Sea Of Grass (27 page)

“Very ambitious, Ethan. Just how do you plan on making your millions?”

 
“Oh, I have a few ideas. But enough. Tell me how you came to be at the Double R with Tess, the taskmaster.”

Claire told him enough to keep him satisfied. She was very leery of saying too much to anyone. “I got a job as a waitress and advanced to cook in Helena. There’s no big story, a boring life. Maria is a friend of one of the workers at the hotel and told me of this job. I thought it would be a good change for Jack. I was right. He’s filled out so much since being here.”

“Ranch living. It’ll make a man out of you. Look at Tess,” he said dryly as he drank his wine.

“That was an unkind thing to say,” Claire said evenly.

Ethan looked up and realized what he had said. “Truthfully, I like Tess. Stephen and she were my two favorite people growing up in
Silverhill
. However, you’re absolutely right, but everybody knows about Tess Rawlins,” he said as he drank his wine.

Claire watched this man curiously. There was no judgmental tone in his voice. She couldn’t understand the sudden faraway look in his eyes, however.

“It’s not a big mystery. She never dated. She’ll never marry.” He chuckled quietly. “You know I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in a dress.”

“That’s a good criterion for marriage,” Claire countered sarcastically.

Ethan smiled and agreed. “Don’t scold me. As I said, Tess and I go back a long way. Steve was a good friend of mine,” he said, and Claire saw the look once again.

“I understand it was an awful accident,” Claire said as she watched him. His face darkened as he merely nodded. “I was told he was an excellent horseman, much like Tess.”

He smiled then. “No one was as good as Tess. And if you ever tell her that, I’ll deny it.”

Claire laughed and agreed. “I’ve never met anyone like her.”

Ethan raised a curious eyebrow as he watched the smile spread across her face. “Well, you two couldn’t be any different. You’re attractive and very feminine. No man would want a woman who rides better, shoots better, and probably swears better than he does. Tess’s passion is that ranch. Well, that was long ago. She left for college and virtually never came back.”

“She still loves the ranch and her family.”

“So did Steve. He used to tell me how he loved taking care of what his father and those before him did for this country. He would have made a good ranch owner for this community, like his father and grandfather before. I wish he had that chance.” He frowned deeply as he toyed with his wineglass.

“What are you thinking?”

Ethan looked up and smiled slightly but said nothing.

“Steve Rawlins?” she asked, and Ethan leaned back against his chair. “Are you of the opinion that he was too experienced to be thrown from a horse?”

“Yes, but Pat Hayward said otherwise. Too many people were talking about Stephen Rawlins and his untimely death. It’s been more than hinted at that he was not merely thrown from his horse. But there was no real proof, only hearsay, and that means nothing. Perhaps….” He stopped abruptly as he looked at Claire, who gave him a questioning look.

“Do you know something?” She leaned forward.

Ethan regarded her for a moment. “I know many things,” he said lightly. “Now finish your meal and we’ll talk of more pleasant things.”

“If you know something, why aren’t you telling Jed or Tess?”

Ethan stopped with his fork in his mouth. He blinked several times before he set his fork down. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Claire leaned forward. “I’ve been on my own since I was seventeen. That’s a good deal of time to get to know people. I know when someone is lying to me and you, Ethan Drummond, are lying. I care very much about the Rawlins family. I will not see them hurt. So start talking.”

Ethan tossed his napkin down and drained his wineglass, then refilled Claire’s and his own. “Steve had some information on Telford. He never told me what it was, but he was sure. When he died, I told Tess and Jed. We all went to Pat, who denied ever talking to Steve and who said there were fifteen witnesses that heard Steve tell Telford he’d never cheat anybody again. To Pat, that sounded like a threat. He told the
Rawlinses
and me that Telford came to him and he was worried about Steve and his threats. Afterward, it was determined that Steve’s horse must have been spooked and threw him. The U.S. marshal in Helena had no reason to doubt the sheriff. It was dropped. I honestly thought Tess was going to kill Pat Hayward. Jed had a small heart attack recently, and now I suppose Tess has decided to stay on and take care of things. I’m not one of Tess’s favorite people.”

“Why? You tried to help,” Claire said, not understanding why Tess would feel this way.

Ethan shrugged and drank his wine. “I’m working for Warren Telford.”

Claire watched him curiously as he seemed bored with the conversation. One minute he was trying to solve the mystery of Stephen Rawlins’ death, and the next, he was working with the very man who may have murdered him.

“I suppose I can see her point,” he added dryly.

The drive back to the Double R was quiet. Ethan pulled behind the house and jumped out to open Claire’s door.

“Thanks for nice evening, Ethan,” Claire said as they walked up the porch steps.

“I’d like to see you again,” he said. Claire looked up into the brown eyes, and as she opened her mouth to say something, Ethan reached down and took her hand in his. Claire winced inwardly. Oh, boy, Tess will have a stroke if she sees this.

“Ethan, I don’t think so. I have so much to do here and…” she started, not knowing how to say no gracefully.

“Is there a reason you don’t want to see me again?”

With that, the screen door opened and banged into him. Tess stood there sporting a smirk.

“Oh, I’m sorry, kids, I didn’t see you,” she said lightly, avoiding the glare.

Ethan rubbed his shoulder. “No problem. Shouldn’t you be getting your rest?”

Tess walked right between them, ignoring Ethan, and headed for the stable.

“Where are you going so late at night?” Claire asked through clenched teeth.

Tess whirled around and marched back up to the porch. Ethan shook his head at the angry bull in Tess. He leaned against the railing, folded his arms across his chest, and watched the reason Claire would not be seeing him again. He might as well have been invisible.

“If I remember correctly, Mrs. Redmond, I own this ranch. I don’t have to explain to anyone where I go or what I do.”

“It’s just that it’s so late,” Claire hissed.

“Then you’d better say good night to Drummond. You’ve got a job to do, you know,” Tess retorted.

“I know very well what my job is…” Claire started, and Tess walked back up the steps and yanked the screen door open as she marched into the kitchen. The screen door slammed and Ethan winced.

Claire was furious as she stood there swiping the long hair from her face. “Oh, that woman!”

“Yes, that woman,” Ethan agreed and stood in front of her. He took her hand and gave it a healthy pump. “Good night, Claire, thank you for a wonderfully enlightening evening,” he said as he chuckled. “We’ll see each other again.”

“Good night, Ethan. I-I’m…” Claire stammered, and Ethan put his hand up.

“I understand,” he said. As he walked down the steps, he called over his shoulder, “I’m leaving, Tess, so there’s no reason for you to have a stroke.”

Claire hid her eyes in embarrassment, then gave Ethan a weak smile. He waved as he pulled away from the house.

“Tess Rawlins,” she hissed as she closed the back door. She turned into the darkness of the kitchen. “What is the big idea…?”

Tess stood in front of her, pinning her against the counter. “Did you enjoy your evening?” she asked in a dark voice.

Claire swallowed. “Actually…” she started, then gasped openly as Tess loomed over.

“Do you love me?” Tess asked in a low voice. Claire nodded. She tried to speak, but all the moisture left her mouth. Her body once again was on fire. “Then you will not see Ethan Drummond again. Do you understand me? I love you, Claire. I…” Tess stopped and took a deep quivering breath. Her body started to shake and Claire wasn’t sure if it was from anger or fear. She remembered Chuck’s words.
She’s petrified
.

Claire reached up to the trembling cheek and cradled it tenderly in her hand. “I’m sorry, Tess. I let my anger get the better of me when I said I would go to dinner with him, you seemed not to care, and I…”

“What could I say? God knows I wanted to pick him up by his nose and throw him through the screen door,” Tess said angrily. Claire caressed her cheek, instantly calming her. “God, when you touch me, Claire,” she whispered helplessly.

They stood in the dark kitchen. The only sound was their breathing and hearts pounding. Claire rested her forehead on Tess’s chin and sighed deeply. “I need you, Tess. God, I’m constantly thinking about you touching me,” she whispered as Tess lowered her head and kissed her neck, her warm lips searing the soft skin. Her tongue lightly bathed the silky skin, causing gooseflesh to pop out all over Claire.

“I can’t take much more of this,” she whimpered as Tess unbuttoned the first few buttons of her blouse. She pulled it back and lowered her head, lightly kissing the top of her breast. Tess groaned as she tasted the soft flesh, sending a shiver through both women. Claire ran her fingers through the blond hair as Tess reached in and slipped Claire’s breast out of her bra. Claire bit at her lip to avoid crying out as Tess sucked hungrily, her teeth gently pulling the tender flesh into her mouth. Claire flinched, knowing Tess would leave a mark; she couldn’t care less. She held the damp head in place, silently begging her to continue.

Claire pulled her head back as the playful nip got too playful. Tess was panting as Claire held her face between her hands. “Leaving your mark, Miss Rawlins?”

A look of pure want and desire filled the crystal blue eyes. “You’re mine, Claire Redmond,” Tess growled sensually. She reached in and palmed the heaving breasts; Claire shivered. “Say it. Tell me, Claire,” Tess nearly begged. “Please…”

“I’m yours, Tess. God knows I am,” she whispered breathlessly.

Tess lay naked in bed, her hands behind her head, staring at the ceiling. The humid night breeze that blew through the curtains did nothing to cool her overheated body. Something definitely had to be done. She needed Claire, wanted her in her bed every night. The thought of Claire down the hall from her drove her crazy. She growled lowly, pulled the pillow over her head, and let out a muffled frustrated scream.

Chapter 19

It was time for the Fourth of July Rodeo in
Silverhill
. The
Rawlinses
packed up the station wagon and hauled the trailer, which housed Jack’s black stallion.

“I don’t know why you had to bring Jack’s horse,” Claire said as they pulled into
Silverhill
.

“He’s proud of Zeus. Let Jack show him off a little,” Tess said.

Silverhill
was buzzing. The crowd of people milled through the one-street town. “Holy cow! I didn’t know
Silverhill
had this many people,” Jack exclaimed as Jed steered the wagon by the rodeo stands.

“There are people from all over the county. Even tourists who have never seen a rodeo,” Jed said and parked the car.

Tess agreed. There were tons of people taking their vacations, wanting to get a glimpse of what was left of the Old West. Then it started again, that nagging thing running around in her mind. Time after time, she’d get an idea and couldn’t quite put it together. She had much too much on her mind right now with the impending cattle drive.