Honoring Freedom (Cowboys of Sagebrush Rose #3)

Chapter Three

LB strolled into the five-star restaurant and craned his neck to scan the dining area. The hostess at the podium offered him a pleasant, maybe a bit curious, smile. “Can I help you, sir? Do you have a reservation?”

“No, I don’t. I’m looking for Haisley Thorn. Do you know where she’s sitting?”

The woman hesitated as if he caught her off guard, but she managed to keep her smile intact. “Is she expecting you at her table, sir?” She skimmed a list in front of her.

“She’s not expecting me.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s our policy not to disturb our guests. You could try calling her…?”

“I don’t have her number.” He poked his head around the large aquarium wall that divided the lobby from the elegant dining room. He skimmed each of the tables and finally spotted her sitting near the fireplace. “I found her.”

“Sir, you can’t go in there. We have a dress code.” The hostess chased after him as he strolled through the maze of tables, catching a few inquisitive glances as if they’d never seen a man in hat and Wranglers in their lives. They certainly had never seen him at the restaurant because he didn’t have the patience for places that had a strict dress policy. He could eat a fancy steak sitting at home in his boxers if he chose and be fine.

“I’ll only be a minute,” he told the determined hostess who was rushing after him in her too-high heels.

“Sir, will you please wait…”

“Did you know?” LB said to Haisley as he came to a stop at her table.

She brought her chin up. Her smile vanished as her eyes widened. She blinked repeatedly like she had to be imagining LB. Confusion quickly turned to irritation. “What are you doing here?”

The hostess wasn’t alone now. She had brought along a stern looking man wearing an uncomfortable looking suit.

“Sir, what’s the meaning of this? I’m going to have to ask you to leave at once.” The man bobbed his head like a rooster pecking grass.

“Just a moment. I’m asking a question.” He returned his gaze on Haisley.

“I’m in the middle of something, LB.”

“Yeah, I can see that. But did you know?”

She narrowed her gaze. “Know what?”

“Are you pretending you have no clue what I’m referring to?” He was mad enough to bite through penny nails, or the overcooked steak she had on her plate.

“I’m with a friend. I don’t have time for this—”

For the first time LB noticed the man sitting at her table. He stood and fixed the lapel of his designer jacket with manicured fingers. “I don’t think she wants to be bothered, buddy.” The Channing Tatum lookalike said.

“First, I’m not your buddy. Second, this is between Haisley and me. The Thorns stole my horse.”

This gained more attention from guests at surrounding tables. Horse thievery was serious in Montana.

“Call the police, Gerald,” Channing said and stepped from behind the table as if he was willing to get his neat hands dirty. “Now listen, this isn’t very gentlemanly…” He touched LB on the chest.

“And neither will what is about to happen if you don’t remove your hand, Channing.”

“My name isn’t Channing. It’s Cush.” The man’s jaw tightened but he did remove his hand.

“Okay, Channing.” LB focused his attention on a pale looking Haisley.

“What do you want me to do, Haisley?” Channing asked.

“If I had to guess she wants you to stop trying to look like a celebrity who would cringe at your failed attempt,” LB said.

“That’s enough.” She pushed back her chair and stood, dropping her napkin on the table. “Since apparently this is an emergency, I’ll speak to him outside,” she hissed.

She brushed past Channing and LB gave him a big, satisfied smile before he followed Haisley through the quiet restaurant. Although he was angry, he couldn’t control his gaze from scoping out the nice, gentle sway of her hips in the snug dress. He didn’t like her much, but she did look amazing in the fancy outfit.

Once they were on the sidewalk, she turned to him, targeting him in her brooding glare. “Did you really think it was necessary to cause a scene?” She lifted one brow.

“Yes.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“You really need to tell your assistant to stop giving out your personal information,” he said flippantly.

“What did you tell her?”

“That I was your brother?”

She rolled her eyes. “Can we please get this over with so that I can get back to my date?”

“You should be thanking me. That guy ain’t for you.” LB chuckled.

She made a face. “You don’t know him.”

“I don’t need to know him. He’s got one thing on his mind, and it has nothing to do with listening to your dreams or talking about your successes. I can’t believe you’re wasting a dress like that on a chump.” He mused.

“LB, maybe I should go back in and have them call the police?” She folded her arms and tapped the toe of her shoe, seething now.

“Did you know that your brother stole my yearling?” Back to the reason he came.

Her thin brows scrunched. “Which brother and why would he do that?”

“Cruise. He went behind my back and paid Branch Tabor triple for a yearling I’d paid a deposit on months ago. That was my prized horse and Cruise knew it.”

“Wait.” She dropped her arms to her sides. “How would Cruise know you had put down a deposit on a yearling, and why would Branch accept Cruise’s offer if you already had a contract? You did have a contract, right?”

“Sure.” He’d leave out that it was a verbal contract, which was how most cowboys did business.

“Shouldn’t you be taking this up with the guy who cheated you?”

“I did, and he gave twenty-four thousand reasons why he double crossed me. Money talks. And how your brother knew, beats me, but it’s not a coincidence that he found that breeder and bought that specific yearling.” LB’s anger increased the more he discussed the issue.

“Why would you pay eight thousand for a yearling?”

“Why would Cruise pay twenty-four?” he snapped, not liking her inability to see his point.

“That must be some yearling.”

“Yes, that’s the point.”

“Look, would you like for me to apologize for my brother?”

“I don’t want an apology. I have plans for that yearling. He’ll be worth millions on the track. Now did you know?”

“Of course, I didn’t know. I’m not my brother’s keeper.” Her dangly earrings reflected the soft lighting above them. “Why are you coming to me anyway? Go to Cruise and you two work it out.” She took a step back.

LB rubbed his jaw. “Like he will listen. He’s probably celebrating that he took my horse.”

“What would you like for me to do?”

“How I see it, you want your grandmother’s painting, then you better get your brother to give me back that horse.”

Her mouth twisted. “How is that fair? Why should I be punished for something Cruise did?”

“You have the Thorn blood running through your veins. That makes it your issue.”

“You know he won’t give up the horse, not when he’s paid that much.” Her eyes glazed over.

“Then you better find a good reason to convince him. Otherwise, you can kiss the painting goodbye.” He almost felt guilty holding the painting as leverage over her head, but the fact was, he’d only just begun his venture into racing, and he wasn’t willing to call it quits because of a Thorn.

“You’re being childish.”

“Says the one who likes to destroy cupcakes.”

Her gaze narrowed. “They were only cupcakes, remember?”

“We both know it’s more than a cupcake, sweetheart,” he groaned.

She looked up into the sky and when she looked back at him, she wore a poker face. “If I can talk Cruise into returning the horse, do I have your guarantee that I will get the painting? I want it in my hands.”

“I already have the painting.” He winked.

The start of a smile curved her lips. “John gave it to you?”

“After I explained the reason—Helena’s last painting and all—he gladly told me to take it. So, what’s it going to be?”

She looked up the sidewalk as if taking a moment to decide, but LB didn’t doubt for a minute that she would do anything for the painting. In the end, he understood. For a long time, his father couldn’t get rid of LB’s mother’s things either. People put too much stock in loved ones’ material items.

When Haisley returned her gaze, she had a determined expression. He knew she always got what she wanted. “Fine. Give me a couple of days.”

“Don’t take too long. I’m starting to fancy having that painting above my fireplace.” He smiled. He truly did love pestering her. He was over the cupcake ordeal, and the massage, but he did like being close to her. She was a challenge that no other woman had ever come close to.

“Don’t get too comfortable with it. That’ll be in my hands before you can say ‘Paintbrush’.”