The Untameable Texan

The Untameable Texan - Part 1

CHAPTER ONE

Texas financier Jed Farrell always gets what he wants, except when it comes to the one who got away. Now he's here to settle old scores with his high school sweetheart at their ten-year reunion..

Jed Farrell didn't believe in ghosts. But being haunted? That was another story.

He looked in the mirror and straightened his crimson and navy tie, trying to ignore the sizzle of anticipation that made his hands shake. Tonight he was going to exhume the past. He wanted answers to questions. Answers he should have asked for long ago. And he wanted to see the woman who had once broken his heart.

The organ in question was far tougher now; in fact, it was almost impervious to feminine manipulation. But once upon a time he had been a naive kid without defenses. Fortunately, he'd gotten over the girl. But her memory danced through his dreams now and again. His most recent romantic relationship had crashed and burned, leaving him to ruefully acknowledge that he'd never been involved with a woman for longer than six months.

There had to be a reason for that. He had a sinking feeling he knew what it was. Tonight's high school reunion was the perfect setting for rehashing the past and seeking clarity. She would be there. And so would he.

His white dress shirt and dark gray suit were appropriate for his role as businessman, but he would have been just as happy in the jeans and cotton Henley he'd worn earlier today. The ostensible reason for this trip from Dallas was to help his brother, Drew. The two siblings owned Willowbrook Farms jointly, although Jed was mostly a silent partner. He came home on a regular basis to visit and help make decisions about the ranch when necessary.

The high-end horse farm produced thoroughbreds for well-heeled buyers worldwide. Jed was proud to be a part of the endeavor. By virtue of his role as co-owner, he was a member of Royal's Texas Cattleman's Club, the historic venue where old Texas families socialized and struck business deals. But he spent far more time at the Dallas branch.

The ranch was several miles from civilization, which suited Jed just fine. Even during trips home, he avoided Royal proper as much as possible. The town held a lot of good memories, but one bad one that tied a knot in his gut. During the festivities this weekend, he planned to deal with that situation once and for all. Class reunions were notorious for making people uncomfortable. Because this one included multiple years of graduates, Jed hoped the larger crowd would make it possible for him to look for her unnoticed.

Kimberly Fanning. The only woman who had ever seriously dented his heart. Jed wasn't conceited. He didn't expect every female he met to fall at his feet. But he and Kimberly had been more than mere acquaintances. A hell of a lot more.

He checked his watch and bent down to give one last buff to his black and gray cowboy boots. He much preferred his well-broken-in everyday pair, but tonight's event, already underway in the hotel's ballroom downstairs, was semiformal. Besides, when a man battled demons from the past, it seemed only logical to wear the appropriate armor.

For reasons he wasn't prepared to examine too closely, he had booked the hotel's one suite, a luxurious accommodation filled with priceless antiques, fresh flowers and a bed the size of a small country. He could easily have driven back and forth to the ranch, but this setup afforded him privacy as well as the opportunity to have a few drinks if he desired. Beyond that, he had no other concrete plans. With life, though, as in business, it never hurt to be prepared.

The hotel was only four stories tall. Royal didn't have a need for skyscrapers. The town was the hub of Maverick County's horse and cattle operations. Land that had been handed down generation after generation through old Texas families sprawled in every direction.