She laughed and Reynolds joined her.
“To be honest, we haven’t made a formal decision about the job yet, Mrs. Masters,” he said. “There’s some concern that you’ll get married before the term ends. You do realize there’s a substantial pay penalty if that happens?”
“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that,” she said. “I have no intention of marrying, Mr. Reynolds. I very much like the idea of being self-sufficient. That’s why I’m so interested in the house.”
“Yes, well, I’m sure you’d do a wonderful job,” he said, nodding and smiling at her.
Wade had to keep himself from grinding his teeth—she had every man who met her crawling at her feet and she didn’t even realize it. Half the town would be all over her the moment she moved into that house.
her the moment she moved into that house.
“Do you really think it’s a good idea for a woman to live alone like that?” he asked Reynolds, ignoring the daggers she shot at him with her eyes. “When we built the house, it was with the understanding that there would be a schoolmaster—a man— living there. Texas is a dangerous place for a woman alone. Not only that, nobody’s lived there for several years now. Is it even habitable?”
Reynolds frowned, and shook his head.
“I don’t think it’s in that bad a shape,” he said. “But you’re right about a woman living alone. Perhaps I should talk to the board about it.”
“Surely it’s safe,” Catherine said, giving him a winsome smile. “It’s in the heart of town, not far from where you live, Mr. Reynolds. I can’t imagine any woman would feel unsafe there. In fact, I believe I’m probably in more danger out at the ranch. Sometimes the men are gone for weeks at a time, and I’m left to fend for myself.”
Wade narrowed his eyes at her. He’d never left her alone for weeks. There were always ranch hands around, and his father.
“I think you’re exaggerating,” he said. “You probably have no idea how unsettled this area still is.”
“I know I lived here all through the war,” she said. “You men were gone, and the women were left to keep the town running. It didn’t dry up and blow away, now did it?”
He opened his mouth to retort, but Reynolds stepped between them, looking slightly alarmed.
“I don’t think we need to settle this here and now,” he said, his voice sounding a little strained. “Mrs. Masters, I’m sure you’re perfectly capable of running your own household. We’ll have to discuss the situation at the board meeting. Will you be attending the spring social and dance next week?”
“Of course,” she said, looking quickly to Wade. “That is, unless the countryside is too dangerous for me to travel?” She arched one delicate brow at him, challenging him.
“We’ll be there,” Wade said, his voice gruff. Somehow he felt like he was the loser in this little exchange, although he wasn’t quite sure how or why.
“Wonderful, I’ll let you know then,” Reynolds said. “Good day to both of you.”
He tipped his hat and left. Catherine looked up at Wade, her eyes cold and hard. “What did you say to him before I got here?” she asked. He took her arm and started walking her out of the office. For a moment it seemed like she might fight him, but then she realized that they still had an audience, albeit a small one. She let him walk her back toward the wagon before she started speaking again.
“I swear to God, Wade, if you told him something to keep him from hiring me, I’ll make you wish you were never born!”
“Sometimes you make me wish that already,” he replied, feeling the blood start to pound in his head. “So I guess that’s sort of an empty threat. For your information, the only thing I told him was that we’d miss you out on the ranch. Oh, and that I thought you might not make it through the term without getting married.”
“How could you say that to him?” she demanded, turning from him and shaking off his touch. “I want that job, Wade. I need it.”
“Because it’s the truth,” he replied. “You won’t make it through the term. I’m going to marry you before then.”
“Wade, you may not realize this, but we don’t live in a monarchy and you are not the king. You don’t get to marry a woman unless she agrees to it.”
“Oh, you’ll agree to it,” he replied. “I’ve never had to force a woman I want, and I won’t have to force you. By the time we’re done with this, you’ll be so damn frustrated you’ll marry me just to make it stop hurting. I won’t let up until I get what I want.”
“Just get in the damn wagon,” she said turning away from him. As she swung around, she ran right into Mrs. Cordelia Jackson, who had clearly overheard their exchange from the startled look on her face. Wade chuckled softly behind Catherine, grabbed her arm and tipped his hat to the matron.
“You know how young ladies are during courting,” he said, and the sour expression melted off Mrs. Jackson’s face. Wade heard Cat’s disgusted huff, and tried not to laugh out loud.
“You really shouldn’t use language like that, Mrs. Masters,” Mrs. Jackson said, clucking. “But I remember how men can be. Try to be a little more patient with him, dear.”
Catherine nodded her head politely, but Wade could tell she was ripping mad.
“You know, it’s not my fault the ladies like me,” he said as he handed her up into the wagon. “It’s just the burden I’ve been given.”
“You should save your charm for someone who’s interested.”
“Oh, I think you’re interested,” he said, swinging up beside her and starting the wagon rolling with a snap of the reins. “You just don’t want to admit it.”
“Horseshit.”
“Watch that mouth,” he chided gently. “And if you insist, I’ll prove it to you. I’ll kiss you right here in the middle of Main Street, and we’ll see who’s fighting off whom by the end.”
She didn’t answer, and he knew he’d won. Good enough for now, he decided.
* * * * *
Catherine was pumping water into a bucket when she saw José riding up with a woman on a horse. The young Mexican man was shy, and she’d never heard anything
about him having a girlfriend. She saw Wade walk out to greet the travelers, and her curiosity got the better of her. She set down the bucket and walked over, wiping her hands on her apron as she went.