Malachite set down his cup and folded his hands in his lap. He wasn’t surprised. In fact, he’d been expecting this. He’d known they would circle the wagons to protect what was theirs. That would be the reason for the banker’s early morning visit. To advise his clients on the best way to shut out this interloper.
Not that he wanted any part of this. Or of Onyx Jewel’s family. He’d come here to be rid of Onyx Jewel, not to embrace him. But he wouldn’t make it easy for them. Let them all squirm as they picked up their stones to toss at him. He’d take it. As he’d had to take everything else life had handed him. But in so doing, he would finally ride out of here free. Free of the burden of illegitimacy he’d carried for a lifetime. Free of all the Jewels, who wanted him to think of them as his family.
“When Onyx was murdered, Diamond here vowed to keep the ranch going just the way her pa always had. But then, when her sisters started showing up, she realized she might have to change her plans a bit. You see, we weren’t... I mean, she wasn’t... Oh, hell.” Cal shrugged and glanced helplessly at Diamond.
Seeing his discomfort, she got to her feet and touched a hand to his arm. Relieved, he sat down.
“What Cal was trying to say is that we were all sort of caught off guard when we started learning that Pa had more than his share of secrets. I didn’t behave very cordially at first. But as I came to know his other daughters, I realized that we all had a common bond. Pa. And I knew that Pa would want all his children to share the bounty of this land he loved. So I’m sorry for that cool welcome we gave you last night, Malachite. We just weren’t expecting any more of Pa’s surprises. I guess we figured by now all his strays had been rounded up. But if you’re willing, we’d all like you to stay on and have a hand in the running of the ranch.”
Diamond was grinning, proud that she’d said her piece without fumbling. The others were smiling and nodding, as well.
As always, Malachite kept his feelings carefully in check. His eyes were narrowed in thought. His jaw was clenched. But there was no denying the astonishment in his voice. “You’re offering me a piece of your ranch? Without any proof of who I am? Without any questions about where I’ve been and what I’ve done with my life?”
“That’s exactly what I said.” At the end of the table, Byron sulked. He’d given them every argument he could think of, but they had refused to budge on this. “But nobody would listen.”
Diamond shot Malachite a quick smile. “The proof of who you are is in your face. If you aren’t Pa’s son, you’d have to be his ghost.”
Around the table, the others laughed and nodded.
“As for where you’ve been and what you’ve done, I don’t see what that has to do with now.”
“He could have been in jail for all you know,” Byron interjected.
“Then he and I would have something in common.” Adam winked at Diamond and closed his hand over hers, then turned to Malachite. “I spent time in jail before coming to Texas. But I never thought it was anyone’s business but mine.”
The banker realized that Adam’s words were really meant for him. It only added to his irritation.
For the space of a minute, Malachite couldn’t seem to make his brain work. He’d come here expecting denial, a satisfying, cleansing battle of wills and then banishment. Even in his wildest dreams, the most he’d hoped for was a grudging acceptance of his birthright before he was turned away.
But this. This was so unexpected. So... generous. Too generous. There had to be a flaw in it.
“Sorry,” he said abruptly. “I’m not a cattleman. And I have no interest in your ranch.”
“I’m sorry, too.” Adam spoke up before the others could interrupt. “I’m afraid we haven’t told you everything. Di and I have the ranch next to this. We keep the herds separate, but during roundup and the drive to Abeline, we share wranglers. There’s something else we share. Trouble. Lately we’ve had more than our share. First we lost a barn to fire. Now we’ve lost two good cowboys. They set off to capture a rogue stallion and both showed up dead along the trail. If all that isn’t enough, we keep losing more and more grazing land to herds of mustangs.”
“So, what do you think is behind all this trouble?” Malachite asked.
Glances were exchanged around the table before Diamond said, “A big black stallion we call Diablo. The Devil. That mustang seems to be everywhere. That’s why we could use another hand. Especially one who could be trusted.”
Malachite gave a short, bitter laugh. “What makes you think I can be trusted?”
“Your name is Jewel,” Cal said.
“That wasn’t my choice.” Malachite’s eyes narrowed.
“No one is given that choice.” Adam took his son from Diamond’s arms and settled him on his lap. “What we can choose is how we live our lives.”
“Like I said—” Malachite started to push away from the table “—I’m not interested in Onyx Jewel’s life or his ranch.”
“If that mustang keeps on running free,” Diamond complained, “we soon won’t be able to hold on to this ranch. Or our land. We’ve already lost wranglers who are too afraid to stay. And there isn’t anyone left who’ll risk his life to try to catch Diablo and his harem.”
Malachite couldn’t hide his sudden interest. He sank back down on his chair. “The stallion has a herd?”
Diamond nodded. “Dozens of mares. Maybe even a hundred or more. They’ve got the whole town spooked.”
Adam’s voice dripped sarcasm. “Crops destroyed. Blame Diablo. A mare runs off. Blame Diablo. Even a sick child or a wife in difficult labor is blamed on that damned horse. And offering a bounty on him hasn’t helped.”
“Are you saying you don’t believe he can be captured?” Malachite asked.
Diamond shrugged. “So far, nobody’s even come close to catching him.” She stood and offered her hand. “I’m sorry you won’t consider joining us, Malachite. It would have been real nice getting to know you. And you might have discovered that you liked us, once you got to know us.”
As Malachite accepted her handshake, he cautioned himself to go slowly. He’d learned early in life that promises could be broken and that the things he most wanted in life were usually denied him. But the thought of this mustang made his heart quicken.
It would be dangerous to show them just how interested he was. “Maybe I’d consider it after all. I’d like a chance at that stallion and his harem.”
“You would?” Diamond glanced around the table at her sisters, who were suddenly grinning like conspirators. “That’s fine. Then we’d like to invite you to stay here in Pa’s house.”
They could see Malachite’s enthusiasm cool by degrees. “No.” He shook his head. “I told you before. I want no part of Onyx Jewel’s house.”
“But you’re his son. We’re inviting you to help with his ranch...” Adam’s hand on her arm had Diamond pausing. She swallowed back the rest of what she’d been about to say. She was learning, in dealing with this large, diverse family, that she couldn’t call all the shots. Sometimes she had to take a step back or risk interfering in something that wasn’t her business. “Where will you stay?”
He glanced at Millie. “If Mrs. Potter doesn’t object, I’d like to stay at her boardinghouse.”
“No.” Millie spoke quickly. Too quickly. She could feel everyone staring at her in surprise. Feeling her cheeks redden, she said, “I don’t mind a boarder for a night or two. But what you’re talking about is much longer. It could be...”
“Months.” He pinned her with that steely gaze. “And I’d be willing to pay you generously.”
For a moment Millie felt trapped. How dare he spring this surprise on her in such a public manner? Still, the thought of a paying boarder... “What do you consider generous, Mr. Jewel?”
“You charged me fifty cents for last night. I’ll pay you a dollar a day. With the first month paid in advance.”
“Thirty dollars...” She was mentally calculating. Oh, the food she could buy. T
he warm winter coats. Several cords of wood for the fireplaces.
He’d made it impossible for her to refuse. She felt the stares of the others, and the heat rose to her cheeks. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Byron’s face contorted with rage.
“I’ll remind you—” Byron’s voice was choked with.anger “—he will be spending that time hunting Diablo. Do you want the curse brought upon you and your children?”
“If anyone is to be cursed,” Malachite said easily, “it should be me. Not Mrs. Potter and her family. If you believe in such things.”
Both men turned to study Millie.
A part of her was angry. She’d already had a taste of Malachite’s arrogance. But another part of her was secretly excited. Because of the money, she told herself firmly. Not because of the man.
She lifted her head and returned the looks of the others. This was, after all, strictly business. She had her children to think of. In the little town of Hanging Tree, there would be few paying customers over the winter months. The cowboys from the nearby ranches would spend their snowbound nights in the bunkhouse. On their occasional foray into town, they’d rather warm themselves with whiskey at Buck’s saloon than settle for a hot meal at her place. This was a matter of survival.
“I’d be happy to rent you a room, Mr, Jewel.”
He knew from her tone, from the challenging look in her eyes that she meant not a word of it. But he’d correctly read her need for money.
He merely nodded.
“Done.” Diamond’s smile was warm. “Welcome to the family business, Malachite.”
As the others got to their feet to offer their congratulations, Malachite glanced over their heads to see Millie, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright with challenge.
For reasons he didn’t want to explore too deeply, that seemed the sweetest victory of all.
* * *
“I’ll accompany you back to town, Millie.” Byron’s unhappiness had grown in direct proportion to Malachite’s happiness. He’d watched as Cal McCabe and Adam Winter had started toward the bunkhouse to give this newcomer a tour of the ranch.
Diamond had ridden off with little Ony to her own ranch. Ruby and Quent, along with Jade and Dan, had left for town as soon as they’d finished lunch. And Pearl had packed up little Amber and left for school with the children.
Byron was eager to get Millie alone. After all, it was his duty to warn her of the pitfalls of the arrangement she was contemplating.
“No thank you, Byron. There’s no sense going home now.” Millie began gathering up the dishes. “I’ll just stay on here with Carmelita until the children return from school in a couple of hours.”
“But I...” He was quickly losing his patience. He lowered his voice. “I need to talk with you.”
“All right. You can talk while I wash the dishes.”
“No.” He caught her arm and began steering her toward the door. “I’d like to talk to you alone.”
Carmelita watched without comment as they stepped out onto the porch.
“What’s wrong with you today, Byron?” Millie shaded her eyes from the sun and peered at the three men heading toward one of the distant outbuildings.
“He’s what’s wrong with me.” Byron stood beside her, glaring at the tall figure disappearing into the barn.
“I don’t understand. Why should you be bothered by the sudden appearance of Onyx Jewel’s son? If Diamond and the others can accept him, why can’t you?”
“I’ll tell you why.” He gritted his teeth and struggled to hold his temper. “He’s inviting trouble to our town. And if that isn’t reason enough, I don’t like the way you’ve been behaving since he came here.”
She turned to fix him with a cool look. “And how have I been behaving?”
“Carelessly. Last night, without knowing a thing about this man, you allowed him to spend the night in your home.”
“I’ll remind you that I run a boardinghouse, Byron. A lot of men, and families, spend the night at my place. That’s how I make my living. That’s how I can afford to raise my children.”
“But this man ... this man is different. You saw how he acted when he arrived here last night. Like a man hell-bent on destruction. You could have been putting yourself and your children in grave danger.”
“I can’t believe what you’re saying.” She started to flounce away, but before she could walk inside he caught her arm.
“You listen to me, Millie. You’re an unmarried woman. If you allow this... half-wild savage to stay in your home, you won’t be able to stop the gossip that will spread all over town.”
She pulled her arm free and shot him an angry look. “Now it’s your turn to listen, Byron Conner. The Jewels are my friends. I’d put up any one of them at my place for as long as they wanted. I’ll do no less for Malachite Jewel. And if the town gossips want to chew on that, I can’t stop them.”
She stormed into the kitchen, allowing the door to slam behind her. Moments later she heard the sound of his fine rig rolling away.
Carmelita was busy at the sink, her hands in hot, soapy water. When Millie picked up the square of linen and began to dry, the housekeeper had to bite hard to hide the smile that played on her lips.
She’d overheard everything these two had said to each other. And she admired Millie’s spunk. After all, the arrogant young banker was considered a fine catch, and everyone knew he’d set his cap for this pretty little widow. It would be hard for a woman with three small children to refuse what he was offering.
And though Millie Potter might insist that she was only taking in Malachite Jewel as a favor to friends, Carmelita thought differently. She’d seen the way Millie watched him when she thought no one was looking. What was more, she’d seen the way Malachite Jewel returned the look.
Carmelita felt a quick tug of excitement. Winter here in the hill country was usually cold and bleak. But this one looked as if it were about to heat up considerably.
* * *
“So you think you could start working with the wranglers tomorrow?” Cal asked as he, Adam and Malachite stomped into the kitchen after shaking the dust from their boots.
At once Carmelita began pouring cups of strong, hot coffee. She was flattered that the men had returned to the big house. She knew they’d stopped in the bunkhouse to introduce Malachite to the wranglers. Cookie probably served them some of that mud he called coffee. It was understood that in the bunkhouse the men could talk openly, without worrying about offending the women with coarse talk and swearing.
Here in the kitchen, the talk was more subdued. Across the room, Millie turned from the fire to watch as Malachite rolled his sleeves and bent to the basin to wash. His shirt strained against the ripple of muscle as he lifted a square of linen and began to dry. For some strange reason, she felt a tightness in her throat.
When he tossed down the towel and turned, he caught sight of her. His frown deepened.
She returned her attention to the pots simmering over the fire.
“I don’t see why not,” he said. “Might as well learn how things are done here on Jewel land.”
They looked up as a wagon rolled to a stop and the laughter of children filled the air.
As the children spilled from the wagon and danced up the steps, the conversation abruptly ended.
“Where’s Pearl?” Cal called.
“Ma stayed home with Amber.” Gil, nearly as tall as Cal, held the door while the younger ones slipped past him. “I told her I’d see the girls safely here.”
“Mrs. Potter, look what April won.” At Birdie’s prodding, the shy April displayed a pretty blue ribbon. “She won a prize for knowing all her spelling words.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so proud of you.” Millie wiped her hands on her apron and hugged her oldest daughter.
“How about the rest of us?” Adam coaxed. “Do we get to see it, too?”
Overcome with shyness, the little girl stared at a spot on the floor.
Millie knew how di
fficult it was for this oldest child, who was so withdrawn and so uncomfortable around men.
“If you’ll come over here,” Cal coaxed, “I’ll tie it around your neck.”
The little girl took refuge behind her mother’s back.
“Gil won a prize, too,” June piped in.
“Congratulations, Gil,” Millie said to the boy who towered over her.
“But he didn’t keep it,” June added. “He gave his to Birdie.”
Everyone turned to Birdie, who blushed clear to her toes. The edges of the ribbon could be seen poking out of her pocket.
“Daniel and I stayed up late helping Ma make the prizes.” Gil was gallantly trying to explain away his impulsive action. “I didn’t think it’d be right for me to keep it. Besides, Birdie got every word right but one.”
“That’s not what you said. I heard you tell her you wanted her to have it because it was the same color as her eyes and because her hair looked so pretty.” June’s comment had everyone glancing from Gil to Birdie, whose cheeks were now as red as apples.
“Come, children.” Millie broke the awkward silence, hoping to put an end to Birdie’s discomfort. Later, when they were alone, she would have a word with her youngest daughter about repeating embarrassing secrets. “Carmelita has milk and cookies still warm from the oven.”
They needed no coaxing as they gathered around the table and began to eat.
The men, free of distractions, returned to their discussion.
“I know you’re not fond of the idea of working with cattle.” Adam cupped his hands around the hot mug and shot the housekeeper a grateful look when she topped off his coffee. “But we’re glad of the help, Malachite.”
Malachite drained his cup and accepted a refill. “If you have a team of wranglers that ride the range searching for strays, I’d like to join them. I’m better suited to that than to working in the barns.”
“It’s hard work tracking in these hills,” Cal mused.
“I’m used to hard work.”
“But there’ll be snow soon. Then it will be even harder.”