Diane R. Jewkes
Authors: The Heart You Own
By Diane R. Jewkes
Avon, Massachusetts
This edition published by
Crimson Romance
an imprint of F+W Media, Inc.
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200
Blue Ash, Ohio 45242
Copyright © 2012 by Diane R. Jewkes
ISBN 10: 1-4405-4614-2
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-4614-3
eISBN 10: 1-4405-4615-0
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-4615-0
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.
Cover art © 123rf.com/Andrey Kiselev, Hilma Anderson
Chapter 1
New Mexico Territory, 1895
“Why should we sell part ownership of the ranch?” Kara demanded, ready for a battle. “We’ve done fine. The cattle herds are growing and haven’t the markets been strong? Why sell now?”
“Sweetheart, you don’t need to concern yourself with business decisions. Why don’t you go help with the cattle?” her father said, waving a dismissive hand as he looked down at the papers on his large, oak desk.
She gasped in surprise, stung by his rebuke, unable to believe her ears. “Don’t you dare dismiss me like one of the ranch hands!” She slammed her fist on the desk.
Case Jonston looked up sharply, then leaned back in his leather chair. “Don’t take that tone with me, young lady,” he said, his voice hard as flint. “This show of disrespect won’t be tolerated.”
“Papa? Are you listening to me? Why do we have to bring this Englishman into our business? How do you know he isn’t going to try to buy you out — take over the ranch? Then where would we be? I’ve read dozens of stories in the newspapers back east about farmers and ranchers being swindled out of everything by these ‘helpful’ investors, charlatans posing as wealthy Europeans or even nobility. What if — ”
“Look, honey,” said her father, his voice low and even. “I needed cash to keep the ranch running. The beef prices haven’t been what I would have liked. Selling a partnership made sense. This opportunity came while you were at school in Virginia.”
“This has been going on for that long?” Her voice crept higher. “I’ve been back from finishing school for two months, and you couldn’t find some way to tell me?” She sat with a thud in the leather chair in front of her father’s desk, unable to catch her breath.
“Why … why didn’t you write and tell me? Why didn’t you take me out of Mrs. Wentworth’s School? The money would have been better served here on the ranch instead of trying to teach me how to be a proper lady.”
Her father got to his feet and walked around the desk to pull her into his arms. She could hear the deep rumble in his chest and feel the warm comfort of his big body as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Oh, Little Bit,” he chuckled. “I know you hated school and would have used any excuse to come home, so I didn’t tell you. The money from your school wouldn’t have helped, and it was your mother’s wish for you to finish.”
Pulling gently from her father’s embrace, she looked up into his eyes.
“How bad is it? Please, don’t keep any more secrets from me, Papa. Not knowing is worse than the honest truth.”
“Well, with the cash coming from Lord Stoneham, we’ll be able to expand the herd, improve the outbuildings, and pay the railroad to ship this year’s stock to market in Chicago.”
“I didn’t realize.” Kara shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry. But why does the Englishman have to come here? Can’t he just send the money and leave us alone? And how do you know he’s honest, and he’s not going to steal everything?”
“Lord Stoneham is Scottish, not English; they do make a distinction,” Case replied. “He is not interested in just sending money, and you know I wouldn’t become partners with a man who took no interest in where his money is going. Besides, in my correspondence with him, Stoneham has given several good suggestions. When he arrives within the week, he’s not only bringing his wealth and education, he’s bringing Angus bulls and cows to cross with our longhorns.”
“Within the week!” she yelped, caught off-guard again. “Why did you wait so long to tell me? What? Were you just going to surprise me over dinner? ‘Pass the potatoes Kara, and by the way, this is my new partner.’” She began prowling around the study, unable to conceal her agitation. “Or were you hoping I wouldn’t notice strange cattle in the pen and a stranger with a funny accent wandering around.”
“Kara, listen to me — ”
“It’s bad enough he’s coming here, but now you tell me he’s already planning on changing things without even seeing our operation.” She huffed in exasperation, “This is just wonderful.”
“Now, Kara … . ”
“Why doesn’t he stay in England or Scotland or wherever he’s from, and manage his property there? Who is he? How did you find out about him and his money?” She fired questions at her father so fast he didn’t have a chance to speak.
She advanced on her father, who backed away, putting his hands in front of him, until he bumped into his chair and plopped down in it.
“Kara, slow down! Stop yelling at me,” he snapped, finally stopping her tirade. “If you will sit down, I’ll tell you what I know.”
She sat down, tugging at the front of her shirt.
“All right,” she nodded tersely, “let’s hear about this savior of the Ladder J Ranch.”
“First of all,” he said in a calm voice, “I would like you to try to have an open mind about this. You seem prepared to condemn this man, and me, without even meeting him or hearing me out. I would expect more from you. This is not like you.”
He cut her off as she started to interrupt. “I have the floor, if you don’t mind.” Tapping his fingertips together, Case leveled a stare at her, like he had when she was little and caught her getting into some kind of mischief. “Young lady, I am very disappointed. Don’t you have faith in my ability to do what is best for the ranch and you?”
She realized she had gone too far, again. All her life she had pushed the limits of his patience, either in word or deed. She twisted the handkerchief in her hands into knots.
“I’m sorry, Papa.” She looked up, tears swelling in her sapphire eyes. “Really, I didn’t mean to imply you don’t know how to run the ranch. I’m just afraid everything is going to change and this … this man will try to take over everything or worse, he’ll be another shiftless remittance man; all promises and lies, draining us of everything and giving us nothing in return.”
“Let me tell you about my arrangement with Lord Stoneham,” Case answered softly. “I should have told you this sooner, I am sorry. Little Bit, I didn’t intentionally shut you out, but you must remember you and the ranch are my responsibility, and mine alone.”
He put up his hand to stop her before she could speak. “Let me talk, please.”
Leaning forward, he rested his forearms on the desk.
“First off, you know he’s not a remittance man. Stoneham is the heir of the Marquis of Lochay in Scotland. Stoneham is the title of the first son. His name is Hawke Pryce.”
“More like a chicken than a hawk, I bet.” She snorted softly.
“Young lady,” Case tried not to laugh, harrumphed, shrugged his shoulders, and continued. “He studied at the finest universities in Britain, and served in the military in India for several years. His is a very wealthy title, and Stoneham has had to learn the workings of all of its holdings. In addition, he has made a fortune of his own through many shrewd investments and ventures.”
“That still doesn’t explain why here, why us, and why you don’t think he’ll cheat us.”
“He heard about the Ladder J from Arthur Cove, over at the Rocking C. Apparently he’s an old family friend. Stoneham wrote me with the proposal to bring fresh bloodlines and capital into the ranch. In return, he wants to spend time out here and try some theories he has about ranching.”
“Oh, I see now.” Annoyance flashed through her. “This is some old gentleman whose father has yet to die. He needs to find something to relieve his boredom, and we are some experiment he wants to try. It doesn’t sound much different from Lord Peavey to me.”
The only person of noble birth she had ever seen spent his days and nights in one of the local saloons. It was rumored scandal drove him out of Britain and his family sent him money to keep him away. In her mind, British “gentlemen” were probably worthless wastrels who considered themselves too good to be bothered by the common rabble. “No, Kara,” Case replied, “Stoneham is not an old gentleman. He is not yet thirty and boredom seems to be the least of his worries.” He leaned back in his chair. “He has written me of the problems he’s seeing with the land in Britain and Scotland and is trying to learn new methods to correct them to make the land rich again.”
“All right,” she put her hands up in defeat. “All right. I’ll try to reserve judgment until I meet this man and see for myself what he is really all about.” She leaned her hands on the desk. “Right now, I’m going to go help bring in the cows and calves.”
Kara was up early. At the bottom of the stairs, she saw her father reading a telegram.
“Is it bad news?” Stopping beside her father, she raised up on her toes to read the message over his shoulder.
“No, sweetheart,” Case turned, dropping an affectionate kiss on the top of her head. “A message from Lord Stoneham. He and a companion are expecting to arrive in Socorro tomorrow.”
“So soon?” She chewed her lower lip thoughtfully. She knew it was going to be awful. With all his money and his title he would be arrogant and try to change
her
ranch. And just because he knew Mr. Cove it didn’t mean he wouldn’t try to take over the ranch. But that wasn’t going to happen. Not if she had anything to say about it.
Case tapped the message with his finger. “We’ll have a barbecue to welcome him. Joe and a few of the men will leave today to meet them at the station. We need to send riders with invitations to some of the neighbors and into town.”
“Sure he won’t find it too provincial?” Kara snipped. “He’s probably used to fine china, silver, and lots of servants to wipe his mouth for him.”
Case glared at her. “I had thought you were going to reserve judgment.”
“I’m sorry.” She reached out to grab her father’s hand and reassure him. “I guess I’m worried, and you know me.” Tilting her head, she gazed at her father, trying to look harmless as a lamb. “I get peevish when I’m worried or scared. I didn’t mean it. I’ll give Lord Stoneham a chance.”
Until he proves me wrong.
He smiled at her indulgently. She knew when she tried so obviously to manipulate him, he couldn’t stay angry.
“Would you talk to Consuelo about the arrangements?”
Nodding, she started to leave.