Wind River Wrangler (Wind River Valley #1)(74)

Pushing out the door and making sure it was locked when she left, Shiloh hurried over to the office. She’d tell John what she was going to do and where she was going to ride. That way, everyone would know she hadn’t been kidnapped by her stalker.

*

Roan picked up his cell phone. It was a call from John. He was out by the ranch corral, saddling the horses for the tourist trail ride for five families who would be coming down shortly after their hearty breakfast at the café. He listened intently, his chin lifting and spotting Shiloh walking with grim determination toward the barn above the corral where he stood. She was going to get Charley out, groom him, saddle him, and then ride to the Pine Grove area. He ended the call and tucked his cell away in his rear pocket, going to intercept Shiloh.

As he drew near he saw she’d captured her red hair into a ponytail at the back of her head, her green baseball cap low over her eyes. The set of her mouth told him she was upset. He took a dirt path from the corral up to the barn area. Shiloh looked up, surprised to see him.

“Hey,” Roan called, falling in at her side as she walked into the barn, “John just told me you’re going for a ride.”

“Yes.” Shiloh entered the barn and walked down the airy passageway. She picked up the lead rope off the hook on the front of Charley’s box stall. “I have to ride, Roan.”

He stepped aside as she slid open the box stall door. “Because the walls are closing in on you?”

“Sometimes,” she muttered, bringing Charley out of the stall and leading him down the passageway, “my emotions and imagination mix too well, Roan. I imagine the worst possible case scenario and I can’t stop thinking about it. And I want to break that energy. When I was in New York City, I’d jog in Central Park. Now, riding is going to do that for me, instead.”

“I see.” He ambled down to where the cross ties were located and then snapped them into place on either side of Charley’s halter. Picking up a grooming box, he brought it over, handing her a currycomb. “It’s a good idea.” Roan watched her briskly begin to curry Charley, who stood there with his eyes half closed, enjoying Shiloh’s attention.

“I thought,” she said, straightening, looking at Roan across Charley’s back, “that I’d go to Pine Grove, ride between them, and then have lunch at your cabin. If you don’t mind?” She gave him a pleading look.

Roan placed his gloved hands on Charley’s withers and rump. “Sure. Would you like a lunch partner? I could drive or ride out there and meet you.” Roan didn’t want Shiloh riding around alone. He could see her until she rode Charley down the road in the middle of Pine Grove. And then she’d be out of sight. He didn’t like the possibility of her unseen by anyone at the ranch, but said nothing. Shiloh was clearly upset. But at his suggestion of lunch, her expression brightened instantly.

“Really? Could you? I know Maud said you’d be working just around the main ranch area from now on.”

Roan gave her a lazy smile. “Sure. I’ll saddle up Diamond and meet you there at noon. How about if I bring us each a sack lunch?” He liked the idea of sitting with Shiloh on the porch swing he’d installed last week. They could rock on the porch, eat, and talk. Roan knew he could calm her by just his presence. And he knew she had to talk it out because women felt better when they could communicate whatever they were feeling. He was a good listener. And he loved her. He wanted to remove the terror he saw deep in her green eyes that she would not admit to. At least, not yet.

“Oh,” Shiloh whispered, suddenly emotional, “I’d love that!”

Roan covered her hand resting on Charley’s back and squeezed her gloved fingers. “Good. Then it’s a date.”

“That sounds wonderful. It’s really something nice to look forward to.”

Roan tried not to be influenced by the quaver in her tone. But he was. He ached inwardly for the suffering that Shiloh was experiencing because of the damned stalker. Right now, he wanted to find that bastard and get his hands around him. He’d never stalk another woman again.

Roan saddled Charley for her, led the horse out of the barn, and helped Shiloh mount. He wasn’t going to show how he felt toward her in public. At least, not yet. He settled the toe of her boot into the stirrup. Patting her lower leg, he said, “I’ll see you at noon. Enjoy the ride. Everything is going to work out okay.”

“Thanks,” Shiloh whispered, leaning down, touching his shoulder briefly, smiling softly into his eyes.

Roan wanted to drag her off that horse, carry her inside the house, and make love to her. He knew how to distract Shiloh, to switch that imaginative mind off anything negative and focus it on something very positive and pleasurable. And already, his words, his calm demeanor, were having a deep effect on Shiloh because the fear and anxiety were no longer in her eyes. Every protective gene in his body was on guard and alert. And Roan would give his life to save hers if she was ever caught and attacked by that sneaky little bastard who had no name and no face.





Chapter Eighteen


Shiloh took the steps up to Roan’s cabin. He’d given her the key to the front door. He’d been over here two weekends in a row and she hadn’t. The porch was complete, the railing up and it was painted a dark evergreen color to match the lush green pastures that surrounded the cabin. Best of all, she noticed a varnished cedar swing he’d installed at one end of the porch. She’d sat in it, looking around, enjoying the peace. If only she could honestly feel this way again. Her gaze fell to Charley who was tied at the hitching post. His eyes were half closed, head hanging and one rear leg cocked up. How she wished she could relax like her sweet horse did. Rocking slightly, hands in her lap, she closed her eyes, feeling the welcoming heat of the sun’s rays against her jacket. Mornings were always cool but thankfully, by early July they were no longer freezing like June could be.