The Taming (The Black Thunder Series)

by West, Cary

  Four

  Migraines and Softer Sides

  Kate ran down the stairs and didn’t stop until she was out the front door. She looked back to see if he was following her, and when he didn’t appear she sighed with relief.

  Kate was rattled and she could feel her legs shaking. What had gotten into her back there? Jack McBride with his little game of seduction; she fell right into his hands. She wanted to kiss him.

  Well who wouldn’t, she justified. Being all good looking with no shirt and a tanned muscular body to boot. Her only conclusion, that man was no good!

  He was preying upon her loneliness and she was much too vulnerable at this time in her life to get involved with a man like Jack. It was downright dangerous to place her heart on the table for him to snatch up and chew to pieces. He wasn’t interested in her, he wanted her body. It was a challenge to see if she would bend to his will, and when it was over he would be kicking her to the curb. She was sure of it.

  All that pent-up need and stress was never good for Kate. It made her off-kilter and when that happened it was most assuredly going to end in either an anxiety attack or a full blown migraine.

  Her body chose the latter as a searing pain moved behind her eyes and her forehead started to pound. Kate ran her fingers through her hair as she stepped off the porch and headed for the carriage house.

  By the time she got home, her head felt like it was ready to explode. Oh, this was going to be bad she thought as the pain shot up the scale from throbbing to excruciating, and her stomach went to instant churn to the point of nausea.

  Kate needed her migraine medication. She searched the medicine chest, but it wasn’t there. She checked the drawer on her nightstand and found the bottle. Shit, it was empty. She’d forgotten to refill it before leaving Santa Cruz.

  Kate popped two Advil instead. It wouldn’t take it away, but at least it might ease the pain. She needed to get the prescription filled fast before she was flat on her back suffering. She most likely would have to drive to Carson City, and that was thirty minutes away.

  Kate phoned her physician in Santa Cruz. After several minutes of pleading, the office finally agreed to refill her prescription. She sighed with relief, promising she would find a doctor soon in her area.

  Kate grabbed her purse ready to head to town, and looked at the clock on the wall. Shit, she didn’t have time to run her errand and be back to start dinner. She would have to go after preparing that arrogant bastard’s meal. Kate hoped she could make it through. The migraine was getting worse, and the pain was rolling all around her head making her scalp sensitive.

  Kate returned to the main house and began fixing dinner. If she remained silent and kept everything slow and steady, she might make it through. She kept the lights off in the kitchen to keep it dark. She made a quick casserole and popped it in the convection oven. At least it would cook quicker than a regular oven, she thought as consolation to her pounding head. She made a salad, but instead of making her own dressing she pulled out a store-bought brand instead. She placed them on the table.

  Kate sat down and laid her head on the table. All she wanted to do was sleep off the pain. Kate sat in utter silence in the cool darkened kitchen with grey tones of low light. The pain rippled through her head, but it was manageable without any quick movement or loud sounds.

  But her peaceful moment was taken away, robbed by the kitchen light being turned on flashing fluorescent brightness across her face. She heard sounds, loud sounds of human voice, calling her name sharply and abruptly.

  “First day on the job and you are already slacking Barbie doll.” His curt laughter sent stabbing pains in her head like a knife. “You tired or something?”

  “Shhh,” said Kate in a low rhythmic tone as she lifted her head from the table and stood. “Please talk quietly and turn off the light.”

  “What’s the matter with you?” Jack asked in his arrogant fashion. “Can’t handle it, can you?”

  “I can handle it just fine,” she moved in slow distinct motion and flipped off the kitchen light.

  Her voice was low and spoken in hushed tone. Jack saw the odd look on her face. Her eyelids were puffy and half-closed. “You sick or something?” He was not exactly sure how to respond. He wasn’t good when it came to seeing other people’s needs, especially women. He always avoided it like the plague. He was a man used to taking care of only his own. It’s what he did best and his motto was to never get involved.

  “I have a migraine,” she whispered.

  “Poor baby,” he said with a hint of sarcasm talking a little louder than Kate liked.

  “The casserole is in the oven,” Kate ignored him. “It should be done in five minutes. If you wouldn’t mind, I would like to call it a day.”

  “I do mind,” he stated matter of fact. “You’re shift ends when my meal is on the table and we finish eating.”

  “Oh, I can’t eat,” she groaned, feeling the nausea return just thinking about food.

  “Suit yourself.” He walked over to the table and sat then started eating his salad. “Come here and keep me company.”

  Kate obliged and sat. She leaned her elbow on the table and held her head in her hand.

  “You’re a lightweight,” he laughed in full voice.

  He saw her eyes close and wondered if she was faking. Women did that when they didn’t want to be bothered, at least that’s what his father told him, and Jack agreed with his philosophy.

  Not that he saw many women sick before. Actually, come to think of it he never did see a woman actually sick. He never stuck around long enough to experience it.

  The timer on the oven dinged. “You going to get that?” he asked then took another forkful of salad.

  Kate’s eyes narrowed more than they already were. She rose carefully so as not to disturb the throbbing that was building in her head. She took the casserole from the oven and its aroma lifted upward to her nose. Kate’s eyes widened as her stomach rolled over. Oh God, she was going to be sick. She threw the dish on top of the stove and barely made it in time to the wastebasket, violently spilling the contents of her stomach.

  Startled, Jack stood from his chair. She wasn’t faking at all. Kate hugged the wastebasket and he could see her legs quivering. She looked so frail, so helpless, almost like she did last night when he saw her crying, and he suddenly felt the same need to care for her now as he did then.

  It wasn’t a natural response, and it almost caught him off-guard, but when Jack McBride made up his mind to do something, he did it, and he decided he wanted to care for her, almost needed to but for the life of him he couldn’t figure out why.

  “You okay?” He placed his hand gently on her shoulder. Kate nodded. “Here let me take that.” Jack took the wastebasket and set it aside as Kate leaned back against the counter.

  “I’m really sorry about this,” she said feeling totally awkward and embarrassed. “I’m usually not in the habit of getting sick in front of my employer, especially on the first day.”

  “Trust me it’s a first for me too.” In more ways than one, he thought as he gently brushed her hair back and tucked it behind her ears. “Your head really hurts, huh? Did you take anything for the pain?”

  “I took two Advil earlier,” she said. “But I need to drive to Carson City to pick up my migraine medication at the pharmacy.”

  She looked worse than before. “Well you can’t drive like this,” he said quietly. “It’s not safe. You go lie down and I’ll drive to Carson City to get it for you.”

  “I couldn’t ask you to do that.” She shook her head. “I think throwing up actually made my head feel better.”

  “Don’t argue with me, baby,” his words were endearing for a change. “Now, let me help you back to your place.”

  Kate nodded in agreement. Jack motioned for her to follow him. Kate grabbed her purse, only to have Jack take it from her. “I’ll carry it.”

  He escorted her back to the carriage house, opened the front door, and wa
ited for her to enter. Kate moved toward the couch. All she wanted to do was lie down and close her eyes. The pain was increasing again.

  “You need to rest properly,” said Jack taking her hand. “You’d feel better sleeping in your own bed.”

  He led her up the spiral staircase into the loft housing her bedroom. Jack turned down the sheets and motioned for her to get in. She climbed into her bed and Jack tucked her in. He placed her purse on the nightstand then walked into the bathroom.

  Kate took her purse and pulled out her wallet, withdrawing her health insurance card, her driver’s license, and a credit card. Jack emerged from the bathroom holding a damp washcloth.

  “Lie back, baby,” he gently instructed.

  Kate did what she was told, laying her head on the pillow. Jack placed the cool cloth over her eyes.

  “You’re going to need these,” she said in an almost whisper. She held them out and Jack took them.

  He glanced at the picture on her driver’s license. “Why do I need your license?” he asked.

  “The pharmacy will need my birth date,” answered Kate.

  Jack looked at it again. “Happy belated birthday,” he smiled, seeing it was last month. “So how does it feel to be twenty-nine?”

  “It feels much better than thirty,” Kate joked in spite of her head throbbing. “And a whole lot worse than twenty-eight.”

  Jack chuckled and sat on the bed. “I don’t need your credit card,” he said setting it on her nightstand.

  Kate lifted the cloth from her eyes. “Jack, the medication is expensive. I’m not sure how much of it my insurance will cover.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said firmly. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that,” she said appreciating his offer. She didn’t want to offend him since he was being so nice to her. “The medicine is over one hundred dollars, so please take my credit card.”

  “I said I’ll take care of it,” he reiterated again. “Come tomorrow, I’m going to add you to our health insurance, since yours seems to be a piece of shit.”

  “Thank you,” she said as Jack placed the cloth back over her eyes.

  “So what pharmacy did you choose?”

  “Walgreens on Highway Fifty.”

  “That far, huh?” She was green to the area and didn’t know the ropes. He would fix that starting with the pharmacy. He would have future refills sent to his pharmacist. “All right, now you rest while I’m gone,” he said gently. “I’ll be back.”

  Jack stood from the bed and squeezed Kate’s hand. She heard his footfalls fade down the stairs. She breathed a sigh of relief and tried to relax. The cool compress did help, as well as the dark silence of her room.

  Kate drifted in and out, but not comfortably, because of the piercing throbbing pain behind her eyes and circling her scalp. She got up and changed into a pair of sleeping shorts and a matching tank. She went into the bathroom and soaked the cloth with cold water, wrung it out, and then went back to bed, placing the compress against her eyes and temples. A wave of nausea struck her again, but there was nothing left in her stomach to extricate.

  She was wishing now that she went with him. It would have been thirty minutes sooner to take the medicine and to feel its effect. Kate lifted the cloth and looked at the time. It had been over an hour since Jack left. What was taking him so long? She threw the washcloth on the floor and replaced it with a pillow sealing her eyes into darkness and blocking any sound to her ears.

  Jack pulled his truck up to the carriage house. He grabbed her prescription on the passenger seat and left the cab. He entered her house like he owned it, which he did, and stopped at the kitchen to get her a glass of water before proceeding upstairs.

  As he reached the top of the stairs he saw her lying with the pillow over her head. One leg was flung over top of the blanket while the other was tucked inside. It made him grin, and he couldn’t help himself as his eyes traveled up that long leg of hers right to that cute little pink short. Part of him wanted to run his hand all the way up her leg and not stop until he found that sweet little spot, but the other part of him almost chastised himself for thinking that thought while she lay there in pain.

  “I’m back,” he stated and placed the glass of water on her nightstand.

  Kate lifted the pillow from her eyes. Jack sat on the bed facing her. He pulled out the bottle from its package and opened it. He handed her a pill then the glass of water. Kate popped the pill willingly in her mouth and drank it down with the water. She handed Jack back the glass and he set it again on the nightstand.

  “Thanks, Jack,” she said with appreciation. “How much was it?”

  “Enough to make me yell at the pharmacist for overcharging.” He stated with an overbearing smile. “And he didn’t even give you thirty days’ worth; six measly pills for one seventy-five. That’s highway robbery that’s what that is.”

  “Let me write you a check,” she said reaching for her purse.

  “I told you before, I got it covered.”

  “I can’t let you do that,” she said pulling out her checkbook.

  “Don’t insult my generosity.” He firmly took the checkbook from her hands and placed it on the nightstand. “Besides, I kind of like that you’re now beholding to me. Maybe I’ll call in the favor sometime.”

  “I’m writing that check,” she said afraid to owe this man any favors.

  “Relax baby,” he smiled. “Now lay back and rest. The pharmacist said this is some pretty powerful stuff. It should make you sleep.”

  He motioned to her to lie down. Kate didn’t have the strength to argue. She snuggled her head into the pillow, and closed her eyes, waiting for the medicine to kick in to ease the throbbing pain.

  “That’s it,” he whispered lulling her with his soothing tone. He gently rubbed her temple with the tips of his fingers guiding them into her hairline pressing lightly on her scalp. “Does this help?”

  It actually felt soothingly good. “Yes,” she whispered feeling his fleshy tips against her tender skin massaging the pain temporarily away.

  It didn’t take long for the medicine to work its wonder along with Jack’s tranquilizing techniques. The combination did just the trick as the pain lifted and placed Kate into a peaceful slumber. He knew the minute she was asleep. Her breathing changed along with the rise and fall of her chest. A slight sound escaped her lips and he couldn’t help but smile.

  “That’s it baby, sleep,” he whispered as he continued his application of manual manipulation to her scalp.

  Whether it was for her benefit now or his, he wasn’t sure. Her hair was soft like his dream and Jack couldn’t help lingering his fingers through the silky tendrils of sunshine filled locks. He was getting lost in her like he had in the dream. His conscience yelled at him and he pulled away.

  Jack stood up breaking the cord of touch. Kate rolled onto her side, burying her head in the pillow and curling up one leg to meet her chest. Her sweet little bottom exposed for his pleasure; her back naked by her hiked up shirt. It was his turn to rub his fingertips through his hair.

  God he wanted her, more than anything or anyone in his life. He wanted to take her and claim her possessively beneath him, make her call out his name, only his name. You’re insane, he told himself, wanting her just for him. At that moment she was his whether she knew or not. It was what he wanted, and he would be damned if he wouldn’t have her, all of her, bending to his will, his craving, his need to get lost inside her.

  Jack needed to get out of there before he did something he might regret later.

  “Sweet dreams, Kate,” he whispered as he brushed a kiss on the side of her head. He didn’t wait for a response. Jack crept from her bedroom, descended the stairs and left the carriage house, making his way home.

  Five

  Propositions

  The headache was gone. Kate awoke to the sun beating in through her bedroom window. She felt good and rested. She dressed, had breakfast, and then walk
ed to the main house to start her day. She was early and half way there decided to take a detour and explore the ranch. She wandered toward the stables and saw a pair of ranch hands working the horses in the corral. Kate walked up and leaned on the fence to watch.

  Two young hired hands astride horses were parading the large beasts around the ring. They nodded and tipped their Stetsons to her. Kate smiled and waved. They strode the animals toward her, bellying them up to the fence.

  “Howdy,” they greeted her.

  “You must be the new girl,” the one smiled a huge cowboy hello as dark tendrils poked through his Stetson that matched his mares. “I’m Tony, and this here’s Dustin.”

  “Hi, I’m Kate.” She smiled back.

  “Pleasure ma’am,” Dustin nodded tapping on the brim of his own hat. “You’re the one living in the carriage house, right?”

  “Why, yes I am.”

  “Nice place isn’t it,” said Tony. “Helped paint it myself.”

  “You did a great job,” she said. “The place was perfect when I moved in.”

  Tony seemed to beam with pride.

  “Say, you want to take a ride around the ring?” asked Dustin.

  “No thanks,” she cringed nervously looking at the big animals. “I don’t ride.”

  “Oh come on,” Tony coaxed her as he climbed down from his horse. “Most of the folks we take on trails don’t know how to ride. These animals are trained to do it themselves.”

  Tony opened the gate and motioned for Kate to step inside.

  “All right,” said Kate as she walked past him.

  Tony guided her over to his horse. “Place your hands on the horn and your left foot in the stirrup,” he said demonstrating how it was done. “I’ll help you with the rest.”

  Kate nodded and Tony stepped aside. Dustin leaned forward in his saddle resting his arms on the horn as he watched Kate grab hold while placing her foot in the stirrup.

  Tony lifted her, placing his hands on her bottom and hoisted her into the seat. He looked over at Dustin and winked. Dustin nodded as a slow grin formed on his face.