First Last Chance, page 16
“Do you go there often?” A car honked as it passed them. They were back to small talk, but no awkwardness came with it, just natural curiosity.
“Not as often as I’d like. Elaine, a colleague, has a place there, and I visit her.” Ashley eased back in her seat. “Definitely not often enough.”
Gabe turned from the highway onto a hard-packed grass lane lined on both sides by tall evergreens, creating a darkened tunnel. Once they cleared the trees, a young man walked toward the car and Gabe lowered his window.
“Good evening, sir.” The man held out his hand. “I’ll take care of the car for you.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it.” Gabe stepped out and handed him the keys.
By the time Ashley had undone her seatbelt, Gabe was around her side, holding the door as her gaze went around the sea of small lights strung throughout the grounds and the throng of people pushing past them. Giving her a smile, he took her hand, then threaded a way through the crowd heading toward a large, newly painted red barn.
Still that touch on skin off him, that offer of care away from his bite. “Stay close,” he said softly as they headed for the stage.
Gabe introduced her to Harper Johnson, and pictures of them were taken, then Gabe looked her way. “Sorry, I got roped into doing this, I hope you don’t mind.”
Ashley went to ask what, but Gabe tugged her farther onto the stage and stepped up to the microphone.
Oh. She clasped her hands together, suddenly conscious of being center stage as everything fell quiet. She got a feeling she knew what Gabe had been roped into.
“I want to thank each of you for coming tonight. Your continued support and efforts have made this concert a continued success. We’re especially thankful to the Johnson family for bringing live classical music to their ranch and this area each year.” Gabe eased into a less professional smile. “Now go and enjoy yourselves, you lot.”
After a cheer and applause for the speech being so…short, Gabe winked Ashley’s way. He knew crowds, when to spin something, when to call enough and let them enjoy the night without the politics. He took a hand again, more discreetly this time, but a few whistles came their way as they left the stage.
“You know you could have left me on the sidelines for that.”
He shook his head and stopped someone from bumping into her. “You’re with family here. We look out for one another, which means no being left on the sidelines.” He offered a soft smile. “Friend or…otherwise.”
Okay. Maybe that was a small win for him. She measured it between thumb and finger, mentally anyway. Just a small win.
They were given programs and seated in the front row, directly below the wooden platform. Bales of hay, loaded with concert goers tightly squeezed together and deep in conversation, were stacked around the walls. Up above, more bales held dozens more people, and a few gazes and smiles focused her way. She stiffened.
Gabe leaned in close. “You all right?” His warm breath brushed her cheek, and she nodded his way.
She’d not thought a lot of Gabe’s prominence as a former governor since she’d been here, but it hit home now, and it took a little of her confidence away with it. Gabe too with how he lost his smile.
“We can leave if you want? I didn’t intend to—”
Ashley took his hand and rubbed at the back of it. “Family…friend, we look out for each other, right?”
A frown crossed his brow along with a soft smile. He’d tried to make this about her, and she liked him for it, but this was about them, which meant both sides of the coin, as friends or…otherwise, ones learning to acknowledge insecurities as well as screw ups. Didn’t matter how far down the line he’d come, Gabe had seen someone he love walk away from him with his kid because of his career path.
The musicians arrived on stage and Mozart’s Sonatina Number Four soon filled the barn. The rich melancholy timbre of the viola and clarinet had the audience silent. Ashley enjoyed the feeling of soaring. The clear tones kept her in that melodic world, suspended in time.
She’d lost track of time, and it surprised her when the musicians stood, and applause rang out loudly just before Mr. Johnson walked across the stage and announced an intermission.
“Is this your first visit here?” The gray-haired woman on Ashley’s right asked, and Ashley realized then she’d not being paying attention to anyone close by but Gabe. “We come every year, don’t we, Fred?” She smiled at the man seated next to her.
“Yes. The music’s wonderful,” Fred replied.
“It’s my first time.” Ashley looked up as Gabe stood to greet a man who’d made his way around the feet of the crowd, his cane hitting the wooden floor with a loud thud each time he took a small step.
Gabe quickly glanced down at her, smiled, then turned his full attention to what the man was saying.
The woman chuckled and leaned in closer to Ashley. “That’s George Watson. He owns a large spread just north of here and thinks of himself as an expert on whatever is going on in this valley.”
“Do you live in the valley too?”
“Oh my.” She put her hand to her chest. “I’m Martha, by the way, and Fred and I have lived here all our lives. Our son runs the small ranch now. He’s also a veterinarian.”
“You must know most of the ranchers, then?”
“Pretty much,” she said. “Say, Fred and I have been wondering if Gabe is going to take Senator Stanton’s seat.” She gave Ashley a sly grin. “We certainly couldn’t get anyone better.”
Ashley shook her head. “You know, I honestly don’t know.” She did. Jason had mentioned something about looking into running for the seat, but…family. She knew when to talk, when not to.
Martha placed a hand on Ashley’s arm. “Well, honey, I’m sure you would be the first to know.” A wide smile crossed her face as she looked at Gabe.
The lights dimmed and everyone retook their seats, waiting for the musicians to return to the stage. The selections for the second half of the program were as splendid as before, and Ashley relaxed, letting the music touch her. The piece by the German composer, Schumann, was dark and mysterious and at times terrifying and intense, reminding Ashley of a novel she once read of scantily clad women dancing around an open campfire with their long hair flying and their eyes filled with desire. It was a contrast between light and dark, between loathing and desire, and she smiled into how it called her and Gabe out. Gabe seemed just as lost. He wasn’t here just out of duty over politics or to win a friend over, and that was another plus in his direction. A huge one. Mostly because he unconsciously gave away a piece of himself now, what he loved no matter the company. By the time it finished, she felt relax and more content with who she took a seat next to.
After a moment as the crowd began to find their feet and filter away, Gabe stood and took her hand. They spoke with Martha and Fred for a minute, then eased into the crowd, with Gabe stopping every now and again to introduce her. An hour later they’d made it back to the young valet.
The long line of cars crawled back down the evergreen tunnel toward the highway, and once they reached the highway and turned left toward the ranch, Ashley’s excitement spilled over. “What an amazing concert.”
“It is each year. The organizers do an excellent job finding young talent.”
Gabe’s deep voice sent shivers through her. “Do Jason and the kids usually join you? Did….” She stopped, but Gabe caught on.
“Marilyn when I was seeing her?”
Ashley winced. “Sorry, I didn’t mean for it to sound like that.”
“It’s okay.” He flicked her a look. “We both have pasts. And no, she didn’t. It wasn’t her thing. Susan and Jason came a few times, Lisa too. But Cody is pure rock. You wouldn’t catch him here.” He fell quiet for a moment. “You’re the first…friend I’ve brought.” He winced. “Except Ruth, of course.”
Ashley let out a laugh. “That’s… that’s comforting to know. I think.”
He laughed too and it fell into a comfortable silence as he drove through the valley, all nature—not a building in sight. Then he turned off the road and drove through the gates of the ranch. Once he reached the house, he parked, and Ashley kept her smile private as he walked around to open her door for her.
A hand came her way, and she took it, but after he shut the door, she was the one to keep hold of his hand and tug him up to the porch. As they reached the door, she turned and eased him back against the wall, going in close to his body, her breath brushing his.
“Oh-kay,” he said, hands going out wide as if caught between wanting to touch, then knowing he shouldn’t. “Slightly confusing signs going on here as my…friend.”
She searched his look for a moment, then brushed her lips against his, then nipped the bottom one before he had time to respond. “Good, because I wanted to show you something.” She ran a touch up his inside thigh, all to drag fingernails over the cut of jeans and thickness of cock. “This is the right kind of confusion we should have been dealing with.” She nipped at his lip again, and he instantly slipped a hand through her hair, cupping the back of her neck as the other gripped her hip, tugging her into a gentle bump and grind.
With a last kiss, she pulled away and patted gently at his cheek. “If ever you feel like being an ass to me again, you keep that in focus, okay?”
He didn’t answer, looked like he couldn’t, and she bit back a smile seeing it.
“Night, Gabe.” She gave him a wink and turned away.
“Christ,” she heard him groan—then he tugged her back, pinning her up against the wall.
For a moment he shared her look, searched in it for something else—then his kiss roughed her neck, and she gripped his hair as he freed the clasp to her pants before he was down, stroking roughly at her with only her damp pants as a barrier.
“Jesus…” Ashley threw her head back, her leg wrapping his waist, all heat and friction, loving his hand, but needing the feel of all the thickness in his cock to grind into her.
He denied her, not stopping stroking her until she tugged him close and buried her cry of release in his shoulder.
“Yeah.” Gabe started to fasten her trousers and gently tidy her up as she tried to catch her breath. Arms still wrapped around his shoulders, he pulled back and wiped at her cheek. “That’s the right kind of confusion. “He kissed her, then reached over to open the door. “Night…Ashley.”
Ashley laughed into his shoulder. “Oh gonna be like that, is it?”
He ran his thumb lightly up the side of her neck. “I certainly hope so.”
Quiet fell around them, then—“Who left the damn door open?”
Jason came over, and his eyes widened as they both buried soft laughter. “Oh…there you are.”
Jason stopped, eyed her up, then Gabe. “Everything—” He waved it off, seeing how they huddled together. “Yeah, I can see everything’s all right between you two now.”
“He told you?” Ashley cocked a brow.
“Eventually. But brother here, I get everything out of him eventually.” Jason pointed to Gabe. “Don’t screw this up again, we clear?”
“Christ.” Gabe stayed hidden in Ashley’s shoulder, and Ashley kept him there as he tried to stop chuckling. “Scout’s honor.”
Jason only narrowed his eyes at him. “Good, because I got a call off Megan.”
Gabe looked up.
“Sam’s awake and wants to see us. T.J. and Megan will pick us up in the morning.” His gaze swept over them. “Sorry.”
“No need to be,” said Ashley, and she looked at Gabe and stroked at his cheek. “You go talk to Jason. I’m calling it a night. Let me know how you get on with Sam in the morning.”
He nodded, then as she went to walk away for a second time, he eased her back. “Night,” he said quietly, and his kiss touched hers.
He was still hard, and she searched his look with a bite at her lip. “You can handle things from here alone, can’t you?”
He buried a laugh. “Go. Leave me in peace. Please.”
Chapter 24
Sam’s voice boomed down the hallway of the hospital, his complaint coming loud and clear right through the closed door, or so it seemed to Gabe.
“Dad’s back,” Megan said before entering his room.
Gabe waited in the hallway with Jason and T.J. as a nurse hurried out, laughing. “He’s your friend?” She looked at Gabe first as he stood against the wall.
“Sounds like he’s giving you a hard time.”
“Some patients think they know best.” She shook her head as she walked toward the nurses’ station.
Megan opened the door a moment later. “Dad wants to see you.”
Gabe headed in first and found Sam sitting up in bed. “Good to see you. Sounds like you’re going to make it.”
“If I do, it’s not because of the food they serve.” Sam pushed a bowl of fruit away. “That’s all they serve at this hour.”
“It’s good to see you awake.” Gabe went over. “Sam, this is Thomas Jefferson Brooks, T.J. for short. He’s been running your ranch since you were in hospital.”
“Running? Who the hell hired him? I didn’t and—” He seemed think for a minute as he looked past Gabe to T.J. “Hang on. T.J. Brooks, from Montana?”
Megan got up and stuffed a pillow behind his back.
“Yes, sir.” T.J. stepped forward and offered a hand. “Nice spread you got.”
Sam nodded and took it. “I’ve heard of you. Sort of like a troubleshooter. Help ranchers get back on their feet.”
“Plus other things,” Gabe said.
T.J. pulled a chair closer to the bed and took a seat as Megan sat on the other side. Gabe stayed back against the wall with Jason.
“Okay, Sam,” T.J. said gently. “I know you’ll have been through this with the sheriff, but…” He glanced back at Gabe, at how sometimes family and friends got at the truth a little better. “What do you remember about the kidnapping? If you need to stop to rest, that’s all right.”
“I’m not that soft, cowboy.” Sam cleared his throat. “I had a few drinks, and after several hours of playing poker, I went to my car. Two men were hiding in the back. They put a cloth over my mouth and nose, and when I woke up in a shack somewhere off a logging road, my hands and feet were tied. After a few days, I was able to free myself and headed out.” He reached for a drink of water. “And no, the sheriff hasn’t been around yet. The doctor said he’ll be allowed to come by later , when I’m fit to file a report, that’s why I called Megan and had her bring you boys here.” Sam looked from Gabe to Jason.
“We’ll do what we can to help, Sam. Just let us know what you need,” Gabe said. “But, when you feel up to it, we need to talk about Max and the land deal you made.”
Sam looked away and clammed shut for a moment. “Look. Sorry I sold that land, but at the time, I didn’t know what else to do.”
“I know,” said Gabe, “but I want to run a name by you.” The one Jean had given him. The sheriff had asked him to press Sam to see if they could tie it all together. “See if you recognise it as anything to do with the kidnapping…”
Chapter 25
Finally back home, Gabe headed for the kitchen, needing coffee, but needing more to chase alone time with Ashley. He just didn’t want to come over as overstepping the mark as well as overbearing, overprotective, and more Id than superego, whatever the hell those last two were. He snorted to himself at the reminder. Ashley didn’t hold back. Rightly so too. He’d been more than an asshole.
“Hey.” Jason stuck his head out his office door. “In here. You’ll want to see this.”
Giving a frown, Gabe went over. “What?”
Jason waved for him to follow. “Ashley’s been showing me a photo she took with Ted. Take a look at this.” He lifted the camera screen so Gabe could see.
As he did, Ashley came over, and Gabe threw her a smile, not bothered with photos in that moment.
“Pay attention.” Jason hit his arm and snorted a grin as Gabe was forced to focus away from Ashley’s smile, her lips, face, hair…body, hold of mug and how her hands wrapped around it. “The hawk in the background is clear, but look at the location.”
Hawk? Gabe grabbed the camera and looked closer, then shot a glance to Ashley. “You took this with Ted? At Alpine Ridge?”
“It’s Alpine Ridge, all right,” Jason took the camera for another look.
Christ. This changed everything. “I’ll call Pam Dryer.” Gabe grabbed Jason’s phone on the desk. “Where’s her number?”
“Here.” Jason turned his computer screen to face Gabe.
“Why?” Ashley came over, her mug of tea held protectively in her hands. “Jason’s just seen it and I haven’t got a clue what’s got him going.”
“Pam Dryer is head of Wildlife Conservation in Wyoming.” Gabe pinched her mug off her and took a swig of tea. It earned him a “So it’s gonna be like that” cock of brow, and damn his soul, he loved her for it. Damn right it was gonna be like this. “The organization has been concerned for years about the lack of sightings of the broad-winged hawk. You got one here.” Gabe pointed at the camera. “This might help us put a stop to the Evans Development plan to build adjacent to Coulter Creek at Alpine Ridge. This could be exactly what we need.”
“You think it’ll work?” Ashley asked.
“Oh I’ll make damn sure it does,” said Gabe. After he spoke to Pam, he hung up. “Pam wants to know if you have any more pictures.”
“Not of the hawk, I don’t think.” She pinched her mug back. “Sorry.”
He nodded. “She wants the picture sent over to her, and make sure you back a copy to cloud storage, so we don’t lose it. I’m flying down to Cheyenne for a meeting with her tomorrow.”
Jason handed Gabe the camera. “Stored and double stored. Anything else?”
“Yeah.” Gabe flicked him a look. “You thought anymore about taking that senate seat, because right about now would really help us out.”
Jason dug his hands in his pockets. “You think I’m good enough?”
