Sandra Chastain by Firebrand Read Free Book Online Page B

nodded.
    “Fine. Get in the stall and hold her head. Don’t let her lie down, and don’t let her turn around.”
    Cade slid by Rusty, taking a cue from her earlier action, sliding his hand up the cow’s back and talking quietly to her until he reached the front of the stall where he could catch her halter.
    For the next half hour he watched as Rusty inserted her arm into the cow and gradually turned the calf around, an inch at a time, between contractions. He held and handed and followed her directions with no comment. When he was sure that she must be totally exhausted, he heard the weak cry of the calf and Rusty’s pleased sigh of relief. The calf’s head was showing between Rusty’s arms.
    “Push, Mama,” she coaxed, whispering soft words of encouragement over and over. A human mother couldn’t have wished for better care than the cow was being given by Mrs. Rusty Wilder.
    There were tears of joy glistening in Rusty’s eyes when she held up the calf and walked around to the cow’s head. “Here she is, a little girl. She wants her mama.”
    The exhausted cow turned immediately and began to lick her calf. Above the cow’s head, Rustyand Cade’s eyes met, and he felt a special warmth, a joining of purpose. They both smiled. In that moment he knew that he’d agree to her proposal. Such a woman was more than the head of Silverwild. She was a woman who had much to give to a child—and a man.
    Rusty left the cow and her calf to Doak, washed her hands, paying little attention to her soiled clothing, and slid her arms into the jacket Cade was holding for her. For a moment she leaned against him, and they shared the satisfaction of what they’d accomplished. Then she turned and started back to the house.
    “I’ll be leaving tonight, Rusty,” Cade said simply. “Pixie and I will be back in a few days—if you’re still sure about your proposition.”
    Rusty stopped and turned around. “Are you certain, Cade?”
    “No, I’ve probably never been less certain of a thing in my life. But I’m willing to give it a chance. Six months. Then we’ll see. One thing …”
    “What’s that?”
    “Pixie and I will stay in one of your tenant houses. I don’t want my daughter to be disappointed if this doesn’t work. If she sees me as another ranch hand, she won’t get her hopes too high.”
    “No, Cade. If we’re going to get to know each other, it has to be on more intimate grounds than that. Letty already has the two rooms in the guest wing ready for you. They were originally built for my grandmother. She wanted her quarters to be private. You work for me. More than that your daughter doesn’t need to know.”
    “I hope this isn’t a mistake, Rusty.”
    Rusty. That was the first time he’d used her name. She felt her heart take a funny little leap. She didn’t know what to say. Finally she added, “You know that Letty has her heart set on looking after Pixie. She can’t wait either.”
    “Letty?”
    There was a long silence.
    “Letty and I,” she corrected, and turned back toward the house. This time her practiced long strides were forgotten as she considered the decision they’d just made. She gave way to a more natural rolling walk, the kind of feminine walk that even tired legs couldn’t disguise.
    Cade felt a tightening in his groin. It was good that he was leaving, that Pixie would soon be here. He wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to maintain a safe distance from Rusty. He wasn’t sure how long he wanted to.
    Business, he reminded himself.
    A business relationship.
    Except—this business was sex.
    He was being hired to do a job, a job for which he appeared to be very well qualified, if his present response to Mrs. Wilder was any guarantee.

Four
    Pixie’s dark eyes widened as she took in the barren landscape from the backseat of the Jeep where she sat, clutching Eugene’s hand. Eugene hadn’t been part of the deal with Rusty. But Pixie had wanted Eugene, and he’d surprised Cade by