Cowboy's Special Woman

“I won’t marry again anytime soon,” she replied after a moment’s thought as if she hadn’t considered the possibility before. He looked at her golden hair that looked soft as silk and wondered about her.

“So what are you really like, Maggie Langford? Is it Margaret?”

“It’s Margaret and I’m really like the person I am right now. I love home and family.”

He had already guessed that from watching her during the day. He became silent, glancing at her occasionally, amazed someone else hadn’t come along and married her and surprised she sounded so happy about her life on the farm.

Taking the highway, they drove into Stillwater, and uneasiness stirred in Jake. He should have hit the road instead of going into town with her. He didn’t particularly want to go to the hospital. A shower and a pitcher of ice cold water would make him feel one hundred percent better. He caught a whiff of her perfume, a flower scent that went with her fresh ranch manner, and the enticing, feminine smell drove away all thoughts of leaving. He turned to watch her and found it a very pleasant pastime that made him forget his aches and his hurry to be on his way. What was it about her that drew him? And that first moment they had touched—in her clear, blue eyes he had seen that she had felt something, too.

When they reached the hospital, she told Jake to join her when he was released and then she went to see her father. Jake went to the emergency where a vivacious black-haired nurse treated his cuts and burns.

“You’re new around here,” she said and for the first time he really noticed her. Her big brown eyes gazed steadily at him while she cleaned a cut.

“Yep. I was driving past and saw the fire and stopped to tell the Aldens.”

“Are you staying awhile?”

He glanced at her name tag and saw it was Laurie. “I haven’t decided, Laurie. Anything worth staying for?” he asked, unable to resist flirting with her. She gave him a smile.

“We have all sorts of places: bars, honky-tonks, my apartment.”

He laughed and looked at her fingers. No wedding or engagement ring. Evidently he could have a date if he wanted one. He thought of Maggie Langford and the thought of asking Laurie out vanished. He shifted restlessly, wishing again that he had his bike with him.

“Sounds interesting,” he said, looking at her full lips and still thinking about Maggie. “Do you know if there is anyone around here now who might be going back by Ben Alden’s place? I rode in with Maggie, but if I can find a ride, I won’t trouble her for a ride home. My bike is at her place.”

Laurie moved close against his knees and tilted his chin up to work on a cut on his temple. She paused and looked into his eyes. “If you can wait until I get off, I can take you to the Circle A ranch to get your bike,” she said in a sultry voice.

“Thanks. Maybe I’ll return later and take you up on that offer, but I need to get going. The fire delayed me today.”

She smiled and nodded, and he didn’t know if he had softened his refusal enough to keep from hurting her feelings, but he didn’t want to take her out. He didn’t want to think about why because it had been a long time since he’d had a date with a woman who was fun and pretty. He was ready for a night out, but this wasn’t the night.

“I don’t know who can take you back. You might ask if Jeff Peterson is still here. He lives out past the Alden place.”

“Thanks.”

Ten minutes later, Jake asked at the front desk if anyone named Peterson was still around and was told that Jeff Peterson had left the hospital about five minutes earlier. Jake’s only choices were to hitch a ride, wait for Maggie to go home or have a date with Laurie.

He asked for Ben Alden’s room and rode the elevator upstairs. When he rapped lightly on the partially closed door and thrust his head into the room, Ben motioned to him. “Come in. I want to thank you. You saved my life.” Ben was bandaged and propped up in bed.

Jake shrugged. “Sorry you got hurt and sorry so much of your place burned.” Maggie stood across the room from him on the opposite side of her father’s bed.

As Jake entered the room, Maggie watched him. He was broad-shouldered, muscular and his presence seemed to electrify the air. There was an earthy sensuality to him, yet she wondered if she thought that because he was in a tight T-shirt, covered with soot, cut and burned instead of dressed in freshly laundered clothes, looking like most other people. She suspected in freshly laundered clothes, he would never look like most other people. His height, rugged features and wild black hair would keep him from blending into a crowd. It was his riveting brown eyes that disturbed her the most. Her gaze slid down over his slim hips. His jeans rode low. She looked up, caught him watching her and blushed at the manner in which she had been studying him.

She was too conscious of his hot-blooded looks, his blunt questions. She tried to shift her thoughts, telling herself he would be out of her life as soon as she took him home tonight. He was going to set off on his bike and she wouldn’t ever see him again.

“We’ll build back,” her father answered Jake. “Thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome. How are you feeling?” Jake asked.

“Pretty good, considering,” Ben answered, smiling ruefully and raising bandaged hands.

“Pretty good with burns and a broken leg,” Maggie remarked dryly. “But you really did save him from being hurt much worse.”

“That’s good. I’m sorry about your injuries.”

“I’ll mend. I’ve mended before. Maggie tells me you’ve been working with horses.”

“Yes, sir. I’ve been in Texas, working for Jeb Stuart. I’ll be in a rodeo in Oklahoma City Labor Day weekend, so I wound my work up with Jeb and hit the road. I was just driving past your place when I saw the fire.”

“I thought Jeb Stuart was your biggest rival in saddle bronc riding.”

“He is, but he’s also my best friend,” Jake replied.

“Where are you going from here—except for the rodeo?”

“Dad, maybe that’s private,” Maggie said, glancing at Jake.

He smiled at her, holding her gaze while he answered. “No, not private at all. I don’t have any plans. Just whatever comes along.”

“Good. I’m laid up here and will be when I get home. How about coming to work for us until I get on my feet? I need someone badly.”

Shocked, Maggie’s head whipped around as she stared at her father. They hadn’t discussed hiring Jake Reiner or anyone else. When Jake frowned, she guessed that he didn’t want to work for them and relief washed over her. Astounded her father would ask him without consulting her, she wondered if her father was thinking clearly or if the pain pills had muddled his thought processes. Their small bunkhouse for hired help had burned so they had no place for a hired hand to live—not even in the barn. Jake Reiner would have to stay in the house with them. Actually he would be alone in the house with her because Katy was at Patsy’s and her father wouldn’t be coming home for another day.

“I know you’ve been more than a help to us so far. A life saver, really, but I can’t take care of things for a little while. If you could just stay at the Circle A and work until I’m able to get back to it, I’d make it worth your while. You’ve got to eat, sleep and work somewhere,” he added.

Jake Reiner took a deep breath.

“Dad, Jake probably already had plans.”

Her father turned his head to look at her. “Honey, I worry about you and I know I should be home taking care of things. Jake just left a job and he said he’s free. We need him sort of on the desperate side.” He looked at Jake. “We usually have four or five men working for us, but for one reason or another, we don’t have any now. I promise to make working for us worthwhile for you,” he repeated.

She looked into Jake’s eyes and knew he didn’t want to stay. Why didn’t he just say so and go!

“Dad—”

He waved his hand. “Let the man get a word in, Maggie. I’ll only be laid up for a short time and if it gets too long for you, Jake,” he said, turning his attention back to Jake, “we’ll find a replacement for you. In the meantime, I could sure use your help.”

Jake was still gazing into Maggie’s eyes. Looking into his dark, inscrutable gaze, she held her breath.

“Yes, sir,” he said quietly.

She closed her eyes and rubbed her temple. What had her father done? She was sure he wasn’t thinking clearly. They would need help, but they could find someone who lived in the area and had a house or room they could go back to every night. What was she going to do with Jake Reiner?

“Thanks, Jake,” Ben said, closing his eyes. “I can’t tell you how relieved that makes me feel. Now I can just worry about rebuilding.”

“Dad, just think about getting well,” Maggie said. “I’m staying tonight at the hospital so—”

“No, you’re not. I want a quiet night’s sleep,” her father interjected, “and Imogene is the night nurse. You know she’ll take good care of me,” he added and chuckled.