“She’s real pretty, isn’t she, Ma?” she whispered.

“Yes, Pet, she is,” Dru answered softly, her gaze lifting to meet Rachel’s.

“Very pretty.” Rachel was still trying to think of something to say when the peace of the valley was shattered by the baying of dogs. She turned to see three brown-and-gray blurs barreling toward them. The first two slid to a halt at Gavin’s feet. The third didn’t stop until he’d jumped up to thrust his muddy paws against Rachel’s shoulders. Thrown off balance, her arms flailed the air in large circles. As if knowing she was trying her best to stay upright, the mangy brute gave her a little push. With a squeal, she fell onto her backside, hitting the hard ground with a thump. Before she could close her mouth, the dog’s long tongue smacked her across the face several times. She spluttered, raising her arm to ward off the beast, and closed her eyes, hoping all the while that it wouldn’t decide she was tasty enough for a bite in place of the lick. She heard their laughter. Particularly his laughter. It was deep and rich and—and insulting!

“Get back, Joker, you idiot. Don’t you know that’s no way to greet a lady?”

Rachel opened her eyes as Gavin dragged the overzealous wolfhound away by the scruff of its neck. Although he’d managed to muffle his guffaws, his eyes were still twinkling with undisguised merriment as he stepped forward again and offered her a hand up.

“He’s your dog, no doubt,” she grumbled as she took hold of his hand. Gavin chuckled.

“No doubt.” He pulled her to her feet in one easy motion.

“I hope you’ll forgive him. Joker’s just a pup.”

“A pup?” She turned to stare at the enormous animal with its large square head and thick, wiry coat.

“He’s nearly a horse!” She brushed at the muddy prints on her bodice, biting back a few choice words about what should be done with the dog.

“Duke. Duchess. Come.” In response to Gavin’s quiet command, the other two dogs sprang to their feet and trotted over.

“Sit down.” Gavin waved his hand at Rachel, as if the dogs could understand what he was saying.

“This is Miss Harris. She’s come to live with us. I expect you to treat her with respect.” He glanced at Rachel again, the sparkle remaining in his steel-gray eyes.

“Miss Harris, meet Joker’s parents, Duke and Duchess.” The larger of the two adult dogs lifted his right paw and cocked his head to one side. Large black eyes perused her. She almost believed the dog did understand what was going on.

“He’s pleased to meet you, Miss Harris,” Gavin said solemnly.

“Go on. Shake his hand.” Rachel glanced over at Gavin, about to refuse, but from the corner of her eye, she could see Sabrina and Petula. They, too, were watching to see how Miss Harris would react. Tugging on her bodice, she straightened her dress, then bent forward and took hold of Duke’s paw.

“How do you do, your grace.” She moved the dog’s paw up and down three times, then let go as her gaze moved to the female wolfhound. She held her skirts and executed a perfect curtsey.


“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duchess.” Her voice dropped to a stage whisper.

“But, my lady, that son of yours is a disgrace. You must take him in hand quickly, or there’ll be no redeeming him. He’ll prove himself a fool at court.” The girls burst into laughter as they hurried forward to throw their arms around the giant dogs. Joker pushed his way into the happy group, his tongue lapping wildly in all directions. A warm thrill surged through Rachel as she watched them. They were going to like her. The children were going to like her. Straightening, her eyes met Gavin’s. One eyebrow was slightly arched as he offered a lopsided grin and a brief nod of his head. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized he was acknowledging her success. She felt a new heat spreading through her chest. He has a wonderful smile.

“Come along, girls,” Dru said.

“Let’s show Miss Harris to her room.” Rachel blushed and looked away from him, feeling slightly confused and disoriented by her unexpected thoughts. Petula stepped away from the dogs and came to stand beside Rachel. Her head cocked backward, she stared up at her new governess with solemn brown eyes. Then, without a word, she slipped her small, sweaty hand into Rachel’s and pulled her toward the house. Gavin climbed onto the wagon seat and took the harness into his hands, but he didn’t start the horses forward. He sat thoughtfully, watching the gentle sway of Rachel’s hips as she walked toward the log cabin, one hand holding Petula’s, the other resting on Duke’s shaggy head as he walked beside her. A smile lifted the corners of his mouth as he remembered the way she’d looked just before Joker knocked her off her feet. Her blue eyes had rounded in surprise. Her mouth had formed a perfect O. He could still hear her tiny grunt as her bottom met earth. He could just imagine what she would have said if Joker hadn’t stopped her with a lap of his tongue. His grin widened. She had spunk. He’d give her that. She could have burst into tears or railed at the dog for ruining her dress. Instead, she’d proved herself a good sport and actually played along with his introductions to Duke and Duchess. He clucked absently to the horses and followed after the others. He drove the team directly to the tall barn, stopping in the shade cast by the evening sun. He hopped down and quickly freed the animals from the wagon and harness, leading them into the corral on the north side of the barn. He tossed the horses some hay, then leaned on the fence and watched them eat.

“What’s botherin’ you, Gavin?” He didn’t look over as Stubs stepped up beside him.

“Is it Dru? Is she feelin’ bad agin?” He stared off in the direction of the mountains.

“No. You wouldn’t even have known she was sick except she doesn’t eat enough to keep a bird alive.”

“Must be the new teacher. Seems bright enough, and she’s sure takin’ to the girls. That’s what Dru was wantin’.” Gavin didn’t reply.

“Don’t think I’ve seen anythin’ as pretty as Miss Harris since we left home. Matter of fact, she kinda reminds me a bit of-” Stubs stopped abruptly, then whispered, “So that’s it.” Gavin turned his head and glared at his foreman. They’d been together a long time. Stubs Martin had been working as a hired hand on the Blake place back in Ohio when Gavin was still just a boy. When they’d run into each other again ten years ago on the cattle trail up from Texas, they’d formed a friendship that had lasted ever since. But Stubs had pushed the bonds of that friendship to the limit with his last comment.

“Don’t say it,” Gavin ground out through clenched jaws.

Stubs held up his hands.

“I wasn’t sayin’ nothin’. Just don’t take something’ out on the girl that ain’t her fault.” With another angry glare, Gavin pushed off from the corral fence and strode toward the house.

Chapter Five

In that moment before consciousness becomes reality, Rachel pressed her face against the pillow and tried to recapture the beauty of her dream. She was at a ball, a marvelous masked ball. Couples in dazzling costumes twirled around a crystal-and-glass ballroom, the women’s gowns sweeping out in wide arcs in time to the music. Rachel was dancing in the arms of a tall stranger, his face hidden behind a black mask.

Eyes like steel stared at her through narrow slits.

Through his fine lawn shirt, she could feel the contracting muscles of his shoulder. He wore an impudent smile on his mouth, as if he was laughing at some private joke. He was holding her closely against his chest, so closely she could feel the warmth of his hard, lean body. So closely, his warmth was becoming hers. Her fingers tightened around his shoulder. Suddenly, he whimpered and… Whimpered? Rachel’s eyes flew open to stare into Joker’s fuzzy face, his shiny black nose mere inches from hers. The dog was lying in her bed and had crowded her over to the very edge of the tick mattress. Before she could move, the wolfhound smacked her with another of his affectionate licks. She lifted her hand to ward him off—and promptly fell onto the floor.

“We’re going to come to terms, dog,” she muttered as she scrambled to her feet.

“Now get off my bed.” He looked as if he was grinning at her as he sat up, his tail slapping the heavy patchwork quilt.

“I said, get down.” She pointed at the floor. Joker immediately leapt from the bed and flopped at her feet, rolling onto his back to expose his belly.

“Oh, no. You’ll get no reward from me, you mangy beast. How’d you get in here anyway? Don’t you belong outside, protecting us from wolves or something?” He whimpered again. Rachel moved quietly toward the door of her small bedroom and eased it open. The main room was still empty.

“Get out,” she whispered, shooting a pointed look at the dog. Tail between his legs and his head slung low, Joker slinked out of her bedroom. She closed the door behind him, but not before she’d heard

the sounds of stirring from the bedroom across from hers. She gazed longingly at the bed. She knew there was no point in trying to get back to sleep if others were up. Besides, she didn’t want them to think her a lazybones, even though it seemed unreasonably early to be up and about. She’d forgotten during her years back East what sort of ungodly hours ranchers and farmers kept. Rachel stepped over to the high, narrow window perched near the ceiling of her room and drew aside the curtain. Dawn hinted at its arrival with a soft, gray light, splashing it against the inside wall of her room. She went to her trunk and pulled out some clean undergarments. She’d hung her dresses the night before on wooden pegs pounded into the log walls of her room. Now she chose one of her favorite day dresses. The fabric was covered with tiny sky-blue flowers against a white background. It had a simple bodice, pointed front and back, and the overskirt was draped back to form short side panniers, with long slender fullness behind. Quickly, she poured water into the chipped porcelain basin of the corner washstand. She splashed her face, then patted it dry with the towel draped across the side of the stand. Stripping out of her long-sleeved white nightgown, she completed her morning ablutions with haste. By the time she was finished, her skin was puckered with gooseflesh from the chill morning air. She pulled on her clothes, remembering wistfully the warmth of her bed—particularly when Joker had been snuggled up beside her.