White Wolf by Susan Edwards Page B

with her brother had managed to do in one brief meeting.
    She was grateful when Wolf joined both her and Rook, putting an end to her disturbing thoughts. Staring into his set features, she noted that the brief flash of compassion she’d glimpsed earlier was gone. Though he stared hard at her, he addressed James.
    “It’s settled. Jessie goes—with you—where he belongs. But from what I’ve seen, he’s not responsible enough to work with the cattle,” Wolf announced grimly, drawing himself up to his full six-foot-plus height.
    Resenting the slur on her abilities, she stepped forward, hands on her hips. “I’m as good with cattle as my brothers are, aren’t I, James?”
    James choked and refused to meet her pleading gaze. His fingers massaged the back of his neck as he paced behind Wolf. “If you’d just listen to me, Wolf. You don’t understand. Jessie is short for—”
    Rook stepped out of the shadows behind her, cutting James off. “I could use some help with the cookin’.” His bushy white brows winged upward as he winked down at her. “Can ya cook and wash dishes, boy? ”
    Holding her breath, Jessie stared into Rook’s amused blue eyes. His use of the word boy let her know he’d had the same thought as she. She recalled his parting advice to her earlier: If you’s meant ta go, a way’ll open up. You jest make sure you’re ready to take it. It looked as though one had. The question was, did she dare take it?
    “Well? We’re waiting,” Wolf reminded her.
    “Jessie…” James warned.
    Jessie averted her gaze from her brother. Could she really do it? Pass herself off as a boy for the entire two-thousand-mile trip? Yes! If it meant going to Oregon with her brothers, she would do it. She hid her grin of elation under a scowl. “I can cook as well as any girl,” she bragged.
    Strands of golden-brown hair scraped the tops of each leather-shrouded shoulder as Wolf pulled Jessie to his side, then addressed James, who was swearing beneath his breath. “My decision is final. The boy goes or none of you go.”
    Stark silence met his ultimatum. Jessie held her breath and waited anxiously as James strode to the open doorway, one hand leaning on the rough planks of wood as he stared out into the night, his shoulders stiff with tension. Please, James, she begged silently. It was the perfect solution. As the silence stretched, she stared at the straw-strewn ground, unable to watch him wrestle with his conscience. She felt bad knowing she was the cause of his inner turmoil. She tried to go to him but strong fingers dug into her shoulder.
    Warmth seeped through her shirt beneath Wolf’s firm touch. Jessie puzzled over her reaction to the man at her side whose close presence sent heated blood thrumming through her veins. She sneaked a quick glance sideways and frowned. Admitting to any feelings of attraction to a hard, cold, insensitive man like Wolf was unthinkable. If Wolf knew the truth, he’d refuse to let her go. Surely it was the anxiety and tension flowing around the four people in the barn that was affecting her so oddly.
    James turned, defeat written across his face. “This ain’t what it seems, Wolf, but you’re the boss. I just hope you remember that I tried to tell you.”
    Jessie released her pent-up breath, her heart filled with joy. She was going to Oregon after all. The look James threw her way warned her that things were far from settled between them, but she’d worry about that later. For now, she was so relieved, she grinned happily.
    Wolf glanced down at her. Jessie wiped the grin from her lips and ducked her head, unable to face those bright cobalt eyes that seemed to pin her to the spot. She shivered, struck with the sudden knowledge that she’d rue this day should Wolf discover the truth.
    “It’s settled then. As of now, Jessie Jones, I’m the boss, and when I’m not around, Rook’s word goes. You work with him and do as he tells you or you’ll answer to me,