The Countess and the Cowboy

by Linda Wisdom

  "Maybe you should have opened the jacket while you talked to him," he said wryly under his breath.

  She continued massaging her temples. "Did you say something?"

  "Nope, not a thing." He changed gears with a frantic jerk of the hand.

  Letitia turned to stare out the window. A sign up ahead caught her attention.

  “Willow Bend sounds more like a town."

  Tyler made a face as they passed the road with an ornate copper archway welcoming one and all to the Willow Bend Ranch. "More like a tourist trap. Willow Bend is a rapidly growing dude ranch."

  She strained to see past the fence but could only see a scattering of buildings in the distance. One large corral filled with children riding horses in a circle was easier to see. "Big?"

  "Too big."

  "And they're making money?"

  "Rolling in it." He was disgusted with the entire conversation.

  She was amused by his revulsion. "And you don't like rolling in money?"

  "Oh, I like rolling in money as good as the next person. But then I guess you already know the feeling," he dangled the bait.

  She refused to bite. "How do the guests arrive?"

  "There's a van that picks them up at the airport in Butte. They even have a helicopter pad at the ranch for those with the money to afford a private helicopter service." His mouth twisted with distaste. "There's plenty of friendly ranch hands to teach riding and roping, barbecues every night, a heated pool and spa, even a barber and beauty salon on the premises so the ladies don't have to worry about all that nasty dirt doing funny things to their hair. They even hold those cattle drives like in the movie so the paying guests feel like they're getting a taste of the real west." His sarcastic drawl indicated something altogether different.

  "I feel sorry for the cattle," Letitia commented, idly chewing on a nail. The moment she realized what was going on, she stopped. "Someone like me herding cattle could be a frightening thought for any self-respecting cow. No, I couldn't do it. While I need money as much as the next person, I don't need it badly enough to turn the ranch into a western bed and breakfast. That wouldn't be right."

  Tyler looked over at her, vainly trying to keep his eyes off her legs, which were crossed at the knee, and one foot swinging up and down in slow motion. "Keep it up, countess, and you just might win my respect."

  Letitia smiled. That he might be in the beginning throes of changing his mind about her was an instant pick-me-up.

  She leaned forward, allowing him a nice view of creamy bare skin against the aqua silk and cooed in his ear as she ran her fingernail down his cheek. "Oh, cowboy, by now you should know that I always win. And I firmly believe in the saying, Winner Take All."

  Chapter Eleven

  Tyler stood under a cold shower for fifteen minutes but knew that even if he was buried in ice cubes it wouldn't help his problem. He still didn't know how he managed to make it back to the ranch in one piece after Letitia's provocative statement about winning. He closed his eyes and lifted his face to the fast stream of water.

  It would have been so easy to pull over to the side of the road and see just who would end up the winner. He considered it a major miracle that he arrived at the ranch sane.

  When they pulled up near the barn, the hands were just going in for supper. Tyler grimly watched Letitia button her jacket back up. He would have preferred if it could have been buttoned all the way to her neck. The men glanced at Letitia, took a second look and then moved off when Tyler sent them silent messages that threatened murder if they didn't back off.

  After his shower, he dressed and wondered if there was a way he could casually leave the bunkhouse without anyone noticing when he left and when he got back. He also knew it was next to impossible. While his room was separate from the other men, it didn't have a door he could sneak: out of.

  "No, you don't do it that way, you idiot! First you punch this button then this one. Didn't you listen to the man when he explained it to us? Here, let me do it. 'Wheel of Fortune' comes on in ten minutes and I don't intend to miss my first chance of seeing Vanna White in color," J. T. growled, snatching an elaborate remote control unit out of one of the men's hands and punching in the appropriate commands.

  "'Wheel of Fortune?'" One of the men snorted, looking up from the large multicolored guide. "It says here that 'Roller Derby Mamas' is coming on. Aren't we going to see that?"

  "I want to watch that Chinese Ping-Pong tournament and find out why they consider it such a hot sport," another argued. "'Sides, it's cultural."

  Tyler watched the commotion with mild amusement as the men argued over the programming. Then grew impatient. "If you children can't behave there won't be any television tonight." He raised his voice to be heard above the din.

  "C'mon, Tyler, this is something new for us," Ben pleaded, but still keeping his eyes riveted on the screen. "It was really nice of her brother to send a satellite dish and TV for us, too."

  Tyler didn't agree. "Nice, hell. He must be nuts to do this," he muttered, walking outside after declining to join in a poker game with those who he considered had good sense. The minute he stepped outside and saw the lights shining in the main house, he knew what he had to do. The lady was going to listen to what he had to say whether she liked it or not!

  Letitia appeared at the front door before he had a chance to knock.

  "Come on in." She grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. "Myrna decided to stay and watch Schwarzenegger's latest film. If I have to look at those overgrown muscles another minute I'm going to scream."

  "I've always been a Michelle Pfeiffer fan, myself," he said dryly. "Can we go to your office?"

  "I was just going there myself." She led him down the hallway. Why don't you sit down while I get us something to drink?" She disappeared before he had a chance to say a word.

  Tyler looked around, impressed with the change in the once cluttered office. Letitia had most definitely put her stamp on the room.

  The desk surface was cleared and polished to a high shine, the file cabinets didn't look as stuffed and the books were neatly put away. A brightly colored crocheted throw improved the looks of the couch and a portable CD player on a file cabinet played soft music. He remembered how much he hated the musty smell of Harvey's cheap cigars. The odor kept him from entering the office any more than he needed to. Now all he found was the enticing scent of Letitia's perfume. The problem was that now, he would have preferred Harvey's godawful cigars.

  "Here we are," Letitia announced cheerfully as she balanced a filled plate and two glasses of wine. "Here, make yourself useful." She handed him the glasses.

  Tyler looked dubiously at the wine. "Myrna usually keeps some beer in the fridge."

  "Wine goes much better with snicker doodles." She plopped down on the couch beside him. "Actually, milk probably does, but I've never been fond of it. Wine, I can handle."

  He eyed the cinnamon sugar-topped cookies with curiosity. "Don't you believe in chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin?"

  "Try it." She picked up a cookie and gently pushed it into his mouth. "They're almost as good as sex," she crooned.

  Tyler coughed so hard he almost blew a bite of cookie across the room.

  Letitia immediately took one of the wine glasses and urged him to take a sip. "Are you all right?" She patted his back.

  "You are something else," he wheezed, pushing the wine glass back at her. "What are you trying to do? Kill me?"

  "I said they were almost as good as sex, not as good as," she said wide-eyed. Except the laughter lurking in her eyes betrayed her.

  It took a good deal of self-control to hang on to his reason for being there. "I didn't come here for cookies and wine," he growled, putting the glasses aside and setting the plate on the floor.

  Letitia smiled as she uncoiled her legs from under her and stretched them out along the couch, playfully nudging his thigh with her toes. "I didn't think you had. I was just trying to be the polite hostess. Dare I hope you came to see me
?"

  "Oh, I came over here to see you, but not the way you probably think." He stood up and walked across the room, keeping his back to her while he sorted out his thoughts. He wished he'd thought more about this before storming in. Especially after he got a good look at her coral lacy leggings and matching crocheted short-sleeved top that covered a matching silk tank top. He grimly reminded himself that the ranch women he knew didn't dress like that. Sure, women's fashions weren't pure western out here, but they still weren't anything like the little outfits Letitia wore.

  "So-o-o," she drew the word out. "Why are you here?"

  Tyler spun around. "Why in the hell did you have your brother give the men a TV and satellite dish?" he roared.

  Letitia reared back at the unexpected blast. "Excuse me?"

  "Do you know what the men are doing over there right now?" he demanded, pointing in the direction of the bunkhouse.

  "Doing whatever you men do every night," she replied, confused by his verbal rampage. "And as I feel we're talking about a guy thing here, I really wouldn't want to hazard a guess as to what they're doing."

  "They are over there arguing whether to watch 'Wheel of Fortune', 'Roller Derby Mamas' or a Chinese Ping-Pong tournament," he gritted.

  "Something tells me 'Roller Derby Mamas' will win."

  "This is not a joke!" Tyler yelled.

  Letitia covered her ears. "Do you mind? This room isn't very large and you have a very loud voice when your temper is showing."

  "Dammit, Ticia, this is a working ranch, not a damn relaxation center!" He lowered his voice a fraction of a decibel. "Next thing I know, they'll spend all their time watching instead of working. And it's all your fault I"

  "My fault? Why, because Jack is my brother and he thought he was doing something nice?" she shot back. "I'm sorry his idea backfired, but I am not taking the blame for it. I assume those men are all adults. They should know the difference between playtime and work time."

  Tyler shook his head. "You have to understand there isn't all that much to do out here and when winter comes there's days when no one goes outside unless they absolutely have to. This is like some new toy to them that they can't get enough of. I'm afraid I'm going to wake up one morning and find out they're not going outside until the morning game shows are over." His mouth twisted. "It's not as if I can put restrictions on it like they're a bunch of kids. So. You're the boss, you take care of it."

  Letitia stood up. "All right, I'll take care of it," she repeated. "Fine. I'll do just that." She marched out of the office and down the hall.

  "Oh hell," he groaned, already sensing her intent.

  "Where do you think you're going?"

  "To take care of it as you suggested," she threw over her shoulder as she pulled open the front door and slammed it behind her.

  "What have you done now?" Myrna looked up from her perch on the couch.

  Tyler threw up his hands. "Pardon me for living!" he shouted, opening the door with a force that could have pulled it off its hinges. "I should have personally driven her back to Beverly Hills that first day!

  This place is going nuts!" The house shook when he slammed the door.

  "WISH those two would just get together and be done with it," Myrna said to no one in particular, returning to her movie.

  Tyler had to practically run to keep up with Letitia's rapid steps. "Look, I’m sorry I blew up."

  She didn't look at him as she crossed the yard. "No, you're not."

  "This is not going to work."

  "Want to bet?" This time she shot him a sideways glance. "After all, betting is one of your strong points, isn't it?"

  Tyler picked up his pace to head her off. He held his hands out. "No."

  She stopped before she could run into him. "Don't worry, Tyler, I'll make it as painless as possible." She feinted to the left and the minute he moved, she swiftly shifted the other way and hurried up the steps to the bunkhouse.

  Tyler closed his eyes and muttered a curse as he heard her open the door. The talk and laughter inside fell into abrupt silence.

  Letitia's body standing in the doorway was illuminated by the light streaming outside.

  "Missy, this isn't a good idea." J. T. was the first to break the silence.

  Letitia looked across the room to the television screen. "I was right. 'Roller Derby Mamas' won," she said under her breath when Tyler came up behind her.

  "Gentlemen-" she presented them with a bright smile "-Myrna asked that I remind you that she's making blueberry pancakes tomorrow for breakfast and she hopes no one will be coming in late. You know how she feels toward latecomers." She started to turn away then turned back as if she'd forgotten something. "Oh, and men, if you get hooked on that thing and your work suffers, I will send both satellite dishes back without a second thought. And believe me, I'm not a nice person to be around if I don't have my MTV," she said pleasantly. "Good night, gentlemen, pleasant dreams." She pulled the door closed. Her smile disappeared the moment she faced Tyler. "I hope that met with your approval."

  "Now I know you're nuts." He followed her back to the house.

  "It must have something to do with the company I keep!' Letitia entered the house, almost closing the door in Tyler's face if he hadn't caught it in time.

  "You think you can solve everything that easily?"

  Letitia suddenly spun around. "No. but I do the best I can. And you could offer the use of your brain:'

  "Other than suggest you rob a bank? And I wouldn't be surprised if old man Beecham had poisonous snakes patrolling the bank after hours.

  What about your brother? If he's willing to give up an extra satellite dish, maybe he'd spring for the payment."

  "No!" She stormed back into her office. Her jaw looked as firm as Mount Rushmore. "This is my problem and I will be the one to solve it."

  "How? The ranch is hocked to the hilt," he said candidly, following her inside and leaning against the doorjamb. "You said Beecham has given you five days. Do you intend to go to L.A. or New York and charm a banker there? What are you going to offer for collateral? Yourself?" His voice rose with every word.

  "If it became necessary and I thought it would help, I'd go to L.A. or New York and see bankers there for business negotiations," she retorted. "But there are other ways of handling this."

  "Such as?" Tyler asked skeptically. He suddenly snapped his fingers. "Oh, I know, you're going to get proof your ex-husband is alive and well and hanging out with Elvis, so you can get ail your back alimony:'

  Letitia flexed her fingers, fully prepared to claw his eyes out.

  The sound of the telephone was the bell to end round one. Letitia snatched up the receiver.

  "Hello? Cecile, how are you?" Her voice brightened as she identified her caller. "Oh, everything is fine. Are the cowboys as sexy as magazines try to say they are?" She looked straight at Tyler and winked. "Well, it depends on what you're looking for. There are those who chew tobacco, scratch themselves, and take a bath once a week." She laughed as she perched her butt on the edge of the desk while keeping her gaze focused on Tyler. She cocked her head to one side as she listened to the caller. "Cute ones? Oh, there are a few good-looking men, if you like the denim and boots type."

  Tyler stood there and saw a new side of Letitia, This was the woman he thought he saw that first day. She laughed, repeated snippets of gossip and chattered like a lovely magpie. After about a half hour of what he considered useless conversation, he noticed even her stance changed.

  "Why did I call you?" Letitia held one hand out in front of her studying her nails. "It's this way. I've decided there's no use in keeping some of my jewelry out here in the sticks. After all, I wouldn't have anywhere appropriate to wear them. So I wondered if you could give me the name of a reliable jeweler I could contact to handle some of my pieces for sale." She sounded so casual that she could have been asking for the name of a good hairdresser. "What pieces am I considering giving up? Oh, I thought my emerald and diamond necklace and earrings to
start, perhaps the gold swan pin studded with sapphires, my ruby pendant," she proceeded to name four other pieces of jewelry that sent Tyler's mind reeling. She wiggled her fingers at him. "My canary diamond ring?" She looked upward. "Well, to be honest, I hadn't thought about selling that piece. It was one of Stephano's last gifts to me and has a lot of sentimental value."

  Tyler chuckled when Letitia pretended to stick her finger down her throat and crossed her eyes.

  "Well, I had it appraised recently when the insurance renewed," she babbled on, quoting a figure that caused Tyler to choke. He wondered how people could throw around these high figures without fainting. "Well, I know you've always loved that ring, but you have to understand I can't let it go for anything lower than the appraisal figure. How would Evan feel about that? Oh, he did?" she bubbled. "No wonder you want the ring! All right, Cecile, I'll call Frank's office first thing in the morning and he'll contact you to arrange the sale. He has access to my safety deposit box and can give you the ring right away. No, darling, I won't back out on our agreement. As far as I'm concerned, verbal is as good as written. Yes, we must talk again. Bye, bye." She hung up.

  "I've never heard a telephone conversation so obviously fake," Tyler told her. "I felt as if I was listening to some kind of talking plastic figurine. Still, that was one smooth piece of work you just accomplished. Slick. You weren't just calling her for the name of someone to handle your jewelry, were you?"

  She shook her head, looking very pleased with herself. "If that's what I wanted, I could just call my attorney to handle it. She's been panting after that ring ever since the first time her avaricious beady eyes saw it. It was a custom design Stephano gave me a year before our divorce," she explained. "I'm truthfully not all that fond of it because it's too ostentatious for me, so I only wore it when I wanted to make a statement."

  "The money you get from selling the ring will easily bring the loan up-to-date," he guessed.