Free Claiming the Cowboy's Heart by Linda Ford Page A

every pair of eyes toward him. “Jayne seems to be annoyed that we’re all talking about her. She’s feeling invisible.”
    Eddie patted her shoulder as if to soothe her which, as far as Seth could tell, had quite the opposite effect.
    He wondered how long it would be before she blew her top.
    Linette no doubt wondered the same thing, as she moved to defuse the situation. “Our food is getting cold. Why don’t we sit down and eat?”
    Eddie waited until everyone was settled then bowed his head and said the blessing. After the food had been passed, he asked, “Where did you girls go this morning?”
    All three spoke at once then by silent consent they let Jayne answer. “We followed the river for a ways. Wondered where the water came from. Lakes, of course, but Seth says there are also glaciers up there.”
    Eddie nodded. “Indeed, there are. Way up in the mountains.”
    Seth took note of the fact that Jayne had said nothing about his promise to take them to one of the mountain lakes. Did it mean nothing to her? For some reason her failure to mention it annoyed him. He’d offered her an outing. At great personal sacrifice. It would mean delaying his return yet another day. Of course, her friends were included. But it was Jayne he’d invited.
    Come to think of it, she hadn’t seemed any more overjoyed at his offer to teach her to shoot.
    Was she reluctant to spend time with him or was it simply her independence kicking in? Perhaps she thought she and her friends could go to a glacier on their own and she resented his intrusion.
    Seems the young lady would take some watching if she thought she could handle every situation on her own. Not that he meant to volunteer for the job. He couldn’t even explain why he’d offered to take her to the mountains let alone give her shooting lessons other than the one big reason.
    It hurt to get shot. He’d do his best to see it didn’t happen to another unsuspecting person.
    After dinner, Jayne and her friends told Linette they’d clean up so she could rest. Grady went to join Billy in their bug hunt. Eddie rode out of the yard with two other cowboys. The crutch seemed to have been forgotten. Seth wondered what to do with himself but seeing as he was mostly immobile, sitting in the sun again seemed the only alternative, though he’d discovered it a lonely occupation.
    He parked himself on a chair out in the grass and stared at the ranch buildings. There must be something he could do to pass the time. Maybe he’d ask Eddie for a job that would last a day or two.
    After a bit the girls drifted outside and sat down on the grass beside him. Sybil brought a knitting project and Mercy had an atlas. How far did she expect to go adventuring? Jayne had brought a sock and darning material.
    He watched as she wove the yarn in and out.
    She glanced up, saw he watched her and lowered the needle. “What?”
    “I didn’t say anything.”
    “You didn’t have to. You looked something.”
    “Really? How do I look something?”
    “Like this.” She knit her forehead in a fierce look. “Or this.” She waggled her eyebrows like mischief waiting to happen. “Or this.” She widened her eyes and very clearly communicated surprise.
    Her friends giggled.
    “Fine. I get your point. But what look was I giving?”
    “I’m sure you know.” She returned to her work.
    “I’m equally sure I don’t. Why, I was simply watching you darn a sock, watching you weave the yarn in and out in perfect little—” He flicked his wrist to indicate what he meant.
    “I suppose you’re surprised to see me doing something useful.”
    He glanced at the others but they kept their heads down. Fine. He could deal with this on his own. Though for the life of him, he didn’t know what she expected him to say. Why should he be surprised that she could darn a sock? Then he recalled what she’d said about needing to feel useful. Or something like that. He honestly couldn’t recall her exact words. His mind had