Right Here Waiting Read online

  ”There’s not much to talk about. Blade and I got in an argument, nothing more.” It was much more than that, but she didn't want to go into all the details with anybody.

  Martha shook her head in disbelief. “Don’t try to pull one over on me, Megan Marie Nelson. I may be old, but I wasn’t born yesterday. I know there’s more to it than you’re telling me. As usual, Martha was right.

  She opened the cabin door without knocking and set her suitcase down. Josh was sitting at a desk he brought with him and put together himself. He was typing something on the computer, but he looked up at her without stopping. She was still standing in the doorway with the door open. “Are you going to come in or just stand there at let all the flies in?” By the grin on his face, she could tell Josh was only joking with her.

  She picked up her suitcase again and finally managed to get her legs to cooperate to carry her in the rest of the way. She shut the door behind her, sat her suitcase down and collapsed on the sofa, drawing her legs up with her. She slipped off her sandals, letting them fall to the floor and land wherever they may. She let out a long, drawn out sigh.

  “Is there something the matter?” Josh asked at last, jumping to his feet and walking over to where she sat. “You look like you’ve been crying.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” It was too humiliating to discuss with anyone. She wanted to keep it all to herself for as long as she could. To her grave would be nice.

  “It’s Blade Thorne, isn’t it?” He was sure quick at getting to the source of the problem.

  “More or less, it’s him.” She didn't want to give out to much detail of the situation, but she felt Josh was about to drag it out of her.

  “What has he done to you now?” She couldn’t help but hear Josh’s distaste for Blade in his voice. Why couldn’t he just leave it alone?

  “I said I don’t want to talk about it.” She was becoming irritated with all his questioning.

  “Okay, well I called the phone company this morning. They said it could be two to three weeks, at least, before they can get a DSL connection line out here.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I don’t think we’ll need it.” She felt drained from the morning’s events. The events from the middle of the night were taking a toll on her as well. She needed a nap, but she wasn't going to get one.

  “What do you mean? Our boss would have a fit. We have to have it to get the video conferencing working.”

  “We’ll be back in New York City before they can get it out here. Believe me that will make Mr. Harper very happy.”

  “Stop saying that. You might jinx it and it might take a year or more to get it out here.” He went back and sat down at the computer. He started typing again.

  “We won’t be staying much longer. At least I don’t think we will.” She let her words hang in the air as she waited for his response.

  Josh stopped typing and gave her his full attention. “What do you mean? I thought you needed to stay a whole year and help run the ranch in order to get full claim of it or it would be turned over to this Blade person who runs everything around here, including your life.”

  “It’s true, but I have decided it’s not worth keeping. I’m letting Blade have the ranch and I’m going back to New York as soon as all the legal stuff is squared away.”

  “Are you serious? It’s a big decision to be making so hastily.” He seemed skeptical.

  “I’ve already called the attorney. I have an appointment with him this afternoon. Do you think you can take me in your rental van?” It would do her some good to get away from this place for a few hours.

  “You know I’ll take you anywhere you need to go. Have you told anyone else what you’re doing?” Stopping what he was doing, he turned to look at her while he waited for her answer.

  “No. I want to keep this between you and me until after it’s done, so not a word of this to anyone, Josh. I mean it. I don’t want to reveal my plans to anyone until we’re ready to leave and I have all the legal stuff squared away.”

  * * *

  When Blade returned home, he was hot, tired and in dire need of a shower. Before he took one though, he wanted to talk to Megan. He needed to make everything right with her. She was all he was able to think about all day while he worked.

  The more he thought about her, the more he knew he needed her in his life. Why did she have to keep pulling away from him? As a teenager, she was practically attached at his hip. Now that she was an adult, and he wanted her there always, she kept pulling away. He would never understand women. He needed to hold her in his arms this very moment.

  When he got to her room, he knocked, but she didn't answer. He tried the doorknob and the door opened. He looked around the room. She wasn’t there. He stepped inside to get a better look. He didn’t see any signs of her using the room. There were none of her personal items in sight. He checked the closet. None of her clothes were there.

  Panic seized him. His heart contracted and felt as if it were stuck in a vice. She wouldn’t just leave, would she? He ran downstairs shouting, “Martha” as he searched the house for her. He finally found Martha. She was coming upstairs from the basement carrying a basket of laundry.

  “What in the world are you shouting about?” she asked, setting the load down on the counter.

  “Megan’s belongings are missing from her bedroom. Where did she go?” He needed to find her.

  “Calm down. She moved back out to the cabin.” That meant decided to stay with Mr. City Guy. At least Megan was still on the property. He could live with it until he could figure out a way to get her to move back into the house.

  Before Martha could say another word or stop him, he ran out the back door. He began running up the path leading to the cabins at record speed. When he got there, he began banging on the door. He got no answer.

  He looked around and noticed the van Josh arrived in the day before was not parked where it was earlier. Where did they go? Did Josh take her back to New York? He was overwhelmed by fear and panic, which was slowly worming its way into his brain and finally consumed him. He couldn’t lose her when he just got her back. He sank to his knees.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Megan sat in Mr. Halifax’s office. “I have decided I no longer want the ranch,” she explained to him.

  “Have you thought this through?” He seemed uncertain.

  “Yes I have. I would like to get back to my life and my job I have waiting for me in New York.”

  “Are you prepared to give up all your rights to the ranch and turn it all over to Blade Thorne?”

  “Yes. Can we get this over with?” The quicker she signed, the faster she could get out of here and put all this behind her.

  “Yes, if you are sure this is what you want.” She couldn't help but notice how hesitant he seemed.

  “I’m sure.” She just wanted to get it over with.

  He adjusted his eyeglasses before sliding a document towards her that he retrieved from a file folder. “Just sign and date where the ’X’ is,” he said, indicating where it was with the tip of his ink pen. She breathed a sigh of relief.

  She signed the document and asked, “Does this mean “I’m free to leave Idaho?" She held her breath; waiting for his response.

  “Not yet?” Now what?

  “Tell me why not?” She felt her heart rate speed up.

  “Part of the clause states both parties have to agree. I will have to contact Mr. Thorne and have him come into my office and sign the document. After he does, I’ll need to file and process the paperwork and wait for all of it to go through. You won’t be able to leave for at least three to four weeks from now.”

  Her heart sank. Would Blade sign? He thought she was a slut. He would probably sign the document just to get her off his property once and for all. She would only be too glad to go and never return. At least she wouldn’t need to wait the full year to leave. She thanked the attorney and left his office.

  * * *

  Blade just ste
pped out of the shower when he heard someone knocking on his bedroom door. Megan? He threw his bathrobe on and made a beeline for the door. He opened it to find Martha standing on the other side.

  “You better go downstairs quickly,” she told him. “The attorney who's handling the will is on the phone. He says he must speak to you. It’s urgent.”

  In a flash, Blade was downstairs and on the phone mounted on the kitchen wall. “Hello?”

  “Blade, I’m so glad I caught you. I need to speak to you about the will.” He began to panic.

  “Has something happened?” Was something wrong?

  “Megan was just in my office. I’m not going to beat around the bush. She has decided she no longer wants the ranch. She signed a document to turn it over to you. I need you to come by my office tomorrow and sign it as well. As you’ll recall, the will states you both must agree to this. How does two ‘o clock tomorrow afternoon sound?” Blade absorbed what the man was saying.

  “I’m sorry. I won’t be coming in tomorrow afternoon.” He wasn't about to let Megan slip away from him as easily as she might like to.

  “We can schedule it for another time. Do what works best for you.” When hell freezes over, he thought to himself, but he didn't voice it.

  “I’m not signing it.” Had he hurt Megan so badly she wanted to get away from him?

  “Blade, she says she wants to get back to her life and her job in New York.” Blade thought about what the man was saying, but decided to stick to his guns on this one.

  “I’m not signing it,” Blade snapped. “Her life is here now.” Before the attorney could respond, he hung up the phone.

  Anger boiled up in him. There was no way in hell he was letting her go back to New York. He would do whatever it took to keep her on the ranch with him.

  * * *

  The next morning she laid stretched out on the bed where Josh insisted she sleep while he slept on the sofa. She heard a knock on the cabin door. She groaned and pulled the blankets over her head. Josh could answer it. She wanted to sleep in longer.

  “I need to speak to Megan.” That got her attention.

  She sat up in bed when she heard Blade’s voice. What did he want? Didn't he realize he hurt her enough? She couldn't take anymore.

  “She’s still in bed," she heard Josh tell Blade. I’ll let her know you stopped by.”

  “You slept with her?” Blade shouted. What the hell was Blade up to?

  There was a loud crash followed by shuffling sounds. What was going on out there? She leaped out of bed and grabbed for her bathrobe. She threw it on as she ran towards the living room to try to resolve the problem.

  “Megan is mine,” Blade yelled just as she entered the room. Blade was on top of Josh slugging him. She gasped as she took in the scene before her.

  “Blade?” she shouted to get his attention. It took him a few minutes to register she was there and shouting his name. He finally turned to look at her.

  “Get off him! Now! Do I make myself clear?” she ordered. As far as she was concerned, Blade was acting as if he were a little child.

  Blade jumped up. Josh stood and moved to the other side of the room to get away from him. She never saw Blade this way before and it was beginning to scare her.

  “What has come over you?” Whatever his answer, there were no excuses for his behavior.

  He waited until he caught his breath before he spoke. “How could you let him have sex with you?” Once again he accused her of having sex with another man. Did he think she was jumping from bed to bed the way he did?

  She felt as if he slapped her. “I can’t believe you, Blade. Don’t you ever stop? First you accuse me of having sex with Rex. You practically called me a slut when I was in your bedroom yesterday morning. Now you are accusing me of having sex with Josh. It's not any of your business, but Josh slept on the sofa last night. We don’t have the kind of relationship you think. He’s like a brother to me. Of course you probably don’t believe me because you think I put out to every man who comes along.” She turned away as tears began to sting her eyes.

  “Megan, I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” She was unsure if she would ever be able to.

  “I’m not sure if I can," she explained. You hurt me too much.”

  “Can we talk privately?” She thought about it.

  She turned and looked from Blade to Josh. Josh got a wash cloth and was washing the blood off his lip.

  “Give me about an hour to eat breakfast, and get bathed and dressed. I’ll meet you outside the cabin,” she said at last.

  “Thank you.” He apologized to Josh and left. She still felt shock over what just happened.

  She turned to Josh. “Are you okay?” She felt bad about what Blade did to him.

  “I think I’ll survive. I just got my lip split open and I’m going to have one hell of a black eye.” She winced. It looked Painful.

  “I’m sorry this happen to you.” She meant what she said.

  “Well, it wouldn’t have happened if you two would have just admitted to each other you are in love. I think you two should do it now before some real damage is done.” His words echoed in her ears. She wished it were that simple.

  * * *

  Blade decided to go for a walk while he waited for the time to pass. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with the crisp morning air.

  He could kick himself. How could he lose his temper this way? To make matters worse he put his foot in his mouth and accused her of having sex with Josh. It sure as hell didn't win him any points with Megan.

  How could he get himself out of this mess? He wasn’t quite sure what he was going to say to her when the time came to talk. He hoped all the right words would come to him because he didn’t want to lose her. He would do whatever it took to fight for her.

  If Megan left because of his big mouth, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself. He wouldn’t be able to live without her period. He never felt more alive, more complete, until she came back into his life.

  In the short time she had been back, she turned his world upside down and made him see things a lot differently. He looked at his watch. It would soon be time. He started walking back towards Megan’s cabin.

  Before he reached it, Shanice Williams approached him. Since Megan came back into his life, Shanice did nothing for him.

  “When are we going out again?” she cooed in his ear. She made it sound like a date and it grated on his nerves.

  Why did he go and promise her horseback riding lessons? It was too late to say no. After all, she was a paying guest and she was paying extra for the riding lessons. He was hoping to do something special this afternoon with Megan. Now it would have to wait until later on in evening.

  “How about this afternoon?” he asked with faux excitement. He would fulfill his commitment, but not because he wanted to. He couldn't get out of it.

  “I think it would be marvelous!” The blond grinned from ear to ear.

  “I’ll be by your cabin at one ‘o clock. Now if you’ll excuse me,” he said, prying her arm off from him. “I have somewhere I need to be."

  * * *

  Megan stood outside her cabin waiting. She watched Blade talking to the blond. From here, he looked happy to be getting some affection from her. Maybe the two were meant for each other. He was now heading in her direction and she did her best to push away all thoughts of Blade with his lover away.

  Why was she willing to talk to him? She didn’t know, but she should have told him no. She hated knowing her name now joined the undoubtedly long list of women he bedded, especially if the blond, who was watching Blade walk away and licking her lips as if Blade were an ice cream sundae she wanted to dive into, was among the ranks.

  Now that she was weak and gave into him, Blade thought she was just like the blond he was walking away from. She knew she needed to be strong. All Blade needed to do was sign the document and she could go home. Three weeks seemed like an eternity. She hoped he would talk to her about the document and tell
her that he made an appointment for that afternoon. She didn't want to stay here any longer than she needed to.

  “I’m glad you’re giving us a chance to talk this through,” he said when he reached the spot where she was standing. “You must think what we have is worth it, as do I.” Could he be for real?

  She looked at him in disbelief. “What are you talking about?”

  “Megan, we are meant to be together. I can feel it deep in my soul. I just can’t figure out why you keep fighting it.” She blinked at him.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. She couldn’t let him get to her. The kind of relationship he was offering her wasn’t what she wanted. But was she prepared to give him up all together? She reminded herself to be strong. She needed to move on and forget about Blade forever. She wasn't the teenage girl she once was who idolized Blade. She was a grown woman with a life waiting for her back in New York City.

  “Blade, the only thing I want from you is your signature on a particular piece of paper freeing me to go home.”

  “I’m not signing anything. You can forget it.”

  “You really do enjoy torturing me, don’t you?” Did he plan on dragging this out longer than necessary?

  “It wouldn’t be so bad if you’d stop fighting it,” he said as he reached up and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. She shivered and almost lost all her resolve as his fingertips made contact with her flesh. “I’d like to finish this conversation where we won’t have an audience," he said suddenly. "Let’s go for a ride in my truck.”

  She never noticed until now, but some of the guests started coming out of their cabins, some still in their bathrobes. She allowed him to take her by the arm and lead her towards the truck, trying not to put on a show for them all. Maybe she’d be able to convince him to sign the form so she could go back home.

  Once they were in his truck, neither said a word. Blade drove until they came to a clearing and turned down a dirt road. She knew exactly where they were headed. Why would he be taking her there now? What did he have as a motive for it?