Sam sipped the lemonade and was relieved that it was good. The sandwich stared back at him as if daring him to try it. With a nod to Ulyssa, he picked it up and took a bite. The sandwich bit back with a pile of salt and pepper and something else he couldn’t identify.
His mouth heated up. Trying not to show his discomfort, he took a sip of lemonade, but it did little to put out the fire that was burning in his mouth. Sam looked at Ulyssa and grinned. “Very good, dear.”
Ulyssa smiled sweetly with her lips while her eyes raged. “I’m so glad you like it. I can make another one if you’re still hungry.”
“No, no. This is enough. I don’t want to ruin my appetite for dinner. Rusty told me how wonderful their cook is.” He smiled at Rusty.
Rusty blushed and looked down at her hat that she was still holding.
Ulyssa held up her book. “Dear, I thought we could take a little break and go to our room. I love it when you read to me. It’s so romantic.”
Sam glared at her, caught himself, and smiled. “If that’s what you want. Let’s go.”
Now it was Ulyssa’s turn to stare at him in alarm. Apparently, she hadn’t thought her scheme through. It was clear she didn’t want him in her bedroom. She caught his arm. “Did you talk to Mr. Allred about trading my horse? We could go and pick one out. You did promise, you know.”
Sam looked at her. For the first time, he realized he was taller than Ulyssa by six inches. With more pleasure than he should have had, he used that six inches to tower over her and grin. “He won’t be back for a while, and I could use a little nap. Let’s go.” Sam smiled and took her hand in his.
Well, there was no fire in Ulyssa’s limp, cold hand. No sir. In fact, he bet that Ulyssa wished she had her derringer about now. He looked at her and smiled. “Maybe we’ll read some of the pages of that book.”
Rusty apparently had had enough of what a good marriage looked like and stomped out of the room.
Sam shoved open the door, pulled Ulyssa through the entrance, and locked the door behind them. “We are going to come to an understanding. No more hot pepper salt sandwiches. That was low. Even for you.”
She laughed. At least it was her attempt at her usual mocking humor. “It was worth watching as you tried to look like the doting husband. Doubt you have it in you. You’re not exactly the marrying type, are you?”
“I might be if the right woman came around. You are not exactly the right kind of woman for me or probably any man, are you?”
“I see no reason to go on insulting one another.” She marched across the room and sat on the bed.
Seeing her discomfort, Sam walked over to her and glared. “Don’t hold your rank over me anymore. I’m tired of the way you look down on me. Besides, that is not how a wife treats her husband. Rusty is sure to see through you if you don’t stop.”
Ulyssa shoved him. “Get away from me. So help me, I’ll use my derringer on you.”
“Well, that would about settle how Rusty would see us.”
Ulyssa took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Sorry. Let’s start over. I can read my book, you can sleep on the divan over there. At least we don’t have to play the charade in this room.”
Sam grinned at her. “Hmm.”
“I mean it, Sam. You stay away from me or, so help me, I’ll forget this case and shoot you.”
Sam turned from her and stomped to the divan. “Don’t worry. You would be the last woman I’d want.” Sam pointed his finger at her. “If you were the last woman in the world, I’d walk to the other side of the earth to get away from you.”
He plopped down on the couch, stretched out, and let his feet dangle over the end. It wasn’t comfortable, but at least he didn’t have to look at the dragon woman. Instead, Sam thought of Rusty. The way the sun shone on her hair, making it the prettiest deep gold.
Her eyes were bright. Green like her father’s. And they were honest, loving, and caring. Totally opposite of Ulyssa’s.
Sam wasn’t even sure why he disliked his partner so much, but she got to him like no one else. As if she was a constant mirror held up to him to show him how he didn’t measure up and that he never would.
Maybe there wasn’t any hope that he could change. But right now, he was determined to prove he’d left the outlaw way of life behind him.
He glanced at Ulyssa. She had her nose buried in the book.
Then again, he wondered why he had the constant desire to put her down. She really didn’t seem all that bad. Oh, she was harsh and prickly as a porcupine, but he knew life could do that to a person.
He put his hat over his face to block the light and wondered what Ulyssa’s story was. What had made her so hard? Not that it mattered. Once this case was over, they were parting ways, and he didn’t care if he ever saw her again.
Chapter 12
Cade whistled, hoping Rusty would hear him. He needed to see her, talk to her, and make sure nothing was going on with Sam. Cade hadn’t seen them up close, but they had looked to be too close to one another on that hill.
He rode his horse around the big oak and whistled again. He waited. Then he saw Rusty riding toward him.
She looked upset as she rode beside him. With anger in her eyes, she nodded to the north. “Let’s get away from the house.” Rusty didn’t wait for him to answer but galloped her horse over the ridge and down the next valley.
Rusty seemed to only have one speed, and that was a gallop. Cade admired her and thought that he really did love her. Her father could rest in that. He wouldn’t hurt Rusty.
That she came with the largest ranch didn’t hurt either. That’s what her father accused of him wanting. Cade tried to show that he loved the man’s daughter, but the old goat wouldn’t believe him. Now, Cade wasn’t so sure himself. Since meeting Ulyssa, his thoughts had been whirling like a tornado.
Finally, Rusty stopped by a small pond and dismounted. She waited for him, and when he came near, she dismounted and looked up at him. “Cade, do you love me?”
He jumped off his horse and held her in his arms. Looking into her eyes, he nodded. “You know I do. Marry me. Today. We can ride off and get married in Colorado Springs. Or wherever you want.”
She shook her head. “We’re going to do it right with Father’s blessings or not at all. I’m not changing my mind on that.”
“Your father doesn’t like me. He won’t even let me in his house.”
With a grin, she put a finger under his chin. “Then you’ll have to work harder to make him like you and trust you. That is all there is to it.”
Cade kissed her. “You’re asking a lot of a man.”
She pushed him away. “Yes, I am.” Rusty walked to the pond and sat on a flat rock and stared into the calm waters.
He walked up behind her. “Look at that pretty girl in the water.” Cade wanted her to see what he saw. She really was a treasure that any man would be proud to marry.
She turned and faced him. “Cade, is it me you see, or my ranch?”
He took a step back. “That’s a funny question. You know I love you. It’s not the ranch.”
“I don’t know. My father says it is. He thinks it’s the wealth you love.”
He shook his head. “No, he’s wrong.” As he said the words, Cade felt as if he were betraying her, but he couldn’t tell her why.
“My father is rarely wrong.” She turned back to the water and ran her fingers over the surface, creating ripples.
He knelt beside her and joined his hand with hers. “I do love you.”
Rusty sighed. “How would you provide for me?”
“What?”
“Do you even have anything?”
Cade stood. “Where is this coming from? Has your father gotten to you with his ideas?”
She stood, close to him, facing him. “I’m asking the questions, not my father.”
He put his hands on her arms. “I swear to you, I love you, Rusty. Trust me.”
“I’m trying to. I’m trying awful hard. But there is someth
ing you’re holding back from me. I feel it in the quiet.”
Cade stared at her. She’d never talked to him this way before. He had a feeling that Sam Paxton was interfering. Cade looked into her greens eyes and wondered what the truth was. For him, for her. “Rusty, why were you riding with Sam this morning?”
She blushed. Not a lot, but enough to tell him that something wasn’t right. “I went out to meet my father, and Sam was with him. Father wanted to be alone, so we were riding back to the house. Simple as that.”
“Simple as that. It didn’t look as simple as that.”
“Maybe you need to trust me.” She whirled away from him and mounted her horse and galloped away.
Cade watched her ride. At least, now he knew. He had competition, and Rusty didn’t trust him. The hard truth was, he had counted on falling in love with her. Now, he couldn’t hurt Rusty. Wouldn’t hurt her. Not that he ever intended to. But she’d been the way he could make her father pay for what he’d done to Caldwell.
More confused than ever, Cade rode in the direction opposite of the one Rusty had gone. He had things to do. A wanted poster to find, and a job. If Rusty wanted him to prove to her that he could work, then that’s what he’d do. He knew a couple of the smaller ranches around. Someone was bound to need help.
***
Ulyssa tried reading her book, but the words floated away in a blur of tears. She concentrated on keeping her cries silent. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d cried. She didn’t think she could have any tears left in her after the hard times she’d had.
But Sam had hit some soft spots in the walls around her heart. Ulyssa didn’t want to be unlovable. She didn’t like being hated by men. She didn’t even want to dislike them herself. But the truth was, she was afraid of being hurt again.
Afraid to feel. Afraid to let anyone near her heart. Afraid to entertain the thought of someone wanting to love her. Ulyssa didn’t even believe in the word love anymore. Maybe it was because she was reading the book that her heart and mind had opened up to the possibility or even the need to be loved.
One thing she knew, being alone was getting tiresome, and making her harder on the outside and hollow on the inside. She needed to take lessons from Rusty on how to be friendly and engaging.
That first night, Ulyssa remembered the way Cade had looked at her. The warmth that had shot through her cold heart. Yet, he said he loved Rusty. Maybe, like Allred said, Cade was using Rusty to get his ranch. Ulyssa didn’t want to get in the middle of that struggle.
This case had seemed so simple. So easy. Now, Ulyssa wished she could run away. Sam could take care of Cade and Rusty. Maybe he already was by the way he was looking at Rusty.
Things had turned sour on her. She liked Rusty and didn’t want to hurt the girl. She wasn’t even sure if it was a good thing to turn her away from Cade. What if he was the one man for Rusty?
When Ulyssa had been just a girl, she’d dreamed of a man that would take her away, and they’d live happily-ever-after. But that man had never come. Instead, she’d been abused in the orphanage, and things got worse when she ran away.
She’d long ago given up dreaming because the nightmares had driven them away. She glanced at Sam, and both hated and envied him. He was snoring with not a care in the world. Maybe it was the sign that his conscience was seared.
Yet, Ulyssa knew better. Why she tried to think the worst of Sam Paxton, she wasn’t sure. It was as if she worried that if he had climbed out of the pit that he’d put himself into, it made her accountable to stop her harsh ways.
She stared at Sam’s long lanky form. Then she looked at the book. If Elizabeth Bennett could change her ways and heart, maybe she ought to try. She put the book down and decided to try and be nice to Sam.
Ulyssa figured she would encourage him to stay on the straight and narrow. She didn’t have to marry him, but she could be kind to him. Maybe she’d looked down on him so much that she’d forgotten that she also needed to change her ways.
She got up and tiptoed to the window. It had to be near supper time. She washed her face to make sure any sign of her tears was gone and then gently shoved Sam’s shoulder. “Time to wake up.”
Sam pushed the hat off his face and looked at her. “What, are you going to poison me now?”
She laughed. “I’m sorry. That was a cruel prank to play on you. Besides, Rosalie is cooking tonight, and she is rather protective of her kitchen.”
He eyed her with suspicion and sat up. “Well, let’s try and be nice to one another. We want Rusty to desire a good man and not think marriage is war.”
Ulyssa smiled. “Touché. That hurt.”
Sam stood, stretched, and then went to wash up. He grabbed for the towel, but she’d moved it.
Seeing he had his eyes closed, Ulyssa took the towel to him.
He dried off and looked at her with surprise. “What, no scorpion in the towel?”
“I told you, I was wrong to tamper with the sandwich. I won’t try anything else. We’ll continue with Mr. Allred’s plan and act the sweet married couple.”
Sam nodded. “Uh-huh.” His gaze was still filled with suspicion.
“Let’s go out and see the others.” She held out her hand.
With a shake of his head, Sam hesitantly took her hand in his and walked her out to the main room. When Rosalie passed them in the hall, Sam made sure to pat Ulyssa’s hand.
Ulyssa stopped the woman. “Is Rusty on the porch?”
“Yes. She could use your company.”
With a nod to Sam, Ulyssa whispered. “Let me go and talk to her. You find Mr. Allred and see what he thinks about the situation.”
Sam stared at her. “Okay.” He started to leave but stopped and looked at her. “What are you up to?”
“What?”
“Why are you all of a sudden acting nice?”
She grinned. “Because we are supposed to be in love.” Ulyssa walked off and had to smile at Sam’s confused expression. Now, she’d see what was the matter with Rusty.
On the porch, she found Rusty sitting in a chair and reading a book. She looked up and gave a lop-sided smile. “I’m reading Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol.”
“I finished Pride and Prejudice. I found it a little eye-opening. Thank you for suggesting it.”
“My pleasure. I don’t know what I would have done without books to read. They allowed me to visit so many places, times, and people.” Rusty shut the book and sat up. “How was your day?”
“Oh, delightful.” Ulyssa groaned inwardly at her lie. Her day had been dreadful, with all sorts of thoughts at odds with one another. But she did manage to smile at Rusty to cover her true feelings.
“How did you know that you loved Sam?”
Ulyssa stiffened. The question had completely ambushed her. Thinking fast, she tried to remember the book she’d just read. “Well, it can start as a flutter. A twinge of excitement when you see the person. Feeling warmth when they hold your hand.”
Feeling her cheeks warming at the thought of Cade touching her hand, Ulyssa’s mind froze. She stared at Rusty but couldn’t say a word.
“But how do you really know? I think I love Cade.” She stared at Ulyssa. “But I wouldn’t run away and marry him. Not yet.”
“Oh.” Ulyssa took that as a good sign. Although she was beginning to wonder if it was for Mr. Allred or herself. Did she have feelings for Cade? Couldn’t be. Not Ulyssa Long. What did the other agents call her? The Ice of Hearts.
That stung. It used to be something that she laughed at. Now, Ulyssa didn’t find it so funny.
“Are you all right?” Rusty looked at her with concern.
“Oh, yes. You know, marriage isn’t all roses. Just like the plant, there are thorny patches you have to work through.” Ulyssa was failing. She knew nothing about marriage or love.
Rusty sat back in her chair. “I used to dream of when I would fall in love. I would know instantly. He would sweep me off my feet and carry me away on his
horse to a special place that only we would know about.”
“Like your Father and Mother’s lake?”
“Yes, I suppose. But in my dreams, there weren’t any problems. And I am sure if there were, they wouldn’t matter. With Cade, the problems matter. Father won’t give us his blessing. And I won’t be married without it. The man I marry will have to take me and my father.”
“Cade doesn’t like your father?”
“Well, I think he likes him, but Father doesn’t trust Cade to take care of me. He thinks Cade just wants the ranch and my wealth.”
“And you? What do you think?” Ulyssa found herself hoping Rusty didn’t really love Cade. But then Ulyssa was confronted with the question of why on earth she would want the man? Not like he had a job. Or anything.
Rusty shook her head. “A few days ago, I would have said he loved me and not the ranch. But now, I don’t know. There just seems to be something between us.”
Ulyssa nodded. “Well, it will work itself out. Be patient. Pray. And listen to your father. You don’t realize what a blessing it is to have a father who loves and cares for you.”
Ulyssa knew that at least that was the truth, and she did pray that Rusty would understand. As for the rest, Ulyssa couldn’t bring herself to admit that she might have feelings for Cade. After all, Ulyssa had all the symptoms that she’d used to describe love.
Chapter 13
Sam wandered through the ranch house and came to Mr. Allred’s study and knocked on the door.
Mr. Allred waved him in. “So, how do you like my ranch?”
“You have quite an empire.” Sam sat in the chair opposite Mr. Allred.
“Yes, I do. Sometimes that becomes a burden more than a blessing. I have a hundred people that work for me. And I owe it to them to make sure I keep a firm hand on everything. That’s the main reason I don’t want Cade to take over.”
Sam rubbed the polished wood on the arms of his chair. “Do you think he’d sell off the land?”
“Not really. I just don’t see him having the ability to run the ranch. I don’t think Cade is a bad man. He’s not an outlaw as far as I can tell. I don’t think he even really wants the ranch. And I don’t want the responsibility to fall on Rusty.” He picked up a piece of paper and frowned.
An Agent for Ulyssa Page 7