Possessor (Doms of Mountain Bend Book 5) Read online

  Copyright © 2022 by BJ Wane

  All rights reserved.

  This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Editors: Kate Richards & Nanette Sipes

  Cover Design & Formatting: Joe Dugdale (sylv.net)

  Published by Blue Dahlia 2022

  Doms of Mountain Bend:

  POSSESSOR

  Book 5

  BY

  BJ WANE

  Disclaimer

  This contemporary romantic suspense contains adult themes such as power exchange and sexual scenes.

  Please do not read if these offend you.

  Chapter One

  Eighteen-year-old Randy Daniels sped down the dirt road in his pickup, the oversized tires spewing a cloud of dust that blew away in the wind. Tapping his hand on the steering wheel to the tune blaring from the radio, he thought life couldn’t get any better than this moment. With his high school graduation behind him and acceptance into the University of Minnesota’s agricultural degree program, he was riding high on exuberance for the future.

  There were a few friends he’d grown up with he would miss when he left, almost as much as he would the family ranch and his horse. But he would return often. Minnesota wasn’t all that far from Idaho, and nothing could keep him from home for long. His parents believed in a well-rounded education for their only child, and that included traveling someplace new once a year. After visiting over fifteen states, Canada, and a good portion of Europe, home on the ranch was still where he preferred to live after college.

  Three months of summer, his favorite season, would come first. Randy planned to party hard with his girl, Patti, and his friends when not putting in hours at the feed store in Mountain Bend and keeping up with his obligations on the ranch. Their foreman, Steven, showed Randy no favoritism, and his father had instilled in him the value of hard work and importance of learning self-discipline. Of course, he thought with a rueful chuckle, that didn’t mean he hadn’t gotten into his fair share of trouble over the years, or hadn’t earned more than a trip or two out to the woodshed.

  Recalling his date last night, and the way he and Patti had steamed up the truck windows while parked on this same road, he shifted on the seat to ease his semi-erection. A few years ago, screwing around with a girl would have gotten him an earful from his dad and a worried look from his mother. Now, when or if they found out, the only thing either would say was to be careful and do the right thing, whatever that entailed. He wasn’t serious about Patti, nor she about him. Nope, the woman he married would have to be someone special and have a lot of stamina in bed.

  With Randy’s big head and little head conversing and distracting him, he wasn’t prepared for the bedraggled young girl who ran out into the road in front of him, waving thin arms to get him to stop. Slamming on the brakes, he swore and brought the truck to a halt just feet from her scrawny body. Before he could get his door open, she was there, yanking on the handle, her face red and sweaty, her breathing heavy.

  Opening the door, she latched onto his arm with both small hands and tugged. “You have to come quick and help!”

  “Whoa, kid. Why are you out here alone at your age?” he asked, sliding out from behind the wheel. Nudging his hat up, he scanned the acres of open fields on either side of the dirt lane, already knowing there were no houses or farms nearby. Looking down at the kid, he cocked his head, curious about her welfare. “What are you, seven, eight?”

  Snapping gray eyes flashed up at him, followed by a belligerent tone. “I’m ten!”

  His lips quirked. Damn, she was cute, all attitude and desperation. Still, he worried she was out here alone, far from a house or town.

  “Sorry, ten. That’s too young to be wandering around by yourself. Show me what you need help with then I’ll give you a ride back to your parents.”

  A grimace tightened her mouth, but all she said was, “Come on. She’s over here.”

  With speed and agility only a kid that young and gangly could accomplish, she sprinted across the road and over the wooden fence, her braided strawberry-blonde hair flying out behind her.

  “Come on!” she called back with impatience.

  Shaking his head, he caught up with her, regretting drinking so much at the field party last night. As pretty as the summer-green pasture with its smattering of colorful wildflowers was, the downed, skinny mare the girl led him toward cast a blight on the sun-drenched landscape and afternoon. He didn’t see the spindly foal until they were a few feet from the pair and noticed the horse had already passed away, likely from a poor diet and lack of care, from the looks of her depleted body. The small colt hadn’t fared much better than his mother before or after birth, from what he could tell of his too-thin frame.

  The little girl dropped to her knees and ran a hand down his quivering neck then glanced around at Randy. “Can you help him?”

  A hint of youthful vulnerability shone briefly in her eyes before she blinked, and the impatient snap returned.

  “I can try.” Squatting next to her, he gave the newborn an up-close visual inspection, determining it would take a lot of TLC, not to mention time and expense, for the colt to survive. “I’ll take him home and have our foreman and vet look at him. It’ll be up to them. His mama died giving birth, from what I can gather. You wait here while I pull the truck closer.”

  She grabbed his arm again as he made to rise. Desperation and fear were in her voice when she demanded, “Promise you’ll come back? You won’t take off?”

  What kind of life had she led so far to make her so skeptical of an offer of help? Her dirty shorts and T-shirt were typical of someone her age out running around on a summer afternoon. She was thin but didn’t appear malnourished. His concern came from her presence out here alone, so far from any houses. He’d spent the night with a friend in town after the party, and he was still a mile or two from the ranch.

  “What’s your name, kid?”

  “Why?”

  Randy sighed at the mistrust reflected on her scrunched-up face. “Because I want to know who I’m helping.”

  “Oh. I’m Mickie. You’re gonna take care of him?” Hope blossomed across her face, lighting her eyes, and producing her first smile.

  Somehow, Randy didn’t think it would be wise to say her name was as cute as her. “Yeah, I’m going to try. I’m Randy. Be right back.”

  It took him only a few minutes to find an opening in the fence and drive across the range. Getting as close as he could, he got out and lowered the tailgate before bracing to lift the solid black colt. Even in his depleted condition, the little guy was close to fifty pounds, which was no more than a bag of feed or haybale for him. But he didn’t want to stress the animal out any more than his tragic beginning already had.

  “Spread those blankets out, Mickie,” he instructed, turning toward the back end of the truck. The foal gazed at him and the girl with wariness but was too weak to do anything except remain quiet and docile.

  Mickie crooned to the horse as Randy settled him on the makeshift bed. He wanted to warn her about getting attached since he might not make it but didn’t have the heart.

  “Okay, kid. Hop out and get in the front. I’ll drop you off at home first.”

  “No, I want to go with you.” Belligerence crept into her tone as she added with a glare, “I found him, so he’s my horse.”

  “Really?” Slamming the tailgate shut, he tried taking her arm, but she jumped out of reach, her mouth set in a mulish pout. “Do you have a barn, money for special feed, and for veterinary care?” A mortified
blush stole over her face, and he felt bad for pointing out her limited circumstances, reminding himself she was just ten. “Yes, he’s yours, but I’m offering to care for him for you, so cooperate, will you?”

  She scowled, crossing her skinny arms across her skinny chest. “I’ll agree to let you drive me home after I see where you’re taking him. Otherwise, I’ll walk.”

  The little minx probably realized he wasn’t about to drive off and leave her out here by herself. “You strike a hard bargain, kid, but I agree. Now, get in the cab.” He pivoted and strode to the driver’s side, not surprised to see her already climbing in. Shutting his door, he said, “Put on your seat belt.”

  “Why?”

  Randy rolled his eyes. Dealing with a stubborn kid while nursing a hangover was starting to irritate him. “Because it’s safer. Do it, or I’ll let you walk.”

  She must have noticed the steel he’d injected into his tone because she obeyed without another word. Once he got going, he cast her a quick glance and asked, “For someone who shows a reluctance to trust others, you didn’t seem to hesitate to flag down a stranger on a barren stretch of road.”

  Mickie shrugged, keeping her face toward the window. “You gotta do what’s necessary to get by.”

  That kind of grit backed with a hint of despondency touched something in Randy, causing a pang to grip his abdomen. “What’s your last name?” Maybe he’d heard of her family, and that could give him answers she wouldn’t.

  “Why do you need to know?”

  Fuck, I don’t need this. Whether he did or not didn’t matter; he was stuck with the situation. “Kid, you could try the patience of a saint. If we’re going to nurture that little guy back to health together, it would be nice to get to know you.”

  Whipping her head around, he eyed the swift change in her attitude from surly and cautious to delighted, and he returned her beaming smile.

  “You mean it? I can help, watch him grow up?”

  “Sure, he is your horse.”

  She hesitated then offered, “We can share him, if you want.”

  “Mmmm.” He pretended to mull over the suggestion. “I don’t know as I’m an only child and never was good at sharing. It might be best if we say he’s all yours.” God, he hoped the colt lived.

  “I don’t have any brothers or sisters either, so it would be good practice for us.” Shifting her gaze out the window again, she appeared to be pondering something, then she looked at him again and said, “My last name is Taylor.”

  Randy nodded, as if her concession wasn’t a big deal when he knew it was. “Thanks.” The name didn’t ring a bell, but he could ask his parents. Reaching above him to the remote clipped on the visor, he pressed the button to open the gates onto their property. “Here we are.”

  Mickie sat up straight, her eyes wide as they drove down the long lane leading to his house. The barns and stable were visible from the sprawling, one-story brick home but were still a long hike.

  “Fudge, Randy, don’t you get lost in that house?” she asked, swiveling her head as he kept driving.

  He sent her a rueful grin. “No, not after growing up there. Is fudge your clean version of the cuss word?”

  Her slim brows tucked into a frown. “That’s not a nice word, and I hate hearing it.”

  “Okay.” There was more to that, but he was sure she would tell him it was none of his business, so he let it go. Steven came out of the stable as Randy pulled to a stop. “That’s our foreman. I learned everything I know about livestock from both him and my dad.”

  Hopping out of the truck, he thought she mumbled something like, “Lucky you,” but couldn’t be sure. As much as he wanted to, he doubted he could break through her prickly attitude to pry.

  Steven sent him a curious glance when Mickie dashed to the back of the truck without waiting for Randy. “She flagged me down on Old Mill Road and led me to this little guy.” He jerked a thumb toward the truck bed where they both joined the kid.

  The foreman let out a low whistle at seeing the colt. “He doesn’t look good. Where’s the mother?”

  “Dead,” Mickie responded in a flat tone. “Nobody took care of her.”

  “Then I’d say it’s a good thing you came along, hon.” Steven squeezed her shoulder, the look of compassion on his face mirroring the pang of empathy Randy experienced. “Let’s get him bedded down in a stall, and I’ll check our formula supply. I hope you two are up for a few weeks of mothering.”

  Randy opened his mouth to say she was too young for the responsibility, but one look at her determined, hopeful expression and he didn’t have the heart.

  “I can do it. I promise.”

  Lifting the colt out of the truck, he asked her, “How far do you live from here?” Steven opened the stable door, watching them both with interest, and Randy could see the same questions he had reflected on the foreman’s face.

  Mickie followed them inside, appearing unfazed by the excrement odor, her wide pewter gaze remaining glued to the foal as she replied with her usual defensive attitude, “I can walk here.”

  “I’m starting to think you can do anything you set your mind to, kid, but that doesn’t answer my question.” He lowered the colt and, with Steven’s help, tried to get him to stand. Showing as much grit as the girl, the young horse made it about twenty seconds before going down.

  “Let’s get something in him. Mickie, you look like you could use something, too,” Steven suggested.

  Randy eyed her pale face and chapped lips, cursing himself for not paying closer attention to her needs. The fact she was so far from any homestead was enough to tell him her parents needed to step up and pay more attention to their daughter.

  “Can I have a drink of water?”

  “You can have a whole bottle,” Randy answered gruffly, for some reason wanting to hug her. He almost grinned imagining her reaction were he to try. She stroked the colt’s neck, the wistful look stealing over her face prompting him to say, “You found him, so you should name him.”

  “No kidding?”

  The incredulous delight in her smile warmed Randy. He leaned against the stall door and crossed his arms with a nod. “No kidding.”

  Her face scrunched up as she mulled over possibilities then brightened seeing Steven return carrying a box with two water bottles, a large candy bar, and a bottle feeder for the foal.

  “How about Black Jack? Do you like that one?” Her eyes clung to his face, as if his answer mattered.

  “I think it’s perfect. Steven?”

  Steven smiled at Mickie, handing her the water. “Agreed. It’s perfect for the little guy.”

  Randy let her stay and feed Black Jack before Steven reminded him someone might be looking for her, and the effects of his late-night partying were dragging him down. She wasn’t happy about it but didn’t argue when he ushered her back out to his truck an hour later.

  “Where to, kid?”

  “You can drop me off where we were.”

  “Try again, and don’t give me any lip,” he returned testily. “I’m taking you home.”

  Mickie shot him a scathing glare, huffed, then sighed in resignation. “Fine. The Crestway Mobile Home Park.”

  Randy frowned. On horseback, he could cut across the back field, through the woods, and over Mill Creek to reach the trailer court in less than fifteen minutes. But it was twice that far having to drive around the shortcut, and way too far for her to have walked where she’d flagged him.

  “Do your parents know you took off so far?” He should have thought to ask her that earlier.

  She let out a derisive snort, gazing out the window as he hit the road. “Don’t worry, they won’t care.”

  Her disgruntled voice was typical of a ten-year-old, but it still bugged him that he’d come across her wandering around all alone in a field. Between his head pounding and with tiredness tugging at him, he didn’t have the energy to pull more answers from her right now. She remained quiet and sullen until he parked in front of th
e mobile home she pointed out and grabbed the door handle.

  When she swung her head around, he couldn’t resist the plea in her silver eyes as she asked, “Can I come back soon?”

  “Sure, but only if I come get you, and you let your parents know. Deal?”

  “Yeah, okay.” She hopped down, surprising him when she tossed out, “Thank you, Randy. You made my day!” before trudging inside.

  He shook his head and drove back home, wondering what he’d gotten himself into.

  Three months later

  Mickie leaned on the fence rail, her heart swelling with love for the first time as she watched Black Jack frolic in the corral. Randy had kept his word and let her help take care of the colt, riding over on his big roan a few times a week all summer to bring her to the ranch. She spent hours with either Randy or Steven, learning all about horses while nurturing her colt into a healthy, robust foal. She giggled, remembering their surprise when she insisted on mucking out Black Jack’s stall, her irritation when Randy dared to say she wasn’t strong enough, and her glee when she proved him wrong. He needed to quit underestimating her. She could, and would succeed in anything she put her mind to, which was a must if she ever wanted to get away from the trailer park.

  She grimaced recalling the first time Randy had returned to take her to the ranch and refused to leave without meeting her parents. His brown eyes had turned hard when he’d been faced with their indifference, but, in all these weeks, he’d never said a word against them, or questioned whether she’d told them where she was going whenever he picked her up after that. Which was fine with her. The less she talked about her constantly arguing parents and was around to hear them going at each other, the happier she was. She supposed they loved her, in their cold, selfish way, but they sure as heck never showed it, or even expressed concern about her.

  But that’s okay, she thought, holding out an apple for Black Jack as he trotted over. She had another reason to do good in school and find a way to make it on her own when she was Randy’s age. Her heart twisted every time he mentioned leaving for college. Even though he annoyed her when he turned bossy, and always wanted to know where she was, and what she’d been up to, Mickie would miss him, the rides on his horse, seeing his dark eyes light up when she showed him she wasn’t the weak, scrawny kid he kept calling her.