Wilde Thing

by Jannine Gallant

  When Tripp settled his hand on her shoulder, she leaned against him. “I’m in Wyoming with a…client, but we head to Colorado tomorrow.”

  “Wyoming…” Her mother’s voice sharpened. “Are you at that damned ranch? I swear, you give those Wilde people more of your time and consideration than the mother who raised you. I—”

  “Mom, I have to go. I’m sorry I’ll miss your visit to Tahoe, and I’m even more sorry about Monica, but I won’t change my plans. I’ll talk to you later.” She clicked off the phone and let out a long breath. “Only I’m dumb enough to answer my cell without looking at the display first.”

  Tripp pulled her to her feet. “Is that how you wound up on the other end of a conversation with Vivian?”

  She nodded. “Mother’s pissed because I won’t be on hand to attend Monica’s memorial with her. Lewis is planning it for next week. They had to wait until the police released her body.” She shuddered. “What’s left of her body, I should say.”

  “You’re to blame even though you’re working out of town?”

  “Don’t ask. Mentioning Wyoming really got her going.” She sighed. “Despite the fact that she usually had plans that didn’t include me during my college breaks, knowing I preferred to come here was always a bitter point between us.”

  He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed as he led the way over to the saddled horses. “Didn’t stop you from visiting the ranch, though.”

  “No, I’d learned to stand up for myself by then, but the effort took an emotional toll.”

  “Well, you can let all that negativity float away on a nice, long ride. Bramble and Flint need exercise.”

  “I haven’t been on a horse in years, not since the last time I was here.” She ran a hand down Bramble’s warm neck. When the horse nuzzled her shoulder, she smiled.

  “You don’t forget how to ride. Do you need a boost up?”

  “Nope.” She stuck one booted foot in the stirrup then swung her leg over the gelding’s broad back and gathered the reins. “All set.”

  Tripp patted her thigh as he moved away to mount Flint. They trotted side by side through the corral, the cold wind stinging her cheeks. When they reached the gate, Eden left the Appaloosa she was working with to lift the latch for them.

  “Enjoy your ride.”

  Hannah smiled down. “We will. Looks like you’re making progress with that one.” She nodded toward the spotted mare who regarded them with obvious suspicion.

  Eden’s eyes brightened. “Definitely. She lets me approach her now without running off. Before too much longer, she’ll be ready to send to a good home. I have three others in various stages of training I want to adopt out before spring.”

  Tripp adjusted the brim of his hat. “Why the rush?”

  “The government is planning to thin wild horse herds south of here in a couple of months. The land won’t sustain the numbers in those areas, and I want to take as many as I can.”

  Hannah frowned. “What happens to the ones that don’t get adopted?” Her eyes widened. “They don’t kill them, do they?”

  “No, the horses go to long-term holding facilities, but finding homes with families is a much better option. Most people don’t want an untrained horse, so I do my part to prepare them for adoption.”

  “My little sis never could stand to see an unhappy animal.” Tripp reached down to pat her shoulder then straightened and nudged Flint into motion. “We’ll see you in an hour or so unless we get cold and return sooner.”

  “Sounds good.” With a nod, Eden shut the gate behind them.

  Hannah gave Bramble a gentle kick to catch up and trot by his side. “I know you two have your issues, but your little sis is the best.”

  “You won’t get an argument from me. I know how great she is, but we always squabbled more than she did with Griff or Sawyer, mostly because we were closer in age.” He flashed a grin. “Of course our battles were nothing like what I had with my brothers. We beat the crap out of each other when we were kids. Since I was the youngest, I had to toughen up fast or get clobbered.”

  “I can’t believe your mom let your brothers pick on you.”

  “Oh, I held my own, and more often than not, I was the instigator.”

  Hannah snorted. “Why am I not surprised?”

  “You’re lucky my true peaceful nature shines through when I’m around you. Come on, let’s gallop.”

  Flint took off, and Hannah pressed with her knees and leaned forward to get Bramble moving faster. They flew across the frozen grassland, heading toward the hills to the northwest with Tripp slowly increasing the distance between them. After a while, he slowed to a trot and then stopped to wait for her to catch up.

  He shot her an apologetic glance as he reined in his horse. “Sorry, my need for speed got out of control. I didn’t mean to leave you in the dust.”

  “No dust today. More like ice chips, but that was fun. It sure got my blood pumping.”

  His eyes sparkled. “You should see your cheeks. They’re beet red.”

  “Probably from the windchill. I feel like I’m at the Arctic Circle. Shouldn’t there be polar bears and reindeer roaming around?” Hannah bent low over Bramble to press her face against his steamy, warm withers.

  A crack sounded in the distance, echoing in the cold air, and a puff of wind brushed the back of her neck. She shivered.

  “What the hell?” Tripp spun to look east. “That was a rifle shot. Some freaking idiot poacher must be out hunting. Let’s get out of here. I don’t want to be mistaken for game.”

  Another crack echoed as they set their horses in motion.

  “Shit! Stay low and ride hard. I want to get out of range.”

  Hannah didn’t argue, just followed Tripp as he circled around to the south. She took a quick glance backward. Some sort of vehicle raced across the prairie in the far distance, a tiny dark shadow on the horizon. Facing forward, she dug her heels into Bramble’s sides.

  After endless minutes, Tripp slowed to a walk and waved a hand. “He’s gone. The moron must have realized we saw him and took off in the other direction.”

  She let out a breath as her pounding heart slowed. “Was that guy driving a pickup? I didn’t notice any roads.”

  “Because there aren’t any. I’m pretty sure he was riding an ATV. I’ll call the game warden when we get back. This isn’t hunting season.”

  “You’re sure he was a hunter?”

  “Poachers turn out this time a year, hoping to take down an elk or a deer to fill their depleted freezers. I saw movement in the trees at the base of the mountain that might have been elk. Did you see them?”

  “Afraid not. I was too busy trying to keep up with you.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that.” He turned to scan the horizon. “I’m just surprised the poacher risked hunting in broad daylight and took a shot from such a distance instead of trying to get closer.”

  Hannah frowned. “If we could see him, wouldn’t he be able to see us? He’d have to be blind as a bat to mistake us for game.”

  “We were stopped when the first shot was fired. Easy pickings for an experienced hunter packing a rifle with a scope. I doubt he was shooting in our direction. More likely, the idiot was aiming toward the hills, but I wasn’t taking any chances, just in case he was drunk and simply shooting at anything that moved.”

  “Unless he was aiming at us but missed because he isn’t all that skilled.”

  Tripp glanced over. “What are you getting at?”

  “This wouldn’t be the first time someone tried to take us out.”

  “You’re suggesting we were the actual target?”

  She shrugged. “More direct than the other attempts by far, but after what happened with the brakes on our car…”

  “This is crazy!” He let out a gusty breath. “None of the guys I ski with would go to the extreme of following us to the ranch, acquiring an ATV, then waiting around to shoot at me just
to knock me out of the competition. Besides, hitting a moving target isn’t easy unless you’re an expert marksman. The skiers who are in contention for the title don’t hunt and aren’t gun nuts, or at least I don’t think they are. Having grown up in an area where nearly everyone owns a rifle, I’m pretty damn positive I have more experience with firearms than any of them.”

  “Maybe he was simply on a scouting mission, got lucky when he saw us and took a shot. If he isn’t a skilled marksman, it would explain why he missed.”

  “I’m not buying it. Isn’t the simple motive usually the correct one? A poacher targeting game seems far more likely than one of my competitors attempting a kill shot. I can’t picture either Laird or Jake armed with a rifle out on the open range.” He shook his head. “No way. No how.”

  “Okay, I’ll trust your judgment on this one.” She tightened her grip on the reins. “I hope you’re right.”

  “I do, too. At any rate, I’ll definitely put in a call to the game warden and maybe the sheriff, as well. Give them both a heads-up that a nut job is on the prowl and ask if anyone busted for poaching in the past owns an ATV.”

  “Great.” Hannah’s teeth chattered. “Uh, I’m freezing. Since our ride was cut short, can we go back to the ranch to warm up?”

  “Sure. You lead this time.” His smile took the edge off the frigid breeze. “I’ll be right behind you all the way.”

  * * * *

  Tripp let the stack of weights down with a crash and swung his legs over the squat machine to sit up. The hotel gym was nearly empty at this hour, with only an older man lifting free weights and a woman running on a treadmill with earbuds. Lights outside the floor-to-ceiling windows near the row of stationary bikes glittered on the snow covered grounds of the Crested Butte resort where they were staying.

  He glanced up at his trainer. “Damn, I’m beat. Between Hannah’s therapy sessions and your workouts, not to mention putting in some solid training runs on the slopes, I’m ready for a soak in the hot tub, room service and bed.”

  “Whine, whine, whine.” Marco stopped scribbling on his chart to eye him up and down. “You wouldn’t be so sore if you hadn’t taken it easy after your shoulder injury.”

  “Hey, I worked out as soon as I could.” Tripp ran a towel over the back of his neck and let out a breath. “I’m not totally out of shape, but Hannah wouldn’t let me push hard and risk a setback in our progress, or worse, a re-injury.”

  “Actually, you didn’t lose as much strength as I expected. With five more days until the competition, we should have you at about ninety-five percent.” Marco flashed a smile. “Not bad considering you’ve been sidelined since January.”

  “Good to hear. I’ll quit bitching, then.” After heading into the locker room, he stripped down to wash off the sweat then stood beneath the hot spray. When his cell rang, he shut off the water and reached for a towel before grabbing the phone out of his gym bag. “Hello.”

  “Are you finished with your workout?”

  A smile formed. Just the sound of Hannah’s voice improved his mood. “I am. I planned to take a hot tub to ease my stiff muscles. Want to join me?”

  “I have to return a phone call first, but then I’ll come down. Potential client.”

  He wrapped the towel around his waist. “Oh, are you ditching me?”

  “I am after this weekend. I’ll stick around for the Big Air Championship, but you won’t need daily therapy once that’s over.”

  “Who’s this new client?”

  “A basketball player with a knee injury. He’s having surgery tomorrow and should be ready to start therapy about the time my schedule opens up. Should work out well for both of us. He plays for the Kings and lives north of Sacramento in Granite Bay, so I’ll be fairly close to home.”

  Tripp bent to sort through his gym bag for his bathing trunks. “I guess that’s better than working somewhere halfway across the country.” Not that he was thrilled they wouldn’t be seeing each other every day. He scowled as he dropped the towel and pulled up his trunks.

  “My clients are usually from California. I have plenty of business without going too far afield to find work.”

  “Good to know. Hey, I’m headed to the outdoor hot tub near the pool. We might as well enjoy the star-filled sky while we still have the opportunity.” His tone was a little sharper than he’d intended. “Join me when you finish chatting up the injured jock.”

  She was silent for a moment. “That’s who I work with. Injured jocks…uh, kind of like you. So, don’t get all bent out of shape because I’m doing my job.”

  He let out a sigh. “Sorry. It’s just, well, I’m going to miss hanging out with you. Hurry on down, okay?”

  “I’ll see you in about fifteen minutes.”

  “Okay.” Tripp hung up, tossed the wet towel in a bin and grabbed his bag before he headed toward the side door leading to the pool area. The blast of cold air as he stepped outside froze his damp hair and shivered over his bare skin. “Damn.” He ran across the paved apron around the kidney-shaped pool to reach the hot tub tucked in beside a decorative waterfall that reflected a myriad of colored lights. The splash and gurgle of the stream pooling in a nearby koi pond soothed some of his annoyance as he dropped his bag then slid into the heated depths. Heaven. For a few moments, he simply relaxed and enjoyed the warmth before working up the energy to push over to the other side and twist the knob on the control panel to start the jets. Sinking into the bubbles, he closed his eyes.

  Minutes later, giggles disturbed his near slumber. One lid cracked open. Three women, probably in their mid-twenties, stood at the edge of the hot tub wearing bikinis that didn’t leave a whole lot to anyone’s imagination. Especially the one in a red thong-style suit.

  “Mind if we join you?” A busty blonde gave him a lingering smile, but chattering teeth ruined the effect.

  Not exactly the romantic rendezvous with Hannah he’d anticipated, but he could hardly let these women freeze.

  “Hop in before you turn into Popsicles.”

  More giggling erupted as the three dropped the towels they carried and slid into the water. Tripp controlled an urge to roll his eyes.

  “I watched your practice runs today, Tripp. You were awesome.” The thong-clad brunette to his right slid a little closer. “I’m Blaire, and that’s Maisie and Twyla.”

  Tripp eased into his public persona without missing a beat. “Nice to meet you, ladies. Where are you all from?”

  “New York. We’re here for a week of fun without our significant others before my wedding next month.” The blonde, Twyla, lunged across the hot tub to settle on his left. “And you know what that means…”

  Tripp was almost afraid to ask. Curiosity got the better of him. “What?”

  The third girl, Maisie, shook a mane of streaked brown hair and giggled. “Anything goes.” Her toes settled atop his at the bottom of the tub before one foot ran up the inside of his calf.

  He pulled his leg back.

  “You’ve got that right.” Blaire batted dark lashes. “What happens in the Rockies stays in the Rockies. We’re doing whatever we want, a final hurrah for the fearsome foursome minus one. Debbie bailed on the trip at the last minute because her boyfriend wasn’t happy about our little getaway.”

  Sounds like the missing friend is the brains of the bunch. Tripp also had a sneaking suspicion he was an item on their to-do list. If he were smart, he’d climb out of the tub this minute, but damn it, he was here first. Plus, the frigid air beyond the bubbling warmth discouraged him. Surely Hannah would arrive in a couple of minutes, and then maybe the women would take the hint and leave.

  The conversation around him deteriorated into what sounded like an ongoing debate over the availability and hotness of the best man in the upcoming wedding. Tripp tuned them out. Where the hell is Hannah? Surely her fifteen minutes were up. Turning, he reached for his phone in the gym bag behind him. Twenty-five minutes and counting. What the he
ll is keeping her? Right, a basketball player with a bum knee. With a frown, he typed injured Sacramento Kings player into the search engine.

  “Shit.” The muttered oath escaped before he clamped his lips together. Of course her new client was Russell Radford, rising star and three-point shooter extraordinaire for the Sacramento team. Tripp had seen an interview with him earlier in the season. The point guard was smart, charismatic and good-looking. Why couldn’t her client have been the gangly center who was all elbows and knees or the forward whose face looked like he’d tried boxing in his youth…and failed badly? No, the dude had to be the one with movie-star looks. Tripp shoved the phone back in his bag.

  “Problem?”

  “Huh?” He turned around, and the breath escaped him in a whoosh as Maisie left her side of the tub to land on his lap.

  “Forget all your troubles. I have.” She curled one arm around his neck. “That’s what vacations are for.”

  “I’m not on vacation. I’m working.” He gave her a gentle push, but she clung like a limpet. The breath that fanned his face smelled of rum and strawberries, and her hazel eyes sparkled with alcohol-induced determination.

  “One picture, and then I’ll get off you…if that’s what you want. Blaire, grab my phone. It’s over on my towel.”

  As the brunette left his side to fumble in the pile of towels for the phone, Tripp sighed. He’d play along, but he wished the damn woman would stop squirming on his lap. “Fine, snap the shot, and then I have to go.”

  “Hey, miss, can you take our picture?” Blaire waved the phone.

  His head jerked around. Hannah approached slowly, wearing a robe and a frown.

  “Please? We’d love one of the four of us for our bachelorette party scrapbook.” Maisie gave a couple of bounces on his lap and squealed.

  “Of course.” Hannah’s gaze met his as she took the phone, and the other two women crowded in close. “Smile.”

  Tripp had a hard time following orders. Once she’d taken the picture, Maisie crawled off his lap, but not before she planted a kiss on his cheek.

  “Thanks. Are you sure you have somewhere better to go?”