The Cedar River Cowboys

“We’re not very complex creatures,” he said and smiled. “But I do know the difference between emotional and physical intimacy.”

“Glad to hear it.”

She meant to sound flippant, humorous. But once her words were out they sounded altogether different. Almost like a flirtation...or an invitation. His eyes darkened and he placed the mug on the table. Marissa held his gaze, even though her heart was pounding and all she wanted to do was run for her life.

“You know,” he said quietly, his deep voice the only sound she heard, “you really are incredibly beautiful.”

Her breath sharpened. “Don’t.”

His brows rose. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t flirt with me.”

Grady’s eyes were suddenly even a more brilliant blue. “Is that what I’m doing?”

“I don’t know what you’re doing.”

He laughed softly. “Frankly, neither do I, Marissa. But there’s something about you that’s impossible to ignore.”

“You mean the fact we’ve always disliked one another?”

“I’ve never disliked you.”

Her insides folded like origami paper. “But you hardly ever talk to me.”

“We’re talking now,” he reminded her.

“I mean before,” she said quickly. “When Liz was alive. I thought you only ever put up with me because I was Liz’s friend.”

He shrugged loosely, as if she’d made a point he didn’t quite want to admit. “I...like you.”

He didn’t sound as if he did. It sounded as though it was one of the hardest things he’d ever said. She bit back the urge to tell him the feeling was mutual. But she didn’t want any more regrettable words hanging in the air between them.

“I should go,” she said, scraping the chair back as she stood.

Grady got to his feet immediately and didn’t try to stop her. Marissa grabbed her bag, thanked him for the coffee and walked down the hallway. He was beside her in a flash, opening the front door wide as they both stepped out onto the porch.

“Thank you for coming, I know it meant a lot to the girls.”

She nodded. “Me, too. Good night.”

“Good night,” he said and then called her name when she was almost at the bottom of the steps.

“Yes?”

He took his time. “I like you enough that I wanted to ask you to prom in senior year.”

Prom? What was he talking about? She shook her head. “You asked Liz.”

He nodded. “I wanted to ask you first. She talked me out of it. She said you weren’t interested.”

Oh, Liz.

Marissa pushed back her shoulders, fighting the denial sitting on the edge of her tongue. “I guess she knew me better than I thought. Good night, Grady.”

By the time she got to her car, her hands were shaking. They were still shaking five minutes later when she arrived home, and still as she peeled off her clothes and changed into comfy sweats. She was shaking and thinking one thing.

Liz had lied.

In the middle of senior year she’d confided to her best friend that she was crushing on Grady just a little and hoped he’d ask her to prom. He didn’t. Instead he’d asked Liz and after that they were very much a couple. Liz had assured her she wouldn’t date Grady if Marissa found it hard to deal with—but she couldn’t deny her friend the happiness she deserved. Liz blossomed as she fell in love with Grady, so Marissa tucked away her silly schoolgirl crush, never mentioned it again and got on with being Liz’s best friend. And she did get over it. She went to college, got her MBA and worked her way into a great job. Then she met Simon and had been happy...until it all fell apart. Through those years, she’d stayed loyal to her friend—through Liz’s fairy-tale wedding to Grady, to the first time she’d announced she was having his baby and then when Breanna was born. And she’d never harbored one ounce of envy or resentment. She’d loved Liz and had been heartbroken when she’d died. And she wouldn’t let the knowledge of something that happened so many years ago taint her memories.

Still, she slipped into bed with a heavy heart and woke up around six. She ate breakfast and changed into some yard clothes, fully intent on spending the morning outside weeding and pruning. Rex arrived just before nine and she spent a few minutes showing him the broken palings and then left him to his own devices. He was a quiet man and barely made eye contact with her.

Around nine-thirty, Marissa was around the side of the house pulling out the remnants of an old vegetable patch when she heard a vehicle pull up to the house. She got to her feet, dropped the gardening gloves and wiped her hands down her jeans before going to investigate.

Grady’s truck and horse trailer was parked in the driveway and he was hanging around the back end of the vehicle. She spotted Rex coming around from the backyard and the two men spoke for a moment before the trailer door was opened and the ramp came down. Less than a minute later Grady was leading a dark-colored horse off the ramp and across her driveway.

She walked toward him and planted her hands on her hips. “What’s this?”

He held out the lead. “For you.”

“What?”

“She needs a home,” he said and looked around at the pasture and stables adjoining the house yard. “And you have room.”

Marissa continued to stare at him. “You’re giving me a horse?” she asked and noticed Rex was by the rear of the truck, watching their exchange with a kind of wary interest.

Grady shrugged. “She’s old, around twenty-six. But she’s in good health and will do for a riding horse until you are confident in the saddle.”

Marissa stroked the mare’s cheek. “Where did she come from?”

“I picked her up from the sale yards a few years ago. The girls learned how to handle a horse with this old mare. She was too big for them as a riding pony, but she’ll be okay for you.”

The mare rubbed her face affectionately against Marissa’s arm. “She’s just lovely. But I’ll pay you for her.”

“No need,” he said and began to walk the horse toward the neighboring paddock. “She’s more than earned her semiretirement.”

Marissa followed and waited by the fence while he turned the old mare out into the pasture. He did everything with such a natural ease she couldn’t help but admire him. The mare whinnied when she was released and trotted around for a few minutes, tail and head extended.

“She’s just beautiful. Thank you...it’s very generous of you.”

Grady rested his elbows on the fence and turned his head toward her. “I thought you’d like the company.”

“I do,” she said and smiled. “But won’t the girls miss her?”

“They have their own ponies. Old Ebony hasn’t been getting a lot of attention of late.”

“I’ll see that she does,” Marissa said. “I’ll need to get some gear—like a saddle and bridle.”

“No need,” Grady replied. “Rex is unloading some gear into the stables for you.”

“Thank you,” she said and managed a small smile. “But I really... I have to...”

“It’s a gift, Marissa,” he said and straightened. “But if that’s too hard for you to accept, consider it an exchange for your kindness toward my daughters.”

“I don’t need payment to love the girls, Grady. Really, what kind of person do you take me for?”

He made an exasperated sound and she felt his rising anger. Unease snaked down her spine. But this wasn’t Simon. She had nothing to fear from Grady. She knew that. It was herself she feared. And the feelings running riot throughout her body.

“Can I ever get anything right with you? I wasn’t criticizing. I wasn’t inferring anything. Maybe I just wanted to give you a horse because you said you wanted to learn to ride. Maybe I just wanted to do something nice for you, Marissa.”

“Why?”

Grady’s expression suddenly looked like thunder and she winced. “Who the hell knows!”

Then he took off back to his truck and reversed out of the driveway as if he had the devil on his tail.

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