Under A Prairie Moon (9 page)

“I’ve got a practice arena out back,” Holcomb said.

Kathy smiled. “Great.”

She followed Holcomb to the arena, her insides churning. How had she gotten into this mess?

Holcomb opened the gate and led the mare inside, then glanced over his shoulder at Kathy. “Coming?”

She took a deep breath, then entered the arena. Holcomb helped her mount, adjusted the stirrups and handed her the reins.

At a total loss as to what to do next, she sat there for a moment, feeling foolish. The mare blew out a breath and stamped her foot, her ears twitching back and forth. Kathy felt a whisper of cool air, and then she felt a large hand slip over hers, heard Dalton’s voice whisper in her ear.

“Relax,” he said. He touched his heels to the mare’s sides, and she started walking.

Startled, Kathy rocked backward a little, only to be brought up short by Dalton’s chest.

“Take it easy,” he said again. “Try to pretend I’m not here.”

“Oh sure,” she muttered, flustered by his nearness, by the touch of his calloused hand over hers.

He slipped his other arm around her waist, then urged the mare into an extended trot.

“What are you doing?” she exclaimed.

“Trying her out. Stop worrying and relax. I won’t let you fall.”

If he told her to relax one more time, she was going to scream. Gradually, as she realized she wasn’t going to fall, she began to enjoy the ride. The mare had a smooth gait, kind of like a rocking chair.

But it was the man behind her who made her heart flutter with nervous excitement. She was increasingly aware of his arm, rock-hard around her waist, of the broad chest at her back. She told herself it was ridiculous to feel the way she was feeling. He was a ghost, for goodness sakes, but she couldn’t help wishing that he was real.

They circled the arena three times, then Dalton turned the mare in the opposite direction. Changing leads, he told her, and explained that a lead was determined by which leg the horse extended first in a canter. Horses were like people, he said, some favored the right and some the left.

He reined the mare to a halt, then backed her up for several feet. “Buy her,” he said.

He slid over the horse’s rump and went to stand by the mare’s head while Holcomb helped Kathy dismount.

“So,” Holcomb said, “what do you think?”

“I’ll take her. How much is she?”

“A thousand dollars.”

Kathy almost choked. “A thousand dollars!”

She heard Dalton swear. “Prices sure have gone up,” he muttered. “Do you have that kind of money?”

“Too much?” Holcomb asked.

“Well, it’s a little more than I had planned on.” Actually, the price was no problem, she had the money. She just hadn’t realized horses cost so much.

Holcomb ran his hand over his jaw, his expression thoughtful. “Well, fact is, I’m kind of horse poor at the moment. I could let her go for eight hundred, but that’s my rock-bottom price.”

“Gee, I don’t know…”

“I’ll throw in that there saddle and bridle.”

Kathy looked at the mare. She was a pretty thing, with her shiny golden coat, snowy mane and tail, and big brown eyes. Still, it was a lot of money. She was about to say she’d have to think it over when she looked at Dalton. The yearning in his eyes was her undoing.

“I’ll take her, if you can deliver her to my house.”

“Sure, no problem. Just tell me when and where.”

“The Triple Bar C.”

She was getting used to the surprised look people gave her when she told them where she lived.

“No shi…I mean, is that right? I didn’t think anybody was living there.”

“I’ve only been there a few weeks. Will you take a check for the horse?”

“Sure. You can pay my driver when he drops her off.”

“Okay. Is tomorrow afternoon convenient?”

Holcomb nodded. “Yes ma’am.” He tipped his hat. “Nice doing business with you, Mrs. Conley.”

“Thank you. Oh wait! What do I feed her?”

“You don’t know much about horses, do you?”

That was putting it mildly. “No.”

“She needs hay and oats, and plenty of water. She gets a flake of hay in the morning, and again at night.”

“A flake.”

Holcomb spread his hands about four inches apart. “A flake’s about this wide. I’ll send along a bale of hay to tide you over.”

“Thanks.”

“A bale should last about a week.”

“A week. And where do I buy it?”

“You can get it from the feed store in town, or you can grow your own.”

Kathy nodded.

“She’ll be needin’ shoes in about two weeks.”

Kathy looked at the mare’s feet and frowned. “Shoes?”

“You sure you want a horse?” Holcomb asked.

“Yes. I’m…I’m going to take lessons.” She glanced at Dalton. “And I have someone to look after her.”

“Uh-huh. Well, horseshoes last a month to six weeks. You can find a shoer in the phone book. I recommend Ray Hadley. He’s one of the best around.”

Hay. Oats. Horseshoes. What had she gotten herself into? “Thank you, Mr. Holcomb.”

“Ray.”

“Ray.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

“I can find my way. Thank you for everything.”

* * * * *

Kathy pulled onto the highway, then scowled at Dalton. “Stop that!”

Dalton angled a glance in her direction. “Stop what?”

“Grinning.”

“Oh. Sorry.” He tried, but he couldn’t completely wipe the smile from his face. He had always loved horses. Once, he had dreamed of raising the best horses in the territory. It was why he had started selling his gun in the first place, to get a stake to buy a place of his own.

Kathy couldn’t help it. For the first time in months, she laughed out loud. Oh, and it felt so good to laugh again. It was soothing, healing.

Dalton watched her, pleased by her laughter. It made her look younger, washed some of the sadness from her eyes.

Kathy blew out a deep breath as her laughter subsided. The world looked brighter somehow. She slid a glance at Dalton as she turned onto the road that led to the ranch. “Thanks. I needed that.”

“Any time.”

“Maybe you could teach me to ride.”

“My pleasure.”

It took her a moment to recognize what she was feeling. It was hope.

* * * * *

Dalton paced the living room, long angry strides that carried him from one end of the room to the other. He could hear water running in the bathroom. It was Kathy, getting ready for her date with John Lawson.

He went to the window and stared out. Damn. A fire churned in his gut. Maybe he really was in Hell.

He swore softly. It had been Hell being so close to her today, having his arm around her as they rode around the arena, smelling the fresh clean scent of her, feeling her hair blow across his face. He’d ached for her so bad he was surprised he hadn’t fallen off the damn horse.

He heard the water stop, and he was overcome with a sudden urge to slip into her room. She would never know he was there. Just one look, he thought, what would it hurt? It took every ounce of his self-control to stay where he was, hands clenched into tight fists, his gaze fixed on the scene outside the window.

He heard the bedroom door open. Moments later, she was there, a vision in a pair of black pants and a red silk shirt that brought out the red highlights in her hair.

Never, in all his life, had he seen anything more beautiful, more alluring. Desire rose up within him, hotter than the fires of the unforgiving hell that surely awaited him.

A slow smile spread over Kathy’s face as she read the admiration in his eyes. “Thank you,” she murmured.

He nodded, incapable of speech. Silence stretched between them.

“Well, I’ve got to go.” She picked up her handbag and car keys. “Bye.”

“So long.” His voice was thick, raspy.

He watched her cross the room, go out the door, down the steps. Watched the sway of her hips, clearly outlined in those slinky black pants. Watched her open the car door and slide onto the seat.

He cursed John Lawson with every vile oath he had ever heard as he watched her start the engine and drive away.

* * * * *

Kathy smiled at something John said as they walked down the street toward the movie theater. Dinner had been pleasant. John had asked about things out at the ranch, and she had told him she was finished painting the inside and was about to start on the exterior. He had offered to send Sonny over to help, but she declined, saying she wanted to do it herself. Over dessert and coffee, he had told her some funny stories about people he knew in town.

The theater was crowded when they arrived.

“It’s always like this on Saturday night,” John remarked. He waved to a couple of people as they took their seats.

Kathy drew several curious stares, mostly from women. Were they old girlfriends, Kathy wondered, or just hopefuls?

The lights went down and she settled back in her seat. She wasn’t surprised when John handed her the popcorn, then slid his arm around her shoulders. It was warm and cozy, sitting there in the dark, sharing a box of popcorn. It reminded her of her high school days.

They left the theater hand-in-hand. “Would you like to go get a cup of coffee?” John asked.

“I don’t think so. It’s late, and I’m a little tired.”

They talked about the movie as they walked to the parking lot behind the furniture store where she had left her car.

John took her other hand in his. “I had a good time tonight,” he said.

“Me too.”

“Maybe we can do it again soon?”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

“Kathy…”

He leaned forward, waiting, letting her make the decision.

Curious, she closed her eyes and lifted her face for his kiss.

His hands squeezed hers, drawing her closer, and then she felt his lips on hers. It was a quiet kiss, warm and pleasant, like a summer day.

“Sweet,” he murmured.

She smiled at him, not knowing what to say.

“Next time I’ll pick you up,” he said. “This doesn’t seem right, letting you drive home alone.”

“I’ll be fine.” She unlocked the car door. “Thanks, John.”

“Thank you. I’ll call you the first of next week, okay?”

“Okay. Good night.” She slid behind the wheel.

“Good night.” He leaned down and kissed her again, then closed the door.

She turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the driveway. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she saw John standing where she had left him, watching her drive away.

With a sigh, she pulled onto the street. She’d had a good time, and John was a nice guy, but it was Dalton Crowkiller she thought of on the ride home. What had he done all night? Probably watched tv, she thought with a grin.

Suddenly anxious to see him, she punched the accelerator, eager to go home, to Dalton.

He was sitting in the old beat-up rocker on the front porch, one booted foot resting on the rail, when she pulled into the yard. She could feel him watching her as she parked the car. “Have a good time?” he asked as she climbed the stairs.

The tone of his voice, thick with accusation, made her defensive. “Yes, I did.”

He grunted. “Are you gonna see him again?”

“I guess so.”

“When?”

Kathy frowned at him. “What’s the matter with you? You sound like my father.”

He muttered an oath as he stood up, towering over her, his dark eyes blazing. “Dammit, Kathy…”

She took a step backward, frightened by the intensity of his gaze. “What?”

“Nothing,” he said, his voice thick. “I’m sorry.” His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. “Did he kiss you good night?”

She nodded, unable to speak for the sudden dryness in her throat.

“Like this?” he asked, and sweeping her into his arms, he captured her lips with his.

Kathy’s eyelids fluttered down as a torrent of emotions flooded through her. John’s kiss had been as mild as a balmy summer day. Dalton’s was a storm at midnight, filled with untamed fury and passion. Her arms went around his neck and she clung to him, the only solid thing in a world filled with turbulence. One hand cupped her buttocks, drawing her closer as he deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding over her lower lip, sizzling like lightning, making her knees go weak.

She heard a soft moan and realized it had come from her own throat.

He drew back a moment, his dark eyes hot, searing her skin, burning a path to her heart, and then he kissed her again. She melted against him, lost in the power of his touch, drugged by the aching need he aroused in her. Steeped in pleasure, mindless with desire, she pressed herself against him, felt herself sink into him, through him…

With a soft cry, she pulled away. “What’s happening?” She stared at him in horror. “Dalton!” His form was wavering, becoming transparent, and then he was gone.