Page 4 of Home to the Cowboy

Dylan was glad he’d decided to keep Daisy, especially now that Carson had moved into his own house. It would have been very quiet without her. His own house was much neater, Carson couldn’t be bothered where he put what, but he missed their late-night conversations.

Spring had arrived and over the past two months, calving had kind of blotted out everything else. They didn’t get much sleep and had to get up several times a night checking on cows, especially the first-time mothers. After calves were born, they were tagged, weighed, and given shots and probiotics before they were released to their mothers again. Then they had to be closely monitored to make sure they were nursing and that they didn’t succumb to scours which could kill them quickly.

Everyone on the ranch was bone tired in the evenings. That was why Dylan planned to stay in tonight to get an early night’s sleep, but a strange restlessness was forcing him out of the house. He was going to join his cousins and brother at Grey’s Saloon in town.

Daisy settled on the makeshift bed he’d made for her on the back seat of his truck. As he drove through the gates of the ranch, it started drizzling. Turning on to the road that led to Marietta, his mind was on the fight between his dad and his uncle decades ago.

Their cousins were great people as he and Carson had discovered way back when while they’d all still been in school. But because of the fight, they had never been allowed to visit their relatives or invite them over to their place.

His dad had never spoken about it and neither, it would seem, had his uncle. His mother had been livid every time anyone had dared to mention the other Westons. Nobody knew what the fight had been about. And Arlene, his uncle’s wife, who was still very much alive, wasn’t talking. Of course, he’d tried to question her but Hayden, his oldest cousin had given him a stern warning—stop questioning his mother. When she was ready, she would tell them.

Families usually fight about money or land, he’d discovered, but both his dad and his uncle had had their own ranches and both were big ranchers well, so that couldn’t be the reason.

A movement on the side of the road stopped his thoughts.

What was that? Slowing down, Dylan peered through the front window of his truck. It was just after half past eight, the sun hadn’t quite set yet but because it was starting to rain harder, it was darker than it would normally be. A red car with a Washington state license plate was parked to the side of the road. A vintage Camero if he wasn’t mistaken.

Slowly he drove closer and stopped next to the car. The front seat was empty. Whoever had been in the car, had already left.

Barking, Daisy sat up.

Moving his hand to the back, Dylan tried to calm her down. “It’s okay, sweetheart, there isn’t anyone in the car.”

Daisy didn’t like his answer though and jumped onto the front seat.

“The car is empty; the person probably hitched a ride into town.”

Daisy was not to be placated and putting her front feet against the door, she barked.

“What are you barking at?” Dylan again peered through the front window. And then he saw why Daisy was still upset.

A tall, slender woman in jeans, her long, wet hair hanging down her back, was walking along the side of the road, trailing an enormous red suitcase behind her.

“Oh, I see. Maybe we can help this lady. Come on, Daisy, move to the back.” Gently he picked her up and placed her on the seat behind him again before he stopped and opened the window. “You had car trouble, it would seem.”

The woman didn’t even turn her head to look at him but kept walking. “I’m fine, thank you.”

Driving slowly alongside her, he leaned out of his window. “It’s raining, come on. Let me take you into town.”

“I’m fine.”

As she was shouting the words, the heavens opened above them and rain poured down on her.

Dylan gritted his teeth. He didn’t understand women, never had, never would. They were either stubborn or clingy, neither characteristics he knew how to deal with. This one was obviously stubborn as hell. It was evident in the way she walked, the way she held her head even while the rain was pouring down on her and in the way she lifted her chin.

“Okay,” he said, slowly following her.

After a few steps, the woman glared at him. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure you get into town safe and sound. That’s what we do around here.”

She turned, fully facing him for the first time. Damn, she was gorgeous. Even sopping wet and in the dim light he could see that.

The white top she was wearing was wet and clinging to her body, giving him a glimpse of the black bra she was wearing. Out of nowhere, a fist of desire hit him in the solar plexus. What the hell?

“Okay,” she said. “I’ll get in your truck, but if you lay a hand on me, you’ll be very sorry.”

Swallowing his grin, he got out of his truck. “Get in, I’ll put your suitcase in the back.” Without waiting to see if she listened, he took the luggage to the back. He was used to carrying heavy stuff around, but as he lifted the suitcase he was surprised by the weight. What the hell did the woman have in here?