by Lily LaVae
Mr. Halberk approached them and held up the tube. “I’ve got the maps to show you what Mr. LaMont is claiming, and I think we can settle the matter quickly now that you’re here. Squatters rights are hard to claim. He’d have to prove ten years of use and that’s not easy, especially with satellite mapping and imaging technology.”
He could look up almost anywhere in the world and get a reasonably recent picture of it, but if he was doing it in a less obvious way, satellite images wouldn’t do any good. LaMont didn’t need a building on his property, just use of it. “So, if that’s the case, why did I need to come out?”
Mr. Halberk headed toward the house and Will followed with Carter. “I had you come because your foreman wasn’t answering my calls. Seems he doesn’t really care if you lose your property. So, you might want to do something about that. What needs to happen isn’t something a satellite can do. You’ll need to send your men out and look for Circle L cattle. If you find them, they’ll need to be herded back onto LaMont property. If he’s been branding your cattle, you’ll need proof of ownership.”
“We keep detailed birthing records for that purpose.” Will shut the door behind him and indicated the table for the commissioner to lay out his map. Now he wished he’d taken a little more interest in each operation, but there was only so much he could manage with four huge ranches. His foreman and associates were supposed to do it, it’s what he paid them for.
Mr. Halberk spread out the roll on the table and anchored it with glasses Mrs. Feast handed him from the cupboard. He pointed to the southwest quadrant.
“This is the area where LaMont is preparing to make his claim. He’s got lawyers on his side and says he’s got evidence that he hasn’t presented to us yet. Take a few guys out there, see what’s going on, and for your own safety, I’d recommend you leave your foreman at home.”
Will nodded and grabbed his hat. It, much like the old house, didn’t seem to fit who he was anymore. He’d gotten away from riding so that he could do the things that would benefit him the most, letting others sweat, while he worked over numbers. Now, he could do some of what he used to love. Ride.
He went upstairs to change into something he could ride in. Instead of the suit, he put on an old pair of jeans and a cotton shirt. It was comfortable, like the perfect chair. He’d forgotten how good it felt to wear something old and comfortable. Most of his clothing never managed to get old anymore.
Gen’s bags weren’t in his room and he went down the hall, looking behind each door until he found her luggage laying on the bed in the lavender room. Was she so angry with him that she’d abandoned him, found the next room that was ready for someone to sleep in? He’d have to deal with that when he got back. He took that thought with him back downstairs.
“Mrs. Feast, if anyone should stop by, send them home. I don’t want anyone coming on or off the property until we can get the place secured.”
She nodded. “Does that include Mr. Carter’s sister?”
The air around him felt thick and Mrs. Feast gave him a critical look. She had been around since his parents had run the place. She’d known him as a boy. He needed to draw a line in the sand and his closest friend wouldn’t like it, but his closest friend wasn’t his wife. And she never would be his closest if he didn’t start living his life with a little thought toward her.
“Maddie is not allowed on the property. Let the man at the gate shack know. Mr. Halberk is to be allowed to leave and then no one comes or goes.”
She nodded and collected the glasses.
“We won’t be too late. Let’s do supper family style tonight.”
Carter frowned and leaned a hip against the counter. “I won’t be joining in. Since I’m home, I should spend time with Maddie, calm her down. She’ll be hopping mad if she tries to come over and can’t get past the gate. She’ll blame Gen.”
“I don’t care who she blames. What she wants isn’t available.”
Both men headed for the door.
“That isn’t going to stop her from trying.”
10
The corner of the stable blocked Gen from view as five men rode out, heading for one of the pastures, toward her father’s property. Her father had never mentioned explicitly what he’d done, but she knew there was something out there on that stretch her father didn’t want Will to find just yet. With any luck, he would and it would put an end to all of it.
She dismounted and led the horse back into the stable, handing it off to one of the men. She didn’t have to deal with saddling her horse, nor caring for it after her ride. That was new, and perhaps one thing she could appreciate about her new status, there wasn’t much else to look forward to, if today proved anything.
As she made her way back to the house, giving it a good look, it hadn’t changed. It was just like it had been ten years before, when she’d been there almost every day. Even though its new owner was probably one of the wealthiest ranchers in the US, the homestead remained largely as it had been. He didn’t live there, so maybe that was expected, but after seeing what she had so far, it was a surprise that this bit of his past stood still. If she imagined real hard, it was almost like being a teen, following Billy and Carter everywhere they went, hoping that Billy would take notice.
Funny how some things never changed. She still wanted him to notice her.
Standing on the front stoop stood the very woman Gen had hoped she’d never have to see again: Maddie, still sulky and angry.
“Well, would you look what the cat dragged in,” she snarled. “I don’t care if you are his wife. I had him first, and I’ll have him last. Divorce is a thing and he’s got the money to make it happen.”
He probably would, but Gen wouldn’t tell Maddie that. “He’s not even here right now. Go home where you belong, Maddie. It’s only a mile walk, I’m sure you can manage.” Was she really as tired as she sounded? She ached to her very core to know where she stood with Will. If she wasn’t really a wife, what was she? Did she matter, or had he just needed her body when presented with the seduction the agency had planned?
“Mrs. Feast told me the same thing, but this isn’t her house, and it isn’t yours, either. I’ll just wait right here until Billy comes back.” She licked her shiny red lips.
Gen took the steps two at a time until she was toe to toe with her former friend. “His name, is William. And since Will is my husband, this house is mine. Now get the hell off my porch, off my lawn, and out of my husband’s life.”
Maddie laughed, shoving her out of the way. “Your husband didn’t seem to mind when I kissed him earlier. In fact, it was just like old times. Before you butted into our relationship. Why are you always getting between us? Without you around, I could be happy. I could keep him happy. He didn’t even think about you when he had me in his arms. He’d forgotten all about you.”
Gen left Maddie, too angry and hurt by Maddie’s words to say more. She was right. He hadn’t remembered her. Didn’t care. At least she could count on Mrs. Feast to keep Maddie out of the house. Will was a grown man, she wouldn’t fight his battles, and couldn’t, because she would lose. Yet again, Maddie had come between them. He couldn’t have both of them. He would have to choose, her or Maddie. She signed on as a bride for one man, not a concubine in a harem.
Mrs. Feast was in the kitchen, making something that smelled a lot like pot roast and Gen avoided her, so she wouldn’t be a bother, Maddie had done enough of that. The poor woman wasn’t used to cooking for so many and now she’d have a houseful. Not to mention she was in no mood to talk to anyone.
Up in her lavender room, she finally took a minute to look through all the clothes that the agency had purchased for her. Since she was married to a rancher, there were quite a few pairs of expensive jeans and long sleeved western-style shirts, with flattering darts along the waist that would make her look tiny. They had included a few skirt suits, some evening gowns, and even a few outfits for exercise. The panties they provided were embarrassingly skimpy, and other than
the little nightgown she’d worn for her wedding night, there was no sleepwear.
She wandered up the hall until she found the largest room and Will’s suitcase sitting open on his bed, probably waiting for Mrs. Feast to get around to putting it away for him. One of his white tee shirts lay folded on the top and she picked it up and brushed it across her cheek, trying to glean some comfort from the cloth that the owner hadn’t offered. It smelled of him and reminded her of the night before, when she’d been wrapped up in him. How she wished he cared about her, more than just lust. But he didn’t. Letting Maddie claw all over him right in front of her spoke louder than any words he’d spoken … He didn’t care.
She brought the shirt back to her room and put it in her drawer, then took a few minutes to put away her own clothes. Just because there was someone to do it for her, didn’t mean they should have to. It wasn’t like Mrs. Feast didn’t earn her money. She had plenty to do without the added work of someone else to look after.
After a few hours, Gen finished a long hot bath and put away the last of her clothes, storing the two huge suitcases under the bed. There was yelling downstairs and Gen lingered by her door to listen. She didn’t want to be seen. Maddie had made it back into the house and Mrs. Feast was doing her best to shoo her out.
“You’re going to get me fired. Mr. Orion said that you were not allowed in the house! Now go!”
So, Will had finally stood up, at least a little. Gen couldn’t help but smile.
“I don’t care if you get fired. I don’t believe you for a minute. Billy wanted to see me when he got here, and he’ll be happy to see me once he gets home.”
“I warned you. I will call the police if I need to.”
The door swung open and Gen shrank back into her room to keep from being seen at the top of the stairs, visible from the doorway. Will and Carter walked in, dusty and glistening with sweat. In his jeans and tight cotton shirt, damp from his exertion and the sun, he looked like he was trying to emulate a young Clint Black. And doing it better. Need flickered to life deep within her. Just the sight of him after only a few hours of work made her want to drag him into the shower with her.
“Oh, Billy, you’re home!” Maddie threw herself at him once again.
He held up his hand to stop her, but not before she kissed him once again. Anger and jealousy burned where the spark of need had just been kindled. How dare he allow Maddie to do that? He was a married man, to her. Was her own kiss so disappointing that he had to look elsewhere?
Carter stepped in and took his sister by the elbow. “Come on, you aren’t supposed to be here. The guard was supposed to stop you.”
“The guard? You would put a guard up against me?” She huffed and ignored her brother as she stared at Will. Gen waited, wanting to know that her husband had done something to prevent Maddie from coming around. But worried it had been little more than words.
“The guard was told to keep you out. It was precautionary. I need to know why everyone is on my property and why.”
“What about your wife? She’s the one related to the man who’s bothering you.”
He stood straighter, his jaw tense. “Don’t think for a second that I don’t know that,” he growled and turned from Maddie. “You can stay for supper tonight, but I don’t want to see you around here anymore.”
She twirled her hair around her fingertip. “Of course, Billy. Anything you say.”
Gen backed against the wall until her breathing was back to normal. Will was still suspicious of her. He’d said so to Maddie. Though he was barring Maddie from the house in the future, he was allowing her to be there tonight. He’d said more to Maddie in the short time they’d been there than he’d said to her in total.
He really did intend to drop her back off with her father. He wasn’t even going to try to make this work as she’d asked. How could she sit next to him for supper and not ask him why? How could she hold her tongue until they were alone and it was appropriate, when all she wanted to do was run down the stairs and beat his chest to make him listen?
Mrs. Feast cleared her throat from the kitchen, but Gen couldn’t see her. “I set everything on the table, family-style as you requested, sir. Should I go up and get Mrs. Orion?”
Gen gasped, backing down the hall into her room, then closed the door silently, praying that all eyes didn’t look up the stairs at the mention of her name.
“I’ll go up and check on Gen. Why don’t all of you get ready to eat.”
She heard his booted feet come up the stairs and past his room to hers. “Gen? You in there?”
Her voice evaporated, and she sat down with her back to the door, unable to hold herself up with her weak knees. She clutched her hands together between her knees until they were white with the strain. She couldn’t say anything. He was suspicious of her. She’d done nothing but give him honesty and he didn’t believe it. His every action had proved that. He’d wanted her briefly the night before, but that didn’t mean he cared.
He pushed open the door. “Hey, time to eat. Get washed up and meet me downstairs.”
She swallowed hard. “I’m not hungry.”
He snorted. “Not hungry or just don’t want to eat with Maddie?”
“Both.” She didn’t need to answer to him for every feeling. She wasn’t some employee he could just order around. So what if she was jealous? He was supposed to be her husband. She’d given up everything to be with him, had signed her life away. It shouldn’t be too much to ask that he not have a woman on the side, especially less than a full day after their wedding.
“So be it.” He closed the door and left her there.
11
Dinner had never seemed to go so long. After a few well-timed questions, Will was certain Mr. LaMont was getting information about his place through Maddie. She wasn’t all that bright and loved to brag. He’d invited his foreman in to eat as well, and soon picked up the vibe that those two were cozy. Very cozy.
He and Carter had made sure that all LaMont cattle were back where they belonged. It would take a few days to do a full accounting of their own to make sure none were missing, but even if they were, it still wouldn’t be worth as much as keeping the land. Especially now that he was married and there might be the chance of leaving it to one of his children one day. The thought caught him out of nowhere and stopped him short. He glanced out the window over the wide pasture. He hadn’t been back in years, but now it meant something, because of Gen.
He glanced again at the hall and hoped Gen would come down, but he knew she wouldn’t. She’d been stubborn since he was in the sixth grade and she was in fourth. She’d insisted on playing baseball and doing everything else he and Carter did. Soon, they just invited her along because it was easier than trying to shake her off. After a while, she was one of his closest friends … until Maddie. After he’d started seeing Maddie, Gen had disappeared, often shaking him off.
Carter had joked about it for a while, and neither of them pushed her to rejoin them, assuming she would when she was good and ready. After a while, when they realized she wasn’t coming back, it was just too awkward, and he was still seeing Maddie. Then, out of the blue, Gen had come over to see him. She’d worn an amazing blue dress—he could still picture it. Gen rarely dressed up, and his heart had raced like only a teenage boy’s could. Something was different about Gen that day. She was beautiful, nervous, like she didn’t know what to say. She’d told him about Maddie, what Maddie was really up to. He hadn’t thought about it in a long time, but looking back … she’d been trying to tell him something. More than just about Maddie. His gut clenched at the realization. He’d been too stupid to see back then that she was trying to show him she felt something for him, that she might have hoped he’d pick her instead. He had to see her, now, and make it right.
He pushed back from the table, startling everyone.
“Sorry. I need to go take care of something. Thank you all for coming tonight. Carter, I’ll want to talk to you tomorrow morning. Eight
sharp.”
He met Carter’s eyes only long enough to make sure he understood then dashed around the table and down the hall. He hadn’t felt this driven about anything in years. Gen, the Gen he’d dreamed of for so long, was sitting alone upstairs while he wiled away the hours with a woman who would work against him, try to take land from him. He took the stairs two at a time and found himself in front of her door, holding gently onto the knob. Afraid to say anything. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d been afraid to talk to anyone.
“Gen, can I come in?”
No answer. He sucked in his breath. She had to be in there, ignoring him, hoping he’d go away. He couldn’t do that. He’d made a mess of her life, in his need to make every decision, he hadn’t considered her feelings. He’d repeated his same high school mistake.
“This is my house, I’m going to come in anyway. I’m giving you a curtesy.”
“If it’s your damn house, then do as you please. You will anyway.”
He closed his eyes against the pain in her voice. Pain that sounded eerily familiar to how she’d sounded that day long ago, when she’d told him about Maddie. Guilt hit him like a punch again as he pushed the door open. Her back was still to him, but now she was under the covers, nestled in bed.
He hated that he’d hurt her, but he didn’t know how to make it right, what to say… “Did I wear you out so much last night that you needed to go to bed early?”
She ignored him again, lying still as a corpse. He needed to see her face, needed to see what effect his words had on her. Did she still have feelings for him after all the years between the puppy love from high school and now? He certainly didn’t deserve them if she did.
He sat on the bed and touched her arm. When she flinched, he pulled away, uncertain what to do. This was uncharted territory. He’d never cared about the women he’d been with. They hadn’t mattered. None of them wanted anymore of him than his wallet and his bed, but Gen… She wanted what he’d never given to anyone. How could he break through her hurt and get her talking again?
