Page 126 of Cruelest Contract
And I didn’t know a fucking thing.
27
JULIAN
Cecilia stirs when I tuck the blanket around her body. The tame light that heralds the approach of dawn sneaks through the edges of the shutters. Even so, she dislikes the heavy blackout drapes that can keep the room dark so I don’t shut them.
"I'll be back in a couple of hours,” I whisper and kiss her cheek.
She’s not really awake but she makes a hum of agreement and a smile tips the corners of her lips. For a moment I give into the stalker impulse to stand beside the bed and stare at her as she retreats into her dreams.
Yesterday we didn’t leave this room. Cecilia can walk but she’s still hurting. At my command, Fort and Getty drove into town to retrieve Dr. Weatherly so he could examine her. The old doctor only works at his family practice part time now but after all the years he’s tended to every scrape and broken bone suffered by the four of us boys, I trust him to take care of my wife.
The doctor was optimistic about Cecilia’s injury but cautioned that she ought to see a specialist, especially in light ofher surgical history. There’s a chance that the knee joint, already damaged and full of scar tissue, might need more advanced care than just a few days of rest.
Dr. Weatherly watched us grow up and knows us well. He was delighted to hear that Cecilia is expecting. He gave us the name of an excellent OBGYN in Laramie.
My father lurked in the hallway while the doctor examined Cecilia. We exchanged surly looks that said far more than words could. It’s not often that we’re in stark opposition and I’m sure my brothers have noticed.
Today I’ll take my scolding like a man. I’m sure he’s got his speech ready to dish out and I already know the language he’ll choose.
A family oath. A show of strength. No weakness allowed, not ever.
I’ll deal with him later. Before I tolerate my father’s lecture, I’m going out for an early ride. There are few deeds that bring me more peace of mind than a leisurely horseback trip along the creek. I’ll be back before Cecilia is fully awake and before the sun rises high enough to inflict its summer heat.
Cecilia’s breathing is deep and even. She’s so angelic that I fight the impulse to brush my lips over her cheek again in case I wake her. The last thing I do before leaving the room is silently move the desk over to the window. She’ll enjoy sitting there and writing in her journal with a view of the ranch.
When I open the bedroom door, her cat is waiting to dart in and claim a place on the bed. The cat throws me a triumphant glance and curls up beside Cecilia, already purring.
Downstairs, there’s a hushed silence that’s broken only by the seconds ticking on the wall clock. The light in my father’s office is on, which is odd. He’s an early riser and I doubt he’s ever slept more than six hours in one night but this hour is early even for him. It’s likely he just accidentally left the light on.
Nonetheless, I won’t be sticking my head in there and risking an encounter just yet.
When I log into the security app on my phone, I see that twenty minutes ago Fort briefly disabled the system and exited through the front door. We typically keep the system armed overnight but get more lax during the day. We’re always coming and going and there have been too many annoying occasions of the ear splitting alarm getting tripped when one of us barges through the front door in a hurry. The control room over in Sonny’s barracks has screens dedicated to the cameras pointing at the private road leading up to our property. No one can wander into Storm’s Eye Ranch without getting noticed.
Fort is exactly where I expect to find him. He’s the only one in here with the horses, aside from the yawning teenager employed for menial stable chores.
The kid’s name is Caleb. A local boy who was given the boot by his mother’s boyfriend the second he turned eighteen, he greets me with a nervous nod and returns to sweeping the floor.
Fort has already saddled up his horse, Emmett. It’s a sentimental punch every time I remember Brandy, my own horse. She had to be put down last year due to an intestinal blockage that didn’t resolve after surgery. That really tore me up. Brandy had a lot of spirit and a frisky temperament. I was fifteen when she was given to me and we always had a strong bond. I haven’t had the heart or the time to go searching for a replacement.
Cecilia’s horse, already finished with her morning feeding, is alert and eagerly stretching her neck in the hopes of receiving a tasty snack. I swipe a carrot from the bag hanging on the door and feed it to her.
Fort, leading Emmett, pauses in front of me. “Are you coming out?”
“That’s the plan if you want some company.”
He grins. “That cranky bastard on the end hasn’t been out in a few days if you want to take a chance.”
Omerta. Truth be told, I don’t enjoy riding my father’s horse. He can be one stubborn and irritable son of a bitch.
“He’s still a little skittish thanks to the storm the other day,” Fort explains. “Lightning struck really close to the yard. The exercise would probably settle him down.”
I’m still not clear about what Cecilia was doing outside during the storm when she should have been safely indoors. Fort and Getty were out fixing the western fence at the time. Mel only realized that Cecilia was missing when the skies opened up and lightning struck the trees. There was brief panic before she was found in here.
As for Cecilia, she clammed up and switched to another topic when I asked.
“Want me to get him saddled for you?” asks Caleb.
