by Laura Drewry
Carrie’s voice continued to buzz in his head and he tried his best to focus on it. But all she talked about was ribbons, lace and some girl named Milly Jean Carlson. It was enough to drive a body mad. He’d much rather listen to Jo’s throaty voice talk about the finer points of castration than hear one more sugar-coated word out of Carrie’s painted mouth.
When her napkin slid to the floor again, Levi ignored it. He’d played along with her little game up until now but if he bent over to pick the damned thing up, he’d have to look away from Joanna.
Carrie could pick up her own damned napkin. He had other things to do – like study the freckles on her sister’s face. Or listening to her talk about barbed wire, nails and chopping down trees. Damn, she was sexy. Stella was gonna have to work double hard tonight.
“Travers!” Mac jabbed him in the shoulder with his fork.
“Hey!” Levi rubbed the injured spot. “What’d you do that for?”
Ginny smiled behind her hand, and Carrie’s lip came out in a pout, but Joanna’s face turned the prettiest shade of pink Levi’d never seen before.
“If you’re done making cow eyes at Jo,” Mac said. “We’ve got work to do.”
Levi straightened in his chair. “I don’t make cow eyes at anyone.”
“Right,” Mac scoffed. “So what were we just talking about?”
Damn. “Well, hmmm.” Levi scratched his chin and grinned. “I heard something about Chuck, and then. . .”
A painful moment passed with everyone staring at him, waiting for his answer. Everyone except Joanna. At long last, he grinned and shrugged.
“Exactly my point.” Mac pulled Levi up by the back of his collar. “Let’s get moo-ving.”
Levi tripped over his chair, righted it, then winked at Ginny. “Thanks for the meal.” He offered a brief nod to Carrie who continued to pout. He’d have to make it up to her. Couldn’t have any of the McCaines thinking he wasn’t interested in a pretty girl – what would that do to his reputation?
“Come on, Travers!” Mac shook his head before pulling Levi out the door behind him.
“Okay, okay, I’m coming.”
They made for the stable, a strange quiet between them. Mac’s boots kicked up a thick cloud of dust as he walked.
Levi pulled his gear off the rail and set about saddling his mare. He knew Mac was going to chew him out but it was best to let the man start on his own. The less Levi said, the better, especially since he had no idea what the hell he’d say anyway.
Mac rested his elbows on the rail and stared at him. “You better not be playin’ with her, Travers.”
“Playin’ with who?” he asked over a cough.
“Don’t be stupid with me – you know exactly who I mean.” He swiped his palm over his mouth. “She might come off as being tough as leather, but under all that grit, she’s got herself a heart as soft as -–.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Levi smoothed a blanket over his mare’s back, then reached for his saddle, making sure he looked anywhere but at Mac.
“I’m talking about them cow eyes of yours.” He positioned his own blanket and saddle on his horse, and kept talking. “You’ve got enough trouble on your plate as it is, what with Pearson’s daughter and the money you owe him.”
“Owed. It’s in the past.”
“What about his daughter?”
Levi’s gut twisted. “What about her?”
Mac dropped the girth strap and let it dangle while he stared at Levi over his horse’s back. “You know damn well what I’m talking about.”
The twisting in Levi’s belly tightened. “That’s none of your business.”
“It damn well is if you’re planning on doing the same thing to my niece!”
Levi ran a hand down his mare’s flank, then took a long moment to adjust the perfectly set girth. He could tell Mac the truth about LeaAnna Pearson, but why? Would Mac even believe him? Probably not – especially since he couldn’t prove anything, which left it as his word against hers. Wasn’t a man in the state who’d take the word of Levi Travers over that of a rich lady’s.
And when it came to Joanna, Levi didn’t have the first damned clue what he was planning to do with her. Hell, he could hardly think straight with her around.
The only plan he had – if he could call it that - was to try not to make a fool of himself before he could finish this job and get the hell out of town. San Francisco seemed twice as far away as it did a week ago.
Mac coaxed his horse to accept the bit, then said in a low voice, “I know about the other girls, too.”
“What other girls?” Levi tried to sound innocent, then gave it up.
“Let’s start with Stella.”
“Good old Stella,” he muttered. She hadn’t crossed his mind in nearly a week and yet today, her name kept coming up – sort of like a bad penny. It’s not that he wasn’t interested in her anymore. No man, save for Mac, could resist Stella’s particular talents, but he’d been too busy at the Double M to think much about her lately.
If he wasn’t thinking about the job at hand, then he was thinking about the McCaine sisters; how could he get Carrie to shut up, and how could he get Joanna to talk to him about something other than cattle?
But maybe a night with Stella was just what he needed to put his mind back to normal.
“Then we’re agreed.” Mac cinched the strap, adjusted a crooked stirrup and waited for Levi to answer.
“Agreed on what?”
“You know damn well what.” Mac pointed at him. “I’ve come to like you, Travers. You’re not near the son of a bitch I thought you’d be. You’re a hard worker, a helluva nice fella, and you’ve kept away from Carrie even though she’s doing all she can to get your attention. But when all’s said and done, you’re still Levi Travers. And we both know what that means.”
Levi knew all too well. He’d strived his whole life to build the reputation he had; work hard enough to keep your job, but not any harder; bet only what you can afford to lose, or just don’t get caught cheating; love all women equally – but only one night each; and for God’s sake, don’t depend on anyone and don’t let them depend on you.
It was a way of life that had served him well all these years; right up until he’d set foot on the Double M. In the the last week, his ways had begun to lose their appeal. He couldn’t rightly explain why, though, and that bothered the hell out of him.
Mac’s voice cut into his thoughts. “All you want is a little fun and then be on your way.”
“You make it sound like a bad thing.” He chuckled, but the hollow sound echoed in his ears. It didn’t matter that Mac spoke the truth; it didn’t sit right with Levi to have him point it out.
“Only when it affects Joey. She doesn’t need anyone mucking up her life. What she needs is to get this damned fence built and to find some half-way dependable hands to help out around here.”
Levi had nothing to say to that. After all, he had no intention of being anywhere near the Double M after the fence was up – and if Joanna needed dependable men, then she’d best look somewhere else.
“Besides,” Mac said. “I’d have thought someone like you’d be after a girl more like Carrie – which would be worse since she’s got all these romantic notions in that fool head of hers.”
“Carrie’s a little girl, for crying out loud.” Levi led the horse outside and swung up into the saddle. “I’m not quite as bad as you’re giving me credit for, Mac. I don’t go after little girls.”
“That there’s no little girl, Travers. And neither’s Joey.”
“I see that.” He couldn’t help but smile. Joanna McCaine was nothing like the girls he was used to. Fact was, Joanna was no girl at all. She was all woman.
“So then I’ll say it again. Don’t be messing with her. You’ve got enough trouble with Pearson’s girl – you don’t want to be adding to it.”
Levi turned his mount toward the range and kneed her into an easy trot. Mac rode up beside him,
his weathered face stern and unyielding. Unease pooled in Levi’s belly.
He probably shouldn’t ask, but since it didn’t really matter to him either way, there was no harm in it. “Why haven’t they married? Surely there’ve been others. . .”
The laughter that shook Mac’s shoulder pretty much answered that question.
“Carrie might like to play a little, but there’s not a chance in hell she’d ever marry a fella from around here.”
Levi frowned. “Why’s that?”
“Our Carrie’s a dreamer. She’s got plans on going somewhere more exciting, with more people and less cattle.”
“That sounds like Carrie.” A few weeks ago, he’d have agreed whole-heartedly with her, too. But the longer he stayed at the Double M, the more he wondered about leaving.
He would leave, of course, but still – he wondered.
“Why hasn’t she gone before now? There’s trains heading out of here every day.”
“Joey wouldn’t hear of it. Said Carrie was too young – too naïve - to be off on her own in a city.”
“Naïve?” Levi choked. “Carrie?”
Mac shot him a look that told him everything he needed to know. Nobody in the family thought Carrie was naïve; they were all just scared to death of what she’d do once she was let loose.
After a long moment, Mac cleared his throat. “I hear from Ginny that Carrie’s got it in her head to go with you to San Francisco.”
“She what?” Several cows grazing nearby started at Levi’s yelp. He gripped his saddle horn to keep from falling to the ground. “No way.”
Wasn’t a man alive who could travel such a distance with that kind of prattling and whining going on.
With a long shrug, Mac sighed. “She figures you could act as her escort since you’re heading that way anyway.”
“I hope you all told her that wasn’t gonna happen.”
“Joey told her, all right,” he said with a nod. “Made it good and clear that there was no way she’d let Carrie travel half way across the country with you, but we don’t have much say in the matter anymore.”
“Why’s that?” Levi forced the insult to the back of his mind. He should be glad Joanna didn’t want her sister traveling with him.
“Carrie’s near a grown woman, Travers. There’s not much we can do if she decides she’s going.”
“You could lock her in her room,” Levi offered with a short chuckle.
“Believe me,” Mac sighed. “Joey’s tried just about everything. But Carrie’s determined.”
They rode in silence for a moment, a small knot in Levi’s stomach getting tighter and tighter.
“I won’t do it, Mac,” he said. “No matter what she does or how often she asks, I won’t take her west with me.”
Though he didn’t respond, Mac’s brow raised in question, making Levi laugh.
“I can’t believe I’m saying that, either,” he said. “But despite what I’ve given people to think of me, I’m not that much of a sonuvabitch.” He sobered, swallowed and forced the words out; words he’d never imagined himself saying. “I’ve got too much respect for you, Mac. I won’t be the one to ruin her – she’s going to have to find someone else to do that for her.”
It was Mac’s turn to laugh, though he sure didn’t sound like he thought anything was funny. “That’s what worries me. Carrie’s too pretty for her own good. She’ll sure as shootin’ get herself into some kind of trouble out on her own.
“She’s never been on her own, never had to work a day in her life.”
“And whose fault is that?” Levi asked, then immediately regretted it. Who was he to judge anyone? But Mac laughed again.
“Guess we’re all a little guilty on that one. I just wish she was a little more sensible, a little more like Joey.”
Joanna. Levi’s knuckles whitened around the pommel. He glanced around casually, trying to pay attention to the land around him; the huge cottonwoods, the way the cattle moved, anything else but the way Mac stared at him, waiting for him to ask the question they both knew he wanted to ask.
The sun’s heat blazed through his shirt, yet the sweat that trickled down his spine was anything but warm. He scratched behind his horse’s ear, then rubbed her neck. When he couldn’t stand the silence anymore, he shifted in his saddle and swallowed hard. Twice.
“And why hasn’t Joanna married yet?”
With a drawn-out sigh, Mac scrubbed his face with his left hand.
“Joey’s different.”
Different? Levi fought the urge to roll his eyes. Joanna was more than just different. She was. . .well. . .how the hell could anyone explain her?
“There’s not a man in the county – probably the whole state - who was ever brave enough to tangle with a wildcat like her. She’s mean and ornery and about as friendly as a peeled rattler, in case you hadn’t noticed.” He laughed lightly, but stopped when he faced Levi.
“’Sides, once anyone gets a look at Carrie, they pretty much forget all about Joey.”
Words died on Levi’s lips. He could see how that would happen – Carrie was about the prettiest little thing he’d ever seen. But still, there was something about Joanna that went beyond being pretty. Hell, it went beyond a lot of things.
Mac’s shoulders lifted in a tired shrug. “A woman like Joey needs a strong man – one who ain’t afraid of her. But she also deserves a good, honest man who’ll respect who she is and love her despite of it.”
“And I’m none of those things, is that what you’re saying?” Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut? Of course he wasn’t any of those things – and they both knew it.
Mac shrugged again. Why did that irritate Levi so much?
“Have you seen me do anything out of line since I’ve been here?” he asked.
“Nope.”
“Seen any girls hanging around my cabin? Hell – have you even seen any girls on the ranch – other than you’re your nieces?”
“Nope. But you’ve only been here a short while, Travers. Gonna take a little longer than that to prove you’ve changed your stripes, is all.” Mac took a long drink from his canteen. “Told you before, I’ve come to like you, but that don’t count for spit when it comes to Joey. There’s lots of folks ‘round here that I like, but wouldn’t want to see any of them hook up with her, either.
“You got yourself a reputation and until you prove otherwise, I don’t think you’re near good enough for her. Not even close.”
“That’s not really for you to decide, is it?” Anger coiled deep in his belly. Or was it fear?
Mac shrugged. “Nope, I guess it’s not.”
Silence hung between them like a noose. The muscle along Mac’s jaw twitched, his mouth turned in a deep frown.
“Does this mean you’re thinkin’ about courtin’ our Joey?”
“No,” Levi answered, maybe a little too quickly.
Mac didn’t look the slightest bit convinced.
“Besides,” Levi shifted in his saddle and grinned. “Joanna’s not going to let someone like me get away with anything.”
“Prob’ly true,” Mac nodded. “But I’m still gonna be keeping an eye on things. If you even think about hurting our Joey, I’ll hunt you down like a mangy dog, Travers. Pearson and his boys’ll seem like a bunch of quilt-sewing old women next to me. Mark my words on that one.”
“Consider them marked.”
So Mac didn’t think he was good enough for Joanna. A week ago, that wouldn’t have mattered a stitch to Levi. Today it bothered the hell out of him.
CHAPTER 5
That afternoon, after sending Mac out to the herd, Jo and Levi set about fencing in the ranch. Jo had never strung barbed wire, but apparently Travers had – which gave her ample reason to watch him work.
Starting at the barn, he paced out the distance between stakes and hammered them into the ground. He then worked the wire around them, attached the guy wires to boulders and buried those deep in the ground.
He put everyth
ing he had into the job until it was done – and done right. Despite what everyone said about him, he was a damn hard worker and never backed away from any job, even when she’d sent him to help Clay collect dried patties yesterday.
Jo had to admit he was something to watch; the way he swung the axe with perfect accuracy, the way his muscles flexed beneath his shirt, and the way he winked at her every time he caught her watching.
It’s not like she was enjoying herself, standing there in the heat of the day watching him work. It was something she had to do in order to learn. Just so happened she was a slow learner when it came to fencing.
When she’d watched as long as she could, Jo had Clay help her load a roll of wire and other tools she’d need into the wagon and they rode off across the yard. No point in her and Levi working the same area; she’d never get the work done with that kind of distraction.
Jo pulled the tools out of the wagon bed and nodded toward the horses.
“Take them back to the stable and give them some water.”
Clay nodded, his eyes solemn. He accepted each job she gave him with determination and pride; whether it was tending a litter of abandoned pups or collecting patties for fuel. As he set to work on the harness, Jo smiled.
“And Clay?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“You be sure to tell Newt I said you could have an extra helping of dessert tonight.”
A huge grin split the boy’s face. “Yes, ma’am!”
Minutes later, he was leading the animals away, whistling.
Jo rolled up her sleeves, picked up the axe and took aim at an old fallen cottonwood. As she’d seen Levi do, she chopped the trunk into long, even stakes and piled them beside the wagon. The wood split easy enough, but with the constant swinging, it wasn’t long before her shoulders began to ache and her teeth rattled at each chop.
With a good sized stack of posts ready to use, she leaned back against the wagon and uncorked her canteen. Three long swallows later, it was half empty and she wasn’t near as parched as she had been a minute before.