Platinum Cowboy

He stepped back from the bed, his gaze meeting hers. “Do you quilt?”

She hesitated, reluctant to share anything personal with this man who she was supposed to hate. “Yes. My grandmother and mother were both quilters. They taught me when I was a little girl.” And her mother had left her a wedding-ring quilt for her hope chest, the last one she’d made before she died.

Not that Lora Leigh ever planned to marry. She didn’t trust men. Some were intimidated by her degree, some thought she was too much of a tomboy, while others implied she wasn’t sophisticated enough. She just never seemed to fit…

“Well, I guess we have something in common,” Flint said quietly. “Other than our love of horses.”

Emotions bounded up to her throat. She didn’t want to have anything in common with him. To like him at all.

In fact, she felt like a traitor for being on his land. And especially for thinking for even a moment that Flint McKade was handsome.

That he might not be the bad guy she’d pegged him to be.

No, he was bad. He’d said he was sorry about her father’s death, but he hadn’t apologized for driving him to suicide. Stealing her father’s land had been the last straw.

Flint might as well have put the rifle in her father’s hand.

All that blood on the wall…

She couldn’t erase the image from her head. Her father’s vacant eyes, pale skin, his body covered in blood…

“Well, it’s late,” Flint said quietly. “I’ll let you settle in, and I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll come by around six.”

She didn’t trust herself to speak, so she nodded and forced herself not to turn around and watch him leave. But when she heard the door click shut, the tears began to fall.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she walked to the window and looked out into the night. Somewhere in the distance, frogs croaked, a coyote howled and horses whinnied, reminding her of all she loved about ranch life. The land was rugged in places, dotted with rocky areas, boulders, sagebrush and wild animal life, yet crops survived, cattle thrived and breeding season was in full swing. The stars shimmered in the inky night sky like glittering diamonds, the smell of horses and hay and lush green grass welcoming her as if she were home.

But she wasn’t home. She’d lost her home because of Flint.

Angrily, she swiped at the tears and cursed herself for being weak and for admiring for even a second the ranch that Flint had built. She’d find out what had happened to Johnny, make sure he was alive and safe; then she’d get the hell off the Diamondback and start over someplace else.

But she’d have to watch herself, force herself to be nice and professional. Flint was so influential in the ranching and farming community; if he wasn’t pleased with her work, he could ruin her professional reputation in Texas. And she had no one to take care of her now, no one to turn to, no one to rely on but herself. She had to maintain her reputation and integrity, no matter what.

Of course, if worst came to worst, she could leave the state. Once she found Johnny, there would be nothing holding her here.

She turned to look at the northernmost part of the ranch, at the acreage that had held her home around which swirled the memories that had shaped her life. She had no idea what Flint intended to do with the paltry spread.

But that piece of land would always hold her heart.

And no one would ever touch her heart, especially not Flint McKade.

Chapter Three (#ulink_447ce93f-23c0-50cc-bfaf-2a4ce2f02a4f)

The first rays of sunlight streaked the bedroom with various shades of red and orange and gold, waking Lora Leigh from a troubled sleep. She brewed a pot of coffee, then sat in the porch swing to watch the sun slowly rising behind the willow trees, soaking in the quiet as she observed a mare and her foal roaming in the pasture nearby. Others ran across the open space, their manes whipping in the slight breeze. The brilliant colors streaking the horizon made the rolling, lush pastures of the Diamondback look elegant and peaceful, although peace evaded her.

She removed the letter her father had written before he died and unfolded the single piece of plain stationery, studying the scrawled writing. She’d always teased her father about his chicken scratch, but now the narrow print and jagged lines of his penmanship made her long for him even more.

She’d read the suicide note a dozen times, but once again, she reread his last words, needing them to fortify her for the day ahead.

My dearest Lora Leigh,

I write this to you today with a heavy heart, but I do not want yours to be heavy or for you to mourn me when I’m gone. I have had a wonderful sixty years. I loved your mother with all my heart, and you and Johnny completed my life in a way the ranch couldn’t even do.

The Double W was my dream. The smell of the earth, the feel of soil beneath my hands as I planted crops, the sound of cattle grazing and horses galloping across the land—these were precious to me and reminded me of how fleeting and beautiful life is. I only wish that I could have held on to it for you. But I don’t regret a moment of my life or the sacrifices we made as a family together.

That is what families do.

As I said, the Double W was my dream. I hope when I’m gone that you both find your own dreams and make them come true. Now it is time for me to join your mother. Don’t cry for me. Know that I am with the love of my life, and that we’ll both be watching over you.

I love you always,

Dad

Lora Leigh wiped at the tears trickling down her cheeks, finished her coffee, then headed to the cafeteria for breakfast, bracing herself to face Flint, take care of his prized animals, and pretend that she didn’t despise him for breaking her father’s heart.

FLINT READ THE NEWSPAPER over his morning coffee and his breakfast of steak and eggs in his home office. The front page spread about Prince Viktor Romanov’s death reminded him of his personal loss. Memories of Aggie tailgating, frat parties, and bonding over beer and chili flashed back.

Dammit, the news reports stated that the bodies of the royal family had been burned beyond recognition. The authorities were still sifting through the debris and bodies from the explosion that had destroyed the palace, trying to make sense of the mess and identify all those lost. But they were convinced that Viktor and his entire family were gone.

Flint scrubbed his hand over his face, his chest aching. But his personal loss was nothing compared to the loss of Viktor’s fellow countrymen.

The people of Rasnovia would suffer. In the wake of the political unrest, Viktor had been instrumental in guiding them from Soviet rule to a free and democratic society. The Aggie Four Foundation had invested in the country’s infrastructure and burgeoning local businesses, which had improved Rasnovia’s economy.

Now the country was in turmoil again, and all the assets would be tied up. And who would bolster Rasnovia’s fledgling democracy and protect the people from the rebels?

He finished his coffee, knotting his hand into a fist. He hoped to hell they found the party responsible for the royal family’s demise and punished the perpetrators for what they’d done.

Lucinda tottered in, with a smile and more coffee, but Flint shook his head as his cell phone rang. He checked the number—Norton International. Deke Norton, another Aggie grad, who was a few years older than Flint, Viktor, Jackson and Akeem, had built his empire with a focus on his import/export business and had also offered each member of the Aggie Four financial advice over the years, which had aided them immensely. He was also a good friend and was mourning Viktor’s death.

Flint connected the call. “Good morning, Deke.”

“Is it?” Deke asked, with an edge to his voice.

Flint pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, not really. I was trying to be optimistic.”

“What’s going on?” Deke asked. “First Viktor is killed. Then your business is attacked.”

Flint frowned. The two couldn’t be related. “I know. I still can’t believe Viktor is actually gone. I keep expecting him to call and say it was a horrible mistake.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Deke said bleakly. “But what about you? Were you hurt at the airport?”

“No, but two of my ranch hands and my pilot were killed.”

“The Arabians weren’t injured?”

“They’re fine and in quarantine now. I hired a new vet to oversee their medical care. Are you still interested in a purchase?”

“Absolutely. I’ll try to get out there soon to take a look. Remember, I get first pick.”