“I hope you’re hungry,” he said. “Reeva’s a great cook and she goes all-out when company is coming.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” she told him, then suddenly found herself wondering all over again if Orin had been right about her being too young and inexperienced for this trip. Because right now Joseph was making her feel as giddy as a high-school girl on her first date. At this rate, her heart was going to take a big hit before she headed home to the Silver Horn.
* * *
The dining room in the big ranch house was furnished with a long oak table and matching chairs with seats covered in cowhides of various shades of browns, black and white. Along one wall stood a carved china hutch and matching buffet table, while the opposite wall consisted of long, paned windows that looked out at the ranch yard and a distant ridge of desert mountains.
Vases filled with a mix of fresh zinnias, marigolds and cornflowers sat at intervals in the center of the table, along with tall yellow candles that were already lit and flickering over the beautiful place settings.
The sight was reminiscent of the dinners given by the Calhoun family on the Silver Horn. Only there, Tessa would’ve been helping to serve the meal rather than sitting down to enjoy it.
“Come this way, Tessa,” Joseph offered by way of invitation. “You can sit by me—if you’d like.”
“That would be nice,” she told him.
Joseph pulled out one of the heavy chairs and helped her into it while, near the end of the table, Maureen snatched a hold on Sam’s arm and directed him to the chair next to hers. “Don’t try to give me the slip, Sam. You’re going to be my company for dinner,” she told the old cowboy.
“Don’t badger Sam, Mother.” Chandler spoke up. “You’ll have him wanting to eat in the kitchen with Reeva.”
“Reeva doesn’t know how to appreciate a good man like I do,” Maureen joked.
Everyone around the table laughed, except for Tessa. It was just dawning on her that she’d not met Maureen’s husband and the father of this group of children.
She glanced curiously from the empty spot at the end of the table and over to Joseph. Where was Joel Hollister? she wondered. Had he and Maureen divorced? Or was he simply away somewhere on a business trip? She wanted to ask Joseph, but now wasn’t the right time or place. Especially when the young woman who’d answered the door suddenly entered the room pushing a cart laden with food.
During the delicious meal, the conversation around the table never lagged. Everything from ranching to the latest world events was discussed. Eventually the subject of Ray Maddox was brought up and though Tessa learned more about the man’s steadfast character through the stories that were told, no one seemed to know the connection between Tessa and the late sheriff.
The disappointment she was feeling over the matter must have been noticeably apparent on her face because once the meal was over and everyone departed the dining room, Joseph pulled her aside.
“Tessa, is something wrong? You look crestfallen. Did some of us say something that hurt you?”
Did her feelings really matter to him or was he simply being polite to a family dinner guest?
Telling herself it didn’t matter, she said, “Not at all. Your whole family is so nice and likable, Joseph. And dinner was scrumptious. I guess...” She paused and tried to give him a smile. “I was thinking—hoping—that your mother or one of your siblings might be able to give me some sort of answers about Mr. Maddox. But I should’ve known better. If Sam can’t tell me anything, then it’s doubtful that anyone can.”
“You’ve just arrived, Tessa. You’ve not yet had time to find the answers you’re looking for.” He reached for her hand. “Come on, let’s take a walk. Would you care to see some of the ranch yard? We can always have after-dinner coffee when we get back.”
The idea that Joseph was making an effort to lift her spirits made her feel more than special and, before she knew what she was doing, she was smiling and squeezing his hand.
“I’d love to see the ranch yard. Especially the horses.”
“Great.” He gestured toward a door at the end of the hallway. “No need to let the others know. Let’s slip out this way.”
Outside, darkness had settled in, but several yard lamps illuminated the area enough for them to walk comfortably toward the barn. With the disappearance of the sun, the temperature had cooled considerably and now the dry desert breeze ruffled her hair and slipped over the bare skin of her arms and legs.
The change in temperature must have caused her to shiver. Suddenly his arm was around her back, pulling her closer to his side.
“It’s getting cooler,” he said. “I should’ve gotten you one of Mom’s wraps.”
“I’ll be fine.” Especially when the casual brush of his hip against hers was sending all kinds of electrical heat waves through her body. “The air is refreshing, actually. And it smells like...”
She paused, trying to find the right word, and he finished for her.
“Horse manure?”
Laughing, she said, “No. Like sage and roses and evergreens. It’s an odd mix, but wonderful.”
“I never noticed,” he admitted.
She gestured toward the barn area. “Everything looks so well kept. You must be very proud of this place.”
“I am. We all are. The history is what I’m most proud of. Three Rivers has been in existence since 1847. Generations of Hollisters have put their blood, sweat and tears into this ranch. And it’s still going strong.”
By now they’d reached the corral where the horses were penned. Tessa peered through the opening of the boards to gaze at the animals munching alfalfa from a hay ring.
“You have some good-looking horseflesh,” she commented.
“Thanks. Do you ride?”
“Sure. I love to ride. In fact, you wouldn’t consider selling me a couple of horses, would you?”
“What for?” he asked.
“I’d like to explore the rougher areas of the Bar X and I need a horse for that,” she explained.
“Then why buy two?”
She turned a comical look on him. “Are you sure you’re a rancher? You should know horses are a herd animal. A horse is unhappy when he’s alone.”
One corner of his mouth tilted into a suggestive grin. “Like people?”
“Some people.” Her voice sounded oddly hoarse, like she’d just woken from a deep sleep. What was the matter with her, anyway? She’d been around plenty of hunky cowboys before. The Silver Horn was full of them.
But there’s something special about this one, Tessa. Something that touched you the moment you laid eyes on him.
“I’ll talk to Holt about lending you a pair of horses. No need for you to buy them if you’re only going to be here for a short while.”
She wasn’t ready to say whether her time here in Arizona was going to be short or long. For now she was simply going to learn all about her new ranch and the man who’d so generously bequeathed it to her.
“Thank you. Please assure your brother that Sam and I will take extra good care of the horses.”
He moved a step closer and the urge to slide her arms around him and tilt her lips up to his was so strong, she had to look out at the horses and draw in several deep breaths just to hold on to her composure.
He said, “Holt won’t be worried about that.”
She swallowed hard then forced herself to look at him. “There’s something I’m curious about, Joseph. Is your father away somewhere?”
Even in the semidarkness she could see his face pale. His reaction had her wishing she could kick herself for not keeping her curiosity in check.
“I guess you could put it that way, Tessa. Dad has been dead for five years.”
The revelation touched her deeply and before she recognized what she was doing, she placed her hand on his forearm. “
I’m so sorry, Joseph. Sam didn’t tell me and I just assumed your father was still living. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It was an innocent question. Besides, I should’ve told you before we went to dinner. You were probably wondering why the place at the head of the table was empty. Don’t feel bad about asking.”
Pained by the shadows she saw in his eyes, she said, “I’m sorry just the same. You see, I understand how it is to lose a parent. My father died before I was born. And my mother was killed in a car accident when I was only thirteen.”
A frown of dismay pulled his brows together. “I never would’ve guessed you were an orphan.”
She shrugged. “Actually, I’ve never thought of myself as one. You see, immediately after Mother died, the Calhouns took me in. So it wasn’t like I was ever completely alone. They couldn’t take Mom’s place, but their love made losing her a bit more bearable.”
His lips twisted to a rueful slant and then his hand was reaching for hers, enfolding it inside his strong fingers. And, like a sip of dry wine, the warmth of his touch radiated through her whole body and left her just a little too happy.
“It’s good that you had the Calhouns to fill the void,” he said gently.
“Yes. And that you have your family around you,” she replied.
Suddenly he moved so close that the front of his body was brushing against hers. “You know, I’m getting the feeling that the two of us have more in common than just Ray Maddox.”
The husky note in his voice was so sexy it was almost like he was kissing her. The idea caused her nostrils to flare, her breathing to quicken.
“Why?”
Her murmured question put a faint smile on his face and then his head was bending downward, until his lips were hovering a scant few inches from hers.
“We’ve both lost parents. We both ride horses. And, uh, we’re both standing here beneath the desert stars—together. Like fate and the sidewalk.”
The warning bells going off in Tessa’s head were deafening, but the clanging noise was hardly enough to make her step back and away from him. Something about him was pulling at the deepest part of her, urging her to touch him in ways she’d never wanted to touch a man before.
“This isn’t fate,” she tried to reason. “It’s—crazy.”
His soft chuckle fanned her face. “It’s okay to be a little crazy once in a while.”
Her lips parted but not one word would slip past her throat. Yet losing her ability to speak was the least of her worries.
All at once, Joseph Hollister was kissing her and Tessa was certain she’d stepped directly into a dust devil. The spinning wind was quickly sweeping her off her feet and all she could do was hang on to him and wait for the whirling ride to end.
A split second. That’s all it took for desire to take over her brain and, without her even knowing it, her arms slipped around his waist, her lips opened wider. White stars were raining down on her, blinding her, consuming her with heat.
She wasn’t sure if it was the shrill call of a nearby stallion or some indistinguishable sound closer to the house that caught Joseph’s attention and caused him to suddenly step back from her. Either way, the abrupt separation caused her to sway on her feet.
“That was, uh, not planned, Tessa.”
His voice sounded a bit gruff, as though he wasn’t pleased with his impulsive behavior. But at the moment she wasn’t all that concerned with what he was thinking. She was more worried about the desire roiling in the pit of her stomach and screaming at her to step back into his arms. She had to get a grip on herself before she totally lost her senses over this man.
“Um—no. I didn’t think it was,” she said, her voice unsteady. “Planned on your part—or mine. It was just a kiss. So let’s just forget it and move on, shall we?”
Even through the dim lighting she could see he was surveying her face and she could only hope she’d managed, for once, to hide her feelings.
“Forget it. Yeah. Sure. If that’s what you want.”
She didn’t want to forget and move on. But a girl couldn’t always have what she wanted, Tessa reminded herself.
Her throat tight, she forced a faint smile on her face. “Yes. I think that’s best. But just in case you’re wondering—it was a very nice kiss.”
He cleared his throat and reached for her arm. “We’d better get back to the house before Mom sends out a search party.”
They started back to the house and as Tessa matched her strides to his, she realized the kiss he’d just given her had ruined her hopes of ever finding a special man. She’d always be measuring her dates to Joseph and somehow she knew they’d all come up lacking.
Chapter Four
The evening sun was still fiercely hot as Tessa sat on the couch, carefully studying a photo album she’d discovered in a desk in the study. Even if Sam and the Hollisters hadn’t given her a brief description, she would have easily identified Ray Maddox by the sheriff’s badge pinned to his chest.
The early images depicted a tall, stoutly built man with dark hair and a wide, easy smile. His wife, Dottie, had been a petite blonde with sweet, angelic features. But the accident had clearly changed things. In later photos she was always in a wheelchair and Ray was carrying a strained look on his face. Sadly, there were no images of babies or children documented during the couple’s long marriage. Tessa supposed the riding tragedy had taken away all chance for them to have a family. If only the photos could talk, Tessa mused.
The mystery of her link to Ray had continued to nag her, but not nearly as much as thoughts of Joseph Hollister. Three long days had passed since the dinner party at Three Rivers and she was still wondering why he’d kissed her and why she’d responded in such a reckless fashion. Even now she couldn’t stop thinking about the way his lips had tasted, the way the scent of him had filled her head, and how the heat of his body had radiated through hers.
Darn it, she had to stop thinking about his kiss and start figuring out how she was going to ask the man for his help. If she called him, he might get the idea she wanted more of his hot kisses instead of help unraveling the mystery of her inheritance. Or would that kiss they’d shared even enter his mind? Even though the embrace had sent her senses reeling, she figured sharing passionate kisses in the moonlight with a woman was a routine thing for him. He’d probably forgotten the whole thing.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the faint sound of voices coming from somewhere near the front of the house. Lifting her head, she listened intently until she heard the voices again.
Who could that be? Sam had already come and gone for the day.
Tossing the album aside, she curiously hurried over to the window and was totally surprised to see Joseph and a young girl riding horseback up the long, dirt drive. Not only that, Joseph was leading two saddled horses behind him.
Happy excitement rushed through her as she raced out of the house and down the long row of rock steps to meet them.
“Well, hello,” she called out to him, “this is a big surprise.”
Grinning, Joseph lifted his hand in greeting. “That’s why I didn’t call and warn you we were coming.”
“Uncle Joe is that way.” The girl with a blond ponytail spoke up. “He likes to do surprises.”
The two visitors reined their horses to a stop beneath the flimsy shade of a mesquite tree that grew near the retaining wall. Tessa walked over to join them.
“You must be Joseph’s niece, Hannah,” Tessa said as the young girl slid from the saddle and handed the sorrel’s bridle reins over to Joseph. She was dressed all in cowboy gear, including a pair of knee-length chaps edged with long green fringe. Besides looking adorably cute, Tessa could see the girl was as comfortable around a horse as her uncle.
“That’s right,” the girl said with a wide grin. “And you’re Tessa. I can tell because everyone told me you we
re very pretty.”
Everyone? Did that include Joseph? Tessa wasn’t about to ask.
Smiling at the girl, Tessa said, “Thank you for the compliment. But you’re even prettier. You look like your mother.”
Hannah wrinkled her nose. “That’s what everyone says. Thank goodness. I don’t want to look like my dad. He’s a jerk.”
Joseph cut his niece a look of warning, while Tessa cleared her throat and quickly changed the subject.
“So are you two just out enjoying a ride this evening?” she asked.
“Joseph brought you a pair of horses to keep,” Hannah blurted before he had a chance to say anything. “The red roan is Rosie and the black-and-white paint is Rascal. They’re the best of friends. That’s why Uncle Joe picked them. So they’d be happy together.”
Tessa moved to a spot where she could safely view the horses without being in the way. “I see.” She darted a doubtful glance at Joseph, who was busy tying the horses’ reins to an old hitching rail. “But I didn’t know it was safe to keep a mare with a—”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about Rosie having a baby,” Hannah was quick to reassure her. “Rascal is a gelding.”
Tessa could feel her face turning red. Apparently being raised around livestock had already taught Hannah plenty about the birds and bees. “Uh, I just meant that mares are sometimes ill-natured and kick at the males.”
“Oh, not Rosie. She’s sweet. Tell her, Uncle Joe.”
“Rosie is definitely sweet.” His gaze on Tessa, he walked over to where she and Hannah were standing. “Or maybe Rascal is just a lovesick pushover. Either way, you won’t have any problem with them getting along.”
Since Tessa hadn’t seen or heard from Joseph since the dinner party at Three Rivers, she was beginning to think that he’d forgotten about her and his promise about the horses. But now as his pointed gaze met hers, she realized he hadn’t forgotten anything, especially their kiss. The notion pushed her heart rate to a rapid thud.
The Arizona Lawman Page 6
