The Whisperers: A Three Book Box Set Read online

  “You heard me. The Nash men… well, let’s just say they don’t make good husbands.”

  “You mean the curse.”

  Ellen’s eyes rounded. “Jed told you?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you didn’t hightail it outta here?”

  “I love him.”

  Ellen stared at her for a long moment then sighed. “Then god help you, girl, you’re in for a world of hurt.”

  “Maybe.”

  Ellen shook her head and turned back to the dishes. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  Mik laid her hand on the older woman’s shoulder. “I appreciate your concern Ms. Ellen, but he’s worth the risk.”

  “I hope you don’t live to regret those words.”

  “So do I. Thanks again for breakfast.”

  Ellen nodded, her attention on her task. Mik grabbed her hat and headed out.

  The moment the door shut behind her, Ellen went for the phone. Keeping an eye on the door, she dialed.

  “Sorry to call so early but I wanted you to know that I had a talk with her and I don’t think we’re going to change her mind.”

  She listened for a few seconds before speaking again. “It’s not that easy. She’s staying in the lake house and does the housekeeping herself. I’d have to come up with a real good excuse to get in and even then if Jed found out I’d gone through her things, he’d boot my butt out in a New York minute.”

  Ellen walked over to the back door and looked outside as she listened. Jed and Mik were standing at the bottom of the porch steps talking. Hearing footsteps behind her she hurried back to the sink, talking in a whisper. “I have to go.”

  By the time Jesse walked through the kitchen and grabbed his hat with a “thanks Ellen. Best breakfast I’ve had all day,” she was busy loading dishes into the dish washer.

  Jed was waiting for Mik outside at the bottom of the steps.

  “What was that all about?” he asked.

  “Just girl talk,” Mik replied. There was no need to start bad blood between Jed and Ellen. “She’s figured out there’s something going on between us.”

  “That’s no surprise,” he said as he looped an arm around her waist. “The way you’re always making eyes at me and such.”

  “Yeah, right,” she said with a chuckle and elbowed him lightly.

  An exaggerated grunt preceded him changing the topic. “Did Jake tell you about the annual barbecue and rodeo?”

  “Yeah, it sounds great.”

  “I could use your help. And your sister’s if you think she’d be willing.”

  “Teddy?” Mik asked with a smile. “Well, I think if Jake asks she might be.”

  “Those two hitting it off?”

  “I think they’ve made a start at it.”

  “She know Jake’s track record?”

  Mik put her hand on his arm, giving the firm muscle a slight squeeze. “Teddy’s a big girl. She can take care of herself. Besides, she’s an empath, remember? Jake’s not going to get much past her.”

  Jed chuckled. “Should be interesting.”

  “What should be interesting?”

  Jed and Mik turned at the same time to see Jesse standing behind them. “Jake and Mik’s sister, Teddy.”

  “You have a sister? Well, damn woman, why didn’t you hook me up instead of Jake? I’m a whole lot prettier and if your sister’s anything like you I reckon she might be someone I’d purely love to get to know.”

  “You do that so well,” Mik said with a chuckle. “Sorry, she seems to have an eye for Jake. But hey, if you’re lucky I might introduce you to Alex.”

  “Who’s Alex?”

  “My other sister.”

  Jesse grinned and stepped over to drape his arm over Mik’s shoulders. “Why don’t you and me mosey on over to the stable, darlin’, and you can tell me all about your sister on the way?”

  Mik just laughed and gave Jed a wink. “Meet you for lunch?”

  “Lake house, one o’clock.”

  “You got it.” She grinned and let Jesse lead her away.

  “So about your sister …”

  *****

  Mik and Teddy were standing at the worn butcher’s block in the kitchen of the lake house, chopping vegetables for a salad. Jed had left early that morning to go to a livestock auction. Despite the ranch enjoying success with its boarding and breeding, he’d decided he wanted to start running cattle again. There was plenty of land to support it and he thought it was a wise financial move.

  Jesse had gone with Jed and when Mik agreed to take care of the riding lessons Jake had scheduled for the day, he accompanied them as well. Since it would be late by the time they returned, she’d called Teddy and Alex and asked them to come for dinner, the first sister-gathering since she’d been at the ranch.

  “So, you and Jake…” Mik said, leadingly.

  Teddy smiled, looking up briefly then returning her attention to chopping carrots. “He’s… well, I don’t know. I really like him and god knows he sends me into a serious case of the hots, but…”

  “But?”

  Teddy sighed, pausing in her task to look at Mik. “He’s got some issues.”

  “What kind of issues?”

  “Women, relationships, love, trust.”

  Mik considered it for a few moments. “I guess all of them have reason to be pretty screwed up in those areas. Considering their parents and—well, hell—everyone in their family for the last couple of hundred years, according to Jed.”

  “Yes,” Teddy sighed. “Jake told me about the family curse. But Mik, you and I both know that magic’s only as strong as we allow it to be. I think Jake and his brothers give that damn curse weight because they’re so hell bent on believing it.”

  “Maybe, maybe not.”

  “Meaning?”

  Mik gathered up the tomatoes and cucumbers and plopped them on top of the lettuce in the big bowl on the center of the butcher’s block. “Meaning I think they can stop believing in that if they find something new to believe in.”

  “You’re talking about you and Jed, right?”

  “What about you and Jed?”

  The voice from the door had Mik turning with a smile. Alex walked in, two bulging grocery bags in her arms. “I brought wine, bread, and dessert.”

  Mik took one of the bags, using her free arm to hug Alex. “Have any trouble finding the place?”

  “Nope, the directions were perfect. Man, this place is huge. I had no idea it was such a big operation. Hey, Teddy.”

  “Hey,” Teddy gave her a grin and started scooping up the chopped carrots to add to the salad. “What kind of wine?”

  Alex grinned and put the bag she carried on the counter, fishing out two bottles. “Take your pick.”

  “White,” Teddy replied.

  “Mik?” Alex asked.

  “Neither, I’ll stick with beer.”

  “Okay, so the glasses are…?”

  “Cabinet to the right of the sink.”

  Alex got glasses and poured two glasses of wine, one red and one white. She handed the glass of white wine to Teddy then looked around. “Not a bad place.”

  “I like it,” Mik replied as she got a beer from the refrigerator. “Have a look around.”

  “Later. Right now I want to know about this coin Teddy said was possessed.”

  Mik cut Teddy a sharp look. “I was hoping we could forget about that for a while.”

  “Hey, she’s our sister, she deserved to know,” Teddy protested.

  “You’re right,” Mik relented. “But I’m still not ready to open that can of worms just yet. Can we agree to table that topic for the time being?”

  “Sure,” Alex agreed and Teddy nodded her compliance.

  “Great. Thanks. So, back to what we were discussing before you got here, Alex. Jake.”

  “Ah, Jake, the blue-eyed hunk who revs Teddy’s engine,” Alex said with a grin. “Yeah, let’s talk about Jake. And Jed,” she gave Teddy a wink.

  �
�Yes, Jed,” Teddy said with a grin. “Mik’s in love with him, you know.”

  “Ummm hmmm, “Alex leaned back against the counter and regarded Mik. “And from what I hear he’s hot as a match and twice as likely to give you a burn.”

  Mik laughed and lifted her beer in a salute. “Amen, sister.”

  “So, dish,” Alex, prompted. “And don’t leave out the naughty bits.”

  Suddenly everything felt very right in Mik’s little world. She had a man she loved, work she enjoyed and her sisters were happy. What more could a woman ask for? With a healthy swig of her beer, she pulled out a chair at the table. “Well, here’s the thing about Jed…”

  *****

  Four hours, a six-pack and nearly two bottles of wine later, Mik and her sisters were sprawled in the cozy den, still giggling about the Nash men and their attributes.

  “So, you think you’ll do the big nasty with Jake?” Alex asked Teddy at almost the same moment footsteps sounded from the kitchen.

  Three sets of eyes turned in direction of the kitchen door. When Jed stepped into the room, Alex let out a low “holy shit!”

  Jed gave her a puzzled look but Mik laughed and rose, greeting him with a kiss.

  “Hey, darlin’,” he pulled her up against him. “Miss me?”

  “You know it.” She turned, pulling him with her into the room. “Jed, this is my sister, Alex. Alex, this is Jed.”

  Alex stood with a smile and extended her hand. “I am so happy to see you.”

  The smile Jed gave her had Mik chuckling at the reaction on Alex’s face. “It’s a pure pleasure, Alex.”

  “Oh, Mik, can I have him? Please?” Alex didn’t take her eyes off Jed and also didn’t release his hand.

  “Not a chance,” Mik replied. “You can let go now, Alex.”

  “What? Oh, sorry.”

  “I didn’t expect you back this early,” Mik commented. “Everything go okay.”

  “Better than expected. Got two hundred head coming in at the end of next week. And…” he paused. “A little surprise for you.”

  “For me? What?”

  “Wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I told you.”

  “Oh, you’re going to tell me.”

  “That a threat, honey?”

  “Would you two take it to the bedroom?” Teddy complained.

  Jed laughed and took off his hat, running his hand back through his hair. “Jake and Jesse’re outside in the truck. We thought we’d celebrate, build a fire down by the lake, and soak up a few brews. You ladies want to join us?”

  Mik looked at her sisters. Teddy bounded to her feet, all smiles. “You bet’cha.”

  Alex looked down at her designer dress slacks and grimaced. “Uh, I’m not exactly dressed for the campfire.”

  “I’ve got a pair of sweatpants you can wear,” Mik offered.

  That prompted a laugh from Alex and Jed. Where Mik was short and slender, Alex was tall and best described as voluptuous. Big hips, big breasts, and a lot of curve to a body that sat beneath the face of something inspired by desire. Long wavy red hair, sea-green eyes, and full lips came together to create a real work of art.

  “Okay, so they’ll be tight and be Capri length. Deal with it.”

  Alex shrugged. “Sure, why not. Got a t-shirt?”

  “I think there’s a couple of Jed’s in the bureau. Help yourself.”

  “Be right back.”

  Alex took off for the bedroom. Jed, Mik and Teddy made their way to the kitchen and outside onto the back porch. Jake and Jesse sat on the porch swing, beers in hand with an enormous cooler at their feet.

  “A few beers?” Mik eyed the cooler.

  “Yep,” Jake said with a grin that notched up several degrees when Teddy stepped out from behind Jed. “Hey beautiful.”

  “Hey,” she rewarded him with a sexy smile then looked questioningly at Jesse. “You must be Jesse. I’m Mik’s sister, Teddy.”

  Jesse stood with an easy fluid motion that even Mik had to admire for pure sensuality and started toward her. “Well, hey now. Nice to meet you—“

  Before he could finish the greeting, Jake had stuck out one leg and tripped him. “What the…?” Jesse stumbled, reached out for something to break his fall and at that precise moment, Alex stepped through the door.

  Jesse’s hand landed square on her right breast.

  Alex stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes flying open wide. Mik was the first to break down and laugh, followed by Teddy. Jed stifled a laugh but couldn’t contain a grin. All Jake did was gape and mutter “oh shit!”

  Jesse got his feet underneath him and straightened, removing his hand. “Well, howdy gorgeous. I’m Jesse.”

  For a moment, there was total silence. Mik could tell from the look on Alex’s face that she wasn’t all that embarrassed by what’d happened. In fact, unless Mik was way off base, Alex was about to get downright bitchy and not for the reasons anyone would guess.

  “The name’s Alex,” Alex stepped back, giving Jesse a look chilly enough to have him drawing back a bit in surprise.

  “Alex is my sister,” Mik stepped in. “Alex, the guy in the swing with the shit-eating grin on his face is Jake. The one who just … well that’s Jesse.”

  “My pleasure,” Jake tipped the front of his Stetson in a move reminiscent of days gone by, or an old western film.

  “Nice to meet you.” She gave Jake a smiled and pointedly ignored Jesse.

  “So, to the lake?” Mik asked before more could be said or done.

  “To the lake,” Jed agreed. “Jake, you and Jesse got the cooler?”

  “Yep,” Jake rose, throwing a wink in Teddy’s direction as Jesse grabbed a handle on the cooler.

  The night was filled with the sounds you can only hear in the country, bugs, frogs, and night bird sounds all combined into a cacophony that should have been discordant but was instead a harmonious blend that brought a sense of serenity.

  It didn’t take long to reach the campfire site. Ringed with white quartz, common to the area, the black pit and dirt packed ring around its perimeter bore testimony to the many times feet had stood beside a fire in this place.

  Mik offered to help Jed gather wood and Alex threw in with them. Mik hung back with Alex. “Jesse got to you, didn’t he?”

  Alex tossed her head. “Hardly.”

  “Liar,” Mik said with a grin.

  Alex cut her an annoyed look that was short lived. “Okay, fine, so he’s freaking drop-dead-gorgeous. But trust me, he knows it.”

  “And?”

  “And…and, well, I’m tired of guys who think they’re all that and a bag of chocolate chip cookies and think you should be dropping your pants grateful that they graced you with their attention.”

  Mik laughed out loud, earning a “sssh!” from Alex. “Come on,” Mik whispered, bending to gather up some dried branches at the base of an old oak. “Jesse isn’t like that. He’s just …”

  “Just?”

  “A Nash,” Mik sighed. “Born to be a temptation and enjoying the hell out of it.”

  “Well, I’m not in the least tempted.”

  “Careful Pinocchio,” Mik teased.

  Alex flipped her the bird and snatched up a couple of limbs. “I’m not.”

  “Right, whatever you say.”

  In a few minutes they were both had armloads of dried branches and twigs. Jed already had wood in the pit and a small flame started when they returned and piled the wood at the outer perimeter of the fire pit.

  “Thought you’d gotten lost,” Jed commented.

  Mik grinned and plopped down on a blanket near the fire. “Toss me a beer,” she said to Jake, who sat nearby with Teddy sitting between his legs, leaning back on him.

  Alex took a look around. The only vacant spot was on the worn blanket where Jesse sprawled, propped on one arm. He patted the blanket in front of him. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite. Well not hard, anyway.”

  Mik smiled behind her beer at the dangerous glitter in Alex’s eyes a
s she took a seat and retorted. “Well, I do.”

  The smile turned into a laugh as Jesse grinned up at Alex. “Well hell, darlin’, looks like we’re gonna get on just fine then.”

  Alex glowered at Mik across the fire. As Jed lowered himself to the blanket beside Mik, leaning over to kiss her at the base of her neck she smiled and raised her beer. “To campfires, beer, and family.”

  “I’ll drink to that,” Jake crowed.

  “You’ll drink to anything,” Jesse commented then added. “But I’ll second that.”

  “So will I,” Jed added, his eyes on Mik. “To family.”

  And for Mik, in that moment, all was right with the world. A feeling she’d wish she could recapture in the days to come.

  Chapter Twelve

  Mik dismounted and gave Thrasher affection rub. “You did real good today, buddy.”

  He turned his face to nuzzle at her neck and she chuckled. Didn’t matter what species, males shared common traits. Thrasher was as much a flirt as any man she’d ever known. It’d been nearly a month since her fateful first ride on Thrasher and in that time he’d come to hold a special place in her heart.

  “Okay, special treats for you,” she promised and headed for the barn with him following.

  She hadn’t taken a dozen steps before she stopped dead in her tracks. That wasn’t right. One of the new horses they’d taken to board was in the east corral and stumbling like it was drunk. Mik’s heart leapt in her chest. Something was terribly wrong.

  She set off at a run, yelling for Jed at the top of her lungs. By the time she was opening the gate, Jed and Jake were two steps behind her. “What’s wrong?” Jake yelled.

  “Sick horse.” Mik stopped and gestured.

  “Shit!” Jake looked at her then at Jed.

  “Call the vet,” Jed barked and headed for the horse.

  Mik followed. The closer she got the more certain she was that this was serious. The horse was disoriented and sick. She could feel it rolling in waves off the animal. Before they could reach it, the horse stumbled and fell.

  Jed knelt down beside it, running his hands over the sweat-slicked skin, and heaving belly. Mik knelt beside him. She didn’t have to touch the horse to know that this wasn’t simply a case of bad oats.