Page 20 of Fairest of Heart

Titus grinned. “We better get you some breakfast.”

She laughed, and her gray eyes danced, reminding him of the carefree girl he’d met yesterday. “I’ll try not to eat you out of house and home.”

“The Diamond D feeds a crew of seven every day. You could eat for a month and not put a dent in their stores.”

“I don’t plan to impose on you that long, I promise.”

A pang of disappointment ricocheted inside his chest at her vow. Which was ridiculous. It wasn’t like he was going to be around the Diamond D after today anyway. Her staying or leaving had no bearing on him.

“As soon as I find employment, I’ll be out of your hair.”

“It’s not my hair that matters,” Titus said, his voice a little sharper than it should have been. “I’m riding back to Ranger headquarters today. My grandfather, Enoch Kingsley, runs the Diamond D. Everyone calls him Doc on account of his being a retired physician. He’ll be your host.” He tipped his head toward the graybeards behind him. “Him and the rest of the geezer gang.”

Her shoulders drooped slightly. “Oh.”

“They’re good men. Godly men. Every one of ’em. They have more than their fair share of quirks and oddities, but you’ll be safe with them. Once you’ve recovered, they’ll take you wherever you need to go.”

He’d make sure of it. Leave some money for her. Enough to buy her a dress and a train ticket if she had family somewhere to return to.

Her stomach rumbled again, his cue to quit jawin’ and get back to work. Lifting the blanket between them, he fingered his hat brim in a salute. “We’ll get your strips torn and fit you with poor man’s moccasins in a jiffy, ma’am.”

Before those pale gray eyes of hers could mesmerize him further, Titus jogged back to where the others waited. Waited with smirks and knowing glances. Thankfully, none of them gave voice to any of their teasing thoughts—probably out of respect for the woman standing less than a stone’s throw away—but more than one elbow knocked against his ribs as he handed them the edges of the blanket, then pulled out his knife.

Ignoring the silent ribbing and the heat crawling up the back of his neck, Titus began issuing orders. “Ike, why don’t you and Dusty head on back to the ranch and let Doc know to expect company?”

“Sure thing, Titus.”

Ike nodded, but instead of taking off down the path as expected, the affable fellow walked over to the woman, pulled off his hat, and held it over his heart as if he were pledging fealty to a medieval princess. Dusty traipsed behind his partner and followed his example.

“I just wanted to say how very sorry I am, miss, that you underwent such misfortune,” Ike said. “And I want you to know that as long as you are at the Diamond D, I’ll make it my personal duty to see that nothing so shameful happens to you again.”

By gum. He was pledging fealty.

“That goes for me, too, ma’am.” Dusty dipped his chin. “You ever need anything, you just call on old Dusty.”

Before Titus knew what was happening, each of the other drovers marched forward and made similar promises. Even Rowdy stopped his acorn hunt long enough to touch the lady’s shoulder. When she turned her gaze upon him, he crossed his right arm over his chest in a show of loyalty.

Besotted fools. They’d ribbed him for falling temporarily under her spell, but they were the smitten ones. Even Jeb managed to sound less surly than usual when he mumbled a few words to the girl.

Titus stood apart, determined not to soften. He’d do his duty, get the girl to safety, and see to her well-being, but he’d not follow in his brother’s footsteps and let a pretty face and winsome figure steal his good sense.

Yet as the others made their vows, the girl was the one who softened. Tears welled in her eyes, making them shimmer like twin ponds bathed in summer moonlight.

“You all are so kind. I’m . . . overwhelmed.” Her voice caught, and she wiped at her eyes. “Thank you.” She stepped forward and touched the wrangler’s arm. “Dusty.” Then she turned to the thin man beside him. “And . . . ?”

“Ike, miss.”

“Ike.” She repeated the name in a way that gave the impression she was committing it to memory.

She made her rounds through all the drovers, thanking each man by name. Rowdy had wandered off, but she didn’t let that stop her. She picked her way over to where he had squatted down to examine something near a tangle of exposed tree roots. She bent forward, bracing her hands on her knees.

“And Rowdy.”

He paused long enough to look up at her.

“Thank you most of all. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be alone in a strange place with no idea how to survive on my own.” She bent closer to him and then did the oddest thing.

She kissed the top of Rowdy’s head.