Cowboys are Forever (17 page)

“This is my present to you, Mari,” Trey said.

She reached down to pick up the package, intent on unwrapping it, when it moved. Bandy chuckled. “Maybe you better hurry up and get the paper off, Miss Mari,” he told her when the oddly shaped package moved again. She knelt down and began hurriedly removing the paper which, she noted, was very loose and didn’t completely cover the handle of a basket showing through the top.

Suddenly a small, fuzzy head appeared through the opening, and then a tiny black-and-white body emerged, yipping excitedly. It launched itself at Marielle, tumbling over its fat little self to reach her and began plastering her with moist puppy kisses.

Marielle sank down on the floor, laughing, and cuddled the tiny wriggling dynamo to her. A puppy! She was ecstatic. “Oh, Trey, I love it!” she cried.

“The boss went all the way to Cheyenne to get him for you,” Bandy proudly told her. “He’s a border collie, comes from some famous bloodlines and got a pedigree as long as my arm. You need a sheep dog to help you with your animals, and to keep that danged lamb company. And this one’s a dandy.” Bandy scratched his balding head thoughtfully, observing the puppy’s joyous antics as it greeted Marielle. “Of course, he’ll calm down a mite as he gets older. Right now he’s a little rowdy.”

“That’s what I’ll name him!” Marielle announced happily. “Rowdy.” She looked up at Trey, who was smiling as he watched the puppy bond with its new owner. Feelings welled inside her for this truly exceptional man who seemed able to pull at her heartstrings in ways that continually surprised her.

“Thank you, Trey,” she said, her voice tight with emotion. “You couldn’t have gotten me a better gift. I’ll take good care of him.”

Trey smiled down at Marielle, happy that she liked his present to her. He watched the puppy with faint envy as it nuzzled Mari’s graceful neck and snuggled against her chest. Lucky dog, he thought wryly. Marielle looked radiant.

Trey had hardly been able to take his eyes from her all afternoon and evening, since he’d picked her up and brought her over here. His eyes drank in the sight of her in a scoop-necked scarlet sweater and long, flowing skirt. The sweater was soft and clingy; molding her full breasts in a very sensual way. The skirt was knit from the same soft wool; clinging lovingly to her rounded derrière and hips before flaring out to swing gently around her long legs. Trey had heard somewhere that redheads shouldn’t wear red. Whoever had said that should see Mari, he thought dryly. She looked absolutely fantastic in it.

He enjoyed seeing Marielle in his home. He’d invited her over several times before today and she always looked as though she belonged there somehow. The men loved her, and as for Consuelo, he’d sooner fight a mother grizzly than deal with his housekeeper if she thought he’d done something to harm Mari.

And then there were his own feelings about this warm, gutsy, beautiful woman who’d come to live among them and fit right in so effortlessly, so naturally, as if she’d always been there. His emotions were becoming increasingly complex, and thinking about them made him feel strangely restless and uncomfortable. So he resolutely pushed the disquieting thoughts away and went back to enjoying the holiday.

Later, he glanced over at Marielle in the darkened cab of the truck as he drove her home. The puppy slept contentedly in her arms. Her eyes were closed and a smile played around the corners of her mouth … a soft, sweet smile that touched his heart.

As if feeling his gaze upon her, Marielle opened her amazing emerald eyes. Her long eyelashes fanned her check as she blinked sleepily. Then she smiled. A heart-stopping smile of such radiant beauty that Trey caught his breath. God, this woman was like none he’d ever known before!

“Hi,” she said softly.

“Hi yourself, sleepyhead,” Trey teased her gently, turning into the long drive that led to her house. “Tired?”

She nodded. “Tired but happy.” Trey helped her take her packages in the house while she carried the puppy. He’d provided a bag of Puppy Chow, a small collar, a ball, and a few other necessities to go along with his main gift Marielle deposited the snoozing little animal on the rug in front of the fireplace.

“I should have gotten a pet bed for him,” he said, looking down at the sleeping puppy.

“Oh, if he cries I’ll let him sleep with me,” she told him. “He’s so adorable.”

Trey wondered if that would work for him. If he whined and cried, would she feel sorry for him and take him to her bed? He wrenched his attention back to their conversation.

“Thank you so much, Trey,” Marielle was saying. “For everything. I can’t imagine having a better Christmas and I want you to know how much I’ve enjoyed it.” Trey stared at her, mesmerized by the picture she made there in front of the flickering fire. He swallowed. He felt as though he had something caught in his throat. Like his heart.

“It was our pleasure, Marielle,” he said. “Mine especially.” She seemed to sway toward him and this was invitation enough for Trey to do what he’d wanted to do all evening. He drew her to him and covered those luscious lips with his own, drinking of her unbelievable sweetness. Then he simply stood and held her in his arms, loving the feel of her soft, warm body, next to his.

Trey sighed. He could stand here like this with her all night. But he knew she was tired and he had a long day ahead of him tomorrow. He reluctantly released her and stepped away. “Marielle, I’ve got to go out of state on a business trip. Bandy’s going with me, and the boys usually take off a few days this time of year to visit their families. So it’s going to be fairly deserted up here.” He smiled at her reassuringly. “You’ll be fine. But,” he teased, “Since you do seem to have a habit of getting into predicaments, I’ve asked the forest ranger up here to check in on you occasionally while we’re gone. You’ll like him,” he went on. “He’s a super nice guy. His name’s Ben Connors and I’ve known him all my life.”

“Oh, well, okay,” Marielle replied. “Thanks. But honestly, Trey, I’m sure I’ll be just fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”

No, he probably didn’t have to, he thought. But he did. If something happened to Marielle … .well, he didn’t even want to think about it. It occurred to him that she’d become an integral part of his life. He couldn’t imagine not seeing her, talking to her, touching her ….

“I’ll only be gone a few days,” he said. “I’ll see you when I get back.” He strode to the door, then stopped and looked back. “Merry Christmas, Marielle Stevens,” he told her, then left before he lost all self-control and gave in to the nearly overwhelming impulses to hold her again—hold her so tightly that she’d never get away.

“I want to swing by and check on Marielle before we go on home,” Trey told Bandy a few days later. Their business completed satisfactorily, they were just getting back from the trip. He wheeled the truck into her drive. “I asked Ben to stop by and check on her for me while we were gone, make sure that she was okay.”

To his surprise, the ranger’s truck was parked in front of Marielle’s house. Trey and Bandy walked up onto the front porch and stood listening. They could hear a melody being picked out on a guitar from inside, and a pleasant tenor voice singing the words to a well known old western ballad. Trey frowned. He knocked sharply at the door. Marielle opened it, her lovely face happy and relaxed. She gave them a big smile and welcomed them home. Inside, Trey’s narrowed eyes immediately swung to Ben Connors, who was ensconced on the couch, strumming on a guitar. He looked real comfortable, Trey noticed irritably.

The ranger looked up and grinned. “Hey, Trey, Bandy. I didn’t expect you boys back so soon.” Trey snorted silently, and searched Ben’s benign face for signs of guilt. Uh-huh. Trey decided, no doubt about it. Ben might sit there with an innocent look, but it was plain to see he’d been up to something.

“Hey,” was Trey’s laconic reply. He didn’t care whether he’d been friends with Ben Connor all his life or not. Right now he didn’t feel too happy to see him.

“Ben’s been so nice,” Marielle said cheerfully. “He took his responsibility seriously, Trey. He’s come over and checked on me every day.” Right, thought Trey uncharitably. What a sacrifice. Personally, he thought that coming over here and serenading Marielle was over and above the call of duty. Ben must have decided to combine business with pleasure.

“Yeah, old buddy,” Ben told him, smiling serenely. “I kept an eye on her, just like you asked me to.”

Trey glared at him, tight-lipped. “Thanks,” he ground out through clenched teeth. Yeah, he jeered silently, probably both eyes—and hands, too, if he got half a chance. He turned to Bandy. “Well, come on, Bandy. We’d better head for the house.” He tipped his hat to Marielle in good-bye, and then swung around to Ben. “If you’re ready to leave, Ben, follow us to my place for a beer.”
There,
Trey told himself in satisfaction when Ben accepted the invitation.
Got him out of there.

Driving home, Trey was silent and uncharacteristically morose. Inwardly, he fumed. That Ben Connor, he thought, feeling his temper rise. Of all the sneaky, backstabbing, sidewinding … .all he’d asked him to do was check on Mari from time to time, not hang around over there and court her! He was distracted from his jealous thoughts about his old friend by the sound of Bandy snickering. “What are you laughing at, you old mountain goat?” Trey asked hotly.

Bandy grinned. “What’s the matter, boss?” he asked slyly. “You afraid you’ve set a fox to guard the hen house?”

Marielle bathed and got ready for bed that night, then sat on the couch in front of the fire to dry her hair. She brushed it slowly, her mind still on the scene that had been enacted here earlier in the day. Trey had acted strangely. He’d told her that Ben was an old friend, but acted as if he disliked the man intensely—then invited him over for a beer. Her hand stilled, the brush in midstroke in its path through her long hair. She pursed her lips. Hmm. Was Trey jealous?

She sat up straighter, galvanized by the thought. Was that it? Her lips curved up in a smile of pleasure. The possibility of Trey feeling jealous about Ben made her oddly happy.

Rowdy suddenly got up from his warm spot at Marielle’s feet and went to the front door, whining and sniffling along the bottom of the doorjamb. Then Marielle heard footsteps on the wooden boards of the porch. She felt a flicker of alarm. It was late. Who’d be coming here at this hour? And how did they get here? She hadn’t heard a vehicle outside. She stood, wavering. Should she get the rifle? she wondered.

A sharp rap sounded on the door, and to her relief, she heard Trey’s familiar voice call her name. She yanked the door open and stood facing him.

“You scared me!” she scolded him. “I didn’t hear you pull up.” She laughed. “I was just wondering if I’d have to defend myself.”

“I rode my horse.” Trey looked pointedly at the brush still clutched in one hand and quirked an eyebrow quizzically. “And how were you going to defend yourself, Marielle? Beat someone to death with your hairbrush?”

She laughed. “No. I don’t mean to be rude, but why are you here?” she asked him curiously. She watched him closely as he paced around the room. He patted the puppy, took the poker and stirred up the fire, and fiddled with his hat before taking it off and hanging it on the rack by the door. She waited for him to answer her question. It looked like he planned on staying awhile.

“Trey?” she repeated. “Why did you come over here tonight?” He stood in front of her, staring at her intently, as though he were trying to memorize her features.

“I don’t know, Marielle,” he finally said. “And that’s the honest truth. I just don’t know.” He swallowed convulsively and she saw a muscle twitching in his square jaw. A sure sign, she’d come to learn, of his agitation. He reached out a hand and tentatively brushed it along her cheek. “I wanted—needed—to see you.”