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  Apparently, this Morgan fellow had established something of a name for himself the last few years. As a trainer, he boasted a string of successes in the rodeo, having trained three champion barrel racers and four roping horses. The fact that he had some experience as a Farrier was a perk.

  There was, however, a drawback to this fellow. Morgan needed housing which meant Jake had to move out of the lake house, one of the smaller houses on the ranch and back into the main house. Jed wasn’t keen on sharing a living space with Jake, even if the main house did have plenty of room. Jake was a slob and Jed hated clutter.

  But accommodations had to be made. That was the way of it and Jed had learned a long time ago that bitching and moaning didn’t change anything. So he’d make the best of it and hope that Morgan worked out. If not…well, he’d cross that bridge when he got to it.

  Chapter Two

  Mik checked the air on the trailer tires after gassing up the truck and then checked on her horse, Cherokee. With luck, she’d reach the Rocky River Ranch in a couple of hours. Her stomach knotted at the thought of it. Had she screwed up letting herself be talked into selling the farm and taking this job? Maybe she should have just hung onto the farm and tried to find another way.

  And let your family down? The annoying voice of her conscience caused her dark eyebrows to drawn into a tight frown. Family obligation could be a real bitch.

  Mik climbed into the truck and started the engine. There were times when she was quite certain that life would be easier if she had been an only child. Well, to be exact the only adopted child.

  She had been adopted by the Morgans—Henry and Beth, a couple who had been told they could not conceive. To their surprise, the week after they brought Mik home, they found out they were pregnant and six months later, Beth gave birth to a daughter, Alexandra. A year after that Theodora was born. Mik had never felt like she was different from her sisters because she was adopted. She felt loved. And they’d all had an idyllic childhood on the farm in Virginia. Idyllic until Henry and Beth were killed in a car accident. Mikayla, or Mik, was the oldest of the girls and at age nineteen had inherited guardianship of the younger two. Alex who was seventeen and Teddy who was sixteen.

  Even overwhelmed with grief, Mik was up to the task of running the farm. That was her love. She dropped out of college and dove into the responsibility. But riding roughshod over her sisters was a task she was ill prepared for and one she came to resent. By the time her sisters graduated high school and entered college, Mik was ready for her freedom.

  She found it in the form of Dave Lawrence, a rodeo cowboy with a quick smile and a love of drinking. He spent his life on the road, traveling from one rodeo to the next and that suited her just fine. One drunken night in Nevada, she married him. And that’s when everything turned to shit.

  Less than six months after saying “I do” she was sitting in a jail in Albuquerque, New Mexico, pressing charges against her husband for battery. She walked out of the jail that morning and straight into an Army enlistment office.

  She leased out the farm to a nice couple with a family and six weeks later, she was in boot camp, determined to be a good soldier. Things didn’t quite work out that way. The military thought she was suited for a desk job. She disagreed. But she didn’t give the orders so she did what she was told and counted down the days. When her two years were up, she high tailed it out of military and returned home to Virginia.

  The family she’d leased the farm to stayed on and worked for her. After legally dropping her married name, she threw herself back into the one thing she knew, raising and training horses. She used the benefits the military afforded and enrolled in school and got a degree in Animal Husbandry, then joined the rodeo circuit and within two years was the world champion in barrel racing. She used her winnings to buy a stallion and three mares and dreamed of breeding and training champion barrel racing horses.

  Then the bottom fell out. The economy went to shit, her sister Alex lost her job and had to move back home to the farm and Teddy’s marriage went bust when she found out her husband had gambled them out of a home and into bankruptcy.

  Once again, Mik found herself in the position of having to take care of her sisters. She had to let all her help go, and sold some of the stock. It had been touch and go for a while but finally a break came. Alex was offered a chance to buy into a prestigious CPA firm in Charlotte, North Carolina as a partner. Teddy wanted to start a business, a new age shop, and clothing store. She’d scouted around and found a storefront in Monroe, the county seat of Union County, North Carolina, just south of Charlotte. All either of them needed to start on their dreams was funding.

  Mik wanted both of them to have the chance to pursue their dreams and there was only one way she could make it happen. Sell the farm and the horses. It nearly broke her heart but there was no other way to raise the money. The first person to come see it was a nice fellow about her age who wanted it for his mother to use as a retreat of sorts. Apparently, she’d not fared well since the death of her husband.

  Rob didn’t seem to be the kind of man who would be comfortable on a farm, but he offered her more than what she was asking. There wasn’t anything he wanted changed and said he was looking forward to spending weekends there. Mik got the feeling that he wasn’t being entirely honest about spending time there. He was way too much of a city fellow.

  Not that it mattered. She couldn’t let it matter. The sale of the farm would enable her sisters to make a fresh start. It would force Mik to give up her dreams and find a job. That was more difficult than she anticipated. In the six months it took to get everything finalized only one opportunity arose and it was from the Rocky River Ranch in Union County, North Carolina.

  Despite the disappointment of having to give up her dream, Mik was grateful. Her sisters would get the chance they wanted to build lives they dreamed of, and she’d landed a job that paid pretty damn well. All things considered, she should count herself lucky.

  So why was she as nervous as a cat on ice? And why did she have this sense of impending doom? Well, maybe doom was too strong a word, but there was something niggling at her. What her step-parents had affectionately labeled her “spider” sense was tingling an alert.

  Mik had learned by the time she was ten to pay attention when the tingle started. She’d just never had one last this long or be this strong. Which brought her back to her original question: was she making a huge mistake?

  What difference does it make when you have no other options? Her alter ego had a point and maybe she was making too much of it. Maybe it was nothing more than a sense of disappointment at having to let go of a dream and settle for working for someone else. If that was the case, her ego just needed to take a big ol’ dose of shut the fuck up and leave her to do what she had to do to support herself.

  Besides this wasn’t just about her. Sure, there was a price, but look at the benefit. Teddy and Alex had the chance to pursue their dreams. That had to count. And who knew. Maybe one day Mik would have her chance.

  But not today. Today a job waited for her at the Rocky River Ranch.

  Chapter Three

  Robert Dalton Manning, Jr. settled into the plush leather executive chair behind the polished mahogany desk, smoothed the legs of his trousers, and adjusted the cuffs of the white shirt that peeked from the sleeves of the dark gray Dolce & Gabbana jacket.

  He was confident that he projected the appearance of a successful executive, self-assured, handsome, personable, and brilliant. He’d perfected his persona to almost an art form. And he never let anyone get close enough to see beneath the slick façade. The President of Manning Enterprises, he wore the title with style, at least in his own mind.

  He had ten minutes before he was due to deliver his daily report via webcam and needed the time to collect his thoughts. The daily reports were a source of anxiety for Dalton. His superior was his stepmother. Deidre Carnes Manning was not a woman to be trifled with. She wielded considerable power. She was also a wom
an obsessed and quite unbalance in his opinion.

  Unbalanced or not, she was in control. A fact she reminded him of daily. Not that he was likely to forget. Like a giant black widow spider, Deidre had woven a web that had filaments infiltrating wealth and power around the globe. And like the spider, those who opposed her tended to be eliminated.

  Dalton didn’t intend on being added to that list. No, he was far smarter than that. He’d play the role of a subservient to the letter and carry out every order she issued, and all the while work on his plan to take her power when the time was right.

  The time was not yet right, so today he’d follow orders, smile, and assure her with word and deed that he was the only person she could fully trust.

  Dalton turned on his computer, accessed the latest reports, and then placed the call. As was typical, she kept him waiting before she finally appeared on the screen.

  “Dalton, my darling. Good morning. Kissy kissy.”

  “Good morning mother. You look stunning today.”

  Deidre smiled, patted a curl beside her ear, and relaxed into her chair. “What news have you for me today my darling boy?”

  Dalton mentally gritted his teeth. Her habit of referring to him as her darling boy was a thorn in his side. He was only beneath her in power because she’d screwed him out of his birthright. Literally. She’d screwed his father right into a massive coronary.

  “I’ve located Ray Franklin.”

  Deidre sat forward, her eyes glittering like a reptile fixed on its prey. “And?”

  “I’ve dispatched an associate to make contact. I should be hearing from our man later today.”

  “Don’t let him slip away from us, my darling. You know how badly mommy needs this little man to make her plan work.”

  “No need to worry, mother. We’re making too attractive an offer for him to refuse.”

  “Excellent. I know I can count on you, Jacob. And what of the Morgan girls?”

  Dalton’s radar perked up. Whenever Deidre referred to him as Jacob, he knew she was operating in what he referred to as her fantasy zone. More and more she believed herself to be possessed by the spirit of Sara Whitestone, a woman allegedly wronged and hanged –a woman who’d cursed an entire family. The Nash family.

  Deidre claimed that she was Sara’s descendant and was firmly convinced that it was Sara who’d guided her to Jed Nash so he and his family could be destroyed.

  She had this epiphany one night while alone in the mansion, after Dalton’s father died. On that fateful night, Deidre believed that she and Sara had joined. Two spirits sharing one body. Now whenever the personality of Sara was dominant, she referred to him as Jacob, Sara’s only son.

  “Alexandra is settling into her new dwelling –the condo we made available in the city –and she begins work for our accounting firm next week. Theodora was overjoyed to find a small storefront in Monroe where she could set up her new business and has moved from the extended stay hotel into a small rental house in the city. Naturally we own both the storefront and the rental house.”

  “Then there is no longer a reason for Mikayla to be concerned about her adoptive sisters.”

  “None.”

  “Wonderful. And what of Mikayla?”

  Yes, what of Mikayla? He wondered for the hundredth time. Mikayla Morgan seemed to be instrumental in Deidre’s plan – whatever that plan was. The question was why? Dalton had been digging for information on Mikayla Morgan for months and thus far had come up empty handed. There didn’t seem to be more to Mikayla than met the eye. But if Deidre was interested, there had to be more.

  Therefore, he wasn’t giving up. The new investigator he’d hired assured him that he’d find every shred of evidence there was to be found on Mikayla within a few short weeks.

  “Mikayla is currently in route to Union County to begin her new job at the Rocky River Ranch.”

  “Hmmm, interesting. Are you in touch with our operative on the ranch?”

  “Yes.”

  “Has there been any news?”

  “There’ve been no developments. I’ll notify you immediately if there’s an update.”

  “Excellent, my darling. Keep me fully informed. Oh, and don’t forget we have a benefit to attend on Friday. Black tie.”

  “I haven’t forgotten.” Dalton forced a look of excitement. “I’m quite looking forward to it.”

  “As am I, my darling. Now, I must go. I have a manicure and a facial. Kissy kissy.”

  Dalton was spared from having to reply as the screen went black. He stared thoughtfully at the dark screen for a few moments then opened a pass-worded file. Contained in this document was all the information he’d amassed on Sara Whitestone and the supposed curse.

  The information was sketchy at best and there were conflicting stories about what had actually led to Sara’s death. The one common thread in all accounts was that she had delivered a curse with her dying breath upon a man reported to have been her lover. And that man was an ancestor to the Nash family.

  There was also mention of some type of talisman that supposedly belonged to Sara. Dalton felt sure that if he could figure out what that talisman looked like, he could have a replica created. Then he could use it to drive Deidre completely over the edge and have her committed.

  And then, of course, he would be in control.

  *****

  Jed was heading back to the main house for lunch when an old pick-up pulling a horse trailer appeared, making the turn in the drive. He didn’t recognize the truck nor did he wait to see who it was. He was hot, sweaty, and hungry. The only thing on his mind at the moment was a tall glass of water and something to eat. He had a load of feed due to be delivered in less than an hour and several calls to make. If he was lucky, he’d have twenty minutes to wolf down some food and relax before he started making calls.

  He made his way around to the back of the house and kicked off his boots on the steps of the porch. Making a mental note that the porch could use a new coat of sealer, he headed for the door.

  Jake nearly collided with him on his way out of the back door. “Where’s the fire?” Jed asked, turning as Jake sidestepped and brushed on by.

  “The new trainer’s here. Just pulled up.”

  Jed grunted and stepped inside. Jake could handle the trainer and get the man set up in the house by the lake. Jed would talk to him later about getting the guy to attend to the horses that needed shoes. Without another thought to the matter, he entered the kitchen.

  “Those boots better be clean,” Ellen Hinson, the housekeeper and cook announced.

  “Clean enough,” Jed replied. “What’s for lunch?”

  “Leftover pot roast and potatoes.”

  “Sounds good.” He swept off his hat and hung it on the wooden hat rack by the door.

  Ellen busied herself serving him a plate while he went to the sink and washed his hands. By the time he’d filled and downed two tall glasses of water she’d put his plate on the table.

  “Jake says the new trainer’s here,” she commented.

  Jed grunted. He wasn’t much interested in getting involved in gossip about the new employee. Ellen was a good woman and ran the house in tip-top fashion but she loved to gossip. And Jed was about as interested in gossip as he was the latest Paris fashion. In other words, not at all.

  “Hard to believe you hired this fella sight unseen.”

  Pausing in the act of lifting a forkful of food to his mouth, Jed cut his eyes over at her. She raised an eyebrow at him then returned to her task of peeling apples. “Never known you to not check someone out real good, Jed.”

  “Jake checked him out.”

  “Jake?” This time both eyebrows were raised when she looked at him. “You’re trusting Jake to make sure this fella ain’t some convict who’ll come in and knock us over the head while we’re sleeping and rob us blind?”

  “Convict?”

  In two seconds top the knife and apple were on the counter top and Ellen’s hands were on her ample hip
s. “You make light of it all you want, Jed Nash, but we both know Jake pays about as much attention to detail as he does to cleaning up that pigsty he calls a room. And who knows what this Morgan character has in his past? Maybe he’s not a convict, but he could be a drunk, a drug-addict or a – a woman beater for all we know.”

  Jed’s appetite vanished. Just as well. If he had to eat and listen to more of this he’d just end up with a bad case of indigestion. He put his fork and knife down and stood. “When’ve you known me to let anyone take roost on this ranch that would pose a danger to any of us?”

  Ellen’s eyes dropped a moment before her hands moved from her hips. “Jed, I’m not saying you haven’t done a fine job—I just think it might not be the smartest thing to let Jake be responsible for the hiring.”

  “Don’t worry. I plan on having a nice long talk with Morgan. Just as soon as I finish on the phone and deal with the feed delivery. If anyone needs me I’ll be in the office.”

  He didn’t wait for a reply. Hell, the truth was he wasn’t just walking away from the discussion, he was escaping. Dealing with women was a royal pain. Men were easier. Had Ellen been a man Jed could have told her to mind her own damn business. But say that sort of thing to a woman and you’ve got hurt feelings and tears to deal with.

  Besides, Ellen was a good soul and did a good job for him. She’d been working for the family for close to twenty years and since she’d arrived the house had been spotless, the meals tasty and the laundry always taken care of.

  She was a widow and had apparently fallen on hard times after her husband died. She’d answered an ad his father had run for a housekeeper and had been hired on the spot. In the time since that day, Ellen had become part of the family and Jed cared deeply for her. Even if she did like to gossip.

  Turning his attention to the business at hand, he got busy making calls. He’d definitely have a talk with Morgan and if the man didn’t muster up to his standards Jed would cut him loose before he so much as unpacked his underwear.