Conall's Legacy (22 page)

#

If there was one thing Luisa wasn’t, it was stupid. She threw another shovel of manure into the cart, swearing under her breath. Darn Cindy for bringing Menendez out here, she thought. Another shovelful landed on the growing heap. Luisa knew exactly what he hoped to gain by pissing her off with his challenge.

So why are you so upset
?

She stopped what she was doing and leaned on the end of the shovel. Luisa thought of all the healing Adriano offered her, of finally being able to do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. An image of the impending trip to Los Angeles for her mother came to mind. She couldn’t miss being there for her. They had missed too much already. This would be her last opportunity to experience her mother.

A vision of Drake filtered into the mix of her thoughts. The support he could provide when her mother passed and she was alone would be worth it all. He was someone to lean on, to hold her when she cried. She imagined his hands on her body and shuddered. Need slid through her as she considered a lifetime of being with him in every sense of the word.

“Get a grip, girl,” she told herself. “He’s just coming for his stuff. He’d have said more on the phone if it was good news.”

She started shoveling again, finding comfort and release in the physical effort. The writing done for the day, she had turned her mental activity to this physical one. She loved the writing, but loved this caring for the animals as well.

Drake Forrester could never give up his career and the city to be a country guy. Luisa stopped and propped her chin on her folded hands resting on the handle of the shovel. She gazed around the barn, looked at her horses and saw the tiny muzzle of a foal nuzzling his mother’s belly to nurse.
Could you give up this place and these creatures
? Never, she admitted to herself. Her father had always said a person had to know their limits, their boundaries. You can’t make someone else happy if you aren’t there yourself.
Your relationship is doomed whether you get better or not
.

She went back to work and shoveled hard and fast, trying to exorcise the thoughts rattling around in her mind. With the stall finished, she shoved the cart out of the way and closed the door. What I need is a good ride, she thought. Luisa dumped the wheelbarrow of manure out back and headed to the stock tank. Pulling a bandana from her hip pocket, she dampened it in the cool water and ran it over her face and arms, cleaning off the majority of the dust and sweat gathered on her skin.
Better
. She wrapped the damp fabric around her neck and let the cool drops run down her t-shirt.

She turned and headed into the barn to get Knight’s Shadow out of his stall. Her black gelding was calmer and more amiable than Royal Knight, and right now, she wanted a soothing ride, not another challenge. Adriano Menendez had given her enough to think about, and then there was Drake. What on earth was she going to do about him? He seemed happier than when he first came, but did that mean he’d soon go home or that he wanted to stay? One day soon, if he went back to LA and if he wanted their relationship to continue there, she’d be forced to choose between the man she’d come to love or the place that was her heart.

Remembering her anger the first day his truck and trailer had clattered into her life brought a smile. The idea of watching the back end of it drive out of her life forever brought a frown. Don’t borrow trouble, her father would say. Well, she wouldn’t, she decided. She’d wait and see what he chose.

Wait and see? When did you turn into a wallflower praying to be asked to dance? She heard the words as clearly as if her father had whispered in her ear. Luisa thought about Drake and what had begun between them. Was there as much heat there as she thought and could she turn that into a wildfire? A wicked smile curved the corners of her lips. Maybe she’d just have to see what she could do to sway his choice in favor of her ranch. That was, if he wasn’t coming back to announce his engagement to Rebecca.

#

Drake saw the dust rising from the riding arena as soon as he stopped his truck by the shed. The engine quiet, he heard the soft sounds of classical music. He left his bag in the vehicle and walked quietly to his favorite vantage point, under the huge cottonwood tree.

Luisa circled the ring on a beautiful black horse. This one was tall like Knight, he thought, but different. The horse covered more ground in a smoother way. Elegant, he supposed a woman would call it. This horse was downright elegant, like a ballroom dancer or something.

Luisa looked serene when she rode, her face a study in concentration, yet peaceful. At least when the horse wasn’t acting up. Drake chuckled at the memory of the huge horse’s response to the racket his trailer had made. Drake looked at the expression reflected on Luisa’s face. Looking at the sheer beauty of her peaceful face, no one would believe that memories tormented her to keep her locked away here as surely as if she were in prison.

He gazed at her then. Her face was soft somehow, content, angelic ... he didn’t know quite how to describe it. She was definitely happier on a horse than anywhere else he’d seen her.

The horse trotted down the far side. She sat in the saddle as if she were Velcroed on. Drake could never ride like that, that is if he ever got on a horse.
Like I’m that stupid
. He chuckled at that image. Being on one of those beasts was entirely different from being on the ground. He could appreciate their beauty or the nudge a little baby gave you when you stopped to say hi to it. Being on top of something whose back was damn near taller than his head did not sound smart.

His attention returned to Luisa as she made the horse trot diagonally across the dirt. The animal’s legs crossed as it did so, and Drake wondered how it could do that without tripping. The whole movement was graceful and matched Luisa’s beauty and style perfectly.

Luisa’s lower body moved in rhythm to the swaying motion of the horse. The age-old motion of lovers made Drake’s breath catch in his throat and blood pooled in his body. Lust fired through him at bullet speed. He wanted her and he wanted her now. But what would she think of that idea? He wanted her forever, but could they work that out? He doubted it. The city called him; this place claimed her. And even though Rebecca had effectively run him off, there was still his promise to the Conman and his feelings toward the kids to think about. He remembered the feel of Rachael’s chubby fingers, of her calling him da-da, and smiled. Could he give them up?

The horse thundered down the rail, and Drake’s gaze slid back to Luisa. Her long, slim thighs circled the horse’s body and held him. The two were locked together like lovers, without a hint of space between their bodies in spite of the thin leather of the saddle on which she rode. What would it feel like to have her circle his waist with those endless legs? Drake groaned and shifted to ease the pressure in the front of his jeans. It was time to make a move, he decided. Whatever the result, he had to find out where they stood.

Drake stepped out of the tree’s shadow and called her name, not wanting to startle her. She’d obviously been so absorbed she hadn’t heard him drive in, or else she was ignoring him for some reason. A knife twisted in his gut. Did he want her to release him, to let him return to the city? He didn’t think so, but how could he be sure? Drake had always known exactly what he wanted in life, but this time the answers weren’t easy.

“Luisa,” he said walking up to the fence, “you look fantastic.”

She rode over to him and stopped. “Hello.”

Her voice sounded throaty and breathless--like after great sex, he thought, swallowing hard.

He fought to speak normally. “I don’t know how you get those animals to do that. I can’t see you move at all.” He shook his head in wonder.

“Thanks. Once you learn how, it’s easy. I love it when they dance. It’s so exhilarating.”

Her face was flushed from her efforts in the late afternoon heat, and her eyes sparkled as they did whenever she talked about horses.

“Welcome back, Drake,” she said softly. “It was pretty quiet around here without you to annoy me.” She said it with a smile, and Drake’s heart tumbled farther toward oblivion.

“I missed you, too. Um, can we talk, Luisa?”

“Sure, I was just finishing. Let me take care of him while you come see the new baby.”

Disappointment hit him, a surprise attack. “You had another one while I was gone.”

She laughed, her voice like musical notes to his ear. “No I didn’t, but one of the mares did. A lovely palomino colt.”

Luisa swung her leg over the horse, pulled her left foot out of the stirrup, and slid down the horse’s body. Her softly rounded derriere was staring him in the face, and Drake nearly swallowed his tongue.
Damn, it’s been too long when just seeing her makes you think like a moron
.

She ran the stirrups up against the saddle and turned to lead the beast away. Drake caught her elbow and pulled her back to him. He captured her lips in a quick kiss. At least it was meant to be a quick kiss. The heat of it flared, and he dragged her closer so they stood body to body and heart to heart. He took as much as Luisa was willing to give and then held her away. She swayed back against the horse, her eyes fluttering open as she caught her balance.

“Well,” she said. “Well ....” She turned and walked into the barn, the horse walking beside her looking bored and slightly condescending. Could a horse look like that? Drake wondered. Maybe he’d already been too long in the desert. Then he focused on Luisa as she lovingly patted the animal and stripped his equipment off. Could it ever be too long if he had her to love, to hold, to protect? Somewhere deep inside, he began to doubt it.

#

Luisa sipped sparkling cider and pushed her plate away. “Drake, that was great. Where’d you learn to make spaghetti like that?” She held the glass up. “I’ve never tried this stuff. It’s pretty good.”

“Thanks. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. Don’t you want some?” She nodded at his can of soda. “Is that all you want?”

“For now. The clinking of ice in glasses has too many memories attached to it.”

“Ah, all right then. Now fess up, where did you learn to cook?”

He rose, gathering plates and carrying them to the sink. “College. I had a roommate who was Italian. He was in the culinary program. We never had time for real cooking, so he taught me some fast tricks to make even bottled sauce taste homemade.” Drake shook his head. “Man that guy could sure cook. I don’t know where he ended up. Probably has a restaurant somewhere.”

“Well, thank you. It was excellent. And it gets an extra twenty points because I didn’t have to cook it.”

“Don’t you like to cook?”

“Sometimes, if I have company. Cooking for myself doesn’t take precedence over writing, ranch work, or riding.”

“What’s your famous-for dish?”

Luisa chuckled. “Famous-for, hmm ... I’d have to say my chili. It was Dad’s recipe really, handed down for generations. It has real shredded beef and chilies fresh from Hatch, New Mexico.” She sent him a dare-you smile. “Usually served hot enough to burn your lips off, but since you’re a gringo I could make a mild one.”

“Not on my account. Hotter the better.”

The unasked question hung between them. Finally, she couldn’t wait any longer.

“Drake, what about Rebecca? What happened?”

He chuckled. “She threw me out.”

Luisa’s heart skipped. “Do I hear a ‘but’ in there?”

“Yeah. It’s not over. Not simple. I don’t know. There’s still my promise to Conall and the kids.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

A comfortable silence settled in the kitchen as they each sipped their drinks. The silence stretched thin then they both spoke.

“Luisa--”

“Drake--”

They laughed. “You first,” he said. “What were you going to say?”

She looked at him and saw the desire reflected in his eyes. Heat flashed through her blood, and her heart jumped in her chest. What had she been about to say? Somehow it escaped her.

“I think we need some fresh air. Too much good food in here. It made me lazy. Let’s check the animals.”

She rose and held out her hand. Drake took it as he stepped past the table. Together they walked outside.

The evening air was cool and gently swayed the weeping willow her mother had planted almost thirty years ago. The memory of it tugged at her heart, and she wondered briefly how her mother was doing. Drake must have sensed something. He let go of her hand to put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her to his side, hip to hip.

They walked down the barn aisle that way, the warmth from his body teasing hers. Luisa stopped at Knight’s Dawn’s stall and looked over at her newest addition. The colt came to the door and reached over to nip at her t-shirt. Laughing, she told him no and pushed him away.

“Congratulations on the new baby. He’s great. You’ll do well with him.”

Her gaze met his. She saw much more there than casual conversation. If only she knew what he was thinking. You need to stop thinking like a love-struck teenager, she berated herself. You were fine before he came, and you’ll be fine if he goes, she told herself. But, she wondered, would he leave a bottomless pit where her heart was supposed to be when he left?