No One to Trust - Iris Johansen [31]
The memory gave him a burst of pleasure that was part sexual and part heady triumph. He was almost glad Gomez had failed. He had forgotten the sheer enjoyment of making her submit to him. He had never felt stronger or more the conqueror than in those last days with her. It would be good to have a little quality time with Elena before he cut her heart out.
“It’s beautiful.” Elena looked out at the blue mountains in the distance. “I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s so … wild.”
“And Colombia isn’t?” Galen leaned out the window and punched in the number on the electronic gates. “But I know what you mean. Barrenness has a power of its own.”
“It’s not really barren,” Dominic said. “A little stark. Is it your ranch?”
“Yes.” Galen drove through the gates and they swung closed behind the jeep. “I occasionally come up here to relax.”
“Livestock?”
Galen shook his head. “Too much commitment. You have to take care of livestock. Or hire someone else to do it, and then I’d have to have them report to me. A regular Pandora’s box. It would defeat the purpose of coming here to relax.”
“When was the last time you came here?” Elena asked.
He thought about it. “About three months ago … I think.”
“Then you must not need to relax very often.”
He shrugged. “I get bored.”
She stared at him appraisingly. “I bet you do.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” Her glance shifted to the ranch house. “This place is huge.”
“I never liked to rough it. I did too much of it when I was a kid.”
“Where was that?”
“In Liverpool. And other places.” He parked in front of the long wraparound front porch. “My mum always believed that if one place was good, the next was sure to be better.” He got out of the jeep. “Come on, Barry. I’ll show you the barn. There’s a hayloft you’ll appreciate.”
“Later,” Elena said. “I want to take a look. You can never tell what kind of creatures may be in that hay.”
“It’s clean.” A man dressed in jeans and a denim shirt had come out of the house. “When Galen called, I went to town and bought a few bales.”
Elena went rigid.
“It’s okay,” Galen told her quickly. “This is Judd Morgan. He’s sort of the caretaker here. He’s harmless.”
He didn’t look harmless. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, was tall and lean, and gave the impression of whipcord strength. Pale blue eyes were deep set in a face that was planed, chiseled, and hard. Very hard.
“How do you do?” Morgan said. “I assume you’re Elena Kyler. The boy will be all right. I cleaned out the barn two weeks ago, and the only varmints are the kittens and Mac, my German shepherd. He’s gentle.”
“A puppy?” Barry’s eyes lit up.
“Well, not exactly a puppy. He only acts like one.”
“This is Dominic Sanders,” Galen said solemnly. “He was once a priest. I brought him here to save your soul.”
“I’ll let him practice on you. I’m a bigger challenge.” Morgan shook Dominic’s hand before turning his gaze on Galen. “Any news for me from Logan?”
Galen shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Damn.” He turned back toward the house. “I’ll show you to your rooms. It’s a surprisingly nice place considering Galen’s lack of good taste.”
“Mama, may I go to the barn?” Barry asked.
She couldn’t resist the eagerness in his expression. “For a little while. You need a bath before dinner.”
“He’ll have plenty of time.” Galen took his hand and they turned away. “I’m planning a gourmet meal for our first night. Perfection doesn’t happen without effort.”
“Neither does modesty,” Morgan murmured.
“Come on, Barry. This denigration of my sterling character isn’t for your ears.”
Morgan led Elena and Dominic into the house. A cathedral ceiling gave the living room an open, airy look and the chenille-upholstered furniture provided a contrasting coziness.
“Five bedrooms, four baths on the second floor,” Morgan said. “Game room, library, kitchen, dining room, living room, and several other rooms on the main. Do you want the grand tour or to see just your bedrooms?”
“The bedrooms,” Elena said.
Morgan nodded and led them toward the staircase. “The first bedroom on the right has a smaller adjoining