Within moments a horse and rider came into view. Her finger tightened on the trigger when she recognized Adam. At once her heart began to beat a little faster, and she cursed herself for her weakness. Was this going to happen every time she saw him?
“Good morning, Diamond,” he called.
“What’s good about it?”
His lips curved in a dangerous smile. “I see you’re in pleasant humor.” He addressed a welcome to Pearl. “This is a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see you here. I figured by now you’d be halfway to Abeline, Miss Jewel.”
Diamond’s temper flared. “You’re on my property, Adam.”
“So I am. Again.”
He turned his head, and she felt the heat of his gaze as surely as if he’d touched her. Or kissed her. The very thought brought a tingle to her lips.
“But this time, it isn’t my cattle that brought me here. It’s yours.”
He turned and nodded back down the trail. A few minutes later a dozen or more cows came into view. Behind them rode Zeb.
“’Morning, ladies.” Zeb lifted his hat in a courtly gesture. “Thought we’d return your cattle, lady boss. So’s your wranglers won’t think we’re stealing.”
“I’ll have a word with Cal about this. One of our wranglers should have caught these strays before they got this far.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Adam said. “No harm done.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. But you don’t have time to haul my cattle home every time they stray.” She nodded over her shoulder. “If you drive them that way, Zeb, you’ll see my herd on the other side of this rise.”
“Yes’m.” He glanced at Pearl. “And who might this young lady be?”
“This is Pearl...” She still couldn’t bring herself to speak the full name aloud. It seemed somehow disloyal to all her childhood memories to call this young woman by the same name as her own.
“I’m Pearl Jewel,” came the soft, cultured voice.
“Howdy, ma’am. Zebulon Forrest. Folks call me Zeb.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Zeb.”
He replaced his hat. “Well, I’ll just drive these—”
A shot rang out. The bullet exploded in the dirt between Diamond and Adam, sending sand spewing around their horses’ feet. Reflexively Adam reached out, dragging Diamond from her mount. He held her in his arms as easily as if she weighed nothing at all, while he expertly turned his horse, shielding her body with his own. When she was safely behind the wagon, he dropped her to the ground, just as a second shot rang out. In the next instant, Adam hauled Pearl from her perch on the wagon. She was tossed into the dirt beside Diamond.
“Stay down,” Adam commanded as Diamond started to reach for her rifle.
He slid to the ground, a pistol in his hand. Pearl remained behind him, peering around cautiously. But Diamond, furious at this blatant attack, grabbed her rifle and started forward.
At that moment they heard the sound of hoofbeats thundering away.
By the time Diamond had raced to the top of the rise, with the others following, the horse and rider were out of sight. All that could be seen was a brief glimpse of a dark horse and a figure in a cowhide jacket before the woods closed in, blocking horse and rider from view.
“What...?” Breathless and terrified, Pearl struggled to get the words out. “What was that all about?”
“I’d say someone was out to kill.” Adam bolstered his gun and turned a meaningful glance toward Zeb. “The only problem is, am I the intended victim?” He slowly turned to narrow his gaze on Diamond. “Or is it you they’re after?”
It took Diamond a full minute to steady her jangling nerves. When she did, she was more angry than frightened.
“No man would dare to trespass on my land and threaten me. Besides, the only time these things happen is when you’re here, Adam Winter. You have to be the one they’re shooting at.”
“Could be. And if it’s true, all you have to do is stay away from me and you won’t get hit in the crossfire.” His eyes narrowed. “But then again, since you might be the target, you’d be wise to take extra precautions until this gunman is caught.”
“What extra precautions?” she demanded.
“Don’t ride alone. Especially after dark.”
At once she felt her cheeks flood with color, and hated him for daring to mention such a thing.
If he was aware of her discomfort, he gave no indication. “Have a couple of your wranglers with you at all times. And stay away from remote areas, where a gunman could easily hide behind rocks or buttes.” His voice lowered. “I guess the best thing you could do is stay on your ranch until this gunman is caught.”
Her eyes blazed. “In other words, I ought to turn tail and hide like some useless little female?”
“Now, Diamond, that isn’t what I was—”
“Why should I believe you?” she demanded. “Maybe you’re just doing this to make everyone believe in your innocence.”
He shrugged, feeling his temper rise. “Believe whatever you want. Right now, I intend to accompany you back to your ranch, whether you like it or not.”
Her anger exploded. “I can take care of—”
“Please, Diamond.” Pearl grasped her arm, eyes wide with fear. “I’d feel a whole lot safer if you’d allow Adam to ride with us.”
Despite her anger, Diamond felt a sudden wave of sympathy. While she’d been merely annoyed at this inconvenience, Pearl had probably been scared out of her wits. “You haven’t had much of a welcome to Texas, have you?”
Pearl struggled to smile, but she couldn’t hide the slight trembling of her lips. “Please don’t apologize. It’s more than I’d hoped for. You gave me a place to sleep, and a glimpse of a life I’ve only dreamed about. For that, I’ll be forever grateful. But right now, I’d feel a lot better if Adam would see us home.”
In syrupy tones Diamond said, “I hope you’re happy, Adam Winter. It looks like you managed to convince one of us that you’re worthy of trust.”
Just then she glanced down at the small, silver object in Pearl’s hand. Her jaw dropped. “Is that a gun?”
Pearl’s cheeks flamed and she thrust the little pistol into the pocket of her gown. “A friend in Boston warned me that I would have need of protection in the wilds of Texas.”
Without a word Diamond pulled herself into the saddle and watched as Adam helped Pearl to the seat of the rig. Seeing his hand at Pearl’s elbow brought a bitter twinge of feeling. Jealousy? she wondered. Impossible. She’d never known such an emotion in her whole life. Still, at the sight of the little derringer, she was experiencing all sorts of doubts about Pearl. And Adam.
When Adam had mounted, Diamond pulled her rifle from the boot of her saddle and aimed it at him. She saw his eyes narrow slightly.
“I don’t take kindly to a gun being trained on me.”
“And I don’t take kindly to a watchdog being forced on me. I’ll allow you to ride with us as far as the ranch. But only because Pearl asked. As for me, Adam Winter, keep in mind that I don’t believe you, I don’t trust you, and most of all, I don’t need you.”
She nudged her horse into a gallop, leaving Pearl and Adam in her dust.
“Zeb,” Adam called. “Drive Diamond’s strays over that ridge, then return to our herd.” His tone was rough with anger. “I’ll get back as soon as I can.”
He looked up in time to see the old man’s eyes twinkling with suppressed laughter, his lips split into a wide grin. “That little lady boss sure does have a temper,” Zeb shouted as he started after the cows.
“She doesn’t mean anything by it,” Pearl said in Diamond’s defense. “I think she’s just shaken by what happened, and she’s more comfortable with anger than gratitude.”
“One night under her roof and you’ve got her figured out, have you, Miss Jewel?” Adam asked.
Pearl smiled demurely. “I know her better than I expected. You see, she’s just like my daddy. He could be very funny, and he was the most
charming man I’d ever met. He was also loyal and generous to a fault. He loved to laugh, and his laughter was contagious. But he was uncomfortable with any display of what he considered the weaker emotions. He had a difficult time saying thank you. And it would have been impossible for him to publicly grieve. I see so much of Daddy in Diamond.”
Adam shot her an approving glance. “You’re wise beyond your years, Miss Jewel.” He nudged his horse into a trot. “We’d better get going if we’re going to catch up.”
She flicked the reins. “It seems to be all I’ve been doing since my arrival.”
At his sideways glance she explained. “Catching up.”
“You’re not alone, Miss Jewel.” He squinted at the figure up ahead. “The whole of Texas probably has to struggle to keep up with Diamond.”
Chapter Ten
Diamond kept her horse on a steady course toward home. Though she refused to slow down, or to look over her shoulder, she knew that Pearl and Adam were following. It gave her a measure of satisfaction to know that the smug Adam Winter was forced to eat her dust.
Twice now he’d caught her off guard with his kiss. And twice she’d behaved like some silly, moonstruck female. No more, she told herself. From now on, she would be in control of her emotions.
She could hear the deep rumble of his voice as he rode alongside Pearl’s rig, patiently answering her questions. For some strange reason, the sound of his voice caused an odd flutter deep inside.
It was nothing more than nerves, Diamond scolded herself.
Though she hated to admit it, even to herself, she was still feeling uneasy about what had happened back there. Could Adam be right? Was she the target of the unknown gunman? She shivered. But why? Why would anyone want to harm her? At once, the thought came unbidden to her mind. Hadn’t someone wanted her father dead?
Someone shot Pa in the back.
It wasn’t too difficult to take that to the next logical step. If someone wanted Pa dead, didn’t it stand to reason they might want his daughter dead, as well? But why? Why?
Oh, Pa. Why did you have to keep so many secrets? Why couldn’t you have trusted me with them?
If her father had just told her why he was so angry that night, and who was meeting him, the mystery would be solved. But he had stormed out, his mouth twisted into a tight, angry line, without saying a word. And now he was gone. And his secrets died with him.
And Pearl. How could he have kept such an important secret all these years? When Diamond thought about all the nights spent on the trail together, talking endlessly about the future, she felt a terrible pain around her heart.
You could have told me, Pa. I would have been able to accept it from your lips.
And was it mere coincidence that Pearl was carrying a little pistol like the one Doc had said killed Pa? Could he have died at the hand of his own daughter? Could Pearl actually hate him because he hadn’t been a good enough father?
She shoved aside her wide-brimmed hat and rubbed her temple. All these vexing thoughts were giving her a headache.
She was relieved when the ranch came into view. She slowed her mount, drinking in the sight. The house, as solid and sturdy as the man who had built it, had a calming influence. After all, she was home. What could harm her here in her father’s place, surrounded by men loyal to his memory?
Seeing the look of pleasure on her face, Pearl slowed the rig and lifted a hand to shade her eyes.
“Your home is beautiful, Diamond. It’s even more wonderful than I’d imagined. You’re very lucky.”
Diamond glanced at the young woman, then at the horseman beside her. His face was expressionless, but she thought, for just a moment, that she had seen a flicker of some emotion in Adam’s eyes.
“Yes, I am. I just wish I’d realized it sooner, when Pa was still...” Annoyed at her lapse, she flicked the reins and her horse started forward, eager for the promise of food and water at the end of the trail.
Pearl snapped the leather and the rig rolled smoothly alongside. Adam followed more slowly, his gaze trained on the surrounding rocks and hills. He fought back a sense of frustration. There were a hundred places where a determined gunman could hide. With a headstrong woman like Diamond Jewel, it would take an army to protect her. And even with that, she would probably find a way to slip out of their grasp and get herself into trouble.
Their arrival did not go unnoticed. Within minutes a dozen horsemen, with Cal McCabe in the lead, rode out to meet them.
“What are you doing here, Winter?” McCabe shouted.
“What you ought to be doing. Looking out for Diamond’s safety.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Cal’s tone hardened.
“It means that there was more gunfire.”
Cal went pale. “Are you all right, Di?”
“I’m fine. But it happened on my own property. It’s getting too close, Cal.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Pearl and I were up on the west ridge, overlooking Adam’s spread. He and Zeb crossed our path.”
“And how did that happen, Winter?” Cal demanded.
Seeing the dark look in Adam’s eyes, Diamond quickly replied, “They were returning some of our strays —”
“Our strays,” Cal interrupted. “This is something new, Winter. I’d have expected you to try to keep them.”
“Please, Cal. Let me finish. A bullet was fired that landed right between us.”
“Between you and Winter.” Cal’s gaze narrowed on Adam.
“That’s right.” Adam’s voice held a challenge.
“So, once again, we don’t know if the gunman was aiming at you or at Di.” Cal couldn’t keep the anger from his tone. “I suppose nobody got a look at this invisible gunman.”
“Right again.” Adam’s voice frosted over. He noted that at least half the horses were dark, and that Cal and many of the wranglers were dressed in nearly identical cowhide jackets. Any one of them could have been the shooter. “Where were you when all this was going on, McCabe?”
The foreman exploded. “Are you suggesting that I had something to do with this?” His fingers closed over the gun at his waist.
At once, Diamond reached out and placed a hand on his sleeve. “Don’t, Cal. That won’t settle anything.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. But it’ll make me feel a whole lot better,” he muttered.
“The last thing I need is to have those around me fighting. Don’t you see? Right now, what I need most is your cool head and your steady hand.”
Slowly, with great reluctance, he lifted his hand away from his holster. Ignoring Adam Winter, he said to Diamond, “I was over on the north ridge, seeing to the herd there. Cookie passed me on his way to take grub to the men. You can ask him yourself.”
Diamond squeezed his arm. “I don’t need to check out your story, Cal. I’d trust you with my life. Come on. Let’s go home.”
He held back. “What about Winter?”
Diamond glanced at the man who sat as still as a statue alongside Pearl’s rig. She knew that that stillness masked a grim determination. He’d been prepared to do battle if Cal had drawn his gun. Even though it would have meant fighting a dozen wranglers.
“Adam insisted on seeing us home. I think the least I can do is repay the favor.” She turned. “It’s been a long ride, Adam. I hope you’ll stay for lunch.”
Adam touched a hand to the brim of his hat, surprised and pleased at the invitation. “Thanks. I will. As long as you promise not to do the cooking.”
That remark brought a grin to the faces of several of the wranglers. Seeing them, Diamond felt a sudden rush of anger. Why was it, even when she was trying to be nice, Adam Winter seemed to take delight in humiliating her?
Cal, too, was angry. But it wasn’t Adam’s humor that had him seething. It was the fact that this drifter had wrangled an invitation into Onyx Jewel’s home. It wasn’t right. After all, though Diamond may have forgotten that Winter had been arrested for her father’s murder, Cal
never intended to forget. Or forgive.
“We’ll see you to the ranch,” he called to Diamond. “But then I think the wranglers and I will head on out to that ridge and see if we can find any trace of your attacker.”
“Fine.” Diamond turned away to hide the flush on her cheeks. The thought of taking a meal with Adam had her pulse racing. But at least, she assured herself, they wouldn’t be alone. She would have Pearl and Carmelita to help carry the conversation. “The sooner we eat, the sooner Adam can get back to his cattle.” And she could get rid of the strange, uneasy tingle that inched along her spine whenever he was near. “Come on.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Adam’s smile deepened.
At the ranch house, Diamond found herself forced to endure Adam’s touch as he lifted a hand to help her down from the saddle. At once she experienced a rush of heat. Was he aware of her reaction? Were her cheeks flushed? Were her eyes too wide? Oh, if only she knew how to handle all these strange new emotions.
“Thank you,” she muttered as she broke contact and turned away quickly.
Adam assisted Pearl as she stepped from the rig.
“Oh, my.” She touched a hand to her lower back and gave a long, deep sigh. “All those miles by coach seem to have caught up with me.”
Diamond glanced over with a contrite look. “I’m sorry, Pearl. This was pretty careless of me. I only wanted to show you the ranch. But I shouldn’t have taken you so far.”
“Please, Diamond. Don’t apologize.” Pearl crossed the distance between them and stopped, suddenly awkward. It was a gesture that seemed out of place between family members. But they still had a long way to go before they would be completely relaxed in each other’s presence. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Though,” she added, “I would have preferred a less... eventful ride. I was really terrified back there. And so impressed by the cool, calm way you and Adam dealt with it.”
Diamond gave an uneasy laugh. “Maybe Adam was calm. My heart was pounding.”
“Truly?” Pearl shook her head. “I would have never guessed. You’re an amazing woman.”