Gerrity'S Bride (23 page)

Her eyes opened, and she smiled at the sight of the red cloth she held. “I’ll wash it out for you,” she offered shyly, as if sharing his neckerchief was a very personal thing to be doing.

He shrugged and smiled his relief. “I’ve got lots where that one came from. Looked to me like you had enough tears and dribbles there to fill three of those little bits of hankies you carry around in your pocket.” He shifted his weight to the other leg and leaned closer, tugging her head to rest against his shoulder.

“Maybe you better plan on keepin’ a bunch of my bandannas right here on the desk while you finish readin’ that pile of mail.”

Her smile widened, and she nestled into the bend of his shoulder, her lips searching for the tender flesh beneath his jaw. Her whisper was warm against him, and he closed his eyes, to better savor the pleasure of her touch.

“I’ll be all right now,” she assured him softly. Fumbling with the stack of letters that had fallen into her lap, she drew forth the second one in the pile.

“Look, Matt. This was my pony.... I think her name was Ranger.” She pulled out the crayon drawing and unfolded it with gentle hands, smoothing it carefully as she presented it for his inspection.

“Yeah, old Sam was some hand at drawing,” Matt said. “That’s a good likeness, you know. That pony only died about four years ago.”

“Really? If I’d come back sooner, I might have seen him again?” The thought brought forth a trickle from the well of bitterness she’d carefully contained for many weeks. “How can I ever forgive them?” she asked, with little hope of an answer. “That’s why they left early, you know. I had a big fuss with my grandmother, and she was terribly upset with me.”

“I kinda figured that out, honey,” he said soberly. “And as for forgivin’ them for the past, that’s somethin’ you’ll have to work out on your own, you know. If it makes you feel any better, I doubt if they realized how much harm they were doing.”

“She must have known... My mother had to know how much I needed...” But her thoughts were too hard to form into words. “I’ll come back to these later.” She straightened the stack, moving the leather thong and tucking the second letter into place.

Matt pulled open the bottom drawer and picked up the metal box that had held its secrets for many years. His fingers lifted the lid, and she deposited her treasure within, one fingertip stroking the words on the front of the topmost envelope.
Miss Emmaline Joy Carruthers,
he’d written in bold, slashing letters. Her mouth formed a word, but it remained unspoken, and she allowed Matt to close the lid, locking the precious papers within.

Papa...

* * *

“The grandparents have left.”

“I’ll bet you were hopin’ they’d take the city gal back home with ‘em, weren’t you?” His words were amused as he viewed the woman from beneath his heavy eyebrows. “It sure woulda saved me a whole lot of trouble.”

“Don’t be foolish,” she answered briskly. “It’ll take more than a visit from two old fogies to get her out of my way. She knows when she has a good thing, married to Matt Gerrity and owning half the ranch.”

“Which do you want more? The ranch or Matt Gerrity?” The man approached her, his lips curved in a smile that bore no humor. “It’s sorta up to me whether you get either one, isn’t it, lady?” His voice was husky, his eyes dark with intent as they swept the length of the woman who leaned with indolent ease against the tree. One hand lifted, and grimy fingers brushed against her cheek. “I’m sure lookin’ forward to tastin’ this nice soft—”

She turned her face abruptly and his hand fell to his side. “Keep your hands to yourself,” she told him, concealing her aversion beneath lowered eyelids. Her chin lifted in a haughty gesture. “You’ll get your money after you keep your end of the bargain.”

“Not only money,” he reminded her, reaching to toy with the fastening on her cloak, grinning as he sensed her reluctance.

She looked at him impatiently and brushed at the fingers that sullied her garment. “Just do it.” She moved away from his touch, then looked up at him.

“Just do it,” she repeated, “and then...” Her smile was a promise.

“Don’t think you’ll get away from me tonight, lady.”

Her senses reeled as she considered the threat he conveyed. “What do you expect?”

His hands drew her against him. His head was bent, his mouth inches from hers. “I could give you a good time right now, honey.”

The scent of his whisky-tinged breath filled her nostrils and she shook her head, gasping for a breath of clean air. “Not here! Not now!” Her voice was not as firm as she’d like it to be and she stiffened in his grasp. “I have to go. I’ll be missed.”

With reluctance he released her. “When? I want to get this over and done with. You’re gonna have to help out a little here. Gerrity’s watchin’ the woman like a big cat after a newborn calf.”

She nodded. “Keep a sharp eye out. I’ll do what I can.”

“C
an we go for a ride today?” Tessie’s eyes were hopeful as she made the request. “I cleaned my plate,” she added brightly, as if that might sway the verdict.

Matt’s mouth curved in a smile. “Listen, punkin,” he said, “you’ve got schoolwork to do.”

She shook her head vigorously. “Not today. Miss Olivia said that I deserved a day off, ‘cause I’ve been doing so good.”

“Is that so?” Matt’s eyes focused on the young woman, who was busily concentrating on her breakfast. “Olivia?”

She glanced up quickly and nodded her agreement. “If you don’t mind,” she added after a moment. “After all, if Theresa were in a regular school situation, she wouldn’t even be into her books through the summer months.”

Matt studied her for a moment. “Do you feel the need of a vacation yourself, Olivia? I hadn’t thought of it before, but maybe you have family you’d like to visit, or friends, perhaps.”

She shook her head. “No, Mr. Gerrity. I haven’t anywhere in particular to go. My family is back east, you know, and we never have been especially close.”

“Well, if you change your mind, let me know,” he told her. “And as far as Tessie’s studies go, I agree that she should not be puttin’ in too many hours during the summer. She needs to be spending time with her sister, anyway. Emmaline’s been wantin’ to read some of her books to Tessie.”

“What I’d really like to do is go for a good long ride with her,” Emmaline put in. “I’m getting awfully tired of sitting around in this house, Matt.”

He gave her a look of forbearance and attempted to soften his refusal. “Now, Em...you know we have to be careful.”

“You mean
I
have to be careful, don’t you?” she asked, aware that she was being more than rude, arguing with him in front of Olivia, but unable to resist seizing the moment in order to state her views.

“Emmaline...” he began, his tone urgent and stern.

“Matthew!” she said, mocking his intonation. “Just listen to you! All set to lecture, instead of suggesting a family outing with Tessie and me.”

He stared at her blankly.

“A family outing?” As if the words were foreign, he repeated them and then shook his head.

“You’re saying no without even considering the idea.” It was a sharp accusation.

“This is a ranch, Emmaline, and I run it. If I don’t keep my hand in and keep things moving and under control, we’ll be in big trouble. I don’t have time for ‘family outings,’ and I surer’n hell don’t have time to argue with you this morning. Besides, you told me just a couple days ago you’d do whatever I asked.”

“I knew you’d bring that up. And in case you didn’t know it, I’m very aware of your duties around here. It’s just too bad that one of them doesn’t involve Tessie and me.”

“Look, lady,” he said wrathfully, aware of the audience they had managed to captivate with their dispute. “I’m involved up to my neck with you, in case your memory is a bit short. Tessie sure isn’t doin’ any complainin’, and I’ve already devoted almost a whole day to you this week.”

“When?” she demanded, and then waved a hand at him as she recognized what he was talking about. “You were planning on going into town that day, anyway. You said you wanted to see the sheriff, and I just went along for the ride.”

Olivia’s gaze swept from one to the other as Emmaline and Matt’s voices rose in volume, her mouth pursed as she listened. Then, as they both drew breath at the same time, she cleared her throat and stood.

“I believe I’ll go to my room, if you don’t mind,” she said quietly.

“Now see what you’ve done,” Emmaline hissed as the young woman walked quickly through the doorway and down the hall. “You embarrassed Olivia!”

“I embarrassed her? Me?”

Theresa looked from one to the other, and her eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t want to go riding, anyway,” she said sadly. “Come on, Emmie. Let’s just go read or something. Matthew has lots of work to do, I guess.”

Tipping his head back, Matt took a deep breath and ran his fingers through the length of his dark hair, making runnels in the dampness left from his early-morning ablutions.

“Look, you two. Why don’t we make a bargain, all right? I’ll do what I have to this morning, and then, after we eat dinner at noon, we’ll go for a ride together and head for the creek above the north pasture. Maybe Tessie can go wadin’ and play under the trees.” He looked hopefully at the females in his life, one of whom had eyes that had begun to glow with bright expectation.

“Oh, Matthew! I sure do love you a lot!” The cry was welcome music to his ears, and he crouched to catch the child who hurled herself at him. Her short arms wrapped about his neck, and she scattered kisses over his face.

“Well, that was answer enough, I guess,” he allowed, rising as Tessie left his embrace to turn to her sister.

“Isn’t that good, Emmie? I get to wade in the creek and everything,” she said, waving her arms expansively.

“Well, Emmaline, are you gonna be as grateful as your little sister?” he asked quietly, more than willing to make peace. “I’d sure like a kiss from you, too.”

With a look at the child who was bouncing up and down before her, Emmaline abandoned whatever hurt she’d sustained.

“It sounds wonderful to me, Matt,” she said, her face alight with pleasure as she felt the tug of Tessie’s fingers.

“Now you hafta kiss him,” the child whispered loudly.

“Yeah, now you hafta kiss me,” he repeated softly. His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he watched Emmaline’s cheeks turn a delightful shade of pink.

She tilted her head and gave him a silent admonition.
Don’t you dare, Matt Gerrity,
she thought. But he would not be denied.

In three long strides, he was before Emmaline. Long arms wrapped his wife in an embrace that drew her against the hard length of his body. And as his head dipped to allow their lips to meet, she heard the ecstatic giggle that Tessie could not contain.

“Matt!” The protest was muffled beneath his mouth.

“Ummm...” Whatever words she attempted to utter were swallowed up in the tenderness of his caress. His kiss spoke to her, as though it were an apology. Gently, he wooed her. Carefully, he touched her.

And, finally, he won her acquiescence, and she allowed the softness of her body to be absorbed into the broad structure of his own.

It was what he had waited for, this silent melting of her resistance, this warmth she gave so willingly.

“Ah, Emmaline...you sure do pack a mean punch. I reckon I’m just about the luckiest man hereabouts this morning. I’ve got the best armful of woman in the territory right here.” Then, glancing down at Tessie, he grinned broadly.

“Not to mention the best little sister anybody ever had.”

Emmaline pushed him away, aware of the flush that had taken possession of her. “Go on now,” she said. “We’ll see you at dinner, won’t we, Tessie?”

“Yeah, we’ll be waiting for you, Matthew,” the little girl agreed eagerly, the morning stretching before her in a long series of minutes and hours.

* * *

“Boss, I hate to be carryin’ tales, but I think you’re gonna hafta do somethin’ about that last hand you hired.” Claude’s lined face was concerned as he stood at the corral fence with Matt, both of them leaning with elbows propped on the top rail. Beneath the cloudless sky, the new arrivals from Kentucky, Thoroughbred mares, were circling the pole fence, tossing their heads, their tails high and flying, their glossy coats shimmering in the sunlight.

Frown lines furrowed Matt’s forehead, evident when he tilted his hat back with one long finger. “Are we talkin’ about Kane?”

Claude nodded glumly. “Yup, shore are. I’m thinkin’ he’s slackin’ off on the job.”

“He’s up with the herd,” Matt told him shortly. “How would you know what he’s doin’?”

“That’s the whole thing. Tucker saw him in town the other day. Kane tried to bluff his way out of trouble, but old Tuck said he acted mighty sneaky about the whole thing.” Claude switched feet on the bottom rung of the fence and scratched at the back of his head beneath the brim of his hat. “He even tried to make Tucker swear not to tell you he’d seen him.”

“Well, if that don’t take the cake,” Matt said, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “What you s’pose he was up to, Claude? And who on God’s green earth was doin’ his job while he was lollygaggin’ around in town?”

Claude shrugged and shook his head, but his eyes sparkled as he glanced up at his boss. “Think mebbe he went to town to visit with one of the ladies at...” He glanced behind him, lest any female ears should be within eavesdropping distance. “Well, you know what I mean,” he said with a dry chuckle.

“If he’s that hard up, he needs to ask for a replacement,” Matt growled. “I won’t stand for a hand takin’ off like that, leavin’ a hole where a body’s supposed to be standin’ watch.”

“Well, the problem is, I guess it’s not the first time he’s been seen round and about,” said Claude evasively.

Matt’s face darkened and he glared at the man next to him. “You been holdin’ out on me?”

Claude shook his head. “Not really, boss. I just sorta took care of it the other time, thought maybe he had snuck down to see a fancy lady, but seems to me like he shouldn’t be all randy again so soon. That’s when I thought it best to fill you in.”

“Well, damned if that ain’t just what I need,” Matt blurted. “There’s not a multitude of extra ranch hands layin’ around on the ground this time of year. Fact is, they’re about as scarce as water in a dry well these days.”

“Yup, that’s about right,” Claude put in sympathetically. “You gonna go up there and talk to him, boss?”

Matt shook his head. “Haven’t got the time to spare, not today, any which way. I promised to take Emmaline and Tessie out for a ride this afternoon after dinner, and standin’ here chewin’ the fat with you isn’t gettin’ my work done, either. I’m runnin’ behind, and that’s a fact.”

“Goin’ swimmin’ up at the creek? I’ll bet Miss Emmaline will get a boot outa that.”

“I don’t know if I can get Emmaline to go wadin’, let alone getting in the creek for an all-over wet-down,” Matt admitted. “But Tessie is tickled for the chance to go riding and kick off her boots. They’re both sufferin’ from a good case of cabin fever.”

“Sounds like you got your day all laid out for ya, don’t it? You need me to give you a hand with those two-year-olds this morning?” Claude asked, holding out his hand with a piece of sugar in it for one of the mares to take.

“Wouldn’t hurt any.” Matt grinned as he watched the long-legged animal approach. Prancing, her dark mane flying as she tossed her head, she presented a pretty picture, he thought. The delicate nostrils flared as she scented the treat held out so alluringly, and she approached with reined eagerness, as if she would not embarrass herself by being too anxious.

“Sure are good-lookin’ animals,” Claude said in an undertone.

“Kinda skittish?” Matt wondered.

“No, just a mite fussy about who gets on ‘em. I been leadin’ them around with a saddle and blanket, gettin’ them used to the idea. I put Earl up on one yesterday. He’s just a skinny little runt, and that mare took to him real good. She turned her head and give him the once-over, and then tucked her neck and set off to pickin’ up those feet like a real lady.”

“What do you think about breeding them with my stallion? Maybe see what they throw?” Matt asked thoughtfully.

Claude peered at him knowingly. “I’d bet last month’s pay that that there thought’s been chasin’ around in your mind ever since they arrived.”

Matt shrugged. “Be interestin’ to see what we get, wouldn’t it?”

“Yeah, a long-legged cow pony could make short work of a lot of miles, get from here to there a whole lot faster. Those little ladies can sure stretch out and cover ground when they get movin’,” Claude said with approval.

“Yeah, well, let’s get some bridles on these two-year-olds and start puttin’ them through their paces,” Matt told him as they headed for the tack room. “By the way, I’ve got a rancher from down toward Phoenix comin’ here next week to give us a once-over. I’ll need to take a trip up and bring back a couple of the horses for him to look at. I think he’s interested in these colts I’ve been workin’ with.”

“Guess we’d better get with it, then,” Claude said agreeably, hitching up his denims as he stepped a bit faster. “We sure don’t want to keep your ladies waitin’ at noontime, do we?”

* * *

The creek was running high, the water flowing over the pebbled bottom in a flowing current. Tessie stood in midstream, the water almost to her knees, her denim pant legs rolled up as high as she could get them.

“My papa bought me boy’s britches in town,” she’d explained to Emmaline, the first time they rode together. She’d displayed them proudly, as if they were highly prized.

“I’m so glad you remember so much about your father,” Emmaline had answered, a trifle wistfully.

“He was your papa, too, Emmie,” Theresa had reminded her solemnly. “Don’t you remember things about him?”

Emmaline had shook her head. “Not much, Tessie. Just a little.”

The little girl had sighed sadly. “I feel sorry for you, Emmie. Sometimes I miss him a lot, and my mama, too, but I remember lots of good stuff, like how he used to carry me around and tease me and everything.”

Emmaline smiled to herself as she remembered the arms Tessie had wrapped about her sister’s neck and the soft kisses she’d bestowed upon her cheek that day. I’ve finally done it, she thought with a sense of triumph. I’ve managed to gain her trust and maybe a good share of her love.

She looked over at Matt, who was sprawled on the grass beneath the trees at the water’s edge. He’d refused to take off his boots, only removing his hat and rolling up his shirtsleeves in the heat of the day. Now he catnapped, watching Tessie from beneath heavy lids, aware of each splash and ripple she made as she chased minnows in the streambed.

This is what I needed, Emmaline thought, drawing up her knees and circling them with her arms, lowering her chin to rest there as she kept an eye on the man before her. The breeze played through the branches overhead and across the sparsely grown meadow that lay to the north. The sun had about dried up all the green, Emmaline thought sadly, realizing how important it was to take the herd up north in the summer.