by M. E. Brady
“Someday Jenny, this ring will be replaced by another promise ring and I’ll be replaced in your heart by a boy we haven’t met yet. You know, when he comes along I’m going to hate him on sight. But for now, this ring is meant to remind you that I love you and I’m proud to be your dad,” he said with tears in his eyes as he touched the ring on her finger.
“Daddy, don’t be silly. I would never pick a boy over you. That’s totally gross.” He couldn’t help but laugh. It was apparent that fatherhood was having an interesting effect on him. He couldn’t get enough of her and wondered how Katelyn would feel about having a whole houseful of children. “I love my new ring, Daddy. The only other ring I have is this one and it’s too big for me so I wear it on a chain. Momma gave it to me,” she said lifting a gold chain from underneath her shirt.
Gianfranco stared in disbelief at the chain that hung around her small neck and at the ring that hung from the chain. He had to blink to see if his eyes were deceiving him. It was the teakwood ring that he had given Katelyn all those years before when he promised her that he would love her forever. She had kept it; could this mean something? The thought, no matter how ridiculous, quickly left his brain as he recalled seeing her embrace Brody the night before.
He couldn’t help himself, remembering the night he gave her that ring. He became swept up in a cascade of visions and memories from the past. The ring had meant so much to him. It was his way of showing her how committed he was to her. He could have given her diamonds, rubies, emeralds, anything money could buy, but that teakwood ring was his way of showing her that she was his lifeline. She was his reason for pushing himself so much professionally. He had been waiting all these years for her.
Gianfranco called to mind the time the elder Indian woman gave the three of them the blocks of wood. Kevin didn’t know what to make of it but they took everything the Indian woman said to heart. Gianfranco took his vow seriously when he gave the ring to Katelyn; he wanted to be bound to her and as he looked into the eyes of his little girl, he knew he would be. He was still dumbstruck as he released the teakwood ring from his grasp and let it fall to Jenny’s chest. There is indeed truth to that legend.
With purchases in hand, they made their way to the rental truck. The skies looked grey and gloomy all of the sudden. There was a promise of bad weather coming their way; he decided not to take any chances with Jenny and head home now. He should have paid better attention to the changing weather; it was unlike him to be this irresponsible.
“I think we’re going to be in a lot of trouble with Momma. I’m glad you’re going to be with me when she sees all this stuff,” Jenny said placing her little hand on her lap after strapping her seatbelt. “I think she may forgive you though when you give her that big diamond ring,” she added mischievously.
Once again he found such humor in the little things she said to him. He wondered if women in general learned how to scheme from each other or were they born with that ability. “I’m sure she’ll understand,” he said as he jumped in the front seat and adjusted his own seatbelt.
As soon as he buckled his seatbelt, it started to rain. It didn’t take long though before Jenny was fast asleep; he was glad because he knew that she felt safe with him. The road was slick from the rain and it was still pouring as he made his way up the long driveway toward the ranch. He tried his cell phone but there was no service; he assumed it had to do with the mountainous terrain. Gianfranco knew that Katelyn must be frantic with worry and he wanted to bring Jenny home safely without incident. Her little nose kept twitching when he glanced back at her. He could see what the problem was. She had a little curl dangling in her face and when he reached behind him and removed it, she smiled in her sleep.
He had spent the last seven years engrossed in his business. It wasn’t because he was ruthless and determined as people assumed he was because of his success. It was more to hide from the loneliness of missing the relationship he had with Katelyn that he kept himself so immersed in work. There were other women in his life but all those affairs were empty and void of emotional ties. None of the women he spent time with could ever erase the memory of the green-eyed vixen he loved with all his heart. He couldn’t help but compare each and every woman he met with her and, in the end, they never stood up.
He should have been in Jenny’s life all this time and he felt slighted. He should have been there for all the wondrous beginnings that Katelyn witnessed alone. It pained him to think about it and, the more he did, the irritated he became. Will I ever be able to let go of this anger and forgive Katelyn? The future remained unwritten and a mystery.
Chapter Ten
Katelyn glared up at the sky and knew she should have listened to the ranch hands; they warned her that this was a bad idea. They told her taking the horse out when rain was imminent for an inexperienced rider was foolish. She thought she would take a quick ride on Diamond while the weather was clear and crisp and then head back to the ranch once her head was cleared before the rain. It was a stupid idea and as she rode Diamond back toward the ranch, she realized just how stupid. Her clothes were soaking wet and, although the ride felt exhilarating, it was easy to get lost. She had originally set out with clear markers embedded in her head to find her way back without incident but, after arguing with herself she finally admitted that she was lost and going in circles.
“Well Diamond, I really did it this time, didn’t I? I don’t blame you one bit for being mad at me girl,” she said, rubbing the side of the horse’s head. Katelyn could feel the rain coming down heavier now. “I know it’s my fault you’re stranded out here. I think I should listen next time one of the hands tells me it’s going to rain. You think I’m crazy too, don’t you girl?” she asked, not expecting an answer from the animal but receiving a short snort which; Katelyn wondered if Diamond had understood after all.
It started to let up a little bit as she road in circles but Katelyn wasn’t all that confident that she would be able to find her way home any longer. She stopped the horse when she spotted the pond. Sighting the pond, she realized that she was at the farthest point due west from the ranch. She decided, since she knew where they were, she would give the horse a rest before heading out again. She jumped off Diamond and walked a little, taking in the serene breathtaking views. Even in the rain the views were magnificent.
Katelyn was so involved in her own thoughts that she hadn’t notice the sound of an approaching horse or the speed at which he was traveling. It wasn’t until the rider and the horse were directly upon her that she realized who it was. Gianfranco was riding on pure adrenalin and his eyes were dark and full of fearful rage. “This is one of the stupidest things you have done yet. What the hell were you thinking? Juan warned you that the weather was changing. You, being your normal stubborn self, didn’t listen to reason,” he said in a commanding voice, echoing his fury. “If this was your idea of running from me, Katelyn, forget it. I’ll never let you go, never,” he stated flatly.
He continued his rambling for a long time and she didn’t get the chance to respond before he jumped from the horse and crushed her body to his. She could feel his fingers digging into her coat, knowing full well he wanted it to be her flesh. He was kissing her intensely as if he wanted to punish her for something, what, she didn’t know. “I ought to take you over my knee for this. You act like a child sometimes. I’m not going to let you keep us apart if that was part of your stupid plan.”
His voice was curiously foreign. It was as though he were jealous and worried for her safety but that couldn’t be. She could almost swear he was doing all he could to mask his own anxiety. When he mounted the horse again, he sat straight with his shoulders back and commanded her to mount her own horse. Never before had she taken orders from him, or any other man, but she decided to cut him some slack, at least for time being.
“I have no idea why you’re in such a mood but I will not allow you to speak to me like this,” she bit back, knowing full well that her remarks would make the situation
worse. They were both soaking wet and this badgering back and forth was not helping the situation. He stared at her for several seconds before again jumping down from his horse and joining her on the ground. She had no idea what was going on or what he intended to do until she saw him tie the reigns from her horse onto the back of the saddle of his own. He then mounted his horse again and, without any effort on his part, reached down, lifted her up, and placed her in front of him.
Never before had she felt such humiliation, anger and wanton hunger all at the same time. She hated the way he was treating her, as if he owned her, yet she couldn’t deny what her body felt in response to him any more than he could. She mumbled profanities in anger and moved around on the horse, as she did she felt him grab her waist and lift her up and over the horse so that she faced him directly. She went from sitting forward to sitting face to face in front of him in seconds. This was not a position she wanted to be in. He stared into her green eyes and willed her to look deep into his burning soul.
She hadn’t comprehended how close they were until she felt the stab of his erection as it screamed out to be taken into the warmth that resonated from the core of her womanhood. She followed his gaze and knew it was her sweater he was looking at because her jacket had come undone. She’d worn this sweater for him and it was obviously having the desired effect. He could see there was no bra separating them and he took full advantage of that knowledge.
He stopped the horse and dismounted, bringing her with him. He strapped the two horses to a nearby tree and turned his full attention to Katelyn. He positioned her against another tree, pulled her into his arms and thoroughly kissed her. His hands found their way to her coat and he shrugged the jacket off her shoulders and let it slip to the ground. The sweater, which so loosely covered her breasts, fell to her waist and he reached out and touched her naked wet skin. He worshiped her body and with each touch of his hands, she begged for more. His mouth reached down and replaced his hands on her swollen breast. It wasn’t long before he had her begging him to take her. He undid her pants and pulled her thong panties aside; he let his fingers delve into the moist heat that awaited him there. As her breathing continued to become raspier, he unbuckled his own pants, and entered her and took his future wife right there out in the open Montana landscape as their bodies became drenched in rain.
“I’ll never let you go Katelyn, not now, not ever,” he drawled as he buried himself deeper and deeper inside of her. His fingers tightened on her buttocks as he kneaded her skin beneath him. His breathing became harder, more labored as he rode her with pleasure until they each released a storm of orgasms.
Neither one of them could speak as they readjusted their clothing. There was nothing either of them could say to one another. This is what always happened whenever they were together. They each knew how to ignite the flame in the other and only the other could extinguish it. She detested that look of disgusted disappointment in himself that he felt each and every time they made love. She recognized that he was resentful that she had had this carnal control over him.
Katelyn suspected that he preferred the obedient wife, one that he could control. She wasn’t about to be that person, for him or any other man. “How dare you? You have no right to treat me like this,” she said coldly.
Gianfranco only laughed at her sudden game of laying blame for what transpired between them. “I dare, alright Katelyn. I’m going to be your husband so get used to it. Come hell or high water, we’re in this for the long haul, whether either of us like it or not,” he stated. “I won’t let you take the easy way out. Do you understand me?”
She couldn’t believe what her ears had just heard. Does he actually think that I was out here in this weather because I wanted to do harm to myself? She lifted her hands in the air, frustrated that he could think such a thing.
“It’s me you’ll come to when you need a man, Katelyn. Don’t think I’ll sit by when you’re sexually frustrated and allow another man to take my place.”
She couldn’t hide her frustration. “I never want to have sex with you again. I wouldn’t care if you’re the last man on Earth,” she lashed back angrily. He hadn’t been worried about her safety at all. He just wanted to make sure she wasn’t with Brody.
His eyes locked onto hers and, as if she had amused him in some way once again, he set out to prove how easy it was for him to take her. Erotically, he traced her lips with his fingers and held her eyes in a trance, willing her to do his bidding. He watched hypnotically as she drew his finger deeper into her mouth. “Don’t make me prove what a liar you are,” he said mockingly as he took his finger from her mouth into his own in mocking triumph.
Frustration, madness, whatever it was, Gianfranco Broccolini brought out the worst in her and he enjoyed having that power. He made her do things that she would be embarrassed to admit to anyone else and she did it willingly. She stood there in the mud, wishing she didn’t feel for him what she did. He watched and waited patiently for her to come over and mount the horse. She vowed that she would never slip up like this again. She would fight these carnal feelings for him and make sure they would not defeat her again.
They arrived at the ranch together and in one piece, or so everyone thought. Sylvia had been on the porch to greet them when they arrived. She looked a little shaken up and worried but happier now that she knew that Katelyn was safe. Sylvia turned to Katelyn and whispered, “Juan mentioned your expedition to Gianfranco when he got back to the ranch. He couldn’t believe that you had gone out riding in this weather and hadn’t returned so he immediately left in search of you.”
“Juan told Patrick the same thing, who in turn, warned Kevin. Juan said that he had warned you that the weather was changing but you said it was going to be a short ride. He knew you must have gotten lost, after so much time had passed. He would have gone looking for you himself but Gianfranco pulled into the drive just as he was about to leave. I can’t tell you how worried we all were. I’m glad it’s over and that you’re safe and sound,” Sylvia stated calmly.
“Even Brody was worried. Kevin called over there to see if you had ridden to see him. He offered to double back but Gianfranco asked that everyone give him a little time to find you himself before sending anyone out.”
“I’m fine, just a little wet and embarrassed. I didn’t mean to make anyone worry. I thought I could remember all the markers, I’m sorry. Maybe I should call Brody and tell him I’m fine.” Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Gianfranco leaning against the doorframe drying his face with a hand towel, all the while watching her as she dialed Brody’s number. She could tell from his ice cold glare that he didn’t approve of what she was doing. To hell with him, Brody didn’t deserve his wrath; he’d done nothing wrong.
She dialed his number and when Brody answered she knew he had been worried. She took her time convincing him that she was a big girl and everything turned out fine. Gianfranco didn’t flinch but she knew he was not excusing himself until this conversation was terminated. She wasn’t sure when but she was sure he would make her pay for this little indiscretion of hers.
“I should go take a hot shower and change. Sylvia, if you wait I’ll help you with dinner after I’m cleaned up. I just thought of something; weren’t you two supposed to go to dinner?” Katelyn asked with curiosity as she tried to forget the man leaning against the doorframe.
“Kevin decided it was best to come home, in case the rain got any worse. The roads are more hazardous going up and down the mountain in rain. Did you have any luck finding a dress today?” her sister in law asked as she walked across the room. Sylvia couldn’t help but take notice that Gianfranco wasn’t budging from where he stood. She didn’t want to guess at what was going on between them.
“As a matter of fact, I did. Nellie is very talented. You were right about her. I found a gown that is quite an eye-opener. It’s simple, but sexy. I can’t wait for you to see it on me,” she added, knowing Gianfranco was listening to every word she uttered. She wonde
red what he would think if he knew that Nellie was, in fact, the famous designer that he helped to establish, Eleanor Mulaney. She couldn’t help but recall what Nellie had confided in her. She was curious about his past and his female date at the fashion show.
Sylvia was pleased that Katelyn had found a dress and was planning to attend the charity ball. If she could convince Gianfranco to rearrange his schedule, she knew Gianfranco and Katelyn would have a great time together. She could see that there was something very strange going on between them and she thought it might be better if she excused herself and left them alone to talk.
Katelyn couldn’t believe how cruel fate was as she stared at the love of her life. This was a confusing time for her. In just two days, she had three marriage proposals, one by a man who thought he loved her, another from a man who wanted a friend and yet another from the man she loved with all her heart but he couldn’t or wouldn’t love her back.
“I think I should go and check on Jenny. I’m sure she’ll want to fill me in on your adventures today,” Katelyn said, trying to walk past him. He held her arm gently as she moved toward the exit and blocked any advance she was hoping to make to get past him.
“I think we should talk before you go and see Jenny. She knows about us, Katelyn. I told her everything. She suspected the truth and when she came right out and asked me if I was her father, I couldn’t lie to her. I know you would have preferred to have been there but I assure you I was careful about what I told her.” He saw how disappointed she was and he knew what she was thinking. She thinks I told Jenny the truth to get back at her. “I would never hurt her or use her as a pawn against you. I only told her because she asked me,” he said waiting for a reaction.
