Free Riding for Love (A Western Romance) by Tina Susedik

moon. She hung up on him, wouldn’t answer messages left with Tom, and this past week her answering machine picked up the calls in Tom’s voice, shooting any chances of at least hearing her voice.
    If he weren’t so busy figuring out how his mother’s accountant had cheated her out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, he’d drive out to the ranch. Now his fifteen-hour days finally paid off. He and the lawyers had worked out how the bastard filtered funds out of the company. Unfortunately, the man not only took money from his mother, but from the employee profit-sharing plan. If they didn’t recoup it through the court system, their employees would be out money put away for retirement.
    By the end of the month they’d have gathered enough evidence to charge him with a felony for fraud. Then they would wait for a hearing to learn if the case would be presented in court or follow mediation. Even though it would probably drag things out for years, Denton hoped the case would go to trial and the bastard would end up in the slammer for a good, long time.
    After the next few busy, crazy weeks making sure all the ‘t’s were crossed and ‘i’s dotted and the man positively caught, Denton would take some time off. He picked up the brochure sitting on his mother’s kitchen table. He knew exactly where he was going to spend at least two weeks.
    “Hi, sweetheart,” Rose said, ruffling his hair before going to the refrigerator for a glass of lemonade.
    He jumped and slapped a hand to his chest. “Geez, Mom, you scared the daylights out of me.” He set the brochure down and picked up an envelope. “What are you doing home? I thought you were going out with friends tonight.”
    Rose sat down on the opposite her son. “I did, but Tom had to get back early and the others had family obligations. Tonight is the last night at the ranch for a youth group from Milwaukee.” She reached over and slid the brochure across the table. “It’s a group of teenagers learning to ride and care for horses to teach them alternative ways to channel anger. Eve developed the program this year.”
    “Wow, I’m impressed.”
    “You should be,” Rose commented, flipping through the pamphlet filled with photos of the cabins, lodge, barn, and horses on trail rides. “Eve’s worked very hard to make the ranch a success. Every year she comes up with another way to help others relax and have fun. Last year was the first year for winter activities.” She folded the brochure and pressed it smooth. “Have you been out there yet?”
    Denton opened the envelope and slipped out a sheet of paper. “No, I’ve been too busy at work. Besides, I don’t think Eve would appreciate me just showing up.”
    “Why? She’s so proud of what she’s accomplished.” Rose peered at her son. “You never did tell me what happened when you went to dinner with her. Is she still mad?”
    Running a hand over his face, he huffed out a breath. “I guess that would be a good way of putting it, although mad seems too light a word. I explained about Marie, and she seemed to understand what happened, but, after all these years, she’s still angry with me.”
    “There could be a good reason.”
    “Yeah, like what?”
    Rose reached across the table to stop his shredding the sheet of paper he was holding. “Could be she still has feelings for you. Do you still care for her?”
    “What’s that got to do with anything?”
    “Just answer your mother, Denton Johansen.”
    “I never lost my feelings for her.” He pushed the paper away and tapped his fingers on the table. “She said she never had closure. Well, neither did I. One week, I’m home enjoying time with her and next, I’m married to someone else.” He raked his fingers through his hair again. “Now she’s ignoring me. I’m probably beating my head against the wall. I’ve called, written, sent flowers.”
    “Hmm . . .”
    Lord, he hated it when his mother got that tone in her voice. She didn’t have