Page 15 of The Forbidden Texan
“I was beginning to think that myself. But I’m here to stay now.”
A waiter came with water and took drink orders, leaving them menus.
They talked about lunch, ordered shortly and then Jake turned to Mike. “You start and bring us up to date on what’s going on.”
“I feel as if I owe my world and my life to Thane. I couldn’t be happier.”
“That’s good,” Jake said. “You’re obviously happily married and it’s just as obvious you like being a rancher.”
“Oh, yeah, but I always have been a cowboy, except for that military stint. We’ve got some really fine horses. The cattle are good. So far this fall we’ve gotten some rain so we’re not in a terrible drought. It’s good. Vivian and I are happy,” he said. “It’s a good life and I owe it to Thane.”
“We all owe a lot to Thane,” Noah added and they were quiet for a moment. “You’ll have another ranch because of him,” he said, looking at Jake, who nodded. “I have my family, Camilla and Ethan,” Noah continued. “Ethan is such a joy. How about you?” he asked Jake. “How’s the Long L? Have you looked at it?”
“Oh, yeah, and I’m glad to have it. The place needs a lot of work and there’s no telling what we’ll find.”
“Thane had it up and going and it’s a working ranch right now.”
“How about the Ralston-Kincaid feud?” Noah asked.
“Emily agreed to work for me. She said that she had no choice when she saw the check Thane had given her.” He looked at Mike. “If you were part of approving that check for her, thank you. She was about to turn me down on the job, but then I gave her that check and she didn’t hesitate to accept when she saw it.”
“Well, that was Vivian and Thane. I had nothing to do with that decision. I think Thane did all of what he wanted done, all the letters and gifts and promises. I think he was ready in case something happened to him. He wanted everything back home taken good care of with no loose ends.”
Their reminiscences were halted when their cheeseburgers and onion rings were placed before them. When they were alone again, Jake told them about going to see Thane’s folks. “It was hard to do, but I wanted to see them.”
“I see them somewhat often because of marrying into the family. They’ve had a difficult time over their loss,” Noah said. “Ethan is a joy to them and that helps.”
“We invited them to our wedding, but they sent their regrets and I can understand,” Mike said. “That would have been tough for them.”
“So Emily Kincaid is going to work for you,” Noah said. “Think Thane was trying to get you two together the way he did the four of us?”
Jake shook his head. “No, I think Thane saw it as a way of ending the Ralston-Kincaid feud. After more than a century, the feud is ridiculous. It’s time it ended.”
“I think Thane wanted it ended partly to help me in running the ranch,” Mike said. “So far, I haven’t had trouble from any of them, no Ralstons or Kincaids. The two of you working together should help end the feud. As long as people know about your business deal.”
“Word gets around fast. I’ll take her to dinner where we can be seen by Ralstons and Kincaids.”
“Good luck with it,” Noah said. “I hope you like that ranch.”
“I hope you don’t find any skeletons—real skeletons,” Mike added. “The way Thane talked about those old grandfathers of his wasn’t good. Vivian doesn’t want to go near the place.”
“She can’t be as bad about that as Camilla,” Noah added. “Camilla can barely stand cowboys or ranches because of her grandfather and that ranch. That almost kept us from marrying.”
Jake was happy for his ranger buddies. They’d both found their callings and their true loves. But that last part wasn’t something Jake wanted for himself.
After lunch, when he left to go back to the office, he was still thinking about the different lives he and his friends led now and how close they had been when in Afghanistan. He thought about Noah’s question—had Thane hoped to get him together with Emily the way he had with Mike and Vivian, and Noah and Camilla? Jake really didn’t think so. They were so different—no one could have predicted the heated reaction he and Emily had to any physical contact between them. There wasn’t a reason for it and the sizzle should disappear when they started living together.
If Jake was wrong and that’s what Thane had hoped for, it wouldn’t happen because he and Emily would never have a permanent relationship. She definitely wasn’t his type and he definitely wasn’t ready to marry, much less have a shred of interest in a woman who was totally tied into family.
But he did like to kiss her...
* * *
Ten minutes before 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, Emily parked and hurried to meet Jake where he waited by his private plane. He looked every inch the rancher this morning in his black hat. He had on a blue-and-black-plaid long-sleeve Western shirt, tight jeans and black boots, and the minute she saw him her heart jumped.
“Good morning,” she said, smiling at him.
“For this early hour, you’re filled with cheer. Where are your assistants?”
