Claiming the Cowboy's Heart (8 page)

“But it’s August. Surely the snow is all melted. So where does the water come from that keeps flowing past the ranch?”

Mercy flung her arms wide. “Who cares? It’s a lovely day. Let’s enjoy it.”

Jayne sighed her agreement. The sun glistened off the rugged mountains and dappled the deciduous trees. A gentle zephyr tickled her skin and danced along the grass. Birds rejoiced from every direction. She breathed deep. “It smells so good. Like the air is full of a thousand wild flowers.”

They followed the river past the pens and along a grassy slope. A few steps farther and they entered a grove of trees.

“We should have brought a gun,” Mercy said. “You could practice your shooting.”

“You don’t think there are enough injured cowboys already?” Sybil asked.

“We could go for one each.”

Jayne knew Mercy was teasing but Sybil gave them both a this-isn’t-amusing look.

Mercy pushed past some prickly bushes and led them into an opening. “Look at the little waterfall.”

It hardly qualified as such. It was only the river flowing over some big rocks and making a cheery noise.

Sybil perched on a fallen tree. “It’s so peaceful.”

Mercy and Jayne exchanged looks and silently agreed to let Sybil enjoy a quiet moment. They sat on the grass behind her and waited for Sybil to be ready to move on. Finally, with a sigh that came from deep inside, she pushed to her feet. “It’s very restful to watch the water gurgle past.”

They continued onward and spent a pleasant couple of hours wandering along the river.

Jayne glanced at the sky. “We should get back.”

As they retraced their steps, the sun shone hotter. They stopped and splashed cool water on their faces before they reached the ranch.

When they stepped into the open and headed for the bridge, Jayne looked toward the house. Seth still sat in the chair beside the door. He must be bored. The joy of the morning faded slightly. She should have offered to keep him company. Perhaps read to him again. How selfish of her.

As quickly as the thought came, she dismissed it. He surely wouldn’t want her company. After all, she was but a silly woman who needed him to guide her. Or so he thought.

She sighed. She certainly was acting foolish. She didn’t care about his opinion one way or the other and was grateful he’d offered to give her shooting lessons. Never mind how the offer came.

Mercy saw him, too. “Let’s ask Seth about where the river comes from.”

As they drew closer, Jayne saw Smokey curled into a ball on Seth’s lap. The cat opened one eye as the ladies approached then closed it again and ignored them.

At least Seth had the cat to keep him company.

“To what do I owe this honor?” He glanced about the circle of friends but directed his question to Jayne.

She answered before Mercy could. “We want to know where the water from the river comes from if the snow is all melted.”

He blinked then widened his eyes. “That’s a strange question.”

“Do you have an answer?”

His eyes dipped into a smile. “I could say the water comes from lakes.”

Mercy snapped her fingers. “Lakes! I should have thought of that.”

“That isn’t the whole answer, is it?” Jayne asked, caught by the darkness in his hazel eyes.

“There are glaciers up there and melted water comes off them throughout the summer. I’ve seen them. Even walked on some of them.” He closed his eyes as if thinking of a time when he had done so. “Imagine cold ice on a hot summer day. And it’s really cold.”

Jayne sighed. “I wish I could see it.”

“Before I leave I will take you to the mountains. Maybe not to a glacier but to one of the beautiful lakes. There isn’t anything quite like the views.” He again closed his eyes and sighed.

“I’d like that,” Sybil said.

“Me, too,” Mercy added.

Seth opened his eyes and looked directly at Jayne. He lifted one eyebrow. “How do you feel about it?”

She widened her eyes. Did he really care what she thought?

His gaze held hers. His eyes darkened, tinted now like the forest trees. She could almost hear the birds singing.

She blinked, as if to sever the spell they’d cast on her. “I enjoy seeing the country. It’s beautiful.” Her words came out in a breezy rush. She grabbed the girls and pulled them toward the door. “Let’s help Linette.”

“Bye,” Seth called.

Jayne added her goodbye to that of the others.

“I thought he was anxious to leave the ranch,” Mercy murmured as they headed down the hall. “Don’t see any evidence of it. You sure you haven’t batted your eyes at him a little too much and made him forget everything but your charming company?”

Jayne blew her breath out in a protest. “I’ve done no such thing.” She hoped Seth hadn’t overheard Mercy’s comment. A hot blush raced up her neck and she prayed the others wouldn’t notice and ask about its cause. She’d never admit that a moment ago she’d gone on a flight of imagination all because the color of his eyes reminded her of the forest.

If either of them noticed and commented on it, Jayne would pretend it hadn’t happened. He was only a cowboy she’d accidently shot and who high-handedly informed her he meant to teach her to shoot so no other cowboys would be harmed.

He might prevent another injured cowboy but she wasn’t so certain that the shooter would be unharmed. Something about the man threatened her firm resolve. No, she informed her brain. There would be no veering from her goals. No opening her heart. No inviting pain and trouble.

Chapter Five

W
hen Linette called out for him to come for dinner, Seth hobbled down the hall, careful not to use his leg. The herbs she’d put on the wound could only do so much. He had to be responsible enough to rest the leg until it stopped bleeding.

Eddie came in the back door as Seth entered the kitchen from the other side. “Say, I think you need a crutch.”

“Sounds like a good idea.”

Grady burst through the door behind Eddie. “Billy and me are going to catch bugs after we eat. Daisy said girls don’t like bugs.” He faced Linette. “Is that right? Do you hate bugs?”

She smiled. “It depends on the kind of bug. Some I like just fine.” She lifted generous portions of fried ham from a skillet.

Grady shifted his attention to Mercy who dished a mound of potatoes into a bowl. “You like bugs?”

“Can’t say as I do.”

Grady moved on to Sybil as she dumped cooked carrots into a bowl. “You like ‘em?”

She shuddered. “No. They give me the creeps.”

He continued on to Jayne who sliced a large loaf of richly browned bread.

Seth swallowed back a rush of saliva. Been a long time since he’d enjoyed a meal such as this. Oh sure, he got fed fine on the cattle drive but hunkering around a campfire with a bunch of cussing, spitting cowboys was hardly the same as sitting at a table in the company of a family and some pretty ladies while eating home-cooked food.

“You like bugs, Auntie Jayne?”

Jayne pretended to give the question a lot of thought. Then she answered. “I don’t mind bugs…” She crossed to Eddie, who scrubbed up at the washstand. “Unless a brother is threatening to stick one down my back.” She leaned over him. “Like you used to do.”

Eddie slowly straightened, saw the knife in her hand and backed away, his arms up as if to protect himself. “Me? I don’t recall doing such a thing.”

She stalked him. “Funny how clearly I recall it. You were such a tease.” The two of them glowered at each other then broke into laughter. She lowered the knife and he draped an arm over her shoulder.

“I was only trying to teach you not to be a sissy.”

“Hmm. And yet you continue to treat me like one.”

He leaned away to look into her face. “How do I do that?”

“By overprotecting me. By refusing to teach me to shoot.” She tossed her head, sending waves of light through her rich brown hair. “But never mind. Seth has decided to give me lessons.”

Eddie stared at Seth. “You did?”

Seth shrugged. Would Eddie feel Seth had encouraged Jayne to defy him? “If you have no objections. I figure it will be safer for everyone if she shoots under proper supervision.”

Mercy huffed. “It wasn’t my fault she shut her eyes.”

Eddie rolled his head back and forth. “Are you sure about this? It might be a bigger task than you know.”

“Yeah,” Mercy said, her tone aggrieved. “How are you going to keep her from closing her eyes?”

“I’m sure she’ll do just fine,” Linette soothed.

“I don’t know why she wants to learn.” Sybil sounded truly puzzled.

Jayne waved her hands. “I’m here, you know. Stop talking about me.”

But they all continued to talk, each defending their previous statements and adding to them.

Jayne jammed her fists on her hips and glowered at the lot but they paid her no heed.

Seth watched her frustration mount and he started to grin.

She met his gaze and squinted at him. “What’s so funny?”

He tipped his head toward the others. Then he put his fingers between his teeth and gave a whistle that brought every pair of eyes toward him. “Jayne seems to be annoyed that we’re all talking about her. She’s feeling invisible.”

Eddie patted her shoulder as if to soothe her which, as far as Seth could tell, had quite the opposite effect.

He wondered how long it would be before she blew her top.

Linette no doubt wondered the same thing, as she moved to defuse the situation. “Our food is getting cold. Why don’t we sit down and eat?”

Eddie waited until everyone was settled then bowed his head and said the blessing. After the food had been passed, he asked, “Where did you girls go this morning?”

All three spoke at once then by silent consent they let Jayne answer. “We followed the river for a ways. Wondered where the water came from. Lakes, of course, but Seth says there are also glaciers up there.”

Eddie nodded. “Indeed, there are. Way up in the mountains.”

Seth took note of the fact that Jayne had said nothing about his promise to take them to one of the mountain lakes. Did it mean nothing to her? For some reason her failure to mention it annoyed him. He’d offered her an outing. At great personal sacrifice. It would mean delaying his return yet another day. Of course, her friends were included. But it was Jayne he’d invited.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t seemed any more overjoyed at his offer to teach her to shoot.

Was she reluctant to spend time with him or was it simply her independence kicking in? Perhaps she thought she and her friends could go to a glacier on their own and she resented his intrusion.

Seems the young lady would take some watching if she thought she could handle every situation on her own. Not that he meant to volunteer for the job. He couldn’t even explain why he’d offered to take her to the mountains let alone give her shooting lessons other than the one big reason.

It hurt to get shot. He’d do his best to see it didn’t happen to another unsuspecting person.

After dinner, Jayne and her friends told Linette they’d clean up so she could rest. Grady went to join Billy in their bug hunt. Eddie rode out of the yard with two other cowboys. The crutch seemed to have been forgotten. Seth wondered what to do with himself but seeing as he was mostly immobile, sitting in the sun again seemed the only alternative, though he’d discovered it a lonely occupation.

He parked himself on a chair out in the grass and stared at the ranch buildings. There must be something he could do to pass the time. Maybe he’d ask Eddie for a job that would last a day or two.

After a bit the girls drifted outside and sat down on the grass beside him. Sybil brought a knitting project and Mercy had an atlas. How far did she expect to go adventuring? Jayne had brought a sock and darning material.

He watched as she wove the yarn in and out.

She glanced up, saw he watched her and lowered the needle. “What?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t have to. You
looked
something.”

“Really? How do I
look
something?”

“Like this.” She knit her forehead in a fierce look. “Or this.” She waggled her eyebrows like mischief waiting to happen. “Or this.” She widened her eyes and very clearly communicated surprise.

Her friends giggled.

“Fine. I get your point. But what look was I giving?”

“I’m sure you know.” She returned to her work.

“I’m equally sure I don’t. Why, I was simply watching you darn a sock, watching you weave the yarn in and out in perfect little—” He flicked his wrist to indicate what he meant.

“I suppose you’re surprised to see me doing something useful.”

He glanced at the others but they kept their heads down. Fine. He could deal with this on his own. Though for the life of him, he didn’t know what she expected him to say. Why should he be surprised that she could darn a sock? Then he recalled what she’d said about needing to feel useful. Or something like that. He honestly couldn’t recall her exact words. His mind had been numbed by the pain in his leg and concerned about how it delayed his trip home.

“I think nothing of the sort.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “If you want the truth, I admire your quickness with the needle and yarn.”

She jerked back and stared open-mouthed at him.

“Shut your mouth,” Sybil whispered. “Or you’ll catch bugs.”

Mercy didn’t bother to hide her giggle.

Red crept up Jayne’s neck and painted round apples on her cheeks.

Seth sat back and resisted an urge to pound his palm on his forehead. He’d only meant to…to what? Encourage her? Make her see that she was more than she saw herself as? Instead, he had come across as a flirt. Him? Seth Collins? A flirt? He opened his mouth intending to explain he never flirted but instead clicked his teeth together without saying a thing. Least said, soonest mended, Ma used to say.

“Look,” Mercy said. “There are the boys.”

Billy and Grady ran around in the tall grass beside one of the buildings, each carrying a Mason jar.

“I wonder how many bugs they’ve found.” Jayne’s voice seemed a little gravelly.

“If they come here with jars of bugs, I’m leaving,” Sybil said, already pushing to her feet.