Page 26 of The Rancher's Fake Fiancée

“Don’t let it pass you by.” She said those same words again. Just as she had numerous times over the past couple of years. When she watched her big sister fall in love and marry and begin an awesome chapter with husband and children. And she watched her brother grieve a wife and then raise an amazing daughter. They were moving on and she felt at a standstill. Ever since James had left her four years ago. She was still connected to him via the case they were working on. But his death had shut her heart down to possibilities for a long while. Until recently…and then Rowdy’s words came back to her. She shut the door again. No way could she allow those thoughts of a different life and love come into the present. That could do more harm than anything. She had a job to do…period.

An hour later, Jesse had showered and changed into a pair of white slacks and bright fuschia sleeveless top. She was just about ready to go downstairs to the patio, when a frantic tapping at her door brought her to open it. Emmie rushed inside and then turned, her eyes still wet with tears.

“What’s wrong, sweetie? Why are you crying?” She put her arm around her, and they moved to sit on the edge of the small sofa in the room.

“Look at me!” Emmie began with a sniffle and then took the tissue Jesse handed to her from the side table. “This dress is awful and my hair hurts. There are so many pins in it because she wants it to look different. She said it was time I stopped looking like some refugee orphan and said all my clothes should be burned and she was going to take me to New York to a real hair salon and have my hair cut and styled like girls wear it in Europe. I hate her! Why did she have to come here and ruin everything?”

Jesse gathered her in her arms and Emmie wrapped her arms around Jesse’s middle and clung to her, the tears returning.

Gently Jesse ran her hand over Emmie’s hair, trying to loosen a pin or two to ease the pain, and tried to soothe her. “You aren’t a refugee, and your clothing is just fine. It suits you for life here and not in Europe. And your hair is beautiful…you said yourself that even your friends have complimented you and said they wish they had hair like yours.”

“She said she was taking me away from here. I would learn manners and go to the best boarding school and become a lady like she is. I don’t want to live anywhere else. I don’t want to leave my family and Uncle Joe and you, and my horse and it’s just awful!”

Jesse rocked her and tried to soothe her. After a while, the tearful onslaught was spending itself, and Jessie repeated what she had said earlier.

“You are perfect the way you have always been. Do you understand? Did you speak to your dad about this?”

Emmie shook her head. “No, he was in the shower, and I knew he would get upset and probably throw Madeleine and those friends of hers out of the house maybe. I knew you’d understand being a girl and all.”

“Well, I’m glad you came to speak to me. But we need to get you ready to go downstairs and then later we’ll fill your dad in on all of this. Sound like a plan? We can redo your hair and find something else for you to wear if you don’t want to wear this?”

“Do we have time?”

“I don’t believe they’ll start without us. We’ll be down in plenty of time for the first course. Let’s get moving. Run, get what you picked out and then we’ll do your hair.”

Twenty minutes later, Emmie had dressed in a pair of blue slacks and a blue and pink tank top with a matching shirt jacket. Her hair had been brushed out from the coiled rope as she had described it to Jesse and held back at the sides by two gold clips borrowed from Jesse. It shone in a lustrous cascade down her back to almost her waist. She smiled as she twirled in front of the mirror. Then, together, they walked hand in hand down the stairs. Cole stood at the bottom.

“I was about to send out a search party. But the wait was well worth it for two such beautiful ladies. Allow me to escort you.” He offered an arm to each one. Emmie replaced the tears of earlier with giggles. That is how they made their entrance onto the patio where a table had been set for the dinner being prepared on the grill set into a stone-covered patio barbecue area. The setting sun cast a warm golden glow over the hills beyond and over the small group next to the pool. The breeze was just enough to keep the temperature enjoyable. The two men stood at their approach while Madeleine remained seated. When they were all seated, the silence did not last.

“Emmaline, what did you do with the dress I bought for you? And how did your hair get taken down and replaced with that simple country nonsense?”

Cole looked from mother to daughter. He noted the change in Emmie, the tears glistening in her eyes once more. Before Jesse could speak up, he took charge.

“Emmie’s quite beautiful tonight. I believe she chose that outfit when we were last in Dallas. And her hair needs no nonsense done to it. She is a natural beauty whereas most others have to spend hundreds to look half as perfect. We are all proud of her.”

“I suppose you had something to do with this change?” Madeleine accused Jesse across the table. Philippe laid a hand on top of hers as if that would calm her down.

“Yes, she asked for my help, and I was pleased to do it. Her father is very correct in the fact she has a natural beauty both within and without that money cannot buy. She is a child, not a dress-up doll.”

“You have no…”

“The food has arrived and smells amazing. Shall we bless it?” For once, the interjection of the priest in their midst was a saving grace. With heads bowed, the man intoned the words. Jesse allowed her gaze to move slowly around the table and it was met head-on with a look of pure hatred from the woman across from her. The message was very clear. She would need to keep her wits about her as long as the woman was among them.

“The steak was superb,” Philippe stated. “One of the best I have had, and I do consider myself quite an expert.” The boast fit the man as far as Jessie was concerned. How could any woman in her right mind prefer someone like Philippe Desmonde when she had a real man like Cole Connors? She had that thought more than once as she watched the two men conversing over aspects of the ranch. Madeleine had developed a headache before the dessert course and excused herself… much to most of their relief it seemed. She couldn’t help comparing the two men who Madeleine had her choice between. The choice was no contest in her mind. Cole would win hands down. And that fact registered like a 6.5 quake on the scale. What was she thinking? Becoming personally involved with a protectee was a career ender. She needed to get control of those thoughts.

“Are you well?” The voice was in whisper mode, and she realized that it was aimed at her.

The priest sat beside her. The other two men were still in their discussion.

“Well? I’m sorry. I think my mind was just planning my day tomorrow. What were you saying?”

“That you are blessed to have such a wonderful family to soon become part of. I understand your family raises horses…racehorses…in Kentucky? I am acquainted with the name of those stables. I knew there were a couple of daughters, but I never had the honor of meeting either of you a few years ago when I visited with a friend who wished to buy such animals.”

“That would have been quite a coincidence. But my sister and I were raised in New York by my mother. She and my father divorced early on. I did have wonderful summers though with our father on the horse farm.” She had done her homework on the real family, and he seemed to hide his surprise well enough. Was he trying to catch her out? And if so, why? He abruptly changed the subject. To her relief, it wasn’t long before the guests departed for their rooms.

“What were you and the padre having to say to each other at the table? You seemed to have a deep conversation.” Cole and she were the last to pass through the house after the others had said their good nights. He turned out the lights along the way until they made their way to the hall. They slowed on one accord at the stairs. “I’d say that everyone else is asleep. I think we are okay to whisper. Did you find out anything yet? Are these guys really going to lead you to the person you’re after? Will this all soon be over and I can kick my ex and her entourage from my ranch once and for all?”

Jesse nodded. “And when we have something definite to share we will. Until then, while we may be gathering information, we won’t be sharing any of that. But I know you are anxious to get rid of your guests and me and Rowdy, also. Take your lives back to normal. I understand that.”

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