1
The blue mountain sky shone through the canopy of leaves, reflecting dapples of light in cool greens on the surface of the water. Jenna sighed and floated on her back in the creek. It had a current that kept her on a gentle spin in the pool formed by erosion over eons.
She hadn’t felt this relaxed in forever. The last time might have been before her accident this past winter when she’d thrown caution to the wind and accepted Chet’s invitation to ski. She’d almost died, and it made her sick to think about it now. Carried away by a mini-avalanche while they were skiing had been terrifying.
She called it a mini-avalanche, but it had been just a huge snow slide. Regardless it had scared the crap out of her.
She allowed herself the memory of Chet’s rescue. Being buried in the snow, unable to move and waiting to die certainly hadn’t been on her bingo card. Yet, there it was. Nature had taken over and dealt them a rough blow. The saving grace was that it hadn’t been a big slide was what had made it survivable and the fact that they were – a bunch of folks also caught in theblizzard – had banded together and urgently worked to get down the mountain.
As well as Chet’s knowledge of mountain rescue. She couldn’t contemplate what would have happened if he hadn’t been there. In all truth, she wouldn’t have been in the mountains skiing when a blizzard roared in out of nowhere if she hadn’t come west to meet him. But, things happened for a reason, right? Anyhow, that was done and dusted. Behind them now.
But, when Chet had broken through the layer of snow, and pulled her out… well…no words were necessary. He was her saviour and hero and she was forever grateful.
Remaining with him for a few weeks for recovery had been a perfection. He was such a wonderful man, attentive, sexy, caring and catered to her every need. She smiled remembering the sponge baths he’d given her.
If only he was here now, she thought as she floated in the soothing mountain creek.
Leaving him to return home after her recuperation had been extremely difficult. She didn’t want to go back east. She wanted to stay here with him. But there were responsibilities she needed to address. But, once those responsibilities were taken care of she’d known she would come back to her mountain cowboy. And here she was.
Summer in the mountains was glorious. Her leg was still healing and she had to be careful she didn’t tweak it. Chet had carved her a cane from one of the trees that had halted her slide down the mountain, and she wasn’t shy about using it. Especially over rough ground.
Floating in the water was heavenly, and she watched the sky through the trees. Contentment filled her. She loved being back here. Jenna was drawn west with a fiery passion she was just beginning to understand. It wasn’t just the man, although hewas the biggest reason she was here; it was the land too. The wild, untamed beauty of it matched her soul so completely.
Who knew?
After she arrived back in Colorado a few weeks ago, they were so enamored of each other, Chet sent the house staff home. They zealously guarded their private time. But Chet had a ranch to run and business to attend to, so they had to emerge back into reality. They even had a trip planned down to Wild Vista Ranch in Texas.
She was a bit nervous about the trip down. Mainly because she’d be meeting friends of his that owned the dude ranch. Chet had told her he leased horses to the dude ranch each season and he hadn’t visited in a while. He had other business there as well and she wasn’t going to ask what it was, simply just go along for the ride. Being with Chet was enough.
An eagle flew overhead. There were a few in the area and she’d taken a keen interest in them. How she loved this cabin. Chet knew she wanted to get up here so they’d ridden up the mountain the first weekend she’d arrived. He was hesitant about her riding because of her healing leg, but she assured him if they took it easy, her leg would be fine. She wasn’t going to let a little ache keep her fromtheir cabin.
He had stocked it with everything they could possibly need, including wine. He’d also brought up more items to make it more comfortable for her. It was no longer Uncle Chester’s aged cabin. It had been refreshed with modern facilities while maintaining the ambience of days gone by. She loved it and had shown Chet just how much she appreciated what he’d done for her.
It had been a glorious couple of days before Chet had to head down and get back to real life. She smiled and enjoyedthe heat that bloomed in her belly, remembering their first lovemaking session after being apart for so many months. Thinking about their loving that day warmed her up, and she couldn’t wait to see him. Desire for her cowboy never failed to ignite her libido and she longed for him now. She wanted him with her in the soft mountain water, which caressed her skin so seductively.
The grime and dust of her prospecting activities at Chet’s great-great-uncle Chester’s old claim sluiced off in the creek’s current and left her skin pink and tingly. She wasn’t ready to get out yet and closed her eyes, drifting lazily in this pocket of deeper water that gently spun her in a circle.
Chet hadn’t been able to confirm when he’d be back and Jenna had gotten used to staying here on her own when he wasn’t with her. At first, he’d been hesitant to leave her, but she’d insisted and he’d learned a while ago how stubborn she could be. So, they compromised. He made sure she was checked on daily by a ranch hand, had taught her to shoot, and left the rifle by the door. The radio was primed in case she needed immediate help and his dog Belle stayed with her. All was good with the world.
Letting her legs drop, Jenna began to tread water; it was deep and she floated, her breasts bobbing at the surface, buffeted by little eddies of current. She tipped back, ducked her head in the water, and swept her long red tresses out of her face. She paddled to shallower water until her toes touched the bottom; her hair hung to her shoulders and fanned out on the surface of the water like a halo.
A sense of wellbeing filled her and her heart swelled with happiness. Never had such a strong sensation of belonging, of being home, been so sharply etched within her. She knew she had been born on the wrong side of the continent. It was here where she should have grown up and experienced life, not backeast. Jenna inhaled the crisp mountain air and gazed at the bush around her. It was just as beautiful in the summer as in the winter. Her love for this land grew daily and it truly pained her to think of leaving it. And Chet.
She brushed the disturbing thought aside. It was a while before she’d be packing her bags. Jenna’s gaze took in the brand-new sluice box. Chet had replaced the broken-down one with a much more modern setup here at the creek and farther up-river where the tree had come down. Chester’s old one was being restored and eventually would be donated to a local history museum. She was determined to find his secret claim and Chet had humored her all the way. Jenna smiled and excitement bubbled inside her at the news she had to tell him.
The gurgle of water over the dam of rocks mixed delightfully with the birds singing in the trees. Jenna was at peace. She sighed and shivered with a slight chill from the cool mountain water. Goose bumps rose along her flesh and her nipples hardened, aching with the cold. She cupped her breasts in her palms, the hard nubs pressing against her flesh. This time the shiver that rippled through her wasn’t from being chilled.
“Chet, when are you going to get here?” she whispered to the silence of the surrounding trees.
“What’s the matter, darlin’? Miss me?”
Jenna twirled around, sending a splash of water in a sparkling arc. The wonderful, sexy drawl of Chet’s voice slipped around her like hot honey and she warmed under his gaze. He stood on the little rocky beach where they had made love on the bank of chilly snow last winter. She couldn’t help the smile that broke wide on her face when their eyes met.
“Chet.” His name fell from her lips in a breathy sigh.
He had one booted foot propped on a large rock; his elbow rested on his knee. The faded, worn jeans tightened over his muscular thighs and Jenna’s breath snagged in her chest. Shelet her gaze roam over the typical plaid cowboy shirt which also strained across his powerful chest and shoulders. He poked his cowboy hat back with a finger and winked at her. She knew what lay beneath those clothes and she hungered for him. He was a feast for her eyes and she needed feeding.
“Now then, this sure is a sight to behold. It’s a damn good thing I decided to come myself and not send Cal to check on you.”
