Capturing A Colton

The reflection of her love for her horses must radiate from her every pore. She lived and breathed her work, much like he did. “Then I guess that’s something we have in common. My work is my everything too.”

But Jade did feel beautiful as Declan looked at her, and it had been a long time since she had felt this giddy with a man. She was happy she had taken the time to have her hair styled at Marie’s Salon and Spa and she had worn the dress Claudia had helped her select. Declan’s attention was flattering and the admiration she saw in his eyes as he looked at her stables made her proud.

The stables had been her design. Each stall was intended to be safe and comfortable. The wood was a lighter color, sanded and polished with materials safe for the horses. She had a place for the hay and food to be stored and prevented from rotting. Overhead, the loft held additional supplies. She had extra chaps, protective helmets and riding boots close to the hose bib for easier cleaning. Bibs and saddles, blanket bags, feeders, measuring scoops, extra water buckets and brushes had their places in an alcove of bins and hooks. Muck carts and cleaning buckets were ready; the ones she had used that morning were clean and drying across the way.

“You sound like me. All work and no play,” Declan said.

A man who looked and dressed like Declan, with those smoldering eyes and fit physique, had to date society women. He likely had his pick of companions when he wanted one. But maybe that was what he was telling her; he was only interested in brief affairs. Jade shook off the thought. She was overanalyzing, a bad habit she had picked up from trying to read her mother’s moods to know when to avoid her.

Jade kept her tone carefully casual. “Anytime you want to get away from your job and spend time here, you’re welcome. There’s plenty to do.”

Declan studied her and Jade found herself loving how he looked at her. Attention from men sometimes confused her and she wasn’t sure what they wanted from her. She wished she hadn’t had a totally manipulative psychopath as a mother. Though Livia had been great at tricking men into doing what she wanted, Jade wasn’t eager to use those methods and follow in her footsteps. She often wondered if she would unintentionally do just that, so she was careful not to coerce people. It had become almost instinct to speak what she wanted plainly and honestly.

“I may do that. This is a great place and the work you’re doing is good for the community. A positive endeavor,” Declan said.

Unlike her mother’s “endeavors,” which had been dark and twisted. “You’d have to dress differently.”

He glanced down at his suit. “You’re wearing a dress. Is a suit that much more overdressed?”

She laughed. “I don’t wear dresses most workdays.”

“You could start a new trend and look great doing it,” Declan said.

His compliment brought color to her cheeks. “If it fetched money to the cause, I’d do anything,” Jade said. Almost anything shy of illegal dealings to raise funds. Jade hadn’t meant to mention money, but it was on her mind. Working with charitable organizations to fund the horses’ care and veterinary bills were her top priority. Without it, she couldn’t keep Hill Country open. She didn’t make enough from the sale of her crops and horses to cover her costs.

“Consider it as a way to get your name out there.”

“My name is out there plenty,” Jade said with a helpless shrug.

Declan smiled. “Lead with the name of your cause. I saw a post on the table toppers in Big Jim’s for Honeysuckle Road. I had never heard of it, but while I’m not their target demographic, it got my attention. A picture of you with your horses with the cause would show people what a special place this is.”

Honeysuckle Road was Claudia’s boutique. Given his business success, Jade tucked the idea away for the future. “I’m devoted to making my farm succeed. My father was a great horseman. I inherited his love of horses.” The sadness and grief at her father’s passing never left her. It had been almost two decades since he had died and she still missed him every day. “He passed away when I was seven.”

It was something she rarely talked about with anyone, and she was surprised she mentioned it to Declan. When Jade was a child, Livia had made her feel bad for being sad about her father and had forbidden her from talking about it, even though her mother was responsible for her father’s death. Though she had gotten a few sympathetic looks from Claudia whenever it came up, the rest of her siblings had kept their heads down and their lips sealed. It was as if they knew Livia had done something wrong and they were too scared to say anything. That left Jade on her own. Growing up with a house filled with siblings, she had been utterly lonely.

Her father had been kicked by a horse, but the secret cause of his demise was one that Jade had kept for years. She had been terrified of her mother then and she was afraid of her now. Livia Colton was capable of true acts of evil. “Mac loves horses too, so I feel comfortable around them.” Better to keep the conversation light.

Jade hadn’t before had a friend who she could confide in about her family. To some extent, she could talk to her half siblings about their mother, but with varying degrees of success. Some didn’t want to speak of her; others seemed to turn a blind eye to the whole truth. Though her siblings’ feelings on their mother had changed in the last five months since Livia had escaped prison and began showing up in their lives, bringing more ugly truths to light, Jade hadn’t developed an open rapport with her family yet. But to have someone, anyone, in her life who she could speak to about Livia and about her childhood, would be therapeutic beyond measure. To open up to someone and not worry about them turning away from her would be a first.

Cheering and whistling from the party floated through the air. “We should get back to the party,” Jade said. Except she didn’t want to return. Talking to Declan had been the highlight of the night for her. He was open and easy to talk with.

Declan extended his elbow to her. “May I escort you back?”

She took his arm. “I’d like that, thank you.” When her hand set on the crook of his arm, she felt heat and a twinge of excitement.

* * *

Declan prided himself on having good instincts about people, business deals and properties. He had walked away from million-dollar deals because he didn’t trust someone’s motives. Since he’d been in Shadow Creek, seeing the Coltons around town was usually accompanied by the impulse to avoid them. The rule of thumb was that they could not be trusted: proceed with extreme caution.

That response presented a problem when it came to River. Edith wanted them to be friends and since Declan cared about Edith, he felt the obligation to try to get to know him better. Edith had strong opinions on the matter and, true to form, she wasn’t shy about telling Declan what she thought. Knowing their history, she thought they could move forward in a positive direction. Optimistic Edith.

Jade was the sole Colton who gave him no pause. Her beauty was undeniable, but it was more than that. He witnessed her caring for her family in the manner she worked the party and she was warm and kind to her horses. Yet he sensed she wasn’t on the inside circle of the Colton clan.

Declan shook off his strengthening emotions for Jade. His entire adult life, he’d held people at arm’s length. The engagement party was getting to him, his affection for Edith coloring the entire situation. He wanted to believe that the Coltons weren’t rotten to the core and that desire was influencing how he viewed Jade.

“There you are!”

At the sound of Edith’s voice, Declan turned, forcing a smile. Her happiness was of the upmost importance to him and tonight was special for her and River. Though he had reservations about how fast they were moving, he understood Edith’s unmet desire for a family. She wanted to belong to something and the Coltons had embraced her. If nothing else, Declan gave them credit for that.

Edith’s eyes sparkled with joy and excitement. River was standing next to her, decidedly more stoic. A few minutes before, he had been smiling when talking to his family. With Declan, he was serious and seemed almost wary. They had talked about what had transpired between their parents, but the brothers had not moved fully past the awkwardness. It took a long time for a lifetime of hurt and betrayal to cool.

“Congratulations, both of you,” Declan said. He reached into his pocket and withdrew the card he had brought for the occasion. Extending her hand, Edith took it. “Thanks, Declan. It was nice of you to come tonight.” She knew this wasn’t where he wanted to be.

He’d picked out a card and bought her a gift certificate for a spa she liked in Austin. His obligation was fulfilled. “For you, I’d go anywhere.” Having survived a rough part of his life with Edith’s help, Declan wouldn’t forget her strength and how it had kept him going. Her optimism had pulled him through then, and he relied on it now.

“I have an awkward question,” Edith said. “Since you’re the closest person I have to a brother, and you’re River’s brother—”

“Half,” he and River said at the same time.

Edith shot her fiancé a disapproving look. “Since you’re River’s half brother, would you give a toast?”

“No” was on the tip of his tongue. This night was to celebrate Edith and River. Declan had made his peace with the fact that they were getting married. But to stand up in front of the Coltons and give his blessing was asking him to dig deep for acceptance he didn’t have. “What would you like me to say?”

Edith touched her chest. “Speak from the heart.”

The pleading in her eyes got to him. Lying to a crowd of strangers wasn’t beyond him, but he wouldn’t do that to Edith. Already mentally composing what he would say, he nodded. “I can say something.”

Edith smiled at him and River nodded his appreciation. They would bond over their mutual affection for Edith.

Declan grabbed a glass of champagne from the bar. In the crowd, his eyes fell on Jade. She watched him and he read the burn of interest in her eyes. His interest had to be reflecting back to her.

Declan raised his voice. “Excuse me, if I could have your attention for a moment.”

Sixty pairs of eyes turned toward him and the conversation dulled to quiet.

“I’m Declan Sinclair, Edith’s brother. I want to say a few words about Edith and River.” Unexpected emotion swamped him and Declan marshaled his control. Harboring anger and resentment for the Coltons, he had not anticipated any warm emotions regarding this marriage, but here they were. Edith was marrying a Colton, the family of his enemy. Though River loved Edith without question, Declan worried about Edith’s future and her happiness because he himself had learned at a young age it could be taken quickly. Even the best homes could be ripped apart. The greatest love could be destroyed by devious schemes and manipulation.

Declan cleared his throat and pushed away the sentimentality of the moment. “I’ve had the honor of knowing Edith since we were children. There is not a more honest, generous or talented woman in the South. She is the epitome of class and style and I am so happy for her that she has found someone to spend the rest of her life with. And while I’ve only known River a short time, it’s clear he makes Edith happy and for that he has my appreciation. I wish them both a lifetime of happiness. Cheers.” He raised his glass and the crowd echoed “Cheers.”

No lies. All truths. He felt good about that.

Edith came to him, hugging him tight. “Thank you, Declan. This has been the perfect night. Please make sure you get some cake. The baker is the same one we’re using for the wedding and I want your opinion.”

Cake was cake to him, but Declan walked to the table where pieces were set out on white plates with clear plastic forks. A white napkin was tucked beneath each. The napkin had a wedding bell on it and Edith’s and River’s names. The more he thought of Edith and River together, the more he saw their names together, the easier it became, like callousing himself to the inevitable.

Declan saw Allison Colton, Jade’s sister-in-law, who was doing some work for him at La Bonne Vie. She ran a construction company and had completed several projects in town, including renovating a boutique along Main Street for one of the Coltons. He raised his hand in greeting and she did the same.

At the end of a long table, Jade was sitting alone. Declan grabbed a second fork and sat beside her. He extended it to her. “Cake?”

She accepted the utensil. “Sure, thanks. That was a nice toast.”

“It’s easy to say nice things about Edith,” Declan said.

“What about River?” Jade asked.

Most people weren’t so blunt. He liked that she was honest about her thoughts. “He’s growing on me,” Declan said.

“You haven’t known him as long as I have, but I promise you, he is a good man,” Jade said. She took a bite of cake and then looked around.

“Looking for someone?” he asked.

Jade met his eyes and the haunted look startled him. She licked a small dot of pink icing from her lip.

“Did I say something wrong?” he asked.

Jade patted her hair. “I know this is paranoid thinking, but I feel like my mother is watching me.”

Every instinct to protect and fight roared to life. Anger followed quick on its heels. When it came to Livia Colton, he carried only rage and resentment. Ruining this day or attempting to hurt Edith again would be met with a swift and severe response. His business acumen took over and he hid his reaction. “Why would you think that?”

Jade shivered despite the warmth and humidity of the evening. “Nothing logical, and I haven’t seen her. I just feel it. Maybe because she’s tried to make contact with my other siblings and not with me. I wonder if she’s waiting.”

“Waiting for what?” Declan asked. If Jade had some sliver of knowledge that her mother was lurking around Shadow Creek, he wanted to know it. How he would use the information, he wasn’t sure. After the crimes Livia Colton had committed and after her escape from Red Peak Maximum Security Prison, she deserved to be punished.

“I guess my mother has become my personal boogeyman,” Jade said. “I don’t want to see her or talk to her, and sometimes I think I’m crazy believing she’s coming for me.”

Since Livia had been in Shadow Creek recently, it wasn’t crazy. She had reached out to each of her children and not in ways that were pleasant and warm, nothing about a mother wanting to reconnect with her children. She was looking to settle some scores.

Jade took another bite of cake. “I want to protect myself and my siblings from any further interaction with her, but I don’t know how. Mother always did what she wanted. Heeding someone else’s words wasn’t one of her abilities.”

Declan had spent far too many hours thinking about Livia Colton and trying to understand her. The ultimate narcissist, sociopath and driven solely by her own needs, she defied understanding. Prison hadn’t changed Livia or made her see the error of her ways. From what Declan could tell, she was the same self-serving, hateful woman she’d been all her life.

Livia had been thought to be in Mexico, but she’d been spotted in Shadow Creek and murdered a man. Then she’d killed a man in Dallas who’d threatened Jade’s half sister Leonor. Livia had been spotted in Florida and was using old allies, look-alikes, prison guards, a judge and a Texas senator, to keep the authorities guessing as to her whereabouts. As quick as the authorities arrested and shut down her accomplices, the more people she found to help her.

“If you’re worried about your mother, I could check in on you.” If the expression on Jade’s face was any indication, she was as surprised by the offer as he was. His motives were a blend of wanting to find Livia and bring her to justice and wanting to see Jade again. When it came to women, he wasn’t usually this impulsive.

Jade stumbled over her words and then cleared her throat. “If you’d like to come by the farm, you are welcome anytime. I’d love to show you what I’m doing with my horses, and it would be great to have another person looking out for me. My family is worried about each other, but they have their lives and I’m here alone a lot. It’s a big place and I’m one small person.”

Declan didn’t like those odds. Being alone on the farm left her open to an attack by Livia or one of her henchmen. Though the authorities were disassembling the crime ring Livia had worked for over the years, they had not rooted out every person who’d been involved with Livia or who felt loyal to her. Livia was the queen of manipulation. Nothing else explained how, even after all she’d done and the hundreds of people she had ruthlessly hurt, anyone would carry their loyalty to her. Human and drug trafficking, smuggling and money laundering were among her convicted crimes.

Declan had loyalty to no one except Edith. Livia Colton had torn his family apart and he had sworn no one would get the better of him the way Livia had with his father.

Yet here he was, sitting in the dark with Jade Colton, Livia’s flesh and blood, and thinking about how he wanted to protect her.

Chapter 2

Jade hadn’t had a crush on a man in months. She’d been too busy.

Too busy working on Hill Country. Taking pride in every inch of her land, she spent hours weeding, working the soil, maintaining her stables and barn, and caring for her animals.

That left little time for herself. Her personal life was the occasional outing with her half siblings, but even those had dwindled as each of them had found romantic relationships. Teenage sweethearts Knox and Allison Rafferty had been reunited and with their son, Cody, they were the sweetest family. Joshua Howard and Leonor had gotten together. Thorne and Maggie Lowell were married and had a baby on the way. Claudia and Hawk Huntley were crazy about each other. Of course River and Edith were the latest to fall in love. Even Mac and one of Claudia’s new employees, Evelyn, seemed to have started dating in a very adorable, old-fashioned courtship. But Jade? Her last relationship had ended in a crappy breakup. Had it been important to her, Jade would have made time for socializing.

But she hadn’t and she was booked solid seven days a week. While her work was a joy, it was a constant in her life and there were times she wished she could sleep in or stay up late to watch a movie without regretting it the next day. Some nights, she barely made it through dinner before she collapsed into her bed and fell asleep. After working every day for years, she hadn’t thought of taking a break until recently. Very recently. Like when she had spoken with the charming and charismatic Declan Sinclair and she’d started to wonder what it would be like to go on a date. On a date with him, specifically. What it would be like to have a weekend away from work, the two of them taking off in her car on a road trip to somewhere quiet and relaxing.

She was getting way, way ahead of herself. Declan had mentioned he would stop by the farm to check on her, but that could mean anything and it certainly wasn’t a promise. His words weren’t the reason she had spent an extra few minutes that morning getting ready for work, ensuring her jeans were clean and her boots polished, her hair brushed neatly into a braid. She had stopped shy of putting on makeup, which would melt off in minutes under the sun.

Plenty of reasons to avoid Declan. River’s half brother. River had issues, like all of Jade’s siblings. Some of those problems were related to Livia, others of their own making. But his biological ties to Declan and their ongoing effort to form some type of relationship were awkward. He was Edith’s boss. Edith would be her sister-in-law and if Jade was dating Declan, that could put her in the middle of something. But evaluating the complexities wasn’t enough to put her off from the idea.

Nothing in Jade’s life flowed easily. By virtue of the fact that she was Livia Colton’s daughter, she was destined to struggle at every turn. The fear of Livia returning and hurting her or her horses or even outright killing her was her constant companion. Meeting new people was dicey; Jade didn’t know if they would make the connection to her mother and what they would say or do if they did.

As she was walking across the training circle toward the stables, a terrible memory speared into her brain. Jade standing behind the split rail fence, watching her father, Fabrizio, train one of his horses. Livia stormed toward him, her fists balled, already yelling. Her mother always seemed to be yelling. At Fabrizio. At her. At Claudia. At the housekeeper. At the chef.

Fabrizio turned toward Livia, calm and cool. He was the only person who didn’t seem to get visibly upset when Livia threw a tantrum.

Jade couldn’t recall what they were saying or why Livia had been shouting. Jade’s hands hurt and she scrunched behind the post, trying to hide and turning her face away. After more shouting and several loud noises, curiosity got the best of her and she peeked around the fence. Her father suddenly lying on the ground, tan dust blowing around his unmoving body. His horse, his most favorite horse, pranced nervously near him.

Livia had raised her fists and lowered them on her father’s head. Again. And again.

Jade hid behind that post and squeezed her eyes shut and cupped her hands over her ears. The ambulance had come. Livia had screamed and wailed in grief. A police officer had found Jade. He had taken her to the EMT.

The police had questioned her while Livia watched with her eyes narrowed.

Jade had lied. She had said she hadn’t seen anything. She had come running when she heard the ambulances. She didn’t know what had happened. She wanted to know how her father was.

Livia had been the one to tell her that her father was dead, kicked to death by his beloved horse. Then her mother had embraced her and Jade had wanted to kick her. But even at the young age of seven, she had recognized that Livia was not to be trifled with. Jade kept her mouth shut about what she had seen.

When her father’s horse disappeared, Jade mourned that too as another loss.

“Jade? Jade, are you okay? I’m calling for an ambulance.”

Jade opened her eyes. She was kneeling by the training circle, her head in her hands. The bright Texas morning sun hurt her eyes. Looking up, she could make out the shadow of a huge man, broad shoulders and crisp slacks, shiny polished shoes.

“Jade? What happened?” Declan knelt beside her, his strong hand on her shoulder.

It took several deep breaths for her to clear her head and focus. That memory of her parents pulsed through her like a bad hangover, the horror and the grief fresh every time. It had been years since her father had died and she had never told anyone except Mac and the federal agents he had put her in touch with. Even after Livia had been arrested, tried and jailed, Jade didn’t believe it was safe to tell anyone else what she knew about her mother’s crimes. Livia’s reach was too long and Jade had been right to be afraid. In prison, forever hadn’t meant that for Livia.

Her mother had escaped. Though she had never said anything, she had seen Jade that day in the training circle. It was part of the reason for the grieving wife performance and why she had pretended to care so much about Jade in front of the police and paramedics. When she had delivered the news about Fabrizio, Jade remembered the look of vicious joy in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, I had a sudden headache,” Jade said.

She rose slowly to her feet and Declan did, as well. “Let’s get a glass of water. Is there medication you need? Pain pills? Maybe an ice pack?”

His caring attention was almost too much for her and the wave of emotion brought the threat of tears. “I’m okay. I have a lot of work today.” Her animals, first and foremost, needed their breakfast.

“Jade, if there’s something that needs to be done, I’ll take care of it. After I take care of you.”