headed out across the prairie.
Roxanne clamped her cowboy hat down on her head, glad for the shade as the sun beat down on her shoulders. The heat of summer had settled into the badlands of North Dakota. Without a tree in sight, the land baked, waves of heat radiating from the dry earth, making the early-morning chill a dim memory.
A trickle of sweat slipped down between Roxanne’s breasts and she shifted in her saddle, her jeans clinging to her damp legs.
Roxanne slowed her paint horse to a walk. The heat would tire the horses faster than the speed and she wanted to conserve energy for their return.
Jim rode up alongside her and settled into the slower, steadier pace. After a while, he glanced over at her. “You know, Pierce is a good man.”
At the mention of Pierce’s name, Roxanne’s heartbeat kicked up a notch. “Can we talk about something else?”
Jim shrugged. “Just saying.” He rode in silence for a few more minutes.
Roxanne breathed easier after a while, certain Jim wasn’t going to continue selling Pierce.
Then he cleared his throat and said, “You two had somethin’ special. You don’t find that often, you know.”
She glared at her foreman. “I don’t want to discuss the man. Besides, you’re one to talk. Since when are you an expert on relationships?”
Again, the older man shrugged. “I was in love once.”
Roxanne’s brows rose. “I didn’t know that. I’ve never even seen you with a woman.”
He frowned. “I go to town on my days off. Not that it’s any of yer business, little girl.”
She smiled, glad they weren’t talking about her and Pierce anymore. “I’m not so little anymore.”
“My point exactly. You’re getting older and need to settle down while you’re still breedin’ age.”
“Jim Rausch, you make me sound like a broodmare.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to settle with or for anyone. Not now or anytime soon. I’m doing just fine on my own.” It was mostly true. She’d make it true. Just as soon as she convinced her silly heart not to pine for Pierce.
“You ought to reconsider your opinion of that Thunder Horse boy. He’s still pretty stuck on you.”
“Don’t go there. You know he’s the reason Mason joined the FBI, and that it’s his fault Mason got himself killed.”
“Not the way I see it.” Jim rode in silence for a long second or two, before adding, “Mason had his own reasons for joining the FBI. You can’t blame it on Pierce.”
“Pierce sent him into that building that blew up.”
“Now how was he supposed to know the building would explode?”
The image of a fiery explosion had haunted her dreams and memories for months. Roxanne didn’t need a reminder. “I’m the wrong one to ask. I don’t know the details, and Pierce refused to tell me.” Even when I begged him to explain, to tell me what had happened. “All he’d say was that Mason’s death was his fault. I’m not marrying Pierce Thunder Horse and nothing you can say will change my mind.”
“A woman’s got a way of changing her own mind.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” She nudged her horse to go a little faster, trying to put distance between her and Jim.
Unfortunately, he remained abreast. Jim glanced at her, his lips curled ever so slightly. “Just saying.”
Roxanne clamped her lips shut, refusing to further the conversation by replying to him.
As they neared the canyon’s rim, she slowed her horse, her gaze darting right and left. As far as she could see, nothing moved across the edge. That didn’t mean a shooter wasn’t lurking, but for now, Roxanne felt confident they were alone on the plains. She patted the rifle protruding from the scabbard on her saddle. Between her and Jim, it was two against one, and they were both armed. That ought to keep the attacker from making a move.
“I’ll go down first. When I’m close to the bottom of the trail, you can start down. In the meantime, keep your rifle ready.”
“I got yer back,
Roxanne clamped her cowboy hat down on her head, glad for the shade as the sun beat down on her shoulders. The heat of summer had settled into the badlands of North Dakota. Without a tree in sight, the land baked, waves of heat radiating from the dry earth, making the early-morning chill a dim memory.
A trickle of sweat slipped down between Roxanne’s breasts and she shifted in her saddle, her jeans clinging to her damp legs.
Roxanne slowed her paint horse to a walk. The heat would tire the horses faster than the speed and she wanted to conserve energy for their return.
Jim rode up alongside her and settled into the slower, steadier pace. After a while, he glanced over at her. “You know, Pierce is a good man.”
At the mention of Pierce’s name, Roxanne’s heartbeat kicked up a notch. “Can we talk about something else?”
Jim shrugged. “Just saying.” He rode in silence for a few more minutes.
Roxanne breathed easier after a while, certain Jim wasn’t going to continue selling Pierce.
Then he cleared his throat and said, “You two had somethin’ special. You don’t find that often, you know.”
She glared at her foreman. “I don’t want to discuss the man. Besides, you’re one to talk. Since when are you an expert on relationships?”
Again, the older man shrugged. “I was in love once.”
Roxanne’s brows rose. “I didn’t know that. I’ve never even seen you with a woman.”
He frowned. “I go to town on my days off. Not that it’s any of yer business, little girl.”
She smiled, glad they weren’t talking about her and Pierce anymore. “I’m not so little anymore.”
“My point exactly. You’re getting older and need to settle down while you’re still breedin’ age.”
“Jim Rausch, you make me sound like a broodmare.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to settle with or for anyone. Not now or anytime soon. I’m doing just fine on my own.” It was mostly true. She’d make it true. Just as soon as she convinced her silly heart not to pine for Pierce.
“You ought to reconsider your opinion of that Thunder Horse boy. He’s still pretty stuck on you.”
“Don’t go there. You know he’s the reason Mason joined the FBI, and that it’s his fault Mason got himself killed.”
“Not the way I see it.” Jim rode in silence for a long second or two, before adding, “Mason had his own reasons for joining the FBI. You can’t blame it on Pierce.”
“Pierce sent him into that building that blew up.”
“Now how was he supposed to know the building would explode?”
The image of a fiery explosion had haunted her dreams and memories for months. Roxanne didn’t need a reminder. “I’m the wrong one to ask. I don’t know the details, and Pierce refused to tell me.” Even when I begged him to explain, to tell me what had happened. “All he’d say was that Mason’s death was his fault. I’m not marrying Pierce Thunder Horse and nothing you can say will change my mind.”
“A woman’s got a way of changing her own mind.”
“Don’t hold your breath.” She nudged her horse to go a little faster, trying to put distance between her and Jim.
Unfortunately, he remained abreast. Jim glanced at her, his lips curled ever so slightly. “Just saying.”
Roxanne clamped her lips shut, refusing to further the conversation by replying to him.
As they neared the canyon’s rim, she slowed her horse, her gaze darting right and left. As far as she could see, nothing moved across the edge. That didn’t mean a shooter wasn’t lurking, but for now, Roxanne felt confident they were alone on the plains. She patted the rifle protruding from the scabbard on her saddle. Between her and Jim, it was two against one, and they were both armed. That ought to keep the attacker from making a move.
“I’ll go down first. When I’m close to the bottom of the trail, you can start down. In the meantime, keep your rifle ready.”
“I got yer back,
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