Christmas With the Mustang Man (3 page)

“I don't have anything pressing going on tomorrow,” he replied. “Come out whenever you'd like.”

As they moved along in the darkness, she realized he was close enough for her to reach over and touch, if she was so minded to. The idea titillated her senses and sent all sorts of questions hurtling through her mind. Mainly, where was Hayley's mother? And was there some other woman in this man's life?

Don't be letting your thoughts stray in that direction, Dallas. The hurt that Allen laid on your heart would be a minor scratch compared to what this cowboy could do to you. Get your business done with the man and get the heck out of here.

“I'll be out early,” she promised him as she jerked her thoughts back to the real issue.

Once they reached the truck, he closed a hand around her elbow and helped her into the tall cab. Determined not to linger any longer, she closed the door between them and reached to start the engine. To her dismay the truck gave one loud sputter, and then the starter whirled uselessly.

Boone knocked on the door panel to garner her attention and then made a motion for her to lower the window. Dallas did as he asked, then hung her head over the partially opened glass panel.

“Pop the hood,” he instructed. “I'll have a look.”

She pulled the hood lever, then climbed to the ground while he poked and prodded at several things attached to the engine.

After a few minutes, he finally said, “I don't see anything undone or broken. Which leads me to think you could be right about the problem being with the fuel.”

She was already half-frozen from being out in the icy wind. It was growing later by the minute and she was
miles and miles from Pioche, the only town in the area large enough to have any sort of amenities for a traveler.

“Well,” she said decisively, “I'll have to call a wrecker and have the truck towed to Pioche. Is there a service you'd recommend?”

The glance he flashed her was full of impatience. “By the time a wrecker drove out here and pulled you back to town it would be the wee hours of the morning. And I doubt you'd find a mechanic that would want to crawl out of bed and start repairing your truck at that hour.”

Not willing to give in to her dire predicament, she asked, “You don't happen to have a spare vehicle that I could borrow? I'd be happy to pay you for its use.”

He slammed the hood shut on the pricey vehicle and walked back over to where she stood. “Just an old truck we use here on the ranch,” he explained. “It's not even highway legal.”

“Oh. Well, it was just a thought,” she said, trying her best not to sound dejected.

“Look, Dallas, I'd offer to drive you in to Pioche, but I'm not about to leave Hayley on the ranch by herself and I'm not going to drag her about for three fourths of the night. Especially when tomorrow is a school day.”

She'd not even gotten as far as that solution, Dallas thought. But she could see how the idea of him driving her all the way to Pioche was just as problematic as calling for a wrecker.

She might as well face the fact that she was stranded in the middle of nowhere, without anyone to rely on for help, except this big stone-faced horseman.

“I would never ask you to do such a thing, anyway,”
she told him, then released a short, helpless laugh. “But I am going to ask what you suggest I do now?”

A faint grimace tightened his lips. “The way I see it, you have one choice. And that's to stay here tonight.”

S
tay here? With him? Oh, God, nothing about this trip was turning out the way she'd planned, Dallas thought desperately.

“Thanks for the offer, but I'd rather get back to Pioche. I've already interrupted your evening.” She couldn't imagine spending the night under the same roof with this man. Even if several rooms separated her from this rancher, she'd still know he was close by. She doubted she'd get a wink of sleep.

“The way I see it, you don't have a choice in the matter.”

Her spine stiffened. She didn't like anyone, especially a man, telling her that she'd run out of options. She was a doer, a thinker and a fighter. She didn't just give up on something because it seemed hopeless. Even as a child her parents had bemoaned the fact that Dallas would ob
stinately refuse to accept the word
no
. Now, years later, she was still slow to accept it.

“I certainly do have a choice,” she said primly. “I'll call a wrecker and hitch a ride back into Pioche with him. It won't kill me if it's late in the night when I get there. And if my truck can't be repaired by midmorning, I'll rent one.”

His features tightened and Dallas realized it was the most emotion he'd shown since she arrived.

“Look, Dallas, I understand this place doesn't have the luxuries you're probably accustomed to. But it should be comfortable enough for you to bear up for a night or two.”

It wasn't exactly sarcasm she heard in his voice, or accusation. He'd merely made a flat statement. As though he knew her inside and out and had already decided she was too soft for his type of life. The idea irked her, but she did her best to keep it hidden. She didn't want to get off on the wrong foot with the man. She'd not driven over a thousand miles to go back home with an empty horse trailer.

Trying not to let irritation show in her voice, she said, “That's not the issue at all.”

He continued to look at her and Dallas suddenly realized that Boone was the first man in a long, long time who made her remember that she was every inch a woman, complete with desires and frustrations. The notion jolted her even more than being stranded on this remote ranch with him.

“Really? I get the impression that you're not comfortable with the idea of staying here overnight.” He folded his arms against his chest as he studied her with a thoughtful eye. “If you're worried about being alone—
with me—forget it. I may not look like a gentleman, but I am.”

It was herself she couldn't trust. Not him. Glad the darkness hid the heat blazing on her cheeks, she said, “I'm not worried about that, either.”

“Good. Then you should realize that getting back to Pioche tonight is senseless,” he stated. “Might as well stay here and deal with the horses in the morning while you wait for a tow truck.”

His suggestion did make sense, Dallas thought. And she supposed she could endure being under this man's roof for one night. God only knew she was exhausted from the long drive and to think of rattling back over all those rough miles to Pioche tonight was enough to make her ache all over.

She shrugged with resignation. “That does sound less complicated. As long as you're sure I won't be a bother to you.”

His expression a smooth blank, he moved a step closer. “If you get to be a bother, I'll let you know about it. Do you have any bags with you? Or did you leave them at the hotel?”

Seeing he considered the matter settled, she answered, “They're in the backseat. I didn't take time to unload them at the hotel. Guess that turned out to be a good thing.”

After fetching her two leather duffels from the truck, he walked off, leaving Dallas to follow on his heels. As they tromped toward the house, she tried not to think of the night ahead or the predicament she'd gotten herself into.

When they reentered the kitchen, Hayley had already disappeared. With his head, Boone motioned toward an arched doorway.

“Follow me and I'll show you to the room you'll be using,” he told her. “You might want to freshen up before we eat.”

“Sounds great,” she murmured.

The remainder of the house was larger than the impression Dallas had gotten from the outside view. After they passed through a long family room and into a narrow hallway, it seemed like they walked forever. Or perhaps it only felt that way to Dallas because the two of them were alone and she was having all sorts of trouble keeping her gaze off of Boone Barnett's backside.

Good grief, the long drive from New Mexico had done something to her, Dallas thought. It wasn't like she was starved for masculine company. A woman couldn't be starved without first getting hungry. And Allen's deception had practically killed her appetite for romance.

Practically, but not completely. Dallas still dated on occasion and she'd not given up entirely on finding the love of her life. Giving up on anything that was important to her just wasn't in her nature. But men and marriage were things she now viewed in a guarded, practical way.

At one point in her life, she'd planned for her work with horses to only be a part-time career, until she began the full-time job of being a wife and mother. Having a husband and children were the things she really wanted and once she'd gotten engaged to Allen, she was certain her dreams were coming true. She'd been certain of him and his love for her.

Yet she couldn't have been more wrong. Only days before the wedding Allen had come to her with a confession. His desire to marry her had been motivated by his wish to be a part of the Donovan wealth, not by love. He'd told her that his conscience had prevented him from
going through with the marriage. And, Dallas supposed, once their engagement had ended, it had been that same “conscience” that had sent Allen running back to an old flame.

Since that humiliating heartbreak, no man had made her heart go pitter patter. That is, until tonight, when she'd met Boone Barnett.

“We keep this room ready,” Boone told her as he opened a door to their right, “just in case someone needs or wants to stay a few days here on the ranch. Believe it or not, I've had a few people suggest I turn the ranch into a resort, so that people can come and enjoy the quietness. They don't stop to think that once it became a resort there wouldn't be any quietness around here.”

Glad that his voice had interrupted her tumbling thoughts, she said, “Back home, the Diamond D is so busy that sometimes the place feels like a minimetropolis.”

He carried her bags over to a double bed covered with a white down comforter. The feather-filled blanket sank as he placed the bags on the edge of the mattress. Dallas longingly imagined her body sinking into the softness and sleep temporarily blotting out her problems.

“Are your riding stables located on the family ranch?” he asked.

Her gaze drifted up to his face and suddenly she was imagining him lying beside her, his big hands reaching for her.

Startled by the erotic image, she quickly glanced away from him and swallowed. “Yes. But there's a ridge of mountain separating them from the main working area of the ranch. So I'm out of the way and the seclusion lets the children pretend they're riding in the Wild West.”

“Well, there's no pretending needed here,” he said dryly. “This
is
the Wild West.”

Dallas would certainly agree. Ever since she'd arrived on Boone's ranch she'd been having all sorts of
wild
thoughts and feelings.

He gestured to a door in the far right corner of the room. “There's a bathroom with a shower. And feel free to use the closet or whatever else you might need.”

She said, “Thanks, but I doubt I'll be here long enough to hang up my clothes.”

His mouth slanted to a vague smile. “I wouldn't be too quick to say that. Pioche isn't exactly overrun with mechanics and parts-supply shops. In fact, I just know of one.”

Even so, she wasn't going to let that keep her stranded. Christmas was less than a week away. Back on the Diamond D decorations would abound in every room of the house and even extend to the horse barns, where large stockings filled with peppermints and licorice and fresh fruit would hang by each stall door for the horses to enjoy during the holiday. Parties would be held for the house staff, ranch hands and office employees. Then later, family and friends would gather for rich food, warm drinks and lively dancing. Christmas was always the best of times on the Diamond D and Dallas had never missed being home for the holidays. Somehow, someway, she had to get back to New Mexico before all the merrymaking started.

Smiling with as much confidence as she could muster, she said, “Let's hope the problem will be easy to fix.”

“With vehicles, you never know.”

Did she imagine it, or did his brown eyes momentarily slide from her face down the length of her body? Just the
idea that he might be looking at her in
that
way sent heat crawling up her neck and onto her face.

You're thirty-two years old, Dallas. Not eighteen. All sorts of men have looked at you “that” way. Boone isn't any different from them
.
The difference is that you're looking back.

“Uh…the room is lovely,” she said with a sudden rush. “I'm sure I'll be quite comfortable.”

A quirk of a smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “Glad I could oblige,” he said. “So whenever you're finished here, I'll be in the kitchen.”

With that, Boone left the small bedroom and once he was out of sight a long breath whooshed from Dallas.
Oh, dear, oh, dear,
she silently moaned. The last thing she needed was to have a breakdown in the middle of nowhere and be forced to stay overnight in a stranger's house, with a man who had enough sex appeal to curl her toes. And for all she knew, he was probably married!

But if her instincts were right, Boone Barnett wasn't some woman's husband. The house simply didn't have that feminine feel about it. And he'd said that Hayley's mother wasn't around. That could only mean the woman had died or lived elsewhere.

Trying to ignore her tumbling thoughts, she slipped out of her jacket, grabbed a hairbrush from one of her bags and headed to the bathroom.

A few short minutes later, she entered the warm kitchen to see Boone placing plates and silverware on the table. As she walked toward him, he glanced up from the simple task to acknowledge her approach.

“I hope you can eat pizza,” he said. “We don't always eat fast food, but today has been…hectic.”

“Don't worry about me. I eat anything and every
thing,” she replied. She noticed only two plates on the table, and asked, “Won't Hayley be joining us?”

“She mostly eats in her room. And I see three slices of the pizza are missing.”

So he and his young daughter didn't usually gather around the table for an evening meal together, Dallas pondered. Was that what happened when there was no mother around to hold things together? Except for Boone, Hayley appeared to be alone. The idea bothered Dallas. During her childhood, she'd been swaddled in love and support from family. And over the years that hadn't changed.

“Is your daughter the only child you have?” The question popped out of Dallas's mouth before she could stop it.

“Yes. Her mother and I divorced when Hayley was only two.”

His statement brought Dallas up short. That meant he'd been alone for ten years or so! How had that happened? Even though the population in this area appeared to be scarce, surely there were young women around just waiting for a man to propose matrimony, especially a man that looked like Boone Barnett. But maybe one failed marriage had soured him, she decided. Just like Allen's subterfuge had left her wary of men and doubting she'd ever find one who could really love her.

Trying to turn off her curiosity about this rancher, she watched him carry the pizza over to the table. “Is there anything I can help you with?” she offered.

“No, thanks. I can manage.” He pulled out a chair and gestured for her to take a seat. “Just relax. I'll bring the rest over. Is soda okay for you? Or water?”

“Water, please.”

While he went to fetch the last of their meal, Dallas
eased down in the wooden dining chair. While she'd been in her room, he'd used the short time to make a salad. Two bottles of dressing and a shaker of Parmesan cheese sat alongside the food. As Dallas looked at the simple meal, she couldn't help thinking how different it was for her family.

The Diamond D had always employed a cook and maids. If anyone came in from a late night of work, he or she didn't have to scrounge up a meal. A substantial plate of dinner would always be left in the warming drawer or the refrigerator. And after it was eaten, there was no need to bother cleaning up the mess. Someone would come by later and take care of the chore.

But Boone wasn't so privileged to have such extensive hired help. He didn't even have a wife to help him with household tasks, much less share the responsibilities of caring for Hayley. The fact that he had any time left to train horses amazed Dallas.

Returning to the table with their drinks, he took a seat directly across from Dallas and she firmly told herself not to think of the quiet supper as anything more than an intake of food.

Carefully avoiding his gaze, she said, “After we eat, I'll call the hotel and let them know I won't be showing up tonight. I had reservations at the old hotel in town—the one with the saloon downstairs below the rooms. I understand it's a favorite with tourists and the locals.”

He handed the salad bowl to her. “That's what I hear.”

When he didn't elaborate, she could only assume that the establishment wasn't a social spot he frequented. But then she'd already gotten the impression that Boone wasn't the socializing sort.

Ladling a small amount of salad onto her plate, she said, “You were saying earlier that a cell phone won't
work out here. Do you mean just for the time being, or do cells never work here on the ranch?”