“He’s a beauty. Looks almost like a Clydesdale.”
“Must have some draft horse in him. He’s one of the mustangs, headed for the Border Patrol once he’s broken in. His rider comes tomorrow.”
Maggie emerged, carrying a lightweight Western saddle across her arms. She handed the saddle to Jeb, then turned to Ben.
Caked with mud and sweaty from the long ride, Ben Morgan still looked good enough to eat. Had she not been so irritated about his spooking Tabasco, she might have been tempted to flirt a little. Maggie Williams, what are you thinking?
“Mr. Morgan.”
“He tipped his hat. “Ben, please. I think we know each other at least well enough for first names.”
“Nice ride?”
“Awesome. Always beautiful with the desert in bloom.”
She nodded. “Just starting. Are you going to cool down Royal or are you leaving him for us?”
There was challenge in her gaze as she dared him to act the part of the owner’s spoiled son. His eyes registered hurt, and Maggie regretted her confrontational tone.
“Mind if I watch you guys for a few minutes before we go in?”
She shrugged. “Fine with me, as long as you keep quiet.”
She moved to take the fence, and he instinctively reached out to support her arm as she climbed up. His touch burned to her core, and Maggie’s knees wobbled. Before she could grab hold of the rail, she fell backward, straight into his waiting arms. Firm hands held her steady, holding her against his hard, muscular chest for a few seconds longer than necessary.
“Oh, my God,” he groaned softly, burying his face in her hair, lips grazing her neck for an instant. Just as quickly, he released her, propelling her upward and over the fence.
Breathless, Maggie jumped down inside the corral, beet-red, her neck seared and aflame with the imprint of his kiss.
Jeb watched the spectacle, an amused smile on his face. This was a side of his boss he’d never seen—flustered, red-faced, clearly shaken by the encounter with Ben Morgan. He wondered when things between them had started. Grinning still, he watched her fumble with the saddle, a procedure she usually accomplished in thirty seconds or less.
“Okay, Boss?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“No reason.”
Jeb winked at Ben. He had worked for Maggie for three years, and for the first two, he had pined away for her himself. After all, she was one of the most gorgeous women in town, even if she appeared to be uninterested in any male from here to Nogales. Then he’d met Stacy, and his ardor for the elusive, older Maggie Williams had cooled.
After observing Jeb and Maggie work to acclimate Tabasco to the saddle, Ben headed into the barn with Royal. He hosed him down and brushed him. Then, as he was feeding the horse oats from his hand, Maggie came up behind them.
“How’d it go?” he asked.
“Very well. Jeb’s good with him. We’ll be sorry to see the big guy go.”
Her eyes, the color of the valley sky, held a warmth that pierced his heart and triggered another wave of longing. She was just near enough that the scent of jasmine caught him off guard.
“Maggie, do you feel it?”
“Excuse me?” She stepped back, knowing exactly what he meant.
“There’s something going on between us. You feel it. I know you do. Shouldn’t we talk about it? Shouldn’t we talk about what happened five years ago?”
He reached out his hand, but she stepped farther away.
“Have dinner with me.”
His dark eyes pleaded, and his scent, a mix of spice and musk, overpowered her. Maggie ached to go to him, to fall into his strong arms and let go of all the heartache of the past five years. Shaking herself, she whispered. “I can’t. I have to get home.”
“I could bring takeout? I’d love to see Ned again and meet your daughter. Or maybe there’s a better night this week?”
She paused, staring into his chocolate eyes. It was only fair to tell him, wasn’t it? Her father would be only too happy to watch Emma. “Tonight would be fine. Why don’t you come by around six, and we can walk into town.“
“Perfect.” He leaned forward, lips grazing her cheek. “I’ll be there on the dot.”
She gave him the address and hurried off. Ben watched her go, the hardening in his loins taking his breath away.
* * *
Chapter 11
Carmela brought lunch to Ben and his parents on the east terrace, and they sat sipping tall glasses of iced tea, enjoying sandwiches filled with ripe avocado, fresh sprouts, summer tomatoes, farm greens, and Carmela’s secret sauce. She also brought bowls of salsa and chips, and Ben sighed, tasting a scoopful. “They don’t have salsa like this in California, Carm.”
She smiled and turned back to disappear into the house. Had it been Ben and his dad, they would have insisted she sit and eat with them, but Leonora never encouraged “familiarity with the help.”
His father watched him, sandwich poised midair. “So, what ya think? Things around here look okay?”
“Better than okay. Didn’t get out to see Raoul, but Beth and Ruthie’s operation is amazing.”
His father nodded. “They’re done a great job. They hired good people, and they all know what they’re doing.”
“I was surprised to find Maggie Williams at the stables.”
Ben Senior laughed. “You know, even as young as she is, she could probably take over the whole operation, but that’s still Harley’s turf.”
Harley Langdon had been Ben Junior’s best friend in high school. Harley went back east for college, but they were inseparable every summer. For a variety of reasons, the friends had not kept in touch the past five years, and Ben was embarrassed to realize that he had yet to inquire about his friend. “Where is the man, anyway? Haven’t seen him around.”
“Reagan Ranch called and wanted a horse man to train a new crew. I let ’em have Harley for a few weeks. He’ll be back in a couple of days.”
“Will be good to have him back,” Leonora said, wiping her brow with a dramatic flourish. “I worry about that girl getting hurt, what with her crippled daughter and all.”
“From what I saw, Maggie can take care of herself.”
“Darn right,” his father echoed Ben’s words, patting his wife’s knee as he spoke.
“What do men know? She gave up everything, her hopes and dreams, all because of a foolish mistake. Why, if your father hadn’t taken pity on her, Maggie Williams would be waitressing at Gracie’s.”
“I doubt she’d call a beloved child a mistake, foolish or otherwise,” Ben said, his irritation rising. This was just the kind of conversation that had driven him out of Saguaro five years ago.
“What kind of life does she have in Saguaro? No education, no husband. The child’s father is probably halfway through law school or has launched a career, and here she is.”
“You know the father?”
“Of course not, but rumor has it Mommy and Daddy bought her off. Sent her packing from New Jersey so she wouldn’t distract Junior’s studies.”
“And how would anyone know that?”
Leonora waved her hands, standing. “Oh, for goodness’ sake. It’s just town gossip. I listen with half an ear. Point is, at twenty-three, she’s a ruined woman.”
“This is hardly the dark ages, Mother. Women do have children out of wedlock without having to wear a scarlet A on their breast.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Bennie. We’re still conservative out here. That’s all I’m saying. It’s not Tucson or Flagstaff. This is the Valley. Out here, a woman disgraced is damaged goods.”
“Nora, honey, that’s enough.” Ben Senior stood and took the tray from his wife. “Maggie is a good girl and a hard worker. She just had a rough patch.”
Leonora turned to her son. “See, see what I have to contend with? Mr. Soft Touch. If I wasn’t watching, he’d take in every stray from here to Yuma.”
“Is that what Ma
ggie is to you, a stray?” Ben’s voice rose, and he could feel his temples throbbing. “She grew up here, for God’s sake.”
His mother gave him a curious look. “No, darling, Maggie is our employee. As such, we care about her, of course. Why your sudden interest, anyway? She was Kyle’s friend, not yours. In fact, you hardly knew her.”
“No reason. Just bumped into her this morning, that’s all.”
His mother stared at him for a moment, clearly unconvinced. Then, with a peck on his father’s cheek, she said, “Gotta run. Don’t want to be late for Cowbelles. We’re in the final countdown weeks to the fair. I’ll volunteer you for something, shall I?”
She hugged her son, “See you at dinner, sweetheart.”
Ben turned to his dad and gave him an exasperated look. “She doesn’t change, does she?”
“No, and I’d watch out. She’s been lining up dates for you. I’m sure that’ll be a hot topic at today’s Cowbelles meeting, too.”
Ben Senior referred to the women’s organization of which Leonora was president. The group raised a great deal of money for a number of Valley charities and provided much-needed support to the local schools. Their biggest event of the year was the Valley Fair, and it drew people from hundreds of miles around.
“Well, I’m not interested. Please let her know that at dinner tonight, which I, unfortunately, have to miss.”
“Hot date?”
“Something like that.” Ben winked at his father. “Now let’s get over to the Lodge, and I’ll help you coddle the city slickers.”
* * *
Chapter 12
Jeb tipped his hat, sweat ringing his forehead as he watched Maggie latch Tabasco’s stall. “So, Boss, I’m headin’ out unless you still need me?”
It was the end of the workday, horses all groomed, fed, and put up for the night. Cicadas buzzed, piercing the stillness the darkened barn.
Maggie smiled at him. “All set, and the ‘Boss’ bit ends tomorrow. Harley’s due back.”
“You’re still my boss lady, chain of command and all that. Shouldn’t you be headin’ out, too, for your hot date?”
“It’s not a date.”
“Does he know that?”
“No, but I’m going to tell him.”
“Good luck with that.”
Maggie laughed and swatted him with her hat. “Get out of here! See you in the morning. Tabasco’s rider should be joining us, at least for a little while. I think I’ll try riding him first.”
“I’ll miss him. He’s—“
“Special, yup. Wish we could keep him. Giant that he is, he’s a gentle boy. He’d be great with the kids.”
“Even if their parents had a heart attack, watching ’em.”
Jeb waved, and Maggie retreated to the tack room to gather her things. Was she stalling because the thought of seeing Ben Morgan thrilled and scared her more than she cared to admit? That one little brush of a kiss had sent her into orbit. Did she trust herself around him? No, she did not, but then maybe a little wanton behavior wasn’t a bad thing?
Maggie walked out of the barn, a dreamy smile on her face, and almost ran smack-dab into Leonora Morgan.
“Oh, Mrs. Morgan, hello. Were we expecting you?”
“No, dear, totally spontaneous visit. Just wanted to say hello, see how you, Ned, and Emma were doing.”
“Fine, thanks.” Maggie regarded the older woman quizzically, wondering what was behind this unexpected visit. Leonora rode with her husband maybe once a year, on their anniversary, and only then to please him. To Maggie’s knowledge, since Ben Senior’s heart attack, his wife had not come within a hundred yards of the stables.
“Any news about Emma’s prognosis?”
“Nothing’s changed. There’s a doctor in Baltimore who has done surgeries on children with Emma’s type of injury, but the expense of getting her back there, not to mention the cost of the procedures themselves, is beyond me right now, especially when the outcome is uncertain. This type of surgery is considered experimental so it’s uncertain if insurance would pay for it. After all she’s been through, I won’t put her through any more, at least not right now. Maybe in a year or two.”
“Maggie, you know Mr. Morgan and I would help you. Loans, travel support, whatever you need.”
“Thank you, and I’m grateful. Mr. Morgan has offered before, but this is something I need to take care of myself.”
“Well, dear, I won’t keep you. I imagine you’re anxious to get home. Just off to see the Dillons. Rose, their daughter, was very close to our Ben. Rose is back in the area and they’re planning a get-together to reconnect. So exciting for our family, the prospect of two Valley families joining. It’s always been my secret wish for Ben. They’re so suited to one another. Do you know Rose?”
Maggie shook her head and prayed Leonora could not sense the trembling that coursed through her body. “I know the name, but she was ahead of me in school, and she hasn’t been around town for years, has she?”
“She’s been back east at medical school, then off making her fortune, just like our dear Ben. Now they’re both back. Isn’t that wonderful? Rose is with a very prestigious pediatric clinic in Tucson. She’s a neurosurgeon, you know, specializing in spinal injuries. You should take Emma to see her. She and her associates are highly sought-after, I understand. We’re lucky to have them here in Arizona.”
“That’s good to know, Mrs. Morgan, I will think about it. If there’s nothing more, I should get going.”
“Of course, dear, sorry to detain you. Have a wonderful evening.”
Maggie almost ran to her car. She breathed a huge sigh as she shut the door of the clunker, never so glad of its refuge. Unbidden tears threatened to fall as she backed up, with Leonora Morgan waving her off. This is why I will not get involved with Ben Morgan again. Her heart felt as if Leonora Morgan had plunged a knife to its very core. What was I thinking? She would not allow herself to be undone again. It wasn’t fair to Emma, her dad, or herself.
Leonora watched the disgraceful excuse for an automobile drive away and knew she’d been right to come. After hearing from her husband that Ben wouldn’t be home for dinner, she instinctively knew why and with whom he’d be. She hadn’t a clue what hold Maggie Williams had over her oldest, but she wasn’t about to allow him to throw his life away on a harlot. She had plans for him, and they did not include a relationship with a stable hand.
* * *
Chapter 13
Ben arrived at the Williams’ home a few minutes early. As he made his way up the front walk, he observed that the house needed a coat of paint, but the gardens on either side were well tended and bursting with summer blooms. A small vegetable garden flourished in the side yard, and he wondered if it was the work of Ned or Maggie. His heart raced as he rang the doorbell. The thought of seeing her, being near to her, drinking in her sweet scent, touching her skin as soft as rose petals, was enough to give him a hard-on. Whoa boy.
His cell phone rang, and his mother’s number popped up. He switched the phone to vibrate without picking up. Mom, you will not, I repeat, not ruin this evening for me.
Ned Williams opened the door, stepped out on the porch, and closed the door behind him. “Hey, there, Ben. Good to see you.”
Ben grasped the other man’s outstretched hand. “You, too, Ned. It’s been a while.”
“Sure has. You look a little thinner than I remember. Food not so hot in California?”
Ben laughed. “Something like that. Stress seems to be a factor, too, according to my doctor.”
“Well, glad to see you home. Your parents must be thrilled.”
Ben nodded. “Is Maggie okay? Did she tell you we were having dinner tonight?”
“She did, but something’s come up and she wanted me to tell you she’s sorry, but she can’t make it.”
Ben’s face fell. His body felt like it was collapsing into itself, breath knocked out of him along with it. “Is something wrong? Can I at least speak with her?”
Ned regarded the younger man thoughtfully. Ben Morgan’s distress and obvious disappointment appeared genuine. While he felt sympathy for his daughter’s would-be suitor, Ned had been around enough women to know that they were incomprehensible creatures. Men mere pawns in affairs of the heart.
“She’s not here, son. She took Emma to Gracie’s for dinner. Sorry.”
Ben thanked him and turned away. As he walked toward the Rover, Ned called after him. “Give her time, son. Works wonders.”
Ben got behind the wheel and wondered what to do. He would not go home to his mother’s questions and nagging about the eligible women she had lined up for him to meet. He knew he could go out to eat, to the Grille, just west of town, or, he could go to Gracie’s. Why not? Gracie was sure to have a trout special on the menu. He turned the Rover around and headed toward the center of town.
They were in a back booth, Emma’s wheelchair parked alongside them. The child sat in a booster on one side of the booth, her mom, back to him, on the other. Emma was a lovely child, with brown curls and chestnut eyes. He noticed freckles sprinkled across her nose as he neared them. She was laughing at something her mom had said, her face lit up with a smile that would melt an iceberg. Ben hadn’t spent much time around kids, but he knew a beauty when he saw one. Of course, she’d be beautiful with a mother like Maggie. He wondered about the father, jealous that another man might have a claim on this rare, precious being or her mother. There was something familiar about this little girl.
As he neared the booth, Ben felt as if he were coming home. Emma spied him first and looked up. Her mother followed her gaze, and her mouth fell open as she spotted him.
Ben slid into the booth alongside the child, since the wheelchair blocked access to her mother’s side. “Hey, Maggie. This must be Emma?”
While her mother fought for composure, Emma rewarded him with a shy smile.
“Mr. Morgan, hello. Yes, this is my daughter, Emma. Emma, Mr. Morgan.”
Ben turned to Emma and extended his hand. “Pleased to meet you, sweetheart. And it’s Ben. Nobody calls me Mr. Morgan except for stuffy old bankers.”
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