Six
She entered the kitchen by seven and Jessie Lou turned to greet her, her eyes filled with curiosity. “Jake has already left for today.”
“I’m going to Dallas to see my folks today.”
“Ahh. That will be good,” Jessie Lou said and turned back to the pie crust she was making.
Madison stared at Jessie Lou, realizing while she kept quiet and in the background, she saw and heard a lot.
“Jessie Lou, Jake told me he didn’t walk out on me on our wedding day because he didn’t want to marry me. He said he was told to.”
With deliberation Jessie Lou washed her hands, dried them and then turned to face Madison. For once, the woman had lost her smile. “Then it probably is time for you to find out the truth.”
“Do you know it?” Madison asked because she had always felt as close to Jessie Lou in some ways as she did her mother.
“No, I don’t. I’ve just always wondered. I think it’s good that you go.”
Jessie Lou’s answer shook Madison because she had expected to have the cook tell her she was being foolish to even think about questioning her parents.
“I can’t believe my dad would do anything to hurt me,” Madison whispered, but Jessie Lou heard her.
“Well, it’s time you know. You and Jake were very young. Very young.”
“You do know something.”
Jessie Lou shook her head. “No. I would have told you as badly as you were hurt. Maybe not right away, but I never would have waited all these years and let the hurt fester in you the way it has. I see the way the two of you look at each other. It’s time the truth comes out.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“It’s best to go ask because now you’ll wonder until you do.” She turned back to the pie crust.
Madison had lost her appetite and carried her dishes to the counter. Jessie Lou looked at her. “Are you all right?”
Madison nodded. “I think so. I’m going to get ready to go. Jake is letting me fly in his plane. His pilot will be waiting.”
Jessie Lou nodded. “I will be thinking about you—both of you.”
Feeling far more worried, Madison left to get dressed.
* * *
At eleven, she rode in a limo to a restaurant in Dallas where she told the driver she would call him when she needed him again. She hurried inside the glass-enclosed round building. In the lobby Nick stepped up to greet her and give her a light hug. Three inches over six feet tall, Nick oozed personality. He was a politician through and through and she had heard their dad talk to Nick about a presidential run someday. She couldn’t imagine, yet Nick had won every race he had entered from Most Popular Boy in the Sixth Grade to his reelection to the Texas legislature.
Gold cuff links complemented his tailor-made white shirt. He wore a brown suit and a dark brown tie. Whether it was a working day or not, Nick was always camera-ready.
His dark brown hair was the color of hers and his eyes were blue. There the similarity ended because his face was longer, his hair wavy, his nose had a slight crook from being broken playing football in a neighborhood game. Nick had perfect, snowy teeth, along with a smile that probably helped him win votes. People had always liked him and he seemed full of life, able to enjoy himself more than most people. Every day was an adventure for him and she had often been amazed by his perpetual optimism and energy. He had changed after the loss of his pregnant wife and their baby, but to her relief his cheerfulness was beginning to return to him.
Hugging her, Nick smiled as he stepped away. “Thanks for calling. I’m glad to see you. I’ve got a table waiting.”
They looked at their menus briefly, ordered, and while they waited, he smiled again. “I saw you drive up. So what’s the deal with the limo? The art must be doing extremely well.”
“Jake Calhoun let me fly in his private jet today and he arranged for the limo. That’s his chauffeur.”
“After the heartbreak Jake caused you, I don’t see why you agreed to let him search on your ranch.”
“I still think of it as the family ranch, even though Dad has put it in my name. It would benefit us, too, if Jake finds anything. Today, some of our men are with him, so he’s not out there looking without Milan interests being protected. And I’ve gone with them every day until today.”
“When we were at Verity High, I liked Jake, but after what he did to you, I haven’t trusted him or wanted to be around him or have any dealings with him.”
“Sounds funny, coming from you, because you’re always friendly to him,” she said, unable to argue with him. “You’re always friendly with everyone,”
He grinned. “I want to keep those votes coming.” His smile vanished. “Kidding aside, you said he’s giving you the treasure if you find it—I think that’s suspicious. Why is he being so generous? I don’t believe for a second he’s interested in his ancestors’ remains. It’s not like remains that need to be returned to a sacred tribal burial ground.”
“I told you he’s hoping to find a deed giving him a bit of the McCracken ranchland.”
“Sounds fishy to me, Madison.” He shook his head, unconvinced. “Be careful. If you find remains, you won’t know whose they are. Could have been a posse after a Milan or a Calhoun.”
“Well, if we find bones, we’ll get a forensic specialist to identify them and any Milan bones will get a proper burial in our Milan cemetery.”
Nick’s blue eyes rested intently on her. “Keep me posted and watch Jake. I wouldn’t trust him one second.”
“I will. How are you doing, Nick?” she asked, suddenly eager to change the subject.
“Busier than ever,” he replied. “People are sounding me out about running for a U.S. Senate seat.”
“That would be fantastic. I’m thrilled for you,” she said and for an instant saw a slight frown crease his brow, but then it was gone. “You don’t want to do that?”
“We’re a long, long way from me having to make that decision, but yes, I’d like to. In a way, I hate to get so far from Texas and the ranch, but politics is my life and if I really get a chance for this, I’m taking it.”
“Of course you should,” she said. “Your life revolves around politics.” While they were served, they remained silent. She watched as a tossed salad was placed in front of her and then a waiter placed a hamburger in front of Nick.
“Do the folks know you’re letting Jake dig on the ranch?”
“Of course. Someone, maybe Charley, keeps Dad posted and Dad has already called to try to talk me out of letting Jake search. So far it’s been as useless and hopeless as when y’all dug for that treasure when you were kids.”
Nick grinned. “We imagined finding a big trunk filled with gold. We never gave a thought to ancestors’ bones and knew nothing about a deed.”
“We’ll see. You can always come join us.”
He laughed and she smiled because she knew his schedule kept him busy every minute, which was what he wanted. She was certain he was trying to occupy his time so he wouldn’t have a chance to think too much about his loss.
She chatted and ate, finishing and sipping iced tea until Nick glanced at his watch. “I’m sorry. I have to get back to the office. I have an appointment.”
“It’s been good to see you. I need to call the limo,” she said as they stood to walk out. She put away her phone. “He’s already here and waiting. Want a lift back to your office?”
“No, thanks. I drove myself.” Nick smiled at her. “Thanks for having lunch with me.”
“Thanks for taking me,” she replied. “You take care of yourself, Nick.”
“You, too. See you soon,” he said.
He followed her until they were almost at the limo. “Shall I tell the chauffeur to drive carefully?”
She grinned. “You? My brother who got into trouble for drag racing?”
He laughed and shrugged. “I’m grown up and responsible now.” He smiled at her and walked away as she climbed into the limo for the ride to their parents’ home.
It wasn’t too long until they reached the gated community where mansions started above one million in price. The well-landscaped grounds had tall oak trees along the wide, winding drive to the house while giant magnolias grew between the oaks.
Like the house on their family ranch, this was another Georgian redbrick with white Corinthian columns. Two beds of red and yellow hibiscus bloomed on either side of the front porch. She used her key to unlock the front door. A small shaggy brown dog stood in the foyer wagging its tail.
She hurried inside, stopping to pet the happy dog. “Hi, Prissy,” Madison said, scratching the dog’s head. “Where’s your family?”
The little dog danced around her as Madison searched for her parents, finding them in the study, her father playing with another brown dog, her mother holding a laptop. The moment she saw Madison, she smiled and came forward to hug her.
Catching a whiff of her mother’s rose perfume that she had worn as long as Madison could remember, Madison felt foolish for even coming because she couldn’t imagine that her father had done anything to hurt her or that her mother would allow him to.
Even after the hug, her mother’s beige silk blouse and matching silk slacks did not have a wrinkle. Madison had always thought her mother was a beautiful woman and at fifty-two, Evelyn Milan still looked beautiful to Madison. Her short brown hair was perfectly styled.
“Well, look who’s here,” her dad said as he came to hug her. Twelve years older than her mother, her dad’s life revolved around law and being a judge. Even in his aged brown slacks, a white dress shirt and a favorite brown cardigan he looked imposing and judicial. He had never had to raise his voice to get Madison or Nick or Wyatt to obey him when they had been children. Only Tony had been the wild one who could sometimes wear their father’s patience to the breaking point.
Madison kissed both parents and sat to talk to them, bringing them up to date on the search for the buried treasure. Her father sat listening quietly, which she knew meant he was thinking.
“I’ve always heard about the gun battle and that members of both families were killed,” he said, “so it’s logical their bones are out there somewhere if they weren’t carried off by animals.”
“Pete, that’s gruesome,” Evelyn Milan said, shivering.
“It’s the truth. I can imagine someone from each family returning to bury their own dead. That part of the tale I’ve always thought was true. As for a buried treasure—who knows? Could have been or might be pure myth. It might be as little as two or three gold coins. And he didn’t ask you to split the booty with him?”
Madison shook her head. “No, sir. He said he didn’t want the treasure, whatever it is, just his ancestors’ bones.”
“That’s generous,” Evelyn said.
“I don’t think he believes there is really any treasure and it’s an inducement to get me to agree to this,” Madison explained.
“That makes sense,” Pete said. “I imagine he’s done plenty of looking on his side of the boundary when he was a kid. Besides, you said there might be a deed giving the Calhouns some McCracken land?”
“Yes, that’s what Jake is hoping to find,” she replied.
“Madison, be careful. I don’t trust the Calhouns. There may be more to this than we know.”
“I know he wants to lease the land and he wants the mineral rights. I think he intends to drill gas wells. I’ve gotten several calls from energy companies, geologists. I told you a while back, Dad, for right now, I’m talking to three companies to see which one will be the best deal for us. None of them belong to Jake. I’ll let you know before I do anything. I want you to approve.”
“Thanks, that’s very nice, Madison. I’m sure Mom and I will be happy with whatever you decide.”
“I don’t know that I’ll make any decisions before your trip, but I’ll keep you in the loop.” Her parents were leaving in November to go to Paris, Switzerland and the Italian coast. Her aunt Edna was staying at the house to watch the dogs. “Is there anything I can do while you’re gone?”
“Thank you, but no, Madison,” her mother answered. “If there is, we’ll let you know.”
“You should have a wonderful trip.” They spent the next half hour talking about the upcoming vacation and their plans.
“Mom, I have a legal problem I need to discuss with Dad. Would you excuse us? I think this will bore you terribly.”
“Of course. And you’re right—I don’t need to hear a legal problem unless you’re in trouble with the law.”
Smiling, Madison shook her head. “Hardly. Old stuff and nothing illegal.”
“I’ll give you an hour and then I’ll be back. That’s long enough for legal talk,” Evelyn said as she left the room, taking the dog with her. Madison followed her to the door.
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll come get you,” she said, closing the door after her mother had walked away. She walked back across the room to face her dad.
He sat in his favorite chair with his feet propped on an ottoman, his feet crossed at the ankles. He looked relaxed, friendly, supportive, but a glance into his alert blue eyes and she knew he was paying attention and ready to listen.
She wanted to catch him off guard, hoping to be able to tell by looking at him if he had been honest in what he had said to Jake.
She pulled a wingback chair close to the ottoman to face him.
“What’s happened, Madison?” he asked.
She leaned forward, placing her hands on his knees. “Dad, when I was in high school, I was going to elope with Jake Calhoun. He never showed up. Why?” Her heart pounded hard. She had never questioned her father before. As a child she had thought every word he said was the absolute truth and the way things should be. She had always obeyed, never rebelled; when he wanted her to do something, she had always done it unquestioningly.
His expression never changed. There was not even a flicker of an eyelid, yet she knew something was wrong. Her dad had waited too long to reply. She couldn’t get her breath and her head swam.
Jake had been telling the truth.
She gulped for air.
“Madison, are you all right? Do you need to lie down?”
She shook her head, but she couldn’t get her breath. She closed her eyes and held her head in her hands, gulping for air while her whole world shifted and changed.
The father she had always implicitly trusted had deceived and hurt her. Jake had walked out because of her father.
“Dad, how could you have done that to me?” she said between her gasps for air. Jake had been right. That was all she could think. And she hadn’t believed him at all. “I didn’t think you would ever hurt me like that,” she whispered, staring at him while hot tears spilled from her eyes.
“Madison, I love you and I did it for you. You were way too young to get married then.”
“There were so many other ways to handle it that wouldn’t have hurt us that badly.” Her father’s betrayal had caused a lasting hurt that might be with her all her life. “I’ve been so awful to Jake and accused him of terrible things.”
“First of all, he’s a Calhoun and this family would never accept him. His family wouldn’t accept you. Second, both of you were children and you were way too young and immature to go into marriage. I see too much suffering and unhappiness. I couldn’t let you throw away your future.”
“Why didn’t you talk to me? I’ve always done what you wanted.”
“You have, but you were growing up and getting more headstrong. Your elopement would have divided both families and brought that old feud back to life, stronger than it had been in over a century. Those who sided with you and were ready to end the feud would have split with those who would have opposed you and felt you betrayed your family. Some family members would never have recognized you as part of the family again.”
“Did you physically threaten Jake?”
“I did bring some pressure to bear because Jake would understand that kind of threat.”
Shock gripped her as she stared in silence.
“Honey, I’m sorry. Maybe you and Jake would have worked things out and been happy the rest of your lives, but the odds were not on your side. And neither of you had your education completed. You hadn’t even finished high school.”
“I don’t know you. I don’t know how you could have threatened Jake and gone behind my back to be cruel and deceitful,” she said, feeling her pride in him and her high regard for him crumble.
“I wasn’t exactly happy about it, but I had to stop both of you. I didn’t even know you were seeing each other until Charley saw you climbing out and leaving the ranch. I started asking quietly and it didn’t take long to find out.”
She covered her eyes and cried quietly. “What you did was so awful and hurt badly all these years.” She looked at him. “I’ve always trusted you totally, but I never will again.”
“I hope you do. I hope you fall in love and marry, and if you do and have your own children, you will see that in life you have to make tough decisions. I know few people who haven’t had to face them with their children. Then maybe you’ll understand.”
“I’ll never understand you threatening Jake. I can’t understand you being underhanded. If you had come to me and said we couldn’t marry, I would have argued, but I wouldn’t feel this dreadful deceit. If you had said, ‘You can’t elope. I’ll annul it,’ you know I would have done what you wanted even though I wouldn’t have liked it.”
“You might have, but Jake wouldn’t have been so obedient to me, a Milan. Besides, I didn’t know how much influence he carried with you. Honey, I apologize,” he said. “Maybe I didn’t handle it right. But babies don’t come into the world with instructions on how to raise them, you know.”
“I sat by the phone all that afternoon and evening and Jake never called, but he told me he called repeatedly. Why didn’t I get his calls?” she asked, ignoring his apology that came way too late and only because she asked.
He looked away and ran a hand through his hair. “It was the weekend. I had the calls forwarded to the line in my toolshed. It simply rang and no one answered. On Monday I switched it back.”
“Did Mom know?”
“Partly. She didn’t want you to marry a Calhoun and she wanted me to stop you. She didn’t know exactly how I did so.” He looked at her, and his shoulders somehow didn’t seem quite so broad. “I’ll call Jake and I’ll try to talk to him. Being a Calhoun, he will probably always hate me and I may have added years to this archaic feud.”
She tried to take in her father’s explanation, painful though it was. But one thing didn’t make sense. “I didn’t get him when I called him. You couldn’t change his phone.”
“That was the one thing I worried about, but by the time you tried to call him, he had already left town. I knew his folks were out of town that weekend and all his siblings were furious with you.”
He sat forward and reached out for her, but she pulled back. “I’m sorry, Madison, but I still feel it was for the best, and at this point in your life, I’d think you’d agree. You have a marvelous career in art, a field that is difficult and competitive. You and Jake are free to marry now and if you don’t want to now, my guess is that a marriage at sixteen and nineteen would not have lasted anyway.”
“If I had called him right after talking to you, I might have learned the truth.”
“It was a chance I had to take. But I thought I’d made him so angry with you, that he wouldn’t have taken your call or believed anything you said. I’m amazed he tried to call you. If you had gotten through, then I would have tried other ways to stop you and I would have called his parents to intervene. I don’t think the two of you could have fought both families.”
Each revelation made her pain deepen. “All these years I thought he just left me waiting with no explanation,” she said, thinking about Jake and the intervening years.
“Jake went home, packed and left for college that afternoon, way, way early. I had someone check on him.”
She fished a tissue from her pocket and wiped her eyes, standing and turning away from him. The tears wouldn’t stop. When she thought how furious she had been with Jake all these years, her stomach churned.
“Dad, for thirteen years I have been angry with Jake. I’ve shed a million tears over his walking out on me. I married someone I didn’t love just to get back at Jake—”
He stood in front of her. “I was afraid of that. Madison,” he said, frowning and looking more worried than she had ever seen him look, “your mother and I were afraid you were doing that, but we hoped the marriage would work out and you would find happiness. Will was a nice fellow and quite acceptable to the family.”
“Our marriage was dreadful.”
“That’s behind you now. I’ll call Jake and talk to him. I owe you both that much, but if I had it to do over, I probably would do things the same way. I don’t think I could have stopped the two of you otherwise.”
“There had to have been better ways to handle it and you could have been honest. That’s what I’m having a difficult time with.” She walked away from him. “It’s going to take me a while to get accustomed to all this. I would never have believed you could have done such a thing if you hadn’t told me yourself.”
“I apologize, Madison, and I hope someday you’ll understand and you’ll forgive me. But let me ask you something. Do you think you would have been the artist you are today if you had run away and married Jake?”
Startled, she turned to look at him and thought about the years and the work, the hours she had poured into her art career, especially after being so hurt.
“Maybe not, Dad, but a career doesn’t trump love.”
“You wouldn’t have had this wonderful success,” he replied solemnly.
He reached out to hug her, but she stood stiffly. He released her and stepped back. “I love you, Madison. Always remember that. I’m human and not infallible in spite of being a judge. And judges may be the worst with their own families.”
From out of nowhere a thought struck her. She remembered the tree across the bridge on the ranch. “Dad, someone cut down a big cottonwood and it blocked the bridge over Rocky Creek. Did you have anything to do with that?”
He shook his head. “I don’t even know where you’re searching. Trust me, I haven’t been out on the ranch sawing down big trees.”
Before she could answer, there was a light knock at the door and the door opened. Evelyn thrust her head into the room. “Ready for company yet?”
“Sorry, Mom,” Madison said. “I have to go. I should get back to the ranch so I can hear how the men did today.” She cast a glance at her father. “We’re finished here.”
Her mother studied her intently and gave her dad a penetrating stare. Madison wanted out before her mother realized the problem and they started discussing it all over.
She felt she had to get out or suffocate. She needed fresh air and to get away by herself for a while before she went back to the ranch to face Jake when he returned tonight. Jake had been right all along. She hurt all over for what her dad had done. She felt betrayed, hurt and filled with regret. She owed Jake an enormous apology.
Her folks followed her out to hug her before she left. When her dad hugged her, he brushed her cheek with a kiss. “You just remember always that I love you. That’s always my motivation.”
She nodded and turned away.
“Madison,” her dad said and she paused to turn back. “Be careful. I don’t think Jake can really care that much about his ancestors’ bones. He’s still a Calhoun and he’s got a reason to want revenge.”
“I’ll be careful,” she said stiffly. The chauffeur held the limo door for her and she climbed in. She didn’t look back as the limo drove away. She didn’t want to cry in the limo so she fought tears and emotions that rocked her.
She was still in shock, reeling and adjusting to seeing a side to her father that was tough and hard, a side she had never seen before.
Tonight she had to apologize to Jake. She thought of all his pent-up anger. He had never told her about her dad until now. What had her dad threatened to do to him that had scared Jake off? He didn’t scare easily and he especially wouldn’t as a nineteen-year-old. There had been something. Some kind of leverage. Her dad had been a powerful attorney back then with a lot of influence. At one time he had been with the district attorney’s office before she had even started school. They were wealthy, influential. Her mother was also from an old Texas family.
At the same time, Jake’s family could match them in power and wealth, and the Calhouns were an old Texas family with roots that went back to the 1800s.
It wouldn’t have mattered, though. Jake would never have had any help from his own family because some of the Calhouns still hated the Milans with a vengeance. Jake’s mother was one—she had never spoken to Madison or any other member of the Milan family that Madison knew about. His grandparents disliked Milans also, but she suspected the animosity worsened steadily with each previous generation. Lindsay Calhoun would not speak to any Milan and Tony’s fights with Lindsay as his neighboring rancher were notorious.
Madison wanted the truth, all of it. She felt dazed, shocked that her own father had been the one to destroy her plans to marry Jake.
If she had confronted her father back then, would he have admitted what he had done?
She would never have an answer to that question.
Frowning, she stared out the limo window, but she didn’t see the surroundings. She saw Jake’s angry dark eyes. His anger ran deep and now she could understand it.
They would all get in about dark and she had to be ready to face him.
* * *
The minute she entered the kitchen her eyes met Jessie Lou’s and Madison was swamped by the emotional upheaval of the day. She couldn’t control her feelings as tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Jessie Lou, Dad admitted everything Jake accused him of doing. All these years—” She couldn’t talk. And then Jessie Lou’s arms wrapped around her and she clung to Jessie Lou to cry.
“You finally know. I always thought Judge Milan might have been behind whatever happened. He’s very close to Charley and Charley keeps an eye on you for your dad. Charley has never liked Jake.”
Madison stepped back. “Charley? Yesterday someone cut a big cottonwood so it fell on the bridge and blocked the way. Jake and the men moved it, but it gave us a delay. Do you suppose my dad told Charley to try to interfere?”
Jessie Lou stared back with a slight frown. “I’d be careful around Charley.”
Madison cried, trying to get control of her emotions. Finally she wiped her eyes. “I was just so shocked that my dad would do something like that and not be open and honest about it.”
“You’re his daughter. He thought he was protecting you.”
“Instead, he hurt me badly and I feel terrible for the hateful way I’ve treated Jake all these years.”
“It’s over now, I’d say,” Jessie Lou said. “I have dinner all fixed and I think I will go along and leave you two to discuss the past with no interference. I won’t be here until after lunch tomorrow because I have a dental appointment in Lubbock in the morning, so you should have the privacy you need to talk this out.”
Madison wiped her eyes and tried to smile. “Thank you. I’m going to shower and get ready. Jake will be here by dark.”
Jessie Lou nodded and patted her shoulder. “You’ll both be better off now that you can clear the air between you.”
Madison nodded, but she wondered if they could ever get back even some of the friendship they once had. “I’ll get ready for Jake.”
* * *
Jake glanced at his watch as he walked toward the Milan ranch house. He was tempted to go on home, but staying here was easier and they could have slightly more time each day to hunt. The days were flying past and his options dwindled with each one. They hadn’t found anything. Madison would never give him another chance so he wanted to find the deed this week.
He was hot, dusty and disgusted that they didn’t know any more about a buried treasure than they had when they started. He wondered how it went with Madison and her dad. He hated Judge Milan and would be more than happy to take a big chunk of the judge’s ranch from him. And if he did find treasure and a deed and got the land, he was going to go tell the judge himself. How sweet that would be. Madison had no idea how harsh her father could be or what he had really done in the past. Would Judge Milan lie to his daughter now? If he did, could Jake ever convince her otherwise? Soon they’d part again and he didn’t expect to see her after they did.
Jake rang the bell at the locked back door.
In minutes the door opened and she stood in the shadowy interior. She stepped back. “Come in.”
He entered and paused. Her hair was down, hanging loosely over her shoulders and framing her face in a brown cascade that was longer than he had guessed. She had on makeup and a short-sleeved hot-pink cotton dress with a scoop neck that revealed her curves and took his breath away.
“You look gorgeous,” he said, his voice raspy, lust consuming him. For a few seconds he forgot where she had gone today or why or the harsh differences between them when he had last seen her in the morning.
“Come in. Would you like a beer before dinner?” she asked.
“Sure,” he thought he answered. He couldn’t be sure; all he could think about was how much he wanted her. He watched her walking ahead of him, saw that familiar little sway of her hips that had stirred him plenty of times and did again now.
She turned and gave him a look filled with curiosity. “Jake? Are you all right?”
“I can’t stop looking at you,” he admitted.
She smiled, but it was cool and brief and he had a feeling she didn’t really feel like smiling, but was merely being polite. He thought about her trip to Dallas and was curious because she didn’t give a hint of what had happened or what she felt.
He followed her and watched her get his beer and a tall glass of ice water for herself. He sipped and lowered the bottle.
“That’s really good,” he said, but he looked at her as he spoke and he was thinking about her, not his beer.
“Do you want to talk now or get cleaned up?”
It took a second for her words to register. He stared at her. She looked cool, clean, sexy. He wanted to touch her.
“I need to clean up first because I’m covered in dust. I’ll be back shortly. Don’t go away. Don’t change.”
This time she did smile. “I won’t do either one. See you soon.”
“You sure will,” he said, hurrying out of the room. Curiosity consumed him. He couldn’t read her reaction, but he was beginning to hope her father had confessed to the truth. Jake had never expected him to, but if Pete Milan had lied about what he had done, Jake didn’t think Madison would have let him in her house now.
Jake lengthened his stride. He wanted to find out what had happened and how she had reacted.
* * *
Madison watched him go, thankful she’d had an effect on him. She wanted to leave him dazzled. Time was when she could do so without much effort. That was no longer true. He seemed so angry sometimes when they had been together that she had wondered if he even liked her anymore.
She had talked to Jessie Lou about dinner and she had made appetizers and dessert. Jessie Lou had great-looking steaks ready to grill so Madison hoped he liked dinner.
It was another half hour before he reappeared and now she felt desire blaze as she looked at him. His hair was neatly combed, the ends still damp near the collar of his Western shirt. His jeans hugged his strong legs.
“Do you want another beer? I have some appetizers I made. We can take our drinks and appetizers to the family room or we can sit outside.”
“Beer and family room sounds good to me.”
He helped as she retrieved a plate of imported cheeses and fancy crackers. They carried them to the family room and set them on a table. Dreading the next hour, but knowing it was long overdue, she turned to face him, meeting his gaze.
* * *
As Jake sipped his beer, he noticed she appeared worried with a slight frown on her brow and her fingers locked together tightly in her lap. He had a swift rush of satisfaction.
“Your dad must have admitted what he did,” he said.
Standing, she faced him while her frown deepened. She shivered and stepped away as if she had to move around. In seconds her eyes met his. “Jake, I’m so sorry.”
Her eyes filled with tears, but he couldn’t feel sorry for her. He merely nodded. “Apology accepted, but you’re not the one who should be apologizing.”
“I didn’t know my dad was capable of what he did. I didn’t dream he would ever do such a thing as threaten you and I didn’t think he would do something that would hurt me so badly. I had no inkling that he was behind your disappearance. Not a clue. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Your dad must not have confessed everything. He told me to pack and go to college early, to get away and to stay away from you. He threatened me if I didn’t.”
“Threatened you with what?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“He would do everything he could to ruin my future. He would try to make life difficult for me if I lived around here. He listed several possibilities. Frankly, I didn’t think my family would have protected me.”
Shaking her head, Madison placed her hand over her eyes. He didn’t think it was an act. Madison had always been sincere with him. Tears filled her eyes and he could see her struggle for control.
“I don’t even know my own dad and that’s dreadful. And I know you’re right—you couldn’t turn to your family for help.”
“No, I couldn’t,” he said, standing and stepping closer to face her. She wrung her hands. He was certain she wasn’t even aware of what she was doing. “Some members of my family hate all Milans. They would have been as bad as your dad. I knew that at the time. We were on our own in too many ways and we got caught.”
“I feel terrible that I was angry with you.” The tears spilled over, running down her cheeks. “I always thought you walked out on me.”
“I was angry because I thought you would rather have all he offered instead of me. We had been so in love, Madison. But he was so emphatic that it was your wish and since it was, he was warning me to leave you alone and stay far away. If I didn’t, he would let my family know.”
She wiped away the tears but they wet her cheeks again quickly. “Sorry. I can’t control my emotions. I’m still shocked. I wouldn’t have ever believed my father capable of hurting me or being so cruel if I hadn’t clearly heard him admit it today. Jake, I’m just terribly sorry I’ve been mean to you. You didn’t cause it any more than I did. I wish you had called me and told me everything.”
“I couldn’t get through to you, remember?”
“My dad told me about that. He had the calls sent to the phone line in his toolshed on the ranch. I never knew you tried to call.”
“I can’t believe I was so gullible, either.” Jake shook his head. “But even if we had managed to elope, with your dad’s power and influence he would have found a way to separate us and have the marriage annulled.”
“You had a scholarship to play football in Mississippi. I thought if we had married, and I had gone with you, they wouldn’t have brought me back.” She looked at him, raising her chin.
They stared at each other and his gaze ran over her features again, sliding down to her low neckline and tempting curves. His gaze returned to her mouth. He didn’t know what his feelings were for her, but he knew he wanted her. He wanted to make love to her. She was no teenage girl anymore. She was a grown, intelligent woman who could make her decisions with far more judgment and clarity.
He set his beer on a table and closed the space between them. As he approached her, her eyes widened. Her lips parted as she took a deep breath.
“Jake?” she asked breathlessly.