by Lynn Landes
Delta freezes as his mouth descends on hers. It is only a soft kiss and over before she realizes, but it rocks her to her core.
Daniel stares into her eyes, “You’re welcome,” he whispers. One of the horse moves and startles them.
“I need to get back and let Sasha out,” she scoots away from him. They ride back talking about the activities the ranch offers, including the guided tour, she's going on in a few days. When they get back, she thanks him again and Daniel watches her walk off.
Strange feelings run through his mind. All thoughts of a quick, hot fling, dissolve and are replaced with the need to protect and cherish. He thought it was too late to find that depth of emotion that his parents and grandparents shared, but now he wonders? Is Delta brave enough to give romance a shot? Is he?
Chapter 4
Delta is careful to avoid the ranch and especially Daniel for the next week. She writes nonstop working on two different stories. The Covenant Series needs a great ending, and she has already sent Phillip the first ten chapters. Hopefully, by the end of the week, she will have a few more ready to go to him.
That evening she talks to her best friend, Bailey, before finishing up her grilled steak and veggies with a glass of red wine.
“The pictures you’ve sent are amazing, Delta! What are your plans? Have you met any cowboys yet?” Bailey demands.
“The pictures don’t do this place justice, Bailey. It looks so amazing, just like a painting. They have every activity you could dream of, in fact, in a few days I am going on a guided tour to see the local animals of the state.”
“Hmm, sounds fun. What about the cowboys? You’re avoiding the question so that can only mean one thing. Delta Dawn, you better spill it!” Bailey yells.
Delta laughs and sips her wine. “Okay, maybe I have met a cowboy, but cute is not a strong enough word to describe Daniel,” she murmurs and just thinking about him has her body heating up.
“Daniel? Tell me everything and don't spare the hot details!” Bailey squeals with excitement.
“He’s tall, funny, and muscular. Intense, gentle and respectful of women. Divorced with full custody of his daughter. His father owns the ranch.”
“And?” Bailey prompts her.
“And way out of my league, Bailey. I’m leaving in a few months to come home. One kiss doesn’t mean anything, right.” Delta jumps up and begins cleaning her dishes up.
“Kiss?” Bailey hears the fear behind the word. “Jacob wanted you to find love again and live. Don’t close yourself off to a chance at happiness, Delta.”
“Bailey it was just an evening carriage ride and a picnic. For all I know, he does this with all the female guests.”
“I seriously doubt he takes all the women out for make-out sessions, Delta. I'm certain they would have added that to the reviews.” They laugh together.
“Oh, Bailey! I miss you. Thank you for listening.”
“Anytime, Delta. Stop avoiding him and have some fun.”
“He makes my blood boil, Bailey. There is an intensity to his look, his touch, his very spirit and it scares me. If one kiss makes me feel all of that, Bailey then I don’t know if I can handle what’s next.” Delta moves outside to let the evening air wash over her.
Bailey reminds her, “You're in the prime of your life, Delta. Beautiful, smart, accomplished and it's possible that he sees all of that in you. Give him a chance.”
“I'll think about it.” After she hangs up, Delta goes outside. It's a simple thing to enjoy a meal but watching the sunset on her porch and staring out over the land around her, she feels at peace.
A knock on the front door has her heart pounding. Sasha is waiting at the front door when she gets to it. “Hi, Delta,” Abby calls through the screen. Delta covers her disappointment, part of her hoped it was Daniel.
“Hi, Abigail. How are you?” She asks, stepping outside with her while she rubs Sasha.
“I’m great. Guess what?” Before Delta can ask what, she talks over her. “One of our horses has gone into labor. Do you want to come watch?” For a second, she almost says no, but it would be a great excuse to see Daniel again.
“I’d love to. Can I bring Sasha, or will it upset the mother?” She asks, pulling on her boots and grabbing her keys.
“It should be fine. She can play with the other dogs. Daddy said I get to name it.” Delta closes and locks the door. Abby grabs her hand and pulls her along toward the barn. Sasha bounds ahead of them.
The two-story white farmhouse looks small compared to the stable. Nestled in rolling pastures, wooded hills, and broad open spaces, it feels as if you stepped back in time. This barn has the look of grayed wood aged by time, but inside is a remarkable facility. Daniel is in the freshly hayed stall at the back of the barn. He encourages the mare who is walking around in circles and panting. Chase and two other hands stand ready to assist if needed.
Delta waves at Daniel, who nods and turns back to work. Tension floats on the air as everyone waits to greet the newest member of the Silver Creek Ranch. Delta gives Sasha a hand signal that has her immediately responding to her instruction. Chase walks over and lifts Abby onto the railing, and she holds on, waiting. The large red quarter horse is panting and walking in circles, Delta can already see the sack presenting itself.
Excitement fills her soul as she recalls the pain and the joy of giving birth. Every squeal, every groan of pain has Delta leaning in and praying silently for the mother and foal. Daniel backs away to give the mare room just as she rolls down on her side and stretches out. Grunting, she squeezes, and the nose is out!
“Good job, Mama. You can do it,” Daniel says soothing her with his voice.
Groaning, she pushes, and finally, after forty minutes of pushing, the head and shoulders are out. Daniel leans over quickly and stretches the sack down over the foal's neck so it can breathe. The mother watches, but she is too exhausted to move, for the moment. Both mother and foal are panting heavily now. Giving a final heave the filly is out. “It's a girl,” Chase says and claps his son on the shoulder. They share a smile before Chase nods over at Delta. Daniel glances over and sees her wiping away tears.
“Abby that was beautiful. Thank you,” she reaches for the little girl's hand and joy dances in her dark eyes.
“Here comes the best part, Delta,” Abby says and points to the filly. It's struggling to stand. She's a beautiful cinnamon colored filly with a perfect white stripe down her forehead. The mother nuzzles her and licks her before laying back down.
“Bless your heart, just rest,” Delta murmurs.
“They stand within thirty minutes of birth,” Daniel says as he walks over to explain.
“Do you do this often, Daniel?” Delta asks with a newfound admiration for him.
“Daniel is a champion line, a horse breeder. His services are in high demand,” Chase says, smacking his son on the back. Delta smiles at Daniel's obvious embarrassment.
“I love what I do,” Daniel grins.
“Daddy, I want to name her Cinnamon.” The adult's smile and Abby claps her hands and calls out to the foal, “Come on Cinnamon you can do it. Stand up.” Cinnamon heaved with her back legs and struggles to rise up on wobbly front legs but falls back to the straw. Like an ice skater skidding around, Cinnamon slips and slides a few times before finally spreading her legs and finding her balance. They cheer, and Daniel brings Abigail down into the stall to meet the new pony. “Good job, Cinnamon.” She presses a kiss to her nose.
“Delta, come meet her!” Abby calls out.
“Oh, no, I don’t want to intrude.”
“Nonsense,” Chase opens the gate and guides her to Daniel with a hand on her back.
“Okay then,” with a trembling hand, she reaches out to the newborn. Delta jumps when its muzzle sniffs her hand. “Hi sugar, you’re beautiful.” Braver, now she strokes her head and grins in delight at Daniel.
The mother sits up and looks at them before laying back down again. “Poor Mama, we should let her rest,�
�� Abby suggests.
“Come on, Abby, let’s go celebrate with a shake,” Chase says with a laugh.
“Dad, can I stay with grandpa tonight? I have riding lessons in the morning?” She pleads, and he agrees with a small smile.
“Yes!” Abby runs over and hugs Delta before running off with a wave to her Dad.
Delta follows them from the stall before turning back to watch Daniel move back to the mare, speaking softly to her. He runs his hands over her, stroking her and comforting her, whispering to her, how proud he is of her. At that moment all Delta can think of is how his hands would feel roaming all over her. A blush blossoms on her face just as Daniel looks up at her. Alone now, his eyes take on a predatory look. Rising up, he moves to the gate and leaves the mother and foal together to bond. He walks past Delta into his office, with an attached bathroom.
She watches the mother cleaning her filly for a few minutes. Cinnamon pushes at her to nurse and Delta glances down when Sasha nudges her hand. “Montana just gets better and better,” she whispers to Sasha.
A few moments later Delta turns and follows him inside of his office, “Daniel, I wanted to thank you for…” her voice fades and she stops in her tracks. “Sweet heaven,” she gasps. God, he's beautiful. Daniel has pulled off his flannel shirt to scrub his hands and arms. The top of his jeans are unsnapped, and she licks her lips stunned by her physical reaction to him.
“Delta…?” Daniel calls her name and moves towards her slowly, tossing the towel down. Delta backs up until she hits a wall near the door, and he cages her in with one hand on each side of the wall. “Delta, you’ve been avoiding me,” she looks up into his eyes as his mouth stops a hair from her. “I have a terrible need to taste you.” Her hands slide up his chest, with a feather light touch and his chest muscles jump beneath her fingers. Delta forgets everything but the desire she sees in his eyes.
“Taste me then, Dan…” his mouth takes hers cutting off her words. This time, it’s a feral kiss, full of passion, needs, and desire. Her body shudders, she presses up against him, and he responds with a guttural moan. Delta feels the rush of freedom, of letting go and enjoying the moment.
Daniel expected a slow simmering boil, not a volcano of sensations at the touch and taste of her. His tongue chases hers, and she responds instantly slipping her fingers into his hair and sucking on his bottom lip. Daniel runs his hands down the side of her body-skimming the sides of her breasts and grabs her hips, pulling her against his body. He can’t seem to get enough of her.
“God, you taste so good, Delta,” Daniel gasps leaving her mouth, his lips find a sensitive spot on her neck, and Delta's legs go weak. He nips at her vein, and she gasps in response.
“So do you,” she says breathlessly. Daniel steps back and smiles at her. He knows he needs to slow things down or else he will take her against the wall of his office. Growling in frustration, he backs away and grabs his shirt to pull on.
Delta walks on wobbly knees to the door. “We shouldn't do this anymore, Daniel.” The sound of her husky voice tells him that she's just as affected as he. Grinning, he pursues her and catches her hand.
“I don't like games, Delta. I have feelings for you, and I'd like a chance to explore them. Have dinner with me tomorrow night, seven at the lodge?” He lifts her hand and presses a hot kiss to the palm of her hand. Her lips part, tempting him again and she grins.
“I’d like that.”
Daniel leans in to kiss her goodnight and it’s a soft tempting kiss full of promise. Sasha runs inside and barks at them. Laughing they glance down, and Delta says goodnight and walks back to her house on trembling knees.
Sasha leaps down off the bed and pads downstairs towards the glass doors on the back deck. A dog’s sense of smell is forty times stronger than a human and the scent calling to her has the hair on her back standing on end. A bark startles Delta from her sleep. She sits up, just as Sasha barks again. Wide awake now, she grabs her pistol from the nightstand, heart pounding as Sasha begins growling and barking in earnest. Moving to the door Delta releases the cylinder of the gun and spins it slowly to ensure that it's fully loaded. Closing it slowly, Delta switches on the laser sight before she steps through the door and into the hallway.
Her boys ensured that she was well trained in the use of her pistol and Sasha never barks without cause. The sound of furniture moving on the deck outside tells her where the danger is. Delta reaches Sasha's side and whispers, “Heel.” A crash of metal outside causes her to jump. Sasha growls and barks as Delta looks a small, silver trash can rolls into view. Delta catches a glimpse of what looks like a small furry foot.
“It’s just a raccoon in the trash, Sasha,” she sighs in relief. Grabbing the air horn Daniel left, Delta places her pistol on the counter and flips the light switch for the deck. The black bear raises up on his feet and roars. Delta screams, squeezing the air horn at the same time.
Daniel is in the stall checking on the new foal when hears Delta's scream followed by the air horn. It echoes across the yard like a siren. He races from the barn towards his truck swearing and grabs his shotgun from behind the seat. The shattering of glass and Sasha's wild barking has his blood running cold.
Sasha is growling and barking rapidly when Daniel comes around the corner of the house towards the deck. He raises his shotgun and skids to a stop when the black bear runs off towards the trees. “Delta!” He roars and breaks into a run again. Stepping over tossed furniture and broken glass he notices a red dot tracing across the deck in a slow arc coming to rest in the center of his chest.
“Don’t shoot!” He calls out again. “It’s Daniel.”
Delta steps into view wearing a green satin chemise and holding a .357 revolver. Daniel lowers his shotgun when she points the gun past him to check for the bear. “Stay, Sasha!” The first thing he thinks is that her hands aren't shaking and that she looks hot as hell with that pistol.
“Daniel, it’s all right now. I think it’s gone.” Turning her back on him Delta walks back into the kitchen and rewards her protector. “Good girl, Sasha.”
He shoulders his shotgun and steps through the glass and nudges the trashcan with his boot. Dead fish mixed with trash. Snarling, he turns and stomps inside, “Delta, don’t you know better than to leave food out for animals to find?”
Delta looks at him and flips on the light in the kitchen. Going to the cabinet, she grabs two small glasses and pours red wine. She doesn't answer or shake, she just sips it calmly, waiting for him to finish lecturing her.
“We have special cans with secure lids for food and especially fish. You could have been killed!” She offers him a glass and stares at him. “Don’t you have anything to say?”
“I’m cold,” she walks past him to sink into the couch with Sasha.
Daniel stares at her and grabs the glass of wine before he starts laughing. Delta looks at him and laughs until tears start. Sitting heavily beside her he jerks the blanket off the couch and wraps it around her before pulling her into his side. “You scared me to death, Delta.”
“I thought it was a raccoon, Daniel, not a damn bear!” She laughs softer this time.
“He smelled the food,” he says leaning back with her tucked against him. Sasha leans against his legs, “Well done, Sasha,” she snorts and pads away to smell the air.
Delta turns to look at him. “I didn’t leave food outside, Daniel. Do you think it will come back?”
He slides a finger under the strap of her chemise and lifts it back onto her shoulder. “I think you scared it good, but we should get to work. The smell of fish is strong outside, and he might try to come back. I will clean it up while you put some clothes on.”
His touch sends her pulse skittering, and her lips curve into a smile. “We keep meeting like this, Daniel.”
“I'm not complaining, Delta. You're so beautiful,” he says as his lips trace across her cheek to nibble on her ear. She leans away to give him access, and goosebumps erupt, sending chills over her entire bod
y.
Delta turns and takes his mouth in a blistering kiss. Daniel reaches for her just as she moves to straddle him on the couch, shocking them both. His hands cup her bottom and run up the back of her silky gown. “Delta, I’m trying to be good here.”
“I can’t seem to help myself around you, Daniel.” Leaning down her breast push into his chest as she chews on his neck, sucking and nibbling her way to his ear and back to his mouth. He fists his hands in her wavy hair and jerks her back, gently.
“Delta, I'm a second from taking you and to hell with the consequences.” The sight of her swollen lips and passion burning in her eyes is almost his undoing. Delta leans back and eases off of him, pulling the blanket closer.
“I'm sorry, Daniel. Thank you for helping me and racing to my rescue.” Delta turns and hurries upstairs to dress. Embarrassed by her actions, she wonders what he must think of her. Part of her wishes, he would take the choice away from her, but she knows in her heart that she isn't a one night stand kind of girl. Jacob was her only lover, and they were married right after high school. Damn, she's never been this physically attracted to someone. Running a shaky hand through her hair, she pulls on some jeans and sweatshirt to go help him.
Daniel will never forget the sight of her with that pistol in her hands. Who the hell taught her how to handle a gun like that? Her hands weren’t even shaking. Thinking about her has his curiosity piqued even more. “Who are you, Delta Richards?” Daniel grumbles and turns away. Grabbing his shotgun, he leaves to get some wood from the barn. When Delta returns, he is screwing a thick sheet of plywood over one side of the glass door. “It looks like it's just the one door and that can be replaced in the morning.”
“I'll sweep the glass up,” Delta grabs her pistol and tucks it in the back of her jeans before starting to sweep. Moving out to the back deck she sweeps, and confusion clouds her mind. She didn't have fish, and this is definitely fish and guts that are smeared all over her back deck. When the last of the glass is swept up, she glances around the woods, looking for the bear. Daniel finishes sweeping the glass inside and hurries to be with Delta.