Read Online One Heart to Win by Johanna Lindsey - Free Book Online Page B

in reply, “Or a pack of little cowboys who would be horrified that you would even mention it.”
    This truly was absurd. She should be at home enjoying the social whirl in New York City with her friends, going to wonderful parties, meeting proper young gentlemen who’d never heard of outlaws, much less Indians! She shouldn’t be here ! And for what? Because two neighbors couldn’t get along and be neighborly?
    “Any riders come toward us, you drop down in the back and hide,” Cole said.
    That was a rude awakening from her miserable thoughts. “Why?” she gasped.
    “Could be a Warren.”
    She bit her tongue to keep herself from answering immediately. What would Jennifer say? Wouldn’t the housekeeper welcome the opportunity to tell the Warrens that she’d decided to work for the Callahans instead because they’d offered her double the wages? How ignoble, yet that was probably what the real Jennifer would have done if she had gotten the offer. But Jennifer was on her way back East.
    While Tiffany didn’t want to risk running into her father or any of her brothers yet, she had to reply the way Jenniferwould. “I should let them know I’ve decided to work for your family instead. It’s the honorable thing do to.”
    Cole snorted. “Warrens don’t know the meaning of honor, so don’t you worry your pretty head about that. ’Sides, this was our pa’s idea, poking this little thorn in old Frank’s side by luring you away from him, so you let Pa do the gloating when he’s ready to.”
    That remark made her realize she couldn’t send Frank Jennifer’s note about deciding to return to Chicago, not if the Callahans intended to let him know Jennifer was with them. It could make him suspicious, might even bring him straight to her, demanding an explanation about why she would lie to him. But she was beginning to wonder if Frank had been honest with Rose in the letters he had written her. It sounded as if the feud had heated up again and was worse than he’d led Rose to believe. The way these Callahans spoke of her family with such derision made her wonder if even a wedding could end the feud. Maybe the Callahans had already called it off and she didn’t need to be here at all!
    That was something she needed to know right now. “You said you weren’t friendly with your neighbors, but it sounds more like I’m walking into the middle of a war. Am I?”
    Cole chuckled. “No, ma’am. A man can hate his neighbors without killing them.”
    So much for a quick excuse to go home. Nor had he mentioned the feud, so she couldn’t ask specifically about that, either, when Jennifer wouldn’t know about it. But she could find out more about his family. The housekeeper would be curious about the people she was working for.
    Cole had glanced at her a few times while they were talking, but he finally noticed her difficulty with the sun and added,“Here, change sides with me.” He stopped the wagon and took her hand to help her get around him to the right without losing her balance. “I reckon I can give you some shade.”
    As tall as he was, he actually did somewhat block the sun, but he wasn’t done. He also plopped his wide-brimmed hat down on her head, right over her bonnet, which kept it from sliding down over her eyes. She almost laughed at the image of what she must look like. Almost. But the hat did get the sun off her face as soon as she tilted it a little in that direction. She was more than a little grateful for Cole’s thoughtfulness. It made her think a little more kindly of the Callahans, at least this one.
    “Thank you,” she said, giving him a smile as he resumed driving the wagon. “By the way, how did you know I was coming to town?”
    “Heard it from one of Warrens’ disgruntled employees.”
    “But how did you know I’d be there today, when the train is three days early?”
    “Didn’t. We had an order to pick up at the depot for our brother.” He gestured to the back of the wagon. Tiffany