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“That you’re not—what did you call it?—one of the anointed. If there’s one thing life’s taught me, girl, it’s that things change.”
Caitlin had never been at a loss for words in her life. Now, she was. All she seemed able to do was stare at her stepfather’s impassive face.
“Did you hear what I said, Catie?”
“I—I heard you.” She swallowed dryly. “But I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Let me put it in plain English. What I’m talkin’ about is that I’m not sure you won’t inherit Espada.”
“But you always said—”
“I know what I said, that I’d only leave this ranch to someone who carries Baron blood.” Jonas’s eyes turned flinty. “Best of all worlds, that would still be what I want. But my sons have made it clear they have no intention of coming back to live on Espada, and I didn’t build this spread to be run by some stranger they hire after a gravestone holds me down.”
“Jonas.” Caitlin reached out a hand toward him, her voice softening. “You’re a long way from that. We don’t need to talk about this now. For all you know, Trav or Slade or Gage will come around.”
The old man snorted and gently batted her hand away. “That ain’t gonna happen, and you know it. And even if I live to be a hundred, I want to draw my last breath knowin’ I’ve left this land in good hands.” That same icy look came into his eyes again. “What I’m sayin’ is that it’s finally dawned on me that blood isn’t always a good thing.”
Caitlin blinked. “It isn’t?”
“Ain’t that what I jes’ said? No, it isn’t. I never thought about it before but there are times it can be a bad thing.”
“Blood can be a bad thing?”
“Damnation, girl, will you stop soundin’ like a parrot?” Jonas reached into his breast pocket, took out a cigar and rolled it between his fingers. “Here’s the bottom line, Catie. I’ve been doin’ some thinkin’. And, I don’t know, maybe—maybe you’re the right one to inherit Espada, after all.”
Caitlin pulled out a chair and sank into it. “You’re serious,” she said softly, “aren’t you?”
“I am.” Her stepfather put the unlit cigar between his teeth and bit down on it. “But I haven’t made my mind up yet, so don’t you go getting’ any bids on the north slope timber.”
“No,” she said, and managed a quick smile, “I won’t.”
“I need to, ah, to sort some things out, before I reach a decision. And to talk with my boys, of course.”
“Of course.” Was it possible? Had Jonas finally realized her passion for Espada matched his? That she would cherish the land, nurture it, as he had? That she would see to it that his name, and Espada’s, were never forgotten?
“Meanwhile, you steer clear of that Tyler Kincaid.”
Caitlin came to her feet. “You old SOB,” she said softly. “So that’s what this is all about! You think you can dangle the ranch in front of me to keep me from seeing him?”
“No. Hell, no! I just want to protect you.”
“You just want to protect Espada.” Caitlin fought back the bitter taste of Jonas’s cruel attempt at manipulation. “I don’t know why you hate him so much.”
“I told you. He’s a liar. A cheat. He’s up to no good, after something that isn’t his.”
“He’s after me,” Caitlin said, jabbing a finger into the middle of her chest. “Me, Jonas, not your precious ranch.” Her voice wobbled and she cleared her throat. “I’m the attraction for him, not you. And I’ll tell you something else, while I’m at it. I was going to refuse to see him again.”
“But a few minutes ago, when I asked you, you said—”
“I said it because you made me so damned angry by trying to interfere.”
It wasn’t true, and she knew it. She’d said she’d see Tyler again because she wanted to, because she’d tossed and turned all night, imagining what would have happened if she hadn’t stopped him from making love to her.
But none of that was Jonas’s business.
Caitlin tossed her hair back from her flushed face.
“Well, now you’ve made me even madder. So I’m going to go out with Tyler Kincaid as often as he asks me. Every night of the week, if he likes. Hell, if he doesn’t ask me out, I’ll ask him.” She glared at Jonas. “Stick that into your pipe and smoke it,” she shot over her shoulder, as she made for the door.
“Catie, dammit, don’t you walk out on me!” Jonas lunged after her, caught her wrist and turned her toward him. “Little girl,” he said in a wheedling tone, “little girl, I’m only interested in what’s best for you.”
“Bull spit,” she snarled, wrenching her hand free of his.
“My Lord, you didn’t take on like this when I asked you not to go out with that snake, Leighton.”
“Last evening, you were telling me to call him up!”
“You know I didn’t mean it, Catie.” Jonas’s mouth twitched. “Compared to Leighton, a snake’s good company.”
“Damned right. He wants this ranch so badly there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to get it.” Caitlin’s eyes narrowed. “But I tell you right now, Jonas, if you’d tried this same trick, if you’d dangled Espada in front of me and tried to convince me not to date him, I’d have run into his arms so fast it would have made your head spin.”
“You’re just talking to hear yourself talk, girl. You’d never play up to that slimy nephew of mine. Why, Leighton is a—”
“Did I hear my name mentioned?”
Caitlin and Jonas turned at the sound of the hesitant voice. Leighton Baron stood in the doorway, an oily smile on his face.
“Leighton,” Caitlin said. She flashed a look at her stepfather, then strolled to Leighton’s side. “You did,” she said, and looped her arm through his. “Jonas was saying how long it is since you stopped by.” She smiled. “And I said it surely was, and that I’d missed seeing you. Have you been away?”
Leighton looked from Caitlin to Jonas, and then at Caitlin again.
“Why, ah, why, no. No, I haven’t.” He put his hand over hers and Caitlin fought back a shudder of revulsion. “What a charming reception, my dear.”
“Catie.” Jonas’s voice was low and heavy with warning. “Catie, don’t be a fool, girl. You remember what I said about—about the future.”
Caitlin gave a trilling laugh. “The future,” she said. “Who cares about the future? I think people should live in the present. What do you think, Leighton?”
Leighton hesitated. Caitlin could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he tried to figure out which way the wind was blowing.
“Uh, well, I, ah, I think there’s merit to both convictions.”
“What you think there’s merit to,” Jonas said with a lazy smile, “is not ever sayin’ nothin’ that might put you on my bad side. Ain’t that right, nephew?”
Leighton’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “If I seem to defer to you, Uncle, it’s only because you’re so wise.”
Oh, yuck, Caitlin thought, but she gave him a big smile. “You should have been a diplomat, Leighton, you’re so good with words.”
Leighton beamed. “Thank you, my dear. Actually I did think about going into government service once, but—”
“But Washington decided there was enough hot air blowin’ around without your help,” Jonas said, and took the cigar out of his mouth. “You come by for some reason, or was it just to make sure my day would get off to a bad start?”
Leighton cleared his throat. “Actually,” he said, “actually…”
“Were you going to invite me to brunch?” Caitlin said sweetly.
“Damnation,” Jonas roared. “Girl, are you crazy?”
She was. She had to be. Tarantulas were the only things creepier than Jonas’s nephew and when you came down to it, she really didn’t have anything against tarantulas. They were big and ugly but they were honest, unpresupposing creatures, and they worked hard for a living. Leighton, on the other hand, was ta
ll and good-looking, but he was as deceitful as the beauty in the eye of a hurricane, and he’d never worked a day in his life, thanks to the oil leases his father had left him.
Leighton wouldn’t know a callus from a cauliflower, she thought scornfully. He wasn’t anything like Tyler. She had the feeling Tyler had worked hard for what he had. It had left him with a man’s hands, callused, not soft. With a man’s muscles and body. Such a hard, beautiful body…
“Leighton?” she said briskly. “Did you want to take me to brunch, or didn’t you?”
“Catie.” Jonas’s words barely concealed the steel in his voice. “I want you here today.”
Beads of sweat popped out on Leighton’s forehead. “Jonas wants you here today,” he mumbled.
Like hell he did, Caitlin thought. She turned to Leighton and put her hands on his shoulders.
“Why, Leighton, I’m disappointed. I thought it was you who wanted me!”
Leighton shot Jonas a quick, helpless look. “I do. Of course, I do. I mean…I’d love to take you to brunch, Catie, but Jonas just said—”
“Who cares what Jonas said.” Caitlin smiled into Leighton’s eyes. “Oh, come on, Leighton. We’ll have such fun. Don’t you want to have a good time with me today, hmm?”
