The Lone Rancher - By Carol Finch Page 0,18

He was a man cursed, if Ches Purvis was to be believed. Adrianna had enough challenges ahead of her without tripping over a big, swarthy stumbling block with mercury-colored eyes and sensuous lips that tasted—

Adrianna jerked upright in the bathtub so quickly that she accidentally slopped water on the floor. “Forget about that,” she lectured herself sternly. “Forget about him.”

She settled back into the tub and smiled wickedly. “I wonder how much it would cost to hire Elda to poison Cahill? That would put the ornery rascal out of his misery for good.”

Adrianna had to admit it was a relief to leave behind the rat-tat-tat of hammers all the livelong day. Although she was anxious to complete the new addition that would become her spacious private parlor, bedroom and office, she was eager to get away and visit Rosa.

“There aren’t many options for purchasing supplies and personal items,” Bea remarked as they halted the wagon in front of Rosa’s shop, which faced Town Square.

“We’ll manage,” Butler insisted as he helped the housekeeper down.

Adrianna frowned curiously when she noticed Butler held on to Bea—and she to him—a moment longer than necessary. If Adrianna didn’t know better…

She studied the twosome from a different perspective. “How long has this been going on without my knowledge?”

Butler stepped protectively in front of Bea. He met Adrianna’s speculative gaze and stood his ground. “For a dozen years. We were careful in Boston, because gossip mills can grind you up, you know. If you object to our, er, friendship—”

Adrianna waved him to silence, then hopped agilely to the ground to brush dust from her breeches and shirt. “If you recall, I moved to Texas to enjoy my independence. I’m pleased you and Bea are exceptionally fond of each other. I merely meant that no one bothered to enlighten me. I’m ashamed that I’ve been so wrapped up in my own misery the past few years I failed to notice.”

Butler and Bea looked relieved that Adrianna hadn’t scorned their liaison.

She grinned impishly at them. “Now, if the day comes that you decide to make it legal I will be honored to host a party for you.” She strode ahead of them. “Come see Rosa’s shop. She has done very well for herself and, like you, she has become good at keeping secrets.” She paused to stare somberly at her employees. “Rosa doesn’t want anyone to know that she’s an heiress so mum’s the word.”

The twosome nodded agreeably before they followed Adrianna into the dress shop.

Quin trotted Cactus into town to pick up the payroll so he would have it on hand to pay his cowboys. He also wanted to ensure the rent that the banker, Willem Van Slyck, collected monthly for him had been deposited in the ranch account. Although Quin had told Bowie, Chance and Leanna that he was pouring all the profits from town rentals and cattle sales into ranch improvements and expansion, he had paid his siblings dividends—in case they needed a financial boost. Of course, they would have to contact him—which they hadn’t. Quin wasn’t worried about Bowie’s finances since he’d had a job before leaving 4C. Not the kind of job their parents had approved of but Bowie was drawing sheriff’s wages. Quin had no idea what Leanna and Chance were doing to make ends meet. Nevertheless, the money awaited them when they finally came to their senses and returned home where they belonged.

Like Boston—who never should have ventured west to disrupt his life and take the starring role in his dreams. Damn the woman. He kept playing that tantalizing kiss over and over in his mind and wondered if perhaps he had been the one who had initiated it. For certain, she fit against his body as if she had been made for him….

Now there was a thought that rattled him to the extreme.

Yet, maybe he had been going about dealing with Boston all wrong, he mused as he halted in front of Hell’s Corner Saloon. Perhaps he should have charmed Boston as he had charmed Elda Quickel into cooking and cleaning for him. She was a gourmet cook of the highest order. His taste buds nearly went into riot remembering the delicious fare she had served him. Besides, it was nice to have someone join him at the dinner table—and he had insisted on that. No need for Elda to eat alone in the kitchen, after all.

His thoughts flitted off when he saw Lucas Burnett and his black-eyed wolf dog—named Dog—moving