Getting mad at her for following Trace and Gil wouldn’t do any good. The deed was done and telling her she should have stayed put when his men had told her wouldn’t prevent it from happening again. “Did you see any cattle?”
“No, but as it was growing dark, Trace and I stayed off the main road so it took us longer to get here.”
“Why didn’t you stay in Hosford?”
“I already told you. Because you need me. Now unfasten the saddle.” She pulled the bridle off the horse. “I didn’t come here to make trouble for you, Garth, not the first time and not this time. I—”
“Bridgette—”
“No, let me finish. I’m not exactly sure why I came here the first time, but I know this time it’s because I want to help you.”
“I don’t need—”
“Yes, you do.” She grinned. “You need a wife, and that’s me.”
He couldn’t stop how her sass made him grin. Maybe he didn’t want to keep from smiling. If she hadn’t needed to stop, Trace and Gil may not have seen those men, so maybe, this one time, she was right.
As if reading his mind, she said, “Whether you want to admit it or not, you know I’m right. Let me pay you back for all you’ve done for me, and then we can go our separate ways, just like you said.” Without waiting for him to comment, she added, “Want me to go get the sheriff to ride with you?”
“No.” Garth adjusted the stirrup on his saddle. She was right, but he wasn’t going to admit it. Not aloud anyway. “Sheriff Myers has his hands full in town.”
Men carrying saddles and bridles hurried across the field. Garth quickly adjusted the other stirrup and then stepped beside her. “And you are going to stay—”
“Right here.” She stretched onto her toes and planted a quick kiss against his lips. “With JoJo and Bat.” She grinned, knowing full well that was exactly what he’d been going to ask of her. “However, I expect you to tell me everything as soon as you return.”
Her kiss had stunned him so thoroughly his mind went blank for a moment. When his wits returned, he asked, “What happened with Dr. Rodgers? With Ellen?”
“I’ll tell you all about that right after you tell me everything.” She walked around him and the horse.
He followed.
She picked up her carpetbag and jiggled the bridle she held in her other hand. “I’ll give this bridle to Bat.”
“Bridgette...” He wasn’t sure what he wanted to say.
She nodded toward his men throwing saddles on their horses. “You’ll be careful?” she asked as another cowboy handed him the reins of his big mare.
Hoisting his saddle onto the mare, he figured having her around for one more night couldn’t hurt anything. “Always am.”
“I’m serious, Garth.”
“So am I.”
She glanced toward the men running across the open field from town. “You better be.”
She started walking toward the tents and he didn’t pull his eyes off her, even as Slim shouted for him to give them time to mount up.
Garth saddled the mare while keeping one eye on JoJo’s tent. He watched Bridgette enter the tent and then exit. She stopped near the chuck wagon, and remained there after he’d swung into the saddle. When she lifted a hand, waving at him, he copied her actions. That was the first time they’d ever waved goodbye to each other.
He’d never done that before because he’d never wanted to say goodbye to her. Not ever. For some reason, doing so tonight didn’t feel like goodbye, not really. It felt more like I’ll see you again soon. An odd tenderness filled him so completely it made his throat swell. Then it made him smile.
He turned the horse around, and waved at her again, then led his cowboys a short distance downriver, to where Slim and his men were saddling their horses.
* * *
Bridgette couldn’t describe all the things happening inside her, or why she had to blink aside a few tears. It could be because Garth was riding into a dangerous situation, or because she’d expected him to be angrier at her for returning. He didn’t like when his orders weren’t followed. For once, he was going to have to get used to it.
“He’ll be back.”
Smiling, she glanced at JoJo before looking back at the group of men riding out. “I know.” It would take more than a few rustlers to get the best of Garth McCain. She also knew she’d returned for the right reasons this time. Garth needed her help and she would give it, and then she’d get exactly what she wanted in return.
“How’d things turn out for that little girl?”
“Very well. Dr. Rodgers was happy to have a new apprentice, and Ellen was delighted at the prospect. The Rodgerses are good people.” In all the years she’d lived with them, she’d never thought of them as she did now. They had treated her very well over the years, just as they would Ellen. She just hadn’t wanted to admit that, mainly because she hadn’t wanted to think of them as family. But they were her family.
“That’s good to hear,” JoJo said. “You hungry?”
“No, we ate at the Rodgerses’ house.” Saying goodbye after eating had been hard. Both Shelia and Mrs. Rodgers had cried. Tears had formed in her eyes, too, but she’d told them she’d be back. And she would be. Right after her job here was through. That’s how she was looking at this now. No different than all the other families she’d lived with.
“You want me to add some more wood to the fire?”
Bridgette dropped her gaze from where the men had been swallowed up by the darkness and shook her head. “No, it’s late, and sitting around waiting won’t make them return any faster.”
“No, it won’t.”
Twisting, she handed him the money in her hand. “Thank you for this.”
“What’s that?” JoJo asked.
“The money I owe you for bailing me out.” Unbeknownst to her, the Rodgerses had saved the wages she’d earned over the years and had presented her with a tidy sum while saying goodbye.
JoJo shook his head. “Garth already repaid me.” With a lopsided grin, he added, “Even if he hadn’t, I wouldn’t take that from you.”
Her heart swelled and she kissed his rough cheek. “Thank you.”
He coughed into his hand while rubbing his mustache and then gestured toward his bedroll. “I—I’ll be right outside the door, so don’t be worried about any noises.”
“I won’t.” As she opened the flap, she turned about. “He’s lucky to have you, JoJo.”
“Ya, he is, but he’s luckier to have found you again.”
She shook her head. “I’m the lucky one.” That was the truth, and it was time she appreciated that. Seeing Garth again after all these years may not have been as she’d imagined, but it had made her take a hard look at herself and the things she wanted.
With a smile on her face, she entered the tent and sat down on the extra bedroll JoJo must have laid out for her. She hadn’t thought of it before, but the extra bedroll must be Garth’s, and she closed her eyes to send up a prayer of safety for him.
Careful not to wake Bat who hadn’t stirred during the rousing of the cowboys, she removed her shoes before lying down.
Worries attempted to filter into her mind, but she wouldn’t let them. As sure as the sun would rise, Garth would be back, unharmed and as ornery as ever. She could count on that.
Bridgette was in the midst of a dream that had her surrounded by rainbows when a familiar voice made her eyes pop open. She sat up and grabbed her shoes, but had yet to pull one on or flip her hair away from her face when the tent flap opened.
“It’s about time you woke up.”
“I—” She stopped herself from saying more and returned the smile on Garth’s face. Sunlight lit all four sides of the tent, and put a shine in his eyes. “Did you catch the rustlers?”
H
e sat down beside her. “Yes.” Brushing her hair away from her face with one hand, he said, “They are in a place you’re familiar with—the Dodge City jail.”
She eyed him closely. “No one was hurt?”
“No.” He frowned. “Are you disappointed? Did you want me to shoot someone?”
“No.” She readied a shoe to pull on her foot. “Don’t forget who you are talking to. I know all your gruffness is for show. You wouldn’t have shot one of those rustlers just like you wouldn’t have shot that calf.”
He took the shoe from her hand and set it aside while leaning closer. “I wouldn’t have?”
She was counting on that being true. “No, you wouldn’t have.”
He lifted a brow, but was still grinning. “Thank you. Trace and Gil claim they would never have seen those rustlers.”
She grinned. “I told you—I’m here to help. Nothing more.”
His eyes took on a smoldering tint that caused her heart to thud. Without looking away, he leaned closer.
“You have,” he whispered. “And I’m going to kiss you.”
Fully unprepared, she had no response.
Allowing that to happen was a huge risk, but the moment his lips touched hers, she knew it was the right decision. An expansive thrill raced through her system and she looped her arms around his neck.
Her lips parted at the first flick of his tongue and the battle was on. Her tongue against his, and it was the most dedicated fight they’d ever had. It went on until they were both winded, and their lips separated by some mutual consent.
However, as their eyes met, winded or not, their lips met again. The first kiss had immediately become an exploration of unfamiliar ground, but this time it was a gentle journey of territory already discovered and appreciated. She’d known him for years, yet hadn’t experienced the depth of that right now. And just as she’d imagined, kissing him was utterly amazing. The desire for more had her scooting closer.
Slowly, without ever breaking the kiss, he eased her backward until she was lying on the bedroll with him beside her. Eyes closed, she accepted the wonderful sensations washing over her as his hands explored her sides and then leisurely covered her stomach with languorous circles. Deep beneath his hand a fantastic heat welled inside her and began to pulse. She arched into his touch, silently begging his tender ministrations to continue.
His lips slipped off hers, but continued to place soft, affectionate kisses over her chin, along her neck and then back up the side of her face. The heat inside her grew until it turned fiery, telling her she wanted more than tender kisses. Much more.
As if he read her mind, Garth pressed his hand more firmly against her stomach before he whispered in her ear, “Come on, sleepyhead, we have to ride out to the Solstead ranch.”
She heard him, but had no desire to go anywhere, and she let that be known with a soft groan.
He chuckled, then grasped her arms and pulled her upright in one swift movement. After planting a solid kiss upon her lips, he said, “JoJo will make you some breakfast while I saddle the horses.”
Protesting was first and foremost on her mind, until she opened her eyes and remembered they were inside a tent with a dozen cowboys mingling around outside. She also remembered she had a job to do. Sighing, she said, “I’ll need to wash up and change my clothes.”
“I’ll get you a bucket of water.”
Pretending to be his wife might be her easiest—and also her most difficult—assignment ever. “You’re in a good mood this morning.”
He tapped the tip of her nose. “Hurry up and I’ll tell you why.”
Chapter Seventeen
Garth laughed at how swiftly Bridgette grabbed her shoes. He knew her almost too well. Coaxing her into compliancy was too easy. But that’s what he had to do. Make her see that no matter what she thought, he knew better. Dodge was no place for her. There was no future for her here. Not the one she wanted, or the one he wanted for her.
He’d thought about that last night while rounding up the rustlers, and her being here. As much as he appreciated her sentiment, her supposed reason for being here—to help him—he knew better. He hadn’t needed anyone before, and didn’t now. He just needed to prove that to her.
“Don’t just sit there,” she said. “Go fetch me a bucket of water like you said you would.”
As Garth pushed off the bedroll, the desire to kiss her again struck. That hadn’t been part of his plan. Kissing her. It had just happened. Hair tumbling about and sleepy eyed, she’d just been too irresistible. Few things got to him like she did, and he needed to remember that.
After delivering the bucket JoJo had set outside the tent flap, Garth went to saddle a couple of horses. Having only gotten a few hours of sleep, he should be worn out, but there were too many parts of him alive and well to be tired today. Things had gone splendidly last night, and though he’d always instructed his men to be careful, he’d been more insistent that no one got hurt. Not a single shot had been fired, and catching those rustlers red-handed meant things were starting to go in the right direction.
By the time he led two horses to the tent, Bridgette was standing near the chuck wagon, forking scrambled eggs into her mouth. She’d changed out of the drab grey dress into a white blouse and blue skirt. Her hair had been pulled back on both sides, but the rest hung in soft waves over her shoulders and down her back. She’d stirred something inside him since the day she’d delivered those eggs and beans to his campsite, and kissing her this morning had brought it a bit closer to the surface.
She set down her plate and walked toward him. “JoJo says things went well last night.”
Of course JoJo would have told her that. The old coot was smitten with her, and claimed Garth was too, if he’d just admit it. There was nothing to admit. He’d been smitten with her for years, and he’d lived without her for years. He nodded to the horse. “Mount up so I can adjust your stirrups.”
She complied and held her feet out of the way while he shortened both stirrups. Then he swung onto his horse and as they rode past the chuck wagon, told JoJo, “We’ll be back in a few hours.”
Rather than riding through town, they rode around the stockyards. Taking in the full pens, she said, “Another herd arrived.”
“Yesterday,” he answered. Looking at the pens full of hearty beef, he said, “You can’t beat Texas cattle. Don’t ever let someone tell you differently.”
“What makes them so special?”
“They’re hardy, but more importantly, they’re mine. I rode deep into Mexico to gather some of those critters.”
“You like being a cattleman, don’t you?”
“Yes,” he admitted, and then glanced her way to point out what she liked. “How did things go with Dr. Rodgers?”
Shaking her head, she said, “Oh, no, you have to answer my questions first.”
“Sounds like JoJo already told you.”
“No, he just said things went well.”
Limited as to what he would tell her, he started before she could ask again, “The men we hauled into town last night weren’t rustlers. They’re farmers. At least that’s what they call themselves, but none of them have produced much of a crop.”
“Why?”
“They blame it on the cattle drives. Say the cows tear up their fields on the way to Dodge, killing their crops.”
“Do they?”
“Some might,” he answered honestly. “But most trail bosses are careful not to cross tilled ground. Jud Wiley was one of the men we brought in last night.”
She snapped her head so fast his way her neck should have popped. “Why wasn’t he still in jail? He had no cause to accuse Bat the way he did.”
Garth had harbored plenty of anger toward Wiley over the Bat incident. No grown man should accuse a child in such a way without solid
proof. He personally understood the full consequences of that. Had lived with them most of his life. Yet, a part of him could understand Wiley’s anger at cattlemen. He wouldn’t appreciate his wife running off with some other man. “Sheriff Myers didn’t have any cause to keep him in jail.” After a moment, he added, “Then.”
“He does now?”
He nodded. “Wiley and his sons, as well as a couple other dirt farmers, already started two stampedes. They snuck up on the cattle at night and used slingshots to fire rocks at the cows until they got them stirred up enough they started running amongst themselves. Both my men and Slim Jenkins got the cattle settled down without too much trouble. Wiley and his crew were planning on doing the same thing to Hank Black’s herd last night.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Stampeding cattle would tear up a field in no time. Then they’d have proof, reasons for others to join them in their hatred of cattlemen.”
“But cattlemen are what Dodge City thrives on.”
He grinned. “Sure are, and because of you, they are all talking about that.”
“Me? I didn’t do anything.” Panic flashed in her eye as she said, “Honest, Garth, I didn’t talk to anyone about—”
“I know you didn’t. You gave me the idea yesterday that people need to know it’s the slaughter houses holding up the sale of cattle, and how the cowboys feel about it.”
“I did?” A smile formed and she nodded. “I remember now, while we were walking back to camp after the soap incident. Will it help?”
“Already is. That’s why we’re riding out to Solstead’s ranch. It’s Saturday so he’s not at the office in town.” Her sincere interest captured his attention. He talked to other people regularly, but it wasn’t the same. When he talked to her, she listened, not because she had to, because she wanted to. Her expressions told him so. More than that, they told him she cared. Cared about what he was saying, whether it was about seeing elephants or standing up against the slaughter houses.
The Cowboy's Orphan Bride Page 19
