by Deb Kastner
He reined in beside her and dismounted, pulling the reins over Alban’s head and handing them to her. She took them without slowing her pace or speaking to him. She hadn’t even glanced at him since he’d ridden up.
So she was still mad at him, then.
He supposed he deserved it. And she might very well have misinterpreted his earlier actions with Fuego. She’d been concentrating on the mare. She probably hadn’t seen him wrestling with the stallion or realized the possibility of her getting trampled under Fuego’s mighty hooves.
And then there was the issue of him scooping her up like a cowboy loading a sack of oats in the back of his pickup truck. He’d tossed her around with just about as much finesse.
She whirled on him and pounded her fists into his chest. “What in the world were you thinking?”
* * *
Jax opened his mouth, probably to try to explain his side of things, but Faith was too angry to let him get a word in edgewise.
“You could have been killed, you crazy cowboy. And it would have been all. My. Fault! I can’t believe I did something so stupid.”
“It wasn’t stupid. You were only thinking about the welfare of your mare.”
“Right. And not that Fuego wouldn’t be happy about me messing with one of his mares. Or that you would jump in to save me, putting yourself at risk, like you always do.”
He had put his arms around her waist, and now he tightened his grip on her, tilting his head so his gaze caught hers.
“Did you even know Fuego was there?”
“Well, no. But that’s beside the point. I put you in mortal danger.”
He laughed.
Laughed!
Faith found nothing funny about this situation. She’d almost lost the love of her life before she’d even gotten to tell him he was the love of her life.
“I have to admit I never wanted to be a bronc rider. Now I’m certain I don’t ever want to rodeo. I’ll leave that kind of craziness to my ex-bull-riding brother.”
“I can’t believe you actually got on Fuego’s back,” she breathed. It was totally wrong in a million different ways, and she’d been scared out of her mind, but she had to admit it had been magnificent to watch—now that it was over and Jax was safe in her arms.
“And stayed there.” He puffed out his chest and flexed his biceps. “For a minute, anyway.”
“Yeah. Long enough for me to realize what a terrible mistake I had made. He didn’t hurt you, did he? After I took off running? I know you took quite a sharp fall. You don’t have any new bites for me to bandage?”
He kissed her forehead. “Other than a couple of bumps and bruises, I came out unscathed. Alban helped me out when I needed him.”
“He’s a good horse.”
“So is Fuego.”
“I know. He was just being a wild stallion, right?”
“The best kind.”
“How is Prada? She looked pretty awful when I was there with her.”
“That’s because she was just about to give birth. She’s fine now, and you have a new little sweet chestnut filly in your herd.”
“Oh, Jax.” She tightened her arms around him. “I thought maybe there was something wrong with Prada. Or the baby. And I was so afraid Fuego was going to go ballistic on you.” She shuddered and tears poured from her eyes.
She dashed them away with the back of her hand.
“I never cry when I’m frightened,” she said. “Although admittedly I’ve never been this frightened before. Lately it seems I cry at the drop of a hat, but usually I only bawl when I’m angry about something.”
He nodded solemnly. “Good to know. So if I see you crying, I should turn and walk the other direction.”
She swatted his shoulder. “Stop giving me a hard time. I was really scared for you.”
“Hey, who would tease you if I wasn’t around to do it?”
“Exactly my point.”
“Then I guess I’d better stay.”
“In one piece, thank you.”
“If you insist.” He lowered his head and brushed his lips across hers. “We need to talk.”
“Didn’t we start last night with this same conversation?”
His eyes widened. “I hope not. I thought you were going to dump me.”
“I was.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing that the fire interrupted us.” Jax paused and lifted his head. “Whoops. I forgot you have company.”
“Company?”
“Chief Jenkins. He said he was going to come up to the house after the fire department was finished on your land. He wants to give you a report of the damage. It’s not as bad as it could have been, but—”
“Jax. I can’t believe you didn’t mention this earlier. Here we are meandering along, and the fire chief is probably sitting on my front porch. What am I going to do? I can’t invite him inside. My house is...”
“Unlivable?” he supplied for her.
“I was going to say messy, but I guess unlivable is another way to put it.” She tossed the reins over Alban’s neck. “I’ve really got to go if he’s waiting.”
Jax sighed heavily and shrugged his shoulders as if he was carrying a great weight upon them. “Every time I think we have a minute to finally talk, something happens.”
“I know.” She blew him a kiss. “Tomorrow. I promise.”
They had a lot to talk about, but it was only after she’d ridden away that she realized she hadn’t told Jax the one thing that really mattered most.
She hadn’t said I love you.
* * *
She hadn’t said I love you.
Jax had hoped he might hear those words from her lips, especially after he’d bulldogged-slash-bronc ridden a wild stallion on her behalf.
She’d been grateful enough, and her kiss had been both sweet and thorough. Sweet and thorough enough to banish nearly all of his doubts about her loving him back, after all.
But she hadn’t said the words.
So did he wait until he was sure about her feelings before he proposed?
He didn’t want to wait. He wanted to get back up on that stupid makeshift auction block in front of the entire blinking town and announce over the loudspeaker that he’d fallen in love with one very pretty mustang rescuer.
But that was out, so he had to come up with something a little cleverer to surprise his hopefully soon-to-be bride. Something that he could share with the whole world and yet would be personal, just for her.
He had the perfect plan in mind, but it was going to take some juggling on his part to pull it all together. He started by talking to his mom, his brothers and Laney, who all agreed they couldn’t think of a better way for him to pop the question.
From there it was just a matter of spreading the word to everyone in Serendipity that Faith needed a bit of assistance around her ranch. It was actually Jax who needed the real help, but he couldn’t carry out his plans without the town’s full support.
Everyone had heard of the grass fire, so it was no great stretch to visit Cup O’ Jo’s and plant the seed in Jo’s ear that Faith’s house could really use an overhaul. And telling Jo was just about the same thing as telling the whole town. That woman could spread the word like nobody’s business. He arranged for everyone to meet at Faith’s ranch on Saturday, and on the off chance Faith visited town, asked his neighbors and friends to be hush-hush about it.
He wanted this to be the surprise of a lifetime.
He spent the week making lists and ordering materials. He even made a special trip into San Antonio for a ring. He still preferred to shop in Serendipity over a larger city, but a man had to make an exception once in a while, such as for the woman he loved.
He called Faith on Thursday evening to set the stage for
the Saturday event. He wanted it to be a surprise, but he didn’t want to accidentally catch her airing her literal laundry or anything embarrassing like that.
He intended to tell her that he and the vet would be coming by to check up on the new filly, but when Faith answered the phone, he didn’t get past hello.
“Where have you been? I thought maybe Fuego caught up with you and stampeded you, after all.”
“What?”
“You were the one who said we needed to talk. Wasn’t that supposed to happen Monday?”
Jax frowned. His brain wasn’t catching up as fast as Faith was speaking. He was feeling all happy and giddy and barely able to contain himself from belting out his love for her, and she was mad at him?
“I—er—”
“You can say anything, Jax. That you got busy at the ranch. That the twins caught pinkeye. Just please give me one good reason why you’ve left me hanging for nearly a week, or I’ll hang up this phone right now.”
Because I’ve got a ring in my pocket?
No. He couldn’t tell her that. He wanted to tell her that, but it would ruin the surprise.
“I was busy. I am busy with something important that just couldn’t wait. I’ve got some—construction issues I’ve been dealing with. Nothing I’d want to bother you with.”
Until Saturday.
Her silence was deafening. It was worse than her expressing her hurt feelings.
“Look, I didn’t mean to neglect you. I forgot we even had something going on Monday.”
“Every week, Jax. Every single week you are over here all the time, helping out with the horses or fixing my fences or something. And then suddenly, this week of all weeks, when we’re supposed to sit down and have a serious discussion, you are gone, like you dropped off the face of the planet. What am I supposed to think?”
He didn’t know how to answer that question.
“You could have called me.”
“I shouldn’t have had to.”
He sighed. “You’re right. I should have called. But I’m not avoiding you.” He kind of was, but not for the reasons she thought. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Or don’t you trust me?”
She mumbled something under her breath.
“What was that?”
“Yes, Jax, I trust you. I’m asking myself why at this point, but I trust you.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
“So are we ever going to have that talk, or have you moved on to bigger and better things?”
He started to laugh and then quickly smothered it.
Bigger and better things. Definitely.
“I called because I wanted to bring the vet out to see the little chestnut filly of Prada’s. You know, just to make sure she’s faring well?”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on her. She’s nursing well and Prada is a good mother. But I won’t say no to the vet taking a look at her.”
Whew. His ruse was going to stand, then. For a second there he’d been worried. He hadn’t thought about what he was going to do if she’d said no.
“Okay, I’ll see you Saturday morning. Say about seven o’clock? We can talk afterward if you’d like.”
“Sure. And Jax?”
“Hmm?”
“If you don’t mind, will you bring the babies? I miss them almost as much as I miss you.”
“Sure. I can bring the babies.”
And my family, and everyone else in town.
Jax hung up smiling.
Chapter Ten
Faith was dressed and ready at five thirty in the morning on Saturday. She’d put on a new blouse and had spent extra time on her hair.
To meet with the vet. Jax was going to razz her for sure, even if he knew perfectly well that the extra effort was on his behalf.
She was still mad at him for ignoring her the whole week. She supposed it was past time he focused on his own life rather than rushing around to take care of hers. But it had still stunned her when he didn’t show up on Monday.
They’d talked about Monday, right?
Not really. She’d blown him a kiss, that was all. She’d been the one to mention Monday, and only because she could hardly wait to say the words.
Jax, I love you.
She’d recited them enough times. Surely they’d come out of her mouth this time, and hopefully somewhat coherently. But then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday had gone by and she’d heard nothing from him. She couldn’t bring herself to call him. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or furious when he’d finally phoned her on Thursday evening. She’d responded with a little of both.
Yes, it was the twenty-first century and she had a cell phone. She could just as easily have called him, or shown up at his ranch, for that matter. But something felt different. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but she could sense it and it made her feel that the decision to reach out had to come from him.
She was half-afraid he was going to rescind his feelings for her. Maybe that’s why she never quite pushed the call button when she started to dial Jax’s number.
She checked the clock on the stove. A quarter past six. She still had some chores to do in the barn, and she wanted to bring out some oats for Prada. Being a new mommy, the mare could use the extra nutrition, and Faith figured she might as well spoil Prada while her filly was being examined by the vet.
She looked at her cell phone only a half dozen more times before seven o’clock rolled around—and then passed by. The clock displayed one minute past the hour, then two.
Jax was late, and he was never late. Maybe the vet was one of those guys who was never on time, or maybe there had been some kind of animal emergency.
And then she heard the roaring of dozens of truck engines coming down the road that bordered her house. She frowned, hoping the noise wouldn’t bother her herd.
What was going on, anyway?
She was even more surprised when the trucks started pulling into her driveway, all laden with two-by-fours and circular saws and huge cans of paint. Someone had made a big mistake. They had to be looking for a neighbor’s house. It looked as if everyone in town was going to this shindig, and she wondered that she hadn’t heard about it. She’d been to Cup O’ Jo’s twice this week. That’s usually where she heard all about the latest upcoming social event.
She went out to tell someone they were in the wrong place when Jax strode up, a baby car seat in each arm.
“Sorry we’re late. It took me a little longer than usual to dress Violet and Rose.”
She glanced down at the babies, who were each covered with frills and ribbons. Rose in a rose-colored dress and Violet in violet.
“Making it easy for the neighbors?” she teased.
He grinned. “Something like that.”
“Well, they look very nice. But speaking of neighbors—do you know where all of these people are headed? They mistakenly pulled into my driveway, and I’m not sure where to direct them.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ve got it covered.”
She raised a brow. “Meaning?”
Alice approached with a wide smile. “Come on, Faith, darling. You’re the guest of honor.” Alice laced her arm through Faith’s and led her away from Jax, who just stood there grinning like an idiot.
She looked at Alice, who led her up to one of the rocking chairs on the porch. “I don’t know what that means.”
“What that means, my dear,” said Jo Spencer, pressing Faith into the chair, “is that you get to sit back and watch while we fix up this ol’ house of yours.”
“I’m sorry?” She couldn’t help but stare at the gregarious redhead’s T-shirt, which read My Horse Is a Mustang.
“
It’s our latest community service project. We’ve got everything—the tools, the materials and, most important, lunch.”
She was about to say she didn’t take charity, but Untamed Mustang Refuge actually was a charity, so technically that wasn’t a feasible argument. A workday on the land or fence-mending might be in order, but—
“My house?”
“You’d be surprised at what the townspeople can do in one day. We’ll have it looking as good as new,” Alice assured her. “Jax even bought some new furniture.”
“He did what?”
“Oops,” Jo said, covering her giggle with her palm. “I guess we let the cat out of the bag. Was it supposed to be a surprise?”
“This whole thing is a surprise.”
“My son did well, then.” Alice’s voice was full of pride, and Faith supposed it should be, if Jax had organized the entire event.
She was glad she was sitting down because she was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed. She pressed her palms to her eyes, wondering if someone had a paper bag she could breathe into.
“You don’t look so good. Are you feeling okay?” Jax’s lyrical voice actually sounded worried.
“I’m feeling overwhelmed, is what I’m feeling. You didn’t think it might be a good idea to mention the entire town was going to be visiting me today?”
He gave her a once-over and smiled appreciatively. “What are you worried about? You look great today.”
She blushed. She had dressed up for him. A little. It was nice that he noticed.
“You don’t have to worry about a thing. We’ve got it all under control.”
“I can see that,” she replied wryly.
He ignored her tone. “The ladies will be setting up lunch pretty soon. I can guarantee you it will be the best country cooking you have ever tasted.”
“This is all nice. But why me?”
“Why not you? You put every bit of your effort into your horses. The least we can do is see that you and your home are taken care of, as well.”
His gaze warmed and so did her heart. She’d known she belonged in Serendipity from the very first day she was here, the day she’d bid on a big, brooding cowboy with a heart of gold.
