by Sandy James
Adam cuffed his shoulder. “Good to learn that early, boy. Save you lots of aggravation later on. C’mon. We need to head back to the ranch.”
Chapter Nine
“Have a seat—both of you.” Adam waited for Victoria and Matthew to sit down.
He had a million things on his mind, mostly about what needed to be done so he wouldn’t have to leave Grace in White Pines for too long.
Too long?
One night already seemed to last forever.
God help him, he loved her. There was no way he was leaving on that long drive now if there was chance she would bolt the moment he was gone. She wouldn’t run from him—at least that was what his heart wanted to believe. There was something nipping at her heels that never let the woman breathe fresh air or enjoy a moment of true peace.
Correction—someone nipping at her heels. And that someone was named Stephen.
Grace might wish to run from her past, but Adam had every intention of looking it square in the eye. Then he’d release her from its wicked hold over her life.
“I’m not heading out on this cattle drive,” he announced.
Two sets of stunned eyes stared back at him.
Victoria cocked her head. “I don’t understand, Daddy.”
A knock drew Adam’s attention. Ty stood in the doorway. “You wanted to see me?”
“Come on in, son. I was just explaining that I’m gonna let you deliver the cattle to Denver. I’m sitting out this last trip.”
“Why?” Victoria asked. “You always go on the drives with us.”
“I thought Grace and I were going with you,” Matthew added. “That’s why I stayed on here at the ranch.”
Adam swallowed a chuckle. If Matthew believed a cattle drive was only thing tying him to Montana, he was deluding himself. “Let’s just say I’ve had a change of heart. I want to stay closer to town.”
“Because of Grace.” Matthew set his jaw. “I don’t think she’ll leave. Not now.”
“I don’t, either, but I need to keep an eye on things. Anything you can tell me that might help me understand what she’s so afraid of?”
Matthew’s shoulders rose in a shrug. “There’s not much to tell. Besides, it’s her place to share anything she wants you to know.”
Adam sighed, although he respected Matthew holding tightly to Grace’s secrets. Nothing worthwhile ever came easy. The puzzle that was Grace Riley had a surplus of pieces, and the solution sure wouldn’t be simple.
“Then I’ll just have to wait ’til she’s ready to confide in me.” He turned his attention to Ty. “Can you leave with the cattle in a couple of days, or do you need a little more time?”
Ty rubbed his hand over his chin, deep in thought. “Two days oughta work. I’ll be needing to hire on two more for the drive.”
“I’ll go,” Matthew offered.
“No,” Adam replied. “I’ve got another job for you.”
“I’ll go,” Victoria chimed in. “If there’s only three of us, I won’t have to cook everything.”
Adam shook his head. “Got another job for you, too, princess. Ty?”
“Sir?”
“Do what needs done to get the cattle to market.”
“Would it be all right with you if I stay on in Denver for a few weeks?” Ty asked. “Got a letter from my sister. She’s wantin’ me to visit.”
“Which sister?” Adam asked.
“Bess. Number six. I think she feels bad that she wasn’t able to keep our pa from dumping me at that orphanage. She and her husband said they wanted me to stay to get to know my nieces and nephews next time I got near Denver.”
“Go,” Adam replied. “Get rid of those blasted steers and go see your family.”
With a nod, Ty ducked out of the office.
“If Ty’s making the cattle drive, what am I supposed to do for you?” Matthew asked.
“I need those mares we talked about getting. You’re gonna go pick out half a dozen or so good ones and bring ’em back. That way we’ll be able to breed more horses come spring.”
“Would be easier with Ty’s help, but I can always grab some cowboy from town.”
“No need. It’s a two-man job. Victoria’s going with you.”
The room was as quiet as an ancient mausoleum. Victoria and Matthew stared open-mouthed at Adam before slowly turning to face each other.
“I–I couldn’t. Daddy, surely you don’t mean— With him?”
Her words forced the indignant mask to drop from Matthew’s face as he narrowed his eyes. “I don’t work with women. Why, I’d have to spend all my time coddling her. She’d never be able to keep up with the pace I’d set.”
Her spine straightened and her chin lifted. “I assure you, Mr. Riley, that I can hold my own. I’d gather you’d be hard pressed to keep up with me.” Her eyes met her father’s. “When do you want me to leave?”
“Me?” Matthew shot her a frown. “You think you could round up half a dozen mares all on your own?”
She answered him with a curt nod. The moment he started laughing, her eyes shot enough heat that had it been real fire, it would have burned him to nothing but a charred carcass. “I don’t need your help. Six mares are easy.”
“I changed my mind, Adam.” Matthew crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t need help. I definitely don’t need her help. I’ll bring those mares in myself, and I’ll pick some damned good breeding stock, too.”
She wagged her finger at him. “I don’t need your help. I’ll leave first thing in the morning, and I’ll get much better horses than you could ever find.”
Adam shook his head. Would they ever figure out the friction bubbling to the surface hid deeper feelings? A damn shame too because they suited each other in every way.
She was a special kind of woman who needed a special kind of man. Someone who wouldn’t bend to her strong will. Someone who could match her passion for life. Someone who wouldn’t be intimidated by her clever wit.
He let their squabbling go on for a few minutes until it petered out. Drumming his fingers on the top of his mahogany desk, he said, “Are you two finished? ’Cause I have a word or two to say in the matter.”
“Sorry, Adam.” Matthew turned to give Victoria as much of his back as he could.
“Sorry, Daddy.” Victoria scooted so far to the edge of the settee. Nothing but stubbornness kept her from slipping off the edge.
“You’re both going to get those mares. Victoria, you’ve got a great eye, but bringing in six or more won’t be easy, especially for one person.” She opened her mouth as if to protest, but he held up his hand. “No argument.”
She sighed before nodding.
“Matthew, I expect you to help pick the best, and taking Victoria with you gives you a second pair of eyes, a pair that knows good horseflesh.”
He glanced over his shoulder at her before giving a brusque nod.
“Good. It’s settled. You can leave in the morning.”
Without another word, they both rose and left the office, giving Adam a chance to think about the plans he needed to make to bring Grace back to Twin Springs.
Back home where she belonged.
Chapter Ten
Seeing Grace eased the tightness in Adam’s chest.
“Adam!” She smiled and moved the frying pan away from the flame rising from the burner. After giving her hair a quick swipe, she smoothed her palms down her white apron. “I didn’t expect you this early.”
He strode across the kitchen, took her into his arms, and kissed her soundly, savoring how she always melted into his embrace.
After a kiss that was too short to please him, she put a little distance between them as her cheeks reddened. “You always make me forget myself.” She turned her attention back to the stove. “Have you eaten breakfast?”
“No, ma’am.” He’d been in too much of a hurry to see her. Pulling the stool back from the work table, he sat down.
“Well, then…” She flipped some delicious smelli
ng bacon. “I’ll set another place.”
He was content to watch her puttering around the kitchen, and it was easy to see how much pleasure she got from cooking.
She stepped away from the stove long enough to grab a mug and fill it with coffee. Handing it to him, she smiled and blushed a little deeper red. “I–I’m glad to see you.”
As she turned to move away from him, he grabbed her hand and dragged her back to his side. “I’m glad to see you too, Gracie.” He kissed the back of her hand.
Her smile lit up the whole kitchen, and she lightly ran her fingers up his arm and over his shoulder as she walked away. “I’ll make you a nice breakfast.”
Jake came shuffling in, his clothes shabbily donned and his hair still bed-ruffled. One suspender dangled from his pants, and only half his shirt was tucked in.
Adam had seen the boy in that state just about every morning he lived at Twin Springs. Working late hours in the Four Aces couldn’t be easy.
“Mornin’,” Jake mumbled, not really directing the greeting at either Adam or Grace. He plopped down on the empty stool next to Adam.
Grace poured Jake some coffee and set the mug in front of him. He nodded but didn’t thank her.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Adam leaned back, unsure whether he should scold the boy for his lack of manners.
She beat him to the punch. “You’re quite welcome, Jake. I hope you enjoy the coffee.”
Jake’s eyes followed her as he sipped the coffee, but one taste coupled with her sassy response forced a smile to his lips.
Scooping food onto two plates, she set them in front of the men. Adam said a quick prayer, and she went back to work by the stove as he and Jake dove into their meals.
The first forkful of scrambled eggs made Jake’s eyes fly wide. He glanced to Adam who snickered and ate some more of his own food.
Emily must have been as bad a cook as Jake and Will often complained.
Grace, who’d been watching them both over her shoulder, smiled at Adam.
He returned her grin with a wink.
Shuffling steps announced another person entering the kitchen. “Somethin’ sure smells wonderful.” Will plopped down on the third stool, eyeing the almost empty plates. “Can I please git me some of them vittles, Grace? My, oh my, they smell tasty.”
She was already handing him a cup of coffee. “That’s what I’m here for.”
“I’ve been thinking,” Adam said as Grace piled food on Will’s plate, “that we could probably get Reverend David to perform our wedding in a couple of days.”
She stopped moving, gripping the plate with white knuckles. “Wedding? You think there’s going to be a wedding?”
“Of course. That’s what two people in love are supposed to do. I figured you wouldn’t want to wait too long. I’d like to see it done soon so I can take you back to the ranch.”
“Married? Y–you can’t be serious.”
The quiver in her voice helped him keep his temper. He didn’t want her afraid of him, but they belonged together. The faster she got that straight in her mind, the easier things would be.
“I’m dead serious. We’re gonna be married. Soon.”
“I’m not marrying you, Adam.” She finished assembling Will’s breakfast and carried it to the table. “I’m not marrying anyone. Ever.” She dropped the plate so hard, a couple of bacon strips and some toasted bread bounced onto the table.
Will quickly picked up the food and placed it back on his plate. He grabbed up his fork and shoveled food into his mouth as he watched the couple with amusement in his eyes.
Adam almost asked Jake and Will to give him and Grace some privacy before he realized he might be better off with allies. And perhaps witnesses. “Yes, you are, darlin’. You’re marrying me just as a soon as I can make the arrangements.”
“Married? I think not.”
“I think so.”
Grace attacked the dirty pots and pans she’d dropped into the sink, hating the troubling thoughts crowding her mind.
Married?
Had the man lost his mind? She was a murderess, not that he knew that.
But married? “I–I can’t. I–I’ll be leaving town soon.”
A hand on her arm spun her around. The water and suds clinging to her hands flew to leave a trail of wet spots across Adam’s shirt.
“You’re not going anywhere, Grace.” The harshness of his tone eased. “You can’t leave. You belong here—with me.”
Sweet Lord, how she wished that were true. She wanted to belong somewhere. She wanted a home she could call her own.
She wanted Adam Morgan almost more than living.
“I can’t.” Her voice was a mere whisper.
His finger lifted her chin.
She resisted, placing her wet palms against his chest.
He won the battle. As his mouth descended toward hers, she broke away from his embrace, hurrying to the opposite side of the table to put an obstacle between them.
“Oh, no, you don’t, Adam Morgan! If you kiss me, I’ll forget myself again.”
Chortles came from Will and Jake. Until the sound reached her, she’d forgotten that she and Adam weren’t alone. Where was a deep hole she could crawl into?
“Grace Riley, I have had about enough of this nonsense.” Adam’s voice was so stern, she winced. “You love me, don’t you?” He took a couple of deep breaths. “You do. You told me so. You can’t take it back now.”
“I don’t want to take it back.” She dropped her gaze to the floor. “You know I love you.”
“You are going to marry me.”
“I can’t talk about this now.” She inclined her head at Will and Jake.
“You can, and you will.” He started to move around the table, closing in on her.
She squealed and darted to the other side.
Blue eyes bored holes right through her, probably seeing more than she wished they would. “What are you so afraid of?”
She wanted to shout her answer. You! I’m afraid of you! If I let you in, I’ll die when you find out what I am and leave me!
All she could do was shake her head.
“I’ll protect you. I won’t let the nightmares come true.”
Her head snapped up. “Nightmares?”
“You had one every night at the ranch.”
“Adam! What will Jake and Will think, you being in my room at night?”
Their audience seemed to be taking the whole scene in as if they were attending an engrossing play.
Her face couldn’t possibly get any hotter—even her ears felt on fire.
Adam ignored her protest. “I know who you’re afraid of. His name’s Stephen, and I won’t let him hurt you again.”
Grace’s heart slammed so hard in her chest, she couldn’t catch a breath. He knew. If Adam had listened to her nightmarish jabbering, he knew at least some of her secrets. He probably knew about Stephen Shay.
Did he know she’d murdered the man?
No.
If he did, he’d never be talking about a marriage. If he knew the truth about Jake, wouldn’t he be running the opposite way rather than proposing?
Merciful God, how much would he hate her if he discovered what she’d done? Yet he knew enough to understand some of her past.
And he still wanted her anyway.
Sweet Lord, he really did love her.
She stopped running away—for good—and moved closer to him. “You know about Stephen?”
“Not as much as I want to or as much as I need to so I can keep you safe.” He stopped before he reached her and opened his arms wide. “I love you and I want us to be married, Gracie. Neither of us is perfect. We both come with a past. But together, we can leave the past behind and make a new future.”
“Married?” she whispered.
“Married.” He nodded, the sincerity of his feelings and his conviction in his eyes.
She ran into his arms so fast she stumbled.
Adam folded his arms arou
nd her and kissed her soundly.
“Oh, for the love of...” Will shoved his stool back and stood up. He threw a frown at Jake. “I finally get a decent meal and Adam Morgan’s gonna steal away my cook.”
***
Matthew dropped his saddle bag next to his bedroll.
Victoria turned the rabbit he’d caught, flipping the long stick holding it over the fire so that both sides cooked.
He should say something, make small talk or thank her for skinning the rabbit. The ride out had been quiet, but he was used to hours of boredom doing nothing more than looking up the south end of steers. Some cowboys enjoyed singing. Some liked to chat. He’d always preferred the solitude of his thoughts.
Victoria had helped him find seven mares that would please Adam. They were now grazing or bedding down in the clearing. Sin and Victoria’s mare were getting some much needed rest as well.
Victoria started the fire as he hunted their dinner. With the exception of shouted orders as they captured the horses, silence prevailed—as it did now that they’d set up camp for the night.
He cleared his throat and nodded at the rabbit. “Smells good.”
Her only response was a nervous smile as she flipped the skewer again.
Fishing around in his saddlebag, he found his book. Settling down on his saddle blanket, he opened it to the dog-eared page and started reading his favorite sonnet for what was probably his thousandth time.
She cocked her head. “What are you reading?”
He didn’t want to tell her, so he just grunted. He should have thought about her curiosity before he chose which book to bring with him. Old habits died hard, and he seldom went anywhere without something to read. His embarrassment made the quiet seem more welcome than before, and why in the devil he even cared about what the woman thought was beyond him.
“Why won’t you tell me? It doesn’t look like a dime novel or anything.” She drew up on her knees as if to stand up, probably to see for herself.
“It’s Shakespeare,” he blurted out. “Just some Shakespeare.”
The smile on her face washed over him. “I love Shakespeare.”