TY STOOD BACK AS HENRY greeted Rafe Marshall. Their warm smiles and firm handshakes indicated both men held tremendous respect for each other. I once had that kind of respect. He pushed the troubling thought away. Can’t live in the past. Get on with the present.

“Thank you again for recommending Ty there, Henry. Damn good man.”

Henry smiled at his friend. “You won’t find a better one.”

The compliments, unexpected and sincere, caught Ty off guard. “Thank you,” he said softly.

“Not many men I know can deal with my Emma every day.” Rafe’s hoarse laugh was weak. “But you seem to do it just fine.”

“She’s a smart girl.”

He grunted. “I wouldn’t call her girl to her face.”

“Not if you want to keep all your body parts intact,” said Henry.

Ty shrugged. What could he say to that?

Rafe nodded toward the window which provided a view of the front yard, corrals and a corner of the barn. “I appreciate you suggesting we move my bed down from upstairs, Ty. I like bein’ able to see what’s going on outside.”

He debated whether or not to tell him Emma suggested it and wanted him to get the credit because she didn’t think Rafe would do it otherwise. Honesty won out. “Actually, it was Emma’s idea. I just helped with the move.”

Emma’s father didn’t speak for a heartbeat. “I was worried sick when Midnight come in without her. Henry assured me whatever happened, you would take care of Emma.”

Ty quickly explained what happened.

Rafe’s rusty laugh brought a touch of color to his ashen cheeks. “How’d you get her to do it? Hogtie her?”

Ty shook his head. “Told her she wasn’t walking. Like I said, she’s a smart girl – uh, woman, and knew I was right.”

Rafe looked at Henry, then back to Ty. His left brow shot up and his lips twitched.

Ty eyed the two men staring at him with a combination of awe and amusement. What the hell? She rode in front of me…what’s the big deal? “She’s not unreasonable.”

Rafe cackled. “Just wait, boy, just wait.”

Further comments were halted by a quick knock on the door, and Sarah came wobbling in.

“Good evening, Mr. Rafe. You’re looking much better today.” She sat on the edge of the bed and patted his hand. “Emma wanted me to see if maybe you felt up to joining us for supper tonight instead of eating in here alone.”

Rafe shook his head. “You young folks got a lot of catching up to do. Don’t need an ol’ fool like me in there.”

“Nonsense,” sniffed Sarah. “If you feel up to it, we insist you join us. I know Emma would be pleased.”

Ty didn’t think Rafe possessed the energy for it. His strength ebbed and flowed these days, but the smile on the older man’s face at her suggestion made him swallow his concerns. Besides, he did think Emma would like having him there.

Henry helped get him in the rolling chair and Ty pushed him to the dining room.

Lupe added the last items to the center of the table when they entered. “Señor Rafe! So good to see you up.” The cook pulled a chair from the head of the table. “He will sit here.”

“Thank you, Lupe.” Rafe smiled as he took his place at the head of the table.

Ty noted he already slumped a little in his chair and hoped the evening didn’t do more harm than good.

“I don’t know why they insisted I join ‘em,” Rafe declared. “Not much appetite these days.”

“But you will be with your family, Señor Rafe, and that is more important.”

Rafe looked around. “Where’s Emma?”

Sarah and Lupe exchanged nervous looks. “She’s getting ready,” said Sarah, moving to the other side of the table to sit beside Henry. “She’ll be along shortly.”

“Gettin’ ready?” Rafe’s brows pulled together when he scowled.

Ty couldn’t imagine what getting ready meant for Emma. He rarely saw her in anything but jeans and what he suspected to be her father’s old shirts. A couple of Sundays back, she took the buggy to church and from a distance, it appeared she wore a dress, but he wasn’t sure and never saw her return. Thanks to Diablo, though, he experienced the softness of her skin and knew her hair held a faint fragrance of flowers, and her body possessed soft curves he ached to touch again.

“Something wrong, Ty?”

Henry’s question pulled him from the snaky path he trod. “What?”

“You didn’t answer Rafe’s question.”

He gave himself a hard, mental kick. What the hell? “I’m sorry, Mr. Marshall. Guess I was wool gathering. What did you ask?”

“Call me Rafe. How many head do you think – ”

When he cut his comment short, Ty followed his surprised gaze and saw Emma standing in the doorway.

In a dress.

His mouth went dry. Latent desire simmering for weeks jumped to a rapid boil that took all his control to tamp down. She’s beautiful as a Texas sunset.

Dark brown curls pulled up from the sides and secured by ivory combs exposed flushed, sun-kissed skin, while coffee-colored waves flowed over one shoulder and down her back. Her gown, a simple moss-green muslin with a square neckline, trimmed in white lace accentuated her full bust and fell in soft folds around her ankles. A darker green ribbon, tied in a neat bow on the side highlighted a small waist.

Anxious emerald eyes scanned the room, briefly met his, and darted away. She glided, graceful as any Atlanta belle, toward her father. “You act like you’ve never seen me in a dress, Papa.” She gave him a quick kiss, then nervously patted his shoulder. “I’m so glad you felt up to joining us tonight.”

He stared and swallowed hard. “Emma…you…you are as beautiful as your mother.”

Of all the things Emma thought her father might say upon seeing her in something other than jeans and his old shirt, that wasn’t one of them. She avoided looking at Ty as pleasure and embarrassment washed over her. “Thank you, Papa, though I think you exaggerate a bit.”

“No. I don’t.”

“Green is definitely your color,” added Henry.

“Isn’t she lovely, Ty?”

Sarah’s question caused Emma’s nervousness to jump skyward and she couldn’t look at Ty.

“Yes.”

His reply was hoarse and clipped as she met his steady gaze.

A small, breathless whisper escaped as those passionate grey spheres blazed with a hunger that even someone with her lack of experience picked up on. Heat raced through her like a dust devil in July.

And just as quickly, his eyes became hooded, closed off and he inhaled sharply. “You look very nice, Miss Emma.”

Her mouth was too parched to speak even if her befuddled mind came up with something to say.

“You sit there, Emma.” Sarah pointed to the chair beside Ty, mischievous smile in place.

Without speaking, Ty held the chair for her.

A hard knock at the front door came as she sat down. Emma started to rise, but a light touch of Ty’s hand on her shoulder stopped her. It was like being touched by lightning. She couldn’t get up now if her life depended on it.

“I’m up, I’ll get it.”

She looked at her father and concern immediately overrode her reaction to Ty’s hand on her shoulder. “Papa? Are you okay?”

“I’m good, Emma.” He smiled at his daughter. “A mite tired is all.” He looked past her toward the door. “Evenin’, Hank.”

She turned to find Hank Walker entering the dining room with Ty behind him, a pinched expression gracing the otherwise handsome face showed his displeasure at the arrival of this unexpected guest.

Hank walked in like he owned the place, much to Emma’s irritation, and swaggered to her father.

“Rafe, my friend. Good to see you up and about.” He shook hands with the older man then turned to Emma. “You didn’t have to dress up on my account, but I am certainly glad you did.”

He reached for her hand and she had to stop herself from jerking it away.

He pulled it to him, a little tighter than she thought necessary and brushed his lips across the top.

“You look good enough to eat,” he whispered as he bent over her hand, eyes locking on the expanse of cleavage visible by the low cut gown. “Soon.”

She jerked her hand away. “What are you doing here?”

“Emma.” Rafe’s soft rebuke was weak but determined. “I invited him to drop by anytime he wanted.”

Hank smiled and started for the chair beside her.

Ty immediately sat down, leaving Hank no option but to sit at the other end of the table.

Lupe entered with a pot of coffee and flinched when she saw the newcomer.

“Lupe,” said Rafe, “Please bring another plate for our guest.”

Dinner was an ordeal for Emma. All her pains tonight were ruined by the appearance of Hank who watched her every move with calculated interest. His compliments, while nothing out of the ordinary, nonetheless made her uneasy and more than once, a look in his eye elicited an involuntary shiver.

Henry and Sarah carried most of the conversation while she and Ty spoke only when spoken to.

“Oh, I almost forgot why I came out this evening…other than to see Emma in such a beautiful dress, of course. You know, Em, you – ”

“Only one person calls me Em,” she snapped, “You’re not him.” Hearing it from his mouth made her want to toss the contents of her stomach.

His smile became pinched. “You really should remember you are a beautiful woman, Emma, not a man.” He reached in his coat pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Telegram came for you this afternoon. I forgot to give it to you when I was here earlier.” He stood and handed it to her. “Didn’t know you were looking at new breeding stock.”

“You read my message?” She sat up straighter, her temper sparking to life.

He had the audacity to chuckle. “This is a small town, Em…Emma. Word gets around fast. Especially when the biggest gossip in three counties is in charge of the telegraph.” He returned to his seat and pulled a cigar from his pocket. “What kind of cattle are you trying to buy?”

“No smoking in the house.”

Hank placed the cigar back in his pocket. “Something else that will be changing soon.”

“None of your business what I buy.”

“It will be when we’re married.”

Sarah’s gasp sounded like a gunshot in the small room. “Married?”

Rafe cleared his throat. “Hank here wants to marry Emma.”

A deafening silence filled the room.

Emma stopped breathing. Surely he won’t force me to marry Walker?

She heard Ty’s quick inhale and from the corner of her eye, saw him stiffen.

“I’ve no wish to marry, Papa.” Emma’s voice shook and her hand clutched the unread telegram until it crumpled. I don’t want to marry him.

“Your thirty days are up in a few days. You haven’t found a husband.”

Henry spoke for the first time, his glance darting from Ty to the old man. “Rafe, maybe you should discuss —”

“Nothin’ to discuss. I gave her thirty days to find a husband and she chased off every man who showed up.”

“Except me.” Walker’s conceited smile never reached his eyes. “I’m still here.”

“And me.” Ty’s soft-spoken retort had everyone looking his way. “I’m still here.”