Her Unbridled Cowboy (Harland County Series)

by Donna Michaels

  “Little over five hundred head,” Connor replied.

  Her sister whistled. “Don’t you have one in the fall, too?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, but that’ll be smaller.” He stared at the glass of beer he twisted. “This one’s the big one. Guess the guys will have to make do without a cook.”

  “Wait a minute.” His father sat up straight. “What about Kerri?” Alex leaned forward and waited for his son’s response.

  Connor nearly spit out the beer he had in his mouth. Once he swallowed it safely down, he sat back in his chair and stared at her, gaze still weary.

  She forced herself to stare back and her pulse picked up speed. Yeah, she didn’t think it was a good idea, either. The two of them in such close proximity, despite the fact there would be other ranch hands on the drive, was not smart. She’d deliberately stayed clear of the guy the past few weeks because being near made her want things she couldn’t have…

  “Well?” his father prompted.

  Without dropping her gaze, Connor shook his head. “Not a good idea.”

  “Why not?” Cole asked.

  “Yeah, why not?” Her sister chimed in.

  Great. She glanced down the table. Yep. Now the whole family was going to push her on the poor guy. Her attention returned to the silent cowboy, and she watched as a slight twitch tilted his lips.

  “It’s not her cup of tea,” he replied.

  Her brow rose. “Actually, I’m not crazy about tea, hot or cold.”

  He gave her a slight nod, but said nothing.

  “I think he meant you couldn’t handle it.” Jordan lifted her glass and smirked. “That is an unwise assumption, my friend.”

  Kerri’s gaze bounced between the two and settled back on the dimpled cowboy. Huh. He really didn’t think she could handle it. And here, she thought he didn’t want her to go because he couldn’t handle her. Indignation lifted her chin. “Is that true?”

  “Now, don’t be offended, darlin’,” he replied. “But the wide-open, barren range is not the same as the one you’re used to cooking on.” He chuckled into his beer.

  Normally, she would’ve laughed, too, but for some reason, Kerri was galled by his amusement. “What’s so funny?”

  “You…a California cook on a Texas cattle drive.” Now he laughed outright,

  Kerri was still not amused. Her expression surely would’ve told him that if he hadn’t been too busy shaking with mirth to notice.

  “I don’t think it’s funny, Connor. I think you should consider her.” Alex sent his son a stern look.

  “Oh come on now, dad. You can’t be serious?” Connor shook his head and took another swallow of beer.

  “But I am, son. Kerri knows how to cook, and she knows how to ride. The way I see it, she’s the answer to your prayers.” Alex McCall sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest.

  Both men were carrying on as if she wasn’t there, and Kerri had just about enough. Sending a glare across the table to Connor, she ignored his sexy dimple before rejoining the conversation.

  “I get the feeling, Connor, that you really don’t think I can handle it.” She told him with her gaze she was talking about the work, not their attraction.

  He winked. “Then you’d be right, darlin’.”

  Sexy bugger.

  “Then you’d be wrong,” she corrected, sending him an identical look.

  He sat stock still, and his eyes narrowed in a challenge. “Would I now?”

  “Yep.” She meant it.

  “Seems to me the only way to settle this is for Kerri to go on this drive with you, Connor,” Cole spoke up.

  “Yeah,” Jordan agreed.

  Kerri looked from one brother to the other. “Sounds fair to me.” She folded her arms and waited for Connor’s objection.

  It never came.

  Instead, he surprised her by searching her face and looking at her thoughtfully. After only a minute of contemplation, he placed his mug firmly on the table.

  “All right. Fine. Are you sure you want to do this, Kerri?” he asked, giving her one last chance to back out.

  Not going to happen. Even though she was not sure, she told him the opposite. “Yes…I’d be happy to help you out,” she replied, careful to let him know she was doing him a favor.

  “Well, in that case, thank you, darlin’. Get plenty of rest tomorrow, because I want you at the ranch early Monday morning.” He was still obviously trying to scare her off.

  It didn’t work.

  “Fine. Is there someone who can fill me in as to what you usually eat on these drives?” she asked as the whole table sat back with silent, grinning faces.

  Connor nodded. “Stop by the ranch tomorrow. Cal will tell you what you need to know.”

  “Okay, I will. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Kerri got up from the table and her gaze swept the occupants before she continued. “My break is over, and I have to get back to work.”

  As she walked into the sanctuary of the kitchen, she took a deep breath and quaked like a mother inside. Holy smokes. What the heck did I just do?

  She leaned against the back counter and drew in another deep breath. Cripes. Why did it feel like she was somehow hoodwinked into that cattle drive?

  Judging by Connor’s first reaction to her going, she didn’t feel it was from him. No one was that good an actor. He’d been generally amused. She was just getting her mind around to Alex McCall when the swinging doors opened and Jordan breezed in.

  “Good going, Kerri.” Her sister smiled as she joined her by the counter, careful not to get in the way of the workers’ busy pace.

  “I’m not sure if it’s good or bad yet,” Kerri admitted as she washed her hands, then began to chop onions.

  “It’s good of course.”

  An odd look crossed Jordan’s face as she glanced around the kitchen. Uh oh. Alarm raced through Kerri. Her sister was about to have a profound moment.

  Jordan leaned in and spoke quietly. “If Connor told you he loves you and wanted you to stay, would you?”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Kerri’s heart rocked at the thought. “Yes.” It was a no brainer. If he said he loved me, I’d stay.

  Jordan nodded. “Well, now you’ll have three days, or at least two good nights to get Connor to admit his feelings for you.” Her sister grinned and folded her arms across her chest in triumph.

  Kerri began to peel and chop all the onions until they were done. “I guess.” She tossed them into a buttered pan on low heat to caramelize.

  “What do you mean you guess?” Jordan followed her to the stove. “It’s the perfect situation.”

  “I know. I’m just worried about this place.” She turned and looked at her sister. “Who is going to cook while I’m gone?” she wondered frantically. “Maybe I shouldn’t go.” What if he didn’t feel the same?

  “Oh no. You are going, and this place will be fine. You hired good cooks.” Jordan’s hand swept around the bustling room, before she grabbed Kerri’s shoulders. “They will do just fine, and I’ll be here to lend a hand, so no more talk of not going.”

  “All right. I’ll go. I’ll go.” Kerri relented. “I rather like the idea of being out under the stars with Connor,” she whispered to Jordan. “I could do without the cattle and other eight men, but beggars can’t be choosers.”

  “That’s the spirit.” Jordan winked, and they both grinned then got back to work as the third rush of the night began.

  “I’ve got to be crazy,” Connor mumbled to Cole as he watched Kerri disappear into the stable to talk to Cal on Sunday afternoon.

  “What are you talking about?” His brother joined him by the fence of the adjacent corral.

  “For agreeing to let Kerri go on this cattle drive.” He took his hat off, then shoved a hand through his hair.

  Yeah, he had to be insane.

  “No. That was a very smart thing to do,” his delusional brother corrected.

  “How do you figure?”

  �
��I know what I’ve seen in both of your faces. The two of you are in love with each other, but are holding back. Why?”

  “Even if she did love me, which she doesn’t, she’s better off without me,” he stated, shoving the hat back on his head, never denying his love.

  His brother’s head jerked back. “Now how in the hell do you figure that?”

  “Because I’ve done nothing but hurt her.”

  And he had to stop. He did stop.

  Didn’t he?

  Cole walked over and grabbed his upper arms. “Connor, I have a very important question for you.” When he remained quiet, his brother continued, “Do you trust Kerri?”

  He stared into the dark, inquiring eyes and spoke the truth that went deep into his core. “Yes, I trust Kerri.”

  His brother’s smile broadened. “That’s great, man.” Cole released him and smacked his arm. “So, what the hell’s the problem?”

  “The problem is I don’t want to hold her back. If she knew how I felt, she might stay behind and always regret not giving that Rene’s or Pierre’s or whatever the hell it is, a try.” He expelled his breath and looked down at his dusty boots, feeling as dirt-kicking-low as they were.

  “If Kerri told you she loved you and didn’t want to go, what would you do?”

  Ah hell. Didn’t his younger brother have anything better to do than hound him with painful questions? And, God, this was the most painful of all.

  He sucked in a breath. “Cole, cut it out. Jesus! Don’t you think I wouldn’t die to hear her say that? That I, Connor McCall, was more important to her than her job?”

  Christ. He longed to hear those exact words so badly from her sweet lips, he’d avoided her the past few weeks, knowing they’d never be spoken.

  “It’s settled then.” Cole slapped his shoulder as they turned to walk toward the stable doors. “Kerri has to give her decision in one week, so that’s how much time we have to get her to tell you she loves you and wants to stay.”

  His pulse kicked up. “Do you really think she’ll do that?”

  It was too good to be true.

  “You bet I do. As a matter of fact…” His younger brother smirked. “I’d bet on it.”

  “And you think that will happen on the range?”

  “Yes.” Cole nodded. “Because, my dear brother, despite your busy days, your nights are a different story. Kerri will have to spend time with you.”

  “Yeah, me and eight other men.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and sighed.

  His brother shook his head. “Not necessarily. There are a lot of wide open spaces, bro. I’ve been on your spring drives before and seem to recall some secluded spots.” Cole grinned and slapped him on the back. “If you can get Kerri alone there by the creek and rocks, I’m sure you can convince her to stay.”

  Connor wasn’t as sure, but knew it was worth a try. “I guess you’re right.”

  “Of course I am. That girl loves you, why else would she brave a cattle drive and agree to cook for nine ornery cowboys?” Cole’s grin turned sheepish. “She wants to stay in Texas. She’s just waiting for you to give her a reason.”

  Hope fluttered like a piece of straw in a south Texas wind. “You really think so?”

  “Yes, I do. You have two nights to give her that reason, Connor.”

  If she really did feel that way, then he’d be able to tell if they touched…

  He straightened his spine and nodded. Two nights. He’d make them count.

  What in the world am I doing, Kerri wondered silently as she found herself on the back of a horse very early Monday morning, riding with nine men an hour into her first cattle drive.

  Her horse was loaded with everything Cal had reassured her she’d need to cook for them. And she’d even added a few of her own things. Including a bag of her special seasonings guarantee to make even a rock taste good.

  Half of the men, plus Connor, Kerri knew from the ranch, the other half sent her begrudging looks. Seemed the older men weren’t crazy about a woman tagging along, no doubt afraid she’d slow them down or get in the way. Kerri was determined to prove them otherwise. She’d nearly laughed out loud at their expressions when she showed up early and was dressed just like them and she’d easily kept up with the pace they set.

  Knowing that despite the heat, you had to dress in layers, Kerri had on a T-shirt with a long sleeved, button-down red plaid shirt over it. She tucked them into well-worn blue jeans and pulled on her favorite old pair of cowboy boots. Her hair was secured at the nape of her neck in a ponytail before she donned a straw cowboy hat that was used during the warm months.

  Judging by their faces, they’d expected her to show up in a halter-top, shorts and flip-flops. The urge to gloat had been there, but she’d suppressed it as Connor introduced her to each one individually.

  She’d ridden this trail many times in her youth, and it was all starting to come back to her the more they pressed on. Settling back with a contented sigh, she enjoyed the brisk ride, and before she knew it, they stopped for lunch.

  Thanks to Cal, she knew that lunch on the first day consisted of a cold sandwich. So, after work at Texas Pub last night, Kerri had made ten subs, which she doled out now.

  The men offered murmurs of thanks, and a few raised their eyebrows at the sight of their meal. She just smiled and proceeded to hand out the water Cal had also told her was their usual choice of drink.

  Once everyone else was taken care of, Kerri sat down on a rock and began to dig into her own sub. Suddenly famished, she was half way through when Connor sat down beside her.

  As always happened when he was near, her heartbeats quickened and body warmed, and for the first time in weeks, she relaxed and enjoyed the sensation.

  “How are you doing?” Warm, brown eyes looked at her with concern.

  “I’m fine, Connor, honest. I’ll let you know when I’m not.” She grinned and watched in fascination as his dimple appeared, then disappeared.

  Holy Texans. He was looking at her lips. So, now, breathing was a problem. And a whooshing sound invaded her ears. The man was potent, and gorgeous and dang, she wanted very much to lean forward and take his lips with her own.

  But she didn’t. Kerri was well aware there were eight men watching them and didn’t want to do anything to embarrass Connor in front of them. So, a mount-and-ride-fest was out of the question. Too bad. Because heaven help her, that was exactly what she wanted to do.

  A low rumbled sounded in his chest. Yeah, he was getting the vibe.

  With supreme effort, she brought her water bottle to her mouth and took a good long drink before getting up. “I’d better get the garbage together.” She glanced down at him and had to force herself to move away.

  Kerri was half way to her horse when she heard the unmistakable rattle of a snake. Stopping dead in her tracks, her gaze quickly scanned and found the culprit just off to her right.

  Poised to strike.

  “Kerri, don’t move!”

  She heard the terror in Connor’s voice and saw a few men scrambling for a weapon.

  Her heart was in her throat as her hand closed around the knife she had attached to her belt. In one fluid movement, Kerri slipped it out and threw the knife, decapitating the unsuspecting reptile.

  Connor got to her just before the rest of the men. All eight just stared at the dead snake in front of them. But not Connor, he stared at her.

  “Holy shit! Did you see that?” one of the men said.

  “Sure did. She took its head clean off,” another replied.

  “Remind me never to get on your bad side,” Cal joked, and several men agreed and laughed.

  Connor, on the other hand, was not amused. He grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. “What the hell were you thinking?” he demanded, his face dark with anger.

  She raised her eyes innocently at him. “Killing supper?”

  “I’m serious, Kerri. My God…what if you’d missed? You could’ve been bitten and died.” He let her g
o and walked in a frustrated circle. “I’m sending you back. We’ll make do without a cook.”

  She rushed to stand in front of him. “No way. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself out here. I’ve spent more of my life here than in California. I don’t know why you keep forgetting that.” She stared up at him and shook her finger. “And I know for a fact you always bring a few vials of anti-venom with you on drives, so if I had missed and got bitten—” She ignored his sudden pallor. “—you could’ve easily administered it. So don’t try to use this as a means to get rid of me because, cowboy…” She reached up and pulled his hat down on his face. “I’m not that easy to get rid of.”

  The rest of the afternoon went by even faster as the men asked her questions and Connor sent her begrudging looks.

  “I have to know,” Pete said, riding on her left. “Where in the world did you learn to throw a knife like that?”

  She laughed. “New York.”

  Yeah, that got their attention. All nine men were now looking at her.

  “At cooking school,” she explained. “A few of us adopted it as a good stress relief activity.”

  “Throwing knives?” Cal asked.

  Kerri nodded. “Yep. Throwing cooking knives at a picture of a certain instructor known for his sour moods and unfair marks. After one particular exam, believe me, I became very accurate at the game.”

  Laughter echoed across the range as they pushed forth.

  All too soon, the afternoon was over, and they came upon the herd it would take two nights to move. Instructed to stay out of the way and follow behind once they had the cattle moving, Kerri did just that, in awe at the sight of the men at work.

  Ropes and steeds ready should there be a breakaway calf, the cowboys controlled the heard, and one in particular, controlled her heart beats.

  Connor was the epitome of tall in the saddle. His sure, swift, confident movement had her mind bringing up memories of him using those same attributes to handle her. Except the ‘swift’ usually started out slow and lazy…

  Shards of heat shot low in her belly. Now, she was wet and turned on in the saddle. Which wasn’t so bad. Every bump and rock of the horse enhanced her crazed state.