Amelia’s fingers didn’t coil, but her insides did. How dare the man be so insulting? She glanced at Kat. A scowl marred her pretty features.
“If I had a gun, I’d deal with our unwelcome neighbor the way he deserves to be treated.” The words growled from Kat, and she spat on the ground.
Although Amelia would never attack the man with a gun, Kat’s assessment sure fit.
The visitor continued speaking. “There’ll come a time you’ll be glad to let me take what’s left of your cows off your hands.” Mr. Sobel’s grin was as evil as a snake’s—ifa snake could smile.
“What do you mean, what’s left of them?”
“With this drought, there isn’t enough grass for the both of us.” The man reined about, saw Amelia, and stopped. “Well, well, well. You’re a pretty addition to the place. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m?—”
Amelia handed Poppy to Kathy. The little one squirmed. “Hold her. I don’t want her running after me.” Amelia lifted her skirts and strode toward Mr. Sobel. “I know who you are. You’re the man who is making life miserable for this family. I detest such unkind behavior.”
Mr. Sobel leaned back and laughed.
Still grinning, although Amelia detected a hint of malice in the man’s pale blue eyes, he studied Zach. “I see you’ve found yourself a little spitfire. That ought to prove interesting.” He doffed his hat.
Three cowboys thundered in on lathered horses. “Boss, boss,” they called. “The cows are way to the east, miles from water. They’re standing around with their tongues out.”
“You have to choose whether to be a nanny to your kid sister and father or take care of your cows.” With that, Mr. Sobel rode from the yard, seemingly pleased with this turn of events.
Zach stared after him, his jaw muscles bunching. “Get my horse. And do something with the horses you’re on before you ruin them.”
The cowboys wheeled toward the barn.
Zach lifted his gaze heavenward and let out a long, weary breath. “I still have to find Pa and sober up Gil.”
“I’ll look after your pa and the cook.” Amelia had come here to do exactly that. Now was her chance. “You take care of the cows.”
“You?” His gaze roved up and down her length, much the same way as Mr. Sobel’s had.
She squinted at him. “I’m capable and because of your”—she lingered on the word—“letters, I have some knowledge of what I’m dealing with.”
“You just got here.” His protest sounded weak.
“You forget I have learned a great deal about your family. Leave them to me.” As she’d read those letters—wherever they came from—she’d thought of things she could do to make life easier for Zach. Now was her time to prove it and perhaps make him see he needed her here.
The cowboys led a horse toward Zach and waited.
He stood there, obviously trying to decide if he could count on her or not. If he’d read her letters, he would know the thingsshe’d had to deal with. “Your experience is with cows. Mine is with hurting, sick people. Let’s each do what we’re best at.”
“I seem to have little choice. None, in fact.” He swung into his saddle and rode off without a backward look, the three cowboys mounted on fresh horses in his wake.
It was a far cry from the expected welcome, but she wasn’t about to sit around and mope. The man needed help, even if he didn’t welcome it from her.
“You’re going to take care of Pa and Gil?” Kat sounded more doubtful than impressed.
“I’m going to do my best. Now, where would your pa go?”
“I don’t know. Sometimes he wanders down the road. Sometimes he goes to the trees over there or there.” She pointed west and then north. “Sometimes he just sits and stares into space. But if you call him, he doesn’t answer.”
“I’ll find him. Can you watch Poppy for me?” Amelia hesitated over leaving the little one with Kat.
Kat studied the wide-eyed child in her arms. “Do you think she likes me?”
“Of course she does. What’s not to like? Just don’t let her wander away. You might give her some water and maybe a biscuit or a piece of bread and jam.”
“All right.”
