The Texan (6 page)

J
osh had been working hard out on the range checking stock since just after sunup. He rode back in to find Steve in the stable telling one of the other hands that Emmie and Millie had gone for a ride.

“How long ago did they leave?” Josh demanded, breaking into their conversation.

“A couple of hours,” Steve answered.

“Did they say where they were going?”

“Emmie just wanted to show her friend around the ranch.”

“And you haven’t heard from them since?” Josh was growing worried.

“No. Emmie knows her way around.”

Josh was irritated. When he’d become a partner in the ranch, he’d never dreamed he’d end up running it with Hank’s young daughter. He had enough to worry about on the Rocking R without having to keep track of females from back East. Emmie might know her way around, but this was a hard country, and there was no telling what kind of trouble two women out there riding all alone might run into.

“I’ll be back,” he snarled, mounting up again.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going hunting.”

“Hunting?” Steve was confused and didn’t understand why the boss seemed so angry. “What are you hunting?”

“Lost females,” he growled, not the least bit happy about having to waste time looking for Emmie.

“You want some help?”

“No. Keep working. I’ll find them.”

With that, he rode out.

Steve watched Josh go and knew that the foreman would find the women, for Josh was one of the best trackers he’d ever known.

Emmie and Millie had been riding for quite a while as Emmie showed her friend around the Rocking R. When it neared midday and the sun was blazing down, Emmie could tell Millie was getting hot and tired.

“Warm enough for you?” Emmie asked.

“Yes,” Millie answered without hesitation. “I’m glad you loaned me a hat.” She definitely appreciated the Stetson she was wearing.

“Next trip into town, we’ll get you one of your own.”

“Good. I’m going to need it.”

“Come on,” Emmie encouraged, urging her horse forward. “There’s one more place I want to show you—and I think you’re really going to like it.”

Millie followed her lead, wondering how sore she was going to be the following day after sitting in the
saddle so long. They rode on for another mile or two before Emmie turned down an overgrown path. Millie followed after her, but wondered where in the world they were going.

And then she found out.

“This is my favorite place on the ranch.”

“No wonder you wanted to come here!” Millie said excitedly as they reined in on the bank of a small lake. “It’s heavenly!”

“I thought you might like it,” Emmie said as they dismounted. “I used to swim here when I was little.”

“It’s so hot today, I wouldn’t mind jumping in there right now,” Millie said as she walked down to the water’s edge.

Emmie shot her friend a mischievous look. “We are all alone.”

Millie looked back at her, a twinkle in her eye. “Really? Are you sure? You think we could—”

“Come on! Let’s cool off!”

Millie glanced around a bit nervously. She’d never undressed in such an open place before. “How much should I take off?”

“Nobody’s going to see us. It’s safe.” Emmie set about removing her pants, shirt, and boots, and then she ran into the cool, welcoming water wearing only her underclothes.

Millie couldn’t believe her friend was being so bold, but when Emmie started splashing around like a little child, she couldn’t resist. She shed her riding clothes, too, and charged into the lake to join her, squealing in delight at the chill of the water.

* * *

Josh hadn’t had any idea where to look for Emmie and Millie as he’d started out. There was no telling where they might have gone, and that was what worried him.

He’d been riding, trying to track them down, for almost half an hour when he heard what he thought was the sound of a woman screaming off in the distance. It sounded like trouble, and he grew even more worried. Josh drew his gun as he urged his horse to a gallop, heading in that direction, fearing the worst. He charged through the brush as he heard more shouts coming from ahead of him, and then abruptly reined in as he reached the water’s edge. It was Emmie and Millie, but they weren’t in trouble. They were almost completely stripped of their clothing, and they were frolicking in the water.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, unable to look away from the sight of the two women standing waist-deep in the water, completely soaked.

Their hair was unbound and down around their shoulders, and they were wearing only their dripping wet, clinging undergarments. If ever there were two women out looking for trouble, it was these two. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with them.

Emmie and Millie both shrieked as he came upon them so suddenly, his gun drawn. Then they realized just how exposed they were and quickly sank down in the water up to their chins to shield themselves from his view.

“What are you doing here?” Emmie countered, completely surprised by Josh’s appearance.

Josh was swearing under his breath as he holstered his gun.

“I’m here looking for you!” he growled. He couldn’t decide whether he was relieved to find them safe or aggravated to see them swimming practically nude. “Steve said you’d ridden out early and he hadn’t heard from you since.”

“There was no need for you to come after us,” Emmie protested. “I know my way around the Rocking R.”

“From now on, take someone with you, or at least let someone know where you’re going,” he ordered.

Emmie bristled at his arrogant, commanding tone. “I can take care of myself. I don’t need you telling me what to do! You’re not my father!”

“I’m well aware of that,” Josh returned sarcastically as his gaze went over her.

Emmie blushed, embarrassed by his unexpected appearance and by the way he was looking at her. “And you’re not my boss, either!”

“I am the foreman of this ranch,” he reminded her, “and I don’t have the time to waste searching for you every time you get lost.”

Millie stared up at the darkly handsome foreman who looked so very attractive sitting on his horse. She thought it was thoughtful of him to care enough to come looking for them, but it was obvious her friend wasn’t of the same opinion.

“We weren’t lost,” Emmie insisted heatedly.

“Good. Then you know how to find your way back to the ranch.” Josh had had enough of arguing with her. Hank used to talk about how much Emmie was
like him, and Josh recognized his friend’s stubborn streak in her. Somehow he had to make Emmie see that they had to get along for the sake of the ranch.

“Yes, I know my way home.”

“Ladies,” Josh said sarcastically, tipping his hat to them.

Without another word, he wheeled his horse around and rode off. He tried to turn his thoughts back to ranch business, but the image of the two girls, Emmie in particular, frolicking in the water so scantily clad was burned into his mind.

Josh frowned, angry with himself for his reaction. He couldn’t believe that Emmie had been there only two days and he’d already seen her in a revealing nightgown and now almost naked. She was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever known. There was no denying it, but she was also Hank’s daughter, and now his partner. Somehow he was going to have to find a way to keep his mind on the ranch when they were together. It wasn’t going to be easy, for he knew they were going to be together a lot. Josh tried once more to focus on work as he kept riding. He had a lot more to get done yet that day.

Millie had remained quiet through the whole conversation, and she looked over at Emmie now as Josh disappeared from sight. She wondered at her friend’s reaction to his unexpected appearance. It was obvious to her that he’d been concerned about them, and she wondered why his concern had made Emmie so testy. She decided to bring the question up once Emmie had calmed down. “I guess it’s safe for us to get out of the water now.”

“I guess,” Emmie said, still irritated

They waded out and quickly pulled their clothes on over their wet undergarments. It wasn’t easy or comfortable.

“That was fun. It did cool me off,” Millie said with a smile, wanting to lighten Emmie’s mood. “But I’m not sure I’m going to like the ride home, still being wet this way.”

Emmie grinned back at her. “Don’t worry. We’ll dry out real quick once we start moving.”

They mounted up to return to the ranch.

“Emmie…” Millie began tentatively.

“What?” Emmie glanced at her friend as she rode along beside her at a leisurely pace.

“Why did you get so angry with Josh?”

“What do you mean?”

“You were really rough on him, telling him he wasn’t your father or your boss.”

“He isn’t.”

“I’m sure he’s well aware of that. The only reason he came out here looking for us was because he was worried.”

“But we weren’t lost,” Emmie declared.

“He knows that, too, now, but he might have thought we’d run into some kind of trouble when we were gone so long.”

Emmie sighed, still trying to understand her own feelings about her new partner. “It’s just that…”

“What?”

“Well, I understand he’s the foreman, but learning he was my father’s partner and all…it takes some getting used to.”

“I thought you two were getting along all right after last night.”

“I thought we were, too. He just surprised me today, checking up on me like that.”

“Yes, but think about it. Josh was only trying to help.”

“But I didn’t need—”

“I know, I know.” Millie smiled. “You didn’t need any help, but be glad you’ve got it. What if we really had been in trouble and nobody even cared enough to notice we were missing until it was too late?”

Emmie begrudgingly had to admit to herself that Millie had a point. She halfheartedly conceded, “You’re right.”

“You know what you should have done?” Millie began, trying not to smile and let on what she was about to say.

“What?”

“You should have asked him to come swimming with us instead of sending him packing.”

“Millie!” Emmie gasped, completely shocked by the idea.

“He’s awfully handsome in a rugged sort of way, don’t you think?” Millie teased, grinning at her friend’s reaction.

“Well, yes.”

“Maybe one of these days he
will
come swimming with us. Think how much fun that would be!”

“You are a wild woman!”

“Isn’t that why you like me? Because we’re so much alike?”

Millie started laughing, and finally Emmie did, too.

“All right. You win. I’ll apologize to him,” Emmie said.

“Good.”

“But I don’t know that I’ll tell him about your idea.”

They laughed again.

“You’re going to have to find a way to make your partnership work. It was important to your father. He obviously trusted Josh and admired him, or he wouldn’t have let him buy into the Rocking R.”

Emmie knew her friend was right. “Maybe if I knew more about Josh and how they came to know each other…My Papa would never have taken on just anyone as a partner.”

“You’re right. He wouldn’t have, knowing that you were going to inherit the ranch if anything happened to him. Talk to Josh. See what you can find out about him. It’ll make things easier for the two of you if you understand each other, and you’re going to have to do that to keep the Rocking R going.”

“I am so glad you made the trip with me. Think how lonely I’d be if you weren’t here.”

“I’m glad I came, too,” Millie said. This was a difficult time for Emmie. Everything had changed, and her life was never going to be the same again.

“This isn’t going to be easy, you know,” Emmie said with a tight smile as she prepared to humble herself. She had a good idea of what Josh thought of her right now, and it wasn’t flattering.

“It’ll be all right. You’ll see,” Millie countered. “I get the feeling he’s a good man.”

For the rest of the ride back, Emmie prepared
herself to seek Josh out and apologize. She would do it. It was time for her to grow up and take on her responsibilities.

Emmie found she was almost disappointed when, upon returning, they discovered Josh hadn’t made it back to the ranch yet. Knowing she’d have to wait until later, Emmie led Millie up to the house to tell Miss Harriet about their adventure.

A
fter his encounter with Emmie earlier that day, the last thing Josh wanted to do was go up to the house and possibly see her again, but he had no choice. He had more work to do on the books and it couldn’t wait. He ate dinner with the hands and then went up to the main house to get it over with.

He’d been thinking about Emmie most of the afternoon. He realized that although she had spent every summer with her father, there was still a lot she didn’t know about ranch life, and it was going to be up to him to teach her. He grimaced at the thought. Judging from their encounter today, he had the feeling that she wasn’t going to listen to anything he had to say.

Josh was relieved when Kate came to the door to let him in and he saw no sign of Emmie downstairs. He went straight into the study to get to work. His peace and quiet didn’t last long, though, for a knock came at the door shortly after he’d settled in.

“Josh, it’s me—Emmie.”

“Come on in,” he called out.

A moment later, she opened the door and stepped into the study, closing the door behind her.

Josh hadn’t seen her dressed in pants and boots before, although he’d heard some of the hands talking about her. He found himself staring at Emmie openly now, his gaze going over the shapely curves of her hips and legs. Josh couldn’t believe it. First Emmie had shown up in the study in a nightgown, then he’d found her swimming in the lake, and now here she was wearing pants. He hoped what ever she had to say, she would say fast and leave. He had work to do.

“You’re not carrying your gun to night?” he remarked. The truth was that she didn’t need one to distract him.

Emmie saw the way Josh was staring at her and suddenly felt a little flustered and unsure of herself. “No. I didn’t think it was necessary.”

“Good.”

“Josh, I wanted to talk to you for a moment,” she announced.

“All right.”

He was still watching her, and the look in his eyes sent a shiver of sensual awareness through her. Emmie had never felt that way before, and her reaction to him made her nervous.

Quickly, she explained, “My father didn’t mind if I dressed this way. He understood that I wanted to work right alongside him. Skirts aren’t very practical—they get in the way.”

His gaze raked boldly over her again. “I see.” He waited for her to go on.

“And in case you were wondering,” she went on, “Millie and I did find our way back to the ranch.”

She had hoped the last comment would make him smile. It didn’t work. His expression remained serious as he stared up at her.

“What was it you wanted?” he asked, suddenly growing annoyed with himself. He forced his thoughts back to business.

“Well…” Emmie swallowed her pride as she sat down in the chair before the desk. “I want to apologize.”

He frowned in surprise. “You do?”

“Yes, I’m sorry for the way I acted this afternoon. It was nice of you to be concerned about us.”

Josh could tell it was hard for her to apologize to him, and he finally relaxed and grinned. She not only had her father’s stubbornness, she had his pride, too. “That hurt, didn’t it?”

She was surprised by Josh’s unexpected show of humor, and she couldn’t help smiling back at him. “You have no idea.”

The tension went out of the moment as they finally both relaxed in each other’s company.

Josh looked at her. “I know you’ve spent a lot of time here on the Rocking R and you do know your way around, but things aren’t always as peaceful as they seem. Did you take your gun with you today?”

“Yes, but I left it up on the bank when we got in the water.”

“What if someone else had ridden up on you? What would you have done?”

Emmie was suitably chastened. “I just wanted to show Millie around, and then it got so hot we decided to stop and cool off for a while. Papa used to take me swimming there when I was young.”

“I understand, but in case you didn’t realize it, you’re not ten years old anymore.”

“Oh…” This time she did blush at the knowing look he gave her.

“And,” he added, “there’s probably a lot that’s gone on here at the ranch that your father didn’t tell you about.”

“Like what?”

“Lately there’s been some rustling going on. That’s why, when I heard what sounded like screaming up at the lake, I thought you were in some kind of trouble.”

“We’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Good. I want you safe.”

His words surprised her. “Thank you.”

He nodded, then tried to focus on his work again. After a moment, he asked, “Do you have time to go over some of the paperwork with me to night?”

“All right.”

“And tomorrow I’d like to take you out and show you some of the changes your father was making.”

Emmie genuinely appreciated his offer. “How early do you want to leave?”

“How early can you be ready?”

“Whenever you say.”

“Let’s plan on riding out right after sunup. The earlier we start, the earlier we’ll get back.”

With that he spread out the books on the desk.

“Now, you might as well move your chair over here by me, so you can see what I’m doing.”

She did as she was told, and Josh immediately wondered if his suggestion had been a mistake. Still, he set about explaining the way her father had handled the finances. Though he was concentrating hard on the books, he was still completely aware of her sitting so close beside him.

It was almost an hour later that Emmie looked up at Josh and gave a slow shake of her head.

“I’m not sure which is harder—breaking a horse or keeping all these numbers straight.” She sighed.

Josh thought about Buck and had to smile. “I’m not sure either. You’re father told me you had a head for figures, and I have to agree with him. You catch on pretty quick. Between the two of us, we should be able to keep the books up-to-date now.”

Emmie stood up to leave. “I’m going to call it a night, since I have to be ready early in the morning.”

“Good night.” He watched her leave the study and then finished off the last of the paperwork before quitting for the night, too.

Ned Barton was exhausted as he fled across the night-shrouded land, but he couldn’t stop to rest.

He had to keep going.

He had to keep moving.

He couldn’t let his guard down, not even for a moment, for the men who were tracking him would find him and drag him back to prison.

And he wasn’t going back.

He would die before he’d ever let them take him
in again. The endless months of backbreaking labor had hardened him even more. He’d had only one thing on his mind as he’d made his escape. It was the one thing that had kept him going all this time.

Revenge.

He was going to find the bounty hunter who’d killed his brother and turned him in to the law, and he was going to make him pay for what he’d done.

Ned already had his plan made. He’d had a lot of time during the eighteen-hour days of hard labor to figure out just what he was going to do to Josh Grady and now it was just a matter of time before he had his revenge. It might take a while, but that didn’t matter. He was going to get even with the bounty hunter.

In spite of his exhaustion and weakness, Ned smiled to himself in the darkness and kept moving.

He was a driven man.