Taming the Cowboy

by Aarsen, Carolyne

  Elliot wanted to say more but knew it would only make him move to places he promised himself he would never go again. He glanced over at her, taking another approach.

  “I’m sorry to hear about your leg. I guess I should be more tactful.”

  To his surprise she gave him a broad smile. “Actually, it’s kind of refreshing to have someone ask me point blank, instead of trying to act like they haven’t noticed when, in fact, they can’t seem to look away.”

  “Tricia always tells me I should be more discreet.”

  “She might be right, but I don’t mind.”

  Their eyes held in the growing darkness and once again Elliot felt a confusing attraction. He wanted to blame it on the intimate atmosphere but sensed there was something else happening. A connection he hadn’t felt in a long time.

  He pulled in a breath to say something to her when suddenly the door swung open, and a flashlight bounced its light around the room.

  Elliot startled then saw Kane standing in the opening.

  “There you are,” he said, his voice shaky, sounding very un-Kane like. “You kicked my heart into overdrive man. When I saw your truck in the ditch…” Kane dragged his hand over his face and, as he moved into the room, Zach pushed past him and rushed to Elliot.

  Zach grabbed him, holding him close in a tight hug, whispering his name over and over. Elliot was surprised at the jolt of emotion Zach’s arms around him created.

  When he pulled back, Kane also pulled him close.

  “I’m so glad you’re not hurt,” he murmured. Then he pulled back, his eyes wide. “How is Kinsley?”

  Elliot nodded toward the couch where Kinsley sat with her foot still elevated.

  “Hey. What happened?” he asked.

  “I sprained my ankle,” Kinsley said, shifting herself on the couch. “It’ll be fine.”

  Elliot could see Kane’s eyes flicking over Kinsley, as if to make sure everything else was okay with her. Then he frowned. “So why is your ankle wrapped in Elliot’s shirt?”

  “Didn’t have a tensor bandage,” Elliot said with a laugh. “I used what was at hand.”

  Kane shot him a wry smile. “Good thinking.”

  “When we saw that truck in the ditch…” Zack shook his head, his hand on Elliot’s shoulder. “I thought the worst.”

  “How did you know where to look?” Elliot asked.

  “When you didn’t come home we tried your cell phones but nothing was going through.”

  “Mine’s dead, and we have no idea where Kinsley’s is,” Elliot said.

  “Anyway, we started combing the roads between here and town and found the truck. When we didn’t see you inside I remembered that Tanner’s place was close, and here you are.” Kane shook his head, as if still trying to absorb it all.

  “Well let’s put that fire out, get you guys out of here and back home.” Zach rubbed Elliot’s arm, his smile warming Elliot’s heart.

  “Here, let me give you a hand,” Kane was saying to Kinsley, holding his hand out to her as Zach and Kane took care of the fire.

  She hesitated, shooting Elliot a panicked look, and he thought of the rip up the back of her skirt.

  “It’s still raining out there, you might want this.” He grabbed his coat off the firewood stack and brought it to her. He gently helped her to her feet and caught a grateful look as he wrapped his coat around her waist, tying the arms in the front.

  “Maybe be better if you put it over her shoulders,” Kane said, sounding puzzled.

  “No. That’s fine. This works,” Kinsley said.

  Ignoring his brother’s confused look, Elliot slipped his arm around her waist to support her.

  “Let's get out of here,” he said, slanting her another smile.

  When she returned it his heart skipped, then raced.

  So easily he had fallen into a place he had rigorously avoided.

  He dragged his gaze away from hers, forced his wayward heart to settle down. He had too much riding on the line right now to be distracted by this attractive woman. A woman who was exactly the wrong one for him.

  But as he helped her out of the house and through the still-driving rain, holding her close to protect her, he felt the pull she exerted on him.

  Thank goodness they both had their exit plans in place.

  * * *

  “Are you sure your leg isn’t too sore?” Faith knelt by the bed, fussing with the tensor bandage she had put on Kinsley’s ankle. “Tight enough? Too tight?”

  “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” Kinsley sat back, grabbed her laptop, and opened it up. “I hope you took some pictures of the dress.” She needed to get back on track. The time she’d spent with Elliot had hit her harder than she wanted to acknowledge. It had been a moment of closeness and connection, and she knew she would have a hard time returning to the businesslike relationship that had kept him at arm’s length. She couldn’t afford to let someone as attractive, appealing, and transient as Elliot get anywhere near her heart.

  “I didn’t.” Faith gave her an apologetic look. “I was so worried about you and Elliot. When I heard about the accident…” She pressed her hands against her chest in a dramatic gesture.

  “When do you think the guys will be back?” Kinsley asked, keeping her tone businesslike.

  After Kane, Zach, and Elliot dropped Kinsley off at the ranch, they went back into the rain to pull Elliot’s truck out of the ditch.

  “I’m not sure,” Faith admitted. “It depends on how badly the truck was damaged and how easy it will be to pull out.”

  “I sure hope they can find my purse.”

  “You lost that too?”

  “Yeah. Somehow it flew out of the truck. And the flowers…” Kinsley heaved out a heavy sigh. “That’ll be a disaster. I can’t imagine that they would’ve survived that crash or the storm.” She bit her lip, thinking. “We might have to come up with another plan.”

  Maybe this was a blessing in disguise. Maybe now she could convince Faith to go with the traditional florist. Though she had to admit, as they were picking out the pots of plants, she was already imagining where she would put them. They were certainly a cheaper option than going completely with florist’s bouquets and arrangements and, for the price, they got a lot of flowers.

  Cheap. Tacky. Unconventional.

  Drake’s sarcastic voice slipped into her thoughts followed by a picture of his mother’s disapproving face. She shook her head, as if to dislodge the memory. Why did she care what they might think? This was her plan, and she wanted to work with Faith, not force her own vision on her as Drake and his mother often did with hesitant brides.

  “Well, let’s wait and see how they look when the guys come back,” Faith said with an encouraging smile. “You said Elliot tied a tarp over them, so maybe they didn’t get too blasted by the rain.”

  Faith got up from the floor, walked around the bed, and sat down beside her. “I feel really bad about the accident. I feel like I could have prevented it somehow.”

  Kinsley chuckled. “What? You think you could have single-handedly kept that deer out of our path?”

  “It’s the butterfly effect. Maybe if I had come along with you guys, you might have left a little earlier or a little later and not had that deer jump in front of you and hit the ditch.”

  “Or,” Kinsley said with a light laugh, “if you had come along maybe we would have actually hit that deer, and who knows what could have happened then?”

  “I suppose,” Faith agreed.

  “Besides, if I hadn’t been wearing those crazy high heels I wouldn’t have twisted my ankle.”

  “I’m sure Elliot was merciless in his teasing. He used to bug me whenever I wore them too. I’m sure he figures the only thing a girl should wear that has heels are cowboy boots. He always did like the more earthy types.”

  Kinsley brushed away a niggle of unease. What did she care about Elliot’s preferences in footwear for women? Or the type of women he liked?

  “So whe
re did someone like Carmen fit into his ideal? She certainly doesn’t seem the cowboy-boot type.”

  “I think he just went out with Carmen because they’d been friends for so long. I don’t think either of them were fully committed to the relationship. Besides, Elliot’s dad didn’t like her.”

  “Is that why they broke up?”

  “Partly. But I think it mostly had to do with the fact that Elliot couldn’t get rid of his need for his father’s approval, and Carmen didn't want to compete with that.”

  Kinsley’s thoughts flitted back to her conversation with Elliot in Tanner’s house.

  “Does Elliot ever see his father?”

  “Not if he can help it. Though Dennis won’t leave the poor guy alone.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Again she thought of some of the cryptic comments Elliot had dropped in the conversation.

  “Dennis will phone him. Ream him out for something he did wrong on one of his rides. He was such a horrible dad, and yet, he always makes it sound like he’s so concerned about Elliot’s well-being. Always trying to give him tips on how to ride better. I think Dennis still thinks he’s some kind of rodeo legend.” Faith folded her arms across her stomach, shaking her head. “It’s been years and years since Dennis won his title at the CFR. But he still acts like it was just yesterday and the fact that he’s been there and Elliot hasn’t is something he can’t let go of. And for some reason, neither can Elliot.”

  Kinsley absorbed this information, her heart once again going out to Elliot. To have such a dysfunctional father, someone who was so unkind. So uncaring.

  “Was his dad abusive?”

  “I’m sure he was. Tricia told me that whenever he’d come back from staying at his dad’s place, Elliot would have more bruises. One time he came back with a broken arm.” Faith shot Kinsley a horrified look, placing her hands on Kinsley’s arm. “You can’t say anything to Elliot about that. He told her in private, and she told me, and now I’m telling you. Elliot’s pretty closed-mouthed about how his dad treated him. It’s like some secret he’s ashamed of.”

  Kinsley thought of Elliot’s comments to her about his father having a mean left hook. Why had he told her if he was keeping it from other people?

  Why did you tell him about your accident?

  She shook the questions off. Even as she tried to tell herself it was just a casual conversation, she knew the time they had spent in Tanner’s house was something unique for both of them.

  However, she didn’t want to dwell on that. She couldn’t be distracted by a good-looking cowboy with a messy past and a questionable future.

  “You seem interested in Elliot. What happened in Tanner Bond’s house? Did he kiss you?”

  “What? No. Why would you say something like that?” But even as Kinsley pushed back at Faith’s questions, her cheeks warmed.

  Because, whether she liked it or not, there had been a second she thought he might. A second she wished he had.

  “I don’t know. It’s like there’s something different between you two. You don’t seem as prickly around each other.”

  “You noticed that in the few minutes that the guys were back here to drop me off?”

  Faith nodded, giving her friend a shrewd look. “Yeah. I know how appealing Elliot is. But Elliot never wanted the girls that he could get easily. He always wanted a challenge. You’re a challenge to him because you’re so different from any of the other girls he’s ever dated or hung around with.”

  Kinsley didn’t want her cheeks to warm the way they did. Didn’t want to see Elliot as anything more than a reluctant assistant.

  “I see how he looks at you. And, my friend, whether you like it or not, I saw how you looked at him just a while ago too.”

  “He helped me out when I twisted my ankle.”

  He did more than that and you know it.

  Kinsley dismissed the insidious voice even as she remembered him carrying her on his back as if she was no heavier than a child.

  He was strong and confident.

  And far too appealing.

  “So, let’s talk about flowers,” she said, forcing her attention to the real reason she was here. This wedding and its success. “When they return, if the plants aren’t salvageable, we should make alternate plans.” She was determined to keep Faith on topic. “I also hope they found my cell phone. All my contacts are on there.” She would need to get in touch with Jill soon.

  Faith was quiet, and Kinsley chanced a look her way.

  “Elliot is a good guy, you know,” Faith said. “He comes across all cocky and confident, but he has a good heart.”

  “I’m sure he does. But that doesn’t matter. I’m not interested.” She opened up a new document, sucking in a slow breath.

  “I guess it’s just as well,” Faith agreed, settling beside Kinsley on the bed. “Elliot has had one thing on his mind for the past five years, and that’s winning at the Canadian Finals Rodeo. And if he gets that, then he’s got his sights set on the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas next year.” Faith frowned as if she didn’t understand her future brother-in-law. “He’s been working toward that ever since I came to Rockyview. Apparently he got hurt so many times when he started, Zach wanted him to quit. But he wouldn’t. So Zach hired an ex-saddle bronc rider to help him out. He’s been chasing that CFR championship ever since. And, like I said, the NFR after that. Though I don’t know what he’ll do if, by some stroke of good fortune and amazing riding, he gets them both. His life will have lost its purpose.”

  Kinsley knew she should shut this conversation down but curiosity made her ask, “Why do you say that?”

  “He’ll never admit it, but his whole life Elliot has been trying to prove to Dennis that he’s worth something. That he’s important. He thinks he can do that by winning what his dad did. But it won’t satisfy him, because even if he does, Dennis won’t recognize it. Won’t give Elliot the approval he’s been looking for. Elliot could win every competition he enters, score the highest, do the best, but I don’t think Dennis would ever acknowledge it.” Faith heaved out a sigh.

  “It sounds like he had a difficult relationship with his father,” Kinsley said. She already knew that, of course, but for some irrational reason she wanted to hear Faith’s take on it. Wanted to find out more about the man who was edging more and more into her thoughts.

  “If you want to call it a relationship. Elliot says he can’t stand the guy, but somehow Dennis has this hold on Elliot he doesn’t want to recognize. That man has caused Elliot so much pain in so many ways.” Faith’s expression grew somber as she fiddled with her engagement ring, and Kinsley felt a tremor of pity for Elliot she knew he wouldn’t appreciate.

  “Do you think he would quit the rodeo if he doesn’t make it to either of the finals?”

  Faith paused a moment. “I don’t know. It’s such a thing with him. It’s defined his life. It’s become his entire focus, trying to please a parent that won’t be pleased.”

  Just like Drake, constantly trying to curry favor with his own mother, that critical old bat.

  Elliot was the same.

  The cold thought planted itself, stuck, as her practical mind called out, Danger, danger.

  Caring for a man like him would take too much out of her, and she couldn’t do that again.

  Chapter 8

  Kinsley limped down the stairs, annoyed at herself for sleeping so long. If she’d had her phone she could have set an alarm. Instead she slept most of the morning away. She blamed it on the painkillers she’d taken. She had hoped to get an early start.

  And to see if Elliot was still around?

  Nope. Not at all. And that certainly wasn’t the reason she was wearing pants today. And a more casual shirt. The pants were more comfortable. That was all.

  Last night she and Faith had eaten cereal for dinner while they watched television, waiting for the guys to come back. But by the time nine o’clock rolled around, Faith gave up, helped Kinsley up the stairs to her room, and
then left for her place in town.

  Kinsley had gone to bed as well and hadn’t heard if the men had even made it home. But she thought Elliot might still be around this morning.

  “Good morning,” Zach said, looking up from his paper as she entered the kitchen. “Looks like the ankle is still sore.”

  “It is, but I’m sure it’ll be okay.” She was surprised Zach was still here. Usually he left with Kane first thing in the morning. Guess they all made it back. “How is Elliot’s truck?”

  “It’s fine. Was a real struggle to get it out of the ditch. He never could have, like he figured. We pulled it into the shop last night, looked it over. It needs a new tie rod and a new rim and windows replaced but once we get that done it will be drivable.”

  She wanted to ask where Elliot was but kept that question to herself. Last night, after Faith left, she had told herself to pull it together. To not let one afternoon alone with a very appealing man distract her.

  “Did you want breakfast? Elliot made eggs and he told me to save some for you.”

  It was small kindnesses like that that allowed thoughts of him to tiptoe back into her mind again.

  “Thanks, but I think I’ll check out the flowers,” she said, granting him a smile. “If they’ve been loaded off the truck yet.” And maybe Elliot was outside. Maybe she’d see him.

  “Oh, yeah. Elliot was out early this morning unloading them before he left.”

  “Left? For where?”

  “He’s off to another rodeo.”

  Of course he was. Another rodeo and a reminder to her of his focus and the things he was chasing.

  However, she still couldn’t help a lingering disappointment.

  “And how are you doing?” Zach asked, his eyes kind, holding hers.

  “Just a little achy. But it will pass.” She wasn’t sure if he was asking after her physical or mental health but chose to play it safe. “I better get outside and look at those flowers.”

  “Oh, and Elliot told me to tell you they found your purse. Your phone got wet so he put in a bowl of rice. It’s on the counter there. Don’t know what good that would do.”