Tall, Dark, and Texan (13 page)

Roak stared at him as if he smelled a trap.

Teagen continued, “Do you need me to saddle your horse?”

“I can saddle my own damn horse.” Roak took a step to the door. “Tell Martha thanks for the supper.”

Sage frowned at Teagen. She might have been arguing with Roak, but she didn’t approve of Teagen almost kicking him out.

“I’ll see you out.” She followed Roak.

Teagen sat down, trying to understand why, if the boy was such a bother to Sage, she cared one way or the other that he practically asked Roak to leave.

Jessie came down the back stairs and looked around the empty room.

Teagen didn’t like the way she tilted her head as if already assuming he’d done something that ran everyone off.

“Where . . . ?”

Teagen acted like he was more interested in his coffee than her. “Martha’s with the girls in the main room. Sage is walking Roak out like the boy might get lost between here and the barn.”

Suddenly Jessie laughed, and her laughter lightened his mood. He smiled up at her. She was doing it again, reading him like a book.

She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down before she asked, “Do we need to work on your conversation skills, Teagen?”

“Probably.” He shrugged. If anyone else in the house had even suggested such a thing, he would have snapped their heads off, but not Jessie. He could talk to her, even joke with her.

She placed her hand on his arm. “It’s been a long day.”

He agreed. “And it’s not sunset yet.” He noticed the redness of her knuckles and without a word reached for the bottle of lotion and began rubbing it into her chapped skin.

She didn’t pull away but rested her small hand in his. Neither of them spoke until he finished and looked up.

“After I put the girls down tonight,” she whispered, “would you take me back up to look at the stars?”

“If you want to go.” He didn’t need her answer. He could see it in her brown eyes.

Rose darted through the kitchen. “Where’s Jeanie-Peanie?”

“Who?” Jessie pulled her hand away from Teagen.

“The yellow cat. She’s always running away. I think she wants to go to California.”

Rose was gone before they could ask more.

Teagen studied Jessie. He started to say that the cat could go, but he didn’t want to talk about California, because when he did, he’d have to talk about Jessie and the girls leaving.

Emily hurried into the room and dashed past them without a word. Next came Bethie, clapping her hands as she waddled. Before she could cross the room to follow her sisters, they circled around the mud room and were heading back the way they came. They were out of sight by the time Bethie could stop her forward motion and follow.

Jessie laughed. “Are you sure you don’t mind us staying?”

“I don’t mind at all.” He stood and reached for his hat. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”

She smiled. “I’ll be waiting.”

DYING SUNLIGHT TURNED THE HORIZON RED, AND the wind tasted of rain as Sage followed Drummond to the barn. He was long and lean and would be dangerous in a few years with his good looks and fiery attitude. If he hired out as a gun, he’d be the kind of man Sage wouldn’t speak to on the street. The kind that mothers pulled their children inside when he passed. But not now. Today he was just a kid trying to do what was right.

Putting Drum in the same room with Teagen was like caging a cougar cub with a bear. She should have known better than to ask the boy to dinner. To Teagen he’d always be a horse thief, even if he had saved Tobin’s life last year.

Too bad Tobin wasn’t here to stand guard between the two of them. She’d done a lousy job, getting into an argument with Drum. In truth, she admired the kid for making more of himself than most of the offspring from the outlaw camp. Drum had cleaned up. His clothes were well made and his gun as good in quality as any Ranger strapped on. He’d worked, at least long enough to buy the clothes and a weapon. And, to her surprise, he’d trained Satan beautifully, allowing the horse’s spirit to remain wild and free.

“Where you headed?” she asked as Drum checked the cinches on Satan.

“North,” he answered without looking at her. “I’m just here for a few days, a week at the most. Talk is that the forts to the north are in trouble. I might sign on as scout. There’s fairly good money in scouting if you can stay alive.”

Sage nodded. “Staying alive sounds good.” She remembered how much of a boy he’d been last year when Teagen had tied him up in the barn. Now, in a little over a year, he seemed more a man. She’d have to stop thinking of him as a kid. “Thanks for letting me ride Satan.” Stroking the big stallion’s neck, she added, “He’s a great horse, and you were right; a ride was exactly what I needed.”

Drum twisted the reins in his hand. “You’re not really going to start seeing that preacher, are you, Sage?”

“Why?” She looked up at him. In his black clothes and hat he was already old enough to frighten some people. “You planning to shoot him if I do?”

“I was thinking about it.”

Sage laughed and bumped her shoulder against his. “You don’t have to worry. I don’t think he’ll speak to me again. Besides, I’ve told you before: I buried the only man I’ll ever love on that rise over there.” She looked in the direction of her parents’ graves, focusing on the Ranger’s headstone just beyond. He belonged there because, if he’d lived, they would have been buried on the spot together after years of marriage. “His eyes promised me forever, and he died on me.”

“Not every man is gonna die on you, Sage.”

“How do you know?”

“I wouldn’t.” Drum brushed her cheek with his knuckles.

Sage jerked away. “You’re not old enough to make such a statement. You, Drummond Roak, are already well on the way to living by the gun. Look at the way you wear that weapon, hung low like you’ll need to draw it fast. You’ll be lucky to stay alive long enough to finish growing.”

Anger finally flashed in his eyes. “I’m almost seventeen, Sage. I think I’ve finished growing. But
you’re
turning into a hard old maid. When I come back, you’ll probably be pulling your hair back in a bun and wearing those ugly blue dresses Martha always wears. In five years there’ll be no telling the two of you apart.”

“Well then, maybe I’ll start stepping out with the preacher. Since I’m already long in the tooth, I may not want to let him slip by.”

“He’s not man enough for you.” Drum reached for the saddle horn, pinning her between him and the horse. “One of these days you’ll figure it out.”

Sage jumped toward Drum as Satan danced restlessly. “Good-bye, Drum.”

He twisted and circled one arm around her waist before she could act. With an arm far stronger than she’d thought possible, he pulled her against him and lowered his mouth to hers.

After a quick, hard kiss, he said, “Good night, Sage.”

Before she could think of the stream of swear words she needed, he swung onto Satan and rode full-out toward the bridge. The Apache between the ranch and the bridge would let him pass. They might not know him, but they knew horses. If he rode a McMurray mount, he must be trusted.

Sage walked back to the house, trying to wipe the feel of him off her mouth and swearing that if Drummond Roak ever tried that again, she’d shoot him. He might have grown this past year, but he was as wild as ever. She’d say he was raised by coyotes, but that would show little respect for coyotes.

When she reached the porch, she glanced toward the bridge. If he headed north she’d probably never see him again. The settlers outside the fort were having a hard time staying alive.

She laughed suddenly. If he stayed around her, she’d probably have to kill him. Who knows? Maybe the north country would be healthier for him.

TEAGEN TILTED BACK IN HIS CHAIR AND WATCHED THE morning circus. It was hard to believe Jessie and the girls had been on the ranch three weeks. He enjoyed the racket of breakfast and the quiet talks in the evening. He’d miss them when the relatives showed up from California.

This morning, Bethie was busy painting her oatmeal into the table. Emily sat waiting by the door with her hat in her hand, because she knew as soon as Teagen finished his coffee, he’d let her ride Glory. And Rose stared at him with her elbows propped on the table, asking her usual morning questions.

“Do you think it’s going to rain, Mister?”

“Nope,” Teagen answered the same question he’d answered for over a week. The rain worried Rose because Martha told her that chickens were too dumb to come in out of it. Martha had said they just stand watching the rain until they drown.

“Would you help me build a little porch onto the chicken coop?”

Before Teagen could answer, Sage walked into the room. “I’ll help you when I get back. I’ve got to ride over to the east pasture and check on a few mares first. Should be back in an hour or so.” Sage grabbed a biscuit and glanced at Emily. “You want to ride over with me, Em?”

Silence.

Emily stared, her blue eyes full of hope, at her mother.

Jessie turned from the sink and looked not at her daughter but at Teagen.

He knew what she wanted. She wanted him to answer, because if she said a word, it would be no. They’d talked about it a few nights ago, and she’d told him she was always afraid to let her daughters try anything for fear one would get hurt.

Teagen stood. “Em, you want to go?”

“Yes, sir.” Shy little Emily couldn’t even look him in the face.

“Will you listen to everything Sage tells you to do?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And wear your hat?” The child was so fair she’d probably sunburn through the hat.

“Yes, sir.”

He knelt, hoping she’d look at him, but she didn’t. “Now you’re old enough to ride outside the corral, you should know one of the ranch rules. If trouble comes, or if you hear three shots, ride hard and fast back to the house. It’s easy to find because it’s at the base of a mountain you can see for miles. If anything happens, I want you to remember the rule.”

Sage touched the child’s hair. “Don’t worry, Emily, nothing ever happens around here.”

Emily glanced up at Teagen. “I’ll remember the rule,” she said.

“Then you can go.” Teagen doubted she’d ever need to know the rule, but he didn’t like the idea of her not knowing, just in case.

She looked up, and he saw her rare smile. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Well, come along.” Sage winked at Teagen. “If you’re old enough to ride, you’re old enough to saddle your own horse. Then we’ve got riding to do.”

A few minutes later Teagen stood with Jessie on the porch and watched his sister ride out beside Emily. He leaned close to Jessie. “It’s all right. Sage won’t let anything happen to her. Em has been riding the corral long enough. It’s time.”

Jessie turned and pressed her forehead against his chest. “I know,” she whispered. “I just wish they could stay the same age forever and never grow up.”

He put his arm around her shoulder and thought about how easily she came to him. Every night now after their talks, she’d kiss him on the cheek or hug him lightly. He was growing used to the feel of her near, and he didn’t want to think about her leaving soon. They’d been in his life three weeks, and much as he hated to admit it, he’d miss them when they left.

“How long?” she whispered, and for a moment he thought she was reading his mind; then he realized she was watching the girls ride away.

“An hour, maybe a little longer because Sage is riding so slow.” He dropped his arm from her, letting his fingers slide down her back. She had gained a little weight and didn’t feel so thin. Next time he caught Martha alone, he’d thank her for constantly making all the things Jessie loved. If Jessie ate more than a few bites of something, it usually appeared on the table again.

“We could ride out to the pasture tonight if you like. You’ll see it’s all tall grass. With the full moon it’ll be light enough for you to watch the same horses they’re seeing today.” He thought about adding that even if Em fell off, she wouldn’t be hurt, but he didn’t think he needed to mention the possibility.

“I’d like that.”

Fine, curly hair brushed against his hand a moment before sticky fingers grabbed his thumb. He shifted and lifted Bethie. “I have to go.” Handing the baby to her mother, he added, “I’ll not be back at noon. There’s too much work to do.”

“All right,” Jessie answered. “Sage and I thought we’d take the wagon into town and buy material while the girls are down for a nap.”

He realized he’d never seen her in anything but black. He thought of suggesting she buy something in a color, but somehow that sounded too personal.

He touched the baby’s cheek but looked at Jessie. “Be careful.”

She smiled at him. “Worry more about Martha here alone with the girls. As soon as they are up from their naps, they’ll run her ragged.”

Teagen agreed and stepped off the porch. He rode hard all day, thinking of the evening when he’d take Jessie out to the east pasture. It wasn’t all that special to see, but they’d have an hour alone. He found he enjoyed their time together more each night. Often they talked about the girls. Sometimes they’d argue over a book. Jessie had not only read all of them, she remembered them. Now and then he told her of the problems with the ranch and felt it was almost like writing Eli again. Twice she’d talked about the baby growing inside her. He’d learned more than either of his sisters-in-law had shared about their pregnancy.

Teagen rode the fence line looking for more damage but saw none. Whoever planned to steal the horses had either given up the effort or was biding their time until the Apache left.

Turning his horse toward home a few hours earlier than usual, he told himself that he had work to do in the study before supper, but in truth, he wanted to be back. He wanted to hear about Emily’s ride and inspect Rose’s chicken porch. And, if he were being honest, he’d have to admit that he wanted to see Jessie.