I sat in the front of the Range Rover with Morgan buckled into the backseat. The bright sun shone down from a clear blue sky, warming the world. Nathanial opened the driver’s side door and hopped inside.

There was something he wasn’t telling me. But there was something I wasn’t telling him either. Rationally, I couldn’t explain it. Maybe I was cracking up. But my own inner compass was pointing in one direction, and that direction was toward Nathanial.

I glanced over him as he drove down the long dirt road that led to the highway. His strong arms strained against the tight long-sleeve T-shirt he wore. He looked at me, glancing down at my legs and snapped his eyes back to the road. It was the first time I’d worn shorts since I’d arrived.

It was a warm day, and I couldn’t resist showing off my legs. My pale thighs were exposed under the denim. I wasn’t a skinny girl, but my legs were shapely and firm. Short shorts were a staple in Missouri, but from the look I received from Nathanial, I didn’t think they were that common in Montana. 

Part of me relished his admiration. Memories of my dream filtered through my waking consciousness. The Nathanial in my dream wouldn’t make love to me, me as Melody Miller. The thought of teasing him tickled my throat, and I coughed.

“Are you alright?”

“It’s nothing,” I said, struggling to quiet my coughing fit.

I settled down and wondered why it affected me so viscerally. The dreams and evidence pointed to the fact that I was the long-dead Melody Miller. I felt  love and admiration for Nathanial in my dream, and an intense but stifled sexual desire. My prior dreams of Owen had been so intense, so erotic. I couldn’t quite remember my dream of Owen last night, but I knew it felt different from before. I sighed, not knowing what to make of it all.

We piled out of the car at the Miller place. The contractors were already there walking through the house. Morgan slipped her hand inside of mine as we walked into the dark, musty confines of the old building. A building inspector approached Nathanial with a detailed list of necessary renovations. Nathanial took the news with good humor, even though several sub-flooring beams needed replacing and so did the roof.

He took the report with a smile and thanked the building inspector as he left. The other two men were all around contractors, and they would have to have specialists come in to take care of the subfloor and the roof.

Morgan and I went outside and wandered around the fence line. A truck pulling a long cattle trailer pulled up the dirt road. It stopped behind Nathanial’s Range Rover and out stepped Joshua and Clive.

“Hey there Miss Jane,” Joshua spoke over the distance as he approached. “Where’s Nate?”

“He’s inside with the contractors, discussing the renovations.”

“We need to get these cars out of the way, so we can back the trailer into the pasture.”

Nathanial trotted outside and down the stairs to stand with Clive and Joshua in the dusty parking area. There was a great deal of pointing and animated speech about how to back it through the gate and into the pasture. I held Morgan against me as she watched the men hurriedly move their vehicles.

Joshua hopped back in the truck and the sound of wheels grinding over gravel filled the air. The other men pulled their trucks down the road as Joshua made a jack-knifing turn with the cattle trailer.

I could hear the cattle mooing at the commotion. Joshua corrected the trucked and backed the trailer toward the pasture gate. Clive ran to open the gate as Joshua deftly pulled through. Finally, he cut the engine and jumped out of the truck. Steel clanged on steel as Clive opened the trailer door and lowered the cattle ramp. The men moved into the trailer and whooped at the cattle until the stubborn beasts began to push their way out the opening into the freedom of the field.

Morgan and I climbed the wooden fence to rest with our chests over the last rung while we watched the cattle run out into the high grass. They mooed with pleasure at the sight and smell of fresh hay. When the last cow was out, Clive closed the back of the trailer and Joshua pulled the truck away. They closed the gate and went about filling the water tanks with a hose from a standpipe near the barn.

“They’re happy,” said Morgan.

“It seems like it.”

Ten cows wandered out into the pasture, grazing as they went. I glanced over my shoulder to see Clive and Joshua jumping in the truck and driving away.

I hopped off the fence and turned right into Nathanial Ellis’ chest. I was pinned between his massive bulk in front of me and the fence behind me. I flushed and wanted to trail my finger up his muscled arm.

My dream had altered my feelings for him big time. While yesterday I was beginning to find him tolerable, even attractive, today I wanted nothing more than to put him under my feminine spell. Being penned against the fence by him put me under his spell. My nipples tightened, and I pushed them into his chest as if by mistake. 

He pulled away, clearing his throat, pretending as if his closeness had been a mistake. He patted Morgan on the head as she hopped down to fling her arms around his waist.

“The contractors brought several catalogs of finishes. Paint colors, cabinetry, counter tops. And I wanted your opinion on the new skylights. We might as well cut the holes now and get them installed before the roofing guys start.”

“Sure,” I said.

“Come on inside.”

I followed him into the house again, and the contractors stood looking up at the high ceiling.

“Isn’t the best light from the south?” I asked.

“Yes, now if we put them on the south side of the house, it adds the most light to the living room. We cut out a larger picture window and the living room becomes much brighter, more modern, more pleasant.

“If you put them at the back, you add light to the areas that aren’t getting as much light. The entrance hall and stairs,” said one of the contractors.

“I think we go with the living room,” said Nathanial, “and one in the kitchen.”

“We put three skylights here in the living room ceiling. And one in the kitchen. They already added the bay window over the sink in the kitchen. It’s in good shape, so you have plenty of light in there by adding just one.”

“That sounds like it will look amazing,” I said, imagining the old house filled with light. The place was musty and outdated, but I could already picture the remodeling taking shape in my mind.

“Which of these models do you think would work best in the living room Jane?” asked Nathanial pointing to several skylight models in a catalog.

“I like this one,” I said pointing to a clear glass, rectangular window. “It will let you see the stars and sky. And the rectangle is better than the square for the ceiling shape; I think. What do you think?”

“I think that’s a great idea,” he said, patting my shoulder.

“Your wife has excellent taste,” said the other contractor.

I was startled and wanted to correct him, but Nathanial and I just let the words hang in the air. The contractors headed to the living room, and Morgan toddled off outside.

I looked at Nathanial and rose an eyebrow. He rose his eyebrow back at me. A slight smile curved on his mouth. Now I felt he was teasing me. The mischievous spirit of Melody felt challenged. If he wanted a challenge, I’d give him one.

I wandered in front of him and leaned over the kitchen counter, letting the legs of my short-shorts ride up my thigh. I heard a low, throaty grunt, and glanced over my shoulder to see him staring. He quickly looked away and followed the other men into the living room.

I stood and went after him. When he saw me, he picked a pile of catalogs up from the old couch and handed them to me. On top of the catalogs was a packet of post-it notes.

“You can look through the catalogs and tell me what you like. The sooner we get the materials ordered the better. The guys will go back to Kalispell to get the skylights today. But many things will need to be special ordered from further away. Do you think you can do that so quickly?”

“I can try,” I said, batting my lashes at him.

 

* * *

Nathanial handed Jane the catalogs hoping she would take Morgan and find a comfortable place to sit and look at them. The sight of her thick white thighs had been driving him crazy all day. The girl seemed intent on making him horny. First, she came downstairs in those ridiculously short shorts. Then she proceeded to cross and uncross her legs in the most provocative way possible during the entire drive to the Miller Ranch.

When she’d jumped down from the fence, right into his chest, she pushed her voluptuous, soft breasts right into him. It was all that he could do to keep from going completely hard and pushing her into that fence. The ideas that ran through his mind during those brief seconds made him blush now as he listened to the contractors discussing the roof cuts.

He could see Jane and Morgan out the small living room window. She’d retrieved the picnic blanket from the car and had spread it out on the ground with Patty’s lunch.  He watched Jane hand Morgan a sandwich and take one of her own. They looked so happy and peaceful together. It was as if Morgan finally had someone she could depend on.

He wanted to run out to them, and take them both in his arms. Ever since his wife had left him, darkness had descended on his house. Now he felt he might live again. If only he knew how to tell her.

Even with her sudden flirtation, he couldn’t be sure it was genuine, and he had no idea how she would react to the truth. Mona had been very clear that she would be the key to removing his curse. How, he did not know, and it seemed neither did she.

The contractors finished with their measurements and got back in their truck to drive away. Nathanial went to sit with the girls on the picnic blanket as the sun faded into late afternoon. Clive and Joshua had unloaded another load of cattle so twenty head now roamed the grassy pasture. They would make one more trip before darkness fell. 

“What do you think of this house Morgan?”

“I think it should be my new playhouse.”

“It’s a little big for a playhouse. Don’t you think?”

“Do you have a better idea, Daddy?”

Nathanial laughed at his daughter’s haughtiness. She was so like her mother sometimes.

“I plan to make it a summer rental for families. We can’t over winter cattle here until the barn gets repaired. But with the extra pasture land, we can double our herd.”

Nathanial knew that he didn’t need any of it. He didn’t need the land or cattle. He didn’t even need Bear Creek Ranch. He and Morgan could live quite well on the interest income from his family’s long history of making good investments. His own management of their funds nearly doubled his net worth in the past ten years.

He took a sandwich and ate it quickly, while trying not to continuously ogle Jane’s inner thighs. Why did she have to wear such things? He’d never seen a girl wearing such short shorts before. As if reading his thoughts she leaned over on her elbow exposing the back of her thighs and ample ass.

His gaze snapped up as he heard gravel crunching behind him. He turned to see Clive and Joshua with their last load of cattle for the day. Joshua turned the trailer, and Nathanial opened the gate for him to back through. He opened the back of the trailer and let the cattle ramp fall with a clang. The cattle mooed, and he shoved through to the back to push them out. All he had to do was make a low rumbling growl in the back of his throat, and all the cattle scampered out before Clive could even get inside.

Nathanial followed the cattle out and hopped down to the ground feeling self-satisfied. At least the cows obeyed him. If only he could get the girl to do what he wanted like that. As he pushed the cattle ramp up and locked the back door, he thought of all the things he wanted her to do.

He thought of her full pink lips on his chest, kissing his body as she sank down to his waist, wearing that damn lilac bustier. Yes, he’d definitely like her to do that. He growled at himself as he slammed the pasture gate shut behind the moving trailer. He wasn’t in the habit of becoming obsessed with young women. He had met his late wife in college, and their love affair had been safe and steady.

When she’d learned he had to return home to take care of his family’s land, she agreed to go help him. They were married later that year in a small elegant wedding in her hometown in Massachusetts. He’d never once obsessed over a woman. He adored his wife, but she didn’t drive him mad like this.

He returned to the girls on the picnic blanket and let them know it was time to go. Jane had the catalogs spread out over the blanket as she and Morgan perused them. They picked up the catalogs, Jane bending provocatively in Nathanial’s face the majority of the time. When she had the catalogs in her hands and the remnants of lunch, Nathanial pulled the blanket off the ground and headed to the car. Frustration pulsated in his temples and loins. It hurt as if he were being punished.

They piled into the car, and he drove them home, keeping his eyes focused on the road. When he arrived, he requested Patty to make the family a light dinner that night. Morgan and Jane went to do their lesson in the comfort of Jane’s bedroom.

Nathanial went to his bedroom on the third floor to take stock of his options and deal with the desire he’d been holding back all day. He sat on his massive king-sized bed and stared into space. The outline of the sealed turret entrance caught his eye behind his antique mahogany dresser. The entrance had been closed off as long as Nathanial could remember. Maybe forever. He stood from his bed and went to the sliding glass door to the balcony that looked over the lake.

An alcohol tray stood next to the sliding door, and he poured himself a shot of bourbon, neat. He threw it back so quickly he couldn’t even taste the oaky, caramel flavor. He wiped his face with the side of his hand. His erection seemed to demand attention even after the drink. There was a knock at the door, and the surprise lowered the urgency of his desire. He went to open it.

On the other side of the door, stood Jane. She’d changed her T-Shirt into a low-cut tank top under a cardigan sweater. He could see all the way down her shirt at first glance. His eyes snapped to her face. She stood with her hand leaned against the doorframe. Her other hand held the catalogs up under her breasts. Her provocative pose and the exposure of her ample cleavage made his erection twitch.

“Yes,” he said, feeling a little dizzy from the shot of stifled lust.

“I want to show you some of my ideas,” she said, moving into the room. She dumped the catalogs on the bed and pulled off her sweater. She plopped down on the bed and crossed her leg.

She wore flip-flops, and one of them hung from her foot as she bobbed it up and down in the air. The length of her shapely legs were in full view. Her sweater dropped down her shoulder, and the white spaghetti-strap tank top plunged dangerously low to reveal the top of her lacy black bra. With every ounce of self-control he could muster, he sat down on the bed next to her and picked up the catalogs. He opened on the first marked page.

“You like this cabinet style?” His voice almost croaked.

“Yes,” she said leaning in. Her breast caressed the back of his hand as he held the catalog. He lowered it out of her way.

“I like it. What color were you thinking?”

“I was thinking an off white or pale yellow country kitchen style. There is already so much wood tone in the house; more wood tones would be a bit of an overkill. But I think this style would work nicely. I was thinking a light-colored granite for the counter tops.” She leaned around behind them to pick up another catalog. She opened it and inclined toward him as she pointed to the granite color she preferred.

“Yes, I can see that.” He was becoming certain she was teasing him. The beast inside him could barely be restrained. The girl was obviously throwing herself at him. The beast wanted to rip into her and feel the white flesh of her thighs in its teeth. Nathanial blinked away the thought. He couldn’t be sure she was teasing. Perhaps she was just young and unaware of what she was doing to him. He was the boss and therefore, responsibility lay with him. “Did you have any ideas for fixtures?”

“Yes, I love these bronze knobs. Look at the braiding detail.”

“They are nice. You have wonderful taste. Just like the contractor said.” The words hung in the air as the memory of the contractor calling her his wife sizzled between them.

“Thanks.” Jane smiled and rose from the bed. She stood in front of him and slid the last catalog from his hand. She bent to pick up her sweater and turned to leave the room. Her hips swayed provocatively as she went, and her long red hair hung down her white back. How he wanted to grab her and feel her hair between his fingers as he pushed his lust inside her.

“I trust your judgment Jane. I’d like you to pick the rest of the finishes. And have them ready for the contractors to put the order in tomorrow.”

“Okay,” she said turning, before she sauntered out of the room.