The Lonesome Rancher Read online

  “And I’m Jade.”

  “What a lovely name. I can see why your mother named you that. Your eyes are striking.”

  Jade couldn’t stop shaking, afraid that any minute they’d discover who she was. “Thank you. My mother told me when she saw their color she couldn’t come up with anything else.”

  Sloan stood. He wasn’t going to be taken in by a pretty face again. Not where his mother was concerned.

  “Around here we’re big on family names,” Louisa continued. “My son was christened John Sloan Merrick. Sloan is his biological father’s name and then my husband, Clay, adopted him when he was eight.”

  Sloan crossed the room. “Mother, I don’t think we need to go into family history.”

  “He’s right,” Jade said, giving him a sideways glance. “This is an interview. Ask me whatever you want, Mr. Merrick.”

  “Your last place of employment?”

  Jade reached into her oversize purse and pulled out her résumé. She handed it to him. “I worked at a small private hospital in Dallas before I took a leave of absence to be with my mother during the last months before she passed away.” Jade felt the tears and willed them not to fall. “She had multiple sclerosis for years.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Louisa sighed. “That must have been so hard on you.”

  Jade didn’t expect to feel an instant liking for this woman. That was what made this so hard. “Thank you. My consolation is that I know she’s isn’t suffering any longer.”

  “That has to be comforting for you,” the older woman said as she took hold of her hand.

  Jade saw the woman’s honest concern and felt the warmth in her touch. She also had the sudden urge to run out and forget it all, especially with Sloan Merrick watching her so closely. She wanted this job. It would be her best chance to get to see the senator. “Enough about me. What about you, Louisa?”

  Sloan started to speak, but his mother sent him a look. He backed off.

  Louisa’s expression softened as she said, “I want my life back. And I’ll do whatever it takes.”

  Jade found herself smiling. “That’s the good news. And as we discussed on the phone, I plan to help you do that. It will also take some hard work and determination on your part.”

  Louisa’s son did interrupt this time. “Well, we want to thank you for coming by, Ms. Hamilton. We will let you know our decision.”

  Jade rose from the sofa. Okay, so it wasn’t a total success. He would get her out of there before she could meet any of the family, or allow Louisa to make a decision. “I’ll be staying in town at the Cross Creek Bed and Breakfast for the next few days.” She started for the French doors when she heard her name.

  “Jade, wait,” Louisa called to her.

  She paused and turned around.

  “There’s no need to go yet,” the older woman told her. “This is my decision.”

  “Mother,” Sloan said, visibly unhappy.

  The older woman straightened. “No, Sloan, this is my choice. Since this happened…” She held up her arm. “No one has asked me how I feel about anything. Well, I’m telling you how I feel now. I asked Jade to come here.”

  Jade spoke up, hoping to calm the situation. “It’s okay, Louisa. Maybe your husband should be involved in this decision, too.”

  “Clay? He’s busy working on an energy bill in Washington.” She sighed. “Take some advice, Jade, don’t get involved with a politician. They’re never home, and your private life gets plastered all over the newspapers.”

  Jade stiffened. “I’ll remember that.”

  Sloan wanted to be as enthusiastic as his mother. But years in the political circus had made him leery of strangers, especially when it came to his family’s privacy. For himself, he’d been burned good, too, but managed to survive. Yet, he still didn’t trust strangers. “Mother, I have some questions for Ms. Hamilton.”

  She frowned. “I’m not going to change my mind. This is my decision to make.”

  He knew he’d gotten his stubbornness from Louisa Cruz Sloan Merrick. The daughter of poor immigrants, she was a one-time beauty queen, and had worked hard to graduate college and marry well. Twice. And she’d been the best mother a son could ask for.

  “Do you have any objection if I take Jade for a walk in the garden?”

  His mother glared at him.

  “I’m only going to warn her about how persistent you can be when you want your way.”

  Louisa turned to Jade and smiled sweetly. “Did I warn you how impossible my son could be?”

  Jade smiled. “He’s only concerned about you.”

  His mother turned back to him. “I will give you fifteen minutes. Then I’d like to show Jade the exercise room upstairs. That’s where I’ll be.”

  Marta came through the door and helped Louisa with her walker.

  A distant cousin, Marta had worked for the family since she was a girl. Now both she and her husband, Miguel, were employed by the Merricks. Louisa had always been loyal to her family and friends.

  Being too trusting was one of his mother’s faults. That and being sucked in by strangers. Jade Hamilton was definitely a stranger. He’d learned the hard way that trouble sometimes comes wrapped in pretty packages. Crystal Erickson had been beautiful and distracting. So much so, he let his guard down. It had been an embarrassment for the family. Never again.

  After his mother left, Sloan crossed the room and opened the doors that led onto a large patio area and the garden beyond.

  “Let’s take advantage of the pleasant fall weather.”

  Jade stepped out into the brick patio framed with large ceramic pots of flowers. A manicured lawn was edged with numerous tea roses of every imaginable color. “Oh, my, this is lovely.”

  “Gardening is another of my mother’s many hobbies. She loves to quilt, too.”

  “It’s nice that she has so many interests.”

  “That she does. She’s always been active.”

  “Good. Then she’ll want to get involved in her life again.”

  Sloan eyed the attractive woman. She stood about five-seven, with long legs encased in tailored navy slacks and a simple white blouse tucked into her narrow waist. Very businesslike, but he was still curious as to why she’d come all this way for a job.

  “Okay, let’s cut to the chase, Ms. Hamilton. Why are you really here?”

  CHAPTER TWO

  JADE willed herself to relax. He couldn’t know the real reason.

  “I don’t understand, Mr. Merrick. I’ve explained that my mother passed away recently.”

  “Dallas is about six hundred miles from Kerry Springs.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “And that sends up a red flag to you?”

  “Several. Having a father who’s a U.S. senator will do that to you.”

  “I didn’t ask specifically for this area, but when I decided to return to work, I signed on with a nurses’ registry. This position came up and I decided a different area might be a nice change.”

  She met his gaze, refusing to be intimidated. “I must have checked out, or your mother would never have set up an interview. And she seems to approve of me.” Jade paused for a few erratic heartbeats. “I thought I was here to help her?”

  She looked over the handsome man. Tall and well-built, he had Louisa’s large brown eyes. She had yet to see his smile.

  “Of course,” he told her. “And I’m here to protect her.”

  “The loyal son.”

  He shrugged. “You took care of your mother, I’m sure she had your loyalty, too.”

  With a nod, Jade glanced away. There were a lot of memories both good and bad, and some she’d like to forget. Now she needed to find out who she was.

  “No siblings, no father in Dallas?”

  “No siblings. No father,” she repeated. “It’s all in my résumé.” She wasn’t going to beg this man for a job, no matter how much she wanted to meet Clay Merrick. “I think it’s time we end this, and you can discuss your dislikes with your m
other after she finishes interviewing me. Thank you for your time.”

  She headed toward the house, praying that he would call her back, but he didn’t. Okay, so this wasn’t going to work out. Then he finally spoke her name.

  “Ms. Hamilton,” he called as she reached the doorway.

  Her heart was pounding hard against the ribs as she turned and waited. “Yes?”

  “Okay, if my mother gives you the position, I’ll agree to a week trial period.”

  “You’ll agree? I thought it was your mother’s choice? After all she brought me here.”

  “And I have to protect my family.”

  She was frustrated. “I have excellent references, Mr. Merrick. I’m highly qualified for this position. A position that isn’t even permanent. Just admit it, you don’t want me here.”

  Sloan looked uncomfortable. “I didn’t say that. I’d put anyone on a trial basis.” He glared at her. “And whether I like it or not, I am a product of my father’s very public profession. Sometimes it’s hard for me to trust people. But my mother trusts you and that’s what’s important. So if she gives you the job, I won’t interfere.”

  Guilt washed over her. She’d got what she wanted. All she’d been looking for was a small piece of this life, this family.

  An hour later, Jade had been hired as Louisa’s nurse, and shown the equipment that would rival some hospitals’ therapy rooms.

  Now, she was standing outside what would be her living quarters for the next month or so. She’d gotten the job, but she didn’t feel like she expected to feel. For the first time since learning of Clay Merrick, she was questioning her decision to come here.

  She opened the door and her breath caught. It was not where she expected to stay, not as hired staff. There was a sitting room with the walls painted a buttery-yellow, and carpet a light shade of green. A love seat was covered in ivory chenille and faced a marble fireplace. All the furniture looked to be expensive antiques.

  She continued through double doors and saw a four-poster bed with a sheer canopy draping over the top. The bedspread was a hand-sewn quilt in yellow and green hues. She touched one of the intricate appliquéd squares. The detail was incredible and she wondered if Louisa had made it. Then she saw the LM stitched along the edge.

  Again she glanced around the suite. It was all so perfect. And she didn’t belong here.

  There was still time to leave. She had time to tell Louisa that she’d changed her mind.

  She swung around as Marta walked in, pulling her wheeled suitcase. “Are you sure this is my room?” Jade asked.

  She smiled. “Sí, señorita. Señora Louisa told me to put your clothes in this one so you are close to her. She’s across the hall.”

  That could also mean Jade would be close to Clayton Merrick. “Doesn’t her husband also stay there? I mean, I don’t want to disturb them.”

  Marta shook her head. “Oh, no. Not since the Señora Louisa had her stroke.”

  Jade had a lot of questions about the senator, but decided they could wait. “I see.”

  Marta finished hanging her clothes in the closet. Since Jade had worn uniforms for work, her personal wardrobe was minimal to say the least, so the task was done quickly.

  “How long does Louisa usually nap?”

  Marta closed the dresser drawer. “About one hour.” She smiled. “Today she might be awake sooner.” Marta took Jade’s hand. “Thank you, señorita, for coming here. Mi prima needs you to help make her better.”

  This was the hard part for Jade. During their phone conversations, she’d gotten to like Louisa, but it suddenly hit Jade now how much her news could affect everyone. More than likely she’d be tossed out once they discovered who she really was. That was if the senator even believed her story. But still she’d come this far and needed to meet her father.

  To meet Senator Clay Merrick.

  The housekeeper opened the doors to the small terrace, then left the room.

  “Thank you, Marta,” Jade called to her.

  “De nada.” The housekeeper closed the door behind her.

  Jade sighed and sat down on the chair at the desk. It had only been in the past six months that she discovered her life had been a lie. Going through important documents, after her mother’s death, Jade had been shocked to find adoption papers.

  Renee Hamilton wasn’t her biological mother.

  Another shock, she found the name of Kathryn Lowery listed as her birth mother, but the father, unknown. She’d also found a copy of Kathryn Lowery’s journal.

  Jade reached in her purse and took out the old manila envelope that had been in her mother’s safe-deposit box. Inside were the only clues to her real identity. She stared down at the thirty-year-old photo. It was a group picture, but two people stood out. An attractive woman who looked to be in her early twenties. She stood out because the resemblance to Jade was uncanny. Kathryn had the same eyes as her daughter.

  The man was a little older, maybe in his late twenties. He had sandy-brown hair and dark eyes with a cleft in his chin. Jade touched the matching dimple in her own chin.

  She didn’t need to know the man’s name because in the backdrop of the picture was a large banner that read, Clay Merrick for U.S. Senate.

  Almost immediately after she found the papers, Jade had gone in search of Kathryn Lowery and discovered she once lived in Austin, but had died twenty years ago with complications from pneumonia.

  It had been easier to research Clay Merrick since he was a public figure. She’d discovered that he’d been married thirty years ago when he was involved with Kathryn Lowery. Had that been the reason he’d pushed her aside?

  Kathryn’s journal hadn’t said much, only how much she’d loved Clay. She’d worried about Merrick’s career, and she’d agonized over giving her baby away.

  Jade’s chest tightened feeling the rejection all over again. Had Kathryn even had the chance to tell Clay about the pregnancy? Had he been the one to insist she give the baby away?

  This had been what brought Jade to the River’s End Ranch—and the nursing job—and to the very real possibility that Clay Merrick was her father. She wasn’t even sure she could confront the man. If she did, would he listen to her, or would he deny it all?

  Jade folded the picture and put it away. All she knew was she couldn’t give up until she discovered the truth.

  Later that afternoon, Sloan finally got hold of the senator.

  “You should have been here to hire Mom’s nurse,” Sloan said as Jade Hamilton was getting settled in upstairs.

  “It was your mother who wanted to do this, son. Why, is there a problem with who she hired?”

  Only that Jade Hamilton was far too distracting for him. “No, so far as I can see. But you should still be here.”

  “I’ll be home as soon as I possibly can,” Clay answered. “Just after the vote comes to the floor.”

  Sloan knew the senator’s sense of duty. He also knew Clay loved Louisa, but lately he hadn’t been around much. Of course Louisa hadn’t been very receptive to her husband since her stroke. She had pushed Clay out of her bed, her room and practically out of her life.

  “I thought they had enough votes without you being there.”

  “How would it look if I’m not here working for my state?”

  “What about being here for Mom?”

  There was a long sigh. “I talk to Louisa every day. She doesn’t have a problem waiting another week until we recess.” There was a pause. “Of course, if there were someone to replace me here at the capitol, I could retire and be home full-time.”

  Clay had hinted about Sloan taking his senate seat since college. “Well, you’re going to have to look elsewhere, because I’m happy right here.” His father already knew that. Sloan had been involved in breeding free range cattle for the past five years, and that suited him totally.

  “Think about how much more you could do if you came to Washington. You could promote your projects. Maybe find some funding for research on droug
ht tolerant grasses.”

  Wouldn’t the cattle industry love that, especially when he was promoting hormone free beef, Sloan thought. It was times like this, he felt he was letting his father down. “Sorry, Dad. Have you thought about Alisa taking your place?”

  “Son, your sister’s only been out of college a few years.” There was a pause. “Of course, she’s been pretty vocal on some issues. And there is the fact she is a natural born charmer.”

  And even though Clay had never made him feel different, Sloan was aware he wasn’t a true Merrick, not by blood.

  Clay had accepted and loved the eight-year-old boy when he married Louisa, then adopted him a year later. And Sloan adored his younger half sister. “Alisa would be the best choice to carry on the family legacy.”

  “Or…you can find the perfect woman and make me a grandfather. And I can start preparing my grandchild.”

  Sloan heard the humor in Clay’s voice, but something told him the older man was serious. Suddenly Jade Hamilton came to mind. “I’d really have to rush things along.”

  “I’m sure your mother would be willing to help you find someone.”

  Had that been the reason Louisa was so eager to have Jade here? Well, darn. Was his mother playing matchmaker?

  He shook off the thought. “Are you at least coming home to meet Mother’s new nurse?”

  “I’m sure you hired a competent person.” Commotion came over the line and his father said, “Look, Sloan, I’ve got to go. They need me back in the chamber.”

  As soon as Sloan hung up, the phone from the barn rang. “Yeah, Bud. What do you need?”

  “An extra pair of hands. Polly is having trouble with her foal. The vet is on his way, but it looks to be an hour or so before he gets here.”

  “I’ll be right down.” Sloan came around the desk and was headed out when he saw Jade Hamilton coming down the staircase.

  “Mr. Merrick, may I talk with you? It’s about your mother’s schedule.”

  “It’ll have to be later.” He hurried down the hall, past the dining room and through the kitchen. He grabbed his hat off the peg at the back door and turned around.