AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Up my, what?” Jesse stopped beside her, one eyebrow raised. “Already causing problems, I see.”
“Why do I have to stay up front? I’ve been watching the herd since it left Willow Creek. What makes today any different than the rest?”
“Nothing other than the fact I can’t find Lewis. Have you seen him, Isaac?”
“No, can’t say I have.” Isaac looked to the men still hovering around the circle of rocks that was once their campfire. “Any of you seen him?”
No one had. Alex saw Jesse’s cheek clench tight before he blew out a breath. “Stay up front with Isaac.” He shot her a look that dared her to argue. “Once I find him you can go back to wrangling the horses with Owen.”
He rode off in a cloud of dust. The desire to defy him for no other reason than she could was as strong as her need for air. As much as she loved getting under his skin, that look and her past experience with Lewis and his bunch were enough for her to do exactly as he said.
Isaac climbed into the wagon seat and got the oxen moving and Alex rode up beside him, her gaze on the horizon. “You think my pa is all right?” she asked him.
“Your pa?”
“Yeah. Owen said he broke his leg. That’s why he went back.”
“Oh, yeah.” His cheeks turned red before he smiled. “I’m sure your pa is fine. Takes more than a broken bone to get an Avery down. You should know that better than anyone.”
His face was still red and if she had to guess she’d say he was avoiding eye contact. Was there something more wrong with her pa that a broken bone?
She puzzled over his reaction until they were well ahead of the herd. When she heard the cattle moving behind her she looked back over her shoulder. It was a sea of bawling brown, black and white as far as she could see. Dust filled the air, the shouts of cowboys floated on the breeze and the smell of cattle, dirt and horse flesh perfumed everything around her.
This was the life she’d wanted since she was old enough to sit a horse. She’d learned to ride, rope and herd until she was better than most of the men her pa hired to work the ranch, or so she thought.
Heading out on a cattle drive was a dream come true, even having to deal with Jesse wouldn’t steal her joy. The country was wide open and spilling across the horizon in front of her. Nothing could spoil her adventure now.
Seventeen
It wasnear dusk when Jesse saw Lewis. He came riding in behind the herd as if the devil himself were after him. He was alone and headed straight for the group of men he’d been hanging with, all five of them hovering close. Their conversation was quick, all of them riding off in different directions, leaving Lewis near the extra horses.
Jesse debated asking where he’d been but wondered if the trouble was worth it. Whatever Lewis had been up to, he was sure it would cause him trouble down the road.
The cattle slowed and started spreading out on both sides. The cowboys Holden had hired were green but they caught on quick and had the herd wrangled and stopped quicker than he thought they would.
He looked toward the horizon, trying to see the wagon, and wondered if Isaac had tied Alex to his hip to keep her up front. Her doing as he asked was too unlikely to even imagine. Although, she did marry him without much complaint.
He still puzzled over the fact. Why didn’t she put up more of a fight? Did she want to stay on that bad? Or was it something more?
His thoughts drifted back to the prairie and that kiss she claimed not to have initiated. He smiled. She could deny it all she wanted, but she was the one who leaned into him first. She kissed him. It was as simple as that and he hoped she did it again, preferably later tonight. It was their wedding night after all.
Clicking his tongue, he got the horse moving toward the front of the herd. There was only one way to find out where Alex’s head was and that was to test her a bit.
Lewis was still where he was when he talked to the other’s and whistled at him when he was closer, raising one arm and waving him over. Whatever he wanted was sure to be bad. It usually was.
“Heard you was looking for me.”
Jesse nodded. “I was.” He pulled on the horse’s reins to steady him. He seemed agitated and ready to run. Maybe he could sense how bad he didn’t want to have this conversation. “You only get paid for the time you work. You were gone most of the day so consider it a day off, without pay.”
Lewis spit a string of tobacco juice to the ground and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then smiled, his black teeth reason enough to never take up the nasty habit. “I had some business to take care of.”
“Business in a town you know nothing about?”
Lewis shrugged. “It’s not the town, but the sort of business one partakes in.” He gave him a sly look and said, “Boys said you had business in that little town, too. Word is you up and married the bosses daughter.” He laughed and leaned over the pommel of his saddle. “I thought you said you weren’t sweet on that girl.”
“My personal life isn’t any of your concern, Lewis. Neither is Alex’s.” He tightened his hold on the horse’s reins. “Stay away from her. You be sure to tell your friends over there the same.” He left him there, the words, “sure thing, boss,” floating on the breeze as he rode away.
He’d been honest with Alex when he said marrying her would be safer but he had to admit, the closer he got to the wagon, and to her, the more his pulse leaped and his heart slammed against his ribcage in anticipation.
