Jake (7 page)

As for the ranch, she swallowed hard before saying, “I thought I’d auction off the herds and equipment first. I had a representative from an auction house come by yesterday to look over our things and estimate their worth. And then I thought I’d put everything, including the land and buildings, up for sale.”

Jake caught the look of consternation in Cory’s eyes. He kept his tone deliberately soft. “Have you signed a contract with the auction house?”

“Not yet. I have another company asking to be allowed to compete with the first bid before I make my decision.”

“Since you’ve only been home for a day, why not give it some time before you sign any contracts?”

“I’m running on a very short timetable. I have to get back to my job.”

“What do you do, Meg?” Cheyenne asked.

“I’m a lawyer with Howe-Kettering in Washington, D.C.”

Sierra shot her an admiring glance. “That’s about as big as it gets.” She turned to the others. “Howe-Kettering was involved in the murder trial of that senator’s daughter who went missing. Two years later her remains were identified at a remote campsite in Nevada. Everybody thought the wealthy businessman who was the senator’s biggest donor would walk because he seemed to have an airtight alibi. But some young hotshot lawyer dropped a bombshell during the trial that had him breaking down and confessing on live television.”

Cheyenne nodded. “I saw that.” She turned to peer intently at Meg, when the light suddenly dawned. “Oh, wow.
You
were that hotshot lawyer.”

Meg smiled. “It was a very satisfying moment.”

Quinn started chuckling. Seeing the questioning looks of the others he said, “I think Meg’s story trumps Jake’s.”

“No question about it.” Jake put a hand over Meg’s. “Sleeping bears and mad hornets don’t hold a candle to putting a murderer away for good.”

Meg very carefully removed her hand and clenched it in her lap. “Actually, he’s appealing the conviction.”

“After a public admission of guilt?” Sierra couldn’t hide her shock.

“He’s claiming temporary insanity.”

“Do you think he has a chance of winning the appeal?”

Meg lifted both palms up. “When you’re dealing with a jury, there’s no telling what the outcome will be.”

“That’s a lot like life, isn’t it?” Big Jim sat back, watching Meg and Cory. “One day you’re up, the next you’re down. A big win can turn into a huge loss. But the good thing is, the next day it all starts over, and just when you think you’ve lost everything, you find a hidden treasure.”

Cole studied the stingy slice of cake that Phoebe had placed on his plate. “Here’s my treasure.”

He took a bite and slowly chewed and swallowed before explaining. “Now that I’m on a restricted diet, I’ve learned to appreciate the little nuggets of real gold in my life. Having this woman watching out for me is one of them.”

He and Phoebe exchanged looks, and the housekeeper found herself blushing at his unexpected admission.

As Phoebe circled the table refilling coffee cups, she lay a hand on Cole’s shoulder. He reached up and closed his big hand over hers.

While the talk drifted to ranch chores, Jake shifted and whispered, “Heart attack. Phoebe watches out for him like a she-bear.”

Meg nodded in understanding.

As Jake’s shoulder brushed Meg’s, the quick jolt of heat slid down his spine.

There was no denying what he felt each time they made the slightest contact. A purely sexual tug that was both pleasant and unsettling. And from the way she reacted each time they touched, he was convinced that she felt it, too. Why else would she have the need to draw away so abruptly?

Hearing Meg reply to Sierra’s question, and watching Cory shyly smile at Ela, Jake was glad that he’d brought Meg and Cory home for a meal. His family had a way of getting people to relax and open up about themselves.

Like the fact that Meg and Cory had more in common than they’d first thought. They shared similar memories about a father who was now gone. Good, bad, or indifferent, they were memories that nobody else could share. They both had a love for horses. And they were both alone, with no other family members left to offer comfort.

He wondered how long it would take them both to figure out that they might be more alike than either of them cared to admit.

In the next instant he wondered why it should matter to him at all. Meg and Cory were, after all, neighbors who would probably be gone in a matter of days, without leaving a forwarding address. They wouldn’t give him or his family a second thought.

Still, while they were here, they were dealing with some pretty heavy issues. It wasn’t in his nature to turn his back on a neighbor as long as he could be any help at all.

One area where he could certainly lend a hand was with the colt. He’d see to it that Shadow was healthy enough to withstand whatever came next. If Meg sold all the ranch stock, the colt stood a better chance of landing in a good home if that leg mended perfectly.

The thought of separating Cory from his colt wasn’t a pleasant one. Both the boy and horse would suffer from the separation. Hopefully, since Meg had gone through a similar separation as a child, she would be sympathetic to the pain her little brother would endure.

Little brother.

That had Jake sitting back with a grin. Until yesterday, Meg hadn’t even known about Cory. Now she was going to have to deal with not only the loss of a father but the addition of a stranger in her life.

He shot a glance at his own father, busy talking ranch chores with Big Jim, and found himself wondering how he would feel if he learned that Cole had kept secrets from his family. Secrets that would impact them for the rest of their lives.

That wasn’t a place Jake cared to visit in his mind. There already was a huge mystery in their lives. One that had never been resolved, and left a gaping wound that continued to fester.

Maybe, he thought, every family had secrets. But he doubted that many of them could compete with the mystery that had plagued the Conway family for two decades.

In the meantime, he would give as much attention as he could to Meg and Cory.

It didn’t hurt, he thought with a devilish grin, that Meg Stanford was as beautiful as she was complicated.

There was nothing Jake loved more than the challenge of a gorgeous, fascinating woman.

Chapter Five

Big Jim smiled at Meg. “I hope your father’s messy papers can be cleared up quickly.”

“His papers are the least of my problems.” Meg sat back, feeling stronger now that she’d enjoyed that excellent meal. “I woke up this morning to discover an awful mess because there had been an intruder at the ranch while Cory and I were asleep.”

She realized, by the sudden, shocking silence, that she had everyone’s attention. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to drop a bombshell after such a lovely lunch.”

Cole frowned. “How much damage was done?”

She gripped her hands together in her lap. “The windows were broken and the tires slashed on my rental car, and papers were scattered all over the floor of my father’s office.”

Big Jim’s eyes narrowed. “Was anything stolen?”

Meg shrugged. “Without knowing what my father had, it’s impossible to tell. Chief Fletcher suggested that I talk to Judge Bolton to see if he has a current copy of my father’s will, since I couldn’t find a copy in my father’s office.”

Cole nodded. “Kirby Bolton was a good friend of your father’s. If anyone would know what he had and what may have been taken, it’s him.”

Big Jim asked, “Have you phoned the car rental agency?”

Meg shook her head.

“I suggest you call them and explain what happened. Their vehicles are all insured. They can send someone out with a tow truck to pick up the damaged car and deliver a new one. Living so far from town, you can’t get by without some wheels.”

Meg smiled. “You’re right. Thanks for reminding me.” She scrolled through her cell phone until she located the number for the car rental agency.

Within minutes she had explained the situation to someone there and hung up with a smile. “They said they’ll have someone take care of it as soon as possible.”

Big Jim said firmly, “And this time, you need to lock your rental car in the barn at night.”

Cheyenne glanced at Sierra. “Personally, I wouldn’t want to stay there at night, knowing someone could do this again. What’s to stop an intruder from coming back?”

Meg shuddered. “Chief Fletcher suggested that whoever did this may have already found what they were looking for, and won’t bother returning.”

“Maybe.” Phoebe arched a brow. “And maybe not.” She focused on Meg. “We have plenty of room here for you and Cory. Why don’t you consider staying here?”

Caught off guard by her kindness, Meg chewed on her lip. “I really appreciate the offer, Phoebe, but I’m not comfortable leaving my father’s ranch vacant and vulnerable to thieves. If it were known that nobody was there, the intruder could return and take as long as he pleases to go through my father’s files. Besides…” She glanced at Jake before saying, “I really need to see this through. I’ll feel better about myself if I stay put rather than run away and hide. But Cory is another matter.” She turned to the boy. “Maybe you ought to consider bunking here. That way you could see Shadow whenever you wanted.”

The boy’s eyes clouded with confusion before he ducked his head. His hands, held stiffly in his lap, clenched and unclenched with nerves.

Jake could practically read the boy’s dilemma. On the one hand, he’d just been offered a way out. He could remain here with his colt, and nobody would blame him. On the other hand, he would be abandoning Meg if he left her alone.

Obviously uncomfortable being the center of attention, Cory’s voice was little more than a mumble. “I’ll go home with you.”

If Meg was relieved, she tried not to show it. With a gentle smile she said, “Okay.”

Big Jim pushed away from the table and got to his feet. “I’ve got to get back to my chores.” He offered a handshake to Meg and then to Cory. “It was good meeting both of you. I hope you’ll come back.”

“Thank you.” Meg felt a welling of gratitude for the comfort of this large and loving family. Whatever issues had been between them and her father had apparently been put aside, and for that she was thankful. As she offered her hand to the others she added, “I can’t thank you enough for your hospitality. I’m feeling a lot less alone now than I did at this time yesterday.”

“That’s what neighbors are for.” Cole gave her a wide smile. “You need anything at all, you just let us know.”

After thanking Phoebe and Ela for the meal, Meg turned to Jake. “We’d better get back now.”

He nodded. “We’ll make a stop in the barn first, and see how Shadow is settling in.”

Before they could leave, Ela handed Meg a brown bag.

“What’s this?”

The old woman grinned, showing a gap where a tooth had been. “Some cold roast chicken and corn bread. Enough for dinner tonight and breakfast in the morning for you and the boy.”

Meg felt an unexpected rush of tears and blinked them away. “Thank you. That’s very kind.”

The old woman put a gnarled hand on Cory’s shoulder. “You’re a good boy. You watch out for your sister.”

Cory ducked his head, avoiding that dark, piercing gaze that seemed able to see clear through to a person’s heart.

Jake kissed Ela’s withered cheek. “I hope you saved some corn bread for me.”

“You had enough.” But her words were softened with a smile.

“I’ll never have enough.” He chuckled as he led the way to the barn.

Inside, the colt lifted its head in greeting the moment Cory stepped into the stall.

“Hey. How do you like it here?” the boy whispered.

As if in reply, Shadow tossed his head and gave a soft whinny.

“That’s good.” Cory looped an arm around the colt’s neck and pressed his face close. “I have to leave you here. But only for a couple of days. As soon as your leg heals, you’ll be going home with me.”

Standing outside the stall, Meg and Jake watched in silence.

“’Bye, Shadow.” Cory ran a hand along the colt’s mane. “See you tomorrow.”

The three of them walked from the barn and climbed into the truck.

As Jake drove along the curving driveway, Meg lowered the window and breathed deeply. “I’d forgotten how fresh and clean and dry the air is here in Wyoming. By now in D.C. there’s so much humidity, I always feel like I’m breathing underwater.”

Jake laughed. “I didn’t notice you breathing in like this when we were in the barn.”

She joined his laughter. “You’re right. Funny. You never forget the smell of a barn. But after the first few hours back here, I felt as though I’d never left. Some of the memories are slowly returning, but so many others washed over me in waves so fast and furious I could hardly absorb all of them.”

She fell silent and turned to look out the window, leaving Jake to wonder whether the memories had been pleasant or unpleasant.

Probably, he thought, a mixture of both. She’d left with her mother under a dark cloud of sadness. That wasn’t something that would be easily overcome. But surely there were plenty of happy memories from her childhood to make up for the pain.

When they reached the Stanford ranch, they caught sight of a tow truck in the driveway, and a man was busy securing the damaged car behind the truck.

Jake pulled up alongside and the man hurried over.

Meg spoke through the open window. “That was quick.”

“Yes, ma’am. Miss Stanford?”

“Yes. I’m Meg Stanford.”

He handed over a sheaf of documents. “I’ll need your signature on these. I’ve left you a new rental car, but the same make and model as the other.”

“Thank you.”

Jake waited while Meg and Cory stepped out of the truck.

“I’ll drive to the barn and unhitch your horse trailer. Then I’d better tend to a couple of ranchers. Like my father said, if there’s anything you need, anything at all, you call me. Day or night.”

Meg nodded. “Thanks for everything, Jake. I really appreciate this.” She lifted the big bag to indicate the food Ela had packed. “And this.”

He shot her a grin before turning to Cory. “You keep an eye out for your sister, son.”