Husband for a Year

by Rebecca Winters

  Past the stairs with half-sawn logs serving for steps, she found the bathroom. Beyond it she spied a pair of double doors with mullioned glass leading to a large dining room cum kitchen. This part of the house came as a surprise with its vaulted ceiling and wall of windows laid out in a geometric design, reminding her of a modern cathedral.

  Obviously this portion had been remodeled to accommodate more bodies. Cheerful red plaid oilcloths covered six round tables with captain’s chairs. She could imagine a bunch of starving boys anxious to congregate for meals in here.

  Already Stefanie knew this was her favorite room. No doubt it was everyone’s who lived and worked at the ranch. She suspected this was all Gabe’s doing. His genius.

  A pain as real as if she’d been stabbed passed through her heart to realize she’d known so little about him. For their entire marriage he’d kept this secret to himself.

  Since he’d trusted her enough to draw up that hateful contract in the first place, why hadn’t he talked to her about his plans? Didn’t he know she would have loved to share in his ideas? Help him?

  No matter if he was in love with someone else, did she seem so shallow, so incapable of making a contribution to a cause that had nothing to do with his father’s politics, she hadn’t even registered on his consciousness?

  Feeling like the walking wounded, she availed herself of the rest room, then joined Marva who’d set a place for her at one of the tables in the dining room.

  Once again guilt racked Stefanie. Because of her accident, Gabe had been forced to come to her rescue, causing him to miss his dinner.

  If there was one thing she did know about her ex-husband, he had a healthy appetite. They’d been to enough public functions together for her to testify to that fact. After being married to him, she was an expert on his public persona.

  It was his private life that had always eluded her…

  Gabe wasn’t just a good man. She’d known from the beginning he was destined to become a great man. Everyone who’d ever rubbed shoulders with him knew it.

  Not in her wildest dreams would she have imagined him turning down his birthright to live out the rest of his life in this back of beyond.

  To be entrenched in a lifestyle so foreign to his upbringing meant the seeds for total change must have been planted in his soul years ago. Maybe as early as his teens when she would have been a mere toddler.

  If only he would give her the chance, Stefanie yearned to talk to him about it. She ached to hear whatever he was willing to tell her about a decision that was going to rock his family’s world when it finally came out.

  “More stew, Teri?”

  “Oh—no, thank you, Marva. It was so delicious I’ve already had two helpings of everything. Now I’m full.”

  “How about another cup of tea?”

  “I couldn’t.”

  She cleared her dishes and took them over to the sink, but Marva prevented her from rinsing them off.

  “Mr. Wainwright wouldn’t approve of a guest working in the kitchen.”

  “That’s nonsense.” Stefanie stood her ground, refusing to move out of the way. “He’s pulling my car from the ditch, and you’ve had to warm up a meal for me at the last minute. This is the least I can do to repay you.”

  Marva shook her head. “He’s not going to like it.”

  “What aren’t I going to like?”

  Both women turned their heads in time to see Gabe’s masculine frame enter the back door. He pulled a roll-away bed after him. It was already made up with sheets and a blanket, but Stefanie scarcely noticed. She was too busy feasting her eyes on Gabe.

  He’d always looked wonderful in a tux or an expensive silk suit. But the well-worn Stetson and jacket combined with blue jeans molding his powerful thighs, brought out his stunning virility in a way that left her breathless.

  “Teri’s determined to earn her keep!” Marva replied by way of explanation.

  Stefanie couldn’t see Gabe’s expression because it was partially hidden by his cowboy hat. But she figured she was damned in his eyes no matter what she did or didn’t do.

  Thankfully the collie had no reservations. It warmed Stefanie’s heart when she squeezed past Gabe and darted toward Stefanie, rubbing her head against her legs.

  “Marva? While I bring in her bags from the car, why don’t you show Ms. Jones where she’ll be sleeping tonight?”

  His use of the word “tonight” sounded ominous to Stefanie whose spirits took another dive. As for the cook, she didn’t look pleased with his suggestion.

  “What about your dinner?”

  “I’ll fix myself something later, so don’t worry about it. Come on, Clover.”

  This time the dog obeyed Gabe without question, having learned her lesson about hanging around Stefanie too long the first time.

  The second they disappeared into the night, Stefanie walked over to the cot and started pushing it toward the double doors she’d entered earlier. Again she had the impression Marva wasn’t at all happy about the situation.

  Stefanie couldn’t tell if the older woman was upset because this was her domain and her routine had been interrupted, or because she considered Stefanie’s presence an invasion of her privacy.

  The last thing Stefanie wanted was to become Marva’s enemy.

  They went through the French doors to the back hallway of the original part of the cabin. Marva indicated the bathroom on the right, then came to a standstill at the first doorway on the left. A frown marred her features.

  “This is it,” she muttered. “Mr. Wainwright calls it the nursery because of the small set of dresser drawers and white crib folded up against the log wall. There’s no window or overhead light. No rug to cover the pine flooring. The only thing I can tell you is that it’s clean because a crew drove up from Kalispell last week to do the Spring housecleaning.”

  “This will be wonderful!” Stefanie rushed to assure her.

  “There’s no heating vent.”

  “Don’t worry.”

  She pushed the cot all the way inside, then undid the catch. When the ends of the bed opened to the floor, it filled the empty space. But Stefanie didn’t care about it being wall-to-wall bed. She would willingly undergo any deprivation, including a cold room. Now that she’d found Gabe, nothing else mattered except that she be allowed to stay with him.

  “I’ll put out a set of yellow towels in the bathroom for you. Is there anything else you need?”

  “Nothing else. You’ve been so kind. Thank you, Marva.”

  “You’re welcome. I hope you get a good sleep. See you in the morning.” She hurried off.

  While Stefanie was puffing up the pillow, she heard footsteps in the hall. Gabe had to be coming. Stefanie could tell by the sound of his boots against the wood flooring.

  He paused at the doorway, blotting out most of the light. Like a silhouette, she could see the outline of his powerful frame. Her heart leaped to her throat.

  “I—I’m sorry you had to pull my car from the ditch. Is it badly damaged?”

  “Except for a few dents to the front bumper, it’s in relatively good shape. Where would you like your bags?”

  “Just l-leave them in the hall against the wall.” She was already breathless.

  He put them down. Before she could countenance it, he moved inside and shut the door, enclosing them in total darkness. If she reached out, she would be able to touch him.

  “How did you come by a pair of Arizona license plates with a current registration?” His low, deep voice permeated her insides.

  The question was so unexpected, it caught her off guard.

  “I didn’t steal them, if that’s what you mean.”

  “Did I imply that you did?” he asked silkily.

  “No—” she blurted nervously. “Of course not. It’s just that knowing your father would try to find m…us when he learned we’d gone away—”

  Dear God, if Gabe ever discovered the truth about what she’d told their parents that evening at
the Newport Yacht Club…

  “I paid the P.I.s extra money to do what they had to do to make certain he couldn’t trace me. In case you’re harboring any fears in that department, let me assure you I used cash to buy the car in Sterling.”

  “You mean Connecticut?” He sounded incredulous.

  “Yes.”

  “When?”

  “As soon as you left for the airport in the limo, one of the P.I.s from the firm I’d contacted drove me there to get it. Later, after I started on my trip across the country, I paid cash for gas and food and motels. Whenever I had to register at the desk, I listed my home address as Flagstaff, Arizona.”

  Though it was black as night in the small enclosure, she could feel the tension emanating from him. “Did you cancel your tour?”

  “No,” her voice trembled. “I was afraid to do anything that would make your father suspicious. The thing is, I know it cost you a great deal of money. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.

  “I—If you would let me work here for you, there would be no reason to pay me a wage. Anything I earn could go toward the money I owe you for the tour. It will probably take me years, but I promise I’ll pay you back every cent.”

  “Forget the money. It’s the least of my concerns,” came the grating response.

  Stefanie shuddered because she could tell he was barely suppressing his anger.

  “I realize that. You’re afraid your father will pick up on my trail. But I was so careful. I don’t see how he could possi—”

  “On this ranch, everyone goes to bed early,” he broke in coldly, as if she hadn’t spoken. “That includes unexpected visitors. If you want breakfast before you leave in the morning, report to the kitchen at seven.”

  She couldn’t prevent the gasp that escaped. “You mean you won’t consider hiring me?”

  “It means there’s no opening.” His calm reply maddened her.

  Desperate at this point she cried out, “Not even for an extra cowhand?”

  An unsettling silence ensued.

  “The Stefanie Dawson I know is one of the best political party-givers and fund-raisers on the planet. But unless I’ve missed something, she hasn’t been on a horse since her one and only pony ride on her eighth birthday.”

  Though he’d only spoken the truth, his mockery stung.

  “I could learn, Gabe.”

  “To ride a horse, perhaps. A cowhand is something else again. That’s my foreman’s department. Good night.”

  “Wait—”

  She heard his sharp intake of breath. He’d reached the end of his patience, but she was fighting for his love!

  “If your foreman were willing to train me, would you let me stay?”

  “It would never happen so it’s a moot point. Sleep well. You’ll need it for the drive ahead of you tomorrow.”

  On that chilling note he exited the miniscule room, leaving the door slightly ajar.

  Stefanie waited until she could no longer hear the tread of his cowboy boots. Then she darted out of the room toward the door at the end of the hall.

  Tapping against the varnished wood, she called out Marva’s name. The older woman appeared a minute later dressed in a nightgown and robe.

  “Yes, Teri?”

  “Please forgive me for disturbing you, but I need some information before you go to sleep. I came to the ranch looking for a job. Mr. Wainwright said his foreman was the man to approach about it. I’d like to talk to him as soon as possible. Maybe at breakfast?”

  Marva’s eyes widened. “You want an outdoor job?” She sounded shocked.

  “Yes. I—I need the work.”

  The older woman blinked. “Well, if that’s what Gabe said, your best time to catch Mack is around five-thirty in the morning. He’ll be in the barn saddling up for work with the other hands. The men don’t come in to breakfast until eight, after the boys have been fed.”

  “I see. Where is the barn?”

  “Didn’t Gabe tell you?”

  Stefanie averted her eyes. “I—I’m sure he would have if something more important hadn’t come up requiring his presence.” Another white lie, but it couldn’t be helped.

  “That something usually has to do with one of our boarders,” Marva muttered. “He’s a father figure to all of them. My land, those boys don’t know how lucky they are.” She sighed. “Oh—just listen to me babble on when you were asking about the barn! Follow the road behind the main ranch house for a quarter of a mile. It’ll be on your left.”

  Hungry for any information about Gabe’s life here in Montana, Stefanie was dying to ask more questions. But she didn’t dare. The cook might become more suspicious than she already was over Stefanie’s desire to work as a stockwoman.

  “Thanks for your help, Marva. I promise not to disturb you again.”

  “Don’t worry about it. After you’ve had your interview, come on back for breakfast.”

  “I will.”

  On the way to her room, Stefanie made a detour to the bathroom with her luggage. After putting out a fresh change of jeans and a sweater, she got ready for bed and set her windup alarm clock for five.

  Because she couldn’t lock her door, she had to sleep with her wig on. The contact lenses were a different story. She took them out and put them in the case with the solution at the side of the roll-away bed. The other case she kept in the glove compartment of the car.

  The cot mattress felt soft and was probably bad for a person’s back, but she was so thankful to be sleeping under the same roof as Gabe, nothing else mattered.

  Tomorrow morning she had a job to do. Instead of charming a wealthy business magnate into giving a generous donation for the Wainwright war chest, she would charm Gabe’s foreman into giving her a job, even if it meant he had to create one for her.

  The only foremen who came to mind were those she’d seen depicted in vintage Western movies. Hard-bitten loner types who preferred men’s company except on the weekend when they visited the local saloon for cards, whiskey and a little female company. Perhaps the stereotype had been exaggerated for the screen, but Stefanie had an idea today’s foreman wasn’t that much different from sixty years ago.

  If she were to come across as the wealthy, sophisticated, liberated, savvy twenty-first century female she’d been raised to be, she probably wouldn’t get to first base.

  Gabe knew that, which was why he’d discounted her idea out of hand. But not even he understood how determined she was to stay on the ranch.

  Since she knew nothing about horses, her instincts told her she’d have much better luck with this Mack if she acted submissive, helpless, yet willing to learn. A few tears of gratitude and some compliments for his manliness might help to accomplish what Gabe had declared impossible.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “CLOVER? Quiet down.”

  The dog stopped moaning but she continued to pace Gabe’s bedroom until he threw back the covers in frustration.

  “We’ve already been out twice. What’s gotten into you?”

  Normally she curled up on the rug by the side of his bed. Tonight instead, she was acting as nervy as an expectant mother about to give birth to her first litter.

  When she made another strange sound in her throat, Gabe turned on the bedside lamp.

  “What in the devil?”

  The dog was carrying his sweater in her mouth. She must have pulled it off the chair where he’d left it.

  “Come here, girl. Give it to me.”

  With reluctance, Clover dropped it by the side of the bed. Gabe picked it up. It was the navy crew neck he’d been wearing all day. The one he’d had on when he’d pulled Stefanie from the car earlier that evening.

  Suddenly illumination dawned.

  Clover had a hunter’s instinct and could smell Stefanie’s scent on the wool. Now that Gabe thought about it, the dog had been unexpectedly familiar with Stefanie from the moment he’d met her.

  Gabe hadn’t been able to account for it, but now he was remembering other mo
ments in the past when the dog had sniffed at his clothing after a flight from Rhode Island. Maybe it was the scent from their Newport home he’d brought with him, a scent the dog recognized when Stefanie had patted her.

  With that thought, another vivid memory assailed him. One of Stefanie getting down on a level with his dog to examine her in the same easy manner a true dog lover would behave.

  Her spontaneous action didn’t mesh with something Mrs. Dawson had confided to him about her daughter not being able to tolerate dogs.

  Early into their marriage, Gabe had wanted to make Stefanie a gift of one to keep her company when he was out of town. But after her mother’s remark, Gabe had abandoned the idea, especially when Stefanie had never expressed the desire for a pet.

  He leaned over and rubbed the dog’s head in his hands. “I know you want to go downstairs and get better acquainted with her, but you can’t. She’s asleep, and tomorrow she’ll be leaving, so there’s no point. Be a good girl and lie down.”

  After she did his bidding, he tossed the sweater to the chair in the far corner, then turned out the light. An hour later he was still lying against the pillows with his hands behind his head, wide-awake.

  There was no way in hell he would ever have peace of mind if he let Stefanie stay on the ranch. Her presence had turned his world inside out. The memory of the feel of her body was a continual torment.

  Gabe was no masochist. His only course of action was to get rid of her tomorrow.

  She’d mentioned working somewhere in the area. He supposed she could go to Kalispell. A couple of phone calls to several acquaintances and he could probably arrange a temporary job for her. Something low-profile. With her expertise both at raising and keeping track of campaign funds, she was a whiz on the computer.

  Kalispell was far enough away that he wouldn’t have to see her unless there was an emergency of some kind. New apartments had sprung up. Some were furnished. He would make certain she had tight security.

  But no matter how many scenarios he thought up for her, in the end he came to the conclusion that it was pointless. Stefanie’s decision not to go on that world tour had changed all the rules.