by Starla Kaye
Scott's glance slid to Cade. "Boss man didn't want you disturbed. He's made that real clear lately. So Alan, the men and I have been dealing with the situation." He blew out a huff of frustration. "But I decided it was time you knew about the incident."
"Damn straight." She slumped down on the side of the bed because it was either that or give in to her slowly collapsing legs.
Cade's jaw had tightened even more, a vein pulsing in his neck. After a second he said through gritted teeth, "Why the hell hasn't someone told me about this before now?"
Scott held himself rigid. "You've been all tied up taking care of Shawna. We've dealt with this before." He met Shawna's gaze and said calmly, "Alan has been dealing with the authorities since we found out."
The answer only seemed to make Cade more upset, even if every word Scott had said was true. Cade had barely left her house since he'd arrived three days ago. He'd catered to her every need--whether she wanted him to or not. Sadly, she'd kind of liked being spoiled and taken care of. But she needed to put an end to that, and take some kind of control of her job again.
"Scott is right." She held Cade's angry gaze. "This isn't a problem you've faced in some boardroom. This is ranch business. Bad business, yes. But we have dealt with this before."
Cade stared at Shawna, bone deep angry. He was having a hell of a day. First the arguments with Shawna over her wanting to return to her job too soon, ending with a necessary spanking. Then the frustrating conversation with the potential buyer for the ranch. Followed by dealing with his guilt over costing all of these good people their livelihoods...their "home," as Shawna kept insisting. He'd felt like shit since talking to Arnold and realizing what he was about to do. And then he'd discovered Terrell had snuck past him to come see Shawna in spite of his orders to leave her alone. Now this disaster.
"This is my business, dammit. You two need to remember that I own the ranch. You work here, but I own the place. What happens here matters to me." You matter to me. All of you matter to me. Thoughts which surprised him and that he didn't know how to deal with at the moment.
He watched Terrell's eyebrows lift in surprise and noted a hint of respect flash in the tough cowboy's eyes. But it was Shawna's reaction that got to him.
She'd grown pale, silent. Horribly silent before she whispered, "For now. You own the ranch for now. You care for now." Then she crawled back onto the bed and pulled the covers over her. "Fine. You two go take care of everything. It's clear I'm not needed."
"Shawna," Terrell protested and glowered at Cade. "Of course you're needed. But you've been sick."
She turned away from them, but not before Cade saw her blinking back tears. "He's right," Cade tried to make some kind of meek amends.
"Just go away. I'm tired."
Cade started to say something else--not really sure how to get himself out of this mess--but Terrell shook his head. Maybe he was right. Maybe they needed to leave her alone for now and just go deal with the situation. He headed for the doorway. "I'll talk to you later."
Chapter Four
Cade had never been so damn cold in his life, not even when he'd spent a day skiing. He tugged the lapels of his borrowed sheep-skin lined jacket higher and tried not to let anyone see him shaking against the bitter coldness. He, Scott, Alan, and a half dozen other men had been here on this frozen tundra of a field for three long hours. Well, frozen tundra covered with a thick layer of snow. And the snow had started falling again almost the second they climbed out of Scott's pickup truck. If he never spent another winter day like this...
From the corner of his eye he saw Alan frowning before ending a phone call. He'd been talking to the local sheriff and Cade could tell whatever the man had learned wasn't good. He shook off his frustration with the weather and asked, "What did he have to say?"
Alan tucked his cell phone in his coat pocket. "The Sheriff said the highway patrol caught up with the cattle truck near the Kansas/Missouri border. Truck had two blown tires." He looked at Scott, then finally at Cade. "The men aren't talking, naturally."
"Never do," Scott grumbled and heaved a gut-deep sigh.
"What about the cattle? Did they still have them?" Cade asked.
He wanted the cattle back for his sake, of course, but more for Shawna's sake. He knew she felt personally responsible. He understood that, since she was the foreman. But he didn't like it. He didn't want her worrying herself sick all over again. From what he knew about cattle rustling--what Scott had told him during their drive here, there wasn't anything she or any of the men could have done. Cattle rustling was big business, dangerous business. He'd heard about how more than one rancher or ranch hand had gotten killed trying to stop some rustlers. The cattle he'd lost might be worth some major bucks, but they definitely weren't worth the loss of any of these men.
"Yeah, they had them. Twenty head, all sporting the RHR brand. But they're evidence at the moment," Alan explained with a frown. He muttered a curse hot enough to almost take the chill out of the air. "We'll be lucky to get them back in a month or two. They'll be underweight, too, when we get them." He cursed again. "Damn bad business this cattle rustling."
Cade pulled his own cell phone out, blinking past the fat snowflakes. "Burdett, you find out where the cattle are being held and send a couple men to haul them back," he told Alan. He glanced at both uncertain-looking men. "I don't pay a staff of high-priced attorneys for nothing. I'll make a call." His lawyers would deal with the cattle thieves.
"Right. A call." Scott shot him a doubting look and focused on the other man again.
Unconcerned with the cowboy's lack of faith in him--they didn't know him, after all--Cade walked a few feet away. Before making the call, he tried to gather his thoughts, tried to make a plan for dealing with this mess. He was familiar with untangling messes. He'd done it often enough when he bought a business with great potential that was currently being run into the ground. His attorneys were experts at solving problems, too.
Even as he tried to focus on what he needed to do, he overheard Scott and Alan talking in lowered tones. Using a fitting cliche, they grumbled about how everything had clearly gone to hell in a hand basket now. When they mentioned Shawna, he paid particular attention. In spite of all the problems they faced, they were still worried about finding a way to help her. It was, apparently, killing all of the ranch hands that they hadn't been able to raise the money to buy the ranch for her. And their attitude was definitely more of buying it "for her" rather then buying it "together." Odd that. Well, maybe not. These people were family. She was the center of their unusual family. He was both comfortable and uncomfortable with that.
Again, he felt lower than snake scum for what he was doing to all of them. This was business, normal business for him. Not for them, though. This was someone coming in and taking away their livelihoods. Someone coming in and hurting a woman they all cared about.
Another blast of cold air hit him hard and made his teeth chatter. He'd have to think about the problem with the ranch later. Right now he needed to deal with this problem. He punched in the speed dial number that went directly to his head attorney.
* * *
Several hours after the men had left Shawna stood just inside Bessy's stall in the warm stable. She hadn't been able to spend another minute in her room, even in her small house, which she normally loved. It had taken nearly every last ounce of strength she had to get dressed and walk out here, but she'd done it. Her legs were weak. Her head felt fuzzy. But she'd gotten out of that darn prison-like sickroom.
Even though she knew her body would make her pay for this later, she was pleased with herself. She faced her usually high-spirited horse. Bessy was being very patient, although her nostrils kept twitching at the smell of the treat in Shawna's hand. Finally, Shawna held up an apple and her beloved horse quickly snagged it, making Shawna laugh as Bessy's nose tickled her palm. God, how long has it been since I've laughed? Easy. Since before Cade Calloway entered her life that fateful Thanksgiving less than two
months back. Since before he'd announced the end of the world she knew.
Cade. The stubborn man had insisted on going with Scott out to the field from which the cattle had been rustled. He was a boardroom kind of man, not a cattleman. He wouldn't have a clue to what they would be looking for. Hell, he'd probably get in the way of her hands. Her hands? No. They were her friends, but they were Cade's ranch hands...just as he'd pointed out. The ranch belonged to him. The cattle and most of the horses were his. Not Bessy and not the personal horses belonging to her rodeo buddies. Still, most of everything she looked at every day belonged to a man she barely knew. A man, who in spite of that, made her tingle all over whenever he was anywhere nearby. Granted some of the "tingling" was often due to fury at something he said. But she wasn't naive. She knew most of the "tingling" had to do with the fact that she wanted him. How sad was she?
"We're in a real pickle here, Bessy." She stroked the velvety nose that bumped her shoulder. "We're going to lose our home. And there doesn't seem to be a dadblamed thing I can do about it."
She sniffled and blinked back the tears that seemed constantly ready to fall. She wasn't the kind of woman who cried easily. She'd faced terrible losses in her life: losing her mother before she could know her, losing her father, and recently breaking up with the rancher she'd thought she would marry. She'd made it through all of it okay, with internal bruises and heartaches. Somehow she'd handle this loss, too. But it hurt. A lot.
Bessy nuzzled her again, clearly wanting attention, and Shawna smiled. She lightly scratched the long nose. "I called the banker again before I came out here." She swallowed hard at the disheartening conversation they'd had. "He said even if I used my small inheritance from Dad, took money from Grandpa's trust fund, and..." She looked at Bessy through watery eyes, saying miserably. "And if I sold you..."
Her voice broke on a sob. "It still wouldn't add up to anything close enough for a downpayment to get the kind of loan I'd need." A loan that was staggering even to consider.
She glanced toward the stable filled with her rodeo buddies' horses. "The men can't come up with near enough, either. And I know they've all been trying their hardest."
Feeling hopeless and helpless, she slumped down to sit on the straw. Bessy gave what Shawna interpreted as a sympathetic whimper and moved back to the other end of the stall. What were they going to do? Where could they go? And they had less than three weeks now to figure something out. February 1 hung heavy over their heads. She knew there would be no way a new corporate buyer would keep them on, no matter how much Cade denied that. And winter was a pitiful time to be out looking for new jobs on a ranch.
She closed her eyes and thought about the banker's suggestion about them buying another small ranch he knew was for sell. For the money they could raise, it had to be really small. She supposed the size shouldn't matter. They just needed a fresh start, somewhere to dig in for a while. They needed a home. But she didn't want to leave the Rolling Hills Ranch. So many memories were here. Her father was buried in the old family cemetery on the north quarter. She didn't really want to think about another ranch. And how foolish is that!
"Stupid Calloway," she muttered. "Walk in here like the big shot executive you are. Cold hearted. Used to getting your way all the time. Come in here and destroy everything. I hate you. I really hate you."
Then she thought about how he'd put aside his work life and come here out of concern for her. Silly man. She'd been taking care of herself just fine. Okay, not so fine. But he'd strutted in here with all of his ridiculous medicines and determination to get her on her feet again. He put up with her crankiness, with her demands to leave. He'd ignored it all and simply taken care of her. He'd even sat by her side for hours on end while she'd fought fever after fever. He'd wiped her brow, forced chicken soup down her. His touch had been unusually gentle. Okay, his touch when he'd spanked her hadn't been all that gentle. Yet, in spite of that, she wanted to feel his tempting mouth on hers, wanted to have those big hands touch her in more intimate places, wanted to...
Stop! Just stop! She couldn't keep thinking these kinds of things about the man who would soon ruin her life. No, she should be thinking about trying to seduce him. Maybe if...
She snorted. Who are you kidding? That was the stupidest idea she'd had in a long time. The man was a world-class playboy. She'd seen his pictures in magazines, in newspapers, and on TV. Some of the most beautiful women in the world were known to cling to his arm at one fancy event or another. And, no doubt, many of them had warmed his bed. An idea she definitely didn't like thinking about. No, he would never even look twice at a simple country gal like her.
But he has. Looked at you with lust. Her mind was playing games with her. Sure, she'd seen heat in his gaze now and then. But he was a man. It didn't take much for a man to get aroused. She sure knew that from experience with her ex-fiance. Cade had also looked at her plenty of times in anger and irritation, too. Still, maybe... No! Not possible.
Disgusted with even thinking of such a crazy notion, she got to her feet, swayed a bit, and then made her way out of the stall. Time to get back to reality. Time to...
The stable doors opened and she froze. A stream of men poured inside the building, stomping around on the cement floor to get rid of snow covering their boots. Cade and Scott led the group. Even as she tried to remain perfectly still and pray not to be noticed, they both spotted her at the other end of the long walkway between the two dozen stalls.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Cade growled and strode straight toward her. Six foot something of very angry man.
She bristled, annoyed at how her heart skipped happily at the sight of him. "I came to check on Bessy."
"Didn't I tell you to stay in bed?"
"We've been taking good care of Bessy. You knew we would," Scott stated, sounding equally irritated, walking right behind Cade. Make that two big, angry men.
She glanced away. "Well, yeah, but..."
"But you had to come out here, in the middle of a snowstorm, to check on her." Alan, too, walked closer, disgust in his tone, as well as concern. "Dang it, Shawna. You've been real sick."
When she looked up it was to see the other men frowning in annoyance as well. Because they care about you. She felt good and foolish at the same time. She'd hoped to be back in the house she'd escaped from before any of them came back. "I'm good now. You don't need to worry about me. None of you."
Scott and Alan snorted.
Cade stopped in front of her. Frustration made a vein pulse in his neck. Yet he just looked her over for a long second. At the same time, she drew in the scent of him, the scent of his aftershave. And, foolish woman that she was, she tingled all over.
He seemed to fight something for a few seconds, and then he heaved a put-upon sigh and reached toward her. His cold hand gently cupped her cheek. "You have no business being out here. I don't even know how you managed it, weak as you were."
"She's a powerfully stubborn woman," Alan offered from nearby.
"Damn truth there," Scott confirmed.
"I've learned that." Cade smoothed his hand over her face again. "You could have set your recovery back with this nonsense."
Shawna decided she really liked the feel of Cade's hand on her face. Too much. She batted his hand away and glared at him. "I'm fine. None of you need to worry about me." When he didn't move back, she tried shoving him away.
"That's our girl," Alan said on a chuckle.
She scowled at him, and then at the others. Looking relieved, they started moving away, even Scott. All except Cade.
The odious man smiled at her, but a spark of irritation had returned to his gaze. A look she'd seen on two other occasions. In response, her buttocks automatically clenched. He was thinking about warming her bottom, she was almost certain of that. Her bottom cheeks clenched and unclenched again. An odd eagerness spiraled through her.
"You're not fine, but you're better." His smile disappeared and he waited until the others were leaving the
building. He lowered his voice. "I'm taking you back to the house and then..."
"Do not even think it!" She straightened and refused to even consider how much she wasn't all that opposed to him applying his big hand to her bottom. Was she nuts? Spankings hurt. They were humiliating. Yet when he... "No! Not happening."
As if he'd read her confused thoughts and sensed her ridiculous appreciation of him going all Alpha-in-charge, his eyes danced with amusement. "Me thinks the lady doesth protesteth too much. Me thinks you find getting spanked a bit exciting."
Her face heated and she couldn't meet his gaze. She sort of did, but she didn't want to admit it. "Me thinks you're full of it!" She scooted around him.
Before she could get away, he snagged her arm. In a flash, he turned her sideways and smacked her bottom hard several times. Hard enough that she felt a tiny sting through the thick denim.
"Are you going to drop your jeans so I can do this right? Or shall we finish this up in your bedroom?"
To her mortification, someone cleared his throat from the front of the building. They turned together and Scott called out from the door he was closing, "I'll just give you some privacy."
Now her face really was flaming. Worse, though, everything lower than her belly button quivered with awareness. She wanted this annoying man to spank her if he insisted, and then she wanted him to take her. Right here, right now. To heck with her still being at less than full strength.
As he turned her to look at him, she saw how Cade's eyes had darkened. "Privacy is good," he said in a husky tone that curled her toes.
She licked her lips, felt wetness low in her body. "I don't really deserve a spanking," she said quietly, unable to take a steady breath, unable to move away.
Cade wasn't sure why this woman affected him so much, but she did. More than any other woman ever had. When he'd seen her here in the stable, he'd lost it. Only a couple of days ago she'd nearly died from being so sick. He'd worried and fretted over her like a mother hen. She had no business coming out into this blustery weather, coming here to check on a horse that every other man on the ranch was treating like the Queen Bee of horses because Shawna loved her. The crazy woman deserved a spanking for scaring them all, especially him. Yet he didn't really want to punish her. No, he wanted to do things far more intimate with her.
