To Harlen’s left was a table set up with an array of trophies and Linc knew they were Kinley’s. He’d seen them lined up on a chest in the family room of Kinley’s trailer. Beside the table was a saw horse and sitting on it a gorgeous hand-tooled saddle with a blue-gray suede seat, solid silver accents, conches glimmering in the sunlight along with a matching bridle set with turquoise and silver on the headstall.
Kinley’s bridle.
Kinley’s saddle.
Kinley lifted one of the trophies and smiled, but the smile never reached her eyes.
“Okay, folks,” Harlen began, “Help Kinley out today by bidding on her collection of championship trophies and then we’ll move on to the biggest prize of all, her world champion saddle and bridle. Let’s start the bidding at one hundred.”
She was selling her stuff. And he didn’t need to ask why. She needed the money for the damn barn and she wouldn’t take it from him. He looked over the crowd and saw the owner of a neighboring ranch and his daughter. He knew his daughter was into barrel racing and was building quite a reputation for herself and since she was daddy’s little girl he knew he hoped to win the trophies and maybe the saddle and bridle too. The ranch owner and the Rockin M had always been in competition with one another and Linc couldn’t stand the thought of Kinley’s winnings gracing this guy’s house. He scanned the crowd again and saw a man who might be able to help him out.
***
Kinley held up trophy after trophy and smiled until her face hurt. Inside her heart was flat like a piece of hammered metal and a voice in her head whispered ‘don’t do this’ over and over. But she had no choice. She had to remember these trophies were only metal and wood. They did represent her entire career but her biggest prize, with her gentle eyes and loyal heart, was still in a stall over at the Rocking M. What she needed more right now than remembrances from her career, was a safe, new barn so she could have Bear by her side once more. She gazed around at the crowd of eager faces, their eyes pinned to the current trophy hoping their bid would be the final one. The bidding climbed higher and higher and higher still when she spotted Linc standing a little ways apart, leaning against a tree, his gaze fixed on her.
Her pulse clamored, her breath quickened almost to the point of breathlessness and her skin grew tight and hot. For a few precious, dreamy seconds her eyes absorbed the sight of him, her gaze drinking him in from the top of his handsome head to the tips of his dusty boots. She wanted to run to him, wrap her arms around his strong, wide shoulders and beg him to love her but he didn’t love her and he never would.
With tears stinging the backs of her eyes, she blinked them back and lifted her chin a fraction. With every ounce of strength inside her, she held her phony, cemented smile firmly in place until her jaw ached and her butt grew numb from sitting in the chair. When she couldn’t bear watching Linc another moment, she looked away with her heart panting in her chest.
After what seemed an eternity, all of the trophies had been awarded to one particular buyer. No matter how high the bid raised this man bid higher until he was the winning bidder and held all the trophies. The price he paid was ridiculous, but it meant cash in her pocket and the funds to replace the barn.
Afterward, the auctioneer stepped beside the saddle and rested his palm on the elaborately stitched horn. “Okay, ladies and gentlemen, now we’ve come to the star attraction. This saddle and bridle represent the crowning achievement of Kinley Taylor’s barrel racing career. The winner of this saddle and matching bridle will have a prize to treasure for years to come.”
Oh, God. Kinley couldn’t look at the saddle and bridle she’d won in Las Vegas. It was the proudest day of her life. She’d fulfilled a life-long dream with the fastest time of nineteen point seven seconds. She could still hear the roar from the crowd and feel her heart nearly burst from her chest. That night, she’d celebrated by camping out in Bear’s stall sipping champagne at the mare’s feet and eating pizza while her horse munched grain and hay.
The bids flew like rapid fire higher and higher until the same man, the one who had bid on all her trophies came up the winner. She couldn’t imagine why he had paid so much but she was grateful. When he came up to collect his winnings, she shook his hand. He was an older man, with gray hair and kind brown eyes but still had a fit body in his shirts, jeans and boots. “Thank you for buying it all but I can’t imagine why.”
The man winked and said, “My wife was a red head and I always had a thing for them. Never could say no to that woman.” Then he walked away.
He spent all that money, way over what they were worth because she had red hair? Never look a gift horse in the mouth. Kinley collected her winnings and thanked everyone for coming then went to get a much needed cold drink. She looked around for Linc, but he was gone.
***
By the end of the week, work began on the barn. The frame was nearly complete, using better materials plus installing a metal roof and a lightning rod for the future. Kinley couldn’t wait to have Bear with her again. She and Ethan were unloading feed from the back of her truck and storing it in a shed they had put up the day before when she heard a vehicle cruising up the drive. Her heart jumped in her chest when she saw Linc’s truck but she continued to unload the feed. Ethan gave the truck a glare then glanced at Kinley. “Wonder what he wants?”
Kinley heaved a sigh. “I can’t imagine.”
Linc stepped out of the truck looking so handsome he nearly took her breath. His gaze was fixed on her but she focused on the job at hand.
“Need some help?” he asked.
“We can manage,” Kinley said.
“Yeah, we’ve got this,” said Ethan.
He ignored them and reached for a bale of hay. Kinley brushed his hands aside and her fingers touched his. A jolt of heat shot through her. She remembered what those hands felt like and she wanted to clasp them to her and not just his hands, but his body. “I said we can manage.”
“With my help, you’ll be finished in half the time.”
“I don’t want your help and I don’t need your help.”
He huffed a breath, folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the truck. “Fine. Have it your way.”
They were just about finished when they heard a wavering, loud cry from the llama pen.
Kinley ran from the shed with Ethan at her side and Linc moving out in front. He stopped suddenly and put his body in front of them. “There’s a cougar on the opposite side. Don’t make any sudden moves. My rifle is in the truck. Back away slowly and I’ll go get the gun.”
The cougar was making his way around the fence moving ever closer to the cluster of llamas grouping together and moving as one away from the source of danger. Their cry of alarm grew louder and more rapid.
Kinley saw the cougar crouch and shift his weight from one side to the other getting ready to make his move. She stooped and picked up a couple of rocks lying on the ground. She held one rock out to Ethan. “Here, take this rock,” she said quietly. “When I tell you raise your arms and shout at the cougar. Then throw the rock at him as hard as you can.”
“No,” Linc said in a rasping whisper. “Just back away. Our best chance is if I go for my rifle.”
“You go for your rifle, Ethan and I will do the rest. If you don’t go now—”
In that moment, the cougar charged under the fence running toward the llamas.
“Now!” Kinley shouted. She raised her arms, shouted at the animal and threw the rock as hard she could. It missed the animal by several feet.
“Get away!” Ethan shouted at the animal. He put his arm back in a pitcher’s stance then threw the rock hard and fast. The stone clipped the lion on its back leg. The cougar twisted its body at the blow from the rock and emitted a high pitched growl.
The llamas ran from the cat and pushed against the fence in fear breaking through and running in the direction of the trailers. The cougar raced after them.
Linc ran for his truck. Kinley and Ethan picked up another r
ock. The boy ran toward the escaping llamas and the cougar chasing them. The lion leaped and caught Smiley on the hind quarters. Smiley orgled in pain and fear.
Kinley’s heart was in her throat but she ran toward the cougar and Smiley, shouting at the lion and waving a stick in the air. She threw the limb at the cougar and it glanced off his side. Ethan stopped, quickly drew back his arm and fired another stone at the cougar. This one caught him on the shoulder.
The lion screamed again, bearing its big, sharp teeth. It turned and started toward Ethan. Kinley pushed Ethan out of the way and put herself in the cougar’s path. She held her arms up and screamed at the lion trying to scare him away but he didn’t waver. She braced herself for the blow from the big cat when she heard a loud crack.
The cougar slumped to the ground. Dead.
Blood seeped into his tawny fur. Kinley gasped trying to push air into her lungs. Her heart beat hard in her chest. Her legs and arms felt weak. Adrenaline coursed through her blood stream like wild fire. The reality of what had just happened was beginning to sink in, but the blood on Smiley’s hind quarters and the swath of torn, gaping skin over-road her own fear.
The llamas were still whining, bunched up in a huddle around Smiley who was in the most distress. He lay on the ground on his side emitting a whine that broke her heart. He kept moving his head back toward the wound in his hip.
She rushed to his side, folded over the flap of loose skin that the cougar had ripped loose and pressed with her palm trying to stanch the flow of blood. Ethan joined her pressing his hands over hers. “He’s hurt bad. What do we do?”
“Are you all right?” Linc shouted as he raced over.
“I think so. I just knew I couldn’t let him kill Smiley. Did you call for help?”
“Yeah, they’re on the way,” Linc said kneeling beside her. He pulled his t-shirt over his head, folded it into a make-shift pad and gently pushed Kinley and Ethan’s bloody hands away. He pressed the shirt onto the wound. Ethan stripped off his shirt and used it as a compress as well. Linc shot him a wink and a look of pride spread over Ethan’s face.
The storm that had been building let loose big drops, the size of quarters. Then they came faster, harder until rain beat down on them in a torrent followed by hail the size of golf balls.
The llamas ran for their shelter at the back of their paddock. Two trucks from the Rocking M pulled up and Rafe and three cowboys jumped out. “Help me pick up Smiley,” Linc shouted above the storm to his brother and the hands. “Let’s get him in the barn.”
By the time the vet arrived from town, the brunt of the storm had passed and only a slow, steady rain fell now on the roof of the barn like fingers tapping. They settled Smiley in a spare stall and the vet took care of his injuries.
After Smiley was stitched, he covered the wound with a bandage and rose to his feet. “I think he’s going to be okay. You were lucky.” He turned to Linc and shook his hand. “As much as I hate to see an animal put down, you did the only thing you could. He would have been back to finish the job.” The doctor tipped his hat and left.
Smiley still lay on his side and made a distressed humming noise. Kinley knelt beside him, on her knees stroking his fur. Linc stood in the doorway of the barn talking to his brother and the hands about what happened. Ethan was on the other side of Smiley wet through and shivering. She wasn’t sure if it was a delayed reaction or if he was cold. “You were great out there today, Ethan. You’ve got quite the throwing arm.”
He glanced at her then back at Smiley as if he was embarrassed. “I’ve never seen a cougar up close before. You must have been real scared when he came at you like that.”
Her nerves were still rattling. “Never been that scared in my whole life.”
Linc knelt beside her. He was still shirtless, his muscles rippling, his abs hard and flat. “The hands will take care of feeding tonight. I’m pretty handy in the kitchen. Thought I’d make dinner. That way you can keep a close eye on Smiley.”
Without looking at him she said, “That’s really nice, but Ethan and I can handle it. Right, Ethan?”
The kid nodded. “Yep, we don’t need your help.”
Linc rose to his feet. “You and Ethan go ahead up to the trailer. The hands will keep an eye on things.”
“No, I’ll keep an eye on things, but thanks anyway. Go home. Ethan and I will take care of Smiley.”
Linc was packed to his eye balls with all of Kinley’s polite indifference he could stand. He gently grabbed her by the shoulders. “Now you listen to me, Kinley Taylor and you listen good. You could have been killed out there a few minutes ago. That cougar could have ripped you apart.” He was shaking inside, his emotions in a turmoil.
She tried to pull out of his arms but he wouldn’t let her budge. “No, you’re going to stand here and listen to what I have to say. I’ve been an idiot. I admit it. A total lamebrained fool. I was scared to take a leap forward with you and stand by your side and I’m not going to stand here and lie and say that I’m not scared anymore because I am. I’m scared down to the tips of my toes. But the fact is I can’t live without you.”
“What are you saying, Linc?”
He smiled. “I’m, saying I love you, you darn fool woman. I love you with all my heart and soul and I want to spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”
A look of profound happiness blanketed her face and tears filled her eyes. “You do? You love me?”
“Yes, damn it, I do. I loved you the night you admitted you loved me under the stars but I was too darn stupid and scared out of my wits to say it right back to you.”
“What changed your mind?”
“Seeing you almost killed by a cougar. The rest of my life flashed before my eyes and it was empty, soulless and I knew I couldn’t live without you. I couldn’t stand another minute without you in my life.”
“Oh, Linc. I do love you,” she cried. She threw her arms around him and kissed him full on the mouth. He kissed her back with everything that was in him, held onto her for dear life and thanked God she was his.
When she pulled back, they were surrounded by the hands from the Rocking M, Ethan and Rafe beaming from ear to ear and clapping.
Linc could feel a blush growing up his neck and covering his face but he didn’t give a damn. He had the one thing that meant the most to him right here in his arms and he meant to keep her there for the rest of his life. “Okay, shows over. Don’t you have work to do?”
Rafe slapped him on the shoulder. “Glad you finally came to your senses.” He looked at Kinley. “I thought I was stubborn, but my brother is the most stubborn man alive. I was ready to light a firecracker under his butt, however it took a cougar instead for him to come to his senses.”
Kinley laughed.
“Hey, I’ve got something I want to show you,” Linc said feeling full of himself. He yanked back the tarp in the bed of his truck. Kinley’s mouth fell open, her beautiful green eyes lit with delight and as she stared her eyes filled. “It was you all along. You asked that old man to bid on my stuff. Didn’t you? And you spent so much? Why?”
He took her in his arms. “Because I love you. There was no way I was going to stand by and let you sell off everything you’d earned during your career so you could pay for a stupid barn. When I have the money to make it happen.”
She straightened and lifted her chin. “It was your money all along.” She pressed her lips into a thin line and gave him a scowl. “I’d work up a good mad and let you have it if I weren’t so darn grateful to have my stuff back. Not to mention the fact that I love you to distraction.”
He grabbed her up in his arms, gave her smack on the lips and said. “That’s what I wanted to hear. Now I have one question for you.”
She smiled with love filling her eyes. “What’s that?”
“Will you marry me?”
Her mouth spread into a huge smile, she clasped her legs around his waist and gave him a whopping big kiss. “Yes, Linc McCord I will marry you.”
>
Chapter Fourteen
The wedding day was glorious. A cool front had blown the humidity from the air and swept the sky clean of clouds. The barn was finished, the horses safely tucked inside their new stalls. Kinley had never been happier in her life. She stood before the full length mirror she had tacked to the back of her bedroom door while JC helped her into her full length, off the shoulder dress with a train that skimmed her ankles.
The bodice was covered in sequins and seed pearls. The sleeves were long and ended in a point over the backs of her hands. The skirt floated in a sweep of satin. She’d put on her best push up bra hoping to get her husband-to-be warmed up for their wedding night. She had no idea where he was taking her on their honeymoon. He just told her it was a surprise. She’d fretted a little over leaving the animals but he’d convinced her it was her honeymoon after all. Her hair was piled on to top of her head, JC had applied her makeup and loaned her the same strand of pearls she had worn when she married Rafe. She touched them with her fingers and smiled at her soon to be sister-in-law in the mirror.
“You look gorgeous. Linc is going to flip.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever looked this good in my whole life.”
On her feet was a new pair of white cowgirl boots. JC and Rafe had requested to plan the wedding so she had no idea what they had in store but she couldn’t wait to see. All she’d asked was that the wedding be at Laid Back Ranch where she and Linc had started their journey together and where their journey, God willing would continue for years to come.
“Are you ready?” JC asked.
When Kinley stepped out of the trailer, JC lead her over a long strip of white satin that had been laid over the ground on top of new sod. The path was lined with white barrels glistening in the sun. On top of the barrels were huge arrangements of lilies and white roses. The path continued past the seated guests to an arch twined with flowers and white ribbon. Under the arch stood Linc, Rafe and Ethan. Ethan was thrilled when Linc asked him to be his best man. The kid was dressed in a western style tuxedo. He tugged at the collar of his shirt and made Kinley smile. A teenager to the last.
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