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“Don’t play dumb. Everyone in town knows he was sweet on ya. It’s why he picked on ya so much.”
Alex could still recall all the taunts and teasing from the other school kids saying Jesse was sweet on her but she’d never believed them. Not even that hot summer day when he leaned over and kissed her.
The memory flooded her senses and her pulse leaped again. She shook her head and started pacing the floor. “He was not sweet on me,” she said, denying it even now. “He was mean natured and enjoyed tormenting me.”
Betsy laughed. “He did not. There wasn’t a mean bone in his body.”
Alex spun on her heel. “Are we talking about the same person?”
“Yes. In all the fights you two every had he never once hit you. He just laid there and let you beat the snot out of him.”
Alex thought about what she said and hated to admit her friend was right. She never recalled Jesse hitting her. So why did he pick so many fights? Was Betsy right? Had Jesse been sweet on her all that time?
“If I had to guess I’d say some of those old feelings are still present and that’s why he jumped Hugh in the saloon.”
Alex stopped near the window and looked out. She could see the saloon from there, the girls who worked the upstairs lingering by the door. “I asked Hugh about the fight but he never answered me.”
“I don’t imagine he would. From what Ben said, Jesse jumped Hugh without a word being said between them so what else would have provoked him?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have you seen him since he got back into town?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“And what?”
Betsy rolled her eyes. “Don’t you think he looks—different?” When Alex didn’t reply she said, “Come on. You can’t deny he grew into a handsome man.”
Alex snorted. “I can deny it and I will.” She kept her back to Betsy when she felt her cheeks heat. She’d eat rusty nails before she admitted to anyone she found Jesse Samuels attractive.
She’d noticed the same things Betsy had the day Jesse ran her over outside the saloon. As mad as she’d been at him she couldn’t help but notice how different he looked. His red hair had darkened, his square jaw covered in a light dusting of whiskers made him look rugged and his shoulders were wide and strong. His voice was deep and the sound of it had rolled over her flesh like silk.
“Not to complicate your life more,” Betsey said, “But Ben told Jesse your pa was looking for more ranch hands, so if you do end up working the ranch like you want, you may have to deal with Jesse on a daily basis.”
Something twisted in her stomach. “Great.” Her plan to stop teaching and help run the ranch kept hitting snags at every turn. Having to put up with Jesse would be near to torture. Add in the mess with Hugh and life felt out to get her for some past crime.
She rubbed her hands over her face and let out a groan. “How did everything get so messed up?”
“What do you mean?”
Alex blew out a breath. “I mean, my plan was simple. Get a new teacher to replace me here and go to work at the ranch. Now I have Hugh to worry about and if what Ben said is true, I’ll have to deal with Jesse every day at the ranch.” She turned from the window and starting pacing again. “Why does nothing ever go right?”
Betsy laughed. “Well, you could always sneak off with the cattle drive and avoid Jesse, Hugh and the new teacher showing up.”
Alex’s heart slammed against her ribcage as Betsy’s words repeated themselves inside her head. Sneak off with the cattle drive? She turned to look at her friend and smiled.
Betsy’s eyes widened. “I wasn’t serious, Alex. Your pa will have a fit if you did something so crazy!”
“Maybe, but what can he do about it when we’re a hundred miles from home?”
Betsy laughed. “I’d hate to even think.”
“It’s the perfect plan, Betsy. My pa will be fighting mad but at least I’d get a chance to talk him into letting me come work the ranch. I’ll prove to him I can be just as good a cowboy as those no good saddle bums he keeps hiring.”
“You’re crazy. He’ll tan your hide for sure.”
