Charming Jo

by Laura Drewry

  And she’d made it perfectly clear that he wasn’t going to get anything from her, so why wouldn’t he go see Stella?

  The quiet of the house smothered her when she walked in. A small lamp burned in the kitchen, but that was the only light. The coffee pot was still hot to the touch, so she poured herself a cup, blew out the lamp, and went to sit on the porch where it wasn’t so suffocating.

  She sank down on the top step and leaned back against the post. Thin yellow moonlight filtered through the cottonwoods and somewhere high above, a lone meadowlark sang its mournful tune.

  What was she going to do about Travers? Her brain and her heart seemed to be waging some kind of war she’d never known could be fought before now. He was smart, funny, and a strong worker. He made her think things she had no business thinking. And hell if he didn’t have her feeling things she had no business feeling.

  But he was Levi Travers. And right at that moment he was probably doing all sorts of unmentionable things with Stella – things he must have done with LeeAnna Pearson, too. Things he’d probably done with any number of women over the years.

  And that was exactly why she couldn’t let herself give in to his charm. She may be just plain old Joanna McCaine, but she’d rather die a virginal spinster than just be another woman Travers had his way with. Wouldn’t she?

  She used to think so. But knowing he was with Stella tonight was driving her mad. Was it jealousy or curiosity? Levi Travers must be some kind of man if women were willing to give up everything to be with him – even if it was only once. Maybe she should find out what was so great about him, then she could judge for herself.

  Jo took a full mouthful of cold coffee and spat it on the next step before tossing the rest to the ground. Had she been sitting there that long?

  She stood up, stretched and took a final look around the yards. They really had done a lot of work since Travers signed on with them. Hard to believe, but he’d turned out to be exactly the kind of worker she needed. Of course, she’d rather die than admit that out loud, especially to him.

  Hoof beats sounded nearby, and getting closer, so Jo scurried back into the shadows of the porch. She couldn’t have Travers thinking she’d waited up for him.

  Travers and Will rode past, both silent, both looking ready to kill the first person who crossed their path.

  Neither noticed her in the shadows, and she stayed right where she was until they were well past.

  What would have caused them both to be so angry? Probably fighting over Stella. Or Crystal. And if either was the case, then Lefty’s girls were welcome to them both.

  Will’s voice carried over the still night air, but not quite loud enough for Jo to make out the words. Unable to stop herself, she hurried across the yard and hid behind the cottonwoods.

  “All I’m saying is you ain’t yourself these days, Travers. Maybe you need a few more nights with Stella to straighten yourself out.”

  “I’m the exact same person I was a year ago.”

  “No you’re not.” Will sounded confused. “You even said it yourself – calling this place ‘home’.”

  It sounded as though Travers cursed, but if he did, it was too low to hear. She leaned through the trees, keeping in the shadows.

  “Look, Will. In a few weeks, that damned fence’ll be finished. Then once we round up all Jo’s cattle, we’ll be outta here.”

  “You sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure. I don’t want to be here any longer than needs be. And she’s made it pretty clear that she’ll be more than happy to see my dust, too.”

  There was a long pause, some shuffling and the sounds of leather slapping wood. They must have just hung their saddles.

  Travers continued. “I mean it, Will. The sooner we’re gone the better.”

  “What about that Pearson girl?”

  Travers cursed again. “What about her? She’s no concern of mine.”

  A high squeak slipped through Jo’s lips. If he didn’t have a problem walking away from the woman who was carrying his child, he’d have no problem walking away from plain ol’ Jo. She knew it – she’d always known it – but she’d also held onto a tiny shred of hope that she was wrong.

  Now she knew she wasn’t.

  The stable door creaked open, then slammed shut. The two men muttered their good nights and stomped off in different directions.

  Jo fell back against a thick tree, her breath coming in shallow gasps. In a few weeks, Travers would be gone. Gone. Forever.

  She buried her face in her hands, but the tears squeezed out through her fingers. The knot in her stomach twisted so tight she thought she’d double over from the pain. Damn it, why did she care if he left?

  A soft sob escaped her throat.

  “Joanna?”

  Jo nearly leapt from her skin at the sound of Travers’s voice. She dashed her sleeve over her eyes and forced her tongue to work. It’d never taken so much effort before.

  “I-I was just checking to make sure. . .” she paused, swallowed another small sob, then, “that y-you two were still in one piece and able to work come Monday.”

  He stepped forward, his hand reaching toward her, but she ducked away.

  “What’s wrong?” Damn that voice of his! And double damn her weak heart.

  “Nothing.” She sniffed as quietly as she could and lifted her chin a notch.

  “You’ve been crying.”

  She snorted. “I don’t cry, Travers.” At least she didn’t use to. Not unless she was sitting at Mama’s graveside.

  When he took another step closer, she moved further away, started heading back toward the house, but his hand closed around her arm, keeping her from escape.

  “Joanna.” His voice caressed her ears while his fingers did the same to her skin. “Tell me what’s wrong – maybe I can help.”

  She laughed sadly and turned back to him, letting the tears fall freely now. “How can you help, Travers, when you’re what’s wrong with me?”

  His mouth fell open, but no sound came out. He just stood staring at her as if she had two heads.

  A gentle tug was all it took to free her from his grasp. Then she turned and ran all the way back to the house.

  CHAPTER 8

  Joanna wasn’t anywhere around the house when Levi went up for breakfast the next morning. But Mac was.

  And a more hostile man Levi’d never met.

  “Joanna said to let him eat,” Ginny murmured to her husband as she handed Levi a plate of food. “In peace.”

  No one else said a word throughout the meal, almost as though they all knew Mac was going to blast him, but they didn’t want to be the ones to ignite the fuse.

  The ham and eggs might well have been wood chips for all Levi could taste of them, and even though the coffee was scalding hot, he downed it in one long gulp, offered his thanks and headed outside.

  Though he’d questioned his own sanity more often than not lately, Levi wasn’t completely stupid. He knew better than to make Mac come and find him – best to get it over with, and fast.

  Thank God he didn’t have to wait long.

  Mac McCaine stomped out of the house, his hat low over his eyes, his jaw clenched tight, and his thick finger pointed right at Travers.

  “You an’ me are gonna have words.”

  Levi didn’t answer, just followed Mac down to the far barn. The very empty, very quiet barn.

  Mac stopped mid-way down the long narrow aisle between stalls and turned to face Levi. It was more than clear he was fighting to control his rage. The vein in his forehead pulsed faster than was probably good for him and his fingers clenched and unclenched at his sides until it must have become too much.

  Quick as lightening, he pulled back and smashed Levi in the nose with his left fist. Levi stumbled back, but kept to his feet. He made no attempt to swing back or even duck when Mac swung again, this time with his right fist.

  The second punch connected with Levi’s jaw and sent him into the wall, but again, he rema
ined upright. Barely.

  He tried to curb the blood that ran from his nose, but it wasn’t much use. It trickled down his face and into his mouth, leaving a dirty iron taste. Damn, but his face hurt.

  “I told you to leave Joey alone, Travers.” Mac’s voice, though low and even, was more threatening than a cocked .45. “I told you not to go toyin’ with her.”

  “I didn’t--”

  Mac pulled himself back a few steps, but Levi didn’t doubt for a second he was ready to throw a third punch if given half a chance. “Then why the hell was she up all last night crying herself sick?”

  “I--” Levi steadied himself, rubbing his hand across his jaw – damn, but that man could punch. Joanna cried all night? Over him?

  “Don’t tell me you didn’t do anything, you sonuvabitch – I know all about you an’ her carryin’ on out at the fence.”

  Levi winced. Almost felt like Mac had slammed him again.

  “Wipe that stupid look off your face, Travers. Clay told Newt everything.” He paced the width of the aisle. “You’re not stupid enough to think I wouldn’t find out.”

  Levi couldn’t answer, mainly because he had no defense. He’d kissed Joanna, kissed her good and well, too, without a single thought about the consequences. And Clay had seen everything. Of course the boy told Newt – the old codger was like a father to the kid; a rather sorry excuse for a father, but who was Levi to judge?

  With a long exhale, he lifted his head so his gaze leveled with Mac’s. “It didn’t mean anything,” he began, then snapped his mouth closed. Even if that hadn’t been a lie, it wasn’t the explanation Mac was looking for.

  Mac lunged again, this time connecting with Levi’s right eye. “Bastard.”

  Levi fell against the rail and took a long moment to find his balance before he turned again.

  “Jesus, Mac,” he groaned. “If you’d just give me a second--”

  “What for? So you can tell me more about how you used my niece to relieve yourself when you got all horned up?”

  “Wasn’t like that.”

  “No?” Mac’s snort would have done Jo proud. “You just told me it didn’t mean nothin’ to you.”

  “I--”

  “It meant everything to her.”

  Dead silence filled the barn. No words had ever scared Levi more. He licked his suddenly parched lips, his gaze darting around the barn without seeing anything.

  The kiss meant everything to Joanna.

  “I didn’t do anything about it then because I figured Joey knew what she was doing.” Mac’s eyes narrowed to mere slits. “If she’d wanted you dead, she’d have done it herself right then.”

  The fact she hadn’t killed him that day was still a bit of a shock to Levi. Mac tipped his head toward Levi’s saddle.

  “Pick up your gear and get your ass as far off this land as you can, you hear me?”

  “Mac, listen--” Levi’s head pounded with every breath. He wiggled his jaw a little, relieved to find it still able to move at all.

  “You ain’t got nothing to say I want to hear, Travers.” The tight lines around Mac’s mouth eased a little. Not much, but a little. “Can’t believe I let you fool me, too. I almost believed you could be trusted.”

  “I didn’t try to fool anyone, Mac. And you can trust me.” Dammit, why did any of this even matter?

  “Bullshit. You’re nothing but a lying, no-good, yellow-bellied coward.” The tightness returned to Mac’s face – and his voice. “I don’t know what you did to make Joey cry like that, and I don’t care. All I know is I ain’t never seen her like that. And you’re the one who caused it.”

  He bobbed his head toward the gear again. “Now get off this land before I do what Pearson should have done to you months ago.”

  “What about the fence?”

  “That ain’t none of your concern.”

  Levi inhaled a long breath, then risked his neck by taking a step toward Mac. “If you’d let me explain. . .”

  But there’d be no explaining; the murderous look Mac gave him made that pretty clear.

  “You’ve got ten minutes to get off this ranch. After that, I swear to God I’ll shoot you myself.”

  With that, Mac walked out, leaving Levi alone in the barn.

  The quiet surrounded him; the emptiness echoing back the sounds of his breathing. Still, it was nothing compared to the huge gaping emptiness in his gut.

  o0o

  “You did what?” Jo’s eyes nearly bugged from her skull. “Christ Almighty, Mac – have you lost your mind?”

  “Joanna!” Ginny gasped. “Such language.”

  But Jo didn’t even pretend to pay her aunt any mind. “You can’t just fire him like that – we need him!”

  “The hell we do, Joey.” She’d never seen, or heard, Mac so angry. “We’ll do just fine without him – we’ve managed so far.”

  “Yeah,” she snorted. “And look where that’s gotten us. Half the God-damned herd’s gone missing and with round-up coming up, we’re sure as hell going to lose most of what’s left.”

  “You don’t know that.” Mac sipped his coffee as though it was any other meal time.

  “Yes, I do, Mac, and so do you.” Jo pushed her plate back and shoved out of her chair. “I’m going after him.”

  Mac jumped up, too, and blocked her path. “You’ll do no such thing.”

  “Get out of my way, Mac. We need him to get the fence built.”

  “No we don’t. You an’ me can build it.” Doubt flicked over his eyes, but disappeared just as fast. “There’s not that much left to go, anyway.”

  “And if you come in to work the fence, who’s going to tend the herd?” Panic pooled in her veins. Levi couldn’t be gone already. She wasn’t ready for him to leave. Not even close to ready.

  “We’ve still got Simon and Jimmy.”

  “Oh my God.” Jo laughed in disbelief. “Those two couldn’t herd themselves! And you’re the one who’s so worried about what goes on out there when you’re not watching them.”

  Mac shrugged. “We’ll make it work somehow. Maybe Will could take over either the fence or the herd.” His old eyes looked so tired. “Anyone but Travers.”

  “Will’s still here?” Carrie suddenly piped up, a slow smile curling her lips. Jo ignored her.

  “Will’s already running double duty between the fence and the herd,” Jo said. “You know that.”

  “Maybe Newt--”

  Jo threw her hands up. “Listen to what you’re saying, Mac. You think Newt would be any use on the fence? He can’t even hold the hammer for Christ’s sake.”

  “Then maybe with the herd.”

  “No,” she cried. “Not with the herd, either. If he can’t hold a hammer, Mac, how well do you think he’d do trying to rope a crazed bull? Hell – I could probably do a better job of roping than Newt.”

  “Are you sure Will didn’t leave with Levi?” Carrie asked. “They’re very close, you know.”

  Jo clicked her tongue at her sister, then made for the door again.

  “Joanna,” Mac began, but she moved past him. “He’s only going to hurt you again.”

  Jo’s feet froze beneath her. So that’s what it came down to – Mac was trying to protect her, not the ranch. If only he knew the truth; that he couldn’t protect her from herself.

  “Mac, whatever happened between me and Travers--” she stopped Carrie’s interruption with a raised hand. “Which was nothing but a kiss, won’t happen again. It was just as much my fault as it was his.”

  “No, Joey, it wasn’t.” Mac shook his head hard. “Travers is a no-good sonuvabitch who took advantage of you.”

  “No.” Her laugh was dry and humorless. “He didn’t. I could have stopped him whenever I wanted to.” She paused, inhaled, and let it out slowly. “But I didn’t want to. I let him kiss me, Mac.”

  Carrie’s face broke out in a huge smile, as Ginny’s gasp filled the room. “Joanna!”

  “What?” she turned to face her aunt. “I
’m supposed to pretend I don’t want to be kissed? Sorry, Ginny, but I do.” Mac’s stare burned a hole through the back of her head, but she continued anyway. “I might not act much like a lady most of the time, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel the same things you do.”

  Ginny’s mouth opened, but she didn’t make a sound. Carrie bounced up and down in her chair, clapping her hands. “Thank goodness,” she squealed. “Now you can come with us to San Francisco.”

  “Doesn’t mean I’m going to let it happen again,” Jo continued, completely ignoring her sister. “I’m not stupid, and I know what kind of man he is.”

  She turned back to Mac and looked at him pointedly. “He was with Stella last night, that’s part of the reason I was upset.” Mac and Ginny didn’t need to know that the very idea of Travers leaving the ranch made Jo want to cry all over again. “But that’s only because I in as much told him to go. He’s never promised me anything and I’ve no one to blame but myself for what I do or how I feel.”

  Mac’s fingers tightened around the back of his chair, but he kept his mouth squeezed shut.

  “I’m going to get him.” Jo kept her voice even. “And he’s going to stay here until the fence is finished. Then – and only then – will I let him, or anyone else, leave this ranch.”

  Ginny stepped toward her, taking her hand and sandwiching it between her own. “But you were so upset last night.”

  For someone who hated this kind of talk, Jo was sure bringing a lot of it down on herself this afternoon.

  “Yes, I was. But it’s not his fault I’m an idiot.” She forced a small smile and kissed her aunt’s cheek. “We need him here, and I’m going to bring him back.”

  “Joey--” Mac began, but she cut him off.

  “I appreciate you looking out for me, but this fence is more important than me shedding a few tears.” Mac didn’t look the least bit convinced. “Besides, in a few weeks, Travers and Brennan will be long gone and then things can get back to normal. Whatever that means around here.”

  She smiled at Mac, but he didn’t smile back. Fact was, he looked even more determined than ever to keep Travers off their land. But Jo needed that damned fence built. That, and she needed to see him again, to be near him again, even if she wouldn’t let herself touch him. Just having him close by would be enough.