Wyoming True - Diana Palmer Page 0,36
his shirt. He was new to the job. Doing okay so far, though, Jake thought.
He opened the door for Jake, panting from the supreme effort to wake up and dress in a flash.
“You’ll get used to it,” Jake told him with a sardonic grin. “I’m impetuous.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Take a minute to finish getting dressed,” Jake said before he closed the door. “I’ve got a few texts to send before we go.”
The driver chuckled. “Yes, sir. Thank you.”
Jake sat in the back seat, idly pulling up screens and sending text messages to two managers about problems at the companies he headed. By the time he finished, his driver was inside, cranking the car. Fred was still adjusting to his impetuous boss. His former driver had quit rather suddenly, citing a sick relative back home in Montana. This one had come through an agency, but he seemed trustworthy, and he was an excellent driver.
“Where are we going, Mr. McGuire?” he asked.
“Ida Merridan’s place,” he said.
“Yes, sir.”
* * *
BELATEDLY, JAKE TEXTED Ida and asked if it was all right for him to come over. He had something to discuss with her.
She didn’t answer. He stared at the screen, wondering if she was avoiding him because he’d ignored her for so long, or if she was in trouble, or if she’d gone riding. He knew she took her saddle horse out when she wasn’t hurting too much. She could be out on her property. That worried him. Her ex-husband had made threats. He should have been looking out for her. More and more, he felt responsible for her. She was more vulnerable than any woman he’d ever known. He didn’t like it, but he couldn’t help caring. He didn’t trust women. Not even Ida. Especially Ida.
* * *
HER JAGUAR WAS sitting in the driveway. Nobody seemed to be around. The driver opened the door for him, and Jake went up on the porch and knocked.
Nothing stirred inside. He paused, not certain what he was going to do next, when a shadow moved inside.
There was the sound of a cane, and he saw Ida coming slowly down the hall to the front door. She opened it.
“You look like hell,” he said abruptly.
“Thanks,” she bit off. “You look charming yourself.”
He turned to the driver. “Go read something. I’ll page you when I’m ready to go.”
The driver laughed. “Yes, sir.”
Jake entered and closed the door behind him. He propped Ida’s cane by the door, picked her up and started for the living room.
“I didn’t...” she began indignantly.
He bent and kissed her eyes shut. “Hush,” he said softly.
She was startled by the tenderness, something she’d never really had from any man except this one, and tears stung her china-blue eyes, overflowing.
He sat down in a big, cushy armchair with Ida in his arms and proceeded to kiss all the tears away. Which only made them fall faster.
“Now, now,” he said gently. “What’s been going on over here?” he added, pretending innocence.
“Somebody came over here and took something like a quirt to my best saddle horse, Rory,” she choked. “His poor flanks had deep cuts. I called the sheriff. He’s investigating. But I know it’s Bailey. He called me last night, again, and said I could pay him off or there might be more little accidents!”
“Damned idiot,” he muttered.
“I told the sheriff. He’s going to get a warrant for Bailey’s phone records.” She looked up at Jake with wet eyes. “I was so worried about Silver and Gold, even though Gold seems to be healing well...”
“We can take them to my place,” he said and waited for her to tell him what he already knew.
“That’s so kind of you,” she choked. “But Ren Colter had them taken to his ranch. He has state-of-the-art security. Bailey would be crazy to go over there and make trouble.”
“He would,” Jake agreed. “Ren has J.C. Calhoun on the payroll.” He shook his head. “Not a man you’d want to meet in a dark alley if you had bad intentions. He’s calmed down a bit since he married, but he’s still a force to reckon with when he’s on the job.”
“So I’ve heard.” She let her cheek lower to Jake’s chest and she forced her painful body to relax. She closed her eyes with a sigh. She always felt so safe with him.
“Did your ex-husband admit that he’d hurt the horses?” he asked at her ear, his chin on the top of her head.
“He didn’t come right out and say anything,” she said wearily. “But