Read Online Cowboy for Keeps by Cathy McDavid - Free Book Online Page B

her?”
    “Chase her off.”
    “That’s inhuman.” Her voice rose with outrage. “He could have
called...whoever it is you call, and had her removed.”
    “We’re only guessing. Who knows what really happened to her? It
might have been an accident.”
    “Yeah. Two arrows accidentally found their way into her neck and back.”
    Conner noticed Dallas shivering. Unbuttoning his jacket, he
said, “Here. Take this.”
    “I’m all right.”
    “You don’t need to be getting sick.”
    “I have a better idea,” Ethan said. “The wheel’s almost fixed.
Gavin and I don’t need your help to finish.” He turned toward Conner. “The keys
are in the ATV. Why don’t the two of you head on home? I’ll drive the wagon and
Gavin can ride ahead of me on the other ATV.”
    “Sounds good,” Conner agreed. “I’ll come back as soon as I drop
Dallas off at the ranch. You should be well on the way to finishing by
then.”
    “I can stay,” Dallas protested.
    “Don’t be stubborn. It’s been a long day. You’re cold and
tired.”
    “You are, too.”
    “But I’m not pregnant.” He refastened his jacket and unearthed
one of the rain ponchos from the wagon bed. “You’ll need this. For a
windbreaker.”
    When she didn’t budge, he put an arm around her shoulders—and
was immediately reminded of holding her during their near kiss earlier.
    Lucky Gavin and Ethan hadn’t shown up then. He could easily
guess what would have gone through his friends’ minds.
    Given the curious glances they were directing at him and
Dallas, their suspicions were already aroused.
    He removed his arm.
    That didn’t stop the stares.
    “Come on, Dallas. Think of the baby.”
    “All right, all right.” Relenting at last, she grabbed her
camera bag and the rain poncho and stomped off toward the ATV.
    Conner sat down first. She straddled the seat behind him,
adjusting her camera bag and encircling his waist with her arms. He tried not to
notice how nice she felt pressed against him.
    “Call my cell if you have any problems.” Conner started the
engine. “Reception’s better at the top of the hill.”
    “Will do,” Gavin hollered back.
    “If it gets too cold for you,” Conner said to Dallas as they
crested the rise, “let me know.”
    “Don’t worry about me.”
    As if he could not worry about
her.
    What had taken an hour by wagon required only fifteen minutes
by ATV. He had to admit she was a trouper, enduring the harrowing night ride
without complaint. He drove the ATV right up to where her car was parked behind
the barn, and pulled to a stop.
    She got off first, peeled away the rain poncho and dug in her
zippered jacket pocket for her car keys. “Thanks for everything you did today.”
The headlights flashed when she activated the automatic door lock.
    “Been better if the wagon wheel hadn’t broken.”
    “I’m just glad it was at the end of the ride and not the
beginning.” She opened her car door.
    “Dallas. Wait a minute.”
    “If you’re thinking about trying to kiss me again—”
    “I’m not.” He paused. “Okay, I am.”
    She smiled.
    “But I’m not going to act on it.”
    “Probably wise.”
    Was that a flash of disappointment he saw in her eyes?
    He must be wrong. The light was playing tricks on him.
    “We should talk,” he said.
    “We should. But not tonight.”
    With a hand on her wrist, Conner stopped her from slipping in
behind the steering wheel. “We can’t ignore what happened.”
    “I don’t intend to.” She sighed and met his gaze. “How could I?
If the mare hadn’t interrupted us, I’d have kissed you. And I’m pretty sure I’d
have liked it.”
    Conner couldn’t help himself, and grinned—foolishly, he was
sure.
    “We’ll talk,” she said resolutely. “In a few days or a week.
I’m just not ready to tonight.”
    “Dallas—”
    “Please. I get it. You and I, we’re walking through a series of
land mines. I’m fresh from a two-year relationship. I’m pregnant. And