A Cowboy's Heart

Connor wouldn’t be a man if he hadn’t noticed, but it had always been at a distance. His grandfather had begged him to stay away from the Corkin ranch so there’d be no trouble. He had obeyed him, effectively putting Liz out of reach over the years.

Since then, she’d become a doctor of veterinarian medicine. No doubt she’d have to work years to pay off her loan for medical school. Besides the gold buckle, she’d win the big money, so maybe she could buy a new truck. More than ever he wanted her to be able to take those prizes home. No one deserved them more than she did. The relic she’d been driving was on its last legs.

He was glad she’d come with him. The storm hadn’t let up. It could snow another hour or two, but they and their horses were safe and cozy inside the trailer. His mood had been dark for the past few months despite his wins, but right now he felt a lifting of his spirits and liked the feeling.

Connor got to his feet and took his dishes over to the minikitchen. “What do you say we give the horses a little exercise now?”

“I can see you’re dying to find out how they’re getting along.”

“Aren’t you?”

She flashed him an intriguing smile before putting on her parka and gloves. Her black cowboy hat came last. After he put on his gear, they walked out into a white world. The snow wasn’t coming down as hard, but it was steady. Like a child, she put her head back to catch some snowflakes on her tongue, reminding him of his youth. He hadn’t had this much fun in a long time.

Connor opened the back of the trailer and they walked inside. Both of them spoke in low tones to their horses as they led them outside for some exercise. After they’d gone a distance, they stopped.

“It feels like we’re in wonderland.” She half laughed the words. “Look, Connor. Did you see what Sunflower just did when Firebrand smelled her breath?”

He couldn’t say that he had because he’d been looking at the expression of delight on her face. “What did I miss?”

“Sunflower’s head lifted in the air and she lowered her ears. See how she’s chewing on the air? That’s a submissive gesture in front of Firebrand because she recognizes his higher rank. Her foal-like behavior is so sweet. I think they really do like each other!”

Connor patted his horse’s neck. “Is that true, buddy? Are you falling for Sunflower?”

A nicker came out of his horse, followed by one from hers.

“I swear he understood you!”

“Maybe they’ve been giving each other tips.”

Her amused gaze met his, sending an emotional response through him he hadn’t expected. How was it that Liz had been his neighbor for twenty-six years, yet it had taken until now to start seeing inside this attractive woman who he already knew had the heart of a champion?

“You mean about racing?”

“And other things...”

Gentle laughter escaped her throat. “You think they’re making plans for after we leave them alone for the night?”

“Something like that. Firebrand hasn’t been around such a fetching little mare in a long time. Being gelded doesn’t mean he’s forgotten anything.”

Her eyes sparkled through the falling snow. “Come to think of it, Firebrand’s Spanish heritage is pretty exciting, with those horizontal zebra stripes on the backs of his forelegs. His coloring is unique, even among ferals. It gets a female thinking.”

He moved closer to her. It brought the horses closer together. “And here I thought it was only the male who was a leg man.”

“You’d be surprised what captures the attention of the female.”

“What else, for example?” he drawled.

“Oh, the white star on Firebrand’s forehead and his dorsal stripe. And he’s a powerful size. Makes a female feel protected. Notice how she’s been scratching him on the rump with her teeth? She likes being around him.”

“He likes a good scratch.”

Her arched brows lifted. “Well, he’s getting one. Amazing she knew where he itched.”

“Lucky him. Who would have thought being stuck out in the back of beyond during a blizzard he would find such bliss?”

“It proves pure chemistry can work anywhere, but I think we’d better take them in. I want to check their gums and temperatures.”

“If they both have a fever, we’ll know romance is definitely in the air.”

As she walked ahead of him with Sunflower, her laughter rippled back to tease his senses. He followed her into the trailer. After they’d dried off the horses, she gave them a thorough checkup while he cleaned the floor and put out fresh water and hay.

They worked as a team. No unmet expectations. No trauma of any kind. No deadlines. All that lay ahead of them was the rest of the night together. Nothing could have suited him better.

“It’s still coming down, Liz. We’re going to have to stay here until morning. By then the highway will have been plowed and we’ll have a straight shot to Salt Lake. Depending on the weather tomorrow, we might make it to Las Vegas by nightfall.”

“I’m glad we’re not taking chances. Our horses need special handling at a time like this if we expect the very best from them in the arena.”

“Amen.”

She threw the light rugs over them. “They look good and are probably wishing we’d leave them alone. Okay, guys. Treat time.” She reached in her parka for some Uncle Jimmy’s Squeezy Buns. She gave a few to Connor to give his horse.

“Did you see that? Sunflower starts talking when she hears the wrapper being opened. I swear she’d drool if she could.”

Another chuckle came out of Connor, who fed Firebrand. After they’d finished their chores, he followed Liz out of the back. Just before he closed things up, he heard more nickering between both horses. Liz’s mouth curved into a mischievous smile. “I’d say all is well.”

Yup. Everybody was happy. It surprised him how much he was looking forward to more time alone with her.

The ringing of his cell phone broke the magic of the moment, preventing him from responding. He pulled it from the pocket of his jeans to check the caller ID.

Reva? He might have known. She knew how to choose her times.

Damn.

“Go ahead and take it while I clean up the kitchen.” She hurried around the end of the trailer. Liz couldn’t have known who was calling, but good manners stopped her from asking questions or lingering. Not that he’d been trying, but so far he hadn’t found anything wrong with her. Quite the opposite, in fact.

He could talk to his ex-wife now or call her back later. The choice was his. But in that moment, while he was deciding what he wanted to do, he realized more than ever how much his feelings had changed since they’d been divorced. The old Connor wouldn’t have let it ring a fifth time.

Before long she’d left him a text message.

Connor? Know u r on the road. Want u to know I’ll be in Las Vegas tomorrow.

No way. He had no desire to see her while he was there to compete. There was no time for her. He and Wade had their horses to exercise and take care of.

I took off work. Have reserved honeymoon suite at the Mirage. Hope to give our marriage another try.

Where was this coming from? Something new had to be going on in her life. Maybe she’d broken up with the television producer she’d been dating since their divorce. Some kind of change was in the works. He knew Reva. For them to reconnect, she’d have to leave Los Angeles, because ranching was his life. She hated ranch life. If he didn’t know anything else, he knew that.

She’d had two years to think about it. So had he, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted her back, even if she gave up her television career and agreed to live with him on the ranch. Two years had changed him, and would have changed her. It would mean starting over again.