Читать книгу Ambush At Dry Gulch - Joanna Wayne - Страница 9

Chapter Three

“No problem that needs your help.” The thug dropped his hold on Carolina’s hand and backed up a step, but his eyes burned with fury. Jake sized him up. Physically fit, probably in his early thirties.

Jake figured he could still take him in a fair fight, but brawling in a parking lot wouldn’t fix anything and was definitely not his style.

He turned to Carolina. “Was this man harassing you?”

“He’s stalking Mildred.”

“Having a conversation with my wife is not stalking.”

Mildred hugged her arms around her chest, head down, looking more like a scared child facing an angry parent than a forceful woman. “I’m not your wife, Thad. We’re divorced.”

So the thug was Mildred’s ex. That clarified the situation a bit for Jake, even though it hadn’t been Mildred the bully was manhandling.

The man reached a hand toward Mildred. “I just want to talk to you—in private.”

Jake turned to Mildred. “Is that what you want?”

She shook her head and raised her eyes to Jake’s, hers pleading when her gaze met his.

“I never meant to hurt you,” Thad said, his tone considerably softer. “I love you. You know that. And you love me.”

“You tried to kill her and almost succeeded,” Carolina cut in, her words blistering. “She’s through with you, so stay away from her or you’ll be back in prison where you belong.”

“Stay out of this, Carolina. You might own half of Texas, but you don’t own Mildred and you sure as hell aren’t going to order me around.”

Jake struggled to contain his own anger as the situation became clearer still. The itch to punch Thad Caffey rode Jake hard.

He stepped toward Jake. “Mildred and Carolina are with me and you’re through here. You have a problem with that, take it up with me now.”

Thad glared at Mildred and then turned to Carolina. “So that’s how it is. You got rid of me and now you’ve fixed my woman up with one of your rich rancher friends.”

“One of my bulls would have been an improvement over you, Thad Caffey.”

Thad beat his right fist into his left hand and ground it as if he were getting ready for a fight. Jake’s muscles tensed. He’d never wanted to punch a guy more.

A second later, Thad turned and walked away without a backward glance. Jake watched him go, but his gut feeling was that this was far from being settled.

Jake lingered with the two women until Thad had sauntered over to an old mud-encrusted pickup truck with a rusted right fender and driven away.

“Good timing,” Carolina said. “I’m not sure I could have taken him down if you hadn’t shown up when you did. But I could have done some serious hair pulling and hopefully got in at least one knee to the groin.”

“Ow. My bet’s on you. But I’m glad I could intervene. Is there more to the story that I should know?”

“Thad is not a nice man,” Mildred said.

“I got that.”

“The four years in prison didn’t make him any nicer,” Carolina added.

“How long has he been out of prison?”

“Almost a week,” Mildred said, “but last night was the first time he tried to contact me. I got a phone call from him at the hotel. I’m not sure how he found out I was here with Carolina. I don’t know how far he would have pushed things today if you hadn’t shown up when you did.”

“Glad to help, but I seriously doubt you’ve seen the last of him. You should let his parole officer know he’s stalking you.”

“He doesn’t have one. He served all his time.”

“Then call your local sheriff.”

“A great idea.” Carolina took her car key from her handbag and pushed the unlock button. “We should get moving. Sara and Peg are probably already at the restaurant wondering what happened to us.”

Jake glanced at the clouds that were rolling in. “I wouldn’t dawdle over lunch,” he suggested. “Weatherman may have been a little optimistic predicting the thunderstorms would hold off until evening.”

He stepped past Carolina and opened the door for her. She brushed past him as she slid behind the wheel. Her skirt rode up her thighs, innocently provocative.

His senses reeled from an unexpected kick of sensual attraction. He was still feeling the effects long after they drove away.

Carolina Lambert was even more stunning in person than she was in her society page photos. Great body. Thick eyelashes. Sun-streaked hair that tumbled past her shoulders in soft, natural curls. Hazel eyes that sparked green when she was mad. Full, beautiful lips.

None of which changed the fact that she had manipulated R.J. into writing that bizarre, manipulative will, a will that she surely planned to work in her favor once R.J. was dead and gone and the family was released from his rules and regulations.

But a deal was a deal, even though he hadn’t known it was her he was helping out this week. Carolina could do her thing. She’d have his wrangler’s full cooperation.

But it was a large ranch. With luck, he wouldn’t even have to see her again.

* * *

TWO HOURS LATER Carolina sped down the highway, barely paying attention to the conversation in the car as the four of them rolled down the last stretch of interstate before taking the exit for the Silver Spur Ranch.

The day had started with sunshine and promise. Now the sky was threatening. The cloud Thad Caffey had cast over the day was even gloomier.

If Jake hadn’t walked up when he had, the situation might have turned violent. Just as frightening, Mildred might have gone with Thad in an effort to protect herself or Carolina from his rage.

Okay. Score one for Jake Dalton. She had to concede that he was not the complete cad she had figured him for. He’d been impressive in the parking lot, all the grit and virility a woman could ask for.

“I should have brought my rain slicker,” Sara said from the backseat. “Looks as if it might start pouring any minute.”

“It’s not too late to turn around and try to reschedule the tour for first thing tomorrow morning,” Carolina offered.

“We’re almost there,” Peg said. “Might as well see as much as we can today. If we need to check out more, we can always come back tomorrow and wade through the mud.”

“The sexy ranch owner wouldn’t have anything to do with your vote, would it?” Sara teased.

“No, but I can’t say that I’d mind getting caught in the rain—or anywhere else with him. He is hot.”

“Not to mention rich and single,” Sara said.

“Better than all that, he seems like a really nice guy,” Mildred said. “They’re hard to come by.”

It was one of the few times Mildred had joined the conversation since they left Austin. She had asked Carolina not to mention their run-in with Thad to the others, and Carolina had agreed that was for the best. Mildred didn’t need a lot of questions thrown at her about her past experiences with her ex.

“How old do you think Jake is?” Peg asked.

“Maybe early fifties,” Sara said. “What do you think, Carolina?”

“I’d say that’s probably about right.”

“I don’t know,” Peg said. “Those are not the biceps or butt of a middle-aged man.”

“Good grief,” Sara exclaimed. “What does age have to do with it? George Clooney, Kevin Costner, Colin Firth. My husband, Jess. All hunks past fifty.”

“Doesn’t just apply to men,” Mildred added. “Case in point: Carolina. Remember the magazine article last year that declared her one of Texas’s most beautiful and altruistic women?”

“A major exaggeration,” Carolina said, as the others gave her a wahoo. “And for the record, I don’t plan to spend a second of my time trying to impress Jake Dalton.”

“Guess that leaves him to you and me, Mildred,” Peg said, likely only half joking.

“Then he’s all yours,” Mildred said. “I like the single life.”

Carolina turned at the entrance of the Silver Spur. The double gate of entwined metal links incorporated the images of two life-size rearing horses and the name of the ranch.

Sara stretched her neck to see more. “Wow. Impressive.”

Carolina lowered her car window, pressed the call button that was mounted on a metal stand and looked into the lens of a security camera.

A few seconds later, a friendly female voice responded. “Hello. Welcome to the Silver Spur.”

“Thanks. I’m Carolina Lambert, with the Saddle-Up project.”

“Carolina Lambert,” a female voice repeated, followed by a few seconds of silence. “The real Carolina Lambert?”

“I’m not sure who you’re expecting, but I am real.”

“I recognize you now. You know, from the pictures I see of you in the newspaper. Just last month you hosted that big fund-raiser for the children’s hospital in Dallas.”

“Yes, and thanks to a lot of very generous Texas donors, we surpassed our expectations. We’re here to tour the ranch,” she said. “Mr. Dalton said you’d be expecting us.”

“He just said some ladies were driving out from Austin. He didn’t say it was you. And I’m just blabbering on. Sorry. I’m Edna, Jake Dalton’s housekeeper. You ladies just follow the main road back to the house and we’ll have some proper introductions. I’ll put the coffee on.”

“Please don’t go to any trouble for us.”

“Coffee’s no trouble. Can’t miss the main house. Two story. White. Dark green shutters. Big covered porch.”

“Is Mr. Dalton here this afternoon?”

“He’s not back from the city yet, but Tilson can show you around. He’s young, but one of the nicest wranglers you’ll ever meet and he knows the spread like the back of his hand.”

“I’m sure Tilson will be more than adequate.”

The gate clicked, then swung open. Carolina shifted the gearshift into Drive and eased over the bumpy cattle gap. The gate creaked slightly as it automatically closed and locked behind them.

“Nice setup,” Sara said. “I can’t wait to see the house.”

“Only thing missing is the boss man himself,” Peg added. “Bummer.”

So far, so good, Carolina decided as she stared at rolling pastures and the wooded areas that bordered them. The Silver Spur without Jake Dalton would work just fine.

* * *

“A SEVERE WEATHER watch will be in effect for Travis, Hays and Blanco counties from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Be on the lookout for heavy rain and flash flooding in low-lying areas.”

Jake turned down the volume on his truck radio and used the hands-free Bluetooth connection to call Lizzie. Weather anxiety skirted the other issues of the day as he waited for his daughter to answer her phone. When she didn’t, he left a message.

“Storm is rolling in fast. I should be back to the ranch in about fifteen minutes. Hopefully you’re there, as well, or at least somewhere safe. Call me as soon as you get this message.”

When he broke the connection, he called his house. Edna answered on the fourth ring. After a quick hello he asked if the Saddle-Up team had defied the threatening storm and actually driven out to the ranch that afternoon.

“Yes, a couple of hours ago. I nearly passed out when I looked to see who was at the gate and Carolina Lambert was staring back at me.”

He knew the feeling, only he hadn’t been looking at a camera image. “I take it you pulled yourself together enough to let them in.”

“Of course, but I can’t believe you didn’t tell me she was the Saddle-Up leader.”

“I didn’t know you were a Carolina Lambert groupie.”

“Pshaw. I’m too old to be a groupie. But she’s famous. She attended a party at the White House once. I read that online.”

“Guess that makes her a celebrity.”

“She’s not a bit stuck-up. All that money, and I swear she showed up here in a pair of Wranglers, worn cowboy boots and an ordinary white T-shirt. Just like regular people.”

At least she’d changed out of that skirt that had inched up her thighs before she toured the ranch. He needed his wranglers working, not ogling.

“I hope the women left the ranch in time to make it back to Austin before the storm hits full force.”

“They haven’t left. They’re still out with Tilson.”

He swallowed a curse. Just what he needed. Carolina stuck at his house waiting out a storm. If they made it back to the house before it hit. “Did Tilson take them in one of the pickup trucks?”

“No. They wanted to go on horseback. I’m starting to worry about them, though. I haven’t seen any lightning yet, but the thunder is sure rumbling and clouds are getting dark.”

“Do you know where Lizzie is?”

“She’s with Tilson and the ladies.”

That did not sound like his daughter. “How did that happen?”

“Mrs. Lambert started asking her about the horses and the next thing I knew, Lizzie was headed to the horse barn with them. I haven’t seen her since, so she must have decided to stay with the group.”

Inspiring Lizzie to do anything that didn’t include social media, texting or hanging out with her friends was a major accomplishment. If Lizzie was actually with them and hadn’t slipped away from the ranch without mentioning it to Edna.

“I’ll be home in a few minutes,” he said. “Take care and stay inside. If you see Lizzie, tell her I said not to leave the house again.”

“I’m sure that once she gets inside, she won’t leave again in the storm.”

Edna had more faith in Lizzie’s judgment than he did. He broke the connection and gave his injured foreman a quick call. Granger answered on the first ring.

“How are the weather preparations going?” Jake asked.

“We’re on top of things, even though I’m just able to man the phones. Winds are already gusting and blowing up whirlwinds of dust. Clouds are threatening to let loose with a deluge any minute now. Lanky’s heading up to the big house to check on Edna, just in case she needs help with anything. He should be there any second.”

“Sounds good. What about the livestock?”

“Got a couple of wranglers checking on the horses now. You know how spooked they get when a storm blows in. I had the cattle in pasture six moved to pasture five. Ground’s higher there and will drain off a lot quicker if we get the rain they’re forecasting. Feeding is taken care of.”

“And the rest of the wranglers?”

“Told Fisher and Morgan to hightail it on home before the storm hits. The others are probably in the bunkhouse sipping whiskey and cooking up a bunch of fajitas by now.”

“Edna tells me Tilson is still out with the ladies’ tour group,” Jake said.

“Just talked to him. They’re on horseback and not five minutes from the big house. Lanky will help him take care of the horses after he drops off the ladies.”

“That’s what I needed to hear. I’m less than five minutes from the gate myself.”

Streaks of lightning darted about the gray depths of the heavens as he broke the phone connection. A gust of wind made the truck shudder.

A big yellow dog ran the fence line just past the burned ruins of the old Baptist church. A shrieking murder of crows lined an electric line as if warning motorists they’d best get on home.

The first huge drops of rain began to pelt his windshield as he passed through the ranch gate. By the time he pulled into the three-car garage, the rain was falling in wind-driven sheets. He took the covered walkway to the back door.

Thankfully Tilson and the Saddle-Up group had made it back to the house, but not before the rain had hit. They were huddled in the kitchen, drenched to the skin. Carolina’s gaze met his as he joined them, but it wasn’t her eyes that brought him to instant attention.

Her firm breasts and puckered nipples were detailed beneath the clinging shirt. Arousal hit Jake so hard and fast it was dizzying.

He looked away quick, before the ache in his groin became a visible bulge.

He didn’t even like the woman. What the hell was wrong with him?