Free Lone Star Cinderella by Debra Clopton Page A

Honestly, she makes you want to give her whatever she asks for. Even take her on a treasure hunt.” It was the truth, and he knew it. He pushed out of his rolling desk chair so hard it shot back and hit the wall. He didn’t even glance at it as he strode to the window and stared out at the darkness. He saw the shadowy shapes of a group of deer hopping thefence between the barn and open ground as they headed toward the hills.
    â€œThen go for it. What are you waiting for? You and Melody might actually find something out there.”
    â€œAnd we might not. I don’t have the time to just go traipsing off into the woods on a wild-goose chase. This ranch is—”
    â€œNot going to fall apart if you take some time off. That’s why you have those cowboys working for you. Now tell me what the map says.”
    Disgruntled all the more, Seth snagged up the map and read the list. “So, what do you make of it? What would you think the ravine with the matching rocks is? South corner. That’s the start point. I took her out today and showed her the spot we used to camp at.”
    â€œThat might be it. But that’s not really the south corner. Maybe he was talking about the ledge.”
    Seth had thought about that. “Yeah, could be that. But if he was sick, it’d be hard to manage.”
    â€œYou’re right.” Cole chuckled. “See, you’re thinking about it. Come on, man, get with the program. This is fun. Dream a little. You know as well as I do that there was a time when you wanted to find a treasure map. Get out there and make your ancestors proud…at least give it a shot. And take Melody along. She sounds nice.”
    â€œShe is. But something is going on with her. I’m not sure that she doesn’t have a boyfriend who’s giving her trouble. She told me she didn’t, but I overheard her on the phone and she was really upset. And I saw her before and after another phone call, and it wasn’t good. I think she’s scared.”
    â€œNot good. You think a boyfriend is harassing her?”
    â€œCan’t say for sure, but I’ve never seen her withanyone round town. But that doesn’t mean someone isn’t in the picture.”
    â€œMaybe you need to stick close and find out how you can help her.”
    Seth had thought about that. The entire day was filled with red flags on all kinds of problems. “Look, I’ll call you later. You going to make it up for the Fourth?”
    â€œ Maay be.” Cole dragged the word out. “I’ll have to let you know next week. I might not be able to get away.”
    â€œHeard that a million times.”
    â€œHey, you’re the country boy, remember. Me, I’ve got places to be and people to see.”
    Seth hung up after saying goodbye, but he didn’t head to bed. Instead he sat down and flipped back through the journal he’d been reading, his thoughts fixated on Melody.
    Cole was right when he’d said they used to hunt for treasure. Seth remembered clearly how much dreaming they’d done about that treasure. It had been a long time since he’d been a kid, though. A long time since his thoughts had been on treasure hunting. Even now, it wasn’t the treasure he was thinking about. It was Melody, and what was going on that had her so distressed.
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    How could a day so absolutely amazing and exciting end up so terribly? She was mad at Seth, mad at herself and mad at Ty…once again her brother had managed to put a spoiler on her day. Intruding when least expected.
    And Seth…what was the man’s problem? He was a domineering brute! A tease. He’d dangled that ravinein front of her like a carrot—knowingly getting her hopes up. He’d apologized for leading her on, but that didn’t change that he’d done it. Men. He was so clueless because he’d done it after he’d almost made her think he cared about her feelings. And