How to Rope a McCoy (Hell Yeah!) (34 page)

Cato
giggled. “At least you have more material for your next book.”

“True,
come on in. Jessie is here with little Bowie and the twins are in their
swings.”

Heath
and Isaac followed the girls in and once they’d gone through
Tebow’s
big front door, they were surrounded by more
McCoys
. Cato was immediately confiscated by the girls and
led to the sofa nearest the fireplace. She glanced over her shoulder to see
where Heath was and saw him heading off with the men.

“They’ll
be back,” Jessie assured her. “They always come back.”

“And
aren’t we glad,” Libby said. Cato knew she was remembering the days when Aron
was missing.

“Where’s
Skye?” Cato asked, noticing her absence.

“I
believe she’s helping Zane out with Philip’s case. They drove up to the
Highlands yesterday and Noah’s with her,” Jessie answered.

“Although,
I think Noah has gone up to Fort Worth to do some work on that foundation he’s
set up to help ranchers utilize some of their acreage for preserves and
wildlife habitats.” Cady interjected as she handed out two cups of coffee.
“What do you take in yours, Cato? And would you like some bread pudding?
Fresh-baked.”

“Two
sugars and two creams and no, thank you, it’s a constant battle to watch my
figure,” she answered.

“Oh,
don’t worry. I’m sure Heath is watching it for you,” Libby said nonchalantly as
she picked Colt up from his swing. “Cato, I wish you could hear him. I swear to
goodness that this baby is trying to sing. He swings and coos and makes the
cutest little noise. Aron laughs at me, but I think we have a country singer in
the making.”

“I
wish I could hear them too.” She knelt down in front of Jordan and wiggled his
toes, making him smile, she thought, till he spit up. “Hey!”

Cady
was right there with a rag. She always seemed to be on top of things. While
they were together with the baby, she took Cato’s hand. “I was going to call
you. Maybe it’s because my due date is looming,” she rubbed her very pregnant
belly, “but I’ve been having dreams.” She looked disturbed. “Some of them are
bad.”

“What?”
Cato leaned closer. “You can tell me.”

“I
know, I feel I can.” She looked at the other girls, all three of them had moved
to the dining table where the men had indeed returned. Libby was pouring them
coffee. “You need to be careful. I feel like you’re in danger.” She put her
hand on Cato’s arm. “I think you’ll be successful in what you’re trying to do
and I see happiness for you and Heath…if…”

“If?”
Cato prompted.

“There’s
a dark time you’re going to have to go through.”

Cato
shivered. “Tell me more.”

Cady
look frustrated. “I wish I could. It’s like I have a short circuit in my own
life and future. I’m a little frightened and I can’t tell the others or Joseph,
not yet. But something’s wrong or something will be wrong.”

“With
one of your babies? Have you been to the doctor?”

“Yes,
I have and they want to do some tests.” She shook her head, a tear running down
her cheek. “They’re talking about taking the babies early, maybe next week. I’m
scared.”

“I’m
so sorry. Do you need me to go with you?”

“No.”
Cady wiped her face. “I have to tell Joseph, it’s not fair for me not to and I
need him. But thank you.” Cato nodded. “I don’t know why I’m spilling my guts
like this, I just needed to say it to somebody and I haven’t been able to yet.
The girls…” She smiled toward the kitchen. “We’re just too close for them not to
react and I have to work up the courage to tell him first.”

“He
won’t be upset.” Cato didn’t know Joseph well, but he was cut from the same
cloth as the rest of the
McCoys
and all were good as
gold to their women.

“I
don’t know if you know what an
empath
is, but I’m
one, or I used to be—hopefully I will be again someday. But I can take another
person’s illness into my body and deal with it and relieve them of the pain and
suffering. I’m sick for a while but I heal quickly. Don’t think I’m strange,
but my family and I were able to take away Joseph’s paralysis when he was hurt
in a dirt bike wreck.”

“I’m
from Louisiana, Cady. I know the
Fontenots
and the
Beaureguardes
and all of the legends of your powers.”

Cady
smiled. “Well, they’re not legends.” She took a deep breath and continued.
“Anyway, we cured him with a combination of
magick
and therapy but Joseph was able to walk again, although he was still left with
a limp.”

“I’ve
never noticed a limp.”

“No.”
Cady sighed. “I took it. One night while he was asleep, I took the nerve damage
and pain into my body. The only problem was, I didn’t know I was pregnant. And
now…even though I’m okay, I’m afraid that I hurt one of my babies.” Cady choked
back a sob. “Before I did it, Joseph warned me not to. He was so afraid I’d do
permanent damage to myself, but I love him so much. I had to do it. And now…”

Cato
hugged her fiercely. “I’m so sorry.” She just couldn’t imagine what Cady was
going through. “If I could take your pain I would.”

“Oh,
that’s sweet.” Cady hastily wiped her face when she saw Joseph watching her
closely. “Oh, I’ve got to smile. The Stallion is watching me.” She laughed.

“He
loves you.”

“Yes,
he does. I’m a lucky woman.” She sat up straighter. “Now, I said all of that to
say this…I dreamed that you found something important on that thumb drive.”

“Well,
you’re right, I did.” Cato went on to explain about the email and Dalton Smith
using Philip’s name in order to get information about surveyor and mine reports
of Highland property.

“Yes,”
Cady nodded, “but I think you will find more. My dream was disjointed, but I
saw oil shooting in the sky and the family gathered around a table celebrating
and you were there.”

Cato
got lost in the vision of her sitting around the family table with Heath.
Shaking her head, she brought herself back to the here and now. “Even though
I’ve been through most of it, I wasn’t going to stop looking. There’s a lot to
examine, but I plan on doing that as much as possible in the next few days.”

Cato
saw Cady jump and she looked up to see Joseph standing over her. “Hey, what are
you two girls gabbing about?”

Being
heavy with child, Cady didn’t just spring up but Joseph tenderly helped her
rise. “I was talking to her about our babies and some dreams I’ve been having.”

She
noticed Cady told Joseph the truth, even if she was still trying to protect
him. “She knows I’m trying to go through some documents to help Philip,” Cato
said, adding her own explanation.

Moving
to the table with the others, Cato sat down in a chair Heath was holding out to
her. “Jacob and Aron tell me they’re going to ask Kyle Chancellor and his
Equalizers to put out some feelers on Noah’s mother.”

“Kyle
Chancellor, you don’t mean the man running for Governor?” Cato asked.

“Yes,
he’s a friend of the family.” Aron slapped Heath on the back. “And he’s
gonna
win too.”

A
friend of the family. There were days when Cato forgot how wealthy, powerful
and connected Heath’s family was—and how she wasn’t. Suddenly, she felt
uncomfortable.

As
if Heath picked up on her discomfiture, he touched her arm. “I guess we should
leave. We just drove in from San Antonio. I met with Judge Gomez and got an
injunction to stop
Arness
from shutting down my
wells.”

They
stayed another minute or two while Heath caught them up on the worries the
family was going through. Watching them speak, she realized they were close.
Glancing at the wall behind the dining table proved it, scattered among the
candid framed family photos were shots of Heath and his father and siblings.

As
they were walking out, she took Cady to one side. “I work in Austin. If you’re
ever at the doctor or the hospital and you need me, don’t hesitate to call. If
I’m on the road, I’ll come right back.” Cato gave Cady her contact information.

“Call
us when Philip’s trial starts, we want to be there.” Aron assured Heath.

“Absolutely,
we covet your support.”

When
they got out to the car, Cato saw Nathan driving up with his girlfriend.
“Nathan has a driver’s license?”

Jacob
leaned in the car window. “Rancher’s kids learn how to drive early. He has a
hardship license, which is aptly named because since he got it, he’s been a
hardship to live with.”

“Y’all
take care.” Heath waved them goodbye as they left. “Whew! Babies, babies,
babies—
sorta
feels like that condition could be
contagious.”

Cato
cupped his package, gently squeezing the sizeable bulge. “All depends on what
you’re exposed to, I reckon.”

“You
reckon?” Heath snorted, taking her hand and weaving his fingers through hers. “I
like your Texas-speak.”

Cato
wanted to tell him about Cady, but decided against it. Joseph had to come
first. “Do you want children?”

Whoops.

Heath
gripped her hand tightly. “Hell, honey, I don’t know. I’m not ready for them
any time soon, I know that much.”

Okay,
good to know. “I can understand that. Kids are a big responsibility.” She
started to add that she didn’t think they’d be a wise choice for her, being
deaf, but she didn’t. Right now, between them, it wasn’t relevant. So, she
changed the subject. They were nearing her house and she wanted to get their
conversation back on safe ground. “I’ll get back to reviewing the information
you sent, if you want me to and I guess—”

“Of
course.” He seemed relieved she’d changed the subject. “Thank you for doing
that, you’ve already helped. And I promised you a surprise date and you’re
going to get it. The San Antonio trip doesn’t count. It was more opportune than
romantic.”

Cato
smiled. “I enjoyed it, especially our alone time.” She slapped his leg, wanting
to lighten the mood. “I forgot to tell you that I saw a ghost last night!”

“Yea,
I know you did.” He smirked. “He was glad to see you too.”

“No,
no.” She laughed, shaking her head. “During the night, I felt something sit on
the bed and when I looked up, it was a young girl. I froze and just watched her
and soon she faded away.”

“
Awww
, you were dreaming,” he said mildly.

“Maybe,
but my dreams are usually racier.” She teased back.

They
bantered back and forth until he drove up to her driveway. Heath helped her
out, walked Cato to the door and she didn’t wait. Cato stood on her tiptoes and
kissed him. Back and forth she rubbed their lips together, tasting him in small
licks and bites. He let her lead and she was beginning to wonder if he wasn’t
as into it as she was, when he suddenly took control, sweeping his tongue in
her mouth, claiming every corner. When his hands went down to cup her bottom,
she moaned into his mouth, her fingers tunneling through his hair. Every way
she knew how, Cato surrendered to him. Then Heath did what Heath does best—he
melted every bone in her body. They kissed until their air ran out and Cato
laid her head on his shoulder. “Thank you for today.” One more kiss on his
cheek. “I enjoyed myself so much.”

How
polite was this crazy girl he couldn’t seem to get enough of. “Mission
accomplished. Can I call you later?”

“Sure,
I’ll talk dirty to you if you do.”

“Damn,
leaving you is hard.”

She
lightly pinched his side, playing. “I can tell.”

Tearing
himself away before he couldn’t, he kissed her once more on the forehead.
“Later, baby.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

When
Cato returned to work the next day, she couldn’t help but examine every person she
passed. Looking around furtively, she examined their expressions, their body
language. The email she’d found proved someone here knew something about Dalton
Smith’s murder. Could she be in danger?

Everyone
appeared to be normal, going about their job—some bored, some amused, others
just getting through the day as best they could. Until she entered their office
suite and she saw Bernice, Mr. Redford’s receptionist. The woman had a look of
horror on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“Can’t
you hear?” Then, she looked exasperated. “Of course you can’t. It’s Floyd, he’s
screaming bloody murder!”

Cato
followed Bernice as she ran down the hall to Mr. Redford’s office. They could
see him through the plate glass window as they threw the door open. He was
standing on his chair. “What’s wrong?” she screamed.

“It’s
a spider!”

Cato
and Bernice just stared at him, flabbergasted.

“There’s
a spider under my chair!”

“Oh,
for God’s sake.” Cato grabbed a piece of paper off the desk, knelt down, caught
the little creature and took it outside. Clearly, Mr. Redford was not the
murderer. Anyone who was afraid of a spider certainly hadn’t pulled the trigger
to kill Dalton Smith.

When
she returned, he was down and wiping the sweat from his face. But Cato soon
discovered he might have
anophobia
, but that didn’t
make him any less of an asshole.

“Miss
Vincent, I expected the report for the fall events on my desk this morning.
Where were you yesterday? And why are you here today?”

Cato
crossed her arms over her breasts, confused. Was he angry because she was out
of the office yesterday or because she was in the office today. “The report
isn’t due till Friday. And I went to San Antonio to pick rosemary and freestone
peaches. Since I’ve been relegated to the farm and garden section, I’m planning
a fall article on the website for pumpkin patches, local honey and a scarecrow
contest that some of the smaller area communities host, every shop owner makes
one and displays them outside their shop…”

He
interrupted, waving his hand in dismissal. “That’s not what I’m worried about.
I have two projects for you and I want headway made this week. First is a major
write-up on the area music festivals—everything from Kerrville to
Luckenbach
—and second, I want a study done on folklore of
the area. We can use that at Halloween. It may be a kid’s holiday, but
everybody takes advantage of it.”

“Okay…”
Cato agreed with all of that. She didn’t really understand why he was yelling.
“Those are good ideas, but I have to ask you something.”

“What?”
He bit the word out at her. Cato wondered what had happened, he certainly
wasn’t the friendly guy who had interviewed her.

“Why
have I been taken off the interesting, serious projects like Dead Man’s Hole
and sent off chasing herbs, picking peaches and attending festivals?”

Floyd
Redford sat down in his chair gingerly, looking under it carefully before doing
so. “Well, to put it bluntly. You haven’t been forthcoming with your research.”

“But
that was my private research!” She shot back.

“And
we don’t feel like you’re the best communicator we have. Some jobs and projects
require more finesse.”

“Finesse?”
She couldn’t believe it. “What are you talking about?” Did he mean written
skill, verbal skill? A thought hit her. Was it her speaking voice?

“I
don’t have time to discuss it with you now. I’ll bring it up in your
evaluation.”

Cato
just stood there, debating what to say or do.

“Well,
what are you waiting for? Get your stuff and get on the road, but make damn
sure you send that report in by Friday.”

Cato
looked at Bernice, who just shrugged. Apparently, he wanted her out of the
office. Now why could that be? She started to walk away, but Mr. Redford
stopped her, getting right in her face.

“And
if I ever find out you’re the one who hacked the company email, you’ll be in
more trouble than you ever thought about being.”

Cato
didn’t answer. That settled it for her. Mr. Redford was involved, she could
feel it. He might not have pulled the trigger, but she would bet bottom dollar
he knew who had.

*  *  *

“I’m
dog tired, I need a cat nap.” Cato collapsed on the bed of her motel room in
Houston, holding the phone over her head so she could see Heath.

“Where
are you?”

“In
bed.” She smirked.

“I
got that honey, what’s your twenty?”

“Houston.”

“Damn,
too far away for a quickie. What are you doing in Houston?”

“Talking
to the organizers of the Something Wicked music festival.” She’d gone all warm
at his mention of sex. “I might get fired.” Cato voiced the concern she’d been
having.

“Why?”
From the frown on his face, she read his displeasure at her comment.

“Mr.
Redford demanded that I turn over my research on the mine. I really feel like
he knows something about Philip’s situation, something more than just common
knowledge.”

“Do
you think he killed Dalton Smith?”

Cato
laughed. “No, he’s too chicken shit. I had to catch a spider in his office. It
had him treed like Jaxson’s bull treed me.”

“I
would’ve liked to see that.” Heath looked her straight in the eye. “How many
people are in that office of yours?”

She
didn’t understand. “Fourteen when everybody’s there, but we’re all on the road
a great deal.”

“I
don’t want you to be alone with him, not till we know what’s going on.”

Cato
felt her heart hurt. He cared. “Okay, I’ll be careful.”

“Today’s
Thursday, pack a bag and I’ll pick you up at six Friday evening.”

“Where
are we going?” She sat up straight.

“San
Francisco, so dress up. We’re taking Jimmy’s jet. I have reservations at The
French Laundry.”

Cato
gave him a blank look. “I don’t know what that is, but being with you is all
that matters.”

“Damn.”
She always said the right things. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Fuck
me silly?”

“Friday
night, you’ll join the mile high club. I promise.”

“I
can’t wait,” she murmured with a dreamy look on her face.

“Me
neither,” he agreed, then he realized she was moving on the bed. “What are you
doing?”

“Getting
a head start.
Wanna
see?” She held the phone down and
Heath groaned.

When
she moved the cell back to her face, he was adamant. “Pull your panties off and
let me see your pussy.” Even though they’d made love several times, he’d never
taken the time to really look, and now was the perfect opportunity. The only
problem was, he couldn’t touch. But he’d take what he could get.

“Really?”
She was a little surprised.

“Spread
your legs and hold the camera down there, but you keep your eyes on my face.”

Cato
laughed and wiggled around. “My arm isn’t long enough.”

“Prop
your bottom up on a pillow or something.”

“I
feel exposed,” she grumbled.

Heath
laughed at her sweet face and pouty voice until she followed his directions and
spread her legs wide, holding the camera for him to see.

“Sweet
Je…” Heath breathed, licking his lips. “I wish you could see what I see.”

Cato
rose and leaned over. “I can see.” She gasped, she couldn’t breathe but she
could see. “What are we looking at? Do I have a smudge?”

She
glanced at his face on the phone in time enough to see him say. “No, no smudge,
you’re beautifully made. Perfection.”

Cato
didn’t respond, she couldn’t, she was hypnotized by the look of desire she
could see on his face.    

“Women
don’t understand,” he spoke. “The way you’re made, the way you make a man
feel—the pure bliss of joining.” He shoved his hair back roughly from his
forehead. “Touch yourself for me, let me watch.”

Cato
was trembling, her thighs were shaking. “I’m so excited, it won’t take but a
touch. Being with you is…” Her voice trailed off as she let her fingers slide
through her folds, finding the swollen button of her clit. “Heath? Are you
touching yourself?”

The
picture shifted and he showed her his open pants, unzipped, his cock standing
tall and proud, enclosed in his fist. “Answer your question?” His face appeared
again, the passion and strain evident in his eyes. “See what you do to me?”

They
watched one another as they pleasured themselves. The intimacy of the moment
wasn’t lost on either of them. “Heath!” Cato screamed as she reached her
climax. It wasn’t her fingers, it wasn’t her touch, it was the man whose eyes
were eating her up,
he
was her obsession.

She
couldn’t hear his groans, his release, but she could see his head fall back,
the cords of his neck standing out prominently. Even though they weren’t in the
same room or in the same city, Cato had never felt closer to anyone before.

*  *  *

“Thanks
for letting me take the plane, I owe you one.” Heath called Jimmy as he drove
to pick up Cato.

“Glad
to do it. Enjoy yourself, there’s a bottle of Salon 1995 on board, it’s all
yours.”

“Now,
Jimmy, you know that three hundred dollar bottle champagne is lost on me. I’m
more of a beer guy.”

“Cato
might enjoy it.”

Heath
turned off the main road, his heart beat picked up knowing he’d see her in a
few minutes. “She will. Cato likes everything.”

“Lucky
you,” Jimmy quipped.

“Yea,
lucky me. I
ain’t
arguing.”

“How’s
Jaxson?”

“Well.”
Heath sighed. “He’s having a rough time. But who wouldn’t?”

“Is
he back at Highlands?”

“No,
but I think I have a secret weapon.”

“What
would that be?”

“Tamara
Grayson.”

“Who’s
that?”

“You
know who she is, she’s that triathlete, the woman who does extreme sports.
Joseph and Beau are sponsoring her.”

“Ah,
yes. I know who you’re talking about. How is she your secret weapon?”

“She’s
pretty and she’s motivated to get Jaxson back on his feet.”

“Why?”

“She
wants him to chase her. I think she has a thing for our bull rider.” When he
made the usual reference, he felt a pang of regret for all Jaxson had lost.

“Do
you think he’ll ever ride again?”

“Hell,
horses or bulls or women? I don’t know. I want him to be whatever he can be,
but I don’t want him hurt.”

“Not
doing what you love can hurt you the most.”

“You’re
right, I know you’re right.” He pulled into Cato’s driveway and smiled when he
saw her standing on the porch waiting for him. She never gave him a chance to
go to the door, she was always outside as if she couldn’t wait to see him.
“Listen, bud, I’m here.”

“Call
me before you leave San Fran and I’ll meet you at the airport, we’ll have a
drink before I head for London.”

“Wait,
what time do you need to fly out?”

“When
you get back, I’m in no rush, take your time. I’ve got a meeting, but they’ll
wait on me.”

Dushku’s
self-assurance made Heath smile. “You’re something
else. Do you know that?”

“Of
course I do. Be careful.”

“We
can’t stay away but one night, so we’ll see you then.” Heath closed his phone
and got out to meet Cato. She saw him and a smile brightened her face as she
came off the porch, arms open wide. God, he was glad to see her. Heath had no
idea what he was doing, but it felt more right than anything had in a long
time. Catching her to him, he let his hands slide down her arms to grip her
hips. Damn, he was hard. He always was around her. Heath could almost cum just
thinking about her.

“I’m
so glad you’re here.” She wrapped her fingers in his hair and tugged, bringing
his mouth down to hers.

Heath
allowed his tongue to explore her mouth, rubbing against her in a velvet glide.
     
“God, you’re soft. So soft.” He let his hands explore her soft skin, down to
cup a soft breast. Lord, even her heart was soft.

“Got
time to go in and play?” she asked as he massaged her breast, rubbing his thumb
over the stiff peak of her nipple.

“Unfortunately
no, our plane awaits and the pilot’s on the clock.”

She
let him lead her to Old Red. “I’m glad to see we’re riding in style again, that
Mercedes felt wrong.”

Heath
chuckled. “My kind of girl.” He helped her into the truck on his side. “Sit in
the middle. I want you close.” He climbed in beside her and fastened the
seatbelt.

“I’ve
never ridden in a private plane before.” She was so excited, Cato couldn’t be
still.

“You’ll
enjoy it, it’s a Lear and the attendant is discrete.” He winked at her.

They
talked a bit about the trial. “Jury selection is still going on, they’ll call
us when the date for opening arguments is set.”

Cato
thought about what Cady had said, but she didn’t say anything. “All the
evidence is circumstantial. Zane will pull it off. Have they found anyone to
substantiate Philip’s alibi?”

Heath
shook his head. “Well, it was a normal day. People say they saw him but no one
remembers anything specific. It wasn’t one of his teaching days, he just
dropped some papers off at his office. There was no sign-in or anything.”

“How
about a camera, either traffic or on campus?”