Ranch at River’s End

by Brenda Mott

  Darci winced and looked down. Her foot was swollen across the arch, already turning black-and-blue. “Can you move it?” Jordan asked. She did and winced again. Carefully, Jordan manipulated her foot, pressing gently on it. “Looks like a sprain—nothing broken,” he said, “but it wouldn’t hurt to get it x-rayed, just to be on the safe side.”

  “I will if it doesn’t feel better,” Darci said.

  He frowned. “You ought to let the paramedics take you to the hospital.”

  “Jordan, I am not riding in an ambulance. It’s not that serious. See.” She put weight on the foot, then grimaced again. “It hurts, but I can step on it. I don’t think it’s broken, either.”

  “Fine. Will you let me take you, just to be sure?”

  “He’s right,” Stella said, peering at Darci over Jordan’s shoulder. Her mouth quirked in a grin, and Darci knew her aunt no more believed her foot was broken than she believed their wild cow could fly.

  She was playing matchmaker.

  “Best to get it checked out,” Leon agreed.

  “All right.” Darci sighed, knowing it would do no good to keep arguing. Besides, her foot did hurt. She supposed there was the chance of a hairline fracture.

  “Just let me go check on Mac first,” Jordan said. “She’s with Jenny.” He pointed firmly at Darci. “Sit right there and don’t move.”

  “As if I can,” she grumbled. She waited until he was out of earshot and Leon had left to look after his horse. “What are you doing, Aunt Stella?”

  Stella raised her brows in an expression of innocence. “Who, me? Why, nothing. I’m just simply making sure you have the best of care from a good-looking doctor.” She gave Darci a wink. “What’s wrong with that?”

  DARCI SETTLED BACK ON the couch with Jordan’s help. She felt foolish at all the attention he was giving her. “I’m fine, really,” she said. The X-rays had shown no broken bones.

  “Well, you’ve got a sprain anyway, even if nothing’s fractured. You need to keep that elevated and put some ice on it. Sit back and I’ll get you some from the kitchen.”

  Darci sat on the sofa and squeezed her eyes shut briefly. Oh, brother. What had she gotten herself into? Christopher had stayed behind at the ranch to help Uncle Leon and Aunt Stella with the ranch rodeo and to clean up afterward. Now here Darci was, alone with Jordan, letting him wait on her hand and foot.

  He went into the kitchen and came back with some ice in a zip bag, covered by a dish towel. “Come on,” he said. “Lean back.” He fluffed some pillows behind her and, grateful, Darci eased back onto them. Jordan had taken some extra pillows from her bedroom, and now he put one underneath her leg, gently raising her ankle up and adjusting her foot.

  Darci trembled slightly as he touched her. His hands were gentle and confident, and she couldn’t help fantasizing how they would feel on other parts of her body.

  “There. How’s that?” he asked.

  “Fine,” Darci said. “Thank you.”

  “Can I get you anything? Something to drink?”

  “Don’t you have to get back to the Shadow S for Michaela?”

  “Jenny’s folks are keeping an eye on her. Trust me, she won’t miss me. She’s having a blast at the rodeo.”

  “Okay then,” Darci said. “Some water would be nice, but you don’t have to wait on me. Really.”

  “No problem. I don’t mind at all. Be right back.” He took a step away, then turned. “Bottled water or ice water?”

  “Either one. There’s bottled water in the fridge, or tap water’s good, too.”

  He gave her a wink, then left the room. Moments later he was back with a bottle of water. Darci thanked him, and as she took it from his hand their fingers touched. She looked down at his, noticing how long and slender they were. Jordan rubbed his index finger across her knuckles before letting go of the bottle.

  Darci swallowed a gasp.

  “That arena dust sure dries a person out,” she said after taking a long pull of her drink. “I hadn’t realized I was so thirsty.”

  “Well, I’d say you went above and beyond the call of duty today,” he said. He sank down to perch on the edge of the couch. “Doing what you did for little Tara, and in Sandra’s memory.” His gaze softened. “It means the world to me, and to know you got hurt…well, words simply can’t repay you.”

  Darci swallowed, trying not to notice how good he smelled. “It was no big deal,” she stammered. “I’m not the only one who participated in the rodeo, and it was Aunt Stella’s idea.” Suddenly her throat felt parched, and she took another sip of water.

  Jordan reached out and brushed a drop of water from her bottom lip with his thumb. “Yeah, but you’re the only one who got hurt,” he said.

  “I’m glad no one else got hurt,” she said. “At least not yet, knock wood. I’m just sorry I let my team down.” With Darci out of commission, the Shadow S wouldn’t be able to finish participating in the remaining events.

  “As long as the rodeo helps Tara, that’s all that really matters.”

  “That’s right.” Darci smiled.

  “I love it when you do that,” Jordan said.

  “Do what?”

  “Smile like you do, when your eyes light up.” He leaned closer. “They’re so blue. So pretty.”

  Jordan’s closeness left Darci breathless. And his compliment…well, she really didn’t know what to do with a compliment from a man.

  “I—”

  “Shh,” he said, hushing her with a soft touch of his index finger against her lips. “Don’t say anything.” He scooted even closer, leaned down, and kissed her.

  Darci moaned, taking his tongue into her mouth. He made her forget all about her ankle. Everything in the room disappeared except for Jordan. When he wrapped his arms around her, she responded by lacing hers around his neck. She encouraged him to stretch out beside her on the couch. They were alone in the house, and it felt good. They hadn’t kissed since that day on the boat.

  Darci was tired of sneaking kisses, hoping no one would see. And she was tired of tiptoeing around what she felt for Jordan. She was more than a little attracted to him. She was falling for him, and right now, she couldn’t think of anyplace she’d rather be than here in his arms.

  Mindful of her sprained ankle, Jordan rubbed his hand up and down the small of her back, locking his mouth over hers. As he deepened the kiss, she sighed contentedly, kissing him back, reaching up to remove the cowboy hat he wore. Wordlessly, she placed it on the end table beside the couch, then did what she’d been longing to do for ages. She raked her fingers through his hair, loving the thick, dark mass of it. Loving the way it felt to her touch.

  Jordan kissed her over and over, then pulled back to peer into her eyes. Softly, he stroked her face, cupping her cheek in his palm. “This is nice,” he whispered. “Darci, I can’t stop thinking about you. Can’t stop wanting to kiss you.”

  “Then don’t,” she said.

  JORDAN FELT LIKE A MASS of nerves inside. Like a schoolboy. What was he doing? He’d told himself to stay away from Darci, yet that wasn’t easy.

  “I haven’t dated anyone since Sandra died,” he told her. “Not really.” A couple of dinner dates here and there with some nurses at the hospital, or with a woman a friend tried to fix him up with. Nothing had come of it. His whole focus was on Mac, not his love life.

  But Darci was beginning to make him rethink that.

  “And I haven’t been with anyone since Christopher’s father,” she said. “I honestly haven’t wanted to.” She brushed her lips lightly across his. “What are we doing, Jordan?” she whispered.

  “I don’t know. Just shut up and kiss me some more.”

  She did.

  Jordan folded her all the more snugly into his arms and proceeded to ravish her mouth. Right or wrong, he couldn’t stop. Darci felt so good in his arms. So right.

  He worked his hands across her back and shoulders, down the front of her blouse. One by one he began to undo the snaps of the
Western shirt she wore. And was rewarded with a glimpse of a violet bra, every bit as sexy and lacy as the red one he’d seen her in before. “Aww, Darci.”

  He sprinkled kisses across her throat, down her chest to her breasts. She moaned as he cupped one soft mound in his hand and kneaded it gently. Then he bent his head and nibbled through the lace of the fancy bra. Taking her nipple in his mouth, he suckled it through the shiny material. Darci mewed with delight, arching her back and lacing her fingers in his hair.

  With his teeth, Jordan moved the satin and lace of the bra aside and took her in his mouth. He laved her nipple with his tongue and she let out a sound that was close to a sob. “Jordan,” she said. “Please don’t stop.”

  She sat up and, with his help, shrugged out of her shirt. With a flick of his fingers, he had the bra unclasped and slid it from her, looking down at the beautiful curve and swell of her bare breasts. “You’re gorgeous,” he breathed.

  She reached for him, dragging his T-shirt up and over his head. “Fair is fair,” she said. She tossed the shirt onto the floor, then placed her palms against his chest and ran them over his bare skin. “Mmm, you feel just like I imagined,” she whispered. “Even better.”

  “How’s your ankle?” he asked, half in jest, and half in genuine concern that he might cause her more pain.

  “What ankle?” she asked, scooting tight up against the back of the couch, pulling him down to lay beside her. She hooked one leg over his and began to kiss him in earnest once more.

  “You feel so good,” he said. “You don’t know how long I’ve been wanting to do this.”

  “Mmm-mmm,” she said. “Me, too. But I—I was afraid.”

  “Afraid? Of what?” He stopped for a moment, looking deep into her eyes.

  “I know a lot of people think the worst of me and Christopher, because of what he did. I was afraid you’d be one of them.”

  He wanted to be honest with her. “I was for a little while. I didn’t think I wanted to get involved with you, and not just because of Chris. I felt torn because of Sandra, but I know she’d never want me to stop living. And being with you feels perfect. This day has been perfect.” He held her, rubbing his hand over her shoulder. “I see now that Chris is on his way to healing, too. I hope my initial feelings about him were wrong.”

  “Whoa, wait a minute. Back up.” Darci’s brow furrowed. “You’re hesitant about getting involved with me because of Chris? I thought when we talked about what he did, you said you understood?”

  “I do understand, Darci. I just want to be sure everything’s right with him. I mean, if you and I are involved, that means he and Michaela will be spending time together. I told you before I know he’s in good hands with Nina. And he was having such a good time at the rodeo today. He seems to be doing well. But if there’s anything I can do to help fix things with Chris, I want you to tell me.”

  “Fix things?” She locked her gaze on his. “You want to fix my son? Jordan, there’s nothing wrong with him. He’s had problems in the past, yes. Problems we’re still working on. But he doesn’t need to be ‘fixed.’ He’s not a broken bone.”

  “I know that, Darci. You’re taking this all wrong.”

  “Am I?” She shook her head. “Here I thought you were different than everyone else who prejudged my son. But now I find out you want to fix him.” She sat up, covering herself with her shirt.

  “Darci, please don’t be upset. I only want to help.”

  “We don’t need your help,” she said, blue eyes sparking. “Like always, we’re doing just fine on our own.”

  Jordan was so intent on repairing the damage he’d done with his careless words that the sound of truck doors slamming didn’t immediately register. Darci gasped, pushing off the couch and hobbling over to peek through the curtain.

  “Oh, my God! It’s Aunt Stella and Christopher! Hurry.” Darci gathered her bra along with her shirt and made her way toward the bathroom as quick as she could.

  Jordan scrambled to snatch his T-shirt from the floor and shove his head through it. As a last minute thought, he grabbed Darci’s water bottle and rushed for the kitchen. He got there just in time to hear the front door open and Christopher call out, “Mom! I’m home.”

  Quickly Jordan tucked his T-shirt into his pants, raked his fingers through his hair, and stopped to catch his breath. Then, a fresh bottle of water in hand, he came out of the kitchen as though he were simply bringing the water to Darci.

  He had a feeling Stella wasn’t fooled. For one thing, his hat was sitting on the end table. Then Darci came hobbling out of the bathroom a moment later, her hair freshly combed—except for a little piece sticking up in the back—and her blouse snapped and tucked. But she looked like…well, like she’d been thoroughly kissed.

  Or was it just his imagination? His guilty conscience?

  “Hi, Stella,” he said brightly. “Christopher.”

  “I thought you were at the rodeo,” Darci said, running a hand over her hair.

  Stella looked from one of them to the other, and Jordan could see the older woman knew.

  “We were,” she said, “but it’s just about over. At any rate, the Shadow S is out of the running, so I thought we’d come check on you and see if you needed anything.” She raked Jordan with a knowing gaze. “But I can see you’re in good hands.”

  “I—I’m fine,” Darci stammered.

  Stella placed her hands on her hips. “Uh-huh. And what are you doing on your feet, Missy? You need to lie back on the couch and rest.” She looked sternly at Jordan.

  “I, uh, had to go to the bathroom,” Darci said.

  “Uh-huh,” Stella repeated, biting her lip.

  “I brought you some water,” Jordan added. He gave Darci a smile, and for a moment she looked confused. Then she got it, and smiled back.

  “Oh, thanks. I could use some.” She sank down on the couch, coughing slightly. “Throat’s a bit dry.”

  She situated herself on the sofa, putting her foot back up on the pillow Jordan had brought her.

  “So, how’s it feeling, Mom?” Christopher asked, looking down at Darci’s foot. “Man, it’s turning purple. That ol’ cow got you good.”

  “She sure did,” Darci said. She leaned back and gave her aunt a wide-eyed, innocent grin.

  “You forgot something,” Stella said.

  “Oh?” Darci looked puzzled.

  “Your ice pack.” She picked it up and laid it across the top of Darci’s foot. But Jordan saw her do something else as well.

  She leaned in and gestured at Darci who looked down.

  “Your shirt,” Stella whispered.

  Jordan took a closer look.

  The snaps on Darci’s Western blouse were crooked.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  DARCI’S FOOT REMAINED stiff and sore by the time Monday rolled around. She purchased a cane at the local drugstore to help her maneuver enough to go to work. While her foot couldn’t support her complete weight, it was better than on Saturday. She spent the next few days working at the hospital, avoiding Jordan then going home to Christopher. Stella had taken over her riding lessons to give her a chance to rest her foot, especially since she couldn’t get her cowboy boot on.

  By the end of the week she was back teaching—from the ground in tennis shoes. Gradually her foot felt better, and she was able to put her boot back on, though gingerly.

  She’d just come home from the Shadow S on Friday afternoon when the doorbell rang. Darci opened it to find Jordan standing on her doorstep, holding Chris’s puppy.

  “Hi,” he said. “Somebody’s ready to come home, if you’re ready to have him.”

  Darci stiffened, but invited him in. She still hadn’t been able to forgive him for what he’d said about wanting to “fix” Christopher. “He’s eight weeks today, isn’t he?” she asked. “Chris has been counting down on the calendar. I was going to call you later to see if we could come get Sampson.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Chris,” Dar
ci called. “Someone’s here to see you.”

  “Who?” His voice held a note of curiosity as he came in from the kitchen. The minute he saw the puppy, his entire face lit up. “Sampson! Is he really here to stay?”

  “You bet,” Jordan said. “Eight weeks old, finally.”

  Christopher took the puppy and snuggled him, and Sampson responded by nuzzling Chris’s neck and licking his face, his tail wagging a mile a minute. “I’ve got his stuff all ready,” Chris said. “A bed, his food bowls, toys…everything.”

  Jordan laughed. “Well, good. I hope you enjoy him.”

  “I’ll take really good care of him,” Chris said. “I promise. Can I take him up to my room, Mom?”

  “As long as you watch him so he doesn’t have an accident.”

  “I will. Thanks, Jordan.” And with that, he bounded up the stairs.

  “I haven’t seen much of you at the hospital,” Jordan said.

  “I’ve been keeping busy.” Darci shifted uncomfortably.

  “Are you sure you haven’t been avoiding me?”

  His words stung, since she knew they were true. “Maybe I have.”

  “I think we need to talk,” he said. “Is there someplace we can go this weekend? I can get Louise to keep an eye on Mac.”

  Suddenly Darci just wanted to get everything out in the open with him. “How would you like to go for a horseback ride?” she asked. “Chris loves spending time at the ranch with my aunt and uncle, and I have lessons to give tomorrow, so I’d planned to take him out there with me anyway. He can hang around with Uncle Leon while you and I take a ride.”

  “It’s been a while since I’ve been in the saddle,” Jordan said, “but I’d love to go. It sounds like fun. What time?”

  “I have lessons in the morning until just after lunch. How about one o’clock? We can pack some sandwiches and eat them out on the trail.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll meet you there. And since you’re providing the horses, I’ll bring lunch.”

  “Okay,” Darci said. “See you then.”

  When he left, she closed the door and leaned against it. Her heart was racing. Time alone out on the trails with Jordan. It wasn’t exactly what she’d had in mind, but then, it would give them a chance to clear the air with no interruptions.