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“Guess I forgot to mention that Wolf is going to be boarding with us,” her grandfather said.
“I was driving by your place to take a look at my property when I saw the Room for Rent sign,” Wolf said, mounting the porch.
Sarita stared at him. “You and me under the same roof?”
“I know we used to get on each other nerves as kids but we’re adults now. I figure we can keep our tempers in check.”
“Sure, no problem.” She knew she’d sound childish if she voiced any doubts, but already the thought of his continued presence was causing an uneasiness within. He’s right, grow up, she ordered herself.
“I told him he could have kitchen privileges as long as he cleans up after himself. And he’s paying extra to have his evening meal provided,” Luis spoke up. “I warned him it wouldn’t be anything fancy. I’ve got a stew cooking for tonight. Figured you could make some corn bread.”
“Corn bread, sure,” she managed levelly.
Wolf nodded his approval. “Stew and corn bread sound great.”
Getting over the shock of seeing him, Sarita began to wonder how much of the conversation between her grandfather and her he’d overheard. Voices traveled on the arid air. Her shoulders stiffened with pride. So what if he knew she was on her way to spinsterhood? Even if he hadn’t overheard, he’d have guessed it soon enough. He knew she was twenty-eight. And it was obvious she wasn’t married. If he stuck around, he’d soon learn she didn’t have any prospects, either. “I’ll go check on the stew.”
After giving the stew a quick stir, Sarita could not keep herself from doing a little eavesdropping at the living room window. Wolf had settled into the chair beside her grandfather on the front porch, and the men were discussing the weather and whether it would be a hard winter or not. Self-mockery spread over her face as she admitted to herself that she’d been afraid they’d been discussing her. You’re the last subject in the world that would interest Wolf O’Malley, her inner voice chided.
Leaving the men on their own, she busied herself in the guest room, making certain it was dusted and fresh linens were on the bed. A single leather satchel lay on the floor, still packed. Staring down at it, she recalled that once during her teenage years she’d found herself unexpectedly attracted to him and visualized him suddenly looking her way, seeing her as appealing and coming to call.
“Now that was a moment of lunacy,” she grumbled to herself. Scowling at the bag, she hoped he would change his mind and seek other quarters.
“There’s nothing in there that will bite.”
Jerking her gaze to the door, she saw Wolf standing there, watching her from behind a shuttered mask. “I was just getting your room into shape,” she managed evenly.
He continued to stand in the doorway, blocking her escape. “If you’re worried that I’ll harm you or your grandfather, I promise you I won’t.”
She frowned in confusion. “That thought never crossed my mind.”
He scowled with disbelief. “I know the stories Kath erine spread about me. Everyone in town thinks I pushed her down those stairs.”
“Not everyone. I never did. And neither did my father or grandfather.”
His expression remained skeptical.
Feeling the need to prove her words, she added, “It’s not that we didn’t think she could have provoked you into it, it’s just that if you had done it, you would have admitted it.”
Bitterness etched itself into his features. “It’s a shame my father didn’t have the same faith in me.”
“From what I’ve heard, Katherine can be very persuasive.”
Purpose replaced the bitterness on his face. “This time she’ll learn that she’s met her match.”
Sarita suddenly was worried for him. She’d seen Katherine in action and knew the woman could be a formidable foe. “Be careful,” she warned.
“I plan to,” Wolf assured her.
She found herself considering offering her aid, should he need it, and recalled the last time she’d tried to befriend him. No sense in embarrassing herself a second time, she decided. “I should get back to the kitchen.” Edging toward the door, she gave him space to move out of her way.
Stepping aside, Wolf let her pass. As she headed down the hall, he watched her. Earlier in the day, Bradford had offered him a room at his place and he’d accepted. But when he’d driven out to the land that had brought him back, he’d passed the Lopez property and seen the Room for Rent sign on their gate. His curiosity still piqued by his early-morning encounter with Sarita at the cemetery, he’d called Bradford and told him that his plans had changed.
He frowned as he started to unpack. Sarita Lopez wasn’t pleased to have him there. That was obvious. So why the visit to his grave? Her explanation that she thought someone should remember him seemed lame considering their history. “Joe always said trying to read a woman’s mind is harder than figuring reasons for God to have created mosquitoes,” Wolf muttered under his breath. “And he’s right.”
His expression turned grim. “Except where my stepmother is concerned.” He understood her very well. She was spoiled and selfish and would use any means to achieve her aims.
He smiled to himself as he put his clothes in the bureau. He’d come prepared to fight for the land that was his. Now there would be no need. Not only did he have the land, but a chunk of his father’s wealth would be his along with a percentage of the family business. And he planned to make his presence felt.
The slamming of a car door caught his attention.
“Where is he?” a familiar female voice demanded.
Wolf strode down the hall, halting a few feet from the front door as Katherine pushed open the screen door and entered. “So you are alive.” Her gaze raked over him. “I was in Houston when Greg called to tell me the news. I had to come see for myself. ”
“Greg Pike?” Wolf spoke in an easy drawl, keeping his posture relaxed as if her presence was of little concern. “Bradford did tell me you’d hired him to be your lawyer. Bradford said you even tried to have him removed as executor of my father’s will and Pike put in his place.”
Fury flashed in Katherine’s eyes. “Bradford Dillion was your father’s lawyer. He has never had my best interests at heart.”
“Bradford Dillion is an honorable man.”
Katherine shrugged as if that meant nothing to her, then her expression turned icy. “I didn’t come here to discuss Bradford Dillion. How much is it going to cost me to get you out of my life?”
“I’m planning on staying. My roots are here.”
Katherine’s cheeks flushed with rage. Issuing a snort of disgust, she pivoted and strode out of the house, ignoring both Sarita standing in the living room doorway and Luis who had risen and followed in Katherine’s wake to the screened door.
“So you’re gonna build yourself a home on Willow’s land?” Luis asked as Katherine’s car sped away.
Wolf shrugged. “Haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet. But there’s no reason for Katherine to know that.”
Sarita eased back into the living room out of view of the men and drew a long, calming breath. She had tensed during the confrontation between Katherine and Wolf, her body readying itself to intercede if Katherine tried to harm him. Shaken by the strength of this unexpected instinct to protect him, she continued into the kitchen and sank into a chair at the table. Get a grip, she told herself. Wolf O’Malley was the last person in the world who needed or wanted her protection.
“I apologize for that scene just now.”
Sarita jerked around to see Wolf crossing to the sink. The kitchen was the largest room in the house and had always seemed spacious to her until this moment. His presence suddenly made it seem small and crowded. Not wanting him to guess he was the reason she was so shaken, she said, “Your stepmother has always scared me a little.”
“She’s always scared me, too,” he admitted with a crooked grin.
The unexpected boyishness on his face caused a curious curl within her.
“Glasses?” He motioned toward the cabinets.
“The one to your right.” Remembering her manners, she added quickly, “Would you like some iced tea or soda?”
“Just water.” Running a glassful, he drank half, then leaning against the counter, studied her thoughtfully. “The way I remember it, you and I didn’t get along very well from day one.”
Her gaze rested on his well-worn boots as her mind flashed back to their childhood. About a mile and a half farther down the road that ran in front of her grandfather’s home, Frank O‘Malley had built Willow O’Malley stables and corrals on the property that had been Willow’s dowry so that she could keep horses and ride her land when she pleased. Even before he could walk, Willow would bring her son out to ride with her.
Frank O’Malley had hired Luis to caretake the stables and corrals and tend the horses. When Sarita was barely five, Luis began taking her along with him, thus hers and Wolf’s paths had crossed very early. She raised her gaze to his face. “You were always trying to boss me around.”
“You were always doing something that could get you hurt.”
The same reproving tone he’d used when they were both seven years old laced his words and, as they had those many years ago, her eyes flashed with defiance. “We had a couple of horses, and I had my own pony. My grandfather had taught me all about taking care of them. I knew what I was doing.”
Wolf remembered the small, dark-haired girl who had glared at him just as the woman she had become was glaring at him now. “Guess we still know how to get on each other’s nerves.”
“Seems that way,” she admitted.
Another memory of their distant past returned. “You still owe me a thank-you,” he said.
Sarita knew what he was talking about. They’d been fourteen at the time. She’d been out riding alone and her horse had been spooked by a snake and thrown her. When the horse came back to the barn alone, her grandfather had organized a search. It had been Wolf who had found her. Despite their combative association, she’d experienced a tingle of excitement that he’d been her rescuer. Then he’d spoiled everything. “Enduring a half hour lecture from you in that know-it-all tone of yours killed any gratitude I was feeling.”
Wolf recalled her sitting on a rock, her shirt torn and leg bloodied. He’d hated seeing her injured. Even today the memory bothered him. “You shouldn’t have gone out riding alone.”
The hairs on the back of her neck bristled. “I was old enough not to need a chaperon.”
“Obviously you weren’t.”
“We were the same age, and you thought you were old enough to go riding alone,” she snapped.
Wolf eased himself away from the counter. “Looks like we still mix like oil and water.” Striding to the door, he paused and looked back. “Thought maybe you were stopping by my grave because you felt bad about our fighting all the time. Guess I was wrong. Seems that’s part of our nature.”
As his footfalls echoed down the hall, Sarita fought the urge to scream. No one could rile her the way Wolf O’Malley could.
Chapter Three
Sarita had just put the corn bread in the oven when again the sound of a car coming down the drive caught her attention. Setting the timer, she headed to the front door. Through the living room window, she saw the red, convertible sports car come to a halt. A curl of dislike wove through her as the pretty, blond-haired driver emerged. Janice DuPree Corbett was a couple of years younger than Sarita. A member of Katherine’s social circle, she considered anyone outside of that circle dirt under her feet and to be ignored.
“Wolf! I had to see for myself. You really are alive,” Janice drawled, her expertly made up lips curving into a smile as she approached the porch. “Now, you’re a sight I never thought I’d see again.”
Choosing not to continue to the front door, but instead moving to the window, Sarita saw Wolf ease himself off the porch railing and into a standing position to welcome the newcomer. Luis rose, also.
Reaching the level of the porch, Janice hugged Wolf.
“I was in Houston all day. When I got home, there was a message on my answering machine from my mother telling me you were back in town. I just couldn’t believe it.”
Sarita noted that Janice had not even glanced toward Luis.
Realizing his presence was not going to be recognized by Wolf’s visitor, Luis reseated himself and returned to his whittling.
Janice’s gaze shifted from Wolf to the house. “And why in the world are you staying here?” The implication that this ranch was much too far beneath him was clear in her voice. A sensual smile spread over her face. “You’re welcome to come stay with me.”
“I don’t think your husband would like that,” Wolf replied. “Jack and I never did get along.”
Janice gave her hair a playful flip. “Jack is ancient history.” Her smile became enticing. “I’ve come to take you to dinner. Mother hired some fancy French chef and let me have Caroline. You always loved Caroline’s cooking. She’ll make something delicious and we can eat by candlelight on the patio. Then you can decide if you want to stay here or remain with me.” She ran her fingers along his jawline. “We should never have quarreled. I only married Jack because I was so angry with you. I never stopped thinking about you.”
Capturing her arms before she could wrap them around his neck, Wolf took a step back, putting distance between them. “As tempting as your invitation is, I have to pass on it.”
Sarita felt dizzy and realized she’d been holding her breath, waiting for his answer. Gulping in air, she experienced a rush of relief. She’d never trusted Janice.
Again stunned by the protective instinct she was experiencing toward the man, she told herself that he could take care of himself. On the other hand, any man can be taken in by a pretty face and good figure, she mused, and her uneasiness returned.
With the uneasiness came frustration aimed at herself. She and Wolf couldn’t be in the same room for five minutes without fighting. Why should she care so much about what he did? What he does is his business, not mine!
Refusing to give up without having the last word, Janice took a step toward Wolf, raised up on tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the lips. “In case you change your mind, I’m leaving the invitation open.” With a final flirtatious smile, she strode back to her car and drove off.
“I apologize for Janice’s bad manners,” Wolf said to Luis, as they watched the sports car disappearing in the distance.
Luis shrugged. “She’s still angry with me for refusing her offer of a job. I explained to her that I’m an old man and can only do so much, and Mrs. Jessip needed me more. Susan Jessip can’t work her garden any longer and she needs the vegetables. But Mrs. Corbett didn’t want to take no for an answer. She doubled the amount she’d offered. Still, I had to refuse.”
Wolf nodded. “Janice likes having things her way.”
Luis looked up at him and grinned. “Most women do.”
Sarita had continued on to the front door to inform the men that dinner would be ready momentarily. “But most of us are tolerant and understand that you men have to have things your way once in a while,” she tossed back at her grandfather.
Wolf raised a skeptical eyebrow. “You? Understanding and tolerant?”
She frowned, as much at herself as at him. “I am most of the time.” She didn’t add except where you’re concerned, but the thought did flash through her mind.
“She’s telling the truth,” Luis said. “She’s got a good nature for a woman. Don’t know why you two could never get along. Right from the beginning, seems as if you declared war on each other. Sort of like you were born natural antagonists.”
“Makes it even more of a puzzle that she’d be stopping by my grave.”
Luis looked up at Sarita in surprise. “You’ve been stopping by Wolf’s grave?”
Hiding the surge of anger Wolf’s telling her grandfather about her early-morning visits caused, she gave a shrug of indifference. “I always go by Mom’s, Dad’s and Abuela’s to say good morning on my way to work. Figured since no one else would remember him, I would.” Not wanting to give either of the men a chance to continue this subject, Sarita added, “I’ve got to get back to the kitchen before my corn bread bums. Dinner will be on the table in five minutes.”
Luis frowned as the door swung closed behind her. “My granddaughter is a constant source of amazement.”
“I always thought she was just a hardheaded brat who grew up into a difficult woman.” Realizing he’d spoken aloud, Wolf grimaced. “No insult intended. That’s just the way she used to act when I was around.”
“You did bring out the worst in her,” Luis conceded.
“I still do. We can’t seem to be in the same place for more than a few minutes without getting into an argument.” Wolf shook his head. “Doesn’t make any sense that she’d go stopping by my grave.”
“If you’re asking me to explain my granddaughter’s actions, you’re asking the wrong person. A long time ago I decided that it could drive a man insane to try to understand what makes a woman tick. So I just enjoy them when they’re happy and stay out of their way when they’re angry.”
Following those guidelines, I should made certain Sarita’s path and mine never cross, Wolf thought. And that might be the smart thing to do. He could find another place to stay. But he wanted to be near his land. Besides, he liked it here. He felt comfortable with Luis. The old man respected other people’s privacy. He never pried and didn’t offer unasked-for advice. As for Sarita, Wolf’s curiosity remained strong. “We’d best be getting into dinner,” he said.
A few minutes later as they sat eating, a question Wolf had avoided asking nagged at him. Of everything he’d left behind, only two things had remained strong in his mind. The first had been his half sister, Claudia. In spite of Katherine’s constant attempts to make certain her daughter did not form any bond with Wolf, he’d always felt protective toward his half sister and had wondered how she’d fared. Bradford had informed him that Claudia was attending a private, very exclusive girl’s school in Dallas. That she wasn’t under Katherine’s constant influence had been good news.
But he did not expect good news about the subject of his second concern and had avoided asking. Now he could avoid the question no longer. “I went by the stables earlier today. They look like they haven’t been used in years.”
“Your father got rid of the horses soon after you were declared dead,” Luis replied.
Wolf was hearing what he expected. Neither his father nor Katherine rode. For as long as Wolf could remember, Katherine had tried to get his father to close the stables and get rid of the animals, but Frank O’Malley had felt bound to his deathbed promise to Willow that he would maintain the stables and provide horses for Wolf to ride. That had only increased Katherine’s hatred of them. “What happened to Blue Thunder?”
