Chapter 5

Teddy walked outside with her coffee cup in hand and stood on the front porch of the house she’d come to love. She knew it wasn’t hers. It was, after all, a rental. But it was the first place that had ever been exclusively hers and she hated the idea of losing it.

The sad fact was that was probably what was going to happen. Alex had come home with her after the cookout at the Rocky River Ranch and she’d told Teddy that, as requested, she’d gone over Teddy’s financials. Not only was Teddy in the red, but she was also a month away from being broke.

Alex suggested that Teddy make an appointment to talk with Manning and see if she could get out of the lease on the shop first. If she could sell off her inventory or send back what she had to her suppliers, maybe she could keep the house for another month. Alex offered to help until Teddy could find work, but Teddy didn’t want to take money from Alex.

Nor did she want to talk to Dalton Manning. Thankfully, Alex offered to do that for her. Teddy wasn’t sure that was a great idea either, but Alex said maybe it would serve a dual purpose. If she could establish some kind of working relationship with Manning maybe she’d find a way to get information that could help Jake and his brothers. And it did fall in with an idea Teddy had come up with, namely getting her hands on something that belonged to Manning to see if she could get any information that would help Jake.

As if prompted by her thoughts, Jake’s truck pulled up in her driveway. He got out and walked up the sidewalk to the porch. Teddy’s breath caught in her throat. God he was beautiful. As much as she’d fought it, she was in love with him.

“This is a surprise.”

“I figured I’d have to pound on the door to wake you. What you doing up so early beautiful?”

Teddy shrugged. “I like it this time of the morning, when everything’s just waking up. It’s peaceful.”

“I hear ya.” He stepped up onto the porch and gave her a soft kiss.

“You want coffee? I just brewed a pot.”

“Love it.”

“Okay, come on in.”

Together they went inside. Jake took a seat at the small table in the kitchen as Teddy poured him a cup of coffee and refreshed her own. When she sat down, he sampled the coffee before speaking.

“With all that’s been going on, we haven’t had a chance to talk about that idea you had.”

“Oh my god, I almost forgot!” She felt excitement build along with a little nervousness that he would laugh at her idea.

“So, let’s hear it.”

“Okay.” She fiddled with her coffee cup as she spoke. “I was flipping through channels one day and saw an advertisement for this show about Horse Whisperers. Anyway, they were talking about a contest and gave a web address, so I went to it.

“The sponsors of the show are holding a big contest for the person or team who can gentle—am I saying that right?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, so the prize goes to whoever can gentle a horse the quickest and without any bullying or whipping or stuff like that.”

“I’ve heard of those contests.”

“You should enter.”

“Me? No.”

“Yes.”

“Honey, I can hold my own, but I can’t come close to what Jed or Mik can do.”

“Yes you can, Jake. You just don’t believe in yourself. Even Mik said that you have as much of the Whisperer ability as Jed, but you don’t realize it.”

“Mik said that?”

“Scout’s honor.” Teddy held up her hand with the first two fingers and the last two tight together.

“Isn’t that the Vulcan salute?”

“Whatever. The point is I bet you can win and if you do then it will help the ranch.”

“Why not get Jed or Mik to do it?”

“Because Mik and Jesse are too tied up with the rodeo, and that’s fine. If they win at Nationals, it’s going to be a huge help, but it won’t give you all you need—not with Manning threatening to call in the note.”

“We’ve got that covered.”

“You…what? Since when?”

“Since last night—or this morning. Colton and his family are going to buy the note. They’re laying out two hundred thousand. Lily said she’d get her attorney on it first thing.”

“So they’ll own the ranch?”

“No, they said they’d give us a year to square the note.”

“Are you serious?”

“Dead serious.”

“Oh my god, Jake, that’s…incredible. My god, what kind of people are they? I mean besides incredibly generous. Two hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money.”

“They’re good people.”

“No kidding. Oh my god, this is so great. Now you can get Manning off your backs. But you still need nearly that much again to get square with the owners of the horses that died and get the ranch back in the black.”

“Yeah, and we’ll come up with something, but a contest that gives you a new truck isn’t going to help, honey.”

“That’s just it. The grand prize is fifty thousand dollars.”

“Fifty…” Jake’s eyes grew round. “Holy shit.”

“I know! And you can do it, Jake. I know you can.”

“I…I don’t know.”

“But you have to.”

“I do?”

“Yeah, you kind of do.”

“And why is that?”

“Because this morning I found the email accepting you as a contestant into the contest.”

“You—hold on, I’m confused. I haven’t even entered.”

“I kind of entered you.”

“Teddy, you shouldn’t have done—”

“I know, I know, and I’m sorry, but I believe in you Jake, and I know you can win. And all we have to do is go to Arizona for a week. The sponsors will pay the airfare and hotel. It won’t cost anything.”

“Except who’s going to do my work here? Mik and Jesse have three more rodeos before nationals and Jed’s working round the clock as it is.”

Teddy had not considered that. “Shit. Oh damn, I’m sorry. I screwed up.”

Jake got a thoughtful look on his face. “Well maybe not. When is this thing?”

“A week from now.”

Jake got a far-away look in his eyes, letting her know he was trying to figure out a way to make it work. Finally he spoke. “Let me talk to Jed and see what he thinks. I can’t leave him in the lurch.”

“I understand, but you have to let the sponsors know within the next twenty-four hours.”

“And I will. I promise. But I have to talk to Jed.”

“Okay.”

“In fact, I need to head on back to the ranch. You want to go…hell and damnation, I’m sorry honey, I never even asked how things are going with you. Are you okay? What’s happening with the store and this place?”

“It’s all going to work out,” she assured him. “Don’t worry. Just go do what you need to do and call me later.”

“I will sugar.” He gave her a soft kiss, cupping her face with one hand. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Positive.” She forced a smile that she hoped looked genuine. “Now off with you.”

Another kiss later and he was out the door. Teddy watched him leave and then went back inside to get her phone. She dialed Alex’s number. It rang twice and went straight to voice mail.

Feeling more than a little frustrated and at loose ends, she wandered into the kitchen and stood looking out of the window. Things were so messed up for her family and for Jake’s. How could something as wonderful as falling in love happen at such a miserable time?

She didn’t have an answer. Maybe she didn’t really want one. She just wanted all of the mess and trouble to go away. If it meant losing the store and even this pretty little house that was okay. She could take that. Just as long as she didn’t lose her family.

Or Jake. Like it or not, he’d just climbed into the cat-bird seat on her list of priorities.

*****

The last person Dalton Manning had expected to get a call from was Alex Morgan. She’d asked to meet with him about the storefront her sister Teddy was renting. Dalton’s first inclination was to refuse, but he’d dismissed that inclination and agreed to the meeting. Perhaps there was a way to use Alex to help further his goals.

As a CPA with the firm his family owned, she just might be able to get access to information he needed in his war against Deidre. He’d discussed it with his Aunt Henrietta, and she had agreed. In fact, she still had contacts in the firm that would be useful in insuring Alex was granted the access she needed.

Dalton checked the time and then turned his chair to face the window in his office. The view was not nearly as nice, nor was the location as prestigious as his former office but he’d come to realize that this was only temporary. So long as he allowed Deidre to think he’d accepted her punishment and demotion, she felt she had the upper hand and controlled him.

That was exactly what he wanted her to believe. Thanks to Henrietta, he now had several well-paid spies in Deidre’s home and in the main company who kept him up to date on what was happening.

More importantly, he was kept informed on the progress of her insanity. She had been seen carrying on a conversation in an empty room more than once, and several of the conversations had been recorded.

She was truly mad. She believed the ghost of Sara Whitestone was with her night and day, and that sometimes that malevolent spirit was part of her. Dalton was doing everything he could to figure a way to use that information against her. If nothing else, to have her committed.

It was a punishment far less than what she deserved, but at least it would be punishment. He’d prefer to see her dead or in prison for killing his father, but thus far did not have evidence to prove that.

That didn’t mean he wouldn’t keep trying. The buzz of his intercom had him turning back around to face the office. “Yes?” he answered the call.

“Alex Morgan is here to see you.”

“Please show her in.”

Dalton stood as the door opened. He was struck by Alex’s beauty the moment she walked in. Mik was a lovely woman and one he thought he was interested in, but one look at Alex had him questioning that interest.

Tall and big breasted she had the look of a young Rita Hayworth, only with vibrant strawberry blonde hair and sea foam green eyes. She was dressed in a black skirt that stopped just short of the knees, a white, scooped neck blouse and black fitted jacket. Even in business attire, she was the kind of woman what would literally stop traffic.

She gave him a smile and extended her hand. “Thank you for making time to see me, Mr. Manning.”

Dalton rounded his desk to take her hand. The moment their flesh touched, her eyes widened, and the smile vanished from her face. Her skin even went a bit pale. Instead of releasing her hand, he held on, putting his free hand beneath her elbow to guide her to the leather sofa on the opposite side of the room.

“Are you all right?” he asked as he guided her onto the sofa.

“I’m so sorry.” She looked away, her skin flushing.

“No need for apologies.” He took a seat beside her. “Now, I believe you wanted to discuss the lease on the storefront your sister is renting from us in Monroe?”

“Oh yes. I’m sure you’re not aware, but the shop is not prospering. I wanted to see if there’s any way you’d consider releasing Teddy from the lease.”

Dalton smiled at her. She’d just opened the door for him to get exactly what he wanted.