Cowboy for Keeps

Next, he began unhitching the horses.

“Should I get down now?”

“Sit still. Keep hold of the reins until I tell you it’s okay.”

She grimaced nervously but complied.

Conner hurried.

“Good job, girls,” he said, unhooking the last chain and giving Molly’s rump a pat. He returned to Dallas, who was more than happy to relinquish the reins.

He watched her every move as she climbed down, ready to grab her if she slipped.

It turned out Dallas was nimble as a monkey. On the ground, she swiped her hands together with a job-well-done flourish. “Need any help?”

“I’m good.”

“Too bad we didn’t bring along a spare saddle and bridle. We could have ridden out.”

“I’d have rather brought a toolbox. I won’t make that mistake again.”

Conner led the horses to a tree, the largest in the vicinity, and tied them securely. “Be right back,” he said, and headed in the direction of the hilltop.

“Can I come with you?” Dallas chased after him.

“Better stay. Someone has to watch the wagon and horses.”

“If that wagon rolls backward, I won’t be much help.”

“You can holler. I’ll come running.”

“By then it will be too late.”

“Would you rather call Gavin? He’ll need directions on where to find us. And a list of what tools to bring.”

“I won’t be much help with that, either.” She shrugged. “I have no clue where we are.”

He brushed a tousled lock of hair from her face. Her skin was cool to the touch and incredibly soft. “It’s going to be fine. The worse that will happen is we’re late for dinner.”

Possibly really late if he didn’t get through to Gavin.

He’d be stuck with Dallas. For hours. Maybe all night. They’d have to cuddle in the wagon under the tarp to stay warm.

“I, um—” he cleared his suddenly dry throat “—I’d better get going.”

Her fingers clutched his jacket sleeve, delaying him. “I’m sorry to be such a wimp.”

“It’s okay to be scared.”

“I’m not scared.” She lifted her face to his. “Not with you.”

He was sure she could read his every thought, sense his every emotion.

Warning bells went off inside Conner’s head, creating an enormous din. He moved quickly away before temptation won out and he crossed the line into dangerous territory.

* * *

HALFWAY TO THE TOP, Conner glanced back at Dallas. She’d perched on a large boulder not far from the wagon, hugging her knees. Was she thinking of him? Of those moments that kept occurring between them?

He was.

Impatient, he dug out his phone. One bar appeared in the corner. Enough to try.

The signal took forever to connect, the icon blinking endlessly. Frustrated, Conner hit the end-call button and tried again. Finally, Gavin answered.

“Conner, what’s up?”

“We have a problem.”

“You there? I can barely hear you, buddy.”

Sharp static cut off every third word. Conner strode farther up the hill. “Is this better?”

“Some.”

Speaking loudly, he quickly summarized their predicament.

“We’ll take the ATVs,” Gavin told him. “It’ll be quicker than riding. I doubt the Forest Service will give us grief for using them, since it’s an emergency.”

Before Conner finished with the details of their location, he lost the connection. Moving to a new spot made no difference. He blamed the clouds, which had drifted to gather overhead. Not rain clouds, fortunately. Tomorrow, however, would be a different story, according to the weather report.

He could only hope he’d relayed enough information to Gavin for him to find them. In their favor, no one else in these parts knew the McDowell Mountains better than his friend.

Dallas hopped to her feet at Conner’s approach, relief written all over her face. “I heard you talking to someone.”

“Gavin’s on his way.” Conner decided not to worry her about the incomplete directions. “My guess is he’ll bring one or two guys with him.”

“How soon till they get here?” She rubbed her arms through the material of her thin jacket.

“An hour. Two at the most. Are you cold?”

“Not yet.” She peered anxiously at the clouds.

“I brought the rain ponchos. They’re also good for conserving body heat.”

“That may come in handy if Gavin’s late.” She reached over the side of the wagon for the ice chest and opened the lid. “Right now, I’m thirsty.” She removed two bottles of water. “Want one?”

“How comfortable is that boulder?” Conner downed half his bottle.

“Not very.”

“There’s a nice spot over there.” He indicated a place near the horses. “We can sit while we wait for Gavin.”

Her mouth turned down at the corners. “Looks a little rocky.”

“I can fix that.” Conner stepped around her, gripped the edge of the wagon seat and pushed up. It immediately came loose.

Dallas gasped. “You mean to tell me that thing’s not nailed down? What if it had come off during the ride?”

Conner removed the seat and set it on the ground. “We’d have had to be going over a pretty big bump at a full gallop for that to happen.”

She didn’t look reassured.

“Come on.” He carried the wagon seat to the spot he’d chosen and set it down, making sure it was stable. “Ladies first,” he said, gesturing grandly.

Playing along, she gave a little curtsy before sitting. “Thank you, sir.”

He joined her, the seat bouncing on its spindly legs.

The location was a good one. It allowed them an unobstructed view of the trail, the wagon, the horses and the city.

“What are the chances someone will come riding by?” Dallas asked.

“Not much. This isn’t the most popular route.”

“I should get my camera.” Dallas’s gaze wandered. “Could be worse. At least the scenery’s beautiful.”

Conner studied her profile. “It sure is.”

“I know that’s South Mountain, and over there’s Camelback.” She pointed to a craggy range in the far distance. “Which mountains are those?”

“The White Tanks,” he answered, without taking his eyes off her face.

“Incredible,” she breathed. “We can see the entire valley from here.”

She must have become aware of his scrutiny because she turned to face him. “Do you even know where I was pointing?”

“Yes.”

Laughter bubbled out of her, lively and enchanting.

If not for his mouth having gone completely dry, he’d have joined her.

Was she the least bit aware of her effect on him?

“I had dinner at my parents’ last night.”

She was distracting him with small talk.

“How are they?”

“Good.

“I bet your mom’s happy about the baby.”

“Are you kidding? She’s ecstatic. Already making plans. Has a furniture maker friend building a cradle and an artist friend designing a mural for the nursery wall. She said to tell you hello, by the way.”

“Give her my regards.” The wagon seat creaked in protest as Conner shifted. There wasn’t much room, and their thighs inadvertently brushed, then their elbows.

Dallas didn’t seem to mind. Conner sure didn’t.

“Hank mentioned he may have some clients who are hiring. He’s going to make some calls tomorrow.”

Conner’s defenses rose. He hated the idea of Dallas and her family discussing his lack of employment. “I don’t want to impose on him.”

“It’s no trouble.”

Conner didn’t need help. Not from Dallas or her family. He was more than capable of finding a job on his own. “Since when did I become dinner conversation?”

“I was telling them about our trip today, and they asked how you were.”

“I see.” He leaned forward and struck a closed fist on his knee.

Dallas must have realized all was not well. “Did I do something wrong?” She placed a hand on his arm.

Her tenderness and compassion could be his undoing if he let it.

“I’m not one to take handouts from people.” He had enough trouble with Gavin and Clay. At least he could repay their generosity with hard work.

“Hank calling some of his clients isn’t a handout. He’s being nice.”

She was right. Conner was letting that damnable pride of his get in the way. Instead, he should be exploring every opportunity regardless of the source.

“Thanks.” He covered her hand, which still rested on his arm. “I like that you’re thinking of me.”

“It’s only fair, after all the help you’re giving me.”

“You really think the book can boost your career?”

“I hope so.” A wistfulness came over her. “Someday, my photos are going to be hanging right there alongside Dorothea Lange’s.”

“Who’s that?”

Dallas gawked at him in disbelief. “Only the most influential documentary photographer of the twentieth century.”

“Oh, her.”

She rolled her eyes.

“I thought your commercial business was doing well.”

“It is. Pays the bills. Keeps me busy and out of trouble.”

“But you want more.”

“What can I say? I crave fame and success. You understand.”

He did. The success part, anyway. He also understood how reaching for the stars could result in a spectacular fall.

“Mostly, I want people to look at my pictures and do more than say isn’t that nice.” The wistfulness from earlier returned. “I want them to get goose bumps. Be inspired. Moved to tears. Have their perspectives changed. Heck, maybe even their lives.”

“Wow.”

“I know it’s a lot.” Her cheeks reddened. “And I sound like an egomaniac.”

“No, I’m just...impressed. And jealous.”

“Of what?”

“You’re lucky to be so passionate about your job. Most of us head off to the office, put in our eight hours and head home.”

“Didn’t you have that kind of passion when you were at Triad?”

He nodded. “I figured on a promotion every few years and staying put till I retired. I never thought for one second it would end like it did.”

“Or that Richard would take over your job?”

“That, either.” He tamped down the anger that still hovered just beneath the surface.

“You must hate him,” she said sympathetically.

“Not hate.”

“Despise?”

“I held a grudge. Hold a grudge, don’t get me wrong. But I’m not angry at him. Not over the company-wide downsizing and his promotion.” Conner rubbed his closed fist on his thigh. “He’s also trying to do right by you and the baby, and I respect that.”

“You think I should marry him?”

“I think you should consider it. Seriously. He can take good care of both of you. Provide a financially stable life.”

Unlike Conner.

“What about love?”

“You said yourself you’ll always care for him. And you loved him once. Enough to get engaged.”

“I think I was enamored with the idea of being in love. And vulnerable at the time.”

Because of him? Conner was hesitant to ask, not sure how he’d respond if she answered yes.

“Richard was everything I thought I was looking for then.” She stared forlornly at the horizon.” I’ve been unfair to him, and I won’t compound it by marrying for the wrong reason.”

Conner saw her point. But he’d been raised by parents who instilled traditional values in him. “Richard’s trying to do the honorable thing. You might be happier than you think you’ll be.”

“We both know that a marriage license is no guarantee. My father left when I was a child. Yours when you were, what? Eighteen?”

“Twenty.”

“And I bet being older didn’t make it hurt any less.”

“My argument exactly. If Richard were to bail on you and the baby—”

“Then I’d go after him.” She finished Conner’s sentence for him. “I don’t need a marriage license for that. But he won’t bail, because he isn’t the kind of man to abandon his child. Like you said before, he’s responsible. Dependable. He’s paying for any medical expenses my insurance doesn’t cover. Agreed to buy baby furniture and clothes. List me and the baby on as beneficiaries on his life insurance.”

It was difficult for Conner to concentrate with their legs glued together, her chest rising and falling, and those laser sharp eyes fastened on him.

“What about visitation?”

“I’ll make sure Richard has every opportunity to play as large a role in our child’s life as he chooses.”

“It’s not the same as a kid living with his dad. Just look at your own childhood.”

She bristled. “This really is none of your business.”

“You’re right,” Conner admitted, chagrined.

“Would you marry someone you weren’t crazy about?”

“That’s just it.” Conner quit listening to the voice of reason and leaned in. Lowered his head. “Richard’s a damn idiot for not being crazy about you. Any man in his right mind would be.”

She stared at him wordlessly.

“Dallas, I...” He’d blown it. Said something he shouldn’t have. “I’m just...”

“Are you?” she whispered.

“What?”

“Crazy about me?”

“Yes.” Crazy about her and plain crazy. He had to be. If not, he wouldn’t be closing the small distance separating them and seeking her mouth with his.

Their lips grazed briefly. Before his could settle possessively on hers, one of the horses whinnied shrilly. The possibility that their rescuers had arrived was enough to give Conner a jolt and bring him to his senses. Was he insane?

He broke off their near kiss and listened for the ATVs, acutely aware of their incriminating proximity. “I didn’t mean to...”

“Really?” Dallas gazed deeply at him. “Because I did.”

His heart, already hammering, nearly exploded.

Dolly whinnied again.

“We should probably talk about this. Later.” Rising from the wagon seat, Conner craned his neck and peered up the hill, the direction from which he expected Gavin to appear.

“Do you see them?” Dallas pushed to her feet, as well.

“No.” And that was strange. What had alerted the horses?

It was then that he noticed Molly and Dolly staring in the opposite direction, toward the bottom of the hill, their eyes wide and ears pricked forward.

The skin on the back of Conner’s neck began to tingle. More than one kind of predator made these mountains their home. Bobcats, mountain lions and coyotes to name a few. He reached for Dallas’s hand.

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