Chapter Four
“T his is a cool surprise, Pop,” Emmie said, a grin lighting her face as the waitress served the milkshake to her.
They usually sat on the red leather barstools at the counter which Emmie liked because she liked to swing around on them a time or two while giggling.
But what he needed to say would be best in a quiet booth at the back of the soda fountain area.
“I thought it might be nice to do something a little special. After all, you did ace that spelling test yesterday.” He took a sip of the cola he had ordered for himself. Prolonging the inevitable?
“Thanks a bunch. The words are getting harder though. Ms. Abernathy said the test next week will be longer, too.” She took another long sip from the frothy liquid. Her gaze stayed on her dad. He was well-versed in the fact that his daughter was a sharp cookie at times in reading him.
“You’ll do good. Just study your list and you’ll nail it. Then you have summer break.”
“Papa said I could spend some time at the cabin, and he’d teach me how to make my own fish lures. I’ve been studying how he does it.”
His little girl was turning into more of a tomboy each day. Madeleine will go crazy if Emmie shares her fishing stories with her. He smiled and gave the same dad line as Emmie often called it… “We will see how it goes.”
“So, what’s up Pop?” That question he was expecting came at the same time as the ringing of his cell phone. He slid a look over the screen on the table beside his glass and noted it was his foreman. He wouldn’t be calling if it wasn’t something that could wait.
“Sorry, pumpkin but let me take this.” He answered the call.
“What’s the problem?”
“Cinco broke the back panel and got in with Firecracker. All hell broke loose. There is a nick on Firecracker’s neck. And Doc Carter is on the way.”
“So am I.” He slid the phone back in his chest pocket and rose. “Sorry, Em.”
“I know. We have to go check on the horses. I hope Cinco is okay, too.” She was out of the booth and already ahead of him.
Fifteen minutes later, Cole pulled the truck into the area next to the barn.
Em was out of the truck first, bent on checking on the horses.
Cole caught up with her just as they made it through the barn to the end stall where Pete stood, along with the vet who had his gaze on the horse inside the stall.
They came to a halt beside the two men. Cole shook the vet’s hand in a quick movement.
“How is he? Did he…” Then he stopped as his gaze slid to the animal. Em had already beat him to that.
“Who is she ? Does she work with Doc now?”
Cole was trying to register the scene before him.
His brain raced to catch up on a number of levels but the most important ones were the fact he had not had the time to finish his talk with his daughter about the change that had happened in their lives and the fact that the person who stood inside the stall rubbing the horse’s broad nose and speaking in such a gentle and soothing tone was the undercover saloon proprietor turned undercover federal agent turned undercover fiancée.
Things were so much simpler yesterday morning and then everything had gone to heck in that proverbial handbasket.
“No, Em. She doesn’t work with Doc. She is our guest, and we’ll talk more about all of this but first I need to talk to Doc and you need to run and tell Marcella that she needs to push dinner back an hour.”
“Okay. But…”
“No buts. Just hurry and let her know. I’ll be there in a little while after I take care of things here.”
A reluctant Emmie took one last look over her shoulder and then departed. Cole was going to have some explaining to do and fast. And not only to Emmie. Pete and the doc had been interested observers since he arrived on the scene.
“Your Jessie here has been quite some help.” Doc jumped into the silence. “She has a real calming way with horses. It was quite a surprise coming in here and she had the situation already in hand. Pete and I appreciated her help.”
“Sorry we had to meet under such fast circumstances, gentlemen.” The woman had clearly decided it was time she jumped into the situation.
The smile on her face clearly disarmed the two men as she gave one last soft pat to the horse’s neck and moved from the stall, allowing Pete to shut the door behind her.
This new development was clearly another hitch in his usual composure.
And matters only got more confusing in his brain as she stepped up in a perfectly natural movement, sliding her arm around his and giving him a gentle pat, identical to the one she had just used to calm the excited horse. That comparison wasn’t lost on him.
“I’m afraid Cole is still getting used to the fact he is an engaged man again.
” She laughed which caused the others to join in.
Her laugh held a pleasant light quality that made him want to join in…
almost . The slight pressure of her hand on his upper arm was noted.
“I briefly gave these fine men my name and that I had just arrived as a surprise to you.”
“That’s right, boss,” Pete grinned. “And she heard the ruckus out here and just came right on over to see if she could help and she didn’t miss a beat.
Went right up to Firecracker and got him calmed and then took to helping Doc with Cinco.
Haven’t seen anything like it. She’s got the makings of a top hand around here. ”
“Yes, she was a great second pair of hands in the situation. I can second that.” Doc didn’t hesitate in adding his agreement.
“Well, that is good to hear, and all seems to have turned out fine.” Cole met the smile that his newly minted fiancée was sending his way.
He hoped he looked genuine in return. She, on the other hand, was seamless in her role as it came effortlessly and almost made him believe that he had found himself a fiancée and all of this was for real.
But it wasn’t and that brought his brain back into the reality of the moment.
“And we need to get her settled in and I’m sure you’ll see more of her in the days to come around here. Thanks again, Doc, for your quick response. Pete, I’ll leave you to whatever else Doc needs to have us do for the horses.”
Both men nodded and tipped the brims of their hats in Jessie’s direction, adding another round of their thanks. She responded with another flash of genuine smiles and the pressure on his arm guided their way towards the ranch house.
Cole kept a smile on his face in case anyone else might be watching the pair as they walked. “Suppose you tell me how you came to know so much about horses and what you were doing running toward two horses that were upset?”
“Didn’t you read the script? I am the daughter of a wealthy thoroughbred family from Kentucky.
We did meet at the derby where you fell head over heels for my charms in a whirlwind romance that put this lovely ring on my finger.
” She lifted her free hand and wiggled the proper finger which looked like a glare of light from a mini lighthouse on her hand.
“You’ve thought of everything down to the ring. I know that won’t be on any bill I am given for this little charade.”
“Don’t worry. You aren’t being billed for this little bauble. It’s part of the cover. And on loan and insured.”
“This may be an everyday occurrence to you, but it isn’t to me. I don’t like lying to people who I have earned respect with.”
They had turned into the arched opening in the tall outer wall of the garden and were out of sight of anyone watching from the barns area. She stopped and turned to face him, her hand dropping from his arm. She had lost her smile.
“This everyday occurrence is my job. And I learned early on that the way to get into a mess and put others at jeopardy, is to forget for one second that it is a job that can easily get people hurt…or worse. So, I play the role until the job is done. And each time you feel a guilty conscience coming on, simply think of keeping Emmie safe.”
“And what do you think of, or do you get a guilty conscience like the rest of us?”
Her gaze darkened and shuttered. “I have a conscience. What I remind myself of is my business. But I keep my eyes on the goal, and in this case, it is a link through your ex to a very wanted man. It might be a dead end, or it might put an end to a case I have been part of for the last three years. But either way, your cooperation is important. And that means we are in play now…and you must be on your part 100 percent or it won’t work. Do you understand that?”
Whatever he said earlier had brought forth yet another side of the woman he had not known existed.
While part of him wanted to end all and say he wanted out of the agreement, he couldn’t.
His daughter was involved, and Emmie was the key to all their ultimate freedom. He would walk through fire if need be.
“I gave my word, and I’ll keep it.”
“Good. Now we must convince your daughter and your housekeeper. We need to use every minute we have before your ex arrives to get them used to us …being a couple. That will make things flow easier when the real crunch time comes. Let’s go.”
She didn’t wait for his response. She was already headed toward the front door, a determination in every ridge and line of her body.
Cole felt a grudging feeling of respect.
There were many layers to the woman. He had a feeling he had only scratched the surface.
Cole squared his shoulders and followed her lead.
*