by Scott, Tori
She'd love to spend the summer here. She could help take care of Charlie and Katie; she could help feed and care for the livestock. It would give her some practical experience. But she knew Logan would never give her the chance to show him what she could do.
For some reason he'd avoided her after dinner, staying outside until dark, then closing himself into the study until after she'd gone to bed. What was up with that?
She threw the covers back and climbed out of bed. The view beyond the window drew her, and she leaned on the sill as her gaze swept the nearest pasture. Blue bounded through the grass, probably in pursuit of a rabbit. A movement at the fence in the distance caught her attention and she watched as Logan stood, placed a hand at the small of his back, then bent over and lifted a roll of barbed wire.
Poor guy. He obviously wasn't used to hard labor. Mending fences wasn't easy to do alone. She'd done her share growing up, helping out on her aunt and uncle's small acreage when she stayed with them for the summer, but always with her uncle by her side.
The thought of spending the day with the local vet disappeared in favor of helping Logan. She hurried though her morning routine, dressed in the jeans she'd brought with her and the boots and long-sleeved shirt Carol had loaned her, and lathered sunscreen on her face and hands.
In the kitchen, Carol was setting out her soap-making supplies. She looked up and smiled when Megan walked in. "Good Morning. I hope you slept well."
"Perfectly. That bed is wonderful." Megan picked a biscuit off the plate on the counter, sliced it, and stuck a piece of sausage in the middle. "How's Charlie this morning?"
Carol turned the fire down on the stove and set a large kettle over the flame. "He seems better today. I used the blender like you suggested and fed him eggs and biscuits and gravy. He ate it without a fuss."
"That's good. If you don't need any help, I thought I'd go help Logan with the fence."
Carol frowned. "I don't know if he'll let you. He has pretty old-fashioned ideas about what women should and shouldn't do. But, then again, he needs an attitude adjustment and you just might be the one to help with that." She went into the mud room and came back with a broad-brimmed hat and leather gloves. "Wear these or he'll send you back to the house for sure."
Megan pulled the gloves on and settled the hat on her head with a grin. "He'll have a hard time making me leave. I've got enough Irish in me to make a mule look cooperative."
CHAPTER FOUR
Megan crossed the field at a leisurely pace, soaking up the early morning sun and watching the antics of the birds in the Juniper trees that provided a windbreak for the house. Blue joined her as she neared the fence and she bent over to scratch his ears and accept the paw he offered. "You're a real sweetheart, aren't you, boy? Someone's taken the time to teach you some manners, too."
"Katie taught him a few tricks the last time she was here."
Logan's deep voice rumbled through her, sending shivers up her spine. She tilted her head back and found him standing close behind her. "Good morning. I didn't hear you sneak up behind me."
"I don't sneak. What are you all decked out for?"
"I came out to help you with the fence."
A scowl marred his tanned brow and his fists clenched.
She lifted her chin. "Before you say no, let me tell you I've done it before and I know what to do. I'm dressed properly, I won't get in your way, and together we'll get it done in half the time."
"No." He turned and headed back toward the fence.
Megan's jaw dropped before the anger hit. How dare he turn his back on her and walk away without any kind of explanation? She stomped after him, cursing his chauvinistic soul as she went. She'd thought that breed of men had died out, but evidently there was one left. And his name was Logan Tanner.
By the time she caught up with him at the fence, her shirt was plastered to her body. Sweat trickled down her back in itchy rivulets. Without a word, she grabbed a pair of pliers and a screwdriver from his back pocket and picked up the sack of fence ties. As she deftly twisted the ties around the barbed wire and fence posts, she grumbled about men who tried to do a job without the proper tools.
Logan stretched the next piece of wire as tight as he could by hand, then used a hammer to twist the wire until it was tight. "You're the one who wanted to help. So why are you complaining?"
Megan wiped her forehead with the back of one dirty hand. "I'm not complaining. But I don't understand why you don't invest in the equipment you need to do this properly. It would save you a lot of hours in the long run."
He tied off the wire and started on the next row. "I'm just patching, not re-fencing the entire place. Anyway, Dad's got the fancy stuff in the barn. I just don't know how to use it."
"Oh." Megan didn't know what to say to that. She wiped her forehead with her sleeve, then looked around to see if Logan had any water with him. She saw the jug in the back of an old, beat-up pickup and walked over to get a drink.
"Why don't you go back to the house? It's too hot for you to be out here." Logan joined her at the truck and poured a cup of water for himself.
"I can handle it." She wasn't some hothouse flower who couldn't stand a little work. Her size seemed to make men think she needed someone to take care of her, but she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.
"Maybe you can, but I don't have time to haul you to the hospital if you have a heat stroke." He set the cup in the bed of the truck and went back to the fence.
Megan bit down on a burst of temper and went back to work. Logan frowned and reached for the loose piece of wire to stretch it to the next post.
He bit out a curse when he caught his arm on a barb and blood seeped through the hole in his shirt.
"Oh, let me see that." Megan reached for his arm, but he jerked away.
"Don't worry about it. It's just a scratch."
"Scratches on a farm can be dangerous. Have you had a tetanus shot recently?"
"Yes. I said don't worry about it. It's nothing."
Megan backed off, not willing to push him to the point that he'd send her back to the house. She'd tend to the wound later, when she had his sister to back her up. She'd noticed that Carol seemed to be able to get him to do whatever she asked. Maybe she should ask her for pointers.
They worked in silence for another hour. Logan strung the wire and Megan followed along behind, tying it to the posts. By the time they finished, they were hot, sweaty, and covered in red dust.
"Go on back to the house and cool off." Logan wiped the sweat off his forehead with a dusty bandana and settled his hat more firmly on his head. Realizing how abrupt he sounded, he said, "Thank you for the help."
"You're welcome. What are you going to do next?"
He watched as Megan gathered up scraps of barbed wire and discarded ties. He had to admit she was a hard worker. And she looked kind of cute with red dust on the butt of her jeans. And a fine, nicely rounded butt at that.
But damn it, couldn't she just do as she was told? She needed to get out of the sun before her ivory skin blistered. Not that she'd left much of it exposed. "I need to go check on Black Bertha. She's due to drop her calf any minute."
"I'm coming with you."
"No, you're not. You need to cool off before you have a heat stroke." Women. They didn't have the sense God gave an ant.
"Logan, quit repeating yourself. I'm a vet. I may not have much field experience, but I can help if she's having problems."
Frustration warred with practicality. It was Bertha's first calf and he knew there could be trouble. Hell, he was a software architect and game designer, not a farmer. At least, not anymore. He knew next to nothing about pulling a calf if it became necessary. But his need to protect her demanded that he send her to the house.
Practicality won. "Fine. You can check her over, but if there aren't any problems I want you in the house drinking iced tea without any more arguments."
"Agreed. Let's go."
He whistled for Blue and pi
cked up the leftover roll of wire. Heat rolled across the pasture in shimmering waves as they walked to the barn. God, what he wouldn't give for his air-conditioned office right now.
He walked behind Megan, watching the gentle sway of her hips in the form-fitting blue jeans. When she bent over to rub Blue's head, he couldn't help but think there was something to be said for the view out here. Something he didn't often see from his tenth floor office.
***
They heard Bertha before they reached the barn. The lowing cry, the sound of a hoof crashing against wood, sent Megan running, Logan and Blue close behind. She yanked the door open and ran inside without, as far as Logan could tell, a single thought for caution.
"Megan, wait. She could be dangerous. She's not dehorned and she's probably terrified."
"She's in trouble. I don't think she's in any condition to hurt me." She eased into the stall, crooning to the heifer as she moved to her side. "It's okay, baby. I'm here to help. We'll have that calf out in no time."
Black Bertha rolled her eyes and thrashed her head, the sharp horns coming dangerously close to Megan's head.
"Watch out!" Logan's heart pounded as the heifer made another swipe with her horns, almost catching Megan's arm as she reached out to stroke its neck. "Forget it, Megan. She's too dangerous to mess with. Just let it go."
Megan looked up, her glare hot enough to set his hair on fire. "If I don't help her, she'll die, or the calf will. You can either help or leave, but please just shut up."
Logan rocked back on his heels and stared at her. She stared right back, lifting her stubborn little chin as thought daring him to open his mouth. Shocked at the change from sweet, southern lady to determined, take-charge female, he did as she'd ordered.
***
Megan peeled off her rubber gloves and draped then over a bench, then took Logan's outstretched hand so he could pull her to her feet.
He turned her to face him and pushed a few straggly strands of hair behind her ear. "Thank you for helping her. I wouldn't have had a clue what to do."
"Yes, you would. You grew up on this farm. Surely you've done this before." He was close enough that she could feel his radiant heat, could smell the combination of hay and sweat that, to her, was more appealing than the most expensive cologne.
He put an arm around her shoulder and started toward the house. "Of course I've seen calves born, but whenever Dad suspected trouble, he'd deal with it alone or call the vet."
"Well, I'm glad I was here. She's a beautiful animal, and so is her baby. It would have been a shame to lose them." She looked at her blood-splattered shirt. "Now I need to find a sink and clean up before Carol sees what I did to the shirt she loaned me."
A slow smile spread across Logan's face. "I have a better idea."
***
The pond beckoned, cool and inviting. But Megan was wearing jeans and boots, and that didn't seem like the best swim suit. "Um, what am I supposed to wear in there?"
Logan gave her a wicked grin. "Whatever you want to wear, or not wear, is fine with me." He whistled for Blue, who bounded into the water. With a wink at Megan, he unbuckled his belt, shed his boots and socks, then started to unzip his jeans.
Feeling a tell-tale blush rising, Megan turned her back. When she heard a splash, she turned back around. "I'm not coming in there if you're skinny dipping."
Logan laughed. "I'm not. I'm wearing boxers. Good as any swimsuit." He ducked under the surface and came back up, shaking the moisture from his hair in sparkling droplets that danced in the sun.
The water looked so inviting, she yearned to join him.
Finally settling on wearing her shirt and underwear, she retreated to the trees to remove her jeans and boots. Self-conscious, she made her way back to the pond. Logan never looked away as she stepped into the water.
She moved to the middle of the pool, a few feet away from him, and dipped her head under the water. She came up with a contented sigh. "This is pure heaven."
"Feels good after being so hot and sweaty, but I prefer a clear, concrete swimming pool where I can see the bottom." He moved toward her, his gaze steady on hers. "But this one looks much better with you in it."
Megan felt the heat rising inside in spite of the cool water. It was just like her dream, except they were wearing too many clothes. She took a step toward him.
Blue swam between them, splashing water in her face with his wagging tail. Okay, she'd forgotten about the chaperone.
Logan shook his head and laughed. "Saved by the dog. For now."
***
Megan dressed in the shelter of the trees, thinking about Logan's words. What had she been saved from? A kiss? Another dunking? She'd prefer the kiss. But Logan hadn't made any other moves toward her. He'd played with Blue for a few minutes, then suggested they head back to the house.
The sun was high overhead and it was blazing hot. She was ready for that glass of iced tea and air-conditioned house Logan harped on so much. She pulled on her jeans, socks, and boots, then ran her fingers through her hair to untangle the wet strands. When she felt his hands in her hair, she leaned her head back and looked up.
"You have beautiful hair. Like the sunset, all reds and golds." He combed his fingers through it, sending shivers up her spine. He gathered her hair into his fist and turned her to face him. "Tell me now if you don't want me to kiss you."
Instead of answering, she lifted her mouth to his.
Logan lowered his mouth with a groan. He knew he shouldn't kiss her. He should be urging her to get in her car and go back to Dallas, but the temptation was too much. He'd spent the last half-hour watching her as she swam half-dressed, shirt molded to her body, and he realized how much he'd missed kissing a woman, holding her close.
He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms tightly around her until she relaxed against him. He brushed his mouth across hers, a gentle meeting of lips, then waited to see if she would pull back or offer more. Her lips parted on a sigh and she pressed her mouth against his, harder this time. Her small, firm breasts pressed against his chest as she snuggled closer.
He ran his tongue lightly across her bottom lip and she moaned, parting her lips farther in invitation. He delved deeper, exploring the sweetness of her mouth, the smooth surface of her teeth. His hands roamed up and down her back, over her hips, aligning her body with his.
They heard Katie's approach when Blue barked a greeting and she called out to him. They broke apart only moments before she stepped into the stand of trees and saw them.
"Hey, I thought I'd never find you guys. Lunch is ready."
Logan walked over and rubbed the top of Katie's head. "Good. We're starving. We just took a dip to clean off the dust, then we were heading up to the house." He kept up a constant stream of chatter all the way back, giving Megan time to compose herself before she had to face Carol's eagle eye.
***
When they walked into the kitchen, Carol set a platter of sandwiches on the table, along with ice-filled glasses and a bag of potato chips. "Did you get the fence patched?"
Megan nodded. "And we delivered a big, healthy bull calf."
"You did?" Carol's eyes were wide when she looked at Logan for confirmation. "Was that what happened to my shirt?" She grinned and shook her head. "It's a good thing it was an old one."
"Actually, Megan delivered the calf. I mostly just got in her way," Logan said with a wry grin.
"Good. Be sure to tell Dad. He's been upset today. I think he was worried about Bertha, afraid she'd lose the calf without him there to take care of things." After adding a jar of pickles and a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream to the table, Carol joined them.
"He's having a bad day? I'll go spend some time with him after lunch and see if there's anything I can do. Unless you need help with something else?" Megan looked at Logan.
"No. You go ahead. I'm going to do some computer work this afternoon. Thanks to you, I finished my chores a little early."
Megan grinned and turned her atten
tion to her sandwich. "So, I turned out to be an okay helper, for a girl?"
"Yeah, for a city girl."
She figured that, coming from Logan, was high praise indeed.
***
Megan spent a couple of hours with Charlie, reassuring him that Bertha was fine and Logan was taking good care of the farm. Then she asked about the vaccination schedules and birth records for the herd. When she learned there were only three calves that needed shots, she decided she could handle the vaccinations by herself.
After Carol assured her that she wasn't needed in the house, Megan headed for the barn. She found the medications in the storeroom's refrigerator and took out the ones she needed. Then she picked up a sack of disposable needles from the shelf and headed for the pasture.
Blue appeared at her side as soon as she climbed through the barbed wire fence. "Hello, boy. Did you come to round up the calves for me?" She looked around for a good one to start with and decided to go for the smallest one, who was sleeping off by himself under a tree. As she approached, the calf stood up, bawled, and took off. Blue let out a low, menacing growl.
Megan looked up to see a bull headed her way, head lowered. "Oops." She started to back up when Logan yelled from behind her.
"Blue, head him off."
Blue took off toward the bull and nipped its nose. The bull stopped and glared at the dog, then lowered its head again. Blue moved around to its side, and when the bull turned to face him, he moved again until he had it facing the opposite direction.
"Megan, come here." Logan's voice was low, his voice tense with barely controlled fury and worry. She continued to back toward the fence, never taking her eyes off the bull. When she reached the fence, Logan separated the strands of barbed wire and held them while she climbed through.
"What in blue blazes do you think you're doing?"
Megan lifted her chin and looked him right in the eye, almost daring him to yell at her again. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm trying to vaccinate the calves." For an intelligent man, he sure was dense.
