by Debra Cowan
“A swoon!” Susannah’s eyes widened and her chin lifted stubbornly. “Riley Holt, I was nowhere near swooning.”
“I don’t know,” he drawled, enjoying himself. “You looked pretty pekid.”
“I certainly did not,” she huffed. “Well! Let’s just see how you like it.”
“What? You gonna throw a grasshopper on me?” He chuckled.
She got a gleam in her eye he’d never seen, a definite streak of mischief. It tickled him silly; he threw back his head and laughed. “You’d have to pick it up, darlin’, and I don’t think you—hey!”
She lunged at him and stuffed the dead grasshopper down his shirt. He grabbed her wrist.
“Well, darlin’, I did pick it up and now it’s on you.” She smiled into his eyes, so pleased with herself that he forgot all about the bug.
He’d never seen her playful and teasing. Her unguarded smile seduced the starch out of him; he could feel her pulse skitter beneath his touch. He lifted his hand to her cheek and she drew in a breath.
Desire hooked into him, hard and fast enough to shake him. Reminding himself that he wasn’t going to get involved with her, he pulled away and forced a laugh. “I guess I underestimated you.”
“I guess so.” Her smile faded and she sank back down in her seat.
He fished the insect out of his shirt and tossed it to the ground. Clearing his throat, he guided Pru back onto the road.
Susannah sat quietly beside him. His muscles strained with the effort not to pull her onto his lap and kiss the sense out of her. “You surprised me.”
“I surprised myself. I apologize for getting so excited, but the grasshopper took me off guard.”
“No harm done.” Except to his raging blood. “You were doing real fine until then.”
“Really?” She glanced at him, blushing becomingly when he nodded. “Could I do it again?”
“Sure.” He handed her the reins and she settled in, obvious in her attempt to keep the wagon in the middle of the road.
A smile still touched her lips and Riley found himself staring, reliving the taste of her, the satiny feel of her mouth on his. Nope. He steered his thoughts in another direction. “Once we get a good freeze, those grasshoppers will be gone for a while. You’ve done well since we started with the horses, but I don’t think you’re all that comfortable. Did something happen to make you afraid of horses?”
“I guess the horses can tell, as well?”
“Yes, but you’re coming along and they can sense that, too. Remember that I untied Prissy last week and both of you did fine.”
For a moment, he thought she wouldn’t answer his question, then she said, “I was nine. We were in town one Saturday, and crossing the street to meet Adam and Father at my father’s office. The milk wagon was driving past and a boy threw a rock at the team. They bolted, and when they did, it startled me. I tried to get out of the way, but I tripped. They barely missed running over me, and dragged that wagon to the other end of the street.”
“Sounds like the kid who threw the rock needed a good thumping.”
Susannah kept her gaze straight ahead, concentrating intensely on working the reins.
“You’re lucky you weren’t hurt.”
“You probably think I’m silly for still being afraid.” She gave him a wobbly smile. “But I could never get up the courage to be around horses after that.”
“Until now,” he pointed out.
“Yes, until now.”
A true smile bloomed and jolted his bloodstream like a swig of whiskey. “There’s nothing silly about being cautious. Horses can be as dangerous as anything I’ve seen. People get stomped on or dragged. I know of one man who was kicked in the head and he hasn’t been able to talk or take care of himself since. Nope, you’re not silly.”
“I wish I had some witnesses to hear you say that,” she said smartly.
“Now, c’mon. I don’t treat you like you’re silly.”
She tilted her head and ran a considering gaze over him. “No, I guess not…Mr. Bossy.”
She laughed softly, and Riley couldn’t take his eyes off her. His gaze traced her delicate profile, dropped to the swell of her breasts, barely visible beneath her cape. Awareness charged the air between them, humming like a twister ready to touch down and do its damage.
Hell.
“Do you think I can actually do this?”
“You are doing it.”
Her gaze met his. “Yes, I guess so.”
After a long moment, she looked away. “I never thought I’d get close to a horse again, let alone groom one or drive or any of the things you’ve been teaching me. Now I can go anywhere I need to. Thank you.”
Though he admitted to a certain pride in her accomplishment, concern pricked at him. He didn’t want to see her smile disappear, nor did he want to scare her, but he wanted her to be careful. “You know not to go out alone, don’t you? You need more practice.”
“But I think if I had to, if something happened, I could handle Prissy.”
“It’s not the horse I’m worried about,” Riley muttered.
“Are you back to thinking I can’t take care of myself?” She stiffened beside him.
“No, I’m thinking of things you can’t control, like the weather.”
She looked around. “It’s beautiful.”
“Not always. It can be very unpredictable. Deadly,” he said in a flat tone. “You’ve got to be really careful out here. I’ve seen twisters carry off barns, even livestock. It can be desert dry one minute and a raging flood fifteen minutes later. Blistering cold in the winter. And we have these dust storms….”
An image of his wife’s lifeless body flashed through his mind. “Dust so thick and blowing so hard you can’t open your eyes. You lose all sense of direction. It can be—”
“Too much for someone like me,” Susannah finished angrily.
“For anyone,” he said gruffly, a hollow ache in his chest. His hands clenched into fists on his thighs.
She studied him for a moment, curiosity burning in her eyes. “Riley?”
“It shouldn’t be long now. We’ll reach Abilene in plenty of time for the first race.”
“Good.”
Whatever questions she’d wanted to ask she seemed to think better of. He’d seen a flash of hurt in her eyes at the way he’d changed the subject, but he wouldn’t let himself be swayed by that. They didn’t need to know such private information about each other. He didn’t want to tell her about Maddie, nor did she need to hear how his wife had died. How she was just as unsuited to this harsh country as Maddie had been, regardless of the fact that Susannah was growing more at ease around horses. And establishing a life for herself in Whirlwind.
As soon as Adam got things straightened out with his and Susannah’s parents, she’d be on the first stage out of here. As she should be.
Riley wanted her, but not on the terms she needed. Or deserved. She was a woman who should be married. And he wasn’t getting hitched again.
Things were best left as they were. He had every intention of holding to that, despite the fact that every day with her blurred what he knew to be true: she didn’t belong here, didn’t belong with him. Forgetting that would hurt them both.
Darkness had long settled around them by the time they returned to Cora’s. Susannah was tired and a couple of times had caught herself nearly falling asleep on Riley’s shoulder. As inviting as the pallet in the back looked, she was reluctant to move. She liked being in the front where she could see.
She also didn’t want the memory of his touch on her cheek to circle round and round in her mind, as it was doing.
Her heart had nearly stopped when he’d touched her face, and she’d wanted more. But the moment had shattered when they’d both realized it shouldn’t happen. That touch was all it had taken to remind her of Paul, allow her to pull back and clear her thoughts.
But one image she couldn’t erase was the way Riley’s eyes had darkened when he’d warned
her so urgently about the dangerous weather here. His voice had gone hoarse when he’d spoken about dust storms, but why? Emotion had flashed quickly through his eyes, then disappeared. An emotion she couldn’t quite identify. Pain? Anger? Regret?
She hesitated to pry. She didn’t understand it, but a small part of her feared knowing. And she didn’t want to bring that hollowness back into his eyes.
He pulled the buggy up in front of Cora’s house and came around to help her down. Susannah gripped the side of the seat to balance herself as she turned to reach for his shoulders. A sharp pain shot through her palm and up her arm. She winced, gasping.
“What is it?” Riley immediately grasped her waist.
“I hurt my hand.”
“How?”
She looked down, but, unable to see clearly, she shook her head. “I don’t know.”
He took her hand and turned it over, causing her to draw in a sharp breath at his touch. In the fall of moonlight, she saw him frown.
“Damn, your gloves are torn. Your hands are probably blistered but good.”
“From driving?”
He nodded, gently helping her down, then moving in front of her to open the door. A lamp burned in the middle of Cora’s kitchen table, lighting the way as Susannah walked inside.
“Hello! Good trip?” Cora sat in the corner next to the stove. A lantern on the wall behind her gave off a soft light as she embroidered.
“Yes.” Susannah smiled at her friend.
“Hi, Cora.” Riley shut the door and pulled out a chair at the table for Susannah. “Those gloves are ruined. They’re for Sundays, not driving.”
“They’re all I have.” She sank down into the chair, wriggling in discomfort at another hard seat.
“What happened?” Cora paused in her stitching and leaned forward.
“I drove! I drove the wagon.” Despite the burning pain in her hands, excitement rippled through Susannah. She would never have imagined herself doing such a thing.
“You drove? How wonderful.”
“She needs some salve,” Riley said.
“In the pantry.” Cora pointed to the tall wooden cabinet behind the table, and Riley left to retrieve a small round tin.
“How bad is it?” the older woman asked.
“I think just blisters,” Susannah said.
“Her gloves are in shreds and her hands are raw.”
“I’m sure they’ll be fine.” She met Riley’s gaze as he pulled a chair in front of her and sat down.
“You should’ve said something,” he said quietly.
“They didn’t hurt until we arrived home.” Over his shoulder, she met Cora’s gaze and rolled her eyes.
Her friend grinned.
Riley plucked off his hat and set it on the table before opening the tin. “I’m going to rub in this salve. It will hurt at first, but it will save your hands. Okay?”
“All right.” His touch was gentle as he turned her hands palm up, then dabbed on a glob of yellowish cream. Despite his featherlight touch, pain seared her flesh and she bit her lip to keep from crying out.
“I’m sorry.” He held her gaze with his.
She focused on the steadiness in his blue eyes, trying to dull her mind to the pain burning her hands.
“Did you enjoy yourselves?” Cora asked.
“Yes, it was fun,” Susannah said. Talking would take her mind off her discomfort. And maybe the soft pleasure stealing through her veins at Riley’s touch. “That mystery rider won again.”
“Again?”
“By quite a handy margin.” Riley started working on her other hand. “Every race.”
Susannah shook her head. “His horse must be really fast.”
“How many races today?” Cora asked.
“Three.” Susannah wasn’t surprised that her voice trembled. Riley’s thumb stroked over the heel of her palm, grazing her wrist where her pulse pounded erratically.
Cora resumed her embroidery. “How much money?”
“Twenty-five dollars for two races,” Riley said. “And forty for the last one.”
“I de-clare.” Cora bit off a length of thread. “And no one knows who he is?”
“No.” He grinned, looking over his shoulder at her. “You should’ve seen Banker Dobies, though. He was just as sour this time as last.”
Cora chuckled.
Riley’s finger grazed a tender place in the center of Susannah’s palm and she sucked in a breath.
“I’ll try to hurry,” he said.
“I’m all right.” Her voice was hoarse and she knew it was because of Riley’s touch, not because of any pain she felt. The concern in his eyes drew her in, generated a warmth inside her that melted her bones. “How are you, Cora?”
“I’ll be good as new in a day or two. What did you think of driving the buckboard?”
“I don’t know how well I did, but I think I can get the hang of it.”
“She did a fine job.” Riley continued to stroke salve on her hands. “She got all cocky, driving like a madwoman, then found this grasshopper and dropped it down my shirt.”
“I never did!” she exclaimed. “Riley Holt, you tell the truth right now.”
“I am. I swear.” He grinned.
Cora laughed softly. “Yes, I can just imagine who’s telling the truth here. What really happened, Susannah?”
She smirked at Riley. “A grasshopper jumped into my dress and I had to get it out.”
“While hopping around like a jackrabbit.”
She sniffed. “I didn’t. And you weren’t much help.”
“You killed it dead without any help from me.”
“Yes, I’m wicked with insects.”
Cora laughed. “I guess I missed out on quite a bit.”
“I’m sure Susannah would be glad to show you just how she finally got that grasshopper. She kinda flung her arms out and whacked at everything, including me.”
“Oh, you.” She tried to look stern, but couldn’t.
Cora laughed, putting her embroidery in her lap as she leaned her head against the back of her rocker. “Susannah, before I forget, Evelyn Donnelly paid you a visit today.”
“Andrew’s mother?”
“Didn’t he show up for your charm school?” Riley asked.
Susannah nodded.
“She said she’d sent money with Andrew to pay for the classes, but she found it in the pocket of his jacket. He told her you must’ve put it back in there.”
“I couldn’t take his money. I don’t think she can afford it. He said she was ill.”
“She is. Some kind of consumption, I think.” Cora clucked her tongue sympathetically.
“I want him to be able to attend class.”
“She gave me the money again,” Cora said.
Riley dabbed a layer of salve on her other palm. “She wants to pay, Susannah. It’s a matter of pride.”
“I didn’t mean to insult her. I’ll go talk to her.”
“She’s a seamstress. Maybe you could work out a trade with her,” Cora suggested.
“That’s a wonderful idea.” She shifted, bothered by the sensation working from her arms to her breasts, her legs. Was Riley almost finished? She felt his touch clear to her core. “I have some clothing I need to let out again. Maybe Mrs. Donnelly would be willing to do that.”
“That’s a good idea.” Riley smiled into her eyes.
Part of her wished he’d never stop touching her, but it was too stimulating. Too distracting. Every time his fingers stroked her palm, her nerve endings drew tight. Liquid heat streamed through her body, between her legs. It was dangerous, the pleasure seducing her into feeling instead of thinking. And she’d made up her mind about that.
No matter how handsome he looked with the lamplight gilding his hair, the strong column of his throat revealed by the barely opened neck of his shirt. His powerful thighs bracketed hers in a slyly sensual way. She could easily forget about Cora being in the room, just as she’d forgotten everyone else whe
n she and Riley had danced in the barn two weeks ago.
She felt herself getting lost in the deep blue of his eyes and realized he’d stopped applying salve. She blinked.
Staring into her eyes, he held her hand for a second longer, then rose. He put the lid back on the tin and placed it on the table. “You should use this two or three times a day for about a week. It will help the blisters.”
She nodded, not understanding the ache in her heart, the yearning for something more. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He turned to Cora, his voice rusty. “Need anything before I go? Wood?”
“Maybe some wood,” the older woman said with a smile.
He picked up his hat and settled it on his head. “I’ll stack it up here on the porch and see you ladies on Monday evening for horse lessons.”
“Good night,” Cora called as he walked out and closed the door.
“Good night.” Susannah rose from the chair and unfastened her cloak, hanging it up. Removing the scarf, which had slipped off her head and hung around her shoulders, she placed it on top of her cloak.
“Aren’t you glad you went?” Cora asked. “It sounds like you had a nice time.”
She hesitated a moment. “I did.”
“Are you surprised?”
Susannah shrugged. “I guess I am.”
Riley’s boots thudded heavily across the porch, then she heard a muffled thunk as he stacked wood outside the door.
“Because you enjoyed Riley’s company? Or for some other reason?” Cora’s voice was gentle, but it stirred up questions Susannah didn’t want to answer.
She said cautiously, “The races were exciting.”
She wouldn’t voice the secret pleasure she’d felt with him today. It would do no good to contemplate it. Because while laughing with him and feeling his strong, gentle touch on her hands, she’d realized Riley Holt could do more damage to her common sense than Paul ever had.
Chapter Nine
A week later, with Cora’s help, Susannah rolled out biscuits on the kitchen table. She’d seen how much Riley enjoyed Cora’s biscuits, and had asked Cora to teach her how to make them.