by Talty, Jen
“Stop,” she said behind a clenched jaw. Her cheeks burned. “There is nothing brewing between me and JD.”
“You know that’s bullshit.” He kissed her cheek. “But he’s only fifty paces away so I’ll drop it. For now.”
“Gee, thanks.” Her brother could drop it all he wanted, but that wouldn’t make it false, at least on her part. She was more than attracted to JD, but she didn’t want to say that out loud. It would make it too real and potentially send her on a path she wasn’t prepared to meander down. She opened her mouth to say more, but JD was too close. Besides, the more she denied that she had feelings for JD, the more her brother would believe she did.
And he would be right.
* * *
JD filled his thermos with steaming coffee, which he suspected would be as bad as he remembered, but he needed the caffeine since he hadn’t slept but maybe three hours all night.
And not consecutively.
He leaned against the side wall so he could look out the door into the smaller barn.
“There are some things that have come to my attention about Annette and the way she ran her farm in Florida.” Ron sat behind his desk and flipped open his laptop.
There was so much about what went down with her late husband, Luke, and the Brothers family that no one on this ranch knew about, nor did they need the dirty details. If it hadn’t been made public by the trial, then it remained private. Something the Whiskey family valued as much as they did loyalty.
JD leaned forward and scanned the document on the screen. “Her late husband was on the payroll with Robert who was doing his best to ruin this family as well as Luke.”
“She was questioned regarding inappropriate bucking straps when she competed.” Ron pointed to more damning evidence on his computer.
Everything JD had seen, and he too had been concerned. Not because he believed any of it, but because of how everyone would perceive her on the ranch. However, very few had a problem with Luke. They understood part of the situation, and everyone knew Robert and Bella were the bad guys in this situation.
So why the hell was Ron pushing so hard to make Annette look bad?
“All of that was her late husband,” JD said behind a tight jaw. “She’s been totally vetted.”
Ron leaned back in his chair. “I mean no disrespect, but you’re all blinded by Georgia Moon’s love for Luke, who, by the way, doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to his loyalty to your family or this ranch. I would not trust their motives. Robert has filed for an appeal, and he’s telling anyone who will listen that this has been a witch hunt and that he did nothing wrong. That the incident with his daughter and JW was an unfortunate mistake made by a brokenhearted Bella.”
JD choked on his breath. “That’s an interesting way of spinning a lie.” But there was no way what Bella did was a mistake by any means. Nope. That was a cold, calculated maneuver, and it was proven beyond a reasonable doubt, along with everything else. Robert was going to be in prison for a very long time. His ranch was in ruins, and Bella was facing bankruptcy as well as potential jail time.
She also wasn’t JD’s or anyone in his family’s problem anymore.
Unless she and her father were still trying to cause problems, which JD wouldn’t put past them.
“I’m just saying that Luke, pardon the pun, went to bed with the enemy,” Ron said.
“And he did so to help his sister and her son get away from an abusive husband.” That information was public knowledge. The rest of her story was something he’d have to take to his grave, no matter the circumstances. “Luke and Annette are good people. They both made some mistakes, but haven’t we all?”
Ron slapped his hands on the desktop as he bolted to a standing position. “The kind of mistakes Luke has made most would not forgive, and I’m sorry, but not only did Annette do some questionable things in her past, but thus far, she hasn’t impressed me. I’m still pissed you let her talk you into removing the horses.”
“I didn’t let her do anything. That was my call.” JD was tired of being nice. “If you didn’t notice how off the mustangs—”
“I noticed, but this is my department, and I don’t appreciate some greenhorn coming in here and telling me how to do my job.”
JD finished off his horrendous coffee, letting the scalding liquid burn the back of his throat, making sure he didn’t taste what could only be described as a combination of dirt and crap. “I’m no greenhorn, and I’m the one calling the shots in this department. Hell, on this ranch, my word is gospel. I thought, out of respect for how long you’ve been with us, I’d let what happened yesterday slide, but the way you started right in on her today and now this?” JD rubbed his right temple. He’d gotten the thumbs-up from all his siblings to do what had to be done, if, and only if, it became the best solution.
Right now, it seemed like the only solution.
“Annette isn’t the enemy, but you’re treating her as if she is,” JD said.
“Maybe if she stopped going rogue and did things my way.”
“The same could be said of you.” JD stood in the center of the doorway into the barn with his hands on his hips. It was clear that Ron wasn’t going to quit going down this rabbit hole. “I didn’t want to have to do this, but you’ve left me no other choice.”
“Are you seriously going to let me go? Just like that?” He waved his hand over his head and snapped his fingers. “For her? For Luke?”
“This isn’t about them, but about you and the mistakes you’ve been making, and this isn’t the first one and you know it.”
“This is bullshit.” Ron stomped around the desk. “I might be getting old and perhaps my days training feisty horses are over, but I’m still the best damn horse manager this ranch has ever seen. Firing me is going to be the biggest mistake you’ve ever made.”
“I’m not firing you,” JD said, letting out a long breath. “You, of all people, know better than anyone we don’t just fire people on the spot short of murder. However, I am going to ask that you take a few weeks off. Paid of course.”
“Of course.” Ron shook his head, laughing. “And then I’ll get a phone call in about a week where I’ll come in and you’ll offer me a decent retirement package.” He snagged his hat off the rack just on the other side of the door. “Let me ask you this. Does that offer stand if I give you my resignation?”
“Yes. It does.”
“I’d like to see that exit package in the morning. You know how to reach me.” With that, Ron made his way out of the barn like a bat out of hell.
“Well, that went well,” JD muttered, taking a few moments to collect himself. He also needed to send a group text to everyone, including JW. It was one of those things that regardless of JW being on his honeymoon, he’d want to know.
JD: The shit hit the fan, and I asked Ron to take some time off. He asked for an exit package. I’m putting Annette in the position temporarily. If she does what I think she will, the job is hers. Still no word on the horses. Will let you all know when I know.
Georgia Moon: Why am I not surprised?
JW: I’m sure you did the right thing. Kitty said it’s high time we have more women running things anyway.
JD laughed. Of course Kitty would say that. JW certainly picked himself a winner of a wife.
JB: Suggestion. Make him take a week before actually sending him the package. I think we need to do some more investigating, and I, for one, would like to talk to him when I get back.
JD: Agreed. I will take my time sending him the information. But I am going to keep him off the ranch.
JD stuffed his cell into his back pocket and made his way out of the small barn and down the path toward where Annette sat at the picnic table. Her brother waved before climbing into a golf cart and taking off down the access road.
No time like the present to tell Annette about her promotion.
5
Annette settled behind the desk in the small barn next to the corral where the
wild mustangs ran free. She had to admit that since Ron had left the ranch, things for her ran more smoothly. All the employees who worked in the horse-riding school or in the training department welcomed her with open arms. While no one said a single bad thing about Ron, or what happened, there seemed to be a big collective sigh of relief that he was gone.
JD had noticed it too.
And Georgia Moon mentioned it the other night at dinner.
Now, all they needed was a report on what happened with Patch and Coco three days ago, and then JD and his siblings would be able to make an educated decision regarding Ron and Larry and their future employment, or lack thereof.
Annette hated the fact she really hoped—no prayed—that Ron and his sidekick wouldn’t be returning. It didn’t have to do with her wanting to be head honcho.
But the work environment without them was so much calmer all around.
“I’m glad you’re making yourself comfortable.”
Annette gasped, knocking over her cup of coffee. It hit the floor, sending the hot dark liquid spewing at her feet.
“Didn’t mean to startle you,” JD said as he knelt, picking up the unbroken mug and dabbing a towel around her feet.
“I wasn’t expecting you back so…” She glanced at her Apple Watch. “…oh, I didn’t realize it was so late.”
He raised the cup and pointed to the coffee maker on the other side of the office.
“No, thanks,” she said.
“Just as I was leaving the office, Heather called and asked me to stop by my place.”
Annette bolted from the chair, sending it flying to the back wall. “What did she say? Did she find something?”
JD flicked off the office light and laced his fingers through hers, giving her a little tug through the main doors. “Let’s walk and talk.”
“As long as you start talking mighty quick.”
He chuckled. “And here I thought patience was your strong suit.”
“Only when it comes to my son, and he’s starting to really push me to my limits.” She glanced between their entangled hands and the shades covering his deep-blue eyes. Her heart fluttered, sending butterflies through her system. She should pull away. Touching him in such an intimate way for any length of time would only bring her another sleepless night. “He’s learned the word no, and he likes to use it a lot. This morning he threw a major temper tantrum when I dropped him off at daycare. He told me five times that no, he would not go inside.” She let out a puff of air. “I’ve derailed the conversation.”
“Yes, you did,” JD said as he led her up the hill. “But I forgive you.”
“Awe, gee, thanks,” she said. “Now get talking.”
The wild mustangs ran along the east side of the fence. The warm summer sun still hung high over the mountain range. Not a single cloud filled the deep-blue sky that went on forever as if it were the ocean.
“Unfortunately, you were right. Heather found a remote shocking device embedded just under the skin.” JD stopped at the fence, lifting both their arms and resting their hands on the wood.
“I hate being right in this case,” she said, letting out a long breath. “But that brings up a million other questions.”
“It sure does, specifically, why and who.”
“Could she tell if the device had been put there recently or if it was old?”
“It was a recent wound,” JD admitted.
“It’s got to be Ron. Who else would do it and then behave the way he has with regard to the horses?”
“I believe Ron knew about it.” JD released her hand and turned to face her. “I trained Patch, and then we sold him and a few others to Robert and his daughter. Why Robert would turn Patch or any horse back out into the wild is beyond me.”
“And if Ron knew about it, why would he keep Patch and Coco with the wilds? That’s just asking for trouble, and Ron knows better.”
“A lot of questions that we can stand here and ask each other, but what we really need to do is bring Ron in and ask him. Only, if he’s guilty of anything, he’s not going to be honest with us.” JD reached out and brushed her hair over her shoulders and ran his hands up and down her arms. “When he left, he demanded the exit package. He’s emailed me every day since then, at least three times a day, and called, stating he’ll bring in lawyers by Friday if we don’t settle.”
“Tomorrow is Friday,” she said.
He nodded. “I’ve put him off telling him with JB and JW both out of town that Georgia Moon and I were doing double duty. I assured him we’d continue to pay him his full salary and benefits and that JW wanted the opportunity to talk with him when he returned.”
“What did Ron say to that?”
“I think he told me to F off and a few other superlatives and once again threatened a lawsuit.”
“On what grounds? Because I read his HR report, and he was on thin ice. You actually had grounds to fire him.”
JD arched a brow. “Where did you get his records?”
“I asked for them,” she admitted. “Along with a bunch of other files, but I haven’t had a chance to go through them all.”
“Why don’t I have those sent to your house, and you can look at them at your leisure.”
“I can just drive them over,” she said.
He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Nope. You won’t be doing that because I have a surprise for you.”
She swallowed. Hard. Her ankles shook, and her thighs turned to Jell-O. Between his soft lips and wondering what the hell kind of surprise he might have managed to come up with, her nerves were about shot. “I have to get to the daycare center by five since I dropped Tony off really early this morning.”
“We’ll go straight there, no problem.”
“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?” she whispered.
“If that were true, I’d know why I want to kiss you so badly.”
She blinked. Her lips parted, but she couldn’t form any words. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I’m not opposed to a kiss.”
He cupped her neck, drawing her closer. “How about I stop talking about kissing you and just do it.”
“Sounds like a solid plan.” Oh, but she should stop him, not encourage him.
The horses neighed in the background as if they approved of the lip-lock. Bird sounds echoed overhead. A warm breeze tickled her skin. She was aware of all that went on around her, but all that mattered was the man who held her in his strong arms.
He tasted like peppermint and smelled like a fresh pine tree. He held her tight against his hard chest as he deepened the kiss.
Clutching at his solid forearms, she fought the urge to jump up and wrap her legs around his waist and beg for him to find a shady tree where no one would find them. It had been way too long since she’d been in the arms of a man.
Even longer since she’d been with a good man.
Abruptly, he broke off the kiss.
She blinked her eyes open and struggled to catch her breath.
“Do you have anything else you need to get out of the barn?” he asked.
“No,” she managed.
He looped his arm around her waist. “Your surprise is out behind the small barn.”
“When I was little, I hated surprises.”
“Why?” JD asked.
“Because my father’s surprises were never good and always led to horrible things happening. So, I’m always a little nervous about these things.”
“That’s understandable, but I can promise you that you’ll really like this one,” JD said with a wink.
Deciding she needed to get the intense kiss out of her mind, she brought the conversation back to the problems at hand. “Was Ron or Larry vocal about my brother and his affair with Bella?”
“A lot of people had an opinion about it, but most knew better than to bring it up around any of us, but especially JW. In the long run, Luke did us all a favor.”
She paused midstep. Everything Luke had done had been to sav
e her and her son. He’d sacrificed his childhood for her and nearly lost the love of his life to ensure once again that Annette had a chance at a decent life.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”
“No. You did. And it’s okay,” she said. “But you have to know I didn’t want him to do it, not even for Tony, and I’d lay down my life for that little boy.”
“And so would Luke.” JD rested his hand on her lower back and nudged. “Robert and Bella played us all, and for all we know, they’re still playing us.”
“You think Robert and Bella might still be trying to hurt your business and family?”
“Absolutely, although they don’t have a lot of money or power, but they do have ways to manipulate people, and if they have anything on Ron, they will exploit it.”
They walked around the back corner of the barn, and she stopped dead in her tracks and gasped. “Oh, my God,” she whispered, covering her mouth. “He let you saddle him?” Tentatively, she reached out and scratched at Coco’s nose. He responded by lowering his head and leaning closer.
A few paces away, Patch snorted as if to say hello.
“Turns out that not only did this poor fella have a shock device in his neck, but he had an infected tooth, so every time he ate one of those apple slices, it caused him a great deal of pain.”
“I wish we could find their tags and figure out exactly when the Whiskey Ranch trained them and where they went after that.”
“The good news is we have pictures of all the horses, since we don’t have the tags. I’ve got them all on my laptop. We can go through them and the files from Ron’s office after we pick up Tony.”
She dropped her forehead to Coco’s and closed her eyes. “I don’t mean to be rude, but my days are long, and Tony goes to bed around eight. I want to spend the few hours I have with him before he—”
“I understand, which is why I thought I’d grill some nice steaks for us after he goes to bed. We can have a glass of wine and go through these files and see if we can come up with anything that makes sense after he’s asleep. I also want you in on all the conversations regarding Ron, Larry, and anything to do with this department moving forward.”
