To Honor and Cherish Read Free Page B

weaknesses. That being said, if they fail, so do you.” She stuck her foot in the stirrup and swung her foot over the saddle.
    Pulling the reins off the pommel, she turned her horse around to leave. Jax stepped in front of her horse, taking the bridle in his hand.
    “So you need five? What’s the pay?”
    “For hands? One quarter of what you make each month plus room and board. I would think that would be enough to keep the men happy.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    ~~~
    He released the bridle and let her go, but his curiosity was piqued. He wondered where she had to be in such a hurry, and why it was so important he not ride with her. It would have been a good opportunity for her to tell him what she wanted him to do and about the trip south she mentioned. Why in the world would she want him to take cows south? She seemed to be avoiding him, and he couldn’t figure out why. How could he manage a ranch without direction?
    Perhaps she was skittish, like a horse. He would try assuming the responsibility, since it seemed she wanted nothing to do with it. She’d given him full rein to hire after only knowing him for a few short hours, and most of those she’d been asleep. That must be what she expected, for him to assume his role. Well, if that’s what she wanted, then far be it from him to deny his boss. In the meantime, he was curious and since he needed to go to town anyway, it wouldn’t hurt to follow behind.
    He grabbed his already saddled horse and followed her at quite a distance. About a mile outside of town, he saw her turn off the trail and leave her horse by a tree. He pulled up and watched her from as far away as he could. The area wasn’t familiar to him and he wasn’t sure if she was walking to someone’s home or only resting. He saw her kneel on the ground and then collapse. He kicked his horse to a gallop. If something happened, he needed to make sure she was all right. Before he got close enough for her to notice the sound of his approach, he realized she was at a cemetery. Reining up, he hoped he hadn’t disturbed her.
    He cursed himself for interfering. Slowing the horse to a walk, he passed the scene with as quiet a pace as possible. It was a private moment and she hadn’t wanted to tell him about it. He scowled at the town laying just ahead, his boss had to trust him at some point, but this was one thing he hadn’t needed to see. He didn’t want to feel sorry for her. She was the boss, after all.

 
    Chapter Five
     
    Jax kept the horse at a quiet walk until he passed where she lay, and the sound wouldn’t bother her. His main focus was on getting back into town without being seen. Meandering through town much like he had the night before, he made sure to stay on an out-of-the-way path.
    Someone had been spying on him; that much seemed certain. He had to make sure no one but his closest friends knew he was here. Also, if push came to shove and Larson came out to the ranch for him, he’d have a few guns in his corner with the new hands he planned to hire.
    He looked in the bar through Wayward’s Way and saw the first two men he wanted to talk to. Jeff was as steady as they come and he needed work. He wouldn’t balk at taking orders from a friend and the offered salary would seem like riches to him. The other man was the one he’d spoken to yesterday, Mac, who’d already said he was interested. Jax wandered over to the table where Jeff sat.
    “Hey. Seat taken?” Jax pulled the chair out before Jeff answered.
    “Nope, sit. Deal a hand?”
    “No time. You looking for work?”
    “Yeah. Whatcha got?”
    Jax explained the work to him and who his boss would be. Jeff was a man of few words so he agreed to the work with no questions asked. Jax asked him to wait for three days, then told him where he should go. He agreed and Jax left Jeff to go speak to Mac at his table.
    “Took your advice.” Jax flipped the chair around facing Mac and straddled it.
    “So why are you here?” Mac raised an