Free The Rancher Takes A Bride by Sylvia McDaniel Page A

"Well, dear, come on in and rest from your journey. We'll talk about the ring later."
    Desirée swung a leg over the top of the saddle and slid down the horse. She stepped away quickly, almost falling, her legs apparently numb from the ride. Travis reached out a hand to balance her. His eyes flashed for just a moment with what looked like desire.
    Eugenia felt a surge of relief. So her son wasn't totally immune to the delectable Miss Severin. The lie Eugenia had told wasn't totally irresponsible.
    "Detestable animal," Desirée spat.
    Travis smiled and hooked his thumbs in his belt. "She didn't throw you now, did she? You deserved to be thrown for talking bad about Belle."
    Desirée glanced at the horse and then at Travis. "She wasn't going to throw me. She knew I would call upon the spirits to haunt her if she did."
    Travis rolled his eyes. "Why don't you call upon them to find my mother's ring? Or have the spirits deserted you since you left Fort Worth?"
    The two squared off like gunfighters. All they needed was six-shooters. Once the shots were fired and after the smoke cleared, they would be forever entwined. And Eugenia would be a grandmother.
    Eugenia watched as Desirée reached out and poked Travis in the chest. "The spirits have been protecting me from you. They know I would never steal, but they're watching you."
    The air fairly sparked between the two of them; the tension swirled around them tighter than a whirlwind. Eugenia almost laughed out loud. It was working. The attraction was there just as she knew it would be.
    All they needed was a shove in the right direction and they would fall wildly in love. But first they had to get past this bickering stage. Somehow she had to help them by giving them a little nudge. One that would leave them hot enough to be searching for a preacher.
    Travis grinned. "Kind of them to watch over me. Tell them there's work to be done, though, and I'd rather they helped out than just stand around and watch."
    Eugenia felt the urge to separate the two of them. "See your horse to the barn, Travis, while I take Desirée inside."
    Desirée walked up the wooden stairs to the front porch, her calico dress rustling with her movements. She stopped just inches from Eugenia and looked her straight in the eyes.
    "You know I didn't take your ring. I don't even know what it looks like."
    Taking the young woman by the arm, Eugenia strolled toward the door. "Let's not worry about the ring right now. We'll have time later."
    Desirée gave a quick glance behind her to see if Travis followed. But he stood talking to a man who had walked up and looked completely absorbed in the young man's words.
    Eugenia led her inside the parlor and through the kitchen door. "Don't mind my son. Sometimes he can be like any other man, obstinate as they come. But once he smells the stew Cook has prepared, he'll come running. He always does."
    "Mrs. Burnett, he brought me here against my will," the girl said wistfully, twisting Eugenia's heart.
    "Yes. Well, dear, he's just trying to get to the bottom of our little disagreement. Think of it this way—you'll get a few days of rest while you're visiting our ranch."
    Eugenia hoped the young woman would never leave again, but that was yet to be determined.
    "Now then, you sit right down here in this chair and rest while I serve you some of this stew."
    "Frankly, Mrs. Burnett, I'd like a moment to freshen up."
    Eugenia stopped. "Oh dear, you can tell how long it's been since I've had guests. You're absolutely right. Let me show you to your room."
    She took Desirée up the stairs, purposely taking her to the guest room across the hall from Travis's room. They would be so close that each of them could almost hear the other's next breath. But her son was a good man, and she wasn't concerned about any improprieties.
    "I'll give you some time to rest and clean up. We'll eat, say in an hour?"
    "That's fine." Desirée stood in the middle of the room, staring at the pink curtains and