Wonderful. Now she was the villain. If she was fully honest with herself, it wasn’t merely Will’s reading that held her back. She was uncomfortable with him spending time with Rusty. They really knew very little about the man other than what Big Bob had mentioned when he’d introduced Rusty to everyone. Seemed their new foreman hailed from Kansas. With all the cowboys in Oklahoma, why did Big Bob have to bring someone from Kansas?
It wasn’t her place to question her employer, so she had nodded her ‘hello’ as if she’d never seen him before in her life. Since Big Bob had seen fit to introduce them, apparently Rusty hadn’t mentioned their prior meeting, either.
Unable to stand the dejected look on Will’s face, she closed her eyes and said, “All right. You may go with Mr. McIntyre to check the northern fence. However, I expect you to do as you are told, and not wander off. Is that clear?”
“Yes, ma’am!” Will turned to Rusty. “Can I take the palomino?”
“Ah, I don’t think so, little buddy. I haven’t had a chance to evaluate all the horses yet, so I’d rather you take Cheshire. I worked with him yesterday, and I think he will suit you fine.”
“But he’s an old horse.”
“Will, if you don’t behave, it’s up to the house with you,” Rachel said.
“All right, Ma. Sorry.” He turned to Rusty. “Cheshire is fine, Mr. McIntyre.”
“Then we better head out. We have a lot of ground to cover.”
Rachel bent to kiss Will’s cheek, only to have him wipe it off, as he glanced at Rusty. “Aw, come on, Ma. I’m not a baby.”
Her brows rose. “Is that so? Well, I’ll have you know not only babies get kisses.”
“Your ma has it right there, son. Kissing is certainly not just for babies.” Rusty tilted his lips in a slow, lazy, smile, his eyes full of mirth as he slanted her a look.
Much to her annoyance, the fluttering started up in her stomach again. Drat the man, and how she reacted to him. Attempting nonchalance, she fixed the collar on Will’s shirt, then patted his shoulder and walked off. She had a great deal of work to do, and didn’t have the time to stand around accepting questionable looks from cowboys.
***
Rusty watched Rachel stroll away, her hips gently swaying as she returned to the cook house. Ringlets that had fallen from her topknot teased the ba
ck of her long, slender neck where he’d love to place his lips.
He had no idea why he taunted her like that. Oh sure, he’d love to take her to bed, but she was a forever woman, and that put her firmly on the ‘do not touch’ list.
“Mr. McIntyre, are we ready?” Will’s voice brought him back to the present and his focus on where it should be. Certainly not on Rachel Stevens’ swaying hips.
“Sure are, son. Let’s go saddle up.”
Will was a cute little kid. He peppered Rusty with questions all afternoon. While they checked fences, he learned that Will never knew his father, thought his Uncle Jesse and Uncle Michael were nice, but not as much ‘fun’ as Rusty was. His ‘real’ name was Zander William Stevens, a name his daddy insisted on. But his ma never liked Zander, so she called him Will. He disliked schoolwork, found reading hard, and wanted a puppy but his ma said no.
After about an hour, Rusty realized Will had tilted his hat the same way Rusty did, and held the horse’s reins in an identical manner. He wanted to know why Rusty didn’t have any kids, why he left Kansas, and didn’t he agree that being a cowboy was the best job on the earth. In some ways it was flattering to be looked up to that way, something he’d never had before. But the reality was the boy’s ma was right. Being a cowboy was tough, hard work, and would never get you the respect in life that his two uncles had with their fancy college degrees.
Maybe Rusty didn’t have a fancy degree, but he’d been saving his money for years, and in about another year or so, he’d have enough to buy his own ranch. Nothing big to start with, but enough for a beginning. It had been his dream since the first time he tied a bandana around his mouth to keep from eating dirt on the trail. He loved the work, but he wanted his own place.
The time passed, with Will talking his ears off when he wasn’t asking questions. What amazed him more than anything was how much he enjoyed having the kid with him. Too bad a man had to have a wife in order to have sons. He could get used to this imitation the kid was doing all afternoon. But the idea of trusting another woman had him breaking out in a cold sweat. He’d done that before, and swore he’d never do it again.
“It’s almost time for your ma to ring the supper bell. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty hungry.” Rusty patted his stomach.
“Yeah, I’m hungry, too,” Will said, rubbing his stomach in turn.
They moved their horses toward the cookhouse just as Rachel began clanging the bell. “It looks like we’ll have just enough time to wash up before supper.”
Rachel walked up to them as they rode into the yard. It was apparent something had set her off. The cool demeanor that had started their acquaintance was back. “You have visitors, Mr. McIntyre.”
“Visitors?”
“Yes. In the ranch parlor. Big Bob put them there so you can have privacy.” She reached for Will’s hand. “Come on, we have to get you washed up for supper.”
“Can’t I go with Mr. McIntyre to wash up?”