Deborah Camp (13 page)

“If it hadn’t been for the hate, I would have had nothing to occupy me. I used to devise ways of getting out.
I’d dream about coming back here and beating my old man to a bloody pulp for not sticking up for me.”

“You didn’t make even one friend while you were there?”

Dark memories crowded his mind. “No. I tried to stay out of everyone’s way. There were men there that”—he swallowed the sour taste in his mouth—“they got pleasure out of taking a man’s dignity.” Unable to bear the sharp memories, he sat up and rubbed his hands up and down his face.

“You okay?” Cassie asked, her voice small and soft.

“Yeah,” he said, almost grunting, then he stood and made for the ladder. “See you in the morning.”

“Did you straighten out everything with your new partner?”

“Yeah. His name is Ice and he’s a friend of mine, Cassie. He’s the only man I trust in this world. I don’t know how long he’ll stay, but I do know we’re damn lucky to have him working here. He’ll be more help than four T-Bones and ten Gabes.” He took hold of the ladder and started up.

“Which woman did you wish for while you were in prison?”

Her question froze him for a second, but then he continued on. “One with two breasts, two legs, and two lips,” he answered drolly. “And one who didn’t talk except to say yes.” He grinned when he heard her exhale with affront.

But that night, as he lay on his pallet in the loft, he wished for something more than body parts and a pliable will. That night, much to his distress and self-loathing, he wished for Cassie.

*      *      *

That Sunday after church Cassie put Andy in the swing she’d fashioned from an old saddlebag and hung it from a big hook on the porch. He kicked and waved his chubby arms, squealing with glee, as she gave him a gentle push.

“You love this, don’t you?” she asked, grinning at him. “You think you’re flying, sweet boy?” She gave him another push, then sat in a porch chair and watched her son enjoy himself. She looked around, wondering where the men had disappeared to after church—those who had gone to services, that is. Drew and Ice had sent word with T-Bone that they wouldn’t be joining the others in the wagon bound for the Wooden Cross Church, halfway between the ranch and Abilene. When they’d returned to the ranch, Ice and Drew were nowhere to be found.

During church she’d been asked by several people if it was true that Drew was back. Their worried expressions bothered her, making her wonder if her neighbors were going to hold Drew liable for a crime he hadn’t committed. Was that why he’d decided not to go to church? Had he already endured their neighbors’ cold shoulder?

She spotted a horse and rider in the distance and recognized Monroe Hendrix. He waved and she waved back. He was riding a big roan, which he reined in at the porch.

“Afternoon, Monroe,” Cassie greeted him. “Care for some apple cider?” She reached for the pitcher and started pouring before he could answer.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Monroe dismounted and wrapped the reins around the hitching post. “I looked
for you after church, but you’d already loaded up and left before I could get outside.”

“Andy was fussing and hungry,” she explained. “Did you need to talk to me about something?”

“Not really.” He sat in the chair next to hers and accepted the glass of cider. “Thank you, Cassie.” He looked at Andy and smiled. “Your little one seems to like that swing.”

“Yes, and it’s good for him to kick like that. Builds his muscles. He’ll be walking soon.”

“How is everything around here, Cassie? Drew’s not giving you too much trouble, is he?”

“Not too much. We’ve reached an agreement for now.”

“That’s good.” He settled back in the chair and sipped the cider. “Ah, that goes down good. Nice day, isn’t it? That breeze puts me in mind of a day a year or two ago when I took out my new hunting dog and ran into a covey of quail like you’ve never seen….”

His voice continued, but the words ceased making sense as Cassie’s thoughts shifted to Drew. No, he wasn’t much trouble. If he’d get it out of his head that she would eventually leave this ranch to him, she wouldn’t mind having him around.

Remembering the feel of his mouth on hers, she crossed her arms and gripped her elbows as a tingle raced through her. Sometimes she caught him looking at her, his blue eyes alight with feelings that she was too timid to translate. That kind of attention from any other man would disturb her, but with Drew she was pleased and a little proud to be enticing to such a man. For he was not only handsome, but strong and smart. She wondered if he and Ice had gone into town looking
for female company. Jealousy knifed through her.

“… but I’m boring you with my hunting stories,” Monroe said, leaning forward to touch her arm. “Could I trouble you for more of that cider, Cassie?”

“What?” She blinked, her thoughts returning to the man who was looking at her curiously. “Cider? Oh, yes. Let me.” She poured more into his empty glass, noticing that a tremble ran through her arm and that her heart was beating too fast. Seemed like she couldn’t even think about Drew Dalton without getting shaky. She hated that.

“You know the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“What?” she asked again, trying hard to focus on the man present instead of the man absent. “What’s that you said?”

“Something my mother used to tell me when I was running around with what she felt were the ‘wrong kind of folk.’” Monroe smiled almost indulgently. “I was thinking of Drew and I sensed you were, too. He has you puzzled, I see.”

“He’s hard to figure,” she admitted.

“Just remember that the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree,” he repeated. “He was raised by A.J., and when you give lessons in cruelty to a critter or a person, you shouldn’t be surprised when he turns mean.” He shrugged. “Some things are learned and others are inbred. A.J. was a bad husband because he had no respect for women. Just remember, Drew’s a Dalton.”

Cassie ground her teeth and fought to control her temper. “And you might remember that my son is also a Dalton, and I don’t believe for a minute that he’s inherited cruelty or any other such nonsense.”

“Of course…I didn’t mean…” Monroe’s face
flushed red, and he pushed a hand through his hair in a nervous gesture. “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to insult you. It’s just that, well, Drew is a hard man and he’s been through a lot. While I think this ranch is too much for you, I don’t think Drew has your best interests at heart when he suggests that you move to town and find work there. He only wants the ranch.”

“I know that.” She eyed Monroe, testy that he’d think she was thick-headed. “But he’s a man, Roe, just like you, and the ranch ain’t the only thing he’s had his eye on lately.”

She knew she should be ashamed to tease him, but she couldn’t help it. Jealousy blazed in his eyes and tensed his mouth. Served him right to feel the sting of competition. Men were men, no matter what they’d been through or who sired them. She’d learned that early in her life, and it had served her well.

“He’s tried something already?” Monroe asked. “You want me to talk to him, set him straight?”

“I can take care of myself,” she said, fluffing her skirt and pushing a wispy curl off her temple. “If he needs talking to, I’ve got words just like you.”

“Yes, but I can speak to him man to man.”

She smiled. “I appreciate that, but like I said, I can take care of myself. The sooner you and Drew understand that, the better.”

“And the sooner you understand that running a ranch this size is too much for a little lady, the better for you. I’m only trying to help you out, Cassie. I count you as a friend and I hope you count me as one.”

“You know I do, Monroe.” She reached and patted his hand, and he captured her fingers before she could withdraw them. Cassie stiffened, wishing he’d let her go.
Suddenly she felt trapped and anxious, although his grasp was not that confining. He brought the back of her hand up to his lips for a soft kiss before he released her.

Uneasy, she grabbed her glass of cider and faced front, her body language speaking for her. She had to admit that she was flattered to be courted by Monroe Hendrix. He was surely the most admired bachelor in the county, and everybody knew he was smitten with her. Yes, she was flattered, but she couldn’t say that she was swept off her feet by him. Try as he might, he just couldn’t seem to make her pulse go giddyup.

“Cassie, would you do something for me? One friend to another?”

“What?”

“Go to the barn dance with me.”

“The barn dance?” She furrowed her brow, then remembered. “Oh, yes,
your
barn dance this Friday night.” The thought of music and laughter appealed to her, but she shook her head. “I can’t leave Andy.”

“What about the Mexican girl? Can’t she watch him?”

“Oleta will want to go to the dance, and I wouldn’t think of saddling her with my baby. She’s young and pretty and she needs to get out and kick up her heels.”

“Then bring the baby,” Monroe said, and his offer seemed genuine. “Me and you and little Andy, we’ll have a fine time, and you can show off your son. Why, the women will be cooing and making over him something awful.”

“I don’t know. He’s so young. I couldn’t stay out late with him. I put him to bed pretty early.”

“There will be plenty of laps at the dance,” Monroe
said. “You’ve seen all those grannies and young girls rocking babies at the dances.”

She hesitated, then surrendered to the notion. “Okay, I guess I could go. I’d like to get away from this place for a few hours. You know that since Andy was born, I haven’t been out much except into town for supplies, and then I’ve had to hightail it right back here. Of course, once in a while I sup with you, which I enjoy.”

“Me, too. I’m so pleased you’ll let me be your escort. You’ll be my hostess. Won’t that be grand?” Monroe finished his cider and stood up. “I’ll be getting back to my side of the fence.” He sent her a wink. “See you Friday night. I’ll be around to collect you and Andy right before sundown. You can help me greet all our neighbors.”

“We’ll be ready. Thanks for asking, Roe.”

“I’ll be the envy of every man at the dance.”

She flapped a hand. “Monroe Hendrix, you’re as slick as a greased saddle rope.”

Chuckling under his breath, he moved off the porch and pulled himself up into the saddle. “Good day to you, Cassie.”

She waved, her mind already busy with what she’d wear. Now she wished she hadn’t thrown that dress back into Drew’s face. Had Blue Eyes taken it back to town? If not, she might be able to buy it off him. Oh, it would be wonderful to be the hostess at Monroe Hendrix’s annual barn dance. Everyone in the whole county would be there. She wondered if Drew could step to the music, or if he owned two left feet. Guess she’d find out soon enough!

*      *      *

Cassie moved up behind Drew, bent over a wash bucket, dunking his arms in up to the elbows. Splashing water into his face, he scrubbed his skin and wet his hair. She cleared her throat, and he reeled around, throwing water droplets into her face. Blinking, she backed up.

“Sorry.” He ran a shirtsleeve down his face. Drops of water clung to his long lashes. “What can I do for you?”

“Uh … uhm …” She pushed the toe of her boot into a clump of dandelions. “How come you didn’t go to church?”

“Didn’t want to.”

“Did you go into town?”

“No. Me and Ice rode out to Two Forks Creek and fished.”

“Catch anything?”

“Nothing but mosquito bites.”

“Oh … umm … Drew, you know that dress and those petticoats you bought for me?”

“The ones you threw back in my face? Yeah, I know them.”

She pursed her lips, wondering how to ask without infuriating him. “Did you take them back to town?”

“Nope.”

“Did you give them to somebody else?”

“Like who? Gabe? Tee?”

She laughed and reached out a hand to skim her fingers down the front of his shirt. He went still, watching her hand drop away from him. Suddenly distrust glinted in his eyes. She knew she had tripped up.

“What do you want, Shorty?”

She hated it when he called her that! “The dress,”
she said bluntly. “I’ll buy it. How much did you give for it?”

“It’s not for sale. Why do you want it back all of a sudden?”

“Because I need it.”

“For what? You planning a party?”

“There’s a barn dance Friday.”

“A barn dance, huh?” A smile kicked up one side of his wide mouth. “You’re wanting to go to it?”

“Yes.”

His smile widened. “Well, if you want—”

“Yes, I do want the dress, Drew. You see, it’s Monroe’s barn dance, and he was here earlier and he said he’d take me. I’m going to be the hostess.”

Drew’s mouth straightened into a thin, hard line. “The hostess?” he repeated with a sneer. “Well, I’ll be damned!” He turned his back on her and plunged his head into the trough. Sputtering and growling like a bear, he brought his head back up in a spray of water. “I’ll be a son of a sidewinder! Somebody kick some sense into me before it’s too late! Better yet, get a gun and put me out of my misery!”

“What are you jawing about?” she asked, confounded by his behavior. “Will you let me have the dress or not?”

He faced her again, his lips peeled back in a snarl, his blue eyes mere slits. “You can have the damned dress! Now get out of my sight before I—I—aw, hell!” He stalked away from her, shoulders hunched and fists swinging wide at his sides.

Cassie released a long breath, glad to have that particular chore done. She’d figured he wouldn’t like her
asking for the dress, but his reaction baffled her. After all, she’d offered to pay him for it.

Men! If she lived to be a hundred, she wouldn’t be able to predict their moods. Just when she thought she had them all figured out, she found herself bamboozled. Take Drew Dalton …

Would have been nice if he had been the one to ask her to the dance.

But he wouldn’t ask, of course. He wouldn’t do something like that, something that would make her happy as a lark. Oh, no! He was too much of a
man
for that!

Men!