Read Emma's Blaze (Fires of Cricket Bend Book 2) for Free Online Page A

still lingered.
    Saul accompanied her perfectly. The other men ate their food as they listened closely.
    When the song ended, she looked toward Saul to thank him and compliment him on his playing, but he had already gone off into the darkness.
    “Don’t mind him,” Jess McKenzie said. “He’s so shy he don’t hardly speak to us most days.”
    Emma settled in after the song and listened to their conversations. She tried to piece together the story of the men. Bill was the oldest brother, she knew that. Following him in age were Pete, Jess, and then Saul. Andrew, the one who wasn’t around, fell somewhere in between them all. The four brothers she’d met were all big men, built like bulls, with amber-brown hair. One could tell in a moment they were related, and that they spent most of their time on horses from the way they swaggered. From what she could tell, Bill was the natural leader. After all, he was the one who was charged with keeping an eye on her and getting her to Cricket Bend. Jess was the liveliest, the loudest, and the one who did the most laughing and leg-slapping. Emma liked him immediately. Pete was a few inches shorter than Jess, and didn’t do too much talking, but he seemed to know maps and routes. She heard them joke that he had the strongest stomach when it came to branding and castration. If Pete was quiet, then Saul was a ghost. Shy-eyed, he’d lingered on the edge of the fire and said nothing. Once or twice, Emma thought she saw him give the tiniest smile at something in the men’s talk, but she wouldn’t have sworn by it.
    It seemed Ollie had been with the ranch forever, as had Hiram and Nick. Blue and Johnnie were recent additions to the hands, but seemed to fit in well. There were a few others, but they were off watching the herd while the others got a break to eat.
    “Pretty different from what you’re used to, I suppose,” Jess said to her.
    Emma gave him a polite smile. “Different. But not unpleasant. I’ve met cattlemen before, but never even considered being out on the trail.”
    “Ain’t much of a place for a lady.”
    Emma laughed. “It’s a good thing I’m not really that much of a lady, then. Lest you assume I’m anything else, you should know I’m simply a saloon singer.”
    “That so?”
    “Yes.”
    “Guess that means you won’t faint and need smelling salts if we forget our manners and cuss in front of you.”
    “Hey,” Pete chimed in. “There ain’t to be no cussin’ this year. Pa decreed it so.”
    “Pa should mind his own damn business sometimes,” Jess retorted with a big laugh. “We ain’t kids.”
    “I assure you, I have heard cuss words you boys haven’t even learned yet.” That earned laughter in response, so Emma continued, “He really told you not to cuss? Out here? What difference does it make?”
    “Well, you see, we tend to be a rowdy bunch,” Jess began.
    “You can say that again!” A man interjected from behind Emma.
    “Rowdy? We’re damn near heathens!”
    “Watch your mouth, Blue.”
    The men had a good rapport as they teased and talked overtop each other. They were almost like a big group of puppies; albeit puppies who could likely gang up and tear down anyone who messed with them. Emma made note of the fact that they all carried pistols; no doubt for a variety of reasons. A few of them also carried large knives. Tools of the trail, she assumed, but also good to have in a fight.
    Jess looked at Emma. “A very rowdy bunch. Pa put down new rules this year, and we’re all just trying to live by them. No cussing, no drinking, and no fighting. We ain’t even supposed to visit saloons when we go into a town.”
    “Oh my.” Emma sighed. “That sounds…tedious.”
    “I knew I liked you,” Jess replied.
    “And you’re obeying these new rules?” she asked. “I presume your wives approve, if you have wives back home, that is. Perhaps sweethearts. Don’t they lose their minds with worry, with you out here for months at a