by Asha Daniels
“I can’t wait to see your pictures.”
“Let me take a few more then we can go back.”
“Okay. I’ll look around.” She sounded resigned more than anything.
“Have you really never been on a horse?”
Georgia shrugged as she headed for the stream. “Once when I was a little girl, but I’d love to learn to ride.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll keep that in mind,” he muttered under his breath. His heart remained heavy, his mind filled with ugly thoughts. No one was ever going to allow any one of them to live without the stigma being attached. Perhaps it was time to consider moving out of state. The crush of leaving Wyoming would be difficult, but life did have to move on. The sun was just right, and he managed to capture a few additional pictures of her before replacing the lens cap. “I think I have what I need for now.” A teacher. Somehow the profession suited her.
“Okay.” She moved past him, her eyes never leaving him.
He wanted to pull her into his arms, caress and hold her as he explained the entire story, but now wasn’t the time.
They remained quiet the entire drive back, although John continued to point out various attributes regarding the resort and the working side of the ranch. True to his word, he stopped the jeep near the guest corral. “Here you go. Why don’t you take a nice ride? The fellas inside will hook you up with some horses that will suit your needs. Be mindful of the approaching storm. Experienced rider or not, Savage, you know how unpredictable the storms can be so stay on the trail.”
While he didn’t think it was such a good idea, Georgia seemed amiable. At least she wasn’t trying to get away from him. “Yeah, I remember. Appreciate the tour.”
“You got it, Savage. Good to see you. For what it’s worth, I think Richard is lucky to have all three of you around. You’re all talented and deserve a break.” John gave him a huge smile.
“I appreciate that more than you know.” Savage found the words difficult to say. He kicked his boot into the dirt, studying the sky. John was right. If a storm came up and they were caught, getting back down the mountain could prove to be treacherous.
“You’re really going to teach me to ride?” Georgia asked quietly.
“If you’re willing to learn. I’m no expert. That’s Toby’s territory, but I do know how to ride.”
“I’d love to learn.”
As the ranch hands found appropriate horses, giving Georgia a quick lesson on the do’s and don’ts, he continued taking pictures, capturing the true essence of the resort. Whoever was trying to shakedown Richard he would determine, no matter what he had to do.
“You’re set. I put some water and a blanket in the one satchel. Stay on the trail leading out from here and you’ll be fine. I wouldn’t venture off. We do have some critters that enjoy eating the guests.” The ranch hand laughed until Savage gave him a harsh look. “See you folks back here in a couple hours.”
“I don’t know if I can do this,” Georgia muttered as she was led outside the corral, her hands tight around the reins. Her body was stiff, her expression one of terror.
“Let the horse do the work. They’ve done this a thousand times,” Savage instructed as he took the reins from the ranch hand, leading them both to the back of the corral. The trail was wide, leading in a zigzag pattern up the side of the mountain. Spending time with her alone was unexpected.
Her body remained tense on the horse, the actions forcing her out of the saddle with every step the horse made.
“Lean over. Relax or you’ll hurt in the morning.” Savage had to admit that seeing her on the horse, the way her face was pinched, her arms and shoulders full of anxiety sent a series of shudders down his spine. Damn, he liked this girl way too much.
“Did I tell you that I’m afraid of heights?”
Laughing, he touched his heels against the mare, moving beside her. “That’s it. Now, breathe.”
“You breathe. I’m terrified.” The words were snapped but she laughed, the lilting sound so feminine, so full of life.
He allowed her to get used to the ride as they meandered up the trail, passing by two groups on a return trip. “Come on. Let’s pick up the pace just a little.”
“Oh no, you don’t. I might fall off. I have serious work to do.”
“You’re not going to fall off. Besides, I’ll catch you.” He trotted ahead, darting a glance over his shoulder. “Breathe and come on. You can do it.” The look of sheer horror on her face was priceless.
“Don’t you leave me!”
“I’ll never leave you. I’m not that kind of guy.” In truth, he wasn’t. He wanted nothing more than to keep her safe, protected as they rode, quietly at first until she managed to get used to the beautiful mare. “You’re doing great. Look at you.”
“Yeah, well, I have no clue what I’m doing.” Georgia’s grip on the reins remained white knuckled, her face pale. But she continued the pace, allowing him to take the lead.
“That’s it. You’re going great,” Savage beamed.
She snorted as she patted the mare’s mane. “Let’s see if you say that when we return.”
He hated the awkward silence.
“Toby is some kind of rodeo star?” she asked, keeping her eyes on the trail.
“He was damn good in truth. Could have been a national champion.” Savage smiled as he remembered the glory days.
“What happened?” She seemed to catch herself in the question.
“Life happened. To all of us. Dirty games, lies and vendettas.” My God, he sounded so damn bitter.
“We all have horrific experiences in life. Something for you to keep in mind.”
That was true enough. The lovely teacher had a way of making him feel like shit. And yeah, he deserved it. They’d gone a solid thirty minutes when he noticed what appeared to be a slight turn off. Glancing up at the mountains, he gained his bearing. He’d been here before. “Let’s see what we have here. Sound good?”
“Getting off this horse sounds good right about now.”
Swinging his leg, he climbed off first. “Let me help you.” He was shocked when she didn’t argue or attempt to become a martyr. As she slipped into his arms, he shuddered from the touch.
Georgia kept her grip on his arms, her fingers pressing hard against his skin. “I think I was wrong about you. Very wrong.” Her whisper was husky.
An instant red flag popped into his psyche, but he swallowed back bile. “No, you were right.”
“You always do that. Why? Do you hate yourself so much that you can’t possibly believe anyone else could love you?”
The truth was a bitter pill. “I’m dangerous, sunshine. Just ask Deputy Marshall. He’ll fill you in.” He pulled away.
“Savage, don’t do that.” Grabbing his wrist, she dug her nails in. “Don’t. You can try and push me away, but I don’t follow rules.”
“No, you don’t and that could get you into some kind of trouble.”
“I’m a big girl. I’ll take my chances.”
All he wanted to do was take her into his arms, explore the passion they were tiptoeing around, but he didn’t want her exposed to his past or those who would continue to condemn him. “I told you before. You don’t know me, Georgia. I like my life the way it is.”
Cupping his cheek, she inched closer. “Trust me, Savage. Please.”
As the wind whipped around them, he took the opportunity to glance up toward the sky. “The horses won’t go anywhere and I’m going to take a few pictures. The weather is rolling in, so we’ll need to get back. Stay here or come with me. Your choice but don’t go wandering off. There are wild animals and drop offs.” Before the temptation became too much, he turned and walked away, his heart aching.
Damn him. Damn the situation. Damn everything. Georgia didn’t try and follow him. The conscious decision only fueled her aggravation. What was the point? He’d push her away once again or they’d play the game of keep away and she’d grown weary. Maybe he was right. They weren’t su
ited for each other. She paced the area, cursing under her breath. The way Josh had issued the words regarding killing someone was no doubt meant to be shocking, to see what she was made of. Folks had shied away from Toby in the café and away from Savage in the lodge. Then there’d been Shane’s reaction when she checked in. No wonder all three were gun shy. People believed the hype.
After the stint with the deputy, she knew in her gut there was a hell of lot more to the story.
However, for all three of them to be sent to prison meant a crime of a violent nature had occurred, no matter the circumstances. Still, even John’s reaction filled in some of the blanks. There was a dirty little secret floating around Cheyenne and it involved three of the sexiest men on the planet. What she’d come to accept was that all three men were intriguing, enough so that she could see dating them. Oh God. What was she thinking? Dating? She didn’t know them at all. They were tight as friends, cared about each other. That was obvious. The three musketeers. Three peas in a pod. A ménage plus one. A laugh bubbled up from her throat.
As another gust of wind rattled the trees, she squinted as she gazed at the sky. The clouds had thickened, swirling and blocking out the sun. The air had become chilly, creating goose bumps along every inch of naked skin. An approaching storm. Perfect. There was no rain gear in the saddle bags. She also hadn’t paid a bit of attention to the direction he’d gone in. The man was no fool. He’d come back soon enough. All she had to do was have patience.
She checked her watch three times before fifteen minutes had passed and still no Savage. Hissing, she paced back and forth, moving further away from the horses. The temperature had dropped a solid ten degrees given the continued wind and she was chilled to the bone. She held her arms as she walked closer to the dense area of forest. “Savage?” Her voice was carried away by the wind. Where in the world could he take pictures that would highlight the resort in any fashion?
After turning in a circle, she ventured further into the forest, hopping over small limbs and vines. She thought about his warning, but she wasn’t going to abandon the area completely. Granted, there was no path and no way of telling if Savage had even come this way. She pressed on, concerned for his safety and as the light seemed to dim, the sun completely blocked out, she decided it was time to turn back. She’d give him a piece of her mind upon his return.
Within less than a minute, she realized everything in the forest looked exactly the same. There was no way of telling where she’d come from. There were zero tell-tale signs. After a few additional steps, a sliver of fear trickled in. “Savage?” Everything had an ominous appearance, trees swaying, limbs creaking, and the swirling wind picking up shards of debris. She huddled against a tree, attempting to gain her bearings. She’d gone maybe twenty yards, no more. A quick look of her watch made her groan.
Almost an additional hour had gone by. “Shit.” This time, the single word seemed to echo. A cracking noise behind her made her jump. Turning slowly, she narrowed her eyes, trying to make out anything. “Savage?” The snapping noises picked up in pace and the sound was definitely headed in her direction. She held her breath, trying to remain as quiet as possible.
Gggrrr…
She didn’t need to be a wildlife expert to tell her what type of creature had issued the growl. Coyote. She was a teacher after all. Calm down and think. Every step with caution, she methodically stepped away from the sound, feeling her way behind her. A lump remained in her throat, her hackles raised, and she was petrified. She was also a damn fool.
When the growling intensified, coming even closer, she stopped moving. Please God, get me out of here. Where there was one coyote, there could be an entire pack. And she could be surrounded. A single nick in a tree was the sign she needed and one she recognized. She had no other choice. Taking off running, she flew through the forest, racing around trees and jumping over the various fallen limbs. “Savage!”
Georgia heard the coyote’s low-slung hisses and could swear the beast was nipping at her heels. “Savage!” A shift in the light gave her hope. Dashing forward, she broke through the trees just as she twisted her head and out of the corner of her eye she saw the coyote as it leapt into the air. The horses were going wild, whinnying, but they weren’t running. They weren’t…
“No!”
Whoosh! Bam!
Pulled to the dirt, she was thrown onto her face, her head hitting the ground, the wind knocked out of her.
“Die, you bastard!” Savage roared.
Hearing a solid thump, she closed her eyes, panting, trying desperately to catch her breath.
“Jesus Christ.” Savage dropped onto his knees beside her, rolling her over and bending down. “Are you all right? What in the hell happened?”
“I’m… fine,” she managed. There was so much concern on his face, pinching his gorgeous features. A splatter of wetness hit her forehead, another on her cheek. She reached out for him when he moved away then jerked back her hand, her eyes settling on the coyote. She knew the animal was dead, but the entire horrific event seemed a blur.
He bent down by the beast, rolling the animal over until he was able to yank his knife from the carcass. Wiping the blade on his pants, he shoved it back into the sheath snapped to his belt.
“A knife. Amazing.”
“Trained in the Marines.”
She nodded and looked away, no longer able to feel her fingers.
“Come on. Let’s get you out of here.” He picked her up, cradling her in his arms. “The rain is coming, and the storm is going to be severe. We can’t make it back down the trail. Not like this.”
She clung to him, her pulse racing, her heart thumping. As the rain began to come down in earnest, she was surprised that he grabbed the blanket as well as a flashlight from the leather satchel then trotted away from the horses.
“They’ll be fine. I tied them up. Lucky too or we’d be stuck here for a while.” Grumbling, he took long strides as he moved into the forest in another direction.
“Where are we going?”
“A cave. I know this mountain. Used to climb it as a kid. We’ll be safe.”
“What about the coyote?” she asked. A cave. Was he kidding?
“Dead. I killed him only seconds before he killed you.”
The lack of emotion didn’t bother her, but the hint of fear in his eyes terrified her. She huddled against his chest, drinking in his all male scent as the thunder rolled, several flashes of lightning lighting up the sky.
He grunted as he climbed up several rocks, finally easing her down onto her feet. “Take my hand. The rest of the climb is slippery, and I can’t carry you.”
Grasping his hand, she intertwined their fingers, every part of her body shaking. She was drenched, the rain coming down sideways. She followed his lead, struggling to find a foothold. She had to trust him to keep her safe.
Savage used his upper body strength to pull her up and over a series of boulders, finally holding his arm in front of her. “Stay here. I need to check the cave.”
She huddled against the rock, blinking in order to focus as he flicked on the light and entered the dark hole. What if he didn’t come back? What if he disturbed a natural habitat?
The larger than life figure appeared seconds later at the mouth of the cave, beckoning to her. “It’s okay. Come on.”
The second she was inside, all the adrenaline left her body and she slumped down onto the damp floor, trying to control her emotions.
Crack!
“Fuck!” she screeched, jumping to her feet and backing away.
He wrapped his arms around her. “Shhh… Just thunder. We’re safe. The storm won’t take long to pass.”
“Did you really kill the coyote?”
“Lucky I had my knife with me.” He kissed the top of her head then turned her around to face him. “What did you think you were doing? I told you to stay put. Didn’t I?”
“I…”
“Didn’t I?” His grip on her arms tightened.
&n
bsp; “Yes, but you were gone for so long.”
“I was gone for less than twenty minutes. I came back to find you missing, the horses running loose. When I give you directions, you follow them. You don’t know the terrain. You have no clue about the wild animals. Obviously. You almost got yourself killed.”
“Then you shouldn’t have left me there!” she insisted.
Savage narrowed his eyes. “You just refuse to follow anyone’s rules but your own.”
“At least my rules make sense.”
“You have no discipline in your life. I should plant you over my knee right now and spank your ass as punishment. Maybe if you can’t sit for a day or two, it will help you remember that you almost died.”
“Then. Do. It.” The way he was speaking to her, as if she was a child was infuriating.
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
His chest heaving, he remained unblinking. “Then, lady, I will.” Grabbing her wrist, he tugged her deeper into the cave.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The man was serious. Oh my God!
“Giving you exactly what you deserve.”
When he plopped down on a rock, unfastening her jean shorts before pulling her over his lap, she gasped, flailing her arms. The second he yanked down her shorts and panties then flung his arm over the small of her back, she was floored, her mouth open. “No. No!”
“You need a hard spanking, and you know it.”
As his hand smacked hard against first one then the other cheek over and over again, she squirmed, cussing and trying to fight him.
“If you continue to fight, I’m going to pull out my belt and I’m serious.” Savage swung his leg over hers, grabbing her wrist and pinning it against her back.
There was no way for her to get out of this. He was too strong, too big. “Ouch!”
“Yep. I’m going to make certain it hurts, sunshine. You almost died.”
Tears sprung to her eyes, but not from the pain that tore through her bottom, tingling her legs, but from the understanding that he was right. Her lack of patience and childish behavior had quite possibly almost gotten them both hurt, maimed or worse. “I’m sorry.”