A Cowboy To Keep: A Contemporary Western Romance Collection

by Hebby Roman

  She ran both hands into his dark short hair, her mouth an inch from his. “You smell like peanut butter.”

  He smiled and removed his long fingers from beneath her shirt. He rested his palm on her hip as he dipped his mouth to her ear and nibbled, her body responding with delicious tremors.

  A frustrated sigh escaped her lips. “I’m not on any birth control.” She gazed upward at the night sky, the stars winking back at her. “Are you?”

  He chuckled and his breath against her neck sent a second wave of shivers through her. “I’m afraid I don’t normally take condoms into the wilderness with me.”

  “Really? But what if you meet a sexy woman in the woods?”

  “I can honestly say that you’re the first.”

  He shifted to the side and pulled her close. They remained that way until the fire died down, talking and touching and learning more about each other. Later, Braden tucked her into the tent, but he stayed by the fire with Blue.

  Considering her libido was in overdrive, she was surprised that she was able to sleep, and even more astonished that her slumber had been deep and restorative. Having awoken with a start, she was certain she’d dreamed of Thaddeus Marsh, but the memory of it slipped away like mist in the forest.

  She sat up, her ears ringing as if someone had just yelled at her. The tip of her nose was cold, so she tried to warm it with her hand. Still wearing her fleece and pants, she shimmied out of the sleeping bag and peeked outside the tent. The placid atmosphere told her dawn was close.

  Braden was bundled in his sleeping bag nearby, a faint snore emanating. It hadn’t been him yelling then.

  Watching him sent a flush of heat through her body. She imagined pulling him into the tent and undressing him to his naked masculine glory. The scenario was far too inviting to dwell on for long. She’d never had a risqué camping rendezvous before, despite all the time she’d spent doing archaeological fieldwork, and she decided it had merit with a man like Braden.

  Where was Blue?

  Audrey put on her hiking boots and exited the tent, quietly searching for the dog so as not to wake Braden. The more she hunted for him, the more her unease grew. Blue was gone. She carefully moved away from the campsite and headed toward the area where the dog had appeared the day before.

  She was solely motivated by how strongly Braden felt about the canine. They weren’t leaving here without Blue if Audrey had anything to say about it.

  As she came around a rocky outcropping, she stopped abruptly. Twenty feet away, the silver-haired mutt was in the company of two ravens, and they were eating what looked like scraps of meat. A whoosh of wings startled Audrey as two more ravens joined them, with bloody entrails in their beaks. They waddled over to Blue and dropped the offering before the dog, which he scarfed down in two gulps.

  I’ll be damned.

  * * *

  “Braden.”

  He cracked an eye open. The sun wasn’t up yet. Even his ranch hands didn’t get up this early.

  “Braden, wake up.” Audrey hovered over him, her voice low and insistent.

  “If you want to crawl inside here with me, you’re more than welcome.” He grabbed her hand and drew her closer, thinking of her soft curves and how nicely they’d fit against him.

  “You’ve just described my fantasy that features you, but it will have to wait.” She shook his shoulder again. “Come quick. I want to show you something. It’s about Blue.”

  He reluctantly sat upright, his lower body covered by the sleeping bag. Wearing only his t-shirt and skivvies, he looked around for the remainder of his clothes.

  “What’s wrong?” Audrey asked, her tone impatient.

  “I can’t remember where my pants are.” He scrubbed a hand down his face, trying to clear the cobwebs from his head. “So much for this place being a mecca of healing. I think it’s only made me dumber.”

  Audrey yanked the zipper of his sleeping bag and opened the bag, exposing his bare legs.

  “Hey, it’s cold,” he protested.

  She pulled his pants from the bottom of the bag.

  His brain finally registered his actions from the previous night. “Oh yeah, now I remember.” The heated fondling with Audrey had left him with an uncomfortable bulge in his crotch. He’d shed his pants for a bit of relief. “How’d you know where they were?”

  “Lucky guess.” She shook out the jeans and shoved them at him. “I’ve done the same thing. Keeps them nice and warm.”

  He grinned, trying to keep his thoughts PG-rated. He stood and put on his jeans, then turned his boots over and tapped them in case a lizard or mouse, or even a snake, had moved in. Once he had footwear in place, Audrey shoved his coat at him, which he slid his arms into as he walked quickly to keep pace with her.

  After a short trek across ground coated in pine needles, Audrey stopped so suddenly that he barreled into her. “Sorry.”

  “They’re gone.” She spun around, her forehead sprouting deep furrows as a frantic look shone in her eyes.

  “They?” His back stiffened in alarm.

  “Blue. He was with several ravens.” She leveled her gaze at him. “They were feeding him, Braden. It was extraordinary. That must be how he survived.”

  “Why would they do that?”

  “It’s Whisper Rock, remember?”

  He shook his head. Four days ago, he’d come to the grazing lands his family leased from the state of Arizona to collect his cattle before winter set in. He’d done it for years alongside his dad. The difference this time had been that his father was gone.

  Cam Delaney had managed to join the roundup the previous year despite being sick, although all he’d been able to accomplish had been sitting his horse for a few hours each day. But it had brought a light back to his dad’s eyes, and Braden cherished the memory. It had been the last true ranch work the two of them had shared.

  Now, one year later, here he was in a scenario he never would have imagined.

  He wished now that he’d paid more attention to this place and the stories that existed in the Delaney family.

  “Look!” Audrey pointed to their left. “There’s Blue.”

  She took off and Braden followed. The terrain became more visible as the sun rose. Blue ran with his nose to the ground, following some unknown winding trail. Then he darted into a clump of bushes and disappeared.

  As they neared the spot, the dark entryway of a cave beckoned.

  “It must be his home.” Audrey knelt. “We should go inside. I’ve got a flashlight with my gear.”

  “All right. Stay here in case he comes out. I’ll be back.”

  * * *

  Braden crawled into the narrow opening, the flashlight revealing a ceiling high enough that he could stand. He helped Audrey to her feet, then stared at the dark tunnel beyond.

  “Are you sure Blue is in here?” he asked, his voice sounding deeper than usual in the close confines.

  “Pretty sure.”

  Audrey’s hand still gripped his. He gave it a reassuring squeeze then released it. He had a hand gun tucked into his pant pocket. Who knew what could be in here, be it man or beast.

  Maybe Blue had a family hidden away. The mutt couldn’t technically be a dad since he was neutered, but perhaps Whisper Rock had cured that, too.

  “Did you see that strange tree at the entrance?” she whispered.

  “Yes.”

  A giant mesquite tree stood vigil at the cave opening, its thick branches curving upward into a spiral like strands of a woman’s hair.

  “What do you make of it?”

  He inched slowly forward, Audrey’s hand clasping the back of his flannel shirt. “I don’t know. What do you make of it?”

  “It reminds me of the trees in Sedona, the ones near the vortex sites. They’re shaped that way, too. Some say it’s due to the energy present. Maybe this place is the same.”

  “You’re not boosting my confidence here,” he murmured.

  “Sorry.” She hooked her fingers into
the waistband of his jeans, her touch on his skin intimate and threatening to derail his concentration.

  On the left side of the pathway, a dark hole in the ground became visible. As they came to the edge, Braden carefully peered down. The absolute blackness swallowed the beam of the flashlight.

  He grabbed a rock from the ground and tossed it into the abyss. For several long seconds, they waited. Nothing. No sound.

  “That doesn’t make me feel good,” he said, thinking of Blue.

  If the dog regularly hung out here, how many times had he passed by this death pit? And if it was the first time he’d been in here, was he now gone? Blue hadn’t had a light, and one misstep could easily have been the last one he’d taken.

  Braden inhaled a deep breath, trying to shake off the dread and anxiety washing over him.

  “I’m sure he’s okay,” Audrey whispered. “Let’s scoot around.”

  She backed up and tugged at his shirt.

  As they proceeded into the mountain’s innards, the smell of damp dirt and musty walls filled his nose. The further they went, the more the extent of the tunnel surprised him. He shifted the light to the walls and noticed hand-hewn chisel marks. Definitely manmade.

  Was that death pit also handmade?

  A shuffling noise echoed toward them as the cave opened up into a large room. Braden caught sight of Blue against the far wall.

  Thank God.

  Braden went to the dog, and Blue wagged his tail in response, his ears pressed flat on his head in a submissive gesture.

  Braden crouched down and ran a hand through his fur. “Why’d you run in here?”

  Nearby, a pile of detritus drew Braden’s gaze, and he directed the light onto a pile of feathers, bones, and bits of fur. “Is this your home, Blue?” he asked.

  It had likely protected the dog from the elements and other animals, but at the same time, Blue easily could have been trapped if a pack of coyotes or a bear had managed to corner him. Of course, maybe that was the purpose of that pit—to swallow up intruders.

  Braden sighed and scratched the dog’s neck. “I can’t believe you’re alive, buddy.”

  “Can I have the light?” Audrey asked.

  He stood and handed it to her.

  She flashed the beam along the walls and ceiling, illuminating a collection of petroglyphs.

  “Indian paintings?” he asked.

  “It looks that way.” She stepped closer to examine several at eyelevel. “They appear to be Sinagua or Pueblo. Possibly Anasazi. I guess I’m getting my wish after all.”

  Figures of people with square bodies and stick limbs danced around several spiral symbols of varying sizes. Braden pointed to one. “I’ve always wondered what that meant, because isn’t it a common marking?”

  Audrey nodded. “The spiral is found in caves and tombs all over the world. Generally speaking, it’s a symbol of spirituality—a type of ancient symbol of evolution. It’s the never-ending cycle of growth and change, the cycles of the seasons. The direction can also mean different things.” She pointed to one. “This one is clockwise, which conveys power and the ascendency of life upward.” She scanned several of the other drawings. “There isn’t one going counterclockwise, but that usually indicates life descending, meaning to return or to go home.”

  She continued to inspect the wall art. “But I’ve always felt that spirals are a marker of some sort, probably placed by a priest or shaman to indicate that a certain place is special.”

  “Special how?”

  “A power place. Have you ever heard of ley lines?”

  “No.”

  “They’re areas on the earth that have strong electromagnetic energy. Ancient people have long known of them, and many places of worship were situated on or near the crossroads of these lines. The Hopi call them spots of the fawn. Stonehenge, Easter Island, probably the Grand Canyon—they’re all on ley lines. Without a doubt, Sedona sits at a crossroad of them. And now maybe here too.”

  She glanced down at Blue, who sat with his head bent back watching them. “You like it here, don’t you, Blue.” She took a deep breath. “In places like this, men, and probably women, would come to pray or meditate. Maybe they would have visions or lucid dreams. The added energy would make those types of activities easier.”

  “And interdimensional travel?”

  Audrey laughed. “Maybe that too.” She stepped to the side to inspect more of the artwork. “Have you ever been to Sedona?”

  “Can’t say I ever spent any time there, but I’ve passed through like most folks.” It was only a few hours from where they currently stood.

  “People who study the vortices in the area claim that the energy swirls up or down, depending on the site. They label them either feminine or masculine.” She made a sound of enlightenment. “Maybe that’s why that tree at the entrance looks that way. The energy here causes it to grow in a spiral fashion.”

  She swung the light upward and gasped. “Whoa. What’s that?”

  A bleached skull mounted on a shiny round base hung above the entrance from where they’d just come.

  “It’s a cow skull,” Braden said.

  “How odd. I’ve never seen something like this in Puebloan artifacts. It’s almost like it’s a talisman, hung for protection.” She spun around slowly, searching for anything else. “I really need to spend some time in here, but I need better light.” She looked at Braden. “Do I have your permission to return?”

  “We’ll need to run this by my mom.” But he was hedging. Wes Schmidt needed a reply by the end of the week on his offer to buy this area. Up until now, Braden had felt satisfied it was the right thing to do. Now he wasn’t so sure.

  He didn’t want to deny Audrey a chance to explore, especially considering how deeply this place—and a man or spirit named Thaddeus Marsh—had affected her life. But if word got out about strange activity, such as ghosts and paranormal shit, the rumors might kill any chance Braden had of selling in the future.

  He’d need to come clean with his mom, which he’d been hoping to avoid. She was still reeling from the death of his dad and Braden didn’t want to burden her with ranch activity. He’d thought he could handle it.

  But a certain archaeologist had changed that.

  Audrey swung her gaze to him and smiled. “Then let’s get Blue home.”

  Chapter Eight

  Audrey rode the land with Braden just like a cowgirl from a hundred years ago. They took their time since Blue was on foot for most of it, and Braden didn’t want to tire him out, although he did bring the dog onto the saddle a few times for a rest.

  Once they cleared the hills and Braden had cellphone reception, he called his range foreman to tell him of their whereabouts and to let Marvin and the others know that Braden wouldn’t be returning to the roundup.

  He also spoke to his mother, and Audrey could tell from the joy and emotion in his voice how deeply affected he was from finding Blue. She’d never seen a man so happy to see a dog.

  Audrey watched Blue as he ran beside Braden’s horse—he was exuberant and spunky and acted more like a puppy than a twelve-year-old dog. She wondered why he’d run off, how he’d found his way to Whisper Rock, and even more curious, how he’d found the cave. Had Thaddeus come to the dog in dreams as well? Had he guided Blue to keep him safe?

  She knew that dogs dreamed—her childhood pet had often pumped his legs in a running motion while snoozing—but could they awake and then remember?

  Or maybe it was something far simpler. Braden’s dad had likely taken the dog to the area, perhaps many times, and Blue was simply called through habit to a place that reminded him of his owner. Maybe Blue instinctually thought that the elder Delaney’s absence was just a change of location.

  Did Blue even know that Braden’s father was dead?

  It took the better part of the day to trek to Delaney Ranch. The sun warmed Audrey’s body and the time spent with Braden warmed her heart.

  “Have you spent all your life on the ran
ch?” she asked.

  “I did go to college, if that’s what you’re asking. I studied Environmental Science and Business at Northern Arizona University. I stayed close so I could keep working at the ranch.”

  “Have you ever wanted to do something else?”

  “Sure. When I was younger I thought about leaving, but the truth is, I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

  Now away from the tree line, they traversed a swath of prairie devoid of vegetation. In the distance, the San Francisco Peaks jutted from the ground, the tallest mountains for miles.

  “Do you enjoy your work?” he asked.

  She nodded. “My emphasis in school was Biological Anthropology, with my fieldwork in linguistics. I worked with the modern descendants of the Pueblo Indians in New Mexico. But when I got a job with Heritage Archaeology, it involved mainly site excavation. Turns out I like it more than I thought I would. It can be really tedious at times and takes a lot of patience, but it suits me.”

  She was glad that Bowie kept abreast of Braden’s horse of his own accord. Her horse sense hadn’t kicked in as she’d hoped. Luckily, the animal seemed to function well on his own. “I’ve been meaning to ask—what’s your horse’s name?” Maybe she needed to be friendlier with the critters.

  “Jethro Tull.”

  She frowned in suspicion. “Wait. Do you name your animals after 70’s rock bands?”

  “Damn, Driggs. I do have a weakness for smart women.” He grinned and his gaze sent a pulse through her that had nothing to do with the gait of her horse.

  Emboldened by his challenge, she sought to further impress him. “So, Bowie is….” She thought a minute, then raised an eyebrow. “David Bowie?”

  From beneath the shadow of his cowboy hat, he gave her an amused look.

  “And Stevie the mule is… He can’t be Stevie Nicks, since he’s a he, so it’s got to be Stevie Wonder.”

  “Now you know my secret.”

  Audrey laughed. “You mean that you’re as bad as an obsessed teenage girl?”

  “Hey, the 70’s had some of the most iconic music ever produced.” He shook his head in mock disgust. “Besides digging up the earth and learning about ancient civilizations, what’s your pet passion?”