Breathless(31)

“You might want to try again.”

She looked down and saw that the shirt was sideways because the buttons weren’t lined up properly. Her fingers fumbling, she did them up again—this time successfully.

“Portia?”

She looked up.

“Thanks for your help on the roof and for the kisses.”

She drew in a calming breath. The memories of being in his arms poured back clear and true and her now covered nipples berried in response. Uncertain what to do with herself let alone her traitorous body, she nodded and hastened away.

Aching and hard from their play, Kent pulled himself together then walked out to the porch just in time to see her riding off. Her sister’s words rang softly in his head. Be gentle with her. He planned to do just that.

Matt appeared beside him. “Um, we found the pipe. Buck and Farley are hauling out the busted section now.”

“Okay. Good to know.” Kent studied him for a moment. “Thanks for your help with the roof.”

“You’re welcome. Sorry I wasn’t good at it.”

“No apologies needed. Takes a time or two to get the hang of it. You did fine. How long have you worked here?”

“About a year. Met the old man in Tucson.”

“You from there?”

He shook his head. “No. Little one-shack town near Page called Quint.”

“Family there?”

He looked out at the mountains. Seeing the hardness that settled over his features made Kent offer an apology of his own. “Sorry. Wasn’t trying to pry.”

The boy shrugged. “No. It’s okay. Got a sister, but she left soon as she was old enough. I did, too. Got tired of the beatings.”

Kent stilled.

“Both my ma and pa were drunks and when things didn’t go right, they took it out on us.” He quieted again as if thinking back. “Cissy’s two years older. She must’ve been fourteen or so when she lit out. One morning I woke up and she was gone. Told my pa I didn’t know where she went, but . . .”

“He didn’t believe you.”

“Nope. Blacked both my eyes. Knocked out my two front teeth, which is why I don’t smile much.”

“Are your parents still living?”

He shrugged. “Don’t know. Don’t much care.”

Kent thought back on his own somewhat privileged childhood under a parent who’d only wanted the best for him and how he’d rebelled in response. They’d argued fiercely. He knew being a doctor was not what he wanted to do with his life, but looking back he could’ve been more respectful.

Matt asked Kent about his raising and upon hearing that his mother died in childbirth and that his father was a doctor, a surprised Matt looked him up and down. “A doctor? Why are you a ranch hand?”

“It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”

“Your pa still living?”

“Yes.”

Kent thought the short time spent talking with Matt had been worth it. He now knew more about him and that he’d spent his childhood dodging fists, which was why he didn’t know much about ranching. “How’d you meet Blanchard?”

“Saw him coming out of a store in Tucson one day and asked him if he had any spare change. He told me I should’ve asked for a meal. Said he’d seen dying cattle with more meat on their bones.” Matt smiled for the first time, showing his missing teeth. “Brought me here, fed me, and offered me a job. I had a real bed for the first time since leaving Quint.”

Kent wondered how he’d managed to live on his own during the years in between, but felt he’d pried enough. “If you plan on staying, I’m going to make you assistant foreman.”

His eyes widened. “Why?”

“Farley and Buck are leaving, so you’re it. Plan to teach you all I know. That okay?”

He nodded hastily.

“Good. Let’s go see about that pipe.”



After dinner at the hotel, Farley, Buck, and Matt rode back to the ranch, leaving Kent, Eddy, and Luz Salinas to talk about the housekeeping job. Portia hadn’t joined them for the meal. Kent’s initial disappointment was overridden by concern when Eddy explained that Portia had a slight headache from being in the sun all day. Eddy assured him that after a good night’s sleep, her niece would be right as rain, but he knew he’d continue to worry until he saw her for himself.

“What will my duties be, specifically?” Luz asked breaking into his thoughts.

“Meals three time a day and the upkeep on the house. Your Saturdays and Sundays can be your own if you want.”

She assessed him silently. To Kent she appeared to be about Eddy’s age and was just as beautiful. There was a bit of gray in the long jet-black hair.

“We’re going to fix up the bedroom off the kitchen for you, but until it and the washroom are ready, you can use Blanchard’s room.”

“Salary?” she asked Eddy.

Because the Fontaines would be paying her, Kent let Eddy ride point and simply listened. When the discussion ended, Luz said, “The salary sounds fine, but these are my conditions. My bedroom door has a lock. I will take Sundays off. If I need a Saturday instead I will give you plenty of notice.”

He nodded.

“You will have no women in the house overnight and there’ll be no walking around in your drawers.”