by Loraine, Kim
“It’s colder out here than in the arena,” I said.
“Yep. And we’re not even in the dead of winter yet. If you were gonna be here in January and February, you’d have hand warmers in your pockets and in the toes of your boots, and you’d probably still be cold.”
A few inches of snow covered the ground. Low enough that the tops of the tall grass could still be seen poking through the white coating. As our horses slowed to a walk, I could see their breath puffing out in the form of steam in front of us. “You’re out here all day every day?”
“Have to be. There’s always something needs fixing, or an errant herd of cattle going too far or breaking through the fence.”
We rode through the rolling hills and into the tree line, where we followed a trail all the way to the top of a jagged cliff that overlooked the ranch. “It’s gorgeous from up here.” I was overcome with a swell of longing as I surveyed everything his family had worked so hard for. Sprawling land, dotted with clusters of cows, horses running and playing with each other in pastures, a small lake with a cabin nearby, even a creek that cut through from the forest and across the acres.
“That creek will be frozen soon, the lake will follow. We used to ice skate on it when we were kids.” Clint’s rumble warmed my chest. God, I liked him too much to deny.
“It’s hard for me to imagine you as a kid. Playful and silly.”
He chuckled. “I can still be playful. I’ve just got a lot on my plate at the moment.”
“You take good care of them, you know? I can see that just in the short time I’ve been here.”
Shrugging, he reached down and patted his horse. “I try. I always feel like it’s not enough, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, if it was enough, my baby sister wouldn’t be so bruised she can barely move. If it was enough, we’d be doing this show without an empty bank account holding a gun to our heads.”
My heart hurt for him. “Do you really think it’s your fault Sera was in an abusive relationship?”
“Yes.”
“How is that even possible?”
He grit his teeth together and sighed. “If I’d been a better influence, I could have shown her by example how a man treats his partner. Instead, I picked the worst apple of the bunch and got taken by her. Sera left for college with the notion that ignoring your problems was better than facing them.”
“Are you talking about Jess?”
“I knew things weren’t right. That I didn’t really love her, and she didn’t love me. But I was so wrapped up in the fantasy of having the perfect life with her that I didn’t see the truth that was staring me in the face the whole time. She didn’t want me; she wanted my family’s money.”
I wished I wasn’t on the back of a horse so I could hug him and tell him none of that was his fault. “She didn’t deserve you—any of you.”
We stayed there for a few more minutes, quiet in the lightly falling snow as we watched the cattle roam. A few cowboys appeared near a herd, their horses galloping and two dogs running around the feet of the cows, bringing them all into a tight group.
I sat up straighter and frowned. “What are they doing?”
“Separating the pregnant heifers from the rest so Doc can examine them.”
“Oh, babies?” I couldn’t keep the excitement out of my voice.
He laughed. “A lot of them will be born in January, some later.”
“Won’t they be cold?”
“I expect so. We put up windbreakers for them, check on them constantly, and give them thick hay beds to help keep them warm. We always lose a few, though.”
“What do you do with them?”
“Sell ‘em. That’s how we make most of our money. That and horse training, breeding, and sales.”
I caught sight of a cow alone near the creek. It didn’t look like anyone was aware she was there, and she seemed…stuck in something. Brambles or bushes, maybe. “Clint, look down there. Is she supposed to be that far away?”
He glanced to where I was pointing. “Shit, no.”
Calling on his radio, he said, “I got eyes on a heifer stuck in the mud by the north side of the creek. Any of you guys able to get to her?”
All he got in response was crackling.
“Dammit, we’re too far out of range.” He turned his horse and nudged him back the way we came. “Come on, looks like you’re getting a lesson in roping some cattle today.”
* * *
Clint
Ever did an amazing job of staying with me while we raced back down the hills and through the trees. I didn’t have to slow my pace once, and that was saying something because I was moving a lot faster than I should’ve been. We broke through the line of trees, and I took my horse to a gallop, hammering hoofbeats and the snort of our horses’ heavy breaths the only sounds until we closed in on the stranded cow. She bellowed and bleated in distress.
I jumped the creek, shouting back to Ever for her to stay put. She wasn’t ready to jump anything. Mud was dangerous for cows. We’d lost a few to this very thing, and it killed me every time. It was something we could prevent if we caught them soon enough.
“How are you going to get her out?” Ever asked.
I dismounted and counted on my horse to stay by my side. He was well trained, but it was always a risk to leave your mount unattended. Then I grabbed my lasso and swung it a few times before cleanly looping the cow’s neck. “She’s not too far in. Just below her knees. I’m gonna pull her out. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll get a tractor and chain and try that way.”
The cow bellowed again and pulled against the tightening of the rope. “C’mon, girl. There’s nothing for you in that cold muck. I’m gonna help you, but you’ve gotta help me too. This is a partnership.”
I pulled, digging my heels into the cold earth and praying she’d get the message and come. She tried, but cows were stubborn, and she’d likely already given up. I pulled harder, grunting with the effort. From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Ever taking Midnight at a run. Alarm shot through me as she jumped the creek, the woman leaning into the jump like a pro. When Midnight’s hooves were all safely on the ground and Ever was still in the saddle, I let out a sigh of relief.
“What the hell?” I scolded.
She dismounted and took up some of the rope. “You looked like you needed a hand.”
Then the two of us started pulling. It seemed fruitless until the cow came with us in rapid steps. She came out, and we went down. Ever let out a soft groan as I landed on her. Immediately, I rolled us over, so she was on top of me. “You okay?” I asked.
She felt so damn good splayed out across my body. My dick perked right up, taking notice of her closeness. “Yeah. You’re heavy, though.”
I laughed. “You’re not. You’re fucking perfect.”
Her knees pressed into the ground next to my hips, and her palms rested on my chest, but she didn’t move to get off me. Instead, she stared at me. “You’re not supposed to be so tempting, Clint Ryker.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I sat up and held her against me, bringing us face to face. “It means, it’s against the rules.”
“I don’t much like rules that tell me who I can’t be with.”
She bit her lower lip, making it redden. That was it. I was done. I closed the distance between our mouths, my hat knocking hers off in the process. The kiss was hot and filled with every ounce of repressed desire between the two of us. It had been a long time coming, and I was going to make sure she didn’t forget it.
I was rock hard in my jeans as she ground her pelvis against me. “God, Ever.” I groaned the words against her mouth and held her tighter. I needed to get her home, to the guest house where I could bury myself inside her and remember what it was like to give myself to someone.
My radio crackled, and I heard Buck come across the line. “Clint, you okay? Max is roaming without a rider. Midnight too.”
; I sighed and helped Ever to her feet before getting to mine and adjusting my throbbing cock in my pants. “Shit,” I grumbled, looking back to see both the horses had abandoned us. I responded with a clipped, “Yep, we’re fine. Gonna need a pickup, though. Had to pull a heifer from the mud.”
“Pregnant?”
I inspected the cow, palpating her belly. “No. I want Doc to look her over, though. Make sure she’s not sick.”
I gave him our coordinates and turned to stare at the woman who just kept surprising me. “You jumped the goddamned creek.”
She grinned. “I did.”
“You could have been hurt.”
“So could you. You were pulling a cow out of the mud with nothing but your hands and a rope.”
“And you.”
Her smile widened. “And me.”
The cow had found herself a patch of grass and begun munching, clearly happy to be free of her muddy prison. “Thanks for helping,” I said, gaze dropping to Ever’s full lips.
“Anytime.”
Tension crackled between us, her body pressed against mine again. Jesus, I wouldn’t be able to focus if she licked her lips. Hoofbeats stopped us from bringing our mouths together again, and dammit, I wanted to chuck a spur at Buck’s head in that moment.
Sure enough, Buck came riding up to us with each of our horses on either side of him, lead ropes in his hands. “You two look like you been keeping warm.”
Ever’s cheeks flamed red, but I let his teasing roll off. “Jealousy doesn’t look good on you,” I said, taking Midnight’s lead and handing it to Ever. “You need help mounting?”
She shook her head, and I watched her get on that horse like she was born doing it. Then I mounted Max. The glint in her eyes when she locked gazes with me sent a punch of desire straight to my gut. I shouldn’t have kissed her, but I didn’t regret it one bit.
12
Ever
It had been days…days…since my kiss with Clint, and I hadn’t seen him since. I’d thought our trail ride and the experience we’d shared saving that cow from the mud would’ve brought us closer together. Apparently, I was wrong. Clint was avoiding me like I had the plague. I should have been thankful, after all, we couldn’t really be together, but a big part of me just felt sadness. There had been such a spark when our lips met. An undeniable chemistry that lit a fire in me. It opened my eyes to what I could have rather than what I shouldn’t want. But he’d obviously felt something different.
We’d all been busy preparing the ranch for a heavy snow that was forecasted in a few days. I’d helped build windbreaks made of hay bales in the nearest pastures while the Ryker boys and the ranch hands drove the cattle closer to the barn and stables so they’d be easier to check on. The ponds nearby had completely frozen over, and right now Buck was showing me how to cut holes in the ice to make water available for the cows. It was bitterly cold, even through all my layers of clothing, the biting wind making my cheeks burn.
“Are you sure they’ll be okay?” I asked.
Buck shrugged. “It’s hard to say. We do our best to protect them, but we can’t guarantee they’ll all make it. They’ve got their winter coats, and we’ve been feeding them extra to help insulate them.” His radio crackled, and Clint’s voice came over the line, the sound of him sending a wave of need through me.
“All accounted for. Looks like the weather’s taking a turn. Y’all should get back to the house.”
Buck glanced at me and nodded. “You ready? I could stand to get warmed up.”
“Did we get enough done?”
“We did all we could. We’ve gotta let instinct guide them. They know what to do.”
I mounted Midnight and waited as Buck climbed on his horse. Then the two of us made our way across the already frozen land toward the stables. The moment we arrived, I saw him. Clint. My heart did this painful lurching thing and made me gasp softly. He leaned against the wall of the stable, the collar of his coat popped to help keep his neck warm, head tipped down so I couldn’t see his face, only his dark felt cowboy hat. He had his hands in his pockets, legs crossed at the ankles, leather chaps making him look like a stereotypical bandit from a western. The sight of him did things to me.
Buck dismounted and took his horse by the lead rope he’d tucked under his saddle, then I followed. Clint didn’t look up, not even once. Was he really that ashamed of our kiss?
But Buck chuckled and shook his head.
“What’s funny?” I asked.
“He’s sleeping on his feet. Like a damn horse.”
I looked closer, and sure enough, Clint was sound asleep. “That’s not like him.”
“He’s been up at three every morning, working non-stop riding the ranch to search for any cows that might have wandered off. It’s no wonder he’s dead on his feet.”
And no wonder I hadn’t seen him in days. “Should we wake him up?”
He shook his head. “Nah, he’ll only try to go back to work.”
The two of us put our horses away and gave them treats for their hard work before returning to where Clint still stood sleeping. I didn’t feel right about leaving him there. “I’ll stay with him. It’s cold and starting to snow.”
A smirk turned up the corner of Buck’s mouth. “Have it your way. There’s hot coffee in the bunkhouse dining hall. Come and get it when you’re ready.”
He left us there, and I leaned against the wall right next to Clint. The scent of the man made something in my chest ease, but when he sighed and shifted, everything tightened right back up.
“Ever?” he asked through a sleepy voice.
“Hey, cowboy. You have a good nap?”
He chuckled, that low rumble a sound I craved. “Guess so. Just a little rest before I get back to work.”
“I thought you were calling it?”
“I sent everyone in, but there’s still fence to check. I’ll take care of it.”
He pushed off the wall and strode into the tack room, where he proceeded to grab everything he needed to get a horse ready to ride. “What are you doing?” I asked, hand on my hip.
“I’m saddling up. What does it look like?”
I shook my head, watching him prepare a horse named Ace. “I’m coming with you.”
He shot me a look that said very firmly, no you are not, but I just walked into the tack room and grabbed what I needed. I picked a horse named Lily, who’d been good for me in the past, then started the process of getting her ready to ride.
“Ever, you’re tired, cold, and I’m sure hungry. You aren’t coming with me.”
“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, Clint. You leave without me, I’ll just follow. You don’t let the guys go out alone. I haven’t missed that detail. I’m not going to let you break your own rules.”
His lips pressed into a firm line, but he nodded. “It shouldn’t take long. Then you’re done for the day. You hear me?”
I nodded. “Sure. So are you.”
When our horses were saddled, and both of us were mounted, we started toward the west corner of the ranch. The snow was coming down heavier by the time we reached the section of fence he’d wanted to check. Satisfied after he looked it over, he turned toward me, and his eyes went wide. I looked behind me and saw the wall of white falling from the sky. I couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of me.
“Dammit,” he cursed. “It’s worse than we thought it’d be.”
The wind whipped and swirled the snow until it was a veritable cyclone. The weather had slowly morphed from a snowfall to a blizzard. “What do we do?”
“We need shelter. Soon. We won’t make it back without getting lost or the horses getting hurt. Not in a whiteout.”
“Where are we going to find shelter?”
He pointed to his right. “There’s a cabin close by. I think we can find it.”
“Lead the way. I sure as hell don’t know where I’m going. But if we freeze to death, I’ll make your afterlife miserable.”
We rod
e slowly, carefully, only catching sight of trees when we were nearly on them, stopping before accidentally taking the horses onto the frozen lake. “Almost there,” he shouted over the now howling wind.
My bones were cold all the way to the marrow, an aching, frozen feeling I never wanted to have again. Teeth chattering so hard I couldn’t answer, I held up a thumbs up. Then I saw the silhouette of the cabin in the distance and sighed. There was a small stable around back where we set up the horses so they’d be sheltered and dry, then Clint took my arm and practically dragged me into the cabin.
He slammed the door shut behind him and immediately stalked to the wood-burning stove in the back of the small space. “Get your clothes off, right now.”
“W—wh—what?” I stuttered through my violent shivering.
“I’m starting a fire, and then we’re going to need to keep warm. Your clothes are soaked.”
Shoving wood into the stove, he then added a fire starter, newspaper, and struck a match. I did as he instructed, first using my teeth to pull off my gloves. I was so cold I could barely feel my fingers to unzip my coat, but once I got going, I was able to strip down to the base layer I’d worn. Even that was wet.
He left the door to the stove open as the flames licked the wood, and the space glowed with the light of the flames. He walked around the tiny cabin and lit two oil lamps, brightening the entire room.
“No electricity?” I asked.
“There’s a generator. But that’s to keep the water running from a well nearby. No hot water, but at least we don’t have to use an outhouse.”
“Thank God for small favors.”
Shucking his coat before he sat down and pulled off his boots, Clint kept his gaze averted. “You need to take those off too. You’re not going to get warm if you’re sitting around in frozen clothes.”
He hung his hat on the hook by the door and started undoing the snaps that held his shirt closed. Oh, God, even on the edges of hypothermia, my body responded to him.