Lone Star Bride

How could she be so stupid?

Turning to the wagon, she tried to climb inside and hide, but he reached for her arm. His strong hand holding her in place without effort.

“I think you have some explaining to do. Remember, I don’t do well with liars.” He started walking away from the safety of the wagon, pulling her along behind him.

Boots planted, she tried to stop him, but he didn’t seem to even notice.

“Please.” Lowering her voice, she wasn’t above begging. “Please, release me. I need to return the chick and finish my job.”

He didn’t slow. “You need to answer my questions. And think about your answers, because it’s starting to look like you don’t have a job.”

The chick squirmed in distress. Relaxing her hold, she tried talking to him again. “Please, let me return the chicken to the wagon.”

Halfway to the trees that lined the Frio River, Jackson stopped. He released her and crossed his arms. “Make it fast, and come straight back here. Don’t even try to run...again.”

With boots planted wide, and his forearms over his chest, he made an impressive sight. A sight she would be better off not appreciating.

Hurrying to the wagon, she talked to calm the chick. To be honest, it was more to calm herself. What could she say to convince Jackson she was a boy? Picking up her brother’s hat, she scanned the interior of the wagon, searching for anything that would help her.

“Santiago!” The command made it clear time had run out.

She had nothing.

Hat back on her head, she stepped out of the wagon and saw Jackson still standing the way she left him. She’d seen stone carvings softer than his face.

Taking her time to get out of the wagon, she was at a loss as to what to say to him. How could she convince him she was a boy?

The boots became heavy as she walked, each step a chore. She was more scared now than when she saw the bull charging. Dealing with Jackson was new territory. Being a boy was out of her experience.

A few feet from him, she stopped and looked at her boots. He was the one who wanted to talk, so she’d let him. It gave her a bit of time anyway.

“Follow me.” Without waiting, he turned and walked past the trees to the riverbed. Away from the cattle station. No one would see them there. She didn’t know if that was good or bad.

At the edge of the smooth rocks that made up the riverbed, he finally stopped. “What’s your name?” His jaw was tight.

Threads hung loose where they began to unravel at the end of her long sleeves. All her attention now focused on them as she rolled them between her fingers. Not knowing what else to do, she shrugged. “Santiago. Tiago.”

He snorted. Stepping closer, he cupped her jaw in one large hand and lifted her face, turning it to the right, then the left. His stare cut through her as if he saw right to her core. She had nowhere to hide.

One movement and he had the hat off her head. His eyes moved as he scanned her features. He shook his head. “How did I ever think you were a boy?”

Biting the inside of her cheek, she worked to keep her breath slow and steady. Showing fear was not an option.

“How old are you?” He moved in an inch closer.

“Twenty-two.” Forcing herself to keep eye contact, she didn’t blink. “Old enough to make my own decisions.” There had to be a way to save her job. She refused to admit she was a woman.

He dropped his hands as if they were burned. “Are you married? Is there an angry husband who will run us down and shoot us?”

“No. I’m not running from anyone or anything. Returning to the ranch after the drive is the plan, so I can work there. That’s all I want, and the only reason I’m here.”

He didn’t look convinced.

It was time to remind him what she had already done. “Just like I did when the bull was about to gore you. All that matters is I can handle the work. I’m fast at learning, too. One lesson, and I hitched the mules.”

“The trail is not the same as the ranch. It’s even more dangerous and unpredictable. It’s no place for a female of any age.”

“I didn’t say I was a woman.” She talked from the back of her throat, hoping it sounded rough and manly. “I have a dream for my life, and riding out across the country is part of that. What about your dreams? That’s why you’re here, right?”

“This isn’t about me.” Each word slipped between gritted teeth. He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “There’s plenty of work on the ranch. Why do you need to leave to do that?”

“If I can go with the herd and come back, that’ll prove how good I am at the work that needs to be done. I have to prove I can do this. I might be small, but I’m strong. The thought of being trapped inside all day for the rest of my life, planning meals and making sure the dust is gone, is a nightmare. It makes me sick.”

“Some men don’t come back from the trail.”

She stood straighter. “I’ll come back.”

Confusion and bewilderment clouded his face. “You’re a strange female.”

She heard that already this week. Narrowing her eyes at him, she took a step back. “I’m just telling you why I want to ride with the herd.”

A grim slant tightened his lip. He looked off to the river moving over the rocks and around the roots of the old cypress. “You’re still claiming to be a male?” He cut his gaze back to her.

Her throat constricted. Life was so unfair. All the power to change the direction of her life was in his hands.

Closing her eyes, she prayed. She prayed for wisdom, for fortitude and for guidance.

Standing as tall as she could manage, she made sure to look him in the eye and hold his gaze. Show no fear. “You hired me to work with the cook. I’ll be cleaning the chicken crate, taking care of the mules and starting fires. I have the safest job on the drive. Please, you don’t have time to replace me. Let me do the job. You won’t regret it.”

Last year, during a father and son lesson, she overheard her father talk about tending to business. He said the best way to ruin a deal was to overtalk when you were nervous. State your requirements, then stay quiet. She bit down on the inside of her cheek, forcing herself to remain silent.

He crossed his arms, glanced at her, then went back to studying the water. Moving his hands to his pockets, he sighed and looked down.

She held her breath.

“Okay, Tiago.” Sarcasm coated his voice. “I think we’ll stick with that name. It’ll be easier if the rest of the crew continues to believe you’re a boy. Less disruptive. Plus, I don’t really know all of them, and I’m not sure we can trust them.”

Her heart thumped against her chest. She was staying. “Thank you. I’ll be the best cook assistant you’ve ever had.”

“Just keep your head down and stay out of trouble.” Jaw tight, he squinted at her. “You sure about this? There’s still time to go back to the ranch. It’s going to get rough out there, and you’re not going to get any special treatment.”

“I don’t have anything to go back to right now.” Her heart wanted to jump out of her chest. Holding her smile at bay the best she could, she gave him a nod. “I’ve been ready for this longer than I remember.”

He dismissed her with a wave of his hand, and she ran to the wagon. It was official. Jackson knew she was a woman, and she still had a job. One less thing to worry about. Every moment from here on out was a gift from God. She was going across the country with a herd of cattle, all the way to New Orleans.

It was time to get her job done. Going through the crates and barrels and making a list of the supplies wasn’t as fun as roping and herding, but it was what she had for now. With a glance, she checked the location of her boss. He stood with Cook.

Back there, he gave in so quickly. She mentioned dreams and his expression changed, but that couldn’t be all. She wondered if her seeming to be of low status had anything to do with it. Would he be willing to give her this chance if he knew she was De Zavala’s daughter?