Montana Wrangler

Paige should have known that. But with her parents, she’d always done exactly what they had asked of her. If they came to a performance of the sixth grade class, she was thrilled. And that only happened if the hardware store could close early. She’d longed for her parents’ attention almost as much as Krissy had. The only way Paige could gain their praise was to excel at the hardware store.

A black-and-white dog with floppy ears trotted over to greet Paige. Noticing the dog was a bit plump, she knelt to pet him.

“Oh, aren’t you a good boy.” His tail wagged enthusiastically. “What’s his name?”

“That’s Archie,” Jay said. “He’s actually a she. Bryan sort of misnamed her, but it stuck anyway. She keeps the horses company, the coyotes away and lets us know if there’s a bear around.”

She popped to her feet. “There are bears here?”

“Not right now. If there were, Archie would be barking her head off.”

Taking a quick look up the hillside, Paige felt only marginally reassured by Jay’s comment.

“Archie’s also pregnant,” Jay said.

“Really? I did think he...she was getting plenty to eat.” She’d never owned a dog. Too much trouble, her mother had insisted. She imagined seeing newborn puppies would be quite a treat.

She edged closer to the corral, Jay and his horse, feeling safe with the sturdy fence between her and the animal. The way the horse watched her with those big brown eyes unsettled her. When he raised his head and nodded twice, she wondered what he was thinking and how far away she should stand from those big teeth of his.

“What kind of a horse is that?” She had to admit his chestnut coat was the reddish-brown shade of hair color many women spent big bucks to achieve.

“A quarter horse.” Jay flipped the stirrup up onto the saddle and reached for the cinch. “Best all-around riding horse there is.” Pride lifted his words.

“Does he have a name?”

“Thunder Boy.”

“That sounds ominous.”

Resting his arm across the saddle, Jay chuckled. “He’s harmless. The way he’s nodding at you means he wants you to say hello and pat his nose.”

She took a step back. “That’s okay. No need for introductions.”

His smile recast itself into a scowl. “Paige, if you want to get to know Bryan better, you’re going to have to make friends with horses. They aren’t going to hurt you.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “One of them killed my sister.”

“Krissy did that to herself.”

If Jay’s comment was meant to make her feel more comfortable around Thunder Boy, or any other horse, it wasn’t working.

He patted the horse’s neck, pulled something from his shirt pocket and stepped up to the fence. “Here.” He held out his hand. “Thunder really likes apples. Why don’t you feed him a piece?”

Paige gaped at the quartered apple. “I don’t think so.”

As agilely as a gymnast, Jay boosted himself over the corral and landed beside Paige. “We’ll feed him together. Come on.” Taking her hand, he opened her fingers and placed the apple on her palm. “Thunder will be your friend forever. I promise.”

Ripples of panic swam through her midsection. “No, really.”

Despite her refusal, he put her open hand on his palm. His warmth, the feel of his wide callused hand beneath hers, seemed to transmit a dose of the courage she’d always lacked. The sensation spread up her arm, blocking out her fears and her good sense.

Thunder bent his head over the top railing toward her hand.

“Steady now,” Jay crooned, either to Thunder or Paige, she wasn’t sure which.

Thunder’s big lips parted, revealing huge teeth. Paige almost bolted. But the horse kissed her palm with those lips in the gentlest of touches, testing the apple, then lifting it into his mouth.

Paige blinked, studied her palm, which was still intact and looked small in Jay’s much larger hand. She met his blue-green gaze. “His lips are so soft.”

Jay’s mouth tilted at the corners. “Soft as...” His thumb caressed her palm. “As soft as your hand.” He’d lowered his voice to a deep, masculine timbre that rolled through his broad chest.

Still gazing into his eyes, she slowly withdrew her hand.

“I’ve got another piece of apple if you want to try it again,” he said, his voice tempting her.

“I, um, I have to call my boss.” As if Jay were a magnet holding her close, it took all of Paige’s mental concentration to move away from him.

“Another time, then.” He touched the brim of his cowboy hat.

“Yes. Maybe. We’ll see.” Breathless, her heart racing, she hurried toward the main house. It had to be the altitude that made her feel off-kilter. The cool, crisp mountain air. Clearly, as soon as possible, she needed to return to Seattle and sea level where she’d be able to catch her breath again.

* * *

Thunder Boy nudged Jay’s shoulder looking for another treat. He rubbed the horse’s velvety nose.

“Okay, boy, you earned it.” Chuckling a bit, Jay palmed his last piece of apple. “Thanks for not biting her.”

Thunder lipped the apple into his mouth and nodded his appreciation.

Jay had met few people who were as afraid of horses as Paige Barclay was. Even fewer who had softer hands or who smelled so sweet. Like a bunch of honeysuckle growing alongside the trail. Impossible not to miss the perfume after you’d ridden on by.

He’d felt her tremble when he had taken her hand. Was that from fear? Or from something else?

He climbed back over the fence and untied Thunder’s reins. His job was to check out the trail to Arrowhead Cove, see if it was clear of winter debris, fallen trees or washed-out areas. He wasn’t supposed to lollygag around thinking about a woman with soft hands and a fear of horses.

It would be better if he could come up with a way to make her realize she wasn’t a suitable guardian for a twelve-year-old boy who loved horses.

Not suitable for Jay, either. Every inch of Paige Barclay shouted she wanted to return to the city. She belonged there.

Mounting, he turned Thunder toward the corral gate.

As he walked his horse past the big house, he spied Paige’s footprints in the soft ground leading up onto the front porch.

That woman really ought to get down to the general store and buy a pair of boots suitable for walking around the grounds and stable at Bear Lake Outfitters. Those high heels she wore might look fine on her and were okay for traipsing around on plush carpet in a fancy hotel, but not out here on the ranch.

But mountain country was different. She needed to learn that. Or go back home.

* * *