Dare To Love A Cowboy (Canton County Cowboys 2)

by Charlene Bright

  Connor laughed, the shrill sound slicing through her thoughts. She turned to stare at him. “What’s so funny?” she demanded.

  He just shook his head. “You two,” he replied, gesturing with his hand between her and Everett, who had already opened the gate and was getting back on his horse.

  “What are you talking about?” she asked. She couldn’t help but sound at least a little bit vexed at him for finding her emotional distress so amusing.

  He burst into another fit of laughter. “Nothing, nothing. We’ve got to go.” He gestured at Everett. “He’s ready for us.” But even as he said those last few words, he seemed to be fighting the urge to break out in another round of chuckles.

  Paige took a deep breath, staring down at the top of Penelope’s head, and said a quick pseudo-prayer she hoped Penelope would hear. When she was certain that she couldn’t stall any longer, she tentatively kicked the horse, causing her to break into a trot. Again, Paige forgot about keeping her core strong so that she could maintain balance, so again she wobbled. But she quickly regained her bearings and focused on reigning the horse in the right direction.

  Everything was going just fine until she saw something move out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head to find that a single cow had wandered away from the herd. She furrowed her brow. Everett hadn’t really told her what to do in a situation like this. She opened her mouth as if to say something and returned her attention to the direction in which Everett was traveling, but to her dismay, he was already almost a hundred yards ahead of her. She was going to have to deal with this herself. For a short moment, she stared at the bull before it dawned on her that she was going to have to act fast.

  She flicked her wrists just the way she had been taught the day before, an action that sent her reigns flying through the air before they landed hard against Penelope’s back. Paige winced at the sound, but before she could feel sorry for the pain she may have just inflicted, Penelope sprang into action. Paige’s head snapped backwards and a sharp pang ran through her neck. She hopped violently up and down with each pair of Penelope’s steps, her hat immediately falling off and fluttering away in the wind. Her heart pounded against her chest, and that distinct faint feeling washed over her again.

  “Paige!” It was Everett’s harsh voice, but she could tell just from the sound of it that it was still far away.

  She opened her mouth to try to say something in her own defense, but only a gasp came out, because she was losing her balance, and fast. No matter how tightly she squeezed her core or how white her knuckles became from her grasp of the reigns, she continued to sway to the right. “Penelope. Penelope. Penelope!” she screeched, completely forgetting that horses don’t speak English, or anything for that matter.

  “Paige, stop!” It was Everett’s voice again, but this time a lot closer.

  Her breath went quick and shallow as she realized the only way this situation was going to end was with her on the ground. As her thick head of hair dangled dramatically to her side and bits of dust and dirt clung to its ends, she tried to imagine what it would be like to actually fall off the horse. Those thoughts only depressed and scared her in equal measure. So, she shifted her line of sight just enough to where she was staring at the ground, but as she watched the grass slide past her with the speed of a conveyer belt on steroids, she realized that she couldn’t bring herself to jump off. She could have sworn that Penelope was increasing her speed.

  Then, in one final moment, Paige shifted violently to the side. She instinctively tightened her grip on the reigns, but her sore hands were no match for Penelope’s heavy strides and the violent thrashing that they induced. In less than ten gallops, she found herself in such a position that holding onto the reigns was not only excruciatingly painful, but just about impossible. With one final step, she slid off Penelope’s back. Her jaw swung open, but she was so stunned that no scream escaped. She plummeted to the plush ground and went tumbling away from Penelope’s flight path. She squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath, the pain from the fall rendering her breathless. Her ears were ringing and her head felt as if a train had just sliced through it.

  Through her closed eyes, she sensed a shadow. “Paige?” It was the sound of Connor’s voice, shaking with unease.

  “Connor, step away.” Everett’s voice sounded breathless and harsh . . . as usual . . . but also . . . concerned?

  Paige forced herself to open her eyes. She saw the two men bent over her, their heads blocking the sunlight. Connor extended a hand to help her up, but Everett stopped him. “Go close that gate behind the cattle. I don’t want any of them gettin’ out,” he ordered.

  Connor lingered for only a moment, a sympathetic expression on his face, before running back toward his horse.

  “I’m fine,” she croaked, wincing at the sharp pang in her chest.

  Everett chuckled. “If you’re so fine, then hop back on that horse,” he teased.

  She frowned. “I think Penelope and I need some space from each other.”

  “You city slickers can be so needy,” he scoffed as he knelt down next to her.

  She couldn’t help but take stock of every detail of his skin, lips, hair, and muscles as he gently traced his fingers over her arms and legs, looking for fractures.

  “Did you fall on your head?” There was real concern, uncovered from the usual impatience and the cocktail of other negative emotions he exuded on a daily basis.

  She shook her head. “On my back.”

  “Is it broken?” he asked.

  She shook her head again. “It doesn’t really hurt. I just . . .”

  He rolled his eyes and stood up. “I’ll have Connor take you back to the house.”

  She nodded, but when she tried to lift herself up, she fell onto her back again.

  Without hesitation, he reached down and swooped her into his arms. She placed her hands on his dense shoulders as he gracefully transported her to Connor. Despite all of the negative emotions coursing through her veins, she could not deny the hairs that stood on end on the back of her neck at the thought of being this close to him.

  They reached Connor and his horse much too soon. She watched his eyes dart from her to Everett and back again. He sprang into action, assisting Everett in placing her on his horse’s back. She could feel his hands on her bare arms, skin that was scalding from having been just pressed against Everett’s chest.

  As Everett finally released her, Paige was swept with a wave of gratitude. She opened her mouth to say something, but Everett spoke first. “Take her back to the ranch. She’s done for the day,” he ordered.

  Whatever smile she was in the process of displaying immediately disappeared at the sound of his dry voice.

  “Thank you?” The words had already been formulated and were leaving her lips before she could really contemplate what she was doing.

  Everett’s concerned look darkened into the usual impatient and harsh one that she was used to. “Just don’t come back out here until you learn how to ride a saddle,” he snapped.

  Before she could think of anything half as witty or mean-spirited to say, he was already jogging back to his horse.

  ***

  Paige lay in her bed, eyes staring at the ceiling. Her accident had not left any long-lasting injuries, Ellie had proclaimed after looking her over. But the young girl had sent her to bed to rest up. She had come out of the ordeal with only a bruised ankle and even more bruised ego.

  She blinked back tears as she remembered the disdain in Everett’s eyes as he handed her over to Connor. She wiped at her eyes. She’d be damned if she were going to cry over that cowboy who had been waiting for her to fail. He was trying to make her stay unbearable so she’d leave and get out of his hair. She wouldn’t have put it past him if he’d somehow set the situation in motion, setting her up for the fall. But that concern in his voice when he reached down to her . . .

  She turned to her side and saw the sunset glowing between the blinds. The deepening orange hue ca
lmed her enough for her eyelids to begin to dip. She thought about Everett’s strong arms around her and could still taste his breath as he lifted her to him. As she closed her eyes, she thought about how it would feel to circle her arms around his neck and pull him closer.

  Chapter Six

  Everett thought about going to knock on Paige’s door to see how she felt this morning, but decided that might be dangerous. She was pretty damn pissed at him the day before, as if he had wanted her to fall off that horse. Maybe she’d just call it quits and pack up and head on out today. He frowned and shook his head at himself for the tightness in his chest at the thought of her leaving.

  “Everett, get a grip,” he muttered as he put on his hat and walked out of the house toward the barn. To his surprise, Paige was already there. He saw her through the half-open door, brushing Penelope and talking softly.

  “It’s okay, girl. I know you didn’t mean it,” she was saying. “I’m sorry you got saddled, ba-dum-dum,” she giggled, “with this ‘city slicker.’ How about we start over? And I promise to let you be in charge today, hmm?”

  Everett cleared his thickening throat and pushed the door completely open. “Gonna try again today?” he said, approaching them.

  She looked up, startled, as he put her hand on hers, removing the brush. Electricity charged through him and he pulled away quickly, taking the brush with him. “Like they say, gotta get back on that horse.”

  He caught her smile out of the corner of his eye and grabbed his gear, ready to approach Duke. “Did Ellie saddle up Penelope for you? I didn’t notice her leaving breakfast early,” he said over his shoulder.

  “No, I did,” she said softly as he led her horse out of the barn.

  Everett blinked and watched her walk out. Now, that can’t be true, he thought. After ensuring the saddle was secure on Duke, he followed her out into the grass. She was already seated on Penelope when he made his way to her.

  “So what are we doing today, boss?” She pulled Ellie’s hat over her head. After handing her over to Connor after her fall the day before, he had retrieved it from the pasture and brought it back to the ranch house, handing it over to Ellie.

  “Boss?” He raised an eyebrow. “Well, I didn’t think you’d be joining me today, but you can head around the perimeter with me to check the fences. The guys will be working on building a new birthing pen for one of the cows who will be having a calf soon. They don’t need extra hands, so I planned to ride around the full length of the ranch.”

  “I’d love to see the full ranch,” she said, “but does this mean I have to learn to mend fences too?”

  “Nah, I want ‘em done right.” He pulled at the reins and Duke took off in a slow gallop.

  Paige rolled her eyes and urged Penelope to follow.

  “Tell me about Arlo,” she said after they had been riding for an hour in silence.

  “Working on your story?”

  “That’s why I’m here.” She shrugged.

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Well, for starters,” she said, “what’s he like?”

  Everett pulled Duke to a full stop and turned to look at her. “Leave Arlo alone,” he warned.

  Paige’s hand flew to her chest, startled at his growl. “I don’t plan on talking to him unless he says it’s okay,” she defended. “I saw him in his room when Jana took me on the tour on the day I arrived. He seems very fragile.”

  “Arlo is—was the strongest man I ever met.” Everett turned from her but didn’t immediately start riding. “He loves this land and every single thing about it. And things won’t be the same when he’s gone.” He turned back to her. “Is that enough for your story? I don’t want him bothered.”

  “It sounds like he’s integral to this ranch and its history,” she pushed.

  “He’s more than that. He’s this ranch’s very heart.”

  “You love him.” It wasn’t a question.

  “I have no intention of being part of this story,” he said, looking into her eyes. He moved closer to her. “My job is to show you around. Your job is to write. No one said anything about telling you my life story. As far as I’m concerned, you’re supposed to work and experience this ranch. I don’t see any need for talking about things that have nothing to do with cows.”

  “You wouldn’t,” she said over her shoulder as she pulled Penelope’s reigns and headed off at a trot.

  Everett watched her for a minute, shifting in his saddle. He had been close enough to smell her, not really a perfume, more of an essence. He shook his head and urged Duke to follow.

  ***

  The tour of the full ranch had taken the entire day, during which Paige and Everett had spoken little. When she had finally arrived at the house, it was too late for dinner, and the house seemed quiet. Her stomach gurgled and she rubbed it as she opened the door to her room. A plate of food sat on her desk with a note.

  I hope it’s not too cold. There’s a microwave in the kitchen if you need it. – Ellie

  Paige expressed gratitude to the empty room and sat down, grabbing the fork. The fried chicken and mashed potatoes were indeed cold, but delicious, and Paige was too tired to warm it up.

  After filling her stomach, she drew a bath, pulled off her sweaty clothes, and stepped into the tub. She closed her eyes and relaxed into the warm water. She thought of Everett’s strong hands as he mended fences and his firm butt as he crouched to work. She had imagined herself touching the back of his glistening neck. Now she was imagining his arms reaching toward her, his hands pulling her to his naked chest. His fingers inching up her shirt and under her bra. Her nipples hardened at the thought as she moved her hands down her wet legs and sighed.

  Chapter Seven

  Everett lifted his head to the clear sky, a smile playing at the edges of his lips while he focused on the sensation of the warm afternoon sun on his face. He wrinkled his nose, then swiped the heavy beads of sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.

  “Are you okay, Everett?” Ethan’s voice reached him from where he stood, next to the ranch truck the two of them were filling with bushels of hay.

  Everett huffed a quick breath, hitching his hands on each waist. “Yeah, I’m good.”

  Ethan tipped his chin at him, an action that indicated that he clearly did not believe a word that he said. “Are you sure? Because you haven’t looked this bad since that time you caught pneumonia.”

  Everett scoffed. “Do I look like I have a virus to you?”

  Ethan grunted as he heaved another bushel of hay into the bed of the truck, then leaned against the back of it. He stared at Everett for a moment, his hazel eyes scanning him until his lips stretched into a weak smile.

  “What?” Everett demanded.

  Ethan burst into a fit of chuckles, slapping the edge of the truck. “You do. Perhaps . . . a love bug?” he suggested, his eyebrow raising with the lilt in his voice.

  Everett flexed his jaw, sucking in a deep breath. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh come on. You couldn’t have gotten princess duty on accident.”

  Everett raised an eyebrow, then took three generous strides toward him. “You think I wanted this?” he demanded.

  Ethan shrugged. “You can’t deny it’s pretty nice.” He nodded his head to the right.

  Everett involuntarily gazed in Paige’s direction. She was at the far end of the hay pasture, driving the tractor slowly. Even from this distance, he could see the concentrated frown of her lips. He turned back to Ethan. “I had to stay out for an extra hour the other night because of her.”

  “Small price to pay for beauty,” Ethan replied.

  Everett threw his arms up in exasperation. “If you want her so much, take her. I don’t have time to worry about her anyway.”

  “But you do,” Ethan countered.

  “What?”

  “Worry about her,” he explained. “We’ve only been loading this hay for a total of maybe ten minutes and yet you’
ve looked over at her at least twelve times.”

  Everett narrowed his eyes. “Because I don’t want her to fall off that tractor like she fell off Penelope.”

  Ethan winced. “Jeez, Everett. That was a rookie mistake. It was her second day.”

  Everett shook his head and stepped away from Ethan. “I don’t have time to entertain you.”

  “Why? Because you’re too busy thinking about kissing her?” he teased.

  Everett shot him a glare, his shoulders tensing and his lips folding into a deep frown. He couldn’t quite describe what it was, but there was something inside him, something primitive and animal, that really hated it when Ethan talked about kissing her. “I said, I don’t want her.”

  Ethan’s eyes went wide, but his lips folded into a mocking smirk. “This ain’t middle school, Everett. You’re allowed to have a girlfriend.”

  “I’d date Aunt Jana before I dated her.” But the words sounded insincere, even to himself.

  “Hey!” Ian’s sharp voice ripped him out of the moment. “We’re not getting any younger here!” he exclaimed.

  Everett stared blankly at him. He always found it oddly amusing when Ian tried to assert himself. He stood a couple of yards away, next to the second truck he was working with Connor to fill.

  “What’s your point?” Everett snapped.

  Ian dropped the bushel he was about to lift into the bed of the truck and crossed his arms, his eyes staring definitively at Everett.

  Everett rolled his eyes. “What are you doing?”

  Ian shrugged. “I’ll start loadin’ when you do,” he replied in a frank voice.

  “Don’t be a child, Ian.”

  “Don’t be a dead weight!”

  ***

  Paige held tightly to the wheel of the tractor, keeping her jaw clenched to avoid the annoying teeth clattering caused by the bumpy ride she was forced to weather. She constantly darted her eyes from the blades on the tractor to the parcel of land directly in front of her, even occasionally glancing back at the smooth lane of land that she had successfully harvested. After a good thirty minutes, she was pleased to find that she had not messed anything up even once, but even so, that only meant disaster loomed that much closer. After the catastrophe of falling off her own horse, she was determined not to make any more mistakes. She could feel Everett’s scrutiny. But even though she felt so much calmer without him around, one small bit of her did wish that she could find a way to get his attention without making a mistake . . . anything to give her another chance to look into his eyes.