* * *
Rogue stood next to the fence, watching Mariah frolic through the field. He’d put out some hay bales today. The heat had burned up the grass and he didn’t want any of the animals doing without. Jester nudged his knee. He was tempted to pick the little horse up like a dog, but he didn’t want to insult the little man’s dignity. “Here.” Rogue fed him a piece of apple. “You liked her, didn’t you, fella?”
His answer was a soft whinny. Propping one foot up on a lower board, Rogue let his mind wander to Kit and what they’d done the night she visited him. It had been three whole days since he’d kissed her, since he’d rubbed the cream of her arousal all around her clit. “Fuck,” he groaned. Rogue was hard again.
Twice he’d picked up the phone to call Kit and twice he’d laid it down. What he had to say would be better said face to face. After she’d left, he had called Zane and told him his concerns. Rogue had been prepared to hear his lawyer tell him he was crazy, but he hadn’t. Zane Saucier had understood and Rogue knew part of that empathy was from his own relationship with his wife. Presley was a lawyer also and she’d handled some of Lone Wolf Oil’s business.
When Rogue first met her, she’d been about to have surgery to repair a cleft lip. Not that she was unattractive, she was very pretty, but part of Rogue had wondered about her relationship with the dynamic lawyer. After he’d seen them together, there was no question. Zane adored Presley and when she looked at him with love in her eyes, she was beautiful. Zane had admitted that he hadn’t really wanted his wife to have the surgery, he dreaded Presley going through one moment of discomfort. With tears in his eyes, the successful attorney had confided that he knew the surgery was for her, so she could feel as beautiful as he knew her to be. How different Zane’s attitude was than his own had been. His shallow juvenile view of women almost cost him getting to know Kit—and that would’ve been a shame.
Hearing a car coming down the drive, Rogue looked up to see who was throwing up the cloud of dust. As if he’d conjured them, he was glad to see Zane and Presley pulling up. Rogue had known he’d hear from them today, but he hadn’t expected a personal visit. “Over here!” he called, motioning them to come sit with him on the patio. He didn’t have full time help, but the woman who cleaned his house bi-weekly had left him a big pitcher of lemonade to keep him cool.
Presley looked trim and crisp in a light blue linen suit with her hair pulled back into a pony-tail. Zane, on the other hand, looked like he’d just stepped off a horse, he was in full cowboy regalia like Rogue. When he drew near, he held out his hand to shake. “We were headed out to Kerrville to see the McCoys, I thought we’d drop these off.”
Rogue greeted them both, offering a chair and something to drink. He noticed Presley looked a little flushed. “Would you rather go inside?”
“No, I’m fine,” she answered graciously. “Just a bit queasy.”
When Zane smiled a grin worthy of the Cheshire cat, Rogue caught on. “Are you two…?”
“Pregnant, yes,” the proud father-to-be answered.
“Congratulations!” Rogue hugged Presley. “You two will make wonderful parents.”
“I hope so.” Presley laid a protective hand on her middle.
“What did you find?” Rogue asked, knowing they had somewhere to be and the sun was beating down hotter by the moment.
Presley handed Zane a folder she’d been holding. He opened it up and took out the first sheaf of papers. “The Simmons oil deal is a go. I negotiated the best price I could per barrel. They’ve agreed to take as much as you can pump on this well and to give your next one every consideration.” Zane smiled. “You’re in business, my man.”
“Excellent, I can’t wait to tell Elijah and the other men.” He paused to look at the bottom line. “Whew. That number looks good.” He’d never been rich, he’d been comfortable. Once this money materialized, he had plans for his mother and a few other things he wanted to do, one of which he was about to bring up with Zane.
“We also checked your half-brothers,” Presley interjected. She pulled out another folder. “I’ll let you look at this when you have time, but we found nothing to be alarmed about. You have some interesting characters here—a guitar player, a rodeo cowboy and a ranch hand with the same dream of raising horses as you have.”
“They seem to share some common characteristics with you.” Zane laughed. “All three of them have a reputation of being rough and rowdy.”
Rogue nodded his head, glancing at what they’d found. His emotions about this deal were all over the place. He didn’t know if he had room in his life for a big family. And who knew if they would want to be his family? None of them had seemed overly excited by the prospect when they’d been at Benner’s office in Red Creek. “How about Walker Minerals, is it on the up and up?”
Zane poured himself and Presley some more lemonade. “I contacted Dusty’s lawyer myself and he was good enough to give me access to their financial statements.” Slapping Rogue’s shoulder, Zane grinned. “You’ve lucked out. Walker Minerals is solvent and has immense potential for growth.”
“Well, I can’t say I’m disappointed,” Rogue admitted. “I’m relieved. Honestly, this all seemed a little too good to be true.”
Presley shifted in her seat, making herself a bit more comfortable. Zane adjusted a pillow behind her back and she smiled at him. “I wish we had better news on the other item you had us look at, the White-Wing matter.”
Jerking his head up, Rogue stared at his friends. “What’s wrong?”
Zane handed him a piece of paper. “This note is just the tip of the iceberg. True, all that’s owing Parker is about fifty-thousand, but there’s another lien at Wichita Savings and Loan for a hundred grand with a balloon payment due in five months. Even if your friend paid this off, she’s still got bigger problems hanging over her head.”
Rogue was stunned. “Who made this loan?”
“The paperwork says Sheila Parker, she’s the owner. Kit’s name isn’t on anything. She may be an heir but her name isn’t on the deed or the note.”
“Damn.” He knew Kit didn’t have that kind of money and he didn’t trust Dave Parker as far as he could throw him.
“What are you going to do?” Presley asked.
Rogue pulled off his hat and held it by the brim. “Kit and I have a history. I owe her. And I am hoping we can mend some fences.” He let out a long breath and gestured toward the paperwork they’d been going over. “All of this is future earnings. I know I don’t have much money in the bank, but I want you to cancel this note and assign it to Kit and her mother.”
“That’s very generous of you.” Zane studied Rogue’s face, but he didn’t ask any more questions.
“When you get ready, holler at me and I’ll come into Austin and pick it up.” He stood and so did they. “Thanks for all you did.”
“Our pleasure,” Presley said with a smile.
As he began to walk them to their car, Rogue held up his hand. “If you have any member of your staff that has time, have someone look into Dave Parker for me. Find out if he has any dealings that look odd and find out where he stays when he’s not at White-Wing and who he hangs out with.”
“All right,” Zane agreed. “Do you suspect something in particular?”
“No.” Rogue shrugged. “It’s just a hunch.”
“Okay, we’ll see what we can find.”
As they drove off, Rogue put the folders of information under his arm and headed back to his house. He had some good news, it was time to call his mother.
* * *
Three days later, Rogue winged his way north toward Kansas. This time he’d flown commercial, landing in Wichita and renting a pick-up. He didn’t like to be without a set of wheels, and riding in a limo would never be his chosen form of transportation, no matter how much money he made.
Once he had the keys to a fairly new Ford, he headed northwest to Red Creek. All the way he rehearsed what he would say to Kit. He wondered how she wou
ld react when he gave her the paid note. What he really dreaded was telling her about the other note, but it was necessary. Hopefully she’d listen to him. He really wanted to help. Hell, he really wanted to spend more time with her. Last night he’d awoken hard and hungry, his cock swollen from dreaming about her. He could still feel her small body in his arms, him holding her tight, his fingers dipping deep into her pussy. God, she was perfect!
The miles passed swiftly as he daydreamed about what he wanted to do to her. Rogue was anxious to know what it felt like to be inside of her, to be joined with her. Even more, he wanted a chance to start over. To ask her out and take her to dinner. He wanted to get to know her and see if there was really something between them or if he was making all of this up in his head.
Soon, he arrived at White-Wing. To his pleasant surprise, there were guests. The place looked fairly busy. He parked and went inside, finding her mother behind the desk. “Hello, could I speak to Kit, please?”
The look she gave him this time was totally unlike the welcome he’d first received. “Rogue Walker!” She glared at him over her glasses. “Haven’t you done enough?”
Rogue wasn’t entirely surprised by her outburst. He knew Mrs. Parker would be ready to blame anyone other than her own husband. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m trying to make amends. I really need to see Kit. Could you tell her I’m here, please?”
“I would if I could.” She slammed a drawer, then glanced around to make sure no guest had seen her outburst. “Kit’s not here. I’m worried. She left Kansas City early this morning, she should have been here by now.”
“When was the last time you talked to her?” Rogue was concerned also.
“About four hours ago. She’s not answering her cell phone.”
“Which way would she come, do you know?” He needed all the information he could get and then Rogue was going after her. A woman traveling alone just scared him to death. He knew how he felt every time his mother left the house.
“Kit would have come down I-15 as far as she could have, but then she would have cut down, probably on Richardson Ranch Road. There’s a narrow farm-to-market road that forks off from it to link up to our road. She always called it a shortcut although I don’t think it is, there’s too many twists and turns and there’s hardly any traffic…”
Her voice trailed off. Rogue could see she was worrying. He was beginning to imagine horrible things himself. “I’ll find her.”
Sheila Parker’s face crumpled. “If you do that, I just might forgive you.”
Rogue tipped his hat. “I’ll hold you to that, ma’am.” He didn’t linger, instead he got back in his truck and pulled up the GPS. Usually he just liked to drive, but this time he needed the help and he was going to take it. In a few minutes, he was on the road.
* * *
The sun was setting and Kit was hearing and seeing things. Every rustle in the bushes made her cringe. She’d recently read a story about a wolf being spotted in Kansas and she knew there were bobcats. Of course, none of those things were probably anywhere near, but her imagination was running away with her just the same. Shadows were lengthening and she was too afraid to hitchhike. Since her tires went flat about an hour ago, she was on the move to find the nearest gas station or even a house with a telephone. There was absolutely nothing on this road. Kit didn’t remember it being so desolate. So here she was, walking in the ditches and hugging the tree line. Her stupid cell phone had died and there hadn’t been a car pass in the last half hour, not one with a woman in it. Kit knew she was probably being foolish, but she was afraid to accept a ride from a strange man.
Vehicles didn’t go by often, maybe one every quarter hour or so, but she hung back, unwilling to flag down a man alone. This hadn’t been a productive trip. Art Hoffman had insulted her with his offer for the horses. She desperately needed the money but she wasn’t willing to give them away.
Oncoming lights made her dash into the trees, but when a truck went by at a snail’s pace with the window open, the lights from the dashboard illuminated what looked like a familiar face. “Rogue?” No, she shook her head. It couldn’t be. But what if it was? Elation battled with caution, but there couldn’t be two men who looked like him and wore a cowboy hat coupled with a leather vest. Dashing down into the road, she yelled his name as hard as she could, waving her arms in the air. “Rogue!”
For a few seconds, she didn’t think he’d seen her. And then she saw the red brake lights come on. He pulled over to the side of the road and got out. A huge sigh of relief slipped from her lips and she didn’t even think about it—she took off running. She didn’t have to run all the way either, because he came toward her and when she launched herself at him, he caught her close. “I’ve got you.”
“Rogue!” She hugged him tight and knew without a doubt that no matter what the vastness of space held, there was no safer place in the universe than in his arms. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you,” he whispered against her hair. “I came through earlier searching for you, found your truck and I was making a second pass.” His voice changed from thankful to stern. “Just in case you were foolhardy enough to be walking on the side of the road. I’ve called the sheriff’s department, the hospitals, everyone I could think of. Your mother is scared and so was I.”
Kit didn’t argue. Walking was a foolish thing to do. Even in rural Kansas bad things could happen. “I didn’t know you were coming back,” she admitted breathlessly.
“Yea, you did,” Rogue drawled. “You knew I couldn’t stay away.” At the doubtful look in her eyes, he added, “And it had nothing to do with the land or with Dusty. I would’ve come back if neither of those things existed. I came back to see you.”
“Thank you for finding me.”
Rogue’s breathing still wasn’t normal. “You’re welcome, but I’m paddling your sweet ass the first chance I get.”
“If you’ll take me home, I’ll let you do it tonight.” Her offer surprised Kit herself, but she meant it. He’d come looking for her. She wasn’t exactly sure what that meant – but it had to be good.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Standing on the side of the road in the middle of rural Kansas is an odd place to consider romantic, but that was exactly Kit’s thought. The moon was bright, she was cradled in the arms of a sexy handsome hunk and he’d just suggested that he give her a spanking.
Rogue wasn’t shy, he wanted clarification. “Did you just agree to let me put my hands all over your epic ass?”
“I think you already have,” she whispered against his chest. “I’m just inviting you to do it again.”
With a chuckle, Rogue lifted her hand and kissed her palm. “You must really be glad to see me.” He didn’t release her hand but pulled her nearer. “You’ll never know how glad I am to see you.” After brushing his lips gently over hers, he deepened the kiss.
Kit didn’t struggle, she was right where she wanted to be. Her whole body rejoiced to be back in his arms. She could’ve kissed him all night, but the noise of an oncoming car had them moving over to safety. “Come on, let’s go.” He opened the truck and settled her in, fastening the seatbelt himself. “Here, call your mother and tell her you’re alive.” Rogue handed her his phone, then he went around to climb behind the steering wheel.
When he was settled, she relinquished the phone and he pressed a few numbers. “I’m calling for a tow truck and then I’ll take you home. Did you run out of gas or was there some other trouble?”
“Flat tires, slow leak, I guess. I didn’t have a blowout, the two front tires just seemed to deflate.”
Rogue thought that sounded odd. When someone answered, he gave them directions and repeated his credit card number to pay for it. He heard Kit’s gasp but he took no notice. When he was through, he hung up. “He’ll get it fixed and deliver it to White-Wing when he’s done.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Kit protested. “I’ll repay you.”
“I’m not worried about th
at,” he drawled, glancing at her in the moonlight filtering through the front windshield. “What were you doing in Kansas City?”
The radio was turned down low and Kit could hear Tim McGraw singing about riding and not worrying about the fall. She guessed he was right, it was the cowboy in them all that made them act like they had nothing to lose. “I was trying to find a buyer for my horses.”
“No!” He hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand. “There’s another way, I’m sure of it.”
Kit jumped and placed a hand on her throat. “I don’t know what it could be.”
He had planned on waiting, but there was no use. “Here. This is for you.” Rogue took the note from his pocket and handed it to her.
“What’s this?” Kit took the paper, never taking her eyes from his face.
Turning on the interior light, he said, “Read it.”
She did and couldn’t believe her eyes. The note her family had owed to Dave Parker and now to Rogue was paid in full. “How?” Kit stared at him until realization dawned. “You did this?”
“I never intended to profit from you, I just needed to check some things out.”
Kit stared down at the piece of paper. “I can’t let you do this.”
Rogue divided his attention—one eye on the road, the other on her. “You’ve been asking me to return that note for two weeks.”
He was right, she had. “I expected you to return it to Dave, not to release it yourself.” She sounded ungrateful, but she wasn’t. She was awed.
“Dave needed to be out of the picture,” Rogue stated flatly.
“He may be,” she confessed. “He left my mother, took all the money in their joint account and disappeared.”
Rogue: The Sons of Dusty Walker Page 11
