Texas Tender by Leigh Greenwood

she said she’d fallen in love with you. You’ve got all the good qualitiesof Carl without the bad qualities of Van. Plus you’ve got maturity. You know how to handle yourself, how to deal well with people.”
    This wasn’t what Will had been hoping to hear. “I wouldn’t depend on her interest in me lasting more than a few days.”
    â€œWith your looks, you could make sure it does.”
    His looks again. Didn’t people ever think there was anything to him other than his face? “I’m not in the marrying mood right now.” And if he had been, he wouldn’t have been interested in a young woman who changed her mind every few days. “Besides, I’m going back home after I find the bull. You wouldn’t want your only child that far away.”
    â€œHer mother would be terribly upset.”
    â€œYou ought to reconsider Carl Ellsworth. I know he’s young, but he has the makings of a solid, dependable man. And I think he’ll make a fine rancher. He likes the Double-L far more than his sister does.”
    â€œYou’d never know it from the way she tears into me every time she thinks I’ve somehow taken advantage of her.”
    â€œWhy shouldn’t she feel like that, when you’ve got ten times as much land as she does but your cows spill over onto her land?”
    â€œThat hasn’t happened in a long time.”
    â€œTwo of them were at the dam this afternoon. They had calves that had been sired by her bull. What kind of stud fees do you pay her?”
    Faint color rose out of Jordan’s collar. “I don’t pay her anything. I can’t help it if her bull wanders onto my land and impregnates my cows.”
    â€œWhat if those cows had been on
her
land when the bull serviced them?”
    â€œThey weren’t.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    Jordan was looking decidedly uncomfortable. “My problems with Idalou aren’t your concern.”
    â€œThat’s not quite true. You’re one of the men who wanted me to be the sheriff. Since Idalou has asked
the sheriff
to look into the problem, she’s put it squarely in my lap.”
    â€œWhat are you planning to do?” Jordan had gotten his back up. He looked angry, even belligerent.
    â€œI’m not planning to do anything. I’m hoping you and Idalou can sit down and work this out between you. You ought to include Carl in the discussion. I think you’ll be surprised at how reasonable you find him.”
    â€œWhich is more than I can say for his sister,” Jordan said, appearing to calm down. “I’ve tried to talk to her.”
    â€œI’m sure you have. But as long as your cows keep wandering onto her property and breeding with her bull, you can understand why she might think that you don’t mean what you say.”
    â€œDammit!” Jordan’s voice had risen in volume. “I don’t need the use of her bull to make a profit. I’ve got good longhorn bulls of my own.”
    â€œI don’t doubt you,” Will said, “but Idalou is the one you have to convince. I’d give some thought to paying her something for all those calves her bull sired. It would go a long way toward helping her believe you are serious.”
    â€œI don’t care what Idalou thinks. She’s a stubborn, fractious woman.”
    â€œWho just might one day be your daughter’s sister-in-law. It’s always helpful to think ahead. Children have a bad habit of having ambitions that don’t agree with those of their parents. Besides, you’re the richest man in this area. It’s up to you to set the tone of the community.”
    Fortunately, before Jordan could become incensed at Will’s intrusion into his personal affairs, Mrs. Mc-Gloughlin signaled that it was time for dinner. Now Will had to find a way to turn Mara’s thoughts back in Carl’s direction.

Chapter Six
    Will couldn’t think of