to the back porch and banged on the triangle that hung from one rafter. Before the ringing had even stopped, three men emerged from the bunkhouse.
She didn’t have any difficulty picking out Jed Davis. His broad-shouldered, narrow-hipped figure topped the other two men by three or four inches. Drawing a deep breath, she waited for them to reach her.
As she’d expected, Jed let the other two go first. Before he could move past her with a nod, she touched his arm. He came to an abrupt halt, his gaze settling on her hand.
She jerked it back.
“Yeah?” he asked warily.
Her prepared speech flew out of her head. “Is it all right if we start about ten?”
“Ten? Is that your idea of an early start?”
The scorn in his voice flailed her—and made her so mad she wouldn’t have explained if he’d begged her. Taking on a drawl she’d heard other women affect, she replied, “That’s right, sugar. I need to get my nails done before I can get on a horse.”
Then she sashayed in front of him into the house.
She figured he’d be packed and gone before noon. And good riddance to him. When she didn’t hear footsteps behind her right away, she wondered if he’d even come in for breakfast.
“Where’s—” Abby began, but the sound of the back door opening again stopped her question. “There you are, Jed. I thought maybe you’d gotten lost.”
“No, ma’am.”
Melissa set a platter of scrambled eggs on the table where sausage and bacon already awaited eager hands. Then she pulled two pans of biscuits out of the oven.
Beth picked up the coffeepot and began filling cups, while Abby poured glasses of orange juice. As she carried the glasses to the table, Abby addressed Jed.
“I’m sure Beth explained about the late start this morning. I’m hoping we’ll find more men right away, but Beth is still willing to help out before she starts training.”
“Help out with what?” he asked, ignoring the plate of eggs Barney was offering him.
Everyone in the kitchen, except Beth, seemed surprised by his question. Abby, after shooting a look at Beth, said, “Whatever needs to be done. We work with Dirk and Barney, like anyone on a ranch.”
“All three of you?”
Melissa’s cheeks flushed. “Not me. I used to help some days, but I prefer the cooking and housework.”
Beth added, “We always felt meals like Melissa turns out are fair trade.”
Both hands, seated at the table, stuffing their faces, made grunts of approval.
“I can see why. Your cooking is the best, Miss Melissa.” Jed sent Melissa a smile that had Beth’s insides quivering with jealousy.
He turned to Abby. “I understand that there’s work that has to be done. How can I help?”
“Oh, no!” Abby protested. “Your time’s too valuable for—I mean, Beth didn’t hire you to do ranch work. We’ll manage.”
“I’ll help,” he said decisively, as if it was his decision. “Then maybe I’ll get an extra hour with my pupil, if she can work it in.”
There was a little sarcasm in those last words, Beth realized. Maybe she deserved it, since she’d given him a smart answer earlier. But he’d made her mad.
His blue gaze settled on her face, as if he expected her to comment.
She took a bite of eggs and chewed as though her life depended on it.
Abby, after looking at her, too, said, “I’m sure we can work that out.”
Okay, so he’d jumped to an erroneous conclusion. That didn’t mean the lady had to gull him with her response about a manicure. Jed studied her hands from under his lashes as he ate the fine breakfast Melissa Kennedy had prepared.
Beth’s nails were short, clean and unpolished. Working hands, as he’d earlier noted. And sexier than any of the red claws he’d seen on women who thought they were all dolled up. But that smart mouth of hers was going to cause trouble.
When he got up from the breakfast table, he carried his dishes to the sink. The other two men stared at him, then hurriedly did the same thing. Melissa rewarded them all with a grateful smile.
“Where do you want me, Miss Abby?” he asked, awaiting instructions from the lady boss.
“Are you any good at fence repairs?” she asked.
With a lopsided grin, he said, “I’ve ridden more fence lines than you can imagine.”
“Great. Why don’t you and Beth ride—”
“No!” Beth shrieked.
“No!” Jed said, quieter but just as determined. When Abby stared at him, he added, “I don’t need any help.”
“It will go faster with the two of you, and it will give you a chance to get to know each other. You can finish the fence on the south pasture by mid-morning, before Barney and Dirk get the herd over there.”
“You can’t start baling hay by yourself,” Beth protested. “What if something happens?”
“I’ll take the new cell phone. But I’ve done it before. It’s a boring job, but safe.” Abby stood and stared at the rest of the room. “It’s settled. I’ll see all of you at lunch.” She turned and walked out of the kitchen.
Barney and Dirk shuffled out the back door. Jed stared at Beth. When she still sat at the table, her lips pressed tightly together, he prodded, “Are you waiting for your manicure? Or are you going to lead the way to the south pasture?”
“Manicure?” Melissa questioned.
“He’s teasing me, Missy. Don’t worry about it.” Beth stood and glared at him. “You got gloves?”
“Yeah. They’re at the bunkhouse.”
“Go get them and I’ll meet you at the barn.”
Beth breathed a sigh of relief when Jed left the house.
“Are you sure the two of you are going to get along?” Melissa asked.
“No.” Beth tried to paste a smile on her face, knowing her single answer reeked of despair. “I can’t seem to help putting up his back, Missy. I don’t intend to, but he made me so mad—”
“When?”
“Out on the porch, before breakfast. I was going to explain, truly, but I blurted out that we’d start at ten and he assumed I was going to go back to bed or something. So I told him we couldn’t start earlier because I had to get a manicure.”
Melissa laughed. “You’ve
