Caitlyn’s Prize Read online

  “Yes, you do. I’ve told you many times. When your father came into that diner where I was working, I was a bit nervous. But the moment he showed he was still interested, I worked it to my advantage. I learned from him. I’d have done anything to be back with my son. And I did.”

  Judd raked his fingers through his hair. He didn’t want to hear this story, and didn’t understand why he was still listening.

  “The marriage worked out well, though. Jack had mellowed and we formed a stronger relationship. That’s the funny thing about love. Once it’s given it’s almost impossible to destroy.”

  Judd didn’t have anything to say, and a response didn’t seem to be required.

  “You’re the casualty of our dysfunctional lives. Jack filled your head with his misguided, outdated views of women, and sadly, nothing I said or tried to do changed your thinking. But deep down I know you’re a caring, compassionate man who can love deeply.”

  He had his doubts about that. He flung a hand toward the door. “Go plan your party, and stop spending so damn much money.”

  His mother lifted her chin. “I’ll spend however much I please. Since you’ve irritated Caitlyn, the Belles probably won’t come. It’s not going to be much of a party without them.”

  “Good. Then we can forget this whole crazy idea.”

  “Not on your life. I bought this beautiful gold gown and I’m wearing it.” She cocked her head. “I see myself as a fairy godmother.”

  “I see you as insane.”

  “Tut-tut.” She shook a finger at him. “Don’t talk like that to your mother.”

  He sighed. “You try my patience, you know that?”

  “Yes, my dear son.” She turned toward the door, then swung back. “I do love you, Judd, and Caitlyn did, too. One day you’re going to realize that, and I hope it’s not too late.”

  He plopped back into his chair as her words hit him right between the eyes. Love? Why did women brandish that word like a weapon? They wanted everything wrapped in a neat package with married and happily ever after written on it. But it never turned out that way. There always seemed to be more pain than happiness. A cynical outlook, perhaps, but he was a cynical, unfeeling man. That’s the way Caitlyn thought of him.

  Time and again he’d proved he could feel deeply—sexually. But she wanted the package with the vows of undying love.

  He shifted restlessly. Their encounter at the windmill epitomized their relationship. They both felt a powerful attraction. Why wasn’t that enough for her? It was for him.

  Damn. He flexed his shoulders. He was so tired of thinking of her. When he’d heard of the sale, he’d had no intention of buying her horse. He had all the horses he needed, but against every sane thought in his head, he’d found his way there.

  Another way to stick it to me.

  Maybe. He wasn’t quite sure why he’d done it. All he knew was that he could and he had. Maybe it was a way to regain some of the ground she’d stolen at the windmill. Even he had to admit that little by little she was making inroads into his control. Into his resolve.

  She made him weak when he wanted to be strong. She made him caring when he wanted to be tough. She made him feel pain when he wanted to be oblivious.

  But he was never oblivious to her.

  He could still see the hurt in her eyes when he’d bought Whiskey Red. That’s what he wanted, wasn’t it? Where was his feeling of victory?

  “Judd.”

  He turned around and tried not to groan at Brenda Sue’s interruption.

  “My goodness, it’s hard not to trip over maids, florists and whoever these people are. Your mother didn’t ask for my opinion. She can be rather snotty sometimes. I don’t think she likes me, but gosh, she knows how to throw a party. Crystal, flowers and a band—the whole nine yards. No plastic at this shindig. Everything is oh, so nice, and you should see the flower arrangement in the foyer. I could live a week on what that cost. But I’ve never—”

  “Brenda Sue.” Judd had to shout to get her attention. “Is there a reason you’re in my study—again?”

  She blinked like a raccoon with a light shining in its face. “Oh—oh, yes. Harland sent me to tell you that the new horse…” She wrinkled her nose. “Isn’t that Caitlyn’s horse? Sure looks like it. Anyway, Harland said the horse is not settling down, and he wants to know if you want him to give her something to calm her. Like, wow, I didn’t even know you could do that. How…”

  Judd grabbed his hat and hit the door, leaving Brenda Sue in midsentence. It would probably be five minutes before she realized he wasn’t there.

  He ran out the back and headed for the stables. No one was touching that horse. No one was touching Whiskey Red but him.

  CAITLYN COULDN’T SLEEP. She kept wondering how Red was adjusting to the stables at Southern Cross. She was a thoroughbred and temperamental, but Cait was sure Judd had professional people to deal with her. That didn’t make her feel better, though.

  She’d received the payment early enough to go into Giddings and deposit the money. When Maddie and Sky left on Sunday, she’d write them each a check for their part. Her share would go back into the ranch.

  It was a solution for now.

  She was up the next morning before everyone. She grabbed some cereal bars and bottled water and headed for the bunkhouse. Today would be a full day of baling hay.

  Rufus ran the tractor with the baler. It would break every now and then, but she knew the two ranch hands could fix it. Cooper worked the hay carrier that loaded each bale and carted it to a fence line, where it would be stacked until it was sold or fed to the cattle.

  Cooper and Rufus had a system, so Caitlyn soon left to check the herds.

  The windmill was working fine, the trough full of water. She stared at the mud puddle and briefly thought of yesterday.

  And Judd.

  He’d seemed to want to help, but then he…She shut out the memory and went on to the next pasture.

  This one had a stock tank and it was already getting low. A good rain would help tremendously. The summers were always hell. But then the winters weren’t a picnic, either.

  Ranching was tough on a good day, and she wondered why she was killing herself to preserve something no one cared about but her. She knew, though. For Gran. For her heritage. Gran was the only mother Cait had ever known, and she would do everything to keep her on High Five.

  The royalty sale ensured that Dorie could stay at the ranch until her death. But what would that be like for her? Dorie’s childhood home would no longer be High Five, but part of the Southern Cross. Once Gran knew that, she wouldn’t stay in the house. Cait knew her grandmother’s pride wouldn’t let her.

  Somehow Caitlyn had to make the ranch work.

  By the time Cait reached home that evening, she was exhausted. She wanted a bath, some food and…

  She paused in the kitchen doorway. Etta, Maddie and Sky stood there, looking anxious.

  Cait whipped off her hat. “What’s wrong? Is it Gran?”

  “Where have you been? It’s six o’clock.” Sky didn’t bother to hide her temper.

  “Where do you think I’ve been? I’m working this ranch.”

  “Calm down.” Maddie was quick to intervene.

  “You girls better get a move on,” Etta said. “Miss Dorie doesn’t like to be late.”

  “Late? For what?”

  “Have you forgotten what today is?” Sky asked, rather tartly. At Cait’s blank look, she added, “The ball.”

  Caitlyn frowned. “I’m not going to that. I refuse to. No way in hell can anyone make me.”

  “Go upstairs and tell your grandmother.” Etta removed her apron. “I’m heading home. Food’s in the refrigerator.”

  As the housekeeper went out the screen door, Maddie and Sky grabbed Cait by her arms and pulled her toward the staircase.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to make this short and sweet,” Sky said as they climbed the stairs. “Renee called this morn
ing to make sure we were coming, and Gran’s been in a tizzy all day getting ready.”

  “What?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Maddie opened the door. “Wait till you see.”

  Cait stood aghast at the chaos in Gran’s room. Gowns were everywhere, strewn over chairs, the lounger and the bed. The same with shoes.

  The elderly woman came from the bathroom in a long slip, patting her hair, which was in an elegant knot at her nape. “Oh, Caitlyn, baby,” she said when she saw her. “Go take a bath. We don’t have much time. Your dress is all ready.”

  “Welcome to bizarro world,” Sky whispered.

  “Wait till you see the dress.” Maddie nudged her.

  “I can’t believe you couldn’t dissuade her from this,” Cait muttered with a touch of anger. “We’re not going.”

  Sky lifted an eyebrow. “Tell Gran that, Miss Can-Do-Everything.”

  Cait shot her a thousand-watt glare and walked to Dorie, who was inspecting a silver, satiny creation.

  “Gran.” She spoke softly.

  Her grandmother blinked at her. “Caitlyn, go take a bath. How many times do I have to tell you?”

  She caught her hands. “Gran, listen to me. We’re not going to any party at the Southern Cross.”

  “Oh, my baby.” Gran cupped Cait’s face in frail fingers, but Cait only felt their power. “I know you don’t want to see Judd, but my precious, you made the choice long ago. And I know my baby has the strength to hold her head up and be a lady. To be a Belle. With Southern manners.”

  All her nos deflated into a big oh. She could hold her head up and face anybody, but she didn’t want to go to the Calhouns’ ranch. How could she get through to Gran?

  “Gran, I’m tired. I’ve been working all day and I don’t have a thing to wear.”

  Behind her, Sky snickered. That was not the right thing to say in a room full of gowns.

  “I don’t know why you fool around on the ranch. Your father encouraged that and I never liked it. Leave the ranch to Dane. He runs it effortlessly.”

  Oh, God. Not today. Cait didn’t want to say those words today.

  Maddie put an arm around their grandmother’s shoulders. “Gran, Dad is dead. He can’t run the ranch.”

  “I know that.” Dorie turned and picked up a gown from the bed. “Here’s your dress, Caitlyn. I’ve already chosen it for you.”

  Cait stared at the garment. Staring was all she could do. It was red, strapless and tight fitting, with a slit up one leg.

  “Daring little number, isn’t it?” Sky said, tongue in cheek.

  “Now, my babies, I’m going to finish my makeup, and you get dressed. Hurry.”

  The three of them stared at her as she closed the bathroom door.

  “You handled that very well,” Sky said, holding up the red dress with a lifted brow.

  “I’m not going and I’m not wearing that. I’ll look like a hooker.”

  Maddie reached for a white gown trimmed in pink, with capped sleeves and a full skirt. “Does this say Barbie? Virginal?”

  Cait choked back a laugh even though there was nothing funny about this situation.

  “Wait for this.” Sky leaned over and plucked a black gown from the mix on the bed. “Does this say matronly?” It was a very simple sleeveless, long black dress with a V neckline. “Gran says I can wear a strand of her pearls. Oh, yeah, I’m going to party hearty.”

  Cait sank onto the bed, not caring about the gowns. “I don’t know what to do.”

  Sky sat beside her, frowning at the black number. “We can just refuse to go. We’re grown women and Gran can’t force us.”

  “Yeah.” Cait looked into Sky’s eyes. “But are you willing to hurt her like that?”

  “I’m not,” Maddie said, plopping down beside them. “I’ll wear this nightmare and smile, as long as it makes her happy.”

  “I think that’s our bottom line,” Cait murmured.

  She hadn’t thought about the ball all day, never had any intention of stepping foot onto Southern Cross property. But she had to give Renee credit. The conniving witch had found a way to get the Belles to the ball.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CAIT WANTED TO LINGER in the bath, but she didn’t have time. Damn party! Whoever heard of having a ball in Texas? She griped to herself the whole time she was dressing.

  She lathered herself in scented lotion called Moonlight Madness. She was feeling a little mad tonight. The red dress lay on the bed. Strapless. It had been ages since she’d worn anything like that. Probably since college.

  She dug in her dresser drawers until she found what she wanted—a strapless, push-up bra. A little old, but it still worked. She shimmied into it just as Maddie and Sky walked in dressed in their gowns, their faces somber.

  “Hey, you don’t look all that bad,” she said. “Actually, you look damn good.” She cast a not-so-nice glance at the red number. “I don’t know how I’m going to hold up my dress.”

  “By those babes poking out of your chest there,” Sky told her.

  “Very funny.” She grabbed the dress. “It’s too revealing. It’s not me.”

  “And you think this black nightmare is me?”

  Cait looked her up and down. “Yeah. It’s sassy and tempting, just revealing enough.”

  “Compliments won’t work.” Sky shoved the red dress into her hands. “Put it on.”

  Cait made a face and stared at the crimson fabric before wiggling into it. She held her breath and Maddie zipped her up. After shifting her breasts into the right position, she glanced in the mirror.

  OhmyGod!

  “Wow,” Maddie said. “You look…”

  “Like a hooker.”

  “No, sexy and wild, with your black hair hanging down your back like that.”

  “We need to do something with your mop.” Sky grabbed a brush and wielded it through her locks.

  “Ouch,” she cried, and yanked the brush away. “I can fix my own damn hairdo, thank you.” Then she smiled. “Remember all the times we did each other’s hair?”

  “Yeah,” Maddie replied wistfully.

  “Come on, you two,” Sky urged. “We don’t have time to go down memory lane. We’re running late.”

  “Put your hair up,” Maddie suggested. “It will look better that way.”

  Since Cait wore it in a braid most of the time, it was wavy and easy to loop into a knot of curls on top of her head. Several strands hung loose around her face. Good enough.

  She put diamond studs, a gift from her father, into her ears and stood. The dress covered her feet. “Oh, crap. This skirt is too long.”

  “No problem.” Maddie handed her four-inch-high red heels.

  Slipping them on, Cait asked, “Where does Gran get all this stuff?”

  “From the trunks in the attic.” Maddie held up her skirt to glance at her own shoes. “Mine are outdated, and so are yours, but who’s going to notice?”

  Thirty minutes later, they drove the Lincoln up the driveway at Southern Cross, Caitlyn at the wheel. The place was ablaze like Christmas at Graceland. Decorative lights lined the front of the house, but Cait didn’t feel festive. She was more in the mood for a funeral.

  A young man in black slacks and a white shirt came to her door with a big grin. Good grief, Renee had guys parking cars, probably in a cow pasture. Oh, yeah, this was Texas.

  “Help Maddie with Gran,” Cait said to Sky. “I’ll have my hands full holding up this dress.”

  “Will you give it a rest?” Sky slipped a small beaded bag over her wrist. “You have plenty to hold it up. It’s not like the summer we stuffed you with tissue.”

  Cait smiled as she slid out of the car, remembering her sixteenth birthday party. Breastwise, she’d grown since then, but at times she still felt like that young girl trying to prove she was a woman. To herself. Her father. Everyone.

  She caught the boy staring at her skirt. The slit was cut up to way-past-decent and showed a lot of leg. Caitlyn handed him the keys. He kept sta
ring. She wiggled them in front of his face. With a bashful grin, he grabbed them.

  The little encounter gave her a burst of confidence. She could do this. If Judd could stick it to her, then she could stick it to him, even if she looked like something out of a 1950s movie. A sexy 1950s movie—with a streetwalker as a heroine.

  They made their way up the walk, Maddie and Sky flanking Gran. Cait trailed behind with a sense of trepidation and excitement.

  Renee was at the door, greeting guests, as they arrived. She looked years younger in a gold gossamer creation with a boat neck and sheer sleeves. The diamond pendant sparkling around her neck could support a family for a year.

  The foyer showcased a huge flower arrangement, the fragrance of which wafted around them. For some reason it made Cait think of a night in the Garden of Eden. She knew the serpent was not far away.

  But Judd was not standing with his mother.

  “Oh, Dorie.” Renee gave her grandmother an air hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.” Her gaze swung to the sisters. “And your granddaughters are lovely.”

  “Thank you. I’m very proud of them.”

  Renee’s eyes settled on Caitlyn. “Oh, my dear. I wish I was young enough to wear red.”

  Did that require a response? Cait didn’t think so.

  “There’s plenty of food and drink. Enjoy yourselves.”

  They trailed into the party room, speaking to neighbors as they went. A band played softly in the background. A buffet was set up at one end of the room, and guests milled around it. Tables bedecked with white linens and centerpieces of azalea sprigs and tea-light candles floating in crystal bowls were placed around the room. The double French doors were flung open, with more tables outside.

  A déjà vu feeling came over Caitlyn. This was almost identical to their engagement party fourteen years ago. She’d been young and so much in love. She’d thought she’d found her prince. She’d thought he loved her.

  But he’d only desired her.

  Just as she was sinking into despair, Sky grabbed her arm. “We found a table. Let’s get some food. Remember at your engagement party they had all those delicious appetizers? I hope they have some tonight.”