NotoriousWoman (9 page)

Kate rolled her eyes to the cloudless sky. By the saints
above, it was a lie. When had she lost her mind?

She knew exactly when. The moment Jake Madden had walked up
to her in town, tipped his hat and offered to hire on as their foreman.

It wasn’t until she was miles away that Kate realized she
was wearing only one of her boots.

Chapter Six

Jake reckoned he had a way with women or least enough to get
by. Kate was more complicated than he bargained for, as he was quickly finding
out. She was a holy terror one minute and a seductress the next, with no way to
predict which mood she was likely to be inclined to.

He would have to keep his britches buttoned when she was
spitting mad. At least until he persuaded her that making love was more fun
than fighting.

The ranch was key to figuring her out. She was devoted to
the place and he had some good ideas about making the ranch profitable. If they
could only work together, the place would have a chance. That was a big if and
Jake had his doubts.

The Crowley spread needed improving and he’d start with the
stock. Those bulls of Purdy’s were a breed that’d produce bigger calves. Bigger
calves stood a better chance of survival and brought more money at auction.

How could he convince Kate to purchase a new bull? Jake
shook his head. It would take some doing, especially if she had to borrow
money. In his opinion, keeping old General at stud was an act of desperation.
Kate’s bank account must be down to nothing.

There was no use wasting worry on speculation. Here it was,
the morning half gone and work to be done. He had his foot in the stirrup,
ready to head out to see if he could find more strays, when he heard his name
called.

Jolie was running toward him, scattering chickens and giving
the hound a reason to bark. She carried a ladies’ lace-up riding boot.

He mounted his horse and watched her hurry, her hair flying
every which way.

“Thank goodness you haven’t left,” she said between breaths
when she caught up to him. “Kate left her boot behind. I need you to go after
her. We can’t have her arrive in town in her feet bare, can we?”

Jake pushed back his hat. How had Kate expected to kick ass
without both boots on?

“I wouldn’t worry none,” he told Jolie. “She’ll be back for
it as soon as she realizes what she’s done.”

He’d just as soon lasso a firecracker than bring her the
boot and put up with the tongue-whipping that would come with it.

Jolie batted her lashes. Both sisters applied their
considerable feminine wiles to their advantage when it suited them. “It’ll save
time if you go after her,” she said, sweet as apple pie.

“Who will keep an eye on you?” he said.

“You think I can’t take care of myself?” She thrust out her
lower lip.

“I wouldn’t dare think any such thing, only I’ve got your
sister’s opinion on the matter to consider.”

Jolie scoffed. “Don’t you mind her. She’s overprotective and
bossy, I’ll be the first to admit, but I’ll be perfectly fine without you two
supervising.”

Jake saw the independence in her and stifled a laugh. “Maybe
so but it wouldn’t pay to cross your sister.”

“Kate can be difficult at times,” she said, tossing him the
boot. “I hope you’ll forgive her bad temper and discover her better qualities.”

Jake had no intention of letting Kate treat him like a
whipping boy but he appreciated the younger sister’s loyalty. Living with Kate
couldn’t be easy.

He tipped his hat and turned his horse’s head. He rode out
of there at a canter, carrying a lady’s riding boot across the saddle in front
of him.

He hadn’t gone far when he pulled Rascal to a halt so he
could button up his coat. A strong wind blew from the north. Rain would be here
soon.

He wasn’t joshing when he told Kate there was a great deal
of work to be done with winter around the corner. Once the mountains filled up
with snow, it would be impossible to find the cows that’d spent the summer
grazing there. Those cows would freeze to death or die of starvation.

He had to find them and bring them down to the valley and
the closest pasture where they could graze to their contentment until Kate took
them to auction.

Jake would do his best to collect as many head as possible.
It was his job and nobody ever had cause to claim he neglected his work.

He started off again, hunkered down against the cold.
Although Kate’s manners were less than ladylike and her temper needed taming,
he had to admit she had plenty of gumption. A woman would have to be
strong-minded running her own place in the Arizona territory. Ranching was hard
work. Begrudgingly, he admired her for trying.

Of course, there wasn’t a hope in Hades she would succeed.

He heard the buckboard squeaking and caught sight of her
managing those frisky horses like a teamster.

Kate had something to prove all right.

He rode up alongside of her. She shot him a sideways glance.

“What do you want?” she asked, sharp as a splinter.

He pitched the boot in her lap.

She jerked back on the reins, and the team, accustomed to
heeding her commands, stopped without a protest.

“Your sister reckoned you should go to town properly shod.”

With a shake of her head, she picked up the boot. “Glory be,
I can’t believe I forgot to put my boot back on.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Her gaze met his. The wind had put color in her cheeks,
which looked mighty fine in his opinion.

“You must think I’ve got no sense at all.” The color
deepened. It’d cost her to declare she’d made an error in judgment.

He adjusted his Stetson. “No ma’am. You left the ranch in a
fit of temper. Anyone’s apt to forget what they’re wearing in such a state.”

She scowled but there was no meanness or disapproval in it. “Well,
I surely will be more careful next time.”

The admission woke tender feelings in him, although he must
tread carefully. Kate could be a tyrant if she believed he doubted her
abilities.

There was a moment of awkwardness, of decisions being made.
Jake reckoned whatever needed to be said could wait. He tightened up on the
reins and Rascal’s head came up.

“Aren’t you coming to town with me?” she asked.

“No ma’am. I’ve got plenty of chores to do, as you’ve been
clear in telling me, and not enough daylight to do them.”

“I’m grateful for the boot,” she replied. Had he heard
disappointment in her voice?

She hiked her britches a mite and stuck her pretty little
foot inside the leather. The boot hugged her calf as she tied the laces.

“I guess that’s what you pay me for,” he said.

She peered up at him and winced. “Sorry I spoke so sharply.”

“I don’t hold it against you.”

There was a shine to her from her sunburned nose right down
her neck. He longed to suckle the spot where her pulse throbbed, as he had
before, to inhale the fragrant flavor of her essence as she responded to each
kiss.

Jake stopped right there. He wouldn’t go any further. Not
now anyways. Not until she figured out for herself that a little loving was
exactly what she needed.

Tipping his hat, he headed back to the ranch.

Kate watched with frustration as Jake rode in the direction
of the ranch. Despite her irritation with him earlier, she would’ve liked his
company.

Oh, who was she kidding? She would have loved his company.

Still, she couldn’t help but wonder why he was here at the
ranch, so eager to be helpful. Her suspicions that Silas Purdy had sent him
wouldn’t go away. Was all this wooing calculated to loosen her resistance to
Purdy’s offer to buy her and Jolie out?

She released the brake and the wagon lurched forward. A
blustery wind swept the landscape, swaying the few trees along the way and
causing dust to swirl up and land in her eyes. Kate wiped the grit away with
the back of her glove and wished she’d worn a bandana.

It was clear Jake was no good for her. Having him around put
her into such a frenzy she’d run off without her boot, hat or bandana.
Lordy.
What else had she forgotten to do this morning?

She snapped the reins and the horses obeyed. She hadn’t been
kidding about the amount of work to be done. The chicken coop needed to be
fortified, fence posts repaired or replaced, cattle brought from the high
pasture and branded. The list went on forever, and with only herself, Jolie and
Jake to work it, she was worried. Three people couldn’t run a ranch the way it
ought to be run.

She wouldn’t say it was impossible but it was going to be
damn hard. They’d need to sell stock but Jake was right, the prices were low
right now. She’d do better to wait. But she couldn’t. She’d eat boiled crow
before selling to a bunch of cattlemen who’d buy her herd at a cheap price and
gloat about their good fortune.

Add an amorous cowboy to her list of concerns. Tall,
handsome, rakish Jake. Had she misjudged him? His suggestions were good ones.
Old General hadn’t produced like he’d done in the past.

Who was she kidding? Jake worked for Silas Purdy. As soon as
he had her doing things his way, he’d move on, leaving her with nothing but
heartache.

Her ride to town was over. The entire way her mind had been
stuck on images of Jake, his smile, his swagger, the flash of anger and the
humor in his eyes whenever she stood her ground. The way her body tingled when
he touched her. How she hadn’t wanted him to stop.

She jumped down from the wagon, crying out when she landed
on her injured foot. She sucked in a lung full of air, straightened her
shoulders and headed into the mercantile. Passersby stared at her as they
usually did, some of the ladies whispering behind their lacy gloves. What were
they saying about her now? Kate wasn’t sure if she wanted to know.

“Afternoon, Miss Kate,” Mrs. Finney said from behind the
counter. She offered Kate a generous smile. Kate nodded a greeting. “What can I
help you with today?”

“I’m here for some Epsom salts. My bull is feeling poorly.”

“Sure thing, I’ll go get some,” the woman answered and went
to the storeroom in the back.

Kate rested on her good foot, wondering how she would pay
for the supplies. She hated to ask for credit but had no choice.

Mrs. Finney came out carrying a box and set it on the
counter.

“Can you believe it? I ran off and forgot my reticule.” It
wasn’t really a lie. She’d left home without many things. “Can I owe you?”

The woman wrinkled her forehead. She regarded Kate with what
could only be called pity and that made Kate want to spin around and limp out
of there.

“I’m good for it,” she said, angry she had to reassure the
woman, that her family’s reputation wasn’t enough.

Mrs. Finney shook her head. “I’m sorry. Your account hasn’t
been paid on in quite a while. Mr. Finney insists I not extend any more credit
until your bill has been paid.”

“There must be a mistake. I always pay in cash.”

“Your sister has been buying sewing notions and such. She
said you wouldn’t mind.”

The breath whooshed right out of Kate as if she’d been punched
in the stomach.

“Is there something wrong?” Mrs. Finney asked.

Kate straightened her spine. She’d hadn’t had a clue what
Jolie was doing. She would speak to her sister. Right now she needed those
salts.

“I wouldn’t ask if there was any other way.” Kate hated
begging and was disgusted she had to stoop so low. “I’m selling some stock over
in Sylmar at the end of the month. If you could only give me until then, I’d be
obliged.”

No doubt Mrs. Finney had heard the pleas of many a rancher
in these parts. No one had any cash until their cows were sold. “End of the
month?”

“That’s right. We’ll have plenty of cash then.”

Mrs. Finney’s expression changed. She was known as a kindly
woman. “Yes, of course, Kate.” She took out the ledger book and wrote down the
debt.

Kate grabbed the box and hurried to the door, anxious to
make her escape. Mrs. Finney was a dear but Mr. Finney was a hard-nosed
businessman who didn’t tolerate excuses.

Before she could step outside, Mr. Finney, a portly and
middle-aged man with a ring of dark hair around his head and a shiny bald top,
scooted through the door.

“Just the woman I want to see,” he said, blocking her exit.

Her stomach flipped. A group of elderly ladies strolling
along the boardwalk pretended not to notice but their paces slowed. Meddling
busybodies, Kate decided. They wanted to hear what the mercantile owner had to
say to her.

“Good morning, Mr. Finney.”

Mr. Finney stuck out his index finger and waved it in front
of her.

She tried to keep her exasperation from showing and braced
herself for a talking-to.

“Just the person I wanted to see.” He took a deep breath as
if he was uncomfortable with what he had to say.

“What is it, Mr. Finney?” She met his gaze. There was no
reason to pussyfoot around.

“I’m afraid we’ll need to settle your bill, which is
considerable.” He spoke apologetically, which took the sting out of his words.

“Your good wife has just made me aware of our debt. I
assured her and now I’ll tell you that my account will be paid in full as soon
as I can.”

Mr. Finney frowned. “Your pa was a good customer. I’ve been
happy to keep your credit open but it’s been several months since we’ve been
paid—and well, I can’t provide supplies for free. I’ve got my family to
consider.”

Kate blinked rapidly. The room suddenly went quiet, eerily
quiet, and then came a deafening roar as all the blood in her body rushed to
her ears. This had been going on for months? “Too long, I agree, but I
explained everything to your wife.”

“Yes, I’m sure she was understanding.” He glanced at Mrs. Finney,
who hadn’t moved from behind the counter. Her look of pity, which made Kate
cringe, had returned.

“I’m sorry,” she said as sweetly as if she were
complimenting Kate’s getup.

Kate hadn’t considered Mr. Finney would insist on being paid
in full this very morning. She couldn’t give him any money because she had
none. Her heart raced as she tried to think of a solution. “I really do
appreciate your kindness in waiting this long. How much is the account total?”