“It’s an option. I don’t have to apologize because that kind of guy wouldn’t. If I give up worrying about my white hat image, I also don’t have to put my family in front of a camera to testify that I’m some kind of paragon. Like I said, it’s an option. I’m thinking about it.”
Cade shook his head. “Well, you can stop thinking about it. We’re the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood.” His eyes took on a steely glint. “When someone attacks, we don’t just roll over.”
“We also don’t put our loved ones in harm’s way.” Matt held his gaze. “If you think that by staying silent and taking the rap I’ll be dishonoring the brotherhood, then I’ll resign from—”
“Aw, hell, I didn’t mean that! I’m asking you not to give up, okay? I swear we’ll find a way out of this that will work for everybody.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know yet. But remember that you’re not alone and I’m not just talking about the folks, Lexi and me. The brotherhood is with you, all of us, and I’m thinking we may not have tapped into that firepower like we should be doing. Let me make some calls, see if we can set up a Skype thing tonight.”
Emotion clogged Matt’s throat and he had to clear it before he could speak. “That...that would be...”
“Fun?”
“That, too.” He smiled. “Thanks. Even if nothing comes of it, I—”
“Something will come of it.” Cade took a deep breath. “But I’d love for you and Geena to take a nice ride over to your new ranch and forget all about it for a few hours. Think you can do that, cowboy?”
Matt looked into his brother’s eyes and saw a strength and determination that gave him more hope than he’d had in days. “Yeah, we can do that.”
* * *
An hour later, Geena had made her phone calls and dealt with the prima donna. Although he was difficult to work with, he was a popular actor and gave her fledgling company a lot of street cred. Matt had the potential to do the same thing, which was why she’d agreed to work with him. And, bonus, he wasn’t a prima donna.
She envisioned great things for him in the future, which would be good for both of them. Having a personal relationship added an element of risk, though, and she wasn’t blind to the danger. If they developed issues, that would affect their business arrangement. She’d decided to think positively on that score.
For now, their personal relationship was uppermost in her mind because she was on her way to his ranch and riding a horse for the first time in her life. Except something about that felt familiar. Watching Isabeau’s ears flick back and forth, and listening to the creak of the saddle triggered a memory.
They’d left the ranch property single file but now rode side by side down a dirt road that Matt had told her belonged to the Forest Service. Tall pines shaded a strip along the edge, but the sun was directly overhead. She felt it on her back and shoulders, but she was a California girl who was used to it.
She’d worn another pair of the jeans Rosie had loaned her, but she’d decided her white stretch tank would work for the ride if she slathered on sunscreen. She was also glad for the straw hat.
Lexi had given her a few pointers when she’d mounted up. She was supposed to keep her heels down and her back straight. Although she held the reins loosely in one hand, she had Lexi’s permission to hang on to the saddle horn with the other as much as she wanted if it gave her a sense of security.
It did. At first the sensation of sitting astride a large animal had been unnerving and she’d hung on for dear life. Gradually, though, she’d become used to the rocking motion and she’d relaxed her grip on the horn.
As they rode, Matt described the scene in winter when everything was covered in a blanket of snow. Last semester the academy students had reconditioned an old sleigh under Phil’s supervision, and now sleigh rides had been added to the list of activities. A white Christmas wasn’t guaranteed in Wyoming, but Matt was hoping for one this year, and time off so he could spend the holiday at Thunder Mountain.
Geena loved hearing details like that and secretly hoped he would invite her along on such a trip. But she suspected he was making small talk because he’d promised to banish negative thoughts for the rest of the afternoon. Cade hadn’t made her promise, but she’d do her best, too.
Cade’s plan to rally his brothers brought tears to her eyes every time she thought about it. No matter what happened as a result, she’d never forget the love and pride in his voice as he’d reminded Matt that the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood had his back.
“You’re looking good over there,” Matt said. “How does it feel?”
“Believe it or not, like I’ve done this before.”
“But you said you’d never ridden.”
“I haven’t, not like this. But Isabeau’s head bobbing in front of me is very familiar.”
“A pony ride, maybe?”
“No, I wasn’t sitting on the horse. I was in somebody’s lap.” She glanced over at him. “You know what? I’ll bet when I was very little, like, maybe two and a half, my dad held me while we went riding. I think the two of us might have taken a vacation together. I’m guessing there were log cabins and horses. That would explain the déjà vu.”
“Where is he now?”
“He crashed his private plane when I was about three. No survivors.”
“Damn.”
“It’s sad, and I sure wish it hadn’t happened, but the truth is I barely remember him. He and my mom had already divorced by then. I’d love to ask her if he and I went on that kind of vacation, but she gets weepy when his name comes up.”
“So, she still misses him.”
“Yep. Once I went in her closet to try on her shoes and found an old love note from him tucked in the toe of sparkly red heels I’d never seen her wear. It’s cool to know they were once in love, even if they didn’t stay together.”
“That is cool.”
She heard the wistfulness in his voice and regretted having mentioned it. He didn’t know who his father was, let alone whether his mom and dad had been in love. Likely not. Time to leave the past and concentrate on the present. “I have to say you’re looking quite manly mounted up on your trusty steed.”
“Oh?” He seemed to mentally pull himself back from wherever her story had sent him. “Thank you, ma’am.” He winked at her and touched the brim of his Stetson. “Mighty kind of you to say so.”
Her heart lurched. He was such a great guy. She’d never forgive Briana for making a move on him and creating this horrible scenario.
“Something wrong?” Matt’s voice cut through her thoughts.
“No, why?”
“You’re scowling.”
She slowly breathed out and relaxed her facial muscles. So much for honoring Cade’s wish that they could forget the problems and enjoy the afternoon. “Sorry.”
“Care to tell me what you were scowling about?”
She turned to him with a sunny smile. “No.”
“Okay.”
He probably knew what she’d been thinking. What a waste. The day was beautiful and she was riding alongside a gorgeous cowboy who truly deserved to wear a white hat, even though currently his was brown. He’d showered and put on a clean white T-shirt and jeans. She suspected, from the scent of cologne drifting her way and the nick on his square jaw, that he’d shaved again.
“How much longer is the ride?”
He laughed. “Is that a version of Are we there, yet?”
“Kind of. I have a strong urge to kiss that little spot where you cut yourself shaving.”
“Only that one spot?”
Just like that, he’d managed to jump-start her libido with a single teasing question. “Um, now that you mention it...”
“If you hadn’t been so keen on seeing my ranch, we’d be making out on a picn
ic blanket this very minute.”
“Where?” The eagerness in her voice was embarrassing, but she couldn’t help it.
“A grassy meadow I know about. We passed it a ways back.”
She glanced over her shoulder.
“No, ma’am, you can’t see it from here and we’re not heading back. We’re closer to my ranch than we are to the meadow, and I have some special places I want to kiss once I get the chance. Wanna hear where they are?”
“Better not.” Whew. She squirmed in the saddle and Isabeau snorted. “Hey, cowboy, you’d better dial back the sexy before I swoon and fall right off this horse.”
Matt’s low chuckle sent shivers down her spine. “You started it.” He looked over at her and smiled. “It won’t be long now. The back entrance is up yonder.” He pointed to a weathered gate between two thick posts.
“I see it.” Up yonder. She didn’t remember him using phrases like that in LA. Being here really brought out the country in him and she loved that, too. “So we’re going in the back way?”
“That’s the best route for horses. If you’re driving you take the paved road to the front gate. Either way, it’s not too far from Thunder Mountain.”
“Who knows you bought this place?”
“My family, you, the bank and the real estate agent. I’m guessing some other people in town know because word gets around when a ranch is bought or sold.”
“You didn’t tell any of your friends in LA?”
“Nope. They’re still struggling financially, like I was six months ago. Mentioning that I’d bought a ranch seemed like bragging. I didn’t bring it up.”
That was so like him, thinking of someone else’s feelings instead of his excitement about a major purchase.
“It’ll be a while before I’m ready to invite anybody here, anyway.” He halted Navarre in front of the sagging gate and swung down from the saddle. “Let’s hope the house looks better than this gate.” He took a key from his pocket and opened the padlock on a thick chain wrapped around both the gate and the post.
He gently pushed the gate inward as the hinges squeaked and the wood groaned. Then he stepped back and motioned her forward. “After you.”
She nudged Isabeau in the ribs the way Lexi had shown her and the mare slowly trudged through the opening. Then she looked back at Navarre and whinnied. “She’s not liking this,” Geena said.
“I know she doesn’t. Hey, Izzy, it’s okay. We won’t leave your boyfriend behind.” Matt led Navarre through and closed the gate.
“See? You do think of them as a couple.” Geena turned in her saddle so she could watch him mount up. So smooth. She’d love a video but her phone was in her saddlebag and he wouldn’t want her to take one, anyway.
“Hard not to think of them as a couple with those names. But as you can probably tell, Izzy’s not a very liberated lady. Now that we’re headed down a one-lane path, she’ll want Navarre to lead.”
“Fine with me. You should get the first look at your ranch house, anyway. You must be excited to finally see it.”
He pulled alongside her and tipped back his hat. “Not nearly as excited as I am about what’s going to happen when we get there.”
She gulped. “Careful. I might swoon.”
“In a few minutes you can do that all you want. I’ve been thinking about how this will likely play out.”
“I thought...” She drew in a quick breath. “I thought we’d decided to clean off a spot on the floor and put down the blanket.” It was tied behind his saddle and she’d been extremely aware of it the entire ride.
His hot glance traveled over her, igniting fires wherever it touched. “Let’s be honest. We’ll never make it into the house, let alone have the presence of mind to sweep the floor and lay down a blanket.”
“Oh.” Her brain turned to mush. “So what...what should we do?”
“Tie the horses, take this blanket—” He gave it a quick pat. “And find a nice patch of grass.”
“Out...outside?”
“No one will be there but us.” His gaze searched hers. “But if you don’t want to—”
“Yes.” She was very nearly panting and could barely speak. “I want to.”
Chapter Twelve
Matt almost pulled her off her horse so they could execute the plan right then and there. But that would lack significance. He wanted her desperately, but this wasn’t just about sex.
He gave the brim of his hat a determined downward tug. “Then let’s go.” He tapped Navarre with his boot heels. Snorting, the horse set out at a brisk walk, and Matt looked over his shoulder to see how Geena was handling the faster pace. “You okay?”
“Never better!” She’d tightened her grip on the saddle horn but she hadn’t lost either of her stirrups. Some of her hair had escaped from under her hat and her skin was flushed a becoming shade of pink. She was smiling.
He co uldn’t stop looking at that smile. Emotions crowded his chest until he wondered if it would break wide open from the pressure. Even when he faced forward again so he could see where the hell he was going, her smile stayed with him. He thought of what was about to happen and his hands began to shake.
It seemed he was nervous. As the leading man in a major motion picture, he’d made pretend love to a big-time movie star in front of a stage crew and several cameras, but he was afraid he’d mess this up. He’d also made love for real with several women since losing his virginity at seventeen, but he’d never felt as if his whole future depended on it. Maybe taking her on a blanket outside wasn’t a good idea.
Maybe he should wait for a bed, clean sheets and a cool breeze through curtained windows. Because when it was all over, he needed to see that smile. He wanted that more than anything he’d ever wished for in his entire crazy life.
He was so absorbed in his inner debate that he rode right past the fence enclosing a pasture before he realized what he was looking at. Not much of the fence was still standing, so maybe he could be excused for missing it.
At that point the horse trail ended and he rode into an open space between the barn on his right and the house about thirty yards away on his left. His house. He’d never owned anything of value except an old pickup he’d sold before he’d left for LA.
He pulled Navarre to a halt and pivoted the horse in order to watch Geena coming toward him on Isabeau. Damn, that woman was so beautiful it made his throat hurt. And there was that heart-stopping smile again, one that he returned because, just like that, his doubts were gone.
What happened in the future didn’t matter anymore. She was here today, and as eager to be his lover as he was to be hers. That was more than some men were given in a lifetime. His heart pounded and heat rushed to his groin. Debate over.
Her green eyes sparkled. “Just think, Matt. This is your land.”
“Hard to believe.”
“The barn looks sturdy.”
He laughed. “Nice way to put it.” He angled his head toward the house and turned Navarre back in that direction. “Let’s go see if the house looks sturdy, too.” Along the way they passed some clumps of weeds but so far not much in the way of grass. He hoped they’d find some in the front yard. Although he’d seen grass growing in the pasture, that wasn’t the ambience he was after.
“I’m sure the house is sturdy,” she said. “Like Lexi said, your folks wouldn’t let you buy a place that had major structural flaws.”
“And it wasn’t like I could afford a showplace. Not if I wanted acreage to go with the house and barn.”
“How many acres do you have?”
“Almost twenty-five.”
“That sounds huge!”
“Not by Wyoming standards. But it’s fine for me and a couple of horses.”
“And whoever you hire to watch the place while you’re gone.�
�
“True.” If he wanted horses, someone would have to live on the ranch year-round. Funny how he’d imagined bringing her back here in a few months for some private time, but unless he asked his hired hand to take off for a couple of days, he and Geena wouldn’t be alone, after all.
They were now, though. Except for the birds chattering and the low sigh of a breeze, the place was quiet. Intimate. He looked over at her and she was looking right back. Her throat moved in a slow swallow.
“Nervous?”
“Some. Mostly excited.”
“Me, too.” As they approached the house from the side, he could see the large tree in front near the porch. In the picture it had been leafless, but now it was budding out in response to the warm weather. And, hallelujah, under the tree was a nice little patch of spring grass that might not have been there a week or two ago.
He spared a quick glance for the house, which looked fine, as Geena had predicted. It had been painted recently, but mustard yellow wouldn’t have been his first choice. Didn’t matter. Paint was cheap.
He rode up to the side railing of the porch and dismounted, anticipation making him stumble slightly. Navarre looked back at him. “Yeah, I know. Pathetic.”
He turned to Geena, who’d pulled Isabeau to a stop. “You can park her next to Navarre. I’ll help you down.” He looped Navarre’s reins loosely around the railing.
“I can get down by myself.”
“Yes, ma’am, I know you can.” He walked around to Isabeau’s left side, took the mare’s reins and wrapped them around the railing. “But you might need me to steady you a little bit, in case you’re shaky.” What a laugh. If anyone was shaky, he was. He needed to touch her. The sooner he could do that, the sooner his world would start making sense again.
“You could be right about that.” She held tight to the saddle horn and swung her leg over Isabeau’s rump.
Spanning her waist with his hands, Matt guided her descent until she had both feet on the ground. Then he didn’t want to let go.
“Matt, I’m okay. You can—” She gasped as he spun her around.
In the Cowboy's Arms Page 12
