Dashing Druid (Texas Druids) Page 5

  He hit the ground on his right side, and pain shot through his arm. Clutching it, he gritted his teeth and wondered if he’d broken it again. The pain receded, however, and the arm worked all right when he tried it. He got to his feet more slowly than before, noting that his audience had grown. Several cowhands now lined the corral fence, enjoying the show. He heard some guffaws and a couple of good-natured, razzing comments.

  As he was about to climb back on the mare, Luis laid a hand on his shoulder. “Hombre, you are hurt, no? You do not need to go on with this.”

  “Aye, I do,” Tye replied, ignoring the ache in his arm. He remounted and dug his boots firmly into the stirrups. “Let her go.”

  He was starting to get the hang of it now. The mustang took considerably longer to unseat him. When he landed, he forced himself to stay loose and roll, as the other men did when thrown. That made the impact a bit easier to take. To his satisfaction, he heard no laughter this time. One cowboy even called encouragement to him as he trudged back over to the stubborn bay mare.

  Again the bronc was off and bucking the second Luis and Pete released her. She tucked her head between her front legs, arched her back, and took three jarring leaps forward. Then she tried to swap ends in midair like before, but Tye foiled the attempt, jerking her head up. The animal screamed furiously.

  An enthusiastic uproar sounded from Tye’s audience. “That’s it, Irish, give her the business! Don’t let her swallow her head!” one hand yelled.

  “Hug your tree, cowboy! Give that cayuse a taste of your spurs!” another shouted.

  Taking the man’s advice, Tye dug his spurs into the mare’s flanks. She neighed shrilly again and took off around the corral, running more than bucking now.

  A woman’s gasp caught Tye’s ear, and he glanced aside long enough to see Jessie waddle up to the fence. She stared in horror as his mount crow-hopped past her. Then she tore into Sul.

  “Are ye mad, letting him ride that devil? He could be killed!”

  “Uh, I didn’t rightly . . . I mean . . .” Sul stammered.

  Tye missed the rest of his reply, but as he circled back toward Jessie, Luis spoke up.

  “It is my doing, Señora. If you are angry, be so at me. But perhaps you should look first, no?” He pointed over her shoulder as Tye cantered up on the winded mare.

  Jessie swung around, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

  Limping up beside her, Reece chuckled. “Well, I’ll be. Looks like we’ve got ourselves a new bronc twister.”

  For a brief moment, Tye savored his victory and wished Lil Crawford were here to witness it, but then he was filled with disgust at himself. How could he think of impressing the woman when he wasn’t worth the dirt under her boots?

  * * *

  The crew was about to head to the cook shack for supper when David showed up at the bunkhouse. He motioned Tye to wait. Certain his brother-in-law meant to reprimand him for riding that mustang and upsetting Jessie, Tye frowned at the curious glances he got from the other men as they filed out.

  “I understand you did some horse breaking while I was in town today,” David said once they stood alone in the room.

  “Aye, and I’m to do more tomorrow,” Tye replied, arms crossed, ready to argue if David said otherwise.

  David merely shrugged. “That’s fine by me, but don’t break your neck, or Jessie will take it out of my hide.”

  Tye snorted. “She shouldn’t be fussing at ye about me.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” David said, eyeing the untidy room. “This place needs cleaning. I’ll have to talk to Sul.”

  His gaze swung back to Tye, and he came to the point of his visit. “The horses should be ready to go in a couple more days. I want you to come along when we trail them over to Fort Concho. You need to learn the country and find out how to stay alive out there. We’ll probably gather some mavericks on the way back, too.”

  Tye’s first thought was that he wouldn’t get to see Lil for a while, but he quickly dismissed it. He needed to stop thinking about her.

  “As ye wish,” he said. “You’re the boss.”

  David gave a wry grin. “Tell that to Jessie.”

  Only later did it occur to Tye that David’s order might be aimed at keeping him away from Lil, and Jessie had likely put him up to it. If he knew it for a fact, he’d tell them both to mind their own business. He had already decided to stay away from the woman, but he wouldn’t have others, even his sister, forcing him to do so.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Tye urged his black and white gelding, Patch, onward. The fall roundup was underway and, along with the rest of the crew, he’d been riding the range in a gradually shrinking circle all morning, gathering up cattle. This afternoon they’d do the cutting and branding. Tomorrow, the whole procedure would be repeated in a new location.

  The roundup was a joint effort involving several ranches, but the River T served as headquarters, being the largest spread in this area. As foreman and half-owner of the River T, David was in charge. Tye guessed that must rankle the Crawfords.

  He’d seen Lil that morning with the other Double C riders. In her denim pants, faded plaid shirt and cowboy hat, she’d blended in with the men. Almost. The masculine attire couldn’t conceal her slim, thoroughly feminine curves, Tye recalled with a grin. He’d been tempted to say hello, but her father had warded him off with a baleful glare. Besides, she’d nearly bitten his head off yesterday when he spoke to her. Was it only because her parents didn’t want her mixing with him, or did she truly dislike him? Her emotions were too much of a muddle for him to tell.

  He was so busy brooding that he almost missed a wily steer hidden among a clump of thorny mesquite trees. Shagging the rebellious longhorn on its way, he reminded himself he was being paid to work, not daydream about Lil Crawford.

  Huh! He might as well ask water to run uphill as try not to think of her. Even while driving the horses and mules to Fort Concho with David, he’d found himself thinking about Lil far too often. He couldn’t forget her beautiful face or the sadness she tried so hard to conceal, a pain that called out to him whenever she was near, making him want to hold her close and comfort her.

  He laughed. Lil wouldn’t appreciate his protective feelings toward her. She’d probably punch him in the nose if he ever suggested she couldn’t take care of herself.

  A frightened bawl caught his attention. Turning Patch aside to investigate, he topped a rise and found Lil struggling to drag a half grown calf out of a mud hole near the creek, much like the first day they’d met. Only she wasn’t sunk to her knees in the mud this time. Excitement coursed through him. Wondering at this odd coincidence, he unconsciously tightened his gloved hands on the reins, causing Patch to dance sideways and whinny.

  Lil lifted her head, caught sight of him and froze. Bent over in front of the mired calf, clutching the rope around its neck, she presented a provocative picture with her legs braced and her rump thrust out. As if reading his mind, she straightened abruptly.

  “What are you doing here?” she called in a belligerent tone.

  He grinned, walking his horse down the hillock. “The same as you, Miss Crawford, rounding up cattle. Can I give ye a hand?”

  * * *

  It so happened Lil had been thinking of him, also remembering the other time he’d come across her like this. His arrival on the scene flustered her. Knowing how foolish her question had sounded, she flushed with embarrassment. “I can get him out myself,” she snapped. “Don’t need your help.”

  Taking a tighter hold on her rope, she resumed pulling. The calf bawled but didn’t move an inch. Frustrated, she tugged harder. Then her boots slipped in the mud.

  “Eek!” she cried, landing on her bottom with a squishy plop. Hearing Tye laugh, she glared at him as he drew rein nearby. “You think this is funny, huh?” She scrambled to her feet. “For your information, that critter will die if I don’t get him out.”

  Humiliated by her mishap, she brushed uselessly at the
black gumbo coating the seat of her pants. She’d made a fool of herself in front of Devlin, but at least her angry remark had silenced his laughter.

  Without a word, he dismounted and walked over to her. She stepped back warily, but he merely stooped to pick up the rope she’d dropped. Straightening, he handed it to her.

  “Get on your horse and pull. I’ll push,” he told her.

  “But . . . but you’ll have to get into that muck,” she said, glancing at the mud hole. She couldn’t picture him doing that.

  “I know.” Sitting on the muddy ground with apparent unconcern, he pulled off his boots and socks and set them aside, along with his hat. Then he rose and waded into the oozy pit. By the time he was in position behind the calf, mud encased his long legs nearly to the vee of his crotch.

  Lil didn’t realize she was staring at that part of him, until his voice jolted her gaze upward.

  “Well, d’ye want him out or not?” he asked with a knowing quirk of his lips that made her face grow hot. Again!

  She spun away, ashamed of herself. What had gotten into her, staring at him that way? Hurrying to mount up, she dallied her rope around the saddle horn, then glanced over her shoulder. “Ready,” she called, striving for a steady voice.

  He nodded and bent to his task. While he heaved and pushed, she urged Major forward. Seconds later, the bawling calf stood on firm ground.

  Lil dismounted, and as Tye climbed out of the mud hole, she couldn’t help but notice how his muddy britches clung to his legs, outlining every hard sinew. He glanced at her and she hastily averted her gaze. Praying he hadn’t caught her gawking at him again, she strode over to the young longhorn and removed her rope from his neck. As she did, Tye squatted to scrape mud off the trembling animal.

  “Poor beastie,” he crooned in his lilting Irish accent. “Your own ma won’t know ye if we don’t rid ye of some of this filth.”

  Touched by his concern, Lil had to smile. “You’re wearing plenty of it yourself,” she remarked, kneeling beside him to check the calf for injuries. Her pulse leapt at his nearness.

  He studied her in that odd way of his, as if looking inside her head, then glanced down at his mud-coated pant legs. “’Twill wash off, and it seems a small price to pay.”

  “For the calf’s life, you mean?” she asked as he peeled off his filthy gloves. When his shoulder brushed hers, tingles of excitement rushed along her arm.

  He chuckled softly, drawing her gaze to his mouth. “Aye, and for your smile.” He tossed the gloves aside and clasped her waist.

  Lil’s breath halted, then exploded in a rush as he gently turned her toward him. She caught hold of his arms and stared into his intense blue eyes. They were the color of Texas bluebonnets, she thought in a daze.

  “And for this,” he murmured, bending toward her.

  She closed her eyes. Lightning shot through her at the first touch of his lips. Then she floated on a cloud of enchantment as he explored the contours of her mouth. Was this really happening to her? Spellbound, she offered no protest when his arms drew her closer. It felt natural for her own arms to circle his body, and for her hands to splay across his muscled back.

  Mud fused their thighs together and his hard chest rubbed her sensitive breasts, sending ribbons of fire to a lower region. Shyly, she moved her lips under his and was amazed to hear him groan. His embrace tightened and his tongue probed her half-parted teeth, coaxing her to open her mouth to him. She might have done so if she hadn’t felt the bulge in his britches grow and harden against her.

  Sudden fear welled up within Lil. She didn’t trust Tye or the hot yearning he stirred deep inside her. Stiffening, she twisted her head aside. “Let me go,” she said breathlessly, pushing at his chest.

  He raised his head. Flushed and breathing hard, he appeared startled by her request.

  “Let me go,” she repeated more firmly. When he complied, she instantly regretted the loss of his touch. Stifling her reaction, she bounded to her feet and backed away. “Y-you shouldn’t have done that.”

  He sat on his heels, eyeing her. “’Twas only a kiss, colleen.” His raspy voice and flushed cheeks contradicted his words.

  “Yeah well, you’re loco if you think I’m gonna let you get familiar just cuz you helped drag a calf out of the mud.” Pride made Lil add her mother’s most damning epithet. “You no-good Irishman!”

  Anger flared in his eyes. Jaw clenched, he rose to face her. “Leave me lineage out o’ this,” he barked, brogue thickening, “and don’t be sayin’ ye didn’t kiss me back. Or that ye weren’t undressin’ me with yer eyes moments ago, practically beggin’ me to ‘get familiar’ as ye call it.”

  Lil gasped and recoiled, hurt surging through her. “You’re lower than a rattler!”

  Lips pressed together, she grabbed her rope as the calf bounded off, calling for its mother. Hearing Tye groan, she threw him a furious glance. He stepped close, wearing a pained expression, and reached for her arm.

  “Lil, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean –”

  “Don’t touch me!” she hissed, pivoting away. She shouldn’t have let him get near her. She knew better. Stalking to her horse, she swiftly rewound her lariat and hooked it over her saddle horn.

  “Colleen, will ye only listen?” he pleaded as she remounted.

  “No! Stay away from me from now on.” Kicking Major, she sent him into a gallop down the creek.

  Tye sighed heavily. “I’m not a’tall sure I can do that, mavourneen,” he muttered, watching her thunder off. Just the memory of their brief kiss was enough to make him harden again. Her shy, excited response had resonated in his mind, delighting him and feeding his hunger for her. He’d been taken completely by surprise when fear suddenly radiated from her.

  ’Twas the fear that led her to lash out at him, he was certain. The words ‘no-good Irishman’ rang in his head. He’d heard such words before – hostility toward the Irish race being all too common in this grand land of the free – but somehow he hadn’t expected to hear them from Lil. None of which excused his reaction to her outburst. He could kick himself for losing his temper and insulting her. Her pain had slammed into him like a sledgehammer, leaving him disgusted over his behavior.

  Once she disappeared from sight, he waded into the creek to wash off the mud, thinking how much Lil must despise him now. He never should have touched her. He hadn’t meant to, but when she knelt beside him as he was cleaning off the calf, he’d experienced an instant reaction to her nearness, and he’d known she was feeling it too. And he’d simply lost his head.

  Never had he been so captivated by a woman as he was by this prickly Texas cowgirl, and he was no stranger to the fairer sex. He’d already met several ladies in Clifton who, for a few coins, would satisfy his physical needs. They’d never ask for promises he couldn’t give, but he wanted none of them. He wanted Lil Crawford. She’d bewitched him with her exotic beauty – a legacy from Indian ancestors, he now knew – and the vulnerability hidden within her tough shell. He wanted to pierce that shell and draw out the pain buried deep in her heart.

  She had kissed him back ever so briefly. He clearly recalled the sweet, tentative flutter of her lips under his. Maybe with time she’d forgive him and . . . .

  Aye, and what then, me lad? She wasn’t the kind of woman he could take for a quick tumble. Courtship then? Huh! He had nothing to offer her but a load of guilt and fear. Besides, her parents didn’t want her to have anything to do with him. Would she ever go against their wishes?

  He laughed bitterly. What a fool he was to let such thoughts enter his head. Lil wasn’t for him. He must honor her wishes and stay away from her.

  * * *

  Despite resolving to leave her alone, Tye grew more and more irritated over the next few days as Lil made a point of avoiding him. When they did happen to cross paths, she stalked past without so much as looking at him. The third such instance goaded him into speaking to her.

  The crew had gathered to eat their noon meal. Chic Johnson, an
aging cowboy who doubled as camp cook, was busy dishing up food for the line of men. Tye had just left the chuck wagon carrying a tin plate piled with beef, cornbread and beans, when Lil approached to get her plate filled. As usual, she tried to ignore him, but he stepped in front of her, forcing her to stop short or run into him. As she frowned at him, he smiled and spoke quietly, for her ears alone.

  “Ah, colleen, ’tis a lovely day now that I’m seeing your fair face. Are ye still angry, or will ye forgive me if I say again how sorry I am?”

  She hesitated, giving him a brief moment of hope. Then he felt her rising tide of anger. Lifting her chin, she threw back her shoulders and gritted, “Stay away from me.” With that, she sidestepped and stomped past him to get her food.

  Exasperated, Tye started after her, but her father blocked his path. “I’m tired of you pestering my daughter, boy,” he challenged, graying brows colliding above his nose and chin jutting forward. “Unless you want trouble you’d best let her be, you hear?”

  Tye locked eyes with him as the camp went silent. Crawford’s open hostility didn’t pierce his mental shield; it only made him mad.

  “I hear ye fine,” he bit out, knowing everyone else heard, too, including Lil. “And I’ll do as ye say so long as Lil wishes it so. But if she should change her mind . . . .” Grinning, he swung on his heel and strode away.

  “You brassy pup! Stay away from her or else!” Crawford bellowed.

  Ignoring him, Tye kept walking until he found a quiet place to sit and eat. He was more angry at himself than at Crawford, because he knew damn well he ought to do as the man said.

  A while later, with the smell of singed cow hair stinging his nostrils, he released a newly branded calf and watched it scamper off. Mopping his sweaty face with his bandanna, he waited while another calf was roped and towed, complaining, over to the fire. He was on his knees hogtying the animal when David walked up. He’d been late riding in for the nooning and had missed Tye’s run-in with Del Crawford.