RYAN WORRIED all day about his two men working on the Howe place. The new owner, Rodger Howe, hadn’t been a bad man. Just unknowledgeable. He’d visited Ryan several times to ask for advice. Ryan hadn’t minded. That was how a man learned. The fact that he’d learned at his grandfather’s and father’s knees from the time he was old enough to walk made him grateful and willing to share his knowledge.

But not with a city lady. He hoped she fed his men. She probably had only served them salads. That seemed to be the only thing city women knew to fix. He left word for the men to check in with him after they got back.

He ran into town to pick up Beth. He’d told his cousin he’d have someone to take care of Beth by the end of the week. He didn’t want her to lose a job opportunity that would pay her more money than he was paying her. Millie had used the excuse of her baby-sitting options to urge him to consider Florence and Mabel’s marriage suggestion.

All the way home he worried about how he was going to find someone to take care of Beth. When she started school, most of her day would be covered. Except for holidays and summer vacations. Damn. He might as well figure on a permanent housekeeper. A nice meal ready in the evenings would be a bonus. He occasionally even took Beth to the bunkhouse to eat. But, though they tried, the men would forget themselves and let loose an inappropriate word. Beth was old enough to notice now.

He fed her fast food again tonight while he waited for the men to report. Finally he called the bunkhouse. His manager answered.

“Steve, haven’t the guys gotten back yet?”

“Just got in, boss. I’ll send them right up.”

He tucked Beth into bed and stepped out on the back porch to wait for the men.

“Howdy, boss,” Doug said cheerfully. “Everything went fine today, though it’s sad that those men did so little work and then stole from them kids.”

“Hinney, you okay, too?”

“Yeah, boss, she’s a good cook. And she didn’t make fun of my name.”

“Good,” Ryan said, trying not to grind his teeth. “You can tell her you have to come home for lunch if you want.”

Both men jumped to their feet and yelled no, then suddenly sat back down, embarrassed by their reactions.

Ryan eyed them carefully. “She cooks that good, does she?”

Surprisingly, it was shy Hinney who answered. “Yeah, and she makes it all pretty. And she’s so pretty!” he added, his cheeks turning red.

Ryan definitely ground his teeth. “Tell me about the work,” he ordered sharply, unwilling to listen to any more praise about Ms. Suzanne McCoy.

When they finished their report, Ryan, though he already knew the answer, asked if they’d mind going again the next day. He got the answer he expected, a resounding agreement. He discussed with them what they would do the next day. Then he sent them off to the bunkhouse.

He stayed on the porch, his feelings torn. He hated to see the land and animals mistreated as they had been by that thieving crew. He was pleased his men were helping. But he wanted to keep his distance from a city woman…who could cook. Mercy, his men were eating better than he was!

He thought about her offer to baby-sit and share water in return for his help. If she weren’t so pretty, he might even consider it, but he was afraid he’d be easily caught by her beauty and then have his heart broken if he did any such thing.

Not that his wife had broken his heart. By the time she’d run away, he’d already realized his mistake. She hadn’t contributed much to his life except whining and complaining. And Beth. He was grateful she hadn’t taken Beth away with her.

But he wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. He thought about Ms. McCoy last night, in her black suit, her hair tortured into some kind of a knot. She didn’t belong here and she wouldn’t stay. So much for her.

He just had to wait for her to go back to the city and put the place up for sale. He’d buy it and increase his own place, with good water rights. He looked forward to the day.

SUZANNE ACTUALLY enjoyed the week. She enjoyed the domestic routine and the time spent with Josh and Mandy. She’d found a store in Cactus that carried educational materials and she’d bought several books for the children. Mandy loved to draw, and she was learning her colors. They were going to work on the alphabet next. And Josh was learning words, spelling them and sounding them out.

She loved cooking, especially for an appreciative audience, and the cowboys were definitely that. She’d tried several new recipes with great success. Cooking for hungry men was very rewarding.

She was also keeping the house clean and working on a budget she could submit to the lawyer who held the children’s finances. In fact, she was feeling very successful in her new life, except for one thing.

She hadn’t found any new employees. Not even one.

She occasionally wondered if Ryan Walker had told the neighbors not to help her. But they offered good advice, lots of sympathy and the ladies even brought desserts over.

Finally, on Thursday evening, she again made the trek to Ryan Walker’s ranch house. Again she dressed in a business suit, red this time. It was a power color, especially when combined with her red hair and brown eyes. She put on makeup for the first time since she’d last visited the Walker ranch. She bribed Al to stay with the children and headed west down the county road.

“Go west young man,” she muttered an old saying. “Why can’t some of Walker’s well-trained cowboys come east? I’d love to have Doug and Hinney working for me.”

She’d even considered offering them a bonus if they’d leave Ryan Walker, but she refused to stoop to that level. It was tempting.

She pulled into the driveway, noting the lack of lights, but she checked to discover the truck he drove was parked around back. She got out of her car and climbed the steps to the porch, knocking on the front door.

She thought there wasn’t going to be an answer, but the door slowly opened. She had to look down to find who’d opened it. “Beth!”

“Hi,” the little girl said, smiling at her.

Suzanne thought she was adorable, but as a responsible parent now herself, she knew it was dangerous to let children of this age answer the door. “Um, does your daddy know you answered the door?”

Beth shook her head no.

“Is he here?”

“He’s on the back porch, talking to Doug and Hinney,” Beth said.

That information caught Suzanne by surprise. Did the men report in each evening? That hadn’t occurred to her. “Well, why don’t you close the door and go back to bed, and I’ll walk around to the back porch, okay?”

“Okay,” Beth said and slammed the door shut. Suzanne heard little feet padding down the hall.

With a smile on her lips, she walked around the house, regretting wearing her high heels. When she got close she heard male voices talking, but she didn’t stop. She wasn’t going to listen in on a private conversation again. The last time, though enlightening, had led to a disaster.

Rounding the house, she came to a halt. “Mr. Walker?”

The three men on the porch had been casually sprawled in some chairs and they almost toppled over.

Ryan Walker immediately stood. “Ms. McCoy.” His stiff greeting obviously surprised the other two men.

“I’m sorry if I’m interrupting, but I need to talk to you.”

“How did you know I was back here?” he asked, his voice gruff, as if he were accusing her of sneaking around.

She looked him straight in the eye. “Beth told me when she answered the door.” She paused, then couldn’t resist adding, “I don’t consider that safe behavior for a child that young.”

The moment she’d said Beth’s name, his head had snapped around to the back door. “I’ll be right back,” he growled and stomped into the house.

“Hi, guys. You haven’t gotten in trouble for working for me, have you?”

“No, Miss Suzanne,” Doug said, grinning. “Boss might fire us if we keep putting on weight, though. Your cooking is so good, we’re getting fat.”

“Nonsense, you haven’t gained weight,” Suzanne assured them with a warm smile.

A stern voice said, “Flattery won’t persuade them to go to work for you, if that’s what you’re after.” Walker moved from out of the shadows to glare at her.

“I know,” she agreed, keeping her composure.

“But chocolate cake might,” Hinney said softly. Both cowhands laughed and Suzanne smiled, but Walker continued to glare.

The cowhands recognized danger when they saw it. “Uh, reckon we’ll go on to bed, boss, if we’re finished.” The two of them headed for the bunkhouse without waiting for their boss’s response.

“They were just teasing,” she said calmly, wishing that would be all it took to get a good staff. “I need to talk to you, Mr. Walker.”

With narrowed eyes, he waved to one of the chairs the cowboys had used. “Have a seat, Ms. McCoy.”

She did as he asked, but she was uncomfortable, and she didn’t think he was happy either. “You told me to have my problem solved by the end of the week.” She paused, but he didn’t say anything. “I haven’t found even one employee, Mr. Walker, and I’ve talked to everyone I’ve met or even heard of. It’s as if someone told them not to help me. Yet, they’ve brought us food, visited with me and the children, offered advice on every topic but one. All they can suggest about finding employees is to talk to Ryan Walker.”

Again he said nothing.

“I know you don’t care about helping me, but please think of those two little children who have already lost their parents. Must they lose their home also?” She bit her lip to hold back the tears that threatened.

“I’m not the one who’s telling everyone to send you to me. It’s those damn women!”

“What are you talking about?” she asked, irritated by his response.

“Mabel, Florence, Edith and Ruth. They’ve been arranging marriages around the county for several years now. First they got all their sons married. Then they started helping out their neighbors.”

“But surely they wouldn’t try to ruin us. That’s not fair to Josh and Mandy. Please, can’t you help us?”

“Lady, I don’t know of anyone to hire. If I did, I’d hire them myself. I’m shorthanded.”

“But you loaned me Doug and Hinney—”

“I know. I’m not stone-hearted. But I’ve got problems myself. I can’t spend all my time worrying about your problems.”

“If one of them is Beth, I’ll be glad to baby-sit her. My place is closer than town. It would save you some time.”

“Yes, it would. But I need someone to cook and clean my house, too. I’m going to hire a housekeeper.”

“Have you found one yet?”

“No. I’m getting the same treatment you are.”

“Oh.” Suzanne didn’t know what to say. Finally she asked, “So tomorrow is going to be the last day Doug and Hinney come to my place?”

He gave her an exasperated look. “Don’t stare at me with those big chocolate eyes. I don’t have any answers.”

“But—” she began. But he cut her off.

“Go home. I’ll do some thinking about it tonight. In the morning I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. Maybe I’ll even have an answer for you. Right now, I need to think.”

Since she had no other choice, Suzanne nodded and went back to her car. She drove back to the Howe ranch, trying to figure out what he’d meant. Life would be so easy if she could take on the job of housekeeper, taking Josh and Mandy with her to his house and coming back home at night. Maybe she’d suggest that tomorrow morning.

She actually relaxed as she realized that would take care of all their problems. She wouldn’t take a salary and he could take care of the ranch. It even sounded like a fair trade to her.

Okay, in the morning, she’d explain her inspiration and all her problems would be solved.

RYAN PACED the floor until late into the night. The fool thing about it was that Mabel and Florence’s solution was the best one. From what the men said, the McCoy woman was a great cook. She was doing a good job with the children, and the house appeared clean to them. All the things he needed.

She also seemed happy with her lot in life. She wasn’t planning on running back to the city. She’d told them she was staying for the children. He could place Beth in her care without a worry. All he had to do was let her into his life.

As painful as that sounded, he supposed he could do it for Beth’s sake. He’d be rewarded with a clean house, decent food and a happy Beth. He’d even get his fair share of sex. It had been a while since he’d—best not to think about that.

He finally accepted, at least in theory, that marrying Ms. McCoy would be the smart thing to do, but he still couldn’t picture himself going through with it. He saw himself in his dusty jeans and worn boots, watching a football game on a Sunday, while she sat beside him in one of her suits, her makeup perfect and her hair untouchable, reading book reviews and finding art galleries for them to visit.

Damn! He’d be miserable. And so would she. It was ridiculous!

Then he’d start the logic all over again, trying to convince himself that marriage to Suzanne McCoy was the right choice. By four in the morning, he was punch-drunk with lack of sleep. He decided to wait until six o’clock, another two hours, before he told her what he had decided. Then he could come home and fall in bed for a couple or three hours.

Until then, he would pace the floor some more.

Chapter Three

Suzanne had been getting up at six-thirty each morning, even though the children slept until seven. That gave her time to have their breakfast ready. It also meant she had a few minutes of silence to gather herself for the long day.

This morning she didn’t intend to change her routine, but a pounding on the front door at six had her leaping from the bed in a panic, afraid there was an emergency. She grabbed her robe and threw it on as she ran for the door.

She gave no thought to her appearance. Something was wrong. She needed to find out what and deal with it. She swung the front door open and came face-to-face with Ryan Walker.

“What’s wrong?” she asked urgently.

“Nothing,” he answered, his voice slightly slurred. “Everything’s all right.”

“Are you drunk?” she asked, staring at him.

“No. Just worn out. I haven’t been to sleep.” He leaned against the doorjamb and Suzanne thought he was going to fall.

“If nothing’s wrong, why are you banging on my door?”

“I said I would.”

Suzanne swept back her long hair and Ryan followed the gesture with his gaze, making Suzanne conscious of her appearance. “Come on in. I’ll get dressed and make us some coffee.”

He stumbled in and she led him to the kitchen. He sat down at the table and she quickly filled the coffeepot. Then she turned to excuse herself to go change and discovered him sound asleep.

“Mercy,” she muttered. According to her neighbors, this man was her savior, the key to her finding men to work the ranch. But she was beginning to think he was crazy. Without waking him, she hurried to her bedroom. Five minutes later, in her usual jeans and shirt, she began making a breakfast that would satisfy any man. Bacon, sausage, biscuits and scrambled eggs.

When she was finished, she dished it all up, with a steaming-hot cup of coffee, and awakened her gentleman caller.

“Mr. Walker, breakfast is ready.”

He raised his head and stared at her blankly.

“Drink some coffee,” she said, nudging the mug closer to him.

He did as she recommended. Then the full plate in front of him inspired him to pick up his fork and eat. He hadn’t had a breakfast like that in a long while. He didn’t speak again until the plate was empty and he was almost out of coffee.

She stood and picked up the coffeepot. He automatically stuck his cup out for it to be filled again.

“Good breakfast.”

“Thank you. I hope it helps you make sense. Why did you come pounding on my door at six o’clock? And is someone staying with Beth?”

He blinked several times. “Hinney is taking care of Beth. She likes him.”

“Good. Okay, now answer my question.”

“I give up.” His simple statement didn’t furnish her a clue, but he appeared to think it explained everything.

“I beg your pardon?”

She got up to refill her own cup, stalling for time to figure out what he meant. “I don’t understand.”

“I said I give up. You win.”

“So you realized what I thought of, too?” she asked, thinking he’d come to the same conclusion as she had. “Thank goodness. Now, I’ll come over every morning at seven and cook the children’s breakfast at once. Then, I’ll have dinner ready for you and Beth when you get in, and the kids and I will come home. It should work well.”

She jumped up to get some paper and a pen. She was a list-maker and this change in her lifestyle definitely called for a list. “I won’t come Saturdays, but you can bring Beth here if you want to for the day. That will give her a change of environment which I think will be good.”

He stared at her blankly. “You look different.”

That was enough of a non sequitur that it stopped Suzanne’s list-making. “What?”

“Where’s your suit?”

“You want me to wear a suit and heels to work as a housekeeper?” She couldn’t agree to such a ridiculous request.

He cocked his head sideways, his blue eyes looking cloudy, as if his eyesight was no clearer than his head seemed to be. “No. No suits.”

He seemed quite clear about that. “Fine, I didn’t want to wear a suit.” She returned to her list now that the suit thing had been settled. “Now, shall we start today? Or do you want to wait until Monday? Either way is fine with me. But we might run a little late today because I don’t have the children’s breakfast fixed.”

“Today? Nope. Wouldn’t be legal.”

Suzanne scratched her forehead. What was he talking about? “Do housekeepers require a license around here? Do I have to take a test? I assure you I can cook and clean. And I’m doing a good job with Josh and Mandy. Beth shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Need a license.”

“Uh, okay, I’ll take care of the license. Why don’t we wait until Monday to start? You go home and get some rest. Okay?” she asked, trying to keep a cheerful smile on her face.

“Okay,” he muttered and pushed himself from the table as if it took all his energy to move. “Good breakfast.”

“Thank you.”

She followed him to the front door, not at all sure he’d make that distance, but he seemed to get his second wind.

“Will you be able to drive?” she asked warily. She didn’t want to drive him home.

“Yeah. Okay.” Then he stumbled over to his truck, got behind the wheel and drove away.

Well, working for him would be strange, if he was like that all the time, but at least she’d found a way to save the kids’ inheritance. That was what counted.

Suzanne heard the children waking and hurried to the kitchen to fix their breakfast. When they’d finished eating, she told them she was going to work as Mr. Walker’s housekeeper and they would go with her each day.

“I suggest you take out your little suitcase, Josh, and pack a spare set of clothes and any of your favorite toys you might want for the day. We’re going to start going there on Monday. I’ll pack a little case for Mandy,” she added, smiling at the little girl.

“Me pack,” Mandy assured her. She was moving into the terrible twos, Suzanne had decided. She wanted to do everything herself.

“Fine, but first, I want you to practice your colors this morning. And Josh is going to practice his numbers. Okay? Go wash up and get everything we need.”

She cleared the dishes while they did their chores. She wondered if Beth had had any practice with her numbers or her letters. She’d have to see once they got started. But she’d have to proceed carefully. She wouldn’t want to upset the little girl. The drastic change in her routine was going to be difficult enough for her.

She began making her menu for lunch while the children finished their work. They had been working quietly for about an hour when the phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Suzanne, this is Mabel Baxter. Congratulations, I’m so happy for the two of you.”

Suzanne thought the woman was a bit effusive given the circumstances, but she was glad they’d worked things out, too. “Well, thank you, Mabel. Yes, I’m pleased.”

“You’ll need to get the license right away, you know.”

“Yes, that’s what Mr. Walker said.”

There was a distinct pause. “You call him Mr. Walker?”

“I guess I could call him Ryan, but I don’t want to be too forward.”

It sounded like the woman was choking.

“Mabel, are you all right?”

“Yes, of course, dear. I just wanted you to know that we’ll help. We’re quite experienced in these things.”

“Well, that’s very nice of you. An extra cake, or a pie occasionally would be greatly appreciated.”

Another small silence. Finally, Mabel said, “We’ll talk later dear, when you’re more organized.”

After saying goodbye, Mabel hung up the phone and Suzanne stared at her receiver. Finally she hung it up, too. Why had Mabel sounded so strange? She liked her. She’d visited her this week, along with Edith, one of the other ladies Mr. Walker had mentioned.

Would he want her to call him Ryan? In Dallas, most housekeepers called their employers by their last names. She didn’t want to appear too familiar. She’d best stick to Mr. Walker.

That settled, she continued with her planning.

IT WAS TEN AFTER THREE when Ryan finally woke up. He’d been wakened several times by Beth. He’d gotten up to fix her lunch, and another time to pour her a glass of water, but mostly he’d dozed. He felt much older than his thirty years when he forced himself awake as Beth shook his shoulder. “Daddy?”

“What, sugar?” he asked, slowly sitting up.

“I need a snack. Millie gives me cookies or something.”

“Uh, okay, sugar, I’ll find something for a snack.” He rolled out of bed, feeling a little more human than the last time he’d been disturbed.

Before he could reach their pantry, the phone rang. Beth screamed, “I’ll get it!”

He vaguely remembered a phone call when he’d just gotten back from the city lady’s place. Damn! He’d agreed to marry her! What was wrong with him? He decided he’d best answer the phone. “I’ve got it, Beth.”

“Hello?”

“It’s Mabel Baxter, Ryan. Remember you said you’d get the license today so we could hold the wedding Sunday?”

“Vaguely,” He muttered.

“Well, it’s already three-thirty and the county office closes at five. And I’m not sure the bride-to-be understands what’s going on. What did you tell her?”

“Mabel, I was up all night without any sleep. I may not have made myself clear.”

“You’d better have. We’re having a wedding Sunday afternoon. The whole town is pitching in.”

“Mabel, damn it! I told you not to make a big deal out of it.” In fact, he’d hoped to marry without anyone noticing.

“It may be your second time down the aisle, Ryan, but for that young lady it’s her first and only time. We want her to enjoy it.”

“Yeah, but I’ve got to go if I’m going to get the license in time.”

“I know. But don’t forget you’ll need her along with you,” Mabel warned him as he hung up the phone. He stood there for a minute. Then he dialed the number for Suzanne McCoy. When she answered, he didn’t even tell her who it was. “I’ll be there in ten minutes to take you to get a license.”

“But Ryan—I mean Mr. Walker—I called. There is no license needed for a housekeeper. But I promise I’m qualified.”

“We’re getting a license to get married. Be ready!” And he hung up the phone.

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