Kitabı oku: «Claiming Her Cowboy»

Chapter One

If Lucy Maxwell had learned one thing, it was that when life appeared to be going smoothly, it was time to listen closely for the other boot to drop.

Because it always did.

The attorney who stood at the head of the conference table, in his finely tailored suit, with his impossibly thick black hair and deep charcoal eyes, was definitely sigh-worthy. He even had a slight dimple when he smiled. Which he didn’t do very often. Except for his off-center nose, with the scar at the bridge, he was perfect. It was a good thing she was not taken to sighing over near-perfect men with dimples.

The man was unfamiliar to her. After working closely with the Brisbane Foundation for several years, she thought she knew everyone. But not him. She would have definitely remembered Jackson Harris.

He began to speak. The icy disdain that laced his voice as he reviewed the last twelve months of charitable funding to Big Heart Ranch obliterated any fanciful thoughts in Lucy’s head. Instead, she blinked to attention and sat up straight, adjusting her sundress and blowing her thick fringe of bangs from her eyes.

“After a lengthy consultation with the foundation accountants, I recommend a significant reduction in funding to Big Heart Ranch for the upcoming fiscal year,” he concluded.

Lucy gasped at the attorney’s words. The sound was loud enough to cause the board members seated at the enormous conference table to turn and stare. She fanned her damp skin with the meeting agenda. It seemed that the cool air had been sucked from the room, leaving it as sweltering as the Oklahoma summer outside the conference room windows.

Reaching for her water glass, Lucy took a long drink. If ever there was a need for divine intervention, it would be now. Big Heart Ranch’s own budget for the next year could not be finalized until the foundation’s donation had been secured.

She should have suspected something was up when her presence was requested at this meeting. Usually, the ranch accountant met with the Brisbane Foundation accountant. And it was generally a simple transaction. Not this time. This time the director of the ranch was invited to the meeting. Lucy took her director responsibilities seriously and had arrived early and eager.

The start of the meeting seemed a lifetime ago. Now her hands trembled as she set the glass back down. Lucy clasped her fingers together tightly in her lap and turned to the other end of the table, where the chief executive officer of the Brisbane Foundation sat.

“Mrs. Brisbane?” Lucy prompted.

Meredith Brisbane had paled beneath her silver coif. She cleared her throat and touched the pearls at her neck, as if to reassure herself she was still breathing.

“Lucy dear, I can assure you this is as much a surprise to me as it is to you. Though my nephew is newly appointed to the foundation, I am certain he has our best interests at heart.”

Nephew? How had she missed that significant bit of information?

“However, through no fault of his own,” Meredith added, “Jackson has a limited understanding of why we partner with your organization. I take full responsibility for this omission. Lucy, perhaps you could enlighten him on how funding to the ranch is utilized.”

“Yes. Yes.” Lucy nodded, while her mind raced. “I’m happy to.”

After all, Big Heart Ranch was Lucy, and her brother, Travis, and her sister, Emma. They’d single-handedly built the Timber, Oklahoma, local charity for orphaned, abandoned and neglected children.

Lucy paused, her confidence waning. She could provide the smug attorney with numbers until the ranch cows came home. Like the fact that the average cost of raising a child was well over two hundred thousand dollars, and that the ranch was raising sixty children. However, something told her that Jackson Harris would not be impressed with numbers. What would get through to this man?

She blinked. Like the kick of a stubborn mare, out of nowhere, inspiration struck. Lucy smiled and turned to face him.

“Spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations can’t possibly show you the true heart of our ranch, Mr. Harris. The best way to understand the big picture is to come to the ranch. Spend time with us. I’d love to show you our ministry in action.” She paused. “Of course, I’m happy to provide you complete access to our financials, as well. You have an open door to anything you need from us.”

It was Jackson Harris’s turn to show surprise. He opened his mouth, but before he could respond, his aunt chimed in.

“Why, Lucy, that’s a splendid idea. I couldn’t agree more. He needs to see the scope of the ranch’s reach.”

Jackson’s gaze moved from his aunt and then back to Lucy. He narrowed his eyes. “What exactly did you have in mind?” The words were measured and precise.

Lucy scrambled for a plan. “Summer,” she burst out.

“Summer?” The attorney tugged at the collar of his dress shirt.

“Yes. We’re about to start our summer program at the ranch. It’s our busiest and most ambitious undertaking of the year. Not only do we work with our own sixty children, but we invite the children from the State of Oklahoma orphanage in Pawhuska to the ranch for vacation Bible study at rotating intervals.”

He adjusted his silk tie and said nothing.

Lucy continued. “We’re about to start our annual series of old-fashioned trail rides and campouts.” She flashed him what she hoped was a confident smile. “The summer events are capped off in August, with a black-tie fund-raising gala hosted by your aunt.”

Had she imagined his jaw tightening as he reached for his water? The board members seated at the table glanced away and carefully examined the paperwork in front of them. An awkward silence stretched for moments until a melodic ring filled the large room. All hands shuffled and reached for cell phones. Meredith shot Lucy an apologetic smile as she retrieved her own phone.

“I’m so sorry. I must take this.” Phone in one hand, cane in the other, Meredith stood and wobbled precariously. As she reached out for the table ledge, her cane fell to the thickly carpeted floor with a soft thud.

Lucy jumped up in time to grasp Meredith’s forearm and gently steady the benefactress.

Jackson was around the table and at his aunt’s side in seconds. “Are you okay, Aunt Meri?” he asked. Genuine concern laced his voice—the first sign of humanity Lucy had seen in the man.

“Oh, my. Sorry to give you two a fright.” Meredith glanced from Lucy to her nephew and frowned. “An inner ear issue, the doctor tells me. Sometimes I’m a bit off balance. This getting-old stuff is not for sissies.”

“How are you feeling now?” Lucy asked.

“I’m fine. Thank you, dear. I simply need to remember not to stand quite so fast.”

Lucy nodded as she picked up the ebony cane and handed it to Meredith.

Head held high, Meredith’s measured steps were nothing short of regal as she moved across the carpet. The room remained silent until the door closed behind her.

Harris again turned to Lucy. The man’s unflinching gaze was anything but warm and fuzzy. The dark brows were drawn into a serious frown.

Lucy glanced around the room. Had she missed something here? Why was he so irritated?

“Visiting the ranch is out of the question, Ms....” He faltered for a moment. Clearly, he’d forgotten her name.

“Maxwell. Lucy Maxwell.”

“Ms. Maxwell, I can’t—won’t—leave my aunt.” Harris gathered up his papers and stood without sparing another glance in her direction.

Lucy folded her hands and willed herself not to panic.

The other boot had officially dropped.

* * *

“Jackson? Is Lucy gone?” Meredith asked from the doorway of the great room.

Jack turned from the tall window that overlooked the front lawn and circular drive. “If she drives a beat-up mustard-colored Honda, then yes, Aunt Meri, she’s gone.”

Lucy Maxwell. He shook his head. He’d never met anyone like her before. A sunflower. That was exactly what she reminded him of, with that cap of dark hair and round chocolate-brown eyes, along with a smattering of freckles on her golden face. A petite woman, she wore a pale yellow dress along with red hand-tooled cowboy boots. When she walked, the dress fluttered around her calves, capturing his attention, whether he liked it or not. And he did not. Con artists came in pretty packages too, he reminded himself. He’d been taken in once before, and even put a ring on her finger. Never again.

“When will you start at the ranch?” Meredith asked.

“Hmm?” He blinked and met her gaze.

“What are you thinking about?” His aunt smiled. “Lucy, perhaps?”

“What? No.” He gave his aunt his full attention. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“I asked when you will be heading to Big Heart Ranch.”

He paused for a moment at the question, planning his strategy. “I’m not leaving you to spend time observing a ranch.”

“Oh?” She smiled. “Then you’re approving the original donation amount?”

Jack crossed the room and put an arm around his aunt’s thin shoulders. “Aunt Meri, you know you’re my favorite aunt.”

She chuckled. “I’m your only aunt.”

He grinned. “True. And while you are as generous as you are kind, you can’t give away the foundation money to every shyster that comes along.”

Meredith gasped. Her sharp blue eyes blazed, taking him back to his childhood days of misbehaving and facing his aunt’s wrath. She had never hesitated to serve up well-deserved punishment for his crimes. Jack took a step back when she straightened to her full five-foot-nothing height.

“Lucy Maxwell is not a shyster!”

“What do you really know about the woman, Aunt Meri?”

“What I know is that the bulk of the foundation’s income is from mineral and oil rights. My husband inherited those rights from his great-great-grandfather, who was one-half Osage Indian. The foundation was set up to ensure that the funds were invested locally.” She pinned her gaze on her nephew. “Big Heart Ranch is as local as it gets, and they are an investment in this community’s future.”

He wasn’t going to point out that she hadn’t answered his question. Instead, he tried another tactic.

“You’ve proposed nearly doubling the donation to this ranch. Why?”

His aunt narrowed her eyes and exhaled sharply. “Have you been talking to your father?”

“What makes you say that?”

“He’s made it quite clear that he believes I’m not fit to manage the foundation. Oh, he thinks he’s being subtle, sending you out here as in-house counsel, but I know what he’s up to.”

“Aunt Meri, Dad’s concerned about your health, that’s all.”

She offered a harrumph at his words. “I’ll tell you what I told him, Jackson. Vertigo does not equal diminished mental capacity.”

“What about the chemo?”

“My treatments are completed and I’ve been given a clean bill of health by my physicians. The cancer is in remission. Shall we have my oncologist contact your father?”

“Aunt Meri, please don’t get upset. The bottom line is I’m here as the foundation’s attorney. Not to inspect a ranch in Timber.”

“I don’t see why you can’t do both. They have internet and telephones at the ranch, so you’ll be able to stay in touch. My assistant has all the numbers. Besides, while the ranch is on the outskirts of Timber, you’re still only twenty minutes away.”

“Twenty minutes is forever if you need me.”

She paused and gave him a hard, assessing glance. “What are you really doing in Oklahoma, Jackson? You’ve been in New York since forever. I have a hard time believing your father didn’t pressure you to come out here.”

“Not at all. Dad would never do that.”

“Oh, please. Your father could talk a peacock out of his feathers.”

He laughed. She was right, he’d give her that. Except the truth was more complicated. His father did want him to check on his aunt. It was a coincidence that Jack desperately needed a change of scenery.

“He told me the position was open, and you were vetting candidates. Perhaps it was... What’s that saying of yours? A God thing.”

Her expression said she didn’t believe him for a second. “You made it clear once you left for college that you prefer the big-city skyscrapers over the red clay of Oklahoma. You’ve been gone a long time. What happened to make you quit your job and take on the foundation position?”

“Let’s just say that I’m reevaluating my options.”

“In my day, a man like you would have been considered a catch. Why haven’t you settled down, Jackson?”

“Aunt Meri, I’m not much of a family man.”

“What does your fiancée say about that? Isn’t she still one of your options?”

“That’s over.”

She slowly shook her head and glanced past him, out the window. “I’m so sorry to hear that. What happened?”

“Let’s just say she was more interested in my wallet than me.”

“Ahh, so that’s why you’re being so hard on Lucy.”

“My personal life has nothing to do with Big Heart Ranch.”

“No?” She cocked her head.

Silence settled between them. “What’s going on?” his aunt finally said. “You’ve been unhappy for some time. I could tell from your phone calls.”

He met his aunt’s perceptive gaze. Was he unhappy? Or simply disenchanted and searching for something real in his life?

She frowned. “You always wanted to make a difference, Jackson. What changed?”

“Make a difference? Did I say that?” He scoffed. “If I did, then you’re correct. That was a long time ago. What’s changed is that I’m not an idealistic attorney anymore.”

“I think maybe deep inside you are.” She placed her hand on his arm. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad to have you here, but as far as Lucy Maxwell and Big Heart Ranch are concerned, you couldn’t be more off base. I still contend that you can’t make a decision to cut off their funding without investigating the situation.”

“Off base? I did my research. That ranch is a money pit.”

She offered a sound of disgust. “That doesn’t mean they’re mismanaging the funds. I don’t believe for a minute that anything shady is going on at that ranch, and I challenge you to find one bit of evidence to support your claim.”

Meredith gripped her cane and walked to the wall of family portraits. Her hand trailed the ornate, gilded edges of the frames. A huge portrait of Jack’s grandfather hung next to a smaller one of her husband, followed by another of Jack’s father. She stopped at a painting of Jack with his twin brother, Daniel. They were nine years old, mirror images, with matching grins and dark curls. There, however, the similarities ended. Daniel was charming, outgoing and impulsive, while Jack was shy, hesitant and introverted.

A wave of sadness and guilt slammed into him as he stared at the painting. Twenty-five years had passed, yet nothing would ever be the same. Daniel was gone and it was his fault. He’d been minutes behind his brother that day and hadn’t been able to save him.

“I miss Daniel,” Meredith murmured with a soft sigh. He was surprised when she turned and wrapped her arms around him in a loving hug.

The scent of his aunt’s lavender perfume carried him back years. “I miss him, too, Aunt Meri,” he whispered.

His father’s words from when Jack left New York raced through his thoughts. When we lost your brother and your mother left, your aunt was there for both of us. This is an opportunity for you to be there for her. She won’t ask, but Meri needs help.

He swallowed hard as he stared at his brother’s smiling face. “I’ll go to the ranch, Aunt Meredith.”

Jack grimaced when he realized that the words had actually slipped from his lips. When his aunt’s face lit up, he knew that it was much too late to take them back.

“Oh, Jackson, I knew I could count on you to do the right thing. I’ll call Lucy immediately.”

The right thing.

For a moment, he’d let his guard down and sentiment had strong-armed him. Jack took a deep breath. He suspected his orderly life was about to be blown wide-open, and he placed the blame squarely at the feet of Little Lucy Sunshine, the director of Big Heart Ranch.