“By ‘in too deep,’ I assume you mean falling in love with her? Why are youafraidof falling in love?”
“I’m too busy for a relationship. I’m running one of the largest ranches in the state. I don’t have time for a wife or kids. It wouldn’t be fair to any woman to saddle her with this.” He waved his arm in a wide-sweeping circle. Despite his talk with his mother two nights ago, he still had doubts he could make a woman happy and continue ranching.
Would Emily leave as soon as her brother’s killer was caught? If she felt as strongly about him as he did her, would she ask him to give up his ranch? He didn’t want to be forced to choose again.
Lydia’s words echoed in his head.“You’re always working. You never have time for me. I don’t want what’s left of you after you’re done with the cows and the horses. I won’t play second fiddle to animals.”
Ben chuckled, pulling Jake out of his musings. “Believe me, when you get a wife, you’ll find it’s easier to make time for her than you think.” When Jake rolled his eyes at Ben, he continued talking. “I hate to break it to you, but you don’t run one of the largest ranches in the state.” Jake was about to argue with him, but Ben rushed on. “Zane does. And he’s doing a mighty fine job. You simply own the ranch. You can do that and have a family. From what Robert tells me, you’ve been around plenty in the past week while Emily has been recuperating.”
“I had to hire another man to make sure I wasn’t dumping too much on Zane by my stepping back a little.”
“So? You can afford it, can’t you? Let me tell you, spending your time with a woman is much more enjoyable than spending it with cows or money.”
“Of course, I can afford it, but that’s not the point.”
“What is the point?”
“It drives me crazy to hang around the house, doing so little. I couldn’t do this forever.”
“Are you sure it’s the inactivity that’s driving you crazy and not a certain someone?” Ben eyed him knowingly.
Jake chose not to answer. Ben was right. When he was away from Emily, working, he thought about her constantly. He was also right that as long as Zane was around, the ranch would function fine without him.
Maybe he shouldn’t fight his attraction for Emily so hard. He didn’t want to miss out on loving a woman—Emily—because he wasn’t willing to take a chance. Maybe he needed to alter his priorities.
Despite his desire to be out working hard all day, spending time with Emily brought a different kind of fulfillment. Warmth crept through him as he remembered the feel of her silky soft tresses slipping through his fingers and the taste of lemonade and strawberries on her lips.
Then he remembered Emily called someone named Joe, and his spirits dampened.
Time to change the subject.
“So, you think it’s a professional that’s after Emily?”
“I do. And you insisting she come back here concerns me.”
“Why? We’re keeping a guard posted.”
“The fact that he already knows where she is, puts her, as well as everyone else on this ranch, in danger. There are a lot more ways to the ranch house than by the front gate.”
“You think I made the wrong choice by bringing her back here?” Jake would never forgive himself if he failed Emily or the rest of his family.
“I think you made the choice Emily needed you to make. There’s nothing wrong with that, but you need to be vigilant.”
Jake’s stomach bottomed out.What have I done?
* * *
Jake turnedoff the television and tossed the remote on the couch. It was almost eleven, and everyone had gone to bed some time ago. He doubted he’d sleep, since he’d done no physical activity today, but it was time to turn in. All he’d done today was worry about Emily.
When he’d come into the house after working on his truck with Ben, the others were finishing dinner. It didn’t look like Emily had eaten much, again. Shortly after dinner, she expressed a desire to go to bed, asking his mom for a sleeping pill.
It would take her a long time to come to terms with her loss, but he hoped she could indeed deal with it. He remembered how long it had taken Ben to accept the loss of his wife and daughter. Ben shut everybody out for months.
Would Emily do the same thing? She had no family, but she had friends. Would she let them help her through her grief?Will she let me help her?
Duke, the Australian shepherd, who slept on the back porch, barked, followed by Ace, the border collie who slept on the front porch. The hair on Jake’s neck stood up. The dogs only barked when a stranger came around.
Jake pulled a shotgun and a handful of shells from the gun safe in his office. He loaded the gun on his way out the back door. He stepped out on the patio, scanning the yard. By the light of the full moon, he spotted Duke at the side yard, near the stables.
