“I’ll take care of it.”
“Sorry about that.”
He boosted himself up on Blue and stared down at the striking woman who’d kept them all guessing for years. She wasn’t what he’d expected. He didn’t think she was what Tyler would expect either.
“I won’t tell Tyler, or anyone else, you’re living here. I’ll bring the horses myself and take care of the fences and water. I’ll be the one to check on them. If I have to send someone else, I’ll tell him to stay clear of the house. Is that okay?”
He wouldn’t involve Caleb. He didn’t want to make his brother-in-law lie to the family too.
“That’s fine.”
“Do you have everything you need?” He looked around again at the house and the SUV parked in the driveway. The car wasn’t new, but it looked well maintained.
“I’m fine, Jack. I work from home, so I’m here most of the time. Don’t worry about me. I’ve gotten along for a lot of years on my own.”
“Okay, then. Oh, about the money?”
“The amount you have in mind is okay with me.”
“You know the amount?”
She gave him a cocky half grin and winked. “I sure do.”
“Tell me what it is.”
“Goodbye, Jack.” She’d let him question that for a while. It would drive him crazy wondering whether she really knew or not.
WITHIN THE MONTH, Jack arrived several times with small herds of horses. In the end, there were more than twenty-five beauties in her pastures. She visited with them often. Jack spent time working on the fences, and she enjoyed hearing about what Tyler and Sam were up to. It was strange getting information about Tyler from someone who knew him personally. Everything she learned about him came as glimpses from his mind. She still didn’t understand the connection between them, but she’d learned to accept it. She wished Tyler would do the same.
The first month the horses arrived on her property, Jack came to pay her for the use of the pastureland minus the amount for the improvements to the fences and water lines.
He gaped at her when she caught him lying about the amount.
“This isn’t the agreed-upon fee. You know it and, more importantly, I know it. You just wanted to see if I’d say anything, or if I’d know. Shame on you, Jack,” she said and tried not to laugh.
“Oh, come on. I just wanted to see if you were pulling my leg, or if you really did know what I was thinking.”
“I know. It’s okay.” She didn’t really care about the money, but he handed over another hundred dollars. She accepted it and his juvenile behavior. Used to it, people questioned her all her life about whether she really had a gift, or if she was simply lying.
“How’s the baby?”
“Beautiful like her mother. Come to the house and see her.”
She would love to see the baby. She wanted one of her own and a family like Jenna and Jack had created. Not in the cards. Her future remained uncertain, shrouded in a thick fog she couldn’t see past. Frustrating as hell to see other’s so clearly, but not her own.
Her future rested on the outcome of seeing Tyler again . . . and beating the evil waiting for her.
“We’ll see.”
“You won’t come, will you?”
“It’s not time yet. You’re going to California tomorrow.”
Jack smiled. A last-minute trip, Jenna had some work to do at Merrick International. “Yeah. Want to come? You could see Tyler.”
“Not yet. Timelines, Jack. This trip you’ll spend time with Cameron. He’s got quite a journey ahead of him.”
“Yeah? I hear he’s got a new woman in his life. I hope Emma likes her.”
She concentrated on Cameron, his daughter, and their life. The woman in his life now swirled Cameron’s future into chaos, sweeping up his past and obscuring his ability to see things clearly. The second woman had the ability to bring him into the eye of the storm where everything was calm and clear. There, he’d find the future he wanted—for him and Emma.
“Emma won’t like the woman who’s there now. She’ll like the second one.”
Jack knew she wouldn’t tell him anything more. He’d reluctantly accepted that about her over the last month.
“I’ll see you soon.” He slid back into his truck, shaking his head, and left her alone on her porch, an angel with golden hair and a smile on her lips.
“I can’t wait to see Tyler’s face when he sees you again.”
Chapter Three
Present day . . .
“I HATE PAPERWORK,” Tyler grumbled and grabbed the coffeepot, pouring himself a second cup. Might as well have an apple-raspberry turnover from Decadence to go with it. The food would be good, even if the coffee was several hours old and probably tasted closer to motor oil.