Kitabı oxu: «The Rancher's Hand-Picked Bride»

Chapter One

Gwendolen Murphy, known to friends and foes alike as Gwen, grimaced distastefully as she turned onto Logan property. It had taken her nearly an hour to get here from Lubbock and the ranch house was another half a mile from the main road. The Texas heat was oppressive and halfway there her air-conditioning had decided not to work. Her short chestnut hair was damp with perspiration and beginning to curl into little ringlets, the back of her shirt where it rested against the seat was wet and her jeans were clinging with an uncomfortable heaviness. But the physical discomfort wasn’t what was gnawing at her.

Coming back to this small bit of Texas brought too many unhappy memories. The tiny frame house she and her mother had lived in was on property that abutted the Logan ranch. Just driving past the place where she’d spent her childhood had sent a cold chill down Gwen’s spine. Memories of her two stepfathers interspersed between her mother’s boyfriends, the smell of liquor in the house all of the time, her mother passed out on the couch, had assailed her. Her mother hadn’t been a bad woman, just a weak one. Something Gwen had vowed never to be.

And then there was Jess Logan. Since grade school, she and Jess had harbored a mutual dislike. It was, she knew, more her doing than his. Even at that young age, her reaction to him had been defensive. He’d stirred emotions within her that made her uneasy, and the distrust of men she’d learned from watching her mother had fed that uneasiness. As a result, she’d rejected his initial offer of friendship and from then on both had avoided each other whenever possible. Still, the uneasy effect he had on her had been constantly there, deep inside, a nagging something she’d worked hard to kill. When she’d moved to Lubbock following her mother’s death, she’d figured he was one thorn that was out of her life for good.

“I don’t know why I agreed to come,” she grumbled. But that wasn’t true. She’d come because Morning Hawk, Jess’s great-grandmother, had summoned her. There were those who thought the old woman was a few bales short of a full load. Others were intimidated by her. And they all had good reason. Morning Hawk could be enigmatic and cantankerous, but Gwen owed her. It was a debt that dated back to Gwen’s early teens…and was the only time, until today, that Gwen had ever had any contact with Morning Hawk.

Parking in front of the ranch house, she saw the elderly, pure-blooded Apache, small, bent and looking withered with age, sitting in a rocking chair on the porch. As Gwen left the car and mounted the short flight of steps, Morning Hawk rose to greet her.

“I have a quest for you,” the woman said without any preamble.

Gwen felt as if she’d stepped back in time about a hundred years. “A quest?”

Morning Hawk motioned for Gwen to follow her into the house. It was a large, well-maintained home, furnished comfortably. More upscale than most ranch houses, but then the Logans could afford it. Oil had been struck on their land several years earlier. But in spite of the enormous added income the find had produced, it was still a working ranch. Jess’s father had died years earlier. His two brothers had followed in their father’s footsteps and become Texas Rangers. Jess had been the one who had stayed home to run the ranch for his mother. Gwen hoped he was out on the range and would stay there until she was gone.

“Come along.” Morning Hawk took her by the arm and guided her down a hallway. Stopping in front of a closed door, Morning Hawk knocked sharply, then opened the door and, with Gwen still in tow, entered.

Seated at the desk in the study punching buttons on a computer keyboard was Jess Logan. Half-Apache, his Native American heritage was strong in his rugged features. His muscular build and callused hands gave evidence that a great deal of his time was spent in manual labor. Gwen had to fight down the urge to turn and run. Silently she cursed herself. In spite of all the effort she’d put into trying to rid herself of this effect he had on her, it was as strong as ever.

Jess frowned at his great-grandmother. “You said you had someone coming this morning it was important I meet with.”

His tone told Gwen she didn’t fall into that category. Well, he wasn’t on her list of people she wanted to see either.

“Remember your manners,” Morning Hawk admonished. She motioned for the two of them to be seated as she seated herself.

Neither obeyed.

“I don’t believe there is anything Miss Murphy and I have to discuss.” Jess headed to the door, adding over his shoulder, “I’ve got work to do.”

“Jess Logan, you will sit down,” Morning Hawk commanded. “And listen to what I have to say.”

Outwardly, Gwen kept her expression blank. Inwardly, she couldn’t help but smile at the way this order from such a tiny old shriveled woman stopped the mountain of a cowboy in his tracks.

“All right, I’ll give you five minutes,” he grumbled, taking his seat behind the desk.

Her curiosity overcoming her discomfort in Jess’s presence, Gwen seated herself without protest. Morning Hawk knew of the animosity between Gwen and her grandson. Everyone did. They just didn’t know why it existed. Even Jess, Gwen knew, had been stunned by the intensity with which she’d rejected his offer of friendship. But Gwen wasn’t willing to reveal to anyone how much she feared the very womanly sensations his presence evoked. She didn’t even like admitting them to herself. In the end, people, Jess included, had decided that it was one of those chemistry things—like oil and water or opposite poles of a magnet that repelled each other. So why would the elderly Apache insist on having the two of them in the same room together?

Morning Hawk turned her full attention to Gwen. “I understand you run a very personalized investigative service. You are hired by people who aren’t certain they can trust the man or woman they are dating and want to know the whole truth about them?”

Her intonation made her words a question and Gwen elaborated on the service she provided. “In today’s world, people move around a great deal. That makes it easy for a person to change their past to suit their present needs. And then there’s the Internet. Someone from New York might meet a person from Alaska online and begin a long-distance romance, but how does either one know the other is telling the truth? They don’t. So one or the other hires me to find out.”

Morning Hawk nodded approvingly as if to say what she had just been told was what she had wanted to hear. “So in a way you are a matchmaker.”

“More of a match breaker, usually,” Gwen corrected. “You would be amazed by the lies people will tell to deceive others.”

“No. No, I would not. And that brings me to the reason I arranged this meeting.” Morning Hawk turned her attention to Jess. “It is time you took a wife.”

Jess shook his head. “I knew you were up to something when you started humming as soon as Mom and Grandma left for California to visit Uncle Crow. I’ll get married when I’m good and ready. And right now, I’m just not ready to take that step.”

“You’re twenty-nine, that’s old enough to be good and ready,” Morning Hawk returned.

Jess frowned. “Why this sudden interest in my marital status? Both of my brothers were older than I am now when they got married.”

“I’m getting on in years. I want to see you happily settled before I pass on.” Morning Hawk returned her attention to Gwen. “And that’s where you come in. I want you to find him a wife.”

Gwen’s eyes rounded in shock while her stomach knotted tightly. “You want me to find him a wife?”

Jess’s frown darkened until it reminded Gwen of thunderclouds gathering the sky. “I’ll find my own wife.”

“You’re too busy running this ranch for your mother and overseeing the family’s oil interests. And,” Morning Hawk added sharply, “I didn’t care at all for that last floozy you were seeing. She made me question your taste or, at least, the places where you meet women.”

“Floozy?” Jess questioned pointedly. “Are you talking about Jeanette Harrison, our neighbor’s daughter? She speaks four languages. She’s traveled all over the world and she has a personal fortune of her own. I don’t believe floozy is a fair description.”

“Well, she’d never be happy living here. That socialite mother of hers has made certain that no Texas dust settled on her daughter. You need a woman who will love this land and this kind of life as much as you do.”

Jess’s gaze leveled on his great-grandmother. “I will choose the kind of woman I want to marry.”

Morning Hawk stared back at him. “I can be just as hardheaded as you.”

“More,” he muttered under his breath.

“This is important to me. I rarely ask you to do something for me, but I’m asking now. Let Gwen find three women who fit both your criteria and mine. Take them out. Get to know them. If none of them appeals to you, I will feel that I have, at least, done my best.”

For a long moment Jess made no response. Then in an easy drawl, he said, “I want your word that if I do this, you will never interfere in my private life again.”

“You have my word.”

Gwen had watched from the sidelines with dry amusement. She knew Morning Hawk’s reputation for getting what she wanted, but she also knew how stubborn Jess could be and had no doubt he would win out. Suddenly realizing that he was conceding to his great-grandmother’s wishes, her amusement vanished. “Now, wait. Wait just one minute,” she blurted. “Finding a wife is a lot more difficult than investigating someone. I really don’t think I’m the person for this job.”

Morning Hawk smiled at her. “Of course you are. I trust you. You’re a good, decent person and I know you will do an excellent job.”

Jess smiled cynically. “What Gwen means is that she doesn’t think she can find a woman who’d put up with me.”

Morning Hawk’s gaze swung back to him. “Considering the way you behave sometimes, I can’t blame her. But I know you better than she does. You’ll make a fine husband…provided she finds a woman who knows how to handle you.”

“I really can’t take this job,” Gwen insisted, rising from her chair.

Morning Hawk rose, too, and laid a hand on Gwen’s arm. “But you must. You’re the only one I would trust with such a quest. Even though you and my great-grandson obviously have a strong personality clash that has prevented you from being friends, you’re an honest person who would do her best, no matter what the circumstances.”

“I’m not a matchmaker.”

“Let me talk to Gwen alone,” Jess interjected.

“It won’t do any good.” Gwen edged toward the door. She was uncomfortable being in the same room with Jess Logan. The last thing she wanted was to be alone in one with him.

Challenge showed in Jess’s eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid…not the leather-tough lady who can handle every problem on her own.”

Gwen’s shoulders straightened with defiance. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I’m not afraid of you.”

“Behave yourselves,” Morning Hawk ordered, heading to the door.

Gwen barely heard, her gaze locked with Jess’s, blocking out nearly everything else. When Jess was angry or determined, his dark brown eyes turned nearly black, intimidating his opponents into submission, but she was equally determined that no man, not even Jess Logan, was going to intimidate her. “You can talk until you’re blue in the face,” she said the moment the door closed behind Morning Hawk, “but I’m not taking this job.”

Breaking his gaze from hers, Jess drew a terse breath. “Look, I don’t like this any better than you do, but when my great-grandmother sets her mind to something, she can make a person’s life miserable until she gets her way. I’ll pay you ten thousand dollars to find three reasonably pleasant women for me to take out on a couple of dates each. That way, I’ll have lived up to my end of the bargain and Morning Hawk will have to live up to hers.”

“I’m not interested in taking your money.”

Jess scowled. “Next to my great-grandmother, you are the most stubborn, bullheaded woman I’ve ever known. No, I take that back. You’re even more stubborn and bullheaded than she is.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve business elsewhere.” Gwen started to the door, inwardly relieved that she’d delivered her exit line and could be on her way.

But before she had gone two paces, Jess’s hand closed around her arm, bringing her to a halt. His calluses were rough against her skin but instead of feeling abrasive, they caused an intense sensual stirring deep within. She rebelled against this sensation. I am not my mother, she seethed at herself. Aloud she snapped, “Let go of me,” and attempted to twist free.

Jess released her and held up his hand in a sign of peace. “Okay, okay. I didn’t want to turn this into another of our skirmishes. All I want is to pacify Morning Hawk.” A dry smile curled one corner of his mouth. “And save you some trouble. She’s got her mind set on you doing this for her and she’ll pester you until you do. Believe me, I know.”

Gwen held her arms stiffly at her sides, fighting the urge to rub off the lingering effect of his touch while she considered his words. She guessed he was right. It was common knowledge that when Morning Hawk set her mind to something, it remained set. Besides, she did owe the woman for talking her out of doing something that could have proved to be very foolish. This would clear up that debt, then she would never have to have anything to do with any of the Logans or their kin again. “Okay,” she agreed grudgingly. “But I won’t take your money. I’ll bill your grandmother for my time like I would any other client. And,” she added firmly, “I’ll do my best to find suitable candidates. I hope you’ll treat them with respect.”

“I always treat women with respect.”

Gwen gave him a dry look, then strode out of the room. A curl of guilt wove through her. The skeptical glance she’d tossed at him had been unfair. The truth was she had no reason to doubt his statement. In fact, she had every reason to accept it as fact. She’d never known him to treat anyone with disrespect unless they deserved it.

Morning Hawk was waiting on the porch. “Well, will you accept my quest?”

“I’ll find three candidates.”

Morning Hawk grinned widely. “I’m sure you’ll seek out the perfect wife for my great-grandson.” Her manner became businesslike. “Do you want to move in tonight or wait until tomorrow?”

Gwen stared. “Move in?” she finally managed to choke out.

“Well, of course. You have to get to know Jess before you can find a match for him.”

“I don’t think getting to know him will prove useful. You can both just give me a list of criteria and I’ll go from there.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. To do the job right will require much more knowledge than what we can put on paper.”

“Really, Great-Grandma.” Jess stepped out onto the porch. Obviously he’d been listening from the hall and decided that his intervention was necessary. “There’s no reason for Gwen to move in.”

“This is your life. She must understand it and you to find the right woman for you.”

It was clear to Gwen from the expression on Jess’s face that he didn’t like the idea of her living under his roof any more than she did. “I’m sure Jess has a very good idea of the wife he wants. He can simply describe her to me and I’ll go from there.”

“Fantasies never work out well. He needs a real woman who will fit into his life.” Morning Hawk’s tone became sterner. “And not one who’s simply after his money.”

“I’m not stupid enough to be taken in by a gold digger,” Jess growled.

Morning Hawk tossed him an indulgent look. “Any man can be taken in by a pretty face and good figure. And that’s what the service Gwen provides will protect against. She goes beyond face value. Anyone she finds for you will be trustworthy as well as fit your requirements.”

Jess breathed a resigned sigh. “She can move in today. The sooner we get started, the better.”

“I really d—” Gwen started to protest.

“A person could get the idea that you’re afraid of sharing the same roof with me,” Jess cut her off, challenge again in his eyes.

Gwen’s shoulders stiffened. “I’m most certainly not intimidated by the likes of you, Jess Logan.” Heading to her car, she added over her shoulder, “I’ll go get my things and be back in a couple of hours.”

Driving away, she glanced in her rearview mirror to see Jess stalk back into the house. She rolled her eyes toward the heavens. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Abruptly, a crooked grin tilted one corner of her mouth. She wasn’t alone. Both she and Jess Logan had been manipulated by Morning Hawk. And the thought of him being maneuvered into a corner by the elderly woman made the situation laughable. Almost laughable, she corrected, reminding herself that she was in the same corner.