Suited to be a Cowboy (7 page)

“Yes, I wrote it all down.”

She passed him the page, one of the receipts he had yet to
enter, and saw the handwriting scrawled across the top. “Good girl.”
Jonathan William Coates, son of Wilhelmina
Coates, born December fifth, 1951.
“What was your father’s birth date?”

“September
nineteenth, 1952. I need to call the lawyer. He’ll know what to do.”

“I wouldn’t be too worried about it. The onus will be on John
to prove kinship. Kind of late to do that now, with your grandfather gone and
all.”

“Oh, I’m not worried, but he’s not about to get the ranch.
Gramps left the property to Aaron, his great-grandson. It’s Aaron’s heritage
and I’ll fight John if I have to, but if he really is family, I’d like to meet
him and get to know him. You know?”

“Yes, I do know.” After growing up without a family of his
own, he’d love to find a long lost relative. But that wasn’t possible. His
parents had dropped him off at the courthouse steps in Lincoln, Nebraska,
and never returned. No note, no name, birth date, nothing.

“I must admit, I’m curious. I was tempted to invite him
here.”

Her words interrupted his musings, for which he was
thankful. He didn’t go there often any more. What was the point? “Best to call
the lawyer first. Once you accept him into your home, he may be difficult to
get rid of.”

“Good point.” She picked up the phone and made the call as
Sheila arrived in the doorway.

“The phone was busy,” she said, scowling at Melissa. “Lunch
is ready when you are. Salad, fresh-baked rolls, and roast beef, whenever you
can tear yourself away.”

Melissa nodded at the cook, her attention centered
elsewhere.

“Thanks, Sheila. We’ll be along shortly,” he replied. The
cook disappeared toward the front of the house, probably to round up Aaron. He glanced
at his watch and smiled.
Twelve
o’clock
, right on the nose. The woman was a real stickler for
prompt mealtimes.

He shot one last glance at Melissa and left through the
patio doors to enter his room and wash up. She sure had a lot on her plate. He
wondered if this John was telling the truth, or just hankering for some easy
money. He also wondered if the police had arrested her ex yet. No news is good
news, they say, but in this case, no news meant they couldn’t move forward with
the audit investigation.

Jimmy called a college buddy and found him free to assume
responsibility for the audit. He was tops in his field. All it would take was another
phone call and he’d be on his way to the track. Jimmy grinned, thinking of his
friend and how he loved to sink his teeth into a fraud investigation. And he’d
leave no rock—or number—unturned until satisfied that he’d found the truth.
Dear old Marcus was in for a rude awakening if he’d been pilfering funds.

Chapter Six

Melissa was in a quandary. Danby had advised her to ignore
John Coates until presented with DNA
proving his relationship, or until the man’s lawyer got in touch with her. In
the meantime, he’d have an investigator check out the truth of his claim. Jimmy
had been right—inviting the man into her home was comparable to accepting him
as family.

Also, her lawyer had just received word that Marcus had
been arrested, but his lawyer was shouting to the heavens about him being
wrongfully accused—he said Melissa was spouting sour grapes and wanted revenge
because he’d walked out on her to live his own life. She told Danby about the
call she’d received from her ex when they’d taken him in for questioning.

“Apparently, they didn’t like his answers because he’s now
been formally charged with fraud.”

They’d had a good chuckle over it, but
now she worried. If his lawyer got him out of jail, would he show up here?
Cause trouble for her?
He wouldn’t dare!
Would he?

Her stomach growled a protest, so she rose to go to the
kitchen, careful to lock both doors that accessed the office. She’d find a
picture of her ex and have a chat with Brian later. Marcus had never set foot
on the ranch in all the years they’d been married. If he showed up now, he
would be escorted off the property faster than he arrived. The thought brought
an impish grin, knowing she’d covered all the bases.

Now it was time for food. Aaron and Jimmy had both beat
her to the table. She smiled and took her usual seat, facing the window. She loved
being able to look outside and know that this was her home, that she didn’t
have to leave, ever. Even once Aaron was grown with a family of his own, she
could just move to a different wing and leave them their privacy.

Her thoughts strayed to the man across the table who
currently occupied the suite in question. She wouldn’t mind sharing it with him
at all. She giggled aloud and he looked straight at her, as if he knew what she
was thinking.

“Share the joke?” Jimmy asked, a mischievous smile
crinkling the corners of his eyes.

“I don’t think so.” She ate, putting a stop to the
conversation.

“Find out anything?”

“Yes, but we’ll discuss it in the office after lunch.
Contrary to most people, I prefer to eat and keep business in its place.”

“Fair enough. I’ll jot that down for future reference.” He
pretended to write on his hand as he spoke aloud. “The lady doesn’t do business
dinners.”

Aaron and Melissa laughed at his antics and then settled
in to eat.

Afterward, Aaron went off to play until she was free to watch
the rest of movie with him and she and Jimmy brought their coffees into the
office.

Melissa sat in the extra chair while he perched on the
edge of the desk. She filled him in on her conversation with the lawyer as they
sipped coffee.

“I’m glad he’s checking into John’s claim, but you have
more pressing matters. I’ll call the auditor so he can get started. Anything
else?”

Melissa snorted a laugh. “I don’t think I could handle
anything else.”

Jimmy grinned. “You’re stronger than you think. Once you
have a direction, you proceed full force. An admirable trait.”

“Thanks, but I should have figured this out on my own. The
truth is, I was too busy moving, setting up here, learning ranching, and trying
to be both parents to my son. I was mourning the loss of my grandfather and
trying desperately hard
not
to think
about Marcus. That doesn’t excuse my lapse in judgment where he’s concerned,
but hopefully I can get it all straightened out.”

“You will.”

“Thanks.” She drained her coffee and pushed to her feet. “I
want to get back to Aaron and finish watching that movie. Need anything else
before I go?”

“Not a thing. Enjoy the rest of your movie while I pound
away on the keyboard entering data.”

“I’m not a slave driver. You don’t need to catch
everything up in one day.”

Still grinning, he spoke, “That’s good to know. I’ve been
at it for nearly two weeks now and have barely made a dent in it.”

“I’ll leave you to it then.” As she rose, she stooped to
pick a paper up off the floor, then straightened to place it on the desk.

Jimmy moved behind the desk and sat down, clicking the
mouse to bring up the screen. He was already immersed in his work when she left
the room.

*
* * *

Jimmy leaned back in the chair and adjusted the fit of his
jeans after the door closed. If he hadn’t sat down when he did, he might have
embarrassed himself. Those shorts had ridden high on her thigh when she crossed
her legs, but when she’d bent over to retrieve that slip of paper, he’d gotten
an eyeful of cleavage—well-endowed cleavage—peeking out over her top. Certain the
temperature in the room had risen a full twenty degrees, he reached to undo his
tie, belatedly realizing he wasn’t wearing one. The constriction remained. He
needed air.

Stepping outside, he rolled up the sleeves of his western
shirt. The fountain beckoned. He sat at the edge and dipped his fingers in the
water, concentrating on the trickling sound it made as it poured from the spout
of a watering can affixed to the statuary above. A measure of cool overcame him
and with it, a sense of calm control.

Why did he react like this to Melissa? He’d worked with
many women over the years, beautiful, intelligent, and downright sexy women. So
why this pressing need to hold his employer? To kiss her? How did she manage to
turn him on so easy? All he knew was that he had to get control of his libido,
and fast, or he would be out of a job quicker than he’d obtained it. Unless the
lady was willing?

No, he wouldn’t go there. Better to control himself than
step over that line. A sexual harassment charge would ruin his reputation and
the legal ramifications could deplete his hard-earned savings. He’d waited too
long for his dream to become reality. No way was he going to screw up now.

He had enough money put aside that, with the proceeds from
the sale of his accounting firm, he could make a purchase as soon as he found
the right property. His heart lifted at seeing his life’s goal coming to fruition
and he went back inside, ready to tackle the ranch accounting. He was making
great progress when suddenly the door flew open and Melissa stormed in.

“Why didn’t you tell me your horse was in heat? You owe me
some serious stud fees, mister.”

“What? I mentioned to both of you that first day that
she’d be in heat soon. And Brian knows. We’ve kept her away from the stallions.”

“Not far enough away apparently. Aaron came running just
now to tell me that Midnight Rain was humping your horse.”

“Did Sherry get loose?” he asked, trying to remain calm. His
boss sure was pretty in an angry snit.
Hell,
what business do I have noticing her looks when my horse is in trouble?

“No,
Midnight
jumped the fence and got her in the home paddock.”

“Then it’s the fault of your horse, not mine. Sherry’s a
purebred Arabian. It’s you who owes me if she ends up impregnated. I’m not
paying stud fees for a half-breed foal.”

Melissa turned at least three shades of red and began
pacing the room.

“Fine! If she is pregnant, I’ll keep the foal,” she said
as she faced him once more.

“Oh, no you won’t. If Sherry gives birth, the foal stays
with her.” On this point, he was adamant.

“We’ll just see about that! I’m calling my lawyer.”

“Go right ahead.” Jimmy backed up his files, pushed to his
feet, and moved away from the desk, motioning with his hand for her to have a
seat. “It’s all yours.”

She sat and dialed the number, but had to leave a message,
which didn’t seem to make her any happier. Melissa hung up the phone and sat
there, staring into space.

Not wanting to get into another argument, he left. “I’m
going to check on Sherry. Don’t forget to lock up.” He walked away without a
backward glance.

His dream had always included raising purebred Arabians.
Did this mean that Sherry’s bloodline would be tainted? He’d have to check on
that before deciding what to do. He still had the number for the breeder he
bought her from, and he could always call his old vet. But right now, he needed
to check on his horse. Sherry had never been “serviced” before and he wanted to
make sure she was all right.

He wasn’t a vindictive person, but Sherry was the only
family he had. If she was damaged in any way, someone was going to pay.

Half an hour later, Jimmy paced the sitting area in his
suite. Sherry had seemed fine, unchanged, undamaged, and glad to see him. Not
so Melissa. Of course, that feeling was mutual. Had his first instincts about
her been right? Were money and profits her main goal? It cost plenty to keep a
spread like this running and she’d been impressed with Sherry on first sight.
Had she arranged this in order to bilk him of stud fees and introduce a purebred
line into her stock?

He didn’t want to think so, but he couldn’t understand how
that stallion had jumped a fence nearly eight feet high. No, someone had to
arrange that little get-together. And if not Melissa, then who? He couldn’t
imagine any of her wranglers taking it upon themselves to do so, and Brian had
appeared suitably shocked to hear about it, immediately removing Midnight Rain
from Sherry’s corral.

Jimmy had gone one step further and secured Sherry in her
stall. That’s when he heard
Starshine
thrashing about
and fetched Brian.

*
* * *

Melissa waited and waited for the lawyer to call her back.
When he finally did, the news wasn’t good. Mr. Danby would have to research the
rights in this case, as he wasn’t entirely certain what the correct protocol
was in an instance such as this one. It could take a few days.

She wanted to ask his opinion concerning Jimmy, but she’d
already messed up so much with Marcus, she didn’t want Mr. Danby to think her a
total ditz. Had Jimmy accepted the position here somehow planning this exact
scenario? It was no secret that he wanted to purchase his own ranch and had
started building quite a herd with the Mustangs. Maybe he was using her to take
it one more step forward by providing quality horses for sale.

Was he really planning to run cattle? By living and
working on her ranch, he’d gain plenty of experience with raising and selling
horses, if that was his aim.

Boy, she sure could pick ’em. Did she have some kind of sign
on her forehead that read
clueless
? Marcus
had been a cheat and a thief. And now, here was Jimmy. Was he concerned about
her finances because he’d planned to sue her all along?

Somehow, that just didn’t sit right with her. She
preferred to think of him as the caring man he’d first appeared to be. She slumped
forward, her head resting on her arms. Was there any sense in getting all bent
out of shape because two horses got together for a little fun?

Yes, darn it!
That stallion was a thoroughbred racing horse, the top of his line. His stud
fees ranked in the hundred thousands. Jimmy couldn’t have planned it better.
She had to give him credit. The man knew horses.

She’d better have a chat with Brian and make sure nothing
like this happened again. Although, if it worked in her favor, those two horses
would make beautiful babies.
What a mess!
Melissa locked up the office and went in search of her foreman. Maybe he had
some badly needed answers for her current dilemma.

She walked straight to the foaling barn, knowing that
Brian would be keeping a close eye on the mares ready to give birth. When she
entered, he and Jimmy were down on their knees helping
Starshine
birth her first babe. Jimmy held her head and talked to her in that low, sexy
voice that had Melissa’s nerve ends tingling. She shook it off as best she could
and approached the men.

“Can I help?”

“You sure can, Missy. Mama’s in trouble. We need to turn
the babe around and our hands are too big. If we don’t help her, we could lose
both of them. Get in here.”

She opened the stall door and quietly stepped inside. “What
do I do?”

“Come down here beside me. Now, reach in with one hand.
What do you feel?”

“A hoof.”

“It should be the head. Understand?”

“Yes, but how do I do this?” She was scared spitless she
would hurt the mare or her foal.

“Reach your other hand in and using both, try to find the
head.”

Brian must have sensed her unease for he said, “Slow and
easy now. You’re helping, not hurting.”

She nodded, reached in with both hands, and with slow,
cautious moves, felt around until she could feel the head. “Okay, got it!”

“Now, ever so gently, turn the babe until its head is
pointed toward us.”

Sweat ran down her forehead in rivulets, stinging her eyes
as she worked to turn the babe. “His foot won’t move out of the way.”

“Just give it a soft shove. It’ll move.”

“Okay.” She let go of the head with one hand and concentrated
on moving the horse’s leg out of the way. “It worked.”

“All right. You’re doing great, Missy. Now guide that head
down.”

Melissa held her breath and closed her eyes, her mind
focused on the job at hand. “It’s there.” She pulled her hands free. “What now?”

In answer, the tired Mama gave a big heave and out came
the head, swiftly followed by the rest of its body.

“It’s a colt! A beautiful baby colt,” she cried, tears
streaming down her cheeks. “We did it. We saved them.”

“No, girlie. You saved them. By the time I realized what
was happening, it was too late for the vet to get here. I was going to call you
when you showed up. Good job.”