by Kim Redford
“Don’t go to the trouble.”
“No trouble.” She picked up mustard and mayonnaise jars and carried them over to the table. As she set them down, her cell phone rang.
“Do you want take it or call back after we eat?” he asked.
“I’d better take it now. Who knows what I might need to deal with?”
“Right.”
She slipped her phone out of her purse, checked to see who was calling, and gave Rowdy a big grin. “Kemp Lander!”
Rowdy gave a thumbs-up and leaned closer.
“Kemp, good to hear from you.” She punched speakerphone so Rowdy could hear the conversation.
“Got news,” Kemp said.
“Wonderful. Please tell me that you’ll be back with Daisy Sue tomorrow.”
“No can do.”
“What?” She felt deflated at those words and braced for what would come next.
“Well…there’s a glitch in our plans.”
“I don’t like the sound of it.”
“That cousin of mine…well, I finally found him holed up with a new girlfriend. That’s why I lost track of him. He kept dropping out of sight at her place in between rodeos.”
“And he didn’t tell anyone where he was?”
“Not likely,” Kemp said with a smile.
“Okay.” She could see that was a dead-end, so she moved on. “Where did he put Daisy Sue?”
“He didn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“He never picked her up,” Kemp said.
“Why?”
“Like I said, he met this cowgirl at a bar about that time. Truth of the matter, he didn’t remember much of anything for several days…by then, he decided to get back on the rodeo circuit, but he kept getting distracted with the new love of his life.”
“Why didn’t he tell you?”
“Well…he was partying and rodeoing.”
“That explains it?”
“For that cousin, it does,” Kemp said. “For us, the cow is still missing.”
“What!” Belle was fast losing her cool. “Are you telling me that you have absolutely no idea where Daisy Sue is right now?”
“That’s about the size of it.”
“Rustlers snatched Fernando last year.” Rowdy leaned toward the phone. “Do you suppose that’s what happened to her?”
“Doubt it,” Kemp said. “They hadn’t been working the area. No cut fences. Open gates. No nothing like that.”
Belle felt sick at her stomach. “Of all the cows in all the pastures, why does the one and only Daisy Sue have to be the missing cow?”
“Don’t know,” Kemp said. “I’m sorry, but I told you that before, and it hasn’t helped one iota.”
“What will I tell Storm?” Belle asked. “She’ll be heartbroken.”
“The truth,” Rowdy said. “It’s always better to know than not to know.”
“It just makes no sense.” She pulled out the T-shirt, looking at it, thinking about “Fernando and Daisy Sue” on a clothing line, and wishing she could go back in time to change the current outcome. But she hadn’t even been here then.
“You’re telling me,” Kemp said. “Look, I’ve got another couple of ideas about Daisy Sue’s whereabouts that might work out, but first…and I’m embarrassed to ask for some time off…but Aunt Dotty has the whole family in a snit about Lester. I’m the only one he’ll ever listen to, so it’s got to be me to get him out of the hands of that ‘black widow hussy,’ as Aunt Dotty calls her.”
“What?” Belle couldn’t believe her ears. “Are you trying to lose your job?”
“I’m trying not to lose my family. We’re talking about that cousin and saving him from a fate worse than death, as Aunt Dotty says…although I doubt Lester would agree.”
“But what about Daisy Sue?”
“I’m between a rock and hard place,” Kemp said. “Like I said, I haven’t forgotten my main job here, but…well, Lester…just let me get him home to his mama and all will be well.”
“How long?” She couldn’t back out now because Kemp knew better than anyone how to find the missing cow since he’d been on the hunt so long.
“Not sure…that cowgirl’s got her hooks in deep.”
“We must find Daisy Sue before Christmas.”
“I’m on it. I’ll find that cow one way or another,” Kemp said. “My job’s on the line. My reputation’s on the line. My self-respect is on the line. And by the time I’m done, Lester is going to owe me for the rest of his miserable life.”
“I guess there’s not much else I can say except stay in touch.” She just shook her head.
“Will do.”
“If you need any help, let me know,” Rowdy said.
“Thanks.” Kemp cleared his throat. “If there’s not anything else—”
“Just Daisy Sue. I do appreciate your hard work, but please, please get her home.” Belle clicked off, dropped her phone in her purse, and looked at Rowdy. “Can you believe it?”
“Maybe we should call in the Buick Brigade.”
“Maybe so. I’m sure fresh out of ideas.”
“It’ll be all right…somehow, some way.” He pulled her into his arms and hugged her close.
She held him tightly, wondering how she’d ever gotten along without him. He was so much a part of her life now that she couldn’t imagine going back to the city and living as before. And then a thought struck her…he was in her world, but she wasn’t in his world. She didn’t actually know very much about him. She knew his friends, yes, but family and home, no. It was a chilling thought. Who was this man who’d come to mean so much to her?
“If rustlers didn’t get Daisy Sue, we’ll find her,” he said. “She’s got an ID, so she’s traceable. I’ll check with the American Angus Association tomorrow and see if there’s any news about her.”
“Thank you.” She took a deep breath, wondering if she wasn’t letting the day slant her emotions. She’d always trusted her gut with people, and she’d always been right. She had no reason to change that view now just because Rowdy was slow in sharing his personal world with her. They hadn’t known each other that long. Time was on their side.
“Always.” He hugged her harder.
“I just want Daisy Sue safely back home so she can be reunited with Fernando and Storm.”
“That’s what everybody wants.” He set her back and looked into her eyes. “Let’s get something to eat. Everything looks better on a full stomach.”
She nodded in agreement then reached up and gently stroked down his cheek, feeling stubble from the long, long day. If she hadn’t already fallen for him, she’d be all in right about now.
“Maybe sandwiches aren’t right. I think something warm would suit us better.”
“That sounds good. Soup?”
“Yeah.” He walked over to the cabinets. “Where do you keep the cans?”
“Pantry.”
He opened that door and looked inside. “Vegetable isn’t right. How about chicken noodle?”
“Comfort food, you mean.”
He glanced back at her. “It’s been that kind of day, hasn’t it?”
“Absolutely.”
“If you’ll sit at the table, I’ll heat up the soup, pour it into mugs, and bring it over there.”
“I won’t argue with you.” She suddenly felt really tired and wanted nothing more than to rest for a little bit. “You’re making it easy for me.”
He glanced back her. “That’s my job…for the moment. Sit.”
She pulled out a chair and did exactly that, thinking she could easily get used to being pampered by this big, strong cowboy.
A little later, she sat by his side at the table, eating soup, looking out the window where darkness reigned supreme, and saying nothing at all. It fel
t easy, companionable, as if they were the only two people in the world. It felt good, comfortable, as if they belonged together in this time and place. It felt right, preferable, as if everything in their lives had led to this pivotal moment.
He downed the last of his soup, then turned to look at her with a serious expression on his face.
“What is it?”
“You know what I said about the truth?”
“Yes.” She set down her spoon, no longer feeling hungry because this sounded serious…and not in a good way.
“I guess you’ve wondered about me.”
“Yes.”
“I guess I’ve been pretty private about my personal life.”
“Yes.”
“It’s not about you.”
“No?”
“I mean, it is, but it isn’t.”
“Yes?”
“It’s nothing bad…I mean, about me.”
“Good,” she said.
“It’s good, but it’s bad, too.”
“Maybe we should go to bed and forget where this is going.”
“I’d tell you everything…I will tell you everything…I can’t tell you everything, at least not right now.”
“You do realize you’re not making sense.”
“I know it.” He stood up abruptly, knocking his chair over backward. “Hell, I’m going about this all wrong.”
“Whatever it is, it’s okay.”
“No, it’s not.” He jerked up the chair, pushed it back into place, grabbed their mugs, and walked into the kitchen.
“Let me clean up. You cooked.” She stood, feeling her gut churn and wishing she hadn’t eaten anything.
“I’ve got it.” He turned on the faucet and got busy.
She picked up a dish towel and dried the first mug. “Whatever it is, I’ll understand. Don’t we know each other well enough for that by now? Don’t you trust me enough?”
“I trust you. You have more integrity in your little fingertips than most…” He thrust the other clean mug at her.
“I wish—” She started to dry it, taking a deep breath.
“You wish?” He walked away from her and looked out the front window, presenting his back, as if to delay or stop the conversation.
She quietly put the mugs, spoons, and saucepan back in the cabinets.
He turned around, crossed his arms over his chest, and stared at her. “What am I going to do?”
“Love me?”
“If I loved you any less, I’d be okay.” He threw his arms wide. “But this, this—”
“It’s been a long, hard, emotional day.” She walked toward him. “We don’t need this right now. You don’t need it.”
He ran a hand across his stubble, covering up his mouth as if to keep the words he didn’t want to say inside.
She gently took that hand in her own and pressed a soft kiss to his palm. “Come with me. I’ll make it all better.”
She led him out of the kitchen, down the hall, and into her bedroom, where the bed was still unmade—cover thrown back, sheets rumbled, pillow half over the edge, and the scent of lavender in the air. She switched on the soft light of the lamp on the nightstand and then maneuvered him until he stood with his back to the bed. She gently pushed his shoulders, knowing she couldn’t move his rock-solid body but also well aware that he’d let her have her way.
He sat down, but he looked as if he might bolt at any moment.
“It’s been a rough day for us.” She picked up his foot and pulled off his boot, using both hands. “You pampered me with food. Now let me pamper you.”
“Belle, you don’t need to do anything.” He spoke in a rough sandpaper whisper as if anything louder would jar the intimacy of the moment.
“I want to take care of you.” She tossed his boot in a corner and then picked up his other foot and did the exact same thing. “You take care of me all the time. Let me return the favor.”
“You know I can’t say no to you.”
“I know.”
He gave her a little half smile before he lay back full-length on the mattress and flung his arms out to each side. “Go ahead. Have your way with me. I won’t fight you.”
She chuckled low in her throat. “I didn’t think you would.” And she slowly…oh, so very slowly began to strip him.
She started with his big, shiny, metallic belt buckle with the multicolored crystals gleaming in the light. She unhooked it and then undid the first button of his Wranglers so that she could see his cotton briefs underneath. She chuckled at the sight.
“Are you wearing red?”
“I thought two could play that game.”
“You’re a very bad boy.”
“I’m trying… How am I doing?”
“Good. Real good.”
“I better try harder…if I’m going to be bad.”
“Harder? I’m not sure that’s possible.” She stroked down the zipper of his jeans, feeling the hard, hot length so ready for her.
He groaned, pushing up against her hand. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”
“Am I?”
She clutched his hard bulge through the fabric, watching his face as he reacted to her touch, seeing that he was quickly losing control. She felt a strictly feminine surge of power and pleasure at the sight. He needed her as much as she needed him…and they needed each other—particularly this night of all nights. They needed to share the renewal and continuity of life after what they’d experienced in the one-room schoolhouse. And she was the one to make it happen.
She let her hand drift upward, unsnapping one pearl button after another as she slowly revealed the hard muscles of his chest to his stomach, with the little trail of short hair that ran downward to disappear into his jeans. He was just so beautiful…perfect for a photo shoot, but she’d never share by putting him out there for other women to see. He was hers—all hers—and she’d keep him that way.
She followed her hands with her mouth, kissing, licking, nibbling all the way up his chest past his throat to his lips, where she lingered as she stoked their passion higher and higher. When he returned her kiss, she felt their dormant flames burst into a raging inferno of fire. Abruptly, she didn’t want to play anymore. She was too needy, too desperate to be joined with him in the best way possible.
She turned aside, jerked open the nightstand drawer, and selected a condom. She ripped the wrapper off and turned back to him.
He raised his head. “I don’t need to do anything, do I?”
“Do you mind too much being used?”
“Use me all you want…make me your toy.”
She knelt over him, knees to each side of his hips, and unzipped his jeans, letting his hard length spring out. She took just a moment to appreciate him and then slipped on the condom. He was ready for her…and she was more than ready for him.
And then she remembered she was still wearing clothes, even her cowgirl boots. No time now to undress, even if she’d wanted to do it. Instead, she simply unzipped her own jeans, pulled them down, along with her thong, and positioned herself over him.
“I hope you’re not disappointed,” she said. “I believe this is going to be really quick.”
“Quicker the better.” His voice sounded strained as he uttered those few words.
She lowered her body, felt him fill her, and sighed in relief, excitement, and eagerness. And then she began to move, up and down, building the extreme tension, the growing connection, the exciting road to paradise.
“Can’t take it any longer.” He groaned, grabbed her hips, and thrust into her, upping the rhythm, the power, the intensity.
She rode him, staying with him all the way as they reached out together, caught the fever together, and soared to the highest of heights together…and hung there together as one.
“A cowgirl
with a golden heart,” he whispered in a husky voice as he continued his poem. “Daytime. Nighttime. All time.”
Chapter 30
Rowdy sat in a chair at Wildcat Hall with his back to the wall in a defensive position because he was ready to square off with anybody who gave him trouble. He glared down the row of tables that had been pushed together and now contained drinks, pens, pads, and notebooks. Hedy, Bert, Morning Glory, Mac, Craig, Fern, Slade, and Ivy, representing the committees for Christmas in the Country, Christmas at the Sure-Shot Drive-In, and Wildcat Hall’s Honky-Tonk Christmas, were all there…and at the moment they were giving him uneasy looks.
They were two weeks out from the three big events, but that’s not what was on his mind that afternoon. Either he’d get his way, or he was out of there—for good and forever. He wore a blue sweatshirt with a big Lulabelle & You logo emblazoned on the front with his Wranglers and boots, so that alone should give them a clue about his state of mind.
At the ranch, Belle was plugging along with setting up more and more of her business there…and he was flat-out helping her. He was installing the flagstone patio in back of the house, and it was looking good. Even more important, it made her happy, and what made her happy made him happy.
There was still no word about Daisy Sue, but Storm had been over for a visit, bringing samples of what she’d created for Fernando’s image. She and Belle had put their heads together, and there was no telling what they’d eventually come up with. He could hardly wait to find out, but he knew it’d be sharp and sassy like the two of them.
Belle hadn’t had time to visit the Buick Brigade about the one-room schoolhouse yet, but she wanted to go before Christmas. Time was running out, but he’d make sure they got there because the schoolhouse was important not only to her but to the community.
Hedy looked up at him, sharp brown eyes missing nothing. “Bert Two, you called this meeting, so you might as well get on with it.”
“I think we’re wrong…and I think we ought to be ashamed of ourselves.” He took a deep breath. “And don’t call me Bert Two. I’m Rowdy now.”
“Oh my.” Hedy glanced from him to Morning Glory. “He is het up today.”