Ain't No Angel

by Henderson, Peggy L

  Tyler pulled her into his arms, ignoring the stallion standing next to them.

  “He needs to get out, or he’s going to kick down his stall,” Laney whispered against her husband’s cheek.

  “And I need to get you up to the house.” Tyler nuzzled her neck, sending chills of pleasure up and down her spine.

  Laney wrapped her arms around his neck, and molded her body to his. “We just came from the house,” she murmured against his lips. “You’re insatiable.”

  “Where you’re concerned, yes I am.”

  Rap shoved his muzzle against her arm at that moment, and Laney giggled. “I don’t think Rap is going to let you forget about him right now.”

  She pulled away from Tyler, although reluctantly. For the last two weeks, he had doted on her as if she were a princess. She truly felt like a newly married bride, and was happier than she ever thought possible.

  She and Tyler had fallen into a routine that might rival a modern couple. Tyler was usually up at the crack of dawn and let her sleep in the mornings. He went about his day on the ranch, working right alongside his wranglers. Chores here were never ending. If he wasn’t working with a young horse, he helped with the rebuilding of the burned barn, chopped firewood, fixed countless other things that broke on a regular basis, and rode out to inspect his herd.

  Laney would often watch him from the front porch of the house, and sometimes join him in the barns. She tried to stay away and let the men do their jobs without hanging around too much. She couldn’t stay completely away from the horses, especially since she had to treat Rap every day. She wanted to fit in as a proper rancher’s wife in this time, and she didn’t want Tyler’s men to think less of him for allowing his wife too many liberties that weren’t considered proper for a woman.

  The sick horses were all recovering from their bout with equine flu. The three colts that had the worst cases still coughed on occasion, but Tyler hadn’t lost any of his horses like Ian Frazier had. Laney suspected that, because the Double M was spared, Tyler’s wranglers were more accepting of her in their presence. Many heads turned when Rap came to the ranch, and Laney explained that stall rest was the best thing for the stallion to recover from his injury.

  Gabe had scoffed at her plans, but he had no better solution, and in the end conceded that the horse had definitely been injured. His face had gone hard, and a murderous look had passed through his eyes when Tyler mentioned that someone might have deliberately tried to harm the stallion. The rope burns on his leg confirmed it. Gabe himself had taken it upon himself to patrol the range for any possible intruders.

  Tyler called a halt to his workday at sunset on most days. He had instructed Laney on how to work the wood stove properly, and how to cook a basic meal of meat, potatoes, and biscuits, or some variations of stew. She was confident enough now to cook a simple dinner on her own, but Tyler still showed up each day to help. After supper, they’d spend the rest of the evening in each other’s arms, talking about the horses, the ranch, and each other.

  One subject Laney hadn’t been able to broach yet was where she really came from. She’d lost sleep many nights, wondering whether to tell him she had come from the future. How would Tyler react to something like that? She’d gone over countless scenarios. Would he be angry? Would he reject her? Simply laugh in her face and call her crazy?

  There’s only one way to find out, Laney.

  Was it worth risking everything? She’d finally found what she’d always wanted. Why ruin that by dropping such a bomb on him?

  Tyler deserved to know the truth. He had told her everything about himself, about his painful past with his mother and father. It couldn’t have been easy for a man to do, opening up to her like that. He told her every day that he loved her, and she had no reason to doubt him.

  Tyler pushed Rap’s head aside, and reluctantly released Laney’s waist.

  “Let’s get this horse treated, and then I’m spending the rest of the day with you,” he grumbled, and shot a mock annoyed look at the horse. He patted the stallion’s neck, and led the eager animal from his stall. Laney followed quietly, pleased to see the stallion moving freely.

  Tyler led him from the barn, and released him in one of the smaller pens. Rap trotted off without any problems. Laney stood against the fence, a satisfied smile on her face.

  “Another week, and I think he can go back to his girls.” She turned to Tyler.

  “Good. Does that mean I can get back to my girl now?” He settled his hand at her waist, and pulled her closer.

  “You’re all done with your work?” Laney raised her eyebrows. “The day hasn’t even started yet.”

  “Gabe and the rest of the boys have things under control today. There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

  Laney angled her head upward to study him. A quick jolt of apprehension rushed through her. What would he need to discuss with her that he couldn’t simply bring up right here?

  Tyler grinned. “Don’t look so worried, Laney. It’s nothing serious. I just want some time alone with you, and then I’ll tell you.”

  “Okay.” She expelled the breath she’d been holding. “But it’s not like you don’t spend enough alone time with me. Don’t get me wrong. I love spending time with you, but—”

  “He’s looking like he’s ready to breed some mares.” Gabe strode up behind them, nodding toward the stallion in the pen. His eyes darted from Tyler to Laney. His gaze lingered on her, a smug look on his face.

  Tyler stepped away from her. His hand remained for a moment longer at her waist, then he turned to his foreman.

  “Looks like it. We might have a few less foals next spring, but at least we haven’t lost our stallion. And with the gray colt coming three next year, we can give him a small band of mares of his own.”

  Gabe smiled. “Sounds like a fine plan.” His eyes still rested on her. “Thanks to your wife here. Who knew she’d be such an asset?”

  Laney didn’t waver at his scrutiny. She wasn’t about to let him know how uneasy he made her feel. She still planned to talk to him about the conversation they’d had the night of Myra’s birthday party. So far, she hadn’t been able to catch Gabe alone. He seemed to have made himself scarce in her presence since that day.

  Her eyes shot from Tyler to Gabe. What a contrast between these two men. They were about the same height, but where Tyler’s hair was a light shade of brown, Gabe had nearly jet black hair. Tyler was reserved and polite while Gabe was loud and obnoxious. How these two seemed to be such close friends was a mystery to her.

  Her eyes volleyed from one man to the other. Something odd struck her as she looked at both men, something that she’d noticed before, but it never quite surfaced in her brain. It was always more of a subconscious feeling.

  “Rap can stay out in the pen for a while. Can you make sure he’s got hay and water, Gabe? I have some things I need to talk to Laney about.”

  Tyler’s voice broke into her thoughts, and whatever had been hovering at the surface of her mind about Gabe vanished back into nothingness.

  “Sure, boss. Don’t keep the lady of the house waiting,” Gabe said. He slapped Tyler’s back, then shot a final unreadable look at Laney before sauntering off toward the barn.

  Laney stared after him, her forehead scrunched. She shook her head. What was it about that guy that she couldn’t put her finger on?

  Tyler reached for her hand and led her to the house. He hadn’t quite closed the door when he pulled her to him and kissed her with such passion, everything else faded from Laney’s mind. Their clothes were quickly discarded before they even reached the bedroom. Tyler made love to her with the same tender passion she’d come to crave from him, and Laney sighed in his arms when he pulled her tightly up against him.

  “I’ve never been happier in my life, Tyler,” Laney whispered against her husband’s chest. “For once, I did the right thing when I accepted the offer to come here.”

  Tyler ran his fingers through her hair. “And I’m
thankful every day that I married you and didn’t send you off on the next stage like I’d originally planned.”

  Laney glanced up at him. Adrenaline coursed through her. Should she tell him the rest of her story? At least feel him out?

  “What did you want to talk to me about?” she asked. Coward.

  Tyler leaned up against the headboard of his bed, and pulled her up with him, his arms wrapped firmly around her.

  “I have a string of horses that I need to take to Fort Ellis,” he said slowly.

  Relief flooded through Laney’s limbs, making them go weak and rubbery. She had almost dreaded what he wanted to talk to her about. She mentally shook her head. She needed to stop thinking the worst all the time. Tyler loved her. There was no doubt in her mind. He was her future.

  “Why did you need to whisk me away to our room just to tell me that?” She laughed, and ran her hand up his chest.

  Tyler grinned sheepishly. “That was just an excuse to get you up to the house.”

  “Oh, really?” She raised her eyebrows. “And here I thought you were going to give me bad news, or something.”

  Tyler’s smile vanished. “Laney. I know what’s on your mind. I hope I’ve proven to you that I’m not going to grow tired of you. I love you.”

  Laney leaned up and touched his cheek. She kissed his lips. “And I love you,” she whispered.

  And I need to start being open and honest with you.

  “So, where is Fort Ellis, and how long will you be gone?” She met his gaze.

  “It’s near Bozeman. It’ll take me and several of the wranglers about three days to get there. I’ll be gone a little over a week, hopefully no longer.”

  Laney’s brows scrunched together. She leaned over him, resting her forearms on his chest. “Why do you seem so worried?”

  “Because I don’t want to be away from you that long.” His fingers grazed her cheek.

  “Are you entrusting me to run the ranch by myself?” She grinned up into his serious face.

  “No. Gabe’s in charge of the ranch while I’m gone. Eddie and Sammy will be here, too. They’ll all look out for you, but I can ask Myra Hansen to come and stay here with you,” he added hastily. “Maybe you want a woman for company.”

  “I think I’ll be all right.”

  With Tyler gone, this might be her perfect opportunity to talk to Gabe alone. She had to find out what his deal was where she was concerned. She wasn’t sure how much she should reveal to Tyler about Gabe. Was there anything to reveal? The guy unnerved her with his leering ways, and the things he’d said to her. But he was also Tyler’s foreman and good friend. Guys tended to be pretty close. She’d have a talk with him herself before she mentioned her misgivings to Tyler.

  “I don’t want you doing anything foolish while I’m gone, Laney.” Tyler’s voice had grown stern, almost like a parent warning his child. “No riding alone. We still don’t know who harmed the horses. Ian’s men have been on the lookout, and so has everyone at the Double M. We will find who is responsible for the death of Ian’s horses, and Rap’s injuries. I can’t help but think it’s all related. I just don’t know how yet.”

  “How well do you know Ian Frazier? His horse won that race, Tyler. I wonder if he had something to do with hurting Rap or the infected colt.”

  Tyler shook his head. “Ian lost half his foal crop because of that sick colt, Laney. Why would he risk something like that?”

  “Maybe he didn’t count on the colt ending up on his property. Maybe Rap ran him off before he could infect your horses, and then he ended up on Ian’s land.”

  “Doing harm to another man’s horses is as bad as stealing,” Tyler said, his voice serious. “It’s a hanging offense. Ian and I have had our differences, but I just can’t see him going to those lengths to try and ruin me.”

  “When are you leaving?” Laney swallowed, changing the subject. Talk of hangings gave her an uneasy feeling. It reminded her yet again what century she was in.

  “Day after tomorrow. We’ll be back by next Sunday. I just need you to stay out of trouble.” He swiped a finger down her nose.

  “Maybe I could go with you,” she suggested tentatively.

  Tyler’s arms tightened around her. “I knew you would ask that.” His lips curved in a smile. “And the answer is no. I’m not subjecting you to long days in the saddle and camping out with a bunch of men.”

  “But, Tyler, I—”

  “No arguments,” he interrupted. His tone let her know that he wouldn’t budge on his decision. “It’s too dangerous for a woman. Driving a bunch of horses over open country means long hours in the saddle, and hard work. Too many things can go wrong on these drives. I won’t have time to keep my eye on you, and I won’t put your life in danger.”

  “What about your life? If it’s so dangerous, shouldn’t I be worried about you?” The real possibility that Tyler might get hurt on such a trip unnerved her. This was his job, it was part of life here in this time. That thought didn’t ease her apprehension.

  “I’ve got someone important to come home to,” Tyler whispered. “I’ll be extra careful.”

  Laney jutted her lower lip out in a mock pout. “Oh, all right,” she huffed. “You boys get to have all the fun. One of these days I want to go on a horse round up.”

  Tyler chuckled. “There are some things that women just don’t do, Laney.”

  She pushed herself off his chest and straddled his hips. Her eyes narrowed and she glared down at him. “And here I thought you liked that I was different,” she pouted.

  Laney’s heart sped up at her own words. She’d opened the door to the conversation she dreaded. Was Tyler’s mindset about women and their place not as progressive as she’d believed, after all?

  “Different? You mean, unconventional?” He grinned, and reached up to cup her cheek in his hand. Her hair spilled down around her face, and he swiped the strands behind her ears. His eyes darkened. “Yeah, I like that you’re different, but I ain’t budging on you going on a week-long horse drive across open country. It’s just plain too dangerous for you.” His other hand caressed her thigh.

  Laney smiled seductively. The pulse at his throat increased visibly. Sweat beaded his forehead, and his chest rose and fell faster.

  “I could try and persuade you,” she purred. “Besides.” She adjusted her hips around his waist. “I can ride as well as any of your wranglers.”

  With a move she hadn’t anticipated, Tyler flipped her off of him and onto her back, and she found herself beneath him before she had time to blink. Her arms snaked around his neck, and she giggled. Darn him. He’d successfully turned the tables on her.

  “You’re not one of my wranglers, Laney. You’re my wife,” he growled in a low tone. “Yes, you ride as well as a man. It befuddles my mind how you learned all the things you know, and you sure talk funny sometimes, but I’m getting used to it. In fact, I wouldn’t want you any other way.” He braced his forearms on either side of her, his eyes glowing in silent triumph.

  “Well, someday, women are going to have all the same rights as men do.” Laney squirmed beneath him. “They’ll go on round ups and take horses cross country, and they won’t require a man to tag along.”

  Tyler’s eyebrows shot up. She raised her head off the pillow to kiss the gloating grin off his face. He deepened the kiss, pulling her tightly to him.

  “I never took you for one of those suffrage women,” he whispered against her lips. “I know there’s been talk of women being given the right to vote. Wyoming and Utah Territories already allow it.”

  “Are you opposed to that?” Laney pushed her hands against his chest, glaring up at him.

  Tyler chuckled. “Hell, no. I’m not against women voting, as long as they have a good head on their shoulders.”

  “How would you feel about a woman in charge of a large business? Or even becoming president of the United States? Someday, all of that might be reality, Tyler.”

  “Maybe.” He shrugged. He
rolled to the side and pulled her up against him. “But probably not in your or my lifetime.”

  Laney raised her head and stared up at him. So far, she had the impression that Tyler was simply indulging her in bemusement. Her pulse quickened when she asked the next question. “So, if you could ever live in a different time, would you?”

  “A different time?” His eyebrows scrunched together.

  “Maybe someday people can travel through time,” she suggested.

  Tyler laughed. “What time would you want to go to? And what for?”

  Laney avoided his eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe a hundred fifty or so years into the future.”

  Tyler’s hand slid slowly up and down her arm. “I wonder what horses will be like in the future.”

  “The same as they are now,” Laney answered quickly. “I think that they won’t use horses anymore for transportation, though. They’ll be used more for recreation, and sport. Something for rich people to spend their money and time on.”

  Tyler glanced at her. His eyes sparkled in amusement, and he even shook his head. What must be going through his mind? Did he think she’d completely lost her sanity?

  “So how are people going to get around if they don’t use horses anymore? You think it’s all going to be by train or boat?” To his credit, he seemed to indulge her in, what he surely thought, were her crazy notions.

  “No. There will be vehicles that will run on engines. Different than steam engines that fuel a train, though. They won’t need to depend on tracks to get around.” She sat up, and added hastily, “Oh, and an even faster way to cover really long distances is to fly.”

  Tyler burst out laughing. “People will be able to fly? Laney, I love you and your wild imagination.”

  “What if it does happen, Tyler?” She sat up, and stared at him. He wasn’t taking her seriously at all. She couldn’t really blame him. How else was he supposed to react? At least he didn’t outright call her insane.

  “Sounds to me if everyone gets around real fast, no one will slow down long enough to enjoy what’s really important in life.” He pulled her back toward him, and kissed her.