“That grove of trees seems damned far away. How do I shift this horse into high gear? It’s been a while since I’ve done this.”
“Are you sure you want high gear?”
“Okay, maybe not. I don’t want to fall off. But meandering down the trail at a snail’s pace is not working for me.”
She laughed. “You’re supposed to be enjoying the scenery.”
“All the scenery I want to enjoy is currently covered up.”
“Carswell, you have a one-track mind.”
“So I’ve been told.”
She considered that his ability to be very single-minded, which was probably what had made him an excellent ballplayer, also would explain why he was such a fantastic lover.
“Seriously, Caro, what signals do I give this animal so he’ll move out? Do I kick him or cluck at him or what?”
“You nudge with your heels, but the next level up after walking is trotting. In my experience, it’s hard to sit a trot unless you’ve practiced.”
“So what if I skip that level and go to the next one?”
“You think you’re ready to canter? How long has it been since you were on a horse?”
“Three or four years. Some buddies and I went to a dude ranch in Colorado for a couple of days.”
“And before that?”
“There was no before that. That was my first and only time on a horse.”
“Hmm.” She thought about his knee and what sort of damage he could do if he came off the animal. “We’d better walk.”
“To hell with that.” He dug both heels into Destiny’s ribs, and the horse broke into a trot. Logan began to bounce in the saddle. “This sucks!”
“Told you.” Caro trotted behind him, but she’d had enough practice to keep from bouncing.
“Next gear, then.” Logan kicked again and Destiny moved into a canter. “Better!” He jostled around some, but then settled in. “Much better!”
She watched in amazement as he transformed from awkward city boy on a horse to someone who could almost pass for a cowboy. Apparently that’s what the gift of natural coordination could do for a person.
He was an incredible guy, the kind of man who’d be easy to fall for. She wouldn’t, of course, because that would set up the perfect scenario for heartbreak. Caro was one hundred percent against heartbreak.
Logan cantered ahead of her, taunting her with his broad shoulders and tight buns. He must have been feeling really confident, because he turned in the saddle to grin at her.
As she opened her mouth to warn him that he shouldn’t get cocky, Destiny shied at something on the trail. The horse crow-hopped, and Logan sailed off into a patch of wildflowers. Caro pulled Cici to a stop and leaped off; heart pounding, she prayed he hadn’t landed on his knee.
8
LOGAN’S FIRST THOUGHT as his butt left the saddle was that this was no way to impress a woman. And sadly, he had hoped to impress Caro with his newfound cowboy skills. He’d seen right away that a trot wasn’t going to accomplish it, but the canter had shown real promise until Destiny veered in one direction and he veered in the other.
His second thought was for his knee. He’d had a lot of experience falling during his baseball career, and in this instance he didn’t have to worry about where the ball was or how other players might be impacting the situation. Twisting his body as he fell, he managed to land on his backside, which was the part that could take the most punishment.
He hit with a jolt that made his teeth click together, but fortunately, his tongue wasn’t in the way. He lay there a second or two, flexing everything to make sure he hadn’t broken a vital body part. Other than the fact that his butt hurt a little, he seemed to be in decent shape.
“Logan!” The stalks of wildflowers surrounding him rustled and then Caro dropped to her knees by his side. “Oh, my God. Are you okay?”
“Yes, other than feeling like a damned fool. Where are the horses?”
She glanced up. “Cici’s right over there, eating flowers.
Destiny’s…getting away! Stay here. I’ll be right back.” She jumped to her feet.
Logan sat up in time to watch her leap on Cici and trot off to retrieve his homeward-bound mount. Then he carefully got to his feet, only to find his knee was no worse than it had been. At least he wasn’t totally without luck.
Meanwhile Caro, the heroine of the hour, caught up with Destiny and grabbed his reins. As Logan dusted off the seat of his pants, noting that he felt at least one good-size bruise forming there, she rode up, leading his mount. So much for impressing the woman he hoped to have sex with.
“I got him. Emmett needs to train him out of that bad habit.” She gazed down at Logan. “How are you doing?”
“My pride is shredded, but other than that, I’m fine.”
“You have a purple flower in your hair.”
He leaned on the only thing he had left, his sense of humor. “Does it look good on me?”
She cocked her head to one side. “I think red’s more your color.”
“Then I’ll ditch it.” Combing his fingers through his hair, he dislodged the flower, plus a few pieces of grass.
“Where’s your hat?”
“Somewhere in the area, I suppose.” He glanced around and finally spied it upside down about ten feet away, among the prairie grass and wildflowers. He went after it, dusted it off and settled it on his head. “Time to mount up.”
She handed him Destiny’s reins. “We can go back, if you want.”
He climbed back up and settled gingerly into the saddle. “I’ll leave that up to you. Are you still interested in a guy who falls off his horse and ends up with flowers in his hair?”
“Yes.”
He glanced at her and discovered she was smiling. “You are?”
“Absolutely. Some guys I know wouldn’t have been able to handle being humiliated like that.”
He laughed. “Humiliated?”
“Well, yeah. You were thrown from your horse while you were trying to show off for me, and then I had to recapture that horse so you wouldn’t be on foot. Some men would deal with that by retreating to their man cave to nurse their damaged egos.”
“Then I guess those guys have never dropped the ball for what would have been a game-winning out in the World Series. Try being humiliated in front of millions on national TV. This is chicken feed compared to that.”
“Then lead the way to the trees, Mr. Carswell. But maybe we should walk the horses.”
“Don’t worry. I’m all about walking. In fact, I’m letting you lead.”
“But you have the map.”
“We don’t need a map. We aren’t going any farther than that line of trees.” He wasn’t going to admit that his backside probably couldn’t take more riding than that. But he could think of one thing that would make all his aches and pains disappear.
“Okay, I’ll go first then.” She pointed Cici down the trail and gave her a nudge.
Destiny fell in behind the mare, and Logan realized that from this angle he could watch Caro’s cute fanny in the saddle and contemplate the joys he might find at the end of the trail. As an added bonus, she wouldn’t be able to observe him shifting around as he tried to find a comfortable spot that didn’t press on his bruised behind.
She’d already decided he shouldn’t have sex that put pressure on his knees. If she thought he couldn’t lie on his back without pain, they’d be even more limited in their choice of positions. Sometimes she was too caring for his own good.
“I’ve been thinking about that cradle you’re making,” she said. “Do you suppose Josie would like a baby quilt to go with it?”
“Why, do you have one?”
“I have some quilt squares and I could make one that size. I’ve been wondering what to give her for the baby, but for some reason I didn’t think of that.”
“You’re a quilter?”
“I haven’t sewn for months, but yes, I’m a quilter. My grandmother taught me how.”
“Did you make the one on your bed?”
“Yep.”
“Nice.” He would always treasure the image of her sitting up in bed with the quilt over her lap. He liked knowing she’d made it. “I suppose you don’t have time to do that these days.”
“I don’t, but I would create the time if I thought it was important enough. But I don’t know what I’d do with the quilts. I have enough for myself and for Grandma Bonnie. She said the same thing when she stopped quilting. After you’ve given one to each of the people you know and love, what do you do with the excess?”
“Sell them?”
“Maybe, but I’m not sure I’d want to mass-produce them for strangers, any more than you’d want to mass-produce furniture.”
“I get that.” He thought about the problem. “But do you enjoy making them?”
“I do. I love finding interesting scraps of fabric, and some of the patterns are breathtaking. There’s real satisfaction in putting together a quilt that will keep someone warm and be beautiful at the same time.”
“I used to feel that way about woodworking. I made things that looked good but served a function.”
“But then you run out of people to give them to.”
“I know.” But he had a sudden picture of a home filled with his furniture and her quilts. A home made for a family, something he hadn’t allowed himself to think about while he was totally focused on baseball.
He wasn’t focused on baseball now. Did that mean he was ready for a wife and family? No. He needed to find a purpose in life before he brought another person into his. Being a husband and father was an appealing possibility, more so now than ever, but it wasn’t enough to fill his days.
“How far into the trees do you want to ride?”
He glanced around in surprise. Looking back down the trail, he could see that they’d entered the stand of trees some time ago. Apparently he’d been thinking so hard about quilts and furniture and families that he hadn’t noticed.
“Here.” He caught sight of a little glen to the right. “Over in that clearing.”
“All right.” Caro guided Cici off the trail, and the horse’s hooves crunched on leaves and twigs that had fallen to the forest floor. As Caro dismounted, her denim jeans stretched tight across her bottom.
Logan forgot all about families and furniture, although he wouldn’t mind having a fluffy quilt right now to spread on the ground. He steered Destiny toward a sturdy-looking tree and climbed down. “I’m tying this horse up good and tight.”
“Glad to hear it.” Caro secured Cici’s reins around a leafy branch, then walked toward him. “Got snacks?”
He turned. He hadn’t meant to grab her, but he must have, because her hat fell off and she squealed as he pulled her into his arms. “I’ve been waiting so long,” he offered by way of apology, before he crushed her to him and claimed her mouth.
Somewhere in the middle of that hot kiss he lost his hat, too. He barely noticed as they began undressing each other with frantic movements and labored breathing. Soon his shirt was on the ground, along with her shirt and bra.
“Blanket?” she asked between kisses.
“Tablecloth.” He fondled her breasts. He’d wanted a blanket but hadn’t figured out how to take one along without arousing suspicion.
“Never mind.” She unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans.
Once she had her hands on his cock, he went a little crazy. He wasn’t a back-her-up-against-a-tree kind of guy, but that’s exactly what he did. A large pine was handy, and he leaned her against it as he fumbled for the condom in his pocket— while she caressed him with those clever hands of hers until he had to beg her to stop.
“Don’t you like it?” she asked in a breathless whisper.
“I love it. But I want to be inside you when I come.” He snapped the condom into place and slid both hands under her bare bottom. He wasn’t sure exactly when she’d kicked off her boots and jeans, but they were lying next to the tree instead of covering her body, and for that he was grateful. “Put your hands on my shoulders, and when I lift you, wrap your legs around my waist.”
“You can hold me up?”
“I can bench-press two hundred pounds. Do you weigh more than that?”
She scowled at him.
“I can hold you up.” He leaned forward and nibbled at her mouth. “Open for me, Caro. Let me in.” He boosted her to the level of his waiting cock, and she spread her thighs and wound her legs around him.
One thrust and he was golden. She’d paved the way for him with enough moisture to make that slide easy and smooth. Once he was locked in tight, he sighed with pleasure. “Perfect.”
“Yeah….” She leaned her head against the tree trunk.
“Arch your back. I don’t want you to get scratched up.”
She looked into his eyes with a sultry expression. “As if I care.”
“I care. Arch your back. Move your hips toward…me.” He sucked in a breath when she thrust her pelvis more forcefully against his. The contact was intense enough to nearly make him explode.
She ran her tongue over her lips. “How’s that?”
“Incredible. I could come right now, just looking at you.”
“I think I could, too.” She contracted her muscles around him.
His penis twitched in response. He gripped her satiny bottom, squeezing gently. “Keep doing that and I won’t have to move at all.”
“That would be cool, if we could just—” she tightened her muscles again “—do this.”
“We can. I’m close.”
Her breathing was shallow. “Me, too.”
“I love it when you come. Your eyes get dark, and then I feel you squeeze me…like that…do it again…yeah …” He was slowly losing his mind, and yet they were barely moving. No thrusting, no pumping, no gymnastics, and yet his climax edged closer each time she squeezed his penis.
Then she began to improvise. Taking one hand from his shoulder, she reached down and massaged his balls. “How’s that?”
He groaned with pleasure.
She toyed with him some more until he began to quiver. “Not much longer.”
She transferred her attention to her clit, caressing herself with slow circles of her finger.
“I like that, too,” he murmured. “You’re holding me tighter and tighter.”
“Because I’m …” She moaned softly. “I’m coming… I’m—”
Her contractions rolled over his cock, coaxing him, taunting him, until he also came in a rush, jerking with the force of it, and throwing back his head with a low cry of ecstasy.
Legs braced, he somehow managed to stay upright and hold on to her as their tremors gradually subsided. Slowly, he brought his head forward again and met her gaze. She seemed as dazed as he was. Exciting as this had been, they both needed a bed in which to recover, but he didn’t have one. He had a tablecloth and a couple of saddle blankets.
It would have to do. “Can you stand here for just a little while?”
Her smile was lopsided. “Maybe.”
He gently lowered her feet to the ground and reached for his shirt. Draping it around her shoulders, he gave her a quick kiss. “Wait here. I won’t take long.”
Picking up his jeans, he disposed of the condom by wrapping it in his handkerchief. After that he approached the two saddled horses. Although he knew next to nothing about saddles, the cinch seemed no more complicated than a belt.
And he was a man on a mission, determined to provide for his lover. In a relatively short time he’d pulled off both saddles and placed the blankets on the ground with the side that had touched the horses on the bottom.
Then he pulled the red-and-white-checker tablecloth out of the saddlebag containing the snacks. He thought they needed rest more than food right now. The makeshift bed finished, he returned for Caro and led her to the tree-shaded bower he’d prepared.
She didn’t question or protest as he drew her down with him. After some maneuvering,
they were settled on the nubby blankets, Caro lying with her back to him and her knees drawn up, Logan curled protectively around her.
Last of all he spread the tablecloth over both of them, stretched out his arm and urged her to use it as a pillow. She must have been too exhausted to argue, because she cuddled against him and fell fast asleep. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he held Caro close.
As he drifted off to sleep, Logan realized he’d never been happier in his life.
9
CARO WOKE UP TO THE SOUND of birds chirping in the branches over her head. For a moment she was totally disoriented and couldn’t imagine where she was. Then she felt Logan’s arm around her and his warm body pressed against her back.
Oh, yes. She’d ridden out here with this hunky, conflicted man and they’d been so desperate for sex that they’d done it up against a pine tree. She’d never been that wild and crazy with a guy, but Logan seemed to bring out all her hidden fantasies. No wonder. The arm draped around her was beautifully sculpted, and the rest of his body was the same.
But her reaction to him was about more than his physical attributes. He needed her. Through example, Grandma Bonnie had taught her the joy and satisfaction of being there for a person in need.
Logan was going through a dark period in his life, and he needed someone to help him deal with his demons. She could help. She’d never lost a career, but she’d lost her mother at the tender age of twelve.
She didn’t kid herself that this was a lasting attraction. He’d figure out his next steps and be on his way. She would have served her purpose, that of being a bridge over troubled waters. She was okay with that.
Or mostly okay. The longer she was with him, the more she began to dream. But he wasn’t for her, and she knew it. He’d find a career that would put him in the limelight again, and he wouldn’t find that career in Shoshone, Wyoming.
He nuzzled the back of her neck. “You awake?”
“Uh-huh.”
“That was the last condom, I hate to say. I couldn’t come up with a way to get more without causing a stir in the community. Something tells me that if I drove into town and bought a box, the word would be out before I was halfway back to the Last Chance turnoff.”
Cowboys Like Us Page 8