West Winds of Wyoming (26 page)

Nell plunked her hands on her hips. “I’ve been thinking about that. I think it best he stays behind. He’s worn thin from his last trip and needs some rest. Besides, someone has to get these geldings started. The job won’t get done on its own.”

“Rounding up those horses will be impossible for the two of us. We need Seth.”

“You’re right about that. Instead of Seth, I’m gonna see if Chase Logan will lend us a couple of his hands. Most of the ranch work is done with branding and sorting by now, and most of their hay should be brought in. I’m sure he has some men we can use.”

“You have the whole thing all planned out, don’t you.”

“Pretty much. This could be the break we’ve been waiting for and I’m not letting it slip through our fingers.” She started for the round pen. Cochise picked his head up and trotted to the far side of the corral, where he watched her approach with suspicion. She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled. “You coming, Charlie?”

The boulder in his stomach told him he’d met his match with Nell. And now, to make last night’s blunder worse, he’d be working side by side with her for the whole day. “Yes, ma’am. Right on your heels.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

A
n army of lightning bugs had hatched in Nell’s stomach, flashing here and there as if proclaiming,
She’s in love, she’s in love
. She jerked her gaze away and started for the corral before Charlie noticed her stare. One second of his blue-eyed gaze, the amused tip of his lips, and the humorous note in his voice sent her imagination running wild like the horses they’d brought in just days before.
How pathetic!

The crunch of his footsteps made her think of last night and the kiss they’d shared. How they’d danced slowly around the kitchen by the light of the single candle. She’d never forget the way he’d made her feel. Cherished. Desired. And then later, standing in his arms after the raccoon had woken them, protected.

At the corral fence she studied their pupil as Charlie caught up. Cochise seemed relaxed, having gotten used to the barn and house area over the last few days. The gelding knew something was up, though. He watched her warily from across the twenty-foot enclosure.

Charlie grasped one of the poles in front of him, the light wind tossing his hatless hair. “So, what’s your plan? You want me to go fetch your saddle?”

She hid her smile. “Your saddle? Yes, I do.”

His eyes narrowed. “Why my saddle?”

“Because you’re going to ride him.” When his Adam’s apple bobbed, she asked, “Anything wrong?”

“Not a thing. As a matter of fact, when I roped him I hoped I’d get the first go.” Charlie gave the animal another quick glance. “He’s a fine-looking horse.”

She laughed. “You were not.”

“You don’t know everything about me, boss.”

“You’re right about that. But I do know you’re not a bronc buster—but there’s no time like the present to rectify that shortcoming.”

He turned and sauntered over to where Georgia stood at the hitching rail in the barn’s shade. Within moments he had the heavy western saddle off and carried it toward the round pen as if the burden weighed nothing at all. Slinging his rig over the top rail, he turned to her and held out his hand. “The rope.”

Nell shrugged the lead rope off her shoulder and tossed it to him. He caught it midair and slipped it through the bottom two poles. On the other side of the round pen, the gelding instantly turned his hip to Charlie and flattened his ears.

She was teasing him, but she couldn’t help it. She felt like singing today. Surely Charlie wouldn’t have kissed her if he wasn’t attracted to her, would he?

“Whoa, boy,” Charlie crooned as he slowly walked toward the horse. He held the rope behind his back in one hand and the other he stretched forward, open palmed. The gelding swung back around to face him, and Nell could see his muscles gather. When Charlie was halfway across, the horse dropped his head and bolted, loping the rails in a circle.

Nell pursed her lips to keep back her smile.

Charlie looked around at her, his brow furrowed. The young horse, full of spunk, bucked a couple of times before picking up speed. In an effort to stop him, Charlie took one step toward the rail, not in front of the charging horse but enough that the animal did a handy roll back on the fence and started in the opposite direction.

Nell let out a chortle. “You two going to do that all day?”

Charlie didn’t appear so amused anymore. “You have a suggestion?”

“Yes. First off, climb on out here and let him run the bugs out. Then we’ll start again.”

Charlie stomped back, clearly annoyed, again cutting the gelding off. The colt slid to a stop and snorted loudly, drawing Georgia’s glance from the hitching rail. When Charlie was back outside the corral with Nell, she leaned onto the fence. Feeling saucy, she lifted her leg and hooked her heel on the first rail.

Charlie slapped the lead against his legs. “Go ahead and say what you’re dying to. I can see you have more than one suggestion for me.”

“You’re right. First, think about the horses out on the range. Picture them grazing and moving around. Then, act like them.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Act like a horse.” His tone was pure skepticism.

“Well, yes. What I mean is, never approach a skittish horse straight on, and never look him directly in the eye.”

“I just did that.”

“I know.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I had fun watching.”

He harrumphed. “Good of you. What else?”

“Approach from the side. When you get close enough, angle your position so your head is sort of close to the horse’s shoulder, as if you mean to smell his scent.”

“You
can’t
be serious.”

“That’s how horses get acquainted with each other. Next, move closer to his face so he can smell you.” She grinned. “Even though he’s acting pretty full of himself now, he is halter broke. I’m not saying you always have to do this—not with a horse that already knows you, just the edgy ones. Shows you’re not going to hurt them. However, I wouldn’t try it with Cochise until you’ve gotten a hold of the short lead. Make sure he can’t turn around and kick you.”

“You’re making this up to make me appear a fool. Like sending me out to buy striped paint.”

The chestnut had stopped circling the corral and stood on the other side of the pen, watching them debate.

Her fingers itched to push back the hank of hair that had fallen over Charlie’s forehead. Feel the texture on her fingertips. Soothe away all the injustices he may have suffered as a youth. “Striped paint?” She softly laughed. “Sounds like you’re speaking from experience, Charlie Rose. Care to elaborate?”

“No. I’ll just say I had an older brother whose day wasn’t complete until he had a good laugh—usually on me.”

Nell shrugged. “I’m not making this up. You can ask Seth when he gets home.”

He handed her the rope. “Why don’t you demonstrate for me, then.” Why not? She took the challenge and ducked between the rails. “And no using any of your ooglie-booglie mind-reading ability right now. Just pretend you’re me.”

The gelding was still breathing harder than normal from his exertion. Keeping the rope behind her back, Nell approached the side of the horse, keeping her face turned away. Cochise lowered his head for a moment before it came up like a flag, and yet he didn’t bolt off. She stopped for a few seconds. This could easily go either way since the horse was already tense.

“Whoa, big boy,” she all but whispered. She felt his energy bunch, but the gelding stayed where he was. He put his head down and sniffed the dirt.

“Whoa, boy,” she said again. “Whoa, now.” As soon as the horse turned his attention on Charlie, Nell slowly reached for the frayed lead. When she took hold he shied, but Nell stayed calmly by his shoulder and stepped forward with him. She let him settle. She stayed there a good three minutes without moving. Then, still not looking him in the eye, she clipped on the longer lead she held in her hands. She let her arm and hand linger while he got her scent. Moving slowly, she reached up and put her hand on his neck. She stroked him once, then moved her hand up toward his jawbone, where she pressed firmly with one finger until he took one step away. Satisfied, she started for the pole sunk deep in the center of the pen and secured him there.

“Well, I’ll be.” Disbelief was written all over Charlie’s face. “Honestly, I didn’t think you could do it.” As she walked toward him she took off her hat and wiped her forehead with the back of her shirt sleeve. “You do this with all the army horses?”

“I wish we could, but no. Only when we have the time. Like I mentioned earlier, he was started a few months ago, before being turned out. He’s been haltered, tied, and had a saddle on his back at least twice. He just needs to be reminded what we want from him. We’ll leave him to stand now for a while and go catch up a few more.”

There it was again. The concern in his eyes that did strange things to her insides. Had someone upstairs sent him her way, knowing how desperately lonely she’d been this past year? The notion was nice to think about, possibilities of a greater power watching over her and Seth. She didn’t much believe in things she didn’t understand and yet she didn’t not believe, either.

Charlie stared at her for so long she began to feel uncomfortable.

“You got something on your mind?”

“Yeah, about last night, Nell. I wanted to explain that—”

Afraid of what he might say, she shushed him. “These things happen.”
Where did that come from? Not really. At least not to me.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

He let go a big sigh. “Good. Didn’t want my hasty actions to ruin our friendship.”

Friendship.
Her stomach tightened.

“Was also hoping to ride into town this afternoon.”

This time a stone dropped inside.
Brenna.
His face was turning red. If there was ever a guilty party, it was him.

“I have business that needs doing that I couldn’t do yesterday because it was Sunday.”

“Sure. You could go right now, if you have a mind.”

He scoffed. “No. We’re working the horses. I just need to get there before the bank closes.”

Bank? Hope blossomed. Maybe Brenna wasn’t his reason. “That’s no problem.”

“I appreciate that.”

Charlie paused and watched Cochise testing the lead. Next, the youngster pawed at the dirt with his front hoof. Seemed as if Charlie was struggling with a decision. “You have something else you want to say, Charlie?”

“You know me pretty good, Nell. Was also wondering if I might borrow a book from you.”

“A book? Of course.”
What book of mine could he want?

“Well, it’s not for me.”

A hint of pink darkened his cheeks again. His uncertainty made for an attractive mixture with his long, lean body and strong chest and arms. Nell felt desire well up within, as the sun warmed them from above. “No? Who then?”

“Brenna. She mentioned she enjoyed reading but she doesn’t have many books of her own. With your bookshelf full to overflowing, I just thought you might not mind lending her one.”

The wind was knocked from Nell’s sails and she struggled not to let his comment register on her face. The sunshine dimmed and the air lifting her hair didn’t smell quite as sweet as it had a moment ago. He stood a mere arm’s length away, thinking of another woman while Nell had been daydreaming of him.
What a fool you are, Nell. Don’t you ever learn?
“That’s thoughtful of you, Charlie. I don’t mind in the least. Take as many as you like.”

He stepped forward, indecision written in his eyes. “I only want one.”

One was enough to break her heart.

CHAPTER THIRTY

W
ith a copy of
Jane Eyre
tucked under his arm, Charlie reined up in front of the bank in Logan Meadows, sadness holding his heart quiet. As soon as he’d mentioned the book for Brenna, Nell’s happy mood had evaporated in the hot sun, leaving him confused and regretful. The instant the words were out of his mouth and the hurt she’d tried so hard to hide crossed her eyes, nothing had felt right. They’d worked the horses in edgy silence until time came for him to set out.