Chapter 15 #2
I wasn’t certain what to think until I noticed Joshua bringing Star from the barn. The cowboy had a huge grin on his face. What shocked me even more was the fact the mare was saddled.
Montgomery studied my reaction as I walked closer, a twinkle in his eyes. I couldn’t believe he was ready to do this. As tears formed in my eyes, I realized I was having difficulty moving any closer. He gripped my hand, walking backward as he pulled me closer.
“Is everything ready?” he asked Joshua after opening the gate.
“Absolutely, Mr. Wolfe. She’s all yours.” Joshua patted Star, continuing to hold onto the reins until Montgomery took them into his hand.
Joshua tipped his cowboy hat, whistling as he walked away.
“What are you doing?” I asked in a playful tone.
He pressed his face against Star’s head, whispering something I couldn’t hear. The horse responded by whinnying, dragging one hoof across the ground. “She told me that she approves of you.”
“Oh, she does, huh?”
“She’s not the kind of girl to like just anyone,” he said in a completely mischievous voice.
“Well, I happen to like her too.” I closed the distance, rubbing her muzzle. “You are a beautiful girl. Yes, you are.”
Star snorted, lifting then tossing her head.
“Come here, little girl.” His command was dark and deliciously dangerous.
“What for?”
“First of all, because I told you to. Second, because you’re going to ride Star.”
“No. That’s not going to happen. She’s special to you.”
“Yes, she is, but she needs a rider, someone who will take good care of her.”
I held up my hands. “I’ve never ridden a horse before in my life. You forget, I’m from Indianapolis.”
“And they don’t have horses there?”
“Not like this. I’ll hurt her. I’ll fall off.”
He rolled his eyes before grabbing and yanking me closely a few feet away. “You’re not going to hurt her. Her wounds healed well over a year ago. While you may fall off, I’ll be here to catch you. I promise.”
I bit my lip, wrinkling my nose. “I’m afraid.”
“You know what my father told me about fear? That it can only conquer you if you allow it to. Take charge. After all, that’s the kind of woman you are.”
“That’s a huge misrepresentation of myself.”
Laughing, he dragged me even closer. “Get on or else.”
“Oh, okay.” As he helped me into the saddle, I felt woozy inside, my skin prickling from the insane amount of fear I felt.
“Just take the reins and hold on, but not too tightly. Star will do most of the work.”
I yanked them from his hand, fisting them immediately, my breath skipping. I felt as if I was on a skyscraper, ready to kill myself. “Did I tell you that I was afraid of heights?”
“Breathe, Aspen.” He rubbed Star’s neck, whispering something else. He took his time, pressing his face against her once again.
The moment was so sweet, yet an ache formed deep inside my heart.
He’d suffered so much. I was sick inside with the thoughts of what he’d been forced to endure.
I was also pissed that nothing had happened, including an arrest. I’d seen Prescott Westfield more than once on my drives into town.
He’d been pontificating in front of a crowd, but he’d watched me like a hawk every time.
“I’m scared stiff,” I managed, my teeth chattering from the cold shiver racing down my spine and all the way to my toes.
“You have to relax. Star knows what to do. Trust in her. Besides, we’re not going anywhere other than around the corral. For now.” He laughed softly as he started walking.
“Whoa.” Immediately Star stopped, tossing her head behind her. “Oops. Sorry, baby. Go. I mean…”
Montgomery couldn’t seem to stop laughing. He continued and thank God he wasn’t taking his usual long strides, or I might toss my cookies. I closed my eyes briefly as I tried to calm my nerves. Within a minute or so, I was able to squint, almost enjoying myself.
Almost.
“That’s better. Good girl,” he said.
“I’m not sure who you are talking to.”
“Both of you. At least you’re both being obedient right now. See how easy this is?”
“That’s easy for you to say,” I retorted.
He laughed again, moving around the fence and closer to the barn. There was a comfortable feeling about him, but I’d caught the glimpse of sadness in his eyes.
“Have you found anything else out about Prescott? Have you talked to him? Did the sheriff mention he’d talked with the FBI?” He’d told me he’d accosted the sheriff and what the man had told him.
“No, I haven’t talked to the sheriff. I anticipated a quiet period before the asshole struck again. However, I did have an interesting phone call from Prescott.”
“Are you kidding me?”
He darted a glance in my direction, stopping just outside the barn. “No, I’m not kidding. He made me what he called one last offer to sell.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“Oh, the man knows what he’s doing. There was no overt threat, just an offer. Actually, it wasn’t a bad price.”
“You’re not thinking of accepting it. Are you?”
“Of course not. I told him in no uncertain terms what he could do with it. Don’t worry, Aspen. That man is going to get what’s coming to him.”
“What are you going to do? I know you’re planning something.”
“Let’s just say that Jackson and I are preparing for another visit, one Prescott won’t be happy with.”
“Don’t you dare do anything stupid.” I’d been right. The man was going to get himself killed.
He tugged on Star’s bridle, leading her away from the barn. “You’re going to need to trust me, Aspen. This will all be over with within two days. That much I promise you.”
I shuddered to my core, uncertain why he was bothering to tell me. I tried to shake off the terrible feelings, my instinct screaming that something horrible was going to happen. It wouldn’t matter what I said, Montgomery was going to do exactly what he wanted exactly how he decided to.
Biting back a moan, I closed my eyes, trying to enjoy the moment. When my phone rang, the sound was so unexpected that I jerked, immediately toppling to the side and into Montgomery’s arms.
“Oopf,” I managed, taking scattered breaths.
Star whinnied, hoofing the ground several times.
As he continued to hold me, ignoring the fact my phone was ringing, his gaze became mesmerizing.
He’d allowed me to see a glimpse into his soul before.
Now I could grasp all of his intense emotions and thoughts, the pain that he’d struggled with for so long.
And in those few seconds, I couldn’t hold back saying what I’d wanted to for days.
“I love you.”
He didn’t seem bothered by my statement, his only reaction a slight curl appearing on his lip.
And the damn phone kept ringing.
“Do you need to get that?” he asked in a husky tone.
“I should. I mean… yes, I need to.”
After easing me to the ground, he brushed hair out of my face. “Then by all means do so.”
By the time I managed to yank it out of my jeans pocket, the call had dropped. Oh, no. It was the call I’d been praying for. My fingers shaking, I dialed it quickly. “Please. Please.” I couldn’t have screwed this up.
I tingled all over when the phone was answered.
“Ms. Webster. Thank you for returning my call.” I was almost exasperated. “Does Mrs. Barker have any time for me today? Any time. I’ll be there.” I held my breath.
“Actually, you can have fifteen minutes, but you’re going to need to hurry. She’s leaving town soon.”
As she gave me the details, I glanced at my watch.
Oh, no. I wouldn’t have time to change. I closed my eyes, my heart skipping several beats.
“Yes. I can do that. I’ll leave now. Thank you so much.
” When I ended the call, I held the phone to my head.
No. No… This wasn’t the way I’d wanted a meeting to happen. There was no other recourse.
“What was that?” Montgomery asked.
I turned around to face him, noticing Joshua was walking out of the barn. “I have to leave. I mean like now. Can you drive me to the office so I can get my things?”
“I’ll take Star for you, Mr. Wolfe,” Joshua said.
Montgomery absently handed him Star’s reins, patting her one last time before turning his attention in my direction. “Of course, but you need to tell me what’s going on. I am your boss.”
While he said the words in jest, I wasn’t ready to admit I could be a failure until it actually happened. “Nope. It’s a surprise.”
“I don’t like surprises.”
I gave him a naughty look. “I guess you’re going to need to get used to them.”
“You are such a brat. You will get it for that.”
I laughed, my nipples already aching at the thought of the night ahead.
I only prayed it wouldn’t be our last night together.
* * *
From what I’d read on the internet, Rosalee Barker was a formidable woman. I’d been right. While she’d only been in this particular position for a little over six months, she’d increased Costco’s sales significantly. The woman knew what she was doing. She also knew a winner.
She kept a stern look on her face as she sat across from me, the small coffee shop her choice for a location to meet.
The fact I hadn’t been able to change didn’t seem to set well with her.
My jeans were the most well-worn ones I owned, the slight hole in one knee certainly something that had caught her eye the moment I’d walked in.
I hadn’t dared remove the ponytail from my hair. There’d been no time to grab a brush.
I’d been across the table from several influential corporations in my career, even helping with certain negotiations for large contracts.
For some reason, I was more terrified by this one.
With no other chains returning my calls as of yet, I had no other options to try to give the company an immediate financial boost.
What I had managed to accomplish was to present my request for a contract, along with certain incentives, without stuttering. At this moment I was able to maintain eye contact, even though her expression was stern, unforgiving.