by Cindy Stark
She fought to retain her composure. “You need to understand, Bill. I’m marrying Caleb because I love him, not solely to save the land. You’re like an older brother to me.”
“Older and more experienced. I could show you a night in bed you’d never forget.”
Revulsion nipped at her. “I’m going to leave now, and you’re going to let me go.” She hoped her authoritative command would convince him to release her.
“You’re not going anywhere until I show you this.” He jerked her toward him and trapped her against him with strong arms. His mouth descended on hers, catching her lips before she could turn away.
She clawed at his waist. Tried to knee him in the groin, but couldn’t lift her leg high enough. When that didn’t work, she brought her cowboy boots down hard on the tips of his toes.
He grunted and loosened his grip just enough that she could smack him across the face. He halted all movement, shock registering on his features.
Her breaths came fast as adrenaline rushed through her veins. She took a step away from him and then another. “I want you to get the fuck out of here, Bill. Gather what’s yours, leave, and never come back to Blackwater.”
She didn’t wait for a response, but turned and ran from the garage instead.
Outside, she wiped the back of her hand across her mouth and fought to keep her tears in check. “Bastard,” she whispered as she hurried away from a man she’d thought she could trust. It broke her heart to know their relationship had come to this. Why did death have to bring out the worst in people?
Chapter Ten
“Everything okay?” Caleb asked Rachel as he held the reins while she mounted her horse.
“Fine.” Rachel had returned solemn and subdued after her talk with Bill, but Caleb didn’t want to press her for information. At best, she’d had an uncomfortable conversation.
The day had warmed considerably by the time Caleb mounted the impressive black stallion just outside the barn. Bastian stood a good eighteen hands high with powerful thighs and a wide girth.
The buckskin stallion Rachel sat astride wasn’t as tall as Bastian, but its buckskin coat and black mane were striking.
“What’s her name?” he asked Rachel, referring to her horse.
“His name. Gemini.” She clicked her tongue, setting her horse in motion, not looking to see if he’d follow. Apparently, she needed a little time before he started with friendly conversation.
Rachel led the way toward the west, more mountainous side of her property. Over the past few days, Caleb had more or less gotten the lay of the land, but she’d know the intricacies far better than he would. He’d ridden out on horse a couple of times, though Mickey hadn’t offered him a beauty like Bastian. Caleb had also spent time researching the area online. Still, nothing beat a firsthand trail guide when it came to new places. “How many horses do you keep on the ranch?”
“Cattle are our main focus at Blackwater, but we do breed a few horses. Last fall, we had twenty, but we lost one to the wolves.” She met his gaze with cautious eyes.
“You want to know if I share Bill’s beliefs on killing the wolves.” He could see it in her face.
“Do you?” She shifted in her saddle, and he couldn’t help appreciate the ease with which she rode. Her brown hoodie embellished with the gold University of Wyoming logo hid his favorite curves, but the cut of her jeans and tall boots looked damn good on her. She wore her hair down today, and the sun kissed her dark hair bringing out glints of red.
He’d held her not long ago, and he’d been hard pressed to let her go after Bill had rudely interrupted. He made it a rule not to become personally involved with clients, which was sometimes hard when he shared their daily lives. But something about Rachel dragged him right over the lines he’d drawn. He’d tasted the sweet fire burning inside her, and he couldn’t help wonder how far things might have gone if Bill hadn’t barged in.
“I’m all about obeying the laws, and I can certainly see where you wouldn’t want to incur hefty fines or jail time because you’d authorized their killing.”
She blinked a few times, scrutinizing him with an intense gaze. “That didn’t exactly answer my question.”
“It’s not really my question to answer, is it? You’re the one with everything at stake, and I wouldn’t want to influence you one way or the other.”
She snorted. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but I’m not easily influenced.”
He laughed then, appreciating the feisty flash in her eye. “Oh, I’ve noticed.”
“Does that bother you? Are you a man like Bill who likes to be in charge and has a hard time taking direction from a woman?”
She was beautiful when her spirit wasn’t hidden by sadness or fear. Before he left, he’d make sure both of those demons were laid to rest.
He galloped ahead and then cut in front of her, forcing her to stop. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been taking direction from you the moment I arrived. I respect your authority and your sensibilities.”
She widened her sensuous eyes in response, sending a fierce current straight to his groin. Those gorgeous, deep brown eyes that gave him glimpses of her soul would do him in if he wasn’t careful.
“However, if you’re also wondering if I’m the kind of man who can take charge when needed, you’re damn right I am.” He grinned at her surprised expression and took off on a gallop toward the west.
She caught up to him within a few seconds. “Where do you think you’re going?” she asked as her horse easily kept pace with his.
“You got fences that lie at the base of those hills?”
“We do.”
“Then that’s where I’m headed. Mickey said they were next on the list to be checked, and that’s what we’re doing, right?” He slowed his horse, and she followed suit.
A hint of a smile curved her lips. “Yes.”
“Are you going to tell me I’m headed in the wrong direction?” He challenged her question with a cock of his brow.
She studied him for a long moment, her gaze locked with his before she slowly shook her head. “No.” She glanced at his lips for a brief second before she turned toward the horizon.
Damn. He couldn’t doubt she remembered their kiss as well, which made it all the harder to want to keep his distance.
He cleared his throat and followed the direction of her gaze. “Good.” He hoped she’d appreciate his interest in the land around them. “I’d like to check out the Shoshone River, too, while we’re out. The ground was too muddy when I rode out before, but we’ve had warm weather since.”
“Ground should be passable by now. The river’s a little out of our way, so it depends on how long it takes us to check fences and how much help you’ll be. If you don’t know what to look for and I have to do it all myself, it’ll take longer.”
He snorted. “Oh, honey. I bet I’ve checked twice as many miles of fence as you in my lifetime. I can do it with my eyes closed,” he teased.
She grinned and shook her head. “You’re far too cocky for your own good.” She nudged her horse, increasing its pace. As she passed, she flashed a sideways glance at him, an entertained smile lighting her pretty eyes. “Don’t forget to watch out for bears.”
He chuckled. He wasn’t afraid of bears, and she could run all she wanted. He loved a good chase.
He squeezed his heels against the horse’s side and took off after her.
The promise he’d made in the barn to respect their employer-employee relationship might be a problem after all. However, there were ways around that. He’d have to convince her to make the first move.
He’d tasted those delicious lips once, and he intended to do so again. He’d caught glimpses of her intricate mind and wanted more.
He might be complicating matters by doing so. She might turn him out if he frustrated her too much. But he’d take those odds regardless of how slim they were. He wanted to know the woman inside and out before his time was up.
; They’d separated in order to cover more miles of fence. As he drew close to the base of the mountains ahead of him, they met up again. The sight of the gently curving Shoshone River and Rachel’s beautiful smile were his rewards. The blue sky reflected on the surface of the water as it drifted past. He imagined, in a few weeks when the spring runoff was at its peak, it would pick up a fair amount of force. For now, it was content to drift by.
Beyond the water’s edge, a hundred feet of yellowed prairie grass led to barren deciduous trees mingling with the evergreen pines.
“Damn.” He stopped his horse before he reached the bank. He inhaled the brisk air and released it. The wide-open spaces and gorgeous landscape made him ache for his own land that his brothers had given up.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” She stopped alongside him, her leg brushing his as she did. Her dark hair curled down one shoulder, and a hint of pink kissed her cheeks making her far more breathtaking than the scenery around them.
If he reached over, he could pull her onto his lap and kiss her right then. “I can only imagine what it’s like in early summer when everything turns green.”
She shook her head as though she savored a delectable treat. “It’s unbelievably stunning. Just wait until you see it.”
“Except, I won’t be here then.” Each second that passed was one moment closer to the day he’d leave. “You’ll have rights to your property long before then.” He captured her gaze and held it, enjoying the blush that deepened on her cheeks.
She blinked rapidly. “That’s right. I mean, I hope I’ll have the deed by then. I suppose Franklin could figure out a way to drag it out, but the sooner, the better, right? You want your money, and I’d like my property.”
He tilted his head in agreement, enjoying seeing her off balance. “Seems like that’s the best outcome possible.”
“Yes. Of course it does.” She held his gaze for another few seconds and then turned her horse to follow the edge of the riverbank until she came to an area where the river widened and slowed. The bank was shallower and revealed a level area covered by river rock and dirt.
She slid off her horse, letting the reins drop as she walked to the water’s edge. Caleb followed. As he approached her, his heart did the same squishing thing it had when he’d held her in the barn.
She had her eyes shut with her head tilted toward the sun. Dammit. He wanted her like he hadn’t wanted a woman in a damn long time.
Instead of acting on his emotions, he lassoed his desire and moved closer to the water, squatting as he tested the temperature with his hand. Icy water sluiced through his fingers, providing a nice contrast to the heat flooding inside him.
“This was my favorite spot to come when I was younger.” Her voice carried a wistful tone.
He glanced up to find her watching him. “I can see why.”
“I used to saddle a horse and ride fast enough to feel the wind in my hair. Then I’d hang out here for a while, far away from where anyone could see me or find me.” She stared at the river and then the mountains beyond before she met his gaze again. “I wish I could escape like that now.”
Damn, she was beautiful. “Aren’t we doing that right now?” He smiled and warmed inside when he coaxed one from her as well.
“It’s not the same.”
He loved the way her eyes sparkled when she found his words amusing. “Why not? We’re out here all alone where no one can see us.” He stood and closed the distance between them, enjoying the way her eyes widened as he neared. She was just as aware of him as he was of her.
She stared back, a sassy fire in her eyes as she flicked her gaze between his eyes and his mouth just like she had in the barn. She wanted him, no doubt. She wouldn’t have responded to him like she had if she didn’t.
“It’s not the same,” she finally repeated.
He broke their connection and bent to pick up a flat rock near her feet. With a snap of his wrist, he skipped it across the water’s surface three times before it sank.
He brought his gaze back to her. “You’ve carried the weight of the world on your shoulders since I met you.” The toll was evident by the hollowness in her eyes, and he was compelled to change that. “You probably have for some time before that. It’s okay to take a moment to relax and breathe, you know. To enjoy the beauty God put before us. I know your ranch is important, but you need to keep your life in balance, too.”
She inhaled a deep breath and released it as though she needed to remind herself of that. “I know. It’s just hard sometimes. I feel like if I take my eye off the prize, everything is going to crumble and disappear.” She tilted her neck from side to side and rolled her shoulders.
“Your muscles tight?”
“A little. I haven’t been sleeping well.” She repeated her movements.
“For how long?”
She shrugged and gave him a small smile. “For a while. Since my uncle died, I guess.”
He knew it. “Damn, girl. From what I’ve heard, that’s over three weeks ago.”
She slanted a glance at him. “Yeah? Who have you been talking to?”
“Joe.” The one person on the ranch willing to give him more than the time of day. “The guy likes to talk.”
“Joe.” She nodded but smiled. “That doesn’t surprise me. He’s the worst gossip I know.”
“He seems like a decent guy to me.” Out of all her hands, Joe was the friendliest. Caleb had gained ground with Mickey, but he sensed a wariness and hesitation in him. Which he completely understood. It was obvious they all cared for Rachel, and he appreciated that about all of them. Even Bill.
None of his previous consultation jobs required him to act the part of the husband, so it was hard to judge what the men would have been like if he was just another of the guys.
“Joe is a good guy. Possibly my best.”
“I thought Bill was the best. You’ve made him your foreman.”
A frown settled in her expression. “Former foreman. I fired him this morning.”
Chapter Eleven
“You fired Bill?” Caleb seemed genuinely surprised. “Why?”
Rachel shrugged, keeping her emotions safely behind the mask of forged confidence. “He refused to support me and my authority. He’s continually undermined me to the other guys. I can’t have someone like him killing morale.” She couldn’t tell Caleb about Bill’s unwanted advances. Even though it was none of his business, she knew he wouldn’t let it go.
“You need him, Rachel. Spring is damn near here. You’ll be moving cattle, birthing calves. You need a foreman now more than anything. I’d offer to stick around until you fill his spot, but that would require you to pretend we’re married for longer.”
“Thank you. That’s very kind.” As much as she’d like to take him up on it, she wouldn’t be able to fully heal and move forward until she put this period behind her. “Joe will step up. I know him. Then I’ll hire someone to take his place. One way or the other, I’ll make it work.”
“You’re going to have a hard time running this place with less men. Already you work too hard.”
“You’re starting to sound like my uncle.” She rolled her head, trying to loosen her aching neck muscles. “Look where his ideas landed me.”
“Maybe your uncle had a point. If you step back from the situation, you can see that it’s impossible for one person to do this alone.”
His comment spiked her irritation. “Which is why I have employees. If I say I can make this work, I’ll make it work, okay?”
He held her gaze for a long moment, and she sensed the argument hovering on his tongue. Instead, he nodded. “I could rub the kinks out of your shoulders if you’d like.”
He’d changed the subject, but the thought of his hands on her did little to ease her anxiety. To accept would only increase her attraction to him. To refuse would seem rude, and her stiff muscles and accompanying headache begged her to accept.
“I promise I won’t bite.”
“Fine.” She
turned her back, giving him access, deciding the best move would be to accept his innocent offer without reacting. She glanced over her shoulder, still keeping a wary eye trained in his direction. “If you could just get my right shoulder, that would be amazing.”
“You got it.” He stepped closer, sliding his hands beneath her hood. “You should wear your hair down more often. You look good with soft curls.”
“Oh…thanks.”
She smiled, knowing he couldn’t see her. Despite the circumstances, she found she was happier when he was around.
He probed her muscles with his fingers, and she cringed. “Damn, girl. I’m surprised you’re not having constant headaches.”
She gave a sarcastic snort. “Who says I’m not?” She gathered her hair and pulled it to the side, out of his way.
“That’s no good.” He increased the pressure of his thumb into a large knot in the center of her right shoulder.
She winced. “Oh, geez. That’s...”
“Sorry.” He eased off. “You’re a mess, you know?” He rubbed the opposite shoulder which hurt almost as bad.
“Don’t I know it.” She exhaled and closed her eyes, trying to relax. As his hands warmed and stretched her muscles, her mind wandered to the feel of his fingers touching her skin, to how close his body was to her.
She wanted to turn, wanted to explore another kiss with him and bring back the feelings of excitement she’d experienced that morning.
When the temptation became too much, she twisted away and faced him.
He widened his eyes in concern. “Did I hurt you?”
“No. You were great.”
“Then why did you stop me?”
Why, indeed. “My shoulder feels much better and…” She glanced toward the gurgling river, her mind racing for an answer. Quickly, she bent to pick up a small stone. She turned it over in her hand and then looked to him. “I wanted you to show me how to skip a rock instead.”
He studied her for a moment, and she prayed the heat in her cheeks didn’t show. Instead of questioning her further, he smiled. “It’s not hard, but it does take practice, and you’re better off trying it at a lake where the water is smooth.”