Claiming the Cowboy's Heart. Linda Ford

did. His pant leg was blood-soaked.

      Eddie had reached them and saw the same thing. “You can’t leave like that. It would be foolish.”

      Seth stared at his leg then shifted his gaze to Jayne’s eyes, saw her look go from shock to compassion. “Seth, you have to rest it.”

      He nodded. He knew he had no choice. “The money...”

      “Tell Eddie about it.”

      Knowing the reputation of the Gardiners, he knew he could entrust his money to Eddie. “It’s in the heel of my boot. Can you see it goes to Murdo Collins in Corncrib, Montana? I need it to get there as soon as possible.”

      He swung from the saddle and began to pry his boot off.

      Eddie clamped a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go to the house and take care of that. Linette can tend your wound. Looks like you’ll be here a few more days.” He called to a cowboy barely old enough to call himself a man. “Buster, take care of this man’s horse.”

      “Yes, boss.” Buster’s chin had likely never met a razor yet. His hair was shaggy as if it had not seen a pair of scissors in a long time. And his too-short trousers were held in place with a braid of rope.

      “Kid looks like he’s lost,” Seth said as they climbed back up the hill.

      “He showed up a couple of weeks back asking for a job. Seems he’s all alone in the world. But he doesn’t take kindly to help. Linette offered to give him a pair of trousers from her supply closet but he refused. Said when he earned them, he’d buy them.”

      “Guess you can’t fault him for that.”

      “You have to allow a man, however young, to have a certain amount of pride. He’s proving to be a good man. He took care of your saddle and groomed your horse.”

      He was struck by an errant thought. Maybe Jayne also needed to keep her pride intact by being able to use a gun.

      Eddie went through to the kitchen with Seth and Jayne behind him. Seth sank to a chair and removed his boot and pried off the heel. He handed the wad of money to Eddie. “Can I write a note to accompany it?”

      Jayne disappeared down the hall and ducked into the room with the desk and books. She returned with paper and pencil, handing it to him with a sad smile.

      He wrote a note to Pa saying he had been delayed but would be home as soon as possible. To Crawford he wrote, “There is more here than what I owe you. Please keep it in return for staying with Pa until I get home.” He folded both pieces of paper and handed them to Eddie.

      “I’ll see this gets to Edendale right away. We should be able to catch the stage. Petey, the driver, can be trusted to make sure it gets to your pa.” He left the house to tend to the task.

      Seth tried to relax. The money would make its way to Corncrib as fast as he could take it himself. But what about Pa? Would Crawford stay? Or would his pa be alone, unable to care for himself?

      Linette retrieved her little leather pouch of herbs. “I think it’s best if you return upstairs.” She went down the hall.

      Seth rose, preparing to follow.

      Jayne reached out and squeezed his arm. “I’m sorry.”

      He made up his mind. “The money is on its way. That should keep Crawford there for a few more days.” No point in worrying about things he couldn’t change, especially when this gave him a chance to change one important thing. “My leg will heal fine if I rest it. While I am here you will get shooting lessons from me. That way I can leave with a clear conscience knowing you won’t kill someone accidentally and end up in jail.” He went down the hall and up the stairs to have Linette pack the wound with the herbs.

      “They’ll do their work if you give them a chance,” Linette said. “I suggest you don’t move around much for a day or two.”

      “I’d sure like to sit in the sun.”

      She nodded. “That should be okay so long as you don’t put any weight on that leg. I’ll put a chair by the door.” He hopped down the stairs after her and sat beside the big doors. Being idle weighed heavily but at least he could watch people coming and going.

      Jayne and her friends passed the barn toward the bridge. They had said they were going exploring.

      He hoped the exploring didn’t involve a pistol. Surely she would wait for the lessons he’d promised... Unless she was too bullheaded to listen to reason.

      * * *

      Jayne pressed her lips together as she joined Mercy and Sybil. Seth was just like Eddie, barking out commands and expecting her to jump. Yes, she wanted to learn to shoot. But she would have liked it better if he’d offered rather than ordered. Like she’d kill anyone! Her eyes narrowed. Was he any different than her father, or Eddie or Oliver? Did he see her as simply a foolish young woman who needed him to protect her?

      She snorted. “I don’t need him protecting me.” She spoke the words aloud without regard to her friends.

      They stopped and waited for her to fall in between them.

      “Who?” Mercy demanded.

      “Why, Seth, of course,” Sybil said. “Jayne, accept it. There is something about you that brings out the chivalry in men.”

      “I don’t want chivalry.”

      Sybil made a protesting noise. “Who doesn’t want a man who is courteous and considerate, honorable and loyal?”

      “Put that way, I have to agree but he thinks he can order me around. He acts like he has to take care of me or I’ll cause a disaster.” She shuddered, remembering how her lack of action had caused a terrible death. “I don’t need a man taking care of me, thank you very much.”

      “What did he say?”

      “He said he would give me shooting lessons.”

      Mercy and Sybil ground to a halt. “Isn’t that what you want?”

      “Yes. But I’d like to be asked not told.” She wondered if her words sounded as petty to her friends as they did to her.

      “Either way, seems to me you’re getting a gift,” Mercy said. “The lessons you want from a man whose eyes darken when he looks at you.” She sighed dreamily.

      “They do not,” Jayne protested. At least Mercy hadn’t said Jayne’s eyes got all starry when she looked at him. As if they would. Seth was proving to be rather annoying and overbearing. “I don’t need that kind of man in my life.”

      “Oh?” Sybil’s voice was sweet. “What kind of man do you need?”

      “Right now? None. My heart is locked up tightly. I won’t open it again. It’s like asking to be hurt.”

      “You’ll change your mind about that one day,” Mercy said.

      “Nope. Not me. Now let’s go follow the river and see where it goes.”

      Sybil laughed. “It goes to the ocean. Are you planning to go that far?”

      She laughed at Sybil’s nonsense. “So maybe I’ll see where it comes from.”

      Sybil pointed toward the mountains. “From the snow up there.”

      “But it’s August. Surely the snow is all melted. So where does the water come from that keeps flowing past the ranch?”

      Mercy flung her arms wide. “Who cares? It’s a lovely day. Let’s enjoy it.”

      Jayne sighed her agreement. The sun glistened off the rugged mountains and dappled the deciduous trees. A gentle zephyr tickled her skin and danced along the grass. Birds rejoiced from every direction. She breathed deep. “It smells so good. Like the air is full of a thousand wild flowers.”

      They