Her Kind Of Cowboy
Pat Warren
A FAMILIAR STRANGERJesse Calder had left Abby Martin waiting under the old cottonwood tree with a promise to return. That had been five years ago.Now, a horrific accident, lies and secrets stood between them, but when Jesse had the chance to work at Abby's ranch again, he took it. Yes, she was a widow and a mother, and not quite as forgiving as he'd hoped, but time had changed him, too. He simply could not ignore the spark inside that yearned to reignite the heat between them. Or forget that Abby's little girl had eyes an all-too-familiar shade of Calder blue.
Deception always has a price tag.
No matter how small the lie, no matter how worthy the motive. And often one fib led to another. If he had to do it all over
The sound of horses hooves approaching interrupted his thoughts. A sleek chestnut galloped closer, the rider a woman with a blond ponytail, her face flushed as she passed him and stopped near the horse barn.
He recognized her immediately.
Abby.
She expertly dismounted and stroked the mares head with a loving gesture. She laughed and the sound carried to where Jesse stood.
He remembered that laugh, musical and lighthearted. Shed laughed often back then; he wondered if she did now. Seeing her, even briefly, brought memories rushing back. Did she remember him with fondness, with painor at all?
From this distance, she looked the same, but maybe, up close, shed changed as much as he had.
Dear Reader,
Its that time of year againback to school! And even if youve left your classroom days far behind you, if youre like me, September brings with it the quest for everything new, especially books! We at Silhouette Special Edition are happy to fulfill that jones, beginning with Home on the Ranch by Allison Leigh, another in her bestselling MEN OF THE DOUBLE-C series. Though the Buchanans and the Days had been at odds for years, a single Buchanan rancher Cagewould do anything to help his daughter learn to walk again, including hiring the only reliable physical therapist around. Even if her last name did happen to be Day.
Next, THE PARKS EMPIRE continues with Judy Duartes The Rich Mans Son, in which a wealthy Parks scion, suffering from amnesia, winds up living the country life with a single mother and her baby boy. And a man passing through town notices more than the passing resemblance between himself and newly adopted infant of the local diner waitress, in The Baby They Both Loved by Nikki Benjamin. In A Fathers Sacrifice by Karen Sandler, a man determined to do the right thing insists that the mother of his child marry him, and finds love in the bargain. And a womans search for the truth about her late father leads her into the arms of a handsome cowboy determined to give her the life her dad had always wanted for her, in A Texas Tale by Judith Lyons. Last, a man with a new face revisits the ranchand the womanthat used to be his. Only, the woman hed always loved was no longer alone. Now she was accompanied by a five-year-old girlwith very familiar blue eyes.
Enjoy, and come back next month for six complex and satisfying romances, all from Silhouette Special Edition!
Gail Chasan
Senior Editor
Her Kind of Cowboy
Pat Warren
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
PAT WARREN,
mother of four, lives in Arizona with her travel agent husband and a lazy white cat. Shes a former newspaper columnist whose lifelong dream was to become a novelist. A strong romantic streak, a sense of humor and a keen interest in developing relationships led her to try romance novels, with which she feels very much at home.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
Prologue
Where was he?
Abby Martin paced under the big old cottonwood tree beside the stream on her parents cattle ranch. The hot August sun had finally set about two hours ago, around seven oclock, but the heat lingered. She scarcely noticed as she paced impatiently on the scraggly grass. He should have been with her by now.
Where was Jesse?
Her father had hired the tall, handsome ranch hand two months ago, just before shed come home for summer vacation from Arizona State. The moment shed laid eyes on him, shed fallen hopelessly in love. Though theyd never spoken the words out loud, Abby was certain that Jesse felt the same by the way hed look at her, hold her, kiss her. Then hed whisper in her ear to meet him by the stream beneath their tree or sometimes in the hayloft. And hed make tender love with her.
In the hazy moonlight, Abby squinted in the direction of the outbuildings surrounding the main house, but she saw no sign of anyone on horseback heading her way. She hated sneaking around, but her mother was so against either of her two daughters having anything to do with the ranch hands. Jesse had told her that he wasnt just a cowboy, that he couldnt tell her more right now, but he had plans for the future. Big plans. Abby was sure she was a big part of those plans. When the time was right and they could be open and up-front about their feelings for each other, shed tell her parents. She was certain theyd care for Jesse once they got to know him.
Thrusting nervous hands through her long blond hair, she readjusted her ponytail, then stopped, listening hard. Yes, there it was, the sound of a horses hooves coming closer. In moments, Jesse came into view, his black hair ruffling in the evening breeze. As it did each time she saw him, Abbys heart skipped several beats. She watched him swing off his mount and tie the reins to a tree branch near the spot where her mare stood.
He wasnt smiling as he usually was, causing an anxious chill to race along her spine. But he rushed over and took her in his arms, holding her close. Yet so attuned was Abby to his moods that she knew instantly that something was wrong.
What is it? she asked, a sudden sense of foreboding causing her voice to tremble.
Jesse eased back reluctantly. I have to leave right away for California. A family emergency. My fathers had a heart attack. His brow creased with concern. He lifted a hand and caressed her face. Ill be back as soon as I can.
Im so sorry about your father. Hed rarely mentioned his family. Of course, he had to go. Abby knew that. But oh, she hated the thought of his leaving. Youve been working since sunup. You are going to fly rather than drive, right?
Distracted and anxious to be on his way, he shook his head. No flights out till late tomorrow morning. I can be there before then if I drive straight through. Seeing the distress in her eyes, Jesse felt torn. He owed her an explanation, but there wasnt time. As soon as his father was out of danger, hed return and explain everything. Dont worry. Ill be fine.
Bending to her, Jesse pulled Abby close and gave her a hard kiss, then leaped up onto the black stallion.
Suddenly unsure of his feelings for her, Abby gazed up at him. You will come back, wont you?
Yes, as soon as I can. Adjusting the reins, he turned the horse and rode off.
Abby watched him ride out of sight. Remember me. she murmured, as if in prayer.
Chapter One
He was going back. Back to face his past, to make amends, to right a wrong. And to revisit a lost love.
The hot summer wind whipped at his hair through the open windows of his Bronco. An outdoorsman through and through, Jesse Calder rarely engaged the air-conditioning, preferring the scent of the rich earth and of growing things. Hed passed Arizonas Painted Desert a while back, heading south and deep into cattle country.
Hed passed tall, stately ponderosa pines, juniper and spruce, pi?on and fir trees, most growing thick and wild. Now the land stretched as far as he could see, acres of cotton on one side and on the other, grasslands where cattle grazed under the watchful eye of cowboys on horseback. He could see cactus and brush and chaparral, so different from his native California.
Dj? vu. Jesse felt an uneasy familiarity on the last leg of the long drive from his home on the Triple C ranch in northern California to St. Johns, Arizona, near the states eastern border with New Mexico. This journey was very different from the first time hed driven the same route six years ago. Then, hed been twenty-five, high on life, driving his new red sports car with the top down. In perfect health and doing what he loved, hed felt that the world was his oyster.
Amazing how quickly your life, your whole attitude could change, Jesse thought as he glanced at the Little Colorado River paralleling the highway. It was early June, just as it had been on his first trip, but that was pretty much where the similarity ended. Desert summer heat shimmered in waves from the pavement.
Not much traffic on Route 180 in late afternoon, so he put on the cruise control and breathed in the pungent smell of leather and livestock. Like his twin brother, Jake, ranching was in Jesses blood. It was the life hed been born into and, more importantly, the life hed chosen, during good times and bad.
And there had been plenty of bad.
Maybe things went wrong six years ago because of the deception, slight though it was, Jesse thought, a frown wrinkling his brow. His father, Cameron Calder, had decided that the time had come for the Triple C horse ranch to diversify, to add cattle or sheep, if it were to remain competitive and the finest ranch in the western states. That decision had changed Jesses life.
Cam had sent Jake to Montana to study sheep and Jesse to Arizona for the summer to learn all about cattle ranching. His father wanted no preferential treatment for his sons, so because the Calder name was already well-known throughout the west, Cam insisted his sons use an alias, a practice not uncommon in ranching circles. For that summer, hed used the name Jesse Hunter.
Running a hand over his short beard, Jesse remembered that neither he nor Jake had been enthusiastic about a summer away or the deception. Still, they hadnt wanted to go against their fathers wishes, not after hed raised them single-handedly after their mother abandoned the family when the twins were only two.
Vern Martin, the owner of the Arizona cattle ranch where Jesse had wound up, hadnt been all that taken with Jesse Hunter at first, figuring he was a drifter who spent all his money on fast cars and fun times, a ladies man with a questionable future. As the mother of two young daughters, Joyce Martin had been even less welcoming. But Vern needed help and Jesse was strong, plus hed had ranching experience. Vern hired him.
Jesse was no stranger to hard work, having pulled his own weight on the Triple C since boyhood. The men on the Martin ranch worked from sunrise till sunset under the hot Arizona sun, he recalled as he drove along in his white Bronco. The vehicle was indicative of his change in maturity from his red convertible days. Hed worked without complaint, knowing that was what Cam expected of his son. Hed bunked with the rest of the hands, asked questions, listened and learned. Hed quickly earned the respect of the men as well as Vern Martin. Thered been precious little time left over for fun, even if hed had the energy for it.
Until Abby Martin came home from college for the summer.
She was quite simply the most beautiful girl Jesse had ever seen, with long blond hair and huge green eyes. At nineteen, Abby rode like a pro and usually dressed casually in jeans and well-worn boots. She knew her way around the ranch and worked her favorite horses under the watchful eye of Casey Henderson, the ranch manager.
Her sister, Lindsay, two years older, rarely left the main house without full makeup and a designer outfit. She seldom spoke to the hired help, but Abby knew most of the men by name and was friendly to all. Secretly, Lindsay liked to flirt, but when one of the men reacted, shed run off. Shed come on to Jesse almost immediately, but to her annoyance, he hadnt responded.
Because hed had eyes only for Abby right from the start. And she for him. Soon they were meeting away from prying eyes despite Joyce Martins constant surveillance. They spent many wonderful hours together, but things had come to a head before Jesse could tell Abby the truth about who he really was. Hed gotten a phone call that Cam had had a heart attack and Jesses only thought had been to rush to his fathers side. Hed promised Abby hed be back to explain everything, only then, the unthinkable happened.
Fifty miles from home, the drunken driver of a pickup had slammed into Jesses convertible head-on and changed his future. Spotting Curlys Market just ahead, Jesse slowed, then exited the highway and turned into the asphalt parking lot. The summer hed lived in this area, hed often stopped on his evenings off at Curlys to pick up incidentals and his favorite M&MS.
Stepping out, Jesse stretched, then rolled his shoulders. Since the accident, sitting in one position too long made his six-two frame stiff, his muscles tight. Walking through the door, he wondered if Curly would recognize him; hed often lingered to chat with the old ranch hand turned shopkeeper. Physically, Jesse knew he looked different after numerous surgeries. And there was the beard hed grown to hide some of the facial scars and the slight limp that showed up when he was tired.
More important, he knew he was a different man inside than hed been six years ago. Thered been a restlessness in him back then, a desire to see and do everything, to live life to the fullest. He was more settled now, more introspective, more at peace with who and what he was. A near-death experience, more than a week in a coma, months of physical therapy rebuilding his battered body and nearly a year recovering could change a person greatly.
Pushing open the screen door, Jesse let his eyes adjust from bright sunlight to the dim interior. Foodstuffs in cans and cartons were stacked on shelves along three walls, and a refrigerated section held milk and soft drinks. In the back were tools and jeans and work shirts piled on tables. In the middle of the sagging wood floor were bins of flour, sugar, rice and small barrels of penny candy. Two overhead fans tried their best to move the hot air around. He inhaled the scent of cinnamon, dust and the hot chili peppers that hung in clusters from the low ceiling. The store was empty except for Curly, who stood behind the short counter by the register, his white hair as curly as ever. No one seemed to remember his real name.
Jesse nodded to the owner, then wandered the aisles. He came to the conclusion that hardly a thing had changed in the market in six years, which somehow cheered him. Nice to know that, in an ever-changing world, some things stayed the same.
He grabbed a frosty root beer and a couple of packages of M&MS, then strolled back to the register.
That be all? Curly asked as he rang up the sale.
Right. Jesse laid several bills on the counter. Kind of quiet today.
Its the rodeo down Springerville way. They have one every year bout this time. He handed Jesse his change. You new around here or just passing through?
Im on my way to the Martin ranch. Theyre having trouble with a stallion and
Yeah, yeah. Remus. Got burned in that fire a while back. I heard you was coming. From California, right?
Right. Jesse remembered how quickly news spread around the tight-knit ranching community. Looking full face at the man, he tried to spot a flicker of recognition in the shopkeepers curious brown eyes before holding out his hand. Jesse Calder.
Curly wiped his stained fingers on his pants before shaking hands. I heard about your daddy. Heard he can talk to horses and they listen. Looking skeptical, Curly leaned back against the wall. Damned if I can figure how that can be done. Horse whispering, they call it, right? And now you do that, too?
Something like that. Jesse flipped open the tab on his root beer.
Curly watched the young stranger take a long drink. Mind if I stop by the Martins and watch? Id sure like to see that.
If its okay with the Martins, its fine with me. The man didnt have a clue who he was, Jesse decided as he climbed back behind the wheel.
Settling the can in the cup holder, he started the engine, wondering if the Martins or Casey would figure out his identity. Then he wondered if it wouldnt be better if they didnt recognize him. Six years ago, he hadnt called Vern Martin to explain why he wasnt coming back, to say nothing of how theyd react if they learned hed used a phony name.
Back on the highway, Jesse frowned. He was aware that deceptions always have a price tag. No matter how small, no matter how worthy the motive, the deception erases all credibility, all trust. And often one lie leads to another. If he had it to do over
Hed wanted to explain, at least to Abby, whod been so loving and sweet. Though it had been cut short, theyd had a special time that summer. As soon as hed been released from the hospital, hed called the Martin ranch, hoping Abby would pick up. Only Lindsay had answered and said that Abby wasnt there. When hed asked if shed gone back to college, Lindsay in a smug tone had told him that Abby had gotten married and moved away. That had surprised him. Only weeks before, shed been meeting him, holding him, making love with him.
Jesse had asked to speak to Vern so he could explain why he hadnt returned, but Lindsay wouldnt allow him to get in another word. In no uncertain terms, she told him he was persona non grata at the Martins, ordering him to quit calling and to stay away.
Somewhat shocked, Jesse had hung up. He knew that Abby had had no way to reach him, not knowing his real name. Yet he had trouble imagining that shed met someone in such a short time and gotten married. That didnt seem in character for the girl hed known. Maybe she wasnt the person hed thought she was, after all.
Even as a youngster, Cam had often remarked that Jesse was stubborn. As his health had improved, hed wanted to go to the Martins, to explain to Vern that an accident had kept him from returning, that he wasnt the sort whod leave someone high and dry without a damn good reason. And hed wanted to hear from Abbys own lips that she was happy with this new guy. But Cam and Jake, very aware he was still weak, still not up to par, had talked him out of the trip.
It hadnt been easy, trying to forget Abby. During his slow healing, the hours of exercises, memories of their time together haunted him. Hed begun to think he was falling in love with her and she with him before hed left. Theyd had a lot in commontheir love of ranching and horses and even children. Abby had told him she wanted to be a teacher. Theyd lie in each others arms on the grassy hillside and talk for hours, once almost till dawn. Who knows where their feelings would have taken them if fate hadnt intervened? Yet now, he knew he had to put her out of his mind because she belonged to another man. It seemed to Jesse that their time together hadnt meant as much to her as it had to him if she could so easily, so quickly marry another.
It had been a fluke, the Martins hearing about Jesse Calder and his work with traumatized horses. Casey, the Martin ranch foreman, had called and all but begged him to take a look at Remus. Despite his familys cautious warnings, hed decided to go, to see for himself. Especially because Casey had said that Remus belonged to the youngest Martin daughter.
But now, spotting the arched entrance to the Martin ranch just ahead, Jesse couldnt help wondering if hed made the right decision as his stomach muscles tightened.
Before hed made the decision to go, hed looked into just what kind of operation the Martins had. After all, his last visit had been six years ago and hed been concentrating on cattle, not horses. Hed learned that the ranch had been in the Martin family since 1880 and currently consisted of more than one-thousand acres with fifteen-hundred Brahman cross cows, nine-hundred head mother cows, six-hundred head yearlings and eighteen bulls. They raised their own native grass and hay, about two-thousand tons yearly. They had forty saddle and workhorses and a staff of about thirty including Casey, the manager, and Carmalita, the cook.
At first glance, Jesse could see a few changes since hed last set foot on Martin soil. Sporting a fresh coat of white paint and new green shutters, the big house, as everyone called the owners three-story home, stood off to the right from the entrance and down a ways. On the grass in front was the same old cottonwood tree and around the perimeter of the wide porch were flowers that he remembered Joyce Martin planted and pruned herself.
A short distance from the big house was a new small building decorated in a rainbow of colors. Jesse couldnt imagine what that was used for.
He parked the Bronco and stepped out. His back hurt like the devil after the hours sitting behind the wheel, a legacy from his accident. Hed been given pain pills, which he didnt take because they made him fuzzy-headed. A generous shot of Scotch when the pain got really bad helped more than the pills and tasted better.
Jesse removed his sunglasses, hooked them on his shirt pocket and glanced to the left. Two rustic cabins with wide porches running along the front of each sat side by side, just as before. The first one looked empty, but he remembered the second was where Casey lived. Strolling past the cabins, he saw what hed been looking for adjacent to what looked like a brand new horse barn: a freshly built round pen hed told Casey hed need to work with their stallion.
He walked over, propped a booted foot on the lowest rung and leaned onto the white fencing. His practiced eye noticed every detail; the swing gate at one end that opened to the barns far door and the patted-down dirt floor, free of grass and stones.
So, what do you think? a raspy voice asked from behind him. That round enough for you?
Jesse turned. Casey Henderson still looked like a fireplug with his short, stocky body, his ruddy face and the red suspenders he was never without. A black patch covered his left eye, a souvenir from his rodeo days. His right eye searched the younger mans face intently.
Yes, sir, the pens just fine. He held out his hand. Jesse Calder. For a fleeting instant, he thought he saw a flash of recognition or perhaps just suspicion on the managers tanned face.
But Caseys grip was strong and brief as he introduced himself, then whipped a red kerchief out of the back pocket of his worn jeans. Still cant figure why you had to have a round pen. Removing his black hat, he ran the kerchief over his sweaty, nearly bald pate.
Youll see when I start to work with Remus, Jesse told him.
Casey motioned with his chin toward the large aluminum horse barn gleaming in the hot sun. Lets go see him then. You think you can help Remus? he asked as they walked.
Well find out, Jesse answered noncommittally as he fell in step with Casey. Working with damaged horses, both with his father and alone, hed learned that most responded well to their methods, given enough time. But there were a few too badly traumatized to ever be helped. What happened to him? On the phone, the ranch manager had been fairly vague.
Well, its a sad story, really. Casey waved to a group of men strolling to the mess hall across the wide drive from the barn. Beyond that was the bunkhouse for the single men and a couple of small cabins for the married ones.
Martins youngest daughter, Abby, ran across Remus three or four years ago. She teaches a little preschool class and she was picking up one of the kids over on Pickerel Lane. Seems the family across the street from where she stopped had moved away and abandoned Remus. He was wandering around a messy corral, half-starved. Abbys got a real soft heart so she looked into it. Seems hed been abused for quite a while.
At the mention of Abby, Jesses interest accelerated. He well remembered how much shed loved horses. He also wasnt surprised she was working with children since shed talked about doing just that all those years ago. She and her husband must live close by.
They reached the barn door where Casey paused, squinting up at the sun. Naturally, she talked Vern into bringing the stallion here and she nursed him back to health. She tamed him, too. He became real gentle.
Three or four years ago, Jesse noted. Had Abby and her husband lived here with the Martins back then? He wondered if he dare ask Casey without giving himself away. If they learned who he was, so be it, but hed hoped to buy a little time first, perhaps get a chance to talk with Abby and explain.
Then along came that damn fire. Casey adjusted his big hat that all but engulfed his head, his eyes downcast. It was my fault. One really cold night last February, I put a space heater in next to Remuss stall on account of his end of the barn was the original from before the building was redone and there was no heat. Dont know what happened, but somehow the heater fell over and started a fire. By the time me and the boys saw the blaze, poor Remus was wild, screaming, burns along his left side. We got him sedated, got the vet. Hes pretty much healed now, but he dont trust no one, not even Abby. Wont let anyone touch him, much less ride him. Vern wanted to put him down, but Abby wouldnt let him. Then we read about your work.
Casey stuffed the kerchief back into his pocket. Id be right grateful if you could fix him. And Abby would be, too.
Jesse had seen the same kind of guilt before and knew it was a heavy load to carry. Ill try, but I want you to know I dont do it for the owner. I do it for the horse. If he wont let anyone near him, like you say, hes unhappy and afraid. Thats what needs fixing.
Any way you call it, just fix him. Casey shoved open the heavy sliding door.
Jesse decided to take a chance. So then Abby lives here and still has an interest in Remus? When Casey turned and settled his one piercing eye on his face, trying to read him, Jesse shrugged. Id heard she married and moved away.
The older man studied him for a long moment before answering. She did, but that was a while ago. Her husband died so she came back. Again Casey aimed his chin in the direction just beyond the big house. That theres her schoolhouse for the little ones around here, before they go to regular school. Started out small but shes got about a dozen of em now, coming and going. But shes still mighty interested in Remus.
A widow. That was one he hadnt thought of. Jesse followed Casey into the barn and along the concrete walk with horse stalls on both sides. He noticed that the dividers were in good repair, the hay fresh and the lighting dim. He remembered that the Martins had run a clean operation. Half a dozen workhorses were in their stalls.
Most of the horses are still out, but theyll be coming in soon, cept for the overnighters, Casey explained. He greeted two cowboys by name as they walked by.
A partition separated the main building from a much smaller area at the far end. Jesse slowed as he moved within sight of a single stall where a black horse stood perfectly still watching their approach.
Thats our Remus, Casey said, standing aside.
The stallions right side, Jesse noted, looked perfectly normal. But as he silently stepped closer, he saw the damaged hide that started on his face and ran along his left flank, leaving a large section mottled and scarred. The wound appeared healed. The real trauma was inside Remuss brain.
Gauging his mood, Jesse took one step closer and talked to him, his voice low and soothing. The horses ears, revealing his emotions, were suddenly split, one forward and one back, displaying concern at this newcomer, trying to figure him out. Again Jesse said a few words, but when he stepped closer, Remuss ears pinned back in an angry, aggressive response just before he reared up on his back legs, blowing out through his nose, his eyes going wild. Jesse retreated to join Casey who was looking very skeptical.
See what I mean? Ornery cuss. Doesnt seem to like you, either.
Its about the reaction I expected, given all hes been through. Ill start with him in the morning.
Youre not afraid to get in that round pen with all that dangerous horseflesh? Casey asked as they walked away.
I have to gain his trust first in order to work with him.
Maybe we need to get the vet to give him a shot, calm him down before you start.
No, I dont want him sedated. Ill just need a light cotton line once you open the door and let him into the pen.
Casey shook his head as they left the barn. All right, its your funeral. He turned to close the double doors, then remembered something. Hold on a minute. He disappeared inside.
Jesse shoved his hands in his back pockets and glanced toward the huge cattle barn next door, recalling that it was divided into sections for milk cows, the calving stalls, the insemination area. Now in the summer, most of the cattle were out to pasture, the cowboys who watched them drifting in staggered groups to chow down. Through the wide mess hall windows, he saw about half a dozen men seated at long tables. The Martin ranch seemed shorthanded, which was not usual during the busy summer season.
The sound of a horses hooves approaching from the range interrupted his thoughts. A sleek chestnut galloped closer, the rider a woman with a blond ponytail, her face flushed as she passed him and smoothly slowed to a stop at the far door to the horse barn. He recognized Abby immediately as she expertly dismounted and moved to the chestnuts head to stroke the mare with a loving gesture. A tall man with bandy legs came out of the barn and took the mares reins from her, probably to cool her down. He said something to Abby and she laughed, the sound carrying to where Jesse stood.
He remembered that laugh, musical and lighthearted. Shed laughed often back then; he wondered if she did now. Seeing her even briefly brought memories of their time together rushing back. Did she remember them with fondness or pain, or at all? How long ago had her husband died and how? From this distance, she looked the same, but maybe, up close, shed changed as much as he had.
Casey came out, closed the doors and followed Jesses gaze. Thats Abby, the youngest daughter. Ill let you settle in first, then take you to meet her and Vern tomorrow. He nodded toward the mess hall. Hope youre hungry. Our Carmalitas the most popular gal on the ranch cause she cooks like an angel. He led the way to the long one-story building.
Tugging his gaze from Abby, Jesse followed.
Vern had the cabin next to mine near the big house fixed up for you. Figured you might like some privacy, you know.
Very thoughtful of him. Only how would Vern Martin feel if and when he learned of Jesses past deception?
Inside, Casey introduced Jesse to the men still eating, explaining why he was there. Several had heard about the Calder methods and expressed curiosity and skepticism, but Jesse didnt say much, just that they should wait to make up their minds after he had a chance to work with Remus.
But it was when Casey took him over to Carmalita that Jesse had his first nervous moment. Six years ago, hed spent some time talking with the dark-haired, dark-eyed woman whod worked as cook for the Martins for twenty years, ever since her husband had been killed in an accident on the ranch. Vern had told her she had a lifetime job and a retirement when she chose to quit, but at fifty, she showed no signs of slowing down.
A dish towel draped over her shoulder, one small hand buried in a pot holder, she stirred something deliciously fragrant in a big pot on the large stove in the back room, her dark eyes looking Jesse over as closely as she might a chicken she was choosing for dinner. He noticed that she still favored peasant blouses with her long black skirt and the large gold hoop earrings he remembered. He met her gaze silently as Casey explained who he was.
Finally, she put down the spoon. You look familiar. You got a brother?
Yes. His names Jake and were twins.
Mm-hmm. Its the eyes, those blue eyes. He ever been here?
I dont think so, Jesse answered honestly.
I knew another Jesse once, she continued. At last, she shook her head. Anyhow, welcome. Go help yourself.
Relieved, Jesse thanked her and walked with Casey to the heavy buffet table laden with food. He hadnt realized how hungry he was until hed smelled the barbecued chicken. He took a plate, filled it and sat down at the nearest table where Casey joined him. Most of the men were finished and gone, only a few lingering over coffee.
Jesse ate silently, wondering just when Carmalitas memory would put two and two together. He noticed that Casey had been quiet since theyd left the kitchen. Although Jesse hadnt had very much to do with Casey back when hed worked the ranch, hed known the manager to be honest and intelligent. Probably only a matter of time before someone would challenge Jesse. Hed known from the start that might happen and also known that hed admit everything and hope theyd understand. Especially Abby.
He searched his mind for a subject to distract Casey. Is Vern Martin a hands-on rancher or does he leave most of the decisions up to you?
Casey finished a piece of chicken before answering. Fairly hands-on, Id say. Ive been working here going on thirty years, when old man Martin was still alive. That man worked like a horse, day in and day out. Vern, he dont work that hard, but he knows whats going on in every corner of this ranch. He talks over stuff with me, but hes the final say-so. He slathered butter on an ear of corn.
And his wife? Years ago, Jesse had found Mrs. Martin to be prickly, condescending and critical, but maybe shed mellowed.
Joyce, she keeps the books. She dont go out much. Got a bad back.
Jesse could relate. Theres another daughter, right? Hed been wondering where stuck-up Lindsay had wound up.
Casey wiped his hands on a napkin. That one, shes not a bit like her sister. Got herself engaged bout six months ago. Fellow from San Francisco, real nice. He stayed with us awhile, seemed to like it here. But something happened and they broke it off.
But Jesse really wanted to hear about Abby. So the younger sister moved back home after her husband died and she teaches kids in the little schoolhouse, he said, thinking aloud. At least Abby had realized part of her dream. Was her husband from around here?
Leaning back, Casey looked at Jesse, as if debating how much to tell. She met him at college, down in Tucson. Werent married but a month when he up and drowned in a boating accident. Abby came home on account of she was going to have a baby. He shook his head. Those girls are twenty-six and twenty-eight and still living under their daddys roof. Joyce is happy about that, but Vern, hed like a couple of son-in-laws to take over the ranch one day. He stood and adjusted his suspenders. Trouble is, we dont always get what we want, right? Im going to get more iced tea. Want a refill?
No, thanks. Jesse tossed his napkin onto his empty plate, then sat back thinking over what hed just learned. Abby had never so much as mentioned anyone at college. Must have been a whirlwind romance. Or did she marry him on the rebound when Jesse didnt return? No, theyd never discussed marriage or even love. Still, she hadnt struck him as the type whod quickly move into another relationship. Well, hed likely find out soon enough.
Rising, he cleared his plate and walked outside while Casey stopped to talk to Carmalita. The sun was just sinking beyond the far horizon, bathing the hillside in oranges and yellows. At home in California, the sun usually set beyond the mountains surrounding the Triple C, nothing at all the way it did here. Jesse had never seen more beautiful sunsets than in Arizona.
Turning toward the house he was to occupy for a while, he noticed two little girls playing with a brown puppy in front of his porch. They had to be four or five, one very blond, the other with a dark braid down her back. Smiling, he walked toward them. As soon as the puppy spotted Jesse, he ran forward, all big feet and pink tongue, then rolled over onto his back, inviting a belly rub. Jesse squatted down and obliged the little guy as the two girls came rushing over.
Whats his name?
Spike, they both answered.
Whose puppy is he? Jesse asked as the little dog squirmed in ecstasy.
Hers, said the blond child, indicating her friend. Im Grace and shes Katie. Whats your name?
Pleasantly surprised that she wasnt the least bit shy, he smiled at her as she plunked herself down in the grass. Katie sat down close to her friend, obviously a little bashful. Jesse. Where do you girls live? he asked, thinking the two must be holdovers from the little schoolhouse.
Grace pointed toward the big house. I live over there and Katie lives in town but shes staying over cause her moms sick. Where do you live?
He couldnt help but be taken by the precocious little girl with the big blue eyes. I guess Ill be living over there for a while. He pointed to the cabin Casey had said was his.
Before he could get in another question, he saw from the corner of his eye that someone was running toward them. Standing up, Jesse recognized Joyce Martin as she stopped in the middle of the drive and called both girls by name, urging them to go to her immediately. Thinking to introduce himself, Jesse took a step closer, but Joyce sent him a warning glance before hustling the girls inside.
Casey came alongside. I see youve met Mrs. Martin.
His tone told Jesse that the woman wasnt one of Caseys favorites either. Not exactly. Is she always that friendly?
Pretty much, he answered, chuckling. Shes over-protective of her family. Guess shes got her reasons. He pulled a ring of keys from his pocket. Why dont you go get your bag and Ill show you through your cabin?
Okay. Jesse had parked his Bronco in the wide apron by the big house and decided to move it nearer the cabin. As he got behind the wheel, he glanced up to the second-story window that he remembered used to be Abbys room.
She was standing there, holding back the sheer curtains on both sides, watching him. Too far away to read her expression, he stared back for several long seconds, then pulled his gaze away and parked the Bronco by the cabin. Stepping out, he saw that she hadnt moved, her head still turned toward him.
Right then, hed have given a lot to know what she was thinking.
Chapter Two
Abby Martin stood looking out her bedroom window watching the new hire follow Casey into the cabin. She waited until the lights went on and the door closed. Oddly uneasy and not quite sure why, she pulled the sheers over the window and picked up her hairbrush.
Dad had told her all about Jesse Calder, the man from California whod had great success in working with traumatized horses. Apparently his father had learned from the teachings of Monty Roberts, the original horse whisperer whod taught himself to communicate with horses starting years ago when he was a child.
At first, shed been skeptical, worried a stranger might set Remus back even further. But Casey had researched the Calders and learned that they were not only legitimate, but owners of one of the largest horse ranches in the west. The ranchers theyd contacted whod used Jesses services had nothing but praise for him and his methods. Casey had convinced her and Dad, and theyd invited the man to visit to see what he could do.
Abby pulled her long blond hair free of the band and began brushing. She was aware that one thing that had bothered her was the name. Jesse. The mere sound brought memories, sad ones, from a time shed worked so hard to forget. Then, just when shed convinced herself that there really was nothing to a name, a man named Jesse had shown up today.
Undoubtedly, her mind was playing tricks on her. But when shed seen him walk over and get into the Bronco just now, then sit and gaze up at her, shed felt something eerily familiar. Of course, she was being paranoid. He was tall and lean, like that other Jesse, but more muscular. And he had a beard, but then, any man could grow one. Then there was the limp. Not pronounced, but he walked slowly and carefully, as if denying he had a problem. She couldnt see the color of his eyes from this distance, but, even if they were the same, all manner of people had blue eyes.
Bending over, she brushed her hair vigorously, as if she could brush away the errant thoughts. Foolish mind, conjuring up images of a man whod pretended to care, then left her with a mere moments notice. That had been Jesse Hunter, not Jesse Calder. She would have to keep that in mind. She would make an effort not to prejudge and to give him a chance to help Remus.
As she heard four little feet scampering up the steps amidst giggles, she straightened and smiled. Bath time, she thought as she left her room to meet the girls.
Casey stood near the round pen, but back a ways so as not to distract Remus. It was seven in the morning and Jesse Calder had released the stallion from the barn half an hour ago. Hed moved inside, closed the gate and stood there quietly, not moving, a light cotton line coiled and hanging from one shoulder.
Casey waited, gazing from Remus to Calder and back, wondering when the man was going to do something. But he just stood there while the horse snuffled and snorted, first pawing the ground, then trotting around the pen nervously. Finally, Remus stopped near the center of the circle and made eye contact with the man standing so silently, each taking the others measure, it seemed.
Behind him, Casey heard quiet footsteps and glanced back to see Vern Martin arrive and stop alongside him. The two men studied both stallion and trainer for long minutes until Vern spoke.
Whats he doing? he whispered, not wanting to spook the horse.
Damned if I know, Casey answered softly. Hes been standing there thirty minutes or more, staring him down. At this rate, hell be here till Christmas.
Youre the one said this Calder fellow could work miracles, Vern reminded him.
Thats what I heard, from more than one rancher. But like they said, you got to be patient and let him do it his way.
A tall man with silver-blond hair thinning on top and a nervous twitch beneath his sharp blue eyes, Vern was not a patient man. He watched for another few minutes, then shook his head. Well, I cant stand here all day. Ive got work to do.
Yeah, me, too. But Casey was obviously reluctant to leave.
Ill meet Calder later, the rancher said. He clapped his manager on the shoulder. Let me know if anything happens. Settling his white Stetson on his head, he walked away.
Caseys curiosity kept him rooted to the spot. Another ten minutes and he saw Jesse walk slowly forward until he was in the center, the stallion backing farther away with each step. Then Jesse did an odd thing. He turned his back on the horse and just stood there as if he hadnt a care in the world. Casey watched him take in several deep breaths as if to relax himself.
Braver man than me, Casey whispered to himself, having seen Remus thrash about in his stall when anyone came too close, those strong legs like lethal weapons.
Clearly, Remus didnt know what to make of this newcomer who seemed unafraid. He resumed circling the pen, round and round, over and over. Still, Jesse didnt move.
Suddenly, the stallion stopped about ten feet behind the man, his ears sharply forward, showing his interest. Slowly, he moved toward Jesse as Casey held his breath. Closer, closer. Near enough that Jesse had to feel the stallions warm breath on his neck. Then the horse stopped. After a few moments, his head leaned closer and he appeared to be sniffing Jesses scent. The trainer let him, not moving a muscle.
Just then, the double steel doors to the barn slid open with a loud thud and two ranch hands walked out leading their mounts, talking loudly. Remus jerked back, startled, the spell broken. He rushed away from Jesse, stopping on the far side of the pen.
Frowning, Jesse walked to the gate and let himself out.
Casey went up to him, wanting an explanation. I hope you dont mind me asking, but exactly what was it you were doing in there?
Jesse recoiled the cotton line into a tighter circle. Mostly just letting him get familiar with my scent, in a non-threatening way. He glanced toward the men whod left the barn. Do you suppose you could ask the guys to use the doors on the other side for a while?
Yeah, sure. Casey shuffled his scuffed boots, still not satisfied. Okay, so now he knows your scent. Whats next? You going back in there?
Turning to study the stallion, Jesse shook his head. Not right now. Later this afternoon.
Why was it you turned your back on him? He couldve hurt you bad.
Jesse allowed himself a small smile. I doubt that. Horses are flight animals, not fight animals. They wont attack unless theyre attacked first. I was just standing there, no threat to him. He was making all the moves.
Yeah, but when you going to do something? I mean how long is this going to take, you think?
Jesse shrugged. That depends on Remus. Hes in charge of the timetable. Ive got to get him to trust me before I can help him. No one can predict how long that will take. With his peripheral vision, hed seen Vern Martin watching for a short time. Mr. Martin in a hurry for results? Because if he is, youve got the wrong trainer.
No, no. I was just wondering. Casey hoisted up his jeans a notch. You just take your time, son. He started walking away, then stopped. If you need anything, just ask.
I will. Thanks. With one final glance at Remus, Jesse strolled thoughtfully toward his cabin.
No matter how many times hed worked with damaged horses, especially on their owners turf, he always had to justify his methods. Everyone expected a quick fix, as if he had a magic wand. This sort of thing took time. Humans didnt get over a trauma overnight, so why would they think horses would? It wouldnt be until they began to see results that theyd finally come around. However, he was used to the reaction so he didnt take it personally.
At his porch, he heard voices across the wide driveway and turned to see over a dozen children in front of the rainbow-hued schoolhouse playing ring-around-a-rosie in groups of four, led by Abby who was clapping in time to the music from a boom box set under the tree. Jesse sat down on the top step to watch.
It was obvious that the kids were different ages, from toddlers of around two to six and seven-year-olds. He spotted Grace and Katie, both with braided hair today. With the regular schools on summer vacation, there were probably more kids than usual. Yet they all seemed orderly and well behaved despite a few of the younger ones falling down as they twirled around, giggling. Abby had them well in hand.
She had on white shorts today and a loose-fitting pink shirt, her golden hair pulled back in its usual ponytail. The years seemed to vanish as Jesse watched her, thinking she hardly looked a day over the nineteen shed been when hed first seen her six years ago down by the big cottonwood tree alongside the stream. Shed been dancing at twilight with an imaginary partner, arms stretched as if holding him, humming a slow tune. Her naturalness, her fresh beauty, had blown him away.
All fall down! the children yelled out, then dropped to the ground, laughing. Jesse watched Abby pick up the smallest childa boy whod probably barely turned two wearing blue overalls at least a size too big for himswing him around, then kiss his dark curls before setting him down with the others. She seemed totally at ease with the children, in her element, enjoying them. Jesse felt an unexpected jolt of envy and wondered at its source.
A young girl who looked to be of high-school age came out of the big house carrying a pitcher of red liquid and paper cups. Probably a local teenager helping Abby for the summer, Jesse thought as they both herded the children into the little house. Squinting, he made out the sign above the door. Miss Abbys Preschool. It would seem Abbys dreams had come true.
He was about to go in when he heard a low, throaty bark, a shuffle of feet followed by a distinctive whine from the direction of the mess hall. Glancing down the walkway, he saw a big old hound dog headed his way, running in that comical way he remembered.
Jughead, Jesse said as the cocoa-brown mixed breed barreled up the steps and into his arms, nearly knocking him over. Howve you been, boy? he asked as the dog proceeded to lick his face.
Hed forgotten about Jughead, the ranch dog that had been a youngster during Jesses first visit. Though hed been friendly to all, Jughead had had a special affinity for Jesse, following him everywhere, even sleeping near his bunk. Missing his own Border collie back home, hed spent some of his off hours trying to teach Jug some tricks. Like retrieving sticks thrown, or rolling over on command. Hed never learned any. The silly dog couldnt even swim, always hanging back at the waters edge, too scared to go in. But hed been so loyal, so needy of affection since most of the men thought he was too dumb to bother with, that Jesse had sort of adopted him.
And now here he was, proving that dogs never forget. Looking around, Jesse wondered if anyone still here from back then would remember Jugs devotion to Jesse and figure out his identity. I think I met one of your sons, he told Jughead, remembering the brown puppy named Spike. With a final fond scratch behind the dogs ears, Jesse rose to go inside. He opened the cabin door and Jug scooted in before he could stop him. It wasnt until he turned that he noticed Abby standing in her schoolhouse doorway, watching him with a thoughtful look on her face.
Resigned to the fact that sooner or later, the truth would come out as it usually did, Jesse followed the dog inside.
Early afternoon and there were half a dozen men lingering behind the horse barn to watch Jesse work with Remus. The word had spread and curiosity had been aroused. Casey had told everyone to use the other door and hed warned all who came to watch that they had to be quiet. Curly from the store leaned against the barn wall and shaded his face from the hot sun by tipping his hat lower.
Even Vern was there, Casey noted. Hed taken the rancher to meet Jesse just before lunch and heard Vern ask the trainer to explain his methods. Lord knows the boy had tried. Hed said things like silent communication with horses is far stronger than the spoken word, and the horse is an intelligent animal and should be in unison with man, not against him, and finally man should cause a horse to want to perform to his wishes. Neither Vern nor Casey had understood half of what hed said or meant.
A sudden movement caught Caseys eye and he noticed Abby slip into the shadows of the barn to watch.
Now Jesse had the simple cotton line around Remuss neck and had him circling the pen while he stood in the center holding the ropes end. Round and round Remus went, slowly at first, up to a trot, then slowing down again. Patient as Job, Jesse held the line and steered him, changing directions now and again. After half an hour or so, the men began drifting away, murmuring their disappointment at a show that didnt pan out. Soon after, shaking his head, Vern strolled off, too. Only Casey remained.
And Abby, who stood silently watching from the shadows, sure he couldnt see her.
She didnt know who interested her more, the man or the stallion. She decided there was an uncanny resemblance of this Jesse to the other, but they werent the same. This man was infinitely patient, with gentle moves, his gaze focused. The Jesse shed known had been like a live wire, jumping onto his horse and riding bareback, racing with the wind, eager and enthusiastic. Much like shed been back then. She doubted that that Jesse could have mellowed this much.
But her heart wasnt convinced, reacting to seeing this man as if the two were the same. The beard camouflaged the lower half of his face, but it looked as if Jesse Calder also had a square chin hinting at stubbornness. The other Jesse had worn his thick, black hair longer, down to the collar of the denim shirts hed preferred. This man also wore denim, the sleeves rolled up on muscular arms. And he had on sunglasses, rarely worn by anyone else on the ranch.
Remus looked better than shed seen him in months. He marched around the pen and didnt seem to mind the man holding the rope. But he never took his eyes from Jesse, still distrusting, still skittish. Abby knew it would take time getting through to Remus, if at all. This man seemed their only hope. She hated to give up on the stallion, on anyone.
She should go, Abby thought, yet she stood rooted to the spot. Shed left Susie, her teenage assistant, in charge at the little schoolhouse reading a story to the older ones while the younger ones napped. But Abby didnt like to be away too long. She was about to leave when she saw Jesse step closer to Remus. Immediately, the stallion skittered away. Jesse widened the loop and yanked the line from the horses neck, then left the pen.
Abby stayed hidden, but Casey walked over to him. So, was it a good day?
Jesse knew he was trying the mans patience. Yes, Id say so.
Dont you get tired, standing out there for hours?
Not as tired as Remus is. Hes the one running. Im just standing there holding the line.
So you figure you taught him something today?
Sure. Hes familiar with my scent, knows Im not really afraid of him and he knows Im patient. A good days work.
Uh-huh, Casey answered, sounding unconvinced.
Jesse smiled. I know you dont see it yet, but you will.
I sure hope so.
Listen, I was wondering, is there a horse I could ride once in a while? I usually ride every day at home. The doctors had also told him he had to stay active, to not let his muscles tighten from nonuse. Hed equipped a gym at the Triple C and did strengthening exercises daily. Already he was thinking that helping Remus was going to take a while so hed have to improvise.
Sure nuff, Casey told him. Dominos good. Six-year-old quarter horse, black with white markings in the second stall. Youll find saddles in the tack room. Help yourself.
Thanks. Checking his watch, Jesse saw that it was still several hours till the dinner bell. Exercise was what he needed, he decided as he walked to the barn.
Abby watched him go. She wished she could take the time to follow him, to see how he rode. The way a person rode a horse was distinctive and often revealing to the practiced eye. No two people rode quite the same way.
Maybe another day, shed catch up to him, to check him out on horseback and up close. Just to put to rest the vague uneasiness shed felt since hed arrived.
Jesse finished cooling down Domino after his ride and left the barn. Hed run across several of the men cutting and clearing dead tree branches and had stopped to help out. Fatigue poured over him like a sudden spring shower. He ached, like hed known he would, especially his back, but it was nothing a long, hot shower couldnt fix.
Removing his hat, Jesse wiped his damp face on his shirt-sleeve as he headed for his cabin. A cold drink would hit the spot, preferably a frosty beer. Hed have to get over to Curlys and stock a six-pack in his small fridge.
Man, it sure was hot! More accustomed to the cooler summers of California, the change was a little hard to get used to. He didnt think the desert heat had bothered him as much the last time he was here. Another few days and hed acclimate and
Jesse stopped short when he noticed a long-legged woman in shorts and a tight top, her auburn hair short and windblown, sitting on the top step of his cabin. She was attractive without question, but in his opinion, she wasnt even in Abbys league. He recognized Lindsay and remembered that he wasnt supposed to know her.
She smiled as she watched him come closer. When he stopped and propped one boot on the bottom step, her lazy brown-eyed gaze swept over him, head to toe, very slowly. Hi, she finally said. Im Lindsay Martin.
Hi, yourself, Jesse answered cautiously. He vividly remembered the night six years ago when shed come to his cabin looking for an easy seduction. Her eyes had blazed when hed politely but firmly turned her down.
If youre the new horse trainer, I have an invitation for you.
Is that right? He couldnt help wondering if shed recognize his voice or maybe his eyes. Lindsay was smart, but hed long suspected she also had a mean streak.
Mm-hmm, she purred. Are you Jesse Calder?
One and the same. He saw her smile widen as she uncrossed her spectacular legs and rose to her full height of about five-eight. Jesse had to admit she had a build that could make strong men weak, and she damn well knew it. And used it to her advantage, hed wager. Unless shed changed, which it didnt appear she had.
Wed like you to come to dinner at the big house, she said as she slowly descended the stairs. In about an hour?
It was not something Jesse wanted to do, to face all the Martins around a dinner table, wondering who would figure out his identity first. Hed wanted to talk with Abby, but alone, not surrounded by her family. This charade had gone on long enough. He needed to clear the air, first with Abby, then the Martins. Yet right now, he saw no easy way out. Rejecting his hosts offer probably wouldnt sit well with Vern.
Lindsay was alongside him now, waiting for his answer, her heavy cologne swirling around him. He was stuck and he knew it.
Thanks. Ill be there.
Slowly she trailed a long red fingernail along his arm from shoulder to wrist. See you then, sugar.
Jesse watched Lindsay walk across the road in that undulating way he remembered. He couldnt help wondering what her fianc had been like and what had happened that theyd called off the wedding. Maybe the guy had gotten tired of Lindsays obvious flirtatious ways.
Sighing, he ran up the steps and went inside to take his shower.
Vern himself opened the door and greeted Jesse as an equal, no doubt due to his fathers reputation. The big house was old and home to third generation Martins, but looked as if it had been renovated not long ago. Jesse hadnt been inside on his last visit, so he had no comparison. He thought the place was typical of many working ranch homesspacious, red tile floors, western decor, big, comfortable furniture.
He smelled apple pie and heard sounds coming from the kitchen in back, but he saw no one except Vern who hustled him into his den and poured him two fingers of whiskey, neat, in an old-fashioned glass. Jesse preferred Scotch but beggars couldnt be choosers and his back, even after a long shower, was still hurting.
Vern freshened his own drink. Real nice to have another man in the house, he said, motioning Jesse to twin leather chairs facing a stone fireplace large enough to roast a couple of pigs in. Sitting back, Vern took a generous swig of his drink, then sighed audibly. Best part of the day, dont you agree?
Jesse didnt necessarily agree, but he tossed back the whiskey and hoped it would dull the pain in his back. I like your house, he said honestly, glancing around Verns masculine retreat. Built much better than they do these days.
You got that right. Vern narrowed his blue eyes and studied the younger man. Did you know I met your dad some years ago?
No, sir, I didnt.
Sure did. At a rodeo in Colorado. We were both a lot younger back then. He chuckled. I regret not keeping in touch with Cam through the years. You look like him, you know.
So Ive been told. Had Vern Martin asked him over for a reason or was he just longing for some male companionship? Jesse wondered.
Hows he doing these days?
Good. He had a heart attack a while back, but hes doing real well.
You have a brother, dont you? I always envied Cam with two sons. He took a sip of his drink, then coughed into his fist. I love my girls, but sometimes its hard living in a house full of women. Vern paused, looking thoughtful. Hows the Triple C doing?
Was that inquiry Verns hidden agenda in asking Jesse over? he wondered. Doing very well. Arabian market fell through, as you know, but quarter horses are going strong.
You breed and train, right?
Yes, and board horses, give riding lessons. A few years back, we added cattle. Diversification, my father believes, is the key to survival. Of course, we dont have nearly the herd you have. We allocate about eighteen acres to cattle, have about three-hundred head cross cows. And we grow our own grass and hay.
Vern nodded in agreement. Ranchings a tough business, some years worse than others. Good help is hard to find.
Studying the man, Jesse could see worry lines by his eyes and his color wasnt good.
Vern cleared his throat. I found out Ive got a bit of a heart problem, too. He glanced toward the open door. Dont want the family to know. Im thinking Id be better off selling. You wouldnt know of anyone looking, would you?
Not offhand, but I can check with Dad.
Yeah, thatd be good. And lets keep this between you and me. No use worrying the others. He downed the rest of his drink.
They heard footsteps just before Grace came scurrying into the den. Im supposed to tell you dinners ready. She looked at Jesse. Oh, hi. Youre the man who fixes horses, right?
You could say that, Jesse answered, smiling.
Okay, were coming, honey. Vern stood as the child ran back out. Thats my granddaughter, Grace. Pretty as a picture, isnt she? Looks just like her mother.
So this was the baby Abby had come home to have. Shes cute.
Sure is.
So Abby was raising a fatherless child. He knew all about how difficult it was to raise children alone, like his own father had had to do.
Casey tells me that Abbys husband died, Jesse threw out, hoping Vern would elaborate.
Yeah. Devils own luck. He set down his empty glass. We never even got to know him, you know. They met at college and eloped over a weekend. They were supposed to come here at semesters end. Joyce was planning a reception, but two weeks later, he fell off a boat and drowned. He shook his head. Our girls havent had much luck with men. Lindsay almost got married a while back, but something happened between them and the wedding never took place. I have two beautiful, bright marriageable girls and not a suitable man in sight. What I need is a good, strong ranch man who could take over for me. Vern sighed heavily. And theyre scarcer than hens teeth.
Jesse wondered for the hundredth time how different things might have been had that truck not hit his convertible. Hed have seen to his fathers health, come back and probably married Abby.
You married? Vern asked suddenly.
No, sir. He hated to hand this poor guy yet another disappointment by revealing his past. Hed have to do it soon, but not right now. First, he had to talk with Abby. Alone.
Abby was having trouble eating. Seated across the dining room table from Jesse Calder, she kept looking at him from under her lowered lashes. Up close, he was even more like Jesse Hunter with those piercing blue eyes that seemed to look right through her. She noticed a small scar above his left eyebrow and wondered what had happened.
He was fairly quiet, answering Dads questions, evading Lindsays overtures, trying not to notice that Mom wasnt very friendly. Her mother hadnt wanted to invite him to dinner, but Dad had insisted, for no apparent reason. However, Joyce had put on a great dinner, her famous roast pork with vegetables, but Abby might as well have been chewing sawdust.
Studying him, she didnt think he had much of an appetite, either. Hed turned down Dads offer of wine as she had. The only one drinking was Lindsay, now on her second glass.
Keeping up with the conversation, Jesse managed to study the Martin clan, one by one. Joyce had her auburn hair up in some sort of twist that added to her stern look. She wore a navy-blue dress with a little white collar and matching shoes. All that for a weekday meal with someone she didnt know yet. Or did she dress so formally every night?
Vern had on his usual jeans and checkered shirt, the line on his forehead showing just where his hat usually sat. Having said his piece in the den, he was quiet. Lindsay wore a low-cut blouse and a short leather skirt, her eyes bright from the wine she seemed overly fond of. Grace looked cute in a T-shirt and shorts that matched her cornflower-blue eyes. She wasnt much of an eater but she loved to chatter, bombarding him with questions.
But it was Abby who held his attention. Shed brushed out her blond hair and let it hang past her shoulders, making him remember the times hed thrust his fingers through the silky thickness. Her incredible green eyes rarely met his and when they did, she quickly looked away. Had she figured out his identity yet?
Jesse didnt smile much, Abby couldnt help noticing, except when he talked to Grace whod insisted on sitting next to him. He answered her questions patiently and didnt talk down to her. He had nice hands, she decided, his fingers lean and strong. She rather liked the beard, but it was his eyes that disturbed her, that deep blue.
So like the other Jesses.
Tell me, Mr. Calder, Joyce Martin asked, her first comment to him that didnt involve serving the food, is your mother involved in ranching with your father?
No. My mothers gone.
Oh, Im sorry. Joyce managed to sound sympathetic. When did she die?
Jesse set down his fork and looked at her. Im not sure she did. She left my father, my twin brother and me when Jake and I were only two. From what Ive heard, she wasnt fond of the ranch. Dad got full custody of us. He turned to Abby across from him. Its not easy, raising kids alone.
Abby saw compassion on his face, but she didnt want him thinking of her as the pitiful widow. Its not like that here. I have a lot of help from my family.
Youre lucky. My brother has a two-year-old son who lives with us. The three of us take care of him.
And his mother? Joyce wanted to know.
It was a messy divorce. Jake has custody.
Joyce raised a questioning brow. Three men raising a child alone? I dont know.
No offense, maam, Jesse answered, but some women dont make good mothers.
Apparently, Joyce decided to drop the matter as she glanced around the table and saw that everyone was finished. She rose. You all sit still and Ill bring in some pie.
Jesse saw Abby rise to help her mother as he spoke to his hostess. Thanks, Mrs. Martin, he said, but I couldnt eat another bite. The dinner was delicious.
Halfway out of the room, her arms full of plates, Joyce glanced over her shoulder. Well, all right, if youre sure.
As Abby moved to clear his side of the table, Jesse caught her attention. Id like to show you what Im doing with your horse, if youve got a minute.
You dont mean tonight? Lindsay interrupted. Its nearly dark. I thought we might go out by the highway, the three of us. Theres this new little club that opened up
Not me, not tonight, but thanks, Jesse told her. He turned back to Abby expectantly.
She made her decision quickly, before she could change her mind. Perhaps if she talked with this man, shed get it in her head that he had nothing to do with that other Jesse. Id like to see your progress with Remus. I dont often have time during the day. Ill meet you as soon as I finish helping Mom.
Great. Ill let Remus out into the pen.
Grace jumped down. Can I go, too, Mommy?
No, sweetie, not this time. The little girl followed her mother into the kitchen.
Lindsay flounced out of the room, but Jesse didnt have time to worry about her. He had to talk to Abby, to convince her he hadnt meant to leave the way he had.
Thank you, Mr. Martin. He reached to shake hands with his host who appeared half-drunk.
Sure, sure. Vern didnt notice the offered hand as he busily poured himself more wine.
Jesse saw himself out.
Abby leaned on the top board of Remuss specially built pen and watched Jesse with her horse. Hed turned on the outside lights and she could clearly see that he was holding a rope lightly coiled at his side. Jesse walked closer to the stallion, using the rope as a threat, as if he intended to lasso him with it. Remus danced out of range, his twitching tail revealing his discontent at this evening invasion.
Over and over, Jesse crowded him, closer and closer, and each time, the stallion would back away. Abby drew in a nervous breath as Remus reared back, pawing the air, but Jesse moved quickly out of harms way. She couldnt help wondering if hed ever gotten hurt working with wounded horses.
After a few more encounters, Jesse stopped, speaking softly to the horse, then left the pen and joined her by the fence.
You have a way with horses, she told him, knowing there were plenty of men whod never get in a pen with a horse like Remus.
Jesse hung the coiled rope on a post. And you have a way with children. He motioned toward the little schoolhouse. Thats a lot of kids to keep in line.
Ive always liked children. She glanced at Remus standing at the far end, watching them warily. Im curious. Why a round pen?
Jesse shrugged. Its going to sound obvious and silly, but often when you work a horse and he wants to escape, he heads for one of the corners and you have to tug and coax him away. In a round pen, theres nowhere to hide. And I dont have to butt heads with him over it.
That makes sense.
There was precious little moonlight, which was why hed hit the lights. Turning, Jesse leaned his back against the rail and looked her over. She was wearing a soft-blue shirt over tan slacks and her hair was hanging loose around her shoulders. Her eyes were that incredible cornflower blue that he remembered so well. Like he remembered how theyd darken when hed touched her, loved her.
He jerked his attention back to the horse. Casey tells me Remus had been mistreated when you found him. Howd you get him over that?
It wasnt easy. That was why I was so upset when he got burned. Hes already been through so much. She scooched up and sat on the top railing, her feet on the second rung. Mostly I was just gentle with him, helping his wounds to heal, letting him get to know me and realize I was no threat to him. His previous owner, a big, burly man, made a contest out of it, demanding dominance to satisfy his own ego, so his neighbors told me. Then he abandoned him and moved on.
Some people should never own horses. Common sense isnt as common as you might think. He smiled at her. You may have a career as a horse whisperer.
Mmm, I doubt that. I saw you work Remus earlier this afternoon. Ive never seen such patience.
Thats what it takes. Youve got to stand steady. If you move fast or demonstrate too much energy, the horse will bolt. Ive learned to stop, breathe slowly and deeply, to visibly relax so he can see that. Horses are attuned to instincts as much as voice and actions. He instinctively knows that if Im relaxed, Im no danger to him. Even tonight, although I pressed him with the rope, I didnt capture him with it.
Abby was listening on two different levels: the first, all about Remus, the second the struggle inside her about the familiarity of this man. His voice had the same timber as the old Jesse. How could that be?
She cleared her throat. So now hes used to your scent and knows youre no threat. What is the next step?
To get him to allow my touch, to learn some simple commands and follow them.
Hes pretty high-spirited.
Thats fine and you want some of that. But he also has to learn to interact with people and other horses.
A light breeze shifted a lock of Abbys hair and settled it on her cheek. Jesses hand half raised to brush it back when he stopped himself. He hadnt the right to touch her, not yet. Maybe not ever.
Now that he had her here, he searched his mind about how best to tell her the truth. Before he could speak, Abby interrupted his nervous thoughts.
How do you go about breaking a horse? For years Ive watched how they do it here and Im not real happy with their methods.
Jesse took a step closer to where she sat, inhaling her soft floral scent. The original horse whisperer, the man who taught my father, and then later Dad taught me, didnt believe in breaking horses. He called it starting them or joining up, as the horse joins with man. That sort of communication results in the horse voluntarily cooperating.
She wondered if his short beard would feel soft or prickly, then chided herself for her roving thoughts. We have this mare that absolutely wont take the bit, wont cooperate at all. Dad got her from a friend in a trade. No one can seem to get through to her. I dont suppose youd want to give it a try? Then she quickly thought better of the request. Oh, but, I shouldnt ask since thats not why youre here.
Id like to try. I cant work with Remus all day. You work a little, then let him rest and remember what hes learned. Then go back and try again. He smiled up at her. Keep in mind, though, that Im not a magician.
Absolutely. I just wondered if there was a better way. I hate the idea of dominating any animal, making him give up his will to suit ours. It seems wrong.
I think it is. Along the way, the owner gets frustrated, which can cause him to hurt the horse hes trying to grind down into submission. The male ego is the cause of most horse cruelty.
She smiled down at him. And as a man, you dont have a problem admitting that?
No, because Im not one of those men.
Im glad you explained things to me. She had no reason to linger and should probably go in.
Jesse held out his hand to help her down.
Feet on the ground, her eyes went to his big hand that all but swallowed hers. Suddenly, her heart picked up a beat as something familiar caught her eye.
There on his thumb was an X, a scar she remembered. Jesse Hunter had told her hed gotten cut on a barbed wire fence when he was only ten, leaving a clear scar in the shape of an X. How could two men with the same first name have so similar a scar?
Still gripping his hand, Abbys eyes rose to his, questions swimming in them. This scarit cant be! But it is. You and Jesse Hunter, youre one and the same!
Disbelief and shock had her trembling as the truth slammed into her. Oh, God!
Chapter Three
Please, Abby, I can explain. He raised a hand to touch her, but she stepped back out of reach.
Explain? You lied to me six years ago when you said youd come back and explain why you left. Her voice was trembling and she fought to control it. Why? I want to know why. And why now, when shed just about stopped thinking of him daily.
Jesse wondered if the truth would really make her feel better. He had to try. Sometimes my name can be an obstacle in getting to know someone. I was trying to get experience working with cattle because my father wanted to add cows to the ranch, to diversify.
Why couldnt you just be honest and say that? My father would have
never hired me if hed known I was a Calder. I needed to be anonymous, to be just one of the men so I could learn from the ground up. Jesse scraped a hand over his beard, searching for the right words. I never meant to hurt anyone, least of all you.
Angry, hurt, breathing hard, Abby just stared at him, as a variety of emotions bombarded her. She waited. There had to be more.
He shuffled his feet, wondering why hed thought this would be easier than it was turning out to be. That summer, my brother went to a ranch in Montana to learn all about sheep because Dad didnt know if he wanted to add cattle or sheep. He used the name Hunter, too.
Did he romance a girl there, too? Did he lie to her, then leave her hanging? Her eyes struggling with tears, she stared into his, daring him to contradict her. Jesse had lied about his name. What else had he lied about?
The sound of male laughter floated out of the open door of the barn. Please, I have a lot more to tell you. Could we walk a ways? He honestly hadnt realized the depth of her hurt. Did his leaving send her into the arms of another man, the one shed so hastily married?
Abby shook her head, edged away from him. Youre a little late with your explanations. Six years too late. She needed to get away before the tears burning her eyes fell and let him see just how badly hed upset her. Again.
Abby, I always knew you to be fair. Im asking you to walk with me, to hear me out. Fifteen minutes. Is that too much to ask? Hed never begged before, but he had to make her see.
She could give him that much. A part of her wanted to hear the rest. All right. Fifteen minutes. She checked her watch. Its more than you deserve.
They began to walk away from the round pen and the barn, down a jagged path toward the stream that snaked through the ranch. The smell of mesquite peppered the air with its pungent aroma, mingling with the scent of wild honeysuckle. The heat of the day was at half power with the retreat of the sun and a light breeze cooled things down. The hoot of an owl echoed from a distance as night birds twittered in the trees.
A perfect night for an imperfect couple.
Jesse touched her elbow to guide her toward a large rock alongside a weeping willow at the waters edge, but she jerked away. At the rock, she turned to look at him. I thought you wanted to talk. Youve already wasted several minutes.
He faced her, gauging his words. She was actually going to hold him to a time limit. Beneath the hurt in her eyes, he saw anger and hoped he could erase it. I lied about my name, but that was all I lied about, Abby. I never lied about how I felt about you. I fully intended to return and tell you who I really was after Id made sure my father had survived his heart attack. But about fifty miles from home, a drunken driver in a pickup hit my convertible head-on.
Her eyes widened at this news, but she stood silent.
He could have told her about how theyd had to rebuild his nose, about his clavicle broken in two places, his collapsed lung, the removal of his spleen, the four surgeries on his leg that would never be exactly the same and the crushed vertebrae in his back that would likely give him pain for the rest of his life. He could have, but he chose not to. The last thing he wanted was her pity.
Ironically, I wound up in the same hospital as my dad, only he got to go home before me. I was pretty badly banged up, in a coma for over a week, then months of healing and physical therapy.
She didnt want to feel sympathy for him, but she couldnt help it. Months recovering from a head-on collision. And shed had no idea. Why didnt you call me?
I couldnt for the first few weeks, but I phoned as soon as I was able. I talked to Lindsay. She told me youd gotten married and moved away.
Abby shifted her eyes to the stars in the cloudless sky, studying them as if the answers were spelled out there. I tried finding you. I called every Hunter family in northern California. I checked on the Internet on a link for traveling ranch hands. Naturally, I came up empty-handed. She wrapped her arms around herself, as if to ward off a chill even though it was quite warm.
Im sorry, really sorry, Abby. I even sent you two letters.
Frowning, she turned back to him. Here, at the ranch?
One here and one to the university even though they told me youd quit. I was hoping theyd forward it. But I guess youd already gotten married. They both came back marked not at this address. He dared to touch her arm, needing the contact. His skin was cool and she didnt pull away this time. Your husband, this Tom Price that Casey told me about, you must have met him when you went back to the university soon after I left, right?
Something like that. Abby moved away from the rock, away from his touch, turning her back to him. Youd hurt me. I felt so alone and
and you married him on the rebound? Perhaps that was a presumptuous assumption, but after theyd been so close, Jesse couldnt believe shed tumble into love that quickly.
She didnt answer him. She didnt have to. Then you had to go through his death. Were you with him when he drowned? Did you come back here after that?
Abby didnt want to go into the details. I came back home because I was pregnant with Grace. Finally, she slowly turned around. What exactly did Lindsay say to you? Do you remember?
Oh, yeah. She told me I wasnt welcome around here, not to phone or send mail or come by ever again.
I I guess she was trying to protect me.
From me? Why? I didnt think your family even knew we were seeing one another.
Mom and Dad didnt, but Lindsays enterprising. She probably saw us leaving to meet down by the river or maybe in the hayloft. No, she didnt want to think about those times. Listen, I understand why you couldnt come right back, but I still dont see why you lied about your name. Thatsthats
Thats the way its done in ranching circles, Abby.
But its dishonest. Its like spying to pick up another ranchers secrets.
Jesse shook his head. What secrets? Ranching is ranching. I wasnt running around taking notes and jotting things down. I was trying to see if we could handle raising cattle much as your father does here. To see if cattle would fit in with our herd.
He didnt think hed done anything wrong, and maybe he hadnt. All in the eyes of the beholder, Abby thought. She rubbed at a spot over her left eye where a headache was forming. Well, thats all well and good, but Im sorry. I cant trust you, Jesse. And if my father should find out, hed feel as betrayed as I do.
I think youre wrong. Im not ashamed of what I did, not any of it. Ill go to your father right now and tell him everything and
No! No, dont do that. Hes got enough problems right now. You may have noticed at dinner that hes distracted and worried.
Jesse frowned. What kind of problems is he having? Vern had confided in him, but he wondered if Abby knew.
Im not sure. He wont talk about it, but I think it has to do with money. Hes lost several good men. Dont tell him about this right now. I dont want to add to his worries.
All right. He stepped closer, took both her hands. What about us, Abby? Do you forgive me? When she hesitated, he went on. We were close once. Ive missed you. He saw the wariness in her eyes and knew hed put it there.
She wasnt without her own secrets, her own deception. She had no reason not to forgive him. How could she continue to blame him when hed been in that terrible accident? But she certainly wasnt about to fall under his spell again. Once youve been burned, it would be stupid to stick your hand back in the fire.
Yes, I forgive you. Gently, she removed his hand. But thats as far as it goes, Jesse. Youre here to help Remus and nothing more. There is no us anymore. Good night. Turning on her heel, she started walking back, then shifted into a run.
Jesse watched her go. Had he made any headway today? Hard to tell. When hed known Abby six years ago, shed been a soft-spoken girl, sweet-tempered and gentle. This Abby was a woman whod buried a husband, had a child, started a business and knew her own mind.
He smiled as he walked slowly to his cabin. He rather liked the new version.
Abby reached the big house, out of breath, the tears shed hidden from Jesse wet on her cheeks. She paused at the porch, sitting down in the white wicker chair to wipe her face and pull herself together. It wouldnt do to let her family see how upset she was. There was no telling what her father would do with this piece of news. But her mother worried her more.
Joyce Martin was a paradox, in her daughters view. Alternately loving and shrewish, she was a difficult woman to figure out. Abby knew shed had back trouble for years and been taking medication for it, not to mention her more frequent migraines. Perhaps the pills were the cause of her inconsistent behavior. It was clear that she loved her children, though she particularly favored Lindsay, who resembled her the most. She rarely spoke of her life before marrying Vern. However, in a moment of weakness, Joyce had told Abby that she was illegitimate, that shed not known her father, and the shame had affected her deeply. That was undoubtedly why she was overly protective of her daughters and very disappointed that neither was happily married.
No, her mother would figure things out quickly and that would be disastrous. Abby had gone to so much trouble to put her life back together after Jesse that she dare not risk another upheaval. Not only would she suffer, but Grace would, too. No matter the cost, she would have to protect her daughter.
Finally composed, she went inside.
It was only nine oclock, but the downstairs was empty with nothing but a dim light on in the living room. Abby climbed the stairs and walked quietly down the hallway. Shed asked her mother to supervise Graces bath and put her to bed. At Graces room, she saw the door was ajar and went in.
A smile formed without her conscious knowledge as she gazed down at her sleeping daughter. Grace was on her tummy wearing her favorite Peter Pan pajamas, clutching the somewhat ratty stuffed dog shed named Fred. Abby had rented the movie version of Peter Pan and Grace had loved watching it so much, Abby had finally bought it for her. The little girl viewed it almost daily, telling everyone she wanted to fly just like Peter Pan.
Leaning down, Abby brushed the golden hair from Graces face and rearranged the sheet so it covered her. For a long while, she stood, just looking at her child. The best part of her, the best thing that had ever happened to her. How could she regret any part of that year that had changed her life when it had given her this wondrous little girl?
She kissed Graces cheek, then quietly left the room.
Her parents bedroom door at the far end of the hallway was closed, no light showing beneath. Dad always went to bed early because he was up by five oclock. Mom also was an early riser, in the kitchen by seven oclock, even though she often stayed up late reading or knitting, saying she couldnt sleep. Abby was grateful she didnt have to face them tonight.
She paused at Lindsays room and knocked lightly. When she heard no response, she opened the door. The bedside lamp was on, but her sisters bed was empty. Lindsay had probably gone to that new club shed mentioned at dinner. Abby decided shed have to wait until tomorrow to ask her about the phone call from Jesse. Not that she didnt believe that part of his story. It would be just like Lindsay to throw cold water on any attempt a man might make to contact Abby. Things may have turned out very differently if shed have taken down Jesses number and told Abby to call him.
Sighing, she left her sisters room and went to her own. She undressed and put on her pale-green nightshirt, then lay back on her bed, knowing she was too churned up to sleep. More tears struggled to be freed from behind her eyes at the onslaught of the bittersweet memories being with Jesse again had evoked, but Abby ruthlessly blinked them away. Shed cried all she was going to over Jesse.
But once begun, she couldnt help remembering the shy, introverted girl shed been six years ago, feeling very much in the shadow of her older, sophisticated and confident sister.
Shed been so young, not yet twenty, but already finished with her junior year at Arizona State, having skipped a grade in high school. She felt comfortable with books and learning, almost as much as she enjoyed being with the horses. Casey had taught her to ride at six and shed turned out to be a natural, able to ride like the wind. Shed spent hours in the barn, grooming her favorite horses, giving them treats and talking softly to each one. She didnt mind that her interests were mostly solitary because she didnt feel as socially adept as Lindsay or even her mother. With books and horses, she felt the confidence that eluded her with people.
Until Jesse showed up the week shed come home for summer break.
Shed noticed him in the barn that first time. Most of the men came in from a long day in the saddle on the range and handed their horses over to the two young grooms before heading straight for the mess hall. Not Jesse.
Standing by one of the far stalls, she watched him rub down his mount, talking to the stallion all the while. It was beastly hot so hed taken off his shirt. Wearing jeans and scuffed boots, his damp chest gleaming from his exertion, he looked like the pictures of James Dean that Abby had seen, only with dark hair. There was a restless energy about him, a devil-may-care look in his impossibly blue eyes. Yet he was gentle with the horse, revealing a soft side.
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