The Cattle Drive [The Armstrong Brothers of Cedar Creek] (Siren Publishing Classic) (13 page)

“Well get some boys and go round them up. You don’t need me to tell you that,” she quietly responded. Kenny just stood there as she quietly got up and walked out of the room.

Walking over to the counter, Kenny poured himself a cup of coffee. He needed the energy to tell her the rest. He knew she wasn’t going to like it, and he half expected her to fire him on the spot, but damn! It wasn’t his fault. Taking a sip of the hot brew, he noticed something particular on the table.

His blood ran cold.

Forgetting the rest of the bad news, he dropped the cup of hot coffee to the floor, grabbed the note on the table, and ran out the door. Mounting his horse, he quickly grabbed his walkie-talkie.

“Hey, boss, meet me at Megan’s Stream. Have something you need to see,” Kenny yelled into the mike as he headed out into the open range.

“I’m on my way,” Michael responded.

It only took about twenty minutes for Michael to arrive at the stream. He found Kenny already there waiting on him. As he walked his horse next to Kenny’s, the foreman just handed him a slip of paper and rode off.

* * * *

Rachael stood by the open window in her office looking at her land. It was an amazing sight to see. The vast prairie of golden honey spread for miles and miles.

It was her dream.

She loved this place, the cows, the men who worked for her, and even the hard work. The ranch was her baby, and she took care of it with a mother’s love. Her hand had touched every square inch of the ranch. She knew every secret hiding place, the flow of every stream, and even when the best soil was. She handpicked the location of the house, the barns, and the corrals. There wasn’t a thing on this ranch that didn’t have her stamp of approval on it, but with the letters from the bank, and now this anonymous person threatening her life, she was in danger of losing it all.

Not knowing what do, too afraid to tell Michael and too angry to tell her father, she felt all alone. She needed help. Walking to her desk, she sat and placed her head in her hands and started to cry.

“Rach?” he said softly as he approached her.

“I’m okay, just stressed,” she sobbed. Chris walked over to her and kissed her on top of the head and sat in the chair next to the desk.

“What’s wrong, honey?” he asked.

“I’ll be okay. Just a lot on my plate right now.”

Chris stood up, taking her hands in his. He pulled her up out of the chair and hugged her. Rachael wrapped her arms around his waist and cried into his chest.

Holding Rachael felt right to Chris. He had waited for this moment for a long time. Finally he could be of some use to her, and she was willing to at least allow him to help at the moment. He kissed the top of her head again, brushing her hair back from her face.

Rachael looked up at him and smiled. Chris cupped her face. Before she could object, Chris lowered his lips to hers.

He was gentle with her as he tasted her soft, supple lips. Brushing his lips across hers, he felt no resistance. He deepened the kiss as she placed her hands on his chest. Holding her firmly against him, he parted her mouth. She tasted so much better than he ever imagined. God, he wanted her. He wanted her so bad. Trying everything he could to control himself, he couldn’t help himself as he plunged deeper into the kiss.

Rachael had always known that her brother-in-law held a torch for her, but this was getting out of hand. She liked Chris. Hell, she always had, but this kiss felt wrong on so many levels. If she ever had a brother, she knew this was what it would feel like kissing him.

Placing her hands against his chest, she tried to push him away, but his grip tightened on her. He was too strong. She couldn’t break away.

* * * *

Michael heard her talking to someone as he entered the house. Walking to the office in the front of the house, he arrived just in time to see Chris lean down to kiss her.

Something inside him was growling, trying to claw its way out of him. He stood there watching as the beast within him emerged. Michael had never considered himself a jealous man, but the thought of that lazy, skinny windbag kissing Rachael had his blood boiling.

He knew he had no claim on her. Hell, he didn’t even like working for her. They argued, bickered, and fought like cats and dogs, and on more than one occasion, she tried to fire him. They were the most incompatible, night-and-day, black-and-white, oil-and-water people that God ever created. So why was the sight of Chris kissing her making him want to walk right over to him and rip his ass apart with his bare hands?

Hell yes, he admitted to himself, that when they weren’t fighting they had a cosmic, electric chemistry going on between them. She was the most passionate woman he had ever met. He liked the feel of her, the taste of her on his lips. He liked her teasing, her playful attitude, and her soft smile that lit up her face.

She was all he dreamt about lately. There were many mornings where he would awake to a racing heartbeat, sweat rolling down his body, and a full arousal that ached for release.

All because of her.

Michael turned to leave. He couldn’t watch them any longer. A moment more and he would not be held responsible for what his mind wanted to do to Chris. Placing his hat back on his head, he backed out of her office and headed for the back door.

* * * *

The slamming of the screen door brought Chris out of his lustful fog. Still holding Rachael in his arms, he felt victorious. He looked down at her to see an emotionless face.

“You done?”

“Rach—” Chris began but was interrupted.

“Don’t even bother, Chris. You got it out of your system. I don’t want to talk about it, okay? I have work to do,” she firmly said, removing herself from his embrace and sitting back down at her desk.

Avoiding the subject, Chris asked, “So how’s the drive looking?”

“Good, the herd is almost thinned. We have managed to fix most of the fence line. Michael is taking the herd over to Fullers Bend, and Henry and Kenny are taking the ones for breeding over to Megan’s Stream. Just filling out the remaining orders and getting ready to contact this new ranch who will take the rest of the stock for a nice price. Looks like I am going to have to add an extra week to the drive,” she said, never looking up from her paperwork.

“Well, I came by to ask and see if you would like to escort me to the festival on Sunday.” Chris smiled.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She sighed, looking at him.

“Come on. After the festival, you will be so damn busy, before I know it you will be on that damn drive. Take a day off and have some fun,” he pleaded.

“Maybe you should ask someone else. I have a lot to do,” she said, turning her attention back to her paperwork. She soon picked up the phone and dialed a number.

“Who are you calling?” Chris asked.

“Crossfire Ranch. The owner of the ranch is going to take the rest of the herd for a pretty hefty price.”

“Is that in Montana?” Chris said, looking at the paper on her desk.

She didn’t answer him. She started talking into the receiver, occupied with details of the drive. Chris walked over and took the paper from her and looked at the order. There in his hands was an order form for three thousand head, needed in Silver Lake, Montana to be delivered no later than December first to Crossfire Ranch.

Looking over to Rachael, he was going to say something, when she hung up the phone. “Okay, the order has been confirmed. All is good,” she said, taking the paper from Chris and putting it back on her desk. “Are you hungry? There are leftovers in the fridge.”

“No, I’m good. Hey, Rach, about this ranch in Montana…”

“I can’t talk now, Chris, I have to head out. We can talk later, okay,” she said, getting up and quickly giving him a kiss on the cheek as she left the office.

* * * *

That Saturday the ranch was making its final preparations for the upcoming drive. The R & R Ranch was overrun with young men, horses, and their gear. Rachael spent the better half of the morning getting the men’s information, while Kenny and Michael sorted them into groups. It was going to be a very long day, and she was determined to butt heads with Michael.

He had been a complete bear the last couple of days. Not once had he said two words to her. He did everything he could to avoid her and the house. Something was bothering him, but when she asked Henry, even he had no clue. He, like the rest of the men, had made it their mission to stay far, far away from him.

“Kenny, you take the group one out to Megan’s Stream. Henry, you’re with group two. Branding and corralling. Michael, you and I will take group three out to Fuller’s Bend for herding,” Rachael shouted out to the gathered men.

“I will take group one. You and Kenny can head out to the Bend,” Michael sternly replied, mounting his horse. She didn’t even have time to contradict him, before he yelled, “Let’s get moving,” as he rode away.

It was a very long day. The heat made the day linger on. By six o’clock, the sun had started to set, and Rachael had had enough. Looking at her watch, she knew most of the men would be heading back to the house. She kicked Mystic into a hard run and headed toward Megan’s Stream. The wind felt good against her face. It cooled her some, but what she wanted was a cool dip. Riding fast through the trees, the clearing appeared before her.

Her little piece of heaven was nestled between several tall oak trees and luscious green grass. A sanctuary she named after her daughter, she would often come to this place and think. Dismounting, she walked over to the bank of the stream that emptied into a small lake pool. Looking around quickly, she hurriedly removed her clothing and dove into the cool water.

The peace and quiet of her little piece of heaven was therapeutic and invigorating. Diving under the clear water, she swam beneath the water’s edge. She loved the feel of the water surrounding her in a cocoon of self-confidence. Coming up for air, she turned to swim back. The tension had all but left her body when she bumped into something.

She screamed as the dead carcasses of four of her cows floated by her. The blood making its way through the pond soon surrounded her. Quickly trying to swim away from the decomposing animals, she began to panic. She couldn’t get around them. They were everywhere as the darkness of her oasis began to engulf her haven. Everywhere she turned, she saw blood and animals. Her heart began to race. She couldn’t get a grip on her situation. She forgot everything, where she was, what she was doing, and how to swim.

The water grabbed a hold of her and pulled her under. Sucking in too much water, she couldn’t breathe. Again she went under. Trying as hard as she could, she came up and screamed once more before she was once again taken under with fright. The darkness surrounded her, and she soon felt herself falling into nothingness.

* * * *

Michael was sitting atop of Jasper watching the sun set when he saw Mystic fly across the ranch without a rider. Galloping after the horse, it didn’t take long to catch up with it. He leaned over and grabbed the reins and slowed the startled animal.

“Whoa,” he said, trying to sooth the skittish animal. Mystic reared up and neighed a couple of times before she began to calm down. Holding firm to her reins, he headed back in the direction of where she came when he heard the screams. Letting go of Mystic, Michael kicked Jasper and headed off to find Rachael.

The screams were panic. His blood turned cold, fearing the worst. He prayed he could reach her in time, not knowing what he would find. He did know one thing. He would kill the bastard if he was still around. Reaching the stream, he couldn’t see anything. Everything was pitch-black. He dismounted and started yelling her name, when he tripped over her boots. He leaned over and picked up her clothes, and realized she was in the pond. As he looked, he saw the carcasses. Diving in headfirst, he swam beneath the animals. Feeling his way through the water, he found her hand. He grabbed it and brought her to the surface. Making his way to the bank, he lifted her wet body in his arms and laid her on the cool grass.

Starting CPR, he pumped her chest and tried to breathe air into her lungs.

“Come on, Rachael! Breathe!” he shouted at her.

Still nothing.

Pumping her chest once again, he continued the CPR.

He refused to let it end like this. He wouldn’t allow it. He had worked too hard and come too far to allow that bastard to win. More determined than ever, Michael concentrated on her. He had to save her. His mind took him back to that fateful night of the accident.

He remembered the snow was falling all around them, as blood covered every inch of her, and she wasn’t breathing. Though her wounds were extensive, something inside him told him she was a fighter. She wanted to live. She had to live. He would will her to live. Shaking off the memory of the past, he focused on the task at hand.

Breathing into her mouth, Michael prayed to every God, man, woman, and child to give him the strength to save this hardheaded woman. He couldn’t lose her. He knew he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he did. She had become a part of him. Unknowingly, he had allowed this pain in the ass into his life, and even though they bickered and fought, he looked forward to the fighting.