Texas Bride

“Very amusing,” she muttered. “If I thought for one minute that I could shock you as speechless as you shocked me, I’d do it in a heartbeat. But I’m willing to bet the ransom money that nothing shocks or surprises you. And if this is some kind of test to determine my integrity or my habit of prancing around naked in front of men, you might as well know that I don’t. Ever. You aren’t going to be the first, either.”

Maddie was pretty sure that it had been a test of some sort, because Jonah stared at her for a long, pensive moment before he turned and walked uphill to the campfire. She glided sideways to come ashore near the bush where she had draped her clean clothes. Dressed in the riding breeches, boots and linen blouse that she’d hurriedly purchased in town—when it had become apparent that she’d have to make a hasty ride on horseback to outrun the two men—she hiked up to join Jonah.

When his assessing gaze flooded slowly and attentively over her Maddie’s breath jammed in her throat. This man had a unique and unsettling way of looking at her that provoked unfamiliar stirrings inside her. For reasons she couldn’t begin to explain she was attracted to this abrupt-mannered, distrustful Ranger.

It would have done wonders for her self-confidence if she thought he was the least bit attracted to her. But with Jonah it was difficult to tell, because he wore an unreadable expression. He could be coldly furious or uproariously amused and she doubted she’d ever know which.

“You gonna stand there woolgathering or are you gonna eat?” Jonah waved a skewer of meat at her. “By the way, those skintight clothes are not a good idea,” he added grouchily.

“Why am I not surprised that you object to my wardrobe?” she mumbled before tasting the tender meat. “There is very little about me that you do approve of or appreciate.”

“I would have appreciated seeing you naked,” he replied, the barest hint of a smile on his chiseled mouth.

With a bite of meat poised a few inches from her lips, Maddie glanced bewilderedly at Jonah. It seemed that he was teasing and flirting with her. He wasn’t very good at it, but it pleased her to realize that he wasn’t an accomplished womanizer whose goal in life was to charm every female out of her petticoats.

It also made her wonder about his background and upbringing. Given his heritage she imagined his life had not been easy. Maddie decided to overlook his lack of social skills, because the simple truth was that Jonah Danhill intrigued her and she wanted to get to know him better.

“So you like seeing women naked,” she said belatedly. “What else do you like, Danhill?”

“Being left alone, for the most part,” he said dismissively. “Enough chitchat, Garret. Let’s hear it.”

Completely bemused, she gaped at him. “Let’s hear what?”

“Your story.” He chewed and swallowed another bite of meat. “That whole abduction, cattle rustling, thieves hot on your heels thing.”

“You said you weren’t interested in my problems.”

He shrugged indifferently. “Not interested, just curious. If I’m aiding and abetting a fugitive I want to know. So, get on with it, Garret,” he demanded in an impatient voice.

Chapter Three

M addie quickly organized her thoughts and began her explanation. “Since my father mysteriously disappeared six months ago, I’ve been responsible for running our ranch and caring for my sister. Until then I admit that I was a pampered rancher’s daughter whose only challenge was to avoid the marriage proposals that were aimed at acquiring control of my property and dowry. Suddenly I was overwhelmed with responsibilities and decision-making, and left to face the alarming realization that my father might never return, because he might have encountered the rustlers who have been stealing our livestock.”

Maddie drew in a shuddering breath, blinked back tears and picked at her food. “I formed search parties and contacted the sheriff, but to no avail. I have tried to hold on to the hope that Papa is still alive, but so much time has passed that I have had to accept the fact that I might never discover what happened to him….”

When her voice disintegrated she ducked her head and clenched her fists in an attempt to gather her crumbling composure. It was a long moment before she felt confident to speak without her voice failing her again. “Rustling has been on the rise the past few months, depleting ranch profits. A few days ago Christina vanished, very much like Papa had. But this time a ransom note was left hanging from a tree limb, demanding money for her return. I was given a week.”

Jonah assessed her carefully, trying very hard not to notice those trim-fitting clothes that accentuated her shapely physique. He could ignore her effect on him better, he decided, if she’d dress in a shapeless feed sack.

Muttering at the distraction she presented, he willfully concentrated on the tale she was pouring out to him. If her family truly had been taken from her, then he could identify and sympathize. He wanted to believe her because, despite his strong-willed resistance, he was getting attached to her. She amused, annoyed and aroused him—simultaneously. She made him feel sensations and experience emotions that he’d kept in cold storage for years. In his profession, emotion was a dangerous distraction. Jonah had to rely on sharpened instincts, hard facts and unerring logic.

And then along came Maddie….

“Two of the men who have been pressuring me into marriage offered to loan me money to pay ranch expenses and the ransom,” she continued as she stared off into space. “I refused to be beholden to either of them. My only option was to consult our family lawyer in Fort Worth and request a loan that I can repay when I gain control of my trust fund.”

Jonah wondered how much money they were discussing—or whether this was a fictitious fund that she kept harping about—but he didn’t ask. He preferred to hear her out.

“When I left the bank with the money in my satchel, I saw the same two cowboys that I had encountered twice while I was in Fort Worth,” she explained. “I had even convinced myself that I was being followed long before I arrived by stage.” She shrugged helplessly. “Wild imagination and too much stress, perhaps. In any event, the men approached me a few minutes before I caught the stage to Coyote Springs, and I managed to elude them because there were dozens of passersby on the busy streets.

“When we stopped at a stage station for lunch the men appeared on horseback, and I realized that they intended to steal my money the first chance they got.” She glanced somberly at Jonah. “And you know the rest, since I came knocking at your door.”

Jonah knew that Maddie could easily have twisted the truth, that she could have been in cahoots with the two men and tried to double-cross them. This entire tale of woe, with the addition of a few tears and a crackling voice, could have been a melodramatic performance to prey on his sympathy and gain his cooperation.

It wouldn’t be the first time, he reminded himself. He’d seen several clever scams in his day. He had also heard such convoluted and conflicting testimonies in previous cases that it was damn near impossible to sort out the truth. He had no intention of taking Maddie Garret strictly at her word, even if she did fascinate him and tug at his emotions. He did, however, intend to hear her version of the story before he confronted her two attackers.

Jonah knew for a fact that the men were still following like shadows because he had seen them in the distance this morning. Without his protection Maddie wouldn’t be allowed safe passage to Fort Griffin. Her ex-partners in crime—or would-be thieves—weren’t backing off.

“Now what’s your story, Jonah Danhill?” Maddie asked, jostling him from his suspicious thoughts. “I’d really like to know.”

Jonah came to his feet, kicked dirt on the fire and headed toward his horse. He wasn’t in the mood—or in the habit—of discussing his past with anyone, and he wasn’t about to start now.

“Let’s go, Garret. We’re wasting daylight and your two friends are following us.”

He hoped that would be the end of the conversation about his past, but knowing how relentless and determined Maddie Garret could be when she was on one of her crusades, he doubted it.

Maddie strode toward the horses, then reflexively ducked when she heard the crack of a rifle and felt a whizzing bullet rush past her ear to plug into the tree beside her. Wild-eyed, she tried to scramble onto the mare, which was prancing in a nervous circle.

“Give me your hand,” Jonah ordered.

Maddie flung up her hand and then winced when Jonah nearly jerked her arm out of its socket in his haste to hoist her behind him on the saddle. When another bullet whistled past them she pressed herself against the solid wall of Jonah’s back. Maddie wrapped her arms around his waist and prayed for all she was worth.

Being shot at was a new, unnerving experience for her, but it didn’t seem to faze Jonah. He leaned sideways to grab the mare’s trailing reins, then took off like a cannonball. While they rode hell-for-leather, Maddie wondered how many consecutive days of dodging flying bullets she would have to endure before she could remain as unflinching and focused as Jonah.

My God, how did he deal with this kind of fear without having the living daylights scared out of him on a regular basis?

“You okay, princess?” Jonah called over his shoulder as he set a swift pace through the trees that lined the creek.

“I’ve been better,” she mumbled against his back. “I’m sorry I’m responsible for getting you shot at during your vacation.”

When they encountered the dense underbrush that grew along the creek bank, Jonah reined the gelding to a walk, then drew the mare up beside them. Using his good arm, he grabbed Maddie around the waist and deposited her on her own horse. Her feeling of security vanished when she was no longer wrapped around Jonah’s sinewy form. She shivered as remnants of icy fear spiraled through her body.

To her stunned amazement Jonah leaned toward her to kiss her squarely on the mouth. His scorching kiss caused an explosion of her senses and sent hot sensations sizzling through her body. Maddie was still savoring the taste of his full, sensuous lips—and the delicious feelings he aroused—when he withdrew abruptly. Bewildered, she licked her lips and stared goggle-eyed at him.

“Do I have your attention now, princess?” he asked in a gruff voice that was a direct contradiction to the passionate kiss he’d just bestowed on her. When she nodded mutely, he said, “Good. I don’t care how scared you think you are, you’re still going to be fine.” He moved his horse in front of hers, zigzagging through the maze of trees and brush. “Your friends—”

“I keep telling you that they are not my friends,” she interrupted emphatically.

“—will have a hard time taking potshots at us if we use the trees as shields,” he said implacably. “They might decide to follow the road so they can be ready and waiting to confront us. But we’re going to avoid the road entirely. It will take longer to reach Fort Griffin, but at least we won’t be sitting ducks.”

Jonah picked his way northwestward and silently cursed himself for yielding to the need to kiss Maddie. She’d looked so shaken and terrified that he’d wanted to comfort and console her. He should have given her a consoling pat on the back instead. Now the sweet taste of her was on his lips and her clean scent invaded his senses—feeding his forbidden desires, tormenting him until hell wouldn’t have it.

Jonah had sworn he was about to suffer heart seizure when bullets started flying earlier and Maddie had almost been shot. He was accustomed to facing personal danger, but it had unnerved him when her safety was threatened. Jonah had accepted the inevitability of his own death years ago, but he hadn’t been prepared for the possibility of watching Maddie die while she was under his protection.

She had a lot of living left to do. She had a life and family to return to, would-be fiancés waiting in the wings—if her story was to be believed. All Jonah had to his name was a well-trained horse and an arsenal of weapons. His only connection was to a company of Rangers who were careful about getting too attached to each other for fear of losing a dear friend when a gun battle broke out.

“You’ll have to find yourself an experienced guide at Fort Griffin,” Jonah said a few miles later. “A novice won’t do you a damn bit of good. Your two pistol-packing friends mean business.”

“Would you please stop referring to those bushwhackers as my friends?” She scowled at him. “And for your information, I am not going to hire another guide or take the stage. I refuse to involve anyone else in my problems or become personally responsible for causing someone else’s injury or death.”