Free The Texan by Bobbi Smith Page A

a twinkle in her eye. “Really? Are you sure? You think we could—”
    “Come on! Let’s cool off!”
    Millie glanced around a bit nervously. She’d never undressed in such an open place before. “How much should I take off?”
    “Nobody’s going to see us. It’s safe.” Emmie set about removing her pants, shirt, and boots, and then she ran into the cool, welcoming water wearing only her underclothes.
    Millie couldn’t believe her friend was being so bold, but when Emmie started splashing around like a little child, she couldn’t resist. She shed her riding clothes, too, and charged into the lake to join her, squealing in delight at the chill of the water.
    * * *
    Josh hadn’t had any idea where to look for Emmie and Millie as he’d started out. There was no telling where they might have gone, and that was what worried him.
    He’d been riding, trying to track them down, for almost half an hour when he heard what he thought was the sound of a woman screaming off in the distance. It sounded like trouble, and he grew even more worried. Josh drew his gun as he urged his horse to a gallop, heading in that direction, fearing the worst. He charged through the brush as he heard more shouts coming from ahead of him, and then abruptly reined in as he reached the water’s edge. It was Emmie and Millie, but they weren’t in trouble. They were almost completely stripped of their clothing, and they were frolicking in the water.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, unable to look away from the sight of the two women standing waist-deep in the water, completely soaked.
    Their hair was unbound and down around their shoulders, and they were wearing only their dripping wet, clinging undergarments. If ever there were two women out looking for trouble, it was these two. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with them.
    Emmie and Millie both shrieked as he came upon them so suddenly, his gun drawn. Then they realized just how exposed they were and quickly sank down in the water up to their chins to shield themselves from his view.
    “What are you doing here?” Emmie countered, completely surprised by Josh’s appearance.
    Josh was swearing under his breath as he holstered his gun.
    “I’m here looking for you!” he growled. He couldn’t decide whether he was relieved to find them safe or aggravated to see them swimming practically nude. “Steve said you’d ridden out early and he hadn’t heard from you since.”
    “There was no need for you to come after us,” Emmie protested. “I know my way around the Rocking R.”
    “From now on, take someone with you, or at least let someone know where you’re going,” he ordered.
    Emmie bristled at his arrogant, commanding tone. “I can take care of myself. I don’t need you telling me what to do! You’re not my father!”
    “I’m well aware of that,” Josh returned sarcastically as his gaze went over her.
    Emmie blushed, embarrassed by his unexpected appearance and by the way he was looking at her. “And you’re not my boss, either!”
    “I am the foreman of this ranch,” he reminded her, “and I don’t have the time to waste searching for you every time you get lost.”
    Millie stared up at the darkly handsome foreman who looked so very attractive sitting on his horse. She thought it was thoughtful of him to care enough to come looking for them, but it was obvious her friend wasn’t of the same opinion.
    “We weren’t lost,” Emmie insisted heatedly.
    “Good. Then you know how to find your way back to the ranch.” Josh had had enough of arguing with her. Hank used to talk about how much Emmie waslike him, and Josh recognized his friend’s stubborn streak in her. Somehow he had to make Emmie see that they had to get along for the sake of the ranch.
    “Yes, I know my way home.”
    “Ladies,” Josh said sarcastically, tipping his hat to them.
    Without another word, he wheeled his horse around and rode off. He tried to turn his thoughts