by Kylie Brant
“Sleepwalking, Miss Scott?” His tone was caustic.
She strove to respond evenly. “Just getting ready to call it a night. You seem to have been working late too.”
Jackson closed his eyes briefly, remembering the events of the day. “You could say that,” he murmured. His hands seemed to have a life of their own, sliding down her arms and back up again in an unconscious caress.
Pinpoints of pleasure radiated through Kaly from his careless gesture, and she jerked away as if she’d been scalded.
His eyes opened and she thwarted his biting question by mumbling, “Good night,” and scurrying back to her room, leaving him staring after her reflectively.
Kaly slipped into bed thankfully. She’d been shaken anew by the sensations his touch so easily wrought, and it was a bad sign indeed. Despite Susan’s preaching, Kaly knew exactly what type of man was best for her, and when she was again ready to let one into her life, he wouldn’t be an oversize man of steel used to wielding power and giving orders. Next time she would choose a man who would cherish her independence, not trample it.
She rolled over and punched her pillow, trying to forget the feel of those hard hands on her.
Chapter 3
Immediately after breakfast the next morning Jeff and Kaly went into the office and worked out a schedule. They agreed that they would work together all morning, with afternoons saved for transcribing notes and Jeff’s actual writing.
He showed her to the small desk that would be hers. She was relieved to note that the computer on it was a model she was familiar with. Then he motioned for her to sit on the overstuffed couch, but remained standing. “As you know, my book details the settling of the Southwest,” he began.
She nodded her understanding, a small smile tilting her mouth as Jeff started to pace in front of her. The good-natured man she was coming to know was lost as the earnest historian took his place.
“You need background information on the tribes living in the Southwest at the time.”
“Exactly,” Jeff affirmed. “I want to provide more detail than most historians do about the disruption this caused to the Indian way of life.”
“Where do you want me to start?” Kaly asked, a little at a loss. Jeff sat down in his desk chair and whirled to face her. “Start anywhere at all.” He picked up a pad and pen and waited expectantly.
She gathered her thoughts for a moment and then took a deep breath. “Several Native American tribes lived in the Southwest long before the first white man came,” she began. “There were the Hopi, Navaho, Apache, Pueblo and the Zuni. The Spaniards were the first whites to come into contact with them...”
The two worked all morning, with Kaly speaking and Jeff asking questions and making notes. They made lists of questions she would research later.
They broke for lunch and then worked until after four, when Carrie interrupted them.
“Jeff, your editor is on the phone. Do you want to take it now?”
Jeff stretched and looked at Kaly. “What do you think? Did we get far enough for one day?”
Kaly picked up her glass of water, which had been refilled frequently, and took a swallow. She jested, “If you keep me talking that much every day, I’ll need new vocal cords after the first week.”
Jeff grinned. “Okay, I can take a hint.” He looked at his wife. “See, Carrie, she’s only here for a day, and already she runs the show.” The three laughed. He continued more seriously, “I’ll take the call now. Why don’t we call it a day, Kaly? This will probably take some time.”
Kaly rose to leave the office.
“Would you like me to show you a little of the ranch?” Carrie offered.
“Not on horseback,” Jeff warned his wife as he picked up the receiver.
Carrie made a face. “We’ll take the walking tour,” she promised him. The two women went outdoors and headed toward the first barn. There were several of the large red structures, all some distance from the house. “Jackson has added these to the ranch since he’s been in charge,” Carrie said.
“How long has he been in charge?”
“He’s always been much more involved with the actual ranching than Jeff,” Carrie explained. “Jackson followed his dad and the men around from the time he could walk. Jeff always had his nose in a book.” She shot Kaly a mischievous glance. “Some things never change.”
“This ranch must have been in your husband’s family for some time,” Kaly surmised.
“Four generations,” Carrie affirmed matter-of-factly. “Jeff and Jackson’s father added quite a bit of land to the original acres. It’s about ten thousand now.”
Kaly stopped and gaped at Carrie, sure she’d misunderstood her. “Acres?”
Carrie nodded. “Great-Grandfather Roberts claimed five thousand acres when he settled here in 1870, and each generation has added more.”
Kaly pondered this information. It was amazing to think of that much land staying in the same family for more than one hundred years. “Is Jeff’s father retired?”
Carrie shook her head sadly. “He died of cancer four years ago. Jeff was still in graduate school. Jackson had already returned from college and had been working with his dad. As their father got sicker, Jackson took over more and more of the management. By the time his father died, Jackson had been making most of the decisions for quite a while. Their mother died shortly after Jeff was born, so it’s just the two of them.”
That explained Jackson’s aura of command, Kaly thought. It was easy to see he was used to giving orders and having them obeyed.
The women approached the barn that Carrie said held the horses. “We keep about twenty horses for the hands, as well as several for pleasure-riding. That used to be one of my favorite pastimes.” She sighed wistfully, then looked thoughtfully at Kaly. “There’s no reason you shouldn’t ride whenever you wish, though. Have you ridden before?”
“I used to ride quite a bit as a child,” Kaly admitted. “I haven’t been on a horse in years, though.”
“I’ll introduce you to Nate. He’s been here forever and takes care of the horses. Whenever you feel like riding, just come out and he’ll help you get a mount ready.”
A grizzled older man approached them from the opposite opening in the barn. He walked with the bandy-legged stride that bespoke many years on the back of a horse. As he drew closer to the women, he swept off his hat and greeted them. “Afternoon, Mrs. Carrie. Hope you ain’t here trying to sweet-talk me into saddling Misty for you.”
Carrie flushed and responded tartly, “Rest assured, Nate, if I’d known what a tattletale you are, I never would have asked in the first place.”
The old man cackled. “I just thought your husband might be a bit interested, seeing’s how he was the one who told me you wouldn’t be riding till after the little one’s born.”
Cheeks still red, Carrie turned to Kaly and introduced her to the cowboy. “Nate’s a real blabbermouth,” she added, “so don’t tell him anything other than the name of the horse you want to ride.”
Nate gave a wide smile. “Nice to meet you, Miss. Mr. Jeff already told me to help you out with a mount if’n you feel like riding.”
Kaly looked longingly at the stable full of horses. “Tell you what, Nate. I’ll be out after supper. Just for a short ride, though,” she warned as the man nodded approvingly. “You’ll have to pair me up with a gentle one. I haven’t ridden for years.”
Carrie piped up with, “She can ride Misty, Nate.” To Kaly she explained, “Misty’s my mare, and she hasn’t been getting much exercise lately. You’d be doing me a favor if you would ride her while you’re here.”
Kaly was touched. She knew most owners were fussy about who rode their horses. “Thank you. I promise I’ll take good care of her.”
The women continued through the barn, stopping periodically to stroke the velvety muzzle of an inquisitive horse. On the other side of the barn was a corral area, where several men were gathered. Carrie walked up to the group and began
introductions.
Kaly’s head spun as she tried to keep the names straight. By the time Carrie finished, there were only four faces she could match names with. Tom was the one who looked like a kid, though he was probably in his twenties. He seemed shy, never looking either woman in the face as he nodded a greeting and ducked his head. Rod was an older, dark-haired man. Nick, the one Carrie introduced as the ranch foreman, intrigued Kaly the most. There was something almost familiar about him, although she was sure she’d never seen him before.
It jolted her to realize he reminded her of Jackson. The two men didn’t resemble each other physically, but Nick had the same brooding air, and eyes that seemed to assess, then look right through a person. He nodded politely to Kaly, but not a flicker of emotion crossed his hard face.
The last man introduced was a different story. Larry Scott was a blond man about her own age with an open, engaging manner. Right away he played on the fact that they shared the same last name.
“I’m sure we’re related. I’ll bet we’re kissing cousins, on my daddy’s side,” he joked, a teasing light in his eyes.
Kaly pretended to consider his words. “I don’t think so,” she said. “I don’t have any other relatives that resemble you.”
Larry grinned easily and replied, “Just as well. Now there won’t be any reason for us not to get married. We should, you know, just for the convenience. You wouldn’t have to change your last name.”
Before she could frame a laughing rejoinder, a sardonic voice spoke behind her. “I doubt the lady would find it convenient to marry someone of your limited means, Larry.”
Kaly whirled around and came face-to-face with Jackson. He scowled down at her surprised features. He had seen the group of men as he rounded the corner of the barn and had hastened over, believing there must be a problem. He’d frozen when he saw the women, and watched in simmering anger as his usually levelheaded hands fell all over themselves to greet the lovely newcomer. After a long day filled with more than the average number of headaches, the scene caused his temper to ignite even more quickly than usual. When he spoke to Kaly, his voice was deadly. “Your job here is to help my brother, not to distract my men. Stay away from them, or you’ll have me to deal with.”
He ignored her openmouthed dismay and looked beyond her, addressing the men in a louder tone. “Seems to me that most of you guys have better things to do than stand around talking, but if you don’t, stick around and I’ll find something for you.” Taking furtive looks at the boss’s implacable expression, the men quickly dispersed, except for Nick, who walked over and began to discuss something with him.
Kaly was speechless. There had been no misinterpreting his remarks this time. They had been blatantly insulting. She walked stiffly back to Carrie’s side and waited until she finished her conversation with Rod.
Jackson glared after Kaly as the two women departed. When he’d noticed her here among his men, he’d seen red. It was the past repeating itself, when his ex-fiancée had interfered with every aspect of ranch work in search of a male audience. He recognized women like Kaly Scott, knew they needed to have men eating out of their hands, needed it like air to breathe. But he wouldn’t let her turn his men into a bunch of hungry saps, making fools of themselves over her.
He turned back to his foreman, who was eyeing him knowingly. “Well, what?” he snapped.
Nick shook his head. He knew better than to tangle with his boss when he was in such a foul temper. “I’ll go give Rod a hand with that truck,” he responded, and left Jackson looking as if he’d like to take a bite out of someone.
Carrie steered Kaly back to the house. “The rest of the barns are for the cattle,” she explained, unaware of Kaly’s agitation. She’d missed Jackson’s words while she’d snuck in for a quick hug and pat of her beloved mare. We can walk over there another time, if you’d like.”
“I’m not sure we should. Jackson didn’t seem pleased to find us near the corral.”
Carrie looked puzzled. “I don’t know what’s the matter with Jack lately. He hasn’t been himself for weeks. It isn’t like him to bite the men’s heads off like he did back there. Something must be bothering him.”
Kaly was beginning to get an idea of exactly what was bothering the rancher. At first she had thought they had angered him by invading his domain at the corral. But after more thought, she decided it was deeper than that. Her very presence at the ranch seemed to infuriate him, although she was mystified as to why he felt that way.
“He hasn’t even been going out much in the evenings, and that’s especially odd. Jackson’s a real ladies’ man,” Carrie informed her. She took a quick look at Kaly’s set expression and hastened to explain, “It’s not that he’s a player or anything. But he was hurt badly a few years ago by a woman he was engaged to. He’s never talked about it—he guards his privacy—but I think the experience really hardened him. He plays the field these days.”
It was no wonder, Kaly thought snidely, still smarting from his earlier remarks. Women obviously didn’t want anything to do with Jackson Roberts once they got to know him!
After dinner that evening Kaly eagerly changed clothes and went to the barn. There she found Nate, who already had Misty saddled.
“Mrs. Carrie phoned from the house and told me you were coming. Misty’s a beauty and gentle as a lamb. You shouldn’t have no trouble with her. You ever lose your way riding her, just give her the reins. She’ll head back here eventually.”
Kaly thanked him and took off from the yard at a gentle trot. The horse’s movements rocked her soothingly, bringing a measure of peace. The stark beauty of the land around her was dazzling in its contrasts, not unlike the man who ranched it. Jackson, too, was compelling to look at, but dangerous to the unheeding.
She could feel her earlier tension returning as she considered the man. She was still stinging from his remarks at the stable. She certainly didn’t want to be at odds with Jeff’s brother all summer; the next few months would be terribly uncomfortable if she was. But the more she thought about it, the safer that seemed. Somehow, she knew even without experiencing it that Jackson Roberts was capable of a formidable, wholly masculine charm, and she was eager to keep that fierce intent turned away from her. She already had proof she was susceptible to his intense sexuality. His most casual touch had shown her that.
She shivered. As unpleasant as it would be, she would prefer to be on the outs with him all summer. Their hostility would serve as a buffer between them. Kaly felt like a coward admitting, even to herself, that she needed such a protective barrier. But something deeply feminine inside her was aware she was emotionally vulnerable to the man, and she was determined he not learn of it. As long as she kept these unfamiliar feelings hidden, they couldn’t be used against her.
The sight of a large black horse tethered to a fence post brought Kaly out of her musings. Her gaze searched for its rider, and she went rigid when she recognized the man leaning over the fence nearby. Jackson looked up and called out a greeting. After his show of temper earlier this afternoon, she was shocked and not a little wary of his cordiality.
“Surveying your kingdom?” she asked flippantly as she pulled up next to him.
The side of his mouth lifted. “Just taking a breather.” He nodded to a nearby tree. “You can tie up your horse and join me if you want.”
She sat frozen at his words. Her determination to maintain a distance from this man in any way possible was being put to the test much sooner than she’d imagined. She wasn’t ready for another confrontation. She needed time to marshal her defenses, to recover the inner calm she’d always been able to rely on. None of that calm remained right now. It had vanished at the first sight of his big tough body propped indolently against the wooden boards, every hard muscle outlined in the faded denim jeans. In spite of her earlier brave determination to stoke the flames of hostility between them, right now she felt an overwhelming urge to dig her heels into Misty’s sides and gallop in the opposite direction
.
When Kaly did not immediately obey but remained seated on the horse, Jackson looked impatient. “Did you need help dismounting?”
His words jolted her out of her momentary indecision. Kaly hurriedly slid down from the saddle and slowly walked the mare over to the tree, tying her to a branch. The last thing she wanted was for Jackson Roberts to put his hands on her again! Or worse yet, to think she was coyly inviting such an action. She could handle him right now. She didn’t need time or planning to take what he dished out, nor to return more of the same. She threw her thick braid over her shoulder and asked with feigned nonchalance. “Think we can have a conversation without one of us drawing blood?”
He quirked an eyebrow at her. “I’m willing to try if you are.” He raked her with his gaze, slowly taking in the long lithe legs sheathed in worn denim. Jackson felt an unfamiliar pang of remorse for his behavior at the corral. She wasn’t responsible for his bad temper then, any more than she could help being a constant reminder of the worst mistake of his life.
She was approaching him with all the enthusiasm of a calf to branding. He was annoyed, even though he knew her distrust was deserved. It also irritated the hell out of him to be so sharply aware of how the soft fabric of her jeans molded to her shapely thighs.
Kaly walked toward him, searching for a neutral topic. “I’ve been enjoying the scenery on my ride,” she finally offered tentatively.
“It’s a little bleak out here for some people,” he said quietly. “Not everybody can see the beauty of this land.”
Kaly cocked her head, her innate curiosity taking over her earlier resolve. “But you do.”
Jackson nodded, his gaze roving over the horizon. The unending roll of pasture, the mountains in the distance, the rock formations that jutted up from nowhere—the sheer majesty of earth and sky was breathtaking to him.
“Carrie was telling me a little about the ranch this afternoon,” Kaly offered, tactfully leaving out the episode when Jackson had appeared at the corral. “She told me how huge it was. Is that why I haven’t seen any cattle yet?”
