The Cowboy Way (11 page)

“Jake?”

“Hmm?”

“When did we cross the line between friendship and more than friendship?”

“I haven't a clue.”

She could feel the vibration in his chest as he spoke.

“Only a couple of days ago, you couldn't stand the sight of me.”

“Not true. You're gorgeous to look at, but you know I hate drinking.”

He chuckled. “Gorgeous, huh?”

She coughed. “Absolutely.”

“Studly?”

She put her tongue against her cheek. “You got it.”

“Sexy?”

She rolled her eyes. “Goes without saying.” Her stomach growled. “Shall we go back to the Gold Buckle?”

“Let's talk more about me.”

She moved away from him and stood, faking like she was upset. “I'm not one of your buckle bunnies, Jake Dixon.”

“Gee, too bad. If you were, I'd autograph your stomach.”

“No thanks, but you can feed it. I'm famished.”

He attempted to stand, using the bench for leverage. Automatically, she moved to help him, the way she always helped Kevin.

“No. I can do it myself. It just takes time.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off.

“I promised my mother that I'd take you someplace special to eat.”

She thought about it. “Let's just go back to the Gold Buckle. That's someplace special to me. Besides, I heard Cookie's making sourdough biscuits and barbecuing steaks. I just love cookouts and eating outside.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Hand in hand, they walked back to the parking garage, and were soon back on the highway heading southwest. The sun was still high in the sky, and the sky was even bluer than on the way up.

“I gave Maria the address of the Gold Buckle Ranch for Johnny. I told her about your program and how it's done so much for Kevin.”

“Great,” Jake replied. “If there's anything I can do for them…”

She heard a phone ringing somewhere in the truck.

“Try the glove compartment. I forgot I had the thing.”

She answered the phone for him. “It's Owen Michaelson from Wild West Pro Rodeo Equipment.”

“Tell him to hang on.”

Jake turned in to a gas station, cut the motor and took the phone. “Hi, Owen. How's everything?”

His shoulders slumped as he answered in one-word sentences. Beth sensed that it wasn't good news.

“I wish you'd give me more time, but I understand. Chris Morton is a good man. He's going places. Do what you have to, Owen. Okay.”

He handed her the phone. “Thank you.”

She put it back where she had found it. “Something wrong?”

“Lost another sponsor.”

Beth didn't know what to say. The article she'd read earlier had mentioned that he'd lost two previously. This made three.

“Do you have any sponsors left?”

“Nothing big.”

She wished she could think of something to lessen
his disappointment. “Well, look at the bright side. You're still gorgeous, studly and sexy, and you can autograph my stomach anytime you want.”

He laughed, but they rode back to the Gold Buckle Ranch mostly in silence. No matter how hard she tried to get him to open up, he shrugged the news off as if it didn't matter—but she knew it did.

She sensed that he wanted to be alone, so she was glad when she started seeing signs for Mountain Springs.

He swung his truck into the parking area marked “Visitors.” “Thanks for keeping me company,” he said as they got out of the truck.

“It was my pleasure. Thanks for the shoulder to lean on. Wish I could have done the same for you when you got that call.”

“You did.”

She shut the door. “You aren't the easiest to get to open up about yourself, but you are a pro at getting others to open up to you.”

He opened the passenger door that Beth had just shut and took out the cell phone. For a second he looked at it as if trying to decide if he should throw the phone as far as he could or crush it under his boot. The sparkle seemed to have left his eyes.

“Jake?” She touched his arm. “Are you going to be all right?”

“Yeah.”

“I'm worried that you might…”

He raised a dark eyebrow. “Worried that I might go out and get drunk and get into another brawl?” His words were sarcastic and biting. “You will never stop comparing me to your ex-husband, will you.”

She stepped back, stung by the words she knew were true. “I'm trying. I'm really trying.”

He caught her hand and took a deep breath. “I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Jake Dixon has been stomped on before and survived. Okay?”

“I'm sorry. It's not fair of me.”

“No apology necessary.”

He was right, she had to stop comparing him to Brad.

Jake checked his watch. “I'd better go check on a couple of things, so I'll see you later at the cookout.”

“Okay.”

She'd planned on a quick nap before the barbecue, but she wanted to see Kevin first to tell him that she was back. She walked toward the horse barn. If he was anywhere, he was probably feeding or watering the horses.

Entering the barn, she inhaled the smell of horses, sweet hay and leather. Sure enough, Kevin was talking to another boy in a wheelchair. They were feeding carrots to all horses that were sticking their heads over the half-doors, which most of them were.

She waved to the three cowboys cleaning tack, and they waved back.

“Hey, Mom!” Kevin waved to her with a carrot in his hand.

Carrots were always in his hands lately, and he was always in the horse barn, riding a horse or talking about horses.

“Where's Jake?” he asked.

“He's around. How are you, Kevin? Having fun?”

“Sure am.” Then he remembered his manners. “This is Luke. Luke, this is my mom.”

“Hi, Luke.” She shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Howdy, ma'am,” he replied.

“Mom, Luke's from Stephenville, Texas. Doesn't he talk cool? We're going to e-mail each other when Wheelchair Rodeo is over. His horse is named Super Dude. Isn't that a cool name?”

“Cool.”

“Is Jake going to be okay?” Kevin asked.

“They took a lot of X rays. Then Dr. Trotter will look at them and talk to Jake.”

“Hope he's okay.”

“Me too.”

“Me three,” added Luke.

“Are you going to be at the movie, Mom? It's a John Wayne one. Lots of shootin' and stuff.”

“I'll be there.” She wanted to kiss him and give him a big hug, but she didn't dare with Luke or the other cowboys in the barn. Kevin would never forgive her. “I'll see you later, then.”

To her surprise, Kevin turned to Luke and told him that he could continue to feed the horses without him because he was going to “escort” his mother part of the way back to her cabin. She wondered what was up, and hoped something wasn't wrong.

Kevin waited until they were down the ramp and away from everyone. His eyes took in the area. No one was around. “Mom, you can hug me if you want to. You can kiss me, too.”

“Aw…” She bent over and did just that. He hugged her back. “How did you know I needed that?”

“I just thought you did.”

She kissed him on the forehead. “I'm feeling better
already.” She mussed his hair, and he didn't protest. Was this boy actually Kevin? “But are you okay?”

He shifted in his seat as if he couldn't get comfortable. “Um, yeah…I'm okay.”

She'd bet her last dollar that something was on his mind. “Anything you want to tell me?”

“Uh, well, remember how after my last operation I was supposed to walk?”

She squatted and took his hands. “Yes, but don't worry, honey. Maybe you just need more time.”

Some cowboys walked past them. They all waved and called Kevin by name. He knew their names, too.

“Was there something more you wanted to tell me, Kev?”

His gaze followed the cowboys as they walked away. “Uh, nope. I don't think so.”

“Okay.”

She was striking out. Her kid was secretive and so was Jake Dixon—but she knew her son better than she did Jake Dixon. Something was up with Kevin, only he wasn't ready to talk about it yet. He was just laying the foundation.

“See you later, Mom.”

“See you at the barbecue.”

Pushing open the door to her cabin, she went to her refrigerator and pulled out a can of iced tea. Taking a couple of swigs, she went into her bedroom, put the can on the night table and collapsed onto the bed.

She just wanted to close her eyes, just for a moment.

 

Jake wondered why Beth had missed the barbecue. He really began to worry when Kevin came to him and
told him that the John Wayne movie had started and his mother still wasn't there.

“But she said that she was going to be at the movie, Jake. She said she would.” He began to wheel rapidly toward the exit.

“Hey, Kev, you stay here and find out what The Duke does to get the bad guys, and I'll go check on your mother. I'm sure she's fine. She's probably just sleeping.”

“Thanks.”

He handed Kevin a cell phone. “I'll call you when I've talked to her. You just stay and have fun.”

“Call me. Right away.”

“You got it.”

There were no lights on in the Trail Boss Cabin. Jake knocked on the door. “Beth?”

No answer.

“Beth?”

Still no answer.

He walked in and turned a light on in the living room. He walked down the hallway and paused at the bedroom door. She was curled up on her side, sound asleep. She had unbuttoned her blouse and loosened the top snap of her shorts. Her hair was a mass of gold on the pillow, and she was breathing in soft little puffs.

He debated whether he should wake her. She hadn't had anything to eat, and, heaven forbid, she was missing a John Wayne movie.

He walked back into the living room and dialed his cell phone. “Kev? It's Jake. Your mom is in the cabin. She's sleeping, so we'll let her be. Obviously, she doesn't like The Duke as much as the rest of us.”

“Will you come back to the movie, Jake? It's really cool,” asked Kevin.

Jake could hear the noise around Kevin. Typical movie night. No one watched the movie, and then there would be the inevitable popcorn fight.

“I'll see you in the morning. I have some things to do. Get a good night's rest.”

“Okay, Jake.”

He turned and walked back into the bedroom. He had an overwhelming urge to taste Beth's lips again.

B
eth was half awake when she heard Jake talking to Kevin, or maybe she was dreaming.

She'd had the same dream countless times since their arrival at the ranch. Jake would stand silhouetted in the bedroom door, and she'd be lying in bed. Then he'd slowly walk over and stare down at her, his lips curving into a warm and sensuous smile. He'd bend over and briefly touch his lips to hers. She'd shiver in anticipation of more to come.

She'd look into his turquoise eyes….

Her eyes shot open. “Jake?”

He looked down at her. “I couldn't resist kissing you.”

“I'm not complaining,” she said, her voice breathless and her lips tingling.

Heaven help her, she wanted him to kiss her again.

He stepped closer and skimmed her cheek with his knuckles. His thumb traced her lips.

“Beth?” His voice was low and rough.

With that one word, he asked a million questions.

She knew what he wanted, but making love with Jake would complicate things, cause her to let her guard down.

Even though it'd be a bad idea, she wanted to be held by him, to feel loved and cherished and desired—feelings she hadn't experienced in a long time.

It had been forever since she'd been with her husband, and she hadn't had a date since his death. She was always too busy to think about anything or anyone other than Kevin.

“
Kevin!
I need to—”

“He's okay,” Jake said. “He was worried about you when you didn't show up at the barbecue and the movie, but I just called him and told him you were sleeping. He's all set with John Wayne, a big bowl of popcorn and his pals.”

What Jake had left unsaid was that they wouldn't be disturbed.

She didn't know what made her get up from the bed and stand next to him. She clasped the side of his hat brim with her thumb and index finger. “I remember you told me that this hat comes off for one thing only.”

He grinned. “Do I leave it on or take it off?”

She hesitated, running her fingers along the brim, feeling its softness. She could think of only one reason why she should make love with Jake—she wanted to.

She wanted to be with this man who gave so much of himself. She felt her own need rising to the surface.

Gently, she pressed her lips to his, then said, “Take it off.”

With one quick motion, he tossed his hat onto the seat of a chair and pulled her to him. His lips locked on hers, and she felt the heat building inside her, inside him. She felt the promise of things to come.

She yanked on his shirt and heard the metallic
ping
of snaps coming undone. The palms of her hands covered the hard planes of his chest, moving over his warm skin.

He was already rock hard. She could feel him through their clothes.

“Are you sure you know what you're doing?” he asked, taking her hands in his and moving to sit on the bed.

She hoped he couldn't feel her hands shaking. “Well, it's been a long time.”

He chuckled, a low rumbling in his chest. “That's not what I meant.”

Standing in front of him, her hands fisted in his shirt, she undid the rest of his snaps. Even in the dim light of the cabin, she could see the scars on his chest. She traced them with a finger, wishing she could erase the permanent proof that he lived dangerously.

“You know, if we stopped to think, we wouldn't do this,” he said, threading his fingers through her hair.

“I already thought about it. I want to be with you.”

His eyes never left hers as he shrugged out of his shirt and tossed it on the floor.

Her palms explored the hardness of his chest and back as she trailed kisses in their wake. Her hand lingered on a roughened area under his ribs above the waistband of his jeans.

“Jake?” She knelt in front of him to get a better look and saw horrific scarring about the size of her hand.

“Pretty bad, huh?” he asked. “Sorry, I should have warned you.”

The pain he must have felt… She hated to see his beautiful body marred like that. “What—?”

“A bull by the name of Gentle Breeze got a little playful with me in Houston. Don't worry about it. It was years ago.” He took Beth's hands and helped her to her feet. “Take your blouse off,” he whispered.

She hesitated, suddenly feeling anxious. “I've only been with one man in my life, and that was my husband. We…well, it's been a long time. Years.”

“Then I'll help you make up for lost time.” He positioned her on his lap and covered her mouth with his. Their tongues moved in slow rhythm.

Reaching for the buttons on her blouse, he popped them open one by one. He took his time, and her anticipation only added to her excitement.

He pushed the straps of her bra off her shoulders, peeled it down. She unhooked it and let it drop, never taking her eyes off him.

He let his gaze linger on her breasts. “Beautiful,” he said.

He played with a nipple, making it harden, making her squirm and moan softly. Then he cupped one breast with a large hand that looked dark against the white of her skin.

She gasped. “Mmm…I want to see you, too,” she whispered. “All of you.”

She unhooked his belt, and the huge oval-shaped buckle fell to the side. “Let me,” she ordered, her fin
gers at the metal button of his jeans. Slowly, she unzipped him, link by metal link. She smiled. “I knew you'd be wearing standard white underwear.”

His eyes twinkled in amusement. “You've thought about my underwear?”

Oh heavens, what had made her tell him that?
“I confess. I have. Let's take them off, shall we?”

“I'm all yours, if you don't mind giving me a little help here.”

With a gasp, she moved away from him. “Oh no! I forgot your injuries. Your leg…your back. I didn't think!”

“Get yourself back here, I'm fine. And there's more than one way to make love. We'll figure it out.”

“Wait a minute. Let me see your leg.”

“This is strange foreplay,” he said, his eyes glittering.

Beth chuckled nervously, but Jake's easy smile and twinkling eyes soon had relaxed her. She watched as he pulled off his boots and slid out of his jeans, thinking how the simple gestures seemed so masculine when he did them.

When he lay back down, he held out his hand, and she joined him. She ran her hand over his hard stomach, his well-muscled thighs. His chest was smooth, powerful and bronzed by the sun.

He put an arm around her, and she was content to lie next to him, to inhale his scent, and to let her hand roam over the tough-yet-sweet cowboy next to her.

She knew he was giving her time to get comfortable, and she loved him for that.

Her lips met his, lightly and gently, and he closed his
eyes. “Mmm…” he said, with a look of contentment on his face.

He took her hand, raised it to his lips and kissed it. “If you're having second thoughts, it's best you tell me now.”

She knew she wanted him, and he wanted her. She wanted to feel his hands touching her everywhere. She wanted to feel him inside her.

She wanted to
feel.

“I'm not having second thoughts, Jake.” She looked deep into his eyes and smiled.

He gathered her in his arms and kissed her hard and long. “Mmm…this is nice,” he said.

As he kissed her neck and she stretched to give him more access, her nervousness was forgotten. All she could think about was this man and what he was doing to her, how he made her feel.

Beth cupped him with her hands but it wasn't enough. She wanted to feel his warm skin pulsing in her hands, feel his power. Beth couldn't believe how daring she had become, but she tugged off his underwear, then tossed it toward the rest of the clothes strewn about the floor.

Her days at the Gold Buckle were dwindling. She didn't know when she'd be alone with him again. She had to know what it was like to make love with Jake.

By the light of the moon she stared down at the man she'd come to love.

Yes, she loved him. She didn't know how or when it had happened, but she had a feeling it started back when Kevin was in the hospital and she read him articles about Jake.

She had found herself looking through bookstores
and magazine racks hoping to find the latest news about him, his latest venture, or what movie star, rodeo queen or singer he was dating. She'd read those articles alone in her room at night. Kevin couldn't have cared less about that kind of thing. Kev had just wanted his rodeo stats.

Beth had wanted his personal stats.

Yet never in her most secret of dreams had she ever expected to meet Jake Dixon in person, or lie naked with him in the Trail Boss Cabin in the middle of Wyoming.

His arms were strong, bulging with muscles, especially his riding arm. His stomach was flat with a light down of soft hair that became thicker and coarser as she explored lower. Her hand circled the length of him and she felt him throb.

They quickly dispensed with the rest of her clothes, Jake kissing her everywhere with such exquisite tenderness, it brought tears to her eyes. He held her tight, and she felt him hard against her. She shivered as he lavished slow, sensuous kisses that made her toes curl. His tongue met hers again, and it felt as if she was floating…floating…

His fingers plucked at a nipple, making her squirm and moan softly.

“You're going to have to be on top, Beth,” he whispered. “I can't—”

She covered the rest of his sentence with a kiss.

He produced a condom package. It didn't take him long to tear it open and sheath himself. She watched in fascination. It was a sexy thing for him to do—and to care about her like that. At least he had more sense than she did.

“Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?” she asked, wrapping her hand around the length of him. She felt the power surging in him.

“I knew we'd make love sooner or later.” He let out a deep breath.

She moved over him and took him into her, slowly…very slowly. It had been such a long time….

She closed her eyes as he took her breasts into his large, rough hands and rolled her nipples between his callused fingers.

She moved, gasping at the sensations—how deep he was inside her, how good it felt. She slid up and down the length of him, stopping only to catch her breath and to look into his blue eyes, now dark with passion.

They couldn't get enough of each other. They clung, teased, touched and kissed until the fire between them warmed the little Trail Boss Cabin.

She set the pace. Faster. His eyes closed.

He shuddered when she did, calling her name. When they each found their release, they knew it was more than just making love—it was a joining of their souls.

All too soon they drifted back to the little cabin in the pines.

Later they snuggled under the covers, Beth with her head on Jake's chest, his chin on her head.

“I feel so peaceful, Jake. Like I don't have a care in the world.”

“No regrets?”

“No regrets.”

There would be plenty of regrets later when she had time to think. She was leaving and she'd never see Jake Dixon again. He'd go back to riding as long as he could
still climb on the back of a bull, and she'd go back to leasing apartments in Arizona.

Funny how life threw you a curveball every now and then.

Beth fell asleep in Jake's arms, for the moment, content.

 

“Damn! I've overslept!”

The bed rocked like a boat on a storm-tossed sea as Jake flung the covers off and tugged on his jeans.

“In ten minutes my mother will be leading the Pledge of Allegiance at the flagpole.”

Beth's eyes sprang open. “Ten minutes? Ten minutes!” Everyone would be gathered around the flagpole, and the flagpole was within sight of her cabin. “Jake, you can't be seen leaving here! Kevin…your parents…the other cowboys…the kids.
Kevin!
”

She sprang out of bed and tossed on a T-shirt and a pair of shorts that she'd picked up off the floor.

“I'll go out the back porch door, but we'd both better hurry. We ride out on the trail drive right after the Cowboy/Cowgirl Prayer.”

“Oh, no! I have to take a shower and pack…and…and…”

“Get a move on, then!” After giving Beth a quick kiss, Jake yanked on his jeans, gathered up his boots and stuffed his socks and underwear into them. He grabbed his shirt and hurried out the back door, limping as fast as he could down the Chisholm Trail.

 

Beth moved like lightning. She would have liked to linger with Jake in bed, maybe make love with him yet
again, but she was committed to help with the girls. She'd be riding Thunder.

She jumped in the shower and washed her hair. She was a little stiff after using muscles that she hadn't used in ages. A shiver of excitement went through her when she thought of how they made love for a second time with her legs around his hips, Jake pressing her against the wall of the cabin….

Then again as she sat on the edge of the dresser…

They couldn't get enough of each other.

She toweled herself off and quickly dressed. Luckily, she had some items packed in a saddle bag, and it didn't take her much time to pack a sweatshirt and other items from the list that Emily had passed out earlier.

She combed her wet hair as she walked to the flagpole. She made it with time to spare. Jake arrived minutes later, tucking in his shirt and finger-combing his wet hair. He held his hat in his hand.

He gave her a big smile and moved around the edge of the crowd to stand next to her. The scent of his soap and, yes, Bull-istic, drifted on the morning breeze. He didn't shave, and that made him look sexy. She itched to run her fingers through his damp hair, to press her lips to his in the bright light of day.

She made eye contact with Kevin and waved. He waved back, a big grin on his face. She could tell that he was so excited he could barely sit still.