Blake: The Whitfield Rancher – Tiger Shapeshifter Romance

by Kathi S. Barton

  His mom had kept a lot of the stupid things that his dad had made. Some of them were just too cutesy for him. Such as the canister set on the counter. There were pretties too, she called them—tiny little things like dragons and ponies that looked real enough to ride. Nothing was there.

  Going to the big barn that had been used for glass blowing since he’d been a small boy, he was equally confused when it appeared to be empty as well. Not only was the hotbox gone, but every slice of glass, hundreds to thousands of them, were gone as well.

  Just as he was turning to leave to see about the house again, he saw something on the workbench. Going to it, he saw a single daisy made of glass resting on an envelope. Tossing it aside, he heard the satisfying shattering of glass as he tore it open.

  “Take unbroken flower to the bank for information and cash.” Thomas looked at the broken flower and knew that there was no gluing it back together. Tossing the note down, he saw that something was written on the back. “I knew you couldn’t do anything but break the flower. You’re so mean. I’m not going to tell you where we are, but we have moved out. The house has been sold, and you will soon be homeless as well since my future husband and I purchased the one that you’re renting and are tearing it down. Good luck with getting your deposit back too. Mom is safe, no thanks to you, and Grannie isn’t going to go to a nursing home. You’re just going to be shit out of luck concerning those two things. If you’d like to discuss this, find me. I’d be more than happy to tell you what I’ve held back on since I was a little girl.” Then she had the nerve to sign it Shadow.

  After reading it a second time, he wadded it up, after making sure he didn’t miss anything and tossed it on the floor. What on earth made Anna think that she could talk to him this way? He was her elder, damn it.

  Going back to where he’d picked up the first newspaper, he decided that he might have missed a clue as to where she was living. Whitfield wasn’t a name that he thought would be common. Not that it mattered, he didn’t have a phone book anyway.

  Knowing that it was in Ohio made it easier, and a quick phone call to the newspaper had him transferred around so much that he finally hung up. At least he knew one of the names in the paper and figured that he’d be able to track his niece and family down by asking around about Adrian. Christ, this was a cluster fuck.

  Chapter 6

  Blake didn’t enjoy selling off his equipment as much as he’d thought he might. What was he going to do with his life from now on in the summer? It was the end of an era to him. The last of the things that he’d grown up with his entire life. The large tractors and balers were sitting all over the field, waiting for someone to take them home and get more use out of them than he would from now on. He saw Shadow coming toward him, and for the first time since coming out here, he smiled.

  “I just had a long talk with the gallery that you got in touch with. I had no idea that this was so complicated.” He told her that he could do it for her. “No, that’s all right. I got it now. I’m going to have the entire gallery to myself. Is that what you arranged?”

  “I only told him that anything else in the gallery would be overlooked once people saw your work. I guess he took me at my word.” She nodded, but he could tell she was distracted. “The auction starts soon. Are you going to hang around with me? I might need you to hold my hand while this stuff goes.”

  “Are you going to miss farming that much?” Blake told her that he’d do gardening, but not on the scale that the family had. “I had no idea that there was this much stuff needed to farm. I mean, half this stuff is beyond anything that I’d know what it did. Not that I’d be able to use any of this. I’m sorry that you’re going to be selling it off.”

  “Believe it or not, before I saw you, I was feeling sorry for myself. Then you smiled at me, and I realized that not only do I have so much more to look forward to, but I get to look forward to it every single minute of the day. Also, you’re going to find this nutty, but having you out here with me is going to make this so much easier to handle. Yes, I’m sad that it’s ending, but I’m ever so excited to be starting this next step in my life with you and our family. I would love to take vacations with our family. Show you off to the world.” She blurted out that his mom was setting up a wedding for them. “I would imagine that she’s figured out that you’re pregnant. No, before you ask, I didn’t need to tell her. She would have smelled it on you.”

  “I see. Really, I don’t, but I guess it’s a tiger thing.” Blake laughed. “Blake, are you sure about this? Not the baby. I’m thrilled beyond words that I’m going to have a child. But marrying me. I mean, it’s not really necessary that we wed. What if it doesn’t work out?”

  “It will work out because I love you. And we mated for life. Not that it matters what my kind does, I would love you until the time we’re too old to kiss. I don’t see that happening either.” As proof, he kissed her. “The wedding will just solidify that we’re going to be together forever. Also, it’ll make it easier if you should ever want to adopt the boys.”

  “I would like that.” The auctioneer came over to them, and he held Shadow to him when she got a case of the giggles. “He looks like a leprechaun. My goodness, Blake, he’s even dressed for the part.”

  Andrew Johnson had been an auctioneer for as long as Blake could remember. And he was short—about four foot two at the most. Blake didn’t tell Shadow that he had himself a footstool that he used, and was about as flamboyant as they came when he got going. People would come to an auction where he was calling just to watch him with his antics.

  “Boy oh boy, Blake, you sure know how to pick a day to have this here thing. Yes siree Bob, you did. Ain’t a cloud in the sky, and there is just enough sun out to make a body realize that things have to be plowed up or there won’t be no crop come fall.” He looked at Shadow, who was shaking she was laughing so hard. “Your missus there, she, all right? Nothing upset her, did it, boy?”

  “No, sir. She’s just overwhelmed by it all.” She pinched him on his nipple, and he had to hold back a giggle of his own. “Do you think we’ll get a good price for things? I mean, I don’t want to give it away.”

  “I got your list at what you want for each piece, and you told me that you would be willing to go a little lower should the need arise. I don’t think that will be a problem. No siree, Bob, I don’t. You Whitfields, you sure did take care of your big boy toys when you put them away. Look brand new, they do. Sure will fetch you a pretty price. I’m to understand that you may be doing something with that money for the town over the years.” Blake told him that he hoped they made enough for new beds at the shelter. “Good for you. Are you still set on dividing up the baled hay to all the farmers that buy something? That sure is a good thing you’re doing for them. I tell you, son, it’s just like you all. Just like you.”

  When he walked away, Shadow looked up at him. She had tears in her eyes, and her face was red from laughing so hard. Kissing her on the nose, he smiled down at her.

  “I think I like having you called my missus.” She laughed again as she told him that he even spoke like someone that was trying to get the best price for something. “Oh, honey. Wait until you hear him in all his glory. He’ll make you laugh so hard, you’ll have to sit down to breathe.”

  For the next hour, he walked around with her, showing her the equipment and telling her what they’d used it for. Andrew had been right. They had taken very good care of their equipment. Even the things that were a few decades old looked as new as the pieces sitting next to it. In that moment, Blake was proud of his family.

  When the auction started, he was pleased with the turnout. His family was there, as well. Blake noticed that Dad was having a difficult time of it. He’d been a rancher and farmer since his daddy had turned the land over to him. Grandda was in his element, with a group of men and women there to have a good time, and give him someone else to talk to.

  A
drian came to stand next to him. “Did you know that Thomas was in the courthouse to talk to someone there about being president? I heard it from a friend of mine that works in those offices. She said he’d had no idea what he needed to start on it.” Shadow asked him if he was going to run. “I didn’t think I wanted to. But I have to tell you, being governor is a lot like being mayor, but with a good deal more complaining people.”

  “I don’t know if you realize this or not, but that didn’t answer my question.” Adrian laughed with Blake when Shadow pointed out his error. “I asked you if you were running. If not, then you should really make an announcement. I’ve talked to no less than a dozen people here today that think you are. Did you know that?”

  “Yes. They’ve been talking to me as well. I honestly don’t know if I want to run or not.” Shadow took a step toward him, and Adrian backed up, laughing. “All right, I do want to run, but I’m afraid of losing. I might, you know.”

  Shadow snorted. “I think you’re a pussy. If you don’t run, then you should be castrated. Damn it, man, this country needs another man like President Cobb. I know that he’s endorsed you on this shit. Why not grow a set and decide or get off the pot? Don’t you know that if my uncle gets in there, we’ll be going to hell in a handbasket?”

  “Do you think he has a chance of getting the job done?” Shadow looked at Blake, then back at his brother. “You do, don’t you? This is tantamount to blackmail, you know.”

  “Tell me something. If you run and lose, what are you going to be out?” He told her nothing. “Right. But if you run and win, what are you out?”

  “Nothing again. Time perhaps, but that’s nothing I have a great deal of now. What’s your point?” She grinned at him. “I think you might be scarier than Dylan when you look at me like that. What is your point, Shadow?”

  “I want to ask you this. Don’t answer me, but give it a great deal of thought. If you don’t run or you simply lose, what do you think your opponents will do with the country when they get in the White House? Will they carry on what has been started? Will they make sure that schools are safe, as you’ve done here? Will there be funding for teachers when they need things for their classrooms? I know that answer, in the event you don’t. But I want you to think on what you’ll be leaving to chance without getting your big girl panties on and making sure that this country is one we can be proud of. More importantly, one you can say you fixed when the chips were down.”

  When she kissed him and walked away, Adrian watched her as she worked the crowd. That was what she was doing too, talking up the equipment that she’d only just been told about with the information that Blake had told her. When Adrian turned to look at him, he could see that his brother had come to a decision. And it would be just the one that he’d been thinking about all along.

  “She’s right, you know.” Blake nodded. “I’ve not only been a pussy about this, but I’m not at all as relaxed as I thought I’d be when I said I wasn’t going to run.”

  “It shows, too.” Adrian nodded and looked at Shadow while Blake continued. “Have you talked to Mason about your thoughts on this?”

  “Her words are an echo of what I just got told by Shadow.” Adrian looked at him and smiled. “She’s going to have a baby. I’m sure you know that, but I don’t envy you that. She’s fucking scary right now. Can you imagine how she’s going to be when that little one is around? Scary doesn’t even come close to it.”

  “Up until today, I wasn’t sure that she was happy about the baby. But look at her. She more than likely doesn’t even realize that she’s already protecting it with her hand over her belly.” Adrian turned to him and put out his hand. Blake took it without any hesitation. “Not that I mind, but what is this for?”

  “For falling in love with her. She has, in only a few minutes, put on the table what has been bothering me for a few days now. All of it, everything she said, is what has been keeping me up at night. Thank you for that. But just so you know, I’m going to try and get her to work with Lily on my campaign. You think she will?”

  “You’ll have to ask her. But you can bet that you’ll win if you ask all the women in this family to help you. Including Mom and Aunt Bea.” Adrian laughed, and several people turned to look at them. “Adrian, what are you going to do?”

  “Well, I’m thinking that I’ll run for the presidency. I think I’m about the best choice for the job, considering that I want the same things for this country that we have now. Perhaps a little more so than Henry does.” Adrian laughed. “Does she know that we’re having dinner with Henry tonight? Don’t tell her if you didn’t already. It might be fun to watch her with him. I doubt that Henry will know what hit him when she’s in his face about something.” Blake told his brother that he’d already told her about him.

  “I’d not thought about talking to her about it, but she knows that we’re all friends. Christ, he might endorse her next time elections come around. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?” Adrian and him were laughing when he realized that some of the stuff had been sold, and Andrew was taking a break. “I guess I should go and move some of the other pieces out of the barn. Want to help me?”

  He and his brothers all moved the other pieces out to be auctioned off next. They had a great deal of it because they’d been in the habit of changing out the old pieces with the new while it had a few more hours on it. It was silly, he supposed, but the equipment did come in handy when they were needed at other farms to get things in before winter set in. He was going to miss helping out at other farms.

  There was food at the auction that was going to benefit one of the local charities. He and Shadow had a nice lunch of shredded chicken and chips before the second part of the auction was to take place. They, as a family, decided to get rid of all the furniture in the warehouse they had.

  Blake had no idea what they were going to do with the mammoth building, but he figured they’d find some use for it. Mom had mentioned letting the town use it for different events. Dylan even suggested that it would make a nice venue for an auction house. Whatever they used it for, he knew there would be plenty of room in it.

  As things were beginning to wind down, he realized that nothing that had been sold had required him to okay the price. Wonderful, he thought. Everything came in at what they’d been asking for it, which meant they were still making out very well on the sale today.

  ~*~

  Thomas was amazed at the number of tractors and things that were on the main drag of the little town he’d stopped in. When he asked someone what was going on, he’d been told it was an auction. That people had just purchased the equipment for themselves. Before he could ask if someone had died and if that was what prompted the sale, he was cut short by one of the men sitting in front of the barbershop. Which, Thomas was amused to see, had closed down because of the auction. Small towns—you had to love them.

  “Them Whitfields are going to be men of worth and not farmers anymore.” Thomas had nearly walked away when he realized what the man had said. “They sure do know how to make a day of it too. We’re having a hog roast out there on the property later today. Can’t be a nicer family around than the Whitfields.”

  “Are any of them named Blake?” He’d only remembered the name because it had been in the paper he’d had to buy a second time. “Or Adrian? Either will do. I’m looking for my family. Perhaps you’ve heard of them? My niece, Anna Henderson, is set to marry one of them soon.”

  “Don’t know anyone by Anna, but Shadow Henderson is marrying him tonight at the roast. Didn’t want any gifts, just everyone showing up to have themselves a grand old time. What do you think of that?”

  “I guess it’s all right if he’s going to take care of her family the right way.” The man asked him if he meant him. “Yes, well, she is my niece. I’m family.”

  “I heard tell of you. You’re the one that went and kidnapped your sister, ain’t you?” Thomas said nothing
because the man’s voice had gotten hard when he spoke. “Yeah, that’ll be you. You should climb back in your car and get on out of here. We take care of our own, and we don’t take kindly to lollygaggers and people like you.”

  When the old man spit something at him, Thomas realized it was tobacco. His father and grandfather had both chewed tobacco. The smell of it was vile, and the scent brought up all kinds of memories that he’d rather would stay buried.

  When it seemed as if there was no more traffic of equipment that was as large as a house going by, he pulled out onto the road. The man had shooed him off by spitting at him again and again. When he stood up, Thomas had a moment of fear when he thought the man was going to hit him with his cane. Getting into his car to find the farm or whatever it might be seemed like a good choice.

  The large sign that hung over the entrance to the drive proclaimed that he was now on the Whitfield Ranch. Did people ranch in Ohio? Thomas had no idea, but what he did know was that this was a very wealthy ranch. Not only that, but it looked as if everyone from town was friendly.

  “I’m looking for Anna or Shadow Henderson.” The woman that he’d stopped told him they were over yonder. Not sure if he should thank her for that vague answer, he headed toward what he hoped was the family home. Asking others about her whereabouts got him the same answers—she was around, or for him to look for Blake.