Claiming the Cowboy's Heart

by Linda Ford

  She forced herself to meet his look without blinking.

  He stared at her so long her eyes began to water. Still she would not blink first. She concentrated on the way the clouds reflected in his eyes, how his irises darkened to forest green, how the shards of gold were revealed when the clouds moved aside and allowed sunlight to hit his face.

  Finally he nodded and straightened. “Good. Let’s see you do that tomorrow.”

  She sucked in air to relieve the sudden dizziness. The man had the most intriguing eyes with the power to make her forget every rational thought—which was not a good thing. Being weak and vulnerable was not part of her plan.

  He moved onward and she hurried along. The weight of the gun in her bag reminded her of what really mattered. Learning to take care of herself. Being prepared to take action, especially with a gun. Still, she prayed she would never have call to do so.

  Chapter Seven

  Seth had accepted Eddie’s invitation to continue using the bed in the upstairs room though he could have likely found a bunk with the cowboys in the bunkhouse. Somehow, especially after Jayne’s story, he felt the need to be close at hand.

  She was right. Her fiance’s killer would likely stay in England where he could move about scot-free. Seth pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead as if he could force wisdom inside. What had he been thinking to voice his fears about the murderer? He regretted it the moment he saw his worries reflected in her eyes. He’d wanted to yank the words back. Wanted to pull her close and promise to protect her.

  How could he even hope to promise such a thing? He didn’t have the right and didn’t want it.

  But still there was a concern. The killer had wanted something from Oliver that he didn’t get. Would he come after Jayne for it? God, I’m not much of a one to ask anything of You but this isn’t for me. It’s for Jayne. Keep her safe. He wished he could feel some assurance that God would hear and answer his request. He had never understood how Ma continued to believe after Frank and Sarah’s deaths.

  For the moment he didn’t regret his injured leg. It forced him to stay at the ranch for a few days. As long as he was there he could guard her. But he couldn’t stay. Besides, Eddie would take care of his sister.

  But making sure she could protect herself, should the need arise, took on a greater importance. She must learn how to shoot a gun and hit her intended target.

  If only he could figure out a way to make her keep her eyes open.

  The next morning he rose with fresh determination. He planned to start lessons again as soon as breakfast ended. As usual, the food was excellent and the talk about the table friendly.

  Grady eased forward, anxious to share some news.

  “What is it, son?” Eddie asked, giving the child permission to speak.

  “Billy’s mama and papa are dead. Right?”

  “Yes.” Eddie sent a questioning look in Linette’s direction. She shook her head to indicate she had no idea where the question was going.

  “So Cassie and Roper adopted them.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Because they had no mama and papa?”

  “Yes. Why do you ask?”

  The boy practically bounced off his chair. “If I find a puppy who has no mama or papa can I adopt him?”

  Eddie stared at his son.

  Seth ducked his head to hide a grin. The little guy certainly knew how to present an infallible argument.

  Jayne nudged his elbow and they secretly grinned at each other.

  Eddie and Linette silently consulted each other.

  Eddie nodded and turned back to Grady. “I couldn’t say without meeting such a puppy. Why do you ask?”

  “Billy’s new pa said someone left a puppy at the store in Edendale. I guess he needs a good home, wouldn’t you say?”

  “I expect there are lots of people wanting a dog. What makes you think he’ll still be there?”

  Grady slouched forward. “I was only hoping. That’s all.”

  “Well, son, I can’t say if this puppy still needs a home but I’ll check, and I’ll leave word at the store that we might be in the market for a new dog. How about that?”

  Grady bounced again. “That’s good.”

  Seth stole a look at Jayne and saw a reflection of his own pleasure. Eddie was a good pa.

  The meal ended and Seth turned to Jayne but she didn’t give him a chance to suggest another shooting lesson.

  “You need to meet Cookie. She knows you’re here and has likely seen you outside. She likes to meet everyone. Besides, she makes the best cinnamon rolls.” She headed for the door and signaled he should follow her. “She always has coffee and some kind of goodies ready.”

  At first he didn’t make any move to join her.

  She grabbed his crutch and handed it to him. “Are you coming?”

  “Would it do any good to say I’m not?”

  “Not a bit.” She grinned. “Believe me, you won’t regret it.”

  He gave an exaggerated sigh. “I guess I don’t have a choice.” He gave slight emphasis to the last word.

  Her eyes narrowed and he knew she remembered how she insisted she deserved to be given a choice. She smiled. “You’re right, of course. Seth, would you care to meet Cookie? I’m sure she’s anxious to meet you.”

  His grin widened. “It seems like a fine idea.” He tromped down the hall. “Shall we?”

  As they descended, she told him about the ranch. “Eddie came out two years ago with instructions to build a replica of the Gardiner estate back in England. However, he found the circumstances were so different that he had to adjust the plans Father had given him. At first, Father opposed him but I’m proud to say Eddie stuck to his convictions and Father came around.”

  She waved at Eddie who mounted up in front of the barn.

  “Father especially objected to his marriage to Linette. He said her family wasn’t suitable. And Linette’s notions of helping people regardless of race or social position especially upset him.”

  “Seems to me Eddie and Linette make a fine couple.”

  Jayne slowed her steps. “I agree. And Father has come round.”

  “So this stubborn, independent streak runs in the family?” He kept his tone light and teasing because, although it was true, he had almost convinced himself it didn’t matter to him. He would leave. Continue on with his plans. What Jayne did was not his responsibility. His conscience would be clear if he did his best to teach her to shoot.

  “I prefer to think of us as people with principles and resolve.”

  The airy, dismissive way she said it made him chuckle.

  She didn’t give him a chance to say anything more on the subject as she went back to her discussion about the Eden Valley Ranch. “The ranch is like a small town. Over there are supply buildings. Eddie lined one with tin to keep the rodents out.” She beamed with pride in her brother.

  Seth turned away. He’d had the same pride in Frank. Had thought his older brother could do nothing wrong. Then he’d gotten all goofy about Sarah and did something so stupid it cost him his life.

  Jayne drew his attention back to the present as she pointed to the new house where Billy had said he lived. “Roper and Cassie live in a new house, which is large enough to accommodate them and the four children they’d adopted. You met Billy. Besides him, there’s Daisy. She’s thirteen and very pretty. She obviously adores her younger siblings as well as her new parents. Neil is a year younger than Daisy and imitates Roper right down to the rolling swagger. There’s Billy who’s six then little Pansy who’s two. As the baby of the ranch she gets lots of attention.”

  “Four children is a lot to take on.”

  Jayne nodded. “Cassie and Roper handle it like old hands. I suppose it isn’t hard when you all love each other.”

  “Still, it’s got to be challenging.” Love was not enough sometimes. It didn’t conquer pain or make people responsible.

  “See that little cabin?” Jayne indicated a log cabin n
ext to the trail. “That’s where Linette and Eddie lived the first year she was out here.” She chuckled. “I don’t suppose you heard their story.” She drew closer to the cabin and slowed her steps. “Linette came out expecting a marriage of convenience but Eddie was still working on the big house and expected his former fiancee. He said Linette’s arrival was a mistake and he’d send her back come spring.” She grinned at Seth. “By spring he was head over heels in love with her.”

  Love again. As if it would fix everything. He knew it wasn’t enough. He’d loved Frank. He’d loved Sarah in a boyish way. He’d loved Ma. It hadn’t fixed or prevented anything.

  Jayne turned toward the other two-story building. “That’s the cookhouse. Cookie and Bertie—her husband—run it.” She drew in a deep breath. “I better warn you about Cookie.”

  He gave her a hard look. “Warn me? Why?”

  She shrugged. “It’s nothing, really.” But her eyes sparkled like she had a secret joke.

  “Jayne Gardiner, what are you not telling me?”

  She did not manage to control the twitch of a smile. “I wouldn’t say anything except I’d hate to see your leg hurt.”

  He stiffened. “What do you think she’ll do? Beat me with a broom? Fly at me with a skillet?”

  She laughed hard enough for tears to fill her eyes. “Can’t say as I’ve ever heard tell of her doing so.” She sobered with a great deal of effort. “But she does like to hug her guests.”

  “Hug?” He stared at the cookhouse. “I need to think about this.” Hopefully she thought he was teasing. When was the last time he’d been hugged? Ma had been affectionate before Frank died. After that she had grown cautious and sparse with her hugs, though she used to pat his arm or touch the back of his neck.

  He realized his hand had gone to that spot of its own accord.

  Jayne studied him, her face wrinkled in curiosity. “Do you have something against hugging?” Her voice was low, as if she tried to keep from revealing any opinion.

  “‘Course not.” How else could he answer?

  She patted his hand. “You’ll like it. I know you will.”

  The smile gleaming from her eyes made him want to be hugged just to please her. He curled his fingers into his palms. When had he ever been so addlebrained?

  “I just want you to be prepared so she doesn’t catch you off balance.”

  “Okay. Fine.”

  She climbed the steps and opened the door. He swung up after her, keeping a firm grip on his crutch.

  A mountain of a woman steamed toward them.

  “About time. I thought Jayne meant to keep you to herself.” The big woman bore down on him with the speed of a freight train.

  He braced himself.

  She engulfed him in a hug that threatened to shatter bones but filled his nostrils with cinnamon and yeast and a thousand pleasant memories.

  She clapped his back twice and released him.

  Jayne nudged him. “Was it so bad?”

  He shook his head, unwilling to meet her eyes as something hungry and lonesome tugged at his heart and it wasn’t hunger for food.

  “Come. Sit. Tell me everything about yourself.” Cookie herded them toward the table and put forth steaming cups of coffee and a plate of the rolls Jayne claimed were famous.

  Cookie waited until he’d savored a bite of one.

  “Mmm. Jayne was right. These are the best I’ve ever tasted.”

  She beamed at him. “Pshaw, they’re nothing. I make them by the dozens every day.”

  “And the cowboys eat them by the dozens,” Jayne said, earning her a beaming smile from Cookie.

  “They certainly do.” Seeing he’d finished the first roll, Cookie offered him another.

  “Thanks. Don’t mind if I do.”

  She let him enjoy the roll then leaned forward. “You from these parts?”

  “My pa lives in Corncrib, Montana.”

  “I do believe someone mentioned that. Didn’t Eddie arrange to have something delivered there?”

  “I guess he did.” Her reminder put his thoughts back on track. He had responsibilities. He must teach Jayne how to shoot so he could get to his pa. He gulped the rest of his food. “Thank you for the coffee and delicious rolls. ‘Preciate them. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to teach Jayne how to shoot a gun.”

  “My goodness. You’ve taken on quite a job from what Mercy says.” Cookie turned to Jayne. “No offense but she says you’re not the best shot she’s ever seen.”

  Jayne made a protesting noise. “I’m learning.”

  Seth hobbled to the door. The warmth of Cookie’s welcome and the homey atmosphere reminded him of a time when he belonged in a happy family. A time that had come crashing to an end all because Frank cared more about a little fun with Sarah than he did about his own safety. Or Sarah’s. It had left Seth with regrets and guilt that chewed at his insides at the most inopportune times. It had also left him with the task of keeping Ma and Pa safe. He’d failed on Ma’s behalf but he wouldn’t fail his pa. He must get back to Corncrib and make sure Pa was safe.

  * * *

  Jayne jumped to her feet to follow Seth. He seemed in an awful hurry. Guess he was anxious to see her learn to shoot so he could leave. “Thank you, Cookie.”

  “Come again. Anytime.”

  Outside, she saw Seth at the corral fence beside the barn. Grady talked to him and waved his arms in animated conversation.

  Seth nodded and Grady turned toward the barn. He called, “Kitty, kitty.”

  Within seconds, four cats raced out and tangled around Seth’s legs.

  Grady picked up one of Smokey’s littermates and said something to Seth.

  Seth nodded, backed up to the fence, rested his crutch at his side and took the kitten Grady offered. When he glanced up and saw her standing there, he smiled.

  She caught up her skirts and trotted across the yard to his side. When she reached out a hand to stroke the purring cat he held, their hands brushed and warmth jolted up her arms, zapped through her heart. What was there about this man that made her forget her hard-learned lessons? Made her aware of emotions she’d never before experienced?

  His hand grew still. Distractedly, she realized hers had, too.

  Grady offered her a cat. “This is Smokey’s sister, Sandy.”

  She gratefully took the cat, glad of something to divert her foolish thoughts. “Sandy? But she’s gray.”

  “She likes to dig in the dirt. Billy said we couldn’t call her Dirt so we decided on Sandy.”

  “I see.” She glanced at Seth, saw a reflection of shared humor. As her heart clattered against her ribs, she ducked her head. Something about his strong hands softly cradling a half-grown cat threatened the barriers in her heart.

  Grady patted the cat in Seth’s arms. “Her name is Mouse.”

  “Mouse?” Jayne laughed. “Odd name for a cat, don’t you think?”

  Seth chuckled. “I expect they had a good reason for their choice.”

  “When she gets a mouse she won’t let anyone near her,” Grady said.

  Billy came toward them. “You coming to play, Grady?”

  Grady called a hasty “Goodbye” and ran to join his friend.

  As Jayne and Seth studied each other her heart ticked an uncertain beat. He had strong hands. A gentle heart. He was a man worthy of trust.

  He lowered the cat to the ground and slowly brought his gaze to her. But after a second it shifted past her. He scrubbed at the back of his neck, tilting his hat so it concealed his eyes.

  Had he done it on purpose? Had the moment burgeoned with possibility for him as well as her? What was she thinking? There was no place for possibilities between them. She clung to the cat in her arms. Thankfully, it didn’t appear to mind her tight grasp.

  “Are you ready for another lesson?” he asked.

  It took two seconds to realize he meant shooting lessons. If she needed anything to pull her back to rational thinking, this was it. His only interest in her was te
aching her to shoot correctly so he could leave. After all, he had a father that needed and deserved his attention.

  “I need to get my gun.”

  “I’ll go with you.” Side by side they climbed the hill.

  She purposely slowed her steps so he didn’t have to hurry on his crutch. Back at the house, she rushed to her room and got the bag containing her gun and joined him outdoors. They returned to the clearing where they’d been the day before.

  “I think you need to practice shooting without bullets until you can keep your eyes open.” He sat on a nearby log as she assumed her stance. “Walk me through each step so I know you remember.”

  She did. He obviously didn’t plan to steady her arm or offer any assistance today. Fine. She needed to do this on her own.

  “Now aim and fire.”

  She did, determined to keep her eyes open. It shouldn’t be difficult. After all, there was no bullet in the gun.

  She squeezed the trigger. It clicked into place.

  And even though there was no explosion, she blinked.

  He sighed. “You need to keep your eyes open.”

  “I know.” And not just to shoot a gun. She needed to keep them open to the dangers of a man like Seth. A strong, protective man who tempted her to abandon her quest for independence. A gentle man who made her long for the kind of protection he would provide.

  Yes, she had to keep her eyes wide open in that regard. She did not want or need protection. Besides, he had no intention of staying around to provide it.

  Determination firmly in place, she lifted the gun and repeated the procedure.

  She would keep her eyes open.

  Widening her eyes in preparation, she pulled the trigger. Click. “Did I do it?”

  He sighed. “Almost.”

  Chapter Eight

  Jayne glanced at the position of the sun. It was growing late and they’d need to return to the ranch.

  She’d practiced shooting a number of times but failed to keep her eyes open a single time. Oh, she’d tried. She’d widened her eyes until they felt like they might pop from her head. When that didn’t work, she’d narrowed them to slits. She’d even tried closing one and then the other.