“I love Max Carter very much. I’m going to fight for him. I am. Did you love Sabrina Jensen, Jack? Did you find love, just as I have, before you died? I hope so. Oh, my darling brother, I hope you did.”
Jack be nimble. Jack be quick.
“Carter,” Josie said, leaving the bed, “the war is on. Gear up for battle, cowboy, because I’m coming after you. The only thing that can defeat me will be if you don’t love me the way I love you.”
She showered and washed her hair, then forced herself to eat a nutritious breakfast. She entered her library, settled onto the soft leather chair behind the desk, then picked up the telephone receiver.
After speaking with the information operator, she punched in the numbers she’d been given. The other end of the line was picked up on the third ring.
“Hello?”
“Sally? This is Josie Wentworth.”
“Oh, Josie, how marvelous to hear your voice,” Sally said. “I’ve been pestering Jeff to death with questions about how you’re doing. I miss having you in our part of the country.”
“I miss you, too, Sally, and—” Josie lifted her chin “—I miss that stubborn Max Carter more than I can even begin to tell you.”
“Wonderful. Super. Jeff was over at the Single C yesterday and he said that Max isn’t fit to live with. He’s grumpy, short-tempered, barking orders at everyone like a drill sergeant.
“If your grandfather wasn’t paying those extra hands so well to work there, they’d be long gone. Max’s own guys are threatening to quit, and Rusty is just hiding out in the barn.”
“Interesting,” Josie murmured. “Very interesting.”
“Max would probably bite his own tongue off before he’d say it,” Sally went on, ”but I truly believe that the way he’s acting is because he misses you terribly, Josie. He may even be...well...”
“In love with me?”
“All the signs are there, that’s for sure, but Max isn’t your run-of-the-mill man.”
“I know,” Josie said, smiling. “Oh, yes, that fact is a magnificent given.” She paused. “Sally, I love Max Carter with every fiber of my body.”
“You do?” Sally said, with an excited squeak. “You really do?”
“I really do,” Josie said decisively.
“Oh, I’m going to cry. This is so romantic, so—”
“Sally,” Josie interrupted, “it isn’t going to be one bit romantic if Max isn’t in love with me.”
“Yes, well, you’ve got a point there.”
“So, Max’s true feelings for me have to be determined. Then there’s the problem of Max’s pride. You know, my being a Wentworth, my money, my social status.”
“This is getting depressing,” Sally said. “Your being a Wentworth is no small matter.”
“I realize that. Sally, I need your help—yours and Jeff’s.”
“You’ve got it. Do you have a plan?”
“Oh, yes.” Josie laughed. “I most definitely have a plan.”
“What is it? Tell me. Tell me.”
“It would be better to speak with you and Jeff at the same time. I’ll telephone you this evening and you two can be on separate extensions. All right?”
“I’ll go nuts waiting that long. Jeff said he’d be home for lunch today. Couldn’t the three of us talk then?”
“No, I won’t be here. I have to go to the public library.”
“The public library? What on earth for?”
“I’ve got a great deal of studying to do on the subject of ranch management.”
“What?”
“I’ll talk to you tonight.”
“Okay. We’ll be eager for the phone to ring. Bye for now.”
“Goodbye, Sally, and thank you so much.”
Josie replaced the receiver, planted her hands on the desk and pushed herself to her feet. Before leaving her library she recited in her mind once more the words from her source of courage.
Jack be nimble. Jack be quick.
Chapter Fifteen
Early the next afternoon, Max sat on the top frontporch step of his house, scowling at nothing in particular.
During one of the telephone conversations he’d had with Rusty while he’d been staying at Josie’s, Max had instructed the older man to have one of the hands repair the sagging front steps. Also, Max had instructed his friend to grab some white paint from the sheds and have one of the hands slap some on the entire porch. He turned his head to study the results of his directives.
Not bad, he thought. It was amazing what a little paint could do to improve the appearance of something. It wouldn’t hurt to roll some paint on the walls inside the house, too.
Max’s gaze shifted to the perfectly manicured little patch of grass in his front yard. His glowering expression returned full force.
It was getting pretty bad, he thought, when a plot of green grass caused a knot to tighten in his gut and visions of Josie to slam front-row center in his mind’s eye.
She’d put in so many hours shaping up that yard, Max thought. She’d trimmed her fancy nails, then sunk those lovely hands into the dirt, obviously enjoying every minute of her self-assigned project.
He could remember how amazed he’d been that a Wentworth would willingly get covered in mud while crawling on hands and knees to pull weeds. Even though Josie hadn’t known who she really was at the time, he’d expected her lifetime of being pampered to be ingrained.
But now that he knew Josie so well, loved Josie so much, her determination to spruce up that crummy yard didn’t surprise him in the least. There were a multitude of fascinating, wonderful facets to Josie.
She was like a precious gift wrapped in endless layers of gorgeous paper, waiting to be carefully, reverently brushed aside, one by one.
Cripes, Carter, listen to yourself. Talk about corny. Where was all this stuff coming from? He didn’t sit around thinking like this.
You just did, a voice in his head taunted.
He did a lot of things differently since Josie Wentworth had entered his life and captured his heart.
He smiled more, and felt the freeing joy of laughing right out loud whenever the mood struck.
Josie had taught him that.
He’d adapted a better balance to his workday, leaving time and energy for relaxing, pleasant evenings.
Josie had taught him that.
He’d come to understand the difference between personal privacy and sharing.
Josie had taught him that.
If they’d had more time together, he probably would have kicked aside the few remaining bricks in the wall he’d built around himself. He’d have told her about his youth, his respect for his hardworking father, the pain his mother’s desertion had caused both father and son, his own fears about loving someone because of what had happened to him as a boy.
But he and Josie had run out of time.
Everything they’d had together was over.
And he’d never be the same again.
“Ah, hell,” Max said, yanking his Stetson low on his forehead. “Quit thinking, Carter.” He looked in the direction of the road leading to the house. “Come on, Wilson. You said it was important that you see me, so get your butt over here.”
As though having heard Max’s grumpy command, a cloud of dust appeared in the distance, then Jeff’s car came into view.
“It’s about time,” Max muttered.
He grabbed his cane, maneuvered himself upward, then started slowly forward on the narrow, cracked, weed-free sidewalk. He squinted his eyes as the car drew closer, the angle of the sun causing a bright glare, making it impossible to see inside the vehicle.
Jeff stopped the car, got out and closed the door.
“Howdy, buddy,” Jeff said, smiling. “How are you?”
“Bored,” Max said, not returning Jeff’s smile. “You’ve arrived twenty minutes later than you said you would. I’ve got work to do, so what’s on your mind?”
“You’ll never win the congeniality contest, Carte
r,” Jeff said cheerfully. “Your mood these days is worse than a bear with a thorn in its paw.”
“How folksy. Cut to the chase, Wilson. What’s so all-fired important that you had to pull me off the range to discuss it with you?”
“Okay, okay,” Jeff said, raising both hands. “There’s a problem. Big time. And I need your help.”
“What kind of a problem?”
“Josie.”
Max stiffened, every muscle in his body tensing, causing a hot pain to shoot through his injured leg.
“Josie?” he said. “What’s wrong with her? Has something happened to her? Damn it, Jeff, tell me.”
“Stay calm,” Jeff said. “I’ll explain everything in a minute.”
Jeff moved around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. A moment later Max’s eyes widened and his heart began to thunder.
Josie was here? he thought incredulously. Yes, there she was, only twenty feet away. She was coming toward him, wearing a pretty rose-colored dress and a white gauze bandage on one side of her forehead.
A bandage? On her head? Josie was hurt?
Max started to move, only to have the tip of the cane catch in a crack in the sidewalk and halt his step.
Josie stopped in front of him, a pleasant little smile on her face. Jeff stood directly behind her.
“Hello,” Josie said, extending her hand toward Max. “I’m Josie Wentworth. And you are?”
Max stared at Josie’s hand, her face, her hand, then looked at her again.
“Huh?” he said.
“Dam it,” Jeff said, snapping his fingers. “We were hoping that seeing you would solve this immediately.” He sighed, very deeply and very dramatically. “Well, so be it. It’s just going to be more complicated than that.”
“What in the hell is going on here?” Max roared.
“My goodness, sir,” Josie said. “It’s isn’t necessary to yell.” She touched one fingertip gingerly to the bandage. “Your hollering is making my headache worse, thank you very much.” She paused. “Who did you say you were? Oh, that’s right, you didn’t say. So, who are you?”
“That cooks it,” Max said. “Wilson, in the house. Now. I’ve got questions and I want answers.”
Max turned and, as much as his injured leg would allow, stomped up the sidewalk, across the porch and into the house, leaving the door open behind him.
“So far, so good,” Josie said as she and Jeff started after Max. “I’ll be in the house, which is exactly where I need to be.”
“Max is a tad hot under the collar,” Jeff said, shaking his head.
True, Josie thought. But her Max was also magnificently, ruggedly handsome. It had taken all the willpower she possessed to keep from Singing herself into his arms, peppering his wonderful face with kisses, then shouting at the top of her lungs that she loved him.
“All set?” Jeff whispered as they approached the open doorway.
“Yes,” Josie whispered back.
“You’re doing great so far. You almost had me convinced you don’t know who Max is.”
“I’ve got to pull this off, Jeff. I need time alone with Max. I’ve got to make him listen. Our happiness—our entire future together—is at stake.” She paused. “I hope Sally’s call comes at the right time.”
“She’s standing by to do her part. I think we’re right on schedule.”
“Wilson!” Max bellowed from inside the house.
“Man, oh, man,” Jeff said. “I feel as though I’m throwing you into the lion’s den, then hightailing it to safety. Are you sure you should—”
“Positive,” Josie said. “Onward and upward, partner-in-crime.”
They entered the house and saw Max sprawled in a chair in the living room, his arms crossed firmly on his chest. His Stetson was teetering on the edge of the coffee table, where he’d obviously tossed it.
“Sit,” Max said. “Speak.”
“Josie—” Jeff turned to her as she settled onto the sofa “—this is Max Carter. He owns this ranch.”
“The Single C.” She folded her hands primly in her lap. “Yes, I saw the name in the metal scrollwork when we turned onto the road leading to the house. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Carter. Max. May I call you Max?”
“Wilson...” Max said, his jaw tight and a warning in his voice.
“Right.” Jeff cleared his throat as he remained standing halfway between the sofa and chair. “Here’s the scoop, Max. Josie took a spill in her apartment. Her grandfather was taking her out to dinner and Josie was wearing high-heeled shoes. One of them caught in the carpeting and she tumbled forward, striking her forehead on the edge of an end table.”
“I always said that carpeting was ridiculous.” Max’s voice was gruff. “Thick, white carpeting in a home? Cripes.”
“It’s not entirely white anymore,” Josie said. “My poor little head bled all over it.”
“You were bleeding?” Max straightened in his chair. “How much blood did you lose? How badly are you hurt?”
“I have the floor, Max,” Jeff said. “Just shut up and listen.”
Max slouched back in the chair and glared at Jeff.
“Anyway,” Jeff continued, “the cut on Josie’s head isn’t all that bad. It only took a few stitches to close it, and she shouldn’t have much of a scar. The thing is, she lost part of her memory again.”
“Which is so annoying,” Josie said with a sigh.
“I’ve consulted extensively with the experts that Joseph Wentworth brought in,” Jeff went on. “Josie’s condition isn’t common, but it’s not unheard of, either. This bump, following so closely behind her concussion, has reactivated her amnesia—to a lesser degree than before, though. She’s just missing some slices of time.
“The experts agreed it might be beneficial to bring Josie here, because her stay at the Single C is one of the missing slices.”
“You don’t remember even being here, Josie?” Max said incredulously. “With me?”
“Nope,” Josie said pleasantly. “I don’t even remember you. I’ve been told you were a guest in my home after I was a guest here in yours. But—” she shrugged “—poof. All memories of those visits are gone.”
Josie didn’t remember that they’d made love? Max thought. He didn’t like this, not one damn bit. He’d been erased from her life, like a smudge on a piece of paper.
No way. He wasn’t taking this sitting down. He couldn’t have a future with her, but by damn, Josie was going to remember what they’d shared in the past.
“So you brought Josie here to jog her memory?” Max said to Jeff. “But it didn’t work.”
“No, it sure didn’t,” Jeff said, frowning. “So, on to plan B. Josie is—”
A beeping noise cut through the air.
“My pager,” Jeff said much too loudly. “I must use the telephone, Max. I’ll go into the kitchen to do that. Goodbye.”
As an actor, Josie thought, Jeff Wilson was a dismal flop. Oh, well.
“So, tell me, Max,” Josie said when Jeff disappeared from view. “Were we spending time in each other’s homes to discuss a business venture? I wasn’t told anything other than that I came here to see you, injured my head and stayed on. You later came to my home. Were we working out the details of our business partnership?”
“Business partnership?” Max said. “What kind of business would we be in together?”
“I’m launching my own little company. I’m in ranch management. You know, putting all a rancher’s records on computer, including the status of the cattle, the whole nine yards. Were you to be my first client?”
Max leaned slightly forward. “You’re really going to take that on as a career?”
“Oh, my, yes. I’ve been studying my heart out. I love it. It’s very challenging. I know how many acres are needed for each head of cattle to be properly nourished, when various breeds are best taken to market, how to—”
“Cut,” Max said, slicing one hand through the air. “Jus
t how did you propose to manage my ranch without living here on the spread?”
Josie frowned and pressed one fingertip to her chin. “I can’t remember.” She brightened. “Do you know how we planned to accomplish that?”
By getting married! Max’s mind thundered. By pledging our love with sacred vows, by becoming husband and wife. Ah, Carter, can it. He was daydreaming again.
“No,” he said quietly. “I have no idea how that could come about.”
We’d get married! Josie thought frantically. We’d live and love and laugh right here on this ranch and raise our miracle, our child.
“Oh,” she said.
“Josie, I didn’t even know you were starting a business of ranch management I think it’s great, I really do, but that’s not why we were together.”
Jeff came whizzing back into the room.
“I have to hustle,” he said. “I have a mother-to-be in labor with twins.”
“Who?” Max said.
“Who?” Jeff echoed. “Oh, um, Mary-Amber Henderson. Josie, I’ll leave your suitcase on the porch.”
“What suitcase?” Max said.
“The experts said that if coming here didn’t set things to rights straight off, Josie should stay on for a spell,” Jeff declared. “I’ve got to run. Twins have a tendency to be in a hurry to be born. I’ll check in with you later. Bye.”
“Ta-ta,” Josie said, waggling the fingers of one hand in the air. She paused, waiting for the sound of the front door closing. “I want to thank you for your cooperation in letting me stay here, Max. I’ll try not to be a nuisance.”
Mmm,” Max said.
“Jeff mentioned that you aren’t married, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a special woman in your life. I hope my being here won’t cause any difficulties between you and that someone special.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Max’s frown deepened. “There was someone special, but it...it didn’t work out.”
Josie’s heart did a funny little two-step, and she had to struggle to keep the pleasant expression on her face.
“Oh?” she said. “I’m sorry. Would you like to talk about it? Sometimes it helps to share with someone, to get it out in the open where you can deal with it better.
The Rancher And The Amnesiac Bride Page 17
