Hawk's Way by Joan Johnston Read Free Book Online

you.”
    The back of his gloved hand brushed against her cheek. “I don’t intend to lose you.”
    Honey’s heart missed a beat. He was high-handed, all right, but when he spoke to her in that low raspy voice and looked at her with those dark mysterious eyes, she found herself ready to listen. Which made no sense at all.
    â€œHow does a drifter like you know so much about all this?” she asked.
    â€œDallas filled me in,” he said. When she still looked doubtful, he said, “Ask him yourself at dinner tonight.”
    â€œMaybe I will.”
    The entire time they vaccinated bawling cattle, Honey said nothing more about the dinner at Dallas Masterson’s house. She was thinking about it, though, because she realized Jesse would have to use the upstairs bathroom to clean up. She had yet to explain to him that she planned for him to sleep in a room in the barn that hired hands had used in the past.
    She decided to confront him before the boys got home from school, in case he decided to argue. They were both hot and sweaty from the work they’d been doing, so it was easy to say, “I could use some iced tea. Would you like some?”
    â€œSounds good,” he replied. “I’ll be up to the house in a minute. I have a few things to put away here first.”
    Honey was glad for the few moments the delay gave her to think about how to phrase what she wanted to say. She took her time in the kitchen, filling two glasses with ice and sun-brewed tea. She wasn’t ready when he appeared at the screen door, hat in hand.
    â€œMay I come in?”
    His request reminded her that she had met Jesse Whitelaw less than twenty-four hours earlier. It seemed like a lot longer. Like maybe she had known the cowboy all her life. It left her feeling apprehensive. She avoided his eyes as she pushed the screen door wide and said, “Sure. I’ve made tea for both of us.”
    He moved immediately to the glass of tea onthe table and lifted it to his lips. She watched as he tipped the glass and emptied it a swallow at a time. Rivulets of sweat streamed down his temples, and his hair was slick against his head where his hat had matted it down. He smelled of hardworking man, and she was all too aware of how he filled the space in her kitchen.
    Jesse sighed with satisfaction as he set the empty glass on the table. The sound of the ice settling was loud in the silence that followed as his eyes found hers and held.
    â€œI think I have time to look at whatever fence you have down before I have to get ready for supper,” Jesse said. “If you’ll just head me in the right direction.”
    â€œCertainly. There are a few things we need to discuss first.” Honey threaded her fingers so she wouldn’t fidget. “When I offered you room and board I wasn’t thinking about where I’d put you. There’s a room at the rear of the barn I can fix up for you, but you’ll have to use the bathroom in the house.”
    Jesse worked to keep the grimace off his face. It would be a lot more difficult explaining howher prize bull had been stolen from the barn if he was sleeping there. “Are you sure there isn’t somewhere in the house I could sleep? I don’t need much.”
    Honey chewed on her lower lip. “There is a small room off the kitchen.” She pointed out the closed door to him. “It’s awfully tiny. I’ve started using it for a pantry. I don’t think—”
    Jesse opened the door and stepped inside. The room was long and narrow. Wooden shelves along one wall were filled with glass jars of preserves, most likely from the small garden he had seen behind the house. An iron bed with a bare mattress stood along the opposite wall under a gingham-curtained window. A simple wooden chest held a brass lamp and an old-fashioned pitcher and bowl for water.
    â€œThis’ll do fine,” he said.
    â€œBut—”
    He turned and