Lone Star Bride

“What have I done?” She sounded truly perplexed and he frowned.

“You’re a part of this ranch, and I’ll have to work closely with you if we go ahead with this project. The whole problem is, I have a powerful urge to pick you up and take you to the hayloft and spend a couple of hours with you, finding out—”

She held up a hand to halt his words. “That’s enough, I think.”

He watched as her throat moved, knew she swallowed with difficulty and felt a moment of triumph as he realized he’d shocked her. Maybe given her food for thought. And yet, he’d need to watch his step, lest Hank come after him.

He sat down next to Alexis then, their thighs almost touching, the warmth of her body reaching for him like the sunshine on a summer day. “All right,” he said. “Let’s start over.” He cleared his throat and consciously kept his eyes forward. “I’d like you to work with the yearlings, follow a program I’ve set up for their training. Three or four hours a day should do it.”

She was silent and he allowed himself to toss her a sidelong glance. Maybe she wasn’t interested, or perhaps she didn’t want to work alongside him.

The look of rapt attention she shot his way changed his mind. “You’re kidding. You want me to work with the yearlings? You’ll really let me have a hand in training them?”

“If you want to,” he answered, aware now that it was an idea that appealed to her. Maybe even enough so as to put herself in his vicinity daily, giving him jurisdiction over her movements for the morning hours.

“If I want to?” She sighed the words. “I’ve already told you, early on, how I feel about spending time with the young horses. It’s only a dream job come to life, Jamie. I love those yearlings. Working with them would be a pleasure.”

“How about working with me?” he asked. “Does that qualify as a pleasure?”

She eyed him soberly. “I think that all depends on you. Can you keep your hands to yourself?”

He grinned. “Yeah, I think so. At least I’ll try.”

“You don’t sound very sure of that, mister. And I’m not in the market for any hanky-panky with the foreman.”

“I don’t go in for hanky-panky. If I set my sights on you, it won’t be for fun. But don’t worry, sweetheart. When the time comes, you’ll know it, up front. I don’t play games when I’m dead serious, and I have a notion you’d require a little more attention than a new job or a horse I’d like to own.”

Alexis’s eyes flashed fire at him. “I’m not sure I like being compared to a horse.”

She’d picked apart his statement. He might have known she would. And his natural good humor came to the forefront. “You need a firm hand, just like a frisky mare, sweetheart, but other than that, I can’t see that you resemble a horse. Except that you’re long-legged and slim, and you move with a sort of elegance.”

As if he’d spoken words that were unplanned, he rose and looked toward the bench where she still sat. “Now, I suspect you’ll think I’ve called you a mare, instead of a woman,” he said, his smile aimed in her direction.

She shook her head. “I’m not sure what I think. I’m still trying to digest the ‘elegance’ remark. No one’s ever called me elegant before. I think I kinda like it.”

“Yeah,” he said, the word drawled slowly, as if it stuck to his tongue. “I like it, too, ma’am. I surely do.”

The silhouette of a man filled the back door as Hank Powers strode across the threshold. “What’s going on?” he asked heartily.

“I just got a new job,” Alexis answered. “The foreman wants me to help him work with the yearlings. Is that all right with you, Dad?”

“He’s the boss,” Hank said. “And if you want the job, it looks to me like it’s yours, Alex.”

She stood quickly and went to where he stood, reaching up to kiss his cheek. “Thanks, Dad. You know this is something I’d really like to do.” She paused and her voice dropped to a lower tone. “Did you have anything to do with it?” she asked, as if she were suddenly suspicious.

Hank shook his head. “Nope. Jamie told me he wanted you and asked if I objected. I told him to ask you himself.” He curled one arm around his daughter’s waist. “I’m glad he did, since it seems to make you happy.” His gaze swept to James. “Just don’t let her try to do anything she’s not capable of. Though I don’t know what that would be. My girl is pretty well-equipped to handle herself around here. So long as the work isn’t too heavy for her, I’ll rest easy.”

“My main concern is keeping her away from anyone who might give her a hard time, given her tendency to flirt a bit,” James said. “A couple of your men are pretty set on courting her, you know.”

“She can handle that,” Hank said quickly. “At least, she has, so far. The men know she’s only friendly, not flirting with them.”

James shrugged. “Whatever you say. I’ll keep an eye out, anyway.” He looked at Alexis, whose smile was brilliant, now that the training had been approved officially. “You ready to start?” he asked.

“Whenever you say, boss.” She almost shivered with anticipation, he thought.

“Now’s as good a time as any.” He motioned toward the back barn door and she followed his silent order, leaving her father with another brief kiss on his cheek in farewell. James watched as she walked ahead of him, and felt Hank’s gaze as if it were a hot branding iron. With a sudden movement, he turned to face the man.

“You got a problem with me, Hank?”

As if he swallowed his objections, Hank was silent for a moment, then shook his head. “I always worry about my girl, Jamie. She’s all I’ve got left in this world that really means anything to me. Just don’t hurt her.”

“I’m not in the habit of giving women a hard time,” James returned sharply. “I won’t be making an exception where Alexis is concerned.”

Hank’s face grew stern. “Just consider yourself warned,” he said harshly. “She’s got a soft spot for you.”

James couldn’t have stopped the grin that twisted his lips any more than he could have halted a runaway train. “I’ll bear that in mind,” he said, forcing a sober expression to rest on his face, hiding the last semblance of his smile. With long strides, he followed Alexis, who had already crossed the corral and opened the gate into the pasture.

“Wait for me,” he called, and was rewarded by her quick wave as she passed through the opening, holding the gate for his approach.

“I wasn’t going anywhere without you,” she told him, tilting her head to one side as he neared. “What was my father saying to you?”

“Just warning me about hurting you. I think he’s afraid I have ideas about you.”

“What sort of ideas? I’m sure not afraid of you.” She sounded exasperated, he thought, and looked even more so. “He tries to make me into a shrinking violet, Jamie. I’m a woman, capable of making my own choices, and he won’t get that through his head.”

James grinned down at her as they walked farther into the pasture, heading for half a dozen yearlings standing beneath a tree. “Don’t fault him for being protective, Alex. I’d be even worse if you were my daughter. And trust me, I’m very happy that you’re not. I’ll admit my feelings toward you are not fatherly.” He sobered as he watched her expression turn watchful.

“I’ll repeat it, Alexis. I was a scalawag. There was no other word for me, and I suspect your father recognizes that.”

She smiled then, as if she thought he was joking with her, and then laughed aloud, the sound of her amusement ringing like the wind chimes on the back porch. He didn’t attempt to hide his reaction, his arm reaching to rest across her shoulders as he drew her to a halt next to him, his action restrained, resisting the temptation she offered.

“Chet tells me you’re very good with the horses, and I’ll admit I’ve noticed myself that you seem to have a special touch. But I don’t know what your experience is, and I’ve got some set ideas of my own. I don’t want to go any closer,” he explained. “I’m gonna rope that black colt on the right, and he’ll spook if we sneak up on him.”

“All right,” she said softly, watching as he uncoiled his lariat and let it lie in a circle at his feet. With a quick motion he had it spinning, and in another moment it was sailing through the air, only to settle gently over the head of the colt in question. The horse jerked against the rope and James held it fast, drawing the animal toward him slowly.

At the same time he walked forward, Alexis close by his side, and his voice took on a crooning quality as he talked to the graceful, black creature he wooed. “You’re a beautiful piece of horseflesh, boy. Just come on over here and I’ll scratch your ears for you.”

“You’re very good at this,” Alexis murmured quietly as the colt eyed the pair of them and then, as if drawn by an invisible cord, walked haltingly toward them.

James reached out his hand, letting the horse smell his palm, then turned it to rub with affection beneath the horse’s chin. His fingernails scratched gently there and then traveled up to a spot between the colt’s ears. His voice spoke soft words of encouragement as he stroked the dark head, a never-ceasing river of sounds that seemed to quiet the animal, putting him into a sort of trance.

It worked every time, James thought triumphantly. Gaining the animal’s trust was the most important part of the whole procedure, and letting him know you wouldn’t harm him was a big part of it. The old theory of the rider being the master was harsh and often damaged a young horse beyond repair.

James thought of his father, how the man had treated his animals. A better teacher could not have been found, he decided, recalling his early days when his father had instructed him in the care of his livestock. The same rules applied to any creature. Kindness went a long way to forming a good relationship.

His glance fell on the woman at his side. Maybe that was the secret with women, too.

Alexis reached slowly for the colt, her hand rubbing his neck, her head beside his, her words soft, luring him closer. And he obliged, leaning into her a bit, then tossing his head and snuffling at her shoulder, as if he imprinted her scent in his memory. She laughed, tossing her head in a like motion, her long hair flying, only to settle in a pale cloud over her shoulders again.