“Think you can make it to the truck?” He took her arm.
“Yes. Of course.”
He thought about scooping her up and carrying her. But he knew she’d be mortified to have the others see her weakness.
She didn’t look at Russ as she turned away.
When they were gone, Russ was still chuckling as he turned toward the calf. He was surprised to see Cody standing there, staring down at the carcass.
“You here to help me drag that back to the others?” Russ called.
Cody merely looked at him.
“What’s the matter with you, old man? Lost your tongue?”
“Nope.” Cody stayed where he was, waiting until the wrangler came closer. “Just wanted to let you know you’d better lay off Dr. Ryan.”
“Lay off what?”
“Play that innocent act with somebody else.” Cody never raised his voice. He didn’t need to. He’d been around long enough that the other wranglers knew he only spoke when he had something to say. “I overheard what you told her about this calf.”
“You think I was lying? Look at those markings. That’s the calf Hazard delivered in the barn, the day that fancy city doctor fainted. And you know it is.”
“Maybe.” Cody pinned him with a cool look. “But she wouldn’t have known that if you hadn’t told her. And there’s no denying, you enjoyed telling her.”
“Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t. What business is it of yours?”
“I’m making it my business. You see you don’t bother Dr. Ryan again. Or you’ll answer to me, Russ.”
Thurman’s eyes narrowed with simmering anger. “You’d best mind your own business, old man. Or—”
“Or what?” Cody hadn’t moved a muscle. But at the steely look in his eyes, Russ automatically took a step back.
“Maybe whatever’s killing all these calves will decide to do the same thing to humans. If it does, you could be first in line.”
Cody swung away in that loose-limbed gait of a man who had no fear. “You just remember what I told you, Russ. Dr. Ryan is off-limits.”
“If you’ve decided to become her bodyguard, old man, she has about as much chance at safety as these calves.”
Cody didn’t even acknowledge him. He just kept on walking until he reached the truck.
Minutes later they had left the herd behind. And headed back to the Double W in silence.
“Erin.” Hazard paused in the doorway of the lab.
Erin was peering intently at the sample under the microscope. It took her a full minute to lift her head.
Her color was back. And those intense blue eyes behind the round glasses had lost that look of panic.
She’d changed from the damp, blood-stained jeans into her navy skirt and a prim, white blouse. And after standing in the shower for a full twenty minutes, she felt as though she’d washed away the lingering stench of death. Now, after several hours in the lab, she was feeling as good as new and back in her element.
“Maggie has dinner ready. Time to take a break.”
It took her a moment to realize that the light outside the wall of windows had faded to dusk. “All right. If I have to.”
His grin was quick and dangerous. “Yeah. You have to. You can’t spend all your time working.”
“Why not? You do.”
He laughed and held out his hand. “That’s different. I have a ranch to run. Come on.”
With a sigh she slipped off the stool and placed her hand in his. The jolt was instantaneous. It sent a rush of heat through her veins that was both shocking and pleasant. “I haven’t found anything new.”
“There’s always tomorrow.”
“You say that. But every day the mystery isn’t solved, you lose more calves.”
He linked his fingers with hers. “Don’t remind me. Come on. Maggie’s meals have a way of making us forget our troubles.”
As they entered the kitchen, the sound of laughter greeted them. Erin took her place at the table and realized how much she’d begun to look forward to the teasing humor of this family. After the grim realities of the day, being with them had a way of releasing all the tension and renewing her energy, as well as her faith that there would be a solution to the problem.
Ace was regaling Maggie with stories of their rough-and-tumble teen years. He buttered a roll and glanced at Chance. “Do you remember the day we came home and told Hazard you’d bought an oil rig, and I’d hired a company to bore some soil samples?”
Chance nodded. “He really came unglued.” He touched a hand to his jaw. “I thought for a minute he’d broken my jaw with that punch he threw.”
“You came to blows?” Erin glanced at Hazard.
“Yeah.” He grinned, remembering.
“Hazard thought we were going to contaminate his precious land.” Ace passed a plate of steaming vegetables. “We had to do some quick talking to calm him down.”
“As I recall, the talking came later.” Chance laughed. “After we’d pounded each other into the ground.”
“From what I’ve seen—” Maggie had carved a standing rib roast and began to pass it around “—you three have a history of fighting first and resorting to words later.”
“It just works better that way. It’s a pearl of wisdom passed down from our father.” Ace winked at Erin, who was listening to all this with her mouth open. “First you pound the other guy into oblivion. Then he’s ready to listen to reason.”
She was laughing as she shook her head in wonder. “But what happens if the other guy refuses to be reasonable?”
“Then you pound him again. Sooner or later he comes around.” Ace took a bite of beef, then closed his eyes. “You know, Maggie, it’s a good thing you’re already married, or I’d have to marry you, just so you could cook like this every day of my life.”
“Find your own woman,” Chance said with a laugh.
“I think you’re right. I’m going to have to keep my eye out for one. One just like Maggie. If I ever find a woman who can cook like this, I’m going to carry her off to some mountain hideaway and keep her there until she agrees to marry me.”
“That’s the only way a woman would agree to be your wife.” Hazard held the platter for Erin and frowned when she took only half a piece of beef. “Come on. You’ve been working since early this morning. Your body needs fuel.”
“Thanks for your concern.” She grinned. “But my body will tell me when it’s running on empty.”
Ace arched a brow. “Hey, Doc. That’s pretty good. If you stay here long enough, you may find yourself coming up with all sorts of smart-aleck remarks like that.”
She paused. Considered. Then her smile widened. “It was rather smart-alecky, wasn’t it?”
“Oh-oh.” Chance threw back his head and laughed. “I’d watch out now, if I were you, Hazard. She’s starting to get the hang of how we do things around here. Next she’ll be throwing a punch first and asking questions later.”
They were all laughing as they finished their meal.
“Okay,” Ace called. “What’s for dessert, Maggie?”
“How do you know I made any?”
“Because you always do. And it’s always just what we wanted.”
“You’re really getting spoiled.” She topped off their coffee, then turned away to fetch a tray of brownies. “One of these days I’m not going to be around to fix your meals, and you’re all going to have to go back to the E.Z. Diner for overdone burgers.”
Ace and Hazard groaned, while Chance merely chuckled. “As I said. You want a good cook like Maggie? Find your own.”
Ace looked up. “Do you cook, Doc?”
She shook her head. “I can hardly boil water. But I’m very good at following directions. As long as it comes in a can or a box, with plenty instructions, I’ll never starve.”
Ace gave an exaggerated sigh. “I guess I’ll have to look somewhere else for that wife.”
Maggie laughed. “Believe me, Ace. When you fall for someone, it won’t matt
er whether or not she can cook.”
“You don’t think so?”
“I know it.”
“Whew. That’s a relief.” When the others merely looked at him he added, “When I was at Clancy’s the other night, I was really admiring Beryl Spence’s big—”
His two brothers shot him a warning frown that had him stopping in midsentence. “I was just going to say that she has really great—”
“We get the picture,” Maggie said with a laugh. “But that’s one more thing that won’t matter when you really fall in love.”
“It won’t?”
She was laughing harder at the look on his face. “Love just doesn’t care about a person’s size or shape.”
“Now I know I’m never falling in love.” Ace shoved away from the table. “I think I’ll head on into town and see if there are any prospective victims at Clancy’s.”
“While you’re there, you might want to admire Beryl Spence.” Chance kept a perfectly straight face. “Just in case you get bit by the lovebug. After that, your looking days will be over.”
“Yeah? Well, don’t ever count on that happening, Bro. The day I quit looking, I’ll be dead.” Ace snatched up his parka. Minutes later they heard the sound of his truck as he drove away.
Then, as if by some silent command, they all burst into gales of laughter.
Later, as she made her way to the lab, Erin was still smiling. She couldn’t remember when she’d met a more amazing, amusing family than this.
“I can’t believe you’re still here.” Hazard stood in the doorway of the lab, his arms crossed over his chest. “Chance and I have been in the library, going over the books. I was heading to bed when I saw the light in here. I thought maybe you’d just forgotten to turn it off.”
“I just wanted to check a few things.” Erin idly rubbed the stiffness in her neck as she slid off the stool.
“Look, Erin.” Concern was etched on Hazard’s face. “I don’t want you working day and night on this. It isn’t worth sacrificing your sleep.”
“Don’t worry about me.” She picked up the blood sample and returned it to the refrigerator.
When she turned, he was still standing in the doorway, his arms still firmly crossed over his chest.
Disappointment washed over her. After their scene that morning, she’d been hoping they would find some time alone. But all day she’d had the distinct impression that he was deliberately keeping his distance.
Did he regret what they’d shared? She felt a sudden wrenching ache around her heart. Was that why he hadn’t come near her? Because he didn’t want to repeat his mistake of that morning? Was it because of what had happened up at Peterson’s? Was he repulsed by the fact that she was such a coward? She didn’t think she could bear it if he turned away from her because of what had happened today.
“Come on.” He held the door. “I’ll walk you to your room.”
As she moved past him, her body brushed his and she felt him stiffen and pull back. With a wave of bitter disappointment she watched as he switched off the lights and closed the door. Then he moved to her side, keeping enough distance that they didn’t touch.
When they reached her room she couldn’t contain herself. Without taking time to think she blurted, “Why are you avoiding me, Hazard? Are you sorry about this morning?”
“Sorry?” He caught her roughly by the upper arms. At once he felt the jolt. Judging by the look of surprise in her eyes, he knew she’d felt it, too. He lifted his hands, then, pressed his forehead to hers and began running his fingertips up and down her arms feeling a mixture of need and frustration. It was an effort to keep his touch light. What he wanted, more than anything in the world, was to carry her through the doorway to her bed and ravish her until they were both sated.
“You’re right about one thing, Erin. I have been avoiding you. But not for the reason you think.”
“You don’t have any regrets about this morning?”
“My only regret is that I’m so rough. I know…” He struggled with the words. They’d never been his strong suit. He’d always left the talking to Chance and Ace. “I know that you’re sweet and…innocent. And I don’t want to hurt you.”
A sigh welled up from deep inside, and she threw her arms around his neck. “Is that all?”
“All?” He drew back so that he could see her eyes. “Erin, I—” he swallowed “—what I want…” He shook his head, afraid to even try to put into words all that he was feeling. “I just want us to take it slow and easy. So that every step along the way you can say no.”
“And if I don’t?”
He thought for a moment his heart was going to leap clear out of his mouth. He swallowed, then couldn’t stop the dangerous grin that curved his lips. “If you don’t tell me no, I’m going to make those bulls out on the range look like lapdogs.”
She lifted her face to him and closed her eyes. “Then, would you please kiss me? Right now?”
It was the sweetest invitation. But still he held back.
“First, open your eyes.”
Her lids flickered, then lifted. “Why?”
“Because.” He moved his hands down her back, along her sides, until his thumbs encountered the soft swell of her breasts. He saw the way her eyes widened. He could feel the little jolt of fear that rippled through her. But to her credit she didn’t pull away. “I want to see you. I want you to see me.”
He lowered his head and brushed his mouth over hers. And though she hungered for more, he took his time, tracing the outline of her lips with his tongue, before plunging it inside to mate with hers.
“Oh, Hazard.” Her hands tightened at his neck, and she drew him closer until his body was imprinting itself on hers.
It was such a wonderful body. All hard angles and planes, that seemed to fit so perfectly against her softness. And his arms, all corded with muscles, made her feel warm and safe and…treasured.
“I’ve got to—” he lifted his head and took in several deep breaths to clear his head “—say good-night now.”
“So soon?”
Disappointment had her eyes turning stormy. He loved her innocence. Loved the way all her feelings were there, for the whole world to see. She was, he realized, completely guileless. But he was fully aroused. And this was all too much for her. And far too soon.
“Erin, if you knew what I really wanted to do right now, you’d be running for the door. And you wouldn’t stop until you were safely back in Laramie.”
“But I—” She looked up and saw his eyes. They weren’t warm with laughter now. Or sparkling with humor. There was something hot and fierce in them that she’d never seen before. Something dark and dangerous.
She stepped back. “All right. Good night, Hazard.”
“’Night.”
He left without a backward glance. When he reached his own room, he crossed to the window and stood there for long minutes, staring out into the darkness.
His father used to say that when a man cared more about what would happen to the woman than he cared about his own needs, it was a sure sign of love.
He wasn’t sure about the love part. It didn’t seem possible, since it had happened so fast. Without warning. It certainly wasn’t something he’d wanted. Not with someone like Erin. She was all wrong for him. And this was the wrong time in his life. He had more important things to worry about right now than love. But there it was. And there was nothing to be done about it now, except hope he didn’t hurt her in the process. Because a woman as fine and special as Erin Ryan could do a whole lot better than the son of a hard-drinking, hard-living Wyoming rancher.
Chapter 8
“I’m afraid I have some bad news.” Chance stepped into the kitchen while the others were gathered around the table for breakfast.
Everyone looked up.
Maggie stepped out behind him. Instead of her usual jeans, she was wearing an elegant amber dress and matching coat. At her throat and ears were a gleaming topaz necklace and earrings, a
gift from her husband.
“What’s up?” Ace, flush from his win at Clancy’s the night before, was dressed for business.
“I have to go up to New York for a couple of days.” Chance turned to Cody. “Think you have time to drive to the airstrip before you head up to Peterson’s?”
“Sure thing.” The old cowboy tucked into his breakfast, unwilling to let it go to waste.
Chance turned to his brothers. “I’ve decided to combine a little business with pleasure. So I’m taking my bride along.”
“Hey. No fair.” Ace downed his glass of orange juice in one long swallow. “You’re taking our cook.”
“Huh. You think that’s bad.” Agnes Tallfeather made her usual grudging comment as she trudged through the kitchen carrying a bucket and rags. “I just found out I’m going to be spending a couple of days cooking for the wranglers. It won’t be easy getting them to eat chili and burgers, after all that fancy food Maggie’s been feeding them.”
“Just remind them that you fed them for years before Maggie came along. And if they complain, tell them to drive into town and eat at the diner or try the poison at Clancy’s,” Chance called.
Ace grinned. “Actually, this works out really well for me. I was planning to spend a couple of days up at the mine, anyway. Looks like my timing was perfect, as always. I won’t be missing a thing around here.” He turned to Hazard and Erin. “You two, on the other hand, will have to make a choice. Muddle through on your own, or head on into Prosperous and take your chances at the diner.”
“Now there’s an idea.” Hazard turned to Erin. “Did you get to see much of the town when you passed through?”
She shook her head. “I didn’t even stop. I did notice a few shops and businesses along the main street, before I veered off the highway toward the Double W. But there wasn’t time to investigate them.”
“Then today’s your lucky day.” Hazard followed Cody’s lead and dug into his omelette. “As soon as I finish my chores, we’ll head into Prosperous, and you’ll get to meet Thelma.”
“Thelma?”