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  It serves Adam right if he is a little jealous! she thought to herself. It might make him realize he likes me, at least a tiny bit. She appraised Tom more closely.

  Tom Bastrop was not what she would consider handsome, but he was not unappealing either. In fact, he strongly resembled Warren, not necessarily in his features, but in his size and build. Nor was he too old for her, although she did judge him to be several years older than Warren, which would make about twenty years difference in their ages. But many young women were escorted by older, more distinguished men.

  And what could a harmless little flirtation hurt at this point in her and Adam's relationship. She had no idea how he felt about her. Perhaps this way, she could force him into acknowledging she was a woman, that he found her attractive, and that sometime in the future, their relationship could have a bit more substance.

  "Speaking of changes, I'm sure you must be pleased about all of the changes your brother has made around here."

  "Why, yes, I am very impressed with the way he has modernized the house." She glanced at Warren and smiled, then hastily looked away when she saw the fury in his eyes.

  Tom laughed heartily. "That remark is just like a woman. I was actually referring to the ranges. But then, I suppose they don't interest you like they used to."

  "Oh, but I am interested, Tom. Just because a woman is a lady, she does not have to live a sequestered life. And, it is strange that you mentioned something like that because we were just discussing the possibility of my going for a ride tomorrow. You know how much I love to ride, but Warren insists that it is simply too dangerous for me to go unescorted."

  "Well, he's right. Unfortunately as you must know, there have been some undesirable changes made too, and it is too dangerous for a lady to go riding alone. It so happens I’m free tomorrow afternoon and I would be delighted to accompany you ... to offer you my fullest protection."

  Without giving Blair a chance to reply, Adam quickly spoke up, "Sorry, Bastrop, but you didn't wait for the lady to finish. She has agreed to go with me tomorrow." The only thing that revealed his anger was how he sloshed coffee into his cup, then set the pot down a little too soundly on the table. "Isn't that right, Blair?" His expression defied her to refuse.

  "Y-yes, I'm sorry, Tom. Perhaps some other time."

  Undaunted, Tom pressed, "How about the big dance Saturday night? Would you like to go with me?" He glanced quickly at Warren. "With your permission, of course."

  Adam spread his mouth into a closed lip smile and slowly shook his head. "Sorry, Bastrop. I've already asked her and she has already agreed. You're just a mite too late."

  Tom Bastrop was not the sort of man who accepted defeat graciously. Although he attempted to keep his temper and his disappointment under control, he was not quite successful. He glared hard at Adam. "Have you already spoken for all of her dances, or does she still have a few open?"

  Sensing the animosity building between the men, she gently admonished Adam, "Please, I am capable of speaking for myself." She then flashed Tom a brilliant smile. "I shall be happy to save a few dances for you."

  He nodded graciously, then remarked, "Well, guess I'd better be getting back to the ranch. Warren, I’d appreciate it if you keep in mind what we were talking about. Until Saturday night, then." He placed his hat back on and touched the brim of it.

  He was halfway down the walk when he stopped suddenly and slowly turned about. "Warren, I don't want to offend you, but you know yourself, if I ever saw anything I wanted, I went after it— no holds barred. So, I am giving you fair warning about your sister. She is a beautiful young woman."

  He addressed Blair next. "Miss Townsend, with your permission, I do intend to come calling on you."

  Then he looked at Adam, his eyes became hard and his voice threw down the gauntlet. "Cahill, just remember, sooner or later you'll have to return to Fort Smith . . ." With that, he turned on his heel and marched determinedly to his horse.

  No one said a word until Tom Bastrop had disappeared from sight. Then Blair, suddenly afraid Adam might have a change of heart, walked quickly into the house, extremely aware that his dark, murderous eyes were shooting holes in her back.

  Chapter 13

  The barn smelled of hay, leather, saddle-soap, and horses. Blair liked the smell, there was a comforting feel about it. Regardless of what her former friends back east thought, there was no stench as long as the barn was thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis.

  Blair filled her lungs full of the familiar scent as she slipped inside, placed a canvas bag and a rifle over to the side, then silently pulled the door closed behind her. The aroma, and the warm, musky air settled around her like a comfortable, but worn-out blanket.

  Accustoming her eyes to the darkness, Blair stood at the doorway and listened as a rooster crowed for daylight. Then, hearing the faint sounds of approaching footsteps crunch softly against the ground, she darted into one of the forward stalls and waited.

  She felt stirrings of apprehension, but the decision had been made. She had come this far, there would be no turning back now. Warren had talked with her at length the previous night, explaining in greater detail how much trouble Coy could get into and how he could even bring hardships to innocent people by his irresponsible actions. She could not allow that to happen, not without trying.

  The door opened and the shadowy figure quickly entered, set a lantern on a crate and lit it. The soft amber glow cast long shadows on the walls as Adam hurried toward the back of the barn.

  So, I was correct in following my instincts, Blair thought to herself. Why, that scamp! ‘Be ready to leave at first light,' my foot! An hour before dawn would be more like it! If it wasn't so necessary that I go with him . . . why, I’d be furious. No —I am furious! Who does he think he is ... my keeper? He doesn't want to accompany me anywhere, yet, he doesn't want me going with Tom either. I suppose he thinks I should be locked in my room until he decides I can come out! Ooh, if it was only Adam and me involved, I'd . . . show him he could not treat me this way. And just wait until I see Coy, I'll wring his neck!

  Raising from her hiding place, Blair leaned . against the stall and stood on her tiptoes. She watched as he went to the stall where his sorrel was stabled.

  Adam wore a soft cotton shirt in a muted blue, a leather vest, and very tight faded denim pants. She knew most men who traveled through rough country usually wore tight britches because they were more difficult to snag on thorns and brush, but Adam's were so tight they were almost indecent. They left little to the imagination. So much so, she almost failed to notice he had not yet strapped on his holsters that carried his matching set of Colts.

  He quickly rolled the sleeves of his shirt up to the elbows, and Blair observed how supple the muscles in his arms were when he moved them. Propping the injured hoof on his knee, she could easily see how deftly and soothingly his hands moved as he examined his horse's injury. The fingers were slender and long, but their strength was evident as he squeezed and released them around the hoof. In spite of her anger, she wondered how his hands would feel stroking her body with such tenderness.

  "I agree with Warren, boy," he murmured in a soft voice. "You should be as good as new in a few months. I just wanted to check for myself— one more time." Lowering the hoof gently to the floor, he then moved to the adjacent stall where a chestnut stood.

  "Well, boy, are you ready for an early start?" Adam asked, stroking the horse's neck and back. He slowly eased the saddle blanket on. He had always believed it was better to talk to an animal that was not too familiar with him before he started saddling up, regardless of how well the horse had been trained. In his opinion, it made them less nervous and jumpy.

  Simultaneously, she stepped into the light, yawned, stretched, and said, "Good morning. Are you going to saddle my horse, or do you want me to do it?"

  Adam's head popped up. "Shi . . . damn, Blair! Don't you know better than to sneak up on
people? You almost spooked both me and . . . this horse here."

  "Why, surely you expected me," she stated with wide-eyed innocence. "I thought you said we would leave at first light. I awoke early and was afraid I would oversleep, so I got dressed and came on out to the barn."

  A muscle tensed in his jaw as he continued to saddle his horse. "Stop it, Blair, you're not a very good liar. I can see right through you. You were waiting out here because you knew I’d try to sneak off and leave you here. Well, I thought about it long and hard last night. To put it bluntly: I believe it is too dangerous, so you might as well trot yourself back inside the house. I’m going alone today."

  "I'm not about to trot anywhere, Adam Cahill! And you would have been more than welcome to ‘go alone,' if you had not butted into my business! I had an authentic offer to go riding today, and I intend to go!"

  "You are just being stubborn! And don't shout, you'll spook the horses."

  She lowered her voice but it still came in a whispered screech, "Me, stubborn? Why, you . . . you arrogant, self-centered, pompous pea-brain— which in all likelihood is rattling around inside your little toe! You have the nerve to . . . to . . . you told Tom Bastrop I was going riding with you today and so help me, I am going!"

  Adam noticed that the chestnut had also decided to be a bit stubborn. At times, a smart horse would blow out his sides and if an unwary rider did not notice it while the horse was being saddled, the girth strap could become so loose the saddle would slip. Some riders had even slipped right along with the saddle.

  Observing the Bar 4 from underneath a horse's belly did not appeal to him. Adam pressed his knee against the chestnut's side and when it heaved a great gasp, he quickly tightened the girth.

  "It's too bad you noticed that," she snipped. "Who knows, he might have thrown you and you might have had to walk back to the ranch." She added in a mocking tone, "But I doubt if I would have time to tend to another injury such as you've had . . . my social life will be much too busy from now on." Blair waited expectantly for a reply, but when he said nothing, she whirled about, strode indignantly to another stall and began saddling a Piebald Dun.

  Adam's eyes narrowed with growing perplexity. "What do you think you're doing? You must not hear very well. I said, you are not going with me."

  "That is fine with me; if you do not want me along, I refuse to impose," she reiterated in a deceptively low tone, her fingers tightening on the pommel.

  "Then why are you saddling that horse?"

  "That, Mr. Cahill, is my business!"

  "I'm making it mine. What are you going to do? Go over to Bastrop's?"

  "What if I am? At least his invitation was genuine." She had no intentions of doing that —it would have been extremely rude and presumptuous of her to ask Tom when he knew he had been her second choice; still, Adam did not have to know.

  "I damn sure don't want you going with Bastrop!" Seeing her chin jut stubbornly, he added, "I don't like that man ... I have a hunch he can't be trusted."

  Raising one brow slightly, she gave him a cold, scathing look. "I don't care whether you like him or not. And you are certainly a fine one to talk about trust! But, my feelings are based on fact, not on some nonsensical judgment such as a silly old hunch."

  "My hunches aren't silly or nonsensical . . ."

  Flouncing from the stall, she advanced toward Adam; one hand placed belligerently on her hip, her forefinger wagged angrily. "Listen, you big galoot, I have no idea where you men get your audacity, but I have had enough of it! All of my life Warren has tried to tell me what to do and when to do it! Yesterday you decided to take it on yourself to act as my spokesman! You never gave me the opportunity to refuse Tom's offer—unless I called you a liar to your face, and I was more considerate of your feelings than to do that. Then when he so arrogantly boasted that he always got what he wanted—indicating me—if his statement ' had not been so ludicrous, I would have laughed." Her accusing gaze was riveted on him. "Tell me, Adam, when did anyone consider what I wanted to do?"

  Adam realized he was catching the brunt of her anger for many past injustices, yet he also knew he deserved some of it.

  "You can rest assured, my reasons for volunteering to show you the ranch were not all noble. I am sick and tired of being confined to the house. I want a bit of freedom ... for just a day or two, and there is no place on earth I can find that freedom except when I'm riding. But I realized it was dangerous for a woman to be out alone without a man's protection, so I didn't complain too loudly. Also, did you ever stop to consider there is a bit of pride involved? Because we knew how important it was to you, a Townsend gave his word to show you the land —not knowing a situation would arise that would prevent him from keeping his promise. But you seem to forget I am a Townsend, I was born and raised here, and I could have shown and pointed out more possible hiding places in a day than you could have found on your own in a month. Then you have the nerve to behave indignantly when I come out here and find you trying to sneak off without me!"

  "Now wait just a damn minute, Blair. It's not all . . ."

  "No, you wait just a damn minute!"

  "I wouldn't go with you today if you were the last man on earth. I have also decided it is not any more dangerous out there for me than it is for you, or Warren, or Coy ... or for any other man! I know how to shoot, and I know how to take care of myself. So, I am going today and I am going alone!" her eyes widened to add emphasis.

  Taking the reins in hand, she led the horse to the front of the barn, loaded the small pack and inserted the rifle into the saddle boot. Mounting the horse, Blair then lifted the bar from across the door and rode off into the approaching dawn.

  Adam knew he had to go after her, and he dreaded it. She was madder than a wildcat and had every right to be. He couldn't allow her to charge blindly about the countryside . . . even though he sympathized with her predicament, part of which he was to blame. Everything she'd said about Tom Bastrop had been the truth. Adam wondered if he had based his hunch on what Warren had said about him on the fact that Tom had been immediately attracted to Blair-which, he couldn't deny, had put a burr under his blanket—or if it was indeed an instinct that said the man was untrustworthy.

  And why did he continue to resist Blair? Her going with him today wouldn't have hurt a thing. As she pointed out, it would have probably helped a great deal.

  "Damn!" he swore under his breath. Just when they were beginning to get along so well together, this had to happen!

  Chapter 14

  In the east, a lemony glow peeked over the distant hills, then like one huge eye opening from a long sleep, a yellow light spread majestically over the dew-kissed land, making it sparkle and glisten. Even the pale green-leafed trees seemed to shimmer with golden lights.

  Blair was mesmerized by the splendor. She had almost forgotten how beautiful the dawn could be while in its midst instead of watching it break from a back porch step, or a sooty city window.

  Tearing herself away from the grandeur, she glanced over her shoulder to see if Adam was following her, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he was.

  Even though Blair had been deadly serious when she told him exactly what she thought, she'd had a few anxious moments when he had not immediately followed. If she had any hopes of helping Coy, she would have to keep Adam occupied — even if it meant her throwing herself at him, even if it meant sacrificing her pride.

  But, she would have to be careful and keep her distance from him until they were well away from the ranch proper. He was much stronger than she and if he caught her, he could easily take her home—by force if necessary — and it definitely would have to be. But she still had the advantage as long as she stayed ahead of him; she knew the land and he did not. His horse was much faster but there were many back-trails she could take if he got too close. Besides, she knew exactly where she was going and he had to take the time to follow her trail.

 
"I suppose about noon would be an excellent time for him to catch me," Blair murmured aloud. "We'll have to cross over some very rough country—hills, creeks, caves. Some of the places would make superb hide-outs, although I strongly doubt if the outlaws would hide so close to the ranch. At least Adam will see that I know the land and can be helpful to him. If I cannot convince him by noon though, I might as well give up because he will be out of patience by then."

  Realizing she had spent too much time contemplating, Blair nudged the mare with her heels and rode down the slope of a knoll before disappearing into a forest of oaks, elms, and native pecan trees.

  Blair reined her horse and merely sat for a moment, too enthralled at the magnificence surrounding her. She had finally reached the falls and it was every bit as beautiful as she remembered.

  Willow-, sycamore-, and elm-lined shores cradled Angel Creek, then it looked as though the earth had been cut away to allow the creek to plummet at least one hundred yards over limestone, sandstone, and barite cliffs worn smooth by countless ages of cascading water into a deep pool that spread like a blue beacon before her eyes. Across the way, that shore was rocky and only a few willows lined the bank, but on her side there was a thick carpet of grass mixed with sweet-smelling clover. Wildflowers were plentiful and willow saplings lined the shore except for one small place where there was a sandy beach, and two large rocks jutted upwards there. Back away from the pool was a heavy line of gently swaying shade trees. It was idyllic and—even with the roar of the falls —serene, the best possible place for her rendezvous with Adam.

  Believing she was only about fifteen minutes I ahead of him, Blair steadily and methodically set about completing her tasks before he arrived. After removing the canvas bag and a blanket that she had tied behind the cantle, she gathered tinder and soon had a small campfire blazing; then she put on a pot of coffee to brew. Next, she watered the mare and then staked her under the trees.