by Unknown
Damn, she’d just bet the customer got his ears full. The walls between the two bathrooms were so damned thin patrons heard each other fart and belch.
She slammed the door to the Bear behind her and put the male customer out of her mind. He wasn’t important. She couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch and begin tearing down Jace’s little playhouse.
Jillian glanced at her watch and hummed softly. It was barely seven, plenty of time for rack and ruin. She grinned, pressed her foot harder on the gas pedal on the honey of a car she’d forced Jace to pay for, and shot out of the parking lot.
She headed north toward the Dancing Star.
Yes siree, plenty of time for rack and ruin. She was going to make the little bitch wish she’d never touched Jace Remington.
* * * *
The male customer sat at the end of the bar and watched Rodney return to duty. He ordered a beer and plastered a friendly smile on his face. “It sounded like you were having a hot time back there.”
Rodney arched a brow.
The customer laughed. “I was in the men’s room, couldn’t help overhearing you doing a number on her. Sounded like you were giving the lady what she wanted.”
Rodney licked his lips. “You bet. The bitch gives the best damn blowjob I’ve ever had in my life. Stupid sow thinks she can get by passin’ my kid off as Jace Remington’s.” He snickered. “No way. Every brat I got looks just like me.”
“Huh. I don’t have any kids yet, but I plan to one day. You see that pretty blonde in town yesterday?”
Rodney nodded. “I think every male in Rimrock saw her. Beautiful woman.”
“She’s Jace Remington’s new wife.”
“Do tell. First chance I get, I’m nailin’ her beautiful ass, too. She came into town yesterday and picked up supplies, didn’t know her, but talk about high class pussy. I ‘bout creamed my pants when I saw her. ”
“I did cream my pants.”
The two men snickered, dirty minds in accord. The customer grinned, tossed some bills on the bar, and left. He had plans to make and had to have them completed by eleven tonight.
He knew where the Pine Cone Inn was located.
There was only one vehicle left in the parking lot of the Brown Bear. A white, double cab Ford truck. It had to belong to the horny bartender.
He checked the door. Unlocked. Trusting fool.
What a shame, the man thought, and pulled out a sharp-bladed knife. Darkness was gathering fast in Rimrock, Montana. What a cryin’ shame Rodney, the bartender, got his last piece of ass in the ladies bathroom.
He hoped good ol’ Rodney enjoyed it.
His lips twisted in an evil sneer.
He couldn’t wait to nail Jace’s wife, either.
But first, he was going to have a little fun with the bartender, then with Miz R.
He rubbed his aching cock and grinned.
He’d give her what she wanted and then some.
Yeah, he’d give her a fuckin’ she’d never forget!
Chapter Eighteen
When you give a personal lesson in meanness to a critter or to a person, don’t be surprised if they learn their lesson.
~Cowboy Quotes
Dancing Star Ranch
Monday 7:00 p.m.
Kaycee returned to her quarters, grateful to find Taylor wasn’t there yet. The time on her watch read seven p.m. She’d spent the last three hours in Jace’s arms, making love, discussing wedding plans and tossing ideas for a nursery back and forth.
For the first time, Jace shared his plans and ideas for the horses and the breeding program he’d implemented. To his disgust and concern, a young mare, Lady D. was near foaling time.
Jillian had turned Tulip in with Lady D knowing Jace had no plans to breed the mare so early and knowing full well he had a different bloodline in mind for the mare. She deliberately sabotaged his plans for the mare. It wasn’t the first time she’d done things to his horse breeding programs.
The other woman deliberately mixed up vials of frozen sperm, and the wrong stud’s seed had bred several of the mares. He’d had to scrap the entire season and a whole years worth of breeding because of it. The next year he started all over again. It had been a costly loss, having the mares’ fetus’ aborted and waiting for them to come back into season to breed in the correct programs.
It wasn’t any wonder her husband didn’t want a woman near his horses. Jace had surprised her though when he said once their baby was born, she could work with the yearlings. He listened to her ideas for new programs, impressed with her knowledge.
At the moment, their future looked promising.
Kaycee glanced out the window and shivered. A frisson of fear slid down her spine. The very air she breathed felt thick, burdened with malice, as though something evil crawled in the gathering darkness.
Night spread its skeletal fingers across the darkening sky. A sense of dread and foreboding swept over her. She couldn’t shake the feeling something bad was going to happen.
“Get a grip, girl. What could be wrong? You have a handsome husband who adores you, a baby on the way, and a brother who is beginning to turn his life around. Yeah, get a grip.”
She took a hasty shower in the obsolete bathroom and changed into fresh jeans and a dark blue cotton blouse. Tomorrow, she was moving into the house with Jace. Kaycee brushed the tangles her husband had put in her hair, leaving the damp, heavy strands to fall freely down her back.
Life was good.
Things were definitely looking up.
She narrowed her eyes and frowned at her reflection in the mirror. Drat the man, he’d taken another set of her combs. They were her favorite, too. Shaped like kites, they each had one large flower in the center with each petal outlined with green gems and the center filled in with clear stones.
Not real gems, of course, but she loved all the combs.
She had to remember to get all of them back from him.
She rummaged through a drawer, pulled out another set of combs and jabbed them into her hair. This set reminded her of hands. Each finger was hand painted with a simple set of hearts. Each heart had a tear shaped diamond dripping from it as though the heart was broken and crying. In all, there were fourteen stones on each comb. They were breathtaking. She rarely wore this set simply because they were so beautiful, and she was afraid of losing them.
Staring at her reflection in the cracked mirror, she touched her swollen lips with fingers that still trembled. What was she going to do? What could she do? The man loved her, and damn it, she had fallen fast and hard for him.
What would she do if Smitt turned up here in Montana?
Or the detectives from Reno showed up with extradition papers?
Smitt, no doubt, would kill Jace if he thought she loved him. Jace hadn’t said so, but she knew in her heart he believed the same thing Duel did, Smitt had murdered the poor preacher who had married them.
She suspected if Smitt discovered where she was, he’d follow her to Montana. Somehow, she had to keep Jace safe. She just hadn’t figured out how to do it yet. She left the bathroom and headed to the kitchen. Taylor worked in front of the tiny stove preparing their evening meal.
He turned and gave her a faint smile.
“Smells delicious,” she said. “What are we having?”
The growling of her stomach reminded her of the missed meals. She didn’t care what he cooked. She was starving for whatever creation he developed.
“Steak, mashed potatoes, fresh green salad, or whatever milady desires,” he replied, giving her an odd look.
Curious, she pulled open the refrigerator door and then sought out the contents of the cabinets. Her eyes widened at the amount of groceries stocked on the shelves. “Where did all this come from?”
“Our lord and master took me into town this morning, where we dined in elegant splendor…silent, but elegant. Understand?” Taylor wiggled his brows at her. “Then he took me with him while he shopped.”
“Jace bought gr
oceries today? For us?” She chewed on her bottom lip. And she’d practically accused him of trying to starve her to death when he’d laughed earlier at her rumbling stomach. He hadn’t said a word in his defense, either.
That was something she was learning about her husband. He didn’t waste time bandying words. He never said much in his defense about anything. If he was guilty, he said so, and went on from there.
“He could hardly bring himself to speak to me, sis, but when he wasn’t glaring holes through me, he asked about my condition.”
Taylor’s gaze lingered on his sister’s mouth. Her lips were swollen dark pink. She’d been thoroughly kissed. He concealed a grin. “When I explained you were scheduling my return to therapy during your free time, he made arrangements for me to be taken into town every day for treatment. Can you believe it? The man hates my guts, but he’s going to pay for my first month’s therapy.”
“He’s going to pay for it? But he said you were.”
“Yep, but he’s going to give me time to pay him back. He said you weren’t paying for a damn thing for me anymore and since our income had been so tight for the last year, he figured he could handle paying for my therapy until I get back on my feet. He also informed me, in no uncertain terms, he thought I should do more to help you.” He placed their evening meal on the table. “Not nearly as elegant as lunch with the boss, but I’m not a chef.” His eyes suddenly widened. “Well, well,” he huffed. “I don’t think that’s a bruise I’m seeing. At least not the kind made from a fist.”
“What?” Kaycee said absently as she settled herself at the repaired table, and started dipping her plate. “As tired as I am, I’m just grateful I didn’t have to cook.”
“You have a hickey on your neck the size of a quarter. No wonder you’re tired. You must have had a real busy afternoon.”
“Not nearly as busy as yours,” she replied, rubbing the tender spot on her throat.
“Meaning?”
“What did you do to Dianna that caused her to call you an asshole?”
He choked. “She called me an asshole? I can’t believe she even knows such a word exists, let alone have it in her vocabulary. She’s such a spoiled little bitch. I dropped her on her rich ass after I took her bra off her and, well, I’d like to—” Heat swept up his face. “Never mind what I’d like to do to her.”
She looked startled, then laughed softly. “From the size of the mark you gave her, I have a pretty good idea what you want to do to her. I’m sure dropping her on her ass endeared you to her.”
He snorted. “Don’t make something out of nothing. I put the mark on her on purpose, not because I was turned on by the little snot. Hell, her boobs are acorn size.”
Kaycee swatted her brother with a dishtowel. “Men! All you think about are boobs or rather the size of them.”
“Not true. We think about other parts of a woman’s anatomy. In the case of Miss Titless, there’s nothing there to fill a man’s hands.”
“Right, pull the other one now.”
“She leaves me cold. Christ, I could barely stand kissing her. I thought I was going to puke afterward. She has nothing to offer a man, not even a nice rack.”
They turned at the sound of a soft gasp, and Kaycee felt the shattered look on Dianna’s face clear to her soul.
“Damn,” she muttered, and glared at her brother.
Her sister-in-law stood frozen in the doorway between the living room and kitchen. A frantic look spread across her face, as if she’d rather be anywhere on earth than where she was standing now.
“I…uh…knocked, but I…guess you were talking and…didn’t hear me.” The sound of choked tears filled her voice. She kept her eyes turned away from Taylor and glued on Kaycee.
Kaycee glanced at Taylor, but he was leaning back in his wheelchair, arms folded across his chest, a smug look on his face. She wanted to smack him. “Would you like something to eat?” she inquired.
“No. I…uh…I just came to tell you Jace wants you to come to the stable.” She swallowed hard, but lost the battle against the tears. They filled her eyes and spilled over. She glanced toward Taylor and quickly back at Kaycee. “As soon as you’re finished eating, I–I’m sorry I interrupted your meal.”
Dianna backed out of the kitchen doorway, then spun on her boot heel and left.
“Damn it!”
Kaycee whirled, startled at the sound of breaking dishes. She widened her eyes at the sight of a lump of mashed potatoes sliding down the wall. It landed in a clump on the floor. Taylor glared at the kitchen doorway as if the opening had committed some type of crime.
“Jesus, Taylor, you scared the crap outta me.”
“Crap! You think she heard what I said?”
“Uh, yeah, I’m pretty sure she heard it all. She looked utterly devastated to me.”
Left him cold, huh?
She sighed and squatted down to pick up the pieces of the broken bowl. Maybe Dianna was good for her brother. She hadn’t seen this much life in him for months. But she didn’t think Taylor was good for Dianna. Her sister-in-law had looked shattered.
However, she had to concentrate on Taylor and Jace. Dianna was going to have to fend for herself and grow a thick skin if she was going to battle with Taylor.She thought Taylor cooking supper was a good sign he was returning to a normal life. Kaycee looked down at the pile of mashed potatoes on the floor, back to Taylor and then the congealing spuds.
“Oh, my God!”
She jumped up and dashed down the hall to the bathroom, retching with every hurried step. She felt about as anemic as a cloud when she returned to the kitchen.
Taylor’s brows knitted together in a deep scowl. “What’s wrong with you?”
She ignored his question and pressed a wet washcloth to her mouth. “I don’t like mashed potatoes.”
“Since when?”
“Since now,” she snapped.
“I know I’m not the best cook in the world, but I don’t think I’ve ever turned anyone’s stomach before.”
Kaycee burst into tears. “I think I’m pregnant.”
Taylor chewed on his bottom lip. “You think? Did you let Jace hang his pants on your bed post?”
“What?” She blinked, then giggled when she realized what he meant. “Only a few times.”
“Then I’d say the odds are in the favor of Mother Nature, since you’ve done the wild thing only a few times with Mr. Boss Man.”
She lowered the wet cloth from her face. “It’s not his fault. I should have done something to prevent it from happening.”
“Last I checked it takes two to tango, honey. The important thing is your health and the baby’s. And…do you want the baby? You don’t sound very happy about the possibility of a little Jace running around.”
Tears tracked down her face. She sniffed.
“Kaycee?” he questioned softly. “Aw, honey, don’t cry. You’ll make yourself ill.”
She laughed through her tears. “I’m already ill. Or hadn’t you noticed?”
He rolled his wheelchair closer and patted her hands in a soothing gesture. “I think it has something to do with hormones when a pregnant woman bawls like a baby.”
She giggled and swiped at the tears rolling down her face. “Yeah, I think so. And to answer your question, I want this baby so much it scares me to death. I love him, Taylor.”
“Him?”
“Jace. I love him, but…I’m afraid of—”
“You’re afraid of him, because he beat you,” he concluded.
She shook her head in denial, but discovered she couldn’t get the words around her tongue to defend Jace. It would involve Smitt Davis, and after what Jace had told her, she wasn’t quite ready to tell her brother the truth. He was getting his life back to normal. She didn’t want to dump her concerns on him about Smitt. She wasn’t sure he was able to cope with everything yet.
So she nodded in agreement and left things as they were.
“Should you be so sick like this? How far a
long are you?”
She swiped at her tears. “I don’t know, a few weeks. Jace is calling a doctor tomorrow and making an appointment for me.”
“So Jace knows you’re pregnant?”
“He knows. Look, I have to go to the stables. I’ll be back soon.”
“Take your time.” He grinned. “I think I’ll go for a roll in the grass. Get it? Roll in the chair?”
At her blank look, he laughed. “You know, as opposed to stroll?”
Kaycee shook her head. “You’re an idiot.”
She watched him as he turned the wheels on his chair and left the kitchen. Where was he going with such a look of determination set on his face? She sincerely hoped he wasn’t going in search of Dianna.
Dianna had looked as if her world crumbled around her head. Damn it, Taylor could be such an ass.
She frowned and headed out the door.
Darkness closed around her. She shivered. She glanced around, and saw nothing. But she knew in her heart, there was something evil in the air, and it had made its home at the Dancing Star.
* * * *
Monday 9:00 p.m.
Kaycee entered the stables and paused halfway down the wide isle. Most of the horses had settled down for the night. A couple were still standing with their heads poked over the half doors. Tulip nickered softly when he caught her scent.
She paused to scratch the stallion between his ears. “Hey, big fellow,” she crooned. “You were a naughty boy today. Huh? Found you a lady friend, didn’t you?” She patted the horse’s neck. “No carrot tonight, boy.”
“Jace doesn’t want you anywhere near the horses.”
Kaycee whirled to face Jillian. The older woman had a habit of sneaking up on her. Jillian wore a hostile, determined look, her dark eyes flashing with rage. She stood clenching her fists. She looked dangerous and a little insane.
Kaycee backed up a step and glanced up and down the long length of the stable.
“No use looking for Jace. He won’t be here. I sent Dianna after you.”
“You? Dianna wouldn’t—”
