Jake met Carolina’s steely gaze. “I’ve been way out of line. I jumped to conclusions and made a fool of myself.”

She gazed at him, the anger subsiding as a look of pleading burned in her eyes. “I don’t care what you think of me, Jake, but I’m begging you to contact your father, soon, before it’s too late. It would mean the world to him—and to me.”

Jake’s insides twisted. It was tearing him apart to look into her eyes and refuse her, but she had no idea what she was asking of him.

“I’ll think about it.” That was the most he could promise.

“Then I guess I’ll have to settle for that for now.” She turned away and resumed packing.

A protective urge hit him hard and fast. “I know I don’t really have a say in the matter, but I’d really like it if you’d spend the rest of the week at the

Silver Spur.”

“Why?”

To keep her safe. To keep her close. He wasn’t sure exactly which need was stronger at this moment.

Ambush at Dry Gulch
Joanna Wayne

www.millsandboon.co.uk

JOANNA WAYNE began her professional writing career in 1994. Now, more than fifty published books later, Joanna has gained a worldwide following with her cutting-edge romantic suspense and Texas family series, such as Sons of Troy Ledger and Big “D” Dads. Joanna currently resides in a small community north of Houston, Texas, with her husband. You may write Joanna at PO Box 852, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA or connect with her at www.joannawayne.com.

To my very patient and supportive editor, Denise Zaza, who believed in me enough to stand by me during recent health problems, and to my wonderful readers, who came to love the Lamberts and the Daltons (especially Texas rounder R.J. Dalton) as much as I do.

Contents

Cover

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Carolina Lambert shifted in the porch swing so that she could look her neighbor R.J. Dalton in the eye while they talked. He rocked back and forth in his chair, sometimes looking at her, more often staring into space.

Her heart ached at the way his body grew weaker each day. He had already beaten the odds by more than two years, but the inoperable tumor in his brain was relentless. It was only a matter of time and yet there was a peace to his spirits that she envied.

He sipped his black coffee, his wrinkled hands so unsteady that it took both of them to hold his mug. “I reckon Brit told you that you better get over here and check on the old man while she took Kimmie in for her checkup.”

“No one has to coax me. Spending time with you is always my pleasure,” Carolina said truthfully.

But he was right. Even with a precious baby girl to keep her busy, his daughter-in-law Brit had pretty much taken over the job of coordinating the family’s schedule so that R.J. was never alone for more than a few minutes at a time.

“I swear you dropped off Saint Peter’s coattail, Carolina. You’re the best danged neighbor a scoundrel like me ever had. Best looking, too. Can’t believe you’re still running around single. Hugh’s been dead what? Three? Four years now?”

“Four and a half.”

“That’s a long time to put your life on hold.”

“My life’s not on hold. I’m busy all the time with my family, friends like you and countless projects.”

“Not the same as having a lover.”

“Now, what are you doing even thinking about lovers at your age?”

“I’m not dead yet. If I was thirty years younger and not playing hide-and-seek with the grim reaper, I’d be after you quicker than hell can scorch a feather.”

“You’ve done more than your share of chasing women, Reuben Jackson Dalton.”

“I caught a few mighty fine ones, too.”

“So I’ve heard.”

He smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes cutting deep into the almost-translucent flesh. “Lived life on my terms, sorry as it was. By rights I ought to be drowning in regrets. Wasn’t for taking your advice about what to do with my ranch, I would be.”

“I can’t take credit for you turning your life around.”

“You don’t have to take it, by jiggers. I’m a-givin’ it to you. I offered to give you the Dry Gulch Ranch free and clear. You turned me down. Didn’t leave me much choice except to try your idea.”

“I suggested you leave the Dry Gulch Ranch to your family. That’s not a particularly inventive idea.”

“Sounded like crazy talk to me. Leave this ranch and what lottery winnings I had left to a bunch of strangers who wouldn’t have tipped their hats if I’d passed them on the street.”

“Until they got to know you.”

He nodded and rubbed his weathered, bony chin. “Blessing was I got to know them. Listen at me, talking about blessings. You have really rubbed off on me. Surprise, ain’t it, after me being a worthless rounder most of my eighty-plus ornery years?”

“You were never worthless.”

“I done plenty of stuff I’m not proud of, but I must have done something good along the way, like pick the right women to birth and raise my kids. You gotta admit, I got me some real winners. Got the smartest and cutest durned grandkids on the planet, too.”

“Next to mine,” Carolina teased. “So you really do have no regrets?”

“I’d like to trade a few more years with my family for all the ones I’ve wasted, but I’m good with what I’ve got.” He turned to watch a woodpecker in a nearby pine tree. “Would be lying if I didn’t say I have one other regret, though.”

“What is that?”

R.J. scratched his chin, his fingers poking into the loose pads of skin at his neck. “I’d just like the chance to sit around the table and chew the fat with Jake, one-on-one. At least make a stab at getting to know my firstborn, find out why he’s so set against being part of the family.”

Carolina swallowed hard, feeling his pain and fighting her own swelling anger. R.J. hadn’t been much of a father to any of his children when they were growing up, but what kind of adult son could just turn his back on his dying father? She tried not to think ill of anyone, but Jake Dalton was the exception.

She’d gone so far as to call him herself last week, planned to beg if necessary to get him to pay R.J. a visit before it was too late. He’d been cool and aloof, until she’d pushed.

Then he’d struck out at her, accusing her of having done enough already to screw up R.J. and the rest of the Dalton clan. She might have found out what he meant by that if her temper hadn’t flared to the point that she’d hung up on him.

The man was arrogant, coldhearted and infuriating. If his mother was anything like him, no wonder R.J.’s first marriage had ended in divorce.

Of course, so had his other three marriages, so she definitely couldn’t absolve R.J. of fault.

“How’s your friend Mildred Caffey?” R.J. asked. “Has that no-good, wife-beater ex-husband of hers tried to get in touch with her since he got out of prison?”

“He hadn’t the last time we talked, but I know she’s worried that he will. It’s been good for her that she’s been so busy working on a project with me.”

“You don’t think she’ll go back to him, do you?”

“No. She’s much smarter and more emotionally stable now then she was when they were together.”

“Thanks to you.” R.J. swatted at a honeybee that had been flitting among the blossoms of the potted petunias scattered about the porch. “You go around rescuing every stray you see.”

“Only the ones who want my help. And Mildred isn’t a stray. She just made some bad choices along the way.”

“Sure as shooting, she did. I knew Thad Caffey was bad blood the first time I met him. Don’t know why a nice young woman like Mildred ever married a no-account skunk like that.”

“Love sometimes blinds people.”

“Reckon you’re right about...” He stopped midsentence, ran bony, knotty fingers through his thinning hair and stared into space.

He stayed silent so long Carolina feared he was fading into one of the spells he had far too often these days. Times when he drifted into another world, one where he didn’t recognize his own family. One where he visited a woman from his past or from his dreams.

Carolina imagined this phantom as a first love, one who had carved out a space in his heart and never fully let go. Perhaps someone he’d loved the way she’d loved Hugh.

Finally R.J. turned and looked at Carolina, his eyes clearer now, as if he’d returned from the secret caches of the memories that had claimed him.

“He’s gonna be out to kill you, Carolina.”

“Who?”

“Thad Caffey. I was in the courtroom the day the jury found him guilty. I saw the way he looked at you, his face contorted and his eyes wild like he was a panther about to spring. I figured he blamed you for her testifying against him.”

“If he thinks I encouraged her, he’d be absolutely right. I won’t be intimidated by Thad Caffey.”

“Or any other man around these parts.” R.J. sputtered a raspy, guttural sound that might have been a chuckle or a cough. “All the same, keep an eye out for trouble.”

Carolina looked up at the sound of approaching hooves and gladly let the topic drop as R.J.’s son Adam came riding up on a handsome gray mare. He tipped his hat and dismounted.

“Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Absolutely not,” Carolina assured him. “Always good to see you.”

“And you. Hadley’s been talking about having you over for supper one night soon, but she says you’re jumping through hoops getting ready for that summer riding-camp program you’re organizing.”

“I have to be in Austin for their area training session starting tomorrow. This is a busy time.”

“Busy myself. Spring on the ranch,” Adam said, knowing she’d understand that said it all. He joined them on the porch, stopping to lean against the railing. “Just came by to see if you want to go check out a new foal that was born last night, Dad.”

“Long as you don’t expect me to ride that mare of yours to the barn.”

“Nope. We’ll take your truck.”

“Good. I’m about as steady as a cat on skates these days. Carolina can go with us. She’s always keen on any kind of baby.”

“Yes, but I have to beg out today,” Carolina said. “Too many errands on my to-do list. But I know you’ll be in good hands.”

She stood when R.J. did and gave him a quick hug and a kiss on his sallow cheek. Her anger swelled again at the thought of Jake Dalton and his refusal to pay a visit to the Dry Gulch Ranch and R.J. The loss was definitely his.

The Daltons were one terrific family—second in her heart only to her own.

She said her goodbyes and went back to her black Mercedes sports car. Her phone rang before she made it back to the highway.

“Hello.”

“Glad I caught you, Carolina. This is Jack Crocker, and I got a bit of bad news for you.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m going to have to back out of hosting that training session here on my ranch next week.”

Her spirits plummeted. The arrangements were all made. Ten new summer riding camps opened in two weeks, their first venture into the Austin area. If they canceled the training, they had to cancel the program and disappoint one hundred and fifty young teens from the inner city.

She’d known Jack and his wife for years. They were the first people she’d thought of when she decided to branch out to the Austin area.

“What’s happened?” she asked, struggling not to show her disappointment. “Are you sick? Is Betsy?”

“Nope. Me and the wife are fine. Just found out that all the kids and grandkids are coming to town to surprise Betsy for her seventieth birthday. No idea why they didn’t tell me before now, ’cept they figured I’d never keep the secret.”

“I understand,” she said, crushed, but already trying to figure out a plan B.

“Don’t you go frettin’ about it, though,” Jack consoled. “I wouldn’t leave you stranded in a ditch without a mule to haul you out. I gave a call to Aidan Bastrop. He took over from there.”

“Took over, how?” Aidan was a state representative and a friend, but this time she didn’t see how he’d be able to intervene. He didn’t own a ranch, and much of the training required that.

“Aidan worked something out with a neighbor of mine. You’ll have bigger and better facilities than what you’d have had here.”

The knots in her stomach relaxed. She should have known Jack wasn’t the type to blow a commitment lightly. The relief lasted for the two seconds it took for him to mutter the name of his replacement.

The last person on earth she would have asked for a favor.

Chapter Two

Jacob Edward Dalton worried the knot in his red-striped tie for about ten seconds before jerking it off and tossing it to a nearby chair. Texas State Capitol building or not, he was going casual. Mid-June and the humidity was already battling the temperature for record highs for this time of year.

He could kick himself for letting Aidan Bastrop talk him into volunteering the Silver Spur for some project he’d never even heard of before now. Nothing like a gaggle of women descending on a ranch to guarantee his wranglers would do more gawking than work.

Not that Jake was against helping out. He gave generously to several causes important to him. But he had a ranch to run and a teenage daughter to corral, neither of which was going particularly well at the moment.

His foreman had been thrown last week when a rattlesnake spooked his horse. Granger had suffered a broken leg and bruised ribs. The man would be limited in what he could do for the next couple of weeks, though Granger would keep abreast of everything going on around the Silver Spur.

As for his daughter, Lizette, he was considering shipping her off to the Arctic until she cooled down. Her latest state of rebellion had been fueled by his forbidding her to date Calvin Owens.

Calvin was the local bad boy, two years older than Lizzie, and already had a juvenile record for vandalizing the local high school and shoplifting. And that was just what they knew he was guilty of.

Now Lizzie was constantly pushing the house rules and the limits of decency in her wardrobe choices. If her denim cutoffs got any shorter, she might as well skip them altogether. She considered curfews irrelevant and her newly acquired driver’s license a proclamation of freedom.

She did a lot better when her grandmother was in the house. But Jake’s mother, Mary, was on a European river cruise with a few of the other widows from their church. She was almost eighty, yet some days Jake swore she had more energy than he did. She definitely had more skill in dealing with Lizzie.

Jake headed down the hallway and stopped at the door to Lizzie’s bedroom. He tapped softly and lingered a minute, though he didn’t expect a response. She hadn’t been up before noon once since school let out for the summer.

He took the wide staircase to the first floor and then followed the smell of fresh brew to the kitchen. “Good morning, Edna,” he greeted his housekeeper as he poured himself a mug of coffee. “You’re here early today.”

“Not a lot of use in hanging around my place by myself when I can be up here drinking your coffee and soaking up your air-conditioning.”

“Can’t blame you for that.” And it wasn’t as if she had far to come. Jake had built Edna a cabin on his spread after her husband died almost three years ago. The tall big-boned woman had been with him ever since he’d turned his back on a promising medical career and taken over the ranching business right after...

Nope. He was not going there this morning.

Edna handed him a cup of coffee. “You don’t look like you’re planning to do a lot of ranching today.”

“No, but I should be. Instead I’m off to Austin and the capitol building for some meeting that I don’t have time for.”

“Seems like all those politicians do is meet. What are they yakking about this time?”

“Some project that Aidan Bastrop enlisted my help with.”

“I thought you had more on your plate than you can handle with Granger hurt.”

“Yep, but this is an emergency of sorts.”

Edna opened the refrigerator and started pulling out breakfast items while he finished his coffee. “What is it you’ve volunteered for? Giving a talk about ranching? Sponsoring an event? Making a donation?”

“I’m donating, all right. Unfortunately it’s not just money. It’s the ranch.”

She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind—which he probably had, at least temporarily. “Donated the ranch? What in blue blazes are you talking about?”

“Actually, it’s only the use of the ranch, our horses, corrals and some meeting space. And only for five days, starting Wednesday.”

“Who borrows a ranch?”

“A group of about thirty women. But don’t start having conniptions. You won’t have to do a thing.”

“Humph. A bunch of strange women taking over the place and no extra work. That’ll never happen.”

“I’ll see that it does,” he promised, though he wasn’t fully convinced of that himself. “The house is not included in the loan.”

“What are all these women training for, some kind of trail ride?”

“Nope. It’s called the Saddle-Up program, or something like that.”

“Never heard of it.”

“Nor had I, but then it involves teenage girls, so it’s outside my realm of expertise. I have enough trouble managing Lizzy.”

“Exactly what do they do with these teenagers?”

“According to Aidan’s persuasive argument, they give inner-city girls from high-poverty areas one month on a real working ranch over the summer. They teach them to ride, work as a team, take responsibility—that sort of thing.”

Edna’s hands flew to her ample hips. “Well, why didn’t you just say that in the first place? Those kids need a summer on a ranch. When does this training start?”

“Officially—Wednesday.”

“This Wednesday? As in two days away?”

“Yes, but like I said. You don’t have to do a thing.” As if there was a chance Edna wouldn’t be in the middle of things.

“You can’t ignore guests,” Edna said. “It’s not the Texas way.”

“Maybe not, but I plan to give it my best shot.” Starting today. “A few of the women are coming out to tour the ranch this afternoon, just to get their bearings before the official training begins. If they show up at the house before I get back, give me a call and I’ll have one of the wranglers hook up with them.”

“You should be here for that,” she said. “You never know. Some of those women might be mighty fine-looking.”

“I’m sure the wranglers will appreciate that. If you need me, call me.”

“You’re not leaving without breakfast, are you? I can whip up some bacon and eggs before you finish your coffee.”

“No need. I’ll grab a bite to eat in town. Best to get on the road now before traffic becomes a pain in the butt. But you can remind my daughter when she finally crawls out of bed that I expect to see her at the dinner table tonight. On time.”

Edna stared at him as if he’d spoken in a foreign language. “Lizzie didn’t spend the night here last night.”

Irritation ground in his gut. “She was here when I went to bed.”

“She left you a note on the foyer table that she was spending the night with her friend Angie.”

“A note telling me—not asking. Another stunt like this and I’m going to take her keys away.”

“Maybe you should just sit down and talk to her first. Take her for a horseback ride and a little teamwork of your own.”

“See you at dinner,” Jake said. He turned and walked away before he said something he’d be sorry for.

Edna thought talking was the answer to every problem that came along, but she had no idea what he’d been through with Lizzie. If her mother was here...

The old pain swelled inside him, followed by a surge of crusty hardness that allowed him to keep functioning. It was the only way he knew.

When he reached the foyer, he picked up his daughter’s note. Angie broke up with her boyfriend tonight. Needs a friend. I’ll spend the night. See ya.

He’d been home. She should have asked him before she left instead of sneaking away. But then if she’d asked, he’d have said no. At sixteen, she was too young to be driving the dark country roads out to Angie’s at night.

If she’d even gone to Angie’s.

The sweet, adorable Lizette he’d known once had to live somewhere inside the stranger she’d become. Somehow he had to find a way to reach her.

Instead he was off to a meeting he could do without.

* * *

CAROLINA MARCHED UP the steps of the capitol building, fighting the growing agitation that she was forced to accept Jake Dalton’s help, mentally debating how she’d handle their initial meeting.

“Slow down,” Mildred said. “I’m out of breath trying to keep up with you.”

“Sorry. I guess I’m still blowing off steam.”

“You are going to be civil to Mr. Dalton, aren’t you?”

“I’ll try. That’s the best I can promise—which is more than he was with me when I called him about paying R.J. a visit.”

“You might have caught him at a bad time. Maybe this is his way of making it up to you.”

“I seriously doubt that. And if it was just a matter of timing, he’s had time to rethink it and contact R.J. Besides, he was the one who made this personal by insinuating I’d done something wrong.”

“If he’s still upset with you, he certainly wouldn’t have volunteered the Silver Spur for the Saddle-Up project.”

“I strongly suspect a little quid pro quo was involved. He probably owed a favor to Aidan Bastrop—or wants one from him.”

“Whatever his reason, I’m glad the training wasn’t canceled,” Mildred said. “Now I just hope I can continue to be part of it.”

Mildred’s voice hinted of angst. Carolina slowed and turned to face her. “Of course you’ll be part of it. You’ve already put in hours and hours of work.”

“I know, but...”

“But what?”

“Thad.”

Carolina’s irritation switched from Jake to Mildred’s abusive ex-husband. “Have you heard from him?”

“Last night, near midnight. He sounded as if he’d been drinking.”

“What did he want?”

“To see me. He said it’s urgent.”

“What gall. He almost beat you to death. You’re divorced now. You owe him nothing.”

“He admitted all that, but he begged me to give him another chance. He says he’s a changed man.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That it’s over and he should go on with his life. But I know Thad. He’s not going to accept that. He thinks I belong to him like a piece of property. He always did.”

Mildred was clearly disturbed and with good reason. She needed to talk this out, but the meeting was due to start in minutes. “Why didn’t you mention this at breakfast or on the drive from the hotel to the capitol?”

“I didn’t want to upset you, but then I started to feel guilty about keeping it from you. If you want me to drop out of the training, I’ll understand.”

“Drop out and let Thad dictate your life. Absolutely not. You can block him from calling you again, and you definitely don’t have to see him.”

“That doesn’t mean he won’t cause trouble.”

“If he does, we’ll contact Sheriff Garcia and he’ll have him arrested. The law is on your side. You don’t have to put up with Thad’s abuse ever again. Now, let’s not let Thad Caffey ruin our day. After all, we have Jake Dalton for that,” she added with a smile, trying to ease Mildred’s tension.

Senator Ralph Baldwin caught up with them just as they reached the door. He pushed it open and held it for them to enter.

“Good morning, Carolina. You look beautiful, as always,” he said, practically ogling.

“Thank you. You look nice yourself.” She stepped through the door and kept walking. She could definitely do without Ralph’s seduction routine this morning.

The senator took her arm and tugged her to a stop. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d be here today?”

So she could avoid awkward moments like this one. “I’m just here for a meeting.”

“I have a luncheon meeting myself today, but I’m free tonight. Surely you could stay over in Austin and have dinner with me,” Ralph said. “I hate to eat alone.”

“I’ll go on ahead,” Mildred said, no doubt mistakenly thinking Carolina would appreciate the privacy.

Carolina turned back to Ralph. “You could always have dinner at home with your wife.”

“She’s in Midland visiting her parents.” He lowered his voice. “Besides, I’ve told you, we’re married in name only and even that will come to an end after the next election.”

“Perhaps we’ll have dinner then.” And perhaps there would be a Dallas snowstorm in August. “I need to go now. Time for my meeting.” She hurried away before he had time to reply.

No one seemed to understand that she didn’t need a man in her life. She’d been married to Hugh Lambert, bigger than life, a man among men. How could she ever expect to find a man to measure up to him? If she did, it certainly wouldn’t be a lowlife philanderer like Ralph Baldwin.

Carolina hurried down the wide halls of the capitol and slipped inside the conference room a few minutes before the scheduled starting time. Once she was inside, the noise level increased dramatically. A good sign that the volunteers were excited about the project.

Carolina glanced around the room, nodding and smiling at the attendees. This would be her first time to meet many of them, though she’d interviewed every volunteer by phone and had a background check run on them. In every case they were respectable ranchers’ wives or experienced riders, active in their communities.

There was much more to providing an enriching summer experience to these teens than just teaching them to ride. She had to make sure the volunteers knew exactly what they were signing up for and that they had a true desire to help and bond with the frequently troubled girls.

She quickly spotted Jake Dalton, standing in a corner by himself. It was only the second time she’d seen him in person, the first being at the Dry Gulch just after R.J. had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.

The occasion had been less than joyous—the reading of R.J.’s will while he was still alive. Jake had been resentful then, and unlike his half siblings, he apparently still nurtured his grudge.

He had the same ruggedly handsome features as his four younger half-brothers. Tall. Tanned. Broad shouldered. Chiseled jaw. Lean and hard bodied. Blatantly masculine in his ranch-cut sports jacket and shirt that was open at the neck. A bit of gray salted the thick, dark hair around his temples.

About her age, she’d guess, though he might be younger than her fifty-five years. The only obvious negative to his looks was a mouth that looked as if it might have forgotten how to smile. Probably a reflection of having to deal with her this morning.

Only he didn’t have to. He could have said no. She knew for a fact he was good at that.

Aidan welcomed the group and talked for only a few minutes before introducing Carolina. Jake Dalton stared at her, looking as shocked as if someone had thrown a glass of ice water in his handsome face.

So he hadn’t known he’d be dealing with her and hadn’t recognized her before now. That explained a lot. She could start looking forward to five days from hell.

After the introductions, Aidan and Jake excused themselves and left the room, and the rest of the meeting went off without a hitch. The women all seemed capable and excited about the project.

They broke at noon. Carolina, Mildred, Peg Starling and Sara Billings, the four who planned to tour the facilities at the Silver Spur Ranch that afternoon, lingered in the conference room.

“How is it you failed to mention our host was a hunk?” Sara asked.

“And no little gold band on the gorgeous rancher’s finger,” Peg commented. “Guess that means he’s available?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Carolina said. “Any ideas for lunch that won’t eat up too much of our afternoon?”

“There’s a French bakery nearby that makes great coffee and sandwiches and the best almond tart I’ve ever tasted,” Sara suggested. “It will be crowded, but service is fast.”

“Works for me,” Mildred said.

“And for me,” Peg added.

“Then the bakery it is,” Carolina agreed, ready to get moving before the conversation switched back to Jake’s looks or relationship status.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll get you and Mildred to follow us to our ranch after lunch,” Sara said. “It’s on the way and we can change into jeans, drop my car off at home and catch a ride with you out to the Silver Spur.”

“Can do. Mildred and I brought more appropriate clothes for the ranch, as well. We can change at your place.”

“I would have packed much sexier jeans if I’d known Jake Dalton was so good-looking,” Peg said.

“You’ll be sexy no matter what you wear,” Mildred assured the shapely blonde.

Carolina picked up her purse and slung the strap over her shoulder as the door opened and both Aidan and Jake stepped back into the room. She wasn’t surprised to see Aidan, but she’d assumed Jake was long gone, possibly trying to figure out an excuse to get out of his commitment to the project.

“I hope everything went well,” Aidan said.

“Couldn’t have gone better,” Carolina assured him.

“Carolina’s enthusiasm gets everyone fired up,” Sara added.

“I’d love to take you women to lunch,” Aidan said, “but I have another meeting at one.”

“What about you, Mr. Dalton?” Peg asked flirtatiously.

“I have some errands to take care of in town before I head out,” Jake said, keeping his tone businesslike. “I’ll give you directions to the ranch. When you get there, my housekeeper, Edna, will hook you up with one of the wranglers. He’ll show you around and answer any questions you have.”

“That will work out fine,” Carolina assured him, keeping her tone as cool and aloof as his had been.

Directions were simple, and she was relieved when they were finally on their way. Jake was no doubt as eager to be rid of her as she was of him. He was turning them over to a wrangler for today’s tour. She suspected that would be his modus operandi for the remainder of the training session.

With luck, she might not even have to see him again.

“I know you think Jake Dalton is a heartless cad,” Mildred said as she walked to the car with Carolina.

“Yes, I do.”

“You can’t blame him too much for not bonding with a father he never really knew. Didn’t all of R.J.’s sons feel that way at one point?”

“Yes,” she admitted reluctantly, “but that doesn’t excuse Jake’s behavior. He’s the oldest. He should feel some level of responsibility.”

“If anyone can change his mind, you will,” Mildred said.

“With luck, I won’t even have to speak to him.”

They were several yards away from her vehicle when Carolina spotted a man leaning against the front fender of her car. He was in ripped jeans and a black muscle shirt, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. A snake tattoo covered much of his right arm. A pair of aviator sunglasses hid his eyes, but his mouth was twisted into a menacing frown. An uneasy chill crept up her spine.

She glanced around. The parking lot was crowded with cars and pickup trucks, but the closest people she spotted were two men in suits, several rows down, walking in the opposite direction.

When the thuggish-looking man noticed her staring at him, he smiled and nodded as if in greeting.

Mildred grabbed Carolina’s wrist and pulled her to a stop. “What are you doing here?” Mildred demanded.

The man flicked his cigarette to the concrete and ground it out with the toe of his right boot. “Waiting on you.”

The taunting voice struck a chord and finally Carolina recognized Thad. He’d changed during his four years behind bars. Gained weight. Added a lot of muscle.

Mildred dropped Carolina’s wrist and hugged her arms about her own chest, as if protecting herself from Thad’s presence. “We no longer have anything to discuss.”

“That doesn’t sound like much of a welcome for a husband you haven’t seen in four years.”

“You are no longer her husband,” Carolina corrected.

“Stay out of this, Carolina. This is between me and Mildred,” Thad snapped.

“Please, Thad. Just go,” Mildred pleaded. “I don’t want trouble.”

“I’m not going anywhere until we talk.”

“What part of her not wanting to see you do you not understand? Either you go willingly or I call the cops,” Carolina ordered.

“I’m not breaking any laws. This is a public parking lot. So you call anybody you want to.”

He left the car and stepped closer, his gaze firmly planted on Mildred, his tone switching from arrogant to loving without missing a beat. “I know I made mistakes, sweetheart, but you can’t imagine how much I’ve missed you. We can start over now. I promise you that things will be different.”

Carolina’s stomach turned at his meaningless promises. Too little, too late. “Last chance, Thad. If you don’t leave this minute, I’m calling 911.”

“How about you let Mildred speak for herself? Or are you running her life now the way you run half of Texas?”

Mildred let her arms fall to her side. “I do speak for myself now, Thad. I hope you have changed—for your sake—but we can’t go back. I’ve moved on.”

“You know you don’t mean that, baby. You still love me. I still love you. We can work this out.”

“We can’t. It’s over between us, Thad.” Her voice trembled, but she didn’t back away.

Carolina put a steadying arm around Mildred’s waist. “There’s your answer, Thad. You can leave now unless you’re looking to go back to prison.”

“Go to hell, Carolina.”

Fury burned in his voice now, his mood turning dark and threatening. He reached out and grabbed Mildred’s arm, jerking her toward him. “Don’t make me do something I’ll be sorry for, Mildred. You know how I get when you make me crazy.”

Carolina pulled her cell phone from her handbag. Thad let go of Mildred and grabbed Carolina’s wrist with one hand while twisting the phone from her fingers with the other. She heard the clunk as it hit the concrete beneath their feet.

“Is there a problem here?”

Carolina jerked around at the sound of the strong, male voice. She gulped in a deep breath. Who’d have thought she’d ever be this thankful to see Jake Dalton?

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?

Chapter Four

Tilson called his name and Jake jerked himself back to reality. “Sorry,” he said. “I missed that.”

“I was just apologizing for getting the ladies caught in the rain.”

“Actually, it’s our fault,” Carolina corrected him. “We were so impressed with the view at Cotter’s Canyon that we lingered too long.”

Cotter’s Canyon. His spot. More of a gulch than a canyon but special all the same. The place he went to get his head on straight. Now when he went there he’d most likely remember Carolina’s nipples pressed against the white cotton.

Stunning even dripping wet. Sinfully sexy.

Texas was full of beautiful women. He needed to get out more, see something more intriguing than cows. A date every now and then couldn’t hurt.

Edna stepped into the room, her arms filled with fluffy white towels. She passed them around, and the ladies took them eagerly.

“I’d best get back to the horses,” Tilson said.

“I’ll help,” Lanky said, “unless you want me to hang around longer, boss man.”

“No. You and Tilson just take care of the horses. Move quickly and take cover if need be. There are some extra ponchos on hooks in the garage,” Jake said. “Grab a couple.”

“Too late now. Besides, a little rain never hurt a cowboy,” Tilson said. “Mighty sorry for letting our guests get caught in the downpour, though.”

Unwittingly Jake’s gaze swept back to Carolina. She dabbed her face before wrapping long locks of dripping hair between folds of the thick terry.

“Where’s Lizzie?” Jake asked, coming to his senses to realize she was missing from the group.

“Headed straight to her room to get out of her wet clothes,” Edna said.

“You have a lovely daughter,” Carolina said.

“Really fun to be around,” Peg added.

“Thank you.” Obviously they’d seen the side of Lizzie she seldom shared with him anymore.

“We’re puddling your floors,” Carolina said, looking down. “If you’ll get me a mop, I’ll clean up our mess.”

“Guests don’t mop,” Edna said quickly. “I’m more worried about the four of you standing around in those wet clothes. Why don’t I show you to guest rooms and gather some robes? You can change into them and I’ll toss your wet clothes into the dryer. They’ll be ready for you to put back on in no time.”

All four of the women voiced their approval of that.

Jake walked over to the counter to start a pot of coffee while the women now draped in thirsty towels followed Edna to retrieve the robes. As usual, Edna was way ahead of him. The pot was full.

He was halfway through a mug of hot brew when Lizzie padded barefoot into the kitchen. Her long auburn hair was turbaned in a light blue towel. Her too-skimpy white denim shorts rode low on her hips. A blue cropped top showed far too much skin for his liking.

As tempted as he was to send her back to her room for something more suitable for guests, he decided to let it ride this time.

“Where did everyone go?” she asked.

“To change into robes so that Edna could dry their clothes.”

“I’ll go see if I can help.” She headed for the hallway.

“Lizzie.”

She stopped and turned toward him with a roll of her eyes. “What did I do now?”

“Nothing. I appreciate you helping out today. It was a...” He searched for the right words.

“Decent thing to do. I get it, Dad. Don’t sound so shocked. I’m not completely heathen.”

“I was simply saying thanks.”

“Yeah.” She nodded and left the room.

He couldn’t even pull off being appreciative and make it work with her anymore. How had the gulf between him and his daughter ever grown so wide?

Jake checked the weather radar on his phone. The entire county was getting hit, but the worst was north of them, toward Austin. He stamped to the mudroom, grabbed the mop from the closet and went to work on the floor.

“Keep that up and you’ll scrub the finish off the tiles,” Edna said, rejoining him in the kitchen a few minutes later.

He looked down. The floor was completely dry. He eased his grip on the mop handle as lightning zigzagged across the sky, followed by a clap of thunder that shook the windows.

“Keeps storming like this and a few of those low-lying roads are sure to flood,” Edna said. “Lucky we have plenty of spare bedrooms if the ladies need to stay over.”

A sleepover with Carolina was exactly what he didn’t need. “Storm will likely pass in a couple of hours.”

“Might. Might not. I’ll take some chicken out of the freezer just in case. It can be thawing while I wash their clothes.”

“What happened to the plan to just throw them in the dryer for a few minutes?”

“The hems of the jeans were muddy and everything smelled of wet horseflesh.”

“Nothing wrong with that. This is a ranch.”

“We don’t have to smell like the horses. Besides, it’s not as if they have to get dressed immediately. They can’t set off for Austin in this storm. I told them to slip out of everything and put the laundry outside the door. I’ll pick their soiled clothes up in a few minutes and toss them in the washer while they just make themselves at home.”

“You are definitely getting into this.”

“Do you blame me? It’s not every day we have someone like Carolina Lambert in the house.”

“Now you’re knocking my friends.”

“You know what I mean. She’s exciting and so interesting. Her friends are nice, too. Even Lizzie is enjoying herself, in case you haven’t noticed.”

He’d noticed. He’d dated a few times since Gloria’s death. None of the women had made anywhere near the impression Carolina was making.

“Did you know that Carolina is a widow with three adult sons and four grandchildren?” Edna asked.

“I’ve heard that.”

“She doesn’t look nearly old enough to have grown sons or be a grandmother.”

He couldn’t argue with that.

“Her son Durk is the CEO of the family oil business and her other two sons, Damien and Tague, manage the Bent Pine Ranch.”

“You are just chock-full of information today.”

“I like to know about the people I’ll be entertaining for the next few days.”

“Whoa. We are not entertaining them. They’re using our facilities and our horses, but we’re not involved. It’s totally their show. Keep that in mind.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t be hospitable. You need to do the same. You never know. You might just find some chemistry with one of our guests.”

“I’m not looking for chemistry.”

“It might find you anyway if you’d stop being so contrary.” Edna pulled a package of chicken from the freezer. “I settled the ladies into all four of our guest suites. Made sure they had plenty of that good-smelling soap, shampoo, and fresh towels and washcloths, too.”

Great. So now Carolina Lambert was taking a hot shower under his roof. Naked. He swallowed hard, determined to keep his arousal level at low-key. He didn’t like the woman, and with good reason. Why couldn’t his manly urges get that?

“Just remember you’re bringing all this extra work on yourself, Edna. Don’t blame me if your good intentions turn into more than you bargained for. In the meantime, I’ll be in my office if you need me—getting some work done while we still have power.”

“Good thinking. I’ll put out some candles and the oil lamps. Never know when the electricity will go out.”

His office was down the hall on the first floor, far away from all the guest rooms—except one, which was only a few steps from his office. With his luck, Carolina was probably stripping out of her clothes in that one right now.

* * *

CAROLINA STARED OUT the window and into a torrent of rain. She should be back in her hotel room in Austin. But here she was, standing in one of Jake Dalton’s guest rooms, no longer dripping, but with her damp clothes clinging to her like a clammy second skin. She looked away from the storm and glanced around the room.

A king-size bed topped with a dark green comforter was piled high with pillows. A small antique desk held a cup of pens, some note paper and several hardcover novels displayed between beautifully sculptured horse-head bookends. A floor mirror in a beautiful oak stand adorned a far corner.

The walls were painted a pale green and decorated with framed photographs of Texas landscapes, at least two of which she was certain had been taken on the Silver Spur. She recognized the magnificent views from this afternoon’s ride.

A wooden rocker next to the window with a flowered cushion and a knitted afghan thrown over its arm looked cozy and inviting.

Difficult to imagine the calming decor was the rugged rancher’s doing. But then, she had to admit, she actually knew little about the man other than his coldhearted stubbornness where R.J. was concerned.

Thinking about the brief phone conversation she’d shared with him a few days back still left her seething. She couldn’t understand anyone unwilling to bend a little for a dying parent—even if R.J. had been a rotten father.

She dropped the towel she was wearing sarong-style over her wet clothes and caught a glimpse of herself in the full-length mirror. She grimaced. Her wet, curly locks and runny mascara gave new meaning to the drowned-rat cliché. Her gaze fell lower.

Ohmigod. She could see every pucker of her nipples beneath the damp cotton of her shirt. The others’ shirts had been just as wet—but not white. They’d clung, but she hadn’t noticed that you could see right through them.

No wonder Jake had stared so hard. She might as well have stripped off her shirt.

Her cheeks burned. How was she going to face the guy again? Not without a bit of embarrassment, that was for sure. As if things weren’t awkward enough between them.

No use to dwell on it now. There was no changing the facts. She undressed quickly, peeling off everything, including her bra and panties. Then she dropped the wet clothing outside her door as Edna had instructed.

She wondered if Jake knew what a jewel of a housekeeper he had in Edna. Hopefully he was a lot more considerate to her than he was to R.J.

Carolina headed to the bathroom, took a quick shower to shed the odor of horseflesh and then used a fresh towel to buff her naked body.

The overhead light flickered a couple of times but didn’t go out as she padded back into the bedroom. She wrapped herself in the soft robe, though she had no intention of going back to the den until she was fully dressed.

She threw back the coverlet and slid between the sheets. It was like sinking into a cloud. The serenity lasted only until thoughts of the morning encounter with Thad Caffey returned to haunt her.

Mildred had thought her life with him was behind her. Clearly, Thad did not share that sentiment. But how far would he go to get her back?

How sad for Mildred that her marriage had deteriorated into fear and danger. Yet she must have cared deeply for Thad at one time, before the love changed to fear and heartbreak. Before she saw the man she’d vowed to share her life with as the monster he really was.

Carolina had difficulty comprehending that kind of relationship. Her life with Hugh had been loving and exciting. If anything he’d been overly protective of her. A man’s man, all the way. He’d been her world, and she’d never known fear of anything or anyone when he was around.

The familiar ache set in again. As busy as her life was, as much as she loved her family, her heart still longed for the relationship she’d shared with Hugh.

Having known that kind of love, she could never settle for anything less. She had no illusions that she’d ever find love like that again.

Chapter Five

The pain was blinding, as if someone were hammering nails into his skull. Not a new pain, but one that had become excruciatingly more familiar since the day he’d been sentenced to four agonizing years in prison.

He recognized the torture for what it was, knew the only real release would come when he was back in control. When he could feel the sweet release of revenge.

He’d had four years to plan the payback. Nights of trying to fall asleep to the sounds of rants from half-insane inmates and the scratching of rats scurrying in and out of his stinking cell. Days of staring at bars and marching to the barking orders of guards whom he longed to twist apart like rotten fruit.

Four years of torture. It was time for action. The plan was all in place. The clock was clicking inside the very marrow of his bones.

He picked up the bottle of beer from the bar in front of him, took the last gulp and signaled to the waitress to bring him another.

Before she could, a platinum blonde wearing a low-cut top and inches of thick makeup got up from her stool a few down from his and walked over.

“Want some company? Looks like the rain is going to be with us for a while.”

He didn’t want company, but he shrugged and she obviously took that for a yes. She slid onto the stool next to his.

“I hate stormy Mondays.”

“Yeah,” he muttered. In prison a man lost track of the days. They came and went in a steady stream of monotonous boredom, seeing the same people, eating the same lousy food, staring at the same dull walls.

“You married?” she asked.

“Yeah. My wife is out screwing some wealthy rancher. Is that what you’re looking for, too? I figure you’re just another slut looking for some man to pay for your drinks and maybe get in your pants.”

“You’re crazy, you know that? A freakin’ nutcase.” She stood and walked away.

The waitress put his bottle of beer in front of him without saying a word. He threw a few bills on the bar, gulped down his beer, then got up and walked out of the nearly empty bar.

The rain needled his skin. He kept walking. The hammering grew worse. If he didn’t let off some steam soon, he’d explode.

Chapter Six

Carolina was curled up beneath the comforter, trying to concentrate on a suspense novel she’d taken from the antique desk. She looked up at a light tap on her door.

She glanced at her watch. Almost five. “Come in.”

Peg did, still in her robe and barefoot, since their boots probably wouldn’t be dry for hours. Yet her hair was dry and shiny, makeup meticulously applied.

“Laundry’s done.” She handed Carolina her jeans, shirt, socks and undies.

“You even folded them. Thanks.”

“Actually, Edna folded them. She wouldn’t let me or Sara near the laundry room.”

“We’ll have to think of something nice to do for her after this week,” Carolina said. “Have you seen Mildred?”

“Not yet, but Edna is taking her dry clothes to her now. She would have delivered yours, but she was afraid of waking you. She thinks you’re royalty.”

“That’s what happens when you make the society page.”

They both laughed. “I told Edna you’re a workaholic and were probably in here finalizing and double-checking everything for the Saddle-Up training.”

“You know me too well,” Carolina answered, sidestepping the truth.

Working would have been far more productive than vacillating between concerns about what Thad Caffey might try next and trying to figure out how she could totally manage to avoid Jake Dalton, especially after her wet T-shirt display.

“Edna suggested we meet back in the den for cocktails or a glass of wine once we’re dressed.”

“I’ll join you, but no alcohol for me. I still have to drive back to Austin tonight.”

“If the roads are passable. That was a deluge for about an hour.”

Peg shut the door behind her as she left. Carolina slid off the side of the bed and padded over to the window.

The wind had stopped howling, the thunder had faded into the distance and the driving rain no longer swept the windows in sheets. Only a light mist and a blanket of dark clouds remained—the clouds a lingering threat that the weather might not be through with them yet.

Carolina dressed hurriedly, finished drying her hair and put on a tinge of lipstick before heading back to the den. She heard the laughter as soon as she started down the hallway.

“Thought you’d abandoned us,” Mildred said when Carolina rearranged a couple of throw pillows and took a seat on the end of a deep brown leather sofa.

“I had some paperwork to do.”

Lizzie perched on the arm of the other end of the sofa. “Those camps must be a lot of work, but I bet those kids love it—or do some of them hate it?”

“Some do when they first arrive,” Carolina admitted. “But we usually convert them long before the month is over. The horses win their hearts.”

“I know. When I got my first very own colt, I even slept in the horse barn a few nights. Do you teach Western saddle riding?”

“Absolutely,” Carolina said. “We do the whole cowgirl experience. Riding, some minimal roping, sampling every kind of taco you can imagine and singing songs around the campfire. Of course they have to learn to clean stables and take care of the horses, too.”

“Naturally. So, do you get out with the kids yourself or just sponsor the camps and the training?”

“I’m hands-on,” Carolina said, “especially for the fun activities.”

“She’s out there every day, all day,” Mildred said. “Works harder than any of us.”

“Awesomesauce,” Lizzie said. “The way Edna talks, you’re like a queen or something.”

“Those were not my exact words,” Edna denied, untying and pulling off her apron as she joined them in the den. “But I’m impressed myself that you’re out there with the kids getting all hot and sweaty.”

Peg joined them in the den. “Looks like the gang’s all here except for the boss man himself. Where did your father disappear to, Lizzie?”

Lizzie shrugged. “Who knows? He’s always doing something on the ranch. Some days we hardly see him.”

“Running a ranch is hard work,” Edna reminded her. “Does anyone mind if I turn on the TV? I’d like to catch the early-evening news, see what they have to say about that storm that blew through here like a wailing banshee.”

Of course, no one objected.

They tuned in just in time to be reminded that a little pill could guarantee them a perfect sex life at any moment with no preparation. It had been years since Carolina had given much thought to a sex life.

The top news story of the night was the storm. The screen switched to a live shot of a male reporter in a dark blue wind jacket standing in water up to his knees. The running print dialogue below the images warned of flash flooding in low-lying areas in and around Austin.

“Looks like Austin got the brunt of it,” Peg said as images of flooded streets, overflowing drainage ditches and cars stranded on the highway were shown in rapid succession.

“Good thing we didn’t hang around there all afternoon,” Mildred said.

“Or get out on the road during the storm,” Sara added as the images and narrative skipped to the report of a six-car pileup on the interstate. “We could have been stuck out there for hours if we’d been behind that.”

“Numerous fender benders and stalled cars have basically shut down the interstates in all directions around Austin,” the reporter continued. “Stay off the roads unless it’s absolutely necessary, but if you must venture out, watch out for rising water.”

“That settles it,” Edna said. “It is definitely not safe or sane for you ladies to drive back to Austin tonight. There’s plenty of room for all four of you to stay right here.”

“Makes sense for Mildred and Carolina,” Sara agreed. “I definitely wouldn’t risk flooding out Carolina’s sports car if I were her. But our ranch is less than a half hour from here. My hubby will come pick up Peg and me in his four-wheel-drive pickup truck.”

“Staying here works for me,” Mildred said.

It definitely did not work for Carolina. Things were awkward enough as they were without adding a sleepover with Jake to the mix. “Thanks for the offer, Edna, but I’m sure the roads will be safe for travel again in a couple of hours.”

Conversation stopped as the back door opened, followed by heavy footsteps. A few seconds later, Jake joined them in the den.

Jake’s six-foot-plus frame and commanding demeanor dominated the scene even before he said a word.

“Any storm problems?” Edna asked.

“Some of the horses needed a bit of calming down, as usual, but no wind damage that I noticed except for a couple of limbs down in that stretch of pines along the creek.”

“Did you check the entire ranch?” Peg asked.

“Not enough time for that, but we’ve been through enough storms to know where floods and the wind usually do their damage.”

Edna straightened the skirt of her blue-flowered housedress. “You should have seen the pictures of the flooding in Austin.”

“Too much rain or not enough. That’s Texas.”

“I invited the ladies to spend the night,” Edna said. “No use for them to risk facing a flash-flooding situation.”

For the first time since he entered the room, Jake turned and looked directly at Carolina, his dark eyes peering into hers. Her chest grew tight.

“If you want to stay, there’s room.”

That wasn’t exactly what she’d call an eager agreement.

“We’ve already been far too intrusive in your lives,” Carolina said. “I’m sure the roads will clear up enough that we can get back to our hotel tonight.”

“Suit yourself, but the offer stands. Now if you ladies will excuse me, I need to make a few phone calls.” He started toward the hallway, then stopped and turned back to face Carolina. “If you had no problems with Tilson today, I’ll assign him to assist you in any way he can during the training session. If you need other wranglers, he can line them up.”

She wondered if that offer was to make up for Jake’s less than enthusiastic offer of hospitality.

Even so, she could use the help. “I appreciate that, and I’m sure Tilson will do fine.”

“Does that mean you’re neglecting us?” Peg asked, her voice bordering on outright seduction.

“I’ll be around if you need me, but I’ll do my best to stay out of your way.” He stopped next to Lizzie and put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t even think about leaving the house tonight.”

“Wasn’t planning to.”

“I’d better get back in the kitchen and get started on those chicken enchiladas,” Edna said.

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

“No trouble at all. Nothing more fun than having a full table to cook for. Is dinner at seven okay?”

“Perfect,” they said in unison.

“I’ll give Edna a hand,” Mildred said, following the housekeeper to the kitchen.

“You know, Lizzie, I don’t think your dad’s as excited as Edna about having a houseful of women around,” Sara said. “Not that I blame him, since he doesn’t even know us.”

“No. That’s just how he is,” Lizzie said. “He doesn’t get excited about much. But if he didn’t want you here, you’d know it.”

Lizzie’s cell phone rang. She grabbed it and answered quickly, “What’s up?”

She left the room before she said more, but it was clear from her suddenly strained expression that the phone call was upsetting.

Lizzie was vivacious and smart, but Carolina had a feeling she was also as complex and troubled as many of the youngsters who’d show up for the Saddle-Up summer-camp program.

Now that she thought about it, Lizzie, with her knowledge and love of horses and riding, would be a perfect junior volunteer for the session on Sara’s ranch. Not only would the participants learn from her, but the interaction with young teens so much less fortunate than herself might do Lizzie some good, as well.

Her involvement would require Lizzie’s willingness and Jake’s permission. The latter might be the more difficult to obtain, but worth a shot.

Determined to face the issue before she changed her mind, she went off in search of Jake. It didn’t take long to find him. He was at a wide wooden desk in his home office, staring at a table of figures on the computer screen. She tapped lightly on the open door.

He looked up. “Come in.”

“Is this a bad time?”

“No. Can I help you with something?”

“Hopefully. It’s about Lizzie.”

His brow furrowed. “What about her?”

“She’s a really nice kid. Smart and great with horses, too.”

“Thank you.”

“She’s got a lot going for her, but she’s—”

“Look, Mrs. Lambert, if you’re here to tell me that she has a problem with me, don’t bother. I’m quite aware. It’s not for lack of trying on my part. It’s just...”

“Carolina.”

He frowned. “What?”

“You can call me Carolina. And I’m not here to criticize but to ask a favor of sorts. I’d appreciate it if you’d hear me out before you say no.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’d like your permission to invite Lizzie to be one of our junior counselors this summer. She has so much to offer, and I think it might even be good for her.”

“Exactly what would that involve?”

“One month of working with the underprivileged campers on Sara and Jess’s ranch. It would be voluntary, but she could stay on site with the other camp counselors so she wouldn’t have to be on the highway driving back and forth.”

“Have you mentioned this to Lizzie?”

“No. I wanted to clear it with you first.”

Jake swiveled his chair so that he was facing Carolina. Concern etched his face. “If you can persuade my daughter to give up sleeping until noon and then spending the rest of the day either texting or hanging out with her friends, I’d say you’re a miracle worker.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Definitely. Go for it. You do the asking. If it comes from me, the answer would be an unqualified no.”

Perhaps if you set a better example with the way you treated your own father.

Those were the words Carolina wanted to toss back at him. She bit them back. Lizzie needed her father, and if they didn’t find a way to connect soon, they might never find it.

“Carolina. I’ve been looking all over for you.”

She looked up as Mildred rushed into the room, her face a pasty white. “What’s wrong?”

“Thad. He’s not giving up.”

Chapter Seven

Jake was not surprised. He had sat out the storm at ranch headquarters, checking the internet for anything he could find about the arrest and trial that led to Caffey’s conviction.

There hadn’t been much. As rotten a crime as spousal abuse was, it didn’t get a lot of press unless either the perpetrator or the victim was a celebrity.

The sketchy details indicated that Thad had abused Mildred throughout their three years of marriage in what the prosecutor described as mental and physical torture.

Slugging her for simple mistakes like scorching his shirt when she was ironing it or not scrubbing the kitchen floor as clean as he wanted it. Always hitting her somewhere the bruises could be hidden beneath her clothes.

On other occasions, he wouldn’t tell her what she’d done wrong but would lock her in a room for days with only tepid water to drink. And yet she’d stayed with him. Now he was back again.

“I can’t believe he has the gall to contact you,” Carolina said, “much less to keep harassing you. On second thought, knowing Thad, of course he had the gall. What did he say?”

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