Free Taming of Jessi Rose by Beverly Jenkins

belongings still needing to be put in their places, but it was a beautiful day outside and it was begging to be enjoyed, even by a boy suspended from school.
    â€œIf I do get you pardoned, you’ll have to promise me you’ll make some real progress on this place once we get back. Deal?”
    A grinning Joth came over and firmly shook Griff’s outstretched hand. “Deal.”
    Griff found Jessi seated on a stool by the barn door, repairing the stitching on a saddle.
    â€œDon’t mean to bother you, Miss Clayton, but Joth and I would like to go riding, if that’s okay with you.”
    â€œWhere?” she asked, looking up from her task. Seeing him made her remember this morning all over again. She wondered how long it would take her to forget the beauty of his male body and its effects on her.
    â€œI want him to give me a tour of the place.”
    â€œI already gave you one, remember?”
    â€œI know, but I want him to show it to me from where he sits. Children see things different than adults do at times.”
    Jessi observed him for a moment, then said knowingly, “I think you’re just trying to get Joth out of his chores.”
    Griff tried to keep his smile hidden but failed. “I just thought it being such a nice day and all—”
    She waved a hand. “It’s all right, Mr. Blake, we agree. I was just about to go in and tell him to take a break, so riding with you is fine.”
    â€œYou’re sure?”
    â€œI’m sure, just don’t be gone too long, because I can tell you without even going into his room that he has much left to do.”
    Griff wondered if her being embarrassed this morning had anything to do with her easy surrender now. Knowing better than to look a gift horse in the mouth, he didn’t pursue the matter; instead, he touched his hat politely. “Then we’ll see you later.”
    â€œHave a good time.”
    Â 
    On the ride, Griff found he liked the boy more and more. Joth was much smarter than Griff had been at the same age. Joth knew about foreign countries, ancient history, and how to catch fish with his hands. As Joth knelt on the edge of the clear stream waiting to hand snag their lunch, he explained, “We had a Cheyenne brave work for us before Gramps was killed and he taught me how to spear fish, which is easy, but he also taught me how to fish with my hands.”
    Fascinated, Griff watched from where he stood nearby.
    â€œYou have to be real quiet, Griff.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œThen you have to let your hand become part of the stream.”
    Griff watched Joth stick his hand in the water and leave it there until the fish and other water dwellers began to swim around it, comfortable once more. Moments later, Joth snatched up a fat little fish and tossed it on the bank. “See?” he cried with a grin. “It’s easy.”
    â€œNot bad,” the impressed Griff admitted. “Next time, I’ll try.”
    Joth caught a few more and didn’t want any help scaling, gutting, or cooking the fish. “Aunt Jessi showed me how to do all this. Gramps, too, but mostly Aunt Jessi.”
    â€œYou love her a lot, don’t you?”
    â€œMore than Buttercup.”
    Griff laughed. Buttercup was Joth’s palomino pony. “A woman’s got to be mighty special to make a cowboy love her more than his horse.”
    Joth smiled, embarrassed.
    Later, as they ate, Griff asked, “So, did you learn all that history you’ve been spouting from Mr. Trent at school?”
    â€œNaw, from Aunt Jessi. She used to be a teacher back east before I was born.”
    Griff stared. He’d been handed another piece to fit into the Jessi Clayton puzzle, but had no idea where it went.
    Before he could ask about it, however, Joth stood and looked across the rolling land. “Riders coming.”
    Griff stood by his side. There were two men on horseback and one man driving a large,