Laney Jenkins glared at the man sitting tall astride a gelding as red as its master’s hair. “One more word, and I’m going to flatten you, Luke St. John.”
She could admit she was a little dusty from the trail, and who wouldn’t need a bath to wash away the smell and grime after two weeks of herding cattle? But that didn’t give Luke any right to insult her.
A shrug lifted his well-muscled shoulders. “I stand by what I said. You’re as dirty as you were the first time I laid eyes on you.” Luke’s lazy grin infuriated Laney all the more. “I remember you walked into the school looking and smelling like you’d just had a tumble with a herd of pigs.”
Laney’s ire rose, and she clutched the leather reins, fighting for control over her raging emotions. She felt grimy from driving the cattle to Abilene, tired from her turn at keeping watch last night, and her behind ached from day after day of sitting on the hard seat of the supply wagon.
She hated the trip more each time she made it. Going along with Papa Dell and the ranch hands had started out as an adventure, but she would have stopped after the first drive if not for Luke suggesting she was too much of a tenderfoot to endure the hardship. Now, enduring the hardship was a matter of principle.
But she’d made her point once again, and home was only a few miles away. She longed for a leisurely hot bath, a home-cooked meal, and a good night’s sleep in her own bed. She certainly didn’t need Luke’s insults. Nor would she stand for them.
“Luke,” she said slowly, warning thick in her voice. “I mean it. You hush up, or I’m going to knock you off that horse and give you a sound thrashing.”
“I doubt you could,” he challenged, his grin firmly planted on his freckled face. “Besides, when are you going to start acting like a girl? Or do you even know how?”
“I—you—” she sputtered. Oh, why could she never come up with a good retort to put him in his place?
“Close your mouth before you swallow a bug,” Luke baited.
“That’s it!” Laney shot from the wagon seat, propelled her body toward Luke, and knocked him from his horse. His startled cry gave Laney more than a little satisfaction as they landed together on the rain-deprived earth. Ignoring the pain in her left leg, she held on to his shoulders and rolled, waiting for an opportunity to whale the daylights out of him. In a flash, he overpowered her. He straddled her, pinning her hands to the ground with his palms.
“Stop it,” he growled, his green eyes flashing mere inches above hers. “You know I can’t hit you back.”
“You couldn’t get close enough to hit me, Luke St. John!” She glared up at him.
The corners of his lips twitched at her ridiculous statement. Something akin to a growl gargled in her throat, and she kicked fruitlessly against the ground beneath her heels. She gave a violent twist, trying to free herself.
“Cut it out.” Luke pressed harder on her hands, his face screwed up in disgust. “I don’t know what’s got into you lately. You can’t even take a little teasing anymore.”
“Maybe I’m just sick of you,” she spat. “Ever think of that?” Being this near to Luke, feeling his warm breath on her face, was too achingly close for comfort. If he didn’t let her up soon, she’d most likely do something stupid like throw her arms around him and declare her love right then and there.
“I’ll let you up if you promise to stop acting so ignorant and get back in the wagon.”
“Sounds like a good idea.” A shadow fell across them, accompanying the stern voice. Laney glanced up to find Luke’s tall, lean pa astride his mount. Brows furrowed, he glared down at his son. “Get off of her. I didn’t raise you to manhandle women.”
Luke’s face reddened, making his freckles pop out even farther. He stood and reached down for Laney.
Laney grasped his hand and felt herself being hauled upright. The thick tension passing between father and son felt almost tangible, and guilt pricked her.
“It was my fault, Papa Dell. I—I took offense to something Luke said.”
Dell glanced sternly at Luke. “What have I told you about the way you speak to Laney? I’ve half a mind to let her give you a sound whipping.”
Luke slapped his Stetson hard against his thigh. Laney cringed, knowing his action was more from frustration than the need to dust off his hat. Now he’d be madder than ever. Mad at her.
With his eyes as cold as emeralds, Luke pressed his hat against his chest and gave her an exaggerated bow. “I apologize from the bottom of my heart, fair Laney. I should never have suggested you aren’t the epitome of ladyhood.”
Laney wasn’t sure ladyhood was even a word, but the implication hit her full in the stomach. Heat rushed to her cheeks. She clenched her fists and swept a sideways glance at Papa Dell. No. She’d better not tear into Luke right now, or she’d get the same scolding he was getting.
“We can do without the sarcasm,” Papa Dell drawled. “Now mount up, and let’s get home.”
“Yes, Pa,” Luke mumbled.
With a satisfied nod, Papa Dell turned his horse and rode after the three ranch hands who appeared as mere dots on the horizon. Luke’s gaze followed his pa’s retreating form. Laney could see the struggle in his expression, and her heart went out to him, sifting the anger from her like a sieve. The two men often disagreed about the ranch. Luke complained that his pa was too set in his ways, and the older man always said there was no reason to change what had worked well for over twenty years. No one could deny that the St. John ranch prospered more than any ranch in the area, but Laney had to wonder why his pa couldn’t at least consider some of Luke’s ideas.
Clearing her throat, she reached out tentatively, then stopped short of touching Luke’s arm as he turned to her, eyes blazing.
“Get in the wagon, and let’s get out of here.”
That was the last time she’d try apologizing to him! “Well, you don’t have to be such an ol’ bear about it. It’s not my fault your pa rode back to check on us and caught you pinning me to the ground.”
“Which,” Luke said through gritted teeth, “I wouldn’t have been doing if you hadn’t knocked me off my horse in the first place.”
Hands on her hips, Laney stamped her foot and glared back at him. “You shouldn’t have suggested I don’t act like a girl.”
“Suggested? I’m saying plain as day you don’t act like a woman. Just look at you.” Reaching forward, he flicked her Stetson from her head.
“Hey!” Snatching at the air, Laney made a futile attempt to catch the hat before it landed on the ground. Leaving it, she glowered. “Wearing britches and a hat don’t make me no less a woman than a person in ruffles and petticoats.”
“I didn’t say you’re less of a woman. I said you don’t act like the rest of them.” He gave her a pointed look. “And you don’t.”
Narrowing her gaze, Laney sized him up. She cocked her head to the side. “What do you know about women anyway?”
Deep creases etched his brow. “Just forget about it, okay?”
“No,” she challenged. “I want to know. Just how do you think a woman is supposed to act?” The air between them grew still as she waited. What sort of woman was Luke looking for? Could she ever measure up?
He hesitated a moment, regarding her frankly. “You know, all soft and…womanly. I don’t know, Laney. Just let it be.”
“Womanly?” Dejectedly Laney glanced down at her faded britches and ripped shirt. Soft and womanly pretty much excluded her from the list of possible candidates for Luke’s affection.
He looked pensively toward the orange horizon, where the sun was making a final bow before disappearing into the night sky. A sense of foreboding coursed through Laney at the faraway look in his eyes.
“What do you mean by ‘womanly’?”
He shifted his gaze back to her, searching. Laney’s heart pounded in her ears at his uncharacteristically intense manner. He spoke slowly, thoughtfully. “A man wants a woman he can take into his arms and feel like she needs him to protect her.” Laney stiffened as a hint of the old teasing creased the corners of his eyes. “In all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never once even let me lead a dance.”
Laney smarted under his criticism and was about to retort when he strode forward and retrieved her hat from the ground. He towered over her tiny frame. The angry words fled her mind as he placed the Stetson gently atop her head and looked down into her eyes. “You’re a pretty girl, Laney.”
Laney’s hopes soared at his words and then sank as he continued. “But pretty isn’t all a man wants.” He smiled an almost bitter smile. “You don’t need anyone to take care of you. You can outride, outshoot, and outtrack most of the men living in and around Harper, and everyone knows it. A fellow doesn’t want a wife who’s more of a man than he is.” He laughed. “You’d probably expect your husband to scrub the floors and cook the food you shoot.”
His laughter was all the humiliation Laney could take. There was only one way to prove to him she was as much of a woman as any of the frilly, eye-batting, teeth-flashing ninnies of Harper out to trap him into matrimony.
With a determined lift of her chin, she took a step closer until she stood mere inches from him.
“What are you doing?” Suspicion thickened his tone, and he moved back.
Silently she took another step forward without breaking his startled gaze. Then before she could change her mind or he could get away, she inched her arms upward until they clasped behind his neck.
“What do you think you’re—”
Without a word, Laney rose up on her toes and kissed him full on the lips. He stood motionless for only an instant, then his arms encircled her waist, pressing her closer. Laney’s senses reeled as her plan backfired and Luke took control. His mouth moved over hers until she clung to him. When he gently released her, they stood for a moment, gazes locked, chests heaving.
“Do you want to tell me what that was all about?” Luke asked, visibly shaken, but scowling as if he hadn’t responded to the kiss.
Laney stepped back.
“Well?” he asked.
“D–don’t ever say I’m not a woman again!”
Giving him no chance to respond, she spun around on the heel of her boot and stomped to Luke’s horse, Rusty. She mounted the gelding.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m sick of that wagon.” She glared down at him, daring him to try to stop her. “You take it to the ranch. I’m going straight home.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll be over tomorrow to pick up my horse.”
“Fine.” Needing to distance herself from him as quickly as possible, Laney nudged the horse into a gallop and left Luke standing beside the wagon.
The memory of Luke’s lips on hers taunted Laney as she headed for Harper. She squirmed under the humiliation. How could she have been so stupid? Now Luke would know she cared for him. Things would never be the same again.
A cloud of dust rose up around Laney as she sped away. Luke stared after her, shaking his head. She ought to have more sense than to ride Rusty so hard after weeks on the trail.
He climbed onto the wagon seat and flapped the reins. What had crazy little Laney been thinking, kissing him like that? She couldn’t even let a man make the first move. Not that he ever would have. He’d never thought of Laney romantically. But he had to admit, their kiss was something. Even now, the memory of her soft, full lips beneath his stirred him.
With a frustrated grunt, Luke tried to remove the image of her wide, doelike eyes staring up at him in wonder after he released her. It wasn’t like he’d never kissed a girl before. He’d stolen plenty of kisses behind the schoolhouse and on buggy rides, but none had affected him like this one.
Whatever possessed him to draw her into his arms and respond to her kiss the way he had? Laney, of all people! She’d grown up in his older sister, Tarah’s, home. Luke and Laney had played together, fished together, hunted together, and for the past two years worked the ranch together. But mostly they fought. Luke grinned in spite of his confusion. Laney could get riled up quicker than an ol’ tomcat stuck in a tree, and he knew just how to get her spittin’ mad. To her credit, she never held a grudge. Once she said her piece, that was that and she was ready to be friends again.
His friend, his buddy, his pal…or was their kiss an indication there was more than friendship between them?
Luke chided himself for the idiotic thought worming its way into his mind. He shook his head. How could there be anything romantic between them? That was about the dumbest thing he’d ever thought of. And it was her fault. If she hadn’t been so fired up to prove she was a woman—and she’d pretty well made her point—he wouldn’t be so addlepated about everything.
He stared into the dusky sky. Things would never be the same between them again. She’d expect him to court her now. And she’d be within her rights to expect it after the way he’d kissed her.
Luke slapped at his thigh. He’d made a big mess of things by not throwing her away from him and giving her a good chewing out for even trying to kiss him. If only it hadn’t seemed so right….
“What do you mean, you aren’t going to the dance tonight?”
Seated on the edge of her bed, Laney forced herself to meet Tarah Greene’s gaze head-on. “Exactly what I said. I’m staying home.”
“Now you listen to me, Laney Jenkins. You’ve been moping around this house for two weeks—always making excuses not to go to the ranch or even to church. Are you going to tell me what happened on that trail, or am I going to have to go ask Pa?”
Laney knew better than to try to skirt around the issue any longer. When Tarah tossed her head of coal black hair, she meant business.
Laney threw herself across her bed, landing on her stomach, chin planted firmly in her palm. “I kissed Luke,” she admitted flatly, wishing for all she was worth the episode had been only another of her delicious dreams instead of a wretched bit of reality.
After a moment of silence, Laney turned her head to see if Tarah was still in the room. Tarah grinned as Laney’s gaze found hers. “Are you telling me you and Luke are courting now?”
“No. He was teasing me, as usual, about not acting like a girl, and I just…up and kissed him.” Laney emitted a low groan. “He makes me so mad, Tarah. Always insinuating I’m somewhere between a male and female just because I like to wear britches and boots.” Laney gave a frustrated wave of her hand. “So what did I do? I had to go and show him I’m all woman.”
Tarah lowered herself carefully to the bed beside Laney. “Believe me,” she said, her lips twitching, “as Luke’s sister and former schoolteacher, I know how infuriating he can be. The thing that surprises me is your reaction to it after all these years. I would have expected you to ignore him or punch him…but a kiss? Where did that come from?”
“From me, unfortunately.” Laney heaved a sigh as she stared morosely at the ceiling. “Now he’ll probably think I want him to court me like some weak-kneed sissy-girl with a lacy parasol.”
“You know, Laney, there’s no shame in being a woman. And looking like one,” Tarah said with a pointed glance at Laney’s faded britches. “And there’s nothing wrong with wanting a man to court you.”
She shrugged. “It’s okay for other women—just not for me, that’s all. It’s not like I don’t wear skirts when I go to town or for church on Sunday. But I have to wear britches on the ranch. How can I herd cattle in a dress? And if Luke wants the kind of woman who faints and flutters, then I wasted a perfectly good kiss on a big, dumb…dumb…!” She hated it when she couldn’t think of just the right insult, even if he wasn’t in the room to hear it.
“Honestly, Laney. Don’t fret about it.” Tarah stood as gracefully as her protruding stomach would allow and planted her hands on her hips, rounded from bearing three babies in the past eight years. “Don’t wear a dress on the ranch and at home if you’d rather not—you know, no one in the family cares about that. And don’t waste any more kisses on Luke—although it served him right that you gave him one in the first place. But you have to come to the dance. Half the women there will be wearing gowns you made. You never know how many orders you might get for more, once word gets out that you made the prettiest dresses at the dance.”
The thought was tempting. Laney’s mind floated to her growing nest egg. If she could sell a few more dresses, she’d have enough to put a down payment on the old soddy Mr. Garner was willing to sell to her along with five acres now with an option to buy more.
As if reading her mind, Tarah sighed heavily. “I hate the thought of you moving out. You should stay with us until you marry. Then you and your husband would have a fine start with the money you’ve socked away.”
Laney’s eyes widened. “Give my money to a man? Are you crazy, Tarah? Pa took everything we had and drank it away. I’m going to make sure I have everything I need, and I’ll never let a man boss me. No siree. That might be okay for some women, but not me—ever! When I marry, I’ll make sure my property is protected so he can’t take it and squander it all away. My young’uns will be taken care of.”
Tarah gave her a pitying smile—one that carried a secret Laney felt she would never be privy to. “Laney honey,” Tarah said, “when you find a man who really loves you, he won’t want to boss you around. You’ll be partners.”
Laney snorted.
“It’s true.” Tarah’s smile widened, and she sent Laney a wink. “And you know what else?”
“What?” Laney asked, narrowing her gaze in suspicion.
“You’ll gladly give him all the money you have, because you’ll be able to trust him to use it wisely, and if he is a smart man—which I have no doubt he will be—he’ll want all the input from you he can get about how to spend it.”
Laney stood, inclining her head in a jerky nod. “I won’t marry a dumb man. That’s for sure. Still, I reckon I’ll do it my way just in case he takes to drinking. That makes a man stupid real fast.”
Tarah chuckled and hugged Laney tightly. “Oh Laney. God has such a wonderful plan for your life. I only hope you’re not too stubborn to let Him unfold it for you.”
“God gave me a good head on my shoulders and two sturdy hands. I reckon He expects me to do the rest. And, Tarah, I fully intend to make sure I can take care of myself.”
Laney squirmed under that pity-smile again.
“Then come out to the Moodys’ farm for the dance. I could use your help with the kids.”
Laney gave a short laugh. The whole town loved Reverend Greene, Tarah, and their three children. Once she walked through the barn doors, Tarah wouldn’t see those children again until they were ready to leave.
Caught in her manipulation, Tarah gave her a sheepish grin and shrugged. “Okay, maybe I won’t need help with the children, but you still have to go. We won’t have nearly as much fun without you. Now come on. I took your blue skirt off the line today. I noticed it’s getting a bit thin. You may want to take time out to sew another one before it’s too threadbare to do any good. Anyway, the tub’s filled and waiting for you in the kitchen.”
Unable to withstand Tarah’s pleading eyes, Laney relented. “All right. But only because I might get some business out of it.”
“Wonderful!” Tarah said, her violet eyes sparkling. “I’ll leave you to get ready for your bath, then.”
Laney watched the door close behind Tarah. Her stomach jumped at the thought of seeing Luke for the first time since their kiss. Would he act any differently? Would he ask her to dance like old times? She’d be careful to let him lead this time. Following wasn’t easy for her, but she could do anything she set her mind to. Especially if it meant proving to Luke she was a woman.
Fleetingly her mind drifted to the blue silk gown in her wardrobe. The fashionable bustle was sure to make Luke take notice. As far as Laney knew, no one else would be wearing a bustle this evening. The woman who had commissioned the gown had gained at least fifteen pounds between the time she had ordered the dress and waited her turn for Laney to sew it. There wasn’t enough material to make it fit, so Laney had to take a loss on the sale.
She walked to the wardrobe, opened it, and fingered the delicate material. The loss of money might be worth the look in Luke’s eyes when he saw her wearing this.
“Laney?” Tarah’s voice drifted through the door.
Laney jumped and snatched her hand away as though she were a thief caught stealing priceless jewels. “What?” she snapped.
“If you don’t take your bath right now, we’ll be late for the dance.”
“You all go on ahead of me. I’ll get ready and follow on Colby.”
“Are you sure, Laney? We can wait if you’ll hurry.”
“I’d rather ride.”
Laney felt Tarah’s hesitation.
“Honest, Tarah. You go on. The preacher’s family can’t be late. I’ll be along soon. I promise.”
“All right. We’ll see you there.”
Laney smiled at the relief in Tarah’s tone. Laney always kept her promises. Tarah knew that and trusted her. The knowledge warmed Laney.
Laney Jenkins didn’t lie, she didn’t cheat, and she never, ever went back on her word no matter how much it cost her. She grabbed her simple muslin skirt and fresh blue gingham shirt from the wardrobe, then slammed the wardrobe shut. Most of all she never, ever resorted to frills to win a man’s attention. Luke would have to take her as she was, or he could forget it!
Dejectedly Laney studied her reflection in the vanity mirror. Luke had already told her what kind of woman he wanted, and she didn’t come close to fitting his ideal. She jerked her chin. Oh well. Let him marry some snippy, drippy, fainting ninny. Laney Jenkins would be just fine on her own. Everything was going according to plan. If her dresses kept selling, she would soon have the down payment on her own land. She’d be self-reliant, and the Jenkins name would be brought to honor instead of the shame her pa had made of it.
Who needed Luke St. John, anyway?