer.”
“Good,” Jules said. “And just so you know, I’ve hired a woman this morning. Her name is Linda Davidson—she was a teacher for many years before acquiring a nursing degree. She’ll have a room in the main building, so we’ll have someone here at all times who’s licensed in health care. I’ll introduce you when she arrives on Tuesday, and we’ll do some brainstorming about sharing duties, as far as housemother is concerned. That should free up some of your time.”
“I’ll enjoy meeting her,” Nikki replied, but she knew she would miss any time she wouldn’t be with the boys. Still, she’d have them for riding, so maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing.
“I have phone calls to make,” Jules told her, “so I’ll see you in the morning, if I don’t see you again later today.”
“Thanks, Jules.”
When Jules had gone, Nikki finished her work, made sure the boys were quietly occupied for the next hour and walked to the main building.
She was in the kitchen, reading a note from Bridey, when Mac walked in. “I decided it was time for a break,” he said. “I see you did, too.”
“Bridey left some chocolate cake,” Nikki said, holding up the note.
“The
Irish temptress,” he said, reaching for the plastic cake holder on the cabinet. “Want to join me?”
She nodded and reached into the cabinet for two plates. “I think I will. I have an hour or so before I check on the boys again.”
“If you’ll cut us each a piece, I’ll pour us some tea.”
After settling on a nearby sofa in the commons, they were well into their cake when she spoke again. “You really had some great suggestions for Jules and Tanner last night.”
He didn’t look up from his plate. “I hope they help.”
“Advertising and marketing are completely out of my realm. How do you know so much about them?”
He looked up at her, his eyebrows raised. “Digging for information?”
“Maybe.”
Pushing his plate away, he leaned back. “Okay. I guess it’s time I revealed my deep dark secrets. Then you can share.”
She nodded, but didn’t say anything.
Mac continued. “A couple of months ago I received a letter from an attorney. It included a letter to me written by a man who claimed to be my biological father and who had recently died in prison.”
Nikki leaned back and looked at him, unable to think of what she could say. “That must have been a shock.”
He shrugged his shoulders and lifted his glass. “Apparently he liked to dabble in sharing stock information. That’s major insider trading. Throw in some investment fraud and…” After taking a drink, he set the glass back on the small table. “I didn’t know what to think. Nobody had ever told me the man who’d raised me had adopted me when he married my mother.”
“So your mother is your biological mother.”
“Yes. My biological father disappeared before she learned she was pregnant. After I was born, she married the man I’d always believed was my father, and he adopted me.”
She was surprised. Adoption wasn’t as shrouded in mystery and secrecy as it had been. Most children knew from an early age that they’d been adopted. “I’m sure they had a good reason.”
Mac lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “I guess they believed they did. My dad is the owner of a major marketing firm in Boston. That’s what Jules was talking about last night. I officially went into the business after college.” He leaned back and rubbed his forehead with a fist. “I was angry when I learned they’d deceived me. I’m not who I thought I was.”
The Reluctant Wrangler Page 14