Belong to You (9 page)

Jayson nodded his agreement. “Dancer is one of my favorites. Have to say I’m going to miss her. She’s a little headstrong sometimes, but she’s got a good disposition.”

“You’ll get visitation in a couple of months when it comes time to breed her,” Mike said. “That stallion of yours is among the finest in the state.”

“Firestarter sure is.” Jayson stroked Dancer’s muzzle. “Comes from a long line of champion stock.”

Jayson gave a slight tug on the halter and he and Mike fell into step with the horse as they headed toward the barn. The mare’s hooves made a clopping sound on the hard packed earth as they walked.

“A shame you had to put down that Appaloosa,” Jayson said.

“She was a good mare.” Mike reached for the latch to the barn door and pushed it open. He’d had Viv for twenty-two years before the accident with a delivery truck that broke both of her front legs and caused her to have internal bleeding. A sense of loss always accompanied thoughts of the mare. They’d been together a good long time.

Once they were in the barn, Mike put Dancer in a stall and removed her halter. He gave her a flake of alfalfa hay, and checked the watering trough before closing the stall door. His other two horses were out in the corral.

When they left Dancer alone in the stall, Jayson hooked his thumbs in his front pockets and walked out of the barn into the sunshine. “How’s the campaign going?”

“Last I checked I was still up in the polls, but not by much.” Mike raised his Stetson and pushed his fingers through his hair before settling the hat back on his head. “Chad is a tough opponent.”

“Can’t be easy going up against someone willing to cross lines like Chad.” Jayson scowled. “I wouldn’t put it past him if he got dirty on this one.”

“If he does, let’s hope the voters see through him.” Mike shrugged. “I don’t intend to stoop to his level.”

Jayson pushed up the brim of his hat, a thoughtful look on his features. “Have you thought about what you’ll do next if he wins the election? Get back on with the police force or maybe work in the private sector?”

“I’ve thought a lot about that question.” Mike let his gaze drift over his scaled-back ranch and pictured it as a much larger operation. “I’m considering going into ranching full-time.”

“You’d be damned good at it.” Jayson slapped Mike on the shoulder. “You’re a McBride. As Aunt Gert would say, ‘It’s in your blood. You can try and take a McBride out of the country, but there’s no way to take the country out of a McBride.’”

“That’s true.” Mike rocked back on his heels and smiled as he thought of his spinster great-aunt, sister of his deceased grandfather. “How do you think Aunt Gert would feel about letting the press in for our annual McBride Halloween party?”

Jayson considered it for a moment. “I don’t think she would mind. Gert is keen on you winning the election. The whole family is, for that matter. So I’d say yeah, bring ’em on in.”

“I’ll check with Gert to make sure she’s fine with it,” Mike said.

“I’ve got to get going.” Jayson reached the driver’s side of his truck. “If I don’t catch you at the Halloween party, I’ll see you at John and Hollie’s wedding.”

Mike gave a nod. “Not long from now.”

As Jayson drove off, Mike headed for the barn. The breeze kicked up, bending dry grass and causing tree leaves to flutter. The smell of fall was in the air.

When he reached the barn, he went to Dancer’s stall. “How’re you doing, girl?” The horse came up to him and looked at him with her big, intelligent brown eyes. He stroked her muzzle. “You have some big shoes to fill. Viv was my sweetheart. But I think you’ll do just fine here.”

Dancer snuffled his hand where it rested on the stall door, her muzzle velvety against his skin. “Looking for a treat?” He stroked her neck. “I might have a little something for you as we get better acquainted.”

After he retrieved the mare’s halter and put it on her, he took her out of the stall. He took the lid off of a barrel filled with horse pellets and grabbed several. He pocketed a few then held out a couple of the giant pellets for her to take from his palm. Her breath was warm, her muzzle soft as she lipped the treats.

She stood patiently as he began brushing her down. He spoke to her in an even tone, letting her get used to his voice and his touch.

Mike’s thoughts turned to Jayson’s question regarding what he’d do if he lost the race to Chad. Mike crouched to brush the mare’s foreleg. He’d given it a lot of thought and if he did lose the sheriff’s race, he’d still want to be involved with the community and contribute to it in some way. It was something he needed to get his head around as to where he’d want to put his efforts.

He shifted and moved to Dancer’s other foreleg and started brushing it. He’d get into ranching full time and maybe even start a family. An image of Anna came to mind and he found himself smiling. What was it about her that had him thinking of serious relationships and even expanding the McBride brood?

A family was something he knew he’d like to have someday. And right now he knew he was getting way ahead of himself…but just maybe someday would be here sooner than he’d thought.

Chapter 10

A queer feeling settled in Anna’s belly as she walked toward Mike’s campaign headquarters and she hugged her blazer closer. The chill she felt wasn’t from the cold outside, it was from what was eating her on the inside. She might as well be called a spy or a mole, because that’s what she was—a spy for Chad, a mole to help him find dirt on Mike.

The feeling clenching her insides threatened to make her ill as she reached the headquarters’ door in an office building on Gurley Street. Mike would hate her if he found out she was spying on him. But if she did what Chad said, she could only pray that Mike would never know.

She pasted on a smile as she pulled open the door and walked into the room. Red, white, and blue professional campaign posters and signs greeted her that stated:

Mike McBride

Yavapai County

Sheriff

Simple and to the point. His last name was big and bold and Sheriff was large, italicized and written in blue and red. The “e” had a sheriff’s star in it.

Anna looked around the empty reception area. She heard sounds and voices on the other side of the cubicle wall that separated the reception desk from the rest of the office. She smoothed down her blouse and slacks with her palms and wondered if she should wait here or go find someone. Hopefully that someone would be Mike.

A tall, pretty woman with short brunette hair walked around a corner. The woman, who must have been in her late fifties, greeted Anna with a smile on her lips and in her warm, hazel eyes.

The woman held out her hand. “I’m Angel McBride, Mike’s stepmother.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Anna took Angel’s hand. “I’m Anna Batista.”

“I’ve been expecting you.” Angel released Anna’s hand. “Mike will be here anytime now. In the meantime, come on in and meet the others.”

Anna walked at Mike’s stepmother’s side and met Hollie Simmons, soon to be John McBride’s wife. Anna remembered seeing the former kindergarten teacher’s picture in the newspaper and on news reports when she was wrongly jailed for the murder of her stepbrother. Hollie reminded Anna of a southern belle with her gentle manners and lovely personality.

Anna also greeted Megan, who she had met along with her husband and children, at the pumpkin festival. Megan was a natural with computers, websites, the Internet, as well as graphic design. A curvy brunette, she had glass-green eyes and a wide smile. For the few hours a day that she worked at the campaign office, she had a sitter stay with her children.

Moments later, Mike walked in, filling the room with his very presence. He had an easy, engaging, good-natured manner about him, but there was no mistaking he was a man who was serious when he needed to be and who took charge of any situation he might find himself in.

Anna looked at him and felt an immediate sense of elation followed by longing, and then the sick sense of the betrayal that was being forced on her.

She worked up a smile as he neared her. She must have done a fairly good job at it because he smiled in return.

“I’ve introduced Anna to Megan and Hollie,” Angel said. “She’s all yours now.” Angel gave Anna a little wink before she left to return to work on the campaign.

“Why don’t we talk over coffee about what you’ll be doing for my campaign?” he asked. “We can walk on over to Sweet Things.”

She loved the timbre of his voice and the way his warm brown eyes focused on her as he spoke. “I’d like that.” She felt like her voice sounded small in comparison to the power in his tone. “During the time I’ve lived in Prescott, I’ve never gone to that bakery.”

He smiled down at her. “You don’t know what you’ve been missing.”

With his fingers touching the small of her back, he escorted her out of the HQ. His simple touch sent frissons of desire through her. She swallowed, glad he couldn’t sense her pulse quickening and the tingles running rampant throughout her body.

When they entered Sweet Things, a pretty blonde was arranging pastries in a glass display case. She rose as she saw Mike and Anna. Bells jangled at the top of the door as Mike closed it behind them.

The blonde smiled at them. “Hi, Mike.”

Mike and Anna reached the glass case that Ricki stood behind. “How’s it going, Ricki?” Mike asked. “How are you feeling?”

Ricki rested her hand on her belly and smiled. “Junior and me are doing great.”

“Good.” Mike grinned. “Little McBrides are popping up all over the place like daisies.”

Ricki laughed. “They certainly are.”

“I’d like to introduce you to Anna Batista.” He turned to Anna. “Anna, this is Ricki, who owns Sweet Things. She is yet another cousin’s wife.”

“What a prolific family the McBrides are.” It was Anna’s turn to smile. “Great to meet you, Ricki, and congratulations.”

Ricki positively glowed. “Thank you.”

A thought flittered through Anna’s mind. What would it be like to be pregnant with her own child?
With Mike’s child?

The thought sent instant heat to her cheeks and she hurried to find something to say.

“Your bakery smells wonderful.” Anna’s gaze drifted over cases filled with Napoleons, cream puffs, éclairs, petit fours, cookies, doughnuts, and so much more. “And everything looks amazing.”

“Everything
is
amazing,” Mike said. “I think I’ve tried just about everything at least once.”

Anna glanced at Mike and then Ricki. “With everything looking so darn good, how am I supposed to choose?”

Mike wore an amused expression. “We can share a few things if you’d like and then you’ll get to taste a variety.”

“I could go for a little hot coffee.” Anna noticed pots of coffee on a drink station behind Ricki. “I’ll take one with room for cream.”

Mike picked out several pastries, paid for them, and then they headed toward one of the small tables along the large plate glass window. The window had
Sweet Things
written in a curve across the glass with
Bakery
beneath that.

Through the glass Anna saw people walking along the sidewalks. Some were obviously tourists visiting this quaint part of town while others were clearly residents going about their busy day.

Prescott attracted tourists year round. The town was rich in history with its famous Whiskey Row and abundant historical landmarks, including the town’s “Plaza” that had been honored as one of the “Top Ten Public Spaces” in the U.S. The town had more than 700 homes and businesses listed in the National Register of Historic Places along with galleries, antique stores, and other shops.

Anna slipped off her blazer and hung it on the back of the chair before sitting. Displaying his innate courtesy, Mike waited for her to sit before he took his own seat. With a plate of goodies between them, they began talking about the campaign.

“I’d like you to focus on three things,” Mike said after swallowing a bite of a Napoleon. “Setting up some kind of hand-shaking appearance, arranging another debate, and coverage of the family Halloween party.”

“That’s great.” Anna felt a burst of enthusiasm. “So your family won’t mind letting reporters in on the family event?”

“I called Aunt Gert this morning and she was all for it.” Mike gave a little grin. “She sounded downright excited at the prospect.”

“That’s terrific.” Anna held half an éclair in one hand, trying not to let the cream slide out. “I can make the arrangements. It will be fun,” she said before taking a bite of the éclair.

Mike cut a cannoli in half. “You’re also invited to come as my guest.”

Anna dabbed her lips with her napkin. “I’d love to.”

“You missed a little.” Mike reached across the table and brushed her cheek with his thumb and she went still. Her heart beat at a rapid pace as his gaze met and held hers. He slowly let his fingers slide away from her face, never breaking eye contact.

She swallowed as he lowered his hand to rest on the table. “Thank you.” The words came out in a near whisper.

The corner of his mouth quirked into a smile just for her, making her feel warm all over. “Anytime.”

The bells on the door jangled as customers came into the bakery, the sound and movement breaking the connection that had held them together in that long moment.

Mike began talking about the campaign and she let out her breath. Her feelings toward him were growing so intense that she felt like her emotions were careening out of control. She needed to take a step back. Put some distance between them and just work with him in a professional capacity. She would be close enough to him still to…

To spy on him.

Her stomach sank. This was wrong on so many levels.

My family,
she reminded herself.
I’ve got to think about them.

Mike paused and she realized he was studying her. “Is everything all right?” he asked.

She had to work at it but she did manage to smile. “Everything is great. I can’t wait to get started.”

“Good.” Mike seemed genuinely pleased to have her on board, and as she laid out ideas he endorsed them whole-heartedly.