A Cowboy Worth Claiming

by Charlene Sands

  He lifted them up and grinned. His mood had certainly changed from this morning. “Gonna have a feast tonight.”

  “They’re a good size.”

  “You should’ve seen the one that got away. I had it hooked for a second and was pulling it in, but the dang thing flipped and flopped so hard it unhooked itself and dropped back into the water.”

  She laughed. “You’ve got enough for both of us and then some.”

  “I’m hungry enough to eat a bear.”

  He sat down cross-legged and Lizzie put a dish under him and watched as he gutted the fish with his knife. “You eat fish heads?”

  Her stomach clenched at the notion. She hooked the worms. She’d gutted her share of fish, but eating those heads was one thing that made her shudder. She’d never go near the eyeballs. They were enough to frighten the devil. “No. They’re all yours.”

  “I don’t like them, either.” He tossed all three heads a far distance away and his eyes met hers in amusement.

  She watched as he split the fish down the spine and spread them open. He filleted them with a steady hand and then gave them over to Lizzie. She put them in the fry pan and walked over to the fire.

  As she cooked them up, Chance laid down against his saddle with his hands braced behind his head. His eyes closed and a look of sheer contentment crossed over his handsome face. “Smells like heaven on earth.”

  “Gonna taste like heaven, too.”

  “When we get to town, we’ll have us a real fine meal—chicken and dumplings, or steak and sweet potatoes and cherry pie or apple strudel. The hotel’s got a very fine dining room.”

  “Hotel? I don’t think we should be spending so much cash on hotel meals. We’re gonna need every cent.”

  “We won’t. I will. And don’t go worrying over it now.”

  She wouldn’t worry. The idea of having a real meal in a hotel dining room with Chance set her nerves to jingling and her heart to pumping harder. Tonight, he was downright agreeable and that put her in a good mood, too.

  “You’re gonna take me for a fancy meal?”

  His eyes opened halfway and he slid her a glance. “Long as you don’t give me any trouble.”

  She opened her mouth to argue. She hadn’t given him a lick of trouble while on this trip and he knew it but she didn’t want to spoil his good humor. She quite simply announced, “I’m no trouble.”

  And Chance closed his eyes again, his smile never fading.

  She finished frying the fish and cooking beans and dished up their portions on tin plates. They sat by the glow of the fire as the sunset colored the horizon with pink-orange hues.

  “So good,” she said, taking a bite of fish.

  “Can’t argue there.”

  He sat next to her, devouring the meal. She watched his throat work as he chewed. There was something so elemental and male about it. She’d spent a good deal of time close to him and she could honestly say there wasn’t anything about his physical being she could find fault with. He was perfect in that respect and when his mood was light, she couldn’t find any fault with him at all.

  Now, that was enough to cause her concern.

  Chance ate two fish and Lizzie could barely finish the one on her plate. “I’m so full.” She gave her stomach a pat and sighed. “Don’t think I can eat another bite.”

  Chance grinned. “You can’t? Now, that’s too bad. ’Cause I got some dessert and it’s a darn shame you’re too full of fish to have a bite.”

  “What dessert? What are you talking about?” Lizzie hoisted up from her lazy position against her saddle.

  Chance rose and walked over to the supply bag. He pushed his hand deep down to the bottom and pulled out a small sack. “Remember when we bought supplies?”

  Lizzie blinked. She’d forgotten all about the candies he’d purchased the day he’d offered her a licorice stick. “You’ve had candies in there all this time?”

  Chance grinned. “I thought the storm might have ruined them, but they were tucked inside snug and dry.”

  He walked over to the fire and sat down by his saddle. He dug into the bag, coming up with a handful of candied corn. He plopped one into his mouth and chewed, sighing, his face filled with contentment she’d only seen when he’d consumed something sugary. “It ain’t cherry pie but my sweet tooth doesn’t know the difference.”

  Lizzie looked longingly at the candies in his hand. “You had those and you haven’t brought them out until now?”

  “Uh-huh.” He popped another into his mouth.

  “Mercy me. Why not?”

  “Always better to wait until the end of the drive. Gives me something to look forward to. Sort of like a reward.”

  “Well, that takes strength of will.” Her mouth watered. She was sure there was room in her belly for a few of those confections.

  “I must have that,” he said, chewing still, “for putting up with—”

  She glared at him. “Putting up with what?”

  “—eating dust. Bad weather and all.” He grinned and the amusement reached his eyes. He was teasing and Lizzie couldn’t pretend to be mad at him. He was too darn happy with himself.

  “I guess I could find room in my belly for a few of those if you’d be offering.”

  “You sure? I mean a little thing like you…”

  But by that time, Chance had already extended his hand. She picked three out and tossed one in her mouth. She chewed slowly, savoring the flavor. The sweetness of the candy burst forth and made her lips pucker. Chance watched her carefully, studying her in the firelight.

  After she finished the first candy, she stared toward the fire. “Thank you.”

  “Welcome.”

  “Not just for the candy, Chance. But for last night. For keeping me from freezing my toes off.”

  “You need your toes.”

  “You were kind.”

  She heard him shift around to face her. “That always surprises you, doesn’t it?”

  She shrugged, chewing on her second piece of candy. This time the sweetness went straight to her head. “Not so much anymore.”

  “Fine, then…. I’m not your enemy. We’ve established that fact.”

  “But I just wish you wouldn’t see me as a little thing. I’m a woman, aren’t I? I mean, I’ve got everything a woman is supposed to have and last night when you touched me…”

  He spoke with quiet conviction. “It wasn’t that kind of touching, Lizzie.”

  “But I felt…something.”

  Chance’s face twisted and he shook his head. “You weren’t supposed to feel anything but warmth. If you did, it’s not by my doing.”

  “You’re lying. You felt something, too. I was touching your chest and your heartbeats went a little crazy. I felt it.”

  He muttered a curse and then heaved a sigh. “Lord above, Lizzie. You’ve got to learn not to say those things to a man.”

  “You denying it?”

  “Hell, yeah. I’m denying it. Look, it’s just a natural occurrence when a man and woman share a blanket for him to get…for his body to get a little…”

  “Excited?”

  Chance went still and closed his eyes. He contemplated for a few seconds, before turning to face her. He brought his hand up to cup her chin and directed her gaze to meet with his deep brown eyes. They were so dark, so beautiful, she thought, as her eyes widened and they locked stares. He was close, just inches from her face. Her nerves jangled once again, her stomach fluttered uncontrollably, yet she was patient, waiting for him to say something.

  He blinked, losing his focus for a moment as if he’d been mesmerized. Then the warmth and heat went out of his eyes. He spoke quietly, firmly, all softness gone. “I’ve got two things to do
on this drive. And you know what they are. To bring the herd to the railhead and to keep you safe. That’s it. That’s my job and I aim to do just that. Last night was about keeping you safe.”

  “So you don’t think of me as a woman? You don’t think I have any pleasing attributes?”

  Chance dropped his hand and leaned back. “You have the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen in my life, Lizzie.”

  Joy spread through her body. “Really?”

  Chance faced the dying fire and nodded. Picking up a dried branch, he tossed it into the embers and watched the flame spark to life again. “But that doesn’t mean anything.”

  “It means more than you know,” she whispered, breathless. She’d never wanted a man’s approval more than right now. She’d never cared about such things before. Her heart and soul had always been on the ranch and her love of fashioning dolls. She’d never entertained thoughts of being with a man, that’s why Grandpa’s attempts at matchmaking had never inspired even a kernel of interest. “To a girl like me, who’s never been overly…female.”

  Chance turned from the fire to search her face. Then he dropped his gaze to her chest. She didn’t have much there, but her breasts were round and firm and she wondered if they’d please him enough and bring him pleasure. The very notion caused her face to flame. An ache below her belly throbbed and it was uncanny how potent that feeling was. Chance’s gaze flowed over her, flickering at the juncture of her thighs, right where she pulsed. Could he know? Could he sense her lusty thoughts?

  “Look, Lizzie. You’re female enough to hold a man. That’ll happen one day. Maybe soon.”

  “But not you?”

  He didn’t hesitate to shake his head. “Could never be me.”

  A cold shot of pain coursed through her body, dashing out the flames that had warmed her seconds ago. “Why?”

  Chance inhaled deep. “You’re Edward’s granddaughter.”

  As if that explained it all, Chance rose and set his blanket a far distance from hers. “Get some sleep. I’ll watch over the herd tonight.”

  And then he was gone.

  Chapter Seven

  Prescott, the territorial capitol of Arizona, was laid out in a square that Lizzie could see from a hill that overlooked the town. Streets were planned out in orderly fashion, almost the whole of the town looking like one neat box. She saw a whitewashed chapel’s steeple bordering the town to the west, several ornate fountains decorating the central part of town and a big steel water tank on the eastern border.

  Lizzie felt a sense of accomplishment that she’d made it this far. The pit of her stomach filled with hope. Coming to town meant the end of the trail drive. It meant a hot bath and the fancy meal Chance had promised her. Her belly grumbled at the thought, but more important than all that, Lizzie would earn the money she desperately needed.

  As she made her way through tall grass and scattered Ponderosa pines riding flank to the herd, Chance rode up beside her.

  Lizzie glanced at him. “Looks like a peaceful town.”

  The corners of Chance’s mouth pulled down. “Can’t be sure.”

  “Why?”

  He squinted into the morning light and shook his head. “Can’t ever be sure. Things aren’t always what they seem. Best you remember that.”

  Lizzie was tired of getting a lecture from Chance every time she made a pleasant comment. Chance didn’t hold much trust in things, she was learning. Maybe he had a right to his opinions, but Lizzie didn’t see dark all the time. She didn’t have such a suspicious nature.

  They pushed the cattle forward, coming down from the rise in slight degrees and Lizzie was suddenly dumbstruck when a pink brick building caught her attention. Pink bricks? If that didn’t beat all and make her case, that truly, sometimes things were as bright as they appeared. “I’ve never seen such a colorful structure in my life.”

  “That’d be the courthouse.”

  “A pink courthouse,” Lizzie said with a sigh.

  Chance stared at her, probably because he hadn’t seen her so whimsical before. Then his face creased and they shared a sudden smile. A warm feeling spread through her body until Chance’s smile faded and he shifted his focus toward town. She followed his gaze to the railroad tracks.

  “The Arizona Central’s new to Prescott. Been here six months. Good thing, too. Most of the mines in the area shut down.”

  “How do you know?”

  “It’s been awhile, but I’ve been here before. Dunston owned a silver mine or two. He sold out when the getting was good. Most folks abandoned the town, but the ones still living here turned to raising cattle. There’s a stockyard about half a mile to the east of town. We’ll sell the cattle to brokers there and be done with it.”

  Be done with it.

  Meaning, he’d be done with her.

  Chance had been somewhat surly ever since the night they spent together under the sheets. He’d forbidden any more talk about it, making her promise not to tell a soul. Since then he’d kept a good distance from her, making small conversation whenever she would start up, but he kept quiet most of the time otherwise.

  Lizzie didn’t mind the quiet overly much, except when her mind would wander. Out on the trail, there was nothing much else to do but let your mind drift off. And often her thoughts turned to Chance. She’d never been so close to a man before, she reminded herself. Her queasy feelings would eventually ebb. They had to. If Chance chose to move on when they got back home, Lizzie wouldn’t miss him. She just plain wouldn’t. Thank goodness, Hayden was coming home. At least, she’d have her friend back. With him, she didn’t have to worry about queasy feelings.

  When they reached the stockyard, she noted the place was nearly deserted. The majority of holding pens were empty. No cattlemen were milling about. She wondered if this was normal for Prescott. Chance said the railway had just been built here.

  An uneasy feeling gnawed at her. She glanced at Chance, but as usual, he wasn’t giving his feelings away one way or the other.

  “Stay here,” he said, then dismounted to close the cattle gate. He was met by a short burly man coming out of a small office. The man wore leather chaps that dragged on the ground and a tan hat on his head. Lizzie was grateful someone was around to greet them. The two men spoke for a time and she saw the man take stock of their Longhorns, count them and then give Chance the piece of parchment he’d written on. Chance headed toward her and mounted his gelding.

  “I’ve gotta come back tomorrow,” he said. “Ole Earl is the only one working here right now. It’s a little late in the day. They weren’t expecting anyone to show up. C’mon, let’s find the hotel and get cleaned up.”

  “Are we going to leave the herd here?”

  He nodded. “Yep.”

  “Did he say why the place is empty?”

  “I reckon I’ll find out tomorrow. Let’s go.”

  It wasn’t ten minutes before they reached the hotel. The Prescott Grand Hotel lived up to its name. The hotel was bigger and fancier than any establishment Lizzie had ever been in. She assumed its grandeur came about during the mining boom and to the proprietor’s credit the place hadn’t fallen to ruin since then.

  As soon as Lizzie stepped over the threshold, she was hit by a sorry feeling of inadequacy. Two ladies dressed in silk gowns spared her a look of disdain before they turned their heads and walked by. Lizzie looked a mess with her rumpled dusty clothes and hair that hadn’t had a good wash in days. Usually she didn’t give two hoots what others thought about her, but today she couldn’t get to her room fast enough to clean herself up.

  She glanced at Chance, saddlebags over one shoulder, signing the register and getting the keys to their rooms. She wondered if he had anything to do with her sudden change of heart.

  “Can we afford this?” she wh
ispered as they climbed the stairs.

  “I can. I’m paying.”

  His kindness brought queasiness upon her again.

  She liked it better when Chance gave her sass. Then she had good reason to dislike him.

  Chance put the key in the lock and with a shove opened the door to her hotel room.

  “Oh, my.” Her hand to her chest, the breath whooshed out of her. The room was everything she’d imagined for a hotel so fine. Yet, she didn’t just see the fine draperies, the big bed covered with a plush quilt and the fancy furniture…. She saw comfort. Comfort like she’d not had in months, maybe years.

  “Well, go on in,” Chance said. She turned to look at him. “Go on,” he encouraged her again with a nod of his head.

  She stepped inside, still speechless.

  “Don’t that beat all,” he announced, his lips curving upward. “All it takes to keep you quiet is a fancy room. Wish I’d have known that before this.”

  Lizzie snapped out of her daze to frown at him. “You’re not amusing, Chance Worth.” But she didn’t put much stock in her reprimand. Not while tiny flutters of happiness skittered around her insides.

  He grinned and those flutters turned to wide-winged butterflies. “I’ll be right next door. They’re bringing up water for our baths.” He handed her a saddlebag. “I’ll see you in an hour and we’ll eat.”

  Before Chance closed the door, he said, “Don’t go anywhere. Stay put until I come get you.”

  Lizzie couldn’t muster an argument for his bossy tone. She nodded and then he was gone.

  * * *

  Lizzie peeled herself out of her clothes and walked to the alcove where a bathtub sat behind a tall screen. The sweet scent of lilac wafted in the air and beckoned her. She didn’t need much encouraging. She’d been itching for this for days. She poked one foot into the water, then the other. Heavens, the initial sensation shot up her legs and coursed through her naked body.

  A hot bath in a real tub.

  She eased her body in slowly, relishing the rising steam that engulfed her. She savored every inch of heat searing through her skin as she sunk farther and farther down. It was heavenly to stretch out and let the water soothe her aches from days on the trail. She felt herself melting, and the relaxing of stiff limbs to nothingness was a sensation Lizzie would forever remember. Fully immersed now, she tossed her head back to wet her hair. The thick mass was usually difficult to scrub, but the soaps provided made her task all the more easy.