Hot On His Trail

“I have a job to do, too,” Simms replied. “And that’s to bring you back with me to Texas.”

Matt shook his head. “Since you and Calley are so all fired anxious to see Texas, why don’t you go there together and leave me the hell alone.”

Simms glanced at her. “I take it you’re my competition?”

“That’s right,” she replied evenly, holding out her hand. “I’m Calley Graham.”

Simms shook it, his eyes widening. “Graham? You any relation to Walt Graham?”

She stepped back, her expression suddenly wary. “He’s my father.”

“I used to work with Walt. He was a hell of an investigator.” Simms smiled. “I take it you’re following in the old man’s footsteps?”

She nodded. “I’m trying, but it seems Mr. Radcliffe isn’t interested in his inheritance.”

A loud snore reverberated from Bud. It reminded Matt that he had more serious problems than two cattle drive crashers. Cowboys who needed to be fed, for one. And with Bud out of commission, this drive might end before it even began.

Unless he could find a replacement.

Matt studied Bill Simms, sizing him up. The man was about Bud’s age, maybe a few years younger. The paunch and double chin told him Simms hadn’t endured any strenuous physical activity in a long while. Still, beggars couldn’t be choosers. And Matt was willing to settle for just about anyone if it meant winning this race.

“I’ll make you a deal,” Matt said to Simms over the rumble of Bud’s snores. “You take over as the camp cook and chuck wagon driver until the end of the trail drive, and I’ll return to Texas with you when it’s over.”

Simms snorted. “I can’t even boil water.”

“So you’ll learn as you go,” Matt replied, knowing the cowboys might balk at that arrangement. But what choice did he have? They’d hired on knowing they’d be roughing it for the next few weeks. Only now it looked as if their stomachs would be roughing it, too.

“Wait a minute,” Calley said, her blue eyes wide. “That’s not fair.”

“It’s business,” Matt told her in a clipped tone, ignoring the twinge in his gut. He had more to think about than hurting a stranger’s feelings. His ranch was waiting for him. All he had to do was earn it. “Well? Do we have a deal?”

Simms shook his head. “I’m not the outdoor type. Besides, I have a feeling you’ll change your mind about the inheritance. Never known a man yet to turn free money down.” He pulled a small business card out of his shirt pocket. “Give me a call when you’re ready to meet with the lawyers.”

When Matt refused to take the card, Simms shrugged, then walked over to Jericho and tucked it in the saddle. With a backward wave of his hand, he sauntered off toward his pickup truck.

“Hold on,” Matt called after him.

Simms turned. “Change your mind already?”

“I have an injured man here,” Matt replied. “Since you’re headed back to civilization, can you take him to the nearest hospital?”

Simms glanced down at Bud. “He’s drunk.”

“He’s in a lot of pain.” Matt walked over to the old cowboy and gently shook him. “Time to wake up.”

“Yeah…what do you want?” Bud’s eyelids fluttered, then he winced. “Damn! My arm hurts like hell.”

Matt carefully hefted Bud to his feet. “This man’s going to take you to see a doctor.”

Simms reached out to steady the inebriated cowboy, then looped Bud’s good arm around his shoulder and headed for his truck. But not before giving Calley a speculative backward glance. “Take care, Miss Graham.”

Calley didn’t say anything until Simms had loaded Bud into the truck and driven off. Then she turned to Matt. “I’ll do it.”

He looked at her. “Do what?”

“I’ll drive the chuck wagon. And cook the meals. And anything else you need me to do.”

He smiled in spite of himself. “Forget it.”

Her brow furrowed. “Why? You just offered the job to Bill Simms.”

“That’s because I thought he might be able to handle it.” “So can I!” She followed him, refusing to let the subject drop. “I’m an excellent cook.”

“Cooking food on the trail isn’t the same as puttering around in a kitchen. We don’t have electric stoves or microwave ovens or dishwashers. No refrigeration, either.”

“Good. I like challenges.”

His smile widened. He had to give her credit. She was almost as stubborn as he was. “You might like challenges, but you won’t like those mules that pull the chuck wagon. They’ll need to be fed and watered every day. And they’ll stop when you want them to go and go when you want them to stop.”

“My grandpa raised mules on his farm,” she countered. “I’ve always been good with animals.”

He turned around to face her. “The answer is no.”

“That’s not fair.” She took a deep breath. “At least give me a chance to prove myself. And if I can do the job for the duration of the cattle drive, then you’ll come back to Texas with me. Just like you offered to do with Simms.”

Matt considered her proposal. More than likely she wouldn’t last one day, much less the month it was going to take them to reach the Lazy R. Calley Graham had no idea what she was volunteering for. Heat and dust and flies. Not to mention sleeping on a hard wagon bed every night and washing in an icy stream.

Still, her offer might buy him a little time to figure out another solution to this unexpected problem. It would take him and the boys the rest of the day to round up the herd and rig up a new axle for the chuck wagon. A decent supper would be a just reward for their first hard day on the trail.

“If I agree,” he began, noting the spark of hope that lit her blue eyes, “you’ll have to follow through with your part of the bargain. All the meals will be your responsibility, as well as driving the wagon and caring for the mules. No one else will have time to help you out.”

“I can do it,” she vowed.

He shook his head, certain he was making a mistake. But what choice did he have at this point? “You’ll have to leave your car here.”

“Not a problem,” she said evenly.

His eyes narrowed. “Why is this so important to you?”

Calley hesitated for a whisper of a second. “I believe in living up to my responsibilities. I took on the job of bringing you back to Texas and I intend to see it through—no matter what I have to do.”

Matt couldn’t argue with that. “We’ll be camping here tonight. I guess you can use Bud’s supplies since he won’t be needing them now. His bedroll is inside the wagon.”

She nodded. “All right. But I just want to make sure we’re clear. If I can do the job until the trail drive is over, you’ll let me take you back to Texas for Violet Mitchum’s memorial service.”

“I give you my word, Miss Graham,” he said solemnly. He didn’t add that she’d never be able to tough it out. Or that he’d rather walk barefoot through a thick field of cockleburs than return to the Mitchum house again.

She held out her hand. “Shall we shake on it?”