A Family for the Rancher

by Allison B. Collins

  Guilt pricked his gut. She was only trying to help. No need to snap at her for helping him do the very thing he’d wanted to do all along. Ride again.

  He clicked to get Thunder moving, and they set off after her. Keeping his legs as still as possible, he kept Thunder to a walk. At least till he got his sea legs back, so to speak.

  The morning air was crisp and cold, with a hint of wood smoke drifting to him. The sun rose a little higher, just peeking over the mountain ridge, turning the morning pink and orange.

  Kelsey glanced back once at him, and he tipped his hat to her. In apology, more than anything. The steady pace soothed him, even as he itched to give Thunder the signal to break into a full gallop. But she’d probably just yell at him again.

  She kept her own horse to a walk in front of him. He noticed she really did seem at home on a horse. Her back was straight, and she sat tall in the saddle, even if she was just a little bitty thing. He wondered where she’d gotten the cowboy hat. It looked old and worn, as did the matching brown boots. The puffy vest she had on covered up her curves, so he had to imagine them. Then his thoughts got the better of him, and he pictured her wearing just the vest, and nothing else. He’d unsnap it slowly, slide a finger along her chest, then her stomach, as her skin was revealed.

  His horse whinnied, and he jerked out of the daydream of a naked Kelsey. She’d dismounted and waited for him, reins looped around the fence post of the old hunting shack. They’d gone a lot farther than he’d figured if they’d reached this old place. No wonder his thigh ached.

  It pissed him off to have to use the steps like a kid, but he didn’t want to set his recuperation back any further by being stubborn. He lined the horse up parallel to the steps and climbed off. His leg wobbled when he put weight on it, but at least he remained upright. This time.

  “How do you feel?”

  He kept his back to her so she wouldn’t see the eye roll. Yes, she was asking as a therapist. But would she ever see him as a man? A man who wanted her? He stopped, shocked to realize he really did want her.

  “Nash?”

  “Yeah?”

  “How’s your leg? Do you need to rest—”

  “Nope,” he answered over his shoulder. “Doing good. Thanks for getting me back on a horse.” He turned his head just enough to see her out of the corner of his eye. Didn’t she know when she frowned her little freckle drove him nuts?

  “Want some coffee?”

  “You brought some?”

  She unbuckled the saddlebag, pulled out a thermos and set it on the porch. “Figured you might not have had any.” She walked around the other side of the horse and fiddled with something, then came back holding a container. “Muffins, too.”

  His stomach growled, and she laughed.

  “Guess you’re hungry, too. Do you want to go inside or eat out here?”

  He pointed to the table and chairs sitting in the corner of the porch. “Why, al fresco, of course.” He grabbed a chair and turned it upright.

  Her eyebrows popped up.

  “What, you still think I’m just a hick cowboy from Montana?” He grinned, then turned over another chair.

  A smile spread over her face, and she shook her head. “Nope. I’ve found you have a few undiscovered depths. I shouldn’t be amazed anymore by you.”

  A little bubble of happiness burst in his chest, taking him completely by surprise. He found he wanted to put more smiles on her face.

  A little shaken, he gestured to her chair, and they ate in companionable silence, the day coming alive around them.

  “It really is beautiful out here,” she said, breaking the quiet.

  “You sound surprised.”

  “I am. I grew up in Florida. I wasn’t too sure what to expect when we came here.” As she spoke, she unsnapped the puffy vest and shrugged out of it.

  Not quite what he’d hoped for, but the Western shirt suited her, hugging her figure. She stood, took her hat off and hung it on a hook on the wall. As she stretched, her shirt pulled tight across her chest.

  He reached out and grabbed her, pulling her onto his lap.

  Her deep blue eyes were big and wide as she stared at him. “Don’t—”

  He pressed a finger against her lips to halt the flow of words he knew would follow. “I’m a healthy male—well, relatively speaking—and you’re a very desirable woman.” He traced a finger over her lips. “I haven’t wanted anyone in a long time, especially not since I woke up in a hospital in Germany.”

  “No one?” she asked, her voice very quiet.

  “No one. Sure, a few of the nurses flirted with me, but I knew they just felt sorry for me.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Well, I didn’t want any of them. None of them interested me like you do.” Keeping his eyes on hers, he slowly reached up and took his own hat off, set it on the table. He tilted her head a bit to the side and kissed the very freckle that had driven him crazy. “I’ve wanted to do that since I met you.”

  “You didn’t like me very much when we first met.”

  He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I still wanted to.”

  Her breath hitched, and he felt it all the way to his groin. “Shh. It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”

  He knew this probably wasn’t a good idea, but he had to taste her again. Leaning forward, he kissed her lips, gently, until she opened her mouth. He swept in, groaning when her tongue met his, tangling, taunting, turning him on even more than he was.

  Suddenly she pushed against his chest. “Let me up.”

  Rejection stung, sharp and hot.

  Chapter Eight

  Kelsey watched his eyes go flat as she stood up, his expression closing her out. She faced him, then put her hands on his legs and pushed them closer together. Straddling his legs, she sat back on his lap, facing him, getting as close as she could to him.

  His body jerked, and the look on his face almost broke her heart.

  After tossing and turning all night, she still hadn’t known what she should do if he made a pass at her again. But her body cried out for him now. Ached, in fact.

  Sure, he could be surly and angry, but he also cared about her daughter, which was a huge plus in her book.

  And he made her feel things in places she thought had died along with Rob.

  His arms came around her, pressed her close. He buried his face in her neck, and his shoulders relaxed as she held him.

  “I didn’t think to ask if you have someone in your life.” His words were muffled against her neck.

  This was it, her way out. “No. But I haven’t done this in a long time.”

  He pulled back and smoothed a strand of hair off her cheek. “Done what? Kissing?” He grinned.

  Heat crept up her cheeks, and she squirmed, but froze when she felt his hard ridge nudge her. “Anything.”

  The grin faded from his face. “At all?”

  She nodded, looking anywhere but at his face.

  He cupped her head, forcing her to look at him. “No one, since...”

  “Rob died.”

  “That long?”

  She’d expected derision, not shock, from him. “I haven’t wanted to be with anyone.”

  “Haven’t you dated?”

  “No time. Taking care of my daughter is my priority, and I’ve been trying to pay—” She clamped her lips shut.

  “Pay what?”

  She shook her head.

  “Babe, you can tell me anything.”

  Shutting her eyes, she blurted out, “Pay off the debts my husband left.”

  Dead silence.

  She cracked an eyelid open.

  Nash was frowning. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

  She shrugged. “That’s what happens when you invest in risky ventures. So there just hasn’t been any time for
—” She waved a hand between them. “Anything like this. No one’s interested me, either.”

  There. She’d said it. Now he’d think she was as frozen and frigid as she’d felt the last couple of years.

  His eyes squinted, and she could almost see the steam coming from his ears. “So this—” he mimicked her hand gesture, waving it between them “—is pity for the crippled guy?”

  Anger spiked, hot and heavy in her gut. She pushed away from him and stood up, paced away from him, then back. “No, you ding-dong dumbass. You’re the first one I’ve felt anything for. I can’t sleep, because every time I close my eyes, I see you there.”

  She couldn’t read the look on his face, but he grabbed her, pulled her back to straddle his legs. He crushed his mouth to hers, and it felt so good she almost swooned. His lips devoured hers, took everything she had, then gave it all back to her.

  He shifted, rolling his hips, and his hardness pressed against her again. Right there. She whimpered, and he slid his hand around to cup her breast. Heat pooled low in her belly.

  “I need more,” he groaned against her mouth, then sat back and unsnapped her shirt. He groaned again when her white lacy bra was revealed, and he traced the outer edge, just where her breast swelled.

  Both of the horses whinnied and shook their harnesses. Movement in one of the trees behind Nash’s head caught her eye, and she squinted in the bright light. Her blood ran cold, and she froze.

  “Nash, stop.”

  “Can’t.”

  She pushed at him. “There’s a bear,” she hissed, afraid to speak too loud.

  He went still as a statue. “Where?”

  “Behind you, in the trees about twenty yards away.”

  He slowly turned his head. “It’s up in one of the trees, eating.”

  She stared at the bear, who was indeed now in a spindly looking tree. It scooped branches and leaves toward its snout.

  “Don’t make any sudden movements.” He slowly set her off his lap and stood, watching the bear the whole time. “We need to walk the horses in the opposite direction, but go slow.”

  They picked up the remains of their breakfast, but her heart was pounding so hard she almost couldn’t breathe.

  He glanced at her, one side of his mouth kicking up, then reached for her and snapped the shirt closed again. “I hate doing that. Sure looked pretty.”

  Heat suffused her cheeks, and she couldn’t believe she’d forgotten about being exposed to him. Much less to a bear.

  “Um, Nash? Bear?”

  “Just keep moving slow. No sudden movements. Don’t want to attract any attention,” he said, his voice low.

  She followed his lead, praying they’d make it to safety before the bear noticed them. They got their horses and started walking back the way they came. Peeking behind her once more, she whispered, “Why isn’t he paying attention to us?”

  “Having his own breakfast.”

  “But in a tree?”

  “Berries.”

  “I’d heard bears can climb trees, but I’ve never seen one do it.” Another glance behind her, and she breathed a sigh when she could barely see it any longer. “Heck, I’ve never seen a bear outside a zoo before.”

  “Welcome to Montana.” He looked behind them and stopped his horse. “I think we can ride now. We’re far enough away.”

  She started to mount her horse, then realized there was no step for Nash to use. Peeking over the horse’s back, she saw him standing next to his own mount, head leaning against its powerful shoulder. The back of his neck was red, and she waited for the backlash.

  The minutes ticked by, and he still hadn’t moved or spoken. She debated about saying anything but didn’t want to upset him.

  “I grew up on a horse,” he said, still not looking at her. “That I can’t get back up on my own is the hardest part. Makes me feel less of a man...” His words trailed off, but there was a world of pain in his voice, and she could only imagine what the words cost him in pride.

  She walked around her horse to stand next to him. “You never have to worry about that.”

  He turned away from her, his shoulders hunched.

  “Listen to me. You’re the manliest man I’ve ever met. The outside package isn’t what counts. It’s what’s inside, here.” She rested her hand over his heart, wishing he would actually hear her, realize the truth in her words.

  “We need to get moving. Clouds are rolling in. Get on your horse.”

  “You first.”

  * * *

  HE FROZE, then turned his head, glaring at her, eyes narrowed.

  “You’ve been working with weights, right? May just give you enough leverage to get up without a step or block.”

  He clenched his teeth against the torrent of curses building up in his head. She just stood there, watching him with those pretty eyes. If he tried this and failed... It’d be the worst kind of humiliation.

  He guided his left foot into the stirrup, gripped the pommel and tried to heave himself up. His muscles shook, and he almost gave in, but felt her hands shove against his backside. The momentum got him going, and he made it up into the saddle.

  Anger, bruised pride and relief all warred together, and he glanced down to see her grinning at him. “Did you have to do that?”

  “It worked, didn’t it? First time is always the hardest.” She walked back around her horse and took the reins. “Besides, maybe I just wanted to get my hands on your ass.”

  He burst out laughing at her cheeky words. God, how he wanted this woman. She wasn’t like anyone he’d ever known before. Checking his watch, he noted it was almost noon. Maybe he could convince her to go to his cabin, and they could continue where they left off on the porch.

  With a whoop, she kicked her horse into a gallop, and he watched her, unable to stifle another laugh. Clicking to Thunder, he started at a trot and followed her.

  Thirty minutes later, they neared her cabin and slowed. “I just want to make sure Mom and Maddy are okay, then we can go on to your cabin so I can check your leg.”

  His enjoyment dimmed a bit, but she was right. He hadn’t ridden in years, and his thigh was aching. Then he glanced at her and saw her smile. Maybe he could talk her into—

  A loud crash reverberated from the cabin, followed by a woman’s scream. Kelsey scrambled off her horse. He hurried as fast as he could, but when his left leg touched the ground, he started to crumple. Catching hold of the pommel, he held still. Once he knew he wouldn’t fall, he looped the reins for both horses around the fence post and limped toward the front porch, then inside the cabin.

  Bunny Randolph lay on the floor, a broken chair next to her. Madison sat next to her, crying. Kelsey knelt next to her mother.

  “What happened?”

  All three women looked up at him. Bunny preened a little, then grimaced when she moved her arm. The little girl leaned away from him, then looked at her mother, and miracle of miracles, she stopped crying.

  “I was on the chair trying to move some things around on the bookcase. I must have overbalanced and fallen off.”

  “I’m going to drive you into town, Mom. You need to get X-rays. I don’t see any punctures, but it could be fractured. Hold still, and I’ll make a splint.” She stood up and hurried out of the room.

  He felt helpless, so set to picking up the pieces of the chair.

  “I’m so sorry I broke the chair, Nash. I’ll reimburse you all for it.”

  “Don’t worry about it. It’s just some wood. I’m more worried about you.” He knelt by her as best he could and peeked at Madison, who sat staring at his leg.

  “Mom, hold still and I’ll get this wrapped around your arm, then we can go.”

  “Can I do anything to help?”

  Kelsey glanced up at him. “Could you grab my purse and the big bag next to it on the floor? Then may
be help my mother to the car while I get Maddy ready to go?”

  “I’ll stay here with Maddy.” His eyes popped wide-open when he realized what he’d just said, and he glanced at Kelsey.

  She hesitated and looked at her daughter. “That would be great, but are you sure? I don’t know how long we’ll be gone. What about the horses?”

  “I’ll get a couple of ranch hands out to get the horses and take care of them. And I can always call Mrs. Green to help if I need to.” Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he wiped his sleeve across it. What the hell am I getting myself into?

  Kelsey finished splinting her mom’s arm, then took Maddy into the other room. Helping Bunny to the car, he winced every time she did. A fall at her age had to be serious. He got her settled in and gently buckled her seat belt.

  “You’re a good boy, Nash. Thank you.” She patted his cheek, then leaned her head back against the seat.

  A warm glow spread through him, and he went back inside the cabin. Kelsey and Maddy were just coming out of the bedroom, and the little girl clutched a doll in a death grip.

  “You be my good girl, and mind Mr. Nash, okay? Remember what we talked about?” Kelsey asked, then kissed Maddy’s cheek.

  Maddy nodded, a solemn look on her face.

  Kelsey kissed his cheek, then blushed a bright shade of pink. “Thank you, Nash. I really appreciate this.”

  “You go on and take your mom into town. We’ll be fine.”

  Her expression changed to pensive, and he realized his words sounded a little strangled. “It’s okay. Go on.”

  She hurried out the door and closed it, leaving him alone with the kid. Pulling out his cell phone, he called the stables and arranged for the horses to be picked up and taken care of. Then he looked at his watch just as his stomach growled. “Did you eat lunch yet, Maddy?”

  She nodded, still not letting go of her doll.

  “You mind if I get a snack? I’m hungrier than a bear...” He immediately thought of what he and Kelsey had been doing when she spotted that bear earlier in the day. Heat crept up his neck. Better get his mind off that track. “So will you show me where the kitchen is?”