you aren’t busy with something else.”
Desperado couldn’t stop the smile kicking up the corner of his mouth. Not long ago these same cowboys would barely speak to him. For the first time in his adult life he felt as if he was appreciated for something other than his skill with a gun.
“It all depends on Miss Sommers. She might have some chore for me. If not, I’ll be happy to lend you a hand.”
Cory answered Desperado’s smile with one of his own and hurried off as Desperado headed over to the chuck wagon parked beneath a shade tree.
“You wanted to see me?” he asked as he poked his head inside the chuck wagon.
“Yes,” Chloe said crisply. “Thank you for coming so promptly.”
It was obvious to Desperado that Chloe wanted to keep their association as businesslike as possible. He wondered whom she trusted less, him or herself.
“I don’t want the others to hear our conversation. That’s why I asked you to meet me here.”
“Is there something you want to say to me that you don’t want the others to hear? Maybe you’d like another kiss.”
She ignored him. He laughed. She stared at his dimple, then cleared her throat. “I want your advice about something,” she said crisply. “I don’t want the hands to think I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Desperado sobered immediately. It must be serious if a proud, stubborn woman like Chloe wanted
his
advice. “I’m all ears. What do you want to know?”
Chloe stared off into space, as if reluctant to ask for advice, especially from someone like Desperado Jones. Suddenly her gaze drifted back, clashing with his, and he felt as if he’d been gut shot. Her eyes were so intensely green he felt hypnotized by them. He shook his head, cursing himself for harboring foolish thoughts about a woman who considered him dirt under her feet. A woman he had every reason to hate.
A woman he’d been hired to ruin.
Chloe stepped down from the chuck wagon and faced him squarely. “I’ve never been on a trail drive before.” Desperado knew how much it cost her to admit her lack and felt grudging admiration. “Neither have any of my drovers. I wonder if you would look over the provisions and tell me if anything is missing. And perhaps you can advise the others about the gear they’ll be needing.”
“You’re still determined, aren’t you? Talbot hasn’t frightened you at all, has he? Why do you insist on placing your life in danger?”
“My life is my own to do with as I please,” Chloe returned. “All I need from you is a little advice, and of course, your gun. I don’t intend to fail, no matter what Talbot does to stop me. Now, will you look at the supplies or shall I find someone in town to come out to advise me?”
“If I can’t discourage you, the least I can do is make sure the boys eat well,” Desperado grumbled sourly. Damn, what an onerous chore this was becoming. He’d had no idea when he’d taken this job that he’d have to deal with such a headstrong little fool.
Desperado had been on trail drives a time or two and knew what insufficient food and inadequate clothing could do for the drovers’ morale. He was also aware of how long certain foods lasted and which were depleted before others.
With that in mind he made a thorough inspection of the contents of the chuck wagon, making mental notes as he tallied the supplies in his head. When he finished he had a pretty fair idea of the additional supplies needed to keep the drovers happy.
“You need at least one more sack of flour and another of cornmeal,” he enumerated. “And another rasher of bacon. Plan on cutting two or three cows from your herd to provide fresh meat for the drive, and include some spices to pep up the stews Randy will be making.” He poked into a large covered tin. “There are plenty of beans, but I’d include some dried apples for pies and cobblers. The pots you’ve included seem adequate for your needs, but I’d recommend another barrel of water. Some
Desperado couldn’t stop the smile kicking up the corner of his mouth. Not long ago these same cowboys would barely speak to him. For the first time in his adult life he felt as if he was appreciated for something other than his skill with a gun.
“It all depends on Miss Sommers. She might have some chore for me. If not, I’ll be happy to lend you a hand.”
Cory answered Desperado’s smile with one of his own and hurried off as Desperado headed over to the chuck wagon parked beneath a shade tree.
“You wanted to see me?” he asked as he poked his head inside the chuck wagon.
“Yes,” Chloe said crisply. “Thank you for coming so promptly.”
It was obvious to Desperado that Chloe wanted to keep their association as businesslike as possible. He wondered whom she trusted less, him or herself.
“I don’t want the others to hear our conversation. That’s why I asked you to meet me here.”
“Is there something you want to say to me that you don’t want the others to hear? Maybe you’d like another kiss.”
She ignored him. He laughed. She stared at his dimple, then cleared her throat. “I want your advice about something,” she said crisply. “I don’t want the hands to think I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Desperado sobered immediately. It must be serious if a proud, stubborn woman like Chloe wanted
his
advice. “I’m all ears. What do you want to know?”
Chloe stared off into space, as if reluctant to ask for advice, especially from someone like Desperado Jones. Suddenly her gaze drifted back, clashing with his, and he felt as if he’d been gut shot. Her eyes were so intensely green he felt hypnotized by them. He shook his head, cursing himself for harboring foolish thoughts about a woman who considered him dirt under her feet. A woman he had every reason to hate.
A woman he’d been hired to ruin.
Chloe stepped down from the chuck wagon and faced him squarely. “I’ve never been on a trail drive before.” Desperado knew how much it cost her to admit her lack and felt grudging admiration. “Neither have any of my drovers. I wonder if you would look over the provisions and tell me if anything is missing. And perhaps you can advise the others about the gear they’ll be needing.”
“You’re still determined, aren’t you? Talbot hasn’t frightened you at all, has he? Why do you insist on placing your life in danger?”
“My life is my own to do with as I please,” Chloe returned. “All I need from you is a little advice, and of course, your gun. I don’t intend to fail, no matter what Talbot does to stop me. Now, will you look at the supplies or shall I find someone in town to come out to advise me?”
“If I can’t discourage you, the least I can do is make sure the boys eat well,” Desperado grumbled sourly. Damn, what an onerous chore this was becoming. He’d had no idea when he’d taken this job that he’d have to deal with such a headstrong little fool.
Desperado had been on trail drives a time or two and knew what insufficient food and inadequate clothing could do for the drovers’ morale. He was also aware of how long certain foods lasted and which were depleted before others.
With that in mind he made a thorough inspection of the contents of the chuck wagon, making mental notes as he tallied the supplies in his head. When he finished he had a pretty fair idea of the additional supplies needed to keep the drovers happy.
“You need at least one more sack of flour and another of cornmeal,” he enumerated. “And another rasher of bacon. Plan on cutting two or three cows from your herd to provide fresh meat for the drive, and include some spices to pep up the stews Randy will be making.” He poked into a large covered tin. “There are plenty of beans, but I’d include some dried apples for pies and cobblers. The pots you’ve included seem adequate for your needs, but I’d recommend another barrel of water. Some
Similar Books
