Lonesome Creek (The Westerners, Book 3)

You’re breaking up with me?

Stuck in a traffic jam in downtown Sacramento, Carrie Bendix was sandwiched in a line of cars stretching for miles before her and miles behind her. Resistance was futile and she knew she’d be living in this traffic the rest of her natural life.

Are you kidding? This isn’t the least bit funny, Barry. I’m stuck in…

… Sorry, Carrie, said the voice on the other end of the call. …But this isn’t working for me. You know, being at your beck and call. Just not my scene.

"Beck and call? Not your scene?" she squeaked holding the phone away from her ear.

…My neighbor says our names rhyme, which is a bad sign – Barry and Carrie – See what I mean?

Your neighbor, the sexy astrologer?

Yeah, his voice dropped an octave… Miranda.

You’ve already slept with her, haven’t you, Barry? Besides seething, she was perspiring profusely and squirmed in her seat, trying to get her air conditioner to turn on. She smacked the dash when it blew out a puff of air, sputtered and died.

Well, maybe… okay, yes. What’s that say about our relationship, Carrie, if I want to sleep with other women? Huh?

It says, she screamed in the phone, that you’re an asshole! That’s what it says. We are so history! She snapped the phone shut and threw it across the car.

Damn it! she screamed again before realizing her window was open. The guy across from her in the next car over had obviously gotten an earful and was grinning with a mouthful of food. When she glared at him, he laughed so heartily that he blew the food all over her car. A piece of lettuce hit her nose.

It was that kind of day.

* * *

CHAPTER 2

Honest to God, Megan. That’s what he said to me!

What were you doing with an out-of-work actor anyway, Carrie. You brought this on yourself.

What? Glancing around the office, Carrie knew she was too loud and quickly lowered her voice, practically whispering into her phone. Megan… if you will recall, you lined me up with him. ‘Cute guy at your gym. I just have to meet him.’ Well? That does ring any bells?

Just can’t win them all, sis. Aren’t you at work?

Oh, yes… The big boss called me ‘that girl’ yesterday and my immediate boss hinted that he needed a cup of coffee, which I, of course, got for him. I thought the seventies were over. Whatever happened to women’s lib?

Well, just hang in there, Carrie. You’ve got enough school debt to choke a horse and you need that job. It’s pretty good and you could make six figures in two years.

Yes, yes… I know. She exhaled audibly. …If I can just hang in there is right. I’ll try.

There was a knock on the frame of her open door and a good-looking man in an expensive, midnight blue, double-breasted suit glanced in at her. Carrie noticed his silver hair had recently been styled and his dark eyes locked in on hers too quickly. She swallowed and ended the call.

May I come in? said a velvety-smooth voice.

Please, Mr. Jarvitz, she rose and motioned him in. Come in.

Gliding, she noticed, Jarvitz didn’t walk. He floated on a cushion of air like the cushion of wealth that surrounded and nourished him. As he sat on one of the chairs before her, his subtle aftershave filled her nose and she came from behind the desk to sit with him. He was her boss and had hired her. Although she had graduated top of her class at law school, she had a nagging feeling that there were other reasons as to why she’d gotten such a prestigious job right out of graduation.

She nervously touched the clip holding back her mass of long, dark hair and fixed her hazel eyes on his forehead, instead of his searing eyes. Carrie prayed she could hang in there like Megan suggested.

It might be a hard hang.

He settled into the chair, checking her out as she sat by him. Jarvitz turned a few inches to have a better look at her, she presumed. Carrie smoothed the wrinkles from her woolen suit, glancing at him, wondering the reason for the visit.

Carrie. His soothing voice didn’t really soothe her. His mere presence was a bit unnerving and she often wondered why. So many women in the office and everywhere else in the world seemed charmed by him. He made her squirm with that unrelenting stare.

Mr. Jarvitz. Nice to see you. What can I do for you?

Oh, Carrie, he said reaching over to softly pat her hand. It’s what I can do for you.

… Sir?

You’ve been putting in some pretty long hours. What’s that doing to your love life?

Oh, ha. Um, everything’s just fine. Here’s that report I’ve been working on for the Collier account.

He skimmed a few pages, stealing a glance or two at her while doing so. Looks good. I’ll check it more thoroughly later. He sat the report on her desk. How about some lunch?

Carrie looked at her watch, her brows knit. It’s only eleven, sir.

Jacob, he soothed. Please call me Jacob.

Jacob, it’s early for lunch, isn’t it?

Rising, he touched her shoulder. It’s never too early for lunch. Come. Jarvitz held out his hand to help her up. Besides, I have something to discuss with you. Business-related, of course, he added smoothly.

He drove them to a chic restaurant in the most fashionable part of the city in his sleek, new Mercedes. The rich leather smell added to the already perfumed air making Carrie almost woozy. Too many rich smells all at once.

The obsequious waiter turned up his nose at her behind Mr. Jarvitz’s back. She felt ill at ease. After Jarvitz had ordered lunch and wine for them both, he got down to business.

You’re on a fast-track, Carrie. He nodded at the tuxedoed waiter with white gloves pouring a taste of elegant wine. Taking a sip, he nodded again, the waiter expertly poured both glasses and left discreetly.

I want to groom you for partner. You think your hours are bad now, wait until you make full partner. They’re brutal. He cocked his head at her. Think you can handle it?

Her eyes blinked, astonished. Mr. Jarvitz, Jacob, she amended at the tiny shake of his head. This is only my second year at the firm. I… You want to submit my name for consideration? Already? I…

I know quality when I see it, Carrie, and you’ve got it. Taste, looks, brains… You’re exactly what this firm is looking for to expand our client base and we knew that when we hired you. The work you’ve done since has been outstanding. Truly outstanding.

She blushed this time, refolding the linen napkin in her lap. Well, ah, if the other partners agree with you.

He reached over to put his hand on hers. You just need some polishing, which I can help you with.

You… she cleared her throat. What kind of polishing, sir?

Jacob, please. He squeezed her hand and then let go.

She tensed and grabbed her water glass for a big drink. Jacob.

Lunch arrived and he took his time prepping his food – cutting, salting, moving things around on his plate until everything was just so. After he chewed and swallowed a small bite, Jarvitz wiped his mouth, smiled and began again.

I’d like to make appointments for you with a stylist, personal shopper and make-up artist. All at company expense.

Her jaw dropped. Do I look that bad?

His laugh was small and breathy. No, of course not. You look terrific. But you’ll be dealing with some very wealthy people for some of this new work we’re sending your way and you need to look the part. You know, he angled his head at her, wealthy… like the clients. Also, Jarvitz took another bite, chewed and swallowed. Your car needs replacing. The company will lease a new Mercedes or BMW that you can use for personal use as well.

By this time, Carrie sat stock-still, in shock. Eyes wide, she pushed back wisps of dark hair that had fallen around her face and tried to make sense of what she’d just heard. It was just too good to be true. And what had her mother always told her about that? She tried not to breathe through her mouth.

He was waiting for an answer and appeared mildly surprised that she hadn’t responded.

Carrie? What do you think?

She couldn’t… couldn’t think. Too much, too fast and Carrie bet her bottom dollar that seductive strings would be attached. What to do.

* * *

CHAPTER 3

Seductive strings prevailed. Carrie had nodded and smiled at the infamous lunch that had set her up in grand style. She put in the long hours with new clothes, new makeup, hairstyle and car. She was happy to see other relatively new lawyers at the firm getting the gold standard treatment as well, so maybe it was her law skills that had turned the tide. Then why did she feel half scared most of the time?

Her sister told her to enjoy it while it lasted and life had become very good indeed. It wasn’t a hardship to drive around town in a new luxury car with tinted glass and people probably wondering who was inside. Her old boyfriend, Barry, took notice and wanted to come back. He said the sexy astrologer that he’d left her for, had her moon in someone else’s house. Carrie told him to drop dead.

Then came the day Jacob Jarvitz knocked on the doorframe of her newly decorated corner office. The one with the big windows and grand view of the downtown city.

Carrie. Got a minute? He dazzled in a gray pinstriped suit, snowy white shirt and dark gray tie. Jarvitz looked good and he knew it.

Sure, she smiled. Let me get these papers into a folder and I have a few minutes.

Great. He floated in and settled on one of her comfortable new chintz chairs. Glancing around, he said, Your new office is beautiful. Did you help the decorator at all?

She shook her head. No time, which you very well know.

He quietly chuckled. I guess you have been pretty busy. Have you finished the Taylor account?

Yes, sir. I worked with Brody next door, as you suggested, and we finished the property appraisals and taxation reports just last night. I’m tying up loose ends today.

Excellent. I knew you’d do well.

She rose gracefully and moved around the desk to sit by him.

Carrie… He touched her hand.

Although she was used to his hand touching, it never gave her much pleasure. Sir?

The other partners passed the Meryweather account to me and I’ve decided to pass it to you.

Carrie wanted to smack her head to stop the brain cells from pinging around her brain like BBs in a boxcar. Meryweather, sir? Me? You want me on the Meryweather account? Every lawyer in the firm wants that business. Why me?

Because, he purred, you’re the best lawyer for the case. We’ll be flying to New York in two days to meet with Mr. Meryweather to see how we can assist him with the building purchases here in California and that hotel in Dubai. It’s a big step for you, Carrie.

She rubbed her eyes. It’s unbelievable, is what it is. Do you really think I’m ready?

I do. New York this week, Dubai next month. It’s the chance of a lifetime in your career, Carrie. Are you with me?

Yes, sir. Where do I sign up?

He laughed brightly and rose. My assistant will call you this afternoon with the details you’ll need. Just pack what she tells you and we’ll be off to New York for a few days. A working vacation, as it were.

She tried to keep her face bland at that, but her brows furrowed anyway. He had walked out her door already and she exhaled that huge breath she’d been holding. It was the career step of a lifetime! Carrie got on the phone to her sister.

* * *

CHAPTER 4

It arrived by mail that morning. Saturday was finally a day off for Carrie and she had called her sister to come for breakfast. The letter sat on the table between them.

Who sent it?

Another law firm here in Sacramento.

Did you know anything about this?

Nothing. I didn’t even know that Uncle Bill had died. Did you, Megan?

No. Nothing. With Mom and Dad gone, we just don’t hear much from our country relatives anymore. I guess, she started and stopped, we should have kept in better touch ourselves.

Carrie nodded, sticking her knife in the jar to smear more strawberry jelly on her toast.

You’re right and I’m sorry we didn’t. We were both going to school and establishing jobs, and it all just got away from us. Uncle Bill was a wonderful man. We had such fun on his ranch in the summers, remember?

Megan sipped her orange juice and nodded. I do. He had all those beautiful horses, her blue eyes sparkled. We would ride every day and then comb the horses out, watch the farrier put on new shoes.

He had that trail-riding business one summer. Do you remember that? Carrie bit into her toast with a loud crunch.

Absolutely, we’d ride out with tourists for the day. I remember one time we were told to look out for bears…

…And we saw one! A big black bear, she shivered. Scared the crap out of us, but Uncle Bill just laughed. Said we were being city slickers.

The town of Murphys is such a great place too. So low-key, everyone knows everyone else and are so ready to help if you have some trouble.

Ha, laughed Carrie. I remember very well that you called it Mayberry, RFD!

"Okay, yeah, but it was still fun going