Part 5 (1/2)
”Over my dead body-and I suspect if I ate any more of your cooking that would be the case.”
”What are you trying to say?”
”You can't cook.”
She couldn't argue that. ”I can learn.”
”Not fast enough.”
She lifted her chin and met his gaze. ”You'd be amazed what I am capable of when I set my mind to it.”
”That's what I'm worried about.” He sighed. ”Look, until Buck returns with a truck, I don't want you going near the cookstove.”
She started to open her mouth.
”No arguments. I'm sorry you wasted your time coming up here in the first place. Once back in Antelope Flats you can continue your search for your...cowboy.”
”I've found the only cowboy I want.”
He shook his head.
”I'm risking everything for this advertising campaign,” she said, surprised by her candor and the slight break in her voice. ”If this doesn't work out, I'm finished and a lot of other people will lose their jobs.”
He eyed her as if this was just another ploy. ”I'm sorry to hear that. You just found the wrong cowboy. Cut your losses. The sooner you get out of here, the sooner you can find someone else for the commercial.” He held up his hand to ward off her next argument. ”This is a battle you can't win. You're leaving. Either by truck, on horseback or on foot. Your choice. You won't change my mind and as far as the camp cook job, you're fired.”
She'd known this might happen, especially after he'd experienced her cooking. She'd just hoped it wouldn't come to this. She glanced back toward the cabin. ”Maybe you're right.” Was that a sigh of relief she heard? ”But perhaps one of your men might know of a cowboy who would be interested in the job after hearing that you turned down the offer.”
”You aren't trying to blackmail me, are you?”
She could tell from his tone that blackmailing J. T. McCall wouldn't be a good idea. He might be surprised if he knew just how desperate she was. Or maybe he wouldn't.
He stood immobile, pale as the moon, jaw clenched, a deadly look in his eyes.
A sliver of guilt p.r.i.c.ked her conscience. She did her best to ignore it. After he made the commercial, he'd be glad she'd been so determined. They would both be. Okay, at least she would be for sure.
”I would not take kindly to being blackmailed,” he said in a tone that was soft like a silk glove with a fist in it.
His warning tone sent a chill through her, but she couldn't back down. ”Think of it as incentive.”
”I should turn you over my knee and-” He stepped toward her menacingly.
She drew back. Surely he wouldn't actually do such a thing? But what did she know about Montana cowboys?
”You try to blackmail me and I swear I will personally take you down this mountain tonight if I have to drag you every step of the way.”
She nodded, trusting he meant it. ”Fine, then I guess I'll be leaving tomorrow after Buck gets back.”
”If you're smart, you'll go tonight.”
”I thought the truck wasn't running.”
”Reggie, if you know where the distributor cap is, now would be a good time to cough it up.”
She stared at him. ”You think I I took it?” took it?”
”You or one of the cowhands you conned into it. You're the only person ignorant enough to pull a stunt like that and the only one who has gained by it.”
She felt as if he'd slapped her. ”What kind of person do you think I am?”
”Scheming, manipulative, devious, conniving and underhanded,” he said.
She felt her cheeks flame, surprised that his opinion of her was so low-worse that it bothered her. ”You forgot uncompromising.”
He sighed again. ”What can I do to make you stop this?”
”Give my offer some serious thought.” She held up her hand. ”Just tell me you will think about it. If you still don't want to do the commercial by the time Buck returns tomorrow, then I will leave and you will never see me again. I give you my word.”
”Your word?” He let out a laugh. ”I have a better idea. You give me the truck part, I pay you a week's wages and I won't make you walk out of here. I'll drive you myself tonight.”
She c.o.c.ked her head at him. ”You're afraid you'll change your mind about my offer if I stay the night?”
A muscle in his jaw jumped. His eyes, a paler blue than her own, turned as hard and cold as ice. ”Ms. Holland, this is a cow camp. I have six hundred cattle to get out of these mountains before the snow falls, which could be tomorrow. I have men who need to keep their minds on their jobs. In order to do that, they need a dry place to sleep, food they can actually eat and no distractions. You are a distraction.”
She smiled. Maybe she was was getting to him. ”Thank you.” getting to him. ”Thank you.”
”That wasn't a compliment. Please, just give me the truck part. Even if you were to stay up here the rest of the week you would never convince me to do your commercial.”
He actually sounded as if he meant it.
”I wish I had this distributor cap thingy,” she said honestly. She could feel his gaze on her. He didn't believe her.
”Fine,” he said, sounding even angrier. ”You want to keep up this charade, you got it. As long as you stay, you're the camp cook. Breakfast is at daybreak.”
She shuddered involuntarily. Daybreak? What time was that? ”You're rehiring me?”
”We generally have ham, bacon, pancakes, eggs and hashbrowns.”
Holy cow. She should have known a continental breakfast would be too much to hope for. ”Anything else?”
”Make the eggs fried, over easy.”
”Why not.”
He raised a brow. ”You think you're up to frying an egg on a woodstove, Reggie?”
”I'm ready for whatever you throw at me, McCall.” She didn't want to even think about seeing seeing an egg that early in the morning let alone an egg that early in the morning let alone cooking cooking one. ”Anyway, Buck says it's possible to cook one. ”Anyway, Buck says it's possible to cook anything anything on a woodstove. It's just all a matter of getting the heat adjusted.” on a woodstove. It's just all a matter of getting the heat adjusted.”