Do You Take This Enemy?

by Sara Orwig

  He inhaled swiftly. “Just like that, Ashley? After all we had—”

  “All we had was an illusion! I trusted you and you know how important that was to me. The most important thing. And you destroyed that trust.” She shook with anger. She kept her voice even and kept her control, but she wanted to scream at him and throw things.

  “All I’ve done is bring some cattle over on this ranch. You’re ending our marriage and throwing me out over that?”

  “You’re damned right I am,” she snapped.

  “All right. You want me out of here—I’m out. I’ll get the cattle as fast as I can.”

  “You get them completely off this land before my father gets home.”

  “If you think he’s going to be happy with what you’ve done, you’re dead wrong.”

  “I know my father better than you do.”

  “Maybe you don’t. I’m working with him daily and he tells me things he doesn’t want to worry you with.”

  “Don’t you dare tell me that he said you could bring all those herds on our ranch.”

  “No, he didn’t because I didn’t ask him. I didn’t think it was necessary to ask either one of you.”

  “Just try to answer me honestly—have you gotten rid of any of the horses? You promised to leave them alone.”

  He glared at her. “That’s not fair, Ashley. There was a reason to get rid of the ones I did. Your dad has bought and sold horses all his life. He didn’t expect me to keep the status quo and never sell a horse.”

  “How many have you bought since we got married?”

  “I haven’t bought any, but that doesn’t mean I won’t sometime.”

  “How many have you sold?”

  “Look, that isn’t fair.”

  “Answer me.”

  “I’ve sold eight. They needed to be sold. Your father doesn’t want to work with them like he once did.”

  “Save your excuses. I don’t believe them, either. Uncle Dusty was oh, so right.”

  “I wondered how long before you’d throw that at me,” he said. His dark eyes were filled with fire. “It looks to me like where I made a mistake was in thinking we had a real marriage. I trusted you about that, Ashley.”

  “Get out, Gabe. Just get out. When you want to move your things, you let me know. I’ll make arrangements so I won’t have to be here.”

  “Fine,” he snapped and jammed his hat on his head, yanked up his jacket and slammed out of the house. In minutes she heard his pickup roar to life and then it faded away. Sitting down, she folded her arms on the table and put her head down to cry, still suffering both hurt and anger, knowing that her marriage had just ended and she had lost Gabe and Julian.

  Yet she knew she was right. If she had let him talk her into accepting what he had done, it was a step toward taking over completely and she couldn’t imagine how that would hurt her father.

  She went upstairs to her old room, avoiding the room she had shared with Gabe, trying to stop the memories that plagued her and hearing his arguments swirl in her thoughts. Most of all, she wanted to protect her father. At this point in his life, he didn’t need to fight to keep his horse ranch.

  She sat by the window thinking that if it weren’t for her father, she might feel differently. That, and the fact that Gabe had broken his promise to tell her if he made changes. Yet, how earnest he had sounded. But then he always did when he was trying to talk her into something.

  “Gabe,” she whispered, “why?”

  Gabe sat at a bar at a roadside honky-tonk twenty miles from his ranch. He nursed his third beer morosely, running off anyone who tried to talk to him; no one had attempted that for over an hour now. He didn’t want to go home to an empty house that held sad memories. He didn’t want to be alone. He wanted Ashley. No matter how unreasonable she was being, he loved her and he wanted her.

  A Western tune played on the jukebox, and several men played pool in one corner. Only one other person sat at the bar, and he was at the far end from Gabe.

  “Cowboy, it’s time to go home.”

  Gabe looked around to see Josh Kellogg sit down beside him.

  “What are you doing here at this hour?” Gabe asked. “I didn’t think you hit the bars much.”

  “Don’t. I heard you were here.”

  “Tank? He was in here earlier and saw me.”

  “Yep and he’s worried about you, so he called me.”

  “I don’t need a nanny, Josh. Go home.”

  “Where’s your wife?” Josh asked.

  “She threw me out.” Gabe took a long drink of beer and set the bottle down, glancing at Josh. “Just like that, it’s over.”

  “Come on. I’ll go home with you, and you can tell me about it,” Josh said.

  “I don’t want to talk to anyone, and I can get myself home.”

  “You always were as stubborn as a mule. You can tell me, and it’ll help. Maybe you need some marriage counseling.”

  Gabe couldn’t keep from smiling. “You would be the last person on earth to be a marriage counselor. What you know about women would fit in this bottle and leave a lot of room for beer.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, what I know about someone hurting is plenty, so let’s get going. Do I have to drag you out, or are you coming on your own steam?”

  “It isn’t worth fighting you for.” Gabe said, sliding off the barstool and walking out with Josh, knowing he had to go home sometime, so he might as well do it and get it over with. Better get used to it before Julian got home.

  At Gabe’s pickup he turned to his friend. “Thanks, buddy. Your intentions are good, even if unwanted and annoying.”

  “Give me your keys.”

  “I’m cold sober.”

  “Yeah, and I’m ten feet tall. Give me the keys.”

  “Here,” Gabe said in disgust, handing over his keys, not wanting to fight his best friend. And he knew Josh well enough to know he would fight. Josh slid behind the wheel of Gabe’s pickup and they drove in silence halfway to the ranch.

  “She threw me out over a bunch of cows. She thinks I’m taking her ranch from her.”

  “Are you?”

  “I thought since we were married, that we were sharing all of it.”

  “How important are those cows?”

  Gabe was silent, staring at the dark night and missing Ashley. “I love her,” he said, looking out the window and forgetting he was talking to Josh.

  “Did you tell her that?” Josh asked.

  “She knows I love her.”

  “That’s not like telling someone.”

  “Are you going to do this all the way home?”

  “Nope. I’ll shut up, but I hate to see you hurt again.”

  Gabe rode in silence and to his relief, Josh stayed silent. At the ranch Josh came in with him.

  “No one has been in this house for awhile. I’ll light a fire, and it’ll get the musty smell out.”

  “You’ll set yourself on fire. I’ll light it. Want me to get some guys and help you move your cows?”

  “Nope. We can do it.”

  “You know, I almost want to punch you myself,” Josh said, glaring at Gabe. “What hacks me about this is I swore to Ashley that she could trust you to keep your word. Now it sounds to me like you didn’t do that. Did you make a liar out of me?”

  Gabe shot him a look. “Go to hell, Josh. Or at least go home.”

  “So you did. Well, dammit. That takes the cake. Now I owe her a big apology.”

  Gabe remained silent, staring at the flames roaring in the fireplace and still seeing Ashley, knowing that all day long he had expected to come home to dinner with her and love her into the early hours. Instead, his marriage had crashed and burned.

  “I do love her, Josh,” he said almost an hour later. He glanced at his friend to see Josh stretched on the sofa, boots pulled off, hands folded on his chest as he slept.

  “I love her a hell of a lot,” he said softly, sinking l
ower in his chair. “More than a bunch of stinking cows.” He wanted her. He glanced at the phone, but knew calling her wouldn’t do him any good. He had to get his cattle off her land and then make some decisions.

  Four nights later, Saturday, Gabe ate at the bunkhouse with his men. Josh and two of his men had helped and they ate with them. Afterwards, Josh walked up to the house with him. At Josh’s pickup, Gabe turned to shake hands with him. “Thanks for helping me. We got it done, and my cows are home. Now I’ve got to move my things and Julian’s home.”

  “Try to talk to her again, Gabe.”

  “I don’t think it will do any good.”

  “Never know until you try. Let me know if you need more help.”

  As Josh drove off, Gabe went into the empty house. Tomorrow Julian would be home.

  Gabe hurt, missing Ashley and wanting her. Ashley had been unreasonable, furious and lashing out at him, and he had been angry in turn. He raked his fingers through his hair and moved restlessly.

  He missed Ashley and he missed Ella. He wanted to see his baby, and he wanted to be with his wife.

  He should have told Ashley what he was doing, but it had never occurred to him that she would feel threatened by it. He had simply assumed that they would share both ranches. And Quinn had made it clear that he couldn’t continue working as much as he had before.

  Gabe hadn’t slept last night and he didn’t see much hope for tonight. He missed his wife, and didn’t want it to end this way.

  Ashley fed Ella and put her to bed. She had talked on the phone each night to Julian and Quinn. She didn’t want to tell her father about Gabe until he was home. She didn’t want to upset his trip, because it sounded as if they were all having a wonderful time. And she wasn’t ready to hear a lot of “I told you so’s” from her uncle.

  Sunday evening, when Quinn and Julian arrived home, Gabe came over to get his son. The moment Gabe stepped out of his pickup, Ashley’s heart lurched. In his jeans and a navy sweater, he looked incredibly handsome, and she longed for what they’d had. Yet beneath her longing was a hot thread of anger. He looked purposeful, just as he had looked the first few times he had come to the ranch, yet even so, she had to fight the urge to run and throw herself into his arms.

  His dark gaze met hers. While she drew a swift breath, her insides clutched and she hurt badly. Her father and Julian were too busy to notice. Julian ran to Gabe’s arms and then Gabe and Quinn were shaking hands.

  When Julian ran to her and she picked him up, her head swam. Her son. That’s how she thought of Julian now. Hot tears stung her eyes, and she squeezed Julian. She didn’t want to lose him, and she knew he needed her. Pain enveloped her, and she opened her eyes to meet Gabe’s hard stare.

  Setting down Julian, she turned. Everyone went into the house. Kate wanted to hold Ella, and it was an hour before her aunt and uncle drove away.

  Gabe took Ella from her father and Ashley saw him hug the little baby and then cradle her in his arms. Ashley busied herself with Julian.

  Gabe asked Quinn to come with him and she knew he was going to tell Quinn about the cattle before she had a chance.

  Gabe handed Ella to Ashley, and she looked into dark, unreadable eyes. A muscle worked in his jaw, and she hurt, watching him turn away to join her father. They left, heading toward the stables.

  When they returned, Gabe explained to his son that they were going back to their old house. Julian mildly protested, but at a look from Gabe he quieted and kissed Quinn and Ashley goodbye, unaware it would be longer than for just an evening. Standing in the kitchen to watch them drive away, Ashley fought back tears. She wanted Gabe and Julian back. Their marriage had been wonderful, and it had held such glittering prospects. She hugged herself and turned around to face her father.

  “Ashley, let’s talk,” her dad said, pulling out a kitchen chair to sit down.

  “I know Gabe has already told you that when I found out about the cattle, I told him to get them and himself off our land,” she said, turning to look at her father.

  “Yes, he did tell me. And he got his cattle home. Ashley, I have the feeling that you think you’re protecting me. I don’t care if Gabe keeps some of his cattle on our land.”

  “You don’t care?” Stunned and upset, she stared at him.

  “No, I don’t. I’m tired of taking care of this great big ranch and he can do a fine job. He’s a fine rancher and he’s a good daddy for Ella.”

  “When I started seeing him, you were so angry and worried that he would steal the ranch from us.”

  “I know I was, because of the old feud, but he’s become one of us. He’s Ella’s daddy in every way except blood kin. He’s taken so much of the load off of my shoulders, and frankly, I don’t miss it. And I love Julian. I don’t want to lose that little boy. He’s my grandson now.”

  She sat down on the edge of a chair. “You don’t care?”

  “No, I don’t. I’m glad for him to take charge of some of this. Do you want to do it?”

  “No, not by myself.”

  “I don’t either any longer. Ashley, I’ve worked hard all my life. I was beginning to enjoy Julian and Ella and I had this nice trip. I never could do that before. Gabe is going to make this place turn a profit again.”

  “I had no idea—”

  “Honey, Gabe’s suffering.”

  She brought her attention back to her father and then thought about Gabe. “So am I,” she said, still adjusting to what her father had said.

  “Then why don’t you get them back here?” he asked gently. “Julian is going to be one unhappy little boy tonight. He’s losing another mama.”

  “Oh, Dad—” She flew to the bedroom she had shared with Gabe to close the door and yank up the phone.

  When he didn’t answer, she called his cellular number. As soon as Gabe answered, she clutched the phone tightly and closed her eyes.

  “Can I come see you?”

  “Yes,” he answered solemnly. “I’ll be home in another ten minutes.”

  “Don’t tell Julian about us until we can talk, please.”

  “Julian’s asleep. I think he’s exhausted.”

  “I’ll be right there,” she said. She ran to the back door. “Dad, I’m going to see Gabe. I’ll be at his place, and if I leave to come home, I’ll call you.”

  Quinn was finishing a glass of milk. “Honey, you get Gabe to check on your whereabouts. In ten minutes, I’m going to be asleep for the night. I won’t hear the phone.”

  “Okay,” she said, blowing him a kiss. She raced out the door to their pickup and climbed in, still thinking about what her father had said.

  The drive to Gabe’s house seemed interminable, but finally she was there and knocking on his door. It swung open, and he leaned a shoulder against a doorjamb. “Want to come in?”

  When she nodded, he stepped back, and she hurried past him, shedding her jacket as she crossed the room. She turned to look at him.

  “Gabe, I was wrong.”

  His brows arched and he drew a deep breath. “Ashley, the damn cows don’t matter to me. I’ll keep them on the Circle B land. All I want is you and Ella back.”

  Relief and joy flooded her, and she ran to throw herself into his arms. He caught her up, crushing her against his chest to kiss her long and hard.

  She kissed him back wildly, wanting him, and then all the joy over being together again burned into flames of passion. Gabe picked her up to carry her to his room.

  Clothes were tossed aside, and then Gabe laid her on his bed. His hands were everywhere, his tongue setting her on fire while she couldn’t get enough of touching him.

  He moved between her legs, gazing down at her before coming down and entering her swiftly.

  They moved together and she was lost in sensation that built as her roaring pulse drowned out the world until she heard him cry her name.

  “Ashley, my love!”

  She held him tightly, her heart pounding with joy.

  Later, she lay in his arm
s, stroking him lightly while he held her.

  Gabe shifted away from her and stood. “I have a surprise for you. I got it last week.” He came back to bed and handed her a large flat package.

  Tucking the sheet beneath her arms, she looked at him. “What on earth?”

  “Open it and see.”

  Ashley ripped away wrapping paper to hold up a picture. It was the one Quinn had taken of Gabe and Ashley standing in front of the wild, white stallion the evening Gabe had caught the horse.

  “Gabe, I love it!”

  He grinned. “Well, we brought some credibility to the old legend, didn’t we, darlin’?”

  She smiled, set down the picture and turned to wrap her arms around him. “We surely did.”

  She pulled his head down, kissing him, knowing she would remember this night forever. In minutes, she leaned away.

  “Gabe, come back. And you can bring your cattle back. Dad and I had a talk. I didn’t know he liked what you were doing and was glad to have you take charge.”

  “Yeah, I talked to him tonight. I just didn’t think, darlin’. I should have told you. I knew your dad was happy and I thought you were.”

  “I was, Gabe. Happy beyond all I dreamed about.”

  “I want you. I don’t care what we do with the cattle.”

  She ran her fingertips over his muscled shoulder. “We ought to change the name of the two ranches so it’s just one.”

  “It’s fine with me, but all our relatives will howl.”

  “Let them howl. They’ll adjust, just like they did to our marriage. You know what else I’d like someday?”

  “What?” he asked.

  She ran her fingers through his thick hair. “A long time ago you said two children would be enough for you.”

  Gabe’s eyes darkened and his brows arched. “And?”

  “I told you I might not be able to have another baby, but during this next year, I’d like to try.”

  Gabe leaned down to kiss her. “I think that’s a grand idea,” he said, pausing to look at her. “I love you, darlin’, with all my heart.”