Only Hers (18 page)

Superior strength easily pulled her hand from behind her back. The knuckle of her thumb was bruised, slightly swollen. Tenderly, his thumb stroked hers.

Air hissed through her teeth. Huge brown eyes stared up at him.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He was surprised his voice came out so husky, surprised more that he didn’t want to release her hand.

“You . . . you didn’t.” Her lips were slightly parted as if she was having difficulty drawing in air. The pulse in her throat leaped wildly.

He recognized desire not pain, but if he didn’t stop this craziness, one could quickly lead to the other. Releasing
her hand, he stepped back. “Go back to the ranch house and put some ice on your thumb.”

“I haven’t fin—”

“Yes you have,” he interrupted her. “Afterward, help Octavia. Today is her half day.”

“Gladly. When I finish here.”

“I don’t give an order twice.”

“Neither do you send a hired hand home and give them light duty simply because their thumb got in the way of a hammer.” She went to the fence and, using the wire stretcher, tightened the wire. “Ready, Griff.”

The cowhand didn’t move.

She sighed. “Matt, I’m not being argumentative or stubborn. I’ve done worse and survived. When I bang my knee against a bedrail at work I can’t take time to pamper myself any more than you or one of your men can.” He didn’t move. “I don’t like walking away from something until it’s done. You assigned me a job, now let me do it.”

He studied the determined features of his unwanted junior partner for a long time. Short of throwing her on her horse, he didn’t have a choice. Touching her was the last thing he wanted to do at the moment. Even with her battered straw hat punched down on her head, reddish-brown hair whipping around her face damp with perspiration, she was too tempting for his peace of mind.

He handed her his gloves.

Surprise widened her eyes, then she smiled. “Thanks, boss.” Sticking the wire stretcher under her arm, she put on the too-large gloves, then resumed holding the wire.

Matt watched her eager expression and tried not to read too much into her calling him boss. She sure as hell wasn’t going to take his orders without letting him know her opinion. He decided to stop trying to figure out this woman for now, and bent to pick up the hammer. Without asking, Griff handed him the staples.

With one glance to make sure Shannon held the wire securely, he drove in staple after staple, then moved to the next wire and the next. Each time Shannon had to adjust
the oversize gloves, and each time Matt waited. At last the break in the fence was repaired.

“We did it.” She grinned, testing the wire. “My best friend Melanie will never believe this.”

“Perhaps you should send her a picture,” Matt suggested dryly.

Shannon tilted her head to one side. “Maybe I will. Do you have a camera I could borrow?”

His mustache flattened. “Go home, Shannon.”

Her heart lurched. As much as she didn’t understand her feelings about Matt, the thought of leaving him sent her into a panic. “You can’t make me go back to St. Louis. I’ve done everything you asked me.”

“I meant the ranch house,” Matt explained curtly.

“Oh, my mistake,” Shannon mumbled in embarrassment. Pulling off his gloves, she handed them back. “I’m going. Sorry, Griff, to leave you without help.”

“That’s all right, Miss Shannon, I done this before by myself,” the cowhand placated.

“But I bet the time goes faster when you’re not by yourself,” she told him with a mischievous grin.

“That it does, ma’am,” he agreed.

“Griff, you still have work to do,” Matt said.

Gathering the tools from Matt and Shannon, the hand put them in his saddlebag and mounted. “Nice ridin’ with you.”

“You’re a gallant man, Griff.” Shannon wiped her shirtsleeve across her brow as she watched him ride away.

“Is there a man you can’t wrap around your finger?”

Since there was no accusation in his voice or in the midnight-black eyes watching her so intently, she answered him. “Men
and
women seem to find it easy to talk with me. My nursing instructor called it my special gift.”

“You thirsty?”

The question was so far afield, Shannon blinked. “What did you say?”

“Are you thirsty?”

“What do you think?”

“What I think doesn’t bear saying.” Matt walked over to his horse, took off the canvas bag and handed it to her.

Shannon’s avid gaze went from the bag to Matt. A tongue moistened her dry lips. “I’ll wait. That has to last you until tonight.”

Guilt struck him like a physical blow. Yet, he could no more admit the bag was for her than he could admit wanting her was slowly driving him crazy. Reaching inside, he handed her the thermos. “It’s enough.”

She didn’t need any further urging. Unscrewing the lid, she poured the cap half full and drank. Finished, she recapped the thermos and handed it back to him with thanks.

Blunt-tipped fingers closed around the container. “Can you find your way back?”

A disarming smile lit her face. “I thought I’d give my horse his head and he’d lead me home like in the movies.”

“More likely to the spot with the sweetest clover,” Matt told her. “Follow the fence until it juts sharply to the left, then head due west for about two miles. The ranch is over the next rise.”

“Okay.”

“Remember, due west.”

She nodded. Still unmoving. Two hours ago she hadn’t wanted to face him and now she didn’t want to leave him. The hot sun didn’t seem to matter. “How is Brazos today?”

“Fine.”

“Cleve.”

“Fine.”

“Is he still upset with me?”

“He thinks you have grit.”

“He does?”

“He does.”

“What do you think?” The question was out before she had time to stop herself.

“I think you should get on your horse and leave while we’re both thinking at all.”

Shannon recognized the dark, smoldering passion in Matt’s eyes and quickly went to her horse, mounted and rode away. She rode fast because she so wanted to stay.

God help her. How was she going to last until her vacation was over?

“I’ll do that.”

Shannon glanced around to see Cleve behind her. She stepped away from the horse she had been trying to unsaddle. “Thanks.”

Gnarled hands finished uncinching the horse, then removed the saddle and blanket. “Saw you ride out this morning.”

“He put me to riding the fence line.” It was easier to think of Matt impersonally.

Cleve straightened the blanket on the rail to dry. “And?”

“I seem to have a knack for doing the wrong thing.” She held up her thumb. “I’m on light duty.”

“Better go inside and put some ice on it.”

“You sound like him,” she said, pleased that Cleve didn’t appear upset with her any longer.

“Well, if us men don’t take care of those with less sense, who will?” Untying the horse’s reins, he walked off.

“You sure you two aren’t related?” she called after the bow-legged cowhand. She didn’t expect an answer and she didn’t get one. Shaking her head, she headed for the kitchen. Octavia glanced up from the kitchen table. The frown on her face curved into a smile.

“Oh, Shannon, I’m glad you’re back.”

“It’s nice knowing I’m wanted somewhere.”

The frown returned. “Matt giving you a hard time? I thought he was coming around. I know he fixed you some food.”

“That was for him.”

“No, it wasn’t. He might fill a canteen with water, but that’s about it no matter how long he plans to stay out.” Octavia’s smile returned. “He certainly would never put a napkin and a wash cloth inside.”

“He only offered me a drink. He didn’t say anything about food,” she said.

“He didn’t have to since he was sending you back to the house. That way he didn’t have to admit he was wrong this morning or that he was worried about you. Told you he was sneaky.”

Shannon suppressed a warm rush of happiness. “He’s only worried that I won’t sign over the meadow and leave.”

“Wouldn’t be so sure about that.” The housekeeper’s level gaze studied Shannon for a long moment. “Matt pays about as much attention to women around here as a horse does to a fly. Less. For him they simply don’t exist. I’m sure it’s a different story with women away from here, but for whatever his reason, the women in the area are off limits. Since you’re living here, logic says he should ignore you, too. But he doesn’t. You have his attention and I don’t think the land has anything to do with it.”

Shannon didn’t like the way the conversation was going. “Was there a particular reason you’re glad I’m back?”

“I can take a hint,” the housekeeper said. “The ladies auxiliary is having a call meeting and I need to go. I had already switched my half day off from yesterday to today because of my hair appointment. I just called the beautician and, thank goodness, she can work me in tomorrow. Lord only knows how long I’ll be there. Matt won’t care if I take off, but I had planned on going grocery shopping.”

“Say no more. I’ll do the grocery shopping.”

“Oh, Shannon, that would help me out so much. I truly hate going to the grocery store, so we’re almost out of
everything,” she confessed and handed Shannon a three-column list on a sheet of paper.

“You weren’t kidding.”

“If it’s too much—”

Shannon shook her head. “I was just wondering how I’m going to get all this in my car.”

Octavia brightened. “Cleve always drives me in his truck, so he can help with the groceries.”

“Oh, wonderful,” she said drolly.

“Like Matt, he just takes a bit of getting used to.”

“Define a bit.”

The corner of Octavia’s mouth twitched. Shannon’s lips curved upward. Simultaneously both women broke into laughter.

“Cleve, this would go a lot faster if you’d just read over the list and help me find the right aisles.” Shannon remembered why she stayed with her old grocery store back home after a new superstore opened. Even with the signs overhead, she still had to find the exact spot the item was located in.

“I just push the cart,” he said, moving his chewing tobacco from one side of his jaw to the other.

She sighed. “You cook for the other hands. You must know something.”

“I just tell Mrs. Ralston what I need and she adds it to her list. She understands how a man feels about grocery shopping.”

“I wonder how that same macho man would feel if there was no food on the table when he came home.”

“Mighty upset,” came the reply.

“Then I suggest you find your memory or your boss is going to know why there’s no food prepared when he comes home for dinner tonight.” She tore off the third column, handed it to a startled Cleve. “I’ll do the rest of the list.”

Halfway down the next aisle, Shannon stopped. She shouldn’t have done that. She had promised Octavia she’d
do the grocery shopping, it wasn’t Cleve’s responsibility. Perhaps if he didn’t act as if she didn’t have sense enough to come out of the rain, he wouldn’t upset her so.

He thinks you have grit.
Matt’s words came back to her.

Wheeling the basket sharply, she went in search of Cleve. She turned the aisle to see him unmoved from the spot she had left him, the list clutched in his fist, his eyes shut tight. Misery radiated from him like a physical thing.

His eyes opened. He turned away, but not before she saw the pain and confusion in them. Suddenly, she remembered Cleve sniffing the bottles, not reading the labels.

He can’t read.

Her chest tightened. He couldn’t read and she had embarrassed and hurt him. She started toward him, praying somehow she’d find the right words not to injure his pride further.

“I was thinking, Matt isn’t going to be too pleased with me if I don’t get this done and I sure don’t want to let Octavia down, so how about we do this systematically and compromise?”

Gently, she pulled the rumpled list from his hand and put it with the other one. If he knew what she wanted, she didn’t doubt he could take her to every item. People who couldn’t read were visual learners.

“Let’s see, baking products are next. You can get the flour, cornmeal, sugar, and I’ll get the rest.”

Dark-brown eyes shifted away from her. “Pardon me, but I don’t feel like grocery shopping no more.”

The elderly cowboy slowly walked away from her as if every step was an effort. She had never felt so helpless in her life. He had seen through her subterfuge as easily as seeing through spring water. Without giving the groceries another thought she walked after him.

As soon as she opened the door of his truck, the engine roared to life. Her door closed and the vehicle took off. She stole one furtive peek at Cleve’s rigid profile and slumped against the leather seat. He wasn’t up to listening
to her. Besides, she had had her chance and blown it. There was only one person who could help him now.

Matt.

This time when he yelled at her, she knew she would deserve every second of his condemnation.

“Octavia, I need Matt to come back to the ranch at once,” Shannon said as soon as the housekeeper came to the phone. She didn’t know what she would have done if Octavia hadn’t left a number where she could be reached.

“Child, what’s the matter? You all right?”

Shannon spoke around the lump in her throat. “I can’t explain things now, but it’s very important that I talk to Matt immediately.” She took a deep breath. “Do you have an emergency code or something? I tried to catch that stupid horse, but he wouldn’t come.”

“Shan—”

“Please, Octavia. I don’t have time for questions.” Twisting the phone cord around her finger, she stared at the entrance of the barn. Cleve had gone inside about fifteen minutes ago and she hadn’t seen him since.

“Just tell me you’re all right.”

“I’m fine. I’m not the one . . . I’m fine.”

The housekeeper gave her Matt’s number, then instructed, “Put in 911 and your name. He’ll know it’s you calling and come running.”

Shannon sniffed. “Thank you for not demanding an explanation.”

A none too delicate snort came through the receiver. “I’m not sure you would have given me one. I guess I’ll have to wait until you’re ready to explain things.”