The Ranch Hand

by Hannah Skye

  Again she trudged on, rounded the barn, passed the stables, and headed to the corrals where Harlan’s trailer lived. Snow covered the roof and stuck to the western side of the trailer, clinging to the windows and piling on the steps. His place wasn’t very big and certainly wasn’t glamorous. He had a lawn chair near a campfire pit in front of the trailer, and beside that, a small barbeque grill. A light shone from inside. She paused long enough to gather her courage and reignite her rumored wrath, and then knocked briskly on the door. Look at that. She hadn’t even pounded.

  The door opened outward and Harlan leaned out. His smile was easy, but she saw the hesitation in his eyes. He knew exactly why she was here. “Enjoy your hot chocolate?”

  She would’ve enjoyed it more if he’d been there with her. But that was too blunt, too risky to come right out and admit, even for her. “It was good. But then you took off without even a goodbye. What was that all about, Lee?”

  He paused again, then seemed to decide something and pushed the door wider. “Come in.”

  “Not if you’re going to hide in the bathroom, then crawl out the window and run away when I’m not looking.”

  He frowned. “Funny.”

  “You see me laughing, Tex?”

  “Are you coming inside, or are we going to stand here and argue like damn fools in the middle of a snow storm?”

  She made a show of considering her options. “Okay, fine. I’m coming in.”

  He moved back to give her space and shut the door behind her. His camper was small but neat. His boots were arranged on a mat by the door, the snow melt puddled around them in a dark wet patch. Dishes actually sat drying in a dish drainer at his galley kitchen. There was a colorful Navajo rug on the brown carpet. She glanced down the narrow hall, toward the end of the camper trailer where his bedroom was. Even his bed was made. He had a Charles Marion Russell print hanging on one wall, a scene of a cowboy roping cattle. The whole place smelled of leather. And male. Two scents she happened to love.

  “Please sit down.” He waved her toward the small kitchen table that unfolded from the wall. “Can I get you anything?”

  “Hot chocolate.”

  He stared at her. She could tell he was trying to read her, guess if she were just yanking his chain. Because she was.

  “I don’t have any.”

  “Don’t worry about it then.” She leaned back against the seat cushion. “So. Talk.”

  “We have a fine herd this season. Good health. No disease. Shifted to winter feed a week ago, upping their nutritional intake for the cold weather. We’re looking at upwards of a ninety percent calving season—“

  “Smart ass,” she interrupted. “Why’d you go and leave? I still wanted to talk with you.” She cocked her head to the side. “We’re you really pissed off you lost that bet?”

  He shook his head and leaned against the galley kitchen counter. “Not at all.”

  “Was it me?” She managed to say it without a hitch or quaver in her voice. She didn’t want him to know he’d upset her.

  “Yes.”

  She sat there for a moment, shocked. Then she stood. “I see. Guess I’ll just mosey my ass out of your way then. Been a real treat.”

  He moved toward her and set a hand on her arm. Not a restraining touch, more of a gentle plea. His skin felt deliciously warm. “It is you, but not how you’re thinking. You’re angry. You have a right to be, I guess.”

  “I’m glad you’ve conceded that much at least. I thought your leaving unannounced was rude and…strange. Now I think you’re being even ruder and more strange.”

  “Wait, I…” He scrubbed a hand across his face. He scowled and looked out the snow-speckled window. He took a deep breath and faced her again, his gaze intense. “You distract the hell out of me, Carol. I want…hell, I want you. Thinking of you upstairs… It was driving me crazy.” He turned abruptly and moved away. But in the small camper there wasn’t much space for him to escape. He set his hands on the counter, his broad back to her. “But it’s not right. It’s not going to work. I’m going to ruin this.” His fists clenched. “That’s why I bolted.”

  She stared at his back, the muscles visible through the fabric of his shirt. Her heart was pounding so hard it seemed to shake her entire body, as if it threatened to quake her apart. She hadn’t expected this. After their kiss, she’d hoped that even with her leaving there might still be possibilities for them, hoped that she hadn’t been wrong about his feelings for her. But she hadn’t expected him to give up and withdraw. She wasn’t going to allow him to leave it at that, either.

  She set a hand against his back. He felt warm too, delightful heat coming through his shirt. His muscles jumped at her touch. He tensed, then relaxed. He turned toward her, caught her hand and held it in both of his. His hands were roughed and calloused. Again she wondered what they’d feel like, moving along her body, knowing they were his on her, his skin roughened by how hard he worked, and that tightened the desire inside her, making it an almost painful ache. She wondered how gentle he’d be. Or if he’d be fierce and powerful and overwhelming like an unbroken horse.

  “I didn’t know,” she said. “I wasn’t sure…”

  “It’s hard. Seeing you every day. Talking with you. Wanting to touch what I can’t have.”

  She swallowed hard. “Why can’t you? I don’t understand.”

  He let go of her and shoved his hands into his blue jeans. His gaze was fierce, challenging. “I’m a ranch hand. I live in a trailer.” His mouth tightened in disgust as he glanced around the small trailer. “All my money goes to my horse, my truck, or I save it. I’m not fit for you.” He clamped his teeth together so hard his jaw muscles bulged. “And I’m not a good fit for you.”

  “You seem to know all about me. Know everything that might work for me. That’s pretty arrogant.”

  “Your uncle owns this ranch. I only work for him. You’re about to head off to your own ranch and live your dream.” He was speaking quickly, and his words just came faster and faster. “And you know what, dammit? You’ll do fine at it. Hell, you’ll do great at it. You don’t need me. I don’t have anything to offer. My dream has always been to have my own ranch. Been dreaming that since I was a kid. I’m not even close, and you’re right there.” He shook his head and looked away. “I don’t have any damn thing to offer you.”

  “And I can’t be the judge of that?” she asked quietly.

  “You’ll go, and I won’t see you…not often anyway. Maybe now and then, but it won’t be the same. You’ll be busy as hell. This would never go anywhere.”

  “I could use somebody to ride…with.” She grinned at him. There was a tightness in her throat and an ache in her belly that was cold as snow. The tension in the air built around them, until she was afraid any wrong word would spark a fire that might destroy everything, while the right word would kindle a different fire, full of heat and light and beauty.

  He snorted, but her joke seemed to make him angry, not lighten the mood as she’d intended. “That’s just it. I can’t only live through you. I have to make my way. Earn my keep.” He looked at her, eyes intense. “You deserve more.”

  “There’s nothing damn wrong with being a ranch hand!” she yelled, suddenly angry herself. “Stop tearing yourself down! I worked this ranch. Same as you. All growing up I worked it.”

  “It’s different.” His jaw got that stubborn clench to it. “It’s different and you know it.”

  “It’s not a bit different. I got lucky with the ranch. I understand that. You understand it and you’re too much a gentleman to say. I’m not offended by that. But I’ve worked hard for it too. Same as you. And if you need your dream—you want to achieve it, you go right ahead. I’d never stand in your way. But damn it, Harlan. That doesn’t mean we can’t…we can’t find out if this thing between us…” She swallowed hard again. It was as if she had an ice cube in her throat that wouldn’t go down and wouldn’t melt. “If this thing between us leads anywhere.”

&nb
sp; For a moment she saw his resolve waver. She could see that he wanted her, that he was hurting despite the tough face he was showing her. He lifted his hand, as if to touch her. Her heart skipped a beat in anticipation. He paused, his hand hanging momentarily in the air between them before he let it fall back down to his side. She choked back an anguished cry, not willing for him to know how much that had hurt her. He shook his head.

  “No. No, Carol. I have to do this. For me.”

  “You selfish bastard!” She wheeled around and stumbled for the door, feeling the tears burn her eyes and blur her vision. Feeling hollow inside, a great emptiness that nothing could seem to fill. She shoved the door open, knowing she must look absurd and foolish and not caring a bit. She slammed the door behind her and staggered out into the snowfall. It was still very quiet, only the fading echoes of the door-slam breaking the peace. She didn’t look back as she crashed and shoved through the fallen snow. She listened for him, but she didn’t glance behind her.

  Nothing. No sound of pursuit. He wasn’t coming after her.

  She couldn’t help it. She looked back and hated herself for it. No sign of Harlan. His trailer was still, snow speckling the sides, warm light spilling through the windows, and no sign of him.

  At first she intended to head back to the house to…to she didn’t know what. Something to take her mind off of this and off of him. But the thought of facing her aunt again made her stomach sink with dismay. And being trapped inside, cooped up and claustrophobic and unable to escape her own whirling thoughts and emotions would drive her stone crazy. She veered away from the house, heading for the stables instead, and pulled her jacket tight around her against the wind-driven snow.

  The door to Harlan’s trailer banged open, startling a gasp from her. She looked back again, but kept walking. He loomed in the doorway, big enough for his shoulders to touch either side of the frame. He stepped down into the snow, yanking on his jacket as he moved. His gaze locked on hers. Desire. She’d seen that look in men before. Need. A wanting so powerful it seemed to smolder in his eyes. A thrill raced through her, from her brain, electrifying her spine, down her to pussy and right back up again, warming her. She hesitated…then turned away and continued onward, clamping her teeth together so hard her jaw muscles ached. She wouldn’t run to him. She wouldn’t.

  A clang and a crunch made her glance behind again. Harlan had jumped off the step and strode straight for her, forging his own path like a plow, his boots crunching through the snow.

  It was true, part of her wanted to be caught. To hear what he had to say now. Hoping he’d changed his mind. But more of her didn’t, and that particular part was running her legs at the moment as she kicked her way through the snowpack. After all, she still had her pride didn’t she? Harlan was the one with something to prove.

  She hurried toward the stables, almost running now.

  “Carol!” he yelled from behind her.

  She ignored him, didn’t turn, though it wrenched her heart so bad she moaned out a long cloud of breath. A moment later she heard him start running after her. She finally turned just as he reached her. He drew up short, put his arms on her shoulders, and looked into her face as she tilted her head to stare back at him, her eyes wide, her heart pounding away. His eyes were so big, so fierce with emotion, that winter-storm gray that seemed to stare right into the core of her. Then, when he seemed certain he had every bit of her attention, he kissed her.

  His lips were shockingly warm. She pressed against him. He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her closer against the hard outline of his body, against muscles strong and tight from ranch work. She closed her eyes, savoring his lips, while the snowflakes blew against her face and melted. Her anger melted with them. She didn’t know what would come after, but for now she’d enjoy this moment to the fullest.

  At last he broke the kiss, leaving the two of them panting. She touched her lips and smiled, almost shyly. “You better not tell me that was another goodbye kiss. Because if so, I’m not leaving.”

  He mirrored her smile. “Come back inside, Carol. Please.”

  It was the please that sealed the deal. “What took you so long, cowboy?” she whispered.

  “I had to put my boots on.”

  She laughed. Together they walked back to his trailer, his arm around her shoulders, and her snuggled up against his side. Her heart was still beating fast. Her thoughts zipped around her brain, too quick to be meaningful. She was nervous and excited at the same time, unable to settle between the two, but desire trumped them both, the heat pooling low in her groin, a tightening ache that tingled from her lips through every pleasure center in her brain and across her body.

  She wanted him. The knowing was simple, her need overriding anything else. She wanted to be warm with him, wanted his lips on her again, his hands exploring her body, every curve and fold.

  He’d left the camper trailer door open in his haste to reach her. Snow had blown in around the doorway, turning to slush in the hot air blowing from the heater. Inside again, they stood in the tiny front room of the camper, staring at one another as the snow melted on them. There were flakes of it in his eyebrows. She wanted to lick them away. It took all her self-control to stop from doing so. Instead she turned to face him, still in his arms, but back far enough to look into his eyes. First there was business between them.

  “Do you know what you want?” she asked, watching him, waiting, her heart in her throat.

  “I want to be done talking and I want to start kissing you.”

  She started to reply, but he kissed the words back into her mouth. When he finally let her go again, his voice was a growl. “I could kiss you all night.”

  Pleasure at his words washed through her. “I’m greedy. I want more than kissing.”

  “That right?”

  “That’s right, cowboy.”

  His smile was slow and wicked. “You need these wet clothes off you.”

  “I wouldn’t want to catch a cold.” She shucked out of her jacket and boots. Then she stepped on a patch of snow melting on the mat and sucked in breath at the icy wetness soaking through her sock.

  He watched her as he yanked off his own jacket and boots. His eyes were so intense they seemed to burn along her skin. She began to unbutton her blouse with trembling fingers. He reached for her and took her hands, gently, in both of his and then pushed them away from her blouse. Slowly, he began to undo her buttons. His gaze seared her, he was so focused on the skin being revealed inch by inch. He reached the final one and slipped it free. Her shirt hung open, covering her breasts but revealing to him only a narrow stripe of her chest and stomach. Softly he touched her there, tracing a finger across her flat midriff, skirting lower toward the edge of her jeans. Flutters of desire rippled down toward her pussy and her thighs clenched. She was breathing faster.

  He kissed her again, slow and sensuously, touching her only with his lips and drawing it out until she was nearly delirious for his touch. Then he drew her blouse back over her shoulders, down along her arms. She let it fall to the ground without a second look. She felt beautiful. So beautiful and powerful, to be able to hold him so rapt, reveling as he drank in every exposed part of her. Her nipples tightened, standing hard and erect against the thin cotton of her bra.

  He slid his hands up her sides, and leaned in and kissed her neck. She closed her eyes and tilted her head for him, giving him better access to the sensitive skin there. He kissed along her neck up to her ear, caught her earlobe oh so gently between his teeth and flicked it with his tongue. She gave a little moan of delight. It made her want his tongue on another part of her, and she arched into him, pushing her breasts against him. He pulled her tighter against him and she could feel the hard length of his cock between them. The warmth of his body was far better than the camper’s heater. His strong arms held her close, and he moved his mouth from her ear to her lips. Her mouth parted for him again. His tongue slipped inside and tasted her.

  She felt him unhook her bra an
d slide the straps down her shoulders. He broke the kiss. She slowly opened her eyes to see what was coming next, excitement and anticipation throbbing inside her. He traced his fingers from her shoulders to her chest, then down to her bare breasts. She glanced up into his face as he cupped them, and the look on his expression was almost reverent. He began to stroke her, caress her, teasing her erect nipples until they ached with exquisite pleasure. Her eyelids half closed as she lost herself in the sensations. Her core began to pulse with deeper desire, the need building. Her pussy was hot and slick. Her heart beat fast and hard. She felt like brittle glass—as if she might come apart in his hands at any instant.

  He kissed her again, and she returned the kiss fiercely, trying to make him understand her growing need through her urgency, through the near savagery of her attack against his lips. He set his hands on her shoulders and drew back, his eyes flashing. Without a word, he yanked off the rest of his clothes. She unsnapped her jeans and kicked them off, and followed them with her panties. They flew through the air and landed on a lampshade. She left them there. They didn’t matter. She was finally naked and free and so was Harlan, so mouth-watering that she bit her lip with desire, letting her gaze trace lovingly over his wide shoulders, tight pecs, his flat stomach, and lower, to the hard length of his cock standing proud and erect.

  She moved for him, meaning to wrap her hand around the silken skin of his cock. Harlan had other ideas. He scooped her up in his arms so fast she let out a surprised cry.

  “Better in here,” he whispered in her ear as he carried her down the short hall. She smiled and snuggled against him, loving the rock-hard curve of his biceps and shoulder muscles.

  He carried her into the camper’s back room where his bed sat neatly made, though he had to turn sideways and sidle down the narrow hall to fit them both. She laughed, but he leaned in and kissed the laughter back into her mouth, changing it to another groan of need.

  Carefully, he set her down on his bed. She pulled him down on top of her. His tongue pushed into her mouth, flicking against her own, teasing her lips as his hand stroked one of her breasts, slipping the ball of his thumb over her nipple, stimulating the tip, keeping it stiff. Keeping her on edge. She reached for his cock, drew her hand up its hard length to the tip, but he gently drew her hand away.