Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(64)

“Finished yet?” he asked impatiently.

“Yes. I’m finished.”

He gave her a hand to stand up, but her legs almost instantly gave way. Before she could protest again, he scooped her into his arms. “Put me down, Reid. There’s no way you can get back up that embankment carrying me.”

“Oh yeah? Just watch me. For the record, you don’t weigh much more than the pack I carried for eight years.”

Needing a free arm to aid the climb, he hoisted her across his shoulders in a fireman’s carry, and then proceeded to navigate the incline. To his immense relief, the horses were still where he’d left them. “Can you ride?”

“I think so,” she murmured.

He hoisted Haley into the saddle, but she was shaking so hard she could barely hold the reins. “Just hold on, okay?”

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Bud’s a big boy. He can carry us both.” He turned his own horse loose and slapped it on the rump. “This one knows the way home. He doesn’t want to stay up here any more than we do.”

Mounting the horse behind Haley, Reid guided them back to the ranch.

*

She didn’t know when she’d fallen asleep, but in the far periphery of her consciousness, Haley was aware of the jolting of her battered body, of the soft snort of horses, and then the weightless sensation of being carried again.

When her eyes finally fluttered open, she was lying in a bed in an unfamiliar room with a ceiling and walls of rough-hewn log. It was a single room cabin, Spartan but adequate, with a tiny kitchenette and a breakfast bar, a table and two chairs, a love seat, and a queen bed. There was a wall-mounted TV above a small fireplace. A dog sprawled nearby with its tongue lolling.

“Where am I?” she whispered.

“My place.” Reid appeared instantly, covering the floor in long strides and then squatting down beside her. The dog soon followed, nudging her hand with its cold, wet nose.

“I took over one of the guest cabins when I got home,” Reid said. “I thought you’d prefer the privacy of it over the house where the family would all be gawking and hovering—only with the best intentions, of course. Mama’s already been by to check on you twice, but I sent her away. I’ve stalled, but I’m afraid you won’t be able to avoid them forever.”

“Thanks.” She smiled up at him and scratched behind the dog’s floppy ears. “Who’s this?”

“Jethro. He’s a Bluetick Coonhound. They’re supposed to be good at tracking mountain lions, but this one’s not shown a whole lot of promise at anything, let alone hunting. Yet, he’s somehow managed to insinuate himself into my place.”

“Or maybe into your heart?” she suggested with a smile. “I didn’t know you were such a softy, Reid.”

He shrugged. “Least he’s helped me watch over you.”

“Has he? How long have I been asleep?”

“’Bout twelve hours. How’s your head feeling?”

She lifted it tentatively from the pillow and then let it drop back again with a groan.

“Still throbbing, eh?” His brows met in a frown. “Should I take you to the hospital?”

“No. Honest. I’m fine. Just feeling a bit beat up.”

“You hungry?” he asked.

“Maybe.” She paused to assess her stomach, unable to determine if the churning was hunger or impending nausea. “I’m not sure.”

“Mama brought vegetable soup. Wanna try some?”

“In a bit. I really need to get up first. Nature is calling.” She pulled the blankets away and threw her legs over the side, suddenly realizing they were bare. She looked down to discover she wore nothing but a USMC T-shirt. “Who undressed me?” she asked.

“Who do you think?” His brows rose at her accusatory scowl. “I’ve seen it all before, remember?”

“But that was different. I was conscious then.”

“You think I had my wicked way with you?”

“Of course not! It’s just—” The fact that she was unconscious made her feel all too vulnerable.

“Trust, Haley. You need to learn it. Your clothes were torn and dirty. I pilfered some of Krista’s for later, but thought this would be more comfortable for you to sleep in. C’mon. I’ll help you to the john.”

A wave of dizziness swept over her the moment her bare feet hit the floor. His arm came instantly around her waist. “You okay?”

“I will be. I just need a minute or two.” She clutched his arm until the moment passed. “I haven’t thanked you.”

His jaw clenched. “It was a dumbass move to take you down there. I shouldn’t have done it. It wasn’t safe.”

“You’re not my keeper, Reid. I was doing my job, remember? It’s not like you have any say in that.”

“As your guide, safety is my job.”

“I didn’t hire you as my guide. I was doing an investigation. But there’s no point arguing it any further,” she said. “I freely admit I was wrong. I should have listened to you.”

Her confession seemed to take him aback. But rather than the smug reply she half-expected, he acknowledged it with a grunt.

“I’m steady enough now,” she said. “Can you just help me get across the room? I should be okay after that.” He helped her to the bathroom, but then remained in the doorway. “I don’t need an audience, Reid. I have a shy bladder.”