The Texan by Bobbi Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

portrait of her in his office, and the young woman standing before him was as pretty as her picture. Josh had been worrying about what was going to happen when she showed up, and now that day had come. Hank had told him all about his wife’s ultimatum and her decision to live in Philadelphia, and Josh figured Emmie was going to be just like her mother—a lady who couldn’t handle the harshness of ranch life. If she was, she wouldn’t last six months at the Rocking R, let alone the two years she needed to stay. Coming to visit her father once a year had been one thing. Actually living on the ranch day in and day out wasanother. As pretty and ladylike as she looked, he didn’t think she’d last.
    Les was the first to speak. “Josh, good to see you.”
    Josh went to him and shook his hand. “Les. I see you made it back in good time.”
    “Yes, we did. Let me introduce you.” He quickly made the introductions.
    “Hello, Miss Ryan,” Josh said respectfully. He could see the wariness in her regard and realized that the lawyer must have already told her about the partnership.
    “Mr. Grady,” she returned. “I understand we have a lot to discuss.”
    “Yes, we do.”
    Burley looked from Josh to Emmie, wondering at the unspoken tension between them and why they were being so formal with each other. He knew that was going to have to change real quick; they had a ranch to run.
    “Shall we go on up to the house and get out of this heat?” Les suggested, breaking the awkward moment.
    Emmie girded herself for what was to come. “Yes. I think Miss Harriet could use a cool drink right now.”
    “It is a bit hot here in Texas,” the chaperone agreed, busily fanning herself.
    “You coming with us, Josh?” Les asked.
    “I’ll be along,” Josh told him. He wanted to check on the stallion again and clean up a bit before meeting with Emmie.
    The three women accompanied Les to the houseand went up the steps to the wide, shaded front porch.
    Emmie hesitated at the top of the steps, her gaze fixed on the front door. In her heart, she expected her father to come rushing out and give her a big hug, as he always did when she came home, but she knew it wasn’t going to happen. She drew a ragged, steadying breath as she led the way inside.
    “Here we are,” she announced, entering the front hall.
    Millie and Miss Harriet followed her in and gazed around the spacious hall and up the wide staircase that led to the second floor. It was obvious her father had spared no expense on the house.
    “Do you want me to show you around?” Emmie asked.
    “Please,” Millie said. “I’ve heard you talk about the Rocking R for years, and now I’m finally here.”
    “I’ll wait for you in the sitting room,” Les said, leaving them to their walk through the house.
    Emmie was just starting toward the back of the house when Kate, her father’s cook and house keeper, came rushing from the kitchen to welcome her home. Kate was the wife of one of the ranch hands.
    “I thought I heard you,” Kate said, going straight to Emmie to embrace her. “How are you?”
    Emmie fought back tears. “I’d be a lot better if Papa were here.”
    “We all would, honey,” Kate said sympathetically as they moved apart.
    Emmie quickly introduced everyone, and they chatted for a moment longer before Kate went back to the kitchen. Emmie continued showing Millie and Miss Harriet the rest of the house and let them pick which of the guest bedrooms they wanted to stay in. The only rooms she didn’t take them into were her father’s office and bedroom. Those doors were closed, and she was glad. She wasn’t ready to go into either room yet. She would do that later, when she was alone.
    They were on their way back to join Les in the sitting room when they saw two of the hands coming in with their trunks. Millie and Miss Harriet decided to go back upstairs with the men so they could show them where to put the trunks. Then the women would settle in for a while