"I find you interesting."
He saw the rise of her brow before he turned and climbed into the front seat of the cab. He checked his grin as she rounded the rear of the car. He had her interest.
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Chapter Eight
Isobel scanned the stands and was immediately nipped with disappointment.
Why?
Because Warner was nowhere to be found.
She brushed a hand across her face and tucked a loose strand back behind her ear. She had to get the Yankee out of her mind. He had no business there, screwing up her life. She had business to take care of, her business, and she had to focus.
The saddle creaked as Isobel stood in her stirrups. There was a good crowd at the rodeo tonight. The Wayback event was growing, which was a good thing for the town's economy and for her. The purses were getting fatter and she didn't incur expenses for travel.
The gathering cheered as Josie Ridge and her horse crossed the finish line.
Fourteen point two seconds.
"Tough numbers tonight, girl.” At hearing her voice, Lizzy's ears twitched. Isobel leaned forward and stroked the mare's neck. “But we're going to win the spot for Sunday's race. Then, girl, we'll take home the purse. We've got to. Feed's gone up and hopefully Mr. Baxter will accept my offer and you'll have a partner in the barn this winter. So please, trust me,” she mumbled in a prayer.
Lizzy's head bobbed up and down as if she'd heard and agreed.
"Good luck tonight, Issy,” Melissa Sweets said as she passed by on her way to the scorer's booth.
"Thanks."
The horn blared and another rider and horse shot out into the arena.
Lizzy snorted and pulled against the bit. Sawdust kicked up in the air while she pranced sideways in the small area.
Isobel tightened her thighs and held Lizzy in check.
The horse loved the excitement of the rodeo, the crowd noise and the rush barrel racing brought as much as she did. Isobel's every nerve tingled and every muscle pulled taut, waiting for her and Lizzy's turn to explode from the chute.
She curled her hand tighter around the leather reins lying smooth against her palm and she checked the digital clock which clicked off the seconds on the screen above her. Ally Michaels was setting a damn good time to beat.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a broad figure enter the second level of the stadium. Her breath caught and she forgot about the race playing out in front of her.
Warner.
He came.
While she watched him wander up a few rows and find an empty seat, she wondered why, in a herd of good looking men wearing Stetsons, did the Yankee catch her eye? Her reaction didn't make sense. He was cute, yes. Handsome even, with eyes that rivaled a bluebonnet's color, but he wasn't her type. He wore a baseball cap to a rodeo for God sake. He stuck out like a walnut sorrel among a herd of palominos.
The crowd noise rose.
Isobel snapped her focus back to Ally. Her chestnut gelding rounded the third barrel and raced for the finish line. The buzzer sounded as the pair flew across the finish line at thirteen point eight seconds.
"Damn.” Isobel cursed under her breath. Her best time ever in this arena had been thirteen five and that had been before Lizzy's eye problems.
She shook off the thought. She couldn't think negative. Only positive thoughts. They'd trained hard. It would pay off. She hoped. She prayed.
Over the loud speaker she heard the announcer call her name and Lizzy's as the last entry in the event for the night.
Her gaze rose to the second level and met Warner's with a jolt. His smile turned her insides to liquid and for a second she was lost in the memory of how close she had come to kissing him this afternoon. And, how much she longed to feel his full mouth against hers, taste his spice.
"Lizzy, you're on.” An arena hand tapped her thigh, breaking her thoughts.
Warner gave her a thumb's up. The gesture gave her encouragement.
Isobel pushed her hat down snug on her head and tightened the string which held it in place.
"Come on, Lizzy we have our work cut for us.” She reined her horse toward the starting gate.
The timer keeper gave her a nod.
Behind the electronic eye, she held Lizzy in control. Isobel nerves prickled as she sat forward in her seat, making her one with her steed. She looped the reins over her hand in a strong grip and drew in a deep breath, filling her lungs with Lizzy's wild scent. Her eyes aimed at the first barrel and as she exhaled slowly, shutting out the noise, she forgot about the crowd, about Sunday's purse and about Warner.
"Ride like the south wind,” was the mantra she mumbled over and over for her and Lizzy's benefit.
The seconds they waited for the sharp horn to wail seemed like hours. When it did, they blazed forward into the arena as a team. Lizzy took the first barrel a little open. Around the second, Isobel reined her inside, closer.
The tip of Isobel's foot rocked the barrel. At the crowd's shriek she glanced back. The barrel remained standing.
On the third barrel she gave Lizzy her head again and the mare did her job perfectly.
As they rounded the backside, Isobel leaned lower, tightened her thighs and let Lizzy have full rein.
The horse's legs stretched, her nostrils flared, her hoofs dug deeper into the ground.
The crowd's thundering screams reached Isobel as they raced toward the finish line. They had a chance to clench the sweet spot.
Isobel and Lizzy crossed the finish line. With her heart pounding like a woodpecker on insect infested oak tree, she pulled up hard and rounded Lizzy into the bull pen. Looking up at the flashing digital clock, and before the announcement came over the sound system, she realized at thirteen point six seconds, they'd won.
"We did it.” Isobel fell forward, wrapping her arms around Lizzy's neck.
"Awesome performance, Issy,” Sam, the gate checker grinned. “Get out there and loop the ring."
Everyone standing along the fence patted her leg and Lizzy's rump as they made their way back into the arena. The crowd cheered as they circled the stadium.
She looked up into the stands for Warner but he wasn't in his seat. He was gone.
Warner waited in the background while Isobel's friends congratulated her on her time. Her smile was electrifying as she spoke to the group, but her eyes seemed to shoot pass the people praising her, searching for something or someone.
His breath caught. Could she be looking for him?
She led her horse out into the dimly lit parking area.
Warner followed her outside. He wanted to praise her success alone, with no eyes prying.
The buzz from the arena covered his approach.
Isobel and Lizzy meandered through the parked pickups and attached trailers as if on a Sunday stroll, enjoying a cool evening. The seductive roll of the woman's hips enticed Warner to pick up his step, but the massive rear and powerful legs of the horse kept him at bay.
It amazed him how such a small woman could control such a large animal.
He heard Isobel talk softly to the horse. Its ears twitched and every now and then the animal tossed its head and made snorting noises as if it understood Isobel and was responding.
Isobel side-stepped and leaned into the horse. Out of nowhere, the beast pushed Isobel with its large head, knocking her off balance. Isobel stumbled face forward against a pickup.
Warner jumped. Large hoofs pawed. Large teeth sneered.
The horse was attacking Isobel. His heart lodged in his throat, cutting off his cry. He rushed forward intending to save her from the beast. How? He didn't know, but he had to try.
"Giddy-up.” He flung his arms wildly as he ran toward the horse. “Giddy-up out of here."
Isobel rolled over on the fender. She stared wide-eyed back at him. Oh, God. She looked confused, stunned.
The beast circled, kicking up gravel. The whites of its eyes were phantoms in the night. Its head reared in the
air, yanking Isobel's arm.
Gravel flew as he slid to a stop. The reins were wound around her wrist. If the horse took off, she'd drag Isobel. She'd be seriously hurt.
His chest rose and fell rapidly. Sweat formed on his upper lip. Slowly, Warner lowered his arms. He swallowed hard trying to clear the lump in his throat and to sound calm. “Wait. Don't run, horsy."
"Shit, Warner. Are you out of your mind? What are you doing?"
Isobel pushed off the vehicle and regained her balance. She grabbed the straps. The muscles of her arms bulged as she fought to manage her horse. “Shhh, Lizzy."
"I'll help you, Isobel. Just stay calm. Don't spook it.” He lowered his voice, trying to sound unruffled—a damn hard thing to do since his heart pounded against his ribs so hard he thought they'd crack. Slowly, he inched forward along the pickup's bed, never taking his gaze from the snorting, dancing demon Isobel tried to control.
"I'm not the one making Lizzy jumpy."
Warner continued to sneak forward as Isobel dug something from her front pocket. She laid her palm out to the horse and with large teeth Lizzy snapped up the white cube.
"You on the other hand are."
"Me?"
The horse nodded his way and snorted again.
With his hand on the pickup's bed, Warner stopped, ready to back pedal if the animal so much as pointed one hoof his way.
Isobel ran her hand along the horse's neck and murmured to the animal.
The beast settled down.
Isobel looked at him. “Why were you yelling like a madman?"
"I saw the way it knocked you down. That horse was going to trample you.” He pointed to the now docile beast.
Isobel laughed. “No she wasn't. Lizzy wouldn't harm a hair on my head. She was just playing with me.” She reached up and snatched the horse behind the ears. The horse arched its head to give her better access.
What the hell did he know about horses? The closest he'd come to one was a few minutes ago when he'd watched the rodeo from the second level of the arena. He'd never even had a pony ride as a kid.
Suddenly feeling foolish, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Playing? Well, it didn't look that way to me."
"You don't know a lot about horses, do you?"
"Does it show?"
"A little. Come here."
"What?” He nearly gulped the word along with his composure.
"I said come here.” Isobel reached out, snatched his arm at the wrist, yanking his hand from his pocket and pulled him towards them. “She's not going to hurt you."
The metal around and in the horse's mouth clinked as it bit and tossed its head.
"So you say.” He slid up to Isobel's side but refused to look away from the horse.
"Relax. Horses can smell fear."
"Damn, I'm dead.” The ground beneath him shook. No. It wasn't the ground. It was his legs.
"Baby."
He darted a look down at her. “Hey, you've been around these animals for how long?"
"All my life. It's okay. I'll protect you."
Her smile did little to reassure him. “The way she tossed you up against the fender doesn't reassure me much."
Lizzy nuzzled his shirt and he sucked in a breath and pressed back against the pickup. He was trapped.
Lizzy's muzzle inched up his chest, her nostrils flaring.
He closed his eyes and turned his head, waiting for the beast to take a chomp of him.
Warm air brushed his cheek.
Warner heard his heart beat echoing in the night in a rhythm more rapid than the cicadas. Trying to work up some moisture into his mouth. He peeked.
The animal's eyes were no longer white ovals but dark mirrors in which he saw himself cringing. This episode would be added to his list of how not to impress women, especially a woman like Isobel.
Damn. He wanted to impress her a lot.
"Pet her. On the neck,” Isobel said.
He could do this. He peeled his back from the pickup's cab.
"Go on. She won't bite."
Tentatively he reached out. He'd show Isobel he wasn't a complete wimp. He stroked the horse's coat. “She's soft."
"She likes you."
Actually enjoying the feel of the horse, Warner relaxed while he moved his hand along the animal's beefy neck muscles. “Really? How can you tell?"
"She hasn't tried to bite you."
He snapped his hand back and looked down into Isobel's dancing eyes. “You said she didn't bite."
"Only those who she doesn't like.” Isobel chuckled. “I'm kidding. So where were you going?"
He reached out again, feeling braver, and patted the horse's head. “I was trying to catch up to you when I saw Lizzy nudge you."
"You were?"
"I wanted to congratulate you. You, well, you and Lizzy were amazing."
"We were lucky. I almost knocked the second barrel over."
"So."
"We would've been disqualified."
"Oh. I didn't know. This is my first rodeo.” Lizzy pawed the ground and he jumped back. “I think I told you that this afternoon. Didn't I?"
Isobel smiled. “Relax. She is not going to hurt you. Horses move just like people. They're not statues when tethered. They move their heads to look around. Their hoofs are their hands."
"Okay.” Warner looked around. “So where are you off to now?"
"I'm going to load Lizzy up and head for home. Why?"
"If you didn't have plans, I'd like to take you to dinner. My way of saying thank you. I kept you longer today than you'd hoped and I really appreciate it. I got a lot accomplished. More than I'd hoped. Anyway, I thought you probably didn't have time to eat, did you?"
"No. I didn't, and I appreciate the offer but I'm all sweaty and smell like horse."
"I think you smell great."
She laughed. “Thanks, but I've got to get Lizzy home and bedded down."
"Oh, yeah. Sure. Listen. You've got to eat. I've got an idea. Why don't I follow you out to your place? I don't mind waiting while you take care of Lizzy and wash up. Then we can come back to town for a burger. We can go to the Blue Bug."
"No Blue Bug."
"I thought that was the hang out."
"It is for almost everyone in town."
"Okay then, I hear Cranky Hank's serves up a mean rack of ribs."
"I don't know."
"Come on, Isobel. You've got to eat. I'm paying."
"That's not the problem."
"Then what is? Are you afraid of me?"
Her back straightened. Her jaw locked, as if sealing inside what she didn't want anyone to know.
He'd hit the nail on the head. Issy was afraid of getting too close. Warner wondered why. He wasn't going to give up until he found out.
He stepped closer to her. “What are you afraid of, Isobel?"
"I'm not afraid of anything, Warner. Let's go."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Nine
As they passed by the gates to the neighboring ranch, the remnants of the day's heat escaped the brick-dried prairie and breezed into the truck's cab through the open window. Isobel's jaw worked side to side. Afraid. Geez. She wasn't afraid of anything. Especially a Yankee hunk.
She glanced in her truck's side mirror at the headlights following her. Who was she kidding? Warner scared the hell out of her.
But why? She chewed on her bottom lip.
Because she'd never wanted a man as much as she wanted Warner, that's why. He only had to be within sight for the skin on her arms to gooseflesh and her stomach to do that flippy thing.
The attraction was pure animal hunger and she intended to fix that tonight. A one night fling with the Yankee and she'd be over him. Her world would be right again.
She reached over and turned up the volume on the radio. Trace Atkins’ sexy deep tone singing One Hot Mama filled the cab.
Yeah, she could use the Yankee. Isobel shifted on her seat. Her fingers
curled tighter around the steering wheel as she drove the last mile.
Getting him into to bed would be easy. Warner wanted her too. She could tell. He wasn't fooling her with his ‘I want to buy you dinner because I took up so much of your time today,’ bit. She saw the sweltering desire in his bright blue eyes and the way his gaze kept dropping to her chest. She'd also noticed the growing bulge in his pants and remembered how he had felt pressed against her stomach while they'd danced the night before at the Blue Bug.
Coming up on her ranch, Isobel slapped the turn signal down and maneuvered her truck and horse van through the gate to her driveway. The house lights, set on timers for ten o'clock, clicked on as she pulled up to the barn.
Yup, that's what she'd do after she fed Lizzy. She'd invite Warner into the house and have her way with him. One night of hot, sweaty sex and she'd be completely over the guy.
As she turned off the ignition, Isobel looked out her side mirror again and saw Warner unfold from his car. He swaggered toward her, tucking his shirttail into his tight jeans, chin held high, shoulders squared, purpose in his eyes. Reminded her of a proud lion about to make his move.
He had something on his mind as well.
She unsnapped her seatbelt the moment Warner opened her door. On a light breeze, his musk rolled over her, arousing her, playing with her senses.
He looked around the grounds. “You've got a nice place here. Yellow barn and all."
"Don't start.” Isobel remained seated. Perched on the seat of a four by four, she still had to look up at him. “The place needs a lot of work. I inherited it from my grandmother last year."
"Then you don't live with your parents?” The muscular cords of his left arm stretched as he held the door frame.
The space between them grew steamy. “No. Why would you think I live with my parents?"
"I don't know. Big ranch. Beautiful tiny woman."
"I'm not beaut—"
"Yes, you are and you know it."
Under the cab light and Warner's gaze, Isobel's cheeks and heart warmed. The Yankee wasn't throwing her a line. He actually thought she was beautiful.
"So we're alone?” His gaze drifted, first to her lips and then lower, making every nerve in her body zing.
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