Ballard didn’t let go of the subject as easily as he released Asa’s hand. “Any truth to the rumors?”
He shrugged. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Elizabeth fussing with his hat. “Enough so you needn’t be worried Elizabeth’s been left short-changed and flat-footed.”
The man opened his mouth, probably to grill him more, but Asa cut him off by saying to Elizabeth, “You know, darlin, I kinda like that hat just the way it is. I’ve got the dust settled just so. Keeps it nice and balanced in a strong wind.”
Elizabeth immediately stopped fussing with the brim. “I’m sorry.”
He smiled, liking how sweet she looked, how respectable. How wifely. “No harm done.”
Instead of putting it away, she smiled uncertainly. There was a soft side to her smile that had him wondering if she was glad to see him?
“Did you really post a guard on the house?” she asked. She was staring at him like he’d done something more extraordinary than taking care that his wife was safe.
His “Yes” was drowned out when the stranger said, “Of course he did, Elly! What man worth his salt wouldn’t make sure the ranch house was safe? This is where you keep the money.”
Asa wanted to shoot the yahoo when Elizabeth’s smile dropped from sweet to disappointed. “Of course.”
Though her expression was poker-faced, he knew he’d never get the brim of his hat to recover from the death grip she had on it. In the most practical voice he’d ever heard her use, she told him, “You haven’t seen it yet, but there’s a safe in the office. It’d take dynamite for anyone to get money out of there.”
Now, there was a picture to soothe his nerves. Strange men with dynamite in the house with Elizabeth. He shook his head, reached out and removed his hat from his wife’s hands. “Well, if I ever get to the point in my life where I worry more about money than my family, I’ll be sure to keep that as a comforting thought.”
Asa would offend the devil himself to hear that uncharacteristically shy “thank you” of Elizabeth’s. Darned if she didn’t look as if she didn’t know what to do with his concern. He drew her gaze with a touch to her cheek. “Everything’s okay?”
“Oh, yes.” Her gaze clung to his. She was nervous, startled and happy. All because he’d done the decent thing? Damn! The woman needed someone whether she showed it or not.
“Aaron is a long time friend and neighbor,” Elizabeth said, as if to fill the silence that sprang up.
Which could explain the possessive air the man had about him.
Elizabeth waved her hand between them. “Aaron, this is my husband, Asa MacIntyre.”
“Elizabeth,” Ballard sighed with exasperation. “We already introduced ourselves.”
“Oh, yes.”
To Asa’s way of thinking, Aaron didn’t have to point out the obvious, but since he had, and since Elizabeth was looking like she’d love a hole to dive into, Asa passed his hat back into her keeping. As she grabbed it and darted to the peg by the door, he asked Aaron, “You say you live here about?”
“The Bar B runs the length of the Rocking C’s western border.” Ballard took a couple of steps forward and intercepted Elizabeth on her return. He put a proprietary hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder. “Elizabeth and I are more like family than friends as we grew up together.”
The man was looking to lose an arm, that much Asa could see. Elizabeth stepped away. Asa slapped a smile on his face as congenial as the one Aaron was sending him. “Then I guess I need to thank you for helping her out after her father passed on.”
“Everyone did what they could.”
Which, from what Asa could determine, was about nothing. “Well, I’d like to pay you for your time.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“I insist. You just tally up the work and send the bill over.”
“Why don’t we just say you owe me like for like?”
“I reckon I can settle for that.” Easily.
“It’s settled then.”
Elizabeth stepped between them. Her hands kept smoothing her skirt over her hips in a nervous gesture. Asa figured it was a habit she’d be breaking herself of if she knew how it drew a man’s imagination to wander.
“Could I get you a cup of coffee?” she asked him.
“That would taste good. Just let me signal the men everything’s fine and get Shameless settled, then I’ll be back.”
“I could do that for you.”
“Signal the men?” He smiled. “Darlin’, if you tried to shoot off that gun of mine, you’d be dirtying the back of your skirt, not to mention sporting a bruise the size of Texas on your shoulder.”
“Elizabeth’s a darn good—” Aaron interrupted.
“I’m sure it can’t be that hard,” Elizabeth cut off the neighbor’s interjection. “But I was referring to putting Shameless away.”
She was wearing that perfectly calm expression which Asa was beginning to realize meant she was annoyed. He reached out and plucked his hat off the peg by the door where Elizabeth had put it. “I reckon I got just enough energy to settle Shameless as long as you set out some of that cobbler from last night to go with that coffee.”
“Sorry, neighbor. Elizabeth was kind enough to share the last piece with me.”
The words were polite, but the man wasn’t sorry about anything. Asa settled his hat on his head. “Well, now, that is a shame. The thought of that cobbler kept me going all day.”
“One area where Elizabeth never makes a mistake is the kitchen.”
The implication being that there were areas where she did mess up. One of them in her choice of husbands? Asa waited a heartbeat for Elizabeth to lay into the man, but, to his surprise, she just stood there. Mouth shut, face tight, accepting the barb. Was she that fond of the yahoo?
“Funny,” Asa drawled, keeping his annoyance in check. “The one thing I picked up right away is that Elizabeth is one capable woman. Makes a man stay on his toes so as not to be outshined.”
It might have been his imagination, but he thought Elizabeth sidled his way a bit. He slid his hand to her back in silent encouragement in case she had a mind to take an actual step.
Aaron laughed. “You only say that because you’re newly married. Just wait around a bit. As a man who’s watched her grow from diapers to pinafores, I’d say you’ve got a few surprises coming.”
“I’m looking forward to them.”
“She has more than a bit of her mother in her.”
Beneath his fingers, Asa felt the start go through Elizabeth’s body. In the wake of the ripple, her muscles pulled taut. He didn’t know why, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out the barb about her mother hurt.
“If her mother was half the woman Elizabeth appears to be, I’ll count myself lucky.”
Aaron’s mouth twisted into a rueful smile. “It’s that appearance that’s going to do you in.”
Elizabeth’s small gasp cut through all Asa’s pretensions toward manners. He slid his hand across Elizabeth’s back until he could curve his fingers around her shoulder and pull her into the protection of his side. “Mister, I don’t know what you were looking for when you came here, but, if it’s trouble, I think you just found it.”
The bastard had the gall to look offended. “Excuse me?”
“I never knew Elizabeth’s mother. I never met her father. But I’ve met Elizabeth and I’ve met you, and, from that, I’m willing to lay money that you figured I was too ignorant, and Elizabeth too much a lady, to comment on an insult you slid into the conversation like it was just another how-de-do.”
“I only meant to say—”
“I have no interest in what you say. I’m more interested in how you say it.” Asa stroked his fingers down Elizabeth’s arm. Damn the son of a bitch! Her muscles were still hauled up as tight as a bowstring.
“Where I come from, if a man plans on picking on a woman, he damned well better expect her husband to come calling.”
“I wasn’t picking on Elizabeth.”
&
nbsp; “Uh-huh.” Beneath his hand Elizabeth’s muscles pulled tighter. Probably because she could feel the tension in his own muscles and figured he had more to say on the subject. She’d be right, too. No one was going to take pot-shots at her while he was around. “So, why exactly are you here?”
Asa watched as Aaron bit back his hostility before admitting, “I came to check on Elizabeth.”
No way that was the only reason he was here. “And?”
She assures me she’s fine. The look he sent Elizabeth said he had his doubts.
“Good.” Asa tipped his hat at Aaron. “Then, seeing as you’ve got what you came for, you can be on your way.”
Beside him, Elizabeth gasped. In front of him, Aaron smoldered. In his eyes, Asa read his fury. He also read, for whatever reason, he wasn’t going to push things. That was a pity. Asa would have loved to gut-punch the yahoo. For what he’d said to Elizabeth, and also for eating the last of his cobbler.
“I’ll see you later, Elizabeth.” The man nodded to Elizabeth.
“Thank you for stopping by,” she answered calmly as if the two men on either side of her weren’t bristling with hostility.
The woman had style. She was also quick on her feet. She’d managed to shift so any blows he and Ballard wanted would have to happen over her head.
“I’ll see you out,” Asa volunteered, putting himself between Elizabeth and Ballard.
“That won’t be necessary.” Ballard tipped his hat to Elizabeth. “I know the way to the door.”
Asa smiled. “I wouldn’t dream of upsetting Elizabeth by not showing you out. She sets store by good manners.”
Instead of bristling obligingly at the shot, Ballard visibly relaxed and sent him a glance of what could only be called approval. Asa shook his head as the man retrieved his hat from the rack by the front door. Didn’t anyone around here react predictably?
“If you need any help, don’t hesitate to call,” Ballard offered as he settled his hat on his head. “We’re only an hour’s ride away.”
“I’ll do that.” When hell froze over.
“Say hi to Patricia and little Ron for me,” Elizabeth jumped in.
“I will.”
Affection softened the other man’s face as he looked at Elizabeth. Asa wanted to break the man’s fingers as he brushed them down the side of her cheek and said, “Take care, runt.”
Her “I will” was just as soft, sending knife blades of jealousy ripping into Asa’s guts. Was there more than friendship between the two?
Ballard stepped out the door. Elizabeth quietly shut it behind him. When she turned back to Asa, it didn’t take hard looking to see she was mad as a wet hen. The hands on her hips and the angry flush on her cheeks were dead giveaways. And he knew exactly what she was mad about. She didn’t like the fact that he’d threatened her friend.
“That was completely unnecessary.”
“That yahoo had no right coming in here and hurting you.”
“He’s my friend.”
“Then, honey, you need a new set of friends, ‘cause with friends like that, you sure don’t need to go hunting up enemies.”
“Is that an order?”
“What?”
She folded her arms across her chest and asked him calmly. “Are you ordering me to not be friends with Aaron?”
He’d forgotten about requiring her promise of obedience. “Hell, no.”
As he headed down the hall toward the back door, she fell into step beside him, and asked, “Where are you going?”
“I’ve still got to signal the men and put my horse away.” He paused at the door. “Unless you have objections?”
He hadn’t expected her to come with him, but as she showed no signs of slowing when she reached the door, he held it open for her.
Her nose lifted two inches. “Of course not.”
As she passed, her scent of vanilla, beeswax and tantalizing woman drifted up to tease his nostrils. When she reached the top step and started to unwrap Shameless’ reins, he said, “Is there something you want to say to me?”
She turned, reins in hand. He stepped off the porch, cleared his rifle from the saddle scabbard, and fired off two shots that signaled the all clear. As he slid the rifle back into the scabbard, she answered, “Yes.”
He took the reins from her hands and slid his free arm around her waist. “Keep me company to the barn and you can tell me all about it.”
As if she had any choice, Elizabeth thought. The man wasn’t a bully, but he sure had a laid back way of getting what he wanted, which, apparently, was her company. As he shortened his strides to match hers, she felt his fingers slide up her side.
“I thought I told you not to wear one of these.” His fingers tapped the bone of the corset. It made a slight “tick” sound.
She took a steadying breath. His scent filled her nostrils. She braced herself for the repugnance she usually felt at the way a man smelled. It didn’t come. Asa smelled of horses, leather and the outdoors, but he also smelled pleasantly of something else. Something elementally him. Something she liked. “You didn’t tell me not to wear a corset. You asked me not to wear one.”
He sidestepped them around a manure pile. “You don’t feel that’s a bit of hair splitting?”
“No.” She glanced up in time to see a smile flirt with his lips. The man was an enigma, taking offense at the slightest things, and at others, having the patience of a saint.
“You want me to order you not to wear it?”
“Not hardly.”
“Why not? The thing seems darned uncomfortable.”
“It is.”
“Then why wear it?” He stepped aside to let her through the barn door first.
“No proper lady would be without one.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What does that mean?” The warm scent of the barn enclosed her in a welcoming hug.
“That’s polite for ‘I’ve never heard such bull in my life’.”
“It’s true. Being seen without a corset would be scandalous.”
“My reputation could probably survive the scandal.”
“Mine wouldn’t.”
He tied Shameless to the hitching post and made short work of the cinch. He had nice hands, Elizabeth decided. Long-fingered, broad across the back, and very agile.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but, now that we’re married, isn’t your reputation mine?” He swung the heavy saddle clear of the gelding’s back.
“Sort of.” It was a blatant stall. His teeth flashed white in the sun-dappled interior, letting her know he was aware of it.
“Well…” He tossed the saddle onto the wooden support leaning against the wall. “Seeing as how my reputation doesn’t give two hoots about anyone else’s opinions, I guess you could chuck that contraption into the old well tonight.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” He picked up a rag and started to wipe down Shameless.
“Because none of my dresses would fit.” She grabbed a curry comb and moved in beside him, currying where he’d finished wiping. Beyond a quick glance in her direction, he didn’t say anything.
“Hadn’t thought of that.” He moved to the other side of the horse and repeated the process. “Might be time for you to get a new wardrobe.”
“You truly don’t mind if I don’t wear one and everyone notices?”
He folded his arms along the horse’s back and regarded her across the breadth. “Let me put it this way; if you needed to move in a hurry, could you get the job done with that thing on?”
“Not hardly.” She was lucky to manage bending over to get biscuits out of the oven.
“Then I don’t mind a bit.” He flicked his finger at her nose, and went back to wiping down the horse.
It took her a minute to put it together, it was such a novel concept. “You’re concerned about my safety.”
“It’s a husband’s job to take care of his wife.”
As he was wiping the sweat from Shameless
’ underbelly, she couldn’t see his expression, but that was just as well since he couldn’t see hers. The man didn’t give two hoots about convention if it meant her safety. She was flabbergasted and, well…warmed.
She bit her lip, weighing the pluses of never again having to have those bone stays cut into her flesh against her moral obligation to protect her husband’s reputation. “People would talk.”
“I’d survive.” He tossed the rag into the corner. He grabbed a water bucket, and slapped Shameless’ shoulder. “Bet you’d like some water, big fella.”
He headed to the pump just outside the barn door. Elizabeth watched him go, words hovering on her tongue. She moved around the other side of the horse and started currying. Shameless let out a huge sigh. She patted his neck. “Feels good, huh?”
In response, he nibbled at the sheaf of hay on the floor. Over his neck, she watched Asa pump the handle that would bring up the water. It took a fair amount of effort. Through his shirt, she imagined she could see the play of muscles. Her husband was a strong man. The thought didn’t dismay her the way it had yesterday. As a matter of fact, it was kind of intriguing, watching the way his shirt stretched and clung to the muscles bunching beneath. The sight caused a funny sensation in her belly. He turned to bring the bucket back in, and she hastily dropped her gaze, which was silly as he couldn’t see into the cool interior from the bright sunshine. He set the water in front of Shameless who promptly blew suspiciously across its surface before drinking.
“I have a compromise to suggest,” she said.
“I’m listening.” He picked up the bristle brush and smoothed the hair on the opposite side of the horse.
She stopped currying, bit her lip, then took the plunge. “I’ll only wear the corset when we go into town.”
He glanced at her. “You sure?”
“As long as you make me a promise.”
“Thought there might be a catch.”
“If it ever starts to bother you, I’d like you to let me know before you make any decisions.”
“Decisions?”
“Yes. I’d like the opportunity to rectify the problem before you draw the obvious conclusions.”
He straightened from checking Shameless’ hoofs. “Conclusions?”
Promises Linger (Promise Series) Page 12