Finders Keepers (16 page)
Authors: Fern Michaels
“Toast, juice, and some coffee.”
“No, no, that will never do. This is a ranch. You have to order steak, potatoes, and eggs with a side order of flapjacks. Then you walk away chewing on an apple with a banana in your pocket.”
Jessie laughed. “If I ate all that I wouldn't be able to get up. I don't plan on working the north forty or whatever you call it.” She looked pointedly at the table set for two.
“My mother left an hour ago for Washington. If you know how to reach my father, I suggest you do it now. We have a two-hour time difference, so it's barely seven in D.C. I'll give Mattie your order. How does one egg, bacon, toast, juice, and coffee sound?”
“Wonderful. Where is the study?”
“Go out through the dining room, down the hall, and it's the second door on the left.”
Jessie closed the door of the study, her gaze searching for the heating vents. Would Tanner go to her room to listen? Did the vents carry to other rooms? Did he know voices carried to the second floor? She was so nervous she was shaking as she fumbled in her back pocket for the card with Irene's phone number on it. She dialed the number, her fingers tapping the glass topped desk. The phone was picked up after the third ring. “Irene, it's Jessie Roland. Can I speak to the senator, please. In the shower? Will you give him a message? Mrs. Kingsley left an hour ago for Washington. I heard her talking last night to her son. The voices carried up through the vents. She said she knew where you lived and she was going there. When I came downstairs this morning Tanner said his mother had left for D.C. He seemed to think it was imperative I call you. I gather this all has to do with a Christmas party Mrs. Kingsley is having. I'm so sorry, Irene. Is there anything I can do?”
“No, child. I'm sorry you're involved in this messy affair. I'll give Angus your message the moment he gets out of the shower. Thank you for calling. It will give me time to arrange something for the twins so they aren't here when Alexis arrives. Don't worry about any of this, Jessie. Angus and I can handle it. We've been doing it for more years than I care to remember. Give Resa and Tanner my love.”
“I will, Irene. Good-bye.”
“What did Pop say?” Tanner asked when Jessie took her seat at the table.
“Your father was taking a shower. I left a message.”
“That's it. You left a message.”
“Yes. What . . . what will happen now?”
“God only knows. Pop won't come back with my mother if that's what's worrying you. In my opinion they only have two options. Either they go somewhere or they don't answer the door. The twins will be home, so they have to consider them. My guess would be they'll pack up and go to Irene's family's horse farm in McLean. She goes there in the summer to get out of the heat in Washington. The acreage is fallow now. Irene rented it out for a few years to some foreign diplomats when she needed money for the twins' college tuition. Her husband left her with a mountain of debts. Mostly bad investments. It took her years to pay them off. The diplomats paid some very high rent and installed a high-tech electronics fence that surrounds the entire house. You can't get near the place because it's riddled with barriers and split-rail fences. You need passwords and all that junk. If they go to the farm, they'll be safe. I don't even know if my mother knows Irene still owns it. It's not our problem, Jessie. I say eat hearty so I can show you around the house, the grounds, and then we'll go riding. After that we'll head for town and have lunch with Resa. I called her, and she's going to take the afternoon off.”
Jessie ate the food she didn't want just so Tanner would smile. He did. “Okay, get your apple off the sideboard and stick a banana in your pocket. Jesus!” Tanner said slapping his forehead. “I forgot to ask, do you ride?”
“I do. I haven't ridden in years, though.”
“We have plenty of liniment. You won't be doing any dancing this evening. I'm glad you're staying, Jessie.”
“How did that happen? Me staying?”
“You saw the error of your ways. No one wants to be alone over the holidays, and I think you took pity on me.”
“Do you know anyone whose family is happy?” Jessie blurted.
“When I was in college I used to beg my buddies to invite me to their houses for breaks. Resa did the same thing. The best times in my life were the years I went to Bluefield, West Virginia, to my best friend's house. Jack had nine brothers and sisters and they all came home for Christmas with their kids and dogs and cats. I slept on the floor in a sleeping bag with everyone else. I'd wake up in the morning and there was a dog, a cat, and a toddler in my sleeping bag with me. Each year it was a different kid and each year he or she would wet his or her pants and I would be full of dog and cat hair for a week. They had wonderful neighbors. Bob and Miss Liz and their son Rand. Their last name was Henry. It was a pretty little town with wonderful people. We ate Polish food the whole time. The kind that sticks to your ribs. Every single holiday I gained ten pounds. Every Christmas the whole kit and caboodle went out to cut down the Christmas tree, and we all decorated it. The dogs and cats stepped on the ornaments and broke them. No one got excited. We sang carols. Off-key of course. I will treasure those holidays until the day I die.”
“Are you still friends with Jack?”
“Jack died on his way back to school his last year of college. January 17. The time of his death was listed as 3:11
P.M.
He died of massive internal injuries. A tractor trailer went out of control on an icy road. Jack didn't make it. I almost didn't make it either. I took that entire semester off and just bummed around. I still dream about him, especially at this time of year. I went back one year loaded down with presents. The family welcomed me with open arms, and so did the Henrys, but it wasn't the same. Nothing is ever the same. You get one shot, and it's up to you not to screw it up. Pop had a second chance with Irene, and he grabbed it. If Jack hadn't been in my life, I probably wouldn't be so tolerant of Pop's relationship with Irene.”
P.M.
He died of massive internal injuries. A tractor trailer went out of control on an icy road. Jack didn't make it. I almost didn't make it either. I took that entire semester off and just bummed around. I still dream about him, especially at this time of year. I went back one year loaded down with presents. The family welcomed me with open arms, and so did the Henrys, but it wasn't the same. Nothing is ever the same. You get one shot, and it's up to you not to screw it up. Pop had a second chance with Irene, and he grabbed it. If Jack hadn't been in my life, I probably wouldn't be so tolerant of Pop's relationship with Irene.”
Jessie digested the information. It was obvious Tanner was waiting for her to make a comment. “I don't know what I would do if something happened to my best friend Sophie. I don't know how I would react to death. Not well I'm sure. You said you were going to show me the house.”
“That in itself is a downer. My mother calls in this agency every year to set things up. It's . . . it's different.”
“It certainly is different,” Jessie said later as she looked around the huge drawing room. “It reminds me of a science fiction layout. Does your mother like the color blue?”
“I think the decorator told her she liked blue and pearl white. She was really put out when none of her friends copied her theme, as she put it. Most of my parents' friends use the traditional red velvet and live evergreens. I'm partial to colored lights myself. Irene decorates her house every year. It always smells so good. At least that's how I remember it. I personally consider this an eyesore. Every room pretty much looks like this one, right down to the bathrooms. White tree, blue lights, and blue balls. All the flower arrangements are blue and white with white candles. Even the gifts are wrapped in white paper with blue ribbons. I go to Resa's on Christmas Eve and sleep over. She has a small tree that's artificial because she lives in an apartment. At least it's green. We give each other a present and drink some wine. We share old times and talk about the future. Together we cook a big dinner just for the two of us. We do the same thing for Easter. Resa will do anything to avoid coming out to the ranch.”
Jessie listened, unsure if she should say something or not. Was he testing her? If so, why? Who would he report back to, his mother or his father? “Your sister isn't married then?”
“She came close but no, she isn't married. My mother stuck her nose into things, and before either Resa or I knew what happened, Michael was gone. Resa had a breakdown of sorts and has never forgiven my mother. I thought my father was going to bodily throw my mother out of the house over that incident. If he had, I would have helped him. I tried to find the guy on my own but didn't have any luck. Resa and I both think he was bought off. If so, he wasn't the one for Resa. It was years ago. Irene helped her through the worst of it. A science-fiction scene, huh?”
Jessie laughed. “Uh-huh.”
Tanner reached for her hand. “Come on, we're going riding. You can ride Tulip. She's Resa's horse and very gentle. Just say âWhoa' when you've had enough, okay?”
“Okay.” She hated to let loose of his hand. A warm, tingly feeling spread throughout her body as she waited for Tulip to be led out of the barn. “When is the big Christmas party?”
“Saturday. The day after tomorrow. You're staying then?” Jessie squared her shoulders. Either she was making the biggest mistake of her life, or she wasn't. Only time would provide the answer. She nodded.
It was almost noon when Jessie called a halt, and said, “Whoa, Tulip.”
“Had enough?”
“For today. Is all this land yours?”
“Five thousand acres. See that outcropping of rocks? That's our southern boundary.”
“Who owns the land beyond the boundary?”
“The Holts. The Kingsleys' archenemies.”
“Like in the Hatfields and the McCoys?”
“You could say that. We don't talk about the Holts, and we don't socialize with them either. It's just the way it is.” There was grudging respect in Tanner's voice when he said, “Luke owns most of Abilene.”
“Who's Luke?”
“He used to be a friend. Living on a ranch so far out doesn't allow for too many friends. Luke lived next door, figuratively speaking. As kids we were inseparable. Things went wrong. What say we head back to the ranch and get duded up so we don't smell, as Resa puts it, horsey. Want to race?”
“Sure.”
He rode like the wind. The best Tulip could do was a slow canter. Jessie reined in the horse ten minutes after Tanner handed his horse over to the groom. She slid from the saddle to land in Tanner's arms. “I am going to feel this tonight,” she told him.
“The Jacuzzi might help. We can do that after dinner along with a good bottle of wine.”
“I didn't bring a bathing suit.”
Tanner grinned. “I don't remember saying anything about a bathing suit. Thirty minutes, casual dress.”
Jessie laughed as she made her way to the second floor. She was surprised to see that her suitcases had been unpacked, her clothing pressed and hung neatly on hangers inside the spacious closet that was scented with lemon verbena, as was the dresser drawer where her underwear and other things were aligned neatly. She frowned. She hated people doing things like this for her. It reminded her of the conditions she'd lived under back in Charleston where housekeepers and maids, not to mention her mother, saw to things on an hourly basis. She was halfway to the bathroom when she turned and made her way back to the dresser with its sweet-smelling pomanders. First she messed up her underwear and took out her pajamas to throw them into the second drawer. Her stockings, gloves, scarves, and wool socks went into a third drawer. Everything was messy now, just the way it was back in Washington.
Standing under her second shower of the day, Jessie let her thoughts drift. When would Alexis Kingsley return? Today, tomorrow? Would it really be possible to stay out of the cold, arrogant woman's way? She shuddered under the warm spray when she recalled the science-fiction Christmas decorations. Christmas parties were supposed to be festive. How could such a gloomy atmosphere downstairs make for a festive party? What difference did it make? It wasn't her party. All she had to do was attend. If she didn't want to attend, she could plead a headache or she could return to Washington. The big question was, did she want to return? A niggling voice reminded her of Irene's whispered words and her own recollections of the first time she'd seen Tanner Kingsley. Her destiny. Anything was possible.
Jessie toweled herself dry, her thoughts still on Tanner. He seemed to like her. He was certainly gallant, and she loved his sense of humor. But more than anything she loved his defense of Irene Marshall and his feelings for the older woman.
A quick glance at her watch told her she had seven minutes until it was time to meet Tanner downstairs. Since she'd brought little in the way of clothing, it was easy to pick an outfit. Sophie had taught her about mixing and matching using accessories so one didn't have to travel with five suitcases. She slipped into a Jonathan Logan cranberry-wool dress she particularly liked. A single strand of pearls with matching earrings completed her outfit. A lightweight white-wool jacket graced her shoulders. She was ready with two minutes to spare.
“Right on time,” she laughed as Tanner tapped his foot with pretended impatience
“You look good, and you smell even better. What is that stuff you're wearing? Send me a gallon so I can sniff it after you've gone. I'll sprinkle it everywhere.”
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