Searching for a New Home (10 page)

When Jason disconnects the call, he pulls
Jacob away from the others and whispers the information the
security chief had told him. "Damn!" says Jacob. "He must be
desperate to find something to come onto the ranch with all of the
security and the press hanging around. I hope the fact that he
waited until he thought everyone was gone means he isn't interested
in Jana or Dani. I better call Tom so he can inform the FBI."

"Tom, Jacob Murray. We had a little incident
at the ranch tonight. Jana's car and room were ransacked. It sounds
like Sam Willard is right here in Cody."

"I'll let my contact know. They'll be at your
ranch within hours. I hope the guy is still around. I would love to
get him off the streets." responds Tom.

"Thanks Tom."

"Jacob, don't leave her alone for a second.
This guy is ruthless and if he is after something that she has, he
won't stop at killing just her. You are all in danger."

"We already have a security firm on site, but
I will double their presence and I will personally stay with Jana."
says Jacob.

"Have the FBI check for explosives in the
house and the car. He has been known to use them on occasion. I'll
keep you posted," says Tom.

Jason places the call to the security firm.
Jenny and I are curious about what is going on but don't say
anything in front of Dani. Once they are back at the house and Dani
is safely in bed, Jacob explains to Barry, Jenny and I about Sam
Willard. Extra guards have been assigned to watch the house and
everyone will stay inside. The FBI swept the house with a bomb
sniffing dog but didn't find anything. Hopefully they will catch up
with Willard soon.

When I check my room, I find that my money,
twenty thousand dollars is missing. I tell the FBI.
Oh God! What am I going to do now? That is all I have left in
the world. It is supposed to be my stake when I find my new home.
Why didn't I open an account at a local bank? I should have known
better than to leave that kind of money just lying around.
Damn!

When Jacob hears the money is missing he puts
two and two together. Sam Willard thinks Jana has the seventy
thousand dollars that Cybil had withdrawn from her accounts. If he
thinks she has the rest of the money, he will be back. Damn!

******

I have been very careful to make sure I am
never alone with Barry Farrady. Jenny told me about an incident
during Farrady's trial that had caused a major misunderstanding
between her and Jason. Barry is not a bad guy. He would never try
to steal someone away from one of his friends, but Jason had
witnessed a situation where Barry had been examining Jenny's hand
for a splinter. Jason had thought he was kissing her palm and flew
into a rage. Obviously, Jason and Jenny had worked through the
problem, but Jenny had warned me to be very careful. The Murray
brothers can be very possessive.

On Saturday morning following Dani's play, I
am busy cooking breakfast in the kitchen. Barry comes into the
kitchen to get a cup a coffee and accidentally bumps into me as I
turn from the stove and he is passing behind me to get to the
coffee maker. Barry automatically reaches out to grasp my shoulders
to steady me. As luck would have it, Jacob walks in at the same
time and assumes the worst. Barry apologizes to me, takes his
coffee and leaves the room. He doesn't witness what happens
next.

I have turned back to the stove when Jacob
approaches, "Well, it seems I walked in at the wrong time, doesn't
it? Sorry I interrupted your little tete-a-tete. "

I look at him with my mouth hanging open.
"Don't be ridiculous!" I turn back to the stove shaking my
head.

"Well, what would you call it then? It
certainly looked like the two of you were engaged in a romantic
embrace!" growls Jacob.

Slowly, I remove the skillet from the burner
and remove the half baked biscuits from the oven. I turn and look
Jacob straight in the eye, "You are an imbecile! I will not live
with a man who has so little trust in me!" I storm out of the
kitchen and up the stairs to my room.

Jacob turns, grabs his coat, and stomps out
the back door and goes to the barn. Unfortunately, Dani witnesses
the entire encounter between her Daddy and Jana.

Oh no!! Dani is horrified. Jana and her Daddy
are fighting. She runs back upstairs and softly closes the door to
her room. What is she going to do? She'll never speak to her Daddy
again if Jana leaves! She will never forgive him!

I am pacing back and forth in my room. I
cannot believe that Jacob could think I would have anything to do
with Barry Farrady. Doesn't he know I am in love with him? Well,
maybe not since I haven't told him, but then again, he hasn't said
how he feels about me either! In fact, he has only recently even
acted like he cared for me. He's only kissed me once for heaven's
sake. What right does he have to act jealous? Pausing I realize he
WAS jealous! A warm rush of pleasure flows through me. He must care
about me!

A knock sounds at my bedroom door. Jenny
asks, "Jana is Dani in here with you?"

"No, isn't she in her room?"

"I've looked everywhere in the house and I
can't find her anywhere." Looking at me for the first time she
asks, "Are you all right?"

"Not really, but I will be. Come on I'll help
you find Dani."

We look everywhere in the house, under every
bed, in every closet and Dani is nowhere to be found. I worriedly
ask Jenny, "Jenny, would you mind calling Jacob and see if maybe
she is down at the barn?"

Jenny sends a puzzled glance at me but dials
Jacob's cell phone as requested, "Jacob is Dani in the barn with
you?"

"No, I haven't seen her this morning. Did you
check her room?" answers Jacob.

"Jana and I have looked everywhere in the
house. She is not in the house anywhere," responds Jenny.

Jacob says, "All right, Jason and I will be
right there. Check with Barry, see if he has seen her."

"Barry hasn't seen here either. He has been
in the great room watching television."

"We're on our way," responds Jacob. His heart
is pounding with fear. Oh God, where could she be? Please God,
don't let anything happen to Dani!

The group spends the next hour frantically
searching every place they can think of around the outside. It is
very cold outside with more snow forecast for later in the day. I
am becoming extremely worried. With Willard somewhere in the area,
what if he gets his hands on Dani?
Oh God,
please, keep her safe!

Finally Jacob notices little footprints in
the snow headed for the garage. He follows them inside. He calls,
"Dani? Are you in here?" No answer.

He starts checking the vehicles one by one.
When he gets to Jana's SUV he notices a lump in the back floorboard
under a blanket. He opens the door and then he hears the quiet
sobbing. "Dani?"

"Go away, I hate you!" Dani cries.

He reaches down and pulls her into his arms,
"Pumpkin, why are you mad at Daddy?"

"You and Jana were fighting, now she is going
away and I'm going with her!" sobs Dani.

"Oh Sweetie, Jana isn't leaving, she loves
you. Daddy won't let her go away," consoles Jacob.

"She said she wouldn't live here if you
couldn't trust her," quotes Dani almost word for word.

"Oh Dani, I'm sorry you heard our
disagreement. Jana isn't leaving, Daddy won't let her leave,"
reassures Jacob.

"Promise?" asks Dani.

"I promise," says Jacob. "Come on, let's go
inside and warm you up."

When they enter the kitchen, Dani immediately
runs to me and I hug her close, "Please don't leave Jana. Daddy
didn't mean to make you mad, did you Daddy?"

I look up at Jacob and sees warmth in his
eyes. "I'm sorry," he says. "I really am an imbecile! Can you
forgive me?"

I smile, "Of course."

Dani smiles and hugs me close. She is happy.
Her Daddy apologized to Jana and she is going to stay. Maybe there
is still hope that Jana can be her Mommie.

Walking into the great room after lunch Jacob
says, "Come on Barry. We are supposed to meet the realtor at the
Rock Springs Ranch in a few minutes."

When the ranch adjoining the Rocking J went
on the market a few weeks ago, Jacob had notified Barry Farrady of
the pending sale. He is here to check out the property and possibly
make an offer. Ever since Barry had first visited Jacob in Wyoming
back during his trial, he has wanted to have a ranch in the area of
his own. The stress of living in the public eye is unbearable at
times and he can't wait to have a place where he can sneak off to
and unwind.

In order to avoid the Paparazzi they take
Jacob's pickup and head across the back pasture to the private gate
between the two properties. When Jacob gets out of his truck to
open the gate he notices new tire tracks in the snow. As far as he
knows, no one has been out here in months. It must have been the
guards, he will check with them when he gets back to the house. It
is strange that they extend into the adjoining property though.

Once in the truck Barry says, "I'm sorry
about this morning Jacob. You know I would never move in on your
territory don't you?"

Jacob answers, "Yeah, I know. I acted like a
jerk. I didn't really even realize how much I care about Jana until
I saw her in your arms. It was quite a wakeup call. I guess it's
time I let her know."

Jacob and Barry spend the afternoon touring
the adjoining property. The house is opulent with ten bedrooms all
with adjoining full baths plus two additional full baths. The two
huge living areas, a state of the art kitchen, a garden room, huge
stone patio, and meticulous lawns make it perfect for entertaining.
It has an indoor pool and fully furnished gym too. A caretaker's
cottage and bunkhouse are across the yard next to the burned out
barn but are in good condition. The only thing that needs work is
the barn. It was damaged in a fire the previous summer.

"Well, what do you think?" asks Jacob.

"It's absolutely perfect!" replies Barry.
"I'll make an offer today. Now, I just need to find someone to
share it with. You know Jacob I really am envious of you and Jason.
Both of you seem to have found the perfect mates. I hope I am as
lucky some day."

Thoughtfully Jacob answers, "You know, Jana
hasn't agreed to be my mate yet. I hope I haven't screwed it
up."

"Man, are you blind? That woman loves you so
much she glows with it. I would have known the day I walked in the
door that she was taken even if you hadn't put your arm around her.
She had an off limits sign on her forehead too big to miss." Barry
laughs.

Barry leaves for Los Angeles as soon as he
finishes his conversation with the realtor. The realtor tells him
he feels sure the seller will accept his offer and he should plan
to close right after the first of the year. Barry is thrilled.

******

When Jacob returns to the ranch, he corners
the security chief and asks him if any of his men have been out in
the back pasture. When the security chief says no, Jacob tells him
about the tire tracks leading to the property next door and they
call the FBI to check out the property.

After a thorough investigation, the FBI
determines that Sam Willard has been staying in the burned out barn
on the property next door. That explains how he was able to get to
the house on the Rocking J without being seen the night of Dani's
play.

Even though he appears to be gone now, Jacob
is concerned Willard has access to his property. The FBI agrees to
post agents at the house for the next few weeks to make sure he
doesn't come back.

******

Later that evening, after everyone has
retired to their rooms, Jacob raps softly on my bedroom door. I
have already taken off my clothes and am dressed only in my silk
gown and a lightweight robe when I answer the door.

"Can I talk to you for a few minutes?" asks
Jacob.

"Sure, do you want to come in?"

Jacob looks past me at the bed, takes a deep
breath and says, "No, I think it will be better if we go
downstairs."

He takes my hand in his and leads the way
down the stairs into the great room. He guides me to the sofa where
he pulls me down onto his lap. He looks into the deep blue pools
that are my eyes and smiles.

"This is the first opportunity we have had to
be alone in a long time. I just want to hold you a little while
tonight. Is that all right with you?" asks Jacob.

I smile back and tease, "All you want to do
is hold me?"

"It's too dangerous to do much else, but we
might make out a little."

He smiles as he lowers his head and brushes
his lips against mine. The usual zing zips through his veins as he
nibbles, tastes, then savors my lips. When I open for him, he dives
into the depths of my sweet mouth with a hunger that takes my
breath away. My hands find their way into his hair then dip inside
his collar to caress the skin of his neck and shoulders. A moan
escapes his throat. He moves his lips to the curve of my neck. His
hand slowly caresses the curve of my hip then makes its way
underneath my gown and up to cup my full breast. A gasp escapes my
lips as he rolls my swollen peak between his fingers. He parts the
front of my robe leaving my breasts only covered by the sheer silk
of my night gown. He can see the dusky shadow of my nipples through
the thin material. He is mesmerized. His head starts its descent
toward their sweetness...

A door closes upstairs. He jerks back to
reality and touches his forehead to mine. He pulls the sides of my
robe back together with shaking fingers as our breathing returns to
normal. "You are so sweet! I lose my head every time I touch you.
Come on, I better walk you back to your room." Jacob helps me to
stand and then follows me up. He puts his arm around my waist and
we head up the stairs.