Four
She pored over the maps swiftly and stuck by the list she already had. She wanted to finish and get him out of the house.
When he joined her, she showed him her list, pointing out each place and waiting while he looked. Jake got a legal pad from his briefcase, turning to look at her while he held both of their lists.
“We have three places that are the same, so those will go to the top of the list. Your first choice is my second, so we’ll put yours first because you know your ranch better than I do.”
She marked the three locations on each map. “Look at our other choices so we can decide and get them listed.”
She pulled her chair close to his, far more aware of him beside her than the map in front of her. “I think my number four should be next.”
It took another hour to get everything listed and finally he stood and put away the original old map in its glass box and then into his briefcase.
“Jake, I hope we find something,” she said, walking him to the door. “I don’t care about the money so much, but if the treasure exists, it’s a tie to the past. I’m sure it’s true that there was a gunfight and both families had members killed. We do need to give those bones a burial place.” She stepped out onto the porch with him. The September night was cool, the black sky dotted with twinkling stars. “Thanks again for letting me see the original map. I’m fascinated by it.”
“You’re a romantic,” he said in a deep voice. He stood only inches from her and his dark eyes were shadowed. She had an urge to step into his arms and raise her face for a kiss, but she fought it and moved back.
“Can you be here about six in the morning? We can get started early and get out on the ranch by the time the sun rises.”
“Sure. We’ll be here. Want me to get lunch packed?”
“No, Jessie will do it each day. See you in the morning.”
“Thanks for dinner, Madison.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, thinking how polite they were being with each other. Better that than the flashes of scalding longing to be in his arms and make love again. She stepped back and watched him walk away. As soon as he drove out of sight, she went in and closed up, setting the alarm on the grounds around the house.
The next morning she was on the driveway with her two men and a nearby pickup packed with gear and food. The outside lights were on because it was still dark, without even a hint of the dawn to come.
It had taken her an hour to dress this morning. She had tried to avoid thinking about Jake, but whatever she selected, she thought about wearing for him. She finally decided on a long-sleeved blue Western shirt, jeans, boots and a brown wide-brimmed hat. Her hair was in a thick braid down her back. A tingle of excitement made her edgy. She couldn’t wait to get going and start the search. It wasn’t about the gold. Honestly, if he had said he wanted half, she would have agreed instantly. It was about the tie to the past and the Milans who had lived generations ago. It would mean the legend was a true accounting of events of the past, which she hoped it was.
She spotted headlights coming up the ranch road. When they drove into the light she saw two pickups. Jake drove his big black pickup with someone seated beside him and two in the backseat. Another red pickup followed with two men.
Jake stopped and climbed out, slamming the door and striding toward her. His black Western hat sat squarely on his head and his tight jeans emphasized his small waist and long legs. He wore a navy-and-red-plaid Western shirt and looked filled with energy because of the spring in his step.
“Good morning.”
“Morning, Jake,” she replied. “This is Darren Hopkinson and Stoney Rassmussen. Darren and Stoney, meet Jake Calhoun.”
The men shook hands. “We’re ready,” she said.
“It’s your ranch, so you lead the way and we’ll follow,” Jake suggested.
“Sure. Let’s go,” she replied and they parted to get into their trucks.
She turned down a dirt path that ran past houses, outbuildings, the ranch office, corrals, barns, sheds. Finally they left the graveled road and took a dirt road in the opposite direction, bumping over rocks and dips in the road, running over weeds that grew in the center between the ruts.
She knew where she was going and could have driven it with her eyes closed. She had learned to drive on these ranch roads. She glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Jake’s black pickup behind her, the third pickup coming last. From the list they had selected, they had mapped out a plan to start on the north side of the creek and search eastward. They both agreed that the map looked as if the treasure had been buried along Rocky Creek.
By dawn, they had reached the trees and in a short time approached the only bridge over Rocky Creek on the Double M Ranch. Trees lining the creek bank blocked the sunlight so the vehicles still had on headlights. Madison reached the creek first.
“Miss Milan,” Stoney said beside her. “Wait. Look at the bridge.”
She stopped the truck, her headlights illuminating the far end of the bridge. One of the tall cottonwoods lining the creek had fallen on the end of the bridge, preventing any vehicle from crossing.
“Nobody’s said anything about a tree falling on the bridge,” she said, turning to look at Darren and Stoney, who both shook their heads. Switching off the motor, she stepped out while Stoney and Darren followed her. Jake stepped out of his truck.
“We can get that tree moved out of the way. It’ll just slow us down, but it’s not going to stop us,” Jake said. “All the men come with me and we’ll move it.”
“We’ll cut it up later and get it out of here,” she said, looking around. “What could have caused that tree to fall? It looks healthy and there hasn’t been a storm recently. That tree hasn’t been down long,” she said more to herself than anyone else.
She waited in the truck and in minutes the men all returned. Stoney and Darren climbed into the truck while Jake stopped beside it. “Someone cut that tree down so it would fall on the bridge. There’s someone who doesn’t want us hunting for this legendary treasure.”
Startled, she stared into his dark eyes. “That’s foolishness. That was a temporary setback and it won’t stop any of us. Who would do that anyway?”
“Not my family,” he answered. “We have too much to gain. Just be careful. That may merely be a warning.”
She shivered and looked at the tree that had been pulled away from the bridge.
“We’ll go ahead as we planned,” she said.
“Why don’t you let me drive around you and cross the bridge first? No one will drown if the bridge collapses, but it won’t be fun to go into the creek in one of these trucks. Let me see if anyone tampered with the bridge.”
“Very well, but I’m not scared to go first.”
“I’ll go.” He left and climbed back into his truck. He drove around her and she followed, letting him get completely across before she followed.
Within ten minutes he switched off the engine and parked. She pulled up beside him and the last pickup stopped. Men climbed out while Jake joined her.
“This is our first stop. Now you call the shots. What do you think? Look here or start walking?” she said.
He studied his map. Bits of sunlight slipped between leaves and branches, highlighting his raven hair. “Gather round,” he said to the others.
The day was warming and because of rains farther north, the narrow stream gurgled and splashed over rocks nearby.
“Before we start, I want to talk to all of you,” Jake said. He pushed his hat to the back of his head and the broad Western brim framed his face.
“Myth or truth, we’re going to try to find the legendary treasure. If we find any gold or even just bones that are remains from a gunfight, everyone will get a bonus of five thousand dollars—Milan hands and Calhoun hands alike—from me.”
Jake paused as the men grinned and applauded.
“You’ll have earned it. This will be tedious work. If we find nothing, you’ll get a thousand dollars above your regular salary just for volunteering for this.”
Again the cheers and applause caused Jake to wait. “Okay. Madison and I have been over the maps and this is the area we picked to start. We’re just going to spread out and start digging along Rocky Creek this morning. Good luck and let’s dig.”
Jake was a take-charge person—she had known that back in high school when she’d watched him on the football field as quarterback. They had both been in the math club and he had been president, taking control of the meetings and being decisive when problems arose. She had been vice president and she could remember some clashes they’d had, too.
Jake turned to her. “You might as well do what you want—look on or sit it out, but if you sit, watch out for snakes.”
“Sure, Jake,” she said, pulling out her map. She began to move up the creek, but after a few feet saw a likely spot. She sat on a rock and studied her surroundings, the mesquite, cactus, small plants and, at the water’s edge, grasses and weeds.
Jake walked up and sat beside her. “What do you think?”
“Now, I’m not so sure.”
“It’s a start. You can stay right here.”
“I’m getting my sketch pad.” She stood to follow him but slipped on loose rocks. Instantly his strong hands closed around her waist and held her. She grasped his arms to steady herself and then looked up into his brown eyes, her breath shortening as his gaze lowered to her mouth and her lips parted.
She stood there, immobile, aware of his hands on her, of hers holding him, and of how close they stood. Would he kiss her? Her eyes widened before she stepped away quickly. “Thanks for keeping me from going into the creek,” she whispered, not knowing what else to say to him.
He nodded, but didn’t respond.
Shaken more by Jake’s hands on her than by almost falling, she moved away, walking a few yards upstream before she stopped. He stood watching her.
Maybe coming along hadn’t been a good idea, after all, she thought. Yet she knew she was the only one who could deter Jake if he wanted to do something that none of the people with Milan interests thought he should.
Moments ago her body had blazed with desire. She had wanted his kiss. That’s what had shocked her the most. Over eight or nine years ago, she had thought she was completely over him, no longer feeling a vestige of attraction or love for him. She had thought she’d put him away with childhood memories, boxed up and stored as a keepsake of a long-ago phase of her life. She’d thought she’d blocked him out of her mind. Well, she had been wrong. Obviously. In one moment with his hands locked around her waist, she had wanted to wrap her arms around his neck, step close and kiss him.
She couldn’t trust Jake. She would never trust him. Right now, he could be up to something. He could have offered to let her have the treasure so she couldn’t see that he had any hidden agenda or ulterior motive.
It would take a long while and lots of time together for him to win back her trust. If he ever could.
She got out her pad and sketched for about two hours, but then laid aside her pencils.
Feeling a need to stretch her legs, she started moving away the rocks that would have to be relocated before anyone could dig in this area. She hadn’t moved more than half a dozen rocks when Jake’s hand closed on her wrist.
Startled, she straightened to face him. “What?”
“Stop. You don’t need to be doing heavy labor.”
She laughed and pushed tendrils of hair from her face. “I’m all right. I’m not fragile.”
“You’ll be surprised what will hurt in the morning if you keep that up. Leave this stuff to us. You can break out the lunch shortly back at the trucks or we can drive up here.”
“This land is too rough for that.”
“No, it’s not. That’s what our trucks are built to do. Come on, we’ll go get two of the trucks.” He took her arm to steady her over the rugged terrain and she went with him, again aware of his fingers on her arm. This time he seemed oblivious of the contact, which helped a degree.
At the trucks he opened her door. “This time let me lead. You follow me.”
Jake held the door for her and she climbed in and he took the lead pickup. When they reached the place where three men were digging, they parked.
“Go back to your digging,” she said. “I’ll get lunch ready.”
She washed her hands from a jug of water she had brought for that purpose. Opening the back of both pickups, she spread out Jessie Lou’s sandwiches, chips, and opened the coolers filled with ice, pop and water. She set out two homemade apple pies and a container of whipped cream, then rang a small bell to call everyone.
Jake and the men grabbed the camp stools he had brought or sat on nearby logs or rocks. Jake came to sit beside her on a slab of sandstone.
“So far, it’s a bust. The only progress is that we can eliminate this area.”
“You said that you didn’t expect this to be easy,” she stated. “We’re just getting started. Over the generations my family has scoured this part of the ranch for the treasure, although I don’t think they went along the creek a whole lot because creeks move as years pass, which means, in some spots, the treasure could possibly be in the bottom of the creek.”
They ate and went back to work. She cleaned and put away leftovers, finally finishing and pulling on her gloves to move some more small rocks again. She picked up one and a thin snake slithered away, trying to get beneath the adjoining rock. She cried out with fright and yanked it up by the back end, swinging it and throwing it toward the creek as fast and as hard as she could.
She heard laughter and turned to see Jake not far away. “I believe you’ve gotten over your snake fears.”
“No, I haven’t,” she snapped, “and stop laughing. That wasn’t funny.” She shivered. “I couldn’t do anything else to get it away from me. I can’t kill one.”
“If you’d waited a second, I would have killed it,” he said, grinning. “Good toss, by the way. Looked like a copperhead, though. I should tell you they don’t usually travel alone.”
She shivered again. “I’m taking a break,” she said, turning her back on him to walk to the truck and climb inside. She glanced back to see him still grinning, making her even angrier. She hated and feared snakes as much as ever. When she had grabbed it up, she hadn’t stopped to think. She just wanted it away from her. She had to admit she was ready to call this quits and leave her ancestors’ bones where they had been buried in the 1800s. She was too aware of Jake. Being close to him was beginning to awaken feelings she hadn’t had for years, feelings she thought she was over and didn’t want to have again. She was hot and tired already from moving rocks. She thought back to the pre-morning hours. Had the tree blocking the bridge been a warning? She couldn’t imagine who would do such a thing or why. Her brothers didn’t want her doing this, but they wouldn’t stoop to cutting down a tree to achieve what was only a temporary delay.
She wanted to be back at the house painting and enjoying her quiet life. From the moment Jake had appeared in the hardware store, he had done nothing but stir up trouble for her.
* * *
Later in the afternoon Jake dug in the shade of a cottonwood at the edge of the creek. He had shed his shirt and the muscles in his back rippled as he worked. He was muscular, strong, and she could recall the feel of his bare back as she’d run her hands over him, kissing him. He had been a tall, lean, bony teen then. Now he had filled out, become a man.
The temperature had risen and she was hot, but the heat of the day wasn’t her problem. It was the memory of being locked in his arms, naked, her body held tightly against his. She could recall his hands moving over her, caressing her. She didn’t want to remember, but the sight of him shirtless triggered the memories with a clarity that surprised her. “Jake,” she whispered and then clamped her mouth shut.
She didn’t want to get to the point where she longed to have the past repeat itself. If every day of this search would be like this, she would have to quit because this was bringing torment into her peaceful life.
She shifted to watch him dig. He was forming a large, shallow hole. He stopped and glanced around as he wiped his brow, and when he saw her watching him, he leaned on the shovel and simply stood there openly staring at her. She wondered what he was thinking.
He didn’t say anything, and after a few moments he went back to work.
They worked until dusk and then they all climbed into the pickups to drive back to their ranches. At her house, Jake stopped to talk to her. She thanked the men with her and then stepped out of her pickup to wait while Jake parked and climbed out.
“Jake, you still have a long drive to get home. Why don’t you tell the men to bring clothes tomorrow and bunk down here and you can stay up here at the house? We have room.”
“If you’re sure, I’ll take you up on it and I think they will, too. If anyone doesn’t, he can drive his own truck. Are you going again tomorrow?” he asked.
“Of course,” she replied even though she had been on the verge of canceling for the past four hours.
“I’ll see you in the morning, then,” he said, standing with his hands on his hips, staring at her. She wondered what was going through his thoughts because he looked on the verge of saying more to her. Instead, he got in his truck and drove off.
She wanted to shower and to change clothes before she ate the dinner Jessie Lou had ready for her to reheat. As Madison emerged from the shower, her phone rang and she answered to hear her father’s voice.
At first they talked briefly about nothing in particular and then he said, “I hear you allowed Jake Calhoun to dig on our property today.”
Startled that he knew, she realized one of the ranch hands must have informed him. All of them knew about Jake because she had asked for two volunteers to go with her. “Yes, I did. I told all my brothers. Jake has a map that seems authentic.”
“Aren’t you running some risks by letting a Calhoun traipse all over our ranch?”
“It’s a calculated risk, I guess. But if we find the treasure I get it.”
“So what does he get?”
“His ancestors’ remains.” She heard her father’s derisive grumble and she continued, “Plus there may be a deed giving them McCracken land from a poker game.”
There was a moment of silence. “Be careful, Madison. You can’t trust him one inch. I think you’re foolish to allow this, and if I were you, I’d call the deal off tomorrow. The treasure won’t be worth whatever he’s up to. You can believe that he is up to something more than wanting his ancestors’ remains and an old deed that might not ever stand up in court.”
“I’ll be careful,” she said patiently, wishing he hadn’t found out and hoping he didn’t hear about the felled tree on the bridge. “I have Darren and Stoney with me. We’ll be careful and they’ve been warned to watch him and his three men.”
“You think about what I’ve said—you should just run him off.”
“He’s shared his map with me because I said he could do this. It will be brief, probably three or four days.”
“Be very careful. You should know you can’t trust him in any way.”
“I’ll be careful. Don’t worry.”
“That goes with being a dad,” he said. “Think about what I’ve said and tell him you’ve changed your mind. No good can come of this.”
“All right.”
“Take care of yourself.”
“I will. Thanks, Dad,” she said far more cheerfully than she felt. As they said goodbye, she stared into space, seeing Jake’s dark eyes and remembering moments during the day. Was there a reason to be suspicious? Was he truthful or deceitful? Had she been taken in again? And which person had reported to her father? Someone left behind, or Darren or Stoney?
In all of this, just who could she trust?
* * *
As Jake returned from dropping the men off at the bunkhouse, he saw a familiar pickup heading toward his back door. He got out of the truck and waited while his younger sister pulled up beside him and got out.
“Hi. Did I come at a bad time?” she asked.
“Never,” he said, smiling at her. Six years older than Lindsay, he felt like a second dad to her. He watched her walk through the gate—the only blonde Calhoun as well as the only blue-eyed Calhoun, but she had the Calhoun bone structure, their height and their deep love of ranching.
Her sandy-blond hair was in a thick braid that hung over her shoulder.
“I had an errand anyway, so I swung by. I thought you’d be back and I wanted to see how the search went today.”
“Come in and we’ll have a beer while I give you the details. But I can tell you right now, we didn’t find any treasure, bones or deed.”
“You’re just getting started.”
“Thank you for being kind enough to keep from telling me I’m on a hunt that is hopeless.”
She grinned. “I’m glad you’re doing it. It would be fabulous if you found the deed. That would be sweet revenge and serve the Milans right for all the things they’ve done.”
“Let it go, Lindsay.”
“I can’t let it go with Tony Milan. If I ever catch him on my ranch I’ve got buckshot and I intend to let him have it.”
“Lindsay, listen to me. Don’t do it. I don’t want to bail you out of jail over something stupid like that. Take him to court—follow legal channels against trespassing. Don’t go off half-cocked and do something you’ll regret.”
“Then he needs to stay off my ranch.”
Jake caught her shoulders and turned her to face him. “I mean it. Don’t get yourself in trouble over a Milan.”
“Sometimes, Jake, you are such a wet blanket,” she said, wriggling out of his grasp.
“Yeah, well, dealing with me is still a whole lot better than standing up in front of Judge Milan.”
“Judge Milan is in Dallas and he would have to recuse himself. Don’t get your coattails in a twist. I won’t go after Tony with buckshot, but he can be really annoying, and at the last horse auction, he was there and outbid me for a horse I wanted and— Don’t you smile. When he trespasses, I can’t call the sheriff because the sheriff is his brother. Sheriff Milan is not going to do one thing to harm his brother.”
“No, he probably won’t. Why is Tony trespassing?”
She sighed. “He has when one of his animals gets into my pasture. We had a fence go down and his stock overgrazed that section before I found out—”
“He has to get his livestock back, Lindsay. You don’t have a case. Cut him some slack. I just want you to be protected. Don’t give the sheriff an excuse to cause you trouble.”
“I hope you find that deed and it gives you acres and acres of Milan land.”
“You’re too bitter, Lindsay. You’re the youngest Calhoun, but you sound like Granddad.”
“Tony Milan is like a pesky fly you can’t swat. Enough about them. Tell me about today.” Her long legs kept pace with him as they went to Jake’s back door and entered the house.
“I have to shower, Lindsay,” he said as they walked down the hall to the kitchen. “I’m filthy and hot.”
“Sure. Go shower. I’ll get the beers.”
He left, hurrying to shower quickly and dress. He didn’t want to keep her waiting and he was ready to sit and relax.
He found her on the patio. With the setting of the sun the weather had cooled. He had enough lights to illuminate his patio and enough of the kinds of plants and lights to repel bugs.
He sat half facing her. “I’m ready for that beer.”
“You talked Madison into letting you search for Calhoun ancestors’ bones. How was it today when you had to go with her?”
“It was fine. We can both keep the old anger and ill feelings in check. We’ve had a lot of years to get accustomed to the idea and to practice.”
“You haven’t been around her during that time. You haven’t even spoken to her since that night her dad threatened you.”
“No, I haven’t, not until this past week. We didn’t find anything today, but we’re just getting started and I’m hopeful there’s a thread of truth to the old legend.”
“It could be true in every way and a big treasure could be buried on their ranch, but finding it may be impossible after all these years. Especially if it is buried around Rocky Creek the way you think it might be. Creeks change course over the years, unfortunately.”
“I’m hopeful, and with her men and mine, we’ve got a large enough crew to cover a good-size area.”
“Well, I’ll keep hoping.” She sipped her beer and gazed at his pool.
“How’s the ranch?” he asked, always slightly amazed by his baby sister buying a sizable ranch and then running it herself. She had a fine foreman, but Lindsay did a man’s work daily on the ranch. All of them had a strong love of ranching, particularly Mike and Lindsay, who lived all the time on their ranches.
“Everything is fine.”
“Good deal. I’ll put steaks on the grill if you’ll stay.”
“Sure. Let me help,” she said, getting up to walk to the kitchen with him.
They talked about ranching all through dinner and as soon as she put the last dish in the dishwasher she turned to him.
“I’d better go now. I know you’ve probably got emails and texts and things to answer since you’ve been away from the office so long. You’ll be up and going early tomorrow, I guess.”
He nodded. “Be glad to have you stay.”
“Thanks but I’ve got to go.”
He walked beside her to her car.
“Good luck with this, Jake. I sure hope you find that deed.”
“I do, too. I’d like to face Pete Milan with it. I’ll have to settle for handing it over to his daughter, but the judge will hear about it. If we find it,” he added.
She slid behind the wheel and he closed her door.
“Thanks for coming by. It’s always good to see you, Lindsay.”
“Send me a text if you find anything.”
“I will. All of you will get one. I dug as much and as fast as I could today and I will again every day. This is our chance to hunt for that deed.”
“Night, Jake. Thanks for the steak.”
He stepped back from the pickup and watched her drive out of sight, the red taillights disappearing around a curve, before he turned to go into the house.
He wanted to look once more at the maps and aerial photos. He hoped they weren’t missing the right location. He longed to get the deed and get some Milan land. It would be payback, but also, it might be a dandy place to drill.
He thought about Madison. Part of him hadn’t ever gotten over her. He still couldn’t view her the way he did other women he had dated and then told goodbye.
This opportunity had come when he didn’t have a woman in his life. Maybe that heightened the impact of seeing her. In spite of all his hurt and anger over the years, she still made his heart pound and he had to battle desire.
She still felt something, too. It was obvious. She wasn’t happy that she did. That was also obvious. Anger simmered in her constantly, little flares of it showing, although he thought they both were doing a commendable job of being civil to each other.
He wanted her, wanted to kiss her, to seduce her. In spite of his fury, his body still responded to her.
Could he seduce her and then walk away? Perhaps the anger would enable him to do that. Time would tell.
* * *
Her room was still cloaked in predawn darkness when her cell phone rang. Madison reached for the phone and groaned. She ached all over.
“Good morning.” Jake’s voice was cheerful, filled with eagerness and energy, and she wanted to hang up on him. “Are you going today?”
“Yes,” she mumbled and heard him chuckle.
“A little sore?”
“Yes, I am.” She made an effort to try to stay awake.
“I hate to say, ‘I told you so.’ I can give you a rubdown if you want me to come early this morning.”
“No,” she said, coming more awake. “How can you be so cheerful?”
He laughed softly. “I’ll see you in a little while.”
She switched off her phone and sat up, groaning and rubbing her shoulder. “Ugh.” She could imagine Jake arriving looking fresh and energetic and eager to go. With a whimper she stepped out of bed. The smell of coffee was faint and she guessed Jessie Lou already had breakfast ready. Moving carefully, Madison headed to her closet to get her clothes for the day.
When she entered the kitchen, more tempting smells filled the house. “Good morning,” she told Jessie Lou, who turned and pushed glasses up her nose with her wrist.
“Morning. This is an early start.”
“Everything smells good.”
“Help yourself. I’ll cut and toast some of my bread and get you an egg right away. There’s orange juice.”
“I told Jake he and his men could stay here tonight. He accepted the offer and he’ll be here for dinner.”
“I’ll be glad to see him.”
“Can’t say the same for my family. Dad already called to tell me I’m making a mistake,” Madison said as she poured a glass of orange juice.
“Your dad dislikes the Calhouns in a giant way and he doesn’t trust any of them.”
“He feels strongly about the Calhouns, that’s for sure.”
“The judge had a run-in with them when he was young. He and Jake’s dad both bid on all that land that Lindsay Calhoun has now. Mr. Calhoun won. The judge has never forgiven him.”
“That’s too bad Dad didn’t get the land because it adjoins Tony’s ranch. I don’t even remember.”
“You were away in college.”
Madison tilted her head. “You know what happened. Do you think I shouldn’t have let him on the ranch?”
“It’s not for me to say. I haven’t seen Mister Jake in a long time. I’ll tell you after I see him. I suppose I will see him since you asked him to stay here. I always liked him until he up and hurt you,” Jessie Lou said, staring up at Madison through wire-rim bifocals.
“That’s in the past,” Madison replied. “What about the lunches? Can I help you with them?”
“Everything is packed in the picnic basket or the big cooler. You have another cooler for water and a cooler of bottled drinks,” she said, turning off the stove and spooning the scrambled eggs onto a plate, which she handed to Madison.
“Thanks, Jessie Lou,” Madison said, getting her toast and sitting to eat breakfast. Jessie Lou had already placed a bowl of sliced strawberries, kiwi and blueberries on the table. Madison glanced at the clock, wanting to be ready when Jake arrived.
She ate quickly and got showered and dressed. An hour later she watched him emerge from his truck.
To her annoyance he looked just the way she had expected. Sexy and handsome in his Western shirt, tight jeans and Stetson. His stride was long and brisk.
“Good morning,” he said. “You don’t look as if you suffered any from yesterday.”
“I’m great,” she said, smiling at him while hoping she really looked that way. “Ready to go?”
“Absolutely,” he replied. “You lead the way again.”
“Sure. According to our plans, we’ll move along the same side of Rocky Creek today.”
“See you there.”
She watched him walk away, her gaze running across his broad shoulders, down to his narrow waist and long legs. Even with all the cowboys, he stood out because he was the tallest and the best-looking and had a manner about him that conveyed his confidence. She realized how long she’d stood watching him and climbed into her truck where Darren and Stoney waited.
* * *
The day was a repeat of the previous one except for the slight differences of lunch and she didn’t encounter a snake.
Jake dropped the men at the Milan bunkhouse and then drove to her house. She stood waiting at the back gate, holding it open.
He picked up a satchel he had brought and locked his pickup. He waved the bag. “I assume the invitation still stands?”
“Of course. Jessie Lou is cooking and I think she stayed this late just to say hello to you.”
“Can’t wait. She is one fine cook,” he said, closing the gate behind them. “You need your latch fixed,” he said, jiggling the gate.
“I know. I’ll show you where you can put your things and where you’ll be staying. Come on.” His wavy hair was tangled and he hung his hat on the rack in her back entryway as he came in.
Enticing smells of baking bread and a pot roast mingled in the air. They entered the kitchen and Jessie Lou set a covered bowl on the counter, turning to smile at Jake.
“Mister Jake, I think you’ve grown even taller.”
Jake gave her a big smile. “Jessie Lou, it’s good to see the best cook in the state of Texas. I haven’t forgotten a single meal of yours.”
She giggled and her blue eyes sparkled. Her mass of hair was always caught up and tied behind her head with curls springing free all around her face. Madison realized that Jake hadn’t seen her since her red hair had turned white. She still had her freckles and still was short, thin and wiry in spite of all her wonderful cooking.
“How have you been, Jessie Lou?” Jake asked.
“I’m fine and you look mighty fine, too.”
“I do all right. How many grandkids?”
She beamed. “I have sixteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.”
“No way—you don’t look a day older.”
“Then you need to see an eye doctor soon. My hair is white now.”
“Prematurely, and it becomes you. Thanks for cooking dinner tonight. I can’t wait and it smells marvelous.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said, glancing briefly at Madison. “Now this world seems right again.”
Jake grinned. “After dinner I’ll tell you if you still have the magic touch in your cooking. We’re searching for buried treasure, but I think the real treasure is right here in the kitchen.”
She giggled and turned to stir something cooking on top of the stove.
“Would you like a cold beer or some tea or pop?” Madison asked him.
“The cold beer,” he said and she retrieved one from the fridge.
“I for one would like to shower and clean up before dinner,” she said. “Then I’ll have a glass of wine.”
“Good plan.”
“I’ll show you where you will stay while you’re here,” Madison said. “We’ll be back, Jessie Lou,” she stated, leading him out of the kitchen. “There’s a guest suite right down the hall and my suite is upstairs.” She led him into a sitting room in his guest suite.
“If you need anything, just text me. I think you’ll find towels and most everything you need.” She glanced down at the satchel he carried. “That’s not a very big bag. If you need anything we may have some new shirts that will fit you. Look in the dresser drawers and help yourself. There aren’t any extra jeans, though, and I’m afraid I can’t furnish you with underwear.”
“That’s all right. I won’t wear any,” he answered. Although he didn’t smile, she knew he was teasing.
“Yes, you will,” she answered recklessly. “You used to wear underwear.”
“Well, if you’re real curious, you can always find out tonight,” he said and this time there was a twinkle in his eyes and she realized she had started this. They were flirting and getting on dangerous ground. She did not want to flirt, have fun or get emotionally involved with him ever again.
“I think I started something that has to end now,” she told him. “See you in the kitchen or thereabouts. If I’m not there, step outside on the patio.”
“Sure,” he said, giving her a curious look.
She hurried away, feeling her skin tingling. She fought the urge to turn around to see if he was still standing there watching her because she had not heard him move. She went around a corner and let out her breath. “Don’t flirt with him,” she whispered to herself.
She picked up a glass of ice water and went upstairs to her suite to shower and change. She swiftly washed and combed out her hair, blow-drying it and straightening it so it fell over her shoulders and down her back. She pulled on jeans, a blue knit shirt and sandals and went to the kitchen to see about the dinner that Jessie Lou was getting ready.
“Ah, you look pretty now,” Jessie Lou said, smiling at her before turning back to continue stirring gravy in a pan on the gas stove.
Soon Madison heard boot heels and in seconds, Jake entered. He looked as energetic and virile as he had early this morning. When her insides clutched, she hoped she didn’t have any visible reaction to the mere sight of him.
His gaze drifted over her. “You look great. You don’t look as if you could have been climbing around the creek bank since sunrise.”
“Thank you. I definitely feel as if I have been.”
He wore a short-sleeved navy knit shirt tucked into his jeans. “It felt great to get the shower. Jessie Lou, this is the best-smelling kitchen ever. Whatever you’re cooking, I can’t wait.”
She giggled, looking at him intently as she grinned. “I hope you like it. It’s not quite ready yet.”
“We’ll wait until you say it’s time,” Jake answered as she turned back to her cooking.
Madison poured glasses of wine that they carried to the patio. They sat only ten minutes before Jessie Lou appeared. “It’s on the table,” she announced.
They came in to eat and Jessie Lou untied her apron. “Everything is on the table and the pie is on the counter. I’ll be going now and please leave the dishes. I’ll get them in the morning.”
“That’ll be fine. Thank you so much,” Madison said.
“It was good to see you,” Jake told the older woman. “And thank you for this dinner and double thanks for the pie.”
Jessie Lou giggled and smiled. “You haven’t eaten a bite yet.”
“I know.”
She giggled again and turned away, disappearing into the utility room. In minutes the back door closed and a lock clicked as she left the house.
They helped themselves to the pot roast with thick brown gravy, fluffy white rolls and creamy mashed potatoes sprinkled with tiny bits of green chives. Slender green asparagus had been steamed along with slices of carrots.
“She is still the best cook ever,” Jake said as he ate. “This roast is tender and delicious.”
“I have to agree,” Madison said. “I’m lucky to have her because some of her children want her to come live with them.”
“I would, too, if she were my mother.”
“You just want a cook.”
“Have you ever seen her without a smile?”
“She can get angry,” Madison said, remembering when she had to tell Jessie Lou that Jake had left her on her wedding day. Jessie hadn’t been smiles then and she had held Madison when she had cried, something her own mother hadn’t done. Jessie Lou had kept shaking her head and repeating, “I would never have thought him to be mean like that.”
Madison realized Jake was talking to her and focused on him, forgetting Jessie Lou and letting Jake charm her through dinner.
They sat on the patio until long after dark had come and the outside lights and pool lights came on automatically.
By ten o’clock, Madison was thirsty.
“Would you like iced tea, or wine, beer...or whiskey? What would you like?” Madison asked him.
“I’ll just take another cold beer,” he said, getting up to follow her into the kitchen. “I have some cashews we can have with our drinks,” she said, standing on tiptoe, trying to reach a bowl on a high shelf. “I want this bowl—”
His hands closed on her waist to move her away. She turned abruptly.
“I’ll get it,” he said, but when she faced him, he inhaled and stood still. His dark gaze enveloped her and she couldn’t get her breath. All she could think was that he looked as if he intended to kiss her. Her heart drummed a pounding rhythm and she couldn’t move, not her hands from his arms or her eyes from his gaze. His glance lowered to her mouth and she leaned toward him. His fingers wound in her hair while his other hand slipped around her waist and pulled her against him.
The moment she pressed against him she was lost. She wanted his kiss in spite of the constant smoldering anger that flared up anytime she was reminded of the past. At that moment she couldn’t move away if her life depended on it.
Desire blazed in his eyes. “Damn, Madison,” he whispered, scowling. He wound his fingers in her hair and pulled slightly so she had to turn her face up.
His mouth came down on hers hard, his tongue thrusting deep into her mouth and then stroking hers slowly, teasing.
She moaned while her insides knotted with longing. His arm tightened around her waist while he bent over her, tasting, branding her with his possessive kiss. She wasn’t aware of wrapping her arm around his neck until she was clinging tightly to him. He was solid, muscled, much more so than she remembered. His kiss was stormy and passionate. She kissed him back as if she had been waiting for this moment since the night he’d walked out on her, jilting her the day she had expected to be saying her wedding vows.
When he leaned over farther, she held him tightly, kissing him in return, unable to resist winding her fingers in his hair. Her heart pounded harder, louder, and a moan escaped from deep in her throat. Her flesh heated, burned, ached for his touch. The anger, the hurt and pain and dreadful memories all were replaced by desire.
Her world narrowed until there was only this man, this kiss. She poured herself into the kiss, taking everything she’d missed all these years. Jake slid his mouth from hers, hungrily nipping at her lips, her ear, her throat. Like a dying man she gasped for air. The cool air was like a blanket over a flame, smothering her ardor. As it rushed into her heated lungs, she realized what she was doing. She broke away, stepping out of his embrace and gasping for breath.
“I never meant for that to happen,” she said. She ran from him, picking up her wine and heading into the adjoining family room that overlooked the patio and pool and gardens.
She stood looking at the blue pool, trying to get her breath and ignore the overpowering longing that shook her. Torn between wanting him and hating her loss of control, she sipped the wine. She thought she was over wanting him, beyond responding to him. His kiss shattered that illusion. She didn’t want to yearn for his kisses, to ache to be held by him.
He didn’t want it, either. She had heard the whispered expletive before he kissed her. Should she tell him to get out and go back to his ranch or to the bunkhouse with his men? She was tempted, but she didn’t want him to know that she cared that much, that the kiss had rattled her that badly.
Making an effort to pull herself together so she could overlook and make light of the incident as if his kiss had not disturbed her and meant nothing, she took deep breaths.
She heard him moving around in the kitchen and when she turned he was standing in front of her, with his beer and the cashews in the bowl he had gotten from the cabinet.
He placed the bowl on the coffee table and they sat on opposing couches, neither speaking for a moment. She sipped her wine and tried not to watch him. She was unsuccessful. Jake looked relaxed, his long legs stretched out, crossed at his ankles. He didn’t look as if he felt any inner turmoil or was racked with desire. Was he making an effort as much as she to appear indifferent or did he really feel that way?
She would never have an answer. Her insides churned. The kiss had stirred too many old feelings that she had thought were gone forever. She wanted to fling accusations at him and ask him why, but she wasn’t going there. She intended to avoid a confrontation with him. She didn’t want him to realize how much she still hurt over what he had done.
Instead, she talked about the fruitless search they’d endured this second day. It was the most innocuous topic she could think of. Imagine that, she thought. The generations-old feud that had involved murder and deception was a safe topic. But then anything that didn’t involve his kiss was safe.
“I still think we’re searching in the right area, but I also am aware that we could be on the wrong side of the ranch or it could be on your ranch,” she said, hating the huskiness in her voice. She cleared her throat.
“That would be a hoot if both families had spent well over one hundred years searching and digging on the wrong ranch.”
“It wouldn’t be funny to some members of our families. Not to the ones who searched so much and so hard.”
“No, it wouldn’t. I hope we’re not doing that.”
“There’s always a strong possibility that your old map and the legend, the rumors, everything might all just be a hoax.”
“I have to at least try to find where they had the gunfight. That part of the story sounds like something that actually occurred.” As they sat there talking about the day, she said the right words, responded to his comments in the right manner, but her errant thoughts betrayed her. Nothing could keep her mind from wandering back to the kiss. It had taken hold of her and wouldn’t let her go. His kiss had opened a door that she had kept closed since high school. Desire simmered in her, but anger was bubbling inside her and she just wanted to end this night before she said things to him she shouldn’t.
She stood up abruptly, cutting off what he said and she didn’t hear. “I’m turning in. It’s been a long day.”
He stood, too, with his hands on his hips. His gaze lowered to her mouth and tingles disturbed her. She turned and left the room before her anger spilled over. Drawing in deep breaths, she reached the stairs...but there she lost the battle raging inside her. She turned and went back.
He stood much as she had left him except he was by the windows with his back to her. She wondered if he was actually looking at the pool or lost in thought.
“Jake,” she said, crossing the room to stand near him as he turned to face her. She couldn’t control her fury any longer.
“I think I’ve waited long enough. Why did you walk out on me when we were supposed to run away and get married?”