Sandy Sullivan (8 page)

He
reached for his wallet but she stayed his hand.
"My
treat."

"As
you wish."
He nodded and smiled. "I'd never
turn down dinner with a beautiful woman, especially if she's paying." He
wasn't sure, but he figured Elizabeth had an independent streak a mile wide and
he wondered if her free spirit took over in the bedroom. Although he didn't
think of himself as the strong alpha type, he did enjoy being in control
between the sheets. What would she do if she knew about his dominate nature?

"Such
flattery."

Once
he helped her to her feet, he tucked her hand into the crooked of his arm and
led her toward the doors. "Too bad they don't have dancing here. I'd love
to waltz with you again."

"You
know, I knew you couldn't have been from Red Rock originally since you knew how
to waltz at the ball."

"You're
a very graceful dancer yourself. Where did you learn to waltz?"

"My
father taught me. So I would know for when I married someday."

"If
Mitchell knows how to waltz then I'm not the only one in Red Rock."

"Okay,
clarification.
The only one of our generation.
Face it,
kids who graduated in the seventies or even eighties didn't waltz. Slow dancing
consisted of shuffling your feet back and forth while you hung on."

The
soft laugh escaping from her lips did little to calm his aching cock. He'd
already fantasized about her to the point of pain and beyond.

"Where
did you learn to waltz?"

"My
parents were old fashioned in that way. All of us kids learned to dance in the middle
of our living room. My mother used to be a dancer some years back so she taught
us all."

"How
sweet."

"She's
a great mom. I miss having them close, but I wouldn't trade living here for the
world."

"You
really do like Red Rock, don't you?"

"I
do. There's nothing like the smell of the wildflowers in bloom in the spring,
the gurgle of a mountain stream as the rushing water winds itself around
boulders and trees, or the sight of a beautiful woman spread out on a blanket
under the stars waiting."

"You've
had a woman spread out on a blanket under the stars?" she asked, her voice
a mere husky whisper as they approached her car.

"No,
but I do have my fantasies." He stopped her beside the driver's door and
turned her toward him. "What are your fantasies, Elizabeth?"

"I
have a few."

"Care
to tell me?"

Her
tongue peeked out as she ran the tip over her lips. He had to stifle a groan of
pure torture as he fought himself over whether to lean in and brush his mouth
over hers.
One kiss.
One touch.
It's all he wanted…for now. Warm, wine-tinged breath wafted over his face. His
cock got impossibly hard and he finally decided to give into the torture of
having
her this
close.

The
moment his mouth met hers, she sighed, opening herself to him. Automatically he
reached for her hips, bringing her body into the curve of his. There would be
no way she wouldn't notice his cock against her belly.

Her
lips were soft and yielding beneath his, just like he remembered. Her tongue
swept out to slide along the side of his.

Wanting
to feel more, he pulled her in tighter, wrapping his arms around her back. Her
hands pushed into the hair at the nape of his neck, curling into the strands
like she wouldn't let go.

A
soft laugh broke the spell as another couple moved past them with a soft,
"Excuse us."

"I'm
sorry, Elizabeth. I never meant…"

"Don't
be sorry, Marcus. It cheapens the kiss. I enjoyed it, but you have to
understand, I'm not looking for a relationship. I'm only here for a short
time."

The
crystal blue of her eyes stared back, although they'd darkened now to a light
sapphire color with her increased passion. Her breath sawed in and out, driving
her breasts into his chest until he thought he'd lose his mind.

"I'm
not looking for a relationship either." She frowned as he stepped back and
opened her door. "Goodnight, beautiful lady."

"Goodnight."

* * * *

The
next morning found Elizabeth on the back of a horse, riding fence line. She'd
slept restlessly throughout the night as the feeling of Marcus' mouth on hers
drove her desire to a level she'd not experienced before, except for the last
time he'd kissed her. "This is ridiculous. He's just a man and a
cowboy.
I don't do cowboys. Most are
egotistical, arrogant, and not the least bit shy about taking their own
pleasure. Their thought is to hell with the woman." She should know. She'd
been with a few
right
out of high school. Never mind
the fact of their youth or inexperience.
The
businessman didn't suit my needs much either if I count Ari.

She
tapped her fingers against her lips as she said, "Maybe a short term fling
with Marcus might be all right. I mean, I'm not staying in town after the month
is up. We could have a good time together, have some great sex. If the heat we
produce when he kisses me is any indicator, we should ignite the sheets."
She wanted more. No, he wasn't the business suit type, but he had the sexy
cowboy thing down. He sure looked good in the sport jacket and slacks he wore
last night though.

Birds
circling in the distance caught her eye.
Hmm…I
wonder what that's all
about?
Moments later, her
cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey,
cowgirl.
Where are you?"

"Out
riding of course."

Natalie
laughed on the other end of the line.
"Of course!
Hey, want to meet me for lunch?"

"Sure,
at the diner say
elevenish
." She glanced at her
watch.
Nine.
She'd have just about enough time to
finish her check of the fence and get back to the house to shower if she
hurried. Nudging her gelding with her heels, she said, "If we go early, it
won't be so crowded."

"Eleven
is fine. Cade's going to watch the kids so we can have a nice leisurely
lunch."

"How
sweet of him.
Tell him I love him, would you. I'll
see him for dinner one night this week."

"I'll
tell him. How did dinner go with Marcus the other night?"

"I'll
tell you at lunch since I need to have a discussion with you about that and the
ball."

"Uh-oh."

"Yeah.
I heard about your part in his secret."

"Elizabeth,
I wanted to tell you."

"He
told me part of what happened. How you and Cade wanted to say something, but he
wouldn't let you, but we'll discuss things more at lunch. I've got a little
more to tell you about."

"Sounds
intriguing.
Me
thinks you
are attracted to our fair doctor."

"Attracted
yes, but looking for anything beyond a short term fling…no." The birds
circling in the distance bothered her. She needed to check it out before she
headed back. "I need to go, Nat. There's something I want to check out
before I meet you for lunch. Talk to you in a couple of hours."

"Sure,
hon. See you then."

Elizabeth
stuffed her cell phone back in her pocket and leaned in, urging the gelding to
a faster clip as they galloped toward the area to her left. A small outcropping
of rocks sheltered a nice pool of water where many of the animals gathered in
the heat of the Montana summer. She wondered if maybe a late calf didn't
survive. "There are an awful lot of birds for one carcass."

As
she crested the hill a disturbing sight met her eyes. Several dozen cows along
with their calves were being ravaged by the buzzards. The stench just about
caused her to lose her breakfast. She clamped her hand over her mouth. What
could have taken out so many? "I need to warn Dad."

She
reined her gelding around and raced across the open field toward the ranch
house in the distance. Nothing had prepared her for the slaughter of so many
animals. That's all she could think of it as…slaughter.

Her
father stood on the porch looking in her direction as she skidding to a halt in
the front yard. "
Somethin's
wrong."

"Yeah.
I just came from there. Several head of cattle have been slaughtered. It's
going to be hard to say what did it, Dad. The buzzards have done a pretty good
job of picking them clean already."

Removing
his hat, he jabbed his fingers through his hair before replacing the felt with
the brim down low across his forehead. "Damn it. This is the second time
in the two weeks."

"Seriously?"
she asked, swinging down from the gelding’s back. "You've got a hell of a
problem then. From what I saw, it wasn't something natural. Something like a
coyote or wolf pack would only take down a few. This was at least a
dozen."

"Near
the pool?"

"Yes."

"I
need to talk to the neighbors or the hands. Someone had to have seen some
commotion. Maybe Marcus knows something. He inoculated several head in the last
month for me."

"Marcus?"
she asked, grabbing the reins to lead her winded gelding in a cool down.

"He's
been out here a lot helping me with the horses and cattle," her father
said, stepping into an easy rhythm next to her.

"I
didn't realize he'd spent so much time here lately."
Maybe Marcus had seen something, but he wasn't aware of it. Being a
vet, he'd surely pick up on the animals acting strange.

"Yes
he has. Probably more time than anywhere else. I should just put him on my
payroll to call it good." Her father chuckled as he shoved his hands in
his pockets. "I'd better call him. He'll need to check the rest of the herd
to make sure nothing is wrong with them. I'll also need someone to check the
water supply in the pool out there. Someone might have poisoned it."

"I'm
headed into town to have lunch with Natalie, Dad, so I won't be home for a
couple of hours. Are you okay? Do I need to cancel?"

"I
don't think so, honey. Enjoy your lunch. Don't worry about things here."
He hugged her, and then stepped back. "Tell Nat hello for me. Let her know
I'm still planning dinner out at their place on Sunday."

"Sure,"
she replied, heading across the yard.

"Tell
her to make sure to kiss those grandbabies for me," he yelled from the
porch as she stepped into the interior of the musty, hay filled barn.

A
quick wave over her shoulder told him she heard him. The tack room sat off to
the back of the building with the door ajar. She heard muffle voices coming
from the room, piquing her curiosity as the timbre got louder.

"No.
I've done what you ask. I want my money."

Elizabeth
clipped the lead rope onto the horse’s bridle and cocked her head. She didn't
recognize the speaker. His agitation seemed clear enough though.

A
loud “wait” followed by grumbling and a thud of a boot against the wall floated
to her position several feet from the door. She moved closer to peek inside.
Wide shoulders, blond hair, black cowboy hat, jeans and boots.
Typical cowboy on the ranch.
The set of his back and
wide legged stance told her of his irritation.
"Fucking
dumbass!
He doesn't have a clue what
ranchin's
about."

"Hello?"
she called, pushing
open
the door.

The
cowboy spun around, a deep scowl lined his face and drew his eyebrows down over
his eyes. "Who the hell are you? What are you doin' in here?"

"I'm
Elizabeth Weston," she said, hands on her hips. "Can I ask who you
are?"

The
scowl disappeared as a handsome grin lifted the corners of his mouth. Chocolate
brown eyes stared back with a sexy twinkle. "Jackson Leaf. I'm your dad's
foreman." He stuck out his hand. "I'd heard his daughter was home for
a bit. It's nice to meet you finally. Your dad talks about you a lot."

"Uh,
thanks." The warmth of his hand spread up her arm, sending goose bumps
flittering along the surface. "Jackson. Did you see anyone around here
who
shouldn't be recently? I was up on the ridge and there
are several cattle dead near the pool. Dad said this is the second time it's
happened in the last two weeks."

He
scratched his chin with his fingers, making a rasping sound with the five
o'clock shadow of whiskers lining his jaw.
"Nope.
Can't say that I have.
Well, except the good doctor
doing the shots on them. He was up near there a couple of weeks ago with his
truck. Not long before the last batch went down, I'd say."