Hold 'Em: A Gambling Hearts Romance Read online

  Consuela was in the courtyard dusting down the rugs from the front hall of the hacienda when a commotion beyond the stone archway caught her attention.

  What in the world?

  Concerned the noise might wake the mistress, she dropped the corn broom and lifted her long skirts to hurry through the wrought iron gates into the main compound. Her heart stopped. Senior Matt’s horse and Cleopatra stood trembling near the two-tier fountain, their sides heaving. Sophia must have heard the racket too and ran from the barn, their foreman, Tony, following close behind.

  She slowed the moment the horses caught her scent, easing toward them with low words of encouragement. Tony reached out to stop her and she shook him off, her attention on the panicked animals.

  Consuela held her breath, clasped shaking hands to her breast, and prayed to her God above. If anything happened to the little one…

  More workers came running, their boots churning the dust. Goliath jerked his head and stomped his front hoof, the sound a clear warning to back off. Though skittish, Cleo recognized her mistress’s voice. Ears twitching and tail flicking, she watched Sophia’s approach without moving, her sides flecked with sweat.

  Goliath suddenly shied, his powerful body whipping in a tight circle, the rear hooves coming dangerously close to Sophia before Tony yanked her to safety. The men made their move, jumping into action to grasp the trailing reins before the horses could take flight.

  A few tense moments followed before the cowboys managed to calm the horses enough so they could be checked out.

  Sophia broke free of Tony’s hold and ran to Cleopatra, throwing her arms around her pet’s quivering neck.

  “Sophia, be careful,” Consuela begged the child of her heart. “That animal is frightened, there’s no telling what she might do.”

  Sophia lifted tear-stained eyes. “Cleo would never hurt me, Tía.” She looked at Tony who was checking a wound in Goliath’s neck that appeared to be bite marks. “What happened? Where’s my brother and Cassandra?” Her eyes grew wide and fearful. “What if they’re hurt, or… or worse?”

  Tony ducked under Cleo’s neck and tugged Sophia into his arms.

  So, that’s how it goes. Consuela made a mental note to speak to her charge later, after they found Matthew and his novia. She clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “We must hurry and get a search group together. Senior Matt is resourceful, but the storm that is coming will be muy bad. They will need help.”

  Even though the sky was relatively clear at the moment, no one dared argue her prediction. Some called her a bruja, she preferred to think she’d been gifted with the second sight. Whatever the case, her visions were rarely wrong. Even more reason for them to move fast now before the river began to flood the plains, endangering not only Matthew, but the search teams.

  Tony released Sophia and walked into the midst of his men. “I need at least three teams of two. We think he’s traveling to Hidden Valley, but I don’t want to take any chances so we’ll head out in every direction. If you pick up the trail, call it in.”

  He looked at Sophia. “I know what you’re going to say; the answer is no.”

  She stiffened and glared at him across Cleo’s back. “He’s my brother.”

  “Exactly, querida. Which is why I know my ass would be grass if I allowed you to ride out into a possible thunderstorm.” He looked to Consuela for backup.

  She nodded and held her arms out. “Come here, child. I need you to help with your grandmother. She will be upset when she learns what has happened, we will have our work cut out allaying her fears.”

  All their fears.

  There had already been too much death in this family, it was time for rejuvenation. As she held Sophia close and watched the men mount up and head out across the land, she prayed they were not too late.

  15

  Cassandra slipped in the mud, and made a grab for Matt’s lean waist to break her fall. He stopped and turned, steadying her onto her wobbling feet.

  “Hang in there, okay? It’s not much further now.” He gave her a smile edged with pain, and continued down a trail that had turned into something from her nightmares. They had been walking for what felt like hours. Their world had turned into a dreary gray bubble from which there seemed no escape. To add to the misery, someone up above had forgotten to turn off the water tap. She’d never been more wet and miserable in her life.

  And to top it all off, she had a feeling they were lost.

  Matt wasn’t saying, but his dratted valley couldn’t have been that far away. They were missing in the middle of a Texas thunderstorm and their bodies would never be found. Jeff would be a widower before he even got married. And her dad… It hurt too much to think of her dad so she concentrated on the broad back of her nemesis.

  This was all his fault.

  If he hadn’t yanked her off her horse and into his arms… well, none of this would have happened. Never mind that her heart had thrilled to his touch. He’d been about to kiss her silly. She’d seen it in the flare of his pupils and felt it in the touch of his hands before the ground exploded beneath them. His first instinct had been to protect her. He’d rolled to keep her safe, ignoring his own danger. Much as the man annoyed her, no one had ever done anything like that for her before.

  He confused her.

  He had a lot of qualities to admire. His dedication to family and the depth of love for his grandmother for one, enough to bring a stranger into his home under false pretences if it made her happy. He may have gone about it the wrong way, but his heart was in the right place. If she were honest with herself, she’d enjoyed getting to know the Shaughnessy clan. Sophia was sweet, their brother, Aaron, funny, Grandma Shaughnessy seemed kind, and Matthew… Matt was too handsome for his own good. Charismatic, self-confident, and trouble for her peace of mind. The sooner this week was over and she got back to normal, the better.

  After all, she was getting married.

  And if the expected excitement was missing, well who could blame her? She didn’t think too many brides came into their final days before a wedding pretending to be another man’s fiancée. Bet there was a romance novel in there.

  She smiled just as Matt turned around to check on her.

  “Glad you’re having fun back there, princess. That color of brown is particularly attractive on you.” He grinned. “Do you think you could pick up the pace a little? We’re not out for an afternoon stroll.”

  Ooh, that man.

  Unable to resist, Cass bent down the moment he turned around, and grasped a handful of Texas topsoil turned sludge. She took careful aim and wound up like a professional baseball pitcher, before letting her missile fly. It hit him square in the back of his egotistical head with a satisfying thwump.

  She was so busy snickering that she failed to realize he’d grabbed his own handful of muck. Next thing she knew a big splat landed on her chest, little bits flying to blend with the rain bathing down her face.

  She looked down, shocked. He’d hit her. Not physically, but still… She glared at him while wiping the worst of the mud off. She was going to owe Sophia some clothes. Scratch that, her brother was going to owe her.

  “Are you serious?” she asked, her tone screeching worse than the howling wind.

  Matt raised his hands in the universal sign for peace. “Hey, you started it. Good thing there were no rocks in there, you could’ve given me a concussion.”

  “Like I could be so lucky,” she muttered.

  “What’s that?” He rubbed a satisfyingly big glob out from behind his ear.

  “I’m sorry,” she said louder. “The devil made me do it.”

  He grinned again, and held out his hand. Butterflies twirled in her tummy. “That, I believe. C’mon, let’s get dried up.”

  She looked at him like he was nuts. They were in a monsoon. Hoping to humor the crazy man, she grasped his hand and let him lead her where he wished.

  * * *

  Matt slipped and slid over the muddy terrain
grinning like a loon. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had this much fun. Maybe never.

  He glanced down at the sodden female by his side and had a hard time corresponding her with the immaculately put together young lady he’d met on the stairs in Las Vegas. That woman he’d been physically attracted to, with her perfect body and uppity attitude. But, this female next to him… she called to him on a whole other level. He wanted to get to know her, spend time with her, make love to her.

  Not sex. Love.

  What the hell was he thinking?

  She was so far out of his reach she could be in another galaxy. Besides the fact she was engaged, she was also a senator’s daughter. Somehow, he didn’t see her falling for someone like her father. A gambler.

  For once, his profession bothered him.

  Usually, he saw it as a means to an end. He won, the ranch survived. Simple. Now though, he wished he’d taken on almost any other occupation; doctor, lawyer, race car driver. Okay, maybe not that one, but something Cassandra could accept from a potential beau.

  Beau?

  Was he on a soap opera for crying out loud?

  “What’s that?”

  He startled, thinking he’d said something for a moment, but she was pointing to a gap in the rock face they were quickly approaching.

  He squeezed her chilled fingers. “That,” he said. “Is the entry to Eden.”

  She dug in her heels. “You want us to go in there?” She shook her head and wet hair sent spray flying into his face. “Uh, uh. There might be snakes, or spiders, or who knows what else. I’m not going in there.”

  Well, when she put it that way.

  He picked her up over his uninjured shoulder and entered the crevice, her shrieks rebounding off the walls.

  16

  The walls closed around them, charcoal gray and covered in a layer of soft-looking moss. Cassandra closed her eyes and tried to breathe past the terror. The urge to jump free of the arms holding her and escape before the mountain swallowed them whole was overwhelming. Her heart beat like a hummingbird’s wings, desperate to escape its cage.

  Claustrophobia.

  She knew the name. Had sat through endless sessions on slippery leather couches while well-meaning doctors tried to get her to open up about her memories of that day.

  They didn’t understand. No one could.

  Her father had never blamed her, and in a way, that just made it worse. Maybe if he had, they could have moved on, instead the guilt was always there, a dark shroud looming over their home.

  The sky was as blue as her favorite dress and filled every window. She was too short to see the sidewalk, and besides, it was more fun making shapes out of the billowy clouds than staring at tired people with their heads down hurrying along the city streets.

  Cass was bored.

  She’d already read the storybook her mom had brought along to keep her occupied, and now she had an upset tummy.

  “Mommy, are we almost there yet?” she whined, pushing forward so she could rest her chin on top of the front seat.

  Her mother glanced over her shoulder, her elegant brow climbing like the caterpillar Cass had watched crawl along the back deck.

  “Cassandra Jane Gardener, sit down and tighten your seatbelt.”

  “I am sitting, Mommy, see?” young Cassandra piped up.

  Her mom looked again, worry darkening her pretty green eyes—just like Cass’s eyes, her daddy said—and then it happened.

  Her mom had just opened her mouth—painted a bright red with lipstick she’d promised Cassandra could use when she got a little bit older—when the truck hit them hard… right in Mommy’s door. There was a horrible crash and Cass was thrown to the floor. Her side hit the bump in the middle and her head smacked the door, making her cry out with pain. There was a loud ringing in her ears and she couldn’t move, something heavy pinning her to the floor. Panic set in and she started to scream, crying so hard her chest hurt. Where was her mom? Why wasn’t she helping her?

  Mom. Mom. Mommy.

  But even then, somewhere deep inside, Cassandra had known her mother was gone.

  “Take deep breaths. In, in, out. In, in, out.”

  The voice came from a distance, piercing the remembered horror. Cass gasped, and opened tear-wet eyes on Matt’s concerned face.

  “Wha… what happened?”

  He brushed a light thumb along her jaw. “I was hoping you could tell me.”

  She shuddered, not willing to replay the scene out loud. “I’m not a fan of tight spaces,” she said, and hoped he’d leave it at that.

  He watched her for a moment, and she tensed for an interrogation, but then he nodded and turned, flinging an arm wide. “No worry of that here, look at this. All the room you need.”

  Cassandra stared at him, bemused. The sun had decided to peek out from behind the clouds, turning his hair antique gold in the streaming light. Their clothes were soaked, but on him, it was a good look. His shirt plastered to his torso highlighted strong shoulders and a well-defined chest. One she wanted to rest her head against.

  Startled out of her trance, she jerked her gaze out across the most beautiful valley she’d ever seen. Bluebonnets and healthy green grass waved back and forth, teased by a playful breeze. An old log cabin, its roof sagging and covered with moss, crouched by a babbling brook shaded by a giant cottonwood. And just to finish the fairytale, a multi-hued rainbow cast its benevolent glow over the entire picturesque area as though daring the rainclouds to return.

  “Wow,” she said. “You weren’t kidding. This place is fantastic.”

  A deer broke cover and slowly made its way down to the brook, testing the air every few feet.

  Cass grabbed Matt’s arm, intensely conscious of the coiled strength that lay just under the skin. She cleared her throat and pointed, “Look, Matt, it’s a Bambi.”

  Matt gazed at her instead of the animal, the quirk of his mouth causing a heart-palpitating dimple to appear. “What is it with women and Disney creatures?”

  She laughed and dropped her hand, uncomfortable now with his sole attention. “Are you telling me you never had a favorite character from a movie when you were a child?”

  He lifted his head and eyed the deer, his profile reminding her of a proud animal. When he turned back the humor was gone. “We should get down there before the weather decides to break again. You ready?”

  Curiously sorry she’d ruined the moment, Cassandra nodded and they started out for the valley floor. The deer took one look at them and bounded away, disappearing into the woods on the far side of the clearing.

  “What is this place?” she asked, lagging along in his wake, her hand brushing the top of the grass as they walked.

  Matt glanced back, then kept going, his body cutting them a trail. “It was my great-grandfather’s first home. Dad used it as his fishing shack when he wanted a break from ranching.”

  Cassandra gazed upon the valley with new eyes. She imagined an adventurous young man with Matt’s face riding across the Texas plains until he happened upon this magical land. Easy to see why he decided to stay.

  “Why isn’t the main compound here?”

  “It wasn’t feasible. Back in those days a man had to ride herd on a cattle drive to make any money.” He stopped at the door that hung a bit crooked, but still seemed to close fine. “It made more sense for the ranch to be closer to Austin where the cattle were delivered for sale. Besides,” he swung the door open and waved her inside, “how could the old man have a love nest if his wife were on the premises?”

  Cass caught the last part of his remarks just as she stepped past him into the dim interior of the shack. She turned, whether to laugh or leave she couldn’t say, but it was too late, the door swung shut, leaving her trapped with a whole lot of testosterone in a very tempting package.

  17

  He should never have mentioned sex, now it was all Matt could think about. He took a deep breath and inhaled the scents of rain, earth, and grass that clung t
o Cassandra’s skin from their recent walk. Her hair was a sleek dark ribbon down her back, showcasing a high, intelligent forehead, eyes that saw too much, and delicate ears with little gold hoops.

  It was clear she’d heard his comment by the curiosity sparkling in the depths of her blue-green eyes and the way she was nibbling at her bottom lip.

  He groaned under his breath and turned away before he showed her exactly what his ancestors had done on the wooden four-poster sitting along the far wall.

  “I’ll see if there’s something we can change into,” he muttered, and hurried over to the wardrobe closet. It was oak and intricately carved with sheaves of leaves connected by two intertwined wedding rings.

  “That’s beautiful,” Cassandra said reverently, reaching out to touch the engraving. “Your grandfather?”

  Matt nodded, pride dulling the remembered pain of losing his family. “He was an amazing man. Him, and my father.”

  She looked at him and something in her eyes tightened his throat. It wasn’t sympathy, though that was there too. It was more a shared moment of grieving, as though she understood.

  “Your sister mentioned there was a plane crash?”

  He stared at her finger tracing the wedding rings. “Yeah, they were on their way back from a cattle sale in Denver and had engine failure. I lost my parents and my grandfather.”

  “Oh, Matt, I’m so sorry.” Cassandra turned into his chest, and wrapped slim arms around his waist. He leaned over to absorb her warmth and the frizzing ends of her drying hair tickled his nose. “How old were you?” she asked, tipping her head to meet his gaze.

  “Fourteen,” he murmured, his attention on the light splattering of freckles he hadn’t noticed before today. They made her approachable; less princess, more girl-next-door. “Sophia was eight, she took it pretty hard.”

  So had he. In an instant, the world he’d taken for granted changed forever. His grandmother, who had just lost her husband of forty years along with her only son and daughter-in-law, was inconsolable. It was left to him to pick up the reins of a two-thousand-acre ranch and keep it running smoothly. A tall feat for any man, never mind a teenager. It hadn’t been easy, and he’d made a lot of mistakes in the beginning, but they’d survived. And as his grandmother recovered, it became a sanctuary, the one place filled with the spirit of those they’d lost.