Authors: Connie Mason
“That’s enough, Vern,” Calvin admonished stern ly. “Blake isn’t interested in your private life. Go on, Blake, keep in touch.”
Shielding her eyes against the sun, Sam watched the lanky cowboy ride up toward the house. His hat was pulled low over his forehead, shading his face, and the six-shooters strapped to his slim waist and tied down around his thighs sent Sam’s heart racing. Colt! Had he come back to tell her that he … he what? Certainly not that he loved her. Her pulse beat like a triphammer until she realized with keen disappointment that the man approaching was a stranger. She fidgeted nervously while he reined in before her and dismounted. Something about him made her rest her hand on the gun strapped to her own slim waist.
“Howdy, ma’am,” Jim said, doffing his hat politely.
Eyeing his guns warily, Sam nodded, waiting for him to state his business. Suddenly Laura appeared at Sam’s side, lending her support.
Jim’s dark eyes slid from Sam to Laura, having no difficulty identifying Colt’s sister. The dark one had to be Samantha Howard, the woman who had his friend going around in circles, and Jim could easily see why. Though Laura was a beautiful woman, Sam was stunning. Never had he seen eyes that particular shade of violet. He felt himself drawn into their mysterious depths, lost to an emotion totally foreign to him. Could it be he was experiencing some of the same magic she wove around Colt?
“What do you want?” Sam asked rudely when the stranger continued to stare at her with unabashed interest.
“Sorry, ma’am,” Jim apologized, removing his hat. Rich brown hair gleamed darkly in the sunlight, momentarily distracting Sam. “I don’t mean to be rude but it ain’t often I see two beautiful women at one time.”
Sam suppressed a smile but said nothing. “Are you the owner of this ranch?” Jim asked, feigning ignorance.
“No,” Sam said tighdy, refusing to elaborate.
“Then you’re the lady of the house,” Jim grinned cheekily.
“N … no, not exactly,” Sam stuttered, flushing.
Laura came to her rescue. “What exactly is your business, Mr….”
“Jim, Jim Blake, ma’am. I’m lookin’ for work. I reckon a ranch this size can always use another hand.”
“Are you from these parts, Mr. Blake?”
“Nope,” Jim admitted. “Been travelin’ some and decided to setde for a spell. This looks to be as good a place as any.”
“You’ll have to speak to the foreman, Mr. Blake,” Sam advised. “He does the hiring around here in the owner’s absence. And if I’m not mistaken, that’s Jake riding in now.”
Jake recognized Jim Blake instantly. Though Jake had never been a Ranger, they had met while fighting in the Mexican War. The three men had formed a lasting friendship. Jake knew Jim was in town, so he was not unduly surprised to see him.
“Jim!” he greeted, slapping him on the back, “you old cuss. Been wonderin’ when you’d pay us a call.”
“You two know each other? I … I, thought you were a drifter,” Sam said.
Laura echoed her sentiments.
Chuckling, Jake revealed, “Far from it. Jim is a Texas Ranger workin’ with Colt. I know Colt trusts both of you, so I don’t mind tellin’ you all this.”
“You’re the partner Colt mentioned,” Sam said, comprehension dawning. “Is Colt all right?”
Jim did not miss the note of anxiety in Sam’s voice and was shocked at the twinge of jealousy he felt. “Colt’s fine. He’s on his way to Laredo.”
“Laredo!” Sam repeated stupidly. “Colt’s in Laredo?”
“He’s been ordered to Laredo to investigate rumors that the Crowders are raid in’ down by the border. He left before he could get back here and tell you about it.”
“He went alone?” Laura asked, scandalized. “What are you doing here if Colt is in danger?”
“Colt can take care of himself.” Jim smiled indulgently. “Besides, I’m still on assignment here in Karlsburg.”
“What are you doing at the Circle H?” Sam demanded to know. She had a profound premonition that Colt was heading straight for trouble and wanted to know why his partner was safely tucked away in Karlsburg.
“Orders,” Jim answered cryptically. “To all appearances I’m workin’ for the Logans.”
“Do they know you’re here?” Jake asked anxiously.
“They sent me.”
For some reason his eyes sought out Sam, finding himself enthralled with her dark, sultry looks. If he thought Colt truly had no interest in her he’d waste little time staking his own claim.
“The Logans seem determined to get their hands on this piece of land. They’re payin’ me to hire on as a ranch hand in order to learn all I can about the owner.”
“Why?” Laura asked, bewildered. All this was still new to her.
“They’re wantin’ to buy the ranch so they can make a bundle off the railroad when it comes through. But they have no idea where to find the present owner,” Jake revealed, his eyes softening as they lingered on Colt’s sister. It was obvious to both Jim and Sam that the foreman held tender feelings for the petite blond.
“Exactly,” concurred Jim. “I’m supposed to learn all I can and report my findin’s to the Logans.”
“Do you have evidence to connect the Logans with the Crowders?” Jake wondered.
“Nothin’ but a gut feelin’. And a jury needs more evidence than that. I’m hopin’ it will all bust wide open soon. Calvin Logan is a slick operator, but one day he’ll slip up and the game will be over. He’s ruined too many good men to get away scot free.”
“Then I reckon I oughta find you a job to keep up appearances,” Jake concluded. “C’ mon, Jim, you can jaw at the ladies later.”
“Join us for supper,” Laura invited impulsively, surprising Sam. Immediately Laura regretted her rash invitation and looked to Sam for support.
Sam hesitated but a moment before adding her own approval. Why not? she reasoned. It’s been dull around here these past days without Colt. “Yes, please do join us for supper tonight. It will give us a chance to put our cooking skills into practice. Jake and Will can come too. They’re probably tired of Sanchez’s cooking by now.”
After that Jim and Jake ate their evening meal with Sam and Laura whenever possible. Will joined them when duties permitted, but mostly it was just the four of them. Recently Laura had admitted to Sam that she thought Jake a fine man, and obviously Jake felt more than mere friendship for Laura. More often than not Sam found herself alone with Jim while Laura and Jake wandered off by themselves. At first Sam felt uncomfortable, but after a while she began to relax in Jim’s company, discovering an extraordinary man beneath the rough exterior. He reminded her a lot of Colt.
Soft-spoken, sensitive, kind, and gentle with the opposite sex, Jim was nothing like what she’d expect of a gunslinger. Not that he didn’t look the part with his dark, brooding looks, tall, lithe form, and aura of danger about him. When fixed with his steely gaze, Sam could understand one’s fear of the man. But to his friends he revealed none of the harshness of his nature that simmered just below the surface.
During their times together Sam learned that Jim and Colt had met during the Mexican War. Older man Colt by a few years, Jim was born in a covered wagon somewhere on the prairie between Illinois and Texas. His family eventually found their way to Fort Worth and settled on land north of the city. Unlike Colt’s family who were slaughtered by Indians, Jim’s folks prospered and now owned one of the largest spreads in Texas.
After the war Jim found it difficult to settle in one place, and when Colt announced his intention of joining the Rangers, Jim quickly followed his friend into their ranks despite his father’s protests. The elder Blake had high hopes of Jim taking over the Triple Bar Ranch. Jim’s two sisters had married men with no inclination for ranching, and his parents waited, albeit impatiently, for Jim to give up his wild ways and shoulder his responsibilities. But Jim had no intention of settling down, until he met Samantha Howard. Barely two weeks had slipped past before Jim realized he was falling in love for the first time in his life.
“It’s so nice out tonight, Laura, we oughta take advantage of it,” Jake suggested hopefully. They had just finished supper and since the men had been out running down strays for the past week, it was the first meal they had shared since their return.
“I should help Sam with the dishes first,” Laura replied with a shy smile.
“No need,” Jim said with alacrity. “You two go on and enjoy the night. I’ll help Sam with dishes.”
“Yes, go on, you two,” Sam urged, thinking how happy she’d be if Colt expressed the desire for her company. Needing no further urging, Laura gave Sam’s hand a squeeze and left with Jake.
“There’s no need for you to help, Jim, it will take me but a few minutes to do these dishes.”
“I want to help, Sam. I like to be with you,” Jim admitted somewhat sheepishly. “Haven’t you caught on yet? I want you.”
Jim’s passionate confession nearly caused Sam to drop a plate. She stopped in mid-stride and turned to gape somewhat stupidly at the attractive man she had come to like and trust.
“No, Jim, you mustn’t,” she whispered as he stepped forward and grasped her arms just above the elbows. “Surely you know that Colt and I are—that we’re—” The pained, constrictive words were jerked out of her.
“I know what happened between you and Colt, and it doesn’t matter,” Jim said tightly. “He took advantage of you. I’ve known Colt a long time and he always was a bastard where women were concerned.”
“No!” Sam’s eyes flew up, meeting Jim’s probing gaze squarely. “It… wasn’t like that.”
Her words came to him on a breathless sigh, and suddenly Jim knew a moment of intense pain. “You love him.” It was more of an accusation than a question.
Her silence provided the answer far better than any words she might have uttered. Jim’s eyes narrowed and his mouth hardened.
“Jesus, Sam, don’t you know how futile, how utterly misplaced your love is? I don’t think Colt is capable of returnin’ your love. He might be my best friend, but I hold no illusions about him and his dealin’s with women. He attracts them in droves but allows no lastin’ attachments. At first I thought you might be the woman to change all that but…” Not wishing to hurt Sam, he fell silent.
“But what?” Sam prodded, pain thudding through her body.
“Dammit, Sam, do you really want to know?”
Jim’s obvious reluctance spurred her curiosity, but words weren’t necessary to describe Colt’s feelings for her. Sam knew he wanted her; that he enjoyed making love to her. She even conceded the fact that he might feel a certain possessiveness towards her, but not love. No, never love. He would never forget she was part Comanche or forgive her for the blood that ran through her veins—the same blood claimed by those savages who killed his parents. Colt was a man who harbored too much hate in his heart for love to take root and grow.
“There’s nothing you can tell me that I don’t already know,” Sam said slowly, relieving Jim of the need to say things about his friend better left unsaid. “At one time there might have been a chance for me and Colt. But I recently learned something that killed whatever feeling Colt felt for me.
“I can’t imagine what that could be.” Jim frowned thoughtfully.
“Didn’t he tell you?”
“Should he have?”
“I don’t know—I thought—You may as well know the reason I’ve earned Colt’s contempt. He discovered I was part Comanche.”
“Jesus!” Jim rasped, stunned. But once her astounding disclosure sunk in, he noted all the subtle hints that pointed to her heritage. Golden skin, hair as black as a raven’s wing, high cheekbones, and eyes tilting subtly upwards. She was so vital, so alive and beautiful it hurt to look at her. If the savage part of her offended Colt, that was his problem. As for himself, Jim reckoned there was not a part of Sam that didn’t please him—including her Indian blood. Colt’s loss was his gain, if he could persuade Sam to consider him seriously.
“I’m sorry, Sam, if bein’ Comanche bothers you,” Jim allowed. “Knowin’ Colt’s aversion for Indians, I can understand his … er … reluctance to continue your relationship. Perhaps now that you know how much I care for you you’ll consider my proposal.”
“At the moment it’s impossible to think beyond the fact that I love Colt,” Sam said dryly. “I’ve tried to forget him. Now that Laura no longer needs me, I’ll be leaving.”
“I need you, Sam,” Jim insisted, drawing her into the circle of his arms. “My enlistment is up soon and I’ve been seriously thinkin’ of setdin’ down.”
“Jim, please, I…”
“I’m offerin’ marriage, Sam.”
“But you hardly know me.”
“I know that I love you.”
“I have to think of Will.”
“There’s plenty of room on the Triple Bar Ranch for Will.”
Unable to contain himself another minute with the object of his affection so close and attainable, Jim slipped his arms around Sam’s supple waist, pressing her into the hard wall of his chest Then abruptly his lips slanted over hers, sampling the sweet nectar she sought to withhold—but failed in the face of his perseverance. Before she succeeded in freeing herself, she felt the bold proof of his desire rising like a hot brand between them.
The kiss was pleasant but not earth-shattering like Colt’s, prompting Sam to struggle free before Jim’s ardor got out of hand. “I’m sorry, Jim, it just won’t work,” Sam persisted, backing away. “Whether Colt realizes it or not, I belong to him. Did he tell you we were married in an Indian ceremony?”