Cowboy for Keeps

“I’d have rather brought a toolbox. I won’t make that mistake again.”

Conner led the horses to a tree, the largest in the vicinity, and tied them securely. “Be right back,” he said, and headed in the direction of the hilltop.

“Can I come with you?” Dallas chased after him.

“Better stay. Someone has to watch the wagon and horses.”

“If that wagon rolls backward, I won’t be much help.”

“You can holler. I’ll come running.”

“By then it will be too late.”

“Would you rather call Gavin? He’ll need directions on where to find us. And a list of what tools to bring.”

“I won’t be much help with that, either.” She shrugged. “I have no clue where we are.”

He brushed a tousled lock of hair from her face. Her skin was cool to the touch and incredibly soft. “It’s going to be fine. The worse that will happen is we’re late for dinner.”

Possibly really late if he didn’t get through to Gavin.

He’d be stuck with Dallas. For hours. Maybe all night. They’d have to cuddle in the wagon under the tarp to stay warm.

“I, um—” he cleared his suddenly dry throat “—I’d better get going.”

Her fingers clutched his jacket sleeve, delaying him. “I’m sorry to be such a wimp.”

“It’s okay to be scared.”

“I’m not scared.” She lifted her face to his. “Not with you.”

He was sure she could read his every thought, sense his every emotion.

Warning bells went off inside Conner’s head, creating an enormous din. He moved quickly away before temptation won out and he crossed the line into dangerous territory.

* * *

HALFWAY TO THE TOP, Conner glanced back at Dallas. She’d perched on a large boulder not far from the wagon, hugging her knees. Was she thinking of him? Of those moments that kept occurring between them?

He was.

Impatient, he dug out his phone. One bar appeared in the corner. Enough to try.

The signal took forever to connect, the icon blinking endlessly. Frustrated, Conner hit the end-call button and tried again. Finally, Gavin answered.

“Conner, what’s up?”

“We have a problem.”

“You there? I can barely hear you, buddy.”

Sharp static cut off every third word. Conner strode farther up the hill. “Is this better?”

“Some.”

Speaking loudly, he quickly summarized their predicament.

“We’ll take the ATVs,” Gavin told him. “It’ll be quicker than riding. I doubt the Forest Service will give us grief for using them, since it’s an emergency.”

Before Conner finished with the details of their location, he lost the connection. Moving to a new spot made no difference. He blamed the clouds, which had drifted to gather overhead. Not rain clouds, fortunately. Tomorrow, however, would be a different story, according to the weather report.

He could only hope he’d relayed enough information to Gavin for him to find them. In their favor, no one else in these parts knew the McDowell Mountains better than his friend.

Dallas hopped to her feet at Conner’s approach, relief written all over her face. “I heard you talking to someone.”

“Gavin’s on his way.” Conner decided not to worry her about the incomplete directions. “My guess is he’ll bring one or two guys with him.”

“How soon till they get here?” She rubbed her arms through the material of her thin jacket.

“An hour. Two at the most. Are you cold?”

“Not yet.” She peered anxiously at the clouds.

“I brought the rain ponchos. They’re also good for conserving body heat.”

“That may come in handy if Gavin’s late.” She reached over the side of the wagon for the ice chest and opened the lid. “Right now, I’m thirsty.” She removed two bottles of water. “Want one?”

“How comfortable is that boulder?” Conner downed half his bottle.

“Not very.”

“There’s a nice spot over there.” He indicated a place near the horses. “We can sit while we wait for Gavin.”

Her mouth turned down at the corners. “Looks a little rocky.”

“I can fix that.” Conner stepped around her, gripped the edge of the wagon seat and pushed up. It immediately came loose.

Dallas gasped. “You mean to tell me that thing’s not nailed down? What if it had come off during the ride?”

Conner removed the seat and set it on the ground. “We’d have had to be going over a pretty big bump at a full gallop for that to happen.”

She didn’t look reassured.

“Come on.” He carried the wagon seat to the spot he’d chosen and set it down, making sure it was stable. “Ladies first,” he said, gesturing grandly.

Playing along, she gave a little curtsy before sitting. “Thank you, sir.”

He joined her, the seat bouncing on its spindly legs.