Brad closed the door as he stepped from the parlor into the hall. Bo and Jacob waited with grins as they heard the sound of Lori's laughter. But then Bo's face sobered as he looked back.

"Do you think she'll agree to dress like a boy for the cattle drive?"

Jacob quickly shut him up by grabbing him in a headlock and covering his mouth. "Quiet." He let him go with a shove and followed Brad back into the study making sure to shut the door behind them. Jacob pumped his thumb towards the parlor. "Sounds like she's going to cooperate now... so... when do we tell her about the cattle drive?"

"When the time comes I'll tell her, and I promise you, she won't think a thing about being part of it or wearing britches." Brad affirmed.

Frank rubbed his chin with his forefinger. "I'm not so sure. Ever since that ole biddy we hired taught her crazy things about ladies not wearing pants, she's insisted on dressing like a lady. She once asked me why we'd have her learn such things if it weren't true?"

Brad snorted his opinion of that statement. "She wore Bo's hand-me-downs while working in the garden yesterday." He looked unseeingly towards the parlor. "I believe she'll sink her teeth into it once we're on the trail. I can't remember one hunting trip where she complained about anything, and I don't think this will be an exception. This time, she'll learn about herding cattle. And hopefully, she'll take care of the meals while we're on the trail."

Frank cautioned, "There's a big difference between wearing them at home and out in public. I recommend we not tell her until we get to Sweetwater."

"I agree. There's no sense in giving her something else to gripe about since we can do nothing to change the facts. The cattle won't herd themselves to the ranch." Brad pulled a cigar from his pocket, bit off the tip, and struck a match to it.

Frank stared at the cigar and his eyes grew wide. "What the hell are you doing? Take that cigar outside! You know better than to smoke in the house."

Jacob threw open a window as Brad continued to draw on the cigar while lighting it. He waved out the match, and asked, "What does it matter now? We're moving and until we sell it, it will stand empty."

"No, it won't, because Joe Wilson wants to buy it," Jacob informed him. "He and his new wife need a place so they can move out of his father's house." He looked around the room. "He's always loved this one."

Surprised, Brad took the cigar from his mouth. "That kid got hitched?"

"He married Jake Struthers' little sister less than a year ago."

Brad shrugged, looking at the tip of his cigar. "Take care of it."

Frank threw his hands up in objection. "What if Lori marries one of her suitors and wants to live here?"

Jacob looked at Frank as if he were crazy. "One of those pansies? They're all too boring for her and you know it." His face drew up in disgust. "She won't want a man she can walk on. Not to mention her fella wanting to move into her daddy's house. Hell, I wouldn't like it."

Bo stuck his hands in his pockets as he rocked back on his heels. "If she cared for any of them, she would have said something."

Brad developed a mischievous glint in his eyes. "This move will give us the perfect opportunity to introduce her to some men that we think will make her a good husband. Someone who actually has the capability of taking care of her and keep her close by." Grins grew wide on each of their faces as they nodded agreement.

Frank suspiciously asked, "Do you have anyone in mind?"

Brad blew a thin stream of smoke in the air. "Quite a few, actually. You'll meet each one, and then we can influence her towards the one we trust." Frank and Jacob frowned, but Brad was satisfied with his plan. "With the store sold and the money in the bank, the only thing left is the packing." Brad looked around the room. "What about the furnishings?"

"I've arranged for some of mother's things to be stored, such as the silver and china. Lori can have them sent later on." Jacob looked at his brothers. "Is there anything I forgot?" They hesitated but were satisfied. "Then, tomorrow, I'll see if she fancies keeping any of the furniture. If she doesn't, Joe will probably make an offer on it."

Brad moved to the fireplace and flicked the ashes into the fire. "Looks like you've taken care of it. Do we have any other business to discuss?"

Thomas swirled the whiskey in his glass. "How do you think Sheraton will handle having a female on the place?"

Baffled at the questioned, Brad replied, "What do you think Rosa is?"

Thomas snorted. "A middle-aged mother hen. She's not a curvaceous hellion like Lori, that's for sure, and Sheraton's a lonely cowboy."

Never having considered the problem, Brad thought it over and shook his head. "Lori's not the kind of woman to go asking for trouble. And our men won't cross that line, not with us watching over her. Besides, he's one I want us to consider. Having him as a brother-in-law would be convenient. She'd never move off the property since Sheraton has a legal percentage in it."

Thomas looked doubtful. "He's as tough as a rattlesnake. What makes you think she'd look twice at him?"

Brad grinned. "Sheraton? If he likes her, he'll make sure she does."

Frank looked from one to the other with worry on his face. "Will he be a problem if she doesn't like him?"

Brad thought Frank was hunting for things to worry over. "He's not mean. He only lacks gentlemanly airs. Besides, he wouldn't push Lori."

Thomas moved to the sofa and took a seat propping his feet up on the coffee table. His face lit up as he waved a pointing finger up and down. "I think Dan Sinclair would be a better choice. His dad mentioned he may move back from Denver, and he's always had a little polish on him."

In the middle of pouring a drink, Bo looked at him to ask, "Who's he?"

Thomas draped his arm across the back of the sofa. "Luke Sinclair's son."

Bo walked over and handed a whiskey to Jacob. "Oh, yeah, he's the guy who sold you the land. I didn't know he had a son."

"More like an heir. All the ladies think Dan's a catch." Thomas swirled his whiskey and took a sip. "I'll admit he has the looks of his mama. Brad's had his eye on their daughter for years and she's a beauty."

Bo took a seat in a chair propping his boot on the end of the coffee table. "What's her name?"

"Yeah, Brad, what's her name?" With a devilish grin, Jacob walked over to Brad and put his hand on his shoulder. "How come you haven't mentioned her before?"

Brad glared at him. "No need to—up 'til now. But since you'll be meeting Kate, best you remember my claim. There's been no time to woo her, though now that you'll be there to help out with the work, I do believe I'll find the time." He stared them all down and told them, "If we're finished talking about matchmaking, I'll write a letter to Sheraton and get it mailed off tomorrow. While I'm in town, I'll pick up some new duds for Lori. If the britches are new, she might throw less of a fit."

Bo's brow tightened into a frown. "Don't look at me when she does."

Every one of them began laughing.

Texas

Sheraton Walker strolled out of the Clear Creek general store with a letter from Brad in his hand. He leaned against the cedar post holding up the roof on the front stoop and ripped open the seal. He had to struggle a bit to get it read since Slim, the bunkhouse cook, had only recently taught him how to read those squiggly letters. But after reading a few paragraphs, he wished for his ignorance back.

The prospect of the rest of the Foresters moving to Texas wasn't news, but now that it was happening, he considered the consequences of dealing with a family of bosses—each with their own opinion. Brad and Thomas listened to reason when he told them what needed to be done, but would the rest of them?

He folded the letter and stood staring in thought. After Brad and Thomas had experienced some heavy losses, they hired him to save the rest of the herd. His experience in Wyoming had taught him exactly what needed to be done and buying into the herd had been ideal for him. They went after the wild horses and left the cattle to him. If they were smart, it would remain that way.

He shoved the letter inside his back pocket and swaggered across the street to the saloon. His black Stetson hid most of his brown hair and shaded his deep-set golden eyes. Sheraton was a tall, lanky man, who had the strength of two men combined. He worked too hard for fat to settle and his job demanded the most from his frame. Men admired him for his ability and women simply admired him... mainly for his handsome face and devastating smile.

As soon as he walked through the open door of the saloon, the barkeep greeted him. "Sheraton, what brings you to town? You were just here last week."

He stepped up to the bar propping his booted foot on the wooden rail. "Shorty sprained his back when a horse threw him, so I came in for supplies and to check the mail. I've been waitin' for some news from Brad, and today, I finally heard from him. I'm not real happy with what he wrote, neither. Looks like he and Thomas will be headin' back in a few weeks haulin' the whole family with 'em." He adjusted his sweat-stained wide-brimmed hat to the back of his head and ran his shirtsleeve over his forehead. "Draw me a beer, Sam."

The barkeep grabbed a mug and stuck it under the tap. "Brad's got three more brothers besides Thomas, don't he?" With a flick of his wrist, Sam slid the beer down the bar right into Sheraton's hand.

"Yeah, he does, along with a little sister. To be honest, she's a worry. By the stories I've heard, she's a willful brat. How the hell do you tell a little girl no when she's thataway? With a boy, you can box his ears to get his attention."

Sam shook his head as he wiped out a mug and set it on the shelf behind him. "If ya wanna keep yer job, I'd keep yer distance. One wrong move and you'd be in a passel of trouble. I doubt her brothers would put up with someone causin' her grief."

Sheraton took a healthy drink of the beer and wiped the foam from his mouth with the back of his hand. "Believe me; I don't plan to have much to do with her."

"Until ya get a look at her." Bess, a curvaceous brunette and the saloon's source of entertainment, sauntered over to Sheraton and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Buy me a beer?" He nodded and Sam pulled another. Bess stared into Sheraton's golden eyes. "This little girl you're talking about happens to be a grown woman, and if she favors her brothers, she will be a blonde beauty. It won't be easy for ya to stay clear of her when all those cowhands hunt for an excuse to be around her."

Sheraton's eyes grew sharp. "How'd ya find that out?"

"A little pillow talk. Brad likes to talk... after." She grinned when he smirked. "He's mighty fond of that little gal."

"Yeah, I know. He talks about her antics like she's still a kid."

Bess nodded. "Well, he's been away from her for pert near four years, except for the one trip they made two years ago, and he wasn't there for long. He talked about the ladylike changes that tutor was tryin' to teach her. Said his sister didn't like learnin' stupid things that ladies found so important. Being raised in a house full of men couldn't have been easy for her."

Sam stopped drying the glass in his hand and asked, "Where's her ma?"

"She died havin' her." Bess frowned in pity. "The poor little lamb."

"How come she ain't stayin' home with her pa?"

Sheraton felt like the town gossip. "He died a long time ago, Sam."

"No wonder they hired a woman to see to her." Sam set the glass down on a shelf with the others.

Bess ran her hand down Sheraton's arm in a suggestive manner. "Would ya like to go upstairs with me?"

He gave her a hot-n'-sexy-lip-tippin'-grin. "I can't think of nothin' I'd like better, Bess." He reached into his pocket for the money to pay for the beers, plopped it on the counter, and then wrapped his arm around her waist heading towards her room.

He had to turn her down the last time he came to town. There hadn't been time. But whenever he could, he chose Bess. She knew how to please a man.

She led him into her darkened bedroom and shut the door. But before his boots had time to cool off from his feet, he was putting them back on and placing money on her bedside table for her services.

"Sheraton, if you're not in a hurry..."

"Sorry darlin', not today. It took that letter more than a week to get here. But I'll be coming back through to pick up their trunks. For some reason, they're sending them out ahead of time by train to Sweetwater." He shrugged his wide shoulders. "Guess they don't want to bother with them on the cattle drive."

"When will ya be back through?"

"He'll send a wire. But I 'spect it'll be by the end of the week."

She struck a provocative pose. "Think you'll have time to come back to see me?"

He could see the hope in her eyes as he tucked his shirt inside his pants. He winked and told her, "I'll sure try."

She looked him up and down, and teased, "Twice in one week. Are you sure it won't fall off?"

He laughed. "Doll, I swear you'll see me in a whole different light." He gave her naked leg a pat and walked out the door.