Rough Rider (Hot Cowboy Nights, #2)(64)

He reached out for her hand and pulled her in close. “I don’t want you to go. Do you think we can maybe just try playing this thing by ear?” He looked so uncertain, so vulnerable.

She instantly relaxed against him. “Yeah,” she replied. “I think we could maybe try that.”

He brushed his lips brusquely over hers. “You deserve a lot better than me, Red. I can’t promise you I’ll be worth it, but I’ll damn sure try.”





Chapter 15


It was almost an hour before sunrise when Janice drove into the Flying K. She hopped out of her truck, tightening her collar against the frigid morning air. Dirk was already outside waiting with two saddled horses. Her heart sped up when he greeted her with a nod and a half smile.

“Morning, Red. I’m glad to see you,” he said softly. “I can’t even tell you how glad.”

“I guess I’m a true sucker for punishment,” she replied. “You goin’ after the missing stock now?”

He nodded. “I shoulda gone yesterday, but I got a bit sidetracked.” His gaze met hers, a heated reminder of how they’d spent the earlier part of the day.

“So I guess you’re not making pancakes first?” she taunted with a slow, crooked smile.

“Hell, no. It’ll be coffee in a travel mug and a wad of beef jerky in the saddlebags. Don’t know if I’ll ever be able to make pancakes again. I’m already afraid of getting a hard-on if I even look at a bottle of syrup.”

“Need any help?” She nodded to the horses.

“Nope, got it covered.”

“Can I ride with you? It might not be easy if you end up having to carry down an orphaned calf or something like that.”

“Already thought of that. The bay here’s yours. Are you dressed warm enough to ride?”

“Yeah. I’m good.” She eyed the twelve-gauge shotgun holstered with the saddle. “Grizzlies?”

“Not expecting any, but it pays to be prepared for them.” He tossed her a twenty-two-caliber carbine. “Know how to use it?”

“Of course,” Janice replied. “But what for? You already have the shotgun.”

“Seems we got ourselves a wolf problem on the mountain,” Dirk replied. “Wade and I encountered a pack last time I went up there.” He added grimly, “I’m hoping we locate live cattle, but I’m taking some rope and tarp just in case we find more carcasses instead.” He patted the pack behind his cantle.

“If the wolves got them, won’t the Livestock Loss Board cover it?” she asked.

“Yes and no,” Dirk replied. “There’s a bunch of hoops to jump through in order to file a claim and then they’re only going to compensate for average value when I’ve got three times that invested in each head. That’s not even taking into account the years and expense of breeding them. They’re damn sure worth more to me alive.”

“Then I hope we find them,” Janice said.

“The weather report predicted a light dusting last night in the higher elevations. If so, it’ll make tracking a whole lot easier. Course Toby and Tallulah are coming along. Best cattle dogs you’ll ever find.”

The two lolling canines rose smartly to attention at the mention of their names. She reached out her hand to let them sniff. Toby nudged it. Janice scratched his head. “Toby and Tallulah?” She eyed the mottled pair curiously. “They don’t look like any herd dog I’ve seen before. What breed are they?”

“Catahoula Leopard dogs,” Dirk replied. “Not just herd dogs, but bred to track and hunt too. If there’s still any live cattle up there, they’ll find ’em and flush ’em out.”

It was still dark when they guzzled down some coffee and set out. Janice rode behind, her gaze locked in admiration on Dirk’s back. Sitting tall and straight, he still cut a helluva figure in the saddle, whether he realized it or not. It seemed the more time she spent with him, the less she noticed his injuries. They’d come a long way in a short time. She only hoped she might one day help him to forget them too.

They rode a couple of miles with the two dogs trotting eagerly alongside, before hitting the main trail leading up to the mountain pastures. The sun was now cresting, painting colors across the eastern horizon.

Janice drew up her horse. “It’s so beautiful. I can’t tell you how much I missed the sunrises and sunsets when I was in Las Vegas.”

Dirk pulled up beside her. “We can take a short breather here if you like.”

“Thanks. I’d like that. Although many people wax poetic about the desert, it just seems so desolate compared to this.”

“I’ve seen some amazing skies in the open desert,” he said. “Endless with so many stars at night that it boggles the mind.” His voice drifted off.

Their horses stood side by side, panting vapor into the frosty air as Dirk and Janice watched in awe-filled appreciation as the sun rose, streaking its gold and pink hues across the big Montana sky.

“Do you think about it much?” she asked. “Your time over there?”

“I try not to,” he said. “But it invades my thoughts every single day, whether I like it or not.”

“Why did you join the marines?”