She slammed on her brakes so hard she nearly hit her head on
the windshield, to keep from hitting Ty Taylor, as he stood boldly before her,
with an unbuttoned shirt, snug fitting jeans, and a sexy smile. She took a deep quelling breath. God help her! Ty was the last person she
wanted to run into now.
"What do you
think you're doing, you idiot, I almost hit you!" She hollered as she
opened her truck door and stepped out into the hot West Texas sun.
"Jodi Samuels,
as I live and breathe. So, you're back, are you?" Ty Taylor drawled. "You're
about the last person I expected to see!"
She could believe that
from the expression on his face.
Jodi stared for just a second too long before she moved and got
her suitcase out of the bed of her truck.
"I'm…back." She cast her eyes away from him
quickly. Don't allow eye contact with Ty!
Don't let him fluster you!
"All done with college now?" He asked, as he took
her suitcase from her slightly trembling hand. His touch against her hand was
like an electrical shock going through her. One she didn't want to entertain,
even in a fantasy. Of all the men on the ranch why did Ty always affect her so?
After four long years of college, and vet school at night, she thought the
magnetism between them would have cooled. But it hadn't, at least not on her
side it hadn't. Probably never would. Just something she had to live with, she
squashed the idea to the back of her mind. She was drawn to him, and she hated
her inability to control that magnetism. The last thing she needed was to get
tangled up with Ty Taylor again, the foreman of her dad's huge ranch, and her
step-dad's nephew.
His no nonsense approach sent a silent message that she
received easily enough.
"Yes, all done." She affirmed keeping her voice
steady.
"What are you doing back here, I thought you'd have one
of those fancy jobs in Dallas or Houston once you finished college." He
asked.
He certainly hadn't managed to keep the bitterness out of
his tone. He had every right to be bitter. He knew nothing of what had happened
that night after her father had caught them in bed together. And he'd never
know, she vowed silently.
"Ty," She called his name out. "I am hot,
tired, and all I want is to cool off and rest a bit after the long trip home,
if you don't mind. I'm just not up to a skirmish right now, okay?"
"Suits me." He muttered thickly. "I'm not
exactly up to a skirmish, myself. You look great Jodi."
Manners, she had to use a certain amount of manners.
"Thanks."
They went inside and she was greeted by the housekeeper,
Maria. "Sweet Jesus you are home again, so good to see you my little pet."
Sunshine broke across Jodi's face now and changed the
atmosphere in the house. "Good to see you again, Maria."
"Come, you must taste my chili, I want to know if it's
too hot." Maria took her hand and led her into the kitchen, then she
peaked her head around the corner, "Ty, put Miss Jodi's things in her room
for her."
"Yeah, sure." Ty went down the long hallway.
"Oh, it is good you are home. Your father has been in
an uproar for three days, waiting for you to get home." She told her.
"Yeah, I'm sure he's anxious to see me." Jodi
firmed her lips.
"Taste this, tell me if it's too hot?"
Jodi sampled the chili and nodded, "It's just right,
like I remember."
When Maria saw her expression, she shook her head. "I'm
so glad you are home." She grabbed her to her and hugged her with all her
might. "You look better than ever Jodi."
"Thanks Maria. I hope I haven't made a mistake by
coming home." She told her and hugged her to her.
"You are worried your father won't be glad?"
"It crossed my mind." Jodi faltered.
"But, it has been four long years. He must be happy to
have you home again. You’re his only daughter."
"Well, we will see." Jodi couldn't keep the
sarcasm mixed with hurt from her voice.
"It has been four long years, and you were still a
child when you left, he can't still be mad about that."
"Don't bet on it, Maria." Jodi warned her.
"I've missed you and your chili."
Since Jodi's mother died, Maria had been like a second
mother to Jodi. She loved her, and Maria loved her right back.
Jodi's glance swept over Maria, appreciating the sweet round
face that smiled at her so. Maria was a handsome Mexican woman who had been
with her family since she was a little girl. And she was probably the only one
who would greet her like this.
Ty came back in the kitchen and told Maria he was heading
out to the north pasture.
"Si, I will tell the boss."
Ty gave Jodi a quick assessing glance and left.
The boss, that was her father. That was what everyone called
Henry Carter Samuels. Even her. He didn't like the tag of father, daddy, or Pa.
No, he was the boss and everyone knew it at the Bar SS.
She looked around the kitchen and smiled. "You haven't
changed a thing. Still got those lovely roosters everywhere."
"I know, and it does need changing too, just don't have
the time."
"Well, Maria, I'm not staying here, I have an apartment
in town and an office too."
"Madre Mia, not staying here?" Maria looked
worried now. "Have you told your father?"
"No, right now, I just want a bath and a little rest,
I'm tired." She told her.
"Of course. Want me to draw your bath?" Maria
asked with a twinkle in her eye.
"No, I'm a grown woman now, Maria. I can do for myself.
But thanks anyway. It is good to see you. I've missed you." She started to
leave the kitchen but turned to look at Maria, really look. "Thank you for
the welcome home, and all you've done for me over the years."
Maria came up to her, kissed her on the cheek. "It was
a pleasure. You are more beautiful than ever. Tell me, have you found a man of
your own, yet?"
"Hardly that. Been studying mostly. But I am
happy." Jodi smiled at her.
"I can see that in your face. Tell me all about your
big plans now that you are a graduate."
"Not huge plans. I'm going to be working with Colin
Mitchell here, I'll be his assistant vet. That's why I'm here, mostly. He wants
to retire and I will take over his business when he does."
"Oh, that sounds exciting. Colin is a good man."
"Soon, he says. I'm feeling good about it. Colin is
getting up in age and eventually I'll be taking over his practice. But this
will give me time to get used to the business and the customers time to get
used to me." Jodi smiled.
"You were always good with the animals."
"I thought I'd spend the weekend here and move into
town first of the week."
"But why you not stay here, this is your home,
Jodi?"
"I don't belong here any longer, remember?"
"Oh but…"
Jodi looked her in the eye. "You know it as well as I
do. But I did want to come home for a bit and maybe make peace. After all,
working in the same area as the boss, I need to try to get along with him, if I
can."
"I will pray that you will be able to. I know how hard
it was on you before. But surely, he can't still be mad about you and Ty. After
all, Ty has a girl now…. And you are not kin to Ty Taylor in any way. I don't
know why he insists you are. What you did was natural, it was love."
"Well, only you believe that." Jodi tried her best
not to react to that news. It was terribly hard to come home and face all the
things she'd done in the past. But she was grown now, an adult and she could
handle whatever her father dished out. She'd had four years of separation from
this place and the people on the ranch. She hoped she could put it behind her.
She'd hoped she had grown as a person and could hold up her end of it.
While Maria finished preparing the evening meal, she went to
take a bath.
She heard her father when he came in. That hadn't changed,
he bellowed loudly for Maria and tension spread through her like wildfire. She
silently scolded herself for worrying about this. She and Ty were through and
her father should be happy about that.
But what Maria had said dawned on her now, he had a
girlfriend. She should be happy for him, but something inside her curled up and
died.
"Where is she?" He thundered when Maria brought
him a big glass of iced tea and set it beside him in his easy chair.
"She's taking a bath, she said she was very tired from
her trip." Maria told him.
"How can anyone be tired, when all they are doing is
sitting in a car."
"Please do not fuss at her. She hasn't been home in
four years. Can we not have peace for at least a night." Maria asked.
"I've got to set some rules, Maria. I can't have her
acting like she did before."
"But senor Ty has a woman now, and your daughter seems
very happy, she has a job."
"A job? What job?"
"I will let her tell you…" Maria scampered away.
"Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes." She told him.
"Yes, yes…" he fumed and opened the paper.
Just from the sound of his voice, she knew he wasn't happy
she was home. Far from it.
Jodi stepped out of the bathtub and got dressed. She put on
a cotton dress and after looking in the mirror at herself, she sighed. She
never considered herself pretty. She wasn't ugly, she just didn't have the
glamor her mother had, nor the solid good looks of her real father, who died
when she was two. Squaring her shoulders, she walked into the living room where
her father was.
"Hello boss," She said lowly.
"Well, aren't you a breath of fresh air. You look….
like a real lady now, Jodi." He gave her a once over glance.
"Do I?"
"I like the dress, nice touch. So, you ready to move
back home now?" He asked.
"Uh…. I guess we should discuss that. You see, I won't
be moving home. I've got an apartment in town. I thought I'd spend the weekend
with you, and then move into my apartment. I'm an adult now, and been on my own
a while, so an apartment is a good idea. And Monday morning I'm starting work
with Colin Mitchell." She announced.
"An apartment!" He boomed as she knew he would.
"Now listen here girlie, I won't have that. I know why you did this. But
it won't work Jodi. I told you long ago you keep your distance from my men. I
meant it."
"Not your men, just Ty. And for your information we do
not have the same blood. He's your relative, not mine. But to put your mind at
ease, I got an apartment in town close to work. I came home to visit you and
tell you about it." She explained. "I'd hoped you'd be happy for me.
I'm starting a brand-new life now and I'm looking forward to the chance to
learn from Colin."
"I won't have it. Haven't you grown up enough to stay
away from Ty Taylor on your own. Can't I trust you now? I had hoped things had
changed. He's got a girlfriend."
"This isn't about Ty. And I think that's great, I'm
glad for him. It's been four years you know. I've changed too, boss. The only
time I'll be on your property is to nurse sick animals. And just so you know, I
have grown up."
"Well you look grown up, but I'm not sure about
that."
"I don't know what I can do to convince you." She
said, not looking directly at him.
"How come you are working with Colin?"
"He wrote to me and asked if I'd be interested. Said he
wants to retire in a couple of years and if I'd come out and help him, get used
to his customers and his business, I could take it over in a couple of years. I
thought it an opportunity I couldn't pass up. We both know he's the best vet in
Texas. Besides, it would take five or more years to build up a clientele of my
own."
"I told you I'd give you the money to start your own
business." He quipped.
"I don't want your money. Not that I haven't
appreciated that you've helped me all through school, financially. Now, I want
to do this on my own. Working with Colin will be a learning experience I
couldn’t get anywhere else. It's an opportunity I can't pass up. Colin is the
best in Texas."
"On your own. By helping Colin, that isn't on your own,
and you know it." He bellowed. "What's the matter, afraid you can't
actually cut it?"
She sighed, wishing he wouldn't start a fight already. "Colin
can teach me more than I've ever learned in school. I want the chance to learn
from the best, and we both know he's the best in the state. It was he who
offered. I can't pass up such an opportunity. And I'll be helping him as much
as he is helping me. He wants to retire. Him and Loretta want to travel
some."
"I won't argue that, but you could be the best,
yourself."
"Not yet. Maybe someday. But I want the chance to learn
from the best. I've studied all I can, now I need to apply what I know, and
learn what I don't."
"Fine, work with him then. But you'll live here."
"No," she sensed for just a moment that her father
was considering what she said. But his sense of controlling took over. "I've
already paid for the apartment in town. I'll live there. Look boss, I've grown
up, and I want to live on my own. I want that freedom. You did a good job
raising me boss. I can't complain. Besides, you'd got rid of me, and I'm not
going to be put in that position again. I'm not holding a grudge about our
disputes in the past. I just want to get on with my life, and make a life for
myself."
"Why, you want your privacy for your little affairs,
like your mother did! Are you planning on continuing your affair with Ty?"
"Continuing? No father. I want a home of my own
though."
He could have slapped her face it hurt so bad to hear those
words. In all these years, he hadn't gotten over her mother leaving him. And
she was just the little whoring daughter. That's all she was to him, since she
grew up. Nothing had changed. The minute he caught Ty and her in bed together,
was nearly the end of it all. Perhaps it was the end. Her father considered
them kin, but they weren't by blood, only by marriage. He couldn't see it that
way. He had shamed her so badly then he packed her bags and sent her off to
college. He hadn't blamed Ty, even though he was older, he'd blamed her,
telling her she was just like her mother, a little whore. But she'd come home
to make peace and hoped he'd changed a bit too. Maybe mellowed. He hadn't. Not
one bit!
It had hurt to the bone. Because despite everything, she
loved the boss. He'd raised her, paid for most of her schooling. How could she
ever begin to repay that?
"And don't you come back until you grow up," he
had told her.
Those words had echoed in her head for four long years. But
here, now, she wanted to put a stop to those echoes. She wanted to start afresh
with no regrets.
She'd been a love-sick young girl when she'd gone to bed
with Ty. She still loved him. And admitting that to herself hurt today. Seeing
him just now, told her she hadn't gotten over him. She never would.
She held her feelings on a tight rein. She wouldn't let the
boss win now. She'd gone through too much.
That was four years ago. But the pain of it was still fresh
on her mind.
"I'll leave in the morning, father." She started
to walk away.
He stood up, followed her and stared like a devil into her
ashen face. "Why are you calling me that, now?"
"You are right. Why would I. You aren't my father,
you're the boss, that's what you are. That's what you want to be. The boss. How
could I dare forget? I thought we could make peace, but I see I am wrong
again."
"Jodi!" he barked, bringing her back to the
present again. "Forgive me, I was wrong."
"Apology accepted, but I'm still leaving in the
morning. I want to get moved into my apartment before I start work."
"People will wonder what has gotten into you, moving
into town, when you have a home here."
"You're wrong. I've never had a home here. But I will
have, someday." She promised. "A home of my own."
He frowned and stared after her as she walked away.
Supper was very quiet, and Maria tried to be a balm between
them. It didn’t' work. He'd already insulted her as much as he possibly could.
After dinner, she went to the stable, looking for her horse.
It wasn't there. She checked every stall, even the corral but there was no sign
of Midnight. What had he done, sold her horse too?
"He isn't here. He sold Midnight." Ty stood at the
first stall watching her look for the horse she had loved so much.
"He sold my horse?" Here voice sounded strangled
now. She had to fight the tears back.
"He did it right after you left for College." Ty
explained.
"Thanks for telling me…" she said lowly,
controlling her emotions once more. That cut so deep!
"So how did it go?" He asked, his voice still not
friendly, but not hostile either.
"What?"
"Seeing the old man again?" His voice lowered now.
"Unfortunately, nothing has changed." She uttered,
not able to keep all the emotions swamping her at bay now.
"So, what are you going to do?" He asked softly.
She turned to look at him now, holding her chin up,
steadying her nerves. Just looking at him sent some primitive unwanted feeling
through her. "I've got a job, working with Colin Mitchell now. I've got an
apartment in town. I'm going to live my life…somehow."
"You took a job working with Colin?" He seemed
surprised.
She knew what Ty was thinking, why here in this town?
"It's really simple Ty. It's an opportunity to learn
from the best, wouldn't' you say? He wrote me at college, then he called, we
talked for a long time. He wants to retire and knowing I was going to vet
school too, he offered me an opportunity I couldn't pass up."
"Well yeah," He moved closer as though not even
thinking about it. "I mean, he's the best vet in Texas."
She nodded. "Just had to be in this damned town though,
didn't it?" She glanced up at his frown, and she stared for a long time
until his eyes came up from under his hat and they locked with hers. "I'm
not here to cause anyone any trouble."
"I guess that is kind of rough. I'm not sure what all
is between the two of you, but, I want you to know, I really did try to smooth
things over when you left, and I thought I'd made progress."
She nodded, and a tear slipped down her cheek, but she
didn't acknowledge it. "Well thanks, but it didn't work."
"You look…great." He murmured.
"Yeah well, so do you. I hear you got a girlfriend now.
Getting married soon, I hope."
She saw something in his eyes as she said it. It was
hateful, and he really hadn't done a thing to deserve that.
"Well, it hasn't progressed that far yet." He
studied her now.
The air in the barn was too thick for words. The tension
between them was like an intangible wire stretched between them. The least
spark would ignite it. And now that she had some control over her own life, she
didn't want that spark to ignite. She done without her father or Ty for four
long years, she could manage now. She had to.
"I figured you'd be married and have a family by
now…" she muttered.
The misery inside her was growing so fast she could hardly
speak.
"No, I guess I'm a little slow on the draw for that. What
about you?"
"What about me?" She asked tersely. She didn't
mean to be hateful, it just sounded that way.
"Well, I figured you'd have a couple of boyfriends
escorting you to all the College functions. No ring on the finger, guess things
didn't work out well?"
"I had friends. But I didn't go to college for a
boyfriend. I went to learn. And I did. I went to vet school at night. I know it
sounds like some luxury to be able to go to college and not pay for it. I owe
him that. It's part of why I'm here today. But I put my nose to the grind and
kept it there for four years. It wasn't easy as school was never easy for me.
But I did it. And now, I've got a life, or soon will have." She told him,
not looking at him.
He came closer, tipped her chin up to see her face,
"I'm glad, Jodi."
Dear God, his mere
touch sent a fever through her.
If her chin quivered, she'd die. She could hardly breath
with him this close.
"You think you could find me a horse?" She asked,
still not looking him in the eye.
"Sure…" his eyes never left her.
He moved away now and picked out a horse, put a saddle on
it, and brought it to her. As he handed her the reins, their hands touched. It
felt like fire, his touching her, even so briefly.
She swallowed. "Thanks…" she murmured.
"Have a nice ride." He smiled.
"What's his name?"
"Blackie…" his look smoldered at her.
She nodded and swallowed hard. She mounted and left.
It would take some riding to get rid her of the fire between
them and she knew it. So much hurt had
happened she could never tell him. Never face him with the truth. Why had she
come back here? But then she knew….
