Captive of the Cattle Baron (Selkirk Family Ranch Book 1)

by Irene Vartanoff

  Addie nodded. Baron’s body was so perfect, so tempting.

  Paula shrugged. “I went with Tess to visit J.D. one day. He spewed lots of bitter, nasty words. I wanted him anyway. Body destroyed, mind messed up. He’s the one I want.”

  Paula stared into her glass. Her chin-length dark hair covered her expression.

  Addie took a deep breath. “Are you and Tess roommates? You seem so close.”

  “She lives with her parents in Cheyenne. They visit J.D. every day. As soon as each visit is over, Tess looks for a drink.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “It’s not a healthy situation, dragging his sister with them every time. All her parents think about is J.D. They don’t notice what they’re doing to Tess.”

  “Doesn’t she have a life of her own?”

  “Not exactly. She doesn’t have a regular job.”

  “Tell me about that.”

  “I’ll do better. Tess,” she called. “Come tell Addie all about your coaching business.”

  “Why? Does she need a life coach?” Tess’s voice held a sneer, but she ambled over and threw herself down on her chair again.

  “What’s involved in being a life coach?” Addie asked.

  “I help people focus on what they truly want in life. Retirees, kids who can’t choose a college major, any age.”

  “You give them advice?” Addie wasn’t able to hide her skepticism, given Tess’s condition.

  “You’re wondering how could a lush like me help anybody?”

  “Tess,” Paula warned.

  “I don’t drink to excess unless I’m here, safe on the ranch,” Tess said. “Back in Cheyenne, I only have enough to loosen up after those horrible visits with J.D.”

  “I—it’s not my business,” Addie replied, taken aback by Tess’s frankness.

  “I limit myself to two or three drinks per day.”

  Fine words, but her elocution was mushier by the minute.

  “Tell her about the life coaching,” Paula said.

  Tess aimed a defiant glance at her friend before pouring another drink from a second pitcher, then gulping half of it at once. “Do you really want to know?” she asked Addie.

  “I’ve never met a life coach before.”

  Tess set her drink down. “When I’m not drunk, unlike today, I give personality tests and have my clients do exercises. I help them think about what makes them happy and what stresses them. Then they commit to making changes, and I talk them through it.”

  “That sounds very worthwhile. Have you coached for long?”

  “For a year. Ever since the move to Cheyenne.”

  “So things are looking up for your career?”

  Tess stared at her glass. “Coaching isn’t my career,” she declared in a bitter tone. “It’s merely the way I spend my time when we’re not at the hospital. Anyway, I don’t have many clients.” She poured another drink and downed it all in one lengthy swallow.

  Addie looked at Paula for guidance. Paula appeared pained, either by Tess’s drinking or her confession.

  “Baron told me you wanted to go to Los Angeles? To act?” Addie asked.

  Tess snarled, “Don’t talk about that. My family forced me to abandon that dream.” She hurled her glass at a small piece of decorative statuary at the edge of the patio. The glass hit dead on and shattered. She sobbed once then said, “I need another drink.”

  Addie looked at Paula, “I didn’t mean to—”

  Paula shook her head a little. Addie closed her mouth. Tess grabbed another glass from the tray in the center of the table, and poured more clear liquid from the pitcher by her elbow. She took her drink and stumbled up, defying gravity, and began ambling around the pool deck again.

  “Does she do this often?” Addie asked, speaking in a low tone so Tess couldn’t hear her.

  “Get drunk and throw things? Whenever she can escape her parents.”

  “They sound like—” Addie didn’t finish the thought.

  “They’re good people, but they don’t see what they’re doing to her,” Paula said. “She won’t drink like this tomorrow. She’s just blowing off steam. Every member of this family has been adversely affected by J.D.’s horrible injuries.”

  “Baron, too?” Addie asked.

  Paula nodded. “When his father ran the ranch, Baron was very laid back. Now that he has the full load is on his shoulders, he’s all work and no play. His women call it quits fast. That’s why Tess and I were surprised to find you staying here. You’re a step in the right direction.”

  Addie was not ready to confide the awkward truth behind her stay at the ranch. “Thanks for telling me. You’ve explained a lot.”

  Paula shrugged. “Since you’re his girlfriend, you might as well understand what’s eating this family.”

  “I’m not—”

  “I went down to the stable and saw you two kissing, so don’t bother denying it.”

  “Okay, I won’t,” she said, but felt her cheeks heating a little. Thank goodness she’d stopped their lovemaking. They’d thought they were completely alone. The temptation to make love right then and there had been almost overwhelming. They’d been getting into some very explicit groping, too. How embarrassing that Paula might have seen. She said she only saw them kissing, but maybe she was merely being polite about what exactly they were doing.

  For the first time, Addie really looked at Paula. “You come here just to deliver Tess safely so she can grieve, don’t you?”

  “You could say that. I care about this family.”

  Baron arrived at the pool. He wore conventional baggy trunks. Addie was relieved. If he’d shown up in a Speedo, she’d likely have drooled. Even Tess would have noticed. Especially Tess, whose inebriation made her more frank than polite.

  The maillot was almost dry, but still uncomfortably see-through. She didn’t try to cover herself in case Baron looked her way.

  Tess suddenly pointed a finger at Addie and said, “That suit is see-through. We used them when we were on the swim team. Remember, Paula?”

  Baron’s attention was drawn to Addie. Of course her nipples peaked. His stare grew intense.

  Awkward. She was just about to pull her towel around her when Baron jumped into the water. Probably because he needed to drape a towel around himself. They were hopeless. She stifled an urge to giggle.

  She’d learned some important facts about Baron’s family, but she’d had enough. She said a general goodbye and went into the house. Back in her room, she showered and dressed in fresh borrowed clothes, this time a light summery dress and thong sandals she’d found in the guest room closet.

  Down in the kitchen, she found Miss Betty in a frenzy of cooking, TV sitcom blasting away.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” Addie asked.

  “Bless you, child. I’ve got it all under control.” Miss Betty gave her a shrewd look. “Hoot told me you’re workin’ wonders with that wild stallion. You’ve got a talent, he says.”

  “Thanks. Horses are easy to understand.” Addie shrugged. “Unlike men.”

  Miss Betty cackled. “You got that right. Men don’t make a lick of sense. Never have.”

  Addie was about to retreat when Miss Betty stopped her labor over the bread board.

  “You can set the table in the dining room if you want. Dishes in the breakfront.”

  In the formal dining room, Addie found sterling flatware and damask napkins as well as bone china, but nothing more casual. She stuck her head back in the kitchen. “Did you want me to use the sterling and the fancy napkins?”

  “Yep. It’s not every day we have so much company. Might as well use the good china, too.”

  Addie was arranging the tableware artistically when Baron found her. He was still in his swim trunks.

  “Why’d you vanish?”

  “My suit was see-through,” she said.

  “My big mouth. I shouldn’t have ragged on you about wearing skimpy clothing.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I
overreacted. I get so turned on every time I see you.”

  Addie’s mouth dropped open.

  “I need you, Addie,” His arms pulled her against his bare torso. Her thin cotton dress hardly created a barrier between their flesh. She could feel every muscle in his chest. Her hands found their way to caress his nipples, even as hers hardened. Their lips entwined. He crushed her against him. His tongue delved into her mouth, and his hands caressed her hips. One hand inched up her short skirt and played with her thigh. She gasped and rubbed herself against him.

  A loud bang from the kitchen brought them back to themselves.

  “Addie, I want you. You want me. Why are we waiting?” he asked.

  “I must return to Jackson Hole. After I do, then we’ll see how we feel.”

  His brow darkened. “You keep saying that. I want you to stay here. With me.”

  She shook her head. “I won’t be your captive.” She turned and escaped the mingled pressure and temptation. Back in her room, she caught sight of herself. His wet body had imprinted in key spots on her dress. In addition to wet cloth over her nipples, she saw a telltale damp patch where his groin had pressed hard against her.

  She groaned. She wanted him so much. He was a magnificent man. She loved his kisses. His other touches were exciting and caused her body to go hot. But how would Baron react to the vicious publicity of the tabloids? Would he think her as tainted as they pretended she was?

  She changed dresses then hurried back to the dining room to finish her small task for Miss Betty. Once that was done, she wandered out to the front porch. The evening air was already cooling. There she found Paula, changed into a deceptively simple summer dress. Designer, but not obvious. “Did you want to be alone? I could go elsewhere,” Addie offered.

  “If I wanted to be alone, I could have stayed in Cheyenne,” was the dry reply. “Tell me about horse…whispering, you called it? What drew you to it?”

  “Kim Novak and Brigitte Bardot.”

  “Who?” Paula scrunched up her face, obviously trying to place the names.

  “Sex symbol movie stars from mid-twentieth century. They became big animal lovers after they learned the only males to be trusted have four feet.”

  Paula laughed. “You must have been mighty disillusioned at an early age.”

  Addie took a seat on a rocker. “Nothing overly traumatic.”

  “How did you decide on horse whispering?”

  “I visited a ranch and there was a horse who acted up for others, but was very good for me. Someone told me it was because I talked to him as if he was a puppy.” She shook her head, remembering. “I must have sounded like an idiot.”

  “But the horse responded.”

  “He did, and my career was born. I’d found something I was naturally good at, something that helped the world a little bit.”

  “Not biochemistry or physics,” Paula said, smiling.

  Addie shrugged. “I wasn’t university material. Helping civilize horses the right way is something I can do, and it needs to be done. We don’t have to break horses. We should be humane toward the animals in our care.”

  “Unfortunately, we still have war, and man’s vicious inhumanity to man,” Paula said, obviously thinking of J.D. and the I.E.D.’s terrible damage.

  “I can’t stop war,” Addie said. “Peace in the stables and the corral I can manage.”

  “How noble. Perhaps you could widen your scope to arrange for peace in this wretched family,” Tess said, sweeping out to the porch and plopping down on the glider next to Paula. Tess was also wearing a lightweight summer dress for the occasion.

  Addie frowned. Was the mix of scorn and misery in Tess’s voice aimed at her, or at the world in general?

  Paula put an arm around Tess. “We’re here to relax.”

  Tess shrugged off her friend’s arm and leaned forward to face Addie. “Why are you at my family’s ranch?”

  Tess did not need to know about Addie’s unplanned trip from Jackson Hole. “Baron wants me here.”

  “This is my home,” Tess said, with a mean gleam in her eye. “I think you should leave.”

  “Tess.” Paula voiced her disapproval in one syllable.

  Addie’s mouth dropped open. “Do you say that kind of thing to every woman Baron brings to the ranch?”

  “And why are you wearing my clothes?” Tess asked, the anger in her expression intensifying.

  Addie looked down at the simple shift and thongs she wore. “I was under the impression they were discards, available to anyone who visited.”

  “I don’t want you wearing my clothes,” Tess said.

  “You’re still drunk,” Paula said, her voice low and sad.

  “I may be drunk, but I can still tell this—this horsy girl she’s not wanted here.” Tess’s voice rose.

  “Not wanted?” Baron’s deep voice repeated his sister’s words, but with an angrier inflection. He stood at the door. “Addie is a guest. Behave.”

  To Addie’s relief, Tess subsided into sulky silence.

  “Miss Betty says dinner is ready.” Baron frowned. “She sent me out here to collect you all. Maybe Tess ought to skip it.”

  Paula nodded. She stood and urged Tess to stand, too. “Let’s go to your bedroom.”

  “I don’t feel so good,” Tess said. She meekly allowed Paula to lead her into the house.

  Addie stared after them.

  “I apologize for my sister.” Baron moved close and put his arms around Addie. “She’s very unhappy and she acts up with everyone. That’s why Paula brings her to the ranch.”

  “I feel bad. I’m wearing her clothes, living in her childhood home. Obviously, I’m in the way.”

  “No. I want you here.” He leaned in and kissed her lips. He might have meant it to be a light kiss, but the moment their mouths touched, they took fire. His tongue and hers entwined, and their bodies strained to meld. Their arms clutched at each other restlessly.

  “Dinner’s ready. Where is everybody?” came Miss Betty’s voice from the hall.

  They broke off the embrace, each breathing deeply. They stared at each other, their eyes telling their frustrated desire.

  “Dinner, I said. I cooked all afternoon.” Miss Betty stood at the threshold.

  Baron put his arm around Addie and pulled her close to his side. They walked into the house.

  Paula joined them in the elegant dining room soon after. A little bit after that, Tess arrived. Would this be a repeat of a few minutes ago?

  As dinner proceeded, Tess was on her best behavior. They spoke of innocuous things as Miss Betty insisted on bringing in heaping platters and bowls of meats, vegetables, and salads.

  She refused to eat with them, saying, “I’ll be listenin’. See if you children can behave yourselves for an hour. If I hear loud words, no dessert.” With that, she withdrew.

  Baron smoothly directed the conversation to talk of Paula’s investment ideas.

  “It’s a great time to buy real estate, but when isn’t?” she said.

  “That’s how the ranch got so large,” Baron explained to Addie. “Our great-grandparents came out here in a covered wagon, and they held on. It was a tough life. Lots of ranches failed. As others gave up, our family bought their land and expanded our holdings.”

  “The rumor that we helped them fail by damming up the only water supply is false,” Tess said, deadpan.

  Paula laughed. “I do remember someone accusing you of that.”

  “Great-grandpa might have made some cutthroat deals,” Baron shrugged. “He was a shrewd old guy, I hear. When a family is selling up and leaving, they’ll accept whatever price is offered.”

  “There isn’t any fortune that doesn’t involve blood or tears,” Paula said.

  Addie nodded. Her TV earnings had cost her some tears as a child, when she’d had to work while others her age could play. Today, her accumulated fortune cost her more pain, because it made her a target of the tabloids and of men who wanted to use her.

 
Tess asked her brother, “Are you thinking of buying more land? Dad won’t go for it.”

  Baron’s expression soured. “Some acres on the west edge, up beyond the stream. The rock formations on that property are intriguing.”

  “Dad only wants land if it has additional water, to run more cattle,” Tess warned.

  Baron said, “I might buy that piece anyway. I saved my salary while working as a geologist.”

  “Be careful you don’t end up land rich and cash poor,” Paula cautioned.

  “Speaking of that, are you poor?” Tess asked, breaking into Addie’s musings.

  Paula said, “Tess.”

  Tess persisted. “Do you have to work for a living?”

  “Tess. You’re out of line,” Baron said.

  “Stop it,” Paula said.

  “No, that’s okay,” Addie said. “I’ll answer your question if you explain why you asked.”

  “I want to know if you’re after Baron for his money,” was Tess’s bald reply.

  Addie glanced at Baron, her abductor. The man who kept refusing to let her go home. His chagrin at the accusation was obvious. She burst out laughing. “I’m not going to enlighten you about my relationship with Baron. Although we did have some strange initial meetings,” she said, giving him a sly side glance.

  Baron finally cracked a smile.

  Tess blinked, but like a Rottweiler with his teeth clamped on someone’s leg, she refused to let go of the topic. “Are you cozying up to Baron to get at our family’s assets?”

  Addie thought about revealing that her accountant called her a “high net worth individual.” Odds were Paula, the financial pro, knew exactly what that meant. But why should Addie play Tess’s game?

  Addie said. “I work because I want to do something useful with my life.” She raised her glass and took a sip of water. “How about you?”

  Baron said, “She means, do you buy your own booze to get so drunk?”

  Tess’s face turned red. “That’s none of your business.”

  “Sure it is,” Addie said, making her voice sound very reasonable. “If I was a gold-digger, I wouldn’t want my rich target to have a spendthrift relative.”

  “How dare you call me a spendthrift?” Tess shrieked.