Instant memories of the night before flitted through his brain. Those memories would be the ones he would hold on to until she returned. He shook his head. He was going to be a father. It was still hard to believe. They had decided to wait until she returned to the ranch before officially announcing the news to anyone, including his family. They wanted it to be their own private secret for a while. They wanted it to be something only the two of them shared for now.
“Jacob?”
He turned to her when she said his name.
Diamond took a deep breath and studied her husband’s face with her heart in her throat. She loved him so much and now she was carrying their child and felt very happy about it. “Can you believe it? I’m going to be a mother.”
Jake smiled. “Yeah, and I’m going to be a father.”
Tears glistened in Diamond’s eyes. “I think we’re going to make pretty good parents, don’t you?”
He lifted a finger and wiped a tear from her eye. “Definitely the best,” he said, swallowing back the rushing tide of happiness inside of him. He pulled her into his arms. “I can’t wait to tell everyone.”
He held her tighter. Everything he ever wanted was here in his arms. And no matter what, he would never let her go.
Over the next few days after Diamond left, Jake settled into his regular routine of running the ranch. He got up early to make sure the working stock was fed, the stalls were mucked out and the cattle were moved from one section of the ranch to another. Alex checked in with him about the leads they were following, but so far, he had not been able to tie anything together.
February turned into March and with that change of months had come longer days and shorter nights. To Jake it seemed his shorter nights were even lonelier with Diamond gone.
One afternoon a very tired Jake was about to take the stairs to his bedroom for a shower when he heard Blaylock call to him from the living room. “Come quick, Jake. Diamond’s on television.”
Instantly Jake went to where Blaylock was. Upon entering the room he glanced over at the television set. He took a seat on the sofa. Beautiful as ever, Diamond was surrounded by reporters as she answered their questions.
“You heard wrong,” she was saying to one reporter, but her voice was carrying to all the rest. “The main
reason I’m back in California is to take care of some unfinished business, and not because I’ve left my husband or that we’re having marital problems.”
Jake shook his head, wondering just where the media got some of its garbage. He watched as Diamond’s smile widened as she added, “Jacob and I are doing just fine, and I can’t wait to take care of things here to return home to him.”
“Are you still thinking about giving up acting to go live on a ranch?” another reporter asked.
“Yes, my plans about that haven’t changed.”
“And what does your father think of your decision?” a third reporter asked.
Jake watched Diamond’s features closely. Only someone as close to her as he was could detect the pain hiding behind the smile. He knew her father was not at all happy about her giving up her acting career.
“I’m sure he’ll support my decision. My marriage to Jacob is a dream come true and my husband means more to me than anything, even an acting career.”
“Is your husband forcing you to give up acting?” another reporter asked.
The camera hit the reporter’s face who was asking the question, and Jake frowned and sat forward, leaning his forearms on his thighs. The reporter was Conrad Ammons. Although Diamond had explained to him that Ammons was a reporter who had been assigned by his magazine to cover her and that he had been doing so for quite a number of years, Jake didn’t like the idea of anyone, including Ammons, constantly following her around. His jaw tightened and something inside him twisted. He couldn’t explain it, but there was something about Ammons
that he just didn’t like, but it was nothing he could put his finger on.
“No, Jacob isn’t forcing me to do anything,” Diamond was saying. “And that’s the reason I love him so much. He’s always given me a choice. Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I don’t want to be late for dinner.”
“Well, Diamond sure set those guys straight, didn’t she?” Blaylock was saying.
Jake only nodded. He then stood and left the room.
Two days later, Jake received an unmarked letter. Recognizing the California postmark as the same one that had been on the box he had received nearly a week ago, he called Alex.
Alex came to the ranch immediately and after scanning the letter he gave Jake the okay to open it. The letter read:
“I won’t let Diamond give up her career for you. No more warnings. You’re a dead man, Jacob Madaris.”
J
ust like all the other warnings Jake had received, Alex Maxwell was taking this one seriously. He sat on the sofa in Jake’s office and closely studied all the reports he had gotten back over the past week.
He shook his head. One thing was for certain, the individual wasn’t doing a whole heck of a lot to cover his tracks, which meant he had a few screws loose or he just didn’t care. Pushing the last of the papers he’d been reading aside, Alex concluded the person fit both categories, and nothing was worse than dealing with someone who felt he had nothing to lose.
Alex glanced across the room at Jake, who was standing looking out of the window. Beneath the tan Stetson was a man who was a brilliant businessman, an expert rancher and a person with nerves of steel. He was also a man who had a stubborn streak a mile wide.
It was that stubborn streak that Alex hated dealing with most of all. Jake was determined to protect Diamond, but was bucking all of Alex’s pleas to protect himself. He was putting his life on the line for the woman he loved. Alex shook his head. He would never, ever understand that kind of man-woman love.
“All right, Jake, I’m ready to discuss what I’ve come up with,” Alex’s deep voice said in the quiet room.
The broad brim of Jake’s hat shadowed his eyes when he turned away from the window. Walking across the room he sat down on the sofa, slumped back against it and scrubbed his hand over his face. “Okay, what do you have?” he asked wearily, annoyed. He didn’t like this digging, searching and the not knowing. Never in his forty-three years had he been in this sort of predicament. It was a bloody uncomfortable feeling, one he didn’t care for. He’d been in danger before of getting trampled by a herd of spooked cattle or getting buried under shifting boulders, but not from the insanity of a madman.
“I have information on a number of things,” Alex said. “Let’s start with the camera that was used to take those pictures.” He shifted in his seat. “I was right. The camera used to take those photos is one that would be owned by a professional photographer. It’s a very sophisticated model that has a scope that’s great for close-up shots. It’s the latest model. I’ve asked the manufacturer to provide me with a list of everyone who filed a warranty deed on that particular brand of camera within the last three years.”
Alex met Jake’s gaze. “The type of shots that were taken leads me to believe that those photos were origi
nally taken to be printed in the newspaper or a magazine. The poses were too precise for anything else.”
Jake nodded. “What else do you have?”
“The next thing I checked out was the post office where the box and letter were mailed. Lucky for us a number of the larger post offices have installed video cameras for security purposes. I was able to determine exactly what post office in Beverly Hills the items were mailed from and the date. I have someone checking footage of that film to see if they recognize anyone as being someone who also attended those two press conferences.”
Alex opened his briefcase. His eyes rested meaningfully on a stack of papers he pulled out and handed to Jake. “This is a list of the persons who attended both press conferences. As you can see there are a number of names appearing on both lists, which isn’t unusual since a number of the same reporters and photographers are assigned to cover certain celebrities.”
Jake lifted a brow. “So you’ve ruled out the possibility that the person is an avid fan?”
Alex nodded. “Only because those press conferences weren’t open to the public. The one in Houston was a little more lax because you requested that certain family members and friends be included, but from the look of the list here, the one in California admitted only members of the media.”
Jake stared at Alex. “Are you trying to tell me that you suspect someone who is part of the media?”
“What I’m trying to tell you is that I’m leaving nothing to chance. I even had her father and her ex-husband checked out as well as every member of her staff. As far as I’m concerned, no one is above sus
picion.” Alex leaned forward. “The way I see it, Diamond’s life isn’t in any danger, Jake, yours is. I think the person who wants you out of the picture is someone who has appointed himself as her protector.”
Jake sat up. “What makes you think that?”
“The words the person used when he called and the way the letters were worded. The tone was easy to decipher. Someone is very angry that you married Diamond. However, instead of directing that anger Diamond, it’s being directed at you like you’re completely to blame.”
Jake sighed. He felt some comfort in knowing he was the one in danger and not Diamond. But he also knew it was important to keep Diamond away from Whispering Pines for a while longer. He would call Sterling for his help on that. Hopefully the two of them could put their heads together and come up with a plan, claiming Colby could use Diamond’s help with the baby or something. Once she got to Sterling’s mountain Jake knew his good friend would make sure she stayed there until the danger was over.
“I’ve looked over your schedule for the coming weeks, Jake,” Alex was saying. “It might be a good idea if you were to cancel going to the Cattlemen’s Ball.”
Jake’s eyes narrowed. “Forget it, Alex, I’m going.”
“With Diamond?”
“No. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure she’s not here.”
Alex nodded as he stood. “You may not want to hear this, but I’m going to tell you anyway. We may be dealing with a dangerous person with a warped mind. Don’t make things easy for him.” A slow grin
crossed his face. “Or harder for me. Once again I’m asking for your full cooperation. We’ll get this guy, but I don’t want you to make yourself a walking target. I want to get him before he can do anything to you.”
Alex shook his head, chuckling. “Can you imagine what Gramma Madaris will do to me if I let anything happen to her baby boy? Not to mention me having to deal with those brothers of yours.
“And,” he continued, oblivious to Jake’s silence, “it may not be a bad idea to let your family know what’s going on. If not all of them, at least some of them. You can’t protect everyone, Jake, and you can’t keep what’s happening a secret forever. Sooner or later, we may need police and FBI involvement.”
Silence hung heavily in the room. Jake glanced across the room at the pictures that hung on the wall—pictures of nearly everyone in his family. His gaze then shifted to the framed photograph of Diamond that now sat on his desk. All of them were people he loved and people who he would protect with his life if he had to.
“No one needs to know just yet, Alex,” Jake said. “Once we know just who we’re dealing with, then I’ll let certain people in on what’s going on and I’ll get Sheriff McCoy involved.”
Alex nodded, knowing that was all the cooperation he would get out of Jake for now.
Diamond had been surprised to receive a phone call from Casey Williams, the man who had been her father’s personal secretary for a number of years. Casey advised her that her father had returned to California from his six-months’ stay in Europe and wanted to meet with her at his home in Beverly Hills.
Diamond had accepted the call for what it was—a summons. Like all the other times when she’d been asked to meet with her father, she knew it was because he was not pleased with something she had done.
Diamond rang the doorbell once before it was opened by Casey. She was glad the reporters and photographers who had been following her had been stopped at the entry gate to her father’s estate.
“Casey,” she greeted the man who opened the door.
The man nodded. “And how are you today, Miss Swain?”
Diamond smiled. She’d always liked Casey. “It’s Mrs. Madaris now, Casey, and I’m doing fine,” she replied, stepping into the massive foyer. “Where’s my father?”
“He’s in his study, awaiting your arrival,” he said, leading the way. “I guess I don’t have to tell you that he’s pretty upset with you.”
Diamond hung her head to hide her widening smile. Through the years, Casey had always tried to prepare her for Jack Swain’s roller-coaster moods. “Then things should be rather interesting since I’m pretty upset with him as well.”
Casey stopped walking and turned around to stare at her. He gave her a smile that clearly said “It’s about time.” He turned back around to lead her to the room she could probably find in the dark.
The door to her father’s study was open and she saw him immediately as he sat drumming his fingers on top of the huge oak desk. She glanced to her right and frowned when she saw Samuel sitting comfortably on the sofa while he sipped a glass of Scotch. She couldn’t
help wondering what reason her ex-husband had for being here.
Deciding not to even be nice and acknowledge Samuel’s presence, she turned her full attention to her father. “I understand you wanted to see me, Jack.” Her father had ordered her to begin calling him by his first name when she had begun her acting career at seventeen.
Jack Swain nodded. “First of all, Diamond, I want to say you’re looking well.”
“Thank you.” She was used to his approach. First give a compliment then go in for the criticism.
“Now I want you to explain this foolishness I hear about your giving up acting.”
Diamond met his glare. “It’s true. I’ll be spending much of my time on the ranch with Jacob. We want to raise our family there, and I want to be a stay-at-home mom.”
From her right she heard Samuel’s snort before he said, “See what I told you, Jack. This rancher has her mind all screwed up. Take my advice and have her marriage declared illegal.”
Diamond frowned and turned to Samuel. “Illegal? And just how is he supposed to do that?”
Samuel shrugged. “Jack Swain has the power to do anything.”
Except give his daughter the love she’s needed over the years,
she thought. She turned back to her father. “I’m not underaged, so you can’t have the marriage annulled. Jacob and I got married in a very private, very secret but very legal ceremony. There will be no divorce in our future, only happiness.”
“You think you’ve found the perfect man?” Samuel sneered.
Diamond turned back to Samuel. She hadn’t failed to notice that although her father had been the one to call the meeting with her, it was Samuel who seemed to be doing most of the talking. “No, I don’t think Jacob is a perfect man, but I do believe he’s an honorable man. But being honorable is something you wouldn’t know about, Samuel.”
Jack Swain cleared his throat. “I think the both of you have said enough.” He then turned his direct attention to Diamond. “I want you to call a press conference and retract everything you’ve said this week about giving up your acting career. I’ll tolerate your marriage to that rancher, but I won’t tolerate your giving up acting. You’re a wonderful actress. All of your performances have been nothing but excellent. I’ve even seen a sneak preview of
Black Butterfly
and it’s superb. There’s no doubt in my mind it’s a performance worthy of an Oscar nomination.”
Diamond stood speechless. Her father had never lavished her with such compliments before. She shook her head. It was sad that his praise had come a little too late. She no longer cared what he thought of her acting abilities.
“I happen to agree with you, Jack. I am an excellent actress, and I believe my role in
Black Butterfly
won’t just get me an Oscar nomination—I believe I’ll have a good chance to bring home the Oscar. And that’s why I
can
walk away now. That’s why I
will
walk away. I have nothing left to prove to anyone.”
A frown covered Jack Swain’s face as he stood. “Don’t do it, Diamond. You’ll only be ruining your life.”
Diamond met her father’s gaze. “No, actually I’ll
just be beginning to really live my life. One day you’ll realize just what a good man Jacob Madaris is and how blessed I am to be married to him. If you don’t want to get to know him it will be your loss. Goodbye, Jack.”
Without glancing in Samuel’s direction, she turned and walked out of the room.