*
As she watched Brennan, she saw how he worked skillfully. His muscles flexed with each movement and she admired how gentle he was with the horse as he saddled her. “You’ll like Sam. She’s mellow. You ready to climb in?”
“How do I climb in? What about my dress?”
“Once you’re in the saddle, tuck it under your legs.” He wriggled a finger. “Come here.” He took her hand and led her around to the left side of the horse. “Don’t worry. She’s trained. Hold the reins so she knows she’s about to be mounted.” Charlotte did as he showed her. “Now lift your foot and place it in the stirrup. Lift yourself up into the saddle.”
She settled into the firm leather, feeling the surface under her bottom. She felt so high up on the back of the horse that remained very still as if she knew Charlotte was a new rider. Although she’d never been on one before it wasn’t as foreign as she thought it would be.
“Take the reins into both hands, get comfortable,” Brennan encouraged. “The idea is to become one with her.”
Charlotte didn’t realize he was no longer standing next to the horse until he was sitting in his own saddle atop the horse he’d called Dolly. He talked gently to the mare, patting her neck.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“It’s different, but I like it.”
“When you’re ready, click your tongue.”
Once she did as Brennan told her, Sam started moving. Charlotte bounced lightly in the saddle and giggled.
The sun beat down and the wind caught her hair. She couldn’t contain her laughter as they rode into the field. “I love this, Brennan!”
“You were born to ride.” He smiled. “You’re not afraid, are you?”
“No. Yes. Maybe a little. But it’s not scary. It’s exhilarating. No wonder people love horses.”
“Listen to me, close your eyes for a second.”
She looked at him and lifted a brow. “Close my eyes? I might fall out of the saddle.”
He laughed. “Trust me.”
“Okay.” She did trust him. Closing her eyes, she held the reins tighter. Everything around her sounded louder—the horse’s hooves thudded against the dirt and the beating of her heart. A bird squawked close by.
“Now focus. Feel the rhythm of the horse underneath your thighs. Feel her gentle steps, your body against the smooth leather. Hear her breaths. You’re secure in the saddle. Now feel the breeze. The warm sunlight. Smell the fresh air and hear the birds chirping.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
God, she was beautiful. Brennan’s breath hitched and his stomach twisted. If someone would have told him two months ago that he’d meet a lovely woman and start to have feelings so quickly he would have laughed. And yet, here he was. Neck deep in wanting Charlotte more than he wanted his next breath.
“Can I open my eyes?” She slanted one open.
“Yes. Open your eyes and tell me how you feel?”
“Amazing! Alive. Can I do this every day?” Her eyes lit.
“I’m sure we could work something out.” The idea of having her here, on the ranch, every day made him happy. “What’s your favorite thing, Charlotte?”
“Chocolate.” A smile curved her lovely, pink lips. “And now horse rides.”
“I swear you make Mother Nature prettier,” he said on an exhale of breath.
She met his gaze across the short distance. Her smile widened and her breasts bounced. The dress had pulled out from underneath her and the material fluttered in the breeze like a colorful flag. He followed the line of her toned legs from her firm thighs to the tops of the boots, then lifted his gaze to her face. Her hair caressed her cheeks and she pulled the strands away, but they found their way back to her flushed skin. The necklace he bought her shimmered between her breasts.
What was that unfamiliar feeling in his chest? It took his breath. He couldn’t imagine being anywhere but here, with her.
Was it love?
How could that be possible?
“Can we go a little faster?” she asked.
“Sure. When you’re ready give the reins a gentle swat.”
She flicked her wrists and Sam obeyed, taking off in a trot. Charlotte laughed and bounced higher in the saddle. Brennan followed, his eye stuck to her firm bottom. He clicked his tongue and Dolly caught up to Sam.
“I’ve never seen someone catch on so quick.”
“I’d say Sam just knows what she’s supposed to do.”
They rode in silence, enjoying the beautiful day and how blue and flawless the sky was. They reached a clearing and a group of deer looked up from where they grazed the grass. Brennan slowed Dolly and Charlotte did the same with Sam.
“We’re close to the creek. Let’s walk from here.” Brennan slid out of the saddle, then stepped over to help Charlotte.
She let go of the reins and slid out into his arms. He held her, enjoying being close to her. Breathing in deeply, he inhaled her scent, an aphrodisiac to his soul. She stared at him through the veil of her thick lashes, her plush bottom lip trembled. Those amber eyes targeted all his weaknesses and vulnerabilities, threading the holes in his doubt that he could be having such strong feelings.
There was so much he wanted to say, but he couldn’t divulge anything, not yet.
He cleared his throat and took a step back. “Let’s take a walk.”
She took his hand and they strolled through the tall grass in silence. Once they reached the screen of ancient oaks the sound of water echoed through the maze of trees. They came to the flat, rocky edge where the stream gurgled over rocks and a downed tree.
“Things just keep getting better,” Charlotte said. “I love the sound of the soothing water.”
“Yes, they do keep getting better.” But he wasn’t looking at the scenery. What he saw in her was more beautiful than anything he’d ever laid eyes upon before.
“I just can’t imagine having all this land, all this beauty in your back yard. Do you and your brothers realize how lucky you are to have this?” She lifted her chin to look at him, her eyes were full of hope. Her tongue came out to sweep along the satin bow of her bottom lip.
“Yeah, it’s all beautiful and paradise until you have to muck a stall or stick your hand up—” He stopped. He might scare her a bit if he finished his sentence.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Where do you have to stick your hand?”
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You’re a nurse. You understand anatomy. Sometimes when livestock is having trouble birthing, we might have to help the baby come down the canal.”
“Oh, okay.” Her cheeks flushed. “Well, that certainly would make for an interesting day at the job.” She laughed and he liked the melodic sound. He wanted to hear it more often. Everyday. “In nursing school I had a professor that said, ‘Nursing is a dirty job but the perks are the lives we save.’.”
“Let’s have a seat on that big rock over there.” He held her hand, helping her walk across the sea of small rocks.
She sat down and stretched her legs, the slit in the dress opening and he appreciated that she felt comfortable enough in front of him not to cover up. She leaned back on her hands and reveled in the sun. “I could stay here forever.”
“What made you want to be a nurse?” He dragged off his hat and laid it aside.
“I’ve always been quite the caretaker so I guess it was only natural that I went into a career where I could help others.”
“A caretaker, huh?”
She looked at him, some of the light in her eyes disappeared. “Aunt Lucy is an alcoholic. I learned that the first week I moved in with her.”
“And you had to take care of her when she got drunk?”
“Yes.” She dipped her fingers into the edge of the water.
“I’m sorry that you had to go through that.” He relaxed back, their thighs touching.
She turned to look at him over her shoulder. “What doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger.”
He saw the tightness around her mouth. “ Ain’t that the truth.”
Wiping her wet fingers on her dress, she cleared her throat. “I had a silly thought that my mother would straighten up her act and come and get me and we’d live happily ever after. Happily ever after is only meant for some people.”
“Maybe life happens how it’s supposed to. To get to the rainbow we have to endure the storm.” He followed the urge and lifted a curl from the mass and wound it around his knuckle.
“You understand, I’m sure. You said your father left you and your brother when you were little.”
“I had my brother though.”
“Poor Melba. I just can’t seem to get her out of my head. She’s out there on that farm all alone.”
“There’s that caregiver side again.” He winked.
“It’s in the blood.” She stood and slipped off her boots.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking advantage of Mother Nature.” She dipped a toe in the deeper side of the water then leaped onto a large rock. “You coming?” She raised her arms over her head causing her breasts to lift.
He could watch her forever. And that’s what he did, watched her, memorizing every feminine line and delicate curve, until she stepped out of the water.
“I really hate to leave this paradise, but I guess we should be getting back to the benefit donors.”
He stood and held out his hand for her to take. “If we must go back to civilization.”
She balanced on one foot while she pulled on a boot, and while she fought with the second, he held her to keep her steady.
“I’m so clumsy.”
“And very beautiful.”
She looked up at him, her smile fading into something vague. “Thank you.”
“I want to kiss you.” When she didn’t object, he took that as an invitation and lowered his mouth, pressing his lips to hers. They were so soft, so sweet…it took all his strength not to allow his hunger to take the lead and take her with all the pent-up energy he’d been feeling. He turned her around so that she faced him, not breaking the kiss, and lowered his hands to the flair of her hips. Pulling her closer, her palms moved up his back and to his shoulders, her fingers digging into his skin.
He sensed a change in her.
Then she pulled away, her eyes were a shade darker.
“I—maybe I shouldn’t have done that,” he said.
“No. It was me too. I wanted it.” She stepped further away, sliding her hands down her torso nervously. “We should go. We have so much to do.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Charlotte drove onto Melba Raines’ Farm and was surprised to see the familiar truck sitting near the house. What was Brennan doing here?
She turned off the engine to Betty Sue’s car, slid out and made her way toward the door. On her first knock, Melba answered, “Hello, dear.”
“Hi. How are you?” She stepped into the living room and casually looked around for Brennan. After their kiss by the water yesterday, they had conquered a few more names on the list and then she had gone home. Neither of them had mentioned the huge elephant between them but it had caused a rift.
Wanting to tell him the truth, that she had feelings for him, she didn’t know that she was ready. The kiss between them had felt so right and stopping it had been the hardest thing to do but she had felt a deep desire. It had slammed into her chest like a soft lightning bolt.
“It’s a beautiful day,” Melba chirped happily.
Charlotte came to a stop. Melba had a new TV. “What happened to the old black and white?”
“That fellow of yours brought me this today. He even set it up for me so one click of this thing—” she held up the remote and narrowed her eyes on the buttons, “it takes me to my favorite channel so I can watch my shows.”
Charlotte wanted to correct her that Brennan wasn’t her fellow, but she had a feeling Melba would believe what she wanted to. “That’s very kind of him. I saw his truck outside. I didn’t know he’d be here.”
“He’s out taking care of some chores. He volunteered. Would you like a glass of iced tea? I was just about to fix myself one.”
“I’d love one. Thank you.”
Melba waved Charlotte into the kitchen. The appliances were old, but tidy. Hearing pounding noises from outside, she pulled back the white curtains with duck appliques and looked out, searching for Brennan and found him standing by the fence hammering. His shirt was off, and his skin was slick with sweat. He lowered the hammer against the nail and his bicep flexed. Her mouth salivated.
“Here you are, dear,” Melba said, causing Charlotte to jerk.
“Sorry. It must be the heat causing me to be jumpy.” She brought the glass to her lips and drank thirstily.
“The heat is a whammy today. When are you and the cowboy getting married?”
Charlotte almost choked on her tea. Using a napkin from the holder on the table to wipe her mouth, she crumbled it up. “Melba, we won’t be getting married. We’re friends.”
“Oh, hogwash.” She tapped her wrinkled hand on the table. “I know soulmates when I see them. You two make the loveliest couple.”
“I’m afraid Brennan and I barely know each other.” Charlotte felt a little awkward discussing this subject, especially after she still had Brennan’s whisker burn on her cheek.
“And? So? Listen, dear, I knew my Gilbert for two weeks and I knew he was the one. Things were different back then. Now everybody second guesses those telltale feelings of the heart. You youngins, you all think you have forever for long engagements. What happened to following instinct? Like Gilbert and I did. That’s not saying that we didn’t have our problems. That man was as stubborn as an old Billy goat, but I loved him. Knew it from the start. Even when certain things, if you know what I mean, failed to work. It didn’t matter because I wanted to be with him forever.”
Charlotte wasn’t sure she believed in the soulmate theory, or marrying someone after two weeks, but Melba and Gilbert must have had an amazing marriage. Charlotte could admit that she was envious. One day she hoped to find someone who wanted to be with her as much as Melba wanted to be with Gilbert.
Brennan couldn’t possibly be the one.
They barely knew one another.
He was looking for a quick wife and that could only lead to a mess that she wasn’t prepared to handle.
“Would you be a dear and take your young man a glass of tea? He’s been working and I’m sure he’s parched.”
“Okay.” Charlotte felt the butterflies in her stomach. Thinking of seeing him did something to her—something she’d never known possible.
Pouring a glass of tea, she stepped out the back door and walked the worn path to the rickety barn, following the sound of thudding around back. She stopped in her tracks when she saw him chopping wood. Her inner thighs throbbed, and her mouth went dry.
Maybe Melba was on to something.
“Good morning.”
Brennan paused mid-chop and looked across the short distance at Charlotte. He gave her a semi-smile and she realized the elephant remained between them. “Morning.”
“I brought you a glass of tea. Melba thought you could use it.”
He dropped the axe, grabbed his shirt and used it to wipe the sweat off his forehead. “Thanks.” He took the glass and while keeping his gaze fixated on her, he drank the tea down in three gulps. “That hit the spot.”
She took the glass back, hoping she didn’t drop it. “I think it’s amazing what you’re doing for Melba. The TV. The mending of the fence and the wood.”
He gave a nonchalant shrug and grabbed the axe, placing a slab of wood on the tree stump. “I have some good qualities.” He brought the blade down onto the wood and it splintered.
“How’d you sleep last night?” She tried for small talk, anything to take her attention off the beads of sweat on his smooth chest.
“Like a baby. How about you?”
“Terrible.”
“Why?
” He put another log on and brought the axe down hard.
“I feel like we left things off between us. I’m not sure if we need to talk.” She set the glass down by the pile of wood.
He kept chopping. “There’s nothing to say.”
“If that’s the case, why do you look like you’ve been sucking on a lemon?”
Looking disgruntled, he placed the axe aside and picked up the pieces of wood, tossing them into a wheelbarrow. “You have my attention.”
Now that she had it, her tongue swelled, and her brain slowed. “The kiss…”
“Was a mistake.”
“It was?” Why did she feel a stab to her chest? Wasn’t this what she wanted? For them to realize they moved too fast? To figure out that they weren’t meant for each other.
“It won’t happen again.” He took a short step toward her. “Unless you ask.”
A blast of heat warmed her insides.
“You’re backed against the wall with the stipulations of your father’s will.”
He narrowed his eyes on her. “Do you think that’s what the kiss was about? I’m making moves, hoping I can convince you to marry me?” He laughed but it was anything but humorous.
“Honestly? Maybe a little. Or a lot. Isn’t it?”
“Yes, maybe. Hell, I don’t know, but you don’t know me very well, lady. If I was out just to get a wife to meet the stipulations placed on me, I would have swept up the first woman who looked my way. It doesn’t work like that for me. I felt something for you—something I didn’t expect.”
He grabbed his shirt, pulled it on, and he took off around the barn. By the time she picked up the glass and caught up to him he was almost to the house and he was pushing a wheelbarrow. She reached out and grabbed his shirt in her fist. He turned and lifted a brow. “What?”
“You can’t just admit to something like that and walk away.”
“Yes I can. There’s not much else to say.”
“I-I…well, I think there is.” He lifted her chin.
“Then go ahead. I’m all ears.”
Bighearted Cowboy (Tarnation, Texas Book 5) Page 11