Dianne's Destiny Read online

Just before they reached the group, Kip took her elbow and squeezed her arm. He offered her a smile that begged for understanding. Looking toward the corral, he stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled. Several wranglers moved to mount.

  Dianne found Jocelyn and, together, they headed toward the barn. She spotted Emperor and skidded to a stop. He was tacked out in the beautiful saddle she admired the day before. Reverently, she rubbed her hand over the seat and looked at Jocelyn through a mist of tears. “I don’t understand. Did you…?”

  Jocelyn smiled. “You seemed to love it so much I bought it and arranged to have it delivered out here.”

  “You’re the best!” Dianne hugged her friend. “It looks amazing on him. Thank you!” She released Jocelyn and mounted Emperor, nudging him into a trot. The horse neighed and stretched his neck, his ears pointed in the direction of the corral. Dianne let him lead her there, stopping next to Kip. She leaned forward to give Emperor a sugar cube. Turning to Kip she grinned. “Isn’t he the greatest?”

  “We’ll see how great he is when he’s keeping calves from the gate.” Kip put two fingers in his mouth and released a second loud, shrill whistle.

  Leather creaked, bridles and bits jangled, and wranglers shouted. Hooves kicked up clouds of dust. Cowboys whistled, and slapped coiled lassos against their thighs as they separated the first group of agitated cows from their frightened calves. The first calf was roped, thrown to the ground with a thud, branded, notched, vaccinated, and castrated before being sent through the chute and back to his bawling mother.

  Dianne wrinkled her nose at the smell of burning flesh and hair. She pulled a red bandana over the lower half of her face. A routine was quickly established. The whistle of a lasso circling the air then falling around a calf’s neck became the signal that the next calf was being worked. Emperor moved from side to side, forward and back, to keep calves away from the gate. Dianne quickly learned her role and pointed Emperor at a calf, letting him do the work. She left the reins loose to give him his head.

  Jocelyn stood along the fence with her mouth open and eyes wide. Her hands clutched the top fence rail. She was likely appalled at the sights, sounds, and smells.

  Dianne rode to the fence. “It’s all right. The calves aren’t really hurt when they’re bull-dogged. Mostly scared because they’ve been separated from their mothers. Maybe you would be more comfortable helping Teresa in the chow tent. I have to get back before Kip has my head, but we’ll be taking a break soon.”

  Jocelyn sniffed. “I hope you’re right. About it not hurting them I mean.”

  The cowboys took their first break. They tied their horses near a trough and loosened the cinches. Dianne pushed her hat back, letting the leather chin straps tighten to keep it from falling. Side lunges helped relieve the tightness in her hips. She rubbed her right thigh.

  Kip strode toward her, and she welcomed him with a smile. In spite of their lack of resolution, just being around him filled her with pure joy. And the day had been amazing. “This is great, Kip. Riding and working the calves all came back to me. Like a bicycle. Did you see the beautiful saddle Jocelyn surprised me with?”

  “It’s nice. You look comfortable and right on it.”

  “Thanks.” She beamed at the compliment, then felt a rush of guilt. “Jocelyn doesn’t seem to be doing very well. I think we should check on her.”

  They found her in the far corner with her back to the group. Her spine was ram-rod straight. Dianne touched her on the shoulder. “Hey, are you all right?”

  She spun, pale and shaking, fear clouded her eyes. She shook her head and dropped her arm, still holding the phone.

  Dianne wrapped her arm around her shoulder. “What’s wrong? Is it your mother?”

  She opened her mouth, but nothing came out, and she shook her head.

  Dianne took her hand and guided her to a bench. “J, you have to tell me what’s wrong. You’re scaring me. Did the branding upset you?”

  Jocelyn handed over her phone. “You need to read this.”

  A text message lit up the screen. Dianne’s heart sank at the words.

  I’ve been watching you and Dianne. Give her a message for me. Tell her I saw her and that cowboy at the horse farm this morning. I never knew she was such a slut. Have her meet me at the Brinkman hotel. Tell her if she doesn’t she’ll be very sorry.

  Dianne’s throat tightened. She put her hand on her neck and rubbed it.

  Kip headed toward them. She gave Jocelyn the phone and whispered, “Don’t say anything. Not yet.”

  “What’s up?” Kip asked.

  “Nothing really, Jocelyn just got some disappointing news. Could I take her to the house?”

  “Sure. I’ll go with you.”

  “No, really. We’ll be fine.” Dianne forced a smile. Standing, she walked out the door with Jocelyn.

  When they reached Kip’s house, she released her breath in an audible whoosh and turned to Jocelyn. “My God, he’s watching us. But, how?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “When did he call? Do you think he’s really found out where I live? How could he know where we are?” She spewed questions like a .50 caliber machine gun. Her knees shook, her stomach roiled, and her heart beat so fast she feared it would burst.

  Jocelyn ran her fingers through her hair. “I checked my messages. Nothing showed up on caller I.D. that alarmed me. I opened the text just after I came back from the corral.”

  “Did you reply?”

  Jocelyn shook her head.

  Dianne wrung her hands. “Let’s think about this. I don’t doubt anything he said because he can be so ruthless. He’s like a snapping turtle, he never lets go. Why can’t he just realize it’s over?” She moved to the window and looked around the work area, stopping on every face. Some she recognized. Some she didn’t. Kip would never allow anyone to come to a work day that he didn’t know, invite, or hire. She moved away from the window and sank wearily into the over-stuffed leather love seat.

  “I don’t know what to do. If I meet him I’ll be playing into his hand. If I don’t he may do something crazy.” She rubbed her sweaty palms on the front of her jeans. “When he called the other day he ranted about how my leaving the city made him look bad. He was furious because I sold my condo and moved without notifying him. Why should I? We’re divorced.”

  Jocelyn leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. “You definitely should tell Kip, this is his home. Simon may have paid someone to spy on you.”

  Dianne nodded. “It’s lousy timing.”

  The dog barked. Footsteps and the jingle of spurs sounded on the porch.

  “Kip’s here.” Dianne stood, rocked back on her heels, and stuffed her hands in her pockets. “What do I say?”

  “I don’t know, maybe try the truth?”

  Kip entered, tossed his hat on a chair, bent to pet the dog, and joined Dianne in front of the fireplace. He nodded at Jocelyn sitting straight-backed on the edge of the love seat. Tension thickened the air.

  “We received a troubling text message,” Dianne whispered. She refused to make eye contact.

  “What’s it about? Tell me what’s going on.” Ropes of doubt and anger strangled him.

  Trying to hide her fear, Dianne pulled her shoulders back, jutted her chin, and looked into his narrowed eyes. “You’re going to want to sit down for this. I don’t believe I’ve mentioned my ex-husband, have I?”

  Chapter 13

  Simon’s hired man answered his phone on the first ring. Simon smiled at the promptness of this new minion. “Tell me what’s going on. Things should be heating up about now.”

  A moment passed before the catering assistant from Wichita Falls responded. He cleared his throat. “She took her friend’s phone. Looked pretty upset. They went in the house so I couldn’t see what was going on. Her boyfriend went in there too.”

  “Do not call him her boyfriend,” Simon ordered.

  “Sorry boss. I took a fresh pot of coffee and cookies to the house. I
wasn’t allowed past the door.”

  “Did you hear anything?”

  “Only that your girl and the rancher were talking, all intimate like. I couldn’t really hear what they were saying.” The hint of a laugh lay in his voice.

  He didn’t like this arrogant country boy. “Call me immediately when she comes out of the house.” Simon ended the call and walked to his car to look at the photos his inept spy had forwarded to him. Dianne looked happy, even comfortable. He couldn’t abide that. He wouldn’t allow her to have happiness.

  ****

  Kip pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumbs. Dammit. Dianne was in danger, and she almost hadn’t told him. Did she distrust him as much as he did her? “How did he find you here?”

  Dianne shook her head. Her lower lip trembled, and he had to fight the urge to take her into his arms. “I don’t know. I was wondering that myself.”

  “I’ll call Beth.” He punched numbers into the phone and when Beth answered, he hit the speaker button. “Dianne has some questions for you.”

  “Sure.” Her chipper voice sounded scratchy over the speaker. “Shoot!”

  “Beth, has anyone you didn’t know come into the center lately asking about me?” Dianne asked.

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  “Please be sure. He can be tricky and charming.”

  “A man did come in about a week ago, but he didn’t ask about you. He said he wanted to talk to the owner of the center. I told him the hospital owned it, and that Kip volunteered to work with the clients and horses. He didn’t want to talk to him, though.”

  “What did he look like? Did he see any records or anything?”

  Beth scoffed. “Well, I didn’t betray any confidential information if that’s what you mean.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that at all. I just need to know everything you can tell me about him.”

  “Let’s see…he wasn’t very tall. He was dressed nicely. Had brown hair with highlights. I think it was professionally cut. His hands looked soft, even manicured. That’s not something you see much around here. He did keep looking at the pictures behind my desk. There’s one of you, Dianne. You and Emperor.”

  Dianne’s face paled, and she mouthed, “That’s him.”

  Kip grimaced. “Beth, was there anything on your desk or the bulletin board about today’s round up?”

  “Maybe. I was working on the invitation list.” Her sigh came over the line. “What’s going on? Is Dianne in trouble?”

  “We’ll fill you in later. Thanks, Beth.” Kip punched the End button, wishing it was Simon’s face.

  “That must be when he found me.” Dianne wrung her hands together. “I’ve endangered you all.”

  Kip scooted closer to her and growled. Anger and frustration grew in his chest and squeezed like a boa constrictor. “If this SOB thinks he can harm me or anyone on my ranch he’s in for a big surprise.”

  Dianne held his hand in a firm grip on her thigh. Her eyes locked onto his. She looked into his eyes and, clearing her throat, whispered. “I promised Jocelyn that I would tell you everything.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “That phone message from Simon? I think he’s been following me, stalking me...”

  “I’ll kill the SOB.’ Kip slammed a fist on the cushion.

  Dianne held up her hand. “Let me finish. He got my new number somehow, probably using false pretenses. He’s an angry and arrogant man. He didn’t want the divorce. He was so…controlling. I think he felt if I stayed in New York, he could win me back. He must have gone through the roof when he found out I’d left. So he tracked me down. Nobody says no to Simon Jacobson.” She dropped her head to stare down at her lap. “He knows where I live.” Her voice started strong but ended soft and shaky.

  Kip brought her head up with two fingers beneath her chin and looked into her cobalt eyes. “I won’t let him hurt you.”

  She nodded. “I know you’ll try to protect me…to protect everyone on the ranch, but how can you when we don’t know where he is? He said he saw us at the ranch. Bottom line, he’s out there somewhere.”

  “Why would you marry someone like him?”

  She shrugged. “I have no idea. I never loved him, I guess I was lonely. I was busy at work and was successful without him. He’s one of the attorneys for the business I worked for, so I ran into him at different functions. I divorced him because I was unhappy, and I saw his true personality. Simon’s all about Simon. He can be brutal and emotionally abusive. I had finally learned to be confident, but he ruined that. By the time I divorced him, my self-esteem was in the gutter. I couldn’t focus. I think that’s why I let myself get into a position to be mugged.”

  Kip made a time out motion with his hands. “Wait. Are you saying you blame yourself for the mugging?”

  She shrugged and stood, turning toward the kitchen. “I need some water. Do you want anything?”

  He put his hands on her shoulders to hold her in place. “I don’t need anything. Answer my question. Do you blame yourself?”

  She closed her eyes. “Yeah, I guess I do. I chose to walk home from work and took a short cut through a local park. I was usually aware of everything around me. I never saw or heard the mugger. He came up behind me, put a knife to my throat, and told me to be quiet. I struggled to keep him from taking my bag. He ripped it from me.” Her voice trembled, and she hesitated. Her breasts rose and fell with a deep breath. “He cut me and beat me up. I was unconscious for a short time. I woke up in the hospital.”

  Rage rose inside Kip’s chest, nearly blinding him. He swallowed a lump in his throat before he trusted himself to speak. “I had no idea it was that…bad.” He tugged her shoulders and pulled her to him, brushed a hand down her silky blonde hair. “Oh, God. You could have died.”

  Without rational thought, he pulled back far enough that he could kiss her. Their tongues met. Dianne gave a small moan and Kip was lost. He lowered his hands to her hips, pressed her more tightly to him…

  An unwelcome knock at the door startled them. He broke away, cursing yet thanking whoever had interrupted. “I’d better get that.” He shoved his fingers through his hair before answering the door. Dianne followed.

  Jocelyn and a young man stood on the doorstep. She jerked her head toward him. “This is Dennis. A new caterer who seems to enjoy his cell phone. I overheard a pretty interesting conversation.” Jocelyn pushed the young man forward. “Tell them.”

  Dennis straightened his back and looked Dianne in the eye. “Mr. Jacobson hired me to watch you and keep him informed. He got me in here pretending to be a caterer.”

  “Why? Did he tell you why he wanted you to watch me?” Dianne growled through clenched teeth.

  Dennis shrugged.

  Kip stepped between Dianne and Dennis and grabbed the guy by the collar. “You little SOB, where is he?”

  “I ain’t sure. Nearby.”

  Kip shoved him away. “Dianne, you and Jocelyn stay in the house.” He looked back at Dennis. “You’re coming with me.” He pulled his cell out of his front pocket and called Ricochet. “Tell the boys to finish up, meet me in the garage. We’re taking the ATVs out. You might want to bring your guns.”

  Worry creased Dianne’s brow. “Kip, are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  He gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sure. I’ve got this.” He crossed the room, unlocked an armoire, and took his hand gun from a shelf. He pocketed some ammunition and smiled at Dianne. “Don’t worry. We’ll be back before you know it.”

  Chapter 14

  Tension, fear, and stress filled the kitchen where Dianne and Jocelyn waited for Kip and Ricochet. Dianne busied herself making coffee. She searched the cabinets for supplies and found them across the room from the coffeemaker.

  She held up the stack of filters. “Good grief, look at this. There’s no rhyme or reason in this kitchen. Just like a man.” The coffeemaker groaned and sputtered to life emitting the smell of freshly ground coffee. “Doesn’t look like he ha
s any sweetener, we’ll have to use sugar.”

  “At this point, calories are the least of my worries.”

  Dianne snorted a humorless laugh. “No kidding.” She carried their cups to the table and sat next to Jocelyn. She rubbed her temples where a headache was forming. “I’m worried. Kip and Ricochet have guns with them.”

  “My, gosh! Will they shoot Simon? I saw him get a gun but thought it was just for show.”

  Dianne frowned and wrinkled her forehead. “No, they won’t shoot him, but Simon or Dennis won’t know that. I would love to see that little scenario play-out. What really worries me is that Kip doesn’t realize Simon could bring him down with legal maneuverings. I’ll leave again before that happens. I can’t be the cause of that kind of trouble for Kip. It would break my heart, but I would do it.”

  “No, you won’t.” Jocelyn squeezed her hand. “You need to stay here. It’s where you belong.”

  Dianne straightened her shoulders. “Maybe. But I will leave again to protect Kip and my friends.”

  ****

  Kip and Ricochet roared along the river bank. Dennis rode behind Kip on his vehicle. The ATVs sent sand and pebbles flying in their wake. Skidding to a halt Kip pointed to a clump of mesquite bushes and nodded at Ricochet. Ricochet jumped from his ATV and ran toward the mesquites. Kip joined him, stopping next to a line of recent tire tracks.

  With a curse, Kip returned to where Dennis waited on the ATV. He pulled him off by his shirt collar and wheeled him around until he looked him in the eyes. “Do these tire impressions belong to your boss?” he growled.

  Dennis looked down. “Can’t be sure. Probably.”

  Kip pushed him aside. “You’re worthless.”

  Ricochet rounded the bushes, hat in hand. He rubbed sweat and dirt from his face with a faded blue bandana. “Someone’s been out there recently, Kip. The tracks aren’t from boots or sneakers, looks like men’s dress shoes. If it’s Simon, he hasn’t been gone long.”

  Digging in the pocket of his work jacket Kip pulled out the phone he had taken from Dennis and threw it at him. “Call him. Right now. Find out where he is. Don’t mention us.”