Read Online Texas Heat by Bárbara McCauley - Free Book Online

off, but somehow the fence had gone down, and several head had managed to gain entrance. It was pure luck that he’d managed to get to them before they’d succumbed to the weather or wolves. More than luck. It was a miracle. With his finances as shaky as they were, even one steer lost might tip the scales irrevocably. One more setback and the bank “wolves” would be moving in on him.
    With a weary sigh, Jake walked back to his horse and slipped the rope off the saddle. He’d been in and out of bogs since dawn and was covered with mud, but he’d managed to free all of his unfortunate victims without problems. If his luck held out, he’d have this steer free and be home in time to join Emma and Savannah for lunch.
    Four days had passed since that night he and Savannah had stood in the hall and looked at pictures. He’d managed to spend some time with Emma, but other than dinner, he’d kept a polite distance from Savannah. It seemed the safest strategy, considering he couldn’t get close to the woman without wanting to argue with her or kiss her. Either one would probably have her packing her bags, so he’d been as cautious as a naked man climbing a barbwire fence.
    But he thought about her far too much. Like now, when he was trying to work, and at night—especially at night—after he’d gone to bed. He wondered if she was asleep on the other side of the wall. How her body might fit to his. If she felt as soft as she looked...
    The steer bawled at him. Jake swore back at it and tossed the rope around its neck, then tied the other end to the saddle. Now came the good part, he thought irritably, stepping into the muck to make his way to the animal. He worked quickly, moving from the back of the steer to the front, digging away the quicksand from the legs.
    â€œLooks like fun.”
    Startled, Jake twisted around at the sound of Savannah’s voice behind him. The steer chose that exact moment to lurch sideways, knocking him off-balance. Swearing loudly, Jake went down on his rear end and sank into the soft mud. It oozed through his gloved fingers, then sucked at his hands as he pulled them loose.
    Furious, he stood slowly and faced Savannah. She was mounted on Rosemary, a chestnut mare that Jessica rode. “What the hell are you doing here?”
    Eyes wide, she smothered a laugh as she stared at him, taking in the thick layer of mud that covered him from the waist down. In contrast, her long-sleeved cotton blouse was Sunday-school white, her jeans, department-store blue. Even the hat she wore looked as if it had just been taken out of its box.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said. “I thought you heard me ride up.”
    Maybe he would have if he hadn’t been so busy wondering what her skin would feel like under his hands. “You thought wrong,” he growled, reaching for the lead line.
    â€œCan I do something for you?” she asked hesitantly, moving her horse closer to the edge of the bog.
    If he told her the first answer that came to his mind on that question, she definitely wouldn’t like the answer, he thought fiercely. “You’ve done enough for the moment,” he said, instead, swiping a huge glob of mud from his thigh.
    Savannah winced as the dark lump of wet earth landed beside her horse. Biting her bottom lip, she looked contritely at Jake. “I really am sorry.”
    Jake had to drag his gaze from the sight of her worrying her bottom lip, or he knew he’d end up on his butt in the mud again. “Forget it.” He worked his boots free from the bog. “Where’s Emma?”
    â€œJessica came by and took her into town for lunch and an ice cream. They should be back by dinner.”
    He turned away and signaled his horse to back up, tightening the rope. The steer twisted its head, resisting the pull of the line. “Why didn’t you go with them?”
    â€œI thought they might like some time to