On a Snowy Christmas Night

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean to imply that. I thought you might enjoy a trail ride tomorrow. We have a couple of very gentle mares in our stables, and since it’s your only free day before you start at Safe Haven—”

“I don’t have a free day. I start tomorrow. But thank you for your offer.”

Frowning, Rachel put down her fork. “I thought Annie Sheridan said she would be giving the volunteers their orientation.”

Shea had the name of her contact written down but she was fairly certain it was Annie. “Yes, I believe she’s the person I spoke to.”

“That’s odd. She told me she had three volunteers answer her ad and they all started on Monday. Maybe I’m wrong. Forget I said anything.”

Panic squeezed Shea’s chest. Had she mixed up the dates? It was possible. She’d been in such a hurry. Tomorrow was Sunday. Oh, God, why hadn’t she stopped to consider this was the weekend and starting on Monday made much more sense?

The sudden lapse into silence flustered her. Not only that, but she also just knew everyone was staring at her. She refused to look up but concentrated on spearing another cherry tomato. She’d promised to stay out of the family’s way. They were probably wondering why she’d arrived a day early.

“I think I’ll drive over there tomorrow, anyway.” She gave a small shrug. “Maybe they could still use some help.”

“Actually, I think Annie’s in Kalispell picking up supplies,” Rachel said quietly. “It’s really the perfect time for a trail ride.” She paused. “I can take you myself.”

Oh, how Shea wished the beautiful finished wood floor would simply part and swallow her whole. This was so typical of her. Couldn’t even keep a date straight.

JESSE CHEWED his food and took a quick sip of wine to wash it down. It wasn’t like Rachel to be insensitive. Why the hell didn’t she lay off? Couldn’t she see that Shea was embarrassed? The poor woman could barely look up.

“I’ll take you,” he said, keeping his gaze on her, knowing that everyone else’s attention abruptly turned to him. “I have to inspect some fencing along the north pasture. Won’t take long, then we can head over to Lincoln Pass. That is, if you’re interested.”

Her anxious eyes met his. “I don’t want to be any trouble,” she said softly.

“I have to go, anyway.” He shrugged. “It’s beautiful country, when it’s not buried under ten feet of snow. Even then, it’s something to see.”

“You should go,” Rachel said, laying a hand on Shea’s arm. “Between the weather and your duties at the shelter, tomorrow may be your only chance.” She smiled. “I could pack you guys a picnic lunch.”

He wanted like hell to nail his well-intentioned sister with a don’t-push-it glare but he couldn’t risk Shea seeing it. “Maybe we could work the ride around lunchtime,” he said, fully intending to pull Rachel aside later. He didn’t want her to read too much into his offer.

“I know the area Jesse’s talking about,” Jamie said. “It’s breathtaking and you shouldn’t miss it. Rachel, pass the bread, will you?”

Everyone went back to eating and talking, the subject turning to the open house later in the week. The event wasn’t a big deal. His mother had been hosting it since they were kids, but Jamie had never been, and Rachel was describing the traditional menu and how piñatas filled with candy and small toys were hung for the children.

Shea concentrated on her food, smiling graciously when she was ordered to come home hungry the night of the open house. Jesse had the feeling she’d have preferred to be anywhere else right now. She sure wouldn’t be showing her face at the party. Not that he blamed her. He’d do just about anything to get out of it himself. He wasn’t feeling particularly cheerful about the holidays.

He’d recognized from the first that Shea had some shyness issues. Could be that she was avoiding her own family for Christmas and preferred to be alone. In any case, he doubted she’d want to rub elbows with a bunch of strangers. Nosy ones at that. Half the town would show up at the open house and they’d be curious about her since Rachel hadn’t accepted any other guests.

“Isn’t that right, Jesse?”

He looked at his mother, at a total loss. “Sorry, what was that?”

She smiled. “Never mind, son. Eat your supper.”

He didn’t ask again. The guarded way his brothers were eyeing him, he figured she’d made yet another remark about how good it was to have him back. Although he’d never said anything, they knew it irritated him. This time of year she tended to be more sentimental. They’d lost their father to cancer eleven years ago, and she still missed him. They all did.

Sometimes he still felt guilty for having worried her by joining the air force. It made no sense. He hadn’t asked to be shipped out. He’d merely done his duty and enlisted, the same as every other McAllister male before him. But if he reenlisted now…

Shit, he couldn’t think about what would happen to her if she lost a son, too. His decision had to be based on what was best for the whole family and the survival of the Sundance.

He stabbed at a piece of lasagna, determined to enjoy his meal and block the litany of concerns plaguing his mind. Yeah, he had to make a decision soon, just not this week. For now he needed to be the good son, the amenable brother. Rachel was more than pulling her weight by running the dude ranch and he’d help out by taking her guest for a lousy trail ride. It was the least he could do.

Instead of taking a bite he grabbed his wineglass, and as he brought it to his lips, he looked across at Shea. She glanced up at the same time, her soft gray eyes tinged with something close to gratitude.

Hell, he hoped she didn’t get the wrong idea. His offer was meant to make life easier for Rachel. It had nothing to do with Shea. Nothing at all.

IT WAS THE ALTITUDE making her feel a bit drugged. Shea struggled to inhale the cold thin air deep into her lungs and shuddered. She’d obviously disturbed Gypsy because the gentle mare took the next two steps high and Shea squeezed her thighs around the animal’s girth, afraid she was about to slide backward out of the saddle.

A few feet ahead of her, Jesse turned around, his brown Stetson pulled low to block the sun. “You okay?”

“Fine.”

Only when he lowered his gaze to her hand did she realize she was gripping the saddle horn. She released it and forced herself to relax. The sky was clear and blue, the side of the mountain covered with a beautiful array of pine trees in varying shades of green. Back home when it was cold the sky was usually gray and the air damp, making everything seem dreary.

“Want to stop for a while?” Jesse slowed down until he rode abreast of her. They’d ridden that way most of the past hour, but he’d gone up ahead when they started the slight ascent and the trail narrowed. “We can also turn around. Your call.”

“Don’t you have to check some fencing?”

He smiled and adjusted his hat. “That’ll only take a minute.”

She really appreciated him making time to ride with her. Last night she’d considered rejecting his offer, but it was good practice and the last chance she’d have to get comfortable in the saddle. “I’d like to keep going.”

He ran his gaze down the front of her pink down jacket, then followed her jean-clad leg to the boot she had tucked into the stirrup. Naturally he couldn’t see anything interesting but the scrutiny made her tingle, anyway. “What are you wearing under that?”

“Excuse me?”

The skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled and his mouth lifted in a vague smile. “You should have thermal underwear. You’ll be working outside a lot at Safe Haven.”

“Guess I should’ve thought of that. I’ll go to town later.” He reached over and casually caught her hand, startling her. “You have another pair of gloves?” he asked, inspecting the inside fleece lining.

“These are quite warm.”

“Waterproof?”

“Um, not sure.”

“They should have a snug closure around here,” he said, showing her by closing his large hand around the glove and her wrist. “Keeps the cold air from getting in there.”

“I see what you mean.” Her hand did feel warmer. In fact a toasty flush surged through her entire body. Apparently she’d been spending too much time staring at his broad shoulders instead of the scenery.

He let go at the same time as she pulled her hand away. “The shelter might have an extra pair you can use, but if not I can loan you my old work gloves. They’re too big so you’d have to wear them over yours.”

“Thanks, but I’m sure I can find something suitable in town.”

“Maybe. You have small hands and inventory is low to make room for Christmas gifts and decorations. But try Abe’s Variety or the hardware store.”

“I will.” She smiled, turning to take in the scenery, feeling a little shy all of a sudden. Odd, because although she didn’t like being around people as a general rule, especially after Brian, she tended to dismiss men altogether. But with Jesse… her off button seemed to be malfunctioning.

With a mixture of relief and disappointment she saw that the path was again narrowing and they’d have to return to single file. She waited for him to speed up.

“You go on ahead,” he said. “I’m not worried about overhanging branches up here.”

She clicked her tongue and after a gentle nudge, Gypsy trotted ahead of Jesse and his beautiful black gelding. The incline wasn’t too bad but where the snow had been patchy only five minutes ago, the higher they climbed the more it obscured the rocky path.

The truth was, it made her nervous. She wouldn’t complain, though. It was winter and this was Montana, so if she’d given it the kind of thought it deserved, instead of spacing out, she would have expected a lot more snow, actually. Though the mountaintops were certainly packed solid.

They rode in silence for another five minutes and then Jesse said, “There’s a meadow not far from here. We’ll stop there, water the horses and see what kind of snacks Rachel packed for us.”

“I told her not to go to the trouble.…” Shea twisted around to look at him, letting out a yelp when she nearly lost her balance.

She clung tightly to the reins but she’d already spooked Gypsy. The mare reared slightly. Shea held on for all she was worth.

In seconds Jesse was standing beside her, whispering to the horse, calming her, one hand stroking her neck. Shea stayed as still as she could, even when he switched from petting the horse to petting her arm.

4

JESSE CLENCHED his jaw. He was an ass for bringing her up here. His intentions had been good. The view was spectacular from this vantage point. But he should’ve taken into account that she might not be an experienced enough rider. Hell, it seemed as if he couldn’t do one stinkin’ thing right these days.

“You okay?” he asked, rubbing her trembling arm.

“I’m fine. Embarrassed, but I’ll survive.” She shifted away from his touch, and he backed off.

“Let’s stop for a while.” He swung out of the saddle and offered her a hand down.

Shea resisted his help, her determination to stay mounted plain in her flushed face. “Is Gypsy mad? Does she want me off?”

“Mad?” He smiled. “Don’t think so. I figured you might want to take a break. And for the record, no reason to be embarrassed.”

She moistened her rosy lips. They looked chapped. “I’d rather we get to where we’re going.”

He stroked the mare’s flank, while scanning the scraggly brush and thicket of pine trees for any sign of a predator. Gypsy was a gentle horse and it wasn’t like her to spook that easily. Yet she’d be whinnying and trying to run if there was a hungry cougar nearby. And Rambo wouldn’t be calmly munching the tall dead grass after Jesse had dismounted.

“Okay,” he said, giving the bay a final rub down her rump. “We’ll go slow. We’re in no hurry.”

“I panicked and jerked the reins. It was all me.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He lifted his hat, then reset it on his head and let out a low whistle. “Come on, Rambo.”

“What did you call him?” She glanced over her shoulder but kept her body rigidly forward. “What’s your horse’s name?”

He rarely thought about the silly name anymore, not unless someone brought it up. “Rambo.”

“Oh. Are you a fan of the movie?”

“My little brother named him.” Jesse swung up into the saddle, then with his heel tapped the horse’s flank to get him moving. “Trace was nine when Rambo was given to me as a colt, and I promised to let him choose the name.”

“That’s sweet.”

“Yeah, well, I threatened to change it at least a dozen times.”

“But you didn’t.”

He shrugged a shoulder even though she couldn’t see him. She was concentrating on getting past a snowdrift, while Jesse focused on the slim curve of her hips. She needed a longer jacket. And not so pink. Jesus, she could attract a half-blind predator with no sense of smell.

Sticking to a slow pace, he let the horses pick their way over the rocks single file. The path wasn’t dangerous or he wouldn’t have brought Shea this way, but he could tell she was a little nervous and for that he regretted taking this route. She obviously wasn’t the outdoors type, and he shouldn’t have made the assumption she was just because she’d volunteered to work at Safe Haven.

He wondered if she knew what she was in for. A large animal sanctuary was different than a city shelter that took in dogs and cute little kittens. Annie Sheridan had run the place for the past two years and there wasn’t a critter she’d turn down, whether it be an ornery mud-drenched sow or a pregnant goat with an appetite for human hair. The abandoned Nubian he’d dropped off in August had nearly scalped Annie. The damn goat was so big the staff called her Camel.

“How did you hear about Safe Haven?” he asked as soon as the path widened and Shea seemed more relaxed.

“The internet.”

“Were you specifically looking in Montana?”

“No.”

Jesse had to smile. The woman could never be accused of being too wordy. Since they’d left the ranch it seemed he started most conversations. Silence generally suited him. Folks considered him the quietest of the three brothers and he couldn’t recall meeting a woman who could match him in that department. Until now.

The differences between Shea and most of the guests who’d been coming to the Sundance were even more apparent since they’d met for the ride. Some of those women had been worse than coyotes stalking a calf separated from the herd. They had no compunction about letting a man know they were looking for vacation sex. Clearly they didn’t understand that the chase was part of the fun. Last month one of them had pretended she’d caught him alone in the barn by accident. He’d given her high marks for playing the game with some smarts, but he still hadn’t been interested. He didn’t need any potential complications. Cole had met Jamie when she’d come to the ranch as a guest, but he was lucky. The whole thing could’ve gone sideways.

Jesse let Shea have her silence the few minutes it took to get to the meadow. Now that they were just below the snow line, there were only pockets of ice, but he figured this was still the nicest place around for them to eat. While he tethered the horses, he asked her to spread the blanket he kept in his saddlebag, then pour them coffee from the thermos while he dug out their snacks.

Taking her time, she made sure the ground was free of pebbles and twigs, then shook out the wool blanket and smoothed it all the way to the corners. Apparently the placement didn’t meet with her approval because she rearranged it… twice. Then she stepped back with a critical eye, and bit at her lower lip.

When it looked as if she were going to start over, he stopped her. “You invite guests I don’t know about?”

She blinked at him. “What?”

God save him from perfectionists. “It’s fine, Shea.”

She followed his gaze and stared at the blanket. “Oh. Right.” Her cheek dimpled with her smile. “Don’t worry. I’m not really crazy. A little compulsive, absentminded sometimes, but nothing certifiable.” She rubbed her palms down the front of her jeans, then picked up the thermos and unscrewed the top.

“You mind me asking what you do for a living?”

She hesitated. “I’m a software engineer.” She glanced around. “Do we have another cup?”

He rooted in the saddlebag for a tin cup he used when camping, wondering if that meant she was a computer jockey. “Here.”

“I’ll pour.”

Holding the cup up to her, he watched while she focused on filling it within a quarter inch of the rim. “That’s good.”

“Oops, I should’ve asked if you’d be adding cream and sugar.”

“Nope. I drink it black. So do you, so I didn’t bring any.”

“How did you know that?” she asked, staring at him and absently blowing the long bangs out of her eyes.

“Last night. After dinner.” He took a quick sip. The warmth felt good going down. “You didn’t use cream or sugar.”

“Oh.” She tilted her head to the side, as if mulling over what he’d said. “What do you do for a living?”

The question stopped him. Last time he’d been asked he was sitting in a bar in Vegas near Nellis Air Force Base. A blonde had sidled up to him and it was obvious she already knew he was a pilot before she’d opened her mouth. One fine thing about flying, you never had to be without a woman. But that night he’d lied, told her he was in data entry. She’d disappeared in seconds.

“I work at the ranch.” He shrugged. “Doing whatever needs doing.”

“I suppose that makes sense.” She poured coffee for herself then seemed flustered that she didn’t have a free hand to screw the thermos cap back on.

Jesse set his cup aside, took the thermos from her and completed the task. “You sound doubtful.”

“Do I?” She pursed her lips. “Probably because you seem different than Cole and Trace.”

“They look like real cowboys and I don’t?”

Shea frowned thoughtfully. “That might be it.”

He’d been teasing so that made him laugh.

“What?” She wrapped both hands around her cup and sipped, staring warily at him over the rim. She looked so earnest he had no idea what to make of her.

“Let’s sit.” He indicated the blanket she’d painstakingly spread. “I’m hungry.”

She reached behind and rubbed her butt and lower back. “I think I’ll stand.”

He cringed inwardly at the pinched expression on her face. Probably his fault. “Too long in the saddle?”

“No, I just need to loosen up.” She shivered. “And warm up.”

“Here.” He set down his coffee and unzipped his jacket.

“What are you doing?”

“Wear this. It’ll help—”

“No.” She moved back. “I’m not taking your jacket.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“No, absolutely not.” She retreated another step and coffee sloshed onto her hand.

He took the cup from her, then finished shrugging out of his jacket. “My fault. I should’ve made sure you were dressed appropriately to come up here.”

“Please,” she said tightly. “I’m not comfortable with this.”

Jesse was the one to step back this time. He made sure there was plenty of space between them, wondering what she thought he was going to do. Jesus, he’d clearly given her the wrong idea.

“I’m sorry,” he said, hooking the jacket onto his thumb and putting up both hands. “I didn’t mean anything.”

“No.” Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned pink. “No, it’s not you. It’s just… I can’t let you freeze because I hadn’t planned well. I’d feel awful.”

Relieved, he smiled. “Hey, I’m made of tough cowboy stock. I eat bullets for breakfast. I can take the cold.”

“Put your jacket on,” she said, with a small upward tilt of her lips. “Even your ears are red.”

He touched them. Ice cold. The downside of wearing his hair so short. “Okay, this is how it’s going to be.…” He slid on his jacket but didn’t zip it. Then he swooped up the blanket she’d carefully arranged. He shook off the clinging pebbles and dried leaves, folded the blanket in half and threw it around her shoulders.

“What—?” She tried to back up but he stopped her.

He gathered the ends together under her chin, aware that his fingers had brushed her breasts. The contact was innocent and unintentional, the down jacket thick enough that he didn’t feel the need to apologize. That would make it worse.

“Come on,” he said, pulling the blanket more snugly around her. “Doesn’t this feel better?”

She shuddered again, huddled under the blanket and stared at him with eyes slightly wide, slightly confused. Her gloved hands slid over his to grasp the bunched wool. “Thank you.”

“Got it?” he asked, then waited for her to nod before releasing his hold.

“Now we don’t have anyplace to sit.”

He zipped his jacket and indicated an outcropping of rocks close to the semifrozen stream. “How about over there?”

“If you’d rather, we can turn around.”

“Is that what you want to do?”

She tilted her head back, her gaze lifted to the sky. She wore little makeup, if any, but then she didn’t need anything. Her lashes were even thicker than he’d thought last night, and the more he looked into her gray-blue eyes, the more interesting they seemed. And her skin… it looked soft, really silky. Good thing he wasn’t one to give in to impulse. He sure had a powerful itch to run his thumb across her cheek to see for himself.

“I love being out here. But I don’t want to interfere with your work.” She brought her small chin down and met his gaze. “I still can’t believe I got my first day mixed up.” She sighed. “That’s a lie. I mess up timelines a lot.”

“Here I figured you for the organized type.”

“At work I am, but in my personal life…” She gave a small helpless shrug. “It seems I need to pay more attention to details.”

Jesse threw out their cold coffee and poured them refills. “This time it worked out,” he said, putting her cup in her hand.

“How do you mean?”

“You might not have had a chance to come up here. Isn’t it beautiful country?” He looked over the gently rolling hills that flattened out toward the Sundance.

Where the pine trees thinned, he could see the sun glistening off streams and creeks, which were partially iced over. Winter wasn’t his favorite time of year, but the sagebrush and bunchgrass would be covered with snow soon and fields of undisturbed velvety white would produce a different kind of beauty. His chest tightened. Hard to think about leaving Montana. His family. The Sundance.

Damn, every time he figured he’d come to a decision, his thinking got muddled.

No, the problem wasn’t so much in his head—his heart was doing the interfering. He knew better. There was no place for emotion in this debate. Duty came first.

“You’re right. It’s gorgeous.” Silence again lapsed as she stood beside him, gazing out at the peaceful landscape. “Is that your ranch?” She pointed, and the blanket slid off her shoulders.

He caught it, but not before splashing coffee down the front of his jeans. “Son of a—” He cut himself short. “Sorry.”

Looking horrified, she stared at his fly, or at least that’s where her attention seemed to be centered. “I just keep being a nuisance.”

“Hey, no problem. It’ll freeze-dry in seconds.” He paused. “My jeans.”

“Right.” She blushed. “I knew what you meant,” she murmured, taking the blanket from him, and struggling with only one free hand to rearrange it around her hunched shoulders.

He wondered how old she was. She probably wasn’t as young as he assumed. It wasn’t just the blushing. Rachel blushed easily and she was a damn firecracker. Shea seemed… not naive necessarily, backward wasn’t right, either… just different. Whatever it was, the woman had a strange effect on him he wasn’t sure he cared for.

“I think we should go back. I still have to go to town for the thermal underwear and gloves, and I’d prefer to go before dark.”

“You have a few hours—” he began, then saw a flicker of apprehension in her eyes. “You’re right. Better to give yourself some extra time.” He almost offered to drive her, but he had the impression she wanted to get away from him. He didn’t take it personally. Maybe he should, though.