Wildcat Wedding (Wranglers & Lace #2)

by Patricia Thayer

  “Penny for your thoughts,” a familiar voice called out.

  Jessie turned to find Brett standing at the end of the porch. He was dressed in a pair of black jeans and a yellow T-shirt, his hair damp and combed back from his face. She sat up straight. “What are you doing here?”

  “I guess I was a little restless. Marcus took Hatty to the movies.” He frowned. “You don’t mind if I join you, do you?”

  Yes, she minded. She minded a lot. But Jessie nodded slowly, expecting him to sit on the porch railing. Instead, he took the other half of the swing.

  Brett had felt her tension the minute Jessie had discovered him standing on the porch. Would she ever stop treating him like a trespasser? He laughed to himself, wondering why her opinion meant so much to him, anyway. He never had trouble dealing with people, especially not women. In fact, his father used to tell him that was one of Brett’s assets. He raised his eyes to the heavens and wondered if J.T. was laughing because his son’s charm wasn’t working on Miss Burke.

  He looked off in the direction of the well and studied the hundred-foot derrick reaching skyward. The sight thrilled him, but he knew the structure had to look pretty imposing to Jessie. Not to mention the strange noises that took away from her peaceful summer evenings on her porch.

  “You know, in a few months, the derrick will be broken down and there will only be a pipeline leading to the well. You’ll have your spectacular view back.”

  “I know, you explained that to us.” She turned and looked at him. “But nothing will ever be the same as it was before you came here.”

  “And because of our coming here, your family will have so many more advantages. Jessie, changes can be good.” He nodded to the scene in the corral. “You have money now and that’s helping you live better.”

  She stood, walked to the railing and leaned against the post. “I know that without your company offering us the lease, we would have lost the farm.” She turned around. “But sometimes it feels like we have, anyway. The Burkes are simple farmers, Brett. We have a tremendous love for the land. I know my daddy was strange, holding people off at gunpoint, and all.” Her face flushed and she glanced away. “But it was only out of fear of losing what was important to us.”

  Brett knew everything Jessie said was true, but he could see her fears ran deeper. She didn’t trust anyone who wasn’t a part of her safe circle of family, except Hatty. She didn’t trust him. He clenched his fists. He sure as hell would like to know what had caused this fear in her.

  “I don’t want you to lose anything, Jessie. I only want good things to happen for you and the kids.” He stood, and unable to resist the urge, he pulled her into his arms. He just wanted to let Jessie know that he cared about her and would never do anything to hurt her. But having her against him only fed his hunger and his head lowered to claim her sweet mouth in a devouring kiss.

  All too soon, Jessie pulled away. She was breathing hard as he watched her fight the tears. “I don’t need your pity, Brett Murdock.”

  “Pity! You think this is pity?” Brett’s own emotions caught him off guard, but he was too angry to sort them out. “Look, maybe it would be best if I stayed closer to the site. I’m sorry if I’ve been bothering you too much.” He didn’t wait for Jessie to disagree, just turned and hurried off the porch. He knew instinctively she wouldn’t call him back. And he was right.

  Chapter Seven

  Jessie stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, examining her new brightly colored blouse and jeans. Immediately, her thoughts went to Brett. Would he like the way they looked on her? She glanced at the stack of new clothes on her bed, realizing everything she had picked out at the department store in town had been with Brett in mind. Would he like this color on her? She fingered the collar of her shirt. Would he think she looked pretty in red?

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was silly. She hadn’t seen Brett in nearly two weeks, not since he’d marched off the porch...right after he had kissed her. She touched her lips, remembering the strong firmness of his mouth against hers, the demanding strokes of his tongue. Suddenly, a warmth shot though her body, lighting a passion in her that she had never known was possible between a man and woman.

  “How come Brett doesn’t come around anymore?”

  Jessie’s eyes flew open to find Katie standing in the doorway. She felt heat rush to her face and quickly busied herself going through the clothes on the bed. “I guess he’s been busy drilling the well,” she offered.

  The child wandered into the room. She, too, was wearing one of the new dresses they had bought in town. “Couldn’t he come to supper sometimes?”

  Jessie felt her heart race at the thought of seeing him again. Two weeks without Brett had been pretty lonely. But she’d lie before she admitted it to anyone. “Why don’t you ask him?” she suggested.

  “I did. He said it would be better if he didn’t.” She raised her questioning blue eyes to met her sister’s. “What does that mean?”

  “I’m not sure, Katie.” Jessie’s chest tightened, remembering the parting look Brett had given her before walking away that night on the porch. He didn’t want any part of her. “Probably it’s just a nice way of saying he’s busy.”

  “I think he’s sad,” Katie said, then sat down on her twin bed. “He went home last week to see his mother. She gets lonely ‘cause his daddy died.”

  Jessie choked back her shock. “Brett’s daddy died last week?”

  The girl shook her head. “No, at Christmastime like our daddy did. But his mother still gets sad. Brett said it was because they loved each other so much. So he goes home to be with her.”

  For a second, Jessie was too stunned to speak as her emotions churned inside her. She hadn’t known that Brett had lost his father recently. He hadn’t talked much about his life in Dallas, or his family.

  Jessie looked at Katie. “How do you know all these things?”

  She shrugged her tiny shoulders. “Brett told me.”

  Jessie began to worry. She made strict rules about the kids going to the drilling site without permission. “When?”

  Katie glanced at her hands. “When I had a picnic for my new doll...I sorta invited Brett.”

  Jessie recalled her sister asking if she could have a picnic under the maple tree on the far side of the barn. She bit back a smile, picturing Brett sitting on the ground, sharing lunch with all of Katie’s dolls. “He came to your party?”

  She nodded. “Brett said he used to go on picnics all the time with Becky. That’s his niece. Can we invite him to supper tonight? I want to show him my new dress.”

  “But Katie, you said you already asked him and he refused.”

  “He’ll come if you ask,” Katie begged. “He really likes you, Jessie.”

  As much as Jessie wanted it to be true, she knew it wasn’t. His absence these past two weeks proved that. Now he didn’t want anything to do with her. “Maybe that’s not such a good idea...”

  “Please, Jessie. It was so much fun when Brett and Marcus used to come to the house. Everybody was happy and laughing.” Katie’s eyes grew wide. “Even you were happy.”

  Jessie’s body tingled, remembering the long, hungry kisses they’d shared that night on the porch. How many other women had he kissed like that? she wondered, then quickly decided she didn’t want to know the answer.

  “I guess I could invite Brett—” Jessie stopped midsentence when she heard the piercing sound of a siren. She went to the second-story window and pulled back the curtains to see an ambulance pulling off the highway, then heading down the utility road toward the site. It finally stopped in front of the derrick.

  “What’s going on?” Katie looked out, too. “Did someone get hurt?”

  Hurt! “Oh, God!” Jessie dropped the curtain, hurried down the stairs through the kitchen and out the back door. She ran off the porch into the yard, recalling the last time she’d seen the white emergency van. It had been the day her father had been taken away to the
hospital.

  Josh came running toward them. “There’s been an accident on the derrick,” he shouted. “They’re taking two guys to the hospital.” Josh took off in the direction of the site.

  Jessie’s first thought was of Brett. Was he one of the men injured? “Who got hurt?” Jessie yelled after her brother.

  Josh didn’t answer. He just kept running toward the derrick. Then the ambulance raced by with Marcus’s truck following close behind. Panic raced through her, almost making her sick. She had to do something. Brett could be hurt.

  As though in answer to her prayers, she saw Hatty’s truck coming up the driveway. Jessie ran to meet her friend.

  Hatty rolled down her window. “What’s going on?” she asked. “I saw Marcus following the ambulance.”

  “There’s been an accident on the derrick,” Jessie replied breathlessly. “I don’t have any details, but two men got hurt.” She swallowed hard. “One could be Brett. I need to get to the hospital. Can you watch Katie?”

  “Sure, honey. Here, take my truck.” Hatty helped Jessie into the driver’s seat. “Just call when you get some news.”

  Jessie nodded, threw the truck in gear and took off down the road.

  * * *

  Brett paced in the waiting area outside the emergency room. So far, that had been all he’d accomplished, since no one would tell him about Mike’s and Leon’s condition. He wasn’t so worried about Leon; more than likely, he had a broken arm and some scrapes and bruises. Mike was a different story. He’d been unconscious until the ambulance arrived, then came to only for a few seconds. Brett rubbed his pounding temples. Damn! A broken connector chain. Things had been going so well. Now this...

  Brett marched over to the nurse’s desk and inquired once again about his men. She told him the same thing as before, that the doctor would talk to him shortly. Impatiently, he went back to the row of chairs and began pacing again.

  “Why don’t you sit before they throw you out of here?” Marcus said as he glanced up from the magazine he’d been reading. “Save your strength, mate, you’ll probably be working in Leon’s place for a while.”

  “Great,” Brett groaned as he slid down into his chair. “We’re shorthanded now.” As the words came out, he realized they sounded callous. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t concerned about the condition of his two crew members, just that the accident had complicated an already difficult situation.

  “We’ll have to hire two more men,” Marcus said.

  “And where are we to get the extra money? We’re running pretty tight, as it is.”

  “I have faith in you, boss,” Marcus teased, but Brett wasn’t in the mood.

  He couldn’t lose this well. But there wasn’t much extra money left for any emergencies or delays.

  “My oath,” Marcus whispered nodding toward the lobby. “Would you look who’s here.”

  Brett turned to find Jessie standing just inside the doorway. She looked lost and frightened as people passed by her in the busy corridor. He felt his chest tighten. Even at a time like this, the sight of her sent his pulse into overdrive. He stood and called out her name. Her head jerked in his direction and before he knew what had happened, she was in his arms and holding on for dear life.

  “Oh, Brett, I was so afraid you were hurt,” Jessie cried, squeezing him tighter.

  “I’m okay, Jessie.” He pulled back and his hungry gaze fed on her face. “It was Leon and Mike that got hurt when they were changing the drill bit.”

  “When I saw the ambulance, I didn’t know what to do.” She stepped out of his embrace, and glanced away, almost as if she was embarrassed over her show of concern.

  “I’m glad you came.” He reached out and cupped her jaw so she had to look at him. Now, if he could just read her mind and find out what she was thinking. He was concerned about what had happened that night two weeks ago, the things they had said. He realized no matter how much he tried to deny it, he cared for Jessie, and wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and kiss her in front of God and everyone. But he repressed the urge.

  Instead, he rested his forehead against hers and whispered, “I’ve missed you, Jessie Burke. The past two weeks have been hell. I’m just sorry it took an accident—”

  “Oh, my gosh,” Jessie suddenly gasped. She pulled back and her gaze swept the room. “I guess we forgot where we were.”

  “Yeah, I guess we did,” Brett answered, but refused to let her pull away again. He took her by the hand and led her toward the row of seats. “C’mon, let’s go talk to Marcus.”

  “Jessie, it’s so good of you to come,” Marcus said as he stood. “Here, have a seat,” he offered.

  “I have to call Hatty,” she said. “I told her I’d let her know that you were both okay.” She glanced at her hands and looked confused. “I must have forgotten my purse in my rush to get here.” She raised her eyes to Brett’s. “Could I borrow some change for the phone?”

  “I’ll call her for you,” Marcus volunteered. “I need to talk with the drilling foreman and check on the new part, anyway.” He took off down the hall to find a telephone.

  She sat down in the plastic chair and Brett took the seat next to hers. “You okay?” He reached for her hand.

  Jessie released a long steadying breath as memories of her father came flooding back. Memories of the night, only months ago, when she’d brought Walter Burke in. She had prayed for hours that the doctors here had some magical powers to keep an old, crippled man alive.

  “My daddy died in there.” She nodded toward the double doors leading to the examining rooms.

  “Oh, Jessie, I’m sorry. I forgot how recent it’s been. Would you like to leave?”

  She shook her head. “I want to stay and see how the men are...if it’s all right?”

  Brett squeezed her hand. “It’s more than all right.”

  “This probably brings back bad memories for you, too.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  “Your father.”

  Brett shook his head, then rested his elbows on his knees, hanging his head. “No, my daddy died at home. A heart attack. No warning or anything.” She watched his throat work as he swallowed. “The only good thing was that he was with my mother when it happened.” He turned toward her, and there was pain in his eyes. “At least he got the chance to tell my mother he loved her.”

  “I’m sorry, Brett,” she whispered. “I know it’s hard. My daddy started dyin’ slowly the day my mother passed away eight years ago. He just couldn’t seem to live without her....”

  Brett straightened his shoulders. “You know, all this time you’ve been telling me how different we are. But we’re not, Jessie. We both come from close, loving families. We both lost our fathers recently.”

  Those weren’t the kinds of differences Jessie had meant. You’re rich, Mr. Murdock, I’m poor. You’re college-educated, I don’t even have a high school diploma.

  “And we both love Shakespeare,” Brett added softly.

  Before Jessie could argue the point, a man in a white coat walked up to the waiting area.

  “Mr. Murdock, I’m Dr. Nelson,” he said as he glanced at the chart in his hands. “You brought in Leon Jeffers and Mike Kelly from an accident on an oil derrick?”

  “Yes.” Brett stood. “How are they?”

  “Mr. Jeffers has a broken arm. It’s being set right now. When that’s finished, he’ll be released. Mr. Kelly’s condition is a little more complicated. He has lacerations on his face and chest and three bruised ribs. He also has a slight concussion.” The doctor looked up. “We’d like to keep him overnight for observation.”

  “He’s going to be all right, isn’t he?”

  “I think so, but he won’t be able to work for a while.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.” Gratefully, Brett shook the man’s hand. The accident could have been much worse. There was always a chance of trouble when drilling a well. Now all he had to worry about was how long it would take to get
a replacement part and where to find the money to pay for it and two temporary workers.

  “Looks like everything is going to be all right,” Jessie said cheerfully.

  Brett wanted to kiss her for her sweet optimism. “Yeah, I’ve got two injured men, and at least a two-day delay that will cost me thousands of dollars I can’t spare.” He sighed tiredly. “Yeah, everything’s just fine.”

  * * *

  “You can’t do it all by yourself,” Marcus argued, glaring at Brett across the desk in the trailer. “If you keep working like you have this past week, mate, you’ll start getting careless. That could be dangerous to the whole crew.”

  Brett stared into a cup of coffee. “I don’t have much choice. I don’t have the money to spare for the extra rig hand. Besides, Mike’s coming back next week.”

  “At the rate you’re going, working two shifts, you’ll end up in the hospital, too.”

  Brett didn’t need anyone to tell him he was exhausted, but money was so tight. He just wanted to make sure that they had enough to keep the operation going. Murdock Oil couldn’t afford to front any more cash, and they were already overextended on their credit.

  “Mate, you should at least be enjoying your evenings off.” Marcus arched an eyebrow. “If you weren’t working the rig sixteen hours a day, you’d know there’s a real pretty woman up at that farmhouse. In fact, Jessie has sent us an invitation for supper. I don’t know about you, but I’m awful tired of sandwiches. Tonight, I’m going to have a real meal.” He jerked open the door to the trailer. “If you get crackin’, you can hire a rig hand to work the second shift. There’s a list of them on the desk. Then you can come to dinner, too.”

  Before Brett could agree or disagree, Marcus was gone. Damn! Didn’t anyone understand the pressure he was under? He combed his hand through his hair. For God’s sake, he was trying to save the business.

  He sat down at the desk and glared at the numbers on the cost sheet. There was no doubt money was tight, real tight. And this well might have to go deeper than originally planned. Sighing, he leaned back in the chair. Marcus was right. He couldn’t keep working two shifts. He was tired. Tired of being in charge.