“We can go?” Bridie said quickly.
He chuckled. “No, we can’t, Little Miss Impulsive. We don’t have permission and it would take hours to ride there.”
“So how will Cordell get there?”
“There’s a gravel road, even though it’s not used much and has washboards that would shake out your teeth.” Ethan pointed behind them. “See that small brown square? That’s still Henry’s land and that’s an old line cabin. The road also allows Henry access to the cabin and then his backcountry.” Ethan turned. “If you’re ready, we’d better keep moving; there are more things to show you today.”
She took a last lingering look at the waterfall and now bright sky, and also turned.
“Hypothetically ...” she asked as they descended the slope, “if that was a poacher they’d have to be a local who knew the area?”
Ethan sighed and nodded.
“Why would a local destroy their own backyard?”
“Sport, boredom, money. Bobcat and lynx pelts are fashionable overseas so there’s money to be made.” A muscle worked in his jaw. “All I can say is those poachers had better hope Cordell and I never catch up with them.”
Ethan stopped and offered her his hand as they neared a loose part of the slope. She curled her fingers around his. All thoughts of poachers slipped from her mind as she followed the steady and careful man she loved down to the clearing.
Ethan couldn’t shake the impression he knew the man in the red plaid shirt. It had been a fleeting impression, a gut feeling, but he’d learned to trust his instincts after years of running from Rick. If the man were local, he wouldn’t be some random photographer snapping wildlife pictures. He could be the poacher, or at least one of them.
He’d kept his conversation casual with his twin, not wanting perceptive Bridie to sense his concern, but Cordell had no problem picking up on his message. His brother would already be making some calls and soon heading out to Bear Paw Falls.
Ethan rolled his shoulders and turned his attention back to the cowgirl riding quietly beside him. Expression pensive and face pale, the releasing of her grief had taken a toll. He’d felt every tremor and every silent sob as he’d held her but thankfully this time her tears had proved cathartic. He knew firsthand that her grief would ebb and flow but she’d now be on her way to reengaging with life.
He smothered a growing sense of loss. Now that she’d said good-bye to her father, this could be the last time they rode out together or he be alone with her. If by helping her through her grief it meant she no longer needed him or no longer even remained in Marietta, then that was the price he’d have to pay. Today was all about Bridie not about him. Rosa had packed a picnic lunch and he’d work hard to make sure the rest of their trip was free of high emotion and full of the fun she needed.
“Still missing that extra hour of sleep?” he asked, as Bridie smothered a yawn.
“No. Just needing a sugar fix. My body’s telling me it’s breakfast time.”
“Mine too. There’s a creek ahead and we’ll stop there.”
The sun’s warmth strengthened as the trees thinned. Ethan heard the rush of water before the horses stepped out of the pine trees and onto the soft grass of the creek bank.
They dismounted and Bridie took off her hat and denim jacket. The breeze ruffled her loose hair and molded her green shirt to her chest. Mouth dry, he glanced away and concentrated on unpacking the saddlebags.
“Sorry, it’s a cold camp for breakfast,” he said as he placed the saddle bags on an even piece of ground.
“No worries. I’d even eat peanut butter I’m so starved.”
Ethan grinned and handed her a pre-packed container of yoghurt and granola. “Lucky for you Rosa knows you don’t eat peanut butter.”
After they’d eaten breakfast, Bridie wandered off to take water bug pictures for Finn. Ethan stepped over creek stones to reach a large flat rock on the opposite bank. He stretched out, hat over his eyes. The warmth of the rock warmed his back through his shirt, the gurgle of running water sounded beside him and birds called in the trees to his left.
Then boots clattered on stone and he smelled roses as Bridie joined him.
“You’re not sleeping on the job are you, cowboy?” Her words were light and teasing. “There could be a bear over there.”
He didn’t move. “Which would be bad luck for the bear because Zane told me you used at least three practice canisters of bear spray and could hit a fly on a wall.”
Her boots clunked as she sat on the rock and stretched her legs out before her.
“See, you’re not the only one who likes to be prepared.” She paused. “Tell me about your ranch in Colorado Springs.”
He lifted the hat from off his face and sat up. An unexpected seriousness had edged her words.
“What would you like to know?”
“What’s it like?”
He looked around at the creek, pine trees and distant peaks. “Much like here but it’s not as big as Larkspur Ridge Ranch. I have my black Angus breeding herd, a few quarter horses and a ranch foreman I’d trust with my life.”
Her gaze searched his. “It sounds perfect and that’s great you have such a foreman because it means you can spend the summer here.”
“Yes, much to Henry’s disgust. My cattle are also on their summer pastures so there’s not as much ranch work to be done like in the spring.”
“Henry doesn’t fool me. He loves having you stay.” Bridie gazed around. “Why doesn’t he graze his cattle up here too in the summer? Zane has his cattle on the mountain pastures he leases off Fire Weed Ranch.”
“Henry doesn’t actually have any cattle or run the ranch like he used to. He says he’s too old, has more than enough money, and is too ornery to live near a bunkhouse of rowdy cowboys. The cattle that you see are Cordell’s and Payton’s. They use the land nearest their ranch.”
“So Henry’s free to leave his ranch if he wanted to as well? You know how Lesley asked if he was planning a trip? I think perhaps he is. At Mom’s lunch he asked me all sorts of travel questions.”
“With Henry nothing would surprise me.” Ethan rubbed his chin. “So ... have you given any more thought to where you’ll head next?”
He toyed with a twig so she wouldn’t glimpse just how important her answer was.
“To be honest, no, but after this morning I see things more clearly now, so will need to do some serious thinking. But for the moment, I’m happy living between Mom’s house in Marietta and Hollyhock Creek Ranch. I’ve been able to work online with my agricultural training organization so I think Montana is stuck with me, at least until the end of the summer.”
Throat tight with relief, he glanced at her as she spoke again, tone soft. “I’m sure Henry won’t complain if I steal you away for a few more trips.”
Their gazes locked and after a beat he too spoke, his voice husky. “Sounds good to me.”
He tossed away the twig and came to his feet. She’d had a morning filled with high emotion, today wasn’t the day to take risks, rush into anything or revisit their non-kissing agreement, even if she was now staying until the fall. “Okay, we’d better get moving, because you might have had sugar, but there’s no coffee until lunch.”
As the sun climbed to it’s zenith, Ethan wound their way through the forest and ridges until he reached a large meadow covered in a carpet of swaying wildflowers.
“Please tell me this is where we’re stopping for lunch,” Bridie asked reaching for her camera. Color now warmed her cheeks and her eyes were bright. The sugar and sunshine had worked their magic.
“It is. Over near the spring-fed creek there’s a log cabin built by Henry’s grandfather. The pink rose Henry’s grandmother planted still blooms.”
After the short ride to the cabin, Bridie explored while Ethan laid out the picnic rug in the shade of an old pine tree. He then lit a small campfire. Bridie briefly sat on the rug to eat her beef and vegetable kebabs and drink her coffee before, smile apolo
getic, she left to take more photographs.
Ethan checked on Captain and Molly as they grazed and then returned to the rug. He lay on his back, hat over his face.
This time there were no footsteps to let him know Bridie had joined him, just the perfume of roses and the brush of her arm against his. He lifted his hat to see her lying on her stomach beside him. Her head was bare and hair fell over her smooth cheek as she scrolled through the pictures she’d taken. A half-smile curved her lips.
His chest tightened. She was so beautiful, so full of life, so warm and tender, it was no wonder she’d snuck in and stolen his heart. It was no wonder he ... loved her. He lowered his hat over his face again to hide his expression as he labeled the emotion that had reached in and grabbed him from the first time he saw her and had left no room for caution or restraint.
Bridie stifled a yawn, before laying her camera beside her and flipping onto her back. Again her arm brushed his.
She didn’t lie still for long. She sat, took off her boots and then lay down again, wriggling to get comfortable.
He chuckled. “Can’t a man get some sleep without any wiggling happening?”
Sunlight replaced the shadows of his hat as Bridie lifted it from off his face.
“Blame your coffee. I don’t usually have it so strong.” Instead of giving him back his hat, she tossed it on the rug behind her. “So there won’t be any sleeping for both of us.”
“Yes, there will be. I can sleep anywhere. Even next to a fidgety cowgirl.” Now was the part where he closed his eyes. But he couldn’t look away.
She stared at him, her expression indefinable. Then her eyes smiled and she touched his whiskered jaw. “We left too early for you to shave.”
Her light touch became a whisper-soft caress. He caught her fingers and held them, before rolling onto his side to face her. He fought hard to stop himself from running his fingers through her silken hair, cupping her fine jaw and bringing her mouth to his.
“Bridie, I thought we had an agreement?”
Her fingers entwined with his. “We did but its null and void now.”
“Null and void?”
“Yes. I’m not going anywhere. Remember.” She closed the distance between them. “Which leaves plenty of time for this.” She kissed the corner of his mouth. “And this ...”
She went to kiss the opposite corner but before she could, he flipped her over, his body covering hers. Her dark hair fanned out across the rug, her eyes shone and her lips parted. She slipped her arms around his neck and dug her fingers into his nape.
His self-control held by a thread. He had to make sure this was what spontaneous Bridie really wanted and wouldn’t be something she’d regret.
“You know this isn’t going to stop at kissing?”
She smiled. The same stunning and dangerous smile she’d slayed him with at the lake. “I know.”
He still didn’t move to kiss her.
Beneath him he could feel her restless energy. Her hips moved against his. He locked his jaw as his control wavered.
“We need to go slow,” he rasped. “It’s been a big day for you. You’ve been through a lot these past months.”
Seriousness tempered the need burning in her eyes. “No. We don’t.”
Her urgent hands left his nape to pull his shirt from his jeans. As her palms smoothed over the skin of his lower back, he shuddered.
Her breathing quickened. “I go slow about as well as I sit still.” Her fingers traced the line of his spine up to his shoulders. “And you don’t fool me either. You can no more go slow than I can.”
His self-control snapped. His head lowered and then there were no more words.
“So much for spending the day in the mountains,” Ethan said, his fingers leaving the satin-soft skin of Bridie’s bare shoulder to slide through her hair.
She snuggled further into his side and placed her palm over his heart.
“We’re technically in the mountains even if we haven’t left the meadow all afternoon.” He felt her lips move in a smile. “All I can say is thank goodness Henry can’t see us with his binoculars.”
Ethan chuckled.
Bridie’s fingers traced patterns on his chest. “When will I see you again?”
His mouth brushed the top of her head. “Tomorrow night. Come for dinner, we should be back from Bozeman mid-afternoon.”
He felt her smile again.
He sighed and eased his arm from around her. “As much as I hate to say it, we should head back.”
“I know.” Regret threaded her words.
Together they dressed and saddled the horses. At the edge of the meadow, he snuck a kiss and then another before they topped the final ridge.
Captain shifted beneath him and Ethan ended the kiss. It wasn’t like his fuss-free bay to be restless or on edge. A flash of light caught his eye. He rode a few paces and then casually turned as though scouting for a trail. Again he saw a bright flash.
He glanced at Bridie but she had her camera aimed toward the ranch house below. Tension clawed its way across his shoulders. The ridge beside them might still be Henry’s land. But the binoculars hadn’t been the old rancher’s. Someone else watched them.
Chapter Nine
Bridie slid out of the driver’s side seat and smoothed down the sleeveless denim sundress she’d bought in Marietta with Finn for her dinner with Ethan. She didn’t know if it was becoming a good or bad habit to wear something besides jeans. At least she still wore her cowgirl boots and had her riding clothes with her. She’d packed an overnight bag in case dinner at Larkspur Ridge Ranch ran late. Payton had again offered her a bed.
Bridie leant into the pickup to collect her purse and the pavlova she’d made for dessert. Her high ponytail brushed her shoulder. Trinity had straightened her curls, pulled them back and then twisted a section of hair around the band to create a stylish look.
Careful that the cream and fruit-topped pavlova didn’t slide around in its container, Bridie walked across the gravel to the front door. She dragged in a deep breath. She’d counted down the hours until she’d see Ethan again and now she was here, her stomach tied itself into knots. Spending the afternoon in the meadow with him had been pure magic and she hoped that in the light of a new day he didn’t regret what they’d shared. Her cheeks burned. She sure didn’t. She only wanted more ... more of the forever kind.
She climbed the front porch steps and unlike on her first visit to Henry’s ranch when she had to wait for the door to open, this visit it swung open before she’d rung the doorbell. Ethan slipped through the doorway closing the door behind him. Finger on his lips he took the pavlova and her purse and sat them on the porch table. Eyes dark, he tugged her close and kissed her, leaving her in no doubt he’d no regrets about yesterday.
When a chorus of barking sounded behind the closed door, he slowly pulled away, grin rueful. “Your welcoming committee has realized you’re here.”
Breathless, she returned his smile. “I’ve no complaints after the way my first welcoming committee greeted me.”
She thought he’d kiss her again but then he brushed the back of his hand across her jaw. “And the third welcoming committee is inside and having trouble with a crossword so will be very happy to see you.”
Ethan collected the pavlova and purse from off the table, before opening the door. Rocket and Milo, tails wagging, bounded out to greet her. She gave them a pat each and then they followed her down the long and wide hallway.
Henry sat at his usual table. From the rigid line of his back she knew he’d overdone it while in Bozeman. Her father used to sit the same way when he was in pain.
“Hi, Henry, thanks for having me for dinner.” On impulse, she bent and kissed his weathered cheek.
A smile overlaid his frown. “Ethan says you’re a crossword whiz?”
She glanced at Ethan as he returned from letting the dogs out the side kitchen door. He mouthed the word, “Sorry.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,”
she said, again looking at Henry. “But I used to do them with my dad.”
“Pull up a seat, Ethan can cool his heels before he kisses you again.”
She dared not look at Ethan. They hadn’t yet discussed when, and if, to go public with what simmered between them.
Henry chuckled as she sat opposite him. “It’s okay, it’s about time you two got your act together.”
This time she risked a glance at Ethan.
“About time was it?” Laughter lightened his blue eyes. “It’s not like you’ve been pushing us together to speed things up?” He placed a pitcher of iced water on the table. “Okay, so how did you know about the kiss? Was it me slipping Rocket and Milo a bone so they wouldn’t hear Bridie’s truck and I could see her first?”
“Nope. I missed that.” Henry winked at Bridie. “Bridie smells like that dang aftershave you’ve splashed yourself in.”
Ethan grinned and dropped a kiss on the top of Bridie’s head as he returned to the kitchen.
While Bridie helped Henry with his crossword, Ethan stirred a pot on the stove top and busied himself in the kitchen. Soon a delicious aroma made her stomach growl. She’d taken a long ride on Diablo and forgotten to have lunch.
Henry noticed her glance at the stove top and spoke in a stage whisper. “Ethan can cook but don’t let that chili beef fool you, Rosa put it on at lunch.”
Bridie whispered back. “I won’t.”
Ethan approached and shaking his head, put his hand out to Bridie and pulled her to her feet. “Okay, that’s it, insulting the cook means I get Bridie to myself for ...” He checked the stove top timer. “Ten minutes.”
Henry grunted. “Ten minutes and not a minute more. We’ve got crosswords to do.”
Hand still linked with his, Bridie followed Ethan outside through the side kitchen door. She’d only walked down the first step when Milo brought her a much-loved ball and dropped it at her feet. He lay down, his head on his paws and blinked his big puppy-dog eyes.
Ethan groaned. “Great. Now Milo’s playing the too-cute card. I’ll be lucky to have you to myself for five minutes.”
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