Never Let You Go

Suddenly they were equally involved in the touching, the demanding…the sizzle. So much so that Beth thought she was going to faint. But she was going to enjoy every second of it until then. Jed Davis was some kisser.

He almost threw her away from him only seconds later, staring at her as if she’d been a rattlesnake he’d found in his bed.

“Lady, you’re crazy!” he snapped, but she noted that his breathing was no more even than hers.

“Me? I’m not the one who grabbed—who started this.”

“You should’ve kept your seat belt on. Put it on now!” he ordered as he faced the front of the truck again, refusing to look at her.

This time she accepted his order. Sliding back across the bench seat, she snapped the seat belt and faced forward. If she looked at him, she was afraid she might beg for another kiss.

Jed breathed a sigh of relief when they reached Joseph Lander’s ranch. He’d made a big mistake letting Beth come with him. In fact, he’d made a big mistake taking her on as a pupil.

He didn’t mix business and pleasure. In fact, he didn’t indulge in much pleasure. His goals were too important. And he never stayed in one place too long. He had learned early in life that if you stayed in one place too long, you began to care. And then it was just that much easier to get hurt when you were forced to move to a new foster home.

He wouldn’t be staying long at the Circle K, that was for sure. Because the lady beside him had already shown him enough pleasure to scare the daylights out of him.

Not bothering to tell her to stay in the truck, because he knew she wouldn’t, he got out and headed for the barn. He figured Joe wouldn’t be in the house in the middle of the afternoon.

Before he got to the barn, however, the man he was looking for strode out to meet him. “Jed Davis! Good to see you, boy. How have you been?”

Jed shook his hand and returned the greeting. Before he’d finished, Joe’s gaze went over his shoulder.

“Well, hello, there, little lady. You with this scalawag?” Joe asked with a grin.

Jed tried not to stiffen as Beth stepped to his side, sliding her arm through his. “Yes, I am,” she said clearly, that beaming smile on her face.

“You’re steppin’ up in the world, Jed,” Joe said with an approving nod.

“Thanks.” Jed spent several more minutes passing the time of day with the rancher. Certain protocol had to be followed before he could get down to business. Finally he said, “I wondered if you still had Shorty?”

“Shorty? That scrub? Yeah, he’s here.” A thoughtful look came into Joe’s eyes. “You interested in him?”

Jed shrugged, as if he wasn’t sure. “I might be.”

“What for? He’s not big enough to carry you.”

“Yeah, but I’ve got a smaller rider in mind. I think he might work.”

“I’ll show him to you, but I’m not sure I want to part with him.” He turned toward the barn, then stopped. “Little lady, it’s pretty dusty out there. You want to wait in the house? My housekeeper can fix you some iced tea.”

Jed tensed, afraid Beth would blast the man between the eyes.

“Why, how thoughtful of you, but I don’t like to let Jed out of my sights. Besides, I dressed cowboy so I’d fit in,” she told the old man, blinking her lashes to great effect.

“Honey, I’ve never seen a cowboy look as good as you, but you’re welcome to come along,” Joe said, before turning again toward the barn.

Jed looked at Beth and she dared send him a wink along with her smile. He barely shook his head at her and went after Joe. She was wearing her jeans, but after lunch she’d changed to a soft rose-colored blouse and added some silver earrings. Joe was right about how good she looked.

And tasted.

Nope, he wasn’t going to think about those moments in his truck. Because if he did, he’d go crazy.

On the other side of the barn, Joe hollered at one of the cowboys working in a nearby corral. “Larry, fetch Shorty out of the pasture.”

Jed caught up with Joe and leaned against the corral, watching the action going on around him. Suddenly he saw someone he knew.

“Floyd? Is that you?”

An older cowboy, cleaning out the stables, straightened and squinted into the sun. “Jed?” He threw down the pitchfork he’d been wielding and came out of the barn to give Jed a hug. They’d worked together when Jed first went out on his own. Floyd had helped Jed learn a lot of lessons.

“How you doing, boy?” Floyd asked as he stepped back.

“Fine. And yourself?”

Floyd let his gaze slip to the boss and then back to Jed. “Just fine.”

“Better get back to work, Floyd,” Joe said, and all geniality was gone from his voice.

“Yes, sir,” Floyd muttered. He sent a regretful look toward Jed and walked back into the barn.

Jed turned to look at Joe. “You unhappy with Floyd?”

Joe shrugged. “He’s not a hard worker.”

Beth moved closer to Jed and slipped her arm through his again. “He seemed nice,” she said cheerfully, smiling at Joe.

Joe’s mouth tightened. “He won’t be staying here long. First excuse I can find, I’ll send him down the road.”

Jed frowned. He didn’t know what had gone wrong between Joe and Floyd, but he knew who he’d trust first. And it wasn’t Joe. He wished he had some time to speak to his old friend alone.

As if she’d read his mind, Beth moved over to the rancher and began asking him about two horses in a separate corral beside the barn. Joe, always playing the gallant, took her arm and led her over there.

Jed backed toward the barn, keeping his eye on Joe. When he reached the door of the barn, he leaned against it, casually, and called softly. “Floyd?”

“Yeah, boy?” Floyd responded just as softly.

“What’s going on?”

“You mean with old moneybags?”

“Yeah.”

“I caught him abusing a horse. He says I was trying to show him up. I’ve only been here about a month. Can’t afford to blow off my job. But I reckon I’ll have that decision made for me soon. Some of the other hands have been talkin’.”

Jed had heard rumors about Joe, but he’d never had proof. His jaw hardened. He knew Floyd would have trouble working for a man who abused his animals. As would Jed.

“Want a new job?”