by Janice Olson
“Stay put.” He forced the words through his teeth and noticed her surprise. Yet he didn’t dare soften toward her. “And if you know what’s good for you, you better be right here when I get back.”
Applying slight pressure on the right strap of Sandy’s neck, he gave her a nudge with his boot heel and a clacking sound with his mouth. Sandy danced around before her legs stretched out in long strides flying over the green pasture. With lightning speed she headed toward the caliche road. Jason needed the space and time away from BJ before he strangled her or did something much worse—kissed her.
Whoever had shot Beauregard was long gone. The white plume of dust had already settled out of the air before he was even halfway to the fence. Jason knew there was no use even checking, but right now, he’d do just about anything to distance himself from the ungrateful brat.
Chapter 33
Of all the nerve! Ordering me around like a senseless child.” Her eyes followed Jason as he moved further away from her, her body rigid. “Jason Lynn O’Connell, you’ve got to be the most infuriating person I’ve ever known.” She didn’t yell, though she wanted to, but she did stomp her foot, trampling and squashing the grass beneath her hiking boot.
Her breath caught in her throat. Her anger went flat like a punctured balloon when her photographer’s eye caught the sight of Jason and his horse flying through the air. She stood in the lush field of green and knew there was no way on earth that she’d pass up this opportunity. If she didn’t take advantage of the scene she’d never have the chance to do it again.
Jerking her tripod around, she removed the cap from her camera, making quick adjustments, she focused in on the pair. Horse and rider. Poetry in motion. Magnificent.
Her finger depressed the button and the soft click-click-click-click-click captured the smooth movements of man and his trusty steed. Horse gliding over the turf with graceful movements—smooth, effortless, and emanating power.
Jason’s controlled actions, the bare touch of his heel, the drag of the rein against the horse’s neck, the slight pressure of his knee, all silent messages received and acted upon by the horse, but barely perceptible to the naked eye. Her camera caught it all.
Pure ecstasy. There was no other word to describe her excitement, nor the adrenaline pumping through her veins. Only another photographer could know what she felt at this moment. Each frame told a tale. Cowboy and steed inseparable … working together as one, gliding above the ground, flying over the mundane … untouched.
Not interested where he was heading or what he was up to, she continued to follow the progress of her wonderful subjects with each click—the Texas cowboy at his best, the filly in graceful splendor. The camera caught Jason in midair, jumping off his horse before the roan had completely stopped.
She grinned, knowing, without having to look at the shots, these would become some of the best pictures of her career. Her finger released the button. Shielding her eyes with her hand she watched Jason advance toward the gate. He pulled on the sturdy chain and lock then walked over to some bushes on the left side of the road.
She used her lens for a close up.
His head angled downward as though searching the ground for something. The toe of his boot shifted and moved through the dirt. He stooped, picked up something white, then slipped it into his shirt pocket before looking back at BJ. No doubt checking to make sure she had obeyed his command to stay put.
Grabbing the reins of his patient horse, he swung back into the saddle riding off toward the bull that had chased her earlier.
BJ, glued to the camera again, clicked away as she followed the lone rider’s progress. She couldn’t believe the wonderful action shots she would have at the end of the day.
Sliding from the saddle, Jason approached the bull slow and methodical. She could see his lips moving and wished she could hear what he was saying to the big bull with horns that spanned the width of the monster’s length.
While he talked, he ran his hand over the muzzle, along the stately neck, then over the rump of the huge animal. The bull relished his touch, much like she had earlier in his arms.
Stop that!
She shoved the feelings from her mind and continued to take pictures until his horse stopped right in front of her, his gaze perturbed.
Looking up at Jason, for some reason she felt guilty. “I haven’t moved. I’m still right where you dropped me.” She placed the cap on her lens, smiling.
“Hope you got some good pictures.” His glare put her off kilter. Probably didn’t like being photographed. Well, that’s too bad.
“That camera nearly cost you your life, you know. You wouldn’t be smiling now if your head had been stomped into the ground by my bull.”
She didn’t like the graphic picture he’d painted in her mind. Still sitting on the horse, she had to crank her neck back hard to look up at him. The glare from the sun made it difficult to see his face without shielding her eyes. Even then his face was shadowed by his brim.
Hoping to soften his mood and stop her nervous reaction, she smiled and said, “Sure did.”
“Don’t ever do such a foolhardy thing again. Coming into a pasture where there are longhorns is downright stupid unless you know what you’re doing. If you do it again, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself for the consequences.”
“Well, let’s see.” She gave a short laugh. “If I’d been trampled to death, which I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be alive to blame anyone, now would I?”
Jason slipped his right leg over the horn of the saddle, pushed his hat back slightly, this time she could see the thirst for blood—hers—in his eyes. “I won’t come down off this saddle for fear of what I might do to you at this moment. But let me tell you, BJ, it’s no joking matter what Beauregard could have done to you if I hadn’t been riding over that hill just now.” He gave a quick jerk of his head back in the general direction he had come from earlier.
BJ couldn’t keep the laughter from spilling over. “Beauregard?” She laughed some more. “You named a bull Beauregard? Jason. Really.” She placed her hands on her hips. She could tell he was doing his best not to grin, but it was there lurking in his eyes.
“I didn’t. My foreman’s six-year-old grandson did. I didn’t have the heart to tell him no self-respecting bull would be called Beauregard. But after a few times, it just seemed to fit the old boy.” He looked over his shoulder at his cattle. The grand sire and his harem had moved further on up the hill.
Watching Jason, BJ formed the words in her mind before speaking them. “I am truly sorry. The bull looked harmless enough.”
“He generally is.”
“Well, please accept my apology. And I want to thank you for what you did. You were a true knight come to my rescue.” She smiled up at him. “If you hadn’t come along …”
“Apology accepted. But in the future, be more careful.”
“Yes, sir. The bull … Beauregard—” She couldn’t help it, she chuckled again. “—he was friendly and didn’t seem to object until I walked away. I don’t know what happened.” She spied a glint in Jason’s face.
“Might have thought you were one of his heifers and he didn’t want you to get away. Bulls are funny like that.”
“You’re impossible.” She dimpled up at him then looked away remembering who he was—a married man.
“Listen, BJ. I don’t know what happened a few minutes ago. But you need to understand something. These are animals, wild, untamed, generally harmless, but nonetheless, the emphasis on the wild.” He let out an audible breath. “Next time, make sure you contact me when you want to take pictures on my land or you may not be so lucky. If you give me a day’s notice of when you’re coming, I or one of my ranch hands will ride along with you to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
“Thanks, Jason, I’ll do that.” She glanced back at the gate and motioned. “What did you pick up back there?”
“Nothing.” He avoided her eyes.
She knew he was lying, but
she didn’t press the issue. She closed her tripod.
“By the way, I checked the padlock.” This time his eyes pinned her. “It was locked.”
“I know. I slipped through the bars of the gate.” She raised her brows, a grin on her lips. “Quite easily I might add.”
The scowl he offered didn’t quite match the sparkle in his eyes. “Don’t do it again.” He shifted in the saddle. “I may lease this land from the estate, but while I do, don’t come on the property unless you tell me first. Didn’t you see the no trespassing sign posted by the gate?”
BJ bristled then realized she had no right.
“To tell the truth, no I didn’t. But next time I’ll look more closely.”
“Forgive me if I sound short. But I’m just thinking about your safety. Nothing more.” His concern etched in his face.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
He slung his leg back into the stirrup. “Hand me your tripod and hop on up behind me. I’ll take you over to Fielder’s Pond.”
She gave him a questioning look.
“That’s where you were headed, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. But …” She took a look at the horse and shook her head. “I’ll walk. I like walking.”
“What’s the matter, you scared?” He watched her closely.
“I’ve never ridden a horse before.” She stepped back, distancing herself from the animal.
The rumbling laughter turned her insides out and brought on a renewal of the feelings she’d had in his arms earlier.
“Never?” Disbelief in his look.
When she shook her head, he laughed louder. Jason’s unguarded moment gave her another jolt. She didn’t realize how much she’d missed the sound of his laughter until this minute. “Nope.” Trying for lighthearted and natural, she added. “Never.”
“Come on. Sandy’s gentle.” He motioned for her to come closer.
Sandy did a side step.
BJ shook her head.
“I’ll take care of you, I promise. I won’t let you fall.”
His mischievous grin had her wonder about his vow of safety.
“And Sandy is as gentle as a baby.” He patted the horse on the neck. Sandy stomped her foot and blew out through her nose and mouth, making a fluttery sound.
Apparently, Sandy liked his touch. The horse made that fluttery noise again. She shook her head, her reddish-brown mane waved in the breeze. “Her ride is like a rocking chair, smooth and easy.”
Jason stretched his hand down toward BJ. “Give me your tripod.”
She hesitated before handing him her equipment. He shifted the tripod to the other side, then reached out toward her again.
“Give me your hand. Place your left foot in the stirrup and then sling your leg over Sandy’s rump. Sit just behind the saddle on the blanket.”
His calm voice and reassuring smile gave BJ courage to do what she thought impossible. Her trip up and on the back of the horse took three tries, but on the second one her leg swung up and over Sandy’s rump. BJ straddled the roan directly behind Jason feeling a little unstable. The ground looked a long way down from on top of the horse. But Sandy’s wide rump gave BJ a little confidence that she could stay where perched.
“Now put your arms around my waist, just like you would if you were going for a ride on a motorcycle.”
“But I’ve never ridden on a motorcycle.”
She heard him groan and would bet he’d even rolled his eyes.
“Just put your arms …”
“Okay, okay.” BJ slipped her hands around his rock hard stomach. The jolt of touching him so intimately made her wish she’d taken the opportunity to go back to her Jeep instead.
Jason clicked his tongue. Sandy gave a jerk before she started off at a trot, startling BJ.
BJ gripped Jason’s shirt. She tried to lean away from him but found it impracticable. Sandy’s gait had BJ bumping Jason’s back with every swing of a hoof.
Another rumble of laughter came from her riding partner, but this time she could feel the rumble seep into her bones.
“You better hold on to more than my shirt if you don’t want to be lying on the ground.” Again the laughter. “I won’t bite … I promise.”
The smile in his voice and the need to be practical made her relax. Her arms slid around his stomach and she held on tight, feeling his stomach muscles tighten. With survival mode in place, BJ worked to protect her heart.
“Hold on tight. I’m going to take her into a canter.”
She did as she was told—grabbing Jason’s hard abs. The speed of the horse increased and it was for certain, she would have bounced right off the backend if she hadn’t been hanging on to Jason for dear life. Somewhere between where she’d gotten on Sandy and before they reached the pond, she forgot her fear, relaxed, and moved with the steady, smooth rhythm of the horse.
This was not good. She was melting but not from the sun. The warmth of his back, the smell of the outdoors mixed with leather, horse, and Jason’s spicy cologne was a heady mixture, one she couldn’t resist. She breathed in deeply. If she survived this ride, she promised herself she’d walk the whole way back before she’d get on the horse behind Jason again.
Chapter 34
All she expected from Jason was a ride over to Fielder’s Pond and to be dropped off and left there. But he insisted on hanging around while she took pictures. His excuse, to ensure she got to her car in one piece.
He led Sandy to the pond. And after she had her fill of the water, Jason walked her over to a grassy spot under a tree before dropping the reins and sitting down. “You take your time. I’ll be right here in the shade catching a much needed siesta.”
BJ looked in the direction of her Jeep. The thing wasn’t more than a half mile away, next to nothing to walk. She glanced back at Jason. “Look, really, I can walk back from here. And the cattle have already moved on over the hill.”
For an answer, Jason gave a grunt as he adjusted his back against the trunk, stretching his long legs out in front of him, ankles crossed. He pulled his hat down over his face, and didn’t move. Sandy, content to wait patiently, chomped on grass nearby, a sure sign that neither man nor beast was going anywhere soon.
Being summarily dismissed, BJ moved toward the pond looking for an interesting angle to photograph. Fond memories spent here with friends and Jason seemed like only yesterday.
She moved about taking pictures and when done, walked over to nudge Jason. Inside the peripheral of the shade, ten or so feet away, BJ stood, careful not to wake him. Yet she couldn’t resist taking photos of the sleeping cowboy—hat on his lap, eyes closed.
Scrutinizing his familiar face, the relaxed features spoke of a younger Jason, the Jace that had once been her dearest friend. The same one she fell in love with as an idealistic adolescent … before Sheriff Doggett ran her out of town. But that was then and this was now.
If Jason wasn’t married she might have worked through her insecurities and stigma of her birth. The two of them might have had a chance. But now impossible.
The dark circles around his eyes told of sleepless nights. What weren’t visible were his harsh lines, stern looks, and the straight, uncompromising tight lips directed at her.
One by one, she compared the older Jason with what she remembered about the younger. His soft, half-smile told her he could still enjoy life. The slight darkening of his nine o’clock shadow looked good on the angled plains of his cleft and jaw, but also meant he was a man, not a boy any longer. And there was something vulnerable about him, a deep wound still festering. As she witnessed in Horace T’s office, she didn’t think he would be quick to place trust.
She took some more photos as she allowed her gaze a few more moments to wander freely over the unguarded face of her one-time sweetheart. Whether out of curiosity or to understand more about the man, she didn’t know.
A change in his feature alerted BJ he was awake and watching her through his lashes.
“See anything you like?” The
laughter in his voice caught her off guard. He looked back at her through lazy, half-closed eyes. His appeal stronger than ever.
Feeling ashamed at being caught, she hurriedly glanced away. “I’m finished. We can go now.” Her breathless words rushed out through tight vocal folds.
When she heard a stretching groan and a yawning noise, she couldn’t help herself. She glanced back at Jason.
Arms outstretched, he rotated his shoulders and arched his back. Jason was the epitome of unadulterated manhood that sparked a desire and a craving so deep she shuddered at the yearning.
Ashamed of her thoughts, BJ tried to reason them away. As an artist wouldn’t she notice these things on other people … men … Jason? Yeah. Of course she would. But not with such a hunger.
Jason shoved his hat on, leapt to his feet, swiped at the back of his jeans, before grabbing Sandy’s reins. The moment of discomfort gone.
BJ, amazed at how quick and easily he could move and hop into the saddle, wondered how he learned to do it so effortlessly.
“Let’s go. Time’s a wasting.” His voice impatient, he reached for her tripod, then her hand, pulling her up behind him. This time it took her only one try to get on the back of the horse. She was barely settled on Sandy’s rump before the horse took off at a trot.
“Did you get all the shots you were wanting?”
Flustered, it took her moment to realize he was talking about the pond, not him. “Yes. Got some good pictures that may be Texas Highways worthy. Of course I’ll have to write a short article to send along with the prints. Hopefully, they accept my proposal.”
“You write?” His words registered shock.
“Don’t sound so surprised. I write if I want to sell pictures to magazines.” She wasn’t about to brag that for the last three years running Texas Highways had bought a minimum of three of her shoots and articles per year, which added to her income quite nicely.