Claiming the Cowboy's Heart. Linda Ford

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СКАЧАТЬ cats. Not like Snowball. Snowball is always fighting. He’s got a torn ear ’cause he fights too much.”

      “Why, it sounds like Smokey is a very smart cat.” The animal pushed against Seth’s hand, begging for more attention.

      “He is. He can climb a tree faster than anybody and he eats slow, like a gentleman.”

      “A fine cat, indeed. I expect he’s good company for you.” He straightened to ease the pain in his leg.

      “Yup. But my best friend is Billy. He lives down the hill with Daisy and Pansy and Neil and his new ma and pa, Cassie and Roper. Mr. and Mrs. Jones,” he corrected as Linette opened her mouth. No doubt she meant to tell him he shouldn’t call adults by their first names.

      Seth’s eyebrows peaked. “Wow. That sounds like a real good story.”

      Linette gave her son a gentle shove toward the door. “Put Smokey outside and wash up for breakfast. Seth, have a chair.” She indicated one next to Jayne.

      He sat. Feeling Mercy and Sybil’s gazes on him, he lifted his head to give them each an inquisitive look. “Did you want something?” he asked.

      Sybil shook her head.

      Mercy leaned forward. “We were wondering how you would explain your—” she tipped her head toward his leg beneath the table “—gunshot wound. Jayne doesn’t think you’ll admit to your friends that a woman shot you.”

      He turned toward Jayne.

      Her brown eyes flashed a teasing challenge. “They might wonder why you let a woman outshoot you,” she said.

      He practically choked. “Outshoot? I don’t think I’d explain it like that. What I’ll say if anyone asks is that I got hit by a stray bullet.”

      Eddie cleared his throat. “There’ll be no more stray bullets. Jayne, I forbid you to continue this foolish endeavor.”

      She bristled like a cat stroked the wrong way. She ducked her head and stared at her plate but her lips pressed together in protest.

      Eddie was right about it being foolish but hearing it from the other man’s lips made Seth want to protest. Why didn’t he teach his sister what she needed to know? It would surely make it safer for everyone on the ranch. He guessed from Jayne’s expression that she had no intention of abandoning her plan, despite her brother’s direct order.

      “Would you ask the blessing, dear?” Linette said, ending the tension between brother and sister.

      Eddie prayed and then food was passed around. Fried pork and eggs, fried potatoes, fresh biscuits and syrup and plenty of milk.

      Seth helped himself. “I heard you were a good cook, Mrs. Gardiner. This certainly proves it.”

      “Thank you. The girls are learning to cook, too. If you were around longer, you would get a chance to evaluate their progress.”

      He pretended a great deal of shock. “I hope their cooking lessons aren’t as deadly as their shooting lessons.”

      Beside him Jayne choked. He had the pleasure of patting her on the back. At first, he got a bit of satisfaction out of her discomfort but after the second pat, he had an urge to pull her into his arms, rub her back and assure her she would be safe because he would personally see to it. Instead, he dropped his hands to his lap. He didn’t need one more person in his life to be responsible for.

      After she stopped coughing and wiped her eyes, she turned and gave him a look fit to cure leather. “I could have choked to death.”

      He felt suddenly remorseful. “I’m sorry. It was a careless remark.”

      She nodded. “Then consider us even. I didn’t mean to hurt you even as you didn’t mean to hurt me.”

      He wondered if she referred to the choking incident or the words he’d spoken the previous day. But it didn’t matter which. He was leaving today and would prefer to go with no ill feelings left behind. He nodded. “Agreed.”

      Conversation around the table turned to more general things—plans for the day, who was going where, what needed to be done.

      His nerves tensed when Eddie asked Jayne what her plans were.

      “I wanted to explore a bit more.”

      Seth relaxed. It sounded like a safe activity. He’d be in no mortal danger as he rode away. And may God have mercy on any strangers riding nearby if Jayne meant to continue with her plans.

      Again he wondered why Eddie didn’t simply give her a few lessons. Surely that would soon satisfy her.

      When the meal ended, Eddie pushed from the table. Seth pushed back, too.

      “Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll be on my way now.”

      Linette favored him with a sweet smile. “We understand but you’re always welcome at Eden Valley Ranch.”

      That’s when he recognized the name Gardiner. Eddie Gardiner and his wife were well spoken of in the western ranches. “I’ve heard of this place.”

      “You have?” Linette asked. “I hope it’s been good things.”

      Eddie wrapped his arm about his wife’s shoulders. “What else would he hear?”

      “It’s been good,” Seth assured them. “You’re known to offer hospitality to all, regardless of race or social status. People say Mrs. Gardiner nurses the sick, helps the poor and Eddie here is considered a man of honor and integrity.”

      “That’s lovely,” Sybil said.

      “We’re honored,” Eddie added.

      Seth leaned back on his heels and grinned. “I heard a tale about feeding a starving Indian family and outrunning wolves. Is it true?”

      Linette and Eddie grinned at each other.

      Jayne answered his question. “It’s true. My brother refused to hang an Indian who tried to steal a cow to feed his starving family. Instead, he took him meat. On the way back, wolves attacked them and Linette helped beat them off.” She jammed her fists on her hips. “I intend to become just as brave and proficient.”

      Linette reached out and squeezed Jayne’s hand. “And you shall.”

      Eddie opened his mouth but Linette jabbed her elbow into his ribs and he closed it without speaking. Had he been about to reissue his orders to Jayne?

      Instead, he said to Seth, “I’ll take you to the barn. Your horse is there.”

      “I’ll go with you,” Jayne said and no one argued otherwise. Certainly not Seth who looked forward to a private goodbye. “Wait a moment.” Jayne turned aside and brought him his shirt and pants, neatly folded as if they’d come from the best Chinese laundry.

      “You washed them?”

      Mercy didn’t wait for Jayne to answer. “She washed them, mended them and ironed them. Your СКАЧАТЬ