Lone Star Bride

by Jolene Navarro

  Sofia gave Rory an overly sweet smile before turning away from him to scan the area for Jackson. “I wouldn’t put it past him to forget about me and take off.”

  A couple of the men at another table leered at her. Maybe she should have tucked her head and scurried away, but she was tired of hiding, of not being herself.

  Head high she gave them her hardest glare, daring them to say anything to her.

  “Easy with that brashness, or you’re going to have us all in a fight.” Rory followed her. She noticed how he put his body between her and the men.

  “I can handle these yahoos.” A firm hand pulled her to the right. Jackson had sneaked up on her.

  “You need to stay away from the riffraff hanging around here.”

  She forced her jaw to stay relaxed and tried to concentrate on the herd of horses they were heading to. Defending herself was becoming redundant and, according to Rory, making her huffy.

  “Rory’s going to handle the sale of the horses, so I—”

  “We’re selling all of them?” Panic pushed her heart into her throat. Every time she spoke with someone she was losing more.

  “Settle down. Not all of them. We need the mules and a few extra to get us back to the ranch. Other than Estevan, you know the horses the best. Ever trade before?”

  This was a real job. She walked a little faster. “A few times with my father and brother, but they did all the talking and money deals.”

  “Your dad? He was a horse trader?”

  That was thoughtless. She didn’t think he’d be happy if he found out her father actually owned the horses. She made herself give him a cheery smile. “Sometimes. So you want to know the ones I think we should keep?”

  “Yeah, then we’ll get our saddles and join the herd. You can move the horses we’re selling.”

  Nodding, she looked at the horse area. This was coming to an end, and she would be heading home. Home to a father who thought she had been shopping and preparing for marriage. At this point he might have found her note. How was she going to be received when she arrived back at the ranch? When they arrived in San Antonio, she’d send a telegraph.

  * * *

  The big sorrel lunged up the muddy incline, water dripping from him. Pushing off the saddle, Jackson leaned forward over his horse’s neck. The last horse climbed the slope and emerged from the river. The plan was for Red and Tiago to cross the horses, but he gave into his weaker side and followed her.

  Once they got to the safety of the ranch, he would be able to relax and let her out of his sight. Without thought he had reacted to the pirate’s interest in Tiago being left behind at the cattle station. He had regretted it the minute the words had left his mouth. But the subtle hint that the pirate would be aware if she was alone, would have made him useless if she wasn’t in his sight. The faster they got out of the pirate’s domain the better.

  The faster he could drop her off somewhere safe, the better for his own sanity. He could feel his feelings for her getting stronger, and he couldn’t allow that to happen.

  Reacting to the pirate the way he did was pure jealousy. Which hinted that his true feelings for her were deeper than he allowed himself to even consider.

  Up ahead Tiago swung her lasso over her head and guided the lead horse down the path and toward the holding pens. She sat tall and smiled when she caught him watching her.

  With a dip of his chin, he acknowledged her. There was no way he would have predicted her becoming a key player on this team the day he discovered she was a woman. He thought he’d spend the whole time protecting her. She was amazing.

  That was probably one of the reasons he was attracted to her. She didn’t wait for someone to take care of her.

  She solved her own problems. Strong and independent, Tiago was full of life, and he couldn’t imagine she’d allow anyone to take it from her.

  Touching his heels to the ribs of his mount, he moved him into a gallop and pulled up next to her. “Great job. The holding pens are just about a mile ahead.” He twisted in the saddle. “The first of the cattle have crossed. All is looking good.”

  The horses walked along the worn path as she nudged the lead horse on. Other than a nod, she seemed to be ignoring him. That didn’t settle well with him.

  “You handled the horse and river as well as any experienced cowboy.”

  She tucked her head, but not before he saw red marks spotting her neck. “Thank you for allowing me to help. I know you wanted to leave me at the cattle station, but I’m so happy I got to do this.”

  He cleared his throat as he swallowed a laugh. “How’s the back?”

  “I don’t feel any pain. This has been the best day.”

  He sighed. “Somehow I went from wanting to leave you behind at the ranch to watching you drive the horses across like a professional. I’m still not sure bringing you along was the right thing for you in the long run.”

  “This has been the most exhilarating experience and confirmed what I already knew. I want to work on the ranch. If it means I never get married, it’s what I want.”

  “You don’t want your own family?”

  Her small shoulders lifted in a shrugged. “If having a family means I get locked in town taking care of a house, no, thank you. If I could have both? Maybe.”

  She dropped back to get one of the younger horses back to the herd. The rough rope rested in her hand as she rubbed her fingers along the tattered end. “All I know is I want to work on the De Zavala land. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

  “Do you think he’ll hire you?” He didn’t know De Zavala, but the man didn’t seem like the kind who hired women for ranch work. “Are you going to still pretend to be a boy?”

  She sighed. Her eyes lost the spark from earlier. “No. I’m tired of being a boy, but I don’t want to go back to the full dress.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  A full bottom lip disappeared under white teeth. She shook her head. “I’m not sure how I’ll bring my two selves together. Or what I’ll wear, but I don’t want to go back to being a house pet.”

  “Darling, you’re too proud and stubborn to be anyone’s pet.” Oh, no. He just called her darling. Not good.

  To cover-up how serious that was to him, he coughed. When she glared at him, he couldn’t stop chuckling, but he tried.

  She was so serious and he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. A couple of younger horses caused a ruckus in the back. Spinning his horse, he reluctantly left her to manage the lead horse.

  Riding alongside the herd, he glanced behind him to watch the cattle following them, but most of the time he was watching her. What was he going to do about the little cook’s assistant who somehow found her way into his heart?

  He had wanted to stay clear of people who made him care, and already he managed to collect two. Her and Rory.

  If they would pair off, that would solve his main problem. She would belong to someone. Someone who would take care of her. But Rory had said no. Maybe he didn’t mean it. She’d make a great wife to a cowboy.

  Pushing his hat up a bit, he rubbed his eyes with the palm of one hand. The idea of her being Rory’s wife didn’t make him feel any better.

  And since Rory had already turned down the suggestion, his brain thought it was safe to go there. No real danger of it happening. He sighed and leaned on the saddle horn. If his thoughts kept circling around his head like this he was going to lose his good sense. If he had any to begin with. He needed to stay focused.

  The horses and cattle were his job. Scanning the herd, he watched them move in order. He waved to get Tiago’s attention. “I’m going back to talk with Red and check the others.”

  She nodded and continued talking to the horses. There was no other woman like her. She was crazy, and he was even worse for wanting to hold her
.

  Red led the front of the herd and smiled through the mud on his face. “Boss, we only lost three to the waters and four ran off into the woods. A nice day for a herd this size. The profits’ll be good.” He lifted his chin to the horses. “How’s she getting along? Everything okay?”

  “She is as good as she was before you found out she was a female. Why are y’all giving her the cold shoulder?”

  “It ain’t so much us giving her the cold shoulder, boss. It’s just different. I mean, she’s a girl. All the things we said and did around her. It ain’t right that you knew and didn’t tell us.”

  He popped his jaw. Had it been about her safety or had he just wanted to keep her to himself? “We thought it best if no one knew. I didn’t really know y’all that well in the beginning, and it was just easier if everyone thought she was a boy.”

  “Well, it does explain a great deal about the way you acted when it came to bathin’ and sleepin’.” Spitting to the side, Red looked up ahead. “You marrying her?”

  “No!” His gut bunched. The horse tossed his head, and Jackson forced himself to relax his grip on the reins. “Why would you even think that?”

  “She’s been with a group of men for weeks. Without a relative or another woman.” Red frowned. “I’m not the most proper fellow, but even I know that’s not good. When she gets home, won’t that ruin her?”

  “I expect she knew the consequences when she took the job. She claims she doesn’t plan to ever marry.”

  “She is one strange female. Her family okay with that?”

  “No family.” Would that have made a difference? “That’s what she told me anyway.” Of course it wouldn’t be the first time she lied to him.

  He looked behind him and scanned the herd. The long horns swaying as the hundreds of hooves covered the ground. Low bellowing drifted over the breeze. “She should be getting close to the horse pens. I’m going to check on her. I’ll see you at the headquarters to disperse the money.”

  “Sounds like a good plan, boss.” Red winked at him, leading Jackson to think it wasn’t the plan to meet later that he was talking about.

  * * *

  As a group they rode back to the cattle station. Sofia shifted in the saddle. What did she say to the men who had become so important to her in a short time?

  Jackson had passed out everyone’s pay, and now over half of their team would be leaving. Red came up beside her.

  “Two Bit, it’s been a pleasure riding with you. If you ever need anything, you have a place in Indiana.” He gave her shoulder an awkward pat and smiled.

  She focused on his red mustache. Torn between stifling tears and laughter, she bit her lip. Fingers came up empty when she tried to pull on a long strand of hair. The habit had gone unnoticed until the strands were gone. She settled for rubbing her neck.

  “Thank you. I’m sorry I hid the truth from you.” She’d already asked him to return to Texas, but he was leaving with Clint and Sam. He said he needed to stop by Will’s place to give his share to his sister and to give her their condolences. “You got the letter I wrote for his sister?”

  “Yep.” He tapped his chest.

  Clint and Sam joined them as they stopped at the cabin where they had spent the night. Cook stood on the one-step stoop, bag at his feet. The urge to cry was harder to fight. She jumped off her horse and ran to him, not caring what the others thought.

  “Are you sure you won’t come back with us?” Her voice, muffled, was buried in his neck as his arms went around her. “My... Señor De Zavala would hire you. I know he would.”

  “Mija, I have to return home. It’s time.” His hands went to her arms. Holding her back, he kissed her forehead. “No crying. Cowboys don’t cry.”

  She nodded and rubbed her face with her sleeve.

  He smiled at her. “You could travel with me. My wife would love another daughter.”

  Another step back, and she was back on the ground. “I belong in Texas.”

  “Sí. You do. God has great things planned for you, so be brave and face the future with faith. Even when you don’t understand. It will work out for the best.”

  He glanced at the men still sitting on their horses. They seemed to be looking everywhere but at the scene taking place at the door. “I need to be going if I’m getting on the stage leaving for the shipyard.”

  Shaking the hands of the cowboys, he said goodbye to each man before giving her one more hug. Then he turned and walked away. One of the cowboys cleared his throat, and she looked up.

  Clint nodded to her. “We’ll be leaving, too. Hate goodbyes, so we’ll just say see you later. If we pass through the hill country, we’ll stop by. You’ll be at the De Zavala ranch?”

  “Yes. Please visit. I will make sure you have a job there if you want one.”

  They all laughed. “So you plan on running the place soon?”

  Heat climbed up her neck. She tried to laugh it off. “Do you have any doubt?”

  Sam laughed. “I hear the old man is a widower. You’re a girl who knows her way around horses and cattle, maybe you can marry him.”

  The others joined in and gave their suggestion to how she could become the jefe. Rory joined the group. “What’s all the ruckus about?”

  She put her hands on her hips. “They think the thought of me running a ranch is funny.”

  “We think she should marry the old rancher.”

  Rory pulled his lips in disgust. “He’s old enough to be her father.”

  Their laughter warmed her. They were joking with her like she was one of them. She didn’t want to think about their leaving or what it meant to go home and face her father.

  How would he take the new Sofia? She glanced back to the path Cook had taken. Jackson was with him. He had dismounted and carried the older man’s bag.

  “We heard there was work in East Texas, so we’re heading north.” Sam was talking to Rory. “You want to join us?”

  Rory put his hands in his back pockets and rocked on his boots. “East Texas? Sounds interesting.”

  The blood pounded in her ears. Not Rory, too. She pressed her lips together and turned her attention back to Jackson and Cook. The urge to run after Cook and beg Rory to stay tore at her insides, but she kept her feet planted and her mouth shut.

  No one wanted to deal with an emotional female. She wanted them to remember her as one of them. She wanted to belong with them, but a part of her feared she never would be completely.

  This time tomorrow, everyone would be on their paths to different futures. Different homes.

  “I thought you were heading back with us?” She tried to keep it causal. “You’re not leaving me alone with those two are you? Who would I talk to?”

  They all laughed. Rory winked at her. “True. Looks as if I’m still heading back to the Hill Country for now. Maybe I’ll meet you on the trail later.”

  With one last salute, Red, Clint and Sam turned their horses and left. A part of her heart hurt. She felt like a small child who wanted to run after them and beg them to stay with her.

  Making sure to breathe, she walked to her gelding and rubbed his jaw. She was going to keep him along with Rory and Estevan. Not that the horses belonged to her, but it helped to think she was keeping a small part of family together.

  She turned to the road and saw Jackson riding back to them. A deep breath filled her lungs and stopped her from crying. Jackson was taking her home. That made her happier than it should.

  The idea of him standing next to her as she faced her father gave her comfort. She flipped the leather reins over Domino’s neck and swung into the saddle.

  For good or bad, it was time to go home and establish her new life rules. Now she knew how strong she could be, and there was no going back to being the pampered daughter of a land owner. She was a Texas co
wboy.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The early-morning sun was to their backs as Sofia followed the others over the hill. It seemed the closer to home they got, the longer it took. Her body was ready to call it done.

  Evidence of civilization nestled in a mist that hugged the ground, breaking the endless landscape and sky. Hope surged and renewed her aching limbs. The fog might be playing a cruel trick. “Is that San Antonio?”

  Jackson chuckled. “You make it sound like the city of gold. Yes. We should arrive soon.”

  “I’d give all my gold for a real bed, bath and hot meal.”

  Estevan clicked to the three mules he led on a line and urged them into a trot. Tossing their heads, they all followed, the dwindling supplies flapping against their sides.

  Even the animals seemed as excited as the humans leading the way. Rory took off after him.

  “Boys, don’t get hurt this close in,” Jackson yelled after them. Shaking his head, he moved his own mount into a faster pace. “Come on, Tiago. Don’t fall behind now. Rory and Estevan are going to use up all the clean warm water in town.” Over his shoulder, he gave her a wink and grinned. It felt as if her heart pounded against her breastbone as they raced down the slope in pursuit of the others.

  Jackson caught up with Rory and Estevan and pulled up his mount. His smile was contagious. His strong voice rose above the sound of horse hooves. “We don’t want to waste our town time with the doc.”

  Laughter filled the air, and the men slowed their horses.

  “A bath? In a real bathtub with hot water.” Joining Jackson, Sofia’s knee bumped his. Even though the cattle station offered a roof and a table to eat at, there had been nowhere for her to bathe. She squinted, making sure he knew how serious she was about this topic. “You’re not teasing me?”

  He tipped his hat. “No, ma’am. I don’t tease about warm water.”

  “I’m staying at my cousin’s.” Estevan called over his shoulder. One of the mules sat back and pulled on the lead line, so he slowed to a walk.