Christmas Cowboy

by Claire Adams

“She’s a skilled horsewoman, a spark plug with a great personality, and she’s very easy on the eyes. Come on, you care about her, and you know it,” he said.

  “Seriously, Mike. I’m good,” I said.

  “I know you are. Because you’ve had a very beautiful woman living in your house for a while now.”

  “Can I get you another drink?” I asked him.

  “If I say no, will you admit that you like her?”

  “Another beer coming up,” I said.

  Michael laughed at me while I got him another beer. I had too much on my mind to debate with my neighbor on how I felt about Cheyenne. Of course I cared for her; she’d had her life threatened by the dipshit in town who burned her barn down. I helped her out because Tiffany had devoted so much of her time to Cheyenne’s cause, and I could get behind it too. Sure, we’d had to hide her being at Smith Ranch so she could keep her grants, but she’d do the same for Tif and me if we needed help like that.

  In a heartbeat, she would. I was just returning the favor I knew she’d do us.

  “Things going well since you reopened?” Michael asked.

  “No sprung leaks, no major issues, no clogged pipes. I think we’re back in business.”

  “That’s good,” he said. “Have you ever thought about someone coming after this place?”

  “What?”

  “Think about it. If your girlfriend was right about people around her being targets, then it’s plausible that they would eventually come after this place.”

  “She said something along those same lines this morning,” I said.

  “She’s not crazy. It’s a logical train of thought,” he said.

  My silence told him everything he needed to know.

  “You thought she was crazy. Don’t tell me you told her you thought she was crazy.”

  “Holy shit, I’m not that stupid,” I said through my grin. “I just don’t think it would’ve happened.”

  “Did you think someone would try to burn down your barn?” Michael asked.

  “Have I mentioned that arguing with you is a pain in the ass?”

  “Welcome to my past life. I just can’t shake it sometimes,” he said.

  “Just drink your beer and shut up.”

  I continued to work the bar and help with the wait staff until we closed up that night. I went back over all the plumbing and piping one last time before I decided to go home, settling my mind that things were on track for now. I still thought we should do the fundraiser at the Iron Stallion instead of at the house, but if doing it at the house made Cheyenne alright with the fact that I wasn’t canceling, then so be it. If anything, that fundraiser was the only argument I had to get her to stay, and I wasn’t going down without a fight.

  I shut everything down and then got in my truck. Michael’s suggestion that someone could come after the restaurant had set me to worrying. Hearing it from a panicked Cheyenne seemed a little insane, but hearing it from my neighbor who was outside the situation was another story. I pulled away, then circled back, and parked at a distance and sat there for a while, waiting to see if I saw any shadows moving. A few squirrels and bats caught my eye, but after sitting for an hour, I took a deep breath and fired up my truck.

  As I drove back toward the ranch, I couldn’t get Cheyenne out of my mind. I wanted to try calling her again, but I knew it was well past midnight, and I’d probably wake her up if I did. Part of me wanted to drive by her sanctuary and knock on her door, but part of me knew I was hovering for a variety of reasons.

  And none of them had to do with making sure Cheyenne was alright.

  I knew she’d be okay. She was strong and independent, and it was one of the things that drew me to her in the first place. Always busy doing something, always busy fixing something, and always busy moving forward with something in her life. She’d be fine wherever she went. That wasn’t why I wanted to go over.

  It wasn’t even why I wanted to call.

  I wanted to do all these things because I didn’t want her to forget. About how I knew she felt when she was in my arms and how warm and comforting our bodies were to one another. I didn’t want her to forget the night of passion we shared when she finally let down her wall with me. I didn’t want her to forget that I wasn’t the bastard that broke her heart, and I didn’t want her to forget that I was here.

  For her. Whenever she needed me.

  But instead, I just drove home. I went upstairs and took a hot shower, washing away the terrible day I’d had. I looked out the window to check on the barn one last time, knowing I’d have to pick up the slack around here until Tiffany was on her feet.

  Reaching for my alarm clock, I set it for three instead of four, and I fell into bed.

  Chapter 27

  Cheyenne

  I knew I was avoiding Colt, and I hated myself for it. A large part of me missed him. I woke up in my bed the first morning I had been back at the sanctuary and felt this longing ache in the pit of my stomach. I had gotten used to rolling over and having Colt’s strong body there to reassure me I was safe, and getting up that first morning and going to the barn without anyone in the house reminded me why Colt wanted to teach me how to fire a gun.

  I suddenly felt naked, exposed to danger, with no weapon I could go grab out of the closet.

  Every time the phone rang, I knew who it was. I was contacting people in the surrounding areas about taking the horses I had that needed rehabilitation, but so far only Michael told me he was still taking a horse. All the neighboring farms and sanctuaries in other counties were full, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. I couldn’t pass them off to owners yet; they were still too skittish. But I couldn’t keep them. They were in danger every single second they stayed in my care.

  I wouldn’t lose another horse because of the target on my back.

  I knew that if I returned to my home, the target would come with me. Colt would no longer be in danger, and his own animals would be safe, which meant the trouble would just come back to my barn. I’d survived a burned down barn, so I knew I could deal with anything else they threw my way.

  I wasn’t going to be open much longer anyway, so what was the point of destroying another barn in the process?

  I knew I’d made the right decision, even if Colt didn’t think so. I knew he wanted to protect me and keep me close, but right now keeping me close was harming his farm and his family. For all I knew, they’d come after the Iron Stallion, and I’d never be able to forgive myself if someone did. I knew Colt thought I was insane; I saw his eyes as I was backing out of his driveway. But I’d made up my mind. I couldn’t stay around these horses, I couldn’t stay around Colt, and if I wanted any kind of a normal life, I couldn’t stay here.

  And that was simply that.

  I’d finished taking care of the horses for the day, and I locked the barn down before I came inside. I couldn’t help but eat my dinner on the porch so I could keep an eye on everything, and when I sat my plate off to the side, I started rocking on the porch. I felt my eyelids getting heavy, and I tried to keep myself awake, but eventually, I dozed off.

  The sound of tires coming up the gravel driveway shook me awake. Oh, God. The arsonist was back. The truck slowed down when coming around the corner, and I saw someone looking out at the barn. I ran inside and grabbed a knife from the kitchen counter, but when I ran back to the porch, I realized the truck had pulled all the way up to my garage.

  And I recognized the truck instantly.

  “Whatcha butchering tonight?”

  “Colt! Damnit, you scared the hell out of me,” I said with a sigh. “I thought you were the arsonist. Why in the world did you slow down by my barn? And what are you doing here so late?”

  “I’m sorry I scared you. I slowed down by the barn to make sure no one was out there, and I’m here because I wanted to check up on you. You’re not answering your phone.”

  “Well, I’ve been busy,” I said.

  “Uh huh. Shall we take this knife fight inside?” he
asked.

  “Oh, sorry.”

  I walked into the house and felt him close on my heels. I put the knife away and put on a pot of coffee, knowing I wouldn’t get much sleep tonight anyway because I’d be sitting out on my porch all night making sure nothing happened to my barn.

  “How was work?” I asked.

  “How’re you doing, Cheyenne?”

  “My question first.”

  “But you’re the lady,” he said, through a grin.

  “I’m doing alright. How was work?” I asked again.

  “Work is just fine. I’m not canceling the fundraiser.”

  “I’m glad. Wait. What?”

  “I’m not canceling the fundraiser,” he said again.

  “The fundraiser is pointless, Colt, and you know it,” I said.

  “It’s going be held at my house, and Michael will spread the word to people who support you in this town. Tif and I are still gonna throw it, if only to show you the support you still have around here.”

  “There’s no support in a town that burns down barns, Colt,” I said.

  “And that’s why I’m still throwing the fundraiser. To show you how wrong you are about that.”

  “Whatever. It’s not my call. I’m still rehoming the horses,” I said. He wasn’t talking me out of my plan, no matter what he tried to pull. I’d made up my mind. This town had chewed me up and spat me out, and I knew when my presence and expertise were no longer wanted. I could sell the sanctuary and open up shop somewhere else.

  Somewhere that wasn’t built on corruption and actually appreciated my skills.

  “Michael said he’s looking forward to your phone call whenever you’ve got the paperwork ready.”

  “When did you talk to Michael?” I asked.

  “Last night at the bar. He came in, and we talked for a while.”

  “So, do you think he really wants the horse, or he just doesn’t know how to tell me he changed his mind?” I asked.

  “Of course he wants it. He doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who can’t say what he means. I think he’s a straight shooter. We also talked about how I could catch the asshat going around doing all this stuff.”

  “You gonna do the sheriff’s job now?” I asked.

  “If that’s what it takes. I’m getting security cameras. They’ll record all the time and be installed around the house and the barns by the end of the week. They’ll be hooked up to my computer so I can see the feed anytime I want. I’m going catch who’s doing this, Cheyenne.”

  “I’m sure you will, Colt,” I said.

  “Cheyenne. Look, I don’t want you to go.”

  “And neither do I! Do you think I want to leave you and Tif behind? I don’t want to leave the life I built after Dexter and all that bullshit! I don’t want to be chased out of another town because of circumstances beyond my control. But Colt, they burned down my barn, killed my horse, tried to burn down your barn, and all that tells me that the snake and the spiders and who knows what else weren’t accidents!”

  Colt got up and took my shoulders, and I instantly felt rooted to the floor. It was like his electrifying touch had a mesmerizing hold over me, and I’d forgotten just how soothing it was. How grounding it felt to have his skin pressed against mine. Even if it was just his hands.

  “Then let me throw this fundraiser for you. It’ll buy me some time to catch this jackass, which will mean that you can stay. Just give me that much, Cheyenne. Please.”

  “Every minute I stay—”

  “Is one more minute I get with you,” he said. “I’ll come by every day if you want me to. I’ll check on you in the evenings after work, even if it’s just a drive-by before I go home, and we’ll get you through this. Green Point shines brighter with you in it, Cheyenne. It’s just a natural truth.”

  I lost myself in his eyes with every word that came from his lips. His words sounded so good caressing my ears, and all of me desperately wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe I could stay, that the horses would no longer be targets and that I could keep up on my bills. I wanted to believe things could go back to normal and that Tif would heal and come back to the barn and Colt and I would fall asleep in each other’s arms every night.

  But I just couldn’t see a way out of all this. It all seemed so tangled and messy, and I had no way to unravel this knotted ball of yarn that had become my life.

  “I’m not ready to let you go, Cheyenne,” he said with a rumble. “I’m just not.”

  I could feel his breath pulsing against my lips, and it shocked me to realize how close we were standing. His hands had dropped to my waist, and my hands had migrated to his chest, pressing into his muscles while his breath caressed my skin.

  “Have Thanksgiving with Tiffany and I, okay? It’s coming up soon, and it’ll give you a reason for a little celebration amidst all this mess.”

  His lips were hovering above mine, and all I wanted to do was close the gap. My eyes were dancing all along his face, but his were steady and intent on my reaction. My body was gravitating towards his, and his hands had slid to the small of my back, pulling my pelvis against him.

  And I could feel his cock growing against my body.

  “Okay,” I said, whispering. “I could do that.”

  I stood onto my toes, closed the gap between our lips, and felt the whole of his strength pull me deep into his body. My back arched with the fire of his lips while I wrapped my arms around his neck. His feet carried me backward, and my hips slammed against the counter. I didn’t have even a second to correct our trajectory before he hoisted me up onto the edge of the counter.

  His lips released mine and trailed down my cheek, but when he licked his tongue along the pulse point of my neck, I could feel myself give way to him. My hands shot to his belt buckle and made quick work of it, shoving his pants down to his knees. When his cock sprang free, I wrapped my hand tightly around it.

  “Oh, Chey,” he said, groaning.

  I pumped my hand up and down his cock while his hands flew up my back. He expertly undid my bra before he pulled my shirt off my body and my breasts swung free for him to behold. His lips wrapped around my pert nipple while my hand squeezed his growing dick, throbbing as he suckled my breast he took.

  “Colt. Yes.”

  His hands slipped my jeans and panties down over my hips, and when I kicked them off, he spread my legs open as wide as they would go. He released my nipple with a pop, and I dropped my hand from his dick. When he pulled me to the edge of the counter, I wrapped my hands around his shoulders.

  His raging cock teased my entrance, sliding around in my wetness before he finally drove into me, and his lips captured mine as he pressed into my body. My hands tangled themselves in his hair, and my body trembled with each inch that penetrated my body, yielding to him. Then, his hips began to slowly roll into mine, causing me to wrap my legs around his waist and draw him in close.

  “Jesus,” he said breathlessly. “You feel so good.”

  I leaned back onto my hands and thrust my breasts out for him. He took them in his hands before he traced his tongue around the outline of my nipples. His hips pumped harder into mine, and my body jumped with every thrust he snapped against my body. Soon my entire kitchen was filled with the scent of our pumping bodies. His sculpted muscles glistened with every drop of sweat that cascaded down the valleys of his body.

  “Don’t you dare stop,” I begged. “Please. Don’t. Stop.”

  “Never,” he said.

  He released my breasts and dug his hands into my hips as his assault picked up its pace. My body bounced for him, and my walls clamped down around his throbbing cock. The moment I unraveled my legs from his body, I felt my pleasure begin to build. My nipples burned, and my pelvis sizzled. My body shook with every pump he took towards my body, writhing and shaking as he filled me to the brim.

  “I’m so close. Oh, God,” he said.

  He buried himself deep into me, and I finally met my end. I threw my arms around his neck,
and he cloaked my back with his, our bodies reveling in their mutual pleasure as he pumped my body full of his essence. I panted for air and peppered the crook of his neck with kisses, and when his hands began massaging the small of my back, I knew I’d made a mistake.

  I knew I wouldn’t be able to leave him behind in this town so I could run off into the sunset.

  “I can’t let you go,” he whispered into my ear.

  “Then don’t,” I whispered back.

  Chapter 28

  Colt

  “Hey, Colt.”

  “Mike! What’s up?”

  “Could we speak privately in your office?” he asked.

  “Everything alright?”

  “Just got some information you might enjoy,” he said.

  “Alright. Let me finish wiping down this bar for today, and then I’ll meet ya in the office.”

  I was worried when Michael came in and asked to talk in my office. Mike was the kind of guy that always just hopped up to the bar and said whatever he needed to say, then kept his nose out of shit when he needed to back off. It was what I liked about him.

  So when he asked to talk, and privately to boot, I knew he meant business.

  “What’s going on?” I asked. I shut the door behind me and walked over to my desk, and when I sat down, I saw something morph in his face. He went from the laid-back farmer I knew him to be to the ice-cold lawyer I’d always assumed he was. I knew he had a background before he moved here and had dropped everything to become a farmer in a peaceful town, but since things had kicked up, I figured he’d probably done some work.

  But the information he had for me was beyond anything I ever would have been able to find out on my own.

  “I used a few of my old legal contacts to check into Bill,” he said.

  “And?”

  “He’s in an incredible amount of debt. Or, at least he was. Recently, he came into a great deal of cash.”

  “Like a one-time transaction?” I asked.

  “More like repetitive dumps. Enough to pull him out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt and single-handedly fuel the buildup of his farm,” he said.