"Don't jam your feet in the stirrups. You want only the balls of your feet there and don't jerk on the reins, or you'll hurt her mouth."
She loosened her hold.
"Keep enough slack in the reins that she can move her head but not so much that you can't pull the rein in to halt her without pulling them up to your ears."
"Like this?" she asked.
"Yeah, that's good. All right, let's go. Lift the reins off her neck and cluck at her."
Annora tried it, and Moll walked forward.
"Lean forward a bit to make her move faster," Birch said, leading the way toward the road.
She decided maybe she could do this. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad.
When they reached the road, Birch's horse broke into a trot and Annora was certain she would be bounced right out of the saddle. She leaned forward to avoid slamming her bottom against the saddle. Moll moved even faster.
"What are you doing?" Birch called.
"Trying to keep my anatomy from being bounced out of the saddle."
"Shift your weight to the balls of your feet and let your knees absorb the shock of the bouncing."
She tried it and decided it might work, though she couldn't imagine riding that way for long. Lucky for her, Birch slowed his pace. They left the road and cut across land. For a long time, they walked or trotted along, which she enjoyed. She liked being in the fresh air and admiring the countryside.
The sound of a cow bawling interrupted.
"Steer in trouble," Birch said and rode toward the sound. Annora followed. Not much else she could do, since Moll decided to do the same.
They found a few cattle milling about a muddy bog by a stream. One of them had ventured out into the mud to reach the water and gotten stuck.
Birch muttered what sounded like a curse.
Annora waited, not sure what to do. She didn't want to have to get down and back up any more often than necessary.
But Birch didn't dismount. He took a looped rope from his saddle and formed a noose at one end. He swung the noose in a circle several times, then let it settle over the steer's horns. His horse backed up at his command and tried to pull the steer out, but it only added to the animal's fright and he fought harder. Birch dismounted and handed Annora the rope. "I'm going to have to go in and try to break the steer free of the mud before we can pull him out. Hold onto his and when I tell you to pull, draw in your reins to make Moll back up."
Panicked by the very idea, Annora stiffened. Moll picked up on her fear and began sidestepping nervously.
"Loosen up," Birch called as he waded into the mud. When he reached the stuck animal, the muck rose above his waist. "Not too much."
He reached the steer, struggling to get it unstuck, but with the animal fighting him, it was more than Birch could manage.
"Is your horse trained to obey your voice?" Annora called to him.
"Yes. Why?"
"I want to try something." Leaving the reins to lie on the ground, she dismounted before walking to the muddy bog as close to the steer's head as she dared without becoming mired herself. On her knees, she gazed into the frightened animal's eyes, murmuring nonsense in a calm voice, willing it to sense that she meant it no harm.
The steer returned her gaze, relaxing. With Birch pushing on its hindquarters and Annora pulling on the rope and talking to the animal, they managed to walk it out of the mud.
"My lands." Dripping muddy water Birch stared at her. "How did you do that?"
"I don't know. Somehow, I manage to connect with animals—it calms them."
"That's why Hezzie slowed down during the race. He looked at you."
"Yes."
"I'll pay you thirty a month and board if you'll hire on to do that whenever we need help with an animal."
She laughed. He wouldn’t marry her, but he’d offer her a job? “Thanks. I'll stick with my ASPCA office."
Smiling, he shook his head. "I need to get this mud off," he said and walked to the creek. He put his boots on the grass and hung his hat on a branch, then waded in. It came only to his waist. He crouched, ducking his head underwater.
Annora sat in the grass beside the creek to watch. The horses grazed, and the cattle wandered off.
Birch rose out of the water like a Greek god, water streaming from his hair. His clothes were plastered to his body, showing off his muscles and fine physique. Annora all but gasped at the beauty of him. Her heart raced, and a shiver slid down her spine.
Seeing her there watching him, he wiped water off his face with his hand and called, "What are you looking at, woman? Why don't you join me?"
She laughed but stayed on the bank.
Birch waded closer, slapping the water, so it splashed her. She stood, looking in dismay at her blouse, stuck to her body the way his shirt stuck to his. When she glanced at him, she saw the stunned expression on his face. "What are you staring at?" she said.
He stepped onto the bank, his gaze studying her while she stood dripping. "By thunder, you're gorgeous." Before she could move or respond, his arms surrounded her, and his mouth took hers.
Stunned, Annora fell still. His lips wandered from her mouth over her face and back again. The warmth of them shocked her to her core. Never had she been kissed like this before. Her entire body came alive. Sensations she hadn't known a person could experience soared through her.
Wonderful.
Terrifying.
She wanted more.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed closer, feeling his chest rub against her breasts through their wet clothing. His tongue brushed her lower lip, and she responded in kind. Her hands explored his shoulders and neck. Birch groaned deep in his chest, tightening his hold on her.
"Birch? Is that you?" a feminine voice called.
They broke apart like guilty children.
Twenty feet away Charlotte sat on a spotted horse staring at them. "What's going on here?"
~~^~~
"It's none of your business what we're doing, Charlotte," Birch growled. His clothes had stopped dripping but still clung to his form.
Taking Annora's hand, he led her away from the creek and urged her to sit on the grass. She did but held her breath to see what would happen next. Birch was angry. So was Charlotte. Did the woman think Birch belonged to her?
"What are you doing here?" he asked her.
"I was looking for you. Mable said you rode out to check cattle with Annora. I thought I'd say hello." She smiled. "I didn't expect to catch you at such an inopportune moment."
"Well, you did. How about you leave now?" he said.
Fascinated, Annora tried to determine their exact relationship. She knew the town expected him to marry Charlotte. Right now, he didn't look interested in marriage. More like paddling her like a child. And Charlotte's expression dared him to do it.
To avoid any ugliness that might arise, Annora said, "Birch took a dunking, first in mud freeing a stuck steer, then in the creek to get clean. I laughed at him, so he splashed me." She held the fabric of her blouse away from her breasts with her fingers.
"Splashing," Charlotte repeated. "Is that what we call it these days?"
Birch stepped toward her. "Leave, Charlotte, and mind your own business."
Annora stood up. "Birch, she's my friend. Don't talk to her that way."
"She's nobody's friend, Annora."
A pained look came over Charlotte's face. Wheeling her horse around, she galloped away.
"Why did you talk to her that way?" Annora asked.
He glared at her. "I've known her all my life. Take my word for it, she's not your friend."
"What a cruel and unnecessary thing to say."
"Is it? Come on. Let's go home." He retrieved his boots and hat, put them on, and swung onto his horse.
Annora did the same, following him away from the creek. What kind of man would talk that way about a woman he’d grown up with and once planned to wed? Perhaps Charlotte hurt him. Did he still care about her? The idea of being
caught between the two troubled her. Matters had been bad enough before when the dilemma had been being trapped as the bride for the Ride for a Bride Race, with Birch as the groom. An almost forced marriage she didn’t want. Now a jealous woman had come into the picture, a competitor for Birch’s love.
Except Annora didn’t love Birch. So, why allow herself to get stuck in the middle of it all? What happened between him and Charlotte was none of her business. Didn’t matter if she disliked the woman. Immensely. Didn’t matter who was supposed to wed the man.
An abrupt need to get back to the ranch assailed her. No, it was more than that. She wanted to go home. When she reached the ranch, she would pack her bags and return to her flat above the office in Sheridan.
She didn't belong at High Plains.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
"I'm glad you're back, Annora." Beth Jenkins accepted the small chocolate cup, and saucer Annora offered her.
"I am too." Liar. "Thank you for taking care of my brood for me."
Button slept on the sofa next to Annora. She petted the growing kitten’s soft fur. She'd only been gone two days, but she'd missed her pets.
A meow came from the bedroom. Confused, Annora glanced from Buttons to Freckles sitting in the window. Sunny, a golden tabby, lay entangled by the stove with Smoky, a solid gray male, and Dusty, a gray tabby. A thin, black and white cat sauntered out into the sitting room. "Oh, my. Where did he come from?"
"Oh, I'm sorry." Beth edged forward in her seat as if to take flight. "I should have mentioned it right away. I found him digging in the garbage on the street. You said you'd take in all the strays you could if you had room, and I... Well, I figured you had room for one more. I'll find him another home if you want."
Annora bent and held her hand in front of the cat's nose to let him sniff her scent. When he nudged her hand with his head, she knew she'd passed inspection and lifted him onto her lap. "You're a beauty, aren't you?" she said, petting the cat.
Beth relaxed back in her chair. "He is now. When I found him, he was a dirty mess. I think he was too hungry to clean himself. I'm so glad you aren't mad at me."
"Of course, we aren't mad," Annora crooned to the animal on her lap. "I think we'll call you Tux because you remind me of a tuxedo. Do you like that?"
He kneaded her leg, curled into a ball and settled down as if he knew he'd found a home.
"Why did you come home so soon?" Beth asked sipping her chocolate. "I thought you were staying longer."
"That's a rather long story. I—"
The small mantel clock on the table struck eleven.
"Oh, dear." Beth put down her cup. "I must get home. George's lunch won't fix itself, you know. I'll see you tomorrow, and you can tell me all about your visit to the ranch then. Boone says he’ll be finished with your door by then too, and I want to see it."
Annora accompanied Beth to the head of the stairs, watching as her friend hurried down them and out the door.
After a quick lunch, she moved downstairs to the office to see Boone add the finishing touches to her door.
“That’s it,” he said, wiping his hands on a rag.
“I love it.” She opened and shut the door several times, grinning all the while.
“I’m glad you’re pleased.”
She asked how much she owed him. After settling the debt, she wished him good luck getting home safely and watched him leave. Alone, she worked on an article for the newspaper on methods for finding homes for unwanted animals. Ten minutes later, George Jenkins stuck his head in the door. His gaze surveyed the room.
"I hoped to find Beth still here," he said.
"I'm afraid not. She hurried home to make your lunch."
He appeared crestfallen. "A man came in who wants a hat made right away. I wanted to tell Beth not to worry about lunch for me."
"I can go over and let her know you'll be late if you like." She stood up and set her work aside.
"You're an angel." He went to the door, then stopped. "I'm glad she found you. I know felt lonely with me being so busy all the time."
Thinking that she was the lucky one, to have Beth for a friend, Annora fetched her shawl from the coat rack, joining him at the door. "That will change once the baby arrives. She'll be begging for a moment alone then."
"I hope you're right." He grinned as he held the door open for her. "I want her to be happy."
She stepped out onto the boardwalk. He followed her, waiting while she locked the door. "Did Boone tell you goodbye before he left? He finished the door today.”
“Yes, he popped in before leaving. I’m glad he could help you.”
“Me too. I love the way he finished the doorway. And don’t worry about Beth. In truth, I'm quite sure she's not unhappy now, merely eager to get her son or daughter here."
"Thank you. I feel better knowing she has you to talk to."
Annora considered George a rare commodity, a husband who truly loved his wife. Because of that, she felt a fondness for him. "You're a good husband. She's lucky to have you." Going up on tiptoe, she kissed his cheek.
"I think I’m the lucky one." Smiling, he placed his hands on her shoulders and returned the kiss on her forehead.
~~^~~
Birch stopped dead at the sight before him. He had barely turned the corner on his way to see Annora and try to convince her to return with him. She stood outside her office with a man. Not certain what to do, he stood there staring.
Then she kissed the man.
And he kissed her back.
Damn it. Who the devil was he? Not that Boone fellow from Montana. Someone who'd come to see her from New York?
Before she could turn and see him, he ducked back around the corner. What should he do now? Go to her office, act like nothing happened? Try to find out the man’s name and business?
Why bother?
Good hell, did he care about her? Enough to feel jealous because of somebody else?
Emotions he'd never felt before roiled inside him. He didn't know what to make of them or how to handle them.
He hurried along the street, finding the buckboard where he'd left it outside the feed store. His order had only half been loaded. He had to finish it himself.
As usual, Chance showed up at the barn within minutes of Birch's arrival home.
"What's up, Boss?"
"Not a damned thing," he snarled, in the mood for a good fight.
"Annora refused to come back, eh?"
"I didn't ask her." He unhitched the team before turning them into the corral.
Chance took out his cigarette makings. "Why not?"
"No. Why do you care?" Birch climbed into the back of the buckboard and tossed a bag of feed to the ground.
His brows rising, Chance shook tobacco onto the cigarette paper. "I care because you do. You in love with her?"
Straightening, Birch glared at his foreman. "Hell, no. Why in thunder would you ask a stupid question like that?"
"Because it's pertinent to the conversation. What went wrong, Birch? You wouldn't be this fired up over a simple refusal."
Slamming his fists down on the buckboard's side rail, he yelled, "She kissed some man I’ve never seen before."
"Ah. Now, we're getting somewhere." Finished rolling the cigarette, Chance lit it, offering it to Birch, who knocked it from his hand. "Whoa, Boss. You are angry. I'd say your feelings for Annora are a whole lot stronger than you been letting on."
"Shove it where the sun doesn't shine, Chance. It's none of your business." Birch jumped down from the wagon and stormed off toward the house, leaving the rest of his load in the buckboard.
~~^~~
"Hey, there, pretty girl," Jenks called out as Charlotte climbed out of the automobile. "Need any help?"
"Get lost, Jenks." Her mood, after seeing Birch visiting that uppity woman from New York had grown worse, not better. Flirting with Jenks in the past had been a fun diversion until she realized he was taking her serious. The man suffered a delusion that she could ever be
interested in someone like him.
"What's the matter, honey?" he asked, concern in his voice. He unhitched the horse from the buggy, a toothpick dangling from his mouth.
She whipped around, ready to lash into him when an idea struck. "Tell me, Jenks, do you know the new woman in town, the one who opened an office for some group of do-gooders concerned about animals?"
"Annora Bostwick? Yeah, I know her." The toothpick bobbed as he talked. "She's supposed to be my fiancé, but as usual, Birch Struthers ruined it." He led the horse toward the stable.
Well, now, how interesting. Charlotte followed. She wanted to know more. "How did he do that?"
"We rode a race, and the winner was supposed to get Annora as his bride. I won, but you know how everybody thinks Birch's ass is gold. He claimed I'd won the wrong race and the marshal and the mayor agreed."
Charlotte’s brow furrowed. "Since when do men go around racing horses to obtain brides?"
"Since it was decided that this year's ranch competition would include a Ride for a Bride Race. But for the most part, I reckon it came about because of old Shank's will."
She shook her head. This story became more convoluted by the second. "What does Shank's will have to do with it?"
Jenks hung up the gear in the tack room before turning to her. "You ain't heard that Birch has to marry before October if he wants to keep that land? Otherwise, it goes to your pappy."
He giggled, causing Charlotte's skin to crawl. She hated when he did that.
So, Birch had a strong reason to get married, and soon. She could use his predicament to her own advantage.
But first, she needed to get rid of Annora Bostwick.
Jenks exited the tack room and aimed for the corral.
"Wait, Jenks."
He turned. "What is it?"
With a big smile, she caught up to him. "I have an idea that will get us both what we want."
"Yeah?" The toothpick fell from his lips. He didn't notice. "What's that?"
"Come sit with me on the porch, and I'll tell you."
"Lead the way, sweetheart. I’ll follow you anywhere."
Ride for a Bride in Wyoming (Rocky Mountain Romances Book 4) Page 10