Texas Forever by Janet Dailey

Author:Janet Dailey [Janet Dailey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2019-07-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

LUKE HAD RISEN AT DAWN TO HELP WITH MORNING CHORES. HE was working in the stallion barn, forking fresh hay from a wheelbarrow into the feeders, when Will Tyler appeared in the open doorway.

Luke hadn’t seen much of the boss since his arrival on the Rimrock. But Will had struck him as a fair man, who trusted him to put in an honest day’s work. So far, their relationship had been distant but cordial. However, it was a very different Will who strode toward him now.

No words were needed. Will’s narrow-eyed gaze and the determined set of his jaw signaled trouble. And Luke was pretty sure what kind of trouble it was.

Luke laid the pitchfork across the wheelbarrow, straightened, and turned to face his employer. “What can I do for you, Mr. Tyler?” he asked, already knowing what the answer would be.

“You can leave my daughter the hell alone!” Will’s face was florid with rage. “She told me what was going on. You’ve got no business putting your filthy hands on her, or even talking to her.”

Luke chose to ignore the insult. “I would never hurt Erin, or bring her down in any way,” he said calmly. “I care about her, and she feels the same way about me.”

“Don’t you tell me how she feels!” Will’s voice was getting louder. “She’s an innocent girl! She has no idea what a man like you might be thinking. Turn her head with pretty words, and the next thing you know, you’ll have her down in the hay! Or maybe you think she’s got money, and you want to get your hands on the ranch. Whatever your game is, I won’t allow you to ruin her reputation and her life!”

At the far end of the barn, a couple of cowboys were standing in the open doorway, probably getting an earful. Either Will couldn’t see them or he didn’t care.

“Nothing you say can change the way I feel about her,” Luke said. “But you’re her father, and I respect that. If you want me to go, just say so. I’ll be out of here today.”

Will cursed and shook his head. “This is a warning. I’m not firing you, but if I hear you’ve so much as laid a finger on my daughter, or tried to talk to her alone, you’ll be run off the place with a shotgun, and I’ll see that you never work in this county again! Hear?”

Before Luke could reply, Will seemed to realize that he had an audience. Rage exploding, he swung his attention toward the two cowboys in the doorway. “What the hell do you two galoots think you’re doing?” he yelled at them. “Get back to work!”

As the cowboys beat a fast retreat, Will stalked out of the barn. Luke watched him go. He’d hoped for a different response from Erin’s father, but this was pretty much what he’d expected. At least he hadn’t been fired. But defying Will’s warning would only get both him and Erin in trouble.

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