Nancy was right about the onion rings, too.
He left a large tip on the table when he finished, a little after six, then drove to the cabin, looking forward to a hot shower and what? Another evening alone...
It had also been more difficult than he’d imagined to stay away from Lisa. There was no mistaking her response to him. She felt the same explosive attraction he did. It was in the kiss, in the way she rested in his arm, in her gaze. But she definitely was not the woman for him for more reasons than he could count...
He tried to erase her from his mind and concentrate on what Luke had said about the banker. To have any kind of discussion, Jubal knew he should put together a list of assets, though a horse ranch probably wasn’t a banker’s first choice as a sound investment, anyway, even if he had a substantial down payment.
He mentally counted his assets. He’d received a large check for two years of back pay when returning to the States. He had banked his three hundred thousand in two re-up bonuses, and over the years he’d usually saved half of his monthly paycheck. He managed most of his own finances rather than using a broker, putting half into CDs when the rates were high, and when they expired and the rates went down, he bought blue chip stocks that had dividends.
Over the years he’d done well. But he knew how fast it could disappear buying land and horses.
When he reached the cabin, Jubal saw Gordon. He was sitting on the bench he’d built.
Jubal stopped the car on the road and walked over, to Gordon, joining him on the bench.
“You were going to see about horseback riding lessons,” Gordon said, looking straight ahead.
“Did you sister say it was okay?”
“She didn’t say no.”
“She just wasn’t overly enthusiastic?” Jubal asked.
Gordon didn’t answer. But disillusionment was in his eyes. Another adult had disappointed him.
Jubal wanted to tell him that the problem might well be solved, that Lisa planned to bring them to the ranch. Once there, he was sure Luke could talk her into lessons.
“Can’t you say something?”
He’d already been told, more or less, to back off, but he couldn’t say that, either.
“Luke Daniels, who owns the ranch, ran into her today and invited the three of you to come see the new foal. I expect when you get home, she’ll tell you about it.”
“For real?”
“For real.”
“And I can ride?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you have anything to do with it?”
“It was Luke’s idea. He’s a good guy. You’ll like him.”
“You think Lisa will do it?”
“I think you should let her bring it up herself.” Jubal didn’t like being duplicitous, especially with people he liked. He changed direction. “The foal is only a week old but he’s galloping almost as fast as his mom.” Truth was, he’d been wanting to ask Lisa all week whether she’d like to see the foal. How many times had he picked up the phone and put it back down? He wondered if Luke sensed that.
“How’s school?” he asked after a silence.
Gordon shrugged.
“Go out for any sports?”
“Teams are pretty much set.”
“What about track? You have the body for it. It’s an individual sport.”
“Is that what you did?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“I knew I wanted to go into the military.”
“Why?”
“I was angry,” he admitted.
“Why?”
“You need to expand your vocabulary.”
“You’re avoiding the question,” Gordon charged.
“Yeah, I am. Ever thought about being a lawyer?” Jubal asked.
“I did want to be an engineer,” Gordon said.
“You don’t now?”
“I don’t know. I got into some...trouble.”
“That shouldn’t stop you if you get your act together. I think you would make a good engineer.”
“Why?”
“There’s that vocabulary problem again. But I’ll answer. I gave you a project. You selected plans, made changes and did a damn good job putting it together.”
“Why did you do that? Why didn’t you call the cops when you found me on the deck?”
“I didn’t want to.”
Gordon’s lips turned up in a grin. “I don’t get you.”
“Why don’t you go home?” he said. “Your sister might be worried about you.”
“You really think she’ll let me ride?”
“Yeah. She cares about you. A lot. From what I understand she gave up a lot for you and your sister, but mainly you.”
Gordon looked at him for a long moment. “I guess.”
“No guessing. And you might think about telling her about the first night you were here.”
Gordon blanched. “She’ll ground me forever.”
“I don’t think so. I think she’ll respect you.”
Gordon shook his head. “I’ve been reading about the SEALs,” he said, changing the subject. “They’re pretty awesome.”
Jubal didn’t reply.
“How long were you a SEAL?”
“Nearly twenty years.”
“You ever kill a terrorist?”
“We can’t talk about it,” Jubal said. “Even if I could, I wouldn’t. You’re far better off as an engineer.”
Gordon stood up. “I guess I better go.”
Jubal watched him go. He feared his message hadn’t gotten through.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
LISA FINISHED HER last appointment at noon on Saturday. She told Janie she could go. She locked the clinic and walked the few blocks home.
She’d told Luke Daniels they would try to drop by around noon if that was okay. Kerry was thrilled and was waiting at the door when Lisa arrived. Gordon was in the kitchen eating a sandwich, but he’d dressed in a new pair of jeans and an actual shirt instead of his favorite worn T-shirt, which was his usual Saturday uniform.
Lisa ate a quick sandwich, too, but Kerry was too excited to eat. They were going to an actual horse ranch. She loved Beauty, the horse she was riding at the Mannings’ house but she looked forward to seeing the foal.
Lisa finished the sandwich, then changed into jeans and a light blue denim shirt.
It was less than ten minutes later when they arrived at the ranch. The gate was open and she drove up to the ranch house. There were five other cars there, as well, including one she recognized as Jubal Pierce’s.
To the right of the house was a large barn with another large building behind it. An outdoor riding ring was to the left. There were several fenced-off pastures. She immediately focused on one that had a horse with a foal running and jumping behind it.
She recognized Luke Daniels as he emerged from the barn with another man. Jubal! He carried a riding hat in gloved hands and wore riding pants and plain leather boots. The sleeves of his blue shirt were rolled up to expose deeply tanned arms. She didn’t remember them being that tanned. As the two men came near, she noticed Jubal’s eyes looked even bluer than she remembered.
He took her breath away.
Somehow, she moved forward, pasting a smile on her face. “Mr. Daniels,” she said. “Thanks for inviting us. You remember Gordon and Kerry?”
“Sure do. Come over and meet the newest resident of Covenant Falls Stables. He led them to the fence of the closest pasture. The mare trotted over, the foal by her side. Jubal handed Kerry a carrot to give to the mare. Lisa’s sister stepped up on the lower cross bar of the fence, leaned over and offered the treat.
The mare took it, and the foal looked up at her. Pure joy sh
one in Kerry’s eyes.
“Too soon for the little one,” Luke said. “He’ll still be nursing for a while.”
“It’s a colt?” Kerry asked.
Luke nodded. “And he’s all boy.”
“He’s so cute. What’s his name?”
“Ask Mr. Pierce,” Luke said. “He helped bring him into the world.”
Jubal raised an eyebrow. “I brought in the hay,” he corrected. Lisa noticed he didn’t provide the name.
“He was on foal watch,” Luke said.
She had a hard time imagining him sitting still for hours to watch a foal being born. He seemed to be all barely restrained energy. But she knew how miraculous it was to watch a healthy baby being delivered. It never ceased to amaze her. Had it affected him the same way?
She wished she knew what he thought, but she, who was usually so good at reading patients, couldn’t read him at all. He’d been quiet at the supper at Eve’s when she first arrived and again the night of the pageant, and yet, she’d sensed he was absorbing everything—the words, the people, the interaction. Since then, he’d revealed very limited information about himself, his past and his thoughts, even during their time at the cabin.
She knew more about him through the changes she’d seen in Gordon, and that was more intuition than actual knowledge of what had gone on between them. She only knew Gordon seemed to be on an upswing.
But now she saw yet another side of Jubal. The mare had gone straight to him, not to her actual owner, Luke Daniels, and allowed her foal to nuzzle Jubal’s hand while protecting her baby from the others.
Even more telling, he’d worked for Luke just a short time and yet the man treated him like an equal rather than a hired hand. He seemed perfectly at home on the ranch, more at home than she’d seen him before.
He was an enigma to her. An enigma that fascinated, attracted and aroused her.
And scared the hell out of her.
He moved aside, giving her half of a carrot. “Want to make a friend?” he asked.
Lisa took it and offered it to the mare, who gently pulled it from her hand before scarfing it down. “How many carrots do you have in your pockets?” Lisa asked.
“A bunch. The grocery store is running out,” Jubal said with a grin. “They ensure a warm welcome.”
He seemed uncharacteristically unguarded and relaxed. She was stunned by his smile, its magnetism and the pure need that pulsed along her nerves and settled in her stomach.
Luke broke in. “My wife is giving a barrel racing lesson in the arena out back. Would you like to watch?”
“I would!” Kerry said.
“Good. Why don’t you two come with me, and maybe Jubal can introduce Gordon to the horses—if that’s okay with you, Doctor. Jubal can show him how to tack up a horse and ride him around the ring.”
Lisa wasn’t sure that was the best idea, but she looked from Kerry’s eager face to Gordon’s pleading one and agreed. Luke led them through the barn, introducing them to the few stabled horses. “Most are in the pastures,” he explained.
The name of each horse was inserted in a slot in the door. The stabled horses poked their heads out to see who was visiting, and Kerry made a point of saying hello to each one. Lisa noticed her sister seemed torn between lingering with the horses and watching the practice session. But then they were outside, taking a short path to the large building behind the stables.
Inside was a large ring. Three barrels were arranged in a cloverleaf formation, and a girl about Kerry’s age riding a gray horse was talking to Tracy, whom Lisa had met earlier that week at Maude’s. She noticed several others nearby, watching, as well.
After a discussion, the rider rode to the entrance of the ring, turned and raced around the barrels at what seemed an incredible speed. The whole thing was over in seconds.
“In barrel racing,” Luke said, “the fastest time wins. It’s not judged on style, only the clock, but the riders have to maneuver at high speeds. Precise control is imperative.”
They watched for another twenty minutes, then Luke suggested they check on Gordon.
“Can I stay and watch?” Kerry begged.
Lisa looked at Luke, who nodded. “Sure. No problem. They’ll probably be here another thirty minutes.”
Luke led Lisa back through the barn and out the front doors. When they emerged, Lisa saw Gordon wearing a riding hat, sitting astride a dark brown horse in the riding ring.
Jubal attached a long rope to the horse’s halter and stood in the middle of the ring while giving commands to Gordon. “Walk. Stop. Slow trot. Halt.”
Then he told Gordon to take his hands of the reins and repeated the same commands.
“That’s to help him learn to balance,” Luke said as he watched beside her. “Your brother has a good seat.”
Lisa knew nothing about riding. She’d watched as Eve had worked with Kerry but she never expected Gordon to be interested, as well, not until he raised the subject, and even then she thought it had more to do with Jubal than the actual riding.
She was beginning to understand the connection Jubal had with Gordon. One of the biggest things missing from his life was a strong male presence. He probably couldn’t pick a stronger one than Jubal Pierce. Apprehension ran through her. The last thing he needed was to find one and lose him.
She’d hoped the police chief would’ve been that model. She had liked Clint immediately, and he lived here. Permanently. He had the open, friendly personality that she thought would appeal to her brother. Instead, he’d picked a quiet loner. Like himself.
Lisa continued to watch them. She didn’t know if Jubal had taught before, but he was good at it. Patient. Calm. Encouraging. He took the rope off, and Gordon controlled the reins. At Jubal’s command, he went from a walk to a slow trot. Back to a walk. Halted. Started again. When Gordon wanted to go faster, Jubal said no. To her surprise, Gordon didn’t argue.
The lesson ended, and Jubal walked over to her. “Do you have time for him to cool off the horse and groom him? It’s part of the process he should learn.”
She nodded, trying not to wonder how it would feel to be in those muscled arms for more than a few seconds. “Kerry’s still watching the barrel rider.”
“Why don’t we go inside and get something cool to drink?” Jubal asked. She nodded as he led the way into a room loaded with saddles and other riding equipment. He went to a small fridge and took out two bottles of water and handed one to her. It was ice cold.
He took a long pull from the bottle, then splashed some on his face. She watched as water dribbled down his lips. There was something elementally masculine about the picture that made her knees weak.
She decided not to be dainty and did the same. It felt good on her face as well as her throat.
He grinned. “Good?”
He looked as if he belonged here. Surrounded by salddles and bits and halters. His shirt stuck to his chest and he might as well have a sign: I am Man.
It scared her, and fascinated her and enchanted her.
He reached over and wiped a drip of water from her chin with a finger. It was both provocative and...caring.
The door opened and Luke entered. “Jubal,” he started, then looked from Jubal to her and back again.
“Maybe I should come back later...”
Lisa knew her face was probably scarlet, but she squeezed between Luke and the door. “I wanted some water,” she said, “and saw the trophies. They are really impressive.” She was babbling.
“Most of those belong to Tracy,” Luke said.
Jubal moved then. “I have to get back to Gordon,” he said and disappeared out the door.
Lisa was left standing there, and she suspected her face was strawberry red. She hated losing control, but she had been doing a lot of that lately. She stepped back to the o
pen door. “Thanks for asking us over today. I would like to pay for Gordon’s lesson.”
“No way. You’re an invited guest,” Luke said.
“What if he wants to continue them?”
“Is it okay if Jubal teaches him?”
No, she screamed internally. Outlwardly she tried to keep her cool. “Has he had any experience?” She didn’t doubt Jubal’s ability, not after watching him with Gordon, but she hoped to tempt out another kernel of information.
“Not teaching, but he’s just a damn good rider and great with the horses. I’ll be there with him because I want him as an instructor. I want to keep him as long as possible.”
How long would that be? He would be galloping in and out of their lives. Could she knowingly subject her brother to that?
“There wouldn’t be any charge,” he added.
“I couldn’t allow that,” she said.
“It’s Jubal’s time, and hell, I’m not paying him anything.”
“You’re not?” She couldn’t stop the question bursting from her lips.
“He won’t take a salary. He just wants to learn about ranching. He puts in a good fifty to sixty hours a week, too. Heck of a good man.”
Lisa was stunned. She shouldn’t be. Nothing about Jubal should surprise her now. “I still wouldn’t feel right,” she said. “Why don’t I throw in free medical care if you need it?”
“Done,” he said. “I’m relieved you’re here. We have injuries now and then. A fall, a horse stepping on someone’s foot. Concussions. Doc Bradley was great. Always available.”
“I’m trying to do the same, but he has a lot of experience on me.”
“Saw him yesterday. He says you’re doing real good.”
That’s good to hear.”
“Want to go see how your brother’s doing?”
They walked to the front of the stable where Gordon was using a thick bristled brush on the horse he’d been riding. The horse seemed to approve, reaching her head around and nickering softly. Jubal sat on a bale of hay. He gave her that slow, crooked smile that made her heart beat a little faster. “He’s doing good. He would make a good groom,” he added with a grin.
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