Branded in Oasis

Preface

Oasis is a series I contemplated for many months while completing other writing obligations. Finally, I was able to begin the first book and introduce Maximilian Rutherford III and Pilar Armstrong, as well as a wonderful cast of supporting characters who will make appearances in all of the books—characters that in no way fall into the category of normal.

While writing the first book, I received inspiration for the second story when I got to Chapter 21: Skylar. It's like everything fell into place. I suddenly had my romantic characters for book two—Skylar Rutherford (sister of Max) and Kade Blackwell (cousin of Pilar). And the way they disliked each other in book one could be carried over into book two. It was perfect.

In the midst of writing book two, I received the inspiration for book three—a mystery. Since Oasis was founded as a mining town, why not have a robbery and hidden gold just waiting to be discovered a hundred years after the fact.

Originally, I had intended book three to be titled Landed in Oasis, but after further consideration, I decided that sounded hokey, and when I couldn't come up with an appropriate rhyming word for Stranded and Branded, I decided to just go with what actually happens. There is a plane crash outside the town, hence, the title Crashed in Oasis.

For those readers who have read my Romance on the Ranch Series, here's a little silliness: in Branded in Oasis I make mention of Sage Tanner, the famous model from Dream Kisses, and also Harvey Livingston, the egotistical designer. In addition, the heroine of upcoming Crashed in Oasis is Dottie Arnez, mother of Lucy from my YA novel, Fragile Hearts. Why did I do this when most readers will never realize the connections? I suppose it's because I have this desire to keep up with my imaginary world of characters. Crazy? Yeah.

I hope you enjoy this series!

Verna Clay

Chapter 1: Pilar's Wedding

Kade Blackwell sat in the second pew in the Methodist Church off Main Street in the small desert town of Oasis. Except for a couple of years living in Phoenix to attend Arizona State University, he'd spent his entire life in Oasis. Sitting next to him, his seventy-eight year old paternal grandmother, Shiloh Blackwell, slipped her hand into his. She leaned toward him and whispered, "I just love weddings. And I can't believe Max's mother couldn't make it to her own son's wedding. I don't think any charity event is more important."

Kade patted her hand and replied, Pilar said the woman is out of the country, in South America somewhere, I believe. From the way she talked, I guess Max isn't surprised by her absence.

Well, it's sinful if you ask me, Shiloh retorted.

The preacher began the ceremony and Kade returned his attention to the bride and groom. He was happy for his cousin Pilar. A few years earlier she'd gone through an unpleasant divorce and after a visit to Oasis, made the decision to move there. As a child and teenager, she'd spent a week or two every summer with him and his grandmother. Those visits had ceased after Pilar's mother died of heart failure. After that, Kade had lost contact with her for several years, but since her return, they'd become close again.

Standing beside Max was Willie, Pilar's son from her former marriage. The boy grinned as he watched the ceremony. Over the past few months, he and his soon-to-be stepfather had become close, especially after Max saved the boy from almost drowning in a flash flood.

At nine years old, Willie already knew what he wanted to do with his life and often expressed it. More than anything, he wanted to become a major league baseball player, and he was good at the sport even at his young age.

The bride and groom exchanged rings that Willie proudly handed them. A few minutes later, Pastor Peabody said, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Max, you may kiss your bride.

Everyone in the church sighed audibly when Max tenderly kissed Pilar. The newlyweds turned to face the congregation and the pastor said, I now introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Maximilian Rutherford III.

There were so many guests crammed into the small church that extra chairs had been brought in, and even then, some people stood along the back wall. Everyone clapped, hollered, or whistled as the couple walked down the aisle, followed by Willie and Max's sister, Skylar Rutherford, who had been Pilar's Maid of Honor.

For the briefest moment Kade locked eyes with Skylar, and then quickly glanced away. He'd been avoiding her since her return to Oasis a week earlier. The woman's forthright personality grated on his nerves, not to mention the fact that he was still pissed about her plowing into the Harley he'd been test driving a few months earlier. He'd taken the bike out for a final spin before the owner arrived and Skylar, running a stop sign, had hit the back of the bike. The only real damage had been scuffing to several chrome pieces, but it was enough for him to verbally roast her.

At first, she'd been shaky and apologetic, but after his verbal lashing she'd transitioned from defensive mode to offensive. She'd insisted the reason for the accident was because the stop sign was hidden by tree branches, and not her driving ability. Her brother had shown up and sided with her and promised they'd pay whatever the damages.

Kade might have let the matter drop except for the fact that he knew she was richer than Croesus after having met Max. She had rich girl practically stamped on her forehead, and if there was one thing Kade couldn't stand, it was rich girls who never took responsibility for their own actions. He'd insisted on reporting the accident to her insurance company, and followed through with that threat.

After that, things had escalated from bad to worse between him and Skylar—Skye to her family and friends. He found out that she was a professional photographer and during a party hosted by Desert Princess Trailer and RV Park, the park Pilar and Max called home, she'd snapped photos of him on the sly. He'd almost grabbed her camera away from her. Not only was she blatantly obnoxious and outspoken, but she was disrespectful of his privacy.

Kade's attention was returned to the present when an usher moved to the front and motioned for the first row on the bride's side to exit. Pilar's father and stepmother stepped into the aisle, followed by Pinky, Desi, Goody, Vera, and Lilac, close friends and neighbors of Pilar and Max.

The attendees for the groom's side, in the opposite row, moved into the aisle next. First was Max's grandfather, Maximilian Rutherford I, holding the hand of Princess, the owner of the trailer park and local diner. The impressive man bent to say something in Princess's ear and the lady giggled like a teenager. Following them was a portly, but distinguished looking older gentleman and his lady. The couple had been introduced before the ceremony as Ben and Elizabeth Albright, close friends of the Rutherfords. Kade had heard Mr. Albright's name mentioned before by Max and knew he was the family's attorney.

Kade and his grandmother were in the next row on the bride's side to be dismissed. Shiloh held tightly to Kade's arm as they left the church. Outside, the bride and groom had lined up to greet guests on a beautiful, cloudless, spring morning.

Chapter 2: Mingling

It had been announced on the wedding invitations and by the pastor after the ceremony that Max and Pilar's reception would be held at the recreation center at Desert Princess Trailer Park. Several guests were already walking the quarter mile to the park and others were starting their cars to drive over.

Kade and Shiloh waited in the reception line to congratulate the newlyweds. After Desi stepped away, Kade hugged Pilar and shook hands with Max, wishing them the best. He introduced his grandmother to Max and she told the couple how beautiful their wedding had been. Max asked, You're both coming to the reception, aren't you?

Kade grinned. We wouldn't miss it. Glancing behind Max, he saw Skylar fiddling with her camera. Pilar turned to follow the direction of his gaze. When she waved and motioned Skylar over, he almost groaned. Pilar said, Skye, I'd like you to meet Kade's grandmother, Shiloh Blackwell.

Kade saw Shiloh glance between him and Skylar and her eyes twinkled when she said, I've been wanting to meet the woman who has the power to put my easygoing grandson in a terrible mood.

Skylar shot Kade a quick look before exchanging greetings with his grandmother.

Shiloh said, I hear you're a photographer.

Yes, ma'am, and I love my work.

Well, I also hear that you like taking pictures of my grandson.

Kade interjected, Granny, I think we're holding up the line. We'd better move on.

Shiloh looked at the lineup, and replied, Oh goodness. You're right. Anyway, Skye, I've always said my Kade should be on the cover of a magazine. The only man better looking than him was his grandfather. Our son, Kade's father, wasn't much in the looks department, kind of took after me, but he made up for it in every other way. Why, his wife could hardly keep her hands off him, even in public. I remember one time…

Kade wanted to groan, but reminded his grandmother, Shiloh, we need to step aside and let the other guests–

Oh, goodness. There I go. You're right. Kade placed his hand on her elbow and gently led her past the receiving line. She called back to Skye, Honey, you come talk to me at the reception. We'll get to know each other.

Kade clenched his jaw. The last person he wanted his grandmother to get chummy with was Skylar Rutherford.

By the time the bride and groom arrived at the reception, the recreation center was overflowing. Kade had led Shiloh to the reserved family table and chosen a spot closest to the cake. His granny would have a great view when the bride and groom cut the cake and fed each other. Now he headed to the refreshment table to pour Shiloh a glass of punch. When he returned, Lilac, who had coordinated the reception, was talking to Shiloh. He handed his grandmother her punch and asked Lilac if she wanted anything. She declined and he listened to their conversation. Lilac was saying, So me and Vera couldn't decide if we wanted to hang balloons or streamers, and when we asked Pilar, she said it was up to us. Finally, Goody suggested that we pick a number between one and ten. He assigned balloons a number and streamers a number. I picked seven and Vera picked three. Three was the number for balloons. Imagine that, she got the number perfect. Anyway, I took it as a sign and didn't argue for streamers anymore.

Shiloh responded, Well, the room is simply lovely. Did Dottie make the cake?

She sure did. If she didn't own the dime store, I'd suggest she go into the cake making business. Maybe I should suggest it anyway. You know, she could make extra money, and heaven knows she needs it, what with her supporting a daughter away at college.

Shiloh asked, Has she said how Lucy's doing?

The last I heard, she was doing great and making good grades.

Shiloh responded, That's good to hear. As for Dottie making cakes for money, I suggested that very thing after she donated that masterpiece celebrating the mayor's reelection, but she said it was only a hobby she indulged in now and again.

Lilac clucked, Seems a shame not to make money by using your talent. She motioned toward the wedding cake. She donated Max and Pilar's cake, too; said it was her gift to the bride and groom.

Kade's attention to the women's conversation began to wane and he surveyed the crowd. Having grown up in Oasis, he knew everyone in the room. His father had also grown up in the town, but whereas Kade loved the area, his father never had. Kade's dad had moved to Mesa, near Phoenix, after marrying a Mesa girl, and taught third grade there. Both of Kade's parents had died in a car crash when he was a baby, and he'd been returned to Oasis to be lovingly raised by Shiloh.

Pilar's mother and his mother had been sisters, and before his aunt's death when Pilar was sixteen, she had regaled him with stories about his mother. She would have the family laughing uproariously at the hilarious trouble the two girls could find themselves in. Kade had loved hearing her remembrances.

Across the room he saw Skylar snapping pictures with an expensive camera sporting a telescopic lens. She remained on the outskirts of the crowd, shooting photos of the bride and groom as they moved among their guests. So far, he hadn't seen her turn the camera on him, something she'd done relentlessly during her previous visit to Oasis.

On the evening of the motorcycle crash, she'd shown up at one of the monthly parties hosted by the trailer park. He'd still been pissed about her casual attitude toward the accident, and she'd made him even madder with her obvious fixation on photographing him.

Now, watching her, he decided she'd finally wised up to the fact he wanted to be left alone. Just when he started to look away, she turned the camera in his direction and snapped a photo.

Sucking in a long breath, he leaned toward his grandmother, and whispered, I'll be back in a minute, Shiloh.

She patted his knee. I'm not going anywhere. Go have some fun. She returned her attention to Lilac's ramblings.

Biting his jaw to control his anger, Kade walked his six foot two frame menacingly toward Skylar Rutherford. Apparently, she needed a reminder to keep her camera pointed away from him. She saw him bearing down on her and her mouth formed an O.

To her credit, she didn't slink away. She released her camera and let it hang by its strap from her neck. Cocking her head to the side, she waited for him, never removing her eyes from his.

She was a small woman, probably five foot two or three, so Kade towered above her when he finally stood in front of her. She looked up and grinned sheepishly.

Barely controlling his temper, he said, "I don't know if you're mentally challenged, or just hard-headed, but I want you to stop taking pictures of me."

Still craning her neck upward, she sighed and said, "Have you forgotten you're at a wedding where photos are normally taken of the bride and groom as well as their guests?"

Before he could respond, she continued, I know you don't want to hear this, but you've been given a gift, Mr. Blackwell. Her grin turned slightly lopsided and warned him that she was about to say something he wouldn't like. And no, your gift is not an affable personality.

Kade's eyes flashed with impatience, but he remained silent.

She continued, Your gift is your appearance. You are the most photogenic person I have ever met. And before you lash out at me about how much you could care less, let me tell you that being born attractive can be a curse, but it can also be a blessing. It becomes a curse when one is consumed by vanity, but it's a blessing for the person who understands his or her ability to make people smile—to lift them out of the mundane and into a world of fantasy, even if its only for the briefest of moments. As a model, you could appear in magazines, on book covers, possibly television and movies. She sucked a breath and continued, We live in a world where escape into fantasy is a necessity for emotional survival. If I couldn't get away from my 'everyday problems', she made quote marks with her fingers for emphasis, and live in an alternate reality every now and again, I would go crazy. She paused and waited for his response.

For a second