They were coming down from the rocks. Thor flew into the forest at nine thousand feet. He spurred Shah. The stallion grunted and pounded even faster down the trail, eating up the distance between them.
Jordana’s full focus was forward. She didn’t hear Downing coming up on them until it was too late. The path was wide enough for three horses in the forest. Thor was trotting at this point because a tight turn was rapidly coming up. She suddenly heard the pounding of hooves bearing down on her. Thor’s ears laid back. He squealed a warning but it was too late.
In seconds, Jordana found Downing and his black Arabian alongside them. It happened so swiftly that she was caught off guard. Downing grinned savagely and threw his stud into hers. Instantly, Jordana hauled back on Thor, not wanting to be shoved off the trail and into the trees. Her reaction was wrong, but at the time, it was visceral. Downing flew past them. The Arabian took the sharp turn and disappeared. Damn!
“Come on!” she called to Thor. Angry at herself for not dividing her attention between the front of the trail and who was coming up behind, Jordana leaned forward. Thor snorted and plunged forward, thundering down the trail in pursuit of the black Arabian not far ahead of them. Jordana focused on catching up with them. She knew in less than a mile, the trail ended and opened up into another meadow where the second vet check was located. She’d screwed up. Big time. Slade was going to be disappointed when he saw she wasn’t in the lead at the next stop. Damn!
Slade’s brows dropped as he saw Downing whipping his horse to high speed as they burst out of the trail and into the meadow. Worriedly, he stood, holding his breath. Where was Jordana? Had Downing hurt them? Rage warred with concern. When Thor galloped out of the woods, Jordana still on him, Slade’s breath exploded from him. Without thinking, he ran toward where Shorty was waiting for her.
Jordana quickly dismounted, handing Shorty the reins to Thor. She saw Slade’s dark face and worried look. Trotting toward him, she was angry and upset. “I screwed up, Slade. I let him get around me. I’m sorry.”
Slade gripped her arm and brought her to a halt. “What did he do?” he demanded, quickly looking her over. She had no scratches, bruises or whip marks on her arms. Downing had done worse to other riders who challenged him out of sight of the judges. Her eyes were narrowed. The set of her mouth told him how upset she was. “Come on, you need to drink and eat,” he coaxed as he led her to the truck.
Jordana told him what had happened as she drank the water. “I’m sorry, Slade. I wasn’t paying attention like I should have…”
Soothing her, Slade said, “Don’t worry about it. The last ten miles of this race is where Thor will excel.” He pointed toward the other end of the busy meadow now milling with horses and riders galloping in. “You’ve got a five-mile steep trail down from eight thousand feet to the final leg at six thousand feet. And then you’ve got five miles of flat land to make your final run on him. Wait until you get out of the woods. When you’re on the flat, open Thor up.”
“There’s no way to try and make up this thirty seconds on that five-mile trail?” Jordana demanded. How badly she wanted to win that money for Slade! It broke her heart to think that he’d lose the ranch without it.
Shaking his head, Slade muttered, “It’s narrow, twisting and few places to pull over to let a horse and rider move past. It’s too dangerous, Jordana.”
Frustrated, she stared over at him. “But not impossible to do?”
Hesitating, Slade muttered, “No, not impossible…” Holding her angry glare, he added, “Listen, I want you to come out of this alive. You can’t challenge Downing in that section. He’ll eat you alive, Jordana. Don’t try it. You’ll be putting yourself and Thor at risk.”
The grave tone of his voice along with the pleading look in his gray eyes made her contrite. “I won’t risk Thor, Slade.”
“He’s second in importance to you, Jordana. Do you hear me?” He drilled a dark look into her startled gaze. Gripping her hand hard for a moment, he rasped, “Dammit, Jordana, you’re important to me. I can lose the ranch. I can’t lose you….”
Those words echoed within Jordana as she rode hard down the narrow, steep trail toward the flat plain. Thor didn’t like being second, either. She loosened the reins and let the stallion eat up seconds as he inched closer and closer to the fleeing black Arabian. She saw Downing jerking a look back at them every time he could. They were gaining on him! Jordana wanted nothing more than to overtake them! And in the last mile before they hit the flat, she surged Thor forward to do just that.
Downing cursed and saw Jordana make her move. The trail was wide enough. But he was damned if he was going to politely move over! Grabbing his whip, as Thor thundered even with them, he raised it up to slash at the animal’s face and force him to retreat.
Jordana saw Downing’s face turn livid. As he raised the whip to strike at Thor, she jerked her leg out of the stirrup, leaned to the right and slammed her boot as hard as she could into Downing’s leg.
With a scream of surprise, Downing felt her heel connect. It broke the momentum of his whip coming down to strike Thor. Shaken, the Arabian spun to the left. It nearly unseated Downing. Thor charged past. Cursing, Downing got a hold of his startled horse, and he whipped him unmercifully to catch up with them. Damn her! He hadn’t expected the woman to fight back! Mouth tightening, Curt leaned down across his stallion and urged him to catch up.
Jordana hit the flat at an all-out gallop. Fifty feet behind came Downing. They had five miles to go! The dust tore up under the pistonlike surge of Thor’s hind legs as he lunged forward. His nostrils were wide open. He was sucking up and blowing out explosive drafts of air. The wind screamed past Jordana’s bobbing head. She looked back. Downing was gaining on her! He was unmercifully whipping his stallion. Leaning down, riding Thor for all he was worth, Jordana began to use her hands, legs and weight to push him just a little faster. The stallion gamely responded.
Out of the dust, Slade saw Thor and Jordana in the lead. Not more than twenty feet behind was Downing on his foaming black stallion. Cheers began from bystanders standing on either side of the course the last half mile, urging the riders on. Watching through his binoculars, Slade swelled with pride for the woman who rode his medicine-hat stallion. Jordana had proven so many times before that she was a champion in every way. He never, in a million years, thought that she could win this race. But there she was, riding Thor, the two of them flying across the sagebrush plain toward the finish line.
Jordana heard the hoofbeats of the black Arabian approaching from behind. Her eyes were tearing so much from the wild run that she could barely see. Thor was hitting the ground hard and swiftly, his mane constantly whipping and stinging her face. She had to win! Slade’s ranch was at risk! Looking over, she saw Shah’s black head slowly edging up toward her. She saw a maniacal look in Downing’s eyes, his mouth lifted in a snarl at her. She knew he couldn’t hit her or do anything at this part of the race. The judges would see it.
Her legs were tired, and she felt herself loosen the grip she needed. Understanding that the first forty miles had taken more of a toll on her than she’d first believed, Jordana dug deep. There was only a half mile to the finish line! They were now neck and neck!
Mouth thinning, Jordana moved her hands firmly against Thor’s neck. She called out to him. Instantly, the stallion’s ears went back. He stuck his nose out, grabbed the bit and surged ahead.
Slade couldn’t believe his eyes as Thor pulled away from Downing in the last quarter mile. His stallion was literally flying, his mane and tail furling outward like a flag, Jordana was barely a bump on his back, her hands and arms pushing him forward with every massive, ground-eating stride. Cries of triumph erupted from the crowd as Thor and Jordana passed the line into first place. Shorty came over and leaped up and down, slamming Slade on the shoulder.
“She did it! She did it!” he screamed, throwing his hat into the air.
Stunned, Slade stood there watching as Jordana and Tho
r galloped across the finish line. His ranch would be saved! God help him, he loved her with a need that engulfed him. As he walked toward them, slightly dazed by the unexpected turn of events, a crooked grin of triumph began to spread across Slade’s face.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“READY TO GO HOME?” Slade asked. Slade knew the winner would not be honored or the check given out until tomorrow morning at the awards ceremony. Riders would be coming in until dusk. The late afternoon sun slanted across the valley, the Tetons reflecting the light.
Jordana grinned, turned and threw her arms around Slade. Shorty gathered up Thor’s reins, and Griff began to unsaddle him for the final vet check. “We did it!” she whispered against Slade’s ear, feeling his strong arms slide around her. Closing her eyes, Jordana didn’t care who was watching them as she leaned up and kissed Slade fully on his smiling mouth. She felt as if she were floating on a cloud of pure joy as he returned the swift, quick kiss.
Releasing her, Slade knew many were watching them. Some had shock written on their faces. No one had suspected there was a brewing relationship between them. Grinning down at her as she removed the Kevlar vest, he said, “You did it. You and Thor. I was wrong, Jordana. You’re a champion through and through.”
Feeling heat crawl into her face as she lifted the helmet off her head, her hair mussed, Jordana smiled up at him. “I knew you’d realize that sooner or later,” she teased. When Slade smiled, it did something warm and wonderful in her heart. It was so good to see Slade smile! A number of people came over to congratulate them. In the distance, Jordana saw a fuming, angry Curt Downing glaring at them. Both Thor and Shah were being walked to cool down after being vet checked. She wondered if he was going to charge her with a foul.
Turning to Slade, she whispered what had happened on the trail. His brows instantly fell, and his gray eyes turned angry.
“He won’t say a word,” Slade muttered, lifting his head and glaring at Downing in the distance. “I’m sure he was surprised you fought back.”
Taking her vest and helmet to the pickup truck, Jordana tucked them into the area between the seats. She was hot, sweaty, dusty and in dire need of a shower. “He had a surprised look on his face,” she told Slade with an elfish grin. She followed him to the rear of the trailer.
Slade saw Shorty bringing a tired Thor toward them. The stud had earned a nice, cooling bath when they got home. Opening up the one side of the trailer that Thor would be led into, he smiled a little over at Jordana. She looked beautiful, her face streaked with dust, her black hair gleaming beneath the late afternoon sun, the strands showing reddish highlights. His lower body tightened with screaming need of her. Jordana was such a brave, fierce warrior. Why hadn’t he seen that in her before?
As Slade pulled down the ramp and placed the rubber mat over it so Thor wouldn’t slip walking into the trailer, he knew why. Jordana was nothing like his ex-wife, Isabel. But he hadn’t seen the difference until now because he’d allowed Isabel to color his view of all women.
Thor was damp and dusty as he obediently climbed into the trailer. Shorty tied the rope to the bar and gave the stallion a pat. “He did good, Boss. He won with five minutes to spare. That’s a new, personal record for him.”
“It is,” Slade agreed. Shorty left the trailer, and they closed it up. Shorty and Griff would take the other truck after putting all the supplies in the back of it.
Jordana waited for Slade. Once he climbed in and started up the Chevy, he drove slowly down the dirt road toward home. Leaning back, she closed her eyes. “It’s over. We did it, Slade. We won that ten thousand dollars for you.”
He reached over and gripped her hand resting in her lap. “You’ve got a lot of lessons coming,” he told her.
Opening her eyes, she met his warm gaze. “I’m looking forward to them, Slade. Stormy is slowly healing and by the time next year comes around, we’ll bring her back to her original shape.” She absorbed the strength of his hand around hers. He divided his attention between driving and her. She wanted Slade fully focused on driving and released his hand. What she had to say could wait until they got home. Home…
“Stormy has a good chance to fully recover,” he agreed.
JORDANA WENT to shower immediately upon arriving at the ranch. Shorty unloaded Thor and took him to his showering facility. The stallion would be bathed and then turned out into his own paddock with some well-earned sweet feed as dessert along with his hay for winning today. Slade went to the master bedroom. Everyone was dirty and sweaty from the endurance contest. Jordana scrubbed her hair with almond-and-spice shampoo from her favorite soap company, Herbaria. The scent of almond and cinnamon encircled her like a magical potion.
After drying off, Jordana tucked the fuzzy pink terry-cloth bath towel around her body. Today was the day. And she hoped Slade agreed. Padding down the pine hall, she saw Slade’s bedroom door was ajar. Feeling a bit of anxiety, Jordana allowed her heart to do the talking.
“Slade?” She knocked lightly on the opened door.
Slade had just come out of the bathroom, a cream-colored towel wrapped low around his waist. When he heard Jordana’s voice, he knew. “Come on in,” he called, walking toward the door. Slade saw her round the door. Her hair was damp, uncombed and fell around her face. Seeing the shining love in her blue eyes, he reached out for her. Without a word, Slade drew her gently against him, rested his head on her damp hair and felt her arms twine around his waist.
“This is what I needed,” Jordana whispered softly, lifting her face to meet his narrowing gray gaze. “I need you, Slade. I have for a long time. Maybe since I first met you.” She moved her fingers down his powerful back, feeling his muscles leap, tense and respond to her grazing movement.
“You’re a bold little thing,” he told her, taking his hands and framing her upturned face.
Jordana grinned mischievously. His roughened hands were warm, and he smelled of the pine soap he always used. “I learned that in residency. He who doesn’t move first, gets nothing.” She lifted her hands and caressed his unshaven face. Her fingertips tingled as they flowed across his sandpapery flesh. “Slade, I love you. I don’t know when it happened exactly, but it has.”
The words flowed over him like a hot, beckoning shower. His heart flew open. “And how long have you been hiding this little secret?” he murmured, leaning down and brushing his lips against hers.
“Mmm,” Jordana whispered against his mouth, “probably ever since I met you. Looking back on it, I was always wanting to come out here just to be near you. I loved the riding lessons, but I began to realize the highlight of my day was simply sharing time and space with you, Slade.” She became serious and held his stormy-looking gray gaze. “I know what love is. I know what it means.” She framed his face with her hands. “Do we want the same thing, Slade? Or is it one-sided?” Jordana held his suddenly serious look. His hands gently moved across her damp strands. Inwardly, Jordana shook. She’d waited a long time to feel that kind of loving caress.
A sensation of trembling began in Slade’s core. Drowning in her blue eyes was like being given the keys to heaven. With great gentleness, Slade placed a series of kisses across her hairline and her brow and whispered near her delicate ear, “We want the same thing. I love you, Jordana. Like you, I don’t know when I fell in love with you. I only know that I did….” Slade melded his mouth to hers. She tasted of toothpaste, the peppermint mingling with her sweetness as a woman. She pressed herself against him, her lips opening, allowing him deeper entrance into herself. Groaning, Slade leaned down, picked Jordana up in his arms as if she were nothing but a feather.
Slade placed her on the bed. Jordana opened her eyes and smiled up at him as he divested himself of the towel. He dropped it to the floor. Truly, he reminded her of a Greek god, his body solid, heavily muscled and athletic in every way. As her gaze drifted down in appreciation of him as a man, it was clear he wanted her. That sent a white-hot need lancing through her lower body. Pulling the towel
off herself, Jordana felt the burn of his gaze as he memorized every inch of her exposed body. Beneath Slade’s heated gaze, she felt her breasts grow taut, the nipples hardening and her belly beginning to glow with anticipation. He hadn’t even touched her, and she was responding to him! Such was the power of mutual love, Jordana realized, as she reached up, gripped his fingers and pulled them lightly across her body.
Slade moved slowly. He weighed enough that he didn’t want to crush Jordana beneath his body. As she guided him over her, he turned on his side, slipped his arm beneath her neck and with his other hand, placed it on her hip. In one smooth, unbroken motion, he pulled her against him. As he lay down, holding her liquid blue gaze that had gone misty with what clearly was love for him alone, Slade allowed himself to feel every inch of her pressed against his hard body. Her breasts were small but firm, teasingly moving against his dark haired chest. Where her hips met his, he began to ache until he thought he’d explode. When she wrapped her small, fine legs around his thick, hairy ones, he closed his eyes and gripped her. His lips pulled away from his gritted teeth, and he sucked in a sharp breath as she moved suggestively against him.
When Jordana’s mouth settled on his, Slade felt her hips nestle against his. He took her mouth commandingly. She responded with hungry nips and her tongue slipping into his mouth. There was nothing sedate or conservative about Jordana now. Slade was getting a taste, literally, of her as a strong and powerful woman. Her hips ground demandingly into his. Slade smiled beneath her lips. She was heat, softness and hunger all wrapped into one. Without realizing it, Jordana had lifted and slipped herself over him. A tortured groan rolled out of him as her wet confines enveloped him. Stars exploded behind his tightly shut lids. Slade buried himself into her heated depths.
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