Sitting on the sofa, contemplating the problem, she suddenly heard an eerie, keening howl penetrate the darkness outside. She sat frozen, her face blanching. What seemed an interminable length of time later a second howl answered the first.
The howling grew louder and seemed to be coming closer. Chills ran up and down her spine like a herd of galloping horses. She shivered and pulled her knees up under her chin. Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to stay here alone, after all, especially since she’d forgotten to have the phone turned back on. Chastising herself for her lack of courage, she reminded herself that at least she was safe here in the cabin with the door and windows shut.
Remembering the broken pane of glass in the bathroom, her overactive imagination suddenly went on a rampage. She had heard that wolves could scent their prey from great distances. If so, could they smell her through that small hole and would they lunge through the bathroom window trying to get to her, as they did in the movies? The image of a wolf crashing through the glass, teeth bared, made her heart triple its already pounding rhythm.
Jumping up, she ran to the bathroom to close the door. At least if they got into the bathroom, there would be a solid barrier between her and them, but then what? Her normally sensible mind refused to function properly as the howls continued to sound ever closer.
As she reached out for the knob to the bathroom door, something fell onto her outstretched hand and then onto the floor. Her eyes widened in alarm when she recognized the insect with the curled tail and pincers. Nerves already taut from terror, she jerked backward and screamed.
A sudden pounding on her door only increased her hysteria. The wolves were trying to break down the door! She ran for the fireplace and grabbed the fireplace iron from its rack just as the front door slammed back against the wall. She clutched her throat, panic paralyzing her vocal chords.
* * *
“What is going on in here?”
Mitch stood in the doorway of the cabin, his hands curled into fists and his pulse pounding with the speed of a runaway train. His eyes swiftly circled the room and came to rest on Jenny huddled in the corner clutching a fireplace iron as if her life depended on it. Recognition registered in her eyes a moment before her legs buckled under her and she slowly slid to the floor.
Mitch was at her side in an instant. Kneeling beside her, he placed a protective arm around her as he continued to survey the room for the threat that had turned her into a quivering bundle of nerves. His heart was thrumming in rhythm with the pulse he could see jerking in her throat. Seeing no immediate threat, he frowned.
He lifted her to her feet and searched for injuries. “What’s happened? Are you hurt?”
At her shuddering sighs, he pried the fireplace iron from her tightly fisted hands and laid it aside. She was shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. He wrapped her comfortingly in his arms and started crooning soft words of reassurance as he took in the fact that there was no visible danger. One large hand held her head gently against his chest, his other hand slowly stroked her back. He wasn’t sure if his shirt would ever be the same after the mangling it was receiving from her clenching hands. He could feel the tension slowly leave her body as she relaxed against him. Her trembling lessened and her tears finally ceased.
“Can you tell me what happened?” he asked softly after she was silent for several seconds. She visibly tried to pull herself together.
The sudden realization that she was in his arms seemed to register and she pushed back, folding her arms across her chest defensively. When she could finally bring herself to look him in the face, traces of tears still lingered on her lashes.
“Wolves!” she choked out, begging him with her eyes to believe her.
“What?” Mitch watched her, a frown tugging his brows together. What was she talking about? There were no wolves in this part of the state.
“Didn’t you hear them? Didn’t you see them outside?” Her voice rose in panic on the last word. Mitch’s eyes narrowed speculatively as he considered whether the woman just might be slightly unbalanced.
Trying to calm her again, he reached forward and took her by the shoulders. She was still shaking and he felt every protective instinct he thought he had buried years ago rise to the surface again.
“We don’t have wolves around here,” he told her quietly.
Pushing his hands away, she glared at him. “But I heard them. Just now.”
Sudden comprehension lit his features and he chuckled in relief. “Those weren’t wolves you heard. They were coyotes.”
“Coyotes?”
He nodded, watching her carefully for any returning signs of hysteria. Instead hot color stole into her cheeks.
“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. We had coyotes in North Dakota, too.”
Mitch hid a grin. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe she wouldn’t last a month, after all.
A new thought darkened her eyes and she whirled toward the bathroom. She glanced frantically around the living room. “There was a scorpion, too.”
Mitch frowned. “Where?”
“In the bathroom. No, I mean it came from the bathroom. It fell on my arm!”
He could tell she was struggling not to panic again in front of him. He took her by the arms. “Did it sting you?” he asked anxiously as he inspected her skin for injury. Although people rarely died from scorpion stings, they could be extremely painful.
She shook her head, biting her bottom lip as she tried to pull from his hold. Soft skin covered the slightest set of bones he had ever seen. He was almost afraid of crushing her with his big hands. He opened his mouth to reassure her when he caught movement from the corner of his eye. He held out his hand. “Hand me the fireplace iron.”
Without hesitation, Jenny hastily held it out to him. Surprised that he was reluctant to release her, he took the iron and, using it as a hammer, swiftly killed the offending insect and scooped it up with the end. Walking to the door, he quickly dispatched the creature outside. When he turned back to the room he tried hard to stifle the grin that was trying to push its way through.
“Anything else?” One blond brow quirked upward as he held out the fireplace iron to her, his lips still twitching.
She flushed with embarrassment. Taking the iron, she walked across the room and slammed it back into the rack. “You needn’t act so superior.”
He couldn’t help the grin then, but he refrained from comment. Now that the drama was finished, he could finally breathe. His heart was only now resuming its normal rhythm. Hearing Jenny’s scream had sent adrenaline rushing through him in a torrent. Holding her in his arms hadn’t helped much, either. It was going to be some time before those lingering memories would fade. Even now, the soft scent of jasmine remained in his mind.
He slowly wandered around the cabin, noting the changes she had made. He raked his hands through his hair, sighed and glanced her way. “You’re really going through with it. You’re really going to stay here.”
He saw her tense.
“What are you doing here, anyway?” She contemplated him through narrowed eyes. “If you came to talk me out of my ranch, you can just leave again.”
When he took a step toward her she hastily removed herself to the other side of the room, placing the sofa between them. She glared at him warily and his aggravation mounted.
“Look, I don’t know what you have against me, but I’m not the big, bad ogre you make me out to be.”
At her cynical look, he sighed. “All right. Maybe I haven’t been exactly welcoming.”
She gave a very unladylike snort, but said nothing.
Okay, so he hadn’t been the friendliest person she would ever meet, but she didn’t have to look at him as though he was a dragon about to devour her, either. He forced himself to relax.
“I came to let you know that you have a horse at my ranch. It
actually belonged to Tito, but I’ve been keeping him until someone came to claim the estate.”
“A horse? Mine? I mean, ours?” A glow of pleasure lit her eyes. When she smiled that way, her sapphire eyes sparkled with an inner fire that made her almost pretty despite her wraithlike figure. He remembered the feel of those bones beneath his hands, so frail, so small. He pushed such thoughts aside, aggravated with himself for allowing her to get under his skin that way and make him feel protective toward her.
“What kind of horse is it?”
“He’s a gelded quarter horse.” How much did she know about caring for a horse? He had been reluctant to even mention it to her, wondering if the horse would suffer under her care. That was something he wasn’t willing to let happen. The horse had been a favorite of Tito’s.
“I’m willing to buy him from you.”
The pleasure died in her eyes. “Is that all you ever think about? Buying, buying, buying! I’ve known men like you. You think money can buy you anything!”
They both stood frozen for an interminable second before Jenny clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening in horror. “I’m sorry!”
But it was too late; his temper flared into life. He was across the room in three strides, stepping up and over the couch she had assumed would be a barrier against him. She flinched away from him, backing until she was against the wall. He placed two corded arms at each side of her head and leaned his face close to hers. Anger blazed from his eyes.
“Listen, Jenny Gordon, I’m getting a little tired of your judgmental attitude. I was thinking of the horse when I made the offer. I didn’t know if you knew how to care for a horse or even if you had the money to.” At the mention of money Jenny winced. “Ah, I can see you didn’t think of that. Well, Miss Gordon, I did. Horses need a lot of care and attention, and they cost money. I didn’t want to see the horse come to grief because you couldn’t handle the obligation.”
* * *
Jenny stared into his green eyes, appalled and embarrassed at her outburst. Something about Mitch always put her on the defensive. Just for a moment, her imagination had morphed his face into a picture of Alexander’s, bringing back all the hurt she had thought finally laid to rest. She’d struck out at Mitch, the only available target around.
Why did she continually suspect Mitch of ulterior motives? Despite his kindness tonight, she was still wary of him. Maybe it had to do with her unusual physical reaction to him, or maybe it had to do with those hateful memories from her past. Whenever he came near, her heart doubled its rhythm and her knees weakened, something that had never happened to her before, even with Alexander. If Alexander had been dangerous, this man was positively lethal. Just being around him fired up every one of her self-protective instincts.
She sighed. “I’m truly sorry. You’re right. I’m not equipped to deal with the finances of maintaining a horse right now.” She pulled her gaze from his and dropped it to the floor. “It’s just that I wanted it so badly. It would be wonderful for my brother and sister. It’s been a long time since they’ve been able to have a pet.”
Mitch pushed himself away from the wall and stood towering over her. He stared for a long time, his face clouded with uncertainty. Then heaving a deep sigh, he said, “I think we got off on the wrong foot. Can we just start over?”
She couldn’t breathe until he moved away and gave her some room. Nodding her head, she told him in a voice that was a little too breathy for comfort, “I’d like that.”
She motioned for him to have a seat and he moved to the sofa and lowered himself onto it. Jenny settled guardedly on a chair opposite him.
He was staring at her in that way that made her feel self-conscious. What did he see when he looked at her? She knew that she was no beauty queen, but it was something she hadn’t given much thought to in quite some time.
Raising two kids on her own with few resources hadn’t left much time to worry about something as inconsequential as her looks. It bothered her that it suddenly seemed so important now. When the silence became uncomfortable, she opened her mouth to offer him a drink, but he interrupted her.
“Jenny?” He paused. “May I call you that?” She nodded and he continued, “I happen to know that Tito didn’t leave much money with his estate.” He watched her carefully. “Just how do you plan to live out here?”
She was prepared for the question, but not with the answer. It was something she had been struggling with for days. Shrugging her shoulders, she looked down at her hands folded in her lap. “I’m not sure.” She hesitated before looking him fully in the face. “If I’m careful with the little money I get from the estate, I figure we can manage several months. By then I hope to have a job.”
Mitch slowly shook his head. “This is a very small town and there aren’t a lot of jobs. Your only chance would be to find work someplace else. Maybe Dewey or Prescott. Maybe even Phoenix since jobs are pretty scarce even in Dewey and Prescott.”
“Well, I’m sure I can find something. I’m not picky.”
He was already shaking his head again. “You still don’t get it, do you? Dewey is about thirty miles from this cabin and Prescott a good twenty more than that. Phoenix is around ninety.”
Jenny gulped. With the cost of gas, commuting to such jobs would certainly cut down on any income she could hope to receive.
“I’ll find something,” she insisted stubbornly.
Mitch leaned back on the sofa, languidly crossing one leg over the other. His indolence didn’t fool her for a second. He was obviously thinking something, and thinking hard from the looks of him. But whatever it was, he was keeping it to himself.
“I’ll keep the gelding for the time being. Let me know when you want him back. Will you promise me one thing?” he asked.
Jenny eyed him suspiciously.
“What?” she asked warily.
He leaned forward, folding his hands and draping them between his legs. “When—I mean, if you decide to sell this place, I’d like you to let me know first. Would you do that?”
Surely that wasn’t so much to ask, she thought. She wasn’t sure just why Mitch wanted the land so much, but if she decided to sell, it might just as well be to him.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she told him finally. “Tell me about the horse. What’s his name? How old is he?”
Mitch’s lips quirked at the corners at her obvious attempt to derail him from further arguments. Following her lead, they talked for several hours about trivial things, without either one giving away much personal information.
A sudden hush settled on the room, neither one able to think of anything to say for the moment. As the silence lengthened, Jenny became increasingly nervous. Glancing up she caught Mitch watching her intently. She quickly glanced away.
Clearing her throat, she was about to make some inane comment when she heard a familiar wailing from outside. Her eyes widened in alarm, flying back to mesh with his laughing ones. Knowing he was amused she tried to stop her body from reacting, but a shiver shook through her at the eerie sound.
A small smile played at his lips. “Funny thing about coyotes. They’re more afraid of people than people are of them.”
Jenny knew that, but being here alone with her overactive imagination had definitely disconcerted her. When she’d heard coyotes at the farm she had always been surrounded by family, which had given her a feeling of security.
“It’s nature, Jenny.”
The soft caressing way he said her name caused her to shiver in a much different way. What was it about him that was so compellingly attractive? It wasn’t just his looks. He exuded a presence that made her feel incredibly safe. He was what could be called a macho male and the feminine woman in her responded to it.
He glanced at his watch and rose languidly to his feet. For being such a big man, he moved with catlike grace.
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“I need to go.”
Jenny rose and walked with him to the door. Opening it, he turned and leaned against the frame. “The scorpions will always be here. You just have to learn to live with them. It’s part of life here, like coyotes. Nature is pretty untamed here. You adjust.”
She watched him carefully. The simplicity of his words was belied by the intensity of his voice. Was he trying to be helpful or merely frighten her? She didn’t know, but she was grateful that he had come when he had.
“Thanks.” She smiled up at him. It was all she could think of to say and encompassed everything she was trying not to say.
He grinned back in understanding. “Glad to help.”
Turning, he walked across the porch and down the steps. Jenny noticed his Jeep parked in front of the house. A rueful smile curled her lips. He had arrived and she hadn’t even been aware, so frightened was she at the time. Now, although she was still a little nervous about the coyotes, and though the scorpions still sent shivers down her spine, she wasn’t afraid anymore. Mitch curled himself into the vehicle, barely glancing her way before he put it into gear and turned back toward the road.
Jenny watched until his taillights were a mere speck in the distance before she went inside. She walked into the bathroom gingerly, glancing nervously around. Taking an old towel, she stuffed it into the broken pane.
“There,” she told herself aloud, “maybe that will keep those critters out.” She laughed somewhat nervously. It was time for bed, but not before she had a bath. She peeked carefully into the tub and sighed with relief at its emptiness. Turning on the taps, she went to get her pajamas.
It was well past midnight, she marveled. She hadn’t realized it was so late. Where had the time gone? Mitch could be an amusing companion when he chose to be. Which was the real Mitch, the surly man who made her feel less than human, or the charming man who made her feel safe and secure? Regardless, she needed to push him from her mind. He was too attractive and she, she was beginning to realize, was not as immune to his charms as she should be.
The Rancher Next Door Page 4