One Tough Cowboy

by Sara Orwig

  A ranch hand had whistled them in, and that was the last Finn had seen of them. He had watched lights go out in the house, but there were still several on, so he continued his vigil.

  From what Finn had learned in town, the cowboy was Josh Kellogg, a solitary man, but one that had lots of relatives.

  The small town was a wealth of information, but Finn had been very careful. Small-town people noticed strangers and were as nosy about them as they were about each other. He had kept his questions casual, his contacts to a minimum, gleaning little bits of information, and finally coming out to the ranch to see for himself.

  He had seen Kellogg and a woman go into the house tonight, but the shutters had been closed and he couldn’t get a good glimpse of her. He had watched her depart from the club’s reception with the cowboy. Finn felt certain it was her.

  When her car had skidded off the road and exploded, he had thought for sure he was rid of her. Job completed. But then nothing had shown up in the newspapers about a woman dying in a car crash. He had checked local hospitals and couldn’t find any leads, no mention of a Jane Doe who fit her description, nothing. Nothing for too long, and he knew she had to have survived. That cowboy he’d shot at had to have found her. How Finn wished that one of his shots had killed the man! He couldn’t be sure whether the cowboy had gotten a good look at him or not. Could Josh Kellogg identify him? That question had plagued him constantly.

  Finn had gone back to the site of the crash. Then he had started checking on who owned the land. And eventually, in Stallion Pass, he had discovered that Josh Kellogg had a stepmother living with him at his ranch, but he had another woman living out there, too. That seemed to be a piece of hot gossip in the small town. Evidently the man didn’t take his lady friends home to stay, and this was highly unusual.

  Finn had learned about the wedding and had planted himself where he could see each guest go into the club. He had already found out what the cowboy looked like from old newspapers and rodeo shots. He’d gotten only a brief glimpse of the woman on Kellogg’s arm when the two entered the club, but he felt certain it was her: same brown wig, same leggy stride. Then he had waited in the dark on the terrace and watched her dance with the cowboy. He had been tempted to try for a shot then, but his escape wasn’t planned out.

  He thought of the rifle in his car, one with a scope. There would be no misses this time, no failure. Once she was in the crosshairs of his rifle, he wouldn’t miss. She would be his.

  And so would the blackmail deal. Even if he pulled the trigger, he could get more money, because his boss couldn’t risk a hint of involvement. All he wanted was an extra hundred grand. One time. He wasn’t going to push it or bleed the man dry. And an extra hundred wouldn’t hurt the guy—not with his wealth and with the woman out of the way.

  The back door opened, breaking his reverie, and for a moment two figures were silhouetted against the brightly lit kitchen.

  Instantly Finn was on alert, his aching muscles forgotten, dreams of money gone. He raised his binoculars and focused them. A woman he didn’t know came out of the house. Then his pulse jumped. He focused on a tall blonde carrying a suitcase. Her face was in shadows, but he knew it was her. No wig this time. He recognized the cascade of golden hair, those long legs.

  She was leaving! And leaving him at a disadvantage, he suddenly realized. He was over a mile from his car, which was parked up near the road. He watched the two women, his mind racing. By the time he got to the car, they would be gone.

  He scrambled down out of the tree. If he ran, maybe he would get lucky and could make it by the time they reached the road. He jumped down, groaning as a pain shot through his ankle. He dropped the binoculars and had to scramble to find them.

  The moment his hand closed over them, he was up and running, dashing through the hated woods. His next job would have to be a city job. He loathed the night creatures, the incessant bugs, the eerie sounds and the thick underbrush. He had heard this country was full of snakes. He shut his mind to that. Frantically he looked for the white strips of cloth he had placed on brush. Otherwise he never would find his way out of these woods.

  At one point he tripped and sprawled on his face in the dirt and leaves. Swearing, he yanked up the binoculars and ran again, risking the flashlight to see where he was going. She was going to get away. She had a suitcase, so probably she was leaving the ranch for good. If he lost her now, he would have to start all over again.

  Who was the other woman and where was she taking her? Why wasn’t the cowboy driving her wherever she was going? Were they headed back to Kansas City? He tried to run faster. If he lost her now, he didn’t want to have to report back about it. He didn’t want to repeat the nightmare of searching for her.

  Branches tore at his face, and his side hurt. He was gasping for breath even though he worked out nearly every day of his life.

  Reaching his car at last, he flung himself behind the wheel and jammed the key into the ignition. When the engine roared to life, he shifted into gear and eased ahead, picking up speed as he bounced over the rough, open ground, not caring if they found tracks.

  He drove over the fence he had knocked down and then he was on the road, accelerating, gritting his teeth. He couldn’t lose her again.

  Laurie sat quietly, her thoughts focused on Josh as they left the ranch. She answered Nina’s chatter perfunctorily, barely aware of what she was saying.

  “You’re doing the right thing, and I thank you so much,” Nina repeated. “Now I can go home and know Josh is safe. Since he’s helped you from the first moments of your wreck, I’m sure you’ve come to depend on him, but you’ll find friends at this shelter and women who will help you. The woman I talked to at the shelter is named Glenna Thorne. She said they have a security guard on duty at all times.”

  “I’m not worried. No one will know where I am,” Laurie said, still thinking of Josh. Driving through the dead of night, she felt little fear for herself. She was doing what she should, removing any chance of danger for Josh, yet why did she feel so terrible about it? He would know why she hadn’t said goodbye. And Nina was right. This was what was best.

  In spite of all her mental arguments, Laurie was wrapped in gloom. She paid little attention to Nina until finally the woman fell silent.

  Glancing at the mirror on the passenger side, Laurie became aware there were headlights in the distance behind them. Was it just an ordinary car, or was someone following them? As they approached the outskirts of town, the headlights were still far behind them.

  “Nina, there’s a car behind us. There’s a chance someone could be following us.”

  Nina shot her a worried glance and adjusted the rearview mirror. “I don’t think so, but I’ll watch.”

  In minutes they were in light traffic on the freeway into the city, and Nina shrugged. “I don’t think anyone was following us. Don’t worry. Whether they were or not, you’ll be safe. This shelter is accustomed to dealing with women who are trying to escape violent men.”

  They were quiet until they stopped at an unpretentious frame building on an out-of-the way street near the center of town. A light burned over the door.

  “I can take care of myself from here,” Laurie said. “You don’t need to get out, and you should head back to the ranch. I’ll say goodbye now.”

  “I’ll keep you in my prayers that you get your memory soon and things work out for you.” Nina smiled at her coolly. “You’re not going to call Josh to come get you, are you?”

  “No, I’m not,” Laurie answered, trying to be patient with the woman, who was merely being protective of her stepson. “Josh is out of my life.”

  Nina nodded. “Thank you for leaving. Goodbye, Laurie, and good luck.”

  Laurie got out, taking her suitcase, and as she approached the house, a uniformed man appeared out of the shadows.

  “I’m Laurie Smith. My friend called ahead and talked to Glenna Thorne.”

  He nodded and held the door for her. Inside, Laurie me
t Glenna, a short brunette.

  “Welcome, Laurie. You’ll be safe with us,” she said. “If you’ll come with me and fill out a few papers, I’ll show you to your room as soon as you’re finished.”

  Laurie sat down with Glenna to fill out a few forms and answer questions. Finally she was given a narrow room sparsely furnished with a bed, dresser, desk and chair. She was shown where the kitchen and bathroom were, and was given a printed schedule.

  She felt completely alone in the world, and it was cold and scary, yet she continually reminded herself that this was best for Josh, and eventually her memory would return. Her doctor had told her it would. She had said that memory could come back in bits or all in a flash.

  Laurie changed and climbed into bed between clean, fresh-smelling sheets. She turned out the light and finally allowed memories to come, thinking of the moments she had stood in Josh’s arms and he had kissed her senseless. Now it seemed eons away instead of only hours.

  She had nothing to compare his kisses to, but she suspected when her memory returned, she would find that Josh’s kisses had been the best of her life.

  Outside, Finn stood in the shadows, trying to move with stealth. He had seen her under the bright, bare bulb of the porch light. It was her. There was no mistake. He didn’t know what the place was, but there was a security guard.

  He didn’t care. When daylight came, he would find out about the place. No fast moves. He wanted to be careful, certain, but with his rifle, the job would soon be done.

  He crept back to his car and climbed inside. Thankful to be in a city again, he headed for a motel. He could catch some sleep and then get back to work. She hadn’t looked as if she was going anywhere else tonight.

  He wouldn’t call yet to report her whereabouts. He wanted to know as much as he could before he phoned in. Hopefully, she would be dead when he made that call.

  Josh came awake, turning to stare at the glow-in-the-dark numerals on his clock. It was almost five. Memories rushed in of Laurie in his arms, dancing with him, kissing him. He stared into the night, seeing her, remembering her saucy challenge and then those kisses that had turned him inside out.

  Just remembering her kisses aroused him. He wanted her as he had never wanted a woman before. Was it the forbidden part that made her so enticing? He knew it wasn’t. Those kisses would have had the same effect if she had been completely available, willing and ready for any kind of relationship.

  With a groan he flung aside the covers and strode to his bathroom to take a cold shower, hoping that would help his body cool down. He wanted to drive out taunting memories, wanted to get dressed and go to the kitchen and wait for her. Usually in the morning he didn’t see her because he left early to do his chores, but he had made arrangements for his men to take over today so he would be free to spend the morning with his family.

  Free to spend the morning with Laurie. He admitted to himself that’s what he wanted. And this afternoon they would be alone. Eagerness gripped him at the thought, and he hurried, wanting to get to the kitchen so he would be there when she came down.

  He knew she usually didn’t wake until several hours after he had gone, but she might this morning. Dressing in a navy shirt and jeans, he pulled on socks and boots, fastened his belt and drew a comb through his thick hair.

  He tossed down the comb, and his pulse skittered again as he left the room and headed down the hall. Laurie’s door was closed, and delicious, erotic, enticing images of her asleep taunted him.

  She’s forbidden! He reminded himself constantly to keep a distance, yet he would probably toss aside wisdom again tonight, as swiftly as he had last night.

  He hummed a tune under his breath, filled with anticipation, eager to be with her.

  He switched on the kitchen light and soon had coffee brewing, bacon frying and orange juice poured. With his relatives here, they would eat an old-fashioned, calorie-filled breakfast. The boys would devour it. Tomorrow he could go back to the healthy stuff, but today was a celebration of everyone being together, his own private celebration that Laurie was there.

  She won’t always be here, he reminded himself. He knew that full well, but she was here now and he was going to forget caution and enjoy her company today.

  Caroline was the first up, appearing in her thick blue robe, looking pretty even without makeup and just waking up. “I thought I’d find you puttering around the kitchen. Sit down and enjoy your coffee and juice, and I’ll take over.”

  “Thanks, I’ll do that,” he said, pouring himself a steaming cup of black coffee.

  “Josh, how much danger are you in with Laurie here?”

  “I don’t think I’m in danger. All my men know what happened, and I’ve asked them to watch for anything strange. I’m being careful, and when we went to the wedding, I carried my pistol.”

  “That’s not exactly reassuring.”

  “I’ll be careful. I’m not afraid.”

  “Maybe that’s what worries me. Someone tried to kill her. He could try again.”

  “When her memory returns, she’ll leave, and by then she’ll know what’s she’s up against, whether the law will help her, if she has friends or family who can assist her.”

  Caroline turned to study him. “Please be careful. You’re important to me.”

  “I will be,” he said, smiling at her.

  She looked up at him. “I talked to Mary Cordoba last night. She told me you got shot by the man who’s after Laurie.”

  “It was nothing.”

  “I am just so worried about you.”

  He sipped his cold orange juice, aware that she was still studying him. “What, Caroline? Something else is bothering you, right?”

  “What happens if you fall in love with her, Josh?”

  Chapter 9

  “I ’m not falling in love with her and I won’t,” Josh replied, yet he didn’t look at Caroline, and his denial was difficult to say.

  She rubbed her forehead. “Men can be so obtuse. I saw you dancing with her last night. You’ve never in your life been deeply, truly in love, and I’ve always thought that when you did finally fall in love it would be the once-in-a-lifetime, this-has-to-be-forever kind.”

  “Well, I’m not in any danger of that happening. If she left today, I could say goodbye and that would be that.”

  “You really think so?”

  “Absolutely. I’m not a marrying man. You know I’ve never gotten serious with any woman and I’m not going to now.”

  “I suppose. Why hasn’t her family come in search of her? She’s a gorgeous young woman someone, somewhere, has to have missed by now.

  He set down his juice. “I’ll admit, that’s another bad thing. She’s on the run. She was carrying an enormous amount of cash,” he said quietly.

  Caroline closed her eyes and clutched her middle. When she opened her eyes, she looked pained, but murmured, “Just promise you’ll be careful, okay? And remember, I’ll be around if you need me.”

  Josh smiled. “Thanks.”

  “Good morning!” Ben entered the room. He wore plaid shorts and his hair stood up in tufts as he rubbed his face with his hand.

  “Ben, go put on some clothes. We have a guest in the house,” Caroline said.

  He gazed at her with round eyes, then looked at Josh questioningly.

  “Laurie, remember?” Josh stated dryly.

  “I’m decent. I’m in shorts. This is what I wear to the beach.”

  “They look like the first deep breath you take, they’re going to fall off,” Caroline remarked. “But if you go out that way in public, I guess you can come into the kitchen that way.”

  “Put on some jeans,” Josh said.

  Ben shrugged and left, and Caroline looked at Josh. “Now how do you get that out of him, when I can’t and his father couldn’t have possibly?”

  Josh smiled. “I’m the daddy who raised him, so I’m the voice of authority.”

  “That’s too true,” she said. “Well, thank goodness you’re
around and thank goodness he’s a good kid, or I’d be in real trouble.”

  “I am around and he is a good kid, so all’s well.”

  Minutes later Ben returned in jeans, and Caroline handed him a glass of juice and a glass of milk. He downed the juice in one long gulp and then moved to the table to sit down with Josh. “When does Laurie get up?”

  “I don’t think for another hour,” Josh said, glancing at the clock, “but most mornings I’m gone, so I don’t know for certain.”

  “She is one good-looking woman,” Ben said. “Too bad she can’t remember anything. You don’t know whether she’s married or not, do you?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Ben, the eggs will be done in a minute. Will you fix toast?” Caroline asked.

  Ben crossed to the cabinet to get out a loaf of bread. “I hope Laurie gets up soon. Once Kevin comes in, he’ll spend every second flirting with her. Unless you keep him from it,” Ben said, shooting Josh a wicked look filled with curiosity.

  “I don’t care if he flirts with her.”

  “Hey, Kevin and I have a bet to see who can ride the white stallion the longest,” Ben said. “Is that okay with you?”

  Josh grinned. “Be my guest. I’ll give you each two full seconds. And when you hit the dirt, you better be up and running.”

  Ben laughed. “We’ll see. You haven’t tamed him yet?”

  “I haven’t had time to do anything except see that he has feed and water.”

  In minutes the three were eating breakfast, yet Josh kept glancing at the kitchen door, watching for Laurie. He was only half paying attention to the conversation, enjoying Ben and Caroline, yet eager for Laurie to join them.

  He knew Kevin would flirt with her, and the thought mildly annoyed him. He glanced at the empty kitchen doorway again and wished Laurie would get up.

  They were finished with breakfast, Ben placing dishes in the dishwasher while Josh and Caroline sipped another cup of coffee, when Ethan joined them. Ten minutes later, Nina came in. She wore makeup and was dressed in pale yellow linen slacks and a linen blouse. The scent of her perfume floated in the air as Ben served the newcomers breakfast.