Cowboy After Dark. Vicki Thompson Lewis

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СКАЧАТЬ there it was again. Just a little rustle, though. No branches breaking or stones knocked aside. Probably something fairly small like a skunk or a raccoon. In the distance, an owl hooted.

      She focused on the indistinct shape of Liam up ahead on his horse, Navarre. “Sorry. What were you saying?”

      “I was just going to say that if you can see my light, that’s all you need. Really more than you need. Isabeau will follow Navarre, and they both have this route down cold. We could loop the reins around the saddle horns and let them take us out and back.”

      “What would they do if they saw or smelled a bear?”

      “They’d let us know, but I—”

      “How?” She pictured Isabeau turning her head and saying, Bear at three o’clock. Check it out.

      “They’d get fairly agitated. Horses are prey animals, so they won’t like it if a bear shows up.”

      “Or a cougar?”

      “That, too.”

      “So they’re like an early warning signal.”

      “They are, but I don’t expect to see any predators tonight. If someone had spotted a bear or a cougar around here in the past few weeks, pictures would be on the internet. Nobody said a word at dinner, and they would have since they knew we were going out riding.”

      Some of the tension eased from her body. “Good to know.”

      “Sorry if you were worried. I should have said something earlier.”

      “And I should have remembered that you’re an experienced wilderness guide. You wouldn’t bring me out here if you thought there was a chance I’d be eaten by a bear.”

      “Good Lord. Were you really picturing that?”

      “We established earlier today that I have a vivid imagination.”

      He chuckled. “Yeah, I suppose we did.”

      “And it’s very dark out here. You can’t see what might be going on in the woods. Anything could be lurking there, ready to spring. The trees are pretty close.”

      He turned a fraction more toward her. “Do you want to go back?”

      Now was her chance to spend the rest of the evening chatting on the front porch with Herb and Rosie plus whoever else was still hanging around after dinner. All she had to do was say the word.

      “Listen, we don’t have to do this if it makes you nervous.”

      But then she wouldn’t have a chance to be alone with Liam, and that opportunity might not come along again anytime soon. “I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me a little nervous.”

      “Then let’s turn around.” He wheeled Navarre in her direction.

      “No, wait.”

      “I don’t want to scare you to death.” He rode toward her. “After I go past, just neck-rein Isabeau, and she’ll turn and follow.”

      “I don’t want to go back.”

      He stopped Navarre right next to her. On the narrow road, their stirrups were inches apart. Light from both lanterns illuminated his face, and he looked worried. “If you’ll be embarrassed about showing up so soon after we left, we can cook up a plausible story.”

      “That’s not the problem. I don’t want to miss this chance to spend time with you.”

      “Then we’ll make up a story that requires us to drive somewhere.”

      The light allowed her to see just how blue his eyes were. His long lashes made his eyes his most compelling feature, but his mouth drew her attention, too. She had a feeling he’d be fun to kiss. He had a little scar on the left side of his full lower lip, and she wondered how it had come to be there.

      “Hope?”

      She blinked. What had he just said? Oh, right. “I don’t want to go through all that. Riding at night is something I’ve never done before, and at first I was feeling a little uneasy. Now that we’ve talked it through, I’m fine.”

      His jet-black eyebrows drew together. “Are you sure?”

      “I’m absolutely sure. Let’s keep going.”

      “I’d suggest riding side by side, but the road’s a little narrow for that, and Isabeau’s used to walking behind.”

      “Seriously, I’ll be okay.”

      “I was planning to surprise you with our destination, but maybe I should tell you now in case you don’t like the idea.”

      She’d seen the blanket rolled up and strapped behind his saddle. Sharing a blanket with him could be exciting or terrifying, depending on where he chose to lay it out. “I hope it’s not a cave.”

      “No, it’s a meadow, a fairly large one. Along the road, the trees mostly block the sky, but in the meadow you’ll be able to see the stars really well.”

      “That sounds lovely.”

      The concern cleared from his expression. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.”

      “I should have realized that all along. You probably think I’m a real scaredy-cat.”

      “Not at all. Today you faced down my truck. Tonight when you got nervous, you didn’t fall apart and beg me to take you back. You started collecting facts about the potential for bodily harm. I don’t blame you for wanting to protect yourself. I’d rather have that than deal with someone who has no sense of self-preservation.”

      “Believe me, I have a well-developed sense of self-preservation.” Now.

      “All righty. Let me continue on past you and get Navarre turned around. Then we’ll go check out that meadow.”

      “Good. I’d like that.”

      He smiled. “Thanks for sticking this out. I hope it’s worth it.”

      His smile created a different kind of tension, one that was far more pleasant than her fear had been. “I’m sure it will be.”

      Touching his fingers to the brim of his hat, he rode on until he could turn Navarre around. Her libido was fully functioning by the time he moved into the lead and slowed the pace. Unfortunately she lost her view of his cute butt to the shadows of the tall pines lining the road.

      He turned to check on her. “You okay back there?”

      “I’m doing great.” To think she’d considered going back. Even if he’d concocted some reason for them to take a drive, that trip couldn’t possibly have been as exciting as this. “By the way, I love that Rosie and Herb named their horses Isabeau and Navarre. I was a big fan of Ladyhawke.”

      “So were all the guys at Thunder Mountain.”

      She СКАЧАТЬ