Give Me Tonight(66)

"Don't want anything to happen to any of us, honey."

"But people are mad at you," she said, and sud­denly she wanted to throw her arms around him, pro­tect him from the world. He was her father. And in spite of his roughness, explosive temper, and the over­bearing manner that seldom failed to set her teeth on edge, she loved him. "You're the one who's got to be careful. Daddy, are you listening?"

Although he nodded, she could see he wasn't listen­ing, not as she wanted him to. There was no way she could confess what she knew and what she feared. Her chest felt tight as she realized the number of enemies he had. All of the ranchers around here, not just the Johnsons, hated Russell's power, his wealth, and most of all, his fences. She was inadequate-to protect him. She wasn't strong enough to do it alone. She wished she could run to Ben for help, even though she knew the thought was pure insanity. No amount of wishful thinking would change what he was.

Ben was there to help unload the' carriage the day the Warner family returned to the ranch. They were all relieved to arrive. Caroline was exhausted from traveling, Cade was fidgety and eager to stretch his legs, Russell was anxious to get back to work, and the rest were merely happy to be where there was privacy and the comfort of well-established routines. Addie was the last to emerge, having been squashed in the comer of the seat for the entire journey. She avoided Ben's gaze as he helped her down, disconcerted by her own crushed and rumpled appearance. They were un­seen by the others, who were heading toward the front door of the main house.

"How was it?" he asked quietly, his hands linger­ing on her waist after her feet had touched the ground.

"The trip back home? Terrible. "

"No, I was referring to the dance, the parties . . . the two days you spent out of my sight. Jeff give you any problems?"

She looked up at him then, undone by the note of concern in his voice, and saw no censure or mockery in his green eyes, nothing but warmth. Silken ribbons seemed to tighten around her heart. It was good to see him. She felt as if it had been weeks rather than days since she'd been near him.

"Jeff didn't bother me at all," she said, making an effort to sound nonchalant. "He didn't say a word to me the entire time. Of course, he stared a lot—"

"You should be used to that by now."

"I haven't been around him in a while."

"But he's not the only one who likes to stare at you."

Addie set her mouth sternly in order to prevent a smile. "I'm getting tired of this game. It's ridiculous. You're even causing Daddy to have strange ideas about the two of us."

"I've got a few in mind myself."

"I don't want to hear them."

His hands tightened on her waist when she would have moved away. "There's no way you can get out of it."

"Don't bet on it, slicker," she said in the tart manner of a flapper, and he grinned at the change in her voice.

"Every now and then you sound like . . . " He paused and shrugged. "I don't know what it is. But I have a suspicion there's more behind those big brown eyes than anyone else imagines."

"You'll never find out."

"Not for lack of trying," he assured her.

"Ben!" came Russell's voice from the house, and immediately Addie was released.

"He wants a report on everything that happened while he was gone." Ben's mouth twitched in amuse­ment as he looked toward the window of the room Russell used as an office. "We'll talk later."

"Did anything happen?" she asked, touching his arm in an unconscious gesture, her eyes dark with con­cern. "Any trouble?"

The muscle underneath her fingertips tensed as if he'd received a small shock at her touch. Ben went very still, looking down at her with an intensity that weakened her knees. "No trouble," he said carefully. "Only when you're around, darlin'." Her hand trem­bled, but she didn't let go of him, overwhelmed by the yearning that had swept over her. Did Ben feel the ache of it too? He stared at her for what seemed to be hours, his face hard. All the forbidden longing in her heart was released in a torrent.

I could love him, she thought dazedly, if I let myself. And she already would, if he were anyone else in the world.

Lord, what am I going to do?

There was another roar from the house. "Ben, did you hear me or is somethin' blockin' your ears?"

"I'll be there in a minute," Ben called back with an impudence no one else in Texas would have dreamed of showing to Russell Warner.

"Go,"Addie said thickly, releasing her grip on his arm, and he hesitated.

She would have expected him to make some sar­donic remark. But there was nothing playful about his manner as he spoke to her huskily.

"I want to hold you, Addie."

She couldn't deny him, or deny that she felt the same. "Please go," she whispered. He nodded slightly, his eyes moving over her face. There was no need for further words. They both understood all that was left unsaid.

It was a fundamental part of the ranchers' code that when cowboys came to visit, they were welcome to a free meal, lodging, and whatever else the host's hos­pitality might include. Although the half-dozen men who appeared at the Sunrise Ranch were strangers, it was obvious by their appearance and smell that they'd lived in the saddle all summer long. The women of the household were busy all afternoon, distributing towels and soap for the men to have much-needed shaves and baths. Then there were piles of soiled clothes to wash and mend, so many that the air was pungent with the scent of lye and hot water.