Wild Ride: BBW Western Romance (Under Open Skies Saga Book 2) (15 page)

“
Samuel is a douchebag. I said I drink with him, that w
e‘
get alon
g’.
”

“
Why would he lie about something like this. I mean, dammit, he was so fucking sure
.”
She was
n’
t willing to let this drop, not yet.

“
He hates me because I called him out for cheating on his wife.
I’
m not taking any money from the company, Kat. Why would I even do that
?”
He looked at her, completely confused.

“
Because you want the company for yourself, you could end up with a majority of the shares, and god knows the men look up to you
.
”

“
Yeah, they do, why would I risk that
?
”

“
People do a lot of things for money
.
”

“
You are
n’
t that stupid, Kat. You know better than that. Something like that, it would come out sooner or later
.
”

“I
…
”
She did
n’
t know what to think, her rage was too hard to contain. She was so raw all the time, her anger ruling her.

“
I have
n’
t done anything to ever jeopardize your company. Hell, I do
n’
t even want to inherit the partnership. I have no need of it, I can make my own way. I thought you knew that about me, Kat
.
”

Her entire argument against him deconstructed at the seams, breaking down until she saw what a fool she was. She was spinning out of control and she needed an anchor
.“
You do
n’
t
?
”

He was that anchor.

“
Hell no. I want to earn what I get fair. If I wanted to, I could be in there right now. My mother has been asking me for years. But I need this. You might not be aware, but this is the last chance I have to make something of myself. I wanna do that with a clear conscience. Anything that might mar that, I ai
n’
t going to let them come into my world. I need my second chance at bull riding to pay off. I know it can. I have enough time
.
”

She should
n’
t have doubted him, looking at him now, at the steely resolve in his eyes, she knew he was right.

“I’
m an idiot
.”
She shook her head and bit her lip.

“
No, yo
u’
re not. Yo
u’
re angry
.”
He raised his hand to her face and caressed her cheek. Even when he was chiding her he did it in a way that made complete sense
.“
And you have a right to be
.
”

Warmth radiated through her. He reached over and pulled the keys out of the ignition.

“
What did you mean
?”
She knew he was right before she even asked the question.

“I’
m not answering you until you get in my truck and come home with me. I do
n’
t want you out here. We can call someone to get your car
.
”

She nodded in assent and opened the car door, walking over to his truck and climbing inside. Once they were in and down the road she felt herself relax. She was
n’
t as upset anymore.

“
Yo
u’
re angry at whoever is doing this. Angry that you have to take all this on yourself. Angry at your father for leaving you
.”
His voice was strong as he pushed her anger onto her, not letting her back down from it.

Everything he said brought her true feelings to the surface. How could he just leave her here, with all this shit to deal with? No one to really trust, or confide in. Not to mention her lack of actual experience. She fought back another round of tears, she had finally gotten herself under control.

“
I think I have been coping very well. I have stepped up when I could have walked away, Hunter. I could have just sold out. Does
n’
t that count for something
?
”

Does
n’
t it
?

"Of course, Kat. But that doesn't erase that anger. That fear."

"I just... I can't deal with it right now. I have to get through this. I have to find out who is doing this."

"It won't bring him back." His firm admission took her aback.

She wasn't used to anyone being this blunt.

"That isn't what this is about."

"Are you sure?" He looked over at her with a sideways glance that made her second guess herself.

In truth, she wasn't.

"Baby, I want to take care of you, but you need to be honest. It is okay to be angry. It is okay to be upset." He reached for her and pulled her into him
.“
W
e’
ll find them. You just need to be patient
.
”

“
I want to forget about all this for a while, Hunter
.”
She snuggled into him and let all her anger melt away into him. She was falling, and she could
n’
t deny it now
.“
I just wanna go home with you
.
”

“
Always
.
”

The rest could fall away to nothing. All she wanted was Hunter.

Kat looked around the conference room with a bit of trepidation, it was
n’
t a lot of people, but she felt out of place. Everyone sitting next to her was seasoned. They understood the intricacies of the business on a very intimate level. The feeling that she was inferior was nagging at her, pulling on the frayed edges of her consciousness.

She shoul
d’
ve been in bed with Hunter, his arms wrapped around her. But she was there, in that cold room, having an official meeting of public partners.

“
There are a few things on our agenda this morning
.”
Hank started, looking down through an itinerary
.“
We need to discuss the direction of the company, and a particular individual has asked to meet with us, and he is here and waiting. Muriel Daniels is here as well, but the rest of the board is
n’
t. She can be of great insight, so listen to her, Kat
.
”

She looked over at the soft smile of a woman she did
n’
t know. It had to be Hunte
r’
s mother, he was the spitting image of her.

“
Now, back to our guest, if there are no objections, I will let him in
?
”

Was she seeing things or did Hank look irritated as he walked towards the double doors?

“
Alice, could you please get Mr. Hayworth
?
”

The hairs on the back of her neck rose. Chad Hayworth was not her idea of a welcome guest. After the way he spoke to her at the rodeo she wanted nothing to do with that arrogant suit. Her nose flared as he walked in, wearing a suit that cost more than a ranch-hands weekly pay.

He did
n’
t belong. Even she could feel that. Hers was
n’
t the only distaste emanating from the room. She sneaked a glance over towards her right, where a beautiful woman with white and black hair sat rigid. Mrs. Daniels, Hunte
r’
s mother. She even had the trademark dimple. It was surreal.

“I’
m sure y
a’
l
l’
s wonderi
n’
why I come up here. I wanted to meet with the public partners, though I know y
a’
ll have some silent. Now look, it ai
n’
t no surprise that the compan
y’
s been havi
n’
a bit a trouble since the old man passed
,”
He held his hat in his hand as he talked. What kind of man wore a suit with a cowboy hat, she could only guess
.“
But it ai
n’
t getti
n’
better, and people are beginni
n’
to tal
k‘
round town
.
”

His accent was exaggerated, and made Kat cringe. She hated men who acted macho like this, but she let him speak on.

“
Truth is
,”
He continued
,“
Y
a’
ll need some help. And
I’
m here to give it to you
.
”

“
What are you suggesting
?”
Muriel Daniels looked right into his eyes
.“
Get to the point, Chad
.
”

“
Fine.
I’
ll get down to brass tacks, but do
n’
t get pissed for not beati
n’
around the bush. Sell me your shares. Let me take over your company. Merge it into my own. I could make it thrive again, like when John had hold of the company
.
”

“
Do
n’
t you dare talk about my father
.”
Kat rose from her chair.
,“
I have 70% of the shares, Chad. I will never sell. This is my company. My fathe
r’
s company. Get the hell out of my office. Do not come back
.”
She pointed at the door
.“
Ever
.
”

“
I do
n’
t know who the hell you think you are, young lad
y
…
”
He was getting back steam but it did
n’
t last long, a booming voice interrupted him.

“
You heard her. Sh
e’
s the owner. Get out
.”
Hank got up and escorted Mr. Hayworth out, his arm gripping the ma
n’
s bicep and all but ripping him out of the room. She saw Alice get up hurriedly and follow them both out.

Now why would
she
care?

Ka
t’
s attention was diverted by the clearing of a throat in the room.

“
Thank goodness someone finally took care of that self-inflated oaf. H
e’
s been coming around here since your daddy died, sniffi
n’
for any kind of crumb he could get
.”
Muriel glared in his direction
.“
Yo
u’
re enough like your daddy that this company will be fine
.”
She cracked a smile that warmed Kat right to her heart.

“I’
m glad you think so
.
”

“
I do. And wha
t’
s more important to me is that my son does
.
”

Kat looked at her through the corner of her eye
.“
Your son
?”
She tried to act innocent.

“
H
e’
s told me about you, Kat. You think I would
n’
t know? That boy ca
n’
t keep a secret from his momma. Never could. Thinks your somethi
n’
else
.”
Her warm smile turned to stone in a moment
.“
Do
n’
t you hurt that boy, h
e’
s been through hell
.
”

She could
n’
t believe her business partner was given her th
e“
good intention
s”
talk right in the middle of the conference room. At least the lady had guts. What hell was she talking about?

“
I have no intention of hurting your son
.
”

“
Of course you do
n’
t. Yo
u’
re a Brooks. I have every faith in you. What else is on the agenda, Hank
?”
The woman transitioned back to business seamlessly.

“
I have a small budget increase proposal for the facilities ready. We had a better quarter than originally projected, so we agreed to funnel some money into the training facility
.
”

“
Oh, so soon? That is great
.”
Muriel put on her glasses and reached for it.

 “
Got it up this morning, figured since you were coming in, we could go over it. The silent partners are being faxed a copy
.
”

“
I see, well after a quick scan it looks good.
I’
ll spend some time with it tonight. Email you what I think later
?
”

“
Yeah, that is pretty much it. Unless you have any questions
.
”

“
I think this is the least we can do, putting the money back into the things that keep our business thriving. Riders deserve more than
I’
ve been givi
n
’
‘
em lately
,”
Kat admitted.

With that Muriel stood
. “
You are just like your daddy, honest to the bone. Cept, he was a bit of cad, now was
n’
t he? You are
n’
t like your daddy in that way, are you
?
”

“
No. My father, had some faults, but I do
n’
t share them. Mine are all my own
.
”

“
Good
.”
She was gone.

“
Oh my God! The one time I come into the office in the afternoon and I missed everything exciting. Did you really tell that big blow hard where to stick it
?”
Jenny balanced on her heels as she gingerly walked a fresh cup of coffee over to Kat. Eyes bright with excitement she sat the cup on the desk and took the seat next to her.