Chapter 1

Alice

Alice White was young, but she was no push over. People underestimated her all the time, especially men. She was a natural beauty, with silky blonde hair that landed just above her shoulders, and a smile that could halt a bull, if you were fortunate enough to receive one.

Her deep blue eyes held the wisdom of a woman three times her age. She was one of those gals who was sexy without even trying, mainly because she wasn’t concerned with that sort of thing.

Most of the time she wore jeans with a tank top, and a long-sleeved plaid shirt rolled up to her elbows. Her favorite cowboy boots were worn in, scuffed up, and comfortable as hell.

She wore her confidence like an accessory. It shone from her like a precious stone. It was in the way she walked and talked. Her head was always held high, and she had a wit that spoke to her intelligence and humor. She was an all-American cowgirl, comfortable in her own skin.

She had experienced more life in her twenty-nine years than most people her age, but it only made her more determined. She didn’t take crap from anyone, and she could smell bullshit a mile away. She was a straight shooter and expected the same from others.

Alice was often tested by men trying to take advantage of her youth, but in a male dominated industry, it went with the territory. They often assumed she was soft or naive, but she was always quick to prove them wrong. She had earned the respect of all the old cowboys in her neck of the woods, because they admired her work ethic and grit, and she had plenty to spare.

As feisty as Alice was, she was also fair and decent, and would give the shirt off her back to help anyone in need. She stayed out of trouble, and preferred to expend her energy on the ranch. She adored her life, and although it was a lot of hard work for very little pay, she loved the land and she loved her horses. She was a country girl and whether it was work or play, she liked the sun in her hair and dirt under her nails.

She was not as comfortable in the city but she managed well enough. Sacramento was a beautiful place, but she was grateful she didn’t have to spend more than a few hours there. It always triggered sadness for her. She had found herself there only a few times in her life, and it was always unpleasant.

The first time was a few days before her wedding, about six years earlier.

* * *

It had been the worst night of her life.

She and her fiancé were there waiting for a flight to Puerto Vallarta, where they planned to wed. They had a hotel by the airport, and were spending the night before their early morning flight. Her parents and other guests were following a few days later, but she and Jerry wanted to arrive at the resort a few days ahead to make sure everything was in order.

Her maid of honor, Lane, and Jerry’s best man, Josh, were traveling with them. Lane and Alice were sharing a room, obliging Josh and Jerry to bunk together. Although Alice and Jerry had already been intimate, they decided to stop having sex a few weeks earlier, so that their wedding night would be extra special and passionate.

Alice was filled with excitement and anticipation. Young brides usually were. They arrived at the hotel just before dinner, and decided to stay nearby and enjoy a meal at the hotel restaurant. It was long and leisurely, with plenty of beer, laughing, and talking about their upcoming nuptials.

Jerry excused himself, stating he needed to make some phone calls. He winked at his bride and promised to be back within the hour, encouraging everyone to stay behind and enjoy a few more drinks. Lane asked him if he would mind walking her back to her room because she had a headache and wanted to lay down. Alice didn’t mind. She was too excited to sleep and said she would hang out with Josh and watch the rest of the baseball game until Jerry returned.

More than a half hour passed and Alice started to get restless. Although she and Josh were quite content in each other’s company, she wanted to see her groom, maybe tease him with hot kisses and well-placed caresses. She asked Josh if he would mind waiting twenty minutes or so before he made his way back to his room. He understood the intention, and with a hearty laugh agreed to give them some alone time. He promised to make an obnoxious amount of noise to signal his return, and gave her his room key.

Alice gave him a friendly hug and stumbled her way through the hallways to find her groom. When she arrived there, she slipped the key card into the slot and stepped inside, expecting to see Jerry on his phone or relaxing on the bed. Instead, he was taking a shower. He had tossed his keys and cellphone on the mattress, and she carefully crawled over them and made herself comfortable on his bed, waiting for him to finish up. Jerry never took long showers, so she anticipated a short wait.

His cell phone chirped, signaling a text message. Then it chirped a second and a third time.

Alice wasn’t nosy by nature, but her curiosity pulled at her. It wasn’t typical for her and Jerry to read each other’s messages, but they never kept secrets from one another. She wondered if it was about the wedding, maybe a text from his Mom about the resort or their upcoming flights.

She picked up his phone and opened the message icon. It was from Lane.

That was a hot kiss. It made me wet! I can still feel your hands on me. xo

You are not married yet. ;)

After Alice falls asleep I’ll text you. Meet me at the truck. I want to fuck you one more time before you wear that ball and chain. LOL

Alice stared at the words for several minutes trying to process them. Was Jerry cheating on her with Lane? How long had this been going on? They were getting married in three days! How could he do this? Jerry had been her boyfriend since high school, and she had never once suspected him of being unfaithful.

Her hands started to shake and she dropped the phone down on the bed, as though it were suddenly too hot to handle.

The water turned off and she could hear Jerry whistling, as though he hadn’t a care in the world. Alice could feel her tears welling up. She wasn’t sure what to do. Everything in her was telling her to run, but she knew she had to confront him.

Jerry opened the bathroom door and stepped into the bedroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. He stopped suddenly when he saw Alice sitting on his bed, and smiled seductively at her. He sauntered over to the bed, hoping that his bride-to-be was there for some action. He stopped short when he saw her face.

Alice picked up the phone and handed it to him, insisting he check his messages. He shrugged and took the phone from her, his brows raised. He looked at her after he read the message, his lips tight with regret. Alice didn’t say a word, but instead listened cynically while Jerry explained himself.

He told her that he loved her, and that Lane didn’t mean anything to him. He said that they had fucked only a few times and that they were ending things. He didn’t want to lose what he had with Alice, he wanted her to be his wife and that had to mean something, didn’t it?

A small part of Alice wanted to believe him, but mostly she just wanted to throw up. She knew she could never be with him again without thinking about the betrayal, and that wasn’t how she’d imagined starting their life together.

She said she didn’t know what was worse, the fact that he slept with her best friend, or the fact that he was willing to throw away their relationship for something that didn’t mean anything to him. He sat on the side of the bed in just his towel, looking vulnerable and weak. He had no words to offer her.

She’d suddenly seen him for the man he was, and it sickened her. She wanted to leave his room with grace and dignity, but her body double-crossed her. She had only had seconds to decide, throw up on the floor or run for the bathroom. She chose the latter and retched into the toilet, purging her anger, grief, and revulsion.

She felt completely empty.

Jerry was sitting on the bed when she returned, but he had taken the time to pull on his jeans. His eyes were downcast, his posture filled with regret. Alice didn’t known what was going to happen next, but she knew she never wanted to see him again. She told him it was over, left his room calmly, and made her way back to the bar to find Josh.

She told him what happened and asked for his help. He agreed to take her home in the morning.

She didn’t want to confront Lane, so Josh went to her room to gather Alice’s things while she went to the front desk to inquire about a new room. She spent the night alone, grieving her lost love and the loss of the future she thought they had together.

The next morning Josh drove her home. They didn’t talk about Jerry or Lane or the wedding. Instead she took that time to gather her thoughts and decide what needed to happen next. When she got home, she told her parents what had happened and called off the wedding. Just like that.

Jerry tried to reach out to her a few weeks later, but Alice refused to see him. What was the point. As far as she was concerned, loyalty was not something to be bartered with or negotiated. Just like integrity, you either had it or you didn’t. She didn’t want to be married to someone that didn’t understand that.

She later found out that Jerry took Lane to Mexico. Josh told her that Jerry saw no reason to waste all the money he had invested so he decided to go anyway. It was at that point that Alice decided that she had dodged a bullet, and that Jerry and Lane deserved each other.

* * *

Alice finally found a parking lot close to the office building where she needed to be. She made her way down the block, smiling kindly at strangers as she passed them by. She walked by a homeless man, taking a knee beside him. She asked if he had eaten breakfast that day and he admitted he hadn’t. She took ten dollars out of her purse and handed it to him before continuing on her way.

She was in no hurry to get where she had to be. Quite frankly, she resented having to go, but she had to put an end to the harassment once and for all. She was meeting with the Hunter-Johnston Property Group. They were a developing company trying to purchase her land. For the past six months, they had been in communication with her. At first it was pleasant enough, but they soon became aggressive and demanding, threatening to make her life miserable if she didn’t sell. They even approached her ranch hands and tried to buy them off, promising them oodles of money if they would leave her high and dry. The young ones agreed and left her without notice, but a few were loyal and promised to stick by her.

She was done playing their games. She knew her land was important to them. Hunter-Johnson specialized in high end vacation properties, and were planning to build a large condominium development in Mendocino. They had already purchased four or five miles of coastline but Alice’s pretty ranch was smack dab in the middle, one and a quarter miles of pristine waterfront property with a natural grading to a black sand beach.

It was the gem in the crown, and they wanted it.

For Alice, it wasn’t about the money. The ranch had been in her family since her grandfather had purchased it sixty years ago. Her parents took over the ranch just before Alice was born, and continued to grow the business, raising sheep and horses. They taught Alice the ins and outs of ranch life from a very early age, and she loved it. After her parents died the ranch was left to her.

Although the declining economy had made it challenging the past few years, she was determined to hold on. She knew that she could turn things around. She had ideas. Giving up the ranch was not an option. She had way too much invested, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This land was bred in her bones.

* * *

The very last time she found herself in Sacramento was four years ago. She was in a good place, finally moving on from her grief over Jerry. She had worked through the fallout and all the messy emotions that torture people after relationships end badly.

Jerry had moved on, taking his new bride Lane to the other side of the country to start their life, away from the gossip and judgment that plagued them. Alice was grateful that he was gone. There was plenty of drama following their split that each of them had to process and work through. More than they bargained for.

Ultimately, Jerry made the choice to leave and it was the best decision for everyone. Alice didn’t want him in her life anymore, and she was tired of being pitied. She knew that people meant well, but in some ways it confined her to the role of ‘scorned woman,’ a victim, so to speak. She was ready to move forward and live her life.

She had grown so much from the experience and she felt stronger for it. Unfortunately, whenever someone who knew her story would see her, they would offer solemn glances or speak to her in hushed tones, digging up that emotional time capsule again, and again, forcing her to revisit the pain and humiliation.

When Jerry left it was as if all the dust settled and everyone could finally breathe again. He took their sad story with him and Alice was instantly free.

She blossomed after he left, everything seeming fresh and new. No longer forced to carry the burden of pity, she became more confident and sure of herself. Life was good again, her future brighter.

Then the accident happened.

It was February. Her parents were celebrating their twenty-sixth wedding anniversary, on Valentine’s Day, with a romantic weekend in Sacramento. They left early on a Friday morning, leaving Alice in charge of the ranch. She had been taking more of a leadership role in the day to day functions with her father’s encouragement. He took great pride in teaching her the ropes of running the family business and she was proving herself to be not only a competent manager, but also offered a fresh perspective. Her youthful enthusiasm was infectious and her Dad was excited to explore the new ideas that she presented.

She got the call from the hospital at nine on the Saturday night. Her parents had been in a car accident. They were on their way to dinner when a transport truck blew through a red light, t-boning their pick-up in the intersection. Her mother took the brunt force as it slammed into the passenger side, killing her instantly. Her father had life threatening injuries and was rushed into emergency surgery.

The trucker walked away with only minor injuries but would most certainly carry a heavy burden through the rest of his life. He reached out to Alice a few months later, his heart filled with shame and grief over what had occurred. He told her that that the heavy rain pooling under his wheels caused his truck to hydroplane. He couldn’t stop in time.

Alice was still working through her own grief but she also knew that forgiveness was the fastest path to healing, for both of them. She told him that the best way to honor her parents was for him to live his life to the fullest with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. He was a young man, with a wife and two small children. They needed him to be ok. He humbly promised her that he would be a better man and never take his life or his family for granted.

Alice’s father survived the surgery but his injuries were too severe. He passed away two days later, as though he knew that the love of his life was waiting for him on the other side.

Alice was with him when he died. It seemed so surreal. He woke up briefly, his eyes resting on his daughter. He watched her for a few minutes, and if he had any fear or confusion, Alice didn’t detect it. He looked at peace. Because he was on a ventilator, he couldn’t speak to her but he gently squeezed her hand. That reassuring gesture told her everything she needed to know. He loved her. He knew she would be ok. He had faith in her. She kissed his hand and smiled at him. A few minutes later he closed his eyes and crossed over to meet his wife.

* * *

Now here she was, back in Sacramento, haunted by those two life altering experiences. The memories were overwhelming and she felt herself struggling for composure, but she knew she had to stay in control. She wasn’t just fighting for herself. People depended on her and she meant to go to battle for all of them.

She stepped off the elevator and made her way through the glass doors, walking over to the pretty receptionist sitting at her desk. She read the young woman’s name tag and then met her eyes.

“I’m here to speak with Mr. Johnson or Mr. Hunter, Katie,” Alice announced confidently.

Katie looked her up and down, regarding her casual appearance. Maybe she could have put on a dress but this was who she was, cowboy boots and all. Alice smirked at the girl, challenging her to object. She didn’t, offering her a shrug instead.

“May I ask what this is regarding?” she asked robotically.

Alice leaned over the desk, crossing her arms in front of her, offering her famous smile. Her charm was infectious and rarely let her down.

“Well, Katie, I’m here to discuss the offer to purchase my land. Maybe you could pick up that phone and let whomever is interested know that Alice White is here.”

Katie nodded and picked up the phone.

“I’ll let Mr. Johnson know that you are here. He is the C.F.O.,” she explained casually.

Alice smirked.

“Oh, I know who he is, Katie. I have had the misfortune of speaking with him on several occasions.”

Katie nodded, uncertain how to reply.

“They are all in a meeting at the moment, so it may be a bit of a wait,” she explained, slowly punching in an extension.

She gestured for Alice to take a seat. Alice stepped away from the desk to offer Katie some space, but refused to sit down.

She could hear Katie quietly speaking to someone on the other end. Alice looked around the office and noticed that most of the rooms had glass walls. She could clearly see a group of young professionals sitting together at a long table in what was presumably the board room.

As if on cue, several heads turned her way as Katie announced her name. The man at the head of the table stood up. He was quite tall and thin, and the frown on his face made him look grumpy. Although she had only spoken to him on the phone, she was certain this was her adversary, Mr. Johnson, or J.J., as he came to be known.

Katie stood up to show her the way, but Alice waved her back.

“I’m pretty sure I can find my way,” she chirped. “Don’t trouble yourself.”

Alice threw her shoulders back and took a deep breath, summoning her courage. She may have been a fish out of water, but she was nobody’s bait, not even these sharks’.

She walked confidently toward the boardroom, noting that everyone was watching her. Some of the young men were poking one another and grinning. She knew that they were not taking her seriously, but she didn’t mind. She liked that people underestimated her. It gave her an advantage. She opened the door and walked in.

“Miss White.”

The tall man said her name, failing to hide his contempt. She returned his tone, her eyes meeting his.

“Mr. Johnson.”

Without offering her his hand to shake, he nodded and gestured for her to take the empty seat to the right of his chair. She looked around the table, sizing up the room. Most of the chairs were filled with cocky young men, who were looking her up and down. The few women who were in the room stared at her with mild amusement, or contempt, but she wasn’t patient enough to try and discern which. She looked back at their boss and smiled coolly.

“I think I’ll stand.”

Her response brought a few nervous chuckles from the peanut gallery but she didn’t let it shake her.

“Can I offer you some coffee?” he asked, not caring whether she wanted coffee or not.

She shook her head slowly.

“Perhaps a glass of milk?” he quipped, a weak attempt to poke fun at her, she presumed.

He grinned at his minions around the table and they laughed obediently. She grinned back at him, unwavering.

“I’m lactose intolerant,” she replied quickly. “I’m also bullshit intolerant, so perhaps you can cut the crap and we can talk about why I’m here.”

He raised his eyebrows and the room went silent. He slowly looked her up and down, but she patiently waited for his move. If he wanted a pissing contest, she would gladly give it to him. Finally, he sat down and clasped his hands on the table in front of him.

She exhaled slowly, keeping her eyes on him.

“My apologies, Miss White,” he offered flatly, “please, tell us why you are here.”

Alice crossed her arms in front of her.

“I think you’re aware of why I’m here, Mr. Johnson. You have been behaving badly and I’m here to put a stop to it,” she said with certainty.

He raised his brows.

“I see. And just how am I behaving badly?” he asked, not even trying to hide his amusement.

“You have been harassing me since January, sir. You have made several offers to purchase my property and I have declined all of them. When that didn’t work, you started sending me unkind and threatening letters, to intimidate me I assume, and now you’re trying to destroy my livelihood by buying off my staff and leaving me short handed. I’ll not be bullied,” she offered curtly.

He tilted his head, as if sizing her up. Finally he spoke, his tone nothing short of condescending.

“Miss White, this isn’t personal. I’m sure you are a very nice girl. I have nothing against you, and I’m not bullying you. What you call ‘behaving badly’ we call business. We are in business to supply the public what they demand, and they want vacation properties. That is where the money is. Horse ranching is a dying business in this state, and we both know it is just a matter of time before your ranch is nothing more than tumble weeds, broken down buildings, and crumbling fences. Why don’t you accept the offer and run. It’s a lot of money for a young girl like you. Go off and enjoy your life. Find yourself a nice man to take care of you and get married, maybe push out a few babies.”

Alice inhaled sharply, controlling her urge to punch the sexist jerk and remove the smug smile from his face, but she was better than that. She walked over to the table and sitting down beside him, she spoke directly to the man, as if no one else was in the room.

“I’ll never place my ranch in the hands of your corrupt, unethical, evil company, Mr. Johnson. Nothing you ever do or say will make me change my mind. I have plans of my own and if you think that I’ll let my ranch turn to dust, then you don’t know me very well. I don’t need a nice man to take care of me and I sure as hell don’t need your damn money. I’m here to tell you to back the fuck off, once and for all.”

She sat back in the chair, her contempt evident in her stare. He met her gaze with scorn but offered no response.

“I trust that I have made my intentions clear,” she said, looking around the room.

While most of the team had their eyes downcast, one young women met her gaze. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought she detected a glimmer of support. It gave her the courage to continue.

“Just in case I haven’t been clear, if I get one more letter, one more phone call, or one more visit from you or anyone representing your company, my lawyer will be drawing up a restraining order protecting me and my people from your unethical practices,” Alice warned, rising from her chair. “You say it’s not personal, and I’m telling you it is nothing but personal. You clearly don’t get that. You are right about one thing, Mr. Johnson, I’m a nice girl, but I’m also a smart woman. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating me.”

Alice held out her hand as a gesture of good faith, but he refused to shake. She didn’t care. She nodded at him and walked out of the glass room, the walls transparent and yet concealing so much. The irony was not lost on her.

She walked past Katie and flashed her a bright smile.

“You have yourself a nice day,” Alice offered kindly.

She took a deep breath and left the office of Hunter-Johnston, hoping it was the last time she would ever be forced to cross paths with them. She was anxious to get home.