Читать книгу Colton Cowboy Protector - Beth Cornelison - Страница 11
ОглавлениеAfter Tracy threw down the gauntlet regarding visitation with Seth, Jack hustled her back to the party, driving one of the MULE side x sides this time, and ordered her off the ranch. He’d not have any relative of his ex-wife blackmailing him into visitations with Seth. Especially not if those visits included the possibility of Seth hearing upsetting truths about his mother. Or if said visits could lead to an attempt for shared custody. Or...cripes, the possibilities chilled Jack.
He let Tracy out at the pool area and directed her to leave immediately, before he moved the MULE to the edge of the lawn. When he returned to the party to look for Seth, he spotted Brett near the buffet line, yukking it up with some slick-looking customers in Stetsons too clean and crease-free to be real cowboys. Brett caught his eye and waved him over.
Seeing no graceful way out, Jack crossed the lawn and gave the men with his brother a half smile as he approached. He could smell big-city investors and rancher wannabes from a mile away. These guys reeked of money and little practical ranching knowledge.
“Jack, I’d like you to meet some gentlemen. Bill and George here are from Dallas and are interested in helping us get started in horse breeding.”
Nailed it. Jack gloated silently as he shook the men’s hands.
“I’ve been telling them how I found that stud in OKC with papers and a great bloodline.”
Jack lifted one eyebrow. “What stud?”
“I told you about him when I talked to you last week about my idea for breeding cutting horses.”
Drawing a slow breath, Jack pinned his brother with a level stare. “As I recall, I told you we weren’t making any changes to the business plan for the ranch. I have no interest in breeding cutting horses.”
Brett gave the businessmen an awkward grin. “Well, yeah, but I’m interested, and so is Daniel. I’ve been looking into it, and George here says he has connections that can—”
Jack took his brother’s arm and pulled him aside. “Excuse us for a minute, gentlemen.”
Brett muttered a curse under his breath and glared at Jack. “Don’t blow this for us, man. You know Daniel is looking to set up his own breeding program, and if the Lucky C doesn’t provide him with the resources, he’ll take his talents, and his profits, elsewhere.”
“If he wants to leave the ranch, he should.”
Brett scowled and angled his head. “You don’t mean that. He’s family! He belongs at the Lucky C. That means giving him reason to stay here, and Geronimo is a fantastic reason.”
Jack exhaled slowly and shoved his hands in his back pockets. “He only belongs here if he wants to stay. I won’t be party to strong-arm tactics or guilting him into staying.”
Brett squared his shoulders. “He’ll want to stay if we own Geronimo. He has the best bloodline in Oklahoma and Texas. I’ve been trying to get these guys to invest in our horse-breeding program for months, and I’ve got them on the hook.”
“The Lucky C doesn’t need outside investors. We’ve done quite well on our own and don’t need city boys poking their noses in our business.”
Brett met Jack’s gaze with a stubborn frown. “We do if you’re unwilling to front the cash from the ranch funds to buy Geronimo.”
“We’re not buying Geronimo or any other studs.” Jack leaned close to his brother and kept his volume low but his voice unflinching. “And we’re not shifting any resources to raising cutting horses, saddle broncs, race horses or any other wild scheme you’ve got up your sleeve. Period. I’m the manager of this ranch, and I decide how and where to spend money. Cattle have gotten us where we are today, and they’ll continue to be our business as long as I’m in charge. I see no good reason to change direction and risk everything Big J built.”
Brett shook his head, clearly frustrated. “Damn it, Jack. I know what I’m doing! Daniel knows his business, and he’ll take his business somewhere else if we don’t make some changes around here.”
Jack scoffed. “What did Daniel say when you proposed all this to him?”
Brett flinched. “I...haven’t yet. I wanted to secure the deal before—”
Jack cut him off with a grunt and a head shake. “You wanted more ammunition to lure Daniel to stay here. But he needs the freedom to decide his life without manipulation or bribes or guilt.”
“I have his best interests—the ranch’s best interests—in mind.”
Jack rubbed his eyes with the pads of his fingers before speaking again. “And you’re sure the two are one and the same?”
Brett looked confused. “Why wouldn’t they be?”
Why, indeed. Except that Jack had often wondered what he’d missed by passing up the chance to strike out on his own when he’d been younger. He’d let the pull of the family business, his role as the eldest son, lock him into a life running his father’s empire. He didn’t regret his choice, exactly, but sometimes he just felt...constrained.
“Look, Brett, leave the business decisions to me. Okay? Tell your city slickers thanks, but no thanks, and drop this horse-breeding nonsense. Got it? If Daniel wants to stay at the Lucky C, he will...for his own reasons.” Jack clapped his brother on the shoulder as he stepped back.
“Jack...” Brett’s hands fisted, and his face hardened with displeasure and frustration.
But Jack felt it was better he settle the issue now, no holds barred, than have Brett continue to bug him about it and string the city slickers along. With a nod to the men from Dallas, he stepped away to look for his son. Seth had had plenty of time to change clothes and return to the party.
“Jack Colton!” His sister’s voice pulled him up short as he passed the patio doors to the living room. “How dare you!”
He groaned internally as he turned. Now what?
Beside Greta stood a certain caramel-haired china doll, her eyes red from crying. Before he could repeat his order for Laura’s cousin to get off the ranch, his sister seized his arm and dragged him through the crowd in the living room to an isolated corner of the foyer. Tracy followed.
“I am ashamed of you, Jack Colton!” Greta said, releasing his arm and scowling darkly. “I just found Tracy at our front door, crying. She says that you ordered her off the property. I hope I heard her wrong, because I can’t believe any brother of mine would be so rude and inhospitable. This is my engagement party, and you have no right to say who attends and who doesn’t.”
Jack dragged a hand over his mouth, tamping down the irritation building in his blood. “She’s not here because of your party, Greta. Or did she forget to tell you that part?”
“Did you kick her out?” Greta asked pointedly. “Did you not understand that she is family?”
He braced his hands on his hips and dug deep for patience. First Brett wrangling to tie Daniel to the ranch, now Greta shoving this woman’s connection to Laura down his throat. He loved his family, but sometimes...
“She’s Laura’s family. Not ours. And yes, I asked her to leave. We’d said all that needed to be said.”
“As Laura’s family, that makes her Seth’s family. And that, then, makes her our family.”
Jack groaned long and loud. He could see where this was going. “Greta, don’t interfere—”
“I’ve invited her to stay.” His sister lifted her chin in a way that said the matter was settled. Being the youngest sibling and the only girl, Greta had gotten her way more often than not growing up. He wouldn’t call her spoiled—not exactly—but Big J doted on her, and she was clearly and unequivocally Abra’s favorite.
Jack glanced at Tracy, who was studying her shoes and gnawing her bottom lip. “She didn’t come here because of your party. She came to cause trouble with Seth.”
Now Tracy’s head jerked up. “I did not! I told you the last thing I wanted was to hurt Seth. I just want to meet him, get to know him, spend some quality time with h—”
“And I said no.” He straightened his spine and clenched his hands at his sides. “Hell, no. No way. Not in a million years.”
“Jack!” Greta scolded.
“I’m not stupid,” he continued, undeterred by his sister, feeling his blood pressure rise and pulse at his temples. “I know this is a ploy to weasel your way into his life and establish some thin case you can take to a judge, trying to get visitation or shared custody or money or—”
Tracy was shaking her head, her face pale. “You don’t listen so well, do you, cowboy? I’ve told you I don’t want custody or your money!”
“But you do want to fill my son’s head with stories about his mother.” Jack aimed an accusing finger at her. “Things that will only raise more questions and—”
“He has a right to the truth!”
Greta gave a shrill referee-like whistle. “Both of you, to your corners!”
Abra appeared in the foyer, her eyes shooting daggers at the trio. “What is going on out here? I have guests! Greta, you have guests! And it is almost time for the official announcement. Shouldn’t you be freshening up and finding your fiancé and a glass of champagne about now?”
Their mother added a look that said the question was actually a command, and she wouldn’t be disobeyed.
“I’ll be right there, Mother.” Greta faced Jack again. “I have to go now, but Tracy is not going anywhere. I’ve invited her to stay as my guest. Not just for the party, but for an extended visit. She can have one of the spare rooms here in the main house.”
Jack stiffened, feeling as if he’d been kicked in the chest by a bull. “You did what? Greta!”
“I hope for your sake and your son’s that you will change your tune about letting her spend time with Seth. He has a right to know the truth, a right to know his maternal family.”
Jack turned to glower at the blonde, whose expression had brightened. A pink blush tinted her cheeks, and her dewy blue eyes watched him with a light of expectation and hope. The odd tangle of lust and protectiveness he’d felt toward her in the stable reemerged, sending a shot of heat to his core. Tracy was the first woman in years to turn his head and stir this carnal reaction in him. And she’d be staying at the main house, just a short ride from the old ranch house where he lived with Seth. A cool drink in the midst of a ranch full of hot, thirsty brothers and hired hands. He didn’t like the idea of that one bit, nor the flair of possessive jealousy that tickled his gut.
Tightening his jaw, he tore his gaze away, pushing aside the niggling desire.
She might look like an innocent china doll, but he feared she’d prove to be the Bride of Chucky.
He searched for an out and offered, “What is she supposed to do for clothes? I don’t see a suitcase.”
“She can borrow some of mine,” Greta returned.
“Actually...I have a suitcase in my car. I’d planned to stay at a motel in town during my stay in Oklahoma. But if the parking valet could bring my car around from—”
“You planned to stay?” he asked, cutting her off.
She swallowed, then straightened her shoulders. “I hoped to have a few days to spend with Seth.”
“See there? All settled.” Greta nodded in satisfaction. “You can...supervise her visits or...lay out parameters or something, if it makes you feel better.” Greta waved a hand, clearly making up her suggestions off the cuff. “But since she’ll be my guest, you cannot kick her off the ranch.”
His sister smoothed the skirt of her sundress and stepped back. “Now, I have to go announce my engagement.” She added a smile that reflected a touch of nerves. “Make nice, you two.”
As she sauntered away, Greta gave him a little gloating grin, as if she’d bested him.
Jack knew better. Greta could allow Laura’s cousin to stay in the main house, but he’d see to it Tracy got nowhere near Seth. His son was his whole world, and he’d protect him at all costs.
* * *
Tracy stood by herself in the cool marble foyer for long seconds after Jack gave her a warning glare and stomped off to join the party. She’d expected to have to sway Seth’s father to her idea, but she’d never imagined he’d be quite so hostile and suspicious of her.
Laura had said there was no love lost between them after the divorce. Jack took his wife’s leaving personally, she’d said. Understandable. Broken relationships had a way of being personal. But the wall Jack had erected to keep any hint of Laura or her memory out of his son’s life was overkill in Tracy’s estimation. She had her work cut out for her, breaking down his defenses and earning his trust.
Her head was telling her to run. Far and fast. She didn’t need any part of another overbearing alpha male just months after freeing herself from Cliff. But her heart was telling her Jack Colton’s bark wasn’t a reflection of the soul inside. Laura had said Jack was a loving man, a softhearted father and a protective husband before things had gone south for them. Protective, Tracy could certainly believe, and she chose to believe that the rest lay beneath the hard surface she’d seen today.
The lean and sexy surface. She fanned herself, despite having long ago cooled off in the frigid AC after their hike to the stable. The heat that swamped her now came from deep inside. A purely female reaction to shaggy dark brown hair, broad shoulders and green eyes that glittered with passion when their owner got riled.
A rustling noise in the hallway to her right drew Tracy’s attention, and she craned her neck to see what had caused the disturbance. She saw nothing at first, but when a side table with a large vase moved, rocking the vessel of flowers, she caught a glimpse of the boy who was the spitting image of Jack. “Seth?”
She stepped in that direction, sending the boy scurrying from his hiding place, jostling the side table again. The vase tipped forward, and Tracy rushed to catch it a split second before the crystal urn would have crashed to the floor. “Whoa! That was close.”
She smiled at the boy as she righted the vase on the table. “I can’t imagine your grandma would be too happy if that broke.”
He shook his head, wide-eyed. “I’d have got a whuppin’ for sure.”
“Your father spanks you?” Tracy frowned, bothered by the notion.
He shook his head again. “Not Daddy. But Pa Pa might’ve, since it’s Grandmother’s flower thing. Daddy says he used to get whuppin’s when he was bad.”
She was relieved to hear Jack didn’t spank his son, but tucked away the notion that Big J Colton had used corporal punishment on his. Discipline was one thing, but being all too familiar with domestic violence, Tracy worried where Big J might have drawn the line when spanking his grandson.
She made a mental note to investigate this further. If Seth was in any danger of harm, she’d do what it took to get him away from the Lucky C. For now she focused on the boy, her nephew, and gave him a friendly smile. “So you’re Seth, huh?”
He nodded. “Yeah.” Scrunching his nose, he corrected, “I mean, yes, ma’am.”
Tracy chuckled. “A polite young man. That’s nice.”
“Daddy says ’specting elders is important.” Seth rubbed his hand on his nose.
Tracy winced internally at being classified as an “elder.” With a wry half grin, she said, “Manners are a good habit. He’s right.”
Seth narrowed a wary look on her. “Greta said you knew my mom. That you’re...my family?”
Tracy caught her breath. Crouching to his level, she offered him another gentle smile. “You heard, huh?”
His eyes got big. “I wasn’t spyin’! Honest! I just...well, I...”
She dismissed his concern with a head shake. “It’s okay, hon. Yes, I knew your mom. She was my cousin. That makes you my cousin, too.”
His dark eyebrows rose. “Really?”
“I’m your cousin Tracy.” She held out a hand to him in greeting, but instead of a handshake, he slanted her a lopsided grin, stepped shyly closer and gave her a bear hug. Tracy’s heart somersaulted, then flooded with joy. She blinked back the sting of tears the boy’s warm greeting brought to her eyes, and embraced him back. His small body was slim but strong, and he smelled faintly of sweat and the last traces of a fresh soapy scent from his morning bath. Like his father, Seth wore his hair fairly shaggy, and it curled a bit from moisture at his neck.
“Cousin Tracy?” Seth backed out of their hug and wrinkled his nose.
Her chest filled to bursting as she heard him address her with the familial tag. “Yes, sweetie?”
“Why was my daddy mad at you?”
Her gut twisted. Just like that she was walking on eggshells, not wanting to cause problems, and handling delicate questions with the boy. “Well, I don’t know that he was so much mad as he was—”
“Yep, he was,” Seth said, nodding in certainty. “That was his mad voice, and he was all stiff, with his hands tight like this.” He demonstrated the way Jack had fisted his hands. “And his face was bumping like it does when he’s mad.”
She blinked. “Bumping?”
He pointed to his temple. “Right here. When Daddy gets mad, his head goes bump bump bump.”
She twisted her mouth as she deciphered the kid speak and decided Jack must have a blood vessel at his temple pulse point that throbbed when he was angry. “I see. Well...we had disagreed about something earlier, but it’s nothing you need to worry about. Okay?”
Seth skewed his lips in thought, then lifted a lean shoulder. “Okay.”
From the next room, Tracy her the clink of a utensil on glass and Big J’s booming voice calling for the attention of his guests.
“Sounds like it’s time for Greta’s big announcement. Want to go with me to watch?” She offered her hand to Seth, and he took it with a nod.
“It’s just about her and Mr. Mark gettin’ married. I already know that stuff, but I’ll take you in there.”
“Why, thank y—” Before she could finish, he was towing her toward the living room entrance. She stumbled a step or two as she rose too quickly from her crouch. Seth moved with a hurried, boy-like trot that had her hustling to keep up. When they reached the amassed guests in the living room, he wove his way among them, dragging Tracy by the hand and causing her to jostle through the crowd as he led her to the front of the assembly gathered around Greta, Mark and the senior Coltons. Embarrassed to have been so boldly brought to the front, Tracy tried to sidle to the right, away from Abra and Big J’s line of sight, but Seth tugged her arm, drawing her back to the center.
“Abra and I were thrilled to welcome our darling Greta to the family twenty-six years ago,” Big J said to the room, his glass raised.
Tracy hunched her shoulders, trying to duck lower and make herself less obvious. Could she squat next to Seth? When she tried to stoop, she bumped the lady behind her, who scowled.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“After having four rowdy boys, we treasured our first and only baby girl,” Big J continued, beaming at Greta.
Tracy cast a glance around the circle of onlookers, hunting for Jack’s rugged face. Her attention snagged on the cowboy who’d parked her car when she arrived. He stood in a corner, his arms crossed over his chest, with a crooked grin on his face as he watched the proceedings. But his amused expression faltered at Big J’s last statement. He ducked his chin, casting his gaze to the ground. For just a moment his brow wrinkled, so quickly Tracy almost missed it. But she was sure she’d seen a look that could only be described as hurt or crestfallen flicker across the cowboy’s handsome face. A moment later he gave his head a small shake and returned his attention to Big J. Tracy couldn’t help but feel a tug of sympathy for the man, without even knowing who he was or what had upset him.
“She’s our pride and joy, and we are pleased to announce...”
Tracy’s attention left the boisterous glee of the Colton patriarch, sensing rather than seeing Jack’s hot stare from across the room. Her gaze darted to his, drawn like a magnet to his bright green eyes. A tingle like an electric shock skittered through her, speeding up her pulse. Her mouth dried, and she wished for one of the drinks the guests had hoisted in salute to the bride-and-groom-to-be. Not just because she stood out all the more for her lack of a glass for toasting, but because she could use something to wet her throat. Preferably something alcoholic, to help calm the flutter of nerves jangling in her core.
She was so entranced by Jack’s level stare that when the crowd around her cheered and clapped, she gave a startled jolt. Pulling her hand free of Seth’s, she joined the applause. Her appearance at the party with the boy had no doubt added to Jack’s consternation. If making peace with Jack in order to gain access to Seth was her goal, she wasn’t off to a good start. That needed to change. One way or another, she had to get past Jack’s defensiveness, break down his walls and prove to him he could trust her with his son.
* * *
As the party ended and the last guests and media crew were sent away with hospitable smiles, Greta found Tracy out by the pool. Tracy had been watching Seth goof around on the grassy lawn with the cowboy who’d been her parking valet.
“Ready to go up and see your room?” Greta asked.
“Sure. Thanks.” Tracy stood and smoothed the seat of her slacks, giving Seth and the handsome cowboy a last look. Remembering the expression of sharp disappointment that had crossed the man’s face at the engagement announcement, she aimed her thumb over her shoulder as she followed Greta inside. “Who is that roughhousing with Seth?”
Greta glanced to the lawn. “Oh, that’s Daniel. Another uncle.”
Tracy frowned. “I thought you only had four brothers.”
“He’s a half brother.” She sighed and lowered her voice to a wry, conspiratorial whisper. “The product of an ‘indiscretion’ on my father’s part early in my parents’ marriage.” As she led Tracy through the living room Greta straightened an iron sculpture that had been knocked askew during the party. “When his mother died, Daniel came to live on the ranch.” She raised her eyebrows and angled her head. “Much to my mother’s chagrin. But my brothers and I count him as a full sibling and love having him here.” She sighed and shook her head. “Mother still won’t accept him, though.”
“That explains the look, I guess,” Tracy muttered to herself.
Greta’s clattering footsteps on the marble foyer slowed. “I’m sorry? What look?”
Heat flushed Tracy’s cheeks. She didn’t need to be poking her nose in private family issues and stirring up problems while at the Lucky C. Her goal was to win favor and get to know her nephew, not be the conscience of the Colton clan.
“Oh, nothing.” She forced a smile.
But Greta stopped walking and faced her, arching a well-manicured eyebrow. “Fess up. What do you know?”
Heaving a defeated sigh, Tracy wet her lips. “It’s just that...during your father’s speech...when he was announcing your engagement...”
Her hostess’s forehead dented with apprehension. “Go on.”
“Well...” Tracy shifted her weight from one foot to another, feeling like a grade school tattletale. “I saw a look cross his face when your father was talking about having four sons before you were born. Daniel looked...hurt.”
Greta closed her eyes slowly and grimaced.
“It was fleeting, and I could have imagined it, but...”
“Big J did say four sons, didn’t he? I didn’t even catch it at the time, or I’d have said something.” Greta huffed in frustration. “No doubt he left Daniel out to appease Abra, but...poor Daniel. He denies to our faces that it still bothers him, but this kind of thing is bound to make him feel like an outsider. Damn it.” She grumbled the last under her breath as she resumed walking toward the wide stairs to the upper floors. “Thanks for telling me. I’ll apologize to Daniel later for—”
“Oh, I...I can’t imagine he’d want his discomfiture pointed out. Or the fact that I noticed. I don’t want to be a source of trouble or strife in the family.”
Greta flicked a dismissive hand. “I’ll leave your name out of it.”
That was something, but Tracy thought about the icy look Jack had given her earlier at the announcement. “I have enough to deal with earning Jack’s trust. He really hated Laura a lot, didn’t he?”
“Hated her? Heck, no. He loved her. More than he’ll ever admit to any of us. You know how men bury that kind of thing. I think what he puts out there as ill will toward Laura is the manifestation of his deep wounds. Her unhappiness at the ranch disappointed him. Her leaving him and their baby crushed him. Her distance and disinterest in their son after she left angered him. Laura hurt him on many levels, and he’s put up walls. But don’t be fooled. He never hated her. I think he wishes he could hate her. It’d make it easier to get over her abandonment.”
“So his hostility toward me is—”
“Fear, most likely.” Greta led her into a large, plushly appointed bedroom with a massive king-size sleigh bed, dark walnut furnishings and a recessed ceiling, framed with elegant crown molding.
Tracy caught her breath, taking in the beautiful decor.
“He’s fiercely protective of Seth,” Greta continued, apparently unaware of Tracy’s momentary rapture. “That boy is everything to him. The idea that you could want to take Seth or disillusion—”
“But I don’t!” Tracy countered quickly, snapping from her dazed admiration of the guest room.
Greta raised a hand. “I hear you. But Jack will be harder to convince.”
Tracy’s shoulders slumped. “Any advice where to start?”
Greta twisted her mouth in thought. “Action. You can talk until you are blue in the face and not convince him of anything. Jack is a doer. A man of action. If he sees you treating Seth with kindness and can witness evidence of your respect for his wishes regarding Seth, that will go further than any promises you make him. Laura made promises she didn’t keep. You’ll have to prove yourself to him before he’ll listen to anything you say.”
