Suited to be a Cowboy (5 page)

“Mom and I,” Melissa corrected automatically, earning a
scowl from her son.

“Then I will have to come back and investigate for myself.
Thanks for bringing me here, Aaron. It’s truly a special place. An oasis where
you’d least expect it.”

“What’s an oasis?”

“It’s like a piece of paradise, beautiful to see and a
pleasure to have.”

“Oh. Okay. Whatever. Can we go home now?”

“Sure. I’ll give you a hand. That’s a mighty big horse,
yet you handle him well. How long have you been riding, sport?”

Aaron scrunched up his nose and thought for a moment. “I
can’t remember when I couldn’t ride. My Grandpa taught me.” He looked at his
mother, his face registering sadness.

Melissa nodded. “That’s right. Gramps used to sit you in
front of him and take you for rides before you even knew how to walk. He loved
you so much.” When her voice choked on the last words, Jimmy was afraid she’d
break down and cry. Instead, she hurriedly mounted her horse and said, “Race
you back.”

It was a challenge he desperately wanted to win, but Jimmy
found himself slowing down to allow Aaron to charge on ahead. He followed close
behind Melissa, always on the lookout for the unexpected, but nothing
uneventful happened and they arrived home safe and sound.

They led the horses into the biggest of the barns, curried
them, and then turned them loose into the corral, except for Sherry. Melissa
and Aaron followed as Jimmy led Sherry to her stall in the foaling barn and
settled her down for the night.

“Thank you for the evening ride, Jimmy. It was fun,” she
said as the trio walked to the house.

“The pleasure was all mine. You’re both excellent riders.
I enjoyed the experience and the pond.”

Her soft chuckles sounded husky and downright sexy as they
carried to him on the evening breeze. A thrilling sense of awareness tingled up
his spine. It had been almost a year since a woman had that effect on him. Why
now? And why her? He hadn’t even been here twenty-four hours yet. Geesh! He
definitely needed to get a grip and quit fantasizing about his boss.

They entered through the back door into a mudroom off the
kitchen. Jimmy pulled off his boots, set them to one side, then made his
excuses and headed to his room to gain some much-needed control. That woman
drew him in faster than he could reel in a fish dangling from a hook.

He paced for a while, trying to get his thoughts under
control, then spied the boxes stacked in one corner. Physical labor, just what
he needed.

Jimmy unpacked the rest of his belongings and put them
away, not that he had much in the way of sentimental stuff, just his diplomas
and grad pictures, but it felt more like home once he had his things situated.
The framed picture of him and Sherry now hung over the mantel. A cozy fire in
his sitting room on a stormy winter’s night was something he’d look forward to.
Or would Melissa want his company when storms raged? Curled up in front of the
fire in the main room, they could keep each other warm during the long winter
nights. His mind instantly conjured images of the two of them together…keeping
warm.

Then again, she seemed pretty independent. Storms probably
didn’t bother her at all. After all, taking over the running of a ranch with
little or no experience couldn’t be easy and yet she’d tackled it head-on.

The patio doors beckoned. He slipped into a pair of sneakers
and ventured out into the courtyard, solar lights guiding his footsteps as he
meandered along the paths. Hiding amongst the shrubbery toward the back end of
the garden, he discovered a gazebo and stepped inside to sit for a spell.

It was so peaceful and quiet out here, he could hear the
wind whisper through the leaves surrounding the gazebo. Faint, but still
audible, was the sound of water splashing into the fountain. Frogs, crickets,
night birds calling to each other. A peaceful quiet that, until now, had eluded
him. There was nothing even remotely this peaceful in the city, not even around
his cottage, hemmed in on both sides by other houses. Even the parks were
engulfed in traffic noise and fights. Give him the country any day.

Coyotes yipped and howled in the distance, moving in for
the kill. Probably stalking a deer was his guess. White-tailed deer were such
beautiful and graceful animals. It was a shame really, but nature had to run
its course.

Jimmy rose to his feet and continued along the path, which
circled back to the house. This might fast become one of his favorite spots, when
he wasn’t out riding. He thought of the wild Mustangs he’d seen. Was it
possible to catch one? Would he be fast enough? Skilled enough? Maybe this Tippy,
the trainer Melissa spoke of, would help him round up a few. Jimmy smiled. He
didn’t want to be greedy, but it was such a great opportunity to build his herd
for cattle ranching. He’d catch and train as many as he could in preparation
for that day.

His steps led him full circle and he stopped when he came
upon his employer sitting at the edge of the fountain, trailing her fingers in
the water.

“Penny for them.”

She jumped and turned in one fluid motion, her hand rising
to her chest. “Jimmy! I didn’t know you were out here.”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you would’ve
heard me coming.”

“No. I didn’t. I was,
er
,
thinking.”

“Must be deep thoughts,” he teased.

She sighed heavily. “Yes, very deep.”

Concerned, he moved closer. Close enough to reach out and
touch her, but he kept his hands to himself. “Did all that talk of your
grandfather bring you down tonight?”

“No, but I do miss him. He had such a presence. You know?
The kind of man you knew you could depend on.”

“Well, I’m definitely not your grandfather, but if you
need anything, just ask. I’ve been known to be dependable at times.” He smiled,
trying to relieve some of the tension in the air. He couldn’t be this close and
not want to hold her.

She let loose a shaky laugh. “Thanks, but when my husband
walked out I swore never to depend on a man again. I’m doing okay. I’ll manage.”

“All right, but if the need arises, I’m your man.”

Melissa smiled then and stepped aside, away from him. “I’d
better go in. Morning comes early on the ranch. Good night.”

“Good night, Melissa.”

She crossed to another set of patio doors. He groaned. Now
he knew where her bedroom was. How would he ever find sleep tonight knowing she
was just across the courtyard? He gave his head a shake and moved toward his
room, silently closing and locking the door behind him, not to keep her out,
but to remind himself to stay inside.

He showered and crawled into bed, the flowery scent of the
sheets reminding him of Melissa as he snuggled under the covers.

*
* * *

Did I secretly want
his company tonight? Wait out there for him to see me? Come to me?
The man
oozed testosterone…tall, dark, muscled, and as handsome as could be. But it was
much more than his physical appearance. He was intelligent, polite, and
considerate. Look at the way he’d showed up with that game for Aaron. Jimmy was
altogether too perfect for her peace of mind. And what was even worse…she had
the strangest feeling that he belonged here on the ranch, as ridiculous as that
seemed. She resolved once again to keep their relationship strictly business.
Once through that type of hurt was enough to last her a lifetime. But as she
dozed off to sleep, her newest employee remained at the forefront of her mind
and featured in her dreams.

For the first time since she’d taken over the ranch, Melissa
overslept. An active mind and even more active dreams had kept her awake most
of the night. She staggered into the kitchen for her morning coffee and found
Jimmy and Aaron at the table finishing their breakfast. Her son was raving
about his game to Jimmy, who listened attentively and inserted a comment here
and there.

“Good morning,” she said, not feeling it, but making the
effort to appear normal.

“Hi, Mom!” Aaron got up to put his plate in the
dishwasher. “I’m going to play my game.”

“Okay, but don’t stay on it all day. There are other
things to do.”

His look told her what he thought of that idea, but he ran
down the hall toward the game room. She became aware of Jimmy’s intent gaze as
he gave her white shorts and orange tank top a quick once-over.

“Good morning to you too. I take it you’re not working
with the horses today?”

Sheila poured her a coffee and passed it to her as Melissa
took a seat at the table. “Not today. I know what kind of shape the accounts
are in so I thought I’d better stick close in case you need anything. Didn’t
want to just throw you in at the deep end and waltz away.”

“Thanks.” He grinned wryly. “I did take a quick look last
night—at the program and the overflowing in-tray. I’ll begin by sorting things
out chronologically. If it appears anything is missing, I’ll let you know.”

“I know next to nothing about the paperwork end of things.
Everything should be there. I just kept adding receipts and stuff to the pile
as they came in.”

Jimmy cringed. “Stuff? Are you referring to bank
statements, payroll, and such?”

It was her turn to grin. “Yeah, and anything else I didn’t
know what to do with.”

He nodded. “Why did you wait so long to hire someone?”

Melissa snorted a laugh. “I’ve posted that same ad since
February. No response until yours came through followed by several others.
Never rains for what it pours, but I’m glad to have you here.”

“Thanks. All right if I grab another coffee to take to the
office?”

“Yeah, sure. Have you still got the keys?”

“Yes, sorry I forgot to give them back to you.” He dug in
his pocket and pulled them out.

“That’s okay, but I’ll trade you.” She held out a key ring
with several keys on it. “I’ll grab a refill and join you in a minute.”

“No rush. Have your breakfast. Your cook makes a mean
omelet. Thanks, Sheila. What time is lunch?”

“Twelve sharp. I’ll ring the office extension when lunch is
ready.”

“Good, I tend to get immersed in my work. See you then.”
He filled his mug and sauntered from the room.

“Quit staring and close your mouth, girl. A person would
think you’d never seen a man before.”

Melissa turned to Sheila, laughing uproariously. “Sheila,
that one is
all
man. Definitely worth
a second look, especially with those tight buns encased in denim.”

“And he’s appreciative too.” Sheila preened as she
delivered a plate filled with omelet and toast to Melissa. “He likes my
cooking.”

“Who wouldn’t? Much better than my burnt offerings.” Melissa
took a bite of the chicken omelet. “And your omelets are to die for, so fluffy
and full of flavor. Thanks for looking after us so well.”

“That’s what you pay me for. Now, eat up and go see to
that young man. I’ve been in your office. How you can find
anything
in there is beyond me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Melissa figured she might even enjoy working
in the office today.

Chapter Five

Immersed in sorting files, his back to the door, Jimmy
didn’t hear Melissa until she stood right beside him. He acknowledged her presence
with a nod and caught her staring at him.

“What? Do I have egg on my face?”

“Um, yeah, right here.” She ran a finger down the side of
his cheek, her touch soft and warm, intimate almost. “Got it.”

“Thanks.” He played along with it, knowing there hadn’t
been anything there. Like him, she probably just wanted to touch him.
Mind on your work, McGovern.
“I have a
small stack of papers there.” He pointed to the desk. “If you could take a look
and jot down what they were for, it’ll make life easier when I input the
entries.”

“Sure.” She pulled a chair up to the corner of the desk
and grabbed a pen. The first few went okay, but then she seemed stumped. “I
have no idea what this was for.” She passed him the page.

“No problem. Brian signed for it. Make another stack for
anything you’re not sure of and I’ll consult with him after we go through all
this.”

Already, he’d ordered most of it by date, but it was slow
going. He had circled payroll dates on a calendar for easy reference. So far,
they were all there, but as he’d suspected, no deductions. “I’m afraid your
employees aren’t going to like me much when I have to start catching up on
deductions. It’s weird that no one questioned you on it in all this time.”

“Why would they?” she asked.

He paused for a moment, then turned to face her.
Unbelievable!
“I don’t know about you,
but any time I’ve received a paycheck, there was a statement of earnings and
deductions attached.”

“Oh, well I’ve never worked so how would I know?”

“Never?” he asked, flabbergasted at her admission.

She shrugged. “Never had to. Mom and Dad were into horses
too. They owned a racetrack. He signed it over to her one day and walked
away—from the racetrack and from us. When Mom died, she left everything to me.
It was,
er
, quite a substantial amount.”

“I’m sorry for your loss. Do you still own the track?”
Jimmy frowned. He hadn’t seen any papers to do with a racetrack, but then, it
was a separate business. “What is the name of it? Where is it located?”

“Dehavilland Downs in Kentucky. That’s where we take the horses
when we’re ready to sell.”

Whooeee
.
That place was a popular spot.

“Who runs it in your absence? You have a manager or
accountant there?”

“Marcus Winthrop, my ex-husband. He does both.”

Jimmy didn’t like the sounds of this setup. “So, you’re
still friends with your ex? He sends regular statements?”

“Hardly! He walked out on us. I wouldn’t give him the time
of day. The statements are kept on file at the track.”

Jimmy laid his pen carefully on the desk, then ran his
hands through his hair, gaining a measure of calm before he spoke. “Melissa,
pardon me for asking, but don’t you care about the track?”

“Of course I do. Marcus, for all his faults, assumed the
responsibility when he realized that I was not management material.”

“And he’s still in control?”

“Yes. Why?”

Jimmy couldn’t believe it. “Come on now. You can’t be that
dense.”

She stiffened in her seat and glared at him. “Apparently,
Mister
Ranch
Accountant, I can be.
Care to fill me in?”

Her voice was laced with sarcasm. Her entire demeanor changed
as if she was ready to rip a strip off his lowly hide.

Jimmy groaned aloud. “Sorry for my choice of words, but you’ve
never inquired as to how the business is doing? What about the profits? Where are
they deposited?”

“If you must know, we didn’t need the money so we started
an educational trust fund for Aaron with the proceeds. Marcus said the track
was losing money lately though. Nobody wanted to gamble on horses any more. He
was talking of selling it.”

Man, oh man. This
just gets worse and worse.
“Did he ever have you sign anything? A bill of
sale, IRS statements, anything?”

“Well, yeah. I have to sign the IRS
forms. I own the place.” Her voice rose to almost a shriek as she continued. “What
are you trying to tell me?”

Jimmy drew in a deep breath and laid his suspicions on the
line. “Melissa, Dehavilland Downs is
the
place to go if you own a fast horse. Guaranteed, it’s making money—lots of it. Google
it if you don’t believe me. But insist on receiving those statements, every
last one since he took over.”

“Six years! You want me to go back six years?” She stared
at him as if he’d grown horns.

He shrugged. “It’s your call, but I think you should. Who
has access to Aaron’s trust fund?”

“Marcus was the one to set it up, so I suppose he does.”

How could she be so
careless with money?
I've had to work
hard for every damned cent and here she was, probably sitting on a gold mine
.
Her blasé attitude about it tempted him to just up and leave. Walk out. Let her
fix her own messes. He leaned forward in the chair, as he wondered what to do.

“Jimmy, do you really think he’s been cheating us?” Her
voice was soft, low, hesitant.

“I don’t know, but if you’re not getting statements, then
I would think he was hiding something.”

“I messed up. Didn’t I?” Now she sounded contrite, almost
apologetic.

“Afraid so. I truly don’t understand how you allowed this
to happen.”

“I loved him. Trusted him. After all, the funds were going
into our son’s account. Do you honestly think he would cheat Aaron? His only
son?”

Her voice was quieter, almost a whisper. He glimpsed the
pain of betrayal in her eyes.

“Like I said, I don’t know him. I have no idea what kind
of man he is.”

“He’s a scoundrel, but I never for one moment thought he’d
cheat Aaron. What do I do now?”

“For starters, I’d fire his ass and have the books
audited. I’d offer to do it, but I’m going to be busy here. Want me to
recommend someone? I have contacts in Kentucky.”

“Yes, please. What else?”

“You need to hire a lawyer and cancel his access to
everything you own, including Aaron’s trust fund.”

Her face brightened. “I do have a lawyer. He was Gramps’
lawyer and he’ll look out for our best interests. I’ll give him a call.”

She reached for the phone and promptly burst into tears.

Ah, heck!
He
hated when a woman cried. He hauled her up against him in a comforting hug. “You’ll
get through this. There’s no shame in trusting your spouse, but it’s time to do
some investigating. You’re stronger and smarter than he is, now prove it.”

She pulled away and looked up at him. He was so tempted to
kiss her and get that pressing need off his mind. Could it make matters any
worse? She needed comforting and he was there.
Ah, hell.
He lowered his head, a smidgeon at a time, giving her
plenty of chances to pull away. She didn’t. His lips touched hers, softly,
briefly, testing the move. When she kissed him back, he couldn’t believe the
passion she ignited. Tightening his hold, he brought her closer so she could
feel the effect she was having on him—and with just a kiss. That move sealed
his fate.

She stepped back, breaking his hold, and dried her tears.
When she spoke, her words came out slow and succinct. “Thank you. I needed
that, I think.”

“My pleasure,” he said, shifting his position to avoid
embarrassment.

“If Marcus has been siphoning funds from Aaron’s educational
trust, I’m going to nail his hide to the wall.”

Jimmy smiled, glad to see her spunk returning. “That’s the
spirit.”

“No one makes a fool of Melissa Dehavilland and gets away
with it! Now, let’s make those calls.”

“I’d start with the lawyer. Tell him of your suspicions and
see what he advises.”

“Good plan.” Melissa consulted her little back book, picked
up the phone, and dialed. “Mr. Danby, please.” She spoke for a few minutes,
leaving her name and number, and then replaced the receiver. “He’s with a
client. I’ll have to wait for him to call back.”

Jimmy nodded. “So let’s go through the rest of these papers.”

“Okay.”

“That’s it,” Jimmy announced quite a while later. “Unless
you have another stack hiding around here somewhere.”

“Nope. Want me to talk to Brian about these other
receipts?”

He shook his head. “I’ll need to stretch my legs and check
on Sherry, so I can hunt him down then.”

“How about another coffee?” She rose.

He smiled and nodded absently, already immersed in entering
data from the stack of papers before him. “I wouldn’t say no.”

She left for the kitchen and he was still sorting papers
when she returned.

“Hey, I thought you’d forgotten my coffee.”

“No, just a minor skirmish with Aaron. Sometimes it’s a
fight to get him away from those video games. I sent him outside. Besides, I
made a fresh pot.” She set his coffee within easy reach and sat down in the
chair facing the desk.

He took a sip. “Mmm, good. Melissa, I don’t see the sales
slips for those horses you were transporting when we met. Any idea where they
are?”

“Ugh! They’re probably still in my briefcase. Just a sec.”
She picked up the case from across the room, placing it on a side table. She
withdrew two large manila envelopes and passed them to him. “This one contains receipts
for the expenses I incurred during the trip, and this one holds the bills of
sale for forty-seven horses.”

Jimmy pulled out the bills of sale. Attached to each were
certified cashier’s checks for the full amount. Stunned, he looked at his
employer. “You didn’t make the deposit? Melissa, you have a small fortune here.
Why didn’t you make the deposit in Kentucky?”

“Couldn’t. I forgot the deposit book. We need to go to the
bank anyway so I can add you as signing authority on the account.”

“There’s no need for that.”

She leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and
smiled. “Yes, there is a need. You will be handling the accounts for the ranch.
That means purchases, payroll, and deposits.”

“Then set it up for two signatures on each check.”

“Why? Are you trying to tell me you’re not trustworthy?”

“No, it’s just in your own best interests to keep control
of the funds.”

“What if I’m away and you need to buy something?”

Jimmy stared at her long and hard. She fidgeted, crossing
one beautiful leg over the other, picking lint off her blouse, wiggling around
on the chair, anything to avoid looking at him, or so it seemed.

“If you’re away, I’ll pay for any purchases and you can
reimburse me. But you need to learn how to read accounting reports. Deal?” He
held out his hand.

“Deal.”

She took his proffered hand, and the warmth of her touch went
straight to his heart. He had to get away from her for a few minutes. Regain
some control. His emotions had never been in such a quandary. “Okay. I’m off to
speak with Brian.”

“What if the lawyer calls back? What do I say? You’re the
one who has all the answers for any questions he might ask.”

“You’re an intelligent woman and you know enough to give
him the gist of it. Don’t underestimate yourself.” He wrote something on a slip
of paper and passed it to her. “Here’s my cell number. If you need me, holler,
but I suspect you’ll do just fine.”

Even after the way she’d messed up, he still believed she
was a smart woman. It hadn’t taken much of a nudge to get her moving on his
suspicions. He could be wrong, but the entire scenario stunk. Her marriage had
ended, her grandfather died, and they’d moved. Three major upheavals within six
months. Her main concern during that time would’ve been her son, so Jimmy could
understand her steering clear of the racetrack and any contact with her ex.

When Jimmy went outside, Sherry was in the home corral. He
headed in that direction and let loose a shrill whistle. The horse’s head
jerked up. She whinnied and reared, showing off, then ran like the wind to meet
him at the fence.

He caressed her velvety nose. “Hey, girl. Lovely morning.
Are you enjoying the new digs as much as I am?” She whinnied again, her upper
lip curling as if she was laughing. “Yeah, I know. Lots better for you than
being cooped up all day.”

“I do that too,” said a man’s voice from directly behind
him.

Jimmy whirled in surprise to see Brian, the ranch foreman.
“It’s been just my horse and me for a long time. Got to be a habit.” He grinned
at the older man. “Thanks for taking care of Sherry and letting her out for a
run. She’s already in heat and we need to keep her close to the home paddock,
away from the stallions.”

“Not a problem.”

“Good. Now for ranch business. I was just about to go
looking for you.”

Brian nodded, giving him a thoughtful look. “Is that so?
What can I help you with?”

Jimmy passed him the stack of papers. “Can you tell me
what these purchases were for?”

Brian glanced at the first page. “Tractor repairs.”

He passed it back and Jimmy made a quick note on it. They
continued in this vein until they reached the final page. “You have a good
memory. Some of these go back to the first of the year.”

“Been doing this a long time, sonny. You get to know parts
and supplies after a while.”

“Yes, I imagine you do. I must get back to the office and
start entering this stuff. Thanks for your help and for seeing to my horse.”

“No problem. She’s a beauty. I’ll look after her for you.
Seems like you’ll have your work cut out for you playing catch-up. Melissa’s
not one for bookwork and except for figuring the men’s wages, I’m not either.”

“Speaking of which, warn the men that I need to catch up
on their deductions. I’ll have to deduct double the required amount on each pay
to account for them before year-end.”