The prettiest rancher he’d ever seen

In her wildest dreams, Tessa Parker never expected to inherit a ranch. But as soon as she sets foot on the Bar X, the orphaned Tessa finally feels at home. And that brusque deputy sherriff who greets her? There’s something about him, too, that makes the rootless Tessa want to stake a claim.

Law and order make Joseph Hollister’s world go round. So when a Tessa from Nevada says she’s the rightful heir to his old friend’s ranch, it turns his universe upside down. Not to mention every fiber of his being, which thrums each time she’s near. But Joseph won’t get close to a woman who’s only passing through. Even though Tessa might be the only one who can repair his heart...

“You know, I’m getting the feeling that the two of us have more in common than just Ray Maddox.”

The husky note in his voice was so sexy it was almost like he was kissing her. The idea caused her nostrils to flare, her breathing to quicken.

“Why?”

Her murmured question put a faint smile on his face and then his head was bending downward, until his lips were hovering a scant few inches from hers.

“We’ve both lost parents. We both ride horses. And, uh, we’re both standing here beneath the desert stars—together. It’s like fate.”

The warning bells going off in Tessa’s head were deafening, but the clanging noise was hardly enough to make her step back and away from him. Something about him was pulling at the deepest part of her, urging her to touch him in ways she’d never wanted to touch a man before.

“This isn’t fate,” she tried to reason. “It’s—crazy.”

His soft chuckle fanned her face. “It’s okay to be a little crazy once in a while.”

* * *

Men Of The West: Whether ranchers or lawmen, these heartbreakers can ride, shoot—and drive a woman crazy...

The Arizona Lawman

Stella Bagwell

www.millsandboon.co.uk

After writing more than eighty books for Mills & Boon, STELLA BAGWELL still finds it exciting to create new stories and bring her characters to life. She loves all things Western and has been married to her own real cowboy for forty-four years. Living on the south Texas coast, she also enjoys being outdoors and helping her husband care for the horses, cats and dog that call their small ranch home. The couple has one son, who teaches high school mathematics and is also an athletic director. Stella loves hearing from readers. They can contact her at stellabagwell@gmail.com.

To April May Townsend with love.

Thank you for being a friend and dedicated reader.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Prologue

“Tessa, you are now an heiress.”

The legal document Tessa Parker gripped with both hands looked real enough, and Orin Calhoun was the closest thing she had to a father. He would never lie to her. But the words he’d just spoken didn’t make sense.

Staring at the rancher, she asked in an incredulous voice, “Are you making some sort of joke?”

Orin glanced over to Jett Sundell, longtime attorney for the Calhoun family and the Silver Horn Ranch.

“Help me out here, Jett.”

The younger man left his comfortable seat in an armchair to walk over to Tessa.

“The document is genuine, Tessa. I’ve already read the will in its entirety and talked at length with the deceased man’s attorney. He assures me his client had full control of his faculties at the time he made out this bequest.” Jett placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “In short, a man by the name of Ray Maddox has willed you a sizable piece of property in southern Arizona. Along with a very tidy amount of money, which is already waiting for you in a bank account with your name. Congratulations, Tessa.”

Her hands began to tremble violently, causing the document to fall unheeded to her lap.

“That can’t be!” She stared wildly up at Jett then swung her gaze over to Orin. “I don’t know anyone in Arizona! This has to be some crazy mistaken identity!”

Orin held up a hand to calm her escalating doubts. “According to the attorney in Prescott, your identity has been verified several times over. He’s assured Jett that you are the correct beneficiary.”

“So the next step we need to discuss is what you want to do with this windfall,” Jett continued while directing a meaningful glance at Orin. “If it were me, Tessa, I’d want to take a look at the property before I made the decision.”

“Yes, but Tessa isn’t you,” Orin retorted. “She hardly needs to go traipsing off to Arizona to look at a piece of land she doesn’t need. Her home is here on the Silver Horn with us. It won’t be difficult to locate a trustworthy real-estate agent to handle all the details of selling it.”

Frowning, Jett walked over to his father-in-law’s desk. “Orin, I understand that Tessa is like your daughter but—”

“Like a daughter! Hell, as far as I’m concerned, she is my daughter! And as such—”

“You want her to have every opportunity to be happy. She’s been willed a small fortune by someone who obviously cared a great deal for her. It would hardly be in her benefit to get hasty and dump the property before making an effort to see the place.”

Orin rose from his chair and began to pace around the large, plush study. “It’s not like I’m a pauper, Jett,” he argued. “I can give Tessa whatever she needs. And, frankly, she’s too young and inexperienced to go off to Arizona alone!”

The idea of Orin as a pauper was just as laughable as Tessa being an heiress. Orin and his father, Bart, owned the Silver Horn Ranch, one of the largest, most profitable spreads in the whole state of Nevada. The family possessed holdings in gold and silver mines, oil and gas companies, along with other lucrative stocks. To say that Orin could supply her with whatever she needed was very true, but she would never accept wealthy gifts from him, or anyone in the Calhoun family. She was a Parker and possessed her own brand of pride.

“Tessa is twenty-four years old. She’s just acquired a college degree,” Jett reminded him. “She’s certainly capable of making a trip to Arizona. And making decisions about her own future.”

The arguing between the two men pushed Tessa to her feet. “Orin, you’ve given me a home here on the Silver Horn for the past eleven years. As much as I love you, Jett is right. I’m not about to make a hasty decision about something so—life-changing. Anyway, right now I... I’m so shaken I can hardly think! But I can tell you one thing. If a person cared enough about me to leave me a small fortune, then I’m going to make the effort to travel to Arizona. To see the place and find the reason behind this.”

Jett gave her a thumbs-up. “Atta girl, Tessa. Now you’re talking.”

Orin stopped his pacing to glare at the both of them. “Go ahead, encourage her,” he goaded Jett. “For all we know there could be something sinister behind this whole thing.”

Jett rolled his eyes. “Orin, the man has passed away. And, according to Mr. Maddox’s attorney, he had no family to speak of. On top of that, he was a decorated sheriff of the area. I hardly read sinister in the will.”

Relenting somewhat, Orin walked over to where Tessa stood near his desk. “Tessa, are you sure your mother never talked about this man before?”

If Monica Parker had still been living, she might’ve been able to explain this sudden and unexplainable inheritance. But her mother’s life had ended eleven years ago in a traffic accident.

Tessa’s mind spun crazily as she tried to recall, to make any sort of connection to Ray Maddox. “I never heard Mom say that name. Or mention she was acquainted with anyone in Arizona. This man...he must have known me—somehow. I won’t rest until I find the connection.”

Orin’s stern expression softened to a wry smile. “I imagine I’d feel the same way. It’s just that I’ve always had you close and under my wing.” Lifting her hand, he patted the back of it. “And I guess a part of me is afraid you won’t come back. That you’ll find something down there in Arizona we can’t give you.”

Her heart full of mixed emotions, she gave the big rancher a reassuring hug. “You’ve already given me so much, Orin. There’s nothing else I need.”

His smile turned knowing as he stroked the top of her head. “Oh, yes, Tessa, darlin’. There are plenty more things you need. Like a good man to love. Children to raise. A home to keep.”

“Stop it.” She sniffed. “You’re going to make me cry all over your white shirt.”

He squeezed her tight. “Damn the white shirt,” he said gruffly. “I have plenty of them. I just have one of you.”

“I won’t be gone forever, Orin. Just long enough to find out why Ray Maddox wanted to give me his home and money.”

Chapter One

The hot May sun was slipping behind a ridge of jagged mountains as Tessa steered her white Ford truck off the road and stared up at the sign arched over a wide cattle guard. Bar X Ranch.

This was it. Her ranch. Her property.

Even though she was seeing it with her own eyes, she was still struggling to wrap her mind around the idea that it all belonged to her. It seemed impossible that a bank in Prescott had an account in her name holding an amount of money that would take a person like her years and years to earn. Everything about the situation was still all so confusing and incredible.

Fighting back a wave of emotional tears, Tessa put the truck into motion and drove through the entrance of the ranch.

A half mile later, after she’d driven through a spectacular view of rock formations and fields of Joshua trees, she parked the truck in front of a rambling house painted pale green and trimmed with a darker shade of green. The structure was shaded by several ancient cottonwoods, while a huge bougainvillea covered in vivid purple blooms sheltered one side of a small porch. Nearby, beneath a set of paned windows, bushes of red and white roses grew thick and climbed along the dark green shutters.

She’d not expected to find anything so beautiful or charming. For a moment, after she’d climbed from the truck, all she could do was stand and stare and wonder about the people who’d lived behind those walls.

The sound of an approaching vehicle pulled Tessa out of her swirling thoughts. She turned to see a beige SUV with emergency lights on the top and a sheriff’s emblem painted on the side. Now what? Had someone reported her as trespassing?

Curious, she stood watching as a man stepped out on the driver’s side. He was dressed in blue jeans and boots, with a black cowboy hat and a khaki shirt. The long sleeves were decorated with official-looking emblems, while a badge was pinned to the front left pocket. Even from a distance, she could tell he was young but older than her. His tall, muscular body appeared to be in perfect condition and his quick steps were rapidly closing the space of ground between them.

“Hello,” she said once he was within earshot. “Can I help you?”

He came to a stop a few steps in front of her and, with the back of his forearm, pushed the brim of his cowboy hat back off his forehead.

“I’m Joseph Hollister. Deputy Sheriff of Yavapai County,” he said to identify himself. “I saw your vehicle turn into the entrance of this property. Since your truck is carrying Nevada plates, I figured you might not be aware this ranch is currently unoccupied.”

Was he naturally a suspicious man, she wondered, or was he simply a very dedicated lawman? Either way, he was definitely something to look at. His thick, coffee-colored hair was just long enough to curl around his ears, while his deeply tanned complexion told her he spent long hours in the Arizona sun. He had a square jaw, the type that looked as though it could take several punches and never flinch. However, all this was just a gorgeous backdrop to his eyes. Even from a distance, she could see the brown orbs were full of golden flecks, a color that reminded her of dark, potent whiskey.

“I’m Tessa Parker,” she told him. “And, yes, I’m from Nevada. Between Carson City and Reno, to be exact. And, yes, I know the ranch house is currently vacant.”

His razor-sharp gaze slid over her as though he was sizing up her honesty.

Tessa tried not to bristle. After all, the man didn’t know the first thing about her. And he was a deputy sheriff.

“The Bar X is obviously a long distance from Carson City. So what brings you all the way down here, Ms. Parker?”

She straightened her shoulders. “I’m here to see my new property. Is that some sort of crime?”

Tessa didn’t know why the tart question had popped out of her. It wasn’t like her to be testy with anyone. Particularly a law official. But the suspicious look in his eyes was setting her on edge.

“No. No crime at all. If it is your property. Do you have your identification with you?”

If a flying saucer suddenly landed next to them, the situation wouldn’t be any more bizarre, Tessa thought.

“I have more than my identification,” she crisply informed him. “I have all sorts of legal papers with me—if you’d care to see them.”

“That isn’t necessary,” he said. “Your driver’s license will be sufficient.”

Turning back to the truck, Tessa fished the plastic-coated card from her purse and handed it to him. As she watched him scan the information, she noticed his hands were big and brown, the backs lightly sprinkled with dark hair. There was no sign of a wedding band on his left hand. But that didn’t surprise Tessa at all. He didn’t have the softer attitude that most married men possessed.

He suddenly glanced up at her and Tessa’s breath caught as his brown eyes looked directly into hers.

“I happened to be well acquainted with Ray Maddox, the man who used to live here,” he informed her. “And since he passed away, there’s been no talk of this place being put on the real-estate market.”

“You’ve made the wrong assumption, Deputy Hollister. I didn’t buy this place. It was willed to me by Ray Maddox.”

This news caused his eyes to widen with surprise then narrow to two skeptical slits. “Willed? Are you a relative?”

“No. Not that I’m aware of,” she said bluntly. “In fact, I don’t think I ever met Mr. Maddox.”

He folded a pair of strong-looking arms across his broad chest and suddenly Tessa was wondering if Orin had been right. Maybe it had been foolish of her to make the trip down here alone. This man looked like it wouldn’t bother him one iota to arrest her.

“I’ve heard plenty of cock-’n’-bull stories in my line of work, but this beats them all. Ray Maddox was hardly a fool. He was the sheriff of Yavapai County for more than twenty years. He wouldn’t just will his property to a total stranger.”

Tessa opened the truck for a second time and collected a large manila envelope from the console. Lifting her chin to a challenging angle, she handed the legal documents to him. “Since you have the idea I’m some sort of criminal, I think you should look at this.”

His stern expression was all-professional as he made a quick scan of the papers and then carefully inserted them back into the envelope. “I’m sorry, Ms. Parker. It’s my job to be cautious. And I think you’ll agree this is a rather odd occurrence.”

An ache had developed in the middle of her forehead and as he continued to watch her closely, she tried to rub it away with the tips of her fingers.

“I can’t deny that.” She turned her gaze to the front of the house and suddenly felt herself close to tears. “The attorney handling Mr. Maddox’s estate informed me that his client had been a sheriff and a well-known figure in the area.”

“That’s right. A beloved figure. He retired about five years ago.”

“It’s all so incredible,” she said in a thoughtful daze.

After a long stretch of silence he asked, “Were you—planning on staying here tonight?”

She wiped a hand through her straight brown hair before she nodded. “Yes, I am,” she answered then took a shaky step toward the house. “I’m sorry. I need to sit down.”

Recognizing she was teetering on her feet, he leaped forward and wrapped a supporting hand around her elbow.

“Here. Let me help you to the steps.”

He guided her over to a set of wide stone steps built into a mortar-and-stone retaining wall.

Once she was sitting, the deputy took a seat on the same step, careful to keep a respectable distance between them.

He said, “I’m not sure it’s a good idea for you to stay here alone tonight, Ms. Parker.”

“Why? Is this a high crime area?”

“Crimes are rarely committed around here. I’m speaking now of your emotional condition.”

Tessa straightened her spine. She might appear fragile to this man, but she prided herself in being tough and capable.

“I’ll be fine, Deputy Hollister. I’ve been driving since early this morning. Nearly seven hundred miles, to be exact. I’m tired and haven’t had much to eat today. And then seeing this place—I’m sure you can understand it’s all a bit overwhelming.”

“That’s why staying in a hotel in Wickenburg and having a nice meal would be a better option for you tonight. I’m not even sure if the utilities are still turned on in the house.”

He must be thinking she was too stupid to plan ahead. Or perhaps he thought she was the impulsive sort who didn’t think five minutes ahead of her. Either way, she wished he’d simply go. Just looking at his broad shoulders and rugged face was playing havoc with her senses.

“Everything is on and ready to go,” she said. “All I need to do is carry in my bags. And I can certainly manage that task.”

“If you insist on staying, I’ll carry your bags for you,” he told her. “In a few minutes. After you’ve gathered yourself.”

How was she supposed to compose herself with him sitting a few inches away looking like he’d just stepped off the screen of a gritty Western movie? With amber-brown eyes fringed with black lashes, lips that squared at the corners and dared a woman to kiss them, he certainly had the appearance of a tough leading man.

Looking away, she swallowed and wondered what had happened to the breeze she’d felt earlier. All of a sudden the heat index felt worse than triple digit.

“Do you always patrol this area?” she asked while wondering what her chances had been of meeting this man.

“I don’t exactly patrol it,” he answered. “I was on my way home. I live with the rest of my family about five miles from here on Three Rivers Ranch”

Surprise tugged her gaze back to his face. “Family? You have a wife and children?”

A shuttered look wiped all expression from his face. “No. I’m not a family man. I meant my mother and siblings. I have three brothers and two sisters.”

“And you all live together.”

“That’s right. My family has owned Three Rivers for a hundred and forty-five years. We wouldn’t know how to live anywhere else.”

She wasn’t sure if the last was said in jest or if he was serious. Even though Joseph Hollister’s face was very easy on the eyes, it was difficult to read. So far she got the impression he was a very sober young man.

Her curiosity pricked, she asked, “Oh. Does your ranch boundary touch mine?”

“Only for a short distance. On the east side. You see, our ranch covers about seventy thousand acres.”

A number that made her one thousand acres seem minuscule, Tessa thought. “I see. So that makes us neighbors.”

His thick, dark brows lifted ever so slightly. “So it seems. That is, if you’re planning on sticking around.”

She drew in a long breath and let it out. “I’ve not made any definite plans yet. This inheritance has all happened so suddenly and—unexpectedly.”

“Well, I’m sure you have a family back in Nevada to consider first.”

Except for the Calhouns, she’d been without a family ever since her mother had died. But she was far too emotionally weary to go into that part of her life now. Especially with this Arizona lawman.

“I do have people back there. But no husband or children. I’m only twenty-four,” she said, as if that explained everything.

Up until now, the sporadic sound of a two-way radio could be heard through the open window of his SUV, but he’d basically ignored the crackly exchange. However, his trained ear must have caught something in the dispatcher’s words that called for his attention because he suddenly rose to his feet.

“Sorry,” he said. “I need to answer that call.”

He quickly strode off to the vehicle and Tessa used the moment to climb the remaining steps and cross a small yard with fresh-cut grass and a bed full of yellow and purple irises. At the front door, she fished a key from the pocket on her jeans and let herself into the house.

A small entryway with two long windows and a lone potted cactus led into a spacious living room furnished with a mixture of comfortable furniture, a TV and several table lamps. Paintings and enlarged photos of area landscapes decorated the cream-colored walls, while rugs woven in colorful southwestern designs were scattered over the hardwood floor. Along the front wall, heavy beige drapes covered the windows and blocked out most of the waning sunlight.

Everything about the room felt warm and welcoming, as if it had been waiting for her to walk in and make herself at home. The odd sensation left goose bumps on her arms and she tried to rub them away as she walked over to a big brown recliner. The soft leather was slightly faded on the headrest and she wondered if this had been the retired sheriff’s favorite chair. Had he sat here watching TV or reading? Or simply dreaming about life?

Oh, God, why did it matter so much to her? Why did questions about her mysterious benefactor keep pushing and prodding her?

Her fingers were trailing thoughtfully over the worn headrest when Deputy Hollister stepped into the room.

His boots thumped against the hardwood floor and from the corner of her eye, Tessa watched him move around the shadowy space, his keen gaze surveying the surroundings as though it were a crime scene.

“Everything looks just like it did when Ray was here. I imagine Sam has been keeping it all cleaned and dusted. That’s Samuel Leman,” he explained. “He’s worked for Ray for more years than I can remember.”

Tessa had imagined she’d be exploring the house on her own. The last thing she’d been expecting was to have a sexy deputy give her a guided tour. Especially one that appeared to have been well acquainted with the late sheriff.

“I see. Does Samuel live here on the property?”

His gaze landed on her and, without even realizing what she was doing, she pulled her hands away from the recliner and stuffed them into the back pockets of her jeans.

“No. After Ray died, he moved to a little house about three or four miles from here. You passed it on the way. A peach-colored stucco with a bunch of goats out back.”

Yes, she vaguely recalled the place.

“Most folks around here assumed Ray left his place to Sam,” he continued. “After all, he was the one who hung around and took care of him after his lungs quit working.”

Was this man implying she didn’t deserve the place? The notion disturbed her on many levels.

Moving away from the chair, she started toward a wide, arched opening. “Look, Deputy Hollister, you can be frank with me. I’m quite certain that you, and everyone else who knew Ray Maddox, isn’t going to understand his last wishes. How could they? I don’t understand them myself. And I’m certainly not thinking I deserved everything the man had worked for in his life. But that’s the way he wanted it. Not me.”

The deputy followed her into a breezeway and Tessa paused, uncertain as to which direction she wanted to go first. Certainly not to the bedrooms. Not with this man right on her heels.

He said, “I didn’t mean to sound like I’m accusing you, Ms. Parker. Or that I thought you were undeserving. It’s just that Sam was such a loyal employee for many long years.”

She let out a long breath. “Then I can only hope that Mr. Maddox left his employee something. As for me—” She broke off and lifted her hands in a helpless gesture. “I have just as many questions about all of this as you probably do.”

He opened his mouth as though to say something but must have decided against it. After a pause, he gestured to a pair of swinging doors off to their left.

“The kitchen is over there. The bedrooms and a study are to the right.”

Tessa headed to the kitchen and since he’d taken it upon himself to join her, she decided Deputy Hollister clearly wasn’t in a hurry to get home. Or perhaps he felt it was his duty to make sure she was safe and sound before he left the premises.

“This is beautiful.” She walked over to the left side of the room where a large bay window created a breakfast nook. Beyond the paned glass was an incredible view of distant jagged mountains and rocky bluffs. Closer to the ranch house, the desert slopes were filled with sage, saguaro and blooming yucca.

Another wave of emotion caused her voice to quaver. “Is this my land?”

“Most of it. Your boundary stops before it reaches the mountains. The most productive grazing area runs to the east toward Three Rivers,” he explained. “Before Ray became ill, he ran about fifty to a hundred head of cattle. After it became impossible for him to care for the herd, he sold out. I can tell you, giving up his cattle and horses hurt him about as much as the lung disease.”

“I believe that. I live on a large ranch in Nevada. I see firsthand how much the livestock means to everyone who cares for them.”

She glanced over her shoulder to see he was studying her with an air of faint surprise.

“So you’re used to living in the country.”

“Absolutely. This place is closer to a town than what I’m accustomed to.” She turned and walked over to a long row of varnished pine cabinets. Another wide window sat over a double porcelain sink. After turning on the water to make sure it was in working order, she gazed out at the small backyard shaded by two huge Joshua trees. It was a cozy area with a small rock patio furnished with a pair of red motel chairs and a tiny white table for drinks.

“It’s fifteen miles from here to town,” he informed her.

The skeptical sound in his voice put a faint smile on her face. “Yes, I know. The Silver Horn is double that amount of miles from Carson City.”

“The Silver Horn,” he repeated thoughtfully. “I think I’ve heard of that ranch.”

“The Calhouns own it. Bart and Orin Calhoun.”

“I’m not familiar with—uh—” Deep thought put a crease between his brows and then he snapped his fingers with recognition. “Now I remember. My brother Holt purchased a broodmare from that ranch about four years ago. She’s been a dandy.”

“The Calhouns are known more for their quality horses than anything,” she told him.

He walked toward her and Tessa found herself backing up until her hips bumped into the cabinets.

“But your name isn’t Calhoun,” he pointed out.

“No. It isn’t.” As far as she was concerned, she didn’t have to explain anything else to this man. She rubbed her palms down the front of her jeans. “Uh, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go get my things.”

“I’ll help you.”

Tessa let out a silent groan. Was the man never going to leave? Aloud she said, “Thanks. I do have several bags.”

What are you so antsy about, Tessa? A normal woman would be enjoying the company of a good-looking man. And Joseph Hollister definitely fits that description. What are you afraid of? That you might actually allow yourself to be attracted to the deputy?

Trying to ignore the taunting voice in her head, she walked past him and out of the kitchen.

* * *

As Joseph followed Tessa Parker out to her truck, he mentally cursed himself. What the hell was he doing? He’d already investigated the situation and made certain no one was going to vandalize his late friend’s home. He’d checked this woman’s credentials and everything appeared accurate. She had a legitimate reason for being on the Bar X Ranch, so why was he still hanging around when he should’ve left a half hour ago? Because she looked like a walking dream?

Her slim, angular face was dominated by startling blue eyes, prominent cheekbones and a soft, wide mouth. Straight, caramel-brown hair hung nearly to her waist and though she was far more slender than his usual taste in women, she was nicely curved in all the right places. Her creamy skin was smooth and soft, like she’d been living in a tropical climate rather than the dry west. Furthermore, she carried herself with class and grace.

Yeah, all those things were pleasant to a man’s eyes, he conceded. But in Tessa Parker’s case, it had been the vulnerable wobble in her voice and the emotions flickering in her eyes that had tugged at something inside him. Even if she did have a family back in Nevada, she seemed to be very alone. And that notion bothered Joseph far too much.

“I’m sure I brought much more than I need,” she was saying as she opened the back door on the truck. “But since I was uncertain about how long I’ll be staying, I wanted to have plenty.”

She placed two very large suitcases on the ground, along with a pair of duffel bags. Joseph picked up the suitcases, both of which were quite heavy.

“I’ll get these,” he said. “If the duffel bags are heavy, leave them. I’ll fetch them later.”

“Thank you,” she said, “but I can manage.”

Joseph followed her back up the steps of the retaining wall and into the house. Along the way, he found himself watching the sway of her slender hips and the curtain of thick hair moving gently against her back.

In the living room, she placed the bags she’d been carrying on the rug and turned on a table lamp situated near the recliner.

Joseph asked, “Where would you like for me to put these?”

She gestured to a spot on the floor near the other bags. “Just sit them down there. Both bags have wheels. I’ll deal with them later.”

For some idiotic reason he felt a wash of warm color burn his face. “I can see they have wheels. But they’re both very heavy.”

An impatient, even wary expression crossed her face and it dawned on Joseph that he was making her uncomfortable. But then he had to remember he was a stranger to this woman. He couldn’t expect her to behave as though he was an old friend.

“Well, yes, they are. But—” She broke off with a shake of her head then gestured toward the archway. “All right, let’s go.”

She started out of the room in a long stride and Joseph fell into step behind her. As they made their way down a narrow hallway, the scent of her flowery perfume teased him like a gentle ocean breeze.

“I don’t suppose you have any idea which bedroom Mr. Maddox used, would you?”

Her question snapped him out of his dreamy cloud. “I’ve only been as far as the study,” he admitted. “It’s the first door on your right. Why do you want to know about Ray’s bedroom, anyway?”

Pausing in the middle of the hallway, she turned to look at him. “This is probably going to sound silly to you, but I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable about staying in Mr. Maddox’s room.”

“I don’t understand why you’d feel that way. This is your house now.”

As soon as he’d said the words, he wished he could take them back. They sounded insensitive, even rude. And she didn’t deserve that. Not unless she turned out to be a complete fraud.

Seemingly unoffended by his tart remark, she said, “That’s true. But I’m a stranger in this house. I feel it would be more proper for me to stay in a guest room.”

Even though she’d told him she hadn’t been acquainted with Ray Maddox, she seemed to want to respect him and his memory. Joseph had to admire her for that.

“Well, let’s have a look and maybe we can figure out which room was Ray’s.”

Nodding in agreement, she moved on down the passageway and opened a door on the left. Peering inside, she said, “I very much doubt a man used this bedroom. I’ll stay in this one.”

Joseph followed her into the bedroom and placed the cases at the foot of a queen-size bed. When he looked up from the task, he saw the pretty heiress standing in the middle of the room, gazing around with a look of awe on her face. Everything was in white. Even the antique-style furniture.

He said, “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but all this stuff looks new to me.”

Clearing her throat, she walked over to a long dresser with a scallop-edged mirror. Lying on the glass top was a matching brush and mirror with silver-engraved backs. The set was the fancy sort, like the one his mother kept for sentimental reasons.

Joseph watched her pick up the brush and rub her fingers across the soft bristles. “I think you might be right. Did a woman live here with Mr. Maddox?”

“Not since his wife died. And that’s been several years ago.”

Tessa shifted her gaze to the bed, which was covered with a fluffy down comforter and pillows edged with lace. “How odd to find a room like this in a widower’s house.”

“Maybe Ray had all this fixed for you,” Joseph suggested.

She looked at him, her lips parted with surprise. “That’s a crazy notion. Ray Maddox didn’t know me.”

“He had some sort of connection to you. And he obviously made plans for you to be here.”

The notion appeared to rattle her. She quickly placed the brush back on the dresser top then, bending her head, she fastened her hands around the front edge of the dresser as though she needed to support herself.

As Joseph watched her, he was assaulted with all sorts of urges, the main one being to put his arm around her shoulders and assure her that whatever was bothering her would eventually right itself. But he’d only met her a few minutes ago. Even if she did need comforting, he had no right to get that personal.

“I’m so confused. I’m not sure what to think anymore.” With her head still bent, she slanted a look at him. “That’s why I have to stay long enough to find answers.”

The notion that she might be here for an extended length of time filled Joseph with far too much pleasure. He tried to ignore the sappy reaction as he walked over to a pair of large windows and made a show of inspecting the locks.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

He could feel her walking up behind him and then her lovely scent was floating around him.

“Making sure the locks are secure,” he answered.

“I thought you said this was a crime-free area.”

He allowed the curtain to fall into place before he turned to her. With only two short steps separating them, he could see little details about her face that he’d missed earlier. Like a faint dimple just to the left corner of her lips and the fine baby hairs tickling her temples. Her skin was so smooth it appeared to have no pores and he wondered how it would feel beneath his finger. Like cream on his tongue, he figured.

“A person can never be too safe,” he said. “Have you ever stayed alone before?”

That wasn’t actually his business, either. But he told himself it was his job to make sure she was capable of keeping herself safe.

“Not out like this. But I’m not the timid sort.”

He wanted to tell her only fools were not afraid but stopped himself. Compared to his thirty years, she was very young. Not to mention determined to stand on her own two feet.

“I can assure you, Ms. Parker, my mother would be more than happy for you to stay with us on Three Rivers. We have plenty of room. And she loves company.”

She looked away and Joseph couldn’t help but watch the rise and fall of her breasts as she drew in a deep breath and blew it out.

“Thank you for the invitation, Deputy Hollister, but I’ll be fine. There’s no need for you to be concerned about my safety.

“That’s my job.”

Like hell, Joseph. As a deputy of Yavapai County, you don’t go around inviting women to stay at the family ranch. You’re stepping out of line and you know it.

She said, “You must be a very conscientious lawman.”

No. At this very moment, he was being a fool. But Joseph was hoping like heck she wouldn’t notice.

“The offer has nothing to do with me being a deputy. I’m just being neighborly.”

“Oh.”

The one word caused his gaze to land on her lips. As he stared at the moist curves, something fluttered deep in his gut. In his line of work, he met up with all sorts of women, but he’d never met one who’d made him think things or feel things the way this woman did.

Clearing his throat, he fished a card from his shirt pocket and handed it to her. “If you need anything, my number is on there. And if you decide to visit Three Rivers, it’s easy to find. When you leave the entrance to your property, turn right and follow the road until you reach a fork. Take a left and you’ll see the ranch sign. Someone is always at home.”

She folded her fingers around the card and bestowed him a warm smile. “Once I get settled, I might just do that. And thanks for your help.”

“Sure. So I...better get going and let you get on with unpacking.”

He forced himself to step around her and as he started out of the bedroom, she fell into step beside him.

“I’ll show you to the door,” she told him.

The polite gesture was hardly necessary, especially when he was far more familiar with the house than she was. But he was hardly going to turn down a bit more of her company.

Damn it, somewhere between Wickenburg and the Bar X something must have happened in the workings of his brain, he decided. He wasn’t in the market for a woman. Especially one that would only be around for a few days and then gone.

When they reached the front door, she accompanied him onto the porch and surprised him by offering her hand. Joseph clasped his fingers around hers and marveled at the softness of her skin, the dainty fragility of the small bones.

“It’s been a pleasure, Deputy Hollister.”

A pleasure? It had been an earthquake for Joseph. As he continued to hold her hand, the tremors were still radiating all the way down to his boots.

“Uh, well...maybe we’ll see each other again before you go back to Nevada.”

She gently eased her hand from his. “Yes. Maybe.”

Well, that was that, he thought. “Goodbye, Ms. Parker.”

He left the porch and as he walked out to his vehicle, he resisted the urge to glance back. But when he eventually slid behind the steering wheel, he couldn’t help but notice she was still standing where he’d left her.

When he started the engine, she lifted her hand in farewell. The sight filled him with ridiculous pleasure and before he could turn the SUV around and drive away, his mind was already searching for a reason to see her again.

Chapter Two

Joseph had planned to tell his family about Tessa Parker as soon as he arrived home. But he’d hardly gotten a mile away from the Bar X when he’d been called back to work to help deal with a three-vehicle accident on the highway—a result of loose cattle and drivers blinded by the sinking sun.

By the time the cattle had been rounded up and the vehicles cleared away, it had been well after midnight. When he’d finally gotten home, everyone in the house had already gone to bed.

But this morning as Joseph, and most of the family, sat around the dining table eating breakfast, he wasted no time in relaying the news. Starting with Tessa introducing herself and ending with her promise to stay until she found answers.

“Ray left his property to a complete stranger? I can’t believe it. He wasn’t the fanciful sort. In fact, he was a steadfast rock. That’s why he was sheriff of Yavapai County for twenty years. He was a man everyone could depend on. There has to be more to this situation.”

The statement came from Maureen Hollister, the matriarch of the family. Tall and slender, with dark brown hair slightly threaded with gray and a complexion wrinkled by years of working in the blazing desert sun, she was a picture of beauty and strength. And Joseph had expected his mother to react to the news in just this way.

He said, “I was shocked when she hauled out a handful of legal documents to prove she wasn’t a trespasser.”

Maureen pushed her empty plate forward and picked up her coffee cup.

“I’m glad you happened to be going by the Bar X whenever she arrived, Joe,” his mother said. “Except for Sam, no one ever goes near the place. If I’d spotted a strange vehicle there, I would’ve thought someone was trespassing.”

For the past five years, since Joel, her husband and the father of their six children, had died suddenly, Maureen had accepted the reins of Three Rivers Ranch with a calm yet fierce determination to continue the legacy of the ranch and the Hollister family name. Now at sixty-one, she showed no signs of slowing down.

Joseph took his eyes off his plate to glance down the long dining table to where his mother sat next to her late husband’s chair. Ever since his death, Joel’s spot at the head of the table had remained empty. A fact that everyone in the family tried to ignore.

Across from Joseph, his oldest brother, Blake, was frowning thoughtfully.

“I visited Ray in the hospital a day before he died. Unfortunately he was too sedated to talk,” Blake commented. “Let’s hope he was in his right mind when he made out his will.”

Next to Blake, the middle Hollister son, Holt, spoke up. “I stopped by Ray’s house about a week before he went into the hospital. He was hooked up to oxygen, but he could still talk. That day he appeared to make perfect sense. He told me Sam had driven him around the ranch earlier that morning. He was telling me how happy he was with the way everything looked.”

“Poor man. Seventy was far too young for him to die.”

Joseph glanced to his left, where his sister, Vivian, was sitting at his elbow. At thirty-three, with shoulder-length chestnut hair, she was pretty in a wholesome way. It was just too bad her ex-husband hadn’t appreciated her, or their daughter.

“Any age is too young, Viv,” Joseph told her.

“Yes, but Ray had such a tragic life,” she observed. “What with his wife being disabled and bound to a wheelchair all those years. I always thought he deserved so much more.”

“Ray loved Dottie,” Maureen pointed out. “It broke his heart when she passed away.”

Holt, who was also head horse trainer for Three Rivers, reached for a biscuit. As he tore the bread apart, he said, “Ray was a widower for years and never bothered to marry again. That was the sad part.”

“Sad!” Joseph blurted in disbelief. “You’re a good one to talk, Holt. You’ve gone through women like a stack of laundered shirts. And you’ve never bothered to marry any of them!”

Holt frowned as he slathered the piece of biscuit with blackberry jam. “Well, you sure as hell aren’t married, either, little brother.”

“From the way Joe talked about this Ms. Parker, I’m thinking he’s getting the idea on his mind,” Vivian teased.

Joseph didn’t rise to his sister’s bait. He figured if he protested too loudly the whole family would become suspicious about him and the lovely stranger from Nevada. And that was the last thing he needed.

“As a deputy, I’m supposed to take in details,” he said flatly.

“From the description you gave us, you certainly took in plenty of details about the woman,” Vivian said slyly.

“Except the most important one.” Blake spoke up, “Like why she ended up with Ray’s place.”

Being the eldest son of the family, Blake had always taken his position as manager of the ranch very seriously. But then, Blake had always been the serious-minded one of the Hollister kids. There was rarely any joking going on with him. Whenever he did try to be funny, it was so dry he wound up getting more blank stares than chuckles.

“We’d all like to know that, Blake,” Maureen interjected. “But, frankly, it’s none of our business. And it would look mighty suspicious if Joseph started interrogating her for information.”

“Amen. Thank you, Mom,” Joseph told her.

Holt leaned forward, his gaze encompassing everyone at the table. “As far as I see things, it would be damned awful if we sat around and let someone take wrongful possession of our old friend’s property.”

Joseph tossed down his fork and shoved back his chair. “Holt, you can accuse the woman all you want, but she has legal, binding documents. And, by the way, she lives on the Silver Horn Ranch in Nevada.”

His brother’s jaw went slack. “Are you joking? You mean the ranch I bought Lorna’s Song from?”

“That’s right. She volunteered that piece of information on her own. I didn’t ask for it.”

A sheepish expression stole over Holt’s face. “That ought to be easy enough for you to check out. I guess the woman is legitimate.”

“I’m certain of it,” Joseph said bluntly.

Maureen put down her coffee cup as her gaze traveled over her children. “The way I see it, the questions are about Ray, not Ms. Parker. And we really should keep our noses out of the situation. Still, it would be neighborly of me to stop by and welcome the young woman to the area.”

Blake smirked while Vivian gave their mother a clever smile.

Joseph said, “I got the impression Tessa has plenty of questions, too. Maybe you’d be a help to her, Mom.”

“I have a Cattlemen’s Association meeting in Prescott early this afternoon,” Maureen said. “I might stop by the Bar X on my way out.”

Joseph rose and walked down to the end of the table to drop a kiss on his mother’s cheek. “Thanks, Mom. I’m off to work. Don’t look for me until much later tonight. I’ve got extra duty,” he said.

Vivian wailed out a protest. “Again? You worked half the night last night!”

He grinned at her. “A deputy’s work is never done, sis.”

He left the room with the group calling out their goodbyes amid reminders for him to stay extra safe. A morning ritual that never failed to make him feel loved and wanted.

Inside the kitchen he found Reeva, the family cook, standing at the cabinet, peeling peaches that had come straight from the ranch’s own orchard.

Poking his head over the woman’s shoulder, he asked, “What’s that going to be? Cobbler?”

“No, I’m making preserves.” The bone-thin woman with an iron-gray braid hanging down the center of her back turned and poked a finger in the middle of his hard abs. “You don’t need cobbler. It’ll make you fat.”

Chuckling, he said, “Well, I wouldn’t have gotten to eat it, anyway. Got to work late tonight, so don’t bother saving me any supper, Reeva.”

“But Uncle Joe—you said you’d go riding with me this evening! Have you forgotten?”

Joseph glanced across the room to see Hannah, Vivian’s ten-year-old daughter, sitting at a small round table with a bowl of cold cereal in front of her. At the moment, she looked crestfallen.

“Hey, Freckles, I thought you were still in bed.” He walked over to where she sat and planted a kiss on top of her gold-blond head. “Why are you eating in here? You’re too young to be antisocial.”

She wrinkled her little nose at him. “Sometimes I don’t want to hear all that adult stuff. It’s boring.”

“And Reeva isn’t boring?” He looked over at the cook and winked. “Reeva, I hope I’m as cool as you are when I get to be seventy-one.”

Reeva let out a short laugh. “Cool? You’ll be using a walking stick.”

Grinning, Joseph turned his attention back to Hannah. “Sorry, honey, I have to work this evening. A buddy needed time off. We’ll have to ride another evening. Maybe Friday. How’s that?”

She tilted her little head to one side as she contemplated his offer. “Okay. But if you cancel again, you’re going to be in big trouble,” she warned.

“I’m not going to cancel on my best girl,” he promised.

“Not unless there’s an emergency.” Reeva spoke up.

Joseph walked over to a long span of cabinet counter and picked up a tall thermos. No matter what was going on in the kitchen or with the rest of the family, Reeva always made sure his coffee was ready to go to work with him.

“Let’s not mention the word emergency.” He started toward a door that would take him outside, but before he stepped onto the back porch, Hannah called out.

“’Bye, Uncle Joe. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Freckles.”

“I don’t have freckles!” she wailed at him. “So quit calling me that!”

Laughing, Joseph shut the door behind him, trotted off the wide-planked porch and out the back gate to where his vehicle was parked on the graveled driveway.

The summer sun was just peeping over the rise of rocky hills on the eastern side of the ranch. The pale light filtered through the giant cottonwoods standing guard at both ends of the three-story, wooden house. The spreading limbs created flickering yellow patches on the hard-packed ground, which stretched from the yard fence to the main barn area.

Already, Joseph could hear the ranch hands calling to each other, the broodmares neighing for breakfast, and a pen of weaning calves bawling for their mommas. A hundred feet to the right of the main cattle barn, a big bunkhouse built of chinked logs emanated the scent of frying bacon.

Not one of the ten ranch hands who worked for Three Rivers would sit down to eat until every animal in the ranch yard had been fed and watered. It was a schedule adhered to ever since the original Hollisters had built the ranch back in 1847.

If Joseph took the time to walk out to the holding pens, he’d find Matthew Waggoner, the ranch foreman, making sure the using horses were already fed, watered and saddled for the day’s work.

As for Chandler, the second eldest son of the Hollister bunch, he was rarely seen at the breakfast table or hardly ever attended the evening meal. He started his days long before dawn and ended them well after dark, tending to his patients at Hollister Animal Clinic located on the outskirts of Wickenburg. Joseph admired his brother’s dedication, but in his opinion, Chandler gave far too much of himself to the clinic and the ranch.

Still, none of the Hollister brothers had given as much to Three Rivers as their father, Joel. He’d given his life. In the end, the authorities had ruled his death an accident, but Joseph would never accept the decision. If he had to search for the rest of his life, he would eventually find out who’d killed his father.

* * *

A few miles away, on the Bar X, Tessa sat at the bay window in the kitchen with a cell phone jammed to her ear. Between sips of early morning coffee, she tried to answer Lilly Calhoun’s rapid-fire questions.

“The house? Oh, Lilly, the house is just beautiful and charming! And the views from the front and back are stupendous! There are all kinds of magnificent rock formations and Joshua trees are everywhere. Out on the range, the sage is blooming and the yard around the house is full of roses and irises.”

“Sounds like a paradise,” Lilly replied. “And I’ve never heard you so excited. I’m happy for you, Tessa. Really happy. So what about the rest of the ranch?”

Lifting the mug to her lips, Tessa’s gaze followed the sloping landscape until it reached a big white barn and maze of connecting holding pens. Yesterday evening before dark, she’d explored the big building and discovered a room full of tack and a pair of yellow tabby cats. Both had shied away from her efforts to befriend them.

“From what Deputy Hollister told me, Mr. Maddox’s failing health forced him to sell all the livestock. It’s rather sad seeing the barn area without any horses or cattle around.”

There was a long pause before Lilly asked, “Who is Deputy Hollister? I thought you’d settled all the legal stuff before you left for Arizona.”

A flush heated Tessa’s face. Not for anything would she admit to Lilly that she’d spent half the night thinking of the handsome deputy and wondering if she’d ever see him again.

“The deputy just happens to be a neighbor,” she quickly explained. “He stopped by yesterday, right after I arrived—uh, just to say hello.” She wasn’t about to add that he’d carried in her bags and stuck around to give her a tour of the house.

“That’s good. Orin will be glad to hear you have a trustworthy neighbor. I don’t have to tell you he’s like a father bear. By the way, did you know he’s already started searching for someone to take your job as the Silver Horn housekeeper?”

Tessa had been thirteen when she’d been orphaned and gone to live with the Calhouns. At first, the elaborate, three-story ranch house had been overwhelming to her. Especially when she’d been accustomed to living with her mother in a very modest apartment in Carson City. But in no time at all she’d come to love the isolated country life and the wealthy family who’d taken her in like one of their own. And as soon as she’d grown old enough, she’d gone to work as a housekeeper for the family. Not because they’d expected her to repay them, but because she’d wanted to give back to them as best she could.

“He told me before I left. He believes I won’t be returning to the Silver Horn anytime soon.”

“That’s not his reason. Orin understands that when you come back to Nevada, you’ll be putting your college degree to use and finding a real job. Not working for us.”

Tessa’s gaze swept over the spacious kitchen with its varnished pine cabinets and stainless-steel appliances. To her surprise, she’d already found a huge supply of canned and packaged food in the cupboards and even some fresh things in the refrigerator. She supposed the sheriff’s old ranch hand had laid in the supplies for her arrival. It was all so odd, yet in a way, completely comforting.

“I have so much here to absorb. I can’t think about searching for a job right now, Lilly. Not until I learn about Sheriff Maddox and his connection to me.”

“Perhaps your deputy neighbor can help you with that,” Lilly suggested. “Could be he worked for the man.”

Regarding Ray Maddox, Tessa figured Joseph Hollister could be a wealth of information. But would it be smart of her to approach the man for any reason? He already had her thinking things that brought a fiery blush to her face. She didn’t want to feed this instant infatuation she’d developed for the sexy lawman.

Suddenly the back of Tessa’s eyes were stinging with inexplicable tears. “Lilly, this is still so surreal and hard to explain. Something—some strange connection came over me whenever I walked into the house. It felt like I was supposed to be here. Now I’m so emotional I’m going around dabbing a tissue to my eyes.”

“Well, it’s not every day that a woman becomes an heiress—completely out of the blue. You have every right to be emotional. I’d be a blubbering idiot.”

Trying to swallow the lump in her throat, she slowly stood. “I just need a few days to digest everything, Lilly.”

“Uh, just in case you’re interested, Rafe fired Thad yesterday. He won’t be back.”

The mere mention of the young man’s name left Tessa cold. Not more than three months ago, Rafe had hired the guy to work on the fence-mending crew. The moment he’d spotted Tessa, he’d come on to her like a house on fire. At first she’d liked his boyish grin and playful teasing. She’d even gone on a few dates with him. But he’d quickly begun to expect more from her than she’d been willing to give. When she’d abruptly ended all connection with him, he’d retaliated by telling the other ranch hands he’d never had any serious intentions toward her. That she was only a cheap housemaid.

“Rafe needn’t have done that for my benefit,” Tessa said flatly. “Thad needed some lessons in being a gentleman, but he could still build fences.”

Lilly snorted. “The only thing Thad wanted to work was his mouth. I say good riddance.”

The ugly incident with Thad had made Tessa wonder how other people viewed her. When she’d told Joseph Hollister she lived at the Silver Horn, she’d not mentioned she’d worked there as a housekeeper. Was the deputy the type of man who’d look down on her for holding a menial job?

Forget it, Tessa. Joseph might be a super-nice guy. But you don’t have any business wasting your thoughts on him. Your home is in Nevada. You’re here to look over this property and make a reasonable decision about what to do with it. Not to strike up a romance with a lawman you met less than twenty-four hours ago.

Tessa’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted with Lilly expressing the need to end the call.

“Sorry, Tessa, I have to hang up. I hear Austin screaming at his sister.”

With their conversation over, Tessa went to the bedroom to change out of her pajamas. As she tossed a pair of jeans onto the bed, she gazed around the beautiful white room. Just being in it made her feel like a princess.

Deputy Hollister had seemed to think the late sheriff had actually prepared this room just for her. Most folks would find that eerie, Tessa thought, but strangely enough, it made her feel wanted. And that was the best gift the late sheriff could’ve given her.

* * *

A few minutes later Tessa was in the barn, trying to lure the cats from their hiding place, when she heard a vehicle drive up somewhere in the ranch yard.

Thinking it might be Deputy Hollister stopping by, she put down the pan of food and hurried out of the big barn. But instead of seeing the Yavapai County lawman’s vehicle, she spotted a red-and-white Ford truck with a crunched passenger door.

Pausing in her tracks, she watched an older man with a crumpled straw hat and a short, grizzled beard climb from the vehicle. His worn jeans were stuffed into a pair of tall, yellow cowboy boots while a faded red shirt with long sleeves was buttoned tightly at his throat.

As he moved toward her, Tessa noticed his gait was a bit uneven. Whether the slight limp was because of his leg or some other problem, she could hardly say. In any case, she decided this had to be Ray’s ranch hand.

She walked across the hard-packed earth to greet him. “Hello. I’m Tessa Parker. Are you Mr. Lemans?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m Samuel Lemans—just Sam to you. I work for Ray.” Grimacing, he shook his head. “Excuse me, ma’am. I said that wrong. I did work for Ray.”

Tessa extended her hand to him and as he gave it a firm shake, she noticed his palm was as tough as rawhide and his face as crinkled as dry leather. From what she could see beneath the brim of the mangled hat, his thick hair was a mix of black and gray and his eyes were the color of a black bean. Yet in spite of his hard-weathered appearance, the gentleness in his gaze put her instantly at ease.

“I met Deputy Hollister yesterday and he mentioned you,” she explained. “I want to thank you, Sam, for keeping everything looking so beautiful.”

“Glad to do it. I’ll keep on taking care of things until you don’t need me anymore. That was Ray’s wishes. And I aim to see them carried out.”

“Well, I’ll see that you get paid,” Tessa assured him. “Mr. Maddox left me a sizable sum.”

He scowled. “I don’t want pay, Ms. Parker. Ray has already taken care of that. You don’t worry about a thing. If you need me, I’ll be here. If you don’t, that’s okay, too.”

Tessa was totally bewildered. This man and his late boss were making things so easy for her to stay here. Had that been another of Ray’s wishes? To make her want a permanent home on the Bar X?

“I don’t know what to say, Sam. This is hard for me to understand.” She passed a hand over her damp brow then made a sweeping gesture with her arm. “I don’t suppose you can tell me why Ray—uh, Mr. Maddox—left me this ranch?”

He lifted the crumpled straw hat and scratched the top of his head. “I expected you to ask me and I wish I could give you an answer. Ray never talked to me about such things. The only thing he told me was that, after he died, a young lady would be getting this property and his money. I gave him my promise to keep on working around the place—that’s how Sheriff Ray wanted it.”

Disappointment stung Tessa. Evidently this man and Ray Maddox had been more than boss/employee. If Ray hadn’t given Sam any sort of explanation about her and the will, it was doubtful he’d discussed the matter with anyone else.

“He didn’t say anything about me?” She persisted.

“Ray didn’t talk about his private life. And I didn’t pry. If he’d wanted me to know more, he would’ve told me. Anyway, Sheriff Ray always did the right thing. I expect he had good reason to do this for you.”

Sam’s lack of information hadn’t helped to explain anything. But she wasn’t going to let it discourage her. Somewhere, someone had answers and she fully intended to find them.

Hiding her disappointment behind a warm smile, she said, “Someday I’ll find his reason. For now I’m going to enjoy being here.”

With a wistful look in his eyes, he glanced over her shoulder to the empty holding pens. No doubt there had been a time when the dusty corrals would’ve been filled with weanling calves or cows to be tagged and doctored. Now the ghostly silence of the working area was a sad reminder of happier days.

“You going to hang around until the place sells?” he asked.

Though his question was quite reasonable, the weight of it staggered her. Already the idea of letting this place go was very unsettling. On the other hand, she had to make smart choices for her future. And her life was back in Nevada. Strange, how she had to keep reminding herself of that fact.

“I—I haven’t made any definite decisions yet, Sam. Except that I’m not going to be in any hurry about making plans. So I would be grateful to you if you’d come by and help me see after things.”

“Sure thing. I’ll be around first thing every morning.”

For the next half hour Sam helped her make friends with the cats and gave her a detailed tour of the barn and ranch yard. Afterward, she invited him to a cup of coffee on the backyard patio.

Although he wasn’t exactly a big talker, she was enjoying his company. And listening to him reminisce about Ray and the Bar X might possibly help her unravel the secrecy surrounding the will.

“When the ranch was going full swing, were you the only hand working for him?” she asked.

Reaching for his mug, Sam shook his head. “During the slow seasons I handled everything by myself. When calving season or roundups were going on, two other guys came in to help. See, the Bar X is small compared to some of the neighboring ranches. But acre for acre, it’s a damned good one. All it needs to get going again is a herd of mama cows and a few horses.”

Tessa was about to ask if he’d like to see the ranch back in production, but a woman’s voice suddenly called out in the vicinity of the front yard.

The unexpected interruption quickly pushed Tessa to her feet. “Excuse me, Sam. I’ll go see who that might be.”

Just as Tessa started off the patio, a tall, dark-haired woman somewhere in her early sixties appeared around the corner of the house.

“Hello, there,” she said cheerily. “Sorry about all the hollering. I knocked on the door but didn’t get an answer. I—” Suddenly spotting Sam, she paused and then called to him. “Sam, you rusty old codger! Where have you been hiding yourself?”

Sam scraped back his chair and came to stand next to Tessa.

“Good to see you, Maureen.” He greeted her with a tip of his hat.

He glanced at Tessa before gesturing to their unexpected visitor, who was dressed in a gray, double-breasted dress with a rust-red silk scarf knotted at her neck and matching red high heels on her feet.

“Tessa, this is Maureen Hollister.” He introduced the two women. “She’s your neighbor and owner of the Three Rivers Ranch.”

Still smiling, the woman extended her hand to Tessa. “Nice to meet you, Tessa,” she said while pumping her hand in a hearty shake. “And don’t worry, I can only stay for a minute. I’m on my way to Prescott. My son, Joe, told me you’d arrived, so I just wanted to stop by and welcome you to the area.”

“Joe? You mean Deputy Hollister?” Tessa asked.

Maureen’s smile deepened. “Sorry. All his family calls him Joe,” she explained, then shot a pointed look to Sam. “I hope you’ve been helping this young lady get settled in.”

Scowling, Sam said, “Maureen, I don’t need to be questioned. You know I’ll see to my duties.”

Maureen laughed and then said to Tessa, “He’s a touchy old cuss. But he won’t bite. I doubt he has enough teeth left to leave any damage, anyhow.”

Sam didn’t make a retort. Instead he purposely put a grin on his face to reveal he still possessed a full set of teeth.

After another laugh, Maureen went on. “If there’s anything at all that you need while you’re here, Tessa, just call on us. We like to help our neighbors.”

So this was Deputy Hollister’s mother. Tessa could only imagine what he’d told this woman about their meeting yesterday. That she’d seemed overly emotional and out of her element? He certainly wouldn’t have been lying, she thought dismally.

“Thank you, Mrs. Hollister. It’s very kind of you to offer. Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee?”

Maureen promptly waved away the invitation. “I’d love to sit and talk for hours. But I can’t be late for my meeting.”

“I understand. I hope you can come by another time,” Tessa suggested.

“Oh, she’ll be by.” Sam spoke up in a dry voice. “She keeps the road hot. All you see when Maureen drives by is the blur of a blue truck and a cloud of dust. Roadrunners aren’t even safe when she’s around.”

Instead of being offended, Maureen laughed heartily. “Sam, one of these mornings you’re going to wake up and the gate to your goat pen is going to be standing wide open. Then we’ll see how fast you go.”

The man chuckled and Tessa could see he clearly enjoyed teasing Maureen. Which meant the two must have known each other many years for them to exchange this sort of banter.

“Okay, I’m off,” she said, “but before I go, I’d like to ask you to join us for dinner tomorrow night, Tessa. We’ll be eating around seven, but come sooner. We’ll have a drink and a nice talk. And you come, too, Sam. The kids would all love to see you.”

He said, “I don’t—”

Before he could decline the invitation, Tessa turned and clasped his crusty hand between her two. “Oh, please, Sam. It would be extra special for me if you’d come.”

Maureen must have sensed Tessa had already developed an emotional connection to the old ranch hand because she suddenly spoke up in a persuasive voice.

“You don’t have to dress up, Sam. You can come just as you are. And Reeva is cooking brisket, so you don’t have to worry about being fed bean sprouts.”

“Well, I guess I can’t fight two women at the same time,” he said.

“Great!” Maureen said with a happy smile. “So I’ll see you two tomorrow tonight.”

As Maureen hurried away, Tessa tugged Sam back over to the table.

“Come on,” she urged, “let’s finish our coffee.”

“I didn’t plan to stay this long,” he protested. “I really need to be going, too.”

“A few more minutes won’t hurt,” Tessa argued. “Anyway, there’s still lots of coffee left in the thermos. I don’t want it to go to waste.”

“You’re hard to say no to, Tessa.” Grinning, he sat back down and motioned to his cup. “Okay. Fill it up again.”

Tessa returned to her seat and poured his coffee. “Thanks, Sam. I realize I’m being a nuisance. But—”

“Now that Maureen has stopped by, you want me to tell you about the Hollisters,” he finished.

The sly look in his narrow eyes had Tessa smiling sheepishly. “I don’t want you to gossip, Sam. But I’m a stranger around here. It would be helpful to know a little about the Hollister family before I have dinner with them.”

He picked up his coffee cup. “Okay. Three Rivers is one of the biggest ranches in Arizona and the family has plenty of money. Maureen and her husband, Joel, had six kids together. Four boys and two girls. The last I heard all the kids were still living at home. Joe, the one you met yesterday, is second from the youngest.”

Joe. He might be just plain Joe to everyone else, but to her he would always be Joseph, she thought. “He seemed like a very intense young man.”

Sam sipped his coffee and stared off at the jagged rock cliffs in the distance. “He has reason to be that way.”

The subtle insinuation had Tessa curiously eyeing the old cowboy. “Why do you say that?”

He shook his head. “You need to let Joe tell you that.”

Joseph Hollister would hardly be sharing personal facts about himself with her. And that was probably a good thing, Tessa decided. The less she knew about him, the less she’d have to forget once she was back in Nevada.

But when will that be, Tessa? You’re telling yourself you’re going to remain here on the Bar X until you learn the reason for your inheritance. But aren’t you really more interested in getting to know Joseph?

Not wanting to answer the question sounding off in her head, Tessa grabbed up her coffee cup and promised herself she wasn’t going to give the sexy deputy another thought. At least, not until tomorrow night and she stepped into the Hollister home.

Chapter Three

The next day Tessa grappled with the urge to drive into Wickenburg and shop for something special to wear to Three Rivers Ranch. Yet each time she came close to grabbing her handbag and truck keys, she talked herself out of the notion. It was foolish of her to try to look extra special for Joseph Hollister, or any of his family, she’d argued with herself.

Now, as she stared at her image in the dresser mirror, she wished she’d made the trip into town. The black-and-white-patterned sheath was neat, but it was hardly glamourous, and the strappy black sandals on her feet looked like she was going to a picnic in the park instead of to dinner with a prominent family.

Sighing, she picked up the silver-backed brush and tugged it through her straight hair. Since it was almost time for Sam to pick her up, it was too late to do anything about her lackluster appearance.

Minutes later, as Sam helped her into the cab of his old truck, Tessa said, “Thank you again, Sam, for going to this dinner with me. I hope you’re not dreading the evening.”

As he drove the truck down the dusty dirt road, a slight grin cracked the wrinkles on his face. “It’s been a long, long time since I carried a gal to dinner. I’m not dreading it.”

Tessa smiled back at him then turned her gaze out the passenger window. As the pickup headed away from the Bar X and on toward Three Rivers, the land opened up into wide valleys dotted with rocks, standpipe, blooming yucca and prickly pear. The grass that covered the lower slopes was short but very green.

When the simple barbed-wire fence running next to the road suddenly changed to one of painted white pipe, Tessa asked, “Are we seeing Three Rivers land now?”

“That’s right. Just a little stretch of it butts up to the Bar X. Most of Three Rivers stretches on east of here—toward the old ghost mines around Constellation and north toward Congress.”

She doubted Three Rivers would come close to covering as much land as that of the Silver Horn, but it was clearly a prominent ranch. Not that the size, or the wealth of the Hollisters, mattered to her. She’d already decided that even if Joseph wasn’t already attached to a woman, he was out of her league.

Minutes later they reached a fork in the road and Sam steered the truck to the left where they passed beneath a simple wooden plank burned with a 3R brand. Another two miles passed when they topped a rocky rise and the Hollister homestead spread majestically across a wide, desert valley.

As they drew closer, Tessa could see a large, three-story house with wooden-lapped siding painted white and trimmed with black. The structure was surrounded by massive cottonwoods and smaller mesquite trees. A hundred yards or more to the right of the house was an enormous work yard with several large barns, sheds and holding pens, all of which were painted white.

“Here we are,” Sam said as he pulled the old truck to a stop in a driveway that curved along the front of the house. “Quite a spread, wouldn’t you say?”

“It’s beautiful,” she agreed, then added, “but I happen to think the Bar X is beautiful, too.”

Sam chuckled. “Sheriff Ray is smiling right now.”

Even after they’d departed the truck and walked onto the ground-level porch running the length of the big house, Tessa was still thinking about Sam’s comment. If not for Ray Maddox, Tessa would never have been in this part of Arizona, much less be meeting these people. That fact multiplied her questions about the late sheriff.

At the wide door, Sam ignored the brass knocker and rapped his knuckles against the white wood.

After a brief wait, a young woman with a dark blond ponytail and a red, bib apron tied over her shirt and jeans answered the door.

“Good evening.” Pulling the door wide, she gestured for them to enter. “Please, come in. Mrs. Hollister and the others are out back having drinks. I’ll show you the way.”

Tessa and Sam followed her into a short entryway and through a spacious living room with high ceilings and sand-colored tongue-and-groove walls. A mix of leather and cloth furniture was the kind that invited a person to take a seat, while the cowhide rugs scattered over the oak parquet were a reminder that the ranch had been built on cattle.

At the back of the room, the maid opened a pair of French doors and gestured for them to precede her onto a large brick patio.

“Mrs. Hollister is there by the fire pit,” the maid said. “And if you two would like anything to drink that isn’t out here, just let me know.”

Tessa thanked the woman then focused her full attention on the group of people sitting in lawn chairs and standing around. Since the men had their backs to her, it was impossible to tell if Joseph was among the group, but the idea was revving her heart to a sickening speed.

Sam must have picked up on her nervousness. With his head bent slightly toward hers, he said in a low voice, “Don’t worry. These folks won’t eat you.”

The two of them had hardly taken two steps before Maureen spotted their arrival and hurried over to greet them.

“Tessa, welcome. I’m so glad you could come.” Instead of shaking Tessa’s hand, the woman gave her a brief hug and then turned and pecked a kiss on the old cowboy’s cheek. “And, Sam, if you hadn’t showed up, I was going to come fetch you here myself. Come on over, you two. I want Tessa to meet everyone.”

As they approached the group, Tessa saw five men rise from their chairs. Except for one, all had varying shades of dark hair and all were dressed in jeans and Western shirts. Even so, there was no mistaking Joseph. He was standing near one of the smooth cedar posts that supported the overhanging roof.

Her gaze briefly hesitated on his face before she forced it to move on to the remaining people gathered on the shaded patio.

“Sam is an old friend, so he doesn’t need any introductions,” Maureen said, then with a hand on Tessa’s arm, drew her forward. “Tessa, this is my family.”

“Wrong, Mom. Matthew isn’t family.” One of the dark-haired men spoke up in a joking voice. “He just thinks he is.”

Laughing, Maureen pointed out a tall, blond man at the back of the group. “That’s Matthew Waggoner. He’s the Three River foreman. A very good one, I might add. And since he’s been around here for quite a few years, we consider him a part of the family.”

The man called Matthew lifted a hand in acknowledgment and Tessa smiled in return.

“Now, over here to your left—the guy with the sour look on his face—is Blake. He’s my oldest son and manager of the ranch. Next to him is Holt. He’s a middle kid and the opposite of Blake. He’s always smiling.”

“That’s because he’s been bucked off so many horses he doesn’t know any better.”

This came from a very pretty woman sitting on the edge of a redwood lounger. Her shoulder-length hair was a shiny chestnut color and her long, shapely legs were showcased in a pair of tight jeans.

Everyone laughed, including Holt.

“Thanks, sis,” he told her. “I’ll remember you at Christmas.”

“Holt is the ranch’s horse trainer,” Maureen explained to Tessa. “And he has suffered a few buck-offs, but I don’t think the falls have addled him yet.”

Maureen gestured to the young woman on the lounger. “This is my oldest daughter, Vivian. She’s works as a park ranger at Lake Pleasant.”

“Hi, Tessa,” Vivian replied with a warm smile.

Tessa returned her greeting before Maureen finished the last two introductions.

“That’s Chandler with the yellow kerchief around his neck. He’s the doctor of the bunch. He has a veterinary clinic just outside of Wickenburg.”

The stoutly built man with coal-black hair and startling blue eyes lifted a hand in greeting. Though Tessa gave him a nod of acknowledgment, every cell in her body was already buzzing as she turned her attention to Joseph. From the moment she’d walked up to the group, she’d been fighting the urge to stare at him. Now she had a reason to let her eyes rest on his familiar face.

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