Conall's Legacy (16 page)

Tossing aside the towel, Drake picked up a jug of water. He needed to get a shower, and then he had plans to make. If he flew out to LA, he could make the trip fast, but then he’d have to come back for his truck and art work. If Rick said he could go back to work, it would be a waste of time to have to come back out here.

Drake thought of never seeing Luisa again, thought of never seeing this place or the animals. Is that what he wanted? A deep ache started and grew around his heart. He couldn’t imagine never seeing her again, even though he’d known her such a short time. But sometimes you just knew when a person was
the
one. Didn’t you?

“Damn, Conman, I wish you were here.” He spoke to empty air. “You may have been younger, but you always knew what to do.” Drake sank onto a hay bale and finger-raked his hair. “But then if you were here, Rebecca wouldn’t be an issue. What do I do?” he asked out loud. “I can’t be in two places at once. How can I be in Los Angeles for Rebecca and here for Luisa?”

He grabbed his bottle of water and downed it like chugged rye whiskey. Wiping off the drops that hit his chin, he looked out at the barnyard. In the round pen near the large barn, the red filly ran circles around her grazing mother, bucking, tripping, and bucking again. Under the cottonwood tree, an old tire swing still hung. What would it be like to create babies with Luisa? To watch them grow and play in this yard? To swing on the swing as she had as a child?

Drake snorted. Like Luisa would have you anyway, he thought. You’ve never been good for a woman before. Recovering alcoholic, killed best friend, no job, and a shitload of baggage. How’s that for a singles ad?

When Drake thought of Conall, though, he realized the weight on his shoulders wasn’t quite as heavy. The pain in his heart wasn’t as sharp. Was he moving forward? he wondered. Was he finally moving through the guilt and grief? What a concept. Drake shoved to his feet and moved reluctantly toward the house. He had a plane reservation to make. He’d go back to LA on the first possible flight.

#

Luisa peeked in the guest room door. Soft and regular deep breathing indicated her mother had finally drifted off to sleep. They had passed the day with a poignant sharing of photographs. Marie had wanted to see all the pictures Luisa had of her father, the ranch, and herself as a child growing into a woman. Together, Cindy, Marie, and Luisa had laughed, cried, and laughed some more before Cindy was called to the hospital. Luisa hadn’t seen any more of Drake, and the shed was quiet. She assumed he was still sleeping after his long night of creating.

In her room, Luisa chewed on the inside of her lip as she pulled on her pajamas. The day had left her with so many questions, so many uncertainties about her mother and father, the ranch, and Drake. Her thoughts were in turmoil again. She paced the confines of her bedroom, twisting the end of her braid between her fingers. She glanced at her watch. Ten o’clock. The property had settled into the comparative silence of night. Only the sounds of night critters scurrying through brush, owls hooting, and the occasional lowing of the cows broke the near total silence.

The best place for her to think and seek clarity on troubling issues was outside, preferably in the cool water of the stock tank. It was only three strong strokes across, but she loved how floating in the water made her feel.

She thought of Drake being in the bunkhouse or shed. What if he saw her? No. He’s either asleep or deep in his work, she thought. He got lost whenever he worked on his sculptures.

Luisa was considering her wish to dive into the cool water--to float and let her troubles drift away from her--when she realized she had not checked on Knight’s Dawn since supper. She’d have to be sure the mare was settled for the night.

A picture came to her of Drake holding the first foal of the year, still warm and wet from delivery. The pleased-with-himself look and the wonder of new life. Seeing him like that brought desire back to her in bucket loads. What would it be like if he caught her swimming nude? Or better yet, what would it be like to feel his body slide into the water with her? The thought made her breasts feel full and heavy, needing the warmth of his hands to ease their fullness. A quiver of desire slipped through her body.

“To heck with it. If he sees me, it won’t be anything he hasn’t seen before.” Scooping up a towel, she slipped on sandals and hurried out of the house. “Come on Rooster. We’re going out.”

She draped the towel over her shoulder and walked softly into the barn. “Dawn,” she called. “You okay?” She peered over the stall door and found the mare curled peacefully on a pile of fresh straw. The mare lifted her chin from where it rested in the bedding. There were no signs of discomfort or early pangs of labor in the mare’s quiet expression, and Luisa decided to leave her alone to rest. “Well, you look fine. Good night, girl.”

Luisa stepped onto a small path that led around the old barn and headed into the mesquite trees. The moon glowed and lit the trail for her but she didn’t need it. She’d walked the path a thousand times and could do it blindfolded.

The trees gave way to a clearing that held a thirty foot wide stock tank. Luisa and her father had spent many scorching afternoons in this special place. It was only a few feet deep, but the water was clear and cool, fed by a continual drain from the well. Old wooden steps led up to a small platform she had used as a child to jump into the water.

“Rooster, lay down. Stay.”

She climbed onto the platform and stood bathed in the strong light of a full moon. Looking into the pool, memories of other swims, other days flashed past.

With a contented sigh, Luisa dropped her towel to the deck and slipped off her sandals. She unbuttoned her pajama top and let it fall to her feet. A breeze whispered across her flesh. She felt the freedom that comes with being outdoors as natural as the day you were born.

A twig snapped and she stopped, automatically covering her breasts with her arms. Rooster jumped to his feet growling. She peered into the surrounding circle of darkness. Nothing was moving. You’re just jumpy, she told herself. “It’s okay, Rooster. Down.” The dog growled one more time for good measure, then circled and lay down.

#

Curiosity had captured Drake, making him follow her down the path. He watched now as she lowered her arms and turned to the water. The sight of her brought his need rushing back. He knew he shouldn’t be standing here, intruding on her privacy, but he couldn’t turn away. She was so lovely, so perfect. Pure lust curled in his gut, growing and twisting like a living thing. He wanted desperately to hold her, but even if she were willing, he had no right.

As he stood, frozen in place, she slipped her bottoms off. Her body was beautifully fit and tanned. Tanned all over, proving she did this in the daytime when no one was on the property to stare at her.

When she eased her body into the pool and pushed between the lily pads, he nearly rushed to join her. Luisa turned onto her back and floated, the moon glancing off of her beautiful breasts and torso. Drake could see the flatness of her belly, and the vee of her thighs. Her legs were so long and slender, he could imagine them wrapped around his waist. He could feel her close to him, naked body to naked body, the masculine power of his body to the female softness of hers. He swallowed hard, trying to regain control of his mind and body. It didn’t work.

What would it be like to float with her? He thought of their shared embraces and kisses in the barn. Would she refuse him if he went to her now? If he did, would she ever trust him, knowing he’d been spying on her in this obviously private place? She knew about the promise to Conall, too. She wasn’t the kind of woman to respect a man who could easily set such a thing aside.

Drake nearly groaned aloud. Only the fear of discovery kept the sound trapped in his throat. The throbbing in his body would have to wait. He’d go to LA and do what he should. Only his dreams would have Luisa lusting after him as he did her. Only in his imagination could they make love here with just the moon and water on their bodies.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Marie glanced at the guest room clock. Three in the morning. She rolled onto her back and sighed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep had not come to her, yet. An image of Luisa filled her mind’s eye. Not memories every mother carries, but scenes she had seen only in the photographs Luisa had just shared with her. Scenes she had missed due to her choice to leave. Scenes that would not be repeated in this lifetime. Tears streaked down the sides of her face, trailing through her hair to drop onto her pillow. Thoughts of never seeing her daughter again closed in on her, pressing down until she could barely breathe. Pressure built in her chest.

Throwing back the sheet, Marie slipped on a light robe and slippers and tiptoed through the house. Her heart raced and her throat threatened to close. She had to get outside to fresh air. She stepped onto the porch, dragging in a deep breath. Focusing on the last stars blinking out in the western sky, she concentrated on releasing the pain around her heart, on getting her breathing to slow. At last, calm returned, but the emotional pain remained. She had missed so much by giving up Luisa and the life here. Marie clamped down on those thoughts. You couldn’t go back and choose again. It didn’t work that way. You just have to live with the consequences, she thought. Or die with them. A sob escaped in spite of the tightness still grasping her throat.

Marie fought to refocus again. This train of thought would help no one. Through the bunkhouse windows, she could see Drake moving around, silhouetted against the window shades by what appeared to be a lone light bulb.

Would he leave Luisa, too? Had he decided it was time to go, before he surrendered to love completely? She knew he cared for Luisa. When he’d watched her ride, Marie had seen it in his eyes. There was definitely a spark of desire there, but would it grow into real love? Would she know that Luisa had someone to share her life with, before Marie gave up the fragile hold she had on her own?

A tear slipped down her cheek as she thought of leaving Luisa alone yet again. She’d give anything on earth to see her daughter settled before she left, but that wasn’t in her hands. All she could do was nudge them together and hope for the best.

The light flicked out, and Drake walked out of the bunkhouse and crossed to his truck. He tossed a canvas bag onto the seat, and then slowly turned to look toward Luisa’s house, as though memorizing every detail. Marie stepped off the dark steps and into the light cast across the yard from his open truck door.

He jumped. “Mrs. Montoya, I didn’t see you on the porch. What are you doing up at this hour?”

Marie walked to him and stopped close enough to briefly touch his chest with her hand. “I couldn’t sleep. So, you’re heading out?”

He glanced toward the house, and then frowned. “Yeah. It’s time I go back to the city. Rebecca called and said she’s having some problem with the oldest boy. I need to see to it.”

“It’s always hard on children to lose a parent. She’s lucky to call you friend.” She gazed at his face. “Are you coming back?”

Drake hesitated. “I don’t think so,” he said finally. “I’ll be back for my things and maybe I could come back to be with Luisa until ... well ... when it’s time for her to go to LA.”

“Good. She needs someone. We all do. Too many of us go through life alone. By choice or circumstance, doesn’t matter, the result is the same. Because we have just reconciled it is going to be especially hard on her.” She looked him up and down. “It’s going to be hard for her having you leave at the same time.”

“I know, but,” his gaze locked with hers, lines of concern etched across his face, “I don’t know if I’m good for her or not. Might be better for her if I drove away and never looked back.”

Marie assessed Drake as she had once before. “If you believed it were better for her, you’d do it no matter what it did to your own heart, wouldn’t you?”

He answered without hesitation. “Yes, I would.”

“To give up someone you love, regardless of what it does to you. I felt that pain when I gave Luisa to her father and this ranch. I’ve lived with the choice I made every day of my life.” Marie shook her head. “I know you would do that for her. How can you say you only let women down? Women I know would do almost anything to be loved that much.”

“Being willing to do something for someone isn’t all it takes. You have to put them first, always.” He shrugged. “You put them first, they put you first. You’ve got a great relationship that way, I think.”

“You are falling in love with her,” Marie stated simply.

“I’m beginning to think so, but I shouldn’t.” Drake shook his head. “Regardless, I’m not sure she’d appreciate us talking about her.”

“I know she wouldn’t.” Marie chuckled. “She has a lot of pride and she’s very independent. If you come back, you’ll have to be on your toes with her, or she’ll out-maneuver you every time.”

“I’m sure she will, if it comes to that. There’s Rebecca to consider back in LA.” Drake picked up Marie’s hand. “When are you heading home?”

“Another couple of days. I hate to do it, but I have to go. I’m just hoping she comes out when it’s time.”

“If I’m here, I’ll try to convince her to. Maybe I can be moral support for her. If I’ve judged Cindy right, she will too. We’ll all help her through this.”

Marie’s throat thickened, closing off her voice until she could only whisper. “Thank you, Drake. Have a safe journey.”