The wind blew, the clouds arched, and my mind said Mariska. Her name lingered and turned over in my thoughts. Why was she here? Elaine said she didn’t want her to be alone at Thanksgiving. Why would she be alone?
It didn’t matter. My goals were established—I’d get well, give myself time to be firmly back on my feet, and I was gone. Still, this person stood there in my way, silhouetted against the burning fire of the sun, taunting me with her presence.
I didn’t want her.
I wanted her.
I needed to stay away from her.
I needed to be with her.
Dammit.
By afternoon we’d combed miles of open land between Sun Prairie and Benton Lake without seeing a single rogue beast. Evan was determined and wanted to keep riding, but Bill convinced him the horses needed a break. We stopped at a pond near one of the rocky outcroppings off Bootlegger Trail to breathe and eat.
I led Ranger over to a spot by the water, and shocks of pain radiated through the backs of my legs. Shit, I’d overdone it between yesterday’s hard ride and now this. Holding the side of my horse’s saddle while he drank, I closed my eyes against the blazing ache, remembering what had driven me to start the drugs in the first place. Nothing eased this.
Here was where the mind battles began, the bargaining and rationalizing. If I got another script, I’d be smarter this time. I wouldn’t think I was stronger than the docs did. I’d only use them on the worst days. If I was ever going to get back to the desert, be as strong as I used to be, I had to have something to help me with this wound.
I hadn’t even noticed Bill at my shoulder until he spoke. “You doing all right, partner?”
Pushing away from my horse, I stepped back, but a muscle spasm caused me to wince. “Just taking a breather.”
His brow tightened. “This is a fool’s errand if you ask me. I want you to head on back to the house.”
“I came to help. I can do this.”
Bill’s hand closed over my arm like a vice. “Listen to me, son. Conway’s all the way down to Black Eagle, and he hasn’t seen a thing. Those bison could be as far as Conrad with the head start they got. Maybe farther.”
I knew he was right, and even my pride wasn’t strong enough to override the misery radiating through my pelvis. Ranger was watered, I’d had a few bites of the cold chicken Winona had packed us.
“Anything you need tending to when I get back?” I could do that much at least.
“Nah. With all the work you did yesterday, we’re pretty set for a few days. Take a break.” Confusion lined my face, but he only laughed. “You forget when you and Patrick are gone, it’s just me and Ron doing chores. You two’ve gotten us more than caught up.”
My expression relaxed, but at the same time, I didn’t want to sit around the ranch house with the internal battle I was waging. “Would you mind if I spent some time at the cabin?”
“Wouldn’t you rather spend some time with our guests?” He glanced at me, and a hint of mischief was in his eyes. “Some of them are right easy on the eyes.”
Exactly. “I’d do better with some quiet time.”
He sniffed and his eyebrows twitched. “Suit yourself.”
* * *
I’d taken my time riding back to the house. We weren’t as far out as I’d thought, but Ranger was thankful for a restful lope after two days of tearing across the prairie. None of our house guests were apparent when I made it to the barn, and I hoped to get in the stall, brush Ranger down, pack quickly, and head out again.
Considering my plan, I decided to take Freckles with me back to the cabin. Patrick wouldn’t use his fucking brain to keep Mariska off her, and the least I cold do was protect her against a flighty horse. The idea that I wouldn’t be here to protect her from anything else gnawed at the back of my mind, but she was a grown woman, even if she was young. I had to give her credit for being able to keep out of trouble.
Ranger in his stall, I removed his saddle and blanket and was just making my way toward the tack room when she ran through the doorway off the side paddock. She was laughing, and her hair blew around her face in silky ribbons. My chest tightened, but I kept my pace steady, determined.
“Oh!” The soft note in her voice hit me right in the stomach. “I didn’t hear you get back.”
I didn’t plan to answer her, but when I turned to go back for the bridle, she was standing in the doorway blocking me. Today she wore an Indian-print poncho and what looked like nothing else except cowboy boots. She was delicious with that long hair wrapping over her shoulder. Stirring below my belt. Fighting that.
“Patrick said you’d be gone all day.” Her light brows clutched over those eyes. “Did something happen? Where’s your uncle?”
Clearing my throat, I tried to find balance in the midst of the internal storm she provoked. “He asked me to head back. Check on the place.”