Slow Hand (Hot Cowboy Nights, #1)(39)

“Let it be, Wade. I meant what I said. Let me be.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept that.”

“Why’s that? Because I’m the one ending it? Is that a novelty for you?”

He cocked his head. “Damn straight it is, and I don’t like it. Not a bit.”

“Guess you’ll have to get used to it.”

She took off his shirt and threw it at him. He caught it in one hand. “You’d better go now. Dirk and the cattle are waiting.” She jerked her head toward the door. “You go ahead and I’ll catch up with you later. I’d like to get cleaned up before I see anyone else.”

“You can take your time. We’ll be driving them back down this way anyhow. You can join us then.”

He pulled his shirt on, grabbed his hat and jacket, stomped into his boots, and then headed for the door. He only made it three strides before turning back. “We’ll talk more about this when I get back.”

She shrugged indifferently. “It doesn’t matter. I’m leaving in a few days.”

He hesitated, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “Maybe. Maybe not. You’ve still got a number of legal matters to attend to.” He opened the door, and threw over his shoulder, “In any case, we’re not done. Not by a long shot.”

When the door closed, she whispered, “Yes, cowboy. We’re done.”

*

Nikki shivered at the blast of icy spring water on her face. Though she’d mixed it with what little hot remained on the stove, it still wasn’t enough to take the chill out. After quickly dressing, she struggled to saddle up Redman. It took three grunting heaves before she finally managed to hoist the saddle high enough to get it on his back.

The horse truly had the patience of Job, standing quietly while she ranted and cursed. She also hoped he had the wilderness instincts of Davy Crockett. She was counting on it anyway. Nikki figured if she just turned him in the correct general direction, the old ranch horse would have no trouble finding his way back. It was chancy perhaps, and no doubt stupid as hell, but her only thought was to get away from the cowboy.

They passed the next three hours picking their way carefully down the mountain and into the valley, where thank God, she spotted the Knowlton homestead. Nikki thought dryly that while her instincts about men still sucked, at least her judgment about the horse had proven correct.

Redman’s pace picked up the nearer they got, until he was close enough to nicker to his buddies who stood in the corrals contentedly munching alfalfa. Nikki’s ass ached and her legs felt like jelly when she dismounted, though Redman was far less to blame for that than Wade. The man had impressive stamina. She supposed he needed it to keep up with his collection of women.

As heavy as the saddle was, and as weak as she felt, she knew she’d never be able to untack the horse without help, but there appeared to be no one around. It hadn’t struck her until now that she hadn’t encountered any hired hands. A place this size would surely need a number of able bodies to run it, but she’d only seen Dirk, Wade, and their parents.

Nikki tethered the horse, but just as she wondered if she’d have to go to the house for help, the back door opened. Wade’s father appeared, followed by Donna and a tall, gorgeous blonde who could only be Allison Evans. One look at her incinerated any lingering hope that Wade’s interest in Nikki had ever been real.

What an idiot she’d been! What was she thinking to fall into such a fantasy that someone like him would ever want someone like her—other than for just a good time between the sheets? A giant knot formed in the pit of her stomach. If she could only rewind the last forty-eight hours she swore she would play them out so differently.

Fate was such a bitch.

She wished she could disappear, just slip away unnoticed, but Wade’s mother spotted her and beckoned with that big-as-Texas smile. The blonde followed suit with her own blinding white flash of perfect teeth. Realizing she had no escape from the happy threesome, Nikki waved back and forced her stiff-feeling lips to curve upward in return.

Justin Knowlton approached with a bowlegged swagger. “Need some help there, young lady?” He jerked his head to Redman.

“Actually, yes. The darned saddle weighs a ton. I doubt I can even lift it off his back.”

He grinned. “Stick around long enough and we’ll make a real cowhand out of you yet.”

Nikki snorted. “There’s little chance of either, I’m afraid.”

“Is that so?” His weathered face split into a grin. “I get the feeling Wade might try to persuade you otherwise.” He patted the horse’s rump and proceeded to loosen the cinch. “Speaking of which, where the dickens are my boys?”

“Still gathering cattle, I imagine.”

His mouth hardened. “You don’t mean you rode down that mountain all by yourself?”

Nikki fidgeted with the bridle. “Yeah, I did. Well, Redman really brought me.”

Donna’s crystal blue gaze flickered in disbelief. “Wade let you ride alone?”

Nikki squirmed. “Well, he didn’t exactly know I was leaving. He thinks I’m still at the cabin.”

“The cabin?” Allison asked. “What cabin?”

“The hunting camp up on the mountain,” Nikki explained. “We went to up there to gather some strays yesterday afternoon, but then it got dark and we had to stay.”