Give Me A Cowboy. Jodi Thomas

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      “You were right here next to me and I slept through it. What a shame.”

      Giggling, she said, “You were in no shape to do anything about it.”

      “I’d have died trying.” He winked and then winced at his cracked lip.

      “Shut up and take a deep breath. I want to listen to your lungs.”

      When she leaned her head against his chest, he took a deep breath and tangled his fingers in her hair. “I’m all right, Laurel. I swear.”

      She looked up, firelight sparkling in her tears. “I was so worried about you. I don’t care if we win. I’ll find another way to get free of my father. It doesn’t matter. I just didn’t want to lose you.”

      He tugged her against him and held her for a while. “We’ll find a way,” he finally whispered. “I plan on winning, but if I don’t, we’ll find a way. I’ll stand with you win or lose.”

      “But you can’t ride. You might fall.”

      “I don’t think about how I’m going to fall when I ride. I just think about staying on.” He laughed, then groaned. “I don’t have to make the best showing tonight, all I have to do is stay on and draw third place. None of the bareback rides have been that good.”

      He knew she wanted to argue with him. He swore he could almost hear her mind working. But she didn’t say a word. They just lay close, listening to the fire and waiting for sunrise. This was the last day. Tonight it would all be over. She’d stay at the hotel and by dawn tomorrow she’d be on the first train. She’d be off to start her new life in some big town and he’d have money in his pocket until the place sold.

      By first light, Rowdy had fallen back asleep. She slipped from his side and put on a pot of coffee to boil, then dug in the bag for bread she’d brought the day before.

      When she took Dan a cup of hot coffee, he was hooking up the wagon. “I’m sorry I have no breakfast to offer you but bread. I was in too much of a hurry to think about what we’d eat with it.”

      “No problem. How’s Rowdy?”

      “Much better. He’s asleep now, but earlier he said he plans to ride.”

      Dan nodded. “Tell him to sleep as much as he can today. I’ll be around when he comes into town and make sure nothing happens to him before the rodeo.”

      “Thanks.” She glanced up at the sun. “I’ll try to stay until he wakes, then I have to get back before my family wakes and realizes I’ve been out all night. You headed home?”

      Dan shook his head. “I’m thinking of riding into town and having breakfast at the hotel.”

      Laurel smiled. “I hear it’s good, especially when served by Bonnie Lynn.”

      He grinned. “I have no understanding of women, but I think she likes me. She told me last night that I make her laugh and I figure that’s a start.”

      “I think she likes you, Dan, even if you don’t understand why.”

      He climbed into the wagon. “And as smart as everyone knows you are, Miss, you still like that busted up cowboy in there, don’t you?”

      “I do, but we’re just friends. Have been since we were kids.”

      “Sure you are,” he said without looking at her.

      He waved as he drove away. Laurel sat on the porch and drank the coffee she’d meant for Dan. When she went back inside, Rowdy was awake and sitting up.

      She knelt beside him. “How are you feeling?”

      “Better.” He rubbed his slightly swollen lip with his first knuckle. “I think I could take a little of that coffee.”

      She poured a fresh cup and shared with him.

      When it was empty, he set the cup aside. “Lie back down beside me,” he said. “I don’t want you to go just yet.”

      She didn’t hesitate as she spread out beside him. They lay in silence for a while, then he said, “I heard what you told Dan.”

      “That I like you?”

      “Yes. And that we’re just friends.”

      He rolled to his side and placed his hand on her middle. “I don’t think it’s true,” he whispered. “I think you feel about me the way I feel about you. Neither of us is looking for love, but we’ve learned to trust each other. And there is something between us, pulling us closer.”

      “Maybe,” she protested. “I do like being near you.”

      “No,” he answered. “I think it’s more than that even if neither of us wants to admit it. We went beyond just partners the first time you kissed me. What I feel for you is deeper than like.”

      “I don’t think so,” she whispered. She couldn’t admit more, not after only three days. Not when she’d be leaving tomorrow and she might never see him again. “When you win tonight, we’ll split the money and go our separate ways. All we can be is partners, Rowdy.”

      “No, we’re already more,” he answered as his fingers brushed lightly over the cotton of her blouse. “If your feelings aren’t running deep right now with me touching you, then move away. We may not feel love, but I’m definitely attracted to you.”

      He wasn’t holding her, only touching her. His hand slid up between her breasts and began unbuttoning her blouse. “Because if you don’t run, Laurel, I’m going to touch you as no one else has ever touched you. If I don’t, I’ll regret it the rest of my life.” He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers.

      “There is no time,” she mumbled as she answered his kiss with one of her own.

      The kiss was so tender she wanted to cry. She felt the first button give way to his fingers.

      “Make love with me, Laurel,” he whispered against her ear.

      She was too shy to say the words, but her kiss answered his question. As they kissed she felt him pulling buttons free, then tugging her blouse from the band of her riding skirt.

      When he felt the layer of her camisole, he raised his head. “How many layers do you have on?”

      She laughed. “Only one more.”

      “Good.” He frowned. “I’d really like to see what I touched last night.”

      She turned her head away from him, too embarrassed to look at him. “I’m not—” She couldn’t even say the words. Her body curled away from him.

      Forgetting about the camisole, he gripped her shoulder and pulled her back. “Not what?” he asked.

      “I’m not the kind of woman men want. I’m smart. I can keep books, but that’s about all.”

      He swore and she felt his anger, not at her, but at what she believed. Finally, СКАЧАТЬ