Courtship of the Recluse, Linda Rigsbee [e novels to read online txt] 📗

their blackfur shone in the sunlight. Cynthia leaned over as they drew nearone and tried to pet it, but the cow moved away a few steps andbegan grazing again. She glanced up to find Cade watching her. Hispupils were contracted by the bright sunlight and his light greeneyes contrasted sharply with his bronze tan. At that moment he wassurprisingly attractive.

She smiled at him. “I guess they’re not astame as they look.”

He shrugged. “I’m the only human they seemost of the time, and I represent no harm to them. This is the herdI’ve been developing for about five years. I started with a fewselect cows and a good bull. I replaced the bull last year toprevent inbreeding, but I’ve been pleased with the offspring.”

“They’re beautiful. I don’t know what traitsyou look for in beef cattle, but they look healthy.”

He nodded. “They are, and hardy.” He turnedhis horse and started through the herd. “Come on. I want to showyou something.”

She followed him across the valley and up asteep slope. The inside of her legs were so sore that walking mightbe more comfortable. He probably didn’t realize she wasn’t used toriding.

They rode across a mesa and descended to awide creek. The grass around the creek was new, giving it a velvetylook. The creek was clear and swift. When they paused on the bank,she could stand the pain no longer. Leaning into one stirrup, sheforced her other leg over the back of the horse and dismounted. Herlegs were so numb that she staggered and grabbed the stirrup. Thehorse snorted and sidestepped, letting her fall to the ground.

Instantly Cade was beside her, helping herup. “Why didn’t you say you were tired? We could have stopped anytime.”

Her face was hot as she pushed away from him,avoiding his gaze. What a pansy he must think she was.

“I’m all right. I’m just a little stiff.”

Actually, her legs felt like stumps and hergroin muscles were knotted with pain. She hobbled to the edge ofthe creek. The surface of the water ruptured, spewing a colorfulfish into the air. The fish flipped and dived back into the water.Cynthia gasped. Did you see that?” she asked breathlessly. Itlooked like a Rainbow Trout. She leaned forward, examining thelurking figures under the surface. “There are lots of them. Do youever fish here?”

He shook his head. “I’m not much of afisherman.”

“Oh, I’d love to come here and fish sometime.Would you mind?”

He gazed down the creek, his expressionunreadable. “As long as you eat what you catch. I don’t believe incatch-and-release except if the fish is simply too small. WeAmericans have a nasty habit of playing with our food - like a cat.If you hunt, it should be for food, not pleasure.”

She couldn’t agree with him more, but it wasan unusual viewpoint for a man. She stretched and walked around,gradually gaining feeling in her legs. That might have been amistake. Every muscle complained so painfully that she wished thenumbness would return. She tried to work the muscles in her lowerback with her fingertips, but the effort was worse than thebenefit.

Suddenly strong fingers began working hershoulder muscles, delightfully descending to the muscles on eitherside of her spine. She moaned.

“Oh, that feels so good. You can’t imaginehow sore I am.”

“Do you want to go back?”

“How long have we been out?”

“About three hours.”

Three more hours back? How could she endurethe ride? She tried to smile cheerfully as she looked at him overone shoulder. “Aren’t you getting hungry? I’ll be fine after werest for a little bit.”

“Sure.” The fingers ceased their massage andhe took her arm, leading her to a dry rock. “Why don’t you resthere a few minutes and I’ll do the serving for once.”

“But I can...”

His hand pressed down on her shoulder. “Socan I. I got along before I hired you and I think I can manage onemeal now.”

She stretched out on the rock, its warmthpenetrating her shirt and further relaxing her muscles. Closing hereyes against the bright sunlight, she absorbed its warmth. Shebreathed deeply of the clear air and listened to the sound of thecreek darting over rocks - swirling against its banks. Somewhere inthe distance, a Meadowlark called, its melodic song addingsweetness to the smell of wild roses. It was spring again - atlast.

“Are you asleep?”

She opened her eyes and squinted up at himthrough the sunlight. Languidly lifting a hand, she shaded her eyesand smiled at him.

“No. I’m enjoying this immensely, though.”She took the sandwich he offered and grinned. “Is this what you doout here all day long?”

The lips twitched and a brow quirked. “Do youwant to swap jobs?”

She laughed. “Only if this is all I have todo.”

He squatted beside her and scanned thehorizon soberly. “If you figure out a way to do this all day andstill make the ranch turn a profit, you could make a fortuneteaching your method at seminars.”

She sat up and glanced around at themagnificent scenery. “I know the work is hard and the weather isforbidding at times, but do you know how lucky you are?”

He stared at her intently while he chewed amouthful of food. Finally he swallowed and nodded.

“I know, but there are a lot of people whodon’t understand.”

She crossed her legs painfully and stareddown at her sandwich. “Different strokes for different folks,” shequipped, and took a bite of the sandwich.

They ate in silence then, enjoying thetranquility of Mother Nature's work around them. Tomorrow would beanother day at the house, and she intended to enjoy every minute ofthis day with Cade. He made an excellent companion, a fact thathadn’t occurred to her before that moment. Who would have thoughtit? Certainly she wouldn’t have on the day he offered her the job.But then, a lot of things had changed since that day.

He stood and walked to the edge of the creek,stooping to wash his hands. He was so meticulous - so thoroughlymasculine and sexy. She stared down at her sandwich, shocked thatthe thought had crossed her mind. Cade...sexy? Yet there wassomething about the way he moved, so full of grace and power.Animal magnetism. That was it - nothing more.

She finished her sandwich