Kurt: Cowboy (Members From Money Book 23)

by Katie Dowe

  The driveway stretched for miles and Alexis admired the beautiful flowers and stately palm trees as they made their way up to the house. Horses neighed softly breaking the silence and she could see them making their way across a paddock not far from the main house. “This is horse and cattle country my dear. Do you ride?” Erica asked her.

  “When I was little. Dad took me to a dude ranch and I had the time of my life.” Alexis told her quietly as she opened the door to get out. He materialized out of nowhere and came to take her arm.

  “Hi,” his engaging smile was for her alone as he looked down at her. “I will give you the tour in the morning.” He looked at his mother. “Dinner is being served.”

  He tucked her hand through his arm and guided her inside. His sisters stood just inside the elegant foyer waiting for them. Alexis stared at the tall willowy blonde in fascination! The girl looked like a kewpie doll! And the older one was beautiful in a kind of subdued way with healthy dark brown hair streaked heavily with blonde and amazing green eyes.

  “These are my sisters: Tessa and Kathy.” He smiled at them and then looked down at Alexis. “This is Alexis Turner.”

  They were warm and enveloping and made her feel at home. The food was sumptuous and was served by two uniformed maids with pleasant smiles. He sat next to her even though she had a feeling that his place was at the head of the table. They spoke about horses and the cattle that were ready for shipping out. She remembered vaguely reading about the Murphy’s Ranch and how successful they were but she could not quite place where she had read it. She did not know who she was and what she did! She shied away from thinking about what happened too much, forcing herself to join in on the conversation. She was wearing one of Tessa’s dresses, of that she was sure. The girl was her height but Alexis’ busts were fuller and the bosom was tight. She was going to get some things of her own.

  “Now my dear, I am sure you want to get some rest.” Erica said with a smile as they got to their feet. “How about I show you--”

  “I will do it,” Kurt said swiftly.

  The three women stared at him in surprise. “Okay.” Erica nodded.

  “I put some things inside your room. Please let us know if you need anything else.” Tessa told her.

  “Thank you,” Alexis said quietly as she allowed him to take her hand and led her towards the suite of rooms.

  “This is so beautiful,” she murmured as they made their way through passage ways with delightful paintings and colorful rugs.

  “My mother and sisters decorated throughout the years.” Kurt held her hand unconsciously. He had the sudden urge to protect her from everything! He pushed open a solid oak door and they stepped into a rose and cream sitting room with a few elegant furniture scattered around. “There is one more bedroom, a bathroom and a small kitchenette in case you don’t want to go all the way to the main kitchen. Here is the main bedroom,” he pushed the door open and she stared at the sheer loveliness of the soft rose and cream room. The windows were floor to ceiling and allowed a spectacular view of the rose garden and the gently rolling terrain. “The place was built with the idea that the sun would wake us up. You can see out but no one can see in.”

  “It’s beautiful,” she whispered, feeling the peace settling in.

  He stood back and watched her as she looked around. “If you need anything at all--”

  “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “I am a stranger. The best thing to do for me is to ship me off to a hotel and forget about me.”

  “We are not that kind of people.” He told her quietly. “You need someone and we want to be there for you.”

  She walked towards one of the sofas and sank down onto it wearily. “I don’t remember anything ... I only know what happened in my past and I have no idea how long I am going to be like this. I cannot stay here indefinitely.”

  “Just take it one day at a time.” He wanted to take her into his arms and comfort her.

  She looked up at him, her dark brown eyes shimmering and tugging at his heart strings. “Thanks.”

  Chapter 3

  He started at the knock on the door. He had left her suite and made his way to his and had been sitting on the patio staring out at nothing in particular. He had found it hard to leave her and he had never felt such a strong punch to his system before. He had wanted to stay with her and tell her that he would make sure that everything was okay.

  He turned to see Tessa coming out to the balcony with a bottle of wine and two glasses. “Chardonnay. I figured you could use some company.”

  “I am heading out in a little bit.” He took the bottle from her and popped it open and poured the wine.

  “Why do you figure that?”

  “I have never seen you look at a woman the way I saw you looking at our guest. I want to tell you that it is a very bad idea but what do I know?” she sat on one of the chairs and leaned back as she sipped her wine. “After my last disastrous relationship, I am not sure I really know what’s up.”

  “I thought you were over him?” Kurt said sharply feeling the anger churning inside him. Michael Mallory had come at the ranch as a vet who had been called in to treat one of their horses who had stumbled and broke his flank. He had been sitting in for their usual vet who had gone on vacation. Kurt had had his misgivings about the man and had expressed it as soon as his sister had started seeing him. But she had gone ahead and it had ended badly when Michael admitted that he was married and his wife was in Europe studying. Tessa had taken to bed for a week and it was due to her sister, mother and brother that she had slowly healed and was like her old self again. Kurt had threatened him and told him that he was to leave town immediately.

  “I am,” her green eyes sought his and she sighed. “I loved him, Kurt. I fell hard and believed his lies and that is something you don’t really get over.”

  “You will.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I saw Blake sniffing around,” he said casually referring to their neighbor a few miles away.

  “I am not interested. Not now.”

  “He is a good man Tes,” he told her.

  “I know,” she smiled at him and stared out at the sky with its millions of stars. “You are the best man I know apart from Dad. You are the whole package: rich, successful, handsome and a man who knows how to treat a woman.” She glanced at him. “She is going to be impossible to get through to darling.”

  “I love a challenge,” he said as he lifted his glass to meet hers.

  *****

  He took her on a partial tour. He had gotten up at his usual hour of four and had gone out to meet his men while they made their rounds. Winter was coming soon and they were making sure the fences were secured and everything in place. Two years ago they had found vagrants camped out on a parcel of their land and had almost set fire to the place.

  He came back and had breakfast with them watching her as she ate the cured bacon and scrambled eggs and drank two cups of coffee.

  “Ready?” he asked her gently as they got up from the table. She was dressed in a dark blue sweater that looked snug at the bosom and faded denims and sneakers. Her hair was in a ponytail and she looked as young as Kathy.

  “Are you sure?” he asked her uncertainly.

  “Positive unless you are not up for it.”

  “I am.”

  “Good. I am not sure your expertise, so I had Mack saddle a sweet harmless horse for you.” He took her hand and led her outdoors. “How did you sleep?”

  “Surprisingly well.” It was almost eight and there were various activities going on.

  He led her over to the paddock where a wiry old man led a gentle dark brown horse to her.

  “Thanks Mack.” He took the reins and led the horse out before turning to her. “Her name is Sugarplum.” He grinned at her. “Kathy named her. Here, let me help you up.” His large hands spanned her small waist and he lifted her effortlessly onto the horse’s back. Alexis gripped the reins for a moment and closed her eyes be
fore leaning forward and patting his flanks. “You are sweet,” she whispered as she rubbed him down, smiling as he whinnied in pleasure. Kurt stared at her for a moment. The smile had lit her face up making it more beautiful. She looked down at him.

  “I think it’s safe to say that you are familiar with horses.”

  “It feels that way.”

  She looked at the horse whose reins he was holding in his hand. “What his name?”

  “Thunderbolt.” He vaulted into the saddle with ease and patted his flanks. “He does not allow anyone else on his back except me.” He looked over at her. “Ready?”

  She took a deep breath and nodded. She could not help but noticed how ruggedly handsome he looked sitting astride what she suspected was a thoroughbred. He was wearing the traditional faded denims which stretched across his muscular thighs lovingly and he had on a white t-shirt and a denim jacket. His hair was brushed back into a ponytail and he had on a wide brimmed hat.

  “I think so.” She gripped the reins tightly.

  “Loose,” he instructed her. “Let her lead. Thunderbolt is rearing to go so I am going to give him his head and come back for you.”

  “I will be fine.”

  He nodded and turned the horse in a tight circle as he headed out. Her eyes widened at the speed at which they took off and she could not help but admire how he and his horse looked like one! She urged Sugarplum along and the horse started cantering after a few minutes. For the first time since the accident she felt a rush of exhilaration! The view was spectacular! She pulled on the reins to get a better look at the sloping terrain with its incredibly healthy green foliage and trees heavy with fruits. “It must be very nice living here every day and seeing all this,” she murmured to herself as she looked around. She slowed down as she heard the pounding of hooves and realized that he was heading back towards her.

  He pulled in the reins sharply as he came near and stopped. “I want to show you something.”

  “Okay.” She nodded.

  He led the way and stopped as they came to a gurgling stream surrounded by what seemed like thousands of orange trees. He got off his horse and came to get her. Alexis inhaled sharply as his hands encircled her waist and for a minute her hands rested on his chest as she slid to the ground. In that minute, his blue eyes met and held hers and the surrounding area complete with the sound of water running over stones and the rustle in the trees seemed to fade away. She broke the spell as she stumbled back and moved away from him.

  “This is incredible!” she said a little huskily, her body still very aware of him.

  “I come here when I want to think or when I have to make decisions.” He had come up alongside her and she did her best to ignore the prickling of her skin. “Come on.” He urged and she did so following him as he sat on a broad smooth stone and gestured for her to do the same.

  “You grew up here.”

  “Yes. I left when I went to college and came back.”

  “You never yearned for the city?” she asked him curiously as she raised her feet up and rested her chin on her knees.

  “Never.” He said with a laugh. She gazed at the contrast of his white teeth against his dark skin. “A cowboy I am just like my dad and his dad before him and I never wanted to be anything else.”

  “You raise cattle?”

  “The best in the country and maybe the world. Our beef are in high demands all over and sometimes we are hard put to find enough people to fill the orders. We feed our animals on organic grass and feed and they produce fantastic and healthy meat. Our chef makes the best roast beef you will ever taste.”

  “You love what you do,” she murmured as she looked at him.

  “I do. Just three years ago we started breeding thoroughbreds and selling them. Our horses are winning races all over the country.” He glanced over at Thunderbolt who was drinking from the stream. “I got him as a foal and thought about selling him but we bonded and I could not bear to let him go.”

  Alexis looked over at the beautiful animal and noticed the shiny coat. “I am not used to inactivity.”

  “I have an idea. Why don’t you help my sisters out? We can even pay you a salary.”

  She met his gaze and then looked away. “I don’t know anything about what you do here.”

  “It’s just paperwork and I have a feeling you will catch on. How about it?”

  “I am already imposing on you and your family by staying here. I don’t want to impose further.”

  “You won’t,” his tone was persuasive. “Think about it Alexis. At least it will give you financial independence.”

  She stared off into the trees for a moment and then nodded. “If your sisters won’t mind.”

  He almost whooped with joy! If she was doing something then chances are she would not be thinking of leaving. At least he hoped so!

  “They won’t.” he glanced at his watch and saw that he had some cattle to round up and he had to head into town for a meeting.

  He got to his feet and held out a hand to help her up. He did not let go even when she got to her feet but held her hand in his as he looked down at her. He really was tall! She thought with a jump in her heart. “I promise that we will come back and stay longer.” He told her softly.

  She nodded and stood where she was as they looked at each other. “Alexis--”

  “We should go.” She pulled her hand away and headed for her horse. He stood there for a moment looking at her before he went to help her up, his hands shaking a little!

  *****

  Tessa laughed at the dumbfounded expression on the girl’s face as she stepped into a full blown suite of offices situated at the far end of the huge building. Tessa and her mother held the largest offices with several clerical staff in cubicles with phones to their ears or on their desktop computers. Kathy’s office was smaller and a peek through the open door found the stunning beauty sitting on the edge of her desk with a phone to her ear. She waved at them and continued talking on the phone. “You figured that it was a room with boxes heaped to one side and an old outdated computer struggling for life.”

  “I never expected a room much more this,” Alexis told her honestly. “You are totally cut off from the residence. I had no idea something like this was going on.”

  Tessa led her into her office space. “We are a big business Alexis. We deal with customers all over the world. We have gone into packaging beef and placing them in supermarkets. Our pork chops are flying off the shelves and we are thinking of spreading our wings further to Europe.”

  “You have your hands full.” Alexis commented as she sat on a chair in the elegant office.

  “That’s putting it mildly.” She looked up as a slim Asian girl hurried in and handed her a document. “Kurt handles the ranch with all the animals and the men who work around the ranch and we handle the ins and outs of it. My brother is up at the crack of dawn and is the last one to turn in. He works pretty hard.”

  Alexis felt strange hearing that about him. Something had passed between them but she was not willing to explore anything. She did not even know who she was! “What can I do?”

  “We have press releases to go out and Kathy needs help with sales. She was thinking of hiring someone. The salary is not bad.” Tessa said with a smile.

  “Considering that I am staying here without paying anything and eating your delicious food, then I would say I would be grateful for anything.” Alexis said with a wobbly smile.

  “You are going to remember Alexis,” Tessa told her soberly. “In the meantime, let’s get you to work.”

  *****

  “How is she doing?” Kurt twisted off the cap of the beer and turned it to his mouth. It had wanted to come back to check on her but some steer had gotten loose and it had taken them a pretty long time to round up all of them. Plus they were getting ready for the barn dance that would be happening in two weeks that saw neighbors from miles away coming to enjoy the whole day event.

  “She is very competent and just fits rig
ht in,” Tessa reached for his bottle and took a swig before handing it back to him. They were sitting in the cavernous kitchen. The chef and the rest of the kitchen staff had turned in for the night as it was a little after ten but Tessa had been restless and had come to get herself something to drink.

  “She seemed agitated to you?” he emptied the bottle and went to get another one. He was tired and filthy but he did not feel like going in right now.

  “Far from it,” Tessa glanced at her brother quizzically. “You are wearing your heart on your sleeve darling.”

  “I am just concerned.” He muttered.

  “And she is a woman not in full use of her faculties. She is not going to want to get into a relationship.”

  Kurt shrugged and ran tapered fingers through his hair. “I am aware of that.”

  “Good. I love you and don’t want to see you hurt. I also like her a lot she is not only beautiful but she is fun.” Tessa paused. “There is a sadness around her, did you get that?”

  He nodded. “I am hoping to erase it.”

  *****

  Alexis watched in admiration as he put his horse through the paces. They really were great together! She thought as she saw him touched him lightly and the horse obeyed by turning in a tight circle. She had left the office and eaten with Erica and her two daughters and had looked out for him but they told her that he had decided to eat with the ranch hands. He had gotten off the horse and was coming back when he saw her. He stopped for a moment and Alexis wondered if she had done the wrong thing and wandered out here. “Hey,” he slapped the horse’s rump and he galloped away. “Can’t sleep?”

  “Not quite. I hope I did not disturb you.”

  He swung over the rails and came alongside her. “No. I was wrapping up. You warm enough?”

  She snuggled further into the cashmere jacket that she had gotten from Tessa and nodded. “That was really something.”