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  When they got there, however, the cattle drive was the furthest thing from her mind. It must have been the furthest thing from Jake’s, too. The moment she closed the door, he pushed her back against it and covered her mouth with his. She shoved her hands in his hair with a moan. Good heavens, had they only made love last night? It might as well have been an eternity.

  “I’ve been thinking of doing that all day,” she breathed.

  “Me, too.” He pulled her bottom lip into his mouth and gently sucked on it. “When I wasn’t thinking about putting you over my knee for that stunt you pulled.”

  She blinked up at him, feigning innocence. “What stunt?”

  “Wrangling that steer like you did.”

  “Oh. That.”

  “Yes. That.”

  “I wanted to show the men I can pull my own weight on the cattle drive.”

  He growled. “Well, it was dangerous. And if there hadn’t been anyone around, I would have reddened your gorgeous little ass on the spot.”

  The image made her knees weak. “There’s no one around now.”

  “There isn’t, is there?” His mouth twitched. “Good thing I brought my gloves.”

  Her pulse skipped a beat. How had he known?

  Giving her a grin, he spun her around to face the door and put his mouth close to her ear. “Bend over and lift up your skirt.”

  Trembling, Sadie hiked up her dress. Bracing one hand on the door, she leaned forward until her bare bottom was sticking out. Having already gotten a taste of the strap yesterday, she thought the supple leather gloves would feel much the same, but she was wrong. Unlike the strap, the gloves left behind a sharp sting like that of a bee, and she let out a startled yelp. Ouch.

  Jake barely let her catch her breath before delivering another slap. And another. And another. Sadie “oohed” and “aahed,” wiggling from side to side. The move made her pussy ache like crazy and she let out a whimper, hoping Jake would slip his free hand down to touch her. But he didn’t, the beast. He just continued to smack her derriere harder and harder with his gloves. She was just about to reach her hand between her legs to give herself some relief when someone knocked on the door.

  Sadie jerked upright with a gasp, backing away from the door until she was up against the hard wall of Jake’s chest.

  “Miss Sadie? Everythin’ okay in there?”

  Ned.

  Her face flamed. “Yes, Ned! We were just…just…”

  Dammit, why couldn’t she think of something?

  Jake reached around her to open the door. “Dealing with a pesky varmint.” He gave her a sidelong glance, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I had to give the feisty critter a few smacks to teach it a lesson.”

  A varmint was she?

  Ned looked from Jake to her and back again. “Oh. Well, I suppose everythin’s okay then.”

  Giving them a nod, Ned turned and walked down the hallway.

  She lifted a brow at Jake. “Varmint?”

  His mouth twitched. “Would you rather I told him what I was really doing?”

  Her blush must have been answer enough because Jake just chuckled and gestured toward the door. “After you.”

  Sadie didn’t know how she managed to sit on the bench beside Jake for the rest of the evening. And not because of the spanking he’d given her. Although that did have something to do with why she was so aroused. As much as she enjoyed the banter with the ranch hands, she wished they would go to bed so she and Jake could escape to her room. But none of the men looked as if they were headed in that direction anytime soon. Finally, she feigned a yawn and announced she was going to retire for the night, hoping they might do the same.

  The men all stood to bid her good night, which gave her the opportunity to whisper to Jake.

  “Will you come to my room after the men go to bed?”

  Jake inclined his head. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Sadie could hardly wait.

  She dressed for bed hurriedly so she’d be ready for Jake, but an hour later, she could still hear the men talking and laughing from her bedroom window. She plumped the pillow and flopped back on it with a groan. It would serve Jake right if she was asleep when he came in.

  Though she didn’t intend to, Sadie must have drifted off, because the next thing she knew, she jerked awake to the sound of gunfire. Dear God, someone was attacking the ranch. Not someone. Boone.

  Swearing under her breath, she threw on her robe, grabbed her six-shooter from the bedside table and ran for the door.

  Sadie rushed onto the front porch to see Ned and several ranch hands, including most of the new Arapaho additions, standing in the yard with rifles, ready to protect the house and her. She immediately looked around for Jake.

  “Where’s Jake?” she asked.

  Ned barely glanced at her. “He’s out there, wherever the ruckus is comin’ from.”

  “Why aren’t you and the rest of the men out there with him?”

  “He told us there might be trouble for the next few nights, and that if there was, he’d be the one ridin’ out while we kept an eye on the house. And you. He wanted to make sure no one went ridin’ out into the night without thinkin’. It could get them shot by mistake.”

  Meaning her, no doubt. Sadie tightened her grip on her pistol. “Is he alone?”

  “No. He’s out there with some of the Arapaho.”

  That made her feel a little better. But not much. She didn’t breathe easy until Jake came riding out of the dark a good thirty minutes later, two Indians at his side. She searched his face, looking for any indication he might have been hurt. But from the way he casually cradled his rifle in his right hand and guided his horse with his left, it didn’t seem like he’d been injured, thank heavens. He looked so relaxed it was hard to imagine he might have been in a gunfight a few minutes ago.

  Sadie hurried out to meet him as he got down from his horse. “What happened?”

  “A couple men tried to burn down one of the outbuildings. They were skulking around out there for almost two hours, working their way closer and closer.”

  Two hours ago, she was bent over her desk in the office getting thrashed with a pair of heavy leather gloves.

  “There was never any danger of them setting fire to the building since Dakota here—” He motioned to the young Arapaho beside him. “—had been tracking them the whole time.”

  “Did you kill them?” she asked, not sure if she really wanted the answer to that.

  He shook his head. “No. Just winged them. I thought it would be best to let them go back and tell Boone we aren’t going to be an easy target anymore.”

  The cavalier way he said it scared her a bit. Like he expected things to get a lot worse before this was over.

  As the rest of the men gathered by the barn to talk, Sadie stepped closer to Jake. “Are you hurt? Boone’s men didn’t try to shoot you, did they?”

  Jake’s expression softened, and for a moment she thought he was going to do something completely inappropriate—and sweet—like brush her hair back from her face or cup her cheek. But he only smiled. “I’m fine. Why don’t you go back to bed and get some sleep? I don’t think Boone would be bold enough to try anything else tonight, but the hands and I will patrol the ranch just in case. You’ll be safe.”

  She wasn’t afraid for herself. She was afraid for him and the rest of the men. “Be careful.”

  Clenching her fists so she wouldn’t give in to the urge she had to wrap her arms around him, Sadie turned and went back inside the house.

  Chapter Eight

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  JAKE HATED WASTING time running into town for some last minute supplies, especially when they still had so much to do before they left for Cheyenne. Wayne and Brody, the two ranch hands he’d brought along, were sharp as tacks, but there were certain things on the list he wanted to tend to personally.

  He and everyone else on the ranch had busted their asses for the past two days and the herd was just about ready to go. It’d been t
ough, no denying it. Between bringing in the longhorns from the outlying grazing lands, branding those that weren’t already marked, then staying up most of the night riding patrols around the ranch, he was beat. There’d been one other incident involving Boone’s men last night, but Wayne and Dakota had intercepted them miles from the ranch. The idiots obviously hadn’t learned anything from the previous night. They were sitting on their horses bold as you please, laughing about the surprise “that Buchanan bitch” was going to get when they cut the fences around the cattle that had been herded for the drive and started a stampede. If Jake had been there, he probably would have killed the men for talking about Sadie like that. He’d given the men patrolling orders to wound, not kill, though, so Wayne and Dakota had aimed for their legs. That had sent the men scurrying off in a damn hurry.

  Jake hadn’t mentioned the episode to Sadie. She had enough to fret about. Not only was she worried about what would happen if they didn’t get the herd to Cheyenne and the men who might be hurt on the journey, but she also worried about the ranch and all the men who’d be staying behind. This cattle drive could make or break her ranch in so many ways. In addition to bringing in some sorely needed money, it would also put Boone firmly in his place. Winning ten-thousand acres of prime riverside grazing land wouldn’t hurt either. But if something happened to the men who worked for her because of it, Sadie would never forgive herself.

  Jake’s hands tightened on the reins. Dammit, he wished he could do more to reassure her. But other than a few stolen kisses when no one was looking, he hadn’t had many opportunities to be alone with her. It was driving him crazy, and seemed to be doing the same to her. This morning at breakfast, she’d looked a little desperate when he mentioned he was going into town instead of riding out with her and the others to gather up any stragglers who’d wandered away from the herd.

  Unable to help himself, he’d let his hand run across her ass and hip before he’d mounted his horse. Sadie had shivered and looked at him with such desire in her eyes he almost said to hell with the supply run and taken her back to the hay shelter. He had to get her alone somewhere—soon.

  As Jake and the other men rode into town, people slanted him a look from the corner of their eyes when they thought he wasn’t looking. No doubt they’d heard about Sadie standing up to Harlan Boone and the crazy bet she’d made with him. While the townsfolk might want the land baron taking down a peg or two, they also feared how bloody the feud might get. Even so, more than one merchant gave him a nod and a wink after he’d made his purchases.

  Jake was just finishing up loading the wagon with Wayne and Brody when a man walked up to them. Short with a ruddy face, he glanced briefly at the two ranch hands before focusing on Jake.

  “Can I have a word with you?” The man’s gaze went to the two ranch hands again. “Alone.”

  Jake gave Wayne and Brody a nod, then followed the man a little ways down the street.

  “I work for Harlan Boone,” the man said. “My boss wants to talk to you about a business proposition.”

  Jake’s eyes narrowed. He’d been wondering when this was going to happen. The bad guys always figured they could buy him off. It happened in every town he’d been in. What the hell had taken Boone so long?

  He walked back over to where Wayne and Brody were waiting. They both eyed Boone’s man warily.

  “You fellas go on back to the ranch with the supplies,” Jake said. “I’m going to stop by Harlan Boone’s.”

  Wayne frowned. “Don’t you think one of us should go with you?”

  “Yeah,” Brody agreed. “I wouldn’t put it past that bastard to try something.”

  Neither did Jake. Which was why he wanted Wayne and Brody to go back to the ranch. “I can take care of Boone.”

  Down the street, Boone’s man was already on his horse and looking a tad bit impatient. Ignoring the urge to keep him waiting, Jake mounted up and rode out to meet him.

  The man didn’t say much on the way to Boone’s ranch, and Jake knew better than to try to get any information out of him. He’d find out what the land baron wanted soon enough.

  When they got to Boone’s ranch, the man led him to the same study where Sadie had made that infernal bet a few nights ago. Boone was staring out the window, a cigar in his hand. His eldest son, Charles, was beside him, a frown on his petulant face. Guess he didn’t like daddy inviting Jake out to the ranch for a talk.

  “Mr. Wagner.” Harlan Boone closed the distance between them, hand out. “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”

  Boone’s hand was soft and free of the callouses that came from hard work. Another strike against him.

  “I understand you have a business proposition for me,” Jake said.

  “I do indeed.” The big man gestured to the sideboard. “Can I offer you a cigar, or a glass of whiskey perhaps?”

  “No.”

  Boone’s mouth tightened at Jake’s curt tone, but then his smile returned. He gestured to the wingback chairs near one bookcase. “Have a seat.”

  Jake picked the chair that gave him the best view of the door and sat. Boone took the other. Charles glared at him.

  “I’ve done some research on you, Mr. Wagner. You come with a mighty big reputation for a man your age.” Boone puffed on his cigar. “People say you’d as soon shoot a man as look at him.”

  Jake lifted a brow. “Do they?”

  “They do.” The man regarded him thoughtfully. “They also say you recognize the value of money when you see it.”

  Jake didn’t say anything.

  Boone cleared his throat. “Some of my men have been injured as of late while they were out riding. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

  “Can’t say that I do,” Jake said. “But I’ve learned if men go riding somewhere they’re not wanted, they usually get shot sooner or later.”

  “I’m sure the sheriff would be interested to hear that,” Charles said.

  “I doubt it.” Jake’s mouth edged up. “From what I saw the other night, Sheriff Ennis strikes me as the kind of man who’d rather ignore uncomfortable information such as that.”

  Boone took a long drag on his cigar. “Come work for me and I’ll double whatever Sadie Buchanan is paying you.”

  Jake got to his feet. “Not interested.”

  Boone swore under his breath. “Fine. I’ll triple it!”

  Jake gave him a hard look. “You could pay me ten times as much, and I still wouldn’t be interested.”

  Charles snorted. “I told you that you’d be wasting your time, Father.”

  Smart ass. Jake wanted to wipe that smug expression off the younger Boone’s face. “Guess you’re not as dumb as you look, Junior.”

  Charles surged to his feet, his face red. “You want to know what else I’m right about? The real reason you’re working for that Buchanan bitch is because she’s spreading her legs for you.”

  Jake ground his jaw. He’d let Junior get away with insulting him, but he’d be damned if that bastard or anyone else was going to talk about Sadie that way. Balling his hand into a fist, he took two long strides and punched the man in the mouth.

  Charles hit the floor with a thud. One hand cradling his sore jaw, he went for his pistol with the other. Jake had his boot on the man’s wrist before he could get the weapon halfway out of the holster. Then he drew his own gun, pointed it at the bastard’s head and cocked it.

  Harlan Boone jumped to his feet at the same time the door burst open and four of his men rushed into the room, guns drawn.

  “Tell them to stand down, Boone, or I shoot Junior here,” Jake ordered.

  Harlan swore. “Don’t be a fool, man. You don’t seriously think you can kill all of us and walk out of here alive, do you?”

  “I didn’t say I could. But my first shot will kill your son. The second will kill you. After that, it’s just extra gravy on the side.”

  Boone hesitated for so long, Jake thought he might call his bluff, but then he waved his hand at his men
. “Put your weapons away. Now!”

  Jake waited an extra second or two after the men holstered their guns before removing his foot from the younger Boone’s wrist. Charles sneered at Jake, but didn’t get up from the floor. Probably because Jake kept his gun pointed at him as he backed toward the door.

  “You gentlemen have a good day, you hear?”

  Harlan Boone didn’t return the sentiment.

  *

  SADIE SPOTTED WAYNE and Brody as soon as she rode up to the barn. She looked around for Jake, but didn’t see him. Leaving the ranch hands she’d ridden out with earlier to reunite the few remaining longhorns they’d brought in with the herd going to Cheyenne, she jumped off her horse and hurried over to the two men.

  “Where’s Jake?” she asked.

  Wayne exchanged looks with Brody. “He went over to Harlan Boone’s place.”

  “Boone.” She frowned. “Whatever for?”

  “One of Boone’s men was waiting for us when we came out of the general store,” Brody explained. “Said Boone wanted to see Jake.”

  The air backed up in her lungs. “And you let him go there alone?”

  “We would have gone with Jake, but he told us to bring the supplies back here.” Wayne shrugged. “Said he could handle Boone.”

  She swore under her breath. Fool man. His idea of handling Boone could get him killed. “Round up the men. We’re going to Boone’s ranch.”

  While Wayne and Brody did that, Sadie ran into her study to grab her gun belt. Thankfully, she didn’t run into Isabella. No doubt the housekeeper would have tried to stop her and Sadie didn’t have time for that. The woman might approve of Sadie attending that toad’s ball, but she’d almost certainly draw the line at getting into a gunfight with the man.

  As they rode to Boone’s ranch, Sadie’s heart thudded so loud she could hear it over the horses’ hoofs. What if that bastard had already killed Jake? The thought hurt so much she could barely breathe. She hadn’t known Jake for very long—okay, hardly at all—but he was important to her in a way no man had ever been.