Austin set her down. Reaching up to cup her face, he replied softly, “Hey, kid, I’m sorry — I forgot you’re a young lady now.” A mischievous grin lit his face. “In spite of you hitting me in such an unladylike manner.”
She leaned her face into his work-worn hand and smiled, appreciating his attempt to ease her anxiety. Reaching up, she took his hand in hers, then stepped back, shaking off her dismay. “You grabbed me so fast I didn’t have an opportunity to look at you. My, my,” she admired his lean, tanned face, bright brown eyes and laughing mouth. “I’ll just bet the girls in White Oaks line up for a shot at you. Don’t they?”
“Why, Kara, stop!” He feigned embarrassment. “You might make me blush.”
Women had been throwing themselves at Austin since he was old enough to notice them.
She cuffed him on the arm, her good mood returning. Grabbing his hand in both of hers, she pulled him towards the house. Alicia joined them, taking Austin’s other arm. Leaning in, Kara whispered conspiratorially, “Wait till you meet Papa’s new partner, he’s been here all of one day, and already he has grandiose ideas about how to run a ranch.”
• • •
Running a ranch was the furthest thing from Hawke’s mind at that moment. A surge of jealousy and possessiveness raged through him as he watched Kara and the Roberts’ son hug and play, and then walk hand in hand. He didn’t know where these emotions were coming from. I’m not here looking for any type of romantic involvement, he had to remind himself once again. The last thing he needed or wanted was an emotional entanglement … especially from this particular female. But then why do I want to pound Roberts into the ground for touching what is mine?
Mine? The last thought floored him. She wasn’t his. He didn’t even know her.
Kara, Austin, and Alicia had reached the top of the porch where Hawke stood. Austin greeted his father and Case, and turned to Alec and Hawke for introductions.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. MacCairn, Mr. Pryce,” Austin smiled, shaking hands with the two men.
Austin turned to speak to his father and Case about the schedule for gathering and shipping the spring calves.
Kara stood quietly between Austin and Hawke, listening to the discussion, adding her opinion when necessary, still holding hands with Austin, unaware of the effect it was having on Hawke.
Unable to resist the urge any longer, Hawke leaned down to Kara.
“So tell me, lass,” his deep voice rumbled softly, “how well acquainted are you with the young Mr. Roberts?” He felt a small amount of satisfaction as her eyes flashed angrily in his direction and a delicate blush stole along her cheeks. If looks were flame, he’d be ash.
Smiling brightly at him, she hissed between clenched teeth, “Better than I’ll ever be acquainted with you. I guarantee.”
Hawke chuckled, leaned closer to her ear. “I wouldn’t be making any bets on that, lass.” He straightened up.
• • •
Stoneham’s warm breath and soft burr sent shivers down Kara’s spine. Turning in surprise at his words, she saw the merriment dancing in his silvery eyes, and flushed clear to her toes. The man was insufferable. How dare he be so forward right in front of her father? Looking around, she was relieved to see no one else had been aware of the exchange. Turning back, she saw a look of aggravation as his gray eyes darkened, seeing her and Austin’s still joined hands.
Well, if this bothers him, she smiled smugly to herself, I think I’ll have to gig his temper a little more. She slid up closer to Austin, tugging on his hand to gain his attention, and asked him to find her later so they could spend more time together … alone. She was going to make sure she continued to irritate the Scottish giant. Maybe it would be enough to make him stay away from her. Smiling into stormy gray eyes, she turned to Alicia, congratulating herself on winning that round as they walked away.
Chapter 8
At dinner, Kara was seated next to Austin and across the table from Hawke. Alec and Alicia were seated on the same side with Hawke, engrossed in each other. Hawke had been seated next to Mrs. Roberts, a charming woman, a more mature and still quite attractive version of her daughter. A peal of silvery laughter drew his attention back across the table to Austin and Kara. She sparkled in a pale green gown, her hair gathered loosely in a knot on her head with tendrils of curls lying lightly on her shoulders. It seemed the two were inseparable, and it was beginning to grate on Hawke’s nerves. Every time he looked at her, she made a point of turning her considerable charm on the man seated next to her. Knowing it was on purpose didn’t make it easier to watch.
Well, if she thought her obvious attempts were going to get to him, she was wrong. He had seen these games played by the best flirts in the drawing rooms of London. This battleground he was familiar with. He was not here to get involved in her games or in her life, he reminded himself again. He was here for business reasons only.
Hawke decided to draw the other man into conversation. “Tell me, Austin. Alec and I were discussing the various game available out here. Perhaps you’d be willing later in the summer to guide us on a hunt?”
“You bet,” Austin replied eagerly “Great hunting out here. Be glad to take you up into the forest. The elk and mule deer are huge. It’s quite a challenge tracking them in the mountains. Or if you prefer, we can stay down here and hunt the pronghorn.”
Alec turned from Alicia, hearing his favorite subject. “I’ve heard these elk you have out here are something to see. Antlers spread wider than a man can spread his arms.” Anticipation gleamed in his eyes. “Hard to believe.”
“Oh, believe it.” Austin nodded, clearly enjoying both the topic and the audience. “I’ve seen an old bull up in the higher meadows with a rack so big the tips curve back and almost touch his rump. I generally don’t hunt them. Meat’s too tough.”
“Austin.” Alicia glared at her brother. “Do you have to talk about hunting at the table? I know you can go on for hours, but,” she pleaded, “don’t.”
“My pardon … Brat.”
Kara announced the ladies should go to the patio and let the men have drinks, cigars and discuss business or hunting.
• • •
A short while later the men joined them outside. A fire was lit in the large fireplace at the end of the patio even though the evening was warm. The young people began discussing the fiesta to be held the middle of June, while Case and the Roberts chose to return to the house and retire for the evening. Hawke watched the women animatedly discuss what they’d wear to the big dance in town. By that time, Austin explained to Hawke and Alec, the branding would be finished, the stock moved to the summer pastures and the pace on the ranch would slow, allowing more free time for entertainments.
Watching her movements, Hawke still couldn’t picture this completely feminine creature working alongside men. It must be a joke, and soon they would admit she didn’t do anything more strenuous than work in the garden or with the orphan animals he had heard about.
“Hey, kid.” Austin smiled. “You’re saving the first dance for me, right?”
“You want to dance with me? Why, Austin, I’m flattered. Last I heard the only female you were interested in dancing with was Sandy Burleson. In fact, she was quite disappointed you weren’t here last night, right, Alicia?”
“Oh, definitely disappointed,” giggled Alicia.
Austin shifted uneasily, obviously embarrassed as Kara told the story to the other men.
Sandy, a rather plain girl, had adored Austin for ages. She practically clung to his shirttails every time he was in town. Austin had been kind to her when she had been younger and other children had teased her. From then on, he was her hero.
“I’m sure Sandy will already have your name all over her dance card,” Alicia teased her brother.
“Behave yourself, brat,” he leveled a warning gaz
e at his sister, lowering his voice. “Or maybe I’ll tell that Scot you’re eyeing like he’s a prime side of beef a few tidbits about you.”
Hawke laughed watching the interplay between brother and sister. It reminded him of Bethany before … .
Sadness and anger washed over him. She no longer teased or laughed and her eyes were dead. She spent her days closed up in the house refusing to talk to anyone. Heart-rending sobs could be heard coming from her room. This was why he’d decided to track Tompkins down. He hoped to hear from the detectives shortly. He must remember to talk to Alec about their next moves to find the sorry bastard and make him pay. He wished he and his sister could find the warmth and love they’d once shared, as Austin and Alicia did now.
• • •
Kara sat quietly, watching the surge of emotions cross Hawke’s face. It was fascinating to see his face change so quickly from relaxed and smiling to what … anger, sadness, regret? What could possibly have upset him? Nothing had been said to him, no insults she could detect. Could it be because she and Alicia teased Austin? No. That was unlikely. Her curiosity increased seeing MacCairn and Hawke engage in an intense conversation.
What were they up to? If it had anything to do with the ranch, she wanted to know. Suspicions about their reason for investing in the ranch flared. She needed to find out what the devil those two were up to. She was sure it was no good.
Looking at the incredibly handsome man standing with his friend, she decided there probably wasn’t too much difference between him and the devil.
• • •
Consuelo had put Kara and Alicia to work doing an inventory of supplies that morning. Dusting off her skirts as she walked from the cool, dark storeroom into the bright light of day, Kara looked up and saw her father, Austin, his father, and the English … no, Scots — she’d been corrected by Mr. MacCairn the evening before — in the corral.
Beyond the men were a large blood bay and a dapple-gray. Both horses were gorgeous, but the gray caught her eye. Even from where she stood, she could see his enormous size and the beautiful balance of muscle under his gleaming coat. She started to move towards the gathering for a closer look when she saw Lord Stoneham walk up to the horse and the way the animal thrust his muzzle into his master’s chest. She felt an unfamiliar tightening watching the man laugh and give the horse a friendly pat.
“So, which do you find more fascinating,” Alicia teased, looking at the men in the corral. “Mr. Pryce or his horse?”
Kara stopped. “Why, the horse, naturally. Would you have thought otherwise?”
Laughing, Alicia hustled her off to the house where more chores waited.
• • •
Kara made sure to stay out of her father and his partners’ way all the next day. She had yet to decide the best way to handle his lordship without upsetting her father. She managed to be quiet at supper and tried not to be interested in his discussion of improved breeding techniques and ideas he had feeding cattle over the winter. Despite her best intentions, her curiosity got the better of her.
“You think creating new breeds of cattle will be the way to not only improve the health of the animal, but also the amount of meat each one will yield?” she asked.
“It will take several years of careful breeding and record-keeping to be sure, but yes, I truly believe this will be what sustains the cattle-growing industry. The blizzards of the eighties proved that many of the traditional methods of ranching needed changing. I’m trying to expand on those theories.”
“You’re right there, Hawke,” Case leaned forward stabbing the air with his finger. “You read about those days … I lived through them. Thousands of cattle starving to death in vicious snow and ice storms, not only in Texas, Oklahoma, and the states to the north of us, but even here. The cold was bitter. It reminded me of the hard winters back east. Ranchers thought with open range grazing and the hardiness of the longhorn, they would make it through.” Sadness tinted his voice. “But so many were wiped out. A lot of good cattlemen died trying to save their herds those winters.” He caught Kara’s eye. “You listen to him. This young man has the right of it. There is a lot we can learn.”
Mr. Roberts and Austin were nodding their heads in agreement while Hawke leaned back in his chair, basking in Case’s good opinion. The conversation continued amongst the men about methods and other ideas they had read or heard of, and what benefits they might see from them.
Alicia and her mother excused themselves to finish their packing. Alicia leaned over to get Kara’s attention to help them and leave the men to their talk.
She could learn from him? On one level Kara knew her father was right, but it was like rubbing the fur the wrong way on a cat for her to admit it to that … that man.
Looking up, she knew Hawke could see the consternation on her face and was amused by it. Sputtering, she shoved back her chair and left the table, unaware of the silvery eyes following the graceful sway of her skirts as she left the room.
Chapter 9
Kara was up early, dressed once again in her work clothes. She walked into the kitchen, grabbing a roll from the plate on the counter. “Consuelo, could you have some lunch ready for me? I need to get back out to the branding pens today. We’re almost ready to move the cattle up to the summer pasture.”
“Mija, have you told your papa you were going to work today?” Consuelo wiped her hands on a cloth tucked into the waistband of her apron and walked over to Kara with a plate of eggs and tortillas. “I think he wanted you to show Senor Stoneham and Senor MacCairn around the ranch today. Such men, mija, no?” Consuelo smiled. “They are so polite and told me how much they enjoyed my food. Besides, aren’t you going to see the Roberts off?”
She was torn. The work needed to be done, but she really wanted to find out what secret the two men were keeping.
The ranch was more important. She decided to put off her sleuthing plans for a few days.
“No, Consuelo, I’ve said goodbye to the Roberts. As for my father’s partner, I don’t think I will spend time with them today. If my father wants them entertained,” her chin tilted up, “he’ll have to do it himself. Could you have my food ready, please?” She quickly dismissed the men from her mind. “I need to get my hat and I’ll be right back.”
Turning, she went out onto the patio and up the outside staircase to avoid running into her father. As luck would have it, it wasn’t her father she ran into, but a solid wall of flesh in a crisply ironed shirt. She jerked her head up looking into Alec’s smiling face.
“Good morning Miss Jonston,” Alec said, grasping her arms to steady her, setting her back from him. She felt a blush warm her skin as Alecs’ gaze traveled from the ground up followed by a soft whistle. Mumbling an apology she scooted by him and rushed up the stairs.
Kara made it to the barn without running into anyone else. She noticed the big gray stallion in the stall across from her horse.
“You are a beauty,” she said softly, slowly approaching the big horse, “and so big. You’re hands taller than Gally. Here now, I won’t hurt you,” she whispered, seeing the flared nostrils and large head toss up and down nervously. Reaching up, she stroked the velvety muzzle, “I’d sure like to give you a try.” She admired the long, strong legs and deep chest. “Bet it’d be like flying.”
“I’m sure the pleasure would be all his.”
Kara jumped hearing the deep smooth voice coming from behind the big animal.
“Titan would be more than happy to have you on his back.” Hawke smiled, appearing at the rear of the stall. Walking toward her, he slapped the horse affectionately on the neck. She noticed how the big horse turned to nuzzle his master. “I must warn you, though,” he continued as he combed the horses’ mane, “he’s not trained to a lady’s sidesaddle.”
She stopped stroking Titan’s nose.
“It might surprise yo
u, Mr. Stoneham,” she said, her voice tight, “I’m not trained for ladies’ sidesaddles either.”
Seeing an eyebrow raised in question, she added, “Most women out here don’t ride sidesaddle. It’s a blasted nuisance … can’t get any work done and it’s dangerous. No, most women ride astride, ‘just like a man’.”
Hawke approached the stall door and she felt a flutter along her nerves and wondered at the knot in her stomach.
• • •
Kara stepped back as he reached the door and Hawke got his first good look at what she was wearing.
Stopping midstride, he let his eyes roam from her head to her toes. A part of his brain once again noted how delicate she seemed. The rest of his brain and his body, however, focused on the sight of her long legs wrapped in snug denim trousers and the man’s shirt tucked into the waist.
Thankful he was still behind the stall door, so she was unaware of the physical evidence of his reaction to her, he murmured, “You certainly add a new dimension to men’s clothing.”
He fought the desire firing through his veins. “I don’t think I’ll ever look at denim the same.” His eyes traveled up her body and he smiled slowly.
Her face went up in flame.
“You insufferable, arrogant ass! Just who do you think you are, talking to me like I’m some … some — ” The horses began tossing their heads nervously as her voice got louder. “You might talk to people like that back where you come from. But mister,” she continued, almost shouting, her hands gripping the top of the stall door, her knuckles white, “not here — not to me. And to think, I was about to reconsider my opinion of you. Silly me.”
He saw the fury sparking in those incredible blue eyes. She was standing so close he could feel the heat radiating from her body.
She backed up a few steps. “I thought maybe a man whose horse liked him couldn’t be all bad, but you know what?” her voice softened. “I was wrong.”
Diane R. Jewkes Page 6
