A Grand Teton Sleigh Ride: Four Generations of Wyoming Ranchers Celebrate Love at Christmas (23 page)

“Tom?”

The drugstore cowboy froze and turned his attention to her. His eyes lit up. “Ann.”

Holding his hands out, he rushed to her. Grabbed her and swung her around. “Just the woman I was looking for.”

Ann twisted from his grip. “What are you doing here?”

“Don’t you miss me, baby?”

“We broke up weeks ago.”

“Because I didn’t appreciate your photography. Your need to come see this place. Well, here I am. I came to see for myself why you’re so fascinated. I understand now. So don’t be such a killjoy.” He lifted her hands, looking her up and down. “Did you get all dolled up for me?”

Boisterous laughter from his friends erupted over his sarcasm. She jerked her hands free. Ann’s throat constricted, preventing her from voicing her displeasure with his sudden appearance. How could he do this? How could he follow her out here and ruin this for her? She fought to say something.

Misunderstanding her reaction, as usual, Tom took her hand, lifting it to his lips, glancing over his shoulder to send his gang away. “Come on, Ann. I missed you, baby.”

S
am stowed the items he purchased in the truck then headed to the mercantile to find Ann, hoping he hadn’t taken too long. He spotted her on the sidewalk in front of the entrance. Just seeing her made him step a little lighter. But he reminded himself nothing could come of his feelings for her, and that was just as well.

Only fifteen yards away, he slowed, taking in the scene before him as an outrageously dressed dude lifted her hand to his lips. Sam drew closer, listening to the exchange. The fake cowboy had called her by her first name. Sam stumbled, and bumped into someone passing him.

“Watch where you’re going,” the man said.

“Sorry,” Sam replied, but his attention was on Ann and the man holding her hand, speaking to her like they were on friendly terms.

His protective instincts kicked in, urging him to rush to her side and interfere. But no, this wasn’t a stranger, this was someone she knew.

“I miss you, baby.”

The words singed Sam’s ears. He backed into the shadows to wait, wishing he hadn’t seen anything to begin with. Unwilling to watch anymore, except he’d told her that he’d meet her at the mercantile. He’d give her a few minutes of privacy then come back.

Pulse hammering in his ears, though he had no right, Sam turned about-face and headed in the opposite direction. He couldn’t face her until he dealt with his own reaction. He’d wanted to tell that guy to beat it.

Sam was jealous!

He forced his breathing to steady, but it wasn’t easy. He had no right to be jealous. Add to that, he’d been through this with Rebecca. Same story, different girl.

He was such a sap.

Ann had hired him as a guide. She had never led him to believe—for even one minute—that she would stay. She had every intention of going back to Manhattan with her all-important photographs. Now Sam understood things better. She had a fella waiting for her back home, only now he’d grown tired of waiting and had followed her here.

Sam leaned against the wall, just outside the bank doors, and blew out a breath.

You’ve been a complete fool
. He squeezed his eyes shut, pushing out the image that didn’t want to leave. Just yesterday, he’d kissed her.

“You okay, Sam?” Sheriff Daniels asked.

Sam hadn’t noticed when the man had come to lean against the wall right next to him as though commiserating with Sam. Had Sheriff Daniels seen what happened? Sam’s reaction?

“Fine, just fine.”

“She’s a pretty one, Miss Kirkland,” the sheriff added. “How long is she staying?”

“Another week, if that.” She was as good as gone, as far as Sam was concerned.

He shoved from the wall, hoping to get out of more conversation with the man who’d offered sage advice on more than one occasion, the man who’d been persistent in getting Sam to guide Ann.

“Interested in another job?”

Sam considered the question. “What have you got?”

The sheriff chuckled. “I should get commissions for bringing you business.”

Sam smiled at that. “Maybe you should.”

“There’s a big group come to town. Ran into them this morning. They’re looking for a guide.”

Sam wondered if Ann’s friend was in that group. “I think I’ve shown Ann everything she needs. I’m guessing she’ll likely leave sooner than expected, especially since …”

The sheriff quirked a brow. “Since?”

“I can’t afford to let this opportunity slip away. I thank you for bringing Ann to me, but I wouldn’t want to stake my reputation on that. Tell them to meet me at the Jackson Hotel day after tomorrow. We’ll iron out the details, settle our business then.”

“I’d say you could tell them yourself, but …” The sheriff tipped his hat. “Miss Kirkland.”

“Sheriff, how are you?”

Ann’s sweet voice wrapped around Sam. He regretted everything he’d just said. She had to have heard.

He turned to face her, forcing a smile he didn’t feel. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

She held up her packaged items. “I did, thank you. Thought you were going to meet me there.”

“I … uh … got sidetracked. The sheriff caught me,” Sam said.

The way Sheriff Daniels eyed him, Sam wasn’t sure the man would be much help on what started to feel like a runaway wagon. He shook Sam’s hand and bid Ann good-bye then headed down the boardwalk.

Then Ann pinned Sam with her soft brown gaze, hurt flickering behind her dark irises. Was her lip quivering?

“I heard what you said, Mr. Covington.” Her voice shook through her scathing tone. “I’ll thank you to keep to our agreement.”

Sam hated himself. “I didn’t mean anything by what I said. Of course I’ll honor my agreement, but you’ll be leaving at week’s end, or maybe even sooner. I don’t want to lose this next opportunity.” He wasn’t showing much business prowess, but seeing her with that man had scrambled his head. Meeting with those men wouldn’t take long. If Ann stayed until the end of the week, he’d have to stall the men.

“Why would I leave sooner unless it starts snowing?” She glanced at the sidewalk then back to Sam. “I know I said I wanted to be gone before the snow, but I kind of hoped it would snow before I left, so I could take a few photographs. It would be a risk, but”—her voice cracked—“but forget it. The end of this week will be fine with me.”

She lifted her chin, all businesslike and impersonal, but he experienced the pain in her eyes as if it were his own. Why would she be hurt? He hadn’t meant to hurt her. He reminded himself she had a fella and was leaving. Still, he shouldn’t have reacted the way he had.

He opened his mouth to say he was sorry, but different words came out. “I’m meeting with my new prospective clients the day after tomorrow. It won’t take long. But I’m sure you can understand that I don’t want to lose the opportunity, considering you have your own prospects right here in town.”

Sam Covington—where is your brother to kick you to the end of the road when you need him?

Her own prospects?
Tom
.

He’d seen her with Tom, but why should that matter?

“I’ll consider your obligation to me fulfilled after you take me back to that last waterfall.” Ann fought to control the quiver in her voice.

So Sam wouldn’t want to stake his reputation, what little there was, on Ann’s photography. He didn’t respect her or see what she offered him, after all. She hadn’t required him to sign a contract like Mr. Frankston, trusting him instead. She’d been a fool in her handling of this arrangement, to be sure. But Sam had become so much more than a guide to her. She was more hurt than she’d ever been, even with Tom.

The ride home was long, with an awkward silence hanging between them.

When they arrived at the ranch, Ann wanted to flee to her room like a scolded schoolgirl, though she should be the one to do the scolding. Mostly she needed free of Sam’s presence so she could gain clarity over her runaway thoughts.

Sam caught her arm before she could rush away. “I have a few things to take care of this afternoon here at the ranch, so if you want to get those ranch photographs, today is the day. Tomorrow, we’ll see to the waterfall, finish our business.”

“Agreed,” Ann said in her most professional voice. She hoped.

That night after dinner, the family retired to their rooms; Ann crept down the stairs to the fireplace and stoked the fire, throwing on another log. She hadn’t had a moment alone to think on all that had happened today.

Sure, she’d seen plenty of smiles from Sam and his family as she photographed them working on chores around the ranch, gearing up to deliver the cattle to market. Sam had seen to her every need when it came to their business agreement. But with Tom’s sudden appearance, everything between them had changed.

On the sofa, she curled her legs beneath her and hoped watching the flames would lull her mind into a peaceful state as she prayed. She’d come here on a mission and needed to return so she could greet her father with smiles and present the proof of her adventure to him at the right time. Now, all she could think was how she wanted to stay here longer. At least she’d wanted that until Sam had said those horrible words.

What had happened today? One moment, she’d savored Sam’s company and his friendship, the next moment she overheard his excitement over the possibility of taking on a big-game hunting trip. He’d even commented that he couldn’t stake his reputation on the work he’d done for Ann.

His words had pierced her heart. The man had fooled her into believing he actually appreciated her talents. Her photography. Into believing he understood her.

Unlike her father.

Unlike Tom.

She’d gotten it all wrong. He was no better than either of them. Ann was on her own, as always. She needed to toughen up, erect an even taller wall around her heart. This would always be a man’s world. She’d have to work even harder than she imagined. But she was grateful that she had the photographs she’d come for—that thanks to Sam’s willingness to share his secluded places. Why had he done such a thing?

She’d thought … she’d thought that something more had grown between them. None of that mattered. Nor had she come this far to be trampled upon like some withering flower. She would see this thing through with him tomorrow and hope she would be able to take the photographs she’d envisioned since she’d seen the place.

If only the thought of leaving at the end of the week didn’t swipe a claw across her heart. Everything had gone downhill with Tom’s appearance, but whether or not Tom had found her today, she would be leaving at the end of this week.

She would depart this amazing valley, the Covington Ranch, and Sam’s family. She would leave Sam.

“Ann?”

Sam’s voice pulled her from her thoughts, sending her heart galloping. She stiffened, hating the interruption.

But glad to see him at the same time.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

He smiled. How she’d grown to love that smile. “I live here, remember?”

“Yes, of course, you do,” she said. “I meant, why you aren’t asleep?”

He settled on the opposite end of the sofa and leaned forward. “Same reason as you, I suppose.”

Something in his voice made Ann’s breath hitch. “And what reason would that be?”

He blew out a breath, stood, and walked over to the fire, stoked it with a poker. The crackling flames blazed now, reflecting in Sam’s eyes. He moved back to the sofa, this time sitting a few inches closer to Ann. She couldn’t move away because she was in the corner. But despite the danger this man was to her heart, she didn’t try to move away.

“I couldn’t sleep,” he said. “Haven’t stopped thinking about today. I wanted to say I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“One of the reasons it was so important to me to come here on my own was to prove myself to my father, a man who should already know my talents since he employs me to photograph for the magazine. But he gives me no credit. He’s not the only one, so you can understand why your words hurt me. I thought you were different.” Had she really just said that out loud?

“I am,” he said. “If there’s anyone who understands being underestimated or devalued, it’s me. I know I did that to you today, Ann. I guess I figured that my father was finally giving credence to my ideas. I didn’t want to lose the opportunity with those hunters. But my mind started scrambling after … after I saw you with that diamond-pointed drugstore cowboy.”

“Tom.” Ann whispered, almost hating the name.

“It looks to me like you have a boyfriend. Someone to go back to.”

Why would that matter? But Ann’s heart knew why, and her pulse quickened.

“I mostly reacted to that,” Sam continued, “but the truth is you’re leaving at the end of this week, regardless. You can’t blame me for wanting to line up another opportunity. All the same, I wanted to say I’m sorry, Ann. I can honestly say that I’m impressed with you. All you’ve done in your life. Your photographs are wonderful. Meeting you, guiding you through this country, has been the best thing to happen to me.”

Her heart jumped. Oh, if that were only true.

He shifted a little closer. “Will you forgive me?”