Jaded: Luke: Laurel Creek Series

by McQueen, Hildie

  “Wow. That sucks. At least mine left me the dog.”

  It didn’t worry Luke much. They were all material things. The one thing that bugged him was Christina not telling him sooner she’d fallen out of love, or worse, had grown to not feel safe around him.

  So yeah, he’d been gone a lot, first with the military and then afterward working as a contractor for the government. Every year that passed, they’d become more distant. During his third four-month stint in the Middle East, she’d informed him on Skype all his belongings were in storage and she was filing for divorce.

  And so for two additional years, he’d trudged forward, spending more time away than in the country. The war brought lots of work, so he was not idle for long. Unfortunately, it also brought death, sadness, and grim memories that would stay in with Luke for the rest of his life.

  “You’ve gotten huge. Become a gym rat?”

  “Good way to let off steam. Keep myself from losing it.”

  Taylor studied him. Although his cousin had not served in the military, he’d had a long career in law enforcement until being forced to retire due to injuries sustained when he’d been on a call to stop a bank robbery. It was a miracle the guy was alive.

  “I get ya.” Shadows crossed his cousin’s gaze, memories that were best kept at bay. “Turns out your arrival is perfect timing. We got a battle to fight here.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Got trouble with the landowners on the north side. The Morgans claim our fencing is over the property line. When we didn’t move it, cause who really gives a shit, they now want to sue us.”

  “What the hell?”

  His cousin shook his head. “That’s what I say. Morgan’s daughter is a total freak. Pretty as all get out, but not very likeable.”

  “Who?”

  “Pat Morgan’s daughter. Can you believe it? Remember her, she wore braces and always flirted with you at church?

  “Not really.”

  “The one who used to throw rocks at us when we worked near the fence over by their house?” Taylor persisted.

  “The one with the huge gap in her front teeth? Damn, what was her name? I called her Pesky, but that’s not it.”

  “That’s the one. Pesky. She grew up to become a looker. But also a crazy person.”

  “What’s her name?”

  Taylor scratched his head. “Lisa. Or maybe it’s Lulu. Hell I don’t know.”

  The tactic to get him from thinking about the things best left in the shadows worked. Luke was curious as to why the woman would be so insistent on things that had not bothered her family for so long. The fence had been built over fifty years earlier. Both families had often repaired it over the years. Either them personally or someone they’d hired. Never once had any of the Morgans expressed concern over it.

  True the fence on the north side was almost a quarter mile into the Morgan land. And part of the fencing was also on Hamilton land to allow equal access to water from a creek. Pat Morgan had never voiced not agreeing with the way it was done. Hell after decades, who gave a crap?

  “Why haven’t we moved it?”

  “At first, Toby gave her the finger. Eventually we decided to get it done, but time got away from us. Then we get this legal notice and Toby got pissed. Says he’s not moving it now and that he’ll pull some kind of homestead law into it.

  “That’s ridiculous. We’ll move it.”

  “You know how your brother is once he’s set his mind on something.”

  The guy could be stubborn as the day was long. Luke considered what to do about the issue. He decided it was best to drive over to meet the neighbor and let her know the situation would be remedied without need for any legal action.

  “I’ll go talk to her, and then I’ll deal with Tobias.”

  “Ha!” Taylor let out a loud bark of laughter. “Good luck with that.”

  “Got anything to eat?” They went to the kitchen and after digging in the refrigerator and finding it lacking, Luke dialed up the local pizza place.

  “No delivery? Unbelievable.” He let out a long sigh.

  “I’ll go get it.” Taylor pulled keys from his pocket. “Don't bring up the fence with Toby until I get back. I don’t want to miss it.”

  Half an hour later his twin strolled in through the back door and stopped midstride at seeing him. “Hey bro.” He walked over and hugged him. “It’s about time you drag your old ass home.”

  “I’m only a few minutes older than you,” Luke said shaking his head. “You look like shit, so I’m the better looking one now.”

  They were identical twins, but at the moment, they were easy to tell apart. Tobias was much tanner and his muscular physique different than Luke’s. Obviously not needing the workouts to get rid of demons. “Not much sleep the last couple weeks. Lots of shit to deal with.”

  Toby was usually not one to remain stoic and rarely let the drudgery of everyday life get him down. His somber attitude concerned Luke. “What kind of shit?”

  “You know. Cows and all that.”

  “Cows? You are pissed off at a cow?”

  “No. Just tired.” His brother went to the refrigerator, opened the door and stared inside. “Damn, there’s nothing to eat.”

  “Noticed y’all still expect it to refill itself. All the food Mama left ran out huh?”

  A grin split Toby’s face. “Yep. It finally did. She called a couple days ago to remind me to run to the store. But, I forgot.”

  “Taylor went to get pizza.”

  “Awesome.” Toby grabbed a beer and sat down at the table. Every so often he’d look to the door, as if it would make Taylor appear sooner. “What brings you rolling into town all of a sudden? You staying?”

  It would be easy to stay there, work on the ranch and not worry about much. He made enough from his military retirement pay and had enough in savings to not worry.

  “For the time being, I need to be here. Not sure for how long. But I’m planning to work. Help out and stuff.”

  “Taylor tell you about the fence?”

  “Yeah. Why are you not moving it?”

  “Cause it’s stupid. It’s gonna cost thousands to get that much fencing done.”

  “You can afford it.”

  “You mean we?”

  Luke rolled his eyes. “Nope, you. I don’t get any money from this ranch.”

  “Yeah you do.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” He didn’t wait for a reply. “Tobias, just get the damn fence moved. If she sues us, we could lose more than the cost of paying to have it moved.”

  “So now it’s ‘we’.”

  “I’m moving the fence.”

  “Like hell you are.” Toby got up and closed the distance in two strides until almost nose to nose with him. “Don’t think because you’re all bulked up, I can’t kick your ass.” His brother’s breath fanned over his face. “And what the hell are you doing with a blue truck?”

  “Not fighting with you Tobias. I’m just telling you to move the fucking fence and last I checked, a person can buy any damn color vehicle they want. You don’t have exclusive rights to the color blue.”

  “I’m waiting to see who throws the first punch before walking in with the pizza,” Taylor said from the doorway.

  Luke turned away from his brother. “That was quick. Why don’t they deliver if they’re that close?”

  “Because the Tori owns the place and hates Toby. She punched him in the face last time he walked into her restaurant.”

  His brother’s jaw flexed and he let out a huff. “I’m not eating her pizza.”

  “More for us.” Taylor placed three large boxes and a bag on the table. “Got wings too.”

  By the hungry look on Toby’s face, it wouldn’t be long before he joined them.

  3

  “You’re firing me?” Leah Morgan glared at the ass-kisser sitting next to her father before looking to Pat Morgan, the CEO and owner of Morgan Investments. “Dad. You can’t be serious. We
are on the verge of gaining two major accounts. You need me.”

  “I need you gone even more.” Her father shook his head and gave her a pointed look. “I have two managers threatening to quit because of you.”

  She racked her brain trying to figure out who he was referring to and then once again looked to Zack, who watched her with fake compassion etched on his face. “You want my job and have done everything in your power to push me out.”

  “Hold it Leah, I won’t stand for your bullying anyone.” Her father turned to Zack. “Give us a minute please.”

  It was hard not to admire the tall, well built man who stood and looked to her, his lips pressed in a tight line before walking out. She’d dated him for a short time until working together and having a relationship didn’t work. There were too many variables to list, but she ended it before it got too serious.

  Her father cleared his throat. “I want you to take six months off. You have become too overzealous; micromanaging every step of each project to include portions that are not on your plate to do. Leah, I’m asking you to step away out of concern. You will always have a job here, but not right now.”

  Stunned, she fell back into the chair. Unable to even think clearly, it was almost impossible to formulate a rebuttal. “If I’ve done anything, it’s because I want to ensure the company succeeds.”

  “We can’t succeed alone honey. We need our team. And it’s taken me a long time to build this amazing group of professionals. I’m not going to let your over-zealousness tear it apart.”

  Anger surged. “It’s Zack isn’t it? He wants my job and influenced you in this.”

  “I’ve had several complaints and three people considering resignation. Zack asked that I speak to you, but not to force you to take time off. If anything, at the moment, he is the only one in your corner. Judgmental is not something I ever considered you to be.”

  In a tailor-made blue suit, with a red tie, her father looked every bit the wealthy executive. She’d always been proud of her handsome father. With silver at his sideburns that gave him a distinguished flair, he remained youthful.

  They had been working together for the last ten years. Now she felt adrift, as if her lifeboat, the only thing constant in her life, slipped away.

  “You don’t want me here?”

  Her father stood and rounded his desk, coming to sit next to her. “Of course I do. You will take over this company one day. But I need you to get your head together. I need you to have a life. All you do is work and sleep. There is so much more to life than a job.”

  Of course he was right. Her best friend Allison had just said these exact words to her the day before when she’d finally convinced Leah to join her for after work drinks. There wasn’t much that interested her, or that gave her the sense of accomplishment she got after completing a project.

  Each day was a repeat of the last, but that wasn’t a bad thing. Not in her mind anyway.

  “I need you to stay at the ranch for a while. Oversee what has to be done there. Either bring it up to par or prepare it for sale. The choice is up to you since it’s yours now. The house has been empty for ten years. There is much to be done. I trust you with this task. Although not corporate work, it is a huge job that I can’t leave to just anyone.”

  Unsure if he was being honest or wanting her out of his hair, Leah let out a huff. “We can contract someone to do all the work. I can do it from here. I promise Dad, I’ll rein it back. Don’t push me out. Not now.” She let out a breath. “I’ve been dealing with a property line issue as we speak...”

  “You will go to Laurel Creek. You are on a six-month sabbatical. And that’s that.” He returned to sit at his desk. Pushing a button he spoke into the intercom. “Send Zack and William in.”

  He looked to Leah. “I’m about to brief senior management on the new division of duties. Please ensure you keep a pleasant attitude.”

  Through her windshield, Leah studied the front of the building she’d been working in for a decade. Beside her on the seat was a small box with a few things she preferred not to leave at her office.

  Her accounts had been split between three people and she’d taken the time to brief each one repeating over and over to call her with any concerns. And now as she sat slumped in the overwarm car, she could only blink away tears that formed. It was impossible to leave the accounts she’d worked on for months, even years, in someone else’s hands and expect them to be handled properly.

  The entire situation stunk. Leaving her position for six months would set her back years and create a lot of work to bring the situation under control once she returned.

  Her brain churned and invited her stomach to join in. Leah swallowed as her eyes welled once again.

  This was not an ending, it couldn’t be. A dragonfly drifted near and hovered over the windshield, its’ beautiful coloring enhanced by the sun’s light.

  A part of her wanted to start over. After all Leah had enough experience and contacts to start her own company, independent of her father. There were also other corporations who’d hire her in an instant.

  Knowing her well and the directions her thoughts would amble in, her father had warned against doing either. Her lips curved at him knowing exactly what she’d be thinking.

  “You can go to one of the competitors, or even start your own company, all up to you of course. However, I hope you don’t,” he’d stated as she cleared off her desk.

  “What the hell am I going to do?” she said out loud and put the car in drive to turn out of the parking space heading to Pollyanna Flowers, Allison’s shop.

  Friends since high school, the two women couldn’t be more different and yet their friendship had endured over the years. Allison was the calm to her storm and Leah helped Allison focus when she preferred to go wherever the wind blew.

  Today she needed Allison more than ever. Unsure she could face anyone just then, she started the car and went home instead.

  * * *

  Two days later after crying and refusing to leave her condo, Leah trudged into Pollyana.

  The smell of fresh cut flowers called for deep breaths and sent the senses to soften. It was a beautiful shop with bouquets in varying vases and a wall one the left side wholly dedicated to different tea blends.

  “Hey girl. Who died?” Allison rushed to her, cutting shears in one hand and a long stem red rose in the other.

  “Nobody died.” Leah winced at the sulkiness in her voice.

  “Well good.” Brows furrowed and lips pursed, Allison searched her face. “Is someone in the hospital then?”

  Leah rolled her eyes. “No. But I am jobless...sorta.” She walked to the back of the shop where Allison had a set of beautifully decorated tables. There was always freshly brewed coffee and hot water for tea. “I think today calls for coffee.”

  “Whoa, this must be pretty bad. You’re drinking the hard stuff.” Allison put the flower and shears down on the counter and joined her. “But I think you’ll drink tea. Black tea mixed with something to calm your nerves.”

  “Dad wants me to live at our house in Laurel Creek and get the property ready for ranching again, which I’d have to hire someone to manage, or prepare it for sale. He’s leaving the decision up to me.”

  “Makes sense,” Allison replied, stirring honey into her tea. “I can understand why he’d leave that job up to you. It’s a huge property. I love it out there. I should come with you.”

  “What?” Leah wanted to stomp her foot. Why did no one seem to think it was devastating, a crippling blow to her career and ego. “Instead of working at my father’s multi-million dollar corporation, earning my way to take over one day, I am being sent away to Laurel fucking Creek!”

  Taking her free hand, Allison tugged her to a chair. “Sit down.”

  She did and her friend sat across from her. Allison’s wild auburn curls bounced when she shook her head. “I don’t get you sometimes. Why would you ever think your dad would do something to hurt you or your career? If peo
ple have complained that you’re an over the top, butt head boss of the year, it was your doing.”

  “What are you talking about? I ensured every single project went off without a hitch. My team was always timely with reports and in their handling of deadlines.”

  “When was the last time you told them how great they are? When did you allow them to work without having to report to you constantly? Did you ever let them decide what worked best on certain things, or did they have to do what you thought was best? Did you step in and take over when you thought they moved too slowly for your liking? If you hadn’t, would they have made the deadline anyway?”

  Her throat went dry and the breath stuck until her lungs protested. “You knew about this? Dad talked to you?” Tears sprung to her eyes. Angry hot tears at the betrayal by the two people she loved most. “How could you Allison?”

  “Oh shut up. I didn’t talk to anyone. I know you. I let you run over me like a lawnmower on crack whenever we work on anything together. Don’t mind really, cause you end up doing most of the work. What I do mind is that at the end of every single project, you always say the same thing. “Perfect.” Then you wipe your hands and move on. You have never said, “You did good Allison,” or “I couldn’t have done it without you Allison,” or even “thank you.” Allison leaned forward, her chin on her right palm. “Yep I bet that’s how you do things at the company too. I hit the nail on the head.” She raised both hands into the air and swayed side to side. “I am psychic.”

  “You’re psycho, is what you are.” Leah lowered her shoulders. “Is that true? I don’t show appreciation?”

  “Oh you do. In your own way, though. You buy me stuff. You pay for drinks or lunch, when we can get to do it, which is rare by the way.”

  It didn’t make her feel better to know she’d not expressed appreciation or encouragement. When she thought about it, she did say “perfect” at the end of a project, but she’d always been fully aware of her team’s great work. Had she ever expressed it?