He quirked an eyebrow, indicating a hesitancy to believe she didn’t step into danger on a frequent basis. “On a normal day, I might have let the horses plow right over you, but I figured you’d had enough excitement for one evening.” Kash touched his fingers to the brim of his hat and turned his horse away from the fence. “Take this as a warning to stay out of the way of my animals.” He glanced back and gave her a half-smirk. “But if your wannabe boyfriend wanders by when I’m moving the bulls tonight, I might not be so inclined to stop.”
Celia gave him an impish smile. “By all means, run them faster. Maybe back and forth a few times while you’re at it.”
Kash guided his horse behind the bucking chutes without another word, but she thought she heard him chuckle.
Her eyes remained glued to the seat of his jeans visible above the back of his saddle as he rode away.
Huck was right.
If someone as fine looking as Kash Kressley hung out behind the chutes, she might need to revisit her policy of never setting foot back there.
Years ago, at the first rodeo she’d attended after getting her photographer pass, Cort and Tate convinced her that the best action took place back where the cowboys prepared to ride.
They weren’t completely wrong.
Plenty of men action burst around her when she boldly marched into the midst of the cowboys while the majority of them stood in various stages of undress. She’d never seen so many pale, muscular legs and white briefs in her whole life.
Mortified, she’d started to make a hasty retreat but Tate and Cort blocked her way, laughing uproariously. After punching both of them, she ran back to the pickup and stayed there until well after the rodeo began.
As her thoughts wandered to what Kash would look like if she caught him in the midst of changing, heat burned her cheeks.
Quickly reeling in her wayward imagination, she took a deep breath and returned to the arena. Regardless of the embarrassing proposal, she had a job to do.
Chapter Two
“So what’s her story?” Kash asked Huck as they stood behind the bucking chutes waiting for the bull riding to start.
Huck stretched out his legs and raised one arm above his head, twisting to the side. “Who?”
“Celia McGraw.” Moisture flooded Kash’s mouth as he spoke her name. Although he’d rather don a tiara and pretend to be a member of the rodeo court than admit the truth, he’d had his eye on the beautiful woman for quite a while.
The previous spring, he’d first noticed her as she took photos at a rodeo. It happened to be the same one where her brother sustained a career-ending injury. He hadn’t seen her again for several months, until he caught sight of her in Pendleton that fall.
A vision of her long red hair, a bright shade he mentally connected to Lucille Ball, had stayed in his head, though. Her curvy figure, inviting mouth, and eyes the color of evergreen trees hadn’t escaped his notice either.
From behind the chutes, he’d watched her numerous times even though he’d never once entertained any ideas of getting to know her.
Life was hectic on a good day. The last thing Kash needed was to become entangled with a woman, especially one as full of fire and sass as Celia.
Although she’d barely strung a few sentences together when he’d yanked her out of harm’s way, he knew from her point-blank refusal to Wayne’s proposal she was a livewire.
If Kash ever stood still long enough to entertain the notion of letting a female catch him, he wanted a gentle, soft-spoken wife. He had enough drama in his life with the rodeo company, his highly annoying brother, and their ranch.
A year ago, his father had purchased a place near Twin Falls, Idaho, where they could expand their stock contracting operation. After years of trying to buy more property near their Arizona home, Frank Kressley finally gave up and widened the parameters of his search.
The Arizona place sold fast. Kash, his father, and brother, along with their crew packed up and moved three hundred head of horses, seventy roughstock bulls, six blue heelers, fifty steers, and two hundred cow and calf pairs to Twin Falls.
Kash liked the Idaho ranch. The animals seemed to thrive there, and they had plenty of room to grow the business. With the new location, they’d been able to pick up contracts for additional rodeos, like this one.
Purposefully bringing his thoughts back around to Huck, Kash studied him. He’d known the bull rider for several years. Huck had won any number of awards on the back of a Rockin’ K Rodeo Company bull, including three world champion titles.
In fact, Kash knew Celia’s brother and several of his friends from providing stock at rodeos, including the national finals competition in Las Vegas.
“What’s your interest in Celia?” Huck bounced on the balls of his feet and shook his arms as he spoke.
Kash shrugged. “Just wondered how a girl gets a public proposal from a guy she obviously doesn’t like then blindly stumbles in front of a bunch of broncs.”
Huck chuckled. “Even for Celia, that’s a little beyond the norm. That dufus Wayne…” He shook his head. “Cort tried to tell her he was bad news. Honestly, I think that’s why she agreed to go out with him in the first place. She’s always been head strong mixed with a healthy dose of stubborn. Since Cort and Tate treat her like she’s twelve most of the time, she tends to do the opposite of what they say just to show them she can.”
“Interesting.” Kash stepped onto the platform behind the chutes with Huck. Slowly, the two men strode down the length of it as the bulls entered the chutes.
Kash thought of how good Celia felt in his arms when he’d tugged her up across his lap. If he’d pulled her against his chest, he’d be willing to bet his favorite horse that her curves would have fit against him to perfection.
He’d wondered if her eye-catching red hair was real or out of a bottle. Up close, he could tell it was natural. The freckles covering her creamy skin and the green of her eyes made him curious about her ancestry. Then there were her lips — pink and soft on a mouth that looked both impish and tempting.
When he took a breath and inhaled her luscious aroma, he struggled to keep from riding off with her to somewhere private. Somewhere he could ravish her with kisses. He had no idea what fragrance she favored, if it held floral or fruity undertones. However, the passionate and entirely inappropriate thoughts it conjured in his mind made him decide it had to be one of the sexiest scents he’d ever encountered.
Aggravated by the way his thoughts kept circling around to the alluring woman, he concluded he needed to date more. Even a random, occasional date would be better than his current blank social calendar.
He walked over to a chute and waited for the cowboy to get ready to climb onto the back of one of his bulls.
Kash kept an eye on every single one of his animals during a rodeo, but he especially liked to stay close during the bull riding. Generally, he was the one who pulled the flank strap as the chute opened. Each of his bulls responded differently to the strap and required individualized attention.
Despite the hoo-ha people occasionally kicked up about flank straps harming both bulls and horses, the straps merely served as a way to enhance the natural bucking motion and encourage the animals to extend their hind legs. In fact, pulling the strap too tight would restrict the motion of the animal, making it hard for the bull or horse to perform.
His first-hand knowledge of what his animals preferred was why Kash insisted on being the one managing the flank straps on the bulls. Two of his crew kept on eye on the horses, but Kash maintained a careful watch over the bovines.
As a cowboy settled onto the back of a bull named Hermie, Kash placed a gentle hand on the rump of the animal.
“Your bull gonna earn me a good score, Kash?” the cheeky young man asked as he wrapped the bull rope around his hand.
“Depends,” Kash said, keeping any emotion from showing on his face.
The bull rider glanced up at him. “On what?”
“If you stay o
n.” Kash grinned and the young man smiled, tugged his hat down tight, and nodded his head.
With precision born of practice, Kash pulled on the flank strap the moment the chute opened and watched as Hermie bucked and spun, kicking up dirt from the arena floor. The cowboy lasted the full eight seconds and earned an eighty-one point score.
Kash moved on to the next chute and slapped Huck on the back. “Looks like those young upstarts are about to give you a run for your money, old man.”
Huck pulled a leather glove onto his right hand and wiggled his fingers, stretching it smooth. “Don’t I know it. My patched-together bones are about ready to retire.”
Brought up short by Huck’s words, Kash stared at him. “Are you really thinking about retiring? You’re only what, thirty-four?”
“Thirty-five, but who’s counting.” Huck grinned at him and climbed over the chute onto the back of the bull. “Who knows, I might have another good year or two left in me.”
“Maybe, but I’m not betting on anything.” Kash leaned over the fence and adjusted the flank strap on Wild Willie, one of his favorite bulls.
The Brahma’s mahogany coat shone in the lights from the arena. His floppy ears twitched beneath his curved horns and he switched his tail, flicking away a fly. Although his hump and massive size seemed intimidating, Willie was about as gentle as they came. Kash reached down and scratched the bull behind his ears then patted his neck.
“You ready for a wild ride, my friend?” Kash asked as Huck settled deeper onto the bull and tugged down his hat.
“On this ol’ flea-bitten varmint? Ain’t likely.” Huck goaded Kash then nodded his head.
The chute opened and Willie burst out in a blaze of bucking fury. Huck rode him well and dismounted with a leap off the back of the beast.
As soon as Huck’s rear left his back, Willie stopped bucking and docilely walked over to the gate to exit the arena.
Kash had tried to keep his focus on Huck and the bull, but his eyes wandered to where Celia hunkered down snapping photographs. Either she was brave or crazy to get as close to the action as she did. However, he’d seen a few of her photographs and couldn’t help but admire her talent. She had a real eye for capturing not just an impressive image, but also the spirit of the event.
“Why can’t you train ‘em all to be like ol’ Willie?” A member of the rodeo committee inquired as he stood on the gate of a chute, bringing Kash out of his musings over Celia.
“Now where’s the fun in that?” Kash asked as he looked at the scoreboard. Huck earned an eighty-five point ride, putting him in the lead. “Besides, Wild Willie is one of a kind.”
The bull riding ended without incident and Huck winning the event. Kash watched as Huck entered the arena to accept his award, along with the winners of the other events. Celia and one other photographer remained, taking photos of the champions.
When they finished, she gave Huck a big hug and walked with him back to the arena gate.
Normally, Kash would have already mounted his horse and be in the middle of helping move the bulls to the cattle truck. Instead, he strode over as Huck accepted congratulations from a group of people. Celia remained next to him. She appeared to stand guard, keeping a group of ardent fans from getting too close.
Kash stepped behind Huck, thumping him on the back. “Congrats, Huck, you more than earned it.”
“Thanks, man. Willie took it easy on me tonight, but I appreciate his help,” Huck said then turned back to shake someone’s hand.
Kash glanced over and noticed Celia watching him. He touched his fingers to his hat brim and tipped his head to her. “Miss McGraw, stay away from amorous young men and my horses.” He winked at her and walked off without giving her an opportunity to reply.
Curious if she watched him, Kash was sorely tempted to look over his shoulder, but he hustled back to where his crew waited for him.
An hour later, the last of his stock was loaded in trailers and he climbed behind the wheel of one of the semis.
Fortunately, this particular rodeo was only an hour away from the ranch. He’d be home, resting in his own bed, not long after midnight.
Releasing the brakes on the truck and starting down the road, he tried not to think about how much he wished a certain redhead would join him there.
Chapter Three
“I really appreciate your help today, Mom,” Celia said as she drove her mother’s car up the driveway to a restored century-old barn where she’d taken photographs of many weddings.
It was a popular venue in the Boise, Idaho, area where she lived and one she always enjoyed photographing.
“I’m glad you invited me along, honey. You know I always have fun at the weddings.” Jana McGraw smiled at her daughter. Although her hair was a shade of honey blonde instead of the bright red of Celia’s, the two of them closely resembled each other.
“I’m not sure how fun this wedding will be. The bride is a little, um…” Celia struggled to find a kind word and finally gave up. “She’s a real doozy, Mom. Wait until you meet her. She makes the worst bridezilla you could imagine seem like Miss Goody Two-Shoes.”
“Oh, my.” Jana gawked out the window at the turquoise and metallic gold balloon arch set up in front of the beautiful old barn. Gold and turquoise streamers floated from the trees, wrapped light posts, draped the fence, and hung from the barn eves.
Celia sighed. “Looks like the decorator arrived in a time machine from an era when tacky ruled the planet.”
Jana laughed and smacked Celia on the leg as she parked the car. “True as that may be, just don’t let the bride hear you say it. Did she pick the color scheme all by herself?”
“Yes, she did. I sat through not one but two meetings with her and a binder full of hideous color swatches.” Celia handed her mom the keys then got out and picked up her lightest camera bag from the back seat. She gave it to Jana, grabbed another bag and a portable light then led the way inside the barn.
“Are you doing photos of the couple together before or after the ceremony?” Jana asked, setting the bag on a raised platform at the back of the barn used as a stage area.
“After, of course. That way the guests can sit around in the ninety degree heat and melt while she pretends she’s a fairy princess everyone loves to pieces.” Celia folded her hands beneath her chin and batted her long eyelashes.
Jana sighed as she followed Celia back out to the car for another load of equipment. “Why is it you keep taking on wedding clients when you hate shooting them so much? You’d think with Tate and your brother so happily married, the idea of matrimony would no longer make you cringe.” She glared at her daughter. “You practically threw the bouquet back at Kaley when you caught it at Cort’s wedding.”
Celia handed her mom a tripod and lifted the last of the light stands from the trunk. “Mom, you know I’m thrilled for both of them, but I don’t want to be tied down and I certainly don’t need a man bossing me around. I like having my freedom.”
“Marriage doesn’t steal your freedom, honey. Not when you marry the right person. Your father and I love each other and love being together.” Jana set up the tripod and then moved to help Celia with the lights.
“You and Dad are an exception to the rule. Cort and Tate seem to be, too, but so many times I’ve seen it go the other way.” Celia expertly set up a big light behind the platform in each corner. “Do you know how many weddings I’ve photographed in the last eight years?”
At Jana’s uncertain look, Celia frowned. “Forty-six. And do you know how many of those couples are still married?”
“I have no idea, but I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”
“Nineteen, and that’s counting Cort and Tate. Less than half. What does that say?”
“That you photograph weddings for people who make a commitment before they’re ready. The institute of marriage isn’t at fault, sweetheart. Some people fall in love with the idea of being in love, not the person. When you meet Mr. Right, you’ll know it. O
nce you do, there isn’t a single, blessed thing you’ll be able to do to fight it.”
Celia scoffed and shook her head. Visions of Kash Kressley filled her thoughts. The idea of Kash being the man she’d spend forever with made her antsy, irritated, and amazingly intrigued. “There’s never going to be a Mr. Right, Mother. If, by some miracle I do find him, I promise you can plan my wedding right down to his boutonniere.”
Jana held out a hand to her daughter. “Let’s shake on it. I don’t want you to forget that promise when you’re carrying a bouquet of baby pink roses surrounded by baby’s breath down the aisle.”
Laughter bubbled out of Celia and she shook her mother’s hand then gave her a hug. “I really do appreciate your help today, Mom. If we can get through the ceremony and the formal photos after, I think we’ll be home free. I fully expect the bride to be blind drunk by then.”
“Celia! What a thing to say!” Jana took the camera Celia handed to her and together they walked out of the barn.
“I’m just telling it like I see it. The groom is a sweet guy, albeit one without a clue. I almost feel sorry for him, but that’s what he gets for choosing a lollipop over a good ol’ candy bar.”
“Honey, if you weren’t so comical, I’d be downright appalled at some of the things you say.” Jana looped her arm around Celia’s. “Let’s meet your bride. What’s her name?”
“Tiffi.” Celia shot her mother a puckish smile. “She brings to mind a yappy little lap dog that needs neutered and muzzled.”
Jana choked back an unladylike snort as Celia waved to a bride wearing the poufiest dress she’d seen since 1989.
An hour later, Celia almost dropped her camera when she went to take photos of the bridegroom with his groomsmen. She stepped into the barn and ran right into Kash Kressley.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, surprised her brain functioned enough to speak.
Capturing Christmas Page 2
