by Terry Spear
"How is your arm? And your leg?" he asked.
“Oh, so much better. I needed to get some sleep. Now I feel so much better.”
"Good. How do you feel about us going for a ride? Have you ever ridden?"
"Yes, just on a trail horse on one of those hour-long trips."
"Then I'm going to have to make a cowgirl out of you."
She smiled.
"If you think you can ride. I'll help you up on the horse and then we can take a short trip. I don't want you to overdo it, but if you want to, I'd love to take you out for a little ride."
"I'd love it."
"Okay." He got a couple of horses saddled for them and helped Stella onto the smaller of the two. “Mine is a blue dun appaloosa named Pablo. And the chestnut appaloosa you’re riding is Celestina. They’re great for beginners and very gentle.”
Koda and Zula were prancing around outside the stables and he knew they wanted to run with them.
"Do you mind taking the dogs with us? It's good exercise for them. I don't always take them, but they're always eager to go with me when I just take a ride for the pleasure of it."
"Yes, sure. I love the dogs. They're so energetic and fun to be with."
Then he mounted his horse, and he took her for a ride. He was done with his chores for the moment. It was time to play with the she-cat. Besides, this was one of the joys of working on a ranch. Riding.
"Come, Koda, Zula!" And the two dogs raced off to join them, running circles around each other, chasing off into the distance and then returning faithfully to their master.
They would be dead tired when they returned home like they always were when he took them on horseback rides.
"It's beautiful out here. I love it. I think it's safer riding a horse though, then running as a cougar," she said.
"It's normally very safe. I'll take you to the waterfalls, but if you get too tired, we'll turn back." He was glad Stella had been sleeping all this time, but he worried that maybe she should have stayed at the clinic if she was still so worn out from her wounds.
"I can make it. I had seen it on a map of the area and had planned to see it before I was shot."
“I’m still pissed off at the men who shot you.” Then he let out his breath and changed topics. “If you had made it to the falls, you would have smelled all the cougars that have been in the area.”
“And wondered what was up,” she said. “I doubt I would have connected them with the idea they were all shifters. How did you come to work here?" she asked.
"When I left home, I ended up at a human-run horse ranch and I worked there until Hal came to buy some horses from him to start his own ranch. Once I realized he was a cougar, I was eager to work for him as a ranch hand. I made sure Hal bought the best horses and got a fair price from my boss, Bob Johnson. I really appreciated Bob for giving me a job in the beginning after I left home. I knew my business when it came to taking care of horses on my dad's quarter horse ranch, Whispering Oaks Ranch. So I was a good hire for Bob, though he said I was a little rough around the edges—getting into fights with some of the other ranch hands—mostly due to my youth and being a cougar, and being from Texas—as if we didn’t know how to run a ranch there—instead of being from Colorado. I knew so much about the business and was always telling the other ranch hands how to do their jobs better. I didn't win a lot of points."
She laughed.
"Hal has eight-hundred prime acres of land. It's a cougar—and horses'—paradise. The cougars have parties here often. Great for weddings and all kinds of celebrations."
"That's a lot of acreage."
"Yeah, it's great for running as cougars. Everyone comes out here when they want to."
"And no hunters."
He smiled. "Not usually, right. But rattlesnakes, that's another story. We have to be on the lookout for them in the summer especially. Usually we can avoid them, but you were wounded and trying to keep out of the hunters' reach, so it's understandable that you were bitten. Normally, you would have been able to run so fast, dodge so quickly, you would have been fine."
"Yeah, I've never been bitten by a snake of any kind any time I've been out running as a cougar, so I'm sure that had all to do with it."
Stella was so excited to be actually riding a horse beside Ted, and not on a trail horse that tried to knock her off at any chance he had. She loved seeing the mountains in the distance, the river, forest, acres of pastureland and off in the distance, she could see Rainbow Falls. "This is just beautiful."
"It is. I'll have to bring you here sometime when the sun is setting."
That was the great thing about being cougars and being able to see at night, though they would do better running as cougars then.
"As cougars?" she asked.
"Yeah, but once you're fully healed. Feeling better while resting is one thing, running and working the muscles that were injured is another."
"Right." She knew she would be sore after riding the horse too, since she hadn't ridden one in years. She remembered being sore that time.
They were drawing closer to the waterfalls and she decided if she continued to see Ted, she wanted to always come here. Just the sound of the water cascading down the rocks made her feel good. "Oh, I love this."
"Yeah, we all do. It's one of the favorite spots for romantic excursions and for families to get away and enjoy nature."
She laughed. "I bet the kids like splashing in the water."
"They do. We take turns bringing them here. We actually have Carver Falls also, near Lake Buchanan, where Deputy Sheriff Chase Buchanan and his mate, Shannon, own Pinyon Pines Cabin Resort. It's great for playing in too."
"I'll have to check it out sometime also."
Then they dismounted and he tied the horses to a tree branch.
She felt it was too cold to actually get out and swim or anything, especially with it being fall, the breeze whipping little white caps on the pond. If she hadn't been so recently injured, she would have stripped and shifted into her cougar and swam across to see the waterfall, stand under it, and check out the area behind it. In her fur coat, she would have been fine.
As if he knew what she was thinking, he put his arm around her waist and squeezed. "We can return here when you're all healed up and swim over there as cougars. In the summer, it's really a hot spot for cougars."
"I bet. It would be a lot of fun." Now this was the kind of place she was looking for. Though she wanted to climb the cliffs as a cougar and reach all the way to the top to see the world before her. That was all about being a cougar. Nobody could touch them there.
"And climbing. Once you're healed up. We could climb it as humans, but everyone prefers to climb it as cougars." He released her and picked up a flat stone and skimmed it across the pond. It skipped three times.
She tried it then and actually skipped a rock twice. She had never tried that before. Being around Ted, she was having lots of firsts, she realized.
Before it got too late, he helped her mount Celestina and then he mounted Pablo and they headed back to the bunkhouse.
"What would you like to eat? How about tacos? Enchiladas? Fajitas?" Ted asked.
"Steak fajitas?" Stella loved them. Whenever she ate at a Mexican restaurant, that's what she ordered. None of that hamburger fajita mixture. That was fine in tacos though.
"Yeah, sure, guacamole, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, sauteed onions, and green and red bell peppers."
"You've got a deal." She smiled. "You're going to make me not want to return home."
"That's the whole idea."
"You're doing a great job of it." She'd never been around a guy who was so into wanting to make her feel welcome, special, that he enjoyed hanging out with her as much as she enjoyed hanging out with him.
The breeze swept across them and she was feeling a little chilly. She was glad they were returning to the bunkhouse. That's all she needed was to end up with a cold on top of everything else. Sure, they got over colds quicker than humans,
but they could still get sick for a few days with them. And she certainly didn't want to catch a cold and then give it to Ted after all he'd done for her.
He saw her shiver, so he stopped his horse, and untied a blanket rolled up on the back of his saddle. Then he gave it to her. "I should have realized you might get cold as soon as the sun began to set. Sorry. You aren't really dressed to be running around out here at night."
She pulled the blanket around her shoulders and held on with one hand, holding the reins with the other.
When they returned to the ranch, he helped her dismount, and he showed her the horses in the stable. She enjoyed seeing all the horses that seemed eager to see her too as they poked their noses out to let her pet them, but then Ted said, “I’ve got some last-minute chores to do and once everything is taken care of, I’ll join you at the bunkhouse. Why don’t you go inside and get warmed up and rest? Watch some TV and take it easy. I’ll start the fajitas as soon as I’m done.”
“Do you want me to start them?” She didn’t want him to think he had to wait on her hand and foot.
“No, really, I’ve got it. I want you to rest. I know you don’t want to stay long here, and you’ll want to head back to work, so you need to be well-rested.”
Even so, he went inside and started a nice warm, cheery fire for her, and she loved the hominess of the place and curled up on the couch under a soft blanket.
“Okay, thanks, Ted.” She was chilled and tired, and she wouldn’t mind just cuddling up in a blanket and watching something—with him.
Later that night when Ted was finished with his chores, glad Stella had done what the doctor had ordered—gotten some rest—he went inside the bunkhouse.
"Hey," he said, checking on her first before he showered and fixed dinner. "How do you feel?"
"Tired. I think I overdid it a bit. You were right in making me go inside to rest. Are you sure I can’t help you make dinner?"
"No. You just enjoy your movie.” He looked in the fridge. “Hmm, on second thought, how about I make us pork ribs, mashed potatoes, and spinach, if that sounds good to you. I don’t have any bell peppers or onions. I’ll have to grocery shop for the other items and fix the fajitas for you another time."
"Yeah, sure, that would be just perfect.”
Once he started the meal, he said, “I’m going to take a quick shower.” After his shower, the food was done, and he set it out on the dining room table and she joined him, setting out glasses of iced water for them.
"I'm sorry for the circumstances, but I'm glad you're here."
"I am too. Where is Kolby?" she asked.
"Eating up at the main house."
"So we can be alone?"
"Yeah. If he's dating—uhm, seeing a woman and wants to entertain here, I eat up at the main house, or eat in town. We try to give each other some space."
"That's so nice. It would make it difficult otherwise to have a relationship. Does Kolby have anyone special in his life yet?"
"He has dated. But he hasn't found the right woman yet."
They sat down to eat.
"The meal is delicious,” she said. “Thanks, for making it."
"You're so welcome. I want to keep seeing you."
She smiled. "I'd like that."
When they finished the meal, he cleaned the dishes, and they watched a western show, cuddling together and later having popcorn and hot cocoa before it was time to go to bed.
She decided she didn't want to sleep alone. She hadn't when Ted had stayed with her in the same clinic room. Maybe it wasn't the same as sleeping in the same bed, but she wanted that. Wanted to be with a cougar like him. "Can I stay with you?"
He smiled down at her. "Hell, yeah." He grabbed up her clothes and toiletries from the guest room and carried them into his room.
Chapter 7
Stella hadn't expected to see the beautiful, western-themed bedroom with a heavy, rustic pine bed frame, the legs and headboard trimmed in leather and brass studs. The bedspread was a southwestern design of rusts, light gray, and navy blue, and a large window was featured behind the headboard. Matching pine bedside tables had large brass knobs, and horse paintings graced the walls.
The bedroom was large and had a winged leather chair and a rustic pine desk complete with a computer and a chest at the foot of the bed that might hold blankets for winter. It was really like a presidential suite for a foreman, she thought. "Did Tracey decorate in here too?"
"Yeah. We had the large room, but it was really bland. Now it's country elegant. I feel like a rancher baron."
She chuckled. "You look like one."
"The bathroom's in here," he said, giving her a tour.
A large glassed-in shower, whirlpool tub, double sink, toilet in its own private closet. Just spectacular. "I have about half the size of your bathroom in my apartment. No whirlpool tub. Just the standard tub and shower all in one. No toilet in a private closet. This is the life."
"Yeah, it's pretty nice. Tracey redid all the fixtures in there."
"She appreciates you."
"She appreciates everyone who works for the family. I couldn't have been gladder when she mated the boss man. It showed a side of him we'd never thought we would see. And then he became a family man before we knew it, and I didn't expect to be included in that much of the family happenings once the kids came. The next thing I know, I'm an uncle to the quadruplets."
“That’s great, and this is so nice. When you were sleeping, Bill said you have a nephew, Scott, who’s in the army. What does he think about the kids?”
"Bill and I are only ten years older than him. His dad was our father's brother and he had him late in life. He has come down here once to see the family and of course they called him Uncle Scott and Aunt Nicole. They adore the kids."
Then Ted helped Stella into the soft flannel pajama top, trying not to hurt her arm, and she was glad Tracey had gotten her a shirt that buttoned instead of pulled over her head. Then Ted helped Stella into a matching pair of pajama bottoms.
Ted put on a pair of hot chili pajama pants, no top, which made him sexy as all get out.
When she climbed into bed, she thought she'd found a bit of heaven. "Hmm, this bed is like sleeping on a cloud."
"Yeah, it is, just the way I like it. Now you tell me if I bother you at all. I don't want to hurt you in the middle of the night."
She moved next to him and snuggled her face against his chest. "I'll try not to growl or bite you, if I hurt in the middle of the night."
He smiled and turned off the lights and kissed the top of her head. "If you need anything at any time, you let me know."
Ted couldn't believe his fortune in meeting the she-cat. He wasn't going to offer that she join him in his room because of her injuries, so he was thrilled when she asked if she could.
He texted Kolby: You can come home now. Stella's staying with me so try not to disturb her.
Yeah, well, try not to disturb my sleep.
Ted had no intention of making love to Stella, even though he wanted to. He hoped he wouldn’t bump her and hurt her injuries in the middle of the night. But if she wanted to be with him, he wanted to be there for her.
When Stella finally woke to hearing Ted and Kolby in the kitchen making breakfast the next morning, she grabbed her phone off the bedside table and groaned, her arm and leg still sore. But she had to call in to work before they worried something bad had happened to her. Like it had, actually.
“Hey, Tori, I’m recuperating after being shot at a ranch near Yuma Town while visiting friends. I’ll be coming in on Tuesday,” Stella said.
"No, way, Stella," Tori said when she told her the news. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?
"Yeah, I had to have an antivenom for a rattlesnake bite too."
"You're pulling my leg."
It did sound pretty unreal. "No, I wish I was. I had to receive blood for the gunshot wounds. The only thing that saved my life was I was in a barn at the time and the walls slowed down the bulle
ts. Anyway, I'm really sore and tired, but I'll be back at work tomorrow. I'll be home tonight." Though she was thinking she should just come in on Wednesday instead. Yet, she wanted to show them her wounds before they were completely healed, or they might think she had made the whole thing up. But why not just say she had a bad cold or the flu, or something?
“Where can we send flowers to?”
This got tricky. Normally, she probably would have still been in a hospital. But she didn’t want to lie about that and get caught up in the lie. “I’m at the Haverton’s ranch. There’s no need to send flowers or anything. I’ll be back at work tomorrow.”
“Really, are you sure?”
“Yeah.” Which Stella realized it sounded like maybe she really had been making the whole thing up.
“Okay, well, you let us know if you need anything, or want us to drive you home, or, well, take care of you at your apartment or anything.”
Stella smiled. “Thanks, I appreciate it.” Then they ended the call and she laid back in the bed for a few minutes, not wanting to get out of bed.
Finally, Ted peeked in on her and smiled.
She smiled back. “Okay, I told work I wasn’t coming in. What’s on the agenda?”
“Rest for you, Halloween decorating and ranching duties for me, but first, a nice big breakfast.” He pulled a big robe out of the closet and said, “Why don’t you wear this and you can shower or whatever you want after breakfast, just chill out on the couch and rest. We don’t want you to do too much.”
“Thanks, Ted.” She got up then and put on the robe, slipped on the slippers Tracey had gotten her, and thought how much nicer this was than the clinic garb.
Then she had breakfast with Ted and Kolby and after they cleaned up and took off to do ranch work, she took her shower, finally dressed, and headed outdoors to watch Ted taking care of things on the ranch. They were decorating more for Halloween, but as soon as he saw her, he wouldn't let her do anything but sit on the porch of the main house and watch him and the others do all the work. With comfy pillows propping her up on the rocking chair and even a thermos of hot spiced tea that Tracey had brought Stella, she thought this was the best way to recuperate.