When Passion Calls

His gaze raked over her. She was slim and exquisite, with soft, perfect features. Her face was framed by lustrous, auburn hair that fell in drifts to her waist. Her neck was like a swan's, long and graceful; her eyes were brown, wide and innocent. His eyes fell to her high, well-rounded breasts. There was no denying that she had developed into a woman.

But although she was beautiful and feminine in appearance, Melanie was still a high-spirited tomboy who enjoyed taking dares. She liked to show her strength and agility. For as long as Terrance could remember, he had been in constant competition with her. The fact that she now equalled him in wealth and possessions galled him unbearably. Lately, it had driven him to drink and gamble more than ever. And even before his father's death he had gained the reputation of being a hell-raiser.

"Just look at you," Terrance scolded. "Where

did you pick up that godawful outfit? A fringed buckskin skirt? Moccasins that reach up to your knees? You look like a savage."

Hurt by her brother's reaction to her new riding outfit, which she had chosen for comfort rather than appearance, Melanie ran a gloved hand down the front of her skirt. "Maybe I would look better in skin-hugging breeches and chaps like you and Josh are wearing," she said, defying her brother with another stubborn stare.

Then she looked over at Josh and offered him her most winning smile.

"Josh, you think I'm dressed appropriately enough for riding horseback, don't you?" she asked, then wished she hadn't included him in the debate after all.

Of late, Josh Brennan had become a thorn in her side. Though they had been neighbors for years, she had never cared much for him. As far back as she could remember he had been spoiled and arrogant. Though Terrance scoffed at Josh, saying that he was ignorant when it came to negotiating business deals, Melanie thought Josh was skilled enough at getting what he wanted.

Though his blond hair and blue eyes were attractive, Josh was almost intolerable to be around. He was a gambler and a womanizer. And now he had the nerve to say that he had never gotten married because he had been waiting for Melanie to grow up so he could marry her!

Josh circled a hand around the pommel of his saddle and leaned down closer to Melanie's face.

"Hon, as far as I'm concerned you can wear any damn thing you want," he said in a lazy, teasing fashion. "Or better yet, you don't have to wear anything at all."

Melanie's face grew hot. She set her jaw firmly and glared from Josh to Terrance, annoyed at her brother for allowing Josh to make such personal remarks to her. But she knew her brother would not correct anything Josh Brennan said or did. Terrance had his heart set on her marrying Josh, so that he could gain a hold on the Brennans' riches.

She wondered if her brother had always been so scheming, so power-hungry. If he could, he would hand her over to Josh Brennan this very moment! Josh's father was on his deathbed. Josh would soon own all of his father's land. All of his father's cattle. His father's entire empire!

Stubbornly, Melanie placed her foot in the stirrup and swung herself up into the saddle. She took up her reins and straightened her back as she looked pensively at Terrance. Though he was just as greedy and calculating as his friend, Josh, she could not help but love him. She had no choice but to keep an eye on him and the farm. She had to make sure that at least her portion of the inheritance was protected. If Terrance got unlucky at the poker table, he might be forced to gamble his portion of the farm away.

Yes, she had to learn all of the details of how to run a cattle farm and make sure that Terrance never got hold of her portion. Their father had

worked himself into the grave to make this farm what it was today. She could let nothing take away his dream, for his dream was now hers!

"Well? What are we waiting for?" she said impatiently, her eyes dancing. "Let's go to St. Paul. The riverboat should be arriving soon with that new shipment of Texas longhorns. Those that have endured the trail drive from Texas to New Orleans and the boat ride to Saint Louis will be the sort we can be proud to own. They will be the strongest of the lot. But they've already been picked over at New Orleans and St. Louis. We don't want to have the last of the pick here in St. Paul."

Terrance sighed heavily and shook his head in exasperation. "Melanie, ever since Pop died you've been behaving more like a man than a woman. Now get down off that horse and go back inside the house. Mary Ellen is making bread today. Watch her and learn how it's done. If I have to force you at gunpoint, you're going to be someone's wife one of these days. You can't spend the rest of your life outdoors playing around with the cattle. It's a man's job, damn it. It's my job. Allow me to do it?"

Again Melanie's eyes sought Josh for support. "Josh, can you see why Terrance is so mad at me?" she asked, her lower lip curved into a pout. "Wouldn't you think he'd be happy that he has someone besides mere cowhands to help him with the farm? Don't you sometimes wish that you had a brother or sis?"

Melanie's words trailed off when she saw a

guarded look enter Josh's eyes. She had forgotten again! It had been twenty-five years since Josh had seen Shane, his twin brother, but it still se

emed to unnerve Josh when Shane's name was brought into the conversation. Though Josh's father, Jared, enjoyed talking of the son who had disappeared so many years ago, Josh never wanted to discuss him.

Was it because the loss was still so painful? Or was it because his father had never let one day pass without talking about Shane as though he were there, alive? Had Josh been driven to drink and gambling because of his resentment of Shane?

"I'm sorry," Melanie blurted out. "I always forget. I know that you don't like to think of your brother . . . and . . . and the massacre."

Josh shifted his weight in his saddle. "The past is best left alone," he said. "Today and tomorrow is all I'm concerned about."

He turned aside so that Melanie could not read the truth in his eyes. For many years now he had known that Shane was alive and well. It always made him uneasy, even a bit guilty, when he was forced to think of Shane, for Josh had not shared the discovery with anyone. Not even his father.

When he discovered that Shane had been rescued by a band of Chippewa Indians, he had realized how difficult life would be for him if Shane returned home.

Josh already felt as though he were an outsider in his own home. He hated living in competition with the ghost of a brother who most thought was dead. In Josh's father's eyes, Shane was perfect. If Josh's father knew that Shane was alive, Shane

would end up with everything! Josh would lose his control over the Brennan riches.

"Yes, I know how precious each day is to you while your father is still alive," Melanie said softly. "How is your father, Josh? Is he better this morning?"