Page 17 of The Rancher’s Ecstasy

Daisy’s head jerked up from the paperwork she was doing. Daisy seemed to have her hand in a lot of things on the ranch, and since she did a good job, he let her have free rein.

“Have you seen Emily?” His voice was heavy with frustration.

Daisy leaned back in the chair behind the desk as a smile grew across her pretty face.

“Don’t start with me. I’m not in the mood. I just want to know where Emily is. I knocked on her door, and she didn’t answer.”

Daisy shook her head but couldn’t get the grin off her face, her humor evident.

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t seen her.” Daisy sat up, her smile slipping a bit. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her since last night. I’ve looked at her cabin, and no lights have been on, so I assumed she wasn’t there.” A scowl pulled down her face. “What happened?”

Cole wiped a hand down his face. “I didn’t do anything. We had a misunderstanding of some sort, and we really need to hash it out.”

“What sort of misunderstanding? What’d you do to her?” Her voice was guarded, and suspicion was clear in her eyes.

“Jesus, Daisy, aren’t you supposed to be on my side? I’m your uncle.”

Daisy studied him intently. “Yes, you are my uncle, and I love you, but she’s a very sweet woman who’s been mistreated before.” She held up a hand when he tried to interrupt. “I’m not saying I think you’d mistreat her. I know better. But you’ve got to admit you have an extremely dominant personality that might scare her.”

Ignoring her comment about his personality, he sat on the arm of the wing chair adjacent to the big antique desk. “Why do you think she’s been mistreated?” His voice was laden with authority.

Daisy rolled her eyes. “You totally ignored my point.” She held out her hands in surrender when he scowled and made a move to stand. “All right, all right. She didn’t really come out and say anything specific. It’s just how she acts and her facial expressions and body movements sometimes. Like she’s trying to hide, make herself as small as possible,” Daisy said thoughtfully, as she twirled a pencil in her fingers.

Cole sat still, chin dropped to his chest, his arms crossed. He ran his thumb back and forth over his lips, his whole focus on a plan to get her to talk to him. To open up. He stood abruptly. “I’m going to check her cabin, but I swear if she’s hiding in there, I might just have to give her pretty ass a swat or two.”

Daisy snorted at his retreating back.

“Yeah, that will get her to like you,” she yelled sarcastically at his back.

Chapter Ten

“Emily. Open the door,” Cole crooned, trying to keep his voice soft and low.

No sound came from inside. Worry skittered down his spine. He looked around, making sure her car was in the same place it had been. “Baby, open the door for me. I just want to make sure you’re okay.” He waited a moment and turned, ready to go up to the house to get the extra cabin key when he heard a shuffling sound from inside. “I’m not going away this time until I see you, Emily.” He released the breath that was lodged in his chest. He spoke close to the door loud enough so she could hear, but softly, so he didn’t scare her. “Honey. Open the door. I know you’re in there. Come on, Emily. I’m worried, and I just want to make sure you’re oka—,” he stopped abruptly when he heard the lock disengage.

Emily opened the door just enough to peek out.

“I’m fi—,” she coughed. “I’m fine. Now go away before you get sick.” Her voice was hoarse.

Cole cringed at the sound of her voice and cough. The bloodshot eyes, her limp hair, and her pale face told him everything he needed to know. He put his hand on the door and pushed it open, ignoring her squeak of protest. He grabbed her arm when she swayed.

Cole closed the door and looked down, frowned, but kept a hand on her arm. She looked so fragile, so shaky, standing there with a blanket wrapped around her, holding it tightly with bloodless hands in front of her chest.

His concern turned to alarm when he noticed the heat coming through the blanket. “Why the hell didn’t you call me?”

She raised her eyes, stunned. “Why would I do that?” Her curiosity was apparent.

Still holding her arm, he turned her and wrapped his other arm around her back, moving her toward the bedroom. He picked her up halfway there when her steps wobbled.

She clutched at his shirt. “Oh, my God. Put me down. You’re going to hurt your back carrying me,” she stammered out hoarsely.

He stopped cold and looked down at her, still effortlessly holding her.

“Don’t ever say something like that again. Now is not the time to talk about your self-confidence, but when you’re better, we'll have a conversation. Now, no more shit about being too heavy or me getting sick. You weigh less than a bale of hay, and I never get sick.”

He laid her down on the rumpled sheets and pulled the blanket from around her, spreading it over her.

Cole frowned down at her when he caught her shiver and looked around the room for anything that might help. He spotted a half-filled water bottle and a bottle of Tylenol. His hand smoothed her hair from her face before landing on her forehead. “When was the last time you took anything for your fever?”