Deep In The Heart Of Texas. Linda Warren

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СКАЧАТЬ had to be more to her than being a rich man’s daughter. There had to be.

      Her eyes touched his. “I’m not used to the wild outdoors, but I’ll try,” was all she could promise.

      “Try?” he boomed at her, his fist hitting the table with a loud thump. “You’ll do more than try. You’ll do it—because I’m not taking a whimpering whiny female out into those woods with Spikes and his high-powered rifle on my heels.”

      She swallowed hard and tried to quell the anger growing inside her, but it didn’t work. “What do you want me to say?” she snapped. “That I’m Annie Oakley or something? Well, I’m not. I promise to try my very best. That’s all I can do.”

      The minute the words were out, she regretted them. But no one had ever talked to her the way he had and she resented it. She might be at his mercy, but she didn’t have to endure his insults. Now she wondered if her reaction had ruined any chance of his helping her.

      He straightened, a thoughtful expression on his face. The woman had fire in her. Good. He was beginning to wonder if Clyde Maddox’s daughter was a meek little daddy’s girl with no will of her own. She was going to need all that fire, plus guts and strength to handle the hours ahead. “Well, that’s all I ask,” he murmured. “Just be prepared for the worst.”

      Miranda frowned, uncertain whether it was wise to put her life in his hands. But what choice did she have? It was either the hermit or Spikes.

      “One more thing,” he said. “I will only take you to within a mile of the ranch. From there, you’ll go in alone. I will see no one and talk to no one. And I definitely do not want anything from your father. Understood?”

      She nodded, but had to ask, “Why are you helping me?”

      His dark eyes grew pensive. “I don’t know,” he finally said. “Maybe it’s the easiest way to get rid of you, or maybe I just don’t want your death on my conscience.”

      “I didn’t know you had a conscience.” The remark slipped out before she could stop it.

      His eyes held hers for an agonizing second. “You’d better thank God I still do.”

      She had no idea what he meant by those words, and she wasn’t going to ask. They were partners now, together against Spikes. Without understanding how she knew it, she sensed she could trust the hermit. He wouldn’t let her down.

      THE NEXT FEW MINUTES were hectic. The hermit packed a backpack and dropped some clothes on the table. “Put these on,” he ordered. “They belonged to my great-uncle. I inherited this place from him.” His eyes swept the length of her body. “He was a small man, so they should just about fit you.”

      There was no interest or curiosity in his eyes. Not that she wanted him to be attracted to her, but she’d never had a man look at her in such a detached manner. Why was she thinking such crazy thoughts? She had one goal—to get home safely. His disinterest in her as a woman was going to make the next two days much easier.

      She picked up the clothes. Her nose wrinkled in revulsion as she examined the woolly long johns, socks, knit cap and big coat. They smelled of mothballs. She opened her mouth to protest when she caught his eye. He was waiting for her to complain. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

      “Where can I change?” she asked with a secret grin.

      “Look around you,” he replied sarcastically. “Where do you think you can change?”

      Miranda glanced nervously around the small room. “Where’s the bathroom?”

      He suppressed a curse. “It’s outside. It’s called an outhouse.”

      “Oh,” she said, feeling stupid. Naturally he wouldn’t have a bathroom. What was she thinking?

      “I’ll turn my back,” he informed her. “It’s all the privacy you’re going to get.”

      She shifted from one foot to the other. “I really do have to use the bathroom.”

      He grunted. How many times had Sheila said those same words? Whenever they were at a party or some special function she’d always had to fix her hair or her makeup. He immediately stopped those memories. He hadn’t thought of her in years and he wouldn’t think of her now.

      “It’s out the back door,” he said hurriedly. “Make a run for it and come right back. I’ll keep an eye on Spikes. He can’t see the outhouse from his position.”

      Walking as fast as she could, Miranda followed the narrow path to the small building. Inside was a long wooden seat with two holes cut into it. She pulled down her jeans and sat on one of them. To her surprise there was toilet paper on a roll beside her. Oddly the primitive conditions didn’t bother her, but she kept her eye out for tiny furry animals. She quickly did her business and returned to the cabin.

      Back inside, the hermit handed her the extra clothes and turned around. She hesitated for only for a moment before stripping out of her clothes, then pulling on the long johns and socks. Putting her jeans and top back on, she wondered why she trusted this man. She’d only known him an hour or so. Suddenly she realized he hadn’t even told her his name.

      Slipping into the big coat, which came down to her knees, she said, “I’m finished.”

      He turned to face her.

      She smiled. “My name is Miranda. What do I call you?”

      “Nothing” came the sharp retort. “The less you know about me the better.”

      The words held an ominous ring, and despite the extra clothing, a chill ran up her spine. Who was this man? Nobody knew his name and he wasn’t willing to give any information about himself. Was he hiding from the law? A wanted criminal? She could feel goose bumps rising on her skin and prayed for enough strength to survive the next couple of days, whatever they held.

      SPIKES REACHED into his saddlebags and pulled out a cell phone. “Damn hermit,” he muttered, and poked out a number.

      “Whadja say?” Peavy asked, chewing on a wad of tobacco.

      “Nothing,” he muttered again, eyes narrowing as he heard the phone start to ring.

      Static filled his ear. The connection wasn’t clear. “Hello, hello?” a voice said.

      “It’s Del. We got problems.”

      “What?”

      “She’s escaped.”

      There was a long pause on the other end. “How the hell did that happen? I told you to lock her up good.”

      “I did, but that damn hermit found her and turned her loose.”

      Another long pause. “Where’s she now?”

      “I’m not sure,” Spikes replied. “She’s either loose in these hills or she’s with him.”

      “Well, you’d better find out, because everything rides on her not getting back to the ranch until we have our money.”

      “Okay, but…” Static СКАЧАТЬ