Pearl

by Ruth Ryan Langan

  “He’s lucky he found you first.” Cal polished off the pie and drained his coffee. “If you ever grow tired of your husband, keep me in mind. You’re every cowboy’s dream.”

  “You’ll never marry, Cal,” Diamond said as she finished her meal.

  He arched a brow. “And why is that, Di?”

  “Because you’re already married to this ranch. Pa used to say you love this place the way a man loves a woman.”

  “He was right.” Cal’s voice softened, as did his eyes.

  “That is true,” Carmelita said with a laugh as she lowered the dishes into a pan of warm water that had been heating on the stove. “Besides, according to Cookie, you would break the heart of every woman at Buck’s saloon if you ever decided to settle down with a wife.”

  Pearl set down her cup with a clatter, causing some of the tea to slosh over the rim. She glanced around to see if anyone had noted her reaction.

  “Speaking of Buck’s...” Cal pushed away from the table and reached for the black jacket draped over the back of his chair. Slipping it on, he buttoned it. “I figure by now the wranglers are itching to ride to town.” He nodded his head slightly, acknowledging the others.

  When his gaze lingered a moment longer than necessary on Pearl, he pulled himself together. He had an itch of his own to scratch. “I’ll say good-night.”

  “Wait,” Diamond called.

  He paused at the door.

  “We haven’t decided about Pearl’s schoolhouse.”

  “We’ll talk about it in the morning.”

  “Adam and I are going to Abilene tomorrow.” Diamond closed her hand over Adam’s, and the two of them stared at each other with a look of love that was nearly blinding in its intensity. “From there we’re taking a train to Maryland.”

  “Maryland?” Cal’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you said you’d never go back to your home, Adam.”

  Adam Winter nodded. “I never expected to go. But there’s a bull I’m interested in. Bred in Scotland. And I thought it would give Diamond a chance to see where I was born.”

  “And since we’ll be gone for several weeks,” Diamond put in, “I think we’d better resolve this issue about the schoolhouse before we go.”

  “For what it is worth, chérie,” Ruby said with a throaty chuckle, “I vote in the affirmative.”

  “As do I,” Jade said softly.

  “Me too,” Diamond said with a vigorous nod of her head. “Though I agree with Cal that there could be some risk to our ranch security, I see the need for a school.”

  They turned to the man in the doorway, hoping their unanimous defense of Pearl would sway him.

  “I vote no,” Cal said quickly, avoiding Pearl’s eyes.

  They watched as he strode out into the gathering darkness. A few minutes later, they heard the sound of horses’ hooves, as Cal and the wranglers headed out.

  In his absence, silence, like the darkness, settled over the Jewel ranch.

  Pearl was awakened from sleep by the pounding of hooves, signaling the return of Cal and the wranglers. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut and snuggled deeper under the blankets, determined not to think about Cal McCabe. But her mind could not be closed as easily as her eyes. Heat curled deep inside her at the thought of the way he’d dragged her against him and kissed her. A kiss that had left her breathless. And continued to rob her of breath each time she thought of it. His body had been lean and hard and muscled. As different as possible from her own.

  Maybe that was what had excited her. He was unlike anyone she’d ever encountered. But, she warned herself, that was no excuse for the way she’d responded. Shame burned through her each time she remembered it.

  She heard the footfall on the stairs and knew that Cal was making his way to his room. Suddenly, without warning, the footsteps paused outside her door.

  She sat up, shoving tangled curls from her eyes. The door was thrust inward with such force it reverberated around the room. She strained in the darkness to make out the shadowy figure who paused in the doorway.

  “Cal?” Her voice was soft, muffled. “What...is it? What’s wrong?”

  He strode in an uneven gait across the room, not stopping until he reached the side of her bed.

  Moonlight spilled through a crack in the draperies, bathing her in a pool of silvery light. Her lacy ivory night shift had slipped, baring one shoulder. In her agitated state, she took no notice.

  But Cal did.

  He felt a rush of heat that had nothing to do with the long, hard ride from town or the warmth from the fireplace across the room. This fire started in his belly and moved upward until even the hair at the back of his neck was damp with sweat.

  His gaze slid from the swell of breasts visible beneath the gown to the gentle slope of her naked shoulder. He wondered idly what the prim and proper Pearl would do if he dragged her into his arms and pressed his lips to that pale column of flesh.

  Hadn’t he wondered what it would be like to muss her hair? Now his gaze strayed to the spill of tangled blond curls. He could almost feel his fingers combing through the silken strands. He had to clench his hands into fists to keep from reaching out to her.

  Her eyes were wide with surprise, and her lips rounded in an unspoken question. He had spoken not a word. And the longer he stood there, watching her, the more nervous she became.

  “What is it, Cal?” Her chest heaved, and the blanket slipped lower, causing his gaze to follow. “What’s wrong?”

  With an effort, he seemed to pull himself back from his dark thoughts. He turned away. And bumped squarely into the door. He swore, softly but fiercely, under his breath.

  Though Pearl had little firsthand knowledge of men, she was reminded of her father. During Onyx Jewel’s infrequent visits to her Boston home, she had heard her mother’s soft, urgent whispers as she helped him to his bed after a visit to the local inn.

  Without thought to her lack of modesty, she swung her legs free of the covers and hurried to the door.

  “What in the world were you thinking of, coming into my room —”

  The need to feel her was so great, he actually reached out a hand to her, cutting off her words. For the space of a heartbeat, he thought about dragging her into his arms and kissing her lips until she was breathless. Then, suddenly coming to his senses, he snatched his hand away as if he’d been burned. His eyes hardened. His voice deepened with anger. “Go back to bed.”

  “Not until —”

  “I said go back to bed, Pearl.”

  “You’re drunk,” she said accusingly.

  He swore. “Not nearly drunk enough.”

  Stung by his abrupt tone, she whispered, “Then you should have stayed in town until you did a proper job of it.”

  “My thoughts exactly.” He stepped through the doorway, firmly pulling the door shut behind him.

  As he crossed the hall to his own room, he cursed and called himself every kind of fool.

  Balancing on the edge of the bed, he struggled to remove his boots. As each one hit the floor, he added another oath of disgust.

  After a lonely month at the line camp, he’d found himself resisting the pleasures offered by Buck’s women tonight. And all because of one damnably independent little prude who’d kept slipping into his mind, ruining his poker game, spoiling any fun he might have had. A female who probably didn’t care if he lived or died. A female who didn’t know the first thing about men. Who wouldn’t know what to do with a man if she found one in her bed.

  He tossed aside his gunbelt, then his shirt and pants, and sprawled naked across the big bed. The mattress shifted beneath his weight. He pressed an arm across his eyes, hoping to blot out all thought. But it was impossible. She was there in his mind, all shimmery in the moonlight. Taunting him. Tormenting him. Causing an ache unlike anything he’d ever known.

  Across the hall, Pearl lay in her bed, wondering what she had done to make Cal hate her so. Was it merely the fact that she wanted to open a schoolhouse for the town’s
children? Was that what had brought out this anger? Or was there something more?

  She’d never before provoked such intense feelings in another human being. She didn’t know how to react. Should she ignore him? Try to make him see her point of view?

  The man confused her. He’d kissed her. Kissed her as she’d never been kissed before. She touched a finger to her lips. In fact, she could still taste that kiss. It had been shocking, unexpected, jolting.

  But it had also hinted of darker, more intense feelings. Violence? Was there a violent side to Cal that she ought to fear? She knew nothing about him. His past. Even his present life. All she knew was that her father had loved him, and trusted him enough to give him a piece of this ranch. But who was he, really? What was he?

  Oh, if only she knew about men. But the only man she had ever known was her father. And Onyx’s visits had been so sporadic, she’d had little time to uncover any depth to him. The only thing she knew for certain was that Onyx Jewel had lifted her mother to the heights of ecstasy. And had broken her heart.

  Pearl’s confusion slowly gave way to anger. Damn Cal McCabe. He had no right to intrude himself into her life. She had a right to use her education, her talents, to help others. And if he didn’t like it, that was his problem. After all, she owned a piece of this ranch, too. That gave her some rights.

  Closing her eyes tightly against the light of the moon, she rolled onto her side, determined to put all thought of the rough, tough ranch foreman out of her mind.

  Chapter Four

  The sun was already high in the sky. A sky so clear, so cloudless, it hurt to look at it. Especially since Cal’s eyes burned as though they’d been through a sandstorm. His mouth felt as if it was stuffed with a wool sock. And instead of the pleasant satisfaction he usually enjoyed after a night at Buck’s, he was as cranky as a bobcat with his tail in a trap.

  And all because of a female who’d gotten under his hide. A female who didn’t have a lick of sense. A female who was as out of place in Texas as a cowboy in Boston.

  Not that he cared about her, he reminded himself. It was just that she irritated him. Like a burr that couldn’t be dislodged.

  He stalked to the barn and saddled his mount. Seeing the murderous look in his eyes, the wranglers gave him a wide berth.

  “Let’s get this herd moving,” he called as he headed toward the corral. It was already high noon. The branding had begun at sunup, and the strays were ready to join the larger herd.

  “Right.” One of the cowboys opened the gate to the holding pen, and the cattle were prodded until they began to follow the lead steer.

  “I’ll take point!” Cal shouted. He had no intention of eating their dust.

  The procession moved out, with Cal and two other wranglers riding in front.

  The eggs and corn bread he’d washed down with strong black coffee sloshed in his stomach. He should have skipped the breakfast Carmelita had pressed on him. But he’d accepted, hoping the food would steady his jumping nerves.

  “We’ll take them over Poison Creek and up toward the north range,” Cal called to the others.

  They nodded, and he gave his horse its head, lifting his face to the sun. Maybe, if he was lucky, he’d feel human by suppertime.

  His mount splashed through the waters of the creek and scrambled up the other side. There Cal was joined by two other cowboys.

  As they rounded a corner of a small vacant shed, they were forced to come to an abrupt halt, sending dust spewing and chickens squawking.

  “What in hell is going on here?” Cal demanded.

  Half a dozen ranch hands were busily unloading boxes and parcels from a wagon. One of them looked up and said sheepishly, “Just doing what we’re told, Cal.”

  “Who’s giving the orders?” he demanded.

  The cowboy nodded toward the open door of the shed.

  Cal slid from the saddle and pushed his way through the crowd. Standing in the midst of the wranglers was Pearl, calling out directions in her proper Boston accent.

  “That box can go over there, by the shelf. And you can set that smaller one over here beside my desk...”

  The words died in her throat. The man in her line of vision had cost her a night’s sleep. The look in his eyes had her hand going to her throat. Composing herself, she lifted her head in that familiar haughty gesture that never failed to annoy him. “Good morning. I hope you had no trouble finding your bed.”

  She looked as pretty as a Texas bluebell. Her gown was the same color as her eyes, and, as usual, buttoned clear to her throat. The skirt was full, gathered here and there with darker blue ribbons. Her only concession to the job at hand had been to roll her sleeves to the elbows, and to add a spotless white apron that emphasized her tiny waist.

  He had to swallow twice before he managed to speak. “No trouble at all.”

  “I trust you slept well.”

  “Slept like a bear in hibernation.” Liar, he thought. He’d spent the worst night of his life.

  “And today? It looks like you and your men are headed —”

  He held up his hand to silence her. He was no good at small talk. Instead, he got directly to the point. “What in hell do you think you’re doing?”

  She turned away, to escape his burning gaze. “What does it look like? I’m preparing my schoolhouse.”

  “Just like that? With no further discussion?”

  She nodded and began to unload books from a tapestry valise that she’d brought all the way from Boston. “There was nothing more to discuss. Diamond, Jade and Ruby agreed with my decision to teach. Yours was the only objection.” She glanced over her shoulder. “The vote is cast. The ayes have it. Discussion closed.”

  He turned a furious scowl on the wranglers. “Get out,” he snapped, causing them to deposit their burdens and scurry from the cabin. “Miss Jewel and I need a few minutes to discuss some things.”

  “But I...” she began.

  It was too late. He slammed the door behind the last wrangler, then leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest.

  She was feeling very much alone. And determined not to show it. She would not be intimidated by this tough-talking Texan.

  “Do you know what you’re doing?” he demanded.

  Unnerved, she turned her back on him. “Unpacking books.”

  “You know what I mean.” He stepped closer and caught her arm, forcing her to stop. But she refused to meet his eyes, knowing what she would see there.

  “I’m preparing a classroom so the children of Hanging Tree will learn something about the world beyond Texas.”

  His fingers tightened on her arm. At some other time, in some other place, he might have acknowledged the sexual jolt. Right now, anger was the only emotion he would admit to. “You’re inviting everyone in town to trespass on our property.”

  She was determined to ignore the heat generated by his touch. “Is that so terrible?”

  “You don’t understand, do you?” There was a note of disdain in his voice that wounded her more deeply than a blow could have. His voice was low and angry, his breath hot against her cheek. “Onyx Jewel built an empire in the middle of nowhere. That makes a lot of people more than just curious. It makes them jealous.”

  “What has that to do with...?”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to understand. Onyx may have been your father, but he was practically a stranger to you. And the ways of Texas aren’t always the ways of the rest of the country.” His tone sharpened, as though he were addressing a witless child. “Always before, we’ve had control over the land. No one crossed onto Jewel property without being challenged for trespassing. Now, if someone should decide to spoil our water supply, steal our cattle or damage our buildings, how will we stop him if the place is crawling with strangers?”

  “I...don’t know. I never gave it any thought,” she admitted grudgingly.

  He grasped her other arm and turned her fully to face him. As before, the touch of her had his nerves jangling, his heart
racing. His voice warmed, turning persuasive. “It isn’t too late to put a halt to this foolishness. You need time,” he said urgently, “to really think this through.”

  Foolishness? He thought her dream a folly? Oh, how she intended to prove him wrong. “It’s already too late. I sent a wrangler into town this morning with a letter to Reverend Weston.”

  “A letter?”

  She nodded. “Asking him to announce to all the families with children that I would begin teaching school on Monday.”

  Cal dropped his hands to his sides, clenching them into fists. He made a sound of disgust before turning away. At the door he said, “You couldn’t wait, could you? You’ve just knocked down a very well-constructed dam. A dam that’s managed to hold back dozens of adversaries in the past years. I hope you’re ready for the flood that’s bound to follow.”

  “I’m sorry you feel so strongly about this.”

  “Sorry doesn’t stop the rain.” Without a backward glance, he hauled open the door and strode out, slamming it behind him with such force the windows rattled.

  A minute later, the sound of galloping hoofbeats signalled that he’d ridden off to rejoin the herd.

  The sun dropped behind Widow’s Peak, trailing ribbons of blood in its wake. The foothills were bathed in lavender shadows.

  As always, the effects of Cal’s night in town had been purged by a couple of days filled with hard, satisfying work. Long after the wranglers had finished their jobs, he’d remained with the herd, seeing to all the details, not only because he was needed, but because he wanted to put some distance between himself and the object of so much of his anger. Pearl Jewel. He was still shocked by the way she’d affected him the other night. After only a couple of drinks, he’d behaved like an absolute fool, tearing into her room, scaring her half to death. And tempting himself with thoughts of...

  Now, at last, his head was clear, his mind focused and his body energized.

  This was Cal’s favorite time of the day. The chores were behind him. The evening stretched out before him like a gift to be savored. Oh, there were still chores to see to. Frayed harnesses to be mended. Guns to be cleaned and oiled. But they were armchair chores that kept the hands busy and left the mind free to soar, to explore.