Cassidy, Carla - Midnight Wishes Read online

  Midnight Wishes

  by

  Carla Cassidy

  Take three sisters, a failing ranch, a bevy of bad guys and three

  strong, handsome heroes and you have the ingredients for CHEYENNE

  NIGHTS, my new series for Silhouette Intrigue.

  Ranch life in Wyoming takes a special breed of woman. The Connor

  Sisters are that unique breed. They derive strength from-and share a

  bond with--each other and their land. The only thing missing in each

  of their lives is love.

  Developing three very special men for the Connor sisters was pure joy.

  They possess all the qualities I hope the readers Will love. I know I

  adore them.

  I hope you enjoy the stories of these strong women as they fight for

  their home, encounter danger and discover the men who will bring them

  passion and love on those

  CHEYENNE NIGHTS.

  Happy reading,

  DID YOU PURCHASE THIS BOOK WITHOUT A COVER?

  If you did, you should be aware it is stolen property as it was

  reported unsold and destroyed by a retailer. Neither the author nor

  the publisher has received any payment for this book.

  All the characters in this book have no existence outside the

  imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone

  bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired

  by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents

  are pure invention.

  All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in

  part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with

  Harlequin Enterprises H B. V. The text of this publication or any part

  thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any

  means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,

  storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the

  written permission of the publisher.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of

  trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated

  without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or

  cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar

  condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent

  purchaser.

  Silhouette and Colophon are registered trademarks of Harlequin Books

  S4. " used under licence.

  First published in Great Britain 1997

  Silhouette Books, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond

  , Surrey

  TW9

  ISR

  Carla Bracale 1997

  ISBN 0 373 22415 X

  46- 9711

  Printed and hound in Great Britain by Mackays of Chatham PLC, Chatham

  =1

  Prologue

  Abby stood beneath the tree, waiting for her sisters to join her. She'd

  given them the secret code at dinner, knowing by whispering the words

  "dragon tree," they would understand it was time for a late night

  meeting.

  Moonlight filtered through the leaves of the ancient oak tree, shining

  silvery shards of light onto the sweet, dew-kissed grass. For as long

  as Abby could remember, the tree had been referred to as the dragon

  tree. Their mother had told Abby and her younger sisters that the tree

  had been struck by lightning dozens of times, resulting in blackened,

  twisted branches and dense foliage that through the spring and summer

  grew in the shape of a dragon. In the autumn, the magnificent beast

  appeared to shed fire-colored scales.

  Rather than be frightened, the three girls had embraced the tree,

  fitting it into their childhood fantasies of princes and castles, of

  princesses and love.

  Abby checked her wristwatch, wondering what was keeping her sisters.

  Normally whenever the code was given by any one of them, they met at

  the tree at eleven. It was a few minutes after that now and there was

  no sign of either Colette or Belinda.

  Abby thought about sitting down to wait, but was too wound up and

  instead paced back and forth beneath the tree. A horse neighed softly

  from the corral, and a cow lowed mournfully from the pasture. To Abby

  the sounds were as familiar as her father's voice, as sweet as the

  lullaby her mother used to sing to her as a child. She loved the ranch

  with a fierceness, just as she loved her sisters.

  She turned and looked toward the house, seeing Colette and Belinda

  running up the hill toward where Abby awaited. Her heart expanded. At

  twelve, Colette was built like a newborn colt, all arms and legs and

  breathless impatience. Thirteen-year-old Belinda was quieter, the most

  genfie of the three.

  "What's going on?" Colette asked as she leaned against the trunk of

  the tree.

  "Yeah, Abby. What's going on? Why'd you call us here?" Belinda

  asked.

  Fifteen-year-old Abby sat and wrapped her arms around her knees. "I

  found some papers today in Mom's dresser drawer."

  "What kind of papers?" Belinda asked.

  Abby looked first at Belinda, then at Colette. She'd wrestled all

  afternoon trying to decide if she should tell her sisters what she'd

  found. She'd finally decided they had a right to know. "Adoption

  papers."

  For a moment silence expanded in the air as both her sisters stared at

  her. "Adoption papers?" Belinda finally broke the silence. "Adoption

  papers for who."

  "

  "I didn't look. I was looking for Mom's yellow scarf and saw an

  envelope in her drawer. It was just a manila envelope and written on

  it was 'adoption papers." I saw it, then heard More coming down the

  hall so I didn't get a chance to open it. I went back in later to

  look, but the papers weren't there anymore. '

  Belinda frowned. "But ... but that means one of us must be..."

  "No." The word exploded from Colette. "No, I don't want to hear about

  it, I don't even want to think about it." She leaned forward and

  reached for Abby's hand, then grabbed Belinda's. "We're sisters. The

  three of us--and no stupid papers will ever change that."

  Abby hadn't realized until that moment there had been a hard ball of

  fear in her chest. At Colette's words, the ball seeped away and relief

  flooded her. She'd been afraid, so afraid that they wouldn't feel as

  strong, as loyal as she did. "Belinda? Do you feel the same way about

  it?" Abby asked.

  Belinda squeezed both her sisters' hands. "Of course. I don't ever

  want to know which one of us might be in that folder."

  Abby withdrew her hands and reached into her pocket. "I was hoping you

  guys would say that." She pulled out a large safety pin. "I vote we

  become blood sisters and we vow we'll never try to find out which one

  of us might be adopted."

  As they each pricked their fingers, then pressed them together, again

  love swelled inside Abby's chest.
Even though she was just two years

  older than

  Belinda and three older than Colette, Abby took the role of big sister

  quite seriously.

  "Sisters forever," Abby proclaimed solemnly. "Sisters forever,"

  Belinda echoed.

  "And no matter what happens, we never read those stupid papers,"

  Colette exclaimed. They raised their hands, fingers pressed together,

  forming a triangle of unity.

  With the innocence of youth and the optimism of girlhood, they truly

  believed it was a vow they could keep. In the distance thunder

  rumbled, sounding like Fate's laughter as dark clouds moved to steal

  the moonlight from the sky.

  Chapter One

  Abby Connor felt his gaze before she actually saw him, a prickling

  sensation on the nape of her neck as she sat on the porch watching the

  sunset.

  She turned her head first in the direction of the shed, then the barn

  and there spied him. He stood in the shadows of dusk, his features

  obscured by the coming darkness of the night. However, the shadows

  didn't dilute the piercing intensity of his gaze.

  Abby had never seen him before. So, who was he and what was he doing

  here?

  Behind her the house radiated an unnatural silence. Everyone had left

  earlier in the evening to go into town, but Abby had preferred to stay

  home. She'd intended to get some paperwork done, but had discovered

  herself too restless to stay cooped up in the office.

  She shifted positions on the wicker chair, uncomfortable beneath the

  cowboy's scrutiny. Something about it made her feel vulnerable, far

  too alone.

  Get a grip, Abby, she admonished herself. After all, she was the boss

  around here. If she wanted to find out who the unfamiliar cowboy was,

  all she had to do was ask. She rose, at the same time gesturing to the

  man.

  He ambled toward her with a loose-hipped walk that breathed a

  combination of sexual suggestion with a hint of confident swagger. He

  left the shadows of the barn and stepped into the evening light. The

  shades of sunset stroked his bold, handsome features and stirred an

  emotion in Abby that had been dormant for a long time.

  "Ma'am." He swept the dark hat off his head, revealing

  midnight-colored hair and eyes the same shade. His face was tanned,

  his nose straight, his chin square. All the features combined to give

  him an air of rugged masculinity and quiet strength.

  "I haven't seen you around here before."

  One corner of his mouth rose sardonically. "I haven't been around

  before. Your foreman, Rusty, hired me this morning."

  Abby flushed, feeling the heat of his gaze as it swept the length of

  her body. She suddenly wished her shorts weren't so short, or her tank

  top quite so tight. "What's your name?"

  "Luke. Luke Black."

  The name suited him, hard and dark.

  "And you are?" One sooty eyebrow danced upward.

  "Abby. Abby Connor. I run this ranch."

  "Ah, you're that one."

  Something in his tone rankled Abby. "That one?" He smiled and again

  Abbyfelt the stir of hormones that had been asleep for the past six

  years. "I heard there are three sisters. One who is married, one who

  is shy ... and the eldest who is boss lady and hates men."

  Abby smiled coolly. "I don't hate all men, just wise-ass cowboys." She

  waved her hand in dismissal. "I don't want to keep you from your

  work."

  He whipped his hat back onto his head, the rakish angle once again

  hiding his eyes. "Nice meeting you, Abby. I look forward to working

  with you."

  She bit the impulse to call after him, to remind him that he worked for

  her, not with her. Instead she merely watched as he walked away,

  unable to help but notice the pull of his T-shirt across his broad

  shoulders, the fit of his jeans against his slender hips and long legs.

  The man was attractive in a wild, primitive sort of way. She frowned

  as she noticed the shine of his boots. She'd never seen a ranch hand

  wearing new boots before.

  Definitely attractive . and intriguing. Although brief, his

  conversation had seemed overlaid with a smooth sensuality. With an

  irritated sigh, she turned and went into the house. Okay, so he was

  sexy and handsome and she'd just proven to herself that she was

  divorced, not dead. Despite her resolve to never marry again, never

  give her heart away, she could still appreciate a fine-looking man.

  The ranch house surrounded her with its quiet and' for a moment Abby

  was sorry she hadn't gone with her family into town. She wandered into

  her son's room, her gaze immediately captured by the items on his

  dresser top Rocks, old bird nests, seed pods and a variety of nature's

  gifts nearly hid the oak wood. She shook her head and smiled. At six

  years old, Cody would be thrilled if he could bring all of the outside

  in.

  She left his room and went into the kitchen. Stealing a glance into

  the refrigerator, seeking a snack, she realized what she really wanted

  was a piece of apple pie. Unfortunately, Maria, their cook, hadn't

  baked for several days.

  "No problem," Abby said to herself as she hurried to her bedroom. She

  changed into a pair of jeans and a light cotton blouse, then. grabbed

  her truck keys. Nobody had better pie than the Great Day Diner. With

  a fifteen minute drive she could have her pie and enjoy the

  conversation of neighbors. She scribbled a quick note to her family,

  in case they got home before her, then left the house.

  As she walked out into the twilight there was no sign of the disturbing

  cowboy. She felt relieved, yet oddly disappointed. Shoving thoughts

  of him aside, she got into the truck and started the engine.

  As she drove, she tried to keep her thoughts off unpleasant things. She

  didn't want to think about the fact that the ranch was in bad financial

  straits and the Connor sisters might not be able to hang on to their

  home for much longer.

  She definitely didn't want to think about the fact that her ex-husband

  had been in town for the past week.

  She tightened her grip on the steering wheel and instead focused on the

  landscape. As far as she was concerned there was no place more

  beautiful than the area in and around Cheyenne, Wyoming. The towering

  mountains, the valleys of green pastures and the terra-cotta colored

  buttes rising above like ancient sentries guarding all. There was a

  sense of enduring strength, and Abby knew much of her own inner

  strength came from the land.

  Wheeling into the diner parking lot, she tried not to worry about the

  future of the Connor ranch, telling herself somehow, someway it would

  be all right. As far as Greg . hopefully he'd go back to where he'd

  come from and leave her and Cody alone.

  The interior of the diner embraced her like an old friend. Cool air,

  rich cooking scents, and friendly waves from neighbors and

  acquaintances made her worries fall away. Known for the endless supply

  of good coffee and baked goods, the diner on the outskirts of Cheyenne

  was a popular place for people to
spend the end of their day.

  Abby slid into one of the red vinyl booths and smiled as the waitress

  approached, coffeepot in hand. "Hi, Sheila."

  "Hey, Abby, where's that handsome cowboy sidekick of yours?"

  For a brief moment a vision of the sexy Luke Black filled Abby's mind.

  She blinked away the image and realized Sheila was talking about Cody.

  "He went with his aunts and uncle into town for a movie. How's your

  dad? He hasn't been out to the ranch in a while."

  Sheila grinned. "You know Dad. He's keeping the prairies safe for

  women and children everywhere. I'll tell him you asked about him."

  "You do that." Pleasure swept through Abby at thoughts of the big,

  burly sheriff who'd been like a surrogate father to the Connor

  sisters.

  "What can I get for you?" Sheila asked as she splashed coffee into

  Abby's cup. "A Piece of apple pie and the coffee should do it."

  "Back in a jiffy." Sheila left to grab a piece of pie, then returned,

  sliding the generous slice toward Abby as she sat opposite her in the

  booth. "So, give me some good gossip. Things have been far too quiet

  and boring around here lately."

  Abby laughed. "Who has time to hear gossip? Keeping our heads above

  water at the ranch takes all my time and energy."

  "Colette and that handsome husband of hers come in regularly with that