Chapter 14

Mik was mucking out a stall when one of the ranch hands yelled to her. “Mik! Hey Mik, some fella’s here to see you.”

She couldn’t imagine who would want to see her. She peeled off her gloves as she headed outside.

“Rob? Hey.” It was quite a surprise to see Rob Manning. She hadn’t spoken with him since the sale of the farm. “Everything okay at the farm?”

“Yes, fine, thanks.”

“Then what brings you here?”

He stepped away from the shiny Porsche. “Is there somewhere we can speak in private?”

“Is something wrong?”

“No, I’d just prefer a more private setting.”

“Well, okay. Let’s go to my place.”

She turned, intending to walk but after a few steps realized she was alone. She stopped and turned. “You coming?”

“I’d prefer to drive, if that’s all right with you.”

“Okay, whatever, just follow me.”

“Don’t you want to ride?”

Mik laughed and lifted one foot. “You might not want this in your car.”

He grimaced as he looked at her boot. “You may be right.”

“Come on,” Mik gestured. “I’ll walk fast, and you can drive slow.”

She walked alongside the car, chatting with him about the farm, whether he’d made any changes and teasing him about learning to ride. When they reached the lake house, she took time to clean her boots, and then kicked them off before entering through the kitchen.

“Want something to drink?”

“Yes, that’d be nice.”

She opened the refrigerator. “Well, I have beer, juice or…actually that’s it.”

“A glass of juice would be fine.”

Mik poured two glasses of orange juice and gestured toward the table. “Have a seat.”

Rob took a seat and she, beside him. “So what’s up?”

He took a sip, then set the glass down and slid it away. She hid a smirk. He really was such a spoiled rich boy. Guess all his juice came fresh squeezed.

“I debated whether to come,” he started. “And had almost convinced myself to just forget it, but my conscience wouldn’t allow it.”

“That’s clear as mud,” she replied.

He smiled and reached over to put his hand on top of hers. “I know there’s been some trouble here, Mikayla.”

Mik pulled her hand free and sat back in her chair. “And just how’d you come by that knowledge?”

“Word gets around.”

“Does it? Funny, but I wouldn’t think you’d run in circles where news about a ranch would be anything of interest.”

“Let’s just say that I’ve been keeping my eyes and ears open. Mikayla, I know the sale of your family farm was difficult for you, and the reasons you did it. I feel…well I feel partially responsible for your current predicament.”

“I don’t have a predicament, Rob. And I’m fine about the sale. I’m fine where I am and if there was a problem, the Nash family is more than capable of handling it.”

“Not according to the bank.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Jed Nash tried to get a loan and was turned down.”

“And just how the hell would you know that?”

“Mikayla, my family has fingers in a lot of pies. Particularly financial ones.”

She crossed her arms and stared at him. “And?”

“And I want to help.”

“Really? How?”

“By buying the ranch.”

She jumped up so fast that he started in his seat. “Then you’ve wasted your time. Far as I know the ranch isn’t for sale.”

“As far as you know,” he repeated and reached out to try and take her hand. “Mikayla, I just want to help. The Nash’s need money and I have it. I could buy this place and you could run it. We’d be partners.”

“I’m not interested, and I think you should leave.”

He stood. “I’m trying to help.”

Maybe he was, but he sure had a misguided notion of what constituted help. “Look, Rob, I appreciate you being concerned about me, but I’m fine. And the ranch will be fine.”

“Are you sure, Mikayla? Is working for a failing operation what you really want?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t believe that. You had dreams, Mikayla. We talked about it. I can help make those dreams come true.”

“Again, I appreciate the concern, but I don’t need help. I’m happy just the way I am.”

“And if Nash loses this place?”

“I’ll still be fine. I’m a big girl. I can look out for myself.”

He nodded and looked down. “I apologize. I—I think of you as a friend and…well, I just wanted to help.”

“Thanks. But everything’s okay.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I am.”

“Well then I suppose I should let you get back to…whatever you were doing.”

She smiled and walked with him to his car. Rob turned suddenly and grabbed her by the arms, leaned down and kissed her.

Mik was too shocked to react. What the hell had brought that on? She didn’t respond to the kiss. She just stood there frozen in surprise. Rob smiled and released her. “You take care, Mikayla. And if you need me—for anything.”

“You take care too, Rob. I’ll be fine.”

Before he was in his car, she was heading back for the barn. Talk about a strange visit. She was so busy pondering what had inspired him to come with such an offer that she never noticed the two hands sitting at a picnic table by the lake who watched.

*****

Mik gave Cherokee one last pat, closed the stall, and headed for the main house. By now, Jed should be finished. Maybe she’d talk him into building a fire by the lake and spending some time under the stars.

As she stepped up on the back porch, she heard the sound of angry voices. Hurriedly kicking off her boots, she walked inside.

Jesse and Jake were seated at the table and Jed was pacing the floor, his hands bunched into fists and fury rolling off him like waves in a storm.

“No way in hell that fucker’s getting his hands on my ranch!”

“Who?” Mik asked.

Jed whirled on her. The rage in his eyes had her taking a step back. “Like you don’t know.”

“Obviously, or I wouldn’t have asked.”

“Dalton Manning,” Jake supplied the answer.

“Manning?” Mik was stunned. “Rob Manning?”

“Yeah, your boyfriend.” Jed barked.

“Come again?”

“You heard me.”

“Yeah, but I figured either my ears weren’t working right, or you’d developed a brain aneurysm. He isn’t my boyfriend, just the guy who bought our farm.”

“And is trying to buy the ranch,” Jesse said.

Mik’s heart sank. She’d felt sure Rob would let it go and steer clear of the ranch. Why had he lied?

“Just because he wants to buy doesn’t mean you have to sell.”

“You knew about this.” Jed’s voice had gone low and lethal. Mik faced him, knowing that he wasn’t going to like what she had to say.

“Yes. He showed up here this morning and said he’d heard about the trouble. Said he was thinking of making an offer.”

“And?”

“And I told him if there was trouble it was none of his business and I was certain the ranch wasn’t for sale.”

“And?”

“And that’s it.”

“Oh, sure you aren’t leaving anything out?”

“No. Yes. He said he’d buy it and let me run it. I told him I wasn’t interested.”

“And?”

“And nothing.” She was starting to anger. Why was Jed interrogating her like this? She tried to open up, touch his feelings. And met with a wall as impenetrable as steel.

“You sure you want to stick with that, Mik?”

“Yes.”

Jed advanced on her. “Two of the hands saw you.”

“So?”

“At the lake house. With Manning.”

“So? I told you he showed up.”

“What you didn’t mention was that you’re involved with him.”

“What?”

“The hands saw you kissing him.”

“I did not kiss him! I mean, he tried to kiss me, but I didn’t kiss back. Damn, Jed, you should know I—”

“Are a lying bitch that played us all from the get-go.”

His words had her taking a step back. “How can you possibly say that?”

“Just calling it like I see it. Seems I was right all along. You are a witch. A scheming, cheating witch. How’d you do it, Mikayla? You and Manning plan the poisoning? Drive us into financial ruin so your rich boyfriend could step in and snatch up the ranch for you? What was it? Was your family farm not big enough, good enough? You wanted more and decided Rocky River suited you better?”

“That’s enough!” She wasn’t going to stand there and be accused of something she hadn’t done. “I’d never do that, and you know it.”

“Here’s what I know. I’m going to prove that you and Manning are responsible and when I do, I’ll see you both in jail.”

He looked over at his brothers. “I’m leaving. Hold things together until I get back.”

“Where’re you going?” Jake asked.

“Somewhere away from here.”

He looked back at Mik. “And when I get back, I want you gone. Get your shit and get out. The next time I lay eyes on you will be through bars.”

With that, he snatched up his hat and stomped out.

Mik just stood there, shock rendering her speechless. Jake’s voice drew her attention.

“Mik, is it true?”

“No,” she said quietly. “Manning showed up just like I said. And I told him no. To everything. Jake, I’d never do anything like that. I love Jed. I wouldn’t betray him.”

She looked in the direction of the door. “I thought he knew that.”

“You have to admit that it does look suspicious,” Jesse commented.

Mik took a seat at the table. “Yeah, it does. But god as my witness I had nothing to do with it.”

“I want to believe that, Mik.”

She looked from him to Jake. Maybe there was a way to prove it. “You’re both like Jed, right?”

Jake’s eyes widened a bit and he cut a quick look at Jesse. “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean. Your abilities.”

“Jed told you?”

“He told me a lot. And you don’t have to worry. I’m not going to shoot my mouth off about it.”

“You mean you believe it?” Jake asked.

“Yeah.”

“Why?” Jesse asked.

This was the moment of truth. She took a breath. “Because I’m a witch.”

“Say what?” Jake’s voice rose an octave in pitch.

“I’m a witch. And if you’re willing, I can prove to you I wasn’t in cahoots with Manning.”

“How?” Jesse asked.

“Just use your ability.”

“Come again?”

“I’m going to lower my defenses so you can see inside me.”

Jake and Jesse looked at each other. “It’s worth a try,” Jake said.

Jesse nodded and they both looked at Mik. She closed her eyes and opened herself.

At first, it was just a whisper in her mind, the flutter of a butterfly’s wings against her consciousness. Then it grew. She could feel them.

And she held nothing back.

Mik had no idea how much time passed. Their minds didn’t just touch and search hers, they merged with hers and in the giving, she received. She saw both men for who they were. Their hopes and fears, their shortcomings and their strengths.

And what she saw was admirable. Like their brother, they were men of honor.

When the connection faded, she opened her eyes and to her surprise saw tears in their eyes.

“Life hasn’t exactly dealt you a lot of winning hands, has it, Mik?” Jake asked.

“As many as the next person, I imagine,” she replied.

“You love him.” Jesse said.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Then we have to figure this out before he gets back.”

“How?”

Jesse frowned, drumming his fingers on the table. “First, I think you need to confront Manning. Figure out what his game is. And I’m going to look into his life and his family.”

“What about me?” Jake asked.

Jesse cut his eyes at Mik before answering. “You need to keep things running around here. That’s more than a full-time job. Think you’re up to it?”

“Damn Skippy.”

“Good.” Jesse stood and rounded the table to Mik.

She stood to meet him, and he enveloped her in a hug. “Don’t worry, Mik. We’ll set this right.”

“I hope so.”

He gave her a kiss on the forehead. “And if the old man doesn’t come to his senses, I’m still available.”

She smiled and hugged him again. “Thanks, Jesse.”

“What’s family for?”

Her heart swelled. She would find a way to prove her innocence to Jed. She wasn’t going to lose him, or the extended family she’d found.