"Oh, Jim, that's thoughtful, but not necessary. I intend to keep the house in full view, but I would like a guided tour of the entire ranch sometime soon." She answered.
"Whenever you want to go, I'll have Jeb ride with you. He's young and not much of a cowhand, but he knows this ranch better than the back of his hand." Jim laughed.
Roxanne laughed too and said goodbye as she continued on her way to the barn. The smell of fresh hay and warm animals greeted Roxanne when she entered the barn. Going to the end stall on the right, she wondered if her horse Sally could possibly still be there. Sally would be twelve now.
She exclaimed in sheer delight when she saw the chestnut mare with the white blaze standing in the stall.
"Oh, Sally, sweetheart, it is you! Do you remember me, girl?" The horse nuzzled her hand and Roxanne laughed as she dug in her pocket for the lump of brown sugar she'd brought. She cupped her hand and held the sugar under the horse's nose. "I don't know if you remember me, girl, but you sure haven't lost your taste for sugar."
"Miss Roxy, is that you, girl?"
Roxanne whirled around and looked at the old man standing there. "Slim!" she squealed as she ran and hugged the old man around the neck. "Slim, I didn't know you were still here. It's so wonderful to see you again after all these years."
Roxanne had always been a favorite with Slim. She'd followed him around from the time she was old enough until the day she left for Boston. He had missed her something fierce when she left. He loved her like a daughter.
"Miss Roxy, I've missed you, child. Let me have a look at you." He turned her around in a circle and she laughed. "You've gone and grown into one mighty pretty young lady. Why, you take my breath away, honey. Tell me all about Boston."
Roxanne giggled delightedly. "Slim, you always knew how to make me feel good, you old flatterer." They sat down on an overturned feed trough and she told him about her years in Boston.
"Slim, why did Papa rarely write or let me come home during the holiday breaks? I missed him so much. Didn't he miss me even a little?"
"He missed you, child, more than he could sometimes stand. He had his reasons for doing what he did and the main reason was that he loved you and wanted to do what was best for you. He thought leaving you in Boston was for the best."
They had talked for a while longer when Slim said, "I'm sorry about your papa, Roxy. I loved him too and it was a sorry day when he passed. I was thinkin' about you up there in Boston and not even knowin' about it. I wish I could have been there to give you the news myself instead of you having to hear by post. It just wasn't right." He shook his head sadly.
Roxanne gave Slim another hug. "Thank you for that, my dear friend."
Slim rose slowly and went to saddle Sally. Roxanne had no idea how old Slim was, but she knew he had first come to Texas with her grandfather and together with a handful of other men they had built this ranch from scratch. She was just so happy he was still here. She had never really known her grandfather and had always thought of Slim in that role.
As soon as Roxanne was in the saddle, she rode out towards the black rock. She knew she'd still be able to see the house from there and she felt drawn to the place in a way she could not explain. Riding her horse to within about thirty feet of the rock, she stopped to look around.
Turning, she looked back the way she'd come. She could see the house in the distance and wasn't worried about losing her way. As she turned and gazed at the huge stone structure, she thought she saw movement on the far left side. Pulling the straw hat Slim had insisted she wear farther down to shield her eyes from the sun, she looked closer. The figure of a man emerged and came to the front of the rock, running his hands all along the sides, caressing the stone as she had done in her dream.
Riding Sally up to the rock she was amazed at how smooth and beautiful it was up close. There didn't appear to be any rough edges anywhere. It was so slick and shiny she could see her refection in it. Since the man seemed oblivious to her presence, Roxanne decided to take advantage of the opportunity to observe him. He appeared to be around thirty with dark hair and was dressed in a style she'd never seen before. The Levis he wore hugged his bottom snuggly and she couldn't stop her roving eyes. He suddenly turned to face her and she blushed, embarrassed to be caught staring. Raising her eyes to his, Roxanne was taken aback by the coldness of his expression.
He caught and held her gaze as he moved right up to the horse, "Who are you and what are you doing on Black Rock?" He demanded. "You have no business being here, you're trespassing."
His beautifully masculine and self-assured voice caused an instant awareness to run through her entire being and a tensing of her muscles. Once the content of his words penetrated her fussy brain, she became incensed. Who did he think he was?
Stiffening her spine, she spoke haughtily. "I happen to be the owner of Black Rock and if anyone is trespassing it's you, Mr.…"
Her sapphire eyes flashed like fire and Collin thought she was the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen. So this was the mysterious Roxanne he'd heard so much about. She certainly had no business being around that stone. Not yet anyway, the time wasn't right.
"I apologize, Miss Ingram, Collin O'Neal at your service." Collin removed his hat and made a deep bow from the waist.
Roxanne thought the gesture more insulting than polite. "Pleased to meet you, I'm sure." She said coldly. "Now would you mind telling me what you're doing here on my property?"
"And would you mind stepping down from that horse? I'm getting a crick in my neck staring up there at you."
Roxanne stepped off the horse and stood waiting for him to answer her question. He caught her gaze and she again felt that strange tensing of her muscles. Standing straighter, she forced herself to look away from those brilliant amber colored eyes of his.
"I'm waiting for an answer Mr. O'Neal," she demanded.
"Jacob gave me permission to study black rock."
"Study Black Rock? Why would you want to study a ranch?"
"Not the ranch, Miss Ingram."
"Oh, you mean the stone. Why on earth would you be studying a rock? Just what else are you doing here?" She asked suspiciously.
"I can assure you my only interest is in the black stone sitting here in front of us. My one and only interest," he reiterated while allowing his eyes to rove insolently over her body.
Roxanne had the feeling he was telling her in no uncertain terms that he had no interest in her as a woman and she flushed when his gaze settled on her breasts. She'd never in her life met such an egotistical and rude man. If she weren't a lady she'd tell him exactly what she thought of him.
"Were you under the very misguided notion that I might possibly invite interest elsewhere, Mr. O'Neal?" Roxanne asked, her voice like ice as she glared at him.
"Of course not, Miss Ingram. I was just clarifying my reason for being here."
"And just how did you get here? I don't see your horse. Were you thrown off?" Roxanne gave him a challenging look. She thought she caught the hint of a smile on his face, but must have been mistaken as it disappeared so fast and the cold look returned.
"I walked," he said as he pointed beyond the black stone. "I live over there beyond that low ridge. I'm actually your closest neighbor."
This time there was no mistaking his smile. It lit his entire face and took her breath away. He walked to her and before she knew what was happening, he had pulled her up against the long length of him.
"So lets get close," he said before lowering his lips to hers. He took his time, gently teasing his lips over hers and when getting no resistance from her, he deepened the kiss.
In the back of her mind, Roxanne heard a voice telling her to object to the kiss, but for the life of her she couldn't find the will to do so. Only her second kiss, this was nothing like the outlaw's had been. Growing weak in the knees, she clung to him and was lost to everything but the delicious sensations rushing through her body.
Running his tongue over her lips until
she opened them, he then invaded the sweet warmth of her mouth. She tasted like sweet strawberries and warm cream. He explored every inch as though he were dying of thirst and only she could quench it.
Moaning softly, Roxanne put her arms around his neck, pressing her soft body into his. He nearly lost control and thought briefly of lowering her to the ground and taking her right then. Somehow reason returned and he realized what he was doing. I must be crazy. I'm kissing a young girl. An innocent girl brought up during the Victorian era with all its prudish rules. He pushed her roughly away from him before he made an even bigger ass of himself.
Roxanne stared at him, not understanding why he'd stopped. Her lips were red and swollen from his kisses and he wanted to pull her back into his arms. Instead he turned away from her.
"I think you'd better be getting on home now." He stated, his voice rough with passion.
Roxanne raised her fingers to her swollen lips. She could still feel his lips, still taste him. Highly embarrassed, she couldn't imagine what had gotten into her, allowing a complete stranger to kiss her like that. She had responded wantonly. Moisture gathered along her lashes and she turned to walk toward the black stone.
"Stop, Roxanne, don't touch that rock!" Collin commanded. He ran to her and grabbing her arm, turned her to face him. Seeing her tears, he tried to gather her close to him.
"Miss Ingram, I'm sorry. I'm a terrible scoundrel. I never should have kissed you and certainly not like that. You're a beautiful woman and I lost my head. Please forgive me."
Roxanne pushed away from his warmth, feeling embarrassed and angry. To be honest with herself, it was also a little empowering, knowing he'd wanted to kiss her so badly he'd been unable to stop himself.
"You are worse than a scoundrel, Mr. O'Neal and I'm not sorry for the kiss. I could have stopped you and didn't because it meant nothing."
Collin grinned, she was a spunky little thing, but he knew she was acting a sophistication she didn't have and it had been wrong to kiss her like that for a number of reasons.
Roxanne raised her head and moved farther away from him. "Mr. O'Neal, why are you studying this stone and why do you not want me to touch it? It is my own property after all."
Collin looked at her seriously. "Jacob told me he had given you a warning about the black rock when you were a child."
"Yes, he did, but that was just a story he made up to keep a curious little girl from going too far from home and getting lost," she said dismissively.
"Roxanne, listen to me. Your father was serious when he gave you that warning. You are not to come here again nor try to touch that rock."
"Are you giving me orders, Mr. O'Neal?" Roxanne grew even angrier that he was giving her orders to stay off a part of her own property. Was he truly mad? Perhaps that was a more plausible excuse for his previous ungentlemanly behavior. She should be terrified to be in such close proximity to a mentally deranged man. Although he frightened her to some degree, her strongest emotions were anger at his audacity and curiosity about the way he could stir her to such passion.
Collin knew he was treading on dangerous ground. Roxanne had a temper and he had better come up with something quick to keep her away from that stone. It was clear ordering her not to come here wasn't going to work. He was pretty sure she was the key to his problem and he couldn't risk having her ruin five years of work.
"Roxanne, your father told me stories of men mysteriously disappearing while working around and touching that stone. He seemed to think you were especially vulnerable. That's why I'm studying the stone. I'm trying to solve the mystery. Will you give me time to do that?" He watched her closely.
Roxanne turned toward the rock and felt the pull deep inside her to go to it and run her hands caressingly over the surface. The urge was so strong—she would have done just that had Collin not been watching her so closely.
"Mr. O'Neal, what you say is ludicrous, and I don't believe a word of it. No one could vanish without a trace simply by touching a stone… And yet, I can't explain it, but that massive stone seems to call to me and it's force is so very strong. I seem to have little power to resist it when I'm this close. I must admit, it's a little frightening." She turned and looked into his golden eyes and the pull of the stone lessoned.
"You'll have to fight it, Roxanne, until I've finished my study and determined it to be nothing more than what it appears, a very beautiful and grand work of nature. I know it's a ridiculous notion that a big hunk of rock could cause any kind of supernatural occurrence, but you trusted your father's judgment, right?"
"Yes, of course," she answered. "But what about you? Isn't it dangerous for you to be here too?"
"No, the rock has no effect on me. I've studied it for a long time and I know I'm safe here." Collin took her arm and led her back to her horse. Will you give me your promise that you'll not go near the stone until I've had time to study it further?"
"Very well, I'll do as you ask for now, Mr. O'Neal, but you will have to keep me informed of anything you may discover."
"I will, Roxanne, and that's all I'm asking of you, for now." He grinned at her with a wicked grin and she blushed furiously, remembering his kiss.
"There's a trail on the other side of the ranch that leads directly to my place, have one of the ranch hands show it to you. If you ever need anything, anything at all, don't hesitate to call." He said as he helped her mount.
"I doubt that will ever occur. Good day to you, sir." She headed Sally back towards the ranch house.
As she rode away she thought of his hand as he'd helped her mount. She'd liked the feel of his hands, so warm and firm with little rough spots from working. Roxanne couldn't explain her attraction to this man anymore than she could explain the pull of the black stone on her emotions. Both were irresistible and both the rock and the man frightened her. She remembered how she'd lost herself in Collin's kiss and thought that of the two, he may be the more dangerous to her peace of mind and the hardest to resist.
Collin watched her ride away, thinking he'd never met a woman so innocent and yet so desirable. She was certainly nothing like he'd expected. His instant attraction to her worried him. He couldn't allow anything to get in the way of what he needed to accomplish.
* * * * *
Roxanne left Sally at the barn in Slim's very capable hands and headed to the house. The beautiful black stallion tied in front snorted as she walked by and she wondered who was riding such a magnificent animal.
As she entered the house, Lucy came from the kitchen. "There's a gentleman here to see you, Miss. I put him in the back parlor."
"Thank you, Lucy. Who is he?"
"Mr. Wellman, Miss, from the other side of Black Rock. He's one of your neighbors. I was just fixing some tea. I'll bring it out to the parlor when it's ready."
"Lucy, tea sounds lovely, I'm parched from my ride." Roxanne made her way to the back parlor, the room her father had always used as an office. She entered and the man sitting in her father's large leather chair stood and bowed slightly.
"Good day, Miss Ingram. Allow me to introduce myself, Bradford Wellman, at your service."
Brad was pleasantly surprised to see that Roxanne was indeed as pretty as everyone in town had said. Of course he had every intention of marrying her regardless of what she looked like, but her beauty made the task a more pleasant venture.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Wellman, I understand we're neighbors." Roxanne was still flustered by her encounter with Collin and would have preferred to have a few moments alone to collect her thoughts. Mr. Wellman's visit was untimely but she could do nothing but be polite. She had to admit that Mr. Wellman cut quite a figure in his dark gray suit. He was a handsome man with his blonde curls and light gray eyes.
"I came to pay my respects and to offer my deepest sympathy for the loss of your father. Jacob Ingram was a fine man." Brad thought the last was a nice touch. That stubborn old man had caused him no end of trouble.
"How kind of you, please sit down and be c
omfortable. Lucy is bringing some tea."
Lucy appeared with the loaded tea tray just as the two of them sat on the sofa. She'd filled the tray with tea, sugar and cream. With the tea she'd added some warm biscuits with melted butter and a small pot of jam.
"Please join me, Mr. Wellman. I'm afraid I went riding this morning before breakfast and the ride has given me an appetite."
"Thank you, Miss Ingram. I too left this morning without breakfast." Brad thought this was quite nice. He was making fine progress.
"Lucy, it looks and smell delicious. Thank you, I'm literally quite famished." Roxanne said appreciatively while spreading jam on a biscuit.
Lucy left them alone and as they had their tea, Brad told Roxanne about his family coming to Texas from Kansas and making their fortune raising cattle. Roxanne thought he put a little too much emphasis on the fortune part, but supposed he was just proud of what his family had accomplished.
They had a very pleasant conversation and the time passed quickly. Brad stood to go and then surprised Roxanne as she was walking him to the door.
"I'd like your permission to come to call. I know it's sudden but I already feel that we would do famously together, Miss Ingram."
Brad knew he was pushing too fast. He knew it, but was tired of waiting for this ranch to be his. He'd wasted too much time already trying to persuade Jacob to sell to him. He didn't intend to sit on his hands waiting and take a chance that some lucky cowhand would come along and snatch away his prize. Women were notoriously stupid when it came to falling for the first man to come along and he intended that man to be him in this instance.
Collin's kiss came to Roxanne's mind and she blushed furiously. "I'm very flattered but I'm afraid I'll need some time to think about it, Mr. Wellman." She thought she saw a flash of anger when she gave him her answer, but then it was gone and he smiled sweetly at her.
"Please, take all the time you need, Miss Ingram, or may I call you Roxanne? And I insist you call me Brad," he replied charmingly.
E. G. Parsons - Black Rock: Page 3
