Country Thunder: King Creek Cowboys

by Cheyenne McCray

  But there he was. Calling her.

  She swallowed past the tightness in her chest and stared at his name until the vibrations stopped and the call went to voicemail.

  A few moments later, a message popped up on her screen. She had a message.

  She shook her head and pocketed her phone. She had no interest in hearing a message from Craig. He’d gotten incredibly possessive and jealous to the point that he had been following her around town, going through her laptop, demanding to check her emails and social media messages.

  It had been all she could do to get out of town without him finding her. She had made her parents promise to not give Craig any information about her, including her whereabouts and her new phone number.

  Did Mom or Dad tell Craig?

  They didn’t understand why she hadn’t stayed with him. She couldn’t get herself to tell them about him hitting her. They’d all known Craig for so long, and their families were friends.

  Even though they hadn’t understood, they had finally promised not to tell him anything about her life now. So how did he find her number?

  Miranda clenched her jaw. Damn it. She didn’t need him calling her and didn’t need to feel stressed every time the phone rang, hoping it wasn’t him. Sooner or later she’d have to talk to him, but right now she preferred not to deal with it.

  She would, soon enough. And hopefully stop any future calls from the one man she had removed from her life and didn’t intend to let back in.

  Chapter 2

  Miranda waited for her newest client out by the corral. Today she would meet Kaycee—and the bad boy cowboy everyone had warned her about, Justin McLeod. She had no problem putting him in his place if need be.

  The sound of a powerful motor caught her attention and she looked in the direction of the highway, which ran along her property, a quarter mile from where she was having her home built.

  A blue truck slowed and stopped at the entrance from the highway then turned onto her dirt road. She watched the vehicle approach until the owner parked it in front of the barn. A man and a young lady climbed out of the truck.

  Miranda walked toward the pair and smiled at the girl, who she assumed was Kaycee. The man—holy crap was he hot—she nodded to, but then focused on the girl.

  The girl smiled back, but it was a nervous smile. Miranda extended her hand and the girl took it. “Hi, I’m Miranda. You must be Kaycee.”

  Kaycee had a firm grip for a young lady. “Pleased to meet you.”

  Miranda released Kaycee’s hand and she turned toward the man. “Are you Justin McLeod?”

  “Yes’m.” Justin had a smile so sensual that it did funny things to her insides. Definitely someone to stay clear of, especially after all that she’d heard. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  Miranda took the hand Justin offered and had to force a smile instead of melting right in front of him and his daughter. Damn, but he was beyond sexy.

  She released his hand as fast as was polite, then focused on Kaycee. “Come meet Star and Socks.”

  Kaycee fell into step beside Miranda while Justin followed to the corral. She picked up a clipboard she’d left on a fifty-gallon barrel by the corral and handed it to Justin. “Please fill this out while I introduce Kaycee to the horses.”

  Justin accepted the clipboard. “Will do.”

  Miranda turned toward Kaycee who watched the mares trot up to the fence.

  “They’re beautiful.” Kaycee glanced at Miranda. “Are they Morgans?”

  “Yes.” Miranda nodded. “I’ve had them since they were fillies.”

  “Can I pet them?” Kaycee asked.

  “Absolutely.” Miranda was pleased to see the girl wasn’t afraid of horses.

  Kaycee stroked Star’s forehead and the marking that had given her the name. “You must be Star. You are so gorgeous.”

  The horse made a soft sound of approval

  Kaycee turned to the other mare and looked her over, her gaze taking in the horse’s four white sock markings. She stroked the mare’s forehead. “I see you are Socks. You’re just as gorgeous as Star.”

  Socks bobbed her head and Kaycee grinned.

  Miranda kept her focus on Kaycee, but she couldn’t help but feel Justin behind her. His powerful presence made it impossible to completely ignore him.

  “Would you like to go into the corral with the girls?” Miranda asked.

  Kaycee hesitated, fear flicking over her features. “I can’t ride. I—I can’t get on a horse. Not now.”

  Miranda smiled gently. “You don’t have to. You can just go in and get to know them better.”

  “Okay.” Kaycee took a deep breath. “I can do that.”

  Miranda opened the gate and Kaycee walked in.

  Outside the corral the girl had seemed calm and fairly at ease with the horses. Now she looked terrified, as if Miranda would force her to ride one of the mares.

  “It’s okay,” Miranda said quietly. “We’re just going to pet the girls. Nothing else.”

  Kaycee nodded. She raised her hand, which trembled a little, and started to stroke Star’s neck. “I can tell you’re a good girl,” she said to the horse. “You’re sweet.”

  Star snorted. Behind her, Socks lipped Kaycee’s braid.

  Kaycee startled, then laughed, a slightly nervous laugh as she turned to Socks. “As long as you don’t pull,” she said with a smile.

  Both horses loved attention, and Miranda caught Star by her harness and stroked the mare’s sleek side as Kaycee spoke softly to Socks, telling her what a beautiful girl she was.

  “Do you have a horse of your own?” Miranda asked.

  “An Appaloosa.” Kaycee glanced over her shoulder. “Her name is Sunshine.”

  Miranda smiled. “I’d love to meet Sunshine.”

  “She’s a great horse.” Kaycee sounded sad as she added, “I miss riding her.”

  “Would you like to lead Socks around the corral?” Miranda asked.

  Kaycee was quiet a moment. “Yes,” she finally said.

  Miranda took a lead that hung from the fence and snapped it to Socks’ bridal. “She’s gentle.”

  Kaycee took the lead from Miranda and guided Socks away from Miranda and Star. She walked beside the mare, who kept up a slow and easy pace. Since they were six months old, Miranda had trained both horses to pay attention to the needs of her clients. The two were intuitive.

  Miranda held Star’s bridle as she watched Kaycee walk with Socks. “You’re doing great,” Miranda said, loud enough for the girl to hear.

  Kaycee didn’t respond but looked a little more relaxed as she guided Socks around the ring. Truth was Socks didn’t need guiding because she knew exactly what to do. But it was good that Kaycee felt comfortable enough with the horse.

  “She’s doing great.” Justin’s deep voice came from behind Miranda, startling her.

  She’d actually forgotten he was there, no small feat considering how he had affected her.

  Miranda glanced over her shoulder. Damn, but he was good looking. Too much so.

  “She’ll be on a horse soon, Mr. McLeod.” Miranda offered him a smile. “Not today, and maybe not even next time, but soon.”

  “It’s Justin.” He smiled in return. “It will be good to see her in the saddle again. She always did love horses.”

  Miranda turned her attention back to Kaycee but couldn’t block out Justin’s effect on her.

  She couldn’t remember ever being so attracted to a man. Whatever he had going for him, he had it in spades.

  Kaycee continued to talk to Socks as they moved around the corral.

  “She has a way with animals, I’d bet,” Miranda said loud enough for Justin to hear.

  “She does.” Justin seemed closer than before, but she didn’t dare look at him. “It’s been tough for her since the accident. She won’t go near my horse, Thunder, the one that threw her, and she’d always loved him. He’s a good horse, just spirited.”

  Miranda looked over her
shoulder again and looked into Justin’s bottle-green eyes. Mistake. “Why did he throw her?” she managed to get out.

  “A neighbor’s dog chased a rabbit too close to Thunder’s hind legs. It startled him and he ended up throwing Kaycee.” Justin shook his head. “He’d never done anything like that before, or I wouldn’t have let her ride him. Just a bad incident.”

  Miranda focused on Kaycee again. “She was injured?”

  “Broke her collarbone,” Justin said. “To be honest, even with the injury, it surprised me that she refused to get back on a horse after she fully recovered.”

  “She’s still young.” Miranda studied Kaycee’s expression and posture, and she looked relaxed and comfortable. “That was a traumatic event. Every child reacts differently to trauma.”

  Miranda wished Justin would move from behind her. Every nerve ending she had seemed to tingle just from him being so close. She wanted to tell him to move, but that was silly. What would she say? “Please move because you’re too hot to ignore?”

  She blew out her breath and moved into the corral with Star. “How would you like to walk Star now?” she asked as Kaycee approached.

  “Sure.” Kaycee came to a stop with Socks, in front of Miranda and Star.

  Miranda took the lead and removed it from Socks’ bridle, then snapped it onto Star’s. Kaycee grasped the lead and guided Star onto the path she’d been walking with the other mare.

  Miranda moved away from Justin toward the gate, bringing Socks along with her. She leaned back against a fencepost as she watched Kaycee with Star. She prayed Justin would stay right where he was.

  No such luck. He moved closer again. “Where would you like me to put the clipboard? I filled out her medical history, what I know of it.”

  She turned toward him. “You don’t know all of her medical history?”

  He shook his head. “Kaycee is my stepdaughter and she just moved back with me after her mom passed several months ago. I’m in the process of adopting her, and right now I have legal guardian rights. Her medical records are being transferred to her doctor here, and then I’ll know more.”

  Miranda studied the man in front of her. “She lived with you at some time?”

  Justin gave a slow nod. “She and her mama lived here for several years.” He looked frustrated as he added, “I missed her like hell when Carrie moved them away.”

  It sounded like the situation involved a longer story. “Kaycee must miss her mother.”

  “She does,” Justin said. “But she’s settled in here again. She loves the ranch and says she missed it the two years they were gone.”

  “I’ll bet she did.” Miranda watched Kaycee round the corral again with Star.

  “How long have you been doing this?” Justin asked.

  His voice, so close, sent a thrill down her spine.

  Damn it.

  “Eight years.” Miranda shifted her position, moving to her right so that she wasn’t so close to him. “After I graduated from college, I started my practice outside a mid-sized Texas town, where I grew up. Decided to move here, and am still settling in.”

  “We’re far enough away from Phoenix that it’s still like a small town here.” Justin’s voice was closer now and she nearly groaned aloud. “But close enough that you’ll probably get plenty of business with folks coming out here.”

  “It’s going well.” Which was the truth. She’d been surprised at how many clients she already had in such a short time.

  “What all do you do for kids?” he asked.

  “I help kids and adults with disabilities get comfortable around horses, and if they are capable, I teach them to ride.” She adjusted her position against the fencepost. “What I do is based on the client’s needs and what he or she is capable of, either physically or emotionally, or both.”

  “You must enjoy what you do,” he said.

  She pushed away from the fencepost and turned to him. “It has to be one of the most rewarding careers in the world.”

  “That says a lot right there.” Justin smiled. “And I just got through telling Kaycee that being a cowboy was the best career. I might have to rethink it.”

  Miranda couldn’t help but respond to his smile. God, he was driving her crazy. “I’m sure being a cowboy has its own rewards.”

  “Yep.” He looked at Kaycee, and Miranda followed his gaze.

  Kaycee came closer with Star, a smile on her pretty face.

  “I think that’s enough for one day.” Miranda strode toward Kaycee and the mare. “You’ve done great.”

  “Star and Socks are wonderful horses.” Kaycee handed Star’s lead to Miranda. “I really liked walking them.”

  Miranda smiled at Kaycee. “What do you say to coming back next Tuesday?”

  The girl nodded. “I’d love to see them again.”

  “I’ll talk to your dad and we’ll set it up.”

  Miranda walked with Kaycee to the gate and let them both out before shutting the gate firmly behind them. Miranda reached into her back pocket and brought out two horse cookies that she’d purchased from an online specialty store. “Would you like to feed them while I talk with your dad?”

  Kaycee took the treats that Miranda held out. “Yes.”

  Miranda and Justin moved off to the side. “Same time next Tuesday?” she asked.

  He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Yeah, I think that will work just fine.”

  “Good.” She picked up the clipboard and flipped through it. “I think there’s enough here for now. When you get her records, let me know if there’s anything else that you feel needs to be added.”

  “Will do.” He hesitated. “Ms. Hawthorne, I hope you don’t mind if I ask you a question.”

  “Call me Miranda.” She tilted her head to the side. “Depends on the question.”

  He cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you’d like to have a drink with me later this week at Mickey’s Bar and Grill.”

  Miranda tried not to look surprised. He’d taken her completely off guard.

  “I don’t date the parents of clients,” she said slowly, trying to keep her tone neutral while wanting to say, “Yes, absolutely.” And of course, there was always the late divorce document.

  He gave her a lopsided grin. “Then don’t call it a date. Call it a drink with a parent of one of your clients.”

  She tried not to smile as she shook her head. “Nope. But thank you for asking.”

  He shrugged. “Had to try.”

  Kaycee walked up and Miranda extended her hand to Justin. “Thank you for bringing Kaycee to the ranch. It’s been nice meeting and spending time with her.”

  She didn’t add, “And you.”

  “It’s a pleasure.” He took her hand and held it firmly again before releasing it.

  She had to hold back a sigh. She was so attracted to him that it was killing her to hold it inside.

  Kaycee hugged her and gave her a big smile. “Thanks, Miranda.”

  The girl’s smile was enough to warm Miranda through. What a great kid, she thought.

  They said their goodbyes and Justin touched the brim of his cowboy hat and gave her a wink before turning away with Kaycee. He settled his hand on the girl’s shoulder and they walked to his truck, Kaycee chatting and Justin responding with a laugh.

  Miranda watched her new client and the girl’s beyond sexy dad. She found herself staring at his Wrangler-clad ass, unable to take her gaze off his incredible backside. Hell, everything about him screamed sex. It had been so long since she’d had any, that she was certain that was the reason why she found him so enticing.

  Justin McLeod was nothing but trouble, as far as she was concerned. He’d grabbed her attention from the beginning, and she wanted him so badly she could taste it.

  The part about not dating clients’ parents hadn’t been part of her rules until now. For one, she’d never been in that position before, and two, it was probably a good idea.

  When it came to Justin, it was a real good idea
to keep her distance in whatever way she could.

  Still, she couldn’t help but think about his rugged good looks—the way his afternoon stubble roughened his jaw, the cleft in his chin, and the clear coolness of his green eyes. He was broad-shouldered and long and lean, perfectly toned for a cowboy. He wore his western hat low on his brows, but pushed it up a bit while he talked with her, making it easier for her to see his beautiful eyes.

  And when he’d walked away from her, she hadn’t been able to take her gaze off that incredible ass.

  A groan rose up in her throat. How the hell was she going to manage to keep her cool around the man, not to mention keep her distance from him? Maybe he’d send someone else with Kaycee the next time. One could hope.

  She wasn’t sure that if he asked again, she’d be able to tell him no.

  Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she absently looked at the screen. Craig.

  Miranda clenched the phone in her fist. It had to be the twentieth time he’d called since last week, and she’d ignored it every time. She was going to have to deal with him sooner or later, so she might as well do it now.

  She pressed the answer icon and brought the phone to her ear. “Hello?” She didn’t want him to know she knew exactly who had been calling.

  “Miranda?” Craig’s voice. “I’ve been trying to reach you for a while.”

  “I’ve been busy.” She kept her tone distant. “What can I do for you?”

  “What can you do for me?” He sounded hurt. “I’m not a client or a salesperson.”

  She sighed. “I know. But I’m busy and I don’t know why you’re calling.”

  “I need to see you.” A sense of urgency came through the connection. “It’s important.”

  “We’re through, Craig.” She stared at the Superstition Mountains in the distance, wishing she was hiking there now, hearing nothing but the peace of the place, not listening to her ex. “There’s no reason to see each other or for you to call me.”

  “Damn it, Miranda.” Craig’s words had a harder edge now. “You’re my wife and you should be here with me.”

  Miranda let out a harsh laugh. “I haven’t been your wife for nearly a year, so don’t even go there. Let me make this clear. We are finished and I don’t want you to call me again.”