She felt like hell.What a thing to have said to a man whose wife had died.“Sorry, again.I seem to be putting my foot in my mouth on a regular basis.”
“Never apologize for telling the truth, Freddy.”He finished his coffee and stretched gingerly out on the bedroll.“So you think I should change my name.”
“You don’t seem like the kind of guy who goes by initials.”
“What kind is that?”
She hesitated.“A little on the pompous side.”
To her relief, he glanced over at her and laughed.“It’s not easy being pompous around you.Maybe I’ve been heading in that direction, though.Is Ry a good name for a cowboy?”
“An excellent name.”
“Then maybe I’ll try it for a while.”He turned his head to look up into the sky.“I had no idea there were so many stars.”
“City lights block them out.”Pleased that he’d accepted her nickname for him, she threw another stick on the fire and watched the sparks climb into the cool night air.Then she slipped off her boots and lay down on her own bedroll.“But then, I’ve never seen the lights of Times Square.I guess each place has its own kind of beauty.”
He was quiet, and she wondered if he’d fallen asleep.
A series of sharp yips drifted up from the valley.“Are those ranch dogs?”he asked.
“Coyotes.”
“I thought they were supposed to howl.”
“Most Easterners think that.But they yip.Which makes the dogs go crazy.Can you hear them?”
“Yeah.Noise really travels out here.”
Her eyelids grew heavy.“Yes.”
“I’m glad you brought me up here, even if your motives weren’t pure.”
“You’ve been a good sport.”
“Thanks.Good night, Freddy.”His voice seemed to caress her name, sending unexpected goosebumps over her skin.
“Good night...”She hesitated.“Ry.”
She awoke to an unidentifiable scream.Bolting from her bedroll, she saw the man she’d recently dubbed Ry crouched against the cliff, a glowing stick he’d plucked from the fire brandished in one hand.
“What is it?”she called.
“I don’t know.Get over here.”
She was halfway around the fire before she realized she was obeying his command on her territory.The scream came again, followed by the sound of wild snorting and stomping hooves.“It’s the horses!”she cried, hurrying back to her bedroll where she pulled on her boots before locating her flashlight and her Smith & Wesson.“Most likely a snake or cougar disturbing them.”
“Damn, where are my boots?”he asked.
“Stay put.I’ll handle it.”
He grunted with pain.“The hell you will.”
Ignoring him, she turned on the flashlight and shone it in the direction of the scream.“It’s okay, Maureen,” she called, setting out through the underbrush.“I’m coming, Mikey.Hang in there.”She was counting on the sound of a human voice to discourage whatever critter was after the horses.But if her voice didn’t work, her aim with the Smith & Wesson would.She hoped she wouldn’t have to use the gun.By coming up this canyon, she knew that she’d invaded the territory of several desert dwellers who had a right to protect themselves, but she had to safeguard her horses.
She found Mikey and Maureen quivering in the clearing where she’d left them, yet a sweep of the flashlight revealed nothing in the area that might have spooked them.
“See anything?”Ry said from behind her.
