“What the hell do they have to do with this?”
Don and Mary Cursons were a couple who lived in Shatland and were infamous for their screaming matches and public arguments. “Remember how much they fought?”
“Yeah. Most of us were surprised when they didn’t kill each other. But I’m still not getting it.”
“They fought like hell on earth. But do you remember what they did after the fights?”
Gunner chuckled, finally getting his point. “I sure do. Half the town could hear them making up, having sex anywhere and everywhere they could. Damn, sometimes it got downright embarrassing for the rest of us.”
“That’s right. They fought hard and they made up hard. That’s what old Don said. He also said they loved each other more than life itself. That it was an intense love that had their emotions swinging first one way then the other.”
“And you think that’s how it is with you and Mallory?”
“It could be. We just haven’t worked out all the kinks yet.”
“It’s the connection, all right, but it’s her, too. She’s beautiful and smart and funny and—”
“Everything we ever dreamed of. Yeah, she’s the one, all right.”
“But we can’t tell her.”
Rick pushed down the urge to run upstairs and tell her everything. “Not yet. But we will. Soon.”
“I hope you’re right about when, bro.”
“Me, too.”
* * * *
The next morning, after a long and fitful night interspersed with dreams of Rick and Gunner making love to her, Mallory finally forced herself out of bed.
She recalled the embarrassment of last night, but in the light of day, she didn’t feel that way any longer. After all, she was a grown woman and had the right to have a little fun every so often. It wasn’t a mistake. Aside from the fact that they hadn’t used protection—a fact which she regretted, but couldn’t do anything about now—she had to admit that given the opportunity, she’d do it again. The sex had been amazing, mind and pussy blowing, and her fantasy had come true. Why should she be embarrassed about that? Any woman in her place would’ve done the same thing.
As for what they might think of her for giving into them so quickly? That was the old double standard rearing its ugly head. Hell, hadn’t they wanted her as much as she’d wanted them?
Then there was the strange connection she felt with them. Never had she felt so comfortable with two men who could turn her on as much as they did. It was as though she’d known them all her life. She thought about that and decided that wasn’t true. It was more like she’d
waited
for them all her life, as though they were three lovers separated by time and distance, and had finally found their way back to each other.
It was a fanciful idea, but one she couldn’t shake.
So what now? Was last night a one-time thing? Were they just having a good time with the woman who was causing them so much trouble? If they thought of it as just a fling, would they ask her to leave today? Even if they did, she wasn’t sure she could. She was drawn to them in an invisible, incomprehensible way, but that connection was as strong as a massive chain wrapped around her body and locked to theirs.
She had to face them. Only then would she know where she stood.
She hurried to get dressed, then studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror. The wrinkled shirt and faded jeans didn’t do much for her figure. In fact, she looked like an old married woman, the kind who no longer cared about her appearance. She could sort through her suitcase again, but she knew it wouldn’t help. The clothes she’d brought were all the same. Boring and comfortable, not at all the way she’d like the men to see her. But it couldn’t be helped.
“Why should I care anyway? What happened was wonderful, but that’s it. Getting involved with ranchers who’ve been accused of hurting their animals is a stupid move. What if the accusation turns out to be true? I need to keep my objectivity.”
And yet, she knew that was impossible. She could try and believe that she could stay uninvolved in every way, but the ache, the yearning for them told her she was lying to herself.
“Hey, Mal?”
She swung the door opened to find Kid giving her a sheepish look. “Good morning, Mal.”
“Hey, what happened to you last night?”
“I’m sorry I disappeared, but when I walked into the kitchen, I saw Rick and Gunner go out the front door. So, I figured I’d give you love birds some time alone. I went up the back stairs and straight to my room.” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down. “I’m sure you didn’t mind swamping my company for theirs.”
She tried to hide it, but knew it was too late. Just the mention of the Northman men had sent a hot vibration to her pussy that she was willing to bet he’d seen.
“I was right, wasn’t I?” He narrowed his eyes, then fisted his large hands on his hips. “Holy shit, girl. You got laid, didn’t you?”
She had to get on her tiptoes to slap her hand over his mouth. “Keep it down, damn it. You don’t have to tell the whole world.” But keeping Kid quiet was a feat she couldn’t manage.
“You did! Tell me. I want all the deets.”
Most of the time, Kid acted like any man would, gay or straight, but whenever he got excited, he tended to lapse into the vocabulary of a high school gossip queen.
“Not on your life.”
“Aw, come on, Mal. Give.”
“Kid, I swear, if you hound me about this, I’m going to—” What could she do anyway? “Well, I don’t know what, but I’ll figure out something.”
“Was it Rick? Or Gunner?” His mouth fell open and his eyes were round circles. “Do not tell me you did both of them! Oh, my lord, hallelujah, the dry spell has been broken.”
She blushed and slapped him on the arm. “Okay, now I’m really not telling you.”
“Uh-huh.” He arched his eyebrow in a “yeah, right” gesture. “We’ll see about that.”
“Kid, I’m serious.”
The struggle for him to accept her decision was evident, but he finally gave in. No doubt because he figured he’d get it out of her later.
“Oh, all right. We’ve got to get a move-on anyway. Unless you need some breakfast. The guys and I already ate.”
“The guys and you? So you’re getting chummy with them?”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure what you mean, but yeah, I’m getting to know them.” His wide grin was back. “But I sure as hell didn’t get as chummy as you did.”
He’d scored a point with that one.
“But seriously, Mal. They’re decent guys and I think we’ve got them pegged wrong. From what they told me and what we’ve seen, all they want is to keep their livestock happy and healthy.”
“Until they send the cattle to slaughter, of course.”
Kid had a sudden interest in his feet. “Yeah, well, that is their business. Just because we don’t like it doesn’t mean they’re doing anything wrong. Rick mentioned that he was going to have a friend check up on Lawson’s operations. After all, you can’t expect them to drop everything—everyone—and run up to Kansas to check the place out. If they’re putting cattle down the wrong way, then their friend will find out and let them know.”
“Wow. So you’re saying you see it their way now?”
“It’s not their way or our way. It’s the right way that matters. We might be on the same team. At least some of the time.” He met her gaze dead on. “Raising cattle is their business and their livelihood. As long as they do it the humane way, then, no, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
Kid rarely disagreed with her. When he did, he had a way of making her see his point and this time was no different. Her argument had never been with ranchers who did the right thing by their animals. That still didn’t mean she’d eat meat or condone raising animals for food anytime soon, but it didn’t make them criminals, either.
“Let’s not get into it, okay, Mal? The guys want to take us out on the range today. They said something about checking the livestock and giving us a firsthand look. I think they’re trying to win you over. So, like I said, unless you need to grab some grub first, they’re waiting in the barn.”
“Grab some grub? Wow, you’re really getting into this whole cowboy thing, aren’t you?”
“When the cowboys look like they do, then I say, yippee ki oh ki yay.”
She laughed and tried to ignore the growing ache between her legs. She wasn’t sure why they’d invited Kid along, but that didn’t matter. She’d find a way to get alone with them again.
“That’s a good idea. I could use a ride.”
She led the way down the hallway to the staircase. Kid lumbered behind her, worried that he’d break a horse’s back with his weight.
“Once we’ve done the trail thing, don’t you think we’ve seen enough? These guys are responsible, caring cattle ranchers. Or are we staying because you want more time with them?”
If she told the truth, she’d have no real excuse, other than her libido, to stay. “I think we need a little longer to be sure. And if, in fact, they don’t know what Lawson’s doing, it’s time they found out. I want to be here when they do.”
“Uh-huh. I’m sure the Lawson thing is your big reason.”
She whirled on him, ready to argue, but he stuck up one of his huge hands to cover her face. She yanked his big paw away.
“Okay, okay. I believe you. That’s your reason.”
A few minutes later, she was racing him to the barn. She was quicker and got there first.
Damn, but they’re so hot.
Like a television ad for a new Western show, the men made her think of long, leisurely rides and cozy nights cuddled together in sleeping bags. Her body tensed in all the right places and her mouth went dry. Two other horses were saddled and ready with their reins wrapped around the top railing of a stall.
It wasn’t until she’d laid eyes on them and the tantalizing current hit her dead center, harder than ever, that she wondered. Had she ruined any chance of them having a longer, meaningful relationship? Her body craved theirs, but more stunning was the realization that she yearned for them in an emotional way as well.
What would it be like to stay with them for the rest of her life? What would it be like to have their children? When had she started thinking in terms of a relationship? And yet, she couldn’t dismiss the possibility, the hope that whatever was happening between could turn into something wonderful.
“Morning, sleepyhead.” Rick, dressed in his usual style of worn jeans, scuffed boots, and a black T-shirt, ran a palm over a large black horse. “We wondered if you were going to sleep until noon.”
She hadn’t expected a huge greeting, but she’d hoped for more than a “mornin’” and an admonishment about sleeping in. They were acting like nothing had gone on between them last night.
Gunner gave her a wink and yanked on the saddle cinch of his horse. “We thought you’d like to get a closer look at the livestock.” He shot her a bemused look. “As long as you don’t bring any paint. We like our cattle in their natural color.”
She loved his sense of humor, even when it was directed at her.
“But first, we’d like you to meet someone.”
She followed the men with Kid at her heels as they strolled down the middle of the barn and came to the last stall. A beautiful chestnut-colored horse scraped her hoof over the ground, demanding their attention, then shook her mane and moved toward the railing to lay her muzzle on Rick’s palm. The excitement of visitors sent the mare’s colt prancing and whipping his tail in a frenzy of circular movement.
“This is Rocket.”
“Oh, my God, he’s so cute.”
“We figured you’d think so. Come on inside. Don’t make any quick movements, though. He’s like any other youngster. Skittish and ready to kick.” Gunner opened the gate as Rick kept the mother horse occupied.
Copying the way he entered the stall, slowly, with her attention focused on the horse and her colt, she got as close to the baby as she could. She lifted her hand, then waited for the go-ahead to touch him.
“Aw, he’s so soft and sweet.”
“Yeah, he’s a good one. He comes from good stock. She’s a great dam and his sire is one of the best in the area.”
“So will he learn to run cattle? Or will you use him for rodeos and the like?”
Gunner cooed at the colt, trying to keep him calm. “We don’t do rodeos much anymore. We’d rather stick close to home. But he’s got his role to play.”
“And what’s that?” She made the same comforting sounds Gunner made. His wide eyes grew softer as he dared to push his muzzle against her leg.
“He’s going to a friend of ours who runs a ranch for kids with problems.”
“With problems? Like what? And how can he help?”
“Once he’s ready, this little guy will get paired up with a kid that’s had drug problems or comes from a lousy home. Horses have a knack for putting things in perspective and that helps the kids in residential placement facilities get their heads back on straight.”
“Really? That sounds great.” She caught Kid’s pointed look. Maybe she hadn’t done enough research before she’d accused Rick and Gunner of animal neglect. Two men who would help kids in trouble couldn’t abuse an animal, could they? Not to her way of thinking. “So you sell the horses to them and they train them?”
“We do both. The training comes free with the purchase of the horse. We figure we got lucky in life so it’s our way of giving back.”
They’re simply too good to be true.
She stopped, worry striking deep inside her. Maybe they really were too good to be true. What was the old saying? “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is”? What if last night was their way of distracting her or winning her over so she wouldn’t see the truth?
She took her hand away, then faced him. Confronted him was more like it. “Is this your way of convincing me that you’re good men? Helpful ranchers who have gotten a bad rap?”
He drew back, and scowled at her. “Damn, woman, why so cynical?”
Guilt and shame flooded her, wiping away the body heat she’d gathered from the Northman brothers. She had no reason to believe they weren’t as good as they seemed. As for last night, they all shared responsibility for that and she didn’t want anything to color her memory of it. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have accused you.”
Gunner, however, had already stormed out of the stall and was striding toward the front of the barn.