“Honey.” Jesse glared at her and spoke through gritted teeth. “You need to eat something. We may have a long morning.”
“I said I’m not hungry, sweetheart.” Tori shot back, returning his glare.
Catherine and Stephen glanced at each other, a look passing between them that said, ‘Oh dear.’
Tori sipped at her tea and nibbled the light brown to
ast. Anxious to get started, she kept glancing at Jesse as he made small talk with Stephen.
“Mrs. Cochran, your husband told us you’re searching for you niece.” Catherine turned her attention to Tori.
“Yes, we believe she’s in Maple Grove, staying with a friend.”
“I can’t imagine riding all this way in a dress.” Catherine studied her. “My parents left several pairs of my brother’s pants and some shirts here when they visited. He no longer fits in them, and they thought I could wear them around the farm once the baby comes.”
Tori smiled slightly, not sure where the conversation headed.
“If you like, you can have one of them, which would make your riding easier.”
So I’m not the only woman who prefers the comfort of men’s pants. “That’s very generous of you. Pants would make it easier.”
Catherine rose and beckoned her. The pants she gave her fit her hips and legs, but were too big in the waist. The well-worn shirt, though, stretched tightly over her chest, challenging the buttons. After finding a short piece of rope to hold the pants in place, Tori was ready to go, her dress rolled to be stuffed in her saddle bag.
When the two women returned to the kitchen, Jesse hopped up and grabbed Stephen’s hand. “Well, thank you both so much. I really appreciate your allowing my wife,”—he threw a challenging glare at Tori—“to recover here.”
“Yes, thank you very much.” Tori accepted Catherine’s hug, and smiled in Stephen’s direction. Jesse nodded at them both as Tori swept past, then followed her out the door.
“Where did you get that outfit?” Jesse growled as they swung into their saddles.
“Catherine gave them to me. They belonged to her brother. They don’t fit him anymore.”
His eyes fixed firmly on her breasts where the shirt gaped. “That shirt doesn’t fit you either.”
She looked where the buttons stretched, then tugged at the material.
Jesse groaned.
“As soon as we’re away from here, I want you to take that thing off and wear one of my shirts.”
She raised one eyebrow. “Why?”
“Don’t ask.”
They reached Arkansas City a couple hours later. Tori hadn’t uttered a word, and Jesse followed her lead. The silence had a voice of its own.
Jesse spent most of the ride talking to himself, trying to deal with the annoying fact that he still wanted that stubborn, totally irrational woman. Since they’d made love, his feelings had grown, but from the tight lipped look of his traveling companion, she didn’t return the sentiment. He grimaced. Already the desire for the feel of her softness under his hands wreaked havoc with his blood flow. But based on her reaction this morning, it appeared he wouldn’t have the opportunity for a repeat performance any time soon.
And why the hell did Catherine give her those pants to wear? With her hips and legs outlined, pure luck kept him from riding his horse into a tree.
“Tori, I suggest we call a truce while we’re hunting for Rachel.” He rode alongside her. No longer did he intend to watch her backside sway back and forth in her saddle.
“Fine.” Tori sighed, chewing on her lip. “I’m nervous about where to start searching for her.”
“Didn’t she say she went to her friend’s house?”
“Yes, she did. But we know she took the train here. And it’s a ride from Arkansas City to Maple Grove, where Mary Jane lives. I’m not sure how she could get all the way out there. She may still be at the hotel.”
Jesse nodded. “We’ll leave the horses at the livery, then check with the hotel first.”