The Horseman's Heritage

by Jacki Bentley

  "I know but damn their code of secrecy. As far as I'm concerned, they gave up a chunk of their rights by not hiring a guard who took your problem seriously."

  She laughed half-heartedly. “I agree."

  Some of the anger she'd felt toward the impudent security man flashed in her pretty green eyes.

  "Is it government work?"

  "Sort of. NASA may be interested in the project if it performs as promised. The economic efficiency of the prototype alone ... brings commercial interest."

  "NASA, hmm?"

  "Yes, it's the most prestigious project I've worked on. When I applied for funding, I didn't expect to get it."

  Ashley's eyes were alight with excitement and enthusiasm and Reese felt a little jealous of her work. He'd always realized what it meant to her and now he began to realize its potential for enriching the lives of others.

  "The idea that they would give me hundreds of thousands of grant dollars to work on something I'd thought up is incredible."

  "I can imagine.” He smiled, sharing the joy and pride at her accomplishment. He touched her cheek in a whisper caress. The contrast of his large fingers and her pale, feminine face aroused him. He adjusted his sitting position for comfort.

  "Why didn't you tell me about NASA before now?"

  "Well.” Ashley took a deep breath. “A part of the dream was Texas.” Why had she volunteered that? It was a ridiculous dream. She'd always known it. He hadn't wanted their daughter.

  "Texas?” he asked.

  "Yes, I guess I hoped to move there someday."

  Reese almost shouted in triumph. “You thought of coming to me.” He managed a casual tone in spite of the accelerated rhythm of his heartbeat. Maybe they weren't so far apart after all. He was humbled by her admission.

  "We have to do something. Your safety, Mandy's safety.... “He could not go on with that thought. It was too close to his primal fears. “As I said, you did your part by going to the head of Security. If they ignore the threat, you have to deal with it yourself and I'll damned well help."

  "Right, Boss Man."

  Reese grinned. She'd taken to calling him Boss Man right after her first trip to the ranch four years ago. He'd always been bossy, he supposed. Couldn't help it. Came as natural to him as breathing. He didn't know how to change.

  Ashley felt wonderful relief that Reese had not blown off her concerns as the guard did. He believed her and took this matter seriously. Unlike the jerk in Security, Reese hadn't written off her worries.

  "The basic idea is a smaller thermographic camera. For the average man on the ground."

  "Small is important."

  "Yes. Crucial, really. You know what they say, ‘micro is retro'."

  He laughed.

  "It must be made affordable, too. Existing machines are very expensive. And image interpretation is limited."

  He nodded thoughtfully. “Sounds like a major money maker for Braxton when you finish it."

  "Yes, I think so.” It pleased her that he'd said when and not if.

  "I bet the money angle is the place to start looking for answers."

  "I negotiated a percentage of any proceeds, but the device belongs to Braxton. That's the price a scientist often pays for the resources with which to work."

  He nodded, “I understand what you're saying. But the device would belong to anyone who could manage to steal it while in development?"

  The stark truth of his statement could not be refuted. “Yes, that's very true."

  He gathered her to him and hugged her close. “We'll think of something, Ash. Heck, with your brains and my brawn, we'll catch them before they can steal from you."

  She leaned into him and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.” She kissed his neck.

  "Celibacy, remember?” he asked.

  "And whose idea was that?” she sassed.

  "Yours?” he asked, then winced when she smacked his shoulder.

  "I don't think so."

  "The dream, Ashley? Texas? When were you thinking of going to my home? Tell me more about that part."

  She looked at him suspiciously.

  "When was I considering moving to Texas?” She blushed, as if a bit self-conscious at the direction the conversation had taken.

  "Yes, moving to Texas.” His tone was impatient now, and the words forced past his teeth, as if he needed to ask the question but hadn't planned to.

  "About the time you showed me the newly decorated house. Before you told me there would be no babies."

  "You were jealous of that decorator, admit it,” he said in a pleased tone. An all-male grin claimed his mouth and eyes. She reached out to cup his jaw line.

  "No. I wasn't.” She lied. Just to spite that sexy, manly grin.

  "Yes, Ashley, you were."

  "Alright, alright. I was. I was. She was so superior with all her pretentious silliness. The kind of woman that looks through people as if they're germs.” Ashley sat up straighter and folded her arms under her breasts. “And she was pretty. Tall and elegant. Sophisticated. She walked through your home as if she owned it."

  "Clay called her The Wicked One."

  She laughed with joy. “He's right. I agree totally, a good description. She wanted either one of you she could get her hooks into. Didn't matter which to her. It was sport. I think she was hateful to your neighbor. The nice girl that likes Clay."

  "You think Anne Fredericks likes Clay? She sure as hell doesn't let on."

  "She does like him. A lot. The indifferent act is self-preservation. They're still apart, I take it? I thought they'd resolve their differences by now."

  "They aren't a couple, if that's what you mean. I had no idea."

  "All true. Your sister Lori knew. She and I talked about it."

  "Ashley, honey, you're sure...."

  "You didn't ask me what I thought about the decorator,” she interrupted, storming right through his words. “You ... you had that strange woman come in and mess up that beautiful old house ... and Clay's love life. It had character and lots of style already."

  "It did? That's what Josie said."

  "You should've listened to her."

  He scratched his head. “I make that mistake a lot."

  "You're right. I was jealous of the witch. But I was angry, too.” She paused.

  He raised an eyebrow.

  "The bed she put in your room is a foot too short for you. And you hate the small high-tech telephones she installed in almost every room. All wrong on a working ranch home. I hope you got rid of those."

  He shook his head. “I should've consulted you. Why didn't you say something?"

  She shrugged. “Because.... “She looked down at the sofa, away from his probing gaze and plucked at the fabric.

  "What? Tell me. I need to know, baby."

  "Because I was in the starry-eyed stage.” She lifted a hand. “And I couldn't understand to save me why you were interested in me at all. I felt you'd come to your senses any moment and realize I was just a mousy little scientist."

  "Not a mouse, never a mouse,” he whispered with a smile. “A sexy, sexy cat.” He bent to nuzzle her neck.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Fifteen

  "She looks happier since you came,” Emma looked up from winter pruning her roses to say. Her gaze followed the disappearing outline of Ashley's car as she left for work the next day.

  Reese planned to get an early start repairing the lawn fence for Mandy's safety. It was split rail with a fine wire mesh behind it. The thing was falling down in a place or two. Simple to repair.

  "She does?"

  "Oh, yes, indeed. Indeed."

  Reese turned to face Mrs. Carson. While the encroaching gray in her hair was revealed by the bright morning sun, she looked youthful and healthy. Something about her reminded him of his Aunt Pelly back home. The resemblance wasn't physical, more the kind, maternal expression on her face and the same friendly smile. His father's sister was tall and stately where Mrs. Carson looked strong a
nd sturdy.

  "I'm glad."

  "She works too hard,” she said. “Even more these past few weeks, after Mandy's nanny left us."

  "She seemed tired before then?"

  "Oh, not so much tired as sad. Lonely. Hurt."

  Her look was suspicious, as if she thought him responsible for the hurt part.

  "Don't you worry. You're here now.” She laughed a delicate laugh.

  "Yes,” he agreed, noncommittally.

  "Are you the little one's father?"

  The stern question shocked him. The rudeness was out of place, coming from the kindly, older lady. Her eyes were sharp and demanding, more like law enforcement than a college teacher.

  What could he say to that?

  What could he say to protect Ashley?

  "I don't know, ma'am."

  God, he wished he was Mandy's father. If his guess about Mandy's origin was accurate, the guy who'd supplied the test tube wasn't going to fight him for the right to claim the child.

  "Men. Sometimes they're as dumb as my garden rocks.” She saw his hesitation and waved a hand, as if knowing she'd overstepped her bounds. “I'm sure you've had your reasons for leaving her to raise that babe alone, and perhaps good ones, but don't go off and leave that poor girl alone anymore,” she scolded, hands on her hips. “That's all I care about."

  "Yes ... I mean, no, ma'am. I won't.” Reese couldn't keep the smart-aleck gleam from his eyes. The sheer difference in their size made the little lady's order seem comical, but he could see the sternness of a teacher in her demeanor. And he believed she believed she could kick his ass.

  "Don't get sassy with me, young man,” she ordered. “Too arrogant by far, you are.” She frowned a warning and waved her nasty looking garden clippers. “My guess is that's been the trouble between the two of you. Ashley's the sweetest young woman you could hope to find. Very amiable and kind."

  Reese sobered his expression, suppressing another grin. He could imagine he saw ruffled feathers on the woman's slim shoulders now.

  "Yes, ma'am,” he aimed for his best serious tone. He must have succeeded, she looked somewhat appeased. This woman had Aunt Pelly's ability to make him feel ten years old again.

  "You won't leave her again then?"

  "Not willingly,” he answered truthfully.

  "Good then. Good. My meddling is done. Get on with your chores.” The snap of her clippers signaled she continued pruning her roses.

  Reese headed to the back yard, shaking his head all the way.

  Just past noon, Reese headed into the house to start lunch.

  Mandy was playing happily in a sand box in the back.

  As he rounded the corner, partially concealed by the too-mature landscape plantings framing the house, he stopped dead-still in his tracks. A strange man stood on Ashley's front porch. A stranger with blond hair. Not the cammie dude he'd seen in the woods by the river.

  The intruder—whatever the man's reason for being there—Reese saw him as an intruder—looked about himself with too much nosy curiosity. Reese didn't like the look of him.

  He looked as if he was searching for an easy way into the house. Odd. The stranger's inspection was extra careful for sure.

  Reese stepped out from behind the conifer. “Can I help you, Mister?"

  The intruder jumped and took a startled step backward across the wooden porch floor. Then the man collected his wits. The blond stranger looked Reese over, and seeing the caked earth from tamping posts on his work boots, seemed to dismiss him as no one of importance. Reese followed the man's eyes to the completed fencing, and then to the hammer in his hand.

  Mandy was safely out of the stranger's sight behind the house.

  "Yes,” the man said, “name's Mike Street. I'm looking for the woman who lives here, Ashley Wilson. She's a good friend of mine. A very good friend.” The intruder smiled a sleazy, self-confident smile, implying way more than mere friendship.

  Reese's jaw teeth crashed together in a tight clinch and his fists tightened around the hammer. He hated the way Mike Street put seedy innuendo into the word, ‘friend'.

  He sure as hell didn't want the man around Mandy. His protective instincts demanded he get rid of the man before Street saw the little one.

  As he walked closer, he saw Street's eyes were brown, a washed out pale brown, not the rich brown of Mandy's eyes, but brown just the same.

  The storm in Ashley's eyes, with flecks of gray and blue swirling in the green, could have darkened the washed out color to the prettier shade. Maybe. If the man was as good a friend as he implied, he might have more right to see Mandy than Reese. He shook away the thoughts. His annoying imagination was working overtime today.

  The man looked fearful now. Maybe Reese was allowing his thoughts to translate to his expression. He tried for a cool mask, a poker face, the one he used back home on Fredericks the horse trader.

  "You have an appointment to see the lady, Mr. Street?"

  "I called her office and was told she'd gone home for lunch. Thought I would stop by and surprise her. She owes me lunch.” The slime tried for a you-know-what-I-mean smile. Looked more like a lecherous leer.

  Reese felt his knuckles tighten a bit more. “Does she often give you a home cooked meal?” Reese almost succeeded in keeping his tone even and the jealousy out of his voice.

  "Yes, Ashley is a wonderful cook."

  Interesting, the guy was unfamiliar with Ash's burning the toast ways. A very good sign. His heart eased.

  "Who are you, anyway?” Street demanded. “The handyman? The cable guy?"

  "I do odd jobs when the need arises."

  "I see."

  "When I see Ms. Wilson, I'll tell her you were here,” Reese offered. Anyone who knew him would see what the offer cost him. He'd rather sell part of the family ranch than let this man have a chance to be with his Ashley.

  "No."

  The word came out too fast. Aha. Reese raised a brow.

  "No, no need to bother.” This time the sleaze managed a more casual sound. “I'll be speaking to her myself today."

  "Right. Whatever you say."

  As Street headed for his late model German luxury sedan the other man's glance fell to Reese's apple red sport coupe in the drive. There was lust in the other man's eyes. Unbridled lust.

  Ashley might be safe from Street for the moment, but the rented car might not be.

  Street loved a luxury car.

  If Reese had anything to say about it, Ashley would never be one of Street's luxury acquisitions.

  He went back to where Mandy was playing.

  "Let's go shopping, sweetie,” he said. “Want to?"

  "What're we going to buy for us?"

  "A car for kids."

  "Cool. A car for me."

  Hell. “No, pumpkin, I mean a car that fits kids better.

  She laughed. “That's not what you said."

  "I know.” He laughed with her.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Sixteen

  Later that night when Ashley came home, she found a shiny new, four-door, four-wheel drive SUV sitting in her driveway. The low slung, red coupe was gone.

  "What happened to your car?” she asked as Reese came to meet her at the door.

  He pulled her in the door, set her briefcase down and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. His lips coaxed a response from hers. Her senses reeled. He drew away slowly. Celibacy, be damned! He was torturing her.

  "Hmmm,” she said with a question in her eyes. He hadn't come close to taking her to bed since the first day, but the tall, sexy guy had made a routine of kissing her when she came home. But, woo wee, extra special effort went into this one. Her knees might not hold her. She smiled, a little dazed and confused.

  Then in a snap, Reese's welcome home kissing assault continued.

  "Missed you,” he stopped long enough to say. “Missed you so much today."

  Now her bones melted into a quivery mass. If his big arms weren't supporting he
r at the waist, she knew she'd be flat on her back, weak and floppy.

  "I missed you, too,” she whispered as he released her mouth again.

  "Not my car."

  "Hmm? She'd forgotten the question."

  "The car wasn't mine. It's the same color, but four years a newer model than the one I used to have back home. High end car rental firm owns it."

  He seemed surprised she hadn't seen the difference.

  "The truck is ours. Bought it today."

  "Yours?"

  "No, ours. Mandy and I bought it today. She needed the extra room. It's more of a family vehicle."

  "Yes, I see.” She didn't, not really.

  "It's my car, Mommy.” The little girl ran from the kitchen with what was left of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich folded in the fingers of one small hand. “And ... and we also bought a farm with a big, pretty house."

  Ashley gasped. “A farm?” She looked at Reese. He rubbed a hand down over one eye, looking as though he'd rather not explain the purchase this soon.

  "Well, we put down some earnest money with the listing agent. Property moves fast in this area,” he said.

  Whether the ‘we’ included Mandy as though to spread the blame, or to include them both as members of the family, she wasn't really sure.

  "You can see it this evening, if you want. And if you don't like it, we won't buy it."

  His words were casual, but she sensed that it mattered to him. Reese wanted her to like the new place. But what the heck was this all about?

  "Yeah, Mommy, you should see it. There're hills and trees and a river. And ... miles and miles of corn."

  "A river?"

  "A wide stream,” Reese corrected.

  "A stream?” Ashley was a bit disoriented.

  "You'll love it. It's not Texas, but it's nice. Great soil. Dark and deep."

  "What does all this mean?"

  "It means that I need something to do if I'm going to stay here permanently."

  He planned to stay? Ashley's pulse accelerated.

  "You would stay here, move from your ranch, from your home?” She felt the hot pressure of tears forming around her eyes.

  "Yeah, I called Clay today. Do you remember what you said once? About Clay and me?"

  "Not sure."