“Hey, Dad. The mustangs look like they are ready for a fight.” The horses were running around in the corral, jumping and bucking. Their behavior wasn’t good news. Her father roped one and pulled it out into the second corral. He looked over at Jack. “Okay, Jack, this one’s for you.” Jack finished saddling a trainer horse and rode into the corral with the mustang.
Her father roped one of the other colts and pushed it into the other corral. She saw Jack looking at her as her father said, “Here you go, Missy. See what you can do with her.” Maggie walked her trainer horse into the corral and just walked slowly around, talking softly to the horse as she ran her around and around, trying to get some of the energy out of her first. She looked over at Jack, and he was doing the same thing. Her father waved as he walked back into the stable. So, it was up to her and Jack to break the horses. Maggie raised her eyebrows and sighed and went to work.
They both worked all day with their respective mustangs. By lunchtime, Maggie was exhausted. Jack came over and sat down next to her at the picnic table. “You know, at my ranch, I have cowhands I hire to do this kind of work. I will work with my stallions, and I do gentle train them, but ranch hands would work this crowd.” Jack sighed.
“What do you suppose my Dad is trying to prove by all this? If I know him, he has his security cameras watching us right now.” She looked over at the camera closest to them, hidden in the live oak tree. “You seem to be making headway. Why don’t I help and bring my trainer horse in with your mustang? Between both of us, we might be faster.”
“No, why don’t I come in and help you first, and then we can both go tackle that loco mustang your father gave me.” Jack laughed.
“Okay, let’s do this. I want to be finished breaking these horses before dinner so that I can go to the spa and sit in the jacuzzi first.” Maggie raised her eyebrows at Jack, knowing he would bite at that suggestion.
“That sounds perfect. Let’s get going.” It definitely seemed to put a little jump in his step. Maggie laughed as they both went into her designated corral. It took one more hour to finish with her colt. They had her walking on a lead with a saddle and bridle comfortably on her. Jack put a trainer horse on each side of her while Maggie got into the saddle. The horse jumped a little but stayed in the middle of the two trainers and walked around the corral three times without incident.
Maggie loved working with these amazing animals. She looked over at Jack. He too seemed pleased with their accomplishment. Jack walked over to her and helped her down. “One down, one more to go. That jacuzzi is sounding good.”
They took the colt into the stable and put her in a stall with grain and hay. “Good girl, you did great.” Jack brushed her down, talking softly to her. Maggie stood next to him, petting the horse. She looked up to see such a look of love on Jack’s face as he looked down at her; it took her breath away, and she blushed furiously. Jack put his arm around her and pulled her close for a hug. She snuggled into his arms as they both rested from their work, leaning into each other. “Okay, next!” They both walked out toward his designated corral and the loco mustang.
“This one isn’t going to be as easy, Maggie.” The mustang was standing on the far side and started running around as they entered the corral on their trainer horses.
Carson walked out and called to them. “Hey, let’s leave that one for another day. I may have Jed take care of this one.” He didn’t need to say it twice. Both Maggie and Jack looked relieved and rode their horses out of the corral.
“Perfect timing, Dad. We are heading over to the spa and into the jacuzzi for these muscles. I might even get a message.” Maggie laughed.
Her father shook his head. “I know how you love the spa, Missy.”
Jack’s cell was ringing as they walked over to the ranch house. “I have to take this. I’ll meet you in the spa.”
“See you later.” Maggie ran inside and up to her room to change.
“Hello, Meredith. What’s up?” Jack sat on the porch swing, looking out over the lake. The responsibilities he had been ignoring for the past week all hit him at once when he heard her voice.
“Well, Jack, I was surprised you missed the board meeting. I’m just checking to see what you think about the new platform Jim is pushing.”
“I don’t want to go ahead with a new platform at this time, as you well know.” Jim was a problem, and he was sorry he was on the board.
“That’s what I thought, but you know how no one on the board wants to stand up to him.” Meredith was a good board member and loyal to the company. Jim’s company built oil platforms, and so, of course, his best interests were first and foremost on his mind.
Jack was in an awkward position with Meredith. The rumor rags had published pictures of them going out to dinner or at some oil convention and insinuated they were an item. He knew Meredith wasn’t really interested in him, but it was convenient to have a partner at all of these events, and so they usually just headed over after work together. He suspected the person Meredith wanted was his brother Bill, and he planned to see what he could do about that once he got back. This matchmaking trip he was going on with Maggie was starting to rub off on him. He had to laugh. First Carson, then Bill.
“Listen, Meredith. We need to talk. I have an idea about Bill I want to run by you. I’m heading down to Rio for the meeting with Petrobras next week. Let’s get together when I get back. I’ll call my brother and have him stop Jim.”
Jack’s brother Bill was the one who loved the oil business, but their grandfather had left the business to Jack. Jack planned to fix that as soon as he could arrange to do so, now that their grandfather had passed away. He could run the business, but he didn’t love it. It was a huge burden to him, which was why lately he had spent so much time away doing extreme sports or anything to add some interest and excitement to his life.
Being at the Rio Lago Ranch was giving him a much-needed perspective on the goals he had for himself. Being with Maggie was changing the whole direction of his life. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to make this a permanent relationship. Would she be willing? He had no idea. She seemed very independent and wasn’t going to be pushed around, as this latest attempt by her father surely exemplified. The problem was if Carson kept pushing, she could move in the other direction to make a point. He might need to have a word with him if things didn’t work out with their plans in Rio. He had plans of his own now, too. He hurried inside to change and head to the spa. Time with Maggie in the jacuzzi was something he didn’t plan to miss.
Taking the elevator to the lower level was a surprise for Jack. Amazingly, they had a whole sports center underground. He wondered just how many square feet of the ranch was sitting on top of this complex. It must have taken some real money to get this built. The door opened, and he walked through the pool area to the racquetball courts and along a hallway to the spa. He heard the soft music playing before he got there. A small waterfall ran into a pond surrounded by tropical plants of all kinds. He had to admit this was very soothing. An attendant welcomed him. “Mr. Sellers, the changing rooms are right over here. Miss Colby will be right with you. She is having a mini massage before she heads to the jacuzzi.” Jack smiled. This girl knew how to live.
Jack changed and walked into the jacuzzi room to find three Jacuzzi’s set up in three different corners with a small smoothie bar in the fourth. An attendant walked over. “What’s your flavor?” The woman was a young girl, obviously excited about the choices. “We have the lavender stress releaser, the mineral energizer, and the basic water blaster.”
Just then, Maggie walked in, and Jack’s jaw dropped. She was carrying her towel, but that didn’t hide the beautiful figure she had. “So, Maggie, I am in a quandary. What flavor would you like?”
She wrapped the towel around her shoulders and walked over. “Since I had a shoulder massage, I think a good stress reducer sounds perfect.” She stepped into the jacuzzi. “Ah, this feels wonderful.” She let herself slide down int
o the water, covering her shoulders.
Jack stepped in and sighed as he too sunk into the hot bubbling water. He didn’t sit too close to Maggie, and she looked over, giving him a coy smile with raised eyebrows. “I appreciate that, Jack. We need to finalize our plans. No point getting too cozy.”
“First, how are we going to encourage Raelyn to join in our planning?” Maggie sunk deeper into the water, trying to get her neck.
“Well, I think it totally depends on whether she’s in love with your Dad. Do you think he has security cameras here?” Jack looked around. He was getting paranoid, but he figured everyone was a little paranoid around Carson if they knew his capabilities.
Maggie sat up and looked worried. “You know, he absolutely could have access to anything we say anywhere on the ranch. He manages security. Good grief, we could have just given it all away.”
Maggie scooted over closer to Jack and whispered, “We are going to have to talk this way so no one can hear us.”
“Well, I guess if we have to.” Jack smiled cagily and waggled his eyebrows a couple of times.
“Seriously, Jack, this is important.” Maggie smiled and blushed.
He had to chuckle; it was pretty funny when he thought about all this sneaking around. Here he was, the CEO of one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, and he was acting like a kid trying to trick someone’s parent. He felt out of his normal routine.
“Okay, fine.” It was going to be a little hard concentrating on business with Maggie so close, but he would make an effort. Jack leaned in and whispered in her ear. “I had my secretary see if she could find this woman. We have the address of the school but not where she lives so it will take some investigative work.” Jack noticed the curve of her neck and the softness of her skin as he leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “Dad’s birthday is coming up. Why don’t we invite her to the ranch for a week and his surprise party?” Maggie was getting very flushed and leaned away after she spoke.
“Okay, that’s a good plan. In the meantime, I guess we help your Dad finish breaking those horses.” Jack leaned back and looked at Maggie. Her eyes were flashing, and she was either blushing or very flushed from the hot jacuzzi. He couldn’t help noticing how close she was sitting. Jack smiled and reached around Maggie, pulling her to him and kissing her soundly.
She melted in his arms and then pushed him back and moved to the other side of the jacuzzi.
“What?” Jack wanted more of that.
“My father could be watching,” Maggie warned, but still flirted with him from a safe distance.
Jack rolled his eyes and grabbed his towel. “Okay, okay. I'm looking forward to this trip next week. My secretary will arrange everything for us.”
“That’s great. I’m excited, and this will be fun.” Maggie grabbed her towel and got out of the jacuzzi. The attendant came in and gave them mineral water flavored with fresh fruit. The glasses were beautiful stemware.
“I will need to be in Rio for a week. Are you okay with that much time away?” A week with this woman in Rio would change that business trip into a holiday. Jack drank all of his drink, throwing his head back to catch the fruit at the bottom of the glass.
They walked out together toward the changing rooms. “Sure, I’m free now that my paper has been turned in to the university. I feel really good about our plan, not just because we are getting even with my father for trying to control our lives, but because it could bring more happiness into his life.” She put on a robe and handed the towel to the attendant. “Plus, who doesn’t like Rio?” Maggie smiled up at Jack. He imagined that those beautiful flirting eyes promised a lot more than she was willing to give without promises of his own.
The next morning, Jack was down for breakfast early. He ate and headed over to the corral where he could see Carson working the horses. He took a deep breath and enjoyed the morning dawn chorus the birds were providing. He missed the country and the fresh smell of the morning. It was invigorating walking over. Jack smirked; he would need all the invigoration he could get for the day Carson had planned for him.
“Morning, Carson. It’s a great day!” Jack took the lead from one of the horses Carson was moving to another corral. They walked together to the far side of the stable. Aussie, Carson’s Australian shepherd, followed along, obviously excited for the day as she pranced and leaped around the horses. Carson opened the gate and walked into the corral, untying his horse.
He stopped and turned to look at Jack as he handed him the other horse’s lead. “It is a good day, Jack. Are there any horses here that interest you?”
Jack remembered that yes, this was supposedly the purpose of his trip. “I have been thinking about what you are doing with these mustangs. I might want to do something similar on one of my ranches out west where it’s more remote. I already have a herd of wild mustangs living on the land. I’m not sure I want to put a high bred stallion with them now, but I would be very interested in one of your mixed breed mustangs for a start.”
“You can take your pick. You will have a better idea which one you want after we spend some time with the horses today.” Carson walked out and shut the gate. They both walked back to the breaking corral, where he saw Maggie waiting for them.
“Morning, Dad. Hi, Jack. If y’all don’t mind, I want to go into Houston today and do some shopping for the trip to Rio. It’s not too hot there this time of year but warmer than I’m used to. Since I’ve been living in the mountains for the last couple of years, I need a wardrobe for a warmer climate anyway.” Maggie looked over at Jack and smiled. He winked at her when her father bent over to pick up some roping materials from the ground. Jack had to hand it to her; she was her father’s daughter.
Jack watched Maggie drive out the long driveway along the horse pasture fencing. The wildflowers were in full bloom along the road. So, how am I going to have a conversation with Carson without divulging too much information? This would not be easy, judging by the last time they were alone. He had pretty much opened his mouth and told him everything he knew about his family, back to his great-grandfather. What was Maggie thinking leaving him alone with her dad? Jack pulled his cowboy hat down further on his head and smirked as he walked over to the corral and put on some leather gloves. He guided the first mustang through the shoot to the breaking ring.
Carson took the second one to the adjacent breaking ring, and the day began in earnest. They both had their respective horses walking on the lead with a harness on just before lunchtime. Jack got on a trainer horse and entered Carson’s ring as he was about to climb into the saddle with his horse. Jack rode alongside as Carson ran the horse around the ring three times. “He’s looking good. What do you think about this one, Jack?”
Jack looked down at the young paint stallion. He seemed resigned to this training and would probably be a good cow horse. “I like him. He’s strong and would be great on the range leading a herd of mustangs.” Jack could see Carson’s stallion markings in him. He was taller, and his legs were much longer. It was fascinating to see the breeding qualities. He was hardy and had bred in resilience to the climate and the terrain of the western Texas wilderness. “I’ll take him if you’re still willing to sell.”
Carson smiled as he dismounted and led the horse to a holding stall. “That’s my plan. Let’s stop and get lunch before we finish.” The two men walked in silent comradery toward the ranch house. Jack could smell the hamburgers on the grill, and his stomach growled. He stretched his shoulders back and twisted his back to both sides. He was going to be sore again tomorrow.
“It takes some getting used to.” Carson looked over at Jack stretching. “How do you feel about ranch living? You seem comfortable in this setting.”
“To tell you the truth, I would prefer to be right where you are with the serenity of ranch living. I’m a cowboy at heart.” Jack didn’t want to reveal too much. “I have breeding plans as well. I want to build a herd of Tiger Stripped Brangus cows. They are hardy and do well in Texas, winter or
summer. They make good mothers, and I like how they look.”
Carson looked at him in a questioning way, but Jack just kept talking. What was it with this man? “My brother, Bill, loves the oil and gas business, but my grandfather left it all to me. I intend to make some changes there next month.” Not even my brother Bill knows anything about this. Jack started walking faster to stop his mouth from regurgitating everything in his brain. “I’m going to run up to my room. I’ll meet you back over there.” Jack took the stairs two at a time and walked to his room. He stripped off his clothing and stood in the shower with the hot water running on his back. Now that felt good.
He picked up the shower phone and called down to room service. “Can you bring up a hamburger with everything on the side and some fries and a drink?” He stepped out of the shower and put the robe on. With a towel, he dried his hair. It felt good to get all the dirt off and relax his muscles. He figured they would each break the last two horses this afternoon. Jack sat in his chair and mused about Maggie. How would it be growing up with a father like that? It would be hard to keep secrets from him, that was for sure.
The thing is, he could see her father was probably right most of the time. He could see Maggie standing by his side throughout his life and making it better. Carson was right about that. She would be the best thing that happened to him, but would he be the same for her? His room service arrived, and he ate like he was starving, which he was. After he ate, he dressed quickly into clean jeans and a shirt, put on his hat, and rushed down the stairs. He looked out the porch door, and Carson was already there getting ready to get on his Mustang with a saddle. Jack jogged over to him. “Hey, Carson. I can do that.”
Discovered by Her Billionaire Page 8
