by Jodi Thomas
“Laurel,” the voice whispered again.
This time she had a direction to follow. Three feet away she saw Bonnie Lynn serving tea to one of the older women.
“Yes,” Laurel took a chance and answered.
Bonnie Lynn only spared her a quick glance as she straightened. “Follow me.”
Laurel didn’t ask questions. She stood slowly, looked around and followed several feet behind Bonnie Lynn as they left the room and moved into a hallway to the kitchen that served both the parlor and the café.
“What is it?” she asked as soon as Bonnie Lynn turned around in the quiet passage.
“Dan’s at the kitchen door. He says he has to talk to you.”
If it had been anyone but Dan O’Brien, Laurel would have thought it was some kind of joke her sisters were playing on her.
“From the look on his face, I think you’d better hurry,” Bonnie Lynn said as she slipped into the kitchen.
Laurel tried not to look at the rotting food and dirty dishes scattered around. The place was so busy it looked as if it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks.
Just outside the back door, Dan stood in the rain. Bonnie Lynn was at her side as they stepped onto the tiny back porch. “What is it?” Laurel yelled over the rain and the kitchen noises behind her.
“It’s Darnell, miss. He’s hurt. I don’t know what to do for him.”
Bonnie Lynn’s hand caught Laurel’s arm before she could step into the downpour. “Wait, miss. Take my cape.”
It took all her control to stand still as the maid wrapped a cape over her shoulders. She pulled the hood up and Dan offered his arm.
“Where is he?” Laurel asked as she matched the big man’s stride.
“In the old barn down by the corrals.”
“What happened?”
“One of the men who work the stock said he saw three cowhands kicking something in the mud. He didn’t know it was a man until he almost fell over him when the cowhands walked away. We got him in the barn, but he’s bleeding, miss, and I wasn’t sure what to do.”
“What about the doctor?”
“Rowdy wouldn’t hear of us getting him. He says they’d disqualify him if they knew he was hurt.”
Laurel could barely speak. Fear blocked her words. “Did he tell you to come find me?”
“No, miss. He’s going to be madder than hell when he figures out I came to get you, but I’m hoping you can talk some sense into him.”
“But why me?”
Dan smiled. “I seen the way you looked at him that night at the dance and the way he looked at me when I was holding you. I didn’t think it was nothing much until I saw that basket of food this morning on his porch. A man don’t pack a basket with lace napkins, and the food was too hot to have come all the way from town.” He helped her over a mud hole and added, “It made sense it came from the captain’s place, and I knew if it was one of your sisters he liked that’d make my friend dumber than a warm cow patty.”
She looked away so he wouldn’t see her smile.
“Meaning no disrespect against your sisters.”
They stepped into the sudden silence of the barn.
“If you won’t take offense,” Dan said as he pointed to the loft, “I’ll swing you up.”
She nodded and she was lifted up like a child.
For a moment she saw nothing but hay, then, in the corner, a tiny light flickered.
“Bring another lantern,” she called down to Dan and ran toward Rowdy.
He moaned as she tugged his shoulder and turned him onto his back. Blood and mud were everywhere.
“Laurel,” he whispered, then tried to push her away.
“Stop it.” She shoved back. “Be still. I need to see where you’re hurt.”
“Pretty much all over,” he mumbled.
“Then let me look.”
She wasn’t sure if he passed out or just decided to follow orders for once. He crumbled like a rag doll.
The light wasn’t good enough to see, but she could feel. Laurel tugged off her cape and pressed her hand against his heart. It beat solid and strong. She took a deep breath and began to move over him, feeling the strong muscles of his body beneath his soaked clothes.
When she touched his left side, he jerked in pain but didn’t cry out. None of his limbs seemed broken but warm blood dripped from his bottom lip and nose. A cut sliced across his forehead close to his hairline and a knot as big as an egg stood out on the back of his skull. By the time Dan arrived with the lantern, she felt safe in believing Rowdy wasn’t going to die.
When Rowdy opened his eyes, she said, “You need to see a doctor.”
“No,” he answered.
“But . . .”
“No,” he repeated.
Dan knelt on one knee. “I figure whoever did this was trying to take Rowdy out of the competition. I don’t think it was anything personal. If we take him to a doc, he’ll be out no matter how it happened.”
“But he can’t ride tomorrow like this.”
“He has to. I heard one of the judges say if he places even third tomorrow, he’ll win best all-around.”
“No. His ribs could be broken.” She pulled his shirt away and saw the dark bruises already forming.
“Stop talking about me like I’m not in my right mind.” Rowdy swore as he forced himself to sit up. “I’m riding tomorrow. End of discussion.”
“I say no. It’s not worth risking your life.”
He stared at her. “If I don’t ride, I’ll be risking both our lives. I’m not willing to do that.” He closed his bruised hand over hers. “I’ve been hurt far worse than this. I can ride tomorrow.”
Laurel shoved the tear off her cheek. “Dan, can you get him home?”
“I’ll borrow a wagon and have him there in an hour.”
“Good. Stay with him until I get there. I’ll bring bandages and all the medicine I can find.”
If the big man thought it strange that Laurel Hayes was crying over Rowdy, he didn’t say a word. He helped her get him downstairs to a wagon. She pulled all the blankets from her buggy and packed them around him.
When Dan brought his horse and Cinnamon to the back of the wagon, she whispered her thanks.
“Ain’t nothing he wouldn’t do for me,” Dan answered, then hesitated before adding, “He’s a good man, Miss Laurel.”
“I know,” she answered. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
She watched the wagon move into the rain and then walked back to the hotel.
Bonnie Lynn met her at the kitchen door. “Your father is looking for you.”
She handed Bonnie Lynn back her cape and stepped into the hallway. She could hear her father yelling.
He’d lost at poker and was too drunk to notice the mud on her clothes. All he wanted to do was go home. When they reached the barn, he borrowed one of his men’s horses and had two of the cowhands ride with the women.
Her sisters complained about the lack of blankets until the men offered an arm around them. Laurel sat in the back too worried to be cold. She ordered the man driving to go faster, but he was in no hurry to get home. The road seemed endless.
When they finally made it, she ran in the house and up the stairs. Minutes later she was dressed in her wool riding clothes and leather jacket. Tossing all the supplies she could find in a bag, she started out of the house.
At the front door she almost collided with her father and one of his men.
“Where do you think you are going?”
Laurel knew better than to tell him the truth. She might be twenty, but he’d think he was well within his rights to lock her in her room if he thought she was leaving. “I’m going to check on my mare.”
“At this hour?” He wasn’t sober enough to figure out why her story made little sense.
“I couldn’t sleep. I think the mare might have hurt her leg.” She lifted the bag as if to prove what she was doing.
The cowhand laughed. “The horse isn’t the only one hurt
ing tonight.”
To her shock, her father laughed and seemed to forget about Laurel. “We need a drink.” He put his arm around the cowhand. “You’ve put in a long day.”
Laurel disappeared the minute they turned the corner. She didn’t like the feeling gnawing away inside her. Despite all her father was, until now she never would have believed he would have done something so unfair. He wanted his men to win tomorrow and he seemed to be covering his bet with a beating.
She shot out of the barn and rode full out into the rain. Once she reached the water, she had to slow because the banks were slippery. She would do Rowdy no good if she broke her neck getting to him.
Ten minutes later, she stepped into the cabin.
Dan had built a fire and laid down straw to soften the bedroll. The rain had washed most of the mud off them both, but Rowdy was still bleeding.
Without a word, she set to work. Dan watched, fetched water when she needed more and kept the fire going, but he was helpless in doctoring.
“He started talking out of his head about halfway home.” Dan paced as he mumbled. “Kept wanting to know where you were and if you were all right. He thought you might get yourself in big trouble for coming to the barn.” Dan stopped and watched her for a while. “You care about him, don’t you, miss? That’s why you came even knowing it might not set well with your old man.”
“I do care,” she answered.
“Does your father know?”
“I have a feeling he might know something about Rowdy being hurt, but not about us.” She could only guess how angry her father would be. “If he did, they might have killed Rowdy tonight.”
Dan nodded, understanding. “I’m going to take care of the horses and then, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll sleep with my rifle on that porch. You just call me if you need me.”
“Thanks,” she said as he lifted Rowdy enough so she could circle a bandage around his ribs. “I’ll give him enough medicine to ease the pain. Maybe if he can sleep, he’ll feel better tomorrow morning.”
Dan left, closing the door. Laurel worked for another hour cleaning every cut until the bleeding stopped and keeping a cool rag on the back of Rowdy’s head. She knew no one would miss her until breakfast so she could stay until sunup and have plenty of time to get back.
Finally, exhausted, she curled next to him, placed her hand over his heart and fell asleep.
Chapter 9
Rowdy woke feeling warm in the calm darkness. He moved and felt pain rattle through his body.
He smiled, remembering how worried Laurel had looked. She couldn’t have known that he’d taken far worse in prison.
Silently, he took inventory. He was hurt but nothing was broken. In prison he’d been in fights where he wasn’t sure he’d ever stand much less walk again. This seemed mild in comparison.
He moved his hand over his ribs and encountered Laurel’s long slender fingers resting over his chest.
His head ached as he shifted just enough to see her sleeping beside him. She was so beautiful in the firelight, an angel dropped down to watch over him. He remembered how she’d said she prayed for him. He’d thought no one cared and she’d been kneeling in a chapel somewhere saying his name. The image warmed a heart he’d thought long dead.
As if she felt him watching her, she opened sleepy eyes.
“How are you?” she asked, worry wrinkling her brow.
“A little sore, but healing,” he answered. “Did you sleep here next to me all night?”
“Yes.” She smiled and sat up so she could check each of his wounds. Only the break in skin at his forehead looked like it had bled a little during the night. “I didn’t want to leave you alone.”
“You were right here next to me and I slept through it. What a shame.”
Giggling, she said, “You were in no shape to do anything about it.”
“I’d have died trying.” He winked and then winced at his cracked lip.
“Shut up and take a deep breath. I want to listen to your lungs.”
When she leaned her head against his chest, he took a deep breath and tangled his fingers in her hair. “I’m all right, Laurel. I swear.”
She looked up, firelight sparkling in her tears. “I was so worried about you. I don’t care if we win. I’ll find another way to get free of my father. It doesn’t matter. I just didn’t want to lose you.”
He tugged her against him and held her for a while. “We’ll find a way,” he finally whispered. “I plan on winning, but if I don’t, we’ll find a way. I’ll stand with you win or lose.”
“But you can’t ride. You might fall.”
“I don’t think about how I’m going to fall when I ride. I just think about staying on.” He laughed, then groaned. “I don’t have to make the best showing tonight, all I have to do is stay on and draw third place. None of the bareback rides have been that good.”
He knew she wanted to argue with him. He swore he could almost hear her mind working. But she didn’t say a word. They just lay close, listening to the fire and waiting for sunrise. This was the last day. Tonight it would all be over. She’d stay at the hotel and by dawn tomorrow she’d be on the first train. She’d be off to start her new life in some big town and he’d have money in his pocket until the place sold.
By first light, Rowdy had fallen back asleep. She slipped from his side and put on a pot of coffee to boil, then dug in the bag for bread she’d brought the day before.
When she took Dan a cup of hot coffee, he was hooking up the wagon. “I’m sorry I have no breakfast to offer you but bread. I was in too much of a hurry to think about what we’d eat with it.”
“No problem. How’s Rowdy?”
“Much better. He’s asleep now, but earlier he said he plans to ride.”
Dan nodded. “Tell him to sleep as much as he can today. I’ll be around when he comes into town and make sure nothing happens to him before the rodeo.”
“Thanks.” She glanced up at the sun. “I’ll try to stay until he wakes, then I have to get back before my family wakes and realizes I’ve been out all night. You headed home?”
Dan shook his head. “I’m thinking of riding into town and having breakfast at the hotel.”
Laurel smiled. “I hear it’s good, especially when served by Bonnie Lynn.”
He grinned. “I have no understanding of women, but I think she likes me. She told me last night that I make her laugh and I figure that’s a start.”
“I think she likes you, Dan, even if you don’t understand why.”
He climbed into the wagon. “And as smart as everyone knows you are, miss, you still like that busted-up cowboy in there, don’t you?”
“I do, but we’re just friends. Have been since we were kids.”
“Sure you are,” he said without looking at her.
He waved as he drove away. Laurel sat on the porch and drank the coffee she’d meant for Dan. When she went back inside, Rowdy was awake and sitting up.
She knelt beside him. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.” He rubbed his slightly swollen lip with his first knuckle. “I think I could take a little of that coffee.”
She poured a fresh cup and shared with him.
When it was empty, he set the cup aside. “Lie back down beside me,” he said. “I don’t want you to go just yet.”
She didn’t hesitate as she spread out beside him. They lay in silence for a while, then he said, “I heard what you told Dan.”
“That I like you?”
“Yes. And that we’re just friends.”
He rolled to his side and placed his hand on her middle. “I don’t think it’s true,” he whispered. “I think you feel about me the way I feel about you. Neither of us is looking for love, but we’ve learned to trust each other. And there is something between us, pulling us closer.”
“Maybe,” she protested. “I do like being near you.”
“No,” he answered. “I think it’s more than that even if neither of us wa
nts to admit it. We went beyond just partners the first time you kissed me. What I feel for you is deeper than like.”
“I don’t think so,” she whispered. She couldn’t admit more, not after only three days. Not when she’d be leaving tomorrow and she might never see him again. “When you win tonight, we’ll split the money and go our separate ways. All we can be is partners, Rowdy.”
“No, we’re already more,” he answered as his fingers brushed lightly over the cotton of her blouse. “If your feelings aren’t running deep right now with me touching you, then move away. We may not feel love, but I’m definitely attracted to you.”
He wasn’t holding her, only touching her. His hand slid up between her breasts and began unbuttoning her blouse. “Because if you don’t run, Laurel, I’m going to touch you as no one else has ever touched you. If I don’t, I’ll regret it the rest of my life.” He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers.
“There is no time,” she mumbled as she answered his kiss with one of her own.
The kiss was so tender she wanted to cry. She felt the first button give way to his fingers.
“Make love with me, Laurel,” he whispered against her ear.
She was too shy to say the words, but her kiss answered his question. As they kissed she felt him pulling buttons free, then tugging her blouse from the band of her riding skirt.
When he felt the layer of her camisole, he raised his head. “How many layers do you have on?”
She laughed. “Only one more.”
“Good.” He frowned. “I’d really like to see what I touched last night.”
She turned her head away from him, too embarrassed to look at him. “I’m not—” She couldn’t even say the words. Her body curled away from him.
Forgetting about the camisole, he gripped her shoulder and pulled her back. “Not what?” he asked.
“I’m not the kind of woman men want. I’m smart. I can keep books, but that’s about all.”
He swore and she felt his anger, not at her, but at what she believed. Finally, he calmed down and tugged her chin so that she had to look at him. “Look, Laurel, I don’t care if you can count and, as for being smart, I’ve begun to question that since you started hanging around with the likes of me. And about being the kind of woman men want, I can’t speak for all men, but you are exactly what I want.”
