Shadows of the Falls (Twelve Oaks Farm Series Book 2) Read online

  Grant asked, “What’d you wish for?”

  “If I tell you, it won’t come true.”

  Beth smiled at Lacy. It was as if she were looking at their mother. The thick, blond hair, long lean legs, and perfect complexion. She was gorgeous. She kissed her on the cheek. “Happy birthday, sister.”

  “Thank you, Beth.”

  Maria announced, “Open your gifts.”

  Lacy picked the biggest box first. It was wrapped with yellow striped paper and had a big red bow on top. Card in hand she shifted her gaze to Grace after she read it. “You didn’t have to get me a gift.”

  “I’m part of the family. Of course I got you a gift.”

  “It’s too pretty to open.” She tore off the paper and pulled out a jean skirt and bright pink tee-shirt. She held the shirt to her chest. “I love it.”

  “If it doesn’t fit, I’ll take it back and get you the right size. You have small shoulders so I got small. Nina told me the size for the skirt.” Grace rolled her eyes. “I can remember when I was a size six.”

  “What are you now? An eight?”

  Grace laughed. “You are a sweet child.”

  Next she opened Maria and Juan’s gift. “It’s beautiful.” She held the baby blue dress to her shoulders. “I’ll wear it tomorrow night when some of my friends take me out to eat for my birthday.”

  In a firm voice, Grant ordered, “No drinking, young lady. You’re not twenty-one.”

  Lacy gave him a hard shove. “Please, Grant. I’ve never indulged and doubt I ever will. Not my style.”

  Grant had no reason to worry about Lacy. She was wise beyond her years. Even when she was a child, Beth never witnessed her being silly or giggly like other young girls.

  One gift was left on the table. Lacy opened the box and smiled as she read the card that was inside. She peered at Josh. “Thank you.” She took out the Minolta Maxxum 5000 35mm camera and a tear ran down her cheek. “You spent too much money, Josh.”

  “Nonsense, you can never spend too much money on family.” Josh grabbed a napkin off the table and handed it to Lacy. She dabbed at her eyes.

  “My mom had one almost like this one.” Lifting her chin, Lacy blinked away her tears and said, “Photography was her passion.”

  “The framed photos of you and your sisters displayed in the living room are wonderful. She had a great eye.” Beth remembered the day her mother snapped the photos. They had gone to the waterfall and used it as the backdrop. Nina was twelve, Beth was ten, and Lacy was six. Beth felt herself smiling at the memory. It was one of many perfect days she had spent with her mother.

  “Nina said before you left for college you loved to snap pictures of the horses and farm animals. I hope you find time to use it.”

  She hugged Josh’s neck and kissed his cheek. Head resting against his chest, she replied, “I promise to find the time.”

  Beth fished in her pocket and handed Lacy a small rectangular box. “It’s not much, but I promise next year I’ll spend more. I won’t get paid until next month so I didn’t have much money.”

  Lacy unwrapped the gift and let out a little scream. “Oh, my gosh. It’s so unusual.” She pushed the ring onto her finger and held it up to the light. She flipped from wide eyed wonder to something else in the blink of an eye. By her expression, Beth feared she didn’t like the ring. She had the strangest look on her face.

  “If it doesn’t fit, I’ll have it sized for you. I feared it would be too big since you have small fingers.” It was odd how Beth had been drawn to the ring. The moment she stepped into the consignment store she walked straight to the display case and saw the ring. It was if the ring had been calling to her. She didn’t even look at anything else in the shop. It usually took her a long time to pick out a gift for another person, especially when it was Lacy. She was difficult to buy for.

  As she brushed trembling fingers over the ring, Lacy replied, “It fits perfectly. It’s like it was designed for me,” but not with much enthusiasm.

  “Are you okay, Lacy? You’re pale as a sheet.” Beth placed her hand on Lacy’s shoulder. “Is something wrong with the ring?”

  “No, it’s perfect. I’ve never seen anything more spectacular.” She touched the ring as if she were afraid it would dissolve into thin air.

  “I found it at a consignment shop. I wondered why a person would part with such a beautiful piece of jewelry.” She ran her fingers over the ruby and small diamonds. “Could be they needed the money, angry with a lover…”

  “Or a crack whore needed money for crack.” Juan burst out laughing.

  Grant shoved him almost causing him to fall. “Gentlemen don’t say such things. Mind your manners.”

  “Let me see.” Nina took her hand and turned it watching the light catch the ruby. “It’s a rare and unusual find. It looks expensive to me, like a treasured family heirloom.”

  Maria looked over Nina’s shoulder. “People don’t treasure anything anymore. It looks very old. I bet it’s an antique.”

  While Nina cut the sour cream pound cake with cream cheese frosting into slices, Lacy snapped pictures with her new camera. Nina placed slices of cake on saucers and passed them around to the circle of people at the table. The recipe had been her mother’s. Beth took a bite and moaned. “Just like mom’s.”

  “Thank you for baking it for me, Nina.” Lacy took a bite, licked her fork, then her lips. “Beth’s right. It tastes just like mom’s.”

  Nina dropped her fork and looked at Grant. “I can’t wait any longer. Can we give Lacy her gift?”

  “I was beginning to wonder if you two forgot to get me something. You should still be in Hawaii.”

  “We were going to give it to you when we got home. Now it’s even more special because we can give it to you on the day of your birthday.” Grant kissed her on the cheek.

  “Juan, would you like to bring it around?”

  “You bet!” He almost knocked his chair over he was so wound up. He stormed out the back door.

  Nina took Lacy’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “We need to go outside. It’s too big to wrap.”

  Excitement flashed across Lacy’s face. “Is it a horse, a dog?”

  “Not in a million years will you guess.” Nina took her by the shoulders and turned her around so she couldn’t see out the window. “Close your eyes.” Lacy didn’t even argue. She closed her eyes and let Nina lead her out the door and into the yard. Everyone filed out of the house and stood behind them. Beth thought it was so sweet when Nina reached her hand out for Grant. He moved to Lacy’s other side and took her hand. “You can open them now.”

  Shock and surprise had Lacy standing there with her mouth wide open. Josh had brought Lacy’s camera outside and was snapping pictures. He stepped in front of Lacy and took her picture.

  Juan crawled out from behind the wheel and handed Lacy the keys to her brand new silver Jeep Grand Cherokee. Tears welled up in her eyes. “I can’t believe you bought me a Jeep for my birthday. It’s too much.”

  “That little rattle trap you’ve been driving is not safe. Nina and I feel better knowing you have a more dependable vehicle to drive.”

  Nina wrapped her arms around Lacy and began to cry. “Now maybe you’ll come home more often.”

  “I’ll pay you back when I graduate and get a job.”

  Grant gave her a dazzling smile. “You don’t pay for gifts, Lacy. The Jeep is a gift.”

  “Stop standing there boo-whoing. Let’s go for a ride.” Juan ran around to the passenger side of the Jeep. “Shotgun.” He stopped and posed while Josh snapped his picture by the Jeep.

  Nina stepped to the driver’s side and opened the door. “What are you waiting for? Come try out your new vehicle.” Tears streamed down Lacy’s beautiful cheeks as she sat in the driver’s seat and started the car.

  As the camera flashed, she tried to dry her tears but she couldn’t control them. “My face is going to be all splotched in the pictures.” She motioned for Grant and Nina. “You
guys come with us.” They climbed into the back seat. Josh kept taking pictures as they drove away.

  Beth considered herself the tough one in the family, but even she couldn’t hold back the tears as she watched Lacy drive down the drive. Life sure had changed since Grant married Nina. The farm was close to bankruptcy before he came into their lives. Nina was able to finish vet school and he saved the farm.

  Josh tucked his arm into hers. “Doesn’t that warm your heart? My brother considers all of you his family. I’m glad he didn’t re-enlist in the Marines.”

  She dabbed at her tears. “I love the man. I’ve never seen my sister happier. They’re perfect for each other.”

  “I’m going to load the dishwasher. I guess we’ll eat cake when they return.”

  “I’ll help you, Maria.” Grace and Maria disappeared into the house.

  “It’ll probably be hours before they return. I guess we need to feed the animals.”

  Beth could see two of the horses and several Boer goats still standing at the fence. Midnight whinnied and she giggled. “Yes, they are telling us it is past their feeding time.” Together they made their way to the barn and began filling feed troughs. Greedy sounds of eating filled the evening as the animals chomped their food. Josh picked up a bag of feed and she admired the way his muscles flexed under the heavy weight. That was until she saw pain flash across his face proving his bruised ribs still bothered him.

  “Here let me do that.” She tried to take the bag from him.

  “I’ve got it.” He dumped about half the bag into the sheep’s trough. They looked like big white balls of wool as they pushed and shoved to get to the trough. It was time to sheer them and Beth was glad she wouldn’t have to assist in the chore. Grant and Juan would handle the backbreaking work. Last spring she had received horrible blisters on her hands from the electric sheers when she and Juan helped Nina do the sheering.

  On the other side of the pasture, Beth heard Jack, a little gray donkey let out a long bray as he trotted toward the barn swinging his tail. He didn’t stop until he was at his trough. Each animal knew their place at feeding time.

  Grant had a new automatic watering system installed which had cut the time of tending the animals. In the past Nina and Juan had to fill ten gallon galvanized tubs which was time consuming not to mention strenuous. Several new time-saving additions had been added to the farm since he and Nina had married.

  Before Beth had time to scoop sweet feed into each horse’s trough, the other three ambled into their stalls. Sugar, the calmest and smallest horse, only stood fourteen hands high. She was almost as wide as she was tall because she was pregnant. Pepper, a seventeen hand gelding Dun horse with a black stripe running along his backbone between his mane and tail quivered with excitement. And last Breeze, a sorrel heavy with foal, began to munch loudly.

  It was a peaceful scene as she watched her favorite, Midnight, eat. Hay motes floated in the dying light as evening slowly passed into night. She stroked his black neck causing his ears to tilt in pleasure. He had been her father’s horse. In her imagination she could still see her father riding him across the pasture. Shoulders straight, elbows at his side, he was an expert with a horse. She and her sisters had shared in that love for horses. Many hours had been spent trail riding through the forests of Twelve Oaks.

  “Nina said you visited Thomas Capel today.”

  Josh rubbed their Boer goat, King’s thick black and white neck. In all they had sixteen Boer goats. More interested in eating, he completely ignored the attention. “Yes, he was moved from the Intensive Care Unit yesterday.”

  “Is he going to be okay?”

  “The doctor said he’d make a full recovery. Jeffrey Hartman is a hair better and might get out of ICU tomorrow. It will be a long road to recovery. It was a miracle he survived the barrage of bullets fired into his vehicle.” Josh shook his head.

  Beth stuffed her hands in her pockets. She shouldn’t have asked about the agents. Without a doubt it brought back the horrific day of the attack. His haunted expression had her feeling sympathy for him. In a gravelly voice, he added, “I just knew he was dead. Imagine my surprise when you told me he had survived.”

  “He was barely alive when he arrived at the hospital. The EMTs saved his life.” Beth moved to Thunder’s stall, a brown and white paint, and gave him a little attention. He was calmer, not as high strung as Midnight. But it was Midnight that brought in the most money in stud fees. People preferred his spirit when picking a mate for their mares. “He is beautiful.”

  “I don’t think I’ve seen anything more beautiful.” Velvety brown eyes pierced straight through her. He had a way of looking at a woman that made her feel special. Well shaped, sensual lips turned up in a provocative smile. His masculinity was overwhelming causing her heart to flutter wildly.

  When the last animal had been fed, Josh took her hand and opened the door leading to the living area of the barn. He pulled her inside. Before she had time to protest, he pushed her against the wall and devoured her mouth. A small moan escaped. He raised his head. His eyes swept over her body and there was no disguising the desire that smoldered in them. Neither had bothered to turn on a light so shadows and sounds penetrated the huge room. His hands moved to her breasts and she could feel their warmth through the thin fabric of her shirt. He linked his fingers with hers and tugged her into the bedroom. Before she could catch her breath, she was flat on her back and Josh was on top of her.

  Palms flat on his chest she tried to push him away. Her voice was breathless. “I can’t do this, Josh. Something tells me I will live to regret having sex with you.” She struggled to get up.

  He closed his fingers around her upper arms and held her in place. “It would be the cruelest thing you have ever done if you make me stop. I want you more than I have ever wanted another woman. Please don’t deny me.”

  She shivered as his hands glided over her arms. The window blind was open and the dying light of the evening allowed a small amount of light into the room. She could see the storm in his eyes. She brushed the hair from his forehead revealing the scar where his head had hit the window. “You are asking for something I’m afraid to give.” What she really feared was falling in love with him. While he had his flaws, there was something about him that she was drawn to.

  “I can’t stop thinking about you. I’m not making any promises. All I know is I want you and will not be satisfied until I have you.” He wrapped an auburn curl around his finger. “You are spectacular.” His voice dripped with sexual overtones.

  “Those are pretty words, Josh. How many other women have you said the same thing to? Will I be just another notch on your bedpost?”

  “You’re different, Beth. I’d like to make love to you and see where it leads.” She felt the heat when his lips glided over hers. The kiss deepened and he kissed her like she’d never been kissed before. She wanted to resist but her body betrayed her. Tiny warnings went off in her head but were ignored. As she gave in to the need, she knew it wasn’t her first mistake with a man and it probably wouldn’t be her last. He consumed her senses and controlled every one of them.

  In seconds he stood naked except for the bandage around his chest. “Maybe we shouldn’t. You could hurt your ribs. Aren’t you still in pain?”

  A mischievous smile on his lips he answered, “The pleasure will out-weigh the pain.”

  His penis was large and erect. She took a long lingering look at him. She had admired him in a bathing suit many times since swimming in the pool behind the house was one of the family’s favorite past times. He had an awesome body. Muscles bulged as he began to undress her. He unbuttoned her shirt and pushed it open. His mouth closed over her puckered nipple and he bit it through her bra. Heat coursed through her. She was powerless to stop him. He removed the rest of her clothes with skillful fingers. Jealousy washed through her as she wondered how many other women he had seduced. But then she wasn’t being fair because he definitely wasn’t her first.

 
“You are so beautiful, Beth.” He cupped a breast in each hand and watched her eyes as he rolled them in his hand. “I have wanted to have you under me from the first time I saw you. I can’t believe it’s really happening.” His lips closed over a hard nipple and he sucked it into his mouth. She arched her back in pure pleasure.

  “That feels wonderful, Josh.”

  His mouth was on her neck causing shivers to spread through her body. He slipped his leg between hers pulling her flush with his body. She felt a pulse throbbing between her legs. Her fingers gripped his arms, holding tight to his bulging muscles. The sheer pleasure derived from his hand sliding across her thigh had her moaning. When his finger slipped inside, he shot her over the edge. She convulsed against his hand screaming his name out loud. Her orgasm shattered around his hand. After several thrusts of her hips she went limp under him.

  “That was quick.”

  She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of telling him it was her first orgasm. “It’s been a while.” She moaned in satisfaction and purred, “I’m through. We can go back to the house now.”

  Josh smacked her bottom. “I don’t think so. I’m just getting started.”

  A shiver ran through him when she raked her fingers over his shaft. “Nice appendage you have there. Let’s see what you can do with it. Ravish me.” She gripped him tighter. A deep growl rumbled in his chest.

  She tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him to her lips. His tongue swirled inside her mouth until she was dizzy with her need of him. His hands moved to her stiff nipples. He knew how to touch and entice a response from her. He slid a hand down her spine to caress her backside. He lifted his head and wild eyes looked into hers. “I knew it would be special with you, Beth.” He lowered his head to her breast and sucked it into his mouth. She cooed loudly and pulled his head tighter to her breast.

  She wanted to feel him inside her. She spread her legs and wrapped them around his waist. He slid into her wetness. Thrilled by every burst of pleasure, she held him in place. “Don’t move.” Just having him inside her was wonderful.