Free Claiming the Cowboy's Heart by Linda Ford

only a cowboy she’d accidently shot and who high-handedly informed her he meant to teach her to shoot so no other cowboys would be harmed.
    He might prevent another injured cowboy but she wasn’t so certain that the shooter would be unharmed. Something about the man threatened her firm resolve. No, she informed her brain. There would be no veering from her goals. No opening her heart. No inviting pain and trouble.

Chapter Five
    W hen Linette called out for him to come for dinner, Seth hobbled down the hall, careful not to use his leg. The herbs she’d put on the wound could only do so much. He had to be responsible enough to rest the leg until it stopped bleeding.
    Eddie came in the back door as Seth entered the kitchen from the other side. “Say, I think you need a crutch.”
    “Sounds like a good idea.”
    Grady burst through the door behind Eddie. “Billy and me are going to catch bugs after we eat. Daisy said girls don’t like bugs.” He faced Linette. “Is that right? Do you hate bugs?”
    She smiled. “It depends on the kind of bug. Some I like just fine.” She lifted generous portions of fried ham from a skillet.
    Grady shifted his attention to Mercy who dished a mound of potatoes into a bowl. “You like bugs?”
    “Can’t say as I do.”
    Grady moved on to Sybil as she dumped cooked carrots into a bowl. “You like ‘em?”
    She shuddered. “No. They give me the creeps.”
    He continued on to Jayne who sliced a large loaf of richly browned bread.
    Seth swallowed back a rush of saliva. Been a long time since he’d enjoyed a meal such as this. Oh sure, he got fed fine on the cattle drive but hunkering around a campfire with a bunch of cussing, spitting cowboys was hardly the same as sitting at a table in the company of a family and some pretty ladies while eating home-cooked food.
    “You like bugs, Auntie Jayne?”
    Jayne pretended to give the question a lot of thought. Then she answered. “I don’t mind bugs…” She crossed to Eddie, who scrubbed up at the washstand. “Unless a brother is threatening to stick one down my back.” She leaned over him. “Like you used to do.”
    Eddie slowly straightened, saw the knife in her hand and backed away, his arms up as if to protect himself. “Me? I don’t recall doing such a thing.”
    She stalked him. “Funny how clearly I recall it. You were such a tease.” The two of them glowered at each other then broke into laughter. She lowered the knife and he draped an arm over her shoulder.
    “I was only trying to teach you not to be a sissy.”
    “Hmm. And yet you continue to treat me like one.”
    He leaned away to look into her face. “How do I do that?”
    “By overprotecting me. By refusing to teach me to shoot.” She tossed her head, sending waves of light through her rich brown hair. “But never mind. Seth has decided to give me lessons.”
    Eddie stared at Seth. “You did?”
    Seth shrugged. Would Eddie feel Seth had encouraged Jayne to defy him? “If you have no objections. I figure it will be safer for everyone if she shoots under proper supervision.”
    Mercy huffed. “It wasn’t my fault she shut her eyes.”
    Eddie rolled his head back and forth. “Are you sure about this? It might be a bigger task than you know.”
    “Yeah,” Mercy said, her tone aggrieved. “How are you going to keep her from closing her eyes?”
    “I’m sure she’ll do just fine,” Linette soothed.
    “I don’t know why she wants to learn.” Sybil sounded truly puzzled.
    Jayne waved her hands. “I’m here, you know. Stop talking about me.”
    But they all continued to talk, each defending their previous statements and adding to them.
    Jayne jammed her fists on her hips and glowered at the lot but they paid her no heed.
    Seth watched her frustration mount and he started to grin.
    She met his gaze and squinted at him. “What’s so funny?”
    He tipped his head toward the others. Then he put his fingers between his teeth and gave a whistle that brought