An Agent for Ulyssa

By

Patricia PacJac Carroll

An Agent for Ulyssa  ~  Author Patricia PacJac Carroll

    Copyright © February 2020

Published by Patricia PacJac Carroll @ PacJac Publishing

ALL rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, (except for inclusion in reviews), disseminated or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or audio. Including photocopying, recording, or in any information storage and retrieval system, or the Internet/World Wide Web without written permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Cover by: Virginia McKevitt

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Ulyssa Long has been a Pinkerton agent for seven years. She likes working alone. And is ruthless in solving the cases she’s been given. She is surprised when she is called into the Denver office to take on Sam Paxton as her partner in training.

She refuses but is told that she can look for another job if she doesn’t want to do as she’s told.

Sam Paxton needs to prove himself as a good man to make up for his outlaw past. He’s eager to learn, but Ulyssa is a beast of a woman. Oh, she’s pretty all right, but meaner than a snake. He’s met outlaws that were friendlier.

The case – Roy Allred, a wealthy rancher in southern Colorado, has a problem. His only child, a daughter – Trucilla, Rusty, Allred who is twenty-three years old, pretty, and in love with a man that Roy thinks is an outlaw and just out to get the ranch.

Ulyssa and Sam are to break up the young couple and protect Rusty from Cade Monroe. Well, all I can say is you’ll just have to see what happened.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

An Agent for Ulyssa

Chapter 1

Ulyssa Long reread the telegram. After five reads, it still said the same thing. She was to report to the Denver office and pick up a partner. Not any partner, but a man she was to help train in the Pinkerton way.

“This can not be happening.” She never worked with a partner. Never. Why now? She was an excellent agent and had solved the cases given to her. Why was she being punished?

She glared at the mirror in her hotel room. “I told them when I hired on, no partners.” She stared at her image. But she heard nothing to refute what the telegram had said. In fifteen minutes, she would walk into the Denver office and pick up her partner.

“Ridiculous. The man must be an idiot if they have to train him, and what a waste of an agent of my caliber to make me.” Then again, she’d heard of Archie’s diabolical plan to match male and female agents together and make them marry one another for the first case.

At least, the wire hadn’t said she was going to have to marry the man. Because she would not. “I will not marry any man.” As far as she was concerned, the male version of the species were all beasts.

Harsh, she knew. But after her horrid upbringing by a father who didn’t care and being dumped in an orphanage that cared even less, who could blame her. She’d suffered abuse and mistreatment from every man she knew. And this was only more proof.

She stomped to the door, grabbed her derringer from the dresser, and stuffed it in her pocket. Ulyssa went out, letting the door slam behind her, not caring if she woke others in the hotel. No one should be sleeping at ten in the morning anyway.

***

A slamming door jolted Sam Paxton awake. He rubbed his eyes and then squinted to see the clock on the hotel wall. His heart leaped to his throat. He had ten minutes to get ready, leave the hotel, and get to the headquarters. The head detective had said he was to meet his partner today.

He had some weird name like Ulysses. He hoped it wasn’t a fat drunk that was supposed to train him. Although that would be his luck. Then again, he had his sister and husband to thank for keeping him out of prison and getting him a job with the Pinkertons.

Actually he had Evangeline to thank for not letting him hang. If she hadn’t saved him when she had, he’d have had a stretched neck and been buzzard food. Now, he was saddled with some guy named Ulysses. “Useless.” Sam laughed as he jumped into his pants.

He grabbed his shirt, threw it on, and stuffed part of it in his pants. He didn’t have a gun. The sheriff wouldn’t give him one until he was accepted as one of the Pinkertons.

The sheriff didn’t trust him. Not that Sam blamed him. He barely trusted himself. Crazy. But he was grateful for the chance. At least for a while. He wasn’t sure what kind of case they’d give him.

The boss had said something that he couldn’t mess up. It was no joke that most of the agents looked at him with a jaded eye. They didn’t trust him, which was probably why he got picked to have a partner named Useless.

A glance at the clock showed he had five minutes. Well, he could run. After all, he’d been running most of his life. The irony made him laugh as this time, he was running to the law instead of from it.

Sam hit the stairs two at a time, rushed through the door, and ran across the street. He was almost to the front door of the Pinkerton agency when he saw some lady enter before him. She looked horrifically prudish. Ha, some poor guy was probably going to have to marry her and train her as an agent.

He’d heard all about Archie’s plan and was so glad that he wasn’t required to marry anyone. No sir. He was not the marrying type. Not at all.

He rushed in after the prudish woman, brushing her shoulder as he ran past her. “Excuse me.” Might as well sound polite. He laughed and barged into the room.

Archie stared at him. “Well, you made it on time with a minute to spare. Your partner should be in here as the clock chimes. She’s always spot on the minute.”

As he finished talking, the clock chimed, and the door opened. Miss prude walked in, gave him an icy stare, and folded her arms. She glanced at Archie. “Please don’t tell me that is my partner.”

Sam looked down and had to admit he looked a bit ragged. His shirt was half in half out. His hair was probably mussed because he’d forgot to brush it much less shave. He hoped some horrible mistake had been made and one of them was in the wrong room.

Archie shook his head. “I’m sorry. For both of you. But this is the orders from on high. It’s a special case, and Mr. Pinkerton figured you two would be the best ones to solve it.”

Sam slumped down into the chair in front of the desk.

Miss Prude stood with her arms folded and her lips in a firm grim line. But her eyes smoldered enough that words weren’t necessary.

Sam shrugged. “All right. I’m here. What’s the case? Forgers, train robbers, rustlers?”

Archie shook his head. “Sit down, Ulyssa.” When she refused, the lead detective looked up at her. “Please.”

Sam felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see her hand flapping in his face.

“Move over.” She growled in an icy voice.

Sam wanted nothing more than to grab that flapping hand and bite it but remembering Evangeline’s warning that he be on his best behavior, he stood and scooted over to the other chair.

She dusted the seat off, sat, and proceeded to move her chair away from his. Then she folded her arms again.

Sam was about to ask how she caught any outlaws with her arms folded but thought better of it. Especially when he noticed that the boss was glaring at him.

Throwing a folder at him, Archie shook his head. “Roy Allred is a friend of Mr. Pinkerton. So, this comes from high up.”

Ulyssa cleared her throat. “Where’s my folder.”

Archie didn’t look up. “You have to share.”

Sam rushed to pick up the folder in front of him and opened it. “I see. Roy Allred. Big time rancher in southern Colorado.” He looked at Ulyssa and grinned.

“At least it is a comfort to see that you can read.” She turned her head and looked at Archie. “And what are we to do?”

“Roy’s daughter, Rusty, has become interested in a rather questionable character, and Roy is afraid his only child will be taken advantage of. You two are to go and break them up. Roy doesn’t want the man killed. He just wants Rusty to understand that the guy isn’t right for her.”

Sam set the folder down. “Sounds simple enough. It seems like her father ought to be able to do that.”

Archie raised an eyebrow. “How many twenty-three-year-old daughters do you have?”

Nodding, Sam shut the folder and put on the desk, but out of Ulyssa’s reach. “None.” He grinned. “I can probably handle it myself. I have been known to be a ladies’ man.”

Ulyssa stared at him. “That is hard to believe. I’d hate to know what kind of ladies they were.”

Sam shook his head. “I doubt you would know anything about being a lady.” She must be the agent one of the guys referred to as the Ice of Hearts.

Ulyssa glared at him. Not that she’d ever stopped glaring, but her eyes had reached their peak and any more would probably have shot fire out at him.

Ulyssa reached for the folder which Sam pushed out of her way. “Ha! You’re a miserable excuse for a partner. Maybe you can buy a comb and a razor before we leave.”

Archie cleared his throat loudly. “All right. Enough. That is exactly what Mr. Pinkerton doesn’t want. You two are to get along and be friendly to one another and to Rusty and her father. I don’t care what you do with,” He paused and looked at the folder. “Cade Monroe.”

Sam stood. “Simple, I’ll handle Rusty, charm her, and show her what a real man is like. And miss all-smiles can scare Cade into the next county maybe even out of the country.”

Archie slammed his fist down, hitting his mug and spilling coffee over the folder. “Ahh, look what you made me do.”

Ulyssa shook her head. “That’s all right. I saw enough over his shoulder to memorize the pages.”

This time, Sam rolled his eyes. “When do we leave?”

“Preferably after you bathe and clean up.” Ulyssa stood and shushed him out of her way.

Sam looked at the boss for reinforcement, but he was busy blotting up the spilled coffee.

Finally, Archie picked up two soggy tickets. “You’ll leave on the next train for Colorado Springs, and then you can buy a couple of horses and ride to his ranch.” He handed the wet tickets to Sam.

Ulyssa snatched them out of his hand and glared at Sam. “You’ve got an hour to clean up and meet me at the depot. Be there. I don’t wait for anyone.”

Sam sneered at her. “Good thing you’re not the train conductor. I’ll be there. Don’t you worry.” He left the room, glad to be away from her. Right about now, he wasn’t sure if prison would have been a more pleasant prospect than being a partner to the Ice of Hearts. Well, that was just about the color of his luck. He looked at her and mumbled her name.

“Useless.”

Chapter 2

Ulyssa stared out the window and watched the scenery pass by. She found the chugging train and the clack of the wheels on the tracks comforting. Soothing even. The times when she could relax and have peace were rare.

That she was in the railroad car in the front of the train and her partner was in the last car, was part of the reason for her calm feelings. The man rattled her. From the moment she first saw the rogue running across the street to the moment they met in the Pinkerton office, he had kept her on edge.

Ulyssa had felt at the moment he brushed by her that he’d been sent to antagonize her. What had she done to rile God so? The moment she was old enough to get out of the orphanage without being hunted down, she’d lived a decent life and worked hard.

For what? To have some outlaw come into her life as her partner so he could pester and annoy her. Just his breathing bothered her. There was nothing about the man she liked. Not one thing.

She rested her head on the back of the seat and listened to the train and dreamed she was going somewhere peaceful where everyone wasn’t against her. Where someone cared about her and would take her in his arms and hold her.

Ulyssa sat up and looked around. Where had that dream come from? No. She was fine by herself and on her own. It was the way she lived. She needed no one. Wanted no one. Especially not Sam Paxton.

The man was a menace.

She concentrated on the green hills and the mountains in the distance. Even though she had a good job and money in the bank, something was missing. She felt as if she lived on the outside, but never entered in. With a sad thought, Ulyssa recognized that her heart was hollow.

“Snap out of it, Ulyssa.” Dabbing at her eyes, she shook her head. She’d begun talking to herself more than she thought was right. But then, who else did she have to talk to? No one. Sam wasn’t the only she kept at arm’s length.

With no family or friend, Ulyssa was alone in this world. That was the way she preferred it. So, why was she stuck with a partner? “I don’t need anyone.”

She stared at the faint reflection of herself in the window. She wasn’t ugly, but her eyes and mouth were not welcoming. Not even to herself. Ulyssa tried a smile that only resulted in lifting a corner of her lips and ended up looking more like a snarl.

Disgusted with herself, she turned away and looked straight ahead. There was some truth in what Sam had pointed out to her.

“You look like you lost your best friend and were going to blame and shoot the next person you saw.” That’s what he’d told her as he left her and walked down the railcar to “get as far away as he could from her.”

Ulyssa had to admit. Sam was right. Except that she never had a best friend. She sighed and wished she was—where? Yet, she couldn’t remember a place she’d been that she’d want to go back to.

Everyplace was the same. Lonely. Desolate. Dead. “Shake it off, Ulyssa. You’re letting this man rattle you too much.”

Again, disgusted at having to talk to herself, she closed her eyes and then opened them again to see the mountains. Pike’s Peak was somewhere out there. Probably the tall one. The mountains still had snow on the peaks, and she had to admit they were beautiful.

“They’re pretty, aren’t they?”

Ulyssa looked in the window and saw her reflection and then Sam’s. She stiffened. “Yes. They are.”

“We’ll be in Colorado Springs in a few minutes. I thought I ought to find you, so you didn’t get lost.”

Her momentary lapse into sharing a moment with him collapsed into disgust. “I don’t get lost.”

“Good to know. I hope your memory has the map to the ranch because the coffee blurred out the markings. All I can make out is southern Colorado.”

“What!” Ulyssa grabbed the folder from him. He was right. The map had a big stain right in the middle where the markings to the ranch would have been.

Sam nodded toward the window. “Don’t worry, if it’s the biggest ranch in the area, I’m sure someone knows how to get to it.”

Ulyssa nodded. “You’re right. It just gave me a scare.” She patted her heart. “Calm down.”

“I’m not worried.”

Ulyssa stared at him. Then realized she’d been talking to herself again. Not wanting him to think she was half-crazy, she neglected to tell him that fact. The silence between them grew into a thick wall. She was accustomed to the feeling as putting up walls was typical for her. She liked the seclusion. It was easier than having to talk to others.

The conductor came by. “Depot is just ahead. Take your seats.”

Sam sat behind her. “I guess you can ride a horse?”

Without turning around, she answered him. “Of course, I can.”

“We should get some supplies. You can do that, and I can pick out the horses.”

Her shoulders tightened. Who did he think he was? She was supposed to be training him. “We’ll stay together. That will save time. If we split up, we might have to wait for one another.” Actually, she was afraid he’d head to the nearest bar.

Sam shrugged. “All right. Archie said you had the money. Want to give me half? That way, if you get robbed, we still have some.”

“Robbed?” She faced him. “I do not get robbed.”

“Just a thought.” Sam sat back with a disgusted look on his own face. “Tell you what, I’ll just follow you around like a puppy in training.”

That stung. “Suit yourself. I am the lead agent, and I am to train you. Attitude is important, so I think you should adjust yours. This case shouldn’t take long.” If it took more than a day, it would be too long.

Ulyssa figured if she got the rancher’s daughter alone and explained the ways of men, the girl would come to her senses. Simple. She did not need a partner for this case. Especially one like Sam Paxton.

Ulyssa could hear Sam breathing behind her, and she shuddered with disgust. She could name at least three men that she may not have minded teaming up with. But Sam was well below her standards. She doubted if she spent ten years, she could train him in the proper ways of a Pinkerton agent.

***

Sam stared at the back of her head. Probably made out of stone as hard as it was. He got the message loud and clear. She wanted nothing to do with him. As for him, he wanted to prove himself a good agent for Evangeline and Mark.

They’d stuck their neck out for him in more ways than one. Sam knew he hadn’t deserved it. At all. That his sister had saved him from the noose at her own risk gave him a new way to look at life.

Grace, it had changed him. Some anyway. That’s what the preacher had said. Undeserved favor. Sam owed it to Evangeline to be the best man he could be.

The train chugged to a stop and hissed out a blast of steam. “Colorado Springs.” The conductor marched down the aisle, hurrying people from their seats.

Sam stood and waited for Ulyssa.

She gathered her things and, without a backward glance, strode for the door.

Hesitating at her aloof manner and the uncaring way she left him, Sam figured he better follow her like the well-behaved puppy she wanted. He’d at least see what her plan was to encourage the rancher’s daughter to give up on Cade Monroe.

Sam wondered what kind of man, Cade was. Then figured, he and Cade probably had a lot in common. They might even become best friends.

He looked up and decided he better walk faster so as not to lose Ulyssa. She’d love the excuse to get him fired and off the case.

With his satchel in hand, he followed her to the end of the platform. She’d stopped and was waiting for him. Her face a picture of disgust and frustration.

“You could hurry a little. I was afraid you’d get left on the train.” Ulyssa whirled from him before he could answer and walked down the steps.

If she’d waited a moment, he’d have taken her larger bag and carried it, but the way she acted, he’d let her flex her own muscles.

Ulyssa stopped abruptly and faced him. “Let’s get the horses first.”

“Lead the way.” Sam was intrigued by the woman and couldn’t wait to see what kind of horse she picked out. He looked down the street. “I think it’s the other way. The stable is usually near the train depot.”

She shook her head as if he were a bee stuck in her hair. “I say it is down this way.”

Sam shrugged. He could make out the sign a few blocks from the depot opposite the direction she had pointed. “Is that from the map you memorized?”

Glaring at him, she took off the wrong direction.

Not sure if he should follow, he considered his options. One is that he could go the right direction and pick out his horse, or he could do as she suggested. With a grin, he followed her. 

After nearing the end of the block, she stopped and asked an older gentleman where the livery was located. With a toothless smile on a white-whiskered face, the old man pointed the opposite direction. “All the way back down the street, Miss.”

The old man snickered and stared at Sam. “You just following her and not saying a thing. I bet you knew it was the other way all along. You lovers having a spat?”

With a gasp, Ulyssa turned and faced Sam, nearly knocking the old man over with her bag. “Did you know?”

Sam shrugged. “I thought I saw the sign in the other direction. But I thought it proper to follow the lead agent.”

With a huff, she started down the street.

The old man looked at him. “She’s a might persnickety, I’d say. How did you get yourself hitched to that gal?”

“I didn’t. She’s my boss.”

Shaking his head, the old man pointed at her retreating figure. “I’d run the other way, son. She’s got meanness in her eyes.”

“Thanks for the warning.” Sam smiled at the old man and walked after Ulyssa. From behind, she was a shapely woman. Her hair was pretty brown when the sun shone on it. Sam wondered why she was single.

Then again, her personality was closer to that of part dragon and part bear than that of a woman a man would want to marry. Ulyssa was not welcoming. At all. In fact, she put off warning feelings much like a porcupine. Spiny mean she was. Sam laughed. It was more of a wonder that she hadn’t been put away to protect the rest of the world.

Finally, they reached the livery. Less than a five-minute walk from the depot if you went the correct direction, but Sam kept his mouth shut as to that fact. Ulyssa looked mad enough to scare rattlesnakes back into their dens.

She set her bag down. “Watch my things.” She walked into the office and came out with a man that looked like the twin to the old man down the street.

Ulyssa pointed to the corral. “Two horses. Sturdy and able to run all day.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The old man went into the barn and came out with two horses.

Sam folded his arms and waited to see what Miss-know-it-all would do.

She went to the horses and felt their legs and looked at their teeth. “The sorrel isn’t bad, but the bay is at least fifteen and worn out.”

Nodding, the old man took the bay back into the barn and came out with a skittish black. “This one’s green broke.”

Ulyssa shook her head. “I don’t like—”

Sam stepped forward. “I’ll take the black. He’s got spirit.”

The old man smiled. “Yes, sir. And the sorrel.”

Sam grinned at the old man. “I’m sure you can find a better one back in the barn.”

With a nod, he took the sorrel and disappeared in the barn. After a few minutes, he returned with black and white paint. “She’s a good horse. Most don’t want her because she’s an Indian pony, but she can run most horses into the dust.”

Sam shook his head. “The sorrel will do.”

Ulyssa’s eyes narrowed. “I want the paint mare.” She dished out the money. “We need saddles, too.”

Sam started to say something, but she quieted him with a sharp glare.

The old man nodded. “I don’t have any sidesaddle. Can you ride astride?”

“Yes.” She whirled away. “I’ll go buy the supplies. Bring the horses to the general store.”

Sam nodded. “Which one?”

“The one we passed on the other side of the depot.” She said it with a sneer.

With a grin, Sam nodded. “All right. Pick me up some tobacco.”

“Pinkertons don’t smoke.”

“Beef jerky then.” He grinned. He didn’t smoke either. A nasty habit that he’d given up when he was arrested.

“I know what to get.” She stomped off, leaving her bag with him.

The old man watched her leave. “She’s got an attitude, doesn’t she?”

Sam watched Ulyssa stomp her way up the street. “Yes, sir. I hope that little paint can make her happy.”

“She’s a good mare. Make sure she treats the horse right.”

Sam smiled at the old man. “I’ll see that she does. Although, I haven’t heard of her mistreating an animal, just men.”

In no time, he had both horses saddled and was riding down the street to the store. His black was a little skittish and shied at the bag tied to the back of the saddle. “Easy boy. We got a lot of miles to get acquainted.”

The old man called the horse Outlaw. Sam thought that a bit coincidental. The paint mare was Daisy, and she seemed like a gentle enough horse.

Sam stopped, dismounted, and was about to enter the store when Ulyssa came out. “Lets put the things in the saddlebags.”

Sam obliged her, and soon they were full. “Do you need everything in your bag?”

“Yes, I do. I packed appropriately.”

He shrugged. “All right. Want to go ask the sheriff how to get to Allred’s ranch?”

She shook her head. “We know the general direction.”

Sam stared at her. “That’s big, rough country out there. If there’s a pass to go through the mountains, we need to know where it is.”

“I told you, I had the map memorized.” She mounted the paint mare. “Let’s go.”

Sam followed. He was uneasy at the idea that she could remember the map. He’d known scouts to get lost in these mountains and never be seen again. There was no assurance that the map had even been right.

Chapter 3

When Ulyssa had come out of the store, she’d been surprised to see Sam in front with the horses. She’d expected him to run off. She’d heard his reputation was terribly black. An outlaw, one of the agents, had let on. “Well, Sam, I’ll be watching you.”

He packed the supplies and then mounted with an impatient look on his face. “Ready?”

Ulyssa snapped. “I was born ready. You just try and keep up with me.” She tapped the paint mare, Daisy, Sam had called her, and was pleased with the smart way the horse took off.

Secretly, she hoped the big black horse would dislodge his rider, but she figured by the way Sam sat the horse that he knew what he was doing. She laughed when he’d said his horse’s name was Outlaw.

Ulyssa glared at him. “Appropriate, I would think. Although you won’t know if I’m calling for you or your horse.”

Sam glared at her. “Funny. You’re just a barrel of laughs, aren’t you?” He called out to her. “Must be how you win friends at every stop.”

She ignored his insults. Although, she had to admit they’d been in response to hers. This was going to be one testy case. It was possible that Rusty would see them together and come to her own senses about men.

Then again, young women could be stubborn about the men they believed they loved and who loved them. Ulyssa had fallen for that a couple of times. Never again.

Robert Campbell. He’d swept her off her feet. She’d only been seventeen. Promises. She’d fallen fast for his slick talk. He’d take care of her. Make sure she never did without. Marry her within the month.

Ulyssa shook her head. Sam reminded her of him. Handsome, quick on his feet, and with his words, he could have been Robert’s twin if he’d had darker hair and eyes. She reined Daisy around a wagon and stole a look back to see that Sam was following.

Just like a puppy, he was behind her.

Robert had promised her a night on the town, and then Ulyssa had seen him with that other woman. Lucille, she thought, was the name. A woman of the gambling palace and a soiled dove. Robert saw Ulyssa enter the room, but he just smiled and went up the stairs with Lucille.

Ulyssa left town that day. She never heard from Robert again. It had been a mistake from the start. The hard lessons she’d endured had proven her suspicions about life were correct. Trust and care about no one, or she’d regret it.

As providence would have it, she’d stumbled into a Pinkerton case, and her career was born. She didn’t regret losing Robert. Yet sometimes, somedays, mostly nights, she wondered how it would be to have a man who really loved her.

She glared back at Sam. Not him. Not anyone like him. No. He was what she despised in men. Happy-go-lucky, he lived as if he didn’t care about anyone else. Brash, arrogant, and rude. Sam had the worst qualities in men.

More than likely, this Cade Monroe would be more of the same. If so, she could tell Rusty Allred why she needed to be rid of the man. Ulyssa shook her head. Why the Pinkertons thought she needed a partner on this trip was beyond her.

One thing she should be able to do is to convince a young woman how men were bad. She knew all the types of undesirables and had yet to find one she thought worthy of marriage. Ulyssa thought back to the map. “It said we go somewhere around the red rocks and then west.”

Sam frowned. “Red rocks? Yeah, haven’t seen any of those. Unless you count those oddities.” He pointed to long, rugged rocks that rose out of the ground like monuments to some long lost tribe.

She pointed. “That has to be them.”

“I’d say so. The road snakes around the far one.” He pointed and grinned slyly.

He was right. Well, Uylssa was proud of her memory. A gift one woman had told her. A curse another had proclaimed. Uylssa wasn’t sure which one was correct, but she could still see the map clearly in her mind.

Ulyssa ignored him. “We go on that road until we come to a creekbed. There should be an old fence post next to the road as it crosses the creek.”

Sam frowned. “You remembered all that?”

“I can see it in my mind like a picture.”

He shrugged but didn’t argue.

Ulyssa stared at the odd red formations. They were magnificent and yet looked so out of place. She pointed to them. “Have you ever seen anything like that before?”

“No, I haven’t,” Sam admitted.

“So, they don’t impress you at all?”

Sam rode up beside her. “I’m not easily impressed.”

“I see. Why because you’ve been too busy running from the law to appreciate beauty?”

He grinned that brash grin of his. “You might say that is exactly why I haven’t noticed things.”

Ulyssa skewered him with one of her judgmental glares. “Were you terrorizing this part of the country?”

“No, I was north of Denver into Wyoming. I’ve given all that up. I’m following the straight and narrow, now.” Sam was getting tired of her interrogation.

“That so.” She stopped and reined her horse to one peculiar formation. “It looks almost like it has been sculpted. So red. And odd.”

He followed her. “I’ll admit, the whole place is odd. Pretty in its own way.”

“I’m glad you can at least appreciate it somewhat.”

He rested his arm over the saddle horn. “Frankly. I’m amazed that you noticed them.”

Ulyssa swept her gaze from him. Apparently, he disliked her as much as she did him. Hurt. Strangely, she was aware of it. Not that she cared at all what Sam thought about anything. Yet, his words had stung.

She put aside the blow to her ego and looked away from him. “I notice everything.”

“I bet you do. And keep it in your memory. That must get a little crowded in your head.” Sam’s voice was low and edged.

She glared at him. “You have no idea.” If she could erase things from her mind, she would start with Sam. “I just wanted to stop and examine the formation.”

Sam’s face softened, and his mocking grin disappeared. “They are amazing. I’m glad you stopped.”

That caught her off guard. So surprised that she didn’t have words to say. “We better move on. Archie sent them a wire that we’d arrive tomorrow.”

“He was optimistic. We have no idea what lies between us and that ranch. This is wild country. Indians, animals, weather, any one of those can take you out.”

“You left out outlaws.”

Sam grinned. “Yes, I did. But you’re right. Outlaws. This area is full of prospectors. An easy target for the man who goes against the law.”

“And they are easy targets?” She stared at him. The dislike was back in her eyes and face.

Sam shook his head. “Not really. They’re tough and just as likely to go after each other. You have your gun loaded?”

“Of course. An unloaded gun isn’t much use.”

Sam checked his pistol and then his rifle. “I’d say after we get past these rocks, things might take a turn for the worse. Be on guard.”

“Noted.” Ulyssa checked her derringer and then her rifle. She was an expert shot. Although, she could see that Sam didn’t think she knew the first thing about guns. She reined Daisy around the last red rock and up the steep road. She’d be on the lookout for trouble ahead and behind her.

***

Rusty, Trucilla, Allred put up her horse and ran inside the ranch house. She loved her home. Father had built it long and with tall ceilings to keep it cool in the summer. Roy Allred had the biggest ranch in southern Colorado.

And someday, it would be hers. That is unless Father went through with his threat to disown her if she didn’t give up Cade. She sighed and put the dilemma from her mind. Today, she’d seen five Hereford calves on the range.

“Pedro, where is Father?”

The old man who had worked for her father for thirty years pointed. “In the study.”

She thanked him, grabbed an apple from the kitchen, and went to tell her father. She did love him, but he was wrong about Cade Monroe. She ran down the hall and slid into the room.

“You’ll never guess what I saw on the west pasture.”

Big Roy Allred looked up and grinned. “What would that be, my wild daughter?”

“Five little Herefords.”

“Great! I couldn’t be more pleased. That means that Champ did his job on at least a few heifers before the wolves got him.” He smiled, looking pleased with himself. “They are the stock that is going to build this ranch into the best yet.

“When I was riding the west range, I saw old Mossback roaming that way. I think you should send Jackson and boys to head him back to the north.”

“Good idea, girl. You’re a natural at running a ranch.” He stopped and stared at her. She knew he wanted to go on and tell her to stay clear of Cade, but he didn’t. “I’ll send them out today.”

“Father, don’t be so hard on Cade. I love him.”

“You don’t know him or what is good for you. He’s not good for this country. He’s not rancher material. If you marry that man, you won’t have a penny left. And I won’t give you a penny of my ranch. Tell Cade that for me and see how long he sticks around.”

“Oh. We’ve been through this day after day.”

Roy stood and shook his head. “You’re worried about old Mossback because of what he’ll do to the heifers, and I’m worried about what Cade will do to my ranch. He stuffs his head in books. He’s better suited to be a teacher than a rancher.”

Not wanting to hear anymore, Rusty turned from him and left the big room. Fortunately, Father had built more than a few big rooms, and she rushed to the area she called her study. It was on the south side with windows cushions and settees. And books. She loved the smell of books.

From them, she’d come up with ideas for the ranch. And they’d made the ranch more profitable. She watched out the window for Cade. He’d said he’d come by today.

Tingles shot through her, just thinking about him. Why her father couldn’t understand that she loved Cade, she didn’t know. Maybe because Mother had been gone so many years, love was too distant an idea for her father.

Besides, she was no fool and could take care of herself.

She smiled when she saw the dun mustang and rider top the ridge. It was Cade. She ran outside to the barn and saddled her palomino mare, Nugget. Rusty needed more than cows and horses. She was lonely for someone to talk to that understood her love for books as well as the ranch.

She jumped on the horse and rode to the ridge. To Cade. She waved, and her heart warmed when he returned her wave.

Finally, she reached him and jumped off her horse. Cade was already off his, and they ran together.

Grabbing her, he swung her around and kissed her lightly. “I couldn’t wait a moment longer.”

“I saw Hereford calves today.”

He shook his head. “My rancher lady. You are something.”

“I won’t give up the ranch, Cade. If you want me, you’re going to have to make up to my father.”

He shook his head. “Your father hates me. That isn’t going to happen.”

“You can make it happen if you want to. It’s up to you, Cade Monroe.” She spoke his name using all her womanly wiles. She got to him, and she knew it.

Her father accused her of torturing the poor man. An odd choice of words seeing how he didn’t like Cade.

Cade tucked a loose strand of hair from her face. “You stole my heart, Rusty Trucilla Allred.” He held her at arms’ length. “Who names their daughter Trucilla anyway?”

“Roy and Ann Allred.” She laughed. “Father has called me Rusty since I can remember.”

“And that’s a boy’s name. Your hair isn’t even red, but gold like your horse. So, how did he come up with Rusty?”

“I was supposed to be a boy. He always wanted a son named Rusty. Instead, he got me. Mama couldn’t have any more children, so he called me Rusty.” She wandered over to his horse. He was magnificent. Nearly seventeen hands tall. Muscular and fast as lightning, she’d always admired his horse.

Cade came up behind her. “Sometimes, I think you love me for my horse.”

She turned and looked him the eye. “Sometimes, I think you love me for my ranch.”

“That hurts.” He feigned an arrow in the heart.

She grinned. “Make my father like you. That’s all you have to do.”

“Impossible. He hates me.”

“What did you do to him to make him dislike you so much?”

“Kiss his daughter.”

She pushed him away. “What have you been doing? I know my father will not give me to you if you’re not doing anything.”

“I’m working on it. Trust me.”

Rusty grinned. “Well, trust comes when it is earned.” She walked to the stand of pine on top of the ridge. “Don’t let me down, Cade.”

“Never.” He followed her and held her to him. “I love you, Rusty.”

“Do you? Sometimes, I wonder. Make me proud, Cade.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek. “I better go. I see Jackson looking this way. I’ll watch for you in a couple of days.” Rusty walked to Nugget and, in one fluid motion, jumped onto the saddle. She blew Cade a kiss and galloped away.

Chapter 4

Sam kept an eye on the land. Ulyssa might be an accomplished Pinkerton agent, but she didn’t know anything about riding in the wild country. She may be able to recall the map, but she had no idea of the dangers lurking about.

Sam could already see signs of trouble. Indian ponies had galloped across the road several times. He could feel eyes on them. Watching. Weighing the trouble that it would be to take them.

As the sun skipped over the sky, Sam began looking for shelter. He was about to settle for boulders to put their backs against when he saw an old shack.

Riding up beside her, he pointed. “We should spend the night in the shack. It will provide shelter.”

Ulyssa looked up. “I don’t see any clouds. I doubt it will rain.”

“I’m worried about it raining arrows. There are Indians around, and I don’t want to look like a tenderfoot with them watching.”

She looked startled. “Indians. Watching us? I haven’t seen any.”

“Well, despite the fact you have an excellent memory, the Indians don’t show themselves until they want to take whatever is that they want to take.”

Ulyssa shook her head. “We have nothing valuable.”

“No, nothing but our horses and hair.”

“Hair! What do you mean? I thought the Indians were all tame and on reservations.”

“Not this side of civilization. Trust me.” He reined his horse to the shack. “Good, it’s got a corral that ought to hold the horses. Shack looks secure enough to hold off an attack.”

Ulyssa rode beside him. “You said you saw Indians.”

“Signs.” He dismounted and pointed at some hoofprints. “Indian ponies.”

She stared at the ground. “How do you know?”

“Barefoot. No horseshoes on them.”

“Oh. I see.” She looked rattled.

He held her horse’s bridle. “Might as well get down. I’ll hobble the horses and give them feed.” Sam checked the saddlebags. “You brought grain along?”

Ulyssa just stared at him.

Sam stared at her. “You didn’t buy any?”

“No. I bought food for us like I always do when I’m on cases.”

He groaned. “Out here, after your rifle, the most important thing is your horse.” He stared at her. “Just what kind of cases have you done?”

Ulyssa puffed up. “I have found counterfeiters, kidnappers, thieves, and murderers.”

“Where?”

“Mostly east of the Mississippi. Although the last one took me to Denver to find the counterfeiters.”

“Well, out here in the mountains and plains, things are different. From now on, you follow me.”

Ulyssa stomped a foot and folded her arms. “I am the one who knows the map.”

“Well, I’ll give you that.” He looked around at the lengthening shadows. “It will be dark in an hour.” Sam pulled the satchels and saddlebags from the horses and set them down. “Why don’t you take the food in and start cooking supper.”

Ulyssa cleared her throat. “Just because I am a woman does not mean I will cook the dinner.”

Sam ignored her. He could eat jerky and she could starve. He hobbled the horses and gave them water. Sam studied the land and got the feeling they were in for some trouble. “How far do you think the ranch is from here?”

“I don’t recall this shack being on the map. But the road and the creek shouldn’t be more than a couple of miles from here. After that, it’s a straight shot up the road that crosses the creek. The map said ten miles.”

Sam looked around. “Start a fire. There’s a hearth in the shack. Make it big.”

She stared at him. “I would think that would give us away.”

He led the horses behind the shack and came out to get the saddles. “You did buy cartridges for the rifles and pistols?”

Ulyssa glared at him. “Yes, what do you take me for?”

He glanced at her and decided he wouldn’t answer. Not aloud anyway. Because he wouldn’t take her for anything. She was just liable to get him killed.

***

Ulyssa was out of her element. Usually, in control, she felt sure of nothing other than she was in trouble. Why hadn’t they warned her of the dangers of this case? It had sounded so simple.

Now, she knew why they’d thrown her together with Sam. He knew the area, the land, and its dangers. They could have told her. But no, they let her go on thinking she was in charge and would be able to do this case and train Sam at the same time.

There were times when she felt the lead detectives hated her and wanted to force her to quit. She’d avoided having to work with partners all these years until this case. Oh, there’d been that other one.

The one that she took over from a senior agent and made him look foolish. Actually, the man had made himself appear foolish by getting drunk just before they were to flush out the killer.

If it hadn’t been for her quick thinking and fearlessness, they would have both been killed. As it was, she caught the killer as he was coming down the hall to do them in. Agent Callahan had never forgiven her.

Well, she was not one to lie. She wrote the truth in her notes about the case. It wasn’t her fault that Callahan had finished off a bottle of whiskey that night.

So, it was no wonder the men of the agency bonded together to try and get rid of her. She looked about the shack and found some wood and started the fire. Why Sam thought it would be a good idea to advertise their whereabouts, she wasn’t sure.

Yet, there was something in the way he had given the orders. An air of authority that she wasn’t willing to go against. She was no fool. She’d let him get them to the ranch. And then she’d take over.

She looked outside but saw only their satchels sitting on the ground. Sam must have taken the horses to find grass. How was she supposed to know she needed to buy feed? In her other cases, she just dropped the horses at the livery.

It hadn’t occurred to her that there wouldn’t be a livery on the way to the ranch. She couldn’t imagine people living so far from a city. And then having to fight Indians and who knows what else.

She glanced out the window but didn’t see Sam. That made her more nervous than she wanted to admit. Ulyssa prayed she wouldn’t do anything crazy like run into his arms when he walked in the door.

But right now, with all the talk of losing their hair, and it being dark and the fire creating dancing shadows on the walls of the shack, she was scared. Really scared. Something she hadn’t felt since a child.

Then Sam came in the back door. Although she hadn’t pictured that there was a back door. “How did you get in?”

“The window.” He pointed to her. “Put another log on the fire.”

She huffed and did as he said. Gone were any intentions of running into his arms for protection.

Sam threw her a package. “Throw some bacon on the fire.”

“On the fire? I brought a pan.”

“On the fire.” He slunk to the wall and peeked out the window and frowned.

She didn’t like that. Not at all. She was about to ask him what was wrong when he grabbed her to him and shoved her against the wall. “Out the window.”

Before she could argue, he bent down and eased himself out the back window and waved for her to follow. Ulyssa may not like to be told what to do, but she was no fool. Danger was in the air. She could feel and breathe it.

Outside, he threw her on the paint mare, jumped on his horse, and took off.

Ulyssa held on and realized Sam had her reins in his hand. They galloped over the dark ground. Hard and fast, they rode up the ridge and down. Behind them, she heard wild yells at the cabin.

She hunkered down over the horse and prayed that Sam knew what he was doing. Because she sure didn’t.

Chapter 5

Sam held onto Ulyssa’s reins, prayed she had sense enough to hang on, and then prayed the Indians wouldn’t see her paint horse. He should have never let her get the black and white mare. He’d ridden from enough posses to know the value of a dark horse.

He reined his horse down a gully and stopped to check on the woman. “You all right?”

She nodded.

Even in the dim moonlight, he could see that she was scared. He grinned. “Guess you don’t have many Indian raids east of the Mississippi.”

She shook her head.

He rode beside her, looked behind them, and then at her. “Now you know why I said take the sorrel.”

“Shouldn’t we go?”

“Horses need a rest. Besides, it sounds like they’re having a good time at the cabin. It looks like they must be burning it down.”

She patted the mare. “I’ll trade in the horse when we reach a town.”

He laughed. “I don’t think there are any towns out here. Allred might have a horse you can buy at his ranch.”

She nodded.

Sam glanced toward the cabin and listened, but he didn’t hear any sign of Indians following them. “Let’s go. The ranch shouldn’t be but ten miles away. We should make it by morning.”

He kept the reins to her horse, and she didn’t argue. Good, maybe she would have a little respect for him now. Sam urged his big black up the gully and onto the road. The paint mare was game and kept up.

Keeping the horses at a steady pace eased the spiny shots of fear that prodded his back. By the time they’d ridden a couple of hours, he had relaxed and soon stopped the horses to rest again. This time he handed Ulyssa the reins.

She took them. Gone was the small bit of respect that he’d heard in her voice in the gully. “Are we close to the ranch?”

“You’re the one with the memory. What do you think?”

Ulyssa sighed. “I think it’s dark, and I’m tired. Can we dismount and rest for a while?”

Sam regretted talking to her so sharply. Then again, she’d about cost them their lives. He nodded. “I guess so. Not for long, though. But the horses could use the rest.” Sam dismounted and helped Ulyssa from the saddle.

She patted her paint mare. “It’s a shame. I really like her.”

“That white stands out at night and during the day.”

She glanced at him. “Is that outlaw wisdom?”

He shook his head. “I guess you could call it that.”

Ulyssa sighed and sat down on a boulder. “Well, for what it is worth, I’m glad you had the knowledge to save our lives. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. My sister, Evangeline, always told me that everyone has some value.”

Ulyssa nodded. “She’s a Pinkerton agent, I believe. I read that she and her husband solved the stagecoach robberies in Wyoming plus a bank robbery. You must be proud of her.”

Sam sat beside her. “I am. She saved my life. Rescued me from the hangman’s noose. Because of her and Mark, I’m a Pinkerton agent.”

Ulyssa shook her head. “Well, I wouldn’t have believed it wise to hire an outlaw, but you’ve proven there are some reasons. I assume you are an ex-outlaw.”

Looking back the way they’d come, Sam nodded. “That I am. I owe my sister that much. Plus, I had a change of heart after a tornado ran us down. Do you think a bad man can change?”

She moved from him, stood, and paced in front of him. “I hope so.” She faced him. “But many don’t.”

“Fair enough. I hope to prove to you that it is possible. I don’t intend to ever go back to those ways.” He checked the horse and saddles. “We better get going. We’ll walk from here.”

“I like that idea. Maybe give the horses a break and a part of me that isn’t used to hanging on for dear life.” She laughed.

Sam nodded. That was the first real laugh he’d heard from the woman. Until now, he didn’t think she had it in her. Oh, she’d had a few mocking snorts at him, but a real laugh, no.

They walked side by side, leading the horses. The moon was bright and lit up the road. Sam just hoped none of the Indians had decided to follow them.

“How did a woman get involved with the Pinkertons. You must have been young if you’ve worked for them for seven years.”

She kept her gaze straight ahead. “I started by working on my own. My memory came in handy on deals with financial partners. They paid me to read their contracts and spot discrepancies. That led to a case with a counterfeit ring in Mississippi. With all the reconstruction after the war, there was a lot of corruption.”

They were quiet for a time. Ulyssa figured both of them were in their own thoughts. Tired of the silence, she looked at him. “And you, how did you get on the crooked path of an outlaw?”

“Oh, a couple hard knocks. Evangeline is my twin. Often, we can feel a connection between each other. Our parents died. I couldn’t provide for her, and we drifted apart. I went west, looking for easy money to solve our problems. It didn’t work out.” He stopped.

Sam didn’t want to relive the hard years. Worse had been his hard heart. He did things that he couldn’t forget. He’d never killed anyone, but he’d come close. He sent an upward gaze and prayed that those days were behind him. Forever.

Ulyssa stumbled.

He reached out and caught her before she could fall.

Sam led her to a rock. “We can rest a minute, and then we’ll ride the rest of the way. I think we’re safe from the Indians. They’re probably trying on your dresses and well, clothes.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to see that.”

He laughed and went to check her mare’s legs. “The land is harsh, and I’ve learned early on that keeping your horse healthy means you have a better chance of surviving.”

“More outlaw wisdom?”

Sam looked at her. “Wilderness wisdom.”

“Ah, well, that does sound better. It looks like the sun will be up in an hour or so.”

He glanced east and nodded. “I like this time of morning when the dark releases its hold, and the horizon promises the day is coming.”

“Very poetic.”

“Not much else to do out here.” He helped her into her saddle. Sam mounted his big black and pointed west. “The road goes straight west. Do you remember if this is the right one?”

Ulyssa pointed. “Until we get to a creek and a bridge.”

“Let’s go.”

***

Ulyssa couldn’t wait to get to the ranch and hoped they had a bathtub.

Sam looked around them. “Smell that?”

“What?”

“Bacon. Someone’s making breakfast.” He urged his horse on and topped a small rise. Sam turned to her and waved her back. “Let me check this out. I’ll call you if it’s safe.”

Ulyssa stayed in the shadow of the small valley and listened. She prayed it wasn’t more Indians. The longer she waited, the more she worried. Not that she cared about Sam, but what would she do without him out here in nowhere land?

Just as she was about to ride up and see for herself, she heard him call.

She rode to the top of the ridge and looked below to see a small cabin. Sam’s horse was in the corral, but he must be in the cabin eating. Thanks a lot. Just as I was beginning to think you were decent.

Ready to let him have it, he came outside to help her down. “Go on inside, I’ll take care of your horse.” No explanation of what or who was on the other side of the door, he left her.

Ulyssa stretched her aching legs and back and walked stiffly onto the porch. She knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

The voice sounded pleasant enough, and the smell of food made her realize how hungry she was. She opened the door, and warmth welcomed her. The fire in the hearth was roaring. Bacon and eggs were on the table while a man was pulling biscuits from an oven.

He turned and smiled at her. “Come on in. Sam told me what a rough night you’ve had. Sit down, and I’ll bring you some coffee.”

Ulyssa was surprised at the warmth coming from the man. He was tall, had blond hair and pleasant, blue eyes. She was instantly drawn to him. A feeling like none she had ever had. Her detective instincts picked up nothing dangerous.

Except for her heart. With one small sentence, he’d broken through the walls she’d built for protection. She didn’t even know his name. After biting into one of his biscuits and eating the eggs and bacon, she liked him even more.

Ulyssa wasn’t exactly a good cook. In fact, she rarely cooked. But this man was amazing in every way she’d ever regarded a man to be. Handsome, friendly, and a great cook. She chided herself for getting carried away so easily.

She ate another biscuit and consoled herself that any man would be a comfort after being with Sam. One thing she knew, this great handsome cook of a man could not be an outlaw. No, he was just shy of perfect.

Ulyssa finished eating and held out her hand. “I’m Ulyssa Long. Thank you for your hospitality.”

He sat in the chair opposite her and smiled. “You’re a pretty sight out here. Oh, I’m Cade Monroe. Ulyssa, that’s a different name.”

“Yes, it is. I’m not sure what my father thought when naming me, but it is my name.” All she could do was stare at the man. Cade. Had they unwittingly run into half of their case?

She jumped when Sam entered the cabin.

“Thanks for the feed. Our horses needed it.” Sam glanced at Ulyssa.

She knew he was taunting her for her mistake. Then again, Sam should have made sure they had some. It wasn’t all her fault. Her warm feelings cooled as Sam sat beside her.

“Good food. Cade knows how to get to the Allred ranch.” Sam looked at her as if she should be aware of something.

She smiled at the man. “Is the Allred ranch very far away?”

Cade gazed at her, keeping his friendly smile even after she’d mentioned Allred. “Maybe ten miles. Straight down the road and then you’ll see the gate to his ranch house. This is actually part of his ranch.”

Sam set his coffee cup down. “Is this your cabin?”

Shaking his head, Cade stood to get more to drink. “No, but I stay here from time to time.”

Ulyssa glanced at Sam. He knew. Good. The case was on, and she was in control.

Chapter 6

Cade Monroe stared at the woman. She was something. What was she doing with the likes of Sam Russell? He’d heard of Russell in Denver and seen the poster. Russell was an alias for Paxton, but he was supposed to have been hung some time ago.

Ulyssa was a different name, but it went with her. She was hardly the type to be an outlaw. She sounded educated. Looked, well, he couldn’t get his eyes off her. Rusty was cute, but this Ulyssa was all woman.

For a moment, he was ready to give up on his plans. Not that they were progressing very far. Rusty’s father was a wise old coot. Allred never suspected that he was Caldwell’s stepson. Cade couldn’t forgive Allred for causing his stepfather to lose the farm. The only way to make Allred pay was to take something from him that he couldn’t replace. Rusty.

Getting Rusty to marry him, that is. And she was one spoiled, but smart woman. So far, she’d rebuffed his advances to the altar and expected him to prove himself. And he still might. What stopped him was of all things, his own heart.

It had started innocently enough. His love for Rusty. They’d met when he saw her riding over the wild land. One look at her was all it took. He followed her and when they stopped their horses, he found Rusty to be fun, smart, and nice to look at.

Why Trucilla, Rusty, Allred wasn’t already married was a question he couldn’t answer. Here she was in the wilderness where men greatly outnumbered the women. She could have her pick, yet she’d chosen no one.

Until she saw him. He’d never forget it. Something like lightning shot between the two of them that day. After he found out who she was, he was committed to staying. One he thought he loved her. Two, one way to hurt her father would be to marry Rusty and take her away from the ranch. But time had passed, and either he got her to marry him soon or he’d lose his post at the university.

He had feelings for Rusty and figured he could learn to love her, yet, Cade could never shake the idea that it was the revenge that was driving him. Cade might want to exact revenge on Roy Allred, but Cade didn’t want to hurt Rusty.

“Cade, do you work at the Allred ranch?” Ulyssa’s face had changed. Gone was the beautiful woman in need. She’d been replaced by a woman who was all business. Focused, alert, and not at all that friendly.

Cade grinned. “No, ranch work isn’t in my line of work.” He didn’t explain what that would be, but the two strangers didn’t need to know.

Sam picked up his plate and cup and took it to the kitchen. “Well, we better be on our way. Thanks for breakfast.”

Cade kept his gaze fixed on Ulyssa. “She looks tired. You’re welcome to stay here and leave later or tomorrow.”

Ulyssa stared at him, looked uncomfortable, but kept her gaze on him as if she was trapped. After a few minutes of awkward silence, she shook her head. “I, uh, I’m fine to ride. The breakfast was a great help. And the coffee.”

Sam went to the door. “The horses are fine. We can take our time traveling.”

Cade didn’t want Ulyssa to go, but this was crazy. He didn’t know her, and what he did know he didn’t like. She was traveling with an outlaw. They didn’t seem to be romantic at all, in fact, he didn’t think they liked each other.

Sam tapped on the door. “I’m leaving. Are you coming?”

Ulyssa nodded. “Yes. Be right there.” She stood and extended a hand out to Cade. “Thank you. That breakfast was a lifesaver.”

“You’re welcome.” Cade walked her to the door. “You have some business at the Allred Ranch?”

“Yes, you might say that. Maybe I’ll see you again.”

“I’d like that. I’m usually here.”

She looked around. “What do you do?”

He shrugged. “I’m between jobs at the moment. So I’ve been thinking about my options.”

“Good. That’s good to do.” She smiled at him again and left to follow Sam.

Cade watched them ride away and was shocked when Ulyssa looked back and waved.

Funny, he didn’t think that would be her style. Then again, she seemed at odds with herself. Still, he couldn’t figure out what she would be doing with an outlaw.

***

Sam kept the horses at a quick pace until they were out of sight of the cabin. Sam slowed his horse and turned to Ulyssa, who had been strangely silent.

“Well, what do you think of Cade Monroe. He’s the one we’re supposed to keep from marrying Rusty Allred.” Sam kept staring at her until she looked at him.

Ulyssa shrugged and looked away from him. “I don’t know. He didn’t seem like a bad sort.”

Sam stopped her horse. “Ulyssa, you’re the expert agent. What are our plans?”

She shrugged and looked straight ahead. “We’ll wait until we meet Mr. Allred and his daughter.”

“What do you think of Cade? He didn’t seem like an outlaw.”

She gazed at him, and her eyes narrowed. “No kindred spirit feelings?”

“That’s low even for you. I’ve left that life behind me. Cade didn’t seem like he was out to take advantage. He seemed more the opportunistic type. Who knows, maybe he’ll make this Rusty, a good husband.”

She huffed. “I doubt that. I don’t think they’re right for one another.”

“You don’t know her.” Sam couldn’t figure Ulyssa out. She’d changed over the last few hours.

Ulyssa kicked her horse and moved ahead of him. “Like I said, we need to assess the situation after we’ve met all the players. Cade seemed likable.”

Sam sneered. “I guess that would be because you have a likable kindred spirit.”

She glared at him. “I’m the lead agent. Remember that.”

“I doubt you’ll let me forget it.” He mumbled, but by the glare in her eyes, she’d heard it all. He pointed. “There’s the ranch. Pretty impressive.”

“Yes, it is.” She had never seen a house that went on and on for so long. “It’s bigger than most hotels.”

Sam laughed. “The file did say Mr. Allred was a wealthy ranch owner. I would say they underestimated a bit.” He reined his horse under the gateway and up to the house.

Once in front of the large house, Sam helped Ulyssa from her horse. “We made it.”

She walked to the front porch. “I hope Mr. Allred is home.”

“I’m sure he is.”

She knocked on the door and almost immediately it was opened by a man. “Welcome to Hacienda Allred.”

Sam followed her inside.

Ulyssa stared at the walls and high ceilings.

Sam pointed to the plaster walls. “Adobe walls. It keeps the building cooler in summer.”

“I see.” Ulyssa looked at the man who had let them in. “We’re here to see Mr. Allred.”

After a bow, the man pointed. “He waits in his study for you.”

Sam followed Ulyssa into the study. A man, who looked like one of those bigger than life legends, sat behind a huge desk.

Smiling, the man rose and put a hand as big as a bear paw. “I’m Roy Allred. You two must be the Pinkertons. Archie promised it would be a good pair ideal for the situation.”

Ulyssa shook his hand. “Yes, sir. We’ll solve this case quickly.”

With a frown, Roy shook his head. “Now, now. I want this done delicately. I love my daughter very much. If I thought just shooting Cade would work, I’d have already done that.”

Sam liked Roy right off. “Do you have a plan?”

Roy nodded. “Yes, I do. If you two are willing to go along.”

Ulyssa walked to the shelves of books. “You have an impressive library.”

“Yes, I do, little lady. Not much to do out here in the dark days and nights.” Roy frowned. “I lost my wife twenty years ago and threw everything into building this ranch for Rusty. She likes to read, so I brought in books whenever I could find them.”

Sam sat in one of the big chairs in front of the desk. “Where is she? Does she know why we’re here?”

Roy shook his head. “No, but she’s a smart girl, so I would think she has her suspicions. I told her I had company coming. Business. So, you are Mr. Paxton cattle buyer out of Laramie. And you, Miss Ulyssa, are his wife.”

“Wife?” Sam and Ulyssa said at the same time.

“Yes, I thought it would be good for her to see how two people really look when they care for one another.” Roy stood. He had to be at least six foot four and had the broadest shoulders Sam had seen. “Rusty, come on in and meet my friends.”

Sam turned and thought he’d been punched in the stomach. She looked petite up against her father but was probably not an inch shorter than Ulyssa. Rusty’s hair wasn’t the same red color as her father’s, but a light golden blond.

Rusty entered like a gust of fresh air. “Father always invites the most delightful people to come and visit.” She hugged Roy. “He feels bad that we’re out here in the middle of nowhere, so he brings culture to me.” Rusty looked at them as if she were waiting for them to tell her what they were known for.

Sam wasn’t sure what Ulyssa had in mind, but he wanted to get to know Rusty. His heart was still pounding. He was about to go over to her when Ulyssa intervened and took him by the arm to show him a book.

Once at the bookshelf, she pulled out a book and whispered. “We need to look like we’re in love. Stay close to me and keep a hand on me. And for goodness sake, stop looking at her and smile at me.”

Sam stared at his partner. She must have lost her mind, but she was right. This was Roy’s plan. He put an arm around Ulyssa’s shoulders. “Dear, I bet Mr. Allred will let you borrow the book and read it while you’re here.”

Ulyssa kept the book in her hand and turned to smile at Mr. Allred. “May I?”

Roy looked at the book and frowned. “You have odd taste in reading. But feel free to read any book in my study. Rusty can help you pick one out if you’d like to tell her what you’re looking for. Maybe something romantic?”

“Oh, this one is fine.” She looked at the spine. Cattle breeding: The Longhorn. She gulped and stared at Sam.

He took the book from her. “We have dreamed of starting a ranch in Texas. But I do like the idea of Rusty picking out a book that we can read to each other tonight. We enjoy that.”

Ulyssa glared at him, then smiled, and turned to Rusty. “Yes, that would be wonderful. Do you have any suggestions?”

Rusty went to a bookshelf and pulled one out. “My favorite. Pride and Prejudice. I’m sure you’ve read it before.”

“Yes,” Ulyssa answered.

“No,” Sam said at the same time.

Ulyssa laughed. “Yes, we read it on our honeymoon. Don’t you remember?”

Sam shook his head. “I guess that wasn’t what was on my mind.” He held his arm out for her. “So, Rusty, what are your plans for your life? Do you want to stay on the ranch and run things?”

The young woman stood by her father. “The ranch can run itself. We have good people to work the cattle and see to the horses and chores. I want a good man to love me and take care of me.” She smiled at her father. “I don’t know, maybe I want my own fairytale. A knight in shining armor to rescue me from the monster of boredom.”

Sam grinned at her. If he hadn’t been anchored by Ulyssa’s arm, he would have gone to Rusty and volunteered to be that knight. “That is an honorable plan. Have you found that knight yet?”

She put a finger to her chin. “Perhaps. And then again, perhaps not. It remains to be seen. There is a certain young man that has captured my heart, but Father doesn’t trust him. It seems he may not be an honorable man. Father thinks he is from the dark kingdom and certainly not from Texas, where my father came from.”

Sam walked toward her only to be pulled back by Ulyssa.

With a scolding glance, Ulyssa turned away from him and smiled at Rusty. “It is hard to know when you have the right man.”

Rusty pointed at Sam. “You got yours.”

Ulyssa turned to Sam and smiled. “Yes, my love.” She hugged his arm.

Roy stepped between them and his daughter. “You both must be tired, I’ll take you to your room.”

Sam nodded and felt a slight tug of resistance from Ulyssa. He looked at her and saw the panic on her face. He almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

Chapter 7

Ulyssa walked beside Sam and gave her best loving wife impression. This was not going to work. She could not stay in the same room with Sam. Then the blood drained from her face. She had no clothes to change into. He didn’t either. Not that that would bother him.

Roy pointed to a large suite. “I hope this will accommodate you.”

Ulyssa walked inside and felt like she’d entered a luxurious hotel. She turned around, taking in the richness of the place. Almost a palace. No wonder Rusty was looking for her knight in shining armor, and no wonder Cade wanted to marry her.

She caught Sam’s arm. “Roy, we had to leave our bags at the shack where the Indians attacked us. I don’t have any clothes to change into.”

Roy looked at her. “You’re about the same size as Rusty. I’ll have her bring you some of her things.” Roy nodded at Sam. “And I think I can find some for you.”

Sam grinned. “What about a bathtub? Would that be possible? I’m sure Ulyssa would enjoy soaking her muscles after the long ride.”

With a wink, Roy grinned. “Spoken like a doting husband. You’re doing well, young man. I think after a week or so of showing Rusty how it should be, she’ll be ready to break it off with Cade.” He turned to go and then stopped and looked at them. “You know, the funny thing is I like the boy. He’s smart. But there is something he’s holding back from her and me. That’s no way to start a marriage.”

Ulyssa nodded. “Yes, I can see your concern. You have every right to protect your daughter.” She glanced at Sam. “Men can be horrid brutes.”

Sam pulled on her arm. “Only if they have been taken advantage of by bitter women.”

Roy put a hand on each of their arms. “Remember, we want Rusty to see how good marriage should be.”

“Yes, sir.” Ulyssa and Sam answered at the same time.

Ulyssa pulled away from Sam. “Mr. Allred, that bath would be wonderful..”

“I’ll have Daniel bring the tub and fill it with warm water, oh, and bring you some clothes. I am excited for Rusty to spend time with you Ulyssa. She has missed the company of refined young women such as yourself.”

Roy motioned for Sam to follow. “Let’s go look around the ranch. I have many things to show you.”

Sam nodded, turned to face Ulyssa, and winked. Then he left with the man.

It wasn’t long, and the tub was filled with warm water, and Rusty had brought her several changes of clothes. Making sure the windows were closed, and curtains were drawn, Ulyssa stripped and sat in the tub.

“Oh, this is what I needed.” She let herself relax, and her mind drifted to Cade. With a start, she sat up. Cade. What was she thinking? Although it would be an excellent way to break them up. A tinge of guilt pricked her. She really did like Rusty.

The girl was a delightful woman with a quick wit and good manners. Any man would be proud to marry her. So why was she still unmarried? That would be Ulyssa’s first line of questioning to her.

And why Cade? Although, as soon as Ulyssa thought of the question, she came up with answers. He was handsome. Charming. And someone she wouldn’t mind getting to know. And that bothered her. Ulyssa Long didn’t think that way.

Ulyssa couldn’t even remember the last time a man had caught her attention in a romantic way. Ulyssa knew nothing about romance. Really, she knew nothing about men other than they had abused her in the past.

Then again, Ulyssa had to admit she was near spinster age. It wouldn’t be long, and no man would look at her in that way. She’d be relegated to the nanny stage. A dutiful aunty.

Ulyssa washed her hair and soaked in the warm water. It had been kind of Sam to think of the bath for her. Then she shook her head. What was he going to want in return? She didn’t trust him at all.

Cade, now she could trust him. There was something about him that worked past the walls in her heart. The same ones that prevented her from thinking of Sam as anything but an outlaw.

After her bath, Ulyssa hoped Rusty would want to go for a walk. Interested in the case, Ulyssa left the tub and changed into a skirt and blouse. It looked Mexican with happy colors and was comfortable and cool to wear.

Leaving the room, Ulyssa wondered how she would find Rusty when the young woman walked out of the study and smiled.

“Ulyssa, you look lovely and refreshed.”

“Thank you for the clothes. I like them. They are so comfortable.”

Rusty grinned. “Yes, we’ve learned much from the Spanish. Like the adobe walls and high ceilings. It really keeps the place cool in the heat of the day. Can I show you the rest of the house?”

“Oh, yes. I was hoping you’d ask.” Ulyssa followed Rusty down the hall. “I don’t think I have ever seen such a long house.”

“It’s ranch style. I’ll take you to the kitchen. Margarita is making a special dinner for us tonight. But I heard that she’s already made some cookies.”

Ulyssa gasped at the size of the kitchen. There were three large ovens. Long tables where the food was prepared, and a pantry that would feed an army. “How many people work on your ranch?”

“No one really knows. People come and go, and Father always makes sure to feed the stragglers.” She smiled. “That’s how I met Cade Monroe.” Rusty pulled Ulyssa aside. “I know Father must have a plan to break Cade and me apart. Are you part of that plan?”

Ulyssa was stunned by Rusty’s perception and suspicions of her and Sam. “Why, no. We were told about the ranch and wanted to see it. I can say that it has exceeded my wildest imagination, and all I’ve seen is the house.”

Rusty shook her head. “Well, it doesn’t matter. The only person that can break Cade and me apart, is me. I haven’t fully made up my mind. Father thinks I have. But he doesn’t know everything.” She held Ulyssa’s hand. “No ring?”

“Oh, no. That’s not part of our beliefs. We think a couple’s love should bind them together rather than a piece of metal.” Ulyssa was amazed at her answer. It sounded good, and by Rusty’s nod, she believed her.

Then again, Ulyssa felt terrible that she’d lied to the woman. Yet this whole case was a lie. She didn’t love or even like Sam, and thank goodness they weren’t married. Then there was Cade and her surprising attraction to him.

While Ulyssa didn’t know the first thing about Cade, he’d made it past her walls and somehow opened her heart. Was that the same thing he’d done to Rusty? Could Cade be trusted? 

She looked outside and saw Sam and Roy walking to the corral. What a mess. If she could only change places with Rusty, the case would be solved. How strange that the father thought Cade a risk but had taken a liking to Sam.

Chapter 8

Sam walked with Roy to the corral. So far, this case had gone from bad to worse. He’d been stuck with the meanest female this side of the Atlantic, and then to pretend he was married to her was asking a lot of a man not that long ago an outlaw.

“You can see we have good breeding stock. They are good horses. Every one of them. I get top dollar. The army comes around and buys some when they need them. I almost hate to sell to them because I know those horses won’t last long.” Roy turned to him. “See any you like?”

Sam pointed at the herd. “About twenty. Before we leave, we need to replace Ulyssa’s paint. I was afraid those Indians would see us when we escaped. A Pinkerton needs a dark horse.” Sam ran a finger over the corral rail.

“Yes, sure. I’ll probably turn the paint mare loose rather than keep it.” Roy turned to face his horses. “They’re my pride and joy. Oh, except for Rusty of course. But I’ve always been fond of a fast horse.” He pointed to the far end. “That mare, she’s got thoroughbred in her. Sometime next month, I have a thoroughbred coming from Nashville. He’s out of Bonnie Scotland from Belle Meade Plantation. Yeah, I’m proud of what I’ve carved out of this wilderness.”

Sam looked at the man. He was as rugged as the country. Big, brash, and honest. Roy was the kind of man that Sam had once hoped to be. “You have a right to be.”

Roy looked at him. “And you? What are you doing out here with a woman you don’t know or even like?”

“Well, sir. You hired us. She wasn’t my choice for a partner, but she knows what she’s doing.”

Roy pointed out a tall mountain. “Look at that mountain. It calls to me every morning. I look at it, and every morning, I gain strength to see how it still stands as a lookout over the land. Never afraid. Never to be conquered. Yes, sir. I like that mountain.” He grinned. “I’ve claimed it as mine. Roy’s mountain. That old mountain reminds me to be grateful to God for giving me another day.”

Sam chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever done that.”

Roy clapped an arm on his shoulder. “Son, every man needs a constant. Now, the Lord is my constant, and that mountain reminds me that there is One I serve who is greater than I. Without that constant, I could have gone on the wrong trail. I headed down that trail once.”

Sam kept his gaze on the mountain, not wanting Roy to look in his eyes and see the truth about what Sam had been. And still could be if he didn’t watch himself.

“This Cade. Has he gone down the wrong trail? Is that why you don’t want Rusty to marry him?”

Roy scratched his red beard. “That boy, he just doesn’t fit with my girl. He’s got more a gleam in his eye for my ranch than for Rusty. I want her to be happy. I don’t believe Cade is the man to do that.”

“Then he’s not an outlaw?”

“No, I don’t think he is.” Roy looked away and pointed at a bay mare. “That one, there. She’s the one I’ll trade for Ulyssa’s paint mare. She’s a good horse. Sturdy and strong and gentle.”

“Thanks, Roy. It will be up to her. She’s the one that picked out the paint.”

“I get the feeling, she’s the one running this show. I find that backward, especially out here in the wilderness. But then I have a headstrong daughter, so I can see how it happens.”

Sam frowned under the man’s keen observation. It was only a matter of time before Roy saw through him and his outlaw past. One thing Sam knew, they better get Rusty disinterested in Cade, and the sooner the better.

“You look worried, son. Don’t be. I like you. Something about you reminds me of, well, me. Things will work out. Find that constant in your life. Your north star. Big Mountain, whatever it is, and serve the Master of Creation. He’ll lead you to the straight and narrow.” Roy stretched his back. “I better see to the chores. This ranch doesn’t run itself.”

“Need any help?”

Roy nodded. “Always. Glad to have your young muscles.” He laughed that big full-of-life laugh of his.

Sam joined in. “Where do we start?”

“We’ll saddle up, and I’ll show you the main herd.”

“Good. I suppose you know we ran into Cade near your ranch. He was in a cabin near the creek.”

Roy nodded. “Yeah, I know he’s there. I’m sure Cade thinks that I’ll come and run him out, but I won’t. I figure he’s a good watchman for our ranch. Like I said, I don’t hate the man. He’s just not right for Rusty.”

“No constant?”

“That’s right. He’s set a constant on money and maybe something else that I can’t put a finger on. I tell you money is hard to hang onto. Makes a man shiftless and always looking for the next easy deal. No, that’s not what I want for my girl.”

Sam led his horse out of the barn. “He could change.”

Roy mounted a big sorrel. “No, he has to find his constant, and I’m not sure what his might be. It will take something powerful. Rusty is too easy going. Oh, she can be firm, but she’s not tough enough to hold Cade to the fire. He’d stray on her, and then I’d have to kill him.” The big man laughed.

“I believe you. That ought to be a strong enough constant.”

Shaking his head, Roy pointed west. “We’ll go out that way. No, I can’t interfere in their lives. Not like that. I can’t even run him out of the area because Rusty would leave to follow him. She’s going to have to see for herself.”

“You’re taking quite a risk, aren’t you?” Sam remembered how Rusty’s eyes had lit up when she had talked about Cade.

“I don’t think so. I know my daughter. She’s got a good constant in her heart. If she didn’t, she’d have already married Cade.”

“But, you hired us to break them apart.”

“Yes, I felt it might help change her mind so she can find the right man.”

“Is there another that she’s thinking about?”

Roy stared at him. “No, not yet. But I got it on good authority, that there might be one on the horizon.”

“Authority?”

“I talk to the Lord a lot. I feel that He has a plan for Rusty and Cade, but it’s not them two together. I’m glad you and Ulyssa came.” He reined his horse over a gully and pointed to the white-faced red cattle. “Herefords. Good beef stock. I’ve made a fortune on them.”

“How many cattle do you have?”

Roy shook his head. “Not sure. At least three thousand Herefords and there are an untold number of longhorns scattered about. Some modern ranchers kill them off, but the breed is American. I can’t do it.”

Sam saw one of the big longhorn bulls on the ridge. “They crossbreed?”

“Yeah, they do. Not a bad cow. The babies are smaller and easier on the mamas. And with those great horns, the longhorns can fend off wolves and bears without much trouble. I can’t get rid of them. They’ll stay on the ranch as long as I do.”

Sam nodded. “Cade, I bet he’d kill them off.”

Roy snorted. “You’re probably right. I like you, Sam Paxton. Now, follow me. I want to show you something.”

Sam galloped after the older man and thought how much Roy reminded him of a longhorn. Big craggy and tough. A breed that wouldn’t leave easily. He liked Roy. The man galloped over the land as if he were reminding it and all around how he owned it.

They rode through a valley and over a ridge and stopped on the highpoint. Roy pointed out the scene below. “You’ll never find anything prettier than this.”

Sam nodded. “You’re right on that count.” Below them was a green valley with a stream cutting through the middle on its way to a crystal blue lake. The towering mountain guarded the valley.

“This was our spot. My wife and I. Her name was Jenny. She looked a lot like Rusty with the same color of hair as a prized palomino. She was my beauty. The woman who God used to turn me to the straight path. And she was strong enough to keep me on it.

Roy stole a quick glance at the man. By the look in his eyes, he was years away and standing on this spot with her.

“She named it Serenity Lake.” Roy looked at him. “I hope you find a woman as good as Jenny was to me. I sense that you need that, Sam. Don’t settle for anyone. But drop everything for the one that makes your heart come alive and your soul sing.”

“I’ll remember that, Roy. Thanks.” Sam didn’t realize how long he’d missed his father. His father the way he was when their family was safe and healthy. His mother’s death had sent his father on a downward spiral. One he never recovered from and one that sent Sam on his own crooked path.

Perhaps his mother had been his father’s star and constant. Without her, he’d been lost. And in the process, Sam had been lost, too.

Chapter 9

After leaving Ulyssa with an armful of books to read, Rusty went outside to find her father, but she didn’t see him. Pedro, their wrangler, told her he went riding with Sam. That he would take someone with him on a Sunday surprised her, and she wondered what business Sam could have with Father. Concerned, Rusty saddled her horse.

Sometimes, the house became too stuffy for her. She loved the wide-open spaces and enjoyed riding over her land. Father frowned on her going alone, but she was going to find him. She knew where he’d gone.

He always rode to the lake on Sunday. Besides, she needed to talk to him. About Cade. Why Father was so against the man she loved, she wasn’t sure. Cade had done nothing wrong.

He was a good man. She felt it and knew he was stable and steady. Rusty waved at Pedro and rode out of the yard toward the high country and her father’s mountain. The two of them were so much alike.

Yet, she knew there would be a day that her father wouldn’t be here. The mountain would live as long as the earth, but Father’s days were numbered. Not that she expected to lose him soon, but it was on her mind. On her Father’s mind too because he feared leaving the ranch to Cade.

“He doesn’t have a constant.” Her father had said.

She shook her head. Well, maybe Father was right. Rusty had run into Cade while riding alone on Pine Ridge. He’d stolen her heart in just one meeting. She’d taken one look at Cade and knew he was the one. Later, when she’d brought him home, her father had taken one look at him and told her no.

She’d wait until her father changed his mind, or for Cade to do to prove he was worthy enough for Father’s blessing. Rusty believed Cade would figure it out. Father even let him stay at the old cabin near the road.

Urging her horse over the ground, she prayed that God would show Father that Cade was the man for her. Yet, she’d not go against her father. She loved him too much. He should know that because after the Lord, her father was her constant.

The one who was always there. Father knew how to comfort her and keep her safe. He challenged her to be smart and strong. But on this one thing, Father had failed her. She loved Cade and that was that. She would outlast her father and eventually, he’d see how their love lasted.

Rusty rode over the far ridge and, in the distance, saw two riders overlooking Serenity Lake. Again, she wondered who Sam was that Father would show him the lake. Father didn’t take anyone to this sacred place except her. And most of the time, Father went alone. Especially on Sunday.

For a moment, she wished it could be Cade. Curious and a little irritated by it, Rusty rode to them.

Father smiled. “My darling, daughter. What brings you out here?”

“Looking for you.” She glanced at Sam but found that her gaze wouldn’t leave him. Her heart fluttered. Then her cheeks warmed, and she looked away to the mountain.

She loved Cade. This Sam was no one to her. No one. “Ulyssa wants to trade her paint horse in on a bay.”

Father nodded. “We’ve already discussed it. I pointed one out to Sam. Did she want to come riding?”

“No, I left her with a pile of books. She likes reading as much as I do.” Rusty did enjoy having a friend on the ranch. Why Ulyssa and her husband were here, Rusty couldn’t figure out. If she had been married to Sam, she would have gone riding with him rather than read a book.

Sam backed his big black and rode to her. “If you two want to be alone, I can find my way back to the ranch. See what Ulyssa is doing?”

Roy nailed a gaze at him. “And what do you call her, your Ulyssa?”

“Call her?”

“A pet name. My Jennie was always Jen to me.”

“Ah,” Sam looked at Rusty and grinned. “I call her, Lyssa.” He was thankful for his quick wit and mind. He didn’t think they’d be impressed by what he really called her to himself. Useless.

Rusty looked at him. “It is an odd name.”

Sam nodded. “Yes, odd.”

Roy cleared his throat. “I think I’d like to stay out here a little longer. Alone.”

Rusty nodded. “I can make sure Sam doesn’t get lost.”

“Good. You two run along, and I’ll meet you for lunch.”

Rusty nodded and thought she caught a gleam in her father’s eyes. What was he up to? Surely, he didn’t want her to get interested in a married man.

Sam rode beside her. “You’re a brave woman to ride out here alone.”

“I grew up here. I’m not afraid.”

“I bet your father spends hours on his knees praying for you.”

She laughed. “My father is a good man, and yes, he does pray for me.”

“I like your father.” Sam’s gaze lingered on her longer than was comfortable.

Rusty looked away. Was that longing that she’d seen on his face. Couldn’t be. She’d done nothing to lure him. Besides, she wouldn’t do that because she liked Uyssa. “Our ranch, Father named it Serenity Ranch after my mother’s name for the lake. Our brand is a cross in front of a mountain. My father loves this place dearly. Frankly, I’m amazed he would show you the lake.”

Sam looked at her, tilting his head like an inquisitive pup. “That so. I’m glad he did. Tells me a lot about him, this ranch, and you.”

Rusty’s gaze snapped back to him. Whoever this man was, he was getting to her. Unnerving her as if he knew things about her. She thought about Cade. Father had never shown him the lake and pretty much forbade her from taking him there. And she hadn’t because she didn’t think Cade belonged there.

Cade had never asked how the ranch got its name. Not once. That fact bothered her. It had in the past, and the small niggling of trouble now worked its way forward, where she couldn’t deny that she had reservations about the man herself. She knew there was something between them that Cade kept to himself.

But Sam. Another woman’s husband. She shook her head and ordered her heart to obey. There was absolutely no reason or room to allow him into her life. She didn’t know how long Ulyssa and Sam were staying, but she hoped they’d leave soon.

Sam stopped his horse in a small valley, dismounted, and plucked a wildflower. He smiled at her. “I think this blue flower would look good in that blond hair of yours.”

Rusty took the flower from him. “I think it would look good in Ulyssa’s dark hair, too.”

Sam blushed. “Yes, sure would.”

She handed the flower back to him. “I think the horses are rested enough. Race you to the next ridge.” Rusty didn’t wait for him to remount and galloped away from him.

It wasn’t seconds, and she heard his powerful black gelding charging behind her. She laughed. She loved galloping over the raw, wild land. Like flying, the horse barely touched the ground as his hooves charged over the earth. Up the ridge, over a log, and then she stopped at the top and saw that Sam was right behind her.

“You beat me.” He stopped his lathered horse. “You gave us a good run.”

“That black of yours did well to keep up with my horse. He’s a thoroughbred. Yours must have some good blood in him.”

“Guess so. I’m sure Outlaw doesn’t have a clue what his breeding is, but he likes to run.” Sam patted the horse and walked him along the ridge. “Does your ranch have more views like this?”

She nodded. “Outlaw? The horse or you?”

Sam grinned. “You’ll have to find out.”

Enjoying the banter, Rusty reminded herself that Sam was a married man and changed the subject. “Did you ride by Colorado Springs and see the red rocks?”

“Sure did. Magnificent.”

“We have something similar. It’s too late to show you today, maybe tomorrow we can go. You and Ulyssa.”

Sam paused and looked into her eyes. Green, like her fathers. And innocent and sincere. He should tell her he wasn’t really married to Ulyssa. But then again, it was her father’s plan. Tonight, ought to be interesting. “I’d like that. I’ll see what kind of plans my wife has and let you know tomorrow.”

He was holding something back from her. A secret. Maybe the reason her father invited them to the ranch. For a moment, Rusty let her imagination run away from her and wondered if he was the long lost son her father had always wanted. Maybe Father had a secret lover.

Then she nearly laughed at her crazy notions. Father was right, she was reading too many stories. “Good. I’ll check with Father.”

Still, the more she looked at Sam Paxton, the more she was convinced that he was hiding something from her. She hoped he wasn’t a confidence man trying to convince her father to sell land. The last man that tried to swindle father disappeared, and she didn’t even want to know what had happened to him.

Then again, that man hadn’t come with a wife. A beautiful wife at that. Rusty rubbed the back of her neck and wished Cade would ride up the road. She needed to see him. Needed to know that he still cared for her. Needed to know she still felt for him.

Chapter 10

Cade needed to see Rusty. Like or not, he was going to the ranch and ask her to go for a ride. Meeting that woman, Ulyssa, had rattled him. He’d been so sure of his feelings for Rusty that he’d almost forgotten his real reason for being here.

He’d been orphaned at fifteen when his stepfather took him in. Caldwell had been the one to keep him honest and get him interested in school. Cade owed his future to the man. Then Allred came and interfered, and Cade’s stepfather lost the farm. The loss killed the one person Cade had cared about. Cade had drifted from town to town, taking up odd jobs until he settled on teaching as a profession.

He’d forgotten about Allred until he saw a story in the newspaper. Cade had taken leave of his job and ridden to Colorado to confront Roy Allred. But when he rode to the ranch, he met Rusty and fell in love with her. She was everything he’d always dreamed of.

Rusty, Trucilla, Allred. Pretty, free and wild, and a woman who knew what she wanted in life. He fell in love with her that day. He’d delayed his plans and, in fact, had changed them. Marrying Rusty and taking her away from Allred was the best revenge Cade could come up with.

Allred told him he wasn’t the man for his daughter. Not that Allred was mean or cruel with him, just matter of fact. Cade was determined to take Rusty from her father and still convinced himself that he loved Rusty.

Or at least, he thought he did. That was why Cade had to see her today. He always told himself that she wasn’t really part of his plot to exact pain on her father. Cade didn’t want to hurt Rusty because he loved her. Yet, after meeting Ulyssa, Cade wasn’t as sure as he had been before. He saddled his horse and rode to the ranch.

Cade didn’t see Mr. Allred around and hoped he was out on the range riding over his vast holdings. Cade wasn’t in the mood to wrestle words with the man.  Walking up to the house, he noticed Ulyssa sitting on the porch reading.

She looked up and smiled, putting her book down. “Hello, again.”

Cade hadn’t counted on seeing her either, and he certainly hadn’t counted on the way she made him feel. “I was wondering if Rusty was around?”

Ulyssa got up from her chair. “No, she went riding. Would you like a glass of lemonade? It is truly wonderful.”

Cade heard the small voice inside of him, telling him to run. But he ignored it and tied his horse to the rail, walked to her, and sat in the chair next to hers. “That sounds refreshing.”

Ulyssa went inside the house and came out with Rosalie scolding her.

“I take care of you. Mr. Roy say to me, take care of that woman. So that is what I do.” Rosalie brought out the pitcher and refilled Ulyssa’s glass and then poured a glass for him.

With a scowl, she glared at him. “Mr. Roy know that you are here?”

“No. I wanted to see Rusty.”

Rosalie tossed her head. “She is out riding with her father.” Rosalie smiled at Ulyssa. “Senora, if there is anything else you need, call me.”

“Thank you, Rosalie.” Ulyssa smiled. “She’s a delightful woman. We’ve had an interesting morning together. Mostly, she has chased me away from helping her do anything.”

Cade laughed. “This is thirst-quenching lemonade. I’m sure she has told you how bad I am for Rusty.”

Ulyssa nodded. “Yes, I believe she mentioned you a few times.” She shifted in her chair. “But I don’t see the need for all her anger toward you. Unless there are things, I just don’t know yet.”

Cade pointed to the book in her lap. “I’m an open book. Ask me anything.”

“Hmm, that’s a wide-open invitation. I’m rather good at grilling outlaws.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, well, that makes me curious. What are you? A law woman?”

“Something like that.” She sipped more of her drink and then held up the book. “Pride and Prejudice. Have you ever read it?”

Cade stared at the book. He wasn’t ready to tell her that part about himself. “I may have read it before. Lately, I haven’t had the time to read books for entertainment.”

Ulyssa patted the book. “Entertainment. Well, I’ll have you know that even the novels have merit. You can learn a lot by watching or reading about the lives of other people. Even fictional characters.”

Again, the voice told him to leave, but he was in over his head. This woman had him hooked. He grinned at her. “So, you watch people. It seems like a standoffish way to live if you ask me.”

She frowned. “I never thought of it in that way. There is some truth in what you say. You’ve given me something to think about.”

Ulyssa had given him plenty to think about. If it had been up to him, he’d have stayed on that porch, in that chair, and next to her for the rest of his life. But that wasn’t possible. Mr. Allred would return and run him off. And there was Rusty to consider.

Cade regretted the mess he’d gotten himself into. “Tell Rusty I was here to see her. Tell her I’ll run into her again.” He stood. “Thanks for the lemonade.”

Ulyssa stood. “I’m glad you came, and I enjoyed our talk. It was a welcome diversion.”

The woman had no idea of the effect she’d had on him. Cade nodded. “Maybe I can see you again. Good day, Ma’am.”

She remained standing, holding her book under her arm and glass of lemonade in hand. Yet, she managed to wave to him with her other hand. And smile.

Cade took her smile with him. He got the feeling that Ulyssa didn’t give them out regularly. Even Rusty rarely gave him such a pleasant and inviting look. He mounted his horse, tipped his hat, and wheeled the animal away from her before he found it impossible to leave.

All he knew as he galloped away was that he needed to see Rusty. Cade had never been so confused. He’d been honest when he told her father that Rusty was the only woman he cared about.

But now, after meeting Ulyssa, he wasn’t sure. Which was crazy. He’d met the woman twice. Now, he was as confused as a schoolboy. And had so much to lose. He and Rusty had a special bond. And he had a particular reason to want to marry her.

Rusty loved him. He knew it. And until Ulyssa, he’d have said there was nothing that could come between them. Nothing.

Well, all he knew was he better find Rusty and clear the air and the fog in his head. He rode up a ridge and saw Rusty on a distant hill. But she was with the man that had been with Ulyssa. Sam.

Cade figured out where he’d seen Sam before. But he had been Sam Russell and on a poster wanted dead or alive. If Mr. Allred had thought to keep Rusty from him, her father needed to know that the man she was riding with now was an outlaw.

Chapter 11

Ulyssa watched Cade ride away. What was happening to her? She didn’t like men. At all. But he had charmed his way into her heart. She would have to guard against that. Well, she probably wouldn’t see him again.

Mr. Allred didn’t like the man, and that was good enough for her. Although when she thought about Cade, she couldn’t get any sense that he was bad. To Cade’s credit, she didn’t think he was a bit like Sam.

Rosalie came from the house. “He gone?”

“Yes.”

Rosalie looked at her. “He has charmed you just like he charmed Rusty. Beware of him. Mr. Roy doesn’t like that man, and I trust Mr. Roy.”

Ulyssa smiled at the woman. “Thank you, Rosalie. I have no intention of being swept off my feet by Cade Monroe. Besides, he loves Rusty, doesn’t he?”

Rosalie nodded. “He say, he does. But I don’t know. Something not right between them. That what Mr. Roy sense, too.”

“Has Cade broken the law?”

She shook her head. “No, I think he is good man, but he doesn’t belong on this ranch. Not with Miss Rusty.”

“I see. Thank you for the lemonade.”

Rosalie nodded but left with a worried frown.

Ulyssa sat back in the chair and picked up the book. So, Elizabeth Bennet had problems, too. Maybe she had solutions. After all, Ulyssa had told Cade that novels had merit. She tried to get into the story, but her own life’s struggles made it impossible for her to read.

Looking at the sky, Ulyssa leaned back in the chair. The case had sounded so simple. Now, she was pretending to be married to Sam, who she disliked immensely. And the very man she was to dissuade Rusty from marrying, she was falling for.

Poor Rusty. It must be challenging to be in love with a man that your father won’t allow into the house. Then again, Mr. Allred was protecting the empire he’d built. And she bet that Cade wasn’t the only man with eyes on Rusty and the ranch that would come with her.

She closed the book. “After this case, I could write my own book.” She grinned at her thought. Maybe that was something she should do. Being a Pinkerton was weighing on her. She already had a harsh attitude, and dealing with the worst of humanity wasn’t helping.

Seeing Rusty and the carefree innocence of the girl had chipped at the hard shell around her own heart. Although they were close in age, Rusty looked at life with wonder and joy while Ulyssa saw things through a jaded bitterness.

Ulyssa saw deceit and danger wherever she looked. Although with the life she’d been handed, she came by it honestly. She’d seen nothing but the backhand of abuse from the few men in her life.

Actually, Sam, even though he’d been an outlaw, had treated her better than the few men she’d considered marriage material. One had been shot and killed in front of her and left her with conflicting thoughts of sorrow and relief.

The other one had used her time and time again only to leave town, and Ulyssa later heard that he’d married another woman. So, the bruises she’d suffered at the hands of men she’d considered marrying still ached.

Mostly her heart. Why had those men found her someone to trample over? Why did they treat her as if she were worthless? Perhaps being an orphan with no father to look after her had contributed to the way she was perceived.

In that sense, she envied Rusty. The woman had no idea how precious it was to have a Father who watched over her. Ulyssa made a mental note to tell Rusty when she saw her again. Maybe she’d reveal her own troubled past where men were concerned.

Then again, she had to be careful because she and Sam were supposed to be married. She heard horses and saw Sam and Rusty riding toward her.

Time to play doting wife. Ulyssa stood and waved. “Did you have a good ride?”

Sam helped Rusty from her horse. Ulyssa thought that he lingered a little too long with his hands on her, but then Sam smiled at her and nodded. “Beautiful country. You’ll have to see it.”

Rusty blushed and smoothed her shirt. “Yes, I bet Rosalie could make us a picnic basket for tomorrow. You’ll love it, Ulyssa.”

Sam walked to her and gave her peck on the cheek. “Did you have a good time, Lyssa?”

Ulyssa concentrated on not slapping the fire out of Sam and caught the wink. She assumed it was her pet name that he’d come up with. She smiled and squeezed his hand, extra hard. “Yes, I did. I was reading a book.”

Sam left her and took the reins to Rusty’s horse. “I’ll put up the horses.”

The girl caught his arm. “We have hired help to do that. Pedro, the horses.”

Immediately, a young man came forward and took the reins. “Si, senorita, Rusty.” Whistling a happy tune, he left with the animals.

Rusty smiled at Sam.

Ulyssa got the impression that more was going on than she knew. If she was Sam’s wife, the way that Rusty had just looked at him would have made her jealous. And then the way Sam looked back at her. Well, Ulyssa would have made sure they both knew she wasn’t pleased. Maybe the case was close to being solved, and she could stop this sham of a marriage.

Still, it bothered her that Sam could be interested in Rusty. Didn’t he care about the girl at all? Ulyssa rolled her eyes. It was clear she needed to train Sam in the ways of a Pinkerton agent.

Ulyssa studied Rusty, who was still looking at Sam with more than a spark of interest. Ulyssa could squash that feeling by telling her and Allred that Sam had been an outlaw. Well, if things progressed, she would tell Allred to save his daughter from another man not trustworthy enough for Rusty.

Ulyssa was sure that Mr. Allred would appreciate that. After all, it would do no good to stop Rusty and Cade, if Rusty took up with Sam.

The Pinkerton’s would probably fire her along with Sam.

***

Sam noticed the way Rusty looked at him, and he sure felt the fire in his arm where she’d touched him. Things weren’t quite going as planned. He was supposed to be an example of a knight in shining armor by showing Rusty how much he loved Ulyssa.

He nearly gagged. How was he going to pull that off? It wasn’t as if he’d hired on to be an actor in a two-bit play. The only feeling he had for Ulyssa was irritation. Everything the woman did riled him.

Her hard and harpylike voice. The mean, if not wicked, glare in her eyes. The way Ulyssa kept her hair corralled so tightly to her head. The snappy way she ordered him around. And the worst was the condescending way she had of looking down on him.

Nope, there wasn’t one pleasant thing about Ulyssa. Not one.

Rusty, on the other hand, was soft and pleasant. Her voice was filled with joy and acceptance, and she was every bit as pretty as Ulyssa. Maybe Rusty didn’t have the fancy dresses or ways, but she had drawn his gaze to her the minute they met.

But here he was to play like he was the loving husband to a woman he despised. Suddenly, Sam became aware that Ulyssa was staring at him. Sam smiled. “Lyssa, did you have lunch? I’m hungry and thirsty after that long ride.” He grinned at her, hoping he looked like he cared for her.

Sam almost blew his cover by laughing at the quick glare that flared in Ulyssa’s eyes, but she quickly put it out with a sweet smile.

She stood and put a hand on his shoulder, shoving a bit harder than necessary while not letting up on her smile. “Sweetie, you sit down, and I’ll get you something. Would you like some lemonade?”

“Sounds good.” Sam glanced at Rusty to see if she was watching. She was. And the look in her eyes wasn’t a happy one. Sam felt bad. He really didn’t want Rusty to think he was in love with Ulyssa.

Ulyssa walked inside and, in minutes, came out with a tray. She sat in the chair beside Sam. “I also made you a sandwich just the way you like them.” Ulyssa’s grin unnerved him.

Sam sipped the lemonade and was relieved that it was good. The sandwich stared back at him as if daring him to try it. With a nod to Ulyssa, he picked it up and took a bite. The sandwich bit back with a pile of salt and pepper and something else he couldn’t identify.

His mouth heated up. Trying not to show his discomfort, he took a sip of lemonade, but it did little to put out the fire that was burning in his mouth. Sam looked at Ulyssa and grinned. “Very good, dear.”

Ulyssa smiled sweetly with her lips while her eyes raged. “I’m so glad you like it. I can make another one if you’re still hungry.”

“No, no. This is enough. I don’t want to ruin my appetite for dinner. Rusty told me how wonderful their cook is.” He smiled at Rusty.

Rusty blushed and looked down at her hat that she was still holding.

Ulyssa held up her book. “Dear, I thought we could take a little break and go to our room. I love it when you read to me. It’s so romantic.”

Sam glared at her, caught himself, and smiled. “If that’s what you want. Let’s go.”

Now it was Ulyssa’s turn to stare at him in alarm. Apparently, she hadn’t thought her scheme through. It was clear she didn’t want him in her bedroom. She caught his arm. “Did you talk to Mr. Allred about trading my horse? We could go and pick one out. You did promise, you know.”

Sam looked at her. For the first time, he realized he was taller than Ulyssa by six inches. With more pleasure than he should have had, he used that six inches to tower over her and grin. “He won’t be back for a while, and I could use a little nap. Let’s go.” Sam smiled and took her hand in his.

Well, there was no fire in Ulyssa’s limp, cold hand. No sir. In fact, he bet that Ulyssa wished she had her derringer about now. He looked at her and smiled. “Maybe we’ll read some of the pages of that book.”

Rusty apparently had had enough of what a good marriage looked like and stomped out of the room.

Sam shoved open the door, pulled Ulyssa through the entrance, and locked the door behind them. “We are going to come to an understanding. No more hot pepper salt sandwiches. That was low. Even for you.”

She laughed. At least it was her attempt at her usual mocking humor. “It was worth watching as you tried to look like the doting husband. Doubt you have it in you. You’re not exactly the marrying type, are you?”

“I might be if the right woman came around. You are not exactly the right kind of woman for me or probably any man, are you?”

“I see no reason to go on insulting one another.” She marched across the room and sat on the bed.

Seeing her discomfort, Sam walked over to her and glared. “Don’t hold your rank over me anymore. I’m tired of the way you look down on me. Besides, that is not how a wife treats her husband. Rusty is sure to see through you if you don’t stop.”

Ulyssa shoved him. “Get away from me. So help me, I’ll use my derringer on you.”

“Well, that would about settle how Rusty would see us.”

Ulyssa took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Sorry. Let’s start over. I can read my book, you can sleep on the divan over there. At least we don’t have to play the charade in this room.”

Sam grinned at her. “Hmm.”

“I mean it, Sam. You stay away from me or, so help me, I’ll forget this case and shoot you.”

Sam turned from her and stomped to the divan. “Don’t worry. You would be the last woman I’d want.” Sam pointed his finger at her. “If you were the last woman in the world, I’d walk to the other side of the earth to get away from you.”

He plopped down on the couch, stretched out, and let his feet dangle over the end. It wasn’t comfortable, but at least he didn’t have to look at the dragon woman. Instead, Sam thought of Rusty. The way the sun shone on her hair, making it the prettiest deep gold.

Her eyes were bright. Green like her father’s. And they were honest, loving, and caring. Totally opposite of Ulyssa’s.

Sam wasn’t even sure why he disliked his partner so much, but she got to him like no one else. As if she was a constant mirror held up to him to show him how he didn’t measure up and that he never would.

Maybe there wasn’t any hope that he could change. But right now, he was determined to prove he’d left the outlaw way of life behind him.

He glanced at Ulyssa. She had her nose buried in the book.

Then again, he wondered why he had the constant desire to put her down. She really didn’t seem all that bad. Oh, she was harsh and prickly as a porcupine, but he knew life could do that to a person.

He put his hat over his face to block the light and wondered what Ulyssa’s story was. What had made her so hard? Not that it mattered. Once this case was over, they were parting ways, and he didn’t care if he ever saw her again.

Chapter 12

Cade whistled, hoping Rusty would hear him. He needed to see her, talk to her, and make sure nothing was going on with Sam. Cade hadn’t seen them up close, but they had looked to be too close to one another on that hill.

He rode his horse around the big oak and whistled again. He waited. Then he saw Rusty riding toward him.

She looked upset as she rode beside him. With anger in her eyes, she nodded to the north. “Let’s get away from the house.” Rusty didn’t wait for him to answer but galloped her horse over the ridge and down the next valley.

Rusty seemed to only have one speed, and that was a gallop. Cade admired her and thought that he really did love her. Her father could rest in that. He wouldn’t hurt Rusty.

That she came with the largest ranch didn’t hurt either. That’s what her father accused of him wanting. Cade tried to show that he loved the man’s daughter, but the old goat wouldn’t believe him. Now, Cade wasn’t so sure himself. Since meeting Ulyssa, his thoughts had been whirling like a tornado.

Finally, Rusty stopped by a small pond and dismounted. She waited for him, and when he came near, she dismounted and looked up at him. “Cade, do you love me?”

He jumped off his horse and held her in his arms. Looking into her eyes, he nodded. “You know I do. Marry me. Today. We can ride off and get married in Colorado Springs. Or wherever you want.”

She shook her head. “We’re going to do it right with Father’s blessings or not at all. I’m not changing my mind on that.”

“Your father doesn’t like me. He won’t even let me in his house.”

With a grin, she put a finger under his chin. “Then you’ll have to work harder to make him like you and trust you. That is all there is to it.”

Cade kissed her. “You’re asking a lot of a man.”

She pushed him away. “Yes, I am.” Rusty walked to the pond and sat on a flat rock and stared into the calm waters.

He walked up behind her. “Look at that pretty girl in the water.” Cade wanted her to see what he saw. She really was a treasure that any man would be proud to marry.

She turned and faced him. “Cade, is it me you see, or my ranch?”

He took a step back. “That’s a funny question. You know I love you. It’s not the ranch.”

“I don’t know. My father says it is. He thinks it’s the wealth you love.”

He shook his head. “No, he’s wrong.” As he said the words, Cade felt as if he were betraying her, but he couldn’t tell her why.

“My father is rarely wrong.” She turned back to the water and ran her fingers over the surface, creating ripples.

He knelt beside her and joined his hand with hers. “I do love you.”

Rusty sighed. “How would you provide for me?”

“What?”

“Do you even have anything?”

Cade stood. “Where is this coming from? Has your father gotten to you with his ideas?”

She stood, close to him, facing him. “I’m asking the questions, not my father.”

He put his hands on her arms. “I swear to you, I love you, Rusty. Trust me.”

“I’m trying to. I’m trying awful hard. But there is something you’re holding back from me. I feel it in the quiet.”

Cade stared at her. She’d never talked to him this way before. He had a feeling that Sam Paxton was interfering. Cade looked into her greens eyes and wondered what the truth was. For him, for her. “Rusty, why were you riding with Sam this morning?”

She blushed. Not a lot, but enough to tell him that something wasn’t right. “I went out to meet my father, and Sam was with him. Father wanted to be alone, so we were riding back to the house. Simple as that.”

“Simple as that. It didn’t look as simple as that.”

“Maybe you need to trust me.” She whirled away from him and mounted her horse and galloped away.

Cade watched her ride. At least, now he knew. He had competition, and Rusty didn’t trust him. The hard truth was, he had counted on falling in love with her. Now, he couldn’t hurt Rusty. Wouldn’t hurt her. Not that he ever intended to. But she’d been the way he could make her father pay for what he’d done to Caldwell.

More confused than ever, Cade rode in the direction opposite of the one Rusty had gone. He had things to do. A wanted poster to find, and a job. If Rusty wanted him to prove to her that he could work, then that’s what he’d do. He knew a couple of the smaller ranches around. Someone was bound to need help.

***

Ulyssa tried reading her book, but the words floated away in a blur of tears. She concentrated on keeping her cries silent. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d cried. She didn’t think she could have any tears left in her after the hard times she’d had.

But Sam had hit some soft spots in the walls around her heart. Ulyssa didn’t want to be unlovable. She didn’t like being hated by men. She didn’t even want to dislike them herself. But the truth was, she was afraid of being hurt again.

Afraid to feel. Afraid to let anyone near her heart. Afraid to entertain the thought of someone wanting to love her. Ulyssa didn’t even believe in the word love anymore. Maybe it was because she was reading the book that her heart and mind had opened up to the possibility or even the need to be loved.

One thing she knew, being alone was getting tiresome, and making her harder on the outside and hollow on the inside. She needed to take lessons from Rusty on how to be friendly and engaging.

That first night, Ulyssa remembered the way Cade had looked at her. The warmth that had shot through her cold heart. Yet, he said he loved Rusty. Maybe, like Allred said, Cade was using Rusty to get his ranch. Ulyssa didn’t want to get in the middle of that struggle.

This case had seemed so simple. So easy. Now, Ulyssa wished she could run away. Sam could take care of Cade and Rusty. Maybe he already was by the way he was looking at Rusty.

Things had turned sour on her. She liked Rusty and didn’t want to hurt the girl. She wasn’t even sure if it was a good thing to turn her away from Cade. What if he was the one man for Rusty?

When Ulyssa had been just a girl, she’d dreamed of a man that would take her away, and they’d live happily-ever-after. But that man had never come. Instead, she’d been abused in the orphanage, and things got worse when she ran away.

She’d long ago given up dreaming because the nightmares had driven them away. She glanced at Sam, and both hated and envied him. He was snoring with not a care in the world. Maybe it was the sign that his conscience was seared.

Yet, Ulyssa knew better. Why she tried to think the worst of Sam Paxton, she wasn’t sure. It was as if she worried that if he had climbed out of the pit that he’d put himself into, it made her accountable to stop her harsh ways.

She stared at Sam’s long lanky form. Then she looked at the book. If Elizabeth Bennett could change her ways and heart, maybe she ought to try. She put the book down and decided to try and be nice to Sam.

Ulyssa figured she would encourage him to stay on the straight and narrow. She didn’t have to marry him, but she could be kind to him. Maybe she’d looked down on him so much that she’d forgotten that she also needed to change her ways.

She got up and tiptoed to the window. It had to be near supper time. She washed her face to make sure any sign of her tears was gone and then gently shoved Sam’s shoulder. “Time to wake up.”

Sam pushed the hat off his face and looked at her. “What, are you going to poison me now?”

She laughed. “I’m sorry. That was a cruel prank to play on you. Besides, Rosalie is cooking tonight, and she is rather protective of her kitchen.”

He eyed her with suspicion and sat up. “Well, let’s try and be nice to one another. We want Rusty to desire a good man and not think marriage is war.”

Ulyssa smiled. “Touché. That hurt.”

Sam stood, stretched, and then went to wash up. He grabbed for the towel, but she’d moved it.

Seeing he had his eyes closed, Ulyssa took the towel to him.

He dried off and looked at her with surprise. “What, no scorpion in the towel?”

“I told you, I was wrong to tamper with the sandwich. I won’t try anything else. We’ll continue with Mr. Allred’s plan and act the sweet married couple.”

Sam nodded. “Uh-huh.” His gaze was still filled with suspicion.

“Let’s go out and see the others.” She held out her hand.

With a shake of his head, Sam hesitantly took her hand in his and walked her out to the main room. When Rosalie passed them in the hall, Sam made sure to pat Ulyssa’s hand.

Ulyssa stopped the woman. “Is Rusty on the porch?”

“Yes. She could use your company.”

With a nod to Sam, Ulyssa whispered. “Let me go and talk to her. You find Mr. Allred and see what he thinks about the situation.”

Sam stared at her. “Okay.” He started to leave but stopped and looked at her. “What are you up to?”

“What?”

“Why are you all of a sudden acting nice?”

She grinned. “Because we are supposed to be in love.” Ulyssa walked off and had to smile at Sam’s confused expression. Now, she’d see what was the matter with Rusty.

On the porch, she found Rusty sitting in a chair and reading a book. She looked up and gave a lop-sided smile. “I’m reading Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol.”

“I finished Pride and Prejudice. I found it a little eye-opening. Thank you for suggesting it.”

“My pleasure. I don’t know what I would have done without books to read. They allowed me to visit so many places, times, and people.” Rusty shut the book and sat up. “How was your day?”

“Oh, delightful.” Ulyssa groaned inwardly at her lie. Her day had been dreadful, with all sorts of thoughts at odds with one another. But she did manage to smile at Rusty to cover her true feelings.

“How did you know that you loved Sam?”

Ulyssa stiffened. The question had completely ambushed her. Thinking fast, she tried to remember the book she’d just read. “Well, it can start as a flutter. A twinge of excitement when you see the person. Feeling warmth when they hold your hand.”

Feeling her cheeks warming at the thought of Cade touching her hand, Ulyssa’s mind froze. She stared at Rusty but couldn’t say a word.

“But how do you really know? I think I love Cade.” She stared at Ulyssa. “But I wouldn’t run away and marry him. Not yet.”

“Oh.” Ulyssa took that as a good sign. Although she was beginning to wonder if it was for Mr. Allred or herself. Did she have feelings for Cade? Couldn’t be. Not Ulyssa Long. What did the other agents call her? The Ice of Hearts.

That stung. It used to be something that she laughed at. Now, Ulyssa didn’t find it so funny.

“Are you all right?” Rusty looked at her with concern.

“Oh, yes. You know, marriage isn’t all roses. Just like the plant, there are thorny patches you have to work through.” Ulyssa was failing. She knew nothing about marriage or love.

Rusty sat back in her chair. “I used to dream of when I would fall in love. I would know instantly. He would sweep me off my feet and carry me away on his horse to a special place that only we would know about.”

“Like your Father and Mother’s lake?”

“Yes, I suppose. But in my dreams, there weren’t any problems. And I am sure if there were, they wouldn’t matter. With Cade, the problems matter. Father won’t give us his blessing. And I won’t be married without it. The man I marry will have to take me and my father.”

“Cade doesn’t like your father?”

“Well, I think he likes him, but Father doesn’t trust Cade to take care of me. He thinks Cade just wants the ranch and my wealth.”

“And you? What do you think?” Ulyssa found herself hoping Rusty didn’t really love Cade. But then Ulyssa was confronted with the question of why on earth she would want the man? Not like he had a job. Or anything.

Rusty shook her head. “A few days ago, I would have said he loved me and not the ranch. But now, I don’t know. There just seems to be something between us.”

Ulyssa nodded. “Well, it will work itself out. Be patient. Pray. And listen to your father. You don’t realize what a blessing it is to have a father who loves and cares for you.”

Ulyssa knew that at least that was the truth, and she did pray that Rusty would understand. As for the rest, Ulyssa couldn’t bring herself to admit that she might have feelings for Cade. After all, Ulyssa had all the symptoms that she’d used to describe love.

Chapter 13

Sam wandered through the ranch house and came to Mr. Allred’s study and knocked on the door.

Mr. Allred waved him in. “So, how do you like my ranch?”

“You have quite an empire.” Sam sat in the chair opposite Mr. Allred.

“Yes, I do. Sometimes that becomes a burden more than a blessing. I have a hundred people that work for me. And I owe it to them to make sure I keep a firm hand on everything. That’s the main reason I don’t want Cade to take over.”

Sam rubbed the polished wood on the arms of his chair. “Do you think he’d sell off the land?”

“Not really. I just don’t see him having the ability to run the ranch. I don’t think Cade is a bad man. He’s not an outlaw as far as I can tell. I don’t think he even really wants the ranch. And I don’t want the responsibility to fall on Rusty.” He picked up a piece of paper and frowned.

“Bad news?”

“No. The army wants more cattle. It’s a good thing, but I’ll have to go out with Jackson to bring in the right stock. It means money in the bank. The government doesn’t pay me much, but they are a good customer.”

“If you need some help, I’ll ride with you.”

Mr. Allred smiled. “Great. I’d like that. Give us time to get to know one another. I wish Cade was more like you. I can’t figure that man out. Sometimes, when he looks at me, I almost feel as if he hates me. I’d never seen him before, and I never forget a face. Until Cade can come to me and tell me the trouble between us, I’ll never give my blessing for him to marry Rusty.”

Sam wondered what Mr. Allred would think if he learned about his outlaw past. Well, it didn’t matter. Rusty believed that he and Ulyssa were married. It was a good idea for him to get out of the ranch house anyway.

Sam had found himself wondering about Rusty in ways he shouldn’t. He wanted to be with Rusty but was stuck with Ulyssa. Who knows what his partner would do to torture him in the future. Not like he could do anything to her since he was supposed to be the loving husband.

Shaking off the confusing thoughts, Sam grinned. “How long will we be gone?”

“Oh, a few days. It really depends on the cattle. Jackson usually keeps them in the higher valleys and meadows this time of year. So it will be a fairly long drive to the fort.” Mr. Allred looked at him. “Yes, sir. I wish Cade was more like you. I trust the honesty I see in your eyes. You’re hungry to make something out of yourself.”

Sam didn’t know what to say. If only. But then his life had been a list of if onlys. Now, he was pretending to be with a woman he didn’t like, and crazy as it sounded, he found himself thinking more and more of Rusty. And not because she was the case he was working on.

Roy stood and came around the desk. “Don’t you worry, son. You’ve got what it takes.” He puffed out his chest and drew in a deep breath. “Now, I am sure I smell the delicious dinner that Rosalie has prepared for us. Shall we go?”

Sam followed the big man down the hallway and had to admit, Roy had lifted his spirits. Being around Ulyssa and continually being told why she hated to be paired with an outlaw had been weighing on him.

Mr. Allred liked him, and that counted far more than the opinion of that hard-hearted woman. Sam corralled his thoughts when he saw the women were already at the table. Sam wished he could sit by Rusty, but Ulyssa was smiling and patting for him to sit by her. At least, he could sit and look at Rusty as she was across the table from him.

“I was wondering where you’d gone, dear.” Ulyssa smiled at him. Well, at least her lips curled up, but her eyes were icy. Then Sam thought he detected a bit of sadness in her. Well, that was different.

Sam took a sip of water and set his glass down slowly while he thought about what to tell Ulyssa. “I was visiting with Mr. Allred.”

“Roy, you call me Roy.” Mr. Allred bellowed loudly.

Sam nodded. “Roy. He was telling me about the operations on a ranch this size.” He looked at Roy. “I volunteered to go with him tomorrow to round up some cattle for the army. I hope you don’t mind, Lyssa.” Sam had to grin at his pet name for her.

Ulyssa put a hand on his arm. “Not at all. That will give me more time to visit with Rusty.”

Roy pounded the table. “Good. It’s all settled then. We leave early before the sun tops the ridge.”

“I’ll be ready.” Sam grinned. Boy, would he be ready. Not like he would get much sleep on that little couch. Thinking about how his legs hurt from being bent over the arm of the sofa, Sam decided he’d sleep on the floor. A short night was no problem.

***

Sunshine streamed through the window and woke Ulyssa. She looked on the floor, and Sam was already gone. At least, he had been a gentleman and let her have the bed. Maybe he wasn’t as bad as she first thought.

She dressed and found Rusty eating breakfast.

The young woman looked up and smiled. “I like breakfast. It’s my favorite meal. Bacon, biscuits and gravy, eggs fixed a dozen different ways. And fruit when we can get it. I love the oranges from California.”

Ulyssa tasted the orange and had to admit it would be her favorite, too. She’d never really thought what meal was her favorite. When she was young, she was happy to be able to eat. “This is wonderful.”

Rusty buttered a piece of toast. “I thought we could go riding today. If you don’t mind.”

“Fine. I’d like that.” Not really. The long ride to the ranch had made hidden muscles ache, and Ulyssa was sure they weren’t ready for another day of bouncing in the saddle. But she felt it important to stay with Rusty, especially while her father was away.

Besides, Ulyssa wasn’t all that sure that Rusty wouldn’t run off with Cade.

Rusty stared at her. “Ulyssa, do you mind me asking?”

“What?”

“Are you and Sam getting along?”

Ulyssa smiled despite another ambush. “Yes, why would you ask?”

“I hope you don’t get angry, but I was up early this morning to see Father off and walked by your room and saw that Sam had been sleeping on the floor.”

Ulyssa swallowed. “Oh, that. Well, sometimes, his back is sore. Especially before a long ride, he sleeps on the floor to straighten out his back.”

Rusty frowned. “I see. It will be a long ride.” She looked troubled. “It’s not like Father to take a stranger along on one of these drives.”

This time Ulyssa’s ears perked up. What was Roy Allred up to? She hoped they weren’t going to hunt down Cade and threaten him to leave.

Rusty must have had the same idea because she looked worried. “As soon as you’re finished, lets ride. I’ll get the horses ready.”

“I’ll be out in a few minutes.” Ulyssa went to her room and considered taking a pillow to ride on. Afraid to take too long, she grabbed her hat and went outside.

Rusty frowned and looked anxiously at the ridge to the north. “I want to go now while we have plenty of daylight.”

Ulyssa glanced at Rusty and saw that the woman had a rifle in the scabbard of her saddle. Well, good. Rusty must know enough to keep them safe.

Rusty patted the rifle. “Usually, Father sends someone with me or to watch over me, but most of the hands went on the cattle drive. Don’t worry, though, I  am a good shot.”

Ulyssa nodded. “We had a run in with Indians on the way here.”

Rusty shook her head. “They leave us alone. Father gives them cattle when they need it. They never bother us.” She frowned. “I thought we might ride over toward Cade’s cabin. If you don’t mind.”

“That’s fine with me. You lead the way.” Ulyssa got a firm hold on the saddle horn and the reins and followed Rusty. Or tried to. The girl only rode at a gallop. Ulyssa tried to stay up with her, but Rusty was going too fast.

Ulyssa was used to carriages and buggies, not riding like a wild Indian over the land. Uneven land at that. After ten minutes of the ride, Rusty was but a blur in the distance. Ulyssa did remember that Cade’s cabin had been near the road. Trouble was, she didn’t see a road. Just miles and miles of nothing.

Reining the horse up a hill, Ulyssa stopped on the top and looked for Rusty. Nothing. The girl could be anywhere while Ulyssa felt like she was nowhere. A small nugget she’d read assured her that horses new the way home.

Of course, to this horse, home was in Colorado Springs.

Angry at herself, Ulyssa closed her eyes and prayed for help. She didn’t usually pray, but she was in way over her head and had no idea in which direction she’d just come. She might have a great memory when she saw something on paper, but that was where her gift ended.

With a huff, she reasoned that she should keep going in a straight line. She nudged the horse down the hill and went east, she thought. Clouds had covered the sun, so she had no idea where the sun was.

She kept the horse at a walk and listened for a shout or gunshot. Although, if she heard a gun, she wasn’t sure if she should run to it or away from it. Rusty might think the Indians were friendly, but Ulyssa had witnessed something else.

After an hour of riding and seeing nothing familiar, she turned around and rode to the top of a small ridge. It didn’t look familiar, either. She was lost.

Not knowing which direction to go, she let the horse pick her own way. They meandered around. The mare stopped to chomp on the grass a few times. They came to a stream that Ulyssa hadn’t seen before.

She filled her canteen and let the horse drink. The clouds darkened, and the temperature dropped. Wishing she’d brought a jacket, Ulyssa rubbed her arms. Sam would be making fun of her by now.

She felt her pockets and then remembered her derringer was on the dresser. Ulyssa turned the horse around. The clouds were so low, she couldn’t even make out the mountain. Then the rain started.

Ulyssa rode to a jumble of boulders and ledges along one of the ridges. A flash of lightning up ahead convinced her to dismount and hide under the rocky cover. She took the canteen and looked in the saddlebags. Wrapped in wax paper were a few matches.

Feeling chilled, she tied the horse to a shrub and unsaddled the mare. Ulyssa took the saddle blanket and shaking her head, ignored the fact she’d smell like a horse, and wrapped it around herself.

Irritated at herself for not keeping up with Rusty, Ulyssa wedged herself under the ledge to try and keep dry. She’d worry about finding the ranch after the rain.

Chapter 14

Cade heard Rusty call to him. He was surprised she’d come so early. He’d told Pedro to tell her closer to noon. Cade made it a point to always get to the meeting place first. He’d like to say it was because he cared for her, but more to the truth was that he was lonely. This time, she must miss him. He wondered what book she’d brought for them to read.

He stood up and waved to her as Rusty rode toward him. At a gallop, of course. That was one of the things he admired about her. She knew what she wanted and went after it. Including him. But her father stood between them and Rusty wouldn’t budge without her father’s blessing.

“Cade, I wanted to see you.” Rusty slipped off the saddle and ran to him. She turned and looked behind her. “I lost Ulyssa. I was riding and thinking about you when I turned around, and she was gone. You have to help me find her.”

“Lost her? She doesn’t know anything about being in the wilderness. She could have fallen from her horse and been hurt. Rusty, you should have stayed with her.” Cade scanned the horizon looking for Ulyssa.

“I did, for a little while, but you know how I like to let my horse run, and it was such a beautiful morning. Anyway, Ulyssa is gone, and there’s rain coming.”

“Put your book in the saddlebag. Did you bring a slicker?”

Rusty nodded and took it from the back of her saddle. “Poor Ulyssa. I don’t think she is used to riding that much either. Oh, help me find her.”

“We’ll find her.” Cade took his slicker and put it on. “We should stick together. I don’t want anything happening to you.”

Rusty smiled, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. “You are my knight in shining armor.”

Cade looked at her. She was so naive and innocent. Only a few years younger than he was, but in the ways of the world, she was still a babe. He wanted to protect her, but if he was honest, he’d have to protect her from himself. He was beginning to question how he really felt about Rusty. And most of the questions started when he first saw Ulyssa.

Rusty didn’t even know what he did. She’d probably be ashamed of him although she did like to read. That was their one bond together. The ranch came between them. At first, he’d only thought of hurting her father, but it wasn’t long, and he had feelings for her. That was when he decided if she married him, he’d take her away from her father, and that would be the greatest way to hurt Allred.

Now, he wondered how Rusty would feel back in Chicago. He was tired of the wilderness and felt the city calling him back. As he looked at Rusty, he saw what his heart had been telling him.

They weren’t suited to one another. Not at all. He was more comfortable in the city. Yes, he’d proved to himself that he could live in the wilderness. But it had always been with the idea that it was temporary.

Rusty had never said she wanted to live in Denver or Colorado Springs much less Chicago. She loved the wide-open spaces. He couldn’t take her from here, and he couldn’t stay.

“You’re quiet. I’m not sure I like what I see in your eyes.” Rusty buckled the last of the closures on her coat.

“I’m just worried about Ulyssa.”

Rusty’s eyes narrowed. “You care about her, don’t you?”

“Of course, this is no country to be lost and alone in.” He checked the cinch, trying not to arouse her suspicions.

She put a hand on his. “Cade, what’s happening to us? I feel like we’re drifting apart.”

He’d felt it too. The way she looked at Sam. The way he felt. Her father’s strong reluctance to allow them to be together. “Let’s find Ulyssa. We can talk later.”

Rusty frowned but mounted her horse and reined him up the ridge.

Cade followed her. “If it starts to rain, are there any places she could go to get out of the weather?”

“None she would know of. There are some caves and ledges, but I doubt if she could be that far from me. I really think one of us should go back to the ranch and see if she returned. The other one can weave in out the valleys and ridges. She’s on the black and white paint, so the horse will be easy to spot.

“You go ahead and go to the ranch. I’ll wander around out here. Fire shots if you find her.” Cade didn’t wait for her to answer and reined his horse along the ridge. He didn’t look back. He didn’t want to see the disappointment in Rusty’s face. Cade had never meant to hurt her.

Rusty caught up to him. “I’ll see you at the ranch. I want you to come to dinner tonight.”

He shook his head. “Your father—”

“Please. We need to talk.” This time she rode away without giving him a chance to say no.

That was fine with him. Cade needed to find Ulyssa. He called her name, stopped the horse, and listened. Nothing but the wind bringing dark clouds and rain. Cade hoped Rusty made it back before the storm descended upon them.

He turned the horse and rode west toward the ranch but stayed on the northern side of the trail. She more than likely didn’t get that far from the ranch. He remembered how sore she’d been at his cabin.

The rain came with a vengeance, and Cade stopped his horse, turned his back to the rain, and waited for it to pass on the sheltered side of the ridge. He’d stood close to the horse and let the animal’s heat warm him. Summer storms didn’t last long, so this one should go quickly. He hoped so anyway.

Cade flipped the reins in his hand and thought of Ulyssa. Strange name, she had. But she’d caught his interest. That she liked to read was a plus. He’d run into many nice-looking women who had no thought to read the latest books. Really, some had no thought.

Rusty had stolen his heart the moment he’d first seen her. He was riding over the wilderness, contemplating what he’d do to Allred, when this young woman came galloping over the ridge. Her blond hair flowing in the wind, and she had such joy on her face. Cade had fallen in love with her before he knew who she was. By the time he learned she was Allred’s daughter and only child, it was too late.

He hadn’t told her what he was doing, but soon, he’d so lost his head for her that he couldn’t think about leaving without her. Allred had taken one look at him, demanded they have a talk, and within minutes, Roy Allred had sized him up and found him unworthy of his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Cade had spent the last few months with one thought, and that was to make Allred pay for destroying Cade’s stepfather. But his goals had become confused. The revenge he’d rode out from Chicago with had cooled. Allred didn’t seem that bad of a man even if Allred wouldn’t let Rusty marry him.

Tired of being at odds with himself, Cade was ready to go back to Chicago and pick up where he’d left off. Professor of literature. He’ leave Rusty with her father. She’d get over him. He had begun to realize that he was no more than a lonely naïve girl’s dream. She loved the idea of being loved, but she had no intention of leaving the ranch or her father.

It had been a nice dream while it lasted. Rusty would find a man suited to running the ranch with her. Cade yearned for civilization. Good dining, soft beds, and culture. Cade had to admit, he missed the city life. But he’d learned valuable information for his studies on the expansion of the United States. He had even grown to admire Allred. Everyone who worked for the man respected and liked him.

That was a far cry from the beast Cade had believed Allred to be. For all Cade new, there may have been a reason his stepfather lost everything. Allred didn’t seem the kind of man who would steal from another.

Well, Cade planned to write a book one day. Marrying Rusty and having the ranch would have made his life easy. But Cade wouldn’t hurt Rusty for the world. He did love her that much.

Cade looked out across the land and nodded. “Yes, sir. I love her enough to let her go.”

The rain finally stopped, and he mounted the horse and rode up the hill. His plan was to scout the ridges, staying high so that she could see him.

His gaze swept the vast open range, but he didn’t see anyone. Cade reined his horse down the ridge and rode to the next one. The land was rockier and took the horse a while to navigate the rugged terrain to reach the top.

The view was amazing. The storm marched on to the south, and a brilliant rainbow appeared in the distance. He grinned. There under that rainbow was a black and white horse and a rider.

With a grin, he urged his horse into a gallop and called out her name. Too far for her to hear him, she kept going. Cade kept his eyes on her. Poor woman. She was probably drenched and freezing.

Suddenly, she stopped, turned her horse, and waved.

In minutes, Cade rode to her. “We were worried about you.”

Ulyssa was soaked, but her eyes were bright and playful. “We. Did your horse tell you that?”

Cade laughed and helped her down. “Rusty. She was coming to meet me and said she lost you. That woman rides like the wind.”

“You are telling me. I could trot some, but I don’t like it when the horse starts running. It makes me feel out of control.” She smiled at him. “Thank you for finding me.”

“Where’s your partner, Sam, isn’t it?”

“He’s off with Mr. Allred driving cattle to the army. Where’s Rusty?”

“She rode on to the ranch in case you showed up there. I guess you got caught in the rain.”

“Yes, but I found a ledge that kept me mostly dry. I even unsaddled my horse and used the blanket to keep me warm. So, I apologize if I smell like a horse.”

Cade laughed. “You look good to me. I’m glad to find you.” He looked at her saddle. “I guess you resaddled your horse.”

“Yes,” she frowned. “did I do something wrong?”

“Not too bad.” Cade adjusted the cinch. “There, it just needed tightening.”

She shook her head. “I usually work in the cities and take carriages and trains.”

“Oh, really. I’m from Chicago. I’ll probably be going back in a few weeks.”

“I love Chicago.” She grew quiet and looked at him with interest.

“Your husband, he doesn’t look like the city type.”

She laughed. “No, Sam loves the open range.” Her eyes widened, and she laughed. “He’s not my real husband. I mean, I am not married. No. He’s my partner right now, but that is temporary.”

“Partner? What do you two do?”

She sighed and leaned against her horse. “You might as well know. We are Pinkerton agents and were hired to keep you and Rusty from getting married. Please don’t tell her. I am tired of lying to people I care about. This is not the usual kind of case that I do.”

“A Pinkerton agent. Well, that’s a surprise.” Cade smiled at her. She was getting more interesting by the minute.

“I usually do counterfeit cases and embezzlement that type of thing. In the city. Somehow, the boss got my name and ordered me to Denver for this case. I think he’s a friend of Roy.”

Cade took off his slicker and tied it on the back of the saddle. “So, you don’t have feelings for Sam?”

“Ha, I have lots of feelings for Sam. Mostly the I-can’t-stand-this-man feelings. I can’t believe they hired him. But then his sister and a few other agents persuaded my boss to give him a try.” She shook her head. “I can’t wait to be rid of him. I’m supposed to be training him.”

Cade laughed. “Sorry for laughing, but I just thought it sounded funny since you were the one lost.”

Ulyssa grinned. “Yes, you’re right. Go ahead, and I’ll laugh with you. It is funny. Me, the big Pinkerton agent lost on the prairie.”

Ulyssa lost her icy expression. Cade couldn’t look away from her. The transformation was so shocking. He remembered the way Sam had treated her. And at the time, Cade understood why. The woman had been hard and cold.

Now, she was warm and smart and everything he’d thought he’d ever wanted in a woman. Shocked, he looked away and mounted his horse. “We should get back to the ranch before Rusty has the whole crew out looking for you.”

Ulyssa nodded and rode beside him. “I hope you don’t mind if I stay right beside you. I don’t want to get lost again.” She stared into his eyes.

Cade nodded. She didn’t have to worry about getting lost. Never again if he had anything to say about it.

Chapter 15

Sam reined his horse after an ornery steer had eluded capture. Finally, Sam headed the red and white longhorn back to the herd. It felt good to do honest work, and he felt as if he were gaining a part of himself that had disappeared over his outlaw years.

Roy rode over to him. “You handled that one real good. I could use a man like you. If you ever get tired of the Pinkerton life, look me up.”

After swiping an arm across his forehead, Sam nodded. “I will. I like it out here. I even like the hard work.”

Roy studied him. “You think Rusty is wavering on her love for Cade?”

Sam looked at her father. He’d like to say yes for all the wrong reasons. “I don’t know. Ulyssa and I aren’t exactly a good match. She hates me. And I, well, back at the office I heard a couple agents refer to her as the Ice of Hearts. And the name fits her.”

Roy smiled. “I see. Maybe I should have a talk with Rusty and tell her it was all an act.” He scratched his whiskers. “You know, I think you’re wrong about Ulyssa. I see her as a warm, loving woman. Sometimes, we miss what is in front of us because people throw us false pictures to protect themselves.”

Sam shook his head. “Well, she must be a good actress because she’s convinced me.”

“Give her a chance to see who she really is. Most people try to be someone else to protect themselves from being hurt. That’s what I see. Maybe because I’m an old man, but I see a little girl who would love to fall in love with the right man.”

“You see better than I do.” Sam couldn’t even consider Ulyssa as warm and loving, but he knew what Roy had said was true. He’d lived a hard life, and to protect himself, he’d become ruthless and cold.

When his sister had risked everything to save him from hanging, something inside him had changed. He didn’t want to be an outlaw. Take from others. Hurt anyone. Even Ulyssa. He was turning into an old softy.

“When do we meet the army?”

“They should be coming any time now. This is where we usually conduct business. In fact, I think I see the major now.” Roy rode to meet the officer.

Sam hung back. He never knew how far the wanted posters on him had circulated, and the idea of running into someone who might have known him or who might be a bounty hunter made him shy away. He was about to ride to the herd when Roy called for him.

Against his better judgment, Sam rode to him.

“Sam Paxton, this is Major Niven. I usually do business with him.”

Sam nodded. But had a bad feeling by the way the man stared at him.

“Sam Paxton, is it? I believe I knew you as Sam Russell. Frankly, I thought they hung you.”

Sam closed his eyes. Above all else, he hated knowing he hadn’t told Mr. Allred the truth about his past. “Yes, you’re right. My sister rescued me. She and her husband are Pinkerton agents, and they worked to get me amnesty.”

“That so.” Major Niven grinned. “Well, if Colorado doesn’t want you, I won’t worry about the poster at the fort. In fact, I’ll take it down. I know Mr. Allred, and if he says you’re all right, that’s good enough for me.”

Roy stared at him. “I didn’t know Sam in the past, but I know who Sam is now. I’d trust him with my life and fortune.”

Sam stared at him. “Thank you, sir. I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you.”

Roy laughed. “Well, if we went around telling everyone about the secrets of our past, we might not have many friends. You didn’t owe me an explanation. Unless you have your eye on Rusty.”

He did. But Sam had no right to ask the girl to even talk to him. Not if he was playing Ulyssa’s husband. That wouldn’t be right at all. And he didn’t want to hurt her or Ulyssa.

The major called to his men, and they took over the herd.

After a few minutes, Roy turned to him. “I won’t say anything to Rusty. I guess Ulyssa knows.”

“Yes, believe me, she knows.”

Laughing, Roy shook his head. “So, she holds it over your head?”

“Yes. But it doesn’t really bother me. It’s not like I’m trying to win her over.” He stretched his back. “Thank you for not judging me.”

“Oh, I judged you all right. Something I do regularly. You can ask Rusty. There’s not a man on this ranch I don’t look at. I’ve had to carve my empire out of harsh land and wild men. There’ve been many who tried to take it from me.” He looked at Sam. “They failed.”

“You’re a tough man, Roy. But I judge you to be a fair man. I’m happy to know you.”

“Well, let’s get back to the ranch. I fear Rusty may have run off with Cade Monroe. Sometimes, my daughter doesn’t have a lot of sense.”

Sam cleared his throat. “Sir, you might be a good judge of men, but I think you missed the mark with your daughter. I don’t think she’d run off with Cade or any man without your blessing. She loves you too much.”

“Then that tells me she doesn’t love Cade enough. I consider myself a powerful man, but I know that up against the power of love, well, I don’t stand a chance. When she finds the man who she really wants to give her heart to, nothing will stop her.”

Sam looked at him. “You’re that sure of her. Of love.”

“Son, I have a story to tell you.” Roy shifted in the saddle and looked at him. “It’s about a young man who was looking for an easy way to get through life. Being young, I thought I had all the time to myself to do what I wanted. Texas born I was what my mama would call born to be wild because all Texas boys are wild.

“There’s some truth in that. If we weren’t fighting Indians, it was outlaws. Then one day, I was chasing a gang of rustlers.” Roy looked at him and laughed. “Well, they caught me. And the next thing I knew, I was one of their gang. I didn’t have any cattle. They told me it wasn’t right to risk my life for another man’s goods. There was some sense in what they said.”

Sam pushed his hat. “I can relate. Sounds a little familiar to my escapades.”

Roy nodded. “Thought maybe it might. Anyway, we rustled our way to Colorado Territory. Used to be part of Texas, but we lost it because of the slavery issue. Never believed in owning another man. It’s wrong. But lots of people have done it. Anyway, I got shot and dropped out of the gang. It seems they didn’t care for me like I thought.

“I spent two weeks at a kind farmer's house while they nursed me back to health. I didn’t know it at the time, but that farmer had ideas. He also had a daughter. My Jenny. Prettiest thing I’d ever seen.”

Sam grinned. “Nothing like a good woman to ruin a bad man.”

Roy laughed. “Very well said. You got it. She turned me inside out and found the good part of me. I married that woman, found the Lord, and lived the straight and narrow ever since. I have no regrets.”

“That’s a good story, Roy. I do hope you’re not saying Ulyssa is my good woman, though.”

Roy laughed. “No, I can’t say I’d do that to either one of you.” Roy looked at him with a sly grin. “No, sir. You and Ulyssa aren’t right for one another. A blind man could see that.”

“That we agree on.” Sam looked at the sun. “Think we’ll make it back before dark?”

Roy shook his head. “Nope. There’s a line shack about two miles from here. We’ll spend the night, get a good meal, and head back early in the morning. Rusty knows it takes me a couple days to sell to the army.”

“She’s a tough woman, isn’t she?”

Roy shrugged. “In some ways. There’s not a horse she can’t ride. Nothing she’s afraid of. She can shoot a can at a hundred feet neater than most gunfighters.” He stopped his horse and took hold of the bridle to Sam’s horse, stopping him.

“But in other ways, she’s soft. She needs a good man to look after her. That’s why I won’t let Cade have her. Not that he’s not good, but he’s not right for Rusty. She needs a man who can protect her. And why that’s hard is because she doesn’t think she needs protecting. That’s her biggest weakness.”

“What’s wrong with Cade?”

“He’s not a rancher. He’d get on with whatever it is he’s interested in and let the ranch fall to Rusty. Not that she couldn’t handle it, but that’s not what I want for her. She needs to be free to have children and raise them on the ranch. Worry about what to make for dinner. Not worrying about how to take care of the ranch from some other place. She belongs to the ranch. The man she marries should too.”

Sam nodded. “I can see that. She’s so wild and free.”

Roy shook his head. “No, that’s just an act. She’s not wild. Or free. Once the right man comes around, and she gives him her heart, then she’ll be free. Not until.”

Roy released his hold on the bridle. “You think about that. Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

Sam watched as Roy rode off. Sam held his horse back. He had some thinking to do. There was a lot of wisdom in what Roy had told him. He hoped Rusty would find the right man so she could be free. He hoped he could find the right woman that would bring out the good in him.

Roy was everything that Sam had wanted to be. Strong, wise. Instead, Sam had gone the wrong way and caused his sister to risk her life for him. Well, he’d prove she hadn’t wasted her efforts. He’d prove he was a good man.

Chapter 16

Rusty stood by the gate and watched for Cade and hoped he’d found Ulyssa. Her father wouldn’t be very happy that she’d galloped off and left the woman alone on the range. There were a hundred different ways to die out there.

Oh, she could ride like the wind, and nobody worried about her. But Ulyssa, she was a woman. Smelled like a woman. And she was vulnerable. Rusty could sense it and see it in how the men treated her.

Cade looked at Ulyssa in a way that he’d never looked at her. Rusty had to admit, she was jealous. Maybe there was a reason she galloped away from the woman and lost her. Sam didn’t look at Ulyssa that way, though. Sometimes, she caught him glaring at his wife.

People were strange. They were an odd couple. If she was married to Sam, she’d never let him sleep on the floor. Rusty was uncomfortable thinking about Sam and Ulyssa as husband and wife because, at times, she wondered if she didn’t look at Sam the way Cade looked at Ulyssa.

It seems they might be four mismatched people. Father always told her that she and Cade weren’t right for one another. But Rusty could never see why. Cade always treated her with respect. And he did care for her. She knew he did.

Why was it all right for her to ride all over the range without a thought to her safety, but Ulyssa goes twenty feet out of the gate and even Pedro was watching to see that Ulyssa was safe.

Rusty looked at her clothes. She wore her trousers and a flannel shirt. Her work clothes. Her hair was up in pigtails. Compared to Ulyssa, she looked like one of the hired hands. No wonder they treated her like one of the boys.

Rusty sent one last glance to the open land and then ran inside to her room. She looked in her wardrobe and found a pink skirt and a light blue blouse. Hurrying she, washed up and changed.

Looking in the mirror, she twirled and smiled at herself. She would make Cade want her. Keep him from looking at Ulyssa in a way he shouldn’t look at another man’s wife. Yet, deep inside, she hoped it was Sam who noticed her.

Just as Rusty came around the corner, she heard them talking. Rosalie was making a fuss about Ulyssa. Then she heard Cade’s deep voice. He was talking tenderly and protective to Ulyssa. The way she wished he’d talk to her.

Rusty hesitated, gathered her courage, and walked into the room. Her courage dropped to her toes when she saw Cade holding Ulyssa and helping her into a chair.

“She needs some warm soup and tea, Rosalie.” Then Cade looked at her.

Rusty went forward, noticing that he didn’t smile or welcome her. And making her feel like an intruder in her own house, Rusty went up to Ulyssa. “I am so sorry you got lost.”

Ulyssa waved a hand. “It’s not your fault. I should have told you I wasn’t a very good rider. In fact, I still have muscles that are yelling at me from the ride out to your ranch. I’ll be fine once I warm up.”

Cade looked at her with an accusing glare. “She won’t let it happen again.” Then he smiled at Ulyssa. Without even looking at Rusty, he ordered. “Why don’t you get a blanket.”

Wanting to cry, Rusty held her tears back as she retrieved a blanket from her room. She brought it to Ulyssa, but Cade took it from her and tenderly draped it over Ulyssa. “There, you’ll warm up soon.” He smiled. “I found you under the rainbow. It was like a miracle.”

Ulyssa drew the blanket around her. “Oh, that feels so good.”

Cade sat in a chair next to Ulyssa and looked at Rusty. “Is your father back yet?”

Rusty shook her head. “No, he and Sam are still out.” She made a point to emphasize Sam’s name. It must have worked because both Cade and Ulyssa sat straighter and looked away from each other.

Rusty felt a hot wind of anger that sweep through her. Cade was hers. Ulyssa was married. But neither seemed to remember.

Rosalie came out with a cup of soup. “Here you go.” The woman scooted between Cade and Ulyssa. “You will feel better soon. I am sure your husband will be back soon, too.”

Rusty shook her head. “They won’t be back until tomorrow. Father was taking cattle to the army. He’s always gone a day.”

Rosalie nodded. “Just the same. Mr. Monroe, you should leave. I know Mr. Allred wouldn’t want you here when he gets back.”

Ulyssa took Rosalie’s hand. “Cade saved me today. Is there room for him to have dinner with us?”

Rosalie looked at Rusty.

With a shrug, Rusty nodded. “Yes, there will be plenty. You can sleep in the bunkhouse. Tonight only. But you’ll have to promise to leave early in the morning.”

Cade looked at her with sadness in his eyes. “Thank you, Rusty. I didn’t want to ride at night especially after the rain.”

Rusty nodded, feeling defeated. Ulyssa had won and now had the two men Rusty could dream about. “Let us know when dinner will be ready, Rosalie.”

With a nod and a knowing glance, Rosalie left the room.

Rusty stood and went to the woman. “Ulyssa, would you like to go to your room and take a nap? There is time before dinner.”

Ulyssa nodded. “That does sound like a good idea.”

Cade stood, but Rusty was already at Ulyssa’s side to walk her to her room. “I’ll wake you in plenty of time to get ready.”

Ulyssa nodded and smiled. “You look lovely today, Rusty. Those colors compliment you.”

“Thank you.” Rusty wanted to warn the woman to leave Cade alone. But Ulyssa hadn’t really done anything wrong other than getting lost because of Rusty’s carelessness.

With Ulyssa safe in her bedroom, Rusty strode out to the parlor to confront Cade. Just what was he doing acting all sweet to that married woman? When she returned, she found him in her father’s study.

That riled her too. He didn’t have the right to walk into her father’s study.

Cade turned and smiled. “I thought I’d pick a book out for us to read together.”

Her heart melted. She wanted him to be the one. To care for her in the way she saw him care for Ulyssa. But somehow, she knew Ulyssa had something she didn’t.

“Did you find one?”

“I found many. I love books.” He looked at her and hesitated as if he was holding something from her. “Rusty, would you always have to live here on the ranch?”

She stared at him. What a foolish question. This was her home. “I love the ranch. It’s my home.”

“I see.” He looked bothered. Then he pulled out a book. “Arabian Nights, we could read a story.”

She nodded and went outside to sit on the porch. It was a lovely day with the air fresh and a bit cool.

Cade sat down beside her, but he stayed on his side of the swing. “I’ll start.”

Usually, when they met out on the open range, she’d lean against him and enjoy the deep rumble of his voice as he read. Today, she didn’t want to, and he didn’t welcome her. Too soon, the story was done.

She didn’t even know what it was about as she’d not listened. Her mind was in a whirl of emotions. She didn’t feel safe with Cade. She didn’t feel as if he was hers like she always had before.

Something had changed, and she didn’t know if it was with him or herself. But things were not the same. At all. Was it Ulyssa’s fault? The thought that Cade would interfere in a marriage sickened her.

But what else could be the explanation?

“You look nice, Rusty.” Cade had his arm across the back of the swing, and his hand brushed against her shoulder.

She stared at him. “What has happened to us?”

He looked away. “Nothing.”

“That’s not true, and you know it.” She faced him. “Is it Ulyssa?”

Cade faced her. “No, not really.”

“You don’t love me, do you?” Rusty wanted the truth. She could take it, but what she couldn’t take was a lie.

“Rusty, I do love you. But I’m not sure it’s the kind of love that we can build a life together on. I have some thinking to do.” Cade stood. “Tell Rosalie I won’t be staying for dinner.”

Rusty looked up at him. “What should I tell Ulyssa?”

He didn’t answer but went to the corral and got his horse. He mounted, looked at her with sadness in his eyes, and rode away.

Rusty watched him go and felt so alone. All the while that she had Cade to think about, she could forget the loneliness. The great need in her life. Now it descended on her like a tangible darkness.

She sat on the swing and watched Cade ride out of her sight. What would she do without him? Maybe she did need to go to the city. Father had said he’d send her to college if she wanted to go.

But she loved her ranch. Everything about it. Except for the loneliness. Cade had filled that missing part of her life. Why had Father forbidden her to marry the man? He wasn’t bad. She knew that.

She could run the ranch. She knew what to do. Her father had taught her all she needed to know. The hands obeyed her. She was good with the money and the accounting.

Then she thought of Cade, and the way he’d looked at Ulyssa. Rusty had never had a man look at her like that. Cade admired her, but it wasn’t in the same way as Ulyssa.

Rosalie called her for dinner.

Rusty went to Ulyssa’s room and knocked on the door. In minutes, Ulyssa came out looking refreshed.

“I feel so much better.” She handed the blanket to Rusty. “Thank you. I am hungry.”

They walked to the dining room. Ulyssa sat and looked around. “Where is Cade?”

“He left.” Rusty watched her to see how she’d react. Sadness stole the smile from Ulyssa’s face. Rusty didn’t need any more proof that Cade had interfered in a married woman’s life. She couldn’t forgive him for that. Never.

“The stew is delicious, Rosalie.” Rusty forced herself to eat. While forcing herself not to get angry at Ulyssa.

They ate quietly together. Neither speaking.

Rusty knew she should be polite, but she wasn’t feeling very polite right now. When she was finished, she excused herself and left Ulyssa at the table.

Outside, she sat on the porch and watched the stars come out. She’d just counted the second falling star when Ulyssa came outside.

“Rusty, has something happened between us? I’m sorry if I’ve done something to upset you.”

Rusty stared at Ulyssa. When the woman had first come to the ranch, her face had been hard, and her eyes angry. Ulyssa had changed. She was soft and by the tone of her voice, she did care. Tears stung Rusty’s eyes causing her to turn away until she could dry them.

After gathering her composure and courage, Rusty faced Ulyssa. “What happened out there between you and Cade?”

The woman’s cheeks reddened. “Nothing.”

“You’re a married woman. How could you do that to Sam.”

“I did nothing.” Ulyssa looked away but tapped her fingers on the arm of the swing. “Rusty, there’s something you need to know.”

Not sure she wanted to hear, Rusty nodded. “Go ahead.”

“Sam and I aren’t married. We work for the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Your father hired us to break you and Cade apart.”

Rusty stared at her. “You lied to me? Sam lied? Does Cade know?”

“He does now.”

Rusty stood and went to the door. Before going inside, she turned to Ulyssa. “I guess you accomplished your goal. Good night.”

She went inside and slammed the door behind her.

Chapter 17

Sam was up before Roy and making breakfast. He wouldn’t have minded working for him. Roy was fair, big and brash as the land he owned, and no one bossed him around.

Least of all, a woman like Ulyssa. Truthfully, Sam wasn’t sure how much longer he could put up with his partner. Not that he minded sleeping on the floor. The outlaw years had made him tough. But the way she talked down to him as if she thought he was pure dirt. He didn’t like it or her.

Sam wondered if he could trade his two years with the Pinkertons for two years working for Roy. The ranch owner was a far better man than a lot of the agents he’d seen.

Roy came out stretching and sniffed the air. “Bacon, I hope you have biscuits and gravy to go with it.”

“I do. May not be the best, but it will fill us.” Sam grinned. One thing he learned as an outlaw was how to make a quick breakfast.

“We’ll be home around noon today. We could have ridden in last night, but I like spending time on the trail while I can. These old bones are getting a little cranky.” He poured a cup of coffee. “I love this country. The mountains that reach for the sky and sometimes look like they hold up the great blue. The wide-open land. Snow in the winter higher than a horse’s head. But I think it’s the stars at night. Millions of them twinkling like ice on a black pond. I wouldn’t trade it for the moon.”

Sam sipped his own coffee. Then he nodded. “I’m not proud of my past, but that’s one thing I’m grateful for and that’s seeing the country like you do. I spent many a cold night outside looking up.”

Roy looked at him. “I always wanted a son. If I had one, I’d have been proud if he was like you. Don’t let your past determine your future. Even rivers divert their paths. You can too.”

“Thanks, Roy. I have every idea to never go back. My sister risked everything to save me. I won’t let her down.”

“She must be a brave lady.”

Sam nodded. “That she is.”

“Let’s pack up and get ready to leave. I’ve got some things to say to Rusty. I’ll be praying the whole way back that she’ll listen.”

With breakfast finished and cleaned up, Sam helped Roy saddle the horses. Then they mounted and were on their way to the ranch. To Rusty.

Sam would like to say some things to her, too. Like he wasn’t really married to Ulyssa. How he saw her riding, and the sun caught her hair and made it shine like polished copper. How that he wished she was free and didn’t look at Cade the way she did.

Instead, Sam would go back and play husband to the Ice of Hearts.

Just like Roy said, it was about noon when they rode into the yard at the ranch. Rusty was sitting on the porch.

Sam stared at her. Something was different. Then he realized she was in a skirt and blouse and her hair was done up. She was a pretty little thing. Too bad Roy had told her he was married to Ulyssa.

They dismounted, and Sam took the horses to the corral. It was hot, but that wasn’t what had Sam slowing his steps. He could barely face Rusty. He cared for her more than he should. Roy wasn’t going to like that either.

Rosalie beat the triangle to signal lunch was ready.

Sam walked inside and sat down beside Ulyssa. He turned to her and smiled. “You look pretty today, dear.”

Ulyssa glared at him and slapped him across the cheek. Hard.

Holding his cheek, he stared at her in shock. “What, what was that for?”

Ulyssa slammed her fork down. “You wouldn’t understand.” She bolted from her chair and left him.

Sam glanced at Roy, who also looked confused. Sam shook his head. “This is good food. I’m not going to leave it sitting.”

Rusty was on the other side of him. This time she glared at him. “You men. You’re all alike.” She slapped Sam’s other cheek and left.

Sam rubbed his face where she’d slapped him. “What do you make of that, Roy?”

He grinned. “I’m not quite sure what to make of it, but if I was to guess, I don’t need to worry about Rusty and Cade any longer.”

“Yeah? How’s that?”

“Oh, just a hunch. Let the women cool down some, I think they’ll be out to explain things shortly.” Roy ate as if didn’t have a care in the world.

Sam finished his lunch. What had gotten into Rusty? She didn’t have any call to hit him. As for Ulyssa, she’d probably saved up her anger until it had to spill out. It probably only took her five minutes at that.

But Rusty? He thought they got along well. Maybe even too well seeing how he was supposed to be married to Ulyssa.

Roy stood and headed for his study but stopped. “Sam, I think we can tell Rusty that you and Ulyssa aren’t married. She might already know.”

Sam scratched his head. “Hadn’t thought of that. Ulyssa more than likely told her just to get me in trouble and make me look like a liar.”

Roy laughed. “I’m going to my study and read for a little while.”

Sam went outside and enjoyed the sun’s warmth. He could get used to living on this ranch. He liked it. Not to mention Rusty. Too bad he’d been an outlaw. Too bad Rusty liked Cade.

Well, he was shackled to Ulyssa and the Pinkerton’s anyway.

***

Rusty ran from the table. Everything in her life was a jumbled mess right now. She liked Cade. Although, just the other day, she would have said she loved Cade. Now, she wasn’t so sure. He’d changed.

Or maybe her father’s warnings were rubbing off on her. She’d begun to watch Cade and see that he was always a little behind her. He didn’t protect her but expected her to know what to do.

There was the time that old longhorn steer had charged them. Cade froze. He’d have been run over and gored straight through if she hadn’t picked up a stick and charged at the ornery critter. She’d stopped the beast in his tracks. He snorted and turned and ran.

That was only one instance. Cade didn’t know how to run the ranch. If she was to marry him, she’d be doing all the work. He enjoyed reading and writing in the notebook he carried around.

Rusty had thought how romantic he was when he read the books to her. But she was beginning to see that she’d be the one working the ranch. Pedro listened to her orders, never Cade’s.

To be fair, Cade didn’t have the authority. He was a nice man. Gentle to her. Always seeing to her comfort, but not for her protection. He wasn’t her knight in shining armor. Not at all. She saw that now.

Father had been right all along. Deep inside, Rusty had known it. She laughed at her father for hiring Sam and Ulyssa to pretend they were married to show her how it should be.

They were not exactly the greatest example of a loving couple. Ulyssa practically snarled at Sam. And he looked at her as if she were a rattlesnake. It all made sense now.

Rusty knocked on Ulyssa’s door. “Can I come in?”

“Yes.” Ulyssa opened the door and let her in. “I’m sorry the way I acted. Sam just makes me so mad. He hates me, you know. Not that I blame him. You know what the other agents call me? The Ice of Hearts.” Ulyssa shook her head and sat on the couch.

Rusty sat on the couch. “That’s cruel.”

Ulyssa shook her head. “True, though. I’ve been hard-hearted. Mostly because I thought I needed to protect myself. I’ve not had good dealings with men. I am sorry I slapped Sam, though. He didn’t deserve it.”

Rusty shook her head. “I slapped him, too.”

Ulyssa stared at her. “Why, what did he do to you?”

“He complimented me.” Rusty folded her arms. “The truth is I kind of like him. He’s come between me and Cade.”

“He has?”

Rusty nodded. “I don’t know why or how, but the first time I saw Sam, I liked him. We touched hands once, and you’d have thought lightning went between us. That never happened to me and Cade.”

“Oh.” Ulyssa looked at her hands. “I didn’t want to say anything, but I like Cade. He saved me after the rain. I didn’t want to come between you, though.” Ulyssa shrugged. “And I won’t come between the two of you. Even though that was the case that I was working on. Your father hired us to break you and Cade up. But now, I wouldn’t feel right—”

Rusty put a hand on Ulyssa’s. “I realize that Father was right about Cade. He’s not the man for me.”

“You’re sure?” Ulyssa put a hand to her chest. “Sorry, I have not felt this way about a man in my life. Or anyone for that fact. But something happened to me out there on the prairie all alone. And then Cade was there to find me and bring me back. Did you know he said that there was a rainbow above me?”

“Ulyssa, do you think it was a sign? Rosalie always talks about signs.”

Ulyssa nodded. “I do. I hope I can find Cade.”

“I hope you do, too. I thought I loved him, but now I know that I was more in love with the idea of loving someone. I guess from loneliness.” Rusty closed her eyes and wished that Sam would care for her. But up against Ulyssa, Rusty wasn’t nearly as pretty.

Well, she’d turned Cade loose. And given Ulyssa permission to pursue him. Rusty had been alone before. She could get used to it again. The ranch had plenty of work to keep her busy.

Chapter 18

Sam stared at the horses in the corral. If Rusty was no longer interested in Cade, then they would be through with their case. He didn’t want to leave. Mostly, he didn’t want to leave Rusty.

She needed a man to protect her. She was too wild, and she shouldn’t be riding by herself.

He’d no sooner thought of her when she came outside. She glanced at him, stopped like she wanted to say something to him, but she continued onto the corral. In minutes, she had a horse saddled and was riding off alone.

A prick in his heart urged him to go after her. He shook his head, still feeling the place she’d slapped him. She didn’t want him. She didn’t want anyone. Sam watched her ride away and couldn’t fight the idea that she shouldn’t be alone, and he was the one to protect her. 

Sam ran to the corral and saddled his horse. By the time he mounted, she was a speck with a trial of dust. He reined his horse in her direction and kicked him to a gallop.

Rusty didn’t show any signs of slowing down.

Sam urged his horse to catch her. He was gaining.

Rusty ran her horse down a steep ridge.

“She’s crazy.” Sam followed her and gained on her.

She glanced back and saw him. With a determined look, she slapped the reins and urged her horse up a ridge and down to a creek.

Sam followed, seeing that she was riding reckless as if daring him to catch her. He kept his horse at breakneck speed down the ridge and jumped the creek.

Only twenty feet behind her, he called out. “Rusty, stop.”

She didn’t. But pushed her horse harder and ran along the valley to a stand of lonesome pine trees.

The air was cooler. They’d been riding toward the mountains and gaining altitude. Sam caught up to her and grabbed her horse’s bridle to stop him.

Rusty jumped down and ran toward the trees.

Sam followed. Leaped from his horse and ran to her. Grabbing her from behind he stopped her and pulled her to him. “You crazy little fool. You could have been killed.”

She struggled.

He held onto her and looked into her eyes.

Rusty stopped struggling.

Time stood still. The air was lit by the sun and warmed them while shining yellow light about them.

“Rusty, I don’t want to leave you.” Sam put his hand behind her and drew her close to him. Gently he kissed her. Life thundered through him, and Sam felt as if he were home. In love. And wanted only to protect and provide for her.

Breathless she pulled back, looked at him and then returned his kiss.

He let her go and stepped back. “I love you, Rusty Allred. I don’t want to leave you, ever.”

She smiled and blushed. “If you do, I’ll hunt you down and slap you again.”

He rubbed his cheek. “I was an outlaw.”

She shook her head. “Are you now?”

“No. What about Cade?”

Rusty took his hand and kissed it. “He wasn’t right for me. Father was right. Will you be my shining knight in armor?”

He nodded. “Till the day I die, I’ll watch over you and protect you. Ride with you so you’re not riding alone. I want to marry you, Rusty. I have two years that I have to serve as a Pinkerton. Will you wait for me?”

She nodded and leaned against him. “I promise. From the first time I saw you, you’ve been working on my heart.” She stared deep into his eyes. “You are the one I’ve been waiting for.”

He stared at her. “We better get back to the ranch. I’d like to ask Roy for your hand in marriage.”

“You don’t think it’s too fast. We hardly know one another.”

Sam rubbed his thumb on her cheek. “I don’t know. I think you’ve been in my dreams forever. I feel that I belong with you. I’ve drifted too long, with you, I’m home.”

She nodded. “Father will be happy. He likes you. I can tell. He doesn’t take just anyone on a cattle drive and show them his favorite cattle.” She sighed. “I am so full of life right now I feel I’ll burst.”

He held her hand as they walked to cool the horses out. It would be late before they neared the ranch.

Sam pointed. “The sunset looks as if the heavens are rejoicing with us. Look at the colors.”

“Beautiful.”

“Like you.” Sam couldn’t take his eyes from her. There was no rush. They had the rest of their lives together.

***

Ulyssa left her room and found Roy in his study. “Are you busy?”

Roy waved her in. “How can I help you?”

“It’s Cade. I’d like to see him again.”

“Cade, huh? I take it Rusty has lost her infatuation with the man.”

“I believe so.” She sat in the chair opposite his desk. “I don’t know how to explain what has happened to me but I—”

“I can see it in your face and eyes. You like him. He usually isn’t far away. I can have Pedro find him.”

“Would you? That would mean a lot to me.”

Roy left the study and was back in a few minutes. “Pedro is looking for him.”

“Thank you. I know I must sound foolish.”

Roy cocked his head and looked at her. “No, not foolish at all. If you don’t go after your heart, you’re liable to miss out on life. I sense that you’ve missed out on a lot of the good that life has to offer. I hope Cade will be the one to help you find it.”

Ulyssa nodded. “You don’t think Cade is a bad choice?”

“What does your heart tell you? He wasn’t right for Rusty. But only you can say if he’s right for you.” Roy sat back and grinned. “I love it when the Lord works things out.”

“I never would have believed that this case would be the one that changes my life for the good. I think I’ll go outside.” Ulyssa sat on the porch and was surprised to see that the sun was setting and spraying colors over the clouds.

She stared at the sight and then turned as two riders came toward the ranch house. Ulyssa stood and waved. “Cade.”

He rode to her and dismounted. “Pedro said you wanted to see me.”

She nodded and went to him. “If you think there’s a chance for us, I’m willing to try. I’ve never felt about a man the way I feel about you.”

They walked to the house and sat on the porch. “We need to talk to Roy and Rusty.”

Cade looked at her. “And Sam. After all, you’ve been pretending to be married to him.”

Ulyssa nodded. “I owe him a thousand apologies. I treated him badly to get back at a lifetime of hurt, and he wasn’t the one responsible. Actually, I think he’ll be a good man and a good Pinkerton if he wants to stay on.”

Cade took her hand in his. “I’m glad you came out here. I will be returning to Chicago as soon as I clear things up with Mr. Allred and Rusty.”

Ulyssa smiled shyly. “I’m based in Chicago.”

“I’m starting my first year as a professor at a prestigious college. I wanted to study the west and being here on the ranch gave me some ideas. I might even write a book about Roy Allred.”

“So that’s why you came out here?”

Cade shook his head. “Not entirely. I need to speak to Roy. Excuse me.”

Ulyssa watched him go, wondering what he had to say to Mr. Allred. Wondering if they’d see one another in Chicago. Hoping that they would. For the first time in many years, Ulyssa liked a man. She was so tired of being the Ice of Hearts.

Chapter 19

Cade knocked on the door of the study.

Roy Allred looked up from his desk. “I was expecting you.”

That surprised Cade seeing he wasn’t even supposed to step foot in the house. He entered and sat across the desk from him. “I need to talk with you. Honestly.”

“It’s about time. Want to tell me your real interest in the ranch and Rusty?” Roy wasn’t angry, but he wasn’t going to make this easy.

Cade nodded. “Do you remember a man, Stephen Caldwell?”

“Sure, I do. We were partners once. What do you have to with him?”

“He was my stepfather. He took me in when no one else would. Saw that I had an education. He was like a father to me.” Cade could feel the old anger rising.

Roy nodded. “I’m glad he did something good in his life. Would it surprise you to know that he was a thief and an outlaw?”

“Aren’t you talking about yourself?” Cade was standing now, pointing his finger at Roy.

“So that’s it. Caldwell convinced you that I took his farm and ruined him. Is that it?” Roy was standing now shaking his head. “I don’t know how to tell you, but that farm of his was stolen from the rightful owners. They came to me and asked me about Caldwell. I told them the truth.”

“I don’t believe you. Caldwell was a good man.”

Roy sat down and looked at him with kindness in his eyes. “I guess to you, he was. But like most men of this wild west, they came from a broken country. The war did terrible things to good men. I knew Caldwell when we were kids in Texas. We went to war together, and he changed. I guess we all did. During the war, I heard he was running with Quantrill’s Raiders. He stole that ranch.”

Cade sat down and stared at the man he’d hated for all these years. But the revenge was gone now. Pieces added up. His stepfather never told him about how he started the farm. Now, Cade saw the truth. It had been staring at him all this time. When he was young, night riders would come through. He was never told who they were or why they came. It made sense now.”

“The rightful owners of the farm had fled for their lives. They came to me and asked me to help them get their farm back. I told the authorities who Stephen Caldwell really was and who he had ridden with. That’s all I did. I didn’t want to hurt him, but he’d taken that farm from the family that had worked hard to clear the rock and plow the earth. It wasn’t right. I offered Caldwell a place here on my ranch. He refused. It wasn’t much later that I heard he died in a saloon fight.”

Cade could only nod. He felt his whole life had been lived in a lie. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“And Rusty?”

“The first time I saw her, I fell in love with her. Or I thought I had. Then when I learned she was your daughter, and only child, I thought the best way to hurt you would be to marry her and take her to Chicago.”

Roy nodded. “And now? Do you still love her?”

Slowly, Cade shook his head. “I really thought I did. But when I met Ulyssa, what I felt for her was deeper and more mature. I don’t think Rusty loved me. I believe she was in love with the idea of not being alone.”

Roy nodded. “I think you’re right. But I couldn’t tell her that. She wouldn’t listen. I had to let her decide. I hoped she wouldn’t want to leave the ranch.”

Cade shook his head. “She doesn’t. Oh, we talked about Chicago. Denver. But it was always with her idea that they would be visits and we would come back and live on the ranch. We never were right for one another.”

“Cade, I’m sorry that Caldwell’s lies hurt you. And yet, I’m glad that he does have something good and to be proud of for his life. That’s you. You’re his award. Go and continue to be a living marker for my old friend. I know that I could have stayed on his path and been the same kind of man if it hadn’t been for my getting shot and another farmer taking me in. And I did marry his daughter and took her west. Rusty’s mother. I’m not sure if her father ever forgave me for that.”

Cade nodded. “Maybe we’re more alike than I’d like to know. Tell Rusty I’ve gone back to Chicago.”

“Why don’t you tell me yourself?”

Cade turned to see Rusty and Sam standing in the doorway. “I guess you heard some of the story. I’m sorry, Rusty. I really did think I loved you. I know that’s not true now. I hope someday you can forgive me.”

Rusty went to him and smiled softly. “I think we met a need in each other for the moment. I was lonely. You spent time with me. And they were good times. I’ll never forget sitting in the grove by the pond and listening to you read. You’ll make a fine professor. I hope you can find a woman that will love you for what you really are.”

“Thanks, Rusty.” In that moment, Cade could have kissed her, except he saw the look on Sam’s face and new that Rusty had found her shining knight even if he’d been an outlaw.

Cade nodded to Roy. “If you’re ever in Chicago, stop by. I might even write a book about you someday.”

“That would make me proud, Cade.” Roy shook his hand.

Cade walked out of the study and nearly ran into Ulyssa.

“I was waiting for you.” She put a hand on his chest. “I was hoping you’d escort me back to Chicago.”

“Glad to.” Cade took her hand and they started to walk down the hall when she stopped.

Ulyssa smiled, a real friendly smile. “Sam, I’m sure between me and Roy, we can persuade the Pinkertons that they don’t need your services for two years in exchange for working with Roy on his ranch.”

Sam smiled. “I’d like that. I promise not to go against the law.”

Ulyssa nodded. “I know that Sam. You’re a good man and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” She waved and walked out of the house with Cade.

***

Roy hollered from in the study. “Well, Sam, do you have something to ask me?”

Sam smiled at Rusty. “Yes, sir, I do.” He ushered Rusty in before him and then sat next to her. “Mr. Allred—”

“How many times to do I have to tell you, it’s Roy.”

Sam nodded. “Roy, I’d like to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage. I love her and promise to take care of her.”

Roy grinned. “And you daughter, what do you say?”

“I love him, Father. I thought I loved Cade, but this is different. I want to make a life with this man. A good life. Right here on this ranch. If you’ll let us.”

Roy stood and raised his hands. “I give you both my blessing. Welcome home and into the family, Sam. You’re the son I always wanted, and the one man that has made my daughter’s eyes sparkle like her mother’s eyes did for me.

Epilogue

Rusty and Sam were married later that month. Together, they rode the plains and explored the ranch. Soon, they found their own special place just like her mother and father had. They didn’t have a lake, but they found a hidden valley.

Sam built a little cabin in the valley, and they would take special times to stay in their place.

Rusty loved Sam more than she thought possible. And Sam, there were days he had to remind himself that he’d not gone to heaven he was so in love.

Roy was happy and looked forward to seeing his future grandchildren.

***

In Chicago, Cade and Ulyssa took up where they’d left off at the ranch. They were married in a church soon after getting back. The reason for such a quick courtship was they both felt they’d wasted enough of their lives going down the wrong road.

Cade couldn’t believe he could have found such a wonderful woman. Ulyssa was the perfect match. They both loved the city. Went to theater and the opera. Walked through libraries. And he read to her.

Ulyssa was happy and content. No more the Ice of Hearts, Cade had made her his Queen of Hearts. She still dabbled in the Pinkerton business, but in about six months, she’d have to quit. After all, they wanted this baby to know his parents loved one another and that he was loved. They had a lot to make up for and weren’t wasting anytime to make their dreams a reality.

And they all lived happily ever after.

~~~ Author’s Note – I hope you enjoyed An Agent for Ulyssa. It was a fun story to write. My next Pinkerton will be released on April 17th  An Agent for Zennia.  She is on preorder now.

Here is a list of my Pinkerton books:

An Agent for Charity

An Agent for Arabella

An Agent for Sabrina

An Agent for Evangeline

An Agent for Ulyssa

An Agent for Zennia

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