Promise Her (25 page)

So he let her go without a fight. Not because he wanted to, but because he couldn’t force her to stay. Lisa wasn’t the kind of woman to take orders. He’d found that out the hard way.

His house was miserably lonely. He missed having her here—seeing her walk down the hall, sitting at the breakfast nook, seeing her smile.

He almost laughed. He’d found the one woman that could make him consider the possibility of forever, and he couldn’t get her alone long enough to tell her.

That was going to change.

Tomorrow.

When his cell phone rang the next morning and the ID showed it was one of his lady friends, he didn’t bother to answer.

He couldn’t eat. The thought of spending a day alone without Lisa didn’t appeal.

She was all he could think of.

Putting on his running shorts, he took to the streets. He’d run this off. The first mile he did his best to block her from his thoughts.

Maybe if he thought of Harold?

Douglas had been as surprised as Lisa to see him back at the rodeo after being arrested. The man had nerve. But Douglas still worried that Harold’s lawyer would raise reasonable doubt in the jury's mind. Douglas ran faster, eating up the next mile, his arms pumping in rhythm. He should do this more often. Stay in shape.

Try not to think.

It didn’t work.

He turned around and headed back to the house.

His legs on fire, his lungs wheezing for air, he pushed the last half-mile as if he were going for the gold.

By the time he sprinted onto his front lawn, his chest heaved from the unaccustomed exertion. Bending at the waist, it took a minute to catch his breath.

Legs wobbly, he went inside and headed for the shower.

Dressed again, he realized how useless it was to try to forget Lisa. He had to do something about it.

He picked up the phone, dialed the ranch, and breathed a sigh of relief when Donovan picked up.

“Is Lisa all right?”

The family had worried over her from the minute this whole thing started. She was part of them. What would they think when he told them how confused he was about their relationship now?

“She’s fine.”

“What’s up?”

“Just wanted to talk.”

“About?”

Douglas cleared his throat. “How did you know Phyl was the right woman for you?"

"Why are you asking?"

"How did you know you could spend the rest of your life with one woman and be happy doing it?”

“Got it bad, don’t you?”

“What are you talking about?”

Donovan chuckled. “Okay. To answer your question: when Phyl was in my head more than anything or anyone else, I knew I was in trouble. Well…not trouble exactly. But I knew she was special. Then when she was in danger and I thought I might lose her, I didn’t know if I could live my life without her.”

“I see.”

“Is that how you feel about Lisa?”

“How did you figure that out?” The fact someone in the family had, made him wonder who else knew. Would they accept this new and different relationship? Would they rally behind Lisa, tell her she shouldn’t get emotionally involved with him because of his reputation? Or would they tell Douglas to not take this any further—to walk away and leave Lisa alone?

Donovan chuckled. “Wasn’t hard. Mom and I could see the change when Lisa was in the hospital. Never saw you so worked up. We figured it out then.”

“Jeez! Mom, too? You could have said something.”

“You didn’t know it yourself. At least not then. So I’ll tell you now I think it’s great.”

“You do?”

“Don’t sound so surprised. We always knew you’d settle down someday. I’m glad it’s with someone who is already a member of the family.”

“Son-of-a-gun,” Douglas murmured.

“When are you going to tell the rest of the family?”

"Well, um, that's the problem. Lisa doesn't know yet how my feelings have changed."

“What the hell are you waiting for?”

****

“You’re such a pretty girl,” Lisa said, patting the sorrel on the nose. “What do you think, Patty?”

Patty rubbed her hands over the copper-red chestnut colored horse, her eyes bright enough to light up a dark room. “She’s the most beautiful horse I’ve ever seen.” She patted the chestnut’s face, then leaned close to lay her head on the horse’s neck.

Lisa smiled at Patty’s excitement. She wanted a horse as badly as Lisa had when she was a young girl. But Patty never expected to have one. It was going to be wonderful to give her this gift, see her blossom and learn.

“How would you like to have her?”

Patty looked up. “Have her? You mean like be mine?”

Lisa grinned. “Exactly like that.”

“Ohmygosh, Lisa. This is too much.” She hurled herself into Lisa’s arms. “You’re not kidding me are you?”

“Nope,” Lisa smiled as she disengaged Patty’s arms. “If we get the go ahead from the SPCA, I’ll get her for you. But she’ll be your responsibility. Jonah will feed and water her during the week, but on weekends you’ll have to exercise her. I have Sugarplum to take care of. I can’t handle two horses.”

“I’ll do it. I’ll even try to come more often. Maybe I can get my dad to bring me during the week.”

“There’s one condition your parents made.”

Patty’s face darkened. “You talked to my parents? What did they say?”

“You can’t slack on your chores, and you have to keep your grades up. If not, the horse has to go.”

She brightened immediately. “Not a problem.”

Lisa wouldn’t have made the offer if she hadn’t first spoken to Patty’s parents. When they understood the purchase would amount to the fees the SPCA charged, and Lisa would bear the cost of stabling and feeding the animal, they agreed, but only after making their stipulations clear.

Patty was smart. If she continued on the path she was on, she would get a scholarship to college. It was something she wanted. But right now, all she could see was a beautiful horse.

The girl jumped up and down like the kid she was.

The woman, Teena, from the SPCA, came over. “This looks serious.”

Earlier, Teena had explained that the horse hadn’t looked too good when they brought her in. She was still underweight, but they had cleaned her up, brushed her until her hair and mane had a bit of a shine. She would look even better with proper feed and care.

“What’s her name?” Patty asked.

“We don’t know,” Teena replied. “I guess her new owner will have to name her.”

Patty turned to Lisa. “She’s so beautiful and she needs me. I can take care of her, feed her, brush her like you do, Sugarplum. I’ve helped you enough on week-ends to know what to do and how to do it.”

She rubbed her hands down the horse’s back. “I can do it, Lisa. I’ll take real good care of her. I promise.”

Lisa smiled. She could see herself at the same age, being just as excited, making the same promises. No wonder she and Patty were so close. Over the past year, Patty had changed from a sullen almost-teen who was prone to using potty words, wearing clothes too old for her and unsuitable make-up, to a lovely young lady who was interested in everything around her. Even her schoolwork had improved. Lisa was so proud of her.

Lisa ran a hand over the sorrel’s back and down her legs. She seemed to have good breeding, was tame and gentle. She was just what Lisa had been looking for, had known it when she was here yesterday. “If we pass the requirements for adoption, I see no reason to let this beauty get away. Maybe you can join the 4-H club at school.” It would look good on her college application and it would be good for Patty.

“I’ll do it,” Patty said, running to Lisa and giving her a big hug. “I love you, Lisa. You’re the best.”

Teena turned toward the office. “Why don’t we get that paperwork started?”

Patty stayed with the horse while Lisa answered questions and filled out papers. “How soon will we know?”

Teena looked at the calendar. “I don’t think it will take long. Tomorrow maybe.”

“I hope Patty can wait that long.”

Teena chuckled. “I think she’s in love.”

“I know just how she feels. I felt the same way when my dad gave me my first horse.”

When she was finished filling out forms, Lisa found Patty taking picture after picture.

It took a few more minutes before Lisa could tear Patty away and only then by bribing her with a pizza.

“I can’t wait until she’s mine,” Patty said when they were on their way back to Lisa’s apartment, the aroma of pizza wafting through the car.

“They could turn us down,” Lisa warned. She didn’t want the girl’s hopes dashed, but she needed to be aware of what could happen.

“Why would they?”

Lisa didn’t think they would, but it was possible. “They’re very strict with their adoptions.”

****

Douglas slammed the phone down, clamped his Stetson on his head. He wouldn’t phone Lisa and be put off again. She’d been avoiding him too long. It was time for that talk.

He was going to set her down, tell her things had changed—ask her how she felt, what she thought.

Their kiss had to affect her, too.

His cell phone rang. Seeing it was from the office, he sighed and took the call. It took more than thirty minutes to settle a problem with a client. By then he was a bundle of nerves.

Racing toward Lisa’s apartment, Douglas vowed that nothing and no one would keep them from having that much needed conversation.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Lisa pulled into her parking space and grabbed the box of pizza.

Inside, she made a salad before she sat down next to Patty.

“I’m too excited to eat,” Patty said.

Lisa chuckled at the girl she’d come to love. She’d never seen Patty as thrilled as she was now. All because of a horse that was going to take a lot of work, care and love. “I’ve never seen you pass up pizza.”

Patty played with her camera. “I can’t wait to show everyone her picture.”

“Have you thought of a name?”

Patty bobbed her head. “How does Sugar Cookie sound?

Lisa laughed.

The doorbell rang. Lisa ruffled Patty's hair and went to the door still chuckling. When she opened the door, Lisa's smile died. “If it isn’t the elusive, Ms. Storm. What are you doing here? What do you want?” From the look in her eyes, the woman was looking for trouble. Lisa couldn’t have that, not with Patty in the house. "Never mind. We'll talk later. I'm busy now." She started to close the door.

Storm pulled a gun from her pocket.

Lisa gasped and pushed the door harder. She had to get Patty out of there. “What are you doing with a gun?” Lisa demanded loudly. “Put the damn thing down, Storm. Now. Or I’m calling the cops!” she yelled, making sure each word was louder than the last.

Still trying to block Storm’s entry, Lisa pushed with everything in her to keep the woman out, but Storm’s strength was born of anger and Lisa felt the door give way. She fell back as it slammed against the wall. “Damn you, Storm!" she shouted. "I don’t want you here!”

She prayed Patty would take the hint. Lisa never cursed, had told Patty more than once cursing wouldn’t be tolerated.
Let her be smart enough to get out and call
911.

“Bitch!” Storm yelled as she shoved her way inside.

What did this crazy woman want? Was Storm here to kill her? The gun said yes.

But why?

Storm’s breath heaved from exertion. Or was it excitement? Either way, she was in a dangerous mood.

Storm motioned with the gun and edged Lisa backward.

"We can go in here." She pointed to a small room off the entry she used as an office. Anything to give Patty time to escape.

"Too small. Into the kitchen."

The order couldn't be ignored. Lisa took a deep breath to remind herself she had to stay calm. If Patty
was
still in the kitchen she'd have to find a way to get the gun from Storm. How she'd do it she didn't know, but...

Too soon they were in the kitchen. No Patty. Lisa breathed a sigh of relief as she looked around for a weapon. She was too far from the knife drawer. Besides, who would be dumb enough to use a knife against a gun?

Storm pointed the gun, a deadly look in her eyes Lisa had never seen in anyone before. Fear cut off her breath as Lisa's mind reeled with the reality she could die any minute.

“Why me?” Lisa asked past her terror. Her only hope was to keep Storm talking until somebody
, anybody
, got there.

“You ruined
everything.
” The gun wavered from chest to head and back. If it went off, she was done for.

"How?" she squeaked, not really expecting an answer. "What did I do?”

Storm smiled grimly. “I had it made until you accused Harold of murder.”

“But…but he killed your sister. Aren’t you upset?”

“You’re as dumb as the rest. Harold doesn’t have the smarts to pull off something like that.”

For a moment, Lisa thought her heart was going to leave her chest. She felt light-headed. Storm was Tempest's killer? “How could you kill your own sister? Your twin? Is money that important to you? Wait. Are you the one who took money out of your sister's trust?”

"A dummy could have figured that out. Of course I did. Nothing to it."

"But why?"

A wild look came into Storm’s dark eyes. “I hated Tempest,” she snarled.

Holy cow. Help had better be on the way.

“Why?” It was all she could think of to ask. All she had the breath left to ask.

“She was the perfect daughter, the one who could do no wrong. I was the outcast who did nothing right. Our parents never cared about me. Only her.”

“That's not true, Storm," Lisa said, doing her best to gentle her voice. "They came after you when you ran away. They wouldn’t have if they didn’t love you.”

Storm’s voice hitched. “They didn’t try very hard. The reality was they didn’t want me back. Their half-hearted attempt to find me meant nothing. Their money was half mine you know, but they left it all to the Perfect One. Why wouldn’t I want her dead?”

How twisted was that?

“I had Harold all set up. Kill my bitch sister, marry her grieving husband, get the money. When I got tired of the asshole, I’d take care of him too. Then you came along.”