ROMANCE: WESTERN ROMANCE: The Secret Cowboy (BWWM Billionaire Interracial Multicultural Romance) (Contemporary Steamy Western Short Stories)

by Debbie Gordon

  Chapter Four

  Mary Lou lost track of time as they rode. They rode for in silence, except for Devin giving brief instructions every now and again. She had gotten the hang of horse riding and was manoeuvring Lucy like a pro. Mary Lou gazed out at the miles and mile of grass terrain surrounding them. It looked like a something out of a painting, paintings that she always spent time admiring and wishing she was a part of the work of art. But she didn’t have to wish right now, she was here and she was grateful to Yvonne for practically forcing her to accept the raffle ticket prize.

  She never experienced this kind of calm in Detroit. It was all big city hustle and bustle, people rushing from one destination to the next, not even slowing down for a minute to appreciate their surroundings, to appreciate life. For her it was an everyday routine of waking up, going to a job that she really didn’t enjoy, going home to a lonely apartment, and doing it all over the next day. But in this moment, on top of this horse, taking in the beauty and quiet around her, she let go of the city and her boring, lonely life. As a sense of peace washed over her, a broad smile broke on her face. Daringly, Mary let go of the horse’s reigns, opened her arms wide, tilted her head skyward and soaked in the late afternoon sun, as a light breeze caressed her face. She sighed in momentary contentment.

  But the thought that this peace was only temporary crept into her mind, jolting her back to reality. Though the beautiful surroundings remained intact, far gone from her mind was the calm and content that she had too briefly experienced. Now all she could think about was returning to her life in Detroit in just a matter of days, a life that in a moment of illumination, she just realized that she hated. Despair abruptly assailed her entire being, but she dismissed it as fast as it had appeared.

  Devin was paying no attention to the world around him. He was wholly focused on the interesting woman riding beside him. It was like she forgot that he was there and was engulfed her own private world. When she opened her arms wide and looked skyward, he saw her as a goddess beckoning to the sun. She remained completely silent, but he noticed the series expressions that flitted across her pretty face. Wonder, happiness, longing, peace, and then sadness. He felt his hear squeeze in his chest at her forlorn expression, whishing he could take her into his arms and kiss her worries away.

  He frowned inwardly, taken aback by his own thoughts. Since when did he care about taking a woman’s worries away? Since Mary Lou Carpenter had landed and disrupted his life, that’s when, he answered his own question. This was not something that he was use to feeling at all. The women he usually encountered were money hungry barracudas who mostly just slept with him in hopes of getting one foot closer in to the marriage bed, and closer to his fortune. But Mary Lou was different, she was aware that he was a wealthy man, but she didn’t seem to give a damn. She was just absorbed in admiring the beauty around her. She was a strange, yet refreshing entity to him.

  Devin glanced at his watch. Wow it was half past four already. It was full time for them to stop and eat and allow the horses to rest. He decide that they could ride a little bit further, he knew the perfect the perfect spot under a huge willow tree a little further up. Before he had purchased the land to build the guest ranch, he drove out here to examine the land many times, so knew the vast area like the back of his hand.

  “We can stop a little further up ahead to grab a bite and allow the horses to rest a bit”, Devon shouted to Mary Lou whose horse he realized had gotten quite ahead of his while he had been lost in contemplation.

  Mary Lou turned her head and smiled at him, not looking where her horse was stepping. “Sounds great”, she shouted back. “I’m so hungry I could-

  Before she could finish her statement both she and Lucy went tumbling down. Mary Lou let out shrilling scream before she hit the ground. Devin watched in horror as woman and horse went down, he was too far away to do anything. “Mary Lou!” he shouted her name as he pressed stallion to gallop ahead. He prayed that she was unhurt. As he neared the scene he saw Lucy attempting get up snorting and nursing her left hind leg. He looked around frantically for Mary; he spotted her lying face down and motionless a little distance away from her horse.

  He jumped off his horse and sprinted to her. “Talk to me Mary, please tell me you’re alright” he said anxiously.

  Mary Lou groaned loudly “Ouch! Devin? What the hell just happened?” she asked softly, slightly lifting her head to look up at him. Devin seized her shoulders and helped her to turn her to sit up. He spotted a small abrasion on the left side of her forehead. He ran his fingers through her hair and down her body. “What are you doing?” she asked feeling a bit hot and bothered with his hands roaming over her body.

  “Checking for any more injuries” he said gruffly. Damn it Mary, I almost had heart attack when I saw you lying on the ground, not moving.” He blew out a breath “A man’s hear can only take so much.”

  Mary Lou was touched by the concern that filled his eyes. “Thanks for your concern, but I’m ok, really. I just got the wind knocked out of me that’s all” she said while examining the bruises on her hands. In the split second that her horse had gone down, she had instinctively reached out her hands to try and break her fall. She still doesn’t know what happened to cause the accident. “Oh no, Lucy!” she cried. “Is she alright?”

  She was startled when Devin suddenly scooped her up in his arms. “It looks as if she injured a leg” he answered. “I haven’t examined her yet; I had to make sure you were ok first.” He strode effortlessly with her in his arms.

  Mary Lou was painfully aware of her body pressed against his larger, much harder frame. Oh boy she thought, she had to put some distance between them now. Her breath quickened and she could swear she felt her panty getting a little wet. “Devin, please put me down I can walk” she half whispered breathlessly.

  He looked down at her with a small frown “Are you sure?” he asked.

  She nodded, struggling to get her words out “I’m sure. I can manage, I promise. Go check on Lucy.”

  He hesitated but slowly put her down. His hands remained on her shoulders, making sure she was steady as her feet were planted back on the ground. He stared at her for a few seconds as if he wanted to say something, but he remained silent, turned away from her and made his way to the injured horse. Mary Lou let out a breath and rubbed the back of her neck, wondering why Devin affected her so much. Just a simple touch and she last all senses. He returned to her a few minutes later, wearing a grim expression “Lucy has broken a leg” he told her.

  “Oh no!” she cried in dismay. “It’s all my fault. Did I do something wrong? I shouldn’t have gone so far ahead of you.” She dropped her head in her hands “I’m so stupid, I should have been paying more attention. I’m so sorry Devin.”

  He cupped her chin and angled her face so that she was staring in her eyes “Hey, it wasn’t your fault, her left hind leg somehow got caught in a hole , which was completely obscured by grass there’s no way you could have seen it, so stop beating yourself up.”

  “What do we do now? She asked.

  “I’m going see if I can get someone out here with to carry Lucy back to the ranch” he answered. Whipping out his cell he dialled but the call would go through. He glanced at his phone screen “Shit, no reception here.” We will have to walk a bit, we’ll head back in the direction of the ranch, and hopefully cell reception will improve. You can ride my horse and I’ll walk.”

  Mary Lou eyed the intimidating black stallion nervously “Um, its ok I have no problem walking.”

  They set off into the direction of the ranch, Lucy hoping on three legs. Devin glanced at his watch; they had been walking for about fifteen minutes now. He hopped it wouldn’t be too long before he could get in touch with someone soon. He gazed upward, the darkening skies made him uncomfortable, he hadn’t bothered to check the forecast before they left out because he was certain they would be out for too long. He mentally kicked himself, he should have known better. He was well aware that any
thing could happen on the nature tours and he should have been fully prepared for any situation. There was nothing he could now, but make the best of the situation and get his guest back to the safety of the ranch. When it was evident that the clouds were going to burst open at minute, He made the quick decision to find shelter. They had passed an old ranch camp earlier on, it was still miles away from the guest ranch but it would provide them with shelter.

  “It looks like it’s going to rain, let’s try to make it to the old ranch camp before it starts” Devin informed Mary Lou.

  “Yea” Mary Lou said looking up at the sky “the rain clouds are rolling in. Ranch camp, is that the area we passed earlier on with the bunch of old tent looking things?”

  He smiled at her description of the ranch camp. “Yup, ranch camps are used for cattle drives. I’m sure we can find a decent tent for shelter there.”

  As they walked, Devin had to admit to himself that he was impressed with Mary Lou; she was being a real trouper about this entire situation. He noticed her slight limp and grimace from earlier on, it was clear that she had been injured more than she had let on; but she didn’t say a word, so neither did he; he understood the need to hang on to one’s pride sometimes. She marched on quietly like a soldier and when he had mention taking shelter at the ranch camp she didn’t she freak out like he expected a city girl would. She was taking it all in stride.

  The scattered tents came into view a few minutes later. Mary Lou was incredibly relieved. It had started to drizzle by the time they got there, she didn’t even care about getting wet, and she just wanted to sit down somewhere, anywhere. She had never walked this much in her life, and her right leg was giving her hell. She had injured it during her fall, but hadn’t mentioned it because it wasn’t a big deal plus she had wanted Devin to focus on the horse’s broken leg. But boy was she feeling it now; she needed to sit before she dropped.

  She silently watched as Devin examined an A-shaped tent made of tarpaulin, finding it in decent shape he opened the flaps at the front and covered the ground with the blanket they had bought for their picnic. He signalled her to enter and left to tend to the horses. He walked them over to a large tree he figured could provide them with some semblance of shelter and tied them there. He tried his cell again, still no reception. His mood was darkening more and more by the minute; it looked like they were going to have to spend the entire night out here. He went back to the tent as the rain started to pour down. He entered the tent in a sour mood. Mary Lou was disappointed at the sight of the scowl on his face, the scowl he had sported when they had met for the first time. She tried to cut through the mounting tension in the tent. “So, how about that picnic now? I’m starving.”

  He handed her the basket. “Sure, help yourself” he said gruffly.

  Mary Lou took a sandwich out of the zip-lock bad and offered it to Devin, He reluctantly accepted. They eat for a few minutes in silence as the rain poured down outside. “You know, I have never been camping before. I can totally count this as my first camping experience, you know sleeping in a tent, on the ground, with the bugs”, she said looking at Devin with a smile hoping to lighten his mood. She continued “This isn’t half bad, hell it’s even kind of cosy in here, at least we’re staying nice and dry.” She got no response from Devin, she felt like an idiot babbling on and on. “Hello, earth to Devin.”

  He sighed and threw her an annoyed glance “I’m glad one of is enjoying the experience” he snapped.

  Mary inhaled sharply, holding on to her temper by a short leash. “What the hell is your problem?”

  “What’s my problem?” he asked incredulously. He waved both hands in the air, “Everything! This entire day has been a, Miss Carpenter. First, I’m forced to pick you up at the airport. Then I had to cancel very important business meetings to spend the day entertaining you, because everyone that I have employed is completely irresponsible. Now, here we are stranded miles away from the ranch, forced to sleep on the ground in a tent. So excuse me for being a little pissed.”

  Mary could no longer restrain her growing anger. “Oh, so all of this is my fault? Look, Mr. Copper, I didn’t ask to win a stupid contest, I didn’t ask for you to pick me up at the damn airport, I didn’t ask you take me out to the middle of nowhere; I was perfectly fine relaxing in my cabin. Ok?” She took a breath and continued her rant “I certainly didn’t ask to be thrown of a horse, almost breaking my neck and I didn’t ask to be stuck here in this crappy tent with you. So, if you’re going to play the blame game, leave me out of it mister.”

  She scrambled out of the tent to get away from him before she socked him the head with the damn picnic basket. Devin followed after her. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

  “Far away, from you” she hissed vehemently. Mary Lou stomped off. Luckily the heavy rain had developed into a light drizzle. She was still getting a little wet and her thick curls were going to rebel when dried, but she didn’t care, she just wanted to get away from the man who could so easily get her riled up. It was totally out of character for her to argue with anyone, she was always quiet and mousey, letting people walk all over her. But no way was she going to accept the blame for his shitty day.

  Good lord, Devin Cooper was one mercurial individual. One minute he was angry and rude, the next he was sweet, charming, tender, then he was pure heat and passion, and then right back to rude and angry. What annoyed the hell out of her even more than his mood swings was the fact that she was helplessly attracted to him no matter what mood he was in. What was the matter with her? Who was she kidding? There is no way she could win man like Devin Cooper; she might as well put the idea out of her completely. Memories of their shared kiss in the stable and how he couldn’t pull away from her fast enough, assailed her. Her eyes welled with tears she refused to shed.

  She sniffed a few times, looking around her. It suddenly occurred to her that she had no idea where she was or how far from the tent she had wondered. She had been so angry and hurt that she had just walked aimlessly into the night. Oh, this is just perfect, now I’m lost. Could this night get any worse? Mary Lou heard shuffling coming from the bushed to her left and stiffened, eyes going wide. Apparently it could get worse, now she had to worry about being eaten by wild animals. Peering into the bushes obscured by the night, she squinted trying to see what was hiding behind it. Please let it be squirrel or a cute little rabbit, she mentally pleaded.

  Her prayer was not answered. To her horror a coyote stepped out from behind the bush. She slowly backed away, surprised that her legs could still support her, seeing as her entire body was shaking like a leaf. Each backward step she took, he stalked her, eyes focused solely on its prey. Without her even realizing, four more of the feral animals strode out in to the open. She was surrounded. Mary stood her ground, not because of bravery but because she was paralysed with absolute fear. Why hadn’t she been paying attention to how far she was straying from the camp? Now, she was going to die a gruesome death.

  Devin finally spotted Mary Lou. He had big plans to lecture her on her stupidity and recklessness for wondering alone into the night. Although he knew he had hurt her feelings, he still though she would she more sense and just sulk outside the tent, within view. This environment could get very dangerous at night. She was standing with her back to him, as if she was frozen. Why the hell is she just standing there like that? Then, when he got closer he realized. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest when he saw about five coyotes surrounding Mary Lou. He had to think and move quickly before; they decided to make her their main course. He grabbed a handful of stones; the first one he pitched hit one of the animals with a force that sent it to the ground. He threw another, which connected with one more of the animals. The two injured coyotes scampered of whimpering and the rest followed their lead.

  He reached Mary Lou’s side swiftly, He had to get her back to the safety of the tent before the animals decided to come back. She still stood frozen, whimpering, her eyes bright with welled up tear
s. Devin shook her shoulders lightly and she slowly looked at him and blinked, as if only just realizing he was there. “Oh Devin!” she cried throwing herself into his arms “I thought I was going to get eaten. I didn’t know what to do.”

  “You’re ok darlin’, I’ve got you” he reassured. Feeling her shiver, he rubbed his big hands up and down her arms. “Let’s get out of here before they come back.”

  They made their way back to the ranch camp, Mary Lou never letting go of Devin. She was still in shock over her confrontation with the coyotes. She would be forever grateful to Devin for saving her life. Before they entered the tent, Devin looked up and around the camp inhaling sharply, His brows furrowed as he focused ahead of the tent where he had tied the horses. Concerned, Mary Lou followed his gaze, wondering what he was looking for. “What is it?” She asked.

  He glanced down at her replying, “I don’t see the horses at the spot where I tied them earlier.”

  Mary Lou looked at him in confusion, wondering what that could have meant. The horses were missing? They really didn’t need any more bad luck for today; the day had been filled with one mishap after another. Seeing the worried expression on Mary Lou’s face Devin reassured her “The must have just broken loose, while we were gone and wondered off, they probably won’t go far. Anyway we can’t look for them right now, it’s really not safe out here so we are not leaving this tent again until morning” he finished. His gut told him that something wasn’t quite right. If the horses had somehow gotten loosed, the injured horse would have remained within the vicinity of the ranch camp, she couldn’t go far or too fast on her broken. So why were they nowhere in sight? They had not been gone for too long. He kept his concern to himself, not wanting to upset his companion any more than she already was. He would get up early and search for the horses first thing in the morning.