Colorado Heart (9781101612026) (9 page)

“Nonnie!” Gretchen protested, clearly embarrassed.

Cassie resisted the urge to tug on the flyaway ends of her hair. She could do nothing about the embarrassed flaming of her cheeks however. “Thank you,” she said, and gave the older woman a genuine smile. “That would be helpful.”

Nonnie got up from her chair and went to Cassie. Like most everyone else, she was taller than Cassie and her body was surprisingly solid for her age. “May I?” she asked. Cassie had no idea of her intent but her presence was calming. She knew the older woman would not hurt her.

“Yes.”

Nonnie placed her worn hands on Cassie's cheeks and looked into her eyes. Nonnie's eyes were the same pale blue shade as Cassie's, and they searched her face as she stroked her cheeks with her thumbs. “You must leave the sadness behind you,” she said.

How does she know?
Nonnie's words were shocking and Cassie had to fight every instinct that said run and hide. She willed herself to stay calm, willed her heart to regain its steady rhythm as Nonnie's eyes looked into hers.

“You must open your heart, child,” Nonnie continued. “Only then will you find peace.” She followed her words with a kiss to Cassie's forehead. She handed Cassie the basket and without another word went back to her work.

Cassie felt strangely better, almost as if she felt the peace that Nonnie mentioned, which made her feel even stranger, if that was possible. For the past two years she'd tried to stay as far away as possible from people in general, yet since she'd arrived in Angel's End this morning, she'd had several interactions that were extremely personal.

Gretchen shook her head at Nonnie's actions and waved Cassie toward her.

“I'm so sorry,” Gretchen said as they walked down a hallway toward the back of the house. “I don't know what came over her.”

“Don't worry about it,” Cassie said.

“Nonnie's been such a help to me,” Gretchen continued.

“She seems extremely kind,” Cassie said as they walked outside. Behind the house was a forge where a man worked in his shirtsleeves. A horse was tied next to him, being fitted for new shoes, something else Cassie needed to take care of with Puck. She might as well do it while she was in town. Another man stood by the horse's head and talked to and stroked the animal while the blacksmith worked on a hoof.

“Come meet my husband Jim,” Gretchen said.

It was turning into a day, Cassie realized. It wasn't something she'd considered when she left this morning. It had been her plan to dash back home as soon as she was done with the banking. But here she was, meeting people who seemed to be genuinely nice and friendly and without judgment. Of course, they didn't really know anything about her or her history and there was no reason for them to know. It was a strange feeling inside of her, it almost felt like hope. Hope for some normalcy in life. Hope for peace.

The blacksmith lowered the horse's leg, rubbed its flank and wiped off his hands on a towel as the two women approached the forge.

“This is Cassie Parker,” Gretchen said. “Sam Parker's granddaughter. Cassie, this is my husband, Jim.”

“I hear you're the one who took that crazy donkey off my hands,” Jim said as he shook Cassie's hand.

“Maybe you should have paid me,” Cassie said.

Jim held up his hands in surrender. “I'll call it a deal as it stands,” he said. “This is one of your neighbors, Jared Castle.”

Jared Castle was at least ten years older than Jim, and fit and extremely handsome with his rugged jaw and salt-and-pepper hair. “We live on the other side of Jake Reece,” he said as he shook Cassie's hand. “I've heard you two have met.”

“We have.” Cassie didn't want to go into any detail, but from the look on Jared's and Jim's faces, she had a feeling they already knew about the incident with Jake on the trail. Whether or not Jared knew about the sheep on her land was another detail she didn't want to discuss.

“You should come to the Cattlemen's Association meeting,” Jared said. “It's always the first Thursday of the month, which is day after tomorrow. It will be at our place at six. Jake can show you the way.”

“I'd hate to bother him,” Cassie began.

“Jake's the head, he'll be there,” Jared assured her.

“I'll keep it in mind,” Cassie said as she tried not to cringe. Jake was the head of the Cattlemen's Association? And he knew she had sheep. That didn't bode well. Not at all.

“My wife and daughter are at the mercantile. I hope you can meet them today also.”

“I'll be heading over that way as soon as I'm done here,” Cassie said.

“Cassie has come to get a cat,” Gretchen said.

Jim grabbed her hand again and pumped it up and down. “Bless you,” he said. “Take two while you're at it.”

“If you're trying to get rid of them I can take one to Hannah,” Jared said. “My granddaughter,” he explained to Cassie. She felt like she was caught up in a whirlwind of well-intentioned people. She left the Martins' with Jared Castle carrying a basket with her new mother cat and a half-grown calico kitten inside. He insisted on escorting her to the mercantile, and Jim Martin promised he'd have Puck fitted for a new set of shoes by the time she was done with lunch at the Devil's Table, which was something else she hadn't planned on.

“You can have lunch with us,” Jared said. Cassie was apprehensive about meeting more people. Surely everyone in Angel's End couldn't be as welcoming as those she had met so far. When she walked into the store and saw the two beautiful women looking at fabric, she nearly turned around to run back to the safety of her ranch.

“We have a new resident in Angel's End,” Jared said. “This is Cassie Parker. Cassie, this is my wife, Laurie, and my daughter, Eden.” A tiny girl with black hair ran to Jared. He swung her up in his arms. “And this is my granddaughter, Hannah.”

Cassie was surprised that Jared claimed the black-haired girl as a granddaughter, especially since both Laurie and Eden had golden blond hair. But the striking blue eyes, more so in the face of the child, gave evidence of their shared blood.

“Welcome,” Laurie said. She came to Cassie with genuine kindness on her beautiful face. Once again there was no judgment over her chopped-off hair or her hand-me-down clothes.

“What's in the basket?” Hannah asked, even though the piteous meows gave it away.

“A kitten for you, sweet girl,” Jared said. “And one for Miss Parker. I thought we'd drop it off for her since we have a wagon and she's on horseback. We wouldn't want her kitty to start off being mad at her for the rough ride to her new home.”

“We'd be delighted to help out,” Laurie said. Eden had stayed at the table with the fabric after giving Cassie a shy hello, but at the mention of a kitten she joined them, walking their way with an obvious limp. Hannah's excitement at the new kitten could not be contained, and soon the kitten was in her arms while the family surrounded her.

Cassie took advantage of their distraction to look at the ready-made clothing displayed on a table. The friendly chatter of the Castles made her suddenly melancholy for her childhood, and memories of the time when her family was all together came flooding back. There was no sense in mourning for something that was long gone.

You must open your heart, child . . .

What was it exactly that Nonnie expected her to do?

ELEVEN

“A
t this rate she's going to know everyone in town,” Ward said as he rubbed his hand across Lady's head.

“We'll see how friendly people are when they find out about her sheep,” Jake said. He sat next to Ward on the porch of the Heaven's Gate, watching the goings-on in the town, especially those that involved Cassie Parker. He was glad to see Leah had taken to her, but couldn't help but wonder why she'd gone in to the Martins'. It made some sense when Cassie returned and got her horse from in front of the bank and led him around to the forge. But what was in the basket she carried, and what was she doing with Jared, who carried another basket?

“I can't imagine Jared causing any problems,” Ward said.

“Jared will be the one voice of reason,” Jake said. He shook his head. Thinking about Cassie Parker and the problems that were sure to come was taking up a tremendous amount of his time. Time that should be spent taking care of his own ranch. Spring was the busiest time of year and here he sat with Ward like he didn't have a care in the world.

“How about you?” Ward asked. “Where will you stand?”

“I'm hoping things won't come to that,” Jake said.

“But if they do?”

Cassie came out of the mercantile with Laurie, Eden and Hannah around her. Jared put the basket he carried in the wagon and stopped to talk to Gus, who placed a parcel in the wagon also. The women walked up the boardwalk on the opposite side of the street. Cassie carried a bundle along with her basket. It looked like the Castle women had convinced her to go to lunch with them at the Devil's Table. He smiled when he saw Cassie walking slowly with Eden, their two heads bent together in conversation.

Ward was waiting for an answer. “She's right,” Jake said. “It's nobody's business what she does on her own property, and I'll fight for her right to do as she sees fit. But if she can't keep those sheep at home, then there will be hell to pay. And I have to do as the association sees fit. Not as I see fit.”

“You think Watkins will start a range war?”

“I think he'll gladly start one, just for the hell of it,” Jake said. He stood and stretched. “I'm hungry. How about we get some lunch?”

Ward looked down at the café, where Cassie and the Castle women were just walking through the door. “Are you sure you're hungry?” he asked Jake with a suggestive raise of one eyebrow.

Jake knew what Ward was thinking. He didn't like it that his friend could read him so well, but also couldn't help but be glad for it. It meant he wouldn't have to explain anything to him, especially since he didn't understand it himself. “Dang it, Ward,” Jake said. “Sometimes a man just can't help himself.”

Ward stood up and stretched his long frame in the same manner Jake had. Lady jumped to her feet and did the same as her master. “Well then by all means, let's eat,” Ward said.

*   *   *

It wasn't as if Jake had planned on riding back home with Cassie Parker. It just turned out that way. She was done with her business, he was done with his, and they were both headed in the same direction.

“Are you following me?” she asked when he fell in beside her on the outskirts of Angel's End. She had a parcel and a small basket tied to her saddle horn. Her hat hung on her back by its lanyard and her nose and cheeks were pinked by the sun that shone brightly overhead. Her flyaway hair curled up on the ends and her pale blue eyes danced with mischief as she sucked on a peppermint stick. Jake's eyes drifted down to her jacket, which was unbuttoned to the warm spring air. Her curves peeked out from between the open sides. There wasn't enough flannel in the world to hide them. Her boys' clothing made him wonder what she wore underneath. Was it something lacy or something practical?

She was a puzzle. Or maybe she was a challenge. Whatever she was, she kept his curiosity piqued. “Maybe you're following me,” Jake replied. He liked playing this game with her and hoped she would join in.

She pulled the peppermint from her mouth and waved it behind her. “I left town first,” she replied saucily before putting the peppermint back in her mouth.

“Just because we're headed in the same direction doesn't mean I'm following you.” Dang, it was fun poking at her. “I see you did some shopping.” Poke. Poke.

“I see that you hung out in the saloon all morning.” She poked back.

She was playing along. Jake grinned, suddenly very happy with the day. The sun was warm on his face and the sky was as blue as he'd ever seen it. The grass that grew alongside the road waved gently in the breeze, and birds flitted to and fro, busy at the task of building their nests. Bright must have felt his mood because he stretched out his neck and flicked his tail as he trotted alongside Puck.

“Are you worried about me?” Jake held his hand up in front of his mouth and blew against his palm. “Do you want to check my breath for the scent of demon drink?” He leaned toward her.

Cassie punched him in the arm. “You are incorrigible,” she said around her candy. She took it out again. “How do you get any work done if you spend your days sitting around?”

“Ow!” Jake rubbed his arm in mock pain. “How do you get any work done if you spend all day shopping and gossiping with women?”

“I wasn't gossiping. How can I gossip when I don't know anyone?” She turned her nose up in the air, as if she was insulted, and bit a chunk off her stick. It was intriguing. She might be dressed like the poorest of boys and nearly acting like one as she chewed on her candy, but she had a very proper air about her. “Besides, I don't gossip,” Cassie continued after she'd swallowed. “It's like cursing. I try to abstain.”

“You try to abstain?” Jake grinned at the challenge. “So it is possible for you to curse?”

The look she gave him would have frozen the nearest stream. “There are situations when I am sorely tempted.”

“Indeed?” Jake laughed. “Is now one of those situations?”

“Your ability to state the obvious is a thing to behold, Mr. Reece.”

“Please, after all we've been through, don't you think you should call me Jake?”

She rolled her eyes. “You neglected to tell me you were the head of the Cattlemen's Association,” she informed him. She finished her candy and delicately licked the ends of her fingers. He had a hard time tearing his eyes from them, but he had to as she'd given him an opening.

“So you were gossiping!” he said with glee.

“Gossiping is embellishing something you've heard with your own jaded version of fiction. You being the head of the Cattlemen's Association is a fact.”

“I can't argue with that,” Jake agreed. “So if you weren't gossiping, what were you doing?” he asked, anxious to hear what she'd say next.

“I was meeting people. You should know as you were the one responsible. You introduced me to Leah Gentry.”

“And she introduced you to everyone else in town?”

“No. She introduced me to Gretchen, who then introduced me to Jim, who introduced me to Jared Castle, who then introduced me to his family . . .”

“Who then took you to lunch,” Jake finished for her.

She glanced at him, sideways, and Jake was struck by how long her lashes were, and how big her blue eyes were in her pixie face. It suited that she was familiar with Shakespeare's play
A Midsummer's Night Dream
. If he believed in such things, he would think her from the fairy realm instead of Illinois by way of West Texas.

“So you weren't wasting time,” she observed. “You were spying on me.”

“It's not like I had to make an effort, since you were in the middle of the street most of the time,” Jake protested.

“Are you mistaking me for the angel?” She grinned and then turned her nose up again in that superior way she had. “It
was
very nice of the
Castles
to take me to lunch.” Cassie glanced at him again. “And they
were
the only
ones
who asked me.”

Jake sputtered. Was she angry because he didn't ask her to lunch? “Leah asked you. I heard her.”

“Yes she did.”

“What exactly is your point?”

She turned to face him. “That it was nice to be invited to lunch.”

“Are you suggesting that I should have invited you to lunch? Because I clearly recall you telling me that I was done.”

“I find it hard to believe that a man who by all appearances is a successful rancher gives up so easily.”

“Would you have gone to lunch with me if I had asked you?”

She sighed dramatically. “I guess we'll never know as the moment has passed us by.”

Jake's jaw dropped open. How could she, sitting on her horse as easy as you please, condemn him for not asking her to lunch when she plainly told him to get lost? Unless . . . he enjoyed poking at her, had actually looked forward to it when he followed, yes, he admitted it, followed her out of town. Maybe she was just returning the favor. Maybe she liked poking at him too. And he knew just the way to call her on it.

“Let me make it up to you,” he said.

“What?”

Clearly she wasn't expecting that. Jake grinned. “Come have dinner at my ranch tonight. I've got a great cook, Fu; he's Chinese.”

“And that makes him a great cook?”

“No, but it does make me careful when he goes to throwing knives.”

“And that's supposed to entice me to come?” Cassie asked.

“Well it is entertaining, as long as he's not aiming at you. And besides, you can pick up your grandfather's Bible and any books you'd like to read.”

She studied him for a long moment as they rode along. Jake just grinned at her. Something about her, about being around her, made him happy. She was interesting; he never knew what to expect, what she was going to say next. If not for those gol-durn sheep . . .

Suddenly Cassie stiffened in her saddle and her hand went to her pocket where he knew she carried her gun. She pulled Puck to a stop. Jake stopped Bright and looked ahead. Three riders were coming their way. He quickly recognized the one in the lead as Raymond Watkins, with a couple of his crew riding behind him. One of them was dragging something behind his horse with a rope.

“Son of a bitch,” Jake said when he realized what was being dragged. For once Cassie didn't correct him.

“Oh no,” was all she said.

Watkins and his men stopped in front of Jake and Cassie. “Reece,” Watkins said before his eyes turned to Cassie.

Jake didn't bother with introductions. “What are you dragging?” he asked, already knowing the answer. It was bloody and covered with dirt, but it was a sheep. Cassie dropped off Puck and ran to the sheep before Jake had time to react.

“You bastard,” she yelled. “You killed her!”

“You're damn right I killed it,” Watkins said. “We found it down by the stream. Baxter put a rope on it so we could drag it into town.”

Just as Jake expected, things were going to get ugly quick. He dismounted and ran to Cassie, who was fumbling with the rope, trying to get it off the sheep's neck.

“Hang on there, girlie,” Watkins yelled. “That's evidence.”

“Evidence of what?” Cassie yelled. She stood in the middle of the trail, all five foot nothing of her with her hands clenched into fists as she faced Watkins. “That you and your men are monsters?”

“Evidence that someone has brought sheep into cattle country.”

“No kidding,” Cassie said, her voice suddenly calm. The tone scared Jake into thinking she might do something stupid, something rash. He moved behind her, ready to grab her in case she dug her hand into her pocket to pull out her gun. “Ride up into my valley and you'll see a couple of hundred more.”

“Your valley?” Watkins asked. “Who in the hell are you?”

“My name is Cassie Parker and I'd appreciate it if you watch your language when you are in my presence.”

If he wasn't so worried about her, Jake would have laughed. She'd just cussed Watkins herself. Instead, he placed a calming hand on her left shoulder, so she couldn't reach for her gun. Not that he thought Watkins would shoot her, but his men were another thing altogether. Jake considered himself to be handy with a gun, but these odds were definitely not in his favor. If there was any way he could stop this from escalating, he was bound to stop it.

“Cassie Parker,” Watkins said. “As in Sam Parker?”

“I'm his granddaughter and I've claimed his land,” Cassie said. “And it is my intention to raise sheep on it, whether you like it or not.”

Watkins laughed. He braced his arm across his saddle and laughed long and hard. His men joined him. They had a good time between the three of them, laughing and guffawing until tears gathered in their eyes.

“Easy now,” Jake said into Cassie's ear. Cassie jerked away from him and went back to her sheep.