Ambush At Dry Gulch

“I didn’t want to upset you, but then I started to feel guilty about keeping it from you. If you want me to drop out of the training, I’ll understand.”

“Drop out and let Thad dictate your life. Absolutely not. You can block him from calling you again, and you definitely don’t have to see him.”

“That doesn’t mean he won’t cause trouble.”

“If he does, we’ll contact Sheriff Garcia and he’ll have him arrested. The law is on your side. You don’t have to put up with Thad’s abuse ever again. Now, let’s not let Thad Caffey ruin our day. After all, we have Jake Dalton for that,” she added with a smile, trying to ease Mildred’s tension.

Senator Ralph Baldwin caught up with them just as they reached the door. He pushed it open and held it for them to enter.

“Good morning, Carolina. You look beautiful, as always,” he said, practically ogling.

“Thank you. You look nice yourself.” She stepped through the door and kept walking. She could definitely do without Ralph’s seduction routine this morning.

The senator took her arm and tugged her to a stop. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d be here today?”

So she could avoid awkward moments like this one. “I’m just here for a meeting.”

“I have a luncheon meeting myself today, but I’m free tonight. Surely you could stay over in Austin and have dinner with me,” Ralph said. “I hate to eat alone.”

“I’ll go on ahead,” Mildred said, no doubt mistakenly thinking Carolina would appreciate the privacy.

Carolina turned back to Ralph. “You could always have dinner at home with your wife.”

“She’s in Midland visiting her parents.” He lowered his voice. “Besides, I’ve told you, we’re married in name only and even that will come to an end after the next election.”

“Perhaps we’ll have dinner then.” And perhaps there would be a Dallas snowstorm in August. “I need to go now. Time for my meeting.” She hurried away before he had time to reply.

No one seemed to understand that she didn’t need a man in her life. She’d been married to Hugh Lambert, bigger than life, a man among men. How could she ever expect to find a man to measure up to him? If she did, it certainly wouldn’t be a lowlife philanderer like Ralph Baldwin.

Carolina hurried down the wide halls of the capitol and slipped inside the conference room a few minutes before the scheduled starting time. Once she was inside, the noise level increased dramatically. A good sign that the volunteers were excited about the project.

Carolina glanced around the room, nodding and smiling at the attendees. This would be her first time to meet many of them, though she’d interviewed every volunteer by phone and had a background check run on them. In every case they were respectable ranchers’ wives or experienced riders, active in their communities.

There was much more to providing an enriching summer experience to these teens than just teaching them to ride. She had to make sure the volunteers knew exactly what they were signing up for and that they had a true desire to help and bond with the frequently troubled girls.

She quickly spotted Jake Dalton, standing in a corner by himself. It was only the second time she’d seen him in person, the first being at the Dry Gulch just after R.J. had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.

The occasion had been less than joyous—the reading of R.J.’s will while he was still alive. Jake had been resentful then, and unlike his half siblings, he apparently still nurtured his grudge.

He had the same ruggedly handsome features as his four younger half-brothers. Tall. Tanned. Broad shouldered. Chiseled jaw. Lean and hard bodied. Blatantly masculine in his ranch-cut sports jacket and shirt that was open at the neck. A bit of gray salted the thick, dark hair around his temples.

About her age, she’d guess, though he might be younger than her fifty-five years. The only obvious negative to his looks was a mouth that looked as if it might have forgotten how to smile. Probably a reflection of having to deal with her this morning.

Only he didn’t have to. He could have said no. She knew for a fact he was good at that.

Aidan welcomed the group and talked for only a few minutes before introducing Carolina. Jake Dalton stared at her, looking as shocked as if someone had thrown a glass of ice water in his handsome face.

So he hadn’t known he’d be dealing with her and hadn’t recognized her before now. That explained a lot. She could start looking forward to five days from hell.

After the introductions, Aidan and Jake excused themselves and left the room, and the rest of the meeting went off without a hitch. The women all seemed capable and excited about the project.

They broke at noon. Carolina, Mildred, Peg Starling and Sara Billings, the four who planned to tour the facilities at the Silver Spur Ranch that afternoon, lingered in the conference room.

“How is it you failed to mention our host was a hunk?” Sara asked.

“And no little gold band on the gorgeous rancher’s finger,” Peg commented. “Guess that means he’s available?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Carolina said. “Any ideas for lunch that won’t eat up too much of our afternoon?”

“There’s a French bakery nearby that makes great coffee and sandwiches and the best almond tart I’ve ever tasted,” Sara suggested. “It will be crowded, but service is fast.”

“Works for me,” Mildred said.

“And for me,” Peg added.

“Then the bakery it is,” Carolina agreed, ready to get moving before the conversation switched back to Jake’s looks or relationship status.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll get you and Mildred to follow us to our ranch after lunch,” Sara said. “It’s on the way and we can change into jeans, drop my car off at home and catch a ride with you out to the Silver Spur.”

“Can do. Mildred and I brought more appropriate clothes for the ranch, as well. We can change at your place.”

“I would have packed much sexier jeans if I’d known Jake Dalton was so good-looking,” Peg said.

“You’ll be sexy no matter what you wear,” Mildred assured the shapely blonde.

Carolina picked up her purse and slung the strap over her shoulder as the door opened and both Aidan and Jake stepped back into the room. She wasn’t surprised to see Aidan, but she’d assumed Jake was long gone, possibly trying to figure out an excuse to get out of his commitment to the project.

“I hope everything went well,” Aidan said.

“Couldn’t have gone better,” Carolina assured him.

“Carolina’s enthusiasm gets everyone fired up,” Sara added.

“I’d love to take you women to lunch,” Aidan said, “but I have another meeting at one.”

“What about you, Mr. Dalton?” Peg asked flirtatiously.

“I have some errands to take care of in town before I head out,” Jake said, keeping his tone businesslike. “I’ll give you directions to the ranch. When you get there, my housekeeper, Edna, will hook you up with one of the wranglers. He’ll show you around and answer any questions you have.”

“That will work out fine,” Carolina assured him, keeping her tone as cool and aloof as his had been.

Directions were simple, and she was relieved when they were finally on their way. Jake was no doubt as eager to be rid of her as she was of him. He was turning them over to a wrangler for today’s tour. She suspected that would be his modus operandi for the remainder of the training session.

With luck, she might not even have to see him again.

“I know you think Jake Dalton is a heartless cad,” Mildred said as she walked to the car with Carolina.

“Yes, I do.”

“You can’t blame him too much for not bonding with a father he never really knew. Didn’t all of R.J.’s sons feel that way at one point?”

“Yes,” she admitted reluctantly, “but that doesn’t excuse Jake’s behavior. He’s the oldest. He should feel some level of responsibility.”

“If anyone can change his mind, you will,” Mildred said.

“With luck, I won’t even have to speak to him.”

They were several yards away from her vehicle when Carolina spotted a man leaning against the front fender of her car. He was in ripped jeans and a black muscle shirt, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. A snake tattoo covered much of his right arm. A pair of aviator sunglasses hid his eyes, but his mouth was twisted into a menacing frown. An uneasy chill crept up her spine.

She glanced around. The parking lot was crowded with cars and pickup trucks, but the closest people she spotted were two men in suits, several rows down, walking in the opposite direction.

When the thuggish-looking man noticed her staring at him, he smiled and nodded as if in greeting.

Mildred grabbed Carolina’s wrist and pulled her to a stop. “What are you doing here?” Mildred demanded.

The man flicked his cigarette to the concrete and ground it out with the toe of his right boot. “Waiting on you.”

The taunting voice struck a chord and finally Carolina recognized Thad. He’d changed during his four years behind bars. Gained weight. Added a lot of muscle.

Mildred dropped Carolina’s wrist and hugged her arms about her own chest, as if protecting herself from Thad’s presence. “We no longer have anything to discuss.”

“That doesn’t sound like much of a welcome for a husband you haven’t seen in four years.”

“You are no longer her husband,” Carolina corrected.

“Stay out of this, Carolina. This is between me and Mildred,” Thad snapped.

“Please, Thad. Just go,” Mildred pleaded. “I don’t want trouble.”

“I’m not going anywhere until we talk.”

“What part of her not wanting to see you do you not understand? Either you go willingly or I call the cops,” Carolina ordered.

“I’m not breaking any laws. This is a public parking lot. So you call anybody you want to.”

He left the car and stepped closer, his gaze firmly planted on Mildred, his tone switching from arrogant to loving without missing a beat. “I know I made mistakes, sweetheart, but you can’t imagine how much I’ve missed you. We can start over now. I promise you that things will be different.”

Carolina’s stomach turned at his meaningless promises. Too little, too late. “Last chance, Thad. If you don’t leave this minute, I’m calling 911.”

“How about you let Mildred speak for herself? Or are you running her life now the way you run half of Texas?”

Mildred let her arms fall to her side. “I do speak for myself now, Thad. I hope you have changed—for your sake—but we can’t go back. I’ve moved on.”

“You know you don’t mean that, baby. You still love me. I still love you. We can work this out.”

“We can’t. It’s over between us, Thad.” Her voice trembled, but she didn’t back away.

Carolina put a steadying arm around Mildred’s waist. “There’s your answer, Thad. You can leave now unless you’re looking to go back to prison.”

“Go to hell, Carolina.”

Fury burned in his voice now, his mood turning dark and threatening. He reached out and grabbed Mildred’s arm, jerking her toward him. “Don’t make me do something I’ll be sorry for, Mildred. You know how I get when you make me crazy.”

Carolina pulled her cell phone from her handbag. Thad let go of Mildred and grabbed Carolina’s wrist with one hand while twisting the phone from her fingers with the other. She heard the clunk as it hit the concrete beneath their feet.

“Is there a problem here?”

Carolina jerked around at the sound of the strong, male voice. She gulped in a deep breath. Who’d have thought she’d ever be this thankful to see Jake Dalton?

Chapter Three

“No problem that needs your help.” The thug dropped his hold on Carolina’s hand and backed up a step, but his eyes burned with fury. Jake sized him up. Physically fit, probably in his early thirties.

Jake figured he could still take him in a fair fight, but brawling in a parking lot wouldn’t fix anything and was definitely not his style.

He turned to Carolina. “Was this man harassing you?”

“He’s stalking Mildred.”

“Having a conversation with my wife is not stalking.”

Mildred hugged her arms around her chest, head down, looking more like a scared child facing an angry parent than a forceful woman. “I’m not your wife, Thad. We’re divorced.”

So the thug was Mildred’s ex. That clarified the situation a bit for Jake, even though it hadn’t been Mildred the bully was manhandling.

The man reached a hand toward Mildred. “I just want to talk to you—in private.”

Jake turned to Mildred. “Is that what you want?”

She shook her head and raised her eyes to Jake’s, hers pleading when her gaze met his.

“I never meant to hurt you,” Thad said, his tone considerably softer. “I love you. You know that. And you love me.”

“You tried to kill her and almost succeeded,” Carolina cut in, her words blistering. “She’s through with you, so stay away from her or you’ll be back in prison where you belong.”

“Stay out of this, Carolina. You might own half of Texas, but you don’t own Mildred and you sure as hell aren’t going to order me around.”

Jake struggled to contain his own anger as the situation became clearer still. The itch to punch Thad Caffey rode Jake hard.

He stepped toward Jake. “Mildred and Carolina are with me and you’re through here. You have a problem with that, take it up with me now.”

Thad glared at Mildred and then turned to Carolina. “So that’s how it is. You got rid of me and now you’ve fixed my woman up with one of your rich rancher friends.”

“One of my bulls would have been an improvement over you, Thad Caffey.”

Thad beat his right fist into his left hand and ground it as if he were getting ready for a fight. Jake’s muscles tensed. He’d never wanted to punch a guy more.

A second later, Thad turned and walked away without a backward glance. Jake watched him go, but his gut feeling was that this was far from being settled.

Jake lingered with the two women until Thad had sauntered over to an old mud-encrusted pickup truck with a rusted right fender and driven away.

“Good timing,” Carolina said. “I’m not sure I could have taken him down if you hadn’t shown up when you did. But I could have done some serious hair pulling and hopefully got in at least one knee to the groin.”

“Ow. My bet’s on you. But I’m glad I could intervene. Is there more to the story that I should know?”

“Thad is not a nice man,” Mildred said.

“I got that.”

“The four years in prison didn’t make him any nicer,” Carolina added.

“How long has he been out of prison?”

“Almost a week,” Mildred said, “but last night was the first time he tried to contact me. I got a phone call from him at the hotel. I’m not sure how he found out I was here with Carolina. I don’t know how far he would have pushed things today if you hadn’t shown up when you did.”

“Glad to help, but I seriously doubt you’ve seen the last of him. You should let his parole officer know he’s stalking you.”

“He doesn’t have one. He served all his time.”

“Then call your local sheriff.”

“A great idea.” Carolina took her car key from her handbag and pushed the unlock button. “We should get moving. Sara and Peg are probably already at the restaurant wondering what happened to us.”

Jake glanced at the clouds that were rolling in. “I wouldn’t dawdle over lunch,” he suggested. “Weatherman may have been a little optimistic predicting the thunderstorms would hold off until evening.”

He stepped past Carolina and opened the door for her. She brushed past him as she slid behind the wheel. Her skirt rode up her thighs, innocently provocative.

His senses reeled from an unexpected kick of sensual attraction. He was still feeling the effects long after they drove away.

Carolina Lambert was even more stunning in person than she was in her society page photos. Great body. Thick eyelashes. Sun-streaked hair that tumbled past her shoulders in soft, natural curls. Hazel eyes that sparked green when she was mad. Full, beautiful lips.

None of which changed the fact that she had manipulated R.J. into writing that bizarre, manipulative will, a will that she surely planned to work in her favor once R.J. was dead and gone and the family was released from his rules and regulations.

But a deal was a deal, even though he hadn’t known it was her he was helping out this week. Carolina could do her thing. She’d have his wrangler’s full cooperation.

But it was a large ranch. With luck, he wouldn’t even have to see her again.

* * *

TWO HOURS LATER Carolina sped down the highway, barely paying attention to the conversation in the car as the four of them rolled down the last stretch of interstate before taking the exit for the Silver Spur Ranch.

The day had started with sunshine and promise. Now the sky was threatening. The cloud Thad Caffey had cast over the day was even gloomier.

If Jake hadn’t walked up when he had, the situation might have turned violent. Just as frightening, Mildred might have gone with Thad in an effort to protect herself or Carolina from his rage.

Okay. Score one for Jake Dalton. She had to concede that he was not the complete cad she had figured him for. He’d been impressive in the parking lot, all the grit and virility a woman could ask for.

“I should have brought my rain slicker,” Sara said from the backseat. “Looks as if it might start pouring any minute.”

“It’s not too late to turn around and try to reschedule the tour for first thing tomorrow morning,” Carolina offered.

“We’re almost there,” Peg said. “Might as well see as much as we can today. If we need to check out more, we can always come back tomorrow and wade through the mud.”

“The sexy ranch owner wouldn’t have anything to do with your vote, would it?” Sara teased.

“No, but I can’t say that I’d mind getting caught in the rain—or anywhere else with him. He is hot.”

“Not to mention rich and single,” Sara said.

“Better than all that, he seems like a really nice guy,” Mildred said. “They’re hard to come by.”

It was one of the few times Mildred had joined the conversation since they left Austin. She had asked Carolina not to mention their run-in with Thad to the others, and Carolina had agreed that was for the best. Mildred didn’t need a lot of questions thrown at her about her past experiences with her ex.

“How old do you think Jake is?” Peg asked.

“Maybe early fifties,” Sara said. “What do you think, Carolina?”

“I’d say that’s probably about right.”

“I don’t know,” Peg said. “Those are not the biceps or butt of a middle-aged man.”

“Good grief,” Sara exclaimed. “What does age have to do with it? George Clooney, Kevin Costner, Colin Firth. My husband, Jess. All hunks past fifty.”

“Doesn’t just apply to men,” Mildred added. “Case in point: Carolina. Remember the magazine article last year that declared her one of Texas’s most beautiful and altruistic women?”

“A major exaggeration,” Carolina said, as the others gave her a wahoo. “And for the record, I don’t plan to spend a second of my time trying to impress Jake Dalton.”

“Guess that leaves him to you and me, Mildred,” Peg said, likely only half joking.

“Then he’s all yours,” Mildred said. “I like the single life.”

Carolina turned at the entrance of the Silver Spur. The double gate of entwined metal links incorporated the images of two life-size rearing horses and the name of the ranch.

Sara stretched her neck to see more. “Wow. Impressive.”

Carolina lowered her car window, pressed the call button that was mounted on a metal stand and looked into the lens of a security camera.

A few seconds later, a friendly female voice responded. “Hello. Welcome to the Silver Spur.”

“Thanks. I’m Carolina Lambert, with the Saddle-Up project.”

“Carolina Lambert,” a female voice repeated, followed by a few seconds of silence. “The real Carolina Lambert?”

“I’m not sure who you’re expecting, but I am real.”

“I recognize you now. You know, from the pictures I see of you in the newspaper. Just last month you hosted that big fund-raiser for the children’s hospital in Dallas.”

“Yes, and thanks to a lot of very generous Texas donors, we surpassed our expectations. We’re here to tour the ranch,” she said. “Mr. Dalton said you’d be expecting us.”

“He just said some ladies were driving out from Austin. He didn’t say it was you. And I’m just blabbering on. Sorry. I’m Edna, Jake Dalton’s housekeeper. You ladies just follow the main road back to the house and we’ll have some proper introductions. I’ll put the coffee on.”

“Please don’t go to any trouble for us.”

“Coffee’s no trouble. Can’t miss the main house. Two story. White. Dark green shutters. Big covered porch.”

“Is Mr. Dalton here this afternoon?”

“He’s not back from the city yet, but Tilson can show you around. He’s young, but one of the nicest wranglers you’ll ever meet and he knows the spread like the back of his hand.”

“I’m sure Tilson will be more than adequate.”

The gate clicked, then swung open. Carolina shifted the gearshift into Drive and eased over the bumpy cattle gap. The gate creaked slightly as it automatically closed and locked behind them.

“Nice setup,” Sara said. “I can’t wait to see the house.”

“Only thing missing is the boss man himself,” Peg added. “Bummer.”

So far, so good, Carolina decided as she stared at rolling pastures and the wooded areas that bordered them. The Silver Spur without Jake Dalton would work just fine.

* * *

“A SEVERE WEATHER watch will be in effect for Travis, Hays and Blanco counties from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Be on the lookout for heavy rain and flash flooding in low-lying areas.”

Jake turned down the volume on his truck radio and used the hands-free Bluetooth connection to call Lizzie. Weather anxiety skirted the other issues of the day as he waited for his daughter to answer her phone. When she didn’t, he left a message.

“Storm is rolling in fast. I should be back to the ranch in about fifteen minutes. Hopefully you’re there, as well, or at least somewhere safe. Call me as soon as you get this message.”

When he broke the connection, he called his house. Edna answered on the fourth ring. After a quick hello he asked if the Saddle-Up team had defied the threatening storm and actually driven out to the ranch that afternoon.

“Yes, a couple of hours ago. I nearly passed out when I looked to see who was at the gate and Carolina Lambert was staring back at me.”

He knew the feeling, only he hadn’t been looking at a camera image. “I take it you pulled yourself together enough to let them in.”

“Of course, but I can’t believe you didn’t tell me she was the Saddle-Up leader.”

“I didn’t know you were a Carolina Lambert groupie.”

“Pshaw. I’m too old to be a groupie. But she’s famous. She attended a party at the White House once. I read that online.”

“Guess that makes her a celebrity.”

“She’s not a bit stuck-up. All that money, and I swear she showed up here in a pair of Wranglers, worn cowboy boots and an ordinary white T-shirt. Just like regular people.”

At least she’d changed out of that skirt that had inched up her thighs before she toured the ranch. He needed his wranglers working, not ogling.

“I hope the women left the ranch in time to make it back to Austin before the storm hits full force.”

“They haven’t left. They’re still out with Tilson.”

He swallowed a curse. Just what he needed. Carolina stuck at his house waiting out a storm. If they made it back to the house before it hit. “Did Tilson take them in one of the pickup trucks?”

“No. They wanted to go on horseback. I’m starting to worry about them, though. I haven’t seen any lightning yet, but the thunder is sure rumbling and clouds are getting dark.”

“Do you know where Lizzie is?”