Shifting Calder Wind (Calder Saga 7)

“It’s over,” Chase confirmed. “You always told me you were going to stay for the duration, Laredo. I hope you know that you have a home here as long as you want it. But that’s for you to decide.”

When Laredo didn’t immediately respond, Jessy felt a tightness in her chest. She wanted to speak up and insist that he stay. But she wasn’t foolish enough to believe she could hold him if he wanted to leave. So she waited for his answer, tense, and braced for the worst.

Laredo tipped his head into the cool breeze that came out of the north. “If I get on it right away, I should be able to get the cabin insulated before winter sets in.”

Relief soared through Jessy. She covered it with a surprised laugh. “You don’t have to stay there,” she protested.

“It suits a bachelor like me, peaceful and quiet, far from prying eyes.” There was a twinkle in his blue eyes when Laredo looked at her, the kind that had her heart skipping a little faster. He added, almost as a warning, “It’s for sure I don’t belong up there.” He nodded toward the big white house that overlooked the whole of the Triple C headquarters.

It was his way of making sure Jessy had no false expectations of what the future might hold for them. She understood that it wouldn’t likely ever include marriage—not because of his pride, but because of his past.

Jessy directed her reply to Chase. “We better plan on getting a road built to the Boar’s Nest as soon as we can get a crew on it.”

“Good idea,” Chase agreed. “In the meantime, you need to join us at dinner tonight for a little celebration, Laredo. Earlier this morning I received a call from my attorney—”

“Don’t tell me,” Jessy interrupted. “The courts have declared you are legally alive.”

“Actually, they did, but he was calling to let me know they completed the title search and confirmed that Seth Calder was a former owner of Hattie’s ranch in Texas,” Chase explained. “She has agreed to sell it to me and bring it under the Calder brand again. That way she can’t accuse me later on of marrying her to get my hands on it.”

Jessy was too stunned by his decision to buy the ranch for the significance of his latter comment to register with her. “Are you serious? Are you really going to buy it? I didn’t think the day would ever come when a Calder would go back to Texas.”

“Then maybe it’s time. He glanced sideways at Hattie, his smile alive with warmth and shared amusement.

Please turn the page for a preview of

CALDER PROMISE by Janet Dailey.

A July 2004 hardcover release

from Kensington Publishing.

“What happened, Laura? Did you forget to look where you were going?” The familiarity of Tara’s affectionately chiding voice provided the right touch of normalcy.

Laura seized on it while she struggled to collect her composure. “I’m afraid I did. I was talking to Boone and—” She paused a beat to glance again at the stranger, stunned to discover how rattled she felt. It was a totally alien sensation. She couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t felt in control of herself and a situation. “And I walked straight into you. I’m sorry.”

“No apologies necessary,” the man assured her while his gaze made a curious and vaguely puzzled study of her face. “The fault was equally mine.” He cocked his head to one side, the puzzled look deepening in his expression. “I know this sounds awfully trite, but haven’t we met before?”

Laura shook her head. “No. I’m certain I would have remembered if we had.” She was positive of that.

“Obviously you remind me of someone else then,” he said, easily shrugging off the thought. “In any case, I hope you are none the worse for the collision, Ms.—” He paused expectantly, waiting for Laura to supply her name.

The old ploy was almost a relief. “Laura Calder. And this is my aunt, Tara Calder,” she said, rather than going into a lengthy explanation of their exact relationship.

“My pleasure, ma’am,” he murmured to Tara, acknowledging her with the smallest of bows.

“And perhaps you already know Max Rutledge and his son, Boone.” Laura belatedly included the two men.

“I know of them.” He nodded to Max.

When he turned to the younger man, Boone extended a hand, giving him a look of hard challenge. “And you are?”

“Sebastian Dunshill,” the man replied.

“Dunshill,” Tara repeated with sudden and heightened interest. “Are you any relation to the earl of Crawford, by chance?”

“I do have a nodding acquaintance with him.” His mouth curved in an easy smile as he switched his attention to Tara. “Do you know him?”

“Unfortunately no,” Tara admitted, then drew in a breath and sent a glittering look at Laura, barely able to contain her excitement. “Although a century ago the Calder family was well acquainted with a certain Lady Crawford.”