TY KNEW ALL ALONG LEO had feelings for Emma, but it wasn’t until that brief moment before his expression became closed he realized the depth of those feelings. The cowhand was pissed.

Ty stood beside Emma, placing one arm around her waist. “Emma refused to give up. It took a couple of days, but she found me.” He smiled down at his wife. “And brought me home.”

Emma returned his look of affection. “My heart knew you were alive.”

Ty pulled her closer, his intent not to hurt Leo further, but to firmly establish his place in Emma’s life – just in case the younger man had any doubts.

Leo’s jaw clenched, but his face remained unreadable as he stuffed the package back in the saddlebags.

Emma looked at Ty, her expression asking a question she didn’t voice. A minute shake of his head told her, let it go.

“They made the trip in fine shape, Leo,” said Ty in an effort to get back on solid ground. “Y’all did a good job.”

“Yeah,” he mumbled, “it was only three head and they had some trail experience so we made good time.” He turned back and cast a quick look at Emma before focusing his attention on Ty. “The larger one is bred. Probably drop the end of September maybe early October.”

Emma clapped her hands in glee. “Wonderful!” She turned and climbed over the fence. “I have to look at them up close.”

“Careful, Miss Emma,” said Leo, “the bull ain’t mean, but he sometimes gets cranky.”

If she heard him, she gave no indication as she cautiously approached the cows to scratch their white heads, and run her hands over their sleek bodies.

Ty was about to join her when José rolled Rafe out to the corral.

Leo’s face registered shock which quickly turned to a smile that never quite made it to his eyes. “Mr. Rafe! You sure are a sight for sore eyes.” He reached out and shook the old man’s hand.

“Welcome home, boy. Good to see you, too.”

Leo shook his head. “To be honest, sir, I didn’t expect to see you at all.”

The older man’s laugh was rusty, but pleased. “Kinda had my doubts, too, for a while, but looks like I might be around a bit longer.”

“Doc seems to think maybe it wasn’t consumption after all,” declared Ty. “Just pneumonia that hung on longer than normal.”

“I ain’t completely recovered yet, but I’m better ever’day. Can even walk around the house some on my own now.”

Leo’s cheeks reddened and he looked around. “Well, I best get my horse took care of. I gave Miss, uh, your wife, the bill of sale and the bank draft.” He turned and pulled his horse toward the barn.

Ty decided this wasn’t the time to ask if he still intended to leave as he said before the drive. “Want a closer look?” he asked Rafe.

“Go ahead. I’ll look from here.”

“Okay.” Ty climbed the fence and joined his wife.

 

Supper that night was a cheerful affair. Rafe sat at his place at the head of the table, Ty on his right and Emma beside him.

“I plan to keep them in the corral for the next few days,” said Emma, “see how they do, make sure we don’t have any problems, then move them to the north pasture maybe next week.” Her brows pulled together and she looked at her father. “Do you think the other bulls, particularly the Longhorns, might go after Big Red?”

“Big Red?” Questioned Ty. “You named them?”

She nodded briskly. “The pregnant one is Maggie and the younger one is Daisy.”

Rafe chuckled, but made no comment.

Ty smiled at the seriousness of her expression.

“They’re special. They needed names.” She took a quick bite of her stew. “Oh, and tomorrow, I’m going back over to Sarah’s for a few days. She said today it’s almost time and wants me to be there.”

“I’ll go with you,” said Ty tersely.

“Who will look after Big Red and the girls?”

“You’re not going anywhere alone. Period. End of discussion.”

“Ty – ”

“Someone tried to kill me, Em, and failed. They could try again any time or worse, use you to get to me.”

Her eyes widened and she gasped.

Evidently, that thought never occurred to her. “Until I am convinced there is no cause for concern, you don’t go anywhere alone. I’ll ride over with you, and then come back and check on you in a couple of days.”

The hard set of her jaw told him an argument loomed, so he softened his demand. “Please.”

After a brief pause, she looked at him, concern shimmering in her eyes. “Do you really think whoever shot at you might try again?”

He didn’t want to frighten her, but he also wanted to make sure she understood the seriousness of the situation. “That’s just it, I don’t know. Until I do, you go nowhere alone.”

After a brief hesitation, she huffed. “Just because you said please don’t mean I’m happy about being ordered around.”

The cheerful atmosphere returned, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

“It will give me a chance to say hello in person. I haven’t been by since I got my memory back.”

“Fine,” she muttered. “We leave after morning chores.”

He hid his grin behind a sip of coffee. She may be miffed now, but come bedtime, he’d make her happy to have him around.