Read The Texan's Reward for Free Online Page A

across her.

    “Where is he?” Jacob demanded as he stepped into the great room that centered the house.

    “Who?” she asked as she opened her eyes to a rare sight: Ranger Dalton al clean and combed. She couldn’t hide
    her smile as she realized why Mr. Harrison had offered to inform the cook and not answer the door. He must
    have guessed Dalton would show up.

    “Number Twelve.” Jacob circled the room, glancing into the many smal alcoves that had been built for private
    conversations when Fat Alice ran the house. Now, all the areas were lined with books or plants.

    The teacups rattled in the corner as Gypsy set the pot back on the tray. “Would you like some tea, sir?” She
    asked just as Nel had taught her.

    Jacob turned to the old prostitute. “Are you drinking again, Gypsy? Your hand looks none too steady.”

    “No,” she whispered. “But I’m thinking about it. My nerves may need a sip. It’s been a long day, and I don’t see
    no end in sight.”

    “Well, the day I start drinking tea, I’l buy you a pint.” Jacob smiled at her. “Would you mind closing the door on
    your way out? I’d like a few words alone with the lady of the house.”

    Old Gypsy glanced at Nell. Her eyes were full of compassion and need to protect her mistress, but her feet were
    heading for the kitchen door.

    Nell tried to smile like she meant it. “Go ahead, Gypsy, set the dining table. I’ll be fine with Jacob. We’ll catch up with each other.”

    Gypsy paused at the door. “Should I send Mr. Harrison back in?”

    Nel and the ranger both shouted, “No!”

    Jacob smiled as he moved his chair close to where Nel rested on the couch. Her legs were covered with a quilt.
    Knitting lay neglected in her lap. She looked like a fine lady, but he knew the wildcat beneath the act. He knew
    the girl had more heart and courage than anyone around. He’d seen her fight, and love, and hurt. He recognized
    al her moods and planned to use that knowledge to his advantage now. The one word she’d said when Gypsy
    had asked if she wanted Harrison had told him al he needed to know. The bookkeeper would be on his way out
    the door in no time.

    “You’re not talking me into anything,” Nel said as he propped his hat on the arm of the couch. “So get any ideas
    you’ve planned out of your head.”

    “How are you?” he asked as if he hadn’t heard her.

    “I’m fine,” she lied. “I have less pain every day, and I can stand for a short time. How are you?”

    “Fine,” he echoed. “I was in El Paso starting a leave when I heard you’d gone nuts.” He said the words as calmly
    as if they were talking about the weather, then grinned when her head snapped around to stare at him in anger.

    “I didn’t go nuts. I’m moving on with my life.”

    “Not without me.”

    “Yes, Jacob, without you. You need to find some good woman and settle down. Have half a dozen kids. Be sheriff
    of some town if you’re tired of running back and forth across the state. Get on with your life and stop thinking
    you have to be my guardian angel. I’m grown now. I don’t need you anymore.”

    He surprised her by saying, “You said you loved me. In fact, I remember the exact words. You said you’d love me
    all your life.”

    Nel glanced down at her knitting. “I was thirteen at the time. And I’m sure it wasn’t a month later that I swore
    I’d hate you til I died.”

    When she looked up, he stared at her . . . frowning with one of those looks that had always made her squirm
    when she’d been a kid. Like he knew she’d done something and al he had to do was figure out what. She
    grinned, remembering how she ran away when Fat Alice had sworn to send her back East to school. Jacob had
    tracked her down, dragged her to the train, and threatened to paddle her behind all the way to Kansas City if
    she got off before she reached school. That first year she’d stayed in school half out of fear that he might carry
    out his promise and