A Groom For Gwen. Jeanne Allan

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СКАЧАТЬ talking about you taking in Tom, like you took in Mack.”

      Gwen froze, her left arm halted mid-swing. “You’re talking about me hiring Tom?”

      “Sure. What the hell were you talking about?”

      “Nothing. Never mind. Let go of me.” She concentrated on brushing off her sleeve where he’d gripped her arm. “I’m a little sensitive about inheriting Bert’s property. His nephew Gordon has made a number of unsavory accusations.”

      “Tom says he’s a no-account. No one’s going to pay any attention to his sour grapes.”

      “About Tom.” She concentrated on the tanned skin in the vee of Jake’s shirt. “I know he’s old, but—” A finger pressed against her mouth stopped her.

      “Tom’s going to work out just fine.”

      “That’s sweet of you to say, but—”

      “Honey, I haven’t been sweet since my ma weaned me.”

      She decided to overlook what he’d called her. His drawl hinted of the South. She had the impression down there everyone called everyone “honey.” The issue here was Tom. “I’m glad you have no objection to my hiring him. I’m confident you can find something for him to do that won’t be beyond his capabilities.”

      “Tom knows more about cows and horses than I’ll ever know.”

      “Tom?”

      “He’s a horse doctor, a veterinarian. Took his son and then his grandson into his practice, and they nudged him out. Thinking they were doing him a favor. Didn’t want him dropping dead in the office.”

      “How do you know that?”

      “Tom’d thumbed a ride with somebody partway here. I picked him up and brought him the rest of the way. We got to talking and he told me all about it.”

      “And you believed him? He doesn’t talk like any veterinarian I’ve ever met.”

      Jake chuckled. “Tom thought a city lady would be more likely to hire him if she thought he’d add a little local color. I could have told him that wasn’t necessary.”

      “You should have told me who he was.”

      Jake shrugged. “What difference would it have made? You’d still have hired him.”

      Unwilling to argue the point, she switched tactics. “I expect the people who work for me to keep me informed. Is that clear, Mr. Stoner?”

      “Sure, boss,” he said easily. “Didn’t I just tell you about Tom? I know you hired him because you felt sorry for him, but forget that. If you’re serious about this ranching business—”

      “I’m serious.”

      “Tom can teach you about the livestock.”

      “That’s what I’m paying you for.”

      A grasshopper landed near Jake’s boot. “Knowing about cows and horses and caring for the land takes a heap of studying on. You’ll need Tom when I’m gone.” He ground the insect under his toe. “I’m just passing through.”

      “Jake, it’s none of my business, but... A man like you could do anything he put his mind to. Why don’t you settle down?”

      He picked his hat up from the ground and carefully brushed the dust from it. “No, Ma’am, it’s not your business,” he finally said. “Besides, there’s no way to explain it. Settling down’s something I can’t do. I have to move on when I’m not needed anymore.”

      “Who decides when you’re not needed? You? Like you decided about kissing me?”

      He gave her a long look. “You telling me you didn’t want me to kiss you?”

      “The question was, are you the one who decides you’re not needed anymore?”

      “No.”

      “All right, then. As long as we both understand how it is.”

      “I understand. I doubt you do.” He settled his hat on his head. “One other thing, boss lady, be mighty careful about laying down the law around here, and saying what you will and won’t do, unless you’re damned sure you can back up your words.”

      “That sounds very much like a threat,” Gwen said slowly. “I’m not sure why. I’m not so stupid I’d hire an expert on ranching and then disregard his advice.”

      Cool gray eyes rested on her face. “Then take this advice, boss lady. Don’t be issuing any ultimatums about whether or not you’ll sleep with me. If I decide to sleep with you, I will.” A lazy smile crawled over his face. “And, honey, you’ll want me in your bed.” He turned and headed toward the pickup, sweeping his glove from the ground in passing.

      He had the truck door open by the time Gwen found her voice. “You’re fired!”

      He looked at her through the open window. “You can’t fire me.” The pickup engine roared to life, and Jake backed the truck away from the house.

      “And don’t call me honey!”

      The truck backfired, then bounced noisily around to the barn.

      “I thought there was more in the air last night at the dinner table than the smell of roast beef.”

      Gen looked over her shoulder at the housekeeper. “Maybe you smelled the carrots.”

      Doris laughed, wiping her hands on her apron as she walked out on the porch. “It appears to me Crissie isn’t the only one with a crush on our handsome cowboy.”

      “Have you been at the cooking sherry? You’ve obviously been eavesdropping, so you know he kissed me. It wasn’t my idea, and he won’t be kissing me again.”

      “I think he will if he wants to.”

      “I don’t care what he wants.” Clasping her hands around a porch pillar, Gwen swayed back. “I don’t want him kissing me.”

      “Why not?”

      “He’s not my type.”

      “That man is any woman’s type. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about having a sexy hunk like him in your bed.”

      “I’m not interested in sexy hunks. I want to put down roots for Crissie and me. I want to keep this ranch from going under. If and when I decide to get married, I want a stable, dependable man who’s willing to settle down here and create a home and family with me.”

      Doris moved to gently massage Gwen’s spine. “You’ve weathered a lot of changes in the past year. Your brother and his wife being killed in that car accident, you taking in Crissie, Bert dying and leaving you his place. You quit your job, moved down here and barely got settled before Lawrence got ill and Rod quit. You’re reading all hours of the night trying to cram your head full of ranching know-how, sorting Bert’s papers СКАЧАТЬ