Authors: Annabelle Weston
“You’ll be as glad as I am he’s working for us.”
“We’ll see,” Kate said, getting in what she hoped was the
final word on the subject of Jake Madden.
They both laughed, which felt damn good.
Kate’s protests were halfhearted. She didn’t want to admit
Jake Madden’s grin had rekindled a long-dormant flame. Had Jolie guessed?
Without question he was a silver-tongued devil.
Hadn’t she always wanted a man who made her toes tingle?
After tossing her no-good fiancé onto the nearest train to
she-didn’t-give-a-damn-where, she’d vowed to never settle for a man who cared
nothing for her pleasure. She’d wondered when Jake introduced himself if he
could be that man. Just the way he’d winked at her, that easy, confident smile.
Hell, he’d had her nipples hardening and her cunny growing slick.
Having him around would most likely set her teeth on edge.
He would remind Kate of when she’d been a hopeless romantic like her sister.
And all those promises that had been shattered when she’d agreed to be a man’s
wife.
“Do you think Jake is friends with Caleb Purdy?” Jolie
asked.
Kate shot her a sideways glance. Somehow or other the
conversation always got around to Silas Purdy’s youngest son. Caleb had been a
thorn in Kate’s side ever since he came sniffing around her sister.
“You’ll have to ask him.” Kate’s sharp tone effectively cut
off further conversation about the Purdys.
Jolie started singing. The song was about giving her heart
and soul to a loving man.
Kate didn’t join her. She’d no cause to believe in such
sentiment.
There’d come a day when Jolie would marry and leave the
ranch. That time was a ways off.
Jolie finished the song by reaching for the sky and belting
out the final verse. Kate shook her head. If only the respectable ladies of
Tucson could see her sister now.
The words spoke to the heart’s desire, to the yearning for
companionship. They’d both been lonely out at the ranch. Kate tried to quash
the emptiness that’d dogged her since before their pa had been murdered.
“Don’t you go getting any ideas,” Kate said but was sure her
warning fell on deaf ears.
“I won’t,” Jolie said, pulling a long face. “It’s just a
silly old song.”
“I can see the stars in your eyes.”
“So?”
“I’m just saying, don’t let any man charm you out of your
britches,” Kate replied with conviction.
Jolie scoffed.
“Purdy’s after more than you think. We have to do what’s
best for the ranch.”
“Why would he want our ranch? He’s got plenty of land of his
own.”
“I’m not talking about the ranch.”
Jolie blushed all pink and proper.
Kate shook her head.
“Don’t you worry about Caleb. He’s always the perfect
gentleman.”
“It’s my job to keep him that way,” Kate replied. “You’re
too young to get married.”
“Ma was my age when she married Pa.”
“Don’t let the first sweet-talking man who comes along sweep
you off your feet.”
“Like you did?”
Kate shuddered. “That was different.”
“Tell me how,” Jolie said, folding her arms over her chest
in a challenging move that was not like her at all.
Kate shook her head.
Jolie kept after her. “How sad of you to let the first man
to come courting sour your disposition on men.”
“I’m not sour on men. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Remember what Pa used to say? If you get thrown, get right
back in the saddle.”
“I’ve no intention of encouraging a man,” Kate snapped. “Nor
do I intend to marry.”
Jolie wouldn’t give up. “I think you want to be married to
the ranch. How sad is that?”
Kate hated fighting with Jolie. “Give it a rest. I don’t
want to talk any more about men.”
Jolie sank back in her seat. Kate had spoken her piece.
Arguments were how their conversations ended most times lately. She was driving
Jolie away and into the arms of the enemy.
What would Kate do when the day came when Jolie left the
ranch? Jolie was practically running to the altar already with Caleb. Kate
didn’t want to think about it.
Jolie wouldn’t be persuaded so Kate kept her mouth shut. It
was only natural she protect Jolie. The girl wouldn’t listen. She was stubborn,
just like Kate had been at that age. She had a hankering for Caleb Purdy. She
didn’t understand that the man she’d fallen in love with could very well have
been involved in their pa’s murder—his father had tried to convince Pa to sell
the ranch on more than one occasion. The Purdys had money and were powerful men
in the territory. There was no telling what they would do to get what they
wanted.
The road to the ranch narrowed. The heat had dried the sage
and buffalo grass golden. All shapes and sizes of cacti dotted the countryside.
The tall stems of the yucca flowers were silhouetted against the sky.
Some called this land good for nothing, no better than the
snakes and coyotes that inhabited it, but Kate loved this place. There was a
beauty here that filled her heart. It was home.
It was easier finding hair on a frog than making a living
here. The two of them had taken on responsibility early. What with chores and
taking care of their pa, they’d grown up fast.
“I’ve been thinking about Mama,” Jolie said as they rattled
down the road.
Kate sighed. Their mother had left them for a traveling man
she’d met in town. They hadn’t heard from her since. “Best you not waste time
thinking about her.”
“Do you wonder if she thinks about us?”
Kate couldn’t say. She’d like to forget the woman. How could
she have run off?
“I miss her, Kate.”
Kate’s anger spiked. “You shouldn’t. You need to keep your
mind on the ranch and all Pa did for us.”
Pa had been one of the best cattlemen in the territory. When
he died, Kate feared they’d lose the place he’d worked hard for all those
years. They’d barely managed to hold on through a harsh winter. If they were
going to make it through the next winter, they needed help. Jake Madden had
come along at the right time.
She’d no doubt the new foreman would be a force to be
reckoned with. His searing blue eyes had never wavered when she asked him a
question. He always had an answer on the tip of his sugarcoated tongue. The way
sparks shot through her body when he’d spoken to her had to be a bad sign. She
couldn’t let what he had to offer distract her.
Yet the sudden thrumming through her veins wasn’t altogether
unwelcome. She wasn’t a complete toad. She found herself thinking about the
warmth of being in his arms. How amazing it would be to explore that body built
for work. Feel his sinewy muscles ripple beneath his shirt. Unbutton those
sun-bleached blue jeans that hugged the length of his legs.
Dear lord.
She closed her mouth for fear of drooling.
If Jolie noticed, there’d be no end to her badgering.
Such imaginings did Kate no good. She couldn’t be a
simpering female. Submissive, gasping and eyelashes flapping. No doubt that was
the kind of woman Jake Madden preferred.
“Humph.”
Jolie was watching her. “Did you say something?”
She gave the reins a shake. “Nothing. Just thinking.”
Jolie sat back, lost in her own dreams. They were a pair,
fighting to keep body and soul together while so much was ready to tear them
apart.
The setting sun glared in her eyes and she pulled down the
brim of her hat. Darkness would be here way too soon.
The first night she and Jolie spent at their ranch alone,
she had stayed up all hours with Pa’s loaded shotgun across her lap.
Jake had told her he hadn’t heard about their misfortune,
which only proved he was new to the territory. Hiring him as quick as she’d
done made her uneasy.
She groped under the seat. The Winchester was still there,
the metal hard against her fingertips.
Pa had taught her how to shoot and she hit the target every
time. She was a damn good shot. If anyone came barreling down on them, she’d
shoot them without hesitation right from her porch and not miss. He’d also
taught her how to use the bullwhip. She’d practiced until she got it right. The
whip never left her side.
Her father had taught her many things. How she missed him.
She was dwelling on what couldn’t be changed again.
Hopefully Jake would arrive before complete darkness
overtook the ranch. Mack was sure to whine to any and all who’d listen how she
had treated him badly. How he was owed wages and within his rights to demand
payment. She and her sister were on their own—and maybe the bastard would seek
out retaliation. She didn’t regret firing him and it’d been nothing short of a miracle
Jake Madden had come along when he did.
There was a lot of work to do before nightfall. Horses
watered. Chickens rounded up and settled in the coop where the coyotes wouldn’t
bother them. She’d see to cleaning out the bunkhouse and putting in clean sheets
and towels. After all that, supper had to be prepared. After supper…the list
went on and on.
An image of Jake Madden grinning flashed before her eyes.
Experience in a great many things
, he’d told her with
a quirk of his mouth—as if they shared a secret.
Oh, how one short sentence had made her heart do a hop. She
squeezed her knees together, trying to stop her legs from shaking. What would
it be like to have a man like Jake hold her? Caress her bare skin?
Such imaginings betrayed her. She’d barely spoken to the man
for more than five minutes and already he’d invaded every part of her brain.
Hmm…
Maybe she should search for another foreman. Put
an advertisement into the
Cattleman’s Gazette
. That would take time and
money. Money she didn’t have. And on top of that, she couldn’t pay what most
foremen expected to be paid in the territory.
“I wish we could afford a new buckboard,” Jolie said, still
sulking. “This old contraption is shaking me to the bone.”
“Maybe next year.” Kate hadn’t told her sister about the
letter from the bank. How the homestead was heavily mortgaged. How their bills
went unpaid. They were in arrears for nearly six months and the bank wanted
their money or they’d be forced to foreclose. She had to find some money and
fast.
She wasn’t going to let the ranch fail and end up selling to
the Purdy clan.
Jolie depended on her even if she didn’t say so. She wasn’t
going to let her pa down either. Somewhere up in heaven, he was watching over
them. Hadn’t he been the one to train her? She’d learned how to do the books,
keep house and make sure the cattle were cared for properly. She could run a
ranch and make money doing it. And she would.
Chin up, Kate. Chin up.
Hadn’t those been Pa’s words
when times got rough?
She took in a deep breath and pushed back her shoulders.
Yes, confidence was what she needed. Confidence had been in short supply
lately.
They would survive and thrive. First they had to stay afloat
and find a way to pay their bills.
Kate decided to reveal the misfortune. She’d believed her
sister too young to share this bad news. Maybe Jolie would more fully
appreciate why Kate acted as she did if she was told.
“Remember that letter we got from the bank?” Much as she’d
wanted to protect her sister from the bleakness of their financial situation,
she wouldn’t hide the truth any longer.
“Sure. You said there wasn’t anything to worry about.”
“I haven’t paid the mortgage in months.”
“What can we do?”
“Not much with no income.”
“You’ll think of something,” Jolie said. “All will be well.
Just you wait and see.”
“I’m trying but I need you here with me,” Kate said. “What
would I do if you ran off?”
“I won’t,” Jolie replied but she didn’t look at Kate and
that had Kate worried.
“We’ll have to sell some of the stock. Some equipment.”
“Now that we have Jake to help us…” Jolie straightened and
tapped her bottom lip. She was taking the news as a Crowley should.
“Don’t count on him,” Kate warned. “He’s not the type of man
you can depend on.”
“How can you be so certain?” Jolie fired back.
Kate stared ahead at the dusty ribbon of road she’d traveled
so many times. “He’s not invested in the future of our ranch. As soon as he
makes a little money, he’ll move on.”
“He seemed dependable to me.”
A quick glance at Jolie and her sweet innocence gave Kate
heartburn. Jolie liked Jake, which meant trouble.
The very idea of Jake flirting with her sister got her bile
stirred up. As soon as Jake settled in, she’d have him tending their cattle out
on the range. That would keep an amorous cowboy busy and put distance between them,
she decided.
She had her own plans for Jolie. When the time came, her
sister would end up married to a nice, wholesome man. A respectable man who
made a good living. A man who Jolie could raise a brood of children with and
bake lots of apple pies for.
As for fulfilling a man’s needs, she’d be sure to point Mr.
Madden in the direction of Blue Belle’s entertainment, where he could find his
pleasure.
Satisfied she’d made the right decisions concerning their
new foreman, she called out to old Buck and Alice to hurry on up, they had
chores to do.
Chapter Four
Jake arrived at the front gate of the Crowley ranch and what
he saw surprised him. The previous foreman hadn’t exaggerated. The gate sagged
on rusty hinges and parts of the split-rail fence had been knocked over. There
wasn’t a cow in sight. Or horses. Or anything substantial to indicate this was
a working ranch.
This setup had him spooked. The neglect wasn’t recent. What
kind of rancher had Crowley been to let his place fall into such disrepair?
He swerved to miss a cow’s skull lying by the side of the
road. Rascal let out a nicker. The horse was game for about everything—Jake had
trained him well—but Rascal balked, reluctant to go any further.
Jake decided the skull was a bad sign. Made the place all
the more eerie. He wasn’t a superstitious man but hadn’t figured the Cowley
spread to be practically abandoned.
He dismounted. Rascal pawed the hardpan. “What’s got into
you?”
His horse backed up, his nostrils flaring. If there was
anything worth being wary of, a horse would be sure to smell it.
Jake kept a firm grip on the reins and patted Rascal’s neck,
half expecting to see a rattler or a scorpion slither out of the cow skull. He
tugged on the reins. The mustang wouldn’t budge.
He drew his weapon then kicked the skull over and jumped
back, ready to shoot. But there was only dust. He laughed, realizing how shaken
up a little old skull had gotten them.
“See, there was nothing to be afraid of, was there?” Jake
shucked his shooter in his holster. “You take it easy. We’re almost there.” The
mustang’s hide rippled as he stroked his neck.
Jake was confident in his skills, his ability to tame the
wildest beast. They were skills that didn’t come easily. He’d taken his share
of falls, broken bones and dislocated shoulders to get the job done.
Taming a woman would call on all his skills.
Only he hadn’t counted on Kate Crowley being a looker. She’d
gotten her dander up and her dark eyes had smoldered with anger, putting him in
mind of more than taming her. It wouldn’t be wise to underestimate her.
“We’ll be there in a few minutes,” he said gently to Rascal.
Whatever the mustang had objected to had no doubt hightailed it out of there.
He gathered the reins and hopped back into the saddle.
Slowly, he made his way through the gate. A wind had picked
up and rustled through the trees, taking with it the day’s heat. He welcomed
the cooler air, a break from the suffocating temperature of Tucson.
About a quarter mile from the gate, he came upon a
farmhouse, what appeared to be a bunkhouse on the left and a shed for a farrier
on the right. Both could use a coat of fresh stucco. As Jake rode up to the
house, he came to the conclusion these ladies were over their pretty little
heads.
A chicken coop listed to one side. A few chickens scratched
the dry earth. He doubted they laid a decent egg to breakfast on. The first
winter storm would most likely knock the coop over. No self-respecting coyote
would have any trouble breaking in and helping himself to a not-so-plump
chicken dinner.
There was a good-sized barn with an empty corral behind it.
Beyond the corral, a pasture where livestock should be grazing. He frowned. The
girls had no idea how to run a ranch and obviously that idiot of a foreman who
had worked for their pa didn’t either. Nobody had done a lick of work in a long
time. Damn good thing he’d come along when he did. He’d fix the place right up.
Whoa there, boy!
What was he doing? Thinking like
that would have him trying to make a permanent home out of Crowley ranch. That
wasn’t how it was going to be. He was going to win this wager and then get on
to Texas where the real cattlemen lived. In his pocket would be a fat
purse—enough to buy his own place.
Best to keep his goal in mind, else he’d wind up draining
his blood and sweat on this spread with nothing to show for his effort.
Kate Crowley came out on her porch carrying a lit coal-oil
lamp as the sun was about to set. She wore riding clothes and a hat.
Thankfully, he didn’t see any whip or other weapon.
A gust of wind whipped her loose hair and reddened her
cheeks. He had to admit she made a picture of Western country womanhood any man
would be itching to come home to. The fact that for a split-second he thought
of coming home to her disturbed him greatly.
Her eyes met his and he couldn’t help but notice taut
nipples beneath her blouse. Jake sucked in a breath, his own body reacting with
sudden lust. She drew a wool shawl tighter around her shoulders. It hugged her
curves and gave the impression of vulnerability. She appeared sturdy enough, he
reckoned, but there was no mistaking she was holding her own against a stacked
deck.
“You found us,” she said kindly. In the dying light, Jake
could see the gratitude reflected in her eyes.
“Yes ma’am.” Jake tipped his hat. He couldn’t afford to be
sorry for her plight. Like he’d told the boys at the saloon, her dilemma wasn’t
his concern. In six weeks, he’d be a man of means. Most likely, the sisters
would be on their way back East, where ladies belonged. “You here to check on
my sobriety?”
“Do I need to?”
He chuckled. She gave as good as she got.
“Come with me,” she said and stepped down from her perch.
“I’ll show you where to put your gear.”
Like a general who’d just given orders, she marched off, her
head high. He couldn’t help but watch the sway of her hips. No matter how much
she tried to be one of the boys, this woman had virtues no man could ignore.
Resolve twitched his lips as he pictured her walking like
that without any clothes on. Her ass would sway and dimple with each step. He
imagined the curve of her bottom as he held her. Damn if he didn’t wonder what
she’d be like underneath him. Would her fire scorch him?
His cock grew hard, pressing uncomfortably against his
denim. He adjusted his stance, giving himself a chance to settle down.
Jake led Rascal to the bunkhouse where Kate stood waiting by
the open door. She went inside, hung the lantern on a wooden peg and set the
bedding on the nearest bunk. Her hands lingered a moment on the rough mattress,
and seeing her bent over like that, Jake had the urge to come up behind her and
press his aching cock against the curve of her buttocks.
Clearing his throat, hoping to gain some control of his
lust, he asked, “Where are the other wranglers?” Jake poked his head inside.
“There aren’t any others,” she said, furrowing her forehead.
He raised a brow. She had to be joking. “You hired me to be
a foreman. You mean to tell me I’m the only
hombre
working here?”
Her lips pressed together as she watched him, almost as if
she was annoyed that he would question her. But question her he would. This was
not the job he’d agreed to. Foreman was one thing. Doing the job of a dozen
wranglers wasn’t.
“You’re our only employee. We can’t afford to hire any more
help right now.”
“How in the heck do you expect to get the considerable
amount of work that needs doing finished by the time winter rolls in?” He
stared hard at her. “Which will be sooner than you think.”
Kate stepped forward, her shoulders pulled back, breasts
pushed tight against her blouse. The intent he knew was to appear taller,
stronger, but instead she looked hotter than hell and had him thinking of
hauling her into his arms to feel the softness pressed against him. “I intend
to do my share of the work. My sister too.”
Jake let out a whistle. “You must be joshing. I can’t bring
cows down from these hills with a couple of women.”
Her eyes glowed in the lamplight. “That’s exactly what we
are going to do, Mr. Madden. Are you telling me you’re not able to do the job?”
Jake pushed his hat back on his head. Was she questioning
his abilities? He didn’t like what he saw but he wasn’t going to back down with
so much at stake.
“I didn’t think so.” She rested her hands on her hips.
Ample, curving hips. “You can put your horse in the barn.”
“No thanks. He’ll do fine in the corral. No use spoiling
him.”
“Suit yourself.”
When she brushed past him, heat encompassed him.
Instinctively Jake reached out, stopping her. She glanced up at him, fire
filling her eyes. He breathed deep. She smelled of flowers, sugar. Gripping a tendril
of her loose hair, he twirled it around his fingers.
“What are you doing?” Her voice was soft, husky, giving away
that she was more affected by his simple touch than her words showed.
What was he doing? He wanted to kiss her. To touch her.
Instead Jake shook his head, pulling himself from whatever
spell had overtaken him. He blinked a few times, dropping his hand to his side.
“I’m sorry. Your hair… It just looked soft.”
Something warm came into her eyes for a moment before
completely disappearing and the rigid Kate was back. “Um, thank you. I forgot
your towels.”
She ducked out of the bunkhouse, hurrying away as though
he’d slapped her.
Jake led Rascal into the corral, checked there was plenty of
water in the trough and returned to the bunkhouse.
The soft yellow light revealed a row of beds and a small
table with wooden benches on both sides. One of the beds had been made up with
clean sheets and a blanket neatly tucked in at the corners. Towels were stacked
on a shelf.
The dull light partially illuminated Kate. She was trying to
scowl, to show him she was tough, but he could see beneath her façade. Kate
Crowley, for all her spit and vinegar, was close to exhaustion.
Her gumption stirred his insides. They were over their
heads. Except he couldn’t afford to be sorry for these women. Their problems
weren’t his. Yet.
“If you don’t mind me asking, where’s the stock?” he asked.
She peered up at him. “Out to pasture mostly.”
He noticed the dark patches underneath her eyes. She
probably worked herself to the bone from the time the cock crowed until the
wolves howled. To hell with the ranch, if she didn’t get some rest she’d wither
away.
“When you’re ready, come up to the house. My sister and I
are about to sit down to supper.”
Jake shifted his feet. “Thank you for the hospitality. I
think it’s best I take my meals out here.”
She quirked a brow and frowned. “Why would you want to eat
alone?”
It’d be cold beans and jerky tonight but worth it after
seeing the fire in her eyes when he hadn’t done what she’d asked. And damn if
she didn’t get prettier when she was full of fire.
“I don’t think it’s such a good idea for the hired help to
dine with the boss. Or anything else you might have in mind.”
She bristled. Jake hid a smile. He’d gotten her goat good.
She wanted to be the boss, that was fine by him. She couldn’t have it both
ways.
“In fact, if it’s all the same to you, I’ll turn in early.
I’m used to going to bed with the chickens.”
She nodded. “All right, Mr. Madden. If there’s anything you
need, just holler.”
He unbuckled his belt and dropped it on one of the chairs.
She didn’t move. He unbuttoned his shirt. Her eyes followed every button and
scanned the expanse of chest he’d exposed. No doubt it was hunger that
sharpened her features.
“I could use some hot water to wash off some of this trail
dust.” He spoke with a lusty growl.
“Mr. Madden, please.” Her voice was huskier than before.
“You got a problem seeing a man undress?” Jake shrugged out
of his shirt and rubbed the sweat off his chest. He would’ve bet on her bolting
but she didn’t. Instead, the woman licked her lips before catching herself and
bringing her head up in defiance.
“Of course not,” she snapped.
“If you’ll just bring me that water, I’ll be obliged.”
“There’s hot water on the stove,” she answered. “You come
get it yourself. I won’t be your servant.”
Surprisingly, she closed the gap between them, lips parted.
Her nostrils flared slightly and her eyes widened. He breathed in her feminine
smell heated by her body—the scent of summer flowers, sweet prairie sage and
something else, something unique, genuine.
“We’ve gotten off on the wrong foot,” she said as smooth as
a cock’s comb.
“I’ll say we have.” Jake couldn’t hold back a smile. “First
off, you’ve got to call me Jake. The only person ever to call me Mr. Madden was
a saloon dolly down in Abilene.”
Her eyes flashed a warning but changed quick enough. She
appeared downright apologetic. “All right. If you insist.”
Jake scowled. He’d pleasured many women but never one who
was fire and ice. He should run, run for the hills before he fell under the
spell of this creature.
He remembered his dream of a pretty little ranch and a
sweet-tempered gal by his side. He had to keep his mind on the big picture. He
had his future on the line.
“Mr. Madden…” She took a deep breath. Was she giving him the
go-ahead or was Kate Crowley ready to give him a comeuppance?
Damn, he wanted to kiss her. “Jake,” he corrected.
“Jake.” Her saying his name sealed the deal. He wasn’t going
to be able to keep himself from kissing that mouth all puckered up and waiting.
“The ranch isn’t what it should be,” she said. “We’re low on cash and we’re
living on credit until the sale of our cattle.”
“I know how that goes,” Jake replied. He’d tried to get a
loan out of a bank but without collateral, the bank had turned him down.
Her mind was on business, which spoiled the mood entirely.
She was standing much too close for his comfort. What was she after?
“I’m glad you understand how hard money is to come by.”
Jake understood she couldn’t afford any more help and he’d
have to stand in line along with their other creditors for his wages.
“I’d like to hire more men but I can’t just now.” She stared
at his chest and his tuft of sandy-colored hair. If she moved just a few
inches, she’d be close enough to press those soft lips to his flesh. She’d
taste the saltiness of his skin, he mused, and would come back for more. “I’m
sorry for the misunderstanding. About being hired on as a foreman with no crew,
I mean.”