Cowboy for Keeps

by Cathy McDavid

  “You’re my job for the next hour.”

  “And then?” she asked.

  “I’m due at the rodeo arena. Clay’s expecting a crowd tonight.”

  “Bull riding?”

  “Tie-down roping and team roping.”

  “You ever miss competing?”

  “Not one bit.”

  “It’s exciting.”

  “I prefer getting my thrills other ways than being launched from the back of a bucking bull.”

  “Like?”

  There she went again, asking questions, when the answer was standing within touching distance.

  And here he was again, supplying a safe answer. “Training wild mustangs.”

  Gavin sauntered over to the arena fence, and none too soon.

  Dallas made her requests. His answer to both was yes. He also cautioned her regarding the dangers of standing too close to Prince.

  “If you want to bring the mare from her stall to the breeding shed,” he told Conner, “I’ll meet you there with Prince. She’s the little chestnut beauty in number eight.”

  Conner didn’t normally assist with the breeding. Today was evidently an exception for Dallas’s benefit.

  “Can I come with you?” she asked.

  “Wouldn’t you rather go with Gavin, since he’s bringing Prince?”

  “I have a question for you.”

  Not another one!

  They started walking, and Conner mentally braced himself.

  “There’s a charity dinner and dance I have to attend. Two weeks from today. At the Phoenician Resort. It’s sponsored by the Arizona Animal Welfare Association. They provide funding to several of the no-kill animal shelters where I volunteer. The event raises a lot of money.”

  “You the official photographer?”

  They entered the mare motel with its enclosed stalls, most of them occupied.

  “Actually, I’m attending. As a guest. I’ve done two small shoots for the AAWA and would like to do more. This is an opportunity for me to finagle some face time with the directors.”

  “What’s your question?” He assumed she wanted him to give these directors a tour of the mustang sanctuary.

  “Do you by chance own a suit?”

  “A suit?” He’d have to wear one for the tour? “Several.”

  “Good. Because I’m supposed to bring an escort to the dinner.”

  “You’re inviting me on a date?” Conner missed a step and quickly regained his balance.

  “Not a date. I’m asking a friend to accompany me to a dinner. A business dinner. Consider it a favor.” She turned wide, hopeful eyes on him. “I’ll repay you with a neck rub.”

  A neck rub! He could barely keep his hands off her as it was. Look what had happened in the round pen earlier. Seeing her in a slinky cocktail dress would be torture.

  The refusal he intended to give lodged in his throat and stayed there. When he was finally able to speak, he asked, “What time should I pick you up?”

  Chapter Nine

  Dallas contemplated the five dresses laid out on her mother’s bed.

  “What do you think?” Marina asked, fingering the closest one, a bright hibiscus print with a ruffled hem. “I’ve always been partial to pink on you.”

  “It is pretty.”

  And not at all Dallas’s style. In her mind, huge pink flowers and ruffles didn’t shout prestigious charity event. The voluminous, floor-length skirt and spaghetti straps also made her think sundress. She was attempting to disguise her growing tummy, not dress for a stroll in the park.

  “But maybe a little too casual.”

  “Really? I wore it to Hank’s company’s holiday party last year.”

  Her mother would, and pay no heed to the stares.

  Dallas wanted to attract the attention of the AAWA directors in a good way, not have them gawk at her. If all went as she hoped, they would authorize her for more shoots. She lived by what she’d preached to Conner: it wasn’t what you knew but who you knew.

  “This one’s nice.” She lifted a pale gold cocktail dress with a considerably more demure neckline.

  “It seems a little underwhelming.” Marina frowned slightly.

  And precisely what Dallas was looking for. “But with the right jewelry and shoes, I can fancy it up.”

  She’d come to her mother’s house in the hopes of finding a suitable dress from Marina’s easy-breezy wardrobe. At nearly three months pregnant, Dallas had entered the stage where her own clothes were too snug, but she wasn’t quite ready for maternity outfits. Neither was she about to purchase a dress she’d likely wear once or twice.

  “I’m going to try it on.” She slipped into the adjoining master bathroom and changed.

  “I take it back,” Marina exclaimed when Dallas emerged a few minutes later. “The dress is you.”

  Dallas preened in front of the mirrored closet door, agreeing with her mother. The tight, high-waisted bodice and loose skirt camouflaged her tummy while still giving her an hourglass silhouette.

  “I have just the necklace.” Marina went to her dresser.

  Dallas waited for her to return with some gaudy, oversize bangles. Instead, she was handed a dainty emerald pendant and delicate gold chain.

  “Where did you get this?” She turned the pendant over in her palm, admiring the glittering stones.

  “Your father.”

  “I’ve never seen you wear it.” Or had any idea that Marina owned such a treasure.

  “I didn’t want to upset Hank by flaunting jewelry my ex-husband bought me.”

  “It’s exquisite.” Dallas fastened the chain around her neck.

  “Oh, my,” Marina exclaimed softly, staring at Dallas’s reflection.

  “Mom, I don’t care if Hank gets mad.” Dallas touched the pendant, hanging just below her collarbone. “You should wear this.”

  “You wear it. And keep it. I always meant to give you the necklace one day. It’s much more your style than mine.”

  “Thank you.” Dallas hugged her mother tightly. She had nothing of her father’s, hadn’t seen or talked to him in years. The necklace would stir the few fond memories she had of him.

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

  She turned back to the mirror and touched the pendant again. “Dad had his faults. Bad taste in jewelry wasn’t one of them.”

  “He tried. One of his mistakes was thinking tokens of affection could take the place of real affection. That’s what I love about Hank.”

  “He’s affectionate?”

  “Very.”

  Apparently only when they were alone, because Dallas couldn’t ever remember seeing Hank sweep her mother into a passionate embrace or hold her hand while they walked.

  Conner had done both with Dallas, and much more.

  “Why did you marry Dad?” She wasn’t sure she’d asked the question before.

  “We were a lot alike. Both artists. I sculpted, he played guitar. We were convinced we could impact the world with our art. Sometimes I think we were too alike. Hank’s solid. Dependable. He keeps me on course. That’s why I thought you and Richard were such a good match.”

  He and Hank were definitely cut from similar cloth.

  What about Conner? He seemed to Dallas a combination of both types. Solid and dependable, but with an adventurous side. Like the wild mustangs he trained.

  As if reading her mind, her mother said, “Conner’s one lucky man.”

&
nbsp; “Why’s that?”

  “He’ll be with the prettiest girl at the dinner.”

  “It’s not like... We’re just friends, Mom.”

  “Tell me you don’t find him attractive.”

  “I’m having a baby. He isn’t going to date a pregnant woman.”

  “Isn’t that his decision to make?”

  “And mine.”

  “Then why did you invite him to the event, if not to start something?”

  Dallas fiddled with the necklace clasp, finally securing it. “Because I need an escort. And he owns a suit.”

  “You like him. You always have. And he likes you.”

  “As friends,” she repeated.

  “That’s a good basis for a relationship. A couple should be friends before they’re lovers.”

  “Being lovers with Conner is the furthest thing from my mind!”

  Such a bald-faced lie. What would her mother say if she found out about the kiss? Kisses!

  She’d accuse Dallas of having feelings for Conner, and she’d be right.

  Feelings that could and would go nowhere.

  “Don’t sell Conner short,” Marina said. “He’s made of stronger stuff than most men. Personally, I don’t think your pregnancy will deter him.”

  “It will deter him. Every time he looks at me, he’ll be reminded of Richard.” Of her and Richard together.

  “Hank courted me when I had two small children. He didn’t think about your father when he looked at me.” Marina’s lips curled into a playful smile. “I made sure of it. You can do the same with Conner.”

  Why hadn’t she been born to a more inhibited mother?

  “I could, if we were interested in each other. Which we’re not.” If she said it enough, maybe she’d start to believe it.

  “Well—” Marina unzipped the dress “—I can guarantee, if Conner hasn’t been thinking about being your lover before, he will certainly start once he sees you in this.”

  “Mom!”

  “Just stating a fact.”

  Dallas took another look at herself in the mirror, recalled Conner’s mouth taking possession of hers. Felt his hands mold themselves to her hips.

  Yes, Conner would see her in this dress and want her.

  As usual, her mother was right.

  * * *

  BY CONNER’S ESTIMATION, about two hours of daylight remained. If he and Javier didn’t find the mare and colt by dark, they’d have to return to the ranch empty-handed. This was Conner’s second venture into the mountains in the last two days. He had Dallas to thank for that.

  Her photos of the injured mare appeared everywhere online, generating hundreds of thousands of hits. The story had spread across the Southwest and as far east as Oklahoma. As a result, the ranch phone had been ringing off the hook with reported sightings. Only a few were legit.

  The most promising one had come from the pilot of a low-flying plane on his descent into the Scottsdale Airport. He’d supposedly spotted the mare and colt not far from Tom Thumb, a favorite picnic and rest spot for trail riders.

  Yesterday, Conner and Javier, a longtime wrangler at Powell Ranch, had taken two Judas horses to the area the pilot reported. Both animals had carried pack saddles loaded with materials for a makeshift corral.

  If the lure worked, as it had with Prince, the mare and colt would be waiting at the corral today, munching on hay and easy to capture. The men had brought their lariats, however, just in case.

  Tom Thumb, with its distinctive rock formation, came into view. The picnic area was familiar to Conner. Last year he’d brought Leeza and her daughter here, giving them a taste of cowboy life. The little girl had loved riding and being outdoors. Her mother not so much.

  “Señor Conner.” Javier, who’d ridden in the lead the entire trip, pointed at a huge cholla cacti patch up ahead. “Ten cuidado. Be careful,” he called in broken English.

  “Gracias, mi amigo.”

  There was only one drawback to bringing the wrangler: his English skills weren’t the best. Which left Conner with his own thoughts for company during the ride. As was typical, his mind drifted to job hunting.

  Seven more résumés sent out this week. Seven polite, form email replies stating that his résumé had been received and would be reviewed. He wasn’t holding his breath. Of the seven positions, he was overqualified for four and the remaining three weren’t in his field. That was how wide he’d started casting his net.

  He’d made a decision while saddling up this afternoon. After the charity dinner next Saturday, he’d be seeing Dallas only for the book shoots or at Gavin’s request.

  No more kisses. No more finding any excuse to hold her in his arms, or call just to hear her voice on the other end of the line. No more—

  “Señor Conner!” Javier exclaimed, reining his horse to a stop. “Los caballos.”

  Excitement surged inside Conner. There, about a hundred yards ahead, were the mare and colt. They stood outside the makeshift corral, munching on hay left out the day before.

  “Go slow. We don’t want to scare them off.” He repeated his instructions in Spanish.

  Precautions were unnecessary. The starving mare and colt paid little attention to anything except the hay.

  The ranch horses whinnied happily at the sight of new arrivals. Despite ample food and water, they probably hadn’t liked spending the night in the mountains.

  “You wait here,” Conner said to the wrangler. “I’ll get the mare.”

  On the chance that she and the colt became scared and tried to bolt, Javier would be able to block their escape.

  The mare, perhaps tired, perhaps sick from infection, did nothing when Conner dismounted and approached her. The colt, though clearly agitated, remained by her side.

  Conner was able to place a rope around the mare, carefully avoiding the arrows, which were still imbedded in her neck and back. Not that he’d expected differently. He motioned Javier over, gesturing that he wanted the spare halter they’d brought along.

  “Easy as pie,” Conner said, slipping it on the mare’s head.

  He took a moment to examine her. She was in about the same condition as before. Looks, however, could be deceiving. Infections like hers tended to spread deeper rather than outward, and not appear so bad on the surface.

  The colt wouldn’t let anyone near him, dodging Conner when he tried to pet him. They would have to trust he was fit enough to make the trip to the ranch.

  “Let’s get to work.”

  Javier nodded, and together they tethered the six adult horses to the branches of nearby trees. Confused and frightened by the strange activities, the colt trotted in circles, always within close range of his mother.

  The corral, which was nothing more than orange netting strung between posts, was quickly disassembled. Conner placed the pack saddles they’d left there yesterday on the two ranch horses, and loaded the netting and posts.

  Within half an hour, they were ready to start for home. More than once Conner attempted to call the ranch, but his phone had no reception. He’d wait until they reached the first tall rise and try again. Dallas would be thrilled when she heard the news.

  “I’ll lead the mare. You take the other two, okay?” he suggested to Javier.

  “Sí, I follow you.”

  A good plan. With the mare and colt sandwiched between them, she was less likely to spook and run off. They didn’t want to lose her, not after coming this far. The arrangem
ent also helped calm the jittery colt.

  A full fifteen minutes passed without incident. Conner was beginning to think they were in the clear. Then they neared the cholla cacti.

  How it happened, he wasn’t exactly sure, but all at once the colt darted deep into the patch. Surrounded on all sides by dangerous prickles, he instinctively froze.

  “Whoa!” Conner dismounted and silently studied their predicament. No easy solution came to him.

  The problem was the horses. Unlike at Tom Thumb, there were no trees in the area. Hardly any bushes. Plenty of cacti. How to secure the animals while he went after the colt? Expecting Javier to maintain control of five horses, one of them an anxious mother, was asking a lot. But unless the colt decided to come out on his own, they didn’t have much choice.

  Javier took the initiative by grabbing the mare’s lead rope. “Ándale.”

  “You sure about this?” Conner asked, regarding the man’s small stature.

  “Get the baby.”

  This had better work.

  The little fellow trembled as Conner neared, his eyes widening until the whites shone all around.

  “Easy does it. Good boy.”

  The colt made anxious noises, which upset his mother.

  Conner moved slowly. With each step he took, he checked the ground, being careful where he placed his boots. Fallen cholla clusters were everywhere and would attach to him like iron shavings to a magnet.

  The closer he got, the more agitated the colt became. No way would he submit to being led out. Conner paused and reconsidered his options. If he circled the animal and came up behind him, the colt might take off running, hopefully in the direction of his mother. He might wind up with a few stickers in his hide, but none the worse for wear.

  The colt’s eyes were glued on Conner as he executed a wide circle. The animal didn’t turn around, but his bobbing head indicated how nervous he was.

  Conner was just about in place when a sharp, searing pain exploded in his right elbow.

  He swore under his breath, knowing without looking that he’d come in contact with a cholla. A glance confirmed it. The cluster was clinging to his jacket sleeve, the stickers piercing the heavy canvas material as if it were tissue paper.