Reckless Heart by Barbara McMahon Page B

own curiosity, others slanted to the new idea she had for her book. Jack answered them all patiently, expanding when she requested, explaining terms to her, making sense at last to some of the conversations she’d heard at dinner.
    When a horse rode into the yard, Molly wondered if it might be Josh. She hadn’t seen him since breakfast. He’d been one of the men out doing tallies, so he hadn’t come in for lunch.
    Her hands grew damp with nerves when she thought it might be him. He'd maintained his distance since that morning he’d kissed her in the laundry room. But he hadn't had any reason to get angry with her since then.
    She’d done her job well and though he watched her during mealtime, he found no fault. While she was pleased she was beginning to measure up, she lived in hope he’d kiss her one more time before she left.
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    Lance appeared in the doorway.
    “Wondered who you were talking to,” he said to Jack, then smiled at Molly, one finger tipping back his hat.
    “Just answering some questions the little lady had. Her first time on a ranch, you know,” Jack said.
    “Come with me, I’ll give you some pointers,” Lance invited.
    Molly scrambled up and rehung the blanket. “Thank you, Jack. Hope I didn’t drive you crazy with all my questions.”
    “No, pleasure to talk about ranching. So many people aren’t interested in hearing an old man ramble on.”
    “You didn’t ramble, and I found it all fascinating,” she said with a sunny smile. Following Lance into the barn, she walked beside him as he led his horse to the rear. Fastening it in cross ties, he began to unsaddle his mount.
    “Where did you go today?” she asked, taking careful note of how he did everything. The horse seemed large, but didn’t bother Lance. He easily hefted the heavy saddle, dropping it on a stand nearby and turning to grin at Molly.
    “Out to one of the areas where we’ve got a lot of cattle. We’re taking a tally of how many are on that particular bit of range, checking to make sure we’ve lost none, or none are down and hurting. Or missing.”
    “Do you do that kind of thing a lot?”
    “Enough to insure the well-being of the herd.”
    “The Rafter C seems to be a very prosperous ranch,” she commented.
    “Very. One of the top ranches in this part of the country. When Jase ran the place, he got written up in a journal as a rancher to watch.”
    “How long ago was that?”
    “A few years now. Before I came here. Jase didn’t want a foreman, did all that kind of work himself.”
    “And where was Josh?”
    “At the university. When he graduated, he started working here as foreman, I guess you’d say.”
    “Then Jase left and Josh took over?”
    “Yep. Once their sister graduated from the university, Jase took off to ride the rodeo circuit. Josh hired me a few months later.”
    “And the ranch continues to be very prosperous,” she finished, feeling a certain vicarious pride in the work Josh did. His brother might have started things in the right direction, but it was Josh’s direction now that kept the ranch prosperous.
    “Very prosperous, but why do you care? Worried about your salary?” Josh’s voice sounded behind her.
    Molly turned, startled to find him standing so close. She hadn’t heard him come in. She saw his horse standing beyond the open doors. How much had he heard? And what interpretations did he put on her questions? Obviously the wrong ones.
    “I wasn’t worried about anything, just curious,” she said, flustered.
    His hat pulled low, his jeans were tight and dusty. Molly’s heart fluttered and she longed to sit somewhere and stare at him until she had her fill. But ever conscious of Lance standing there and Josh’s unfriendly stare, she looked away.
    “Now I wonder why?” Josh glanced at Lance, back to Molly. “What are you doing out here?”
    “I’m caught up on the housework and wanted to get out for some fresh air,” she said pertly, her eyes