Best of Cowboys Bundle

by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Barbara White Daille, Judy Christenberry, Christine Wenger, Shirley Rogers, Crystal Green, Nina Bruhns, Candance Schuler, Carole Mortimer

  It had taken some doing, but Chay had finally found an excuse to ride up near Dana’s house again. Of course, having the girls with him wouldn’t allow for much courting…. Good Lord, where had that word come from?

  Chay frowned as he urged his horse up the slope. Courting! Was that what he was doing? There didn’t seem much point in it, since Dana would be going back to Ashton Falls in a couple of weeks, but courting or not, he had to see her again.

  He glanced over his shoulder to make sure the girls were all behind him. Megan was fully recovered from her incident of the day before, with nothing to show for her mishap but a small bruise on the side of her head. Chay wished he could say that. He was still seething from the tongue-lashing he had received from Big John.

  He waved a hand at Ashley when she looked up. The girls rode two abreast, whispering and giggling. He wondered what teenagers talked about these days when there were no adults to overhear their conversations, and then decided he really didn’t want to know.

  He felt a quickening inside when they turned up the road to Dana’s house. Bemused by his feelings, at first he didn’t see her kneeling beside the driveway.

  She looked up, apparently as surprised as he was. “What are you doing here?” she asked, waving to the girls.

  “They wanted to go berry picking,” Chay replied. It was only partly a lie. Berry picking had been his idea, but they had been agreeable.

  “Isn’t it kind of late in the year for berry picking?”

  “This high up there’re probably a few left. Why don’t you come with us?”

  She glanced down. Her jeans were dirty and so were her hands. And she still had flowers to plant.

  “You’re fine the way you are,” Chay said, reading her thoughts. “Berry picking can be dirty work.”

  “I don’t have a horse.”

  His gaze met hers, his dark eyes twinkling with mischief. “It’s not far. We can ride double.”

  The look in his eyes, and the thought of riding behind him, her arms wrapped snugly around his waist, sent a thrill of excitement fluttering through her stomach.

  “Well, what do you say?” he asked.

  The rest of the flowers could wait. “Just let me wash my hands.”

  At his nod, she hurried into the house, washed her hands, ran a brush through her hair and tied it back in a ponytail. She debated putting on lipstick and decided against it, but then vanity won out. She checked herself in the mirror one last time, then practically ran out the front door.

  Chay rode up beside the porch. Offering her his hand, he swung her up behind him.

  “Hang on tight,” he said. “I don’t want to lose you.”

  His words filled her heart with warmth. Murmuring, “Yes, sir,” she slid her arms around his waist, resisting the temptation to rest her cheek against his back.

  They rode around the side of the house and up a long narrow trail that opened onto a flat stretch of prairie. Shrubs and tall trees dotted the landscape, as well as a long tangle of wild huckleberry bushes that still held some of the small blue-black fruit. Montana was known for its huckleberry jams and jellies. You could even buy huckleberry-scented candles. Of course, there were some who said that they weren’t true huckleberries at all, but blueberries.

  Chay pulled his horse to a stop. He offered Dana his hand again and she swung down from the horse’s back. Dismounting, Chay gathered the reins of all the horses and tethered them to a couple of trees. The girls each had a straw basket tied behind their saddles. Retrieving them, they moved among the berry bushes, each boasting they would be the first to fill their basket.

  “I’ll bet they eat more than they collect,” Chay remarked, watching them. “Come on, let’s go pick a few before they’re all gone.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  And they were good. Chay ate a handful but mostly he watched Dana. She looked as young and carefree as one of the teenagers as she laughed with them. His gaze settled on a drop of berry juice caught in the corner of her mouth. What would she do if he pulled her into his arms and licked that tempting drop away? Deciding it was well worth a kiss or a slap, he drew her into his arms and licked the juice from her lips.

  Startled, she jerked back, her eyes widening. “Why did you do that?”

  “You had juice,” he said, touching his finger to her lips, “just there.” He smiled at her. “But it’s gone now.”

  “Really?” Lifting her hand to her mouth, she ate another couple of berries. “Do you see any more?”

  “Here,” he said, kissing the opposite corner of her mouth. “And here.” He nibbled on her lower lip. “And here.” This was a full-blown kiss that rocked him down to his boot heels.

  “Hey, you guys!” Megan called. “We’re supposed to be picking berries!”

  “Yeah,” Ashley agreed. “What kind of example are you setting for us impressionable teenagers anyway?”

  With a groan, Chay released Dana and took a step backward. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” he muttered.

  Dana made a face at him. “Well, gee, thanks a lot.”

  “No, honey, I didn’t mean kissing you. I meant bringing the girls.”

  “I thought you said this was their idea?”

  “Did I say that?”

  “Unless you were lying.”

  “Well, it wasn’t a lie, exactly.”

  “What was it then, exactly?”

  “All right, you caught me. It was my idea. I wanted to see you again, and this was the only reason I could think of for coming up this way.”

  It was hard to be mad at a man who had lied because he wanted to see her again. But it was still a lie. And even though it was just a tiny little white lie, it still bothered her.

  Chay lifted one eyebrow. “What?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re upset about something.”

  “I don’t like lies, even little ones.”

  “Is that what he did?” Chay asked softly. “Lie to you?”

  “Among other things,” she replied coolly, and turned away from him.

  “Hey, hold on a minute.” His long fingers curled around her wrist, drawing her toward him again. “Talk to me, Dana.”

  She glanced pointedly at the girls, all of whom were watching them avidly.

  Chay muttered an oath under his breath. “You’re right. This isn’t the time or the place.” His gaze bored into hers. “But we’re gonna talk about this later.”

  The rest of the afternoon passed pleasantly enough. Dana enjoyed being with the girls, listening while they chatted about which singers they liked best, Ashlee Simpson or Norah Jones, and who had the cutest smile, Orlando Bloom or Johnny Depp. They complained about school and homework and how unreasonable and demanding parents could be.

  By four o’clock, the girls were ready to go home. Chay rounded up the horses and gathered up the baskets and in no time at all, they were riding back down the hill.

  Dana again rode behind Chay, her senses filling with his nearness. Not only was he the most handsome man she had ever seen, but he was also the tallest and the most rugged. She knew instinctively that no matter what happened, he could protect her. He was also the sexiest man she had ever met, with his dusky skin and long black hair, not to mention his megawatt grin and whiskey-smooth voice.

  No doubt about it, she had it bad! And you were through with men, she reminded herself. Ha!

  But she couldn’t forget he had lied to her. A silly, harmless lie, to be sure, but then, Rick’s lies had seemed harmless at first, too, and look how that had turned out.

  When they reached her place, Chay dismounted. Lifting her from the back of the horse, he walked her to her door. “Thanks for coming with us.”

  “Thanks for asking me.”

  “I’ve got to get these girls back. Remember that barn dance I told you about? Well, it’s tonight and they want to go.” He shook his head ruefully. “Naturally, I’ve been assigned to be their driver and chaperon.” He cocked his head to
one side. “You said no the last time I asked you, but how about going with me?”

  “I don’t know…”

  He ran his knuckles over her cheek. For a touch that was as light as thistledown, it went through her like heat lightning. “Say you’ll go with me.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “We’ll pick you up at seven.”

  “All right. See you then.”

  “Good. Hang on a minute.”

  Descending the stairs, he went to Ashley’s horse and removed one of the baskets from the saddle.

  “Here,” he said, handing the basket to Dana.

  “Thanks. I suppose you want another pie, since you didn’t get any of the last one?”

  “That’s the idea,” Chay admitted with a grin.

  “I thought apple was your favorite.”

  “I like huckleberry, too. See you at seven.”

  Chapter Six

  W rapped in a fluffy pink towel, Dana stood in front of the closet trying to decide what to wear. She really hadn’t brought anything fancy, but then, she hadn’t planned on meeting anyone like Chay or being invited to a dance. In the end, she chose a long navy blue and white flowered skirt that was drawn up on one side, exposing a froth of white lace, and a white blouse. She brushed her hair and twisted it into a knot on top of her head, then shook it down again. She pulled on a pair of high-heeled blue sandals, applied some lipstick, splashed on a little perfume and she was ready to go.

  Her heartbeat skyrocketed when she heard his knock. Taking a deep breath, she went to answer the door.

  Dana sucked in a deep breath when she saw Chay standing on the porch. He was gorgeous. A pair of new black jeans hugged his long legs. He wore a black leather vest over a white western-style shirt. Both complemented his dusky skin and dark eyes.

  He touched a forefinger to the brim of his black hat. “Are you ready to go, ma’am?” he asked in his best cowboy twang.

  She batted her eyelashes at him. “Why, yes, I am, kind sir.”

  He offered her his arm. “Your carriage awaits.”

  Carriage indeed. Dana’s eyes widened when she stepped out onto the front porch and saw a long black limousine waiting for her.

  Descending the stairs, Chay opened the passenger door for her.

  From the back seat, a chorus of female voices called, “Hi, Dana,” as she slid onto the butter-soft leather seat.

  Smiling, Dana glanced over her shoulder. “Hi, girls.”

  Ashley lifted a champagne glass filled with soda. “Isn’t this great?”

  It was better than great. The windows were tinted, the carpets a plush gray to match the seats. There was a small television in the back, as well as a refrigerator.

  “Pretty swanky,” Dana said as Chay put the car in gear. “Is it a rental?”

  “Of course not. It belongs to Big John,” Chay said, his reply pitched low for her ears alone. “Like just about everything else in this town.”

  Dana stared at him, somewhat taken aback by his brusque tone. The bitterness in his voice was unmistakable. “You don’t seem to like Big John very much,” she remarked. “Why do you work for him?”

  “He pays well.”

  “And that’s reason enough to work for someone you don’t like?”

  He shrugged. “I told you, I’ve got a few acres here. I run some cattle on it and in another six months or so, the house will be done. It’s too much to walk away from.”

  “You’re right, of course. I forgot about the house. I guess it’s just hard for me to imagine working for someone I don’t like.”

  “Well, if you’ve never had to do it, you’re lucky.”

  “Yes,” she said wistfully. “Lucky.”

  Chay pulled up in front of the high school a few minutes later. The girls exploded out of the back of the limo like a covey of quail spooked by a fox.

  It was the first time Dana had seen them in anything but jeans. Heads together, they hurried through the door to the gym.

  Chay came around to help Dana out of the car. “I hope you like loud music,” he said, taking her by the hand.

  It had been years since Dana had been to a dance held in a high-school gym. Colorful streamers hung from the ceiling. A long table held bottles of water and cans of Coke. Another table held cakes and pies and cookies. Several adults roamed around the edge of the room, keeping an eye on the kids. Music was provided by a live band. Huge speakers were located at either side of the bandstand. Dana decided loud was an understatement as the singer belted out the latest hit by Alan Jackson.

  Chay, Dana and the girls made small talk for a moment, then a tall, good-looking boy sauntered over and asked Ashley to dance.

  “That’s Brandon DeHaven,” Chay said, watching the teenagers melt into the crowd. “His old man owns the spread next to Big John’s.”

  “They look good together,” Dana said.

  “Yeah. So, how about it?” Chay gestured at the dance floor. “You game?”

  “Sure.”

  The music changed to something sad and slow as he led her out into the middle of the floor and took her in his arms.

  “I’ve never been a country-music fan,” Dana said. “Seems like every other song is about broken hearts and starting over.”

  “Did he break your heart?” Chay asked quietly.

  “Are we back to that again?”

  “Talk to me, Dana. Tell me what he did to you.”

  She glanced around. “This isn’t the time or the place to discuss it, you know, so why don’t you just forget it?”

  “I’d like to,” he said. “But it’s like an itch I can’t scratch.” Holding her close, he guided her around the floor, his body brushing intimately against her own. “You can trust me, Dana. I won’t betray your trust.”

  “That’s what Rick said, in the beginning. He told me that he loved me and he promised that he would never, ever hurt me, or leave me. Only it was all a lie. Everything he ever told me was nothing but a damn lie!”

  “I’m sorry, Dana.” His voice, soft and low, wrapped around her like a warm cotton quilt. “I’m sorry he hurt you.”

  “It doesn’t matter now. It’s over.”

  “Is it?”

  “Yes, and I don’t intend to let anyone hurt me again.”

  “That’s no way to live.”

  “Have you ever been hurt by someone you loved?” she asked. “Someone you trusted? Did you plan a wedding and buy a dress that cost a month’s pay and send out the invitations, only to have the man you loved call you the week before the big day and tell you he was marrying someone else?”

  Chay swore. “Is that what happened?”

  “Yes.” Twisting out of his arms, Dana ducked out the side door and into the darkness beyond before she broke into tears and made a complete fool of herself.

  She should have known Chay would follow her.

  “Dana, wait!”

  She would have kept going, but his hand on her arm stayed her. She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. “Chay, just let it go.”

  “I would if I could. I know we just met a few days ago, but you’re under my skin.”

  “Like an itch you can’t scratch?” she asked, sniffling.

  He laughed softly. “I guess you could say that.” He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and gently wiped her eyes. “Admit it, there’s something between us. At least give us a chance to find out if it’s worth pursuing.”

  “What’s the point? I’m only going to be here another two weeks.”

  “Then give me those two weeks.”

  “You’re very persistent.”

  “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

  She stared up at him. If she was smart, she would pack up and go home tomorrow, before things got any more complicated than they already were. She liked Chay. She was attracted to him, and that fact scared her half to death. She had been attracted to Rick, too, although what she had felt for Rick was like comparing a summer bree
ze to a hurricane. There was just no comparison. Her attraction to Rick had never been as strong as what she felt for Chay.

  His hand slid up her arm to rest on her shoulder. Heat flowed in the wake of his touch. “Come back inside and let’s finish our dance, all right?”

  With a nod, she let him lead her back into the gym. He took her in his arms again, their bodies moving together as if they had danced this way for years. His nearness did funny things in the pit of her stomach, made her wish that they were alone somewhere. Made her wish for things she had convinced herself she no longer believed in. The touch of his hand at her waist burned through her blouse, spreading heat up and down her spine. She had danced with lots of men, but it had never been like this. Being in Chay’s arms was more than mere dancing.

  She was sorry when the song ended. Leaving the dance floor, they moved toward the refreshment tables. She chose a slice of cherry pie; he picked apple. Carrying their plates and cups of hot apple cider, they found a vacant table and sat down. While they ate, he entertained her with humorous stories about the local townspeople, all the while keeping a watchful eye on Brandon DeHaven, who seemed glued to Ashley’s side.

  Dana was struck again by the uncanny resemblance between Ashley and Chay, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. Their coloring was different, but there was something about their eyes, the shape of their mouths, even the way they carried themselves.

  “Hey, girl, where are you?”

  “What? Oh, I was just watching Ashley. She’s such a pretty girl.”

  “Yeah, she sure is. She’d most likely be causing her old man a lot of sleepless nights if he gave a damn about her.”

  “He must care,” Dana said. “If he didn’t, why would you be chaperoning her everywhere she goes?”

  “It’s only for the summer. When it’s over, she’ll go back to school, and I’ll go back to being a cowboy.”

  “So she doesn’t live at the ranch all year?”

  “No, just summers and during Christmas vacation.”

  “That’s too bad.” Dana took a sip of her drink. “Where’s Ashley’s mother? You’ve never mentioned her.”