Sun Burnt (9 page)

He chuckled to himself. Deacon was going to have a field day with this. There would be no end to the ribbing Beau would receive after he tried so hard to talk Deacon out of his hasty marriage. He looked forward to it. Kesslyn would be worth all the teasing Beau would endure.

He felt sure she was
n’
t contemplating selling the ranch. Hodges had called Beau several times to suggest he do whatever was necessary to keep Kesslyn in Texas. Several other concerned townsfolk had called to ask if the rumors were true. Kesslyn had never mentioned she wanted to sell the W. She had
n’
t even hinted at ever leaving. He was convinced everyone was being paranoid, but he planned to ask her about it when he found the right time. He would let her know what people were saying once she felt a little more secure in their relationship. He, for one, was
n’
t worried about Kesslyn leaving. She would
n’
t have agreed to be his woman if she were planning on skipping town. He knew for a fact that she was making plans to upgrade equipment, and she was looking into enrolling in a course in animal husbandry and agriculture. A person about to sell it all and run back to the city did
n’
t do things like that.

For Beau, the necessity to keep Kesslyn in Walker Creek was about far more than the desire to protect his job or the town. It was about the burning want for the woman herself. Now he just needed to convince her that she needed him, too.

If things did
n’
t work out the way he hoped they would, Beau did
n’
t know what h
e’
d do. He would
n’
t be able to stay on as foreman at the W. No way could he see her every day and not take her into his arms and kiss her lush mouth. It would
n’
t be possible for him to watch her with another man. The idea made him furious. No, he would
n’
t survive that, and neither would any man who captured Kessly
n’
s heart with Beau around. H
e’
d have to move on, find another job in another town. He never thought h
e’
d leave Walker Creek, Texas. So h
e’
d better get down to the business of winning the heart of the yankee wh
o’
d stolen his.

This had all happened so fast Beau could hardly wrap his head around it. All he knew for sure was that in a matter of days this sexy redheaded yankee had slipped under his skin and straight into his heart. H
e’
d never wanted a committed relationship of any kind. That had all changed the night Kesslyn walked into Hooligans and danced away with his future in the palms of her hands.

****

The first month on the ranch passed quickly. Kesslyn was meeting with Mr. Baird several times a week to go over the
W’
s financial statements and her investment portfolio. She was finally starting to see the bigger picture. Sh
e’
d discovered that her grandfather had an account for the ground rents paid by the tow
n’
s business and public buildings. Russell, Sr. had
n’
t needed the money so he invested it back into the town. This was where the money for police vehicles and public works donations came from. The people paid the Walker estate ground rent, and her grandfather just gave it right back. Kesslyn wished sh
e’
d known him. He might have been stubborn, but he was a good man. Just like her father. 

She was elbow deep in purchase orders and spread sheets in her office at the ranch. It had been her grandfathe
r’
s office. Sh
e’
d taken it over recently and had Mr. Bair
d’
s assistant delivering anything she needed to review. The frequent trips to Mr. Bair
d’
s had become tedious. The man meant well, but he treated her like a child. He went over every document as if she could
n’
t read it herself without a hand to hold. Kesslyn was confident in her ability to decipher the numbers. She was learning more and more about the industry every day. So things were coming together.

There was a knock on the frame of her open door. Kesslyn looked up to find a mighty fine cowboy standing there with bunch of wildflowers in a vase. She and Beau were thick as thieves. They spent all of their spare time together. Sometimes they even left the bedroom.

Kesslyn was hopelessly in love with Beau, but she had
n’
t given him the words yet. It had happened so fast. She did
n’
t want to scare him away. He had
n’
t exactly said the words either. They both danced around it. They were giving it try. Taking a chance. She thought he loved her too, but she did
n’
t want to be the first one to say it.

Beau sauntered into the room and placed the vase on her desk. He leaned over the desk and kissed her soundly.

“
Thank you. To what do I owe the honor of a midday visit
?”

“I’
m here to ask my girl out on a date
.”
His smile had the power to take her breath away.

“
You are? Just where are we going, cowboy
?
”

“
Tomorrow is the Fourth of July, if you have
n’
t noticed. Ther
e’
s a day long shindig in town every year. I
t’
s a long day but i
t’
s a lot of fun.
I’
d be honored if yo
u’
d be my date.
I’
ll make all of those salivating cowboys jealous as hell
.”
He chuckled.

It was true. The cowboys in town had taken a liking to her. She could
n’
t go anywhere in town without receiving an offer for a date.

“
Maybe once I make it good and clear yo
u’
re my girl the
y’
ll back off. If not,
I’
m gonna have to start banging heads together
.”
He was
n’
t smiling any longer. Kesslyn laughed out loud. She liked it when he got possessive. Sh
e’
d be happy to inform the ladies of Walker Creek that Beau was off the market herself.

“
Why, thank you, darli
n’
.
I’
d be honored to go to the shindig with you
,”
she said in her best fake accent. It sounded very Scarlett
O’
Hara.

“
Thank you, m
a’
am. I
t’
s a date
.”
He chuckled at her bad imitation.

He swept her up out of her chair and sat down. He settled her on his lap straddling him. Oh, my! He was at attention. Beau kissed her and slid his hands under her shirt to cup her breast. It was a long time before she got back to work.

****

Kesslyn dressed for the festivities with the warm summer day in mind in cream colored shorts and a black tank top with the Baltimore Ravens logo emblazoned across the chest. Her fingers brushed lovingly over the purple, black, and gold reminder of her hometown.

Eyeing her reflection in the mirror, she tried to see herself through Bea
u’
s eyes. It was the first time in her life another perso
n’
s opinion had mattered to her, other than her parents, of course. Self-consciousness was a new and unwelcome emotion. She could
n’
t help comparing herself to the willowy, golden creature that was Luann.

How was she supposed to win her cowbo
y’
s heart with that woman chasing him around? She was
n’
t sure, but she had to try, because Beau already owned her heart. She had
n’
t ever believed in love at first sight. She still did
n’
t, not really, but she knew the spark that flared between them that first night had quickly spread to a blaze that consumed her.

Spending time with Beau had only strengthened her want for him until she could
n’
t imagine being without him. He felt it too. Kesslyn could tell by the way he held her and looked into her eyes like he was trying to figure her out. Their physical attraction was off the charts. That was a good beginning. She had a foundation to build on at least. If she was patient, sexual desire might grow to something more for Beau. She prayed it would.

In the meantime, they were becoming a great team with him running the ranch and her running the business. She was glad to have a cook and a cleaning crew that came several times a week. Kesslyn was so busy learning the ropes that she did
n’
t have time to make home cooked meals or clean laundry. So she totally understood why her grandma always kept a staff.

Kesslyn looked down at the hardwood floor on the way to the stairs and imagined her father running on these very boards as a child. A sudden image of a little boy with Bea
u’
s blond hair and brown eyes popped into her head, and she staggered. She shook the thought away. It was too soon for her to start dreaming of her own babies running those halls. They were both in deep but they were still just dating. It was
n’
t a done deal yet. She had to wrangle that cowboy if she wanted to have his brown eyed babies. And tha
t’
s exactly what she wanted.

SIX

Kesslyn had seen fireworks on July fourth every year since she could remember. She grew up walking distance from the inner harbor in Baltimore where there were fireworks every year. But this experience was different.

Walker Creek had a full day of activities on Independence Day that began with a parade at noon. After the parade, everyone headed over to the town square for the fair. There were booths with food, crafts, and games. Kesslyn had the best pecan pie sh
e’
d ever tasted at Moll
y’
s Notcha Momm
a’
s Desert tent. Beau got the Dr. Pepper cake and insisted she taste it when she made a face. It was a deliciously moist chocolate cake that she would never turn down again.

There was a dunking booth with Sherriff Shaw on deck getting all wet to raise money for the fire station. She thought every citizen h
e’
d ever given a ticket to must have been in the line for a chance to dunk the man. The sheriff was teasing whoever stepped up to take a shot at him and taking his dunkings with grace.  Kesslyn made a mental note to see what exactly the firehouse was in need of. It made her feel better about having all of that money if she spent some of it on good works.

It was fun to meet so many of the townspeople as she and Beau made their way through the fair. Beau held her hand and introduced to her everyone who stopped them. Everyone was so friendly and accepting. That was the nice thing about small towns. Most everyone was very welcoming. Except for a handful of women wh
o’
d turned their noses up at her and Beau. Kesslyn had a feeling they were Bea
u’
s ex-sweethearts. She could
n’
t blame them. If she lost Beau, sh
e’
d be a sourpuss, too.

There was a carnival that would last into the night. The fireworks began shortly after nightfall. Beau helped her onto the Ferris wheel and jumped in next to her like an excited kid. The seat rocked back and forth making her giggle.

“
I love the sound of your laugh, baby
.”
Beau gave her a quick kiss and rocked the seat again.

They were strapped in and holding hands like teenagers on their first date. She supposed this was their first date if you did
n’
t count sex in a hotel parking lot. They reached the top of the ride just as the fireworks began, and Bea
u’
s face lit up. H
e’
d planned the day around making it onto the Ferris wheel at the perfect time.

“
Wow! You can see everything from up here
.”
She looked out over the carnival with its flashing lights and spinning rides from high above it all
.“
Thank you for bringing me today, Beau.
I’
ve had so much fun. I think I needed a break from all of the pressure. This was right on time
.
”

“
Of course I brought my girl to the carnival. I had to show off the prettiest girl in town. I hope to have many, many more days like this with you, Yankee
.”
He kissed her again, slower and deeper, taking her breath away. She was beginning to enjoy the way he called her Yankee. It was a reminder of all of the Scottish historical romances sh
e’
d read. The highlanders always called the English women Sassenach, which should have been an insult, but eventually it became a term of endearment. Yes, it was growing on her. She was
n’
t a yankee, but she did
n’
t mind too much being Bea
u’
s yankee. 

The fireworks began, and the first loud crack of sound shocked them apart. The giant wheel went around and around while color and light exploded in the sky. It was amazing. She was tucked under Bea
u’
s arm with her head tipped back to watch the show. It was a perfect summer day that Kesslyn would never forget.

When the show was over, and they climbed off the ride, Beau was diverted by a few of the other cowboys from the W. They were playing a game with water guns that filled balloons and trash talking each other while Kesslyn looked on in amusement. 

Someone a few booths down called her name and Kesslyn was happy to see Bitsy the barmaid from Hooligans waving her over to the beer tent that was doing a brisk business. It was getting late, all the families had headed home. The carnival now belonged to the adult crowd, and everyone was having a great time. Kesslyn trotted down to say hello.

“
Thank you
!”
Kesslyn happily accepted the free beer Bitsy handed her.

“
Yo
u’
re welcome. I was hoping
I’
d run into you.
I’
m planning an overnight trip to Dallas for some shopping. I was wondering if you might want to tag along. I
t’
ll be fun, I promise! W
e’
ll shop all day and hit the town for a little fun in the evening. Wha
t’
d you think
?”
Bitsy looked up at her so hopefully.

The woman was a cute little petite thing. Shopping with her might be depressing, but Kessly
n’
s ego could handle it. She needed to find some more ranch friendly clothes, and a few new sundresses would be nice in this hot weather.

“I’
d love to. Just let me know when
,”
Kesslyn agreed.

Bitsy squealed with delight and hugged her hard
.“
Yay! W
e’
re gonna have so much fun
!
”

They exchanged numbers, and Bitsy promised to contact her in the next couple of days with more details.

When Kesslyn made it back to the game Beau and the other cowboys had been playing, everyone she knew was gone. She should have let him know before she wandered off. Beau was probably hunting for her. She walked further down the row of booths and games, but did
n’
t see him.

Kesslyn wandered back in the other direction, thinking Beau might have walked passed her in the crowd of beer patrons and not even seen her. She was passing a cotton candy stand when Bea
u’
s voice caught her attention.

“
I do
n’
t have time for this shit, Luann. Kesslyn is probably looking for me by now, and I do
n’
t want her to catch me with you
,”
Beau said to the gorgeous blonde.

Beau and Luann were on the other side of the cotton candy cart. Kesslyn stayed where she was. If they did
n’
t want her to listen to their conversation, they should have gone someplace private.

“
I do
n’
t give a shit about the fat ass, man-stealing city slicker! I heard she ca
n’
t even sit on a horse! The car she drove into town was one of those Japanese electric things! No wonder she broke down
!”
Luann put her long, fake, hot pink nail tipped hands on her tiny hips and scowled up at Beau. The woman was nearly indecent in her booty shorts and low cut tank top.

“
Again, I do
n’
t have time for this shit. What do you want
?”
Beau asked again.

He did
n’
t defend her at all, and that hurt.

“I’
m here to tell you I ai
n’
t gonna wait for you much longer, Beau Knox! Everybody knows Mr. Baird put you up to seducing that slut to keep her here in town. The whole town knows sh
e’
s gonna sell the ranch and all the land. You ca
n’
t stop her. It ai
n’
t like yo
u’
re gonna marry her or anything. What does Mr. Baird think will happen when she realizes the two of you have been playing her for a fool
?
”

Every word out of Luan
n’
s mouth was like punch to Kessly
n’
s gut. Her grandfathe
r’
s supposedly trusted lawyer instructed Beau to seduce her? Sh
e’
d truly believed the old man was on her side. H
e’
d given her a heavy guilt trip every time they met. That he understood. He was worried about what would happen to the peaceful little town if a corporation bought up the land. He was concerned for the ranch employees who would lose their jobs. That she could totally understand, but this? This was underhanded and hurtful.

Kesslyn waited for Beau to deny the charges. She expected him to tell Luann he wanted Kesslyn. He was supposed to tell Luann that Kesslyn and he were together for real. H
e’
d asked her to take a chance on a future with him. He was supposed to tell Luann to go to hell because Kesslyn was his girl. Tha
t’
s not what happened.

“
You let me worry about Kesslyn and Mr. Baird, and keep your big mouth shut about it, Luann. You have no idea wha
t’
s going on, so stay out of it.
I’
ve got things under control.
I’
ve got to go before Kesslyn sees us together
.”
Beau turned and strode away from Luann.

“
You heard what I said, Beau!
I’
m not the one! I ai
n’
t waiting around forever. You get your shit together quick or
I’
m moving on
!”
she shouted at his back and everyone turned to look at her.

Kesslyn quickly stepped into the nearest booth so she was
n’
t seen. Her heart felt torn in two. She had fallen in love with Beau, but he was just acting. Sh
e’
d made it so easy for him, too. Luann was right. She had been played for a fool. But no longer.

Kessly
n’
s bruised heart was pounding loudly in her ears. She wanted to break down and cry. She wanted to scream and shout her pain to the open night sky, but that would
n’
t do her any good. She wiped away the tears that had begun spilling down her cheeks and steadied her nerves.

“
You alright, Ms. Walker
?”

Kesslyn turned to find the sheriff standing not far away. She wondered if he too was in on the plot.

“I’
m not feeling well, Sheriff, and I seem to have lost my date
.”
She smiled weakly.

“I’
m sorry to hear that, Ms. Walker. Why do
n’
t you come on with me, and
I’
ll give Beau a call
.”
He held out his arm for her take and pulled out his phone. He was leading her to the parking lot while he spoke to Beau.

Dull emptiness and despair replaced the anguished feeling of betrayal and humiliation sh
e’
d felt after hearing Bea
u’
s true reason for being with her. Sh
e’
d been such a sucker. He did
n’
t want her. He was attracted to her, sure. She knew because h
e’
d had no idea who she was the night the
y’
d met at Hooligans. Or had he? Was it too coincidentally that she happened to meet him on her way to the ranch?  He was the man who was on a mission to manipulate a stupid city slicker, after all, and it had worked brilliantly. Kesslyn fell hard and fast when Beau turned that sexy cowboy charm on her.

Anything was possible in this small close knit town. Luann said Mr. Baird had enlisted Beau to seduce her into staying. Someone at the hotel, the bar, or even the sheriff could have called Beau to tell him where to find her. Luann herself, had been calling everyone in town with the rumor of a stranger in the bar. She felt like such an idiot. 

Every moment the
y’
d spent together was now suspect. She could
n’
t believe a word h
e’
d ever muttered was true. He was a liar. A manipulator. And Kesslyn was the fool wh
o’
d believed him. She wondered how far he would have taken it. How long would he have strung her along before finding some reason to break it off?

Kesslyn tried to close her mind to the pain and focused on getting through the next few moments. She did
n’
t want Beau to suspect the gig was up. She would make an excuse to go back to the house. Then sh
e’
d find a way to get through the night without expiring from embarrassment and heartache.

In the morning sh
e’
d be heading home, back to the hustle and noise of city life. It was a different existence than ranch living, but no less beautiful for its different pace. It was the life sh
e’
d always known. At home in her familiar surroundings, Kesslyn knew when to be wary. In Walker Creek, people pretended to like her. They pretended to care. Beau had pretended to be falling for her. At least at home the danger was evident. The bad guys did
n’
t look like southern gentlemen and sweet old men who treated you like family.