Читать книгу Protecting the Colton Bride - Elle James - Страница 10

Chapter 4

“I’ve heard a lot about the Lucky C Ranch lately,” Marshall Kennedy’s voice boomed in his ear.

Daniel held the phone in a tight grip. This call might mean the difference between a good program and an excellent breeding program that could gain international attention. “Thank you, sir,” Daniel said. “I’ve selected from only the best lineage.”

“I assume that’s why you’re looking at purchasing semen from Striker’s Royal Advantage.”

“Yes, sir. I’ve done my research, and I believe a foal from Striker and Big J’s Lucky Coin will be the most sought-after registered quarter horse in the country.”

“I’m impressed with Big J’s Lucky line, but I don’t sell to just any farm that comes along with enough money to pay for stud service.”

“I understand, Mr. Kennedy.”

“I want to know my horses are being bred and cared for by a fine, upstanding family. Good family is just as important, if not more so, than money. From what I’ve learned about the Coltons, there are a few skeletons in the closets. You being one of them.”

Daniel bit down on his tongue to keep from telling Kennedy that people couldn’t always choose their lineage like people could choose a horse’s bloodline. “I’m as much a part of the Colton family as any of my siblings, and I’m just as proud of my Cherokee blood.” Realizing he was coming across too strong, Daniel drew in a calming breath and continued. “If my heritage will be a sticking point in this deal, perhaps this conversation is over.”

“Whoa, young man. I didn’t say your bloodline was at fault.”

“Then what is it you need from me to convince you the horses produced from your lines will be well cared for?”

“I want you to convince me the Coltons are the right family to invest in. I’m speaking at the annual Symposium on Equine Reproduction a week from now in Reno, Nevada. I want you to attend that symposium. I’ll be there with members of my family. If at that time I feel that the Coltons are worth the risk, we can discuss the details of the sale. Are you still interested?”

“Yes, sir,” Daniel said, not really understanding how meeting Kennedy at a symposium would change the man’s mind if he’d already made his decision. “I’ll be there.”

“Good.” Marshall Kennedy ended the call, leaving Daniel no closer to knowing whether he’d get the semen he wanted to take his breeding program to the next level. With one of his mares down and no guarantee she’d pull through, and his assistant likely quitting, he wondered if it was too soon to take this step. He’d be gambling a great deal of Colton money on a dream. Not all of the Colton brothers were in agreement on taking this project forward. Big J liked a family consensus before funding was released.

The bright spot in the mess of the past few days was that Kennedy hadn’t said no. He hadn’t said yes. But there still was hope.

He stepped out of the office and returned to the stall, where Megan sat in the dying light beside Halo, stroking the animal’s neck. The horse didn’t look any better, and Daniel wasn’t sure she’d live to see the sunrise.

Too many strange things had happened on the ranch in the past few months. The main house had been robbed and his father’s wife, Abra, had been attacked and left in a coma. Now someone had tried to kill one of his prize mares.

Daniel wasn’t ready to give up on Halo, yet. And he still had to come up with a solution to Megan’s problem or he’d lose her, too.

Megan smiled over her shoulder at him. “I kept Sleek from eating your sandwich.”

The barn cat sat beside Megan, licking its paws. The stray had been an asset to the ranch and kept the mouse population down.

The sun had dipped below the horizon while Daniel talked on the phone with Kennedy. With his world tilted on its axis, Daniel wasn’t sure what the next day would bring or how to keep everything he’d worked for from falling apart.

“You can go home. I’ll stay with Halo,” he said to Megan.

She shook her head. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather stay. I know it doesn’t make sense, but I feel like it’s my fault Halo’s in the shape she’s in.”

“Unless you purposely poisoned her, I don’t see how it could be your fault.”

“I should have realized something was terribly wrong with her and dealt with her immediately.” She scratched behind the horse’s ear. “Then you wouldn’t be as sick as you are now, would you, baby?” Her tone was soothing, and Halo’s ears twitched.

“We wouldn’t have known anything sooner,” Daniel said. “The lab had to make that determination. It wasn’t until this morning that she went downhill.”

“Still, I was the last one to ride her.”

“Stop.” Daniel held up a hand. “We’ll both stay with her.”

She gave him a crooked smile. “Thanks. I’d like that.”

He left her in the stall and went about the task of feeding the other animals. When he returned to the stall, he carried several clean horse blankets and a section of hay. He spread out the hay on the ground.

Megan took one of the blankets from him, laid it over the hay and sat on one side of it, patting the spot next to her. “Sit and eat your supper.”

Daniel sat and took the sandwich from Megan. When their hands touched, a spark of electricity shot up his arm, reminding him of that kiss and the subsequent dreams that had plagued his sleep the night before. At least if he stayed awake all night with Halo, he wouldn’t be dreaming of lying naked with Megan.

“Was that Marshall Kennedy on the phone?” Megan gave him a half smile. “Sorry, I overheard a little.”

Daniel chewed on a bite of deli meat, mentally going over his conversation with Kennedy. Megan had been with him when he’d researched the studs and breeders. She knew as well as he did what they needed at the Lucky C to make it a world-class operation, and she deserved to know the outcome of that conversation, even if she did quit in two days’ time. “Yes.”

“Well?” She leaned forward on her knees, her green eyes bright in the soft glow from the overhead lighting. “Is he going to deal with us or not?”

Daniel shook his head. “Jury’s still out.”

“Then why bother calling you?” She sat back, her excitement replaced by a frown. “Either he’s going to sell to you or he’s not.”

“It’s like I told Brett and Jack. The man has a thing about family. He looks at the lineage of the horses, but he’s concerned about the family raising those horses.”

“Then it should be a slam dunk. The Coltons are well respected as ranchers not only in Oklahoma but also across the United States.”

“Ranching cattle. But we’re new at horse breeding and not as well proven. That’s not what he’s concerned about, though. He wants to know his horses are going to a good family.”

“Again, the Coltons are well respected. What could he be concerned about?”

“He’s specifically worried about me. He called me a skeleton in the Colton closet. From what I’ve learned, the Kennedys are socially elite and proud of their status.”

“Sounds like my parents. They would hate to have me mess up their standing by marrying beneath me.” Megan shivered. “I’ve met too many of their social picks.” She snorted. “No thanks. Do you think that’s what’s holding the Kennedys back?”

Daniel nodded. “I’m the stick in the man’s craw. The bastard son of a Colton, and a Cherokee to boot.”

Megan’s face reddened and her eyes flashed. “Is he refusing to sell to you because you’re half-Cherokee?”

“He didn’t say that, but I’m betting he’s not comfortable selling to the bastard son. I don’t have the social status of a Kennedy.”

“Daniel, you’re just as much a Colton as any of your siblings.”

“Not according to my stepmother.”

“Abra is a bitter old woman who doesn’t even like her own children. She’s more interested in social status than love and family.” Megan clapped a hand over her mouth and then sat back. “Sorry. I couldn’t stop myself. I’ve seen how she treats you and your brothers and wanted to tell her what I thought about that. How can a woman dislike her own children?”

“It doesn’t matter, and it doesn’t bother me anymore.” Not since he’d moved out of the main house. He didn’t come into contact with Abra Colton as often and it suited him just fine.

“The point is, Kennedy can’t hold an accident of birth against you. You’re a good man. You’re good with horses and have a great eye for quality. If he could only see that, he’d sell to you with no further questions asked.”

“Well, that’s just it. He’ll get the chance. I meet with him face-to-face in exactly one and a half weeks.”

“What?” Once again Megan sat forward. “When? Where? I’d love to be a fly on the wall at that meeting.”

He wished Megan could be at his side. She’d be a great asset because of her knowledge of horse breeding from the Triple Diamond and her pedigree from an impressive family tree with a long line of Talbots raising only the best Talbots and horses. Kennedy would fall in love with Megan’s charm and capabilities just like he had.

She assured him, “Kennedy will see what a great program we have started here at the Lucky C.” Her lips twisted. “I mean, the program you’ve started.”

“I couldn’t have even tempted the man without your help putting the data together to send to him. Why don’t you come with me?” Then he remembered Megan was leaving the Lucky C to go home to California.

Megan sighed. “Unless I’m willing to let my horses be sold, I can’t. I’m headed to California in the next week.”

“Damn. I wish you didn’t have to go.” Daniel leaned forward and checked on Halo, racking his brain for a solution to both their problems. The horse lifted her head and stared at him with her big brown eyes as if to say she wished he could fix her problem, as well.

“You’ll do fine,” Megan said, leaning back against the wall. “The most important thing right now is to get Halo back on her feet.”

“You’re right.” Daniel settled back against the wall beside Megan.

She closed her eyes, stifling a yawn behind her hand. “I don’t know about you, but I didn’t sleep worth a darn last night. My dad’s threat and my ride on a sick horse weren’t conducive to pleasant dreams.” She yawned again and laughed. “Sorry. I’m supposed to stay awake all night with Halo. I won’t be of much use if I fall asleep.”

“Come here.” Daniel slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Lean on me. I’ll stay awake and let you know if there’s any sign of change.”

Megan snuggled up against him. “I thought you didn’t mix business with pleasure?”

“You said it yourself. You quit.” What could it hurt to hold her? It might give him a chance to come up with a plan to rescue her horses from being sold off, or find a way to impress Marshall Kennedy with his family when he wasn’t even part of the official Colton line.

Megan closed her eyes again. “Mmm. This is much nicer. I should have quit sooner.” Her breathing became deeper and her body relaxed against Daniel’s.

If only she knew how hard it was for him to hold her and not kiss the tip of her nose or press his lips to her temple, she might not be so willing to fall asleep against him. All thoughts of being a good boss and not touching his employee flew out the barn door while he held Megan in his arms.

Halo stirred, lifting her head a little, her hooves kicking out just once before she settled back in the straw.

Daniel prayed that she’d make it through the night and he’d come up with a way to keep Megan. She’d been instrumental in his research and planning for his breeding program. She was good at what she did, and her parents would squander her assets, forcing her to go to social events she couldn’t stand.

Sometime in the night, Halo shook out of the effects of the poison and got to her feet.

Daniel was so relieved, he almost woke Megan to tell her, but she was sleeping soundly and he hated to wake her. Instead, he lay down on the bed of straw and blankets and pulled her up against him. As he drifted into a deep sleep, he found himself wishing he could go to sleep every night with this amazing woman in his arms.

* * *

Megan woke to the soft thuds of hooves pawing at the dirt. She cracked an eyelid to see Halo standing in her stall, impatient for her feed and getting more impatient by the minute.

Joy filled her heart at the sight of the mare standing straight and proud, the effects of the poison worn off. Megan turned to tell Daniel, but he was asleep, his manly face softened in the gray light of dawn that snuck through the open door of the barn.

He must have been awake all night, worrying about Halo and wondering what to do about the meeting with the Kennedys.

Megan was loath to move away from the warmth of his body. It felt so firm and strong beside her.

One big obstacle had been cleared for Daniel. Halo would live. She was one of his best broodmares. Her loss would have been a big hit to his breeding program. Now all he had to do was impress the Kennedys. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on her.

Her family was among the socially elite of California. The Talbots’ horse-breeding program at the Triple Diamond Ranch was nationally acknowledged. Daniel needed a boost on the social front in order for the Kennedys to consider him eligible for inclusion in their equine breeding efforts. What he needed was to marry into a family like the Talbots to give him social clout.

And if she and Daniel married, she’d satisfy the conditions of her grandmother’s will and inherit a trust fund sufficient to purchase her horses from her father.

Megan could see herself married to a man like Daniel. He respected her mind and her ability to work with the horses, and he wasn’t stiflingly overprotective. He’d worked hard to get where he was, earning his keep on the Lucky C, giving back to the family that provided him a home when his mother died. Yes, he was the kind of man she could easily fall in love with and probably already had.

If the ache that had settled in her chest when she thought of leaving the Lucky C and Daniel was any indication, she could see herself falling for this amazing man.

All her problems would be solved if only Daniel was interested in her as more than just his assistant.

“Do I have dirt on my nose?” Daniel stared up at her, a sleepy smile curling his lips.

“No,” she answered. “Why?”

“You were staring at me and frowning.” He swiped his hand across his face and sat up. “What were you thinking?”

How much she cared about him and wished he returned the feeling. Heat filled her cheeks, and she bit hard on her tongue to keep from blurting out her thoughts. To avoid answering, she turned to Halo. “When did she get up?”

“Around two in the morning. One minute she was lying as still as death, and the next she rolled to her feet as if she was done being sick.”

Megan smiled. “I’m glad. I’ll leave feeling much better knowing she is okay.”

Daniel’s brows dipped. “About that...” He stood and reached down for her hand. “I’ve been thinking.”

Megan laid her fingers across his big palm, bracing herself for the rush of heated awareness to shoot from the point of contact throughout her body. And it did, leaving her feeling slightly breathless and off balance. Oh, yes, she was well on her way to loving this man, and he didn’t have a clue.

If she were smart, she’d keep it to herself. He obviously wasn’t of the same mind or he would have kissed her again. He’d had an opportunity while holding her through the night, and hadn’t made a move.

Daniel pulled her to her feet. “You’re frowning again, and I haven’t even told you my idea.”

“Oh, sorry.” She slipped her hand free and stepped away from him to keep from making a fool of herself. “I guess I was thinking, too.”

“Well, it’s like this—and tell me I’m crazy if this sounds too insane to pursue—”

Megan watched as the man blushed and stumbled over his words. It wasn’t like Daniel to be embarrassed. Nor was it like him to beat around the bush. Megan leaned back against the wall, enjoying this side of Daniel she hadn’t seen. “It can’t be all that bad. Your ideas are usually spot-on.” She smiled, encouraging him to continue.

“You need the money to buy your horses.”

Before he finished his sentence, she shook her head. “I told you, I won’t take your money.”

“That’s good, because I don’t have enough to buy the Triple Diamond breeding stock. But I might have a solution for both your problem and mine.”

Megan’s heart skipped several beats as Daniel’s cheeks turned a ruddy red.

“You need a husband. I need an injection of social elitism that will impress Marshall Kennedy.”

Her heart stopped. Her breath caught and held, refusing to move past the knot in her throat as she waited for what she’d only dreamed would come next.

Daniel shoved a hand through his dark hair and frowned. “I can’t think of any other way to accomplish both, or I’d do it, but I’m fresh out of ideas.”

“Daniel!” Megan said, her voice breathy. “Get to the point.”

“Why don’t we get married?”

Even though she’d known it was coming, it still hit her square in the chest. The air rushed from her lungs, and a tsunami of feelings washed over her. A surge of joy made her heart beat so fast she felt faint. She crested that wave and slid into the undertow of reality. “A marriage of convenience?”

“Exactly.” He reached for her hands.

When she hid them behind her back, he dropped his arms. “It wouldn’t have to be forever. Just long enough to satisfy the stipulations of your grandmother’s will and keep your horses. That would help me get past the Kennedy gauntlet. We could leave today, find a chapel in Vegas and spend the night. It would be over in less than five minutes.”

With her heart smarting, Megan forced a shaky smile. “Way to sweep a girl off her feet.”

He waved his hand, and Halo tossed her head. “If you want, I can make an official announcement in front of my family.”

Megan shook her head. “No.”

“No, you won’t marry me?”

“No.” She pushed past him to pace down the center of the barn. “Your plan is insane.”

“Do you have a better one?” he asked. “I’m all ears.”

The plan was the same as the one she’d been thinking of before Daniel had woken up. Only when she’d dreamed it up, it didn’t sound as cold and impersonal as Daniel’s proposal. Somewhere in the back of her mind she’d hoped that a marriage to Daniel would be something more than one of convenience.

After yesterday’s kiss, she wasn’t sure she could be around Daniel for long periods without wanting another. And another.

“The problem is, my only other choice is to move home and live under my father’s thumb.”

“And you don’t want to do that, do you?” he asked.

Megan faced Daniel, her back straight, her chin tilted up. “I’d rather die than live like my parents want me to. If it were just me, I’d stay and tell my father no thank you.” Then her shoulders sagged. “But I can’t abandon my horses.”

“Is there anyone else who’d come to their rescue?”

“No.” Megan glanced around, looking for the answer. Her gaze returned to Daniel. “If you’re serious about your offer—” she paused, then went on “—I’m in.”

As soon as she said the words, she wanted to take them back. This was not how a proposal was supposed to be. She should have been ecstatic, giddy with excitement for the man professing his love to her. Instead they’d hop a plane to Vegas and wham, bam, thank you, ma’am, they’d be married by some pathetic imitation of Elvis in a drive-through chapel on the Strip.

Daniel’s lips quirked. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not happy about this?”

“I don’t know.” She flung her hands in the air and fought back tears. “I guess I expected...well...not this.”

“It’s not as if it will be a real marriage. Once we’re both in the clear, we can get a quickie divorce, and you will be free to marry whomever you prefer.”

Megan stared at the man. He really didn’t have a clue that she was falling in love with him. “Yeah. But the man of my dreams would have to do a better job of proposing.”

“You deserve the best, Megan. If he doesn’t care enough to do it right, don’t marry him.”

She raised her brows. “And your proposal was the standard to measure by?”

“Oh, hell no.” Daniel grasped her hands and pulled her closer. “If this were a real proposal, I’d have taken you out to dinner at a nice restaurant or, better yet, on a picnic to your favorite spot on the ranch, because I’d know you didn’t give a damn about all that fancy stuff. You love being out in the fresh air, close to the animals you love.”

Megan could picture this scenario. He’d take her out to the hill with the ancient oak tree near sunset and wait to ask until the bright orange globe settled at the edge of the horizon, brushing a glorious palette of colors across the clouds. She sniffed. “A picnic would have been nice.”

“And I’d have brought along a bottle of wine.”

She cocked her brows. “To get me liquored up?”

“Can’t have my girl turning me down, now can I?” He grinned and pulled her closer. “Then at sunset, I’d have gone down on one knee.”

Megan’s breath caught in her throat just as it would have had he been performing according to his script. Her chest tight, she forced a chuckle, hoping to ease the tension rising inside.

Daniel’s brows dipped. “What are you laughing about?”

“On a cattle ranch, you would have put your knee in a cow patty.”

“Anything for the woman I was about to ask to marry me.” Daniel held her hands, his gaze intense, the smile sliding away. “I’d have asked you properly, saying something flowery and sincere, like this. ‘Megan, you outshine the stars in the sky and make my heart beat faster whenever you’re around.’”

Megan laughed, the sound catching in her throat. “That would be a good start.”

“‘Would you marry me and make me the happiest man alive?’” He nodded to her. “And you would fall into my arms, crying happy tears, shouting yes at the top of your lungs.”

A real tear slipped from the corner of her eye and trailed down her cheek.

Daniel caught it on the tip of his finger. “You’ve got the idea.”

“A proposal like that would make it hard for a girl to refuse.”

“That’s where the liquor comes in to seal the deal.” He curled his fingers around hers. “So, Megan Talbot, will you marry me for however long it takes to sort out our troubles?”

Her heart breaking just a little, Megan wanted to say no. Daniel still had a long way to go before he fell in love with her, if he ever did. Then again, if she wanted to save her horses, this option seemed to be her only recourse on her father’s short deadline. If she married, she’d have the money she needed, and her father couldn’t expect her to come home to California to live.

He let go of her hands and stepped back. “Want time to think about it? I know it sounds crazy. You might feel better if we put the agreement in writing. I don’t want your inheritance, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

“No, I trust you, and no, I don’t want time to think about it. My answer is yes.” If she thought about it too long, she’d talk herself out of it, and she couldn’t afford to pass up the offer. “For the horses.”

“Right. For the horses.”