Zeb was halfway right. He’d spent a great deal of that night watching her sleep. And more than anything, he’d wanted to share her bedroll.
He stood and tossed the last of his cigarette into the fire. Then he pulled on his sheepskin jacket and headed for the door. There was no sense trying to sleep now. What he needed was to find some tough, demanding work for the next hour or so. And exorcise the images of one damnable little witch from his mind.
The night was cold, the air crisp and clean. A full golden moon hung in a star-studded sky.
Diamond gave her horse its head and felt the wind lash her hair and sting her cheeks as she and her mount raced across the flat range.
This was what she needed. She was weary of thinking. She wanted only to be free. Free from worry, from doubt, from all troublesome thought.
Free from this stranger who called herself Onyx Jewel’s daughter.
Free from Adam Winter.
She urged her horse faster, leaning low over the mare’s neck, until she felt as though they were flying. It was a glorious feeling. Horse and rider moved as one, skimming across the grassy plain. When at last the mare began to slow, Diamond sat straighter in the saddle, her eyes glowing, her lips parted in a wide smile. As her horse crested a ridge, she slowed to a walk.
“You are one fine horsewoman, Diamond Jewel.”
At the sound of Adam’s voice, her smile froze.
She turned her head, seeking him in the darkness. He sat astride his black stallion, blending into the shadows of a stand of trees. It was only when he nudged his horse closer that she could make out his figure.
Her heart was beating overtime. She blamed it on the exertion of the ride.
“Are you following me?”
Her voice had that same breathless quality he’d first heard in the jail. It had the same effect, whispering over his senses, causing his blood to heat.
“A man would have an easier time trying to follow the wind.”
As his horse moved closer, she held her mare still, even though she was tempted to turn and run while there was still time.
“You’re on my property.” She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue.
He watched the movement, and his hands tightened on the reins. “I heard some wolves. Thought I’d see if they were having a midnight feast on a couple of cows. I’ve been losing a lot of cattle lately.”
“I heard them, too.” She nodded over her shoulder. “I saw a couple of shadows moving over there. I figured I scared them off. They don’t take too kindly to people.”
“Unless they sense a weakness,” Adam muttered. “Then you’d better beware.”
She lifted her head in a gesture he’d come to recognize. “Are you warning me about the wolves? Or about you?”
He caught her chin in his hand. His gaze burned over her mouth, sending a flare of heat racing along her spine. “That depends. Do you have a weakness, Diamond?”
She tried to pull away, but he was too quick. His hand found her shoulder and he drew her closer. Their two horses stood still, as though sensing the importance of the moment.
She had the strangest urge to melt into him, to feel his arms around her, holding her close to his heart. Instead, she held herself stiffly, her gaze meeting his defiantly.
“I detest weakness. Pa taught me one rule to live by.”
“And what is that?” His thumb traced the outline of her lips, sending another rush of heat coursing through her blood, until it flowed like molten lava.
“Here in Texas, only the strong survive.”
“Then you needn’t worry, Diamond.” He drew her fractionally closer, until his lips were mere inches from hers. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”
Up close she could see his eyes, dark and dangerous. She knew, with certainty, that he was going to kiss her. And she knew just as certainly, after that earlier taste of his lips, that she had no defense against him.
“I have to go.”
“Not until I kiss you,” he muttered.
“No.” She pushed against the solid wall of his chest, attempting to free the whip that she carried coiled around her saddle horn.
His lips curved into a smile. If she’d thought he looked dangerous before, she knew that he was doubly dangerous when he smiled like that. A tiny thread of feeling curled along her spine. Fear? she wondered. Or anticipation?
“Now you’ve done it. You see, there’s always been an ornery streak in me that just could never stand being told what to do,” he murmured as his lips covered hers in a savage kiss.
His hands at her shoulders weren’t gentle. Nor was his kiss. His mouth moved over hers, taking, taking, until she sighed and found herself giving in to the strange new feelings that swept through her.
If the tender kiss between them in his cabin had caused tremors, this mating of mouth to mouth caused thunder to rumble and lightning to strike. She was helpless against such an onslaught. All she could do was hold on and hope to survive. But she could feel herself slipping, slipping....
Her fingers curled into the front of his shirt, and a sound issued from deep in her throat. A sound that was almost primitive, as the kiss deepened, and his arms came around her in a fierce embrace.
The swift surge of desire left him stunned. Her lips were soft and warm, and slightly parted. Her breasts were flattened against his chest. Adam combed his fingers through the tangles of her hair, then, unable to get enough of her, changed the angle of the kiss and took it deeper, then deeper still, until she gasped and pushed against him.
Diamond tried to break away, but his arms were locked around her. His gaze swept her and she felt another rush of heat at the way her body strained toward his. Her gaze was no longer defiant. Her eyes were no longer cool and resentful. She couldn’t hide the desire that simmered just below the surface.
He wanted her. And if she were another sort of woman, he’d take her here, now. But Diamond Jewel was an innocent. And not the sort of woman a man could take and then discard. She was the sort of woman who made a man think about vows, and permanence, and roots.
The knowledge left him shaken.
He lowered his hands and lifted the reins. His stallion tossed his head and moved several steps away.
“Pleasant dreams.” He touched a hand to the rim of his hat.
“Go to...” She wheeled her mount and set off at a gallop in the direction from which she’d come.
He watched until she was out of sight. Then he rolled a cigarette and struck a match to the tip. His hand was none too steady.
He swore, loudly, savagely. He couldn’t decide who made him angrier. Himself. Or Diamond Jewel.
Chapter Nine
“So.” Carmelita bustled about the kitchen, a crisp white apron tied just below her ample bosom. Beneath it she wore a colorful scarlet blouse and long tiered skirt in brilliant colors. Jet black hair, streaked with gray, was pinned up in a knot, but stray curls had already pulled loose and swung like corkscrews around her flushed cheeks. “You and the señorita have made the acquaintance.”
“Um-hmm.” Diamond popped a handful of chopped chili peppers into her mouth and reached for another until Carmelita rapped her hand with a wooden spoon.
She wished she could talk to the housekeeper about Adam. She needed a woman’s advice. But it wasn’t something she could bring herself to talk about.
“She told me about her life in Boston. I told her about my life here in Texas.”
“And now?” the housekeeper asked. “Has she satisfied her curiosity? Does she go back home?”
“In a day or two.” She’d reached the decision in the small hours of the morning, while she’d lain awake agonizing over Adam’s kiss. For some strange reason, she rather liked the idea of having another young woman around. Maybe, if the opportunity presented itself, she’d talk to Pearl about men. “I thought, since she’s come all this way, I’d show her around the ranch.”
“That’s nice.” Carmelita snatched away a plate of freshly b
aked corn bread before Diamond could break off a hunk. “Can’t you wait until breakfast is ready?”
“I was just going to see if it was done.”
“It is done to perfection. Now go. Sit down. I don’t need you underfoot.”
With a sigh of exasperation, Diamond crossed the room and took a seat at the huge wooden table. She idly traced the indentation of her initials, scratched into the wood years ago, when she’d first been given a knife by her father. She was restless, edgy. And all because of a certain irritating man.
“Remember this?” she asked.
Carmelita glanced over, then nodded. “Sí. Your father threatened to take away your favorite pony if you ever did such a thing again.”
“In defense, I told him I’d learned it from him. Pa had carved a mark into the wall every year on my birthday to show how much I’d grown. I thought it was all right to carve my initials into the wood in the same way.”
“He was so angry,” Carmelita said with a laugh. “But when he’d had time to think about it, he admitted that you were just giving him a compliment by imitating him. Oh, he was so proud of you.”
Diamond felt an ache, raw and deep, around her heart.
Carmelita glanced up in time to spot a figure in the doorway.
Pearl looked as though she might flee at any moment. On her face was a look of intense suffering. It was plain that she had overheard. The housekeeper realized that her words had been the cause of this stranger’s pain. Though these two young women had shared the same father, they had led very different lives. One had enjoyed a great deal of her father’s attention, and had been his pride and joy. The other had been denied all but a few stolen moments of his life. And had been kept a secret. A deep, dark secret. As though born in shame.
“Come, Senorita Pearl.” Carmelita beckoned her, her voice conveying her regret. “You will need a good meal before you begin your day.”
She turned to the stove to tend to the eggs, just as Cal McCabe sauntered in through the back door. When he spied Pearl, his easy smile turned into a puzzled frown. He didn’t know what to make of this prissy little city-bred female.
He snatched his wide-brimmed hat from his head. “‘Morning, ma’am.”
She nodded shyly as she crossed the room and took a seat beside Diamond.
“’Morning, Cal,” Diamond called. “Care to join us?”
“I ate with the wranglers. But I’ll have some coffee.” He took a seat, stretching his long legs beneath the table.
Diamond noted the dark circles beneath Pearl’s eyes. “How’d you sleep?”
“Not very well. I heard a howling in the night. A wolf, I think. And it had me so frightened, I couldn’t get back to sleep.”
Diamond averted her gaze. The mention of wolves had her thinking about Adam again.
“Probably just a coyote,” Cal explained. “I suppose, to a city woman, they’d be fearsome.”
Pearl blushed at his derisive tone.
Seeing it, he added lamely, “They make a mournful sound, ma’am, but they’re harmless.”
Diamond accepted a platter of eggs from Carmelita and spooned some onto her plate before passing it to Pearl.
Pearl stared at the colorful concoction. “What is this?”
“Eggs,” the housekeeper said as she poured coffee for Cal. “You don’t have eggs in Boston?”
“I’ve never seen eggs like this before. There’s something in them.”
“Chili peppers,” Diamond muttered before taking a big bite. “Carmelita makes the best eggs in Texas.”
Pearl looked doubtful as she managed a taste. Intrigued by the unusual flavor, she helped herself to more. And quickly reached for a glass of milk. “Oh, my. They’re... hot.”
Even when she’d drained her milk, she could still feel her tongue burning.
Across the table, she could see Cal struggling not to smile as he sipped his coffee in silence. That only made her feel all the more awkward.
Diamond continued eating, unaware of Pearl’s discomfort. “I thought you might like to see some of the ranch today, before you leave.”
“You mean, you’d like me to stay on?”
Diamond shrugged. “You may as well. At least for a day or two. After all, you did come clear across the country, didn’t you?”
Pearl felt her spirits begin to lift. She had been dreading the thought of endless miles in the cramped stagecoach until she reached the railroad line at Abilene. She’d been hoping against hope that she could remain in Texas for a day or two, just to rest and recover from the grueling journey. And now, she would be granted her wish.
“That’s very generous of you, Diamond. I’d like very much to see Daddy’s—” She saw Cal’s head come up sharply, and wanted to call back the word. But it had already been spoken aloud. All she could do now was try to cover her mistake. “... I’d love to see your ranch.”
“Can you sit a horse?” Cal asked.
“Not very well, I’m afraid,” Pearl admitted. “In Boston I was able to walk to most places. When I needed to go any distance, I hired a horse and cart.”
Cal drained his cup, then pushed back his chair and got to his feet. “I’ll have one of the wranglers hitch up your rig. And I’ll saddle Sunrise for you, Diamond. Unless, of course,” he added with a knowing grin, “you’d like a gentler horse. I’d hate to see you get thrown again.”
Diamond’s cheeks flooded with color. Once again, it seemed, her lie was coming back to haunt her. And judging by the silly grin on Cal’s lips, he’d recognized it.
She nearly choked on her food as she said, “Sunrise will do just fine.”
“By the way, she seemed a bit lathered this morning. Did you ride her last night?”
“I ... yes. I needed to get away for a while by myself.”
“Alone, huh?” He studied her intently for a moment, and she felt her color rise. “Let me know when you’re ready to go,” he called as he tipped his hat to Carmelita and ambled out the door.
Pearl took another bite of eggs, bracing herself for the burning sensation on her tongue. When it came, she gave a laugh of pure delight. She was suddenly having the time of her life. She was eating food she’d never tasted before. And she was about to be given a glimpse of a whole new world. Her father’s world.
Diamond remained silent and tight-lipped. Cal’s question had brought back all the feelings she’d experienced last night in Adam’s arms. Feelings that left her anxious. And restless. And definitely out of sorts.
“How much of this is your land?” Pearl sat in the rig and lifted a hand to shade the sun from her eyes. In order to keep up with Diamond, she’d been forced to give up the dainty parasol, which lay forgotten on the seat beside her, and use both hands to hold the reins.
They had come to a halt atop a steep hill, affording them a view of the rolling hills and valleys below.
“All of it.”
“All of it?” Pearl turned to Diamond in amazement.
Diamond nodded. “As far as the eye can see, there’s nothing but Jewel land.” Her voice rang with pride. “Except,” she added grudgingly, “for a little speck of land over that rise that belongs to Adam Winter.”
“And the cattle?” Pearl gazed at the vast herd, so large it covered the surrounding land like a great black swarm of locusts, devouring everything in its path.
“A thousand head or more. There will be twice as many come spring,” Diamond said, “when the calves are born and the strays rounded up.”
“How can you possibly make room for more?”
“This is Texas.” Diamond slid from the saddle and held the reins easily in one gloved hand while she surveyed her father’s legacy. “Pa said this land was made for cattle. They’ll graze on lush grass all summer, and by fall, when we round them up for the drive to Abeline, they’ll be sleek and fat and worth nearly fifty dollars on the hoof.”
Pearl shook her head at the wonder of it. Diamond made it all sound so easy. But from what she had seen, Pearl knew that
it took dozens of men and a great deal of hard work and money to operate a ranch of this size.
“Your foreman said he was sending a man out to one of the line camps. What does that mean?”
“Our ranch is so big, we had to build camps along the far perimeters.” Diamond pulled herself into the saddle, and began leading the way across the hill to a path worn smooth by Cookie’s wagon wheels. Pearl followed in the rig. As the path widened, Diamond was able to ride alongside, making conversation easier.
“Those are called line camps. They’re not much to speak of. A cabin, and a corral for the horses. One of the wranglers will live in a camp for six months or more.”
“What does he do way out there?” Pearl asked in wonder.
“What does he do?” Diamond chuckled. “Everything. Doctor a steer, pull cows out of bogs, dehorn cattle, lead them through blizzards, handle roundups, and patrol the border to keep the cattle from straying.”
Pearl lifted a hand to her mouth in a gasp of surprise. “What a strange, lonely life.”
Diamond shrugged. “I guess,” she mused, “to someone from a city like Boston, it must seem like a strange way to live. The truth is, some men wouldn’t have it any other way. They thrive on the isolation. Others can’t stand the loneliness, and they leave. But there’s always someone willing to take their place. It’s just the way of the cowboy.”
“And why has your foreman sent a man out there?”
“To take supplies. And make sure our wrangler isn’t sick or injured. Once a month, weather permitting, someone rides out to a different line camp. This month he’ll visit the northern camp. When he returns in a few days, our wrangler will give me a report on how things are going—”
At the sound of a horse approaching, Diamond cautioned Pearl to be quiet. Then she withdrew her rifle from the boot of her saddle and aimed it at the trail ahead.
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