Undercover Cowboy

by Lynde Lakes

  “Oh, my God. You think it was me the killer was after!” For a moment, her tough façade slipped, and her eyes darkened with a fleeting shadow of fear.

  “There’s that possibility,” he said, as he tried to recover from the backlash of her conclusion. He had to switch her focus. Fast. “It depends on who killed the woman and why. She had no cash, credit cards, or ID. But we’ll find out who she is. Joe promised to come up with a composite drawing of the face from the facial bones in a few days. Once they circulate the likeness around, someone’s bound to know her.”

  “Any idea what the missing bracelet means?”

  Her fixation on the bracelet told Nick that she knew more about it than she was telling. “Do you know something about it?” he asked.

  “Only that it could be important.”

  She lowered her eyes and didn’t quite meet his gaze. She was a lousy liar, but he decided not to call her on it. Guilt nagged at him for not securing the damned thing. But at the time, leaving the scene as he’d found it seemed the wisest thing to do. “I blew it.” He hadn’t meant to say that out loud and the minute the words spilled out of his mouth, he wanted to take them back. He stiffened waiting for her to pounce on them. And she didn’t miss the opportunity.

  “You mess up a lot, don’t you?” she said arching an eyebrow.

  “Damn it. Not before today. But then I haven’t had you to deal with until now.”

  She laughed. “Good comeback.”

  He allowed her sassy words to hang there between them—this time having the good sense to keep his mouth shut.

  After several seconds of silence, she cleared her throat and said, “It isn’t fair that an innocent woman is dead just because she looked like me.” Vulnerability flashed in Sara Jane’s eyes. She quickly looked down as though she didn’t want him to see it.

  Nick felt an overwhelming need to comfort her. If they weren’t on horseback, he would give her a hug. “It’s not that simple,” he said. “Someone went to a lot of trouble to make her look like you, but she was a brunette.”

  He decided against telling Sara Jane about the twenty-three other killings with the same MO. At this point, he didn’t know if the same man had killed this woman or if someone was trying to make it appear that he had. Whether they had two murderers with separate goals and motivations, or one clever killer who knew how to muddy the waters, his job right now centered on protecting Sara Jane. “The sheriff has a real puzzle, and until he solves it, I plan to stick with you like glue.” Nick intended to work on the Honey Case, too, but she didn’t need to know that.

  Debate glinted in her eyes, but he saw her struggling to hold back. Rather than let loose her objections, she frowned and stared at him. He watched her eyes, imagining he could see tiny wheels spinning in her head. Then her chin went up and defiance darkened her baby blues. Nick braced himself.

  “What about the FBI guy from DC?” she asked. “Will he be watching me, too? I’m active and don’t sleep much. I train horses all day. And the nights when the sandman flakes out on me, I go skinny-dipping at Verde Creek.” She arched a wicked eyebrow. “Do you two plan to watch me in shifts, or what?”

  Although Nick had tried to fortify himself for the unexpected, this mood swing, full of suggestive images, took him completely off guard. Was her taunting a cover-up to hide fear? He swore under his breath. Matt had warned him about his daughter’s devilment, but Nick couldn’t get the image of her swimming in the nude out of his head—or stop the heat of desire from flooding through him. He cleared his throat. “I don’t know what the other agent’s job is. But I can handle you alone.” His words tumbled out uncensored, and he regretted them at once.

  She threw back her head and laughed. “Oh, can you now?” Her gaze was steady, the sapphire lights in her eyes mocking. “I haven’t seen any proof of that.”

  “Stick around, baby, you will,” he shot back, but his gut tightened. He kept stepping into her little traps. She was just too quick…too full of mischief. He pressed his fingers to his throbbing head as the burden of the job settled on his shoulders. At least he’d gotten her mind off the horror of the murder for a while—and his off everything but her, damn it.

  He needed a defensive tactic to use against her little schemes. Nick drove a hand into his hair, raking it back from his forehead. “From now on, this is how it has to be: I have to be the one in charge and you have to trust me and do what I say. It’s the only way I work.”

  Fire danced in her eyes. “Let me make this super clear—no one is in charge of me. Besides, trust has to be earned, and you’re a long way from gaining mine.”

  Nick’s stomach knotted—so much for taking the tough approach. “I still need a rundown of your daily routine,” he growled.

  “Don’t have one. I’m sort of a ride-by-the-seat-of-my-jeans woman….” She paused, pure rebellion glinting in her eyes, and gave her bottom a stroke. The way her rump curved into the saddle sent his heart into double time. He swore silently. “Guess you’ll have to play it by instinct,” she continued as though unaware of her effect on him. But she was aware all right—and he knew she was enjoying the hell out of it.

  ****

  Sara Jane hadn’t been able to resist having a little fun with the bossy tenderfoot. Alicia wasn’t the only woman in the family who could give a man a hard time and make him sweat. But it hadn’t worked out as well as she’d hoped. She’d expected to get more information before cutting him loose, but he’d clammed up. Now, there was no point in prolonging the game. She had no intention of losing her freedom to this greenhorn, and she might as well make that clear right now. Doubt washed over her. She’d never had to operate independently on her own and had never before had to face any real danger. Maybe letting Nick hang around wasn’t such a bad idea. She had to admit he was a pretty decent guy. If he were interested in ranching instead of his FBI games, she could even be attracted to his dark good looks. She had discovered other assets, too. Joe and Ed seemed to respect his views about the murder. And Nick had a good heart. When he’d helped Joe ease the body bag onto the equipment horse, he was especially gentle with the corpse. She couldn’t ignore his gallantry either. He’d helped her mount her horse in case the shock of finding the body had made her woozy. She closed her eyes, remembering the waves of warmth as the heat of his hands burned through her jeans. Cut it out! She squared her shoulders and shook off her vacillating and very dangerous feelings.

  Straight away she’d seen how much Nick was like her dad, who loved and protected her to the point of smothering her. She glanced back at her dad. If he saw that Mr. FBI couldn’t handle her, he’d send him packing and save her from…Exactly what, she wasn’t sure. She only knew her feelings for Nick were more risky than whatever trouble plagued their ranch.

  She’d been so caught up in her thoughts that she needed a moment to zero in on landmarks. Mesquite thickets twisted in tangled patches. In the distance lay the familiar cluster of boulders and to the west Entero Cave. The path to Endless Cave was overgrown but passable, and beyond the bramble stretched open land. If she could outdistance Nick and make him think she’d gone inside the cave, he could get lost in there for days. Her stomach knotted and regret washed over her. Well, if he got in her way, he’d have to take the consequences. Sara Jane stroked Demon’s silky black mane, getting him primed. His muscles tensed beneath her and he gave a high-pitched whinny. Tossing his head proudly, he waited for her command.

  Nick looked at Demon, then met Sara Jane’s gaze. His frown deepened. It didn’t worry her that he expected something. The greenhorn wouldn’t be able to catch her even if she gave him a head start. Which she wouldn’t.

  With the sheriff and his men close by, it wasn’t likely that the killer or his bushwhackers would attack again, and her planned route would allow her to see anyone approaching for miles. She just had to get through the short blind area of thick brush and keep her gun handy. “Tell you what,” she said smiling brightly, “if you can keep up with me, you’re my man,
otherwise, eat my dust and pack your bags.” With that, she reined Demon to the right, dug her heels into the horse’s flanks, and headed down a slope almost obscured by the tangle of mesquite. Demon knew this path well. Nick’s mare didn’t.

  ****

  Tensed and ready for anything, Nick called out to Matt to follow them, and then reined Jazgirl down the incline behind Sara Jane. Although he had suspected that she was up to something, he couldn’t believe she’d really taken off by herself after he’d explained the danger. Was she suicidal or what? How could a steady guy like Matt have such a reckless daughter?

  The unfamiliar winding path and sharp mesquite and prickly pear branches forced Nick to go slow. He swore when a hidden limb slapped him in the face. He resolved to be more careful. He refused to rip up Jazgirl’s coat for some spoiled, willful girl. How could a horse trainer take her cherished steed into this snarl? This girl was full of inconsistencies, and he intended to get to the bottom of them. He wasn’t exactly sure how, but Sara Jane definitely needed someone to rein her in and show her who’s boss.

  ****

  Sara Jane guided Demon carefully to avoid branches that might scrape his glossy coat.

  When they cleared the bramble, she urged Demon faster, and gave him his head. Bending forward to avoid hanging branches, she clung to Demon’s neck. He was black lightning. Dry mesquite crackled beneath his galloping hooves.

  Behind her, the snort of a horse and the clomp of a fast approaching mare made her heart pound. She had underestimated Nick-the-greenhorn and his sorry roan, but she had an ace.

  ****

  Nick cleared the prickly jungle and gained on Sara Jane. He knew now why Matt had insisted on an experienced rider and handpicked him. Nick hadn’t wanted the damned assignment at first, but how could he refuse when he owed his friend his life—especially when the danger was to the man’s beloved daughter?

  When Nick arrived, Matt had given him a gift of a lasso. Told him to keep it handy; that it was standard issue for everyone on the ranch. As Nick got the loop ready, he laughed without humor. He doubted that Matt had intended for him to use it on his daughter.

  Nick closed the distance fast. She was only about thirty feet ahead of him. He would give her one chance. “Sara Jane, wait!”

  She urged her horse faster.

  Only a horse-length behind now, he sent the lasso flying. It looped Demon’s long black neck and slowed him. Sara Jane drew a knife from her pocket. It glinted in the sunlight as she flicked it open. She leaned forward and while clinging to the saddle horn with one hand, she tried to cut the rope with the other. Demon’s twisting and bucking attempts to free himself made cutting the line impossible; the knife slipped from her hand. Nick rode close, grabbed her around the waist and pulled her kicking and yelling onto his horse. Tightening his arm muscles and lifting, he managed to seat her in front of him.

  Hearing the thunder of hooves behind him, he glanced over his shoulder and sighed in relief to see that, instead of the bushwhackers, it was Matt and Luke heading their way. With effort, while still clinging to Sara Jane, he reined Jazgirl to a stop.

  When Sara Jane saw her father and uncle, she quit fighting. To Nick’s shock, like a trick rider, she twisted, threw her leg over his horses mane and ended up facing him. He might have handled her little surprise better if she had left it at that, but she had more in store for him. She threw her arms around his neck, pulled his head down and kissed him full on the lips. Before he recovered from that surprise, her tongue slipped in and entwined with his. He couldn’t take much of that. Yet, if he pushed her away, without a saddle, she could lose her balance and fall. Like an idiot, he gave in to the warm, soft lips and the searching tongue. She was in no hurry to pull away. He had kissed a lot of women, but never like this—on a horse with the sun beating down on him, adding to his own raging heat. Her deep probes ignited his senses; his groin caught fire and began to pulse.

  He was only vaguely aware of Luke and Matt coming parallel to them. “What the hell?” Matt shouted and wrestled his only daughter from Nick and onto his horse, who stomped in place. Angry electricity crackled in the still air. “Bring Demon back, Luke,” Matt told his brother. “Sara Jane’s riding with me. And you, Nick,” he said like the name was a dirty word, “I’ll talk to you back at the ranch.”

  Nick met Sara Jane’s gaze. A swift flush rose in her cheeks. Then her ripe and anything but innocent lips broke into a triumphant smile. He tightened his jaw. Damn it, she’d planned the whole thing—and he had less than thirty minutes to decide what to do about it.

  ****

  Nick hung back behind the returning riders to give Matt time to cool off and to give himself time to rehearse his excuses for kissing his boss’s calculating, infuriating, and unnervingly sexy daughter.

  As their group got closer to the ranch, the arid rangeland changed to sandy pastures with blades of thin, brown bluestem and the state grass, sideoats grama. The sedate cattle dotting the countryside seemed content to live in this sweatbox-land. Matt raised a breed called the Santa Gertrudis—the best breed for this arid climate because it was unaffected by heat and insects. But what about the people who worked the ranch? How did they survive the heat day after day?

  Sweat trickled down Nick’s back. Even the roots of his hair under his Stetson swam with moisture. He pulled his clinging shirt from his back, wishing he were anywhere but here. Somewhere cool and green. So why try to stay? He had some choices! He didn’t have to defend his actions with Sara Jane. He could just let Matt fire him.

  That was a joke. He knew he couldn’t leave, not while there was the chance the Honey Murders Case and the murder on the Ryan ranch were connected. But he was tempted. He missed the city, the nightlife, the green parks, the museums—and he had been gone only a few days. He’d always loathed the desert. While in air force security, he’d been stationed at Edward’s Air Force Base in California for two very long years and hated every minute of it.

  He remembered the boredom. How could Matt and his ranch hands stand doing the same old thing day after day? Nick laughed at the irony. Actually, he hadn’t been bored for a second since arriving. Who could be with Sara Jane around? She was a hurricane, a tornado, and an earthquake all rolled into one completely frustrating woman.

  One minute her eyes flashed like steel, the next they were all soft and as blue as Lake Gregory on a sunny day. How could this complicated, athletic creature seem tough one minute and so vulnerable the next? Everything about her was a contradiction, and what bugged him beyond reason was her untamed side. It kept him guessing, off balance, and definitely upped the danger.

  It would take a strong, alert man to keep her safe. Someone like him, who could keep up with her physically and who, from now on, would never let attraction or desire get in the way—not even if the longing tore him up inside. What if the killer got to her because he ducked out?

  It was clear even if the Honey Case wasn’t involved, he couldn’t quit. He’d never left a job, no matter where it was, or the danger involved. Quitting now would go against his values, and his rigid sense of honor. No, throwing in the towel wasn’t an option, no matter how tempted he was to chuck this job babysitting a very sexy spoiled brat.

  He could imagine her rebellious smile if he was fired or quit. That alone was enough reason to fight for his job. More important, no matter how much trouble she’d given him, he was convinced after seeing her ride that he was the only one in the Bureau with the skill, patience, and determination to keep her alive.

  ****

  Sara Jane stopped pacing the den and glared at her father. “Why him? He isn’t even all that good at the job.”

  “He caught you, didn’t he? That takes a helluva good rider.” Her father paused and gave her one of his better-shape-up looks. “I’m warning you, Sara Jane, it’s dangerous to fool with Nick. One of the qualities that make him perfect for the job is that he never lets his emotions get involved. And he’s left a trail of broken hearts behind him to prove it.�
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  Now you tell me, she thought with the memory of Nick’s kiss still warm on her lips and desire for him addling her brain. She could still feel the tiny shocks that jolted at random over every inch of her skin, amplifying and driving her crazy until she wanted to cry for mercy. “Don’t worry about me. Just fire him, and I’ll be fine.”

  “First, I have to hear what he has to say.”

  She rubbed the goose flesh on her arms. “I’d like to hear that myself. Let him try to wheedle out of trying to seduce your only daughter. I mean, how safe is it to let a wolf in the chicken house?” Sara Jane spun on her heels and left her dad to stew on that for a while. He would make the right decision. His whole life was built on caution. For her heart’s sake, this better not be the exception.

  ****

  Nick strode into Matt’s den just as Sara Jane was leaving. She gave him a sidelong glance as she passed and said, “Good luck, greenhorn, you’ll need it.”

  He wanted to grab her, shake her—and kiss her breathless. Damn. He was in for the fight of his life.

  “Shut the doors,” Matt told Nick, his tone unreadable.

  Nick drew the double wood panels closed behind Sara Jane, and without being invited, he slouched down in the chair in front of Matt’s desk, hoping to feign an I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude. “Did she tell you what happened?” he asked.

  Matt leveled a hard gaze at him. “Let’s hear your version.”