Reunited With The Rancher
Sara Orwig
Will secrets tear this rancher's marriage apart—or lead to a reunion? For estranged husband and wife Tom and Emily Knox, a heartbreaking loss in their past is keeping them apart in the present. They still share a ranch, but not a bed. And when the blackmailer terrorizing Royal, Texas, accuses Tom of keeping a secret family behind Emily's back, they're thrown into an even deeper tailspin. But could the darkest misunderstanding contain the seeds of a second chance, as Tom and Emily come together to dispel false accusations and face their past?
Will secrets tear this rancher’s marriage apart—or lead to a reunion? Only from USA TODAY bestselling author Sara Orwig!
For estranged husband and wife Tom and Emily Knox, a heartbreaking loss in their past is keeping them apart in the present. They still share a ranch, but not a bed. And when the blackmailer terrorizing Royal, Texas, accuses Tom of keeping a secret family behind Emily’s back, they’re thrown into an even deeper tailspin. But could the darkest misunderstanding contain the seeds of a second chance, as Tom and Emily come together to dispel false accusations and face their past?
“Remember our first kiss? I do.”
Looking into his sexy hazel eyes with sinfully long lashes, she drew a deep breath because it felt as if all the air in the diner had suddenly vanished. She couldn’t keep from glancing at Tom’s mouth, thinking about his kisses, remembering them in exacting detail and wanting to kiss him now.
“Of course I do, but I’m surprised you do.”
“I do. Why do you think I asked you out again?” he said, those hazel eyes twinkling, and she felt a tug on her heartstrings because she remembered again what fun she’d had with him.
“It was all exciting, Tom,” she said with regret.
“Then don’t cry about it now. Happy memories. Take the ones that were special and exciting and concentrate on them.”
“Thank you,” she said, smiling at him as he released her.
Right away, she missed his strong arms around her.
* * *
Reunited with the Rancher is part of the series Texas Cattleman’s Club: Blackmail—No secret—or heart— is safe in Royal, Texas...
Reunited with the Rancher
Sara Orwig
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
SARA ORWIG is an Oklahoman whose life revolves around family, flowers, dogs and books. Books are like her children: she usually knows where they are, they delight her and she doesn’t want to be without them. With a master’s degree in English, Sara has written mainstream fiction, and historical and contemporary romance. She has one hundred published novels translated in over twenty-six languages. You can visit her website at www.saraorwig.com (http://www.saraorwig.com).
With many thanks to Stacy Boyd and Charles Griemsman for working with me on this.
Thank you to Tahra Seplowin.
Also, thank you to Maureen Walters.
With love to my family—you are so special to me.
Contents
Cover (#u8ac2074e-cb39-56d5-b691-bf0e5e3b5ee6)
Back Cover Text (#udbda2f74-146b-5caa-bf3b-c2f0c5e9d8e9)
Introduction (#u4f7e4f40-0a19-5299-a659-a079e790d755)
Title Page (#uff5b61ec-333f-5d9a-b89f-03fc625df5f6)
About the Author (#u996d20e6-f11e-51b5-80ca-4703e7b01bcf)
Dedication (#uc00deb0c-2d65-56e6-b88c-04e7498e58ca)
One (#ud3cdbcee-5487-5616-b83f-d3d0e50c9e38)
Two (#u4357e1c2-c883-5907-9dd9-5b01c5b90d9e)
Three (#u7f68ddb3-bb32-58be-b468-adb69625d1f7)
Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
One (#u7d5fe519-1e89-533c-ab50-53083e3d0629)
Tom Knox hurried down the hall of the Texas Cattleman’s Club, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. The dark wood-paneled walls held oil paintings and two tall mirrors in wide ornate frames. There were potted palms and chairs covered in antique satin. Tom was so accustomed to his surroundings he paid no attention until a woman rounded the corner at the end of the long hall.
Tom’s insides clutched and heat filled him as he looked at his estranged wife, Emily Archer Knox. Physical attraction, definitely lust, hit him as his gaze swept over her.
Wavy honey-brown hair framed her face. Her hair was always soft to touch. There was no way to shut off the memories, no matter how much they hurt or stirred him. A red linen suit with a matching linen blouse and red high heels added to her attractiveness. The red skirt ended above her knees, leaving her shapely legs bare to her ankles. His imagination filled in how she would look without the red linen. While desire ran rampant, at the same time, a shroud of guilt enveloped him. He had failed her in the worst way possible.
Each time he saw Emily, guilt gnawed at him for failing to save the life of their four-year-old son, Ryan, after a tour bus accident on a family ski vacation in Colorado. It had been five long, guilt-ridden years since then, and a chilly bitterness had settled in between them. His life had improved only slightly last year when he’d moved out of the house to the guesthouse on their ranch. They could go for weeks without crossing paths.
In many ways it was better to be apart, because then he could let go of the burden of guilt. That’s why he had joined the Army Rangers for three years after the accident. After the death of his close friend, Jeremy, he wanted out of the Rangers. He couldn’t be with Emily without thinking about how he had failed her and how unhappy she had been with him.
At the moment when they approached each other, Emily looked up and her green eyes widened. They avoided each other most of the time but couldn’t today. He kept walking, his heart drumming while desire and guilt continued to war within him. Would he ever be able to face her without an internal emotional upheaval? Her smile was polite, the kind of smile usually reserved for strangers. When she came closer, her smile vanished before she greeted him with a quiet, “Hi, Tom.”
“Good morning. You look great,” he couldn’t keep from saying.
Her gaze shifted to the briefcase in his hand. “Are you at the club for a meeting?”
“Yes. The finance committee. How about you?”
“I’m having lunch with a friend,” she answered. How polite they were, yet a storm was going on within him. Guilt, hurt, too much loss plagued him each time he saw Emily or talked to her.
“Have a good time,” he said as he passed her.
Her perfume stirred memories of holding her in his arms while he kissed her. Longing tore at him along with anger at himself. Why couldn’t he let go completely? He and Emily didn’t have anything together any longer. Only he knew that wasn’t true. There was one thing they still had that hadn’t vanished—a physical attraction that he felt each time she came into his sight. It was something he couldn’t understand and didn’t want to think about.
On a physical level, he knew she felt that chemistry as much as he did. She couldn’t hide her reactions completely, and neither could he. But each time he encountered her, he was reminded that they both needed a chance for a fresh start, and that maybe the best thing he could do would be to give her a divorce and get out of her life completely.
* * *
After lunch at the Texas Cattleman’s Club and an afternoon at her photography studio in downtown Royal, Emily drove home to Knox Acres, the cattle ranch she shared with Tom. She still couldn’t stop replaying their brief encounter at the Texas Cattleman’s Club. Since she first met him, she’d had a strong physical reaction to Tom. She still got tingles from just seeing him. Through good times, through the worst of times, Tom had dazzled her since they had fallen in love at sixteen. She had no comparison, but she didn’t think that mattered. Tom was the best-looking, most appealing guy she had ever known.
Even so, other aspects of their marriage outweighed sheer lust. And they had lost what was essential in a marriage—that union of hearts, that joy in each other.
Their happiness had shattered the night their tour bus had skidded on an icy Colorado highway, going into a frozen pond. Tom had almost died pulling Ryan from the frigid water. Tom had ended up with pneumonia, a deep cut on his knee and a broken collarbone, broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. But in the end, he hadn’t been able to save their son’s life. After three days Tom could travel and they flew Tom, Emily and Ryan to a big hospital in Denver. They couldn’t help Ryan, either. In eight more days, Ryan succumbed to his injuries. Somehow, amid all the grief, she and Tom composed themselves long enough to donate Ryan’s organs to spare other parents the agony of losing a child.
The vacation had been Tom’s family reunion, and twenty-three members of his family were on the bus. Besides Ryan, Tom’s aunt died from drowning. Three other people, including two children, died in the accident, but they weren’t in the Knox party.
Weeks turned into months and months into years, and her memories became more precious. In an effort to strengthen their marriage, they had tried to conceive again, but a new baby—a new start—never happened for them. Emily felt she had failed Tom in this; it was another blow to their marriage. They’d lost their son, and eventually their love, and their relationship became more strained until Tom moved out and they hardly saw each other any longer. It was general knowledge with most people they knew that they were estranged. Sometimes that still shocked her as much as everything else that had happened to them. She had been so in love with Tom when they married, she never would have believed the day would come when they barely spoke and hardly saw each other.
Hoping to put Tom out of her thoughts, she talked to her big white cat that had been a kitten given to Ryan when he was four. After feeding Snowball, she turned on her computer to read her email, and in seconds, a message caught her attention.
It was harsh, simple: Guess you weren’t woman enough to hold his interest. Here’s his real family, his secret family—until now. Frowning and puzzled, Emily scanned the subject: Today—for your eyes only. Tomorrow—for all of Royal to see.
She froze when she read the sender’s name: Maverick. She had no idea who Maverick was. No one in Royal knew the identity of the hateful troll who’d been threatening and blackmailing people in town for the past few months. There were rumors Maverick might be the work of the three snooty stepsisters—that’s how she pictured the clique of women, Cecelia Morgan, Simone Parker and Naomi Price, who seemed to think they owned the Texas Cattleman’s Club and everything else in Royal these days. They always made Emily feel that she wasn’t good enough to be included in their company.
Another chill slithered down Emily’s spine when she opened the email attachment. It was a photograph. She stared at Tom in the picture, and shock hit her. As a professional photographer, Emily knew at a glance this picture was real. A smiling, earthy redhead with her hair fastened up in a ponytail posed with Tom, who stood close and had his arm draped around her shoulders. In front of them were two adorable children. The boy she guessed to be around four—the same age their Ryan had been when they had lost him. The little red-haired girl was pretty. In the background was a gingerbread dream house and beside the boy was a show-worthy golden retriever. They looked like the perfect family.
So this was Tom’s preferred family. That made her the world’s biggest fool. She and her husband had been growing apart for the past five years, and now she could see an additional reason why. Fury made her hot. There was a whole different side to Tom she had never seen—a deceitful side. She had trusted him completely. She stared at the picture, which was absolute evidence that their marriage was built on lies. Tom had another family. He was leading a double life. The realization was almost a physical blow.
If she wanted proof that their marriage was irrevocably broken, she had it now. Fresh out of excuses to delay the inevitable, heartsick and furious with Tom for his deception, she could see no other option: she planned to file for divorce. She would give him his official freedom to stop being secretive about the family he loved.
Shaking with anger, she leaned in closer to the computer screen to study the photo intently. The woman looked familiar, but Emily didn’t know who she was. Were she and her kids in Royal?
And was the message on target—was Emily not woman enough to hold Tom? She shivered as she admitted to herself that the message was accurate, dead-on accurate. She couldn’t give Tom the family he wanted.
It had been Tom’s idea to move out to the guesthouse. He’d said separating would give them a chance to think clearly about their futures. He was the one who’d said they needed to get the physical attraction out of the way so they could straighten out their emotions and feelings for each other.
Knowing the real reason Tom wanted to move out of the house, away from her, hurt Emily badly.
She looked again at the sender’s email signature. She had no idea who Maverick was. Could the rumors be right, that Cecelia Morgan, Simone Parker and Naomi Price were behind the nasty emails and the blackmail? Those three were successful businesswomen, so it didn’t seem likely in a lot of ways. They might be snooty, but that didn’t mean they were this evil.
Someone intended to make Tom’s secret public to people in Royal. When that happened, Emily knew she would be viewed with pity and there would be laughter behind her back. That was insignificant next to the pain that consumed her over Tom’s deception. How could he have been so duplicitous? It seemed totally unlike the man she knew and loved.
Would Maverick write Tom and threaten to go public? Had he—or she—already tried to extort money from Tom for silence? Emily could easily imagine Tom telling Maverick to go to hell first.
Emily couldn’t stop her tears as her growing fury overwhelmed her. All this time, Tom had had a wife to love, to love him in return, precious children and a home. No wonder she couldn’t get back together with him.
She intended to confront Tom with the truth. Their marriage was over. Completely finished. She needed a divorce to go on with her life. She had lost their son, and evidently, she’d lost Tom long ago, too. He was a lying, two-faced man she hadn’t ever really known. She had never suspected that side of Tom. She had never even had a hint of it before now. Tom had seemed totally honest, kind—how he had fooled her! She wanted to scream at him and tell him how deceitful and hurtful he was. She wanted him out of her life, and this would ensure that happened.
She spent a sleepless night and drove into Royal the next day. Angry and hurt, she filed for divorce. Tom was now home from the military after his tour of duty with the Rangers, and he had taken over running the ranch. She had her photography studio and had just inherited her uncle Woody’s old home in Royal. She and Tom could go their separate ways.
After work later that day, she went by the three-story house she had inherited from her uncle, the man who had raised her. The house was all she had left of family, so she intended to hang on to it and restore it so she could live there. She would be close to her photography studio and off the ranch, away from Tom. She didn’t want to live in the palatial house on the ranch that they had built before Ryan was born anymore.
* * *
Tom drove back to the guesthouse after working outside all day on first one job and then another. Hard physical labor was the best way to drive the hurtful memories away, at least temporarily. It was early March, and the days were growing longer and warmer. It was spring—a time that used to be exciting and filled with promise. Now one day was like another and he spent time thinking over how he should plan his future.
At the present moment he wanted a shower and a beer and wished he had someone, a friend, to spend the evening with. Nights were long and lonely, and weekends were the worst.
As he pulled up, he saw a car parked in front of his house. It surprised him even more when he realized it was Emily’s.
Why was she here? She never came to see him. Worried something might have happened to a friend, he frowned. Emily really had no family—only older cousins she didn’t see. He parked and stepped out, slamming the pickup door behind him. He watched her open her car door to get out. She wore stiletto heels with black straps on her shapely feet. Her jeans fit her tiny waist snugly and were tight enough to emphasize her long, long legs. She wore a pale blue short-sleeved sweater that hugged her lush curves. In jeans, high heels and the sweater, she looked stunning. Her hair fell loosely around her face—the way he liked it best.
When his gaze raked over her, his pulse jumped. In spite of all their troubles, he was as physically drawn to her as ever. She was a good-looking woman—he’d always thought so and he still did. At the sight of her, memories tormented him, moments when he’d held and kissed her and wanted her with all his being. They’d had steamy nights of sexy loving, exciting days filled with happiness—a time that seemed incredibly far away and impossible to find ever again. He had failed her in the biggest possible way and now their love had ended. They had been through too much upheaval and loss to ever regain what they’d had.
Even so, desire for Emily was intense. He remembered that silky curtain of honey-brown hair spilling over his bare shoulders. Thoughts of kissing her haunted him. Memories of her softness, her voluptuous curves and her hands fluttering over him made him hot. She stood only a short distance away, pure temptation, and he wanted to reach for her...until he thought about all the problems between them. And it had to be a problem of some kind that brought her to see him. One glance in her big green eyes and he knew she was angry.
“Hi,” he said. “What brings you here?”
Glaring at him, Emily waved papers in his face and then shoved them into his hand while she snapped, “You’re welcome.”
Startled out of his fantasy, Tom focused on her. “What am I welcome for? What are these papers?” he asked, looking down and turning over the official-looking forms in his hands before he looked up at her again. Puzzled, he met her fiery green eyes that flashed with fury.
“You can thank me now, because I’ve given you what you want—your freedom. You’re free to marry the mother of your children.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” She was rarely in a rage, but he could see she was boiling.
“Your secret is out, Tom,” she said, her voice quivering with wrath. “You hid your family well. Have you paid Maverick to keep your secret? Or has it already spread all over Royal?”
Mystified, he saw that while she was shaking with rage, she was also fighting to hold back tears. “What the hell are you talking about, and what are these papers? And why are you talking about Maverick? What do you know about Maverick?”
“I think you know the answers to some of those questions,” she said in a tight voice. “You have your divorce papers. You’ll be free to be with your other wife.”
“Other wife?” Stunned, Tom repeated the words as he frowned. “Emily, what are you talking about? There is no other wife—”
“Oh, please. I have proof. I’ve seen the picture of you and your family.” She started to turn away.
Tom reached out to take her arm. As she yanked free of his grasp, the pain of her rejection made him hurt from head to toe. In three long strides, he caught up with her and held her arm more tightly this time.
“Emily, I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Mother of my children? You’re not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.”
“You can drop the lies and false front now that I know the truth,” she snapped, twisting away to head back to her car.
Shocked, he went after her again with long strides that closed the distance between them. He grasped her shoulder to turn her to face him. “I have no idea what you’re talking about or what brought this divorce on so suddenly without us talking about it.”
“We’re through and you know it. Your other family is what brought it on. I got an email from Maverick about them.” She yanked free from him again and turned to open her car door.
He closed her door and stepped between her and the car. In minutes she would be gone and he wouldn’t have any answers. He placed his hand on her shoulder. “You can’t pop in and tell me we’re getting divorced and then leave. Tell me what the hell all this is. And tell me about this email from Maverick. That troll who’s blackmailing people in town? When did you get that?”
She twisted free again. “Get out of my way.”
“Like hell I will. You’re not going until you tell me. There is no secret family. That’s nonsense.”
“Oh, no? Tom, how could you be so deceitful?” she asked, sneering at him as she fumbled in a pocket to pull out a wrinkled piece of paper and wave it in front of him. “Here’s proof, Tom. Here’s your picture with your family. You have your arm around your secret wife. How could you lie to me like this?” Tears filled Emily’s eyes, her cheeks were red and her voice was tight with anger. “How could you do this?” she repeated. “You’ve hurt me again, but this will be the last time.”
“Give me that,” he said, taking the paper from her to smooth it out and look at it. As he did, she wiggled away and opened her car door.
Determined to get answers from her, Tom reached out to push the car door closed again, stepping close with his hip against the door so she couldn’t get inside while he smoothed the paper more to look at it. “Don’t go anywhere, Emily, until we get this straightened out.”
“Don’t you dare tell me what to do,” she said in a low voice that was filled with rage.
He paid no attention to her as he focused on the computer printout. Startled, Tom realized it was a copy of a very familiar snapshot.
Two (#u7d5fe519-1e89-533c-ab50-53083e3d0629)
“Emily,” he said, his anger changing to curiosity, “you got this in an email? This is Natalie Valentine and her kids. She’s Jeremy Valentine’s widow, who owns the Cimarron Rose Bed-and-Breakfast. Why have you filed for divorce over Natalie Valentine?”
Wide-eyed, Emily looked up at Tom and then glanced at the picture. “Jeremy Valentine?” she repeated, sounding dazed. “That’s his wife? You told me about his death.”
“That’s right. I told you how he died on a mission and my promise to him to take care of his family if he didn’t make it back.”
“I remember that,” Emily said, sounding stunned and confused. “She looked vaguely familiar, but I was in so much shock, I just didn’t put anything together.” She sagged against the car.
“Jeremy was shot,” Tom reminded her. “We were on a mission in Iraq to rescue three hostages and Jeremy was shot twice. I promised him if he didn’t make it, I’d take care of his family,” Tom said, momentarily lost in remembering the battle, the blood, the noise of guns and men yelling. Tom looked at Emily, who had grown pale. Her eyes no longer held anger but uncertainty; he was sure she remembered him telling her about Jeremy’s death.
“He was so worried about his family because he didn’t expect to make it. I told him I’d be there for them if he couldn’t.” Tom held out the picture. “This is Natalie, and she’s doing a great job being brave and upbeat and pouring herself into taking care of their two kids.”
“Heavens, Tom,” Emily whispered, shaking her head. “Those kids are Jeremy Valentine’s? I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
“Jeremy was their dad. They’re really sweet kids. Colby is four—just like our Ryan when we lost him. Colby has autism. He’s gotten accustomed to me and he’s pretty relaxed around me. Lexie is two and thinks she’s seventeen. She’s pretty and cute. I just try to help out, because there’s always something that needs fixing at the B and B. I try to be a man in the kids’ lives and do things around the place or with the kids that Jeremy would do. Jeremy was one of the best.”
Emily focused on him with a piercing look. “Tom, have you slept with Natalie?”
“Never,” he answered with a clear conscience. “That isn’t what this is about. I’m helping Natalie out, for Jeremy. That’s all there is to it. He was a buddy and he died for his country.” Tom gazed into Emily’s green eyes and wondered whether she believed him or not. “It would be a good idea if you two met. Natalie has a sweet family.”
“Oh, Tom,” Emily said. She looked as if she’d been punched in the gut. Her shoulders sagged and she frowned. She ran her hand across her brow. “I’ve made a big mistake then,” she repeated.
“I think you did,” he said quietly. “But not one that can’t be fixed.”
Emily nodded. “I owe you an apology, because I believed this, even though it was so unlike you. The picture really shocked me.”
“Forget that. We’ve got this ironed out between us now as far as I’m concerned, and I’ll arrange for you and Natalie to meet.”
“You never told me about seeing them. If it was just to be a help and do this for Jeremy, why didn’t you tell me? I could have done some things for them, too.”
He felt a ripple of impatience. “You haven’t been interested in anything I’ve done for a long time. We don’t keep up with each other any longer. I don’t know any more about what you’re doing than you know about what I’m doing. We’re out of each other’s lives now.” He looked down at the papers in his hand. “This divorce was inevitable.”
Clamping her lips shut, she nodded. “That’s true. I can see why you didn’t tell me.” She frowned. “So this troll just sent the message to upset and hurt me,” Emily said quietly, as if more to herself than to Tom, but he heard her.
“You got this from Maverick?”
“Yes.”
“Damnation,” Tom said, his temper rising as he thought about someone hiding behind a fictitious name, sending hateful messages to try to hurt Emily, who had already suffered the worst possible losses. He had failed Emily in the worst possible way before, but he wasn’t going to fail her this time. “There’s too much damn hate in this world and we don’t need this going on in Royal. Maverick.” He said the name with distaste. “Someone has hurt you once, but I damn well can see that he doesn’t hurt you again. First of all, unless you’ve already called him, I’m calling Nathan Battle and letting him know about this,” Tom said, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
“Sheriff Battle?”
“Yes. This week it’s a hateful message to you. Who knows what this might escalate into next or how much this troll might hurt someone else? For some reason, he or she or they want to hurt you or you wouldn’t have received that email. But I can’t imagine you have an enemy in this world.”
“Frankly, Tom, I didn’t think about calling the sheriff. I was thinking more about us.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that. If you get another message from Maverick, call me the minute you do.”
“You saw the message—it was on target,” she said quietly, and his anger increased at hearing the pain in her voice.
“It was a lie meant to hurt you. I’ll call Nathan right now.”
Tom’s anger boiled and he was frustrated not to be able to take more direct action. When Nathan answered, Tom quickly told him about the email. After a minute or two, he turned to Emily. “Nathan wants to come pick up your CPU. He knows it most likely won’t do any good, but he doesn’t want to overlook anything.”
“I don’t mind if he checks the CPU and the email,” she answered. “Goodness, I have nothing to hide. I’m going back into town, so I can drop it off at his office.”
Tom smiled, then went back to talking to the sheriff for a minute before ending the call. “We’ll go by his office. I’ll help you get your CPU.”
“That’s fine. How do you suppose someone got that picture? Do you remember who took it?”
“There was some guy, about seventy years old, staying at the bed-and-breakfast. He was taking pictures. I’m sure he didn’t know any of us.”
“Well, then, how did Maverick get the picture?”
“The guy was using a camera. Maybe he got the prints made at a store. Those can be handled by several people. It wouldn’t be hard to get a copy.” He tilted his head to look at her. “Do you have plans tonight?”
“Not at all,” she answered.
“Good. Because I’m moving back in,” Tom announced in an authoritative voice that she assumed he’d developed in the Rangers. “I want to stay close, because no one knows Maverick’s ultimate intentions.”
* * *
Startled, Emily stared at him. “I appreciate your offer but it’s not necessary. I’m not staying on the ranch any longer. I’m going to restore Uncle Woody’s house and move in there. I’ve put a cot in a bedroom and I’m already living in Royal.”
“You’ve moved off the ranch?” Tom said, frowning. “Look, Maverick isn’t getting the reaction from us that he, she or they expected, which will increase the hatred and anger toward you. Move back to the ranch until this Maverick gets caught. You’ll be safer here.”
She might have been tempted to do what he asked, except he was asking for the wrong reason. She wasn’t moving back because of an email message. And now that she knew the truth and Tom still was the same Tom she had always known, she had lost her anger toward him. But they still had all the problems they’d had for the past five years. She was going to move into town and Tom wasn’t going to stop her.
As she calmed down, the feelings and responses she had always had began to return, including noticing his thick black hair that was a tangle over his forehead but always looked appealing to her. She could remember running her fingers through his hair. Her gaze slid down and she thought about his strong arms holding her against his rock-hard chest.
She sighed, because the memories were a torment and she couldn’t keep them from happening. The breeze caught locks of his hair and blew them slightly. Everything about him made her want to walk into his arms and hold him close. She had always thought he was good-looking, and as the years went by, he seemed more handsome than ever. Or did she feel that way just because he was more off-limits than ever? She wasn’t staying on the ranch no matter what he said, because they had been too unhappy together there. There were too many bad memories in the big house on the ranch.
“I’ll be fine in town,” she said, knowing that was the best place for her to be. “I’m working at my studio four days a week now, and the other days, I can work on the house.”
“Okay, I’ll get a sleeping bag and stay with you in Royal. You don’t know if you’re in any danger from this troll. Just because nothing’s happened in the past doesn’t mean it won’t in the future.”
Startled, she stared at him. “You can’t live in Royal—you have a ranch to run,” she blurted, feeling a sudden panic that they would be in close quarters. No matter what problems they had, when they were together, the physical attraction was impossible to resist. She had been trying to get over him and build a new life. If they lived together, she wouldn’t be able to resist him.
“You don’t need to spend all that time driving back and forth every day from Royal to the ranch,” she said. She was pleased that he was concerned and had made the offer, and overwhelmingly relieved to discover that the troll’s message hadn’t been true and Tom was still the same trustworthy person she had always thought he was, but her panic about spending nights under the same roof again began to revive. She gazed into his thickly lashed hazel eyes, which made her get a tightness low inside and think about his kisses that could melt her.
“If you’re in danger and something happened to you in Royal while I’m out here on the ranch,” he said, “I couldn’t live with it. You’d do the same if the situation were reversed.”
She had to smile at the thought of being a bodyguard for Tom. “That’s such a stretch of the imagination, I can’t picture it. Don’t even think about moving to Royal, but thank you for the offer, which is nice of you,” she said, running her fingers along his forearm, feeling the solid muscles. She had meant it as a friendly gesture of gratitude, but the minute her fingers touched his arm, a sizzling current spiraled in her and she thought again of having his strong arms around her.
As she drew a deep breath, she saw his eyes narrow. Either he felt something, too, or he knew that she had—or both.
She dropped her hand instantly and stepped back. “Thanks anyway,” she said, dismissing his offer.
“Give some thought to this. For all we know, you might be in danger. The safest possible place would be in the guesthouse. I can protect you the easiest there.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary at all. According to the rumors I’ve heard, Maverick hasn’t done anything except send terrible messages, trying to blackmail Royal citizens and stir up trouble. I need to work in town and I don’t want to drive back and forth. I’m staying at my uncle’s. Thank you for your concern, but you don’t need to stay with me,” she said firmly.
“I’ve already lost one of the most important people in my life,” he said in a tight voice. “I don’t intend to let anything happen to you.” His hazel eyes looked darker, as they did when he was emotional or making love. “I’m going to ask Nathan to have someone drive by Natalie’s and check on her to make sure she and her family are protected and okay.” Tom removed his phone from his pocket again. Emily wondered who he was calling now until she heard him say hello to their foreman.
“Hey, Gus. I need to be away from the ranch for a while.”
Even as she stepped in front of him and shook her head, trying to discourage him, she knew the futility of her efforts. Tom had made up his mind that she should have protection and she wouldn’t be able to stop him. She threw up her hands and walked away as he gave instructions to Gus. How was she going to be able to resist Tom if they were under the same roof? Maybe he would stay downstairs and she could stay upstairs, or vice versa.
“There, now,” he said when he finished talking to the foreman. “I’ll bring my sleeping bag and stay in the old house with you. I won’t be in your way, and I can help you with the restoration.”
Exasperated, she stared at him. While she was annoyed, she knew this alpha male attitude was part of why she had been drawn to him in the first place. He was decisive and got things done. In high school it had been part of his appeal. Now she was glad he could make a decision and solve problems, but this time she really didn’t want him interfering in her life by taking charge. Each time she thought about being back under the same roof with him all night, her heart pounded. If he was going to help with the restoration of the old house, they would be working together. And she couldn’t trust her physical response to Tom. He would stir up all those latent longings again. Tom had a virile, sexy body. He was superbly fit from the Rangers and from ranch work.
Tom turned to her. He had his hands on his hips and he stood close. He had the shadow of stubble on his face and his tangled hair added to his disheveled attraction. He looked more appealing than ever in a rugged, sexy way. She realized where her thoughts were drifting and tried to pay attention to what he was saying.
“Nathan told me that Case Baxter, president of the TCC, plans to have an emergency meeting this coming week. Case agrees with Nathan that Maverick has to be stopped. To do so, they need to learn Maverick’s true identity. I’m going to that meeting, and I’d like you to come with me.”
“Sure, I’ll go. But I don’t think I can help in any way.”
“It won’t hurt, and the more of us who are informed and keep in touch with Nathan, the more likely he’ll be able to catch Maverick. If you go, remember, Maverick may be sitting in the audience.”
She shivered. “That’s creepy.”
“Hopefully, his emails and threats on social media won’t escalate into violence, but no one knows right now. What he’s doing now is bad enough. He hasn’t really hurt us, but he could have, and he can hurt others badly.”
After a pause, Emily steered the conversation to an equally unpleasant topic. “Tom, when we’ve waited a bit, we need to sit down and talk about the divorce and how we’ll divide things. I was so angry when I filed. The picture was so convincing.”
He nodded. “I don’t think we’ll have a problem dividing up the ranch, the house, the cars or the plane.”
“You can definitely have the plane,” she remarked, and he gave her a fleeting smile that made her smile in turn.
“I’ll sign the divorce papers. We’re there anyway, and you can have a life.”
She turned away before he saw tears in her eyes. He was right. They were as good as divorced now, and she couldn’t give him children. Their marriage had such devastating memories. Even so, it still hurt when divorce became reality; she had filed and the papers were in his possession. It was one more big loss in her life and this one she took responsibility for because she’d been unable to get pregnant again. If she had been, it would have held them together. She’d wanted so badly to give Tom another child like Ryan. There was adoption—Tom had been willing—but it wasn’t the same and she was against it. She wanted to have another child like Ryan.
Now she and Tom were estranged, and if they got divorced, they could each go ahead with life. But it was difficult to imagine ever loving another man.
And it didn’t help that Tom had proved Maverick wrong and was trying to help her. It was easy to file for divorce when she was so angry with Tom because she thought he had deceived her. To know that he was still the same guy she had always admired and trusted made the divorce hurt.
“Emily?”
She blinked in surprise, turning to face him again. His eyes narrowed, and he studied her intently. “I’m sorry, Tom. My thoughts drifted back to Maverick,” she said, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She suspected he could guess exactly why she hadn’t heard him.
“You said you’re going back to Royal from here. Let me grab a sleeping bag and a few things. I’ll take you.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but before she said a word, he waved his hand. “I’m taking you to Royal. Tomorrow we’ll come back and get your car. I’d just as soon let everyone see us together—it’ll give me pleasure. Hopefully, the damned troll will see us and realize that email did no harm. Far from it. How’s that for a plan?”
She shrugged. “I have a feeling if I didn’t like it at all, I would still end up doing it. I think you’re right about letting Maverick see us together. That gives me a sense of getting even with the troll.”
“We can flaunt that we’re getting along. It doesn’t take long for word to get around Royal.”
“I agree. While it’s good to be seen together, you don’t need to stay with me,” she argued again. “I’ll be in town, where I can call for help at any hour and someone will be right there.”
“I’m staying, Emily. This is someone with a grudge and you’re on the list. That was a damn hateful message you received. Look at the results. You filed for divorce. If rumors started, they could have hurt Natalie, which in turn would have hurt her kids. Frankly, I’m not ready to divorce you when it’s because of a bunch of lies from a vengeful creep.”
“You have a point, Tom,” she said, wishing he had said he didn’t want the divorce for other reasons, yet knowing he was right. “And while we’ve been talking, I’ve been thinking—Maverick has to be somebody who lives in Royal, or has lived in Royal until recently, to know this about you and Natalie and to know to send the picture to me.”
“That’s right.” He looked down at his dusty boots, his mud-splattered jeans. “Can you have a seat inside and let me take a quick shower? I can be speedy.”
“You were never speedy when I showered with you,” she teased and then blushed. “I don’t know where that came from,” she said. “Forget it.”
“Hell, no, I won’t forget it,” he said, his voice getting soft. “You were teasing like you used to, and that’s allowed, Emily. We can have some fun sometimes—let it happen. We’ve got too much of the sad stuff. At this point in our lives, it really isn’t going to change anything to have a laugh or two,” he said.
She nodded. “I suppose you’re right,” she said quietly, thinking he was the way he used to be before the bad times set in. Relaxed, kind, understanding, practical, sexy. He had been fun, so much fun, so sexy. She waved her hand at him. “Go on, Tom. Shower. I can go get the CPU while you’re in there.”
“Nope. I want to be with you. This Maverick bothers me, I’ll admit. I can’t imagine why you’re on anyone’s hit list. That’s worrisome. You’re softhearted, generous—”
“Oh, my! We’ve turned into a mutual-admiration society, thanks to a troll.”
“It’s not thanks to the damned troll. It’s time we have something between us again that isn’t sad, even if it’s just for five minutes.”
“Tom, I agree with everything you just said. For just a few minutes, it was sort of the way it used to be, at least a tiny bit,” she said, suddenly serious, thinking it was a lot better than not speaking and avoiding each other. “I know we can’t turn back the clock, but we can at least be civil to each other.”
“Damn right. Don’t disappear while I go shower,” he said, starting inside and holding the screen door. He paused, looking over his shoulder at her. “Unless you want to come inside and join me.”
She shook her head. “No, thank you.”
He grinned. “After your remark, I had to try.” He let the door slam shut behind him and disappeared.
“Don’t make me fall in love with you all over again,” she whispered, and wound her fingers together, trying to think of seeing Nathan Battle, of her appointments tomorrow, of anything except Tom in the shower.
In less than ten minutes Tom reappeared, his hair slightly damp. He wore a clean navy T-shirt, fresh jeans, black boots and a black hat. He carried a rolled-up sleeping bag and a satchel. “I’ll put up my truck and get the car and we’ll go get the CPU.”
“Sure,” she said, walking out with him and waiting on the porch until he pulled up in a black sports car. He was out and around the car by the time she got to it. He held the door for her, and as she passed him, she glanced up and received another scalding look. She was close, her shoulder brushing his arm as he held the car door open. Their gazes met and she couldn’t catch her breath. For just a moment, she forgot everything except Tom, pausing to look into his thickly lashed hazel eyes that immobilized her. The differences between them fell away, and all-consuming lust enveloped her.
It took an effort to tear her gaze from his. In that brief moment, she had wanted his arms around her and his mouth on hers.
“Thanks,” she said, hating that it came out breathlessly. She slipped into the passenger seat and gazed ahead as he closed the door. He strode around the car. Handsome, purposeful, filled with vitality, he would be married again after their divorce, she was certain. Tom was too appealing to live alone, and he liked women. The idea of Tom marrying hurt even though they had no future together and no longer had the joy and happiness of their first years together.
She rode in silence as they drove the short distance from the guesthouse to the mansion they had shared. Now it stood silent and empty. They had been happy in the sprawling, palatial two-story house until they lost their son. She didn’t want to live in it alone. It was too big, too empty without Tom. He’d seemed to fill it with his presence when he would come home. When they had Ryan, his childish voice and laughter had also seemed to fill the big house. At present, she found it empty, isolated and sad. She didn’t like living alone in it and she didn’t intend to ever again. This wasn’t the place for her any longer.
The house had a somber effect on her and Tom seemed to react the same way. They both were quiet as they walked to the door. Tom still had a key and opened the door to hold it for her. She walked through into the spacious entryway, switching on lights as she went, although it wasn’t dark outside yet.
She suddenly thought about Ryan running around in front of the house when he was so small. Tears came and she wiped them away quickly. Pausing, she glanced over her shoulder at Tom, and he looked stricken. She guessed that he, too, was thinking of Ryan and hurting because he hadn’t been in the house in almost a year. He rubbed his eyes—the tough, decorated Ranger who had been in combat, been wounded, been a prisoner until he escaped. She couldn’t bear his grief, which compounded her pain. When she turned away, crying silently while she tried to get control of her emotions, Tom put his arm around her.
“Come here,” he whispered. Sobbing, she turned to him and they held each other. His strong arms around her felt wonderful and she tightened her hold on him as if she could squeeze out some of his strength, transferring it from him to her. He was a comfort and she hoped she was for him. She stroked his back, relishing holding him. It had been so long since she had been in his arms.
“I’m sorry, Tom. Sometimes I just lose it and I guess you do, too. Having you here helps,” she said, wiping her eyes with a tissue.
He looked down at her, easing his hold on her slightly. “I’m glad I’m here for you. It helps me. Grieving is part of it that we can’t escape.” She nodded as he released her. She missed his strong arms around her.
“I’m okay now. Thanks.”
They went through the house to the large room that was her office. “I’ll get the CPU out for you, Emily,” he said and strode past her. “I’m sure this is futile, but it would be ridiculous for Nathan not to check it out.”
“While you do that, Tom, I’ll pick up a few things to take to Royal.”
“Where’s that white cat of yours?”
“Your cook has Snowball until I get settled in Royal. You don’t care, do you?”
“No, I don’t care where your cat is.”
It seemed natural to be in the house with Tom again. She watched him hunker down to disconnect the CPU, the fabric of his jeans pulling tightly over his long legs. Desire swept through her, and she turned to leave the room abruptly to get away from him.
In less than half an hour they were on their way to Royal. They rode together in silence. She knew he was bound in his own thoughts as much as she was in hers, and they had little to say to each other. While they didn’t talk, she was acutely conscious of him. She hadn’t been around him this much in a long time. And their time together was just starting. How could she live under the same roof with him again without being in his arms and in his bed and back on an emotional roller coaster?
She glanced at his hand on the steering wheel. He had a scar across the back of it that had healed long ago. He had scars all over his body from his time in the military.
His hands were well shaped, nails clipped very short, veins showing slightly. Too easily she could remember his hands drifting over her when they had made love—strong hands that could send her to paradise.
She realized her thoughts were carrying her into a place she didn’t want to go. “I think you’re right about the divorce. We’ll get it—that’s inevitable—but I don’t like getting a divorce because of Maverick, either.”
“Let’s table the divorce for now. I’ll try to find out how much effort Nathan is devoting to catching this troll. The meeting Monday at the club may shed more light. If we don’t divorce and we both stay at the house in Royal—”
“Maverick will know you’ve become my bodyguard,” she said, shaking her head.
“Not necessarily. If I help you restore the old house, it’ll look as if we’re back together. For all anyone knows, we’re fixing it up for you to sell. For a few weeks, maybe we should keep quiet that I’m worried about your protection and that we’re not really together anymore.”
“That’s fine with me. Anything to defeat Maverick. Frankly, I’m still amazed I’m a victim. I’m not the sweetest person, but I usually get along with people I know and work with, neighbors, church friends.”
“I’ll ask you the question that Nathan is going to ask—do you have any enemies? Anyone who doesn’t like you or you’ve angered?”
She laughed softly. “Tom, I may have people who don’t like me, but if so, I don’t know anything about it. I don’t have enemies. I can’t think of anyone.”
“The whole world loves you,” he remarked. “That’s what you’ll hear from Nathan, I’ll bet.”
“The one person I’ve made the most unhappy is you,” she answered quietly, and he glanced quickly at her and back at the road. When she looked again, she saw his knuckles had tightened on the wheel.
“Hell, Emily, I loved you with all my being, but we’ve just had so much happen between us there is no way we can go back to that life we had. When I ask if you have angered anyone, I’m talking real enemies.”
“I know you are,” she said, hurting inside because she’d answered with the truth. There was no one who had been as hurt by her or more at odds with her or more disappointed by her than Tom. “We’re not real enemies and you’re a good guy.”
“Thanks for that much, Em. Think about it. Think if there is anyone you’ve crossed who might hold a grudge.”
She gave a small laugh. “Darla from our class in high school. Oh, did she have a crush on you. Now if this had happened when we were sixteen instead of now when we’re thirty-two, I’d give out her name in a flash, but the last I heard she’s married and has three kids.”
“I hate to say this, but I don’t even remember the person you’re talking about.”
“One of your groupies.”
“I didn’t have groupies.”
“Every cute football captain has groupies.”
“May have seemed so to you, but I didn’t. And I haven’t been called cute since I was five.”
“You were cute. That was the general consensus with all the girls. Ooh, long eyelashes, broad shoulders, cute butt, sexy, to-die-for—”
“Stop it.” He laughed. “If I had only known then—you didn’t tell me all that when we were in school.”
“Of course not. It would have just gone to your head—or elsewhere.”
“Oh, damn, we should have had this conversation long ago,” he said, grinning at her. And once again, for just an instant, she was reminded of old times with him.
“Kidding aside, Emily, keep thinking. It’s important. Could it have to do with your business?”
“I take pictures of kids and families—there’s nothing in my work that should anger anyone. I’ve never had an irate customer.”
“I’m sure you haven’t—you’re a damn good photographer.”
“The result wasn’t what Maverick intended, so let’s not worry too much about it right now,” she said, placing her hand on Tom’s knee in a gesture that at one time would have been casual. It wasn’t now. He turned to stare at her, and she saw his chest expand as he took a deep breath.
She removed her hand and looked out the window, turning from him and trying to make light of the moment. She was thankful he couldn’t hear or feel her racing heart.
“I’ll try to think, but I’m blank. I know I’m overlooking something or I wouldn’t have received that email.”
“That’s right, so work on it,” he said, and they lapsed into silence as they drove toward Royal.
She thought over what Tom had said. What enemies did she have? “Tom, maybe Maverick was getting at you through me.”
“That occurred to me, and I’ve been trying to think of anyone in these parts I could have really annoyed. Frankly, Emily, I can think of some. I’ve fired cowboys who didn’t want to work. I was in the military—there are people in the area who don’t like that or what I did. Politically, they don’t agree with me. There are guys I competed with in college and high school sports. There are guys I’ve competed with in rodeos. I’ll talk to Nathan about it. He’s got to catch this troll. It has to be someone really low-down mean to hurt you after what you’ve been through.”
“I haven’t been through any more than you have,” she said, and he was silent. His jaw was set and she suspected he was frustrated and angry.
“You have been through more than I have,” he said quietly. “You lost Ryan, you lost your uncle, your dad split when you were two, your mom died when you were nine, the man who raised you and the last close member of your family died this past year and you haven’t had another child. You don’t need more anguish, much less to get hassled by a rotten coward.”
It hurt to hear Tom say that she couldn’t have more children, but everything he said was the truth. As their conversation trailed off, she was acutely aware of him so nearby. She had been doing fairly well when she didn’t see him or talk to him on a regular basis, but now to be with him, to joke around with him, even just this tiny bit, drew her to him. And the memories were tormenting her. They had been so wildly in love when they were dating and first married. Her world had crashed and would never again be the same. She had been slowly adjusting to life without Tom, and now he was coming right back into it. Would she be able to cope with living in the same house again? Could she resist the intense, scalding attraction she always felt for him? What would happen if he tried to seduce her?
The questions came at her constantly, and there were no answers.
Three (#u7d5fe519-1e89-533c-ab50-53083e3d0629)
When they got to town, Tom parked in front of the sheriff’s office and carried the CPU inside. Nathan greeted them and shook Tom’s hand. “We don’t have much in the way of good leads and I don’t expect to get anything from your computer, but I need to check it out. I hope both of you will go to the meeting Monday.”
“We plan to,” Tom said. “I’ll help in any way I can. Just let me know.”
“Thanks,” Nathan said. The sheriff was tall and had friendly brown eyes. “I’d like to talk to each of you, one at a time. Emily, want to go first?”
“Sure,” she answered, smiling at him. He was slightly older than Tom and she, but she knew him and his wife, Amanda, who owned the Royal Diner, which was a town fixture.
Emily went into his office and tried to answer his questions. She was with him only a short time and then he talked to Tom. Their session was also brief.
Soon both men came out of Nathan’s office. “If either one of you think of anything to tell me, just call, no matter what the hour is. I want this Maverick caught.”
“I think most of the people in Royal probably want him caught quickly,” Emily said.
“Sorry we weren’t more help, Nathan,” Tom said. “I’ll keep thinking about any possibilities.”
“Sure. Both of you try to make the meeting Monday. I’m shocked that Emily was a target. And it could have been to get at you, but why you? You don’t have any real enemies around these parts.”
“You never know—you can aggravate someone without even knowing it. Since there are several people now who’ve received these Maverick messages, I’d say this is a sour character who has a lot of grudges.”
“You’re right. I want to catch him—or her. I’m sure Emily’s computer will be the same as the others—we can’t trace where the messages originated. Maverick may be mean, but he’s not stupid.”
Nathan followed them outside, and the three of them stood for a moment in the late-afternoon sun. “Emily, since you’ve moved into your uncle’s house here in town, if you need us at any time, just call. I’m glad Tom is there now, because that takes away some worries.”
“We’ll keep in touch,” Tom promised as he took Emily’s arm lightly. He was saying goodbye to the sheriff, paying little attention to her, but with each of Tom’s touches, the contact was startling. How could he still do this to her when they were no longer in love and headed for divorce? They had no future together, she was annoyed he had taken charge of her life and was staying with her, yet the slightest contact was electrifying. She hoped her reaction didn’t show.
They told Nathan goodbye and walked to the car. As they drove away, Tom glanced at her. “Let’s stop at the diner and get a burger.”
“Sure,” she answered, knowing Tom was probably hungry, but suspecting he wanted people in Royal to see them together.
Everything they did reminded her of old times with him, which made her sad, but at the same time, she couldn’t keep from enjoying his company.
They drove the short distance down Main and stopped at the Royal Diner for burgers. Too many things she did with Tom reminded her of their life when everything was exciting and they were in love. The reminders hurt and made her realize how her expectations had been destroyed and there wasn’t any putting their marriage back together. They might fool Maverick, but it was going to cost her peace of mind to have Tom hovering around.
They sat down in a booth upholstered in red faux leather. “How many times have we eaten burgers or had a malt here?” she couldn’t resist asking Tom.
He smiled at her. “Too many to keep track, but my mind was never on the burgers or the malts.”
“I doubt mine was, either,” she said, remembering how exciting he was to her. “This is the first place you asked me to go with you—to get a malt.”
“I remember,” he said, focusing on her with a direct gaze that made her warm. “After you ran into my car.”
“That was one of the first times I ever took the car. I just didn’t see you when I pulled out of the school parking lot. It’s a good thing you had quick reflexes, because it would have been a worse wreck if you hadn’t put on your brakes.”
“That seems so long ago. Your uncle Woody was understanding about the whole thing. His insurance paid for my car and he had faith in you. He knew you’d learn to drive, and I guess he figured you’d be more careful after hitting my car.”
“I was definitely more careful.”
“It was worth it to get you to pick me up every morning and take me to school while my car was being fixed,” Tom said, smiling at her.
“I thought so, too,” she said, loving to see him smile. The sad times they’d experienced had taken away smiles and laughter, but before that she had always had more fun with Tom than anyone else. “I liked picking you up, except it was embarrassing, too, because everyone in school knew what I’d done.”
He leaned across the table, and his voice dropped as he spoke softly. “Remember our first kiss? I do.”
She looked into his bedroom eyes and drew a deep breath. But it felt as if all the air in the diner suddenly vanished. She couldn’t keep from glancing at Tom’s mouth, thinking about his kisses, remembering them in exacting detail and wanting to kiss him again.
“Of course I do, but I’m surprised you do.”
“I do. Why do you think I asked you out again?” he said, those hazel eyes twinkling.
“It was all exciting, Tom,” she said, full of regret.
“Then don’t cry about it now. Happy memories. Take the ones that were special and exciting and concentrate on them.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” she said lightly, smiling at him.
Their burgers came. She ate half of hers, reflecting on how she didn’t want Tom staying with her but finding no way to avoid it, especially after Nathan said it was a good arrangement.
They left and she felt certain they would never eat burgers together in the Royal Diner again. She glanced up at Tom as she walked beside him. He was still exciting to her, which was something she didn’t want to feel, because they had no future and all too soon they would officially be divorced. Why did that hurt so badly when it was what they both wanted? Now with him moving in to stay in the same house with her, was she going through another emotional upheaval that would be more difficult and painful to get over than the last time?
“Want to make a quick stop and see my studio?” she asked impulsively. “It isn’t something you have to do.”
“No, I’d like to see it.”
“Turn at the next corner.” She gave him directions and they drove just two more blocks and parked in front. She was sandwiched in between a law office and a popular bakery that had delicious bread. He paused to look at the pictures of babies and dogs and families on display in her front window.
“Very nice, Em. You’ve turned your hobby into a good business. You’re very good.”
“Thank you,” she said, feeling he was being polite.
“I think I may just stand out here and smell the bread,” Tom remarked.
“It’s fantastic. We can pick up a loaf to take with us. They have specialties. Come in. This is tiny, but big enough for me.”
He walked around the waiting room, looking at more pictures on the walls. Some of the people he recognized, a lot he didn’t, especially the children. Then he came upon a large framed picture of their son when he was two years old.
“Em, this is a wonderful picture of Ryan. I want a copy.”
“I’ll get you one. I’m glad you like it. It makes me happy to see his picture when I come to work.”
Tom continued looking at the framed photographs. There was one from when the tornado hit Royal, of the damaged town hall with three floors destroyed and the clock tower left standing. “You’re very good at this,” he said, moving to another picture of a black horse in a pasture, the wind blowing its tail, sunlight spilling over its satiny black coat. Tom glanced at her.
“This looks like my horse Grand.”
“It is. He’s photogenic and cooperative.”
“Wow. I’d like a copy of that picture, too.” He leaned closer. “I don’t see a price on these.”
“You’re special. You can have that picture compliments of the house.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I want to,” she said, smiling at him.
“Thanks. It’s a great picture of him.”
“Come see where I take pictures and my desk.”
He walked around and bent down to look through a camera set on a tripod. Across from him was a backdrop of a field of green grass.
“Tom, let me take your picture.”
He grinned at her. “You’re kidding. You know what I look like.”
She took his arm. “Come stand and let me have a picture of you. I might want it on cold winter nights when you’re not with me.”
His smile faded. “You’re serious. All right, I will if you’ll let me take one of you on my phone.”
She laughed. “Sure I will.”
“And promise you won’t stick me out there in the window.”
“I wouldn’t think of it,” she said. “Your picture will go home to my bedroom,” she said, expecting a laugh or sexy reply, but he stood quietly looking at her and she wondered what he was thinking. “You stand right here,” she said, motioning to him.
Behind the camera, she adjusted the settings and took a picture. “Now turn slightly and look over your shoulder a little at me and smile.”
“Em, I feel silly.”
“Smile and cooperate. I’ll buy you a loaf of bread when we leave.”
“You’re really good at this bribery business.” He turned and smiled and she snapped some more.
“Now, want to see your pictures? I can get proofs for you while we go get that loaf of bread.”
“I don’t really care about seeing my picture, but I definitely care about that bread. You don’t have to buy it. I’ll go get it and you get your proofs or whatever you do. What kind do you want me to get?”
“I love the sourdough.”
“Sourdough, coming up. I’ll be back.” He left and she worked quickly on the proof. She was examining them when she heard the bell in front. She scooped up the proofs, turned off lights and hurried to meet him.
“I have two loaves of bread and they smell almost too good to wait to eat. Ready to go?”
“Yes, look. You take a very appealing picture.”
She held a couple of proofs out for him to see. He barely glanced at them but smiled at her. “I’m a very appealing subject,” he said and she smiled.
The sun was low in the west when they left her shop. As soon as they were in the car, she turned to him slightly. “When we leave here, get ready for a shock. The house is in terrible condition. At the last, Uncle Woody was so ill—”
“Emily, I’ve meant to tell you that I’m sorry I missed being at his funeral.”
“There wasn’t any reason for you to fly back from your business trip in Wyoming. I never asked you if you bought the ranch,” she said, realizing how far apart they had grown. In times past he would have been at her side for her uncle’s last hours and through the service. She would have known whether Tom bought another ranch in Wyoming and he would have discussed his decision with her before he did anything. They were moving farther apart and the divorce was inevitable, but right now, she didn’t want to give any satisfaction to Maverick and neither did Tom, so they’d stay together.
“No, I didn’t buy it. If I buy another ranch, it’ll be in this part of the country,” he said. “I’m beginning to rethink getting someone else to run it. I have to be hands-on with a ranch.”
She was quiet when they turned on the street where she had lived from the time she was nine years old until she had married Tom. Big sycamores and oaks lined the road. Tiny green leaves covered some branches, but many had bare limbs. The aging sidewalk was pushed up by tree roots. Tom slowed in front of the three-story house and turned onto a driveway where grass filled the cracks of aged concrete that had disappeared beneath a cover of weeds.
Tom parked beside the back corner of the aged house. “I want the car out here where it can be seen. If anyone has been watching you, whoever it is will know this isn’t your car. I want Maverick to know I’m here with you, that the email didn’t work and didn’t hurt either one of us.”
“It gives me the shivers to think someone might be watching me,” she said. “I never even thought of that.”
Tom gave her a look and smiled. “You’re trusting.”
He cut the engine while he gazed at the house, and she studied it with him. Long ago it had been painted white, but now the paint was peeling. There were gables on the front and west sides with a shingled roof that needed replacement. The large round tower on the east side had broken windows and all the ground floor windows were broken. The house had a wraparound porch with wooden gingerbread decoration that had shattered through the years and ornate spindles that were broken.
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