Claiming the Cowboy's Heart

“For making me see that I’m not a helpless, pampered woman.”

He grinned. “I don’t know about pampered. I suspect you are a woman of many privileges but no one has to be helpless unless they choose to be.”

“And I choose otherwise. In the past I have been far too compliant.”

He put his spoon down and considered her solemnly. She considered him right back. “Miss Gardiner—”

“Please, call me Jayne.”

“Jayne, then. There is a vast difference between not being helpless and being foolhardy.”

Her breath stalled halfway up her lungs. She forced her words past the catch in her throat. “Are you saying I’m the latter?” Her words were spoken softly but surely he heard the note of warning.

“What do you think?” But he didn’t give her a chance to say. “Shooting a gun willy-nilly without regard for passersby, without knowing proper safety technique sounds just a little foolish to me. Doesn’t it to you?”

“It sounds to me,” she replied, her tight jaw grinding the words, “like a woman ready and willing to do whatever is required to learn how to take care of herself.” She headed for the door. Then she retraced her steps to face him. “I came here intending to do my best to make your evening pleasant. I meant to bring my friends to visit you.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “Too big a job for you to do alone?”

“I think I can handle one lame cowboy.”

“Just like you can handle a gun.”

She pressed her hand to her lips. The man had a way of saying all the wrong things and igniting an irritation that burned away reason. “You know I even thought of reading a book to you so you could rest.” She let out a blast of overheated breath. “But now I believe I will leave you to your own devices. After all, you wouldn’t want the company of a foolish, useless—” Heaven help her, she couldn’t stop her voice from quivering and stopped to get control of her emotions. “Silly woman.” She hurried toward the door.

He was just like her father and her brother and, come to think of it, Oliver. None of them saw her as having any useful purpose other than to grace their table, encourage them whether or not she agreed with them and do nothing to upset the status quo.

Well, they could all look for that kind of woman somewhere else. She would no longer be such a person.

She didn’t need any of them to help her achieve her goals.

Seth’s voice reached her before she made it down three steps. “Miss Gardiner, Jayne, please come back. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Ignoring his call, she returned to the kitchen where the others had cleaned up the dishes from the meal.

“How is he?” Linette asked.

“Anxious to be on his way.”

“Is his wound still bleeding?”

“I didn’t check. I said you would do it.”

“Of course.” Linette went to the pantry and returned with a small leather pouch. “I’ll take this along in case I need it.” She headed for the stairs. “Aren’t you coming?”

Jayne shook her head. “I don’t think he needs two females fussing about him.” Especially one he considered foolish. His words continued to sting.

Mercy draped an arm about her shoulders. “What happened?”

Jayne gave a tight smile. “What makes you think anything did?”

“Because I know that look. Right, Sybil?”

Sybil moved to Jayne’s other side. “Was he rude to you? Inappropriate? I knew you shouldn’t have gone up there alone.”

“He wasn’t rude or inappropriate.”

“Then what?” Mercy demanded.

“He said I was foolish to want to learn to shoot. Said there were lots of people around to take care of me.” He hadn’t exactly said that but it was implied. “He seems to think I’m a threat to everyone’s safety because of my desire to know how to handle a firearm.”

Mercy choked back a chuckle. “I suppose he might have cause to think so.”

“I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Sybil sighed. “I do wish you’d give up this idea but you are far too stubborn to do so.”

“I’m not stubborn. I’m—I’m resolved.” She liked that word much better. “I am resolved to never again feel helpless in the face of danger. To never again feel useless when something needs doing. Why, I might even learn to ride astride like Mercy plans. Just think of the things I could do.” She could offer to ride to Seth’s pa with the money. Of course she would never do such a thing. Despite Seth’s very harsh opinion of her she understood some things simply weren’t safe for a woman, like riding alone across the prairie.

Linette descended the stairs, carrying the tray. “I think that will stop the bleeding so the poor man can get on his way. Jayne, he asked that you keep him company for a few hours. I would do it myself but Grady needs to get ready for bed.” Grady was the five-year-old-boy Linette had become guardian of after his mother died on the ship to Canada. Originally she meant to leave him with his father in Montreal but the man said he couldn’t take care of a small boy. Jayne’s heart went out to Grady. Imagine having your father turn away from you. Why, it had to be every bit as bad as watching a fiancé die from a gunshot wound. At least Grady had Linette and Eddie who loved him and had adopted him.

Jayne’s resentment at Seth’s comments vanished as she thought of how harsh life could be. Besides, she was responsible for his injury.

“Why don’t you two come with me?” she asked her two friends. “I’m sure he’d enjoy your scintillating company.” She didn’t want to be alone with him, provide him with another opportunity to share his opinion of her.

“Sounds like fun.” Mercy steered them down the hall without giving Sybil a chance to voice her opinion.

* * *

Seth stared at the blank white ceiling. Not even a crack so he could make childish pictures in his mind. There were days in his past when he’d thought how pleasant it would be to have nothing to do but lay about. He’d changed his mind in the last few hours. Every ten minutes he decided he’d had enough rest and his leg was well enough for him to move on. After all, it wasn’t like he didn’t have things to do. Important things. But he wasn’t foolish enough to risk his life or limb. Mrs. Gardiner had packed the wound with some kind of powder and said she hoped that would stop the bleeding.

She’d given him a smile. “You could do your part, too, by staying still.”

He meant to do his best to comply.

He grinned at the ceiling. Jayne had taken exception to his suggestion she might be foolish in pursuing her desire to shoot a gun. He’d been careful to add without someone to teach her.

Jayne’s voice came from the stairs and he turned to the door. Another voice answered her. And then a third. He couldn’t hear what was said.

Perhaps she wasn’t coming to see him.

He lifted his head, watching the door. As the footsteps neared, paused, he held his breath.

The door opened. Jayne stepped in, her two friends behind her.

“We’ve come to keep you company,” Mercy said.

Jayne had said Mercy wanted adventure. The way her eyes danced as if she had a secret she couldn’t wait to divulge, he guessed she managed to find her share of excitement wherever she went.