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

  “Look around, Wakefield. What woman in her right mind would want a man with a run-down ranch and just enough money to get by?”

  “A woman in love.”

  “Now I know that bull kicked you in the head,” Cooper said disgustedly. “You just don’t remember it.”

  His friend’s answering laughter irritated the hell out of Cooper. “Just wait and see what happens when I take off tomorrow morning. If Faith doesn’t stay here with you, I’ll come back next week and help you fence every pasture this place has. And we both know how much I hate stretching barbed wire.”

  “You’ll help anyway,” Cooper said with confidence.

  Brant grinned. “I know. But I had to have something to bargain with. Now what was that project you wanted me to help you with?”

  “You’re never going to believe this.”

  “Try me.”

  “We’re going to build a cage for a mouse,” Cooper said, tossing Brant the roll of screen wire.

  “You’re right,” Brant said, shaking his head. “I don’t believe you.”

  The next morning, Faith poured coffee for the two men to have with their muffins. “I’d like to thank both of you for building that cage and confining the mouse,” she said, remembering how they had searched most of the evening before they finally found the annoying little animal. “Maybe now I can get something done, instead of watching what’s around my feet.”

  “No, problem,” Brant said, cheerfully. He devoured the banana-nut muffin and reached for another. “Cooper said it tried to run up your leg the other day.”

  She shuddered. “I’m afraid I really put on a show that day, didn’t I, Cooper?”

  When he nodded, but didn’t say anything, she wondered if she was making the right decision. He’d been strangely quiet all morning.

  Deciding there was no better time than the present to find out, she cleared her throat. “Cooper, I have something I need to ask you.”

  He slowly set his coffee cup on the plywood tabletop. “What do you need?”

  You, a traitorous little voice in her muddled brain whispered. She wasn’t sure where it had come from, but she fully intended to ignore it.

  “If you don’t have a problem with it, I’d like to stay until your brother-in-law brings the cattle.” Rushing on before he got the wrong idea, she explained, “I have a score to settle with Mr. Penn.”

  She knew her excuse was as flimsy as tissue paper and that she’d lost every ounce of sense she possessed. But she’d lain awake half the night, thinking about leaving the Triple Bar Ranch—leaving Cooper—and she’d come to only one conclusion. She was going to stay with him. Then she’d tossed and turned the rest of the night, trying to rationalize her decision. Getting even with Mr. Penn was the only plausible excuse she’d been able to come up with.

  Relief flowed through her when she watched a slow smile turn up Cooper’s firm lips. “That would be fine with me, darlin’,” he said. His sexy baritone sent shivers along every nerve in her body and she suddenly felt warm all over.

  Brant’s chuckle turned to a cough when boots shuffled under the table. “I won’t be leaving until after lunch,” he said, reaching down to rub his shin. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

  “I doubt that will happen,” Cooper said, his gaze holding hers captive. “Faith deserves to take a strip off Whiskers’s hide for what he’s pulled.”

  She glanced away in time to see Brant look from her to Cooper, then grinning like the Cheshire cat, rise to his feet. “All righty then. It’s settled. Come on, Coop. Let’s get that junk cleaned out of the tack room before I take off.”

  Four hours later, Cooper and Faith stood on the porch waving as Brant pulled away from the house. Cooper liked having his best friend around most times, but this wasn’t one of them. He was more than glad to see the backside of Brant’s pickup truck as he drove away.

  The way he saw it, he had three, maybe four days left with Faith before Flint and Whiskers arrived. He knew it was pure insanity, since nothing could ever come of the attraction between them. But he wanted to spend as much time with her as he could before she walked out of his life for good.

  “Brant is very nice,” she said congenially. “I’m glad he was able to help you get the corral and barn ready for the cattle.”

  “I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have in my corner when the chips are down,” Cooper agreed. But he didn’t want to talk about Brant, or corrals or cattle.

  Taking her by the hand, he started down the porch steps. “Come on, darlin’. I have a surprise for you in the barn.”

  Faith gave him a grin that damned near knocked him flat. “It’s not another one of your harmless critters, is it? Because if it is, I’d just as soon pass on the opportunity.”

  “Nope. This is something I think you’re really going to like. Brant and I found it while we were cleaning out the tack room.” When they reached the barn door, he covered her eyes with his hand. “Now keep in mind that it isn’t perfect and probably not what you’re used to. But it’s better than what we have.”

  “So you’re trying to tell me to keep an open mind?” she asked, laughing.

  He chuckled. “Something like that.” Leading her to the room in the middle of the barn, he took his hand from her eyes. “So what do you think?”

  “Is that what I think it is?” she asked, her face breaking into a happy smile.

  “Sure is.” He rocked back on his heals. “It’s an honest to goodness, antique bathtub. After I get it scrubbed up, I’ll carry it up to the house so you can take a real bath instead of having to make do with a wash pan and a sponge.”

  Her reaction was everything he’d hoped it would be. She threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on him that had him deciding to poke around the barn a little more and find other treasures that would make her happy.

  Seven

  H umming along with the classical music coming from the battery operated CD player she’d found buried in one of her suitcases, Faith lifted the last pot of hot water from the camp stove. She poured it into the old-fashioned bathtub, then added cool water to get the temperature just right. Sprinkling in a generous amount of the bath salts she’d brought with her, she inhaled deeply as the scent of roses filled the room. It smelled heavenly. She couldn’t wait to immerse herself in the water and soak until it turned her completely pruny.

  Gathering her long hair, she twisted the length of it, then used a large toothed clip to secure it to the back of her head. While the water had heated on the stove, she’d taken off her clothes, put on her fluffy pink terrycloth robe and collected everything she’d need. There was only one thing left to do before she lit the candles she’d arranged by the tub, stripped off her robe and slipped into the water. She needed to find some way to secure the back door to keep Cooper from accidentally walking in to find her lounging in the tub.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him to respect her privacy. She did. But he knew nothing about it. She hadn’t decided to coax water from Old Faithful and indulge herself until after he’d gone outside. She was a bit bothered by the fact that she’d be bathing in one corner of the kitchen, but that’s where the kerosene heater was and the other rooms were simply too chilly to even consider.

  She took a deep breath and looked around. What could she use to secure the door? It didn’t have a lock. When she’d first arrived, she’d found that odd and very disconcerting. But the more she thought about it, the more she decided that it probably hadn’t been necessary for the occupants who had lived there so many years ago. The house was quite a distance from the main road and completely hidden from view. And neighbors certainly weren’t a problem. Besides herself and Cooper, there wasn’t another living soul for miles and miles.

  In her search to find a way to block the door, she spotted several large packing cartons that they hadn’t yet emptied. Perfect. They should be heavy enough to insure her privacy.

  She lifted the towel she’d hung over the window in
the door to make sure Cooper was still down by the barn. When a rusty bucket came sailing out of the big open door to land on the rapidly growing pile of things to be hauled away, she breathed a sigh of relief. He was too intent on getting the barn into shape to stop anytime soon.

  Smiling, she turned and shoved the heavy boxes against the door, lit the candles and slipped off her robe. She stepped into the bathtub and sat down. It was short and narrow and she had to bend her knees a bit, but the water felt wonderful when she sponged it over her arms and upper chest. As she washed herself with the soft mesh puff, she decided it was quite possibly the most luxurious bath she’d ever taken. She smiled. Compared to washing off in a washpan like she’d had to do for the past few days, it felt positively lavish.

  Resting against the high back of the tub, Faith allowed the soft scent of roses and the soothing music of Chopin to surround her. She closed her eyes in sheer pleasure. A trip to an expensive spa couldn’t make her feel any more relaxed and pampered than she did at that very moment.

  When the sound of thunder echoed across the land, Cooper tossed another piece of junk on the pile outside the barn door and looked up. The clouds had gathered while he’d been inside cleaning out the feed room and within the next few minutes the sky was going to open up and pour. Unless he wanted to dodge lightning bolts, he’d better knock off work and head for the house.

  Dusting off his hands on the seat of his jeans, he glanced toward his new home. The place wasn’t much right now. But it would be. He’d make sure of it. It already looked better, since he and Brant replaced the broken support post on the back porch. At least now he didn’t have to duck his head when he reached the top step.

  A sense of pride filled his chest, then spread throughout his body. For the first time in his life, he had a place of his own—a place that wasn’t portable. Having been raised on the rodeo circuit, even as a child his home had been a camper on the back of a pickup truck. His family had traveled like nomads from one rodeo to another while his dad chased his dreams, first as a steer wrestler, then as a bullfighter.

  But Cooper had finally made the decision to put down roots and it felt good. Damned good.

  He just wished that Faith hadn’t shown up to see the ranch the way it looked now. He’d have preferred her arrival a little later, after he’d made some much needed repairs and renovations. Maybe then…

  Cooper shook his head. No sense worrying about that now. She’d just the same as told him she wanted no part of him or his run-down ranch. Besides, now was not a good time to be thinking about a wife. When he did find a woman to share his life, he’d have a ranch to be proud of and something more to offer her than a leaky roof and bathroom facilities that involved a fifty-yard sprint and a flashlight after dark.

  His steps heavier than they’d been only moments ago, he walked to the house and up the porch steps. The sound of music caused him to stop short. Where had she come up with something to play music? He shook his head at his own foolishness. She’d probably unearthed it in one of her suitcases. He chuckled. He wouldn’t be surprised at anything she found in Mt. Samsonite. Hell, as big as some of those pieces were, he wouldn’t be surprised if a family of four could be housed quite comfortably in one of the damned things.

  But as he listened to the classical music he shook his head again as he reached for the doorknob. She liked that lofty stuff, while he preferred the down to earth sound of country tunes. It was just one of many ways they were different, and additional proof that a woman like Faith could never be interested in a cowboy like him.

  He twisted the knob, but stopped short when the door refused to budge. Glancing up, he grinned at the towel covering the window in the door. Women liked curtains, and it appeared that Faith had been busy using whatever she could find to fashion some.

  But why had she locked him out of his house? Deciding that she probably wanted to surprise him with the little feminine touches she was making to his home, he tapped on the glass.

  “Faith?”

  Nothing.

  The music from her CD player was pretty loud. She probably couldn’t hear him.

  Knocking on the wooden frame, he put a little more force behind his effort and managed to push the door open a couple of inches. A soft flowery scent drifted through the crack. “Faith, let me in,” he called.

  Still nothing.

  What was going on? Could she have fallen while she was hanging things over the windows? Was she hurt?

  His mind ran through a half dozen different scenarios—all of them ending with Faith injured and lying unconscious somewhere inside the house.

  Placing his shoulder against the door, he shoved with everything he had and suddenly stumbled into the room amidst a pile of large boxes.

  “Faith?” he shouted as he pushed himself to his feet.

  Candlelight in the far corner of the kitchen drew his attention and he felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. There she sat in the old bathtub, naked as the day she was born, and looking more beautiful than any woman he’d ever had the privilege to lay eyes on.

  She blinked owlishly in an obvious effort to get her bearings, and it was clear to see she’d fallen asleep while taking a bath. When her eyes focused on him, she let out a startled squeak and to his immense disappointment, quickly tried to cover herself. But the old tub was small and there was no way for her to sink lower into its depths.

  “What are you doing in here?” she asked, her cheeks turning a very pretty rose color. “I thought you were clearing junk out of the barn.”

  He had to fight with everything he had to keep from grinning. She looked so danged cute sitting there with her silky auburn hair piled on top of her head, trying to hide her full breasts behind that puffy little bath thing.

  The urge to smile died and his mouth felt as if he’d swallowed a mouth full of desert dust when he noticed how little the bath puff covered. Her coral nipples were drawn into tight buds and he couldn’t have looked away if he’d wanted to. Which he didn’t.

  Fully clothed, Faith was beautiful. But nude, her satin skin glistening in the candlelight, she was a vision of everything a woman should be—soft, sensual and seductive beyond words.

  Heat streaked through him and his lower body tightened predictably. “It…uh, started raining,” he said, shoving his hands in his front pockets to relieve some of the pressure of his suddenly tight jeans.

  He could tell she’d noticed his arousal, but instead of looking away, she seemed as fascinated by his body as he was by hers. He took a step forward.

  A sudden flash of light illuminating the room, followed closely by a loud clap of thunder caused them both to jump and brought Cooper back to reality. What the hell did he think he was doing? He’d told her he could be trusted not to put the moves on her and he’d keep his word if it killed him. The way his lungs refused to take in air and his heart pounded against his ribs, he decided that it just might, too.

  Turning around, he forced himself to take a deep breath as he headed toward the door. “I’ll be out on the porch,” he said through gritted teeth. “Once you’ve dressed, let me know and I’ll empty the bathtub.”

  Faith waited until Cooper shoved the boxes out of the way and slammed the door behind him before she grabbed the towel beside the tub and stood up. What in heaven’s name had gotten into her?

  Her cheeks burned and she bit her lower lip to hold back an embarrassed sob as she vigorously rubbed the moisture from her skin. Heaven help her, but she’d wanted him to see her, wanted him to want her as badly as she wanted him. And if the bulge in his jeans and the hungry look in his eyes were any indication, he did.

  Thank goodness the intrusive sound of the storm had brought her back to her senses. But how was she ever going to face him again? Was she so desperate to be held, to once again feel desired, that she had practically issued Cooper an invitation to make love to her?

  Quickly pulling on her extra baggy, blue sweatshirt and jeans, she mopped the floor where she’d splashed water
out of the tub when she’d jerked to a sitting position. She blew out the candles and lit the lantern. The overcast sky outside had caused the room to be darker than usual and they would need the light in order to see. But the candles were too romantic, too intimate, too seductive.

  Deciding she couldn’t delay calling Cooper inside any longer, she opened the door. “You can come in now.”

  She didn’t look at him as he crossed the room and began bailing water from the bathtub. She couldn’t. Her mind was trying to sort through her tangled emotions. Humiliation still heated her cheeks at the way she’d shamelessly acted when he’d stood there staring at her. But it was the thrill she’d felt when she’d seen the hungry desire for her in his deep blue gaze that scared her senseless.

  Once he’d hauled the last of her bath water outside, he walked over to Old Faithful and began working to coax water from the spout. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll take a bath and shave while there’s still light,” he said.

  Nodding, she turned to leave the room. “No problem. I’ll stay in the living room until you’re finished.”

  “You know, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” he said, setting a large pot of water on the camp stove to heat.

  Good grief! Was she that transparent?

  Without looking at him, she shook her head. “Please, let’s just forget—”

  He surprised her by wrapping his arms around her from behind and pulling her back against him. “Darlin’, I could live another hundred years and not forget the sight of your beautiful body,” he said close to her ear.

  His low, deeply impassioned statement sent a shiver up her spine and created a pang of longing in her chest that threatened to suffocate her. “Cooper, I can’t—”

  “It’s all right, darlin’,” he said, holding her close. “Like I’ve told you before, you can trust me. I give you my word that nothing is going to happen that you don’t want happening.”