Heart Of Texas (Historical Romance)

by Constance O'Banyon

  Casey interrupted her sister, because it was apparent Kate did not want the woman to know that Gabe was working at the Spanish Spur. "Jenny, eat your sandwich."

  The child took a bite and mumbled.

  "And, jenny, don't talk with your mouth full," Casey scolded her.

  It was late in the afternoon when they finally started back to the ranch. This time Kate was driving, and Casey was seated up front beside her. Sam was sitting in back with a sleeping jenny curled up on his lap.

  "How was your meeting with Murdock?" Kate asked, slowing the horses on a steep incline. "Oh, Kate, I couldn't wait to tell you the news."

  Casey was still dazed by the meeting with the attorney, and it was difficult to accept that they no longer had to worry about money. "Uncle Bob didn't owe anyone anything. And he left us with a good deal of money-at least, I think it's a great deal."

  Kate grinned. "I thought he might have some money, 'cause he never spent much. I 'spect he was saving it for you kids. That's the kind of man he was. I never knew a better one."

  "Kate, he left you the house you live in."

  At first it didn't appear that Kate had heard what Casey said, because she gazed into the distance. After she could speak, her eyes shimmered with tears. "That old man was determined to have the last word." She dabbed at her eyes. "I didn't reckon on him doing that." She paused another moment. "I do declare-he did that for me?"

  Casey had already begun to love the small woman who watched over them so faithfully. "You will always have a home with us. Even if our uncle hadn't left you the house, we would not have let you leave us. You were our first friend here in Texas, maybe our only friend."

  "I feel like you're family. But you are wrong when you say I'm your only friend. Gabe will stand by you in any trouble that comes your way."

  "I think so, too. And so did Mr. Murdock."

  "Hmm. Did the attorney say anything else about Gabe?"

  "No. He hadn't seen him in several years and didn't know Gabe had returned to Mariposa Springs." Casey sighed. "Mr. Murdock warned us about Mr. Slaughter."

  "Don't you fret none, honey. You have Gabe looking after you. And that's a powerful lot."

  "I don't know why he's helping us, but I'm glad he is."

  "'Cause that's the kind of man he is."

  "You like him, don't you?"

  "Yeah. I like him and respect him." She grinned. "I wish I was as beautiful as you are and as young, so I could go after him." She chuckled. "He'd be the man for me."

  Casey studied her with a serious expression. "I got the feeling you didn't want Miss Turner to know that Gabe was at the Spanish Spur."

  "If he wants her to know he's back, he can do the telling. Time was when people thought those two would one day marry. At least, that's what Betsy was telling 'round. Course, Gabe may have had other ideas, 'cause he never went near her much. She's never married, and it's almost like she's been just waiting for Gabe to come back." Kate met Casey's gaze. "Course, I could be all wrong, but that's the way I see it."

  Casey felt a prickle of jealousy that she didn't have any right to feel. "She's very pretty."

  "Um-hmm. Like one of those dolls I once saw in a store window in San Antone. And with about as much emotion, the way I see it."

  Casey watched the setting sun as they pulled through the gates of the Spanish Spur. It felt like coming home. And Gabe would be there. She wondered how it would feel to be loved by a man like him?

  He was dangerous-she could see that by the hard look in his silver eyes-but she was no longer afraid of him. She had begun to depend on him for so much. Casey also wondered what she would do when he left. There was a restlessness in him, and she knew he would one day move on.

  How would she survive when that day came?

  Gabe was waiting for them when Kate halted the buckboard in front of the house.

  Casey watched him walk toward them, and her heart did a somersault. He was so handsome, tall, lean. He was everything she had ever dreamed of in a man.

  He approached Casey's side of the wagon with a grim expression on his face. "Miss Hamilton, Sam, I need to talk to the two of you."

  Kate took a sleeping Jenny in her arms. "I'll just put this little one to bed for you."

  "Sam," Gabe began, "the cattle we drove into the pen yesterday are all dead." He looked from Sam to Casey. "The deed was done deliberately, and you can pretty well guess Cyrus was behind it."

  Sam was stunned and angry at the same time. "They're all dead?"

  "Just a newborn calf survived. I put it in one of the stalls in the barn and bottle-fed it, but I don't think it'll live."

  Sam looked from his sister to Gabe. "We should ride into town and tell the sheriff what's happened. Surely he will do something about this."

  "I wouldn't look for help in that direction. Sheriff Burford owes his job to Cyrus. He might as well be working for him, because he won't do anything that goes against him. Besides, we have no proof."

  "Then what can we do?" Casey asked in frustration, feeling sick inside.

  "There is nothing we can do tonight," Gabe told them. "Let's get some sleep, and we'll talk about it tomorrow."

  Sam shook his head. "I want to ride over to Casa Mesa right now and confront that man. He has no right to kill our cattle!"

  Casey laid her hand on her brother's shoulder. "That's exactly what we shouldn't do, because it's probably what Mr. Slaughter will expect." She glanced up at Gabe for verification. "Am I right about that?"

  Gabe liked the way Casey gently nudged her brother in the right direction. Once again he was reminded of her strength and courage. And he could see the tired lines around her eyes and knew that worrying was taking a lot out of her. He already knew she didn't get enough sleep. He wanted to draw her to him and make everything all right in her life. "You're exactly right."

  "I don't want him to get away with this," Sam stated with anger. "There has to be something we can do."

  "Slaughter won't get away with it, Sam," Casey assured him. "But we can't do anything about it tonight, so start unloading the wagon. I want to speak to Gabe."

  Sam looked like he wanted to object, but she watched him walk to the back of the wagon, lift a twenty-pound bag of flour on his back, and head toward the house.

  When she glanced back at Gabe, he could see the uncertainty in her eyes. "I wish I could protect Sam from this kind of worry. He's so young to face such a bad situation."

  Gabe's voice was deep with concern. "And you? What about you?"

  She smiled shyly at him. "In case you hadn't noticed, we Hamilton women are a stubborn lot. Surely you have noticed this trait in jenny."

  He wanted to tell her that she was the one who had the strength. It was she who held the family together against impossible odds. He wanted to make her heart and spirit his. "I have noticed that trait in both of you."

  Sam had returned for another load, and they both watched him shoulder a bag of potatoes. Casey was so aware of Gabe standing close to her that if she followed her heart, she would reach out and touch him. She could hear his intake of breath, and she closed her eyes for a moment to marshal her thoughts in a different, safer direction.

  "Gabe, you knew we had gone into Mariposa Springs to see my uncle's attorney."

  He watched as a slight breeze drifted through her long, silken hair, rippling it at her shoulders. He had to fight the urge to reach out and take a handful of the soft curls and bury his face in them. He was close enough to smell the sweet scent she wore. He hadn't known women could be soft and sweet, yet still strong. "You did mention that to me."

  "My brother and I were stunned by what Mr. Murdock told us." She glanced into his eyes. "My uncle left us enough money to pay your salary and hire other men to help you. I have talked this over with Sam, and we both agreed that we would like you to stay on as foreman of the Spanish Spur. Later we can work out the details of your wages." She looked uncertain as he propped his booted foot on the wagon wheel. "Do you find that acceptable?" />
  "It's never been about the money-I think you know that."

  Casey heard the warmth in his voice, and she tried to think why else he would stay on at a ranch that was the target of Mr. Slaughter's greed. "My family will always be indebted to you for offering to stay on without pay. But we don't like to owe anyone. Now, because of my uncle's generosity, we can repay you for your kindness."

  For a reason he didn't understand, Gabe suddenly felt anger boiling inside him. He wasn't sure what he wanted from her, but it sure wasn't her money. "Go on in the house and get some rest. I'll help Sam unload the wagon."

  "And you will consider staying on as foreman?"

  "We'll speak of that another time."

  She heard the anger in his voice and wondered at the reason for it. What had she said wrong? "I know I've already said this, but my family is indebted to you."

  "Don't be," he said bitingly. "I have reasons of my own for helping you."

  Casey had drifted off to sleep, but she awoke when a sharp pain shot through her shoulder. She sat up in bed, wanting to cry, it hurt so badly. Quietly she got up and went into the kitchen so she could get a carrot. She then headed for the horse paddock, a habit she had developed since coming here. The chestnut gelding came over to her and accepted his reward. She ran her hand across the horse's sleek neck, and tried to forget that her shoulder was bothering her.

  Tonight her mind was particularly troubled about the cattle that had been poisoned. And the cattle that were missing, if what Mr. Murdock said was true. What kind of man would do such a thing? She shuddered.

  What kind, indeed?

  She absently ran her hand across the horse's mane. If she were looking for the silver lining in their situation, as her father had always advised her to do, she must be grateful that they had a home, and that their uncle had left them money.

  But money wouldn't help them in the situation they faced. Mr. Slaughter was the most vicious man she had ever known. When she thought of how he had treated his own son and daughter, it made her sick inside. The daughter was dead, and the son probably was too-at least Gabe had indicated that he might be.

  How could her family survive in the face of such evil? What would they do when Mr. Slaughter came calling a second time?

  Gabe stood in the shadows of the bunkhouse watching Casey. He knew she came there almost every night, and he found himself waiting for her to appear. There was a part of him that wanted to approach her, take her in his arms, and hold her against his body. But the time would come when she would discover who he was, and then she would probably despise him.

  He watched her lay her face against the horse's neck. Then he heard her cry out in pain when the horse made a sudden move that twisted her body.

  Casey leaned her head against the fence, not allowing herself to cry. She could tell her shoulder was getting worse; she should have asked Kate today if there was a doctor in town who could take a look at it.

  "What's wrong with your shoulder?"

  She lifted her head and found Gabe standing beside her. "I... It's nothing. I injured it that day our wagon got stuck in the Brazos. I thought it would have healed by now, but it still bothers me sometimes."

  "And you haven't said anything about it before now?"

  "I didn't want to worry anyone."

  "Is it getting worse?"

  "I... Yes."

  "Come with me." He left no room for argument. "I'll need to have a look at it in the light."

  She started to follow him before she realized he was heading toward the bunkhouse. "I can't go in there with you."

  He turned to her, took her hand, and urged her forward. "Getting that shoulder tended to is more important than your modesty, Miss Hamilton."

  Hesitantly she took a step. "It isn't proper."

  His clasp on her hand wasn't tight, but it was firm, and he brought her forward. In that moment she had a feeling he could right every wrong in her life if she would only allow it. She stepped onto the porch, and he held the door for her to go inside. She hadn't been there since the day she'd cleaned it. In the soft lamplight, she noticed that Gabe had neat habits.

  His clothing was hung on pegs, and two pairs of boots were lined up along the wall. He didn't seem to have many possessions, and that made her sad. Did he have so little that he could fit it all into a saddlebag?

  He led her closer to the lamp before he relinquished her hand. "Since you are so modest, just turn your back to me and unbutton your gown enough to slip it down so I can get a look at your shoulder."

  She backed away from him, shaking her head. "I can't do that!"

  He took her arm and gently pulled her forward. "How else can I look at your shoulder?"

  "I-"

  "If it isn't healing, you may need a doctor to look at it, but I won't know until I see for myself. Would you like me to unbutton your gown?" His gaze dipped to the swell of her breasts and then he met her gaze. "Would you?"

  "No." She turned her back to the lamp and unbuttoned two buttons. She felt his hand on her shoulder and felt her stomach tighten, not in fear, but with something else-a need to feel him touch her all over. She swallowed as he slid the edge of the dress off her shoulder.

  "You will have to unbutton more buttons. I can't see all of the injury."

  With trembling fingers, she undid two more buttons, then reluctantly a third.

  His hands were gentle as he slid her gown down further. She closed her eyes when his hand paused at the strap of her chemise; then he pushed it down as well. He was silent as he looked at her wound.

  "Dammit, Casey, there's a deep cut here, and there's bruising around it as well. Why didn't you at least have Kate look at it before now?"

  It was the first time he had spoken her name, and she liked the way he pronounced it. "I really thought it would get better on its own."

  "I know you by now-you didn't want your brother or sister to know you'd been hurt," he said with certainty. "Didn't it occur to you that it might get infected if it wasn't treated?"

  "I hoped it wouldn't."

  She looked delicate and soft, but anyone who took that for a sign of weakness in her would be wrong. Pulling his mind back to her injury, he probed around the wound, trying not to notice that her skin was every bit as smooth as he'd thought it would be. The arch of her neck invited his touch, and he ached to do just that. He breathed deeply and tore his gaze away from the creamy slope of her back. He slid his hand along her shoulder blade and felt a tightening in his gut.

  "Does that hurt)"

  She nodded. "Not so very much."

  "I think it hurts like hell." His gaze went back to her graceful neck, and he saw the blush that tinted her cheek. He swore under his breath, knowing he was causing her embarrassment, and he was about to cause her pain. "At least you didn't dislocate your shoulder. But the wound is deep, and I'm going to have to clean it."

  "Will it be bad?"

  "I won't lie to you. It'll hurt like hell."

  He felt her tremble. "Just do it quickly."

  He eased her down on the edge of his cot and felt her body stiffen. If he didn't handle this right, she would surely take flight. He attempted to put her at ease by distracting her. "I found you a milk cow at the Bolson farm. I put her in the barn, in the second stall. Now you can stop worrying that your brother and sister don't have milk to drink."

  She smiled slightly. "Once again, I am in your debt."

  He had never wanted to kiss a woman as badly as he wanted to kiss her at that moment. He could only imagine how soft her lips would be beneath his seeking mouth. "Just sit still," he said gruffly, "while I gather what I need."

  She glanced up at him while attempting to pull the front of her gown together. "I will."

  He would have liked nothing better at that moment than to lay her down on his bed and cover her body with his. He felt himself swell and harden, and he cursed under his breath.

  Gabe managed to drag his attention back to her injury. In the not-too-distant future their live
s would take a different turn, and he would have to leave. He knew if he kissed her, he would never be able to ride away when that time came.

  After he had gathered everything he needed, he knelt down beside her, his feelings raw and close to the surface. "First," he told her, "I am going to cleanse the wound. That's the part that'll hurt the most. Hold still." He dabbed at the wound, wishing he did not have to cause her more pain.

  She sucked in her breath, and tears gathered in her eyes as the wound burned painfully. She relaxed a bit when he applied soothing ointment, then winced when he taped the bandage in place.

  Gabe was reluctant to move away from her, but after he had eased her gown back onto her shoulder, he could think of no excuse to linger.

  "You should have Kate look at this tomorrow."

  His thigh brushed against her leg when he stood, and she felt a shock go through her whole body. She quickly buttoned her gown. When he held out his hand, she allowed him to help her stand.

  "Thank you."

  He smiled down at her and reached out to untangle a curl from the back of her gown. "Anytime, boss lady."

  Casey edged toward the door and rushed outside. He stood for a long time without moving.

  He couldn't remember when he had wanted a woman so much. He'd been with a few, but they had disappeared from his thoughts as soon as he left them. He had a feeling he would remember this one a long time after he'd left the Spanish Spur.

  Casey slowed her steps when she reached the house. Her heart was beating so fast she could hardly catch her breath. She could still feel the touch of his hand on her skin. When he had knelt beside her, they had been so close she could see the stubble where he needed to shave.

  When he'd glanced up at her, Casey had lowered her gaze. But no matter what she tried, her gaze went back to him. He must have just bathed, because his hair had still been wet, and she had wanted to push her fingers through the dampness. She wanted desperately to touch him, to lay her head against his shoulder and cry out all the pain that had been building inside her since her father's death.

  She quietly opened the door and went inside the dark house. It was stuffy in the room she shared with jenny. She opened the window and stared out into the night while she flexed her shoulder. It could have been her imagination, but it seemed to feel better already.