Page 54 of Waiting for Devon
When they were alone, Reed whirled on Devon. “You should have let me tell him the truth.”
“We will. At least we have two weeks to figure it out.”
“Are you having second thoughts?” Reed pinned her with his gaze.
Glancing around, Devon moved closer to him and caressed his chest. “No. You?”
“Absolutely not. We’re in this together.” He leaned down and kissed her. “I’ve got business to attend to in the stable. You look tired. Why don’t you get some rest before dinner?”
“All right. See you in a couple of hours.”
Down at the stable Reed found Harry and Smitty huddled together. From their wild gesticulations, he guessed they were having an argument about something. “Hey, fellas,” he greeted them. “What’s going on?”
They froze for a moment, then turned toward him with wide grins on their faces. “Boss, you’re back,” Harry noted with a nod.
“I am. Any trouble while I was gone?”
They glanced at each other. “None. You know we keep this ranch running in tip-top shape,” Smitty bragged.
Reed thought they were acting strange but cast it aside in favor of his enthusiasm regarding the newest additions to the stock. “Boys, wait until you see the thoroughbred I acquired from Lewis Stockton. Sun Rise is a real beauty. He’s bound to be a champion.”
“Wait a minute,” Harry protested. “You ain’t enterin’ him in the Derby, are you? Not after all the hard work we done on Pale Promise.”
Reed tossed a bale of hay. “Don’t think so. You’re right about Pale Promise. We’ve invested a lot in her, and she’s ready. Sun Rise needs far too much training.”
“That’s a relief,” Smitty commented and joined Reed in tossing the bales of hay.
As they worked in the stable, Reed discussed the other horses he’d purchased and his plans for them. “I don’t mind selling them after they’ve been trained,” he finished. “Sun Rise, though, won’t be for sale. After the Triple Crown in June next year, I’ll be entering him in the Derby. Barrington thoroughbreds are going down in history, boys. Wait and see.”
Harry and Smitty agreed, and after they completed their chores, they retreated to the bunkhouse while Reed went into his office to check the accounts. Two hours later, he headed up to the main house to take a quick shower and join his family for dinner.
Placing a hand on both Devon’s and Blair’s shoulders, he kissed each on a cheek and smiled at Jasper as he took his seat. Conversation centered around the ranch side of their business for most of the meal. Afterward, Jasper excused himself, and Reed turned toward his sister and Devon.
“There’s a full moon tonight. Care to take a ride with me?” His invitation included both women.
Blair shook her head and eyed Devon and Reed with disapproval. “You’re flirting with disaster.” She shot Devon a meaningful look.
“No worries, Blair,” Reed responded with ease. “Everything is going to work out for the best.”
“For both your sakes, I hope so. Good night.”
Devon and Reed wished her good night, and, holding hands, they strolled down to the stable.
As she watched Reed saddle a gentle mare for her instead of Pale Promise, Devon commented, “I hope she’s right.”
Reed tightened the cinch. “I want you in my life, Devon. We’ve got two weeks to figure out how to approach Shane. Maybe you should let me handle him.” He intended to anyway, but if he didn’t have to do it behind Devon’s back, even better.
That startled her. “No. I have to talk to him myself.”
Reed helped her mount the mare. “All right. Tonight, though, let’s enjoy the moonlight and forget about Shane.”
A full round moon sat high in the dark night skies. Its white beams lit their way as they rode across the verdant land. In the perfect silence they didn’t feel the need to fill it with conversation. Reed avoided his cabin, knowing if he led Devon there, he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself. It took all of his self-control to leave her alone the previous evening, especially after he saw her lovely body. In spite of what he’d said to her, he planned to confront his brother before she had the opportunity to speak with him. He wanted to be in control of the situation and save Devon from heartache. Reed hoped it wouldn’t backfire on him.
Reed took advantageof his brother’s absence. He refused to disguise his feelings for Devon. He met her every evening at the clinic and escorted her to popular places in Dallas she hadn’t been able to visit. After Labor Day, Reed produced four tickets to a pre-season football game and invited Blair and Tony Gennaro to join them. Much to the women’s amusement, the men bantered with each other, especially when they discovered their mutual love for the home team. They shouted and cheered while Devon and Blair pretended not to notice their macho actions. The game ended with Dallas pulling ahead of their opponent by a mere field goal.
When the four of them left the stadium, they went to one of the crowded sports bars nearby. Reed and Tony indulged themselves on peanuts and beer while Devon and Blair ordered water and buffalo wings with hot sauce for all of them, and they spent the rest of the evening in easy camaraderie.
On the morning Shane was due back in Dallas, Reed called his brother’s secretary. “I want you to notify me as soon as my brother arrives at his office.”
