Ellie's Legacy (5 page)

Ellie’s thoughts weren’t on the tedious chore, but on her
shiny new gun and how she planned to use it.

“There you are.” A voice from behind caused her to jump. An
eerie shadow climbed the barn’s far wall.

She turned to see Ty. “Don’t come sneakin’ up on a body like
that. You almost scared me out of my wits.” Her pulse raced.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten ya. I was just wonderin’ why
you were out so late. You know it’s not a good idea to be ridin’ after dark.”
His voice held the parental tone she detested.

Ellie dropped the curry brush and placed her hands on her
hips. “What I do and when I do it, is no concern of yours. I’ll thank you to
mind your own business.”

Ty pushed his hat back off his forehead. “Well, you don’t
have to get so riled up about it. I’m tryin’ to look out for you. Besides, your
Pa asked me if I’d seen you.”

She wagged her index finger. “I don’t need you watchin’ out
for me. I’m quite capable of takin’ care of myself.”

And stop looking at me like that!

Of late, his eyes wandered to her womanly places.

A stray lock of dark hair drooped across his forehead and
gave him a boyish appearance.

Ellie fought the urge to reach out and push it aside. Darn
him. Why did he have to be so good looking? She brushed by him and walked out
the door, adding a little sway to her hips for good measure.

Ellie paused outside the barn just as her father appeared in
the kitchen doorway. He carried a kerosene lamp and stepped out onto the
veranda, rubbing his stomach with his free hand, something he always did after
he ate too much of Cook’s good food. It was time for Pa’s nightly ritual of
checking the livestock and making sure everything was in order before he went
to bed.

Ellie stayed her distance, observing his usual habit. As she
knew he would, he sat in his rocking chair and pulled on the boots he always
left outside. He feared Cook’s wrath about leaving dirt on the floor. Next, he
got up and stamped his feet three times, always three. He removed his hat from
the hook next to the back door, held the well-worn Stetson by the brim, and
slapped it against his leg to remove the excess dust, again the same number of
times.

It never failed; he did the same thing day-after-day. Ellie
quietly chuckled at his predictability, and how he would never admit to it. He
was so dear to her, but his relationship with Ty pained her. She wanted to be
the one to cause that twinkle of pride in her father’s eyes.
But
how?
As she’d been reminded so often, she was just a girl. With a deep
breath, she stepped out of the shadows.

Her pa spied her across the yard. “Where have you been,
girl?”

“Sorry, Pa.
I got sidetracked in
town.”

“What the dickens were you doin’ in town? Don’t tell me you
rode…”

“Oh, Pa, I just had this discussion with Ty. Honestly, I can
take care of myself. Besides, I was trying to find a piece of yard goods I
favored to make a dress for the upcoming fall festival. I got carried away
looking and chatting.”

The lamplight shone on her father’s face and highlighted his
broad smile.
“Sewing?
You?
I’m happy to hear you talkin’ about doing somethin’ womanly for a change. It’s
about time.”

Ellie chewed her bottom lip.

Pa’s brows rose. “Gonna tell me who your escort will be?”

Ellie fought the urge to roll her eyes, knowing there was no
way she was going to that silly dance. She crossed her fingers behind her back.
“No one has asked me yet, but there’s still plenty of time.”

How far was she going to have to go with this lie? Her
father’s fixation on her being the perfect female was almost as annoying as his
relationship with Ty. She took a deep breath. This was not the time to bring up
that touchy subject. Instead of trying to prove her worth with mere words,
she’d show her father what she could do. She pictured her new gun. It wouldn’t
be long before Pa saw her in a whole new light.

Ellie patted her rumbling belly. “I’m going inside to see if
Cook saved me anything to eat.”

* * * * *

His anger grew as he ruffled his horse’s mane. “Why does she
have to be so goldarn exasperatin’, fella?” Ty’s stomach was in a knot and he
wanted to hit something or someone. Instead, he turned and gave the stall door
a swift kick, sending it swinging into a bucket. The pail rolled into a rake
and shovel leaning against the wall and knocked them over. The resulting
commotion startled the stallion. He reared on his hind legs and gave a loud
whinny.

Ty turned and stroked the animal’s muzzle. “It’s all right
boy, calm down.”

The black cocked his head to the side as if he understood
his owner’s frustration. Unable to even muster up a chuckle at the animal’s
wide-eyed expression, Ty limped over to the bucket, turned it upright and sat.

Crossing one leg over the other, he wrestled to balance
while he removed his boot and sock. He rubbed his toes and grimaced. The
biggest one had already turned a pretty shade of purple, and all because of a
blasted female who made him act like a sick pup.

He couldn’t help being protective. Despite Ellie’s strong
will and stubbornness, there was something about her. What happened to that
freckle-faced kid he met when he first came to Fountainhead? That gangly colt
had turned into a prize-winning mare before his very eyes, that’s what. A man
would have to be blind not to notice those feminine curves.

Or be affected by them. Her eyes were greener than any
Tennessee grass he’d ever seen, and her full, pouty lips begged to be tasted—if
she’d just stop spitting hellfire and brimstone long enough.

So many times, he pictured himself pulling her into his arms
and sampling them, but he knew better.

If he so much as indicated an interest in Ellie, Ben would
have his head. To him, she was still his little girl. Ty wasn’t about to let
anything ruin their relationship. He valued the man too much for giving him
what was missing from his life—friendship, a home, and responsibility.

An orphan for as long as he could remember, Ty drifted from
town to town, never feeling a sense of belonging. He was not about to let his
boss down, no matter how darn pretty his daughter was. If treating Ellie with
indifference kept her mad enough to hate him, then Ty felt a whole lot safer.

“What was
all that
racket about?”
Ben Fountain’s booming voice filled the silence and jolted Ty back to reality.

“Oh…uh…I had a cramp. I was just about to give the stallion
some oats.” He fumbled with his sock and pulled his boot back on, clenching his
teeth in pain.

“How’s it coming with him?” Ben asked, patting Blackie’s
muzzle. “Think you’ll be able to ride anytime soon?”

“Hard to tell, boss.
He’s a wild
one, for sure, but I think he’s comin’ around. At least I can get close enough
to curry him and strap on his feedbag.”

Ty hobbled over to fill a bag with oats. His toe throbbed
against the tight constraint of his boot. “Now if you could just find someone
to tame that daughter of yours. She about bites my head off if I even ask her a
simple question.”

Ben laughed, his ample belly shaking. “I’m not sure there’s
anyone who can break Ellie. She’s a stubborn one.”

Despite Ben standing close enough to touch, inappropriate
thoughts raced through Ty’s mind. He wouldn’t mind being the one to try to
gentle her, but besides respecting her Pa, Ellie wouldn’t come within roping
range. Still, he pictured himself tossing a lasso around her tiny waist and
reeling her in and…

He totally forgot his aching foot.

“Ty?”
Ben’s voice pulled him from
his reverie. “I’ve been meanin’ to ask if you plan on goin’ to that dance in
town?

Ty hung the feedbag on Blackie and shrugged. “I hadn’t even given
it a thought. Why?”

Ben leaned against the stall, crossing his arms and propping
one foot on the bottom rail. “Ellie actually bought some material for a new
dress, but says she doesn’t have a partner yet. I was thinkin’ you might invite
her to go with you. That way, I wouldn’t have to worry ‘bout her. I don’t want
her bein’ off by
herself
, what with those Bryant boys
runnin’ wild and causin’ trouble.”

“And what’s Ellie gonna say about you pickin’ her date?” The
idea was appealing but…

Ben chuckled. “Well, if she knew, I suppose she’d fuss about
it, slam some doors and maybe even throw a real tizzy, but if we keep it our
secret and you invite her, I’ll bet you a steak dinner she’ll take you up on
your offer.”

Ty slowly shook his head. “If I was smart, I’d take that
bet, because she won’t even stay in the barn with me let alone be my dancin’
partner. I can feel those green eyes of hers burnin’ holes in me right now.”

Ben patted him on the shoulder. “Just ask her when I’m
around. I’ll help you out.”

“Do you really think it will work?” Ty’s heart pounded with
excitement.

“Trust me. Despite that temper of hers, I can still handle
Ellie. I’m her pa.”

Ty smiled, shaking his head.
“If you say
so.”
His mood turned somber as he locked eyes with Ben. “Whether or not
that shooter meant to hit or
miss
Ellie, I plan to
make sure it doesn’t happen again. I know how much she means to you, and I want
you to know I’ll keep her safe.”

I’ll keep her safe for both of us, a little voice inside Ty
added.

Chapter Four

Ellie couldn’t wait to get to the abandoned mine for more
target practice. She glanced around the barn to make sure no one saw her then
flung the saddle across Chessie’s back. The last thing she wanted was someone
asking questions. Where are you going? What are you gonna do when you get
there? How annoying. Luckily, moving the cattle to a higher pasture involved
most of the men. Those not helping in the relocation patrolled the perimeter of
the ranch. She had no idea where Ty was, nor did she care.

With only a few practice sessions under her belt, her
shooting became more and more precise. Now she needed to work on the amount of
time it took to draw the weapon from her holster. Accuracy was important, but
speed kept a person alive. In a showdown, if the gun didn’t clear leather
before the other guy took aim, it didn’t matter whether you were armed or not.
Slow meant dead, and she didn’t mean to let that happen. With her sidearm
tucked in her saddlebag, Ellie centered the pack across the horse’s rump.

She finished cinching the saddle and let the stirrup fall
back into place, then in a pretend speed draw, she slapped her hip, quickly
raised her arm, and pointed her index finger toward the door.

“Don’t shoot,” Ty called out. He stood outside the barn with
his hands in the air. “I surrender. This is becoming a habit.”

Ellie recalled that day in the mercantile and dropped her
arm to her side. She was certain her hot face matched the canned beets in the
house. For once she was speechless.

“That’s a pretty quick draw you have there,” he teased.
“Good thing your finger wasn’t loaded.”

She turned her back on him and his annoying chuckle and led
Chessie out of her stall. There was no way to defend her actions; at least
nothing came to mind. Ty would have to show up and catch her at that precise
moment. Her mouth scrunched into a sneer. With the heat of frustration warming
her face, she raised a foot to her stirrup, grabbed the saddle horn and threw
her other leg over Chessie’s back. She urged the horse toward the barn door,
but before she cleared the opening, Ty stepped in her path.
“Where
you headin’?”

Was there no end to the ways he could exasperate her? She
glared down at him.
“To get some bullets for my finger.
Now if you’ll kindly get out of my way.” Her hackles raised another notch.

He cocked his head to look up at her. “I was just jokin’.
Criminy, no matter what I say or do, I manage to make you mad. Whatever
happened to your fun-lovin’ side?”

Damn, those eyes of his. They were bluer than the Tennessee
sky on a spring day. Why, when he was the most annoying, did she notice how
attractive he looked? Her gaze locked just beyond the open buttons at the top
of his shirt–on the hollow of his neck where his heart visibly pulsed. His
heart beat in harmony with hers. Ellie did a quick and subtle head shake to
clear her mind.

What had happened to her sense of humor? She didn’t have a
good answer at the moment except that lately nothing seemed very funny. What
made her happiest was practicing her shooting, and that was not something she
wanted to discuss.

“So, are you ever gonna speak to me again?” Ty broke the
awkward silence.

She tried not to grin but couldn’t help it. The look on his
face was so child-like. She mellowed a bit. “Don’t be silly, of course I’ll
talk to you. I have to, but not right now. I have an errand to run.”

Ty stood to the side and made a wide-sweeping gesture toward
the door. “Well don’t let me stop you, but…”

She waited, but he didn’t finish the sentence.
“But what?”
Her jaw hung slack in anticipation.

“I do need to ask you somethin’ when you get back.”

Her curiosity piqued. “Ask me now.”

“Nah, I’d rather not. It’ll keep.” He walked behind her
horse and slapped his hat against the animal’s rump.
“Geeup.”

Chessie bolted forward. Ellie had the reins, but seized the
saddle horn with both hands to keep from falling. She slowed the mare, turned
and yelled over her shoulder, “I’ll get you for that, Tyler Bishop.”

His laughter followed her as she rode beneath the golden “F”
suspended over the gate.

Ellie’s mind lingered on Ty’s mystery question, but no
matter how much she tried, she couldn’t fathom anything that’d cause him to
become so flustered. She had to stop thinking about it or she’d drive herself
insane. Her confusion became excitement when she reached the trail to the old
mine shaft. Whatever Ty had to share would keep.