“You missed two, Jessie,” Jefferson whispered as he tugged at her arm.
The redhead blushed at her lapse of attention. “Sorry. It’s been a long and tiring trip to San Angelo. I’ll put Tom back on tally while I do a few chores before suppertime else I won’t be able to get up or lift a fork. Tom! You take over here. I have to go. Navarro, I’ll need your help.”
Navarro followed her to the barn.
“The boys will be quitting in about thirty minutes. I thought you might want to get your bath and get changed into clean clothes while you still have privacy at the water shed. Some people don’t like stripping in front of a bunch of strangers. So if you’re shy, Navarro, you can be done and dressed before they finish. I have a few chores to do, then I’ve got to get scrubbed for supper. When you’re done, come to the house. You can visit with me and Gran until Papa returns.”
Jessie pointed the way to the overhang beside the chuckhouse where several wooden tubs were located. “You can fill one with the pipe from the well. Biscuit Hank already has water heating so you won’t freeze. See the fire and kettle?”
“Yep, but don’t you need me to do chores?”
“I can finish alone. If you want privacy, you’d better get to it,” she said with a laugh. “You can claim any bunk that doesn’t have possessions by it. See you soon.” She left to place their saddles in the barn in case of rain, to toss hay to the horses corralled nearby, to pen up the chickens for the night, to do the evening milking, and to get her own grooming done.
Navarro wondered if Jessie had felt his scars and knew he was trying to hide them. Such a secret couldn’t be kept long, so he would think about handling it soon…
Navarro bathed in a hurry, then dried his muscled body. He dressed in a rust-colored shirt, dark pants, and a leather vest. His feelings were in turmoil. He couldn’t believe that he had been talking and joking and working with strangers since noon. No one had mistreated him. He had been accepted as if he were a seasonal hand returning for new work. Their reaction to him and his to them baffled him. Never had he been so at ease in a group. The ranch was beautiful, like Jessica Lane. Life here seemed wonderful for everyone concerned, despite their troubles. He saw why Jessie loved it and would die to protect it. He admitted he wanted to stay there to help these people and to enjoy life. He hated the thought of returning to a barren and lonely existence. Yet his tension was returning. One fence remained to be approached and jumped: Jedidiah Lane…
Chapter Seven
Navarro sat in the dining area that adjoined the kitchen, where Martha and Jessie were completing the meal. He sipped coffee as he listened and observed, answered a question here and there, and just enjoyed the novelty of being included in this cozy moment in a real home with a good family. When Jessie came to set the table, Navarro asked if she needed any help.
Jessie smiled and shook her head. “But thanks.”
“What work do you do, son?” Gran asked.
“A little of everything and anything. Haven’t tried ranching before. This is new to me. Hard work.”
“Have you handled many problems like ours?” the older woman inquired.
“None, ma’am.”
“But he’ll do fine, Gran,” Jessie vowed. “He’s fast, smart, and good.”
“He must be, or you wouldn’t be here to speak up for him.”
“That’s true,” Jessie murmured, smiling at Navarro.
“Ma, I’m home,” Jedidiah Lane shouted from the front door.
“In here, son,” Martha replied, “with Jessie and her friend.”
Jed entered the room, embraced the girl who ran into his open arms, and said, “Sure glad you’re home safe, Jess.”
“Papa, this is Navarro Jones. He’s the man I’ve chosen to help us.”
Jed walked forward to shake hands with the tall man. “Good to meet you, Navarro. The boys told me how you pitched in and helped today. I’m much obliged. They told me how you took care of my daughter, too. Can’t tell you what that means to me. This girl is my heart and soul.”
Navarro noticed how the man looked at his daughter, eyes filled with love and beaming with pride. A surge of envy shot through him. “Like I told your mother, I don’t know much about ranching and cowpunching, but I’m willing to lend a hand where needed. Until I take on Fletcher.”
Jed glanced at Navarro. He wasn’t what he’d expected in a gunslinger. Navarro seemed too kind and polite to be a hired killer. “I need to wash this dust off before supper. Then we’ll talk. Matt’s coming, Jessie, so set him a plate. I have plenty of news for you.”
“I can’t wait to hear it, Papa. The boys wouldn’t give me a clue.”
“That’s good. No need to work it over twice. I’ll be back shortly.”
Jessie added a sixth place setting to the table. She smiled at Tom as he came down the stairs. “You look handsome tonight, Master Tom.”
“You look beautiful, Jessie,” he replied. “Don’t she, Navarro?”
The desperado shifted from one foot to the other, then nodded. Jessie was wearing a blue cotton dress, and her hair was hanging free down her back. The wavy locks nearly reached her waist. The shorter curls framed her face and softened her bold features. The skirt swayed with her movements and captured his attention. There was no doubt tonight that Jed’s “son” was a lovely woman.
“You act as if you’ve never seen me in a dress, Thomas Lane.”
“Not much. I like your hair down. Ain’t it pretty, Navarro?”
To her frustration, Jessie blushed again. “I always dress when we have company, young man. You stop putting Navarro in the fire with your questions. Besides, it’s, ‘isn’t it pretty,’ not ‘ain’t it pretty.’ Your lessons are sorely lacking. I’ll have you back to work at those books tomorrow.”
“But I have to keep the tally. I’m doing a good job.”
“Yes, you are, but studies are more important.”
Navarro intruded before he thought about it. “He’s needed out there, Jessie, with you being shorthanded. You and I have work to do. Who’ll take his place?”
“Navarro’s right, Jessie,” Tom added, grinning at the man.
“Are you two plotting against me?” she teased.
Tom and Navarro exchanged feigned innocent looks and shook their heads. Tom laughed. Navarro shrugged and grinned.
“I see, two against one. You win this time, but you’ll have to study twice as hard later. Agreed?”
“I promise.”
“You promise what?” Jed asked as he returned.
Tom explained, then told how Navarro had fixed his glasses. Jed praised the gunslinger’s ingenuity, then succumbed to Jessie’s coaxing look. “The boys said you did work hard today, son. You’re hired on until branding is over.”
“Thanks, Pa. I’ll do it good and right. You’ll see.”
Their other guest arrived. Jed introduced the two men. “Navarro Jones, Mathew Cordell. Matt was with me before the war. Then he came back when it was over. He’s been foreman for ten years, but he’s more like one of our family. I couldn’t do without him, so follow his orders as if they were mine.”
As they shook hands, Navarro studied the foreman. Matt was a few inches shorter than he was, and appeared to be in his midthirties. He was what women would call good-looking, with his brown hair and eyes and a neat mustache lining his upper lip. He realized how important this man was; he had heard his name many times from Jessie and the others.
“The boys broke you in hard before you could breathe.”
“They worked me good today,” Navarro responded.
Matt left the two men to walk to Jessie. He looked her over and smiled. “I can relax now; you’re safe.”
“I’ll bet it’s been quiet without me around to stir up things,” she teased, and noticed how Matt’s glowing eyes lingered on her. His gaze was soft and warm like melting chocolate, and she found his spellbound reaction to her flattering.
“Too quiet, Jessie, except where Fletcher’s conce
rned.”
“What’s been going on?”
“Let’s get seated first,” Jed suggested.
Tom took his regular seat beside his sister. Jed and Martha did the same at the ends of the table. Matt and Navarro sat next to each other opposite Jessie and Tom.
The dishes were passed around and each person filled his plate. No one talked for a time as they prepared to devour the delicious meal of meat, home-canned vegetables, hot biscuits, and coffee.
“The boys told me about Big Ed. Sorry to get that news, Jess. What happened? And how did you meet Navarro?”
Jessie went over the highlights of those incidents. When she finished, with Jed’s and Matt’s eyes wide with fear, she added the news of the cut fence.
Jed’s face flushed with anger. “We’ll get it repaired tomorrow. He did the same on the east fence. We took care of it today. ’Course they rustled some cattle while the fence was down. We saw their tracks. That isn’t the worst part, Jess.”
“What is, Papa?” she asked reluctantly.
“We found Buck dead near the cut fence. That old dog must have sniffed trouble and tried to attack them.”
Sadness and fury filled Jessie. “How cold and cruel can the man be, Papa?”
“While we were out during roundup, somebody sneaked over and killed some of the chickens. They were tied up along the corral posts. You see what we’re up against, Navarro?”
“Seen any faces or horses you recognized?” he inquired.
“Nope. They’re real careful-like. They’re good about luring us away to do their mischief. I took your sister into town. She claimed it was to work with the schoolmarm, but I think she was getting scared after that chicken episode so near to home. It riles me to see them so cocky that they’ll come so close to the house.”
“Fletcher sounds like a determined man to me,” Navarro commented.
“No more than I am, son.” Jed flowed into the rippling story of how he settled this land and how he would never sell out to anyone.
“I can see why, sir. You have something special here.”
“What kind of work have you done before?” Matt asked. Jealousy chewed on him, because he caught an alarming undercurrent between the handsome stranger and his Jessie. He prayed he hadn’t waited too long to let her know his feelings.
“Whatever job is available. No family or a place to call home, so I stay on the move. Nothing to hold me in one area very long. I like seeing new places. Came from Colorado, but spent most of my days north of there. Jessie told me you’re into crossbreeding.” He changed the subject from himself and his past.
“You said you don’t know much about ranching?” Jed hinted.
“Nope, but it sounded interesting.”
“If I can get Fletcher thwarted, I’ll get back to it. Longhorns can take heat, thirst, and hunger; but they’re leaner and tougher and stringier than purebreds. I’ve been mating mine with Durhams, Booths, and Galloways for a few years. As soon as I get more money, I aim to purchase me some Angus and Herefords to blend in. It costs a lot to buy them and have them shipped here.”
“I’ll see what we can do to stop Fletcher from interfering—.”
“First,” Jessie injected, “we have to catch up on chores. I’ll help Gran with the washing, chickens, and milking tomorrow. That north fence needs restringing. It only has our ropes keeping the stock in.”
“I’ll help with it, Jessie, if Matt will show me what to do.”
She smiled at him. “Thanks, Navarro. Then we’ll go to work on Fletcher while the boys handle the branding.”
“What if Tom shows me where Fletcher’s place is on Tuesday? I’ll keep him a safe distance away. That’ll leave all the hands to keep to their chores, and you can help your grandmother. I need to study his layout, men, and schedule before we make any moves. Is that all right with you, sir?”
“Please, Pa, I can do it. I’ll do everything Navarro says. I promise.”
Jed mused for a time. “Tom doesn’t do much riding. If you’ll take care of him, he can go. That’ll keep Jess and the boys busy here.”
As Tom began to rush Navarro with questions about their impending adventure, Jessie told him, “Later, Tom. Let Navarro breathe and eat.” Her brother obeyed, though she saw it was hard for him to do so.
As the meal continued, talk drifted into areas unfamiliar to Navarro. He was as careful as Jessie about concealing their true relationship. If Jed learned what had happened between them on the trail…Then there was Matt. The desperado noticed how the foreman subtly watched Jessie; he looked like a starving man picking up every crumb of talk that she dropped, feeding on each smile and gaze, drinking in every movement. He saw how easily Jessie smiled, laughed, and spoke with Mathew Cordell. They had known each other a long time. Matt would be here after he was forced to leave. Jealousy nipped at him like an angry dog on a stranger’s heels. He listened to every word and observed each person. The longer he sat hearing about people, places, things, and times he didn’t know about, the more restless and nervous he became and the more slowly the evening passed. He was feeling closed in, as he had in prison. He needed fresh air, movement.
Jessie glanced at Navarro every so often, but tried not to stare or to expose her warring emotions. It was hard being this close to him without touching him. If her father even suspected the truth of her behavior, he would order Navarro off his property. She had to give Jed time to get to know her love, time to accept him. And the same was true of Navarro and her family. Yet she sensed the anxiety building within the man across the table from her. She saw how straight and stiff he was in his chair. She saw how he toyed with his fork and how his gaze darted about from person to person. He was panicking.
Impulsively Jessie wriggled off her slipper and slid her bare foot across the floor. When it reached her love’s booted foot, she stroked his leg with her toes. She pretended not to notice when Navarro reacted to her bold action. She brought her foot upward until it rested on his knee. His hand drifted into his lap and his fingers closed over it. Slowly and sensuously Navarro’s thumb caressed the side. When her grandmother suggested they serve the dessert, Jessie hated to cease the action that seemed to relax both of them. She pulled her foot away and eased it into her slipper. “Gran made a special dessert for Navarro.”
The dried-apple pie was warm and tasty. Its odor filled the room. Navarro thanked the older woman, and devoured two pieces.
“More?” Jessie offered.
“Too full. Best meal I’ve had all my life, ma’am.”
“She’s trying to teach me all her secrets, but I’m not a good student.”
“You’re good at everything,” Matt replied with a grin. She looked so beautiful and feminine with her auburn locks flowing freely and her trim body clad in a dress. Her blue eyes laughed each time her lips did, and he hungered to make her kisses his dessert.
“You’re just saying that because you practically raised me, Matthew Cordell.”
“Did a fine job, too.”
Jessie loved Matt as a brother. Tonight he looked extra nice and was most charming. She wondered how different his lovemaking and kisses would be from…She rushed a response. “Thank you, kind sir. Tom, it’s bedtime. You’ve a busy day tomorrow.”
“But I want to talk to Navarro.”
“There’s plenty of time for that, young man. He’ll be here a long time.”
“I hope he gets our trouble settled fast,” Matt said, looking at Navarro.
“I’ll try. I’ll know more after Tom and me do our spying.”
Jed stood, and so did Matt. Navarro followed their lead. As Jessie and Gran cleared the table, Tom mounted the steps.
“Let’s head for the bunkhouse,” Matt suggested to Navarro. “Good night, Jessie.”
“Good night, Matt. See you tomorrow, Navarro,” Jed said. “If you need anything, just tell Matt. We couldn’t run things without him; he’s like my adopted son.”
“You sure it’s all right if I use that sorrel, Mr. Lane?
” Navarro asked.
“It’s yours, son. Jessie gave him to you. It’s hardly enough for saving my girl’s life. We’ll talk money tomorrow, if that suits you.”
“Don’t worry. I know you’ll be a fair man. A drifter don’t need much.”
The two men left the house, and Jed went to his room. Jessie tried to get her grandmother to turn in while she did the dishes, but Gran wouldn’t allow it.
From the corner of her eye, Martha watched her granddaughter as she remarked, “Your Navarro is mighty mysterious and restless, Jessie. I hardly learned a thing about him. Real closed-mouthed.”
“He’s a loner, Gran; they’re like that. He spends most of his time on the trail by himself. He doesn’t get much chance to talk or sit in one place long. Don’t poke at him too hard before he gets used to us. It might scare him off.”
“You wouldn’t like that, would you?”
“Like what?” Jessie asked distractedly, her mind having drifted to the bunkhouse as she wondered how Navarro was mingling with the hands.
“Don’t you think you’ve gotten too attached to a stranger too quickly?”
“What do you mean, Gran?” she asked as she stalled for time to think.
“Since when does Jess Lane blush? Or put on a pretty dress? Or wear her hair down? Or fly away on dreamy wings?”
“Stop teasing me, Gran. I do it every time we have company.”
“Navarro isn’t company. He’s a hired gunslinger, a paid worker.”
“He’s more than…that,” she finished hesitantly. “He saved my life, Gran. He’s going to help us defeat our enemy, save our home and lives.”
“What else is he going to do here, child? Steal the boss’s daughter?”
“No.”
Follow The Wind Page 15
