sure if we meet again, I’ll not
be the gentleman I’ve been today. I have plans for you and me, and soon.” His
veiled threat came through much louder than his phony attempt at courtesy.
Her stomach roiled. He had plans? There was no way in hell
she’d involve herself with him in anything, but this was neither the time nor
place to further engage him. Angry words bubbled, waiting to be hurled at Jeb.
Instead Ellie bit her tongue so hard she tasted blood.
Just let him ride away.
For once, she listened to her sensible side. When she no
longer heard hoof beats, she crawled the short distance to where her Smith
& Wesson lay. Her hands shook as she clutched the cold metal to her chest.
She glared down the empty path, her hatred for Jeb Bryant running through her
like a fever. “You’ll never get Fountainhead as long as I’m alive…or touch me
again.”
Chapter Five
Ellie stood and holstered her weapon. Her stomach knotted.
She waited a few moments to make sure Jeb didn’t return, then stood and brushed
the dried leaves and grass from her clothing.
Shaken by
the realization of what had just happened, she swallowed hard and battled
tears. Things could have turned ugly. The perfect circle in the middle of her
target served as a grim reminder of his expert marksmanship. She shivered. That
day at Fountainhead, he could have killed her, if that had been his intent.
She wiped at her shirt, trying to erase the feel of his
hands, especially the brazen manner in which he grabbed her breast. Just his
mere touch made her want to bathe.
The realization of her encounter turned her knees to jelly.
She steadied herself against a tree and waited for the weakness to pass. How
dare Jeb man-handle her. How dare he threaten her in any way?
She pondered Ty’s reaction if she confided in him and shook
her head.
Why tell him at all? He’d been hired as the ranch foreman,
not her personal guard. Sharing the incident would be like giving a nod of
approval to butt into her business. Besides, if Jeb hadn’t taken her by
surprise, she could have easily handled the situation. Or could she?
She knuckled away a tear and scolded herself for being such
a baby.
After a composing deep breath, Ellie crossed to the target.
Jeb’s dead-on hit amid her errant shots mocked her. She ripped the paper
bull’s-eye from the tree, crinkled it into a ball and tossed it into the
bushes. If only it was his face. God, she hated him so much it hurt. The mental
image of his cocky smirk made her jaw go rigid.
Ellie started to unbuckle her holster, but thought better of
it. Maybe she’d leave it on until she got closer to home.
Humph! You had it in your hand and he still...
But it wasn’t her fault he crept up on her. Heck, it could
have happened to anybody. She’d have to be more careful from now on.
She mounted Chessie, wondering how to warn her father about
the Bryants’ planned offer on Fountainhead. Pa already knew they wanted to grab
as much land as they could, and he had no intention of selling it to them or
anyone else. Still, he needed to know what those dirty polecats had in mind.
Something underhanded, she’d bet. A shiver passed through
her as Jeb’s words rang in her ears…“a plan for you”.
If she told the whole truth, she could start a range war on
her own. If Pa so much as thought Jeb laid hands on her, Jeb would be on the
receiving end of hot lead. It was a pleasing image, but still a dilemma. Pa
could get hurt, too.
On the ride home, Ellie decided against mentioning anything
that had transpired. She’d handle Jeb in her own way. She just had to decide
what that was. If only Jeb was more like his brother.
How could two people who looked so much alike be so
different? Like the same breed of horses, she reckoned; one with a mean streak
and one easily tamed.
Although she rode at a good clip, she kept a nervous watch
over her shoulder. The big “F” finally appeared on the
be the gentleman I’ve been today. I have plans for you and me, and soon.” His
veiled threat came through much louder than his phony attempt at courtesy.
Her stomach roiled. He had plans? There was no way in hell
she’d involve herself with him in anything, but this was neither the time nor
place to further engage him. Angry words bubbled, waiting to be hurled at Jeb.
Instead Ellie bit her tongue so hard she tasted blood.
Just let him ride away.
For once, she listened to her sensible side. When she no
longer heard hoof beats, she crawled the short distance to where her Smith
& Wesson lay. Her hands shook as she clutched the cold metal to her chest.
She glared down the empty path, her hatred for Jeb Bryant running through her
like a fever. “You’ll never get Fountainhead as long as I’m alive…or touch me
again.”
Chapter Five
Ellie stood and holstered her weapon. Her stomach knotted.
She waited a few moments to make sure Jeb didn’t return, then stood and brushed
the dried leaves and grass from her clothing.
Shaken by
the realization of what had just happened, she swallowed hard and battled
tears. Things could have turned ugly. The perfect circle in the middle of her
target served as a grim reminder of his expert marksmanship. She shivered. That
day at Fountainhead, he could have killed her, if that had been his intent.
She wiped at her shirt, trying to erase the feel of his
hands, especially the brazen manner in which he grabbed her breast. Just his
mere touch made her want to bathe.
The realization of her encounter turned her knees to jelly.
She steadied herself against a tree and waited for the weakness to pass. How
dare Jeb man-handle her. How dare he threaten her in any way?
She pondered Ty’s reaction if she confided in him and shook
her head.
Why tell him at all? He’d been hired as the ranch foreman,
not her personal guard. Sharing the incident would be like giving a nod of
approval to butt into her business. Besides, if Jeb hadn’t taken her by
surprise, she could have easily handled the situation. Or could she?
She knuckled away a tear and scolded herself for being such
a baby.
After a composing deep breath, Ellie crossed to the target.
Jeb’s dead-on hit amid her errant shots mocked her. She ripped the paper
bull’s-eye from the tree, crinkled it into a ball and tossed it into the
bushes. If only it was his face. God, she hated him so much it hurt. The mental
image of his cocky smirk made her jaw go rigid.
Ellie started to unbuckle her holster, but thought better of
it. Maybe she’d leave it on until she got closer to home.
Humph! You had it in your hand and he still...
But it wasn’t her fault he crept up on her. Heck, it could
have happened to anybody. She’d have to be more careful from now on.
She mounted Chessie, wondering how to warn her father about
the Bryants’ planned offer on Fountainhead. Pa already knew they wanted to grab
as much land as they could, and he had no intention of selling it to them or
anyone else. Still, he needed to know what those dirty polecats had in mind.
Something underhanded, she’d bet. A shiver passed through
her as Jeb’s words rang in her ears…“a plan for you”.
If she told the whole truth, she could start a range war on
her own. If Pa so much as thought Jeb laid hands on her, Jeb would be on the
receiving end of hot lead. It was a pleasing image, but still a dilemma. Pa
could get hurt, too.
On the ride home, Ellie decided against mentioning anything
that had transpired. She’d handle Jeb in her own way. She just had to decide
what that was. If only Jeb was more like his brother.
How could two people who looked so much alike be so
different? Like the same breed of horses, she reckoned; one with a mean streak
and one easily tamed.
Although she rode at a good clip, she kept a nervous watch
over her shoulder. The big “F” finally appeared on the
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