The Taming of Delaney Fortune (The Fortunes of Texas: Cowboy Country)

by Michelle Major

  There was no time to wrap her mind around that as the babies behind her started squealing, obviously sensing that their mother and a meal were nearby.

  She tried to shush them as the sow paused to check her out. “Be quiet. We don’t want mama pig to think I’m causing problems,” she commanded in a gentle tone.

  Her baby-whisperer voice didn’t work on the piglets as it did on her niece, and their squealing continued. The huge sow stomped her front foot on the ground several times and squealed at Delaney. The last place she wanted to be right now was between that mother and her babies. She pulled on the rope again, but the calf only bleated louder, as if crying for his own mama.

  Left with no other option, she turned and hefted the animal into her arms, staggering a bit as she moved. Delaney was strong, but the calf probably weighed close to seventy pounds. Fear and adrenaline kept her going and she sidestepped away from the piglets, never taking her eyes off the sow. When she’d made it about five feet away, she turned and did her best to run over the closest rise, wanting to get herself and the calf out of the hog’s line of sight. Although unable to see the ground in front of her with her arms full of animal, it was still a shock when she stepped into a hole and her ankle twisted.

  Dropping to one knee, then onto her backside, Delaney managed to keep a tight hold on the baby, which bleated in protest. Her gaze darted over her shoulder but, thankfully, the mama hog hadn’t followed her. Delaney hugged the calf against her and her heart rate eventually calmed. She released the baby but kept the rope clenched between her fingers.

  As her breathing slowed, pain replaced fear and she took stock of her various injuries. She gently turned her ankle and although it hurt, she didn’t think it was broken. Her jeans were ripped at the knee, dirt and pebbles embedded in her skin where she’d gone down. The underside of her arm was also scraped, plus her hip ached from where she’d landed on a rock. All told, they were surface injuries and she knew she was lucky they weren’t worse, especially since she had a very long walk back to the main house.

  She glanced at the calf, which continued to watch her out of big brown eyes. Her best hope was that Flapjack would return to the barn. The chances of the calf having the strength to make it back were slim, and Delaney was afraid to leave the pitiful creature out here on its own.

  Careful to keep far away from the feral hogs, Delaney started in the direction of home. Clouds gathered above her in the sky, signaling an impending spring rain. She was grateful for the reprieve from the hot sun but didn’t relish the idea of being caught out in a storm on the open land.

  She walked for an hour, then found shade under a tree to rest. The calf had stopped making noise a mile or so back and Delaney wished she had some way to hydrate him. Her own throat was dry and caked with dust and her ankle was beginning to throb in her boot. All she could hope was that her father and the ranch hands would find them sooner rather than later.

  A brief rest might help revive her energy, so she moved rocks and sticks away from where she sat and lay back on the hard ground. As her eyes drifted shut, she wondered briefly if Cisco had arrived at the ranch, and how he’d react to her being gone. Since he’d pretty much blown her off this morning, would he even care?

  Chapter Twelve

  Thunder rumbled overhead in an ominously black sky. Raindrops pelted the truck’s front window, hard but intermittent for now. Cisco knew that wouldn’t last. Any minute he expected the heavens to open up and drench the land in one of the intense spring thunderstorms this part of the country was known for. He had to find Delaney before that happened.

  He’d spent the morning retooling the presentation he planned to give to Alden Moore and Kent Stephens this afternoon. Based on the concerns about Cowboy Country that reverberated throughout Horseback Hollow, Cisco was making a case to upgrade the theme and design of the development to make the condos less hokey cowboy and pay more homage to authentic Western history. There was certainly enough of that around town and in the region to draw on for inspiration.

  He’d even contacted the firm tasked with drawing plans for the condos to see how they felt about incorporating the changes. The architect in charge had been all for it, and Cisco believed this was his chance to turn his real estate plans into something that even the most cynical Fortune could appreciate. At the very least he thought it would make Delaney happy.

  Guilt ate at him now because he hadn’t been with her this morning. Deke had told him she’d insisted on riding out by herself, and the craggy rancher’s unspoken censure had told Cisco that the fault for that lay squarely on his shoulders.

  The walkie-talkie on the seat next to him crackled as one of the ranch hands checked in with the search party. No one had spotted Delaney yet. Her horse had just returned to the barn with no rider when Cisco’d arrived. Deke had spared no time in organizing all available men to go after her. Some rode out on horseback. A couple took one of the ranch’s ATVs. Cisco had grabbed a walkie-talkie from Deke and taken off in his truck. He could cover more ground driving, although there were places on the ranch he couldn’t reach. He only hoped Delaney had been able to make it to one of the open areas where she’d be easier to spot. She was strong and knew her way around the land, two things that would work to her advantage—assuming she wasn’t hurt or in real trouble.

  The fear that shot through him at that thought had him punching the gas pedal. He leaned forward over the steering wheel to scan the area. As the rain turned to a fine drizzle, a flicker of color caught his eye far in the distance. He slowed the truck, then grabbed the binoculars Deke had handed him on his way out of the barn and trained his view to the spot ahead. After a few seconds of focusing, Delaney came into view, slowly walking in his direction with the lost calf tied to a rope behind her.

  Cisco traded the binoculars for the walkie-talkie and radioed in to Deke that he’d found her and would meet everyone back at the barn. Because of the uneven terrain, his pace in the truck was slow. Eventually he got close enough that she spotted him, waving her hands above her head while he beeped the horn in response.

  When he came to a ravine too deep for the truck to cross, he went the rest of the way on foot, moving as fast as he could through the underbrush that covered this part of the property.

  She gave him a small, tired smile as he got close. “Fancy meeting you—” she started to say, but Cisco grabbed her up into a tight hug, and she buried her face in his neck, her hands fisting in his shirt.

  “Delaney,” he whispered, “are you okay? What happened? I can’t believe I wasn’t here.”

  “If you put me down, I’ll explain,” she said, her breath soft on his throat. “But...um...Cisco, I kind of can’t breathe with you holding on so tight.”

  He forced himself to release her, placing her gently back down on the ground. “When I got to the ranch, your horse had just returned to the barn without you.”

  “Good boy,” she said. “That’s what I hoped he’d do.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I found the calf and had gone over to secure him but ended up between a feral hog mama and her babies. She spooked Flapjack, and he took off. Unfortunately, my walkie-talkie was still in the saddlebag.”

  Cisco cupped his hands over her cheeks, smoothing a stray hair away from her jaw. “I should have been with you.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “You had a meeting to prepare for.”

  “It’s not as important as you. Nothing is as important as you.” The realization hit him like a leaded weight. His career was all he’d cared about for most of his adult life, but work no longer meant a thing if it compromised Delaney in the process.

  “You’re here now,” she offered, always willing to see the best in him even if he didn’t deserve it. “You came to find me.”

  His heart squeezed when a single tear tracked down her face. She was so beautiful to him, so precious
. He’d stayed in Horseback Hollow to make a deal but had discovered something more important in the process.

  The calf standing behind her let out a plaintive bleat, reminding Cisco that they had the current reality to deal with before he could really talk to her. Despite her smile, Delaney was clearly exhausted. He needed to get her and the calf back to the ranch.

  He couldn’t resist lifting her fingers to his lips. Her delicate hands fascinated him, and he longed to give her body the same sweet attention all over. Then he noticed the red scrape down the side of her forearm.

  “You’re hurt.” He took a step away and saw that her jeans were ripped at the knee. A raw, angry cut slashed across her skin.

  “Just a few scratches.” She held up her arm for inspection. “I twisted my ankle a bit, too. I hope we won’t have to cut off my boot. They’re my favorite pair.”

  Anger flared bright inside him, anger at himself that he hadn’t been with her on this ride. She’d been hurt and he knew much of the blame lay with him. Certainly Deke Jones would think that.

  “I’m going to take care of you, Delaney.” He took the rope from her hand and scooped her up, one arm behind her back and the other at her knees.

  She gave a startled squeak. “I appreciate the gesture,” she said quickly as he began to move. “But I can handle it and I’m not sure the calf has enough strength left to walk. You should put me down and try him if you’re really looking to be a hero.”

  “First things first.” Cisco dropped the rope and continued toward the truck. He could feel Delaney watching him but kept his gaze trained on the ground in front of them. No need for both of them to go down. He also didn’t quite trust himself to look at her or speak. Too much emotion jumbled around inside of him.

  He maneuvered the passenger-side door open and with as much care as possible deposited Delaney on the seat. He turned to go back for the calf, but she reached out and smoothed her fingers along his face.

  They trailed to the back of his neck as she pulled him forward and placed a soft kiss on his mouth. “You’re my hero,” she whispered.

  The emotion in her eyes made anything he had to give up professionally to be with this woman worth the sacrifice.

  At that moment a huge crack of thunder reverberated through the sky and lightning flashed on the horizon. Rain began to pound the earth in earnest, so Cisco shut the door to the truck and ran as fast as he could back to the calf, hefting the animal into his arms as he made his way to the truck again. Deke had thrown an old barn blanket in the back bed. The poor baby was so fatigued that it practically collapsed onto the heavy flannel. Cisco arranged the calf as best he could before the rain turned into a downpour, then rushed to climb behind the wheel.

  Delaney was speaking to her father on the walkie-talkie as he started the engine.

  “Yes, Daddy, I’m fine,” she told Deke. “We should be home in about twenty minutes. Tell Mama I love her.”

  “He was really worried,” Cisco said as she turned off the walkie-talkie and set it on the console between them. He wiped his sleeve across his drenched face, then took her hand in his. “We all were.”

  “I can take care of myself,” Delaney said.

  “I know you can,” he answered. “Doesn’t stop the worry.”

  After a moment she scooted close enough to lay her head on his shoulder. “I could get used to you worrying about me, Mr. Mendoza.”

  Her simple pronouncement melted his heart. “I sure hope so.”

  * * *

  Although the ride back to the ranch was bumpy, Delaney almost fell asleep on Cisco’s shoulder. It felt so right to lean on him for support. As the baby of her family, Delaney had spent a lot of time in life trying to prove she could hold her own, so it was a nice change to let someone else be strong.

  She’d always thought that relying on a man would make her feel weak, the way she did sometimes with her brothers. But it seemed natural to let Cisco take care of her. The fact that he’d been so worried and then grateful when he found her gave her confidence that he returned her feelings, even if neither of them had spoken the words out loud.

  She wanted to change that, but as they pulled closer to the house, she realized it would have to wait. The rain had stopped, so her parents were waiting in the driveway. As soon as the car stopped, Jeanne Marie hurried toward her door. Delaney climbed out, stiff from her fall and the subsequent hike across the pastures now that the adrenaline had worn off. Her body ached from head to toe and while she tried not to put much weight on the ankle she’d twisted, she was grateful for her mother’s warm embrace.

  “You gave us such a fright,” Jeanne Marie whispered. “Thank heavens you’re safe.”

  “I’ve sent some of the guys out there to trap that feral hog and her babies.” Her father stood a few steps behind her mother. His face was a solid mask of strength, but Delaney could see emotion burning in his eyes. “I thought we had them under control on the property but it’s a constant battle.”

  “It’s okay, Daddy.” She stepped away from her mother toward the back of the truck. “The calf’s going to need a lot of help. From what I can tell, he’s severely dehydrated.”

  Deke looked relieved to have someplace productive to put his attention. “I’m proud of you, Delaney, for how you handled today.”

  The compliment from her normally tight-lipped father made Delaney’s throat squeeze with emotion. “You were right, though. I shouldn’t have gone all the way out there alone.”

  “It all turned out well.” Her father patted her arm as he slid by her, a huge display of affection from Deke Jones. “That’s what counts.”

  “Let’s get you in the house,” Jeanne Marie said, keeping her arm around Delaney’s shoulders.

  She glanced over her shoulder to where Cisco stood near the side of the truck. “I’ll help your dad settle the calf, then come and check on you.”

  Delaney nodded and let her mother lead her toward the ranch house. Her braid stuck to the back of her neck thanks to the post-rain humidity clinging to the air. She struggled on the front steps a bit and her mother leaned in closer.

  “I can do it, Mama. The stairs are just a bit tricky. My ankle needs a rest.”

  “Every part of you needs a rest and I’m going to make sure you get it.” Jeanne Marie opened the door and helped Delaney through the front of the house to the couch in the cozy den. “We’ll start here and then you can head upstairs for a shower when you’re feeling up to it.” She stepped back, her gaze focusing on Delaney’s injuries. “Do I need to call the doctor?”

  “Definitely not,” Delaney told her, leaning her head back on a sofa cushion. “I got a little banged up when I fell.” After a moment she sat up again. “But I could use some help with my boots.”

  “I can do that.” Cisco appeared behind her mother. “Deke sent me in here to check on Delaney.”

  Jeanne Marie turned and gave him a quick hug. “Thank you so much for finding our girl. If you’ll stay with her awhile longer, I’m going to get the first-aid kit and put on a pot of tea.”

  “Of course,” he answered. “I’ll take good care of her.”

  “I know you will.” Jeanne Marie patted Cisco’s arm, then came forward to drop a gentle kiss on the top of Delaney’s head. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Call if you need anything.”

  As her mother slipped out of the room, Cisco walked forward a few steps. “It kills me to see you like this. If you want to go upstairs, I can carry you so you don’t have to take the steps with your ankle.”

  “It’s fine,” she whispered. The thought of Cisco carrying her up to her bedroom, even for the most innocent reasons, left her breathless.

  His eyes darkened even more and he shook his head, as if reminding himself to stay focused. “We need to deal with the boots.”

  She bit down on her lip and nod
ded. “I can manage the first one.”

  She started to lean forward but he dropped to his knees in front of her. “Lean back.” He gave her shoulder a gentle push. “You’ve done enough today.” This was the second time he’d knelt in front of her and again it made Delaney feel a bit like a princess. She never would have pegged herself for the fairy-tale type, but she was loving Cisco’s attention.

  He pulled off the first boot with ease, but as he tugged at the second, Delaney gave a muffled cry as white-hot pain radiated up her leg. Her hand flew to cover her mouth. “It’s okay,” she said through her fingers. “I’ll be fine.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you.” Cisco’s mouth was set in a grim line. He gently touched her ankle through the leather, then set her foot on the couch and straightened. “I’ll be right back.”

  As he disappeared out of the room, Delaney’s eyes closed. She wiped the sweat from her brow with one sleeve. She didn’t want to be a wimp, but the pressure on her ankle when he moved the boot was almost too much to stand.

  Cisco walked back in a few minutes later, carrying a tray that held a tall glass of water, several washcloths and a bag of ice, plus a plate of her mother’s chocolate chip cookies.

  “Again my hero,” Delaney told him with a smile.

  “It’s all Jeanne Marie.” He set the tray on the coffee table and held out the glass. “Would you be more comfortable with your mother taking care of you? I can let her take over if that’s what you want.”

  You’re what I want, Delaney thought to herself, but answered, “This is fine.” She tried to take the water from him, but his fingers remained curled around hers as he tipped the glass to her mouth. The water was refreshing and cooled her parched throat. As she pulled away, Cisco traced his thumb across her bottom lip, capturing a droplet of water. Delaney coughed as she swallowed, so shocked by the intimacy of his touch.

  “Sorry,” he said with a sheepish smile as he patted her between the shoulders. “I shouldn’t distract you.”