Texas Forever (The Tylers of Texas 6)

After the table was cleared, the kitchen tidied, and the dishwasher loaded, she wandered outside, onto the front porch of the modest, split-level frame house that had come with the manager’s job. Standing at the rail, she closed her eyes and let the night breeze dry her sweat-dampened face. Night-flying insects chirped and hummed in the darkness. The jasmine vine she’d planted below the porch and had babied through two years of heat, drought, and cold had finally put out a few timid white blossoms, their fragrance almost drowned by the odors of dust and livestock.

Minutes away, by unpaved back road, lay the neighboring Rimrock Ranch. Its impressive main house, a blend of stone, glass, and timber, was as handsome and rugged as its owner. Vivian had been inside the house just once, when she and Hunter had paid their respects after the funeral of Will Tyler’s wife. They’d only stayed a short time, but when Will had taken her hand, the briefest gesture, she’d been struck by his quiet strength and dignity, and by the sheer masculinity of his presence.

Since that day, four months ago, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him.

How would it feel to be cradled by those powerful arms? To be kissed by him? Loved by him?

Fantasizing about him was wrong, she knew. Will was mourning his wife. She was married.

But as long as nothing happened, what harm could a little dreaming do? And nothing was going to happen between her and Will Tyler. Not ever.

CHAPTER THREE

“HAVE YOU MET THE NEW MAN?” ERIN ASKED HER FATHER AS they sat down to a breakfast of ham, fried eggs, and toast.

“Not yet. But Sky had good things to say about him. He was up at first light to help with chores—he told Sky he’d been made to understand that he’d be expected to work for his meals.”

“That speaks well for him.” Erin remembered telling Luke Maddox that if he wanted to eat he’d have to help with chores. He must have taken her at her word. “The question is, how well can he shoe horses?”

“I guess we’ll find out. Sky had him set up in the small paddock with the spring foals. He’ll be starting on the other horses after the funeral, when there are more hands available to bring the horses in.”

“He’s doing the foals?” Erin felt a twinge of alarm. “But foals aren’t shod. Horses don’t need shoes until they’re ready to work.”

“He’ll just be trimming their hooves. Sky insists the man knows what he’s

doing. That’s good enough for me.”

“Well, it isn’t good enough for me,” Erin said. “I want to see for myself what he’s doing.”

“So what is it you want to see?” Rose, looking fit and rested, walked into the dining room and took a seat at the place that had been set for her.

“Erin wants to check out the new farrier,” Will said. “If she can wait till you’ve had your breakfast, we can go together. All right, Erin?”

“Sure.” Erin filled Rose’s coffee cup, then refilled her own.

“Erin’s our number two horse expert on the ranch,” Will said. “Sky’s been training her since she was no higher than a horse’s belly. He claims she’s got a gift. Since she ruled out college to become a horse trainer, all I can say is I hope he’s right.”

“Erin strikes me as a young lady who knows what she wants and how to get it. I’m sure she’ll do fine.” Rose added milk to her coffee, then turned to Erin. “I’ve done a little horse training myself. Maybe I can learn some things from you.”

“Or we can learn from each other,” Erin said. “Wait till I show you my stallion, Tesoro. He’s spectacular.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing him.” Rose downed her coffee and a triangle of buttered toast. “I’m good. Let’s go.”

The horse paddocks and adjoining pens were a hundred yards from the house, convenient to hay, water, and tack. The brood mares, foals, and stallions were kept here, as well as horses for the family and the regular mounts for the ranch hands. Other horses were corralled at the line camps out on the range, or allowed to graze loose until needed at roundup time.

“What time will Beau be here?” Rose asked as they crossed the ranch yard. “I was fond of him as a boy. I’m looking forward to meeting the man he’s become.”

“He’ll be here with his wife and daughter this afternoon,” Will said. “I’m guessing they won’t stay much past the funeral tomorrow. He’ll be glad to see you, but he’s pretty much washed his hands of this ranch—and me.”

“I’m right sorry to hear that,” Rose said. “It would break Bull’s heart to know how things turned out between his two sons.”

Will shook his head. “Bull saw it coming. Something tells me he wouldn’t even be surprised.”

“I’d like to visit Bull’s grave,” Rose said. “We didn’t always see eye to eye, but we parted friends. He was one of a kind.”

“He was. Even his enemies would agree to that.”

Erin lent half an ear to their conversation, but as they passed the windmill and rounded the barn her attention was fixed on the smallest of three metal-sided pens, where Luke Maddox was working. Walking ahead of Will and Rose, she slowed her steps as she neared the enclosure.