by Carol Cox
When he grinned boyishly at Charles, she saw how the cleft in his chin deepened. An unfamiliar tingling sensation began in her stomach and spread outward in a warm glow. What in the world was she doing, noticing so many details, and why were they affecting her this way? She clasped her hands in front of her, hoping no one would notice they were trembling, and tried to concentrate on the men’s conversation.
“. . .really wasn’t much,” Tom was saying. “Glad I could help out. I was riding in this way to see if there were any jobs open. Are you hiring?”
Charles beamed at him. “If you’re looking for a job, it’s yours. Hank will be laid up for a good while with that broken leg, and if I needed a recommendation, your actions out there tell me all I need to know about your qualifications. Put your gear in the bunkhouse and tell my brother, Jeff, you’ve signed on.” He turned to introduce Lizzie. “This is my daughter,” he began.
Tom Mallory swept his Stetson from his head with a flourish. “I’ve already had the pleasure,” he said. He turned the full force of his dazzling blue eyes on Lizzie and she felt as though she’d been struck by a thunderbolt.
“We’re pleased to have you with us, Mr. Mallory,” she managed.
“I’m honored, Miss,” he replied. Lizzie followed him with her gaze as he shouldered his bedroll and headed toward the bunkhouse.
Inside the bunkhouse, Willie was helping Adam plait reins when Tom strode in. Tom stopped, taking a casual stance in the doorway.
“Where do I put my gear?” he asked.
Adam nodded toward a bunk in the corner. “Over there.” He turned back to his leather work.
Willie dropped his end of the reins and moved ahead of Tom to sweep some tack off the bunk. “Glad to have you on board,” he said, beaming.
Tom smiled in acknowledgment and set his belongings down on the bunk.
“Bert told me what you did out there,” Willie continued. “He said he’d never seen anything like it. I guess it was really something, wasn’t it, Adam?” Adam grunted noncommittally, holding the dangling ends of the reins Willie had dropped.
“It wasn’t much,” Tom responded. “Glad I could help.”
“Wasn’t much! Why, you should hear Bert tell about the way you rode that horse and threw that rope! Where’d you learn that, anyway?”
Tom’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he grinned at Willie. “Oh, I’ve been around a bit, that’s all.”
“I’d sure like to learn how to do that,” Willie hinted.
Tom clapped him on the shoulder and started for the door. “We’ll see what happens. I’d better tend to my horse now and make sure he’s fed.” He strode on out in the direction of the barn.
“Isn’t he something?” Willie’s eyes glowed with delight. “What do you think, Adam? Maybe I can learn some things from him while he’s here. Do you think he’ll have time to teach me?” Without waiting for an answer, he hurried out the door in pursuit of his new-found hero.
Adam exchanged a wry glance with Hank. “So what do you think of your replacement?” Adam asked the older man.
“I didn’t exactly get a good view of all the goings-on,” Hank replied dryly, “being face down in the dirt and all. But it sounds like he’s ‘really something,’ ” he added, mimicking Willie’s unconcealed admiration.
Adam snorted. “Sounds like it, doesn’t it?” He frowned when he saw Hank wince. “How bad’s the leg?”
“Not so bad if I lie still.” Hank shifted slightly on the bed, trying to get comfortable. “Talking helps keep my mind off it some.” He watched Adam toss the unfinished reins down in disgust. “What’s the matter? You look worried. Do you know Mallory from somewhere?”
Adam shook his head, annoyed with himself for not hiding his feelings better. “Nothing’s wrong, Hank. At least, nothing I can put my finger on. I just feel uneasy. I don’t really know why.”
“It wouldn’t have anything to do with him being the big hero instead of you, would it?” Hank chuckled when Adam gave him a hard stare.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Adam demanded.
“Oh, nothing much,” Hank answered with an obviously contrived air of innocence. “Just that it must be awful hard to have them big gray eyes staring at this Mallory fellow instead of you.”
“It’s not like they stare at me all that often,” Adam muttered. He felt a surge of alarm knot up inside his stomach. Just how much had Hank guessed? And if Hank could read his feelings as easily as that, how many other people knew?
“It’s nothing real obvious,” Hank said, as if reading Adam’s mind. “I just happen to be what you’d call observant. I had three brothers, and whenever one of them got love struck, he had the same hangdog expression on his face you have on yours whenever a certain young lady comes into view.”
“You’re imagining things,” Adam said, trying to sound casual. “You better just lie still until the doctor gets here.”
Hank snorted and gave Adam a knowing look, but kept quiet.
Adam walked to the door of the bunkhouse. Fifty yards away, he could see Lizzie seating herself gracefully on the porch swing. He leaned against the door frame, watching her push herself gently back and forth with one dainty foot. His lips curved into a smile. Her hair gleamed like gold in the sunlight, even at this distance.
Adam was too far away to see her eyes, but he was fully aware of their gray depths. When he was a small boy, his father had taken him to the Atlantic Ocean. Adam still remembered the swelling gray waves, exactly the same shade as Lizzie’s eyes. A man could drown in those eyes, he thought. And it wouldn’t be a bad way to go.
A quick movement off to one side caught Adam’s eye and he turned to see Tom Mallory standing at the corner of the corral, staring intently at Lizzie. That’s a hungry look if ever I saw one, Adam thought, his mouth hardening into a thin line. The look of a coyote watching a defenseless rabbit. Or would I resent any good-looking man looking at Lizzie? he wondered, trying to be honest with himself.
Willie wheeled around the corner of the bunkhouse, nearly colliding with Adam. “Tom’s going to teach me to rope,” he announced, skidding to a stop. “Do you want to come, too, Adam? Maybe you can pick up a thing or two.”
Adam clenched his teeth together, heard them grate. “Not today, Willie,” he said through tight lips. “I’ve spent too much time working on those reins already. I’m heading out.”
He turned on his heel and went to saddle his horse.
five
Three days later, Adam stood before the door of Charles Bradley’s office. He took a deep breath to calm himself, realizing he was on edge after several nights with little sleep.
The advent of Tom Mallory at the Double B had been met with mixed responses. Charles and Jeff both appeared to be relieved to have a capable hand turn up just as Hank was injured, and seemed pleased with Tom’s ability. Hank watched Tom and Adam carefully in the bunkhouse, but didn’t share his thoughts with anyone, as far as Adam knew.
Willie had a full-fledged case of hero worship, spending as much time with Tom as he could manage, and turning every conversation into a discussion of what Tom had said or done that day and what Willie had learned from him.
And Lizzie. . . Adam’s eyes clouded, remembering how often she had shown up unexpectedly around the corrals the last few days. When Tom hadn’t been there, she had sighed and gotten ready for her daily ride without further dallying. Adam was aware that in all the years he had been at the Double B, Lizzie had never shown the slightest interest in any particular man.
Adam shook his head helplessly. His own reaction had been to ignore the feelings churning inside him during the day, and spend the night hours in a futile effort to sort out his thoughts. Tom Mallory awoke a response in him he had never experienced before. There was, as he had told Hank, no specific thing he could point to, nothing he could pin down. He just didn’t trust the man. Or was it simply a case of out-and-out jealousy? He honestly didn’t know. Maybe it was his own perceptions he didn’t t
rust.
All this speculation didn’t get the job done, he knew. He had set his course and he needed to follow it. He raised his hand and knocked on the heavy door.
“Come in,” Charles called.
Pushing the door open, Adam saw both Charles and Jeff seated at the massive oak desk, studying a map of the Double B and the surrounding area.
“Do you have a minute?” Adam asked.
“We can always make time for you,” Charles answered with a smile.
Jeff stood and stretched. “It’s about time someone rescued me. I was stiffening up, sitting and listening to all the plans my brother has,” he said, grinning. “Do you want to talk to both of us, or just Charles?”
“Both of you, if you have the time,” Adam said. “I have some ideas, and I’d like to get your reactions, too.”
“More plans, huh?” Jeff shook his head in mock despair. “Looks like I’m outnumbered today.”
Adam grinned, relaxing for the first time in days. Both Bradley brothers were men he respected, and he valued the advice they’d given him in the past. He felt he’d earned a measure of respect from them in the years he had worked for them.
“I’m glad you have that map out,” he began. “I wanted to ask your opinion on a piece of property.”
“Really?” Charles raised his eyebrows in pleased surprise. “You’re ready to get started on your own place?”
“That’s what you get for being gone from the ranch so much,” Jeff said, teasing his brother. “Adam’s made a lot of progress over the last few months.”
Adam felt a warm glow of pleasure. To have the support of these two men meant a great deal to him. He walked over to the desk and pointed to an area on the map. “I know you’re familiar with the Blair place,” he said, tracing the property adjacent to the Double B with a work-hardened finger.
“Of course,” Charles replied. “Wait a minute, is old Thad putting it up for sale?”
Adam nodded. “He says he’s getting along in years and he wants to take what he’s made and spend the time he has left with his sister in Denver. Personally, I think he wants company more than anything.”
“Ranching isn’t an easy way to make a living,” Charles agreed, “and it’s got to be hard not to have a family to share both the good and the bad times with.
“But,” he continued, his eyes sparkling, “you’re just a young fellow getting started. By the time you get the place built up a little, you ought to be the most eligible bachelor in these parts.” He chuckled as Adam’s face reddened. “He’s sure come a long way from that scrawny kid who came out of nowhere all those years ago, hasn’t he, Jeff?”
“I’ll say,” his brother agreed, settling himself on a corner of the desk. “You looked like a strong wind would blow you away back then. How long has it been, anyway? Eight years? Ten?”
“Ten years next spring,” Adam confirmed. “I was only fifteen, and as wet behind the ears as any newborn foal. The only things I knew were how to work with horses and that I wanted to see the West.”
“It took a lot of gumption, a youngster coming out on his own like that, with no family to fall back on,” Jeff said.
“Wasn’t much family left,” Adam reminded him. “My folks were gone, and the owner of the horse place where my dad had been head trainer didn’t have any use for a young pup like me. My older sister had married, and there wasn’t much reason for me to stay around. All I ever wanted to do was have my own place where I could raise some good stock. Now it looks like that’s going to happen, but it wouldn’t have without your help.”
“Don’t take credit away from yourself,” Charles said. “You’ve worked hard for us here, and you’ve earned every bit of what you have.”
“Not everyone would have been willing for me to build my own corrals on their range and take time off to catch wild horses to break and sell.”
“Which you’ve turned into some of the finest stock in the territory, and which we’re able to buy at a cut rate,” Charles put in with a smile.
“If I can interrupt the meeting of this mutual admiration society,” Jeff said, “what do you say we fine, noble souls listen to whatever it is this upstanding young fellow has to say?”
Charles laughed out loud, and Adam grinned self-consciously. It wasn’t often he opened himself up to others this way, and he hoped he hadn’t overstepped any boundaries. He enjoyed the good-natured banter between the brothers and appreciated them treating him as an equal.
Adam directed their attention to the map once again, telling them the asking price of the property he wanted to buy and outlining his plans to set up his own horse ranch. He pointed out future locations of catch pens, breaking pens, and hay barns, his voice growing increasingly animated.
“So what do you think?” he asked at length. “Is this as good a proposition as I think it is, or have I just talked myself into something because I want it so much?”
The two brothers were silent for a moment. “Let’s hear from Jeff first,” Charles suggested.
Jeff cleared his throat. “The price is fair, so if you’ve got enough saved up, that’s not a problem. The location is prime and your ideas for setting things up sound like you’ve put a lot of thought into them.” Adam nodded in wholehearted agreement. No one else knew how many hours he had spent planning the operation down to the last detail.
“To be honest, I can’t see a thing wrong with it,” Jeff concluded. “What about you, Charles?”
“I’d have to agree,” his brother said. “For what you’re planning, I can’t think of any place around here that would be more suitable. Everything about it sounds ideal. I think you’re getting yourself a setup with a lot of potential, Adam. Congratulations.”
Adam’s shoulders slumped in relief. He’d thought long and hard about taking this step and had hoped he’d covered all the angles. Hearing such enthusiastic support from the Bradleys confirmed that his ideas were sound. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, facing the idea that soon he’d be his own boss, running his own spread.
Charles heard his sigh and chuckled. “Need a little fresh air? Let’s move on out to the porch.
“You know,” he continued when they were positioned comfortably against the porch railing, enjoying the sweet summer air, “the location is ideal in more ways than one.”
Adam looked at him with a questioning frown.
“It borders the Double B,” Charles explained, “which means you’ll still be close by. It’s selfish of me, I guess, but I’d hate to see you move out of the area. You’re practically part of the family, you know.”
Adam shifted uncomfortably, hoping Charles couldn’t read his mind as well as Hank had.
“Last time I was over at the Blair place,” Jeff said thoughtfully, “the buildings all looked like they were in pretty fair shape. Have you taken a good look at them?”
“I went over all of them,” Adam said. “Everything’s solid—the house, barn, outbuildings, corrals. Old Thad has really done a good job of keeping the place up. The only thing I’d change,” he said, his eyes focusing on a point in the distance, “is the house. It’s a little on the small side. I thought I’d enlarge it pretty soon, or maybe build a new one.”
The brothers exchanged curious glances. “I remember Thad’s house pretty well,” Charles said. “It’s no mansion, but it seems to me there was plenty of room for one person.” He nudged Adam with his elbow and asked, “Do you have plans we don’t know about?”
Adam hated the way he turned a bright red when he was flustered, and he could tell by the way the heat flushed over his face that he was doing it right now. The gleeful grins of the brothers confirmed it.
“It was just a thought,” he muttered. “Nothing to get excited about.”
The front door closed and all three men turned their heads to see Lizzie heading toward the porch steps, dressed for her ride. Her lustrous hair was caught in a braid that hung down her back, and Adam knew that if she came closer, he’d catch the scent o
f the rose water she always wore.
“Hello, Papa. Hello, Uncle Jeff,” she called brightly. The two men voiced their greetings.
“Afternoon, Lizzie.” Adam tipped his hat as he spoke.
She gave him a brief smile and a nod before she descended the steps.
Adam watched her walk away, noting her free, swinging gait and the sway of her heavy braid. He was so absorbed that he didn’t notice Jeff’s speculative glance, didn’t see the slow grin that spread across his face.
As Lizzie neared the barn, Tom Mallory appeared in the doorway. Adam watched as she looked up, apparently startled to see him, and spoke. He saw Tom flash a smile at her and move aside so she could enter the barn, then turn and follow her inside.
Adam knew his jealousy of Tom Mallory was unreasonable. He didn’t have any outward claim to Lizzie, only the inner commitment of his heart. He’d never spoken of his feelings for Lizzie to her or anyone else; he couldn’t, until he had a home to offer her—a home far better than a mere cowhand could afford. That, however, didn’t prevent the feeling that a strong hand had reached into his stomach and given it a twist. He mumbled an excuse to the Bradleys and strode to the bunkhouse before they could see his dark expression.
❧
Lizzie gave a little jump when Tom’s lean frame appeared, blocking the doorway to the barn. Flustered, she gave a little laugh, hoping to cover her embarrassment.
Tom’s bright blue gaze seemed to shoot right through her, and if that wasn’t enough to unnerve her, he followed it up with a smile that seemed to be meant just for her. He moved aside just enough for her to pass, but not so far that she couldn’t feel the spark that passed between them. Instead of going on out to the corral as she expected, he turned and followed her inside.
Lizzie, who had spent much of her life in that very barn, looked around her as though at a totally unfamiliar place. She pressed a hand against her stomach, trying to calm the fluttering that had begun when she walked past Tom. Glancing nervously in his direction, she saw he still stood there, watching her with an enigmatic smile.
