Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming (16 page)

Maria raised her brows but didn’t speak. Angel could tell the woman appeared worried. No doubt she’d hoped to spend time together today.

Angel held up her hand and smiled. “Not working, don’t worry. Merely going for a short ride before I go crazy.” Something fluttered inside. Libby had expressed concern for her well-being, but something in Travis’s voice denoted more than simple worry over a new employee. She stuffed down the thought before it could surge too far to the fore.

“Sounds like a good plan. I think I’ll tag along.”

Her arm froze partway to her mouth. “Why?”

He shrugged. “I’d like to keep you company on your first ride after your accident, if you don’t mind.”

“James is coming with me.”

“Good. Should make an enjoyable ride.” He gave her a cocky grin.

Her heart rate increased and she took several shallow breaths, hoping to calm herself. Did he think her incompetent to ride alone, even with James along? Or didn’t he trust she’d keep her word about not going back to work? She shook off the thought and glanced at Maria. Even if Travis came along, that would be preferable to staying. Yes, riding with Travis might not be such a bad thing, after all.

Travis whistled as he walked to the barn a couple of hours later. It had been a long time since he’d gone out on a ride just for pleasure. The sun shone bright, a light breeze blew across his skin, and the fragrance of baking donuts drifted from the house. His mouth watered thinking of the special treats Libby was making in honor of their guest. They’d be sprinkled with sugar and waiting when he returned. He grinned and jerked open the barn door.

Angel collided with his chest. She stumbled, and Travis gripped her upper arms. She flinched and took a step back.

Travis dropped his hands to his side. An empty feeling washed over him as she retreated yet another step. “I barreled through the door without looking. You all right?” He glanced at her still bandaged arm.

“Yes. Fine.” She turned and headed back into the barn, but the wince of pain belied her words.

“I can catch Bella and saddle her for you. I don’t want you lifting anything heavy.”

“No need, Boss.” Arizona poked his head around the stall partition. “I moseyed out here when I seen her heading to the corral. Got Bella all tacked up and ready to go.” A smile lit his handsome face. “Want I should come along?”

Irritation shot through Travis, and he nearly bit off his tongue to keep from shouting. “No. You’ve got work to tend to, and you’d best get to it.” Arizona’s lips drooped, and Travis felt a pang of remorse. “Sorry, Arizona. But there’s a lot of work waiting, and I can’t spare you now.”

“Right. I get it, Boss.” The cowboy swung toward Angel, turning his back on Travis. “Maybe next time, Miss Angel?”

Angel glanced from one man to the other and shrugged. “Sure. And thanks for saddling Bella.”

“Anytime.” Arizona shot a hard glance toward Travis and stalked from the barn.

Travis stared at the retreating man. That hadn’t gone well. His best hand was smitten with Angel. The surge of jealousy shocked Travis. Had Angel invited Arizona along? He felt a twinge of shame— ever since Arizona arrived on the ranch Travis had attempted to talk to him about the Lord, to no avail. The cowboy didn’t see his own need. Travis had hoped his life would serve as an example. From Arizona’s scowl of disgust before he walked out the door, he’d botched things good.

“Am I late?” James bolted through the open doorway and skidded to a stop a few feet from Travis, his chest heaving. “Ma made me stay and help clear the table.” Loathing laced the words, and he kicked at a clod of dirt. “That’s women’s work.”

Angel drew herself upright. “My uncle helped me with the dishes every night he was home, and he was more of a man than most I’ve met.” She reached for Bella’s bridle. “You should be thankful you have a mother, and not complain.”

“Sorry.” James hung his head. “Didn’t mean nothing bad by it.”

Travis tousled the boy’s hair. “Miss Angel is right, but you’ve apologized, so catch your horse and let’s head out.”

James brightened and grabbed a rope. “Thanks, Uncle Travis. I’ll be right back.”

Travis leaned his arms against the wooden rail where Bella was tied, avoiding Angel’s gaze. He sure hoped the last few minutes would be the end of the irritations between them.

Angel turned a somber expression his way. “It’s none of my business how you treat your cowhands, but I appreciated what Arizona did for me.”

He clamped his jaw shut. She’d probably asked Arizona to go along, and now she’d be mad that he’d killed the idea. And that got under his skin more than it had any right to.

Travis brushed away the feelings of jealousy and reminded himself Angel was his employee, nothing more. And he intended to keep it that way.

Angel rode in silence, barely registering James’s prattling voice as he bounced along beside her. She glanced over her shoulder. Travis brought up the rear. Right now the last thing she wanted was conversation with the man. What was riding him, anyway? He’d been rude to Arizona when the cowboy had done nothing to provoke him. Travis’s expression when he poked his head around the stall was—what? Angry? No. More like frustrated. Could he be irritated that someone needed to saddle her horse? She scowled.

“You say something, Miss Angel?” James turned in his saddle and squinted against the sunlight.

Angel straightened and picked up her reins. No sense in allowing the boy to see her exasperation. She turned toward Travis. “Mind if James and I lope the horses a bit?”

“Sure. I’ll mosey along and catch up if you don’t go too far.”

“We’ll stay within sight.” She turned to James and grinned. “No running your horse or racing, but we can let them out a mite, if you want to.”

“Whoopee!” James kicked his buckskin gelding in the sides, and the big animal lunged forward, nearly unseating the boy.

“James!” Travis raised his voice, but the boy didn’t slow Jasper’s pace.

Angel sat for a moment in stunned silence as Travis clucked to his horse, then urged him into a gallop. She leaned forward in her saddle, driving Bella into a fast lope, her gaze trained on James as his mount flew across the level ground, his long stride extending as he gained momentum with each advancing moment.

“Pull your horse in, James.” Travis’s voice thundered across the open prairie.

Angel could see James’s arms extended in front of him; he appeared unwilling to slow Jasper. She urged Bella on and loosened the mare’s reins, letting her have her head. She was sure-footed and steady, having been raised on badlands worse than what she ran across now. Bella veered around a boulder and jumped a shallow wash. Her black mane blew in the wind and tendrils slapped Angel’s face. Puffs of dust from Travis’s horse running just ahead clogged her nostrils.

What was that boy thinking, putting his horse to this kind of pace? From what she’d heard, he wasn’t an experienced horseman. Had the idea of galloping gone to his head, or had the gelding’s response to being booted taken James by surprise? She peered ahead, hoping to see James slowing his foolhardy race, but she was met with disappointment.

The horse that Travis rode was a big-boned, long-limbed bay with four white stockings that flashed as his stride ate up the ground. He’d gotten a headstart, but Bella was gaining. The steady rhythm of hoof-beats filled her ears—no labored breathing and the mare hadn’t so much as broken a sweat. Angel stroked Bella’s neck, satisfaction swelling inside. She winced at the ache running up her arm but pushed it aside.

Travis turned his head for a moment, determination hardening his features, then faced forward and grazed his gelding with his spurs. No words passed between them, but Angel felt the mix of the man’s driving anxiety and anger. His nephew could be in mortal danger and was too naïve to realize it. One misstep by his horse into a groundhog hole, or a hoof landing wrong on a round rock, and it would all be over. James could fly over the buckskin’s head as the horse went down, and at this speed, the least he’d get would be broken bones. She shuddered to think of Libby’s agony if they were forced to pack the body of her son back to the ranch.

“James!” Travis bellowed again. “Pull that horse in
now
.”

Angel watched with her heart in her throat, praying he’d respond. They had gained on the pair and ran fifty feet or so behind. The boy suddenly sat back in his saddle and his elbows drew to his sides, the reins taut in his hands. The buckskin snorted, shook his head, and stretched his neck out, continuing to run. Angel’s heart sank. Jasper had the bit between his teeth and James wasn’t strong enough to stop him. James sawed on the reins to no avail. The animal dug in his haunches, dropped his head, and plowed forward.

“Uncle Travis. Make him stop!” The panic in the boy’s voice was apparent, even at this distance. “I’m scared!”

“Hold on, James. We’re coming.” Travis seemed to will his horse to go faster. His mount’s sides heaved and his neck stretched.

The horse moved at a full run, and his dark sides glistened with sweat. Angel hadn’t believed it possible, but Travis gained a few more yards on the runaway. She urged Bella forward, keeping only a stride or two behind the gelding.

Travis was magnificent in the saddle, sitting the running horse like someone born to ride. The fabric of his shirt stretched tight against his muscled shoulders as he extended his arms and called for more speed. His long, lean legs remained steady and firm against his horse’s sides, and his clenched jaw showed his dogged determination to save his nephew. But what could he do, even if he caught up with Jasper? Angel shot up a prayer, hoping God would listen.

James hunkered over the saddle horn, his hands gripping the reins but no longer putting out an effort to stop his speed-crazed mount. The horse jumped a small bush, nearly unseating the boy a second time. Angel watched in horror as James slipped to the side. He dropped the knotted reins and clutched the horn.

“Hold on, boy. I’m almost there.” Travis yelled the words, although Angel doubted James could hear. She drew further to the side, running almost parallel to the two riders. James’s pallor and grip on the saddle screamed out his fear. He slipped a little more and fought to keep his balance. His foot shoved hard in the stirrup and he righted himself, then he slumped over his horse’s neck, his head bowed.

Bushes passed in a blur, and Bella continued to dodge and jump small obstructions, but Angel kept her gaze trained on Travis. A few more long strides brought him abreast of the runaway gelding. He leaned away from his saddle and reached for the rein closest to him, but James’s horse snorted and jerked away.

“Please, God,” Angel mumbled.

Travis urged his bay closer and tried again. Angel could see his long bronzed fingers just inches from the rein. Suddenly, his arm snaked out and he snagged the leather strip. The knot at the end of the reins kept him from pulling it all the way toward him. “James. James!”

The boy’s head bobbed, and he turned frightened eyes on his uncle, but his mouth seemed frozen and no words tumbled out.

“Untie the reins.” Travis kept his horse moving at the same speed as the buckskin, but Angel could tell the effort of balancing in the saddle and holding the reins was wearing on him. “Hurry, boy. Untie them.”

James came to life at his uncle’s words, and his fingers fumbled with the knot. Long moments passed as he struggled to keep his balance in the seat and loosen the leather, but it finally broke free. Angel slowed Bella’s gallop to a fast trot, understanding dawning at what course Travis planned to take.

Travis drew the strip toward him and sat upright in his saddle, then slowly directed his mount in a wide circle. Jasper seemed almost relieved to follow along, his frantic pace slackening as the circle tightened. Finally, the two heaving, sweat-soaked geldings drew to a stop.

Travis jumped from his saddle, his entire body shaking—with what? Fear, anger, or a little of both? He took two strides to James’s side and plucked the trembling boy from his seat. “If you ever do that again—” He gripped James as though he’d shake him, but he simply stared at the boy for a moment, then snatched James to his chest.

The scared young man emitted a sob. Then a wail tore from his lips, and he threw his arms around his uncle’s neck. “I’m sorry, Uncle Travis. I’m sorry. I—didn’t—know he’d—run. Honest—I didn’t.” Tears coursed down his cheeks, and he hiccupped between the words.

Angel sat her horse watching the two—so different, yet so alike. She’d been afraid Travis might be harsh, and now admiration flooded her. Travis reminded her of Papa when she’d done something naughty as a small child, and he’d disciplined her with tenderness and love.

Travis drew back, still gripping his nephew’s shoulders. “I understand, but you didn’t think before you acted. I’ve told you numerous times that the decisions you make out here can have life-and-death consequences. I hope you learned that today.”

James swiped at his tearstained cheeks. “Yes, sir. I won’t do anything like that again. Ever.” He struggled to smile. “Thank you for stopping my horse. I thought he’d run forever.”

“My biggest concern wasn’t his running, but what would happen if he stepped in a hole and sent you flying. When he jumped that bush you lost your balance, and if you’d fallen, you could’ve been killed.”

Angel winced but she understood the need to be brutally honest with James. If the boy thought the danger was in the horse running away until he tired and eventually stopped, it might not make a deep enough impression. She nudged her horse forward. “James?”

He turned toward her. “Miss Angel?” His eyes widened. “I forgot you were here.”

She nodded. “Your uncle is right. This is rough ground, and I expected to see your horse go down any second. Bella is sure-footed, but even she was picking her way. All I can figure is that God must be watching over you today, or we’d be packing you home across your saddle, and your mama would be grieving another loss.”

James’s face sagged, and it looked like he might burst into tears again. “I don’t want Ma to cry over me like she did my pa. I promise I’ll be careful.”

Travis retrieved his horse’s reins that dragged on the ground. “Good. Now let’s head back to the house. Nice and slow.” He swung into the saddle and motioned for James to do the same.

Angel turned her horse the direction they’d come. She was content to let the two men ride together. The memory of Travis’s courage would stay with her for a long time. A sense of deep gratitude to God hit her. It might not be so bad attending church with Libby and Travis.

Then a thought froze her in her saddle, and she nearly dropped her reins. All she owned was men’s clothes and boots. What in the world would she wear?

Travis shot a look at Angel sitting relaxed in her saddle and frowned. He’d had high hopes for what should have been a leisurely ride, and it had turned into a nightmare instead. Since Angel’s accident, he’d had little time to talk to her, and now with her grandmother visiting he doubted that would improve. Her arm was well on the way to mending, although she still needed to be careful. Thank the good Lord he’d come on this ride and James was all right. Not that Angel’s riding skills weren’t up to muster, but with her injury it could’ve been difficult for her to catch the reins and turn the runaway horse.

Maria de Luca posed another interesting problem—one he needed to give further thought to. She seemed genuine enough, and he had no reason to doubt her identity, but Angel hadn’t warmed up to the woman and seemed to avoid her. Travis brushed at a pesky fly buzzing around his head. Raven swished his tail as the fly moved back to his hindquarters.

James rode quietly beside him, seeming content to rest and, for once, not chattering. The thirteen-year-old generally had more comments and questions than three grown men strung together in a week, but that was part of growing up. Travis remembered his own childhood and the times he’d pestered his father. He’d quickly learned to keep his thoughts to himself, or get snapped at for his pains.

His gaze once again strayed to the lovely, raven-haired woman ahead of him. What would it be like, having a wife who understood ranch life and supported him in what he hoped to accomplish? A slight smile tipped up the corners of his lips. He’d always wanted children. Would they have dark hair and eyes, or—he pulled up short and nearly yanked his horse’s head off. What in tarnation was he doing, daydreaming about a woman who didn’t know he existed other than to receive her orders and get a paycheck? Besides, he had no indication she knew the Lord, and he wouldn’t waffle in that area.

James reined in and turned in his saddle. “Uncle Travis. You okay?” His brows crinkled.

“Yeah. Sorry, James. Guess I was thinking and forgot where I was.”

“That’s not safe. You have to be aware of your surroundings all the time in this country. Isn’t that what you told me?” There was no censure in the boy’s tone, but Travis detected a hint of a smile behind the words.