Horseshoes and Honeymoons (Healing Springs Ranch #4)

Chapter 1

“Another letter from the stalker arrived in today’s mail.”

At her cousin’s announcement, Silver St. James paused in brushing Cupid, the Norwegian Fjord gelding she’d added to the team of equine therapy horses at the Double H—Hopeful Horseshoes Ranch.

“That brings the total letters from this guy to three,” Franklin continued from outside the stall.

A tremor pulsed in a hidden place deep inside Silver.

No, she wouldn’t go there.

She leaned into Cupid, letting the horse’s solid strength hold her up. The creature, with its toasted-butter coat and mohawk-trimmed mane, turned its head and nickered softly. Its droopy, warm-brown eyes offered the comfort and solace that made the Norwegian Fjord the perfect therapy horse.

Silver set aside the brush, then wrapped her arms around Cupid. “I love you.” She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of horseflesh and hay, strong in the summer midday heat in the barn. “You’re such a good, good boy. Aren’t you? I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Cupid had just finished with Micah, a teenage client with cerebral palsy. Linda, one of the occupational therapists, was using hippotherapy to help Micah gain strength, coordination, and balance. In addition, Micah loved Cupid—because who didn’t?—and that bond was also instrumental in his therapy.

Silver pressed a kiss to the horse’s cheek. “I’m thinking about purchasing another Norwegian Fjord. Cupid has proven to be such an excellent horse that we could benefit from another.”

Franklin snorted. “Nice try changing the subject.”

Silver tipped up the cream-colored Stetson she usually wore when she was at the ranch. It was covering her sleek, dark hair, which was in a single braid. She gave her cousin her most winsome smile—the one that always worked to get her anything she wanted.

Not that she ever had trouble getting what she wanted. After Daddy’s death, she’d become Colorado’s wealthiest woman at twenty-five years old and tied for second place as the state’s wealthiest person, with a whopping net worth of twelve billion.

Franklin crossed his arms and leveled a stern look at her with eyes the same dark blue as hers, the shade of a sky right after sunset. “Your smile isn’t getting me to change the subject either.”

At six-three, her cousin towered over her five feet five inches, holding himself with a confidence and determination she’d always admired. Even in his casual chinos paired with a polo, he exuded assurance, poise, and leadership. Which was why he was CEO of St. James Enterprises.

Ditching his Brioni suits was about as casual as Franklin got whenever he visited her at the ranch outside of Boulder.

But she always dressed to fit her role as owner and manager of the Double H.

She put on cowboy boots, jeans, and retro or vintage shirts, like the one she was wearing today with cute leather patches on the shoulders and pockets, and matching leather fringes on the cuffs of the sleeves.

Yes, she knew her outfits were sometimes over-the-top, but they were fun and made her happy. More than that, the clients liked seeing her in Western attire.

“There’s no more pretending the problem doesn’t exist, Silver.” Franklin’s expression turned grave. “Your stalker isn’t going away.”

She could admit she’d been hoping that if she ignored the letters that had started coming last week, the problem would disappear.

She knew burying one’s head in the sand never worked, that the troubles would still be there when one finally came up for air.

But Franklin couldn’t blame her for wishing she didn’t have to face reality.

He held out a plain white business-sized envelope. Her name and address had been typed, and the small paragraph on the single sheet of business paper inside was also typed. It appeared to be like the previous notes, with nothing traceable—no handwriting, no stamp, and no fingerprints.

“No.” She took a step back, bumping into Cupid.

The gentle beast didn’t move except to nudge Silver’s arm, reassuring her he was there for her.

“I don’t want to see it.” No doubt it was from the same disgruntled man claiming that her daddy, Upton St. James, had taken everything away, and now she needed to pay him back or suffer.

Franklin held the letter out for a few more seconds before releasing an exasperated sigh. “He’s demanding that you wire fifty million dollars to some foreign bank account, or he’s threatened to come after you and hold you for ransom until he gets the money.”

Another tremor palpitated inside Silver, and this time she couldn’t force away the memories from that day eight—almost nine—years ago when an intruder had broken into their Englewood home shortly after she and Daddy moved in.

She’d been alone at the time and had hidden in her bedroom closet.

The intruder had been rummaging around her room when the police arrived.

The trauma from the incident had left her with such severe anxiety that not even the best therapists had been able to help her.

The only thing that had finally brought about healing was her time in equine therapy, having the gentle horses to ground her and give her courage to move on and put her past behind her.

Three years ago, after graduating from the University of Denver, she’d started her own equine therapy ranch to pay forward the blessings she’d received from that unique form of therapy.

Now, her ranch was busier than ever, with full-time occupational therapists for hippotherapy and licensed counselors for equine-assisted psychotherapy.

She still had plans to expand with a facility that would allow for additional whole-body therapy—a place that had a pool, full-sized gym, and spacious rooms that could be used for crafts, cooking, and other helpful activities.

The problem was in getting a permit to allow it.

She’d been fighting over recent months but hadn’t gotten anywhere.

The main holdup was that the Boulder City Council wanted her to build in town, where more people could use it, instead of on the ranch.

Even so, the ranch was busier than she ever could have imagined, and she was thrilled about it.

What she wasn’t thrilled about was having to deal with this latest threat.

Of course, threats like this weren’t necessarily new to her family.

Her daddy had always had enemies, people who hated him and competitors who wanted his demise.

After his passing last month and her becoming the heiress of everything he’d owned, the threats were now being directed at her.

She couldn’t let it bother her. She picked up the horse brush and began to stroke Cupid again. “Please make the problem go away, Franklin. That’s all I ask.”

Franklin, more like a brother than a cousin, tapped the threatening letter against the stall door. “After talking with several board members as well as speaking with Beryl, we’ve decided the best thing to do is hire an executive protection agent to keep you safe.”

“Beryl thinks that’s best?” Silver adored her personal assistant. Even though the older woman was strict, stoic, and even severe at times, Beryl was like a mother—or maybe a grandmother, since she’d just turned sixty.

“Yes, Beryl agrees we can’t take any chances, that it’s better to be safe than sorry, and that you need extra security and some help in figuring out who’s behind the letters.”

Silver shrugged. “Okay. If everyone thinks it’s for the best, then I’ll go along with it.”

“Good. It’ll be good.” Franklin didn’t move to leave, although she knew he was anxious to get back to the city and his office and the nightlife he loved. Something in the way he hesitated brought her strokes to a halt.

“I trust you to take care of me, Franklin.” She’d practically grown up with her cousins Franklin and Whitney.

Aunt Bev was Daddy’s older sister, and she lived in Englewood too.

With Mother having died when Silver was only five and Daddy always being busy, Aunt Bev had showered her with love and attention and had included her in all their family events over the years.

Whitney had gotten married two years ago and had a little baby and was busy with her life. But thankfully, Silver had remained close to Franklin, who had worked with Daddy for years and had been ready to take over running the family fortune in Daddy’s absence.

Franklin had been visiting her more often over the past month as she’d grieved Daddy’s loss. Although she’d never been close to her father, she’d still loved him, and his unexpected heart attack had left her bereft.

“If you trust me,” Franklin said hesitantly, “then you won’t be opposed if I tell you I’ve contacted the security company that Dustin McQuaid works for and asked for him.”

“Dustin McQuaid?” Silver’s racing thoughts came to an abrupt halt, and she went with her gut reaction. “No, not him.”

“He’s got a great reputation—”

“I don’t like Dustin.” There weren’t many people she didn’t like, but he was one of them.

“He knows ranching and horses and Colorado.”

“There are plenty of others who know ranching and horses and Colorado.”

“Actually, there aren’t. I had my assistant look into it. There’s only one other protection agent who has some experience on a ranch.”

She paused, then shook her head. “Ranch experience doesn’t matter. I’m sure someone else will do just fine. Besides, I’m not here all the time.”

“He’s also familiar with Denver as well as the high country.”

“We can find someone qualified enough.”

“Dustin is the best and has a résumé like no one else.”

“I don’t need the best.”

“I want you to have the best.” Franklin’s tone contained a note of desperation.

The next words of protest stuck in her throat. If Franklin really wanted this for her, how could she deny him? She’d told him she trusted him to take care of her. And she really did. But Dustin?

Franklin gentled his expression. “Where’s my always-positive, look-on-the-bright-side girl?”

“She’s still here. She just doesn’t like Dustin.”