by Rue Allyn
“Alicia, what am I going to do?”
Alicia hugged her tightly. “You’ll put on your best face, be nice to this new partner of your father’s, and who knows,” she smiled gently at her friend, “maybe you’ll like him. After all, he’s young, right? Maybe he’s your knight in shining armor.”
Kara grimaced at hearing that phrase again. She remembered how they had talked of their perfect man.
“Alicia, you are the one who wanted someone to take you away from the ranching life, wanted to live in a big city and attend parties and the theater and shop to your heart’s content.” Never mind she’d never been to any town larger than Albuquerque. “I always planned on staying here, on the ranch.”
Kara had always envisioned her true love like someone from her stories, a big man like her father, who would love the land, especially the Ladder J, the way she loved it. She wanted someone who could dominate this hard land, but still recognize the gifts the land had to offer. She had always thought this man would be a westerner like her. After all only those who had been born to this land could understand it and love it … . right?
“Those were silly dreams and you know it.” Kara stood and looked out the window. Turning back to her friend, she decided to change the subject. “By the way, where is your brother? I didn’t see him arrive with you and your parents.” She had always envied Alicia her older brother Austin. Sometimes she missed not having any family other than her father.
Twirling in front of the mirror, checking her skirts, Alicia waved her hand in dismissal. “Oh, he’s working the range today. He’ll be over tomorrow to say hello and accompany us home.”
“Alicia.” Kara grasped her friend’s hand, pulling her from her contemplations. “I’ve had enough brooding for today. Why don’t you come help me say hello to the other guests? I saw the Valdez family, the Hewitt’s from town, and the Padens have arrived.”
The two young women left the guesthouse and headed for the main house, animatedly discussing who else would be attending the party.
• • •
“I also heard Bob say — ” Kara stopped, realizing Alicia wasn’t beside her anymore. She turned to see Alicia stopped dead in her tracks with a stunned look on her face. Following her gaze, she saw what had dumbfounded her friend.
A very large man stood on the front steps. From his clothes, and knowing her father and his new partner were meeting, she assumed this must be Lord Stoneham’s friend.
“Oh Lord, Kara,” Alicia took her arm in a tight grasp. “Is he your father’s partner?”
“I don’t think so.” She extracted her arm from Alicia’s death grip and smoothed the crushed fabric of her sleeve. “Bob said Lord Stoneham would be in the study discussing business with Papa.” Anger flared again at the thought of being excluded from any discussion of the ranch. “I would assume that is Lord Peyton, his friend.”
“He’s gorgeous.”
Kara watched as her friend’s eyes roamed over the tall, broad figure in front of her. Impeccably dressed in a black coat, black pants, white shirt and cravat, with a plaid pinned to his shoulder, he looked back at them, nodding politely.
“I wonder if your Lord Stoneham is handsome like his friend.” Alicia smiled wickedly, goading Kara’s temper.
“He is not my Lord Stoneham, you ninny,” she snapped back, rising to the bait. Looking back towards the man, she admitted to herself he was a fine figure of a man, and worry gnawed even more at the coming meeting with Stoneham. She didn’t know how she would react if he were not the “overweight mincing clown” she had laughed about with Maria.
“Kara, introduce me. I’ve got to meet him. Look at him. I’ll never meet a man like that out here again.” Alicia pleaded with her friend. Her eyes danced with excitement. “I’ll bet he’s been just everywhere and seen everything. I just have to meet him now. Please!”
“I haven’t been introduced to him myself, if you’ll remember.” Kara slowed her pace and looked sternly at her friend. “We may be out here in the Wild West, but your mother would have kittens if we were to just sashay up there and introduce ourselves. I can just hear her now. ‘What were you two thinking? My lord, now they think we are nothing but the ignorant, backwards colonials they like to call us.’” The girls dissolved into giggles.
“I see Consuelo waving us over to the kitchen.” Kara steered the other girl away from the tall temptation.
“All right,” Alicia pouted. “But he’s mine, OK?”
“You are welcome to him,” Kara smiled tightly. “And see if you can get his friend out of here also.”
Chapter 6
Case was very satisfied with his decision to make this young man his partner. Now if I can get Kara to accept this decision, I will be content. He knew she had always fancied the ranch would be hers, but he knew it would be too much for her. He didn’t want to see her grow old before her time, bent and broken by the harshness of this land. He didn’t want to see what she loved become her jailer and eventually beat the life from her.
This way, the extra income and the addition of a partner would give her choices. If she married, she and her husband could either sell out their share, or continue the partnership, but the burden wouldn’t be solely on her shoulders. Of course, he pondered, watching his partner stride towards the patio, if Hawke and Kara hit it off, well then, maybe he wouldn’t have to worry about anything at all. He smiled. It wouldn’t hurt to try and make her more amenable to his new partner, would it? Chuckling at the thought of how angry his Little Bit would be if she knew the direction of his thoughts, he walked out the door. The sound of music and the smell of roasting meats greeted him as he headed for the patio.
Case approached Alec and Hawke, put his hands on their shoulders and turned them towards the people gathered on the patio. “Gentlemen, it’s time to introduce you around.” He walked to the center of the patio and stepped on a low rise surrounding the fountain. “Everyone,” his voice boomed across the expanse of the patio, “can I have your attention, please.”
The guitarists stopped playing and everyone quieted, turning towards their host and the two men flanking him.
“I have invited you here to meet my new partner from Britain. Ladies and gentlemen,” he indicated the man on his left, “this is Hawke Pryce, Lord Stoneham. Accompanying him is Alec MacCairn, Lord Peyton. I hope these gentlemen will consider the Ladder J as much their home as mine — well damn, on second thought, I guess now the Ladder J is as much Lord Stoneham’s home as mine.”
Laughing, he turned towards Hawke once again. “In all seriousness, I am very impressed with the ideas this young man has brought with him. I’m equally impressed with the stock he brought to cross with my cattle and I hope he will grow to love the west the way we do.”
“I could not have asked for a warmer welcome, and I shall endeavor to fulfill not only your expectations, but my own.” Hawke smiled at the people surrounding him. “I hope to be able to count the New Mexico Territory a second home.” He stepped down and joined Case for introductions to the guests.
“Weel laddie,” Hawke turned at the sound of the brogue. “If I’d known ye were a true Scots, then by God, I’d a worn me plaid also!” An old bandy-legged man approached them, a broad grin on his face and a gnarled hand extended in greeting. “I’m Bill McLiesh. I own the Bar Cross Ranch, bordering Case on the east. I come from Loch Rannoch,” he proclaimed proudly. “Left as a lad.” A winsome look crossed his time-worn features. “’Tis music to me ears to hear the soft speech of home.”
“Och, Mr. McLiesh, ’tis my pleasure,” Hawke laughed, grasping the wizened hand as Case looked on. “’Tis a pleasure to be meetin’ one of the fine sons of Scotland livin’ in the Americas.”
Case saw Kara and Alicia carrying more platters of food from the kitchen. They had not heard his speech, nor seen the guests-of-honor. Kara had her back to the guests, one hand on her hip; a fingertip tapped her lower lip in concentration.
“Gentlemen, I have been remiss in my d
uty. I most certainly must introduce you to these two young ladies over here.” He put an arm around Hawke and Alec and steered them towards the table. He knew this first meeting between Kara and Stoneham could well determine how they got on in the coming days.
• • •
“I spied these two lovely ladies while you were meeting with Case. The blonde has already captured my interest,” Alec mentioned softly to Hawke as Case stepped forward. “I don’t know who these two are, but their acquaintance could prove diverting. I wonder where the fascinating Miss Jonston is,” he chuckled softly. “I haven’t noticed any dust-covered women in chaps wandering the patio.”
Hawke glared at him. He too had been wondering about the mysterious Kara. He caught himself scanning the room for a large, strong woman.
He couldn’t keep from noticing the two women busy helping the guests with their plates.
The petite, pretty blonde reminded him of the debutantes in London. He couldn’t see the face of the other woman, but admired the slender line of her back, trim waist, gently flared hips, and her thick dark hair. He couldn’t tell if it was a deep brown, or black, but a stray thought of how it would look unpinned and spread out around her flitted through his mind.
Case walked up to the two women, putting his hands on their shoulders, catching their attention. Hawke heard the blonde’s soft gasp as she got her first look at Alec. The other woman had turned towards Case, bringing her profile into his view.
A beauty. He smiled. He hoped she didn’t live too far away. It might be worth it to get to know this woman better.
“Gentlemen.” Case looked at his guests. “I have the pleasure of introducing you to Miss Alicia Roberts.” He indicated the blonde on his right. Both men bowed slightly and Alicia executed a small curtsy and smiled shyly at Alec.
“And this,” he hugged the other woman to his side, turning her to face the two men, a wide grin on his face, “is my daughter, Kara. Ladies, may I present Lord Stoneham and Lord Peyton.”
Hawke could hear Alec sputtering behind him as they both got their first look at the woman they had been told worked as hard as any man. He couldn’t stop watching the play of emotions across one of the loveliest faces he’d ever seen. The shock he felt was reflected in her eyes. Her eyes trailed up his length and he wasn’t sure if he should feel flattered by it, or feel like a stud being inspected for flaws, until her eyes met his. He looked into the darkest blue eyes he had ever seen. He locked gazes with her and felt like he was falling into the depths of a Ceylonese sapphire.
“This is your daughter?” Alec choked out. He stepped forward.
“You are certainly a surprise, Miss Jonston,” he said as he took her hand and lifted it to his lips. “Most assuredly a surprise.”
• • •
Kara had dismissed Alicia’s gasp assuming it was caused by her seeing Lord Peyton up close. Then she had looked at Lord Stoneham.
Nothing could have prepared her for the man standing there. Not the foppish, citified dude she had tried to convince herself he would be. Not some soft dandy who’d never worked a day in his life. She had thought her father tall, then seeing MacCairn, thought him large, but this man … this man was huge. He must be close to six and a half feet tall. Her stunned brain tried to comprehend. No matter how far up she looked, she still didn’t seem to get to the top of his head. Her eyes traveled up past thickly muscled legs, trim waist, a wide expanse of chest, and massive shoulders until her gaze settled on his face.
His face. Suddenly she wished she hadn’t wondered where this man ended. She felt like the world had tilted on its axis. Light-headedness and an unaccustomed fluttering filled her insides.
My God.
Heat suffused her body; her heart raced madly out of control. No man should be so handsome. She took in the high, strong brow topped with light brown hair, square jaw leading to a strong chin with a small cleft. His slightly arched nose only added to the strength of his face. But what stopped her dead were his eyes. The color of storm clouds, just before the sun broke through; dark gray with a bright silver band around the outer edge. He smiled, and she saw full lips tipped up at the corners and two disarming dimples. She couldn’t breathe, like she’d been kicked in the stomach by a horse. Dragging her eyes from his mouth, she mentally berated herself and fought to gain control of her wayward thoughts.
This is the man who is taking half of my home. How can I possibly be so shallow and silly, letting good looks, all right, amazing looks, let me forget something so important?
Confused by Lord Peyton’s comment and bemused by his kissing her hand, she was about to ask for a clarification when she heard muffled laughter from her father. Looking over her shoulder, she saw his eyes brimming with tears of laughter, his shoulders shaking. She turned back to ask Mr. MacCairn to explain himself, but he was already exerting all his charm and attention on Alicia, who he escorted away from the table.
“Don’t let Alec’s loutish behavior make you think badly of us, Miss Jonston.”
Her head snapped around at the sound of Stoneham’s voice. The deep timber and soft burr sent a shiver dancing down her spine. It was like dark smoke, she mused, enveloping her senses, caressing her skin. Breaking from her wayward thoughts, she realized she hadn’t heard a word he had said. Hawke waited politely for her to answer his question.
Her father gazed at her fondly.
“She is one of my best hands. She can throw a rope, handle calves, brand — and she has trained a horse or two.”
She smiled warmly at her father, his pride and love for her wrapping around her like a soft blanket.
• • •
Hawke watched the exchange between Case and his daughter, the love and care they had for each other so evident and unaffected. He watched as Miss Jonston’s long black lashes, framing incredible eyes, swept down, softly touching finely chiseled cheeks. Lush lips and a stubborn chin promised a strong nature under her delicate appearance and beauty. Her skin, almost golden in tone, made him want to reach out and feel the soft warmth promised. His fingers ached to stroke her skin to see the flush of desire on her cheeks. Looking at the delicate girl in front of him, and trying to visualize what Case said of her work on the ranch, he shook his head.
“I can’t believe such a slip of a girl is capable of all you say.” Glancing back at Case, he tried not to show how much that slip of a girl was affecting him.
Kara looked at her father, then back at Hawke. “Excuse me! Did I just hear what I thought I heard? Did you just refer to me as a ‘slip of a girl,’ and dare to imply I was incapable of contributing to the running of this ranch?” She tipped her head back, glaring at him. “You have a lot of nerve, Mr. Pryce. You’ve been here all of what? Half a day, haven’t even seen the operation, haven’t spoken to me about what I do or do not do on this ranch, but,” her volume increased, causing many of the guests to turn to watch, “apparently, you have only spoken about me with others, and you have the gall to assume you know what I’m capable of … . Of all the idiotic, arrogant — How dare you?”
And with that, she spun away, storming from the room dragging her friend with her.
• • •
Slamming her bedroom door, she threw herself on the bed. She needed to vent her anger and calm down before she went back out there with a rifle and showed that overbearing aristocrat just exactly what she was capable of.
“Can you believe what he said? I’ve never been so insulted in all my life.” Looking up, she saw Alicia on the balcony looking wistfully down at the guests, trying to spot Lord Peyton. “Would you please get back in here and help me? What am I going to do about that insufferable man? Alicia!” Exasperation and a wounded ego warred with one another. “I need you to listen to me, not get all calf-eyed over his friend MacCairn.”
Alicia returned reluctantly into the room and sat on the bed, taking Kara’s hand in hers, a dreamy look in her eyes.
“Isn’t Mr. MacCairn divine? I could have talked to him all night. Oh, Kara, isn�
��t it so exciting!” she exclaimed. “Both of them are so handsome, and my God, have you ever seen such large men. It makes me all weak in the knees just looking at those shoulders … . ”
Kara sat silently, fuming.
“Come on, Kara, it can’t be that bad … . It’s complimentary you know,” Alicia said. “He probably thought what every other man who doesn’t know you thinks … you’re some Amazon with the face of a mule and a personality to match. I don’t see why you are so upset. Until he said anything, I got the feeling you were maybe a little attracted to Lord Stoneham. Am I right?”
Standing up and pacing the room, Kara thought about it. “I don’t know, I guess I was just reacting to seeing him for the first time.” Looking at Alicia, she tried to deny the attraction. “I expected some soft ‘dude,’ not a walking mountain. I was just thrown off balance for a moment … . I’m not attracted to him. And even if I had been, after his last remark, I guarantee the only thing I want to see of Lord Stoneham is his back riding away from the ranch.”
• • •
Case looked up at the balcony of Kara’s bedroom, then back at Hawke.
“I should have warned you.” He turned towards Hawke. “Kara has a hair-trigger temper, and has never taken kindly to anyone questioning her ability. She always felt she had to prove herself over and over. Needless to say, our partnership has put a bit of a burr under her saddle.”
“So it seems. It appears I may have started out on the wrong foot with your daughter, Case, but I will endeavor to change her opinion of me.”
“Well, Hawke.” Alec interrupted the two men. “It appears you’ve made quite an impression with your Miss Jonston. You have made her so angry she felt it necessary to drag Miss Roberts from a very pleasant conversation with me.” Turning to Case, he added with a crooked grin. “Fascinating. I don’t think that word begins to describe your daughter, sir.”
