Sweet and Wild

by Hebert, Cerian

  Except for the day before, it had been a long time since Craig had seen Quinn ride. He was impressed. She looked easy and natural on Sunny, though he doubted she’d ever ridden the animal before. There was a connection between the two. Through subtle signals, Quinn moved the horse from a steady, even jog to an easy lope. After about ten minutes, she rode back to them.

  “I’m in love,” she declared and dismounted. “Marisol, you ready to give her a try?”

  Marisol nodded and went to the mare and laid a tentative hand on her shoulder.

  As Marisol’s first lesson began, Craig leaned against the fence and watched Quinn work with his daughter and Sunny. Shelby joined him and while he listened to her talk about Sunny’s attributes, he remained focused on the trio in the ring. He admired the care Quinn showed his daughter, the complete focus in her eyes as she instructed Marisol in the correct way to hold the reins and how to position her feet in the stirrups.

  The way Marisol paid attention was a relief as well. She took this very seriously. The three of them moved off at a walk, Marisol tall in the saddle and Quinn vigilant, but letting the girl keep control.

  “I see a natural there,” Shelby commented.

  “I never thought she’d want to do this.”

  “Sunny will take care of her, Mr. Lynch. And with Quinn teaching her, she’s going to be a pro in no time.”

  The threesome in the ring went around twice before returning to the gate. Shelby let them out and Craig helped Marisol dismount. She whipped around, her eyes wide, grabbed Craig’s hands and squeezed.

  “I love her, Dad.”

  “I can tell,” he replied calmly.

  “Please, can I have her?”

  Craig smiled. He’d already decided but he wanted to hold out that information for a moment. He glanced at Quinn, who watched them closely.

  He shrugged, gave Quinn a wink, and looked back at his daughter. “I need to think about it.”

  “Before you make any decisions this serious, I think you should sleep on it. Who knows, you may change your mind,” Quinn added, stepping in to play the game.

  Marisol turned on Quinn and gave her a pained frown, as if she couldn’t believe everything she wanted was at her fingertips only to be yanked away.

  Craig grinned at Quinn, sending her a silent thank you.

  “You guys! Don’t you see how good Sunny and I are together?”

  Quinn laughed and Craig joined her. He was no good at pulling the wool over his daughter’s eyes for very long. “Why don’t you go wait in the truck while Shelby and I talk.”

  Marisol narrowed her eyes in suspicion and looked from him to Quinn but did as told with one long last look at the horse.

  Craig looked at Shelby. “I guess I have to buy her now.”

  Within ten minutes, he and Shelby reached an agreement that included Sunny’s tack. Shelby would bring the mare to the Shady H in three days, giving her a little more time with her beloved horse.

  By the time he got into the driver’s seat, Marisol was nearly bouncing off the wall. Quinn, who’d been waiting in the SUV as well, was more patient but gave him a questioning raise of her slim brows.

  “Well, it’s harder for Shelby to let go of Sunny than she thought,” he began, his voice full of regret.

  Before Marisol could look too defeated, he smiled at her. “So we have to give her three days before we can have her.”

  The SUV nearly rocked with Marisol’s screech of joy.

  “That will give us the time we need to get one of the stalls ready. I have a feeling that mare is used to a little more comfort than the stock horses.”

  From behind, Marisol wrapped her arms around Craig’s neck and chanted thank yous into his ear in between smacking kisses on his cheek.

  “To help pass the time, Long Knife Creek is having a big barbeque tomorrow. I’d love for both of you to come over and join it,” Quinn invited. “Believe me, these barbeques are not to be missed.”

  “Can we, Dad?”

  Craig turned his attention to Quinn, took in the half smile on her lips. He tried desperately to search for the little girl he had been used to, but she was long gone and nothing could be done to change that. Quinn’s smile was a woman’s smile and it sent flames licking through his veins. Quickly, he reined himself in. This was not the place or time. “I don’t think we’d be good neighbors if we missed it. I’m sure the Shady H will survive for a few hours without us.”

  “You’re the best,” Marisol sighed and rested her cheek against his shoulder.

  Craig glanced away from Quinn and smiled at his daughter. He didn’t think he’d had such a perfect moment in well over two years and he longed to savor it.

  ***

  Quinn didn’t show her excitement about Craig accepting her invitation with more than a smile, but there was a hell of a lot more enthusiasm brewing inside her mind and belly, along with a good case of the butterflies. Marisol settled back in her seat and buckled, and suddenly Craig’s proximity seemed closer, made her nerves edgier. She felt as if she’d asked him out. Not that this was a date or anything. He’d probably spend more time with Jacob. They had a lot to catch up on. She couldn’t deny or ignore, though, that something happened between them, subtle as it was. A moment.

  There wasn’t any way she’d imagined those few long looks that had captured her and stopped her heart. Could she have? She’d given up on those romantic dreams of him years and years ago so there was no way it had been wishful thinking.

  As he pulled out of the Brock’s drive, Quinn studied Craig’s profile. It was clean, neat, with a high forehead and straight nose. A dark curl fell across his forehead and she longed to reach over and push it aside. But her fingers wouldn’t want to stop there. His dark waves begged to have fingers run through them. His whole appearance was casual, not careless. She appreciated that. For the past four years, she’d been surrounded by college guys who’d been more concerned about their looks than what they wanted to do with their lives. Craig was a refreshing change. A real man who didn’t dress to impress.

  “You’re going to wear holes in the side of my head if you keep staring like that,” Craig said softly.

  The surface of the sun couldn’t have been any hotter than the heat that rushed into her cheeks. Good God, the last thing she needed was to be caught gawking at him like some starry-eyed teenager.

  “It’s just…I was thinking that you don’t look too much like Robby. It’s strange.”

  Craig glanced away from the road and gave her a smile. “That a bad thing?”

  “No, of course not.”

  Craig turned his attention back to the road. The smile died a little but didn’t disappear entirely. It was as if something amused him but he didn’t want to share.

  Marisol leaned forward and rested her chin on the seat between Craig and Quinn.

  “Robby is cute,” she said, looking at Quinn. “He told me you two used to be boyfriend and girlfriend.”

  “A long time ago. Not anymore,” Quinn replied, mortified that her voice was so tight.

  “I know. He said maybe you’d be his girlfriend again.”

  Quinn was torn between wanting to disappear because she was so embarrassed by the thought of Robby discussing her around Craig and Marisol, and outrage that he planned to get back together with her. And discussed it with his brother and niece.

  She shook her head. “Not that I’m planning,” she muttered and looked out the window, watching the prairie go by.

  No one spoke again until Craig pulled up in front of the main house at Long Knife Creek. Quinn said a quick goodbye and got out of the vehicle; grateful to be into the fresh air and away from the emotions she couldn’t escape when in such close quarters with Craig.

  Craig climbed out of the SUV and before Quinn could reach the stairs to the house, he took her arm to stop her. Everything inside her seized up, her breath, her heart, the adrenaline, it all gathered up like a tight fist. She glanced at his hand on her bare skin. It was already a
rancher’s hand, tan and rough. It hadn’t taken long. He’d been gone from that life for so long, but had slipped right back into it. Then she lifted her gaze to his frank, blue eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.

  What’s wrong? How can anything be wrong when I’m standing close enough to smell your cologne? That I can’t even look at you without wondering what it would be like to kiss you or feel your arms around me?

  She slowly released her breath.

  “Nothing.”

  “It’s not ‘nothing’.” His voice was as gentle as his touch. He didn’t let go of her and she didn’t pull away. It might be the only touch she’d ever get from him. She wanted to savor it.

  “I don’t like Robby talking like that.”

  “You two aren’t planning on getting back together?”

  Quinn drew in a quick breath and held his gaze. All she could do was shake her head.

  “Good.”

  That one word did more to make her heart speed than any kiss ever had.

  Craig’s hand slid away and dropped to his side. “Thank you for coming today.”

  Quinn wanted to relax, but her whole body was rigid. She managed a smile. “I’m glad I could help. Sunny will make a good mount for Marisol.”

  “We’ll see you tomorrow,” Craig said softly.

  With one last lingering look, Craig got back into the SUV. Quinn could barely move as he pulled away. She snapped back to reality when she saw Marisol staring at her through the tinted window, her hand up in a wave. Quinn returned the gesture.

  Chapter 4

  Quinn woke before the sun crept over the eastern horizon. She bypassed breakfast, grabbed a bagel and headed for the barn. Before retiring for the night, Jacob had asked her to do a barrel racing demo and lessons during the day, so she wanted Piper groomed and ready to go. She’d go the whole nine yards and show the guests what a rodeo queen looked like.

  She fed Piper and the other horses when Lance and Robby put in their appearance. Immediately she sent them out to clean the paddocks and the big outdoor arena where the demonstrations would take place. She and Becky, one of the other grooms, took brushes and combs to the horses and Quinn finished up by polishing her show tack. By then, the sun hovered over the hills and the rest of the ranch was stirring.

  She snuck back in through the rear entrance and headed to her room for a shower before coming down for a full breakfast.

  Thea, the ranch’s fantastic chef, big sister type and surrogate mother rolled into one, sat with three of the California guests and summoned Quinn to join them. Thea had been with the Emery’s from the time Quinn’s parents died. She had been her mother’s best friend and stepped in when Quinn and Jacob needed her. She was the closest thing to a best girlfriend Quinn had.

  Quinn gave the ladies a quick smile. They seemed as unlikely as anyone to be vacationing on a dude ranch. A little too glamorous for the rigors of riding and chasing cows.

  “I hear Jacob is getting you to show off today,” Thea commented.

  Quinn nodded, a half-smile on her lips. “It’s my thing,” she replied. “Then I’ll go back to being inconspicuous.”

  “What kind of showing off will you be doing?” Charlene Tatreau asked. She was a petite blonde with a perfect, golden tan. Probably worked hard to get that tan.

  Quinn swallowed her coffee quickly. “Barrel racing.”

  “You’re looking at a three time state champion,” Thea added proudly.

  The women responded with appropriate appreciation.

  “I should hardly say you’re inconspicuous otherwise,” Charlene mused.

  Quinn frowned and glanced at the woman, wondering what she meant. “Believe me, it’s a talent I’ve always possessed.”

  “Looks like yours would get you far in L.A. My boyfriend’s sister is a casting agent. She’s always on the lookout.”

  With a shake of her head, Quinn swallowed the last of her coffee. “I don’t want to go far. I want to stay right here in South Dakota. As close to Falstad as I can get. But I thank you for the compliment.”

  Charlene nodded. “Still, I bet you could make those Hollywood types go nuts. If you, well, fix your…” Charlene hesitated but she stroked her own perfect little nose.

  Quinn frowned. Her nose. She willed herself not to touch it like Charlene has touched her own. The woman didn’t have to finish her sentence to know she suggested that Quinn get a nose job. She let out a humorless chuckle. “I’ve already fixed it twice. Damned thing about barrel racing, I keep breaking it. What’s the point of getting it straightened when I know it’s just going to get broken again?”

  All three California guests stared at her, their mouths open. Quinn chuckled again.

  Thea came to her rescue. “I hope you ladies plan on coming into the spa today. We’re getting ready for our grand opening but we’ve got lots of goodies over there now.”

  While the topic changed, Quinn took advantage of the attention being off her while the other ladies discussed facials and nail treatments. She glanced over at Thea, who gave her a wink, gathered her breakfast plate and excused herself.

  ***

  Craig was ticked. No, it went beyond that. He barely contained his anger and only managed to rein it in for Marisol’s sake. She was getting ready for the barbeque and he stood alone on the porch, glaring in the direction of his family’s old ranch.

  Bastard.

  It would’ve been better if he hadn’t gone over there yesterday afternoon, but when he found the two head of cattle at the edge of the Shady H fence line, one with its leg tangled in the wire, he thought he’d be neighborly and bring the animals back. Yeah, they were on the thin side, something not quite right when the grazing was good, but he didn’t get too concerned until he got closer to the buildings.

  What was left of the white picket fence tilted one way, then the other, missing slats all the way down and there was no sign that grass or flowers ever grew. Three rusted-out cars sat abandoned next to the garden shed. Bits and pieces of metal and plastic littered the yard. Whatever couldn’t fit on the sway-backed porch tumbled over the side and lined the front of the house like a metallic growth. Once, Craig and his family had spent evenings in the summer on that porch. He’d had nothing but happy memories whenever he thought of Emerald Ranch.

  Now this image would be stuck in his head. A dustbowl of a ranch yard, a few chickens, as scrawny as the cattle, scratching around, a dog, flat on its side in a strip of shade by the barn, and a corral with a handful of listless, thin cows. And horses. Too many horses to comfortably fit into the paddock space they had been given. Craig had ridden closer to the paddocks to get a better look at the horses. At least three of the mares were clearly pregnant, though not the picture of health. Two more mares stood next to foals, also visibly underweight.

  Craig pushed back the anger stewing in his belly. What good would it do? Emerald wasn’t his place anymore. But he wouldn’t be getting the image of those horses out of his mind too easily. He planned to ask around about what the owner did with the horses. He couldn’t possibly be a breeder, at least Craig didn’t want to think that.

  Maybe he could make it his problem. Last night, as he sat at his desk in the study to pay bills, he thought of the dilapidated porch that had once been the spot for family gatherings after a long day of hard work. Where they’d played lots of games of Monopoly and checkers. Memory of what Ted Penney had done ate at his insides. His grandfather once sat in an old rocker on that porch, telling stories of his past. Everything Craig knew about ranching he’d learned at Emerald.

  Now it was falling apart.

  “Not for long,” he muttered. Not when he got his hands on the property.

  This would eat at him; he knew it, unless he found something to get his mind off it.

  One thing came to mind. A certain auburn-haired cowgirl with bright blue eyes and a smile that combined playful and sexy was the only image powerful enough to knock Emerald Ranch and its vile owner out of his mind.r />
  ***

  Quinn didn’t have to do her barrel racing demo until just before lunch so, with stopwatch in hand, she timed the various races being run on the lawn behind the main house.

  She nearly forgot to time Jack as the old foreman had her nearly doubled over in laughter. He did his best at the dizzy race; loping across the lawn toward the finish line, zig zagging all the way. He fell over on his side half way there and crawled the last several yards. She glanced up through tears and saw Craig and Marisol standing at a distance, enjoying the spectacle. She wiped away the tears and waved at them. Both waved back.

  Three more runners went, trying to keep their balance as they spun around the post at the opposite end of the lawn, before running back. Two went so far off course they nearly ended up by the picnic tables. In the end, a delighted Tara Bloom, one of Charlene’s companions, won. Lance placed a medal around her neck. She returned the favor by planting a very hard kiss on his mouth. It was hard to tell who was happier with the results.

  “Guess we missed the fun,” Craig commented when the award ceremony finished and people retreated to the riding arena to admire Lance and Robby’s roping talents.

  “Well, if you’d like a run or two I still have this,” she held up her stopwatch.

  Craig laughed and looked at his daughter. “You want a try?”

  Marisol shook her head and shrank against her father’s side.

  Shy, Quinn noted, even after the previous day, or overwhelmed by the turn out. Several children Marisol’s age hung out in the play area behind the barbeque pit, kids from town. Marisol’s gaze found them.

  “You want to go over? I’ll introduce you,” Quinn offered.

  Marisol shrugged.

  “It might be nice to get to know them before school starts. Come on. Later I have a surprise for you.”

  Marisol took Quinn’s outstretched hand. Quinn cast a glance at Craig to make sure it was okay with him. When he nodded, his eyes shining, she gave him a smile and took his daughter across the grass, Craig following behind.