“She attacked me!” he yelled as Stacy shook with fear and anger.
“No! He attacked me and I defended myself.”
By the looks on the faces around her, she had a feeling that she was on her own. Everyone turned away as if by not looking, they couldn’t be witnesses to their boss’s attack. They weren’t going to come to her aide. She was on her own. She had chosen the wrong path in their eyes, and now she was blacklisted.
“Call security! I want her out of here!” he yelled as Teressa ran to Mr. Weiner to comfort him. Stacy immediately realized that no one was going to believe her side of the story. She was finished, and her career was over.
Chapter 1
“I can’t believe that you’re leaving New York,” Stacy’s best friend Anna stated as she released her from an embrace. It would be a long time before she would see Anna again. This had been a difficult decision.
Stacy wiped her eyes as she held Anna’s hands. “You know as well as I do that I have no choice. I can’t stay here. It will just make matters worse.”
“But the police have been helping. They’ll catch the guy responsible for the threats one of these times,” Anna replied. Stacy felt the tears leak from her eyes. She didn’t want to leave Anna so soon after Anna’s mother passing, but Stacy knew that this was the best option. Stacy needed to get away, and she didn’t want Anna in the middle of this potentially dangerous situation. She needed to clear her head and start a new life. She couldn’t work in a business environment that allowed backstabbing, manipulating, deceitful business deals. She was finished with that. Her other friend Millie felt it would be wiser to get out of town. Maybe Millie would be right about Barry Weiner. Maybe by leaving New York, he wouldn’t see Stacy as a threat to his business and career. Maybe he wouldn’t be so obsessed with her anymore. The fact that he was stalking her and leaving repulsive gifts at her apartment irked her. It seemed that by her turning him down and not succumbing to his command for sex at Mercer, she gained his complete interest. This was no longer a case of sexual harassment in the workplace. Barry was taking it to the next level. He was stalking her, and he seemed obsessed.
“You sure that you know what you’re doing, Stacy? Texas? I’ve never even heard of this place, Pearl, and you don’t even know Millie’s aunt. Why would you leave everything you’ve worked so hard for and care for a woman you don’t even know?” Anna asked, sounding concerned and pessimistic. But Stacy couldn’t falter. She had to do this. When Millie mentioned an aunt out in Texas that owned a small farm was ill and needed help, Stacy thought maybe it would be a good place to clear her mind and put her past behind her. Then Millie mentioned a large house, work needing to be done, and living rent free, and it was the clincher on the deal. Plus, Millie would have considered going herself but had been dating a Wall Street guy for the past four months and wasn’t about to leave him. Not after getting away from her abusive ex-boyfriend who was in jail for drug dealing. That had been the worst six months of Millie’s life. Moving to another state was her only choice.
Stacy thought the town nearby Millie’s aunt’s place sounded charming. The pictures of the place looked stunning and so inviting. Her instincts were leading her.
“It will be okay. And someday soon you can come visit or maybe come live with me,” Stacy told Anna, giving her one more hug.
Anna looked sad as she shook her head and kept her eyes looking toward the ground.
“I can’t leave him. You know I’m all that my father has left.”
Stacy clenched her teeth and hid her upset. Anna’s old man was nothing but an abusive asshole. Promise or not, Anna would need to get away from him before her life was ruined forever.
“You’ll call me whenever you can, right?” Anna asked.
“Of course I will. I wouldn’t survive without that weekly phone call.”
Anna smiled.
“Oh, well, I’ve gotta go, honey. I love you, Anna.”
“I love you, too. Good luck,” Anna replied and hugged Stacy one more time before she walked away. Stacy took a deep breath and got into the cab. She shipped most of her belongings out to Millie’s aunt’s house, but she left a lot behind. As soon as she headed down the highway, she thought about Texas and wondered if she was doing the right thing.
* * * *
Marie Lemorte sat on the porch waiting for Stacy Porter to arrive. Ever since Millie, her niece, called and told her about the trouble Stacy was in and her need to relocate, Marie had been concerned. The young woman had been a great friend to Millie over the years and had helped Millie out when her boyfriend attempted to assault her. As far as Marie was concerned, Stacy was more than welcome in her home and more than just a friend of her niece’s. Stacy was family.
Taking another sip of tea, she checked her watch again. She was worried that Stacy’s boss might interfere with Stacy’s travels, but Millie said that Stacy had taken precautions. The plane landed on time, and Ron, Marie’s neighbor, was picking Stacy up at the airport. Everything would be just fine. Ron was a good friend, a great neighbor, and a widower just like Marie. As Marie glanced around the property, she felt optimistic about this year’s horse riding camp and the extra help from Stacy. The young woman sounded like a spitfire by Millie’s description, including how she broke her boss’s nose when he attempted to attack her. Just the thought made Marie feel angry and concerned. She hoped that trouble wouldn’t follow the young woman, but she was confident that at least the Cantrells were nearby. The sheriff, deputy, and their men provided protection and safety to the entire community in the town of Pearl as well as the surrounding properties. Considering that Marie lived outside of the town limits, the Cantrell men were certain to keep her informed of any dangers as well as include her and the neighbors on events taking place in Pearl. It was a unique community. One that protected and watched over their own but also blossomed with young couples and new families. It was an entirely different place to live. There wasn’t any discrimination or crime or at least not anything other than some bored teenagers trying to prove themselves to their peers. In fact, a lot of the relationships were out of the norm. Marie took a sudden unsteady breath. She hoped that Mille explained to Stacy about the ménage relationships and the fact that many women had multiple husbands. Sighing, she looked toward the direction of the main road, hoping Stacy would get here soon.
* * * *
Ron Walker kept glancing at Stacy. He had a smile on his face and talked about Marie and the town of Pearl located just about ten minutes from Marie’s farm.
Stacy absorbed the scenery as Ron talked about the surrounding neighbors and the local businesses. “Marie runs a small horseback riding camp during the summer. It starts up in two weeks,” Ron explained.
“That sounds really nice. But how can she handle that with her health and all?” she asked, and Ron’s eyes widened as if she had caught him off guard, and quickly he cleared his throat and pointed out the window toward the farmland. If it weren’t the first time she had ever seen a cowboy or a horse up close, Stacy would have pursued questioning Ron.
Stacy absorbed the sight of the very large cowboy as he sat atop a great big, black stallion. At least that was what she thought it was. Being a city girl, she wasn’t familiar with names of horses or breeds, but the cowboy snagged her attention. Her heart actually picked up pace as her eyes absorbed the sight of him. The truck slowed down, and before she knew what was happening, the cowboy was mere feet away from the pickup truck. She felt herself blush immediately at getting caught staring, but damn, was this guy straight out of a novel. Despite the long-sleeve, blue button-down shirt, she could tell that he was built. His tan neck had muscles, and even his face was muscular and kissed by the sun. The light bits of hair on his cheeks and chin indicated that he had a shadow of a beard. His Stetson was titled down low, and she couldn’t fully see his face, and she wondered what color his eyes would be. Perhaps they were deep blue like the sky above or even a sea of green like the grassy landscape to the left of them. As if on cue, he tilted his head back, allowing the sunshine to illuminate his face, and she inhaled, nearly choking on her own breath. His eyes locked with hers from across the driver’s side window. Thank God her hands remained clasped on her lap, because she wouldn’t have known what to do with them.
“Howdy.” The cowboy stated as he tipped his hat toward them.
His horse stood feet from the truck as it adjusted its position beside the truck. She heard the horse’s hoofs tap the ground as it appeared to trot in place. The cowboy’s deep brown eyes held her gaze as Ron made the introductions.
“Stacy, this is Eric Cantrell. Eric, this is Stacy Porter. She’s staying at Marie’s place.” The pounding in her heart and her body’s instant attraction to the man blocked her hearing.
“Are you okay, Stacy?” Ron asked, and she immediately cleared her throat.
“I’m fine. I think the jet leg is kicking in,” she responded, thinking quickly.
“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around. Marie’s farm land borders the Triple C Ranch,” he replied with pride, and Stacy smiled at his deep voice and thick Texas accent. Trepidation filled her body as she realized she was attracted to the handsome stranger. That didn’t sit right with her at all. Someone was stalking her back in New York. She had become a near victim of a sexual attack. Being flirtatious with some sexy-looking cowboy was definitely on the top ten stupidest things she could do. She swallowed hard and ignored the tingling, schoolgirl attraction.
“What’s the Triple C?” she asked, not even knowing how she was forming a complete sentence in front of the cowboy. She felt her body temperature rise as she caught his gaze upon her lips, and immediately she reminded herself about why she didn’t trust men. Even ones who sported a pair of blue jeans better than any New York male model she’d ever seen. She could see the definition in his thigh as it remained in place against the sleek coat of the black stallion. Even the horse had muscles. Stacy brought her attention back to the cowboy’s face as he explained about what and where the Triple C ranch was. So the letter “C” stood for Cantrell, and his name was Eric Cantrell. Grateful to have retained that much information, she forced herself to look away from the delicacy of a man and out toward the open pasture. Eric had come from out of nowhere. It was intriguing and intimidating. She was a city girl, used to city life, and anything that popped out in front of her unexpectedly usually meant trouble. She wasn’t expecting this. Her focus was to get away from her stalker and start anew.
“Well we’d better get going. I’m sure Marie is getting worried. I’m sure Stacy’s ready to get settled in.”
“You staying with Marie Lemorte?” Eric asked as he looked her over through the driver side window of the truck.
She nodded her head and straightened her shoulders. The way the man looked at her was hot and intense. She didn’t want that type of attention and especially not now. She needed to stay focused on herself and her new life. And there was this feeling inside of her that she never had before.
“Well then, I’ll be seeing you around,” Eric added, and she gave a small noncommittal smile, being sure not to look him directly in the eyes. Ron immediately began to drive, and only a few minutes later, they arrived at Marie’s farm.
The place was stunning. From the long dirt driveway all the way to the old house, it was picturesque. There was a tall woman with short blonde hair descending the stairs as the truck pulled up in front of the house. Stacy swallowed hard as she took in the woman’s features.
“Are you okay, Stacy?” Ron asked as he placed the truck in a parked position. Stacy turned toward him and spoke her mind. “She doesn’t look sick at all.”
“That’s ’cause I ain’t sick, darlin’,” Marie stated as she opened the passenger-side door so Stacy could get out. Immediately the large woman pulled her into an embrace. Stacy was shocked as she absorbed the strength and the abrasiveness of Marie. Pulling back, Marie smiled.
“You are absolutely gorgeous! Let’s get your things to your house, and then I can show you around and explain a few things.”
The woman was definitely bossy and very energetic, and Stacy wondered why Millie lied to her about her aunt being sick. Wasn’t that the reason for Stacy to move out to Texas so that she could help Millie’s aunt?
“What do you mean, my house? I thought I was staying in your house to help you.”
“No need, darling. Millie said you were startin’ over. That means y’all will need space and some alone time.”
“But—”
“Now don’t be frettin’ over nonsense. You will be helping me out, and I will be paying you. Being a city gal, you’ve got a lot to learn about country life and farm life. But let’s not talk about that now. Follow me,” she stated, and Stacy had no choice but to follow as she clenched her teeth closed. She didn’t want to argue, but she also didn’t feel comfortable now that she was led here under false pretenses. Stacy wondered exactly how much Millie had told her aunt about Stacy’s situation in New York.
“Excuse me, Miss Lemorte.”
The vibrant older woman waved a hand in the air as Stacy nearly jogged to keep up with the woman’s long strides.
“Call me Marie. You can even call me Aunt Marie.”
“Aunt Marie?” Stacy questioned then nearly plowed into the older woman as she halted about a half a yard in front of a small, beat-up cottage.
“Yes?”
“No, I mean, how can I call you Aunt Marie?”
Marie placed her hands on Stacy’s shoulders and looked down to hold Stacy’s gaze. She felt the woman’s strength through the strong hold on her own shoulders. Marie reeked of superiority and toughness.
“You earned that right when you risked your life to save my Millie. She’d be in a hospital or six feet under if it weren’t for your bravery and friendship. Call me Aunt Marie and I’ll call you ‘New York.’”
She released her shoulders, and Stacy watched as the woman pulled something out of her jean pocket and headed up the porch steps.
“Now I know it ain’t no fancy New York apartment, but I understand that you spent some time doing handiwork and painting. Millie mentioned that your best friend Anna suggested working to fix up your new place would be a kind of therapy. That’s a real nice friend you got there, too. I hope to meet Anna some day. Anyway, here is the key. I had two extra made up for you so that you can place a spare in a safe location.”
Stacy was trying to keep up with Aunt Marie, but it was nearly impossible. It seemed even Anna knew what was really going on and wanted to try and help. She loved her best friend. All thoughts were lost as Aunt Marie pushed the front door open.
The small little cottage was not as tiny as it appeared. Although the decorating was ancient and the walls a pale yellow, there was a lot of sunlight illuminating the room. There was even a set of double doors that led out to a small deck which needed some work. She would definitely have her work cut out for her, but as she toured the small cottage, her spirits rose.
“I take it that this old place will be suitable for you, Stacy?”
Stacy turned to smile at Marie.
“It’s great,” she replied then took a step forward. “But are you sure you are well? I mean, Millie insisted that your health was failing and that you really did need help around here.”
“I am very well. Strong as any man around these parts. I’ve been working the farm life since I could walk. No need to worry about me and no need to think I won’t be putting you to work to earn your keep. I expect you to be ready by sunup to share a breakfast with me and sometimes Ron. I get some guests, and sometimes I’ll need my privacy, but I’ll tell ya when. Why don’t you get settled in and washed up? I stocked the place with some things Millie said you liked. When you’re all finished, come on over to the main house and we’ll do supper at five o’clock sharp. Don’t be late. Oh, and the main house is the big white one at the end of this driveway and around the large tree we just came from.” Aunt Marie smiled and went straight faced in a half a second then quickly headed back in that direction as Stacy stood in shock.