what they were signing up for and that they had a true desire to help and bond with the frequently troubled girls.
She quickly spotted Jake Dalton, standing in a corner by himself. It was only the second time she’d seen him in person, the first being at the Dry Gulch just after R.J. had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.
The occasion had been less than joyous—the reading of R.J.’s will while he was still alive. Jake had been resentful then, and unlike his half siblings, he apparently still nurtured his grudge.
He had the same ruggedly handsome features as his four younger half-brothers. Tall. Tanned. Broad shouldered. Chiseled jaw. Lean and hard bodied. Blatantly masculine in his ranch-cut sports jacket and shirt that was open at the neck. A bit of gray salted the thick, dark hair around his temples.
About her age, she’d guess, though he might be younger than her fifty-five years. The only obvious negative to his looks was a mouth that looked as if it might have forgotten how to smile. Probably a reflection of having to deal with her this morning.
Only he didn’t have to. He could have said no. She knew for a fact he was good at that.
Aidan welcomed the group and talked for only a few minutes before introducing Carolina. Jake Dalton stared at her, looking as shocked as if someone had thrown a glass of ice water in his handsome face.
So he hadn’t known he’d be dealing with her and hadn’t recognized her before now. That explained a lot. She could start looking forward to five days from hell.
After the introductions, Aidan and Jake excused themselves and left the room, and the rest of the meeting went off without a hitch. The women all seemed capable and excited about the project.
They broke at noon. Carolina, Mildred, Peg Starling and Sara Billings, the four who planned to tour the facilities at the Silver Spur Ranch that afternoon, lingered in the conference room.
“How is it you failed to mention our host was a hunk?” Sara asked.
“And no little gold band on the gorgeous rancher’s finger,” Peg commented. “Guess that means he’s available?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Carolina said. “Any ideas for lunch that won’t eat up too much of our afternoon?”
“There’s a French bakery nearby that makes great coffee and sandwiches and the best almond tart I’ve ever tasted,” Sara suggested. “It will be crowded, but service is fast.”
“Works for me,” Mildred said.
“And for me,” Peg added.
“Then the bakery it is,” Carolina agreed, ready to get moving before the conversation switched back to Jake’s looks or relationship status.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll get you and Mildred to follow us to our ranch after lunch,” Sara said. “It’s on the way and we can change into jeans, drop my car off at home and catch a ride with you out to the Silver Spur.”
“Can do. Mildred and I brought more appropriate clothes for the ranch, as well. We can change at your place.”
“I would have packed much sexier jeans if I’d known Jake Dalton was so good-looking,” Peg said.
“You’ll be sexy no matter what you wear,” Mildred assured the shapely blonde.
Carolina picked up her purse and slung the strap over her shoulder as the door opened and both Aidan and Jake stepped back into the room. She wasn’t surprised to see Aidan, but she’d assumed Jake was long gone, possibly trying to figure out an excuse to get out of his commitment to the project.
“I hope everything went well,” Aidan said.
“Couldn’t have gone better,” Carolina assured him.
“Carolina’s enthusiasm gets everyone fired up,” Sara added.
“I’d love to take you women to lunch,” Aidan said, “but I have another meeting at one.”
“What about you, Mr. Dalton?” Peg asked flirtatiously.
“I have some errands to take care of in town before I head out,” Jake said, keeping his tone businesslike. “I’ll give you directions to the ranch. When you get there, my housekeeper, Edna, will hook you up with one of the wranglers. He’ll show you around and answer any questions you have.”
“That will work out fine,” Carolina assured him, keeping her tone as cool and aloof as his had been.
Directions were simple, and she was relieved when they were finally on their way. Jake was no doubt as eager to be rid of her as she was of him. He was turning them over to a wrangler for today’s tour. She suspected that would be his modus operandi for the remainder of the training session.
With luck, she might not even have to see him again.
“I know you think Jake Dalton is a heartless cad,” Mildred said as she walked to the car with Carolina.
“Yes, I do.”
“You can’t blame him too much for not bonding with a father he never really knew. Didn’t all of R.J.’s sons feel that way at one point?”
“Yes,” she admitted reluctantly, “but that doesn’t excuse Jake’s behavior. He’s the oldest. He should feel some level of responsibility.”
“If anyone can change his mind, you will,” Mildred said.
“With luck, I won’t even have to speak to him.”
They were several yards away from her vehicle when Carolina spotted a man leaning against the front fender of her car. He was in ripped jeans and a black muscle shirt, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. A snake tattoo covered much of his right arm. A pair of aviator sunglasses hid his eyes, but his mouth was twisted into a menacing frown. An uneasy chill crept up her spine.
She glanced around. The parking lot was crowded with cars and pickup trucks, but the closest people she spotted were two men in suits, several rows down, walking in the opposite direction.
When the thuggish-looking man noticed her staring at him, he smiled and nodded as if in greeting.
Mildred grabbed Carolina’s wrist and pulled her to a stop. “What are you doing here?” Mildred demanded.
The man flicked his cigarette to the concrete and ground it out with the toe of his right boot. “Waiting on you.”
The taunting voice struck a chord and finally Carolina recognized Thad. He’d changed during his four years behind bars. Gained weight. Added a lot of muscle.
Mildred dropped Carolina’s wrist and hugged her arms about her own chest, as if protecting herself from Thad’s presence. “We no longer have anything to discuss.”
“That doesn’t sound like much of a welcome for a husband you haven’t seen in four years.”
“You are no longer her husband,” Carolina corrected.
“Stay out of this, Carolina. This is between me and Mildred,” Thad snapped.
“Please, Thad. Just go,” Mildred pleaded. “I don’t want trouble.”
“I’m not going anywhere until we talk.”
“What part of her not wanting to see you do you not understand? Either you go willingly or I call the cops,” Carolina ordered.
“I’m not breaking any laws. This is a public parking lot. So you call anybody you want to.”
He left the car and stepped closer, his gaze firmly planted on Mildred, his tone switching from arrogant to loving without missing a beat. “I know I made mistakes, sweetheart, but you can’t imagine how much I’ve missed you. We can start over now. I promise you that things will be different.”
Carolina’s stomach turned at his meaningless promises. Too little, too late. “Last