I'm Forever Yours Page 4

  “I didn’t stare at the picture. I just looked at the details of where it was taken and so forth. I put it in the safe so no one else will see it.”

  She nodded. Even if he didn’t stare at it, he’d seen it. Humiliation filled her whole being. Gunther would never think of her as a good, innocent woman again. He’d think of her as tainted. He’d had girlfriends she was pretty sure he’d slept with, and there was nothing wrong with that, but she had grown up believing people should wait until they were married. Now, he probably thought her easy, though he’d never say it.

  “Thank you for locking it up. I should have figured Kevin would know where I was. I’m so tired, Gunther. I think I’ll turn in.”

  He nodded and stood. “I’ll walk you home.”

  She shook her head as she stood up. “If you don’t mind I’d rather walk alone. I have some thinking to do. This is a lot to take in.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “Get some rest. I don’t want you spending too much time with the horses. I’d rather you were with your dad.”

  “Thanks. Me too.” She walked around the main house and to the foreman’s house. Only it wasn’t the foreman’s house anymore, she mused. She sat on the top step in front of the house and laid her forehead on her knees. I am strong, I am courageous, I can do this, she chanted in her head. She just wished she believed that.

  A week later, Gunther stood in front of the mirror in his bedroom tying his tie. It was hard to believe James was gone. It had been expected, but still nothing could prepare a person for a love one’s death. Sadness permeated the whole ranch. But what worried Gunther the most was the lack of tears from Lee Ann. She had been with him when he died, and she’d calmly found Gunther and told him.

  As soon as he heard, he’d sprinted to James’ room and cried like a baby, but not Lee Ann. She just stood and stared. He wanted to comfort her, but she didn’t invite comforting not even from Agnes. Maybe she was in denial? Hell, he didn’t know anything about women. But he did know Lee Ann. They’d grown up together, and while she had grit, she also had a sensitive and compassionate heart.

  One time they’d been playing in the woods with their sling shots and he had killed a rabbit. He’d jumped up and down, so excited, but Lee Ann had given him a look of disgust before she ran away from him. She hadn’t talked to him for three days. He’d finally picked her some flowers, and Agnes made snickerdoodles for him to give Lee Ann. She had forgiven him, but he had known it was only because those were her favorite cookies.

  Too bad cookies wouldn’t help now. Being an adult wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. He didn’t know all the answers or any of them for that matter. He wasn’t old enough or wise enough. Sure, he could run the ranch with his eyes closed, but he’d been trained from birth.

  He put on his black suit jacket and squared his shoulders. They carried a lot of weight. The first step was to get through the funeral, then the wake. He’d been to many funerals in his life that he’d lost count, but for some reason this was the hardest one. In some ways, he felt broken but he’d pretend he wasn’t.

  He went down the stairs, and Agnes stood there waiting. She wore the same black dress she always wore to funerals. She immediately adjusted his tie and then smiled at him. “He’ll be greatly missed. I hired a caterer for afterward.”

  “Good. Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Agnes.”

  “You won’t need to find out. I plan on living forever. The limo is here to take us. Why don’t you go and get Lee Ann.” She practically pushed him out of the door.

  He nodded to Woody and Shelly, who were already out front waiting near the limo and then walked across the yard to Lee Ann’s house. He didn’t even have to knock on the door. She opened it as he walked up the steps. She wore a beautiful burgundy dress and she looked pretty as a picture except for the pain in her eyes.

  “I’m ready,” she said, clutching her purse in both hands.

  He held out his arm, and she took it. The walk to the limo was slow and silent, but finally he got her settled in. The rest joined them, the mood somber as they drove. No one said a word. Lee Ann looked out the window the whole time.

  The graveside was crowded, but the seats were empty. Gunther escorted Lee Ann to a wooden folding chair and sat next to her. She had such a grip on her purse, her knuckles had turned white. They went through the motions of a graveside service, though Gunther didn’t hear a single word the minister intoned, and Lee Ann still hadn’t uttered a word. After the service, she only nodded at people who offered condolences.

  It was a relief to get back to the ranch. Gunther took off his tie first thing. He greeted people and directed them to the bar and the food. A feeling of being watched came over him, and he glanced up. The instant he spotted Felicia, he groaned out loud.

  She made a beeline for him. “Such a tragedy,” she said as she took both of his hands. “Is there anything I can do?”

  “Thank you, but no.” Lee Ann’s voice startled him. He could have sworn she’d been sitting on the couch.

  Felicia stared at her for a moment. “Burgundy, what an interesting choice of color for a funeral.”

  “Thank you,” Lee Ann clipped.

  “I mean, aren’t you supposed to wear black? Perhaps you couldn’t afford a new dress? I heard you got fired from your last job.”

  Gunther pulled his hands away from her. “Felicia—”

  “This is the last dress my father saw me in, and he had remarked how beautiful I looked in it. I wore it in his honor, not to please you.” Lee Ann turned on her heel and headed toward the bar.

  Felicia put her hand to her mouth. “Oh my I didn’t mean—”

  Gunther gave her a look of disgust. “Yes, you did.” He turned and walked away. He wasn’t in the mood for Felicia and her games. He panned the room and saw Lee Ann talking to Angus. Good, maybe she could keep her mind off things.

  He grabbed a scotch from the bar and headed over to them.

  “It was taped to Belle’s stall. I really didn’t mean to tell you today. I’m sorry.” Angus looked upset.

  Lee Ann took Gunther’s scotch and finished it in one shot. “I’m glad you told me, Angus. I need to know what’s going on.”

  Gunther looked from one to the other. “What?”

  “It’s all right, Angus. I’ll tell Gunther. By the way, where is the picture now?”

  “I burned it up. I’ll let you talk.” Angus gave him a look of apology before he walked away.

  “Let’s go outside to talk,” he suggested and was relieved when she nodded.

  Taking her hand, he slowly led her through the crowd and outside. “On second thought, it’s too crowded out here too. Let’s walk down to the stream.”

  “That would be best,” she said woodenly.

  They walked through a wooded area for a bit and found the bench they had made when they were kids. Lee Ann smiled when she saw it.

  “I’m glad I didn’t wear high heels today.”

  “I bet it made for easier walking.” They sat side by side. “The bench is smaller than I remember.”

  She smiled again. “We used to be smaller.” Her smile faded. “Do you think Kevin was here at the ranch? I’m so embarrassed that Angus saw a nude photo of me. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, and I have no one to ask. My dad…” She trailed off and was silent as she just stared at the stream.

  “I haven’t seen you cry.”

  “And you won’t. If I start, I’ll end up a weeping mess. It’s a sad day, but my anger is taking over. Do you think he put more pictures around the ranch? What if more than just Angus saw the picture? Gunther, I need to leave this place. I need to find a place to hide.” She pressed both palms against her temples. “How could someone do such a thing? First, they invade my privacy and take pictures of me, and then they compound the injury by showing the pictures. This must be against the law. I feel so violated. I should have just let him use me as a punching bag. At least I could hide it.
He never touched my face. My whole life is ruined.”

  “Hey, only Angus and I saw the pictures, and we saw them for what they are.” He softened his tone and stroked her arm just above her wrist. “We didn’t take any delight in seeing you without clothes on. You’re not the type of girl who would allow anyone to take pictures of you that way. I’ll see if anyone wants extra pay for guard duty. I can get outside help if needed. I wish this was enough to put Kevin in jail but it’s not. I hate that you have to go through this.”

  “It seems as though the law is on his side.” She sounded miserable, like she was giving up.

  He nodded. “It sure does seem that way. He’s done this to countless girls, but there isn’t any evidence. I think you’re the only one who actually defied him and left. That’s probably why he’s been sending the photos.”

  Lee Ann put her hands over her face. “Now he’s trying to ruin my life. I just buried my father! I want to scream and cry and hurt Kevin, but I just can’t. You don’t think he’s going to stop do you?”

  “We’ll make reports with the police. Maybe with enough incidents we can get him on stalking. I don’t know the law. We’ll have to see.”

  She clasped her hands on her lap as she stared at the water again. “Do you remember our first kiss?”

  He grunted. “Yes, and all the hell I got.”

  She gave him a smile. “I kissed you and you told your dad because you were mad. Then you told my dad and everyone laughed at your outrage.”

  “You had cooties and having them all laugh only made it worse.” He shot her a grin. “Like I said you were always so sassy.”

  “You wouldn’t let me follow you for a whole month. It was the loneliest time of my life. My dad thought learning to do house work would keep me busy. I cursed you with every dish I washed and vowed never to kiss you again.”

  He couldn’t help but stare at her plump lips. They looked luscious but she wouldn’t want to know that. “Sometimes things change. I once vowed never to take another bath as long as I lived but that vow only lasted until my father dumped me in the tub with my clothes on.”

  Her laughter lightened his heart. She was just so beautiful, and he wanted to kiss her. He wanted his lips touching hers, but he decided it would be too much for her to handle. Besides, they were best friends, and he couldn’t ruin that for her. He needed her too.

  “I’ll see about setting up more security. We really should get back.”

  “Yes, Felicia is probably looking for you,” she joked.

  “Yes, I like a woman who insults others and tries to blackmail me into marrying her.” He chuckled. “Let’s go.”

  Lee Ann helped Agnes clean up after the caterers left. They did a decent job, but Agnes was fussy about her kitchen. It didn’t take long, and Lee Ann snuck off to her house without saying good bye. She wasn’t up for any more heartfelt words. People meant well, and her father had been well-loved, but she needed to decompress. Plus she hated wearing pantyhose.

  Jeans, T-shirts, boots, and a Stetson was the outfit she liked best. She wasn’t sure what she had thought when she left the ranch. Maybe she’d thought she was above living the simple life. She’d wanted to experience life in a city and make the people she loved see that she was much more than wife and mother material. She wasn’t one to allow another to make decisions for her and from what she could see, that was what marriage meant. A wife obeyed her husband. Well, she was her own person, and she had set out to prove it.

  Sighing, she sat on the bed. She had proved something all right. That she was too young and stupid. She was exactly what everyone thought she was. A foolish, naive girl who’d come back with her tail between her legs. Restless, she stood and walked to the window. No one actually said it, but it was how she felt.

  She toyed with the edge of the curtain. Why hadn’t she made more time for her daddy? She should have called more, and she should have come home to visit. At least she’d had a bit of time with him. His spirit had been so calm and serene on his last day. He knew death was knocking at his door and he accepted it. In the days before he died, their souls were both calm with no worries. They each knew that the other would be just fine. They didn’t even have to talk much, it was as though they could see inside each other’s hearts and that was how they’d said good-bye. Hopefully she made his passing easier.

  Tears welled up in her eyes and poured down her face. She grabbed his pillow off the bed, held it, and smelled it. It still had his scent on it. The hole in her heart would probably always be there. Her grief grew stronger as she hugged his pillow to her. He had left her one gift. The gift of being self-sufficient. It was the type of gift that mattered. She cried herself to sleep.

  The next morning she was ready to start training the horses. Horses were easier to work with than most people she knew. They each had their own personalities and quirks. Some were friendly and others a bit standoffish. Some were gentle while others would just as soon kick a person. But that was what the training was for. Mostly, she wanted to see Sabrina, her rescue horse. She’d seen her in the pasture, but with everything going on she hadn’t had time to love on her.

  Sabrina had been starved and had to be hoisted out of the horse buy lot, some called it the kill pens. Gunther had thought her crazy and said she’d only get her heart broken when the horse died. For the first few days, the poor mare just stood in one place in her stall, shaking. But slowly over time, they’d created a bond. She wasn’t the smartest horse, probably from malnutrition; her brain hadn’t received all the vital nutrients it had needed.

  But that didn’t matter. She was sweet as could be, and all Lee Ann wanted was for Sabrina to be happy. There were no plans to ride her. She was small for her age, and she might not understand what was going on with a saddle. It was better that she just do what she was doing, learning how to be a horse.

  Whistling as she walked into the barn, Lee Ann was happy when Sabrina cried out to her. That greeting was a balm to her soul. Lee Ann immediately grabbed a brush and went into Sabrina’s stall.

  “Hey, girl. Long time. How have you been?” She took the brush and began to groom the mare. “You look beautiful. Don’t tell the other mares but you’re the prettiest one here. Your beauty can be seen in your eyes, you have a sweet heart. I’ll be around for a while, so we’ll see a lot of each other.” She patted Sabrina’s neck and let herself out of the stall.

  “I’m glad to hear you plan to stay.” Gunther stood leaning against the outside of the stall.

  “I’m taking your job offer. I wanted to say hello to Sabrina before I assess the three-year-olds.”

  “I’m going to ride up toward Felicia’s to see if she started diverting the water yet.”

  “Did you want me to saddle your horse?”

  He laughed. “The day I can’t saddle my own horse is the day I’m too old to be riding. Thanks for the offer but you’re not the stable boy.”

  “I know. I was just being nice.”

  Gunther got his paint ready to go. “You can just be yourself.”

  She blinked at him. “Does that mean that I’m not usually nice?”

  He stepped forward and cupped her chin gently in his hand. He turned her face and kissed her cheek before he let go. “No that wasn’t what I meant. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  She watched him lead his horse out of the barn then they were off. Gunther always had a good seat. Her face heated. His jeans looked real nice on him too.

  A few hours later, she was heading back to the house. She needed a shower. It felt as though all of the Texas dust was on her.

  “Lee Ann! There’s a phone call for you!” Agnes yelled from the front porch of the main house.

  Stopping in her tracks, her heart skipped a beat. Her hands became fisted by her sides. “Did they say who’s calling?”

  “No, but he said it was very important.”

  “Thanks.” Lee Ann changed direction and walked into the main house.

  “You can take it in Gunther’s of
fice.”

  She nodded to Agnes as she walked down the hall and into the large office. A part of her wanted to ignore the call and just hang up the phone. But that wouldn’t solve anything. She hesitantly picked up the phone. “Hello?”

  “So good to hear your voice again.”

  A chill went up her spine, and her stomach turned sour at Kevin’s words. “Not really. I’d rather not talk to you.”

  “I don’t like unfinished business, Lee Ann,” Kevin said.

  “Nothing’s unfinished. I’ve moved on, and I suggest you do the same.” She clutched the edge of the desk to steady herself. “There must be some other woman you’re manhandling already. If I had proof you’d be in jail.”

  “Lee Ann...” He clicked his tongue. “You don’t understand. We’re not done unless I say we’re done.”

  “Go to hell!” She slammed down the phone and dropped down onto Gunther’s leather chair. Her heart pumped so fast it hurt. What had Kevin meant, they weren’t done? Wrapping her arms around herself, she realized nowhere was safe. But really what more could he do that he hadn’t done already?

  Chapter Five

  A week later Gunther received a call from Woody telling him they needed to talk in person. Woody wouldn’t tell him what the problem was over the phone, and the summons left Gunther wondering. Felicia must be up to something. He tried to concentrate on his paperwork while he waited but gave up and sat rubbing the back of his tense neck.

  Woody knocked and walked in. His expression was one of fury. “I have to show you something.”

  Gunther started to stand but Woody gestured for him to stay where he was. Then Woody walked behind the desk and angled the keypad his way. “You’re not going to like this.” He typed in an internet address and up came pictures of Lee Ann. Many pictures, disgusting pictures.

  Gunther felt as though he couldn’t breathe for a moment. “Can we get this taken down?”