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While Cody and the porter solved the puzzle of how to fit Bethany’s mountain of luggage plus two people in the small sports car, Bethany walked around the parking structure hoping to find a decent signal on her cell and trying, without success, to reach her aunt Erika.
After all, she reasoned, this man calling himself Cody had offered no credentials—not that she had requested any. He could be anybody. He could have found the little sign and decided to see who would answer to his call. The fact that the license plate on the car read ID—as in Ian Dillard—meant nothing. The fact that a kidnapper wouldn’t have the patience to retrieve her luggage and work up a sweat loading same into said vehicle… Okay, so he was probably who he said he was.
Bethany hit the speed dial for Erika once again. An impersonal recorded voice told her that the number she had dialed was not available. She could leave her number or a message. Bethany hung up. What was she going to say?
She heard car doors slamming and the murmur of an exchange between Cody and the porter as Cody handed him several bills. The porter laughed at something Cody said then trundled his now-empty cart down the aisle to where she stood. “All set, miss. You have a nice trip now.” He tipped his hat and headed back toward the terminal.
Wait! She considered shouting, but knew there was nothing the poor man could do to help. She turned and saw Cody leaning against the car. He was wearing a cowboy hat, and she couldn’t help noticing that it looked terrific on him.
“Any time you’re ready,” he called.
Was that sarcasm?
Bethany snapped her useless phone shut and strode back to the car, feeling fully in control until she got within two feet of where he still lounged against the trunk. Then she hit something on the uneven pavement and her ankle gave way. For the second time that evening he reached out and caught her.
“You might want to rethink those shoes,” he said as he set her back on firm ground with no effort.
Bethany made no comment, but walked—admittedly with more caution and a slight limp—to the passenger side of the car. Problem. Her overlarge bag-slash-handbag already occupied the seat.
“’Fraid you’ll have to hold that or stuff it on the floor under your feet. We kind of ran out of room,” Cody said as he climbed in, turned the key and backed out of the spot using the side-view mirrors. “Okay over there?”
“Just dandy,” Bethany replied.
He stopped the car and glanced at her. “I’m asking about the car next to you. Are we clear on your side?”
“Would you like me to get out and direct you?”
“Nope. Just look out that window there and tell me if I’m going to miss the guy’s rear bumper.”
When he stopped to pay the parking tab, she took the opportunity to study him again. She couldn’t help noticing how he had the bored teller laughing and jabbering away with just a smile and a compliment.
“I like what you’ve done with your nails,” he said as he handed her the money.
Bethany caught a glimpse of fingernails that were at least two inches long and painted in great detail.
“Let me see the full effect,” Cody said.
The teller punched in the time on his card and then spread both hands for him to see.
“That’s really something. Did you see this?”
This last was directed at Bethany so she leaned in for a closer look. “Amazing,” she said politely as the teller revealed the silhouette of the Chicago skyline under a full moon spread across her two hands.
“You did that yourself?” Cody asked as the woman took his money and made change.
“My son,” she replied. “He’s a tagger—got himself in trouble a couple of times so I told him, if you’re gonna paint, then make it useful.”
“He’s got talent,” Cody said as he accepted the change.
The woman smiled and leaned out the window of the booth so she could include Bethany in the conversation. “You folks have a lovely night now.”
Cody pulled the car forward and the gate opened. Bethany stared at him. Was this guy for real?
He maneuvered the car through heavy traffic and a maze of highway on and off ramps that made the complex street design of Washington seem almost simple. He made polite small talk about the flight, her family and living in the nation’s capital. She was equally polite, if succinct, in her answers. She was still trying to digest the change in plans.
“How long are you planning on staying?” he asked after conversation between them had died.
Taking this as a comment on the amount of luggage she’d brought, Bethany bristled. It wasn’t like her to take everything so personally but she was tired and this business of going to a ranch in Arizona when she’d prepped herself for life in Chicago was unsettling. Bethany did not deal well with change these days.
“I believe the wedding is to be set for spring. As soon as my aunt and your father are safely on their way to their honeymoon destination, I’ll be on a plane back to D.C.”
“To do what?”
Okay, it was an innocent question but it chafed because the truth was that she had no idea. In the year since Nick’s death she’d been adrift, and the life she’d imagined living at this time was no longer available to her. And the truth was that she was not about to say any of this to a complete stranger. So she changed the subject.
“And what do you do?”
“I run the ranch.”
“What about your father’s business—I mean, what’s your role in that?” she asked.
“It’s my father’s business. My business is managing the ranch.” There was no hint of irritation in his comment. He was just offering information as requested.
Bethany’s cell phone rang and she pounced on it as if it were a life preserver cast her way in the nick of time. When she saw that it was her aunt Erika’s number she answered immediately.
“Hi.”
“Hi, yourself. Did Cody find you?”
“He did,” Bethany replied as she glanced at Cody and mouthed, “It’s Erika.”
Cody grinned. “Hey there, cowgirl,” he shouted.
Erika giggled. “He’s such a tease. Are you two getting acquainted?”
“More or less.”
“Well, don’t let him feed you anything—not that he would. He and Ian are single-minded when it comes to getting from point A to point B. Absolutely no stops unless you can prove a medical emergency.”
“I ate on the plane.”
“Peanuts or pretzels?”
Bethany smiled. “Pretzels,” she admitted.
“Oh, Bethie, I cannot tell you what it means to me that you’ve come to manage this whole affair. I mean, I’m in a complete panic. Ian thinks it will be a cakewalk but what do men know? Are you at Midway yet?”
“Not quite.”
“Well, tell that handsome cowboy next to you to step on it. We have a wedding to plan—not to mention at least half a dozen prewedding events. You’re going to adore the ranch, dear. It will set your creative juices on fire with ideas.”
“About the ranch—”
Erika laughed. “Not to worry, Bethany. Crackle…all the amenities…crackle…indoor plumbing and…crackle…breaking up…” The line went dead.
Bethany looked up and saw the signs for Midway airport. Cody took a side exit and drove directly up to a large hangar where a small jet waited.
In a flurry of activity, several men rushed around transferring the luggage from the car, driving the car away and ushering Bethany onto the plane. The man in charge assured her that they were cleared for takeoff and, once they left Chicago, the weather was crystal clear all the way.
“Where shall I sit?” Bethany asked, glancing around the small interior.
“Might as well sit up front,” the man replied. “That way Cody can point out the sights.”
“He flies the plane?”
“It’s his plane,” the man said as if that were an answer. He helped her climb into the incredibly close quarters of the cockpit. “You might want to take off your shoes—it’ll give you more legroom.”
“I’m fine,” she replied tightly. What was it with these people and her shoes?
The man nodded, handed her a headset and exited the plane. She watched as he conferred with Cody for several minutes, then took his leave—laughing, of course, at something the ever-cheerful Cody had said.
“Let’s rock and roll,” Cody said as he wedged his lanky frame into the pilot’s seat and fired the small jet to life.
“You’ve been doing this for a while?” Bethany shouted over the roar.
“Maiden voyage,” Cody replied deadpan and then he grinned at her stunned expression. “Relax. I’ve done over a thousand hours.”
“In English, please.”
“I’m an experienced pilot,” he replied and taxied slowly toward the runway.
As they climbed smoothly above the earth, Bethany could not help but be impressed by the view below. Cody pointed out landmarks and Bethany relaxed as she enjoyed this bird’s-eye view of the city. Maybe she could have a future in Chicago. The ranch was just temporary. Chicago was where Erika and Ian lived, where they had their life. She could deal with the ranch for a day or two, she decided and, as they left Chicago behind, she leaned her head against the window and fell sound asleep.
Cody had never met anyone as wired as Bethany Taft appeared to be. Anxiety and stress fairly oozed from her. It was as if she were fearful and certain at the same time that she would be blindsided by some unforeseen circumstance.
Not that he didn’t understand that—he’d had a sense of subliminal panic ever since the day he’d gotten the call about his brother’s accident. He couldn’t help but wonder what might cause that look for Bethany. He’d first noticed it when he’d mentioned the ranch. Further evidence could be found in the way she tried to control everything and everyone. He’d done that in the first months after Ty died until he realized that all it did was feed his panic. What if he made the wrong decision, the wrong choice, as he had the day Ty died?
He forced himself to silence his inner voice and concentrate on Bethany. He could see the glint of her cell phone, still clutched in one hand. The thing was like an extra arm or ear or something. Personally he’d never been able to understand the constant need to be in touch with the outside world. What kind of person needed that? He preferred those times when he wasn’t in touch with anything or anyone.
He hoped Erika knew what she was doing, asking this high maintenance, overreactive woman to take charge of the wedding. His father was anything but a snob. Still, there were certain expectations. Add to that the fact that Erika was nervous but also determined to make this the wedding of the decade in terms of surprises and memory-making events. Cody wasn’t at all sure the redhead was up to the job.
On the drive between airports, he had made some attempt to get better acquainted. But her answers had been pretty monosyllabic and she had repeatedly allowed the conversation to die. Okay, so she’d had a long day. Okay, so traveling on to Arizona had not exactly been on her radar. But she was maybe thirty, in great shape—except for her penchant for foot-destroying shoes—and should not be so thrown by a simple change in plans. And where was her joy for her aunt and the fun of planning a wedding for this woman who clearly adored her?
With each thought, Cody’s grip on the wheel tightened until the plane made a slight lurch, alerting him to what he was doing and waking his passenger.
“What?” she said, her eyes wide with fright as she peered out into the blackness of the night.
“Sorry about that.” He raised his voice above the constant drone of the engine. “We’re about twenty minutes out from Phoenix.”
She nodded and flipped open her phone. He reached over and flipped it closed. “Might interfere with communications from the tower,” he explained.
“I might have a message,” she explained.
“It’s waited this long,” he replied and left the rest unsaid.
She stuffed the phone into the pocket of her jacket. She glanced around the cockpit as if looking for something to do. She drummed her manicured nails on her knee then reached for her seat belt. “I have to go to the bathroom,” she announced.
Cody let go of the controls as he reached over to refasten her seat belt. “It’s waited this long,” he repeated with a grin and took some pleasure in realizing that up here, he was in charge, not Little Miss Cell Phone.
She squirmed in the seat.
“We’ll be on the ground in another twenty minutes,” he assured her and slowly turned the plane away from the lights of Phoenix toward the mountains.
“You’re going to circle?”
“Nope. I’m going to land this puppy.”
She glanced around wildly, twisting around to see the last of the lights and then leaning forward as a solid mass of mountains loomed larger and closer.
“Where?” she muttered and he read her lips.
He tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to a faint string of lighting at the base of the mountains. She looked at him wild-eyed as she clasped her hand over her mouth. For one terrible moment, he thought she might throw up.
“Bethany? Are you okay?”
She kept her fist jammed against her lips and stared straight ahead. As he banked the plane for the turn away from the mountains in preparation for his approach to the landing strip, she actually closed her eyes and planted her feet. It was clear that she thought they were about to crash. Cody was insulted. He straightened the plane’s course and started the descent to the landing strip below, then tapped her on the shoulder and indicated the view of the ground rushing up to meet the landing gear.
He could see Erika and his father standing next to the golf cart used for moving between buildings on the large ranch. How would they fit all the baggage and three people on one little cart? But he was relieved to see them. It meant that he was free of hosting duties for the evening. He taxied to the hangar, cut the engine and in the sudden silence reached over and unsnapped her seat belt.
“Bathroom is just inside the front door of the house—if it’s not too late.”
“You scared me,” she protested as he climbed out of his seat and prepared to open the exit door. Her tone left no doubt that she thought he had done it deliberately.
“Ma’am, I was just flying the plane. You’re the one who decided to panic for no good reason.” He shoved the door open releasing the short flight of stairs and did not wait for her to go first.
Bethany took a moment to digest the fact that this cowboy son of her aunt’s fiancé had just left her to crawl out of the cockpit on her own. Any gentleman would have helped her out—she was practically family, after all. Exactly who did he think she was? Some hired help brought in to manage the wedding?
“Bethany, dear.”
Erika stood at the door of the aircraft, smiling uncertainly. “Is everything all right? Oh, I told Ian we should let you take a commercial flight tomorrow but he wouldn’t hear of it. Waste of money, he said, since Cody was coming back anyway.”
Bethany climbed out of the cockpit and bent to keep from hitting her head as she followed her aunt out of the plane. “I’m fine,” she assured Erika, then mustered her last ounce of enthusiasm and gushed, “Chicago—now Phoenix—what an adventure.”
Erika grinned with obvious relief. “It’s called my life these days,” she said happily. “Come meet Ian.”
Ian was not as tall or hard-muscled as his son but he was every bit as handsome. They had the same eyes and the same smile—or at least she thought she recalled that smile from when she had first seen Cody holding that ridiculous sign. His smile and cheery outlook had definitely wavered as the evening went on. And was she being overly sensitive or had the man implied that this was somehow her fault?
“So this is Bethany,” Ian said as he held out his arms inviting a hug. “You know, I’ve been telling Erika that it’s time I met her family since she’s already passed muster with all of mine. Welcome to Daybreak Ranch, Bethany.”
Bethany smiled and accepted the hug.
“Where did Cody go?” Erika wondered as the three of them headed for the golf cart.
“He’s making arrangements to get Bethany’s luggage unloaded and delivered,” Ian explained. “I hope he didn’t give you too much of a joyride in that bucket of bolts of his,” he continued to Bethany. “I’ve tried to get that boy to trade up but he loves that old piece of junk.”
Oh, that was heartening, Bethany thought, glad all over again to be back on firm ground.
“Our Bethany is quite the little daredevil herself, Ian,” Erika said as she wrapped one arm around her niece. “Remember, Bethie, that time that your brothers dared you to walk that fence at Grandpa’s?”
Bethany grinned. “It was a wire fence with overhanging tree branches I could hold on to,” she explained to Ian.
“She made it from one end to the other and then dared them to follow. Neither one of them would do it.”
Ian laughed. “Well, little lady, I can see that you are going to fit into ranch life just fine.”
Erika rolled her eyes. “Pay no attention to Ian, dear. Whenever we come to the ranch he turns into Clint Eastwood. Anyone who has done business with him in Chicago is a little taken aback to say the least.”
“Secret of my success,” Ian said as he winked at Bethany, who found that away from the presence of Cody Dillard, she was feeling much more relaxed.
“Home sweet home,” Ian announced as he pulled the golf cart to a stop in front of a rambling and deceptively massive house of glass, stone and adobe. Golden light spilled through windows that soared to a point three stories above the ground. A large, wide porch furnished with leather rockers and natural wicker tables and chairs wrapped itself around two sides of the house. The stained-glass panels of the front door reflected the light from within in a beautiful tableau of abstract desert flowers.
“Wow,” Bethany whispered in awe as Ian held out his hand first to Erika and then her to assist them off the golf cart.
“Wow indeed,” Erika agreed. “It was designed by an associate of Frank Lloyd Wright’s. The first time I saw this place I set my cap for this man. He could have been from outer space for all I cared as long as he let me live in this beautiful desert palace.”
“Ah, sweetie, you do say the nicest things sometimes,” Ian replied and kissed her cheek.
Then he wrapped one arm around Erika and the other around Bethany and led the way up the wide stone stairs past columns sculpted to look like gigantic saguaro cacti. The front door should have been hanging in the National Gallery of Art as far as Bethany was concerned.
“Hi, Honey, we’re home,” Ian boomed as soon as they entered the house.
A short, heavyset woman of indeterminate age but with flawless skin, shining black hair pulled into a ponytail and a beaming smile hurried forward. She wiped her hands on her apron. “Hello,” she said to Bethany. “I’m Honey Jorgenson. Welcome.” She looked up at Bethany and frowned slightly. “Are you all right?”
Bethany had the oddest feeling that Honey had looked into her eyes and seen past everything she might do to disguise anything she was feeling. She blinked and forced a smile. “Fine,” she said. “A little travel worn is all.”
“Ah!” Honey snapped her fingers. “Powder room—” she pointed, indicating a small alcove off the foyer “—and then something to eat.”
“Lovely,” Erika said. “Honey makes the most incredible quesadillas, Bethany. I hope you like your food spicy.”
“I love spicy,” Bethany assured them all.
The supper was perfect. Honey served them in a small family dining room with stucco walls faux finished in shades of bright yellows and oranges. The table was set informally with multicolored striped place mats, bright Fiesta ware dishes and a centerpiece of red, yellow and orange gerbera daisies. In spite of her fatigue, Bethany couldn’t help making mental notes as ideas for party themes and decor came to mind. She could bring the colors and atmosphere of Arizona to Chicago.
Erika and Ian were clearly devoted to one another. This was no one-sided or even slightly lopsided romance. She had never seen her aunt happier and even though she had just met Ian, it appeared that he was operating in a similar state of bliss.
“So, what are your plans?” she asked after Honey had brought them large ceramic mugs of herbal tea and a platter of fruit.
“I’m afraid that all we have are dates and a start on the guest lists, dear,” Erika said with a smile at Ian.
“Those would be long guest lists,” he added fondly. “I think we may have to marry every year for the next ten or twenty in order to fit in everything Erika wants to do so our friends and family can share our joy.” Then he squeezed her fingers and added, “Which would be fine with me.”
“Well perhaps we could start with this year,” Bethany suggested with a grin. “How many parties leading up to the big day?”
“Well, there’s the engagement party in Chicago, for family and associates and friends there,” Ian began.
“And the party for everyone here,” Erika added.
“Two engagement parties? It might be less expensive to—”
Ian held up Erika’s hand displaying a formidable emerald-and-diamond engagement ring. “Expense is not an issue, Bethany. If it becomes one, we can always hock this.”
Erika giggled and blushed like a twenty-year-old. “Ian,” she chastised. “Truly, Bethany, the parties can be fairly simple.”
Bethany nodded and stifled a yawn.
“Oh, Ian, we’re forgetting that it’s the middle of the night for this young lady. We’ll talk about this in the morning and let you get some rest, dear.”
“No, I…well, if you insist,” Bethany said with a smile. “I am a little tired.”
“Honey!” Ian boomed.
“Don’t shout,” Honey admonished him as she appeared instantly in the doorway.
To Bethany’s surprise, Erika, Ian and Honey walked with her to the front door. Erika promised to be along soon, but told her not to wait up. Ian kissed her on the cheek and wished her a good night while Honey waited by the open door. Not another change of venue, Bethany thought as she followed Honey out onto the porch.
“Hopefully all of your things have already been brought over to the guesthouse. If not, I can get you whatever you might need for tonight.” She walked with surprisingly long strides for such a short woman. Bethany had some trouble keeping pace.
“Are those things comfortable?” Honey asked, looking down at Bethany’s shoes.
Another comment on my shoes, Bethany thought wearily. “Yes,” she replied and could not keep the edge of defensiveness from her voice.
“I love shoes,” Honey said, sighing, “but I’m too chicken to try something like that. I’d probably topple right off them and look utterly stupid.”
“Actually I did topple off them tonight,” Bethany admitted, “and looked utterly stupid, but I am not about to give them up.”
Honey grinned. “Perhaps you and I can go shopping one day and you can help me find shoes and a little of your courage.”
They had traversed a long stone pathway and reached a smaller version of the larger house. Bethany had noticed it on the ride in from the landing strip but never dreamed it was a separate guesthouse.
“Erika thought you would be more comfortable here than in the main house,” Honey explained as she opened the door and led the way inside. “She hasn’t said anything but it seems to me, meeting you, that you have suffered recently. It’s in your eyes.”
“I…” Bethany felt tears well. How could this woman know? “It’s been a tough year,” she said and then turned her attention to her surroundings. “Oh, Honey, isn’t this wonderful?”
“It’s pretty special,” Honey agreed. “Erika’s room is there.” She motioned down a short hall off the kitchen as she moved about the spacious cottage, igniting the gas fireplace, pulling drapes closed and checking the refrigerator to be sure it was stocked with beverages and fruit.
“Your room is here,” she said and led the way to a large bedroom where she opened the closet to reveal all of Bethany’s clothes. “Good,” she murmured as she turned back the duvet on the large cypress-framed bed.