CHAPTER 14
Being that this was the second Saturday of the month and pay day, the ranch hands swooped into the barnyard earlier than usual with whoops and hollers, making Jake smile. They so looked forward to heading into town and blowing off some steam. And why shouldn’t they? Chasing cattle and horses was hot, tiring work.
As he’d done on other occasions, he’d join his bunkmates at the river. He still wouldn’t be joining them when they went to town, though he continued to be invited. He just wasn’t interested. The allure of a card game didn’t appeal to him anymore. Funny, it hadn’t since he arrived here, not even when his bunk mates played poker at the table, though gambling was strictly forbidden in the bunkhouse.
His thoughts flew to Erik King.
Is he still looking for me?
He shook his head, forcing the question from his mind. Best not to think about King.
Besides, he'd much rather think about Evie.
He stole a glance toward the house, wondering if the drawing he’d left for her earlier had been found. His stomach knotted just a bit. He’d never shared his artwork with anyone before, otherthan Father O’Malley. He kept that hidden talent to himself as he did so many other things, though the good Father had encouraged him to develop it, a much more worthy pursuit than gambling.
“Jake.” Teddy dismounted and handed him Soldier Boy’s reins, then reached up to help Esmeralda, who had ridden Horatio out to the summer pasture today.
“Afternoon, Teddy.” Jake touched the brim of his hat, then grabbed Horatio’s reins. “Miss Esmeralda.”
She greeted him with just a nod, but her eyes glowed with warmth. He wondered if they planned to head into town as well, but didn’t ask. If they needed the carriage, they would tell him, but neither said anything as they walked toward the house. He watched them for a moment, admiring the way they held hands, their heads together. Envy whispered through him for what they had. His jaw clenched as he led the horses into the corral to cool off.
Esteban followed closely afterward, but didn’t say much, as was his way. He handed over Fuego to his keeping before following his brother.
Heath and Jenny weren’t too far behind. Heath gave him a big grin and a jaunty salute as he brought Goldie to a halt beside him. Jake reached up to help Jenny dismount—she didn’t ride much, but she did enjoy going out to the summer pasture on occasion.
“Miss Jenny.”
She smiled as she removed her hat to reveal her golden tresses, though most of them were flattened against her head from wearing the hat all day. She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to loosen the strands into their natural curls. “Afternoon, Jake.”
Heath handed him the reins. “No need to unsaddle or brush Goldie down. We’re heading back out again.”
“Yes, sir.”
He tied Goldie’s reins to one of the fence slats then entered the bunkhouse to collect his clothes, just in time to see Oscar standing beside his bunk, the sketchbook he’d forgotten to hide under his pillow in his hand. Three of his drawings were on the floor, one of them crumpled into a ball.
Instantly, his stomach clenched, and his hands balled into fists as the man ripped another page out of the sketchbook and tossed it on the floor.
Jake stomped into the room, anger making his footsteps heavier than usual. “What the hell are you doing?”
Oscar snarled at him as he ripped out another page and held it out. “You after my woman,pendejo?”
Jake ignored the taunt and grabbed for the pad of paper, but Oscar snatched it away, hiding it behind his back, and took a step closer. He puffed out his chest and threw his shoulders back to make himself look more intimidating. The impressive mustache on his upper lip quivered with anger. “I saw you with her! Saw you kiss her! She spreading her legs for you, too?” His eyes narrowed and spittle sprayed from his mouth. “Think you could steal her from me,bastardo? She’s mine!”
Oscar’s tone and blatant disrespect, not only for Evie, but for his private property, infuriated him, but he held still, though it was an effort. “She’s not your woman. And you will not speak of her in that tone.”
“Who’s gonna stop me?” Oscar scoffed as he jutted out his chin and very deliberately, brought the sketchbook from behind his back and ripped out another page, crumpling into a ball before throwing it at him. “You?”
It grew silent in the bunkhouse. The other ranch hands had stopped collecting their clean clothes and turned all their attention to them. He felt a trickle of anticipation. Not from himself, but from them. For the most part, they all got alongfairly well, though there were one or two who didn’t like Oscar’s attitude. And weren’t afraid to say so. In fact, Oscar had been warned a time or two to shut his mouth and keep his opinions to himself. That didn’t stop him and he frequently went on tirades about anything and everything, disparaging the ranch, how it was run, and the men he had to work with. Jake, more often than not, became his target. For the most part, he could ignore the younger man, but not now, not after he spoke of Evie with such disrespect. And not ever again.
Oscar dropped the sketch book on the floor and stepped on it, grinding the heel of his boot into the pages, then struck a classic fighter’s pose, fists drawn up to protect his face. A smug smile tilted up the corners of his mouth, his dark eyes filled with determination.
“No fightin’ in the bunkhouse.” That reminder came from Emilio, always the peacekeeper. “Them’s the rules.”
Jake inhaled deeply, trying to keep his temper under control. Never before had he wanted to punch someone in the mouth as much as he did this man, not just for this offense, but for all of them. “I don’t want to fight you, Oscar.”
The man sneered as he twisted his heel on the sketchbook a little more, as if daring him. “Why not? You chicken?”
Jake shook his head but didn’t move. He remained alert, warily watching the other man, fully aware that he, too, was being watched by his bunkmates. They were probably wondering if he’d take the bait. He never sought a fight, but he never backed down from one either.
