Read Online Malachite (The Jewels of Texas Historical Romance Series Book 5) by Ruth Ryan Langan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ruth Ryan Langan
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life?”
“That’s exactly what I said.” At the end of the table, Byron sulked. He’d given them every argument he could think of, but they had refused to budge on this. “But nobody would listen.”
Diamond shot Malachite a quick smile. “The proof of who you are is in your face. If you aren’t Pa’s son, you’d have to be his ghost.”
Around the table, the others laughed and nodded.
“As for where you’ve been and what you’ve done, I don’t see what that has to do with now.”
“He could have been in jail for all you know,” Byron interjected.
“Then he and I would have something in common.” Adam winked at Diamond and closed his hand over hers, then turned to Malachite. “I spent time in jail before coming to Texas. But I never thought it was anyone’s business but mine.”
The banker realized that Adam’s words were really meant for him. It only added to his irritation.
For the space of a minute, Malachite couldn’t seem to make his brain work. He’d come here expecting denial, a satisfying, cleansing battle of wills and then banishment. Even in his wildest dreams, the most he’d hoped for was a grudging acceptance of his birthright before he was turned away.
But this. This was so unexpected. So... generous. Too generous. There had to be a flaw in it.
“Sorry,” he said abruptly. “I’m not a cattleman. And I have no interest in your ranch.”
“I’m sorry, too.” Adam spoke up before the others could interrupt. “I’m afraid we haven’t told you everything. Di and I have the ranch next to this. We keep the herds separate, but during roundup and the drive to Abeline, we share wranglers. There’s something else we share. Trouble. Lately we’ve had more than our share. First we lost a barn to fire. Now we’ve lost two good cowboys. They set off to capture a rogue stallion and both showed up dead along the trail. If all that isn’t enough, we keep losing more and more grazing land to herds of mustangs.”
“So, what do you think is behind all this trouble?” Malachite asked.
Glances were exchanged around the table before Diamond said, “A big black stallion we call Diablo. The Devil. That mustang seems to be everywhere. That’s why we could use another hand. Especially one who could be trusted.”
Malachite gave a short, bitter laugh. “What makes you think I can be trusted?”
“Your name is Jewel,” Cal said.
“That wasn’t my choice.” Malachite’s eyes narrowed.
“No one is given that choice.” Adam took his son from Diamond’s arms and settled him on his lap. “What we can choose is how we live our lives.”
“Like I said—” Malachite started to push away from the table “—I’m not interested in Onyx Jewel’s life or his ranch.”
“If that mustang keeps on running free,” Diamond complained, “we soon won’t be able to hold on to this ranch. Or our land. We’ve already lost wranglers who are too afraid to stay. And there isn’t anyone left who’ll risk his life to try to catch Diablo and his harem.”
Malachite couldn’t hide his sudden interest. He sank back down on his chair. “The stallion has a herd?”
Diamond nodded. “Dozens of mares. Maybe even a hundred or more. They’ve got the whole town spooked.”
Adam’s voice dripped sarcasm. “Crops destroyed. Blame Diablo. A mare runs off. Blame Diablo. Even a sick child or a wife in difficult labor is blamed on that damned horse. And offering a bounty on him hasn’t helped.”
“Are you saying you don’t believe he can be captured?” Malachite asked.
Diamond shrugged. “So far, nobody’s even come close to catching him.” She stood and offered her hand. “I’m sorry you won’t consider joining us, Malachite. It would have been real nice getting to know you. And you might have discovered that you liked us, once you got to know us.”
As Malachite accepted her handshake, he cautioned himself to go slowly. He’d learned early in life that promises could be
“That’s exactly what I said.” At the end of the table, Byron sulked. He’d given them every argument he could think of, but they had refused to budge on this. “But nobody would listen.”
Diamond shot Malachite a quick smile. “The proof of who you are is in your face. If you aren’t Pa’s son, you’d have to be his ghost.”
Around the table, the others laughed and nodded.
“As for where you’ve been and what you’ve done, I don’t see what that has to do with now.”
“He could have been in jail for all you know,” Byron interjected.
“Then he and I would have something in common.” Adam winked at Diamond and closed his hand over hers, then turned to Malachite. “I spent time in jail before coming to Texas. But I never thought it was anyone’s business but mine.”
The banker realized that Adam’s words were really meant for him. It only added to his irritation.
For the space of a minute, Malachite couldn’t seem to make his brain work. He’d come here expecting denial, a satisfying, cleansing battle of wills and then banishment. Even in his wildest dreams, the most he’d hoped for was a grudging acceptance of his birthright before he was turned away.
But this. This was so unexpected. So... generous. Too generous. There had to be a flaw in it.
“Sorry,” he said abruptly. “I’m not a cattleman. And I have no interest in your ranch.”
“I’m sorry, too.” Adam spoke up before the others could interrupt. “I’m afraid we haven’t told you everything. Di and I have the ranch next to this. We keep the herds separate, but during roundup and the drive to Abeline, we share wranglers. There’s something else we share. Trouble. Lately we’ve had more than our share. First we lost a barn to fire. Now we’ve lost two good cowboys. They set off to capture a rogue stallion and both showed up dead along the trail. If all that isn’t enough, we keep losing more and more grazing land to herds of mustangs.”
“So, what do you think is behind all this trouble?” Malachite asked.
Glances were exchanged around the table before Diamond said, “A big black stallion we call Diablo. The Devil. That mustang seems to be everywhere. That’s why we could use another hand. Especially one who could be trusted.”
Malachite gave a short, bitter laugh. “What makes you think I can be trusted?”
“Your name is Jewel,” Cal said.
“That wasn’t my choice.” Malachite’s eyes narrowed.
“No one is given that choice.” Adam took his son from Diamond’s arms and settled him on his lap. “What we can choose is how we live our lives.”
“Like I said—” Malachite started to push away from the table “—I’m not interested in Onyx Jewel’s life or his ranch.”
“If that mustang keeps on running free,” Diamond complained, “we soon won’t be able to hold on to this ranch. Or our land. We’ve already lost wranglers who are too afraid to stay. And there isn’t anyone left who’ll risk his life to try to catch Diablo and his harem.”
Malachite couldn’t hide his sudden interest. He sank back down on his chair. “The stallion has a herd?”
Diamond nodded. “Dozens of mares. Maybe even a hundred or more. They’ve got the whole town spooked.”
Adam’s voice dripped sarcasm. “Crops destroyed. Blame Diablo. A mare runs off. Blame Diablo. Even a sick child or a wife in difficult labor is blamed on that damned horse. And offering a bounty on him hasn’t helped.”
“Are you saying you don’t believe he can be captured?” Malachite asked.
Diamond shrugged. “So far, nobody’s even come close to catching him.” She stood and offered her hand. “I’m sorry you won’t consider joining us, Malachite. It would have been real nice getting to know you. And you might have discovered that you liked us, once you got to know us.”
As Malachite accepted her handshake, he cautioned himself to go slowly. He’d learned early in life that promises could be
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