“At last! Sit, sit, sit,” Mary directed him. “We are a hungry pack of wolves.”
Callum took his seat and stared, slack-jawed, at the feast before him. Beef roast, fried chicken, piles of fried potatoes, bowls of creamed corn and English peas, and a couple of bowls full of milk gravy. Banner swept in with two baskets of hot biscuits, which she sat on each end of the table with a flourish.
“There you have it! Mary, why don’t you start passing around the food. Everyone dig in! There’s plenty. I’ll fill the water glasses. There’s a jug of milk here if anyone wants that.” As she talked, she went from one person to the next, water pitcher in hand.
Like the others, Callum concentrated on filling his plate with the delicious smelling food. He placed two big slices of juicy roast beef on his plate and his mouth watered. Comments of “I’ll take some of those potatoes,” “this corn smells wonderful,” and “she makes the best biscuits in the whole damn county,” swirled around him and he was suddenly glad to have the company. Maybe this one time it was okay to celebrate his birthday. He cut off a bite of the roast beef and placed it in his mouth. Damn, that gal could cook.
He looked around the table for her. Where the hell was she? Leaning sideways, he tried to see into the kitchen.
“Where’s Banner?” he asked. “Banner?”
“Right here,” she said, coming back into the dining room from the kitchen. “What do you need? Have I forgotten something? I put butter out . . . yes, there it is. Good.” Her string of words stopped abruptly when she saw him smiling at her. “What?”
“It’s all delicious,” Callum said, enjoying her high color and heaving breasts. “Thank you.” He looked around the table again and saw that something was missing. “Where’s your place setting?”
“My . . . oh.” She shook her head and her color heightened. “No. I’m busy in the kitchen Y’all enjoy the meal. If you need anything, I’ll be—”
“If we need anything, I’ll be glad to fetch it,” Callum said, rising from his chair and moving it over a few inches. “Mary, can you get another plate and glass for Banner out of the china cabinet? Here, take my chair. I’ll grab another one from the kitchen.”
“I can’t . . . I mean, I have things to do—”
“Sit down, Miss Payne,” Callum said, making his tone stern, although he was still smiling. “It’s my birthday. I’m making the rules.”
“Join us!” Seth bellowed from the other end of the table.
Banner threw up her hands in surrender. “Very well.” Laughing under her breath, she eased down into the chair Callum had vacated. He brought one in from the kitchen and sat beside her. Mary placed a plate, glass, utensils, and napkin on the table. “Thank you,” Banner said, glancing at Mary and then at Callum.
“Thank you for this,” he said, gesturing at the food. “I’m sure you had better things to do today.”
“Oh, no.” She nodded when he offered to spoon some corn onto her plate. “It’s really my pleasure.”
Her sincerity made his breath hitch. He looked away as an odd sensation twisted around his heart. Her unpretentiousness never failed to impress him. There was no guile to her. He didn’t have to wonder if she meant what she said.
“These biscuits look as fluffy as Beulah, our old cook, used to make,” Lilah declared. “I do miss her. I wonder what ever became of her . . . of all our slaves.”
“They’re running around like wild animals, stealing and causing trouble,” Eller said.
“Oh, stop! Maybe some, but not Beulah. She was as good as gold.” Lilah shoved out her lower lip and blinked rapidly as if she were on the brink of crying.
Watching the spectacle, Callum wondered what he ever saw in her. From the corner of his eye, he saw Ben scowl down at his plate and wondered if his friend was seeing Lilah in a new light now.
“I suspect most of y’all are here to partake of Banner’s larrupin’ food and not because I’m a year older today.” He gave a half-smile. “I won’t hold that against you.”
Chuckles circled the table, diffusing the moment of tension. Banner made a scoffing noise.
“I know you don’t usually celebrate,” Seth said. “But I was in the mood for company. Company other than your ornery hide.” He scowled down the table at Callum, but his green eyes twinkled. “Now somebody pass me those taters and onions.”
The talk turned to the delicious food, the work ahead of them next week, the big cattle trails opening up and ending at railheads, Yankees buying up land, and a smattering of tall tales about Rebels who were still fighting “the good fight.” When everyone was nearly full to bursting, Banner presented two molasses cakes that no one in their right mind could resist. Callum opted for two pieces, seeing as how it was his birthday. The moist cake melted on his tongue. Sure nuff, the gal could cook. She also smelled good – like rain-washed flowers. Clean and lightly perfumed. And she was such a pretty thing. He liked the pale pink stain on her cheeks and the rosiness of her mouth. Her eyes. Good lord, he dreamed of those golden brown eyes. And of her hair. He remembered how it felt running through his fingers, soft as silk.
“Nobody’s been shooting at you again, have they?” Eller asked, slicing through his thoughts.
“Oh, my! Cal, I could hardly believe that someone would do such a thing,” Lilah said, her eyes rounding. “I’ve been so very worried about you.” As if realizing how that sounded, she rested a hand on Eller’s forearm and smiled. “About all of you.”
The others added their comments ranging from, “Cowardly coyote,” to “Thank your lucky stars.” A cold breeze blew through him and he glanced at Banner and cringed at the confusion marring her brow, but then in the next instant anger glinted in amber eyes. Hell! He hadn’t told her about being shot at. He’d meant to . . . but he hadn’t. Now she was staring at him as if she were measuring him for a coffin.
Striving to make light of it, he waved a dismissive hand. “I’m not wasting a minute worrying about it. I’m marking it up to tomfoolery.”
“I wouldn’t, if I were you,” Ki Echohawk said, sending Callum a stern glare. “You were the only thing out there to shoot at. Wasn’t any accident.”
“That’s right,” Seth agreed, pointing his fork at Callum. “Somebody tried to end you, son. And he might try it again, so keep a close watch on the horizon. Hear me?”
“Yes, sir.” From the corner of his eye, he caught Banner’s quick head shake and he could definitely feel the tension coming off her. He’d have to explain his way out of this . . . somehow. Talk turned to the calf work ahead of them, much to his relief.
As the dinner ended and the guests made their way out to their various horses and buggies, Callum tried to have a quick word with Banner, but Hollis whisked her away before he could manage it. He’d have to find time to speak to her tomorrow or there would be hell to pay.
###
The sun felt wonderful on her upturned face. Banner stood in the back of the Latimer house, hands propped at her waist, and enjoyed the warm press of the rays. After hanging out two loads of laundry, she rolled her aching shoulders and stared up a cloudless sky. The air was chilly, but it felt good after being in the hot kitchen all morning.
Rowdy and two of the other Latimer hounds came galloping around the side of the house, hell-bent on catching a hare that sprinted right past Banner. She released a yelp of surprise and then another when the dogs bumped into her, sending her twirling into the flapping sheets. The wet material clung to her face and body, wrapping her in a clammy embrace, which she fought against instinctively. It took her a few more hectic seconds of flapping and slapping before she sprang free of the offending laundry, stumbling a little before righting herself. She shoved back strands of hair that had come loose from their pins and tried to steady her heartbeat and panting breath. That’s when she heard his low, raspy chuckle.
Callum stood a few feet from her, one hand covering his grinning mouth, his green eyes laughing at her. She wanted to glare at him, but hearing his laugh and
seeing the delight on his face squashed the notion.
She laughed a little, sharing his amusement. “I’m happy to entertain you, Callum Latimer.”
“Sorry.” He tried to wipe the grin off his face, but failed. “I just never saw anybody fight a sheet before.”
“Well, you can’t say that anymore, can you?” She ran a hand over her hair and then remembered yesterday and her irritation with him. “Been shot at again?”
That wiped the smile off his face. “Now I know I should have told you about that, but it slipped my mind.”
“Did it now?” She folded her arms in front of her. “But you managed to tell everyone else about it. Even Hollis knew! And Lilah.”
“I didn’t tell Lilah.”
“She knew about it.”
“Eller told her. I thought Hollis might have even mentioned it to you.”
She tapped one foot. “He didn’t. You should have. I’m your ranching partner.”
“I apologize, Banner. Like I said, I was going to, but I thought it might worry you.”
“Well, of course, it does! From what I heard, you were almost killed. If the aim had been true—”
“The aim was true. I happened to move out of the line of fire at the right moment.”
“Good Lord!” She covered her slack mouth with her hands. “So, someone was definitely trying to end your life?”
“That’s about the size of it. Might have been one of those ranch hands I let go.”
“My worthless ranch hands. Oh, Callum, I feel that I might have brought this on by hiring those men.”
“No.” He strode to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “This has nothing to do with you. See? You’re worrying and you shouldn’t.”
“You don’t think your father is worried?”
“Sure.” He shrugged and his hands skimmed down her arms before he released her. “You don’t need to fret over me. I’m a grown man who can take care of himself.”
His tone, almost like he was preaching at her, rankled. “I’m not fretting. I just don’t want to be the last person to know about things that happen on my ranch. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
His lips parted as if he were going to say something, but then thought better of it. “I have to get back to work.” Backing up from her, he touched the brim of his hat. “And I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing with those sheets.”
She made a face at him that earned her another grin before he left. Walking back to the house, she mulled over the momentary testiness she’d sensed in him. Something was needling him, but she couldn’t figure it out. Oh, well. At least she’d managed to get a chuckle and a couple of grins out of him. That certainly was progress!
###
For a Sunday morning in mid-November, it was quite nice, Banner mused as she let the reins go slack in her gloved hands. Pansy knew the way home and needed no guidance from her. The dusty road stretched before her like a tan ribbon tacked onto a swatch of pale green muslin and the air was redolent with pine and burning wood. At church, she’d been pleased to sit next to Della Bailey and her family. Naturally, she’d scanned the faces for Callum’s and wasn’t surprised when she hadn’t spied him. He never came to church anymore. She supposed he was too busy at the ranch, although she was only guessing. When it came right down to it, he really didn’t talk to her very much – especially lately. They were partners, so they should have business to discuss. Did he think of her as his partner or not? That question had been circling in her brain like a mad wasp all week.
She probably should not be encouraging anything more between them. Scorching looks and passionate kisses would only bust up their partnership and probably bruise her heart, if not pummel it good. Heaven knew, Callum Latimer wasn’t an easy man to know . . . or forget.
The wagon rolled onto the lane that would take them home. Pansy snickered and flung her head up and down. Probably already tasting her oats and hay, Banner thought as she directed the sway-backed mare toward the barn. In the dim interior, she stepped down from the wagon and unhitched Pansy as her thoughts circled back to the birthday dinner and how Callum had insisted that she join them at the table. Then the next day when he’d laughed at her antics with the wet, flapping sheets. She’d only seen him at meals the last few days. It was a busy time at the ranch and all of the men shoveled food down and headed back out again to tackle the work still ahead of them as fall and winter shortened the time between sunrise and sunset.
She led Pansy into one of the stalls and left her there to munch on fresh hay and take some long draws from the water bucket. After hanging up the bridle and other tack, she made her way toward the house where a number of chores awaited her.
A man moved into view at the back of the house. Hollis? No. Callum.
“What in heaven’s name . . .” She raised her skirts an inch so that she could lengthen her strides. He pushed his arms into his blue shirt and his skin gleamed with water droplets. She tried her best not to stare at the tantalizing slice of muscled chest and stomach exposed to her before he began buttoning his shirt. A tingle swished up her spine and, despite the cool breeze, she felt hot and achy.
“’Morning, Miss Payne. Pardon my appearance. I just finished washing off some sweat and grime to make myself presentable for you. How was church?”
Sweat and grime? What in the world had he been up to? “You’d know that for yourself if you’d deigned to show up,” she retorted, then reprimanded herself for sounding like a scolding school teacher. “What are you doing here? Something wrong?”
He squinted against the sun. “Now, why do you equate me with the bearer of bad news? I’ll have you know that I bring glad tidings today.”
She rolled her eyes. “Please, get to it, Callum. I have scores of chores to do today.”
“Oh, I know you are a busy, busy woman, Miss Payne.” He motioned behind him. “I’ve repaired your back steps and replaced a couple of spongy boards on that little porch. Tacked some new shingles onto your chicken coop while I was at it.”
She regarded him for a few moments, both surprised and suspicious. Moving around him, she examined his handiwork. Indeed, the steps and porch were like new. He’d even added a handrail. “That’s very kind of you. But, do please, stop with calling me Miss Payne. It’s annoying.”
“Oh? Well now, I suppose I could call you something else –”
“Banner would be my suggestion.”
“—like sugar britches? Sweet cheeks? How about honey lips?”
The randy endearments knocked the wind out of her for a few seconds. Did he mean them or was he just being a tease? Should she object to such language? Well, it was too late for that because she was already smiling at him. “You are in quite a mood today, aren’t you?”
He nodded and then crooked a finger, motioning for her to follow him. “Take a look at the chicken coop.”
She admired the small structure. He’d done more than simply patch the roof – he’d replaced all but a few shingles on it.
“I’ll tackle your outhouse next,” he announced.
“No. You’ve done more than enough. Really. Any more and I’ll feel beholden to you.”
He removed his gloves, avoiding her direct gaze. “Well, we certainly can’t have that.” He was quiet for a few more moments before adding, “Most of these buildings are about to fall in on themselves. Even your barn could use some well-placed nails and a few new struts.”
“They’re not your responsibility, Callum.” She started for the front of the house again. “You have more important things you should be doing.”
“Nothing’s more important than making you happy.”
The sincerity in his tone stopped her, made her turn to face him, and made her breath shorten when she witnessed the intensity glittering in his eyes.
“Maybe I want to do things for you just to see the pleasure it brings you.”
The softening of his expression as he gazed at her undid her. She looked away, suddenly overco
me by the whirling feelings erupting inside her. After a few moments, she gathered her composure enough to look at him through the sweep of her lashes. “Better be careful or folks will think you’re courting me.”
“Folks?” He glanced around. “What folks? And why would I give a damn what anyone thinks about that – other than you?”
Her blood thickened and her body swayed toward him. He caught her by the shoulders and his mouth swooped to hers. His tongue swept across her lips and he murmured, “Like honey . . . just like honey.”
She felt his hands at her neck and throat, but she didn’t know that he’d untied her bonnet until it slipped off and fell to the ground. She paid it no mind, focusing on the heat of his mouth and the way he tilted his head to deepen his kisses. He delved his fingers into the sides of her hair so that he could move her head as he pleased and kiss the ever loving sense out of her.
He framed her face in his hands and held her still, studying her as if he were memorizing the colors in her eyes and the freckles on the bridge of her nose. “Sometimes I manage to convince myself that I should just leave you be, but most of the time I burn for you, Banner. I want you more than I want my next breath.”
She sensed that he was fighting an inner battle and she knew for certain which side should win. “I want you, too, Callum. So much.”
He stared into her upturned face, surprise lifting his eyebrows. Smiling, she raised herself on tiptoes to press convincing, swift kisses on his neck and jaw. A tingling erupted in her stomach and slid down between her legs when he groaned her name and then then took her mouth again, his tongue mating with hers as his hands moved down to her hips to pull her flush against him.
The thundering of hooves registered through her haze of desire at the same moment that Callum tore his mouth from hers.
“Callum Latimer?” a man called.
“Yeah!” Callum answered. He brushed aside a lock of her hair that curled along her cheek, pressed his lips to hair, then nuzzled behind her ear, sending shivers of delight down her spine. He heaved a sigh of regret before he let her go to stride to the front of the house. “I’m here.”
Solitary Horseman Page 16
