Claire bit her bottom lip and shook her head. “I can’t deal with this right now. In case you haven’t noticed, there was a fire here last night. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.”
Kyle nodded thoughtfully. “Let me help. I’ve got a room at the hotel in town. Let me help you get things back in order. I don’t know much about horses, but I know about business, and I can help you deal with that.” He rose and walked around the counter to stand next to her. He refrained from touching her, just standing near enough to remind her blood of the link they’d shared in the past. “Just let me help you. Let me make it up to you, at least.”
Weary and overwhelmed from the events of the last twenty-four hours, Claire weakly nodded. “I’ll think about it,” she said. “Just let me get some rest.”
Kyle assented, pointing to the roses as he left. “Don’t forget to put those in some water. I hate seeing beautiful things go to waste.”
She did as he asked after he’d left. Pink roses in perfect bloom: her favorites. She put the vase on the table, and then ate the cold food on her plate. It was all too much, too fast. She needed sleep. She called her mother, told her it was safe to return, and then went upstairs for a shower and a much needed nap. Things had to be better when she woke.
It was dusk when she finally rose, and she panicked a bit at the realization that she’d lost a day’s work. She leaped from the bed, hastily dressed, and ran downstairs. She could hear voices: Jess, Kyle, her mother. She stopped on the landing and closed her eyes. “Guide me, daddy,” she prayed. “Help me make it through this.”
They were an odd group seated at the table. Kyle was stiff and out of place in brand new clothes, he must have deemed “ranch wear.” Carmen was uncharacteristically silent, her fingers beating out a rhythm as she rapped her nails on the table. Only Jess seemed at ease, rising to greet her when she entered, his voice warm and caring. “How are you feeling, my lady? I hope you had a good rest. You needed it.”
Kyle’s head jerked toward Claire at Jess’s words; he was clearly surprised by the tenderness in Jess’s voice, and his accusing stare made her feel a discomfort she knew was irrational. He has no right, she reminded herself. None at all.
She walked over to Jess, eagerly stepping into his offered embrace. He kissed the top of her head. “I’m much better, thank you. Although,” she said, stepping away from him and turning to the paperwork spread out on the table, “it looks like I’ve missed a few things.” Turning to her mother, she asked “Why didn’t you wake me?”
Carmen shrugged. “The men just seemed to take over, and you needed sleep. Don’t worry,” she added, “I’ve been keeping an eye out for you the whole time.”
Jess followed Claire into the kitchen. She took a glass from the cabinet, and he opened the refrigerator. “Water or tea?” he asked.
“Water. Thanks.” She watched as he poured, then took the glass from him.
“So, this is the infamous Kyle?” Jess asked, a hint of confusion in his voice. He’d been surprised, naturally, to find Claire’s ex-boyfriend on the porch when the insurance adjuster had arrived. The two men introduced themselves, had been cordial, even, Jess working hard to temper his bewilderment and jealousy at the sight of this handsome and cultured rival.
Claire nodded silently. She drank down the glass of water quickly then poured herself another. “I’m as surprised as you are to see him here. He’s got lousy timing.”
Jess was stung by the remark. “What timing would have been better?” he asked, regretting his tone immediately, but unable to hold back the acrimony that had been building throughout the afternoon. The two men had wrestled over Claire’s business affairs all afternoon, each seeking to demonstrate their power to the other like a couple of roosters fighting over a prize hen.
Claire recoiled at the question and his tone. “You don’t own me, Jess.” She stepped around the counter. “And neither do you, Kyle. Right now, the only thing that matters is figuring out what my next step is. I’d appreciate it if we can focus on that for the time being.”
Cowed, Jess returned to the table. He and Kyle went over the paperwork, outlining the terms set by the insurers for the claim on the stables. Jess had already gotten a preliminary estimate on rebuilding them, and he told her that the work could be done within two weeks of the fire marshal clearing the area for demolition. The vet had seen the mares and declared them in fine health, complimenting Pauline for her quick action in getting them well away from the blaze.
Claire took it all in. She was upset that all of this had happened while she was sleeping, but grateful that Jess and her mother, and, she supposed, Kyle, had come to her aid. As she looked over the spreadsheets and estimates, Jess spoke.
“The horses can stay in our stables until yours are ready again, Claire. We’ve got plenty of room.”
Claire shook her head. “No,” she said firmly, taking back a little control of the situation. “The new barn is ready, and they can stay there while I decide what to do.” She rose and turned to Jess. “I want to see them.”
Jess nodded and walked over to the door to get his hat. Claire then addressed Kyle. “Thank you for your help today. I appreciate it. You should get back to your hotel now, OK? I’ll call you in the morning.”
She kissed her mother on the cheek and then walked out into the evening air with Jess. They climbed into the cab of his beat up pickup and drove to the Bar None stables in silence. Once Claire had seen her horses and was satisfied they were doing well, she spoke to Pauline about moving them over to the new barn the next day.
Jess hovered in the background as she did this, not certain how to handle her cool demeanor. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and care for her, make everything right that had gone wrong.
Only the night before they’d made love for the first time, a glorious union that left him feeling like he could finally see a real future for himself in his home. Now that seemed a distant memory, and as quickly as things had fallen into place, they seemed to be unraveling before his eyes. She just needs time, he reminded himself. She needs time to adjust.
The Kyle situation was a puzzle, but it wasn’t too hard to figure out what the man wanted. He’d made it pretty clear that he was there for Claire, and it had taken all of Jess’s willpower to keep from punching him outright.
He’d reassured himself that she would make things clear when he saw her, and while she hadn’t gone out of her way to be anything but polite to Kyle, Jess could sense that she was struggling. What did she mean by needing to “decide what to do”?
Rebuild the stables, continue with her plans: that was what needed doing, and it seemed strange to him that it wasn’t so clear to her now. Was this because of Kyle’s appearance? Was she having second thoughts?
His thoughts were broken by the clank of the latch on the stall door. Pauline was gone now, and Claire stood outside Calliope’s stall, gazing thoughtfully at her mare. His heart beat madly and ached for her. She seemed so small to him now, fragile and delicate, but he knew the strength that resided there.
Her voice was low. “Things could have been so much worse.”
He joined her at the stall door. “Yes, they could have been, but they weren’t. It’s really gonna be alright now.”
She turned to face him. “Is it? I haven’t been here a month and I’ve already nearly lost my horses because I wasn’t paying attention.” She looked at her boots, the tips nearly touching Jess’s. “I knew this wasn’t a good idea.”
Jess was afraid to ask, but he screwed up his courage. “What wasn’t a good idea? The ranch? The dream? Me?”
She looked up at him, tears and confusion in her eyes. “I don’t know. All of it, maybe. Maybe I ran too fast after my dad died. Maybe I’m not ready for this.”
Jess grabbed her arms and bent his knees to look her in the eyes. “You are meant for all of this and more. You’re made of stronger stuff than you think. This is the rancher’s life: things happen sometimes that you can’t control, but you reco
ver and you move on. Don’t let this one little setback send you away from your dream.” Or from me, he added in his mind, silently willing her to see that there was so much more at stake here than a stable.
Claire stepped back and out of his hands. “I don’t know anything right now,” she said, her eyes never leaving his. “I just think I need some time to sort this out. Alone.”
*
Kyle was a daily visitor to the ranch, and by the end of the week, he’d actually mounted one of the mares, allowing Claire to show him her property from horseback. He remarked on how vast the property was, and he complimented her on her plans for the barn expansion. While she was wary at first, Claire found it comforting to have him there, a piece of her old life present while she tried to anchor herself in the new.
Carmen declared détente, opting to stay clear of Kyle when she was able and to not antagonize when he was around. She knew her daughter well enough to know that her interference right then wouldn’t be appreciated. While she didn’t trust the man’s motives for being there, she could see that he really did care for Claire, in his own way. Still, she couldn’t wait until he was gone, so that Claire could work things out with the rancher next door, a man Carmen would be thrilled to have in the family.
There had been little contact with Bar None that week. Jess respected Claire’s wish for time, and had thrown himself into the business of running the ranch and preparing for the annual berry picking. “No fireworks this year,” he’d barked at Lacey.
“Just keep it simple, OK?” His sister had agreed, biting her tongue as she had been all week. She knew that Jess was hurting, and she wished he’d open up to her. Jasper had counseled her to give him time, so she did, working closely with the stable manager to get things prepared for the upcoming festivities. Everyone on the ranch gave Jess a wide berth, interacting with him only when he gave them orders or took Horatio out for a daily ride.
He rode all over Bar None, making sure to avoid the creek that separated the ranches. She wanted time, she wanted space: she could have it. It hurt to be away from her, and he missed her smile, her touch, her kisses. He wanted nothing more than to ride to the ranch and claim what was his, but he knew that wouldn’t do for either of them. Instead, he spent time in the orchard, talking to his mother and hoping for the outcome he desired.
The day of the berry picking was bright and clear. Carmen insisted that they attend, packing up a picnic lunch and stowing lots of extra bags and baskets in the bed of the truck. If he insisted on coming, Kyle could damn well be useful, and she told him she expected him to work right alongside the rest of them.
On the drive over, Claire was thoughtful. She hadn’t seen Jess in a week, and she wondered what he’d been doing, She missed him, of that she was certain, but she was determined to not let her feelings become a distraction. She’d settled on staying, knowing that she couldn’t give up on her dream so easily.
She owed it to herself and her father. She also knew that there was no future with Kyle. He hadn’t given up in his pursuit, and he was charming and handsome and as glib as ever, but her life was different now, and she couldn’t see him walking away from the city no matter how much he protested that he could, and would, to make her happy.
The orchard was bustling when they arrived. Children ran through the berry patches and through the trees, giggling as they played games and filled their bellies with ripe fruit.
Folks from nearby towns picked berries between turns on the dance floor, and the small concession stand was busy selling cider and tarts. As they made their way through the crowd, Claire searched for Jess, finally finding him under a tree, their tree, with a beautiful blonde.
Her heart stopped as she watched them talking, their easy laughter and manner suggesting they knew each other well. She didn’t go to him, opting instead to find a nice clearing where they could spread a blanket before they got to work on the harvest.
She’d filled a basket with blueberries when he finally came over to her. “Hi Claire,” he said, his voice gentle and filled with care.
She turned and saw him standing next to the blonde who extended her hand. “Hi,” she said, her voice honeyed sweetness. “I’m Miranda Thompson. I hear you’re the new owner of Heart’s Home. I grew up there. Loved that place.”
Claire wiped the berry juice on her jeans before shaking Miranda’s hand. “Claire Robinson. Nice to meet you,” she said cordially, then turned her attention to Jess. “This must be a pleasant surprise for you!”
Jess looked uncomfortable for a moment. “Yeah, it certainly was unexpected.” He looked around before asking “and where’s your surprise visitor?”
Touché, Claire thought. She shrugged. “He’s off picking blackberries, I think.” She flashed Miranda a warm smile. “So, what brings you to Kerrville? Jess told me you were off in New York or something.”
“LA,” the blonde replied, casually flipping her hair from her shoulder. “I had some business in New Orleans, and since I was so close to home, I thought I’d pop in to see how things were going here, check in on old friends.” She placed her hand on Jess’s arm, rubbing it gently through his shirtsleeve. “I’m glad to see that things are still as strong as ever at Bar None.” She left her hand on his arm.
“And I’m so sorry to hear about your stables. That’s gotta be a rough beginning for someone so new to the business. I just hope you aren’t regretting your decision to leave the city for this outpost.”
Claire bit her tongue, determined not to let the blonde bait her. She channeled every ounce of Carmen’s acid charm, and replied “I find there are two kinds of people in the world: folks who value roots and those who drift along never finding any. I’m the former kind. Which would you say you are?” She grabbed her basket. “I’ll talk to you later, Jess. Nice to meet you, Miranda.” She walked off in search of her mother.
Jess snickered a bit as Miranda stood before him, arms crossed now and with a curious expression on her face. “You didn’t tell me that she was so…outspoken,” she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. “Still, I think it’s pretty clear, my friend, that she’s not going anywhere soon, and,” she continued, a warm smile spreading on her face, “I don’t think she’ll have that visitor for much longer.”
Jess hoped her words were true, but when he came across Kyle a little bit later, he wasn’t sure that the visitor intended to truncate his stay. They greeted each other with cool disdain, Kyle barely shaking his extended hand. Jess didn’t waste any time on pleasantries. “How long are you planning to stay?”
“Well, I’d say that’s up to Claire. Seemed a bit cold when I first got here, but now that I’m here to warm things up, well, we’ll just have to wait and see.” He popped a blackberry into his mouth and chewed it slowly. Jess couldn’t think that he’d ever seen anyone eat with such menace.
“Oh, I’d say she was pretty warmed up before you got here. Natural sun, lots of fresh air and outdoor activities,” he paused, letting his meaning sink in before continuing, “those are all things she wants and needs.”
“And I don’t want to take them away from her. I just want to see her home, too, where she belongs.”
“I suppose you think she belongs with you,” Jess huffed. “You, the man who betrayed her and broke her heart when she needed the most support, the most love?” He laughed. “You don’t know the first thing about her, about what she wants, what she needs.”
“Oh, and you do? You’ve known her for what, two weeks, maybe a month? She’s just playing house here, working out her grief over her father’s death and losing her job. That woman is too driven, too much of the city to ever be satisfied with a hick like you.” He paused and looked around the massive orchard. “All of this and you’re just giving it away.
No head for business and Claire is about nothing but that. Shame,” he said, giving one final swipe before making his exit. “You’re just like all those rich white boys I knew back in school. Resting on what Momma and Daddy built instead of building some
thing of your own.”
Jess grabbed Kyle before he could turn away. “Don’t you dare insult me or my family. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Kyle moved up close until they were nearly toe to toe. “I don’t, huh? Must make you feel good, letting the ‘little people’ come out here to get some free fruit every year, give them a little party. Why don’t you tell them about how your family bought up every chance they’ve ever had for development, for good jobs, for the chance to be part of the big world?” Kyle spat on the ground. “Of course you won’t. You’re just some planter, living out the old southern dream. You think you can buy Claire with a barn and some sweet talk? Maybe throw in a pie to sweeten the deal?”
Jess punched him in the face, a hard right to the jaw. By now, a crowd had gathered around the two men, and they gasped as Kyle fell to the ground. Claire came running up, and finding Kyle rubbing his jaw, went to his aid, looking up accusingly at Jess. “What did you do to him?”
“He provoked me, Claire! The stuff he was saying about my family, about you. I don’t want to own anyone!” He shifted back and forth in place, his body eager to hit Kyle again, to grab Claire and carry her off deep into the orchard. He did neither, choosing instead to clench his fists as he shifted his weight back and forth.
The Cowboy's Girl Next Door: A BWWM Cowboy Romance Page 9
