“Lucas!”
He laughed. “I’m serious. He’s a male and needs a female just like all males do. But with none available, he’s been using you as a substitute.”
“Don’t be absurd.”
“That cat sees me or anyone else who gets near you as a rival.”
“Nonsense,” she insisted. “I told you he just doesn’t like strangers.”
“Then why did Charley just come up to me in the barn as friendly as can be? Because you weren’t there for him to fight over.”
“You mean he really came to you?”
“You saw for yourself that he let me carry him.”
“But if what you say is true, where am I going to find a female for him out here?”
“I don’t think Newcomb has any other cats, but I can send wanted notices to the nearby towns and see what we come up with. I need to take the buggy back today, anyway, so go change clothes and come with me.”
“But then how will I get back from town?”
“You’ll ride a horse. It’s time you had a riding lesson, anyway.”
She turned away from him and went back to scrubbing her petticoat. “I think I’ll stay here. You don’t need me with you to place those notices.”
“But I want your company.”
“I’ve got too much work to do, Lucas.”
“Go put on those pants I bought you, Sharisse.”
Her head shot up. “I will not wear those pants, especially to town!” How dare he order her?
“I didn’t buy them for you not to wear them. You’re going to put them on.”
“I won’t,” she replied adamantly, shaking her head.
He got up slowly and started toward her. She jumped back, bringing the soaking petticoat with her, holding it out before her as if it were a weapon.
“You want to make a little wager, honey?” he asked softly. “You want to bet that you will go to town with me, and wearing those pants? You want to bet that I’ll put them on you myself if you won’t do it?”
Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t.”
When he took another step toward her, she dashed for the house. Before she reached the back door, he caught her.
“All right!” she cried. “I’ll do it, but put me down!”
He did, and Sharisse was enraged to see him grinning. “Don’t be too long about it, or I’ll think you still want my help.”
“Lucas Holt, you’re a tyrant!” she snapped.
He walked away, calling back over his shoulder, “No, I’m not. I just can’t bear to be parted from you today.”
“Oh, I could just scream!” And she did.
Two hours later they returned the buggy to Pete’s Livery and Corral and stabled the two horses that would take them back to the ranch. Sharisse was wearing her traveling suit, the jacket over the shirt Lucas had bought her, the horrid pants concealed beneath the skirt. Lucas laughed at her compromise, the loathsome brute.
But she hadn’t been able to stay angry with him. That was one thing about this rogue that was different from any other man she knew. She could be utterly furious, but he had only to grin and tease and cajole and she would forget what she had been angry about.
