Maureen McKade by A Dime Novel Hero Read Free Book Online Page B

mother’s lighter colored hair, as well as her generous mouth. With a little luck, nobody would see the similarities as clearly as Kit did.
    “I hope you both washed good,” she said.
    Jake winked at Johnny, who giggled, and the two of them raised their hands.
    “Yes, ma’am,” Jake replied dutifully.
    Kit shook her head, unable to resist the playful glimmer in Jake’s dark eyes. Despite the gunbelt slung low on his hips, she glimpsed a side of the teasing young man she’d known before he’d left Chaney.
    Laughing, she took one of Jake’s strong hands in hers, pretending to inspect it. The long, slender fingers curved around her palm for a moment, and the light sprinkling of hair across the back of his hand tickled her. Her breath seemed to rasp more loudly in her ears. Startled by her body’s response, she glanced at Jake. His rugged face had gone still except for his untelling eyes, which studied her closely.
    She swallowed, releasing him like a hot branding iron. Struggling to keep her voice even, she said, “You pass inspection.”
    Turning to her son, she examined his hands. Would they grow as strong as his father’s? Already she could see that the same blunt nails capped Johnny’s fingertips. Trembling, she released her son, not noticing if he’d cleaned well or not. “Okay, you can go sit down, too.”
    Trying to regain her aplomb, Kit brought the food from the kitchen and deposited it on the table, then joined Jake and Johnny.
    During the lively meal, Johnny stole the majority of Jake’s attention.
    “Ma said you used to live here when you were my size,” Johnny said.
    “That’s right,” Jake said. “But I didn’t spend a lot of time here.”
    Johnny’s face scrunched up. “Why not?”
    “Whenever my father had to leave town on business, he’d put me with someone to stay with until he got home.”
    “What about your ma?”
    “It was just my pa and me,” Jake replied.
    Kit detected the bitter hurt in his voice, and wanted to touch him, to lend him her understanding. Instead, she laid her clenched hands in her lap.
    “Do you like living here?” Jake asked Johnny.
    The boy’s eyes sparkled. “Yep. I play with Toby and Jasper and the other animals. And Ma promised she’d teach me how to ride pretty soon. And I like to explore.”
    “Don’t you ever get lonely?”
    Johnny shook his head. “I got Ma and Charlie and Ethan and Pete and Toby.”
    Jake smiled. “I’ve met Toby, but who’re Charlie, Ethan, and Pete?”
    “Charlie and Ethan work here, and Pete is an old Indian who came with the ranch,” Kit answered. “I’m surprised he wasn’t around when you lived here.”
    “He teaches me all kind of things,” Johnny interjected. “Like how to count coup, and how to scalp folks.”
    Jake’s mouth twitched with amusement, and he winked at Kit. “Looks like you’re going to have a little warrior in the family.”
    “See, Ma? Even Mr. Cordell thinks so,” Johnny said in an I-told-you-so tone.
    Kit chuckled. “Pete considers himself Johnny’s grandfather, and in his tribe, the elders taught the children.” She shrugged. “Pete’s heart is in the right place.”
    “Will you teach me how to ride, Mr. Cordell?”Johnny asked. “Ma said she would, but she’s always too busy.”
    “Johnny, it’s not polite to ask such a thing. As soon as I have some time, I’ll teach you,” Kit said.
    Jake finished his dessert and pushed back his empty plate. “I suspect I won’t be real busy with my law practice to start with, so I wouldn’t mind giving Johnny some riding lessons.”
    Johnny whooped with joy. “Is it okay, Ma? Please?”
    Kit folded her napkin and placed it on the table. One of the reasons she hadn’t found the time was because she was fearful for his safety. Despite Johnny’s affinity for animals, a horse was still unpredictable, and Johnny could be hurt. Gazing at her son’s expectant face, she couldn’t come up with a single reason to forbid it. “All right,