Wanted!

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “So I really was a total surprise to him.” The document had said as much, but Nick felt better hearing it again from Emmett.

  “A total surprise to him and to his new wife, Sarah, who was already pregnant with Gabe. Along comes this five-month-old baby delivered in a taxi by a lawyer, a baby conceived during an affair your dad had more than a year ago, before he’d even started courting Sarah.”

  Nick could picture the shock of that. “My dad never did like admitting his mistakes.”

  “Nooo, he surely didn’t. You were the talk of the town for a while, but he convinced everyone it would be better to raise you thinking Sarah was your mother. As time went by, some who knew the truth moved or passed on, and others forgot it.”

  Nick contemplated that for a while. “He must have thought if I ever found out, I’d pass judgment on him.”

  “Probably.” Emmett chewed on his straw. “He was always pretty hard on himself, so he must have figured you’d be hard on him, too.”

  Nick sighed. “Jack has a lot of Dad in him.”

  “That he does, son. That he does.”

  “So what happened to Nicole?”

  “According to the lawyer who delivered you, she went skydiving. Chute never opened.” Nick winced.

  “Yeah, I’m sure your dad had the same reaction. If you ask me, it was a dumb thing for a new mother to do, but she wasn’t that sensible in the first place.”

  “You didn’t like her.”

  “A person couldn’t dislike Nicole. She was a lot of fun. But she was young and immature.” Emmett glanced at him. “You said Jack knew you’d found out. What about your mother?”

  “I’ll talk with her soon.”

  “And Gabe?”

  “Soon.”

  “Don’t let it go too long, Nick. Gabe has a thing about being treated like the baby of the family. He wouldn’t like it if he thought you were trying to protect him from this news.”

  “You’re right.” Nick stood. “I’ll go call him again. That is, if you don’t mind finishing up that stall.”

  “Glad to do it.” Emmett rose from his chair and rested his hand on Nick’s shoulder. “No one meant any harm, son.”

  “I know, Emmett. I know.”

  Emmett gave his shoulder a squeeze. “Go call your brother.”

  “Right.”

  Back in his room, Nick steeled himself against the lingering scent of Dominique’s perfume, grabbed his cell phone from the dresser and took it downstairs. Once there, he flopped into one of the big leather armchairs.

  Before he could dial Gabe’s number, he noticed that he had a text message. Sitting up straight, he checked it eagerly, forgetting that Dominique didn’t have his number. She’d never needed it.

  The message from Gabe had been left the night before, while Nick was at the Spirits and Spurs.

  Glad birth went okay. Headed home for a bit. Bringing Top Drawer and Finicky, plus mare. She foundered, was going to auction if I didn’t step in. Paid way too much. Jack will probably hit roof. Driving straight through. See you tomorrow.

  Nick thought Jack probably would hit the roof. When a horse foundered, the anklebone protruded through the hoof, the same condition that had killed the great racehorse Barbaro. But Gabe had a little of the savior in him, too.

  And now Nick could tell him the big news in person.

  16

  DOMINIQUE’S FLIGHT DIDN’T leave until afternoon, but she wanted out of Shoshone ASAP, so she’d talked Pam into driving her to Jackson right away. She’d rather sit in the relative anonymity of the airport than hang around the Bunk and Grub.

  “I’m sorry things worked out this way,” Pam said as they neared the outskirts of Jackson.

  “I should have listened to you. Nick got attached. Hell, I got attached. But you’re a successful businesswoman. Would you throw away everything you’ve worked for on the slight chance something will materialize with a guy?”

  Pam’s laugh had a tinge of sadness. “Funny you should ask. No, I wouldn’t, but it appears my success is a stumbling block to romance for me, too.”

  “With Emmett?”

  “Mmm.”

  “In what way?”

  Her expression tense, Pam tapped her finger against the steering wheel. Obviously the subject frustrated her. “Emmett doesn’t have a lot of money, mostly because it isn’t important to him.”

  “I can see that. He lives on the ranch, doesn’t seem to own much of anything. Was he ever married?”

  “Yes, almost thirty years ago. It didn’t last long, but he has a daughter. He paid child support until she was of age, but he’s continued to subsidize whatever she wants to do. She tried to make it in Hollywood, and started a couple of home-based businesses that fizzled.”

  “Sounds like an expensive kid.” Dominique had been, too, until she’d become embarrassed about costing her parents so much and had stopped taking what they offered.

  Pam shrugged. “It’s no big deal. Emmett doesn’t need much, so if he wants to indulge his daughter, that’s fine with me.”

  “So what’s the problem?”

  “He’s uncomfortable getting involved with a woman who’s so much wealthier than he is.”

  Dominique groaned. “That’s so old school!”

  “Emmett is old school. Mostly I find that endearing, until it comes between us. He told me flat out yesterday that he really likes me, but we could never be on equal terms because of my bank balance. So he won’t let himself be attracted to me.”

  “I’m sorry, Pam. That’s his loss, though. I have to believe eventually he’ll figure that out.”

  “I’m fifty-eight. I’m not as good at biding my time as I used to be. I’d like…things to be different.” She glanced over at Dominique. “Is your camera handy?”

  “I always keep it handy. Why?”

  “Would you indulge me in something?”

  “If you want me to take your picture, I’d be delighted. Just pick a spot.”

  “Nope, that’s not it.” She pulled into a parking space in front of one of Jackson’s many art galleries. “I’m sure you have Last Chance Ranch pictures in your camera. I want you to show them to my friend Stuart.”

  Dominique’s professional pride caused her to instantly rebel. “They’re not edited. Unless he has a compatible cable and computer program, he’ll have to look at them on my tiny screen. Nothing looks good that small.”

  “It won’t matter. Stuart has a good eye. Come on.” She opened her door.

  “Pam, you’re not a photographer, so I know you don’t understand this, but I would rather have a root canal than show these pictures to another professional until I’ve cleaned them up, edited them, matted them, made them more—”

  “Do you have a plan for hanging on to Nick?” Pam left her door open as she turned toward Dominique, her expression determined.

  Dominique blinked. “I’m not hanging on to Nick. I thought you understood that it’s just not going to work out.”

  “I understand there are obstacles, but you didn’t build a successful business without learning how to work around obstacles.”

  “Pam, if you think that I’ll take my pictures in there and your friend will go ballistic over them, and then I’ll decide I can move here and sell photos to tourists…that’s a pipe dream. I’m sure Stuart has a long list of photographers who would love to display their work in his gallery. Their polished, edited, matted and framed work.”

  “Do you believe in Fate?”

  Dominique groaned. “You’re killing me here, Pam. The flaky person I used to be would have said yes, of course, and Nick is my soul mate. I would have moved here with no job and no prospects—but I’m not that person anymore.”

  “I’m not asking you to be that person. I’m asking you to show your professional shots to Stuart, because I have an instinctive feeling about you. I’ve had that feeling ever since you arrived at the Bunk and Grub. If Stuart likes what he sees, great. I’ll lay out my plan. If he doesn’t like what he
sees, then you can fly off into the sunset.”

  “He won’t like what he sees.”

  “Prove it to me. Bring your camera and come with me.”

  Dominique figured she’d suffered through more embarrassing things, and anyway, she’d never have to see this Stuart person again. Pam didn’t understand how fruitless this was, but she wouldn’t be satisfied until Dominique agreed to play along. Hoisting her backpack to her shoulder, Dominique climbed out of the Jeep and followed Pam into the gallery.

  Stuart turned out to be a short, balding man who obviously worshipped Pam. Dominique gathered that she had bought a large portion of her wall art from him. From the way he gazed at her, Dominique guessed he had a case of unrequited love. Too bad, but Pam’s heart belonged to Emmett.

  Of course Stuart agreed to look at the photos. He even produced a cable and transferred the images to his computer screen. When the first pictures of Nick appeared, she felt her cheeks grow warm. She couldn’t look at them without remembering what had happened after that.

  But another part of her brain, the critical photographer part, was astounded at how good the shots were. Some of her unease over showing them to the gallery owner faded as he clicked through the pictures. She’d meant to gauge his reaction, but instead found herself engrossed by her own work.

  When he came to the early morning pictures of a pensive Nick gazing down the road, he paused on one particular shot. “Do you have a release for this?”

  “No. I meant to get one, but—”

  “I’ll get one,” Pam said immediately. “I know the subject.”

  “I could sell the heck out of this picture,” Stuart said. “I already know how I’d want to mat and frame it. Some of the others are great, too, but this is the one that’s the moneymaker. We’ll do very well with it, assuming you get a release from the guy.”

  “Don’t worry about that part,” Pam said. “Let’s put some paperwork together. This lady has a plane to catch.”

  Stuart turned to Dominique. “You’re not local?”

  “No. I have a studio in Indianapolis.”

  His face fell. “Then I suppose you’ll want to sell this out of your studio. When you came in, I thought you were offering to—”

  “I am,” Dominique said.

  He still looked uncertain. “We like to showcase our photographers, have events where you sign limited editions, things like that. Would you be willing to come back out once in a while?”

  Dominique glanced at Pam, who was grinning.

  “She’ll be happy to do that,” she answered for her. “In fact, if she can build a reputation here, she could spend quite a bit of time in Jackson Hole. She’s talked about hiring an assistant to handle her studio in Indianapolis.”

  Dominique’s jaw dropped. “Pam! I haven’t—”

  “Right. You haven’t made that public yet. But Stuart needs to know, so he can schedule you for a showing. Any free time this month, Stuart?”

  “As Fate would have it, somebody canceled out of an event I had planned for two weekends from now. That should give us enough time to complete the matting and framing. Dominique, if you’ll leave it all to me, we’ll have something spectacular ready in a couple of weeks. Can you fly back out?”

  She felt a little dizzy, but not so dizzy she didn’t know the right answer. “Yes. Yes, I can.”

  “Excellent.” He held out his hand. “Congratulations. This is brilliant work. I just know you’ll be a huge hit.”

  Once they were back in the Jeep, Dominique sank against the upholstery and gulped air.

  “Told you,” Pam said.

  Dominique glanced at her. “Okay, that was way more excitement and enthusiasm than I anticipated, but it could still be a bust. Don’t be expecting me to go home and hire that assistant yet.”

  “You could interview a few people.”

  “You’re incorrigible! I will not!”

  “For an artistic type, you sure are careful.”

  “Because I didn’t used to be, Pam. I know what it’s like to be working a minimum wage job while you try desperately to find time for your art. My crappy boyfriend, much as I hate to give him credit for it, taught me how to be more practical about my career. So I’m not about to jeopardize that while I chase after some pie-in-the-sky dream.”

  Pam started the Jeep and pulled back into traffic. “All right. So tell me how you want to handle the situation. I have to get the release from Nick. Do you want him to know any of this?”

  “No, I don’t. Let him think I want it because I’m going to display the pictures in Indianapolis. Let’s find out if the show’s a success before bringing Nick into it.”

  “You won’t try to see him when you come back in two weeks?”

  Dominique hesitated, but she had to be strong. “No. If I crash and burn, I don’t want Nick to be there watching it happen. That would be too painful for both of us.”

  “Stuart will be advertising the exhibit. There’s always the possibility Nick will come into Jackson and see a flyer.”

  “How much of a possibility?”

  “Honestly, not much. Nick doesn’t come here that often.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll ask you to keep this a secret.”

  “I can do that, Dominique. Believe me, I’m good at keeping secrets.”

  GABE’S MUD-SPATTERED truck pulled in late in the afternoon. He’d called ahead, so Nick, Emmett and Jack were waiting for him.

  As Gabe climbed down from the cab and took off his gray Stetson to scrub a hand through his dark blond hair, Nick realized how much he looked like Sarah. He had those same chiseled cheekbones and the same blue eyes. Although her hair had turned white in the past ten years, it had been about the color of Gabe’s when she was younger.

  Emmett, Jack and Nick walked over to greet him. Emmett and Jack shook his hand, but Nick hugged him, because they’d always had that kind of relationship. No reason to change it now.

  “To what do we owe the honor of a visit?” Jack asked. “You weren’t scheduled back here for a couple of weeks.”

  Gabe shot Nick a look. “Coward.”

  “Figured it was your deal, not mine.” Nick had enough on his plate without electing to tell Jack about an injured horse that had cost a small fortune.

  Gabe sighed as he walked to the back of the trailer. “Point taken. Jack, I bought a mare.” He slipped the bolt on the trailer door. “Before I get her out, I want to remind everybody that Grandpa Archie used to say this ranch was where everyone got a last chance at happiness.”

  Jack sighed. “What’s wrong with her, Gabe? Because with a buildup like that, I’m sure something is.”

  “She foundered, and the owner was ready to ship her off to the auction. She would have ended up at the slaughterhouse, Jack.”

  “So I hope you got her for a song.”

  “More like an album.”

  Hands on hips, Jack glared at him. “I thought we agreed no expenditures without checking with me.”

  “I had no time to check! Besides, you would have said no, but I figured if you saw her, you’d—”

  “Gabe, you’re supposed to ask, dammit!” Jack’s eyes turned stormy.

  “Would you have said yes?”

  “No!”

  “Well, there you go.”

  “I don’t know why I even bother trying to keep some semblance of order around this place. Well, here’s the deal. You take care of her.”

  Gabe drew in a breath. “But Nick is the—”

  “Nick has other duties. You’re the nursemaid, Gabe.”

  “But I’m entered in several—”

  “Guess you’ll have to drop out.” Jack turned on his heel and stomped off in the direction of the house.

  Gabe watched him go. “Can he do that? Can he order me to stay here with the mare?”

  “Probably not,” Nick said, “but if you leave he could sell her.”

  “I can’t believe he’d do that.”

  “The old Jack wouldn’t have,” Emmett sai
d. “But we’re dealing with a different guy these days. If you want to keep that mare, I think you’d better hang around.”

  Gabe looked desperate. “But my being out there is good for the Last Chance! I help sell horses!”

  “I know.” Emmett rubbed the back of his neck. “But those entry fees are mounting up. Even with prize money, it’s an expense, and I heard Jack questioning it the other day.”

  Gabe muttered a swear word.

  “Give it a day or so,” Emmett said. “Let’s get those horses out and stabled. Nick can check out your mare. Then we’ll have a beer and you can tell us all about your adventures. I’m betting Jack will show up down at the barn and have a beer with us.”

  Nick should have taken Emmett’s bet, because an hour and a beer later, Jack hadn’t shown up. They had rounded up extra chairs, but one of them remained empty.

  Emmett polished off his beer and stood. “I’m sure you boys have some catching up to do.” He sent a telling glance in Nick’s direction. “I have a few chores to finish up before dark. Good to have you back, Gabe.”

  “Thanks,” he said. “Let’s hope it’s a temporary visit.”

  “Let’s hope.” Emmett didn’t sound convinced. “Well, see you both in the morning.”

  After he left, Gabe leaned forward. “That was damned obvious. Clearly, there’s something he wants you to tell me. What gives? Is it Jack? Because he’s starting to bug the hell out of me.”

  “It’s not Jack.”

  “Mom? Mom’s okay, right?”

  “Mom’s fine.” Nick searched for a way to lead into the subject, but couldn’t find one. “Night before last I went through that old trunk of Dad’s.”

  Gabe’s attention sharpened. “Yeah?”

  “And I found…I found a document that said…” He paused and blew out a breath. “Gabe, a woman named Nicole O’Leary is my biological mother. Not Sarah.”

  “What?”

  “Jack confirmed it. So did Emmett.”

  “No way.” Gabe got up and started pacing. “It’s not true. How could that be true? Somebody would have told us!”