The Texan (8 page)

M
iss Harriet wasn’t too pleased as she came down to breakfast. The days seemed endless, and she couldn’t wait to return to Philadelphia. When they’d first arrived, she had hoped Millie would quickly weary of ranch life and elect to return home early, but that hadn’t happened. If anything, Millie seemed to be growing even more enamored with the ranch. Miss Harriet understood that Emmie needed her friend’s companionship right now, so she tried not to dwell too much on having to spend another miserable day in the heat and dust. She found Kate hard at work fixing breakfast as she entered the kitchen.

“Good morning, Miss Harriet,” Kate greeted her. “How are you this fine morning?”

“I suppose I’m as well as can be expected,” the chaperone admitted.

“Being here is different from big-city living, that’s for sure.”

“Yes, it certainly is. I’m still astonished at the way
Emmie and Millie have been acting since we’ve been here.”

“What do you mean?” Kate didn’t see anything unusual in the way they’d been behaving.

“Why both of them wearing pants…and Emmie trying to teach Millie how to shoot…”

“Emmie’s just being practical by wearing pants,” Kate said, trying to explain Western customs.

“You’re wearing a skirt,” the chaperone pointed out.

“Yes, but I’m not running the ranch. Emmie is, and as far as the shooting lessons go…well, Hank always wanted his girl to be able to take care of herself, so Emmie is just teaching her friend the same as her father taught her. They don’t call this the Wild West for nothing.”

“Emmie has told me some frightening tales, not to mention what I heard from Sarah about her reason for leaving all those years ago. I’m glad things have been quiet since we’ve been here.”

“Let’s hope it stays that way. How soon will you and Millie be going back?”

“She planned to stay at least a month. It will depend on how Emmie’s doing.”

“Our Emmie is one strong girl, but I can’t help being thankful Hank took Josh on as a partner when he did. He’s a fine man.”

“But what about his past? Isn’t all that talk about his being a gunman and a bounty hunter a little frightening?”

“This is a big country—and it’s a hard country. A
man’s got to be able to defend himself. You never know what kind of trouble you might run into.”

“Who’s looking for trouble?” Emmie asked, smiling as she and Millie entered the kitchen together. “You, Miss Harriet?”

“Every day,” the chaperone answered.

They all laughed.

“Miss Harriet was just telling me how concerned she is about Millie learning to handle a gun,” Kate offered.

Millie understood her chaperone’s feelings and hastened to reassure her. “Don’t worry, Miss Harriet. I have no intention of carrying a gun with me.”

“Good,” the elderly woman said, sounding relieved.

“And Kate…” Millie looked at Kate. “There is a very good reason why I won’t be carrying one.”

“What’s that?” Kate asked.

“I’m such a bad shot, Emmie says if I ever did need a gun, it would have to be a shotgun.”

Again they laughed.

Miss Harriet enjoyed the lightheartedness, but she knew she would never be comfortable with the idea of a woman needing a gun. She was missing Philadelphia very much and couldn’t wait to return.

After breakfast, Emmie went out to the stable to check on what the hands were doing that morning. She found Josh deep in conversation with Burley She hadn’t spent much time with her new partner since the ride they’d taken the other day, and he looked so serious, she feared something was wrong.

“I’m going to ride up there and take a look around,” Josh was saying.

“I’ll ride with you, and I’ll get some of the boys.”

“All right.”

“What’s wrong?” she asked as she joined them.

“The rustlers might be moving in on us again,” Josh explained.

“Well, if you’re riding out, I’m going with you.”

Josh knew it could be dangerous. “There might be trouble.”

Emmie looked up at him and met his gaze straight-on. “Those are my cattle, too.”

He saw her determination in her gaze and knew there was no talking her out of joining them. The last thing Josh wanted was Emmie along to distract him. He needed to concentrate on looking for the rustlers.

He told her, “We’re leaving now.”

“I’ll be right back,” she said.

“I told you we were leaving. Where are you going?” he demanded.

Emmie turned on him. “I’m going to get my gun.”

With that, she hurried away.

Burley didn’t say anything until she was far enough off not to hear him. Then he went over to stand beside Josh, smiling broadly. “You got yourself one headstrong partner there. She’s a wild one, just like her pa.”

“I know.” Josh was not smiling as he swung up into the saddle. He couldn’t help worrying about what might happen if they actually did get in a shootout.

“Give Emmie a chance,” Burley encouraged as he mounted his own horse to accompany Josh. “She’s a hard worker, and she does care about this place.”

“I know. I’ve been watching her.”

“I know you have,” Burley said, trying not to smile.

Josh fixed him with a hard look. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“She’s easy on the eyes, boss, real easy. That’s what I mean. She’s grown into one fine-looking young lady, don’t you think?”

“I hadn’t noticed,” Josh said uncomfortably.

“Then you must be losing your eyesight. You been in the sun too long?” Burley taunted him.

“Emmie’s my partner. Just ask her. She’ll tell you.”

“And a fine partner she is, too.” Burley chuckled. Looking toward the other hands, he yelled, “Let’s go, boys—and one of you saddle a horse for Emmie.”

The ranch hands did as they were told, and they were mounted up and waiting with Josh and Burley when Emmie came running back, wearing her holster. She quickly mounted her horse and was ready to ride.

Josh glanced at Steve, who was staying behind. “Keep an eye on things for me.”

“How long do you think you’ll be gone?” Steve asked.

“There’s no telling. It all depends on what we find,” Josh told him. “Hopefully we’ll be back before nightfall.”

“Good luck.”

Josh nodded and then wheeled his horse around to lead the way in search of the rustlers.

Millie had been up at the house when Emmie had come rushing back in to get her gun and holster. Emmie had told her what was happening, and Millie hadn’t bothered to try to discourage her from going. She knew Emmie far too well to even try. She’d been watching from the window as her friend had ridden off with Josh and the ranch hands.

Millie had spent some time reading and talking with Miss Harriet and Kate. As the day aged and there was still no sign of Emmie returning, Millie decided to go down to the stable for a while just to get out of the house. She was bored and needed to do something. Miss Harriet had gone up to her room for a nap, and Kate was busy with her house hold duties.

Steve was angry as he worked in the stable. He didn’t like it that Josh had left him behind. He wanted to ride with the others to track down the rustlers. He was good with a gun and could follow a trail as well as any of the other men.

His mood was dark as he continued his work in the stable, but it definitely improved when he caught sight of Millie coming out of the house. He watched her as she stood on the porch for a moment just looking around; she was the finest-looking woman he’d seen in a long time. Emmie was pretty, too, but he had always had a hankering for blondes, and this one was gorgeous.

Steve’s gaze was fixed upon Millie as she left the
porch and headed his way. Moments before he’d been cursing Josh for leaving him behind, but now he was real glad the boss hadn’t ordered him to ride out with the other hands. He was thrilled that he was finally going to get the chance to be alone with this little beauty. It had been months since he’d had a woman, and Millie suited him just fine.

Millie saw Steve as he came out of the stable, and she smiled at him. “Have you seen any sign of Emmie and Josh returning yet?”

“No. I don’t think we’ll see them till close to dark.” He went over to speak with her.

“Are you working hard?” she asked, just trying to make conversation as she looked past him into the stable. It was dark and shady in there, and definitely looked a bit cooler than the treeless ranch yard.

“I was until I saw you coming. Now I’ve got an excuse to stop for a while,” he said with a smile.

“I don’t want to get you in trouble,” she told him.

“You won’t. I’m just about done.” Steve moved closer to her. “How are you enjoying your visit?”

“I think it’s fascinating out here.”

“Are you missing Philadelphia much?”

“There are moments—like when Emmie told me about that rattlesnake Josh shot.” She couldn’t suppress the shudder that went through her.

“You don’t want to get bit by one of them, that’s for sure.”

“You’re right. I don’t! Other than that, I have been enjoying myself. I’d always read about Texas, and Emmie told me a lot of stories, but until you actually get to see it, you never really understand what it’s like.”

Steve’s mind was racing. He had to get Millie inside the stable. “It’s hot out here in the sun. Why don’t you come on in the stable where it’s shady?”

“All right.”

Steve led the way back into the building, trying hard to contain his eagerness. Millie was obviously ready and willing to be with him, and he couldn’t wait.

“So, what have you been working on?” Millie asked. In her innocence, she was oblivious to his lecherous thoughts. She was always interested in learning something new, and thought he might be able to teach her more about ranch work.

Once they were in the stable, though, ranch work was the last thing on Steve’s mind. He knew they were out of sight of the two other women up at the main house, so he could do what ever he wanted to do with Millie. He grinned at the blond beauty as his gaze went over her. “Well, I’ve been working on trying to find a way to get to talk to you alone.”

“Oh…Why?” His words caught her off guard, and she suddenly felt a little awkward in his company.

“Because,” he began, closing the distance between them, “I think you are a real special lady.”

“Thank you,” she said a bit breathlessly as she instinctively took a step back.

“And I am awful glad you came out here with Emmie for a visit. Otherwise, I would never have gotten the chance to meet you.”

“I’ve enjoyed meeting you, too, Steve,” Millie said awkwardly.

“I think we ought to get to know each other better, don’t you?”

“What do you mean by ‘get to know each other’?” The look in his eyes left her leery.

“I mean this.” Boldly Steve reached out and grabbed her by the upper arms to drag her to him. He kissed her then, his mouth claiming hers in a dominating, wet, hungry kiss. He figured she knew what she was doing. After all, she’d come with him willingly into the stable, knowing no one else was around.

Millie was shocked and completely disgusted by his actions. She’d had her share of stolen kisses back in Philadelphia, but she’d never been manhandled this way. Steve rubbed himself hard against her as he continued to kiss her, and she felt almost violated. After her first shock wore off, she started to fight to get away from him.

“No!” She gasped. “What are you doing? Let me go!”

“I like women with spirit. I like it when my women fight,” Steve said, leering at her as he kept her tight against him.

“I’m not ‘your’ woman! I said let me go!”

“You’re the one who came out here to see me, darlin’.” He laughed unpleasantly as he kissed her again. Strong from years of ranch work, he had no trouble keeping his grip on her. “You are one pretty woman.”

“Steve! Stop it!” Millie managed to get her hands up between them and pushed as hard as she could against his chest.

He only laughed at her pitiful efforts. “When I want something, I get it, Millie, and I’ve been wanting you ever since the first time I saw you.”

Steve managed to half drag her toward one of the clean empty stalls.

“What are you doing?” she cried, resisting with all her might.

“Come on, sweetheart. We’re gonna have us some fun back here where nobody will see us.”

Millie cried out in desperation as he pushed her down on the fresh bed of straw he’d put down not long before. He lay down beside her, and when she tried to scramble away, he yanked her back to him. He pulled her forcefully beneath him and pressed himself full length against her.

“No! Get off of me! What do you think you’re doing?” she shrieked.

“Why, I’m just giving you what you want,” Steve said with a grin, enjoying himself.

“Let me go!” Millie yelled again.

“That’s it, sweetheart. It’ll be even better if you put up a little fight.”

He was starting to unbutton her blouse and grope her when a man’s voice came from behind him.

“I believe the lady said to let her go.” The tone was cold and deadly and commanding.

“
W
hat the…” Steve froze, then looked over his shoulder to find himself staring at the barrel of a six-gun that was pointed straight at him.

“The lady said to let her go, and I suggest you do it—
now!”
the tall, dark-haired man standing over him ordered.

Steve threw himself off Millie and scrambled to his feet. He stood there staring at the man holding the gun on him. “Who are you to order me around?”

“Someone who doesn’t like to see a lady disrespected. Now, get off this ranch before I decide to shoot you where it will really hurt—for a long, long time,” the stranger ground out, smiling savagely at the weasel who stood shaking before him.

Coward that he was, Steve ran from the stable.

The tall man went after him.

Gun still in hand, he waited and watched from the door of the stable until Steve had ridden out. Only then did he turn back to Millie. Holstering his sidearm, he made his way back to the stall, where she was standing in the back corner, clutching the
edges of her torn blouse together and watching him suspiciously.

“Are you all right?” the dark-haired stranger asked in a calming tone.

Millie stood there, trembling, as she stared at the man who’d just saved her: tall and lean, clean-shaven and darkly handsome. She knew she’d never seen him before, for she certainly would have remembered him. “I…I think so. Who are you? Where did you come from?”

“My name’s George—George Grady. I’m Josh’s brother,” he quickly explained.

“Oh.” Now that she knew who he was, she did see a little resemblance to Josh, and a great sense of relief flooded through her.

He saw the change in her expression, and he went to her.

“Here, let me help you.” He gently slipped a supportive arm around her shoulders to guide her from the stall. “Let’s get you up to the main house.”

Millie nodded, still too unsettled to say much more right then. She had always considered herself a strong, in de pen dent female—until now. The ugly physical encounter with Steve had left her reeling, and she was grateful for George’s support as he led her from the stable.

“Thank you,” she finally managed, struggling to regain her self-control as she looked up at him. “Steve’s not coming back, is he?” Millie looked around quickly as they moved outside.

“No. He won’t be back, if he knows what’s good for him,” George assured her.

“Thank heaven.”

“Where is everybody?” George asked. “Where’s Josh?”

“They rode out this morning—Josh thought there were rustlers around.”

Kate came rushing out of the house at that moment, a stricken look on her face. She’d been passing by a window when she’d seen George and Millie coming her way. She recognized Josh’s brother right away and was surprised to see him. She wondered why Millie looked so pale, and then realized from the state of her clothes that something must have happened. She feared Millie might have been thrown while trying to ride. “Millie! George! What’s wrong?”

“We’ll tell you once we’re in the house,” George said.

“All right.” Kate looked between the two of them and then turned back to hold the front door open for them. “I didn’t hear you ride in, George.”

“I went down to the stable first and then everything happened fast,” George answered as he ushered Millie inside and took her to the sitting room.

Millie sat down heavily on the sofa, and George remained close by. Kate went to sit with her, wanting to find out what had happened.

“Were you thrown?” Kate asked.

Millie looked up at her and shook her head. “No. It was Steve.”

“Steve? What about him?”

George spoke up, wanting to save the young woman from the horror of having to relive Steve’s
manhandling again by speaking of it. “When I rode in I found Steve attacking her out in the stable.”

“Dear Lord, no!” Kate reached out and took Millie’s hand.

“I ran him off,” George went on, “but if he ever comes back—”

“I can’t believe Steve would do such a thing!” Kate was horrified. She’d known the ranch hand for some time.

“Neither could I,” Millie said.

“He always seemed like a good man.”

“He’s not,” George put in tersely.

“You’re right,” Millie agreed. “He’s not. It was so scary—I tried to fight him off, but he wouldn’t stop. If it hadn’t been for George…” She looked up at him, the depth of her emotion showing in her eyes. “There’s no telling what would have happened.”

Kate hugged Millie, horrified by what the ranch hand had done to her. “He’d better not come back here—ever!” Kate declared heatedly. “I can just imagine what Josh will do to him if he sets foot on the Rocking R again.”

“I know,” Millie said, starting to feel a little more like herself. “I’m seriously thinking about taking more shooting lessons from Emmie.”

“And I wouldn’t blame you a bit,” Kate agreed. “Are you sure you’re all right?” She could tell Millie was still trembling a little.

“Yes—it just all happened so fast. I was bored, so I went out to the stable to take a look around. Steve and I started talking, and before I knew it, he grabbed me and threw me down in one of the stalls.”

Kate looked up at George with even greater respect. “I’m glad you arrived when you did.”

“So am I,” Millie added, managing to smile at him for the first time.

“So am I,” George agreed. He’d thought she was a remarkably pretty girl, but when she smiled, he decided she was downright beautiful.

Millie was feeling uncomfortable after being manhandled by Steve, and she was longing to take a bath. “I’m going to go upstairs. I want to get cleaned up.”

“Do you need anything?” Kate offered.

“If you could bring me up some bathwater, I’d appreciate it.”

“Right away.” Kate hurried from the room to start heating some bathwater.

Millie looked over at George again. “Are you going to stay on here at the ranch for a while?”

“If my brother will have me,” George said, smiling at her.

“He’ll have you,” Millie told him. “And if he won’t have you, I will.”

They both relaxed enough then to laugh together.

Millie got up and started to leave the room. She paused in the doorway to look back at him and found that he was watching her. “George…thank you.”

With that, she disappeared into the hall to go upstairs, leaving George alone in the sitting room.

He stared after Millie for a moment, impressed by what a strong woman she was. He didn’t know many women who would have recovered their composure
so quickly, after what she’d just gone through. He thought, too, about the fact that she was wearing pants. It wasn’t often that he saw a female dressed that way, and he had to admit it intrigued him.

George hoped Josh made it back to the ranch house relatively early that day. He had a lot to discuss with his brother, and he wanted to find out more about Millie. He didn’t know anything except her name. He wondered, too, where Hank was.

George thought about asking Kate, but didn’t see her again on his way from the house. He went to tend to his horse while he awaited Josh’s return. He hadn’t seen his brother in a while, and he had a big favor to ask of him. He had lost all his money in a poker game the week before, and now he needed work. He didn’t like asking outright for money, but he figured Josh could always use an extra hand on the ranch.

Millie was grateful when Kate came upstairs with the hot water for her bath.

“This should help make you feel better,” Kate said as she met Millie in the small room off the hall that was used for bathing.

“It will,” she agreed, standing back while Kate poured the water into the tub. “How much do you know about George? It was so amazing to look up from struggling with Steve and find him just standing there like that.”

“I’ve met him a few times since Josh has been here. He’s younger than Josh, but not by much.”

“What does he do? Is he a rancher somewhere nearby?”

Kate couldn’t help laughing a little. “No, I’ve never known George to try his hand at ranching. He’s more…”

At her hesitation, Millie was curious. “He’s more what?”

“Well, let’s say he’s wilder than Josh.”

“How could anyone be wilder than Josh?” She was stunned. “Josh was a bounty hunter and—”

“George is a gambler,” Kate hastened to explain.

“Like a cardsharp?” Millie had heard the tales of gamblers who made their living cheating at cards, but there had seemed nothing dishonest about the man she’d just met.

“No. He doesn’t cheat when he’s playing cards. He’s just real good at it.”

“Oh, my. I wonder why he came here?”

“I’m sure he just stopped by for a visit with Josh. He does that occasionally.”

“What ever his reason for coming to the ranch, he couldn’t have shown up at a better time.”

“You are right about that, and I’m glad he’s staying here right now, just in case Steve gets any foolish ideas about coming back.”

“I almost know how to shoot,” Millie said tentatively. She didn’t know how close she would come to hitting Steve if he attacked her again, but she could at least try, thanks to Emmie.

“And I definitely know how to use a gun,” Kate added, “but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Where does George stay when he’s here?”

“When he’s visited in the past, he’s stayed with
Josh at the foreman’s house. That’s much easier for him than staying in town.”

“Good. I want to get to know him better.”

“He’s a nice man, but remember—he is a professional gambler. He’s smooth-talking, and he travels a lot.”

“I’ll remember,” Millie said, but, in truth, she found the idea that George was a gambler intriguing.

Kate left her, giving her privacy to take her bath.

Millie quickly stripped off her clothes and got into the tub, eager to wash up. She wanted to erase all memories of the vileness of Steve’s brutal touch. Bathing in the small tin tub at the ranch was a far cry from what she was accustomed to at home, but that didn’t matter to her right then. She just needed to feel clean again.

It wasn’t long before Millie was drying herself off and preparing to get dressed. She hoped to find George again and get to know him a bit now that she was feeling more like herself. She looked through the clothing she’d brought along and selected a modest day gown. After what had happened in the stable, she wasn’t ready to wear pants and boots again just yet. Once she was dressed, with her hair brushed out and tied back in a simple ribbon, Millie was ready to go. She left her room and went downstairs, to find Miss Harriet in the kitchen with Kate.

Miss Harriet had been sitting at the table, but the moment she saw Millie, she got up and rushed to her to give her a big hug. She had been truly shaken when she’d found out what had happened while
she’d been upstairs resting. “Oh, Millie, thank God you’re all right! Kate was just telling me all that happened.”

“Everything’s fine, Miss Harriet,” Millie said, hugging her back.

“Are you sure? You haven’t been injured in any way?” she asked worriedly.

“No. George showed up just in time to save me.”

“That’s what Kate said. I have to meet this George and tell him how much I appreciate his valor. Men like him are very rare.” She went on anxiously. “What was I thinking, leaving you unchaperoned that way? I should never have gone upstairs to rest.”

“Miss Harriet, none of this was your fault. I’m fine. Really.” Millie could just imagine that if she didn’t convince Miss Harriet of her blamelessness, the chaperone would be by her side every minute of every day for the rest of their visit at the ranch.

The chaperone looked her over critically and then nodded. “If you’re certain.”

“I am.”

“I would like to meet this young man. Kate was telling me he’s Josh’s brother.”

“That’s right, and after all that’s happened, I want to get to know him better, too. I don’t even want to think about what would have happened if he hadn’t saved me from Steve.”

“He’s a hero. That’s for sure,” Miss Harriet declared.

Millie knew that was high praise, coming from her. “We’ll have to tell him when we see him again.”

“Do you think he’ll be staying here at the ranch for very long?” Miss Harriet asked Kate.

“With George, you never know,” Kate told them.

“Have you seen him since I’ve been upstairs?”

“No. He hasn’t come back.”

“I think I’ll go find him and bring him up here to the house, so Miss Harriet can meet him.”

“Is it safe for you to go outside?” Miss Harriet worried. “What if that Steve is still around somewhere?”

“George ran him off, but I’ll go with her, just to be sure,” Kate said, knowing Miss Harriet could offer little in the way of protection if Steve were lurking around out there.

Kate and Millie left the house together after Kate paused to find her pistol.

“George may be down at the stable taking care of his horse, or he could be at Josh’s cabin,” Kate said.

“I’ll go check at Josh’s. I don’t want to go down to the stable,” Millie said.

Kate understood. “All right. I’ll go look down there. Just yell if you need me. I won’t be long.”

Millie moved off toward the small house where Josh lived.

George had stabled his horse and then walked all around the outbuildings. He wanted to make sure there was no sign of Steve anywhere. Once he was confident the other man was gone, he’d made his way over to Josh’s house and let himself in.

George had been riding long and hard for days now, and after hearing Millie mention a bath, he
decided he could use some cleaning up, too. He didn’t have the luxury of hot water, or a tub like the one up at the main house, but he didn’t care. He just needed to scrub off the trail dirt. George tossed his hat, saddlebags, and gear aside and stripped off his shirt as he went over to the washstand. He was glad to find there was water in a bucket, and he poured some into the bowl and started to wash.

George was just finishing up when he heard a knock at the door.

“Come on in,” he called out.

Millie didn’t hesitate to enter. She opened the door and walked in to find George standing across the room from her with his shirt off, drying himself with a towel.