Drew (The Cowboys) (20 page)

“I suppose there are women who don’t mind hitching their fortunes to the wind, but I can’t say I think much of the idea. Now I’m going to get out of this dress.”

“Why?” Myrtle asked. “You look so charming in it.”

“It’s sweet of you to say that, Myrtle, but—”

“You don’t have to believe us,” Cole said. “Look around. The men still can’t take their eyes off you.”

“I don’t like being stared at.”

“Even in admiration?”

“No.”

She didn’t think she’d mind being admired if she could believe it was genuine, but she was quite resigned to being plain. She really didn’t mind it Jake and Isabelle had been adamant that their children wouldn’t grow up thinking looks rather than hard work would bring them success. Drew had received more than her share of praise for her accomplishments. She liked work, and she enjoyed its rewards.

She certainly didn’t want men mooning over her just because she had a pretty face. Isabelle always said a pretty face wasn’t much good unless it was backed up by good character and a strong back. Besides, men in the mooning frame of mind were practically useless. They couldn’t think of anything except dancing and flowers and saying silly things about moonlight, eyes, and hair. Confront them with a steer, and they were liable to get run over before they could gather their wits about them.

Still, a little admiration—just once in a while—wouldn’t be a bad thing.

“I promised I’d wear this dress for the show,” she said to Cole, “and I’ll keep my promise. But the rest of the time, I wear my own clothes.”

“Fair enough,” Cole said.

“Maybe we can talk Earl into turning her into a mistress of ceremonies,” Myrtle said. “Then she’d have to wear a dress for the whole show.”

“I’ve got an even better idea,” Cole said. “When we arrive at a new town, she can march down the main street giving demonstrations to work up interest in our show.”

“I’m sure the local authorities would love to have me shooting at signs, tree limbs, even birds,” Drew said. “The women and children would probably run screaming from the streets, though I have no doubt the men would love it.”

“Okay, it wasn’t such a good idea. I’ll think of something else.”

“I’m sure you will. In the meantime, I’m going to change. By the way, I’ll pay for these dresses.”

“You don’t have to. They’re my gift to you.”

“I don’t take gifts from men. Either I pay for them, or you take them back to the store.”

“I can’t.”

“Then I guess you’re stuck with three dresses. I’ll return this one to you as soon as I can take it off. I’m sure you’ll find someone who’ll wear them.”

For once, she had the upper hand, and Cole knew it. He flashed the grin that was rapidly destroying her self-control.

“Okay, you can pay for them.”

Drew left the car, but she couldn’t banish the image of Cole’s sexy grin. What did she mean thinking he had a
sexy
grin? No such thought had ever crossed her mind before. He wasn’t beautiful the way Matt and Will were beautiful. He wasn’t sultry like Luke or Chet. He didn’t tower over her with bulging muscles like Sean. Most important of all, he didn’t have the bedrock integrity and sense of responsibility Jake had. There shouldn’t be anything about Cole Benton to make her look twice.

She reached the compartment, locked the door behind her, and started to unbutton the offending pink dress.

Maybe Isabelle was right. There were all kinds of men in the world, some of whom appealed to women for no accountable reason. Obviously Cole Benton was one of those men, but never in a thousand years would she have thought she’d be one of those women. She was too sensible, too aware of the failings of men, too certain of what she wanted to do with her life. Now she kept thinking of Cole as somehow showing up at her ranch and staying… forever.

No, she couldn’t allow that to happen. If she was acting this silly when she only saw him for a few hours a day, imagine what would happen if she saw him all the time. She’d be as brainless as a newborn calf.

Norton, Missouri

Cole was determined Drew wouldn’t disappear again. Every day since they’d left St. Louis she’d vanished right after practice and hadn’t reappeared until it was time for the show to begin. It didn’t make him feel any better that either Zeke or Hawk—or both—disappeared with her. He’d never been worried about her safety. Anyone would have to be a fool to attempt to harm her with one or both brothers at her side.

Zeke and Hawk weren’t like the new breed of cowhands coming to Texas since the end of the war—Easterners soft from living in towns who expected the law to protect them. They were among the last of a breed of men who could ride out into the unknown, confident in their ability to defend themselves, their women, and their property.

But Cole’s admiration for Drew’s brothers didn’t make him any less irritated at being left behind. Even though he was certain Drew wasn’t involved in the robberies, he still couldn’t explain, away some cold, hard facts. Drew had had the opportunity to commit every one of the robberies. There had been another two days ago. It had taken place one afternoon after Drew and her brothers had disappeared. When he’d asked where she’d gone, she told him it was none of his business, that their relationship was restricted to their act.

He wished that were true. He’d tried to make it so, but thoughts of Drew filled his mind at all hours of the day. He’d volunteered to help Earl with the business end of the show. But even becoming involved with the logistics of moving and setting up so much equipment, providing feed and shelter for dozens of horses, cows, and buffalo, not to mention housing and transporting all the people involved in the show—not even all this could drive Drew from his thoughts. His dreams had become so erotic he hardly got any rest, but Cole had only himself to thank. He’d been the one to insist she wear that pink dress.

He’d dreamed of her before, but now he dreamed of her arms and shoulders, of the top of her bosom. He didn’t know where Drew had come by the notion she was plain, but it certainly wasn’t from a man. She didn’t employ the usual feminine bag of tricks, the fluttering eyelashes, the dimpled smile, the coy glance, or the seductive sway of her hips. What she did have appealed to Cole even more.

She had a perfect body, strong, supple, athletic. Every move radiated the sensuous grace of well-trained, beautifully controlled muscles that blended gently with her perfectly smooth shoulders and delicately formed hands and wrists. And no matter how much she might wish to deny it, she was pretty.

How could she not be with big, brown eyes, a smiling mouth—when she wasn’t angry at him—and a way of tilting her head to the right when she didn’t believe him. That happened so often she practically had a permanent list.

Her gaze could be direct and paralyzing. It also had the power to make him forget where he was and what he was doing. But it was her smile, especially when accompanied by her laugh, that destroyed his resistance and haunted his dreams. There was an earthiness, a visceral quality about her that was totally missing in the women he grew up with in Memphis. It reminded him of the untamed wildness of Texas.

Without realizing exactly what he’d been looking for in a woman, he’d found it all in Drew.

Yet there remained the fear that despite his instincts, she might be guilty after all. She’d led her motley army of old people to the bank the day after the most recent robbery. He had to find out what she was doing. When she emerged from her hotel room, he was waiting for her.

“What are you doing here?” she said, clearly not pleased to see him.

“Waiting for you.”

“Why?”

“I’m tired of working with Earl. I figured whatever you’re doing has to be more fun.”

“Not fond of work, are you?”

“Not that kind.”

“What kind are you fond of?”

“Following pretty women around.” She was dressed for riding, just like the female leader of the gang of robbers.

“I haven’t seen too many around here, but I’m sure you could find at least one willing to waste a few hours entertaining you.”

“I’d rather waste them with you.”

Her gaze narrowed. “Exactly what are you proposing?”

“I’ll leave that up to you.”

“In that case, I propose you go find somebody else to annoy.”

Cole didn’t think she was annoyed. Flustered was more like it. That was a relief. He was tired of being the only one affected by this relationship. He didn’t consider himself a lady-killer, but he’d received his share of feminine attention over the years. Drew’s relentless cold shoulder was getting on his nerves, as well as doing some serious damage to his ego.

“Sorry, this is my day to annoy you,” he said. “I’ve set it aside especially.”

“Your calendar is so crowded.”

She was making fun of his rootless condition again. He wondered what she’d think if she knew his real background.

“I make room for whatever appeals to me the most. I’ll follow you wherever you go,” he said, when it was clear she wasn’t going to invite him to join her.

“I don’t need you to follow me. I have Zeke.”

But Zeke wasn’t dressed for riding when he walked up. “We can’t go today.” He ignored Cole, speaking directly to Drew. “Earl wants to change our part of the show. Hawk and I will have to spend the rest of the day working on it if we expect to have it ready for tonight.”

“I’ll go with her,” Cole offered.

“I can stay here today,” Drew said.

Zeke gave Cole the once-over. “I don’t suppose he’d be much help in a pinch, but he’s better than nothing. You think you can ride with her without falling off your horse?”

Cole grinned despite himself. “I’ll tie myself to the saddle just in case.”

Zeke didn’t look amused. “You let anything happen to her, and I’ll kill you.”

Cole knew that wasn’t an idle threat. It was a sure promise.

“I’ll be just as zealous as you and Hawk together.”

“You aren’t worth Hawk’s left hand, but Drew is more than a match for anybody she’s liable to meet. I want you back in two hours,” he said, turning to Drew.

“Don’t be stupid, Zeke. If I go at all, I’ll come and go when I want.”

“Jake wouldn’t like that.”

“Jake always lets me do what I want.”

“Only because he’d have to knock you out to stop you,” Zeke said, irritation mingled with admiration.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Cole stays out of trouble. Now go get your new act worked out”

Zeke hesitated briefly. “Remember what I said,” he said to Cole before turning and stalking off.

“Is he always that pleasant?”

“You’re fortunate. He’s been in a particularly good mood for several days. Besides, he likes you.”

Cole shivered. “Let me know if he changes his mind. Now where are you going?”

“Don’t you know?”

“Not yet.”

“For a ride in the country. I start feeling jumpy if I stay cooped up in a town for more than a day or two.”

Chapter Twelve

Drew didn’t know why Cole wanted to ride with her. He obviously had expected to do something else, though she couldn’t imagine what. There wasn’t much in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri except farms. Most towns were barely large enough to fill the stands for one night. That was why Earl moved the show to a new town nearly every night. It would be a relief to reach Memphis, where they’d spend three days in the same place. But even small towns were big enough to cause Drew to miss the wide-open spaces of Texas.

“Is this what you do every time you disappear?” Cole asked. “Ride through the countryside?”

“What else is there to do?”

“I don’t know. I figured you did something more exciting.”

“You keep forgetting I grew up on a ranch. None of us likes staying in towns. Even Isabelle, and she grew up in Savannah.”

“I’d like to meet Jake and Isabelle. You’ve talked about them so much, I feel like I know them.”

“I’m not sure you’d like them.”

“Why?”

“Isabelle has very strict ideas about how people should behave. When they don’t come up to her standards, she’s not slow to tell them.”

“And you don’t think I measure up?”

“I know you don’t.”

He didn’t look as though he liked that, but it wasn’t her fault he was a drifter, a liar, or whatever he was. Isabelle might not hold being pathetically useless against him. She said some people couldn’t help it, they were just made that way, but she couldn’t stand lying. Not for any reason.

“Jake is big on responsibility,” Drew said. “He never told any of us what to do, but it was always clear he expected us to make something of ourselves.”

Drew hadn’t been pleased when Cole insisted on riding with her, but she was having a good time. The early fall weather made the day sunny and cool. Her horse had a little spirit, so she didn’t feel like she was astride a mule too lazy to put one foot in front of the other.

The fields they passed were mostly empty. Farmers had cut and stacked their hay long ago. Oat and wheat fields were bare. Most crops had been picked or cut. Some fields remained green with late melons, pumpkins, squash, even peas. There was a lot of corn, most of it dry, the stalks turned brown, waiting to be gathered and stored in barns as winter feed for livestock.