Authors: Ginger Simpson
Ellie clutched her blanket, carefully slid off the horse,
and stepped onto the porch. She started for the back door, but turned. Her eyes
misted with happy tears. “I owe you my life, Ty. How do you thank someone for
that?”
“You don’t owe me anything, Ellie. I’m just happy I found
you.”
Found you. The words rang in her heart. Had he only found
her, or something stronger? She prayed he had feelings for her because there
was no doubt about it, she was definitely in love. When everything was settled,
she planned to tell him. She opened the door, thankful for so many things.
Ben sat at the end of the long kitchen table with a cup of
steaming coffee in front of him. When he saw her, his eyes widened and a huge
grin brightened his face. He pushed away from the table, sloshing liquid from
his cup, and stood. The space between quickly closed and he gathered her in his
arms. “Oh, Roselle, my Roselle, thank God you’re all right. How?
Where?”
Ellie felt a tug on her arm and turned to receive a
welcoming hug from Cook. The woman’s eyes sparkled with tears. “Thank goodness,
child. I was beside myself with worry about you.”
Love overpowered Ellie. She held Cook at arm’s length and
smiled, but felt bothered by something never discussed. “You’ve been part of my
family for my whole life, even treated me like a daughter, and I don’t even
know your real name. Would you mind telling me?”
The gray-haired matron laughed.
“Of course
not.
I haven’t been called anything other than Cook for so
long,
I’m surprised I can remember I’m Alma Roselle Oliver.”
So that was where Ellie got her name. She stared at the
floor, sorry for ever having made a disparaging remark about it. She raised her
eyes and gazed at Cook. “I’m honored to share your name.”
“Gol darn, Ellie!” Pa’s voice verged on annoyance. “You and
Cook can talk about this later. You still haven’t answered my questions.”
Ellie turned back to Pa and sighed. “It’s a long story, and
I’ll let Ty tell it. Right now, I want nothing more than to take a hot bath and
get out of these horrible clothes.”
Ty walked in as she finished her sentence. “Make it quick
one, Ellie. Remember, we have company coming.”
“I’ll heat the water for you, child.” Cook offered, turning
to pick up a bucket.
Ellie had barely left the room when Ben assailed Ty with a
barrage of questions. “How’d ya find her? Did you run into any trouble? Did
Jeb—”
Ty held up a silencing hand. “Sit down and I’ll give you the
shortened version. The Bryants should be here anytime now. I understand you’re
signing over the ranch.”
Ben’s eyes narrowed as he dropped back down into his chair.
“I had no choice but to agree. Jeb made it clear if I didn’t sell Fountainhead
to Dude, Ellie would suffer the consequences.”
Ty walked to the stove and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“She would have, and Jeb had no intentions of freeing her once the deal was
sealed.” Ty sat next to Ben and continued. “He planned to keep her locked up in
the old line shack where I found her. God knows what he had planned.”
The veins in Ben’s neck bulged, and he shook his fist in the
air.
“That son of a bitch.”
“Calm down, Ben.” Ty gripped his shoulder. “She’s safe, and
I’ll make sure she stays that way.”
His throat tightened. Surely Ben knew of his fondness for
Ellie, but did he know how deep those feelings ran? Ty needed to tell him…if
only his voice would cooperate. He cleared his throat. “I’ve developed a
serious attraction to your daughter through all this mess. Once we take care of
Dude and his sons, I’d like to have a serious word with you…if that’s all
right. But right now we have to discuss
what’s
gonna
happen when they get here.”
* * * * *
Cook had readied a bath. Ellie peeled off Jeb’s pants and
shirt and climbed into the lavender-scented tub. She slid down until the water
reached the bottom of her chin, letting the warmth seep into every pore of her
body. Although not much time to waste, she needed to wash away any trace of
Jeb’s touch or smell.
She stared at the ceiling, her mind on Ty and how wonderful
it felt to be held in his arms, knowing no harm could reach her as long as she
was safe in his embrace.
Her heart did flip flops, and a devious smile tugged at her
lips as her thoughts switched to the surprise in store for Jeb. That man was so
smug! He thought he had the perfect plan, and it was going to be sheer pleasure
watching it unravel like old crocheting.
If not for Ty, she’d still be hopelessly locked away,
facing…She refused to think about it. Instead, she chastised herself for all
the times she’d thought bad things about him, and worried that he, like the Bryants,
wanted nothing more than Fountainhead.
The fact that he risked his life to find her showed her how
wrong she’d been.
Her life had changed in such a short time. She’d wasted too
much time wishing she was a boy, being jealous of Ty, and despising
herself
.
It seemed like only yesterday when she first noticed her
breasts beginning to bud and hated the change in her body. She chuckled at the
pink nipples poking from the bath water, and realized they had blossomed quite
nicely. Being female wasn’t so bad after all. No more trying to hide her
feminine side, she was a woman and she finally appreciated that.
More importantly, she was an adult, and it was time to start
acting like one. She vowed to make Pa proud he had a daughter, but this time,
she’d do it like a lady. She’d apologize for every bad thing she had ever
thought about or did to Ty and hope he would give her a chance to set things
right.
She glanced at the clock on the night table and gasped. No
more time to laze in the tub. She had a major role to play and the performance
couldn’t start without her.
At Ty’s suggestion, he and Ben had moved into the parlor in
preparation of their guests. Ty sat on the brocade sofa and Ben in the mahogany
side chair, as Ty gave him the low down. “I sent Curly for the sheriff, but
told him to make sure he didn’t come up the main trail. I don’t want him
runnin’ into the Bryants. When they get here, you invite them inside. Ellie and
I will be hidin’ in the pantry, so we’ll be close enough to the parlor to hear
what’s goin’ on.”
A grin spread across Ben’s face. “Dag nab if I don’t think
you took care of every detail. Thank the good
Lord,
this will finally put an end to that dastardly trio.”
“Don’t jump the gun, though. I wanna enjoy every minute of
this. Ask them a lot of questions about Ellie and when she’s gonna be returned.
Bring up how she was snatched from the dance and what nerve they have to treat
your daughter so awful.
Make em’ wait. Curly is gonna keep Sheriff Gamble outside
until Cook gives him a sign, so we have to keep them here as long as we
can.
Ty rubbed his hands together in
anticipation.
“Hold up!” Ben said. “Part of the agreement was my not
telling Dude about Ellie’s abduction…”
“Really?
Well it seems the boys
have kept a little secret from their daddy.”
“Should I save that part for the end?”
“That should work. You know Jeb, he’ll do most of the
talkin’, and when you do bring up Ellie,
it’s
gonna be
sweet watchin’ him try to worm his way out of this one.”
Ben grinned. “Nothin’ will give me more pleasure than to
torture all of them, especially that bastard, Jeb. I just hope I can hold my
temper and not try to choke the life out of him.”
“Like father, like daughter.” Ty laughed. “Remember he’s
gonna go away for a very long time and…” Ty stood. His mouth dropped and his
eyes widened as he stared past Ben.
Ellie stood in the doorway, looking nothing like the person
he brought home. She wore a long-sleeved, pale yellow dress dotted with small
white flowers. The smallness of her waist accentuated her full bosom. Her
beauty snatched the breath from his body.
This was only his second time seeing her in something other
than denims, and the transformation stunned him. She looked even more enticing
now than she had at the dance.
Her hair, swept up in a mass of ringlets, was held by a
matching bow. A few strands had escaped and hung alongside her face in spirals.
Ty wanted to release all of it, to run his fingers through her curls and bury
his face in the smell of lavender that surrounded her. His knees felt strangely
weak.
“Well, what are you both gaping at? Haven’t you seen a lady
before?” She stood with hands on her hips, her svelte body curved into
a
alluring pose.
Ty removed his hat and struggled to speak past his awe.
“Not-not such a lovely one.”
“You’re a sight to behold, gal.” Ben glanced at the picture
of his wife on the table and back to Ellie. He swiped at a tear. “That’s the
same dress your Ma’s wearing in the photograph.”
“I took it from the cedar chest. I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“I’m sure she’d be proud to see you in it. Finally, I’m
lookin’ at the real Roselle Fountain. I’ve been waitin’ a long time to see her.”
“I know, Pa. Sometimes it takes someone special to show you
who you really are.” Ellie’s eyes wandered to Ty.
Her gaze held him captive. If only he could read what lay
behind those penetrating green eyes of hers. She seemed like a different
person, not just dressed in her mother’s clothing, but on the inside, as well.
Something had happened in that cabin. Maybe facing her mortality had made Ellie
want to cling to life and be happy for the person she was.
Now that he had his own intentions figured out, he needed to
know how she felt. He wanted a future, and he wanted it with her. If only she
would give him an indication she felt more than just an attraction.
Knowing he had little time left before the Bryants arrived,
Ty turned his gaze back to Ben. “You know they are going to be here with deed
in hand any minute now.”
“Deed!
Oh
my gosh
,”
Ellie said. “Pa, in all the confusion I totally forgot to tell you…”
Pete appeared in the parlor doorway cutting her off. “Sorry
to disturb you folks, but there are riders comin’. Ty said to let him know the
minute I spied anyone. It ain’t Curly, that’s for sure. I can spot that Pinto
of his a mile away.”
Ty’s lips spread into a wide grin. He flipped his hat back
up on his head, giving it a pat. “I guess it’s time for the show to begin. He
crooked his arm, offering his elbow to Ellie. “Care to join me in the pantry?”
“I’d love to. Nothing appeals to me more than food and a
handsome man.” She took his arm.
Chapter Twenty-One
Huddled in the pantry between a burlap potato sack and the
flour barrel, Ellie became acutely aware of Ty’s closeness. His musky smell
mingled with the spices on the back shelf and created a heady concoction. Her
heart pounded beneath her chemise when he gave her hand an encouraging pat.
Had it not been for the upcoming melodrama presented for the
Bryant’s benefit, she would have loved to pull him closer and taste his lips
again.
God, how she wanted to.
But how could she
possibly think about things like that at a time like this? She took a
stabilizing breath and perched on the edge of the butter churn, her chest
tightening with anticipation.
“Are you nervous? Ty whispered.
“Yes, but it’s a good nervous,” she whispered back. “I can’t
wait to see the look on Jeb’s face. He’s—”
“Hush. I think I hear someone outside.”
Aching with subdued laughter at the prospect of sweet
retribution, Ellie held her breath.
“Come in.” She heard Pa’s gruff invitation.
“Afternoon, Ben. We’re really sorry to hear about Miz Ellie
missin’ and all, but we’re here to sign the transfer papers for ownership of
Fountainhead. We brought Mr. Dibbrell from the bank to make things official.
Show Ben the money, Pa.”
Ellie’s jaw tensed when she recognized Jeb’s voice, but she
almost snickered that he’d actually brought a witness.
“I ain’t showing him
nothing
until
I hear from his mouth that he’s sellin’.”
Dude’s loud voice was filled with suspicion.
“This oughtta be good,” Ellie whispered.”
“Shhh.”
Ty put a finger to his
lips.
“Sorry.” Her whisper was barely audible. She tilted her ear
toward the door.
“I was telling Pa about you being sick and all.”
He was such a schemer. Ellie bit her lip.
“Shut up, Jeb. Let the man talk.”
She covered her mouth, stifling a chuckle. Finally, somebody
bossed Jeb around. Dude was the only one who could.
Pa cleared his throat. “It’s true. I was sick for a few days
and was bound to my bed. As you can see, thanks to Doc Smith’s healin’ powders,
I’m fit as a fiddle now.”
“Then what’s this hogwash about you being unable to handle
the ranch and wanting to sell? And, given the circumstances, you don’t seem too
distraught.”
Ellie pictured the scowl on Dude’s face.
“Got no reason.
I don’t do much of
the ranchin’ anymore. That’s why I have hired hands and a good foreman, and
despite your connivin’ sons, I also have a very capable daughter.”
Ellie’s heart warmed with pride, sensing respect in Pa’s
voice. She tensed, realizing he was getting to the part that involved her
disappearance.
“Ellie…” Ty whispered.
“Shush.” What was good for the goose was good for the
gander. She needed to hear this.