THE RANCHER'S SPITTIN' IMAGE

by Peggy Moreland

  Jesse dropped her hand to sling an arm around her shoulders and draw her close as they walked down the path side-by-side. "I think our son is trying his hand at a little matchmaking."

  Mandy stopped so fast, she had Jesse stumbling. "Matchmaking!" she cried. "You mean—"

  Jesse turned, chuckling, to gather her into his arms. "Yes, that's exactly what I mean." He dipped his head over hers and dropped a quick kiss on her lips.

  Her eyes round in wonder, Mandy continued to stare up at him. "He's never— But then I've never—" She pressed her forehead to Jesse's chin and groaned. "I didn't even know he thought about stuff like this."

  Jesse's chuckle rumbled beneath her hand. "You probably don't want to know what thoughts he has. I remember at his age, I was—"

  Mandy leaned back to clap a hand over Jesse's mouth. "No, please," she begged him. "Don't say it. I'd rather think of my son as an innocent little boy a while longer."

  Taking her hand from his mouth, Jesse chuckled and laced his fingers through hers again as he continued on to the lake. "He can't remain your little boy forever, you know."

  Mandy sighed, stopping at the lake's edge to turn to him. Unexpected tears misted her eyes. "I know. But I can't bear the thought of him growing up and leaving me some day."

  "Have you ever considered having more children?"

  "I wanted to, but…" The explanation drifted away unfinished.

  "But what?"

  Though it took courage to do so, Mandy met his gaze squarely. "You were the only man I ever wanted to have children with and you left."

  "I'm here now," he offered softly.

  A slow smile grew on Mandy's face at the hope and sincerity she saw in his eyes. "Jaime's always wanted a little brother or sister."

  Jesse pulled her hips more firmly against his. "Why don't we see what we can do about giving him one?"

  Margo pulled up beside the gasoline pump and lowered her window, glancing nervously about. Just as she was about to give up and drive away, Rube stepped out of the shadows of the building. She frowned as he approached her car.

  "What do you mean calling me at this hour of the night?" she demanded angrily. "And I told you never to leave a message with my housekeeper! I don't want anyone to know of our association."

  Rube stuck his head in the open window and rested his elbows on the window brace. "Well, now that's just too bad, Miss High-and-Mighty Lady."

  Margo smelled the liquor immediately and drew back sharply. "You've been drinking," she said in distaste.

  "A man's got a right to take a sip now and again."

  Margo put one hand on the wheel and the other on the gearshift. "Contact me when you're sober. I refuse to talk to you when you're drunk."

  Rube's hand shot out and covered hers on the wheel. Margo snapped her head around to glare at him.

  "I wouldn't be in such an all-fired hurry if I were you," he said in a low voice.

  Margo heard the threat and tried to twist free, regretting her impulsiveness in responding to his late-night call. But his grip remained firm. She lifted her chin imperiously. "If you have information for me, then say so. I need to get back to the ranch before someone discovers I'm gone."

  Rube's hold on her hand softened to a caress. "Oh, I have information, all right, but it's gonna cost you."

  Margo tried her best to hide her revulsion. "How much?"

  "Twice what you gave me before."

  She jerked her hand from his and opened her purse. She quickly pulled the bills from her wallet and thrust them at him.

  He took the money and fanned it once beneath his nose before stuffing it in his pocket. "I jist love the smell of money, don't you?"

  "The information," Margo reminded him tersely. "What have you got?"

  "Right now Jesse, the boy and that McCloud bitch are all out on a camp-out. They took their horses and were plannin' on gettin' in a little fishin' before makin' camp out by Double-Cross Lake."

  Margo narrowed her eyes, thinking. The setup was perfect to do away not only with Jesse, but the McCloud woman and her illegitimate son, as well. It wasn't all that uncommon to find campers murdered while they slept. She stole a glance at Rube, and immediately discarded the idea. She couldn't trust him to carry out such a scheme, especially not in the condition he was in. "When are they planning on returning?" she asked instead.

  "Tomorrow 'bout noon."

  "I want to know the second they return. Call my house and let the phone ring once, then hang up. I'll know it's you."

  "And how much are you gonna give me for spyin' for you this time?"

  "We'll talk about that later. You just make sure you follow my instructions." Before he could respond, Margo jerked the car into gear and stomped on the accelerator. Rube stumbled back out of the way just shy of getting the toes of his boots run over.

  "Bitch," he muttered under his breath. "You'll pay, all right. And it may be with more than money." He spat on the ground, then turned, weaving his way back into the shadows.

  "Do you have to go now?"

  Jesse heard the disappointment in Jaime's voice and had to bite back a grin. The fact that his son wanted him around pleased him enormously. "I've just got to check on a few things over at the Circle Bar. I won't be long."

  "How long?"

  Jesse chuckled and tossed his duffle bag into the back of his truck. "A couple of hours. Maybe longer." He climbed into the truck and closed the door, then stuck his head out the open window. "Depends on how much needs my attention."

  Jaime sighed and stepped away from the truck as Jesse started the engine. "Well, hurry back," he called. "I want to try roping off my new horse."

  Laughing, Jesse gave him a salute, and drove off. As he passed by the house, he slowed and gave his horn a short blast. Mandy appeared at her office window. He pressed two fingers to his lips and blew her a kiss.

  Mandy did the same, then waved, smiling as Jesse drove on.

  Margo had been up since five, pacing her office. By eight, she was on the phone. By ten, she was ready to tear her hair out. Surely someone must be privy to the McClouds' affairs! she told herself as she slammed the receiver back on its base.

  While she was trying to think who to call next, her front doorbell rang. "I'll get it, Maria," she called as she headed for the front of the house. She swung the door wide to find a courier standing on her front porch.

  "May I help you?"

  "I have a delivery here for Jesse Banister. Is he in?"

  Margo pursed her lips in irritation. "No, he's out." As she started to close the door, she caught a glimpse of the return address on the large envelope the man held, and the name of Brickie & Stanton, Attorneys at Law. She quickly opened the door wide again, and became the model of southern hospitality. "But he should return at any minute," she offered helpfully. "If you'd like to leave the package, I'll personally see that he receives it."

  Obviously relieved that he wouldn't have to make another trip to the boonies, the courier passed Margo a clipboard. "Just sign your name right here," he instructed, pointing.

  With a flourish, Margo signed her name and passed the clipboard back. The courier, in turn, handed her the envelope. "Thank you, young man," she murmured graciously. "You can be assured that Jesse will receive the package the moment he returns."

  As soon as she closed the front door, Margo hurried back to her office. Once inside, she closed the door and turned the envelope slowly, examining the closure. "Damn shipping tape," she muttered. "If they hadn't used that, I could've simply steamed it open, read the contents, then replaced them without Jesse ever being the wiser." She knew the tactic worked, because she'd read Wade's mail for years.

  She sank down into her chair, tossing the envelope onto the desk in disgust. But as she sat there, staring at the offensive piece of mail, a thought occurred to her.

  How would Jesse ever know who the package had been addressed to? Especially if she destroyed the envelope. Pulling open her lap drawer, she fished out a pair of scissors a
nd snipped away at the tape. Holding her breath, she slid a legal document from the envelope. Skimming the first few pages, she realized that she was holding an offer to purchase the Circle Bar. Quickly flipping to the last page, she searched for the name of the intended purchaser.

  JM Enterprises.

  She grabbed for the phone and quickly punched in a series of numbers. "This is Margo Barrister. I need to speak with Representative Gaines immediately."

  "I'm sorry, Mrs. Barrister, but he's in a meeting. May I take a message?"

  "Tell him it's imperative that I speak to him this instant," Margo snapped impatiently.

  She waited a moment while canned music chosen to soothe played monotonously in her ear.

  "I'm so sorry to keep you waiting, Margo," the legislator soothed, oozing charm. "I had a constituent in my office. You know how tedious that can—"

  "I have a name," Margo interrupted. "The corporation is under the name of JM Enterprises. Can you trace it and find out if it is tied to the McClouds?"

  "Certainly. I'll have an answer for you first thing in the morning."

  "I need an answer now," Margo demanded.

  "Well, certainly. I'll call you back within the hour."

  She slammed down the phone.

  An hour, she thought, her nerves unraveling. What if Jesse returned before she received the crucial information?

  Picking up the shipping envelope the contract had arrived in, she forced herself to calm down. It doesn't matter what time he returns, she told herself. If he questions me on the time of the package's arrival, I'll simply lie and tell him it was only just delivered. Smiling, she turned to the shredder on the credenza behind her and fed the envelope through.

  From the vantage point her living room offered of the road leading to the Big House, Margo watched and waited for Jesse's return. She sat in a Queen Anne chair of crushed velvet, a magazine spread open across her lap, unread.

  The telephone rang and she started, thinking it might be Matthew Gaines calling with the information she'd requested. But before she could fully rise, the ringing ceased. She waited, breathlessly, for a second ring. When none was forthcoming, she sank back down, curling her fingers around the chair's arms and smoothing her palms across the deep velvet. So he's back from his little camp-out, she thought smugly. Thank you, Rube, for the warning.

  The telephone rang again and Margo rose, crossing quickly to the entry table in the hallway to take the call on the extension there. "Margo Barrister speaking," she said.

  Gaines didn't waste any time. "You were right," he told her. "The corporation was set up by Mandy McCloud. Of course, her name is listed nowhere in the records, but I recognized the name of the McClouds' law firm and—"

  "Brickie & Stanton," Margo interjected.

  "Yes, Brickie and Stanton. I know one of the secretaries in the firm, so I gave her a call and found out that Mandy had the corporation set up several weeks ago for the sole purpose of purchasing the Circle Bar."

  "Damn," Margo muttered bitterly.

  "Is there anything more I can do?" Gaines asked helpfully.

  Margo pursed her lips and thought a moment. "No," she finally said. "I can handle things from this point. But thank you, Matthew. You've been very helpful."

  After replacing the phone, Margo crossed back to the living room and took her seat again, her gaze going straight to the window.

  Now it was simply a matter of time. The Circle Bar would be hers, of that she was certain.

  Jesse dumped his duffle bag on his bunk and had to fight the urge to follow it down. Yawning hugely, he stretched his arms high above his head, trying to get the kinks out of his back and shoulders. Groaning, he dropped his arms to press his hands against his lower back. If more camp-outs were going to be in his future, he was definitely going to invest in a more comfortable bedroll. He chuckled ruefully. Or maybe he should just swear off wild stallions.

  A shower, he decided. That's what he needed to loosen up his aching muscles. But before he could take one full step in that direction, the telephone rang. Quickly changing directions, he caught up the phone on the second ring. "Jesse Barrister," he said, identifying himself to the caller.

  "Jesse, it's Margo, dear. If you have a moment, I'd like for you to come up to the Big House. There's a matter here that needs your attention."

  Jesse bit back an oath. "Can it wait? I was just about to step into the shower."

  "No. This is of the utmost importance."

  Jesse sighed, looking longingly at the shower beyond the open bathroom door. "All right," he agreed reluctantly. "I'll be right there."

  He dropped the phone and headed for the front door and his truck parked outside the bunkhouse. Within minutes, he was punching the front doorbell of the Big House. The door swung open, and Margo greeted him, dressed impeccably as always. Her expression gave no hint of the urgency she'd placed behind her request.

  "Good morning, Jesse," she said in her silky southern drawl. She lifted her wrist, glancing at her wristwatch. "Or rather, good afternoon," she corrected pointedly.

  "What do you want, Margo?"

  She opened the door wider. "Please come inside, won't you? We'll be more comfortable discussing this matter in Wade's office."

  Comfortable for whom? Jesse wondered. He'd never crossed the threshold of the Big House and didn't particularly want to now. Deciding that it might expedite things if he went along with Margo's request, he heaved a sigh and stepped inside. Margo closed the door behind him, gesturing for him to follow her.

  "A package arrived earlier today by special courier," she explained as she entered the office and stepped behind the desk. She gathered the carefully folded document in her hands and extended it to Jesse. "Since you are the owner of the Circle Bar, you'll need to respond to this offer."

  Jesse snapped his head up to meet her gaze. "Offer?"

  "Yes," Margo confirmed. "Someone is interested in purchasing the Circle Bar."

  Jesse took the papers from her and dropped down in a chair in front of the desk, eyeing her suspiciously. "You opened my mail?"

  Margo lifted her chin. "I most certainly did. When something is delivered by special courier, it usually means it is important. Since you weren't here to take care of business," she added, her tone turning accusing, "I thought it in our best interest to check the contents of the envelope."

  "Our best interest?" Jesse repeated.

  "You may own the Circle Bar," she replied acidly. "But this is my home and what affects the Circle Bar affects me, as well. I, for one, intend to protect my interests."

  Knowing that arguing with her was fruitless and would just delay his return to the Double-Cross, Jesse heaved a frustrated sigh and dipped his head over the document. He read quickly, skimming the pages, and emitted a low whistle when he saw the dollar amount offered in exchange for the deed to the Circle Bar. "Looks like more than a fair price," he murmured.

  "Fair?" Margo repeated, obviously shocked by his reply. "That would depend on who was making the offer and the purpose behind it,"

  Jesse flipped several pages, skimming quickly. "JM Enterprises, Incorporated," he read. He glanced up to look at Margo who still stood behind the desk. "Never heard of them."

  "You wouldn't have," she replied, her voice heavy with sarcasm. "It's a newly formed corporation."

  Jesse dropped the papers to his knee in frustration. "You obviously know more about this than I do, so why don't you just share your knowledge with me and save us both some time."

  "I have done a little research," Margo admitted carefully. "Just a few calls to determine the powers behind the corporation."

  "And?" Jesse prodded, anxious to get this business over with and get back to the Double-Cross where Mandy and Jaime awaited him.

  "And," Margo repeated dramatically, "the corporation is a blind one, set up by one Amanda Leigh McCloud."

  The name pierced Jesse's heart. "Mandy?" he whispered in disbelief.

  "Yes, Mandy," Margo confirmed, pursing her li
ps in distaste.

  Jesse shook his head, refusing to believe her. "No. You're wrong. Mandy has no need for the Circle Bar. She's got all she can handle with the Double-Cross."

  "That may well be true, but it is Mandy who instructed her lawyers to create the corporation and to make the offer. I have the proof."

  "But why? Why would she go to the trouble of establishing a corporation just to buy the Circle Bar? Why wouldn't she just ask me outright?"

  "I think that's obvious, don't you?" Margo folded her arms across her chest. "She didn't want you or anyone else to be privy to her plans until it was too late to do anything about it. She's a McCloud, after all, and the McClouds would do anything to get their hands on the Circle Bar."

  Pain swirled through Jesse's head. He dropped his head between his hands, the papers he still held scraping against his scalp. Mandy wouldn't do this, he told himself. Hell, she loved him! And she wouldn't sneak behind his back to try to buy the Circle Bar from him. She didn't need to. They were going to get married just as soon as Mandy felt Jaime could handle the news. Why buy the Circle Bar when it would be hers once they married?

  Margo stepped from behind the desk and plucked the contract from Jesse's stiff fingers. "She's played you for a fool, Jesse. Again," she added spitefully.

  Jesse jerked his head up to glare at her. "What is that supposed to mean?"

  "She used you before to spite her father, and now she's using you again to wield her revenge on the Barristers."

  A muscle flexed on Jesse's jaw. "That's not true."

  Margo arched a knowing brow. "Isn't it? You know how badly Mandy and her sisters resented their father and his dominance in their lives. You were her one sure way to rebel against Lucas, to prove that he couldn't control her." Margo carefully refolded the papers, smoothing them between her fingers. "The child may have been a part of her plan, or maybe an accident, I'm not sure."

  At Jesse's surprised look, a small smile of satisfaction curved Margo's lips. "You weren't aware that I knew, were you?"