Last Chance Cowboys: The Drifter by Anna Schmidt

“Hunt” talked so much. Whenever she was around, she had the feeling that he only spoke when necessary. On the other hand, though she took her meals with the men, she had purposely avoided any direct contact with Chet, especially once Roger joined them on the trail. She saw no sense in aggravating an already touchy situation. But one night when she saw Chet head down to the stream after supper, she decided to follow him. She told herself that her intention was to thank him for taking such good care of Trey, but the truth was Trey’s stories had raised her curiosity…and she found herself longing to spend time with him.
    â€œGood evening, Miss Maria,” he said, not turning at her approach. “Was there something you were needing?” He tossed a small stick into the water and watched it drift downstream, then gave his dog permission to retrieve it and did the same thing again. The water level was lower than ever, and over the last week the association had lost more than a dozen steers to the drought, but the dog seemed to enjoy the game.
    â€œI came to thank you for the time you’ve taken with Trey. It can’t be easy.”
    â€œSnap’s a quick learner. No trouble at all.” He tossed another stick.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” she asked, moving closer so she too could watch the stick’s journey. She realized that Cracker stayed put until Chet gave a signal, but she also realized that this was more than a game.
    â€œChecking the water flow.”
    â€œNot much flow there,” she said. “With this drought—”
    â€œAre you so sure it’s all drought?”
    She stepped closer and nearly lost her footing. His hand was tight but gentle as he caught her. “Easy there, ma’am,” he said.
    She told herself that it was her imagination that he held on to her a little longer than was necessary. And yet the way his gaze locked in on her…
    â€œClearly you think it is more than the drought.” Her voice was surprisingly husky. “Perhaps you should discuss your thoughts with Roger.” To her surprise, this brought a smile and a chuckle as he discarded the other sticks he was holding and bent to rinse his hands in the water.
    â€œI see he’s back. The others were beginning to wonder.”
    â€œHe had business in town.” The fact that Roger had been away so long with no explanation before showing up had rankled her. She needed to get to the bottom of why he kept riding off like that. Later—after she’d solved the other dozen or so problems demanding her attention. “And you did not wonder?” she asked Chet now.
    He shrugged. “Truth is, I didn’t much care one way or the other. We were getting work done. Now if Joker had been the one come riding into camp the other night, that might have been a different story—cause for celebration.”
    She was surprised by his brazenness. After all, technically speaking, Roger was his boss. “I see your opinion of my foreman has not changed. May I remind you that you could have had the job?”
    â€œAnd would I have still had the job once you and Turnbull patched up things between the two of you?”
    â€œYes. I do not go back on my word.”
    â€œAnother lesson you learned from your pa?”
    â€œThat’s right. And you, Chet? What lessons did you learn from your father?”
    He looked out toward the setting sun, watching the orange globe on the horizon as if it held the answer to her question. “Those lessons were more about what a man shouldn’t do.”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œHe left us when I was eight—me, my sister, my ma. One day he was there and then he wasn’t. A little like Joker.”
    â€œYou’re changing the subject.”
    â€œI’m asking if you’ve been able to learn anything more about Joker leaving.”
    â€œIn other words, did I talk to Roger?” she