My Bad Boy's Secret: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance (85 page)

Chapter Three

Caitlin danced through the rooms of the tiny farm house that was now all her own. True, she only had a large kitchen and a warm and cosy parlour and two bedrooms upstairs – but every inch of it was hers to do with as she wished. She had been disappointed to find that she couldn’t afford the amount of land that she would need to have a full cattle ranch, but as she had no experience with cattle either it probably wasn’t such a bad thing. What she did have was a large stable block, with eight comfortable stalls, eight roomy paddocks and a tidy farm yard with three barns. Her practical mind had always told her that she should raise horses, and so that was exactly what she would do.

She walked back outside. Monty nickered softly at her as if saying thank you for his new home. He had been more than happy to be turned out into the paddock nearest the house. It was full of lush grass, and she would have to be careful he didn’t get fat and lazy. But after their adventures she figured he deserved a good rest and as much food as his belly could cope with. He came to the fence and she stepped up on the lowest slat to reach his handsome head and scratched his nose affectionately. He nuzzled at her face and neck. “Happy boy?” she asked him. “I am too. Now, we need to find you a herd of lovely young ladies if we are going to make this stud work. I figure that the cowboys around here probably don’t enjoy having to travel miles to find suitable ranching ponies and horses. So, you are going to become the sire of a whole line. Sturdy and with your endurance what cowboy could ask for more?”

A smart carriage pulled up behind her and Caitlin turned to see the smiling face of Mariette Williams jumping down from the dash board. “So, isn’t it a wonderful place?” she said clearly proud that she had had a hand in finding such a perfect home for her newest friend.

“Mariette, I cannot thank you enough. However did you find this place?”

“Hardy told me that the Smith’s wanted to sell up and go back to Massachusetts. Both their babies died of diphtheria, I think the house and the area just made them too sad,” she paused a moment, then looked up at Caitlin. “But, the house has been cleaned I’m sure there is no risk of your going down with it!”

“I’m not afraid of sickness Mariette, not after everything else I went through to get here. I don’t think you are either. Mr Dalligan told me you went prospecting dressed as a man?”

“That I did. But thankfully those days are gone. Now, I figured that whatever you have decided to do with this place that you are going to need to go to market to get some stock. Wondered if you’d like some company?”

“I would indeed. I’m told you have a good eye for horseflesh, and I know you drive a carriage and pair better than most men, so I would be more than glad to have you along. I’m going to set up a stud, become a wrangler of sorts! Men like your husband will need good horses, and Monty has a good pedigree and great stamina. What I want is four of five stocky, sturdy Mustang mares or something with the same kind of resilience.”

“Sounds a wonderful idea. Hardy is always saying he doesn’t have enough, and that finding good ranching horses is hard. The more people he hires, the more he needs so if you can provide them with what they need at the right price I am sure that many of the local ranchers would be more than happy to buy from you. If they only have to come here rather than take the days needed for a trip into Dallas to the sales they will kiss your feet!”

“You don’t think they will have an issue buying from a woman?”

“Not at all, and if they do they will be the ones that miss out. I have a feeling you are going to be an incredible horse breeder.”

“I wanted to be a cowgirl, like Annie Oakley, but the more I think about it the horses mean so much more to me than any cow ever could.”

“You could still enter the rodeos,” Mariette said thoughtfully. “I saw a couple of women competing right up against the men, one actually won one of the classes at the local County Show.”

“I may just do that, it would be a great showcase for the skills of my horses,” Caitlin mused. Mariette chuckled.

“It is so good that Stephenville is attracting such a strong collection of women. I love that we have one another to keep us motivated to achieve our dreams. Which reminds me, Melissa and Annie sent you these.” She leant into the back of the carriage and pulled out a large basket filled with clean, perfectly hemmed linens, and a hamper filled with casseroles, pickles, jams and other non-perishable foods.

“They are most kind. I shall ride over and thank them as soon as we return from the horse sales.”

“We will have a guest along, if you don’t mind?”

“Not at all, who?”

“Albert wishes to join us. He has decided that poor Gamling deserves a leisurely retirement from his duties, would like a new mount.”

“I should be delighted to have him join us. I have barely seen him since he returned Monty and I still don’t think I have thanked him enough for sending me here. Gamling is a dear old thing, but I agree with him – he is definitely past his best. I wonder if he will take me up on my offer for him – he may be no use to Albert any more, but he would be to me.”

“I think Albert would rather his old friend went where he would be loved, and I am sure he knows that would be with you. He will be glad to know you are settling in well too. He always asks after you whenever I see him,” Mariette said with a sly wink. “I think he was rather taken with you.”

“Don’t be foolish. He would have done the same for anyone – and he is a kind man and a good neighbour. There was nothing like that I can assure you,” she said, but she could feel a deep flush rising up from her chest, and was sure her cheeks must now be beet red. She still found it found it hard to stop thinking about Albert Dalligan and his lovely hands and bright smile.

She had been surprised at how peculiar their conversation had been when he had returned a fully fit Monty to her. She had been so overcome with a strange nervousness she had never felt before. Her belly had filled with butterflies, and she was sure a few had flown up her throat and taken a firm hold of her tongue she had been so tongue-tied. All the manners that had been drilled into her had seemed to desert her as he had stood so close that she could breathe in the very essence of him, a mixture of soap and horses that she had found overwhelming. The tender way he had rubbed the smut of dirt from her nose had made her body sing, craving his touch. But he had pulled away from her, twice, and she didn’t know what to make of it.

Albert Dalligan had pre-occupied her thoughts over much of the past weeks, images of his soft pink lips, his bright eyes, and his lithe and wiry body. It had made it hard for her to focus at times, to think clearly about anything. She was so sure he had felt something too, so was it just that he found her too mannish like so many men before him? Had she been too forward in reaching out and touching him? Had she upset him somehow? But she had been unable to come up with any premise that would mean she could visit him at the school – not even to apologize for her bad behaviour – not that she felt she could trust herself to not be just as foolish again!

She was sure that he would not welcome her being so forward anyway, men never were. They wanted to do the chasing. But even more, Albert Dalligan held a position of responsibility in the community. He would need a good wife, who would support him and be respectable. She could never fulfil such a role as the wife of a School Master and so to save herself the pain of his rejection she had chosen to keep away from him until she was sure that her passing fancy for him was quite done. She sent a quick prayer up to the heavens, hoping that she would be recovered enough from this foolishness to spend the next few days with him, especially around the eagle-eyed Mariette who would be sure to spot even the slightest hint of her infatuation.

Chapter Four

Albert had dithered for long enough. He was determined that Miss Macgregor should never know that he was more than taken with her. But they had to live in the same town, and Stephenville was not so large that it was possible to harbour a grudge against a neighbour. He did not want her to have to avoid him, and he was obliged to be highly visible because of his role. He had made the mistake of hoping that living next door to him would mean it would be easy for him to find premises to stop by and see her, but after her swift rebuffing of him as he returned her horse to her, he had decided to give her some space. He remembered how difficult it had been for him, settling in to a new town, he didn’t want to add to those concerns for her.

But now, she was to be up in the hills on her own little farm. He was pleased for her, of course he was. It was her dream to farm her own land. He remembered every word of their all too brief encounter so he was happy she had found a place where she could do just as she wanted. Yet he wanted to be by her side, encouraging her. But he could only assume, as he had seen her conversing more than happily with Caleb, Hardy and many of the other local cowboys around town that it was only him she struggled to talk to, and was in fact avoiding.

He knew he wasn’t big and strong, was certainly not enamoured of the great outdoors as she was – but differences did not need to make for separation. His Papa had been a butcher, his Mama a schoolteacher. They had fitted together perfectly, each complementing the other perfectly. But though she had been polite, thanked him profusely for his lending her Gamling and taking such care of Monty she had made it more than clear on that very first meeting that she simply didn’t want any man. He was sure that she had seen his passion for her in his eyes, so abruptly had she asked him to leave. She didn’t want to let him make a fool of himself, and so he wouldn’t.

He vowed to himself as he waited for Mariette and Caitlin to arrive that he would be her friend. Heaven knew he had enough experience at doing so. Women wanted tough men, men who would be able to care for them in a crisis, rescue them if need be. Albert knew that his only skills lay in perfect handwriting and an ability to research any subject. He was no match for a woman like Caitlin, but he could care for her and make sure she had at least one good friend who would always be there for her.

“Good day to you Albert, are you ready?” Mariette called from her perch on the dashboard. He grinned up at her.

“Indeed. Let the adventure commence,” he replied. “Good day Miss Macgregor. I hope you are well? ” he said to the excited face that was peering out at him from within the carriage itself.

“I am. You are looking well,” she said to him stiffly. “Thank you again for everything Mr Dalligan. I cannot thank you enough. You must come up to the farm and see my new home soon.” Albert knew the invite had been made from politeness, not any real desire to spend time in his company. Her voice was so clipped, not like he remembered her from that first meeting at all. Yet again he had lost out before he had even gotten to know a woman he found completely addictive.

She hopped out of the carriage and helped him to heave his suitcase up onto the roof. He felt a little ashamed that a woman was doing such a thing for him, but he had to admire the way she did it with such grace. She was still dressed in trousers and a worn pair of riding boots, but she had paired them today with a smart blue cotton blouse with roses embroidered on it. It was a much more feminine pairing than the heavy buckskin jacket he had first encountered her in. She wore her hair in a ponytail, and it swung merrily as she moved. Her cowboy hat hung on her back. She looked every inch the cowgirl and he wondered why other men simply didn’t see the attraction, why nobody had snapped her up despite her protests. He could see her tiny waist, the curve of her lush hips and the jut of her firm derriere - for such beauty to be hidden under voluminous skirts seemed to him to be a criminal waste. “Not driving us today?” he asked trying to keep the conversation light.

“No, I hope to be leading a number of horses home with us. Mariette insisted I take a little rest on the journey there at least,” she smiled and it lit up her face. She had a slightly long face, and her features weren’t delicate, but it was definitely sensual. Her happiness made her truly stunning, her full lips curving in a way that made Albert think of all kinds of things he had vowed to banish from his mind. Albert felt his breath catch, and began to think he should back out of this little trip. He wasn’t ready to just be her friend, and certainly wasn’t ready to ride in the carriage alone with her.

“Would you like me to drive so you girls can chatter together?” he asked, praying Mariette was in a sociable mood.

“We could certainly take it in turns,” she said nodding her acquiescence and passing him the reins as he climbed up beside her. She jumped down and hopped into the carriage with Caitlin. Albert sighed, glad to have at least gotten the dash board to himself for now.

The roads to Fort Worth were sometimes a little tricky, and due to the recent rainfall were boggy and rutted with mud. He was glad that neither Mariette nor Caitlin was missish, as on more than one occasion all three of them had to get out and push the carriage back onto the path. Mariette had no more luck on her stint in the driving seat, and so the three of them stayed on the dash board, ready to jump down and push at a moment’s notice when required, in a mixture of excited chatter and companionable silence as the miles rolled by.

As night began to fall Albert wondered if they would make it that day at all. “I think we should make camp,” he suggested.

“There is a little place about two miles along the road, I’ve camped there with Hardy,” Mariette agreed. Caitlin just sat there quietly. “Are you feeling quite well my dear?” Mariette asked her.

“Just a little tired,” she said and Albert noticed she was looking unusually pale.

“Are you sure,” he asked, putting his hand to her forehead. She felt a little hot, and slightly clammy.

“I’m fine,” she snapped. “Now, shall we make camp?” She jumped onto the roof and threw a bundle of rugs at him. She threw it with such force it almost knocked him from the dash board, but he held his ground, and waited for her to pass the other ones.

He watched her carefully as they set up the tents, and she lit a fire. Clearly she had become very talented at taking care of herself on her travels. He had never seen anyone light a fire so swiftly. She disappeared for about an hour, came back with a brace of coneys. She skinned them and gutted them with deft skill, and soon had them bubbling in a stew over the fire. He went to speak with her, wanted to let her know he hadn’t been trying to make her feel bad but Mariette stopped him. “She’s never been around people who will let her be herself. She isn’t used to us. She’ll be a little prickly for a while Albert. Give her time.”

“I understand that Mariette, but what if she is sick and won’t ask us for help? She has a mild fever,” he said fervently.

“I know, but she is proud and we have to wait for her to make that move. I won’t lie to you Albert, it is why I wanted you here. You have more knowledge of medicine than anyone in town with Doctor Frazer away in New York. I noticed she seemed a little peaky yesterday.”

“You are a good friend Mariette, but wouldn’t cancelling the trip have been a better option?”

“No, because then she would have been up at that farm on her own, working herself into the ground and none of us would have known a thing until it was too late. This way I could keep my eye on her without her suspecting me of it.” Albert looked at her admiringly. He never failed to be impressed by how astutely she read others, and how warm hearted she was in making sure those she cared about were taken care of.

As they spoke Caitlin suddenly collapsed onto the ground, both rushed to her side. “Caitlin,” Mariette said loudly as she shook her shoulders. Albert felt her head again, it was burning up now. He checked her pulse, and listened to her breathing. It was rattling in her chest loudly, and though she tried to open her eyes and say something, both things clearly took too much effort for her.

“Don’t say a thing,” he said to her gently. “I think you may have somehow contracted diphtheria my dear.” Mariette looked at him aghast.

“But surely she couldn’t have caught it from the house, she has only been there a day?”

“No Mariette, I think she may have contracted this before then. We’ve had such a rash of it this summer, so many folk dropping like flies. Now, my dear you need to stay as far away from us as you possibly can. I know it is improper – though something tells me that wouldn’t worry Caitlin one bit, she seems unfazed by others opinions of her. But I shall have to stay with her in one tent tonight. You take the other and then you must return to town. We cannot have you contracting this my dear.”

“But it is okay if you do?”

“I have no work until after the harvests are done. All of the children are helping their families. I can take the time. However, that baby that is growing in your belly may not be as resilient as you and I.”

“How did you know?” Mariette asked him in disbelief. Clearly it had been a secret. “Not that any of that matters right now. I will do as you ask, but you must let me know what I can do.”

“Boil me plenty of water. She will need lots of it to drink, and to bathe her with until the fever breaks. Now, if you are feeling truly brave, rather than heading home you could continue on to Fort Worth. There is a Doctor Allison, he has a practise there - he will give you an anti-toxin for the diphtheria. The sooner we can get it into her, the more likely she will be to recover.”

“I shall go now. There is just enough light for me to get there tonight, if I push Blythe enough.” Albert watched as she rushed to the horses and unhitched them both from the carriage. Without bothering to saddle Blythe she leapt on his back and raced into the gathering gloom. Albert looked down into Caitlin’s waxen features, and sighed sadly.

“Oh my poor girl, now let us get you into the warmth of the tent and a nice snug bed roll. You are going to get through this. You are a fighter Caitlin Macgregor. Don’t you dare give up on me.” He whispered to her as he picked her up and carried her inside.