by D'Ann Lindun
Would she be any warmer close to the fire? Should she go out there? Quickly making up her mind, she gathered the quilt around her shoulders and carried a pillow into the living room. As she tiptoed past Cooper’s bedroom, she stole a glance inside. He lay on his back, obviously asleep, but he’d left on a reading lamp above his head.
The sofa was placed at an angle so that she could lie on it and be close to the heat. With a sigh, she sank down on the couch and stared into the dying flames. The temperature was much warmer in here. As her body began to warm up, she began to unwind.
Her thoughts came back to that kiss. What had she been thinking? She hadn’t been, she had to admit. Cooper’s lips had made her mind go blank as Laker Stadium after a basketball game. Nobody there. She’d have to be more careful in the future. Of course that didn’t seem to be a worry. Cooper had made it perfectly clear he didn’t want her. Frustrated, she punched her pillow.
“Something wrong?”
Elizabeth shrieked.
The heeler barked.
“It’s just me. I heard you get up and I’ve been listening to you toss and turn out here for the last hour.” He went to the fire and threw a couple more logs on it. “Are you still cold?”
“You scared the beejeezus out of me,” she finally managed.
“The fire’ll heat you up before you know it,” he said. “Want coffee?”
“No,” she managed. “I’m okay.”
“I don’t think you are,” he countered.
“All right, you win. I’m freezing to death,” Elizabeth admitted.
He moved toward his bedroom. “Take off your clothes.”
“What?” Was he mad? Was this the way a cowboy asked a girl to bed? If so, the technique required a little polish. Hadn’t he ever seen a romantic western movie before?
“I said get undressed,” he repeated as if speaking to a child. “I’m going to get a couple more quilts. This is a sleeper-sofa. When I come back, I’ll lie down with you to help you warm up.”
Wordlessly, Elizabeth climbed off the sofa. Her temperature had already risen a few notches.
When he returned in a moment, Cooper held three thick covers. With efficient hands, he arranged the couch into a fold out bed. Finally he pulled the corners back and said, “Take off your clothes. Not your socks, though.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m not going to take advantage,” he replied. “But you’ll get warmer faster if our skin touches. I’ll look away.”
Elizabeth did as she was told, dropping her top layer in a heap on the floor, but keeping on her bra and panties. She jumped in the bed, facing the fire. Behind her, she heard the soft whisper of Cooper’s clothes hitting the floor. Then he climbed in, pulling the covers to their chins. She almost jumped out of her skin when he slid his nearly nude body against hers, placing his arm around her waist.
“Relax,” he said against her hair, “I’m only trying to get you warm.”
Stiff as the icicle she feared she’d become, Elizabeth lay still, every inch aware of the long body spooned tightly to her own. There wasn’t an ounce of doubt her savior was a man. The muscled, hairy legs, flat belly molded to her back and sinewy arm across her waist gave plenty of evidence of that.
But it was his erection, pressed against her behind that gave no doubt. Her nipples peaked, ached. Her goosebumps faded, replaced by delicious, hot shivers. How could her feet feel like they were going to break away like shards off a glacier, yet the rest of her tingle with awareness that heated her skin?
He’d already made it clear he didn’t want to become any more involved with her. This was simply an act of good will. Then why did the vee between her legs dampen at the thought of rolling over and slipping under him? A whispered moan escaped, and Elizabeth bit her lip. She would not let him know how much effect he had on her. With grim determination, she closed her eyes and pressed her knees tightly together.
“Quit moving.” If she didn’t quit wiggling around, Cooper was going to explode. Although he’d pulled away from her earlier, he was so attracted to her he hurt. But the last thing either of them needed was an involvement. Getting tangled up together any more than they already were would be disastrous. He’d been an outcast since Henry died. If Elizabeth became romantically tied to him, she’d suffer the same fate. He wouldn’t do that to her.
“I’m not,” she muttered. “You are.”
“I haven’t moved an inch.” Well maybe a few. About six. It was mighty tough to keep his resolve with her soft rear so close to his dick.
She made a sound that might’ve been a groan. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“I’m not dead.” He gritted his teeth. Since his divorce, he’d been alone. He’d had offers, but he just hadn’t wanted the trouble that came with them. He didn’t think he had more morals than the next guy, but casual sex turned him off.
She squirmed again. “Try to act like you are.”
He fought his hard on with steely determination. He thought of his ex-wife. That’d cool him down. They’d married in large Catholic ceremony. He believed in his vows, but she hadn’t stood by him when he’d been accused of manslaughter. He figured the charge gave her an easy excuse to leave him.
Esperanza hated ranch life — the early mornings, long days and boredom. They fought endlessly about selling the ranch and him getting a real job in some city. It surprised him she hadn’t fled for Denver or Phoenix the first chance she got.
A soft snore came from Elizabeth and he smiled. She’d probably die if he told her she snored. She was such a lady. Her legs felt silky smooth as they twined around his own. He’d bet his last dollar her toenails were painted a soft color — probably Passion Pink. Even her hair smelled good — something fruity. He couldn’t put his finger on the exact scent. Maybe bananas.
Elizabeth moved, and his hand brushed her breast. He jerked away. Only the briefest of touches, but enough for him to learn she had the perfect size for his palm. He ached to give in to his desires and slip his hand under her pink silk bra and panties and explore every inch. What would she be like? Passive? Timid? Or a wildcat? Turning away, he put the thoughts aside. He would never know.
• • •
Elizabeth woke to heavenly heat. She yawned and stretched like a contented kitten. She didn’t know how or when, but she’d finally gotten warm enough and drifted off to sleep. Her lips curved a little as she thought of the way Cooper had wrapped himself around her … Cooper! She’d slept with him.
A flush crawled up her neck and face as she recalled the previous evening. How could she face him this morning? She’d practically thrown herself on him. Where was he anyway? The fire blazed merrily and the scent of hot coffee came from the kitchen. “Cooper?”
No answer.
“Cooper? Where are you?” When no reply came, she jumped up and dashed to the bathroom. There she found her clothes carefully hanging from a hook on the back of the door. Elizabeth jerked them on. Where had her unlikely host gone?
In the kitchen, she found a note telling her he was feeding the animals. There was hot coffee, and biscuits in the oven. After pouring herself a cup of scalding black coffee, and doctoring it liberally, she put on her coat and hat. Cooper needed her help. How could he do anything with broken ribs?
He needed help.
The storm had died down during the night, but the gusting wind blew snow. A gust of wind nearly knocked her off her feet. She couldn’t see more than a foot in front of her, but she went toward the barn. Inside, she found Cooper pitching feed to the horses.
He looked up, startled. “You should’ve stayed in the house.”
“I thought you might need a hand.”
“I’m about done, but if you want to give each horse a scoop of grain, that would help.” He motioned to the room at the end of the alley. “You’ll see it there in a sack.”
Elizabeth discovered the oats in the tack room, and she scooped out a measure. Taking a scoopful first to the sorrel, then the bay, she saved her horse
’s oats for last. Giving him a quick pat as he dived for the feed she said, “Hi, boy. Are you warm enough in here?”
The barn was cozy. Unlike her old place, Cooper’s barn had no cracks or drafts. The building looked like it had been remodeled recently. There were six roomy stalls, the tack room and a stack of hay at the far end. The earthy scent of horses and sweet timothy hay filled the interior. As a gray tabby cat streaked across the floor, Mischief pricked her ears, eager to give chase. At a quiet word from Cooper the dog sat on her haunches, grinning at him.
Elizabeth turned toward Cooper. “Do you have any plans on how to get back to your truck?”
“Ride,” he said.
“Ride what?”
“The horses.” Cooper paused, a bucket of water in each hand. “The truck isn’t that far from here.”
“And how will they get back here?” Elizabeth studied him for any sign of weakness. His ribs had to be hurting.
“I’ll turn him loose and he’ll come home. But first, I want to eat.”
Over biscuits and gravy, he outlined his plan. “I think I can fix my truck pretty easily. After we bring the horses back here, I’ll run you to your car and you can go home.”
“You can do all that with hurt ribs?” He had to be kidding. It would take a full-fledged mechanic to fix his truck.
“I don’t have a choice.”
After he dropped her off, she wouldn’t have any reason to see him again. An inexplicable knot formed in her throat and Elizabeth couldn’t swallow. She had an idea. “What if I help you, and you help me?
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know my way around here very well. And you’re hurt. What if we exchanged favors? I’ll give you a hand, feeding and that sort of thing, and you help me search for my mom?” She held her breath.
“I guess it couldn’t hurt,” he agreed.
• • •
Cooper handed Elizabeth an old pair of thermal underwear. Although faded, they were clean and serviceable. “Put these on. It’s icy out there and you don’t want to get frostbite.”
Taking them, Elizabeth shuddered. The thought of being out in the cold again frightened her. Looking into Cooper’s calm face, she knew she was in safe hands. How had she grown to trust him so quickly? Why wouldn’t he open up to her and tell her what had happened between him and her uncle Henry? Would he ever return the trust she had in him?
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, just not looking forward to freezing my rear end off,” she admitted.
“It won’t take long as the crow flies to get to my truck,” he said. “The sooner we leave, the sooner we get back.”
After she put on the long johns, Elizabeth joined Cooper near the fire.
“You ready?”
She nodded. “I guess so.”
“Let’s go then.”
Together, they went to the barn. Cooper headed for the tack room at the end of the alley. “I’ll grab the bridles, then we can saddle up.” He tacked up both horses. “You ready to ride?”
Nodding, Elizabeth swung aboard the bay.
Cooper tightened his sorrel’s cinch and mounted, swinging his long leg over the horse’s back. He flinched slightly when he settled in the saddle, but recovered immediately. “Let’s ride.” With a whistle to Mischief, they headed out.
The wind had died down, but still blew in occasional gusts. The ground was covered with a blanket of white and the horses’ hooves sank into the soft powder. Mischief ran circles around them, ecstatically burying her nose in the new snow, then throwing it in the air, trying to catch it as it fell.
Elizabeth began to relax. Well insulated by the borrowed thermal underwear, she didn’t feel the cold. The snowy winter land cushioned them as if she and Cooper were the only two people in the world. The rolling adobe hills looked like mounds of frosted bread dough. The La Sals and the more majestic San Juans stood guard nearby, hidden by the clouds.
They rode easily, not wanting to get the animals sweaty. The rolling hills gave way to the road which Elizabeth recognized as the one which she and Cooper both lived on. Once upon it, Cooper urged his sorrel into a fast walk. Elizabeth nudged the bay with her heels, asking him to keep up.
It came as a surprise when the gelding came to an abrupt halt.
Confused by his unwillingness to move, Elizabeth peered through the snow, then at Cooper’s stony face. “Oh my God.”
Cooper dismounted and handed her his reins. He walked a few feet forward and peered at the object in front of him. “Bastards.”
Under a mound of snow lay Cooper’s old Ford. As it began to come in focus, Elizabeth realized it had been turned upside down, the tires slashed. As she looked closer, she saw the windows had all been smashed, too.
“God damn it,” Cooper raged. “Dammit all to hell.”
Dismounting, Elizabeth walked up to him and touched his arm, but he seemed miles away. “Who did this?”
“Can’t you guess?” he muttered.
“Let’s ride back to the ranch and call Sheriff Marlowe,” she suggested.
“Why? So he can tell me it’s all my fault?” For the first time since she had met him, Cooper seemed weary. “I’m going to have to figure this out on my own.”
“I’ll help,” Elizabeth said softly. Staring at her for a long moment, as if he’d never truly seen her before, Cooper nodded. “What should we do first?”
“Hell if I know.” He sounded resigned, defeated.
Elizabeth wrapped her fingers around his wrist. “What if we get my SUV, leaving the rest of the plan the same as before?”
“What plan?”
“Ride the horses to my car, then you can go back home. Or I can ride them if you prefer to drive. Anyway, one of us will go into town and call a tow truck, then meet at your place.”
“Sounds okay,” Cooper said slowly. “I’ve got to get back to the ranch to feed the cows, so it would be better if you went into town.”
“How are you going to do that without a truck?”
“With the horses,” he explained, “I have an old hay sled in the barn.”
“Oh my gosh,” she said. “That’s too much work with your broken ribs. We can do it with my vehicle instead. It’ll be easy to hook up to the hitch.”
“Let’s get started,” he said. “And my ribs aren’t broken, only bruised.”
• • •
Unlike his totaled Ford, Elizabeth’s SUV looked exactly the same as it had the night before. Except for the red abandoned vehicle ticket on the door. Cooper turned it over and read the signature — Deputy Harper. The implications enraged him. Tom Harper had either come by and ticketed the car without driving down the road to see if his cousin had to walk home in a storm, or he had been the one who had run Cooper’s truck off the road? Either way, he was just plain wrong.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.” Cooper stuffed the red tag in his coat pocket. There wasn’t any sense in upsetting Elizabeth more than necessary. It was beginning to look as if Tom Harper had it in not only for him, but her, too. “Get in and see if the engine will turn over.”
She did as he asked and the motor purred to life. “Okay, go see if you can find a tow truck, then come out to the ranch,” Cooper said gruffly. Then he added, “Be careful.”
“I will,” she promised. “I won’t take long.” Her amber-colored eyes looked trustingly back at him.
“On second thought, let me go with you.” Cooper decided on the spur-of-the-moment. “I can turn the horses loose and they’ll go back to the barn. I don’t think you ought to go alone.” With efficient hands, he loosened cinches and pulled saddles from both horses’ backs before he removed their bridles and waved his hands at them. “Go home! Yah! Go on, get!”
The horses shied and galloped away. Then he picked up a saddle in each hand and placed them in the trunk of Elizabeth’s SUV. Finally, he climbed in the front seat beside her, Mischief jumping into the seat behind him.
“Are you sure
the horses will be all right?”
He nodded. “Positive. They’ll head back to the barn ’cause that’s where the food is. It might take them a couple hours to amble back, but they’ll be there by suppertime.”
Elizabeth turned in a large circle. “Where do you want to go?”
“The Sunrise Garage at the west end of town. They have a tow truck there.” Cooper leaned back against the leather seat, more weary than he cared to admit. His ribs throbbed, but here was no time to rest.
“You need a doctor,” she said.
“I’m fine.”
She shot him a glance, but he didn’t want to talk to a doctor, explain all the poorly-healed breaks crisscrossing his bones. He’d healed without medical help a hundred times before; he’d do so again.
The drive to town only took a few minutes. Elizabeth drove to the gas station and parked. She climbed out and walked with Cooper to the sliding door of the garage.
Inside, a man in greasy overalls looked up from the open hood of a truck. “What can I do for you?”
Cooper leaned on the fender of the nearest truck. “I need you to tow my truck in. It’s turned over out by the cutoff road to my place.”
A look of an indescribable emotion crossed the mechanic’s face. “No can do. I’d like to help you out, but I’m booked clear full this week. It’d probably be best if you called someone from Monticello.”
“You’re joking, right?” Elizabeth exploded. “That’ll cost hundreds.”
Cooper glanced at her, then at the mechanic. “Monticello’s hours from here. It would take you less than an hour to run out there and bring my truck back into town.”
The guy shook his head. “This can’t go any farther than this building, but I was told it’d be bad for business if I helped you out.”
“Who would say such a thing?” Elizabeth demanded at Cooper’s elbow. “This is like a bad movie script.”
He kicked the toe of his boot on the concrete floor and refused to meet Cooper’s eyes. “That’s all I can say.”
“Okay,” Cooper said tightly. He took Elizabeth by the elbow before she could say anything else. “Let’s go.”