Ain't No Angel (13 page)

Tyler blinked, and mentally shook his head. His thoughts had never been further away from his horses than they were right now.  He cleared his throat.  “We’re heading to the south pasture. I need to check on my broodmare band and do a head count.” He pointed toward the right.

Laney’s eyes widened with interest. She nudged the mare forward, and Charlie fell in step beside her. “Do you run your breeding stallion with the mares?”

Tyler stared at her. What an odd question to ask. What was he supposed to do? Keep Rap locked up in a corral and only put him to the mares when they were in season?

“I do,” he answered slowly, trying to read her face.

“Is he the horse in the painting in your living room? That’s a beautiful animal.”

“He’s the best horse my pa ever bred.” Tyler nodded, a note of pride in his voice. “Also the last horse he bred.” He clamped his mouth together until his lips hurt. Why did he have to say that? Why did it feel as if he could talk to Laney about everything, bare his soul to her? He hardly knew her.

“Your father is no longer alive?” Laney’s soft voice wrapped around his heart, just as the painful memory of his father dangling from a rope in the barn engulfed him.
Because of her.
Faded images of his mother entered his mind. He cursed silently.

“No,” he said, the word clipped and harsh.

Laney eyed him wordlessly. She looked as if she was trying to read his thoughts. Tyler stared straight ahead. Apparently there were things in both their pasts that neither wanted to speak about.

Silently, he led the way through a meadow, skirting around stands of lodgepoles and spruce trees. The horses splashed through a shallow creek and climbed a steep hill before Tyler reined Charlie to a stop. A wide expanse of rolling grassland met his view, and a herd of horses grazed in the distance.

“Wow,” Laney exclaimed, coming up alongside him. “Is this all part of your ranch?” She squinted into the sun, her hand over her forehead.

“The Double M is over four thousand acres,” Tyler said. He pulled his hat from his head, reached over, and dropped it onto her blonde hair. She shot a surprised look up at him.

“I forgot to find you a hat.” He grinned. “The sun can be unforgiving out here.”

Tyler swallowed. The look of disbelief and gratitude in her eyes was puzzling, as if a considerate gesture was something she wasn’t accustomed to.

“Thanks, cowboy,” she said softly, and adjusted the hat that was much too big for her. She blinked rapidly, then looked toward the horses ahead in an obvious attempt to avoid his gaze.

“So, why are we doing a head count? Are you missing some horses?” she asked.

“I might have a problem,” Tyler answered reluctantly. He nudged Charlie forward. He wasn’t sure yet what he would find. How much of his business should he share with Laney? She took a genuine interest in the animals, and she understood horses. That much was clearer to him now than before, as he watched the filly walk calmly next to Charlie.

“What sort of problem?”

Tyler stared off into the distance at his herd of broodmares and yearlings. He ran a hand over his face before glancing to his side. Laney’s eyebrows were raised expectantly.

“Yesterday I found out that a yearling that might have come from my herd died on a neighbor’s property from some strange illness. A few days ago, my stallion refused to breed mares that were in heat.”

Laney shot him a highly inappropriate glance from underneath the brim of his hat.  Perspiration beaded on Tyler’s forehead, and he shifted uncomfortably in the saddle. Hell, maybe he shouldn’t have been so blunt. This wasn’t the sort of thing a man talked about in front of a woman, but she’d asked the question.

“Seems like the stud and the owner have the same problem,” she mumbled, her lips twitching.

Damned if she wasn’t flirting with him. Tyler pulled Charlie to an abrupt stop, and dismounted. They were close enough to the herd to do a count without disturbing the horses. Any closer, and some of the younger animals might run off. It was a good enough excuse to get out of the saddle. Sitting had become unbearable all of a sudden. He fought the urge to pull Laney from her horse and prove to her right then and there how wrong her teasing assumption was. She wasn’t even aware how much her display of horsemanship, not to mention those britches she wore, made his pulse quicken. Her flirtatious comment was the final straw.

“You don’t want to put that to the test, Laney,” he said, his voice sultry. He shot her a hard stare.

“You want to court her proper, remember?”
some nagging voice in his head whispered. Damn. How long was considered a proper courtship? Who the hell ever heard of a man courting his own wife?

Laney stared at him. He smiled inwardly when her cheeks turned rosy.

“Why are we stopping here?” she called from atop the filly.

Yeah, best to change the subject
.

“I don’t want to disturb the herd. It’ll be easier to count the yearlings if they’re not on the move.” Tyler fumbled for some coherent words.

He walked around Charlie to the filly’s side, and reached for Laney’s waist before she had a chance to dismount on her own. With a firm tug, he pulled her from the saddle.

“I’m getting the sense that you’re an independent woman, but at least allow me to treat you like a lady,” he said huskily in response to the astonished look in her eyes. Her hands rested on his shoulders, and she stood much too close to him when her feet touched the ground. The front of his thighs brushed against hers. Tyler ground his teeth. If he expected his wife to act like a proper lady, then he had to control his own desires.

Before he could release his hold around her waist, Laney’s hand reached up, her palm stroking his cheek. A soft smile flittered across her face, and the sun caught the light reflecting in her shimmering eyes. She leaned up to him, and pressed a soft kiss against his lips, then quickly backed away.

She might as well have branded him with a hot iron. The satiny touch of her fingers, the velvety feel of her lips, ignited a fire within him that a raging waterfall wouldn’t be able to douse. The chasteness of her kiss left him staring at her, all doubt about her past erased from his mind. No soiled dove acted with such sweet innocence.

“Laney.” Tyler caught his breath, and reached for her hand. Her eyes widened, and a tear rolled down her cheek. She tensed, and for a split second he thought she’d try and pull away from him. Slowly, her tension faded, and she didn’t move when he took a step toward her. There was so much he wanted to ask her. Why was she crying? What had happened to her to make her appear both vulnerable and provocative at the same time?

“Laney, the way you and I married . . . Hell, I never expected to get hitched at all, least of all to a mail order bride.” He swiped a hand across his face.

“I know,” she replied softly. Tyler’s forehead wrinkled.  “Your foreman made some silly bet that you had to uphold. Ian Frazier told me.”

Tyler laughed. “Hell, is that what you think?” He shook his head. “My wranglers, my neighbors, and everyone in town may want to think that Gabe can strong arm me into a marriage by making a bet.  I was ready to send you back to where you came from. That’s the only reason I came to town to meet the stage.”

Laney tilted her head, and confusion marred her pretty face. “Then why did you marry me?”

He ran his hand over his face again, then chuckled and shook his head.  “Damned if I know. I saw you standing there, in the middle of that street, and I couldn’t let some other man have you.” He gripped her hand tighter. “Laney, I ain’t gonna lie to you. You’re a beautiful woman. Men would have lined up from all over the territory if they caught wind that you were available. I wanted to protect you. I made a vow in that church to honor and protect you. Right now, I want to get to know you better, take this slow. Can we agree on that?”

She nodded slowly, studying him as if he wasn’t real.  A look of uncertainty and disbelief passed through her eyes.

“I’m here to do whatever you want, Tyler.”

Chapter 13

Laney gazed out at the herd of mares, yearlings, and foals. Tyler’s stallion, Rhapsody’s Prince, grazed some twenty yards away from the herd. His head popped up every now and then, and his ears twitched in all directions, ever alert to any danger. When he moved too close to some of the mares, they promptly pinned their ears at him, and in no uncertain terms told him to keep his distance. She smiled. As tall and proud as the stallion was, the mares were in charge of the herd. His only job was to fend off predators and reproduce.

While Tyler counted his yearlings, Laney’s thoughts drifted to the events from earlier in the day. She’d asked him for pants partly in joking. She never expected him to actually produce a pair for her. The worn denims were clearly made for a young teenage boy, and fit a bit snug around her rear and upper thighs, but they were infinitely more comfortable than the bulky, hot dresses the reverend had supplied for her.

She’d hastily stuffed the ends of the cotton shirt into the loose waistband, and gone outside to meet Tyler for their ride, expecting him to be waiting for her by the horses. To her surprise, he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the young filly had pranced anxiously along the post she was tied to, pulling her head back in agitation. In a hasty decision, Laney uncoiled the leather reins from the post. She’d seen her share of horses panic and rear over backwards from being left tied in such a manner. Acting on impulse, she’d climbed onto the horse’s back. She’d always had an easier time controlling a nervous horse from atop its back than from the ground.

Tyler’s admiring looks after his initial anger, and finally his acceptance of her riding ability, had left her weak in the knees. That brief moment, when he pulled her from the saddle and held her close, had jolted something inside her, some emotion she had buried a long time ago. Her physical attraction to Tyler was one thing, but in that instant, when he held her and gazed into her eyes with such warmth and tenderness, her heart had exploded to a new level of awareness of him that was completely foreign to her. It had both scared her and made her feel infinitely happy at the same time. She’d reached up to touch his face, needing to feel him, and impulsively kissed him lightly on the mouth. For fear of taking her reaction too far, she’d quickly stepped away from him.

She couldn’t allow these feelings to cloud her thinking. She was sent here to do a job, not to become emotionally attached to someone with whom she had no hope for a future.

Laney scoffed. None of the other guys in her past had ever represented security or a future. How ironic what fate had dealt her this time. In this century, she was married to Tyler, a guy who wanted a relationship with her based on friendship first. What was she supposed to do with that? She was here to do whatever made him happy, and if that meant a strictly platonic relationship, then that’s what she would give him. The trouble was she wanted so much more.

Don’t kid yourself, Laney. You can’t have a long-term relationship with him. You’re going to be gone again soon.

“Can we get closer after you’re done counting the yearlings?” Laney asked tentatively. This might be her best chance to evaluate the stallion. From this distance, she hadn’t noticed anything obvious in the animal’s movements that would indicate an injury.

“I’m done.” Tyler offered her a biscuit from his saddlebag. His eyes lingered on her face, and Laney’s pulse increased. He’d called her beautiful, and confessed that he married her to protect her. He didn’t have to say what he wanted to protect her from. His meaning had been clear as crystal. A warm shudder passed through her at his continued perusal. If he was attracted to her, why was he holding back? They were married, yet he’d rather get to know her better before sleeping with her. It all seemed too unreal.

“Would you like me to introduce you to Rap? He’s the backbone of this operation, after all.”

Tyler’s words didn’t register immediately. He raised his brows and leaned forward, apparently waiting for her response.

God, I want to kiss you again.

She stuffed the rest of the biscuit in her mouth to keep from carrying out her thoughts.

“I’d love to see him up close,” she mumbled, her words barely coherent. She swallowed the food, and repeated her words. “Is he tame?” she added.

Tyler grinned. “About as tame as a stallion gets. He has his ornery moments, but I’ve warned him many times that if he don’t behave, I’ll cut him quicker than he can blink.”

Laney stared at him. He was so damn good-looking when he was serious, but when Tyler showed his playful side, he was down-right irresistible. His eyes twinkled with mischief rather than in anger, and the easy smile on his face sent her heart aflutter.

She quickly turned her back to him and reached for the water canteen hanging from her horse’s saddle. She wiped a hand across her forehead, and wished she had a fan. If Tyler kept up his teasing, she wouldn’t be able to stop from jumping in his arms and beg him to make love to her.
And show your true colors, Laney
.
Meaningless sex without love is what you’re used to.
He wants a relationship with you first. This guy is your dream come true.

Tyler reached for her hand, and Laney gasped in surprise. The jolt his touch brought to her senses was absolutely mind-blowing.

“We’ll leave the horses here,” he said, and tugged on her arm.

Laney wrapped her fingers around his large hand, and matched his strides as he headed across the grassland toward the herd of horses. He led her along casually, his eyes trained straight ahead, while she fought to fill her lungs with air. Did he have any idea how much he affected her?

Several of the mares trotted off, their foals at their heels when she and Tyler got too close. Rap lifted his head, watching them intently. He faced them, his head held high. A shrill whinny filled the air, and the stallion trotted toward them. Laney observed his movement closely. There was no sign of a head bob that would indicate that he was lame.

Tyler raised his hand when the stallion was only a few yards away. For a moment, she thought the horse would try and run them down. No doubt he perceived them as a threat to his herd. He hadn’t pinned his ears, though, and when Tyler called “whoa,” he stopped in his tracks and lowered his head. He stood still while she and Tyler approached him.

Laney extracted her hand from Tyler’s grip, wiping her sweaty palm on her thigh before reaching out to pet the horse. The stallion snorted, then stretched his neck forward.

“He’s beautiful,” she whispered. She ran her hands along his well-muscled neck and back, and the horse didn’t move.

“Looks like he enjoys a woman’s touch.” Tyler’s voice had deepened. Laney swallowed, but didn’t turn around. She stepped up next to the horse, and continued feeling along his back and down his stifle.

“He’s got good conformation, there’s no need to give him such a close once-over.” Tyler chuckled.

Laney bit her lip. She wished she could do a more thorough feel of his muscles, but with Tyler right there, how would she explain what she was doing?

“Does he get injured out here on the range?” she asked casually.

“Hasn’t yet. I’m sure he gets kicked from time to time when the mares keep him in line, but I’ve never seen anything worse than a hoofprint on his rump.”

“I bet this boy can run,” Laney remarked, almost to herself. The horse was a far cry from the thoroughbreds she’d dealt with, but his powerful haunches and that long, sloping shoulder told her he would be one fast ride.

“Only lost one race in his lifetime,” Tyler said. There was a certain edge to his voice, and Laney turned to face him.

“You race him?” Her eyebrows raised.

“On occasion,” Tyler shrugged. “The neighbors get together for some fun and games a couple times per year. Everyone likes to show off their stock, and wager on the fastest horse.”

“When was his last race?” Laney asked. Perhaps she was getting closer to an answer.

“Couple months ago.” Tyler gazed off into the distance, and kicked at the dirt on the ground.

Laney studied his features. He was no longer relaxed, but stood stiffly next to her, his facial muscles tight.

“He lost that day,” she guessed. “And that’s why you’re now married to me.”

His eyes shot to her. “I told you, I didn’t marry you because of a bet,” he growled. He swiped his hand across his face, then abruptly headed back toward where Charlie and the filly grazed in the distance. “Time to head back to the ranch,” he called over his shoulder.

Laney glanced once more at the stallion. She wouldn’t be able to assess him further today, but she’d learned some important information. Rap was a fast horse. He’d only lost one race, a few months ago. Now he was reluctant to breed. What if it was all related?

****

Laney reined the chestnut filly to a stop at the top of the rise overlooking the vast meadow where Tyler’s broodmares and yearlings grazed. She inhaled a deep breath, her lungs expanding more fully than they ever had in the stuffy city with all of its modern-day pollution. Here, the air smelled clean and she savored the fresh scent of sweet meadow grass. A hawk lazily circled the cloudless sky above her.

Laney patted her mount’s neck. She’d affectionately named the young mare Mariah, after the first horse she’d ever ridden and because she could run like the wind. She glanced over her shoulder for the hundredth time. No one had followed her the two other times she’d come out here by herself, and she hoped her luck would hold out.

The day Tyler had brought her here to see his herd of mares and yearlings seemed more like a dream to her now. It had turned out to be one of the most enjoyable days of her entire life, one she hoped to cling to in her memories forever.

She leaned forward and ran her hand along the filly’s neck in an effort to distract herself from thoughts of Tyler. It didn’t work. No one, especially not a guy, had ever treated her with as much care and respect as he had shown her in the short time she had known him. Not that there had been much opportunity for anything more to develop. For days, he’d been immersed in ranch work. When he wasn’t working with the younger horses, he was gone from before sunup until well after dark.

Curiosity ate at her as to what he did all day when he was gone, but his vague answers discouraged her from asking too many direct questions. She kept most of her comments about her past as ambiguous as possible, grateful that he never pressed her for more information. On the few occasions when he wasn’t too tired to go straight to bed after a hasty dinner at the bunkhouse, he’d sat with her on the porch, and asked her questions about her day, or made other small talk, mostly about horses.

Laney enjoyed and looked forward to those moments with him. They’d sit in companionable silence and listen to the crickets chirp their evening songs. Part of her wished he’d hold her in his arms, kiss her, and carry her off to bed, but he kept a respectable distance. Once or twice he’d touched her hand in passing, but nothing else ever happened. She had to be content with sitting on the bench in front of the house with him and enjoy the peacefulness and quiet of the evening.

A few days ago she’d asked him about the possibilities of a bath. She longed for a hot shower, but that was out of the question until she returned home to the future. She had resigned herself to washing with room-temperature water each evening before crawling into her bed, but the need for a complete soak and scrubbing her itchy scalp became greater every day.

A creek ran behind the house and through the woods that lined the property, and was the only obvious water source that she could see that was suitable for bathing. The idea of stripping down out in the open, and especially when there were a bunch of men milling about, wasn’t her first choice.

To her great surprise, Tyler had produced a metal bathtub the following evening, which he set up next to the stove in the kitchen. He’d heated bucket after bucket of water, until the tub was full. Before she’d had a chance to thank him, he had mumbled some excuse that he needed to talk to his men at the bunkhouse, and she hadn’t seen him again that evening.