The Texan (7 page)

E
mmie didn’t get a lot of rest that night, for she was afraid she would oversleep. As the eastern sky started to brighten, she was already up and dressed, ready to head out.

Emmie was looking forward to spending this time with Josh and getting to know him better. Right now he was still a mystery to her.

She left a note for Millie and Miss Harriet so they would know where she’d gone and then went out to meet Josh at the stable.

Josh had already saddled up the horses and fixed a lunch to take with them. He knew they were going to be gone for a large part of the day.

He was waiting for her when she left the house. As he watched her coming his way, he realized that from a distance she could pass for a young ranch hand. Wearing pants and a Stetson, with her hair tied up, she showed no outer sign of her femininity, but he knew better. She might act as tough as a hand, but she was all female—he had no doubt about that.

“Good morning,” Emmie greeted him as she
walked up to where he was waiting for her with the horses. She noticed right away that he hadn’t shaved that morning, but the shadow of the day’s growth of beard only added to his rugged good looks.

“Yes, it is,” he agreed.

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and the air was cooler than it had been the last few days.

“Are you ready?” she asked.

“If you are.”

“Let’s go.”

He handed her the reins to her horse and then quickly mounted up on his own.

Josh rode out slightly ahead of her, and Emmie found herself watching him. Broad-shouldered and lean, his gun resting easy on his hip, he rode as if born to the saddle, and she found it hard to look away. He was a handsome man. There was no denying it.

Josh intrigued her. During the night, when she’d lain awake in bed, he’d been in her thoughts. There was so much she didn’t know about him. Today she hoped that she’d be able to learn where he’d come from and how he’d met her father. She wanted to find out, too, what had led him to become a bounty hunter. It was no doubt a very dangerous job and not for the faint of heart. She urged her horse to a quicker pace to catch up with him.

They rode across the Rocking R, passing vast herds of cattle surrounded by the seemingly endless plains. After several hours, Josh reined in on top of a low rise.

“This is what I wanted to show you,” Josh said.
“Your father was worried after the drought we had last year, so he had the creek dammed up to make a new watering hole for the stock.”

Emmie was impressed by the sight of their cattle grazing near the muddy water. “He was a smart man. Let’s just hope we don’t have any more dry spells like that anytime soon.”

Josh looked over at her and tried not to laugh as he asked, “Are you ready for a swim? I don’t think the stock will mind.”

She had been getting hot as the morning went on, but this muddy watering hole was a far cry from her special lake. She laughed at him. “No, I think I’m through swimming for a while, but you can go on in if you want.” She suddenly found herself wondering what he’d look like with his shirt off.

“No, I think I’ll pass.”

They rode on.

“Josh…” She looked over at him. So far, their conversation had been confined to ranch business, and she’d learned little about him. “Tell me, how did you meet my father? It’s obvious he thought highly of you or he would never have taken you on as a partner. When did you two meet?”

“It was a few years back. I was on the trail of some rustlers and I tracked them to Shotgun. They were trying to steal some of the Rocking R’s stock when I caught up with them. Your father was real grateful when I brought them in. That’s when he offered me a job on the ranch, but at the time I wasn’t ready to quit what I was doing. He told me the job would always be open if I ever changed my mind.”

“How did you get started being a bounty hunter? It’s such a dangerous job.”

“I’ve always been fast with a gun, and tracking just came naturally to me. I figured I might as well make some money doing what I was good at.”

“Why did you decide to quit?” As she asked the question, she glanced over at him and noticed how his expression hardened.

“I knew after bringing in the Barton brothers that it was time to give it up.”

“Who were they?”

He told her how he’d tracked them down.

“No wonder you were ready to quit.”

He nodded. “I was tired of living in the saddle and never knowing when someone was going to come gunning for me. I decided it was time to settle down. When your father mentioned the financial difficulties he was facing, I had enough money to buy into the ranch. I was real glad he made me his partner. He built the Rocking R into a fine spread, and I want to work it and keep it successful to honor all his hard work. He died too soon,” Josh said sadly, missing the older man who’d been such a good friend.

“Yes, he did,” Emmie agreed, an ache in her heart as she thought of her father. “Much too soon.”

Josh saw her pain, and understood what she was feeling. “So, tell me about your life here on the ranch. I know that when you were young there was an Indian raid, and that was when your mother decided to take you back East to live, but that’s about all I know.”

Emmie nodded. “I don’t remember a lot about that time—just my mother dragging me away, and the fact that I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay here with Papa. I loved him so, and I cried a lot, but my mother had had all she could stand. She’d been raised back East and couldn’t live this way. She told me about the attack a few years ago. It was so traumatic for her, I can’t get her to come back for a visit even now.”

Josh knew how bloody the Comanche could be when they were raiding. “But you visited every year.”

“It was part of the agreement my parents came to, and I’m glad it was. I always felt this was where I belonged—with my father.”

“So you don’t like city living.”

“It’s a whole different way of life, and I believe—as you said—I’m my father’s daughter. Even though I spent all that time in Philadelphia, this is home.”

“You’re lucky to have a home.”

“You didn’t?” She was surprised by his comment.

“My parents died when my brother and I were young, and we stayed with some relatives for a while before striking out on our own.”

“You’re so lucky to have a brother.”

“George is younger than me by a few years, and wilder.” Josh added the last sardonically, thinking of his brother and the life he’d chosen for himself.

“How does it get wilder than being a bounty hunter?”

“George took to gambling and found out he was real good at it.”

“You were a gambler, too. You were gambling with your life,” she said.

“I guess I was, but I think George enjoys his gambling more.”

“Do you see much of him?”

“I haven’t seen him for a while now.”

“Do you have any idea where he is?”

“No. He just shows up for a visit every now and then. Before I came to the Rocking R, we hardly saw each other, because I was traveling around so much.”

“The closest I’ve got to a sibling is Millie. We’ve been best friends ever since my mother first took me back East.”

“She is a true friend to travel all the way out here with you. I doubt there are many Eastern ladies who’d want to make that trip.”

“You’re right. I tried to tell everyone how wonderful ranch life is, but they only remembered my mother’s story about why she left.”

“It can be a hard life, but there’s nothing else like it.” He gazed out over the land that was now his home.

“I know.” She looked over at him and smiled.

“I packed some food. Are you ready to stop and eat?” Josh asked, glancing her way to find her smiling at him, her manner completely relaxed and at ease.

“That sounds wonderful. I am hungry. I didn’t eat anything this morning.”

“There’s a shady spot up ahead. We’ll stop there and rest for a while.”

They reined in and dismounted at a small grove of trees. Emmie was stiff from being so long in the saddle, and it felt wonderful to stretch.

Josh had just come around from tying up the horses when he caught sight of her. He found he couldn’t look away. Only when she started to turn toward him did he grab his canteen and saddlebags off his horse and move toward her. Together they walked over to sit down in the shade.

“Here,” he said, handing her the canteen.

“Thanks.” She took a deep drink and then set the canteen aside. “I’m glad you thought of this. What kind of delicacy did you bring along?”

“Some bacon and two apples,” he said.

“I’m so hungry, that sounds like the best lunch I’ve had in a long time.”

“Eat up,” Josh encouraged as he unwrapped the cooked bacon and handed her an apple.

Emmie didn’t need any more encouragement. They ate in companionable silence.

“You’re a good cook,” she told him jokingly when she’d finished her share of the meal. “If you get tired of being the foreman, you could give Kate a run for her money up at the house.”

“Kate’s job is safe. I wouldn’t last long as a cook. The boys would run me off in no time.”

“They’re a rowdy bunch, are they?”

“When it comes to mealtime, they are.”

They were laughing when suddenly Josh’s expression turned grave.

“Don’t move,” he said in a low, hard-edged voice.

The pleasant mood of the moment suddenly
changed, and she tensed as she watched his hand move slowly toward his gun.

“What…?” Emmie had no idea what was wrong, but the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes told her she would do well to obey him. She froze.

“Rattler…”

In one swift move, Josh drew his gun and fired.

The snake was already moving to strike, but Josh’s aim was true.

Emmie had always considered herself a strong-willed woman, but in that moment she couldn’t help letting out a scream as she threw herself toward Josh. She found herself enveloped in the safe haven of his arms as he shoved his gun back in his holster.

“Are you all right?” he asked. He could feel her trembling against him and feared the snake had bitten her before he’d killed it. As he held her close for the first time, he realized just how fragile she really was, and something stirred within him.

Emmie nodded, not speaking for a moment as she treasured the feeling of safety that enveloped her while she was held in his strong arms. Finally, she drew a strangled breath and drew back to look up at him, forcing a wry smile.

“I’m not only glad you can cook, I’m glad you can shoot, too.”

Josh gazed down at her. He’d always thought she was pretty, but at that moment he found her downright beautiful. “Being quick on the draw does come in handy sometimes.”

“I’ll say.” She was surprised by her reaction to him and shifted away.

Irritated by his body’s reaction to Emmie’s nearness, Josh told himself she was Hank’s daughter, and that was the end of it. He got up, needing to put some distance between them.

“Have you had enough excitement for one afternoon?” he asked as he turned to look out across the land.

“I think so.” Emmie found herself staring up at him as he stood with his back to her. A shiver of sensual awareness ran through her as she gazed up at his broad shoulders and remembered what it had felt like to be held in his arms. She realized she’d never felt anything like that when Kenneth held her.

“Let’s head on back then,” he said. “We’ve got a good ride ahead of us.”

Josh turned to where she was sitting and offered her a hand up. He thought she still might be a little shaky after her close call with the rattlesnake.

Emmie didn’t hesitate, but put her hand in his and let him help her up. “Thanks. That was a little scary.”

“Keep a watch for them. They’re all over this time of the year. You might want to warn Millie, too.”

“I will—and you know what?” A dangerous twinkle appeared in her eyes.

“What?” He frowned, unsure what she was up to.

“I’m going to take the snake back and show Millie just what a rattler looks like.”

Josh just shook his head as Emmie went to pick up what was left of the dead snake. She came walking back, holding the mangled rattler by its tail.

“Wrap it up in this.” He handed her the cloth he’d brought the food in.

She did just that, and he put it in his saddlebag before mounting up.

“Ready?”

“Let’s go home,” Emmie said, mounting her own horse.

Josh liked the sound of that as they started off. Emmie kept up with him, riding by his side.

“Thanks for taking the time to show me what Papa was working on.”

“He loved this place—snakes and all,” he told her with a half grin.

“Yes, he did,” she agreed, knowing just how much the ranch had meant to her father. It had been his whole life. “I love it, too, but I’m not so sure about the rattlesnakes.”

They were both laughing as they urged their horses into a gallop.

M
illie had been the first one up after Emmie had left that morning, and she was delighted when she found the note explaining that her friend would be spending the day with Josh.

It was late afternoon, and Millie had gone up to her room to rest for a while, when she heard riders coming. She got up quickly to look out her window and saw Emmie and Josh approaching. Though she was eager to find out how their day had gone, she stayed in her room until she heard her friend come upstairs and go into her own bedroom. She wanted to be able to speak to her privately.

“Emmie?” Millie called out softly as she knocked on her friend’s door.

“Come in,” Emmie said.

Millie went in. “How did it go? Tell me everything. Obviously things got better between you after you apologized. You did apologize last night, didn’t you?”

Emmie had to smile at her friend. “Yes, I apologized, and, yes, things have gotten better.”

“Good,” Millie said happily.

“It’s so annoying when you’re right, and you know what? It’s starting to look like you were right about another thing, too,” Emmie began.

“I was? What?”

“Josh may really be my guardian angel.”

“What are you talking about?”

“He saved me today.”

Millie was suddenly frightened for her friend. “From what?”

“A rattlesnake.”

“A snake?” Millie’s eyes widened at the thought.

“Yes, we stopped for lunch, and while we were eating, one came up behind me and Josh shot it.”

“Oh, my God.” A shiver of horror went through Millie. “Thank heaven you’re all right.”

“I know. I don’t know what would have happened to me if he hadn’t seen it in time.”

“I don’t even want to think about it.”

“Neither do I.”

Millie shuddered again.

“We brought the snake back. Do you want to see it?”

“Maybe later,” Millie said with a slight grimace. “So, tell me all about your day.”

They sat down together on the side of the bed, and Emmie told her of her adventures with Josh.

“I’m glad the two of you are starting to get along.”

“It is a relief, since we’re going to be spending so much time together.” Inwardly, Emmie found she was actually looking forward to the hours she’d be spending in Josh’s company. “Now, tomorrow…”

“What have you got planned?”

“I’m going to teach you how to use a gun.”

“Are you sure?”

“After our run-in with the snake today I think you’d better know how to fire one, at least.”

“All right. I’ll be ready whenever you are,” Millie agreed.

When Emmie had been gone for two weeks, Kenneth went to pay a visit to Mrs. Ryan. He hadn’t heard from Emmie, and he was wondering how she was doing. He had to admit to himself that he was annoyed she hadn’t contacted him in any way, but he fought the feeling down. He told himself she was probably overwhelmed, getting adjusted to her new life.

Kenneth had been considering the terms of her father’s will and began to wonder if living on the ranch might not be worth it in the long run. The more he’d thought about the amount of money involved, the more he thought following Emmie to Texas would probably be a good idea. Though his family was wealthy, it would be a long time before he came into his inheritance, and his tastes were expensive. He knew he had to be careful and play the role of ardent, concerned suitor as he waited in the parlor for the maid to let Sarah Ryan know of his call.

“Kenneth?” Sarah came into the parlor, delighted to see the handsome young man standing there. “This is a pleasant surprise.”

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Ryan.”

“Please sit down,” Sarah invited.

He sat in the chair opposite the sofa where she’d taken a seat.

“To what do I owe the honor of your visit?” she asked, smiling warmly at him.

“Well, I’ve been missing Emmie and worrying about her. I wondered if you’ve heard from her yet?”

“Oh, yes, I have. She sent me a telegram letting me know they’d arrived safely.” She looked at him, delighted to know he was concerned about her daughter. “I’m sure you’ll be hearing from her soon.”

“I hope so,” he said. “I don’t know if she told you or not, but the last time we were together, I proposed. I didn’t want her to leave. I wanted her to stay here and marry me.”

Sarah was thrilled, but she was also annoyed that Emmie hadn’t mentioned his proposal to her. “What did she say?”

“She said she was so upset by everything that had happened, she couldn’t think about getting engaged.”

“It’s true,” she told him sadly. “It was a shock to learn of her father’s death, and then to find out the terms of the will…”

“I know. She told me.”

“She had no choice. She had to go.”

“And that’s why I decided to come and speak with you today. I want to go to Texas and see her. I want to propose to her again, now that she’s had time to think about my offer.”

She was impressed. “Would you really be willing to live there on the ranch with her?”

“I love Emmie, Mrs. Ryan. I miss her. I’ll do whatever I have to do to be with her.”

Sarah’s heartbeat quickened at his proclamation of love for her daughter. It thrilled her to learn that he cared so much about Emmie. She thought he would be the perfect husband for her. Sarah didn’t mention that living on the ranch was hell on earth. She didn’t mention to him that, as a man born and raised to city life, the adjustment wasn’t going to be easy for him. She didn’t say a word to discourage him. She wanted Kenneth to marry Emmie, stay the length of time required on the ranch with her, and then bring her daughter back home to Philadelphia.

They spoke for a while longer and then Kenneth departed.

As she watched him go, Sarah felt better than she had in all the days since Emmie had left her.

“All right,” Emmie said seriously as she looked at her friend. They were standing together in a deserted area a good distance from the house. “Are you ready?”

Millie swallowed hard and met Emmie’s gaze. “Yes. I’m ready—as ready as I can be, anyway.”

“Here.” Emmie handed her a loaded six-gun.

“It’s heavy.” Millie was surprised.

“Yes, it is, so you’re going to have to work to control it.”

Millie nodded and tightened her grip on the gun.

“I set up those tin cans for you there on the log. See what you can do.”

“What do you mean?” Millie asked in confusion.

“I mean try to shoot one of those cans off the log.”

“What do I do?” Millie stared down at the weapon. She’d watched Emmie handle one, but this was the first time she’d ever even held a gun.

“The most important thing is to be careful. You never want to accidentally shoot yourself or someone else. Take aim at your target and slowly pull the trigger.”

“All right.”

Millie was determined as she lifted the gun and pointed it toward the cans. Nervous as she was, it was hard for her to keep her hand steady, but she finally pulled the trigger and got off one shot. It wasn’t even close.

“It’s a good thing you brought me out here to do this,” she said, embarrassed.

“I know. The first time is never easy. It just takes practice.”

“How old were you when your father let you try?”

“I think I was six or seven.”

“Then you’ve got a few years’ head start on me.”

“Just a few.”

They were laughing.

“You know, judging by how far off target you were, you might do better with a shotgun,” Emmie teased.

Millie laughed, too. “I’m not afraid to try.”

“Let’s keep working on the handgun for now. We’ll worry about the other later.”

They continued practicing for the better part of an hour as Millie worked on her aim.

“I think it’s safe to say that I’m not going to be
the fastest gun on the Rocking R—or the straightest shooter.”

“That’s all right. You didn’t come out west to make a name for yourself as a fast gun,” Emmie reassured her with a grin.

“Are there many women like that?”

“A few.”

“I feel sorry for them.” Millie couldn’t imagine living her life with a gun constantly by her side.

“Some girls don’t have anyone to take care of them, so they have to take care of themselves.”

“Well, thank heaven for Josh. If it weren’t for him, that would be you.”

Emmie was a little startled by her friend’s observation. “Well, my father made sure I’d be able to take care of myself if I needed to, and now you know how to handle a gun safely, too.”

“Though I doubt I could hit anything. Let’s just hope we never get in a situation where we have to find out.”

They started back to the house, unaware that Steve had been watching them from the stable.

Steve’s gaze was hot on Millie. He had every intention of getting close to her as soon as he could. He hadn’t seen a girl as pretty as she was in a long time. Why, just watching her walk by with Emmie left him wanting her real bad.

Ned rode slowly into the small town of Sundown and reined in before the saloon. It was quiet that afternoon, and Ned wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. One way or the other, he knew he would find
out soon. He dismounted and tied up his horse, then headed inside for a drink.

“What’ll it be?” the barkeep asked the unshaven, mangy-looking stranger who’d just walked in.

“Whiskey.”

The barkeep was quick to oblige, setting the glass on the bar before the newcomer and filling it with a healthy dose of the potent liquor.

“New around here, aren’t you?”

“That’s right.” Ned’s answer was terse.

“Planning to stay awhile?”

“You never know. Is Sheriff Dawson still running things in town?”

“He sure is.”

Ned nodded, glad that things were finally starting to go his way again.

“Why? You know him?” the barkeep asked.

“Yep, we go back a real long way. Where’s his office?”

“Down the street a bit on the right.”

“Thanks.” Ned shoved some stolen money across the bar to pay for his drink, then downed the rest of the whiskey. He needed to talk to his old friend right away. He needed his help. “I’ll be back.”

“I ain’t going anywhere,” the barkeep said.

Ned had no difficulty locating the sheriff’s office and walked right in to find his longtime friend seated at the desk.

“Well, well, well, look who’s hard at work,” Ned mocked good-naturedly.

“Ned?” Rich Dawson couldn’t believe his eyes. He stared up at Ned in shock. The last he’d heard,
Tom had been killed by a bounty hunter and Ned had been sent to the penitentiary “How…?”

“Don’t ask,” Ned told him. “It’s better you don’t know.”

The two men shook hands.

“I won’t. It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to be here, believe me.”

“I’ll bet it is.”

“You have no idea.”

“What do you need? What can I do for you?” Rich knew Ned must have escaped from prison, and he wasn’t surprised to see the stark change in Ned’s expression.

“You’re right. I do need your help.”

“I owe you.” Rich had a secret in his past that he kept hidden from everyone. Some years back he’d ridden on the wrong side of the law with Ned and his brother. Since they’d parted ways, the brothers had never let on about his involvement in their days of bank robbing. Now that he was sheriff of this nice, crooked little town, Rich could help Ned out. “What can I do?”

“You got someplace quiet we can talk?” Ned looked around, wanting to make sure they could talk without anyone overhearing.

“Let’s go back by the cells.”

Rich led the way, then turned to face Ned. “All right. What do you have planned?”

“Revenge,” he snarled, the fierceness of his barely controlled emotions finally showing.

“Who are you wanting to get even with? Someone at the penitentiary?”

“Oh, no. This is far more personal than that.” There was a haunted, hate-filled look in his eyes as he went on. “I want Josh Grady.”

“The bounty hunter?” Rich asked in surprise.

“That’s right. That bastard killed Tom, and I want him dead. Have you heard anything about him lately? Has anyone seen him around? Has he brought anyone else in?”

“No. I haven’t heard a thing for quite a while. Now that you mention it, it does seem strange that there hasn’t been any talk about him. I wonder if he gave up bounty hunting?”

“If he’s settled in one place, it will make it that much easier to track him down.” Ned smiled viciously.

“What’s your plan? What do you want me to do?”

Ned leaned closer, knowing he was going to enjoy the results of his plan. “I want Josh Grady to know what it feels like to be hunted.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I want you to put out wanted posters on him. ‘Josh Grady—Wanted: Dead or Alive.’ I want every other bounty hunter to go after him. I want them tracking him. I want them hunting him. I want him to know what it feels like to be a wanted man—before he dies.”

Rich smiled coldly at his friend. “How big a reward do you want to put on his head?”

“They were offering five hundred dollars on me. It’s worth that much to see him dead.”

“You got the money?” Rich knew the situation
could get real ugly if a hired killer brought Josh Grady in and there was no reward money.

“Me and my brother had some cash stashed away in a safe place. When the time comes, I’ll have the reward. Don’t you worry.”

“Good,” Rich said, satisfied they could pull this off. “I can get the posters ready for you right away.”

“How long do you think it will take to hunt him down?”

“Could be weeks or it could take months. It just depends on what Grady’s been doing lately.”

“Find out.”

“I’ll do my best for you,” Rich assured him. “And you make certain you keep real quiet around here.”

“Don’t worry. They won’t be taking me in again.” Ned knew he’d have to bide his time, and he also knew he had to watch his step. He didn’t want the law to find out where he was. He was a free man again, and he intended to stay that way.