“I love horses,” Red Feather spouted.
“I know you do,” she said. She smiled and touched his face. “I was actually hoping, you might consider . . . I don’t know . . . helping me out on the ranch.”
Red Feather paused, the smile disappeared from his face, worrying Rose. Had she gone too far, she wondered. Was it too much too soon? She knew how men acted when they felt trapped.
“What about your law practice?” he asked.
She shrugged, “I’m actually thinking about getting my license in Montana, leasing some space and hanging a shingle in Billings. I’m sure a good defense lawyer can drum up some business in Billings.”
“I’m sure,” he agreed. He smiled from ear to ear, melting her initial fears away.
“That’s why I need help on the ranch,” she added, quickly. “The offer is for a limited time only. What do you say, Red?”
“I don’t know,” he said. He reached his hand around her waist and pulled her to him, pressing her body into his. “How much does this job pay?”
She sighed with relief and tiptoed, giving him a long, warm kiss, “I haven’t decided on a salary yet, but the benefits package will be tremendous—all the sex you could possibly handle.”
“That’s tempting,” he said, “but fair warning . . . I can handle a lot of sex.”
She smiled, “I know you can and just so you know, I can too. There is one catch, though.”
Red Feather’s eyebrows raised, “A catch, huh? What is it?”
“You can’t move in with me,” she said. “I noticed there is an apartment building about eight miles from Summer Breeze. You can live there until . . .”
“Until what?” he asked.
“I want some real dates, Red . . . a courtship,” she said. “I want to be wooed. I want flowers and I want chocolate—lots of chocolate.”
“All reasonable requests,” Red Feather replied in a faux businesslike tone.
“I’m not easy, Red.”
“Never thought you were,” he assured her.
“What do you say?” she asked.
“Hmm, interesting offer,” he replied. “I sure like the benefits. I accept. And I’ll bring a bonus with me?”
He kissed her again, deeply and passionately.
“A bonus? For me?” she said. “What is it?”
“My heart,” he said. “I give you my heart. I love you, Rose Summer and I have from the moment I first laid eyes on you.”
Rose gasped, covering her mouth with her hand, fighting back tears. She melted into his arms.
“I love you too, Red Feather, with all my heart, now and always.”
“Well, let’s get out of here, shall we?” he said.
“It’s only five o’clock,” she said. “Do you want to get some dinner first?”
“No,” he said. “I need to get you home, and on the double.”
“What’s the rush?” she asked.
He embraced her and kissed her, allowing his hand to slide over her behind.
“Well . . . you said something about all the sex I could handle,” he said. “I’d like to collect my first payment in advance.”
______________________
EPILOGUE
______________________
Thirteen months later
Rose grabbed a corn beef sandwich from the deli two blocks away from her office and headed back, checking her watch. It was twelve-twenty and her next appointment wasn’t until noon.
Rose had started a small practice in Billings just two months ago and already was getting good work, mostly small stuff, wills and estate-planning, but also a few nice defense cases.
The commute was almost and hour each way, but it was almost that long in Chicago with the heavy traffic.
She looked at the sign hanging over her door and smiled. It read, “The Law Office of Rose Red Feather, Attorney at Law.”
She had married the man of her dreams just two short months ago and could not be happier. Red Feather was everything she ever wanted in a man and more. They had three horses and who knows how many chickens. And as of yesterday, she discovered they had yet another new addition on the way—a baby. She planned on telling him tonight over a special dinner.
She opened the door and walked inside. Her receptionist and single employee, Angie, smiled at her.
“Any calls?” Rose asked.
“No, but Red is in your office,” she said.
Rose’s face formed a look of surprise, “Red is here? Today?”
She nodded, “He’s waiting for you.”
“Thank you,” Rose said.
She opened her office door and saw Red, standing by her window looking out onto the street of the small Billings business district. He had a worried look on his face.
“Sweetheart, is anything wrong?” Rose asked.
“I’m afraid so,” Red said. “I need some legal help.”
“What is it? Did something happen? Are you in trouble?” she asked.
“No, it’s not for me,” he said. “It’s for my uncle.”
“You’re uncle? What’s wrong, Red?” she replied.
“He called me, out of the blue, after more years than I can count,” Red replied.
“Where is he?” she asked.
“It turns out he’s been in prison for the last fifteen months—right here in Montana.”
“Montana State Prison? In Deer Lodge?” she asked.
Red Feather nodded.
“Oh my god, I’m sorry,” she said. “What’s he in for?”
“I don’t have all the details,” Red Feather said. “I just know he needs my help.”
“What kind of help do you need from me?”
“I remembered you telling me at one time that your old firm really valued you as a negotiator,” he recalled.
“That’s right,” Rose replied.
“My uncle has been approached by the FBI,” Red Feather said. “They want him to execute some covert mission for them.”
“What kind of mission?” Rose asked.
“I don’t know,” Red Feather responded, “but I know it’s dangerous and what they want him to do can get him killed.”
“Why do they want him?”
“I don’t know that either,” he said. “He was in covert operations for the Army Rangers while he was in the military, I know that. I think I told you he was my inspiration to become a Navy SEAL.”
“I remember,” she said.
“My best guess is, he has some particular talent that the FBI thinks they can exploit to get what they need from him.”
“What can I do?”
“Well, when he called me, he told me the FBI was offering to reduce his sentence in exchange for his services, but I think he’s getting screwed. That’s why I want to get you involved.”
“Why do you think he might be getting screwed?” Rose asked.
“Because from what I understand, they’re sending him after a really bad man with all manner of resources at his disposal,” Red Feather replied. “My uncle could be killed. I think that kind of risk deserves more than just a reduced sentence. That’s why I need your help.”
“Of course, I’ll help,” she said. “You take a few deep breaths and relax. I’ll need some basic information about him to start. Is his last name Red Feather, too?”
“No, he’s my uncle on my mother’s side.”
“Ok, what’s his name?”
“Rainhorse,” he said. “John Rainhorse.”
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