Freddy noticed signs of strain in T.R.by the time they reached the pond that served as a reservoir for the True Love.An earthen dam cradled the waters of Rogue Creek about a third of the way up Rogue Canyon, and it was one of Freddy’s favorite spots on the ranch.
T.R.winced as he dismounted and looked longingly at the cool water, as if he’d like nothing better than to strip and immerse himself in it.But to his credit, he didn’t complain.Freddy began to wonder what it would take to wring a protest out of him.
Choosing her favorite flat rock under the shade of a large cottonwood, she tethered Maureen to a low branch and dug in her saddlebag for the sandwiches Belinda had given her.She’d also brought along some dehydrated stew that she’d brew up for their dinner, and each saddle had a bedroll tied to the cantle, but she didn’t want to announce their overnight plans yet.She wanted to be far enough into the canyon that T.R.wouldn’t consider finding his own way back to a Jacuzzi and a soft bed.She sat down and watched him, wondering how he’d take the news.
T.R.tied Mikey’s reins to the same branch Freddy had used for Maureen and gingerly lowered himself to the rock.He’d obviously forgotten to bring his canteen when he’d dismounted, so she offered hers.
“Oh!”He started to get up.“I have a?—”
“Never mind.”She pulled on his arm to bring him back beside her.“We can share.”
“You first,” he said.
She took a sip, wiped the rim on her sleeve, and offered it to him.Funny, she’d shared a canteen with riding partners all her life, yet she’d never been so aware of the intimacy of the act.Maybe it was the way he’d glanced at her mouth before he accepted the container of water.
He started to drink, and paused.“Can we refill our canteens from the pond?”
“Yes.”She was impressed that he’d thought to ask.Some tenderfeet would have gulped the contents of the canteen and worried about their water supply after it was exhausted.“Besides, I have a couple more jugs in my saddlebag.”
“Good.”He tipped his head back and swallowed continuously until the canteen was empty.
Like a schoolgirl, she watched him, noticing the surprising length of his eyelashes as he closed his eyes and the generous curve of his lower lip as it cupped the mouth of the canteen.A drop of moisture escaped and trickled down his chin.She had the sudden urge to lean over and lick it off.Good thing she’d planned this so he’d most likely be on a plane to New York by tomorrow, or no telling what stupid thing she might do.Her commitment to the ranch allowed no time for romance.Leigh had accused her of throwing herself into ranch work in order to compensate for not having a man in her life, but what did Leigh know?
By the time T.R.had finished drinking, Freddy was busy unwrapping a sandwich.She handed it to him with brisk efficiency and began eating her own.
“Where did the name of the ranch come from?”he asked.“The real estate broker didn’t seem to know.”
Freddy was offended.In her opinion, no one should be allowed to market her ranch without understanding its history.“When Thaddeus announced he was marrying Clara, the churchgoing people around here had a fit,” she began.“Clara was a dance-hall girl, and some said she sold her favors.”
“Sold her favors.”T.R.smiled.“Such a quaint way of putting it.Do you think she did?”
Freddy looked into his blue eyes and a curl of awareness snaked through her midsection.They were, after all, talking about sex.“Probably.Back then, a single girl could either teach school, take in laundry or entertain men for a living.Clara didn’t have any education, and from what I know of her, she wasn’t the type to wash other people’s dirty shirts.”
“Sounds like a feisty woman.”There was a note of approval in his voice.
“She was.And Thaddeus was determined to have her, regardless of the wagging tongues.When they were married, he named the ranch the True Love to show those busybodies he didn’t give a hoot about their opinion.”
“Good for him.”
Freddy crumpled her sandwich wrapping.“He was true to her, and she to him, until the day she died, forty-three years later.”
“I’ll bet he was true to her even after that.”
She looked into his eyes and her heart stumbled.Not many men would chance making such a sentimental remark.“He probably was,” she said, a bit hypnotized by the depth of emotion in his gaze.She gave herself a mental shake.“If you’ll fill the canteens, we can head up the canyon,” she said, starting to rise.
“Sure.”His slight groan as he pushed himself to his feet elicited sympathy from her instead of the satisfaction she’d hoped to feel.He walked stiffly to his horse, retrieved his canteen and returned slowly to the water’s edge with their two containers.He crouched, dipped the canteens in the water and clenched his jaw as he stood.
“This is a nice spot,” he said, his tone conversational as he glanced at the granite walls rising on either side of them.
She could imagine what it cost him to make pleasant comments when his thigh and groin muscles were very likely screaming in protest.
“How long has it been here?”
“Thirty years.My dad decided to dam up Rogue Creek and create a pond.He got sick of going to the mountains to fish, so he stocked it with bass.”
“Why is it called Rogue Creek?”
“Because it’s in Rogue Canyon.”
