An Agent for Ulyssa Read online

  Rusty’s gaze snapped back to him. Whoever this man was, he was getting to her. Unnerving her as if he knew things about her. She thought about Cade. Father had never shown him the lake and pretty much forbade her from taking him there. And she hadn’t because she didn’t think Cade belonged there.

  Cade had never asked how the ranch got its name. Not once. That fact bothered her. It had in the past, and the small niggling of trouble now worked its way forward, where she couldn’t deny that she had reservations about the man herself. She knew there was something between them that Cade kept to himself.

  But Sam. Another woman’s husband. She shook her head and ordered her heart to obey. There was absolutely no reason or room to allow him into her life. She didn’t know how long Ulyssa and Sam were staying, but she hoped they’d leave soon.

  Sam stopped his horse in a small valley, dismounted, and plucked a wildflower. He smiled at her. “I think this blue flower would look good in that blond hair of yours.”

  Rusty took the flower from him. “I think it would look good in Ulyssa’s dark hair, too.”

  Sam blushed. “Yes, sure would.”

  She handed the flower back to him. “I think the horses are rested enough. Race you to the next ridge.” Rusty didn’t wait for him to remount and galloped away from him.

  It wasn’t seconds, and she heard his powerful black gelding charging behind her. She laughed. She loved galloping over the raw, wild land. Like flying, the horse barely touched the ground as his hooves charged over the earth. Up the ridge, over a log, and then she stopped at the top and saw that Sam was right behind her.

  “You beat me.” He stopped his lathered horse. “You gave us a good run.”

  “That black of yours did well to keep up with my horse. He’s a thoroughbred. Yours must have some good blood in him.”

  “Guess so. I’m sure Outlaw doesn’t have a clue what his breeding is, but he likes to run.” Sam patted the horse and walked him along the ridge. “Does your ranch have more views like this?”

  She nodded. “Outlaw? The horse or you?”

  Sam grinned. “You’ll have to find out.”

  Enjoying the banter, Rusty reminded herself that Sam was a married man and changed the subject. “Did you ride by Colorado Springs and see the red rocks?”

  “Sure did. Magnificent.”

  “We have something similar. It’s too late to show you today, maybe tomorrow we can go. You and Ulyssa.”

  Sam paused and looked into her eyes. Green, like her fathers. And innocent and sincere. He should tell her he wasn’t really married to Ulyssa. But then again, it was her father’s plan. Tonight, ought to be interesting. “I’d like that. I’ll see what kind of plans my wife has and let you know tomorrow.”

  He was holding something back from her. A secret. Maybe the reason her father invited them to the ranch. For a moment, Rusty let her imagination run away from her and wondered if he was the long lost son her father had always wanted. Maybe Father had a secret lover.

  Then she nearly laughed at her crazy notions. Father was right, she was reading too many stories. “Good. I’ll check with Father.”

  Still, the more she looked at Sam Paxton, the more she was convinced that he was hiding something from her. She hoped he wasn’t a confidence man trying to convince her father to sell land. The last man that tried to swindle father disappeared, and she didn’t even want to know what had happened to him.

  Then again, that man hadn’t come with a wife. A beautiful wife at that. Rusty rubbed the back of her neck and wished Cade would ride up the road. She needed to see him. Needed to know that he still cared for her. Needed to know she still felt for him.

  Chapter 10

  Cade needed to see Rusty. Like or not, he was going to the ranch and ask her to go for a ride. Meeting that woman, Ulyssa, had rattled him. He’d been so sure of his feelings for Rusty that he’d almost forgotten his real reason for being here.

  He’d been orphaned at fifteen when his stepfather took him in. Caldwell had been the one to keep him honest and get him interested in school. Cade owed his future to the man. Then Allred came and interfered, and Cade’s stepfather lost the farm. The loss killed the one person Cade had cared about. Cade had drifted from town to town, taking up odd jobs until he settled on teaching as a profession.

  He’d forgotten about Allred until he saw a story in the newspaper. Cade had taken leave of his job and ridden to Colorado to confront Roy Allred. But when he rode to the ranch, he met Rusty and fell in love with her. She was everything he’d always dreamed of.

  Rusty, Trucilla, Allred. Pretty, free and wild, and a woman who knew what she wanted in life. He fell in love with her that day. He’d delayed his plans and, in fact, had changed them. Marrying Rusty and taking her away from Allred was the best revenge Cade could come up with.

  Allred told him he wasn’t the man for his daughter. Not that Allred was mean or cruel with him, just matter of fact. Cade was determined to take Rusty from her father and still convinced himself that he loved Rusty.

  Or at least, he thought he did. That was why Cade had to see her today. He always told himself that she wasn’t really part of his plot to exact pain on her father. Cade didn’t want to hurt Rusty because he loved her. Yet, after meeting Ulyssa, Cade wasn’t as sure as he had been before. He saddled his horse and rode to the ranch.

  Cade didn’t see Mr. Allred around and hoped he was out on the range riding over his vast holdings. Cade wasn’t in the mood to wrestle words with the man. Walking up to the house, he noticed Ulyssa sitting on the porch reading.

  She looked up and smiled, putting her book down. “Hello, again.”

  Cade hadn’t counted on seeing her either, and he certainly hadn’t counted on the way she made him feel. “I was wondering if Rusty was around?”

  Ulyssa got up from her chair. “No, she went riding. Would you like a glass of lemonade? It is truly wonderful.”

  Cade heard the small voice inside of him, telling him to run. But he ignored it and tied his horse to the rail, walked to her, and sat in the chair next to hers. “That sounds refreshing.”

  Ulyssa went inside the house and came out with Rosalie scolding her.

  “I take care of you. Mr. Roy say to me, take care of that woman. So that is what I do.” Rosalie brought out the pitcher and refilled Ulyssa’s glass and then poured a glass for him.

  With a scowl, she glared at him. “Mr. Roy know that you are here?”

  “No. I wanted to see Rusty.”

  Rosalie tossed her head. “She is out riding with her father.” Rosalie smiled at Ulyssa. “Senora, if there is anything else you need, call me.”

  “Thank you, Rosalie.” Ulyssa smiled. “She’s a delightful woman. We’ve had an interesting morning together. Mostly, she has chased me away from helping her do anything.”

  Cade laughed. “This is thirst-quenching lemonade. I’m sure she has told you how bad I am for Rusty.”

  Ulyssa nodded. “Yes, I believe she mentioned you a few times.” She shifted in her chair. “But I don’t see the need for all her anger toward you. Unless there are things, I just don’t know yet.”

  Cade pointed to the book in her lap. “I’m an open book. Ask me anything.”

  “Hmm, that’s a wide-open invitation. I’m rather good at grilling outlaws.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, well, that makes me curious. What are you? A law woman?”

  “Something like that.” She sipped more of her drink and then held up the book. “Pride and Prejudice. Have you ever read it?”

  Cade stared at the book. He wasn’t ready to tell her that part about himself. “I may have read it before. Lately, I haven’t had the time to read books for entertainment.”

  Ulyssa patted the book. “Entertainment. Well, I’ll have you know that even the novels have merit. You can learn a lot by watching or reading about the lives of other people. Even fictional characters.”

  Again, the voice told him to leave, but he was in over his head
. This woman had him hooked. He grinned at her. “So, you watch people. It seems like a standoffish way to live if you ask me.”

  She frowned. “I never thought of it in that way. There is some truth in what you say. You’ve given me something to think about.”

  Ulyssa had given him plenty to think about. If it had been up to him, he’d have stayed on that porch, in that chair, and next to her for the rest of his life. But that wasn’t possible. Mr. Allred would return and run him off. And there was Rusty to consider.

  Cade regretted the mess he’d gotten himself into. “Tell Rusty I was here to see her. Tell her I’ll run into her again.” He stood. “Thanks for the lemonade.”

  Ulyssa stood. “I’m glad you came, and I enjoyed our talk. It was a welcome diversion.”

  The woman had no idea of the effect she’d had on him. Cade nodded. “Maybe I can see you again. Good day, Ma’am.”

  She remained standing, holding her book under her arm and glass of lemonade in hand. Yet, she managed to wave to him with her other hand. And smile.

  Cade took her smile with him. He got the feeling that Ulyssa didn’t give them out regularly. Even Rusty rarely gave him such a pleasant and inviting look. He mounted his horse, tipped his hat, and wheeled the animal away from her before he found it impossible to leave.

  All he knew as he galloped away was that he needed to see Rusty. Cade had never been so confused. He’d been honest when he told her father that Rusty was the only woman he cared about.

  But now, after meeting Ulyssa, he wasn’t sure. Which was crazy. He’d met the woman twice. Now, he was as confused as a schoolboy. And had so much to lose. He and Rusty had a special bond. And he had a particular reason to want to marry her.

  Rusty loved him. He knew it. And until Ulyssa, he’d have said there was nothing that could come between them. Nothing.

  Well, all he knew was he better find Rusty and clear the air and the fog in his head. He rode up a ridge and saw Rusty on a distant hill. But she was with the man that had been with Ulyssa. Sam.

  Cade figured out where he’d seen Sam before. But he had been Sam Russell and on a poster wanted dead or alive. If Mr. Allred had thought to keep Rusty from him, her father needed to know that the man she was riding with now was an outlaw.

  Chapter 11

  Ulyssa watched Cade ride away. What was happening to her? She didn’t like men. At all. But he had charmed his way into her heart. She would have to guard against that. Well, she probably wouldn’t see him again.

  Mr. Allred didn’t like the man, and that was good enough for her. Although when she thought about Cade, she couldn’t get any sense that he was bad. To Cade’s credit, she didn’t think he was a bit like Sam.

  Rosalie came from the house. “He gone?”

  “Yes.”

  Rosalie looked at her. “He has charmed you just like he charmed Rusty. Beware of him. Mr. Roy doesn’t like that man, and I trust Mr. Roy.”

  Ulyssa smiled at the woman. “Thank you, Rosalie. I have no intention of being swept off my feet by Cade Monroe. Besides, he loves Rusty, doesn’t he?”

  Rosalie nodded. “He say, he does. But I don’t know. Something not right between them. That what Mr. Roy sense, too.”

  “Has Cade broken the law?”

  She shook her head. “No, I think he is good man, but he doesn’t belong on this ranch. Not with Miss Rusty.”

  “I see. Thank you for the lemonade.”

  Rosalie nodded but left with a worried frown.

  Ulyssa sat back in the chair and picked up the book. So, Elizabeth Bennet had problems, too. Maybe she had solutions. After all, Ulyssa had told Cade that novels had merit. She tried to get into the story, but her own life’s struggles made it impossible for her to read.

  Looking at the sky, Ulyssa leaned back in the chair. The case had sounded so simple. Now, she was pretending to be married to Sam, who she disliked immensely. And the very man she was to dissuade Rusty from marrying, she was falling for.

  Poor Rusty. It must be challenging to be in love with a man that your father won’t allow into the house. Then again, Mr. Allred was protecting the empire he’d built. And she bet that Cade wasn’t the only man with eyes on Rusty and the ranch that would come with her.

  She closed the book. “After this case, I could write my own book.” She grinned at her thought. Maybe that was something she should do. Being a Pinkerton was weighing on her. She already had a harsh attitude, and dealing with the worst of humanity wasn’t helping.

  Seeing Rusty and the carefree innocence of the girl had chipped at the hard shell around her own heart. Although they were close in age, Rusty looked at life with wonder and joy while Ulyssa saw things through a jaded bitterness.

  Ulyssa saw deceit and danger wherever she looked. Although with the life she’d been handed, she came by it honestly. She’d seen nothing but the backhand of abuse from the few men in her life.

  Actually, Sam, even though he’d been an outlaw, had treated her better than the few men she’d considered marriage material. One had been shot and killed in front of her and left her with conflicting thoughts of sorrow and relief.

  The other one had used her time and time again only to leave town, and Ulyssa later heard that he’d married another woman. So, the bruises she’d suffered at the hands of men she’d considered marrying still ached.

  Mostly her heart. Why had those men found her someone to trample over? Why did they treat her as if she were worthless? Perhaps being an orphan with no father to look after her had contributed to the way she was perceived.

  In that sense, she envied Rusty. The woman had no idea how precious it was to have a Father who watched over her. Ulyssa made a mental note to tell Rusty when she saw her again. Maybe she’d reveal her own troubled past where men were concerned.

  Then again, she had to be careful because she and Sam were supposed to be married. She heard horses and saw Sam and Rusty riding toward her.

  Time to play doting wife. Ulyssa stood and waved. “Did you have a good ride?”

  Sam helped Rusty from her horse. Ulyssa thought that he lingered a little too long with his hands on her, but then Sam smiled at her and nodded. “Beautiful country. You’ll have to see it.”

  Rusty blushed and smoothed her shirt. “Yes, I bet Rosalie could make us a picnic basket for tomorrow. You’ll love it, Ulyssa.”

  Sam walked to her and gave her peck on the cheek. “Did you have a good time, Lyssa?”

  Ulyssa concentrated on not slapping the fire out of Sam and caught the wink. She assumed it was her pet name that he’d come up with. She smiled and squeezed his hand, extra hard. “Yes, I did. I was reading a book.”

  Sam left her and took the reins to Rusty’s horse. “I’ll put up the horses.”

  The girl caught his arm. “We have hired help to do that. Pedro, the horses.”

  Immediately, a young man came forward and took the reins. “Si, senorita, Rusty.” Whistling a happy tune, he left with the animals.

  Rusty smiled at Sam.

  Ulyssa got the impression that more was going on than she knew. If she was Sam’s wife, the way that Rusty had just looked at him would have made her jealous. And then the way Sam looked back at her. Well, Ulyssa would have made sure they both knew she wasn’t pleased. Maybe the case was close to being solved, and she could stop this sham of a marriage.

  Still, it bothered her that Sam could be interested in Rusty. Didn’t he care about the girl at all? Ulyssa rolled her eyes. It was clear she needed to train Sam in the ways of a Pinkerton agent.

  Ulyssa studied Rusty, who was still looking at Sam with more than a spark of interest. Ulyssa could squash that feeling by telling her and Allred that Sam had been an outlaw. Well, if things progressed, she would tell Allred to save his daughter from another man not trustworthy enough for Rusty.

  Ulyssa was sure that Mr. Allred would appreciate that. After all, it would do no good to stop Rusty and Cade, if Rusty took up with Sam.

  The Pinkerton’s would
probably fire her along with Sam.

  ***

  Sam noticed the way Rusty looked at him, and he sure felt the fire in his arm where she’d touched him. Things weren’t quite going as planned. He was supposed to be an example of a knight in shining armor by showing Rusty how much he loved Ulyssa.

  He nearly gagged. How was he going to pull that off? It wasn’t as if he’d hired on to be an actor in a two-bit play. The only feeling he had for Ulyssa was irritation. Everything the woman did riled him.

  Her hard and harpylike voice. The mean, if not wicked, glare in her eyes. The way Ulyssa kept her hair corralled so tightly to her head. The snappy way she ordered him around. And the worst was the condescending way she had of looking down on him.

  Nope, there wasn’t one pleasant thing about Ulyssa. Not one.

  Rusty, on the other hand, was soft and pleasant. Her voice was filled with joy and acceptance, and she was every bit as pretty as Ulyssa. Maybe Rusty didn’t have the fancy dresses or ways, but she had drawn his gaze to her the minute they met.

  But here he was to play like he was the loving husband to a woman he despised. Suddenly, Sam became aware that Ulyssa was staring at him. Sam smiled. “Lyssa, did you have lunch? I’m hungry and thirsty after that long ride.” He grinned at her, hoping he looked like he cared for her.

  Sam almost blew his cover by laughing at the quick glare that flared in Ulyssa’s eyes, but she quickly put it out with a sweet smile.

  She stood and put a hand on his shoulder, shoving a bit harder than necessary while not letting up on her smile. “Sweetie, you sit down, and I’ll get you something. Would you like some lemonade?”

  “Sounds good.” Sam glanced at Rusty to see if she was watching. She was. And the look in her eyes wasn’t a happy one. Sam felt bad. He really didn’t want Rusty to think he was in love with Ulyssa.

  Ulyssa walked inside and, in minutes, came out with a tray. She sat in the chair beside Sam. “I also made you a sandwich just the way you like them.” Ulyssa’s grin unnerved him.