“We ain’t done.” Oscar glared down at him, his nose swollen and just a bit crooked.
“Didn’t figure we were. Anytime you want your nose broken again, you just let me know.”
The man scoffed and called him a word in Spanish Jake didn’t know the meaning of, but whatever it was, he was certain it wasn’t nice. “It was a lucky punch, and you know it.”
Jake shrugged, ignoring the slur as well as the man’s attitude. “If that’s what you want to think, you go right ahead.”
Oscar said nothing more, but his face turned beet red, and his lips pressed together tighter as his hands gripped the reins. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Jake.
Jake wouldn’t put it past this man to do something dirty, like kick him in the face from his perch in the saddle. Whatever Oscar planned, he was prepared. He stood his ground, his muscles tense, ready to defend himself and take the man down another notch or two.
A moment passed, then two, then three, and suddenly, Oscar spurred his horse and rode off. Jake watched him go, then continued brushing Horatio, knowing in his heart that Oscar might plan some type of revenge. He would be ready for it.
He finished with Horatio and brought him into the barn, then went outside to grab Clementine.
“Thought I’d find you here.” Antonio hooked his boot on the bottom rung of the corral fence, the wooden tray dangling from his hand. “I noticed you didn’t come inside to pick up your pay.” He held out the envelope, the coins within jingling as he did so.
“Thanks.”
As Jake reached for the envelope, Antonio’s gaze flew to his knuckles. “Saw Oscar’s nose. Knew it was you that busted it.”
Jake tucked the envelope into his pocket. He had missed his chance to send Father O’Malley money, but that just meant he’d send double the next time. If there was a next time. “You gonna fire me for fighting?”
“No, son. Slick and Mayhem told me what happened. I don’t see how you could have walked away.Iwouldn’t have been able to.” He let out a sigh that stirred his mustache. “I’m considering firing him,” he said.
“That would be up to you, sir. Just don’t do it on my account.”
There was more Antonio was going to say—Jake could see that clearly, but whatever it was, the man must have thought better of it. After a moment of silence, he finally did speak.“When you have a minute, hitch up the carriage and bring it around front.”
“Sure thing.”
Antonio nodded then pushed his hat further back on his head. “You know, any time you want to head into town with the boys, I can take care of the horses. Just let me know.”
The offer surprised him, but probably shouldn’t have. “I appreciate that, but I’m not interested in going to town.”
“Suit yourself, but the offer still stands.” Antonio finally walked away, but there seemed to be a bounce to his step that hadn’t been there before, almost as if he was proud of what Jake had done. Or maybe it was the fact that he preferred to stay on the ranch instead of raising hell in town. Whatever the reason for Antonio’s pride, it made Jake’s chest swell just the same.
“Well, that was interesting, don’t you think?” He rubbed his hand over Clementine’s nose, then reached up and scratched the horse behind the ears. She blew hot air from her nostrils, then tried to bite his hat. He brushed her down, then brought her inside the barn, settling her in her stall. He removed his hat, wiped the sweat from his brow. Two more horses to take care of—Spitfire, who had spent the day in the corral, rolling in the dust, and Cinnamon—and then he could hook up the carriages. Or maybe he should do that now.
Evie was waiting for him at the corral fence as he stepped out of the barn, feeding carrots to Spitfire and Cinnamon. She turned to look at him as he approached, her blue-gray eyes bluer at the moment, a beautiful smile on her face. “Hello, Jake.”
He touched the brim of his hat with two fingers as his gaze roamed over her face. She really was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Oh, maybe not in the eyes of some people, but most definitely his. “Evenin’, Miss Evie.”
“Come to the house and join us for dinner.” She slipped another carrot to Spitfire. “After you’re done, of course.”
“I would like that. Thank you.”
“Say in about thirty minutes?”
He thought she would head back to the house, but instead, she just stood there. Her eyes held so much warmth, it was hard to look away.
A blush rose to her cheeks. “I’ll see you at the house,” she said finally, then walked away. As usual, he watched her go.
“What do you think about that, Cinnamon? I’ve been invited to the big house for dinner.” He laughed as he brought the horse into the barn.
When he came outside again, it was just in time to see Heath and Jenny ride off toward the summer pasture, a burlap sack tied to Goldie’s saddle. She waved. Jake waved in return, then collected the big draft horses used to pull the carriage.
It didn’t take him long to finish his chores and hitch up the carriage as he’d been asked, though he did regret not heading to the river with the others to bathe. He washed up with water from the rain barrel as best he could, then changed his clothes, brushed his hair, and left the bunkhouse.
