Princess of the Plains Read online

  Book Two of The da Silva Heirs

  By

  Katherine Rhodes

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  PRINCESS OF THE PLAINS

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright 2017 © Katherine Rhodes

  Cover: JRA Stevens for Down Write Nuts

  Formatting: Down Write Nuts

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.

  One Jersey girl, two Texas brothers, and three hearts, about to be shattered.

  _____

  One Jersey girl, trying to find her own path.

  Two Texas brothers, different as night and day.

  Three hearts, about to be shattered.

  Fatima da Silva—princess and veterinary student—followed her sister to Texas on business. Tate and Caldwell Verhoven weren't part of the deal. There was no denying she was attracted to both brothers, but Tate, the sweet, nerdy IT guy, won her heart.

  Or did he.

  Despite trying her very best, she can't seem to keep the guitar-shredding punk rocker Caldwell out of her mind. Plagued by guilt, she sticks firmly by Tate’s side.

  Nothing is ever easy for the Verhoven brothers, though. Tate has demons too, but it's a spiteful rival family that causes the most damage.

  And Fatima will be left with a heart-rending decision.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Epilogue

  Sable Hunter’s Hell Yeah! World

  About Katherine Rhodes

  Chapter One

  A beginning for Tate

  The fever spiked again, and Tate was shivering under the blankets.

  Caldwell carried him to the bathroom and placed him carefully in the cool water, boxers and all. He grabbed a washcloth and wet his head. Tate tried to be embarrassed that his big brother had to carry him anywhere, but there was no way to get there on his own. Not with all his joints aching and his whole body shaking.

  “This sucks, Cald.”

  “I know, Tate. But this is what helps.”

  “Why do I keep getting sick?”

  Caldwell sighed. “I don’t know, man. I wish I did.”

  “Do you think Mom will have the money for the doctor this time?”

  Sitting down on the edge of the tub, his big brother let out a sigh. “You know, Tate, you’re eleven now, so I think I have to explain this to you like a grownup would. Mom isn’t ever going to have the money for us to do anything. Not for you to go to the doctor. Not for me to join football. Not for either of us to take guitar lessons. Mom…doesn’t really care about us anymore.”

  “Did we do something wrong?” Tate started to sit up.

  “No, no, Tate. Relax. There’s nothing we did to make Mom upset or dislike us. This is all on her. She got into heroin, and that’s all she cares about anymore. Getting high. Getting a fix. It’s a bad addiction, and it’s getting worse. She spends her whole check on the drugs, and nothing I say or you say can get her away from that fix. The…” Caldwell coughed, and sighed. “Because Mom makes so much at work, we can’t get assistance. But she won’t give me the money to take you to the doctor. I’m trying to work it out with the doctor. You’re sick too much.”

  Tate looked up at his big brother. His brother did everything he could when his fevers came on. They were frequent, and high, and usually caused him to miss school. He knew that Caldwell had talked to the school about his absences, but without a parental note or one from the doctor, there wasn’t much they could do to help.

  “What’s on your shoulder?”

  Tate wanted to swear. It was why he had been wearing a shirt in the water when they went swimming. “Um, nothing. I think it’s from the sun.”

  Giving him a yeah-right look, Caldwell grabbed his laptop from the other room. He turned the water on to cool it down for a moment, and then started typing on the computer. A few minutes later, he sighed and turned the computer to where Tate could see it. It was the same rash he had.

  “What is it?”

  “Says here it’s called neutrophilic dermatosis.”

  Tate paused. “Should I know what that is?” He shivered in the water, hard.

  “No, but if this is right, we might know why you keep having fevers.” He closed the page and shook his head. “I’m not a doctor. We’ll get the money for you and get you into the doctor. It’s important.” He closed the laptop. “Are you thirsty?”

  “Yes, I am, please.”

  Filling the glass on the sink, Caldwell handed it to Tate and laid his hand on his forehead. “Better. Five more minutes?”

  Tate nodded. He was sad, though. No school tomorrow after this fever.

  ...A year later...

  “Well, boys, there's good news and bad news.” Mister Francisco tapped on his desk. “Let's start with the bad. Your mother's estate was destroyed by her drug habit. She had debt that had debt. Fortunately, the sale of the house is going to cover just about all of it.”

  “The house?” Tate gasped. “But, Mister Frank…”

  “Unavoidable, boys. I'm sorry. It has to be done. Otherwise, the creditors will be chasing you for the rest of your lives. Another thing to consider is that not all of those creditors were above board. Some of them only take cash. I'm dealing with those as well in all of this.”

  “Mister Francisco,” Caldwell interrupted him, “I am more than happy to take care of my brother, but I can't do that if we're homeless.”

  “You won't be,” the lawyer said.

  A familiar, painful chill ran down Tate’s spine. He was going to spike a fever soon, in the next few hours. They needed to get going, because once the fever came on, the pain in his legs made walking impossible. He was finally too much for Caldwell to carry. He tapped Cald’s foot with his own, and tapped his forehead. His brother knew instantly what Tate was saying.

  “What do you mean we won't be? I don't have a job. I'm only just seventeen.”

  Francisco leaned forward. “A long time ago, Caldwell, Tate, your mother tried to force your father to surrender his parental rights in exchange for a clean divorce, no alimony. Your father wouldn’t, but agreed to heavy restrictions about visitation and contract—basically none. He didn’t have much of a choice, since at the time he was running for mayor of Dallas. He agreed, and your mother left with you two for parts unknown. About three years ago, he tracked you all down and your mother refused him any visitation rights. He's kept tabs on you ever since.”

  “I thought we had a dad…” Tate was confused.

  “Rodger Allen was your stepfather.”

  Tate looked over at his brother. “He was?”

  Cald nodded. “He was. He and Mom got married about six months after you were born. He never adopted you and they never told you about it. I never questioned it. When he died...Mom just… well.”

  Francisco s
hook his head. “Don't avoid it, Caldwell. Your mother descended into addiction until it finally killed her three weeks ago. So. Your father is willing and able to care for both of you down on his ranch outside of Austin. He has cattle and horses and plenty of space. He never relinquished his parental right.”

  “Do we even have another option?” Caldwell wasn't happy.

  “You would end up in the foster system.” Francisco leaned forward on his desk. “Boys. He's a nice guy. He's got a wife, and he's established. I don't want to see you two split up in the foster system. I don't want to see you lost to that system. Tate, think about it: You're just about to turn sixteen. If you really and truly hate it, you can be gone—with your brother—in two years. But somehow I don't think you'll hate this.”

  “Where is he? Can we meet him before we decide?” Caldwell folded his arms.

  “If you'd like, he came down today to be here in case you wanted to meet him.”

  Tate felt the heat of the fever kicking up in his body. “Cald…”

  “Yeah, sure. Let's meet him.”

  Tate groaned. This wasn't good. He needed his bed and his bath soon. Sooner than soon.

  Francisco buzzed a door open, and a moment later a big, tall cowboy strode in holding a hat and looking exactly like what Tate saw in the mirror each morning: dark hair, brown eyes, a square jaw, strong nose, and a dimple in his chin.

  Caldwell also looked shocked. He looked between the man walking toward them and Tate. And back again. “Holy crap.”

  “Holy crap is right,” Francisco agreed.

  The big cowboy pulled his hat off. “Hi there, boys. I'm Reg Verhoven. Your dad.”

  Caldwell stood and Tate followed. “Sir. I'm Caldwell Merchant. This is Tate, my brother.”

  He glanced up at the lawyer, who nodded.

  “Been waiting most of my life to meet you two. Caldwell, do you remember me at all?”

  “Well, yes, now. I always had dreams about a man who looked like you. I guess they weren't dreams.”

  “Nosiree, they were the real thing. How do you both feel—Good gracious, what's wrong with Tate?”

  Tate couldn't answer. The fever grabbed him hard and dragged him right to the floor immediately. Everything swirled once and went black.

  * * *

  The big cowboy who looked like him sat in the corner, his hat pulled down over his eyes. There was a pretty lady in the chair next to him, and she made a shushing sound when she saw him open his eyes.

  Looking around, Tate realized he was in a big hospital bed. He grimaced. How the heck was Caldwell going to pay for this?

  The pretty lady appeared next to him. “Hey, Tate. I'm Deidre, your stepmom. Your dad's been here for two days, waiting for you to wake up. He finally nodded off for a while so I don't want to wake him just yet.”

  “Why do I feel like gramma’s pin cushion?”

  Deidre poured him a glass of water and pulled the rolling table over. “You basically were for the two days. Caldwell told us all about how you get sick out of nowhere, and the fever was high enough we all got worried. The doctors here have been poking and prodding to see what they could find out.”

  “Deej?” The man in the corner pulled his hat up. “That you?”

  “Damn,” she whispered. “Yes, Reginald, it's me. Your son is awake, if you want to talk to him.”

  Reg stood from the chair, seeming almost to unfold himself. “Well, Tate. Y’all gave us quite the scare there. Feeling better?”

  Tate sipped the water and took an assessment of himself. The fever feeling was gone, and for the first time in a while, he felt kind of pain-free. “Yes sir, better. Where's Caldwell?”

  “Sent him home. Uh, to the ranch,” Reg clarified himself. “Boy’s been doing an amazing job taking care of you. Told him it was my turn, and to go get some sleep.” He plopped the hat on the chair and Tate saw the same hat-hair-cowlick his brother had on the side of Reg’s head. “He told us what's been going on. Y’all never got this checked out at a doc or a hospital?”

  “Mom wouldn't give us the healthcare cards to go. She tucked them away and we never found them. Doctors only did so much. Most times they gave me Tylenol with codeine and sent me home for cold baths.”

  Grunting, Reg looked at Deirdre and ran a hand through his hair. “Well, you and your brother are my responsibility now, and you always tell me when you don't feel good, Tate. Okay? What the doctors are talking about for you is a big problem, and we need to keep you healthy.”

  Tate felt the pit of his stomach drop. “Sir? What do they think is wrong?”

  Reg coughed, unable to answer easily. Deidre took over. “They have you narrowed down to a few chronic illnesses, Tate. Things that are controllable but not curable.” She smiled at him.

  “Am I going to die?”

  “Good gracious, no!” Deidre gasped. “No. The doctors have come to the conclusion that you have an autoimmune disease. They are looking at two different ones: lupus and something called rheumatoid arthritis. It's most likely you have RA, because lupus affects more females than males. Just the way it is. There is medicine and there are doctors who can help us with this—controlling it, managing it. But, Tate...have you been in pain all this time?”

  He looked at Deirdre and then at the man who looked like him. “Yes. For a few years. I had to quit baseball when I was nine because the fevers would make me too weak to play.”

  The string of swear words that came out of Reg’s mouth was impressive. “I shoulda never agreed to this bullshit.”

  Deidre placed a hand on his arm. “You didn't know. We know now. We can start pain management, and therapy for the symptoms, medicine for the flares.”

  “How do you know so much about this so fast?” Tate was impressed and terrified.

  “Deej is a doctor.” Reg smiled at her.

  “I'm a pediatric oncologist, so I can spot other diseases pretty quick.”

  “Oncologist. Cancer doctor?”

  She winked. “Yup. One of the best in Dallas. You're going to be fine.”

  Reg cleared his throat. “I know you and your brother didn't have a chance to think about coming to live with me. But I hope you'll take advantage of it. Deirdre and I want you there.”

  Tate nodded. “If Caldwell’s okay with it, I am too.”

  Reg smiled and ruffled his hair. “Good. It'll be nice to have you two around.”

  He hoped it was the right thing to do.

  Chapter Two

  “Seriously, RJ? Seriously? You couldn’t just give this to me for once?”

  Tate had to choke back the laugh. He didn’t know why Addie thought she’d get away from her brother. Not even for a night, not even with a sheriff’s deputy in their uncle’s restaurant.

  Trading a grin with Fatima, he suddenly realized he’d been caught in the same trap. Her sister had arrived on RJ’s arm, and the look on Tee’s face spoke volumes.

  “What?” The shit-eating grin on his face said it all. They had come there on purpose. “He’s my uncle.”

  “You’re an asshole, RJ. You know what I mean.”

  Tate shook his head as Lucy and RJ sat. He liked RJ. And Lucy was becoming a fixture at his side. Since he was rather fond of Tee, he was better off being on Lucy’s good side.

  “When does the band go on?” RJ was almost apologetic.

  “About half an hour. Caldwell is nervous as hell, and he doesn’t get nervous.”

  RJ nodded. “Place is crowded tonight.”

  “Don’t tell him that.” Tate whispered the directive fiercely. He was terrified for his brother. “His girlfriend just broke up with him this morning—just when he was getting ready to start having the conversation about rings and weddings. So he’s extra fucked up in the head.”

  Addie’s head swiveled around. “Juliana broke up with your brother?”

  Tate nodded. He’d wanted to kick the bitch down the stairs when she’d flounced out with “see you around!” and had blown Tate a few kisses. After everything t
hat Caldwell had given up for her— including his college degree and a small but promising record contract—she was nothing but a rancid, awful user.

  “Well, you may as well introduce your date, RJ.” Geo didn’t move his hand from around Addie’s shoulders.

  “Sure, right. Lucy, this is Geo McGovern. You might remember him from the dance the other night. This is Tate Verhoven, one of mine and Geo’s best friends. Tate, Geo, this is my...date, Lucy. She’s Tee’s sister.”

  Everyone passed around friendly hellos, and they all settled in. Everyone ordered dinner and waited for Caldwell’s band.

  Lucy suddenly slapped RJ’s hand. “Do not touch the fries, sir! You are treading on thin ice.”

  “I like the fries.”

  “Then order your own!”

  Addie suddenly and alarmingly stood, flapping her arms and hands. She grabbed Lucy’s arm and pulled her toward the dance floor. “I love this song! Come dance! Girls only!” She grabbed Fatima’s arm as well, and pulled the two sisters along to the dance floor.

  RJ grabbed the plate of fries.

  “You’re asking for trouble.” Geo laughed.

  He paused, then shrugged. “The fries keep me from threatening you with castration.”

  “Me? What did I do?” He was visibly worried.

  “You kissed my little sister. That’s all I need.”

  “She’s not a kid, RJ.” Shaking his head, Geo leveled a finger at him. “She’s a beautiful woman with a mind of her own and life she wants to live. I’m not taking advantage of her.”

  Chewing a fry thoughtfully, RJ nodded. “Right answer. For now, you keep your balls.”

  Tate smirked. “Who do I talk to about the younger princess?”

  RJ and Geo shared a look, and an answer: “The King.”

  “What? Like Elvis?”

  Before the joke could go any further, there was a commotion on the dance floor. Tate, Geo, and RJ peered around the column that hid part of the dance floor and RJ shoved away from the table when he saw it was Lucy, Addie, and Fatima.