Twelfth of Never (Book 3 of the McKay series) Read online

  "Because he has to do that. I can't do it for him. That won't make him a man."

  "You don't think he's a man?"

  "I didn't say that. I said I can't do that for him."

  "But you are his brother."

  "Not my job. He has to grow up on his own. Besides, if he'd gone to college and got a degree, they would respect him," Chad challenged gently. "He knows that. Believe it or not, my brother is quite a rebel. He just won't face his folks with his feelings."

  Sandy turned away, her anger festering.

  "Where are your folks?" she asked glancing about.

  "Walking the dog. They'll be back soon." Chad poured himself a scotch and turned to look at her. "Want one?"

  "No…thanks."

  "You look good enough to eat, and smell even better." He smiled, coming closer and sniffing her perfume. She smelled the liquor on his breath and she moved away from him, sitting down, trying to compose herself. The liquor had never bothered her before today. In fact, she barely noticed it at all.

  But before she could actually say something about it, Mr. and Mrs. Tobin came through the front door a few minutes later and saw Chad kissing her on the neck. "Oh Chad, what are you two up to today?"

  "We want to talk to you…" Chad began.

  "Chad, we can wait…" Sandy interrupted.

  All heads turned to her.

  "My, what secrecy, you must be up to something…" His mother glanced from one to the other. Chad's mother was a short petite woman with lots of jewelry. The jewelry seemed out of place since they just walked the dog, but Sandy accepted his parents gracefully.

  "We're engaged," Chad said, lifting her hand and flashing the ring in their faces.

  Chad's father grabbed Sandy's hand and beamed. His mother gasped and hugged her son, and then stared admiringly at the ring.

  "That's some ring, son. I'm so happy for the two of you. I knew you were getting it, but I hadn't seen how big it was," Chad's father was saying.

  Sandy sat on the edge of the settee, her hands shaking. She wanted to sit on the ring, hide it. After listening to her sister about it, she did notice how obviously big it was and instead of the proud feeling she had felt when she first saw it, she felt conspicuous.

  Everything Letty said homed in on her, and the room began to spin. Things were happening too fast and she wondered if she could ever slow it down.

  "Are you alright?" His mother seemed to note the reaction.

  "Oh…yeah…sure." Sandy tried to compose herself.

  Mike came into the room. He wore well-fitted jeans and a black t-shirt. The t-shirt emphasized his muscled arms. His hair was combed now, and still he hadn't shaved.

  She swallowed hard and glanced at Mike. He was staring at her, and the ring.

  Sandy's face turned beet red, she could actually feel the blood going to her face.

  "I see you bought the ring." Mike walked up to Sandy, took her hand in his and stared at the huge ring on her finger. "Nice touch, bro. Think it's big enough?"

  "Nothing but the best for my girl." Chad laughed.

  "I'd have been happy with something smaller," Sandy murmured as Mike's gaze met hers.

  Everything in the room seemed to fade, except Mike. Her eyes moved to his lips momentarily. Why couldn't she forget the near kiss?

  Mike moved away.

  "Well, tell us." His mother gestured.

  "Tell you what?" Chad seemed genuinely puzzled.

  "I think they want to know when the wedding is." Mike finished his mother's sentence.

  Chad looked at everyone in the room, and then he moved toward Sandy. "Well, we haven't set a date. We have been making plans though. First we both have to get out of medical school."

  "Oh, is Sandy going to school too?" his mother asked.

  "I'm studying to be a vet, yes," she informed her.

  "Really! A vet? You must love animals." His mother's voice sounded distant now. "How quaint. I shouldn't imagine you would have to work at all, once you inherit. Your father provided for you very well, I understand. There's nothing wrong in being the little wife, you know?"

  Sandy wondered where she had heard that. Had they been discussing the McKay inheritance?

  How did she understand? How did most of the town suddenly understand?

  So everyone knew about her inheritance. It made her stand out like a sore thumb. It made her feel suddenly very vulnerable and very stupid. How could she have been so blind?

  Sandy made a mental note to question the wedding date though. Why had Chad put it off? If he really loved her, why put it off at all?

  "I plan to be a vet. That hasn't changed." She frowned at Chad. "And yes, I do love animals." She glanced down at their dog, a poodle, perfectly groomed and with ribbons in her hair above her ears.

  "Sandy can do what she wants once she inherits. We both can," Chad admitted as though he were bragging. "After all, being a doctor, I'll be very busy the first few years getting my business off the ground. She needs to keep herself busy doing something. Something she enjoys. And Sandy does love animals. I think it's wonderful that we both share medicines."

  The poodle walked toward Sandy and she bent down to pet her. "What's her name?"

  "Petra." His mother excused herself to feed her.

  Sandy thought about her next words before speaking. "My sister gave up her inheritance for the man she loves."

  "Oh my God. Temporary insanity, I suppose?" His mother laughed as she cast her a frown over her shoulder.

  "Not temporary at all. They are very happy and going to marry next month," Sandy announced.

  "Hank's quite a guy." Mike smiled at her.

  "Y-yes, he is…" Sandy smiled at him.

  "Well, of course you would never have to give it up for Chad. And the two of you will have a wonderful future together," his father added. "Chad will be healing people, and you…will be healing dogs…I suppose."

  "Actually, I'll probably be treating horses and cows more than anything. Since I'm familiar with most of the ranches about, I'll have my practice here."

  "Well, we haven't really discussed where we'll live, darling," Chad informed her.

  "No." Sandy's smile didn't reach her lips. "There's a lot we have to talk over yet."

  Chapter Three

  Sandy set on the edge of Letty's bed. She slumped her shoulders, hung her head and waited until Letty gave her undivided attention. "You know I'm glad you decided to move back home."

  "Really why?" Letty asked as she checked her closet.

  "I didn't want you getting the big head, but I really missed you. I mean when we all moved home, I got used to Julie here, and then she got married. Then you moved out and the place got pretty quiet around here. Wendy is still so much of Wade's shadow; she is little company to me."

  "I wonder how that is going to work out for her…" Letty sighed as she pulled a blouse from the closet and laid it at the other end of the bed.

  "I don't know. She sure gets exasperated with him." Sandy sighed.

  "Hank and I wanted to save some money before the wedding. We're planning a trip down the Mississippi, you know one of those gambling boats down the river, then heading to Graceland to see Elvis' place for our Honeymoon. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

  "It does." Sandy tried to look excited for Letty. "I guess it doesn't matter, you're going to be moving to his place before long."

  "I'm not gone yet. And that's probably a good thing, since you need me right now." Letty laughed.

  When Sandy didn't say anything, Letty sighed and went to pick out a pair of pants to wear with it.

  "Okay, what's wrong now?" Letty asked, and she turned about and saw Sandy looking so gloomy.

  Sandy shook her head. "I'm engaged, that's what is wrong."

  Letty's brow rose, and Sandy now had her full attention. "I thought you were happy about it. I thought you were in love…"

  "Yeah…well. I just realized I'm engaged to a man I barely know. Don't ask me what woke me up. But I was sitting in his f
olk's living room today, and everyone was staring at my ring, when I decided I was making a huge mistake." She glanced at Letty and saw her eyes roll. "I know it sounds awful, but the ring is gaudy. And I'm not sure we have enough in common. And he drinks too much. And I'm in way over my head."

  Letty nodded. "At least you are beginning to see."

  "His folks love my money, not me, and I have no idea how to get out of this, gracefully." Sandy squirmed on the bed. "Please don't tell me you told me so. I just couldn't handle it. I must have been out of my mind to accept his proposal."

  "Wow…you've been doing some heavy thinking, haven't you?" Letty smiled and came closer. "I'm glad you came to your senses though. I'm just glad I am not the one that pointed it out to you."

  Blankness covered Sandy's face. She started to say something, blinked then shut her mouth.

  Surprise and bafflement clouded her better thinking. But the hopelessness weighed her down.

  "What am I going to do, Letty?"

  Letty sat beside her and took her hand. "First of all, calm down. It's not the end of the world. You're only engaged, not married. Lots of people break engagements. In fact, you've discovered your mistake in good time. You weren't planning on marrying him for some time anyway. So you do have some time to play with. But above all, for your sake and mine, please be sure this time how you feel about this Chad…."

  Sandy nodded woodenly. "Sure…I've got a little time, don't I?"

  "Of course you do," Letty assured her. "You don't have to rush into or out of anything, yet."

  "How could I let him take such control?"

  "It's easy, he's obviously persuasive. That's part of it. He's controlling you and that you have to stop now. If you snap out of this and show him the real Sandy McKay, he might call off the wedding himself."

  Sandy frowned and looked into Letty's eyes. "Did you just insult me?"

  "No, not really. It was a compliment. At least it's a McKay compliment. Deep down you know your own mind as well as the rest of us. But you aren't the kind to let a man take you over. That much I'm sure of. Now you've got to take back the control."

  "How do I do that?"

  Letty puzzled over it a moment. "In order to lose a man you don't want, you have to make him not like you. Figure out what he likes about you, and then do the opposite."

  Sandy closed her eyes and shook her head. "He's not in love with me anyway. He's in love with the money. Why didn't I see this coming?"

  "Charm maybe, a need to be blinded. Bombarded with his own controlling nature, he blindsided you. Many reasons make up a mistake. Just make sure he doesn't end up controlling you, forever." Letty smiled.

  "How did you know and I not see?"

  "Love is blind…haven't you heard?" Letty laughed.

  "You know…you warned me about Mike. So I backed off of letting anything happen between us."

  "Was something happening?" Letty quizzed.

  "I don't know, but I'm not so sure now…" Sandy almost whispered. "Things are changing. And I care for him a great deal. Maybe more than I realized."

  "What are you talking about?" Letty insisted on knowing more.

  "Well, ever since I saw him in my bed…I look at him differently," Sandy admitted, biting her lower lip. When she realized Letty was staring with an open mouth, she continued. "There he was, his hair mussed, his cheek unshaven, his shirt unbuttoned. I couldn't help but stare…and react. Well, for gosh sakes he was in my bed. I kept imagining him with no clothes on. I couldn't get it out of my mind."

  "Sandy, you can't go from one to the other. Especially when they are brothers."

  "I know…but…he almost kissed me today. And I can't help thinking I wished he had," Sandy said, hanging her head.

  "Oh my God, you are hopeless…" Letty threw a pillow at her.

  ~*~

  Letty and Mike were talking on the porch a few mornings later, when Sandy came down the stairs and overheard them. "Sure, you can do the shoot here. Just let Caleb or Cade know that you are doing it, so they don't stumble upon you."

  "Thanks, it's just this is more a nature type shot and I thought your pastureland was one of the best places," Mike explained.

  "Thanks Letty." The girl on Mike's arm smiled. "We really have to get this shoot done today."

  She pulled Mike by the arm.

  Letty nodded and stared at the action.

  Sandy edged toward the door. "I can take them where ever they want."

  Mike smiled. "That would be great. Sure you don't mind?"

  "Of course not. I wouldn't offer if I minded." She smiled back and backed away. "Just let me change my clothes."

  Mike nodded.

  The girl on his arm pouted.

  An hour later, Sandy was driving them to a tree filled pastureland and Mike scouted the area for the best spots to work in. He pointed to several areas and before long he was setting up his gear and Selma was changing outfits behind a bush.

  The girl introduced herself to Sandy when she came out. "I'm Selma."

  "Sandy, pleased to meet you. Have you been modeling long?"

  "No, only a few months. Mike is just so good at this, isn't he?" She managed to capture his attention and smiled at him. "Isn't he gorgeous?"

  "Oh yeah, just gorgeous," Sandy agreed.

  Mike looked uncomfortable, but managed a nervous looking smile.

  "Okay, want me to wait to drive you back, or come back later?" Sandy asked as she headed for the driver's side.

  "We'll be fine…" the girl managed, pulling Mike by the arm.

  "Why don't you hang around? You know this area better than I. We might step in a chug hole or something," Mike suggested as he got his gear out of the back. "I feel more comfortable when you are around." He shot her a hooded glance.

  "Sure…" Sandy agreed.

  The young woman seemed annoyed that he asked her to stay, but Sandy shied away from them both.

  She watched them work for nearly an hour. When the girl got tired she began to complain about Mike pushing her for more. She had to admit; Selma did know her job and was so graceful, she was sure Mike got a lot of good shots. She'd watch him film quite a few girls, and although young, Selma was very good at knowing just what to do.

  "Honestly darling, I wish you didn't work me so hard. Are you still taking me out tonight?" Selma asked, her lips pouting once more for a kiss that never came.

  Mike was busy looking at all of the shots he took on the camcorder. "These are looking good. I'm about to make you a star," he declared. "And no, I'm not taking you out anywhere tonight. I told you that doesn't work. Either you want a career or not. Make up your mind."

  "But Mike, it wouldn't be an actual date, just dinner?" the girl gushed. She tiptoed and kissed his cheek leaving a big red mark.

  Mike smiled and that's when the girl reached up to put her ruby lips against his in a kiss that left no doubt that she planned to seduce him tonight.

  Sandy squirmed. She shouldn't be their audience. She got in the car and waited for them to load the equipment. Despite the fact that she hadn't uttered one word, she felt the greatest urge to choke the steering wheel.

  Mike motioned for her to roll the window down. He leaned toward her. "I'm sorry about that. She's new, and doesn't understand the rules."

  "The rules?" Sandy's brow went up.

  "Never get involved." Mike smiled.

  "Oh yeah…well…"

  But as Sandy planned a great come-back to that, the girl started screaming, and Mike ran around the car to her. Sandy jerked open the door and ran too.

  "A snake…" the girl reeked. "It bit me…"

  Selma slowly sank to the ground.

  "What kind of snake was it, do you know?" Mike asked, picking her up in his arms.

  "I don't know, it had a funny, noisy tail though."

  "Rattlesnake!" Mike and Sandy said at the same time.

  "Oh we've got to get her back to the ranch. Wade has a snake-bite kit; he carries it about the ranch for emergencies like this. B
ut we don't have a lot of time. So we'll have to hurry. We need to find Wade. Can you see if you can raise him on the two-way?" Sandy asked as she moved to open the car door for Mike and the girl.

  Mike nodded. "Sure…"

  As Sandy drove recklessly fast over uneven ground, Mike took the receiver in his hand.

  "Mayday. Mayday. Got a snake bite here. Anyone out there hear me?"

  "Did you say snake bite?" A deep voice answered from the other end.

  "Yeah."

  "Where you located?."

  Mike glanced at Sandy.

  Sandy grabbed the receiver. "We're about a mile out of the south pasture, Wade. You still have that snake bite kit on you?"

  "Sure do, kiddo, in my truck. I'm on my way. I should meet you in a minute," Wade said, his voice strained from concern.

  "Thanks." Sandy laid the receiver down. The girl was practically in Mike's lap, and she was fainting off and on. Her dress was mangled around Mike and coming loose at the most exposing places. Mike seemed to ignore it.

  "Thank God." Mike shook his head. "If you hadn't been with us, I don't know what might have happened. I wouldn't have known who to contact, or where to go."

  Mike glanced at her ankle where the snake had bitten her. It was swelling, he propped her leg up on the seat.

  Sandy nodded and then glanced at the girl. "It's always best to take someone along that knows the territory."

  The beautiful outfit Selma was wearing seemed to fade against her paling skin. She moaned a little.

  "Try to keep her from moving around," Sandy instructed.

  Wade pulled up in front of the jeep and jerked a box out of the back of his truck.

  Mike carried the girl to his side.

  "Lay her down, and let me get this ready. After I give her the injection, she needs to go on to the hospital. Just to be sure," Wade commanded. "You'll have to let them know what I've given her, so they don't repeat it. It's real important that she doesn't have a reaction to the venom I'm giving her."

  Mike nodded. "I'm impressed you carry something like that around."

  "Ever since one of my men got bit, I figured I'd better invest in this kit so we could treat them as quickly as possible. Joe Sanchez wasn't as lucky, we didn't have a kit then. Only takes once and you learn," Wade assured them. "It scared me then, and it scares me now. But I have been instructed on how much to administer and where. So I don't fall apart now. I only wish I had thought of it sooner. Rattlesnakes are kind of like having a swimming pool in the backyard. You gotta have someone who knows what to do. I learned, and fast."