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and
trained. Best Quarter Horses in all the state. She’d name it “Wind Horse
Ranch”, a name she came up with when she was young.
    Looking at the place now, she realized
rehabilitating the old house and barn was most likely a pipe dream. Jacob had
already told her the place was a lost cause, should probably be torn down. But still,
Quinn held tight to that dream because it was the only thing she had to hang on
to. A place that could possibly be her own.
    She sure had the will to make it happen,
to keep ahold of the Long Knife Creek Ranch of yesterday. But will didn’t mean
squat if she didn’t have the cash to make it happen.
    With a sigh, Quinn headed back to the
main ranch before she was missed. She owed it to Jacob to help out and besides,
she wanted to get a chance to see Craig at least once more before he and
Marisol left.
    As soon as she returned to the party,
Quinn wished she hadn’t.
    The band continued to play and the
descending sun cast the sky in varying shades of gold and oranges. Someone had
lit the dozen or so tiki torches around the perimeter and couples danced. Craig
was there too, his arms wrapped around Nicole Ball. Both were laughing.
    Quinn wasn’t proud of the surge of
jealousy that both chilled her with its strength and burned her with its
unexpected ferocity. She looked away from it.
    Against her better judgment, Quinn
stopped and glanced back, willing herself not to feel this way. Craig and
Nicole looked good together, more his type than Quinn ever could be, more like
Elise. Worldly, sophisticated, daughter of a state senator, she and Craig
probably had more interests beyond horses and the ranch.
    Quinn quickly turned away, shocked she
could feel so hurt again over this man.
    ***
    Craig watched Quinn approach the group
of dancers then pause. The sun behind her cast her chestnut hair in a glow of
sunset fire.
    Her face fell into a look of
disappointment. Though not positive, he could’ve sworn she’d looked straight at
him, but why in the world would she be upset by anything he did?
    “Earth to Craig.”
    Nicole’s voice cut through his thoughts
and he gave his attention back to his dance partner.
    “Sorry.”
    Nicole gave him a half smile with a cock
of her brow. “It’s okay but I don’t think you heard a word I just said.”
    He could’ve lied and said yes, but
instead he gave her a guilty smile and shook his head. “I saw Jacob’s sister
and she didn’t look happy.”
    Nicole glanced over Craig’s shoulder and
nodded. “Probably saw Robby flirting with that blonde over there.”
    Quinn had told him she had no interest
in rekindling any kind of romance with his brother. But what else would’ve sent
her storming away?
    “Could be,” he murmured.
    When the song ended, he pulled away.
“Thank you very much, ma’am.”
    “Oh please don’t call me that. I’m not
much younger than you.”
    Craig chuckled. “Must be the cowboy in
me.”
    “Then I guess I can’t complain. Thank
you for the dance. I’m glad we had a chance to catch up. Don’t be such a
stranger now you’re back in town.”
    Craig and Nicole parted company and
before he could think things through, he headed in the direction Quinn had
taken. What would he say to her? He knew he had to come up with something
because there she was, leaning against the paddock fence, her back to him. One
hand idly scratched the ears of a dog sitting next to her.
    “You’re not going to get any invitations
to dance if you’re hiding out here.”
    Her back stiffened when he spoke. He
leaned against the fence next to her and looked at her, admiring her profile.
Tension played on her face as well, her jaw muscles tight and her eyes narrowed
a bit.
    “That’s the idea.”
    “Aw, come on. It’s not fair to deprive
the young men back there of a dance or two.”
    “They’ll live. No young men I’m
particularly interested in dancing with anyway.”
    The terse note in her voice made him
more interested in what bugged her. All