Chapter 5

“Senator, we’ll be arriving in five minutes,” Kimberly Weston whispered to her boss as he sat next to her in his chauffer driven Lincoln. He nodded his head without glancing her way or even pausing in his conversation with a constituent. The warm Colorado sun felt good on her arm through the darkened glass and she fought the urge to roll down the window and let the breeze rustle through her short blond hair.

Kimberly touched her fingers to the back of her neck where her thick mane used to hang. Although Benji loved to twist her usually long hair around his fingers, Senator Burwick had insisted she cut her hair into a more professional pageboy style. How the length of her hair affected her ability to keep track of his schedule and generally keep his life in order was beyond her.

But whatever Benji wanted Benji got. Kimberly learned that being a young assistant who attracted more than her share of attention didn’t sit well with the senator’s wife and some of his supporters. So she got shuffled to the most prestigious and most expensive stylist in Washington DC for a makeover that included the shearing of her long hair and a quick death to her wardrobe of stylish clothes. Kimberly needed her job, her family needed her to have this job, too much for her to object.

The wool in her skirt that rubbed beneath the lining itched like hell. It took every effort to recall the focusing lessons she’d learned in Miss Margaret’s School of Etiquette, another DC institution, not to rip the skirt up and itch away like a dog with fleas. The shrill tone of Benji’s voice brought Kimberly back to attention.

“Damn, if that man weren’t worth millions I’d never have to listen to his drivel again.”

Benji placed his now free hand on Kimberly’s upper thigh while she echoed a similar thought about not having to put up with the Senator’s increasing sexual advances, only in her head of course. She glued the familiar sympathetic smile on her face--another learned habit from Miss Margaret. She’d initially found all the things she’d learned at etiquette class insulting, and implementing them on a day-to-day basis exhausting. But her reactions were becoming more rote now and, as much as she hated to admit, rather helpful in a number of situations.

###

When his cell phone rang, Senator Burwick watched his assistant reached to get it, undaunted by the fact that he’d placed the phone directly on his crotch. He took advantage of every opportunity to make Kimberly touch him whenever possible. Having the phone vibrate on his crotch and watching her cup it with her delicate fingers was one of the few pleasures of his day. He knew he was crossing a line with her, and he knew if her daddy were alive and saw the way he treated her he’d put a boot in his ass.

Danny Weston hadn’t done a whole lot with his short life since graduating from Hailey high school where he and Benji had been inseparable. But he’d certainly produced one hell of a looker in his youngest daughter. Thanks to those etiquette classes, she didn’t even put up a protest or flinch anymore when his hand casually touched her breast or rubbed her behind. Benji’s daughter was just a year older than Kimberly, but he didn’t think there was anything wrong with showing the girl how things worked in the big city.

His long time assistant Meryl was getting ready to retire when Danny’s widow had called asking to take him up on his offer. He’d initially regretted his off the cuff condolence that Mary Beth Weston had taken as a genuine offer of help. She’d asked him to hire her daughter, Kimberly, fresh from two years at Junior college with an associate’s degree in bookkeeping that seemed to be the equivalent of lip pouting and gum smacking. Fortunately for Mrs. Weston, the good Senator had a soft spot for grieving daughters with perky breasts and a nice, tight ass. With a little grooming she’d turned out to be a real asset in the last few months.

“Senator, its Tommy Thornton from Hailey returning your call,” Kimberly said softly while cupping her hand over the mouthpiece.

Benji’s jaw clenched as he reached for the phone. He couldn’t believe the dimwitted Thornton had hooked the widow Woodward up with A.J. Dodge. The man had been a thorn in Benji’s side for years, and now he was butting his nose into something that didn’t concern him. Dodge’s involvement could ruin his carefully laid plans. Benji had already counted on Mrs. Woodward being ready to sell.

###

“Senator Burwick,” Tommy said with exaggerated enthusiasm. Speaking with the Senator made his indigestion kick into high gear. “I’m assuming you called about Mrs. Woodward?”

“You know I am, Thornton. How’s she getting along down there?”

“Well, Sir, it’s only been a few days, but she seems to be adjusting just fine. She’s a real nice lady and the town has kind of taken her under their wing since word of her husband’s death got around.”

“Good. Ranching is no business for a single woman, Thornton. Her husband and I were close friends and I kind of promised him I’d look out for her. You be sure to call me first if she’s having any trouble at all.”

Tommy wondered how Senator Burwick would have promised Mr. Woodward he’d look out for Sarah when her husband had died unexpectedly in a plane crash, but dismissed the thought when he heard an impatient cough on the other end of the line. “I’ve got someone taking real good care of her, Senator. Don’t you worry.”

“Really? Anyone I know?”

“A.J. Dodge. His family’s been in the business a long time. He’ll make sure she doesn’t make any mistakes.”

“You’re not talking about the A.J. Dodge who was run out of town a few years back? Because if he’s the same man, I’d have a real problem with a hoodlum like him helping poor Mrs. Woodward, no matter how long he’s been in the business.”

“Well, now Senator, Dodge wasn’t run out of town. He left on his own. I happen to know for sure he wasn’t responsible for what happened to that poor girl.” Tommy hadn’t had to defend Dodge in a long time and he’d forgotten how frustrating it could be convincing someone of his innocence, especially since Dodge never bothered to defend himself to anyone.

“Thornton, I don’t want someone with a questionable background anywhere near Mrs. Woodward. You be sure to tell Dodge thanks but no thanks and let me worry about helping Mrs. Woodward.”

“But…”

“No buts, Thornton. Just keep Dodge away from Mrs. Woodward and that ranch. Do you understand me?”

Tommy sighed and held up his middle finger to the base of the phone sitting on his desk. A grown man shouldn’t have to put up with that kind of talk from anyone. “I understand, Senator.”

“Good. Keep me posted.”

###

When he hung up the phone, Benji looked at Kimberly. “Get me Fred Saxton on the phone.”

Damn Dodge for messing up an already messed up situation. Saxton was getting antsy. He’d promised him the Woodward ranch months ago and had yet to deliver. When every other door had slammed in his face and he seemed to run out of possibilities for water near Cooper, he’d thought of the Woodward place. With Todd Woodward six feet under and his widow as the sole owner, he thought buying the ranch out from under her would be no big deal. But every time he’d gotten in touch with her about selling the ranch, she’d been too busy grieving or doing whatever rich widows do to give him the time of day.

He’d been about to put on the full court press before she realized the gold mine she was sitting on when he’d learned that she intended to move to the ranch full-time. His first reaction had been to laugh, but damn if she didn’t up and do move to Hailey and now he was in a real pickle. But Benji was used to having to do things the hard way. He didn’t get to be a United States senator without a few tricks up his sleeve. He’d come up with something to get her to sell.

Mrs. Woodward didn’t know one end of a cow from the other, as far as his background check on her could surmise. So he’d let her struggle with ranching for a few months and then be there with his checkbook open when she came to the obvious conclusion ranching wasn’t the way to move on with her life.

But he needed her to fail soon. The last election had cost him most of his daddy’s fortune and Benji was running on empty until his development with Sarah started to pay off. But it wasn’t going to pay off until it got off the ground, which is why he had to get Dodge away from Mrs. Woodward.

Kimberly passed him the phone. “Saxton here.”

“Fred, how are you?”

“Well now, Senator, I’d be doing a hell of a lot better if you called to tell me you’ve got that ranch under contract like you promised. The State’s coming down on my ass about the water. I can’t even get the permit to start on the clubhouse.”

“You let me worry about the State. I’ll make a few calls to get them off your back.”

“What’ll get them off my back is having a property with enough water to supplement the whole development. What’s the latest on the Woodward place?”

“Unfortunately, there’s been a snag. Seems Mrs. Woodward intends to move to Hailey and ranch the land.”

In the moment of silence that followed, Benji could feel beads of perspiration form on his brow. He wiped them away with his clammy hand. “Burwick, you told me you’d take care of this. I can’t sell the home sites without the clubhouse and equestrian center at least partially under construction. We made a deal. I never would have wasted my money on dry pasture land if you hadn’t assured me you could get your hands on plenty of water.”

Benji noticed Saxton’s Midwestern accent grew stronger as his anger intensified. He was pretty damn angry. “I’ve got a plan, but it’s going to take some time.”

“Time’s what we don’t have. I need results from you, Burwick, and I need them now.”