The Truth About Plain Jane

“You’re from back east?”

She shook her head. “More like up north, with lots of ice and snow. I wouldn’t know it was winter without it.”

When she looked at him again, their gazes locked, and she blushed. Staring into her eyes, even for a moment, left him breathless.

“Well,” she said, standing and gathering her supper things, “I guess I need to get unpacked. Thank you for keeping me company.”

He felt both relieved and bereft when she looked away. “Let me take care of that.” He stood and took the plate from her, adding his own. “Don’t forget the campfire, in about an hour,” he said, touching the brim of his hat and turning to leave.

As he walked away, he could feel her watching him. It wasn’t something he was unfamiliar with. Women usually liked him as much as he noticed them. But this time, it felt different somehow. Exactly how, he couldn’t say. Just…different.

He shook off the sensation and strode with purpose to dispose of the remnants of their supper, determined to end the day better than it had started. He’d had nothing but bad news since early that morning, when his two best ranch hands had gotten themselves run down by the new Brahma bull. The animal was now loose in the south pasture, along with the dozen and a half calves who’d managed to escape their pen. Because of that, he’d been doing double duty, welcoming guests to the Triple B Dude Ranch and covering for his injured men. And if all that wasn’t bad enough, the ranch’s secretary hadn’t shown up for work…again. It was understandable that he was exhausted. Maybe that explained his foggy-headed feeling.

There were more important things to be thinking about than a woman with a pair of devastating green eyes that seemed to see inside him, clear down to his soul. There was the Triple B. That’s where his heart was. It was the most important thing in his life. And it always would be.

Chapter Two

Meg chose one of the many bales of hay surrounding the campfire, making certain she had a clear view of everyone and everything, and settled onto it. Wincing, she shifted position, trying to find a spot where the sharp straw didn’t poke through the thin cotton of her skirt. She had packed a few pairs of jeans, just in case, but had hoped she wouldn’t have to wear them. They didn’t hide her figure—a figure she found a nuisance. But when it came to the riding lessons she had agreed to take, there wasn’t any way she could get away with wearing one of the hideous skirts she’d brought with her.

Eventually finding a comfortable spot, she greeted the woman sitting next to her. As they chatted about the ranch and how much they were enjoying it, a shadow blocked the light from the campfire.

Meg looked up to see Trey standing in front of her, the glow from the firelight behind him setting off his silhouette. With his thumbs hooked into his belt, and his cowboy hat tipped back on his head, Meg couldn’t help but be impressed by the figure he cut. Strong broad shoulders and a wide chest narrowed to hips and muscled thighs beneath denim. It was a sight that would take any woman’s breath away. It definitely took Meg’s.

“Havin’ a good time?” he asked.

Before Meg could find enough breath to answer, Carrie appeared and tugged at his shirt. “We’re going to have our riding lesson in the morning, aren’t we?”

His deep laughter sent warm shivers up and down Meg’s spine. He placed a hand on top of Carrie’s head. “First thing in the mornin’ after breakfast. I already have a horse picked out especially for you.”

“Really?”

He looked at Meg, the firelight dancing behind him. After what seemed like several minutes had gone by, he dragged his gaze away and reached down to tap the little girl’s nose with one finger. “Really.”

Carrie squealed with delight, but Meg couldn’t stop looking at the cowboy whose attention was now elsewhere.

He backed up a step and nodded, tugging his hat down and touching two fingers to the wide brim. “See you at breakfast,” he said without looking at Meg.

Carrie spun around to face her. “Do you think it’ll be a fast horse?”

Reluctantly pulling her attention from the fascinating sight of the retreating backside of the cowboy, Meg squelched a sigh before answering. Her heartbeat had picked up since he’d walked up to them and now raced in double-time.

“Not too fast,” she answered. But whether her answer was directed at Carrie or a command to her own galloping heart, she wasn’t sure.

Nodding, Carrie covered a yawn with her hand, and Meg stood. Taking the child by the hand, she gave her a friendly squeeze. “Let’s find your grandmother so she can get you into bed. You’ll need some sleep if you’re going to learn to ride a horse tomorrow.”

Carrie looked up at her. “But nobody else is going to bed.”

“I am,” Meg answered.

It didn’t take long for them to find Carrie’s grandmother. After a brief discussion of the plans for the next day, Meg bade them good-night and started for her cabin.

The air around her was pure and clean, so different from the city air where she lived. Breathing deeply, she tipped her head up and gazed at the canopy of stars above her. She couldn’t remember ever having seen anything quite so beautiful. Someday, she and her aunt would be able to enjoy the same kind of beauty. That’s why it was so important that she keep her mind on the reason she was here, not on a sexy ranch hand who she’d never see again after the week was over.

Movement in the darkness to her left brought her to a halt. Her heart beat harder and fear prickled her skin. “Is someone there?” she asked, her voice sounding weaker than she had hoped.

“Didn’t mean to scare you.”

She instantly recognized Trey’s drawl and breathed easier. “Oh! It’s you.” Much to her disgust, the beating of her heart didn’t slow down at all.

He caught up with her, shortening his long stride to match hers when she continued walking. “You’re turnin’ in early.”

She glanced up to see him watching her. “It was a long drive, and since I’ll need to be clear-headed for the riding lesson in the morning, I thought I should get some sleep.”

“Where did you say you’re from?”

“I didn’t,” she admitted, with a smile. “But Indiana is home.”

He let out a long whistle. “That is a long drive.”

“I enjoyed it,” she admitted. “Except for the heat. But it’s the first time I’ve ever had the opportunity to see much of the country.”

“I saw enough of it when I was rodeoing, and this is still the best.”

The pride in his voice was obvious. She couldn’t blame him. The ranch and the countryside surrounding it were breathtaking. “What did you do in the rodeo?”

He was so close, she felt his shrug. “A little this, a little that. Mostly saddle bronc riding.”

“I’ve never been to a rodeo, but I’ve watched them on TV. To be honest, they’re frightening. Isn’t it terribly dangerous on those horses?”

“Lots of injuries, but if it’s in your blood, those don’t matter. My brother was a double National Champion the last year he competed, so I guess you could say it’s in his blood. Not really in mine, though,” he added with a soft chuckle. “Give me ranching, any day.”

Neither of them spoke again until they neared her cabin. Meg wondered what he was thinking about, but didn’t ask. The silence between them was comfortable and she didn’t feel the need for conversation.

As they reached the porch, Trey slowed his steps. “I’d better get back to work.”

In spite of knowing she shouldn’t, Meg was sorry to see him go. “And I need to get that sleep.”

They stood staring at one another in the darkness. Finally, Trey cleared his throat. “See you at breakfast. Sleep tight.”

Meg thanked him for keeping her company once again, then slipped into her cabin. Before she closed the door, she searched for a glimpse of him, but couldn’t see much of anything.

“Just as well,” she whispered to herself. Tomorrow would arrive soon enough, and she would have to get to work. She had learned more about Trey than she had about the ranch, and even though she enjoyed his company, she had to get some sleep. And she still needed to find Buford Brannigan.

“What do you mean, you’re not teaching the class?” Trey boomed down at his pint-size sister-in-law early the next morning.

Ellie Brannigan leaned back against the corral fence, crossing her arms on her chest. “Calm down, Trey. We’re short-handed, remember? And Sherry called this morning to say she wouldn’t be in again today. Somebody’s got to hang around the office to answer the phone and get the paperwork caught up. I’m the likely candidate.”

“But who’s going to teach the riding class?”