Her Big Sky Cowboy

by Alissa Callen

  When Finn pointed, Trinity again expected to see elk. But this time there was only a single elk and he wasn’t free to run away. Two of his legs were trapped in the wire fence. As they drew closer she could see it was a bull calf and over in the trees she caught a brown flash. His anxious mother wasn’t far away.

  Zane raised a hand to indicate they all stop. Compassion creased his brow.

  “The calf’s jumped over the fence to follow his mom and gotten caught. My father would roll over in his grave but the sooner I can make the fences wildlife friendly, the better.” He glanced at Trinity. “You both stay here. I’ll see if I can cut him out without scaring him and getting him more tangled.”

  Zane approached as close as he could on horseback. He took what looked like a pair of pliers from out of his saddlebag and dismounted. She could see his mouth moving as he reassured the frightened elk calf. He cut through the wire strands trapping the calf and his legs lowered to the ground. For a moment the calf lay there, then he pushed himself to his feet. His uneven gait became smooth as he sped over to where his mother hovered at the edge of the meadow. He reached her side and she led him into the safety of the forest.

  Trinity nudged Toffee forward. Zane was reassembling the fence using metal clips and might need a hand. She stopped at a fallen tree and dismounted securing Toffee’s reins to the log. She helped Finn out of the saddle and after Sonny snatched a mouthful of sweet grass, secured his reins too.

  Together, she and Finn walked to the fence. The cut strands of barbed wire fell in waves to the ground. She touched Finn’s arm to make sure he stayed clear of the sharp barbs.

  “Will the calf be all right?” she asked Zane, as she picked up a wire strand and stretched it to reach where he was working. Too late she saw the indent in the ground where a rabbit had dug for food. She stumbled and let go of the wire. It sprang upwards, ripping through her shirt and snagging the skin on her hip above her belt. She gasped and clutched at her side.

  Even before she lifted her shirt to assess the damage Zane was beside her.

  “Trin, are you okay?” He’d used her shortened name and his voice sounded deeper than usual.

  “Yes, I’m fine.” She flashed wide-eyed Finn a reassuring smile. “It’s nothing. Just a scratch.”

  But as she lifted her hand, blood covered her palm and seeped onto her shirt. She quickly pressed her hand onto her side to hide the extent of her injury from Finn.

  Zane strode toward his horse and saddlebag. Hands full with a first aid kit, he jogged back.

  “Let’s get you patched up.”

  “Okay.” She matched his light tone as Finn drew close, biting his lip.

  Zane spoke over his shoulder as he collected what he needed from the first aid kit. “Finn, I put the pliers and clips somewhere. Can you see if you can find them?”

  Finn hesitated and then nodded as he turned away.

  Trinity sucked in a breath as Zane pulled her shirt out of her jeans’ waistband. She didn’t know if it was shock or the feel of his gentle touch on her hip that caused goosebumps to ripple over her skin.

  He glanced at her. “How are you doing?”

  “Fine.”

  “The good news is you don’t need stitches but the bad news is your shirt is ruined.”

  She clenched her teeth against the sting as he cleaned the cut. So much for Payton’s lucky ripped shirt, Trinity now had her own torn shirt if she ever needed a secret weapon.

  Zane secured a white dressing as Finn returned with the pliers and clips.

  Trinity rolled up the hem of her shirt until the tear was hidden and tied a firm knot. Her shirt was now little more than a midriff top but at least Finn wouldn’t see the blood-soaked fabric.

  Zane’s gaze slid across her bare stomach. Again goosebumps littered her skin.

  He tugged his hat brim lower and she lost sight of his eyes. He turned to Finn. “Let’s head home. I’ll send someone back to fix the fence.”

  Finn’s small hand slipped into hers as they walked over to the horses. She gave him a tight hug before he headed for his pony.

  “Okay, up you go.” Zane lifted Finn into Sonny’s saddle. “Sonny deserves a treat, how about you let him graze on the grass over there while I help Trinity get on Toffee?”

  He watched Finn ride away and when Sonny put his head down to eat, walked over to her.

  “I don’t need any help,” she said. “I’ve got this.”

  Zane took hold of Toffee’s reins. The corners of his mouth kicked into a grin. “How did I know you’d say that?”

  She smiled, but instead of slipping her boot into the stirrup, she walked behind Toffee to carefully climb onto the log. Hand over her dressing, she slid into the saddle.

  “Nicely done,” Zane said, letting go of the mare’s reins and moving to check Trinity’s dressing.

  “I thought so.”

  Her words emerged breathless as Zane smoothed the corners of the dressing tape that had lifted into place, his touch whisper-soft.

  He looked up at her. From where she sat on Toffee, she had no trouble seeing his eyes beneath the wide brim of his Stetson.

  He placed his hand on her thigh, his intent gaze searching hers. “Let me know if you need to stop.”

  She nodded. But instead of moving away, he stayed where he was, his hand gentle and warm on her leg as he continued to look at her.

  Just like when she’d stared into his eyes at the bonfire, the world around her ceased to exist. And just like then she had the same impression. This man was no ordinary man. He didn’t need to use words to speak to her in ways no one else ever had.

  But unlike last time, she didn’t push such thoughts away. She didn’t try to stay in control or cling to the excuse they weren’t compatible. Instead of clashing, their strong wills complemented and worked well together. She could no longer fight what pulsed between her and the big sky cowboy who stared at her with such intensity. She could no longer deny the simple truth that echoed with every heartbeat.

  She loved Zane.

  Mr. oh so Wrong was Mr. oh so Right.

  *

  Zane made sure they rode back to the ranch house the quickest way possible. Trinity might smile and say she was fine but he knew better. When his hand had rested on her leg, she’d trembled. And now all color had leached from beneath her tan.

  The urgent clatter of hooves as they approached the stables alerted Hank that something was wrong. He hurried out the stable door. His gaze swept over Trinity before he nodded at Zane and took Sonny’s reins.

  “After we unsaddle Sonny,” Hank said as he led the grey pony away, “we’ll get Cricket from Cookie. I think he’s also made some fresh brownies.”

  Zane dismounted and tied his bay to the hitching rail. Even as he turned, Trinity had already slid off Toffee and tied her reins too.

  In silence they walked toward the house. When they reached the front porch, she stopped.

  “Thanks for looking out for me, but I really am fine. My shots are also up to date, so there’s no worry about tetanus.”

  “Good because otherwise we’d be making a trip to the Marietta Hospital.” He pushed open the front door and waited for her to enter. “I’ll check the bleeding has stopped and then, if you want, will leave you to put on a new dressing.”

  “Deal.” She walked inside.

  In the kitchen she sat her hat on the bench, dragged her fingers through her hair and faced him. The green of her eyes shone bright against the pallor of her skin. She eased the rolled edge of her shirt higher and pulled the tape off the dressing.

  Zane bent to examine the cut. He forced himself to focus on Trinity’s wound and not on the smooth and tanned skin left bare above the silver of her belt buckle.

  “Now it’s stopped bleeding, it doesn’t look so bad.”

  “See, I told, you it’s nothing.” She stepped away and smoothed the tape to again secure the dressing.

  He frowned. He was sure her fingers had been unsteady.

 
; She glanced at him and in her eyes he saw a slide show of emotions. Uncertainty, vulnerability and something unreadable.

  The shock of the barbed wire ripping through her skin had to be setting in.

  Without thought, he cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead. He was supposed to offer her the comfort of physical touch and then move back. But as she leaned into him, he breathed in her floral scent and all reason vanished.

  He pressed a kiss to each closed eyelid.

  Still she didn’t move.

  His lips slid down her satin-soft cheek to the corner of her mouth. She turned her head so their mouths brushed. Their breaths became one and then he threaded his fingers into the hair at her nape and kissed her. A deep, slow and drugging kiss. A kiss that said he wasn’t going anywhere until he knew she was okay.

  After several unhurried minutes, he lifted his head. He smiled. His kiss had worked. Trinity’s eyes shone and color again painted her cheeks.

  He slowly untangled his fingers from her hair but didn’t step away. She had one hand on his chest and the other on his waist and he wanted to savor her touch for as long as he could. “If you’re fine to put another dressing on, there’s a first aid kit in Finn’s restroom, I’ll check on him?”

  “Yes. He’ll be worried.” Her gaze darkened. “Zane, thanks.”

  He nodded and swung away before he listened to his testosterone to play Russian roulette with his self-control and kiss her a second time. He headed for the bunkhouse and when he heard Finn’s laughter, continued on to the corrals. Finn was fine and Zane just needed a moment.

  His kiss may have soothed Trinity but it had unlocked something deep inside him. Their hallway kiss had been hot, heated and had blasted away his self-control, but this sweet and tender kiss had caused more damage. It had shown him how perfect things could be with the woman he loved and how empty his life would feel once Trinity was no longer by his side.

  He stopped at Diablo’s corral and the stallion snorted before picking his way over to him.

  Footsteps sounded and Hank joined him at the corral fence.

  “Trinity okay?”

  “Yes. The cut doesn’t look too bad now. Her shots are also up to date.”

  Hank nodded but remained silent as Zane rubbed Diablo’s neck.

  “She’s a woman to ride the river with,” Hank said into the silence.

  Zane lowered his arm before Diablo could sense his tension. “I know.”

  Hank stepped back from the corral fence before putting his hand on Zane’s shoulder. He didn’t look up. He already knew what the old foreman would say.

  “She’s also a woman to be trusted.”

  Zane didn’t answer or move as Hank walked away. He stared at the palomino stallion before him. For all of his golden perfection, Zane couldn’t trust the horse.

  Bitterness merged with resignation. Not being able to trust was the story of his life. Nothing had changed with his mother now being alive. If she did love him like Trinity claimed, she wouldn’t have stayed away. All that had happened with the revelation was that she was alive that yet again he’d trusted someone only to find his trust had been misplaced. His own father had lied and deceived him. Just like Marlisa had.

  Tiredness dragged at his bones. He had to stay strong. No matter what may happen between him and Trinity and no matter how much he longed to always savor the sweetness of her kiss. He might love her but she could never discover how he felt. He couldn’t trust she’d never break his or Finn’s heart.

  Chapter Eleven

  ‡

  Trinity shifted in the seat of Zane’s pickup. It was the third day after the mini horse drive and her wire cut healed nicely. Now it only itched.

  A soft puppy snore sounded from beside her. On Finn’s small lap, Cricket lay snuggled in Finn’s arms asleep.

  “Really?” Zane said from the driver’s seat. “He now snores?”

  Trinity chuckled. Cricket had spent the trip sinking his teeth into anything within reach, including Zane’s hand on the steering wheel. Now he’d finally settled he filled the quiet cabin with his puppy snuffles.

  “Shh,” Trinity winked at Finn. “You’ll wake him.”

  Zane shook his head and reached over to switch on the radio and turn the volume to low. Trinity grinned. Zane was as smitten with playful and fluffy Cricket as much as she and Finn were. Beneath all Zane’s brooding intensity beat a gentle heart. She looked through the windshield before her feelings would show in her eyes.

  Admitting to herself she loved Zane had brought both relief and a sense of control. No wonder she’d been destined to lose the battle to remain composed around him. But embracing her feelings for Zane now led to vulnerability and uncertainty. She knew he was attracted to her and their soul-stirring kitchen kiss suggested that he could perhaps feel more. But his past couldn’t help but retain a fierce hold on him. If she had endured what he had, she too wouldn’t trust easily.

  So now all she could do was to take Payton’s advice and relax. She needed to be patient and to give Zane time to work through his mother being alive and his father lying to him. What she couldn’t do was allow him to know how she felt and to overload him with high emotion. She had to appear as if nothing had changed between them. Which meant there couldn’t be any more moments like what had happened in the kitchen after the mini horse drive. It hadn’t been shock from being snagged by the barbed wire that had made her hands shake, just the discovery she loved Zane.

  Trinity shifted in the seat again.

  “Almost there, Trin.” Zane’s grey gaze touched hers. “Your hip hurting?”

  She shook her head. “Just a little itchy.”

  He glanced at her shoulder and his lips twitched. “Running out of shirts?”

  “No. I know this one is ripped. Payton gave it to me and she’ll be checking I’ve worn it. Seeing as we’re headed into the back country and roughing it for the night, I thought I’d wear it.”

  He flexed his shoulders. “So I didn’t need to wear this new shirt, after all?”

  Trinity laughed. “Zane, that shirt was new a decade ago. It has more holes than the net we catch water bugs in, hasn’t it Finn?”

  He giggled. “Yep.”

  She turned to look into the back of the pickup at the bedrolls and horse gear to check the bug net had made it into the truck. It sat nestled beside the picnic basket Cookie had packed for their stay at the cabin where Zane’s cattle grazed for the summer.

  Trinity faced forward. “So how long have your cattle been going to Fire Weed Ranch?”

  “A while now. Even when Brent was around, I’d lease his mountain pastures. It helped him out financially and gave me the extra room to run more stock.”

  “And you always truck the cattle in, not drive them using horses? Lesley said as the crow flies the two ranches aren’t far apart?”

  “They aren’t but the road in is able to handle trucks and trucking them in saves time and labor.” Zane smiled at Finn. “We had fun last summer checking on the cattle, didn’t we?”

  Finn nodded. “I found lots of bugs.”

  “You sure did.”

  The emotion in Zane’s voice told Trinity that much healing and bonding had taken place on their summer trips to check the cattle.

  The pickup slowed as Zane made a right hand turn. As they travelled toward the mountains, no sign or entryway indicated they were on a ranch. Pastures were bare, fences in disrepair and a broken windmill stood still and silent. But if her geography was right, this was Fire Weed Ranch, Zane’s mother’s childhood home.

  Zane looked to his left, a muscle working in his cheek. She followed his gaze to where a large ranch house and outbuildings stood clustered together. Even from this distance, she could see the signs of neglect. The barn was a dull red and the roof line lop-sided. The house had no garden apart from the pasture grass that grew right up to the front porch.

  Zane again concentrated on the road, his expression grim. She could only imagine what he felt. Anger at his
mother’s family for forcing her into a loveless marriage. Frustration that they didn’t help her or make sure Harold didn’t take her boys.

  The track they travelled left the even valley floor and wound its way through the forested hills to where the country opened up to high meadows lush with grass. Bright heads of wildflowers waved in the breeze.

  Zane drove through the meadow to where a log cabin sat beside a large pond. Cricket stirred as Finn wriggled in excitement. Zane turned off the engine and Trinity saw his tension dissolve. Finn wasn’t the only person pleased to revisit their summer hideaway.

  She left the pickup and set about helping unload the gear from the back of the truck. She shivered as the wind brushed across her collarbone left bare by the rip in Payton’s shirt. While the sun might warm her shoulders the temperatures were cooler up here compared to down in Paradise Valley.

  Finn’s small boots rang on the floorboards of the cabin as he dashed inside to explore. Trinity followed him and was pleasantly surprised. She’d thought she’d be roughing it but sometime in its recent history the cabin had been refurbished. A basic but functional kitchen lay below a large window, while a bedroom with two beds sat adjacent to a modern restroom. She placed the picnic basket on the small kitchen table. There’d be no need for a swim in the cold pond tonight.

  Finn ran outside to where black coals marked a camp fire pit. He climbed onto the logs that surrounded the fire pit and that acted as seats. Zane came to her side and together they watched as Finn leapt from one log to the other, Cricket barking and running beside him.

  “Finn loves it here,” Zane said, a smile in his voice. “It was on our final trip here for the summer that he first smiled. I knew then everything would be okay.”

  “He’s come such a long way. You’ve done an incredible job.”

  Zane took a moment to speak. “It’s been a team effort.” He paused. “We … both are going to miss you when the summer ends.”

  Before Trinity could look at him, Zane swung away to where his saddle lay against the truck tire.

  He hefted the saddle over his shoulder and walked a short distance before whistling. Only the call of a far-off bird seemed to answer. Then hooves drummed. From out of the tree-line four horses raced. Just when she thought the lead horse, a large grey, wouldn’t have a chance of stopping, the gelding staggered to a halt before Zane and rubbed his head against his chest.